Deviant: No Longer Human

Shadowfox caught the attention of another mercenary. Their eyes met, a moment of recognition passing between them.

"!!"

"Look there! Who is that!?" A mercenary pointed towards a figure darting in the shadows.

"Wait! The guy in the black! It's the assassin!" Recognition dawned among the mercenaries, and the news spread like wildfire, igniting a frenzy of activity.

Gunshots erupted from all directions, aiming towards the elusive Shadowfox. Each shot whizzed through the air, an intent to directly kill.

With an acrobat's grace, Shadowfox leaped down the hill. She cleared the fence in a single, fluid motion and disappeared among the burning structures of the facility. Her movements were a blur, thanks to her training and survival instincts.

"Unit 2! After him! Unit 1, clear off the remaining people here!" Jake's command cut through the noise. He licked his lips in anticipation, sliding a knife blade between them as he began his pursuit. His eyes glinted with the thrill of the hunt.

A procession of mercenaries, including David, followed suit, their steps quick with excitement and determination.

David's heart raced with the thought that today might mark their ascent to immortality.

Once they dealt with these 'pests,' the search for Fairy Island's entrance could begin in earnest.

Rumors had long circulated that the entrance to the mystical island lay hidden in the abandoned corners of the Icevale nation's southwest.

The idea that such a mythical place, a source, could be within their grasp, drove them forward with a mix of greed and awe.

"Hahaha! Heaven! Goddess, wait for me! I am comin—!?" David's triumphant cry was abruptly cut off. He felt a strong grip latch onto him from behind, yanking him violently into the bushes.

'What!?' His mind was a whirlwind of confusion and panic.

"Arghhh!" He tried to shout, but his voice was muffled by the dense foliage.

"Who is it!?" He struggled, trying to catch a glimpse of his assailant, but it was futile.

"Ugh! Stop it! Stop it! Why are you beating me—ahhh!" His plea was drowned out by a flurry of punches and kicks that rained down on him mercilessly. Each blow was precise, powerful, and full of intent.

David's world turned into a blur of pain and fear. He could barely think, let alone defend himself. His face, once full of excitement and anticipation, was now bloodied and swollen beyond recognition.

After what felt like an eternity, the beating finally ceased. Ten long minutes had passed, each second a lifetime of agony for David.

"So, care to tell me your name?" The voice that broke the silence was calm, almost casual. Wang Xiao crouched in front of the bloodied figure of David, his demeanor that of someone conducting a routine inquiry.

David's swollen eyes struggled to focus on the figure before him. The sight of Wang Xiao's shining red eyes sent a wave of terror through him, more intense than the physical pain he had endured. With a trembling voice and a body shaken by fear, he managed to stutter, "Ancestors! Please, no more!

Booom!

Wang Xiao's kick abruptly landed squarely on David's bald head, eliciting a pained wince. "Tell me what's your name!" His tone remained calm, but the underlying threat was clear.

David, shivering both from fear and the cold, stammered out his name. "It's David! David! D for David!"

Wang Xiao nodded, his sharp gaze piercing into David. "Tell me about the situation! What is happening here?"

As David gulped, his eyes inadvertently drifted downwards, and he froze in shock. 'Why is the reaper... naked!?' The absurdity of the situation momentarily overshadowed his fear.

Despite his confusion and the bizarre circumstance, David hastily relayed everything he knew, hoping to appease the menacing figure before him.

Wang Xiao listened intently, then, seemingly satisfied, blurred into motion and disappeared into the night.

Left alone, David let out a long sigh of relief. "Sigh... It appears my time has not yet come..." He stood up shakily, his eyes taking in the view of the chaotic and burning facilities from the top of the mountain. The sight was a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict.

A sudden chill from the cold air made him shiver violently. "Damn! I need new clothes! The reaper stole mine!" he cursed aloud. Wang Xiao, in a bizarre twist, had taken all his clothes before departing, leaving David exposed and bewildered in the cold night.

David wrapped his arms around himself, his mind racing for a solution.

The night air bit into his skin, and the distant sounds of battle were a grim reminder that he was still in danger.

He needed to find shelter and clothing fast, but the realization that he had just been robbed by a 'naked reaper' was something he couldn't quite shake off.

As he tiptoed cautiously down the mountain, the absurdity of his naked situation mixed with the seriousness of his mission.

'Great, just what I needed today. A naked escape in the middle of a battle for a mythical island. If I survive this, I'm definitely writing a book.' he decided with convincing, secretly, retreating when no one was looking, as he stole another dead soldier's clothes off the battlefield.

David couldn't help but chuckle at the thought, despite the gravity of the situation.

It was either laugh or cry, and he chose the former.

With each careful step for retreat, he kept an eye out for danger, his mind still fighting for the title for his new book!

The Invincible David and his Naked Adventures!

[A/N: It's definitely not a foreshadowing for a new book! (Proceeds to shake head so aggressively, that the bald monk's hat flew off into the next chapter)]

________

As Wang Xiao moved almost leisurely through the chaotic battlefield, a thoughtful expression played across his face. "Fairy Island... Are they talking about Xianthera? And what is that tunnel to heavens? I've heard about this quite a lot of time already..." he mused to himself.

He recalled overhearing conversations on the ship. "Even the people there were talking about it.... Are both the same?" The questions lingered in his mind, an intriguing puzzle amidst the turmoil around him.

His figure ghosted through the groups of fighting soldiers and mercenaries, an odd calm in his demeanor. Those who noticed him were momentarily taken aback.

"Hey, who's that guy?" a mercenary pointed out, his confusion mirrored on the faces of his comrades.

"Is he lost or something?" a soldier questioned, his focus shifting from the fight to this strangely serene figure.

But before any more words could be exchanged, the reality of Wang Xiao's presence hit them. With an almost lazy flick of his hand, Wang Xiao unleashed a wave of unseen force.

*Boom!... Boom!*

Their bodies burst apart violently, even before they fully realized the threat he posed.

...Boom!

The gruesome splatter of blood and gore seemed to halt just inches away from him, as if repelled by an unseen force. Wang Xiao, untouched by the carnage he caused, continued his stroll through the battlefield. His steps were calm, almost meditative, contrasting sharply with the screams and sounds of combat around him.

"Wh-what just happened!?" a terrified soldier exclaimed, witnessing the sudden and horrific disintegration of his comrades.

"Is he some kind of demon?" whispered another, his voice trembling with fear.

Amidst the rising panic and chaos, Wang Xiao remained deep in thought, his mind still preoccupied with the mysteries of Fairy Island and the heavenly tunnel.

To the soldiers and mercenaries engaged in the heated battle, Wang Xiao appeared as an otherworldly ghost. It was only upon a closer, albeit fleeting, look that they realized he wasn't walking at all, but floating just above the ground

But this discovery came too late for them, as no one lived to spread the tale.

Like a relentless demon, Wang Xiao continued his merciless butchery, his path marked by blood.

Unbeknownst to him, his eerie procession led him to the deepest part of the power plant. The long, oval, unoperative boilers loomed like dormant beasts, surrounded by a network of silent tubes. Amidst this industrial graveyard, a fierce combat was unfolding.

"Don't let her go!"

"Kill her!"

Ivan's voice roared over the din of battle, commanding a mixed group of four in pursuit of a single target: Shadowfox.

She moved with the grace and urgency of a cornered animal, her silver hair a stark contrast against the dull metal and shadows, marking her as a distinctly female figure.

Her tight-fitting black suit hinted at her training and lethal skills.

Shadowfox's acrobatics caught Wang Xiao's attention, prompting a raised eyebrow. 'Interesting...' he thought, observing her from his vantage point. Her face, though mostly obscured, was faintly visible to him, adding to the mystery of her identity.

As the chase continued, Ivan and his team struggled to keep up with Shadowfox's swift and unpredictable movements. She leaped and dodged, her every move a calculated effort to evade capture.

Wang Xiao watched the scene unfold with a detached curiosity, his presence still unnoticed by those involved in the chase. The power plant, with its labyrinth of machinery and echoing chambers, provided the perfect place for this deadly game of cat and mouse.