Chapter One: The Birth of a New Era

If there is something I miss the most aside from the sunlight, it’s probably KFC. That chicken, mmmm… not that the company closed, there’s still a few out there but dude, I have to drive for three hours to get there? Hell, no. That’s six hours of nighttime wasted!

- Excerpt from an old diary

THERE’s a question that all the remaining humans in the field of science couldn’t explain, and all the conspirators could. Where did they all come from? No one knows exactly but anyone’s granted an opinion or two about it. From a religious perspective, the behemoths of light came from the heavens to unleash the wrath of God. While in a modern perspective, the creatures were believed to be some sort of genetic mutation gone wrong. There were tons more, varying from thought-provoking to plain stupid.

But one fact is for sure: They robbed the sun.

Quite literally, actually. The behemoths of light can only be seen roaming the sky and land during the day. They feast on whatever living creature that’s available. They aren’t sentient beings. The humans quickly discovered that. It was the first thing they learned about them after almost half of the Earth’s population were wiped out during the first eight hours of daylight the creatures arrived, then came the learning that the behemoths can only move when the sun is up.

Earth’s population dwindled for the next three years until it steadied in Year 4 when humans finally accepted the fact that they can only go out at nighttime and that they should still live in darkness even when the sun rises.

“This is stupid. Geez, what the hell’s wrong with our generation?”

Soleil raised an eyebrow at Xyphen whose face glowed in the darkness from the light of his phone. “Um, everything?”

“Look at this, they are still doing these stupid online challenges,” Xyphen said, practically shoving the phone on Soleil’s face.

She immediately squeezed her eyes shut as she frantically gripped his arm and pulled it away. “Are you trying to blind me?” She said then slowly opened her eyes, the loading screen popped up, almost un-ending until a blurred video came in. “What’s this? Oh that,” She chuckles as she watches two guys their age dangle their arms outside the window of a high-rise apartment for a couple of seconds before pulling back. Loud high-pitched screeching noise and an ominous black creature larger than any living thing on land passed on the camera’s view. A chill ran through Soleil’s spine as she gulped. “Pull it down.”

“Pull what?”

Soleil clicked her tongue and dragged a finger downwards on the screen. Another loading screen which felt like eternity. The speed of internet is long gone now, but the stupidity among some of the users who can afford to buy it are still rampant. “Oh, another one,” She said as she mindlessly grabbed a bag of chips from one of the grocery store’s racks. She tore the edge of the bag with her teeth. She grabbed a handful and shoved into her mouth. It tasted stale and dry which was good compared to the other she ate before.

"I got a bad feeling on this one,” Xyphen said while biting the nail of his thumb which looked quite concerning.

The guy on the video started talking something in the words of this is my 8th eat me monster challenge. Soleil looked at Xyphen, his brown eyes looked darker in the poor light, and then to the guy at the screen who blew out a deep breath as he slowly drew the black-out curtains. Immediately, the creatures with its elongated skulls, and tunnel-like eyes started banging on the metal bars of the windows. Their jaws snapping like a rabid dog. The man immediately pulled the curtains shut. “What about it?” Soleil asked.

“I don’t know. Chances of something bad to happen are always higher when you’re in a streak of good luck. It’s always bound,” Xyphen answered. He dug a handful of chips and tossed it to the lone derpy-looking Chihuahua who had been sitting near them for some time now. “Why can’t he just stop doing this challenge? No one’s forcing him to do this. If they wanted danger with these beings so much why won’t they join the corps?” He pursed his lips before he could say anything more on the subject. “Look at him, he’s nervous, see?”

The chihuahua devoured the chips on the floor like a monster who had never eaten for at least a century. Soleil winced. The dog has been there since they entered the abandoned grocery store like it was waiting for its owner to come home. It must have been a while since the bags of dog food within the chihuahua’s reach were already torn open and empty. Even with the harsh circumstances, the dog’s tail wagged.

“Are we on a good streak now?” Soleil asked, her eyes still on the dog who just finished eating and was now looking at Xyphen expecting for more.

Xyphen took another handful and tossed it to the dog. “Far from it,” He smiled cheekily. “Don’t you remember? My ass almost got bitten while I was sleeping.”

Soleil rolled her eyes. “And whose idea was it to push the bunk bed against the window anyway? You’re lucky there were metal bars.” She brought up her knees close to her chest as far as her tight black pants would allow as she watched the video on Xyphen’s phone. “Look, he finally gathered his courage.”

The man on the video, after a few more breathing exercises and seconds of silence from the other side of the window, quickly drew the curtain open and dangled his arm. “One… Two… Three-“ His counting didn’t reach the five second mark as it was replaced with a guttural scream. Blood splattered on the side of the man’s terrored face.

Xyphen shut the phone off, cutting the scream. “Wait, I was still watching. I want to see what happens after.” Soleil said, trying to get Xyphen’s phone.

“Like I said, it’s always bound to happen,” Xyphen said, his eyes straight on the ticking clock above the checkout station. “Let’s go, I want to finish this mission early.”

“What about the dog?” Soleil asked, like the dog understands her intention, it produces a pitiful whine.

Xyphen looked at the clock again and then to the dog. He ran his fingers through his black curly mullet haircut. A haircut that makes the authorities want to implement a strict crew cut for all males. “We’ll come back here after and if it’s still here, we’ll take it.”

A smile played along Soleil’s lips as she tucked a piece of black hair behind her ear. “That’s what I want to hear,” She looked at the chihuahua, it’s eyes darted from her to Xyphen and then back to her again as if waiting for the grand announcement. “Stay here, okay? We’ll come back for you. Stay.”

Slowly, they left the store. Soleil walked backwards as she repeatedly ordered the dog to stay. The dog looked at her, its drool glistening on the floor. Soleil bumped on Xyphen’s back and she let out a nervous chuckle. “Just making sure the new dormitory dog will still be here by the time we get back.”

“Shush it,” Xyphen quickly said, “If you keep on saying that you’ll jinx us.”

Soleil presented her palms in resignation. “Okay, sorry.”

They jogged along the city’s pavement, overgrown with weeds and shrubs towards the abandoned subway. It was their first long mission since their other missions were basically short and basic like for instance running to the old pharmacy to collect the remaining medicines or drive to the nearest Taco Bell to get their commander’s favorite meal. But now, they are given something with much more importance: To check out the abandoned subway, turn on the electricity if it’s still working, and then clear out the entrance of any sleeping level 1 behemoths.

Soleil and Xyphen are guardian buddies or partners, they’re second ranking guardians. Aside from patrolling the city grounds at night, and casual missions, they are also granted the authority to kill Level 1 behemoths. Xyphen handed his phone to Soleil after he stopped for a moment to check out what’s gotten under his shoes.

Soleil tapped on the crescent moon app icon.

WELCOME TO GUARDIANS. E-HOME OF OUR WORLD'S SAVIORS.

V 1.2

The app then turned to its loading screen, an animation of a sunrise in loop. After a few seconds it went to the homepage which is pretty much like Facebook or Instagram. Each guardian has a profile where they can post their photos, videos, or status. It was fun until it slowly turned into a funfest of narcissistic guardians posting selfies with dead monsters with hashtag (insert unbelievable number) of kills today which is actually true as most of them are actually very skillful. It’s just that their kill count also went to their heads.

“It’s just a bunch of gravel,” Xyphen said, dusting his hands on his pants. He craned his neck to the screen and immediately tapped on the mission tab.

MISSION TAB Active Mission(s): 1 Partners: Xyphen69 and Soleil_ SUBWAY MISSION #4.1

O Go to the abandoned subway by the central mall

O Go to the electrical room and switch on the lights (If not working, please send a support ticket here [link])

O Kill at least ten level 1 in the entrance REWARDS

1. Two medium parfait with your choice of toppings

2. 100 coins

3. 30 level up points each

The screen dimmed, leaving Xyphen’s face reflecting. “You need to change your username ASAP,” Soleil said.

Xyphen nodded, a look of embarrassment on his face. “I know. I’m just thinking of another username. Xyphen’s already taken.”

“I’m sure you’re the only one alive that has that name,” Soleil turned on the phone again.

“Well, some schizo used it,” He said, he let out an exasperated sigh as he continued walking.

Soleil tapped on the Behemoths section and clicked on the Level 1.

Class 1 NON-WINGED TYPE BEHEMOTH (Please note that the ff. information was based solely from the past three years of observation. It is estimated that they are still in their juvenile stage with foreseen development in all aspects. These creatures must be treated with extreme caution.) Can be killed by body mutilation/loss of blood or severing the head and/ or spinal cord.

HUNTING BEHAVIOR:

Believes to rely on echolocation Hunts alone. Although at times can be seen with a group, there's no recorded data on team work behavior. Powerful bite to the neck and/ or throat

APPEARANCE:

[Attached image]

About five to six feet tall, can stand and walk on two hind legs, but much faster on all fours Elongated skull, deep tunnel eyes located on each side of the head, single nostril, and a wide jaw Skin varies from grayish to coal black Underdeveloped bat-like wing structure

PERSONALITY & INTELLIGENCE:

Extremely dumb; can’t formulate tactics, can’t understand common sense, and human emotion. Doesn’t seem to form friendships among peers, but gathers during hibernation season.

OTHER INFORMATIONS:

- Easily killed but due to high birth rate, remained as the most abundant class.

- One female can release 500 eggs per year with almost 50% survival rate.

- Possibly can fly once reached adulthood based on the underdeveloped bat-liked wing structure

- Sleeps at night and hibernates for at least a week every six months.

- Prefers to hibernate in tight dark spaces with cold temperature

APPETITE:

- Carnivorous

- Consumption of at least 80 kg of meat per week

EFFECT ON BITTEN HUMAN:

Soleil didn’t finish reading as Xyphen gave her a tap on the shoulder. She closed the app and handed Xyphen the phone. She badly needed one but it can wait till she gets her month’s salary. She just hoped that the level 1 who managed to swallow her phone had a bad stomach ache from digesting it. Once in a while, every midday when there’s nothing to do she asks Xyphen to ring her phone so it would torture the monster but later on, Xyphen suggested that what if the opposite thing was happening? Since then they stopped.

“We’re here,” Xyphen said.

Standing near the entrance of the long-abandoned subway, Soleil gulped as the stench of rotting corpses stung her nostrils. She held her newly cleaned dagger tight and lightly tapped the gun in the holster of her pants, she felt the cold metal numb the tip of her fingers. Her shoulders tensed as images of mangled and soggy looking corpses entered her mind. She shrugged the thoughts away as she knew that it wouldn’t do good with tonight’s mission. Xyphen, her partner, stood beside her. His tall and slender stature looked frozen in one place, his tawny complexion glistened with sweat. He cleared his throat and let out a struggling cough as he swatted the air expecting that the stench would leave.

“You know you can go back if you don’t want to dive deep here.” Soleil said without breaking eye contact with the pitch-black entrance of the subway. Deep down, she was having second thoughts of going in but obviously, she doesn’t want it to come from her mouth.

“Oh please, Soleil. Don’t give me that bull,” he said, “I won’t leave you alone in that hellhole.”

Soleil shook her head. For the parfait, coins, and the points, it is! She thought to herself as they started taking the first steps. Clueless about the tiny chihuahua following behind them.