Back inside the dark storehouse, Aiden's eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the oppressive darkness of the storehouse. Training his vision allowing him better through the darkness. Though he could already see most of it with his newfound sight.
He groaned, as he rolled his shoulders, then sat up. "Damn… You could've been gentler."
The Pale Requiem remained motionless, a barely discernible figure standing in the farthest recess of the room.
Aiden glanced at his CAD. The large number ten had somehow changed to one hundred. He had a feeling of unease, but he shoved it aside. He had no idea what it meant, and right now, he had bigger concerns.
He exhaled, rubbing his wrists where the rope had burnt into his skin. "I should've known it was you." he said. 'Saving me but, Still lurking in the shadows?'
Finally, the Pale Requiem spoke, his voice deep and gravelly. "What's your…dealing with the Callin Clan?"
Aiden's brow arched as his mind raced. So, he wants to know about me. That could be bad… or useful.
He knew that he had to thank him for saving him, but surely that Pale Requiem a ruthless Exodite won't save him without a reason.
At which Aiden is right, he had seen what happened in the forest what Aiden and Finn had gone through. He also knew Aiden was new to this zone but. Is he here for the mask or practice?
"Nothing. They just have some… unfortunate issues with me," Aiden responded, shaking his head. "Well, thanks for the save. That was some damn good timing."
The Pale Requiem head tilted slightly. "Don't thank me yet. I didn't do it just for you." He then thought. 'As expected. He doesn't want to talk about it. He's dodging.'
Aiden eyes narrowed. "Then why? What's your angle?"
The Pale Requiem was a bit surprised, because Aiden was able to easily reverse the question onto him. He disliked it, but he have no choice to go forward.
"Callin's clan has something I need. You want your friends. I want information. Seems like we both have a reason to go back."
Aiden's head dipped slightly. 'As I thought… the Callin Clan really has taken Mira and Riven.' His fingers curled into fists as he studied the Pale Requiem."You want a favor in return."
"A deal," the Pale Requiem corrected. "You help me find what I'm looking for in Callin's stronghold, and I'll help you save your friends."
Aiden exhaled, weighing his options. He didn't fully trust the Pale Requiem. But right now, trust wasn't a luxury he could afford.
"First, tell me why you're attacking this zone," he said, his voice low. "I heard Exodites aren't allowed to destroy this zone."
The Pale Requiem eyes glowed silver in the dark for a second. He clicked his tongue. Normally there won't be any negotiations between me and other… he lucky that I really need that mask…Even if I scared him to help he doesn't seem like someone who really fears death.
His gaze drifted to Aiden before a memory stirred.
A long time ago another Exo Hall Base. In a team of four. A mission. Their fifth zone eradication…
"There was a time when I had a name. A group of my own." The Pale Requiem's gloved fingers tapped lightly against his knee. "That was before I lost everything. Before I became a ghost."
Aiden didn't ask who 'they' were. He had a swelling in his chest of feeling of loss all. "Yeah... I know how that feels."
The Pale Requiem turned his head slightly. "You lost something too, then."
Aiden exhaled, his voice quiet. "More than I can count."He glanced at his hands. "And It feels like I'm still losing."
Another silence. The Pale Requiem was imagining again where he was bloodied, body broken and being chased by of three Exodites.
Yet neither of them was willing to open up further.
Still, No more words were needed, they understood each other. Two ghost, walking different paths but carrying the same weight.
"Fine," he said, standing up and dusting himself off. "But if this goes sideways, I'm not dying for your mission."
The Pale Requiem smirked beneath his hood. "Then don't get caught this time."
This time Aiden was able to see the Pale Requiem true appearance, as he walked forward.
He stands 6'5" piercing, otherworldly icy-blue eyes shine through. His hair is pure white. A few strands fall over his forehead, contrasting starkly against his deep, brown skin, which is marked by faint luminescent lines, his face is obscured by a black cloth mask,
His imposing figure clad in a sleek, black, battle-worn cybernetic exosuit reinforced with dark metallic plates. The suit humed of hidden power, laced with energy circuits that pulse faintly beneath its surface. A flowing, tattered cloak billows in the little wind.
He looks quite like someone who should he level 100 in an online game.
Aiden and the Pale Requiem left the storehouse, heading straight to the Callin Clan Stronghold, which was deep in nearby forest.
Surrounded by dense forests and treacherous cliffs. Built from dark stone and reinforced with iron, towering walls are lined of sharp battlements, resembling the fangs of a beast. Guard towers stand like watchful sentinels, ensuring no intruder approaches unseen.
Within, the stronghold torchlit halls echo of the howls of wolves, and great halls adorned with pelts, weapons, and trophies from past conquests.
The Pale Requiem easily held Aiden shoulder abs jumped onto their walls at which the alarm was sounded, however before anything could be really done. He had already arrived down his body made of mist everywhere wolves body started to drop like files.
"This look like the real power of a Exodite…will I have that one day." Aiden muttered.
"Roar!"
Suddenly there was roar, that caused the Pale Requiem to apppeard at the side of, before his eyes he saw, a hole blasted through the wall.
His eyes snapped back up, to see, Lord David below pointing at them. "Pale Requiem! You dare set foot in my home?!"
Pale Requiem arms spread lazily. "Weren't you looking for me?"
No words. No theatrics. David and Master Callin's body twisted spine stretching, limbs elongating, muscles bulging beneath their skin. Their transformation became grotesque and brutal. Within seconds, two monstrous werewolves stood, their golden eyes gleaming like molten fire.
At that moment out of nowhere, Pale Requiem threw Aiden toward Callin he was shocked, he barely had time to process it. I shouldn't seen this coming.
Still for now. He had to survive!
Only when he gotten closer to Callin he took out his dagger.
"CLANG!"
His dagger met Callin's claws, stopping dead against the sheer force of his werewolf's strength.
Aiden gritted his teeth. Too strong.
Callin pressed forward, his claws swiping again. Aiden barely managed to twist away, pushing off Callin's arm and landing unstable.
No time to breathe. Another brutal swing came for, Callin making Aiden dropped low just in time. The claws sliced through empty air, missing him by inches.
He then lunged forward, dagger aimed for Callin's ribs.
"CLANG!"
Callin caught the blade mid-strike, deflecting it with his other paw. Sparks erupted as the dagger skidded off his claws.
Before Aiden could move, he was hit with savage kick in the chest. The impact sent him flying backward.
He twisted mid-air, catching himself on a crumbling pillar before landing in a skid.
Callin scoffed. "You should've brought a bigger knife."
Aiden wiped some blood from the corner of his mouth. "Yeah… but this knife'll get you before you get me."
Callin charged again. But this time faster
Aiden dodged sideways, barely avoiding the first swipe only for another claw to whistle past his ear, slicing through his shirt and leaving a thin red line across his shoulder.
He ignored the pain. Instead, he rolled under Callin's reach, closing the distance—
Aiden having no way, to back away slammed his forehead into Callin's skull with a brutal headbutt. Stars exploded in Callin's vision. He staggered back, just in time to block an axe kick that nearly getting bait ribs caved in.
The force sent him skidding backward, his arm numb from the impact.
Aiden breathe heavily, his muscles were burning. He didn't know how to fight…he was just throwing everything at Master Callin.
Callin recovered quickly, shaking out his hand. "You're putting up a good fight for a new Exodite."
Aiden didn't answer. He moved, he appeared as a blur. His dagger flashed, a streak of light in the sunlight—
Callin didn't have time to react.
"SHNK!"
Blood gushed out as a sudden, deep gash opened across his Callin shoulder,
For the first time, Callin's eyes widened. He stumbled back, gripping his shoulder. Never thought a newbie could hurt me so much…time to kill him.
Aiden glanced at his dagger, his mind racing. 'What just happened? Pale Requiem said silver isn't one of their weaknesses… so why is he bleeding like that?'
He knew that Specter Wolves, can take much more damage to their bodies than humans or Exodite.
He continued."What was the sudden Exo force in me."
On the wall, The Pale Requiem eyes flickered between, Aiden and Master Callin who's arm was not healing, despite the supernatural ability to heal all illnesses, injuries, and wounds.
In fact, Specters can heal faster than Exodites, but powerful attacks happening in rapid succession can leave behind some scars; however, it is presumed they will eventually fade away faster than another could land.
"Strange," he mused. "A Specter Wolf wounds don't linger unless the attack was something… unnatural."
'Its also, weird that he moves like a runner but has the abilities of a spacelocker.'
His gaze landed on Aiden's dagger. I'm not really curious where this man came from and what the deal with that dagger?