Free Web NovelChapter 78: Chapter 77 - Monster Extermination(Part 3)
Point-of-View: Zoraiz Rafayet
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"It’s past midnight already, and they’ve still got guards posted...definitely suspicious," Frowned Mike, as we hid behind a row of bushes.
We’d gone up the side of the hill instead of up along the path, making sure to remain unseen. About half an hour ago, we’d gotten within sight of the church, and were currently hiding, in wait for an opportunity to sneak in.
We had circled the church in search of another entry point, but as far as we could tell, there were none. No windows, only those large glass panels with intricate designs and various colors that didn’t open and couldn’t be seen through.
We also spotted some scuffed up spots of dirt, probably them wiping away the Monster footprints that had appeared. From the size of each scuffed up spot, it was likely that the footprints were pretty big. Are they just going to pretend like the prints never existed?
"Hey, come on, let’s go in already. Normal humans can be affected by Dark Skill techniques even from a distance, right?" I asked Cyrillus, who had also tagged along.
Bruno had stayed behind at the motel, since we’d risk being caught if there were too many of us. Cyrillus has the Dark Skill and is a high level Category 2, just a bit under the level of a Category 1. Using his Dark Skill to put the guards in a daze will make sneaking in a lot easier.
"Yeah, I can do it, but...it’s not exactly sneaking in if we go through the front entrance, you know," He pointed out wryly.
"But there aren’t any other entrances," I countered in response.
"Let’s wait till they change shifts, at least. It’ll be messy if their replacements show up right as we take them out," Whispered Mike, before adding, "Just be patient, you have to be with these types of missions."
"I don’t get why we don’t just bust through and kill everyone inside there," I grimaced as I clenched my fist.
"Look, I get how you feel, but there’s still a chance that we’re wrong about this, you know," Reasoned Mike logically.
"Maybe so, but...every bone in my body is screaming at me to get away from this place, I don’t have proof, but somehow, I just know that whatever’s going on in there is anything but pleasant," I replied with a sense of certainty.
"I’ll be the first to admit that you’ve got a sixth sense for avoiding danger, and your evasive capabilities are at an extremely high level, especially now that it’s starting to get honed with proper technique instead of just relying on pure instinct...but hunches can still be wrong, regardless of how intuitive someone is," Responded Mike firmly. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"He’s right, you know, and try not to forget our main objective, confirming the existence of and then eradicating any Monsters that might be lurking around this area," Reminded Cyrillus, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Yeah, well, that’s not really my main objective anymore," I grumbled, before saying to him, "By the way, I’m a little surprised that you’re not all hostile to me like most other Meta-Humans."
"Well, most of those who tend to live in and spend most of their time in the hideouts or hidden bases do develop those kind of Meta-Human supremacist mindsets...but most who live among normal humans, like I do, tend to be more open-minded. At least, that’s my experience with it," He replied with a shrug.
"He’s right about that...when I was younger, I was of that supremacist mindset myself," Admitted Mike sheepishly, "But, then, I had to blend in to regular society for a couple of years due to a mission, and it really opened my eyes."
"Yes, I remember, you used to be kind of an asshole," Chuckled Cyrillus quietly, before adding with a wry smile, "And now...you’ve sorta become an idiot."
"I’d say ’sorta’ is understating it," I added dryly, "Well, I guess it does beat being a prejudiced dick like most Meta-Humans."
"Well, most lower ranked Meta-Humans, typically below Category 3, are more open-minded since they mostly live among normal humans and are hardly given any real missions. They’re typically tasked with mastering regular society skills, and those that are especially accomplished can be recruited into our research or intel divisions, among others.
In other words, lower-ranked Meta-Humans don’t really need to use their powers that often, so they usually don’t get conceited and look down on normal humans. High level Category 3s and above are the ones that are typically given missions where the use of powers becomes vital, and the more they use and master their powers, the more arrogant they can get," Sighed Mike, as we continued to keep an eye on the guards.
Well, I guess that does make sense. After all, Meta-Humans are just people with super powers, so of course not all Metas are going to be exactly the same.
And it goes beyond just categorizing them as Harmony and Eden, it’s not that black and white. A good example of that is whoever betrayed Harmony and leaked the location of where the Meta-Orb research was taking place. Huh, I wonder if-...
"Look sharp, the guards are finally moving," Whispered Mike, as the two bored looking guards opened the church doors, their eyes lighting up slightly.
Two men stepped out of the church, taking the place of the guards, who headed into the church with eager looks on their faces. The ones that just came out had satisfied looks on their faces, but...there was something familiar and unpleasant about their expressions, a familiarity that made my blood boil.
I felt my body start to tremble with rage...those expressions, it was the same as the looks that the men who were my mom’s customers had after they were done. I’d be outside the trailer, waiting for them to leave, and when they finally did, I’d see that same look on their faces, and every time I did, I felt nauseated, cursing my own powerlessness in vain.
The only reason my mother opted to become a prostitute was because she had no other way of making money, no normal place would hire her...but even as young as I was, I could tell, each time she went through that, it was like she died a little bit more on the inside, the light in her eyes getting dimmer and dimmer, just a little bit each time, but far too much more than she ever deserved.
I was helpless to stop it, all I could do was close my ears and try to block out the abuse that was yelled at her on a daily basis, pretending like I couldn’t hear it. But I won’t pretend to be blind to it anymore...I never once saved my mom from her suffering, so if I come across someone in the same situation, I’ll do everything in my power to save them.
Yeah, I know, it’s nothing more than self-satisfaction, a selfish desire for redemption, a one-sided attempt to alleviate my guilt, nothing I do will ever change the past or undo the years of suffering that my mom had to endure. But even so...I refuse to repeat my past mistakes and cowardice, I refuse to drown in that sense of helplessness ever again.
"Alright, time to move in...Cyrillus, use your Dark Skill to put the guards in a trance, we’ll just have to go through the front entrance after that," Grimaced Mike, finally relenting.
"It’s about time...," I muttered, as Cyrillus turned his attention to the guards with a focused expression.
"Alright, then, here I go...Dark Skill: Compel," He remarked, as a faint black haze formed around his hands, before letting out a sigh as he turned to us, "Done, I’ve made it so that they’ll overlook anyone who tries to enter the church, regardless of who they are."
"Good work. Come on, let’s go," Responded Mike with a nod, before we quietly emerged from behind the bushes and headed towards the front entrance.
The guards didn’t even budge as we approached them, staring off into space with dazed expressions as we got to the entrance. Mike let out a slow exhale before pushing the doors open as quietly as possible, wincing a bit as the doors creaked slightly.
"There’s no one here," He said quietly in surprise, as we looked inside.
"Hey, you, where’s everyone else?" Cyrillus asked one of the guards.
"In the...lower level," He replied in a blank tone.
"And where’s the lower level?" He inquired with narrowed eyes.
"Behind the...large picture frame on...the left side of the...room. It slides up."
Behind that, huh? It was a large canvas painting of angels or something, and it was taller than a doorframe. We entered the church and quietly shut the doors as we did, before making out way to the painting.
"Let’s see here...," Mumbled Mike, as he reached for the bottom of the frame and pulled it up...and sure enough, it slid upwards with ease, to reveal a descending set of stairs.
Faint noises were echoing out from inside, and the back of the frame was heavily padded...
"Looks like soundproofing," Frowned Cyrillus, as he inspected the padding.
"Come on...let’s go," Remarked Mike in a serious tone, a grimace on his face.
Yeah, at this point, it’s all but confirmed that our deduction was correct. Not that I ever had any doubts about it.
We silently made our way down the stairs, my heart beating faster and faster with every step, as the noises from below grew louder and louder. Those are definitely screams and cries of pain and despair...I know exactly what those sound like, I’ve heard them more than enough times to be sure.
"We’re almost to the bottom," Whispered Cyrillus, as we spotted a light at the end of the staircase.
The bottom of the stairs led to a small balcony, with small flights of stairs on either side to go further down, onto a large, open space...
"This is vile...," Grimaced Mike, as we ducked down behind the wall of the balcony and peered over the top, getting a good look at the sight below.
There were rows of tables on either side of the space by the walls, and there were people strapped down to each of the tables...most of them were women and children. And standing over by most of the tables, were men and women with gleefully malicious looks on their faces.
Without even realizing it, I’d stopped breathing, unable to process what I was seeing...some of the captives were being tortured, their nails and skin getting peeled off, their tormentors laughing in amusement while they screamed in pain and begged them to stop, pleading desperately with tears in their eyes.
Others were being sexually abused, their clothes in tatters and bruises all over their bodies as they were held down and violated, even...e-even the children.
And that’s when I spotted the priest...he was naked and sweaty, breathing heavily with his eyes bulging as he whipped a young boy who was chained to the wall with his back facing the priest, crying and screaming in pain, as blood dripped down his back from the wounds left by the lashes.
"I-it hurts...please stop!"
"N-no, stay away from me, d-don’t touch me!"
"Leave me alone! Y-you sick bastards, don’t come anywhere near me! N-no, stop...stop it!"
"I-I wanna go home, wh-where’s my mommy!?"
I felt numb, my head spinning as the screams echoed around me, boring into my mind as I began to hyperventilate, my breathing ragged and panicked.
"Shut the hell up! Just be quiet and let me do my thing, you piece of trash!"
"You bitch, this is payback for when you rejected me in high school! Take that! And that!"
"That’s right, scream for me, you brat! This is what you get for trashing my yard!"
"You’re nothing but a whore, get it!?"
"What’s with those eyes, you think you’re better than me!? Fucking slut!"
Whore...bitch...slut...just a few of the many insults my mom had to endure on a daily basis for years. Why do people like this even exist, huh? Why? Why hasn’t anyone killed them? They deserve it...so, why? I...I just can’t understand why they’re allowed to live...
Fine, then...if no else will do anything about them, then I’ll do it myself.
Yeah...yeah, that’s right, I’ll kill them all.
And with each one that I kill, little by little...this world will become a better place.
"H-hey, Zoraiz? Calm down, kid, you’re-," Began Mike, but I barely even heard him speak...I was seeing red, and my rage only intensified with each passing second.
"No, wait-!" Cyrillus tried to stop me, but he was too slow.
I leapt over the balcony and landed onto the space below with a loud thud, getting the attention of everyone there. freёwebnovel.com
"I-it’s you!" Gasped the priest in surprise and alarm, taking a couple of steps away from the boy he was abusing.
"Physical Skill:...Accelerate, Perception, Reinforce and Fortify," I muttered, before dashing towards him rapidly, closing in on him in an instant.
"Wh-what in the-...!?" He blurted out in shock as I reached him and grabbed the top of his head.
"Shut up and die, you vile piece of shit," I remarked icily, before I crushed his skull with my bare hand...
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