[Do you accept the Sorcerer System?]
[▶ YES] / [▶ NO]
I stared at the floating holographic interface, my eyes wide. My mind went blank.
There was no way this was real.
I shook my head and turned away from it. I ignored the hovering screen and walked straight into the street.
My phone vibrated in my hand. It was Isaiah.
"Hey, Ezekiel, what's wrong with you?" His voice came fast. "I've been calling nonstop. The boss keeps asking where you are."
"Can I come over to your place?" I asked, gripping the phone tighter.
"Why?"
"I need to tell you something."
"Is it really that serious?"
"Yes."
I ended the call before he could ask more. As I crossed the pedestrian lane, the holographic interface remained floating in front of my eyes.
I swung my fist at it.
My hand passed straight through the glowing screen.
"Tchh—damn you!" I raised my middle finger at it.
I froze.
A woman was crossing beside me, staring with a confused look. I slowly lowered my hand.
"Good morning," I said, forcing a smile.
"Youth nowadays." She shook her head, crossed the road, and walked away quickly.
"Oh no! That wasn't meant for you!" I mumbled, waving my hands nervously.
I sighed and continued walking.
I reached the restaurant. It was the same one near where I had been hit by the car. A crucifix hung on the door.
Ding!
The bell above the door rang when I entered. As I walked to the counter, the female server looked up and suddenly froze, her eyes widening.
She probably thought she was seeing a ghost.
"I'll have a coffee," I said, rubbing the back of my neck.
She nodded quickly and turned away.
After getting my drink, I stepped outside, waved down a taxi, and a few minutes later found myself standing in front of Isiah's apartment.
"Isaiah, it's me… Ezekiel." I knocked hard, hoping he'd answer quickly.
The door opened.
"Hey—" he started to speak, but I shoved past him and dropped onto the couch, my hands trembling.
"What's going on?" he asked, closing the door.
"I got hit by a car two weeks ago," I said, pointing straight ahead. "And now there's a system interface floating in front of me."
He followed my finger, then looked back at me. "System? Like the one Agents have?"
"Yes! You really can't see it?" I waved my hand through the air.
He stared at me like I'd lost my mind.
"Well… if that's true, that's good news," he said, sitting beside me and throwing an arm around my shoulder. "You can quit our job and become an Agent."
I pushed his arm away. "Don't be stupid. You know how dangerous that is. You will face all kinds of monsters and dark entities. People die doing that."
His expression hardened. "I thought you wanted revenge."
"The demon that killed your parents," he continued quietly, "wasn't that your reason for living?"
I looked down at my hands.
"I'm not cut out for this," I muttered.
"If you don't take this chance," he said, leaning closer, "you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
[Do you accept the Sorcerer System?]
[▶ YES] / [▶ NO]
The interface hovered before me. I never took my eyes off it, my parents' faces flashing through my mind. I swallowed hard. Slowly, I lifted my hand… and pressed [▶ YES].
A violent surge into my body.
"Ezekiel!" Isaiah shouted.
I collapsed to the floor, clutching myself as pain ripped through every nerve. My teeth clenched.
The pain suddenly faded. I forced myself up, gasping for air. I lifted my hands, and yellow electricity flickered along my fingers.
"…What do I do now?" I whispered.
Isaiah stared at me, completely stunned. "You're going to the Sentinel Extermination Corps."
I didn't hesitate.
I bolted for the door, rushed out of the apartment building, and waved my hand toward the street to call a taxi.
A taxi came to a stop.
"Where are you headed, sir?" the taxi driver asked.
"Take me to the Sentinel Extermination Corps," I said.
The taxi driver kept his eyes on me through the rearview mirror.
As we drove off, the car suddenly slowed to a stop.
I looked ahead. A crowd had gathered, surrounding something in the middle of the road.
Curiosity and unease filled me. I opened the car door and stepped outside, moving toward the gathering.
The crowd parted slightly as I approached.
My eyes widened at the sight before me. A woman lay on the ground, her body convulsing and twisting, bending at impossible angles as if she had no control over herself. Her movements were erratic and unnatural, and her eyes had turned completely white.
A chill ran down my spine. Something about her… felt wrong.
Then, all of a sudden, wings sprouted from her back. Her mouth stretched into a large, bird-like beak, and her hands and feet transformed into sharp talons. Her body grew larger, and her clothes tore apart.
The surrounding people screamed and scattered, running in all directions, while I stood frozen.
Cars slid and turned as the woman changed into a hideous creature in the road. Drivers hit the brakes and tried to get away. Some cars reversed, while others turned around. The taxi I rode in sped off, weaving quickly between the other vehicles.
"Shrreeeeek!"
I stumbled backward, covering my ears as she let out a loud, terrifying screech that pierced my eardrums.
In one swift motion, she leapt into the air and snatched a man with his bird-like feet.
"Help me!" he screamed as she dragged him away.
My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the ground.
"Hydro Jet!"
A female voice rang out.
In an instant, a high-pressure jet of water shot forward in a straight line, slamming into the flying creature. The force of the strike sent it tumbling through the air.
The man it had grabbed screamed as he fell. Just as he was about to crash to the ground, thick, twisting vines lashed forward, catching him midair and gently lowering him to safety.
I glanced toward the corner of the street. Three figures, dressed in casual clothing, stood there, watching the scene.
The bird-like creature finally hit the ground with a deafening thud, its wings flailing as it collapsed.
I slowly stood, trying to regain my composure. The rescued man rushed forward and thanked the trio, his voice trembling with relief and gratitude.
The three of them then turned toward me.
"He's the one the captain told us to bring into the Corps," the calm, green-haired lady said.
"Well… what are the odds?" the guy next to her murmured, his eyes narrowing as he looked me over.
"Take the harpy down," the second young lady, who seemed to be in charge, said firmly.
The guy walked toward the unconscious creature. She then shifted her gaze to me. "You must be Ezekiel?"
I swallowed hard.
"Yes," I replied.
"Come with us. We must take you to the headquarters," she added, turning around.
I hesitated for a moment, but something in her expression left me no room for refusal. I nodded and followed her as she led the way.
A black car waited for us ahead, its engine running, ready to drive us away.
As we made our way toward it, my eyes caught sight of the guy from earlier.
With a commanding gesture, he summoned a white wolf. Its eyes glinted with hunger as it leapt toward the fallen harpy.
It slowly absorbed the creature, devouring its body whole, leaving nothing behind but a splash of blood and scattered feathers.