Vanguard of the void

Twisted trees stretched skyward, their skeletal branches clawing at the midnight sky like desperate, bony fingers. Moonlight barely pierced the thick canopy, leaving the forest floor cloaked in a darkness that seemed alive—breathing, watching, waiting. The air was damp and heavy, carrying the earthy scent of decayed leaves and moss, an ancient aroma that clung to the soul like a shroud.

A man stumbled through the undergrowth, his movements frantic and uncoordinated. Sweat poured down his face, glistening in the faint light, and his eyes darted wildly, like a cornered animal. His breath came in ragged gasps, each one tearing through his chest as though his lungs could no longer contain the sheer terror coursing through him.

Behind him, it pursued.

At first, it had been nothing more than a shadow in the red mist, a suggestion of something unnatural. But now, every sound it made confirmed its existence—a guttural screech that defied comprehension, echoing with a primal hunger.

"Sssshhhrrraaaahhhkkk!"

The noise cut through the stillness like a jagged blade, vibrating through the trees and sending birds scattering into the night. The man's steps faltered as his ears caught the horrific sound. His mind screamed at him to run faster, but his legs were heavy, trembling, barely obeying his commands.

Another screech. Closer now.

"Krrrrrrrrkkk!"

The ground beneath his feet trembled faintly, responding to the weight of the thing that followed. Leaves crunched and twigs snapped in its wake, each sound a reminder of its relentless pursuit. The man dared not look back; he didn't need to. He could feel it—a presence darker than the shadows, colder than the mist.

The red mist.

It writhed around him like something alive, curling and twisting at his ankles with an eerie, serpentine grace. Pale green and faintly luminous, it cast an unnatural glow that barely illuminated the surrounding trees, only to retreat into deeper darkness. The mist clung to his boots, chilling him to the bone, making every step heavier than the last.

"No, no, no…" he whispered, his voice trembling as though his very words would betray his location. Panic made his feet clumsy, and he stumbled, his body lurching forward before he caught himself against the rough bark of a tree.

"Thoom! Thoom!"

The forest floor vibrated with each step of the creature behind him, the rhythmic pounding of its movements like the beat of a death march. Its growl was low and guttural, resonating through the air like the rumble of distant thunder.

The man tripped again, his foot catching on a hidden root. He hit the ground hard, the impact driving the air from his lungs and sending pain radiating through his chest. He groaned, rolling onto his side, his hands scrabbling in the dirt for some kind of support. His palms were slick with blood from earlier scrapes, dirt and debris sticking to the raw flesh.

"Shrreeeeaaakkk!"

The sound erupted again, louder, sharper, closer. He forced himself to turn, his body trembling with the effort. And there it was.

It emerged from the mist like a nightmare given form.

The creature loomed over him, its massive frame hunched yet towering. Its skin was dark and leathery, glistening with an unnatural sheen as though coated in oil. Muscles rippled beneath its taut hide, each movement exuding power. Long, jagged claws, glinting faintly in the moonlight, dug into the earth, carving deep grooves into the ground.

But it was its face that shattered his mind.

Two molten eyes glowed with an unholy light, slitted like a serpent's but alive with malevolence. Its mouth stretched wide—too wide—revealing rows upon rows of jagged, needle-like teeth. A thick, greenish saliva dripped from its jaws, each drop sizzling as it hit the ground, burning through leaves and bark with a soft hiss.

The mist thickened around it, pulsing as if responding to the creature's presence, wrapping it in a shroud of living fog.

"P-please," the man whimpered, his voice cracking as he scrambled backward on all fours. His fingers clawed at the ground, leaving streaks of blood in the dirt. The creature tilted its head, its glowing eyes narrowing as though savoring his fear.

The man grabbed a rock—a small, jagged thing—and hurled it with all his remaining strength. The stone struck the creature's chest, bouncing off harmlessly. It didn't even flinch.

The beast let out a low, rumbling growl that vibrated the very air around it. Then, it lunged.

"Ssshhrrraaaagghhh!"

Its claws slammed into the ground beside him, missing him by mere inches. The man screamed, scrambling to his feet, adrenaline overriding his pain and exhaustion. He ran, blindly, tears streaming down his face, every muscle in his body burning. But the creature was faster.

The mist surged forward, wrapping around his legs, pulling at him, slowing him down. He fought to keep moving, his hands clawing at the air as though he could tear through the invisible bonds holding him.

"Krrrrraaaakkk!"

A massive claw hooked around his shoulder, yanking him backward with a force that sent him sprawling to the ground. He hit hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him. He tried to crawl away, but the creature was already upon him. Its glowing eyes bore into his, freezing him in place as its jaws opened impossibly wide.

The last thing he heard was its guttural growl and the sickening crunch of its teeth.

The forest grew still once more. The mist receded, retreating back into the shadows, carrying with it the echo of the man's final, desperate scream.

Far away, the city sparkled against the night like a sea of stars, oblivious to the horrors lurking beyond its borders. Flying cars zipped through the air, their headlights painting trails of light across the towering skyscrapers. Neon signs flickered and buzzed, casting a kaleidoscope of colors onto the streets below. People laughed, danced, and carried on with their lives, blissfully unaware of the terror that had just claimed another soul.

But the mist was spreading.

And it was hungry.

Kai blew his gum into a bright pink bubble, letting it pop loudly as he leaned casually against a tree, his eyes locked on the gruesome sight in front of him. The mangled, half-eaten corpse of the man lay sprawled in the dirt, his limbs twisted unnaturally. Kai's nose wrinkled in disgust, but his expression remained detached, almost bored, as though he'd seen far worse before.

"Ugh... what was he even doing in a restricted area?" Kai muttered, his tone dripping with annoyance. He kicked a loose stone near his boot, sending it skittering across the ground.

Jinju, the team's scout, stood a few paces away, her sharp eyes scanning the shadowy forest. Her dark, braided hair was tied tightly behind her head, and her gloved hands adjusted the straps of her lightweight armor. "I'll go check if there are any more survivors," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the tension hanging in the air. Without waiting for a reply, she disappeared into the thick undergrowth, moving like a ghost among the twisted trees.

Meanwhile, Ashantee crouched near the body, holding a handheld device with a sleek black finish and faint blue lights blinking on its surface. The gadget was a Wraith Detector, a tool specifically designed to pick up the faint energy signatures left behind by the monsters they hunted. She adjusted a dial, the screen flickering as it calibrated.

"Found anything?" came a low voice from behind her.

Ashantee glanced over her shoulder to see Dae, also known as Codename Scorpion, standing tall with her arms crossed. Dae's sharp, angular features were partially obscured by the hood of her combat cloak, but her piercing eyes shone with determination. A deep scar ran from her temple to her jaw, a testament to her countless battles with the Wraiths.

"Not yet," Ashantee replied, her voice clipped as she tapped the device. The blue lights began to flicker more erratically, a warning sign she recognized all too well. She frowned and glanced around warily.

Then it happened.

The red mist crept in—silent and insidious—seeping through the trees like an unwelcome intruder. It was thicker and heavier than before, tinged with that faint, sickly green glow that set every nerve in Ashantee's body on edge.

"Scorpion..." Ashantee's voice dropped to a whisper as she straightened, pointing toward the mist. Her gloved finger trembled slightly, betraying her unease. "There. Look."

Dae followed the line of Ashantee's finger, her gaze locking onto a dark, hulking shadow moving within the mist. It was slow at first, almost deliberate, as though the creature knew it was being watched.

"Krrrrrrrkkkkkk."

The guttural, bone-chilling sound rumbled from the depths of the forest, echoing through the trees like the growl of a predator about to pounce.

Dae's expression hardened. Without hesitation, she bit into her palm, drawing blood. The crimson droplets glistened briefly before twisting and reshaping themselves, forming into a sleek, crimson spear that pulsed faintly with energy. She spun it expertly in her hand, the weapon crackling with raw power.

"I'll handle this," she said, her voice calm but laced with authority. She stepped forward, her cloak billowing behind her, the edges brushing against the mist.

"Dae, wait—" Ashantee started, but Dae was already moving, her spear at the ready as she strode into the thickening fog.

The air grew colder, sharper, the unnatural chill biting at her exposed skin. Visibility was almost nonexistent, but Dae's eyes remained locked on the shadow ahead. Her enhanced senses picked up the faintest sounds—the rustle of leaves, the scrape of claws against bark, the wet, rasping breaths of the Wraith.

The shadow shifted, and the Wraith emerged from the mist.

It was massive, standing nearly twice her height, its body hunched and sinewy, its blackened skin gleaming like oil. Long, jagged claws stretched from its oversized hands, each one glinting dangerously in the faint light. Its face was grotesque, with glowing, molten eyes that burned with a cruel intelligence.

The creature opened its mouth, revealing rows of jagged, mismatched teeth. A hiss escaped its throat, followed by another guttural screech that shook the very ground beneath Dae's feet.

"Come on, then," Dae muttered, tightening her grip on her spear. Her blood weapon thrummed in response, a living extension of her will.

The Wraith lunged, its massive claws tearing through the air with deadly speed. Dae sidestepped gracefully, spinning her spear and striking out in one fluid motion. The tip of the weapon sliced through the creature's arm, black ichor spraying out like tar. The Wraith roared in pain, its eyes narrowing with fury.

From the edge of the mist, Ashantee watched the battle unfold, her Wraith Detector blaring with high-pitched warnings. She activated her comms.

"Kai, Jinju, we've got a Class 3 Wraith here! Dae's engaging, but we might need backup!"

"On it," Kai's voice crackled through the earpiece.

Further away, Jinju heard the message and doubled back, her twin daggers gleaming in her hands. "I'm on my way," she said, moving with the speed and precision of a seasoned fighter.

Dae, meanwhile, was fully locked in combat. The Wraith swiped again, and this time its claws grazed her side, tearing through the fabric of her cloak and drawing blood. She hissed in pain but didn't falter, using the momentum to drive her spear into the creature's abdomen.

The Wraith howled, its acidic saliva dripping onto the ground and sizzling against the earth. The mist around it pulsed violently, wrapping around Dae's legs and attempting to drag her down. She gritted her teeth, summoning more of her blood to strengthen her spear.

"You're not taking me down that easily," she growled, her voice a low snarl.

As the others closed in, the forest became a battlefield, the Scourge Unit working in perfect sync. Each member brought their unique skills to bear, their movements precise and lethal.

They were the Scourge Unit—elite hunters trained to fight the monsters that humanity feared. And this day, the Wraith had met its match.