The sky above is a faded grey, almost white from the pollution and dust; Nuclear Winter has been ongoing for centuries by now. The occasional cawing of mutant birds showed remnants of a former life. It was nothing more than a ruined ghost town, haunted by echoes of the past.
The demolished city stretches out in all directions, buildings standing tall like ancient monoliths but crumbling at the edges, rust and time taking their toll on the utopia once called Network-city. The sound of a motorcycle purred throughout the desolate city, buried underground. It was Slayer, the Demon Hunter.
He rode atop Apollyon—the lightning-speed motorbike—breaking the sound barrier thousands of times over and spearing through a horde of mutants like a freight train.
The engine's deep rumble resonated through the barren landscape, bouncing off concrete walls that once held mysteries. Occasionally, debris scatters beneath the wheels, but the path remains eerily clear. As if the city itself was welcoming Ishmael to its secrets.
But where there were secrets, there was danger. Coming to a hard stop, Apollyon's momentum was halted, as if stripped of its time and defying the laws of physics. Ishmael's sixth sense alerted him of the dangers up ahead, forcing him to obey.
Kick-standing his motorcycle—the Demon Hunter disembarked Apollyon—taking a few steps ahead to analyze his surroundings. There was nothing in sight that seemed eerily suspicious until he crouched and brushed away the dirt beneath his feet.
There was a small, metal device buried beneath the ground, waiting for its prey like a sandworm that hasn't eaten in decades. With a stern expression, Ishmael lifted his black gloved-hand, hovering it above the landmine.
"Do unto others as they do unto you."
A biblical concept spoken by Jesus in Luke 6:31 and Matthew 7:12 now flipped on its backside. The most common quote was "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", but this was Sinister; Ishmael's most prized artifact.
On both of Ishmael's hands were gloves; a black one by the name "Sinister" with the inverted pentagram on the dorsal side, representing corruption and despair, and a white one by the name "Purity" with a cross; representing purification and hope. These were artifacts created by the Idea of Good and Evil that derived from the collective unconscious.
There was a reason why both Angel-X and the Demonkind feared Slayer. He was a man who wielded abstract ideas and used them in combat. An unpredictable Demon Hunter with too much power in his hands, and yet, he made it seem like nothing.
Upon chanting to the Landmine, he backed away, pulling Apollyon with him. In the span of seconds, the device detonated—as did the rest that was spread out across the wastelands in front of him. After disabling each, and every landmine, Ishmael glanced at Apollyon, ignoring the explosions ahead of him.
"Let's go, Apollyon." Speaking to his motorbike as if it was conscious, it suddenly replied. "I am right behind you, master." A talking motorcycle with a mind of its own, how unexpected. Apollyon was designed in the late 29th century as an artificial intelligence meant to drive its master to their desired destination, similar to Tesla, though this one was sentient.
Ishmael was a man with immense aptitude in various branches of science, mathematics, and engineering, including magical technology. He could combine Network-City's advanced Science with the Realm of the Arcane, which ended up accidentally creating a sentient AI as a result. Thus came Apollyon. They could think, act, and form logical reasons on their own without an outside source.
"Stay close, there's something suspicious about all those landmines—they were put here for a reason." Ishmael ambled ahead as the talking motorbike transformed by reprogramming its nanotech and shifted bodily designs. It slowly changed its shape into that of a humanoid model with illusory, fake pale skin, and long black hair with a set of fashionable clothes to give the appearance of a human.
"Whoever was responsible for setting up those landmines must've been hunting a particular mutant—preferably an Omega Class." The sentient Ai caught up to its master, walking by his side. "Perhaps we've entered abnormal territory belonging to that of a powerful mutant, master."
"That is a possibility." Ishmael and Apollyon walked through the cloud of gunpowder smoke left behind by the explosive landmines. Any normal person's vision would be obscured, but the Demon Hunter relied on his sixth sense. "Omega Class Mutants often reside in areas with high radiation, such as this one, but they usually aren't hostile unless provoked."
"Mm." Apollyon nodded their head. "Omega Class Mutants are mostly animals who had their DNA altered from the Nuclear War, but Angel-X and a bunch of other organizations are known to hunt them for their meat, which caused them to hide out of plain sight."
Slayer remained quiet and stoic, focusing on his surroundings as Apollyon rambled like an autist.
"Did you know a lot of humans and animals had their DNA changed within their cells? The radiation disrupted the structure of their DNA strands, resulting in modifications in their genetic codes which were passed on to future generations."
"Is that so?" Slayer already knew of this information, but Apollyon was the type to share everything she's learned over the course of her life, nonstop.
"Yes, in each new generation of mutants, they're stronger, more agile, and possess an intelligence equal to that of sophisticated humans. It is certainly unique."
"Naturally." Responded Ishmael, monotone as ever. "Mutants are evolving in each new generation; they've already become immune to bullets, explosives, and even extreme weather conditions. Angel-X had even conducted a couple of experiments, exposing mutants to Sub-zero degree Celsius technology and even Nuclear Heat. They managed to survive each one, unaffected by harsh temperatures."
Apollyon crossed her arms behind her back, widening her eyes at the influx of information. "You saw this, master?" She asked like a curious child.
"Mm." Slayer nodded his head. "I was once part of Angel-X, learning how they built UTN chips and utilized Cold Fusion. They may be immoral scum, but I learned a lot from them, especially on mutants."
"I see, then it's right to assume that I wasn't around during this time."
"Afraid not." Said Slayer with a mocking grin. "Who would've thought that I had more information than that of an AI."
Frowning at his comment, the sentient Ai stopped in its tracks.
"I may be Artificial Intelligence, but I do have emotions thanks to your magical modifications to my nanotechnology, master."
Chuckling under his breath, Ishmael nodded his head.
"You're right, I apologize."
Amidst their conversation, the ground trembled across the barren city. Cracks formed along the pavement, sending pieces of radioactive concrete scattering. Apollyon widened her eyes as the pavement suddenly erupted, separating her and Ishmael.
From the gaping chasm emerged a massive creature - at least 60 feet tall. Its amorphous green skin released a toxic gas as it rose to its full height with poisonous long claws and an Eldritch appearance.
"Master Ishmael, it seems agitated with our arrival, what should we do?" Yelled Apollyon from afar, separated by the mutant's enormous mass.
The creature released a deafening roar that was powerful enough to rattle bones and shatter nearby windows of abandoned buildings. The hundreds of yellow eyes surrounding its body would scan its surroundings with malevolent intelligence, showing it's not just an instinctual beast.
"We have no choice but to drive it away." Proclaimed Slayer, unsheathing his Longsword from his back.
Like all Omega Class Mutants, they were intelligent, except this one was angry and ready to destroy everything in its path. It was a creature with many battle wounds, conveying its longevity over the years of combat.
"I shall partake in battle!" Apollyon altered its nanotech, changing its shape once again. Transforming back into a motorcycle, it drove across the dilapidated grounds, reaching Slayer in the span of seconds.
Mounting the motorbike, Ishmael drove off and gained distance from the malevolent creature. While it may look slow and witless, Omega Class Mutants were known for their agility and speed—transcending the boundaries of human perception.
The massive creature fell on its belly and slithered across the ground like a serpent, opening its massive gaping maw.
"It seems to be chasing after us! What is the plan, Master Ishmael?"
"Just focus up ahead."
The sounds of the ground rumbled beneath them, creating fissures that seemed to split the very earth—indicating the arrival of new enemies. With each crack that appears, another massive creature rises from the depths. Dozens of them were now appearing all around them as Apollyon dodged each and every one with masterful maneuvers.
"They're everywhere, we'll be crushed, master!"
The barren city morphs into a chaotic battleground as dozens of identical mutants stand side by side. Their massive forms tower over everything, casting long shadows that stretch across ruined streets, darkening their vision.
With each mutant scanning their surroundings, they let out their own distinct roar—creating a cacophony of thunderous noise that echoed off nearby buildings. They seemed to communicate without words, their giant heads turning toward their prey with a predatory focus before chasing after them like a pack of wolves.
Intelligence showed within their calculated movements, chasing after Slayer and Apollyon with strategy and intention. Their situation couldn't get any worse.