The station's platform was busy but not overcrowded, the mechanical hum of approaching trains blending with the occasional chatter of passengers waiting for their departure.
A few minutes later, Eva and Christian remained seated on a bench not far from the platform, still lingering near the departure area. Eva sat in silence, her expression clouded in melancholy, her fingers lightly curled on her lap as her eyes lingered on the spot where Olivia had last stood. Christian sat beside her quietly, respecting her mood, just watching the trains pass.
And then… it happened.
It began so subtly, it almost went unnoticed.
A woman, not far from them, young, dressed plainly, looking at her phone, suddenly frowned and began scratching at her skin. At first, it just looked like a casual itch. But within seconds, the movement grew erratic. She dug her nails in harder, dragging red lines across her arms and neck. Her brows furrowed, her breath quickened, and the discomfort visibly overtook her.
But it didn't stop there.
The scratching turned frantic. Blood began trickling from the raw marks on her arms. Her nails bent and broke, leaving her fingers mangled… but she didn't seem to notice. Her eyes had gone glassy and red, almost wild, as she continued scraping herself with increasing desperation.
Gasps and murmurs began spreading among the people nearby. Some stood. Others took cautious steps back.
Then, without warning, the woman screamed.
Her scream pierced through the usual sounds of the station, freezing everyone momentarily. A few passengers, commuters or travelers waiting for their next train, turned in alarm, unsure of what was happening.
And then, she bolted toward one of the thick steel Discover more novels on NovelHub - your gateway to endless stories.
Without hesitation, the woman slammed her head against it.
Blood smeared across the steel, but she didn't stop.
It was only then that her body began to twist and contort in unnatural ways.
Her skin began to writhe, as if thousands of insects crawled underneath, creating waves that distorted her form. Her muscles began to bulge grotesquely, flesh tearing fabric as her limps elongated, joints cracking into misshapen angles.
Her transformation was violent and grotesque.
Some people screamed in confusion. One man stepped forward in shock, shouting, "What are you doing?! Someone call the police! Or an ambulance!"
But before anyone could react properly, the woman turned sharply. Her gaze locked onto the shouting man, her lips pulled back in a feral snarl, and then, with terrifying speed, she raised one mutated arm and swiped.
Her hand, now large and claw-like, collided with the man's head.
A sickening crunch echoed as his skull caved in. His body collapsed to the ground in an instant, lifeless.
And that act, this single, horrifying act of violence, shattered the thin layer of disbelief holding the scene together.
"A-a monster! It's a monster!"
Screams tore through the air. People ran in all directions, bags dropped, phones forgotten, shoes left behind. The crowd scattered in blind terror, fleeing from the thing that had once been a woman.
And in the middle of it all, Christian and Eva remained seated, not far from the chaos. Their posture calm, untouched by fear. Instead, their eyes followed the abomination with quiet intrigue… two observers in a crumbling world.
"Do the people you experiment on transform ?" Eva asked curiously, her voice nearly drowned by the cries and panic all around them.
"Some? But… I feel the strength of the one in front of us is slightly higher than the ones I came into contact with before," Christian replied evenly.
He rose slowly, his gaze still fixed on the creature. The woman was gone… replaced by something grotesque, something mindless. The abomination thrashed and tore at anything in its way, its grotesque limbs flailing without pattern or reason.
Christian wasn't the kind to play the ally of justice. He had no such desires. But here, right now, many people were dying before his eyes. And if nothing was done, many more would follow. So maybe… he could lend a helping hand?
Eva watched his silhouette as he walked forward. Where others fled in blind panic, he alone stepped calmly in the opposite direction. Toward the beast.
With a raised voice… loud enough to pierce through the noise, Eva called out, "The DSA will arrive any moment now. Are you really going to make a move?"
The DSA, Department of Supernatural Affairs. A government agency known for intervening in supernatural incidents . When Christian heard her mention them, he simply raised his hand and waved dismissively, not even looking back.
Even if they come… so what?
That was his thought. Not from arrogance, but calculation.
Infinitel Company. The Ashvale Family. Thanks to Olivia, both had already knew of his location, as they were monitoring her, especially with this being her first time outside the Academy.
So then, if those two had already marked his presence, did it matter if the government, he mostly had nothing against, became aware as well? Naturally, the answer was no.
In truth, Christian didn't care about showing himself anymore. What he did mind, however, was something else entirely.
It was about showing his strength.
And that, he did not want to reveal so easily.
But abominations… at the end of the day, they were weak. Even if the one in front of him was a bit stronger than the rest, it was still within the range of acceptable exposure. So, it was okay to act.
With that thought, Christian finally arrived in front of the abomination. Its grotesque body loomed before him, its skin pulsating with unnatural movement, its bloodshot eyes unfocused and wild.
He reached to his clothes, pulling out his newly forged dagger. Its blade was clean, and elegant.
With a simple flick of his will, shadow essence coated the weapon… thick and cold, like a second skin wrapping around steel.
And then… without hesitation, he stepped forward and swung his arm.