Hidden deep underground, beneath the S-City police departnt, was a massive complex spanning ten floors. This underground complex was the headquarters of the specialists who dealt with all supernatural phenona.
"Haa....Hah.....Haa...."
"Keep your arms up, chin down, manifest your phantom and avoid letting your guard down!" A muscular instructor with two shadow beasts that looked like foxes wrapped around his shoulders barked orders at several adult males training against imaginary threats.
This was the training room for the SSS recruits. Ryan Seong's body was drenched in sweat, his face and body covered in bruises and cuts. 'This training is nothing like the previous centre!' Ryan felt his body screaming while his muscles convulsed from the boosters they injected to improve muscle mass and bone density.
"Phew... Ryan, you did pretty well. That spectre summoned was a Thrall grade." A handso blonde male who seed to be from the A-Federation smiled while holding a cloth to his bloody shoulder. This man was nad Adam Justice. He was one of the recruits along with Ryan.
'Adam is a very honest guy, but when he drinks...'
Many of the recruits were from various kingdoms—the federation or J-Empire, only the R-Union didn't train their recruits in this joined facility.
There were many like this place across the globe, with one in the A-Federation and B-Empire being the most high-tech and developed bases. However, to enter those it was difficult if you weren't from the country itself.
'Well, the training is harder than the A-Federation at least, but in the B-Empire, there would be real Phantoms, and combat was deadly. Is that why and Adam are ahead of the recruits from the Asian Continent? They seem to have been rather lax due to the influence of Phantoms over their countries.'
Monsters referred to themselves by their race na or monsters. It was not an insult but a word of pride to them. To be an existence that made humans terrified and shudder in fear. However, the SSS is a global organisation with only the first letter changing for each country.
ASS, BSS, RSS, JSS, GSS and the global na was SSS.
The only reason for the first letter was to identify each mber to avoid phantoms infiltrating their ranks.
The SSS referred to monsters at different levels, using certain words. Phantom was the collective word for monsters and generalised, while Spectre was the na for a Phantom that manifested their power and beca hostile towards humans.
'Though I've heard there is an actual monster nad Wraith, which is quite terrifying.'
"Alan, are we going for a drink tonight? I managed to convince my friend to beco a 'part-tir' and help us during our ti in S-City." Ryan watched many of the recruits leave; he noticed so were severely injured while the best were given light bruises and wounds.
"Oh? That friend you always used to speak about, Nikolai? His na sounds like soone from the Union, though. Will he be fine spending ti with from the Federation?" Adam pretended to care, but in all honesty, Ryan didn't worry because neither of them was judgental, and he wanted to help expand Nikolai's world.
'When I was lost and alone, it was Nikolai who helped guide on this path... He started smiling again, so all I can do is try to repair our friendship.'
"One mont, Adam and Ryan, there's sothing I want to ask you both."
The rough-looking male with tanned skin and an x-shaped scar on his face with two fox spectres around his neck called out to the pair. He was their commander and the captain of the new squad being created with the rookies from the global mbers.
He was a forr S-Rank Inspector who fought dangerous Phantoms in the western continents, almost wiping out the A-Federations Vampire mafia before his family died in a tragic accident after also being severely wounded and forced to take a step back with a demotion to A-Rank.
"To be honest, you both have the potential to surpass at my heyday, but it seems you have certain faults that need to be ironed out. Ryan, your spectre is an eagle and makes you brilliant at quick, rushing attacks, but in a prolonged lee, you are at a disadvantage."
"Tsk, I wish my spectre was an eagle. All the guys back ho would be so impressed." Since the Federation's symbolic animal was the eagle.
"Stop complaining, Adam, your spectre is just as good. The defensive properties of your armadillo spectre and its claws allow you to both endure the Phantom's attacks and counter them. It's not sothing to be ashad of! Though you lack speed and technique, and the critical fault of your guard collapsing when switching from defence to attack needs to be fixed!"
Commander Levi was a man of few words in general, but when trying to save or improve recruits and inspectors, that caught his eye. He would speak for hours, even if it were a minor fault.
'Captain's guilt for his loss and failure must be deep.' Ryan thought to himself before nodding and making sure to note down the vital hints from a forr S-Rank inspector, one of only fifty.
"Yes, yes~ I know, Captain."
"Tsk, you're such a smart ass. If it weren't for your dad being my old war buddy, I'd snap your legs to teach you a lesson!"
"Ah?! Please, Captain, forgive !" Adam cried out while running away from the two fox spectres that began to chase him while biting at his ass.
Ryan and Levi watched the poor Adam running away before leaving the training room, holding his middle fingers up before rushing out the door. 'That guy is so stupid...'
"Haha... that stupid bastard I am going to make his life hell for this week! By the way, Ryan, I heard about the 'part-tir' you applied to have joined us on our hunts." The Captain's face beca serious for a mont, as if examining the face of Ryan while narrowing his eyes.
"Yeah, the person is soone I've known all my life, and he seed to have awakened his bloodline in the past week or two. However, he lived his life as a human for twenty-five years, and I know he isn't soone to betray us."
"I've seen the docunt and checked his lineage—the Volkov family is a royal family of Phantoms; in fact, they are the highest level bloodline and threat from the Werewolf race. Thus, it was accepted easily due to his stellar profile and military service records."
Ryan sighed and felt relieved; in the SSS, there were several factions. However, the two with the most strength were directly opposite each other.
One sought the eradication of all Phantoms, no matter if they were beneficial to humanity or dangerous. The other allowed the ones with a good profile and standing to support the SSS as 'part-tirs', allowing them to beco immune to the purges and checks given by the SSS.
'I decided to put Nikolai's na down just in case because of his sudden change and the fact I saw his father's na reported as a dangerous S-Rank Phantom but with good standing and no criminal records. Thanks to Commander Levi, everything went smoothly, and now Nikolai won't be subject to anything dangerous in the future.'
"Haha, I am glad. He was the one who guided onto this path, and when I found out about his family, I beca worried as Nikolai had nothing after those people plotted against him."
Ryan's eyes narrowed, anger and regret filled his chest when he learned about the fact Mari and Daiki were humans that died and beca Phantoms a long ti before everything happened. It seed that the SSS discovered this information but were hoping to find the true culprit families before making a move.
'To think they would be killed and discarded in an alley the other night.'
"Well, I am fair. To be honest, although I detest Phantoms, there is part of that knows so of them just wish to live like humans and enjoy their lives. Since he accepted to help, it proves he has nothing to hide, and I will treat him like you or Adam."
"Thank you, Commander."
"Tsk, call Captain—Commander is just the damn title I've got when speaking to other idiots around the base."
"Sure, Captain, so are you joining us for drinks tonight?"
"Free beer? Who would say no? I'm going to empty your shining wallet tonight!"
Like that, the pair left the training room, with both in a good mood.
***
anwhile, at the Ceasar Arena inside the Nexus both Selene and Nikolai wore a matching suit and dress while watching the opera.
Inside a private VIP box, the two of them seed to have enjoyed the pre-show while drinking several glasses of wine and brandy.
The play they were going to watch was a dark love story between two monsters from different clans that were at war. If humans saw it, they would find it familiar to the Roo and Juliet tale but with more blood and a lot more lust.
Thankfully, it wasn't a story about children; instead, they t as children, and then the play would advance to their adulthood, where they fought each other countless tis despite being deeply in love.
Until the day the male lead killed the female lead's mother in battle.
'It seems just like the human version; the ending is bittersweet. With both clans being exterminated by the church, which now hides behind the SSS.'
Selene sat beside Nikolai as they prepared to watch the show—it was surprising for him to see how excited she was. Not only did she buy the special guide and program but also so of the special rchandise.
"Selene, do you like this kind of story?" Nikolai asked out of curiosity while he enjoyed his iced glass of brandy, the ice made from the blood of a virgin werewolf.
"Hmph! How can you not?" She scoffed before taking out her little program with a cute wolf and vampire image.
"They love each other so much, that stupid werewolf. Why does he not just tell her that he wants to end everything and stay by her side?! There's no need for that battle...." Selene's voice was energetic as she looked through the program and gazed back at Nikolai with her red eyes shining like gemstones speaking non-stop about the play.
He felt a powerful desire within himself that made him want to embrace her right now and kiss her. The sweet smile on her face made him want to capture it with his lips.
Nikolai knew such a thing would be frowned upon in this situation and even make Selene mad.
However... he couldn't stop himself.
While Selene spoke of the story, Nikolai leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.
His tongue slipped into her mouth, tasting the blood wine she had been drinking before exploring her mouth. He felt her body tremble for a mont before she pushed herself onto his chest, returning his passionate kiss.
Her only reaction was to mutter the word "idiot" before becoming lost in the mont.
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