Eden was dead. Across the vast expanse of this once vibrant universe, shattered worlds floated around its center where the Tower stood, and as one would venture further out to the edges of Eden, there would be a gradual increase of intact worlds with scorched barren surfaces. Then, at the very edges, there were worlds with city ruins and dead forests. Next to the Tower, a blood red star orbited around it. Within that star, the Sovereign Destroyer dwelled within, imprisoned. The star would darken completely when he slept, and when he awoke, he would cry out in agony, sending horrific shockwaves across all of Eden as he called out for the Sovereign Creator to come back to him before casting Eden into a blood red glow. This happened again and again for the past fifty years.
  On a dead world whose skeleton consisted of torn apart cities with shattered skyscrapers and Godsbane infesting the streets, gunshots rang out. Shouting could be heard from deep within the city as two armored trucks filled with armed Humans plowed through the streets, running over and shooting every Godsbane in their way as they chased after a ball of azure flames and cinders that zipped through the road. One human climbed to the top of a truck and aimed his rifle at the ball of cinders.
  "You're ours now, freak." The human said with a smile.
  BANG!
  The ball of cinders parted as the bullet grazed the cheek of the young man hidden within, Erik. He looked behind himself and the Humans saw his bright azure blue left eye and golden right eye. They cheered and jeered at Erik, celebrating their opportunity to hunt down the biggest game in all of Eden, an Heir. 
     Erik couldn't help but break out into tears as he cloaked himself in azure flames once more and bolted down the road.
  "Come here and be a good boy for us, freak!"
  "Sit! Roll over! Beg! Quit playing with us and be a good slave like the rest of your kind!"
  "When I get my hands on you, I'll break you in like one of my Kindred whores!"
  The Humans continued to say horrific threats and commands, trying to bend Erik's Will the same way they've bent the Will of the rest of his kind. Somehow, Humans could bend the Will of Heirs with a single command, yet Erik was immune to their influence. But he wasn't immune to the burning shame in his chest from their hateful demands. It was all so degrading.
  Erik fucking hated Humans.
  Godsbane of different shapes and sizes ran after the two trucks, screeching and howling as they came from all directions. They scurried through the road, along the building walls, and some flew in from above. The air hung sour with the putrid smell of their rotting flesh. Half of the Humans in both trucks focused on shooting down any Godsbane that got close and the other half focused down Erik with a hail of bullets. Erik dodged every shot as best he could, but he would occasionally be grazed despite his efforts. He ignored the scrapes and bullet holes. Azure flames rose from each wound, healing in seconds before the flames died out. Meanwhile, every Godsbane near Erik ignored him, favoring the sinful flesh of Humans over that of an Heir's. Erik dodged and weaved through the howling beasts, trying to run through dense crowds of them so he could slow down the Humans.
  BOOM!
  One of the buildings ahead of Erik suddenly exploded, collapsing down onto the street in his path. Erik stopped as rubble fell before him with a loud crash. He looked above himself to see an aircraft, a combative hovercraft invented by the Empire, was hovering above him with a freshly fired laser cannon. The cruiser aimed its artillery at him and opened fire. Erik ran in a random direction, taking the road to the left as he casted a blue ward above his head as cover, angling the ward just right as he ran. Bullets ended up ricocheting off the ward towards the two trucks, killing 6 of the Humans as the rest ducked for cover as they drove. One of the trucks swerved off the road and crashed into a building. Godsbane zeroed in on the truck, squealing in delight as they tore through the metal truck like paper and pulled each human out one by one. The Humans screamed in agony as the Godsbane swarmed on top of them, tearing their sharp fangs through flesh and bone and gorging themselves on their delicious feast. Human limbs and organs were flung into the air as blood pooled into the street.
  Erik spat at the ground to his side as he caught a glimpse of the humans being devoured. He continued to run, covering a couple blocks in only seconds before taking a right out of the cruiser's line of fire. He took careful turns at every block, making sure he was expanding the distance between himself and the Humans while making it difficult to follow him. Soon Erik stopped in front of the tallest building in the world. The azure cinders dissipated from around him as he looked up at the building, struggling to catch his breath. The building was forty stories tall, had only broken windows, and managed to keep standing despite having several torn out sections in it from the War. This world is on the outer edge of Eden, three billion miles away from the center where the War mainly took place. It was hard to believe a War between the Sovereign Heirs had impacted even this place from so far away. Their power was inconceivable.
  Erik swiped his index finger in a horizontal motion in front of himself, making the holographic screen of his Archive appear before himself. It showed a map of the world, an old detailed one from before the War. It looked like it had white light brightening up the world instead of the blood red gloom that was casted down from the Sovereign Destroyer's prison. It was lush with greenery and there were even pictures on the bottom right corner of the hologram showing once vibrant hot spots and selfies Kindred had taken of themselves on this world. Erik wanted more than anything to look at those pictures again. He wanted to see the happy faces of the people his kind had worked so hard to protect, and imagine himself amongst them. He wished he would have experienced the very same paradise, but he was born five years after Humanity appeared and caused all of this. However, he didn't have time to lament missed opportunities. His sister Luna told him to meet her at the tallest building in this world and from the look of the map, he was at the right spot.
  Erik swiped away his Archive and jogged towards the building entrance, but suddenly sensed a presence. He looked behind himself right when something suddenly crashed into the ground behind him, sending a shockwave that picked Erik off his feet and slammed him against the building wall. Erik gasped in pain as he fell on his rear and looked at the figure that caused the explosion. Dust clouds dissipated to reveal a Godsbane that was large, broad, and looked like a bipedal wolf. Its fur was charcoal black and its flesh wasn't rotten like most Godsbane. A large furry tail wagged behind it as it stepped towards Erik before pausing. It appeared to be a freshly turned Lycan, one of the seven Kindred Races, and it died while in its wolf-like transformation. They typically looked like Humans and Heirs, but had wolf ears and tails. 
     Erik quickly shot up and readied a spell, his right hand becoming engulfed in azure blue flames.
  This Godsbane was likely a Category Two if it wasn't immediately attacking Erik. Such Godsbane were intelligent enough to think before acting, and they were also a lot stronger. Erik could probably kill it on his own, but with there still being Humans on the prowl for him, he would need to find his sister first. Erik wasn't strong like her. Luna could slice this entire world to bits, meanwhile Erik was only strong enough to blow up a small vehicle. He needed to run into the building and hope she was somewhere inside, otherwise Erik was done for.
  "You look..." The Godsbane mumbled, stepping closer. Erik's blood ran cold as the horrifying realization struck. "Familiar."
  Erik went wide-eyed, panting harder as his heart began to hammer in his chest.
  It could talk. The Godsbane could talk! That could only mean it was a Category 3, strongest variety that could be found in Eden. Not even Luna could face off against that! Why was this beast here of all places?! Why couldn't Erik have just stayed in his cave and rot there instead of being about to get torn to shreds?!
  "Why are you scared?" The Godsbane asked, now only a foot away from Erik. It leered down at Erik, its golden eyes studying him like a predator watches its prey. It drooled like a fountain, its saliva constantly splashing onto the ground at Erik's feet. Erik pressed himself against the wall, his legs trembling. He didn't know how to get out of this. He knew he wasn't fast enough to run nor strong enough to fight. Category 3 Godsbane were strong enough to fight the Empire's strongest Heirs excluding the Sovereign Heirs. Erik was one of the weakest of his kind.
  Suddenly the Godsbane leaned in and sniffed Erik's neck, making him freeze with a whimper. The beast growled with satisfaction before running its flat tongue across Erik's skin, licking him up to his ear and sniffing his blue-green hair. Erik gagged, pushing at the Godsbane, but it didn't budge.
  "Don't do that!" Erik cried. The Godsbane's saliva trickled down his neck and rolled down his body all the way down to the ground, pooling together in thick puddles. The smell was rancid and Erik felt bile shoot up his throat. The Godsbane wrapped its clawed hands around Erik, groaning as Erik struggled against it.
  This can't be happening. Erik thought. He was so close to meeting up with his sister, but now he was about to be ra-
  "YELP" The Godsbane cried out as its arms and tongue were cut clean off. Black blood sprayed all over Erik as the Godsbane tried to back away, but suddenly one of its legs was cut off. Erik looked around, trying to find who did this, but he couldn't find anyone. He couldn't even sense any disturbances in the air or the Darkness. Yet the Godsbane fell over, nearly all of its limbs amputated with surgical precision. Someone was here with Erik.
  Someone extremely powerful.
  "Seek me out atop the building." A Woman softly cooed next to Erik's ear. He jerked his head in the direction of the woman's voice, but he saw nobody. Erik began to panic. This didn't make any sense. Why can't he detect any trace of this person? Erik looked up at the building he was supposed to meet his sister at. Whoever was up there, she is clearly far more dangerous than everything else Erik had dealt with in his life.
  "Fuck this." He needed to get out of here. The danger that woman posed wasn't worth reuniting with Luna. Erik turned tail and was about to run away, but suddenly the Darkness around him thickened, removing all vision of everything around him except the Godsbane and the building. It was like a black wall had fallen before him. Erik crept towards the black veil, touching it to find that it was completely solid.
  "I can't let you do that." The Woman whispered in Erik's ear again. Erik jerked his head again, feeling goosebumps run down his neck. "Come to me. You'll be safe with me, I promise."
  Lies! There was no way she could mean any of that. Everyone who wasn't his brother or sister did nothing but lie and take advantage of Erik thus far. Erik didn't want to be lied to or used anymore. He just wanted to be left alone! Why must everyone do everything in their power to make Erik want to die so much?!
  "Don't cry, Erik." The Woman said. Erik paused and pressed his hand against his cheek, feeling tears clinging to his fingers as he sniffled. How did she know his name? Have they met before? "I understand you've been through so much, and I'm afraid there is much more to be endured. But you don't need to do it alone anymore. Come to me, Erik. We can talk while we wait for your sister."

  "You know about Luna?" Erik asked with wide eyes, but received no answer. He looked to the Godsbane, who was also trapped by the dark wall. It was still lying on the ground, leering at the top of the building with a low rumble emanating from its throat while its fur stood on end. The nubs where its limbs were had closed up and begun regenerating, its flesh pulsating and rippling with slimy sounds. It knew the Woman was up there, and it was wary of her. Erik knew it intended to run away when it had the opportunity.
  Perhaps Erik would be safer with her. She knew Luna would be there and saved Erik. It was possible that Luna requested the Woman to meet her here. Erik never doubted his sister, but he was scared this would be a trap. Worst case scenario however, Erik dies, if the Woman isn't human that is. Dying sounds way better than turning back and dealing with the Humans and Godsbane again.
  Erik turned towards the building and walked up to the entrance. He stopped just before it, looking back to the Godsbane. It regrew its limbs and stared at him with wide eyes, sitting entirely still. He couldn't see its pupils anymore. All he saw were two yellow discs, like the eyes of an animal with a flashlight shining on it. It made Erik's skin crawl.
  Erik walked into the building into a reception room with an elevator door across from the entrance. The room was cluttered with knocked over chairs and tables, and several dead bodies of Kindred and Humans littered the spaces between. None of the bodies have undergone necrosis. It wasn't possible when this unique Darkness killed bacteria and Kindred, Humans however remain unaffected, mostly. The bodies of the Humans were more than halfway eaten, while the Kindred bodies were almost untouched minus a few life ending wounds. It seemed like Godsbane not only favored Human flesh more, but only liked their food warm.
  Erik stopped at the elevator and pulled out a tiny circular device the size of his thumb and stuck it against the blank elevator glass interface. He channeled mana into the device, linking it to his soul and instantly making the lights in the building flicker before exploding. The elevator came to life, the glass interface created several holograms of floor buttons as the door opened. Erik stepped inside the elevator and turned around, looking back at the Godsbane again. The reception room was dark, black and cold, and at the front door, the Godsbane was pressed up against the glass, staring intensely at Erik. The only light in the room was the glow of the Godsbane's golden eyes, unblinking and unmoving. Its clawed hands were on the glass, its claws slowly inching down bit by bit, making a quiet scraping noise.
  Erik couldn't help but stare back. He saw a brief glimmer in the Godsbane's eyes, one that sparked something in Erik. Somewhere, deep in his soul, he saw something. An echo of a memory that shouldn't be there. The Godsbane's words echoed in Erik's mind, and without thinking, Erik said something just before the elevator doors closed.
  "You seem familiar..."