Liv has never felt more helpless in her life.

Yes, Liv knows how to read and write, but these contracts and their contents were completely nonsensical! What the hell is a Cure Period, a Deed, or an Inter Alia? For two hours, she slogs through long, complicated, hard-to-read documents. She felt like the words were curling into themselves, assaulting her brain with their nonsensical complexity, their contents spilling from the papers tip to toe. She couldn't seem to answer many of them, especially the ones pertaining to her place of residence. She had informed him about that, earning a look of sympathy before he placed another stack before her, effectively doubling her work load. After that, she decided to just guess. She didn't really have a last name, so she just made one up. She figured "Boss" wasn't a bad last name, so "Liv Boss" it would be.

After scratching her name down on the final paper, the man takes it along with the pile, sliding them to the left, the contents of her hours of working looking almost minuscule in comparison to the mountains of paperwork before it, “That's all the paperwork done. I guess you're ready for the combat test.”

Liv's head perks up at the mention of finished paperwork, the man standing with a grunt of effort as he turns to the metal door. He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small key with a bizarre head. He slips it into the lock, the mechanism thunking before sliding open. A cold breeze washes over the room, a shiver crawling up Liv's spine as she gets a good look down the buildings backroom. It seems to be some sort of concrete all around The stairs are made of the same concrete as the building, fluorescent lights affixed to the top, a gentle hum escaping them as they illuminate the path forward. The stairs wind downward in a spiral pattern, narrowing further and further as they descend. Liv stares forth, looking between the man beckoning her in and the narrow path forward. Eventually, she shrugs, turning sideways as she pushes into the stairwell, the door sliding shut behind her.

The descent is far from a comfortable one. Her exposed arms scrape against the walls as a chill settles into the deepest reaches of her body. Her breathing clouds as it escaped her mouth, a mist wafting out to envelop her, rolling like a listless ocean in high tide. As she continues, the cold only grows, the freezing temperatures becoming physically painful as she continues to scrape against the walls, her teeth chattering as the bite of frost becomes unignorable. Just as it becomes unbearable, as she's ready to turn back to slam on the door, a sort of relief crawls over her. Her gauntlets let off a soft light, heat seeping into her body.

“Bout damn time ya helped.” She chuckles to herself, giving the gauntlet a quick knock against the wall. The gauntlets flare a bit, releasing more heat, but no response comes.

After what feels like an hour, she finally sees a bright, purplish glow from the end of the hall. She grunts, squeezing herself out of the spiraling staircase, taking in the sight before her.

She stands in a small, rectangular room, a metal platform with stairs ascending 3 steps, the only thing here. The metal seems to be dull, reflecting little light from the glowing, purple portal with metal, curved obelisk jutting out on every side. It hums in tune with her gauntlets, her boss humming in turn with it. The portal undulates, pulsing rhythmically– heat returning with every step closer. This must be whatever the hell a Strata is.

Alexis had been the one to describe this to her. Apparently, these things opened up around the world about 33 years ago, releasing demons upon the world. She knows they have a ranking system, but she doesn’t remember what they were, or how to tell them apart…

“Its Risk, the lowest level.” Her boss pipes up, causing her to jump. It hadn’’t talked in a while.

“Thanks,” Liv says slowly, allowing her eyes to fall to her gauntlets once more, “But I knew-”

“No, you certainly didn’t.” Her boss cuts her off, exasperation clear in its voice.

“You dunno that.” She retorts

“I do.”

“Tch.” Liv clicks her tongue against her teeth, crossing her arms as she looks back to the Strata. Her eyes fix on the undulating depths before she speaks again, “Why d’ya even care? I ain’t figured I was in your Por… Pro… Per…”

“Prerogative.”

“Yeah, whatever. Your goal or somethin.”

Her boss stays silent for a moment, causing Liv to cock her eyebrow. After a moment, it says, “While this isn’t ideal, and it certainly isn’t what I believe you should have done, it’s simply the decision you made. I do hope you make smarter decisions in the future, though I know you won’t. Its in my best interest, however, to keep you alive and healthy, and to cover your weaknesses. Your memory, and intelligence-”

“OI.” Liv interjects, her face flushing.

“...Just memory, then. I cover your weaknesses, and you cover mine. It's in my best interest for you to live on, and I don't believe you the suicidal sort. If we are to survive, cooperation is the only method forward."

Liv mutters, glaring down at the gauntlets. While angry, she has to admit that it had a point. With a huff, she walks toward the Strata, her feet clanking against the metal stairs until she's right in front of it. She looks right into it, preparing to take a step forward. As she does, however, the Strata releases a pulse of power, sending her staggering back. She trips down the stairs, impacting the concrete floor as something jumps out, screeching at the top of its lungs.

"REEE!"

Out of the Strata comes a large, hog sized mosquito with a humanoid face, its yellow teeth reflecting light in the dim room. It's head and thorax each sport a large, bulbous sack filled with an orange, bubbling liquid. It takes a once over of the room while sniffing once, twice, and thrice before it's head whips around to her, another wild screech escaping it's mouth as it buzzes toward her, the sharp rows of teeth from it's wide open maw glinting in the dim lights.

"JESUS FUCKIN' CHRIST!" She screams, swinging her arms wildly as a surge of panic fills her. Her wild swing manages to strike true, the metal of her gauntlet burying in it's bulbous head as a distinct popping sound bubbles out. Liv finds out the cause of the noise soon enough as the bubbling liquid from it's head splashes onto her exposed arm, burning into her skin as the creature falls to the floor, completely limp. Pain lances through her body as it slowly evaporates, leaving a small, distinct burn mark on her arm. "WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THAT?"

"A demon." Her boss responds.

"I KNOW THAT, I MEAN A TYPE OR SOMETHIN'!"

"A bug?" It responds, its tone unsure.

"THANKS, I COULDN'T'A PIECED THAT TOGETHER." She growls, shaking her arm off. The pain was beginning to fade, but the cold billowing made it feel like thousands of needles picking against her skin. She always hated the cold for that, the uncaring nature of it. Her skin was knitting back together, so the pain was fading to the back of her mind, slowly fading into nothingness, a relief that tingled throughout her body, ringing it's tune through her heart.

With a deep breath and a calmed mind, she takes a tentative look toward the demon. Its already sizzling to nothing, the bubbling liquid oozing from it's head fading to steam, billowing high into the air before shifting to nothingness. She steps over it, ascending the metal steps, stopping just before the Strata, waiting for something to come out. After a second of silence, she reaches a finger out, poking at the middle of the Strata. It's almost jelly-esque in feel, like water with its surface tension cranked up to 10. She takes a deep breath, steeling herself as she pushes forward, letting her hand push in.

VWOMP

Her hand manages to pass through, all the way up to her wrist. For some reason, however... She cant feel it anymore. She tries to pull it back, but she finds herself unable to. It sucks her in further, to her elbow, then to her shoulder. Before she can shout or make a noise of any kind, she's gone, absorbed into it's depths.

And silence dominates once more.