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A few days passed.
Nothing unusual happened.I was still trying to find a arcane reaper . I searched searched and searched but I couldn't find them. Life moved on in its dull, familiar rhythm, as if the world were trying to convince me that everything was normal. I even thought about quitting my job—but the thought never lasted long. I was the only one earning. There was no room for reckless choices.
That morning, I sat at the table for breakfast.
A cup of tea rested in my hands, its warmth slowly seeping into my fingers. The house was quiet, the kind of quiet that feels harmless at first. I unfolded the newspaper and began reading, my eyes moving lazily over the words.
---
That morning, I sat at the breakfast table with a cup of tea warming my hands, the newspaper unfolded before me. Steam curled upward, blurring the ink for a moment.
A headline caught my eye.
"Two People Missing at Lin's Farmhouse."
My fingers tightened.
Lin—the man who owned the farmhouse—was about forty-eight years old. An average farmer. Someone ordinary. Someone who shouldn't have been involved in anything strange.
The article described him an old farmer, ordinary, well-known in the area. The words blurred as my mind filled in what the paper could not say: claw marks, torn flesh, animals slaughtered and dragged away. Another smaller article sat beside it—another disappearance, another unexplained death.
Before I could finish the article—
Knock. Knock.
Sharp. Formal.
My sister stood up immediately. "I'll get it."
From my seat, I heard muffled voices.
"You are Miss charlet Whitlock .Right ?" a man asked.
"Yes?" l am
"Is Mr. Leon Whitlock home?"
A pause.
"Yes… please wait a moment."
She turned back toward me, her expression uncertain. "There are two police officers. They say they need to talk to you. Should I let them in?"
I exhaled slowly. "Yes. Let them in. And… could you make some tea for them?"
She nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.
The officers entered and sat across from me at the table. They studied my face longer than necessary, as if searching for cracks.
"Mr. Leon," one of them said at last. "We need to ask you about that night."
My pulse thudded.
"What exactly happened at Lin's farmhouse?" the other continued. "How did you survive? And do you know whether the others are dead?"
I already knew that I couldn't not tell them about the inogrox.but I have to tell them something.And I also has no idea what happened after that thing came.
So I told what I remember. But didn't tell them that it was a paranormal creature, inogrox.
"That night," I said carefully, "I was there with two other officers. We were investigating Mr. Lin's death. He had claw marks across his back. One of his hands was missing—ripped off, not cut."
They exchanged glances.
"The animals on the farm," I continued, "many were dead. Others were missing. All of them had the same marks. We knew it wasn't human."
My voice wavered, just enough to sound real. "I had a strange feeling there… and then something happened. I don't remember what. I woke up later. Somehow… unharmed."
Silence stretched between us.
Finally, one officer nodded. "If we need anything else, we'll contact you."
They stood and left without touching their tea.
Only when the door closed did I realize my hands were shaking.
---
Breakfast followed as if nothing had happened—homemade bread, mango jam, a perfectly poached egg. Normal food. A normal table. A normal sister who smiled at me with quiet concern.
Afterward, I went out to explore.
This town—Loak City—was alive with quiet industry. Fruit stalls, bakeries, vegetable carts, jewelry shops glittering in the
sun. People laughed. Children ran through narrow streets.
It was very peaceful it felt nice.
---
I kept looking around, my mind turning over the same thought again and again—
how could I find the Arcane Reapers?
If there was even the smallest chance of encountering them, I knew it wouldn't be during the day.
It had to be at night.
In places people avoided.
Places where an Inogrox might be hiding.
The chances were low. I knew that. Painfully low.
But the truth didn't care about chances—and neither did my curiosity.
It was a risk.
A dangerous one.
But I had no choice but to take it.
That night, I went out alone.
Above me, the two moons shone faintly, their pale light barely cutting through the darkness. The streets felt quieter than usual, as if the world itself was holding its breath. With every step, my thoughts raced.
How… and where can I find them?
My feet carried me toward an old house, abandoned and forgotten, its walls cracked with age. I didn't even realize I had stopped thinking until I was already standing in front of it.
I went inside.
The air was thick, heavy with dust and decay. My footsteps echoed softly as I walked, my thoughts still drifting—until suddenly, something broke the silence.
A sound.
Breathing.
Slow. Wet. Wrong.
My body stiffened.
In that instant, I knew.
Without seeing it, without proof—
I knew it was an Inogrox.
Fear crawled up my spine, tightening my chest. Every instinct screamed at me to run.
But if I wanted the truth…
I couldn't turn back now.
Then it appeared.
It stood before me, and my breath caught in my throat.
It looked human—but only enough to be disturbing. A grotesque mockery.
It had a tail, long claws, and a giant tongue that dragged from its mouth. Its body was fat, bloated, yet its face—
Its face looked like a crocodile.
Even though it was heavy —
It was fast.
I raised my gun, but deep down I already knew the truth.
Guns didn't work against things like this.
So I ran.
My heart pounded violently as I sprinted through the house, my only thought being survival. Somewhere in my panic, another realization struck me—
This is what they fight.
The Arcane Reapers.
I ran desperately, trying not to die, trying to think of any way to stop the beast chasing me. But every idea collapsed under the same truth—
It was impossible.
Then—
an idea.
I stopped, turned, and fired at the ceiling.
The Inogrox was directly beneath the spot I shot. A loud crack split the air, and before it could react, the ceiling collapsed, crashing down onto it.
For a moment…
I thought I had killed it.
Silence followed.
I exhaled shakily—
and then my blood ran cold.
It was gone.
Before I could react, I felt its presence behind me.
Too close.
Closer than death.
I turned just as it lunged—
And then—
"CRIMSON SPEAR."
The voice cut through the air.
A spear made of blood materialized in an instant, piercing straight through the Inogrox's body. The creature let out a final, distorted sound before collapsing.
I couldn't move.
My legs refused to respond.
Then someone stepped into view.
He was tall, blond, and handsome, dressed neatly—almost like a gentleman. Calm. Composed. Completely out of place in the chaos around us.
Inside his mind, he thought:
Who is this guy…? I can sense a spirit inside him.
He looked at me and asked,
"Do you have a contract with a spirit? Who are you?"
"I'm Leon," I replied shakily. "But… what do you mean by spirit contract? And—are you one of the Arcane Reapers?"
He paused, thinking for a moment before answering.
"Yes. I am.
My name is Vengard Alaric Blackthorne, and I am the leader of this town."
He continued,
"We fight in the shadows. We exterminate the Inogrox."
Then he looked at me sharply.
"will you join us. We will pay you, of course.
I'm curious—how can you see the Inogrox? And why do I sense a spirit inside you?"
His voice hardened.
"If you refuse… we will erase your memory."
I did hesitate but I said
"Yes."
If I walked away now, I would live the rest of my life never knowing the unknown.
Vengard smiled.
"Oh. One more thing," he said. "How did you know about Inogrox and the Arcane Reapers?"
"I found it in a book."
He nodded.
"That's reasonable. Many books still hold fragments of the truth."
He handed me a card.
"Go to the inn that is in the middle of the town . Ask the cashier for room number four and show her this card. Inside the room, pull a book named 'Onyx.' A door will open. That's our hideout."
And with that—
he disappeared.
By the time I got home, it was around 4 a.m.
I collapsed onto my bed and passed out instantly.
That night, I dreamed.
I saw myself—or rather, the original owner of this body—sleeping in a vast, foggy emptiness. Nothing happened. No sound. No movement.
Then suddenly—
I woke up.
.......
I got ready, ate breakfast, and left. My sister looked worried. She knew I hadn't slept much.
At the inn, I showed the card. They handed me a key. The room was expensive—far more than I expected.
I pulled the book.
The bookshelf moved.
A secret door opened.
Inside, the place looked official—like a hidden headquarters. A cashier stood behind the counter. I showed her the card.
"I'm here to see Mr. Vengard."
She nodded and told me to follow her.
She led me to a room.
"He's inside."
I thanked her and entered.
Vengard was seated at a table, analyzing documents. He looked up.
"So… you came."
"Yes."
He folded his hands.
"If you want to become a Reaper, remember this—
you will always be risking your life. This path is dangerous.
Are you sure you can do it?"
"Yes. I can."
He began explaining.
After killing an Inogrox, its body parts are used to make potions. These grant paranormal powers—but they are also a curse. The Inogrox used in the potion will always whisper to you.
Fail to control it, and you will become an Inogrox yourself.
"Every time you drink a potion," he said, "another voice will appear in your head."
He asked me again.
"Are you sure?"
"I will do it."
He took me to another room—a mix of laboratory and library, filled with potions and ancient books. He showed me how to make one, using the eye and claw of the monster from last night.
When it was ready, he handed it to me.
I hesitated.
Then I drank it.
Power surged through me—raw strength flooding my body. But with it came breathing inside my mind. A presence. Annoying. Persistent.
Still, I managed to control it.
"Congratulations," Vengard said.
"From now on, you are one of the Arcane Reapers."
He asked about my powers.
He told me to close my eyes and focuse they thinking of a ability first.
I closed my eyes and focused.
I teleported—just a short distance.
Then he said now think or a weapon or an attack.
Then I manifested weapons. Gauntlets. A dagger. Shadowy, phantom-like. I couldn't hold them for long, but I understood now.
"This is good," he said. "Today will be your first mission."
I would be accompanied by another Reaper—someone who would train me.
Our target: a nobles house.
Name: Ayx.
They reported seeing a ghost.
At night, I arrived at the house.
Another man was already waiting. Gray hair. Well dressed.
"Are you the new guy?" he asked.I am Edric Hawthorne "Nice to meet you."
"I'm Leon."
He stared at me for a moment Then said
"Shall we go?"
"Yea"
And thats how my 1st mission started.
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