Herald of death

"Alchemy (Cooking) leveled up," Ethan hears as he pieces a duck breast with honey sauce and sautéed potatoes.

'Come,' he thinks. Russ rushes to Ethan's side. 'Sit, down, pretty, down, good boy,' Ethan orders successively, rewarding him with fried duck fat.

The TV suddenly plays the French anthem as a special diffusion from the Elysee begins.

The French president appears; he seems unharmed, yet Ethan notices that he hides a bruise with makeup.

"My fellow compatriots. Today, I stand before you as our nation enters the greatest challenge of our modern era. We are at war against forces that, until now, we believed were confined to the pages of fantasy and fiction," he begins. Images of dead monsters in the streets play in the corner. "We are instituting measures to ensure that our response to this crisis is coordinated, effective, and mindful of the greater good. Freedom must be balanced with responsibility, equality pursued with an understanding of the risks involved, and brotherhood must underscore our collective journey through this challenge."

Ethan smiles between two bites. "I feel it coming," he mocks.

"Your cooperation with local authorities, your understanding during these trying times, and your trust in the measures we will be taking are crucial to our shared success. Until further development, you are to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary. Our police and army are working tirelessly to bring back your security. I call upon you to support one another, to remain steadfast in your resolve, and to trust in the actions being taken on your behalf. The road ahead may be fraught with challenges, but together, we possess the strength, the courage, and the unity to overcome," the president continues.

"Let me guess. It will only last two weeks," Ethan jests.

The president concludes, "Let this be a time when the spirit of the French people shines brightest, when our collective efforts write a story of resilience, hope, and triumph. Vive la République, et vive la France."

The television switches to a broadcast of a questions and answers set. A message indicates the imminent arrival of the prime minister.

Ethan's phone beeps, displaying an alert notification warning him of the lockdown. It vibrates without a notification, and Ethan opens the N.E.S.T application. An incoming call screen appears, and he picks up.

"Welcome back, Reaper five. You are probably aware of the lockdown. I am calling you about your target," Tombstone starts. "We have confirmed the survival of your client. Furthermore, the phone you bugged shows that they are moving tonight, lockdown or not. He will be escorted out of Paris to an unknown location."

"I have to deal with him tonight, or it will take another month to locate him. How are the police and army responding? Should I expect roadblocks or patrols?" Ethan asks.

"Despite the public announcements, it seems the police are still recovering from the initial attacks. The army is moving, but most roads are blocked. You should have a window for tonight." Tombstone explains.

Ethan thinks over the details for a moment. "It will be messy," he says.

She answers, "the current situation will ease the cleaning process."

"Very well, it will be dealt with tonight," Ethan begins. "I chose the Harbinger class."

"No one else seems to have it; what does it do?" she asks.

Ethan explains, "It grants me no ability, but I get to select where I put my characteristic points and I get fifty percent more of them."

"A strange choice. I bet you would take Assassin," she says.

"I think it will pay in the long term," Ethan explains.

"Speaking of classes, we learned that those who unlocked none were forced into the Villager class," she begins. "Its description is quite ominous. Take your future in your own hands or become food for someone else."

There is a silence between them. "And Russ became an ambush predator," Ethan announces.

"Dogs can have classes too?" Surprise is clear in her tone, despite the voice modifier.

Ethan explains, "if they like you enough, you can bond with them and manage their status."

"Good to know. I will keep you updated on the military response. Good luck out there," Tombstone says before ending the call.

Ethan finishes the last bites of his meal and cleans his plate. Glancing at the haversack, he thinks, 'that could be useful.'

He cleans the table and starts placing items. A US Woodland urban trellis. A HK G28 with sniper's optics, bipod, silencer, and subsonic ammo. His HK416 and black-tip armor-piercing rounds. Three flashbang grenades, three frag grenades, and one incendiary. A plate carrier reinforced with level three plus plates in which he stores his magazines. A thigh pistol holster, a belt with Glock magazines, an American military combat knife, and three throwing daggers.

He checks and cleans his weapons before placing everything in the haversack. "You are going to sit this one out," Ethan says to Russ, who exhales in response.

After taking Russ out for a quick bathroom break, Ethan picks up a new set of keys in the apartment. He rides a Yamaha YZF-R1 motorbike out of the garage before closing its door. "Adding the Driving (Motorbike) skill. Based on your previous experience a level of 49 has been applied."

He feels that something is watching him as he mounts his bike. Looking around with predator's sight he sees a myriad of small creatures in the undergrounds of a nearby building. One of them watches him from an apartment window but stumbles back as soon as Ethan looks up.

Attaching his phone to the bike's handle, he calls Tombstone as he drives away. "Warn the cleaning crew for my apartment; monsters nest in the eleventh."

"Understood," she says as he hangs up.

The motorcycle cuts a swift path through the streets of Paris, now a macabre tableau. The air is thick with the stench of burning and an acrid smoke that burns the eyes. The cobblestones, slick with blood and littered with debris, make the journey treacherous.

The grand avenues, once bustling with life, now serve as arenas where the corpses of both humans and monsters lie. Above, flying creatures project intimidating shadows as they veil the sun.

Buildings that have stood for centuries are now charred husks or lie in ruins. As Ethan speeds past a square, a wyvern lies dead in a fountain, its blood darkening the water to a deep red. Surrounding it are the mangled bodies of soldiers who fought it. The aftermath of its rampage stands as a grotesque display of dismembered limbs and unrecognizable remains.

The air is filled with screams of terror and pain, a haunting background to the destruction. Yet, amidst the terror, individuals risk their lives to pull others from the rubble. Those who couldn't find shelter fight off the monsters who hunt them.

As Ethan dodges debris and avoids the occasional lunge from horrors beyond this world, he exits the city to cross the Seine. Soon he reaches the north-west suburbs, where he enters an industrial area.

He halts his motorbike at the sight of a band of youngsters, armed with makeshift weapons and the occasional gun.