{Simulation Commenced.} {Phase One of Ten: Begin.} [Make it past the first six phases of the simulation.] [The rewards will be based on how far you go and how much you accomplish.] "What were you talking about, Ace?" "If you two don’t mind," Jim spoke to Ace and Cherry as he and Skyler prepared to begin the simulation. "We’d like to get started and finish as quickly as possible." "You guys go ahead," Cherry responded and then faced her brother whilst awaiting his response. "What is it?" "There’s a way I can move you up to the Blood Knight rank," he answered and watched his sister’s eyes widen with excitement. "I’ve already devised a way I can..." "Why not now?" Cherry asked anxiously as she and her brother began the simulation by running. "You could do it now and..." "Remember what happened on Earth when I moved to the Blood Knight rank?" He asked and then waited for Cherry’s response. The female Blood Mutant remembered how her brother lost control and went haywire, something she wasn’t sure she wanted to go through. Even more, there was his transformation to the Blood Bishop rank which nearly cost her her life. "Okay, fine," she sighed. "When’s the perfect time then?" While thinking, the humans were suddenly stopped in their tracks by a loud, blood-curdling shriek that echoed throughout the simulation chamber. At a standstill, the humans looked around to find the source of the scream. It was so loud that it almost sounded like whatever made it was right by their ears, and yet there was nothing they could see. "Either whatever made that sound was invisible or I’m losing my mind." "You’re definitely not the only one thinking like that, Cherry." "I’m not taking chances," Skyler opted to transform into her groundhog state. "If I were you, I’d transform right now and..." The screams echoed once more, only this time they were louder and more frightening. If a faint-hearted person were present, the screams alone would be enough to send their bodies into extensive shock that would later lead them into a temporary but long state of paralysis. "I’m not taking any chances either." Cherry transformed, and shortly after, Jim did the same. The only one stubborn enough not to do it was Ace. While the others chose to play it safe, Ace decided to test his base strength against whatever it was that made the scream. "I hear something!!" Skyler warned and pointed to her right. The others turned their attention to where she pointed and noticed a gray, disfigured creature standing still. The creature had a humanoid shape with the basic two hands, two legs, and a round head signifying some form of intelligence. However, the creature’s body was a mixture of thin and tightly impacted muscles wrapped around a dense skeletal frame. Standing at roughly six feet, the creature looked sort of menacing with its ashy skin, long bony hands with three long claws, and a head without lips, eyes, or eyeballs in its skull. It sort of looked dead and alive at the same time. "Oh my god!" Cherry scoffed in disgust. "What the hell is that thing?" [System Scan: Unavailable.] ’Of course it isn’t available.’ "I’m not sure, but we should approach it with caution..." Jim warned but was suddenly put down by Ace who ran full speed at the creature. The Blood Mutant, having only transformed his hands into claws, approached the beast and swung at its head with all his might. The creature dodged perfectly, almost as if it knew exactly where Ace was going to attack. Just then, three more creatures appeared with one being slightly larger than the others. The other three humans picked one to fight, with Skyler taking the largest. As for Ace, he continued going toe-to-toe with the creature, both throwing punches and kicks while dodging attacks from each other. ’Its attacks are so coordinated, almost as if it knows my exact moves.’ Ace thought to himself while studying the creature’s movements. He wasn’t the only one experiencing such with the creatures. Jim, Cherry, and Skyler fought theirs as well, and yet neither were able to lay a hit, but thankfully, none of them were hit. ’The others haven’t gotten anywhere with theirs, huh?" He wondered while devising a plan. "Okay then, let’s try this." [Transformation: Activated.] As Ace’s body transformed, he slit his wrists and spilled some of his blood onto the creature, making sure to cover its front chest and head. Once his transformation was complete, he gave the creature one strong push before activating his Blood Fire Skill. [Blood Fire Skill: Activated.] Red-pink flames engulfed the creature’s upper body, slowly but painfully burning its gray flesh. The Blood Bishop smirked, thinking he had done some harm to the creature. However, the creature, although burned, did not react in any way. It stood still, its body getting consumed by the flames and yet no visible effects were noticed. "The flames do not affect it?" he wondered. However... [You have been impaled!!] Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝗇𝖾𝗍 [You’re losing blood. Your body will begin healing immediately.] Having dropped his guard down, Ace had created an opening for his opponent to land a deadly blow. The creature closed the distance between it and Ace and then pierced its claws into his sides. Despite his body being slightly tougher than most, the creature easily dug its claws into his body and slowly began to twist and turn. "You move quick," Ace smirked. "Let’s see if you’ll be able to dodge this." [Blood Weapon Skill: Activated.] Using his blood from the wound, Ace created a series of blood spikes that shot so quickly that they impaled the beast through its chest, throat, and chin. The creature’s body was left hanging as the Blood Bishop began chopping off its body, limb by limb, section by section. [Congratulations. You killed a mimicker.] ’So that’s what it’s called.’ Ace wondered. ’That explains how it was able to read my moves so well.’ [Not everyone in your team can handle the mimickers. Do whatever you can to help them...or else.]