[Would you like to know what it is?] While trekking through the canyons created inside of the simulation chamber, Ace was unexpectedly interrupted by his system announcing an important ’update’ that it deemed as ’important’ for him to know. At first, the Blood Bishop was hesitant and skeptical about the update for he didn’t know what it was. At first, the Mutant thought that the update was another rank-up for him. However, if it was a rank-up update, he feared that he’d turn into a mindless, bloodthirsty creature that could end up hunting Skyler and Jim. Despite this, Ace’s curiosity got the best of him and eventually, he was urged to go on with whatever it was his system wanted to ’update’ him on. [Origin Update commenced.] The Blood Bishops’ vision altered to a large space that resembled the dark, empty sky of night. With stars scattered all over, Ace figured that he was transported to some sort of outer space area within his system. Floating aimlessly, Ace’s mind was bombarded with vivid images of the Akrina Galaxy, the galaxy in which the Granians, Ethisians, and other alien races dwelt in. The Granians, a once feared and worshiped alien race, were currently preparing themselves for a full-out war against their foes, the Ethisians. The Ethisians were another mighty alien race, feared and often hated amongst the other hundred alien races across the galaxy. For centuries, both Granians and Ethisians fought furiously amongst each other with the Granians constantly coming out victorious. Due to their constant loss to the Granians, the Ethisians devised many ways how they would defeat their enemies. This hatred and urge to win pushed them to create new inventions in terms of weapons, technology, and vehicles, thus creating the Great Space War. The Great Space War was a time when the Granians and Ethisians competed on who’d create the best technology. This, of course, pushed the other neighboring races to participate which eventually led to Space Expeditions whereby the Ethisians enslaved, conquered, and stole planets in order to increase their influence. While the Ethisians did so, the Granians came upon a strange planet located on the desolate edges of the Akrina Galaxy. The planet, only having a small red sun and red moon to orbit, had a dark red texture to it with very few bodies of water around. Upon its discovery, the Granians explored the planet and discovered the most feared creatures in the Akrina galaxy.... [Precisely,] his system responded and then went on to explain. The Blood Mutant race consisted of incredibly powerful beings that thrived on the blood of other species. This factor turned them into mindless, bloodthirsty creatures that would only live to kill and kill to live. At first, the Granians attempted to enslave the Mutants. However, every single attempt to do so always ended with the loss of Granian life. Eventually, the Granians discovered symbiotes, simple life forms that thrived on Blood Mutants. They learned that the symbiotes were responsible for giving the Blood Mutants brute strength. For years, the Granians tried to harness the Blood Mutant’s power. Every failed attempt led them closer to unlocking a code that slowly led them to Earth. Upon arrival, the Granians quietly abducted humans without causing any alarms. Once they fused Blood Mutant DNA with Human DNA and symbiotic DNA, the Granians were able to create incredibly powerful Blood Mutant soldiers. "What happened next?" The Granians abducted over one thousand humans and created a Blood Mutant army. With those numbers, they returned to the Akrina Galaxy and took back everything the Ethisians had conquered while taking planets, civilizations, and solar systems for themselves. Throughout that time of conquering and killing, the Blood Bath Wars were created and it included wars between the Ethisians and Granians along with the intervention of other races. During this time, the Granians would conquer thousands of planets but they also lost over ninety percent of their Blood Mutant soldiers. Only two remained and those two were so strong that they became the embodiment of FEAR itself. Eventually, the Granians had gotten what they wanted but it came at a cost. Due to the loss of lives, planets, solar systems, and civilizations, the Intergalactic Space Council was erected to punish the Granians. Their punishments were biased since most of the Council Members favored the Ethisians more than the Granians. The Granians were forced to give up most of their acquired territories, forced to hand over their remaining Blood Mutant warriors to the Ethisians where they’d be placed in a state of unconsciousness until they were needed, and lastly banned from returning to Earth. However, the Council forgot one important thing. They didn’t ask the Granians how or where they got the Blood Mutant DNA from. To this day, Ethisians and every other alien race think that Humans are Blood Mutants, hence the reason the Granians were banned from returning to Earth. "I see," Ace replied. "This has explained a good number of questions I had in mind. Although, it still doesn’t reveal the identity of the remaining Blood Mutant soldiers. Also, how do you know all of this?" [More information will be revealed in the future.] The system abruptly ended with Ace returning to the canyons within the Simulation Chamber. Even though he still had lots of questions to ask, the information he had gotten proved to be more than helpful. That included the origin of the Ethisian and Granian wars, the aftereffects, and the reason he and the others were turned into what they are. What it didn’t answer, however, was the question of who the Intergalactic Space Council was and why the Granians bowed to their command even though they were the most feared race in the entire Akrina Galaxy. ’If the Granians were so feared, how come they listened to the Council Members?’ he wondered. ’Who exactly are they and how powerful are they that the Granians obeyed?’ While still in the middle of his thoughts, the Simulation Chamber’s AI echoed instructions concerning the Fourth Phase. [Subjects Ace, Skyler, and Jim have commenced with the Fourth Phase.] [Objective: Navigate through the Canyons with a total of ten kills.] ’Only ten?’ they all thought. ’Then that means that we’re going to encounter strong creatures in here.’ ------------------------ Ace, Skyler, and Jim, currently inside a series of jumbled canyons with high walls, narrow pathways, and rocky floors, were all mentally focused on how they were going to complete the Fourth Phase. According to the Simulation Chamber’s AI, they were to navigate their way through the alley while making sure to have a total kill number of ten. At first, the three of them were relieved to have such a simple task. However, based on their past training experiences, the three knew that it was not going to be anything else but easy. If they were only required to kill ten, it meant that whatever they were going to meet was going to be more than a challenge. ’Let’s get this over with.’ Ace mumbled to himself while creating a Blood Sword. Thanks to his heightened senses, he was able to sense a chilling presence ahead of him. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝘯𝘦𝘵 [System Scan Skill: Unavailable.] ’Every single time,’ he sighed heavily. While doing so, the air around the Mutant grew cold and thin, making it almost difficult for him to breathe properly. Upon sensing this, Ace turned his hands into claws and stood still, his eyes scanning the area for anything out of the blue. Met by a sharp pain to his back, Ace’s body was sent skidding across the rocky floor of the canyons with his attacker following shortly after with an attack to his head. Thankfully, the Mutant lifted his body off the ground with a flip and watched a large hole form in the area where his head was once positioned. ’An invincible creature?’ he wondered. Even though there was a hole, he didn’t see what exactly caused it. ’I better be careful with this one then. No time to play it safe.’ [Blood Drain Skill: Activated.] ’Damn it.’ He cursed while choosing another skill to use. [Blood Control Skill: Activated.] ’Not good.’ Just as he was about to choose another skill to use, Ace’s chest was met by an incredibly powerful force that knocked him to the ground. His chest throbbed intensely with his airways struggling to take in air. [Your lungs have been punctured.] [Blood Drain Skill: Activated.] Once again, Ace attempted to drain his opponent’s blood, and yet his system detected nothing. Having no choice left, the Blood Bishop transformed into his Mutant form, not wanting to suffer any more damage. ’What the!!??’ With his Mutant eyes, Ace noticed three scaly, humanoid creatures surrounding him. With two handing on either side of the canyon walls and one standing directly in front of him, the Mutant took extra caution while planning on how he’d kill them quickly and brutally. ’They hit hard, meaning they’re strong. Now that I can see them, it won’t be much of a challenge anymore.’ He grinned and then suddenly felt his heart sink. ’Jim might be able to see them, but what about Skyler? Will she handle these creatures given her current state?’