◇ Glass Core ◇

Chapter 8: Missing Wing Harpy

SLASH!!! Our blades stumbled the beast against its own crystal tower! The Unknownity roared and its claw and talon grew twice as long and it stabbed into the roof, holding still as a burst of shadow surged within it. It started to crack the whole roof, shaking the building, its voice shrieking louder than before which moved us far back.

The wingless harpy longer became... Two shadow essence from the sky shot down and penetrated into his body before it flowed around him and shoot out two spikes from his back. The spike slowly mold itself and became wings! The Missing Wing Harpy had found its wings, and now it dashed upward and started to fly with its claw more dangerous then before.

"Suki! It's flying! W-wait, it just sprouted wings. It seemed like we have to be careful because this is a wild Unknownity so not much is known about it." Cerlia seemed concerned but still held her guild.

As for me, I growled and rushed bellow it as I noticed it going down toward me already! I clashed my sharp blade against its massive talon but his increased in strength from above got me clawed in the cheek and shoulder. I stumbled onto the ground as I watched it took a swoop at Cerlia, its talon breaking through her sword's defenses!

I took my weapon—

◇ Mixed Emotion Catalyst // Soul Decision

◇ "Neither in pure desperation nor the sensation of victory. Choose your catalyst and bestow your chose of power upon yourself, faithful one."

I stood off the ground and sprinted at the harpy! Spider's Ichor!

◇ Positive Catalyst Initiated: Spider's Ichor
◇ Benefit:
◇ Gain 5 Strength (25% Melee Stats) and increase all Defense Rate by 5% for 3 Segments.

I didn't have much time before it deals severe damage to her. I now took one step forward and spiked the blade right into its wing, causing it to shriek and spun around once. It clawed the ground as it slid back slowly then shook the stuck sword off. It ran toward me then flew straight up before dashing at me with immense speed like a bullet!

Without a chance to react, its claws grabbed my whole arms tightly and brought me up to the air before spinning itself and me vertically. 

◇ "Brace for the 'Harpy's Impact', faithful one!"

The shadow harpy then tossed me down alongside its feet stomping onto my body, pressuring me heavily onto the roof. A massive crater caused on the roof, making this place extremely unstable. I coughed blood and grabbed its leg.

"CERLIA!!!" I shouted and I kept my grip tight. It struggled but had its claw deep in my wound.

"Leave her ALONE!" Cerlia rushed over and stabbed at the Unknownity's right wing. Once. Twice. Three and then a deep slash which lead to the wing being cut off!

It moved back and fell against the junk pile, growling in pain. I did the same as well but instead of falling, I stood back up and walked toward it. It's about to die and my instinct could feel its weak heartbeat.

◇ Missing Wing Harpy
◇ Health: 62 [550]

I picked up a nearby half-broken pipe and smacked it hand away. I then stabbed it and made his left-hand bind to the junk. Its leg attempting to get me away, although I jumped over them landed on its abdomen. My knee fell and my hand reached far behind me and formed a claw-like finger movement. 

◇ Extracting Unknownity Core

The surged of the Spider's Ichor flowed in me and I struck the center of its chest, penetrating deep into its shadowy body. I then grabbed whatever inside and pulled it out! A bright orb of caught the attention of my eyes. I opened my mouth and bite into what seemed to its Unknownity Soul.

The Unknownity's shadow started to fade and became a black harpy corpse. My body glowed to a color of black and while with my eyes half purple and half orange.

◇ "Unknownity Soul of Missing Wing Harpy digested. Configurating positive and negative emotion. Filtering Dawnyxium Corruption..."

◇ [Positive] Feather of Collision
◇ "A feather from a bird. It seemed filthy yet the beautiful dark pattern revealed its tragic story. A hope of light and flight, to one day reach the sun and touch it. The bird will always find its goal, even when dead."
◇ Benefit:
◇ When Clashing against Melee Attacks, reduce the Stamina of all Soul Skills by 5. It can occur up to Twice per Segment.
◇ If Stamina is below 20%, all Soul Skill's Stamina is reduced by half.

◇ [Negative] Despaired Claw
◇ "To take your depressed state after a death of a loved one and to turn it into death itself. To no longer be at the reaper's door, you now take the hand of the reaper itself and watch your limbs fade while causing other pain as well. How long will this suffering game go?"
◇ Risk:
◇ Your limbs imbued with the power of the harpy's shadow and Gain 2 Strength (10% Melee Stats)
◇ Weaponless Attacks deal Double Damage and Weaponless Block reduced Damage by half.
◇ Lose 10% Mental per Segment. If Staggered from Mental Lost, this Catalyst get deactivated.

The second Unknownity Soul consumed into my own. The immense weight of its danger and power. It made me ignore the pain at the moment and I could only feel my blood circulating with energy.

Suddenly, Cerlia went over and put her arms over my shoulder, her head on the top of mine. She's so taller than me, it's sort of unfair. 

"Suki, you're pretty unique and strange. You mind as well be Ace Hybrid since you're as powerful as an Unknownity." She smiled as I looked up at her.

"No thanks. I prefer Ace Predator since it fit with our scheme. Hybrid is going to be attention grabbing so being a predator is more fang bearing and the name of a dangerous foe. This Unknownity. It's allied to me now and there's no stopping me—uwaakh!"

Cerlia pinched my cheek and giggled. "You almost died you know, cocky predator. I have the team drag this corpse to the office and I'll contact the DRC—uhm, S-Suki? Suki!? You're alright! Hey—don't pass out already!"

I dosed off and fell back onto her hug. My body became exhausted from too much pain. It seemed like I won't wake up for a while. At least I'm glad to be alive and accomplished the case's goal.

◇◇◇◇◇

◇ Location: Kiffel City // District 1 // [REDACTED]

"Lunar Light had done it again. The leader and the predator of the office had taken out a Dawn Threat Unknownity. And once again, the DRC had done their report. The Unknownity of 'Missing Wing Harpy' contained no Dawnyxium Energy. Nothing could be extracted from its corpse, the second one this month without material."

"Is it the work of the Ace Predator?"

"You mean, Suki, sir? As for possibility, it's mostly her doing. The leader of Lunar Light office, Cerlia, have low combat capability. However, Suki shown immense strength, arrogant, and combat skill."

"...Getting closer..."

"Closer, sir?"

"Yes, closer. My knowledge of her is lacking, but the connection is getting clearer. Survey her action fully. Keep track of her progression."

"Yes, sir! I make sure they keep a close eye of her—"

"[REDACTED] [REDACTED], and Secretary [REDACTED], there's an emergency in District 7! The District 7's Association of [REDACTED] request for a meeting."

"...What must be the problem. Bring the device."