Queens Squad, Part 1

Just like your average day, right after finishing a mission, Nick enters our dorm house, demanding the six of us into the kitchen. Though of course, Mikey is still on suspension, so he won't be able to go on this mission and therefore didn't join us at the kitchen table. While Nick was in the hospital, Ella, Grover, Austin, and Jamie were still going out on missions. Then of course, the Daniel event occurred, and after that, I was able to go on missions, but Mikey has an extra week of suspension that I didn't have. Though during Mikey's suspension, he was still living at the dorm house, since well, he didn't exactly have a place to call home. Unlike I, who very willingly spent my week of suspension at home.

We each take our seats at the table as Nick begins to speak. "I have your next mission," he says to us.

"What's the mission?" Austin asks.

"This mission is a fun one. You five will go on a mission alongside Slayer Renzu's squad, the squad that patrols Queens, and a squad of Demon Kins! They're a year above you guys," Nick explains.

"Oh, how fun! A joint mission with another squad?" Jamie exclaims.

"What are 'demons kins'?'' Ella asks.

"Demon kins are those who are born with the Cursed Ability of an ancient ancestor thanks to a genetic mutation where their ancestor's DNA becomes more prominent than normal. As you may know, Cursed Abilities aren't passed down hereditary, nor is the ability to become a Cursed Power user. The chances of someone being born with the ability of one of their ancestors is incredibly rare, but not zero. Demon Kins usually have Cursed Abilities far stronger than the abilities that regular Cursed Power users create. This is because there was far more Cursed Power in the world years prior, so our ancestors were able to create more complex and advanced Cursed Abilities. Although being a Demon Kin comes at a price. Sometimes, the Cursed Ability of a Demon Kin doesn't match their body or Cursed Power, prohibiting them from reaching the full potential of the ability. It is said that Demon Kin's Rule Breaker awakening usually involves them reaching the peak of how their ancestor used the ability."

"Wait, did you say 'born with a Cursed Ability'?" Grover asks.

"Yes, although some Demon Kins need their Cursed Abilities awakened just as you'd awaken the Cursed Power of someone," Nick answers.

"Wait a minute, I'm a demon kin!" Grover cries.

"Really?" I ask.

"Yeah! I've had my Cursed Ability since birth!" Grover explains.

"So that explains how you were so adept at using your Cursed Abilities compared to all the other rookies!" Nick chimes in.

"What are the details of this mission?" Austin asks.

"I'll tell you guys when we're with Renzu's squad," Nick answers

"So just us five, huh? This reminds me of back in the day with our first mission!" Ella exclaims.

"Yeah, when we didn't have Mikey!" Grover laughs.

"Yeah, that was over a year ago now, wasn't it? How nostalgic!" Jamie adds.

Oh yeah. The six of us are fifteen now. So I guess that makes Daniel sixteen? It's hard to believe that I've been a Pro Slayer for over a year.

"Hmph. Whatever," Mikey snorted.

"Ah! Mikey, when did you get here?" I yelp as I turned to face Mikey, who's leaning against the kitchen wall.

"I was just listening in on the mission details. Not that I care," Miley answers.

"Oh come on, admit it! A month free of demon killing is eating you alive, isn't it? You're jealous that we get to go on important missions while you dont'!" Grover teases. 

"The only thing that I'm jealous of is not being able to meet those Demon Kins," Mikey replies. "They sound fun to kill."

Demon kins, huh? People with an ancient Cursed Ability, kinda like my demon powers. Are they...like me?

***

"Nick's an asshole…" I grumble.

"What kind of Pro Slayers take public transportation…" Ella sighs.

Eventually, Ella, Grover, Jamie, Austin, and I make it to the dormhouse of Slayer Renzu's Squad.

"Alright, let's get this show started!" Grover exclaims as he prances up the front steps of the dorm house and knocks on their front door. A moment later, a golden- haired dude with golden eyes opens the door.

"Hello?" The guy asks. But upon seeing who we are, his eyes widen. "Hey!" He cries. "You're the Squad that we had to save in the Cards of the King Mission!"

"Hey!" Grover shouts back. "You're the guy with the bow who intervened in my fight!"

"Ralph!" Snaps a voice from behind. "Just let them in."

"Yesss captain…" Ralph sighs. Ralph peers up at us again, before turning and motioning inside the dorm house, letting us inside. Upon stepping into the living room of the dormhouse, we're met with two more familiar faces.

"Ooooh…we have to work with this squad?" Groans an unfamiliar, shaggy looking guy. He wears a dirty long sleeved white shirt and ripped up sweatpants. Instead of shoes, he just wears slides, no socks. His toenails are long and dirty. It looks like he was attacked by a feral animal. He's wearing a spiked dog collar, and beneath that, his throat is littered with angry red scars and dried blood. "They seem like trouble…"

"Oh my, we have to work with these gremlin?" Asks the flute girl. She wears a medium green dress that goes down to her ankles. Flute girl has green eyes and orange hair with a crown of clovers on top.

"So you're Fūjin, eh?" I hear a voice ask, and I look up to see the golden guy staring at me with a wide smile. "The problem child! I look forward to seeing what else you can do."

"Err…thanks," I reply. I'm still not really used to being called by my codename yet. Not many people do it.

"Slayer Hachu isn't with you?" Renzu asks.

"Nah, he said he had to take care of some important business this morning," I answer.

"Well, it seems that you kids already know each other...but even still, let's carry on with the introductions, anyway!" Renzu sighs, before turning to face my squad. "I am the captain of this squad, Slayer Renzu. With my Cursed Ability, Cameraman, I am a psychic photographer who can get images of the future when pouring my Cursed Power into a polaroid camera, or any other device that can display images, such as a computer or phone."

"I'm Slayer Yajiri, Ralph Shannon, a Shooter! With my Cursed Ability, Morale Arrow, I create a bow and arrow out of my Cursed Power who's strength depends on how much my comrades believe in me! My arrows are unaffected by how much my enemies don't believe in me! My goal is to become the next Chairman of the Slayer Organization so as to not bring shame to my family's name!" The blonde haired boy explains, causing Grover's eyes to widen.

"Hey, that's my dream! You can't steal my dream!" Grover snaps as he aims an accusing finger at Ralph.

"He's older than you, you know," Ivy grumbles.

"Many people want to become Chairman, you know!" Nick laughs.

"Well then I suppose we're rivals," Ralph smirks, causing Grover to growl at him.

"Dream thief…" Grover growls.

"Ralph Shannon? So you're the grandson of Slayer Mezame, Odin Shannon?" I ask.

"Great, great grandson, actually! The previous Chairman of the Slayer Organization!" Ralph laughs. Jeez…just how old is Mezame?!

"My name is Ivy Birch, a beautiful name. My title: Slayer Shizen, complements my name perfectly. My Cursed Ability is called Zoo Keeper. It allows me to fully control any animal I come across by using my flute," Ivy pompously explains. "My goal is to rid the world of demons, to protect nature and the life of planet Earth. I'm a Supporter."

"Last and least," says the guy who I don't recognize. "I'm Lycan Beowulf, Slayer Ōkami, an Attacker. Cool name for not a cool guy. My Cursed Ability, oh, I hate it. It's called Wild Side, and it turns me into a powerful, fierce white wolf. I can control when I transform, sometimes. When I get aggravated or get exposed to the full moon, I transform against my own will. I have no control over any of my thoughts or actions in my wolf state," he explains.

"Oh, so you were the wolf at our rescue mission?" Grover exclaims as he points to Lycan.

"I was the wolf," he answers. Lycan is dressed in shaggy, stained, dirty clothes, littered with holes. Lycan smells like a dog that has never been bathed, and his hair is a mess and huge bags hang from his eyes. I'm guessing that Lycan doesn't sleep well. 

His Wild Side...it reminds me of my Blue Demon! Lycan, he's...just like me!

"What's up with the dog collar?" I ask as I point to the spiked collar binding Lycan's neck.

"It has spikes on the inside, too," Lycan answers. "When the collar pierces my flesh, it helps me to regain consciousness from my wolf form."

"And here I thought it was just an edgy fashion statement…" I reply.

Huh…maybe I need one of those for my Blue Demon…

"Isn't it cool?" Ivy swoons as she latches her arms around Lycan's, cuddling up to him, causing me to flinch. Lycan blushes and turns away from Ivy, clearly flustered by the girl's advancements. I can't help but to growl at Lycan.

"Wh-what is it?!" Lycan cries as he turns to face me.

"You lucky bastard…" I growl.