THE HARVEST

—>SEBASTIAN'S POV<—

My gaze locked onto the young woman orchestrating the battle formation with precision. Her rich brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, a stark contrast to my own buzz cut. For a moment, I felt a pang of nostalgia for my pre-military days, but her commanding presence quickly refocused my attention.

She wore the rank of Kaptan, proven by her authority over the Birlik. But it was hesitation that distinguished her from me— and from the ruthless Seraphlings. Her momentary pause had given their quarry the opening it needed, allowing it to slip into the shadows and straight into my sights.

As fate would have it, the Alpha's frantic sprint led him directly into my path. His supernatural speed was so great that he nearly collided with me. I stood unfazed, my elegant attire a stark contrast to the chaos around me. My plain yet put-together brown suit, complete with a single-breasted shirt, bold red tie, matching trousers, and a brown fedora hat, reflected my penchant for refinement and sophistication.

As the Alpha hurtled towards me, I instinctively reacted to protect my immaculate brown suit from the impending collision. With lightning-quick reflexes, I delivered a precise palm strike to his chest. The impact sent a jolt through the air, and the Alpha's eyes widened in surprise as he stumbled backward.

He careened out of control, his feet scraping against the dry underbrush, until his back slammed into the sturdy trunk of a nearby tree. The sound of the collision echoed through the forest, a loud thud that shook the leaves and sent a startled bird taking flight. The Seraphlings watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide with shock, as they struggled to process the unexpected turn of events.

I stood tall, my chest heaving slightly from the exertion, my brown fedora hat still perfectly in place. The scent of damp earth and leaves filled my nostrils as I gazed calmly at the Alpha, now slumped against the tree trunk, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths.

Moments before, the Seraphlings had witnessed their quarry vanish into the shadows, only to be inexplicably propelled back into view. Their collective gaze converged on the spot where the unseen force had exerted its influence, and that was when I emerged from the darkness. Ignoring their inquisitive stares, I directed my attention upward, my eyes drifting toward the dark moon suspended in the sky.

My gaze lingered there for a moment before slowly descending to settle on my prey. With deliberate strides, I began to close the distance between us.

My palm strike had shattered multiple bones in his body, leaving him vulnerable and crippled. I offered him no respite. As I transformed, my body underwent a sudden, violent shift. Sharp fangs erupted from my gums, and long, razor-sharp claws slid out from my fingertips. My eyes blazed with a golden, otherworldly light as I bent down to meet his terrified gaze.

The air was heavy with tension as I grasped his neck, my fingers coiling around it like a serpent. My fangs sank deep into his flesh, releasing a warm, metallic gush of blood that flowed onto my tongue. The coppery taste exploded on my palate, and I drank in the life force that flowed from his wounds. The sounds of his labored breathing, the gurgling of blood, and the creaking of his fractured bones filled the air as I fed.

Time seemed to slow as the seconds ticked by, the only sound the soft lapping of my tongue and the Alpha's fading gasps. Finally, I withdrew, my fangs releasing his ravaged neck. A blood-curling scream tore from his lips, echoing through the air as his labored breathing grew more ragged. The gurgling of blood, the creaking of his fractured bones, and the desperate thrashing of his limbs created a symphony of terror that accompanied my feeding frenzy.

Finally, the Alpha's lifeless body slumped, his neck twisted at an unnatural angle, broken and still. The only movement was the slow trickle of blood from the wound, which dripped onto the dry earth beneath.

I stood up, unfolding a crisp white handkerchief to delicately wipe the blood from my lips. With a flick of my wrist, I discarded the soiled cloth. I turned to face the Seraphlings, my eyes locking onto theirs, particularly their Kaptan's. My stare was steady and unyielding, piercing through the silence like a challenge.

The Seraphlings swiftly raised their guns, training them on me with cold, calculated precision. Every finger hovered over the trigger, poised to unleash a deadly barrage at the slightest misstep.

"My mission here is accomplished. Now, I suggest you stand down and let peace prevail. Don't think for a moment that I'm intimidated by your guns— I'm simply a connoisseur of peace." I said, a devilish grin spreading across my lips.

"Who are you?" The Kaptan's voice resonated through the air, her piercing gaze scrutinizing every inch of me, as if seeking to unravel the mystery that shrouded my identity.

"Why do you wish to know?" I countered, my voice measured and calm, a habitual reflex honed from years of deflecting inquiries with cleverly crafted questions.

"Why are you interfering with my mission?" she countered, her voice steady and unruffled. I was struck by the echoes of my own tactics in her response, and a spark of amusement ignited within me. Her calm composure, despite the brazenness of our verbal sparring, was a quality I found intriguing.

"How can you claim this mission as your sole prerogative?" I countered, my tone laced with curiosity, my posture relaxed as I reveled in the verbal sparring match. 

I was tempted to take a step forward, but the ominous tension in their fingers, wrapped tightly around the triggers, gave me pause. Though they didn't pose a formidable threat, the prospect of my tailored suit being ravaged by bullets was a compelling deterrent.

"Are you a hunter?" She countered once more, her gaze locked onto my striking features; the gleaming golden eyes, the razor-sharp claws, and the radiant fangs that hinted at a predator's prowess."

"Why don't you find out yourself?" The words had barely left my lips when I vanished into a whirlwind of speed, my feet pounding the ground in a frenzied blur. The remaining words hung in the air, a distant echo that reached their ears long after I had disappeared into the distance.