Protagonist? Antagonist? I Reject Both

Many miles away from Aetheria Prime.

It was a dense and dark forest.

In the heart of a dense forest lies a hidden base, camouflaged by the thick foliage and protected by intricate security measures.

Wheezing and rustling sounds echoed nonstop.

The trees whisper ominous unseen terrors. Here, among the tangled roots and twisted vines, dwell the insectivorous meat-eating plants.

Each step through the undergrowth is shrouded with peril, as the ground teems with unseen dangers. The air is thick with the scent of decay, and every rustle of leaves sends shivers down the spine.

Everything might look spooky yet normal considering a dark forest but the moment a living being steps through the harmless trees turns into a predator.

With tendrils like serpents, they reach out to snatch unsuspecting prey, dragging them into their gaping maws with a sickening slurp.

Those who enter this forest rarely return, their screams swallowed by the monstrous trees that were created by experiments.

The base is concealed within a natural clearing, accessible only through a labyrinth of paths covered by various traps, known only to be selected.

Only those who know the hidden path beneath the foliage can enter the place safely.

However, the sound of footsteps suddenly shook the place.

The vines and climbers around trees stirred. Soon, thousands of shoots were but before they could touch.

SWISH!SWISH!SWISH!

BOOOOOM!

...

Deep inside, stood a huge square-shaped building along with a a warehouse that was bustling with people's activities.

The people guarding the base are a mix of highly trained soldiers and mysterious scientists.

Clad in sleek black uniforms, they move with silence, their eyes sharply scanning every perimeter. Each guard was at the Martial Lord realm and the captain of each squad was at the Martial King level.

As they patrol the perimeter, their footsteps echo softly through the place, blending with the shrieking noise of trees.

Among the guards, a few people pulled a trolley containing huge crates covered with taps.

Faint vibrations shook the boxes but everyone just ignored it as it was nothing out of the ordinary.

"The items are quite fresh."

"It seems, it had been collected overnight."

"We have so many fresh items yet we have failed many times."

"Everyone please be quiet and do your work cleanly. Master might be benevolent but his patience is limited"An old man with a cold look stepped out frightening everyone.

"Yes, Master Ley."

He was one of Greymore's most trusted servants whose job was to oversee the place.

A bell was sounded followed by, a few white dressed in lab coats walking down.

"How many are there?"The man leading the white coat asked.

"Maybe 20-30."

"It's quite less."

"Can't do anything. Many were killed and burnt to dust. The terror of that fiery explosion has created mayhem and all the people of the underworld have fled out of the city so we have to kidnap normal ones."The guard muttered nonchalantly.

"That's bad."

"Why?"Ley asks with a furrowed burrow.

"Because it seems these are normal ones and they die quite easily.Not good lab rats."The man answered with a smile.

THUD!

"Hey, what happened?"

Everyone's attention went towards the source of the sound.

UMMMMM!UMMMMM!

The air became heavy as the person who lifted the box slipped down.

Suddenly, a box slips from a man's grasp, crashing to the floor.

The package tears open, revealing a woman who tumbles out, her body bruised and battered from the fall.

With trembling hands wrapped, she screamed while flipping like a fish out of the water.

The gag stuffed in her body came out and she screamed…

"Who are you? What are you doing to me?"

"Hey, shut her up."An order came from behind.

"Okay, boss!"The man shouted and stared at the dishevelled fuzzy-haired woman.

"Don't come to me…I will scream.."

"AH!"

The woman, like a worm, wriggled and tried to get away but she felt a grasp on her ankle and she was yanked away.

"STOPPPP!Let me go…"

PAAAAT!

A sound of the slap echoed and the woman's eyes opened wide in shock due to sudden pain followed by drops of tears.

"Why are you doing this to me? Uuuu….I apologize if I offended so please...."

PAK!

Another slap echoed and the man grabbed her hair and slammed her face on the ground.

"Shut up bitch! Your life is worthless so you should be thankful that you have gotten a chance to become useful in the grand scheme."

"Please….At least fear God….Fear retribution."

"This bitch….You seem to believe in God so much…But in this world, there is no God."

"Son of bitch just kill her."

A guard beside him shouted in annoyance.

Hearing this he extended his hand and grabbed her neck.

The woman wrestled her legs feeling out of breath. Her heart beat wildly but as the fear of death overwhelmed her, a strong sense of anger clouded her mind.

Through her squeezed lips, she muttered.

"God…He will punish you…."

"In your drea…."

He hadn't even finished his sentence when a loud shriek shook the place.

Ley, who walked around folding his hands behind his back while watching the drama, suddenly stopped when the atmosphere was stirred a bit.

The door of the base was opened slightly, and a group of a few pale bloody figures entered the base.

They breathed heavily and their faces were pale as if they were running for their life.

"Sir Ley, we are under attack."

"Huh?"Before the old man could even react.

Suddenly, the tranquil atmosphere is shattered as the base's heavy metal door is forcefully thrown open, revealing a glimpse of a menacing figure entering inside like a flash of lightning.

"AAAAAAAAAH!"

"He is here…Run…"

Before anyone could make any sense, the bloodied figure started running as if they had seen a ghost.

Meanwhile, under everyone's naked eyes and before anyone had a chance to even realize what happened, a red streak of light flashed around and the phenomenon repeated various times drawing a web-like pattern over the body of the escaped people.

And in front of everyone's widened eyes, the bodies of people were chopped apart resembling the minced meat that flew here and there.

With a revolting thud, the people died with their mutilated remains falling in a heap.

"What in the!"Ley stood there stunned and baffled looking around only to swallow his saliva on sensing a suffocating pressure followed a bestial pair of golden eyes shining in the shadows.

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