Donovan felt his heart drop to his stomach.
He didn't take a step whatsoever towards the door.
Another knock.
Knock, knock, knock.
His hand tightened its grip on the umbrella.
Yeah, bring it, you damn bastard. I'll blast you to oblivion with my Light Beam!
Tick-tock. The clock ticked and tocked.
The sound of the alert from outside was gone.
Donovan could hear the beating of his own heart.
After ten seconds, he heard the faint sound of footsteps walking away from the door.
He sighed in relief.
Using his Flight spell, he flew towards the door, putting his left ear on the door to listen to any sounds.
He backed away.
That… might've been a Blot…
Donovan took a seat on the sofa, and noticed that his hand was still gripping his umbrella tightly.
He relaxed his hand.
What should I do? Do I stay here, or go outside? I mean, almost everyone in this city is a Visitor! I'm pretty sure everyone's heading outside to search for Blots…
Or I could be wrong…
What's everyone saying about this situation?
He walked towards his phone that was on a desk beside the bed.
Then, he went to the official Umbrellas website. He scrolled down, and found a post about the current situation.
He then read the comments.
"Has anyone been attacked?"
"Scary. It's my first day in Umbrellas and this already happens?!"
"Damn, this is exciting."
"Woah, a Blot just killed two boots. This is scary."
"We're goddamn Visitors! We have powers or spells or whatever you call it, and we can totally take down these Blot thingies."
"Whoever's planning to take on Blots is pretty stupid. I've done my research. Three Storm Ranks at Category 1 wouldn't be enough to kill it."
"Yeah, but there's practically millions of us. What can a hundred Blots do to us?"
Donovan sighed.
"What a disaster," he muttered.
I wonder what the streets will look like in the morning…
Will it be stained with blood? Or will they quickly clean it up?
It was already 12:05 a.m., Saturday, 25th of January.
For now, I think I'll stay here for the time being…
In a random alleyway.
Gunshots erupted, spraying a figure in black liquid, letting out an echoey scream.
The black figure fell to the ground, the white, shifting blots on its face disappearing.
Then, one of the heavily armored men threw a tiny, glowing ball towards the deceased Blot.
The Blot was immediately "sucked" into the tiny ball.
One of them picked up the tiny ball.
"Target eliminated."
They quickly sprinted away.
Slash marks were scattered on the walls, and on the streets.
***
A single Blot was jumping from building to building on the rooftop.
It seemed to be running away from something.
A pillar of light followed its fast, running figure. The light was coming from a flying vehicle, with the word "BOOTS" on the exterior of the vehicle.
Gunshots constantly erupted from the flying vehicle.
The rain intensified even more.
"Goddamn it! Can they get rid of this rain already?!" shouted one of them.
"Agreed. This is hindering our hunt. And make it daytime as well."
"Shut your mouths. People need sleep. But I agree with the rain, it's quite unnecessary."
Finally, the fleeing Blot was shot, and fell off the building.
The flying vehicle followed its fall, but found it skewered on a sharp street lamp.
***
"Mr. Joramiel, where are you…?"
The Blot looked down, and attempted to dig down, its tentacles banging on the ground.
But it was immediately shot in the head.
Deep underground, inside a facility.
"Did you hear about the commotion happening above?" asked a gray haired scientist sipping coffee.
A balding scientist chuckled, and said, "Blots are invading us. But this is a good opportunity. It's been 300 years since we've encountered Blots."
"It's time to continue our research on them…"
***
Ten minutes earlier.
Dean opened his front door, looking around the dark hallway.
What bad timing.
I need to take a sh*t, but I've run out of toilet paper… I gotta knock around and ask for some…
But Blots just had to invade us at the worst time! They'll probably think I'm a Blot and won't open the door for me…
He stepped out. Then, he knocked on a couple of doors. He knocked on a total of fifteen doors. No one answered, not even one.
Goddamn it!
Dean went back to his apartment room.
My only option now is to go outside to buy some. The gas station is most likely closed because of this Blot invasion.
But I'm willing to take this gamble…
He closed the door, and went to his balcony.
Gripping his umbrella, he jumped off, and activated his umbrella's flight ability. The rain and the cold was making his stomach situation worse.
Once he reached the ground, he got into a running stance.
Then, making sure to not sh*t his pants, he ran at full speed.
He arrived at the gas station.
The workers there were just about to close.
"Wait! Hold up!"
They turned to look at Dean, and fear filled their hearts.
They quickly entered the store.
Did they seriously just think I'm a Blot?!
Ugh! F*ck this!
He entered the store, bought two packs of toilet paper, and left the money at the counter.
Then, he sprinted away.
On the 25th of January, 2118, gunshots erupted from every corner of the city of Umbrellas.
A black haired man wearing a suit walked through the facility deep underground.
Even at night, the scientists were still working.
Then, the man heard a voice coming from behind him.
"Hey, you."
Turning around, he was met with a chubby scientist. "Did you already complete the assignment I gave you?"
The blank haired man stared at him blankly, and said, "Not yet. Sorry. I'll finish it sometime."
"What? But you said yesterday you were just adding the final touches."
"Sorry. Something happened, and I had to redo some of it. I'll finish it sometime."
"…What?"
With that, the man walked away.
The chubby scientist stared at the retreating man's back. Then, he took out his phone, and dialed a number. "Yeah, uh… I think I found one of the aliens you guys are looking for."
The black haired man looked around as he walked.
In his vision, there was a faint "line" leading him towards "someone."
"Mr. Joramiel…"
He began to quicken his pace.
There was the smell of smoke coming from somewhere, but this didn't hinder him.
He turned the corner, and saw a worn-out door with the words: Dr. Aria.
The man knocked. No answer.
He knocked again.
Finally, the door opened, revealing a woman with long, brown hair dressed in a white lab coat.
She only opened the door, not daring to let the man enter.
Aria suddenly saw a white ink blot appear on the man's face before disappearing.
Oh. A Blot.
Upon seeing this, Aria knew she was going to die.
The man then said, "May I come in?"
If I don't let him enter, he'll kill me. If I let him enter, he'll kill me anyway.
But why hasn't he?
Aria then said, "Why? What's your business here?"
Since she was going to die, she'd rather just play around for a bit.
"I need… to see someone…" said the man.
Ah, he came here for the corpse.
If he's going to be this bad at acting as a human, how the hell did he come all this way?
"Who? Me?" asked Aria.
"Yes…"
What?
"You… have witnessed The Purging of the First Soul… and The Hour of Retribution…"
What?
"You are… one of our prophets…"
What?
I'm sorry, what? Does he mean… Is he talking about the things I've seen in the corpse's memories through the MCE?
And what the hell does he mean by "prophet?"
"Please, come with us… Take Mr. Joramiel with you…"
Aria was starting to hear her own heartbeats.
Suddenly, the two of them heard footsteps approaching.
"Please… I hope you forgive me, prophet…"
With that, the man shed his human form, turning into a figure with black liquid on their surface, as well as a tail and eight tentacles.
The tentacles forced the door open, and grabbed the corpse. Then, Aria was scooped up by a tentacle.
"Agh! Put me down!" she screamed.
And finally, the "footsteps" arrived.
"Open fire."
The next second, gunshots erupted.
The Blot managed to hide behind the door just in time, and let out incomprehensible sounds.
Meanwhile, up above, the remaining and surviving Blots heard the "call" of one of their brothers.
With that, they all immediately rushed towards the tallest building in the city.
Meanwhile, inside Aria's office.
Damn it! My life's flashing before my eyes!
Aria tried to wriggle free from the tentacle.
"Please, prophet, stop moving…!" said the Blot in an echoey voice.
Who are you calling a prophet?! I'm a scientist!
The Blot then closed the door, locking it.
It put the corpse down, as well as Aria.
Meanwhile, outside of the office.
"It has a hostage. Don't engage yet," said a boot.
"Well, we can't just wait here forever."
Suddenly, they heard a voice behind them. "What's the situation?"
The voice came from a woman.
They turned around.
She had short, purple hair, and a metal jaw. She wore a short, black coat as well as a three-piece suit.
Her eyes were violet, and it would seem that, starting from her jaw down to her neck, it was mechanical.
The team leader came up to her, and explained the situation thoroughly.
After that, the woman nodded.
"I see."
With that, she walked past them, facing the door riddled with gunshots.
A boot nudged the elbow of a fellow boot. "Hey. Psst. Who is she?"
"Seriously, you don't know? Have you been living under a rock? Her name's Violet Zetar. She's…"
The woman known as Violet Zetar took a step forward.
"She's a Typhoon Rank, Category 5."
Meanwhile, inside Aria's office, just thirty seconds before Violet's arrival.
The Blot was reciting something in an incomprehensible language.
Then suddenly, a portal appeared. It threw the corpse into the portal.
Wait. Oh, God, this is the end for me.
The Blot then turned to face Aria.
"Prophet, please come with us…"
W-Wait! I got it! Since it reveres me so much, I should be able to do this…
"I order you to stop, as your prophet."
Immediately after that, the Blot fell on one knee.
"Please, forgive me!"
Hah! It worked!
"Ahem. As your prophet, I demand you to tell me your goal."
The Blot nodded. "Our—" But they were cut short by the door melting.
Then, not even a second after that, the Blot was sucked into a miniature black hole.
Violet held the black hole gently, before making it disappear.
Aria was dumbfounded.
"Okay, all done. I finally have a Blot in my collection… Well, I'll probably just kill it," said the purple haired woman.
Violet noticed Aria.
"Hm? Ah, I forgot that this is your office. Did you get held hostage, Aria?" she asked.
Aria felt her left eyebrow twitch. "Violet…"
Damn it, just when I had myself an underling! This woman just had to ruin everything!
And my goddamn office! My papers! My equipment…
Multiple boots immediately entered the office, and Violet walked away without another word.
"Treat the scientist with care," she whispered to the team leader.
"Alright."
Aria panicked, and immediately turned off the MCE. Then, she sent the file of the corpse's memories to a destination that only she will be able to access.
She had a great memory, so everything she saw in the MCE, she'll remember for life.
Suddenly, all of the boots rushed outside.
Aria heard the sound of explosions coming from above.
Meanwhile, up above.
The Blots were on a rampage. They had already tore through the building's automated defense system.
But suddenly… every Blot paused, and turned into small spheres of shifting, wriggling shadows.
Then, it all floated towards one man.
He had dark red hair, and he was wearing a red shirt with black pants. His suit was nowhere to be found.
He also wore small, circular glasses.
The floating shadow balls were "absorbed" by him.
"Sorry I'm late…" he said. His voice was smooth, but it had a tone of exhaustion.
One of the staff, who was hiding behind an overturned table, said in reverence, "It's Paul Bennett! We're saved!"
"Paul Bennett!"
Every working staff in the building started to cheer his name.
But they immediately quietened down as boots and Violet arrived.
"Hm. Is this the best these Blots can do?" said Violet with a yawn.
Paul chuckled. "I'm no longer detecting any living and breathing Blots in the city."
"Whatever. I'm going back to sleep." A portal appeared, and Violet stepped in.
On the 25th of January, 2118, gunshots and chaos stopped at 1:58 a.m.
And finally, morning came.