Descendant of Sloth

The air inside the underground base was cool, carrying a faint metallic smell. I walked a few steps behind the man in the black suit, who had driven me here. His pace was steady, his posture rigid. He didn't bother to look back to see if I was keeping up—I wasn't exactly in a position to get lost. 

The corridor we were walking had multiple sections, each filled with people who seemed completely engrossed in their tasks. One room we passed had rows of glowing monitors displaying maps, camera feeds, and data streams. 

Men and women hunched over keyboards, their eyes darting between screens as they whispered to one another in low tones. Hackers or analysts, I guessed. 

Another section housed towering racks of machinery and cables, the kind of setup you'd expect in a science fiction movie. Engineers, maybe. 

Further along, we entered a section where the people were different. Physically imposing figures, their muscles visible under the lights, sparred with each other or moved weights that seemed inhumanly heavy. Compared to them, I just look like a little college boy who doesn't know what he is upto in life. 

~To be honest I don't. 

Their sharp gazes flicked to me as I walked by, their expressions unreadable. I didn't linger too long on any of them. My eyes stayed on the path ahead. 

It wasn't just them, though. Even in quieter corners, I caught whispers as groups of people, some my age looked in my direction. A few girls grouped together, whispering. 

What the hell is their deal? I thought, trying to ignore the growing unease. Was there something on my face? Was I looking that awkward? I wasn't exactly a model of perfection—I knew the dark circles under my eyes probably made me look like I hadn't slept in a month—but still. The way they stared made me feel like some alien creature had just strolled through their halls. 

I shifted my gaze forward, avoiding eye contact with anyone. My hands stuffed casually into my pants pockets. 

As we turned another corner, the guy in front of me tilt his head slightly, just enough to glance at me from the corner of his eye. His face had no emotions just doubts—before he turned back and resumed leading the way. 

Sighhh* it's going to be really awkward here. 

Finally, we came to a stop outside a heavy metal door. The driver stepped to the side, his hand gesturing toward the door. 

"Inside," He said. 

I hesitated for a split second, then nodded. My hand gripped the cool metal handle, and I pushed the door open. 

As I stepped inside, all eyes turned toward me. 

Three men and two women stood in the room, all clad in black jackets, matching pants, and daggers and swords around them. 

Among them, I recognized Mira and Esther from the hospital. At the center of it all sat Ezekiel, his sharp gaze fixed on me. 

"Welcome, Adrian," he said, with a gentle smile. 

"Umm... hello… Good morning," I said, the words leaving my mouth lazily, almost as though I couldn't care less. 

The response was immediate—silence, accompanied by piercing stares. Everyone's eyes were unflinching, sharp as blades. Every move I made felt like it was being noticed and analyzed. 

I stood like a statue waiting for some command, response but none greeted me, already regretting opening my mouth.

Are they always this welcoming? 

I sighed, trying to ease the tension in my chest. 

Ezekiel, seated at the center of the table, gave me a calm look, the faintest smile curving his lips. "Relax, Adrian. Sit down. You'll be working here from today. Take a moment to adjust." 

Nodding, I pulled out the nearest chair and sat, tucking my hands outside of my jacket pockets. 

A glass of water was pushed toward me by Mira and I said "Thanks," taking a small sip. 

Ezekiel stood, commanding the attention of the room. "Let's begin with introductions. Adrian, these are the people you'll be working with." 

He gestured to the woman on his left first. "This is Mira. She's our specialist in analytics and long-range combat. She visited you at the hospital."

Mira's gaze was as cold as ice, her expression unreadable. She ties her hairs in a pony tail. She said nothing, simply staring at me like I was some unsolved puzzle. 

I gave a small nod, unsure if I was supposed to respond. "Nice to meet you," I mumbled, though her gaze made it hard to believe it was mutual. 

Ezekiel moved on quickly, pointing to the woman seated beside her. "This is Jamyang. She's a combat specialist, known for her raw strength and unyielding determination in the field." 

Jamyang gave me a bright smile, her energy starkly opposite to Mira's coldness. Her blue hairs sway behind her with cute looking earrings. "Hey there! Welcome aboard!" she said, waving cheerfully. 

Finally, someone normal. I waved back, though my expression stayed dull. "Thanks." 

Ezekiel turned to the man on his right. "This is Alard. He's been with the Vigilante Order for many years and is one of our most dependable members. He recently got married as well" 

Alard seemed like a man in his early 30s. He smiled warmly and extended his hand for a firm handshake. "Good to meet you, Adrian." 

I returned the handshake. "Likewise." 

Ezekiel's tone shifted slightly as he introduced the last person in the room. 

"And this is Esther, the co-leader of the Vigilante Order. He has the authority to command in my absence and is widely regarded as our strongest member." 

Esther hairs were also long just like mine but we didn't share any other similarity. He didn't bother looking up from the book he was reading. His greeting was curt, almost dismissive. "Good morning." 

"Good morning," I replied flatly, already sensing we weren't going to hit it off. 

Ezekiel clasped his hands together, addressing the group as a whole. "Adrian may be new here, but I expect everyone to work together. It might take some time, but I'm confident he'll find his place among us." 

Before I could respond, Esther's voice cut through the air, sharp and unyielding. "I don't like him." 

The words hung in the room like a weight, thickening the air. 

"I don't know if he's capable of being part of the Vigilante Order," Esther continued, finally looking up from his book to glare at me. 

Ezekiel leaned back in his chair, unfazed. "Adrian single-handedly took down more than ten demon hosts and even if we ignore that he got possessed by something strange and went rogue. He still got into higher order within just few months of his graduation and make no mistake he was just a plain science student and not combat studies. That level of capability can't be ignored." 

Esther clicked his tongue, clearly unimpressed. 

I met his glare head-on, my expression neutral but my resolve evident. Whatever tension was growing between us didn't need words—it was already clear as day. 

"Why do you guys always have to compete?" Jamyang said, cutting the tension with a teasing smile. She strolled over and sat beside me, nudging my shoulder playfully. 

Ezekiel chuckled. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We have more pressing matters to address." 

Mira leaned back in her chair, her voice cool and measured. "Like how those demon hosts even reached the area without detection. Timing was critical, and we were all stretched thin with other missions." 

"Higher Order was busy too," Alard added, frowning slightly. "It's suspicious, to say the least." 

A sudden beep-beep interrupted the conversation. Mira pulled out her phone, her sharp gaze softening slightly as she answered. 

"Mira here." She listened for a moment, her expression tightening. "Understood." 

"What is it?" Ezekiel asked. 

"Two demon hosts spotted at the subway," Mira reported. 

Ezekiel nodded, his calm demeanor unshaken. "For two hosts, Jamyang should be enough. Take Adrian with you—it's a good opportunity for him to get some field experience as a Vigilante Order." 

Jamyang saluted playfully. "You got it, boss!" 

"Wait… what?" I said, blinking in surprise. "I thought I'd get at least one day to settle in."

Esther with his cold tone and already bearing hatred for me said. "Get your ass moving if you don't want to die." 

I sighed heavily, rubbing the back of my neck as I stood. "Alright, alright."