Eternal Undying Chronicles

The Esper group had twelve members, all bound by a shared past that was as dark as it was painful.

Each of them had been taken as children, plucked from their lives by a government that saw them not as individuals, but as assets to be procured.

Some had lost their parents to assassins, their guardians eliminated in cold blood. Others had been bought and traded like livestock for a price. They were all different, yet the same, united by their captivity and their dreams of freedom.

They had grown up together in the sterile, suffocating confines of the lab, enduring endless experiments and grueling training. Despite the harshness of their reality, they clung to their dreams—small flickers of hope that kept them going.

Summer, with her gift of Clairvoyance, had always dreamed of seeing the sea. She'd never laid eyes on it, but she could feel the pull of the vast, endless horizon, the smell of salt in the air, the freedom it represented.

Petra, the psychometric, longed for the simplicity of a normal life. She wished to go to school, to sit in a classroom, and learn about things. She wanted to know what it felt like to be just another student, blending into the crowd.

Christina, who could teleport, harbored a simple, beautiful dream—she wanted to be a wife, to live a normal life. She dreamed of love, of a family, and the warmth of a home that was hers and hers alone.

Lucky, with his ability to manipulate probability, wanted a place where he could control his own destiny. His dream was to own a casino, a place where luck was his to command, where he could finally play the game on his terms. Read exclusive adventures at empire

Ping, the Technopath, wanted to use his gifts for creation rather than destruction. His dream was to open his own IT company, to build something lasting and real, far away from the horrors of the lab.

Chris had a similar ability to teleport just like Christina, though his was more about translocation—moving objects and people across distances. He had a dream that was worlds apart from the cold sterile labs. He wanted to be a musician, to create beauty through sound, to let his music speak of the freedom he craved.

May, who could create and manipulate force fields, had an unusual dream. She wanted to work in real estate, to build homes that would never break.

Chrona had always found it oddly fitting—a person who could protect others with an unbreakable shield dreaming of creating safe spaces for people to live.

Maya had a far different dream. Her power, pyromancy, was destructive by nature, yet she wanted to heal. She wished to become a doctor, to save lives instead of taking them, to use her flames to warm and heal instead of destroy.

Oliver, the youngest of them all, had a healing ability. His dream was to live a life of simplicity, to be a farmer. He wanted to work the earth, to nurture life with his hands, to feel the sun on his back as he tended to his crops.

Then there was Caden, their leader, the one with telekinesis. His power was immense, his will even more so. For all his strength, he never shared his dream. Perhaps he didn't have one, or perhaps it was too personal, too precious to share.

And then there was the old man, who had been with them the shortest. His ability was energy absorption, but his past and his dreams remained a mystery to them all. He had been brought to the lab when he was younger, and though they had been together for years, he never spoke of how he got there. They didn't need to ask; his silence spoke volumes.

And then there was Chrona. She had never had a dream of her own, not really. Her only wish was for them all to live free, to escape the white coats and the endless tests, to be more than just lab rats, to be human.

They were her family—the only one she had ever known. She needed them to survive this ordeal, to make it through the nightmare that had already claimed their lives once. The Reaper was coming, and they would need everything they had to survive.

The sound of crumbling walls shattered the tense silence, revealing the Reaper. He stood amidst the debris, his presence cold and terrifying.

In his hand was a black sword with a blood-red edge, its dark aura pulsing with lethal intent. The only visible part of his face was his eyes—glowing violet orbs that seemed to pierce through the shadows of his hood, radiating malevolence.

Chrona's heart pounded in her chest, her fear almost paralyzing. The memories of their deaths flashed through her mind—the blood, the screams, the relentless slaughter. But this time, they were prepared. This time, they would fight.

The Reaper wasted no time. He moved with superhuman speed, his dark figure a blur as he lunged at Caden, who stood at the front, ready to defend his team.

The air crackled with tension as the Reaper's fist shot forward like a striking viper. But just as he was about to connect, May's force field flared to life, its shimmering surface expanding rapidly to meet the onslaught.

The impact echoed like thunder, reverberating through the room as the barrier absorbed the blow, barely stopping the Reaper's fist just inches from Caden's face.

The reprieve was brief. The Reaper recoiled, eyes narrowing beneath the shadow of his hood, and then struck again, this time with more ferocity.

May gritted her teeth, focusing all her energy as the force field glowed brighter. The air around them shimmered, the sound of metal slicing through the atmosphere filled with a tense silence. But even the strongest of barriers was not invincible, the Reaper swung his black blade down with deadly precision.

The sword sliced through the powerful force field with a horrific ease, the barrier shattering as if made of glass, fragments swirling in the air like snowflakes. Shock rippled through the group, a collective gasp escaping their lips.

"What the—" Caden barely had time to react, his voice laced with disbelief as he took in the devastation.

They weren't the only ones surprised. The Reaper paused briefly, glancing at his sword, his eyes narrowing slightly in disbelief at how easily it had sliced through the force field.

His hesitation was fleeting. May, who had erected the barrier, paled, the color draining from her face not just from shock, but from the intense mental strain. The destruction of her barrier left her feeling raw, vulnerable even.

"I… I can't believe it," May whispered, her voice trembling. "How did he…?"

"We don't have time to wonder!" Caden barked, urgency edging his voice as he tried to keep them focused.

Ping, stationed at the back, activated his Technopathy, his fingers dancing across the air as he orchestrated his arsenal. With a thought, he unleashed a turret of bullets from the guns he had set up earlier, the barrage of gunfire echoing in the enclosed space.

The deafening noise filled the room as metal shells cut through the air, each one aimed at the Reaper. But the Reaper moved like a shadow, weaving through the hail of bullets with unnatural agility, his form fluid and evasive as he danced around the lethal barrage.

"Keep him at a distance!" Caden ordered, using his telekinesis to hurl objects around the room. He concentrated hard, summoning massive pieces of debris—chairs, tables, anything he could find—and launched them at the Reaper.

The air was thick with energy as the objects hurtled toward him, creating a chaotic barrier of flying projectiles aimed to protect them from the Reaper's formidable melee capabilities.

Chris joined in, utilizing his Displace ability to bring in random objects from all over town, hurling them at the Reaper in a desperate attempt to slow him down.

He grabbed everything from metal pipes to bricks, tossing them like missiles. Each object appeared in a flash of light before hurtling toward their enemy, a chaotic orchestra of chaos and desperation aimed at halting the Reaper's advance.

Maya didn't wait for an invitation. She unleashed a torrent of flames, her pyromancy roaring to life as she aimed to engulf the Reaper.

The heat was intense, the flames scorching the air and lighting up the dim room, creating shadows that danced wildly on the walls.

Her inferno surged forward, a wave of brilliant fire that illuminated their fear. But the Reaper's movements were fluid, almost effortless, as he dodged the flames with a grace that defied logic, masterfully weaving between the infernos as if it were nothing more than a mere inconvenience.

His cold, violet eyes sent a chill down Chrona's spine, despite the inferno around him. He wasn't just toying with them; he was focused on something—or rather, someone.

Anne.

His gaze locked onto the girl, and in the blink of an eye, he moved, a blur of blackness slicing through the room. He reached for Maya, but Christina was faster, teleporting them both out of harm's way just in time.

"Stay sharp, Maya!" Christina urged, her voice tight with adrenaline, her breath coming in quick bursts as they landed safely away from the Reaper's reach.

The old man, having absorbed some of the energy from Maya's flames, redirected it toward the Reaper, his hands crackling with power, sparks dancing along his fingers. He focused, gathering the energy until it surged like a living thing, ready to be unleashed.

But the Reaper waved his hand, and the flames bent to the ground before they could touch him. With a flick of his wrist, he dismissed the energy like it was nothing.

He moved again, his speed disorienting, reaching for Christina. She dodged, but in doing so, left Anne exposed.

The Reaper seized the opportunity, his hand closing around Anne's arm.

"No!" Chrona screamed, helpless as she watched.

Anne looked pale, her eyes wide with fear as she was lifted off the ground, floating behind the Reaper like a puppet on invisible strings.

"I think you've all hit me enough. Allow me to return the favor," the Reaper hissed, his voice dripping with malice.

A wave of dark energy exploded from his body, washing over the Espers like a tidal wave.

May gritted her teeth, throwing up a barrier, [Shield Ram], to block the worst of it. The Reaper, however, was already behind her before she could reinforce the shield. His hand moved with frightening precision, plunging into her chest.

"Please… stop…" Anne's voice, weak and filled with despair, cut through the chaos.

The Reaper hesitated for a split second, his violet eyes narrowing as he looked at her, but the moment passed. His hand tightened, and May's eyes went wide with shock as her heart was crushed in his grip. She crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

"No! May!" Caden roared, but there was no time to mourn. The Reaper turned his attention to the old man next.

The energy the old man had absorbed earlier was turned back against him, the power too much for his body to handle. He fell, his body convulsing as the energy consumed him from within, his eyes going blank.

The Reaper scoffed. "That attack was a blend of the garments' enchantments and my mana. Foolish of you to absorb too much."

Lucky made a desperate attempt to intervene, using his probability manipulation, [Lucky Break], to try and change the outcome, but the Reaper was relentless. He moved with terrifying speed, cutting down each Esper one by one.

Christina tried to teleport away, to get out of his reach, but the Reaper anticipated her move. He appeared behind her as she re-materialized, his sword already swinging.

Christina didn't even have time to scream as her head was severed from her body, a fountain of blood following her to the ground.

"Tina!" Chrona cried out, but her voice was drowned out by the carnage. Chris was next, his translocation ability no match for the Reaper's sheer power. A single, brutal strike was all it took to end him.

Caden fought with everything he had, lifting massive pieces of debris and hurling them at the Reaper, but it wasn't enough. The Reaper was unstoppable, cutting through the rubble like it was nothing, his violet energy tearing through everything in its path.

Chrona couldn't move, couldn't think. All she could do was watch in horror as her family, her only family, was slaughtered before her eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat a painful reminder of her own impending death.

Finally, the Reaper turned to her. His sword was stained with the blood of her friends, his violet eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

"Your turn," he whispered, his voice sending a shiver down her spine.

Chrona didn't even have time to scream. The last thing she saw was the jagged piece of debris flying toward her, the pain of it piercing her heart, overwhelming her senses. And then… nothing.

The whole battle had taken less than three minutes.