Grey: Monsters

I shot two tentacles behind me, curling and holding down two rusted electric poles.

Nagato's blade was at my face. I raised my hand to block it, but the blade sliced through like butter. As it came within a few centimeters of my face, I retracted the tentacles and shot backward.

Spinning mid-air, I landed on my feet and took off running. I didn't want to fight Nagato. I knew how strong he was, but I wasn't entirely weak either. If we fought fiercely, one of us would die, and I wasn't ready to die—or kill my teammate.

I glanced back and saw he wasn't chasing me. There's no way he'd let me run away. He doesn't have that kind of sympathy for Nephilims.

"Up there," B signaled.

I looked up and saw Nagato, running and jumping on top of the buildings at insane speed, his eyes locked on me. He looked terrifying, and he was fast—too fast. I wondered how much faster Saiya, dubbed the fastest Ranger, must be.

Nagato drew a shotgun and aimed it at my face while in motion. I threw my hand up just in time before he fired, and the bullet shattered into pieces.

"What the hell?"

My hand... the regeneration had slowed. I couldn't heal as quickly as before. I glanced at the gun in his hand. That thing was trouble. Another shot, and I'd be in serious danger.

I made a quick turn and squeezed into an alley. I needed a distraction, something to get him off me. Then I could transform back. One reason he was still after me was my size. When hunting, it's said the bigger the prey, the better.

I looked back—he wasn't there. Maybe I lost him? No, I doubted it. I scanned the rooftops, but he was gone. I must've really lost him. Time to change.

Just then, a gunshot echoed. I lost my balance, crashing to the ground and rolling to a stop. I couldn't feel my right leg. I looked up at the dark night sky, just in time to see a silhouette drop down and land on my chest. It was Nagato, his blade aimed at my heart.

I looked into his eyes, seeing the questions and confusion swirling in them.

How can a Nephilim be on the run? Why won't the Nephilim attack? Those were probably the questions clouding his mind.

He raised his blade, about to impale me, when an explosion sounded in the distance—not far from us.

"Hm?"

He turned to look, and I seized the moment. I wrapped my tentacles around his leg, lifted him into the air, and flung him far, very far away. He's Lieutenant Nagato. I'm sure that won't kill him.

My leg had regenerated by then, so I kicked off and sprinted away from the area.

I transformed back and leaned against the wall of a collapsed building, catching my breath. I was thirsty, and my chest burned. For a moment, I thought I was dead.

"Guess I should head back to the others."

I pulled myself up to leave, but then I noticed someone approaching.

"Don't tell me he followed me here. Shit, I'm screwed."

"Calm down, it's someone else."

"Someone else?"

I squinted to see the figure more clearly. It wasn't Nagato, but I was ready to transform again if it was.

"There you are. I've been looking for you."

"Huh... Saiya?"

She stretched out her hand, pulled me up, and supported me as we made our way back to the construction site.

Could she have been the one who caused that explosion?

Given that she saw my face and transformation, it could be the only explanation.

She might report me to the authorities. Oh, I'm fucked. I'm really fucked.

"Did he do this to you?" she asked, catching me off guard.

"What?!"

"The Nephilim... and Lieutenant Nagato. Did they injure you?"

"Ohh! So that's what you meant... well, I wouldn't say they injured me, but I've been beaten up pretty badly, haha."

Damn, that was awkward. So she knows. I'm really screwed. I just hope she doesn't report what happened.

When we arrived at the construction site, everyone in the other squad looked grim. They didn't care if I'd made it back safely. Hachiro and Kitetsu rushed me and bombarded me with questions.

"What was it like?" Captain Leonard asked.

"It was strong. The strongest I've ever faced."

"So, you've fought one of them?"

I wasn't sure if he meant Nephilims in general or the Grade A type.

"Yes, compared to the one at the exam, this one was far stronger."

Today, I made a new discovery—not the Rangers, but me. We called them Nephilims, but that's not what they call themselves. Even B never referred to them as Nephilims. The question is: Are they really just man-eating creatures? What's their purpose for coming to Earth? Are they a special civilization? I had so many questions, but no one to answer them—not even B. Hopefully, I'll see that Nephilim again... if I should even call him that.

Nagato entered, his face hidden behind his mask, but I could feel the rage radiating from him. If it wasn't for that explosion, I would probably be dead right now. That is, if I didn't fight back. But I'm human—I can't kill my fellow human.

At least, that's the lie I told myself.

***

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