Chapter 2: Dealing With A Shape-Shifter.
I had no idea how long I had been sitting there.
In fact... I had long lost track of time.
I sat motionless, my gaze locked onto the dismembered body of the young woman before me.
I felt~
Lost. Broken.
And worse of all-
"Huh... Hah..."
The guilt coiling around my chest tightened like an iron vice, crushing the breath from my lungs.
It was... suffocating.
An invisible force pressing down, making even the simplest act- breathing- a struggle.
I couldn't put a name to this feeling, but...
It was as if a knife had pierced my heart, carving into my soul- a terrifying pain.
Such pain...
My hands trembled and my body shook.
Really couldn't be described with words alone.
And slowly but surely, I could feel it.
The suffocating grasp of:
Guilt.
It was slowly crawling its way towards me.
Slowly trying to overwhelm me.
It was slowly trying to consume me.
Thump... Thump...
My deafening heartbeat echoed through the quiet, each one more frantic than the last. And,
Thump... Thump...
I sat down there for an eternity or so it seemed. The minutes blended into hours, and hours into what felt like days.
The grim reality of my macabre act weighed down on me, a suffocating force that left me broken.
Lost. Confused.
And I could hear them now.
The voices.
'Why did you kill her...!!!'
They were slowly overwhelming me.
'You could have simply let her bleed to death...!'
Slowly eating me from the inside.
'Why...? Why...?!!'
They were now just a step away from fully consuming me.
"Stop... Stop...!!!"
I clenched my head between my hands, the pressure becoming unbearable.
My voice was barely a rasp, but the voices didn't care. They pressed on, digging deeper, trying to consume me.
But I had to fight back. I had to remember.
Yes- she had been human. Once.
But the cold truth was undeniable: she had been possessed.
The demon had twisted her fate long before I ever chanted the incantation.
Even without my intervention, she wouldn't have survived- the blood loss would have claimed her.
And even if by some miracle she had lived, the demon would never have let her go.
Her death was... inevitable.
Yet-
'Ah...'
A bitter, self-deprecating smile curled up my lips.
Who was I trying to convince?
This wasn't reason. It was nothing more than a feeble attempt to ease the crushing guilt weighing down on my chest.
'Ha-hahaha.'
This was just me trying to find a balm to use against the overwhelming sense of guilt that threatened to drown me in its abyss.
But-
"Ha- ah..."
No amount of justification could fill the emptiness inside me. No amount of logic could silence the gnawing ache in my chest.
I bit my lips, forcing myself to look away from the carnage. My hands trembled violently and I had to clench them into fists to stop the intense shaking.
But-
"Haa..."
It wasn't working.
Clench!
I clenched my hands even tighter.
Nothing was working.
With trembling hands, I reached for a lighter.
Closing my eyes, I flicked it open, inhaled sharply-
And then,
Whoosh~!
I set the remains ablaze until the bright incandescent flame swallowed every trace of my cruel actions.
"Hahahaha."
I laughed- a hollow, empty sound.
I guessed that had lessen the guilt coiling and tightening around my chest like an iron vice.
I had hope the fire would cleanse me of my sins. That watching the evidence burn would ease the suffocating weight on my chest.
But how wrong was I.
Even as the flame danced before me, my hands still trembled.
My breath still hitched.
My heartbeat still thundered in my ears.
I...It changed nothing.
***
I stood frozen.
The acrid scent of burning flesh clung to the air, suffocating in all its endless grandeur. My mind reeled, battling the weight of guilt that threatened to crush me. But-
"Huh... Uh..." I forced myself to breathe- to think.
Shaking off the lingering haze, I turned on my heel and descended into the basement.
There was no telling when the next demon would strike. I needed weapons.
I needed to be prepared and be on guard against any unforeseen event.
Moving with practiced efficiency, I packed my gears, securing everything I might need. Within minutes, I was done.
But before leaving, I had one more thing to verify.
"Parameters," I muttered under my breath.
And then-
"....."
A translucent screen materialized before me.
"PARAMETERS"
▪︎ Strength: 7
▪︎ Speed: 7
▪︎ Constitution: 8
▪︎ Agility: 8
▪︎ Resilience: 9
▪︎ Intelligence: 9
▪︎Spirituality: 10 {peak mortal state}
"Hmm..."
I frowned slightly. My strength and speed were severely lacking. But something else caught my eye.
A slow, amused smile crept up my features.
Spirituality...
Memories stirred at the edge of my consciousness. I knew what this stat represented.
It dictated the potency of exorcism, the strength of rituals, and the sheer force a transcender could wield against others of the same sequence level.
It had other uses, of course. But for now, this was all I could access.
That would also explain why my exorcism spell was far stronger than they should be for an unawakened.
I exhaled. 'Well, I've two attribute points.'
If my assumption was correct, then it should work like-
'This.'
"Add one point to strength and one to speed."
As the screen updated, I felt it- a subtle almost imperceptible flow of energy pulsed through my veins, strengthening my muscle fibers and refining my body.
'No wonder readers love system novels.'
A dry chuckle escaped my lips. After all, there was something undeniably satisfying about watching numbers grow.
A light sigh escaped me. For some reason, I felt... synchronized. As if something within me had finally clicked into place.
But there was no time to dwell on it.
My gaze sharpened.
"Transcender status," I whispered.
Transcender status
▪︎ Retracement Level: [0%...100%]
▪︎ Bloodline status: Dormant
▪︎ Pathway: Dormant
▪︎ Sequence Level: Nill
▪︎ Spiritual Anchor: 99%
▪︎ Bloodline abilities: Nill
▪︎ Mystical Item: Pocket Marauder Compass.
'There it is.'
I stared at the last entry, lips pressed into a thin smile.
As an avid reader of system based novels- mostly to understand why they were so popular- I knew a thing or two about how this worked.
Closing my eyes briefly, I willed the system to describe the mystical item.
Immediately, text shimmered into view.
[Type: Item ]
[Appearance: A bronze pocket compass with no cardinal directions, only a single black needle that erratically points in random directions.]
[Effect: Guides its owner to hidden caches, overlooked objects, and paths leading towards their immediate goal.]
[Limitation: The compass cannot differentiate between safe and dangerous outcomes. Its guidance grows less reliable in high-stakes or volatile environments.]
'That... is dangerous.'
I arched a brow.
An item that could lead me directly into danger without discrimination? In a world infested with supernatural horrors, wielding this was akin to inviting death.
Shaking my head, I muttered under my breath, "Unless I have no other choice, I can't afford to use it.
With that, I turned to leave.
***
Outside.
Whoosh!!!
I lit up the entrance to the hidden basement, flames consuming any lingering evidence.
In a world where divination and mystic arts could trace the unlikeliest of clues, I couldn't afford any discrepancies.
~ Whoosh!!!
~ Chaaar!!!
The chaotic roars of the flame painted the night- a flickering change of orange. But I had no time to dwell on it.
I needed to leave before the cops arrive.
Slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I took my first step away from the inferno flame.
Tok~
Then another.
Tok~
And another.
Tok~
Until-
Screeeeecchh!!
The sound of screeching tires shattered the silence.
My breath hitched.
For a second there, I froze, heart pounding against my ribs.
Ba- dump! Ba- dump!
'The cops?!'
I snapped my head toward the incoming vehicle, instinct screaming at me to run. My hand twitched around my gun-
But then, the car skidded to a halt, blocking my escape route.
And through the windshield, I saw-
"Klaus?"
The figure behind the wheel grinned.
"Get in, kiddo. We've got a lot of catching up to do."
I frowned. "You do know we're practically the same age, right?"
"Says who?"
"Says the old man," I deadpanned.
Klaus blinked, feigning surprise. "Oh? And when did he say that?"
My mouth twitched. I resisted the urge to smack him.
Instead, I exhaled lightly and shook my head. Same old Klaus.
Without another word, I slid into the passenger seat.
I barely had time to fasten my seatbelt before-
Screeeeecchh!!!
The car jerked into motion, sending my head smacking against the window.
"Ouch."
Klaus chuckled, barely suppressing his wide grin.
"Bastard," I muttered, rubbing my temples.
I rolled my eyes.
His grin widened. "Consider that payback for abandoning the family."
I stilled.
The previous Xavier had left home. He had wanted a normal life. But how ironic...
In the end, his past still caught up to him.
Sighing inwardly, I reclined against the seat. "Guess I deserved that, then."
My mind was still a battleground of chaotic, primal emotions, but Klaus's words managed to pull me back- if only for a moment- from the dark thoughts threatening to consume me.
~Whoosh!
The car sped down the road, the remnants of my home fading into the rearview mirror.
As we passed a group of cops, I guessed they were probably heading to my house.
Klaus gave them a slight wink, and they responded with a simple nod- acknowledging the supposedly law-law-abiding citizen behind the wheel.
"That reminds me," I said, Shifting my gaze toward Klaus. "What about the old man? I haven't heard from him in ages."
I hesitated for a moment before adding, softer this time, "He's still alive... right?
It might have sounded like a strange question to ask my own brother, but given the kind of life we lived, every single day could just as easily be our last.
Klaus let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head before chuckling. "Unfortunately for you, the old man is still very much alive and kicking."
I nodded. "Good to hear."
"Yeah." Klaus kept one hand on the steering wheel while handing me a phone with the other. "Listen to the voicemail."
"Oh? Alright."
A few minutes later, I was done digesting the information- if it could even be called that.
Turning to Klaus, I muttered, "So... it's safe to assume the old man finally got a trail on the demon that killed Mom."
Klaus nodded.
"And he won't be around until gods' knows when. So... he wants us to..."
"Take care of things in his absence," Klaus finished, his voice laced with both amusement and something heavier.
I leaned back, my grip tightening around the phone.
The old man had always been like this. Throwing us into the fire, forcing us to sharpen ourselves in the flames. He never gave direct orders, only cryptic messages wrapped in half-truths, expecting us to understand what needed to be done.
And this time...
The hunt for that demon had consumed him completely.
"Figures," I muttered, exhaling sharply as I tossed the phone onto the dashboard. "He always does that."
Klaus chuckled, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel. "What? Leaving all the dirty work to his two sons while he goes galavanting around the world. Yeah, sounds about right."
His tone was light, but I could see it. The flicker of something dark in his eyes.
Because this wasn't just some hunt.
This was revenge.
For our mother.
For everything that was stolen from us.
And most importantly...
I had an undeniable desire to grow stronger and uncover the truth behind my transmigration. But choosing this path meant accepting the very possibility of dying before I ever reached that goal.
Still, I had made up my mind long ago.
The previous Xavier died because he ran away from the truth- because he ran from his own lineage.
I couldn't afford to make the same mistake.
Exhaling sharply, I steeled myself, hoping this decision wouldn't break me.
"...Alright. So where are we headed?"
"Dark-Orleans," Klaus answered without hesitation. "Also... it's good to have you back in the family business."
I simply nodded, taking the newspaper he handed me.
My eyes skimmed the headlines before I spoke.
"So... three murders in just as many days."
"Yeah." Klaus's expression darkened, a cold edge creeping into his voice. "Those shapeshifters are always psychopaths. Their logic is... warped."
I glanced at him, catching the bitterness in his expression.
For a brief moment, I almost laughed- but I held myself back.
After all, he wasn't the only one who had suffered at the hands of shapeshifters.
I had too... or, more accurately, the previous Xavier had.
Smirking, I turned the page and muttered, "Like you're any better."
Klaus let out a dry chuckle. "No, lol. I know I can be insane. But really-" He shook his head. "Theirs is just on another level entirely."
"Yeah. That much is obvious. "
Silence settled between us.
Tick...
Tick...
Seconds clocked by, the sound of the wind roaring past the moving car resonating with the still night.
Then Klaus finally spoke. "Do you know what the witnesses told the cops?"
I shook my head slightly. "What else? Probably that they saw two look-alikes."
Klaus chucked and with a smooth maneuver, the car drifted sharply into another street.
Tires screeched.
For a moment, I thought he'd crash into two cars, but he barely managed to slip past them- earnings a chorus of furious honks and curses from startled drivers.
Some were too busy with their own life problems to care about some fool's reckless driving.
Klaus, clearly pleased with himself, let out another chuckle.
I just shook my head.
Shifting my gaze out of the window, I prepared myself to leave Qanzias city behind.
I sighed lightly.
According to the memories I retained, the time I- the previous Xavier- spent here had been strangely... peaceful. One of the most blissful periods of my life.
A thought I found no reason to.
Most of my memories were sealed, and the ones I could access were fragmented, distorted.
And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find out why.
Frustrated, I sighed again and pushed the thought aside.
Thinking about them wouldn't solve them anyway.
"Hmm. It'll take us around five hours to reach Dark-Orleans, right?"
"Yeah," Klaus nodded.
And just like that, we both returned to our strange quiet state. A weird, stifling silence creeping into the atmosphere.
One that was starting to get really uncomfortable.
Not until-
"...."
It appeared.
[ A quest has been initiated:
[Find and stop the shapeshifter.]
Side quest:
[Uncover the motive behind its actions. Every action- both brutal and kind- is done for a reason. Discover theirs.]
[Reward: unknown]
"....?!"
'This again.'
I tilted my head to the left, staring at the glowing text.
'Is it some kind of game-quest section of the system.'
Just then, I felt Klaus's gaze.
And—
Thump... Thump...
It wasn't on me.
Slightly taken aback, a thought flashed through my mind.
'Don't tell me...'
My eyes widened briefly, but I quickly regained my composure.
"You can see it?" I asked, my voice calm yet probing.
Klaus let out a derisive laugh. "Yes, fool."
Shaking his head lightly, he added, "I also have one."
".....?!!"
I frowned. "Weird."
Unconsciously, I placed a hand on my chin, thoughts swirling.
Is he a transmigrator?
No, that didn't seem likely. Klaus had never displayed anything unusual when the previous Xavier was still alive.
And then, an idea struck me.
Muttering the word status inwardly, I shifted through my system's sections.
But—
"...."
Just as I suspected.
He couldn't see them.
I was now certain. We didn't have the same system, but somehow, both seemed to issue us similar quests from time to time.
At least for now.
Which meant—there was some sort of connection between them.
"....?"
But why?
Even with all my years of reading and writing, I had never come across such a bizarre situation.
Still, I had a feeling I'd find out sooner or later.
That much, I was sure of.
"Hmm. But there's something I don't get," I muttered.
"What is it?" Klaus asked, raising a brow.
"According to the reports, the shapeshifter only targets young women."
Klaus chuckled, earning a cold stare from me.
Clearing his throat, he gave me an exaggerated look. "Don't tell me you think the shapeshifter has a thing for young women?"
I deadpanned. "No. No... definitely not."
My expression hardened. "And Klaus, this isn't the time for your not-so-funny jokes."
"Alright, alright," he muttered, feigning disappointment. Then, with a smirk, he added, "Always a jerk as usual."
"...."
I simply stared at him blankly.
Who's the jerk between the two of us?
Shaking my head, I pressed on. "So, the shapeshifter specifically targets young women."
Klaus nodded. "Yeah. Not only does it lead to the husband's arrest, but in most cases, the woman also ends up dead. But... I still don't get it. What exactly is the shapeshifter trying to accomplish?"
I sighed. "If I claimed to understand its motive, I'd just be lying."
The more I thought about it, the more nonsensical it seemed.
There was no rational pattern, no clear objective—
It was almost as if it was doing all this purely for...
"...Fun."
We both said it at the same time.
Exhaling lightly, I glanced at Klaus as he shook his head.
"It doesn't matter," he muttered. "Whatever the reason, we'll figure it out once we reach Dark-Orleans."
Then, after a brief pause, he added with a teasing smirk, "Speaking of Dark-Orleans... are you going to meet her?"
"....?"
I blinked. "Her?"
I was momentarily confused, but the memories soon came flooding in.
"Oh... you mean Sophia?"
"Obviously." Klaus smirked. "Who else had our dear Xavier falling head over heels?"
I scoffed. "Plenty of girls have."
Klaus let out a small laugh. "True. But still, it'll be interesting. If I remember correctly, that was two years ago."
"Yeah," I nodded, my expression turning solemn. "That year was hell. Rampant supernatural creatures, cursed spirits... and then even demons joined the fray."
I sighed. "It cost the lives of many revered hunters to restore some semblance of peace."
Klaus nodded. "Their deaths weren't in vain, though. They managed to wipe out a good number of supernatural threats."
The car drifted slightly as Klaus maneuvered the streets. "Since then, things have been... calmer."
"Yeah... I suppose," I muttered, forcing a smile.
Noticing my mood, Klaus chuckled. "I still remember those days, though," he said, shaking his head.
Then, with a teasing grin, he added, "Despite Dad's warnings, you begged me to sneak out—just to meet Sophia."
I sighed. "Yeah, I remember. But we're heading to Dark-Orleans to hunt, not to meet old friends."
"Fair point," Klaus nodded. "That would just lead to unnecessary heartache."
I didn't respond.
"But still..." Klaus trailed off, giving me a knowing look, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Lightly shaking my head, I let out a small laugh. "Sure."
And with that, silence settled between us.
Under the crimson glow of the moon, the car sped toward Dark-Orleans.
***
Hours Later...
A road sign came into view.
-Welcome to Dark-Orleans.-
Klaus smirked as we passed it.
"How long has it been, Dark-Orleans?" he muttered.
Driving through Lakeview and the Mid-City area, I felt a wave of relief.
Luckily for Sophia, she lives in Bywater.
But as we neared our destination, my mind drifted elsewhere.
Memories surfaced—of my past life.
Of... Victoria —my girlfriend.
How's she?
Will she be alright?
How will she feel?
Various thoughts crept into my mind, each one more depressing than the last.
'...I'm sorry, Victoria...
I'm really sorry... I just couldn't hold on any longer.
I just... couldn't...'
Tears welled in my eyes as my hands clenched into fists, a subtle tremor running through them.
Klaus frowned.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly.
Forcing a smile, I shook my head. "Nothing. Just... remembering the sacrifices of that year."
Klaus studied me for a moment but didn't push. "Just don't think too much about it."
I simply nodded, even if I doubted I could do what he asked of me.
I really couldn't.
Clench.
Minutes later, we arrived at our destination.
Klaus was about to step out of the car when he suddenly paused.
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"Oh, almost forgot. Dad left his journal behind."
I froze. "You mean his journal? The one with records on supernatural creatures and paranormal events?"
"Yeah," Klaus confirmed with a nod.
A smile tugged at my lips. "That's great. Not only will it make things easier for us, but... maybe we'll find Dad in the process?"
Klaus scoffed. "Don't get your hopes up. If Dad doesn't want to be found, then we sure as hell aren't seeing him anytime soon."
I sighed but didn't argue.
He was right.
Still, the journal was invaluable.
As I mulled over my thoughts, Klaus tossed something at me.
I caught it effortlessly.
A badge.
The memory clicked instantly.
"A forged badge." I smirked. "Can't believe I almost forgot about this."
"Yeah, you did," Klaus chuckled.
Armed with a hidden gun and a silver blade—since shapeshifters could only be harmed by silver—we made our way toward the house.
No. 2 Darleins Street.
Tok. Tok. Tok-!
Klaus knocked three times.
Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a woman in her early thirties.
Her brown hair was unkempt, and faint bruises marked her skin.
Klaus assessed her, his eyes flickering briefly before he spoke.
Flashing his badge, he said, "Detective Zander. And this is my partner, Detective Hollerein. We're with the Qanzias City Division."
The woman frowned. "I've already gone through this with the CID."
"Yes, ma'am, we're aware," I said, maintaining a composed tone. "But we need to verify some things and ensure the case is truly closed."
A tense silence followed.
Then—
She sighed. "Alright. Come in."
And with that, we stepped in.
***
Inside the dimly lit room, the young woman handed cups of tea to the detectives before excusing herself. She returned a few minutes later, her steps hesitant.
I watched her closely.
Even without words, I could feel the various primal emotions swelling within her.
From being broken.
To being confused.
To the... pain.
I could somehow feel them all.
Her eyes, glossy with unshed tears, betrayed her struggle to keep herself together.
I sighed inwardly before speaking gently.
"Ma'am, we know this has been incredibly difficult for you. We're truly sorry for your loss."
She wiped at the corner of her eyes but remained silent.
"We understand how painful this is," I continued. "But we hope you can help us. Anything you share could be crucial to our investigation."
Sniff.
A quiet thanks escaped her lips. She bit down on her lower lip, then nodded.
"I... I'll do my best to help in any way I can."
I gave a reassuring nod before asking, "Before the incident, did your husband show any signs of violent or harmful behavior?"
She exhaled shakily. "No," she answered firmly. "He was always caring. In all our years together, he never once raised a hand against me."
Klaus and I exchanged a brief glance. A silent understanding passed between us.
We were dealing with a shapeshifter.
"Alright, Ma'am," Klaus said evenly. "Can you tell us what happened?"
She hesitated, her brows knitting together before she finally spoke.
"He said he had a night shift and was driving to work. But minutes later, he called, saying he was coming back home."
I arched a brow. "Why?"
"His boss canceled his shift. The police confirmed that much."
Her expression darkened. "B-but..."
"But what?" Klaus pressed, his gaze sharpening.
"But the moment he called... he was already home. I-It should've taken him at least twenty minutes to get back."
She paused again, visibly struggling.
Still, she pressed on.
"Then we were..."
Silence stretched, thick and suffocating.
~ Thump... Thump...
"Take your time," I said softly. "Just tell us what you remember."
She swallowed hard and nodded, her voice cracking as she continued.
"We were about to have sex... b-ut he suddenly knocked me out. And when I woke up, I realized I was tied to a chair, and it w-was like the man in front of me wasn't my husband anymore."
Tears spilled onto the floor as she buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders trembled as a quiet sob broke out of her chest.
~ Trembling.
She suddenly stood, her fists clenched tightly behind her back. "That's all I know. Now, can you please take your leave."
"Thank you for your time, Ma'am," Klaus said as we both stood.
I couldn't blame her. If I were in her shoes, I might've done worse.
For her to summon the courage to say all that... it wasn't easy.
Sighing lightly, we stepped out of the house, her quiet sobs resounding through the air even as we moved farther away from her.
As hunters, this was a reality we confronted every single day- every waking moment of our lives.
---
A few minutes later, we were back in the car.
I rubbed my chin, breaking the silence.
"Now that we know we're dealing with a shapeshifter, we need to figure out the next target."
Klaus didn't respond immediately. Then, slowly, I saw it—that look.
That familiar, unsettling grin.
He stared ahead, the edges of his lips curling wider.
"Yeah," he murmured, his smile deepening.
"And I think I just figured out who our next poor victim might be."