The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Running quickly along the corridor, Natasha soon noticed marks on the wall, as if huge sharp objects had scraped against it. This reminded her of the terrifying outlines of those monsters, causing her to shiver and creating the illusion that something was falling from the shadows and moving towards her rapidly.

It was something silently roaring, accompanied by the clicking of claws scratching against the metal.

Even from above, from inside the ceiling shafts, a hiss echoed, along with some kind of roar.

Natasha quickened her pace, and just as she was about to reach the entrance to the cafeteria, the door suddenly opened. A strong hand reached out, grabbed her arm, and dragged her inside, then quickly closed the door.

"Sister, I'm scared."

When Natasha saw that it was Galen, the Vena family's simple-minded son, she almost cried. This poor man seemed to be cursed from birth. Although he had a strong body, his face was ugly, and his intelligence was low, his character was pure. He always helped everyone with heavy and tiring work.

"Galen, you're alive. That's great."

Natasha touched his face, conveying affection and friendship. He returned this love by placing his hand on her shoulder, his ugly face revealing a friendliness that was the most gentle and kind expression he could manage.

Then, she looked around and realized why Galen had survived. Two armed servo-automata had been deployed here at some point. The weapons on their arms were activated, scanning the entrance warily. Perhaps this was arranged by Mrs. Vena, but this place wouldn't hold those monsters back for long.

"Galen, come on, sister will take you away."

Just as she finished speaking, an ominous premonition, sharp as a razor, struck her, racing towards her like a burning trail.

Without thinking, she grabbed Galen's hand, but he was too slow-witted and shook her off, turning to face the approaching horror.

At the same time, the armed servo-automata activated, bolters chattering in the air, exploding in her senses. The bright laser fire dazzled her, forcing her to fall backward, legs tensed, curled into a ball, as if trapped in a cage.

She was sure the monsters had come, surrounding her like wolves around a lamb.

Everywhere was smoke, and a bitter yet sweet stench filled her eyes and nostrils. The armed servo-automata were still scanning for targets, a set of recessed visual and sensory organs on their heads, like the beaks of vultures, swaying between their shoulders.

Galen let out an angry roar, lifting a nearby dining table, raising his head, ready to fight—until something fell to the floor with the impact of shattering rock.

Natasha's eyes widened, her body slackening with fear.

It was so huge, towering, like a nightmare in the shadows, shrouded in perpetual darkness, its claws on its arms like serrated blades.

However, the limbs were not the worst thing.

When she looked into its eyes, she saw the worst thing—those scarlet, narrow eyes etched within the skull of some bestial predator, looking down at its prey with a terrifying expression, its gaze filled with the desire to hunt, something as deep as midnight looking at her through those eyes.

Its mere gaze was enough to pin her down, like an insect pinned to a specimen board.

"No—"

She rolled over, crawling on the ground like a dog, through gunfire, roars, through death, horror.

The sound of the armed servo-automata falling was like being smashed meat, and Galen's roar was short and sharp, claws piercing his lower jaw and chest. His physique could not provide any protection; the opponent was too fast.

Natasha cried as she struggled, barely able to breathe, her muscles aching, her clothes covered in the blood of her comrade.

The door to the employee passage was right in front of her. She pushed it open with all her might and plunged into the shadows.

She had to escape before her will completely collapsed.

In the employee room, she grabbed a sharp knife and ran madly, falling, and continuing to run, and falling again—

Until all sounds faded away.

Until all sounds faded away.

At the end of the passage, there was a half-open door. Natasha walked over, panting, and pulled it open.

The next moment, she finally screamed.

In the hall where the shuttle was parked, hung the already incomplete corpses of her parents. They seemed to have been tortured, their skin peeled off, their eyes gouged out, leaving only dark, bloody holes staring at her. Cold blood dripped from their naturally hanging limbs, pooling into a small puddle on the ground.

She knelt on the ground, clutching her head, her entire world collapsing.

Then, a clawed creature tried to grab her from behind.

Just as the iron-like hands were about to strangle her neck, Natasha spun around with surprising speed, the hidden knife thrusting out.

The opponent quickly adjusted its lunge into a sidestep, but the blade still grazed its arm, sparking a string of sparks.

Immediately afterward, Natasha roared and scrambled up the wall, a twist and jump, feet kicking against the wall, until accumulating the strength of her whole body into a sudden rush.

The knife in her hand flashed out again, with intense fury, heading straight for the opponent's head.

However, the opponent simply raised a palm and struck her arm. The fragile bone shattered under the immense force, and the knife flew from her hand, sliding across the floor.

Natasha's scream was more of rage than pain. She glared with purple eyes, dragging the light purple blood that flowed all the way, and turned back to chase after the dropped weapon.

But the opponent was faster. The killer grabbed her other arm.

With a twist and a squelching sound, that arm was torn from her shoulder.

Natasha slipped to the ground and screamed, inhuman blood gushing from the open wound. Her voice was so sharp that it was like some kind of sonic weapon.

As a result, the opponent slapped her face, the force of the blow stunning her, but not fatally. Coupled with the intense mental stimulation just now, Natasha's consciousness finally gave way. Her eyes rolled a few times, and her head lolled softly to the side.

"Captain, I have successfully captured the target."

In the silent darkness, the massive figure stood beside Natasha.

With a burst of static, another strange and faint voice sounded.

"Very good, Nikulas. Your plan was thorough and meticulous. You have the potential to become a master hunter, but you still took too long. The original plan was one hour and twenty minutes, and you took one hour and forty minutes. Twenty minutes can sometimes be a fatal error in an operational plan."

After a moment of silence, the voice sounded.

"I understand, Captain."

"Bring that thing over here. Tomorrow, I will teach you more xeno-biology."

"Yes."

Then, he lowered his head, gazing at the unconscious Natasha.

"It seems you can continue to survive for a while. If your answers satisfy the Captain, perhaps the torture will end, but I would prefer to peel off your skin myself."

After speaking, he slung the unconscious Natasha over his shoulder and turned to walk towards the passage.