• If you keep this up, I’m - I made a show of rising from my seat, which sent him into a mini-meltdown.


  

  

  
• No, please—don’t! - He blurted, immediately embarrassed by his outburst. Then he dropped his -You’re the first human I’ve seen in ages. My name’s Phoenix, and I’ve been stuck here for months


  
• Nice to meet you. I’m Alenari. - I softened and offered my hand. He gripped it like it was a lifeline, holding on so tight my fingers turned The guy looked like he thought I might evaporate if he let go.


  
• Eventually he released me and launched into a full-blown monologue, gushing with excitement and abandoning all attempts at dignity. I, meanwhile, admired his short, tightly curled hair and the sparkling diamond studs in his ears.


  

  This bodybuilder had trained for years with the Cappers, a paramilitary sect that lived underground, honing their bodies through combat drills and meditative purges. They trained in every form of violence known to man: guns, plasma weapons (though those were rare due to cost), hand-to-hand, and all types of transport.

  Cappers were required to study the ever-mutating bestiary of creatures that emerged from beyond the Wall — even though that -bestiary- changed daily, with a few exceptions—and be ready to face them with both physical and spiritual weapons.

  Internally, I scoffed. Yeah, I knew all about the Cappers. Half-sect, half- commando unit, formed to fight the dark things -for the sake of humanity. - Sure. All noble actions spawn equally grotesque reactions, and it was no surprise something like this popped up. But just like everything else on our filthy little planet, their ideals had already been rolled in the dirt and trampled under muddy boots.

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• The Cappers were fighting less and less, holed up in their bunkers and selling their services to the rich and powerful, who always needed trained mercs for their shady business And you know what? That was the one part of their new doctrine I actually agreed with—because saving people for free? Go find someone brain-damaged for that. I charged triple for my services and wished the same for everyone else.


  

  

  
• That’s why I never tried to help those naive fools throwing themselves at the Obscurity’s horrors, thinking they could win. Most of the beasts couldn’t be taken down with aluminum-grade weapons. You needed different kinds of firepower—firepower only I And honestly, why would I breed competition? So yeah, the Cappers dropped like flies. One after the other.


  
• Still, there were always a few brave (read: stupid) loners or duos who dared to cross the Wall—and stayed Forever. And now I was one of them. Guess that made me an fool, too... and that’s putting it mildly.


  
• Long story short, finding a living Capper in the Obscurity shook me almost as much as my sudden appearance did him.


  
• Like any self-respecting stereotypical bartender, Phoenix was wiping dusty glasses with a rag and talking and talking:


  
• Don’t take me for a fool, (By that point, we’d switched to - you.-) -Like my brothers, I got my hands dirty following my Chapter’s orders. Can’t say I hated it. Everyone needs money for basic needs…-


  
• -And for the gym. - I cut


  
• -Nah, that’s free, - Phoenix smirked, flashing those pearly whites again. Was that just his teeth sparkling—or was something sparking between us? I didn’t know. But I had already mentally stripped and redressed that muscular tank a few times by now.