Camp Syndicate: The Monster Lady, 1 (Escape from Club Apophis, 63)

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STORYLINE: Neu Seoul, 5pm

Helga trudged along the sidewalk, her arms aching as heavy grocery bags cut into her fingers. Beside her, Happy the Dino Dog darted between her legs, his bio-construct claws clicking sharply against the pavement.

"Watch where you're going, you little menace," she scolded him playfully, juggling the plastic handles.

Ten days ago, she’d found Happy beside the wreck of Lisa Liemawr’s car, guarding the missing Hexa Herald reporter’s halophone. Lisa’s last broadcast had been looping on its screen, insisting the Forbidden Zone wasn’t radioactive at all, that it was full of monsters. Helga had only meant to do the right thing. She’d pressed Share.

Instead, she'd turned her life into a waking nightmare.

Happy's tail wagged furiously, his scaled snout lifting to sniff the evening air.

Her halophone chimed. Helga groaned, trying to balance two overstuffed grocery bags on one knee while fishing the device out of her coat pocket. Her inbox had exploded with toxic stupidity. Cruel memes. Insults. Badly photoshopped creatures holding political signs featuring her face, as though she were their preferred candidate for president.

She had blocked accounts. Reported them. Ignored them. Nothing worked.

Then a message from Mira appeared.

Mira, founder of the Romaniacs, had arranged that surprise meeting with DJ Romance, the celebrity impersonator. She'd been strangely quiet ever since.

GET OUT OF THE CITY. NOW.

Her thumb hovered over Delete.

A prank. It had to be a prank. But it wasn't like sweet Mira to make fun of her.

Happy stopped weaving around her ankles. His leathery ears twitched. He turned toward the end of the block, letting out a low, vibrating growl.

An icy breeze made her shiver and she tightened her coat. "Come on, Happy," she whispered, quickening her pace.

When they reached her apartment building, Helga's stomach turned. Splashed across her front door in wet red paint were the words MONSTER LOVER.

Happy shoved against her leg, growling at the door.

For the past ten days, he'd appointed himself her personal bodyguard. He slept outside her bedroom and followed her everywhere, even to the bathroom. She'd never had the heart to tell him his vigilance was unnecessary. She wasn't Lisa Liemawr, forever stirring up trouble and making enemies of the rich and powerful. Helga had always lived a quiet life, far from that kind of danger.

Until now.

For a moment, she couldn't move. Happy pressed close, his growl rumbling through her leg. For the first time, she was grateful for his overprotectiveness.

She dropped the grocery bags onto the grass and fumbled for the paper towels. The thick, wet paint smeared beneath her frantic scrubbing.

Lisa Liemawr had gone missing trying to expose the truth about the Forbidden Zone. Helga had only shared the broadcast. She hadn't done anything to deserve this.

Behind her, Happy began to bark again and again.

Her halophone vibrated. Ringing. Ringing.

She snatched it up, ready to turn it off, but stopped dead.

Glowing across the screen was Caller ID: DJ ROMANCE.

She stared at his perfect idol picture and touched her lips, which had never quite stopped tingling since his kiss.

How did he have her number? Mira must have given it to him.

Her thumb hovered over the answer icon. If she didn't answer, she'd spend the rest of the night wondering whether it was really him.

She accepted the call. “Um… hello?”

"Helga."

His voice. That deep gravitas. Her heart skipped a beat. It really was him.

"DJ Romance?" she whispered. "Are you... are you mocking me too?"

The screen flickered wildly with static. Romance's panicked voice crackled through the speaker.

"Helga, listen to me. Please. Get out of the city. Go now!"

She swallowed hard. "You sound just like Mira."

Static swallowed Romance's reply. "If you can't..." His voice broke into a glitching distortion.

Then silence.

Helga's battery icon plunged to zero.

The screen went black.

"Hello? Romance?"

She tapped the screen, then held down the power button. Nothing.

A deep pulse reverberated through her jaw. She felt it in her teeth, a low-frequency hum rising through the pavement beneath her feet.

Helga looked around, trying to locate the sound. Several blocks away, a billboard flickered. Its brilliant advertisements stuttered through bands of static before the entire display went dark. Then, the streetlamps died in a long, dark cascade toward her.

Happy stopped in his tracks. His scaled head snapped upward.

Helga followed his gaze, her breath hitching.

The blood-red sky stretched outward like an open wound over Neu Seoul.

A cold wind swept through her hair.

The smell hit her a moment later. Damp earth. Stagnant water. And beneath it all, something sweet and rotten.

Happy's collar frills sprang fully open. He planted his feet and faced the street, snarling so fiercely that the sound rattled in his chest.

Helga gasped. She fumbled for her door key fob, aiming it at the door. Click. Click. Click.

Nothing.

The power LEDs on both the key fob and the door lock had gone dark.

She slammed her fists against the door. "Damn it!"

Behind her, Happy erupted into furious barking. He didn't look at the building, but at the street, his teeth bared, scales bristling along his tail.

She spun around. Whatever had frightened him was out there, somewhere beyond the darkening street. She couldn't see anything, but the hum was growing louder.

She ran to the neighboring building and beat on the door.

"Help! Please, let me in! Something's wrong out here!"

For a moment, there was only the sound of her own breathing and Happy's desperate barking.

Then she heard a soft movement on the other side of the door.

Someone was home.

"Please!" she cried, pounding again.

Whoever it was, they were as scared as she was. She couldn’t even blame them.

A heavy, wet dragging sound echoed through the unnatural quiet of the blacked-out street.

Helga backed against the front door, petrified. “Oh, God...”

Out of the shadows shambled a horrifying figure in a torn, blood-stained dress. Its head lolled at a nauseating angle, a filth-caked burlap sack tied tightly over it. Dark fluid seeped through the fabric. No signs of breathing. Its joints clicked like dry twigs with every jerky step.

Happy charged.

"Happy, NO!"

The Dino Dog launched himself at the creature, claws scraping against the pavement. The thing lurched forward with a sudden, sickening burst of speed, its malformed arms reaching for him.

Helga couldn't see what happened next. She heard the crash of bodies, the scrape of claws, and a horrible series of wet impacts in the darkness.

"HAPPY!"

Something struck the pavement with a heavy thud.

Helga's stomach lurched. She stumbled toward the sounds, one hand reaching blindly into the darkness.

A furious bark answered her. Angry. Defiant.

Thank God. 

She barely had time to feel relief before another sound punched the air inward.

A violent WHUMP slammed through the street. Windows rattled in their frames. Loose paper towels and spilled groceries blew across the pavement as vibrant pink smoke erupted between Helga and the creature.

A second monster had appeared.

The smoke churned, swallowing the darkness around it. A vast silhouette rose through the pink haze, giant black bat wings unfurling against the blood-red sky, violet light pulsing through the membranes. Beneath a gat hat, magenta hair framed a face crowned with horns thrusting straight forward.

A gleaming scythe caught what little light remained.

Helga couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

The demon straightened, wings spread wide, its clawed hands tightening around the weapon.

It lunged toward the creature. A sharp, sickening whoosh cut through the darkness, followed by two heavy thumps against the pavement.

For a heartbeat, everything went still. A thin, luminous stream rose from the darkness, twisting up from the fallen body toward its destroyer. The demon inhaled, almost imperceptibly. The blue light vanished within its fanged jaws.

Helga touched her lips. That glow. She suddenly felt afraid. Very afraid

Happy's head snapped toward Helga. He sniffed, then turned toward the demon, lips curling back from his teeth as darkness swallowed them once more.

A scream erupted from the darkness.

It was impossibly loud, impossibly high, a glass-shattering screech that climbed and wavered in a sustained vibrato. The note went on without a single breath, a virtuoso performance of pure, unfiltered agony that seemed to force everyone within earshot to share its pain.

Helga clapped her hands over her ears.

Then something about the voice began to sound familiar.

The vibrato. The effortless control. That impossible high note.

Since childhood, she had adored that voice, playing all his songs over and over until she knew them by heart.

Helga slowly lowered her hands. She didn't need to see the demon to know.

No impersonator could ever hit a note like that.

“WHY ARE YOU BITING ME, YOU STUPID MUTT?” Romance howled. “LET GO! I'M TRYING TO PROTECT HER TOO!”

Happy Halloween everyone! For you Halloween needs, hop over to Camp Syndicate to see all the delightfully spooky things. Don't miss gifts, cool sim ambience, and the live DJ parties too!

On Him, DJ Romance:

Teeth, mouth, tongue: Seydr - Cryptid Maw [mesh](Camp Syndicate)(449L)

Lips: Misteria - Smoke [HD Applier](Camp Syndicate)(250L)

Straps: YUEBIN - BOUND Body Straps - [Legacy Athl] - black [mesh](350L)

Top: YUEBIN - RAZE Top - [Legacy (m)+Athl] Fatpack [mesh](1290L)

Pants: YUEBIN - Rift Pants - [Legacy (m)+Athl] Fatpack [mesh](1290L)

Eye, jaw: Cubic Cherry - Terror Jawbone, EYE  FATPACK [mesh]

Horns: Hollow - Nyx Horns [mesh]

Tail: Hollow - Nyx Tail [Bento] [mesh]

Weapon: ORPHIC - Kurohana Scythe - Shoulder L [mesh]

Hair: Raven Bell - Azriel Braids [mesh]

Bracers: Aii - Riftwind Mercenary - Legacy M Bracers [mesh]

Boots: CULT - Darkness - Legacy M [mesh]

Thong: Noche - James Thong Metallic Black [B0] - Athletic [mesh]

Hair: Dura - U129 -LIGHT -Men [mesh]

Hair: Dura - U135-Light(rigged)-Male [mesh]

Necklace: UKIYO - lisa necklace [unrigged + resizer] [mesh]

Heart: RAWR - Diamond Heart Septum [mesh]

Wings: Aii - Nefarious Wings M Bento (b.o.m.1) [mesh]

Claws, rings: NI.JU - Acantha Rings/Nails Set - legacy m [mesh](250L)

Hat: Dope+Mercy - Saja Gat, Sheer [mesh](Gift)

Earring: RavenBell - Starlit Earrings [Moonlit] [mesh](350L)

Tattoos: HISS - PATTERNS FACE ROMANCE [BOM](250L)

Eyes: Gloom - Savage Fantasy Collection - Sclera 03 - Yellow M [BOM]

Head: LeLUTKA - KANE [mesh](3990L)

Body: TheShops - [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)

Pose: DevinVaughn - created in Firestorm

Setting:

Skyline: Strange Merchant - Light City 1 [mesh]

Seoul Tower: Korea City

BONUS IMAGES: inworld raw shots,  midday sky, default camera:

Engine Room: Revenge of the Vampire Nation (Escape from Club Apophis, 59)

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STORYLINE: US Air Force base, Okinawa, late afternoon.

Angry clouds hung heavy over the Pacific.

Massive Mecha Scorpions moved into formation around the lighter infantry armor, their hydraulic joints hissing as hot steam vented across the puddle-choked tarmac. The ground vibrated beneath their multi-leg stomps. Behind them, armored hovercopters whined on helipads as the Night Troops loaded the Scorpion Attack Force for the sea crossing.

Cutting through the rainy mist and reek of aviation fuel came the legendary Commander Ashe. Tall, razor-thin, and clad in a high-density commando weave, Ashe moved with the unnerving stillness of a ghost. A crimson scar ran from his brow down his cheek, while a tarnished silver Victoria Cross dangled from his septum ring over his lips. In the dim tarmac light, his dilated pupils caught the red hazard beacons like a predator's eyes.

He unlatched the massive blast doors of the war room. Cold ozone-heavy air rushed out to meet the suffocating tropical humidity.

"President Spyder." His voice sounded more like a professor's than a warrior's. "The 101st is within visual range of Jeju Island."

Maximilian stood over the tactical holotable, red eyes gleaming. Overhead lights caught the sharp edge of elongated fangs as he devilishly grinned. He clapped a heavy hand onto Ashe’s shoulder with a firm grip. “This is the last stand of the wily old Pharaoh and his Harlot,” his deep voice rumbled. “Corrupt humans and lesser monsters are no defense against the might of the Vampire Nation. This is our world now. His reign ended in Berlin.”

His grin widened.

“Tomorrow, we finally burn out his ancient bloodline.”

Alarms went off, bathing the war room in red. Warnings violently flickered across the holotable. A distressed transmission broke through, framing the face of the Flying Bats Squad Leader. Inside his cockpit, lights flickered on and off as the craft tumbled out of control.

"REPORT!" Maximilian leaned over the projection, jaw tight.

Audio shattered into metallic screeching. Only two words survived the static before the signal died completely: "...No power..."

Ashe immediately swept his hand across the control interface, switching feed angles.

On screen, three more black hovercopters dropped from the sky like lead weights. Their engine glow winked out simultaneously before the black ocean swallowed them whole.

"PULL BACK! REGROUP!" Maximilian roared. "Deploy the Mosquito Bots. All units, locate the perimeter of that bloody shield!"

Ashe rerouted the holotable to an orbital optical feed. Below them, Jeju Island was going dark as if a black wave was sweeping over it. The sky above the island burned crimson beneath the storm clouds. Streetlights were dead. Buildings stood dark along the coastline. Even the traffic signals had died.

"An Entropy Barrier," Ashe said, his voice flat and analytical. "They anticipated our arrival."

Maximilian’s expression turned to iron. "Paine. That bitch betrayed us,” he snarled.

"Possibly. But extending an Entropy field this far beyond the Forbidden Zone would require infrastructure." His eyes narrowed. "The real question is, where did they get enough Entropy to power it?"

Maximilian huffed in disgust.

Ashe zoomed in on the rocky shoreline, targeting a slim lattice structure disguised among sea cliffs. "Notice these relay towers.”

He mapped the shoreline with two quick keystrokes. Six identical towers lined the coast in a precise geometric grid.

"Equidistant. Coordinated." Ashe traced the pattern across the glass. "These aren't cell towers.”

Maximilian turned toward the open comms panel, muscles coiled like a spring. "Unit Five, see that central spire? Dive bomb it."

The sub-window displayed a surviving pilot, pale against his flight harness. "Sir, our flight systems will die the second we breach the boundary zone."

Maximilian sneered into the camera. "Then climb to maximum altitude. Aim. And let momentum carry you. Gravity does not require voltage. Ram that target at top speed, soldier.”

A heavy chill fell across the room.

“Delay that order.” Ashe stepped smoothly into the frame, placed himself directly between Maximilian and the holotable, and clicked the master mute button.

The war room went completely silent. Maximilian’s eyes blazed with lethal fury. For three long seconds, the air balanced on the edge of violence as the President confronted his commander's defiance.

Ashe did not flinch. "Wasting pilots and expensive resources on tower relays is inefficient. There is no need to sacrifice pilots and aircraft when the towers can be dismantled by hand. Send the remaining 101st Flying Bats. They can tear those structures apart with more… traditional methods.”

Maximilian glared at him, the tension slowly bleeding out of his shoulders, replaced by a slow, ruthless grin. "Do you think your elite boys still remember how to hunt with wing and claw?"

"It is innate," Ashe said. He unholstered a long-barreled WWII service pistol from his side, the cursed steel dull and heavy under the tactical lights.

“Old technology served us well in Europe.”

Max stared at the antique weapon. "That gun is over a century out of date."

Ashe checked the chamber, the metallic clack cutting through the silence.

"Digital systems fail. Blood and iron do not."

He raised his eyes. The Victoria Cross glinted in the red hazard light.

"We will hunt in the dark."

HAPPY OCTOBER, Everyone! Best month of the year. *throws fall leaves* I have fun spooky posts in the works with Engine Room items. The Engine Room is a historical fantasy event filled with high quality items, gifts, and even hosts DJ parties. This post was inspired by the many awesome war things at the event, and scorpions! I had making a more movie like image for this post.

On him, Maximilian Spyder:

Outfit: FOE -  Imprecari Outfit, Legacy Male (Engine Room)(1999L)

Gloves: FOE - Imprecari Gloves, Legacy Male (Engine Room)(752L)

Boots: FOE - Imprecari Boots, Legacy Male (Engine Room)(799L)

Sword: FOE - Great Sunderer (Engine Room)(799L)

Mask: MILKBATH - Goblin Mask [mesh]

Hair: Wasabi Pills - Draco Mesh Hair, male [mesh]

Eyes: Gloom - Savage Collection - Sclera 03 - Red S [BOM]

Skin: coconut - Dong Skin / Winter Tone / EVO X [BOM]

Tattoo: XTX - Arana Tattoo - 60% [BOM]

Head: LeLUTKA - RUNE [mesh](3990L)

Body: TheShops - [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)

On him, Commander Ashe:

Outfit: TURB - Sunrise Suit, Vest, Legacy M, fatpack [mesh](Engine Room)(2500L)

Gun: Aii - Red Moon Revolver [mesh](Engine Room)(2000L)

Helmet: SOLE - SA - Helmet DND (Black) [mesh]

Collar: AVEC TOI - Aiden Neck Corset - TIGHT - V1 (LegacyATHLETIC) [mesh]

Cap: Oracle - Sovereign Cap, male [mesh]

Nose chain: Remarkable Oblivion Paragon Cap, Nose chain [mesh]

Earrings: Swallow - Earrings H01 for lel Evo X Human Ears MALE [mesh]

Gloves: Archivefaction - Penumbra Gloves_Legacy M_Slim Fingers [mesh]

Boots: Livalle - Payne - Combat Boots  - Male [mesh]

Head: LeLUTKA - Kane Evolution [mesh](3990L)

Body: TheShops - [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)

Setting:

Scorpion tank: AxisMundi - SiegeReaver-Mount- Large[Animesh](Engine Room)(1500L)

Scorpion: SEmotion Libellune - Venom Antares Companion LIMITED[Animesh](Neo Japan)(188L)

Scorpion Chairs: Nebur Cyborg - SCORVA Rover R-027 (PBR) [mesh]

BONUS IMAGES: inworld raw shots,  midday sky, default camera:

Night Market: Shadow Serpent (Escape from Club Apophis, 54)

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STORYLINE:  ...This is how the world entered the Age of Apophis.

Forbidden Zone, 5 minutes to midnight. April 13, 2055

We are the Shadow of Apophis.

Our last Chosen One created wonders. She was kind. She kept us well fed. When she disappeared, we waited. We returned to choose another, as we have for millennia. A room full of beautiful devotees. Orderly, Hungry. Exactly as designed. Boring. We were about to leave. 

A boy stumbled in. Not invited. No idea where he was. No agenda. Chaos recognizes chaos. We chose him immediately. 

He ran. Running. Running. Running away into the storm.
The sun was still in the mouth of Apophis. So we followed.

A noisy man-bat swooped down, its shrieks blaring loud enough to give us a headache. Its claws were about to hook into the boy. Very annoying. We flicked our tail, cracking it through the air like lightning. Precision strike. Severed wings fluttered down.

Ahead, Void Nuns had amassed. Strange things. No pulse, no warmth, no eyes. Unacceptable. We dealt with them too.

“Come back to us, Lathandro..." We had whispered to him. "We love you... We miss your warmth..."

The boy ran harder. “My name is Yoon Jihoon. I’m a student. I study. I keep out of trouble. I had a normal life.”

Rejection. Again and again. We were patient. Time does not move in straight lines for us. It coils. We would wait.

Present Day

Now, the boy had nowhere left to run…

We adjusted our heavy coils, settling comfortably across the plush furniture. The cushions were decent, but they weren’t warm like proper temple stone. Still, we stayed put, guarding the comatose boy in the lavish quarters of his captor. Tomorrow, the loud creature in high heels would disturb the peace and try to unravel him.

We flicked our tail, annoyed. This whole situation was not how things were meant to be.

Our tongue flickered, tasting a sudden metallic disturbance in the air.

Thump.

We reared up, our eyes snapping to the balcony's glass door. Heat. Electrical vibration. And the unmistakable scent of Jihoon.

The unconscious body of the large red-haired guard slowly slid down the glass and collapsed into a sad little pile on the cold cement.

Something had changed.

We tasted the air, tracing a dark, delicious tendril of entropic energy straight back to Jihoon.

Our eyes shone, and the corners of our mouth upturned in a heavy, reptilian grin. The boy was finally reaching outward, using the only means he had. Power.

We sank into the boy’s dream den, slipping through thought, smooth and heavy as ink pooling into groundwater.

Dreamscape, The Robotics Classroom

This construct was new, created by Jihoon.

Deliberate. Intentional.

The boy’s other half was slouched in the darkest corner. Lathandro the Beautiful. Vanquished, bored, and quietly playing PONG with our ancient, sacred Apophian glyphs. The LED lighting of the desk screen made his forlorn face ghostly.

Lathandro noticed us. He offered his hand with serpentine grace. Lovely.

We accepted a quick, delightful head-scratch, then turned our gaze to the other one. Jihoon the Desperate. He was a miserable snakelet, stubbornly refusing to shed old skin. He was hunched over a desk, beside the fake metallic dog, frantically tapping a glowing surface. Light strobed across his face.

“Come on, come on… Get a signal out.”

We slithered down from the upper shelves, our dark form gliding lazily across the desks to get closer to the warm pulse of Jihoon’s voice.

Suddenly, the air ripped open overhead.

The red-haired boy materialized and fell into the room in an ungraceful mess, hitting the linoleum floor with a loud, disruptive crash.

"What the..." the guard scrambled up, staring wildly at the glowing classroom monitors before his eyes landed on Jihoon.

"Kyle!" Jihoon beamed, leaping up from his seat to embrace his friend. "I don’t know how long I can hold this connection. Quickly. Tell me everything that’s happening out there."

“Stop hugging me!” Kyle shrugged Jihoon off. “Damn, I just had the craziest dream. Thanks for letting me fall asleep in class, Nerd.” He smacked Jihoon on the head.

We reared up instantly, our hood flaring wide, casting the Vile One in the blackest shadow.

Kyle squeaked and fell over backward. “Oh, shit. Not that thing again.”

Lathandro struck before we could, grinding his foot hard into Kyle's chest on the floor. “You just hit me for the last time, Kyle. When I wake up,” he sneered, “I’m gonna break every bone in your…”

“Who the hell are you?” Kyle spat back. “Jihoon’s ugly albino twin sister?”

“Wait, wait,” Jihoon laughed nervously, arms flailing between them. “Everyone… please. Calm down. We don’t have time for this.” He turned to Kyle. “You’ve seen the snake before? I thought I was the only one who could see it.”

"Yeah, I’ve seen it.” Kyle panted, slowly climbing back to his feet and backing away. "When Hwan smashed the Black Snakeskin Box, this massive bastard burst loose and screeched. Almost shit myself. Hwan told us it was returning to its master. Said if we followed it, it would lead us right to you.”

The Delivery Box? Yes, the Dokkaebi smashed our beautiful nest. Very rude. It was a failure anyway. No gift we materialized made Jihoon love us.

Lathandro stood down, removing his foot. We wrapped ourselves around him like a massive, oversized boa constrictor, though we kept glaring at Kyle just on principle.

"Kyle, please. Sit down," Jihoon said softly, righting a chair.

Kyle hesitated, looking at our massive coils suspiciously.

Lathandro slid into the chair beside Jihoon, looking down his nose at the redhead. “Relax, Asshole. It’s more scavenger than predator. Besides, it won’t hurt you without permission. If it wanted, you’d already be dust in the wind.”

“Can someone please tell me why Twisted Sister is shooting sass at me?”

Lathandro rolled his eyes. “I am Jihoon, idiot, the better version of him. The one that won’t hesitate to hit you back.” He began to stroke our dark scales, right under the chin where we love it. “He’s not as scary as he seems. He’s lazy. He likes warmth, easy meals... you know, snake things.” He looked over at Jihoon. “You would know that too, if you stopped running away from it.”

Lathandro turned back to us and cooed in a ridiculous high voice, “Who’s the goodest Snakepoo? It’s you! It’s you!”

We melted. It was embarrassing, really, but his pets were too good. We moved our tail to gently tap the top of Lathandro’s pretty head, mimicking his petting movements. Then, feeling generous, we extended our tip to pet Jihoon too.

See? We are nice. Love us.

A forked tongue flicked out of Lathandro’s exquisite mouth at the exact same time as ours.

Jihoon shrieked.

He jumped out of the chair so fast it overturned with a loud crash.

We tasted Fear. Thick and pungent.

Jihoon stared at Lathandro. Then at us. His hand slowly rose to his mouth. “Oh, God.”

“Okay...” Kyle shook his head, thoroughly bewildered. “So this is not the strangest shit I’ve seen since stepping into the Zone, but it’s definitely in the ranking.” He shivered as if a cold breeze went up his back. “I get that this is a dream or something. Yin and Yang, perhaps. But what I don’t get is why one of you would know something the other doesn’t if you are the same person?”

Jihoon slumped and looked away. “Here’s the deal, as best as I understand it. Everything changed the moment I entered Club Apophis.” His voice faltered, hands wringing in his lap. “I saw it, a shape darker than black. It was looking right at me. The Serpent. A lot of shit happened after that. Don’t ask me how or what it means, because I don’t know. My memory is fractured. I just know whatever was happening to me stopped when I ran.”

“Alright,” Kyle clenched his jaw. “Since I'm the one who shoved you into the Zone, this is all my fault. What do you want from me?”

Jihoon’s voice turned serious. “Be my bodyguard. Protect me. Be my legs because I can’t move.”

“Already on it, Boss. Next.”

“There is something else I want. A favor. But before I tell you, please tell me everything that’s happening out there. So I might know if I made the right decision.”

Kyle nodded.

We only half listened. We wanted to know what the decision was. We wondered if Lathandro was also curious.

"You want the quick version?” Kyle folded his arms, his eyes darting between Jihoon and our shadowy coils. “The Zone is a slaughterhouse run by Monstrum. We found trapped people being auctioned off to monsters like live bait. And MasterGin? Slavery disguised as plastic surgery. We even found a dead nun who tried to go back in time to stop all this. Named Sophia.”

Jihoon went very still.

Emotions clouded the air. Fear. Rage. Heartbreak.

He touched his throat. “Did she wear a gold rope necklace with a snake head and tail?”

“Hmm. Most of the nuns wear little snake brooches, pins, that kind of thing. But now that you mention it... yeah, hers wasn't a brooch. It was the whole necklace. Like a real snake, coiled all the way around her neck. Kind of hard to miss.”

The dreamscape flickered.

We bowed our head. Our Dearest Sophia. The boy had discovered the truth we hid for so long. A small mercy.

Jihoon looked away. He turned colder.

Moments passed as no one spoke.

“You doing ok there, buddy?”

“Continue,” he replied softly.

Kyle hesitated. “Uh... okay.” In a hushed voice, he described the many horrors in the Zone and what had happened to Jihoon’s classmates.

We yawned. Our long, sharp fangs fully deployed. The darkness of our throat leaked out in tendrils of black smoke.

The conversation died.

We opened our eyes, surprised.

The three boys were staring at us.

Fear, once more.

If we could blush, we would have. We tried to look cute and friendly. Having no success, we pouted. We slithered away and curled around the desk where Jihoon had sat, our coils swallowing the robotic dog beneath them.

Kyle inched his chair away and looked back at Jihoon. “So now you know everything. What’s the plan?”

A plan?

We leaned in, excitement accidentally rattling our tail.

“Wake up. Pick up my body and run. Go to the Safe Zone. With any luck, the others are there. We’re getting everyone the hell out of here.”

Kyle suddenly disappeared, cut off before he could react. 

Lathandro bolted out of his chair. “But I’ll never wake up! The Ceremony is tomorrow!”

“Fuck it.” Jihoon stood, fists clenched. “You don’t get it. I’m a lost cause. You’re always reminding me. I caught on fire in fucking daylight! I’m a monster now. One person has already died trying to save me. Mom.” His voice faltered, tears running down his cheeks. “No one. I mean NO ONE is going to die for me. Understand? This shit-show ends now.”

We tasted the air. Fear. Rage. Grief. And something else. Resolve. The boy was no longer running.

Jihoon looked over at us. The fierce expression on his tear-stained face made our hearts flutter. “Don’t try to stop me.”

We approached timidly.

Jihoon did not recoil.

We lowered our head.

Time seemed to stop.

We wait. Patiently wait. Still waiting.

We had been waiting for this since before he was born.

There.

At last. A trembling hand lightly touched our scales.

We listen. We obey.

Lathandro paced the room frantically. Then finally he stopped and looked at his other self. “You’re not leaving me behind. You are me. You need me. When you hesitate, I act. When you’re weak, I’m strong.”

Jihoon held out his hand to Lathandro. “Then let’s stop fighting. From now on, we are one.”

Lathandro took his hand without doubt. “We are one.”

We put our tail tip on top of their joined hands. “We… Are… One…”

Time to shed old skin.

We wrapped our coils around the two boys. In our embrace, their bodies dissolved into tendrils of black smoke. When our coils fell away, there stood only one boy.

It was complete.

“Good boy.” The Chosen One reached over and petted us the way we liked. “Ready?”

He had eyes like us. Teal.

We nodded. Eager.

His pupils narrowed into black slits. His hand pointed forward dramatically. It was exactly like the stunning posters of Prince Lathandro plastered all over the Forbidden Zone.

“Clear the path. Go now!”

On him, Lathandro:

Eyes: Goetia - Thorned Umbral Eyes- Light Green [BOM](Night Market)[150L]

Eyeshadow: A.D.D.Andel  - Gloss Shadows-Teal [BOM](Night Market)[130L]

Crown: ARCHIVEFACTION - Requiem Crown [mesh]

Gloves: ARCHIVEFACTION - Sacremorne Knight Gauntlets_Silver_Legacy M [mesh]

Shoulders, collar: BUFFY'S - Gwendolyn Neck Piece - LegacyA [mesh]

Gown: Soapberry - .SB. Rune Gown - LegacyA [mesh]

Veil: Grasshopper - ST GHS Wedding Veil [mesh](300L) 

Shine: ARANA - Dragon Body Shine 3D HQ (2K) [Applier]

Strings: YUEBIN - Bound in Bloom - [Legacy Ath] [mesh]

Stocking: YUEBIN - Spider Charm - LegacyA, 5 [mesh]

Hair: Aii - Necromantic Hair, HAIR HELL [mesh]
Tongue: Clover - Lizard set, tongue [mesh]

Pet: MoonRabbit - MR SNEK SPIRIT [mesh]

Skin: outernaked - #evox - juhoon skin [NF: natural] - nb [BOM]

Head, bloody tattoos: LeLUTKA - Kane Evolution [mesh](3990L)

Body: TheShops - [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)

Pose: momomuller / 3M - [3M]**_w5_0

On him, Yoon Jihoon:

Outfit: PENDULUM - EMILIEN.Suit - LEGACY M [mesh]

Dagger: ARCHIVEFACTION - Requiem Dagger [mesh]

Hair: TRASH - Pumpkins Hair - v1 - Fatpack [mesh]

Crown: UNA - Ruise crown Silver [mesh]

Necklace: Oblivis - Secret Bastion Key Necklace M SILVER [mesh]

Shoes: Deadwool - Dandy shoes - non rigged - black/silver wingtip [mesh](360L)

Rings: RAWR - Battie Rings Legacy Male [mesh]

Earrings: BADa - Cross B Earrings [mesh]

Claws: Subject Thirteen - Solstice Set - LegacyA [mesh]

Skin: outernaked - #evox - juhoon skin [NF: natural] - wb [BOM]

Head, bloody tattoos: LeLUTKA - Kane Evolution [mesh](3990L)

Body: TheShops - [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)

Pose: Tableau Vivant - TheCageM5

BONUS IMAGES: inworld raw shots, hi-res, midday sky:

Cyber Fair: A Voice in the Dark (Escape from Club Apophis, 45)

(click to enlarge)

STORYLINE:

Mission objective: Escape Club Apophis

Team: Jihoon / Lathandro
Location: The dreamscape in Jihoon’s mind

The void was a muffled, liquid grey. Gone were the familiar dreamscapes. It was like the void was constructing itself, trying to create an imposing building of obsidian but running out of instructions halfway through.

Outside, miles away, the real world hummed with frequencies he could barely grasp. The air of the real world tasted of clove smoke and static. He heard the rhythmic, heavy breathing of Kyle, standing guard. 

He focused on Kyle's breathing. Tried to reach toward it.

“Kyle,” his mind whispered. “I’m so cold.”

Kyle's breathing stopped. Just for a second.

The glass door swished open. He felt the bed give way as Kyle sat beside him. A blanket was pulled over him. It was warm and heavy. It smelled of earth and smoke, unmistakably Kyle.

Coincidence? Or had Kyle actually heard him?

He reached out with his mind again. “I’m hungry. So hungry.”

He heard something new. It sounded as if it were coming through a thick pane of soundproof glass. A mechanical hum, high-pitched and familiar. A reporter bot powering on.

Then Lisa Liemawr’s voice, sharp and suspicious: "Jihoon?"

A voice replied as “Jihoon.” But that wasn’t him, and that wasn’t his voice.

Jihoon went still in the void.

What’s happening out there?

He tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt like lead slabs. He tried to scream, but his lungs were filled with nothing but static. He was a prisoner in his own skin.

"Little Bookworm," a voice purred from the darkness. "Still wanting someone to save you? Pathetic."

Jihoon turned in the void. Lathandro was there, flickering like a holographic projection, looking utterly bored. He leaned against a glitching street light, looking like a male model in sleek latex from Monstrum Magazine. He sneered at his other half as he spun a digital dagger between his fingers.

"Leave me alone," Jihoon thought, his voice echoing in the hollow silence.

"I'll save you," Lathandro chuckled, a sound like glass breaking on silk. His dagger launched at Jihoon's head with deadly accuracy.

Jihoon held up a hand.

The dagger slammed into an invisible barrier. Violet lightning forked around Jihoon, spreading out from the point of impact. The blade melted and dripped from the barrier, sizzling as it struck the ground.

“You think I’m impressed?" Lathandro spat. "You think the richest blood was a gift? It's a trap. You sold yourself for power. The Ruler owns you now. You cannot disobey your master.”

Jihoon laughed softly. “You’re no better than me. I know your secret. I remember it all now. You only exist because you submitted to MasterGin. While I am what escaped before he could finish.”

A beat of silence. Lathandro's holographic form glitched for a second.

“So what. You’re still terrified. Admit it. The Opening of the Mouth is tomorrow."

“Stupid name. Like something a quack dentist would call an appointment.”

Lathandro leaned against the street light. The corner of his mouth curled upward. “On that point we agree."

“Progress. I’ll take it.”

The darkness softened around him. The void became something briefly familiar, Jihoon’s apartment. Scrappy 2’s ears perked up and his tail began to wag, before it disappeared again.

Jihoon smiled lightly, and looked toward the faint light in the distance of the "outside." He thought of the lecture halls at Jae Won. He thought of Minjo, the way she looked when she laughed, a memory so mundane and warm it felt like a holy relic compared to this surreal neon-lit hell.

"I just wanted to graduate," Jihoon whispered to the void. "I want to be... me."

“You died, idiot.” Lathandro’s voice dripped with mockery. “How many times do I need to say it? You can’t go back to hiding in a library, especially now that your body holds the blood of the most powerful vampire who ever lived. Honestly, I don’t know how we are the same person. You’re so stupid.”

"Easy for you to say."

"Because I'm the part of us that admits what we wanted."

Jihoon felt a sudden, sharp ache in his chest.

The dreamscape cracked open.

For a moment, the grey void vanished.

Throbbing music. Pulsing cyan lights. Perfume. Smoke. Laughter.

Club Apophis.

A thousand beautiful strangers turned toward him at once, wishing him a happy birthday.

The Lost one. The Chosen One. Prince. The words echoed through his memory.

MasterGin's hand on his shoulder. Warm. Proud. Possessive. The faint scent of clove and expensive cologne.

"What do you want for your birthday, dear boy?"

The answer came from both of them at the same time.

“I don't want to be small anymore." 

And also, “I want to be like you."

Both boys looked at each other.

Jihoon blinked. "Which was it?"

"Both?” Lathandro shrugged.

The memory shattered.

Fragments rained between them like a broken mirror, clinking like tiny bells.

Jihoon saw his face in the fragments, one side was his old nerdy self and other side the photogenic Lathandro.

"I was drunk," Jihoon blurted. "Drunk out of my mind. God knows what was in those glowing green drinks they kept feeding me.”

Lathandro laughed softly. "Cosmic Snake piss probably.”

Jihoon cringed.

Lathandro looked at him. For once, he was the one who looked sad. "Why did you run? Why did you flee Club Apophis?”

Jihoon took a moment to collect his thoughts before he replied. “Beauty. Thrills. Power. They're fun for a while. But when everything falls apart, you don't remember the parties. You remember who stayed."

“You mean love?" Lathandro laughed bitterly. "That's rich coming from you. You think only human love counts? You’re a monster too. At least I haven’t forgotten who is dragging us back from the grave.”

The boys sat silently, pondering it all.

“I wonder…,” Jihoon said quietly. “What happens if the ceremony fails?”

"It won’t.” Lathandro folded his arms confidently. “We will awaken, and the Age of Apophis will begin."

Jihoon's head jerked up. "What? What are you talking about?”

“Don’t look at me with those sad, confused puppy dog eyes. Isn't it obvious?" Lathandro leaned in, his face inches from Jihoon’s, his eyes burning with a dark, predatory fervor. “I’m gonna kill the Ruler of the Night.”

The void cracked.

A hairline fracture spreading across the grey like glass under pressure.

Then it sealed itself.

Jihoon stared as his thoughts scattered, leaving something deep and unnameable to stir inside him.

Lathandro grinned, a smile that was beautiful and entirely wrong. “Don’t look so shocked. The old order is failing. Look around. Monstrum is the last dying breath of an ancient tyrant’s attempt to hold onto power. He can barely understand our technologic world. When we wake up, everything The Ruler built is going to collapse. Everything he owns is going to be ours. Don't get in the way, Bookworm.”

Jihoon tried to look away, but Lathandro gripped his chin, forcing him to witness the ambition burning in his own reflection. He watched his own pupils dilate with something he didn't want to name.

Jihoon closed his eyes.

Outside, Kyle's breathing was steady.

He held onto that.

Cyber Fair has two shopping days left. If you haven't visited yet, head over this weekend.    ....At long last, Lathandro makes his debut in the year long series. His look is inspired by items at Cyber Fair, snakes, and a fractured personality.   ....From Abyssal is the wonderful Protocol catsuit for men with fantastic textures in PBR and Legacy. The flatpack includes all texture choices, for adjusting the all the material zones on the suit. Matching gear include the Protocol gloves and boots with the same texture options.  And there is a version of this suit for women too.   ...From Excy is a fun cyber hairclip. Is its receiving signals from the net or jacking the wearer into the Hive? Who knows. There are several texture options to choose from. It's unrigged for easy placement.   ...From TRK are the epic Dawnbringer Canon and Halo. I love the cartoon outline on the canons. You can resize them by touching for a popup menu, and use the texture hud to change the textures. Note: the Cannons do not have weapon scripts in them.  ....From Yuebin is the Fallen Saint leather jacket, drapped seductively from one shoulder, available at Lewd Station. (Meanwhile the normal fit version is at the Salvage Station, Dead Romance.) Both versions of the jacket come with a hud to switch out the textures.   ...From Zeroichi is the Crimson Watch Backdrop. You get a copy or mod version of the set. I used the mod version for this image, since I like to control the lighting.

On him, Lathandro:

Outfit: ABYSSAL - PROTOCOL gloves, catsuit, boots, Legacy M, fatpack [mesh](CyberFair)(2777L)

Hair Clip: Excy - X Clip - X-Metric [mesh](CyberFair)(219L)

Canons: TRK - Dawnbringer Canons [v2] [mesh](CyberFair)(499L)

Halo: TRK - Dawnbringer Halo [mesh](CyberFair)(499L)

Jacket: YUEBIN - Fallen Saint Jacket - [Legacy (m) + Ath] [mesh]

Hair: Aii - Necromantic Hair, HAIR HELL [mesh]

Pet: AxisMundi - SerpentHagoromo-BShort-LARGE [animesh]

Body snakes: HEIKE - Viper's Embrace -Arms, Legs(Legacy M) [mesh]

Claws: Static - Hexxus Symbiote {Black} Legacy M [mesh]

Skin: outernaked - #evox - juhoon skin [NF: natural] - wb

Head, bloody tattoos: LeLUTKA - Kane Evolution [mesh](3990L)

Body: TheShops - [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)

Setting:
Setting: ZEROICHI - Crimson Watch Backdrop, mod [mesh](CyberFair)(560L)

BONUS IMAGES: inworld raw shots, hi-res, midday sky:

 

Fantasy Faire: The Kitsune of Heian

(click to enlarge)

STORYLINE: Sleeping on the temple roof above the busy marketplace of Heian, was a gentle and wise nine tail fox, Kyubi no Kitsune. Its white fur gleamed in the golden light, soft purrs rumbled in its chest. An icy breeze ruffled its fur. The sour scent snapped the old fox's eyes open. 

Doubt, rage, envy, fear, hopelessness.... These emotions had suddenly surged in the populace. The Oni were growing stronger. The Unweaver was approaching, bringing a cold miasma of doom with it.

The fox flicked its tails annoyed. Something must be done quickly to rebalance the land.

Kyubi no Kitsune rose on his gigantic paws and stretched out nine magnificent tails. With a leaf on his forehead, and a poof of fox magic, he transformed into a striking, friendly looking street performer, albeit his fox nature was not completely hidden.

He landed gently in the large square, and announced himself as the mighty Kyubi no Kitsune, to many dubious laughs. His fluffy tail waving, and ears twitching, he began to tell jokes and perform amazing tricks to people's delight. A crowd around him grew. His sunny nature was infectious. He encouraged everyone to sing with him, and even pulled audience members into a silly dance. Soon a full street party broke out. Food was brought and served. Young couples met. Children giggled. And by the time the sun set, Heian was full of warm hearts once more. The Oni had shrunk to the size of mice. 

Outside, the Unweaver seethed. Joy was the one thing it could never consume. 

It sneered and moved on.

The celebrations and fund raising for a good cause continue at the Fantasy Faire continue. Read more about events, live shows, the adventure game, and more. Learn more about the Heian sim here: MEET OUR SPONSORS: GABRIEL

On him, Kyubi no Kitsune:
Kimono: Fluffy Kreations  - FK Kimono, Legacy M [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Aventurine Promenade )
Tattoo: Beastie - INUARI OVERLAY, Red [BOM](Fantasy Faire: Vervaine Moors)

Parasol: floro - Tien Parasol [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Bến Tôm Rơi ) 

Earrings: VISUALPHA - oneness earrings [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Heian )

Necklace: VISUALPHA - saint necklace [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Heian )

Hat: KROVA - HEAVY Coolie [mesh]

Hair: Dura - U129 -LIGHT - Men [mesh]

Hair: Dura - Ear covers  [mesh](gift)
Collar: Bartimeu - B-27 Collar [L/A] [mesh]

Rings: ROZOREGALIA - NARUSAZA*RING, Legacy [mesh]
Ears: Level 9 - Vulpine Ears [Bento]

Tail: Aurascape - Vixen Tail Classic [Bento] [mesh](500L)

Claws hand: L'Emporio&PL - Oblio Vampire Claws male [mesh](350L)

Claws feet: L'Emporio&PL - Damned Claws For Feet [mesh](340L)

Sandals: CerberusXing - Male Fang Geta (edit tint)[mesh](350L)

Eyes: Aii - Kitsune Red Eyes (50L)

Tattoo: Nuuna - Forehead fades 2 White [BOM](past gift)

Tattoo: Sn@tch - Fishnets [BOM](past gift)

Skin: MUDSKIN - Hajimu, A, no Brow, WINTER [BOM]

Head: LeLUTKA - KANE 4.0 [mesh](3990L)

Body: TheShops - [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)

Location:
HEIAN by GABRIEL Takuya Jinn

BONUS IMAGES: inworld raw shots, hi-res, midday sky :

 

Fantasy Faire 2026: The Watch of Requiem

(click to enlarge)

STORYLINE: On the windswept hillside of the Fairelands, a lone crow hopped across the mossy ground, his talons clicking on paving stones. A cold breeze ruffled his feathers. Something about it felt wrong. Black Beak tilted his head, surveying the silent crypts and towering spires of Requiem. He had carried many souls gently to the next life. He knew the difference between a quiet passing and something darker. He cawed loudly in protest.

Dark clouds were gathering overhead.

He took flight, soaring through the flying buttresses, higher and higher he climbed. Caw. Caw. The Harpy King had felt it too. His enormous shape shadowed against the angry sky, white feathers gleaming in the last rays of the golden sunlight. With a thud, his sharp talons gripped the tallest spire, overlooking all the Fairelands. He raised his scythe. His screech ringing off every ancient stone below. The alarm was raised, the Unweaver was coming. 

Black Beak landed gently on the King's armored shoulder. Caw Caw. Together they watched as the Fairelands stirred and readied once more for the Battle of Life.

Welcome back to the biggest event in SecondLife, The Fantasy Faire! 

It's not to be missed! And all for a good cause, raising money for The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. You can read more information about it here, look at the shopping guide, see the schedule of events, daily reports from the event, roleplays, jail and bails, live performances, Faire radio, tabletop games, LitFest, the interactive Hud based Quest game, and more:  FantasyFaireSL website.

This post was inspired by the gorgeous and gothic Requiem sim created by Fallen Gods with it's crow, the movie The Crow, and cool items for sell at the Faire.   ...From Air are the ornate Opium glasses, in silver or gold. They are mod, so you scale and adjust them for the perfect fit.   ...From Schelm are the Seiryu Earrings and matching Scythe. The Earring are unrigged for you adjust for a perfect fit. The scythe includes a hud with a 2 poses, and texture changes.   ...From Poet's Heart is the romantic Reina Crown. I used the fatpack version which includes many texture options.   ...The aura energy effect is Limb Swirls by Starlight Designs. Just add to your outfit, change the color options, and watch as magical energy animates around your avatar.   ... Black Beak is the American Crow by CKit Falconry. He is Animesh, and includes a hud for triggering animations, and poses. Plus you can name your crow too.   ...From past releases are items I have been itching to show, and finally got the chance.   ...Aii's Harpy collection is gorgeous, with fits for men and women. The body feathers, arm feathers and feet include a hud for changing textures, and to show and hide certain parts. Matching it is the body jewelry with the same options. And then add to that the Wings plus their jewelry. It's just so much fun, and stunning.   ...Adding elegance is the AURO Virtue material shine. I used it without the chainmail BOM layers, because I wanted it to be a lighter color. It worked great!   ...Adding motion is the Haruka hair for Argrace.

On him, the Harpy King:
Glasses: Air - Opium, gold, [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Ben Tom Roi)
Scythe: Schelm - FF012 - Seiryu Scythe [mesh] (Fantasy Faire: Heian)
Earrings: Schelm - FF014 - Seiryu Earrings [mesh] (Fantasy Faire: Heian)

Crown: Poet's Heart - PH Reina Crown, fatpack [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Requiem)

Aura: Starlight Designs - Limb Swirls [mesh](Fantasy Faire: Aventurine Promenade)

Pet: CKit Falconry - American Crow [animesh] (Fantasy Faire: Ben Tom Roi)

Outfit: Aii - Galewing Harpy - Full Harpy Avatar, Jewelry [mesh]
Wings: Aii - Galewing Harpy - Wing,  Jewelry [mesh]

Hair: ARGRACE - Haruka - Misty White [mesh]

Shine: AURO - Virtue - Masc [BOM, Applier]

Head: LeLUTKA - Logan Evolution [mesh](3990L)

Body: TheShops - [BODY] Athletic Meshbody (Legacy)(m) (1.7.1) [mesh](5000L)

Pose: Poseidon - Ranger 2

Location:

Fantasy Faire 2026 - Requiem by Fallen Gods

BONUS IMAGES: inworld raw shot, hi-res, midday sky.