HELLSCAPE

CHAPTER 2

06 and Agent I made their way to the library, 06 was showing Agent I around the institute so she could familiarise herself with her new workplace.

"This is where we keep all of our books, records on all things "unnatural". From occult books to grimoire, religious texts to the original copies of some of history's most infamous dark arts, everything you would need to know about anything is right here" he explained, knocking on the wooden bookshelf closest to him that started at the ground and stood tall up to the library's very high ceiling.

"So many books... Do I have to memorise all of these?" she asked with concern, looking up at the giant shelves that towers around the library

"Nah, you'll start to pick up these things with experience. If there's anything you feel you need to research, just come down here and ask for what you need to know about" he said, pointing at the receptionist's desk in the middle of the library.

—

The duo then made their way to the library, 06 was showing Agent I all the weapons that the organisation keeps

"Each agent chooses one weapon to master, that weapon, along with the abilities they choose to practise, allows them to do their jobs as well as keep themselves safe" he explained, opening up the cases and cabinets of different weapon types

"See anything that interests you?" he asked

Agent I's eyes scanned up and down the different types of weapons, from maces to clubs, axes to even guns, wondering how she would effectively be able to use such massive bulky weapons, given her small physique.

Seeing this look of concern on her face, 06 had an idea,

"Here, try this!" he said, tossing a katana to Agent I,

"Ah!" she yelled in panic, she was surprised by the throw but although unprepared, her fingers instinctively wrapped around the gold and blue scabbard, it let off a faint glow as she caught it almost as if the katana itself was approving her as its wielder,

"I think it likes you" 06 chuckled

"I want it!" Agent I exclaimed in excitement.

"It's yours then" 06 responded

—

"Next is your base abilities" 06 explained, walking Agent I to one of the nearby training rooms

"This is where Devils practise their abilities to refine and perfect them. Choose what abilities you think would be best for you" he went on as he pointed to a shrine at the back of the training room with a black grimoire,

"You probably already know this but remember, the stronger the abilities you wield, the higher the risk of them burning away parts of your soul, so choose wisely" he said, letting her continue her advance towards the shrine.

Agent I opened the book and the world around her disappeared, she was floating in an abyss, surrounded by texts, sigils and spells, incantations and runes.

"How do I choose? There are so many!" her mind started to race.

The abilities ranged from enhancements to offensive, defensive abilities to healing ones. As she was looking around, swimming through the abyss, surrounded by these abilities, the katana that she had mounted to her back had pulled her back and towards a set of abilities that, from what it seemed, the katana wanted her to choose. She read the abilities that the katana had chosen for her to herself;

"Anima Scutum - The ability to create an aura of pure energy around one's soul to protect it against malevolent energy"

The second ability seemed to be one that she could infuse into her katana;

"Divina Temperantia - This allows the user to turn any solid object into a rope-like restraint that can be cast to restrict the abilities of malevolent energy"

She saw what the last ability read and thought it too powerful to be stacked with the previous two

"Wouldn't it burn away too much of my soul?" she said, expressing concern,

"Perhaps I keep this as a last resort, an ultimate ability of sorts"

It read;

"Transfusio: Sanguineo - The ability to infuse a weapon with the user's blood to enhance its form and strength at the cost of the caster's strength"

As she unsheathed her katana and read the names of the abilities aloud

"Anima Scutum"

"Divina Temperantia"

"Transfusio: Sanguineo"

As she finished the final word, the spells dissolved and were absorbed into her body as well as the katana, her eyes began to glow and as she blinked, she was transported from the abyss she was once floating in and back into the training room where she stood in front of the shrine. The grimoire closed itself shut and she let out a sigh of contentment.