Prologue

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Somewhere far from Earth, a young woman raced through a dense jungle, her heart pounding as she was pursued. She wore black leather trousers and a fitted purple tank top, a formidable sword strapped across her back, and a belt lined with gleaming knives around her waist. Fresh blood dripped from her sword, evidence of the creatures she had fought off. With scratches and cuts marring her skin, she ran with desperation, hoping to lose her relentless pursuers in the tangled underbrush.

This woman, however, was not showing any sign of worry as she swung on the branches of trees and danced through the gaps of large rocks with remarkable endurance. The trail of death created by her hand made the smell that lingered with her unmistakable. This woman was powerful but also very dangerous. As she ran, the woman threw a row of knives that hit five of the creatures in the head, killing them instantly.

She could hear the chilling shrieks and furious cries of the creatures, their anger palpable as they pursued her with relentless determination. They moved like hungry predators, never losing sight of their prey. But the woman was cunning and resourceful; with remarkable precision, she leaped through the air, her sword slicing through a cluster of trees to create a makeshift barrier. Then, she reached for her ace in the hole—the fiery fire potion known as Blaze. With a deft flick of her wrist, she ignited the fallen trees, sending flames roaring into the air, creating a blazing wall between her and her pursuers.

The creatures, savvy enough to recognize the threat of fire, halted just short of the inferno, hissing in frustration. Realizing their initial approach had failed, they shifted tactics, deciding it was time to execute their plan.

Meanwhile, believing she had escaped, the woman sought refuge in a nearby cave. A frustrated groan escaped her lips when her array device failed to respond to her commands; it was her only lifeline to the professor, a necessity made all the more critical by her curse.

She sighed deeply, her thoughts drifting to the only person who could clear the fog from her bruised mind and offer her some clarity.

"Skit!"

The sound of a rock skidding across the cave floor jolted the woman from her daze.

Slowly, she rose from her crouched position and peered around the wall that had shielded her. There they were—the creatures relentlessly hunting her down, their eyes glinting with malice.

Oh no, she thought, panic rising within her. The fire should have given me at least a moment to catch my breath!

She realized with a sinking feeling that she had no fire potions left, and the only exit was blocked by those damned body snatchers.

"Okay, I can just use old reliable and slash my—"

"Sasha." The voice broke through her thoughts like a jolt.

The woman, now identified as Sasha, froze, a chill creeping over her. No... that voice... it couldn't be, she thought, her heart racing.

The voice had an almost hypnotic quality, drawing her out from her hiding place. As she stepped forward, she was met with a face that sent chills down her spine.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as the realization hit her: those creatures had discovered her greatest weakness.

"No, you're not real!" Sasha shouted, her voice trembling.

"You're just a delusion, a clone trying to trick me!"

"No, Sasha, I'm real. Look." The figure raised her right arm, pulling down her sleeve to reveal a mark that no mere clone could possess.

It was a tattoo—one that Sasha recognized all too well. A dazzling dragon with a striking silver hue, glimmering like a beacon of truth in the darkness.

Tears brimmed in Sasha's eyes as the harsh truth struck her: those creatures had turned her into a monster! Overwhelmed by a surge of rage and the weight of her weakness, she charged at her foes, fury propelling her forward. But before she could even reach them, an unimaginable force slammed her against the wall, leaving her breathless and dazed. She groaned as she could feel her back muscles pulsating in pain. Before she could even comprehend what had happened, she was violently thrown back once more. This time, she crashed straight through the wall she had just collided with, tumbling into an entirely new section of the cave. The world around her shifted in an instant, disorienting her as she landed hard on the ground, the echoes of her impact reverberating in the dark, cavernous space.

Sasha gasped for breath, struggling to process the chaos surrounding her. As she looked up, her heart raced, searching for the creature responsible for this latest attack. Through the swirling dust clouds, a figure emerged—her.

Sasha's face went ghostly pale, the blood draining from her features. A chilling realization settled in: she was no match for her.

She frantically scanned her surroundings for an escape, panic rising within her. Just when it seemed like hope was lost, she caught sight of a cliff a few feet to her left. As she focused on it, she realized the other creatures joining the fray understood her intentions all too well.

"No, grab her!" one of the creatures hissed.

That was her cue. Without hesitation, she launched a flurry of knives toward the creatures, the sharp projectiles slicing through the air and distracting them just long enough for her to sprint toward the cliff's edge. With a leap of faith, she jumped into the void below.

"SASHA!" she heard echoed behind her as she plummeted into the seemingly bottomless abyss. As the world rushed past, she closed her eyes and summoned the only good memories she had. A smile tugged at her lips, realizing that nearly all of them involved her.


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