I got it before I was even ten.
17 years ago
It was rare, less than 5% of humans developed it after the pandemic. The numbers used to be massive after the revolutionary war. Eventually, they just started killing or testing on those diagnosed with it.
Hemmorrhagis Symbiotica - the red surge
My mother wouldn't let me outside. She thought I'd tire myself and end up suffering something fatal. Eventually, I'd be put on medication to supress it - it only suppressed them slightly. By the time I was 12, my body began rejecting the medication. It became severe, I was almost sent off to the labs to be used for testing, like the Chimera. Eventually
, I was allowed into the academy - they had allowed me in given my surprising skills and knowledge, believing I'd be a good tactitian given that I'd avoid combat.
Of course, I trained for combat anyways.
I was baraded constantly for it, yet I continued until I could beat the others at the top of the class. Somewhere down the line, I was the one of the best in the academy. I had turned myself into a fighting machine, a pure-blooded killer.
Was I just a sick boy anymore? Was I just a killer now? I did not know.
I believed my mother would be proud of what I'd become.
She was disgusted.
She turned away from me after hearing of my missions. She believed that what I did was cruel, inhuman and horrific. I questioned it, but now I see.
Mother was right.
In all my attempts to just live a proper life, I became the very thing that held me back...
A disease.
A parasite.
I had become this thing that people feared, sought to escape, sought to eliminate.
It came back occasionally, especially during the collapse of the academy. I was busy saving injured trainees when it hit me. I blacked out - I woke up and saw them all dead. Was it my fault? Can I blame myself or can I blame the parasite? Why not both?
I hated weakness - it was equal to the parasite within me. It held people back. Those who actively hold back or show weakness are fools, deserving to die.
After the incident, my friends at the academy went off to their branches and became content after a while. I looked to become a captain, maybe something higher. I was eager to see the battlefields and have my presence known - I wanted a chance to kill, satiate the parasite.
It starts with the tears of blood - the first and only sign that a reaction is starting. After that, the body breaks apart: blood vessels burst across the body, the heart either starts overflowing or runs empty - both fatal conditions.
Perhaps that's why I train myself to be strong; I subconsciously want to finish a fight quickly and avoid any issues with the parasite.
In doing so, I've lowered myself to the position of Chimera. I'm a machine used for killing, nothing more. They call me "lieutenant" - like that means much anymore. My ambitions became pointless, an excuse for my actions on the fronts.
That's the sick life I've led until now. I'm guaranteed to die if I continue my actions; higher-ups constantly order that I be moved away from the fronts to help with strategy. I just refuse.
Such is my life - born to be killed, became a killer.
***
Raiden's breathing was heavy, his hand slowly reaching to cover his mouth, blood lightly dripping down from his palm. Nishihara's eyes went soft, showing restraint.
'I haven't seen it get that bad for a while. This whole time you've been fighting it, haven't you?'
Raiden tilted his head up, swallowing back some of the blood, forcing it to stay within him as he gasped, his hand releasing his mouth.
'What concern is it to you...'
'Just looking out for a friend, I guess.'
A little smirk formed on the lieutenant's face, his eyes seemed weakened as he took a step forward, reassuring his fighting posture.
'Then show me a good fight, friend.'
Nishihara grinned, his shoulders tensed again as he got back into his stance.
'Just like in the academy...'
Their clash was instant. What sounded like a thunderclap was their weapons clashing in a harsh stalemate. The fires around them erupted more and more with each clash as they seemingly fought as equals, neither fighter gaining an upper hand for too long. Each of Raiden's swings and sweeps was either blocked or leapt over by Nishihara, every slice and cut from Nishihara was parried or dodged by Raiden. Occasionally, one fighter was land a solid hit on the either, but they just shrugged off their wounds. Their suits were working overtime, almost unable to keep up with their fighting.
After both had been injured enough, they dashed back, creating a large space between them before they both lunged their weapons over their shoulders, empowered by the suits to launch the weapons at amazing speeds. The imminent collision created a thunderous wave that pressurised the air, launching it back all around, some fires even extinguishing. The weapons flung away rapidly, being lost in the surrounding wreckages and corpses, the two lost care, however. They clenched their fists and ran to the middle, throwing all kinds of punches, kicks and grapples as they moved with impeccable precision and speed.
Amid the blur of strikes and feints, Nishihara spotted an opening - just for a split second. His fist shot through Raiden's guard, slamming into the side of his face. Raiden's head snapped to the side, blood spraying from his lips before he snarled and clenched his teeth, his eyes burning with rage. He drove his face against Nishihara's fist, forcing it back with raw strength, then launched a brutal counterpunch straight into Nishihara's cheek. The blow hurled Nishihara backward; he crashed onto his back but flipped upright just in time to duck under a vicious kick that sliced the air, grazing his tied-up hair.
Raiden twisted with relentless momentum, unleashing two more kicks. Nishihara blocked them both, his arms straining under the force, before driving a heavy, punishing blow into Raiden's ribs. A sharp crack echoed out. Raiden winced but didn't falter - he gritted through the pain and answered with a vicious hook to Nishihara's stomach, forcing a spatter of blood from his lips as he staggered back.
They entered an idol stance as they caught their breath, blood dripping from their hands and faces as their eyes pierced through each other's. Raiden fixed up his posture, straightening his back as it cracked a little, he groaned at the pain, causing Nishihara to chuckle weakly before a little blood caught in his mouth.
'You sounding a little tired there... Wanna rest up..?'
Looking up slyly, Nishihara smirked - his words were met with a solid punch to the face. He slipped slightly, wiping blood from his cheek as he gazed up to his friend.
'So no..?'
Raiden moved back, his legs limping just a little. Nishihara put his fists up again, ready to continue properly as Raiden threw the first punch.
They continued their vicious melee, dashing across the battlefield - Raiden even kicked a whole truck for Nishihara which he slid under. As they met on close-quarters again, Nishihara uppercut Raiden hard, following up with two swift guy punches and ending it with a solid forward kick, his legs propelling Raiden back into the steel wall of a half-destroyed building.
Twisting his arm, Nishihara watched Raiden limp out, not even wiping the blood from either his eyes or mouth. The parasite was killing him, weakening him - he questioned whether he would survive even if he beat Nishihara. Nishihara knew it too - he had a chance at winning.
Chapter 23- end