The soil of the ruins hummed with energy. A world long forgotten buried under earth and barren lands. The full moon overhead shone its weak light on everything in sight.

In sight was a lion beast.

It was fast. Its massive body cut through the night like a lethal weapon. Its claws and fangs flashed as it bit down and tore into the bodies of the AI beasts around it. Over and over it plundered. It didn’t stop to breath. Its eyes glowed a furious crimson, the color of the blood seeping into the soil. Its roars shook the very night.

After a few minutes, its bright coat turned a dark red.

It paused, its body trembling and heaving, thick blood and oil dripping out of its open maw lined with sharp teeth. Its breath formed thick plumes of air wafting up into the night sky.

In a flash, the beast shifted into a man.

Leon crouched on the blood-soaked earth, his naked body slick with blood, trembling with the aftermaths of rage. His mane glitched in and out of visible vision, his eyes flashing between golden and red. He looked mad.

Slowly, he turned his head and looked around at the destruction he’d wrought with his hands.

Dozens of dead AI beasts. All torn up and mangled beyond recognition.

Yet, it wasn’t enough.

His bloodlust was far from being satiated. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

His hands trembled and ached to feel flesh tearing apart. Not just the cold and mechanical flesh of an AI beast. But something similar to—

Anna.

The mere thought of her name had him growling all over again.

Anna.

He wanted to feel her flesh in his hands. Sink his claws deep till they scraped against her bones. Then—

Rip!

He couldn’t get her out of his mind.

In his muddled state of being, he thought about Liora. But that lasted two seconds before his mind snapped back to Anna.

Anna.

He couldn’t stop thinking about her lips.

Anna.

Her blood. He wanted it. He wanted to coat himself in it. Taste it. Pass out and wake up with her taste on his tongue.

Anna.

He wanted to—

Eat her.

Devour her.

Save nothing. Remain nothing. Stop at nothing.

Anna.

Anna.

Anna.

Beyond his scope of vision, an AI beast spotted him.

This AI Beast was a Dream Weaver.

Its tall, willowy and nightmare fuel body hid behind the shadows, watching Leon’s naked form glitch and spasm in and out of control.

Using its database, the Dream Weaver peered past Leon’s skin. Past everything that made him an intelligent creature till it got to the source of his turmoil. His

Heart.

His heart.

The Dream Weaver drew information. More and more information. Till it had enough to act.

Once that happened, it spun an illusion peculiar to Leon and Leon alone.

Then it sent the image forth. And stayed back. Watching, waiting, for the iminient feast.

A rustle of grass alerted Leon’s attention to an intruder.

His head snapped up and terrifying groans spilled nonstop from his lips. "Who’s there?!" He roared.

"Leon?" A soft familiar voice called back.

Leon’s mind went graveyard quiet.

Out of the shadows, Anna stepped out.

Her soft silver hair tumbled down her shoulders in perfect waves, their color matching the moon above. Her fair skin called out to Leon. Even through the distance he could feel her softness. Her clothes, or the lack of them, was the first thing that caught his attention.

The dress she wore could scarcely be called a dress. Thin straps, a sheer and delicate material that looked like it’d melt from just a touch. One strap slipped down her shoulders, and Leon swallowed.

"Anna..."

"What are you doing here? It’s dark...and cold. You shouldn’t have come out here."

At the back of Leon’s mind; his logical nature knew that it was impossible for Anna to be here. She would be in the palace, no, on her trip right now. Doing heaven knows what with Tristan.

There’s no way she would be here.

But she was here.

Right there with him.

She walked closer. Her bare feet barely made a noise, and even when she stepped into the blood puddles, they didn’t sully her feet.

"You look tired," she whispered, her eyes big and bright as she smiled at a him.

Leon’s heart trembled.

His body heated up and everything within him wanted to reach out to her.

"I’ve been thinking of you," he said, his voice deep and heavy. "Why can’t I stop thinking of you?"

She giggled, covering her mouth shyly. "What do you think of when you think of me?"

She stood before him, her tall, slender legs right in his face. He wanted to bite her plush thighs. Bury his face between her legs and

Bite. Hard. Till blood flowed. Till she screamed with pain or pleasure, whichever came first.

Moisture flooded his mouth and he swallowed hard.

"I want to hurt you." He whispered. "I want to taste your blood. And hear you scream for me. Tell me, will you scream for me?"

She tilted her head to the side. "Scream? Like this?" The second strap dropped. She held both of them and slid the thin dress down her body.

Leon’s breath trapped in his lungs. "Fuck..."

Her body was supple. Her curves full, overflowing, begging him to mash them with his hands and watch her spin ripple.

She looked like she tasted good.

Leon swallowed.

And again.

She laughed. "You want me.." she said, slowly dropping to her knees. "You don’t want to hurt me, General. You want something else."

"Do I?" Leon asked, unable to tear his eyes away from her chest.

"Yes. You do," she leaned forward, her eyes glowing, her spores a bright pink. Her lips plump and inviting. "Go on, General. Take what you want. I won’t stop you."

"You won’t?"

"I’m all yours...Leon."

He reached out for her.

His fingers closed around air.

Behind him, the Dream Weaver attacked.