The sun had barely risen over the mountains of Luzon, and the air was crisp with the scent of damp earth. In the barracks of the Scout Ranger unit, Miguel Ramirez moved silently, checking his rifle and equipment. His squadmates stirred quietly, each aware that tonight's mission required focus, discipline, and precision.
It was just another operation at least, that was what they were told.
The objective seemed simple: infiltrate a suspected enemy base hidden deep in the jungle. Gather intelligence, sabotage, and exfiltrate without leaving a trace. Civilians were not involved. No unnecessary risks. A clean, controlled operation.
Miguel led his unit through the dense undergrowth, footsteps light, eyes sharp. The birds scattered overhead as they approached their target, the sun glinting on the enemy's camouflaged tents and barbed wire. Everything looked… normal. Too normal.
"Stay alert," Miguel whispered. "No mistakes. We're ghosts tonight."
They reached the perimeter of the base and began their infiltration. The mission was progressing perfectly, until the radio crackled to life.
"Proceed as planned. Do not retreat. Full data collection required. Extraction not authorized."
The voice belonged to General Adriano Velasquez. Calm, cold, unyielding.
Miguel's hand froze. "Sir… extraction is not authorized?"
Static. Then the same calm voice:
"Your actions are required. Sacrifices will yield results."
Sacrifices. The word sank like lead in Miguel's stomach. Their mission wasn't just dangerous it was a trap.
Alarms blared across the base. Red warning lights flashed. The enemy wasn't just ready they were expecting them. Gunfire erupted. Explosions shook the ground. Miguel's squad fought desperately, but there was no support. No extraction. No backup. Only chaos.
He called the radio again, voice rising over the din:
"Command! We need extraction now! Repeat, extraction!"
Silence. Then Velasquez's cold response:
"Negative."
Miguel's chest tightened. His comrades were falling one by one. He tried to pull his friend Torres free from the collapsing roof of a barracks, but there was no time. He was forced to flee. Alone.
The mission was over. The betrayal complete.
For three days, Miguel wandered the jungle. He survived on roots, small game, and rainwater. Nights were spent hiding under leaves, every sound a potential threat. He was alone, abandoned, and angry. The betrayal of his superiors burned like a fire in his chest.
On the third night, he stumbled into a part of the forest that felt… wrong. The trees twisted unnaturally, and the air felt heavy. Shadows moved on their own.
A growl echoed through the darkness. Low, guttural, and powerful. Miguel instinctively reached for his rifle.
From the shadows emerged a creature. Massive, black-skinned, with glowing eyes and a chest that pulsed with strange energy.
Miguel's heartbeat thundered in his ears. This was no ordinary animal. He realized instantly the world had changed.
The beast charged. Bullets bounced off its chest. Miguel dove behind a fallen tree, knife in hand. Pain exploded as it struck him. Darkness followed.
When he opened his eyes, the world was still the same but he was no longer the same.
A window appeared in his vision:
———————————————————
[User: Deceased]
[Condition Met: Betrayal + Death]
[Hidden Class Unlocked]
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Class: Void Revenant Ranger (Mythic – Unique)
Level: 1
Title: The Black Requiem
———————————————————
His heart restarted. Every nerve, every muscle, pulsed with newfound strength. He was alive, alone, and changed.
From this moment, Miguel Ramirez was no longer a soldier of the state. He was Obsidian, the Black Requiem, a lone hunter awakened by betrayal, survival, and death.
Somewhere far away, General Velasquez monitored the anomaly spike at the coordinates of the blast. He had no idea the storm he had unleashed was now alive, aware, and breathing.