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(Klaude’s POV)
I was coming to check on the kids from the inner area. The inner are is a place for all the hoodlums of the town, and even if they are called hoodlums, they are decent enough not to warrant suppression by the lord's forces, but unfortunately, not decent enough to let kids live near them. “I wonder if they have finished eating their meal and went on to their work”. Usually this is Klan’s responsibility. He acts like a leader because he is older than other kids and calls me big brother because our names and hair colour are similar. However, he is a kid as well, so expecting much from him will be foolish. As this thought was going through my mind,
⌈Hm? What’s all this commotion about? They better not be dawdling there or I'll have to get tough.⌋
I heard some loud noises. It seems the kids are clamouring. Right. I was an idiot to expect them to properly go to work.
And when I reached the distribution area, I saw a spectacle different from one I was used to seeing. A kid had pushed Klan down on a the food crate and was holding a dagger in front of Klan.
I was dumbfounded seeing this scene. This was too far apart from common sense. I could have understood it if it was a thug threatening Klan, but this was totally unexpected. No matter how I look at it, another kid was threatening Klan using a dagger. Well, since there are races like elves, dwarves and the like which are usually long lived, it is not necessary that the one pushing Klan down is a kid, but if he was an elf, he would have long pointed ears, and if he was a dwarf, he would be a lot more burlier. Well even if he was one of them, the age at which the kid seems like, even they would have grown little different from a normal human kid. Unless he is an irregular.
⌈Give me food or I'll take it after your death!⌋ (Boy)
Hearing this, I can kind of make a guess as to what had happened here. This kid who is threatening Klan must have requested some food from him, and Klan being Klan, he would have rejected and ridiculed the boy. Well, I don't know how much he would have been pushed to snap so badly that he is threatening Klan using a weapon with such ferocity. Hm? Shouldn't I stop this? What a pain. I know the moment I speak, Klan will come running to me, and all that anger is going to flood in my direction. I am a manager of these kids, not some caretaker. And besides, that dagger looks really sharp and pointy, if that kid comes running at me and I make one mistake, I can get some serious injury. Huh? Now that I look a little closer, the clothes that kid is wearing, aren't they covered in blood? Man, this is seriously bad, perhaps, Klan had not taunt him at all and the kid is just that prone to anger. If that is the case, then Klan is in serious danger. Looks like I really have to get into the middle of this to save him. Event though I may not look like it, I am still a level 10 thief. A mere kid who might have gone against a monster or two, is not a threat to me. Thinking this, to break the situation, I shout,
⌈What's going on?!⌋ (Klaude)
Hearing my loud voice, the attention of all the kids present in the area gathers on me. Even the kid holding weapon is looking at me, and seeing his chance, Klan pushes him and runs towards me with all his power and hides behind my back.
⌈Big Brother! This kid just came out of nowhere and tried to forcibly take the food!⌋(Klan)
⌈Yeah, I saw how it all went down⌋ (Klaude)
With as much anger in my eyes as I can muster, I look towards the kid.
⌈Who are you? And why are you bothering these kids? Didn't your parents teach you it's bad manners to fight others?⌋ (Klaude)
Without changing my tone of voice to show him that I am angry, I ask the kid. He has a timid look on his face. Perhaps, he got afraid of me calling him all of a sudden with such loud voice and asking him with anger in my voice.
⌈M-My name is Ray. I was asking for food from him, but he said only members of their group could get it.......⌋ (Ray)
Huh? Where did all that ferocity from just a little before? Is he not the violent kind of kid who will unhesitatingly use a weapon to get what he wants? Seeing his change in attitude, I got surprised. He answered in a voice so little that you would think that it is me who is threatening him with a weapon. This one eighty of attitude is too amazing. Either he was in too much anger or he is a very clever kid. I don't know, perhaps he is a good kid and Klan had just infuriated him to the extent of snapping. Well, perhaps I should question him a bit more to know just what had happened.
⌈So you decided to threaten him to give you food huh. Are you new in the slums or are you stupid for trying to pick a fight with us? Don't you know it could have gotten you in big danger?⌋ (Klaude)
⌈I-I did not have a choice. I haven't eaten properly for days and he wouldn't give food to anyone who wasn't a member,....so, I did what I did.⌋ (Ray)
This boy, Ray, his answer is too innocent. But that is not something that I cannot accept seeing as how he is holding a weapon and wearing clothes covered in blood. His attitude is too different from what it was a moment ago when he was dealing with Klan. And what's more, his age seems clearly younger than Klan. If he can threaten an older boy who is clearly bigger than him, then I can say he must be very brave. But seeing his character talking to me now, I just can't shake off this feeling that this timidity is this kid's true nature. As I was immersing myself in these thoughts, the kid asked me a question.
⌈You're their big brother, right? So, could you please make me a member of their group?⌋ (Ray)
As he asked me this question, his face was still full of this timidity. Hmmmmm. It's not like I cannot talk to boss about this kid, but, seeing his behaviour just a little before, I can't decide on its too easily. If he acts violently on work or during the delivery, it will cause serious problems. This is too bothersome for me. Oh, right. I should first send all other kids to work.
⌈........Klan, all of the kids seem to have eaten their breads. Take them all and go to your work, I will see what to do with him.⌋ (Klaude)
Hearing me, clan begins to give orders to all other kids.
⌈Hey, you heard big brother! Leave the brat alone and move to work! Let's go!⌋ (Klan)
And they all go to their work. Now then, let's give some time to this kid and decide what to do with him.
⌈.........You really wanna become one of us? You know you're gonna have to work and do a lot of other stuff? And even if I decide to approve you, it's the boss who decides who becomes a member.⌋ (Klaude)
If this kid is smart, he will notice the nuance behind other stuff and ask me about it. Probably. And this type of kids are serious problems for us as they usually try to take advantage of our goods. And normal kid won't be a problem, as he wouldn't be that well versed in ways of the world, but if he is an orphan or someone who has stayed in contact with them, he would have enough knowledge to make use of our material.
⌈Then take me to your boss, please. I really want to become a member of your group.⌋ (Ray)
Hmmmm. He accepted it surprisingly easily. Didn't even take time to think about my offer. Well looks like this kid is one innocent victim begging to be made use of. Now then, let's take him to the boss to get him in our group before others make use of him.
⌈By the way, my name is Klaude. And I'm the one you have to meet if any kid is to become a member. I also recommend kids I find valuable to become members to boss.You said your name was Ray? I haven't seen you around in the slums much. Are you really new here?⌋ (Klaude)
⌈Y-Yes. I came here, a few days ago...⌋ (Ray)
Apparently he had come here not too long ago and seeing his way of speaking and his behaviour, he doesn't seem to be a clever one. This saves me some trouble of having to take care of a troublesome kid and helps us get a good new pawn.
Now then let's get him in our group.
|
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"id": "11018",
"q": 0.7690909090909092,
"title": "The Boy of The Slums - Children, Work and Delivery – Part 1",
"author": "Brago130sf",
"chapters": 20,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 6,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adventure",
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"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
"Determined Protagonist",
"Different Social Status",
"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
"Fantasy World",
"Fast Learner",
"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
"Level System",
"Male Protagonist",
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"Monsters",
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"Weak to Strong"
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|
(Ron’s POV)
I was standing with Damian and other leaders and we were watching a scene that should have been impossible. Seeing this scene, for the first time in my life, I felt the true fear of monsters and demons, who were higher in species rankings. A ghost, a monster born usually when a soul is contaminated with grudges, was killing the bandits present here.
And there weren’t just twenty or thirty bandits, there were thousands of bandits. But they all were being killed one-sidedly. When I felt that the concentration of ghost diminished, I decided to make a gamble. I jumped out while pulling my saber. My plan was to use a skill to slice the ghost together with the body it was hosting in. Normal attacks would have been able to damage the body, but to damage a ghost, you need either magical attacks or attacks that were somehow connected to mana.
As I used the skill, the sword in my hand got clad in mana. And it continued towards the ghost at great speed. Just when I had thought that I would succeed in at least wounding the ghost, giving us some advantage, the ghost separated from the body and moved sideways. In the next instant, its hands which had been shaped like claws pierced my chest.
There was blood flowing out of my chest. I had managed to defeat the body, however, I failed in killing the ghost. As I thought that I was soon going to die, the other hand of the ghost morphed into something resembling a scythe. Before I could think of anything else, the scythe was swung upwards and my body was bisected in two.
The final thing I remembered as a living person was the face of the ghost. Its face which should have been without a mouth, was splitting apart in a sneer.
When my consciousness returned, I was a soul. All the leaders had been killed as well, except for one. He was being hung in the air using some skill.
“J-Just kill me, Bitch!!”
The guy shouted. Listening to his voice, it felt as if he was being strangled. However, what happened next made me feel relieved that I was killed swiftly.
“Hmmm….Alright. I will give you a veeerrrryyyy painful death.”
The next moment, his arms and legs spread apart and began to twist. It was a surreal scene. A man’s arms, legs and torso were twisting by themselves. They twisted once, twice, thrice, round and round they twisted. There were sounds of bones being disjointed, muscles being snapped, skin being torn.
Perhaps becoming a soul had improved my senses, but I could hear almost all sound in the vicinity, including the terrified shrieks of the man. However, what I found stranger was the fact that even though there were such sounds, there was no blood. The, as if she had seen through me, she kindly explained with a grin.
“You know, you will experience this pain for a while. I am continuously applying small anounts of healing magic so that your torn skill and muscles will join again and as I twist your arms and legs, they would be torn again. Aren’t I kind? Even though you asked me to kill you, I’m allowing you to live. Hmm?”
The fact that she was explaining all of this with a smile was one of the most terrifying things. Soon after, the guy breathed his last while suffering in excruciating pain. Even though she was casting light healing magic, it wasn’t like there was no damage. And now, the damage had accumulated enough to kill him.
After seeing him die, she headed towards a certain part of town. When I followed her, I found that there was the boy who I had given my dagger to. He was sleeping peacefully. I don’t know how he survived, but I was sure that this ghost had a hand in it somewhere. I was surprised to see her, who had killed all of us in cold blood and cruelty, showing kindness towards a boy.
The next instant, I was seized by some unknown force. I started rising towards the sky, and I saw countless other souls rising together with me. The ghost was looking towards us with shock. The next instant, she disappeared inside the body of the boy.
As my body was pulled upward, my consciousness was joined with other souls. Those who had been with me, the bandits, those who I and my accomplices had killed in the name of riots, the citizens, nobles, royalty and –
A Dragon.
(??? POV)
When I returned to Ray after killing all the bandits, I was suddenly struck by some unknown force. It was pulling me somewhere, but I didn’t know where. When I looked back, I saw there were countless pale blue flames floating in the sky. Even thought I hadn’t seen them before, something inside me was telling me their identities. They were souls. We were of same origin, so I could identify them.
Those souls floated in the air, towards the skies and then their forms began to change. They elongated, joined and separated. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I knew that it was bad for everyone, and extremely bad for those that didn’t have a body like myself. I possessed Ray, almost on instinct. I had a feeling that it would be extremely bad if I didn’t reside in a body.
And my hunch was correct. If I hadn’t found somewhere to reside in, I would have been forced to obey that force. The souls in the sky had now finished connecting. And what I saw left me speechless. There was an outline in the sky as if a part of a circle was visible from where I was. And there were gigantic letters, Runes that I had not seen before.
A magic formation had been made. Using souls. I had read, no, in the memories I had, I had read that a living person can hold much more mana than a nonliving object of the same size due to the presence of soul. The physical reason for that was because a soul was the best conductor of mana, it naturally came inside the bodies. And the magical reason was that all the phenomena of mana in the body were somehow related to the soul. Hence, it naturally soaked mana in the body.
The magic formation glowed in gold color and shattered. Then gold particles slowly fell down to the ground and were absorbed in it. At the same time I noticed something that wasn’t there before. If it was before, I wouldn’t have been able to notice it. It was very faint, to the point of being invisible. Something was connected to us, or more precisely, to Ray. A line flowing into the ground from us. Currently, there was nothing flowing through this line, however, I was certain, it wasn’t anything good. I tried to break the connection, however, it was unexpectedly strong. But still, I forcible broke it.
I decided to leave this country. I exited from Ray’s body. Now that I had killed all the bandits, I could finally evolve. I had achieved the required level for evolution when I was killing them, but I could not evolve on the spot. If the result took time, it would be dangerous, and also if my body changed too much, I wasn’t sure I would be able to fight that efficiently.
But now, there was no problem, I could evolve without worry. As I evolved, my body was enveloped into light. When the light subsided, my body was smaller. I had red eyes and black hair in twin tails tied with red ribbons, and my body was covered in a red one piece <Just imagine a younger kurumi tokisaki in spirit dress with both eyes red>. And my status had become something like this -
Name: ——
Level: 1
HP: 552 VIT:135
Race: Spectre (Demon)
Age: 0
STR: 110 DEF: 106 AGI: 350 DEX: 133
MP: 1030 INT: 324 MIND: 1039 END: 261
Skills:
Inherent Skills:
Psychokinesis Lv 8
Shape Shifting Lv 6
Flight Lv 6
Intangible Lv 7
Possession Lv 4
Fear Lv 7
Materialisation Lv 8
Magic Perception Lv 8
Magic Manipulation Lv 7
Healing Magic Lv 3
Cooking Lv 1
Cleaning Lv 1
Sewing Lv 1
Knitting Lv 1
Acquired Skills:
Indomitable Lv 4
Unattributed Magic Arts Lv 5
Fire Magic Arts Lv 3
Water Magic Arts Lv 3
Wind Magic Arts Lv 3
Earth Magic Arts Lv 2
Presence Perception Lv 6
Close Combat Arts Lv 7
Rending Claws Lv 6
Soul form Lv 1
Unique Skills: None
Gifts: None
I had gained the stats of vitality and endurance, which means that I had certainly gained a physical form. It was good. Now I do not have to live in hiding. Moreover, my race had finally achieved the classification into the demon category. As I was thinking this -
"...Lu...nus..."
Ray muttered something. At the same time,
<<Christening has been completed>>
(Ray's POV)
It was all over. I had failed in everything. I had surely died. In that burning building, perhaps I had been crushed to death. Or perhaps, I had died by burning. But I was surely dead. My body wouldn't move, and I could not feel anything. It was as if I was floating somewhere. I could not see anything either. As I was thinking this, suddenly, my surroundings brightened up. I could see myself and my mother talking about something.
"Mother, what is your name?"
It was a memory of days long past. I was sitting at the boundary of the fields when my mother came over to take a break from working. At that time, I had asked this question of her. She looked towards the younger me and smiled, and said
"Lunus. My name is Lunus. It comes from a word related to moon."
"But, why moon?"
"Hmmm....It's because your mother is beautiful and gentle like the moon."
"Lunus, gentle and beautiful like the moon, huh."
At that time I had thought that certainly she was beautiful, but gentle, na-uh, not a chance. She would fight with other in village over very small things, and when the kids my age bully me, she would scold them. There were many times when parents of a kid came to fight, but my mother would always stand her ground. She would fight them, usually with words. Sometimes, a fistfight would break out. At one such incident, the father of that kid had tried to hurt her. But soon, she had beaten him black and blue.
When I asked her why she was so strong, she said that she had been a B-rank adventurer in the past. I did not know how strong a B-rank adventurer was, but seeing my mother, I was certain that there was no one here who could match her. Now that I look back at it, she was gentle in her own way. Both gentle and strong. I was weak and was always bullied. I remember, before the dragon came, the kids had gotten tired of scoldings from their parents and my mother. So they decided to ignore me.
Whenever I went to play with them, I would be treated like I was not there. They would not indulge me in their conversations or anything. Some kids who were good towards me would let me play with them, but when the other kids came, they too would stop playing with me. It continued for six months when the dragon came. During that time, only my mother did not leave me.
At that time, I was injured and my mother was too. I remember, she had a look of pain on her face as she ran while carrying me. My wounds healed as a warm light came out of her hands. But I was still too weak to even speak. She was covered in wounds as well, but instead of healing herself, she continued to heal me. All the while carrying me towards the town.
It took us five days to reach there because my mother continued walking day and night, using healing magic on me simultaneously. The beautiful face of my mother grew haggard by the moment. Her cheeks sunk, and her skin became loose. It felt as if she was aging a little too quickly. When we reached the town gates, her beautiful silky black hair had become dried and white. Her face which always had energy was now dark and dreary. Her lips were trembling as she tried to speak something. And then, a particularly strong light came out of her hands and cured me completely.
I became able to walk and talk, but my mother had already died. I cried and cried as her body was carried away.
Now, this memory too, was slowly being taken away from me. I did not know how, but somehow, I was forgetting all the memories I had. I soon even forgot my name. Only the memories from the appearance of dragon to the town were remaining now. At that time, I made a resolution, that whatever happens, even if I forget everything else, I would not forget this. I would grow strong. Strong enough to kill him. And when I had grown, I would make him experience the same pain. Somehow. Even if I die, I will come back.
As these final thoughts passed my mind, I returned to the darkness.
Brago130sf
Phew, finally over. This was the longest chapter I had wrote till date. I was writing it in a somewhat complicated mood so there might be some mistakes. Do point it out if you see them. Anyway, the reason for my mood is that I had a really bad dream. I drove my friend to a train station and saw him off with his girlfriend. At that time, a girl was cleaning the wheels of the train with a cloth when the train started to move. She fell beside the rail line. Though she was still alive. An idiot standing behind me told the passenger to have a nice trip and signalled the train to move.
I spun around and yelled at him to stop the train. He asked why? I said there is a girl down there, and he stopped the train. Now, instead of trying to get the girl out, he signals the train to move. My anger and frustration skyrockets. The next instant, I'm on an escalator with a traffic police officer, and the newspaper says
case closed
the girl died from extreme shock as her brain stopped functioning when she felt he flesh being cut. The girl'd body was safe, except her back had a chunk of flesh taken out, thought I think that's because she fell on her side, at the side of the rail line.
The decreasing quality of officials.
Well, enough with the rant. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. By the way, I dropped Atelier Tanaka. I searched NU forums and the ending was shit. The MC dies a virgin by falling into a well. The novel was shit, the ending was shittier. That too, contributed to the mood.
|
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"id": "30610",
"q": 0.7690909090909092,
"title": "The Boy of The Slums - Slaughter and Survival – Part 5",
"author": "Brago130sf",
"chapters": 20,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 6,
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"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
"Determined Protagonist",
"Different Social Status",
"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
"Fantasy World",
"Fast Learner",
"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
"Level System",
"Male Protagonist",
"Monster Tamer",
"Monsters",
"Multiple POV",
"Weak to Strong"
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|
(I am changing the name of God Arc Bracelet to God Arc Armlet)
While walking towards the laboratory Aren asked the name of the Squad unit one to Kaede.
" Hmm... those people in the unit one was leading by Lindow Amamiya the who's wearing the brown military coat earlier, he is the top elite of the God Eater"
"God Eater?"
"Oh it was called to the God Arc wielder in short God Eater"
She says and Aren nodded and asked about the other two.
" About the woman earlier was name Sakuya Tachibana she is also top elites within the God Eater's, about the young man with them was Soma Schicksalhe is also top elite and the son of director of Fenrir Far East Branch"
Aren was silent while memorizing the names of the Unit one. The have arrived at the front of Laboratory, Kaede opened the door they saw the two people was talking about something. When the two people was notice them, they call them to come closer to examine the body of Aren.
"So this is the candidate for New-type God Arc, good My name Professor Paylor Sakaki I am the Deputy Head of Research Institute of Fenrir Far East Branch, I am the one who will observe your Aptitude Test today"
The Middle- age man said with a smile. His hair color was silver-black and he wears japanese colorful yukata with black waistcoat, white gloves, and sandals.He always carries a pocket watch, and two pair of glasses around his neck. His wear neck chain glasses.
" I am Johannes Von Schicksal, I am the Director of Fenrir Far East Branch and I will also observe your Aptitude Test today so good luck"
The other Middle- age man said seriousness. His hair color was light blonde, he wears White Formal long coat. Both of looks younger than their age, they walked towards the observation room filled with computers and any technology for Aptitude Test, professor Sakaki he ordered Aren to enter the training field. Aren saw a metalic case with the length of 3 meters, when he was closer the case was operated itself with the machine beneath it and the lower case transformge anvil-liked platform, upper case supported by the four mini pillars to open itself with the same shape with the lower case, but it has a role as a hammer in the middle of it was a God Arc Armlet beside a was God Arc as a Aptitude material.
"Now then please stand in the front of the anvil, put your right arm at the God Arc Armlet and hold the God Arc and please calm down and you'd get a better results"
Professor Sakaki says via speaker, Aren walk towards the anvil and put his right arm at the Armlet and hold the God Arc relax his mind, thus he signs up that he was ready, Sakaki nodded started the operation.
THSSSSHHHH!!!(Slowly operating)
SHHHHHNNGGG!!( Amplifying the force)
BAANNNGGG( Smash Down)
SHOOOUUIIIICHIIISHII!!!( Invaded by Bias Factor( Artificial aragami) )
"Arrgghhhh!!"
A sudden pain that almost losing his mind and feels like being invaded again in his body, a mechanical voice in his mind gave the notice in his body"
((Warning you are being invaded by low level Bias Factor due to the bloodline of Marduk))
((You want to dominate it and replace with your small portion bloodline as a Bias Factor?))
((Yes or No))
Such a message come to his mind and he did not hesitate to approve it.
<< Warning!! Warning!!! A God Level Bias Factor was going to intigrated to God Arc, please stay away within 100 meters of the Area of Effect and please secure safety first>>
A warning that sends the panic and shocked among the people in observatory room and entire the Far East Branch. A huge pressure that sends out within Area of Effect, the people within this Area was unable to move their bodies.
"Hey what's going on Old Sakaki?
A sudden intrusion to the observatory room was Lindow, Sakuya and Soma their heading to their room with the sudden turmoil need in laboratory. They saw many people was collapse because of sudden pressure when they go to retrieve the bodies of researchers and the other. They witness that something unbelievable in their sight, a crimson aura that radiates above the person there's no mistake that person was they saw recently for Aptitude Test.
"Arrgghhhh!! ROOOOAAAARRR!!"
The crimson aura above Aren was taking a shape of Garm a relative species of wolf and turn into an un-identify aragami. It has a white color of it's head with crimson cape on its back and Earth Gauntlet on its fore- arm plus the wide crimson tail. Its only a shadow not a real body, but the pressure it gives was monsterous even the trio within the unit one was unable to move but to tremble.
" A mere ant level Bias Factor wants to invade me such ignorant fool, I will not to yield to anyone, I am Marduk the Sun God"
Marduk roaringly says that more pressure to everyone. But Aren was surprisingly calm and tried to suppress the aura and pour it to the God Arc, Marduk suddenly notice of Aren and resisted to it.
"A Fool that want me become a weapon of weak human how ridiculous"
Marduk was looking down on Aren while a snear appeared in its face. Aren lose his temper in his mind ('this little puppy is looking down on me huh, despite having a small portion of my bloodline is annoyingly arrogant, it needs to teach this fellow who's the boss'), a faint smile appeared on his face and look up to Marduk, his left eye was starting to radiates into crimson light and he release his all portion of bloodline into a formidable aura. It pushed down to the face of Marduk.
"What it's impossible, how did Father came to here,"
Marduk looking again at Aren and suddenly notice the left eye was radiates the crimson light which is most familiar to him and it's only most terrifying aura, and the one it's fear .
"Nooo !!! Noooo please forgive I will not be arrogant for you, father I will do anything to live"
The smile of Aren suddenly grew wider like a cresent moon,then he said without hesitation.
"Then you will be my weapon and this is your container with this you'll maintain your life"
" Yes Father"
In the observatory room due to the pressure was suddenly vanished many people was unconscious the trio was able to maintain their consciousness they witness the most absurdity of their life, the rookie was able to 'tame' the Bias Factor and intigrated it to the God Arc .
((Warning!!! Due to all out release of bloodline, your body was not enough to store all of the energy))
(( We recommend you to unlock your third stage Gene in your body. Are you ready?))
((Yes or No))
"Yes"
He said without hesitation and calm his mind for unexpected problem.
Crrruuuunnnncccc!!!!( Bone crunching )
Riiiiippppp reappppp!!?( A muscle tearing)
The sudden pain all over it's body that feels like worse than dead, he could feel in his body that there was certain seal on his body. With his strong will he mentally push his strength to break the seal.
"Haaaahhhhhhh!!!"
Craacckkkk!!!
A glass breaking sound echoes to the observatory room the trio was doubting that there was no fragile materials within the training field, when they look at the training field they saw a crimson light turned into a weapon that they familiar but it full of crack all over the body .
A few minutes later.
"(( Reconstruct ))"
A dignified voice echoes the whole training field, the broken God Arc a Bios Factor within it was starting to cover the God Arc with it's vein, a crimson color vein was constructing a new type of weapon.
A few hours later.
(( Reconstructing Complete please name your weapon))
"Origin Slayer"
((Origin Slayer [Imitation]))
((Excalibur/Gungnir [Imitation]-
SwordLance type))
((Demon Slayer - Assault gun type))
(( Aegis of Immortal [Imitation]- Buckler type))
A Jet-black weapon that covered with the crimson veins, it appears that the sword and Lance was combined together as a one melee weapon, the assault gun was inside of the SwordLance and buckler shield was position side by side near in the handle, the overall length of this God Arc was 6 meters.
"To many Imitation looks like I need to be stronger sooner the better"
Thud!!!
After checking the God Arc he suddenly fainted for over -exhaust for many things.
"...."
"....."
"....."
After watching the whole scenario they immediately call for back up to bring the unconscious people to the emergency room.
3 days later
Aren was awoken in the familiar room.
" So you finally awake , it's been a 3 days that you're unconscious"
A mature woman beside the bed, sitting in the foldable chair was holding tablet computer it's seems analyzing something. She's appeared to be on 30 years old, she wearing a sexy white military uniform, with wavy black hair and emerald pupils, she looks like a strict officer and quite charming. She suddenly felt something in the face of Aren and knit her brows. She cough and stood up and waiting in the door and she turned around she says something.
"My name is Tsunami Amamiya I will be a mentor for the rookie like you"
"Umm... there's something ..wrong?"
Aren said while looking towards Tsubaki with nervous voice. Tsubaki heard the question of Aren, she said straightforwardly to him
"From now on you Will detain for the destruction that you did in training field for 2 days, usually you'll detain for 5 days. Because this week there will join to the veterans to hunt aragami as a first drill"
"Detention huh, got it mentor"
He smiled shyly at Tsubaki's Straightforwardness of her.
End
|
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"q": 0.7,
"title": "Grim - Chapter 2- Aptitude Test- Marduk",
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"Based on a Video Game",
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"Cheats",
"Early Romance",
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"Loli",
"Love Interest Falls in Love First",
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"Modern Day",
"Reincarnated into Another World",
"Sudden Strength Gain",
"Teamwork",
"Unique Weapon User",
"Unique Weapons",
"Weak to Strong"
]
}
|
Ray and Klan were running away from the soldiers when Klaude was holding them back. But, as they were about to get away from the guards, four more of them came and blocked their path.
⌈Get them!⌋ (Soldier)
Taking one of the soldiers' shout as a signal, all of the soldiers leapt at them. Ray and Klan stopped running towards them and started running towards the opposite side, from where they had come.
⌈There!!⌋ (Klan)
Klan saw an alley that was to the left of the path they were currently running on. Without hesitation, Ray and Klan ran into it. After running for a short while, they felt that the area was getting a little hotter, and they could see red light coming from the end of the twisted alley. There were sounds of laughing and screams as well. However, they could care less about all of it, as there were soldiers coming from behind them right now. After exiting the alley, both of them stood stock still in their tracks. No, it would be better to say that they were forced to stop in their tracks by the scene unfolding in front of them.
⌈W-What's going on?! Hey Klan! What the hell is going on here?!⌋ (Ray)
When Ray looked at Klan standing at his left after asking this, he could see Klan trembling with a pale face. But he was not much better either. Although he had the composure to shout all of his questions, by no means, Ray was in a condition to make any calm decisions. In front of them, they could see many soldiers fighting the residents of the slums. This was the inner area of the slums of Border town. The area of all the bigwigs who had their roots spread in both Raian Kingdom and Seiren Kingdom. By no means was this an area which could go down just like this.
There were people fighting with swords, and there were soldiers fighting with spears and bows. Some people were being killed, some were killing. Some people fought with a desperate expression on their faces, some slaughtered everyone around them while laughing maniacally. The soldiers with bows were mainly setting fire to all the area. It was because of them that this place looked like a forest on fire.
The soldiers were killing everyone in front of them, be it Men, Women and even children. When taking a closer look, Ray saw that many of these people were not part of the slums. Some had come from outside the slums as well.
⌈YYAAAAAAAHHH!⌋
There was a shout from behind them. They did not who was shouting, but both Ray and Klan jumped forward without looking back. They fell down face first and a sword passed by just behind their backs. While they were standing still, the soldiers had caught up with them and attacked from behind. Both of them ran as fast as they could. But in this chaos, they could not get away. There was a man blocking their way, holding a spear. He was wearing the same uniform as the guards behind them, but he was holding a spear instead of a sword.
The man lowered himself and took a posture to stab. Seeing this, both of them felt as if a cold wind was coiling around their body. Their speed slowed down. The man in front of them had a smirk on his face. Klan believed this would be the last day of his life. And as he was thinking of giving up and stopping to make his death as painless as possible,
⌈Don't stop! Keep running!⌋
He heard a shout. When he looked at the direction the shout came from, he could see Ray. He was taking out his dagger with a determined face. Klan did not feel hope at all, however, seeing that Ray had not given up, he felt some courage and moved forward with tears streaming down his face due to fear.
Ray was not all that better himself. Seeing that his escape route was closed from both sides, he decided to fight back. After telling Klan to not stop and taking out his dagger, he saw that the man in front had all his attention on him. His smirk grew wider as Ray got closer with his dagger. Just as Ray was about to enter the range of the spear and the man was going to stab,
⌈Fllaaaassshh!⌋ (Ray)
⌈...?!⌋
Ray disappeared from the man's view, and appeared right in front of the man holding the dagger in both of his hands. As the man understood the situation, his expression distorted in astonishment and fear with his previous smirk disappearing from his face. The man tried to kick Ray away. But before the man could take any action, Ray thrust the dagger in the man's neck and twisted the grip. The man died before he could even scream.
Seeing this, Klan got surprised. He had never seen anyone kill another man in front of him, therefore, Ray killing the soldier in front of them, he was very shocked. But his fear of death was greater than his shock. He kept running without thinking and eventually passed Ray who had stopped after killing the soldier.
Ray picked up the spear from the fallen soldier and looked back, there were two soldiers coming for them. Both holding a swords in their right hands. After picking up the spear, Ray bent down his waist and took the posture of stabbing. As the soldiers got near,
⌈Flash!⌋
Ray once again used the same skill and appeared in front of the soldier. The soldier was surprised as Ray was clearly a little away from them. They had seen him take down another soldier using a skill, but they had thought that a kid like him can only use a skill like that once and had not expected him to use it again. Alas, it was too late. Ray was in front of the soldiers and they were clearly in the range of the stab. Moreover, the momentum of using the skill had not dispersed.
Before the effect of Flash could end, Ray stabbed the soldier in front of him with the spear. The stab combined with the momentum of the skill Flash created a tremendous force behind the spear and it easily pierced the man's stomach exiting from his back. The man coughed up blood with an expression of disbelief. Seeing this, the other soldier swung his sword with an expression of hatred.
Ray was very tired after using a skill in succession. His body felt like it would break apart. Especially his right arm with which, he had stabbed the soldier. It trembled when Ray tried to even move it a little bit. But seeing the sword coming towards him, Ray forced himself to move. He held up his left hand holding the dagger to defend against the sword.
When the sword and dagger collided, the shock transferred to his arm was so great that it got numb. Ray fell back from the force of the swing and dropped the dagger. He felt as if his right arm had turned into lead, and his left arm was throbbing in pain.
⌈You Son of a bitch!⌋ (Soldier)
The soldier came towards him with his sword. He was going to stab Ray. It felt as if time had slowed down. The sword coming towards him, the voice of the soldier and himself, these were the only things present in this world. His body felt tired and he did not have the willpower to move even an inch further. He gave up all struggle. At such a time, he felt his eyelids growing heavy and his body entering someone's embrace. It was an embrace that he remembered well. It was soft, and gentle like his mothers'. All struggles ended, and he felt that he could finally get away from all the suffering he had to face in the past year. He felt the pain ending and a gentle warmth spreading on him, and closed his eyes.
|
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"title": "The Boy of The Slums - Pandemonium – Part 2",
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"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
"Determined Protagonist",
"Different Social Status",
"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
"Fantasy World",
"Fast Learner",
"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
"Level System",
"Male Protagonist",
"Monster Tamer",
"Monsters",
"Multiple POV",
"Weak to Strong"
]
}
|
<So, for those who are reading it I know it's going to be a little troublesome, but I've added Ray's status on the previous chapter's page. If you're interested you can see it and sorry for repeatedly updating that again and again. I just kept forgetting things I wanted to write and thought it could be improved.>
Lying on the cold hard ground among the corpses of dogs he killed and bathing in their blood, Ray slept like he was dead. Anyone passing by would have thought that the kid had died after killing the dogs due to getting some fatal injuries seeing the blood on his clothes, dagger and ground.
Perhaps he had been able to attack the dogs without hesitation because of his desire for food due to his hunger and adrenaline rush. Now that the fight was over he lost to the tiredness of his body that hasn't slept properly for days. But of course, he wasn't the one to blame for that. What could one expect from a five year old naive child who have lost his only guardian just recently. In fact what was more surprising was that he hadn't died or gotten gravely injured due to his condition.
He kept lying there with a look of emptiness on his face and his eyes were hollow. Perhaps that was due to shock of killing being too big for a child who hadn't even learned the ways of the world. He kept lying there and eventually fell asleep.
By the time he came to it was a little late in the morning. The workers of the slums have left for their jobs. For a moment he sat there confused at the scenery around him. Then his attention changed from the houses surrounding him to the things lying on the ground.
⌈Hiiiiiii!⌋ (Ray)
At the moment he came to realise they were the dead bodies of dogs, he got frightened and scrambled back to get away from them. That was when it started coming back to him. The death of his mother Lunis, the guards throwing him in the slums and the hunger and tiredness and of course the action of killing he took because of that. Even if they were dogs, no child would do something like this unless he was cornered to an extreme.
⌈U-Uwaaaa, Mo-mommyyyy⌋ (Ray)
And he started crying the next moment remembering all that. Soon after he stopped crying, perhaps realising that it won't be any good to continue crying or having gotten used to it after four days.
He took the dagger lying nearby and stood up, but,
⌈A-AAaaaaa⌋
shrieked from the pain he felt in his right leg. Remembering that the dog bit his leg during the fight calmed him down but it still was painful for him to walk. He walked staggeringly outside of the alley and looked around on the streets. There was not much movement in the streets, the eyes of people were lifeless and their movements were languid. Among such people, one man was holding his head groaning while lying down on the street.
Perhaps he had drunk a little too much and collapsed on the street in the night and was suffering from a hangover now. Ray started walking towards no particular direction while paying no heed to his surroundings.
He kept walking languidly when a cry suddenly caught his attention,
⌈HEEEY! Get your breakfast you lazy bums! We've got work to do as well! If big brother or boss found out you'll be beaten!⌋
From the voice, one could tell the owner was not much older. The cry filled ray with energy and expectation. He thought perhaps he could get some food as well if he asked and if luck was on his side, he will get some work to do as well.
He ran around looking for the owner of the voice and came out in a relatively wider area among the densely populated slums.
At that place a boy of around six to seven years of age was standing beside a crate of wood and distributing hard bread to other children who themselves were not much younger than him. If one looked carefully, he could see that there were some children who were same in age to Ray as well. The boy had brown hair with a blotted face and stood a little taller than Ray. He was wearing a pant only without anything on his upper body.
Having seen this spectacle, the expectations in Ray increased further, he walked to the boy distributing the bread and asked him timidly, in a small voice,
⌈H-Hey, can I get some bread too....?⌋ (Ray)
Perhaps not having paid attention to Ray getting close to him, the boy was momentarily surprised, but recovering from his surprise he spoke in an irritated tone
⌈What? Haven't seen you before. Don't tell me you're new to the slums? If you want food here from me, then you gotta be a member of our group. Now scram⌋ (Brown haired boy)
⌈T-Then, I'll be a member from today, so please give me some food.⌋ (Ray)
Hearing Ray reply instead of going away, the boy became even more irritated,
⌈Like I said, you're not a member of our group, and you can't just become one by saying. You're not getting any food.⌋ (Brown haired boy)
⌈B-But, I'm hungry.....I'll become a member of your group. You said you had work to do, I'll work too, so please give me food.⌋ (Ray)
⌈You're getting annoying! Like I said before, you can't just come and become a member! You need to be approved of by boss which you aren't! Now get lost!⌋ (Brown haired boy)
⌈T-Then! Take me to your boss, I'll talk to him and then I can get food!⌋ (Ray)
Ray was becoming desperate, but this in turn increased the boy's irritation as his next action was a more physical one. He pushed Ray back with enough force to make him fall,
⌈Heh, like any lame trash can become like us. You're just a trash so pick your food from garbage or something. I don't wanna waste my time on you, just get lost somewhere already.⌋ (Brown haired boy)
Hearing the words of the boy, Ray understood he was not going to give him food, therefore, blood rushed to his head in his desperation. He took out a dagger, pushed the brown haired boy on the crate and pointing the dagger on him, threatened him like the bald man,
⌈Give me food or I'll take it after your death!⌋ (Ray)
The kids present in the vicinity clamoured seeing the brown haired boy being pushed down and a dagger being pressed against him.
⌈What's going on?!⌋
Among the clamour one voice clearly resounded which quieted down all the clamouring kids. Ray's attention was taken by the voice, and hearing the voice, the face of the brown haired boy, which was showing fear having a dagger pressed against him suddenly brightened up. He pushed Ray away and ran in the direction the voice came from. When Ray looked in the direction the boy ran, he saw a boy of around twelve to thirteen years of age standing there. He had similar brown hair as the boy Ray was arguing against but he was about twice as tall as Ray and obviously looked considerably more powerful than him. And he was wearing a vest that showed his chest and stomach clearly with pants and boots. He was considerably well dressed than other kids.
The brown haired boy ran towards him and started complaining about Ray to him,
⌈Big Brother! This kid just came out of nowhere and tried to forcibly take the food!⌋ (Brown haired boy)
⌈Yeah, I saw how it all went down⌋ (Brother)
The boy, apparently the big brother of the brown haired boy, spoke in a low calm and menacing tone.
<This is the first time I'm writing something something. I've tried to implement what Travelingwolf21 told me but I'm not too sure how it turned out. Please do comment about your view regarding the story and if you feel I can make some improvements in my writing methods. Your reactions and input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!>
|
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"title": "The Boy of The Slums - Rules, Territories and Prohibitions – Part 1",
"author": "Brago130sf",
"chapters": 20,
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"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
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"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
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"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
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"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
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|
Greed. This is a sin that everyone does. Those who do not have something covet what they lack. And those who have something covet it even more. The king of Paharu was one such individual. Born as the first prince of Paharu kingdom, he had a desire to achieve what he was lacking. The kingdom of Paharu was a place of struggle. On one side, it was surrounded by ocean, and the rest of it was encompassed by tall cliffs which house precious minerals such as limestone, iron, gold, copper, coal etc. There was a group of mountains in the middle of all these cliffs and ocean. Their people were known to be strong, and their minerals abundant and of high quality. If looked at from outside, the kingdom of Paharu was a blessed land. After all, it was provided with a natural fortress, strong workforce, and minerals to build perhaps the most destructive weapons of the world. But that was only when it was looked at from outside.
The people of Paharu were known to be strong, but that was all. There were not many of them. Compared to other kingdoms of which had a landmass equal to the Paharu kingdom, their population was only a quarter of theirs. The people were not able to efficiently maintain their lands.Since the kingdom was covered with tall cliffs with a mountain in between, there were random snowfalls and rainfalls. It was difficult to cultivate or traverse this land. This resulted in a considerable area of the landmass turning into monster habitats. The ocean which could be called a source of food for people had monster that were stronger than those present on lands. The population was barely sustainable. The capital built around the central mountains was very large and the villages were the size of towns and the towns the size of cities. But that was so that people could respond to a monster swarm quickly with their strength of numbers. The only city was capital because the mountain lands could be used to gather and grow food. And the cliffs holding minerals. They were houses to monster that were stealthy and strong. They had tough hides that could make even the sharpest of weapons chip and were stealthy enough to make professional hunters tremble.
This continued for centuries until a great child was born. The child was grief stricken to see other countries enjoying benefits while his own people were suffering. He started his struggle against the world at a young age. While his brothers and sisters were being taught etiquette to behave in front of others, he learned arts, magics and war strategies. When he came of age, he rallied his people to fight against the monsters and take back the land. With his strength that he had trained since childhood, he opened the path to the mines for people. When people got metals, they began to make weapons and tools to develop their lands. In the leadership of their charismatic prince, the took back their lands from monsters and cultivated it. Everything went well at first but people soon found despair. Their rocky land was not suitable for farming. The prince did not give up and once again rallied people. This time to take their happiness from others.
He encouraged his people to work hard so that they could step outside these desolate lands which do not produce foods. The result was amazing. Three fourth of the population of the kingdom became soldiers. Men, women, youths, all picked up a weapon to open a path towards the happiness that lied beyond the cliffs. This army supported by the mind boggling hard work of the rest of the population stepped foot outside their kingdom for the first time. And when they did, everyone in their path had to either kneel down or die. In just a few years, the kingdom of Paharu, spread to five times its original size. And now the people who had gained a taste of life outside that cold place were greedy for more. They tried to grow bigger and threatened the Raian and Seiren Kingdom. The two kingdoms, in hopes of stopping the Paharu kingdom joined forces, sealing the deal with the marriage of crown prince of Raian kingdom and first princess of Seiren Kingdom. But Paharu King did not stop. He tried to strike the weak nerve connecting the two kingdoms, the Border town.
Border town was a special place. It was the place which had been recently pioneered and thus did not have enough strength to defend against the onslaught of Paharu kingdom. Moreover, it was a place surrounded by extremely fertile land. Though it was called a town, it had the size of the capital city. But the place was not pioneered because many varieties of monster were prevalent in the area, making it difficult for people of Raian to pioneer. Then what about people of Paharu? The original inhabitants could clear it with somewhat difficulty but not the people who they had conquered. They waited for the monsters in the area to be killed by the Raian kingdom and then attacked, conquering the most fertile land available to Raian Kingdom.
(??? POV)
Some time after the dawn, in a room with all of its curtain closed, there was the sound of someone tapping on something. Since the sun had already moved well above the horizon, it wouldn't be strange at all if all of the curtains and gates were open to let fresh air and light in, but they were still kept closed as if to prevent something from leaking outside. In such a room a man with a beautiful androgynous face was sitting on a chair. From the small light of candle illuminating his clothes and the furniture around him, it was clear that he was quite wealthy. After tapping the at the table for quite a while, the man muttered to himself,
⌈What is the status?⌋ (Red haired man)
And what was supposed to be a mumbling to himself was replied by a muffled voice out of nowhere. The voice was small enough to only be barely audible, yet still clear to be perfectly understood.
⌈It is progressing favourably. All of the areas in which the plan was implemented have shown desired results.⌋
Hearing this, the red haired man went into deep thought with an expression of sorrow on his face. After some time he made a determined expression and asked,
⌈Is there something out of our expectations?⌋ (Red haired man)
The voice replied to him,
⌈No, everything is well within calculated range. Just...⌋
The man patiently waited for the voice to continue what it was going to say. And after some time, the voice broke the silence and continued,
⌈In Border town, the deaths of the attackers were much lower than expected.⌋
The Border town. In Raian Kingdom, it was the land found to be most fertile after pioneering in monsters' den for the first time. Naturally since the place was a monsters' den before, its' soldiers were much stronger than any other place in the kingdom. But that was all the more reason for the man to take precautionary measures to make his plan come true. And he did so, alas, hearing the result, he felt betrayed that the people were not as strong as he thought.
⌈What's the cause?⌋ (Red haired man)
At the question of the red haired man, the voice replied in an even smaller voice,
⌈It is said that the lord of that area, having gained a land with size comparable to capital and more fertile than it had gotten drunk on power, thus forcing the people to migrate. It might result in some delay of the completion of plan.⌋
Hearing this, the face of the red haired man scrunched up, and he said,
⌈Reduce the number of attackers, and distribute them to some other areas so that the plan is completed before deadline. We do not know when the Paharu kingdom will move. If the plan gets delayed, it is possible that the contract with that dragon will be annulled. If that happens, we cannot guarantee the future of Raian.⌋ (Red haired man)
Saying so, the red haired man, crown prince of Raian kingdom, Aletis von Raian started moving to fulfill his contract with a dragon.
As Ray was lying with his eyes closed, waiting for the sword to kill him, he heard a sound. It was as if someone was cut and stabbed but he did not feel and pain. Thinking this to be due to his tiredness, he did not open eyes. At least until he heard Klan's voice.
⌈Get moving you dumbass!⌋ (Klan)
When he opened his eyes, he saw Klan standing there with a sword in his hand. There was blood on him and the sword. When he looked around, he saw the soldier who was going to kill him dead at the side. He had been killed by Klan. He was relieved. Even when he thought he had accepted death, there was a deep fear of it in his heart somewhere. Now that the danger has been evaded for the time being, he felt fatigue was over his body. His heartbeat was so fast it felt like his heart would burst. His breath was ragged, and the repeated use of flash two times continuously had put a very severe strain on his body. However, he knew that it was not a place to rest. With sheer willpower, he moved his aching body in order to survive. He pulled out the spear from the soldier, and called out to Klan who was looking around in fear,
⌈Let's go⌋ (Ray)
From his voice alone one could tell how fatigued he was. Yet they had to move, therefore, Ray and Klan started moving again. This time towards the dumping site, which had lots of monster entrails, dead bodies and garbage gathered over the years.
|
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"title": "The Boy of The Slums - Pandemonium – Part 3",
"author": "Brago130sf",
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"rating": 4.2,
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"Adventurers",
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"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
"Determined Protagonist",
"Different Social Status",
"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
"Fantasy World",
"Fast Learner",
"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
"Level System",
"Male Protagonist",
"Monster Tamer",
"Monsters",
"Multiple POV",
"Weak to Strong"
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|
The town was enveloped in a solemn atmosphere. Ray and Klan both were sitting with their backs against a burnt wall, gazing at the dead body of Klaude. The expression on his dead face was one of fear and regret. Perhaps, he had feared his death or perhaps he had feared for the well being of others. Maybe the regret was also because of the same.
The soldiers of the town were busily moving about, gathering the dead bodies of the departed. When one of them came to get Klaude, he saw two kids sitting nearby with empty eyes, gazing at the body in front of them. Thinking that someone important to them had died, he said, “We are going to cremate the dead. You should come if someone important to you had died.”
Saying this, he took the bodies away. Ray and Klan both followed him out of town, where the dead bodies of all were gathered. The bodies were gathered together with dry grass, firewood . After oil was scattered on them, the fire was ignited, resulting in a great fire quickly enveloping all of it. Seeing the fire, many broke down in tears, some fell to their knees in sorrow, some prayed for the departed. Among all this, Ray silently shed tears, cursing his fate and hoping that this would have never happened.
The fire kept burning , and after aboit two hours, its intensity started to die down. By this time everyone had gone back, but Ray stayed behind lokking at the ashes being formed by fire. By the time fire had stopped, dusk had come. Ray still showed no signs of moving, and eventually, the world was enveloped in the silence of night. Perhaps the solitude, silence and darkness of night had mended the cracks in his heart somewhat, a small light returned to his eyes which had previously been completely empty, although he continued staring into nothingness. Suddenly, he heard the sounds of someone talking and moving. By the sounds, it would appear that the person was trying to move stealthily although they did not have miluch skill in it.
When ray got up from his spot and moved towards the source, he saw ー
When the Paharu Kingdom’s expansion started to gain momentum Aletis von Raian, crown prince of Raian Kingdom, was very troubled. He saw no hope to stop the Paharu Kingdom’s march of carnage. Until, one day, out of nowhere a dragon came to him. “Do you want to keep your kingdom? Do you want power to rule others? Do you want unquestionable authority?” with these words, the dragon tempted him. Having had his will weakened by constant tension, Aletis accepted the offer. The payment-
Souls of 100,000 people. Although, for the Raian Kingdom this was a quarter of its population, Aletis accepted the deal nonetheless. The time to gather souls was one year. For this, he started gathering bandits from all around the kingdom, and allowed them to plunder, kill, rape and all other atrocities. With only one condition, the witnesses shall not be allowed to live.
Now, the demand has almost been met. And it is time to finish things. The last prey – Border Town.
In the woods separated a little ways from the road leading to the Border town of Raian Kingdom, an army of 5,000 people was present. There was no coordination that one might expect from an army, except that the army was divided into groups of varying sizes. Some were as small as 30 strong, while some were as large as 300 strong. Alas, it was to be expected. After all, this army was a rag tag bunch of bandits.
They had attacked the town last night, and now, they were going to do it again, only this time, it will be a full scale attack rather than a scouting like yesterday. Among all the groups present here, one stood out like a sore thumb. This group which was the smallest, was so small that it considered as a group, was only made up of a pair of men. One of them was a big, muscular bald man, who looked more like a bear. He was wearing a brown leather vest along with blue pants and brown boots. The other was lean and well built with average height, although this one was completely covered in black. Wearing a black hooded overcoat over black pants and boots, he looked as if being assimilated into darkness. And as if that was not enough, his hands were covered in black leather gloves while his face was hidden by a black mask, which only allowed his eyes to peek through.
The lean man was Ron while the bald one was Damian. They were both famous for not allowing their prey to leave alive, and even had a bounty on their head. It was said that when the two of them are together, they could even take on a group of hundred. No one dared to approach them as they talked among each other, though, it was only Damian talking to Ron, who was looking up at the moon sitting on a rock. They had heard the state of the town from the hundred men who had attacked it yesterday. They had used the authority of Royal army to get into the town and then cause chaos when nobody was expecting it. Wearing the dress of Royal army, they had been successful in entering the town rather easily, and after that, they had killed to the best of their abilities, until the guards gathered and they were outnumbered.
The reports they brought back with them were pretty upsetting. Although the town was big, it did not have much in the name of riches. Only having foods and some liquor along with money was all that could be offered by the town. But, the bandits which moved from one place to another, did not have much use of food. When they travel, the separate into their own groups, so there was no need for gathering all the food. Whereas the amount of liquor, from the reports was nowhere near enough to satisfy a group of 5,000 bandits. Since they had been ordered not to leave any witnesses of the army alive, they had no choice but to attack the town. And in such cases, the pillage became a competition for the first come, first served.
It was decided that like yesterday a group of 100 people will infiltrate the city. After infiltration, they would start attacking people so that the attention of guards is distracted. When the guards inside the city are busy dealing with the chaos, some people would kill the guards present at the gates after which all the bandits would move and raze the city. The walls of the town were two floor tall. However, they were only made of mud and bricks, allowing them to be easily scaled.
Ron and Damian were sitting, waiting for their turn to come. Suddenly, Damian had a thought,
"Hey, Ron. Do ya think that kid's still live n' kickin'?"
Ron looked back to the days before he joined the bandit army. Specifically on the days when they were still wandering criminals. When they heard the rumours of a new pioneered land which had very good prospects to be developed as a flourishing agricultural city, they had visited it to take a look. What they saw were people living their daily lives in fields.
When they heard the news that a peddler had come into the city, they decided to extent a hand of salvation to him, freeing him of his duties and worldly desires. On that night, they saw him. A kid who was not even ten years old. Seeing the kid, Damian decided to torture him a little. However, Ron ignored him and decided to leave the kid be. But on Damian's continued pestering, he changed his mind. Looking at the kid, he could see that the kid was not in good condition. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his body was dirty. Probably the kid might not have eaten for days. Ron decided to give the kid his short sword and leave the town. Now that they had come back, he also could not help but think what had happened to the kid.
"Who knows. Let's just leave it and begin."
As soon as Ron said that and got up, the sound of people's cries rang out in the distance. Is seemed that the attack had started. The bandit army started moving on that signal.
|
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|
With Klan, Ray found his way to the dumping site. Here the landscape truly depicted what happened to weak and worthless. But he did not have the intelligence and energy to see it as such. For him, it was just a stinking place where others would never want to come. And even if they did, they would not want to stay here any longer. Fortunately, they were quite close to the dumping site as they were running away from their attackers and after having defeated those three soldiers, they did not find any others, thus allowing them to have reached here.
Klan was covering his nose and Ray was breathing heavily, using the spear as a support for his body so that he does not fall. Apparently, the cost of using the skill was too high for his young body.
They kept moving and eventually, hid themselves behind a pile of trash. If one were to look at the pile, they would see some hands, blood and entrails of monsters. There also were feces scattered all over the area. All in all, it was a place one would never come to willingly. Klan himself had given Ray the work of dumping garbage here so that he does not have to come here. However, at this moment, he was grateful to the dumping site, as it could be considered one of the safest places to hide.
Ray laid down on the dirty ground, even glancing around him. "What the hell are you doing?! This place is even dirtier that the dirtiest places in the dirty slums! Even if you are a garbage man, that doesn't mean you should love it this much! Get up quickly!" said Klan to Ray with an expression of disgust on his face.
However, Ray did not seem to care. He kept lying down there. In a feeble voice that seemed like it would be extinguished at any moment, "I don't have even a bit of strength left. Please, just this once, let me rest here. Look the day will also come after some time. I say you should rest as well, no matter the place." he replied to Klan, closing his eyes.
Klan's face distorted in anger. "Have you gone insane?! I will not lie down here! Oi! Are you even listening?!" shouted Klan. However, it was all for naught, by the time he finished speaking, Ray had departed for the dreamland. Klan wanted to beat him awake, however, seeing how tired Ray was, he stopped himself. And this time, he seriously thought about what Ray had said and what would happen. And in his thoughts, he did not notice that he himself was lying beside Ray in the same garbage and slowly drifting off for the dreamland.
When Klan woke up, the sun was already high up in the sky. He was still in a daze from having just woken up, but as he gradually got a hold of the situation, "U-UWAH!" he screamed jumping up from the ground. As he realised that he had been sleeping on the ground of dumping site, his expression was filled with panic. He checked his clothes. He looked to check whether something was sticking to him and smelled himself to check whether there was a stench or not. Fortunately, there was only dust on his clothes, and his body did not seem to stink of anything other than sweat.
As he looked around himself after having finally calmed down, he noticed that Ray was still sleeping on the ground. His breathing was peaceful and his expression was serene. However, there was some blood on his clothes and on the spear lying close to him as well, indicating that what they had experienced was not a dream they could have seen after having fallen asleep here. As this realisation hit him now that he had some time to think it over, he could not hold back his tears as they ran down his cheek. "B-Big brother..." he sobbed, hoping that someone would come to comfort him. Alas, reality was cruel, there was no one to comfort him here. After some time, he calmed down and stopped crying.
"Hey, Ray. Wake up. How long are you planning on sleeping?" he asked to Ray who was still sleeping soundly without a care in the world. As there was no response, he kicked him in the gut.
"UH!"
Ray, having been kicked in the stomach while sleeping, opened his eyes. As he looked around while holding his stomach, he found Klan looking at him with eyes full of scorn. "W-What was that for?!" he asked Klan in a loud voice. As his response, Klan delivered another kick to his stomach. While Ray was groaning in pain from having been kicked again, Klan said to him, "Why the hell are you shouting? Don't you remember what happened last night?"
After Ray heard this, he looked around himself. He was at the garbage site, and there was a blood stained spear lying right beside him. This answered all his questions regarding what had happened last night. The pain of having been kicked left him. With a sorrowful expression on his face, he asked, "So, what is the condition of the town now? And what do you plan on doing?"
Now that they had rested a bit and understood the situation to some extent, they had to decide on what they would do. Klan said, "First, let's see what is the condition of town and big brother. We can decide what to do after that." Ray nodded at Klan's words. He got up, picked the spear and slowly they both started moving towards the town. When they reached the town, they moved cautiously from there. The houses made of wood and straw were still giving out black smoke. And when they looked on the ground, they could see that there were still dead bodies sprawled on the ground. The bereaved families were crying for their departed.
Seeing this scene, Ray stopped moving. Klan looked back at him and asked, "What's the matter?" However, Ray did not even look towards him. His gaze was focused on a little boy who was crying while holding onto a middle aged woman and shouting "MOTHEERRRR!" Seeing him, Ray remembered the tragedy that happened to him one year ago. The appearance of the dragon, the heat of his breath, the unbearable huger he felt. He had forgotten all of the pain and sorrow he felt after spending time with Klan, Klaude and others. However, the scene in front of him now was enough for him to remember it all again.
He clutched the spear in his hand and said to Klan, "Let's go." Seeing that people were out in the open like this, it seemed that the attackers had gone away. Therefore, they did not need to walk while being as cautious. They walked slowly towards the slums. As they reached there, they could not believe what was in front of them again. No, it would be better to say that they did not want to believe it. They had some suspicions that they would be met with this scene.
"U-Uuuu..."
Klan started sobbing again at the scene in front of him. While Ray silently shed tears. It was because, in front of them, they could see the corpses of Klaude and other children. There were two corpses of soldiers as well. So it was likely that Klaude fought while trying to protect others and managed to take two of them down. However, that much was still not enough to stop the soldiers from killing him. There were wounds on the bodies similar to what you would expect when someone was stabbed by a sword. Especially Klaude. He had many wounds like this. Most likely, he was repeatedly stabbed by the soldiers. It was horrible to look at. However, they could do nothing about this other than crying, and so they cried, without trying to hide the sorrow and grief in their hearts.
|
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Everything was happening too quickly. I felt like my mind would not be able to hold up.
First, mother died. I became an orphan. After I somehow managed to survive on my own, crawling at the bottom of the barrel, trying to bear the ridicule and disdain in everyone’s eyes, it suddenly became a real battlefield o survival. I actually killed someone, but it all came to nought. There were just too many I had to fight against. And now that I have decided to make a break for it, this is where my life leads me.
Klan was fighting against someone.No, that is the most hopeful analysis I can give. If you want for an unbiased opinion, Klan was being toyed around by someone. A man clad in black from top to bottom. Black over coat with a hood draped over their head. Black pants with a black mask. If i were to describe the feel I was getting from them, it would be that of a killer gone insane.
Seeing this struggle even I could tell, Klan was barely hanging on by a thread. If this man desired so, Klan could instantly lose his arms, legs or even his head. Yet he was alive, struggling to defend against the light swings of his curved sword. An overhead swing to the shoulder. Klan placed his sword above his head horizontally to defend, but the force was great enough that even with klan using both arms to defend, the man’s sword still pushed through.
With Klan struggling to stop the sword, then man suddenly moved the sword away, giving Klan some breathing room, but the next instant the sword swiftly cut through the air, coming in an upward slash. The sword was coming for Klan’s torso, aiming to slash it from his waist to his right shoulder, looking unstoppable.
In my impatience and fear I shouted out, “KLAN!”, and both their swords stopped. Klan seemed to have noticed me out of the corner of his eye without looking away from the robed man, but the man leisurely turned towards me. Apparently, he did not see Klan as a dangerous opponent but as a prey caught in a trap. But apparently he hadn’t heard that when cornered, even a rat will bite the cat.
When the man was looking at me, I felt a change in his atmosphere. Perhaps it was just that I was extremely alarmed towards him, my instinct was telling me the man had turned his interest towards me.
Klan seemed to have noticed it as well. He stepped forward and with all his might slashed at the man. The man did not seem to notice. He did not seem to move. I too stood there looking at him, trying to keep his attention on me for even a bit longer, hoping that the attack will be successful enough to leave the man unable to use his sword properly, if not dead. But, the god was not with us. When it seemed that there would be no way for the man to survive, his sword moved at an incredible speed, and —
clang~
A clear sound of swords colliding resounded. His movement seemed much more refined than before, as if he was a completely different person. His atmosphere changed to one of a killer, making my hair stand on end. Klan who was near him seemed to have it much worse. But, that was just the beginning. The man seemed to have gotten irritated at Klan for disturbing him while he was observing his new toy, which, not surprisingly, was me.
He started exerting strength in his hand, pushing Klan's sword towards the ground. With a flick of the man's hand, their swords separated, and he took a position for the swing. Klan and I both noticed, that position was not of a light swing, but a full powered slash. My body took a step forward, without giving me time to think, however, before I could reach them, the sword had been swung.
I felt it all happen in slow motion. Every part of my body was focused on what was happening in front of me. My body felt incredibly slow, as if it had become mud. And the man's sword moving towards Klan's head seemed like a remainder, that if I did not make it in time, I would lose another person who had filled my heart. But, no matter how much I desired the speed to move fast enough to reach them before it was too late, my feet will not carry me, my skill would not activate quickly enough, and, as expected, I could not reach them.
The sword cut through Klan's neck. I saw it all happen, every moment of it engraving itself on my very soul. As the sword passed through his neck, his blood started to spurt. Coming out as if an incredibly juicy fruit is being cut by applying an incredible pressure, and by the time the sword had stopped, Klan's head started falling down.
The thud it fell with resonated in my head like a clear bell, but not like one that would wake me, but one that was there to make me stunned. The headless body soon followed after its missing head, falling forward on the ground, not to move ever again. I stayed still for a while, but as the reality settled in, I started losing myself to anger.
<< The level of Flash skill has increased>>
There was an announcement, but I was in no state to pay it any attention. Tears streamed down my cheeks, my vision became blurry. But even in that blurry vision, I could clearly see that black figure, responsible for Klan's death. The next thing I know, there was a dagger in my hand and I was running towards him.
As I was running towards him, I thought about the spectacle I had seen before. He was facing Klan, and at the last moment, he stopped Klan's blow at an incredible speed. That speed is not something I can take over. Moreover, from looking at him, it is clear that he has a good amount of strength as well. My mind was in a state of chaos, but somehow, I could think about a strategy to face him. The strategy I came up with was a simple one. An all or nothing strategy.
I kept running towards him until I was a few steps away from him. I pulled back my right hand which was holding a dagger, and firmly placed my foot on the ground. Due to anger and trepidation, all things had left my mind, except for me and him. I was extremely focused on every move he and I were making. I felt mana move inside my body. It gathered at my legs. Almost all the mana in my body gathered in my legs, and at the same time, I felt them becoming more powerful.
I bent down, and like a beast, I sprang towards him. Activating the skill flash, I pushed out my hand that was holding the dagger. The result, my body was launched like an arrow, and I was moving towards his neck at an incredible speed. This was the highest speed I had experienced in my life. And I had a feeling, I might not be able to experience it again. I poured all I had into my skill. The dagger aimed at his neck was getting closer. With my heightened perception, I could see it all.
A smile of satisfaction rose on my face. My opponent had not managed to react to my attack. The attack was going to be a success. As I was thinking so, I missed by a very small margin. My opponent had been surprised by my sudden burst of speed, yes. However, he had enough experience to deal with unexpected situations. The proof of this showed in his actions. Even though I was moving towards him at a very fast speed which might be difficult to perceive. He not only perceived it, but also took correct actions.
As I was getting closer to his body, the masked man, bent his body forward, and came towards me. The dagger that should have aimed precisely at his neck, instead landed on his chest bones. There was blood coming out, and the dagger was embedded into his chest. However, since it was bone, it could be said, it was far from a fatal wound. I had failed to win this all or nothing bet.
Moreover, the hand which I had used to hold the dagger had become unusable. My elbow had bent in opposite direction. My body was feeling exhausted due to the usage of the skill, and I was feeling sleepy as well, which I could roughly guess was due to the overuse of mana. Perhaps I had exhausted all the mana in my body. I was utterly exhausted.
However, that was the least of my worries. As the momentum behind flash disappeared, the dagger slipped out of my hand, and under the fatigue, I fell down on the ground. As I looked at him from below, I could see that the man was looking at me and the dagger which had almost half its blade embedded in his chest. He grabbed the dagger roughly with his left hand which was not holding the sword, and pulled it out. Throwing the dagger away, he looked at me.
"Now you've done it, brat." The voice that had come out of his mouth for the first time since I saw him was cold. It was a voice as if he was talking to an insect. In the next instant, I felt a strong impact to my side. I could not even let out a sound as my body flipped over and I was made to lie face up. The man had kicked me, with force great enough to make me almost lose consciousness, however, somehow I barely managed to hold on.
However, in the next instant, I regretted my decision. The man raised his leg, and stomped on my stomach.
"AAAAAHHH!"
I let out a scream which literally came from my gut. However, the man was not done yet, he continued to stomp on me like a madman, without letting up.
"AAAH!AAAH!AAH!AH"
With each stomp, my screams grew shorter and I became out of breath. As he continued to stomp one me, my consciousness threatened to leave me, however, I did not let go. Or rather, I could not let go. The pain was too immense. After some time, he stopped his barrage of kicks. I felt a little relieved, however, I was assailed by an even greater pain in the next instant.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!"
The man had stabbed his sword through my right arm. I could not help but shout like a madman. The pain of having a sword pass through your arm was immeasurable. It felt as though my arm was burning from inside, but I could do nothing to stop it. As I was shouting and writhing from the pain, the man then stabbed his sword in my left leg.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
I shouted again. Tears were flowing from my eyes like waterfalls. Saliva was dripping from my mouth, but I could do nothing, It had become almost impossible for me to move my right arm or my left leg. However, the man was not done yet. He stabbed his sword through my right leg and my left arm. And then raising my body with a single hand while I was writhing from the pain he said to me —
"Listen up brat. I am going to give you a painful death. Now that you know how it feels to have your body stabbed, don't you think you should know how it feels to have your body burned too?"
I was afraid of this man. He was powerful, to the point that even with a surprise attack using Flash I could do almost nothing to him. And now, I was unable to even move my body. Then, the man slowly removed his mask. I gasped at what I saw. It was a face that had all its skin burned. I could see the muscles in his face clearly, the eyeballs visible to the naked eye felt surreal. His face was like that of a monster. Like a skull that have been granted eyes.
"Now then, since you have seen what you will look like after you die, do you want to apologise? If you apologise, perhaps I will let you go?"
The man said with a grin on his face. I felt fear at the realisation that he was enjoying all this. With all my might, from the bottom of my heart, I said "I-I AM SORRY!!". Tears were rolling down my face as I said so, but I could not care less. There was a chance I could save my life.
"Good boy. I like your attitude. You know how to respect your elders. Alright, I will not kill you." said the man while nodding his head. I was feeling relieved that he was not going to kill me, however, the words he said next with an evil smile on his hideous face took the life out of me. Literally. "However, I am not letting you go. You will have to escape on your own."
I did not understand what he meant. However, in the next instant, I was thrown in a nearby burning house. The situation was changing too quickly, I did not understand what was going on. Before I could understand, A sword pierced my upper arm. As I screamed, I looked towards the blade to see that it was the same sword Klan had been holding before he died, and the masked man had stabbed it into my upper arm.
"If you can escape this, you will live. HAHAHA!" Saying this and laughing, the man left the house. I could not do anything. My arms would not move because of the pain, and even if they could I would surely be unable to get away with my legs in this condition. Even if I managed to crawl out of this predicament, I would surely die of blood loss. As I was feeling tension, the house started cracking. The roof started coming down. Although the pillars supporting the roof were still there, the roof had undeniably gotten closer to me. Perhaps it will not be long before I die.
Thinking so, I reflected back on my life. Although I am a kid, I think I was much more mature that others my age. After all, I was forced to mature. If I had not gotten out, perhaps I would have died the same day my mother died. Or perhaps a few days after that. The life after that was hard. I had to work all day to earn my daily bread, and among all of that, learning to swing the dagger a little had been a challenge. I had thought that if I were to become able to use a weapon, people would not look at me with disdain, however, it was just wishful thinking.
Thinking back on it, it was a totally worthless life. But I think you would not find any worth in a kids life, even if you wanted to. While having such thoughts, my consciousness faded. I had a feeling I knew the cause of this. Blood loss. And the effect was amazing. I could not keep my eyes open. As I struggled to open them, just before my consciousness faded, I saw that the ceiling was coming closer.
|
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|
<I changed the content of the chapter a little so as to speed up the progression of the story a little. Sorry for the inconvenience.>
(Ray's POV)
⌈Huff,Huff....⌋ (Ray)
I'm running in the streets of town. Well, streets wouldn't be the right word to describe it. I'm running in the desolate alleys of the town outside of the slums. This Border town, a part of the Raian Kingdom, is, as the name implies, on the border the Kingdom shares with the Seiren Kingdom. Klan got separated from me some time ago and I'm looking for him. I just had a fierce fight with someone I had seen before. And if my hunch is right, the guards could be in big trouble. When I turn the corner, I see Klan. He is kneeling on the ground supporting himself with his sword. And in front of him is a man completely covered in black. A black hooded overcoat, black leather pants, black gloves with a black mask.
⌈KLAN!⌋ (Ray)
At my shout, the hooded man looked in my direction, and using this chance, Klan swings his sword in a horizontal swing.
clang
However, only the sound of metal clashing resounds. The hooded man managed to stop Klan's sword with curved sword held in his right hand. He looked at Klan as if he was some annoying insect, and kicked his hand. The man's one handed sword was freed. And in the next instant, he swing it.
fwuuush~ thud
The sword traced a beautiful curve with a clear resounding sound, indicating that the man had considerable experience with the sword. However, I had no time to admire the perfection of the swing. It's because the target of his swing was Klan. Or to be specific Klan's neck. The sword came to a stop, and I, too, halted. My breath stopped, I watched as Klan's head slid off of his body and fell on the ground with a thud.
In the open area present in between the alleys of the slums, there was currently the sound of wood colliding with wood. The woods were small in size, shaped like a dagger. And four of these wooden daggers were being swung around in between a circle of kids. The kids were watching this show with sparkling eyes. Two people were swinging two of these wooden daggers each. One was a boy of around five-six years of age with black hair and dark golden eyes, and the other was a boy of around thirteen years of age with brown hair and brown eyes. Yes, the two swinging the wooden daggers were Ray and Klaude. They were currently having a practice bout. After Ray had begun working with them, one day Klaude suddenly comes up to Ray and asks,
"Where did you get your dagger from?" (Klaude)
Although Ray was surprised, he answered Klaude with a cautious voice,
"Someone gave it to me.... I won't give it to you." (Ray)
Seeing that Ray was cautious of him, Klaude clarified things.
"No, no. I was not asking to take it from you. I was just wondering whether you knew how to use it because I myself use two daggers." (Klaude)
"No. I don't know how to use it." (Ray)
"I see." (Klaude)
Hearing his answer, Klaude began to walk away, when he heard a hesitant voice,
"K - Klaude,... Can you teach me... how to use it?" (Ray)
Klaude looked back and saw that Ray was looking at him with both uncertainty and hope. For a while, he observed Ray, and then,
"...Alright. I'll teach you if I have time at night. But don't expect too much, as I'm only self taught." (Klaude)
And thus, Ray began to learn how to use daggers from Klaude at night. He will learn about three nights a week from Klaude, and on the other four nights, he will practice it himself. Since Klaude used two daggers, but Ray only had one, he brought Ray two wooden sticks the size of dagger. And Ray began to earnestly practice with them. He practised so much that in a year (365 days or 12 months) he had grown enough to match Klaude in a head on match without using skills. Klaude was surprised with this. And now, he was having a match with Klaude.
Although, Ray was facing him, he was certainly being overwhelmed by Klaude's speed and strength.
⌈Move your arms faster! Speed is the primary requirement of a dagger user!⌋ (Klaude)
⌈Yes!⌋ (Ray)
Ray tried to increase his speed, but to no avail. He had been pushed to his limit, therefore, he tried to use a different approach. He jumped back from Klaude, and positioned himself to rush towards him. Klaude, seeing as Ray had moved back from being pushed to his limit, gave him some breathing space.
⌈What? Is that all you managed to accomplish?⌋ (Klaude)
Seeing Klaude taunt him, blood rushed to Ray's head. He positioned himself to rush at him. And the next moment, grabbing both daggers in backhand grip, he started running. Klaude readied his stance to face Ray, but something unexpected happened. As ray was only two or three steps away from him, he suddenly vanished. No, his speed suddenly increased to a point that Ray was not able to pay proper attention to him. In the next instant, Ray appeared holding a wooden dagger beneath Klaude's neck, pointing it's tip so that it can pierce his jaw from below.
⌈I lost, huh.⌋ (Klaude)
⌈Heh.⌋ (Ray)
Ray had a smug smile on his face, as he stepped away from Klaude, but next instant, Klan jumped up, shouting.
⌈No! He used a skill! It's against the rules!⌋ (Klan)
At the same time as that, an announcement echoed out in Ray's head.
<< You have acquired the skill Flash!>>
<< In accordance with the effect of Flash skill, a correction of +1 has been added to Agility!>>
<< Your level has increased from 2 to 3! Every basis stat increased!>>
<<In accordance with the effect of Growth skill, a correction of +1 has been added to every stat!>>
Flustered that it really was the effect of a skill, Ray tried to justify himself.
⌈H-Hey! It's not my fault. The skill just suddenly appeared!⌋ (Ray)
⌈That's not our problem. The fact is you won by using the skill! This is totally cheating!⌋ (Klan)
Seeing that a dispute was breaking out, Klaude intercepted in between.
⌈Alright, that's enough. Klan, sometimes the skill just appears by itself. And if it appears during action, it's not easy to stop it's activation.⌋ (Klaude)
Hearing Klaude's words, Klan stepped back grumbling with dissatisfaction.
⌈Alright Ray. Now you've mastered the use of dagger to a satisfying degree. It's up to you to practice now and develop your own techniques. By the way, can you tell me what your status is presently.⌋ (Klaude)
⌈Alright.⌋ (Ray)
Receiving Klaude's request, Ray focused on his status.
Name: Ray
Level: 2→3
HP: 13→15+1 ; VIT: 7→8+1
Race: Human
Age: 6
Class: Undecided
Subclass: Undecided
STR: 7→9+2+1
DEF: 4→6+1
AGI: 14→16+4+1+1
DEX: 7→9+2+1
MP: 3→4+1
INT: 3→4+1
MIND: 3→4+1
END: 20→23+5+1
Skills:
Acquired Skills:
Increased Physical Strength Lv 2
Increased Agility Lv 4
Increased Endurance Lv 5
Storage Expansion Lv 1
Dagger Arts Lv 2
Parrying Lv 1
Flash Lv 1
Inherent Skills:
Kienetic Vision Lv 3
Magic Perception Lv 1
Unique skills:
Growth
Gifts: None
⌈And that's my status.⌋ (Ray)
Hearing his answer, Klaude was looking at him wide eyed. Seeing this, ray got a feeling of iffiness.
⌈Um, what's the matter?⌋ (Ray)
⌈What's the matter, you ask? What kind of monster are you? Do you know how ridiculous your status is?⌋ (Klaude)
⌈Hey, I'm perfectly normal. Besides, what's so monstrous about my status?⌋ (Ray)
⌈Well, first of all, your strength is way higher than your age. You know, even Klan only has his strength at 7. And then your agility and endurance are above 20. You know, a normal human soldier will have his strength, agility and endurance at an average of 20. And then, even though you do not use even a bit of magic, your Magical power, intelligence and mind are also at five, which at your age would be considered the signs of a genius. You can understand what I mean, right?⌋ (Klaude)
Having this explained to his face, even Ray got confused and inadvertently asked back,
⌈So, what's the deal here?⌋ (Ray)
⌈Well, I think first of all, it's because of that unique skill of yours, it's name screams it's a buff skill. Then, there are those skills with increased stat in their name. They provide bonus to stat each time the skill levels up or you level up. And you have those at a good level, especially your increased endurance, it's level five. At the level of a somewhat experienced adventurer.⌋ (Klaude)
Hearing that he was above others and one of his skill was at the level of an experienced adventurer, Ray felt very happy and had a smile on his face.
⌈Hey, don't lose focus and challenge someone you can't win against. I'm going to discuss some matter with boss. There is some tension going on in work. You all go to sleep.⌋ (Klaude)
Klaude went away saying this, and all the kids, tired of the day's work, went to sleep. But their sleep was short lived, as Klaude came back running a look of panic on his face and started shouting.
⌈Hey! All of you, get up!⌋ (Klaude)
Hearing the shout, all the kids woke up and saw that Klaude was in a state of panic.
⌈W-What happened big brother?! Why are you in a hurry?!⌋ (Klan)
⌈Boss has been arrested by soldiers! Hurry and escape!⌋ (Klaude)
Hearing this, the kids were in shock, but they were not given enough time to think things through. From where Klaude came running, several soldiers came running as well.
⌈Arrest them! Make sure no one escapes!⌋ (Soldier)
One soldier shouted and others followed his orders. All the kids ran to get away, Klaude tried to stop one of them.
⌈Big Brother!⌋ (Klan)
⌈Klaude!⌋ (Ray)
⌈Don't stop! Run away! This is an order from your big brother!⌋ (Klaude)
Hearing this, Klan and Ray hesitated to help him. Klaude was like an amiable big brother to all of them. Especially for Klan and Ray as they spent a great deal of time with them, and he taught Ray how to use dagger too. But seeing the intensity in his voice as he gave the order they hesitated to jump into the fray to help him.
⌈Didn't you two hear?! I said, run away!⌋ (Klaude)
Hearing his order again, both Ray and Klan ground their teeth and started running in the opposite direction from which the soldiers were coming. Behind them, they could hear the sound of metal clashing and the shouting of children and soldiers as they ran like cat and mice, but they did not look back and continued running.
<So, here's another chapter. Please, do write your reviews and suggestions about the story and writing method. I will try to implement them to the best of my ability. And please rate the story as well. Thank you in advance!>
|
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"title": "The Boy of The Slums - Pandemonium – Part 1",
"author": "Brago130sf",
"chapters": 20,
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"Absent Parents",
"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
"Determined Protagonist",
"Different Social Status",
"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
"Fantasy World",
"Fast Learner",
"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
"Level System",
"Male Protagonist",
"Monster Tamer",
"Monsters",
"Multiple POV",
"Weak to Strong"
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|
Brago130sf
Sooooo, yeah..... I know it's been like what? Three months. Yes. I know I've been late but there are reasons. Before I tell you about them, I would like you to imagine a hypothetical situation. Imagine yourself lying on a soft bed and people taking care of you. You don't even have to do anything. They'll do it for you. No matter how embarrassing it may be. There are people to care about you all around you, and even your relatives, your father, mother who nag you about this and that, and your sibling who always want to find an excuse to rip your money off of you, are looking out for you. A little too much. How would it feel? Well, it may fell good or at least fine at the start but then it feels awful. Like, it's a feeling you would have when the whole world is singing songs about you being an incompetent, incapable leecher.
That's what happened to me. Just it wasn't by my choice but by bad luck. I was riding my bike in my neighborhood and here comes a truck and a car at the same time just around the corner at a t junction. One from this side and one from that and here I am in the middle of it, taking a turn towards the truck. I don't know what he was thinking about, or what I was thinking about, as there are no trucks in out neighborhood usually. Heck, that was the first one I saw in three years. And weeelll, the rest I don't remember. There was a lot of pain and then I woke up to see an unfamiliar ceiling. Wallah, here's one isekai wish granted. Anyway, I had fractures in my right arm and both legs along with other injuries, some minor and some not so minor. Anyway, I was discharged about two three weeks ago. So, yeah, I think I'm back now.
Here's the chapter. Tell me if there are any mistakes.
In this world, there is an amazing thing called ‘Mana’. Mana can be called as a form of energy or as a substance that carries energy. Mana can be used to create fires, winds, earth, water and other elements as well. It has the property of distorting reality. Or one can say that mana is something that has the ability to twist logic.
Since ancient times, mana has interfered with the lives of people. When mana first came into existence, it was something to be feared. It allowed animals to become monsters, make skinny people strong enough to bend steel, allow crops to grow in moments and it also had the capacity to cure wounds instantly. It was something like a contract with the devil.
As the mana gradually stabilized, the benefits of mana became more widespread. Now it was possible for almost anyone to utilize mana instead of a select few who had good compatibility with mana. As this happened, mana became more accepted into the society, and research on it grew more widespread.
When mana stabilized even more, the concept of levels and stats came into existence, and on further stabilization, skills came into existence as well. With this, the humanity that was being pushed back by the monsters, who gained benefits of mana quicker because of their instinctive nature, became able to fight back.
Mutations were happening everywhere, and new races emerged. After the ensuing chaos settled down, the world became peaceful, however, humanity had lost more than half of its territory. Now, world was covered in monster domains and dungeons. And the battle to regain their former glory began.
However, this all changed once humanity learned of the benefits of monsters’ existence and the way to harvest those benefits. Now, humans allow the existence of monster under a certain level, and even strive to maintain it at that level.
However, that is not important. The important thing is this, that mana is capable of making a substance deviate from its original path. The greater the ability of the base, the greater the chance and magnitude of deviation in a certain direction. It is similar to how an extremely pure silver has the ability to become mithril or sealing silver on prolonged exposure to no attribute mana.
Why am I saying this? It’s because there is a way to control the direction of deviation in certain cases and the deviation is possible for any substance. That, of course, includes the human body. Currently, I am sitting in lotus position, meditating.
Now, I can very easily feel the flow of magic power in my body which is mana refined by my body and soul and also in my surroundings. If I really focus inside my body, I can feel almost every corner of my body. When you use magic power to try to sense everything inside your body, slowly the area you can feel increases. First it is just at the edge of the flow of magic power, and then, it keeps on increasing as if layers are being added upon its vein like flow.
If I focus outside, I can feel the flow of mana in a radius of five meters with me as the center. I can also control the mana in a radius of two meters from me, which is pretty amazing. When I use the mana in my control zone, the mana in the rest of the surroundings rushes to fill the gap that has been formed, entering my control space again. So basically, it’s like the mana in the whole world is under my control, even though it would take more than a hundred years if I really tried that.
Now, I move the magic power inside my body, concentrating it in my eyes, ears, nose, throat, heart, lungs, and other internal organs. After which I move the magic power, focusing it in my appendices, my head, upper arm, wrists, palms, fingers, chest, thighs, shin, foot. Cycling it in both the minor and major parts of my body, I improve the ability of my whole body.
Then, I begin to release the magic power inside my body, from every place possible. Obviously, the greatest volume of magic power is being released from my hands, then my head and my legs. Magic power is being released from my whole body, but those are the main gateways. However, I do not let go of magic power just because it is outside of my body.
Instead, I gather it in a layer surrounding my whole body. After that, I command over the mana in the nature, gathering it towards me, increasing the mana density around me. Slowly, the mana keeps increasing. After this, I bring both my hands in front of my chest and keep them separated from each other a little. Then, I gather all the mana around me between them.
Slowly, the mana density increases further and the light coming from between my hands grow stronger. It keeps on increasing as if it wants to become a solid magic crystal. Magic crystal is the solid form of mana which is created when a mana stone is refined. Though, since magic power is the dominant ingredient in the mana I have gathered, it will not be the same as other magic crystals. That is, if I can compress it enough to form a solid.
I open my eyes a little, and what I see is a warmly glowing silver blue ball of light, about one centimeter in diameter. The light radiated by it is bright and intense, though not to the point of hurting the eyes. My surroundings are dyed a blue color, and seeing the result of my work, I close my eyes again.
I move the ball in a circle around my right hand clockwise, and when it comes between my hands again, I move it around my left hand counter clockwise. I repeat this several times, and after that, I reverse the directions and repeat this several times again. Till this part I can say it has become easy because of my repeated practice.
However, this is just the beginning. After this, I gradually move the ball away from my body while also moving it around in my control zone. If I really focus, I can barely, just barely, control the ball to a distance of two and a half meters from me. After this, either the ball disperses or I cannot properly change its direction and speed.
As the ball gradually inches to the boundary of my control zone, I focus vehemently, extending my range of control. And then, I move it in that area. After I have sufficiently trained my magic control, I let go of mana, without absorbing it inside my body.
Now, my body does not have any magic power, which means, I’m in my base state. As the magic power in the body reduces, it becomes difficult to release more magic power, and if the concentration of magic power in the body goes below one percent, the person suffers from a terrible mental fatigue and the capabilities of bodies get reduce drastically.
This is because magic power is responsible for enhancing the power of body. As the level and age increases the body becomes more addicted to mana, making it difficult to function without it. It’s not like the bodily functions stop, it’s just that the brain suffers from withdrawal.
Now, the level cap, stats of the body, and the increase in stats on level up, it all depends on the base, which means, on what the condition of your body is when it has no magic power inside it. Normally, one worries about it only on reaching their level cap. Why? Because, magic power gradually strengthens the base.
When a person grows, or levels up, their muscles grow, their stamina increases and various other physical and magical improvements. This happens because their magic power gets more refined over time, changing their very foundation.
If a person encounters a wall in their growth or level cap, they can overcome it in two ways.
First, they just have to grit their teeth and gather a huge amount of experience. Enough to level them up about two or three times. When a person gains experience, he gains the knowledge of others. This allows him to progress more quickly in the refinement of his magic power. If I had to give an analogy, it will be like that you and everybody else was researching the same thing. If you progress on your own, you will take a lot of time, and if you steal from other, even if little, your research will progress faster. Well, something similar to that.
Second, you remove all of the magic power in your body, and improve your base from there. However, since you get more addicted to magic power the higher your level, it is quite difficult to use this method. Therefore, most normal people go with first method.
Now, since magic power is used in almost everything, from fighting monsters to washing dishes, it is possible to keep gaining experience continuously. However, the refinement of magic power is possible only when you have magic power.
The condition Lunus gave me was quite simple. First, I had to graduate in the top ten from the academy at the capital. Second, I had to attain level ten by following her commands. By the way, level ten is the requirement to get into the academy.
Though, I accepted it quite easily at first, it was the worst thing I could have done.
The first task she gave me was to get all the magic power out of my body. I enthusiastically tried, only to realize that I cannot properly control it. The first week I spent in learning to control magic power. When I did manage to learn it, I said,
“Alright! Let’s do this!”
But, I failed to get all of the magic power out. I only managed to get sixty percent (that’s the feeling I got) out of my body, and then fell down asleep. I woke up feeling a pain in my cheek to see that Lunus was glaring daggers at me. Apparently, she had slapped me to break my sleep.
I tried again only to fail. This continued for a week when I finally managed to get all the magic power out of my body. I felt happy. But, then she dropped a bomb. A real bomb. She said to me,
“Start running in this field. Not as fast as you can go, but still reasonably fast. After you get tired, do pushups, situps, squats and other exercises. And continue till I say stop.”
It was insane after that. I felt my arms and legs were made of lead and I couldn’t even properly concentrate because I was feeling dizzy. I started gasping for breath only after a few hundred steps of running and several repititions of other exercises. It was the worst. I knew I could have done better.
Only after doing it for several days did I realize that my body becomes weak the moment I remove all magic power. When I told Lunus about it, she explained to me about the base and mana. And she also told me this,
“The rate of experience gain in this state is almost zero. Because when you are trying to raise levels without hunting or doing something, the mana does not get refined properly. Because there is no mana to be refined. Though, very slowly the mana gets restored and you can refine that and gain experience.”
It was ridiculous. I started working extra hard after that. As the magic power in my body gets restored, it becomes easier to run. Though, always, at that time, Lunus will appear out of nowhere and tell me to remove my magic power. I will run again after that.
Since that day, every night, my whole body would feel as if I am being torn apart. Every movement will require a lot of willpower. Though, the next day they were all better. In fact, even better that before. Apparently, magic power also improves recovery.
In two months, I gained a level successfully. Though, only after that did I understand the severity of situation. Every level, the experience required to level up gets doubled. I was only level six, so if this continued, I will never be able to become level ten before the academy entrance exams.
Luckily, after that, I started taking lessons in combat arts. I would practice close combat arts daily for two hour along with practicing two weapons one hour each. One hour of close combat training and one hour of weapon training in both morning and evening. And building up the base for rest of the day. This increased the amount of experience gained by leaps and bounds.
It was hell, but I persevered and managed to achieve level ten. And now, I am on my last day of training. Tomorrow, I will depart for the capital with Lunus. I practiced close combat arts with Lunus and weapons with Brad, the adventurer guy. Though, they both were always in their awakened state.
Brad came carrying his sword. I also picked up my weapon. A greatsword made of rock. It was made by Lunus with her earth magic. Though it does not have an artistic value in any way, its weight is a destructive force in and of itself. As my base improved, my stats skyrocketed, to the point that I am thankful for this hellish training. If I had just hunted monsters and increased my level, I would have never been able to lift it in my base state. I had trained with other weapons made of rocks as well. From light weapons like daggers, short swords and sabers, to slightly heavy weapons like speards, swords, longswords and heavy weapons like axe, halberd and greatsword as well.
“Ya ready?”
“Yes!”
“Hmm. You’ve come a long way, kid. Though, I suppose you’re not a kid anymore now.”
As he said that, he had a bitter smile on his face. He had trained me for almost two years and in that time, we had gotten pretty close. He now feels like an older brother to me. As I was thinking this, he said to me in a serious tone,
“Ray.”
This was the first time he had called me as if I was an adult. I also became serious and listened to him.
“You seriously want to become an adventurer. You have proved this by enduring this training. It is a training regime similar to the elites of Paharun. They are monstorously strong. So much so that, each one of them can match ten knights in combat strength. Though their training is much harsher, it does not change the fact that this training was not easy either.
But, it had a reason. Lunus, she cares about you. So much so that I am surprised she allowed you to become an adventurer. At first, I thought she was just being stubborn, but as I got to know her, I knew she just said everything for your good.
Adventuring is a dangerous job. Life and death go hand in hand for an adventurer. That is why, to increase your chance of survival by even a little, she gave you this training menu. I hope you understand. Don’t hate her. Everything she did was for your sake.”
Honestly, I already knew about it. She was too good a friend to care about me like that. And there was something about her, that I just couldn’t bring myself to hate her even if I wanted to. That’s why I silently nodded to Brad. After that, we raise our weapons and began our routine.
|
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(??? POV)
It was a sensation of floating, that I felt when I was born. I felt that my body did not have a particular shape, even then, I had vague memories of having retained a shape that should be classified as ‘Human’.
In my memories, I could recall knowledge of all kinds. From the knowledge required by those who kill, to the knowledge required by those who save. I, however, had no memories of how I got that knowledge. There were no memories related to anything at all. All there was a desire. A desire to protect somebody I called important. I felt that if I did not protect him, everything would fall apart for me. I would lose meaning in my existence.
This thought invoked an instinctual fear in me. I went looking for him. Although there were many obstacles in my path, I passed through them all. My body which, according to my knowledge, has been ‘human’ should not have been able to pass through them. However, this body could. Moreover, I could not touch anything unless I really focused on it.
There were also a lot of strange powers that I had. But I did not pay them any mind and kept looking for him. And I found him. He was there sitting on the ground in dirty clothes. My heart ached seeing his figure. However, I could not do anything. Fortunately, he found people he could lean on a little. But life was still not easy. He had to work hard to get ‘food’. I, however, did not need it and could survive off the mana released by people unconsciously.
When he struggled, there were many difficulties he faced, like not knowing how to do something, to the people getting in his way. However, he overcame them all. Seeing him work hard at such young age, my heart was torn apart, but there was also a sense of pride somewhere in my heart. I continued watching over him for a time that according to my memories should have been ‘one month’.
After this, I confirmed my own appearance. Apparently, I did not have a fixed appearance and I could take on any form I desired. However, the size of my body was not enough for me to take the form I wanted.
Name: ——
Level: 1
HP: 6
Race: Revenant (Lesser Demon)
Age: 0
STR: 7 DEF: 2 AGI: 10 DEX: 4
MP: 30 INT: 16 MIND: 43
Skills:
Inherent Skills:
Psychokinesis Lv 1
Shape Shifting Lv 1
Float Lv 1
Intangible Lv 1
Possession Lv 1
Fear Lv 1
Materialisation Lv 1
Magic Perception Lv 1
Magic Manipulation Lv 1
Healing Magic Lv 1
Cooking Lv 1
Cleaning Lv 1
Sewing Lv 1
Knitting Lv 1
Acquired Skills:
Indomitable Lv 3
Unique Skills: None
Gifts: None
My instinct then told me that if I wanted to grow, I would have to gain experience by killing. However, the knowledge from my memories told me to not kill humans. Fortunately, there was a forest nearby, which should have been the boundary of forest of elves.
After I gained knowledge of my skills, I went in the forest and hunted the monsters roaming there. I did not need to sleep, therefore, in the day I would watch over him and in the night, I would go to hunt in the forest. As I kept doing it for about a year, I gained experience. My levels increased, and when it reached Lv 10 I ‘evolved’ from my previous form to a new higher ranking existence.
Name: ——
Level: 1
HP: 45
Race: Phantom (Lower Demon)
Age: 0
STR: 37 DEF: 22 AGI: 60 DEX: 34
MP: 130 INT: 46 MIND: 210
Skills:
Inherent Skills:
Psychokinesis Lv 6
Shape Shifting Lv 5
Flight Lv 3
Intangible Lv 6
Possession Lv 1
Fear Lv 3
Materialisation Lv 7
Magic Perception Lv 7
Magic Manipulation Lv 5
Healing Magic Lv 1
Cooking Lv 1
Cleaning Lv 1
Sewing Lv 1
Knitting Lv 1
Acquired Skills:
Indomitable Lv 3
Unattributed Magic Arts Lv 3
Fire Magic Arts Lv 2
Water Magic Arts Lv 3
Wind Magic Arts Lv 3
Earth Magic Arts Lv 1
Presence Perception Lv 5
Close Combat Arts Lv 5
Rending Claws Lv 3
Unique Skills: None
Gifts: None
The new body I received let me have a vaguely human appearance, however, it was still not enough for me to gain a completely human form. I continued to hunt, and as I gained experience, it became easier for me to kill other monsters. However, the experience I required to level up also kept increasing and I soon found myself taking more than twice the time it took me to level up before.
One night, as I was hunting like this, the town was attacked. As soon as I noticed I rushed back. My heart was drowned in chaos at that time, thinking what I would do if something happened to him. However, fortunately, he survived. But he had an expression of sorrow on his face. I kept watch over him, but could not do anything. I thought now was not the right time to show myself.
Then, the town was attacked again. I wanted him to run, however, he tried to fight the assailants. Even thought there were about a hundred of them, he still decided to face them. However, he and I both noticed the large number of people carrying weapons coming here. He thought of running away with his friend. But he saw his friend being killed in front of his eyes.
In anger, he tried to kill the murderer, however, the tables were turned on him, and the murderer cruelly stitched him to the floor of a burning building. I thought of helping him but was able to barely hold myself back. It was frustrating, however, I could not come in front of him without caution. There was fear in my heart that perhaps he would not accept me.
But, right now, that fear was being overtaken by sadness and anger. Sadness of watching him suffering in pain that I could not even imagine, and anger at myself for still being unable to come in front of him. As I was thinking this, the anger took over and I decided to reveal myself. However, he had already lost consciousness.
I took the sword out of his arm, and gently carried him outside the building. If this was my previous form, I would have been unable to even properly hold him, but after using this body for a year, and moreover, evolving to a higher form, I could carry him. After carrying him outside, I healed all his wounds with my healing magic, and carried him to a part of the town where there would be very little chance of someone finding him.
Although I wanted to take him outside the town to the forest, it was very dangerous. At night, the monsters were more active, so much so that a weakened state would be dangerous, not to say anything about unconscious. I laid him down. Seeing at his face, I cannot even think that he can fight someone.
Caressing his head a last time, I stood up. Now was not the time to think about peace. I decided to kill all those who had tried to harm him.
Name: ——
Level: 19
HP: 156
Race: Wight (Lower Demon)
Age: 0
STR: 57 DEF: 46 AGI: 150 DEX: 45
MP: 330 INT: 105 MIND: 350
Skills:
Inherent Skills:
Psychokinesis Lv 8
Shape Shifting Lv 6
Flight Lv 5
Intangible Lv 6
Possession Lv 1
Fear Lv 4
Materialisation Lv 8
Magic Perception Lv 8
Magic Manipulation Lv 7
Healing Magic Lv 1
Cooking Lv 1
Cleaning Lv 1
Sewing Lv 1
Knitting Lv 1
Acquired Skills:
Indomitable Lv 4
Unattributed Magic Arts Lv 5
Fire Magic Arts Lv 3
Water Magic Arts Lv 3
Wind Magic Arts Lv 3
Earth Magic Arts Lv 2
Presence Perception Lv 6
Close Combat Arts Lv 5
Rending Claws Lv 4
Unique Skills: None
Gifts: None
|
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"title": "The Boy of The Slums - Slaughter and Survival – Part 2",
"author": "Brago130sf",
"chapters": 20,
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"Fantasy",
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"Tragedy"
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"Absent Parents",
"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
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"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
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"Flashbacks",
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|
With both men in front of him, Ray could not even let out his voice as he stood there petrified in fear that he would be the one to die next.
For some time they were shrouded in silence. It was but a few moments of silence, but it felt like an eternity to Ray which he passed by staring at the two men.
⌈You lookin pale there kid, are ye eatin properly⌋ (Bald man)
With a tone as if to mock the kid who had frozen in fear, the Bald man asked with a scornful smile on his face. But Ray had no words to answer him.
⌈You've got bags under yer eyes and ya look to be starving, want my help to get yerself a good meal.⌋ (Bald man)
For a moment there, Ray did not understand the meaning behind his words. Even when he came to understand, he tried to reject his offer, but the hellish hunger in his stomach had other plans. Out of nowhere a grumbling sound came. For a moment, Ray became confused, but after realising it was his own stomach, he could not oppose the temptation any longer and nodded.
⌈Hahahahaha! Good answer kid! A real good answer! But know what? I ain't gonna help ya! hahahaha!⌋ (Bald man)
Hearing the man laughing at his answer, Ray felt anger surging up from withing his body. He lost his sense of reason altogether and looked at the man with a fiery glint in his eyes.
Perhaps, having seen his anger or having gotten bored of laughing, the man stopped. And said it to his face, the thing that Ray had been avoiding all the while
⌈If ya want food, take it from others, if ya want money, rob others of it, if somebody refuses or tries to be a pain in the ass, kill'im. Become strong enough that nobody can take from ya once ya've taken from them. Only the strong have the right to live.⌋ (Bald man)
Ray felt his anger calm down a little and thought of the man's words, but, still found himself unable to follow them as they he had been taught that they were bad deeds.
⌈What? Think it's wrong to hurt others? Tell me what kid, if ya were hungry as'ell, which'll be quicker, to beg for it or to steal it?⌋ (Bald man)
His words started to sink in and Ray started to loose his will to oppose. Perhaps, it was because he had been living too peacefully with his mother that he still managed to show some resistance.
The man seemed to notice Ray's dilemma as he watched with an amused smile on his face.
⌈If ya were strong you'd never go hungry, if ya were strong, no one would speak against you, if ya were strong, ya can have it all, money, women, food, people, everything ya could think of in the world.⌋ (Bald man)
The way he skillfully said those words to persuade him was very similar to the coaxing of the devil. Ray could feel his resistance breaking and a desire to follow the man's words welling up inside him.
Seeing Ray, the man understood, he needed to give him one last push, so that he can be made to fall. That's why he used very persuading words to break his resistance completely.
⌈Ya don't have ta steal and kill always ya know, ya could become an adventurer or somethin when ya grow old enough to earn honestly. Why don't ya hunt for game only when ya don't have any other way of obtaining food? It ain't a bad deal, don't ya think? Right now ya're weak and don't have a way to obtain food, steal and kill now so that ya could grow strong in the future so ya don't have to steal again.⌋ (Bald man)
These words nearly broke his will, but somehow he managed to hold on.
⌈Let's go.⌋
Suddenly the voice came out from beside Ray. He looked to his side and got startled as he had completely forgotten the existence of the Black man.
⌈We don't have time to keep playing around.⌋ (Black man)
⌈Tch, comeee onnn. Can't we help him a little?⌋ (Bald man)
It was clear from his tone of voice, that the Bald man was enjoying it and had no intention of really helping Ray. But maybe the Black man had a little different intentions, he looked at Ray and spoke
⌈Why don't we leave it to the boy? Kid, if you feel unable to handle your hunger anymore, then don't hesitate to do anything, because once you are dead, no one is going to care.⌋ (Black man)
Those words triggered a memory in Ray. The memory of his mother dying in front of the town gate, the guards as they dragged her dead body and separated Ray from her. He felt at a loss for what to do.
⌈If you decide to take action in our way, use this⌋ (Black man)
Saying that, he threw a dagger in the ground.
⌈Use it to take from others and to keep what you already have. If somebody is stronger than you, attack him from behind. Use trickery, betrayal and any means necessary to survive. Now, let's go, this is enough help for him.⌋ (Black man)
The Bald man seemed to be in bad mood, but still followed the Black man and soon they disappeared in the disordered streets of the slums.
Ray did not know what to do, he just stood there looking at the dagger stuck in the ground. He still felt hesitant to use it, but perhaps because of his resistance having considerably weakened, he took the knife and walked away from that place.
He kept wandering about the slums for who knows how long but eventually his strength left him and he staggered. Supporting himself against a broken wall, he heard the sound of dogs barking in an alley a little ahead of him.
When he looked inside, he saw four dogs fighting each other over what seemed like raw meat. Seeing that meat, his stomach started to ache for hunger.
At that time he felt the dagger in his hand, and the final dam of his will broke against the flood of hunger.
Out of nowhere, he felt strength come back to his body as he gripped the knife in both hands.
He knew he would not be able to win against four dogs, that's why
⌈YAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH⌋
he rushed at the dogs at full speed and drove the dagger in the dog. Fortunately, the dagger slid in the neck of the dog, killing it right away.
⌈Grrrr, WAAAH⌋ (Dog)<I am not too knowledgeable about how dog sounds are supposed to be, so sorry but please put your imagination to use by assuming the dog is barking loudly as the do before attacking.>
A dog leapt at him, Ray felt fear from having a dog jump at him and by reflex he swung his dagger at him.
The dagger sliced at the mouth of the dog from which he stopped. The dog opened his mouth, and in a frenzy, Ray rushed at him and thrust the dagger in the mouth of dog. The dagger came out from the back of dog's head killing it.
The third dog leapt and bit his leg.
⌈AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh⌋
Feeling the pain in his leg, Ray cried out and using the dagger repeatedly stabbed the dog's neck, killng it.
In the meanwhile the fourth dog leapt on the dog whom Ray was stabbing. Seeing the dog leap, Ray changed his target to the fourth one and started stabbing the dog's side. The dog cried out in pain but because of repeated stabbing, lost his life.
Ray kept stabbing the dead dog for a little while. When he saw that the dogs were not moving at all, he threw the dagger away and leapt at the meat in front of him. Eating it like no tomorrow.
<< Your level has increased from 1 to 2! Every basic stat increased!>><<Due to the effect of growth skill, a correction of +1 has been applied to every basic stat!>>
Name: Ray
Level: 1→2
HP: 10→12+1 VIT:5→6+1
Race: Human
Age:5
Class: Undecided
Subclass: Undecided
STR: 2→3+1
DEF: 2→3+1
AGI: 2→3+1
DEX: 1→2+1
MP: 1→2+1
INT: 1→2+1
MIND: 1→2+1
END: 2→4+1
Skills:
Acquired Skills: None
Inherent Skills:
Kienetic Vision Lv 1
Magic Perception Lv 1
Unique Skills:
Growth
Gifts: None
<Sorry for the readers who are reading this again and again because I keep updating it in such short amount of time but it's just that I keep forgetting things to write and make improvements immediately. Sorry again.>
|
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"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
"Determined Protagonist",
"Different Social Status",
"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
"Fantasy World",
"Fast Learner",
"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
"Level System",
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"Monsters",
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"Weak to Strong"
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|
The world was shrouded in darkness and silence of night. The only light coming to this place was from the full moon above in the sky and the stars surrounding it.
ssrrrrrrrrr~
The world felt so quiet that the sound of occasional wind blowing against the grass felt like it was made to prevent people from falling asleep because of the boredom. However, before long, other sounds started mingling in between, and the intermittent sound of rustling grass and trees created by wind became continuous. The sound of footsteps trying to conceal themselves, excited whispers which made one wonder how the voices were being kept down, the sound of weapons cutting the obstructions in one's path and the like became dominant.
Ray was watching this from behind a bush just large enough to hide him. He was watching them with wariness. However, that wariness soon changed to anger once he heard the contents carried by their whispers.
"Maaan, why do we have to do this? This town doesn't even have that much money."
"What're ya whinin'bout? Ey said ya can tek jus whateva ya want. Jus don leave anyun alive."
"Yea. This is bound to turn into a battle for goods. I mean not like the people are even a threat to us. There can't be a skill holder in a place like this. And even if there is, he can't take us all on."
"Y'know, yer too idiotic. Thinking only about small stuff owned by these peasants. I heard there is booze in the town. And a whole ton of it to boot."
"You serious, Boss?!"
"Yeah. Apparently, the harvest was much more plentiful than expected. Shows just how much more fertile this land is compared to other regions."
"En we've gotta tek it!"
"Heh. If only it could be that easy. The others should also've heard of this. They're going to aim for it too."
"Then, what should we do, Boss?! We can't not have liquor, y'know!"
"That's easy. Aim for the centre of the town. The warehouse's there. If we reach there first, we can have all the booze. Fortunately, the main force is still at the back. And as there's the rule to not kill allies, we can barter it for other small stuff. Just take our kids and kill all the peasants. Clear a way to the warehouse. If we're lucky, we'll have all the good stuff this town has to offer."
"YEAH!!!"
Such conversations were being carried out throughout the group of around hundred people. The content was brutal, however, the people speaking it did not seem to realise the weight of the words they were speaking. Hearing the words, Ray was worried about Klan who was inside the town. For the people of the town, they were filthy untouchables, but that only made the bonds between untouchables all the more stronger. Currently, Ray was thinking about what would have happened to him if he had not met Klaude, Klan and others at the time he did.
He might have had to live by himself, which he wasn't sure he could do. What could a boy who hasn't even come of age, lack the know how of outside world, lacking any talent to do any work do?
His life would perhaps have ended some time after his mother left him. He had heard from Klaude that the dead become stars and if you die, you will also become one. He wanted to see his mother who had become a star. He wanted to be beside her as a fellow star. However, the primal instinct of survival was too strong.
However, now that he had experienced the pain of living alone and powerless, he wanted to avoid having to go through that ever again. That's why he decided to move. To protect what is his.
(Ray's POV)
I am moving from bush to bush, trying not to make any sounds. And by the time I got in a position so that I could finally start attacking them, the group had already made it close to the walls of the town. What they said is true. There is no skill holder in town. At least other than me. Skills are called the blessings by god. Usually, one does not have them. The Acquired skills and Inherited skills columns of most people are empty from what I heard from Klaude. The people usually only have their basic stats and level. When they level up, they get a boost in their stats. However, skill holders, apparently, can get other bonuses on level ups, making their stats higher than others.
That is the reason that I, who holds multiple skills, looked like a monster to others. Apparently, my stats are high enough to be compared to a level one 17 years old soldier. I check my status and details on skills to see how well I can fare against these people.
Name: Ray
Level: 3
HP: 16; VIT: 9
Race: Human
Age: 6
Class: Undecided
Subclass: Undecided
STR: 12
DEF: 7
AGI: 22
DEX: 12
MP: 5
INT: 5
MIND: 5
END: 29
Skills:
Acquired Skills:
Increased Physical Strength Lv 2
Increased Agility Lv 4
Increased Endurance Lv 5
Storage Expansion Lv 1
Dagger Arts Lv 2
Parrying Lv 1
Flash Lv 1
Inherent Skills:
Kienetic Vision Lv 3
Magic Perception Lv 1
Unique skills:
Growth
Gifts: None
After checking my status, I check the details of each skill in the hope of getting their effects completely engraved on my mind.
<>
On every level up of user
STR + 2
<>
On every level up of user
AGI + 4
<>
On every level up of user
END + 5
<>
The storage equipment possessed by the owner have their storing capacity increase by 1%
In case the equipment is transferred while containing material to someone lacking the skill or having lower level, the material stored in the expanded space will be lost.
<>
DEX + 2 when equipped with a dagger.
When equipped with a dagger, inferior version of <> will be generated.
If level increases while equipped with a dagger
DEX + 2; AGI + 2
<>
Provides minimal help while parrying an attack.
<>
The user can cover a distance of few steps instantaneously.
The user's posture will remain unchanged for the most part.
The skill consumes mana while also putting a strain on the body.
<>
User's Peripheral vision is enhanced allowing better grasp on surroundings.
<>
On every level up, a correction of +1 will be added to all stats.
The experience and skill proficiency gained will increase in proportion to the user's level.
<>
There are mostly skills which have passive attached to them. I don't understand why they are called passive, but considering the effects I have read, they will be beneficial in the long run. But since I need them now, they might as well be useless. Flash is a good skill, but it puts too much strain on my body and also drains something called mana. I don't know what it is, but if it is a fuel for a skill like this, it is bound to be an imortant resource. I will have to use it sparingly, or else I might end up like I did last time I used it consecutively, unable to even move properly.
Next is Magic Perception. I haven't been able to call any information on it, no matter how many times I tried. I don't know why that is, and I can't ask any other skill holder as I'm the only one here. Although, I suppose it is a magician exclusive skill considering it's name contains magic. If mother was alive, perhaps, she would have known, but no use crying over spilled milk, what's gone is gone.
I am still nervous about killing another human. The last time I killed two soldiers, I was in a panic from the rapidly changing situation, but now that I have some time to think it over, I want to avoid killing at all costs. My palms are sweaty and my hands are shivering. Though I suppose that's because I might not come back from this. After all, there's about a hundred of them and only one of me.
Now then, since I have read all the available description, it's time to go. I don't want to do this, I'm afraid, I might really die, however, I have to do this, because if I don't I know I'm going to regret it later on.
Brago130sf
So, I tried to come up with a onomatopoeia for rustling sounds, but that was the best I could come up with. I also thought about just typing rustle~ but I think that would be leaving a little too much to the imagination. Anyway, I am trying to improve, so if you have any suggestions, please do tell. For onomatopoeia specially, if you have a better one for rustling please comment. Or if you'd like it to just be rustle~. Please rate and review the story. And tell me if a poll can be added to a chapter or series for that matter.
Thanks for reading!
|
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"title": "The Boy of The Slums - The War of End – Part 3",
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"chapters": 20,
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"Adventurers",
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"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
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"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
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"Eye Powers",
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|
(Ray’s POV)
My name is Ray. I am a normal thirteen years old boy, though, you could say that one year of my life was abnormal. According to my friend Lunus, who is a girl with black hair and red eyes, I had gone into a state called coma when I was six years old, and I stayed like that for a whole year.
According to her, I would have died because of lack of food and nutrition if I was left alone, and even if I survived, my body would have become extremely weak to the point of being non functional because of their long period of inactivity. When I asked her, after waking up from coma, that how was I well and kicking if that was the case, she said she used her skill so that my muscles would move, my body would eat, speak, hear, see and everything else.
I had no choice but to believe it because I had no memories of before waking up. Even my name was told to me by her. After that, she continued to teach me various things, like helping out in the village fields, washing and patching up my clothes, picking up vegetables, herbs and the like from the forest nearby. I guess she is amazing?
Though, according to her, I had weakened considerably from before waking up, I still could not tell if that was true. I asked her why I was in coma, or if she knew who my parents were, or if I had any siblings or not. She said, I had parents but they died when the village I used to live in was destroyed by monsters. Some adults and children managed to run away, but when they returned, the village was devastated, so everyone went their own way with some money, and I was so shocked that I went into coma and lost all my memories.
All my memories are of this village, but they are not memories I am too fond of. When I talk to villagers or when they see me or Lunus, I feel as if there is something like rejection in their eyes, though I wouldn’t say it’s to the point of disgust, it’s still not the most pleasant feeling to be stared at by those eyes. I guess that’s because we are not from this village. But, I also think that this feeling should have been resolved in these years I had stayed here.
Anyway, that was all off topic. Then what is the topic, you ask? I had come to a conclusion. You could say that it is the greatest discovery I have made in my life. What is the discovery, you ask? For that, you need to know of some back story.
Sometimes, when I do something, or there is something I should not do, Lunus would warn me. And, if I ever dared to go against her, the air around her would grow so chilling and intimidating that let alone I, even the adults in the village who usually fend off boars, wouldn’t go against her. She had explicitly forbidden me from fighting anyone or anything, using any skill, and raising my level. These things were absolutely forbidden.
And now, I am very grateful that I had followed what she had said with all my heart, even if I felt it was a little, no very unreasonable.
Why? It’s because Lunus is in front of me, and she is beating the crap out of an old man, who has supposedly come after retiring from being an adventurer. Why? It all happened a little while ago.
An old man came here with his wife and two children. The children were about the same age as me. Apparently, both the husband and wife were former adventurers, who had met in the capital, gathered a decent amount of money, they moved to a town, the guy asked the girl’s parents for her hand, and after their agreement, they married. After they had children, they raised them, and now that the husband and wife both had come to this village.
The husband was a resident of this village originally, and the wife was from a different one, though, that village as well fell under the jurisdiction of the nearest town, like this village.
Anyway, the guy had been an adventurer, and a pretty decent one at that, thought that’s what he says, so naturally, the kids pestered him to tell them a story, and he did in a somewhat bar like place in village where everyone gathered. His children boasted about it as if they were their own adventurers. He told us about his adventurers, outside the capital, slaying goblins, kobolds, orcs and the like. He had also apparently participated in a raid on the boss of the labyrinth of the capital as a major player and succeeded. Which, according to him, not many adventurers succeeded in.
After listening to it, I seriously had a desire to become an adventurer, and I declared it with sparkling eyes, like the other children. Lunus, who was behind me for who knows how long, heard me and released her asura mode. Everything around me grew silent because of the intimidation, but for the first time, I, even while trembling from head to toe, declared, in a very pathetic voice, my desire to be an adventurer.
It was the first time I had succeeded in saying something to her when she was like this, and I also didn’t wet my pants this time! No, seriously, she was seriously intimidating. I would have awarded myself the highest honor for only trembling if I was capable of doing so. She didn’t hit me this time, though, she had hit me before, and I was thankful for that, because every time she hit me, I would be unable to even let out a whimper.
We quarreled, and quarreled, without reaching a conclusion. But, the adventurer guy, sorry, former adventurer guy interfered, saying, “Jus’let’im be little missy. Wha’s wrong with being’n adventurer.” His dialect was not proper, but the message got across. He was supporting me to be an adventurer. According to him, a guy should chase him with all he had. And now they began to quarrel. It escalated and it became a talk about a fight.
The guy put on a serious face for once and said, “Little miss, my level is above forty, which, for your kind information, is the average level of second tier adventurer of capital labyrinth.” Since he said it proudly, and because his level was so much higher than mine, which was four, I thought he would be pretty strong. But Lunus didn’t back down. At that time, I thought she was being stubborn, and would back down after getting frightened, but the fight started. The guy punched towards her while grinning, but she just ducked under it, got closer to his chest and Bam! A fist was delivered to the guy’s solar plexus, blowing him back a little.
But, being an adventurer, he quickly adjusted himself and tried to strike an elbow in her shoulder from above using his extended right arm, but she dodge it by moving back. The elbow struck air. But the guy didn’t give up, and now tried to kick her. A roundhouse kick using his right leg, but Lunus ducked under it, spun and swiped his leg with her heel, and in the same spinning motion, she delivered a straight kick to his chest, blowing him away to the wooden wall. The result, his complete loss.
I learned my part of the lesson, never mess with Lunus. Never. But, like the former adventurer said, a guy should chase his dreams with everything he has. And so, even after witnessing his brutal beating, I declared to her,
“Lunus, I still want to be an adventurer.”
Once again the place was silent. However, this time, I think it was a deeper shade of silent. I think, everyone was feeling ‘Just what the hell is wrong with this guy? How can he speak that even after witnessing this brutal scene? Doesn’t he know adventurers are weak to be beaten down by a little girl?’ But I think, the adventurer is normal, and he will be considered strong in the world’s standards, it’s Lunus who is abnormally strong for a little girl. She can beat an adventurer, who even ten of me might not be able to beat.
Lunus was looking at me with very cold eyes. And in the next instant, I found myself without any air in my lungs, unable to breathe, and flying backwards. Apparently, Lunus had punched me. But, the effect on me was tremendous compared to the other guy. I fell down, rolled around and ended on my belly. But, I still said, “I …will be….an….adventurer…”. That was the instant I lost my consciousness.
When I came to, I felt a warm light coming over me, specifically, at the place where I had been hurt. When I opened my eyes, I saw Lunus’ hand hovering a little above my chest, the area she had struck. I had heard that healing magic was capable of healing injuries and pain, but I didn’t know she could use it.
“Won’t you reconsider, Ray?”
That was the thing she said after stopping her healing magic, of course, it was after she confirmed that I was fine. I shook my head at her question. I couldn’t back down on this. I didn’t want to back down on this. And also, that hurt like hell! I won’t let that suffering go to waste!
After she heard what I said, she had a look of sadness on her face. And she asked me,
“Why do you want to be an adventurer? For fame? For money? They are worthless. What’s important is your life. And a proper adventurer lives with his life on the line. Nothing will matter after you die. So won’t you stop.”
I didn’t know why I wanted to be an adventurer. It was something deep rooted. Something more that, much more deeper. As I was thinking those things, lines came out of my mouth by themselves,
“Death is certain. Even incarnations of Gods died in this world. I want to be an adventurer because I feel someone important to me was an adventurer. Besides, it doesn’t matter if you die, as long as you are chasing what you desire, even death will bring you happiness. What’s truly important is to make sure you die without regrets, and live with your all.”
I feel that these words came from my heart. The life in this village, the unknown life that I had lived before waking up, I felt that it was all a part of my own. I felt something important started to move again, something important which has been stagnant until now, which made me feel unsatisfied about my safe, peaceful life in this village.
And as I said that, I felt Lunus’ eyes widen. And then, her expression changed. It first became one of proud and then she started giggling to herself. I didn’t understand. And then, what she said shocked me,
“Fine. You can become one. But only if you fulfil my conditions.”
It was amazing that that frightening Lunus agreed to what I said. I think she was gentle in her own way, and was trying to protect me by doing what she thought was best. As I thought this, I , too, found myself laughing with her.
(Lunus’ POV)
I had brought Ray to a village at the border of the Seiren Kingdom. Well, it was a little inside in the kingdom, just after the border town. He was in coma, a state in which he was alive but unconscious. So I possessed his body, and I would speak, move about a little, eat and do some light exercises so that his body doesn’t weaken.
But, the period of inactivity was far longer that I had thought. I had threatened the villagers into giving us a house. I conversed with them, and slowly they started to accept me and allowed me to work with them as well, allowing me to earn some change and food.
When Ray woke up about a year after, I told him some suitable lie, like I was a friend same age as him. Our parents died when the village was devastated by monsters. It was impossible to re-inhabit the place, so all adults went their own separate ways. He was shocked, so I took him with me, and kept him well with my skill. He believed me as well.
I used fear skill to keep him in control. I expressly forbade him from gaining experience in fighting. I hoped the villagers would slowly come to think of us as normal and he would live a peaceful life away from all the fighting.
But then, an adventurer came along, and by him telling all the stories of fighting, his desire was ignited. When I heard all about it, I ran towards Ray to prevent him from getting in touch with him, but it was too late. By the time, I reached there he was saying he wanted to be an adventurer. We quarreled. I beat down the adventurer guy. Though, his stats, physical ones, were definitely higher than mine, after strengthening my body, using some psychokinesis in coordination with my close combat arts and with my experience in fighting, he was done in pretty soon. Then I knocked down Ray as well.
When I asked him to change his mind, his responses saddened me. I wanted him to stay away from all these fighting. But, he didn’t change his mind.
“Death is certain. Even incarnations of Gods died in this world. I want to be an adventurer because I feel someone important to me was an adventurer. Besides, it doesn’t matter if you die, as long as you are chasing what you desire, even death will bring you happiness. What’s truly important is to make sure you die without regrets, and live with your all.”
When he said this, I was surprised. And a memory surfaced in my mind.
A younger Ray was sitting with a woman, whose face I could not see. He asked her with an almost crying face,
“Mom, why did you become an adventurer? Wouldn’t you have died if you made a mistake?”
The woman, who was his mother, looked into the distance, and answered after a short pause.
“Death is certain. Even incarnation of Gods died in this world. I became an adventurer because I wanted to be one. Besides, it doesn’t matter if you die, as long as you are chasing what you desire, even death will bring you happiness. What’s truly important is to make sure you die without regrets, and live with your all. Make sure you give your all in everything you do, okay?”
At this, Ray answered with a serious expression,
“Yes! I will become an adventurer too!”
“Why adventurer?”
“Because I want to be like you!”
The answer Ray gave was still in his subconscious. Even thought he had lost his memory, he did not forget them. Seeing this, a strange sense of pride overtook me, and after that an unending happy feeling. I giggled without a reason, and approved him.
“Fine. You can become one. But only if you fulfil my conditions.”
As I said, he showed a shocked expression. What? Did he think I would force him to do what I want? This brat. But I couldn’t bring myself to be angry at him. And soon, he too started laughing with me.
Brago130sf
At first, I was thinking that I would manage to write it without involving the fighting scenes, but soon found myself writing about the adventurer being beaten down. I know I like action scenes more, but still, I thought writing slow scenes would help pace the novel a little. Oh well, what's done is done. By the way, what do you think about slow scenes? Or this scenes is slow and I'm the weird one.
|
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"title": "The Boy of The Slums - Dreams and Dedication – Part 1",
"author": "Brago130sf",
"chapters": 20,
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"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
"Determined Protagonist",
"Different Social Status",
"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
"Fantasy World",
"Fast Learner",
"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
"Level System",
"Male Protagonist",
"Monster Tamer",
"Monsters",
"Multiple POV",
"Weak to Strong"
]
}
|
A town wreathed in flames. The sounds of moving footsteps were gradually dying down from various parts of the town, and converging to the centre of the town where the lord's house was present. Compared to the other houses of the town, the lord's house was made of proper bricks and had an iron fence surrounding it. However, when the Bandit army dealt with all of the guards and broke through the door, the lord was quickly captured.
The lord had put up a fight, but with little to no experience of fighting against a large number of humans, he was quickly cornered by the pair of Ron and Damian. Now, he was lying on the courtyard of his house, with his arms and legs cut off and a sword pointed at his neck. His breathing was ragged and his heart was beating so fast as if it wanted to break out of his chest. He had lost so much blood that the only way to save him would be by using the legendary medicine of elixir.
But, no matter how wishful one was being, there was no way for such a medicine to be present in this town, and even if it was, the bandits were no fools to give it to him. In his mind, he knew that there was no way for him to survive, and keeping up the struggle to hang on to an extinguishing life would only prolong his suffering. He could end that suffering by moving his head and plunging the sword held by Ron into his neck. However, he was a human as well, no matter how faint the life remaining in him was, as long as he was alive, he would want to stay alive.
This continued for some time, until all the bandits scattered around the town were gathered in the empty plot of land in front of the lord's house and he was declared dead.
Gradually, the atmosphere of battle changed to one of celebration. Ron and Damian, who had reached the lord's house first, had the right to all the liquor present in town. However, since they were only two, they decided to distribute it to all the people present there. On the condition that they will party and no one is allowed to take the liquor with them. The mood gradually changed to one of party, the bandits laughed and danced around a bonfire they had created.
And in this jolly mood, they were unaware that someone was watching them from the shadows.
It started when the bandits had shifted to a completely festive mood. 'It' came close to them, who were not paying attention to anything. Those who had fallen into intoxication, and now were lying on the ground unaware of their surroundings, were the first targets of 'its' attacks. 'It' used the knowledge of human body and fights it had from before, and plunged its intangible hands into the area beneath the muscles and skin of their necks. Then, by materialising the hands that were now enclosing the important and vulnerable organs of the human body, 'it' crushed them.
By crushing and tearing the spinal cord, the bandits' became paralysed, resulting in them being unable to even utter a sound. Then, by crushing the heart of the person using the same method, 'it' killed them. In the festive mood, no one noticed that those who had fallen down were not showing signs of any kinds of motion. Not even breathing. Slowly, without anyone noticing, the dead bodies kept increasing.
However, since the bandits usually drank like mad, no more bandits fell and remained alive. Now, 'it' began to use another method to kill them. From the bandits that were surrounding the bonfire as if in a circle, from different places, it began to target individuals. Those who were dancing and singing, were near the fire, and those who were only enjoying the drink with one or two of their companions, were away from the fire. 'It' began to target such people. By crushing their spinal cords like the people before, it would make them unable to even let out a sound, and then using psychokinesis, 'it' would drag them away from the surroundings, and kill them.
In this way, the bandits started disappearing from among the people. Some people noticed, but soon forgot it in the festivities. And the festival kept going. Among the crowd that was gathered, it was difficult to keep an eye on all of them without the use of something like a stage. The number of killed was steadily increasing but most of the bandits were unaware of it. As the midnight came close, the bonfire started to die down, and the bandits who had been dancing for hours started to tire as well. The alcohol was also running out because of being drunk by thousands of people.
In fact, the fact that the people had been able to keep drinking for a few hours was a testament to the quantity of the liquor. The light of the fire diminished from the surroundings, and the moonlight started to reach the ground. And then, the bandits noticed, the number of bandits standing was half the number of original bandits. When they looked on the ground, there were not many who had fallen down. Some who were still relatively conscious tried to wake them up, however, there was no sign of them waking up.
"H-Hey. These guys...T-They're not breathing..."
A silence spread through the group of bandits that were laughing and dancing moments before, a silence spread."T-The booze wasn't p-poisoned ...., right?". As someone muttered these words, their bodies started to break out in cold sweat at the instinctual fear of death.
"....N-No way, guys. I mean, look at them. They are only a little group of people. At most it will be four or five barrels that had gone bad. The rest are good, right? Right!?" As one bandit started to shout the reason he had thought of, the rest started to agree in desperation as if wanting to chase away the fear. However, somewhere in their minds, they knew. Even if the number of people lying dead on the ground is small, the number of people missing is far greater. And for all they knew, all of them could be dead.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
As the bandits were laughing, it happened. A bandit in the direction opposite to the town gate, flew backwards as if being dragged away by something at an incredible speed. His shreek was enough to make people look in that direction. And they saw him flying backwards on the main road of the town, and disappearing into an alley. Moments later, the sound of his crying vanished as if it never existed.
Once again, the venue was wrapped in silence, however, this time, there was a clear fear in the eyes of all those looking. Even the brave ones, like the leaders of groups, strong ones like Ron and Damian, were all looking around warily. Then, again and again, people started flying from different places. The bandits tried to turn towards the town gate to leave, however, the first bandit to have turned in that direction, suddenly stopped moving, along with a sound of their internal organs being crushed.
Then they saw 'it'. A woman of complete white was standing there. It had long white hair flowing upwards, a face without a mouth, and claws instead of hands, that were crushing the heart of the person. The eyes that were visible on its face did not have any pupils and looked as if they were looking at all of them. An instinctual fear dominated them, robbing them of their movement ability and they all stood there gazing at her. The woman swept her gaze over all of them once, and then disappeared as if she was never there.
Now, the bandits had realised that all the people that had died were killed because of her. They all pulled out their weapons and warily started looking around the surroundings.
|
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"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
"Determined Protagonist",
"Different Social Status",
"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
"Fantasy World",
"Fast Learner",
"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
"Level System",
"Male Protagonist",
"Monster Tamer",
"Monsters",
"Multiple POV",
"Weak to Strong"
]
}
|
Brago130sf
So, I was busy on an assignment of mine and didn't have much time for entertainment, so I opened Novelupdates and lokked at the recent translations. Among them, I caught sight of Atelier Tanaka. I thought it would be a good one, and read it. But man, it was a sad dose of reality. Especially for guys like me who don't have anything special. I didn't even read it to the latest chapter, just the starting eleven. But it was still overwhelming. Have you read it? Give me your reactions, and if you are planning to, give them to me afterwards. Here's your chapter.
The bandits were shaking in fear of the unknown. With their weapons out, they looked around them, in search of their enemy, however, all they could see were their companions and town turned into ash. The silence was almost deafening, and almost everyone was able to hear their own heart beating into their ears. Some had drunk too much, their bodies unable to even stand in their intoxication, and many were swaying like a grass in the wind.
They were the first to fall. There were no visible wounds on their bodies, they just fell down, as if overcome by a very deep sleep. However, everyone there knew, that they were not going to wake up again. The tension continued to rise in the air, and everyone stood there like a stone statue, waiting for someone to move. As the tension was rising, one bandit was about to run in the last gamble of his life, when he heard something.
"..d.....ren.....Guide those that have strayed from the path to yourself....."
It was a prayer directed to god. Specifically, it was a prayer that people usually sung when they prayed for the souls of their departed. There was not much to prayers of God, you just had to remember him, and you request may be granted. As he heard the low mumbling of the prayer, gradually, more and more voices continued to gather together and it became a chorus. He too, at some point, had started singing the prayer. While singing, he started running towards the gate, and seeing him, the others soon followed.
It was common sense that ghosts could be purified by prayers. It needed a dedicated priest, but there were more than a thousand people praying right now, even if they had never prayed before. It was possible that the ghost would be purified by the collective prayer. As the man was running, he suddenly fell down. On looking back instinctively, he saw that there were two stumps in the place where his legs should have been.
"Aaaa..AAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
He cried out, and saw that there were swords flying about in the air, cutting all of the people around him. Seeing this, a despair began to set in the man's heart, and soon a sword came and impaled him. But, he was not alone, all those who had felt that they could run away had the same despair in their hearts. The swords were cutting anyone who was near. When they were thinking about giving up, a voice called out to them.
"ALL OF YOU! FOCUS ON THE PRAYER IF YOU WANT TO LIVE!!"
It was one of the leaders that was shouting. And his voice filled people with a desire to live. Those who had seen him knew of his hardships. His face had been burned in a house fire, and he had been driven out of his village, but he survived and now was the leader of a decent bandit group. He usually covered his face with a mask so that his own people would not fear him in night. Under his orders, bandits began to pray more fervently that before.
"""OH GOD! WE ARE YOUR CHILDREN, OUR SOULS A PART OF YOU THAT SEEK TO RETURN! WE DO NOT KNOW GOOD, WE DO NOT KNOW EVIL! WE FOLLOW YOUR ORDERS, YOU ARE OUR LEADER! YOU DWELL IN US, YOU ARE THE DOER! ALL US SINNERS AND SAINTS BESEECH YOU! CALL US TO YOUR PLACE AND GUIDE THOSE WHO HAVE STRAYED!"""
The sounds of prayers began to rise, and gradually, the speed of the swords began to fall. Now it was possible to deflect them. Seeing this, the bandits grew more hopeful of their survival. Light started returning to the eyes of those who had despaired and some even joined their hands. Two such bandits were standing side by side in such a space. In front of them, the ghost appeared again. Seeing her, they flinched for a moment, but did not stop praying.
The ghost turned towards them, and looked at them with icy cold gaze. In the next moment, the ghost was in front of one of them, and it swung its arms. Its claws passed by in front of his eyes, but did not pierce him. In the next moment, there was blood on the side of his face. It was not his blood, but of the bandit standing on his side. However, he did something he should not have done. He stopped his prayer feeling death close to him, and the ghost possessed him.
A ghost or any malevolent spirit cannot possess someone praying, no matter how weak the prayer is. However, in front of the weak prayer, it can attack them. Now that the ghost had a body in mortal realm, the effect of prayer visibly weakened. What before was equivalent to needles piercing the skin repeatedly was now nothing more than a bedlam of noises.
The speed and accuracy of swords improved and more and more people started dying. Among the death cries of bandits, the shout of the leader resounded, "KILL THAT GUY! A DEAD POSSESSED BODY IS SAME AS NOT HAVING ONE!". At that shout, many of the bandits drew their swords and started charging towards the ghost's temporary body.
The ghost, which had been standing with his head down, looked ahead. The eyes, which showed that the person had been possessed had black sclera and a white pupil without irises. In the next instant, she disappeared.<<I'm using the ghost's gender, not the body's.>> No, she moved with speed untraceable by the eye. There was a vivid sound of bones breaking. When a bandit looked to his left, he saw that the ghost had kicked another man in his chest, breaking his ribs. And in the next instant, he was blown away.
The leg which had blown away a full grown person, came at him in a round house kick. In the next instant, blood and spit came out of his mouth, his teeth flew with his field of view shifting and he saw bandits standing there, facing towards him. All of them had there weapons drawn and a look of awe and fear on their faces. And after a few moments, his consciousness cut off. His head had been turned around with a kick.
She continued to kick and punch the nearby bandits. Some died in a few moments after getting hit in vulnerable places with overwhelming strength, and many became unable to fight due to serious internal injuries, waiting for their death. Only about one in ten people were able to stand back up after getting hit by her attack, but they too would go down in second or third. However, their attacks were not in vain. As she continued to fight, it took toll on the body.
The muscles ruptured, the bones broke. Soon after, the body hit its limits. As she looked around, she jumped at a nearby bandit. Punching him on the cheek with a reasonable strength, she stopped his prayers, and in the same moment she transferred to his body. The body might be suffering from a concussion, but with a little healing magic, it returned to normal and the dance continued. Changing bodies when they got too damaged to display overwhelming power, she continued to kill the bandits.
|
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"title": "The Boy of The Slums - Slaughter and Survival – Part 4",
"author": "Brago130sf",
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"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
"Determined Protagonist",
"Different Social Status",
"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
"Fantasy World",
"Fast Learner",
"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
"Level System",
"Male Protagonist",
"Monster Tamer",
"Monsters",
"Multiple POV",
"Weak to Strong"
]
}
|
Following Klaude, Ray arrived at their destination. The place of the boss. Although Ray was nervous, all things proceeded so smoothly that it left him a bit dissatisfied. He was ordered to do the same work as the other kids. And now, Klaude was leading him to the work area in the town. This was the first time he was entering the town after being separated from his mother, therefore, he was a bit afraid. Following after Klaude in the town, taking a number of turns they finally arrived at where the other kids were working. Ray saw there that the kids were using brushes to clean the drains and streets of the town.
⌈Hey! Why’ve your hands stopped working, hun?! And you, stop covering your nose and focus on work, we have to clean much more space so move your hands faster!⌋
A kid with brown hair was shouting orders at the other kids. Of course, he was Klan, the leader of the kids. Or perhaps, in the presence of Klaude, he should be called vice leader.
⌈Yo, Klan!⌋ (Klaude)
⌈Huh? Oh! Big Brother!⌋ (Klan)
Being called out by his big brother, Klan happily rushed over with a smile over his face, but when he saw Ray, his smile turned into a frown.
⌈Why is he here?⌋ (Klan)
It was clear from the look he is giving Ray and his manner of speaking that he did not like him very much, or rather, he did not like Ray at all. Seeing this,
⌈Now, now. Klan, boss has accepted him as a member of our community, so you should be nice to him. Besides, now that he is a member of our community, he will not harm you or any other for the time being. And also, you were short on hands somewhat after Shin went away, right?⌋ (Klaude)
Seeing Klan acting hostile, Klaude tried to smooth over the relationship between Klan and Ray, but seeing that the expression on Klna’s face did not soften very much, it was clear that it have little effect if any.
⌈He is going to work with you guys now, so you should teach him all the work. I have got some other work to do, therefore, you make sure to teach him all the work properly. And, pay special attention to be nice to him. Understand?⌋ (Klaude)
⌈…Altight.⌋ (Klan)
Although, Klan seemed a bit, no, very dissatisfied about it, he nodded for the time being. This showed just how much his big brother’s, Klaude’s, words mattered to him.
⌈Alright then, I’ll leave it to you. Don’t forget what I said.⌋ (Klaude)
Saying thus, Klaude went away waving his hand at Klan and other kids who in turn waved back at him.
⌈…Now, you, what did you say your name was?⌋ (Klan)
⌈R-Ray…⌋ (Ray)
After Klaude went away, Klan started talking with Ray with visible anger and irritation in his voice.
⌈Listen up, we have got three different works to do.⌋ (Klan)
⌈Um…⌋ (Ray)
⌈What? You’ve got something you want to ask?⌋ (Klan)
As Klan started explaining things, Ray seemed wanting to ask something with a hesitant expression.
⌈Y-Yes. I wanted to know about this kid called Shin…⌋ (Ray)
Seeing Ray ask about the kid Klaude had mentioned, Klan took on a pondering expression and said,
⌈Shin, huh? He was also a kid from slums and was also an orphan like most of the kids from our group. He used to be a good worker, but, for some time, he started shirking on his work. All the kids warned him, and even bid brother Klaude told him to properly focus on his work, but he did not listen to anyone. Then one day, he was sent with a caravan coming to deliver goods to boss. Most likely he was sold as a slave.⌋ (Klan)
⌈S-Slave…?!⌋ (Ray)
Hearing the word slave, Ray gasped. He did not expect the kids working here to be at the risk of turning into slaves, but, somewhere in his heart, he knew that in the slums, being forced to turn into a slave was not something very rare.
⌈Now that you’ve heard what might happen to you if you don’t work, I hope you’ll work with all your best. Now take this broom and clean the streets…..no, clean the drains and I’ll explain to you all the work we do while working. Get moving.⌋ (Klan)
Saying this Klan thrust out a broom to Ray. Taking the broom from his hands, Ray began to clean the drains. Smelling the stench coming from the drains, he grimaced, but remembering that the kids who did not work properly were sold as slaves, he steeled himself and started to diligently clean the drains. Seeing this, Klan nodded with a satisfied expression and started explaining the work to Ray.
⌈As I was saying, we do three kinds of work here. First, there is the work we are currently doing, cleaning of the town. This is an adventurer’s town, therefore, a lot of garbage gathers in the streets and drains during day and night, therefore, we clean the town everyday. You can say that this is the only stable work we’ve got. But since there are so many kids working on this job, what we get in return is hardly enough to feed all of us.⌋ (Klan)
Hearing the explanation that Klan gave all the while cleaning the street with the broom, Ray started wondering, “Just where did they get all that breakfast from, then?” Not paying heed to Ray, who had started losing himself in his thoughts, Klan continued his explanation indifferently.
⌈Then, next is baggage carriers. Although there are adventurers who work as supporters carrying other adventurer’s belongings and loots, sometimes, there are not enough supporters to go around, therefore, some adventurers employ one of us kids to take along on a relatively safe job so that we can carry their stuff. This job is semi stable as the offer to become baggage carriers comes in usually once or twice a week and the pay is also better than this cleaning job. But you won’t get to spend that money on yourself, it will go towards buying food and necessities towards the group. But it is also a risky job to take if you are not a member of a group like ours as there is a likelihood that the adventurers will sell you as a slave.⌋ (Klan)
Hearing this Ray once again became afraid and relived at once. Afraid that if he takes the job of a baggage carrier, there is a risk that he might be sold off as a slave and relieved that he made the right decision joining with them. Of course, there was the risk of being sold with this group as well, but it was only if he did not work properly. Klan, as he was working, moved a little closer to Ray, and started speaking in a low voice so that only Ray could hear.
⌈Next is the job which brings most of the money. Once a month, a caravan comes into the town to provide some stuff to boss. That stuff is delivered to various places in the town by us. This work is done throughout the month by different kids at different places. They are probably using us to deliver something illegal. Once a kid was caught delivering that stuff by guards and he was beaten black and blue, while the client ran away seeing the guards.⌋ (Klan)
Ray did not understand why Klan had started talking in a low voice, and what illegal meant, but he understood that if he were to be caught with whatever was being delivered by guards, he would be beaten. This was enough for him to decide that he would never get caught by the guards while delivering that thing.
⌈Alright, now that all the garbage here has been gathered, Ray, put this garbage into this bag and you, Gren, take him with you to the garbage disposing site. Remember the path properly Ray, you are going to be carrying this garbage. After dumping this, come to the next street. Disposing of the garbage is going to be your duty from now on. And while you are present at cleaning site, clean the drains.⌋ (Klan)
As he said this, Klan had a mischievous grin on his face. Seeing this Ray understood that his days with this group are going to be filled with a lot of stench and labor.
⌈O-Okay.⌋ (Ray)
<Hey guys, this marks the end of the biggest problem Ray had faced. Of course, I'm talking about how those in slums do not have protection, no guarantee of food and the like. Now then, I would very much like your reviews on the story and the way I'm writing it. Please rate the story and comment on it. I would really appreciate your reactions. Thank you in advance!>
|
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"title": "The Boy of The Slums - Children, Work and Delivery – Part 2",
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"chapters": 20,
"rating": 4.2,
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"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
"Determined Protagonist",
"Different Social Status",
"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
"Fantasy World",
"Fast Learner",
"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
"Level System",
"Male Protagonist",
"Monster Tamer",
"Monsters",
"Multiple POV",
"Weak to Strong"
]
}
|
Everything was going well for Lunis. She was working as an adventurer magician. To make it rich quick she would sometimes take slightly risky jobs however that doesn't make much difference when your profession puts your life on the line everyday. She knew how many dangers adventuring had along with opportunities, but she believed in herself.
And why wouldn't she, she was an intermediate class healing magician, a C rank adventurer and her luck can be said to be very good as well considering she usually got good pays and her luck had saved her many times from situations which could turn life threatening and which had turned life threatening alike. When she became 23 years old she met a good man named Clive, an adventurer swordsman, fell in love with him, and they married and settled into a village far away from the bustle of cities. When she got pregnant, she retired from being an adventurer and settled down in the village completely.
But as it is said, all good things must come to an end, her life began to take a turn for the worse as well. On the day of the childbirth, an abrupt heavy rain occurred which resulted in Clive, who had gone to hunt some monsters near the village losing his footing and losing his life in a fight. Things did not end here, Lunis's son, Ray, which was born on the same day as his father's death, came to be known as a cursed child who ate his father's life. Lunis did not believe this, she started working in the fields to feed her family of two, but she did not know her own life was nearing an end.
At the fifth birthday of Ray, the village was covered in excitement as people came out of their houses and looked up at the sky. When Lunis came out with Ray and looked in the direction the villagers were looking into she saw something she could not believe - a dragon. It had a gigantic body, strong claws and fangs, and the way it flew into the sky while radiating that overpowering presence, it truly looked majestic. When the dragon got close to the village, it lowered its altitude and looked at a certain person - her own son Ray. People were already stiff from seeing the dragon up close, but that all changed soon after. The dragon raised it's head and fired a breath into the sky after which it disappeared.
But that was the least of people's worries as from the sky were now raining fireballs, massive fireballs. They burned everything, and everyone as well. Lunis took her son and ran towards the town, getting injured in the process and died at the town gates.
"How long has it been?", thought Ray to himself as he dragged himself from the streets of slums. Having neither properly eaten nor slept for four days he was experiencing a hellish hunger and tiredness.
When he first came to this town, his mother died. He cried and wandered on the town streets but that changed as soon as night came. The guards looked after him some then threw him in the slums as no one came looking for him.
From there he did not know how long he cried. He sat in a relatively clean place placing his back against the wall and cried again.
But his sobbing was interrupted by a kick delivered to his side by a boy of about 10 years of age. Having lost his place to sit, the boy wandered around the slums in search of food. He scavenged the garbage and found a rotten apple.
He hesitated to eat it as his mother said not to eat rotten things, losing to the hunger, he had only eaten a bite out of it and the next instant, the apple was gone.
The source of it was a skinny man who had taken it from him. Being afraid he would be kicked again, Ray did not say anything, trembling in fear, and the man walked away.
The process repeated itself over days and now Ray was so hungry, he was willing to eat anything as long as it was edible. This day too came to and end without him being able to eat properly.
When he was dragging his feet in one of the streets, in one of the particularly dark streets, he saw a bald, muscular man wearing a vest and pants threatening another man with a sword.
The man being threatened was a middle aged man who did not look special in any meaning, having brown hair and eyes wearing common clothes. But, in front of the big bald man, he was cowering in fear, as the bald man moved his sword closer to his throat and said,
⌈So, are ya gonna gimme what I'm asking er not?⌋ (Bald man)
⌈P-p-please, I-I-I don't have any more money to give you! Just let me go!⌋ (Common man)
⌈I'know, there was this alchemist who said he needed a pair of human eyes, so why don'e give'im what he's lookin for? Whaddya say?⌋
⌈P-p-p-p-please! Believe me! I do not have any more money to give you!⌋
⌈Y'know pal, I can check that out for myself once I've killed you. And this is slums, the slums. No one's gonna come look for a shitty merchant like you. Give it up, not like I'm askin you to hand over aaaaalllll the money you've got. Just gimme half of it and we're set. Or maybe you don't like you movin on your own legs?⌋ (Bald man)
⌈...Fine! But please put that thing away first!⌋ (Common man)
Once the man had given in, the bald man puts down his sword and moves back a little still not sheathing it. The common man, or rather the merchant takes out money from a pocket on the inner side of his shirt and hands half of it to the bald man. Once he has confirmed the money he received, the bald man gives a sinister smile.
⌈Omg, you've got more than I was imagining, guess nothing I can do'bout it.⌋ (Bald man)
⌈Can I go now?⌋ (Merchant)
The merchant asked hesitantly, to which the bald man nodded.
But as the merchant was leaving, another figure appeared seemingly out of nowhere and blocked his way. The figure was clad in complete black while also wearing a black mask and was holding a shortsword in one of his hands.
⌈Now give me the remaining half.⌋ (Black man)
⌈Huh?⌋ (Merchant)
For a moment the merchant did not understand what had happened, the next, he was slashed in the throat.
⌈u-u-uh.....⌋ (Merchant)
The Merchant could not even let out a scream, let alone meaningful sounds as blood flowed from his throat and he died just like that.
Ray could not even let out his voice at the spectacle before him. The Black man took the money from the dead Merchant and started walking away with the Bald man.
⌈That was a nice game⌋ (Bald man)
The Black man did not reply as he kept walking. But soon he stopped in his tracks seeing Ray. The Bald man followed his line of sight and saw him as well. They walked closer to him and stood towering in front of him.
They looked like demons of hell to Ray who was only a five year old boy.
|
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"id": "10594",
"q": 0.7690909090909092,
"title": "The Boy of The Slums - Advice, Temptation and Fall – Part 1",
"author": "Brago130sf",
"chapters": 20,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 6,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adventure",
"Fantasy",
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"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
"Determined Protagonist",
"Different Social Status",
"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
"Fantasy World",
"Fast Learner",
"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
"Level System",
"Male Protagonist",
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|
I was quietly hiding behind a bush. When they reached near the wall, they threw ropes with one of their ends attacked to a hook on it. Specifically, two ropes. The ropes were thrown side by side, and when they confirmed that the hook has attached itself to the wall, they began climbing it. Two at a time, the people on the outer side of the town moved inside. When about ten people have crossed over the wall, I started hearing the screams of the residents. It seems that they have started their attack. I was overcome with an urge to rush at that moment, but somehow I held myself back. It would have been over for me if I attacked recklessly. I waited for my chance.
The people waiting on this side of the wall started moving quickly. There was impatience in their movements. However, it was not the king of impatience I was feeling. If I had to guess, it was similar to the impatience of the child whose friends were playing games near him but he could not play with them for whatever reason. The rate at which people were crossing over the walls increased. I moved closer to them. They were not even paying attention to their surroundings. Only waiting for their chance to come, so that they can enter the town. When about fifty people have crossed over, I noticed that now there were sounds of weapon clashing as well mixed in among the screams. When I looked to the walls, there was light coming from above them. It was a light that was impossible to be created unless there was a big fire on the other side of the walls.
Gradually, the people on this side of the wall were reduced to only four. Two of them started climbing the rope. I tightened my grip on the dagger in my hand, steadied my breathing. Now, there were only two people on this side of the wall, and they had started climbing too.
I resolved myself and rushed out from behind the bush. The two of them were about two feet above the ground. I ran towards them with all my might, and as I was nearing them, I decided to attack the one hanging from the left rope. They seemed to notice me, but it was too late. I was close enough to them to attack,
"Huh?....AAAAAHHHH!"
I sliced at the knee pit, and there was a spurt of blood as the man cried out and fell to the ground on his back. I did not hesitate as I moved closer to him and stabbed the dagger in his neck. The man struggled for a while before his breathing came to a stop. I pulled the dagger out of his neck, and stood there in a stance.
I killed someone. I actually killed someone. I killed someone for the first time. No, well that's not right. I had killed before this. But this is the first time I killed someone while not in a rush. As I was standing there basking in the emotions, I suddenly felt a chill. It was an instinctive action, I rolled to the side. And just as I rolled away, a sword passed through where I had been standing before.
I looked up from my crouching position and saw that the other man who had been hanging was standing there with his sword out. My body was feeling tired, perhaps because of having moved in extreme nervousness. It was only then that I noticed that the man I thought dead was actually breathing. Although it was very faint, I was certain of it.
The other man swung his sword again at me. This time I retreated back.
A downward slash from my left, I dodged left, a horizontal swipe at my neck, I ducked. This game of tag continued for a while, but slowly as if losing his patience, the man tried to kick me. This time, I did not try to dodge his attack by moving out of the way.
I stepped forward, and just as his knee was about to hit me, I moved just enough to avoid getting hit. Then, the man put down his leg, bringing down the sword he had raised overhead, however, I had already moved in, he could not swing his sword as freely as he had before. The sword missed its mark and I got struck on my shoulder with his forearm.
Apparently, the man was irritated by this, and tried to elbow me in the neck, however, before he could, I moved the dagger in my right hand to a backhand grip and slashed at his stomach. I felt the dagger in my hand digging into his stomach, the feeling of cutting through flesh filled my hand. This time I felt it clearly, not having lost my mind in the trepidation. And all of a sudden, all the hesitation, all the aversion that I had in my mind to kill a fellow human, was lost.
The man too lost his strength, and his elbow which was meant to be an attack to knock me down, came down a little harder than a tap. In the next instant, blood started coming out of his mouth. His face was distorted in pain, and he was looking at me in hatred. However, surprisingly, I did not feel anything even when I looked into his eyes, except for pity. Pity for him, because he was suffering in unimaginable pain. My head started to calm down from the excitement of the battle, my breathing slowly returned to normal.
cough, cough.
The man started coughing up blood, and in the face of that excruciating pain he must be feeling, even the hatred in his eyes was gone. He was just there, waiting for his own death in fear. I moved, and with the same dagger I used to cut his belly, I sliced open his neck. In that instant, the light of life extinguished from his eyes.
Seeing his body fall to the ground lifelessly, I turned my eyes to the other man, who was lying there looking at me in fear. I moved, and crushed his neck under my foot. The result - he died. I think his other arteries were cut by the bone in his neck.
Once I had seen a slime, and my mother had killed it instantly. Of course it would die instantly. She crushed its core with her bare hands. That day she told me that all living things had at least one important organ needed to support its body. For the slime, which was one of the simplest life forms, it was his nucleus. As the body structure got complicated, these organs increased in number. And of course, the became more vulnerable as well.
For a human body which was one of the most complicated, these organs would be their intestines, kidneys, heart, neck, blood, brain and the like. Even if only one of them was damaged or removed, it will become nigh impossible to survive for even a complete minute.
I stood there silently for a while, listening to the announcements of level up that were going on in my head. When they calmed down, I noticed that on level up, something would come gushing out of my body, and once I had grasped that feeling, I could feel it flowing through my body, although very faintly. And I knew what it was.
It was warm, it was rejuvenating, all the fatigue I had felt from fighting with my life on the line, all the tension in my body and mind, every single bit of it was gone. I could feel it filling me with energy. I could feel it flowing through every part of my body, as if it was competing with the blood in my body to see which one is faster. Once I grasped this feeling, I could feel almost every corner of my body. It was mana, which I was oblivious to until now.
In my feeling of high, I climbed over the wall in a hurry. Hurry to find people to kill so that I could feel that amazing sensation again. I wanted to level up. I wanted to feel that again. I wanted to drown myself in that feeling. However, once atop the wall, I froze. In front of me, there was the town, a part of it burning. The clashing of weapons and cries of people roused myself from my euphoria. The light coming from burning houses showed me the reality.
And among those sounds, I heard the sound of footsteps. They were like a drum, a drum being beaten by someone gone mad. I turned to face in that direction, still in disbelief at what was happening. What I was there was, people, weapons, torches. A massive number of people with weapons in hands and torches lighting the way in the night were coming towards here.
They were raising cries to increase their morale, and their march was like a storm. It felt like one of the stories of war I had heard from the elders in our village had come to life in front of me. I saw it, the enemies heading towards us in large numbers. When I looked around inside the town, I saw that some of the soldiers were here. However, they were engaged in a struggle against the few enemies who had infiltrated the town.
Seeing this, I was certain that there was no way that this town would survive against the people who were coming. There were just too many of them. And I made my decision. With Klan, I will get out of here. Staying here would be suicidal. There was no way to survive if I tried to fight them. If there were only these hundred who had infiltrated the town, I could, maybe after losing a hand or two, survive. But not against this many. So I got down from the wall and shouted for Klan.
There was no reply. Or rather even if there was, it was highly unlikely for me to have heard it. The surrounding noise was just too much. I ran inside the town looking for him. There were some people who got in my way, but I dealt with them. With an increased level, it was not too much trouble. And when I turned another corner, I saw him.
|
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"title": "The Boy of The Slums - The War of End – Part 4",
"author": "Brago130sf",
"chapters": 20,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 6,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adventure",
"Fantasy",
"Harem",
"Seinen",
"Supernatural",
"Tragedy"
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"Absent Parents",
"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
"Determined Protagonist",
"Different Social Status",
"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
"Fantasy World",
"Fast Learner",
"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
"Level System",
"Male Protagonist",
"Monster Tamer",
"Monsters",
"Multiple POV",
"Weak to Strong"
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}
|
In front of the old a boy who was speaking in managing voice, Ray felt afraid. He felt that he could not win against him, whether he had a weapon or not.
The boy continued to speak in the same tone,
⌈Who are you? And why are you bothering these kids? Didn't your parents teach you it's bad manners to fight others?⌋ (Older boy)
Being questioned like this by someone with enough authority to quiet down the surrounding kids, Ray took on a meek attitude and spoke timidly,
⌈M-My name is Ray. I was asking for food from him, but he said only members of their group could get it.......⌋ (Ray)
And at the end of the sentence his voice became so small that it was barely audible. But from the contents he had said anyone who had seen even a little bit of what happened before could get the general idea.
⌈So you decided to threaten him to give you food huh. Are you new in the slums or are you stupid for trying to pick a fight with us? Don't you know it could have gotten you in big danger?⌋ (Older boy)
To this question of the older boy, the guilt in Ray's heart for using violence began to set even deeper. Feeling regretful for his doings he spoke in a sorrowful voice,
⌈I-I did not have a choice. I haven't eaten properly for days and he wouldn't give food to anyone who wasn't a member,....so, I did what I did.⌋ (Ray)
After saying this, Ray looked in front of himself and found that the older boy was glaring at him with such seriousness in his eyes that you'd think he was going to beat the boy very seriously. In front of him, Ray could do nothing but look down. For some time, the silence between them continued, and as if hitting upon an idea, Ray spoke with some expectation in his voice,
⌈You're their big brother, right? So, could you please make me a member of their group?⌋ (Ray)
His face was full of uncertainty as he asked this of the boy, but, still carrying some hope in his heart, he went on with his question. For a while, the boy continued to watch Ray and the other kids, as if looking for something very important, then, he spoke to the brown haired kid who was still hiding behind him,
⌈........Klan, all of the kids seem to have eaten their breads. Take them all and go to your work, I will see what to do with him.⌋ (Older boy)
At his order, the brown haired kid, apparently called Klan, began to gather all the kids,
⌈Hey, you heard big brother! Leave the brat alone and move to work! Let's go!⌋ (Klan)
and went away with them. Though Ray did not know the streets of the slums too well, he could tell they were going towards the town. Once everyone has left and they were alone, the boy began to observe Ray once again, and after a little while spoke to him,
⌈.........You really wanna become one of us? You know you're gonna have to work and do a lot of other stuff? And even if I decide to approve you, it's the boss who decides who becomes a member.⌋ (Older boy)
Ray did not know what this other stuff that the boy was talking about was, but he figured, if other kids could do the work then he could as well. Therefore, he decided that it would not be harmful for him to become a member of this group if he could secure some food. Hence he asked the boy,
⌈Then take me to your boss, please. I really want to become a member of your group.⌋ (Ray)
The boy nodded his head and began walking after saying, "Follow me", to Ray. As they walked in the complex, disordered streets and alleys of the slums, the boy began to talk to Ray.
⌈By the way, my name is Klaude. And I'm the one you have to meet if any kid is to become a member. I also recommend kids I find valuable to become members to boss.⌋ (Klaude)
The older boy, Klaude, introduced himself and began to ask Ray about himself,
⌈You said your name was Ray? I haven't seen you around in the slums much. Are you really new here?⌋ (Klaude)
⌈Y-Yes. I came here, a few days ago...⌋ (Ray)
As Ray told this to Klaude, he had a sad expression on his face. Seeing this Klaude understood that he had some circumstances that were really bad even from his perspective that forced this boy to come into slums. He understood that life here would be hard on him, especially since seeing Ray's expression when he talked about coming to slums, it was clear that he had experienced a life outside the slums.
⌈I'm not gonna ask what happened as it's none of my business, but there are a few rules you have to follow if you are to live in these slums.⌋ (Klaude)
Perhaps, Klaude began to feel sorry for Ray seeing his expression as he began to talk about some things which would definitely make his life easier in slums.
⌈First of all, there are some people you should never antagonise. One of them is our boss, though there is little chance for you to antagonise him considering he never leaves his base. Second are the thugs and robbers which a kid like you could never win against. And third are the guards and officials that come here sometimes to get some extra money from those people.⌋ (Klaude)
⌈What's ant ago nice?⌋ (Ray)
Perhaps, the word was a little too advanced for him to understand as Ray asked Klaude to make himself clear. Seeing this Ray understood one more thing about Ray, that this kid was not from a family that had something like a family business. He deduced that he was either the son of an adventurer or a group of criminals from other town who died or perhaps some sleazebag commoners who abandoned their son in the slums. However, even if he were to ask this of Ray, there was a very little chance he would get an answer, hence he decided to not pursue the matter regarding his parents and answered after thinking a little while.
⌈........It's not ant ago nice, it's antagonise. It means to anger someone. So you shouldn't anger these people. Regarding the boss, you will meet him soon so memorise his face well and, as for robbers and thugs, they are people with weapons. The same can be said about guards. Usually they come in their uniforms, but even when they don't come wearing their uniforms, it doesn't change the fact that you should away people carrying weapons.⌋ (Klaude)
Hearing Klaude, Ray remembered the bald man carrying sword and the black man carrying short sword from last night. He thought that perhaps he had done something wrong, but decided against voicing it and keeping away from weapon carrying people from now on. Unaware of what was going in Ray's head, Klaude continued on with his explanation,
⌈Now there are places you should not visit either. They are usually back alleys which are relatively close to the town streets as they are place where hoodlums gather. You can pass by them but try to avoid passing by them or going near them as much as possible especially in evening and night. Even if you see something going on in such streets, ignore them and move on. Don't stand there gawking at it.⌋ (Klaude)
Hearing Klaude, Ray once again felt that he had done something wrong. His face took on a weird expression, with his eyes wide and his lips pursed tight in a straight line. Klaude saw this and asked, "What's wrong?", but Ray shook his head in such a flurry that it seemed as if it might fall off. Seeing this Klaude decided to leave this matter be and continued on,
⌈Now there are place or rather territories you can and cannot go. The slums are basically divided into two territories. The first is the outside areas of the slums which are closer to town streets. We've been walking through this area for a while now. Second is the territory of Boss and hoodlums. It is the inside are of the slums and you are to not enter this area on your own. If you get selected as a member and boss calls you, then I'll come to get you and you'll accompany me there just like today. Understand?⌋ (Klaude)
Ray nodded his head. Seeing his face which still had that weird expression on, Klaude could not tell whether he had understood or not, but he decided to believe in the boy's answer.
⌈Now, we've entered the boss's territory. Keep your head down in front of the boss and don't let out a sound. I'll talk to him about you. Got it?⌋ (Klaude)
At his question, Ray felt tense and nervously, nodded his head.
<So here was another part of Rules, territory and prohibitions, a chapter of the boy of the slums. Please write your reactions about the story and my writing method in the comments. I will try to make any improvements you suggest. Your reactions and inputs are greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!>
|
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"series": "10590",
"id": "10874",
"q": 0.7690909090909092,
"title": "The Boy of The Slums - Rules, Territory and Prohibitions – Part 2",
"author": "Brago130sf",
"chapters": 20,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 6,
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"Action",
"Adventure",
"Fantasy",
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"Seinen",
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"Absent Parents",
"Adventurers",
"Age Progression",
"Alchemy",
"Beastkin",
"Betrayal",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demi-Humans",
"Depictions of Cruelty",
"Determined Protagonist",
"Different Social Status",
"Discrimination",
"Dragons",
"Dungeon Master",
"Eye Powers",
"Fantasy World",
"Fast Learner",
"Flashbacks",
"Harsh Training",
"Level System",
"Male Protagonist",
"Monster Tamer",
"Monsters",
"Multiple POV",
"Weak to Strong"
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|
Seventh house operates in all the empire present in this continent.Their member are all adept in assassination and forgery.
Earlier, killing Darius was necessary.
Darius was actually double agent. He his true employer was captain himself. Now question might arise why would he curse captain and show hate.
It was not staged at all. In truth, he really liked Sera.
Now why would captain tolerate it?
It was Darius himself who proposed this idea which killed two birds. First to openly show is dissatisfaction and second to check if anyone is plotting against captain. No one is to be trusted in this world after all.
That’s why Arvan said he want to kill captain. Which is why Darius lowered his guard and activated the necklace to see what Arvan’s plan was.
And for why would he believe his story of seventh house was due to him being supplier.
Because all supplies for thief are manufactured by seventh house and each supplier has their own connection with seventh house.
Soon Arvan reached to the exit from the unexplored region.
“By how smart captain is, he must have concluded that I have betrayed. Even if I did not he was still going to kill me anyway.”
Pungent smell of sewer once again entered Arvan’s nostril. The surrounding was enveloped in darkness. Arvan’s eyesight were affected. He took out a torch from his pouch and ignited it.
The yellowish flame illuminated the surrounding upto 10 meter.
“The path was supposed to be this way.”
Not long enough, Arvan had arrived to entrance of the dungeon. The hidden entrance.
Which stood in front of him was an empty wall. He was 30 meter deep below the city. He walked right through the wall. Suddenly his vision darkened.
…..
When both returned to the resting place they discovered two of their members were missing.
Captain frowned and asked, “Where’s Arvan?”
He did not ask about Darius since he knew what he was about to do.
“He went after Darius after you.. both left.” The one who answered was Noah because neither Joseph nor linley appeared to answer.
“Well, we can’t wait for them let’s move.”
“But what about-“
“Let’s go, I’m sick of resting.” Joseph said.
“But-“
“You are free to leave.” Joseph said being annoyed by his behaviour.
Noah shut his mouth. He knew he can’t be always like this. There were siblings at his home which he needed to support and he didn’t want to lose this god-given opportunity.
He muttered sorry under in breath and said, “OK, let’s go.”
......
The team closely followed captain.
The surrounding underwent major change from smelly underground to thick dark foliage.
“This..” Even linley was surprised who rarely spoke.
“Don’t be distracted by such things. There are no marks of human footsteps, so this place is only known by us.” Captain said.
“And monsters.” Added Joseph while looking at the large footmarks.
The walls were fully covered in foliage with strange unknown bushes which the group didn’t dared to come in close contact with.
“Stop!”
The group paused.
“What happened?”
Joseph took a deep breath and said, “Look at the floor, the marks of monsters had suddenly disappeared from there.”
The place he pointed was just few centimeters before captain.
Captain too realized it and nodded at Joseph.
The surrounding suddenly dropped in few degrees of temperature. The eerie wind blew from behind. Unknowingly, the group discovered they were trembling.
“kekekekeke…”
Strange evil laughter rang out. No one was sure of its origin. It felt like it had rung just beside Their ear.
“W-what was that?”
Noah said whilet trembling in fear.
No one replied to this question. After none were sure of what it was, Even Sera was trembling. Only one was was still unfazed by this was Linley.
Captain gulped his saliva and took his dagger out.
Not just him but everyone did the same. The laughter from earlier had took all the excitement away from them.
Captain didn’t wanted to return back empty handed. So he said while gritting his teeth, “let’s continue.”
“B-But that thing from earlier.” Noah started.
“Shut up and do as I say.”
The group moved forward.
Unbeknownst to them, the temperature was falling down the more the moved forward.
The other thing to be noticed was that a strange variety of vines had started appearing. Something about ithe was strange which not even Joseph noticed who was the key observer to the group.
Susssh!
Strange wind suddenly passed touching each of them. They shivered.. not from cold but from that Aura which the wind carried.
“Something is up ahead. Something dangerous.”
“I feel it too.”
“I’ll check wait here.” Captain said.
No one voiced Their displeasure, they needed someone to check out the front. Since captain himself was willing no one voiced complain. In fact, they were not in the position to do so.
Captain activated his skill stealth and went forward leaving the group behind. Not long after he saw an entrance to something which looked like cave.
Suddenly a quick wind flew and put out the flame from the torch.
The darkness quickly enveloped the surrounding and strange hissing sound rang out.
“Dammit!” He quickly torched another light.
The surrounding was once again bright to some extent.
He felt something was off. When he looked back he discovered that the path he came from had disappeared.
“What the..” His heart beat became faster.
What’s going on..?
He checked to see their was any illusion or formation but the results were same there was no way out.
His heart tensed. The temperature was dropping at faster rate.
Suddenly the yellowish flame turned pale blue.
“Kekekekeke…”
The evil laughter rang once again.
Beads of sweat formed from captain’s forehead.
Unlike before it appeared to have rang from behind him. He was hesitating to look behind.
“Ahaaaaa!!!”
He suddenly felt someone touch him from behind. When he looked back there was no soul.
“Was it my delusion?”
He felt pain from the part where he was touched. When he uncovered his clothing he discovered a darkblue hand mark on his waist.
He gulped.
Krik.. kriK.. krisk.
A noise started ringing.
When he looked front.
A ghastly bluish figure was before him. It raised it’s hand and suddenly jumped towards captain!
Meanwhile back within the group.
Sera said, “He is late.”
“He must have found something and was in the process of clearing it out.” Joseph sneered.
“I don’t believe it!” Sera snapped.
“Even if you protect him it doesn’t change what his personality is.” Joseph rebuked.
“Guys, we shouldn’t fight among ourselves.”
“This isn’t a fight!”
That’s when a loud screams rang out.
“Aaahhhhhhhhh!!”
“What was that?”
“Something must havery happened to the captain. Let’s go and save him.”
“Wait!”
Joseph said.
“What now?” Sera asked in displeasure.
“What if there is something which we can’t handle. I don’t want to risk my life for naught.”
“Y-You…” Sera became flustered.
“We shouldn’t show discord among ourselves.” Noah tried to retain some team work.
“Ahhhhhhhhhh!”
Another scream rang out.
“Fine. I’m going alone.”
After saying that she left.
Noah became confused whom to follow. Linley and Joseph were staying here. Ultimately he decided to follow Sera.
“Wait for me!” He ran while saying.
After both disappeared.
Joseph said, “Why are you staying here?”
Linley who had only spoken twice looked at Joseph and smiled.
“Why do thing?”
The smile became sinister.
Joseph’s lips alook turned into evil smile.
..
Within darkness Arvan was not able to sense anything.
Slowly his vision returned and what he saw was...
|
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|
Ziph was awakened by the shining sun through a hole in the wall. When he made his way outside he was greeted by the Guide from yesterday.
“Lord, Morning!” She bowed as he released a yawn.
“I never got your name. I’m Ziph.”
“My name is Phlora, Lord.” She hadn’t raised her head.
“Raise your head. Talking like this is unbefitting.” At his request, she raised her head and stared him in the eyes.
Ziph flinch but he quickly retracted the motion and returned to his expressionless self.
“Leader Arun would like to continue the discussion from last night.” She informed a bright smile across her face.
“Lead the way.” At his answer, she brought him back to the Arun’s manor, the same one as last night.
At their entrance, they were greeted with a table filled with natural vegetables and no forms of meat.
A fact that depressed Ziph but knew this to be normal for Elves in 90% of writings. If they had instead a table of different meats he would have been more shocked than the current predicament.
Over the meal they didn’t talk the first words only being spoken after Ziph finished eating.
“What information can you tell me about the situation, here.” Ziph questioned, full from the feast.
“Phlora will guide you to the Cave of Trials.” There was no explanation needed following this right now. Ziph knew the trial was placed there by Maseal. It would likely test his Will, Courage, and Mind.
‘A complete cliché.’ He groaned to himself.
“Thank you for the guidance.” He bowed to Phlora.
“Don’t bow to me Lord! It is my duty to guide you.” She was flustered by Ziph’s actions.
‘A complete cliché.’ He groaned again.
The trip to the cave was calm as himself Phlora traveled in silence. There wasn’t anything for Ziph to ask and Phlora wasn’t going to force a conversation.
The overall trip was less than 20 minutes and was directly north of the village entrance.
“Good luck, Lord.” She wished as she bid him farewell into the dungeon. He returned her wish with a smile and a wave.
The entrance to the cave was nothing special with a torch off to his left that Ziph took as he walked inside.
He walked in a straight line constantly on alert for something to happen.
Further and further into the cave he walked with their being no change to anything in the cave. Finding it suspicious he took the torch and made a burn mark on the wall. Hugging that same wall, he continues to walk down the path. After another period of time he saw that same burn mark.
He made another lap while watching the ceiling for any short of markings, nothing.
Watching his feet for anything out of place, nothing.
Watching the other wall, nothing.
Finding nothing through the minimum of five laps, he stood in place to try and understand what this could be testing. Only other choice was to travel to the entrance. He didn’t get back there though, there to his left was the burn mark.
There wasn’t anything else for him to test. What could this trial even be testing? If he had that idea, he could begin to cut off more options on what they expected.
With there being no visible changes to the room besides the one he made, meant the complication of the trial was related to his actions. With the torch in hand he traveled ten steps forward, and tried to make a mark, it failed. The stone wall didn’t darken no matter how long he held the torch there. So, he walked backwards to where he made the other make. But after 10 steps he didn’t see the mark, 15, 20, 30, after that he stopped counting.
This was all too strange, this wasn’t just a repeating hallway, there was something more to this. It wasn’t until awhile later that he found the burn mark. Holding the torch, a little to the left of it, he found he couldn’t make another mark in the wall. What this meant he didn’t know.
Walking around aimlessly wasn’t going to help, so he took a seat trying to think what was expected of him. Only one spot on the wall could be marked and this wasn’t actually a hallway but somehow changes based on how he walks.
“What could this mean?” He looked on the floor, ceiling, and both walls to see if there was any other sort of anomaly that would point towards this single spot being different. What made this single sport burnable?
There was nothing, there was nothing that pointed towards this being a special point.
He stood back up and walked 10 steps to the left, and then walked 10 steps back to where he started. On the wall was no burn mark as expected, so he put his torch along the wall waiting to see if it would burn. It didn’t initially so he reached left and right to see if he was within margin of error. There at the edge of his wingspan the wall turned darker. This single spot was special.
“What does this information give me though? Am I meant to walk forward and back 10 steps constantly marking this same spot in the wall? What does that prove though? Nothing. This whole thing proves nothing.”
He looked around and noticed “Lightning” written on the ceiling. This on the own didn’t mean anything but he made the note to remember as it will likely matter.
He repeated this same process but found it didn’t work a second time. And as he walked down further he found himself back at where he started. Back at the beginning place of the burn mark without the word lightning on the ceiling.
|
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|
My head felt heavy. Perhaps from all those earlier thoughts which I had been going on for days. Nothing is same. I didnt even do anything to change the progression.
The one whom my family had.. Or supposed to have had enmity against are our close friends.
How is this possible?
I can't rely on those memories. I hope that everything will be fine on the academy, every event which are supposed to happen.
"Your highness, the carriage is ready."
the princess looked at her maid, her bestie and said "Drop the formality no one is here anyway."
"But your highness-"
My stern look probably stopped her. When we were about to leave. She started,
"Uh.. Uh.."
"What is it Demi?" I saw some struggle within her eyes. "If you are not okay to say then its fine. There's plenty of time ahead."
Demi gave up her reluctance and said,
"There's news from empire that your fiance had disappeared."
I stopped for a moment. Then spoke, "Really?"
Demi threw a weird looked at me and sighed speaking, "It seems your happy to hear this news. But you should atleast show some emotion other than that smirk."
I narrowed my eyes and spoke
"Look the one who is speaking."
【 status! 】
【 Name : Demi Rosanne.
lvl : 16
Condition : Healthy(Extremely happy)
Death route : Killed by life extremist. 】
This status was my power by which I could see level and emotions of the other being. And also how will they die...
My happiness disappeared. His disappearance was not within the game events after all he is male antagonist within the game, he was supposed to survived till end until male lead hacked him off.
I prayed once again the events at school should be same even though I had no hope.
Demi continued "Its not clear but they said duke saxon was involved."
Duke saxon is one of the Four pillars of attreya empire but this is none of my business ... For now.
But he his death route and condition still confused me... When I met him that day, On our engagement.
【 Name: Axiel Sylvestr
lvl: none
Condition: unstable(Excited)
Death route: ?? 】
Living all these years, I have roughly understood my powers and its limitations.
First, to know the target's perfect death route I have to understand him or her thoroughly. And even if I don't know him or her at all, their still will be some clue like it was on demi when I first read her status.
【 Death route : Killed in action. 】
Still..
I threw away this thought. It became confusing the more I thought about it like the time when we were supposed to enemies with them but instead became in-laws.
For now, I have to plan how to steal that item from the school.
|
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|
Huge praire.
What he saw saw vast grassland covering as much land as he could see from naked eye. Even Arvan was quite surprised by it. He had never seen such dungeon, even in his previous life he had entered only 21 dungeons. Which in fact was actually great amount, it is recorded there are only 72 dungeons in this whole world.
Yes, whole world. There are 4 continent present on this world.
But he had never seen such dungeon environment before. Although he knew about this dungeon but he never entered because by the time in original timeline they found the entrance, the seventh house had already arrived and launched an attack on them.
But in this timelime seventh house would never arrive.
He had lot of time- Actually not. Since he had changed the future he knew captain and co would surely affect something out of the box which he must prepare for.
But he didn’t knew what would happen.
The hidden dungeon entrance were a lot easier than front entrance although it can happen reverse in some dungeon which he encountered in his previous life.
Looking at the vast greenery, Arvan was sure from his previous experiences that this was an illusion which he had to break to proceed further.
But where to start he didn’t know.
All he could see were grasses.
No, there has to be some pattern hidden somewhere.
Arvan regretted why didn’t he completely hear from his old brother about this entrance.
The old brother which Arvan thought of was a friend of the one who found this hidden entrance who also managed to break through it.
He was captain ranked member of seventh house.
Since Arvan changed the future, he would not be coming here.
Arvan deeply sighed before engaging all his senses to environment.
The surrounding was completely normal, there were no movement, not even of wind. No matter how much Arvan tried he wasn’t able to get any disturbance or clue from the surrounding.
This was the first time it ever happened.
He tried again and again yet the result was same. He moved forward to get better understanding of the region.
After walking for 10 mins.
The surrounding was same as if he had never walked forward.
“This is strange.”
He knew he had walked up to some distance but still it felt like he had walked none. And the never ending grassland still looked the same from far distance.
Arvan felt he was missing something.
He felt like the clue was before him but he was unable to sense anything.
…. Unable to sense anything..?
“Right!” Arvan suddenly exclaimed. He had got the answer.
He first tried to sense from the surrounding again.
After some time he tried again, this time his eyes closed. Soon sounds of wind, grass and insects were felt by his ear.
“I was right!”
…..
Sera quickly arrived to where the source of scream was but to her surprise there was no sign of captain. “Wha-“
She became confused and started studying the area Especially on the floor. She found there was no sign of footsteps in the ground. Only signs were of her. She suddenly tensed up and tightened the grip on her dagger.
“Keke… kekeke… kekeke…”
The evil laughter once again rang out.
She quickly spread her Aura to find the culprit.
“This is not a ghost.”
She was now not sure what to do. If it was a ghost she could have easily death with it.
“Sera, is that you? Thank God I found you.” Noah’s voice sounded.
Sera hastily withdrew her Aura to hide from Noah.
Finally Noah’s figure appeared. He looked extremely tired.
When he closed up to Sera he took a deep breath and said, “Finally I found you.”
Sera who had just recovered from hastily withdrawing her Aura was startled and confused. She asked, “Finally found you? What do you mean?”
This time it was Noah’s turn to look weirdly at Sera.
“Answer me.” Sera said once again.
“You are asking weird question. It was you who disappeared 2 hours ago and now you tell-“
“What two hours? Are you joking with me?! There’s no way that happened. It had only been few minutes yet you say.”
“No I’m completely sure its over two hours since you disappeared.” Noah refuted.
Sera turned silent and thought for a while before replying, “Something strange is going on. Let’s stick together to avoid and further mishaps.”
There was no reply.
When she looked at Noah something strange had surrounded him. Noah’s eyes turned pure black before he cracked an evil smile. He opened his mouth, “Kekeke.. kekeke…”
Foul smell invaded Sera’s nostril and she coughed, “Y-You!! Who are you?”
The moment she those words left her mouth, Noah pounced over taking her by throat.
“Aghhh..Aghh….cough!.. cough!”
Sera tried to remove the strongest arms of Noah. But it was of no use.
Feeling her life in danger she quickly used her bloodline but there was no response from her body. She was running out of time.
She glared at Noah while trying all means to remove his hands. Failure from exercising her bloodline had landed deep blow on her.
She was just a fine line away from truly dying.
No I can’t die! I can’t die!!
“Sera!!!”
A loud shout broke her entanglement.
She saw Noah unlike from before the normal one.
“Remove your hands!” He shouted.
Then Sera discovered she was strangling herself. She quickly tried to remove her hand but she wasn’t able to do. Noah with a snap beat away her hand and quickly left space for her to breath.
“What were you doing by strangling yourself?” Noah reprimanded.
“I.. cough..! Cough!.”
“Don’t speak! Just lay down and breath deeply.”
“Y-Yes.. cough!”
Even though Noah had saved her she still wasn’t sure to trust him. She wasn’t sure if her was really Noah. The earlier experience had truly traumatised her.
What sort of sorcery was that which managed to breach the defenses of her bloodlines.
She was too scared to know.
“Wha-What happened.?” She asked weakly.
Noah was at loss what to say. When he arrived earlier Sera was already strangling herself to death, it was quick of him to have saved her life.
He said truthfully while not fully being aware of situation.
“When I arrived earlier, I saw you strangling yourself so I quickly jumped to save you.”
That’s when Sera asked a question which felt strange to Noah.
“How much time had passed since we left from Joseph.”
“About two minute.”
Sera fell silent.
She didn’t know what had happened to her earlier. She shivered from remembering that ghastly face of Noah.
After a while when she gained enough breath Noah suggested, “We should go back. This place is strange and dangerous.”
Sera nodded at his words.
She didn’t had the luxury to find captain whom from her certain corner of mind had already presumed dead.
No can survive that kind of thing.
“Let’s go.”
Noah helped Sera to get up.
After patting her clothes both of them left to the way where he came from.
Suddenly Noah paused.
“What happened?”
Sera asked.
“I think I dropped my ring while running towards you. You keep going it will only take a few moment to get it back.
“Ok.” Sera said she didn’t wanted to stay in this place any longer. She slowly walked forward.
Behind her Noah looked at a certain direction before cracking a smile then ran towards Sera. He magically formed a ring.
The direction where he looked at was not far away, towards the thick bushes. From certain angle a thing glimmered. Upon close look, behind the bushes laid a body of a man. He had a ring on his forefinger.
…
“Finally found it!” Arvan said as he looked in front.
There was nothing before him.
|
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|
Ziph’s vision returned to find his surroundings to be trees. All around him was an immeasurable amount of trees. He wasn’t stressed though, he used the knowledge from woodmen to get a grasp on time of day and sense of direction.
He walked around in search of two pebbles. He placed one on the edge of a tree’s shadow. To waste some time, he tried to get a grasp on what season it was. By the lushness of the trees and how the vegetation of plants were in full bloom, he made the guess it was either late Spring or Summer.
After what he assumed to be 30 minutes he took the other pebble and placed it at the end of the shadow. With a line connecting the two he now had a line pointing west and east.
To know which way he went, he used a stone to make a mark in the tree directly in the path he planned to follow.
It was his objective to understand how this world differed from his initial life. He paid attention to the types of plants and was extremely cautious when walking through anything that remotely looked like poisonous plants. His initial straight path very suddenly weaved back and forth through the woods.
“Lord!” A feminine voice shouted from behind Ziph. In response to the shout, he turned his head to see a young lady making great haste towards him.
He was confused about how she believed him to be Lord but knew it had someone to do with the Supreme Being who sent him to this world.
She stood at attention in front of him, her doe-eyes glittering even in the dark forest.
“Can I help you miss?” It would be wrong of him to mention that she looked remarkably beautiful, her naïve doe eyes, long green hair, watery supple lips, and skin similar in color to rays of moonlight. It also didn’t hurt she was fairly tall, only standing a head shorter than Ziph, along with some abundant assets.
“Lord! I finally found you!” She exclaimed, her voice filled with nothing but respect and joy.
He was at a loss on if he should either put on the charm while she had a wonderful view of him or act normally. The charismatic playboys and timid NEETs were both telling him completely opposite paths. The NEETs even added on that this girl was an Elf, shown by her long ears.
“We need to go the village, Lord. Everyone is waiting for you there.”
She didn’t move an inch until Ziph nodded his head in agreement. Her footsteps were quick as her long strides took her across the forest. Ziph found it hard to keep up and made mental notes to start basic training. He had all these different forms of fighting ingrained in him but he couldn’t do any of them in his current form.
The village was small and secluded, and was directly east of where he started, the opposite direction he went. If he had spent more time watching which way the sun had moved, he would have known he was going west. This may not seem important, but every fantasy author pointed out to him that you always head east. West is to head towards death and East the symbol of a new beginning. To begin his life heading west symbolized a swift death. The village was maybe less than 1000 feet from where he started, based on the mark in the tree.
“I brought him! I brought the Lord! We’re saved!” Hid Guide song of their arrival preaching it to every Elf they passed. Ziph couldn’t help but notice the homes seem very underdeveloped. They were made of wood and leaves, tied together with vines.
He was brought to the leader’s house, hut, to where Ziph, the guide, and Leader, sat around a well-made wooden table to talk.
“You guys call me Lord. Why?”
“Every Black-Haired Elf is a Lord.”
“Black Haired Elf?” Ziph pondered the statement aloud before it clicked.
“Do you have a body of water nearby? Or better chance a way to see myself?” Ziph requested, he already had an idea of the outcome but he had to be sure.
Guide Elf pulled what would best be defined as a pocket mirror out of her pants, which were only wore down cargo shorts.
Ziph found himself to look nothing like his original self, now adorned with messy short black hair, cognac brown eyes, thin lips, and a pair of pointed ears signifying his status of an elf. He couldn’t see it in the mirror but he now stood at a tower height.
He could now infer what happened. The Supreme Being, whose name he still doesn’t know, is a form of God to these Elves.
“Am I seen as a messenger from God?” He inquired from the pair. He hadn’t taken note of it earlier but it was now easy to remember every Elf he saw had green hair.
“Exactly, whenever we have our greatest strife a Lord is sent down by the Gods. The strife has yet to come, but with you being here, we know it will pass without a hitch.” The leader preached, his head held high to the sky.
“Who is this God?”
“God Maseal, it is through his grace that we can continue to live our lives.”
“Leader, Guide, thank you for your kindness. I would request having the night to rest before we continue the conversation come morning.”
The two returned the formalities and Guide led him to his lodging. It was a house, hut, similar to everyone else’s in the village.
On the ground laid leaves and a makeshift pillow filled with cotton.
With Ziph’s head against the pillow, it marked the end of his first day in this world, and it didn’t start well. He had still yet to eat anything, and the only water he had gotten was during the talk with Leader.
He may hold the knowledge to every possible situation it was now up to him to use it correctly. That is a problem for tomorrow, not today. Today he sleeps.
|
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|
“You are dead. Welcome to the Afterlife.” The was monotone and robotic, he could only assume every person around him heard the same thing.
“Human #94,843,732,984, please make your way to your resting room as your life gets judged.” After the robotic voice spoke, Human #94,843,732,984 had a holographic map appear in his eyes that showed him where his waiting room was. He followed the arrows on the map and down a hall filled with doors.
Inside the room were a nice bed, a TV, a desk, and everything you would need in day to day life, none of it looked cheap either.
Held in his hand was a remote to the TV. With the press of the button the screen flashed on and the words, “Who would you like to watch?” appeared.
Human #94,843,732,984, stood there in though trying to think of the best answer. He first tried, “Aster Holland”
“The Aster Holland you knew is dead.” The screen returned.
“Who would you like to watch?” The same line of text returned after he pressed okay.
“God”
“Requesting access to watch God… Please wait.”
“???? has overwritten access. Connecting to God…”
Human #94,843,732,984 was shocked, he in no way expected to be able to view, “God”, let alone for them to accept.
The screen went white before showing a figure made of light sitting on a cloud with screens all around them. The amount of screens were uncountable and he noticed, they vanish and another take their place every time he blinked.
He saw wars being fought, he saw children being born, he saw people confessing love, and saw people betraying those closest to them, all in a split second. He beyond saw this, he lived it.
Then a voice appeared in his head, “How does it feel?” The voice was different than before, it was still monotone, but there was no robotic sound.
“It hurts.” He replied, all this information, all these lives that were experienced faster than he could blink. It was being fed directly into his head. Every choice they made, every emotion they felt was thrown at him.
“I besiege you to continue watching.” The voice almost sounded like it held emotion. The more he listened the more human the voice sounded. He got a sense of arrogance from this masculine voice.
Human #94,843,732,984 continued to stand there being bombarded with all these lives, these five seconds left like an eternity. The countless lives he was experiencing, the amount of pain, at either giving birth, or dying in the most gruesome way, that he implored himself to endure.
Soon he forgot who he even was. He forgot where he stood, or why he was even standing. It had all molded into one life, one set of experiences, but not without the cost of who he began as.
“!?#(@!@#!#@$^%$*&#@!&” The voice was intangible be it speaking another language that he didn’t understand, or the voice was too distant while the myriad of lives was experienced by one man.
The light figure shook, and the screen went black, “Access has been revoked.”
Human #94,843,732,984 passed out.
He was awakened by the same arrogant masculine from before, “Reincarnate in my world.”
Of the myriad of lives, a select few were authors, and his mind by instinct called on them for this interaction. It caused him pain, but it passed.
“Why?” The question in every isekai novel that is asked by the main character.
“@$^%$…privy to that information.” The voice was speaking Russian, but he could understand it after his mind called on a Russian life. The same pain as earlier returned, only to a lesser extent.
From what he could assume, the voice had avoided the question. “What If I don’t agree?”
The moment after the question left his mouth, he curled up into a ball howling in pain. All at once every single life ran rampant in his mind.
The pain then as quickly as it came, left. The lives as authors immediately understood the situation. That pain he just experienced is what he would experience for the rest of eternity.
“Do you agree?”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“Perfect, to your left you will see a contract. Sign it.”
More pain as the other lives of authors exchanged for the lives of lawyers. Can be inferred that his mind always choices the best people for the current situation.
“…You will be transferred to the world of ????, where you live your new life.”
“…In this world, you, the user, will be expected to grow stronger, to fight against even greater enemies.”
“…In exchange, the user will be given the power to painless recall any one of his lives. In exchange for the aforementioned action, User will forfeit the gift of God.”
“If the user were to disregard repaying ???? on the called upon days, the punishment is so chosen by, ????.”
These were the select few lines that were worth mentioning from the pages of agreements between the two.
He knew he was pushed into a corner without an alternative. This supreme being had forced him to see through the eyes of God. To experience so many lives that he would be unable to live peacefully without his, the Supreme being’s, intervention.
“The contract is vague, what is it you gain from this exchange?”
“You are not privy to that information.” The voice changed languages again, to some African language, but it would seem this time, one of the lives knew the language.
“Why me? Why put me through the torture?”
“Because only people like you can become what I need.”
“People like me? So, there are others.”
“@$^%$” He couldn’t understand what he was saying.
There was nothing more to ask. He signed a name on the dotted line, Ziph Ruin. The pen was lifted from the page and they both faded to white.
|
{
"subset": "scribblehub",
"lang": "en",
"series": "10938",
"id": "10941",
"q": 0.91,
"title": "The God’s Avatar - You have died",
"author": "Bronzeapollo",
"chapters": 3,
"rating": 5,
"rating_ct": 1,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adventure",
"Drama",
"Fantasy",
"Isekai",
"Mystery"
],
"tags": [
"Calm Protagonist",
"Distrustful Protagonist",
"Game Elements",
"Game Ranking System",
"Male Protagonist",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
His chest beat like he had a fall from cliff.
‘Did I die?’
He felt strange.
“Hey, Arvan, are you hearing?”
Soon his eyes saw light with the figure before him.
‘Noah, why is he here? Isn’t he dead?”
Thwack!
Ouch!
“Why did you hit me?” He exclaimed. ‘Wait, why does it hurt? Uh? Why my skin looks younger.’
Noah matched his eyes and said “Looks like you are okay. Come on now, stand up or else captain gonna punish you again.”
“Captain??”
“Did a woman sucked you dry? Still drowsy. Oh, right you are loyal right to the girl of that street, the baker's daughter.”
‘Baker's daughter..? Wait! This place looks familiar.’
“Come on Arvan, we are getting late. We should we reached The underground ruins 10 mins ago.”
‘Underground ruins,…. Wait! This event happened 18 years ago! When I was still youth wait! I’m a youth! I came back in time?’
"Oh yes ..yes ..right right.. I almost forgot.. Hehehe."
"You're acting strange today. Well, never mind let's go!"
We both took off.
'Since I have got another chance this time I'll not let the other four to have their way. I'll change my destiny.'
'Everything started from this ruin. This time I'll surely not let.....'
......
"Where were you both?" Captain asked looking at the newly arrived duo.
"Well, we.. were.." Noah tried to explain but captain cuts him.
"No need of excuses. Since you both arrived let's keep going."
'Captain is still same.'
Arvan thought.
There were more 4 in the group leaving Arvan, Noah and captain. Arvan remembered each and every of them, also their true colors. Linley, Darius, Joseph, Sera were their names.
"Pay attention, life-death is a matter of time if you are afraid then you are free to not participate. But you can forget about benefits if there are any."
"Cap, we all know this ruins are not explored how can there be no benefits." Sera said.
"Haha..I know but rules have always been this."
"Now let's go."
Location of the ruins were right below the Haven city. The main entrance was located in a very deep hidden part of the unexplored region where the sewers stopped. It was unexplored because the chances of rank 3 beasts being there were much high, there was also an incident when a very terrific roar was came through underground some 4 years ago which led to mass disruption in the city activity but later it was declared by the governor that the beast have been exterminated.
But Arvan knew it was clear face lie. It was revealed half years from now that the beast was still alive, more to say the beast was never exterminated. When in surfaced into the haven city. Arvan still remember how the beast destroyed the whole city in single night. A rank 5 beast.
'If things go according to my past then I might be able to take that thing out of the governor's treasury from half years from now.'
The group soon entered the underground sewers. It didnt take long before they arrived at the unexplored area.
"From now on be careful. Avoid making noise as much as you all can." Captain said.
Another thing to be marked was the caridem’s odour which creates hallucinations.
Arvan checked his pocket. It’s Still here. He thought.
Because of this thing Arvan was able to see true colors of sera and survive this dungeon.
Yes, a dungeon. Not a ruin.
Dungeons were rare source of otherworldly resources which any power would fight to death to aquire. But for this one, a country would go at war.
After all it contains the insignia.
Moving his gaze from one person to another. Arvan checked the behaviour of each and every one since he didn’t knew if only he had time travelled.
All of them were a bunch of thieves. They had no cleric, no warrior, no Archer, no mage, except for certain spy. Only thing which they can rely on was stealth, agility and senses.
There were different method to train in each class. Warriors need to refine their bodies while mages needed to increase their mana pool. There were also different evolved occupation such as knights, paladin and swordsman but they needed even more vigorous training. For example, knights need to train their Aura, paladins need to bath in holy light and swordsman needed to sharpen their sword intent.
Although they were a bunch of thieves, they were not just a busybody. Assassin and ranger would be a better choice than this, society was tough. There was not much demand of stealth class unless they were of high level. They could only carry out the dirty tasks from the officials.
Surrounding was of void of any sound other then of sewer water.
'It's the same.'
Arvan thought as he moved with the group.
The outer section of the unexplored area of safe so they were a little relaxed, getting pumped up would make the situation worse.
"Cap, are you free tonight?" Sera asked coquettishly while clinging to captain's arm, pushing her body to his.
'Succubus'
That's what everyone thought. Its not false to say, Sera is a well-developed beauty. Even with her face she can easily become a mistress of a noble and live a well of life. Arvan of past too got pumped up after seeing her curvaceous body.
'She is master actor.' Arvan thought.
Others might not know but Arvan completely knew about this girl, her background, her real name and her real purpose.
'She could be dangerous but I have a way to deal with her.'
"Uh.. I .. Well.. Sure..ha.." Even the most calm captain blushed after being pushed by a girl of this calibur.
'Poor, cap. Getting false hope. But I can't help you after all. You too are no less...'
Currently Arvan was still not used to as with his old body after all he reached a height which he never dreamed about during his youth.
I can't display the strength of my peak but I have my own way.
Arvan slowly calculated the strength of the remaining people other than Sera because he still can't deal with her real strength.
Captain's real strength was stealth but the very same it was also his huge weakness. After all his stealth won't work with the current Arvan who was far above him.
"Hey, you both stop being lovey-dovey between the exploration." The one who spoke was Darius.
If I remember correctly Darius was in love with Sera but he couldn't muster up courage to say it.
Imagine if you love someone and she is right before you flirting with other guy.
If someone was in the group which hated the captain most it would be Darius.
'I need to eliminate this guy before I deal with Sera or else this love stricken would do anything if she asked.'
"Halt. From now on we will enter in stealth. Things are about to get dangerous." Captain said.
Even Sera left his arm and looked serious.
'Haa... Things are about to get interesting.... '
......
[Stealth] was a skill which made the Agility type user of what they are.
It was only before an hour the group stopped.
"There's still no sign of monsters. Looks like we are lucky today." Noah said to Arvan.
"The no sign of monster is what makes me anxious." But it was answered by the captain. Seems like he heard him.
"I too find this strange. Shall I go before the group?" Joseph asked.
"No, its dangerous. I can't let you be in danger." Captain swiftly replied.
"Hmph! Fake care!" Darius muttered beside Arvan.
Well, you are not wrong. He is indeed a person whose scheming runs deep.
Arvan thought.
"Well the fortune is before us and also a better life" Noah said.
"We, will." Arvan assured him but on his mind.. After today, our lives will completely change. Only if my plan works.
....
“Well, I’ll take a quick look forward. You guys rest here.”
"Cap~ why don't we take a walk~ I'm feeling bored." It was her way of accompanying him
Clench!
Arvan saw Darius's fury. Maybe he can take care of captain and die with him.
"Ah.. Yes.." And cap didn’t seem to mind it.
‘Good, Now both will take at least more amount of time to return.’ Arvan thought.
After both of them left. Finally Darius showed his anger.
"DAMMIT!"
"Curse you bastard!"
Maybe I can use him..
That's when he stood up and left in opposite direction.
'An opportunity!' Arvan thought as he too walked in the same direction after all he can't pour venom talk beside Joseph and the silent-faced linley.
Arvan turned left and quickly found the Darius.
Suddenly a punch came from front. But it did not land on him.
“I don’t need your consolation!”
Seems like he misunderstood me. Wait my personality back then was..
“Am not here to console you.”
“Then for what? Leave.”
“You shouldn’t trust seventh house too much.”
Darius suddenly paused. No, the spy paused.
“Don’t take it out Darius. Seventh house is just using you.”
“How can you be sure?” Darius didn’t ask how he was found out because he knew from the moment Arvan mentioned Seventh house while putting the dagger back.
“What is my job?” Arvan answered with a question.
“Supplier.. oh that’s how. What do want?”
The negotiations began.
It was well played since Arvan never said to not to inform to seventh house.
“To kill cap.”
A sneer appeared on Darius’s face.
Arvan was sure what Darius thought was that he wanted to win extra game. And the sneer was proof of it.
The reason he said those words were because-
“I would be happy to.” Replied Darius.
A smile formed on both of their face.
“Deal?” Arvan took his hand out.
“Deal.”
Darius caught his hand. Suddenly he collapsed.
He was ‘dead’.
“You shouldn’t had trusted me.” Said Arvan.
He bent down and touched Darius’s face and continued
“If you are testing me than you are right. Haa!”
Arvan slit his throat.
The already dead twitched before truly dying.
“Foolish. Did you really thought that I didn’t know how seventh house works.”
Every handyman of seventh house had strong resistance to poison and the reason is “This necklace” said Arvan. While taking Darius’s hidden talisman which was the signal for seventh house.
Arvan got up and left.
Not where he came from but to a new direction.
|
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"id": "10750",
"q": 0.6790909090909092,
"title": "Frost Haven - Chapter 1 : Insignia of God of Mischief(1)",
"author": "SlaughterClaw",
"chapters": 3,
"rating": 3.7,
"rating_ct": 7,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adult",
"Adventure",
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"Mature",
"Psychological",
"Romance",
"Supernatural"
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"Acting",
"Age Regression",
"Ancient Times",
"Antihero Protagonist",
"Aristocracy",
"Nobles",
"Unique Weapon User"
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|
Uh..? The child does not seem to cry..? Its weird..” I heard a voice but I didn’t understand its meaning to me it was no simpler than some strange noise.
“Whether he is crying or not, it doesn’t matters to me. He is a precious treasure to me.”
The sound seemed very familiar, very appeasing. Although I didn’t understand a bit of what was going on but I knew this was the voice of my mother. I was still a newborn child that’s why I was unable to open my delicate eyes. I know if I forcefully tried to open my eyes it would damage my eyes permanently.
“Madam, have you thought of his name?” an excited voice echoed out.
“Yes, his name will be Axiel..”
-~-
1 year had passed..
Currently I was held in a maid’s lap. She was snoopily looking at me as a hungry dog.
Please stop!
Since the day I was born. Unlike before, my tender self had grown to somewhat extent. I was now able to understand this world's language but I wasn’t able to conduct speech nor able to write or read. I am in no hurry since I’m just 1 year old baby, there still was much time for my growth.
From what I have observed, I am currently living with my mother with 3 additional maids who worked in the house. Although I haven’t seen my dad till date, I knew he was alive and out. In addition, I have somewhat gained a little information about this new world which I currently live.
In my old world, it would be medieval era or something..
My name is Axiel, which my mom every now-and-then calls out.
Gerere.. Gurgur..
A sound escaped.. …
My stomach! It can’t believe its been just 2 hours before I was breastfed.. How can it be .. Oh? I am forgetting again.. I’m just a one year old child..
No choice but to use my technique to call for food..
3..2..1
“Uwawauaa ... Wauaua.. Uwa…...”
“Madam, the baby is crying.” The maid said. “I think he is hungry.”
~-~
2 years had passed..
I was now able to walk and talk simple words and had a somewhat understanding of the world..
After my third birth day, A strange phenomenon occurred due to which I was able to see my status window …
【Name: Axiel Sylvestr Race: Human Sex: Male
Class: (Locked??) Title: The one** Rank: Noble (Duke)
Level: 0
Strength – 0.1 Agility – 0.7 Vitality – 0.2
Magic Force – 0 Spirit Force – 0 】
I was surprised to see such stats. No not stat.. But my class.. According to my knowledge which I have collected over past years, until awakening ceremony no one was able to obtain any class. But here, in my case it was already present and locked. My heart was beating excitedly. But what does(??) Sign means? that was what eating up my curiosity.
In my previous life, I didn’t live a long life instead died young by a mu- strange incident.
This life I want to live to fullest that’s why I must become strong. Stronger than anyone else so that I won’t leave any regrets than last life.
…..
“Axie, where are you?” I heard my mom’s voice. Soon she entered my vision. “Uh? You are still climbing up the window and sitting there all the time. Come on, come to mama's embrace.” She lovingly said and caught me up.
Yep, it was my curiosity due to which I made a habit in which I’ll somehow crawl up to window and and watch blue sky and surrounding.
“Today’s a little surprise for you?” she said with motherly love.
“Supise??” I asked. Well although I have learnt to conduct speech but that didn’t mean I would be able to pronounce words correctly.
“Yes, surprise.” She held me firmly in her hands and left out of the room which I stayed for 3 years.
After climbing down the stairs, my mother held me down and caught my fingers. I cooperatively walked by her side to main hall.
There was an unfamiliar yet familiar man sitting on the something. I had never seen that man but I still felt familiarity from him. I had a rough idea for who he was..
“Liliana, why were you so late? I’m dying to see my son.” The man said impatiently seems like he had not noticed me by my mothers side.
As I thought, he is my father.
“As impatient as ever. You never change.. Not even to visit on the day delivery.” My mother said.
My dad looked somewhat guilty, “Its my fault, this time the border was heavily attacked and king ordered me to take care of it but who thought that a demon general would be behind that large scale invasion. Because of that it took me 3 years to settle things..”
During the time my dad was my apologizing, I thought that if my dad was that impatient why didn’t came to my room but later I noticed my dad's legs were heavily bandaged and was sitting on the wheel chair.
I was somewhat ashamed of my earlier thought. I’m proud my dad, in previous life I didn’t had a dad nor a loving mother.
“Dear, come greet you daddy.”
I am somewhat embarrassed, this feeling of having dad is new thing to me. I don’t know what to say. I can only see warmth on those firm and rigid eyes. That’s what dad is called.
“He-helo Fathr..” I choked out the words one by one.
My dad frowned, “Whats with those formal words.”
I was scared to hell out of it.
Then he continued with a warm smile and picked me up and sat on his lap, “Call my daddy, my boy. You have grown much. Forgive your daddy for not being with you for 3 years.”
Hugged me tight.
Uh? Dad I’m still young.. Please..
He was hugging me so tight that it almost pained. Fortunately, my mother saw my expression and grabbed me out of my father’s embrace.
“Hoho.. Are you going to choke our son?”
“Ops sorry, I was too excited. So where are the other 2?”
Uh? Other two? I was getting a strange feeling.
“Oh, Emilia is with Jessica and Arnold is with Leo.”
“Oh? So they are still in training. Good.”
I was getting confused, so asked “Othr twu?”
“Liliana, you haven’t told our son about his elder brother and sister?”
“Sorry, I was busy taking care of him so much that I forgot about telling him about them.” Then she looked at me and said “Axie, you have to an elder brother and an elder sister. You are my third precious treasure. “
What?!? I had an elder brother and elder!!!!?? Why didn’t I heard about them??
“Wher are they? Whn vill I meet them..??”
I really want to see my elder brother and sister.. I’m so happy I always wanted an elder brother and sister in my previous life. Even younger brother was no less demand but alas! I didn’t had my father alive.
“Child, you will see them in you 4th birthday.”
1 more year than I will see my precious elder brother.. Yes! I was inwardly joyed.
What I didn’t knew was after 4th year my life was going to be changed. My destiny.. As she said.
~°~
3 years 8 months old. That’s my current identity. Dad has already left for better treatment in the capital, currently I was alone in my room. I had learned to walk-talk on my own. My mom was out and the other three maids were doing their usual household works.
Well, my mom has never left my side- out from home. Since I had turned 3 years old and showed some signs of maturity, my mother was finally able to leave my side to turn back on her old timer. She was a warrior. Unlike her graceful appearance, she is well skilled in arts of swordsmanship and other combat arts. She is also a magician. If I were to describe her word, paladin would suit her much.
She can’t always spoil me after all I am now grown enough to take care of myself (not seriously).
At this time of day, the door bell ranged.
My room was in second floor and was closer to main hall in the sense, so I heard the sound.
I thought my mom has returned so I crazily ran to open the door but to my surprise what I saw was an unusual young stranger.
Heok!
“Who are you?”
“Hoho.. You must be Ren's third son, right?”
Ren Sylvestr was my fathers name. I still suspiciously asked,
“Sir, what do you want? My father is not at home.”
“Sir?? I’m your uncle. I’m here to meet your mother. You not invite me in.”
Uncle?? This stranger looked like 20 some year old. How can he be uncle? Well, I forgot to invite him in. Even if he is a stranger but basic hospitality must be given.
I invited him to the main hall and sat opposite of that young man.
“My mother is not at home, she will be returning after some time.” I told him.
“Oh? Is that so? Then let’s start with introduction. Well boy, what’s your name?”
“Axiel.”
“Axiel.. Hmm good name. Well my name is Alcides. I’m your mothers old friend.”
“Alcibiades.” I was confused with his name in the sense of pronunciation.
“If it’s a problem then you can call me Alc.”
“Alc. Hm.. Sounds good. Then Alc uncle.” I cheerfully said.
“Fufu.. Good. You exactly look like your mother.”
This uncle didn’t seemed bad, he was very cheerful person.
That’s when Pianal came. She was one of the working maids.
“Oh, its sir Aques. Well, madam is not at home.” She too said the same thing which I said. But she seemed like she knew this uncle.
“Pianal..? You in maid's uniform?? Its greatly surprising. Did you leave your old job?”
“You can interpret it so. But I like to work as house maid.”
“Hmm.. This.. Well its up to your choice. One of the three Valkyrie working as maid.”
At the same interval, the door opened.
“Axie, where are you? Mama has brought you candies. Ooh!—“
That’s when she spotted us. No, she spotted that strange uncle. What she said next almost made me choke to death.
“Oh, Uncle Alcides, is that you?”
“Yep.”
Crash!
“What happened to you, Axie?” as soon as I fell down my mother ran towards me.
Softy caressing my leg which now looked little pink. I can’t keep myself control any more and finally stated,
“Mother, why did you call uncle Alcides, Uncle?”
“Henh!”
Now it was my mothers turn to be surprised and rattle.
“Why are you calling him uncle? He is above your grandfather's age.”
“Because said me to call— heng!! What he is this old!?!? Don’t lie to me mother. He clearly looks so young.”
My mother pondered for a moment and gestured her thumb as if she understood the whole play.
“Oye old codger. Even at your hundred and above age, you still go around fooling people to call you uncle.”
To this that uncle, no, grandpa Alcides only gave a weak laugh. What I didn’t notice was at the corner, pianal was laughing.
I was bewildered, hundred year old?? Isn’t that the limit of my old world’s lifeline.
“Mother, is uncl- grandpa, really that old?”
Before my mother could reply, unc- grandpa flared feigning anger, “Boy, who are you calling grandpa!?!!”
Now, Pianal was even more laughing her belly off.
:4 mins later:
“Oh, so grandpa is really hundred years oldie.” I said as if I understood after my mom explained me in details.
“Hey brat, who are you calling grandpa, call me uncle.”
“Well, Axie. You can call him grandpa.”
“You..” Grandpa Alcides was speechless.
“Joking joking. Axie, call him uncle. If in public you call him grandpa then surrounding people will surely throw strange glance.”
I pondered for a moment then replied, “Mother, it means I can call him grandpa when we are alone.”
“Pfft..”
“Pianal, go bring some snacks.” My mother ordered her because from beginning pianal was laughing her head off. She had noticed that Alcides mood was getting worse that’s why she gave her a escape route.
“So, oldie uncle, why have you came? Is something up?” my mother asked.
Grandpa Alcides no longer refuted as he had long given up the hope.
“Well, Falcon VI was stolen yesterday’s evening. Since your husband is out, I can only hope for you to take up the task.”
My mother’s expression took a quick change. It was unsightly. In low mood, she said, “Is it because of him?”
“I don’t know about it. But there a 50-50 chance that it may be.. “
“Why don’t you go? Given your strength, you can uplift the entire world if you want to. Retrieving that thing will be more easier for you than anyone in this whole world.”
“Well, what you said is true. With a flip of my hand I can retrieve that thing but I have sworn that I’ll never use my power. You also know that I have long since given up the on the empire. I’m an old generation, I can’t meddle in the business of younger ones.”
“Isn’t that simply an excuse.”
“Well, it might be but Liliana, I can only put my hopes to you. It also my last day in this world, after that I’ll never ever appear.”
“The time is already up?” rare teardrops were forming in my mother’s eyes.
“Yes, I have 4 hours more left before my last inheritance is complete after that. I’ll leave this world. Paradox had already burned her... I'll return back with her and live in previous world after only she immune to the curse.”
Although I wasn’t able to understand anything, but a single word was rattling my mind which grandpa spoke.
‘World'
‘Leaving the world’
That’s when grandpa looked towards me and said, “Well, I don’t any gift with me now but I can give you one of my title.”
He easier his hand and touched my forehead “Uhh? What!.hmm it’s a rare surprise. Well, this good.”
【Nemesis's Acceptance : received】
【Appraisal Unlocked】
Strange box messages appeared on my mind. Isn’t these notification pop ups, same as the ones which I received in my third birthday.
“Well, kid we will meet again in other world.” [ said in earth's language ]
With that he vanished. He just now... Spoke in old world's tongue!!!! He was an earthling same like me.
But before he could vanish, I had already used appraisal on him.
When he said , I was completely shocked. Does that mean he too was from there? Or else, how could he know about earth?
I was so much intrigued that I almost forgot that a appraised results where in my vision.
【Name – Aques】
【Tittle – Otherworldly person, nemesis tamer,??,??,??,??,??,??,??,??,??,??,??,?.,?........】
【Lvl – None】
【Authority 】
【Undefeatable】
【Age – 13996 years】
【Magic executor】
I almost choked over, 13996 years old. He is even older than what mother said. How is this possible??
But his name it showed Aques. He lied or is it something else.
My guess was right, he is from earth but how can be he so powerful? This is already terrifying enough. Even though I wasn’t able to perfectly read his level, I had a vague guess that he must be strongest man on this world or strongest man in universe. Other than his age, what had left a deep remark was【Otherworldly person】 What does this means?
Answer right before my eyes,
………..
What I didn’t know back then was when the legendary figure granted me 【Nemesis's Acceptance】
My path became destined to be unordinary and full of dangers.
The path of an….
Overlord!
|
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"title": "The Warlock - Chapter 1 : The old monster",
"author": "Thebirch",
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"rating": 4.2,
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"Action",
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"Arranged Marriage"
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|
The moon light shone upon the forest, silver hue spread through every tree and grasses. The coach was cold. As I said earlier, I had decided to keep low profile with not lavishness that’s why the coach was the most common type- for transporting goods. So there was not much– negligible luxury.
But I’m from duke family after all, all my belongings and important things were in the spatial ring except for my spear which I had decided to carry on all occasion unless some external matter is involved.
The matter of that strange vision, I have decided not to force my brain into thinking it after all there was zero chance I’ll gain anything. So why to waste the time.
“Young master, Should we set our camp here?”
“Yes,” I replied.
Night was upon us, the most dangerous time in any wilderness, I’ll not be hasty. After coming to this world the first thing which I had been practicing and reminding myself is the word ‘Calmness'. After all I’m in parallel fantasy world, there would be a lot to surprise me. To keep my common sense in the sense of this world I must not act like a foreigner who is first time seeing a dragon.
I jumped out of the Caravan. The grass was moist.
Surveying the surrounding, there seem no signs of any monster. Well, perfect place.
…... Was something I had thought but.
“Young Master, I smell blood.” The coachman who was also my appointed butler until I reach the Moonstar empire reported.
“Something’s off.” I too have realized but I didn’t think it was human blood after I’m still unfamiliar. “Let’s investigate further.”
“Yes, Young master.” He says as he goes and unties the horses then ties then to a nearby tree while casting a [ Hide ] spell upon them with caravan being at the side
We walk further in the thickness. The smell of blood was increasing, the smell had freshness not of rotting or decay.
Soon we reached a site.
A caravan crashed in a tree appeared with blood on its outer part. There were blood splattered all over the grass, the smell was thick as if this incident had happened 2 hours ago. The blood was still dripping, though cells had died it was still red. This scene and smell was enough to make anyone puke but–
【 Resisted 】
I somehow didn’t felt anything as if my blood was made for slaughter, massacre and death.
There were no human bodies by the caravan was of course a human belonging. There were only corpses of goblins.
I checked one of the corpse, it had a slit opened in his throat with perfection seems like a mid-ranked or high-ranked swordsman's work but there were no corpse of humans means they were taken away. Only conclusion, the swordsman was killed. Seems like goblin had a planned attack, this incident is no normal. Yet why I feel my blood throb faster from excitement? Was it because of my first outing from the city?
But the word ‘Calmness' quickly covered it.
“Young master, what should we do?”
There was no need to ask, “This forest came under the jurisdiction of my mother, naturally this killing must not be first time after all it was organized as the surrounding proves. I had once back decided to never make my mother worry or hurt. So investigating and removal of such case will be my first priority.”
This sounded reckless for a likes of me but I here have a butler who is more than capable of finishing such task.
“I’ll comply with young master’s command.”
“Be it.”
The traces of blood cannot be hidden and was bound to be found by us. There was only two such place within the vicinity of the forest around us which can hold an organized goblin mob. Once was ruin castle while the other was underground goblin passage town. The underground town was not something to be called a town because it was very crude. The chances of the this place was 3 out of 10 while the ruin castle had the rest 7.
Because the underground goblin town was well hidden if not for one accidentally discovery it might have laid hidden for centuries. But the town was abandoned and destroyed the next day by the goblins themselves. So that they can hide their new town.
Because of this, the corpse taken to the underground goblin passage town is negligible which only leaves the castle.
“How far we are from the castle?” I asked.
“Approximately 9 Kilometers.” Came the reply.
I signaled the coachman whose name I remember—ahh Trevor.. .. Yes, his name is Trevor.
We quickly advanced toward the castle. The wind swirled while the grasses paved straight path as we advanced past them. I’ll definitely take care of my mother’s problem.
Did I grew a special connection with mother because of my previous world's .......?
Well it doesn’t matter anymore after all I now have a real- loving mother. I’ll not let her down.
Overcoming 9 kilometers was a small task for us.
The castle entered our vision. We were hidden in a branch of a tall tree. Castle wall emitted a feeling of loneliness while it shown with the moonlight. Creepy castle of a survival game.
【 Detection : Monster 】
Was cast by Trevor. He seemed to be combat butler or black butler Sebastian.
“Life force are weak at the altitude and there seems to be small amount of lifeforms in the underground. Maybe this castle has a dungeon.”
He said.
“Hmm.. Let’s proceed.”
Trevor casted 【 Moon jump 】On himself, I didn’t need physical booster spell after all I have trained one year vigorously under my father and also we have to preserve mana as much as we can. Who knows when might a strong enemy may appear.
We have stealthily entered the domain. There were slight cracks in the floor while the wall full of it. Its colour had long lost and became a home for small insects behind the tattered painting hung on the wall. There were also at a certain interval a body of armors which had become brownish because of rusting over passage of time.
There was total silence, except for few tremors. Seems like something is going on in this castle. But at this rate it would have long ago become a commotion which leaves only on choice– this case is of resent happening although it was base for goblins before but as Trevor said before we entered the castle ‘there seem to be a small amount of lifeform'. There should at least be mid amount of life force after all goblins comes second after humans in reproduction rate. They have no problem in progeny.
“Shh.. Something is there.” I spoke.
Chains!
The sound of chains! That’s it!
Soon the horror appeared. A minotaur at least 3-4 meter tall appeared with an Axe in his hands. There something attached to its legs..
Metal ball! He is shackled.
“Now!” I shouted and leaped forwards towards the Minotaur’s head. He was shackled so his mobility must be reduced, I can take advantage of it and smash it in one go.
【 Flaring Flash 】!!
Was casted by Trevor from behind as if he understood my thoughts, I’m confirm he is surely a war veterans certainly sent by my family to protect me then why will we part in different path later journey.? Not time for this.
“Hiyaaa!!!” I was almost successful when —
Dhub!
It shoved me from the back of its hand. My body merciless smashed on the wall.
“Pueok..! Damn my tiny body.”
Seems like my real fighting experience is not enough. My body development too.
Seeing me beaten, Trevor casted another spell 【 Fire bolt 】!!
Boom!
Minotaur’s head was caught up in blazing flames. But somehow this minotaur seemed different wait!
【 Appraisal 】
【 Monster : Mutant-Evil - Minotaur Race: (??) Specialty : Spirit defense
Level : 14 : A minotaur with mutated spirit. Has a grace of god. 】
Damn!
A level 14 existence is nothing in front of my mother but for me.. ..
And there is also spirit defense. According to what I remember spirit defense can block both physical and magical attacks up to 200 degree. My total attack power is 60 degree, even if I put everything into a single attack it will not cross 80 degree.
Degree is a measurement for damage points.
As I gripped my spear, I heard a voice —
“Young master, retreat!” As if my instinct automatically acted upon, I jumped back.
Boom!
The wall broke where I just stood and strange bats entered. Blood bats. Yes, I remember they were the known to be blood suckers after vampires. But how can this ruthless beasts be present here just in the beside a flourishing city. This matter is not simple something sure is up.. Something dangerous is cooking off or else it would have long ago became a commotion.
There were at least 10 of them.
【 Appraisal 】
【 Monster : Blood bat(Infant) Race: (??). Specialty : [Drain]
Level : 2 : it is said that they have bloodline of (???) And can only be found in extreme ends. Has a grace of god. 】
So even infants are stronger, alas, it only level 2.
Swish!
My arms pulled all its force, gathering in my palm before.. BOOM! I took off in the air and stabbed blood bats..
Sqish..~
【 Fire bolt 】!!
The finisher finally came and blasted those little blood suckers off.
“Thanks”
“Young master, maybe we should retreat. Its not something we can handle.” He said.
I have already considered, no matter what I’ll not back down.
“No! Its my chance to advance to next level. Or else I’ll be weak throughout my life.” I shouted.
“Uh? Advance level..? Aren’t you cripple and don’t have a class.?. …… sorry young master! Its my fault.” He muttered in strange manner, realizing his speech he then quickly apologized.
Crap!
I almost forgot. For now I don’t have any class to others how can I advance. He seems to give a strange gaze.
“Of course it’s for my mother.” Maybe lying is inherent talent for me.
"Young master doge!!"
Before I knew, a bat had already bit me.
Damn!!
I slapped the bat off before stabbing it to death.
【 Hollow Flash 】!!
Suddenly the whole of the corridor flashed in a deep blue before a figure as swift as lighting caught me and took me away. Dammit! The pain slowly surged at my shoulder where that bat had bit me. The infection shouldn't spread but somehow I feel that its beneficial to my body. What's happening to me!!? Dammit!
......
Meanwhile...
Knock.. Knock..
The door opened and a graceful figure appeared.
"Uh? Trevor what are you doing here..? Don't tell me Little Axiel don't want to go?"
"Uh?? Miss, young master never appeared." The man called Trevor answered before.. "Don't tell me.."
"But I sent him off with you? I also comfim--e...d.. Dammit!! Trevor follow me now! Its emergency. Pianal guard the house."
"Yes." A voice came from inside.
Soon a pair of a man and a woman departed towards a familiar path.
.....
Soon consciousness covered myself.
【 Absorbtion complete 】
【Name: Axiel Sylvestr Race: Human Sex: Male
Class: (Locked??[9 years 10 months remaining])
Subclass: Magus(lvl 1 apprentice(18.978%) Title: The one** Rank: Noble (Duke)
Strength – 0.5 Agility – 0.9 Vitality – 0.5
Magic Force – 2.0(Up) Spirit Force – 0.9(Up) 】
【 Due to absorption of a dark lifefore MF and SF are increased. 】
First thought which came over me was 'What the hell!!! When did increasing stats became so easier?'. I trained a lot with my father yet my stats increased only by an inch with much hard work and persistence and yet here...
Discarding why it happened I'm more inclined towards how it happened. When did I suck someone's life force?
Wait the blood bat! Yes that's it! Nothing other than the blood bat is a creature of dark. But it bit me? Does it means that when it bit me reverse happened instead of it, my body sucked his life dry!?
"Young Master, are you fine?" Asked 'Trevor' as he saw me waking up.
"What happened in time while I was unconscious?" I asked before adding "How much time has passed since I went unconscious?"
"Almost half an hour had passed and Although i didn't left your side But I did here multiple sounds of footsteps."
"Oh is that so?"
"Well, young master?"
"Yes."
"Can I ask you of something?"
"Sure."
"Please die."
For moment I thought 'Did I hear wrong?' But—
【 Fire bolt 】!!
As swift as lighting my instinct upon its own but it failed to resist the blast.
Boom!
My body smashed against the wall. Due to ice-cold bracelet's protection I didn't burn.
"What a surprise you didn't burned out. Well, I guess its still fine. Your blood is fine so it won't much differ.kekekeke kekehehehe!!"
"Why are you doing this Trevor? Is this some kind of test that my mother put into?"
"I'm not Trevor. As why I'm doing this? Since you are going to die it doesn't matter. We want your soul as sacrifice to our lord. With your blood and soul we will achieve our aim.hahaha kekekekeke!!"
"So everything till that blood carriage was planned wasn't it?"
"No. Except that carriage incident rest was planned but thanks to it, you yourselves decided to come this castle of El' mersa sherlom. Hahaha kekeke only our people can make this castle appear and can enter.haha kekeke!!"
That must be it!
That's why a castle like this exist even under my mother's jurisdiction!
"You will regret doing this!"
"From the moment you stepped on my carriage it was decided that your life will be our lord's. Now, die!!"
|
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"q": 0.7690909090909092,
"title": "The Warlock - Chapter 4 : Scent of blood.",
"author": "Thebirch",
"chapters": 6,
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"Action",
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"Adventure",
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"Alternate World",
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"Arranged Marriage"
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|
I was quite nervous when the emperor called her to daughter for the engagement ceremony. For a moment I thought that the emperor was forcing her daughter to marry me.. But later did I realize that her personality was just cold.
Even when I wore her ring she didn’t showed any sign of unwillingness nor happiness. She was just expressionless. While I was in such awkward position my dad.. Huff.. Was brimming with pride, going noble after noble to praise the couple.
Wasn’t it the other party who should come to my father and mother to congratulate them? but here it was reverse. Awkward.
…well, since the banquet had long past..
But my nervousness has still not gone—why you say? Ask the person sitting beside me.
Currently I am sitting near the fountain of the royal garden beside none other then second princess, my fiancée.
….
….
4 mins passes…
Awkward.
I don’t know how to start conversation. When I looked at her, she started,
“You, what do you think of this marriage?”
Unexpectedly a very critical question came.
“I.. .. Don’t know. But I believe that our parents decided for our own good.”
I weakly reply.
“I meant about the our relationship.” Her voice was cold, devoid of any emotions. Was her coldness inborn?
Owk! I made a mistake in comprehending her words. But this question,
“I don’t know.”
Ahaaaaa! What’s with my unmanly reply!?!???
“Oh.. Then listen, you are not supposed to touch me as well as over friendly with me. Or, never contact me. If not for your father, I would have never even had accepted you as my husband. Don’t meet me unless our parents says to do so. You heard well, I’m leaving.”
Uh? What’s with her and her conditions?
Was I just stripped off of my privilege and stamped multiple conditions upon?
Isn’t this usual trope of cold female protagonist. It has to be! Well then it doesn’t matter because a beauty is always accepted.
So,
I grit my teeth as I shout,
“And what if you fall in love with me?”
It was rather loud. The usual dramatic soap opera line which I think would work.
She stopped on her track for a while then continued on walking.
“I’ll make you fall in love. I bet!” I screamed.
Uh? Did I just said that? Seriously?
Well, what am I supposed to do now.
Well, then fare you well, fair princess. If thou art not love me. I’ll die.—
Just joking. I would never die on an icebox girl.
Well whatever.. Phew..
(~^~)
【Name: Axiel Sylvestr Race: Human Sex: Male
Class: (Locked??) Title: The one** Rank: Noble (Duke)
Level: 0
Strength – 0.1 Agility – 0.7 Vitality – 0.2
Magic Force – 0 Spirit Force – 0 】
This is my current stats. Except for agility, none of my stats had gone up. If I remember right my last agility stat was (0.5) but its (0.7) now. A total increase of (0.2) points.
Maybe it happened because I have turned 5 this year. Yes, the most ripe time for awakening ceremony. My knowledge in awakening ceremony was somewhat brief, much better than nothing. Yet, I am getting bad premonition. Something might happen today which will decide whether I’m trash or achiever. I am excited yet fearful, maybe this was something related to my mindset. I can’t be for sure.
I closed the book which contained brief history of other ruling empires. If someday I travel to them, at least I might have a brief understanding. But that’s for the future.
After the matter concerning princess, a year ago, I never met her again. It was only half a year later I discovered that the 2nd princess didn’t lived within the imperial palace rather lived far away in an academy of magic arts and she left right on the second day after the celebration of my birthday. It is said that she could only meet her parent once a year only if she had completed her cultivation to a certain level. After all the academy was strict regarding nurturing of talents.
At first I thought that this was hilarious because why would the emperor need to follow the academic rules? Later did I learnt that about the 7 great schools. And the one my fiancée belonged to was 2nd powerful school of the seven. It was said that the joint power of 3 top schools could rival the power of 5 empires. And if all the seven school joined hands then their power could rival the legendary 6th empire of the history. But it was just exaggerated, they would only gain upper hand in the power.
Well, first of all...
“When are we going to reach the church?” I asked.
“In another half an hour.” Replied my mother.
‘Just 30 mins more before I awaken and discover my power.’
I said to myself excitedly.
Half an passed in a second…
The church was something which rivalled the duke palace, the magnificent structure, the sculptures surrounding and the exquisite carvings and inscriptions. I was awed. In my previous world never did I see such monumental church, only main headquarters can rival this. But this church standing here was just a part of it. The headquarters, as rumor say, is even larger than this.
“Mother, its so huge.”
My mother only smiled and patted on my head while leading me inside.
“Axie, can you wait a little your mother needs to do something. Okay?”
I said okay while examining the beauty of it from inside.
The benches where neatly arranged, the dome painting was exquisite which screamed of art.
I was mouth-flustered.
“Hey you bumpkin move aside.” A sudden haughty voice sounded.
“Uh.. Wha–" A blonds girl, maybe of 5 years, stood behind me. Wait, there’s a whole lot of space beside me. Is she insisting on getting trouble.
“Don’t you have any manners to leave open the path for a lady.”
Lady!? You?
“What’s with that expression on your face? You are disgusting!” she looked at as she said.
“Another kid.. Haa.. Sigh..” I sighed lowly. I can’t get myself indulged in spoiled kids much less a haughty girl.
“Wait! You called me kid? Kid? You!!!! Are you insulting me!?” Seems like this girl heard me. Haa.. I’ll not get involved.
I simply walked away from her.
“Hey, you wait!! Hmmm you have to apologize.. Come back!” She screamed.
“Go away kid.” I simply replied. But I’m I also not a kid? Well, I at least I’m cultured.
Hehe.. if it follows usual trope then she will become my greatest foe.
**
Seeing the retreating figure of the boy who insulted her. She clenched her fist.
I’ll take my revenge.
**
There were at least 20 something kids waiting for their turn. Currently a boy was sitting in the formations drawn by the priest, who was chanting some sort of ritual.
I much less interested now, its boring.
“WHAT!! This a miracle! You are the child of destiny!!” suddenly I heard loud screams of the priest.
Seems like the boy had succeeded in his awakening ceremony and got a very powerful power.
Another round of cheers followed.
After the clamor calmed down. Anther kid went for the ceremony, this kid was someone I just met. Yes, she was the same haughty girl.
….
“WHAT!?! Another!! Unbelievable you have got the blessings of goddess Altia. You are also child of destiny..,!!! Oh god, is this the generation of new emergences of talents.”
Wow, that girl.. She.. Is she looking at me.
What’s with her provocative eyes? Is she challenging me?
That’s when I heard my name being called out “Axiel”
Out of curiosity I decided to use my appraisal skill,
【Name: Trisha Winston Race: Human Sex: Female
Class: Altia's Agent Title: Favored one Rank: Noble (Duke)
Level: 1
Strength – 0.5 Agility – 1.0 Vitality – 2.0
Magic Force – 4.0 Spirit Force – 4.0 】
I remember there only 3 Duke families out of which one is mine while the one of other two of them... Is here. This girl.. She is much powerful than me.
“Are you afraid kid?” The priest asked me.
“No!” A Resolute reply.
“Well then, let’s begin.. *@$$$*@#$$#@” he spoke some strange words after that.
My body felt dizzy, a bit hazy and my vision dimmed. An acute pain spread through my brain, but why is this happening? Wait it can’t be.. My awakening ceremony...
“Wow! Its Grade 5 talent!” the priest shouted. “Maybe another chosen one going to come out.” His eyes were full of expectations.
The surrounding also grasped their breath because a grade 5 talent was the highest level of innate skill which whoever possess is deemed to be successful and powerful but—
Boom!
A light explosion occurred. Destroying the formations.
Science crept everywhere. Almost everyone knew what this meant ‘the destruction of formation'.
The priest sighed, “Well, kid your luck was bad.”
Wait this can’t be!?
“Is he a cripple?”
“Wasn’t he a grade 5 talent? How can this happen..?”
“He failed..?”
Short murmuring spread through the hall. I did not notice that my mother’s eyes were wet.
“Hahahha.. You humiliated me.. This is payback from the gods.” I heard certain someone's haughty laughter.
….
“Axie, you don’t need to be sad. When you become an adult, you can take over my city lord position.” My mom consoled me.
That night I quietly sat in my room, my mother and father were in the main hall- talking about today’s occurrence. Probably making a decision about my future. Well, guess nothing can be done since they both loved me dearly and wanted me to live a comfortable life. But my plans are different…
I’m currently excited as because..
【Name: Axiel Sylvestr Race: Human Sex: Male
Class: (Locked??[11 years remaining for unlocking])
Subclass: Magus(lvl 1 apprentice) Title: The one** Rank: Noble (Duke)
Level: 0
Strength – 0.1 Agility – 0.7 Vitality – 0.2
Magic Force – 0.5 Spirit Force – 0.5 】
The reason why the formations broke was because my main class took all the awakening energy to start the countdown for unlocking of my main class which was maybe.. Given by that grandpa. As for why the people- when they check my main occupation- didn’t got anything was because ‘what my main class was became second class' which people awaken only after crossing level 50. But some people, genius and gifted, may unlock second class even before reaching level 50. They are highly sought and trained by the organizations.
So, guess I have to play the role of cripple or else I’ll be assassinated by any opposing empire, after all am a royal-in-law.
As for magus class.. .. I don’t know about it.
Library. In a certain corner.
‘They were the magus.. End' I read the last lines with which the book came to an end. Seems like I underestimated my magus class, its unlike wizard class where one can only use the magic of his element aptitude is. A magus can use all types of magic but it needs a base element before engaging in other elements. Wizard’s have levels while Magus have ranks that’s why the level stat is cut off in my status. And most important difference is wizards are easy to advance but magus, it’s difficult.
Well, think about it later. First.. I should…
(*~*)
1 years later...
A loud ‘bang' sounded.
I was thrown off. The shaft was broken though it was made of metal. The spear shaft.
“Well, Axiel this the last day of your training from me.” My father said, his face didn’t even leaked a sweat yet here I was soaked wet all down my back.
“I know dad.”
“Let’s go back your mother might be worrying. Tomorrow I’ll have to leave for the borders again, don’t forget to practice and exercise.”
“Your son knows.” I said.
“Well, get going. I’ll be behind you.” He said.
I left.
….
Looking at the back of his own son, Ren Sylvestr sighed. He still remember the day when his son was found cripple and next day when his son with resolute eyes came asking him to teach him spear technique.
“Time is cruel.” He said lowly and added, “After this last mission at the Forgotten land, I’ll stay back home. Hidden forces are coming up.”
His father was not in military but even further than that. The most respectable and highest authority under only emperor, Magic Executors.
The 3rd Magic executor, The Magus of Death and slaughter, Renirius Sylvestr.
He was confused, why didn’t his son obtained his blood after all not everyone can become magus, only those with primordial blood can become magus Or their lineage but its long lost, only few remains. He thought his son would also a magus just like his siblings but..
【Name: Renirius Sylvestr Race: Humanoid Sex: Male 】
……..
It’s been an year since I is started training. But how can I raise my magus class rank, there is not such thing as magus advancement books present in the library. Seems like I have to stop thinking about it and raise my physical stats.. I have a feeling that in future I may come across with some technique to increase my magus rank.
【Name: Axiel Sylvestr Race: Human Sex: Male
Class: (Locked??[9 years 10 months remaining])
Subclass: Magus(lvl 1 apprentice(0.000%) Title: The one** Rank: Noble (Duke)
Strength – 0.5 Agility – 0.9 Vitality – 0.5
Magic Force – 0.5 Spirit Force – 0.5 】
Well, even after which rigorous training for one years has not made much difference in my stats. Well, since I’m 6 years old it suits me pretty much.
I don’t how to increase my magus rank after all the advancement technique is something I don’t possess and I also can’t talk about it with my family. Seems like I have to got with spear technique.
【 Basic spear technique (lvl 8) 】
After 2 more levels, basic spear technique will automatically upgrade into. Intermediate spear technique. But I’m still far from gaining more proficiency. Life is hard.
…..
I was lying down the bed when Pianel summoned me on behalf of my father. I am already refreshed and my fatigue had gone, I followed her to my father's study room.
When I entered the room, I saw father and mother having intense conversation. My father was the first to notice it.
“Oh, come. Sit here.”
I did as I was told.
“Son, what are your future's plan?”
I was silent..
“So you have yet to decide. *sigh* Son, I have a proposal for you. Are you willing to walk in the path of spear?”
“Yes!” a resolute reply came out from my mouth.
“Good! Son, do you know Moonstar empire’s Starlight city?”
I nodded.
“What do you think of that place?”
“A very good and cultured capital city with a well planned structure-print-made.”
“Hm.. Do you know of Imperial starlight academy?”
I got think I am getting a clear picture.
“Yes..”
“Well, tomorrow I’ll be leaving but 1 don’t want you slacking off in training. So travel to Moonstar empire’s and search for Mr. Saladin Tyler, he is an instructor there. Go under him and train hard. Take this letter.”
He said passing a sealed letter.
“Dad, is he a warrior.. Specialized in spear?” I asked.
“Half-yes, half-no.”
…….
(*~*)
And so, I left my journey to Moonstar empire with some coins and my spear wrapped in a tough cloth made of unknown material in an adventurer's clothing. After if I go lavishly dressed god knows who will attack me, there were no less numbers of bandit. Seems like it would be 3 month journey in a carriage.
Currently we are passing through a forest. Their were only two people, coachman and me.
Unknowingly I fell asleep..
…
Grrr…
Blazing light filled my vision making me almost blond
Uh? Where am I? What’s with this place?
What’s this evil energy?
The light disappeared and vast darkness filled the surrounding. Suddenly a huge pressure fell unto me.
Agh!! What’s this?
—You reject me. So I reject you though your are stronger but here you are weak. I will never let you awaken.
I heard an extremely powerful and terrifying voice. Was it talking to me?
Agh!! My conscious!!
I can’t retain much longer.. I heard another voice..
—……...be… changed..
I was only able to make out few words before I fell apart. My body was torn and smashed apart.
…..
“AHhhhhhhhhh!!”
The coach suddenly stopped. The coachman said “What happened young master?”
I .. I.
My body was intact.. Not a scratch.. What the hell did I saw earlier..?
“Nothing...agh..” I found my conscious fading again.
“Young master!? Young master…. okay? Are you… okay?”
Broken voice of coachman were transmitted to my brain but I no longer had any strength left.
|
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"title": "The Warlock - Chapter 3 : Awakening ceremony.",
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|
Today, the day of meeting finally arrived. Today was my 4th birthday and also the fixed date to meet with my elder brother and elder sister. If I say I’m not excited then it’s a straight faced lie and if I say I’m not nervous its also a straight faced lie. I have never seen what my elder brother looked like nor how my elder sister looked. But since my mom and dad both were top rated handsome and beautiful husband-wife, naturally my elder sister will be very pretty and my elder brother handsome.
Before the 2nd chime of the house, my dad told that today was also another special surprise for me. I was expecting much from my dad. Because of his injuries my dad had to take a 2 year relief from the northern frontlines, since our first meeting he has been living with us. Everyday was cheerful after all my Dad had long ago recovered from his injuries and was healthy enough like a bull. Today was the last day of his stay, after that, tomorrow my dad will have to leave to northern frontlines again. I don’t know when I’ll be able to see my dad again but it surely must be on my fifth birthday. After all when people of this world become 5 years old, they get eligibility to have awakening ceremony. After the awakening ceremony one gets qualifications to gain job and cultivate his innate talent and magic-sorcery.
Without one awakening ceremony, one's existence can said to be lowest of lowest. Even farmer have who had their awakening ceremony completed can be said to be better than them. There is also another factor of one's aptitude to decide whether one is talented prodigy or just trash. Awakening ceremony decides one's fated future, that’s why awakening ceremony is said to be very precious moments of a human's life.
“Axie, are you ready yet?” my mom’s voice resounded in my ears.
“Not yet.”
Soon sound of footsteps came and there, my mom had already appeared in my room when I turned back.
She reprimanded “That’s why I told you to let the maids get you ready but you ‘no no mom, I’ll do it my self' come here. Your dad is waiting for you in the emperor's castle as well has your elder brother and sister.”
Well, although I’m now 4 year old kid’s body but my mentality is already matured, So how can I let myself get naked in front of house maids. All of them were comparable in looks to my mother. My mother is after all my mother but those maids are not. Seeing them makes my heart pound and I don’t want them to misunderstand me. That’s why I have to avoid getting in skin contact with them.
And how can I say my problem to my mother which I’m facing. Puberty..?
Wait I’m just a 4 year old kid. If my actions mislead her then she will surely think that I’m inborn pervert. Hell! I’ll never be able to calm my self.
But for now, I’ll have to calm myself. Wait, I’m am calm, just my mind is in disorder. While massaging my head I looked at my mother with my Ultimate technique of escaping from mom — Puppy eyes.
“Stop! Staring me with those eyes.. No..”
Puppy eyes- 2nd form- teary waterfall.
“Aghh..!! Ok I lost to my son…... Never!... Now little brat, since when have you learnt such techniques? I too want to teach you some of my techniques.”
Tangh!
A potato grew out of my head.
Puppy eyes- failed. Well, to start with this technique never worked with my mother. But I’ll keep trying until my mother finally falls for this trap.
She quickly dressed me up. Well from a obedient son’s point of view. My mother is very caring towards me. I’ll never let my mother shed tears. I’ll protect my family or else same thing might happen with my new family.
“Come on Axie, let’s go or your father will worry to death if he doesn’t see you before he leaves tomorrow.”
“Yes, mom.”
(T^T)
After quick-cloth-get-ready, me and my mother left for the imperial palace.
Yes, that’s right my birthday was about to be celebrated in the main hall of the imperial palace. Of course normally imperial palace's main hall can only be used to conduct banquet by the emperor himself and the crown prince. Since my father and the emperor were brother-in-arms in their younger days that’s why the emperor himself presented to celebrate my 4th birthday in his palace. That’s the brotherhood of him.
Well, I’m bored. It was going to take at least one and half hour before we get to the capital. After all my family is a duke family. We have been given an entire territory to govern from. That’s what my mother do while my father battles in the border. Its pretty cool to be son of the family which governs a much big territory, no, a city comparable to capital. Well, not really comparable, the capital is a stage higher than our city but the city which we govern can be said to secondly only to capital while first among other major 6 cities.
There are total 7 developed- both private military and structurally defensive- cites. One being capital and other 6 cities, including the one which my mother governs, can be said to be the pillars of the empire. Actually there are many other cities, they can be said to be very well developed but in front of the 7 major cities they are just a sand in the desert.
While in the travel, Watching the boring lavishly built structures had almost made me gag. Now I understand why the Quinceland empire is said to be most powerful among 5 great empire in the continent. According to my daily curriculum knowledge, there used to be 6 great empire in past but the one day it disappeared from the continent which happened almost 100 years ago. It was known as Aweria Empire, also it was the most powerful empire far surpassing the Quinceland empire by an entire margin. Well, I don’t know if its exaggerated or something but those legend has sure piqued my interest.
“That monster had lived till 13996 years, he sure knew about it..” I muttered in low voice.
But I seem to have forgotten my mother was a powerful figure.
“Axie, who has lived up to 13996 years..?”
“Nothing, I just remembered a legend.” I quickly gave a false excuse.
“Legend..? From what I know longest living human was heavenly Frost ice-queen, Merissa and few others in the records of Quinceland empire.”
“Heavenly frost ice-queen..? Who is she? And what are the records of Quinceland empire.?”
If I say my interest is piqued then it’s a lie because my interest now—is very much piqued, in my mother’s reference.
“Well, I don’t know much about. I once to heard it from your dad. Well, do you know about magic executors?”
I gave a low chuckle and said, “Mother, how can I not know them? They are the protector of our kingdom. Everyone wants to be appointed to become one of those heroes. Now, mother please, can you tell me about it?”
“Well, good my child. Ok so listen, I don’t know the perfect date but it was almost four thousand years ago. During those days Quinceland empire was said to be just in its start of the maturing phase, during that time 12 magic executors appeared who were said to be the most powerful people during that era. Even now, people cannot match up to their strength. Within them, which I told you now Merissa was the 1st magic executors among 12 to be first appointed. She was said to be wielder of heavenly frost ice-crown which gave her immense power which made her unparalleled in the whole world. She was symbolic terror of ice whose control over ice was said to be reached pinnacle and explosive power said to sent an entire empire equal to Quinceland empire to crumbles during that era.”
“Mother, doesn’t it sounds exaggerated?”
“Little Axie, you have yet to see the world. Perhaps one day you will understand the greatness of those old executors.”
I don’t know if my head is giving me signals that my mother is a worshipper of that Frost- something queen and admirer of those old executors.
“Mother, then who was the strongest among them?” I asked it was a question of course asked by those who had first time heard the legend of 12 magic executors.
“I don’t know but the majority says the 5th magic executor among them.”
......
My chat with mom continued on until we reached the imperial palace. Sun was yet to set. There was still a whole 20 mins remaining until the start of the banquet... Or birthday party.
“My boy, what you have been up to? So late, I thought you would show up at least 30 mins earlier.” My father said to me before turning towards mother, “Honey, what happened?”
“Oh Dear, ask your son.”
“Boy, what happened to your mom?”
“I don’t know.”
“…........”
My father paused a little, took a quick glance at mother then said, “Follow me, your brother and sister are waiting with a special person.”
“Where!?!? Take me dad.” Excitedly I asked. My mother too flashed with anticipation in her eye but..
“Follow me and honey, the queen is waiting for you in her chamber.”
“Tsk! That woman.. I too want to see my both of children..” when I heard my mother saying the ‘queen' ‘that woman' I got a vague feeling that they were close. Extremely close or else who would dare to say queen ‘that woman'.
“Honey, you know she is queen.. Just meet with her for 5 mins..”
“Whatever..” My mother rolled her eyes before advancing towards a very large door. I guess that’s where the corridor is connected. Well, the interior designs and carvings exquisite and majestic even though we were still in the outer quarter of the entrance, the profound magnificence was already grand. This is the Quinceland empire, the most powerful empire of the continent's grand imperial palace.
Following dad, we got into a room which was neither too big nor medium. There was a table enough to seat 18 peoples. Currently only 5 palaces were occupied. Two were bound to be my brother and sister while who were other three.
“Dad, who are my brother and sister among them?”
I asked in low voice.
“You’ll find in few seconds—“ Before he could even complete the sentence…. ….. Boy ran and came towards me and lifted me up before giving a strong tight hug.
“lil'bro..? You are little Axiel? You look so cute, I can tell you will look as handsome as me.”
Before I could summarize my mind I was already being spoiled.
The youth or my big brother, I suppose, he was extremely handsome with dual sharp eyes which were mesmerizing enough. A lady killer has appeared, my brother gave a very friendly and easy to get along feeling. A person whose presence enough can make party lively and cheerful.
“Big.. Brother .?”
“Yep, that’s right I’m your big brother.” He rubbed my head with his hands but—
Please stop!
You are messing my hairs! My entire noon was spent on it!
“Come little brother let me introduce you to everyone here.” My brother, whose name I suppose is Arnold, started to introduce everyone.
“Well, these two gentlemen are Emperor’s two sons, Vivek and tyln.” He pointed towards two somewhat identical pair of brothers as he continued, “This gentle lady here is the second princess of the Quinceland empire, Claudia. And at last, that cold one there is your elder sister.”
After finishing the introduction, he gestured me to be seated. I was somewhat disappointed with my elder sister, she showed no interest in looking at me let alone to talk. She is really ice box. Cold. Well, never mind. The one my brother introduced as princess, she was extremely beautiful, calm and reserved unlike her age, after all she looks one year or something older than me.
Seems like royalty are given strict instructions in their manners and conduct. Etiquettes to say in simple.
“Hello everyone, my name is Axiel Sylvester. Nice to meet you all.” I greeted everyone.
The two prince saw me then started to talk among themselves while both peeking at me time to time. One of them spoke, “What do you use for your handsome face?”
An unexpected question was thrown at me, me handsome?? As far as my knowledge goes, wasn’t I supposed to be cute rather than handsome? Oh! I forgot they are still kids, so their ‘handsome' is same for ‘cute’
“I don’t use any external things.” I said the truth.
“What! Don’t lie.”
“I can’t believe its natural. What type of herb did you eat? Come on, share your secret.”
Why do I feel its like woman’s talk?
That’s when the ice box.. Er my elder sister pushed something forward.
“Uh? What is this?” it seemed like some kind of bracelet.
“Your gift. Happy birthday” although her voice was cold I still felt the warmth within her. “It will protect you from cold.”
【Appraisal】
Item: Cold protection bracelet
Description: this item was created by an ice Magus by sacrificing her essence. it protects the user from severe cold and raises the ice-attribute by 25%. Contains the essence of the crown. Skill ‘Icicles arrows' will be generated when worn.
Item skill:
Icicles Arrows: Sacrificing 2 MF, 12 ice-type Arrows can be launched dealing a damage to the opponent with a 0.5% chance of freezing him. 0.5% becomes 10% in ice-cold regions.
“Oh, I forgot to wish you. Happy birthday, Lil brother.” My big brother smacked my head while wishing me.
“Thanks.” I quickly wore the bracelet.
We continued to chat. But at one time I discovered my father has quietly left the scene and my elder sister has not spoken a words since gifting me nor that princess, both of them are lost among themselves.. Is so I think.
***
My 4th birthday was truly extravagant. From cutting of cake to dance- everything was amazing and beautifully done. Truly extravagant.
“........... As we to on to celebrate..” My father stops as he looked towards his old comrade, the emperor as he continue “Your Majesty has something to say.”
My father was not using polite form of words- somehow it was half or was it just he wasn’t used to speak politely.. To the king.
The emperor looked young yet older maybe that’s a special charm about him. Although till now he hasn’t said a thing but his presence, grace is enough to leave people in awe. Is this what people call ‘An emperor’s charm.’
Wait! If I use ‘charm' here it would give different meaning.
The emperor had a charisma which didn’t allow anyone to sneer.
“It’s an auspicious occasion as little Axiel has turned 4 this year, I have something to announce..”
Till there he stopped. People became impatient, right, he completely dominated the atmosphere in hall though in a different matter but it still is. No one could remove their eyes from him, their ears impatient.
I think he was natural born leader.
“….An announcement regarding the matter of my second daughter’s marriage.”
The hall went out ‘uproar' though this was ‘uproar’ just a minor mutters among the nobles. Yet was still no less then uproar after all nobles rarely showed any interest towards a particular thing.
But maybe I’m over thinking after all everything related to emperor was a ‘major' matter.
Suddenly the emperor looked at me and smiled.
I’m getting a bad feeling about it.
“Little Axiel come here.”
This bad feeling won’t stop but I did what I was told. I was silently rubbing my hands. Keep calm! Keep calm!
While my heart was throbbing hard, somewhere someone- that would be my father- was looking at me and the emperor full of expectations.
“And the one to marry my second treasure would be little Axiel.”
Right! I guessed it right!
Why did the emperor suddenly declared my marriage? Wait- was it preplanned.
I saw my father. He was brimming with proud and laughter.
It was preplanned!
My mother. Where is sh-? Wasn’t she just a second here?
I soon sure enough got my answer.
She- My mom- was holding a pair of rings. Isn’t that engagement ring!?? Is the engagement supposed to be done right now!!
Waaaaa!! My mind! My mind.. Relax! Relax keep calm..
I felt that I should decline the marriage but my mother’s eyes were full of expectations so were my father’s.
……
In the end. I got engaged. Actually she is a beauty... so I didn't mind.
|
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"series": "10756",
"id": "10762",
"q": 0.7690909090909092,
"title": "The Warlock - Chapter 2 : Arranged?",
"author": "Thebirch",
"chapters": 6,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 6,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adult",
"Adventure",
"Drama",
"Fantasy",
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"Martial Arts",
"Seinen",
"Supernatural"
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"Academy",
"Accelerated Growth",
"Adventurers",
"Age Regression",
"Alternate World",
"Angels",
"Anti-Magic",
"Aristocracy",
"Arranged Marriage"
]
}
|
Another firebolt blasted towards me, this time I was fully prepared. The sensation of strong heat increased as the fire ball closed into me. Dammit! And here I thought everything was going great. I called forth all my strength and dived right.
The fireball as if locked on my position turned it’s direction as well. I saw Trevor had a grim expression, if I survive this, I’ll kill him.
Imbuing all my Aura into the spear, I had decided I’ll take this head on.
With powerful jump, I closed towards Trevor.
What? Who said I’ll take 'fireball' head on?
….
Seeing the prey targeting him, Trevor simply laughed and turned into combat stance. With his left hand he controlled the fireball and instantly increased it speed. The fireball became fiercer as it closed to Axiel.
He became surprised and thought. He had reached a profiency where he easily control the strength and the speed of spell!
Axiel grit his teeth and maneuvered his spear straight to Trevor’s body.
Axiel had decided to kill Trevor regardless of damage done by the spell.
“Fool.”
Trevor casted a defense spell and quickly formed an armor.
The moment the spear connected with Trevor’s body, a huge explosion rung out through the castle.
And as of Axiel he dealt a double damage and finally knew of true despair.
The spell which Trevor casted had reflective damage structure in its spell model because of which Axiel was instantly repelled.
The earlier cover of armor on Trevor was fake.
That’s why mages are hard to predict in battle.
It was clear knowledge that mages sucked at close combat but here seeing Trevor, Axiel’s trust from books had clearly faded.
His back was fully burned.
Even the bracelet failed to protect him.
Axiel had only one chance of defeating Trevor using the knowledge which Trevor was unaware of. And that was Axiel’s power of using magic. Everyone believed he had no talent of magic arts but that was false. Although Axiel didn’t know of any spell but his bracelet did.
It would take all of Axiel’s MF to cast this spell. But seeing Trevor excelled in Flame magic, he knew he had find the best opportunity to launch an attack on Trevor and escape.
Axiel had full understanding that he cannot defeat trevor with measly skill and a spell.
His only option now was to escape even it costs his body from massive injuries.
Axiel glared at Trevor with bloodshot eyes.
Trevor looked aloof, after cracking an evil laughter he said, “Don’t think of any tricks.”
“Don’t think you’ll ever get away with this.”
“Stop wasting your breath. No one can find this castle, even your mother.”
Trevor slowly closed in and said, “Even your bracelet’s spell cannot protect you.”
The moment those words left Trevor’s mouth, Axiel’s face paled and he coughed out blood.
“Hahaha.. that must be a blow on you. You thought no one knew about it. You can never escape from our lord’s eye, the all seeing. Hahahha haha.”
Trevor maniacally laughed.
Is there really no escape? Axiel thought, his final trump card which had been giving assurance to his survival was already known by the enemy.
So what! Even if he had lost the element of surprise he still had the spell.
Trevor came towards him and grilled his foot on Axiel’s face. And said maniacally, “Come on! Show me your face of despair! Show me more helplessness! Hahahha Hahaha…”
He continued, “Once we are done with you. I’ll myself ask lord to give me your mother. Haha I’ll fucked her till death! Haha a..”
Axiel’s eyes suddenly turned sharp with anger. He immediately lash out at Trevor, “Watch your mouth!! I’ll kill you.”
With that he immediately activated the bracelet and launched twelve icicle arrows towards Trevor.
WoosShh!
Seeing those arrows, Trevor cracked a cunning smile. With a flicker of his finger the arrows disintegrated.
“kekeke getting angry over such small insult. You really surprise me.”
He continued.
“Now even your final card is gone, what will you do?”
Axiel really had no way left. Even in this spatial ring there was no such thing except for instant casting Talismanic spell. But activating it required large amount of Spirit Force which he didn’t had. He had no way left to survive.
Now he could only hope for God to show some grace.
Which is close to nonexistent.
Would he really die here?
No! He didn’t want to die!
With strong conviction he tried to get up and pointed his spear at Trevor.
“I’ll kill you!!” Suddenly Axiel closed in with last bit of his strength unto Trevor.
“Haa haha undying will is probably your family’s inheritant power. Too bad you are so weak.”
Strong suppressive Aura came crashing down unto Axiel which instantly slammed him on the floor with a loud “bang”. Blood came out through his throat as he tried to breathe.
Trevor didn’t even moved a single inch of his body, with his Aura alone he had stopped the incoming attack and even retaliated.
“Its becoming boring now. I’ll finish this up.”
With that Trevor casted a huge fire ball. The moment he was about to toss it Axiel something unusual happened.
The Axiel who was lying down with any suddenly stood up. His eyes were devoid of any emotions.
Unknown had started gathering towards Axiel.
“You still had energy left. Eat this!”
The terrifying fire element bursted as it blasted towards Axiel.
Anything which closed in the path of the fireball melted away, even the walls. Such was the terrifying power of the spell.
The moment fireball was inches away from Axiel, suddenly a huge vortex appeared and sucked it in completely.
There was no explosion except the hissing sound of vortex closing in.
Trevor was flabbergasted. “How? What did you do!?”
There was no such information about it in the files given to him by the upper authority.
【Name: Axiel Sylvestr Race: ?? Sex: ??
State : half-conscious(??)
Strength – 50 Agility – 80 Vitality – 100
Magic Force – 90 Spirit Force – 79 】
Axiel lifted his finger and pointed at Trevor.
“Destroy.”
Suddenly there was influx of strange and unknown element, within a second it had gathered around Axiel’s finger ready to be launched at his command.
Trevor quickly turned cautious and increased his mana fluctuations around him.
Without any notice, the energy ball launched towards Trevor with a speed unnoticeable to naked eye but even with that Trevor did something incredible.
He completed a spell within a fraction of second and launched it to meet head on with the energy ball.
Boom!
The two spell collided and a vast amount of mana particles were released. Which further on destroyed the entire section of the castle.
Trevor immediately escaped to safe distance while still monitoring the smoke cloud formed from the explosion.
When the smoke dispersed there was no sign of Axiel left except for large hole in the floor which led to the dungeon within the castle.
Trevor was about to follow when he sensed something and jumped out from the place where he was standing.
The instant he left that place exploded into rubbles.
“Who are you?”
A blurry figure appeared.
The moment Trevor saw this he sighed in relief and said, “So you are just a projection and here I thought the kid’s father came.”
The blurry figure looked at the surrounding and looked at the castle and muttered, “El' mersa sherlom. That kid has went astray.”
“Hey I’m talking to you!”
The blurry figure saw him and sighed, “My appearance means that the kid had forcibly activated nemesis.”
Trevor cautiously looked at the figure. It had been sending him chills down his spine. He didn’t know why but the blurry figure was radiating extremly fearsome power.
Unconsciously Trevor had rubbed his finger few times.
“You.”
The blurry figure pointed to Trevor.
“You smell of him.”
Trevor casted a fireball even larger than previous one.
The flames erupted causing it to form solar flares like of sun. It held incredible power but it was dispersed in a single stroke of burry figure.
“You will regret.”
The blurry figure spoke and disappeared.
….
Axiel felt like he was lost in complete darkness. He wasn’t able to feel his body. Suddenly a warm energy swallowed him.
And a voice resounded. “Grow up in forsaken land.”
With that the entire world crumbled.
There was no sign left of Axiel.
…
Trevor suddenly felt a huge spatial fluctuations.
“Who’s casting dimensional spell?”
Oh no. He thought and quickly rushed to the castle. He jumped into the hole where Axiel disappeared earlier.
There was no sign of life.
“Dammit! That’s why he didn’t attack me. He had only limited energy.”
But Trevor still shuddered at the thought of blurry figure. The number of individuals who can cast dimensional spell at such speed can only be counted by single hand and as for those whose’s even projection can cast such spell existed none- until he saw today.
“What was that existence!? I have to report this to the Lord.”
With that he immediately activated the concealment formation of the castle and was about to leave when he sensed two powerful entities closing in.
Trevor instantly knew who it was and immediately tore the small scale teleportation talisman. It was different from dimensional magic.
He instantly disappeared.
In next second, both the figure appeared.
“Dammit! He used teleportation talisman.” The real trevor immediately cursed upon arrival. He didn’t dared to look at her master’s face.
Liliana currently had the most fierce face she ever had in her life. Storms were raging at her heart, she didn’t hear what he said.
She immediately sensed her son’s Aura inside the castle, without waiting any further she charged inside the castle.
Even though castle was now concealed, it did not stop her son's Aura.
She immediately discovered the concealment formation.
Boom!
Loud explosion rang out as she collided with the formation protecting the castle.
“This… Duke Saxon.. I’ll kill you!”
The moment she collided with the formation she knew whose hand in was. It was hopeless she knew she couldn’t break something of this level but it did not stop here of attacking the formation again.
“Axiel! Axiel my son!!”
She screamed feeling her heart wretched.
Suddenly a large amount mana surgedo out of the castle.
“No!..” Liliana instantly realised what it was.
She immediately gathered all her might, within a second, a huge bluefire sphere formed.
With a “bang” it launched towards the castle. The moment it was about to touchange the formation-
-the castle teleportated.
The bluefire hit the forest behind it and exploded.
The firepower was so devastating atleast half of the forest was gone. Only debris were left.
This was special spell of Liliana because it left no impact rather completely disintegrated matter.
“Noo!!!!”
Liliana felt like as if she had aged a hundred year. Her legs became weak, she was about to fall when her familiar caught her.
“Master…” Trevor started feeling guilty but was immediately interrupted.
“Shut up!”
Liliana was in turmoil. Her thought were affecting her thinking. That’s when she heard a series of mental messages.
“Liliana I’m sorry for being selfish. Your son is safe. By the time you would be receiving this message, I would already used dimensional magic to take him away.”
“No need to worry. He is on another continent by now.”
Liliana when heard this at first was anger but knowing her son safe she sighed in relief but she was still very furious with Aques for sending him another continent. She had decided she would bring him back from that continent. Nothing comes out good when involved with Aques. First was her husband now her son.
Message continued.
“I know you would be thinking of bringing him back but please refrain from doing so. And if even if you do, you won’t find since he is neither of 4 continents.”
She was surprised but her anger overturned her surprise.
“There’s a fifth continent.. separated from this world by barrier which was created by me… it’s a forbidden land.. also known as forsaken land…
….
Forsaken land.
“Young miss, please let’s head back.” A young female voice sounded.
“No! I have to see what was that vortex from earlier. That was so amazing.”
The young miss replied.
“Young miss, it could be dangerous. Please stop running.”
“No.”
Rapid footsteps were heard.
They were in a forest. Surrounding was lush green and dark.
“Young miss, please turn back.”
“Never!.”
The young miss had blonde and was about 8 years of age. She had deep navy blue eyes and was dresses in hunter’s clothing.
Behind her, another girl ofrom 16 years of age in maid uniform was running after her.
Suddenly the young miss stopped.
Seeing her the maids sighed in relief.
“Young miss.. you finally…uh?” The started speaking but suddenly The young miss pointed something.
“That.. is boy”
The direction she pointed was where unconscious Axiel laid with his spear in his hand. He was same as before but only thing different was that his left hand had a strange tattoo which looked like birth mark.
The young miss looked at the boy for full five minutes as if looking a rare creature before she bent down and looked at his face, poking it she said,
“Well, it’s decided then. I’ll take him as my concubine.”
Maid immediately shrieked, “No! Young miss you can’t do that!”
《End of prologue》
|
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"id": "12087",
"q": 0.7690909090909092,
"title": "The Warlock - Chapter 5 : The Forbidden continent",
"author": "Thebirch",
"chapters": 6,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 6,
"genre": [
"Action",
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"Adventure",
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"Academy",
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"Alternate World",
"Angels",
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"Arranged Marriage"
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|
Two figures could be seen standing in an alley. One of them looked like a young man and wore a grey hoodie, the other a young woman wearing jeans and a black windbreaker. The young man reached into a bag he had on his back and pulled out a small bag filled with powder.
''Half of this bag is enough to disable a grown man, nevertheless a young woman completely. Any more and they'll die, you hear me. Slip this into some cups then use a couple of people to hand them the drinks — a guy for Antonio and a girl for Cassy. When it looks like the drug is kicking in, you lure Antonio into one of the rooms.
The young man flashed a wicked smile. ''I'll have someone else take care of the girl.''
''Alright, alright. You've explained to me how to use it and what to do, now where's the money?''
The young man once again reached into the bag, this time pulling out a wad of cash. ''That's two thousand.''
''Pleasure doing business with you.'' The young woman kissed the young man on the cheek and walked off.
The young man removed his hood and sneered. ''I didn't want to do this at first, little brother. It's just that you gave me no choice.''
* * *
Wesley shut off the screen that was recording Jake and Joanna's conversation. He was in his dorm room getting ready for a party one of the wealthy students were throwing when he decided to check his micro-drone for any new relevant information. Wesley laughed while thinking on the plan he had made for Jake. He didn't plan on completely ruining Jake's life just yet, but now he thought differently.
'Bringing Cassy into this is where you f*cked up, Jake.' Wesley could guess what Jake had planned to do to her and thinking of her drugged, limp body being taken advantage of, filled him with rage. 'You love using drugs, huh. I'll have to make sure you get the high of your life.'
''System Interface.'' Wesley opened Tweak Shop and browsed for a few items to include in his new plan. He originally wanted to frame him like Antonio was, but now? Now he wanted to scar him. He wanted Jake to wake up every morning and wail in horror, realizing life was worse than burning in hell for eternity. Wesley looked over the items in his cart.
-Baranov's Serum: When ingested, the serum causes extreme bouts of hallucinations, lasting ten to fifteen hours, at random intervals. Although most of the serum leaves the body after one month, some of it still lingers in the brain, often developing into Schizophrenia.
-2000C
-SK 2309(Silenced): A silenced pistol primarily used by assassins. This weapon was designed to produce 80% less sound than other guns on the market. Gun does not include bullets.
-10000C
-Nanotech Body Armor: Including blast and projectile protection, the Nanotech Body Armor regulates body temperature and masks the user's heat signature. Utilizing a skintight design the armor can be worn under additional armor or clothing. This armor can be equipped with the various mod packs produced by Nanotech.
-40000C
-NTM (Teleportation): One of the many mods designed by Nanotech, this mod is intended to manipulate the space around the user, allowing them to teleport a maximum of twenty meters. This mod, however, is not rechargeable and must be replaced after excessive use.
-10000C
Wesley added a few packs of bullets and nodded his head as he looked over his cart. 'Alright, let's get this show on the road.' He purchased the items and placed them on his bed. Jake had long since changed dorm rooms so he wasn't worried someone might see the items. He held the gun in his hand and loaded it. The design was reminding him of a gun he'd seen in his former life. A gun manufactured by SilencerCo
'This should come in handy.' Wesley knew Jake had bought a used pistol from one of his friend's brothers and planned on being prepared for everything that might happen.
Wesley then looked over the body armor he bought. The Nanotech Body Armor took the shape of a medallion. Wesley removed his clothes and placed the medallion to his chest. As soon as the medallion came in contact with Wesley's chest, it spread and covered his body. He felt his body being covered from his neck to his ankles. Contrary to his expectations the armor didn't hinder his movements in the slightest. He grabbed the other items he had bought and placed them in his storage.
Wesley thought of the two women Jella and Tera, who gave him this system and recalled the conversation they had. 'Prove myself, huh.'
After getting dressed for a second time, Wesley left his dorm room and headed towards Cassy's.
They were leaving for the party together, so he was going to check on her. There was also the issue of convincing her to not drink for the night.
He arrived at her door and gently knocked. ''Cassy can I talk to you for a minute.''
Wesley was standing there for a minute before a response came back. ''Sure. The door is unlocked.''
Wesley walked in and was greeted by two beautiful women. ''Hello, Cassy.''
He looked to his right and gazed at the other woman. ''Hello, Joanna.''
Joanna smiled and pulled a bag out of her purse. She shook it in front of Wesley and chuckled. ''Hello, boss.''
|
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|
''Um, Excuse me.''
Wesley heard a soft voice near his ear. He opened his eyes and saw a young Asian woman holding his clothes. ''Ah, yes. Is there something you need?''
The young woman placed his clothes on the sheets Wesley and Cassy were under and lowered her head. ''I, I have to get to bed. If, If you don't mind, can you leave. I feel a bit uncomfortable with you around.''
Wesley Realized this girl was Cassy's roommate. He sat up while chuckling and nodded his head. ''Sure thing. If you don't mind can you tell me your name? I'm Antonio by the way.'' Wesley left the bed and got dressed. He looked at the young woman, fidgeting nervously and sighed.
The young woman who seemed to come to a conclusion introduced herself. ''My name is Ava.''
Wesley chuckled to himself. 'It took her that long to introduce herself.' He slipped his sneakers on and walked up to her. ''Nice to meet you, Ava. I'm sorry for intruding into your space.'' Wesley felt a little guilty for inconveniencing her. 'I would feel uncomfortable if I walked into my room and saw a half-naked woman I didn't know sleeping in my roommate's bed.'
Ava shook her head. ''No, that's...I was just.''
Wesley saw her timid appearance and exhaled deeply. ''It's okay, you don't have to be so tense around me.'' He walked over to the sleeping Cassy and kissed her on the forehead. ''I'll be going now.'' He said while pulling the sheets over her body.
Ava watched Wesley leave and sighed in relief. Her gaze fell on her roommate who was sound asleep. Unbothered by the world around her. 'But that's my bed!' Ava cried silent tears as she crawled onto Cassy's bed. She was happy to find that it was very comfortable.
Wesley was in his car looking for somewhere to eat breakfast. The food in the canteen was disgusting, and the food court didn't have anything good to eat. He thought of his parents and called Philip, wanting to ask if they had eaten already.
''Hey dad, how's the trip so far?''
Philip sighed. ''Not so great. Your mom has been sulking around the hotel room killing the mood for...ah!'' Before Philip could finish the sentence, a flip-flop hit the back of his head.
Wesley could hear his mom scolding Philip in the background and chuckled.
Sarah picked up the phone and scolded him too. ''You, where have you been? I called you ten times yesterday, and you didn't answer the phone.''
Wesley gulped and checked his call log. He saw all the missed calls from his mother and sighed. 'Why didn't they show up on the front screen?' He cried silent tears in his heart. ''Mother, let me explain. I'll be at the hotel in a few minutes.'' Sadly, the Wrath of an angry mother was something; not even a god could quell. He prayed for himself on the way to the hotel.
* * *
''Pass the goddamn ball, for christ sake!'' Coach Felix was drilling the new varsity members. It has been two months since the tryouts, yet some of the players were still having problems integrating into the team. ''Jake! Get your ass over here!''
Jake snarled as he jogged over to the coach. ''Yes Coach!''
Coach Felix huffed when he saw the young man in front of him. At first, he thought Jake would make a great addition to the team, but two months in, he was still making the same mistakes. ''Listen, boy, I know how much pressure you're under with how fast your brother is climbing the rankings, but you are quite famous in this circle too. You have massively improved since you have joined the team but you're too selfish while on the field. Football is a team sport.''
Jake clenched his fist. These past two months he'd sat on the sidelines while he watched his brother get all of the glory. Even after games where he would score a flashy goal, showcasing his talent, the coach wouldn't put him on the main lineup. ''Coach, even If I passed the ball to them, they wouldn't have been able to score.''
A vain appeared on Coach Felix's forehead. ''That's what I mean by 'your too selfish.' I have given you chances after chances to smarten up and work with the team, but countless times, you have let me down. During games against tough teams, you won't be able to do everything by yourself. They'll put multiple guys on you from the start, and you'll never be able to get the ball. Starting today, you'll be practicing with the JV team. Hopefully, you'll mature enough to play on Varsity in the future.''
''No! You can't remove me from the team! I'm just as good as Antonio, yet the treatment is so different.'' Jake was livid. ''Its Antonio isn't it? He asked you to suppress me didn't he?''
A vein bulged on Coach Felix's forehead. ''You, who do you think you are? A pro level athlete? You're a college player playing on my team. You are a freshman on Varsity, is this not enough for you? Have you ever watched your brother play? I believe you know better than me how much he values teamwork. I have personally witnessed how hard he works during practice, how easily he integrates into the team, and how much he has helped his fellow teammates improve. If you would just play the game like it's supposed to be played, you would be right next to him. You would have already become a star player. Sadly you're too caught up in your own world. You aren't ready for varsity yet.'' Coach Felix walked away, not wanting to continue the conversation.
Jake felt his heart rate rising. He gritted his teeth and looked towards the ground. 'This is all Antonio's fault. If only he weren't around, I would have long since become the top player. I would have been on my way to the top.' Jake's expression twisted as he left towards the locker room. 'I'll have what belongs to me. No matter what.' Jake pulled his phone out of his bag and called a number. ''Hello, Joanna.''
* * *
Wesley was on the sidelines drinking some water and had heard the entire conversation Jake had with the coach. He recalled the dumb look on Jake's face and laughed to himself.
He thought over the events that happened these last couple of months and smiled. He had risen through the individual rankings and was the highest ranked goal scorer in the NCAA so far. Not only that, he helped his team build a monstrous reputation before the NCAA soccer championship.
Wesley recalled how Jake had been lying low the past couple of months and wasn't provoking him much. He had taken Jake's spot as the star player of the team and expected him to continually stir up trouble, but that didn't happen. Instead, Jake jumped right into plotting how to ruin his life. Wesley, however, had played it safe, buying a micro-drone from the system to track and record Jake's movements. Through the micro-drone, Wesley had more than enough material to ruin Jake's reputation. He just needed Jake to act on his plans, a development that shouldn't happen until next year.
|
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|
''And with that, the opening ceremony is concluded.''
Cyril yawned and sat up from his seat. The opening ceremony was ridiculously long, mostly due to the fact that the headmaster's speech was unnecessarily long-winded. 'Let's see.' He opened his terminal and looked through the information pertaining to his housing. Because today was the first day there were no classes.
'Rose grounds, huh.' Cyril left the hall and started making his way to the dorms. He didn't know who his roommates were just yet and hoped they won't be too much of a nuisance during his first year. The walk towards his dorm was peaceful as he observed the beautiful campus. Although he had gotten amazing looks from almost everyone he passed no one attempted to bother him or stop him to start up a conversation.
He gazed at the two-story building in front of him and smiled. It wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. He observed the almost invisible forcefield surrounding the residence and smiled contentedly. The building was fairly new and seemed to be outfitted with the newest technology the alliance had to offer. Then again, this was a first-class institution, housing countless heirs to nobles across the alliance, there is no way they would skimp on the security. He slowly approached the front gate and placed his hand on the scanner.
''Cyril Domraud. ID number 00487'' The console on the gate registered his arrival and released a low-frequency hum.
~Cyril Domraud, ID number 00487 Recognized. Your key has been transferred.~
Cyril checked his terminal inbox and activated the key, this will allow him to enter and leave the residence without calling out his ID number out and scanning his hand. He gathered his thoughts as the gate opened revealing a stunning courtyard. 'This might not be as bad as I had previously thought.' He walked up to the doors and waited as the security system scanned his body. Once again he heard a hum as the security system registered his body scans. The doors slid open and he was greeted by a small android.
~Greetings. I am Pif, your personal service droid. All your luggage has been moved to your room. Follow me, please.~
Cyril observed the small droid as it led him to his room. ''Do you know who else will be staying here, Pif?''
The droid continued leading him as it spoke. ''Besides you, there are three others. The first is a Martian-born named~
* * *
Kelle sighed as he entered the dorm. The girl he had a crush on suddenly stopped calling him, saying that she had a fiance and it would be wrong to continue contacting him. He knew she wanted to be with him but couldn't for whatever reason and that made him angry. 'Why couldn't she choose who she wanted to marry? Why can't I do anything to help her?' As he was now, he had no power, no sway in these matters. Hell, he wasn't even eligible to consider marrying her until he became a general. All he could do was clench his fist and hope she would wait for him.
''You seem quite out of it.'' Kelle snapped out of his daze and looked in the direction of the voice he had just heard. When his eyes reached the young man before him, he gasped. 'Ares!' He had passed many Ares on the way here but none of them looked like this one. From the jewelry he wore to the uniform he wore, everything about him was beautiful and delicate yet fierce and noble. The Ares youth flashed him a smile and extended his hand. ''It's nice to meet you. I'm Cyril, Cyril Domraud.''
Kelle extended his hand and tried his best to smile in front of the dazzling man. Something about him lit a fire in his very being. It was as if this young man in front of him was his other half, a rival that would push him to his greatest heights. ''My name is Kelle. I hope we can get along.''
''See, I told you he wouldn't be anybody special. He's just a Martian-born'' A young man with black hair and blue eyes stated. He was speaking to an Ares with short red hair and emerald green eyes much like the core on his forehead.
''Much like yourself.''
''What did you say to me you little shit? I'm the second son of the Milkey Way Federation's Marshal.''
''Like that amounts to anything. Your father's term ends in a few years anyway. Unlike my father, the ruler of the Ares Empire.''
Kelle just stood there as the two bigshots argued it out. He clenched his fist as he thought of the future. 'Soon enough, I'll be up there too. Then no one will be able to look down on me.'
* * *
Cyril smiled knowingly. He knew exactly what Kelle was thinking in that brain of his. 'Soon enough, Yah. No one is gonna look down on me anymore, Yah.' He chuckled as he left the white-haired, red-eyed boy and sat near the two ego-maniacs. They quieted down and stared as he sat down. He smirked as he eyed the two bickering boys. ''Now that everyone's here why don't we introduce ourselves. I'm Cyril Domraud, Heir to the Domraud family and son of the prime minister of the Ares Empire.'' Cyril cringed in his mind as he introduced himself. Sadly, the only way to get some respect from these two was too flaunt his weight around. Even more so, for the Ares prince, considering he knows the truth that his 'royal' family holds no real power.
The Ares Prince scowled and responded. ''I'm sure you know my name already, Domraud.'' Seeing as Cyril didn't respond to his provocation he clicked his tongue and introduced himself. ''Viron de Ares''
Cyril nodded his head and looked towards the human who emitted waves of arrogance. ''And you?''
''Herman, Herman Ford'' Responded the black haired boy.
''Good now that we're acquainted, let's eat. I have a list of recommendations for restaurants around the city and I'm eager to try one out. It's all on me.'' He smiled and turned his attention to Kelle. ''You can come too. The more the merrier, Kelle.''
Kelle wore a stiff smile. ''Of course, I'll come.''
Cyril returned Kelle's smile and connected to his terminal. ''Great. You all won't mind if I bring my fiance, will you?''
Viron scoffed ''I don't care.'' Herman seemed to share Viron's answer since he didn't respond and Kelle just shook his head.
Cyril sneered inwardly. ''Good. I'll call Sala now.'' He started balling internally as the look on Kelle's face morphed and flashed with various emotions. 'Oh man, this is going to be a great dinner no doubt.'
|
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Cyril looked at himself in the mirror and softly sighed. The core that sat in the middle of his forehead flickered as he scrutinized his new academy uniform. The uniform consisted of a white blazer with golden buttons and the academy insignia on the right shoulder, a black button-down dress shirt, black pants, and black loafers. It wasn't too fancy of a uniform, and it felt just right for Cyril. The real problem was a certain something his mother had entrusted his maids to give to him. 'Do I have to wear this?' He thought while staring at the piece of jewelry in front of him. It was a beautiful golden headpiece meant to latch onto his core and rest on his forehead. Cyril sighed once more and grabbed the headpiece. He gently placed it on his core and felt it fasten on without resistance. He looked in the mirror one last time then left the bathroom.
Standing near the exit of his room stood his two maids, Elizabeth and Emelia. They walked up too him slowly and gave small bows. ''You look wonderful, Prince Cyril.''
Cyril rolled his eyes. ''Elizabeth, outside of the estate you are to refer to me as Young Master. You know that the little prince of the royal family is attending the academy with me this year and we wouldn't want any unnecessary conflict so soon would we?''
The maid shook her head. ''My apologies, Young Master. It was a slip of the tongue.'' She said with a bright smile on her face.
Cyril could help but chuckle at the maid's antics. He knew that she was just messing with him at this point. After all, what type of highly trained maid would have slips of the tongue? ''Alright, let's head out. The opening ceremony starts in a few hours, and I would like to make a good first impression.''
The maids nodded in agreement and led him towards the Hangers. There were a few small jets and cruisers position at the back of the ship. One of which, Cyril would be riding to the opening ceremony.
The walk to the hangar was somewhat entertaining, to Cyril. He had met most of the crew over the two-day journey to the academy and built up a reputation for being a kind and approachable noble.
While saying his temporary goodbyes, there were even a few who broke out into tears. Something that startled him considering how little time he had to connect with his crew. Seriously, it had only been two days. Never the less, he was happy to see so many people sending him off.
''You sure are loved by your crew, Young Master,'' Emelia said with not a single change in her expression. It didn't bother him though since he knew that Emelia was somewhat emotionally constipated.
Elizabeth smiled brightly. ''That's because Young Master has changed so much. He's like a charismatic general from one of those old war movies. Someone you can't help but respect and follow.''
Cyril chuckled and put his hands behind his head. ''I haven't changed that much. For all you know, this could just be a front.''
Elizabeth pouted, wanting to retort. Sadly they had reached their destination.
''We're here.''
''Do you know which cruiser you would like to ride in, Young Master?''
Cyril gazed over his selection of cruisers and picked one randomly. He didn't know much about futuristic cars, so he based his decision mostly on the aesthetics of the vehicle. ''I'll take this one.''
The cruiser he chose was a luxury model designed for high-level executives. Not only that, the car had been fiddled around with by his family's engineers to the point that it was virtually indestructible.
Emelia gave a soft smile at Cyril's choice. She had initially thought he would go for one of the sport's cruisers in an attempt to show off. ''Good choice, Young Master.''
Cyril and Elizabeth stared blankly at Emelia, their mouths wide open. ''D-Did she just?''
Elizabeth nodded her head furiously.''Yes, Young Master. I think she did.''
Emelia ignored them and called the other drivers. She already had an escort team ready so that Cyril wouldn't be waiting too long.
. . .
''Young Master, we have arrived.''
Cyril opened his eyes slowly, still feeling the effects of the nap he had taken. The ride to the academy took much longer than he had expected. Not only was the school an hour away, but there were also checkpoints almost every ten minutes. He yawned and looked at the sight in front of him, and as soon as he saw it, he froze. ''Beautiful. Are sure this is an academy and not a religious sanctuary?''
Elizabeth chuckled and nodded. ''Yes, Young Master. The Dublin Academy of war is a very prestigious institution with students coming here from almost every colony in the galaxy. With that many students, academy grounds must always be flawless and breathtaking.''
Cyril smiled. ''Amazing. With a campus like this, I wouldn't mind repeating a year.''
Elizabeth's mouth opened wanting to say something but stopped herself before she spoke. Although she and her master joked, she didn't want to overstep her bounds.
The master in question laughed at her reaction. Although they played a lot, there were always moments where she would freeze up like that, thinking she shouldn't say something based on her status. ''Liz, speak your mind when you are with me. I never want you to think that you can't say something in fear of my reaction.'' Liz nodded her head silently then flashed a beautiful smile. Cyril returned her smile with his own.
''Young Master, We're at the drop-off.''
''Very well. You both are adding the finishing touches to my new residence aren't you?'' He said with a gentle expression on his face. Liz nodded her head. ''that is good. I'll see you both when I get home.'' The door was opened by a tall well built Ares, and Cyril stepped out facing a crowd of curious eyes.
Liz felt like she was supposed to tell Cyril something but whatever it was slipped her mind. She shrugged and watched her Young Master's back. Suddenly she remembered. ''OH SHIT!''
. . .
Cyril was walking towards the opening ceremony using a map he installed on his terminal. Something like a campus GPS was guiding him. He tried his hardest to ignore all the stares he was getting, but all the attention was slowly getting to him. After all, when he retired from soccer, he lived a secluded life with Cassy, not bothering with the press or any media outlets. 'I knew I shouldn't have worn this damn headpiece.' He thought the start of his day couldn't get any worse until a certain maid's face popped up in front of him calling his terminal. He put his middle and index finger to his terminal and answered the call.
''Hello? Liz, is there something wrong?''
''...''
''Liz?''
''Yourmothersaidthatshewantsyoutoomakefriendsattheschool.Soshedidn'tabuseherpowertoletyoustayoutsideofthedorms.''
''I'm sorry. What?''
''You won't be able to live outside of the campus until your second year. Your mother wants you to make friends.''
Cyril didn't speak. He hung up the call and looked up towards the sky while taking deep breathes. He closed his eyes and felt the nature surrounding him. Sadly, the rage in his body only grew stronger.
. . .
The Ares students were all staring at a beautiful Ares youth standing still and looking towards the sky. Contrary to one's expectations, what drew their attention was not the beautiful youth's looks, but the jewelry on his forehead called the Sùil Dhè. Almost all noble Ares or Humans with high importance know that there are only two people that can wear the Sùil Dhè. The Crown Prince and the Domraud Heir.
Word had already spread of the Crown Princes arrival which only meant one thing. This person was the Domraud Heir.
|
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Wesley wasn't surprised by Joanna's appearance, mostly because she has been working for him for a while. When analyzing the memories, Wesley came to find out that Joanna had been working for Jake and that their relationship was just a front.
When fishing through the storyline, this always stood out to him. Joanna seemed to be drugged along with him that night and was indeed raped. He knew that no matter how much Joanna loved money, she wouldn't voluntarily let herself be drugged and violated for a few thousand dollars. Although Joanna has played a part in Antonio's demise, Wesley felt that she had already paid a terrible price for her actions.
Wesley looked towards Cassy and sighed. Seeing Joanna was here, he knew that Cassy must have come up with some crazy scenario in her mind. ''So how did you two end up acquaintances?''
Cassy looked down in embarrassment. A faint blush was spreading over her face. ''I thought you were cheating on me. So I confronted her a few weeks ago.'' She lifted her head and glared at Joanna. ''She told me about how she was working for you and how you have kept your interactions strictly professional.''
Joanna coughed and looked towards Cassy with a fearful expression. You could see the sweat dripping from her forehead. ''Yes. Our relationship is a very professional one.''
Wesley nodded then changed the subject. He grabbed the bag Joanna was holding and turned to Cassy. ''You probably know this already, but please refrain from drinking anything tonight. Joanna got this bag from Jake. He planned to drug us both.''
Cassy clenched her fist, a vicious glint in her eyes. ''What reason would he have to do something like that?'' Cassy was confused. She knew that Jake was always jealous of Antonio, but why would he take it this far.
Wesley shook his head. ''That's just the type of person he is. For as long as I have known him, his jealousy has been toxic.'' He sighed and sat down on the sofa. ''Well, let's forget about Jake for the time being. I have my ways of handling the situation and this time he's not getting off scot-free.''
''Why don't we get something to eat.'' The party starts at eight, but Wesley didn't want to be there early. He'd instead grab something to snack on than worry about Jake.
Cassy and Joanna were both hungry and didn't mind going out to eat. Cassy smiled. I know just the place.
* * *
Inside of a modern mansion, music was blasting and bodies were moving. Wesley navigated himself to the second floor, bringing Cassy with him. ''It's quite amazing, isn't it. How extravagant the rich get to live.''
Cassy chuckled and squeezed Wesley's arm. ''I'm sure we'll be living in a house twice as big as this one in the future.'' She let go of Wesley's arm and looked him in the eyes. ''Besides, even if we don't become multi-millionaires, who's to say we won't be comfortable.''
Wesley smiled and laid a kiss on her lips. ''You've got it all planned out, huh? So you plan on living the rest of your life with me?''
Cassy chuckled and wrapped her arms around Wesley's neck. ''Is that a proposal, Antonio?'' A slow song started playing, giving the surrounding area a romantic feeling. Cassy whispered to herself. ''Even if it weren't, I wouldn't let you leave my side, to begin with.'' A dangerous light flashed from Cassy's eyes.
Wesley moved to the tempo of the song, his arms wrapped around Cassy's waist. He leaned towards her ear and gently placed his lips on her earlobe, playfully biting it. He whispered in a deep magnetic voice. ''You said you wouldn't let me leave you, but I will never let you leave my side.'' He moved his attention to her lips once more and couldn't help himself from seizing them. ''Don't blame me for going overboard in the future. After all, you're the one who made me like this.''
Cassy softly moaned and put her lips to Wesley's Adam's apple. ''Let's go somewhere more isolated.'' She saw the hesitation on his face and spoke in a coquettish tone. ''Please.''
Wesley was about to answer when he saw a familiar face through the crowd. ''Jake's here.''
Cassy looked back and glared in Jake's direction. The atmosphere was great, and she had become excited only to be interrupted by Jake's unwanted appearance. ''It's ok. Handle it.''
Wesley sighed and kissed Cassy on the cheek. ''It won't be long. Trust me.'' He pulled out his phone and dialed Joanna's number while climbing the stairs to the third floor. Now that Jake had made it into the building, they could start their plan.
''Hello, Joanna. Jake is on the second floor. Get him and take him to the room upstairs at the end of the hall.'' Wesley narrowed his eyes while glaring at the clueless Jake. ''Tell him that you took care of me and that Cassy is already in a room passed out.''
Joanna replied in a crisp, clean tone. ''No problem. Will you be waiting in the room?''
Wesley smiled. ''Yeah. I've got a great gift waiting for him.'' He made it to the room and let himself in. After checking that no one was in the room, Wesley retrieved his pistol from his space, also pulling out Baranov's Serum. He chuckled as he watched the bubbles rise to the top of the vial, wondering how Jake would react as he poured the serum down his throat.
'Starting today, I'll have you experience hell.'
|
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|
Cyril stood outside of his father's office. From the memories he had received, the relationship he had with his father was quite peculiar. He stood for a while then attempted to knock on the door, keyword; attempted. Before his hand could hit the door, it slid open, and a shadow shot out straight for him.
''CYRIL!!!'' Cillian Moreau-Domraud, Head of the Ares Military, wrapped his arms around Cyril and cried out. ''I missed you so much, my wonderful son.''
''You saw me this morning, father.'' Cyril rolled his eyes as he sighed. This is why he hesitated to knock on the door. This touchy-feely mama bear of a father made him cringe.
Cillian chuckled and rubbed his son's hair. ''Please. A few hours away from my wonderful heir is like living in torture for years.'' The jewel on his head flickered as he held his son. ''Plus, the servants have told me you started your maturing phase early. I would have come for you immediately if it wasn't for that cold hearted mother of yours.''
''That what?'' A cold voice came out from the room. Cyril sighed and spoke out.
''Greetings, Mother.'' Cyril smiled. He released himself from his father's mama bear hug and gave her a bow. ''I have come for Father to discuss my academy admittance. If I knew you were here, I would have come for you instead. ''
Elise Domraud, the current Prime Minister and head of the Domraud Family, didn't respond to her son and instead pulled him into her embrace. She hugged him tight then threw a glare at her husband. ''Answer me Cillian. That what?''
Cillian felt the temperature around him freeze. He gulped and fell to the ground kneeling. ''Forgive me my wonderful, beautiful, brave, strong, and Ethereal Empress. This lowly one knows his mistake.''
Elise flashed a cold smile. ''Leave and wait for me on the 5th floor. I'll show you how cold I can be.''
Cyril laughed as he saw his father run off. He wondered how he courted such a woman in the first place. ''Mother. Can we talk? there are some things I want to do before the academy starts.''
''Anything for you sweety. Come, let's go to my office.''
. . .
''So what is it you would like to talk about?''
Cyril smiled and picked up the tea in front of him. ''There are a few things, but first and foremost, I want to be engaged to Sala.'' There are reasons why Cyril wants to be engaged with Sala. One of them being Kelle and Sala have already been in contact for a few weeks. Kelle had saved her in the past when Sala was attacked after she snuck out of the hotel she was staying in. This helped her develop some feelings for Kelle after she kept in contact with him. The engagement will allow Cyril to cause trouble for Kelle under the guise of defending his fiance.
''Tch. I knew I shouldn't have let that slut stay in contact with you. I should have forbid her from visiting you the moment I was sure you liked her.'' Elise said, her voice laced with regret. ''Honey, listen to me. I don't think you should be engaged to her. You don't need to be engaged to anyone, you should stay home with us ok?''
Cyril's mouth gaped open. What the hell is with this family? ''Please elaborate mother.''
Elise sighed and put her cup down. ''Honey, that girl has a man she likes. I have been keeping tabs on her ever since you met her, so I know the truth. Not only has she led you on for so many years, but she also has a few other boys she ''plays'' with from time to time. That slut's only saving grace is that she has managed to keep her chastity through all of her little ''play sessions''. Now that she has found a guy she liked she monitors him day and night collecting all of his photos like a stalker. This girl is not someone I plan to accept in a million years.''
Cyril stared wide-eyed at his mother. 'Are you f*cking kidding me?' He thought as he remembered all of Cyril's memories with Sala. He almost died from the second-hand shame while recalling them. His mother was right. In nearly all of his memories with Sala, she was trying to seduce and manipulate him. He could only shake his head at how dense the original Cyril had been. He sneered in his mind as he formulated a new plan.
He wore a sad expression as he spoke.''I still want the engagement, mother. When I am done with school and graduate, we can cancel it. Can you please give me this little happiness. I have been in love with her for so long. I want to see what it would be like to finally be with her.''
Elise teared up and grabbed her son's hand. 'My poor baby!' She thought. ''Are you sure? I don't want to see you hurt. I have watched you do everything. Your first steps, your first words, the first time you touched y-y... I mean your first tutoring session.''
Cyril almost fell off his seat. 'What the hell is wrong with this family? And f*ck you OG Cyril. 'He thought as a tense silence filled the room. He moved from his seat and hugged his mother. ''I'm sure. You want what's best for me, but I'm maturing now. You need to let me handle situations in my life from time to time. And stop watching me all the time!''
''Alright honey, I let you two get engaged but If she continues acting like she is while your engaged, I'll have her entire family ruined.'' She said with a stern look on her face.
''Don't worry, mother. I'll handle it.''
Elise sighed in acceptance. ''What else do you need, honey?''
''There are two more things I need. One is a military grade terminal with 2nd level clearance. The second is a residence near the Academy. The residence needs three underground levels and four floors above ground. If we can buy one of the properties near the school, we can demolish the current building and use the construction drones to build over it. I can bring you a design tonight with a list of everything I want the building outfitted with.''
This time it was Elise that was shocked. ''I-I can get you all of those things, honey. For the Domraud family, those requests are nothing.''
Cyril smiled and hugged his mother once more. ''Thank you, mother. I love you so much.'' He left The office and began walking towards where Sala was waiting for him with a stern look on his face. 'I would have found all your dirty secrets eventually, Sala. Now that I know your true face let's play.'
|
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|
''WTF!''
Knock Knock Knock
''Honey, are you ok in there.'' Hearing her son yell so loudly, Antonio's mother stood outside the door with a worried look on her face.
''I'm alright mom. I just saw a big spider.''
For a split second, Wesley had lost his composure. Infinite credits? Who would be able to stay sane after seeing that? Checking your balance and finding 10 trillion would be more believable than seeing an infinity sign for a balance.
'Might as well check if it's real right?'
Pulling up the item's catalog, Wesley wasn't surprised by the items in the shop. What did catch his eyes where the restrictions on certain items. Some of the more expensive items had World Restrictions on them, meaning that Wesley couldn't use them in lower class worlds like this one. After scrolling for a while, he found an item that looked suitable for his experiment.
-Dragon's Greed: Provides the user with a storage space that can hold up to 600,000 tons, not including organic life forms. Also comes with a weight transfer option.
-1,500,000C
'A storage space will come in handy in the future.' Wesley decided this item will be his first purchase. When he clicked on the purchase item icon the light inside of the bathroom seemed to amplify by ten times. At the same time, he felt a burning pain in his right arm.
''Aaaargh!'' Wesley screamed in agony as something burned itself onto his body. A bright red mark taking the form of a Chinese dragon appeared on his forearm then coiled itself around his arm reaching his shoulderblade. Gasping for breath, Wesley clenched his arm praying for the pain to stop.
Knock Knock Knock
''Tony! What's wrong? Please open up the door, you're worrying me.'' Antonio's mother stood outside the door again. After hearing her sons screams of pain, she'd thought he might be dying in there.
''I'm okay mom. I stubbed my toe and screamed to release some of the pain. I'll be out in a minute.''
Wesley clenched his teeth as the pain started receding. He cursed internally, wondering why all the products of higher tier worlds caused so much pain when used. He took his shirt off and looked at the mark on his arm. Seeing the size of the design, he couldn't help but sigh. 'How am I going to explain this to the parents.' He thought.
After washing up and changing into a new pair of clothes Wesley made his way towards the kitchen. Not bothering to cover up the ''tattoo'' on his arm he walked into the kitchen and sat down at the head of the table. Ignoring the surprised look on his Mother's face, he reached for a plate and began stacking it with food. The assimilation with Dragon's Greed drained a lot of his stamina.
Sarah, Antonio's Mother, looked at him with shock. When she saw the huge red tattoo on her son's arm, she was at a loss for words. Luckily her husband, Philip, broke the silence and asked their son about the tattoo first.
''When did you get that? It's pretty cool.'' Philip said with a mouth stuffed with pancakes.
Sarah glared at her husband then looked at Wesley with a complicated look. ''You don't plan on getting anymore do you?''
Seeing his mother's troubled look, Wesley flashed a mischevious grin and decided to mess with her. ''Yup I plan on getting my whole face covered and then I'll...'' Before he could finish speaking, his mom threw one of her flip-flops at him and whacked him upside the head.
She glared at him. ''You will do no such thing. That one will be your first and last.''
Philip started laughing, and so did Wesley. Philip was in the midst of reaching for another sausage when he got hit with a flip-flop too. Wesley felt like he was about to die from laughter after seeing his father clenching his head looking as if he'd been wronged.
Wesley grabbed a pancake and put it on his mother's plate. ''Mom, you know I was joking, right? getting this tattoo hurt like hell, so rest assured I'm not getting another one.''
''Language!'' Sarah reached for her foot only to realize she threw both of her flip-flops already.
Wesley and Philip started laughing again filling the room with a lighthearted atmosphere. Jake, on the other hand, stayed quiet, watching his family conversate as if he was a stranger.
After breakfast, Wesley and Jake got ready to move into their college dorms. Wesley packed up all the new clothes he'd gotten as a gift and threw them into his car. Antonio had won a black 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee in a raffle a year ago, and although it wasn't completely free, his parents helped pitch in to pay the taxes and insurance. Not wanting to be driven to school by his little brother, Jake saved up his money from working and got a used 2004 chevy colorado. Because Jake and Wesley were going to be roommates, Sarah had all the heavy things put in Jake's truck.
After an emotional sendoff, Wesley and Jake hit the road. The drive there would take four hours, so Wesley stopped by a supermarket to get some snacks. While contemplating whether he should buy Peppered or Teriyaki Jerky Wesley's phone rang, recognizing the name displayed on the phone he smirked and answered the call.
''Hey Babe.'' The woman on the other end of the phone spoke with a seductive tone. She was Antonio's ex, and if he remembered correctly, they split with no hard feelings and were still close friends. Very close friends at that.
''Hello Cassy. You must need my help with something if you're calling me this early. Trying to schedule a D.A.?'' Wesley grinned.
Cassy chuckled. ''You wish, creep. Can you give me a ride with you to the campus? My stuff has already been shipped to the dorms, but my mom's car broke down.''
''Sure, but you owe me.''
Wesley grabbed both the jerky bags and left the store after grabbing a few more snacks and refreshments. He didn't waste time because something amusing was going to happen when Jake reached the campus.
When Wesley pulled up to Cassy's house, she was already standing outside. He rolled down the window and watched her figure as she approached his car. She was stunning. Her long red hair paired with her gorgeous figure was quite the feast for the eyes. She had a few freckles on her cheeks and nose that did nothing but add to her exotic charm.
''You look beautiful today.'' Although those words slipped out of his mouth, he wasn't embarrassed or ashamed. He maintained eye contact and watched her reaction to his words.
She chuckled and opened the door. ''And you look quite handsome today Mr. Wild. Is that a real tattoo?''
Wesley wore a seductive smile. ''Yeah. You like it?''
Cassy sat down and got comfortable. She reached for his arm and caressed it, still maintaining eye contact. ''I like it very much. Did it hurt?''
Wesley leaned in, his lips touching her ear. With a deep magnetic voice, he whispered. ''Like hell.''
Cassy shivered. Intoxicated she leaned in closer, bringing her lips to his, but contrary to her expectations Wesley nipped her bottom lip and backed away. ''Tch. Tease.''
Wesley chuckled and put his hand on her thigh.''Not now. We have a show to get to.'' He smiled and pulled off.
'This is where it begins. Let's see if the protagonist's halo is as strong as the SO's say it is.'
_________________________________
Ko-fi.com/good_neighbor
https://www.patreon.com/Good_Neighbor
|
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|
Wesley woke up to a beauty staring at him. Cassy had long since woken up and was watching him sleep.
''Mmmh, good morning.'' Pulling her into his embrace, Wesley kissed her neck a chin a couple of times. His extracurricular activities exhausted any energy reserves he had left.
Cassy chuckled and kissed him back. ''It's still the afternoon, silly. Let's get something to eat.''
Wesley rolled onto his back and yawned. ''Sure. I saw this cool looking Mexican restaurant on the way here, wanna go there?''
She rolled her eyes and stood up from the bed, not bothering to cover up. ''Sure. I know a good bar two miles from the campus. If you brought your fake ID with you, we could go there for a couple of drinks after we eat.''
Wesley got up from the bed and walked towards his discarded clothing items.'' Oh please, do I look like I need an fake ID.''
Cassy rolled her eyes and retorted. ''You don't look over forty, so I think the answer to your question is yes.''
Laughing all the way, Wesley put on his pants then pulled Cassy into his embrace. ''Sounds like a plan.''
* * *
As the two were getting dressed a conversation was happening right outside their room. Three women and a young man were talking about the sounds they heard an hour ago.
''Did you hear those moans from room 112? He must have a massive pair doing something like that on moving day.''
''Yeah. I know this is a Co-ed dorm but jeez.''
''I wonder what the girl looks like. She's probably ugly.''
''This is the freshmen floor, right? Aren't first-year students supposed to be struggling with the campus Geography and orientations? And this guy's just out here f*cking on the first day?'' When the young women finished speaking a finger poked her shoulder.
''Got a problem with...'' before he could finish a flip-flop hit him upside the head.
''Close the door and put a goddamn shirt on!'' Cassy yelled. She was still in her undergarments only wearing a t-shirt.
The young woman's mouth gaped open. The man in front of her was very handsome. His body looked like that of pro athletes, and he had a tattoo on his arm. Was this a freshman in college? She hurriedly introduced herself as to not be rude. ''I'm...I'm sorry for bothering you! My name is Hayley.''
Wesley laughed. ''Don't worry about it, I'm Antonio. Sorry for making so much noise earlier. I'll stuff her mouth when I...'' Once again he was hit upside the head with a flip-flop before he could finish speaking. Wesley paused. 'Do the women of this world have the power to summon flip-flops?'
Haley laughed and bid farewell. She felt being nosey would be rude seeing as they didn't really know each other and left with her friends. Perhaps they'll meet each other in the future, after all, they live in the same building.
Wesley closed the door and turned towards Cassy. ''You ready to go?''
She walked up to him and playfully poked his chest.''Are you ready?''
Wesley coughed. It seems that he forgot to put a shirt on. After throwing a shirt on, grabbed his wallet and keys, ready to end the night on a good note. While walking out of the dorm, Wesley called his mother. He felt he should tell her everything that happened with Jake.
After ringing for a few minutes, Sarah picked up the phone. Wesley recounted everything that happened with the crash and how Jake was in the hospital but not in serious condition. He also told her that Jake might be in jail for a few days because he was extremely drunk when he'd crashed into them.
Although Sara was concerned that her sons were in a crash, after hearing both got out of it with barely any injuries she was relieved. When she heard that Jake was drunk and caused the accident, almost killing himself, Antonio, and Cassy she was enraged and sad. She didn't understand why her son had been so reckless, endangering those around him.
After hearing the whole story, Sarah told Wesley her and his Father would be there by tomorrow. She wanted to see her sons immediately as if she'd lose them if she didn't. Wesley sighed. He knew that this mother of his would be sad if one of her sons became a deadbeat, but a task was a task. Jake had ruined Antonio's life, so it was only fair that Wesley did the same to Jake. This was a dog eat dog world, and if you're prepared to ruin someone's life, you should be prepared to have your own life ruined.
* * *
''Are going to try out for the varsity soccer team?''
Wesley smiled. ''Yeah. Tryouts start tomorrow. Hopefully, I'm good enough to become a starter.''
Although Wesley said 'hopefully' he had full confidence in making the team as a starter. Antonio was originally a genius level soccer player. That paired with Wesley's new system meant his potential was limitless. The only thing he needed to worry about was the protagonist. If the protagonist halo were truly as strong as it was rumored to be, Wesley would have to stay on high alert.
Wesley grabbed Cassy's hand and looked her in her bright green eyes. He hadn't told her, it was his own brother that had almost killed them but now the news was out. What was the use of being worried? ''I'm Sorry for not telling you.''
Cassy scoffed at his apology.''Why are you apologizing? Your brother was the one who almost killed us. Even if you didn't tell me, I saw him get arrested. Surely he wouldn't get away scotfree, so everything had been taken care of already.'' She had never needed him to tell her in the first place. She had seen Jake's truck so many times, how could she not notice it was him?
Wesley laughed at himself. She was right, Why was he apologizing? Even he didn't know. ''Alright, Let's get those tacos.''
* * *
Wesley had just gotten back from a night of eating and drinking and was exhausted. Walking towards the bathroom, he was ready to release himself from the pain in his bladder when a notification appeared before his eyes.
[Jella] [You're having quite the time down there I see.]
''Oh, Fuck me!'' Wesley was frightened by the notification. Not because of its sudden appearance but because of the name next to the message. He hurriedly finished pissing and ran out of the bathroom to the couch.
[Jella] [You didn't wash your hands...Or flush the toilet.]
''Are you fucking serious...Uh! Whatever.'' Wesley ran back into the bathroom and washed his hands. Remembering to flush the toilet, he washed his hands a second time.
[Jella] [Open your Axis Chat. We're waiting for you.]
_________________________________
Ko-fi.com/good_neighbor
https://www.patreon.com/Good_Neighbor
|
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Wesley was sitting in a hospital room with his mother and father. Jake was unconscious on the bed, looking as if he was in a coma.
''Please tell me this situation isn't as serious as the cops are making it seem.'' Sarah looked downwards and covered her face, tears pouring out of her eyes.
Wesley shook his head and sighed. ''I'm sorry mom. I should have looked out for him. I, I never thought he would be doing those things.'' He wrapped his arm around his mother and squeezed.
Sarah cried much harder, burrowing her face into Wesley's shoulder. ''My baby, my Jake! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!''
Philip clenched his fist and shut his eyes. He thought back on the times he spent with his two sons. 'Jake. I'm sorry I couldn't help you.' A frown was plastered on Philip's face. He always knew his son wasn't the nicest kid, but date rape drugs and a gun? Not only that, Jake was as high as the sky when the authorities found him. ''We showed Jake so much love. We gave him the discipline he needed growing up.'' Philip covered his face with his head and spoke in a loud tone. ''Where did we go wrong?''
Wesley sighed in his heart. ''It's ok dad. Jake chose this path himself. you aren't responsible.''
Philip stood up from his seat and shook his head. ''Still, I feel like I could have done more.'' He silently and walked out of the hospital room while crying, Sarah following him.
Wesley shook his head and looked towards Jake. ''I hope you're having fun, Jake. I heard Baronov makes some good shit.'' Wesley chuckles and left the room. Life was short, and he needed to become a world-famous soccer player by the end of it.
* * *
Over the years, Jake had led a terrible life filled with drug abuse and petty crime. After being released from the hospital, Jake was arrested and taken to court under charges of attempted rape and drug charges. Having all the evidence they needed, the judge ruled Jake guilty on all charges. He was sentenced to five years in state prison with a chance of parole. Because the drugs hadn't left Jake's system, he couldn't even defend himself or testify. The way he would have outbursts and panic attacks almost led the judge to believe Jake was insane.
After being released from prison, Jake moved into the new house Wesley had bought for Sarah and Philip. They tried to get Jake to reform himself but ended up kicking him out after finding him high off heroin multiple times. After hopping from house to house and repeatedly being kicked out, he had no choice but to resort to crime.
One day while robbing a gas station Jake started to hear voices in his head. The voices mocked him and threatened him, making his everyday life much more miserable. His only way of suppressing the voices was getting high, and just as one would expect, this method did not last long. Jake was arrested after being caught in one of the crack houses he slept in and was sentenced to life in prison for murder and robbery. After years of being beaten and assaulted by other inmates, he attempted to take his life but failed. Jake was put in isolation and lived the rest of his life locked in a small cell while being tormented by the voices in his head.
On the other hand, Wesley's life was perfect. He had played vigorously throughout college and had many offers to join foreign teams throughout his college career. But contrary to one's expectations, he chose to get his degree first. After graduating, life seemed like a dream for Wesley. He married Cassy after their 5th anniversary and was the star player for one of the best clubs in soccer. Not only did he become an international sensation, but he was also lauded as the best soccer player of all time.
Wesley had kept tabs on Jake's demise but wasn't pleased seeing how terrible his life turned out. He found himself wondering whether his harsh actions necessary but soon nipped those feelings of uncertainty in the bud. He was a transmigrator, even if he isolated himself in the many worlds he visited the protagonist will always find themselves unable to coexist with him. He knew that what he had done to Jake wouldn't compare to the things he would need to do in the future.
After completing the tasks assigned to him, Wesley retired from playing soccer. He traveled around the world with Cassy for decades before buying a beautiful estate in Rome. He was sixty-eight when he decided to leave this world for his next mission.
* * *
Wesley opened his eyes and was greeted by two beautiful women. ''Sorry I'm a little bit late.'' Wesley had appeared in a spacious room filled with technology.
Jella smiled and stuck her hand out. ''Not that late. I got here a few minutes ago, so you were pretty much on time.''
Tara rolled her eyes. ''On time my ass. If he left right after completing his task, then he would have been here a few hours earlier.''
Wesley laughed as he shook Jella's hand. ''You know that time is warped while inside other worlds. There's no need to stress over a few loss hours.''
Jella laughed and opened her interface. ''Now that you're done how about a more intense world?''
Tara sneered and glared at Wesley. ''Let's send him to an S class world. I want to see if he's truly worthy of my system.''
''I was thinking the same thing.'' Jella looked at Wesley and smiled. ''Are you ready for an S class world?''
''Of course.'' There was no hesitation in Wesley's voice. He knew the real challenge started now. It was up to him to prove his worth to these two women, and he wasn't going to disappoint.
Jella closed her system and looked at Wesley, her eyes flashing a cold glint. ''Good. The world We will be sending you to is considered very complex. When you receive your task, you must complete it within ten years. Any higher than that will result in you failing.''
Tara moved closer to Wesley and put her hand on his shoulder. ''Also, try not to get attached to the inhabitants of the worlds you visit, after all, efficiency is important. Staying in a world long after you completed your task is considered slacking in my eyes.'' Tara harrumphed then walked away.
Jella sighed. ''She's not wrong. Getting too attached to inhabitants of the worlds you visit isn't very smart. I have seen it myself, transmigrators falling in love. It's a sad thing when you have to leave your love behind, never too see them again.''
Wesley closed his eyes and remembered Cassy's face. He knew when to draw the line between work and feelings. ''Don't worry. I know how dangerous it is to get too attached to someone.'' He opened his eyes and looked towards Jella. ''I'm ready.''
|
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Wesley pulled his car into the dorm area and parked. He called Cassy and told her that he was waiting for her in the parking lot. Cassy said she'd be down in five minutes, so Wesley proceeded to blast music while waiting for her. A few minutes later there was a knock on the car window, and Wesley was surprised to see that it wasn't Cassy.
Wesley rolled down his window and gazed at the woman who interrupted his jam session. His stomach churned after recognizing her face. ''Hello miss. Is there something you need?''
The woman smiled. ''Hello Antonio. My name is Joanna. We haven't met before, but it's a pleasure to meet you.''
Wesley smirked. She was the woman who falsely accused him of raping her in the storyline — Jake's girlfriend. ''It's nice to meet you too, but I'm waiting for my girlfriend, Cassy. I don't want any misunderstandings so can you tell me what you're here for?''
Joanna seemed shocked by Wesley's response but shrugged it off the next second. ''I'm Jake's friend. I saw you at the varsity tryouts earlier and wanted to get to know you better. If possible can we stay in touch?''
'Is she serious?' Wesley stared in amazement at the brazen woman in front of him. 'Is she stupid or did she not get the hint?' He thought.
''He isn't interested in you.''
A voice came from behind Joanna and Wesley craned his head to the left to see who it was. ''Hey Cassy. I was waiting for you.'' Wesley got out of the car and walked around to hug her. ''You know, it's only been a few hours, but I feel a little bit lonely when you're not around.''
Cassy rolled her eyes and kissed him. ''Is this enough compensation for your sorrow?''
Wesley grinned and opened the car door for her. ''Not nearly enough. Let's get out of here.''
The two, in their own world, left Joanna without doing as much as acknowledging her presence. But contrary to what one would expect, she wasn't embarrassed in the slightest. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number. ''Hey Jake, your brother is quite the asshole. He didn't seem like that in high school.''
Jake scoffed. ''He's always been an asshole. Did you exchange contacts with him?''
Joanna sighed. ''Nope. He has a girlfriend, and from the looks of it, he's pretty faithful.''
Jake was confused. ''Already? Did you catch her name?''
''Yeah. Antonio called her Cassy. Anybody, you know?''
Jake laughed to himself. 'So they got back together, huh.' He thought of something and smiled mischievously. ''Good. Forget what I told you to do. I'll still pay you the money though. Stay there I'll pick you up in a few minutes.''
* * *
Wesley and Cassy were in a small Italian restaurant ten miles off the campus. Although it was old looking on the outside, the inside of the restaurant was well furnished and gave off a luxurious feeling.
''This pasta is pretty good. You want to try some?'' Wesley used his fork to pick up some pasta and brought it to Cassy's mouth.
Cassy opened wide and bit the pasta, some sauce painting her red lips. ''That tastes delicious. The Fettucini Alfredo I got is a little better though.'' She said while wiping the sauce off her mouth.
Wesley laughed and finished the small amount of food left on his plate. Cassy didn't like to overeat, so she ate a few more bites and felt satisfied. Wesley called for the waiter and gave her his card to pay for the meal.
Cassy watched his movements and narrowed her eyes. She then spoke in a sweet seductive voice. ''You know, I don't know how to put it, but you have changed somehow. You seem more, mature.''
Wesley laughed and spoke in a deep magnetic voice. ''People change. I just happened to smarten up a little bit.''
Cassy smirked and grabbed Wesley's hand. She rubbed it with her thumb all the while maintaining eye contact. ''This change, I like it.''
The waiter felt the ambiguous atmosphere and left the receipt and card on the table without saying a word. Their gazes of passion were influencing her, making her embarrassed.
For Wesley, the ride home was a torturous one. Cassy kept playing with his body, stimulating him in different areas, but alas, he couldn't do anything until he reached his dorm.
After pulling into the parking lot, Wesley let go of all his restraints and furiously kissed Cassy. He nibbled on her lip and groped her thigh. Cassy was getting restless and felt her body heating up.
''No, not here.'' She weakly moaned.
Wesley groaned and flashed a devilish smile. ''Whatever you wish, princess.'' He hopped out of the car and walked over to Cassy's side. Wasting no time, he picked her up and walked into the dorm hall.
''Stop, this is embarrassing.'' Cassy shyly sounded while burrowing herself into his embrace.
Wesley chuckled. He knew she liked this kind of play and wasn't going to fall for her false dissatisfaction. They passed the check-in desk and was making their way to Wesley's dorm room when someone placed their hand on his shoulder.
''Hey! Excuse me miss, are you sound of mind?''
Wesley paused and glared at the random man. Cassy also pulled her head from Wesley's chest and glared at the young man. He was a tall guy, only a few centimeters shorter than Wesley and was quite handsome, according to this worlds standard.
''I understand you can't control your white knight tendencies, but does this girl look drugged or drunk to you?'' Wesley let Cassy down, looked the man in his eyes, and released a bit of pressure. He knew this guy was looking out for his fellow student, but it blew his mood. He felt that since the young man's heart was in the right place, he would let him off. Cassy nodded and grabbed his hand.
The young man was intimidated by Wesley's gaze, but he stood his ground and glared at him. ''I wasn't asking you. I was asking the woman you were just carrying. Like I was saying, miss are you okay? Are you here against your will?'' The young man turned to Cassy and tried to grab her hand when Wesley grabbed the guys hand and gripped it so hard you could hear the joints in his hand popping.
Wesley glared at the young man and released all his pressure. ''What the is your problem? She's my girl and were heading back to my dorm. As you can see she is perfectly fine, so you can take you and your half-assed concern back to your dorm and mind your own business.''
Cassy also stepped in. At first, she thought the guy was just worried she might have been drugged but now it seemed like he was over stepping his bounds. After all, she was standing and responding perfectly fine wasn't she? What was his purpose for furthering the situation. ''I understand you were just trying to help, but I'm perfectly fine. He's my boyfriend so can you please let this situation go.''
The young man, who was facing all of Wesley's pressure while simultaneously having his hand gripped with extreme force, kneeled on the ground in pain. All he could do was groan, as the pressure, Wesley was releasing was suffocating.
Wesley released the young man's hand and gently grabbed Cassy's. He looked at the fool who destroyed the atmosphere he and Cassy built over dinner and scoffed. ''I better not catch you anywhere near her or else the next time I'll be gripping your neck.''
He glared at the crowd that had gathered and wrapped his arm around Cassy's waist. It was something about other guys staring at her that pissed him off. He wouldn't go as far as beating every guy that looked at her, but it did upset him. Maybe it was because he hadn't had a relationship in years, but he felt that he wanted to cherish this experience. You can't blame him for wanting something more than just sex.
Cassy saw the look on his face and lowered her gaze. In their last relationship she felt that Antonio wasn't giving her enough attention, and when she saw his carefree attitude when she suggested breaking up, she felt somewhat hurt. That's why she stayed as 'friends' with him for so long. She didn't want to admit it, but she had feelings for him. Feelings he didn't seem to share.
After making it to Cassy's room, Wesley felt somewhat lost. That whole situation from earlier was as awkward as awkward can be, not to mention cringe-inducing as sh*t. Clearly his emotions got the better of him. He wasn't sure what should be said in a situation like this, but luckily he didn't have to.
''Wanna come in?'' Cassy grabbed Wesley's hand and asked. She felt like she needed to tell him her real feelings, otherwise, she would never be able to move on with their ambiguous relationship. She heard him refer to her as 'his girlfriend' multiple times today and she wanted it to be real.
Wesley nodded his head. ''I'd love to.''
|
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|
''Sala!'' Cyril found the beautiful Ares youth sitting quietly in the lounge. Apparently, she had been waiting for him patiently. He smirked and sat next to her, taking her hand into his. ''Sala, for the longest time, I have not been truthful to you.''
The color in Sala's face drained as Cyril spoke. ''Cyril? Is something wrong?''
He didn't respond to her, only pulling her into his embrace. ''Sala, I have loved you for so long. To find out that you hold the same feelings for me has set my soul ablaze.'' Cyril tried his hardest to not burst out laughing. He sneered in his mind. ''My mother has arranged for us to be engaged. Don't you see? There is no reason to hide your feelings anymore. My mother has given us her blessings despite you being from a low-class noble household.''
Sala's face heated up in confusion. ''W-What are you talking about, C-Cyril?'' She looked at him in fear, her body shivering. ''I-I can't be engaged to you.''
Cyril laughed internally. This young woman wasn't as headstrong as he thought she'd be. ''Don't worry anymore, my love. With me behind you, no one would dare mess with your lowly household.'' Cyril pulled her into a deep hug then kissed her gently on the forehead. ''I must go now but don't be said. The next time we see each other will be at the academy.'' Cyril released her from his hug and exited the lounge, leaving a stunned Sala. He sneered as he contemplated how he would use her. After all, she was Kelle's first and only love.
. . .
''Is she ready to board?'' Cyril said whilst staring down the massive space ship in front of him. The ship was about the size of two megayachts placed on top of each other. It was completely white with gold lining. There were multiple lights and beacons littered all over the ship, shining with an elegant light. But do not be fooled by the ship's elegant look. This ship could take on a fleet of space pirates and still be in stable enough condition to go into hyper-drive. Truly a ship designed for royalty. Cyril sighed at his parent's extravagant taste.
''Yes, Young Master. The ship has already been stocked.''
''And the crew?''
''All of the crew have boarded.''
Cyril nodded his head in satisfaction. ''Good. I'll board the ship soon. Prepare my office for me.''
Cyril walked off, preparing to say goodbye to his parents. He had spent the last few days preparing the blueprints for his Mech and his new home. Spending time with his parents? He didn't even have time to play with his beautiful maids. The maids who were thankfully coming with him to the academy. Not to mention his nuisance of a ''Fiance'' has been bugging him to speak. Most likely about breaking the engagement.
As he made his way to the lounge his mother and father were waiting in, he heard them talking.
''Can't we just keep him here? You know how I was treated, the pain I suffered at the academy.''
''I know the pain you went through, Cillian. But he is not like you were back then. You had no backing, no family to protect you, but your experiences have shaped you into the General you are today. Our son, on the other hand, has the backing of the Domraud family. He won't receive favoritism in the academy, but no one would dare step out of bounds in regards to our son, lest they face the wrath of the Domraud Family.''
Cillian nodded his head, seemingly convinced by what Elise had said. ''Thank you, Elise. You are right. Our son is strong, surely he will flourish in the academy.''
'Cyril, if only you had relied on your parents. Who knows what would have happened to that little brat.' He smiled to himself and walked into the room.
''Mother, Father. I am leaving now.'' Cyril watched his parent's bodies stiffen at his words. His father going as far as to pull him into his embrace, crying fiercely.
''My little heir, you don't need to leave. We have the best tutors you could ever ask for here in the estate.'' Cillian cried out. Apparently, the whole conversation he had with Elise went in one ear and right out the other.
Elise just smiled and walked forward giving him a warm hug. ''My son, I have great hopes for you. I have watched you grow over the years, therefore I know you will stand above the rest in the academy. Not because you are Ares and not because you are a Domraud but because you are you.'' She released him from her hug and gazed down on the crown of his head with a motherly passion. ''Good luck.''
. . .
Cyril was standing in front of a large window, staring into the endless expanse of space before him. He couldn't help but sigh at the magnificent sight. 'Such a beautiful planet.' He thought. He couldn't revel in the beauty of his home planet for to long because a knock entered his ears. ''Come in.'' He said in an annoyed tone. After being given permission to enter the temporary captain (Temporary because he would be the captain of the ship in the future.)of his ship walked into the room.
''Greetings, Young Master.'' The captain said slowly. He looked like a middle aged man but Cyril knew how hard it was to guess an Ares age just from there physical appearance. ''I have come to inform you that we will be warping in five hours. It would be best if you had all of the shutters in your office and room closed during the warp.''
Cyril nodded. ''Thank you for informing me. Is there anything else?''
The captain shook his head. ''Nothing else, Young Master.''
''Very well. You may be excused.''
'Two days, huh. I wonder how beautiful the academy is?'
|
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''She's in here.'' Joanna smiled as she led Jake into the room.
Jake smirked. ''You can go now.''
He walked further into the pitch black room and chuckled as Joanna left.
''Where are you, Cassy?'' Jake smiled and turned the lights in the room on. He saw a lump under the bed and called out. ''You definitely won't remember this, but I would like to say sorry. '' He said with an obnoxious smirk.
''I would like to say I'm sorry too.'' Wesley's face was contorted in anger. With his gun to Jake's head, it took everything in him to not pull the trigger. ''Tell me something, Jake. Why go to such extremities to fulfill yourself? Why foolishly forfeit your life?'' Wesley cocked the gun and fired a shot into the ceiling. ''This is a real gun, so don't try anything stupid, ok?''
Jake's body froze. He was afraid. Afraid his brother would kill him on the spot. ''Please, Antonio. Don't do this.'' He felt his heart rate rising to unhealthy limits as the adrenaline in his body pumped. ''I, I know this situation looks bad, but I didn't plan on doing anything, I promise!''
Wesley sneered while listening to Jake's pathetic whining. ''Looks bad? Oh, you must mean you attempting to drug not only me but Cassy as well.'' Wesley pistol-whipped Jake on the back of his head and kicked him in the stomach while he convulsed on the floor. ''Does it hurt, Jake?''
Jake didn't say anything, mostly due to the fact that Wesley knocked the wind out of him. All he could do was shake on the ground.
Wesley didn't want to drag things out and risk any unknown variables popping up out of nowhere. He grabbed Jake by the neck and dragged him into the bathroom.
''No, no! Fuck you, Antonio! Arrrrgh, some...one..help.'' Jake tried to put up a fight but every time he screamed the hand around his neck got tighter, so tight that he could barely release a cry for help.
''Shut up, goddamit!'' Wesley removed his hand from Jake's neck and replaced it with his arm. He was afraid he might snap his neck in rage if he didn't. ''This entire scenario has gotten boring to me. You had your chances to think of the consequences your actions would bring. Sadly, you still made the wrong choices. Any last words, Jake?''
Jake's face was blood red from being unable to breathe. All he could do was make choking noises.
''No last words, huh.'' Wesley squeezed Jake's neck with more and more strength until he passed out. There was no need to continue conversating.
Wesley pulled the vial holding the serum out of his pocket. Giving no time to chance, he poured the serum down Jake's throat. ''I guess I have to get rid of these.'' Wesley looked at the marks left on Jake's neck and sighed. He would have to get some salve from the system shop to get rid of the mark fast. It only took a few minutes for him to buy the salve and apply it on Jake's neck.
''I'll be taking your gun.'' Wesley pulled Jake's gun from his waistband and cocked it. He aimed towards Jake's foot and shot. Jake groaned in pain. His mind was succumbing to the serum, making him experience a heightened sense of pain. Just from that one shot, he felt every muscle, bone, and vein being destroyed.
''It's painful, isn't it? Be lucky I didn't kill you.'' Wesley threw the bag of drugs next to Jake and teleported outside of the house. He tidied himself up and walked into the building. The shot from Jake's gun had been loud enough for most people to hear. This led to many people cramming their way through the doorway trying to make it out of the building.
''Antonio!'' Cassy ran up to Wesley and hug him tightly. ''Are you hurt anywhere? I heard a gunshot.''
Wesley frowned and squeezed her tight. ''I'm alright. When Jake made it to the room I was waiting in he was already high. He tried to pull a gun on me but pulled the trigger on accident and shot his own foot.''
Cassy stared Wesley in his eyes. She knew he was hiding something but decided not to say anything. ''I'm just happy you are okay.''
Wesley nodded and kissed the top of her head. ''The police should be coming soon, let's wait by the driveway. Also, I don't think I need to tell you this but don't tell anyone.''
Cassy nodded and followed Wesley to the driveway. It didn't take long for the police to arrive. They ran sweeps throughout the residence and found Jake sprawled across one of the bathroom floors. He was high out of his mind and had a gun in his hand. The police could guess what had happened when they saw the drugs next to his body. They sent Jake to the hospital with a squad car escorting the ambulance and arrested a few drug dealers that didn't escape in time.
Wesley and a few other people were questioned on what had happened. He told them a few things about Jake and was allowed to leave afterward. The night was over and Wesley and Cassy had returned to the dorms. He was questioned by the police for more than an hour and now was exhausted.
* * *
While laying on the bed Wesley's phone rang. Cassy rolled over and put her head between two pillows. ''Hurry up and answer it.''
Wesley Chuckled and pick his phone up from the dresser. ''Hello.''
''Antonio, What's going on? Why was Jake arrested again?''
|
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Wesley didn't waste any time. He opened Axis Chat and hurriedly introduced himself, after all, he was worried he might leave a bad impression if he waited too long.
[Wesley] [Nice to meet you my name is Wesley.]
The chat was still for a while before a message was sent through. Wesley looked at the sender's handle and noticed it was a name he didn't recognize.
[Tara] [Hello Wesley. As you can see by my handle, my name is Tara. I'm also the one who developed the system you are currently using.]
Wesley stared in shock. Was this person really the creator of his new system? He couldn't imagine the brain power and experience needed to create something like a system, let alone make every item in the store free of charge. Another message rolled in after Tara's introduction and sat at the bottom of the chat.
[Jella] [I haven't formally introduced myself. My name is Jella. It is nice to finally communicate with you, Wesley. Although for you it has only been a few hours, for me, it has been a few weeks. I happen to be in an S-Class world, so the progression of time here is entirely different.]
Wesley widened his eyes in amazement. An S-Class world wasn't easy to take on. One always needed to be alert because the slightest mistake could cost the host their life, depriving them of the chance to complete their missions. Wesley typed on the holographic keyboard seemingly distracted by something.
[Wesley] [May I ask a few questions?]
After he sent his message, two messages appeared almost simultaneously.
[Jella] [Sure.]
[Tara] [No problem.]
After getting the green light, Wesley started rapid firing questions.
[Wesley] [Why was I given this system? What is the purpose of the system? Are you part of a secret organization? Why are all the items in Tweak Shop free? Is there some hidden price to pay for the items?]
Wesley released all the questions that were floating in his head ever since he got the system and felt a massive load disappearing from his chest. He waited for a minute, then five minutes, then ten minutes before he finally got a reply.
[Tara] [Although I wasn't really fond of her decision, Jella picked you out from the millions of candidates for quite the peculiar reason.]
[Jella] [It was very small and fluffy.]
[Wesley] [What was?]
[Tara] [Your soul.]
[Wesley] [. . .]
[Tara] [As for why all the items in Tweak Shop are free, it's because I believe in communism. All those items should be for the people, not for the rich looking to get richer. There is no hidden price to pay. I wouldn't have allowed you to have the system if it would hurt you, comrade.]
[Jella] [It's because she's lazy and didn't feel like grinding for credits.]
[Tara] [. . .]
Wesley's eyebrow twitched. 'Was this a joke? It must be, right?' He shooked his head and restated his other questions.
[Wesley] [What about my other questions? Is this some secret organization? What is the systems true purpose.]
He waited for an answer, but all that awaited him was a brief stillness in the chat room.
[Tara] [We can't tell you the answer just yet, but if you can prove yourself worthy, I'll think about telling you in the future.]
-Tara has left the chat.
Wesley frantically typed a response to Tara's vague answer and looked up to find Tara had already left the chat.
[Wesley] [What did she mean prove myself? What do I need to do?]
-Jella is typing.
-Jella has left the chat.
Wesley stared at the monitor slack-jawed. 'No f*cking way!'
-Jella has entered the chat.
[Jella] [Do what you arrived to do. We're all transmigrators right?]
Jella left once again, leaving Wesley to ponder over what just happened. He closed his system interface then laid on his bed. 'Do what I arrived to do, huh.' He felt his body heating up as he thought of Jella and Tara. 'This system is like a pie from the sky. I can't let it go to waste can I?'
Wesley sighed and closed his eyes to rest. He thought of this worlds mission and a plan to finish it with style. 'If they want me to prove myself, then I have to show them what they want. A capable host.'
* * *
It was early in the morning and the birds were chirping lightly.
Wesley opened his eyes and jumped from his bed. He felt a killing intent directed towards him and was on high alert. He looked towards the door and located the source of the killing intent. 'Truly a child favored by the heavens.' He thought as he walked towards the door and angrily pulled it open.
''Quite surprising seeing you here so soon, Jake.'' Wesley eyed Jake down and released a malicious pressure onto his body. He saw Jake's swollen face and chuckled to himself. 'Looks like that airbag did a number on his handsome looks, or was it my slaps?' Wesley stared at Jake amused, wondering what would come out of that dumb mouth of his.
Jake stumbled back and wearily glared at his brother Antonio. ''Why did you call the police on me Even if what I did was unfortunate, we could have handled it privately. We're supposed to be family.'' Jake couldn't believe his brother had called the cops on him and even provided them with a detailed witness report on the incident.
Wesley smirked at his older brother's foolish expression and reasoning. ''Unfortunate? You're lucky I reacted in time, or you would have killed all three of us. You'd be foolish to believe I wouldn't call the cops. Get out of my sight before I'm unable to stop myself from pounding your face. Wesley grabbed Jake's collar and stared him in his eyes.
''What's going on here?'' Wesley and Jake's dad Philip walked up behind Jake. He saw his younger son threaten his eldest and attempt to force him out of their dorm room. ''Brothers shouldn't fight each other. When I'm dead and gone, who's gonna be there for you except your family. Now tell me what's going on.''
Wesley let go of Jake's collar and looked towards his father. ''Nothing dad. I just didn't like how indifferent Jake was when it came to the fact that he almost killed Cassy and me. The first thing he did wasn't apologize about the crash, but give a complaint about me calling the cops to the scene.''
Philip looked at his eldest son with shock. When he and Sarah were retrieving Jake from the police station, Jake seemed to have been profoundly reflecting on his actions, was his repentance all an act? Philip had even called in a favor from one of his old military buddies, who had become a senator, to give his son a chance to live a felony free life. Philip looked disappointed as he grabbed his eldest sons wrist and pulled him out for a talk. Man-to-Man. He somehow felt like if he failed to convince Jake to repent on his mistake sincerely, his eldest son would grow up to be a waste and throw his life away.
Wesley sighed as he watched Philip pull Jake out of the dorm room. He knew everything Philip was going to say would go into one of Jake's ears and out the other. He only wished that his current parents would smarten up and see Jake's actual appearance was that of a manipulative psychopath.
He hopped in the shower and changed into some soccer type attire. Varsity tryouts started in a couple of hours, and he wanted to get his body ready for it.
_________________________________
Ko-fi.com/good_neighbor
https://www.patreon.com/Good_Neighbor
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Wesley was on one of the school's practice fields stretching his muscles. After feeling his muscles loosen up, he stood and began to jog at a leisurely pace. He did some basic drills and foot techniques while testing his body. After getting accustomed to his body, Wesley noticed almost an hour and thirty minutes had passed, and tryouts would begin soon. He saw a few upperclassmen arriving at the field and observed their movements.
One of the upperclassmen, who had long black hair and green eyes, waved and called out to him. ''Hey, are you here for the varsity tryouts too?'' He spoke in a British accent, so he was most likely a transfer from the UK.
Wesley smiled and walked up to the group. ''Yeah. I arrived here a little early so that I can loosen my muscles up. I'm Antonio Park.'' Wesley reached out and firmly shook the black-haired man's hand.
''Nice to meet you, Antonio. My name is Stephen, but most people just call me Steve. Feel free to call me whichever you want.'' Steve placed his bag down and sat on the grass. The other two upperclassmen walked up and shook Wesley's hand then introduced themselves.
Wesley was surprised to find that the other two men also spoke with a British accent. One was a tall dark-skinned man with hazel colored eyes, named Quincy. He was carrying a netted sack full of soccer balls while the other, Timothy, was an average sized blonde man with greyish-blue eyes who was holding a couple of bags filled with refreshments.
''Are you guys going to practice before the tryouts? If so, do you guys want to play two versus two?'' Wesley eyed the soccer balls Quincy was carrying and felt the need to test his body out.
Quincy tossed the sack to the floor then sat with Steve. He looked up at Wesley and kindly smiled. ''Sounds cool to me. What about you guys?'' Quincy looked at his two friends and questioned. Steve raised his hand and waved it while stating that he wanted to be on Antonio's team. Timothy also agreed to play with them and put his shin guards on.
After they all finished their necessary preparations, the four of them headed to the center of the field. Wesley stretched his body once again and turned to the two opposing players. ''Let's have fun shall we.''
* * *
Cassy was eating breakfast in the school canteen when she overheard a students conversation. Although she knew it was rude to listen in on their conversation, the content was too compelling.
''Did you hear about those new transfer students recruited from the Uk?''
''Yeah. I was told the last team they were on won the youth international cup.''
''Well guess what. Two of them are playing against some Freshman and are losing badly!''
''What about the other one?''
''It seems he's playing with the freshman, but he wasn't able to outshine him.''
''But aren't they just practicing? It's not like you can use up all your energy before Varsity tryouts right? They're probably just going easy on him.''
''I don't know? Let's go check it out then. I heard they're at the practice field by Hammon's Hall.''
The two people having the conversation hurriedly left for the field. Cassy stood there slack-jawed. 'Holy sh*t. Has Antonio always been that good?'
* * *
Wesley dribbled the ball passed Quincy and kicked the soccer ball with astonishing might. The ball curved at an insane angle and landed in the bottom left corner of the net. Tryouts where about to begin and Wesley even saw the coach standing on the sideline watching them along with dozens of regular students and others trying out. He walked over to Quincy and Timothy and gave them a high five.
''That was pretty fun. You guys are seriously good!'' Wesley laughed. It has been quite a while since he had so much fun. He felt he could genuinely get obsessed with playing soccer.
Steve walked up from behind and slapped Wesley on the back. ''Holy sh*t bruv! Who taught you how to play so well? You're making me jealous.'' Steve laughed as they all started walking to their bags.
The coach walked up to Wesley and pulled him aside. ''What's your name kid?'' The coach said with a mild nordic accent.
Wesley looked at the old man and smiled. ''My name is Antonio. Hopefully, I can make it onto your team.''
The coach laughed and patted Wesley's shoulder. ''Good. Good. My name is Felix, but you should refer to me as Coach. See me after tryouts at Russel Stadium. We'll talk there.'' Coach Felix walked towards the center of the field and blew his whistle. He was signaling the players to gather in the middle.
Wesley smiled to himself as he already knew the coach planned to accept him to the varsity team. Most likely if he did well in the tryouts, he would immediately train with the varsity team. Why else would the Coach ask him to go to Russel Stadium? The only stadium in the district dedicated solely to soccer and the place where the varsity team practices.
Wesley took a sip from his bottle and headed over to the Coach with the rest of the players.
* * *
''Form a three-man cell and block him from the goal!'' Coach Felix sighed in amazement. He had been coaching at the University for twelve years, yet this is the first time he had come across such an outstanding player. 'I've tested his abilities in every position, even as a goalie he excelled my expectations.' Coach Felix had seen him curve a soccer ball at angles he thought where impossible. Not only that, every time he kicked the ball towards the goal the power behind it was monstrous.
Coach Felix looked at the young men attempting to suppress Wesley and sighed. He thought of the glory he felt when he led his first team to nationals and saw them take the championship. 'I'll be able to achieve that glory again through this young man.' He looked towards the sidelines, his eyes lying on a player that looked somewhat like Wesley. Jake had arrived an hour late and was trying to blend in with the players who were waiting to get on the field. 'This is Antonio's brother isn't it?'
While conducting the tryouts he had the assistant coach bring him the information the school had on Antonio and found out he had a brother by the name of Jake. 'So he plays soccer too?' Coach Felix was excited, hoping this brother would be just as good as Antonio. Although not identical, they were both twins. He blew his whistle and told the players on the field to take a ten-minute break.
Walking over to Jake, he had high expectations of how he would play. ''You're Antonio's brother right?''
Jake flashed a look of contempt on his but controlled his emotions while facing the Coach. ''Yes. Is there something you need, Coach?''
Coach Felix hadn't seemed to notice the reaction Jake had upon hearing his brothers name and proceeded with his plan. ''Your brother is an outstanding player. I believe that he isn't the only one though. Tell me, are you confident that your abilities are at the same level as Antonio's? I'm looking for outstanding players for the starting line up this upcoming tournament and was hoping you and your brother could join. Of course, I'd have to see your playing first.''
Jake scoffed in his heart. At Antonio's level? He could guarantee with the memories he possessed; he could outshine Antonio on the field, leaving him looking like an average player. Jake hadn't seen how outstanding Wesley performed because he was late to the tryouts. This led to him being overconfident in his abilities. ''Don't worry Coach. Although my brother is quite talented, I believe my skills aren't any less than his.''
Coach Felix smiled and put his hand on Jake's shoulder. ''That's the spirit, kid. Show me what you got.'' Laughing loudly, Coach Felix walked off in a good mood.
Jake sneered in his heart. 'I'll show you, idiots. So what if Antonio's strong, on the field no one can stop me now.'
* * *
Wesley looked towards his older brother Jake and grinned. 'Let's see how you'll embarrass yourself today ''Big Brother'' of mine.' He laughed to himself as he watched Jake.
_________________________________
Ko-fi.com/good_neighbor
https://www.patreon.com/Good_Neighbor
|
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"Adult",
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"School Life",
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"tags": [
"Academy",
"Alternate World",
"Interdimensional Travel",
"Male Protagonist",
"Overpowered Protagonist",
"System Administrator"
]
}
|
Before you start reading. Read the synopsis pls. [Initializing interdimensional transfer.]
''Antonio, breakfast is ready. I'll leave it on the table for when you're ready to eat.''
Wesley looked around curiously. The voice he'd heard must be his mother. He touched the ring on his finger and an interface only he could see appeared in front of him. During his trials, Wesley had gotten accustomed to using the system interface, allowing him to navigate the screen, pulling up this world's information quickly.
This was a modern world with a sports setting.
The protagonist Jake was a soccer fan who by chance gained the memories of a soccer legend of the past. Utilizing the mysterious memories, Jake became the star of his college team and earned the interest of the national team.
After leading his team to victory in all of the tournaments they played in, he was soon recruited to the national team. There, he would gain the interest of many foreign teams looking for new talent.
Jake would go on to compete in the Olympics gaining a gold medal for America and becoming one of the most sought-after players in the sport.
Wesley shook his head and laughed at the plot of this world. His role was Jake's younger twin brother Antonio. The token cannon fodder sibling. Antonio was only one minute younger than Jake and was quite athletic himself but what made Wesley chuckle was the memories of Antonio's past.
Antonio was the original hope of the family. He was smart and extremely athletic, excelling in any sport he played. However, why wasn't he in the plot? It's because Jake accused Antonio of raping his girlfriend during a frat party.
In college when Jake saw Antonio wasn't envious of his newfound talent but instead was improving himself to the point of almost surpassing him even with the cheat he had gained, jealousy grew in his heart. Eventually, Jake realized that he'd never be able to shine if his brother was around.
Jake and Antonio went to a frat party a few months after the soccer team's varsity tryouts, and that's when Jake put his plan into play. He drugged Antonio and dragged him into a room where his girlfriend had already been drugged and assaulted. The scene that played afterward wasn't hard to predict.
Antonio was arrested and charged with rape, and his life was ruined. His scholarship revoked and having spent two years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Antonio fell into a cycle of abusing drugs and alcohol and eventually overdosed and died alone.
Wesley sighed. He never understood how family members could do such cruel things to each other. Although this was quite a comfortable world to start in, all he needed to do was avoid the rape charges and succeed in soccer. Something he found to be extremely easy. As for his twin brother, he had a plan for him too. One that would ruin him so thoroughly he would wish for death. Luckily he arrived before the two brothers left for college. Jake should have received the ''Gift'' bestowed upon him by God a couple of days ago.
After receiving the storyline, Wesley searched for his item list. He wanted to see if he'd gotten a starter package of some sort from the stingy SO. In his item list, he'd found a black box without any writing or decoration on it. Retrieving the box from the list, Wesley was surprised to find it had some weight to it. After opening the box, what greeted him was a crimson ring alongside a note. A soon as Wesley picked up the note a mechanical voice sounded in his mind.
[Host has received the item. Transmitting message from ''Jella''.]
**Hello Wes. This is an item I am personally handing to you for my own selfish reasons.**
The Words he'd heard this time were spoken by that of a woman. Her voice melodious and calming yet bearing strong confidence.
**You may not know who I am but I know who you are. We will cross paths soon, hopefully, by then I won't be as busy. I don't have enough time to explain to you every function of the ring but I can tell you this, It is a System created away from the eyes of the one who rules all. Be safe.**
[Transmission ended.]
Wesley stared off into space with a fearful expression for a while then regained his composure after contemplating everything he'd just heard. He turned his system interface off and stared at the ring inside the box.
'This ring is a system? And a custom one created away from the one who rules all?' Wesley had a confused look on his face. He'd heard of the one who rules all before and to describe that existence in layman's terms, they were God. He wondered if having this ring would bring him more trouble than benefits but before he could even put the ring on someone barged into his room.
''What are you doing bro, chopping some morning wood?''
Jake barged into the room and stared at his brother with contempt. He had the memories of a legendary soccer player and would soon become a star shining brightly in the sky. This brother of his would soon feel what it was like to stand in someone's shadow all there life.
''Get out.''
Is this guy stupid or something? Wesley was shocked at how bad Jake was at concealing his contempt for him. He got up from the bed and stood in front of Jake towering over him by a few centimeters. Staring into his eyes Wesley released some of his aura and spoke once again.
''Do I have to repeat myself, Jake?''
Although the original Antonio wasn't a complete ass, he was quite cold to this brother of his. With how bad Jake was at hiding his feelings Antonio had long since given up on his ignorant and jealous filled twin.
''You...You! Mom said to come down for breakfast now!''
Jake harumphed and turned around while shaking. He was frightened by the pressure Wesley was releasing and began to retreat but before he could fully make it out the doorway he felt a hand grab his shoulder. The strength used in the grip caused him to feel an immense pain.
''Aaargh!'' Jake yelled in pain.
Wesley felt that this brat needed some discipline or else he would feel it was okay to disrespect him casually. As he strengthened his grip, he leaned close to Jake's ear and whispered.
''Raise your voice in front of me again and the next thing I'll be gripping is your neck. Got it?''
Jake felt his knees going weak from the pain he was feeling. It was that excruciating. He hurriedly nodded his head fear showing in his eyes.
''I promise I won't do it again. please let me go, man, it hurts so fucking bad.''
Wesley didn't hold him too long with a push he released Jake from his grip and walked out of the room. There was a smirk on his face as he passed Jake.
* * *
tluck...tlock
As water dripped from the faucet Wesley stared at the ring on his finger. Contemplating whether to use it or not. The mysterious woman said it was a custom system but what if this was a test by a clever SO. He didn't want his reputation ruined before he became a contracted Transmigrator.
'Ah...screw it. I've never been the type to follow the rules anyway.'
''System bind.''
[Binding initializing.]
Wesley felt a sharp pain in his brain and cursed. The pain of binding was just the same as it had been with his first system. After the pain receded a warmth spread throughout his body.
[Binding complete. Would you like to access the system interface?]
''Open System.''
When the system opened what greeted him was an all black interface that looked much sleeker and luxurious than the free system that noisy SO gave him. Although most of the applications he saw were the same as his old system two new applications caught his eye. One was a messaging application called Axis Chat and the other was an application called Tweak Shop. Clicking on Tweak Shop the first thing he noticed was his balance. Where you would usually see a zero, there was an ♾ sign.
''WTF!''
|
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|
The drive to the campus was peaceful. Wesley had played a few songs as per Cassy's request, but most of the time they were talking. Although Cassy gave off the feeling of a sporty girl, Wesley was pleased to find she was a scholarship student.
''So what Major are you thinking about?''
Wesley was genuinely curious about this woman. Although Antonio knew a few things about her, he never truly opened up to her. Maybe that's why a committed relationship didn't work out for them.
Skrrrrrrt!
Just as Cassy was about to answer, a truck swerved in front of Wesley causing him to veer to the right. Wesley put his hand in front of Cassy by reflex, stopping her from jerking forward and led the car towards the curb. Luckily they had long since left the highway and were only a mile away from the campus, otherwise all that breaking and swerving would have caused a couple of collisions.
'What the fuck is that guy's problem?!' Cassy thought. She was infuriated. They could have been seriously injured if Antonio didn't break in time. She looked at the truck that had crashed a few meters ahead and scoffed.
Wesley grabbed her hand and looked her in the eyes with a concerned gaze. ''Are you hurt anywhere?'' Although Wesley knew she was in perfectly good health, he was worried she might be frightened. Plus, he might as well farm for some affection points, right?
Seeing Antonio's worried look, Cassy calmed herself down. She gripped his hand and stared at her knees, tears running down her cheeks. ''We could have died.'' Although she was slightly frightened, she wasn't that scared. But a lady has to do what a lady has to do. Those affection points won't raise themselves.
Wesley Gritted his teeth. That fucker was going to die today.
''Don't worry. I'll handle it.''
He reached into the back seat and grabbed a bottle of water and some candy. ''Take these. You should stay hydrated.''
Saying what he needed to say, Wesley got out of the car and walked towards the truck. Just by looking at the tarp on the back, he knew who the owner was.
'So he's already trying to kill me, huh?'
In the front seat of the truck, Jake was passed out with blood leaking from his nose and vomit on his chest. Wesley shook his head while chuckling. 'Looks like the airbag beat me to the punch.' He thought. After opening the truck door, beer bottles started falling out. 'Did this fucker Jake want to die? What the fuck!' He wondered why people do such dumb things.
''Hey! Wake up!''
Wesley pulled Jake out of the car and slapped him a couple of times. Seeing Jake wasn't waking up he pulled his phone out and called the cops. His plans were ruined now that Jake was here instead of at the school and he didn't feel like letting him go scot-free.
When he finished talking to the cops, Wesley walked around to the back of the truck to retrieve his cargo. Making sure he was at an angle were Cassy couldn't see what was happening, he pulled his mini fridge, microwave and other items such as his bedding into his space. Leaving his things in Jake's care wasn't very smart considering his truck was going to be towed soon.
After the cops arrived, the situation was handled swiftly. Jake was a minor and was arrested for drinking and driving, but because he was out cold, they sent him to the hospital first. Wesley got into the car after dealing with the cops and drove off. It was already 12:00 pm and he wanted to register early so he could check the campus out.
* * *
''You're so cheesy.'' Cassy chuckled while snuggling into Wesley's embrace. The warmth he gave off, intoxicated her by the second.
Wesley was sitting on the couch inside of his room, Cassy right next to him with her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his hand around her and leaned close to her ear.
Wesley smiled and whispered. ''You're telling me you wouldn't enjoy a warm bath surrounded by the fragrance of luxury scented candles?''
Cassy turned her head to his, their bottom lips lightly touching. ''That's not my style.''
Wesley felt his body heating up. He lifted her body and placed her on his lap. Raising his head to meet her gaze, he looked her directly in her eyes fixated on the seductive glow her green irides emitted. ''What is your style then.''
Cassy turned her body and straddled Wesley. She leaned towards his neck and nipped it, tasting his flesh, instantly becoming drunk on lust.
Wesley was no better. When she nibbled and licked his neck, he felt his shaft rising; the stimulation was too much for him to handle. Unable to hold back, he seized her lips his tongue tracing teeth. Nothing could stop him as his tongue prowed her mouth open, simultaneously removing her shirt. Wesley moved his attention to her body and grabbed her waist. He kissed her neck, slowly moving to her collarbone.
Bringing his hand to her back, Wesley unhooked her bra, releasing her breast from their confines. Not wanting to waste any time, he brought his mouth to one of her breasts, Licking and teasing her nipples.
''You're so beautiful.'' He whispered. The moans escaping from Cassy's mouth were hypnotizing him.
''Please.'' Cassy weakly cried.
''No. Not yet.'' Wesley knew what she wanted, but would he give it to her so soon?
Laying her on her back, Wesley kissed her navel, tracing her abdomen with his tongue. Using his teeth, he unzipped her jeans; It was time to let her experience the pleasure she'd wanted so badly.
He removed her jeans and panties kissing her thighs all the way through pausing only to remove his shirt and pants.
Placing his face between her legs, he licked between her beautiful lips, tasting her nectar, feeling her smooth membranes with his tongue. Probing in and out as she moaned, spreading her legs wider. He ran his hands up and down her smooth thighs while he continued to lick at her.
Her pubic hair tickled his face as he sucked each lip in between probes with his tongue. When her hips began shaking on the bed, he started teasing at her clit. The teasing took her breath away, making her squeal in delight. He ran his tongue around her erect clit for a few moments and then finally covered it with his mouth sucking on it gently.
''Ohhhh!'' she screamed. ''What are you...? Ohhhhh!''
He increased the suction on it, stabbing rapidly with his swirling tongue. Her hips began moving up and down rhythmically. Her sexy legs wrapped around his back, pulling him closer.
''Ohhh Yesss!'' she cried. ''Ohhh Yesss! Oh, God!''
Shortly after he plunged two fingers into her, feeling the tight walls contract around them, he almost came in his boxers right then and there, after contacting the tightness. 'How was that going to feel when he got his cock in there.' he thought
With a long, high-pitched scream she came in his mouth. But he wasn't done yet. He pulled his face away from her but continued to finger her. He looked in her eyes. Her eyes were showing a mad lust in them. An expression Wesley felt was stealing his soul; replacing it with that of a lustful beast. She was panting and licking her lips, her tits heaving up and down.
''Did you like that?'' He asked her, driving his fingers in and out of her as her hips picked up the rhythm.
''Yess!'' she hissed. ''Oh god, I never knew anything could...'' She couldn't finish. She merely closed her eyes and humped back at his hand.
''Are you ready?'' he asked her, pulling his boxers off.
''Mmmhh!'' she moaned, her eyes glued to his crotch. The length, astonishing her.
''Answer me,'' He told her. ''Are you ready to get fucked?''
''Yes!'' she yelled, nodding vigorously.
He climbed back on the couch and positioned himself over the top of her. Her breast were against his chest, and his thighs were against her's. He grabbed his cock and put the head against her wet lips, sliding it up and down a few times.
''Do it!'' Cassy yelled, pushing her hips upward.
Slowly He pushed forward, allowing the head of his cock to slide inside of her. Her walls grasping him tightly. He pulled out and pushed again, gaining a little more ground with each thrust. Finally, he was all the way inside.
He began to thrust in and out, feeling her clamping on him as he slid back and forth. After a few moments, she loosened up a little, allowing him to pick up the pace. He then began to slam in and out with practiced strokes, being sure to grind his pubic bone against hers with each thrust. She moaned and clawed at his back with her nails as he fucked her, her hips rising and falling counter to his own. Her skin began to perspire, making their bodies slide exquisitely together. She kissed on his neck and ears, her tongue strokes copying what he'd done earlier.
He suddenly got up to his knees, putting her legs on his shoulders while he continued to fuck her. He was able to look down upon her seductive body, watching his cock sliding in and out her slit, to see her breast bouncing back and forth, to see her face, to watch the lust in her eyes. He stroked her legs up and down, kissing on her calves for a while and then He began feeling her beautiful breasts, caressing them a little rougher than before. He slammed harder and harder into her, making her grunt and moan. When she came again, she pulled him back down to her and thrust her tongue back in his mouth.
Wesley was at the end of his rope by then so he went for the final push. He Thrust as hard as he could, sweat dripping down his face. He felt the sensation of pure pleasure starting in his groin and spreading quickly throughout his body from there. The pleasure of orgasm assaulted him. It was a pleasure on the most refined level. He pulled out and shot blast after blast on her chest until he fell exhausted beside her.
They kissed each other for a moment and then looked in each other's eyes. Her's, full of infatuation and pleasure.
''Wow.'' she whispered.''That was... that was awesome.''
_________________________________
Ko-fi.com/good_neighbor
https://www.patreon.com/Good_Neighbor
|
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"author": "Good_Neighbor",
"chapters": 20,
"rating": 4.1,
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"Adult",
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''Let me grab something to drink.'' Cassy took her jacket off and walked towards the mini-fridge under her bunk. She grabbed two bottles of water and sat on the sofa.
Wesley walked towards the sofa and sat next to her. He looked at her face and saw that she seemed somewhat distracted. ''Cassy, there is something I have to tell you.''
Cassy looked at Wesley then lowered her head. She felt like she wanted to say something but couldn't get the words out.
Wesley continued and grabbed her hand. He gently raised her head by the chin and looked in her beautiful emerald eyes, feeling his body heating up. '' I haven't treated you the best I'm the past. Even now, I feel as if the dumbest thing I could have done was break up with you.''
Cassy opened her eyes wide. She gripped Wesley's hand as tears started to form on her eyelashes. ''Antonio...I.''
Wesley pulled her into his embrace and kissed her forehead. He felt like he knew what he should say. 'Cassy, I like you. I like being with you. I like your personality, and the way you smile at me, your beautiful eyes and the way they shine when we talk, your voice when you're trying your best to sing along to my favorite songs.''
Wesley sighed and laid his head on her shoulder. He had accessed every memory he could from Antonio's mind, and one thing that stood out among the countless garbage memories was Cassy. He experienced life in Antonio's shoes and felt a connection whenever he recalled her image. '' I guess what I'm trying to say is, I want to be with you. I want us to be in a real relationship. The only thing this 'friendship' is doing, is putting you in more pain than pleasure. I see that now.''
Cassy felt Wesley's body shivering. She heard the sincerity in his voice and felt something wet dripping on her neck. Backing out of Wesley's embrace Cassy looked him in his eyes. When she saw his figure, two streams of water started trailing down her face. He was crying for her. He realized her pain and suffering, her inability to let him go. ''Goddammit, Tony!'' She beat on his chest and cried her heart out. She had waited so long for this moment. How was she supposed to respond when she had already prepared her heart for rejection?
Cassy shook her head and grabbed Wesley's face. She gazed into his eyes, tears still pouring out, and said in an angry tone. ''You better treat me right this time. No other women either.'' She then latched her arms around his neck and collapsed onto his chest. Her eyes flashed a dangerous light as she whispered to herself. ''Or who knows what I might do.''
''What did you say?'' Wesley didn't hear what she had said, but he felt a flash of killing intent from her. He brushed off the feeling he felt and thought of it as his intense emotions influencing his judgment. Not bothering to talk anymore Wesley brought his mouth to Cassy's and passionately kissed her. 'I won't hurt you anymore. I promise.'
Cassy groped at Wesley's thigh. ''Come on,'' she said eagerly. ''Let's do it!''
Wesley nipped at her nose and then planted a soft kiss on her eyelid. ''No need to be so impatient. I'm not going anywhere.'' He removed her shirt and kissed her collarbone before lightly sucking on it.
''Do you want me to blow you?'' Cassy asked, reaching towards his crotch area.
''Sure,'' Wesley said, kicking off his shoes. Although he planned on pleasuring Cassy with his mouth, he certainly wasn't going to refuse her offering. And if she could make him come, it would give him more control during later rounds. He leaned back into the sofa and unzipped his pants, showing off a massive bulge.
Slowly Cassy sank to her knees at the foot of the sofa, dragging his jeans and underwear down as she went. Wesley's cock popped free, slapping her across the cheek as it was liberated. Cassy giggled and slowly ran her tongue up the shaft from the base to the head.
''Ahhh.'' Wesley groaned, pleased at the sensation. He was even more pleased when she took him into her mouth and deep throated him, her lips slowly sliding down until they were nestled in his pubic hair. With exquisite slowness she pulled back up, applying suction as she went.
''You like that?'' Cassy asked, planting little kisses. ''I haven't even started yet.''
Cassy took Wesley back in her mouth and began to bob up and down. Her tongue swirled round and round, wetting him, her mouth applying a pleasant amount of suction. Wesley's hips began to rise and fall immediately from the sofa.
Cassy slurped and sucked, making little-grunting noises only for a short time before the first orgasm came straining up Wesley's spine.
''Baby, I'm coming.'' He groaned in a deep magnetic voice.
''Mmmmm.'' She moaned around His cock and picked up her pace.
Wesley began to ejaculate a massive load into her mouth. Her hand continued to jack him off throughout it as her mouth sucked the come from the head. She gulped, swallowing every drop when she pulled her head and smiled while licking her lips.
''You're not the only one who has some talent you know.'' She seemed to be proud of how she had swallowed him whole.
Wesley pulled off her bra, baring her gorgeous breasts. He took one into his mouth, working the nipple, teasing it, making her sigh in pleasure. He worked on the other nipple for a while and then stood and reached for her waistband.
Cassy watched him, her face flushed as he unsnapped her jeans and pulled them from her body. Her legs were long and lean, smooth to the touch, with just a few light hairs on the upper thighs. Her panties were black with laces on the sides. He ran his index finger up and down her spread legs, relishing the sensation of her soft skin. Continuing to her crotch Wesley hooked his finger through the elastic of the panties. Wesley tugged, and she lifted her hips, allowing him to drag them free and off of her body.
''You like what you see?'' She asked him, opening her legs more.
''I love what I see,'' he said, picking up her legs and placing them on his shoulders. ''I think I know the perfect way to appreciate the beauty.''
"Ohhh," she moaned as his head went forward.
Her hips began to rise then fall as her fingers started to pull strands of hair from his head. He attacked her clit, taking it between his lips. It only took a minute more for her to reach an orgasm.
When her gyrations stopped she hooked her hands under his armpits and gently pulled him to her. ''Please.'' She shyly whimpered as she shamelessly wrapped her legs around his waist. ''F*ck me.''
''Let me grab a condom first.'' He tried to get up but was pulled down back down by Cassy.
She whispered in his ear. ''I'm on the pill.'' She nibbled his ear and softly moaned. ''Baby please.''
Wesley body tensed up. He suppressed the primal lust eating away at his brain and spoke through gritted teeth.''Are you really on the pill?''
''Yes Goddamit!'' she whined.
He figured, through his lust filled mind, that she wouldn't lie to him. He put the head of his dick against her wet lips.
''Do it!'' She yelled, putting her legs around his ass and pulling with them. ''Enter me!''
He thrust forward into her tight slit, going in one smooth, gripping motion. They sighed together as their pubic bones met.
He f*cked her hard, pounding into her body and establishing a rhythm that got his heart rate well into the High-Intensity Training category. Sweat began to form on his face and drip onto hers. When the droplets landed near her mouth she would lick at them. She kept moaning "yes, yes, yes, oh f*ck." As his cock assaulted her pussy, making wet, squishing sounds and pouring her juices out onto the leather couch.
He angled upward with his thrusts, making the shaft rub forcefully against the top of her vagina, where the clitoral nerves were. He made sure his pubis ground into hers with each thrust, which served both to pleasure her, driving her towards orgasm and served to pleasure his cock. He squeezed her tits, tweaking the nipples. Feeling her tight ass as it moved beneath him. He placed his fingers on her lip, allowing her to suck on them.
She came again, moaning into his ear, then biting down on the lobe. He was right behind her, pumping out another load into her body. He pulled out, lowered his head, and went to work. It took her only a short time to come again. He ate her until she was mumbling incoherent nonsense.
Wesley then rolled over onto his back and pulled Cassy on top of him. With a few adjustments, her pussy was soon clamped down on his cock once more, and he was thrusting up into her. She didn't want him to release inside again though. Instead, she pulled herself off of him and took him into her mouth once again. She put her impressive blowjob abilities to work and soon Wesley was releasing another load down her throat.
She crawled up onto his body and collapsed atop it, kissing his cheeks and lips. ''Don't ever leave me. Only you can make me feel this good.'' She whispered in a weak tone.
Wesley held her body tightly making sure every part of his body was touching her's. ''I wouldn't dare.''
|
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The break was now over, and Wesley was standing on the field waiting for the coach to blow his whistle. Jake was standing opposite of his position.
The whistle was blown, and Wesley kicked the ball to Jake. Jake kicked the ball back and rushed forward. He believed he could steal the ball from Wesley and out dribble him, showcasing his skills.
Wesley knew what Jake was thinking and didn't bother to give him a chance. He nimbly dribbled the ball and bypassed Jake with a cross.
Jake stared in confusion. He ran towards Wesley again, but contrary to his expectations, Wesley didn't attempt to cross him again. 'What is he doing?' Jake thought to himself. Wesley could have advanced towards the goal but instead passed the ball to Steve.
Jake watched as Steve dribbled pass his teammates and was already in front of the goal. He saw Steve kick with a low amount of strength and believed the ball could be blocked with ease. But alas he was wrong. Steve wasn't trying to score a goal but was passing the ball off to someone, and that someone was Antonio. Jake realized his mistake and rushed forward to intercept the ball but was ruthlessly shut down by Antonio's footwork.
Wesley shook his head and scoffed. He flicked the ball over the goalie's head, and it rolled into the goal. You could hear Coach Felix yelling at the goalie from the side. Telling him that he was too aggressive during that play.
The goal Wesley scored wasn't very flashy, mostly because he wanted to gauge how well Jake could use the memories to his advantage. Seeing that Jake wasn't at the point where he could bring the most out of his 'gift'. Wesley decided he could use this practice match to widdle away at some of Jakes confidence. Although he wouldn't be able to significantly break Jake's spirit, he could leave a shadow in his heart. Over time, making Jake feel as if he'd never be better than Antonio. After all, everything works out well if the protagonist has hope.
Quincy had the ball and was driving towards the goal. He passed the ball to Jake and freed himself from the two players defending against him. He made his way to a good spot on the field and looked for Jake to pass the ball back, seeing as he was in a good position to score a goal.
Unfortunately, Jake was in his own world and ignored all of his teammates. He dribbled past a few opposing players and found himself head to head with Wesley. Jake snarled at him and rushed forward, attempting to cross him. 'You may have scored a lucky goal, but now that the ball is at my feet, I'll show you what it feels like to be at the bottom.'
Wesley saw Jake rushing in his direction while he was setting up to score and smiled. He lunged at him, seeming as if he would run right past him and twisted around Jake's body.
Seeing Antonio run right past him Jake sneered. 'How dumb do you have to be to run right towards me? With that momentum what did you expect to happen?' Jake laughed and ran forward, but he kicked ahead and felt nothing but air. He looked at his feet with confusion, and to his horror, the ball was gone.
Wesley was running towards the goal with two teammates and a few opposing players on his tail. He dashed forward and swiftly dodged two midfielders, leaving them stumbling over their own feet. He passed the ball to a player on his left, who then passed the ball to Steve. Steve was positioning himself for the assist as Wesley shot forward into the penalty area.
Steve laser beamed the ball back to Wesley and ran up in case Wesley missed his shot. Wesley received the ball and feined a kick to the left side of the goal successfully fooling the goalie. He then kicked the ball with astonishing force, curving it towards the right side of the goal, the ball burrowing itself into the net.
The spectators were still processing what just happened. The silence only lasted for a second before all the people on the sidelines started cheering. Wesley casually jogged to Steve and gave him a high five, surprised at how well he followed his movement. He knew that pass Steve made was hard to pull off and was surprised at how skilled he executed it.
Unlike the crowd near the sidelines, the players didn't overreact as much. Although they were amazed by Wesley's goal, they felt getting so excited during a practice match was embarrassing. Not only were the teams not well oriented, but they also weren't accepted onto the team yet as it was still tryouts.
Nevertheless, the goal Wesley scored heated their blood, motivating them further.
Jake was standing by himself staring at Steve and Wesley. He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. He remembered all the times Antonio had one-upped him and was livid. 'Every time! Every goddamn time! If only the goalie weren't so inexperienced, not to mention my teammates. What's with their shoddy defense.' He continuously made excuses in his head but the longer the match went on, the more furious he got.
The score was 4-0 when Coach Felix blew his whistle. Thirty minutes had passed, and tryouts were ending. He chuckled to himself. 'That boy scored three goals within thirty minutes. I can't wait until I see him with the team.' He then looked at Steve, Timothy, and Quincy. They were specially recruited, so he was not surprised at how well they performed. His gaze finally landed on Jake, and he frowned. 'Although he has good technique and solid basics, he's too selfish with the ball. He shows promise, but I'll have to fix his ego up first.' He laughed remembering how proudly Jake proclaimed to be better than his brother, Antonio. 'The kids good, but not good enough to be a starter on my team.' Coach Felix thought as he gathered the players up.
* * *
After tryouts, Wesley along with the three exchange students made there way to Russel Stadium. Just as Wesley thought, they were there to practice with the varsity team. Even after two hours playing during the tryouts, they were forced to train another hour and thirty minutes. Wesley felt his muscles ache as he exited the stadium. On the bright side, he'd left a mighty impression on the hardheaded seniors of the varsity team.
Wesley was starting up his car when he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. He pulled it out to see Cassy was calling him. He accepted the call with a grin on his face. 'Now I know you're a hard working member of society, but I must tell you my insurance is fine, my bills are paid off, and you can tell that Nigerian prince he can keep his money.'' Wesley chuckled as Cassy burst into laughter.
''Why do you like to play so much?''
Wesley started his car up while responding. ''Who knows, maybe I'm just too childish for my own good.''
Cassy chuckled. ''Ok little bro. Wanna get something to eat? Maybe an early dinner?''
''Sure. Only if you can provide me with a little dessert afterward.'' Wesley was starving; sadly hunger wasn't the only thing that burdened him while pushing his body to the limit. Being surrounded by dozens of sweaty men for almost four hours had him desperately needing the comfort of a woman to ease his weak mind.
''Dessert my foot.'' Cassy laughed. She knew what he was implying, but she wasn't going to comply so easily. ''Pick me up in front of the dorms, my roommate is a local, and she recommended a few restaurants she often visits.'' Even though she had eaten an avocado and some toast earlier in the canteen, she found herself hungry again.
''Alright I'll be there in a few minutes.''
They both said goodbye and Wesley hung up the phone. He opened his Spotify playlist and put on a song he'd heard in the bar last night.
''Almost heaven, West Virginia."
''Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River''
He looked towards the baby blue sky and sighed. Something about the scenery before him caused him to feel a melancholic nostalgia.
''Country roads, take me home.''
''To the place, I belong.''
Wesley laughed and looked ahead down the long road lined with trees. ''I'll cherish every life I live from now on.'' He added a new goal for the future in his mind. Enjoy life to the fullest.
''West Virginia, mountain mama.''
''Take me home, country roads.''
_________________________________
Ko-fi.com/good_neighbor
https://www.patreon.com/Good_Neighbor
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''I'm ready.''
''Good. You already know this, but the transfer is instantaneous. I will count down from three, so prepare yourself.''
Wesley closed his eyes and braced himself for the transfer. The world he is being transferred to is an S class world, and although he doesn't know the setting of the world yet, he decided to stay vigilant.
Jella started her countdown. ''3 2 1''
When Jella reached one, Wesley's body felt a swift change in temperature and figured he was now in the other world. He felt cramped as he tried to move his body. 'Where the fuck am I?' Wesley pulled up his system interface to read a quick summary of this world's history.
This world was set in the far future where humans have achieved astonishing results in space travel, spreading themselves throughout the galaxy. With a goal to search the vast expanse of space, all of the worlds political superpowers joined hands in world peace. After years of planning and reforming, the Milky Way Federation was born. As humans traveled farther and farther away from their beloved Earth, they realized how foolish they were to believe they could conquer the universe.
Humans were not the only intelligent lifeforms in the universe, and there was concrete evidence of it now. While searching for a new planet to colonize, the federations main voyage fleet was attacked by foreign life forms called the Kur. The Kur possessed technology leagues ahead of what humanity could create, leaving the starships helpless against their ambush. As one would expect, the entire fleet was massacred. This incident is what brought about the first Intergalactic War. Humans fought desperately for decades, but the Kur's main forces were getting closer to Earth by the year. Almost all hope for humanity was lost, when another Foreign lifeform joined the war. They were called the Ares.
The Ares' forces made up the forefront of Earth's defense and battled the Kur alongside humans for decades. After years of battle, the humans and Ares succeeded in repelling the Kur. The war had ended and peace had returned to the federation.
The protagonist of this world was an orphan by the name of Kelle. Kelle was a human who grew up on Mars. His life in the slums of Mars led him to want something more than a piece of bread a day. One day While scavenging for food, he was picked up by a mysterious couple. The couple told him that he was the descendant of a legendary marshal who fought in the great war and that he was entrusted his inheritance. The only catch was, to receive his inheritance he needed to reach the rank of general by age thirty. Kelle knew this was a chance to change his destiny so he accepted the terms without hesitation. After all, human lifespans have significantly increased from the past. A healthy mortal man could live up to 300 years if his body is adequately maintained.
The couple trained him for two years then sent him to the Dublin Academy of War. They were not allowed to interfere with him too much. Due to the Dublin Academy being one of the best schools in the United Galaxies, most of the students who attended came from illustrious backgrounds. This led to Kelle being ruthlessly bullied throughout his academy days. One of those bullies being Wesley's new body.
'Are you kidding me?.' Wesley thought as he read his body's background. Cyril Domraud Was the only child of the Domraud Family. The Domraud Family was an Ancient Ares Family that could be dated back to pre great war days. They fostered many underworld leaders and had secretly reigned over the Ares Empire's underworld for millennia.
When Cyril first met Kelle, he didn't think much of him. It was only when the girl he'd liked since childhood fell in love with Kelle did he start to feel disturbed by his presence. Some students who were looking to get in Cyril's good books bullied Kelle ruthlessly. This went on all throughout Kelle's first year at the academy. You'd think that with Cyril's background he would have discovered how his followers where bullying Kelle but low and behold, the plot kept forcing Cyril and Kelle to misunderstand each other.
Kelle was still able to graduate at the top of his class and joined the military immediately after the ceremony. The Kur had begun attacking a few Federation colonies, and he wanted to be on the frontlines fighting. The more honors he got the more the Federation took notice of him. As he grew more powerful within the federation, he started to bump heads with Cyril more often. He was backed by the federation which led to him feeling more confident in defending himself from Cyril. Over the years Cyril was attacked by the protagonist more and more until one day, he was framed for being an informant for the Kur.
Wesley sighed as he shook his head. 'Why are these side characters and cannon fodder so dumb? Did Cyril not have the potential, if not the resources, to completely leave Kelle in the dirt?' Wesley finished reading the rest of the plot and checked his tasks.
One, he needed to hold first place all four years at the academy consistently, and two, he must unite the Kur, Ares, And Humans. Wesley laughed to himself as he rubbed his forehead. 'Jella wasn't lying when she said this world would be complicated.' The first task would be as easy as cutting a pie, but the second one. The second one was very difficult to pull off. He sighed once again.
''Looks like I'm going to be here for a long time,'' Wesley said as he stretched his neck.
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''Alrighty then.'' Cyril moved his body and felt around himself. He seemed to be in a box of some kind. 'What in the?' He punched as hard as he could, and the latch on the box broke off, freeing his limbs from their cramped position. Cyril stood up from the box and observed his surroundings. 'Hmm, it seems I haven't left the Domraud residence yet.' As he examined the room, an obnoxious scent assaulted his nostrils. He looked down and examined his body. Although beautiful, the shirt he was wearing was drenched in an overly sweet smelling black liquid. Not just the shirt, the dress shorts he was currently wearing were moist and emitted the same fragrance. Feeling disgusted, he searched for what might be a bathroom in his room.
He navigated the large room and made his way towards two large doors near the corner of his room. When he stood in front of the doors, they slid open revealing a luxurious nature-themed spa. Cyril squinted his eyes and sighed. 'Indeed. There's no way the heir to such a prestigious family would have a common bathroom. While marveling at the sight in front of him, his thoughts were interrupted by a soft voice entering his ears.
''Oh dear, Prince Cyril, what happened? Did something happen when playing with the young miss?''
Cyril looked towards the source of the voice and narrowed his eyes. He caught sight of two women dressed as maids standing near what seemed to be an indoor waterfall. The maids ran up to him worriedly and examined his body.
''Are you hurt anywhere? This is why I protested to you sending us to hide in the bathing room. I can't be sure of your safety if you're alone.'' The young maid said, fear in her voice.
Cyril gazed over the two women as memories flooded into his mind. These two were his maids. The one doing all the talking was a young woman with thick brown hair and bright Emerald green eyes. Her name was Elizabeth, and from his memories, he could tell she was the one who took care of almost all of his personal needs. The other was a tall woman with short white hair, styled into a pixie cut and deep ruby colored eyes. She was a Martian-born and was solely here for his protection. Her name was Emelia. She didn't seem to talk much, but the worry on her face was clearly shown to him. He thought for a moment and spoke softly.
''I don't know. I was hiding from Sala when my body started to feel warm. Next thing I knew, I was covered in this liquid.'' Cyril knew the Ares had a period in their life where their body would go through a maturing phase just like humans. He assumed that after his soul entered the body, it initiated his maturing phase early. Unlike most Ares who start maturing around sixteen.
The Maids seemed to catch on about what was happening and sighed in relief. Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Cyril and sighed. She had been worried for nothing. '' Apologies, Prince Cyril. From what I can tell, you started your maturing phase early, causing your body to release the impurities within it. We'll get you cleaned up and bring you to his Majesty.''
Cyril chuckled at Elizabeth's overly mother-like actions and relaxed as she took off his clothing and jewelry. At first, he thought having people wash his body would be awkward and maybe a little arousing, but as his body was being wiped all over, the only thing he felt was immense relaxation. Not to mention he was quite underdeveloped at the moment. Elizabeth and Emelia did their job very professionally, leaving him no room for complaint. 'Indeed, the life of a prince is very comfortable.' After the bath, Elizabeth and Emelia clothed him and led him out of the bathroom. He dismissed them and sat in an office connected to his bedroom.
Cyril contemplated his plans for the school portion of his tasks. Although Kelle was the protagonist of this world, Cyril felt no need to counterattack him too severely. All of the past Cyril's and Kelle's suffering was caused by misunderstandings forced onto them by the world's plot. Due to the world's scheme, Kelle was viciously bullied and beaten till near death on multiple accounts. And although Cyril was framed and attacked by his own people, most of his demise was planned by the Ares 'Royal' Family. They seemed to be tired of being nothing but figureheads of the Ares race and wanted actual power. He didn't need to go out of his way to create an enemy out of the protagonist of this world. Nevertheless, he wouldn't be spared so easily. After all, much of the suffering Cyril faced was caused by Kelle and Kelle alone.
Thinking of what he'll need for his current task, Cyril scrolled through the item shop. If he can get a few memory enhancement solutions and cell boosters, becoming the top student would be a breeze. While making a shopping list of sorts, Cyril thought of all the things he would need for his overall mission. It would be impossible to predict everything he would need for his tasks, but the basic things he needed, those he could buy right now. He almost finished with his list when he heard footsteps coming near his office. He closed his system interface and faced the door.
The door slowly slid open, and a beautiful girl with violet hair peeked her head into the office. She looked forward and smiled genuinely. ''I found you, Cyril.'' The girl walked into the room and approached Cyril slowly. ''Hmph, this hiding spot is pretty lame.'' the girl jokingly said.
Cyril slightly narrowed his eyes. This girl was the former Cyril's crush and childhood friend, Sala. He stared at her then sighed. 'I almost forgot I was an alien, huh.' He thought as he observed the girl in front of him. He took in her exquisite and unique features and sighed. Long violet hair that reached her waist, somewhat pinkish skin that gave off a blushed look, long elf-like ears that were decorated with golden cuffs, and a beautiful blue jewel sitting in the middle of her forehead. Even her eyes shined with a blue radiance. Everything about her appearance screamed, 'I'm an extra-terrestrial beauty!'
He thought on his appearance which was not that different from her's. He had deep red hair that reached his chin, golden eyes that shined like the sun, a golden jewel sitting on his forehead, and long ears decorated with elegant golden cuffs. Even his skin had the same peach colored shade.
Cyril smiled softly and stood up from his seat. ''Maybe I never hid in the first place.''
Sala frowned and folded her arms. ''That defeats the purpose of the game. If you hadn't wanted to play, why did you agree when I asked.''
Cyril smirked and closed the distance between them. ''Who knows. Anyways, this game is for children. I feel that wasting my time playing these meaningless games isn't entertaining anymore.''
The girl tilted her head and looked towards Cyril with a confused expression. She walked closer to him and leaned in, examining his face. She caught sight of the golden jewel on his forehead; the golden hue seemed to have become more profound than before. She gasped. ''Ah! You're core, i-it's matured. H-How? We haven't even left for the academy yet.''
Cyril smirked. ''Who knows. All I can say is that I look forward to arriving at the academy.'' He grabbed her hand and led her out of his office. ''Let's go, I have to talk to my father.'' Cyril walked confidently with a sly grin on his face. This world was going to be a pain in the ass for sure, but he looked forward to it.
|
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“Judith, good morning, come here and let mother hug and kiss you. I hope you slept well, you seem different, as if a strong aura is coming out of you…." Judith's mother overlooked Judith from top to bottom expanding her soul over Judith. "Wait you became a level one mage?” Surprise could be found on Judith’s mothers face. “It should take at least six months or a year or longer of meditate to draw in manna to break through though the first level. It is one of the hardest steps for mortals to overcome. How were you able to break though so easily?” Eagerly asked Judith's mother. Judith’s mother's face was full of curiosity and desire to wanting to know how her son was able to break though so fast.
“Mother after father gave me White Howler and left the room. I thought to try out the ability of my sword to gain a basic understanding of what it was and what it does. I didn’t realize how much manna it sucked out of me to just get the ability to start. In the end it sucked up every section of manna throughout my entire body and since my body was bone dry, I entered a deep sleep and had a dream. ” Said Judith.
Judith begins to retell his dream and experiences with his mother about the tiny flame, the splitting of his soul and how the flame soul ate until it exploded into a new level of power. Judith’s father told him that was the first sign of breaking through a barrier. “Amazing.” Said Judith mother. She punches her son in the arm. “Mom, what was that for?” Asked Judith.
“Are you really asking that, do you not realize how dangerous it is to try to create two soul areas where you gather manna? I mean this is a blessing; you will be able to practice the family's Flaming Empresses Imperial Will along with a mage art. Although your father says he doesn’t want you to study magic that’s not entirely true now with you having two soul areas. Do not forget your mother is also a level 4 wind mage, and from your dream it looks like you are going to be a flame mage. Once you learn the family knight art and strengthen yourself, you should look into a small mage school and further enhance your strength. I would have never suggested this but because you have two soul areas now you can fulfill mother’s selfish dream of you becoming a powerful mage, but don’t tell your father." Said Judith's mother.
“What your dream of becoming a powerful mage… ha ha ha you think I don’t know about that dream of yours my love. Of course, I know of it and I am sad you were unable to reach a higher level and you bore our son and now we are surely going to face a calamity for denying our son to those mages groups. I know I am selfish. I am sorry I hold a prejudice against mages for killing my great grandfather and I wished to forbid you from practicing but honestly use whatever power you can to kill all your foes. Whether it is sword or magic or both, you should excel in all those areas. But to do so you need to live and that is why we are sending to away.” Said Weldon.
“Your son understands father and mom." Judith looking at his mother and father's eyes. "I shall make both of your dreams come true I shall work hard and become more powerful than anyone else.” Said Judith. Determination could be seen and heard from Judith as he made his vow to both father and mother.
“Here son, look at the armor that I made for you primary out of the leaves of the 500-year-old Violet Iron Oak.” From besides Judith’s mother she pulled up a set of white armor. This white armor looked like Judith’s White Howler, before him was pale white leather for chest, pants and boots; a complete armor set for Judith. “We made the armor like the sword; here take this chest piece, under this reinforced plain looking leather is the five layers of interlocking leaves which are sewn with thread of gold infused dark metal which acts as a conduit of electricity which is controlled by this violet gem in the center of the armor. This is a family technique that they came up with the use of the leaves because they are flexible and to keep strong defensive capabilities. We send electricity throughout the whole armor which reinforces the armor and still allows the wearer to have flexibility and full range of movement of all joints. In the center of the chest piece is a grade one lightning gem which controls the electricity flowing throughout the entire armor keeping it together, if ever in a deadly situation we infused the armor with the soul of a level one lightning lizard. You can overload the lightning gem with the attack from the lightning lizard using their lightning blast attack which will be close to a level two lightning attack, but the gem will be used, and the armor will fall apart because of no gem. Only use this attack in an emergency and as a surprise attack and only if you know you will live and no more enemies are coming, otherwise you will be without armor. Next up is the pants, again if you notice the pants are like the chest piece, again there are 5 layers of leaves interlocked, and here we made a belt to hold the lightning gem, now the pants have a different ability we used a soul of the level two Iron Flame Bull, it should grant you double strength and a 20 percent increase of fire damage.” Said Judith's mother.
“This was my idea son" Interjected Weldon. "You will need to learn how to use this ability at the most opportune time. Think about it, you are fighting with someone and you are toe to toe, neither party can gain nor lose your evenly matched as you fight. They realize your even with them and then as you strike you explode with this ability and then boom double strength which equals massive damage when caught off guard, this also works to help defend also. Now that you’re a level one mage you should be able to use this move a couple of times, learn it like the back of your hand so you can use it without thought, timing will be the best thing to learn how to use it.” Said Weldon.
Looking at the armor Judith was amazed, thinking about what his father had just said “What a great ability I will for sure practice as you said father. I will be able to erupt with extra strength that my opponents will not know I will have, but I should be mindful others may have the same hidden survival means.” Said Judith. Then turning his attention from the pants and chest armor, Judith looked at the boots with anticipation wanting to learn what special abilities these seemly white boots have to offer.
“Oh, you want to know what these boots can do don’t you Judith. Well as you may realize we used same process to make these boots like the pants, chest and sword; the soul we emplaced into the boots were from a Lingering Panther who your father recently killed when it was attacking our lands. From the mage who infused this soul said you should be able to have the ability to grant extra speed and lower the sound you make something like a silence spell on yourself, so you can do a charge attack or even be able to perform a sneak attack.” Said Judith's mother.
“Yeah, I guess that panther I killed had the ability to silence its whole self, so it never makes a sound when it stalked its prey or when it moved, but that’s how I found it. I mean come on, a moving soundless bubble, it's super strange; once you get stronger you will be able to sense things like that also. I mean wherever that six-foot panther moved would be deathly quiet. Then when it would move, because I am a much higher level than the panther I found I quickly. It was easier for me to find it compared to my men I sent out to stop it. For only being a level two monster, it was able to evade my level four guards. So, I am thinking you may be able to hide yourself from up to level four personal also, but I don’t know, you need to test the equipment out. As you grow stronger and gather more manna, you will be able to fully use all your equipment, so keep testing and know your limits.” Weldon said. Weldon looked over his son, with worry and pride; he didn’t know if he was going to see him again but wanted to give him the best that he could.
“Father Mother, thank you so much for this equipment it must have cost so much to our family. I am grateful for the equipment and I won’t disappoint either of yours nor my own dreams. I will make both of your dreams come true.” Said Judith.
Judith had a vision of him standing above everything in his homeland being able to dominate anyone and anything that would stand against him. As if his dream was being conveyed to his parents for they too were able to sense and envision the same vision of their son dominating the world.
“Milord” Disrupting the families personal moment.
The sudden word awoke the family from their day dream of ruling the world. “Nolan, what is it?” Said Weldon.
“The gear is loaded on the Silver Fishes and the decoy carriages are also set, all we are awaiting is yours and young lords command to leave.” Replied Nolan.
Being brought back to reality sadden the lord for he wished he would be able to stand next to his son and see his dominance of the world, or he hopes he just survives and lives a peaceful life. “Okay Judith, should we get you ready and let you head out on your journey.” Said Weldon.
Judith striped down to only his undergarments and pulled up the white leathered pants then the boots. Throwing on a black undershirt Judith then was assisted by his parents to put on his armor, there standing before his parents was a young boy with brown hair wearing a full leather outfit in white with purple lightning gems in the center of the chest armor and one in the belt buckle. “Here take White Howler and your shield; here is your bag with the items you wanted to bring with you also.” Said Judith's mother.
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“We also threw in the technique on how we make and use your armor so as you grow bigger and stronger you can make adjustments to your armor. So, it can grow along with you, so you may use it for years to come, or even upgrade it.” Said Judith's mother.
Both parents followed Judith outside the parlor to go near the stable and meet up with Nolan. Once arriving near the stables Judith was surprised to find there were multiple carriages set up and ready to go and he only thought they were taking one Silver Fish. “Nolan, I thought we were only taking the one Silver Fish why is there more carriages?” Asked Judith.
“Really son you couldn’t figure that out, your mother and I will also be boarding a carriage of our own going in different directions. We don’t know if those mages have told their bosses yet you should know our laws if an able mage is found they have to go to a school or they are killed. That is why we must move with haste, we love you and hope to see you in the future, remember to be smart and don’t act foolishly, one wrong mistake you could be found out and killed. The Wildlands don’t require mages to register or at least I don’t recall they have to, so you need to make haste to reach those lands and hide out from these mages. Don’t forget what I told you in your room last night and what I gave you. You must receive our families legacy you are at an acceptable level to be able to receive our ancestors legacy; you will become a new legend.” Said Weldon.
“Your father is correct; we will all be going in separate ways you will take the river out of our lands that will be the fastest method and most likely the path that they would not look for. Meanwhile your father and I and two other groups will head on land in different directions to cover up your tracks. Do not think that will fool all those mages they have an amazing tracker who specializes in finding people be warned. The Wildlands are as they say they are wild and savage at times the laws of the jungle apply there. The strongest has the final say and right now you are weak. Get strong and then you can leave out into the world. Nolan is a great trainer he has been a part of the family for a long time he will assist you in living at the family lodge.” Said Judith's mother.
Judith nodded in agreement and understood their meaning and sentiment. With not wanting to separate from his parents the family said their goodbyes and loaded themselves in their respected transportation's. As Judith loaded himself onto the Silver Fish he looked at the fleeting carriages of both his parents going in different directions, wondering when he is going to see them next. “Young master, it is going to be okay, we should be able to see them once again, don’t forget your father is almost a level six warrior who can stand toe to toe with some level seven mages beating them and your mother is level four wind mage who excels in escaping. Of course, as long as there are not multiple high-level mages our family should be able to withstand this little calamity.” Said Nolan.
Judith nodded in understanding what Nolan had said. “Here get in the Silver Fish, we are going to be traveling inside down river for a few days so get comfortable. I loaded your gear into the room on the left side, set yourself up and take a nap. I also heard you broke through to a first level mage, so congrats take this time to understand your body I am sure there are changes made.” Said Nolan.
After listening to Nolan, Judith took his bag, sword and shield and walked into the room prepared for him on the left.
Upon entering the well-lit cabin, Judith looked around and found out that his family had prepared a medium sized Silver Fish. This Silver Fish had two cabins on the main floor with the common area, and then down stairs was the mess hall, latrine and the storage. Above the main floor was access to the deck where an outpost and the harness were attached for the Woltters which pulled the Silver Fish. The Silver Fish also had the ability to go underwater for periods of time to keep stealth water movements. Over all the Silver Fish was a combination of a medium luxury boat sub which could be drawn over land. Judith could hear Nolan in the background telling the Woltters to head to the river and begin traveling. Judith looked around and found out he had a desk, a bed, a walk-in closet, an armor mannequin and a small port window to see the lands as he traveled. Judith undid his chest armor and took off his boots and stretched out while walking to the window to say his final good bye to his homeland.
While thinking “Goodbye mom dad and everyone, I will come back stronger and if those mages do anything to you all I will make them pay this I swear.” Vowed Judith. Having said his vow Judith took one last look at his childhood home and said goodbye without turning back and laid down on his bed. While falling asleep Judith thought he could make out Nolan saying the word "sorry" as he walked near his room, with no strength Judith fell into a deep sleep. Nolan standing near Judith’s room thought “Sorry buddy, we have a long haul we need to move, and I can’t have you acting any way until we get close to the Wildlands, sleep well my young lord.”
Time moved forward, young Judith was unaware he was put under sleep for a long period of time; within his dream state he saw his two flame souls. Considering what his father told him Judith thought to get know his two flame souls. Judith regretted not having read the Flaming Empresses Imperial Will so he could start training one of his soul areas. After pondering it Judith thought it would be best to train in his family's art in his heart flame soul, and he would leave the mind soul flame for when he learned a mage art then he would practice both. Judith just spoke and played with his two young flame souls and got to know them better and started to build a bond with both. Judith was able to tell he had power now, but he had no method to gather and store more energy yet, he needed to wake up and learn Flaming Empresses Imperial Will so he could begin his training. After what seemed to be playing with his two flame souls a very long time, Judith slowly opened his eyes and woke, and wanted to learn his family’s art but thought it best if he checks on the current status with Nolan and figure out how far they have traveled.
Grarh..garr..rrrr.uuuaya… Rumbling could be heard from Judith's stomach. “Ah I should also hurry up and find Nolan for I am hungry.” Judith put on his boots and left his room “Nolan… Nolan where are you?” Yelled Judith. Judith could hear a reply from down below.
“I am down here making food come get some.” Repiled Nolan.
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Judith then left his room and headed downstairs and entered the mess hall. There before Judith was Nolan making brunch “Go sit down, I figured you would be waking up soon, here drink this it will help wake you up.” Said Nolan.
“Nolan, man I feel tired, how long was I out for, I feel like it has been awhile.” Asked Judith.
Nolan nervously laughed “Yes young lord please forgive me, I had exposed you to the Irka mushroom which put you under a heavy sleep; you slept for close to fifteen days straight.” Said Nolan.
Surprise could be seen on Judith’s face “fif..fift…fifteen…days are you kidding me Nolan, you put me under for a half a month?” Blurted Judith.
“I am so sorry my lord, it was dangerous fleeing your family home, and your father told me to put you down in case if you tried to do something.” Nolan was bowing down and apologizing to his young lord. “I know why your father requested me to do such a thing.” Shaking Nolan started to tear up.
Noting Nolan’s body language. “Nolan what has happen… tell me are my parents still okay and the family are they still all okay?” Without a quick response worry filled Judith to the point of losing control. “Nolan.. NOLAN… tell me what has happen in the last fifteen days while I slept.” Demanded Judith.
Nolan broke down and began to tell his young lord what has transpired over the last two weeks while he slept. “Judith, a few days after we left, those mages brought their higher ups, your father refused again, which pissed them off and they were plotting on how to get a hold of you, when the top four mage towers of Pilrim joined hands with those three 2nd rate towers. They all attack your family's home for disobeying the law for not giving up any and all magically adapt children to a mage tower within the borders of Pilrim. They broke that law normally speaking they wouldn’t really care, but your test results were so extraordinary it drew the attention of the top four mage towers of Pilrim, they had to have you. But your father instead fought off one of their level seven mages until the time when the other six tower elders joined in and killed your father similar to your ancestor. We assume your mother passed away also, majority of all your family member were wiped out all staff were killed also everything was destroyed to make an example of the Ruby-fiend family; we have to change your name.” Said Nolan apologetically bowing his head in shame.
“What…" Judith's face became pale. "They have all died.” Despair took root in the heart of the young lord. “My family they are all gone…" Judith began stuttering. "Gone… they are all gone… no one is alive… how do you know all this Nolan?” Asked Judith. Looking at Nolan with moisten eyes Judith couldn’t stop from beginning to crying, emotion filled every fiber in his body. Waiting for a response Judith began to feel anger; he wanted to do something now.
“Young Master, I think your father knew something like this was going to happen, you never even took the third test and those mages were filled with greed at your amazing potential, if one of them brought you to their tower you would have made them very well off. You should know the rules of our country Pilrim, you were an able trainable mage and your family refused so the country made an example of them. I received a magic letter with the details and images of your father being beheaded and I am assuming your mother died as well, mean while everyone else at the home including both staff and family were all killed to make an example for people who don’t listen to rules of the land.” Said Nolan.
“Who beheaded my father I will kill them all…” Fury built up inside Judith.
“Judith, relax… you are no match for those people… four level seven mages and three level six mages… Judith I have tended to you since birth. I am in agreement with your father and mother wishes. I will help train you and take revenge for our family.” Said Nolan; with determination and emotions as he held himself up without further breaking down in front of his young master. “I have been a part of your Ruby-fiend family since I was a boy when I saved your father from nearly drowning in the lake. From then on, I have been your fathers’ best friend and most trusted ally. He has trusted me with both your father's and mother's last will and their dreams all of which I will do my best to fulfill.” Stated Nolan. Nolan reached for Judith to bring the young man into his arms and hold him and let him grieve for his family.
Judith just let all his emotions go, giving in and receiving the support of his father’s friend Nolan, after an hour of grieving hard, Judith finally broke free of his grieving and anger. “Thank you so much Nolan for being here for me… I will grant my parents their dream… Nolan I am going to my room for a while, I am going to study my family’s art to see if I can begin practicing the Flaming Empresses Imperial Will.” Stated Judith.
Nolan nodded; Judith left the mess hall and went upstairs towards his room. Upon entering his room, he went to his desk and pulled out the tome which held his family scared knight art Flaming Empresses Imperial Will. The tome was well preserved for only being a couple hundred years old; Judith opened the black and red book with an elephant on the cover entitled ‘Flaming Empresses Imperial Will’.
Judith opened the book and note was on the first page from his father.
Judith my son, I love you. If you are reading this it means you must have woken up and a couple weeks have gone past and I am most likely dead. I know you are sad and angry and want to extract vengeance, but you are too weak currently. I am proud of you and if you continue to work hard, you will be able to avenge us all. Judith let me explain the naming of our families art to you. As you know the Ruby Flame elephant, is where our family derived a section of our family name from, giving honor to the beast that gives us our power. The Ruby Flame elephants are a matriarchy species, their females are the ones in power, and the males are just used for breeding proposes. Although I recall grandfather speaking about a rare shaman male type Ruby Flame elephant which stands about an equal to the main matriarch, he nor anyone in our family has seen one before though. Once your foundations are completed and are able to go out and seek a Ruby Flame elephant, to join into your soul. You should seek out a dying female preferably, their souls are stronger than a younger female. As are they more willing to join and merge with you for they are dying and in a sense they get to live longer. Hopefully you do not have to resort to having to kill a female to join with your soul, but if you are unable to find one dying, you may have to seek one out to fight. They travel in herds thus it is really difficult to do that. When one nears death they remove themselves from the herd, but the herd is nearby and they mourn the lost of the dying, keep a ear out. Nolan knows all of this and he will most likely remind of these important matter as well, I just felt it was my duty to tell you. I am sorry I am not going to be able to witness your success or to be able to help you merge and give pointers to you as you grow up. If there are no females, the worst case scenario would be to find a male, which normally travel alone, unless it is still young then it travels with the herd, but they are weak, and if it is alone that means it will seek out a herd of its own, so follow it to find other female Ruby Flame elephants. Remember your training only through repetition and hard work will you succeed. Your mother went another way from me, she also mostly died, but there is a small chance of her surviving. Seek out our families heritage, due to your mage talents you will be able to learn everything. I have told you everything. I love you Judith. I know you will succeed one day.
Judith broke down once again as he reread his father's words, longing to be near his parents once again. Taking his fathers advice, Judith once again turned to the tome.
Judith thus began reading the tome. Stage zero Becoming the Elephant, the first segment of the family art required the user to build a strong foundation becoming like the elephant itself. Then the user is to capture and house the soul and spirit of an elephant to then truly use the family's arts. Only upon building the foundations can someone reach the top. First thing first was the user had to gather the natural energies of the world into their body, because this art was designed using the Ruby Flame elephant the primary choice of fire energy was needed. Due to Judith’s experiences in the dream state from over drawing his manna and his additional experiences with using his own flame soul he can practice this art.
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Judith thought to practice with the shield first, it has been programmed into himself to hold and practice with the shield day and night. Reexamining the shield, he was able to see all the details, it looked like the two trees were twisted into an infinity symbol one being white and the other being black, the symbol was folded in on itself as well creating a round shield of about the size 3 feet in diameter. “Wow this shield is so light, I think I can hold this thing all day long without even breaking a sweat. No wonder why the family practices with such a heavy shield so when they get a good one, they will then explode with endurance and speed amazing.” Judith thought. Judith suddenly realized that the shield had a strap along with it to allow the user to sling it across their body. “Shield down, I have to thank father once again for grandfathers shield. I can sense the healing properties hidden inside, doesn’t feel like it has too much power left, I shouldn’t use it without thought.”
Judith looked over to White Howler, the pristine white sword had flakes of purple scattered throughout the blade giving a chilly disposition, almost surreal, Judith thought that it must have been the soul of the harpy which gave the creepy aura. Having lifted the blade up, Judith was able to tell that the blade only weighs a couple of pounds, still lighter than the practice sword he had been using. Judith practices a couple of swings, conducting chops, sweeps and stabs to gain a basic familiarity about White Howler. Judith wanted to know if he was able to activate the ability of White Howler. He overlooked what the notes said about how to activate the sword “I am supposed to drop my blood on the sword first to tune it to myself and become its master. Following then I am to use my manna and say the word phase Banshee Cry and it should activate the ability. Okay here goes.” Judith thought. Judith then pricked his finger to drop his blood onto the sword, once the blood touched the sword Judith felt as if he had an additional arm or rather an extension to himself. “How amazing I can feel the sword, it’s as if my arm, I wonder how far away I can feel it.” Judith pondered. Judith walked away from the sword and was able to determine that he was able to sense the sword up to ten feet away.
Judith then said “Banshee Cry” he felt as if awhirl pool was created at the handle of the White Howler sucking up all his manna. Judith was getting light headed, almost to the point of fainting, “I must hold on, I want to see this ability” Judith whispered. As if the sword heard his will, a creepy sound began to vibrate out of the blade of White Howler. The power built up along the sword filling up with manna, once filled it could be release. The surrounding temperature was starting to drop, and a chill could be felt. As the manna gathered, the purple markings on White Howler became fully lit purple runes filling up getting ready to explode forth with its first scream. Judith was getting weak, he did not know that the sword was going to drain so much manna from his body; he could barely withstand the rapid suction of manna transpiring within his body. “I must withstand this, only a little bit more, I want to hear you howl White Howler. Is this what manna feels like, this energy flowing thru my body? I must keep standing… my eyes it is getting heavy… must stay awake.” Judith thought. Using all his energy Judith was finally able to release Banshee Cry.
A loud sonic boom was blasted from White Howler everything within fifteen feet was blasted away from Judith all being crushed into the walls, his bed is a mess, the chair and desk are damaged. A cold horrific sound could be heard resonating from White Howler, the pitch was increasing and could be felt in the very depths of the souls. The sound affected the soul slowly paralyzing the victims who hear this deathly sound making them unable to function for a few seconds. As quick as the death wail came into fruition it dissipated just as quick, returning the normal sounds of the night. Although the traces of deaths cold laughs could still be heard slowly fading away. Judith slumped over in complete exhaustion, all the manna he had was spent.
Thud… thud…
Sounds were heard coming up the stairs, “Judith… Judith are you okay what was that.” A yell could be heard. “Oh Judith, you activated White Howler, you must have used all the manna in your body and you passed out from manna exhaustion. Here let dad put you back in bed and sleep well, maybe from this extreme manna suction can be a blessing. No mage will be able to find you for a while for your manna is all gone. It should take your manna a long while to regenerate because you don’t have a proper method for absorbing and storing manna. Once you get to the lodge and get Flaming Empresses Imperial Will and start practicing it, things will change. Sleep well son.” Whispered Welden as he covered his son and put him to rest.
Judith was placed back into his bed from his father, entering a deep sleep. Judith’s father picked up his new sword and shield and set them beside the bed and left the room. Judith entered an entrancing deep sleep, where at first everything was in darkness until a small flame began to smolder, fighting to stay alive. Judith thought he could hear the young flame speaking. He sent his spiritual self closer to the flame to understand what it was saying.
“Feed me, feed me…. I am hungry” Judith thought to himself what he could feed the young flame, after pondering for a while, Judith thought “manna. I could feed the flame manna it should be able to become a flame, but how do I do that.” After a moment's time, Judith thought back to how it felt when the manna was flowing through his body when he used White Howler, if he was able to simulate the same feeling of manna moving through his body and then towards the flame he might be able to revive the flame he thought. Judith concentrated the best that he could; nothing, he couldn’t feel any manna within his body. How was he going to revive the flame without any manna? Instead of freaking out for he realized the flame was dying faster, he slowed down and calmly tried to reach out within himself to look for any manna. Time seemed to slip past quickly, yet nothing was able to be found, no manna was reacting within him. Judith could not take having any manna and let the young flame die. He knew within himself that this flame that he made first contact with within that black box was something special; he did not want to lose it. If there is no manna within him, maybe he could draw manna from the outside world he pondered. Judith thought that is how mages become powerful because they can draw manna from the outside world and replenish themselves to keep fighting and casting spells. “How do mages draw manna from the outside, is the outside manna similar to the manna inside my body?” Without even realizing it young Judith was beginning to take his first steps into becoming a mage, which is discovering manna and the accepting the flow of manna whether to take or give manna.
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Judith then turned from the direction that he was traveling and started to head to the family’s indoor garden. Panting Judith finally arrived at the family’s garden, there before him stood a colossal structure reaching beyond 1500ft from west to east and above the structure was a glass dome encased in fire elements creating a utopia. “Mother are you here, mother, where are you?” Yelled Judith.
“Judith I am near the Iron Violet Oak.”
Judith heard his mother and ran to the center of their garden to find the Iron Violet Oak, the tallest tree in the whole garden, his mother's’ favorite tree. “Mother I have found you.” Said Judith.
“Yes, dear you have come hug your mother and let me hold you my child.” Said his mother.
“What are doing out here mother?” Asked Judith.
“I am gathering all the leaves from this Iron Violet Oak to make you a set of armor my son, I cannot send you away without some kind of protection.” Replied Judith's Mother.
“Mother you are going to create an armor from the leaves of the Iron Violet Oak?” Asked Judith.
“Yes, this tree has been here for at least 500 years; the leaves of the oak are a form of flexible iron plating which can add layers and layers upon and can create any shaped armor, it is also light as well. The whole reason this garden building was created was to hide this tree for our families use to create light, flexible and strong armor which your ancestor used to build the foundations of this family, all the base armor made in this family were made from this trees leaves, we just hide that fact with other armor types, which could be pulled off the base armor allowing full use of the armor, or you can view it as us removing our training weights. Think how much more powerful our family members are when they remove the extra heavy weight, their speed, reaction strength all increases and their energy consumption lowers. It is just that your ancestor also never wanted to reveal the fact, we had such strong light armor. I am not sure if our family will survive, but you must live no matter what. I should be done soon with gathering all the leaves and then I will form the armor, you cannot leave until it is completed. Sadly, if our family gets over ran we will have to destroy this tree, we can’t have our enemies have this powerful source of materials. Judith there are a couple of sapling surrounding the oak, gather them around and get some pots and let’s transplant them somewhere safe. I don’t think the lodge is doing well over the last couple hundred years we have let it decline. Your ancestor wanted us to let the world forget about this supposed location tied to our family to keep it as a hidden base. His wife kept paintings from when she lived there, it was so beautiful, I regret I cannot come with you son. I love you, and I shall never stop thinking about you, now live and train well so if anything happens to your father and me you can and will avenge us.” Said Judith's mother.
“Mother do not speak like that, of course you are going to live and see me, I will set up the lodge with Nolan and I will get everything ready for when you all come to the lodge and we all reunite.” Said Judith.
Judith’s mother looked at her son with joy and sadness and smiled at him as he began to dig up the saplings of the Violet Iron Oak to transplant them to the lodge’s home. After spending few peaceful hours with his mother transplanting the saplings “Judith, okay I think this is all the saplings from the Violent Iron Oak, how many do we have altogether?” Asked Judith's mother.
“Looks like we were able to transplant a total of seven Violet Iron Oaks, with this many tree's being planted at the lodge we will be able to recover and become ever stronger in the future. If we do get over ran here, we may pull the Heart of the Oak out and transport it to you to feed to the young saplings for you to accelerate their growth. Go on now I am sure I have kept you away from Nolan for long enough. I am sure he is completed with gathering all the required gear you may need. Don’t forget I will be making your new armor all-night so do not leave without me seeing you off do you understand.” Said Judith's mother.
“Yes mother, I love you and I cannot wait to see my new armor I am sure it is going to be amazing.” Said Judith. Judith then proceeded to gather all the young Violet Iron Oaks to bring them to Nolan with all their additional gear for their trip to the family lodge. Judith scurried along the garden until he finally exited out of the garden and headed to the family stables. “Nolan, N…oO…Laann… where are you Nolan, I received some trees from mother in the garden.” Yelled Judith.
“Judith, I am over here near the carriage, loading up some of our gear.” Replied Nolan.
Judith heard Nolan and went around the stable and saw before him one of the families Silver Fishes. The Silver Fish were a unique carriage which the Ruby-fiend family owned, mostly due the fact of the special beast that they reared. The Woltter is a water-land predator about the size of a horse, but the mix of a wolf and otter. The skin of the wolttler is jet black with streaks of white creating a natural camouflage for both land and water. Also, the fur is waterproof and their feet are two feet long with five retractable sharp claws. Their eyes are black, with a heightened sense of sight, smell and hearing they are the perfect tracking, hunting and attack beasts which the Ruby-fiend family has employed. With the Wolttler’s pulling the Silver Fishes they can travel on both land and water. The Silver Fishes were sleek boats with wheels made from the branches of the Violet Iron Oak and covered with the scales of the Silver Arrow fish.
The Ruby-fiend families choose the Silver Arrow fish for one they are massive fish with a weight of 1 ton along with a lot of surface area to keep the skin and scales of the fish to add to the Silver Fishes creating a camouflage hiding the family as they travel. “Nolan, are we taking the Silver Fishes, will we be taking the river out of here?” Asked Judith.
“Judith, you’re a smart kid, yes once we load this Silver Fish we can take a rest say our goodbyes and then head out on the river.” Said Nolan, the two of them proceed to gather all of their gear and load it up on the transportation “Judith, go gather some food and feed the wolttlers, we want to make sure they are well feed before we start out journey, we are leaving the country and entering into the Wildlands to gain access to the Flaming Peppers Marshes where we shall track across there until we reach your families hunting lodge. As long as we do not have any hiccups within our trip we should arrive at the family lodge with the next three months.” Said Nolan.
“Wow three months of travel just to get to the family lodge?” Said Judith.
“Yes, if not within 3 months of travel imagine being hunted down by those mages because you don’t join their circle. They own pretty much everything in this country, now the Wildlands is a different story. Most of that whole territory is uninhabited and the level of monsters in that location are high along with their population being very high. Honestly, I am not too sure if we will even make it alive to the lodge. Plus, the family hasn’t been there for at least a hundred years or longer, so who knows what is there. This trip is no easy journey and our lives are just as much at risk as your families. There is no guarantee on who is going to live or not.” Said Nolan. The weight of the burden to bring the young master to the family lodge can be seen on Nolan’s face as if trying to reassure his own safety before this seemly impossible task begins. “Judith go grab something to eat and go to bed, we are almost done loading all the gear, I can finish the last couple of items, why not go to your room and pack anything you may want from there okay for we are not coming back for a long while.” Said Nolan.
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Judith nodded and left to head to his room and see if there was anything in which he could pack and bring to the family's lodge. Upon reaching his room Judith entered his reasonable size room filled with only his bed and desk. “What should I bring, what would be of use out at the lodge, hmm I should grab a few outfits, mother said she was making me a new armor, so I can leave my old one. Where is my sword…" Looking around the room? "Oh, there it is… grab this stupid shield I know father will tell me to do my shield reps… almost seems that is all he says.” Thought Judith. Imitating his father “Judith you need to keep the shield level... Judith keep holding it up, if your shield isn’t up you are not doing it right… again, if your arms are not falling off you are not putting in any effort. I don’t know why they call it a shield it is more like a giant metal block of weight, although the spell that is attached allows it to increase the weight which is great for training.” Thought Judith.
Judith continued to mock his father and trainers, while reminiscing old memories from his different training sessions over the years. “Judith… what are you doing.” Came a voice outside the room.
“Nothing… just holding my shield up… do you not see me holding it up.” Quickly replied Judith.
“Judith… Please you can stop trying to fool me, I have been here since you start to mock me about holding your shield up, so boy you can drop the act.” Said Weldon. Judith’s face turned red from embarrassment
“Yes father." Replied Judith.
“I came up here to talk to you about some private matters which only you can hear about. First your mother is making you a new armor from the leaves of the Violet Iron Oak. I have come up here to give you a couple of other items first is a map to the family's lodge and the surrounding area and points of interest are marked on the map as well, mind you this map is over 200 hundred years old, things change keep that in mind just use this as a reference so get a new updated map or create one. Next is the passphrase to enter the family's lodge's grounds which can only be activated by one of the direct blood lines, which is you. So, Nolan won’t be able to initially deactivate the security measures that are emplace on the family grounds. Although there is a security barrier emplaced that doesn’t mean someone or something hasn’t breached our security no one has visited in over a hundred years. We used to go more often to gather the Pepper Elephant Spirits for our family's art, but our more recent ancestors gathered herds of them and transported them nearby. So we don’t have to travel long distances and to hide our family lodge for emergency use. Also, I have a ring to pass on to you which will grant access to our ancestor’s true inheritance which you have to use blood and then find the altar where he has stored in the family's lodge. No one has been able to accept the legacy because no one has had the potential to become a high-level fire mage. Our family's ancestor said only one who has potential of at least purple or higher can accept his true legacy, therefore we will sacrifice our lives for you to live to ensure you receive the family's legacy. You must not tell anyone about this, I trust Nolan no matter what just some of our other members not so much when truly faced with death they may choose to hand you over. Other than the map and the ring to the family's legacy I also want to gift you two other items which I hope you can make great use of. First let me gift you this shield, as you know our family practices flame type skills, this shield was created from the knot of two 100-year Violet Iron Oaks interlocking and growing around and then was cut. The two trees are tied going in an outward way to easier deflect attacks, being made from the oak allows for quite flexibility and absorption of impacts as it is very light, compared to your training shield. This shield also has a high resistance towards fire, as well it has been refined with both white and black slime from both the angel slug and terror slugs respectively to help block magic attacks. It will only lower their damage maybe by 10 percent which is more than a life saver, plus it grants immunity to fear and charm. This was your grandfather’s shield; since I have my own I thought it best if we gift this to you. I also know from the angel slug being refined into the shield grandfather felt he was able to activate a special ability to give a small continuous healing, but he wasn’t sure if that it depletes the slime from the angel slug, so it may only have a limited amount of heals, maybe 3 left and needs to be recoated again but as you know angel slugs are hard to find. So only use in it in a life or death situation where you know you can’t escape. Now for the final item I am sure you can guess what it is….” Said Weldon.
“A new sword father, do you have a new sword for me?” Asked Judith
“Yes, you are correct, look here” Lord Ruby-fiend pulled out a 3-foot white sword with purple hue interlaced throughout the sword. “This sword was recently forged for your upcoming birthday, we took three branches from the top of the 500-year-old Violet Iron Oak and heated and twisted the three branches together to create the core of the sword blade and then emplaced the twisted branches between two halves of another branch, then dipped it into iron to hide what it was made from and finally hammered down the blade size to one-inch thickness and sharpened it. As you notice above the handle is a small fire stone, to assist with your fire arts, there is no guard handle or cross guard either, that is why we carry shields. Now I am sure you are trying to figure out why it is so white huh.”
“Yes, father why is the blade white, is it to hide the Violet Iron Oak?” Said Judith.
“Yes, that is one reason, as you should know; Violent Iron Oak is close to a grade 5 material so the equipment we make from it is far superior to anyone near us, of course those pesky mages have large amounts of wealth and access to rare materials. They can have stronger items, but I doubt the vast majority of them do not have equipment past grade 2 which is already pretty high. I will admit I used my own flame to help forge this blade to compress it to strengthen it, we also added the dying soul of a harpy into the blade, we had to get the assistance of a close family mage to help with this step, it cost a lot but with it we were able to dye the blade white, and the mage said it should have the ability to create a sonic fear attack, he used a banshee wail from the soul of the harpy which already have a sonic scream attack. Nothing better for a warrior to be able to lower your enemies moral or use a sonic attack which they cannot defend against, but I think it has a high manna consumption. We haven’t given a name to this sword, my hopes and will are within this blade and I hope with it you will be able to dominate and revive our family to an even higher than our ancestor. I want to know what you will name this blade.” Asked Weldon.
“Father this gift is too much for me surely you should use this amazing blade, not me I am not qualified for this item.” Said Judith.
“I hope you can grow into this blade, hence why it is my future hopes, so please give it a good name and remember what this blade means to our family.” Replied Judith's father while overlooking his son with eyes of love.
“Yes father, I shall grant this blade the name of… White Howler.” Judith held White Howler in his hands for the first time “father it is so cold when I hold this blade.”
“Yes, part of incorporating the harpy's soul chilled the blade, so when you channel your fire arts it will add a hint of cold spiritual damage to your targets and not heat up your hands to cause damage to yourself. I shall leave for a while and see you in the morning, practice with your new shield and sword and get used to them, hopefully you will not need to use them anytime soon, and here is also the spell activation for the banshee wail attack for White Howler. I love you son, I shall see you in the morning with your mother and say good bye to you okay.” Weldon left his son alone to engross himself with his new shield and sword along with the ring tied to the families’ legacy.
|
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Judith kept calm and listened to the world to see if he could feel the manna of the world, as he patiently waited time kept flowing, just like water. Judith’s soul broke through the barrier and embraced manna. He could feel the large sources of different manna surrounding the whole area within three feet of himself. This was unheard of for first timers, they usually had to hold a magic stone and try to feel the pure concentrated source of manna before they could feel it in the outside world, much less feel it within 3 feet of themselves. Judith felt like he had created a domain in which everything within three feet of himself he could feel or even influence including both above and below him. With the image of the White Howler created vortexes of suction drawing his own manna from him, he would emulate the same vortexes but do it to the outside manna flow. “Where does manna store?” thought Judith. He recalled feeling manna being drawn from all over his body. Should he draw the outside manna to everywhere in his body or just store it for now. Judith tried his best to remember any information he had heard about mages and how they train from all his family and staff around the house. He remembered that mages store their manna in their souls, reinforcing them and making them stronger and then they can draw and cast more powerful spells. “Where are our souls located, I know I heard them talk about either the mind or heart, most mages choose the mind so as to keep their wits about and I think the heart was dangerous.” Judith tried to recall.
Being young and ignorant Judith thought "why can’t I do both, I will focus on my soul for both mind and heart and then transfer all that manna throughout all my bones to reinforce my body; ha that is the difference between a mage and a warrior like myself.” Judith was exhilarated as he formed his plan quite pleased with himself. Now having a wild plan that he came up with, Judith tempted to see if he could draw manna into both his heart and mind. To better assist the young dying flame from becoming extinct. Judith thought to separate the flame in two giving one half to his heart and the other to his mind. Judith’s idea was wild, if other advance mages were to learn what Judith was about to attempt they would stop him to prevent anything going wrong and either destroying his heart becoming a living dead or frying his mind become brain dead. Due to youth and ignorance Judith was excited he came up with the idea to nurture two souls and then reinforce his bones to strengthen himself.
With two small souls of himself in both heart and mind each tiny self, held a small flickering flame striving to live. Judith made his two tiny selves become small vortexes sucking up the outside manna; "the best element to feed this flame should be wind and fire elements". Judith thought. Judith calmed himself down and tried to focus his attention on both the playful wind and warm fire elements to bring both energies into his two souls. The two tiny souls and flames once tasted the elements began to rapidly engorge on the wind and fire elements as if they hadn’t eaten forever, the outside manna flows were starting to show signs on the outside world of moving towards Judith as he slept. Unknown to Judith about the outside world, he kept focusing on gathering as much manna as his two souls could absorb. Over the course of time, the tiny figures not only merged with the flames, but they have already grown more than three times the size they were. Judith thought if he doesn’t use this opportunity to absorb as much manna as possible he may not get the chance to do so in the future. He always heard that when given a golden opportunity use it as long as possible without hesitation. Without even realizing it the morning light from the sunrise was shining on the young Judith as he slept, feeling the warmth of the sun he opened his eyes, feeling a sense of power filling him.
With this new profound power, Judith wanted to know how much power he had gained after splitting his soul into his heart and mind and merging with the flames and letting them grow. To his estimates he thinks “my souls have grown at least five times stronger than what it was and if he were to count the fact I have two souls then wouldn’t it be times ten?” Judith concluded. Judith couldn’t help keeping himself from laughing, “I know father and family wish for me to become a powerful knight, but shouldn’t I become the most powerful that I can?” Judith surmised. Judith couldn’t just wipe away the experience he had just undergone throughout the night. He didn’t know what he should believe or maybe he should follow his own path. Judith was grabbing for White Howler when his father barged in right through the door “Judith you're awake…. Wait… why is it that I sense you’re a level one mage…. That energy no doubt about it, after using White Howler you drained all of your manna, who would have thought from that massive manna drain would result in you figuring out how to control manna and make a breakthrough to the 1st level of a mage, no wonder the mages fought for you. You are a genius which they could use to gather more resources for themselves.” Said Weldon.
“Yes, father I had a strange dream only to realize that it wasn’t a dream, but I was controlling the outside manna and placed it into my soul areas.” Replied Judith.
“Wait soul areas? What do you mean; you should only have one, right?” Questioned Weldon.
“Yes, I remember hearing about mages either have their souls in their mind or heart but mostly focus on the mind, so I did both heart and mind.” Said Judith. Smiling at his father he felt proud with what he had accomplished. Judith’s father's eyes were filled with surprise.
“You... you… created two soul areas, you mean you succeed in reinforcing both your heart and mind and placed separate soul section in both areas, amazing you truly are going to become a legend bringing our family the greatest achievements to ever be recorded, this I am sure. I can die without regrets, as long as you live and grow stronger no one will be able to stop you, maybe you could join the other countries and battle at a higher world stage.” Said Weldon. Judith’s father was excited he couldn’t stop grinning; he was proud and was at peace as if all the stress that was being pressed down upon him for refusing those mages disappeared. “Judith you need to listen to me, you need to keep practicing hard, even if you choose to become a mage later in life it is okay. If I recall correctly there are battle mages, you could investigate doing that after you have trained in our family art that is all I ask. Also, be careful how to speak to people, you never know what powers they could be storing within themselves, and mages are on a whole a prideful bunch, so be wary and humble.” Weldon told Judith seriously.
“Yes, father I understand, I will work hard and keep a low profile.” Said Judith.
“Now go see your mother, she worked all-night to finish up that armor for you. She had to accelerate the timeline to ensure you had it completed before you leave instead as for your birthday.” Weldon told Judith.
Judith understood his father’s words and got dress and went to look for his mother to see the new armor she had completed for him. After getting dressed and running down the stairs Judith went to the parlor to find his mother. There sitting in the parlor was Judith’s mother, she could be seen just making the finishing touches to the new armor. “Good morning mother.” Said Judith.
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“There is no reason to complete it, go back to training hall and continue to hold your shield up, I shall be there soon. I just need to clean out some trash first.” Replied Judith's father.
Judith fled to return to the training hall to continue his shield training. Lord Ruby-fiend turned and looked at the three mages “Now that my son has left, I can be rude.”
Fire energy began to radiate out from lord Ruby-fiend, filling the whole parlor with an extreme heat. “You children need to leave now, our family is not interested in becoming mages, thanks for your offers but we are not interested.”
“Thank you for your time Lord Ruby-fiend but mind you I have to report this testing to my supervisor.” Said Randell as he fled out the door not turning around.
“Crafty old bastard" Looking at Randell fleeing. "Lord Ruby-fiend, Good day, I too have to report this to my supervisor, so long.” Said Lamat he too fled from the parlor room, leaving behind Slashing Wind to defend for himself.
“Looks like I am left alone, are you sure Lord Ruby-fiend you do not wish for your son to become a mage, the power they wield can rule over countries with ease. I hope you realize with the potential your son has shown is going to cause trouble for your family if you choose not to allow him to become a mage. I will walk myself out your lordship, and remember everything that happened here is going to be found out, good luck. ” said Slashing Wind as he walked out of the parlor and fled to the outside world.
“Damn those conceited mages thinking they are unstoppable, although that Slashing Wind wasn’t so bad, but to threaten me to make my son join their ranks. Ha-ha don’t they know the history of my family, we refuse mages and become the strongest defenders.” After having witness all three mages leave his property, Lord Ruby-fiend thought to himself that he should prepare in the event of what Slashing Wind said is true. “Nolan, ring the family bell, we need to have a family meeting, I shall head to my office.”
“Yes master.” A shadow flew to the tower on the family grounds to strike the bell.
Dong…Dong…. Dong… Dong…
“The family bell? Is father setting up a meeting about my results from the mages? I wonder what father will tell them and what is going to be there course of action; father didn’t seem so happy with those mages. Here I am, still having to continue my shield reps.” Thought Judith.
The young Judith continued to lift up his oversized shield counting 1.2.3.4…15…45…100 “Finally, I have completed my reps, it only took two hours to finish, I think I am improving.” Thought Judith.
Judith was beaming with excitement due to finishing his reps with his shield, he then placed all his gear back in place and cleaned up “I wonder what father decided on in that meeting, they should be close to being done by now.” Thought Judith.
Judith went to find his father in his office to figure out what the family has chosen to do after having his results found out. Judith has now appeared in front of a regal door of red, sweat began to pour down his face, he knocked.
“Who is it, bug off I am in a family meeting.” Roared from inside.
“Father it’s me Judith.” Said Judith towards the door.
“Oh, well since you’re here come on in then.” Replied from inside the room.
Judith pushed open the regal door to enter his father’s office. When he first looked inside he saw all the elder generations were beside his father who was currently sitting down at his desk. “Father, I have completed my shield reps.” Said Judith.
“Good, good, go do another 200 of them by then I should have completed business here and I will speak with you then.” Said Lord Ruby-fiend.
“Brother, must he really have to go do more reps, although I agree he needs to build up his strength, it just that this whole matter is tied to your son Judith.” Said A man in ruby armor.
“Ravi, I understand, maybe Judith is old enough to hear what we are about to decide for his future. ” Said Lord Ruby-fiend.
“Good good, Judith come sit by your uncle Ravi and listen to what we are going to tell you.” Said Ravi.
“Coming Uncle, hello everyone sorry for disturbing the meeting and for maybe causing a calamity for our family.” Said Judith.
“Who said you were a calamity Judith?”
“No one aunt Salvia, I just thought because how father reacted to those mages and how they wanted to snatch me up like I was some kind of prize. Can you guys tell me what’s going on, do I have to become a mage and leave the family, or are they going to attack us and steal me away?” Asked Judith.
“Oh Weldon, were you rude to the mage testers, are they going to tell their upper management about Judith’s talent. You know what that means right, those three mage tester schools will want to send the head master out here for him. I am sure the larger towers will hear about how powerful Judith can become. At which point, the large towers with start making power plays to move in on Judith. We cannot afford to fight against all the larger tower powers, fighting off those three small towers is fine but the larger powers we cannot. Maybe could result in a standstill with one tower, but what if they join hands, you know Judith is powerful, if no one takes him they will kill him.” Said aunt Salvia.
“Aunt Salvia is this true, I have to go to one of the mage towers and train or otherwise we will have to fight them, and they would kill me because I wasn’t a part of their powers and they are afraid what I would become in the future. Then would that mean if I am able to avoid being killed and our family withstand the attacks of the mages, I can then grow powerful enough to get revenge.” Said Judith.
“Looks like the young lord understands the plan we want to set in place for him.”
“Uncle Noorn, plan what plans do you have set for me?” Asked Judith.
“Here Judith let your father explain it you okay, we will refuse the mages, for we are a family of knights just like our ancestor who was also wanted by a high-level mage to become his disciple he refused the mage. Instead the mage feeling grateful for his life being saved helped create the family's sacred knight art of the Flaming Empresses Imperial Will, which allows us to fight off those pesky mages and other warriors for granting us such extreme defenses to the point of allowing great grand-father the ability to block all attacks. I will admit we are weaker since his passing away but from your mage test results mean that Judith you will be the most supreme defensive knight this world has ever seen, and once you reach such high defenses. At least if you have such defenses you will be able to defend yourself and not die like those weak mages. If you want to learn magic and stuff I suppose you could, once you have mastered our families Art. Mages can do powerful attacks but if those attacks are null and void we can drain them of their magic and then crush them with our strength. I can understand how you feel you’re a calamity son. Yet in reality, we are all old here, you have the most potential out of everyone who has been born into this family. We are going to send you away to the family's lodge in the Flame Pepper Marshes to hide away. Nolan will leave with you and assist with your training. Hopefully we will be able to withstand the barrage of the mage towers. Maybe they will let it slide but I doubt it they already feel threaten from us low potentials for we can fight them to a standstill without magic. Now with such a genius in our family, you can bring us to even greater heights than our ancestor who was only at the purple-pink level of talent. Son you must survive, Nolan will be there for you, but don’t always count on him always being there. You must train in the family art diligently, and your life depends on it. I won’t say what will happen to us, if we don’t live, you must train and get revenge and bring our family further than anyone before. I don’t care if you’re interested in magic if you are, I understand it’s powerful, but it takes time, while you are young you need to forge your body with our family art to survive. Once you can defend yourself go head and learn magic if you want and then burn your enemies. Nolan should have already been getting some supplies ready for your trip to the family lodge. Come here Judith” said Weldon, he then grabbed his son and held him in arms tightly holding him “I love you son, it will be okay, train hard and make your mother and I proud, no make every one of the Ruby-fiend family proud of what you will become.”
“Thank you, father, I love you also, I will make everyone proud.” Judith then turned to leave the office and seek out Nolan to see the status of gathering their gear to be preparing to leave.
“Don’t forget to see off your mother boy!” Judith heard his father and nearly fainted from surprise “yes I should go see mother, Nolan can wait.” Thought Judith.
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“Keep it up. Do not lower that shield by an inch. You need to endure, for the pride of the Ruby-Fiend family you have to endure.”
Gnash “uggh… father I cannot keep it up, my muscles are failing, and my arms are noodles.”
“Endure my child, every moment you endure past your current limits allows you to break through to reach a new level of strength. You must not shame our family’s occupation of being the number one defensive knights in the surrounding area.”
“Milord, the local magi schools have sent their ambassadors to test the young master, they are waiting in the parlor.”
“Bloody conceded fellows those mages are, making us test our kids to see if they can become mages and they snatch them away. Do they not understand that we are the mighty Ruby-Fiend knights and we can stand as equals with any one of those mage towers. Judith drop the shield, follow me, we are going to see those squishy mages, don’t forget you have to be mindful of those mages. Not only are they smart, cunning and sly but they are slippery foes whom we should always be wary of, all that power goes to their heads and you never know what they are thinking or scheming.”
The father and son duo left the training hall and began to move to the parlor to greet the varying mages who have come to test the young master Judith. “Father, why do I have to be tested by those mages?” said Judith.
“Well son, the past rulers of our country Pilrim relied heavily on the different mage towers to secure our current lands. All for the price that all children from the age of 11 but before they turn 12 have to be tested to see if they have any potential to become mages. If any child is found to have potential to become a mage they then offer different rewards to the family and the best deal wins the child, who then goes to the corresponding faction. ” said Judith’s father.
“Wow father, what would we do if I had the potential to become a mage?”
“Get that nonsense out of your head, we are the Ruby-fiend family, we have had generations of knights for the last 200 years my boy. We produce the strongest defensive knights around; us becoming mages what a disgrace to our ancestor. Do you not recall what our ancestor said when that wandering mage offered to take him in as an apprentice mage, he said no way. The mage understood and still felt grateful to him and helped him come up with our family’s sacred knight art, Flaming Empresses Imperial Will. Which has given birth to our family's absolute defense, which is unbreakable against all the knight families around us. If only Great grandfather was still alive and wasn’t plotted against and pushed under the rug. We would be even more powerful hadn't he passed, that is why you must put all your effort into training my son. Once you can block all attacks, you can then slowly kill your enemies and we can truly rise to the top of Pilrim.”
“Yes, father I understand, I will train hard and help the family rise to the top.” Said Judith.
The two of them reached a grand arch and proceeded to open the reinforced doors to the parlor to speak with the mage testers. As the two massive iron doors swung open “Hello there mage testers, which schools do you hail from and can we hurry this up for we all know the Ruby-fiend family are made up of knights. We are only doing this, for this is a tradition and to also honor our emperor, come on out Judith.”
“Whoa, milord Ruby-fiend look at this lad his muscles they are so well defined, the physical labor you knights undergo is tremendous, much better than what they teach at our towers, maybe you could come out and teach some of our students.” Said a man in a brown robe in humorist manner while rubbing his aged hands together as if envisioning the students conducting manually labor.
“Randell, you need to leave the lord alone, you should know they are one of the best warrior families within Pilrim, after us mages they are the next top dogs.” Said a youthful male in a dark green leather gear; mocking the elder man in brown, shaking his head in dismay.
“Well if it isn’t Slashing Wind, I haven’t seen you since the last time we fought in the Arena. I hope you realize after my defeat from you, I went and reevaluated myself and I have gained further enlightenment with my Frozen Sea spell, I should like to think I should be able to stop you for a moment.” Said a shy bashful male while staring at Slashing Wind; his eyes were burning for a fight to regain his lost pride.
“How about we quickly finish testing this brute of a child and have a second round. No offense milord, your son looks as strong as our junior guards and he is only what 11 or 12 right now, what a beast.” Said Slashing Wind.
“I will conduct the first test, come here Judith, there is nothing to worry about. I am just going to show this box and all you have to do is look into it and tell us what you see inside.” Said Randell.
From inside his pocket he withdrew a small one foot by one-foot black onyx box with no marking as if the box was made from one stone. The longer that Judith stared at the box; he began to sense a powerful aura emitting from the small box which was slowly swallowing him up as if he was a rabbit and the box was a snake. “Child it seems as if you can feel the power of this box, come on up and have a look inside.” Said Rendell.
While smiling at the young Judith as he approached the onyx box. Unknown powers were drawing in the young Judith, as if possessed from an otherworld demon; all he knew was that he had to see what was inside that box. Everything around Judith slowly disappeared, his father and the three mages disappeared from his senses, and the only thing that mattered was the box. As he approached the onyx box, the power grew stronger, anticipation was built instantly. “Look at the child, already caught in the formation of the box, his body is sweating, to think he would be captivated so soon, he hasn’t even opened and looked inside yet. We may even get a surprise today. ”
“You old foggy, what nonsense are you speaking, you know we are in the home of the Ruby-fiend family, what great mage has ever come out of this relatively new family?” said Slashing Wind.
“Slashing Wind is correct; this family has only been around what, 200 years or so. Their founding father was pretty outstanding but in the end he was slaughtered by a couple of allied mage powers. From what my master has told me it took 4 of the headmasters from the Scared Seven Triangles, with one of the four leading him to the ambush and stabbing him in the back, completely catching him off guard, he killed two of them and seriously injured one and the other got off with only minor injuries.” Said the lad in blue.
“Child, now go ahead and open the box and take a look inside and tells us what you see inside.” Said Randell.
Judith had reached the black box; his arms began to reach out and grasp the box for the first time. With the first contact with the box his body was chilled, and then a mysterious power began to build inside the box as if a volcano ready to explode. The power accumulated zapping the young Judith, the box almost alive called Judith to open and bear witness to the insides of the box. Judith’s eyes began to dilate with the pluses of the power rumbling from the insides of the box; Judith rushed to release the seal holding the black box. A rainbow of colors burst forth from the inside the box bringing Judith’s mind into the box. Being brought into the box Judith scanned his surrounding and realized he was an insignificant ant in front of thousands of volcano mountain chains all spewing lava from their mouths. It reminded Judith of when all of his family would get together and how they all consumed food during the festivals or whenever one of them achieves some form of merits, and their mouths were just opening and spewing whatever was inside. Judith continued to observe the volcanic mountain chains, waiting to see if anything else shows up or changes.
The lava began to slowly form into lines and circles, linking all the volcanoes together almost as if it was making a symbol. As the lava continued to form molten lines, a symbol was beginning to take shape. Judith rationally waiting to watch as the lava creates the symbol, he wanted to know what it was creating. Soon all the volcanoes were buried in molten lava, the shape of the symbol was finally able to be seen. There above the lava, Judith was able to see a four-pointed star in the center of an overlapping five-pointed and six-pointed stars. The heat was beginning to overwhelm Judith; within the center of the four-pointed star an object was beginning to emerge, a black orb similar in coloring as the box. This orb was no more than 3ft in diameter and was slowly beginning to rotate. As the orb picked up speed as it spun, it got smaller and then it started to turn white. Then an intense amount of heat was emitting from the small white orb, until suddenly the birth of a flame appeared.
Everything turned dark the only thing that existed now was this lone flame, as it slowly started to grow. The flame grew into a large white flame expanding until it reached the limits of this realm giving birth to a flame nation. Within moments of the flame nation being made, young newborn flames were growing up and having lives meeting new flames thus creating even more new flames. Judith never thought that flames could be people or live lives like how he currently does, he was struck by how curious the events were playing before him.
As if the flames could hear his thoughts they all stopped what they were doing and turn to the direction of where Judith was floating in the sky and then they all began to bow before Judith. “Why are all of you flames bowing before me?” asked Judith to the old white flame that created the fire nation.
The white flame was growing weak as if overcame with old age, “Child you can give birth to a new fire god.”
“Judith….Judith wake up…. There, there it is okay we are in the parlor, tell the three impatient mages what you saw inside that box.” Said Lord Ruby-fiend.
Judith began to retell his tale to his father and the three mages, first starting with the volcanoes and then how the lava made the symbol to then about how the white flame was born and then how it created a nation, giving birth to living and breathing flame people. Up until the point when the White flame grew old and told him that he can give birth to a new fire god. The three mages stood there with mouths a gape actively listening to the young Judith. “Here is some pen and paper, draw the symbol you saw in the lava.” Said Randell.
Judith grabbed the pen and paper and began to trace out the symbol that he had seen inside the box. He first drew the four-pointed star in the center, and then drew the five and six-pointed stars linked together giving birth to the symbol created by the lava. The three mages looked surprised even excited as if they had just found a treasure. Their looks then turned to greed and they began to argue with each other of who has rights to have Judith. “Gentlemen, please stop bickering, is there not two additional tests for my son to take, why start fighting after the first test?” said lord Ruby-fiend.
“We are sorry your lordship.” Said the three mages.
“Okay I shall conduct the second test, come here Judith, it is okay this test is even simpler than the first. All you have to do is place your hand and a drop of blood on this orb and we shall get an estimate on your magical potential.” Said the lad in blue; he withdrew a pure white orb, about the size of a grapefruit from inside his pocket.
Judith looked upon the white orb to see if there were any differences from the black box. All he was able to discern was that the white orb seemed like a plain white pearl. Judith went up to the orb and pricked his finger on a needle to draw blood to drip it on the orb. Judith watched as the one drop of blood slowly fell to the orb, once it touched, the orb began to get warm and energy began to emit from the orb, as if pulsating to life.
The white light began to change into a light blue, until it changed to a dark blue, until it changed yet again to a purple light. The three mages looked at each other with excitement; all wondering what the final color of the orb will be. From purple, the orb began to change into a dark pink to a light pink until it transformed into dark red slowly lighting up into an orange to yellow until finally it started to teeter between yellow and green.
The final color which the orb had chosen was a mixture of yellow green. “No way has this brute almost reached the potential of green, far too unbelievable it has almost reached the highest potential of human limits.” Said Slashing Wind
“Highest potential of human limits, what does that mean?” said Judith.
“Well Judith, this orb allows us to get a rough estimate about how high of a level of mage you can become, or rather how your ability to use magic will be. We rate the different level with the changing of colors as you had seen. You have gone through every color except for the last couple which would be if your color went to a solid green and then finally to last one going back to blue from green. In the case with grading you, you reached the level of yellow-green, with a primary focus on green, so you have the potential to become a supreme magus. Your potential is higher than any of us here present. If you want to join us at Rose Undercurrent, you could become the next in line to become the head master at our organization.” Said the lad in Blue.
“Lamat, nobody with a want to become a powerful mage would want to join your Rose Undercurrent, the only thing you got going for your school is the fact that 80% of the students enrolled there are females and that is it.” Said Slashing Wind.
“Oh what, is your Galing Strong Storm, a better location for Judith?” said Lamat.
“Of course, it is, were not a bunch of sissy pants who only care about our appearances, sure you have loads of females, but what is a woman without a strong man to protect her hmm? Also, your school is primary focused on water magic where as we focus more on fire, wind, lightning or pure destruction magic, like real men.” said Slashing Wind.
“Oh... Ha … ha you youngsters these days are sure funny, I am not too sure if I can keep up with you kids, for trying to win over the young master. Now Judith the place I hail from is called Timeless Dunes, where our focus is primary on fire and earth magic, although we do have others who practice different types of magic. I am not too sure what position I really can offer you, because your potential is so high, I can only report it to my higher ups.” Said Randell.
Both Slashing Wind and Lamat yelled “NOOOO.”
"Do not report this to your higher ups, can’t the three of us come up with some kind of agreement?” Said Slashing Wind.
“I agree with Slashing Wind, I can offer you at minimum would be a core disciple spot with ability to fight for leadership, and a monthly expense allowance of at least 1000 medium grade manna stones. That is the best I can offer at this time, don’t even bother with the other two, their schools are not as wealthy as my Rose Undercurrent.” Said Lamat.
“I can also offer you a position as a core disciple, with a monthly expense of 750 medium manna stones, along with two high grade spells of your choice, once you reach the level to cast them, and you could have access to pick a lot more lower level spells.” Said Slashing Wind.
“I cannot offer such a high monthly income, but again we could work you into a position of core disciple, along with a few high level spells, and also I can gift you a weapon and armor set tied to the elements of fire.” Said Randell.
“Stop… all of you can just leave, we don’t need to continue these tests, my son is not becoming a mage do you understand, we are a family of knights, I was only going through the motions. Surprisingly my son has a high aptitude for magic but he is the only male son of mine, so he has to continue our family tradition continuing the line of the Flaming Empresses Imperial Will. Again I thank you all for visiting my home, but my patience has run dry, so please gather your things and leave. ” Said the Lord Ruby-fiend.
“Father I haven’t completed the third test.”
|
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_System Linked Bio-Probe / Diver I.D. - 'Ryuu Creed'
_Location: Currently Unknown / Preliminary Survey Recommended
My jaw dropped way downward after seeing the scene before me. At least, I think it did. Thing is, I can't feel my jaws at all...
"A Thornwinged Emeraldback..." I softly muttered. It was a rare species of wild wyvern which inhabited the mountainous regions of the southwestern part of the Central Continent [Runegard]. It's fiercely territorial and would not hesitate to attack anything which trespasses inside its nesting grounds. Adventurers hunt it down for the hide on its back and the long bony spurs on its wing tips - both of which could be made into high tier bronze ranked armaments. They fetched quite a price on the market.
...Geh! This really isn't a time for giving a lecture on monster taxonomy! And I actually learned all of that with Vance as part of our research back when we were both planning to become famous adventurers, if anyone's curious.
[_DIVER, I DO SUGGEST READING THE UPDATED USER MANUAL WHICH WAS SENT TO YOUR INBOX. IT WOULD HELP YOU GET FAMILIAR WITH MOST OF THE FUNCTIONS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO YOUR PRESENT VIRTUAL BODY.]
I heard that robotic sounding voice again. Somehow, it felt like the voice was speaking directly within my consciousness. It was a very weird feeling.
"Who are you? What's going on? What is this place? Is this inside a dream, an artificial virtual space or..."
I got increasingly anxious while thinking of the various possibilities about these strange circumstances. Was I just simply dreaming? Or was this scene recreated by reading my memories and then simulating them in a virtual environment?
No, those can't be right. This feels too real and vivid to be a dream, and I never really saw a Thornwinged Emeraldback before. I just read about them in the monster encyclopedias Vance and I bought from a travelling merchant who passed through Lindorf. They were hella expensive too. Mom nearly scolded our ears off when she found out...
...Gah! I got distracted again. Honestly, my mind's in such a mess.
[_DIVER, PLEASE ACCESS THE USER MANUAL NOW. AS THIS IS JUST A PRELIMINARY TEST, THE LIMIT SET FOR DIVING INTO THE MAIN TEMPORAL LINE IS SHORT. ONLY ABOUT 30 STANDARD SOL SYSTEM MINUTES. ALL THE AVAILABLE FUNCTIONS OF THIS NEWLY CREATED VIRTUAL BODY NEEDS TO BE TESTED OUT FIRST BEFORE YOU CAN PROCEED TO FULFILL YOUR ACTUAL DUTIES AS A DIVER OF THE FEDERATION.]
"What the heck are you talking about, you shady sounding A.I.? You're an A.I. right? And what's with this Federation and Sol System crap? Where the heck are those supposed to be?"
[_YES, I AM AN A.I. RESPONSIBLE FOR GENERAL OPERATION OF THE LAPLACE TEMPORAL QUANTIFICATION AND MANIPULATION SYSTEM. THE UNITED MILKY WAY GALACTIC FEDERATION IS THE RULING BODY OF OUR HOME GALAXY. SOL SYSTEM IS ONE OF ITS FIRST FOUNDING MEMBERS, AND THE ORIGIN OF HUMANKIND. MY CREATOR IS A HUMAN FROM THE SOL SYSTEM. THUS, THE USE OF STANDARD SOL SYSTEM UNITS FOR TIME INDICATION.]
United Milky Way Galactic Federation? Sol System? Origin of humanity? This stuff just gets weirder and weirder, doesn't it?
My memories as Ryuu Creed don't contain any recollections about any Federation or Sol System. There's the Solaris Confederation, but I think it's entirely different from what this strange A.I. is harping on about.
In the first place, the Confederation doesn't claim to be the origin of humanity at all. It was actually formed by various Sectors who split off from the Emperium in order to break free from its unilateral oppressive regime. That's what the history data records say anyway. I doubt it was all as black and white as the historians made it sound.
And a temporal manipulation system? That sounded really freaky. We could already kinda, sorta bend space-time through the use of Genion Jumps. But fully calculating and manipulating them? That would be the work of God, if there really was one. It seemed really amazing and terrifying at the same time.
But all those didn't really matter to me at the moment. I just wanted to make sure of one thing, and I proceeded to nervously ask the weird A.I.
"So, am I right in thinking that the system you mentioned earlier manipulated space and time to send me to this place? T- This place is real?"
[_AFFIRMATIVE. THE L.T.Q.M.S. ALLOWS TEMPORAL DIVES BY USE OF A PREPARED VIRTUAL BODY WHICH HOUSES THE BIOWAVE PATTERNS OF THE DIVER. WE ARE NOW WITHIN THE MAIN TEMPORAL LINE. THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION WOULD BE GALATAEA - A TERRAFORMED PLANET PREVIOUSLY ADMINISTERED BY THE GREATER SOL SECTOR.]
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest, I think. I couldn't really feel my heart. But that's not the point! This place IS real! I really made it back!!
"Kyaaaaaah!!!"
I was busy doing an imaginary happy dance inside my head, when a sudden panicked scream rang out from the distance. I turned towards the direction where it came from, hesitated a little, but ultimately decided to check it out.
[_DIVER, GETTING INTO UNNECESSARY TROUBLE IS INEFFICIENT. NOT TO MENTION DANGEROUS.]
"Shut it. I'm just gonna take a quick look." I retorted, and started heading for the place the scream echoed out from.
|
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|
_Present Time
_Planet Caldinus I / General Duvalle Military Hospital / Caldinus Interplanetary Army Base
The entire hospital room was so silent, you could hear a pin drop.
Uncle Hal wore an increasingly grave expression while listening to me relating what had happened that day. Nightingale was also perking her ears attentively, with an evident glint of agitation within the depths of her violet pupils.
Rin continued to grip my hand tightly. She snuggled closer to me, seemingly unwilling to let go. This filled me with both warmth and guilt.
Even though 'Myst Evrard' seemed to be the dominant persona ever since 'I' woke up from the coma, my feelings of concern and care for those close to 'Ryuu Creed' remained. That is especially the case for this headstrong yet fragile young girl who's now beside me.
Would it really be alright for me to receive such love from her, even though I'm honestly not sure if I can still be considered her 'brother'?
No. This line of thinking is no good. I can't repeat the same mistakes I made as 'Myst'. I shifted my gaze and took a good look at my erstwhile sister in 'this world'.
She's really such a sweet and lovely girl. She deserves to be happy. And I shall see to it that she does. We're family, after all.
"Ryuu?" Rin looked up when she noticed my gaze on her. "What's wrong?"
I shook my head and hugged her close. "Nothing sis. I'm just feeling glad to be alive." I answered.
She giggled within my arms and hugged me back. "I'm glad you're okay too."
A warm atmosphere filled the room.
"Yeesh! I'm getting goosebumps here. What a wonderful way of expressing love between siblings. It can even induce diabetes, I'm afraid. Good thing we're in a hospital." came Uncle Hal's tactless comments.
Us siblings both gave him an eyeful, which he effortlessly shrugged off. Really now. What thick skin.
"Anyway, about those 'pirates'. You said they attacked everyone else on the ship without any misgivings right? Did you notice anything else strange about them? Apart from them being bloodthirsty as hell of course." he abruptly asked.
"Something strange?"
I pondered for a bit. "Their overall disposition I guess, if you could call it that." I then replied.
"Oh?" Uncle Hal's eyes narrowed. "Elaborate."
I gathered my thoughts and explained. "I was comparing them with the ones we encountered back in Velmar IV. I mean those guys were vicious too, but their eyes looked dead to me."
"Those pirates though... They sort of had a different air about them. Like some strong conviction or something. Uh... It's something like the difference between simply fighting to obey orders, and fighting for a cause one's fully invested in."
"And how exactly did you come to such a conclusion?"
Uncle Hal looked as if he would burn a hole through me with just his stare after I finished talking. Uh oh. I think I overdid it. Me and my big mouth.
I couldn't exactly say it came from experience right? I mean, back in that world, I was drafted to the militia during the height of the war with the demons, together with the other youths from Lindorf. I saw all kinds of people serving in the army during my time there - including ones who were of the type I mentioned earlier.
But here, I was a complete and total civilian. The only thing close to a weapon I wielded in 'this world' was a kitchen knife. And the only enemies I fought with it were frozen foodstuffs.
"Well, he does have some sharp intuition Chief. He did manage to recognize me just by looking at my eyes y'know." Nightingale suddenly chimed in.
Nice assist! She really was lovely!
"Oww!" I suddenly cried out. Rin just painfully pinched the side of my stomach. "What was that for?" I asked indignantly.
"Nothing." Rin innocently blinked.
I knew it. Women are scary.
"I'll leave it at that then." Uncle Hal sighed. "Judging from your story, I think it's safe to assume that you weren't the target of their attack. They were after something else. Something which would make them risk assaulting a military ship in the middle of a heavily guarded route."
"They did manage to get away though. Even with the heavy security and all." I pointed out.
"Don't remind me." Uncle Hal complained. "The top brass of the military are currently losing their heads over the matter. Some of those who died were children or grandchildren of famous and highly influential politicians in the Confederation. You can just imagine the mess."
"I bet folks are busy tearing at each other's throats huh?" I quipped.
"Tell me about it." Uncle Hal nodded. "They're all looking for something to blame for the incident. Everybody and their great grandmother are pointing fingers at the Emperium. They say only the Emperium is capable of such atrocity. Problem is, there's absolutely nothing to link the attack to them."
"The heck?!" I exclaimed in surprise. "How'd that happen?"
"They covered it up pretty well. And they even trumped the guys who attacked you on Velmar IV. Those guys managed to commit suicide by detonating capsules filled with a type of artificially bred microbe, which would go active once they came into contact with flesh, eating it away within seconds. That resulted in their bodies crumbling to dust. That pilot we tried to leave alive for interrogation also ended up the same." Uncle Hal explained.
"Even when they went to such lengths, we were still able to find traces linking them to the Emperium, however obscure. Their original task was industrial sabotage and espionage after all. They had various means for secretly contacting and reporting to the Emperium. As long as we cracked those, we could uncover enough clues to point out their exact affiliation."
"But those 'pirates' were different." Uncle Hal grimly stated.
"If they really are a part of the Emperium, then they're a completely detached force, with absolutely no point of contact with the Emperium itself. All weapons and equipment they used - at least outwardly - seemed like Confederation models. Even their ship was a modified CIN-SM27 assault cruiser, widely used by the Confederation Interstellar Fleet."
"So, without any direct link, the Emperium can completely feign ignorance. And there's hardly anything we can do about it." Uncle Hal shrugged.
"We even suspect that was the reason why they left the ship logs and black boxes intact. It was precisely to create such confusion and panic. They dealt a severe blow and sowed discord between the military, government and the general public. And it was all done in one fell swoop."
I got goosebumps while listening to Uncle Hal. Whoever planned and implemented this entire thing was quite terrifying. They were ruthless, decisive, meticulous and cunning - a very nasty combination of traits.
"As of the moment, it's being treated as a heinous terrorist incident - at least on the surface. The top brass aren't overtly pointing fingers, but tensions with the Emperium continue to rise. And the schism between the Senate and the military inevitably widened after that attack. The situation has become highly volatile."
A somber mood came over the room.
...
"So what's next for me?" I asked and broke the silence.
"You'd still be slated for joining the 353rd once you get discharged. We won't be changing that plan. You'll be treated as a regular trainee first, and won't be directly heading to the field, unless the situation calls for it." Uncle Hal answered.
Rin gave me a worried look. "Are you really gonna be okay Ryuu? I mean, you're kind of a major dork. You just don't seem anything close to 'military' at all." she said in an apprehensive manner.
Hey. I take offense to that! I did properly serve in the militia for a year y'know. Well, 'Myst' did. And it was all mostly just miscellaneous chores, like cleaning the tents, handing out rations, polishing and maintenance of weapons just because they heard I was a blacksmith's son...
...
Nevermind.
"What about you? How many days have I been out anyway? Have you been looking after me since I was hospitalized? What about school?" I nagged.
"Oh, don't worry about that. I already withdrew from Weinfeld Academy." she stated matter-of-factly.
"Oh, I see... SAY WHAT?!!!" I subconsciously nodded, but did a double take the next moment. This girl. Just what did she do?!
"I'm also coming with you. I can't just leave you alone, now that I know what's going on." she declared and puffed her cheeks up in defiance.
"B- But what about school? And you're just fifteen!" I stammered to reply; still dumbfounded about my sister's actions.
"What about my age? You're underage too y'know." Rin retorted.
"B- But still... Uncle, help me out here." I turned to Uncle Hal, who was smiling wryly on the side.
"Okay Rin-rin. I know you want to stay by your brother's side. But I think it would be best if you followed our arrangements and—"
"Uncle, my mind is set." Rin interrupted. "And I'm going to formally send my request to become a technical consultant for the 353rd Experimental Tactical Armored Division. I remembered the professor talking about it a few times during our discussion sessions."
"They seem to be a division which primarily serves as a testbed for new technology planned to be implemented by the military some time in the future. I'm sure they wouldn't mind bending the rules a little to accommodate Professor Leighton's protege, right? We're even focusing on the same topic of research as well."
She let out a torrent of words, not even giving a chance for anybody else to get a word in edgewise. Her eyes were practically burning. Is this still my sister?!
"Remember when I said your sister had some solid connections and was in the safest place in the entire Confederation, kid?" Nightingale suddenly spoke.
"She was in the Solaris Confederation Central Institute of Technology. She's presently apprenticed to Professor Rhames Leighton - the current authority in Genion particle research." she revealed.
I looked at Rin incredulously. She turned up her nose at me like a proud peacock.
Damn! I knew my sister was awesome. But I never had an idea she was THIS awesome! Well, come to think of it, our late parents were also researchers, so I guess she really takes after them.
Doesn't this make me the odd one out? Again. Ugh... That makes it both worlds.
Uncle Hal slightly shook his head. "Little lady, I know you're known as a rare genius in those circles, but the research conducted by the 353rd in Genion particle utilization is of an entirely different approach from the standard. Putting it lightly, it can be considered as novel and weird. Your mentor criticizes it as the product of mere fantasy."
Uncle Hal continued to explain with a wry smirk. "There's a reason why it's named 'Wonderland' you know. Well, there are a variety of other reasons too, but this aspect is one of the major ones. Are you sure you want to enter their world, Rin-rin?"
"I'm sure." Rin succinctly replied. Uncle Hal threw his hands up in surrender.
Wait. All this talk about Rin being a protege of some bigshot researcher suddenly got me thinking.
"Doesn't this make my decision to drop out of school absolutely pointless?" I hesitantly asked.
Rin rolled her pretty eyes at me and sighed. "That's why I said you're a dork, doofus. You always act before you think. If you had just discussed things with me beforehand, then you wouldn't have had to worry so much, to the point of quitting school. Stupid lunkhead." she scolded harshly.
Arrrgh! I knew 'Ryuu' was slow, but I didn't think he was THAT slow! What a stark contrast. And now he's me, and I'm him. Ugh...
"It kinda made me happy though..." Rin muttered in a small voice, hoping I wouldn't catch it.
Well, if she's happy, then I guess this turned out okay after all.
Yo. Wait up... I think I'm forgetting something under all this excitement. Something really important...
"Aaaaah!" I exclaimed; surprising the other three people in the room.
"Come to think of it, I never had the chance to ask. WHY were those guys after me, uncle? I mean, I know our parents were military researchers and all, but I had absolutely no idea before all this happened."
"They seemed hell bent on getting me at all costs. Why is that? I actually feel like Rin would have been a more likely choice, now that I know what she's been up to. Of course, I'm thankful that isn't the case, but..." I pressed the two CIB agents for answers.
Uncle Hal and Nightingale exchanged glances. Uncle then turned back to me.
"We'll arrange a meeting for you and the person most knowledgeable about your exact situation after your discharge. That person will be the one to explain everything to you. I'm afraid even we're not exactly clear about your case either, Ryuu-ryuu." he began.
"That person is also the main reason for the 353rds founding. That's why we arranged for you to enter that particular division. You'll surely meet once you formally report in."
I scrutinized his expression, but failed to glean anything from it.
Fine. I nodded to show my assent. And knock it off with 'Ryuu-ryuu' dammit!
"Alright. Get some good rest."
Uncle Hal got up after bidding goodbye and walked out of the hospital room. Nightingale followed after him. She gave me a quick enchanting smile before she went out. Needless to say, my side suffered from Rin's pinch of terror once more.
"Okay then, I'll have to arrange everything on my side as well Ryuu. I'll come back later in the evening. Will you be fine alone?" Rin said.
"Are you really sure about this?" I asked back.
"Positive." she replied with a smile. "We only have each other now. We should stick together."
Well, if she puts it that way...
After she went out as well, I was finally left alone to ponder on my current situation. But, for some reason, a strong urge to sleep suddenly assaulted me.
My eyes involuntarily closed, and I soon drifted to slumber.
|
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_A few days earlier
_Velmar-Caldinus 1st Major Space Route / Confederation Military Interstellar Transport Cruiser - Kestrel / Mess Hall
I stared fixedly at the large pile of food placed right before my eyes. The food wasn't mine, mind you. It was the meal of the person sitting across from me.
His name is Marco Ramirez, and is also a citizen hailing from the Velmar Space Sector. We were the only two Velmarians among the recruits who boarded this transport cruiser, so we're kind of stuck together presently.
He's actually a pretty swell guy. Says his family made a killing during Velmar's real estate boom, so he was one of those nouveau rich folks. But he wasn't stuck up and was pretty easygoing.
He was a little bit too chatty though. And, as I found out recently, quite a glutton as well.
"Mmmh... Hmm... Hey, dish shtuffs phretty ghood. Mgh... Ain't ya gonna take a bite Ryuu? Mm! Ghreat!" Marco asked while continuing to stuff food into his mouth.
Okay... He has horrible table manners too, apparently. Food scraps and spittle nearly fly toward my face whenever he talks with his mouth full.
"Nah. I kinda lost my appetite for some reason." I replied while trying to stop my brows from twitching in mild annoyance.
"Hookay. Shuit yershelf. Mmm... And here I thought military food would taste like crap." Marco answered back half heartedly and focused on his culinary journey once more.
It was the very picture of contradiction.
Marco Ramirez. Eighteen years old. Tall. Handsome. Smooth, black hair in a stylish cut. Sporting a healthy tan. Body more fit and toned than mine would ever be. And a total chowhound...
The sight before me made me mentally facepalm. The world really is unfair. It would have been better for my self esteem if he was actually fat instead. Would've seemed more appropriate too.
Yeah, in times like this, a fatty friend was essential!
...Oh, who am I kidding? Ugh... It's not I'm in a webnovel or something.
After devouring the veritable mountain of food, Marco whipped out a silk handkerchief and elegantly wiped the sides of his mouth. Needless to say, the twitching of my brows intensified.
"So Ryuu, which division were you signing up for again?" he suddenly asked.
"I was told it was the 353rd Experimental Tactical Armored Division." I answered while observing my current company's expression.
For some reason, whenever I told this to the other recruits on board, they would almost always give me weird looks. It was really bugging me, to be honest.
It seems like guys like me, who already had their names listed for entry to a specific division, were the exceptions rather than the norm. The others were to be divided after confirming the available quotas for all the divisions stationed at the base we were going to be assigned to.
Just what kind of division was the 353rd?
Apparently, Nightingale already processed my application the moment I submitted my job application to her back at the Grigwald City Job Center, leaving me no choice on the matter. It was all planned in advance. She even bumped up my age by one.
I mentally sighed while waiting for Marco's reaction, which was unexpectedly a bit anti-climatic.
"Oh. That's a good place. It'll really help you build some character. Would've wanted to go there myself, if I could." Marco said in a noncommittal manner.
"So, what kind of place is it exactly?" I probed.
"Hm? Oh, well... Lessee... Uh, it's a place which can either be heaven or hell, depending on the type of person who's joining. That's all I'm willing to say though. Life's more interesting with a few surprises here and there, wouldn't you say buddy?" he answered a bit cryptically.
'I'm sorry, but I really think I'd had enough surprises at this point in my life.' I mentally retorted while making a vacant expression.
"Well, I'm stuffed. So whaddya say we check if there are any hot hunnys among the trainees this time huh? Watch the stars. Get some numbers. The works. We can back each other up. C'mon man. It'll be great." he invited with a lecherous glint in his eyes.
Hot hunnys? That's so last century.
However, before I could even give my answer—
"Shi— What the hell?!" one of the guys sitting on the table next to us exclaimed in agitation as his meal dropped to the floor after a sudden strong tremor rocked the entire ship.
***
_Kestrel / Bridge
"Where in blazes did that attack come from?!" the captain of the ship shouted at the CIC operator.
"From six o'clock sir. Range 2. T- The sensors didn't detect anything at all!" came the panicked reply.
"That just killed our main thrusters Captain! This isn't looking good." another warned.
"Anti-proton torpedoes incoming! They're also sending out TFs sir! Six of them!" the CIC operator added, aghast.
The captain was dumbfounded. In all his years spent navigating through this sector, this was the first time he'd encountered bastards with enough balls to pull something like this here - especially with all the stringent security measures present.
But this wasn't the time to act all confused. The captain quickly gave orders to the crew.
"Immediately send an SOS to Caldinus Base and any surrounding friendlies. Raise the barrier! Concentrate output to the rear of the ship. Transfer power to the auxiliary thrusters. Kozlow, can the Genion Drive still be used for a jump?"
"G- Give me five minutes sir. I'll get it done with the repair drones right away. But we can only get as far as the edge of the Velmar-Caldinus border."
"That's good enough. Finish it in two! Hillock, get the pilots of the 151st ready for sortie. And... tell them I'm sorry." the captain finished relaying his orders; reluctantly giving out the last one.
"...Yes sir." the CIC operator surnamed Hillock replied grimly. He knew full well what the last order entailed.
***
_Kestrel / Hangar
The leader of the Tactical Frame squadron dispatched by the 151st to escort the Kestrel sighed after receiving their orders through the comm. He was already inside his unit, which was being prepped for sortie.
"What's up Cap? Why the glum mug?" one of his squad members asked. The angular face of a blue eyed, fair skinned male appeared on a sub-window.
"We just got our orders. Pirate attack, from the looks of it. Six hostile TFs incoming. Possibly more. We're being asked to hold the line while the Kestrel prepares for a Drive Jump. The ship Captain sent us his apologies." the squad leader - a gaunt faced, olive skinned man sporting a buzz cut - replied grimly.
The fair skinned pilot wolf whistled. "So we got the short end of the stick again huh? Same as always, right? Sides, we gotta ensure the safety of the VIPs on this ship. Some of those kids have really scary guardians after all. Any of em get hurt, and the top brass would be drowning in deep shit." he nonchalantly replied.
"Yeah, Cap. We understand. And you can't seriously be thinking we're all going to croak out here right? I mean, we got Ol' Jin in our squad after all." a young woman sporting shoulder length red hair chimed in from another sub-window.
"What the heck are you implying Hilde?" a chubby, black haired young man cut in on the video feed.
"I meant it would be too cruel if you bit the dust while staying virgin." the young woman guffawed in a very unladylike manner.
The squad leader smirked in amusement. 'These kids. Honestly.' he inwardly thought. He glanced at the main camera feed and saw the hangar personnel give the okay. He took a deep breath and put on his pilot helmet. He then moved his unit - a 3rd Generation TMU-61 Bradfort - on top of the catapult platform.
"Look alive kiddies! It's show time. Bridge says the enemies are custom Grisham models. Don't underestimate them just because they're bargain bin units. Give them all you've got and send them packing!" he shouted at the comms to boost morale, despite the nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right with their enemies this time around. This owed to his years of experience on the battlefield.
This was the source of his apprehension earlier. But there wasn't any place for hesitation on the battlefield. He hardened his resolve and swore to do all he can to accomplish his orders and protect his squadron.
"Zephyr squadron, move out!"
|
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|
_Halreed Costacurta
_Planet Caldinus I / General Duvalle Military Hospital - Parking Lot / Inside CIB Custom Hover-van
Cigarette smoke slowly wafted inside the vehicle. Halreed Costacurta watched in silence as the plumes lazily drifted up with pursed lips and narrowed eyes - his brows knitted in worry.
He put out the half finished stick and tossed it into the covered tray built under the dashboard. He then reached into his pocket and fished out an encrypted comm device. He pulled up the only listed contact it had on the screen and made a call.
The other end picked up almost immediately.
It was a woman with long, lustrous ocean blue hair. It flowed gracefully down creamy shoulders, which were exposed due to her style of dress. She wore a bewitching smile which rivaled that of Halreed's unruly subordinate, and perhaps easily surpassed it as well.
"Why, hello there Hal. What seems to be the matter?" asked a melodious voice which came from the stunning visage. Halreed stared fixedly at the image on screen with a neutral expression.
"Just one question." he began. "Was it you who baited those 'pirates' out?"
The beautiful woman's smile deepened. "Why would you think that?"
Halreed drew a deep breath and composed himself. He always had to, whenever he talked to the woman on the other side of the screen. She gave off a strange sense of intimidation, despite her angelic countenance.
The only other woman Halreed saw this quality in was his subordinate, Nightingale. In her case, it was mostly due to her time spent in the battlefield while serving in one of the best mercenary corps which operated within Confederation territory. This was before she had joined the CIB.
But the woman he was speaking over the comm with right now was different.
She held a storied career and a preeminent status.
She was the step-daughter of the current Grand Archon, and had built a vast business empire which ended up spearheading many industries within the Confederation. When she later married the Confederation's richest man, their combined assets towered over the rest like an unassailable giant.
She was Selena Vaughn Elmeth - arguably the most powerful woman within the entire Solaris Confederation.
The influence she commands is immense, and even a casual comment from her could either let one directly ascend to the heavens or plunge deep into the bowels of hell.
"That incident was highly irregular. There's no way they could have pulled it off without some help from this side. And they wouldn't risk making such a big move just to cause some friction within the upper ranks by acting like murderous terrorists. Just what did you have the Kestrel transport?" Hal probed.
"One of the [L.D.F.] relics in our possession." Selena flatly replied.
"Are you fucking out of your damn mind, Selena?!!!" Hal exclaimed in anger and disbelief.
The [L.D.F.] relics held extreme significance for both the Solaris Confederation and the Greater Arcthanius Emperium. Conflicts regarding their custody was one of the main sources of animosity between them.
To use one as bait just to lure out a hidden hostile force lurking within Confederation territory was pure folly; if not downright crazy.
"I needed to know how far they've gone regarding the integration of knowledge and technology from the 'outer' plane to this one. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to do so."
"And besides, it also dealt a blow to those old goats hankering for a reduction in the military budget and the resumption of negotiations with the Emperium. Just one or two [L.D.F.] relics don't really serve much purpose to us anyway, so I just went and put one of them to good use."
She explained it all so naturally, in a calm and serene voice with a slightly singsong lilt. It was as if all the lives lost didn't even matter to her at all.
Halreed was left speechless. 'You damn heartless demoness!' he inwardly cursed.
"Why are you really so agitated, Hal? This isn't like you. An event like this is nothing compared to what the [War Drakes] had done years ago." Selena probed back. Hal's face twisted in a grimace.
"Oh, I see." Selena smirked. "You're mad about Natsume's son, aren't you? You're such a worrywart. I did make sure to send in some insurance, so he should be okay though. Is there anything wrong with him? Just tell me, and I'll make sure to arrange for whatever he needs."
"SELENA!!!—" Halreed screamed in rage.
"What is it, Hal?" Selena asked as she continued to display a bewitching smile - seemingly unperturbed by the sudden outburst.
Halreed clenched his teeth in frustration at her apparent nonchalance.
"Look, Leena. I've known the kid since he was in diapers. He might not remember us much, but we've always kept in touch with each others families after the Drakes disbanded. Brothers and sisters in life and death. It was the same then, and it still is now!"
"I don't know what kind of shit you got Max and Natsume involved with. I don't know how Ryuu got mixed up in it as well. I felt there was something going on, but I didn't pry because Max didn't really say anything, and I respected that. But look at what fucking happened! YOU GOT THEM KILLED!!!"
Halreed's eyes turned red. He vented all the rage he'd bottled up ever since he received the news of his former comrades death.
"I agreed to work for you because I wanted to find out the truth about what happened to us. I couldn't really let it go, unlike the rest of them. But this is the last draw. If something happens to Ryuu and Rin as well, I swear Leena... No matter what stands in my way, I'll hunt you down and put a bullet right through your pretty little head!" he exclaimed; ending his tirade with a chilling threat.
"...It's been a long time since you actually called me 'Leena', Hal."
"You—"
"Hal." Selena interrupted. Her expression changed to that of grave seriousness. "I've told you the gist of what's to come. What I'm doing is all in preparation for that. So much is at stake here. For 'both' planes."
"I won't make excuses about my methods. But I still need your help. After all this is over, I swear my life is yours for the taking if you want to. That is, if I'm still alive when that point arrives." she implored.
Halreed closed his eyes and took deep breaths to calm himself down. When he opened them again, he saw Selena looking at him while smiling calmly as usual. He clicked his tongue bitterly.
...
"When will you be arriving?" he finally asked, after a short silence which came over the two of them.
"Probably after seventy two standard Confederation hours or so. He should be fully recovered by then." Selena replied.
"Mm."
Halreed nodded curtly and cut the call. He slumped powerlessly on the driver's seat.
A knocking sound then came from the side window of the van. It was Nightingale. Halreed quickly let her in.
"How was it?"
"She's fine. She went downtown to make a call and arrange for her things to be sent over. I left Gibbs and the rest to stand guard. No trace of anyone planning anything nasty so far."
"Mm."
"What's wrong Chief? You look glum." Nightingale asked in concern.
"Too much overtime work." Halreed blandly replied.
Nightingale looked unconvinced, but chose not to pry further. The two sat in the van in silence.
|
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|
It happened so suddenly. Armed men came to the village and requested an audience with my dad, the village chief. They demanded to see the former commander of the Elysion Royal Knight Order, Galvan Hayward.
I got confused. Old grampa Galvan was a knight commander? And to top it off, he led the Elysion Royal Knights. They were the crème de la crème amongst all the knight orders of Vandel Kingdom - the true elites. Whenever they spearheaded the army at the behest of the king, all the kingdom's opponents trembled in dread.
If so, why was gramps out here on the sticks? Even if he retired due to old age, normally, he would have been given an important position as an advisor to the king and the royal family. Or perhaps, he would have been made the dean of the Vandel Kingdom Knight Academy to nurture the next generation.
Here in Lindorf, he was just your plain old village guard captain. Hes also commonly referred to as an eccentric who preferred to hunt wild boars and monsters using only his sword and his sturdy body, even at his age.
Well, come to think of it, there were indeed some signs pointing that he wasnt exactly ordinary. But still, former Royal Guard commander was just too much of a jump in status.
My poor fourteen year old mind couldnt keep up. And to think I was going to be officially recognized as an adult on my next birthday
I was out of it for most of the conversation between the men and my father. But some words got stuck in my mind.
A major change in the situation
An impending war with the demons
"The king dying because of a disease
Suspicions of treachery
A deal between the demons and some of the kingdom's nobles
A change is needed
A symbol of hope
Princess Felise
I was jolted awake.
No way I thought.
It cant be I thought.
An overwhelming sense of anxiety and unease came over me.
Not her too
***
My fears were confirmed after gramps came and brought Felise over with him to meet the men. They knelt down and greeted her with utmost respect and reverence.
They all called Felise princess. She didnt get flustered, but instead took it all in stride as if it was but natural. And then, she turned to me.
Her face displayed that meaningful yet strangely mysterious and somewhat uneasy smile she gave me from time to time. Only at this moment was I finally able to grasp some of its meaning.
I really am a self-centered fool I thought.
***
The men really were members of the current Elysion Royal Knight Order, who remained loyal to the royal family. They told us that they could no longer sit still and do nothing as the noble's ambitions threatened the very foundations of the kingdom they loved and swore to protect.
The last straw was a suspected conspiracy between the nobles and the demon army, which was currently annexing parts of the neighboring Silvanus Union, in open rebellion against the humans and other races of the continent.
The nobles had seized power after forcing the rest of the royal family into exile and making the king into a puppet ruler. They had the support of a part of the Royal Guard forces and a significant number of the regular military.
Those loyal to the royal family were either exiled, executed due to trumped up charges or forced to submit through threats of violence against them and their loved ones.
They had been cowed and humiliated for years.
This was all news to me.
The people had felt the worsening state of the kingdom long before. The state of living for commoners, especially in the royal capital, rapidly deteriorated in recent years. The nobles did as they pleased and didn't listen to the cries of the people.
But we all thought the king had been privy to all the abuses and simply refused to act against them. Some even secretly resented the royal family but were too powerless to do anything about it. All signs of rebellion were stamped out before they could even gain some sort of momentum.
Attempts by commoners to smuggle themselves out of the capital, and even out of the country, frequently occurred. But few succeeded.
Grampa Galvan and Felise were some of the few that did. That's how they got to Lindorf.
But I never could have imagined that the royal family also fell victim to those corrupt nobles and that our village had been housing a royal princess all this time.
Most attempts to escape were thwarted. But the few who did manage it were never pursued. It was like the nobles couldn't be bothered to focus on such endeavors.
Thus, gramps and Felise had managed to safely disappear from the nobles sights. But the men who came were imploring for Felise to take the helm and spearhead a massive coup de tat with her as the central figure.
This was in order to stop the kingdom from falling into the demons hands because of a deal made by the nobles, who supposedly ensured their rights to rule by promising to hand the country over without a fight.
"As if those damned demons would spare their pitiful lives!" a sharp eyed man, who was apparently the leader of the group spat out.
The deep resentment of the demons for all other races that lived in the continent was quite well known. Centuries of open animosity and oppression towards their kind fostered their hate. Although it had somewhat abated during our generation, a majority of the Continent's populace still treated demon-kind as a scourge upon the land.
The humans and elves in particular, had staged many subjugation attempts to drive them out of the Continent. We had succeeded in confining them within the Al-Zeberuk wastes - an unforgiving land where death lurks in every corner.
They were supposed to wither away in that hell. But somehow, they came back. And they were extremely pissed off.
They began conquering the scattered tribes which lived in the wastes borders and have now pushed well within the Silvanus Union, and will continue to head to the heart of the continent if nothing stops their advance.
***
The Silvanus Union consisted of the high elven forest-city of Yllyr, the dwarven city of Giliead and the human cities of Myhrn and Vendice. They held the most power and influence in the northwest areas of the continent. But now, they were in a desperate struggle against the demon forces and are close to falling.
As the rogue knights relayed the information, everyone's countenance gradually turned grim.
Perhaps, blinded by fear of the might of the demon army, the nobles had quickly agreed to the demons proposal of guaranteed ruling rights without realizing they were being fooled.
Most likely, the demons were just doing this to preserve their forces. After all, no matter how powerful a force, casualties are inevitable. Their reproductive abilities are low, so the demons manpower is quite limited. If they manage to take Vandel without bloodshed, they'd be poised to attack the Almadeus Theocracy with their full strength.
After Almadeus falls, there will virtually be nothing stopping them from taking over the entire Central Continent.
***
Grampa Galvan recognized that the situation was indeed dire. But he still held reservations. Why call upon the child of the king and a commoner, borne out of wedlock in an illicit affair, to be the heart of a coup de tat to reinstate the royal family? The king still had a number of children, each brilliant in their own right, who could possibly succeed the throne.
The rogue Elysion knights smiled bitterly after his question. They once again dropped another shocker - every other member of the royal family is dead.
The nobles were very thorough. They eliminated all that may hinder the deal they made with the demons. All except for one that is.
True, the nobles were fools. They deferred the elimination of the royal family loyalists within the knight orders because they enjoyed watching them suffer indefinitely under their oppression.
This, along with their deal with the demons, showed they prioritized impulsive whims instead of sound logic. But they did succeed in virtually taking over the kingdom, so they couldn't be underestimated.
Felise had managed to avoid their notice because only a handful knew of her existence. But now that the nobles have a precedent for getting serious in rooting out rogue elements, it was only a matter of time.
Gramps nearly fell from his seat. Felise's expression turned dark. The situation was more pressing than they thought.
Finally, with a determined look, Felise had agreed to take up the mantle as the last remaining royalty of Vandel kingdom, in order to bring the nobles to justice and to protect the country from the approaching threat of demon invasion.
***
I was dumbstruck. Things got crazier and crazier and my thoughts were swept up by a tide of confusion and worry.
Felise was the last remaining princess of the kingdom and now she was headed towards a dangerous battle for the kingdom's survival. That was way over my head. I didn't know how to take it. What could someone like me do in a situation like that?
Felise suddenly entered my room while I was immersed in my thoughts. That caused my mind to instantly grind to a halt. Why was she in my room? In a boy's room. At night.
I panicked even more when she sat down right next to me on the bed.
Then she spoke.
"It's just as you've heard." she began.
"I have the blood of the king flowing through my veins. He wasn't always the ideal father. But, for a time, when he spent his days with me and my mother, I was truly happy."
Her expression grew solemn. Hints of melancholy was present within her clear, jade colored eyes.
"I... I've decided to take on the responsibility of leading this kingdom. I know it's presumptuous of me. It's certainly going to be difficult. I know next to nothing when it comes to being a leader. But if... If someone were by my side to support me... Then perhaps..."
The distance between our faces gradually shrank and we could feel each others breaths. And, at this moment, I did one thing I would regret for the rest of my life.
I turned away.
That effectively served to ruin the mood. Felise flushed red and her eyes wandered restlessly across the room. In the end, she gave a quick apology and went out of my room with panicked steps.
***
Why did I turn away?
I wussed out, that's why.
I knew that she wasn't requiring anything unreasonable of me. She only wished for me to stay by her side, just as she had for me. But is that truly alright?
She was about to undertake something with the lives and futures of countless people hanging in the balance. Was it truly okay for someone like me to stay by her side?
Will I be forgiven for something so selfish? I'm sure quite a few will not recognize my worth to be with Felise. And I held those doubts myself.
A part of me was saying "To hell with all that!". But in the end, my insecurities won out once more.
And so, I turned away.
***
The carriages departed in the dead of night the following day.
I kept going back and forth with wanting to accompany Felise and holding myself back.
When I finally decided to see her, the carriages had already departed in the distance. A flash of crimson peeked out from the carriage window.
I couldn't see her face.
But why did I feel that she was in tears?
|
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|
_Present Time
_Planet Caldinus I / General Duvalle Military Hospital / Caldinus Interplanetary Army Base
"Ryuu." Rin called out.
"Hm?" I responded while in the middle of taking a few sips from the glass of water she handed over to me earlier.
"Is it just me, or is your story sounding more and more like some low budget B-grade action flick?" she asked with narrowed eyes. I snorted in amusement after hearing her question; almost spitting out the water in my mouth.
"I think so too lil' sis. I think so too." I hurriedly swallowed my drink and echoed her sentiment. "But it really did happen. I was present at the scene, and your bro guarantees that there really are people who act like they're part of some weekend popcorn afterthought." I followed up. Just thinking about how I actually took part in the whole mess makes me feel a little embarrassed.
"And Uncle Hal was a CIB agent? He was even getting called Chief by a beautiful female subordinate. I honestly find that part more unbelievable than the notion our parents are actually researchers secretly working for the military you know." Rin chimed skeptically. I wholeheartedly agree with her on this too.
Let's just say our impression of the guy doesn't exactly mesh with 'bad ass CIB operative'. Heck, they're poles apart. He always messed around with dad and did some incomprehensible stuff back when our parents were still alive. The contrast was honestly jarring.
"That just means my acting skills were the acme of perfection, my dear Rin-rin." a voice rang out.
The both of us looked towards the source of the voice, and found Uncle Hal smirking while carrying a basket filled with fruits. Nightingale was with him too, smiling beautifully like always.
"Speak of the devil." I blurted out. "Hey there Uncle Hal." I greeted blandly.
"Sup, Ryuu-ryuu? How are you feeling?" Uncle Hal nonchalantly asked after putting the basket of fruits on the table and pulling up another chair to sit beside Rin. Nightingale remained standing beside the door, leaning her back leisurely on the wall while crossing her arms underneath her abundant assets. I inadvertently gulped as my eyes got glued to them, but quickly composed myself after Rin shot me a death glare.
"Fine, I guess. I just survived a pirate attack, so I'm thankful just being in one piece." I finally responded; a hint of grievance lacing my voice. Uncle Hal threw his hands up in a theatrical manner after hearing my reply.
"Sorry kiddo. Believe it or not, we didn't expect that attack either." Uncle Hal responded. His expression then morphed into a stern one.
"Sorry? That's all I get?!" I cried out in agitation. "You told me you'd arrange for everything! I admit I was grasping at straws and I was panicking so I didn't really think things through. But I still chose to trust you because you were dad's friend."
"I mean, what could I do? I'm just your average guy. Until recently, the thing I was most worried about was finding a job for my sister's schooling. And all of a sudden, people try to kidnap or outright kill me! What was I supposed to do?"
"You said everything would be fine once I managed to get myself enlisted. You also said the sooner I get to join the military, the safer I and Rin would be, and persuaded me to board the transport cruiser with the other new trainees. You swore that you would protect Rin. But when I got on the ship, I nearly died up in space instead! And all I get is a measly 'sorry'?!" I gave a long ass rant in anger.
These weren't exactly what my current 'self' was thinking - especially after the 'transmigration' thing - and what I wanted most was to get more info in order to further familiarize myself with the situation I'm now caught up in. But I felt I owe it to the past 'Ryuu' to let all of his frustrations out, even if I thought 'he' was a little too gullible and admittedly careless in the decision making department.
I mean, I would have never thought it possible, but he was even more average than I was. I feel a real sense of kinship with the guy. But hey, I ended up inheriting all of his memories and attachments to this world, so we're essentially one in the same now. Doesn't this make it seem like I was disparaging myself? Ugh...
Uncle Hal looked me straight in the eye.
"Ryuu, I get where you're coming from. You have every right to be angry. And I know what I'm going to say would make it seem like I'm trying to find some sort of excuse for what happened, but we really were caught completely unawares." he began to explain. He paused to probe my reaction. I nodded slightly, urging him to continue. He sighed and resumed again.
"The route that the military transport cruiser you boarded took was one of the most secure ones in this sector of the galaxy. It was one of the main routes straight into the heart of the Caldinus Sector, where Caldinus Base is located, after all." he explained further.
"You do know about Caldinus Base, right?" he followed up.
"Yeah. It's a base known for admitting a lot of high profile personalities whenever they're slated to undergo mandatory military service once they turn 18. A lot of my classmates talk about how they would want to serve there when its their turn and meet kids of the rich and famous, galactic teen idols and up and coming movie stars." I answered with some surprise. So that's where they were sending me.
"That's the place. You're actually in a hospital within Caldinus base right now y'know." Uncle Hal informed.
'My former classmates would kill me if they knew.' I thought to myself and made a wry grin. I remembered one time when a wildly popular galactic teen idol went to serve here.
The terminal station was jam packed with legions of his adoring fans. In fact, my late mother in this world was one of them. She was even caught on camera, screaming and tearing her heart out along with the rest of the crowd.
Ugh... And I here I thought my parents back in 'that' world had individuality. What was that saying again? Heavens above the heavens or something?
"That being the case, every nook and cranny of the route is constantly combed by military and interstellar police patrols on a regular basis." Uncle Hal continued. "For decades, no pirate group - no matter how infamous - had dared intrude there. Until now that is."
"So how'd it happen Uncle? If the route is as secure as you claim, how were those pirates able to close in and initiate an attack on the ship?" I asked.
"That's the thing kid. We have no idea." Uncle Hal's shoulders slumped down in a dejected manner.
"How's that possible? You're with the CIB right? Even you guys are clueless?" I exclaimed in shock.
"We've investigated it thoroughly. We even managed to retrieve the destroyed ship's black boxes, which is kind of odd, considering how meticulous they were in covering the rest of their tracks. Anyway, the crew of the transport ship didn't seem to have detected the threat until the so called pirates were practically right under your noses. No sign of any jumps via Genion Drive either. Particle density measurements taken after the attack came up absolutely flat." Uncle Hal expounded.
"No traces at all. Zero. Zilch. Nada. It's like they weren't there first, and in the next moment they were, and then they're gone again. Just like that. Add the fact that the transport cruiser was actually equipped with all the latest stealth and cloaking detection systems the military currently has at its disposal, and the implications of this incident become quite horrifying." he concluded rather ominously.
I also felt a chill while thinking about the matter. A ship that's virtually undetectable by the Confederation's current tech would be an absolute nightmare in the hands of pirates. And if those guys weren't actually pirates at all...
"Yeah. If the Emperium has managed to develop that kind of tech, then the Confederation is in for a hell of a time once war finally breaks out." Uncle Hal voiced my fears.
"On that note, the reason why we're here is related to the ongoing investigation. We were hoping you could shed some more clues to the nature of your attackers. Could you tell us all that you saw during the attack?" he requested.
"Would my statement be enough? What about the rest of those onboard? Have you taken their statements as well?" I inquired, holding a bit of hope. Uncle Hal sighed and shook his head.
"There are no other survivors. You're the only one who managed to stay alive."
"Oh..."
I was taken aback. It's not like I didn't think about the possibility, but having it confirmed like this still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
I closed my eyes for a bit to gather my thoughts. Rin gripped my hand tight in a show of concern. I smiled and returned the gesture. Then I began recounting the incident.
|
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|
_Inside the van
I clambered up the back seats in an unsteady manner, panting heavily.
Ugh...
It sure feels like all this craziness has shaved off at least a third of my life.
I hurriedly tried to calm my breathing and looked around the interior of the vehicle. A beautiful smiling face greeted me, catching me by surprise.
"Hey there kid. You ran pretty fast back there. We almost couldn't catch up." a gorgeous, platinum blonde haired woman who was sitting beside me spoke with a playful, teasing tone.
—Hey... Hold up. I think I know her.
"Y- You're the Job Center lady, right?" I asked her, a little unsure.
"Oh. You recognize me? Heh. I look totally different from earlier. Not just some superficial difference either. I replaced an actual employee over there and copied her appearance completely. I'm surprised you even noticed." she said in disbelief.
"I dunno... Intuition, I guess. Though, if I have to point something out, it would be your eyes. There's just something... familiar about them. Something I felt I saw just recently. The only other ladies I talked to today are my sister and my homeroom teacher. And both of them don't have eyes like yours. So, uh, I figured maybe... Y'know..." I explained.
She looked stunned for a moment, then she made an amused grin. For some weird reason, I felt a chill run down my spine.
"Hmm. Hehee. Chief, I think this kid has the makings of a great agent. How about we scout him?" she turned towards the driver's seat out front and asked something incredulous sounding to Uncle Hal, who had remained silent until now.
"Whoah! Settle down girl. You know who has their eye on the kid. Scouting him is an absolute no-go. I'll get you your chew toy later." Uncle Hal replied, sounding half-amused and exasperated.
The beautiful lady pouted. "What am I, your pet dog? And what do you mean 'chew toy'? You talkin about Gibbs, Chief?"
"Yup. You've already been running him ragged for weeks ever since you two partnered up. Guy has the eyes of a dead fish now. It's quite the pitiful sight." Uncle Hal answered back and let out a playful sigh.
The lady laughed and quipped back. "Gibbs is cute too, but I just thought it would be interesting to have a fresh faced rookie following me around, that's all." She then flashed me another one of her showstopping smiles. The chills on my back intensified.
Ah... Now I think I get how I recognized her. Her gaze. I also vaguely felt it in the Job Center earlier.
It's kinda like a predator eyeing her prey. It's calm. Like a quiet lake. Indifference stemming from a belief that she was looking at something completely at her mercy...
Dammit! This lady is scary as hell! She's really gorgeous though...
I gotta change the topic, and fast!
"Uh... I'm sorry, but... Could someone finally explain this crazy situation to me now?" I inquired in a weak tone.
"Haha! Silly me. Sorry, Ryuu-ryuu. We were just trying to give you some time to calm down." Uncle Hal guffawed.
'No, I think you guys made me feel even more nervous instead.' I retorted inside my head.
"Well, long story short, your parents were actually the main researchers working on a top secret military project. The munitions factory that blew up was the cover for a secret military research facility. The ones who attacked and destroyed it were sleeper agents working for the Emperium. Since they ultimately couldn't get anything out of that, they decided to settle for the next best thing. You. Oh, and your sister too." Uncle Hal explained like he was saying something totally normal.
"Eh?!..."
My pupils narrowed into dots in shock. What the heck is he talking about?
"My parents were researchers?"
"Yup."
"They were working for the military?"
"That's right."
"My deadbeat dad, who comes home totally plastered every weekend after your drinking sessions, has an unhealthy obsession with kids toy gachas, and blows a third of his salary drawing them from the local arcade?"
"The very same."
"My silly mom, who follows after boy idol groups like some diehard fan despite her age, has a closet full of idol memorabilia, and attends live concerts in teenage clothing borrowed from my sister, but actually gets away with it because of her height and the fact that she actually has a very convincing baby face?"
"You got it."
WHAT! THE! HELL!!!?
I think I just heard something incredibly hard to swallow as the truth.
Wait. That's not important right now.
"My sister! What about my sister? Are they after Rin too?! Is she okay?!" I shouted in panic.
"Calm down kid. Your sister is currently in the safest place in the entire Solaris Confederation. You'd be hard pressed to find somewhere more secure. So she should be okay. More okay than you are anyway. Though I must say, your sister sure has some superb social skills." the gorgeous lady told me in a placating manner.
I somewhat calmed down after hearing that. Though I'm curious about what she referred to as the 'safest place in the Solaris Confederation' and my sister having great social skills. Which I don't doubt in the least by the way. She's really charming after all.
...Ahem.
"Well, that's the gist of it Ryuu-ryuu. We're a squad from the CIB, and we're currently tasked to protect you from the Imperium agents and bring you to safety." Uncle Hal concluded.
"You're a CIB agent Uncle?" I asked, still half in disbelief. "And stop calling me Ryuu-ryuu!" I then demanded.
"Yep. Betcha didn't see this coming huh? And no, you guys will always be 'Ryuu-ryuu' and 'Rin-rin' to me." Uncle Hal answered affirmatively, but completely denied my request to be spared from the cutesy nickname.
I gave him an annoyed look. But then—
*rumble
Tremors rocked the entire van. Something was coming after us. Something big... And heavy...
"Well damn! Guess they brought out the big guns huh? We're in a bit of a pickle now folks." Uncle Hal said in his familiar mirthful manner.
"Um... I think that's a real understatement Uncle." I retorted.
I faced the back window of the van.
Coming after us were three towering steel gray colored Tactical Frames, which seemed armed to the teeth and meant some serious business.
"Oh shit..." I gulped.
Yep. Real understatement right there.
|
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|
Vance Rayleigh and I were the best of friends. He was a naughty, hyperactive kid who liked to cause trouble. But he was also quite smart and charming. He held a certain charisma even as a child and you really can't help but follow the guy no matter what sort of trouble he gets you into.
That's what I did anyway. I was his partner in crime. We did many crazy things together. As for what those things were, I'll leave that to your imagination.
Then, there was Felise Hayward. She was a veritable goddess. And I'm not exaggerating.
She truly was beautiful. She's a sweet and gentle girl, but she could also be firm and unyielding when the situation merits it. All the village kids admired her.
The sight of her lustrous flame red hair fluttering in the wind as she walked elicited admiring sighs from both the young and old folks in the village.
She also had Vance and I wrapped perfectly on her little finger. Whenever we went to cause some mischief, she'd be there to reign us in and prevent us from going overboard.
She was also my first crush.
You really can't blame me for falling for her though. Heck, most of the guys in our age group had crushes on her. She even charmed some of the girls.
Well, all except for one guy.
Vance, that idiot, was as dense as bedrock. He was more interested in swords and adventurers than girls. Somehow, it seemed quite appropriate though.
***
Vance and I dreamt of being adventurers. He was in it for the thrill and excitement of an unbridled life of adventure. I was in it for silly things like wanting to restore the Evrard house to its (rumored) former glory and attaining the hand of my lady love.
I was a kid back then. Kids tended to have some pretty crazy dreams.
We were able to study the sword under Felise's grandfather, Galvan Hayward, after a few rounds of passionate (i.e. desperate) pleas (i.e. shameful begging).
I was pretty into it at first. I followed the assigned training menu religiously. I did my best during spars. I filled several bundles of parchment with research notes about the stances and techniques of the "Sevenfold Paths of Radiance" sword style that grampa Galvan taught us. Most of it were just incoherent scribbles though.
I even had the gall to declare that I'd use my sword to protect Felise forever. She showed me a meaningful and somewhat mysterious smile whenever I did that. I was too caught up with myself to notice anything though.
But after a while, the huge difference in talent between Vance and me became readily apparent. He absorbed gramps' teachings at an alarmingly fast rate. It didn't take long before Vance completely surpassed me in skill, technique and strength. I was no longer a worthy opponent for him in spars.
It's not like I was particularly bad at swordsmanship. Vance was just too overwhelmingly gifted at it. Even grampa Galvan started to have trouble with him shortly after he took over as a sparring partner.
I was proud of him. I really was. He was my best friend after all. But I can't deny being jealous of him either. It's an ugly feeling, but I can't deny it.
The difference in the looks gramps gave to the two of us when we graduated from his tutelage made it much worse.
With Vance, there was a look of overwhelming pride. There were even hints of awe and reverence.
But, as for me, what stood out was pity. I was being pitied. Gramps tried not to show it, but I could tell. And I was truly bothered by it.
Maybe Vance's talent was just that overwhelming. It made me seem all the more drab and, well, ordinary. But even so, I thought that this still didn't justify the look of pity gramps gave me.
I was still decent with a sword wasn't I? Okay, well, barely decent. But I could still put up a fight. I wasn't useless. But that look took a serious toll on my self-esteem.
Felise did admonish gramps about the obvious difference in treatment. A small consolation. But I still felt down in the dumps. Vance, being his oblivious self as always, didn't help either.
***
I can't ever forget the look of disappointment on Vance's face when I decided not to go with him to register at the local adventurers guild in the neighboring town of Ambrose.
Even the usually dense Vance sensed something from my attitude back then. We stood in silence for quite some time after I broke it to him. We did promise to start adventuring together after our training ends after all.
But I couldn't do it. I couldn't bring myself to follow after him anymore. I was afraid - afraid I might eventually come to hate him if I continued staying by his side.
I knew I was being unreasonable. I shouldn't have let jealousy get the better of our friendship. But I was already deeply mired in it. I was simply being petty. And not a day goes by that I don't regret the way we parted ways that time.
I was the only one who kept up with him no matter what kind of mischief he engaged in. He did tend to get carried away and often overdid his pranks after all.
I covered for him whenever we got busted by the adults. Being the village chiefs son, my words did hold some weight. So we got off not getting the worst out of it.
We used to think we were inseparable. But it turned out not to be the case. My insecurities won out in the end. It was the worst.
But what got me the most was that he didn't blame me. He might have even blamed himself.
Before Vance went on to start his adventuring career, he tapped me on the chest with his fist in a familiar gesture. I was supposed to tap him back. It was a good luck charm as well as a sign of faith.
I didn't return the gesture and just continued to stare at him stiffly. He showed me a strained and helpless smile.
That was the first and last time I got to see him truly close to tears. He departed for Ambrose soon after.
***
Things got awkward between Felise and me after Vance left. I was still caught up in conflicting emotions and continued to sulk while sporting a gloomy expression.
She often got out of her way to hang out with me despite my attitude. She never said anything. She just simply sat by my side. But that was enough. It was more than enough.
Truth be told, I thought she would hate me. I went back on my word and betrayed the hopes of my best friend just because of some unreasonable inferiority complex. I thought she would be disillusioned. But not once did I hear any words of admonishment coming from her.
Instead, she continued to silently support me. She was waiting for me to open up. But I never got the chance to express my feelings.
Fate would not allow me to.
|
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_Kestrel / Ship Hallway
"Hey! Just where are we heading to?" one of the surviving trainees who had followed after us asked.
"Cargo hold!" Marco answered.
"Why there? Why not go to where the soldiers are? They'd surely protect us and guide us to escape pods." the other trainee pressed on.
Marco clicked his tongue. "I didn't ask you to follow along. If you wanna go over to the soldiers, then be my guest." he replied in an annoyed tone.
"Hey, I was just asking." the trainee relented.
"Why ARE we heading there?" I asked, perplexed. I was also confused about Marco's choice of destination.
"Some Training Frames are lined up there as cargo. Figured we could use em to escape. They're much better than pods anyway. At least, they have decent propulsion systems. You won't get to become a helpless sitting duck." he explained.
"What if there are also enemies there?" I asked again, seeing as he's willing to explain now.
"There probably aren't. Not at the moment anyway. They won't risk damaging the hold if it's the items stocked there that they're after. They seem to be pirates after all." he replied once more.
I was still a bit bothered by how sure Marco sounded, considering the situation we're under. But I decided not to think further about it anymore. I don't have the luxury to get distracted by such worries right now.
***
We soon reached the entrance to the cargo hold in relative safety. It was locked though.
"How do we enter?" I inquired.
Marco suddenly fished out a card key from his pocket and swiped it at the panel controlling the lock. The gate slid open without a hitch.
We all looked incredulously at Marco. Just where did he get that card key?
"Swiped it from a dead crew member earlier. Now hurry and get inside." he nonchalantly explained and urged us to enter.
After all five of us survivors went in, Marco operated the panel and closed the gate once more. "Hurry and find those Frames!" he instructed. We combed through the area and found the units in question.
They were stripped down Grisham models. 'They sure remind me of my former school.' I thought inwardly.
"Ryuu, you board that one. Ross, Layne and Hamish. You three take those. I'll take this one." Marco instructed. We all nodded, went to our respective units and booted them up. I checked the propellant reserves and found the fuel cells to be full. That's something to be thankful for, at least.
"Ryuu, there should be some signal flare rounds around here somewhere. Find them and cobble them all together. You three get those crates over there and use them to bar the gate. Hurry!" Marco ordered through the comms. We obeyed them almost instinctively. Man, Marco really has a knack for being a leader.
We hurried with our escape preparations, knowing full well that the clock was ticking against us.
***
"We have reached the hold sir."
"Mm. Open it up. Finding the [L.D.F.] is of the highest priority. Search each and every corner."
"Aye, sir!!!"
***
We had just barely finished our preparations when the entrance gate swung open, revealing the enemies outside.
We immediately fired some spare signal flares at them in order to distract them. Marco finally finished opening the rear cargo hatch. Once he did so, all of us activated our thrusters and sped off the ship.
Once outside, we hurriedly reversed direction and fled towards the direction of the Velmar-Caldinus border.
When pulse laser fire, superheated plasma rounds and missiles started raining towards us, Marco detached the crate strapped on the back of his mech, and detonated all of the other signal flare rounds we'd gathered. The void of Space suddenly got filled with countless multicolored explosions. We then took the opportunity to speed up away from the area.
***
"There's no one in pursuit! I think we did it!" Layne exclaimed in excitement.
"Fuck! I thought we were definitely goners." Hamish chimed in.
"Hell yeah! Let's find some friendlies nearby. Some of them must've already received our ship's distress signal." Ross suggested.
"Good idea. Let's do tha—"
Before Layne could finish speaking, his unit suddenly got a hole opened through its torso and and exploded.
"LAYNE!!!"
"Shit! Where'd that come from?!"
Two more blasts tore through the void almost immediately—
"AAAAAHGH!!..."
"NOOO!!..."
Hamish and Ross were both shot down.
It happened far too suddenly. Before I even knew what was happening, all three of the other escapees were done in.
Bright golden energy blasts fired out again. Marco's unit suddenly shoved mine out of the way.
I only remember seeing another explosion bloom. Then my vision was filled with golden brilliance.
And then faded to absolute darkness.
|
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After filing my job application at the local Job Center, I started heading towards the nearby subway station in order to hurry back home. It was now past three in the afternoon, and Rin's classes should be ending soon. I need to prepare some dinner.
However, along the way, the sudden rumbling which came from my stomach made me halt my steps. This made me remember I'd not had anything for lunch yet.
I was so preoccupied with the matter of finding a job that the thought of eating completely slipped my mind.
I scratched my head in embarrassment and decided to grab a quick bite. Maybe I should buy some for Rin while I'm at it too. She's definitely going to throw a fit once she finds out I'd quit school just for her.
Fortunately, there's a relatively cheap grilled skewer stall nearby. Rin loves their lamb skewers there. I'll also bring some back for dinner then.
After deciding on the matter, I resumed walking and started heading for the skewer stall instead, totally oblivious to the danger trailing behind me.
***
"Target is changing course. Heading towards Point F-3. Number 05 and 06, prepare for interception. Clear the way for them 04."
"This is 04. Sweep complete. Way's clear."
"This is 05. Copy that 04. Mobilizing now."
"06 acknowledged. Moving in."
***
"Man that was delicious!" I exclaimed in contentment after stuffing myself with four piping hot meat skewers. Old lady Bai sure knows how to grill.
They sell for cheap too. But, well, considering the long lines of customers in front of her quaint little stall, I'm sure she still manages to rake in quite the profit.
Hmm. Maybe setting up a food stall may not be such a bad idea. Rin always said I could whip out a rather mean bowl of congee after all. Perhaps I'll consider it once I manage to rake in some capital.
After rounding the bend ahead, I'd be out of the alley and back on the main road. I hasten my steps while thinking how to go about explaining my decision to drop out to my little sister.
"Halt! Police!" a cry suddenly rang out from the path ahead. Immediately afterwards, a rough looking guy came running while clutching what looks to be a retro style leather bag near his armpit like a football athlete. And he's barreling straight towards me.
My body instinctively moved before I could realize and I tackled the guy, dropping the newly purchased meat skewers on the ground in the process.
Oh damn. What the hell was I thinking? We both frantically scrambled to our feet. The guy dropped the bag he was holding and looked at me menacingly. He seems hella pissed!
He then took out something from his jacket pocket. Oh shi—?! That's a vibro-knife! How the hell did a poor looking sob like him get a vibro-knife?!
Military grade. Ultra high speed oscillation. Can cut through steel like cutting tofu. That's it. I'm screwed. I'm totally screwed...
But before I could even properly process the danger I was in, the criminal suddenly fell to the ground while convulsing wildly. Sparks were shooting up near his feat.
A taser mine.
A device that emits a non-lethal electric surge which would incapacitate targets.
"Hey! You okay kid?" came a voice from ahead.
I then saw a uniformed police officer running towards me. It seems he was the one who threw the mine. I noticed a few of them hanging on his belt.
I let out a sigh of relief after seeing him.
He reached us quickly and apprehended the criminal with alloy handcuffs.
After making sure his quarry was secure, the police officer turned towards me sporting a wry grin.
"I suppose I should say good job and thanks for the assist kid." he began. "But that was still way too reckless. The criminal was armed and dangerous. What would have happened if I didn't manage to make it in time?" he admonished.
I slightly bowed my head while feeling guilty. "Sorry officer. My body kinda moved on it's own." I explained.
The policeman shook his head lightly and sighed. "Alright. Okay then. I'll let it slide this time. But you better be more careful next time, okay?" he relented.
"Yessir!" I answered in a snappy voice and gave him a playful salute. The officer gave a hearty chuckle at the sight of me.
"Well then, I better get our perp to the station. Oh, and before I forget, I'd like you to accompany me to give a statement regarding this incident. I hope you don't mind." he requested.
"Don't worry. It won't take long." the police officer added after seeing me hesitate a bit.
After a moment's deliberation, I eventually relented and agreed to go with him.
The officer smiled and turned around to lead the way after making the criminal float through the use of a standard police issue anti-gravity module. Since his back was facing against me, I failed to see the sharp glint which flashed through his eyes for an instant.
***
"Code Red! Code Red! Subject has been compromised! I repeat! Subject has been compromised! Shit! They really got to him! What the hell happened to Shield 3 and Shield 4?!"
"This is Shield 5. Shields 3 and 4 are down. Dammit! They got us good."
"Oracle here. The surveillance cameras really had been tampered with. We still don't know how in blazes they managed it but they sure pulled it off perfectly. You really can't underestimate the Emperium. Good thing Nightingale noticed."
"Nice catch with the security footage Nightingale. All personnel, initiate countermeasures immediately. Get the subject outta there!"
"This is Shield 0. I'm going in. I'll leave the follow-up to you guys."
***
I was following after the police officer while lamenting the fact that the lamb skewers I bought for dinner had been ruined. Oh well. I'll make it up to Rin tomorrow. I'll give her a call later so she won't worry.
Then, right as we neared the exit—
"S'cuse me folks..."
A miserable looking beggar pushing an old antigrav shopping cart walked near us.
And, in practically an instant—
*kacha
Pulled out a mean looking pulse assault rifle from the cart.
The policeman pulled out a high powered genion pistol from his holster in retaliation. Hey?! That's not standard issue at all! Not by a long shot!
They opened fire at each other almost at the same time. Energy shields quickly enveloped both parties to stave of the projectiles.
I was stunned to a momentary standstill after witnessing the crazy turn of events.
But then—
*clack
I heard something metallic drop to the pavement and looked up to see the criminal who got apprehended earlier snarling at me from above. He was still floating. But his hands were now free.
He suddenly dived towards me. He was maneuvering freely in the air. That ain't a standard issue antigrav module either dammit!
Right before he managed to capture me—
*bang
A dull impact rang out and the criminal guy was sent flying to the opposite end of the alleyway.
It was the beggar. He was holding a still sparking pulse shotgun with his left hand while firing away the pulse rifle with his left. He was dual wielding!
I probably shouldn't be thinking this, especially in this situation. But damn! That's way too cool man!
"Dammit kid! Stop gawking and start running! Get outta here while I hold em off!" the beggar shouted, jolting me from my stupor. Next thing I knew, I was fleeing for dear life.
What the hell is all this?!
I thought this stuff only happens in the movies?!
|
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|
Within the northern depths of Fanrine Valley, located a fair distance southwest of the capital city of the Almadeus Theocracy, Altaria; a strange and fantastical scene was currently taking place.
A floating amalgamation of luminescent energy rapidly flitted between the dense flora which enveloped the valley, as motes of light trailed in its wake. A ferocious looking wyvern chased after it; darting and pouncing here and there while intermittently swiping away at the energy construct with its hind claws and chomping at it with its powerful looking jaws - akin to a cat playing happily with a fluffy ball of yarn.
A surreal sense of beauty emanated from the two figures scampering frantically beneath the jade green boughs of the surrounding trees. The ball of light shone with ethereal splendour, while the emerald colored scales of the wyvern reflected the sunlight like polished jewels.
However—
"GruuAaaAH!"
"Aaaaaaah~!"
"RuUuargh!"
"Gyaaaaaaa~!"
—the extremely pathetic sounding screams which echoed out occasionally destroyed any semblance of elegance and beauty the scene may have had, and turned it into a very sorry sight indeed.
***
_System Linked Bio-Probe / Diver I.D. - 'Ryuu Creed'
I successfully led the wyvern away from the young girl and engaged it in a frantic chase within the dense ocean of trees. I always managed to barely avoid its attempts to savage me with its claws and fangs so far, but I don't know how long this stalemate will last.
But, come to think of it—
I directed a question towards the weird A.I. "Hey, would I even receive any damage if I ever took any of its attacks squarely? I mean, I kinda don't have any physical body to speak of right now."
[_PURELY PHYSICAL ATTACKS WILL NOT HARM THE DIVER'S CURRENT VIRTUAL BODY.]
"Really? Phew."
I slightly slowed my pace after hearing the A.I.'s answer.
[_HOWEVER, THIS MUTANT LIFEFORM SEEMS TO BE INFUSING AETHER TO ITS APPENDAGES WHENEVER IT ATTACKS. THEREFORE, THEY WOULD MOST LIKELY SERVE TO DESTABILIZE YOUR BODY'S ENERGY MAKEUP IF YOU GET HIT BY THEM. THE PROBABILITY OF THIS HAPPENING IS 84.6%]
My nonexistent face paled immediately after hearing the additional info, which was suspiciously given in a slightly delayed manner. This A.I. couldn't be holding a grudge, right?
"Say that earlier dammit!!!" I complained in panic. I again managed to avoid a swift claw swipe by a hair. Uwaaah! That was dangerous!
"So what happens if my current body gets done in?" I asked again, as I fled for dear life.
[_THE SYSTEM'S SAFETY PROTOCOLS WOULD KICK IN; FORCEFULLY ABORTING THE DIVE AND SENDING THE DIVER BACK TO THE SUB-TEMPORAL BUBBLE.]
"So there are safety measures huh? That's somewhat reassuring." I muttered and let out a small sigh of relief.
[_HOWEVER, THERE'S A 34% CHANCE OF DIVER'S BODY RECEIVING ENOUGH DAMAGE WHICH WOULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT YOUR BIOWAVE DIRECTLY. A MILD OUTCOME WOULD BE A SLIGHT DECREASE IN YOUR MENTAL FACULTIES. AN EXTREME ONE WOULD BE GETTING TRAPPED IN SPACE-TIME LIMBO. THUS, GETTING DAMAGED IS ILL ADVISED.]
"Oooi! You're really holding a grudge, aren't you?! You are, right?!" I frantically questioned.
[_ERROR. UNABLE TO PROCESS QUERY. PLEASE REPHRASE.]
'So, you're playing dumb huh?!!!' I mentally retorted. Well, whatever. I should just focus on surviving this shit.
[_DIVER, PLEASE DRAG THE RED ICON ON THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE HEADS UP DISPLAY SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT.]
"Huh? What are you going on about now? Would that help in the current situation?"
I pushed away my doubts for the meantime and mentally willed the icon to move. It then turned green.
"So what does this icon do?" I curiously inquired.
[_THAT IS THE ICON FOR TURNING THE ACTIVE DATA COLLECTION FUNCTION ON OR OFF. THE SYSTEM WILL AUTOMATICALLY COLLECT AND STORE VALUABLE INFORMATION AS YOU DIVE WITHIN THE MAIN TEMPORAL STREAM AND INTERACT WITH IT.]
"And how exactly would that help me?!" I angrily questioned.
[_IT'S MORE EFFICIENT THIS WAY.]
"YOU DONT SAY?!!!" I shrieked while grabbing my nonexistent hair.
Argh! At this rate, I don't know what would do me in first: the savage wyvern or interacting with this damn A.I.
[_DIVER.]
"What?! Can't you see I'm fleeing for my life here?!!!" I aggressively responded; unable to hide the annoyance in my tone.
[_THE SYSTEM HAS FINISHED ANALYSIS OF THE MUTANT CREATURE. IT HAS SEVERAL WEAK POINTS YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO EXPLOIT. DISPLAYING ON SCREEN NOW.]
Finally! Something useful at last. I hurriedly looked at the 3D model which popped up on a sub-window.
So, inside the mouth, its underside and the place connecting its tail to its back huh.
The first two are out, since they would bring me dangerously close to those nasty looking jaws filled with dagger-like teeth and its large, curved claws. I don't wanna risk it. So that leaves the base of the tail then.
[_AN ATTACK WITH SUFFICIENT STRENGTH WOULD INFLICT DAMAGE SEVERE ENOUGH TO NEGATIVELY AFFECT ITS OVERALL MOBILITY. IT WOULD GIVE YOU MORE LEEWAY IN DODGING ITS ATTACKS, SHOULD IT PERSIST TO DO SO, AS YOU WAIT FOR THE TEST DIVE TO END.]
...Alright then. I have no other choice anyway. But how would I unleash an attack powerful enough to cause injuries then? Mana Shock is just a first circle spell after all. And I didn't try to learn any other offensive magic because I suck at them anyway.
[_THE SYSTEM SUGGESTS TO INFUSE MOST OF THE ENERGY RESERVES USED TO KEEP YOUR VIRTUAL BODY STABLE. THAT WOULD BOOST MANA SHOCK TO THE LEVEL OF A PEAK 2ND CIRCLE SPELL. THIS WOULD RESULT IN CUTTING YOUR DIVE SHORT TO JUST 8 STANDARD SOL MINUTES HOWEVER.]
"Well, I don't see any other way. Let's just do it!" I replied.
[_ACKNOWLEDGED. BEGINNING AETHER REFINEMENT.]
I circulated the mana in tandem with whatever it is the so called 'system' was doing, and a spell circle rapidly formed. I felt it's power was definitely different from earlier.
"Alright! This should do it!" I exclaimed and moved around erratically to distract the damn wyvern. When it showed an opening, I immediately dodged past it and gained a perfect shot at its backside as a result.
"EAT THIS!!!"
A blinding flash was released from the magic circle. An explosion of dust and debris mixed with bloodied patches of scaled flesh followed afterwards.
The wyvern cried out in agony. Its tail was nearly cut off. Even I was surprised with all that power. "Wow! So that's how powerful a peak 2nd circle spell is." I exclaimed in awe. Mages really had it good.
The wyvern let out another mournful cry, and unexpectedly scampered away. It looked like it was in a lot of pain.
"Sorry. It was either you or me. Well, you're a lizard anyway, so it'll probably grow back sooner or later... Phew! That was really cutting it close." I whispered an apology and let out a fatigued sigh.
"Guess that wraps things up for now. I wonder what happened to that girl earlier though?"
I looked at the timer on the upper right of the HUD. It indicated I only had about less than eight minutes before this so called 'Dive' ends.
"Meh, let's go look for her then. Might as well see this through to the end." I decided while shrugging my nonexistent shoulders.
***
It didn't take long for me to catch up to the girl from earlier, since I took a shortcut by flying above the canopy. Being in an energy body does have its perks after all. However, I only watched her back from a distance since there were people rushing towards her. She was frantically waving her hands at them, so they seemed to be acquaintances.
There were two men and a young girl. One of the two men wore the armor of an Almadeus Templar. He looked fairly strong. The other younger guy might be his squire. The young girl wore an acolyte habit just like the girl earlier. She also looked about fourteen to fifteen, and had lively twintails which swung cutely as she ran. How adorable!
She kinda looks familiar though...
"Asha! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Elaine! Waaah! I'm so glad to see you!!!"
"You stupid idiot! Do you know how worried I was when I found out you went out here with some shady looking people?! You're lucky someone saw you and told the others at the dormitory. But are you really alright? Those crooks didn't do anything nasty to you?"
"Waaah! I'm sowee! I'm ohkay! Mister Wisp shaved meeh!"
"Mister Wisp?"
"Alright you two. There's time enough for that later. It's dangerous here. We should head back."
The conversation between them flew right over my head. I was frozen in place. My gaze was fixed upon the lovely figure of the young girl sporting adorable twintails.
[_TEST DIVE OVER. NOW PREPAIRING FOR BAIL OUT. TEMPORAL SHIFT SEQUENCE INITIATED.]
"Huh? W- Wait! Hold on! Just hold on a moment! T- That girl! She's my—"
[_BAILING OUT IN 3... 2... 1...]
"NO! I said wait dammit! ELAI—"
***
_Planet Caldinus I / General Duvalle Military Hospital / Caldinus Interplanetary Army Base
"ELAAAINE!!!"
I sprung awake on the med pod and screamed out a name with a hoarse voice.
It was the name of someone very dear to me. Someone very dear to 'Myst'.
It was the name of my sister in 'that world'.
Elaine. Elaine Evrard.
I felt up my face and found it drenched in cold sweat. My heart was pounding furiously. I felt both anxious and glad at the same time.
"What the hell was that?" I quietly whispered under my breath.
The only answer I got was an all pervading silence.
|
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|
_Selena Vaughn Elmeth
_Private Interstellar Cruiser - Edelweiss / Ship Lounge
Selena silently watched as the comm. device blinked off. Her gaze didn't move away even once from the image of the man with a slightly unkempt appearance, despite wearing a standard CIB suit, on the other side of the screen.
When the call ended, all semblance of the earlier bewitching smile left her face; and what replaced it was an unreadable expression which seemed to hide many complex emotions within.
"You've really become soft, haven't you? Man, I felt like the third wheel the whole time. And what's with that cheesy promise near the end? Gave me goosebumps, I tell you."
She turned towards the owner of the voice, who'd addressed her in such a familiar, teasing tone. In the entire Solaris Confederation, people who could be this laid back when facing her were extremely rare.
"And what, may I ask, are you still doing back here? I believe I'd already told you to go on ahead to Caldinus I after you finished the task," Selena asked with an arched brow.
"Oh, y'now. Just wanted to see the sights in another planetary system before I go back. I don't really get a lot of chances to travel on my own ever since serving as you gofer. Cut a guy some slack here," the other person replied.
It was a tall young man with above average features and platinum blonde hair. His feet were propped up on an expensive looking coffee table as he sat on a leather couch in a languid manner.
"I bet you just wanted to embark on a food trip," Selena stated. Her expression finally broke into a wry grin. "You didn't leave any lose ends, I hope," she inquired.
The young man waved a hand dismissively. "Relax. As far as the records show, Young Master Marco Ramirez wasn't even on the Kestrel. He was on a private beach; busy getting plastered while hitting on the ladies."
"I hope so," Selena let out a small sigh.
"Why'd we have to go through all of that trouble anyway? If you just needed the fragment and the kid to resonate, we could've had our guys do it instead of risking it by setting that incident up. I nearly thought he would actually bite the dust back there," the young man asked.
"You know how difficult it is to convince those old fogies when it comes to dealing with the [L.D.F.] relics. If I didn't dangle enough benefits, they wouldn't even give us permission to use the supposedly broken fragment Natsume was working on," Selena replied while slightly shaking her head.
"They don't want to give others the chance to be the ones who would finally open the door. They want that glory for themselves. They don't even know what's waiting for them on the other side."
The young man snorted. "Bunch of deluded old ghosts," he spat.
"So you just went with multitasking huh. You baited every party involved, but ended up being the biggest winner instead. The Emperium may have gotten themselves a fragment back, but it's already keyed in to our lucky candidate, making it next to useless by itself. You've also dealt a blow to those in support of conducting peace talks with the Emperium."
Selena nodded and smiled. "Yes. It seems my gamble paid off in the end."
"But what would've you done if our candidate didn't resonate with the [L.D.F.] as expected? He might have ended up really dying y'know. Uselessly at that," the young man probed with narrowed eyes.
"I already said it was a gamble," Selena nonchalantly answered.
"Man, that's cold. But I guess that's more like you - the infamous Azure Calamity," the young man cheekily retorted.
"Hmph!" Selena sneered in disdain. "I've never been fond of that moniker. And being called something like that would make it seem like you're suffering from an acute case of eighth grade syndrome. It would be disastrous for my image, so you better not mention it again, my dear loyal henchman number one," she playfully added.
The young man laughed heartily after hearing her sassy retort. His eyes were nearly in tears. Selena looked on with a wry smile gracing her lips.
After the young man's laughter died down, silence came over the two of them. They sat on their chairs in solemn stillness. A myriad thoughts raced through their minds.
They were about past times. People whose faces they've nearly forgotten. Places they would never come back to again. A world which they had once called home when they were just silly and naive.
"Hey, Saori...," the young man softly called out.
"What's up, Kyouhei?"
"Just what the hell are we doing? What's the point of all this? Sometimes, I just feel so utterly drained y'know," the young man weakly muttered.
Selena deeply sighed. She gazed at the young man, whose cheery facade hid a battered soul.
"Y'know, I'm tired too Kyou," she began. "The only thing keeping me going is my desire for stopping 'him'. I was the culprit responsible for making him into what he is right now after all."
The young man she called 'Kyouhei' straightened up and looked at her with a grave expression. "You know that's not true. You just did what you thought you had to. It's true that 'he' looked up to you the most. You were 'his' pillar of support. But 'he' was too dependent on you in the end. We all were."
"When you left us back then, something in 'him' broke. Heck, it was the same for all of us. So we went into a frenzy, and failed in the end. But we don't blame you for it at all. We never did. So you don't have to burden yourself with what happened like this," he coaxed.
Selena flashed him a bitter smile. "It's too late for me Kyou. The moment I began seeing people's deaths as mere variables used to influence my desired results, it was already far too late."
The young man powerlessly slumped back on the couch he was sitting on. "Fuck. This shit is just so messed up. We should all have just died after that bus accident in Saitama. Would've been better than being tossed about like this. So much better...," he grumbled with gritted teeth.
Selena made another audible sigh.
"What's done is done. I just want to finish what we started, no matter the result. I want to stop 'him' no matter what Kyou. No matter what price I have to pay. No matter how heartless I need to become. Will you help me," she implored.
"Aaah! Fine, I'll see this through to the end. Might as well anyway," the young man exclaimed in exasperation. "Y'know, it would've been better if you finally agreed to go out with me in this life," he added teasingly.
"Unfortunately, I'm already hitched," Selena quipped back as she flashed her wedding ring.
The young man called 'Kyouhei' sniggered in amusement. "Yeah, whatever. Everybody knows your so called husband prefers men," he retorted. Selena just smiled sweetly after hearing it. 'Kyouhei' simply shrugged after seeing her reaction.
He knew he was out of his league anyway. The woman he liked since junior high in 'that world' already had someone in her heart in this one. The entire situation between the two was just too messy however.
"So we're heading back to Caldinus I now, right? Natsume's son should already have begun synchronizing with the [L.T.Q.M.S.] mainframe huh," he then inquired.
Selena nodded in agreement. "He should have. He'll be experiencing his first 'Dive' soon. Just as well. It'll save me some trouble explaining."
They continued their idle chat like this as the Edelweiss entered the Space route headed towards Caldinus I; where an unsuspecting young man in a hospital pod remained blissfully asleep, oblivious to the surging undercurrents involving him.
|
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|
_Present Time
_Planet Caldinus I / General Duvalle Military Hospital / Caldinus Interplanetary Army Base
I paused from relating my experiences some days earlier to my (current) little sister so I could request some water. Talking so much made my throat parched.
I was just about to do so, but I noticed that Rin was actually giving me a funny look.
"What's up?" I inquired.
Maybe my story seemed so ridiculous and farfetched that it went beyond her acceptable range. I can't do anything about it though. Even I'm still having a hard time accepting what had happened to me.
And then, there's the 'transmigration' thing too. That's even more freaky. I'm not even sure if I should tell her about it, really.
"You were actually planning to butter me up with meat skewers?!" she spat in a huff.
"Uh, that's what you're hung up on?" I asked, somewhat sheepishly.
"Of all the things you could have gotten me, it just had to be meat skewers huh?!" she pressed on like an enraged kitten.
"Well, that plan was a bust anyway. I got you that no-bake cheesecake instead right? Can't we just leave it at that lil' sis? C'mon. Big bro's sorry, okay?" I persuaded.
"Hmph!"
She turned her face away in a fit.
Oh boy. She can be quite the handful sometimes.
She's certainly a different sort compared to that little bundle of pep and positivity back in the other world...
Man. I wonder how they're all doing? I fell down a cliff back there, so it might have caused quite the commotion. Are my parents and my sister over there okay? I hope they won't do anything drastic.
How about those two? I sent a letter via carrier pigeon to the capital before setting off from Lindorf, informing my intention to attend their wedding. Have they received news about the accident yet? I wonder how they'd react?...
...
But...
But what if it was all just a dream?
—No! That can't be right! For some reason, something deep inside of me absolutely refuses to believe that world to be nothing more than just an illusion conjured up by my subconscious.
"Bro? Big bro? Ryuu!"
I snapped out of my reverie after hearing Rin uneasily calling out to me.
"Sorry. Got a bit distracted, that's all." I said while flashing an apologetic grin.
"What's wrong Ryuu? You look really pale. Are your injuries acting up? Should I call a doctor?" Rin asked in concern.
"Nah, I'm good." I replied. "Anyway, does this mean I'm off the hook?" I inquired, in an attempt to change the subject.
"Hmph. Not yet, wise guy. Not until you take me to Auntie Bai's stall for some skewers." she answered and grinned wryly, like a mischievous imp.
"But I thought you hated the idea?" I asked, perplexed.
"That was that. This is this." she stated matter-of-factly.
'Women... I really don't get em...' I thought while looking peeved.
"Here you go." Rin said as she handed me a glass of water from the nearby table. How considerate. I didn't even manage to ask for it yet.
As expected of my lil' sis!
...
Err... Ahem.
"Anyway, where was I again? Oh, right. Things got even crazier after I got out of the alleyway..."
I started to continue recounting the past events.
***
_A few days earlier
_Fraser Street / Milford District / Grigwald City / Planet Velmar IV
"OH SHIIIT! What the hell was that?!!!" I exclaimed in panic while running with all the strength I could muster.
I sped through the sidewalk after exiting the alleyway, passing by and nearly running over many pedestrians. Some even started shouting some pretty creative expletives at me.
I honestly couldn't be bothered much right now. There's some really violent looking people with guns chasing after me for god knows what reason after all.
I heard some panicked screams coming from behind me. Oh damn! Are they catching up? I sprinted even faster, trying my hardest to get away from whoever was in pursuit.
But then, the sound of several loud impacts rang out. They were followed by the wailing of vehicle emergency warning sirens.
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest after hearing those. Damn! You've gotta be kidding me!
Not being able to resist the impulse, I glanced back to see the cause of the commotion, only to immediately turn around in fright after confirming my suspicion. Fuck it! Can I even get away from that on foot?!
Behind me, an ice cream hover-truck was speeding away, barreling through traffic to chase after me.
Why an ice cream truck? How the hell would I know?!
It didn't take long for the truck to catch up to me. Its side door opened up, and a large man wearing a gray exo-suit peeked out from inside. His left hand brandished a net gun used for hunting wild animals.
Shit! Gimme a break guys! That's overdoing it y'know!
But before the man could fire the thing—
*bang
A jet black hover-van rammed the truck from behind, sending it careening to the other side of the street. It then neared me and an unexpectedly familiar face popped out from the lowered driver's seat window, calling out to me.
"Hey Ryuu-ryuu, stop running and hop aboard. We'll get ya outta here."
I was taken aback after hearing that familiar way of address. My feet stopped running before I knew it and I looked towards the owner of the voice in astonishment.
"Uncle Hal?"
It really was Uncle Hal. Our next door neighbor. The man who was unexpectedly cheery despite his wife supposedly leaving him for some other guy, someone utterly obsessed with fishing as well as my father's newly made drinking buddy.
He was the only one who liked to call us siblings something so utterly cutesy as 'Ryuu-ryuu' and 'Rin-rin', despite our vehement objections.
"What the? Wh- What's going on here uncle?" I stammered.
"No time for that Ryuu-ryuu! They're coming again! Hurry and get in. I'll explain on the way." Uncle Hal urged.
The ice cream truck of terror roared to life once more. It won't be long until it resumes chasing after me, from the looks of it.
Feeling utterly cornered, I briefly prayed to the powers that be and all eighteen generations of the Creed family ancestors (if we even go that far back anyway) and bit the bullet, hoping to high heaven that this wasn't just another ploy.
After I entered, the van immediately started up and and sped away.
|
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"The [Others]..." I muttered as I gave Mrs. Elmeth an inquisitive look.
"Throughout the entire Milky Way Galaxy, ever since the beginning of the True Interstellar Era, the people who comprised the civilizations which later joined the Federation shared surprisingly similar genetic traits and appearances. Specifically, they looked more or less the same as us. The only variations were things like skin tone, eye and hair colors and average height. But generally, the standard appearance was the same for the entire Federation populace. The [Otherworldly Invaders] or simply [Others], however, were different. So different that they couldn't be more fit to be described by the term 'Otherworldly'."
"They appeared seemingly out of nowhere and started attacking the Federation en masse; unexpectedly bringing about huge amounts of losses, despite the Federations' military might," Mrs. Elmeth continued.
"Most weapons were ineffective against them. The prided interstellar warship fleets of the Federation posed next to no threat for the [Others], which quickly decimated them with surprising ease. They took over a third of the Federation-held Sectors within mere months. And further exacerbating the situation was the appearance of a new biological threat."
"A biological threat?"
"Yes. It was a new disease which quickly spread throughout the Milky Way, afflicting a large chunk of the populace. No matter how much the best medical experts of the time tried, they couldn't find the underlying cause. The answer, however, came from an unexpected source."
"A report from researchers who were studying the ruins stated that the spread and effects of the unknown disease - which eventually caused unpredictable genetic mutations in biological organisms regardless of species - were more pronounced in the planets where the various mysterious ruins appeared. This discovery alarmed the Federations' higher ups. It was then that they realized that what they unwittingly opened was 'Pandora's Box'."
"Pandora's Box?" I asked once more after hearing the unfamiliar term.
"It's a container which appeared in a very ancient legend, and was said to have held all manner of malice and disaster. When it was opened, that malice was unleashed to the world," Mrs. Elmeth explained. "The dire predicaments the Federation faced started when they meddled with the ruins after all. This conjecture was further solidified when they discovered that the [Others] were prioritizing the capture of Space Sectors which housed the planets where the ruins appeared. It seemed that the invaders were after the ruins as well."
"What exactly were the ruins?" I inquired curiously.
"This question still remains unanswered until now," Mrs. Elmeth replied. "This has been the case even long after the Federation's fall. Perhaps the [Others] knew something about them, which was what spurred them to seek the ruins out. But seeing as they weren't interested in any form of exchange and only sought to completely annihilate the Federation, hoping to get any information out of them was utterly futile."
"Hmm...," I groaned while ruminating the incredulous sounding story. "Sorry to interrupt ma'am," I interjected. "This stuff sounds incredible and all, but honestly, it's not what I came here to hear about."
"I'm assuming you already know ma'am, but a few nights ago, I experienced something really freaky. I underwent something called a 'Dive' while I was sleeping and ended up getting sent back to Runegard Continent - but not physically. You're claiming you're the Azure Calamity, and you know so much about myself, the Demon War and such, so I believe you already have an idea about what I'm talking about," I stated and gave Mrs. Elmeth a probing look.
"Something which sounded like an A.I. guide told me I was a 'Diver' affiliated with the Federation, and my duty was to collect data. Since you also mentioned the Federation, is this all connected somehow? How do I fit into the equation? How'd I even 'Dive' in the first place? Is this related to what my parents in this world were researching before they died?"
I suddenly blurted out a series of questions all at once. Anxiety and impatience tinged my voice. It was like indirectly saying 'spare me the long prelude and get to the important stuff already'.
"We'll be getting to that shortly dear," Mrs. Elmeth answered with a reassuring smile. "Don't be so antsy. I have to explain from the beginning so it would make much more sense. We haven't even talked about how this mirror galaxy came to be."
"Fine," I reluctantly conceded. "But what exactly do you mean about that 'mirror galaxy' stuff?"
"As I said earlier, the Space Sectors the Confederation, Emperium and all the other interplanetary states are currently occupying are situated within a sealed subtemporal bubble — a 'mirror galaxy', so to speak. It's about a third of the original galaxy — The Milky Way — and is completely cut off from the original spatio-temporal plane."
"Uh, okay..."
Mrs. Elmeth giggled in amusement once more; probably after seeing my confused mug.
"Let me put it in simpler terms then," she offered. "We're all inside a dream."
"Huh?"
I admit that was simple enough. But I'm still confused.
"If this is all a dream, who's the one dreaming it?" I humored.
"The Universe," came the curt reply.
Oh boy. This is getting even more baffling by the minute. It's really beginning to sound like something those new age cults like to spew when trying to recruit new members. I gave Mrs. Elmeth a suspicious gaze.
"Hey! Don't give me that. I'm entirely serious here," she playfully admonished. "That's why I said we need to discuss this step by step."
"Please go ahead ma'am," I said in a resigned tone.
"That's better," Mrs. Elmeth nodded approvingly. "Let's go back to what happened to the Federation. It was losing badly to the [Others]: a good half of the Milky Way was already lost, and from the way the war was going, it wasn't long before it completely gets subjugated. Things were getting pretty desperate. It was at the height of the Federation's despair, that someone came forward with an extremely bold proposition."
"It was the young researcher from Earth who first resonated with the [L.D.F.] relics — Professor Alma Jimenez. Perhaps because of guilt or a sense of responsibility from playing a part in causing the invasion — or possibly both — she and her team tirelessly sought a way to use their newfound knowledge about the mysterious relics in order to turn the tide of the war. They had somewhat succeeded, and immediately reported it to the Federation higher ups."
Hm? Alma Jimenez? The name kinda reminds me of something, but I can't quite put a finger on what. But I decided to put away my idle thoughts and continued to listen to Mrs. Elmeth.
"The Central Council was torn about the matter. If the proposed plan was successfully pulled off, then it may truly provide a ray of hope for the battered Federation. But the method was untested and used unknown technology. If something went wrong, it may result in the Federation's utter destruction. Moreover, it would be caused by their own hands instead of an external enemy."
"However, they were not given much choice. The attacks of the [Others] intensified, and they approached closer to the Capital Cluster practically unhindered. The Council eventually decided to bet it all on the plan, and mobilized practically all the Federation's remaining resources to achieve that end. And thus, [Project: Last Bastion] was started."
"What was the plan all about?"
"It was to utilize the recovered [L.D.F.] relics in order to send a portion of the Milky Way galaxy into a separate space-time continuum — one where the [Others] would not reach."
My eyes widened in realization. So that's why.
"This place we're in now is that so called 'Last Bastion', right?" I asked. Mrs. Elmeth nodded in confirmation.
"That's right. All of us are descendants of the Federation populace who exiled themselves within this prison of their own making — all in order to buy time while trying to develop a method to win the age old war with the mysterious invaders presumably from another galaxy."
|
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|
_Greater Arcthanius Emperium / Imperial Capital Planet - Valheim Alpha / Granvale Manor - Inner Garden
The soft breaths of a young man dozing off under the dappled shade of a majestic looking tree drifted along with the gentle breeze.
His features were the very incarnation of grace and nobility - lustrous short black hair which framed a well proportioned face; adorned with fine brows, long lashes, gently shaped nose and ruby lips.
In fact, he looked quite feminine. Perhaps, a little too much so. The young man often fussed about it in private. He even considered getting surgery once, to the absolute horror of his retainers, who clamored to stop him. He was forced to give up the notion in the end.
"Your Highness, it's time for tea." a soft, lilting voice called out.
The young man stirred. His lashes fluttered open and revealed two pupils of deep onyx. He moved his gaze to the side, where he found an elegant looking maid. Her wavy purple locks flowed down towards a shapely waist accentuated by her uniform, which adequately flaunted her feminine wiles despite not showing that much skin.
The young man lazily yawned. "Good morning, Trysta." he greeted.
"Good morning, Your Highness." the young maid gently replied. "Though, I must point out that it is already past noon." she added.
The young man let out a soft chuckle. "Is it now? I guess I enjoyed taking my nap a little too much then. But I'm not really craving for tea at the moment. How about you join me down here instead Trysta? It's actually quite comfortable." he beckoned.
The young maid named Trysta softly shook her head in refusal. "I'm afraid I must decline, Your Highness. I cannot possibly act so brazen."
"Pfft. Ahahahahahaha!!!"
The young man laughed loudly, destroying the earlier elegant and noble image. He clutched his stomach as he doubled over while revelling in his mirth.
"Ahahahaha!!! Oh, damn. What a riot. Could you cut it out now 'Kayako'? C'mon, it's just us two and a few attendants staying at this overly fancy manor. You really don't have to play the prim and proper maid here, y'know." the young man teased.
"On the contrary, Your Highness. I think I should savor the opportunity as best I can. I believe you are aware I've always been a maid enthusiast. Nay, a maid connoisseur. The last life was very much 'an epic fail', as you might say. So I must gratefully cherish this heaven-sent chance to live out this wonderful occupation to the fullest. Do you not think so?" the maid argued back while propping a pair of half rimmed glasses she surreptitiously put on earlier.
The young man guffawed once more. "Ahaha! You even prepared glasses huh? You really are the best, 'Kayako'." he complimented and raised his left hand to form a thumbs up sign as he lay on his back under the large tree.
The young maid, which was now being addressed as 'Kayako', gracefully curtsied. "I always aim to please." she replied while making a soft smile.
The young man quickly rose to his feat and grabbed the young maid's waist. He then pulled her close to him and sniffed her soft hair. It smelled of fragrant lavender.
"Thank you." he softly whispered to her ear. "Did I really look that distressed to you?" he curiously asked.
"Yes, you did." the young maid whispered back.
The maid was given the name Trysta in this life. And the young man was christened Rand.
He was Rand Granvale Arcthanius. And his personal maid who had accompanied him since childhood was named Trysta Lantris.
No, she was 'Kayako'. At the very least, to the beautiful young man, she was, is, and always will be. And he was 'Shou'. Not Myrddin, nor Rand or any other damn name he might be called with again if he continued to allow himself to be tossed about by capricious fate. He never really was fond of the idea of Samsara. And he never would be.
"Well damn. That's not good. But you can't seriously be thinking a little comedy skit like this would be enough to cheer me up right." 'Shou' said as he grinned in a rogue-ish manner. 'Kayako' blushed and inclined her face upwards. 'Shou' took her lips without hesitation.
The kiss lasted for a while. The other servants within the manor saw the event, but chose to turn the other way. It was almost a daily occurrence after all. Some were actually complaining of heartburn already.
"Thanks Kaya-chan. Sorry for worrying you." 'Shou' beamed after their lips separated.
"It's fine. And stop it with 'Kaya-chan' already. How old do you think we are now?" 'Kayako' retorted; her blush still evident on her soft cheeks.
"I stopped caring when we got past two hundred." 'Shou' playfully replied. 'Kayako' just rolled her pretty eyes at him after hearing it.
"Were you thinking about the operation the 'Wraiths' pulled off in the Confederation?" she then asked. 'Shou' nodded his head slightly.
"I wasn't bothered about what happened with the fragment. I kinda expected it already anyway. It's 'her' we're talking about here after all. Anything involving 'her' wouldn't be that simple."
"So, why are you getting all antsy then? What's the big deal about 'her' anyway?" 'Kayako' prodded. Her voice was tinged with a hint of jealousy. 'Shou' was amused, and nearly took her lips again on impulse.
"You know how it is. 'She's' the biggest shadow in my heart. No matter how you slice it, 'she' was the sole reason I did what I did back in the 'outer' plane. It wasn't for some noble ass reason like the liberation of that maligned race. It was never about that."
'Kayako' buried her face inside her lover's chest. "Is that why you let things slide? About Natsume's son, I mean?" she inquired.
'Shou' nodded in acknowledgement. "Yeah. This time, I want to finally step out of 'her' shadow. This time, I will not let anything shackle me again. So I'll face whatever 'she' throws at me head on. It's the only way I'll finally be able to get over 'her' influence on me."
'Shou' then sighed audibly. "I'll basically be playing 'chicken race' with 'her'. Whoever blinks and veers away firist loses. If she's going to bring forth an unknown variable, then I'll just have to respond with my own."
"It's utterly stupid and illogical. I could've nipped all worries in the bud if I simply chose to do so. But I didn't. That's just the kind of troublesome person I've become. Will you still follow me, even knowing that?" 'Shou' asked as he made a self depreciating smile.
'Kayako' hugged her lover tighter. "I will." she answered simply.
"Even if I might end up sacrificing you as well?"
"Yes."
There was no more need for words. Each of them felt each other's convictions fully.
They let go of each other after a few more moments passed. The young man smiled elegantly once more. It wasn't time to wallow in the past after all.
It was now time to play a role - one which would allow the young man the chance to gain that which he truly desired.
It was the role of the Third Imperial Prince of the Greater Arcthanius Emperium.
|
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|
_In the middle of West Verne Express way
The silver phantom was fast.
Almost disgustingly so.
It flitted past the two mechs with incredible agility, harassing them with suppressive fire from the weapon it wielded.
The said weapon was also clearly not designed to be fired while unmounted, but the silver silhouette seemed not to care. To make things worse, the energy projectiles fired from it were accurate and packed quite the punch - having the ability to burn a hole through the mechs energy barriers with three or four well placed shots - quickly putting the remaining two Grisham units on the defensive.
The pilot of the lead unit thought continuing to tangle with it wasn't worth all the trouble, and made a prompt decision. He immediately relayed his instructions to the other remaining Grisham unit.
"I'll deal with this thing Ghost 2. Prioritize securing the target and rendezvous with Squad Beta on Point 3A, then wait for pickup."
"...Got it sir." came the curt reply.
After relaying his commands, the pilot of the lead unit braced himself and focused his attention on the silver silhouette, fully intent on holding it down.
He was inwardly quite surprised. The thing was way too high spec for it to just be a new powered suit prototype fielded by the Confederation Intelligence Bureau. It was uncharacteristically thin for one, but he still suspected it to be a full fledged EX-Frame originally developed for military use.
He grinned in self derision at the thought. Here he was, fighting in a retrofitted 2nd Gen rust bucket, while the Confederation dogs were sporting cutting edge tech and running them ragged.
Sure, they were deep behind enemy lines, and were originally tasked with infiltration and sabotage. Getting their hands on the latest Emperium gear was somewhat of a luxury for them. But still...
He couldn't even identify its propulsion system. It was too thin looking to house any conventional boosters. In fact, it didn't look like it was flying, but was running in mid air instead.
His mech's FCS couldn't keep up with the thing's mobility and erratic movement patterns.
If that's the case, then he'd just quit trying to go for a clean hit altogether.
He engaged his mech's boosters and placed himself firmly in between his subordinate's mech - which was now heading straight towards the stalled van - and the silver assailant.
"Eat this, bastard!"
He switched his weapons over to full auto and unleashed an unrelenting barrage. It would be great if he gets to down the goddamn thing with this mucho. But keeping it occupied until his subordinate manages to capture the target and gets away would be an acceptable outcome as well.
His weapons continued to roar out. Pulse laser fire, solid AP rounds and frag grenades blasted the area around them to smithereens. He checked the rear camera feed and saw his subordinate making way to the stalled vehicle unhindered.
"So far, so good." he muttered under his breath.
But then—
A silver flash launched through the air.
It dodged the weapons fire by kicking off the void through seemingly invisible footholds with fluid, almost feral grace.
The sight had a sense of primal beauty to it - like a well choreographed dance - leading the Grisham pilot to hold his breath in astonishment.
He soon managed to snap awake from his stupor, refocusing on attacking the enemy before him with a more concerted effort.
But it was all to no avail.
The enemy had managed to close in on him in mere moments; planting its feet squarely on top of his mech's energy barrier - with a clear shot on the torso section which housed the cockpit.
It stood on the barrier as if it was on top of solid ground. An ominous blood red glow suffused the front end of the weapon in the silver EX-Frame's hands.
"Heh." the Grisham pilot snorted. "Well, ain't this rich." he spat with a voice filled with unwillingness.
The red glow intensified.
The pilot gazed at the silver silhouette intensely, as if to burn its image in his mind.
"Nice job, lady." he uttered while grinning defiantly.
His vision was then flooded with an ocean of vivid crimson.
***
The pilot code named Ghost 2 clenched his teeth in anger after hearing something loudly crash down from behind him. He hadn't checked the rear camera feed in the corner of the cockpit screen to confirm, but he was certain his unit captain had fallen in battle.
He was utterly furious.
But he knew this wasn't the time to wallow in his rage. He had a mission, and he would accomplish it no matter what. He owed his fallen comrades at least that much.
There were only a few more meters before he would reach his target. He had to do this fast, before that silver demon manages to get in his way.
He'd already given it a quick thermal scan earlier, and had confirmed that there were still two passengers staying inside the vehicle. He didn't know why they hadn't chosen to flee on foot while he and his squad leader were engaging that silver bastard, and neither did he care.
Besides, this made things simpler. He just needed to get the entire van, rip out its engine to prevent anymore untoward incidents, and get to the rendezvous point as fast as he could. As his mech readied its manipulator arms for a quick grab and dash—
*bang
A sudden heavy impact knocked his mech out of balance and made it crash down on the broken road pavement in an ungainly manner.
Ghost 2 had just managed to get his mech back up, only to find a dark blue silhouette gradually revealing itself after disengaging its active camouflage system.
It stood almost as tall as the Grisham mech he was currently piloting. Its overall build exuded both elegance and brutality. It only held a single monomolecular saber on its left manipulator arm, but the sense of intimidation Ghost 2 felt from it was overwhelming. It was a true, cutting edge, third generation Tactical Frame.
Ghost 2 knew he was at a major disadvantage. The silver devil was one thing, but the addition of a 3rd Gen TF was akin to sealing all paths of retreat for him. He momentarily moved his tense gaze towards the side of the cockpit monitor and saw something unexpected.
The silver silhouette was just standing stock still with its arms crossed over its chest some distance away. On its feet lay the weapon it used to shoot down his comrades earlier. The body of the weapon was letting out plumes of black smoke. It seemed to have overheated.
But, instead of feeling relief, Ghost 2 was incensed. "Just how much are you looking down on us? You bunch of damned Confederation dogs!" he muttered through gritted teeth.
He resolved himself to take advantage of their blatant underestimation and readied his mech. But before he could execute any manoeuvre—
"Uh, sorry mate. I know you're pissed and all, but seriously, this just ain't your day." a playful voice echoed out from the outer speakers of the enemy mech.
The dark blue figure suddenly vanished from his perception.
And the world was dyed in red.
***
Nightingale watched on as her partner, Gibbs, code named Shadowfox, split the Grisham in two with his XTF-2A Mistral 3rd Gen Tactical Frame. She whistled in astonishment at its performance.
"Damn. These new toys from the military sure are amazing. Even a dunce like you can pull something like that off. Color me impressed." she teased through the comms. The Mistral then walked towards her with a steady gait.
"C'mon sis. Can't ya give a guy a break for once? That was all me y'know." came the annoyed reply. It was the voice of a frivolous sounding young man.
"Whatever." Nightingale snorted. "What took you?" she then asked.
"Had to clean up another squad deployed on the Northwest." the young man answered. "They keep popping up like mushrooms after the rain. Nah, screw that. They're more like cockroaches! Just how many did the Emperium manage to smuggle in? Good thing they aren't too skilled in a fight, or we would have been in more trouble." he complained indignantly.
"Less ranting. More work. You'll get your bonus easier that way." Nightingale replied dismissively.
"You did manage to keep one alive for interrogation right?" the young man inquired.
Nightingale jerked her head back and gestured towards the damaged Grisham sprawled on the tarmac. It was the lead unit. Its torso had a hole melted through it, which narrowly avoided the cockpit.
"Great! Now the Chief won't have any reason to chew us out. Uh... Other than you breaking another expensive piece of equipment I guess." the young man exclaimed.
Nightingale looked at the smoldering housing of the Genion cannon and sighed.
***
I had my jaw down on the floor the entire time the engagement was taking place. I was made completely speechless. Uncle Hal and his men were crazy. They were utter lunatics!
"Just who the hell are you guys, Uncle?" I asked Uncle Hal, who currently has his left palm covering his face while sighing in frustration. I seem to have heard him mumbling "Just how am I supposed to explain to the tech guys? Sure I kinda knew this would happen, but come on..." under his breath.
"Um, Uncle?" I prodded him once more.
"Huh? Oh. Uh... Like I said earlier Ryuu, we're part of the CIB. Specifically, we're the Special Tactical Response Team. Nice to be working with you son." he finally replied and stretched out his right hand.
I shook it involuntarily, not knowing what other forms of craziness the future had in-store for me.
***
—Grigwald City / Office building rooftop
A middle aged man with tired looking eyes was taking a smoke while leaning on a section of the railings surrounding the rooftop's edge.
The door behind him opened, and a young office lady came out.
"Sir, the mission has failed. All Ghosts have been eliminated. The target has been secured by the CIB. We've also detected movement within the buildings next to ours. They'll be conducting a raid on us soon." she reported.
"You know what I hated the most about this assignment, Sara?" the middle aged man spoke.
"What sir?" the young lady inquired.
"The fact that I won't ever get to taste cigarette brands from the Emperium anymore. Confederation brands suck." he answered nonchalantly.
The young woman chuckled in amusement. She gave the middle aged man a dazzling smile. "It was a pleasure working under you sir." she stated. Her body then disintegrated and scattered in the wind.
"See. Confederation brands really do suck." the man murmured to no one in particular. He took one last puff, then vanished along with the billowing smoke.
|
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_??????? ??????
_Planet Caldinus I / General Duvalle Military Hospital / Caldinus Interplanetary Army Base
[_PRELIMINARY BOOT UP SEQUENCE INITIATED... 20%... 60%... 80%... BOOT UP SEQUENCE COMPLETE. EXECUTING MAIN DIRECTIVE.]
[_DIVE CAPABLE BIOLOGICAL WAVEFORM DETECTED. VERIFYING PERMISSIONS. VERIFICATION COMPLETE. REQUEST FOR INITIAL TEST DIVE ACKNOWLEDGED.]
[_REGISTERING BIOWAVE PROBE DATA. 10%... 40%... 90%... DATA REGISTRATION COMPLETE.]
[_PREPARING VIRTUAL BODY... ERROR! ERROR! QUANTITY OF AETHER SATURATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE EXCEEDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED VALUES.]
[_CROSS-REFERENCING VALUES GATHERED FROM ONE-OFF PROBES IN THE MOST RECENT 347 MEGACYCLES. SEVEN QUERY RESULTS FOUND. COMPILING DATA... DATA COMPILATION COMPLETE.]
[_EXECUTING OPTIMAL ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON GATHERED DATA... ADJUSTMENTS COMPLETE. VIRTUAL BODY CREATED.]
[_DUE TO LACK OF RELEVANT DATA, SEVERAL FUNCTIONS CANNOT BE ACCESSED AT THIS TIME. DIVER, PLEASE TAKE HEED. AN UPDATED USER MANUAL SHALL BE SENT TO YOUR INBOX. PLEASE ACCESS IT UNDER THE DIVER MENU SECTION.]
[_LINK WITH A.T.R.D. PROGRAM INITIATED... LINK COMPLETE. DIVER, PLEASE DO YOUR BEST TO GATHER RELEVANT DATA IN ORDER TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE EVENTUAL RETURN TO THE MAIN TEMPORAL LINE. AS THE EXTENT OF INVADER INFLUENCE IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN, DIVER SHOULD EXERCISE UTMOST CAUTION.]
[_DIVE PREPARATIONS COMPLETE. TEMPORAL COORDINATES LOCKED. INITIATING TEST DIVE... GOOD LUCK, DIVER. GLORY TO THE UNITED MILKY WAY FEDERATION.]
[_DIVE STARTS IN 3... 2... 1...]
***
_System Linked Bio-Probe / Temporal Shift Function Fully Active / Diver I.D. - 'Ryuu Creed'
_Location: Currently Unknown / Preliminary Survey Recommended
"Ugh... My head feels like it was hit by an Orc Lord's warhammer or a ten ton hover-truck... What time is it anyway? I need a drink."
I muttered complaints while feeling a massive headache and tried to open my eyes.
"Eh?..."
Oookay... That's weird. I can't seem to open my eyelids. Scratch that; I can't move my entire body at all. I can't even feel anything! What's going on? What kind of shit am I in again now?!
No. Wait. Calm down. In times like these, it'll do no good if I panic. I mean, I kinda experienced dying already. Twice. Can't get any worse than that.
Okay. Deep breaths...
"Holy—? I can't even fucking BREATHE?!!!"
Riiight... Now I'm panicking! What the hell is happening to me?!
Wait! Maybe I'm still in a dream. I did doze off in the hospital earlier. I just need to wake up, somehow.
Lessee... How about I pinch myself awake? Or maybe I should start by moving my toes or something?...
"How the hell am I even supposed to do those if I can't even feel my body, dammit?!!!"
...
Wait up. I never took note of it earlier, but I've basically been screaming my lungs off the whole time. If I can't feel my body, how the heck am I actually screaming?
[_APOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY, DIVER REGISTRATION #1265A. DIVER I.D. REGISTERED AS: RYUU CREED. VIRTUAL BODY ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACE FUNCTIONS ACTIVATING IN 3... 2... 1...]
"What the—?"
My vision was suddenly restored.
What first greeted my eyes was the magnificence of nature. Countless trees of different kinds stood tall upon a majestic looking cliffside, overlooking a deep valley below. Various species of avian creatures flew in the skies above the valley.
There sure were a lot of them. This place could be heaven for bird watchers.
Hey, look at that. There's even a wyvern. That's rare...
...
...Wait.
...Wyvern?
A sudden roar was followed by the simultaneous sounds of flapping wings. Different feathers of myriad colors and shapes fell to the ground as the other avian creatures fled upon the arrival of the vicious looking wyvern. It circled the air and continued to roar out. It might be trying to attract a mate.
And the only reaction I managed to let out at this point was...
"...Eh? EEEEEEEEEHHHH!!!?"
_End of Book 1
|
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_Rin Creed
_Planet Caldinus I / Capital City - Dumont / Downtown
"WHAT?! YOU DECIDED TO JOIN THAT LOONEY BIN?!!!"
The very first reaction Rin earned from her mentor after telling him her plans was a totally angry outburst.
After leaving her brother in the care of the nurses, she had gone to the downtown district of Dumont City - the capital of Caldinus I. It was just a twenty minute ride away from the hospital. She went to find a Public Interstellar Communications Terminal in order to give the old professor a call, and make a request for his assistance.
In the beginning, Professor Leighton was still his old, cheery self. But the moment Rin mentioned entering the 353rd, he went totally ballistic.
She struggled to suppress her laughter. The sight of the diminutive old man who had pulled some of his prized beard off as his nostrils flared was just too hilarious for her.
"Oh, come now professor. It can't be that bad, right?" she coaxed sweetly.
"Can't be that bad? Bah! My arse! Crazy dreamers, the lot of them." Professor Leighton fumed.
"But you told me they were also researching the potential of Genion particles one time during our discussions. Our topics of study are the same. Can't I find at least some common ground with them on the subject?" Rin asked.
Professor Leighton raised a bushy eyebrow. "You don't understand my dear. We're scientists. We study and deduce phenomena through the lens and logic of science, backed with painstakingly gathered empirical data. They, however, are different." he began to explain.
"Their beliefs and approach border on the fantastic and metaphysical. They propose that the Genion particles are [the very memory of the universe] itself, which exist in the past, present and future simultaneously - within all temporal planes. Communing with them would allow us to influence any and all phenomena within the universe, and mastering control over them would even allow us to bend fate itself."
"CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT DRIVEL?!!!" Professor Leighton hoarsely yelled. "This isn't some kind of fantasy novel or comic about magic and sorcery! This is real life!"
His chest heaved intermittently. His face flushed red in agitation.
"The very fact that a group like them exists within the ranks of the Confederation military is a joke and an insult! I cannot even fathom why you would want to associate yourself with such... such quacks!" he vehemently complained.
"The fact that they have yet to release anything remotely resembling a success utilizing their research speaks volumes about how pointless it all truly is."
Rin furrowed her brows. "If they really are so ridiculous, why was the division allowed to be formed in the first place? Why are they still allowed to continue operating even now, if they really have no results to speak of?" she asked, perplexed.
Professor Leighton sighed in exasperation. "They have a very, VERY strong backer. Their incorporation into the Confederation Military was her work as well."
"A strong backer?" Rin probed.
"A really influential one. One of those at the very top of the proverbial food chain. She's the prized step-daughter of the current Grand Archon, and the wife of the current richest man in the Confederation - Selena Vaughn Elmeth." the professor revealed, much to Rin's shock.
"The Elmeth Group. So the 353rd is actually backed by the Elmeth Group!" she exclaimed in surprise.
Professor Leighton nodded powerlessly. "Yes, it's the Elmeth Group. She's one of our Institute's primary sponsors as well. I just can't, for the life of me, understand why she would develop an unhealthy interest in such... unscientific pursuits."
'Selena Vaughn Elmeth... She may be the one mentioned by Uncle Hal earlier. The one who knows exactly what's going on with my brother.' Rin inwardly pondered.
"Is there really no way for you to reconsider, Rin?" the professor asked pleadingly.
"My mind's made up, Professor. My brother is practically being forced to go there. I can't rest easy unless I go and take a look for myself." Rin answered with conviction.
Professor Leighton slumped his shoulders in defeat. But he soon regained his composure and gave some instructions.
"Alright dear. I'll arrange it for you. But, since you're going to them and all, be sure to enlighten those deluded fools regarding the true nature and practical utilization of Genion particles. We cannot allow the lifelong research and discovery of the late Professor Gener Genion to be degraded to such inane concepts." he intoned.
"Understood Professor. Thank you for understanding." Rin said and sweetly smiled at the old scientist in gratitude.
"Sure, my dear. Stay safe. Tell your bonehead brother he better not worry you too much, or I'll be paying him a visit to give him a lesson he won't ever forget!" Professor Leighton made a parting threat at the unaware brother now lying asleep in a hospital room, and bid goodbye.
Rin sighed after she finished the call and turned the comm device off. She stared at her right palm, and a sudden flash of scarlet bloomed within its center. It disappeared soon after, like an illusory mirage.
"I'm sorry Professor. But, on the contrary, I think that place is exactly where I would find the answers I seek." she murmured softly.
This was a secret only she knew. It was the reason she became interested in Genion particle research in the first place.
She had a feeling that going to the 353rd would help shed some light into the mystery which had confused her ever since she was a child.
"Wonderland, huh? I hope it won't disappoint."
|
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|
"Wooof! Wooof! *Slurp *Slurp *Slurp"
I suddenly woke up with dog saliva slathered all over my face. Not that I'm bothered by it. It's just our family pet being far too liberal with displaying her affections as always. It's quite cute actually. The only downside is me smelling a bit funny after she's done with me.
I slowly sat up on the bed and rubbed my eyes to get rid of the drowsiness. I'm not really a morning person. I moved my gaze towards the door to my room. As expected, the petite figure of my dear little sister was there; her cheeky little mouth curled up into a wry grin.
"Rise and shine big bro." an angelic voice resounded.
"Honestly, you've got to start learning how to wake up by yourself already. You've just turned eighteen. You've got to start behaving like a more responsible adult. You're setting a really bad example here."
I shrugged my shoulders as I listened to her usual morning lecture. Honestly. Doesn't she ever get tired of it? Not like I hate it or anything. After all, she does have a point... or two. It's just that I can't seem to find any motivation y'know.
"You're plenty responsible already Elaine. How bout you do my share as well?" I replied half in jest.
Elaine Evrard, my hyper competent, busybody little sister, pouted cutely as she placed her hands on her waist in an attempt to look imposing.
"Geez. What's with that? You weren't always like this big bro. You've been in that state ever since Vance and Felise left the village..."
My brows furrowed involuntarily and my expression turned gloomy.
Ouch. She certainly did hit a sore spot of mine dead on. After noticing my change in expression, Elaine cupped her mouth hurriedly and displayed an apologetic look.
"Big bro... I'm sorry. I..."
I got off the bed and lightly patted her shoulder.
"Nah. Don't worry about. I'm the one at fault for brooding about it after all this time anyway. Thanks for always worrying about me Elaine. And sorry for being such a no good brother."
Elaine got teary eyed and hugged me tightly on the waist. Geez. What is with this cute creature? My little sister can't be this cute!
"Big bro! Don't worry. No matter what anyone says, you'll always be my one and only big bro." she exclaimed with conviction.
Man. Just how much more loveable can she get? This little sister of mine truly was too good for me. I... I am not worthy. I'm seriously about to break into tears here.
"Wooof!"
A lively bark echoed throughout the room, breaking the moody atmosphere.
"I think Berry's saying it's time for breakfast." I said with a grin. Elaine smiled and let go of my waist. She then trotted towards the stairs with a lively gait.
"Big bro, hurry and wash up so we can eat. You know mom won't let us touch the food unless everyone's present on the table." she reminded before finally heading down. Berry, our family pet, followed along.
I proceeded to the bathroom to get rid of the smell and the sticky sensation on my face. I then headed towards the dining room of our quaint village house for some breakfast.
***
Come to think of it, I haven't introduced myself yet haven't I? The name's Myst. Myst Evrard.
Quite the fancy name for a rural village guy don't you think? Apparently, the Evrard house was once a prominent noble house that produced several generations of excellent knights.
But due to coming into conflict with another famous noble clan and ultimately losing out, we started to decline and were finally chased out to the outskirts of the Vandel kingdom, where we lived in exile.
That's how the stories told at the periodic family gatherings went at least. Honestly however, they were little more than gossip and no evidence to substantiate those fanciful claims was ever found even if one traces back our family tree.
But it's a nice story nonetheless. Not to mention a great time waster. The kids seemed to love it anyway. Heck, even I was completely enamored with it back when I was young and didn't know any better.
Come to think of it, hearing those stories might be one of the factors that contributed greatly to me wanting to be an adventurer back then, only to have reality slap me in the face. Hard.
Honestly, why are kids so damn gullible?
***
"Good morning dear. Have you groomed yourself properly? And you didn't forget to wash your hands did you?"
My mother's smiling face greeted me as soon as I arrived at the dining table. Melissa Evrard - my awfully young looking thirty-something year old mother. Her long silky brunnete hair, smooth skin and curvaceous figure were the envy of the village housewives and spinsters.
Heck even our village's young maidens were jealous of her killer combination of youthful looks and mature charm.
"Yep. All cleaned up." I replied casually.
"Well, now that Myst is here, can we start eating already?" a deep, masculine voice echoed from across the table.
My dad, Lucian Evrard, made a pleading look as he asked my mother for permission to start digging in.
Even though he looked like a seasoned veteran warrior, he was actually a big softy, especially towards mom. They made quite a pair actually. Incidentally, he's also the village chief.
"Ehehe. Dad's stomach is already making funny noises mom. I think we really need to start eating before it gets any worse." quipped a familiar bell-like voice.
It's my little sister, Elaine Evrard. She inherited mom's glossy brunette hair and good looks. She tied her hair up in a cute twin tail style and possessed a cheerful and somewhat sassy personality.
"Look. Even Berry's starting to get impatient." Elaine pointed out while giggling happily. Our family pet truly did look a bit impatient as she vigorously wagged her tail.
Despite the cute name, Berry was anything but. She's a cross between a regular dog and a type of lupine monster species called Rouge Fang.
My mom found her wounded and nearly dead as she was picking herbs within the nearby Fiora forest. She brought her home and nursed her back to health along with my sister, so she's quite attached to the two of them.
She lacked the usual wild and ferocious nature of a full blooded Rouge Fang. But despite that, she's still about twice as big compared to a regular large dog.
She did have a unique charm though. Instead of her fur being blood red, it's carnation pink - except for a particular spot on the center of her forehead, which rather curiously resembled a red heart mark.
She's become our official family mascot. She can be rather sweet. But piss her off and you'll be on the receiving end of her pearly white (and rather sharp) fangs. She beats any regular guard dog, that's for sure.
And then, there's me. The one and only Myst Evrard. Seeing as the other members of my family (plus the family pet) have really distinct features and personalities, one would expect me to be the same right? Well, unfortunately, that's not the case. Far from it actually.
The wonder that is "me" can actually be described in one single word: ordinary.
I have no distinctive features. My looks, while far from abhorrent, can't exactly be called handsome or dashing either. My height is average compared to my peers. My build ain't skinny. But it ain't buffed either. I'm not particularly gifted academically. My physical capabilities are average at most. I have average mana capacity as well. And my skills with a sword, spear or bow can be considered as barely passing.
Hence, I'm your average guy. As ordinarily ordinary as they come. The poster boy for ordinariness. If you think of "ordinary", chances are, you'll think of me.
Anyway, the bottom line is that I'm ordinary. You got that?
It's not like I'm sulking or anything you idiots!
...
Well, I think you get the point.
***
After the meal (which was delicious, as always), my father and I headed out for work. Mom and Elaine started their day by fussing over the plants and vegetables in our garden as Berry lazed around nearby.
Mom's the village pharmacist. It's said that even just her smile could heal. There's even a rumor of people injuring themselves willingly just in order to see her.
My dad's the village chief, but he's also the village's best blacksmith. He used to take in loads of commissions for weapons and armor during the war with the demons.
Now, he just makes various tools and implements. His kitchen knives became an instant hit with the housewives because of their beauty, sharpness and balance.
I walked down towards the village entrance. Lindorf, this little village out in the sticks, is my home. Despite not having any distinctive features or specialties, our village still gets plenty of visitors due to it being one of the stops along the road towards the kingdom's southern border.
Adventurers and merchants pass through our village for some rest while in the middle of traveling towards the neighboring Almadeus Theocracy.
My job is basically being a village guard cum village guide and receptionist. I greet and inspect the people that come to our village and provide some friendly directions for first timers. Service with a smile and all that.
I also alert the other village guards whenever I encounter suspicious individuals. It's not the most exciting job in the world. But hey, it's better than nothing.
I greeted some of the villagers along the way. They're all relatively friendly folk. But some of the younger generation can get a bit annoying at times.
"Hey, look guys. It's Myst. He looks as gloomy and miserable as always. I can't believe he's childhood friends with Lord Vance and Queen Felise." a lanky young man quipped.
"Sssh. Quiet down! He'll hear you. He may be a good for nothing but he's still the village chief's son." a young woman whose eyes narrowed into slits warned.
I already heard you, idiots. And which part of me looks gloomy? Okay, maybe I do have a bit of a depressed look recently. But I make sure to put on my best "business" smile whenever I take up my post.
And seriously, a good for nothing? I may not be anything special, but at least I'm not "bottom of the barrel" useless. There are guys who are much worse off than me even in the village.
Damn. This is unjust resentment. I want a lawyer.
I do have an inkling as to why they're so critical towards me however.
Simply put, they're just jealous.
Why the skeptical look? I'm serious here. No, really. I'm not pulling your leg.
They're not jealous of "me". Not exactly.
They're jealous because I happen to be childhood friends with both the dashing and powerful hero who slew the Demon King and brought peace to the continent, and the beautiful and brave princess, who spent her childhood hidden in a far away village to stave off some traitorous nobles who were after her life.
She then made a triumphant return after the king, who had been turned into a puppet ruler by said nobles, breathed his last. She staged a successful coup, deposed the corrupt nobles and rallied the various allied nations under one united front against the threat of a massive demon uprising.
She was finally crowned queen after the demon army's defeat.
Amazing isn't it? They both sound like larger than life individuals, and I'm childhood friends with both of them.
Not that this little tidbit counts for anything really. They both seem so far away now.
And to think I could still vividly recall their smiling faces whenever I close my eyes...
|
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|
_Confederation Interstellar Military Transport Cruiser - Kestrel / Bridge
"Sir, the IFF signals of the entire Zephyr squadron are all gone!" the CIC operator urgently reported.
"How's the Genion Drive coming along Kozlow? Can we make a jump soon?" the ship captain asked the maintenance officer while sporting a grave expression.
"Just a bit more sir! I've nearly got it—"
The officer hadn't even managed to finish replying when two strong tremors shook the entire ship once more.
"GODDAMNIT!!! Sir, they just blasted off most of our thrusters! Almost all of them are dead! The engine's no longer responding either!" the maintenance officer screamed in frustration.
"What about the barrier?!"
"It's dead too sir! Their attacks were too strong! They punched a hole right through the barrier like it was nothing! Almost all the power circuits supplying it were fried from the feedback!"
"Seven bogeys, coming in fast! Judging from the readings, they should be small assault craft." the CIC operator warned.
Tremors once again rocked the ship.
"Sir, the ship's been breached! Sections A10, B3, D5, and F7 have all been compromised! They rammed us and punctured straight through the hull! Enemy troops are coming in fast!"
The ship captain strongly clenched his fists until blood seeped out from his palms.
"Abandon ship!" he decisively ordered. "Tell all remaining personnel to protect the trainees at all costs. Get them to the pods, even if it's the last thing they'll do."
As the first mate hurriedly relayed his orders, the captain fished a silver locket from beneath his uniform. Within it was the picture of a smiling young girl and a woman with gentle, almond shaped eyes.
"I'm sorry, you two. Papa's not gonna make it for dinner tonight." he murmured softly.
"Bogey incoming! It's heading straight for us!" the CIC operator warned.
A hostile Tactical Frame landed right before the bridge. Plasma claws flared from its forearms.
The captain got up from his seat and defiantly glared at the enemy.
"Just who the hell are you freaks?" he uttered.
Plasma claws gouged the bridge and instantly incinerated everyone inside.
***
_Kestrel / Ship Hallway / Section A10 Hull Breach
Men and women clad in powered suits and EX-Frames of various makes and appearances gathered before the front hatch of an S-ALM-C32 'Hammerhead' spacecraft, which rammed and punched through the Kestrel's hull moments earlier.
"Look alive ladies and gentlemen! It's time for work!" a deep, gravelly voice rang out. It came from a tall, dark green EX-Frame. Its worn surface was marred with countless nicks and scratches - likely from past battles.
Its helm slid open; revealing the scarred face of a bald, rough looking man. His severe gaze swept through all those around him.
"Now, I reckon some of you louts still have some misgivings about this operation. What we're going to do is the furthest things from honorable after all." he began.
"So listen up! If any of you still hold on to those kinds of sentiments, then you better take em and shove em up yer sorry asses!" he menacingly roared. "We've lost all semblance of honor and glory once! They were lost along with the lives of countless comrades in arms!" he continued. His tone became more impassioned.
"It was His Highness who brought us out of the rut we found ourselves in! It was he who gave us the opportunity to redeem ourselves! It was he who gave us back the ability to pay tribute to our fallen comrades by bathing the battlefield with the blood of our enemies!"
"His Highness is now preparing for his inevitable ascent! And he deemed this operation necessary for accomplishing that very goal. So we will complete it, even if we would be seen as nothing but murderous madmen as a result!"
He paused and raised a clenched fist. He then banged it on the chest plate of his EX-Frame, making a loud ring resound throughout the walls.
"If His Highness requires people who would willingly descend to hell for him, then let those people be us!!!"
"AYE!!!" came the collective reply.
"The main objective is to retrieve the item code named [L.D.F.]. As for everything else: annihilate them all. Leave none alive! Move out!"
The hatch opened, like a giant maw connecting to the underworld. And what poured out of it was a horde of vengeful demons.
***
_Ryuu Creed
_Kestrel / Ship Hallway
I followed after Marco as we ran through the inner hallway of the ship. Screams and curses echoed from the direction we fled away from.
I suppressed the urge to vomit after remembering what transpired earlier. Now was not the time to act all fragile.
After the tremors began, Marco's expression suddenly changed and he hurriedly told me to follow him out of the mess hall, with none of the previous frivolous air present in his tone. I became confused at his sudden shift in attitude. But, feeling apprehensive yet curious about the ensuing disturbance, I eventually decided to follow in order to check things out.
He immediately ran while urging me to follow after him. Some of the other trainees noticed us and followed along; wanting to see what we two were up to.
Soon, chaos ensued.
An order to abandon ship echoed from the ship's intercom. Before we could even make sense of it, the hull was suddenly punctured through right before our eyes.
A lot of dangerous looking and fully armed individuals came out of the hatch of the assault craft which breached the walls. Then, they began to fire their weapons indiscriminately, reducing many trainees to bloody, smoking chunks.
It was hell.
Soldiers stationed at the ship tried to rescue and defend us, but they were no match for the assailants. Very quickly, they became part of the ever increasing body count.
I was scared out of my wits. I was barely aware of my surroundings when Marco forcefully dragged me away and fled, with me in tow.
|
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My mind totally blanked out. The amazingly beautiful lady in front of me just suddenly said something so utterly inconceivable that it instantly wiped out all thoughts inside my poor head for a moment.
"EEEEEEH!!!"
I then shrieked like a little schoolgirl from all the shock.
"Ahahaha! I just knew you'd react like that. Ah, such wonderful material. No wonder Natsume was so fond of you." Mrs. Elmeth teased while flashing an amused, almost gangster-esque grin. Somehow, it really suited her, even if it ran counter to her graceful bearing from earlier.
"B- But... You... How in the—" I incoherently babbled. You can't blame me for being like this though. This woman just claimed to be an extremely infamous figure among the Demon Race; one who died roughly eight years prior to the outbreak of the Demon War.
This was the Demon Queen responsible for successfully leading the retreat of her entire race into the Al-Zeberuk Wastes, despite the pursuit of the forces of the Human-Elven Alliance, who were determined to kill the entire Demon Race to the last. She died in battle after succumbing to her wounds; but not before singlehandedly slaughtering most of the strongest Alliance experts who doggedly chased after them.
This feat forced the combined armies to retreat, despite their overwhelming advantage in numbers. It cemented her name in history as a figure reviled, feared and respected by all, regardless of race. This was the famed 'Azure Calamity' — Lyanna Sirius.
And now, this incredibly bewitching woman before me was claiming to be her, while sporting an expression more fit for a gang boss. What the heck?!
"C'mon kid. Stop gawking and sit down. I already said I'll explain as best I can, right?" she lightheartedly reprimanded. I was still a little dazed, but I eventually did as she said; my curiosity getting the better of me.
"Great. Then let's get started. Now then, where to begin?..." she pondered and held her soft looking cheek with a fair and dainty hand in a ladylike manner. The way she alternated between rough and graceful gestures was really throwing me for a loop. I somehow found her even more alluring as a result. Her looks were enough for countless people to go absolutely crazy over, but this was just cheating. I felt my face heat up involuntarily.
"Hehee. Just look at that adorable expression. It just might make me want to gobble you up," she teased, with a bewitching smirk forming on her lovely lips. I think my blood pressure just shot way up. This lady is absolutely bad for the heart! She's even worse than Nightingale. I took some short breaths and tried my best to steady myself.
Mrs. Elmeth lightly nodded, as if finding my reaction agreeable. "Now that you've calmed down a bit, we really should start discussing. Let's go with the origin of this galaxy first then; this mirror galaxy to be exact. And its just roughly a quarter of the size of the original galaxy too." she began.
"Huh?"
I gave her a blank gaze. She just uttered something absurd right from the get-go. Mrs. Elmeth just continued to talk without minding my reaction.
"That's right. The corner of the galaxy the Emperium, Confederation and all other interplanetary states are situated on within this sub-temporal bubble is just a small patch of the galaxy formerly known as 'The Milky Way'. You've already experienced your first 'Dive', so you should have already heard about the United Milky Way Galactic Federation, right?"
I nodded in reply as I waited for her to elaborate further.
"The Federation was the governing body which formerly ruled over almost the entire Milky Way. It was quite powerful too. The interstellar society it presided over once thrived in unprecedented prosperity. However, right as the Federation reached its peak, an unexpected discovery heralded the prelude to its eventual destruction."
Mrs. Elmeth's expression became grave. I audibly gulped in nervousness and anticipation.
"Federation researchers suddenly discovered an anomaly buried near the foot of Olympus Mons — the tallest planetary mountain within the Sol System — on a planet called Mars. It was the ruins of a seemingly super-ancient civilization. The researchers were quite baffled, because past surveys dating back to the period even before Mars was completely terraformed hadn't revealed even the slightest hint of ruins being located in the area. It was like it appeared out of thin air."
"Soon after their discovery on Mars, similar ruins kept popping up on different planets under Federation rule. This both alarmed and excited the Federation higher ups. It was either impending danger or a huge opportunity. They pinned their hopes on the latter, and organized several research expeditions in order to learn of the secrets possibly slumbering within those ruins."
"What did they discover?" I couldn't help but ask. Mrs. Elmeth smiled mysteriously.
"Something absolutely wonderful yet terrifying at the same time. Within the ruins were areas where time and space were extremely distorted and muddled. And it was not a natural occurrence either. 'Something' was artificially distorting the time-space fabric within those areas, making exploring them extremely risky. A single misstep could have one completely erased from existence, among many other dangerous and possibly fatal outcomes."
"The prospect of influencing time-space in such a direct manner thrilled the researchers to no end. The Federation had developed into a highly advanced interstellar society which covered almost the entire galaxy, but concepts like controlling and travelling through time and dimensions firmly remained within the realms of science fiction; at least, until the discovery of the mysterious ruins. They thought that if they could successfully unlock the ruins' secrets, they could herald a brand new era for the Federation."
"After countless sacrifices, they finally got their hands on the things which caused these large scale time-space distortions and rifts. They were small, cube shaped objects etched with countless mysterious symbols. After several attempts at studying their underlying principles, a young researcher made a breakthrough and unexpectedly resonated with the sample they were studying at the time."
"He claimed to have caught a glimpse of the possible capabilities of these mysterious cubes. He stated that these objects could interface with the memory of the Universe and affect it to a certain extent. This granted the cubes the ability to affect time and space directly, and possibly influence fate itself to a certain degree. Since he claimed the cubes could calculate and influence causality, he christened them as the [L.D.F.] — Laplace Demons' Fragments — named after a theory proposed by someone from ancient times on the young researcher's native planet, Earth."
I gasped in shock after hearing about the absurd claim. Influencing causality and fate? It was indeed amazing yet utterly horrifying at the same time. If this was real, then having that much power at the hands of a single individual or organization was not a very pretty prospect in the least.
Mrs. Elmeth continued her lecture. "The discovery left the Federation's higher ups utterly elated. They believed it was an unprecedented opportunity. With it, expanding beyond the Milky Way would no longer be just a faraway dream. But their happiness was short lived."
"Resonating with the [L.D.F.] turned out to be what brought about the beginning of the end for the Federation. It was akin to a brilliant beacon which eventually attracted the Federation's greatest enemies; the ones responsible for decimating this once prosperous superpower and reducing them to a mere shadow of their former might."
"It was the advent of the [Others]".
|
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|
Zephyr squadron launched from the Kestrel's rail catapult in quick succession. Once out in open Space, they immediately fired up each of their mechs thrusters and went into formation. They then headed past the rear of the ship and scoped out the enemy units.
"Zephyr 2 here. Got my eyes on em Cap. Custom Grisham units, as reported. Patchwork mods. No long range units, judging from their loadouts. Seems like your typical pirate grunts so far." Zephyr 2 - the blue eyed, fair skinned young man - shared through their squadrons secure channel after checking the feed from the AWACS pack equipped on his Bradfort.
"Copy that Zephyr 2. Zephyr Leader to all units. Pattern Beta-2. Start with a long range barrage. Scatter them and don't let them close in." the squad leader ordered.
"Roger!"
"Got it Cap!"
"Let's clean em up!"
Varied responses roared out through the comms.
But before they could properly engage the enemies—
"What the—?!"
"Shit!"
"You gotta be kidding me!"
After being bathed in golden luminescence, the 'patchwork' Grisham mechs suddenly charged with absurd acceleration, leaving the Zephyr squadron pilots wide eyed in shock.
"Fuck! I can't get a lock!"
"Never mind that! Just send up a barrage. Micro missiles! Scatter fire on areas A to F, now! Stave them off!" the squadron leader hurriedly commanded.
Swarms of compact sized homing missles launched from all four Bradforts and littered the surrounding area with explosions.
However, like demons emerging from amidst the flames—
"Aaaaah!!!..."
"Caleb!! Shit! You fuckers!!!"
Two Grishams closed in within mere moments and flanked Zephyr 2. One destroyed his mech's balance with a shield ram and another ran it through with a monomolecular vibro-saber - stabbing right through the cockpit and instantly killing the pilot within.
The missile barrage couldn't even slow the enemy 'Grishams' down. They quickly tore through the Zephyr squadrons ranks and destroyed their formation.
The squadron leader wanted to reinforce his two remaining pilots, but was unable to do so. He was being tied down by one of the enemy units.
It was just one damn mech! And a Grisham to boot. But he could barely even hold his ground. It was just too utterly fast. It was simply running circles around him.
"You fucking cheats! These ain't Grishams! These are fucking monsters!!!" the chubby young man named Jin - Zephyr 3 - exclaimed in frustration. He was firing his unit's weapons desperately in full auto while covering for Zephyr 4 - the red head he called Hilde earlier.
"Fuck! My FCS is going apeshit! This speed is insane! How the hell did they mod these things?!" Hilde's screams echoed through the comms. She had the most trouble out of all of them because her loadout was primarily focused on long range bombardment. She was basically a sitting duck once the enemy got in close enough.
The both of them were soon surrounded by five enemy units, eyeing them like predators hungry for kills. Eventually, an enemy Grisham slipped through Zephyr 3s weapons fire and headed straight for Zephyr 4. Hilde haphazardly fired her mech's shoulder cannons at the incoming enemy, in a final show of resistance.
A few shots grazed the enemy mech's barrier, but failed to penetrate it. Plasma claws flared to life from from both of its forearms.
Within moments, it penetrated through her barrier, and tore her cockpit to shreds - along with her.
"HIIILDE!!! YOUU BASTAAARDS!!!" Jin cried out in despair.
He fired in every direction while overcome with rage, but was soon overwhelmed. Three vibro-sabers plunged through the torso of his unit in three different angles, finally ending his life as well.
The squadron leader was made to helplessly watch as each of his squad members died before him. Anger and grief washed over him.
His Bradfort swung its two reinforced composite alloy greatswords with increasing ferocity, finally managing to push the Grisham engaging with him a distance away. He doggedly pursued.
"YOU FUCKERS! I'LL AT LEAST SEND ONE OF YOU TO HELL!!!" he defiantly screamed.
But the enemy in front of him suddenly made a strange gesture. It stopped in place and thrust its right arm towards his unit.
Golden luminescence was released by it once more. Yet, this time, something even more incomprehensible happened.
A golden circle of light appeared before its outstretched hand. Strange symbols circulated within it. Wisps of energy coalesced in the center of the circle, emitting blinding brilliance.
A silent roar echoed through the void.
The wreckage of an utterly destroyed Tactical Frame was left in its wake.
The battle had ended.
***
_Unknown Ship / Bridge
"All hostile TFs eliminated sir. The test units performed remarkably well." the First Mate - a tall, thin man in shabby clothing - reported aloud. Despite his less-than-decent appearance, a dangerous glint was present within his narrowed eyes.
"Mm. It looks like the modifications made by His Highness and his team of engineers are working smoothly." a tanned man with an unkempt beard nodded in agreement. "But they sure are flashy. What did His Highness call them again? Aether Artes?" he inquired.
"It'd likely be simpler if we just called them 'magic spells' or something. Don't you agree Commander?" the First Mate replied with a smirk.
"Hah! Well, reality is stranger than fiction, as the saying goes. If it'll help us win the war faster, then I think we should put it to good use." the man with a grizzled beard stated.
"Sir, Major Kristoff is requesting permission to return. His energy reserves are in the red." the CIC operator informed.
'Looks like it does consume a large amount of energy, like His Highness predicted. Well, the Concealment Arte or whatever this ship is equipped with is a glutton too, so we can't use it all that often either. A damn shame.' the bearded man thought inwardly.
"Permission granted. But get the rest of them to pry open that ship's defenses and clear the way for the Hammerheads." he then instructed.
He stared at the damaged ship in front of the monitor and sighed.
"Sorry folks. We've got our orders, so this really can't be helped. You're all gonna have to die."
|
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|
_Ryuu Creed
_Planet Velmar IV
/ Grigwald City / 4th Integrated District High School
I stood in front of the main gate of the school and let out a small sigh as I gave it one last look. I gazed up towards where Room 3-A was located. It was where the class I was formerly a part of held their homeroom. I saw several of my classmates shouting and waving farewell. I smiled and waved back, then turned away after steeling my resolve.
Heh. It's not like me to be so overly sentimental. I mean, my days here weren't really all that memorable. Just your average high school stuff. But neither were they unpleasant. It's enough for me to feel some reluctance in leaving it all behind, at least.
Anyway, enough moping around. I've already made my peace about the whole thing and the choice has already been made. I'll just have to tough it out from now on, especially after all that's happened.
I'd recently just received word that both of my parents had been caught up in the accidental explosion that occurred in the private munitions factory they were working at and were part of the casualties. That effectively made me and my sister orphans.
This news devastated the both of us. Our family just recently moved to the Central Sector after all, and we don't have any other relatives who lived nearby. At least, no one that I knew of. This means we can only depend on each other now.
After settling everything and going over all the assets my parents had left behind, I came to the realization that there simply wasn't enough for me and my sister to work with if we insisted on keeping our current lifestyle.
My little sister's quite the straight A student y'see. She's gorgeous to boot. Thus, my parents only wanted the best for her and had enrolled her in a prestigious private school with a track record for having countless successful and influential people in the Confederation among their alumni. But this decision stretched out our budget a little too thin as a result.
I wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, and I acknowledged that fact myself. So I didn't mind enrolling at a sub-par school in order to accommodate my lil' sis. It's worth it, in my opinion. I'm quite proud of her y'see.
Ahem.
Anyway, it was all fine when my parents were still alive. But now that they're gone, things are looking a bit shaky. Since we don't have any relatives here, we couldn't seek any help, financial or otherwise, from them.
The meager pension we'd be receiving would just be a drop in a bucket compared to all the expenses we were to incur in the next few years, even if my sister had managed to apply for a scholarship. Those miscellaneous fees were no joke. Heck, we haven't even finished paying for the house yet either.
So, faced with no other alternative, I decided to bite the bullet and quit school to look for some jobs in order to support my sister.
The job offers I could apply for wouldn't really improve in quality if I waited to graduate from senior high, since I couldn't apply for a higher level work license until after I finish college. So I decided I'd work on finding some employment right now instead.
Besides, our finances won't probably be able to hold out for another year if I didn't find some other sources of income fast.
Fortunately, there was a considerable number of job vacancies available, even for mere junior high graduates such as myself. This was especially true, now that tensions were rising between the Confederation and the Arcthanius Emperium. I shouldn't have any trouble landing a couple if I put my back into it.
So, after psyching myself up, I started walking towards Milford Street, where the Job Center was located.
***
—Grigwald City Job Center - Main lobby
A bespectacled female receptionist flicked through the info I submitted on the data terminal in front of her with a strict and no-nonsense demeanor. She barely changed her expression, thus hiding her thoughts well, and that made me feel quite anxious. C'mon lady. Cut me some slack here.
Name: Ryuu Creed
Age: 17
Residence: #243 Heathrow St. Falk District, Grigwald City
Working License: Class C (Active)
The lady eventually closed the terminal and moved her indifferent gaze towards me. Man, she looks so damn stern. Aren't receptionists supposed to receive potential applicants like me in a friendlier manner? Service with a smile and all that.
"Everything seems to be in order, for the most part." the lady began. "Well then Mr. Creed, what sorts of positions are you planning to apply for? Bear in mind that with your license level, you can only apply for non-specialized jobs with low requirements." she went on.
I pondered for a bit, then gave my reply.
"Just give me some jobs that pay well for my license level ma'am. I don't mind doing hard labor. I should be able to do well if they're related to mechanical maintenance or something. I already have some experience regarding that stuff after all."
"Hmm. I see." came the curt reply. She typed some inputs on her data terminal and swiped my I.D. on the card reader connected to the device. She then handed it back to me.
"I've sent your info to the relevant parties. You might begin to receive calls for job interviews during the next few days. I wish you good luck Mr. Creed." the lady informed me and held out her hand. I shook her outstretched hand in gratitude and got up from the chair in front of her station to make way for the next applicant.
I walked out of the Job Center feeling both nervous and excited. I really hope I can get some good offers.
***
The receptionist lady's gaze lingered on the back of the departing teen for a short while. She then stood up from her seat and called for one of the other employees to take over for her shift.
She walked outside the lobby, heading towards the lavatory. After entering and making sure there was no one else nearby, she pressed a comm device hidden under the scarf of her uniform and contacted somebody.
"Subject has moved out from the premises. Three potential threats confirmed trailing after him. They might make their move soon."
"Copy that Nightingale. All personnel are to remain on alert and prioritize the subject's protection. Initiate Code: Phalanx. Buck up boys and girls. It's gonna be a long day." came the brusque reply.
She let out a soft sigh after receiving the orders. "I meant it when I said good luck kid. You'll need plenty of it." she mused to herself while sporting a wry grin.
|
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What came before my eyes was a veritable tragedy just waiting to happen.
The wyvern I saw earlier was now down on the ground, snarling while facing a huge tree with gnarled roots protruding out of the soil. A person was trapped between the two.
It was a young girl. She looked to be about fourteen or fifteen. Coffee brown slightly curly locks framed an oval face with fine features, which were now marred by evident panic.
She wore the standard habit of an acolyte from the Almadeus Theocracy. She kept backing up and trying to squeeze herself deeper in between the large roots. Tears and snot were dripping down her face which was pale white from fear.
Just what was she doing here without an escort? She didn't seem like the type of acolyte who knew how to fight, seeing as she's holding a short magic stave instead of a mace.
I looked around and found some other equipment lying on the ground. There were a couple swords and a round buckler. Judging from the materials used, they were more for show than anything else. These things were brittle and didn't count for shit in a battle. From the way they're strewn about all over the place, it seems the ones who brought them just threw them away without a care.
"Figures." I muttered. Didn't think people still pulled off shit like pretending to be adventurers. I thought the Guild cracked down on these types of activities already? But should I blame the con-men, or this girl who actually fell for this sort of cliche stuff?
"Hyaaah!" another mournful scream rang out.
Whoa! Now's not the time for this. I need to distract that monster somehow. I prepared to channel my mana while looking for a suitable rock to throw, since I wasn't that good with magic projectiles.
[_DIVER, YOU'RE CHOSEN COURSE OF ACTION IS FUTILE.]
"Whaddya mean 'futile'? Stop distracting me, you stupid A.I.!" I retorted in annoyance. "I have a girl to save here, y'know!"
[_IT IS DEFINITELY FUTILE, DIVER. YOUR VIRTUAL BODY DOES NOT HAVE ANY FUNCTIONING LIMBS.]
"Eh?"
...Say what now?
I paused and tried to properly assess myself this time.
"What the fu—"
The hell?! I really didn't have any limbs! And it seemed that I was actually floating!
[_DIVER, I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY TO PULL UP YOUR STATUS SCREEN. PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR CURRENT CONDITION THROUGH IT.]
A pop-up window appeared on the upper left corner of my vision. It displayed stats and diagnostic readings which I barely understood, and a 3D model of my current appearance.
"You gotta be kidding me..." I gasped in shock.
What appeared on screen was a small, formless mass of undulating energy. It looked a bit like pale blue flames dancing in the wind. But it also somehow looked weirdly pixelated. Square shaped motes of light constantly winked in and out of existence around it.
"What in the world..." I gaped; totally lost for words.
[_AS STATED BEFORE, DUE TO THE LACK OF RELEVANT DATA, CERTAIN FUNCTIONS OF YOUR VIRTUAL BODY REMAIN INACTIVE. THE FUNCTION SIMULATING PHYSICAL PRESENCE IS ONE OF THEM.]
[_THERE IS A NEED TO COLLECT ENOUGH DATA IN ORDER TO CREATE A FULLY FUNCTIONAL BODY, TAILORED TO THE DIVER'S SPECIFICATIONS. TEMPORARILY, A STRIPPED DOWN VERSION WITH BASIC ABILITIES WAS INSTEAD PROVIDED.]
"What the heck?! How am I supposed to do shit with this thing then?!" I exclaimed in worry. That wyvern's looking angrier by the moment.
[_THIS IS WHY READING THE USER MANUAL WAS RECOMMENDED EARLIER.]
"Yes, I admit I was carried away earlier and got too excited, okay. But can't you at least help me do something about this situation right now. That girl's really gonna end up as wyvern chow at this rate!" I pleaded desperately.
After staying unresponsive for a few moments, the A.I. finally relented and gave a suggestion.
[_REQUEST ACCEPTED. THE USE OF FIRST CIRCLE SPELL MANA SHOCK IS RECOMMENDED.]
Mana Shock? Why? I mean, sure, I know it. But I suck at fine control and aiming, so the spell projectile flies away in weird angles whenever I cast the damn thing. And my casting time is hella slow when it comes to spells unrelated to basic body strengthening.
[_THE SUB-SYSTEMS WILL HELP WITH THE AETHER PROCESSING AND TRAJECTORY CORRECTIONS. THE PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS IS 83.2%]
"Really? Sweet!" I replied. I was a bit curious about why the A.I. called mana 'aether', just like the folks from the upper continent, but I shelved the thought for the meantime. The situation was getting increasingly dire after all.
Alright! Let's do this thing!
Mana from the surroundings rapidly converged towards me. I was surprised about how easy it was to gather and purify the mana. It effectively reduced my previous casting time by more than half, putting me on par with most high tier 2nd circle mages. This sure was convenient. The spell was ready in a flash.
"Eat this, you overgrown lizaaaard!" I screamed. The bluish white magic projectile sailed through the air and squarely hit the wyvern on side of its head. It staggered for a bit, and then turned towards my direction. It then roared angrily towards me.
Great! That sure got its attention. Now I just need to properly lead it outta here. But I need to tell that girl to use this chance and flee first.
[_DIVER, THE COMMUNICATION FUNCTION IS ALSO NOT ACTIVE AT THE MOMENT. PHYSICALLY CALLING OUT TO HER IS NOT POSSIBLE.]
"What? Then how am I supposed to warn her?"
[_THE SUB-SYSTEMS WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE WAY FOR COMMUNICATION. DIVER ONLY NEEDS TO FACE THE GIRL AND SPEAK OUT YOUR THOUGHTS.]
"Gocha!"
I turned towards the girl and shouted for her to get away. She looked shocked for a moment, but then nodded repeatedly at me in reply. Great! I don't know how, but I somehow got through to her.
"GruaaaAAAaaH!"
The wyvern couldn't endure it anymore and pounced towards me. Okay then, bastard. How about you and me play some tag!
***
_Asha Bleublanc
_Almadeus Theocracy / Fanrine Valley - North
Asha was given the biggest scare of her life today. It was also the most life-threatening situation she had ever faced ever since she became an acolyte apprentice training directly under the Main Church.
She'd only wanted to head to the wilds in order to find some Rheimwort flowers for her dear friend, who had stayed cooped away in her room for days due the news of her beloved brother's death. She was the first real friend Asha made ever since she'd arrived at the Theocracy, and her concern for her friend spurred her to action.
Another acolyte told her about how the incense made from the dried petals of the Rheimwort flower had great soothing effects on people, and could even help with maladies of the heart the other day. So, after remembering it, she had set out to the local Adventurers Guild to post a request.
But, as luck would have it, nobody presented themselves to take on the request. Perhaps it was due to the amount of reward not being specified. Adventurers were doing this often dangerous occupation to make a living after all.
When she'd almost lost all hope, a group casually approached her and offered her their services. They told her they were moved by her concern for her friend, and agreed to help for no compensation. She became elated, and the group set out for Fanrine Valley the next day.
They went deeper and deeper in, due to the urging of the Party leader, who said the freshest Rheimwort flowers bloomed in the deepest part of the valley. Asha innocently followed, oblivious to the odd glint in each of the men's eyes at the time.
But when they got further north, something unexpected happened; a wild wyvern suddenly appeared and attacked them. Perhaps, coincidentally, this event could be considered both lucky and unlucky for the hapless former rural village girl.
Her companions turned tail almost immediately, and left her to fend for herself. She desperately ran away, but had eventually gotten herself cornered at the base of an old tree. She screamed in fear and despair.
And then...
...'It' appeared.
A bluish white light raced through the air and hit the raging wyvern. It turned away from her and roared at the new intruder. She also turned towards the direction where that spell was fired from, and got shocked by what she saw.
It was an indistinct bluish white 'thing' floating above the ground. Asha got confused. 'What is that thing?' she inwardly thought.
It suddenly turned towards her, and strange symbols started to appear from its surface.
ヽ(ﾟДﾟ)ﾉ *Run away, girl! Get outta here!
She was dumbfounded at first, but somehow understood what 'it' wanted to say. She nodded profusely to tell 'it' she would do as 'it' instructed.
(≧◡≦) *Great!
ヽ(ｏ`皿′ｏ)ﾉ *Okay then, bastard. How about you and me play some tag!
≡≡≡=(ﾉTдT)ﾉ *Uwaaaah! Just like I thought! Facing a live wyvern is still fucking scary, godammit!
She stood blanky for a few moments as she watched her weird savior lead the wyvern away, but she snapped out of it soon after and began to run towards the foot of the valley in great haste.
|
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"Ugh..."
Searing pain coursed throughout my whole body, forcing me to let out an anguished groan. My eyelids felt like they weighed a ton and I struggled to open them.
What greeted me was a brightly lit hospital room. I was strapped inside a medical pod filled with a clear nutrient solution. I lay inert as I try to make sense of my current situation.
I remember escaping the transport cruiser on a Training Frame with other recruits. Then, the other guys were shot down by something. Nobody was chasing us down so it could have been a shot made by the enemy ship's main cannon or some other beam weapon capable of long distance sniping. I was shot down the same way. How the heck did space pirates get a hold of major ordnance like that anyway?
...
No.
Wait.
Hold up.
What the...?
Hospital? Med pod? Space Cruiser? Training Frame? Space Pirates? Beam weapons?
"What the heck am I even talking abou... Aaaaaaaaaaargh!"
I haven't even finished muttering a single sentence when agonizing pain suddenly assaulted my head.
"Ugh... Gaaah!... Agh...!"
It feels like my head is going to explode. My thoughts are turning messy.
I heard faint banging noises in the middle of my convulsions. I struggled to turn towards the direction of the sound, and found myself looking at a beautiful, raven haired young lady. She was frantically hitting the cover of the med pod while in tears. She was shouting something.
Who are you?
Why do you look so desperate?
Who... am I?
I managed to make out what the young lady was shouting out.
"...yuu! Ryuu! What's wrong? What's happening?! Doctor! Somebody! My brother! Something's happening to my brother! Please help! Anybody!"
Ryuu.
A name.
Is that my name?
It's so painful. I can't think straight anymore. My eyelids slowly closed shut.
And darkness took hold of me once more.
***
Medical personnel rushed inside Room 305, where a priority patient's condition suddenly turned for the worse. He had already passed out, but his vitals were spiking to dangerous levels. The doctors urgently adjusted the settings on the med pod in order to stabilize the patient's condition.
In a corner of the room, a tragic looking young lady struggled to stifle her sobs as she looked on in worry at what was happening.
"Ryuu. Ryuu, you dummy! Don't you dare leave me behind too! You're the only one I have left! Don't you dare!..."
She kept muttering these words as she kept vigil over her only remaining family. Her hands clasped a worn looking hair tie, as if in prayer.
***
My eyelids fluttered open without as much difficulty as the first time I regained my consciousness. It was still the same hospital room. I was still inside the med pod.
My body wasn't wracked with pain anymore either. I could at least move my limbs now, I think. I was still feeling weak though. No surprise there, I guess.
"But man, it sure is cramped in here."
The moment I muttered that under my breath, the cover of the pod suddenly opened up.
"Huh? That sure was convenient." I mused.
I looked around the room and found a young lady sitting on a chair pulled up near the med pod. She apparently fell asleep while she sat. Her dainty hands demurely laid upon each other on top of her skirt.
Her raven black hair, which flowed down near her waist, was a little disheveled. Her pretty, angelic face was wan and pale. Her closed eyes looked puffy from all the crying she undoubtedly did while I was unconscious.
Looking at her miserable state caused my chest to tighten in sadness and worry. But, apart from that, there were some complicated emotions as well. I felt conflicted. Just how should I face her from now on?
Her eyes suddenly fluttered awake. Her gaze locked with mine for what seemed like an eternity.
She then flung herself towards me and hugged me. Tears spilled out from her eyes once more.
"Ryuu! Ryuu! You idiot! I thought... I thought you were going to leave me behind too! Why? Just why did you...?!"
She wailed and covered my hospital gown with tears and snot. Oh man. She was usually so prim and composed. She's acting worse than when our parents died. Seeing her act like this made me feel both sorry and a bit amused.
"There, there. C'mon Rin. I'm fine now. Don't cry so much. You'll ruin your good looks." I comforted.
"Bastard! Who do you think was responsible for all this huh?! What were you even thinking? First, you dropped out of school. Then, you suddenly enlist in the military. Next thing I knew, you're hospitalized and looked like you were nearly dead!" she cried out indignantly as she clung to me.
"Do you have any idea about what you put me through, huh?! We just lost mom and dad, and now it looks like you're rushing to an early grave too! What was I supposed to do if you died, huh?! You're always like this! Do you ever even think about how I feel?!" she continued.
I put more strength in hugging her back.
"I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I should've discussed things properly with you first Rin." I admitted in apology.
The young lady, "my" little sister, Rin Creed, snuggled closer to me and replied while holding back her sobs.
"I know all this has something to do with what happened on that day. But, are things really that serious? Didn't you have any other choice besides agreeing to enlist in the military?" she inquired.
"Yeah." I nodded gravely. "I suppose I owe you a thorough explanation. Let's start with that, okay? I need to sort out my thoughts too." I added. Rin nodded in agreement.
Well then. I suppose I should start making sense of this mess now. I need to sort out a lot of things after all.
About how I got into a series of life threatening situations that ultimately ended up landing me in a Confederation military hospital, despite believing myself to be just your average senior high student just a few days back.
And about how "I", erstwhile village guard Myst Evrard, seemingly ended up transmigrating into the body of my "current self", former senior high student and now fresh military recruit and pirate raid survivor, Ryuu Creed.
Oh boy. This is gonna take awhile.
|
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_Planet Caldinus I / Caldinus Interplanetary Army Base / Front Gate
I opened my mouth wide and let out a large yawn.
"Are you really okay now Ryuu? You still look like you need some more rest." Rin, who stood beside me, asked in concern.
"Yeah. I'm alright now. Just a little sleepy." I gave her a placating smile and replied.
To be fair, when I saw my face in the mirror earlier today, it really looked like I was still in bad shape. The face which stared back at me on the other side of the mirror looked strikingly similar to my face as 'Myst', which gave me a surprise. The only difference was the hair color. My current one was jet black, while my hair as 'Myst' was a light shade of brown, just like my father's in 'that world'.
My eyes were a little bloodshot and my cheeks were gaunt and pale. The doctors only permitted the discharge because I vehemently insisted.
I knew that the only way for me to rest easy and get some proper sleep was to finally get some answers. What happened just three nights ago really shook me and kept me on edge all this time. It was bugging me a lot. I waited for it to happen again, but there was no such luck these past few days.
Uncle Hal said the person who knew the details about me was the acting director of the 353rd Experimental Tactical Armored Division. Maybe that person could also shed some light on the 'Dive' I experienced that night. So I insisted on being discharged in order to come to the base soon as possible.
Rin looked at me skeptically, but relented in the end. She let out a small sigh and grabbed my arm. She then snuggled close.
"If you say so Ryuu. But if there's anything bothering you, please tell me about it. Stop trying to take them all on by yourself. Maybe I can help a bit. We're family you know." she coaxed and gave me a sweet smile in return.
My own smile widened into a toothy grin. Honestly, why are my little sisters so damn awesome? I reached out my free hand and ruffled her silky hair. She cheerfully giggled and snuggled even closer.
"—Ahem."
An awkward sounding cough snapped us out of our earlier state. It was the gate guard we passed our I.D.s to for verification. Rin hastily let go of me while blushing furiously. I scratched my cheek in embarrassment as well. We then turned towards him.
The guard, a relatively young looking officer, beamed at the both of us with a good natured grin of his own. "Hehe. Sorry to ruin the moment guys. Here's your I.D.s back. We've finished verification. You can both enter now. Someone's already waiting for you guys inside."
"Thank you sir." the both of us replied. The young guard waved it off and gestured for us to enter. We passed the gate and finally entered the grounds of Caldinus Base.
It didn't have a spartan feel like that of a frontline base. It was instead quite spacious and had plenty of greenery. From a distance, we saw some soldiers performing standard drills, while some were jogging around the paved roads, which looked well maintained. The air was fresh and the scenery was beautiful. As expected of the main operations base which handled the mandatory reservist training of young yet already rich and famous people.
"Hey there, guys! You two finally made it." a cheery male voice called out. We turned towards the pedestrian walkway on the side of the road, and found a tall, handsome looking young officer waving energetically at the both of us.
His silky, platinum blonde hair was neatly cut, and framed his features well. His build was slender, but it radiated strength befitting that of a soldier on active duty. He had a friendly atmosphere about him and sported a disarming smile; no doubt a potent weapon for flooring the ladies. In short, he was an honest to goodness pretty boy.
He quickly approached us and gave a hearty salute. "Lieutenant Rhames Avery, at your service guys!" he casually greeted.
Gah! What the heck?! It might be just me hallucinating, but did shiny sparkles just suddenly appear behind him?
Rin and I were both stunned into inaction for a few seconds, but quickly composed ourselves and offered salutes of our own. Man, this guy's the real deal. Good thing Rin wasn't taken in by that Casanova smile of his.
"C'mon guys. No need to be so uptight. At ease. At ease." Lieutenant Avery implored.
"Um, pardon me for asking Lieutenant; but are you an officer affiliated with the 353rd?" I inquired.
Lieutenant Avery nodded slightly. "You could say that. I'm technically just the Director's go-fer though."
His answer raised my curiosity. "Go-fer?" I prodded.
"Ah, y'know. Assistant. Helper. Go-to-guy. Basically, I'm her loyal henchman number one." he nonchalantly replied.
"Assistant?" Rin chimed in.
"Yep." Lieutenant Avery nodded once more. "It's like serving as her adjutant. But our Director's a civilian through and through, so my rank doesn't really matter all that much." he added.
So the Director's a civilian huh? And Lieutenant Avery kept referring to the Director as 'her'. That means the Director's actually a lady. That sure is interesting.
"Well, no use standing around here. Why don't we go on ahead to the Admin Building, where her office is. I'll guide you two." Lieutenant Avery offered. Rin and I both nodded in agreement and followed after him.
***
"Umm... Lieutenant Avery?" I called out a little hesitantly.
"Hm? What is it?"
"This IS a military base right?" I asked.
"Uhuh. It sure is. It's one of the bases forming an interrelated defense network for the Central Caldinus Space Sector, to be exact. What's the matter?" Lt. Avery asked back.
"Oh, well... I was just curious why a lot of the trainees here are doing activities that are so... uh... relaxed."
We've seen several groups of trainees and soldiers as we walked around. The soldiers were doing some proper drills at least, but most of the trainees were either just performing rather drab activities like sweeping the grounds or outright lazing about without a care.
Lt. Avery guffawed at my question. "Relaxed, huh? Haha. Well, let me ask you this instead. Are you familiar with the history of Caldinus Base?"
"All I know is that it's a base famous for handling the mandatory reservist training of celebrities and rich kids." I answered.
"Right. But don't you wonder exacly why that's the case? Well, you see, this place was actually built as a result of a compromise between the traditionalists and the reformists in the Confederation's upper ranks." Lt. Avery began to explain. "You've learned about how the Confederation was formed at school, right?" he then asked. Rin and I both nodded in reply.
"The Confederation was formed after some outer Sectors originally belonging to the Emperium asserted their independence as a recourse to the Emperium's — I quote — 'borderline despotic rule'. A lot of the smaller interplanetary nations in danger of being annexed because of the Emperium's expansionist policies ended up joining in; thus creating the current Solaris Confederation."
"The tradition of having a mandatory reservist training program was actually carried over from the days when most of the Sectors of the Confederation were still under the Emperium. Some felt that it was a good program to continue, especially during the first few decades of the Confederation's inception, when tensions with the Emperium were at their peak."
"The program proved its usefulness during the Independence War back in C.C.E. 76. The Confederation troops were bolstered by the reservist corps and allowed it to withstand the attempts of the Emperium to annex back Confederation held Sectors."
Rin and I listened intently to the impromptu lecture. Some of the trainees noticed our group and tried to approach — no doubt eyeing Rin — but held back after seeing Lt. Avery walking with us. It was a curious reaction.
"Now here's the thing." Lt. Avery continued explaining. "It's been more than a couple decades since the Independence War ended. The Emperium has been lying low as of late, and the Confederation has managed to bolster its military capabilities by a great deal in the last few years. Some groups proposed that the reservist training program has run its due course, and it was now time to consider discontinuing it. Their proposed reforms don't just apply to the reservist training program, but all other existing programs and traditions which originally hailed from the Emperium."
"Really? That's news to me." I quipped. Lt. Avery flashed us another one of his killer smiles.
"That's because the traditionalists managed to keep the movement down in the end. But they still had to compromise. Some of the reformists were really powerful and influential individuals or groups within the Confederation after all. Thus, Caldinus Base was founded."
"This became the place where the reformists would send their people to undergo 'modern training programs specially tailored for a new generation of young leaders'. That basically means they get to do whatever the hell they want, and the military will turn a blind eye, just as long as the reformists get off their case."
"So that means..."
"Yep. This place is a military base only in name. It's a glorified school camp. It does have military officers stationed to run it, but a lot of these guys are delinquent soldiers reassigned here to 'get some time off in order to cool their heads'. It's a diplomatic way of telling them to consider an early retirement. When you get assigned here, you basically bid farewell to any chance of ever being promoted after all; unless someone else pulls the strings for you of course."
"Ah..." I gasped. I suddenly remembered the thing Marco Ramirez told me before the 'pirates' attacked.
'It's a place which can either be heaven or hell, depending on the type of person who's joining.'
'So that's it. So that doesn't just apply to the 353rd, but Caldinus Base as a whole.' I inwardly thought. I recounted my conversation with my late friend with Lt. Avery. He gave a quick thumbs up after hearing about it.
"That's it in a nutshell. Diligent honor students who just happened to earn the ire of some people up top and ended up getting assigned here would find the experience rather grueling in some way. Especially those who hold some ambitions. This place is stagnant water after all. As for those who could care less about advancing their career in the military and just want to mooch around while using up the people's hard earned taxes, this place is heaven; like some relatives of bigshot officers and politicians for example. Thus, it earned this particularly apt moniker among those in the know: The Slackers' Paradise."
"Geh. Sounds sleazy as hell." I commented. Lt. Avery just laughed it off.
"But after that recent major incident, there have been some heated debates among the top brass about how exactly this interplanetary base network should be run. They're still busy playing the blame game though, so you won't be seeing any changes in the system in the short term." he added.
"You mean—"
"Yep. The pirate attack on the Kestrel. Grisly stuff. There were no survivors after all."
"Huh? But—"
"There were no survivors Mr. Creed. And, for the record, you arrived at Caldinus I a day before that incident took place, on a different transport cruiser. You were hospitalized due to severe stomach pain you got from food poisoning due to the meal you ate at the cruisers mess hall. All the involved personnel have already been discharged." Lt. Avery insisted while sporting his trademark smile. It seemed there was no room for saying otherwise, so I just nodded in understanding.
Speaking of the Kestrel though—
"But why did the other trainees give me these weird looks when I mentioned I was getting assigned to the 353rd back in..."
Lt. Avery suddenly gave me a warning glare. I hurriedly corrected myself.
"...back in the transit station. Judging from your story sir, this whole place is a haven for those who either just want to slack off or have no choice in the matter. We were all in the same boat, so what's with their reactions?" I inquired. Those looks bugged me back then after all.
"Hm. Well, that just goes to show that even in a place filled with oddballs like Caldinus Base, there's an even greater group of oddballs lurking." he answered vaguely while making a suggestive grin.
Ugh. What's with all the mystery? I became somewhat more uneasy. I glanced at Rin, and found her more composed than I was. She looked at me with upturned eyes and smiled sweetly. As expected of my little sister. I fought the urge to give her a hug and continued to follow after Lt. Avery.
***
"Here we are then." Lt. Avery said as he gestured towards a large modern building draped in blue, white and gold — the standard colors of the Confederation. We were then brought up to the third floor and guided in front of a large ornate wooden door situated on the far back of the left wing.
"Woah..." I gaped.
"Amazing huh. The Director has a preference for this stuff. She even has a villa on Fluvia IV built mostly with organic wood and other natural materials." Lt. Avery informed. "Go ahead and enter then. She's been waiting for you for quite some time now. Oh, and before I forget—"
He went in front of Rin and gestured to the side. "Please follow me to the Guest Reception room Ms. Creed. The Director specified that she would be meeting with Mr. Creed alone today."
Rin's pretty features morphed into a scowl after hearing Lt. Avery. She was just about to tell him off when I moved to stop her.
"Can you follow the Lieutenant for now Rin? I wanna go in alone after all." I implored.
Rin angrily turned towards me. "What do you mean you wanna enter alone?! I thought I made it clear to you already. I don't want you keeping things from me anymore. If you're in trouble, then we'll face it together!" she complained in a fit.
"It's not that Rin. I promise I'll tell you all about it later. Just humor your dork of a brother for now, kay? I won't keep any secrets from you anymore. Just... give me a bit of time first. Alright?" I coaxed. Rin stared hard at me for a couple more seconds, but gave up in the end.
"Fine. But I want to hear all the details later okay. You have to consider how I feel as well Ryuu. You nearly died you know. I was really scared when I saw you lying weakly in that med pod. I didn't even have a clue about what happened. It was the same with mom and dad. I didn't know a thing, and all I could do was watch as everything came crumbling down around me. I don't want to feel that helpless ever again. Okay, Ryuu?"
I nodded and gave her a tight hug. She squeezed in return and let go after a few moments. She then followed Lt. Avery while occasionally looking back, with worry evident on her expression. I smiled to reassure her.
I watched as the two of them disappeared around the corner. I then turned towards the ornate doors, pushed them apart and entered the room. The ambiance within was unexpectedly subdued. Blue and white hues were predominant. It only had a few furnishings inside — some potted ornamental plants on the corners, a leather sofa for receiving guests, a wooden display cabinet which housed a few assorted trinkets and a small collection of rare paperback books placed on the shelves below, and a large wooden desk in the center with two chairs in front. The name plaque on top of the desk read 'Prof. Selena Vaughn Elmeth'.
My eyes opened wide in surprise after reading the name. They were then pulled towards an elegant figure standing near the reinforced glass window, with her back facing towards me. Her lithe silhouette was really mesmerizing. I found it extremely hard to look away and audibly gulped.
The figure stirred and slowly turned around. What greeted my gaze was an incredibly beautiful image: long, ocean blue hair which smoothly flowed down to her back, creamy complexion with a pinkish glow, limpid eyes akin to bright rubies and moist lips curved into a reserved smile.
I was stunned speechless. This amazingly bewitching woman in front of me was exceedingly famous. She was often described to possess a beauty which could topple countries by various media. I've also seen some photos of her in e-magazine articles and videos showing glimpses of her in the evening news. But the impact of seeing her in person was so much greater — so great that it left me completely awestruck.
I then inwardly clicked my tongue. "Damn! That Slaine Reese Elmeth sure is one lucky dog!" I quietly muttered. I was suddenly filled with jealousy towards the man claimed to be the most wealthy tycoon in the entire Confederation. Good looks, more money than he could spend in several lifetimes and an absolute goddess for a wife. Some guys have all the luck...
"I see you're already here. Welcome to Caldinus Base, Mr. Ryuu Creed. I'm Selena Vaughn Elmeth. I assume you've already heard of me?" the perfect apparition spoke with a sweet, lilting voice. I barely managed to nod in reply.
She giggled at my reaction — obviously amused. It was akin to the tinkling of tiny bells. "Come now, Mr. Creed. There's no need to be that exaggerated. Here, sit. Let's begin our talk." she invited and gestured at one of the seats in front of her desk.
I seated myself nervously in front of her. She then began to inspect me with those deep, ruby eyes of hers. I can't see myself in a mirror right now, but I'm willing to bet I'm blushing up to my ears.
"Hm. You really do resemble Natsume quite a bit."
"You knew my mother?" I asked in surprise.
"Of course. We go a long way back. We were even classmates once." Mrs. Elmeth answered.
"Really?"
Wow. To think my mother knew such a bigshot.
"Really. I'm truly sorry about your loss though. Your parents were such wonderful people. They loved you very much."
I quieted down after she mentioned the deaths of my parents in 'this world'. That fact actually hadn't sunk in for the current 'me' just yet. 'I' had inherited Ryuu's memories and feelings, but I also held Myst's within 'me'. My parents in 'that world' are presumably doing fine, but my parents in 'this one' had already died. This gave rise to some complicated feelings for the 'current me'. I only managed a curt "Yeah." in reply.
"I'm sure you must be feeling a little lost right now. After all, you also have Mister and Mrs. Evrard as parents back in the main time stream."
I jolted from my seat in shock. "H- How'd you—"
"Relax, Mr. Creed. I know plenty more about your other self: Myst Evrard. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Lucian and Melissa Evrard of Lindorf Border Village. Childhood friends with the Demon Slaying Hero, Vance Rayleigh and the current Sovereign Queen of Vandel Kingdom, Felise Altasia Vandel I. Served in the Galendris Militia Corps during the Demon War and played a pivotal role in stopping the demon offensive on Blakewood Pass, preventing a planned pincer attack on the Alliance forces then camped at the Falwynd Plains."
Her ruby eyes gazed straight at me, fixing me in place. I shivered in confusion and anxiety. Just how does she know all of this?
"You were listed as one of the casualties in that battle, but unexpectedly returned to Lindorf a few days after. Your merits were never reported, and you remained relatively unknown; serving as a simple village guard and local guide instead."
"I- But- I wasn't- T- Those guys were the ones who were the r- real heroes. I only survived because they covered for me... I really don't deserve—"
My head was in an utter mess. I tried to reply but stammered too much and failed to say anything coherent.
Mrs. Elmeth sighed in exasperation. "You really are such a troublesome young idiot, just as described," she playfully admonished. "Don't worry. I'll try to clarify all your doubts as best I could. To start with, how about I introduce myself properly first?"
Her smile deepened and turned even more mesmerizing.
"You know me as Selena Vaughn Elmeth in this sub-temporal bubble. But in the main time stream, I went by another name: Lyanna Sirius — The Azure Calamity."
"Huh?! But that's—"
Her smile then suddenly got infused by hints of savagery and majestic bearing.
"That's right. Before Myrddin Sirius rose to the Crimson Throne and started the war, I was the one who led the Unblessed. Lyanna Sirius — a former 'Demon King'."
|
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|
_West Verne Expressway / Inside CIB Custom Hover-Van
'Oh shiiit!!!' I inwardly screamed in panic.
Those are 2nd Gen. Tactical Frames - TMU-55 'Grisham'. They were widely used by the military a few years back, and are now popular with mercenary outfits and other more unsavory groups - such as space pirates - due to their proliferation in the black market, ease of use, simple maintenance procedures and relatively cheap cost.
They're also very versatile - with lots of modded variants littering even the most remote corners of the known galaxy.
How do I know all this? We had several stripped down units of the same model serving as training mechs for our mandatory military drills after classes back at 4th High. Our drill instructor gave us an introductory primer on the things.
But that's not important right now dammit! Those chasing us certainly don't look like stripped down, barebones units at all! They may be cheap, but they're still deadly. Very much so.
How'd they manage to sneak those things inside the city anyway?
Oh, wait...
I didn't notice earlier because of all the commotion, but we've already exited Grigwald and entered Verne Expressway. They must've been standing by outside, and mobilized once we got out of the city.
I turned towards the two other people with me, hoping they would have some form of countermeasures for this situation. They're part of the CIB after all.
"Hey, Nightingale. Think you can take some of those out?" Uncle Hal turned his head towards us and asked the lady, whom he addressed as Nightingale, with a daring smirk on his face.
"And leave Gibbs with no work to do?" Nightingale retorted. Uncle Hal just continued to smirk at her silently.
Uncle, I know you're trying to act cool and all, but could you please keep your eyes on the road?! You'll end up getting us done in via car accident instead of mech assault at this rate y'know!
"Oh, alright. Whatever. I suppose the guy does deserve a break once in a while. Give me a few minutes Chief." Nightingale threw up her hands and relented. She then gently tapped the bottom of the vehicle with her foot.
"This thing's the one equipped with the mini high density Genion cannon right?" she inquired.
"Yep. Fully armed and ready to rip out some holes." Uncle nodded and gave a rather dangerous sounding reply.
Nightingale made a predatory grin. Her violent aura made my body go all stiff. She then turned towards me.
"Ryuu-ryuu, could you be a dear and move to the front seat please? Big sis needs to swat some bothersome pests down." she said in a calm, sweet sounding voice.
I nodded in a mechanical manner, even forgetting to protest about her using that embarrassing nickname, and hurriedly clambered to the van's front seat.
Once I settled myself, Uncle inputted some commands on the control panel of the vehicle, raising a fluid alloy partition which completely closed off the front part of the van.
Before the barrier finished going up, I managed to catch a glimpse of what was happening at the back of the vehicle.
The interior was surprisingly transforming in an incredible way, and Nightingale's body was fast being covered by overlapping metallic plates.
"What the heck is that?" I muttered.
***
Her blood was boiling in excitement.
Assignments like this were hard to come by, and she'd already decided to savor every moment of it.
Ever since she'd quit the mercenary life and got recruited into the CIB, this was the first time she's managed to feel the tension of a real battlefield once more. Of course she wouldn't pass up such a delicious opportunity.
She was just putting up a front earlier, in an attempt to change the impression her Chief had on her, if only a tiny bit.
The guy was a total blockhead. She'd already made it abundantly clear that she'd joined the Bureau only because of him. But he's kept avoiding the issue whenever she brings it up.
Oh well. He'll be hers eventually anyway. It's only a matter of time.
"First things first, I suppose." the young woman code named 'Nightingale' sighed.
Her Active Nano-Suit EX-Frame just finished deploying, covering her from head to foot in an extremely tough, yet flexible material made up of countless nanomachines. It also multiplied her strength by a large factor, making her fully capable of ripping up military grade composite armor to shreds.
She initiated a quick systems check, and then made her way to the gleaming weapon which was now jutting out from the back of the vehicle.
It was a prototype miniaturized high density Genion cannon developed for army use. Her Chief managed to procure one through his connections with the military, and it was given to the CIB under the pretext of testing its viability in urban environments - which was total bullshit, of course.
Who in their right mind would fire off a weapon capable of large scale destruction in an urban area anyway, right? No one would. Well, except for terrorists, maybe.
Anyway, who cares about the particulars. What's important is that she now has the opportunity to play with this new toy. She primed it and prepared to fire.
Her smile, covered by the suit, widened. It was the smile of an apex predator.
And now, it was time to hunt.
***
"Sir, something's coming out from the back of the vehicle. Seems to be some sort of mobile artillery emplacement." the crisp voice of a young man said through the open channel of the mech's comms.
"I see it Ghost 3. Stay alert. We don't know how much of a punch that thing packs." replied the pilot of the lead unit of the Grisham mechs.
It was a guy who wouldn't have had any trouble playing the part of an average salaryman. In fact, that was exactly what he was up until a few weeks ago, when the order for mobilization had arrived.
He clicked his tongue in annoyance. They wouldn't have this much trouble if they weren't told to capture the target alive. But, orders were orders. And, as a soldier, he had to execute them as perfectly as possible.
"Begin attack. Fire the EMP grenades. Incapacitate and capture them. Central wouldn't mind if we're a little rough, just as long as the target is brought back in one piece." he commanded.
The weapons of the mechs then roared to life. EMP grenades flew in an arc and detonated on top of the vehicle, stopping it cold. Their rifles then rained ammo down on the pavement, destroying the patch of road surrounding the vehicle, effectively keeping it in check.
The three mechs then engaged their boosters and speedily closed in, firing all the while. But they still remained vigilant. A cornered animal bites the hardest - as the saying goes.
Without warning, a crimson flash suddenly tore through the air from within the billowing smoke and debris. It hit one of the approaching mechs dead on, but got blocked off by its energy barrier.
"Ghost 3! Everything alright?" the leader asked.
"I'm okay sir. Barrier stopped it just fi—"
Before the other pilot could finish his reply, another six flashes fired out. Three hit the barrier with pin point accuracy - in the exact same spot where the first shot had landed - and cancelled it out. Another three hit the cockpit, completely eating through the composite armor and incinerating the pilot within.
"GHOST 3!" the leader screamed, caught unprepared for what had just happened. Their barriers could usually stop a full minute of continuous pulse cannon barrage. Just what the hell was that weapon?!
He forced himself to calm down and relayed more orders. "Spread out! Don't let them get a lock. Immediately activate your boosters once you confirm visual. Don't give them time to aim!" he roared through the comms.
"Damn! We wouldn't have to stake our lives like this if we could just destroy them directly! What's so important about that kid anyway?!" he spat angrily.
He hurriedly approached their target. They had the advantage in mobility anyway, so everything would be settled once they managed to close in.
Or so he thought.
A figure appeared in front of them.
It was a lithe, silver humanoid silhouette, carrying the large artillery battery over its left shoulder, completely treating it as if it were weightless.
It then dashed towards them with incredible speed.
And their nightmare began.
|
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"Hey young'un! Stop your daydreaming and take up your post. Something tells me it's gonna be quite busy today."
An aged voice snapped me out of my trip to memory lane.
Mr. Len Reynolds is the longest serving active village guard in Lindorf. He still refuses to retire even at the ripe old age of sixty five. He also had this weird rivalry with grampa Galvan back when he was still in the village. They once entered a honeyed bread eating contest during one of our annual spring festivals. It didn't end pretty...
"I told you to stop spacing out and get into your post you blasted youngster. That old fogey Galvan didn't teach you nuthin bout discipline! I'll whip you nice and proper and turn you into a respectable adult yet. That'll show that geezer... Quitting while he's ahead... The old fool..."
I couldn't help but smile at his remarks. Regardless of how they treated each other outwardly, I guess gramps and Mr. Reynolds could still be counted as friends. And he wasn't exactly the picture of youth himself. Though his enthusiasm could put all of us youngsters to shame.
As soon as I stationed myself on the guard booth just outside the village gate, the sound of hooves trotting resounded from the road.
"Hello again lad. It's nice to be back out here after so long. Sure beats lazing around in a dreary office all day. Wahahaha!"
The lively greeting came from a tall, portly man sporting a rather distinct beard. He's Milton Pavel, the founder of the Pavel trading firm and a long time family friend. He was leading a large caravan filled with merchandise, presumably on his way to Almadeus for trade.
"Hello uncle Milton. I thought you're already relegated to administrative duties. Don't tell me you ran away from Matilda again." I greeted back.
"Pah! That ungrateful daughter of mine. I keep telling her life cooped up in one place just isn't for me. But she just wont listen. That stubborn lass. Takes after her mother too much I tell ya!" uncle Milton complained.
Matilda Pavel was uncle's eldest daughter and his most talented protege. Uncle planned to hand over the firm to whoever displayed most talent to make business flourish from among his associates. Blood ties were meaningless.
But his own daughter blew past all the competition and led the firm to its most prosperous period yet since its founding. Uncle may say otherwise, but deep inside, I know he's very proud of her.
My mood dampened somewhat after thinking of the lively young woman with an uncanny eye for prime opportunities and possessed decisiveness and nerves that rivaled even the most seasoned merchants in the continent.
"So different from me..." I muttered.
"What's wrong lad? You look out of it." uncle Milton asked. I shook my head and fixed my downcast expression.
"It's nothing uncle. Anyway, you're quite early this time. The Lumia festival's still next month. Why'd you bring so many wagons with you?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Oh, those eh? Well, they're for transport. I've been commissioned to buy a large amount of goods from Almadeus by the kingdom." uncle Milton answered readily.
"Must be a huge deal." I remarked in an amazed tone.
"Well, yes... You could say that." uncle replied with a little less enthusiasm in his voice.
"Hey idiot! Stop holding us up and clear the way. We're in a hurry here. We need to buy those souvenirs for the royal wedding pronto!" a young boy shouted impatiently. The boy, Milo Pavel, was uncle's only son, and also his youngest child.
He was as impertinent as ever. But getting annoyed with him was the thing furthest away from my thoughts right now. Something about what he said really bothered me.
"Uncle... What's he saying?..." I asked with a trembling voice. I desperately wanted to deny the possibility. I truly hoped I only heard wrong.
"Uh... Well... You see lad... The thing is..."
Uncle Milton couldn't give me a straight answer and started to beat around the bush. It made my chest tighten uncomfortably even more. Milo's next words drove it in with finality.
"I said we need to buy souvenirs for the royal wedding between the celebrated hero of the continent, Savior Vance Rayleigh and our beloved Queen Felise Altasia Vandel! A match made in heaven if I do say so myself." Milo quipped with a know-it-all attitude.
With that...
My heart sank.
***
Come to think of it, this outcome was pretty much expected.
Vance rapidly rose to fame as an adventurer and was granted the highest rank in the trade, the Overdragoon rank, at the young age of sixteen.
He then met up with Felise after getting caught up in a battle between the forces of the corrupt nobles and the royal family loyalists. He proceeded to lend his aid to her and became one of her most trusted aides.
When the war with the demons began, he rendered unrivaled feat after unrivaled feat, defeating a majority of the Demon Lord's most trusted generals in the field of battle.
When he finally defeated the Demon Lord, his name was already carved in history and became the stuff of legends. He was hailed as the greatest hero of our time.
He was even called things like "The Princess' Invincible Champion", "The Slayer of Evil", "The Holy Savior" and "The Sword of the Goddess".
I gathered those tidbits from the bards and acting troupes passing through Lindorf a while back.
It wouldn't be strange for the people to support the wedding of the great hero and his beloved queen. Unlike me, Vance was able to stay by her side and become her strength after all.
It makes so much sense in my head. But my heart refuses to accept it.
"Big bro..."
I looked up to see my little sister with a worried expression on her adorable face. I tried to smile to reassure her, but my face cramped up and the best I could manage was a broken grin.
Elaine pulled me towards her. She placed my head on her bossom as I leaned on her sideways. She then proceeded to stroke my hair gently.
Really now. To be comforted by my little sister of all things. Just how pathetic could I get?
I've cooped myself inside my room all day after I heard the news. I even ran away from work while being scolded by Mr. Reynolds earlier this morning. I couldn't manage to crack a smile or hold an amiable conversation even if I wanted to right now anyway.
It seems my little sister has already heard the news as well, so she headed to my room in worry. It was warm in her embrace. But this wasn't gonna last either.
She was going to head for the Almadeus Theocracy next month to enroll in Luminaris Magic Academy under a scholarship. Her talent in holy magic was extraordinary and the village priest recommended to nurture her gift. From what I was told, she held the potential to ascend to the position of Light Oracle. So, in the end I'll be left behind again.
Actually, I knew in my heart that part of why I'm in such a sorry state right now was caused by myself. I was just running away from that fact.
The door to my room was suddenly flung open.
"Mom!" Elaine exclaimed.
"Hello dear. How is your brother holding up?" my mother asked in a worried tone.
"Well... He's like this mom." Elaine replied and patted my head lightly.
"Oh, I see. Well then... Could I bother you to step outside for a little bit dear? I need to have a little heart to heart talk with your brother." mom instructed. Was it my imagination, or did I just hear her crack her knuckles?
Elaine went out obediently and left me alone with mom. If I had known what was to follow, I would have desperately clung to my little sister as I begged my mom for mercy. Alas, t'was already far too late for regrets.
"Well then dear... Time for a little bit of tough love." my mom declared with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
I broke into cold sweat and prepared for the worst.
***
I woke up the following morning somewhat feeling more at peace with myself despite my body aching all over. Mom really talked some sense into me last night.
I cried my heart out for the first time in years ever since two of the most important people in my life left our village for greater things, leaving me behind. Though I'm unclear how much of it was due to grief or to the pain and fear I was subjected to...
In any case, I've already resolved myself to go and see the two of them during the wedding. Uncle Milton actually had an invitation addressed to me but had a hard time thinking of how to break the news yesterday. He knew us since childhood so he did have an idea regarding our circumstances.
I'm thankful for his concern. Milo was just too blunt. Well, he's just a brat after all.
Anyway, seeing them would probably allow me to sort out my own feelings. But, more importantly, I want to properly apologize to the two of them.
For a lot of things.
Maybe after doing that, I can also begin forgiving myself.
***
The day of the wedding came quickly. I prepared to head out with a merchant caravan returning to the capital after selling their wares.
Mom and dad bade me a safe trip. Berry barked at me encouragingly. Elaine sent me a letter wishing me good luck. She was already on route to Almadeus but still went out of her way to send a letter via carrier pigeon.
My heart was light.
Lighter than it ever has been these past three years.
The coaches started heading out one by one a few moments later.
***
Before we reach the main road leading to the capital from Lindorf, we must first cross the Elmoore mountains.
It wasn't a hard journey, except for a particular section where we needed to navigate the cliff side. But the way was still relatively wide so the danger of falling was very low.
Or so we thought.
That assumption was overturned a few moments after we got halfway through the cliff.
A rock slide happened. Apparently, this section of the mountains had been subjected to heavy downpour last night. The soil was very moist and the area on top of the cliff had been cleared out of large trees due to unrestricted logging.
We were unfortunate enough to get caught up in it. Curse me and my rotten luck!
A mother was hysterically calling her young daughter's name. I was actually with said daughter. More specifically, I was holding on to her to prevent her from falling with my right hand and was holding on to a branch that stuck out from the side of the cliff with my left.
My arms were gradually getting tired. I glanced at the child below me. She looked at me with eyes filled with bottomless dread. I gritted my teeth in resolve.
I poured mana towards my limbs and activated bodily enhancement magic. It was one of the few magic techniques I was competent in. I concentrated the mana on my arms and threw the child back up with all my strength. She crashed right towards her mother who frantically embraced her.
Just as I was preparing to launch myself up as well, another accident happened. The branch broke.
Damn!
Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn!
This can't be happening!
It just can't.
Why is my life suddenly flashing before my eyes?
What kind of sick joke is this?
Why is life so unfair?
Even death is no better!
This is just too cruel.
I... I haven't even seen them again yet...
I still haven't managed to apologize...
My tears continued to stream out from my eyes and kept scattering in the air as I fell.
I let out an anguished howl.
There was unimaginable pain.
Then it all went black.
***
My body felt weightless. There was no sound present either. I couldn't even hear my own heart beat. But that was natural.
After all, I'm already dead.
Was this the netherworld?
"How fitting." I thought.
It was pitch black.
A black void.
A world of nothingness.
Or so I thought.
There was something there, releasing an ethereal glow. It came ever closer.
A glowing, steel giant.
"A guardian of the netherworld?" I thought.
My senses grew dull once more. I felt them slowly fading.
The giant gradually disappeared from my consciousness.
And there was darkness once more.
***
"Doctor! Doctor Chen!" a girl yelled frantically.
"What is it this time Nemu? I'm kind of busy doing autopsies on the bodies of the corpses right now. If it's another crew member getting space sick, just grab the meds right over there. Should make em right as rain in no time." a bespectacled middle aged man replied in a grumpy tone.
The girl shook her head vigorously.
"That's not it doctor. We found one. We found a survivor."
The man looked at her skeptically.
"Nonsense. There are signs indicating prolonged, intense genion particle exposure as cause of death for most of the subjects. Even if their ship managed to avoid total destruction, unrestricted exposure to the particle would have still shut down all bodily vital functions. Having survivors is impossible." the man denied.
The girl strode forward and cupped the man's cheeks with both her hands while pouting.
"WE! HAVE! VITALS! HE! REALLY! IS! ALIVE!" she asserted.
The man, cowed by the girl's forceful insistence, reluctantly followed after her to take a look.
His eyes opened as wide as saucers as soon as he saw the said survivor.
"My word... He truly is alive."
He turned to the girl with an incredulous expression.
"Nemu... It's a miracle!"
|
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"title": "I Left the World as Villager A, but Suddenly Became a Mecha Pilot. - Episode 1: Into the Rabbit Hole (Part 4/Myst) to",
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|
"I remember, I remember everything."
A strange calm swept over the young boy and his cloudy eyes regained their former focus.
"My name is Lowen."
(I was born in a land called Treia, a powerful kingdom with equally powerful foes.)
(I was a grand master of martial arts and ki manipulation and I was the personal protector of the King of Treia. Due to an unforeseen incident, that creature with the crimson eyes did something to my mind, my soul. With its power unmatched and its might untamed, there was nothing I could do, I couldn't even fight back before it was already too late and now I'm here. I'm alive, somehow stuck in the body of a six-year-old boy in the middle of nowhere. With no clue of what happened to my homeland, to my king but for some reason, I'm not that upset. When I was young I had no purpose, orphaned from a young age I only lived for survival. As I grew I found martial arts and studied with blood and sweat, all for the sole purpose of survival. I became a mercenary to survive and then a soldier to survive before I found myself fighting for a king, defending his kingdom. But with no family, no friends, for every day that I lived, survived, more dissatisfaction would grow within the pit of my stomach. Something was clearly missing, a void in my life, what was the point in just surviving? I felt that I almost found the answer to my existence, but in the end with no more time, like a puppet with cut strings, I died.)
As Lowen curled himself within the thick fur, a gust of wind blew through the back of the run-down wagon, sending chills up and down his spine, causing him to squeeze the fur wrapping himself tighter inside, like a snake around its prey.
(Shit, I'm still freezing. If I don't warm up soon, then I'll just end up dead again.)
Lowen began looking and rummaging around in the wagon and although there were some supplies and equipment, they were already quite limited but after the horse panicked and the wagon flipped over, what little items there were, almost all of them had been destroyed. What was left was quite disappointing. A bit of rope no more than 20 feet in length, a small knife with a blade of about 4 inches, 1 thick fur and 5 pounds of dried meat. It seems there was quite a bit more meat, but it had fallen out of the wagon, landing in some of the blood of one of the bandits. What could have been eaten before would most likely get you sick now, It was best to just leave it alone. The last two items were 2 unbroken clay pot jars, everything else had fallen outside in the snow and was unusable.
Peeking outside the wagon, Lowen could see the young boy's clothes, well, his clothes now. He could also see the boy's parents clothes but they were covered in blood and already completely frozen over. Lying a little further away, Lowen could see the bandit's swords, a bow with a few arrows in a quiver, and the young boy's fathers sword, the rest of the clothes had been on the bandit's bodies before they were dragged away into the forest.
Seeing no way to make a fire, a bit of dread swept over Lowen's face. He was running out of time; But suddenly, a thought flashed across his mind. In his previous life, he was a martial arts master; Not only that, but he had also mastered Ki manipulation. The power of ki was quite fantastic; With it, a person could do many miraculous things. Whether it was used to improve a users strength, increasing it to inhuman levels, or using it to lighten a persons body weight to that of a feather, in between that the possibilities were almost endless. One thing in particular that manipulating ki could do, was the ability to regulate most bodily functions. To control blood flow, force out toxins in the body, and recover faster were just some of the possibilities, but what Lowen planned to do was much simpler than that. With Ki, he could regulate his body's core temperature, pushing it up several degrees to maintain body heat.
With this thought in mind, Lowen quickly sat back down and crossed his legs getting into a meditative position. With the fur still wrapping him up nice and tight, Lowen slammed his eyes shut and began to breathe. Inhaling deeply and exhaling out nice and slow, again and again.
To gain the power of ki, the very first thing you need to do is to form a seed of ki within, a storage container for ki if you will. A source that can be tapped into, refined and refilled at any given moment. Without it, the Ki that enters your body will just flow around inside you, chaotically destroying your flesh, blood, and viscera. In order to form this seed, you must be able to control at least a small portion of your mind and soul, forming a bridge between them and then connecting them to your body. The most direct way to do so is to meditate and clear your mind of any useless thought or motion.
As Lowen meditated, the only thing he focused on was his breath, in and out, in and out, nice and slow, breathe....breathe....breathe. As he did, the world soon started to fade away. The howling wind of the great forest that once screamed in his ears began to whisper. The stabbing pain from the freezing cold no longer felt unbearable, but instead turned into a cool breeze. The thick smell of blood and guts simply turned into the smell of rusted metal. Inhale.......exhale...inhale.....exhale. Right now, the world was silent and Lowen's body no longer felt anything. Every sense was now a void of nothingness. The sky was nothing.... ..........the world was nothing...........the universe... was nothing.
* ba...bump................ba..bump......BA.BUMP BA BUMP BA BUMP*
* BOOOOOOM!*
Like a small explosion, a tiny wisp of ki began to swirl in the very core of Lowen. With the power of both his mind and soul, a tiny speck started to form and condense into the shape of a small seed. Finally, after several minutes, the mind and soul connected to Lowen's body and it was complete. Lowen had once again become a Ki manipulator.
*Phew*
Releasing a long breath, Lowen slowly opened his eyes, he couldn't help but feel relieved. If he couldn't find a way to control ki, then his death was all but guaranteed. Thankfully he was a master of ki in his previous life, otherwise, it would have taken much longer had he not know the secrets to ki.
Now that he had a ki seed, it was simple to fill it up with ki energy, especially something so small. For a master who has done it all before, it was as easy as turning his hand over. With a few focused breaths, the ki of the universe moved and this small seed in his core was filled to the brim with energy.
With a simple thought, Lowen began to circulate this small amount of Ki within his body but unfortunately, the amount came up short, only flowing a few inches away from his core, after that the energy entirely ran out.
So he began his long process of focusing himself. Absorbing ki and then circulating it through his body. Finally, after an hour, he had completed one full circulation from his core, through his entire body and then returning to the core. The significance of this was that every time he completed a circulation, the seed within his core would grow a fraction bigger. A bigger seed means more ki that a ki manipulator can contain and use, and more ki correlated to more power. However, growth wasn't unlimited, once it grew to a certain size you would have to refine it and break past your limits, becoming even more powerful; If you didn't, you would remain at the lowest end of the totem pole of power.
After completing his first full circulation of ki, Lowen could feel faint amounts of energy in every fiber of his being and with it, his entire body began to slowly heat up, bringing his body temperature to a survivable condition. As he continued to warm up, he sent more and more energy to his lower extremities, especially to his toes. Soon his toes returned to their regular color and his feeling quickly went from pain to pleasure. A wonderful warmth spread throughout him, almost as if he were suddenly dropped into a hot spring. He felt so comfortable and cozy he thought he would melt into his surroundings.
As this thought came to mind, the outside was not as compromising. As the freezing, howling wind turned into a frozen storm, the snow picked up and began to blanket the mountain, turning everything into a blinding white. The wind rushed like 1000 wild bulls as it tore through the forest, breaking branches and uprooting bushes left and right. While the outside storm raged on, Lowen's expression showed no thought or care, nor any concern to the outside. With his body nice and toasty and a completely exhausted mind, Lowen's eyes grew heavy and he slowly drifted off to sleep.
----------------------------------------------------
After two days the storm finally dissipated, clearing the skies and returning it to its original baby blue color. The forest returned to its original state and only a calm peace remained; It was at this time that a small hand broke through the surface of the snow.
As Lowen dug himself out, he stood on top of the wagon. The entire landscape rose up and became 2 to 3 feet taller due to the snow, but because of that, Lowen found it very difficult to locate any of the weapons from the bandits. Using his memory alone, he could only remember their general location. After a while of digging, he eventually located the bow along with its quiver, among which there were four intact arrows, then he found a bandit's sword, as well as his father's. Looking over his father's sword, there seemed to be a strange inscription with a name engraved, which read as [Toren]
Suddenly, another memory appeared in Lowen's mind. Toren was the last name of his father and mother from this world. His father's name was Ken Toren and his mother was called Lana Toren. Lowen's name in this world was Aiwa Toren. It seems some of the previous boy's memories were still inside of Lowen's mind, for example, he could read the letters and symbols on the sword, so it was clear he could understand the language somehow. Now whether or not he could speak the language was an entirely different situation altogether, but that wasn't all. He also knew the name of the kingdom he was in, it was called Rhylo and he knew the body he was in was that of a six-year-old boy, besides that though, there was a lot of little bits of information here and there in his mind.
For now, though, none of that was important. What was important was getting off this mountain and out of this forest, so first Lowen had to organize himself.
His equipment and supplies appeared like so.
Rope about 20 feet in length, a small knife with a blade of about 4 inches, 1 thick fur, 3 pounds of dried meat, 2 untouched clay pot jars, 1 average bow and a quiver with 4 regular arrows, 1 sword from a bandit nearly three feet in length with a weight of 2.5 pounds, as well as Lowen's family's sword. The length and width of his father's sword were the same, but the sharpness was far more outstanding. As a simple test, Lowen swung the bandit's sword at a tree with all his strength.
*Thwack*
The bandit's sword was no good, barely chipping off some bark and leaving a shallow scar on the tree only 1-3 centimeters deep; It was quite bad. With his family's sword, however, it was entirely different. With a powerful swing from his family sword, the damage of the blow was considerably deeper and reached almost 4 inches into the tree. This was without applying ki to his strength. If he were to do that, Lowen was sure he could cut this tree in half with one blow. This sword was something special.
Taking out the dagger, Lowen cut off about 2 feet of rope. Following that, he took that small piece and unbraided it until there were now 4 smaller pieces in front of him. Taking up the thick fur, he first cut it in half, then in one-half, he made two holes in the most convenient places and slid his arms into them. Wearing the fur like a vest that went all the way down to his ankles, he then took one of the small pieces of rope and tied it around his waist making a simple belt. He then filled one jar with the remaining dried meat and filled the other one with fresh snow. Using the dagger, he cut 2 more pieces off of the fur just big enough to cover the tops of the jars, as though they were drums. Taking 2 more pieces of the unbraided rope he tied the rope around the fur, covering the jars, affixing them snug and tight. With the last small piece of rope, he tied it to both of the jars, hanging it from his neck. He then took the two swords and laid them in the remaining fur with the handles sticking out. He then wrapped them up like one would a blanket. With the last of the rope, Lowen tied it around the fur and strapped it over his shoulder and with the bow and quiver, he slung them over his other shoulder, with this he was ready to go.
|
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|
"No!...PLEASE...NO"
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh"
(My mind.....it... it burns.)
"Gyahhh!"
As an intense scorching pain unlike any other burrowed into the deep recesses of my mind, the last thing I saw were those glowing crimson eyes coming from within the black warped void, after that, nothing.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Somewhere in the middle of a mountainous forest, draped in a pure white powdered snow, 3 men were digging a few shallow graves.
As the wind picked up it began to howl through the leaves of the tall trees and thick bushes scattered among the forest. The piercingly cold wind stabbed at the men's uncovered faces, stinging their eyes and nipping at their ears. The pain from the cold at first was bearable but now after several minutes of being exposed each of the men could feel their limbs quickly becoming numb.
"We need to hurry up I'm starting to lose feeling in my fingers. If we don't finish soon I'll probably lose them to the cold."
"Don't you think I know that? it's not my fault they put up so much of a fight."
"I know I know, I'm just saying, I don't wanna attract anything dangerous so we need to hurry."
"So why don't we just leave then? who cares if we bury em or not?"
"You know exactly why. The last thing we need is for an animal to eat one of these corpses and become a magical beast, if that happens then we're all screwed."
Beneath the men's feet, there were three bodies lying naked and exposed covered in blood and dirt. Each one stripped down for their valuables leaving nothing left. One man dead, one woman dead and one child.....dead. A few feet away stood a smaller than average horse and attached behind it was an old rugged covered wagon. The three men digging the graves were bandits, they had been on their way to god knows where when an easy target appeared.
A small worn out wagon being driven by a young man drew a path towards them. It seemed that the young man had lost his way and so he was asking the three men for directions when suddenly they attacked him. With an opportunity like this just falling into their laps they just couldn't resist and although it was a surprise attack, the young man wasn't too bad a fighter and fought the men for several minutes before finally being overwhelmed. Afterward, they discovered the woman and the boy cowering under a thick fur in the back of the wagon, seeing the pair, the bandits obviously couldn't leave any witnesses.
"Tch, not much we can sell."
"Well, at least the guy's sword is pretty decent, it should get us 10 or 11 silvers, it's not bad."
One of the bandits quickly became excited thinking about the future possibilities.
"11 silvers! We could live for a few months off of that, that's plenty of meat and wine if we spend it well."
However, the other bandit's thoughts were elsewhere.
"Forget that I'm gonna hit the brothel, for that kinda money that's at least three high-class whores and some wine or maybe one that's a real beauty, hahaha."
The three men broke out in laughter feeling absolutely no remorse for the brutal crime they just committed, their morals all but gone long ago.
With the wind scrapping their exposed flesh, the three men snapped out of their fantasies.
"Cmon, let's finish this."
With only one shovel that they took from the wagon, the men buried one body after the other. One shoveled while the other two were forced to use the end of their swords making them work harder as well as take longer, they soon began to cover the last one.
Suddenly they heard a terrifying ghoulish scream.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
It was the most horrible shrieking scream they had ever heard in their entire lives. Sounding a hundred no a thousand times more wretched than a pig being slaughtered. The three men were shocked and their faces instantly became pale, not just because of the scream itself but from where it was coming from.
Right in front of them, in the last grave they had almost filled in. The young boy they had almost entirely covered in dirt and snow, the young boy they had just killed by strangling, was suddenly releasing the most horrid scream in the world. All three felt a prickling on their skin as the hairs on their necks stood up one by one. After what seemed like forever, the ghoulish screaming finally came to an abrupt stop.
"Ki...Kill Him!"
"I...I already did, how?"
"It doesn't matter just kill em!"
Hearing his friend yell at him snapped him out of it and he quickly went to finish the boy off. Raising his sword above his head ready to strike, it was at this moment that another surprise happened.
"AAAAAAOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLL."
A wolfs howl echoed throughout the forest.
Hearing this noise the three men froze on the spot and exchanged horrified glances with each other. Panic appeared on each one of their faces, they knew exactly what that noise meant.
Wolves always moved in packs of at least 15 deep and they were always lead by an alpha. A single adult wolf would grow between 145 to 165 pounds with a length of 5-7 feet and a height of 4 feet. A fully grown man with no training would not survive an attack from a single wolf. A bandit with some training wouldn't fare much better, maybe they could take 1 or 2 but an alpha was an entirely different thing altogether. An average alphas weight was easily 4-5 times bigger. An 800-pound wolf is already a monster requiring a group of skilled soldiers with heavy armor and powerful weapons and usually, a Mage would provide support, but even that wouldn't guarantee their victory, let alone these three bandits.
Looking at the situation there was no time to hesitate.
"Forget the boy, it's time to go now."
The men quickly ran towards the wagon hoping to flee before the wolves arrival, they knew if they didn't leave in time then they wouldn't leave at all, they'd simply be a meal for the beast. But before they could even reach the edge of the wagon the brush could be heard being stirred up. Immediately after, several wolves leaped out, pouncing on the horse as well as one of the bandits.
Something had attracted them here, whether it was because of the boy's screams or because of all the blood from earlier, it didn't matter at this point, the only thing that mattered was survival.
The man that was pounced upon immediately had his throat ripped out killing him instantly. The wolfs attack had just happened too suddenly, there just wasn't any time to defend himself and so like a flame to a candle, his life was extinguished.
Three wolves had already torn into the horse ripping into it as though its flesh was made of paper, easily rending its meat from the bone. The horse's cries were terrible and in a panic, the horse tried to kick them off causing the wagon to overturn in the snow. With the weight of the wagon being so heavy and now unbalanced, it dragged the horse to the ground causing the wolves to finish the horse off even faster. Seeing their friend, as well as the horse dying almost instantly, the two bandits turned a complete 180 in the opposite direction to flee. Running towards the graves, the two bandits noticed something amiss. The young boy was no longer there.
Looking around, one of the bandits spotted the boy up a tree, surprised, the bandit nearly fainted. The boy they had just killed moments ago was now alive and up in a tree all before the bandit could even tell what was what. But the bandit had no time to understand nor care in this type of situation, the only concern he had was survival. Looking around, the bandits were quickly being encircled by the wolves, it was now clear as day, there was no chance of running away. The last two bandits took defenses stances. With their swords drawn, the two knew they were in a terribly desperate situation.
"We can't run and we can't fight either."
Panicking, the other bandit shouted towards his friend.
"THEN WHAT DO WE DO!"
Looking again at the boy in the tree, the calmer bandit made a quick decision in his heart and in a low voice he said.
"The boy, I don't know how he's alive but he's got the right idea. If we both run at the same time and shimmy up the tree, we might just be able to wait these beasts out."
The other bandit reluctantly nodded but the idea was a lot better than facing these pack of wolves, especially since the alpha had yet to show himself. Any chance at life was all he could ask for at this point, so the bandit looked at his calmer friend and asked.
"When should we move?"
As the wolves nearly finished encircling them, the bandits knew their opportunity was slipping away.
"On three....one....two........THREE!"
As the bandit shouted out, the two moved instantly for the tree and as soon as they did so did the wolves. As the wolves were pouncing towards them fangs beared and claws drawn, the calmer bandit grit his teeth and made his move. With a slight side step, he tripped his friend and then leaped toward the tree with all his might. The fallen bandit couldn't help but look at his companion with utter terror and dismay. Being betrayed at this moment and under this pressure, the man crumbled in despair. Seeing this, the wolves pounced on the fallen bandit and tore him up before he could even scream.
The last surviving bandit made it partly up the tree but even he wasn't quite quick enough as a single wolf had still managed to gnaw through his thick leather boot, tearing into his foot. With fangs piercing deeply into his foot, the bandit couldn't help release a cry of pure anguish.
"AAHHHHHHHH!"
With a few forceful kicks, the bandit finally managed to wrestle his bloodied foot from the beast jaws and climbed a little higher up. While resting his back against the tree the bandit let out several heavy breaths trying his best to calm himself. Looking down he saw his companions, as well as the horse being consumed rapidly; sounds of bones crunching and flesh being torn from the bodies was quite dreadful to listen to, let alone seeing big puddles of blood gushing out rapidly. As quickly as the blood puddled, it was then just as quickly lapped up by the wolves tongues.
As the bandit tried to calm himself and catch his breath, it was an almost impossible task while watching this terrible scene play out before him. It was at this moment that he suddenly heard a creaking noise above him. Quickly taking a look up above, he spotted the boy bouncing up and down on a branch.
"Tch, the kids crazy."
With deadly wolves below and an annoying kid above, the bandit quickly lost his patience.
"Hey! you little bastard cut that shit out or I'll feed your scrawny butt to the wolves."
Although the bandit said that, in reality, it would be way too much trouble. First off his foot was still bleeding and he was in excruciating pain, secondly, after killing the kids family then digging graves and then the situation with the wolves, he was mentally and physically exhausted. If he then had to climb up and kill the kid it would be just too much, plus, he doubted whether he could actually even climb again with the way he felt.
But before he could even shout again he suddenly heard a snap and then silence. With that, he finally felt relieved. Letting out a sigh of relief the bandit looked up once more only to have his heart feel as though it were leaping from his chest. Before his eyes, the boy was rapidly falling toward him. Suddenly appearing right above his head was already frightening enough but what the boy had in his hands simply turned the bandit pale. In the hands of this small boy was a thick branch, that's what the boy had been working on. The bandit's instincts told him the situation was dangerous and with everything the bandit could muster he tried to move out of the way but it was already far too late. The boy had appeared too fast and with a large swing the boy abandoned all his strength and struck the bandit on the top of his head.
*CRACK!*
Following that the bandit dropped from the tree like a sack of potatoes, breaking several branches on the way down. By the time the bandit landed, he was covered in wounds from head to toe. There was no doubt he had several broken bones.
Seeing their food get away, only to have it fall face down in front of them, the wolves began to release howls of joy right before they quickly tore into him. The bandit had no time to react and died just like that.
While the wolves devoured the bandit, the young boy regained his balance on the tree. His legs seemed to crumble and he abruptly sat down trembling all over. The young boy looked around in every direction, seeing nothing but a frozen mountainous forest as far as the eyes can see, as well as the huge bloodthirsty wolves, the boy couldn't help but feel fear.
Out in the distance, the boy could see a huge silver wolf almost 4-5 times bigger than the ones below him. It was standing tall and proud on top of an even bigger boulder. For a brief moment, it seemed as if the huge wolf glanced at him but then looked away as though it wasn't interested. The boy figured it was simply his imagination and tried to calm his nerves but then the Silver wolf looked to the sky and released a powerful and long howl.
"AAAWWWOOOOOLLL"
With this powerful and domineering howl, it seemed as though all of the wind that blew throughout the forest was the breath of the silver wolf.
Looking down below, there seemed to be a reaction as all the wolves ears immediately seemed to perk up all at once. Like an army of organized soldiers following their king, the wolves all began to move in synch, carrying off any meat that was left. Just like that, the wolves dashed deep into the forest disappearing like a ghost in the night.
After some time, the young boy finally calmed down.
"Who....where am I?"
But before he could even begin to answer any of these questions the young boy felt stinging and numbness all over. Looking at his body, he only now noticed he was naked and he immediately began shivering. Now that his adrenaline was wearing off his body was feeling all the pain from the cold. Looking closer, his toes and fingers were turning blue, he had no time to ask questions and had to get some warmth immediately or he would die. Looking around he noticed the overturned wagon, covering it was a leather top and he remembered that inside was a big fur that his mother had used to hide them both.
After climbing down the boy quickly jumped inside the wagon and dove under the fur wrapping himself in a cocoon. As his body started to slowly warm up memories started coming back making him want to cry.
"Mother, father, their both dead."
But before the young boy could continue his grief, like a bolt of lightning, his mind flashed causing him to shake uncontrollably. Memory after memory began to flood into his mind, like little needles they stung his brain with each recollection. Thousand upon thousands of memories shook him to the core nearly shattering his psyche into a million pieces. Soon, thoughts began to appear in his mind one after another. This wasn't his body, those wolves were not from his world, he had died in his own world, killed by a monster with crimson eyes and somehow he ended up here in the dead body of a small child. As this mind-warping experience hammered his psyche again and again some of the child's memories started fusing with his. Not a lot of memories but still some were taken in by his mind. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, the memories came to an abrupt stop. The boy's eyes became unclouded and clear as a calm focused look washed over his face two words slipped past his lips.
"I remember."
|
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"lang": "en",
"series": "12120",
"id": "12123",
"q": 0.91,
"title": "Immortal Ki Technique - Chapter 1: Life after",
"author": "UnderTheBlue",
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"rating": 5,
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"Action",
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|
Millie Thatcher sat on the back of a wagon, cradling the nub that was all that remained of her left arm. The rest of her felt as empty and numb as the now-lost limb. The General’s wife had made a cleaner amputation than any but the most skilled healers or priests could have managed -- a far better result than she could have expected given the circumstances. Simply stopping the Bloodsear poison at just her arm was practically a miracle all by itself. Others had not been as lucky, and the caravan following Jacob Ward had left behind a dozen grave markers before breaking camp that day. The bandits that had thought a pack of farmers to be easy pickings had fared much worse when the Battlemaster eventually caught them. Several trees in their wake had sprouted grim fruit; cold comfort for a classless girl barely through twelve winters.
With only one arm she had felt useless, but could not bring herself to speak about her troubles. Not even with Miss Erin, the wife of the Battlemaster and the [Hand of Solace]. Millie had not spoken since the night bandits had killed her parents, and not even the motherly healer who had so skillfully saved her from the poison arrow could bring her to utter a word. The Battlemaster had understood, though, and had given her a small drum and taught her a few simple cadences. As the daughter of a Bard who had retired from adventure to marry a farmer, she had picked those up quickly and been grateful for something to do that was useful to the caravan.
That Millie remained classless at this point was merely by virtue of her not having selected a class, not for lack of level; the nearly daily fighting, continuous marching and the simple nature of being on the road had led to nearly everyone in the caravan gaining new skills they had never expected to learn. Older classless, of fifteen or sixteen winters, had already begun to gain classes aligned with combat and soldiering; new potency added to the Battlemaster’s already-fearsome banner.
And what a banner it was. Someone had hung a bloodstained sheet on a piece of wood attached to the head of a pike, and none would step forward for the credit. A vertical slash of black paint -- or possibly tar, Millie couldn’t be certain -- bisected the worn red cloth. The Black Lance, they called it, the symbol of Jacob’s class. He had finally given up on ordering it taken down, as it would always reappear in the night. After a few encounters with Deskren Hoplites, the troops had taken to attaching slave collars to the bottom of the sheet. The sight of it held a weight well befitting the atmosphere surrounding the refugee caravan.
Millie wasn’t sure it could even be called a caravan any longer. It looked like an army on the march to her own inexperienced eyes. Bandits who might normally find such a wagon train easy pickings had learned to run the other way when they heard the rumble of endless pairs of wheels. The smaller Deskren units no longer attempted to engage them, though they lingered in the distance in a worrying way. A few times, the entire column had been roused in the middle of the night for a quick march to surprise unlucky or lazy and incompetent enemy commanders. The refugees had full bellies at the moment thanks to a Deskren supply train they had encountered and then overrun, the Battlemaster not being one to turn his head from opportunity.
The Deskren seemed to have finally learned that the caravan had teeth, though. The refugee train had grown to over a thousand wagons and more than ten thousand people over the long summer march. Nearly a thousand horsemen rode directly under the Battlemaster; veteran soldiers dusting off old skills alongside new classers learning quickly under the leadership of the General. Several times that many -- at least by her own count, she had not heard anyone give actual numbers -- marched on foot, bearing pikes and spears and what armor they could cobble together. Barely a week past, they had suffered the worst engagement yet, losing dozens of wagons and incurring hundreds of casualties. Millie had reached level ten during the engagement, stabbing a Hoplite slave through the eye with her dagger when the face had appeared over the wagon where she had been riding with other small children.
The more foolish or stupid enemy commanders seemed to have been weeded out, either crushed when they attacked the column, or recalled by higher authority from the empire. Millie did not understand the details, but a youth that remained silent heard many things. There was a nervous taste to the air around the wagons, she knew. They had been marching north and west in their flight from the Deskren, but now a river she had never heard of was supposedly in the way and there were no bridges they could reach before the main Deskren force caught them. Nameless whispers floated through the caravan when the campfires rose, laying down a pall of fear in their wake.
Millie wasn’t afraid, though: not of the Deskren, nor of bandits or brigands. Her parents may have been gone, but the Battlemaster had killed their killers and then led the refugees across half of the western side of the continent. There had been losses and deaths in the undertaking, but every day the wagons rolled on behind his dread banner. She had faith they would reach their destination: the city of Possibility and the Gathering of Kings.
So she sat in the back of the wagon, in the predawn shadows before the nascent army roused itself for breakfast call, listening to the low chatter of cooks over their fires. In exchange for not sharing the caravan’s fear of the Deskren, she had her own fear which she couldn’t share. Her eyes drooped, and she dug her fingernails into the stump of her arm to keep herself awake. She had reached level ten, and she knew gaining her Class was now within reach. But there were obstacles in her way, and she did not know what to do. Sleep brought the nightmare unbidden, and she had fought it for two days but now weakened. Even the pain of scratching the tender flesh where her arm had once been was not enough to hold slumber at bay this time, and her head drooped as she slumped against the side of the wagon.
Then came the dream world, where she had been reliving the worst day of her life every time she closed her eyes since reaching her tenth level.
Her father, opening the trap door under the table of the farmhouse and her mother, dragging her down to the cellar. The scrape of wood and hushed whispers between her brothers as the table was dragged back over the hatch. She lived it all again as if standing beside her own body, seeing another her but with two arms and still innocent eyes. The crash of the door splintering, the screams as her older brothers and her pa slew the first two bandits that rushed into the building. Dozens of savage thunks as arrows impacted the walls above, then a wetter, more sickening sound and a thud as someone fell to the floor. Screams of rage, blood dripping from between the floorboards.
Then the silence, as the blood pooling on the dirt floor of the cellar reached her toes. The murderous bandits were already leaving, not noticing passageway to their hiding place at first. But when that muddy red reached her feet, Millie screamed.
Then it started over. Her father opened the trap door. Her mother dragged her down. The sounds of fighting repeated. The shouts, the groans. Blood on the floor touched her toes. Millie screamed.
The trap door opened. Down into the shadows. Shouts above. Blood at her feet. Millie screamed.
Her fault.
It was always her fault. Millie screamed, and then they were found. There was a small gap under the wall of the house, but while Millie had fit, her mother had not, and had stayed behind to give Millie a chance to escape. She had escaped the bandits, but not the guilt. So she was stuck repeating the memory instead of moving on to gain a class, because in the dream she could not leave the cellar.
Door. Down. Shouts. Blood.
Millie screamed.
Her fault.
She should have been able to move past it. Perhaps if she had not levelled so quickly in the caravan, she could have worked through the memories and moved on. Perhaps not.
The tragedy had not gone unanswered, however. A barefoot girl in a torn dress covered in mud and leaves had stumbled out onto the road and almost ended up trampled, but the Battlemaster had turned his charger aside at the last moment. She had not been able to speak, but the scouts had quickly found the farmhouse, and her family.
The bandits had cut out her mother’s tongue first, to stop the [Whisperwind Songstress] from charming them. The rest, the Battlemaster’s wife had covered her eyes to keep her from seeing. Millie had watched when Jacob had the murdering rapists hung from the tree next to the farmhouse opposite where four shallow graves had been dug, and that should have been enough. It wasn’t.
Door. Down. Shouts. Blood.
Millie screamed again.
Her fault.
As she watched the past Millie work her way out from under the wall, she could hear the heavy steps of the invading bandits coming down the stairs to the cellar. A veil of darkness fell over the scene, but it couldn’t cloak the tension in the air, nor could it mask her mother’s sudden scream--
She was startled awake by the rattling clink of a metal dish hitting the wagon bed beside her. “Biscuits ’n bacon,” grunted old Hett, the wagon’s driver. A skin of water followed, and then the ancient classer withdrew, continuing around to tend to the mules without saying anything else. He had joined the caravan only a few weeks past, but his mules and his wagon had travelled at the head of the column without the man saying a word. It had simply happened, and the Battlemaster had not objected. The man was old and wizened like wrinkled rawhide leather, but no one else could heft the broad woodcutter’s axe that rode next to him on the seat. None had dared pester the old man about his class or levels either, not after seeing him cleave Deskren horses into pieces with one hand on the axe, never letting go of his mules.
Millie liked the old man. He didn’t talk much, and he never pestered her to speak either. Few tried anymore, although Erin had been concerned, in a very comforting and motherly way, for the first several weeks after they had taken in the orphan girl. But only Old Hett and Jacob himself had seemed to be unphased at all by her silence. As if the thought of the man had summoned him, hoofbeats approached at a steady trot just as the first rays of dawn peeked over the eastern horizon. He went past the back of the wagon where she sat, talking quietly with Hett as she finished her breakfast and washed it down with water from the skin. The now-familiar sounds of the caravan stirring to wakefulness washed over her as she ate, preparing for yet another long day of hard marching.
It took her more time than most to finish her repast, but she was improving her abilities to function with one arm with each and every day. Bracing the water skin between her knees, she stoppered the cork back into place just as the Battlemaster walked his horse alongside the back of the wagon. He spoke quietly but clearly, and without the pity most seemed to think the girl needed. She was grateful for that, more than she would ever be able to tell the man.
“Another half-bell, and then drum the wake-up call, if you would, Miss Millie,” he said without dismounting. On the back of his now-oversized charger, he was as tall as if he were standing on the wagon itself. “We’re marching hard today, so it’s a fast beat until we break at noon to rest the horses.”
Hett spat a wad of tobacco juice from the front of the wagon as his mules snorted. “And the mules, of course, Mister Hett,” added the Battlemaster.
Millie nodded, looping the strap of her drum over her right shoulder and securing it to her left leg with another belt. Keeping the musical instrument in place with only one arm had taken some ingenuity, but practice had led to her figuring out her own way. The worst part now was fastening the buckles with only one hand, but she had refused help often enough that people no longer offered, much to her relief.
“Can you keep it up until noon, lass?” asked Jacob. “Or will you need a stamina potion?”
She shook her head, offering a thumbs-up and a slight smile. She could play the drum for an entire day now that she had levelled her skills and her own abilities had improved. The General did not waste extra words or her time, merely thumping the side of the wagon in approval as he took the reins of his horse in the other hand.
“Carry on, then, Soldier.”
The words, somehow amplified, slammed into Millie’s mind, her jaw dropping open in shock as the notification followed a half a heartbeat later.
The [Blacklance Battlemaster] has granted you the Title of [Soldier]! Class Selection options have changed to reflect the opportunities and responsibilities provided by this Title.
A Soldier never marches alone; she walks with the weight of tradition and the history of all who tread before and after.
Jacob Ward rocked back in his saddle; the pulse of power that had left him at the utterance of the words drained him somehow, and left a nearly-palpable feeling in the air. Millie recovered from the shock as he shouted for Erin and Hett, demanding explanations. She paid him no heed, instinctively seizing the opportunity before anyone or anything could stop her. Her head drooped, and she leapt into the darkness.
Gone was the farmhouse. Gone was the bitter memory of failure and loss that she had been reliving for days with no respite. She stood next to a road, under a heavy, cloudless, grey sky. Dried grass and gravel crunched under her feet, and she looked down to see boots of an unfamiliar style adorning her feet, laced up to mid-calf. The leather she understood, but not the strange material of the soles when she raised her foot to look. Despite the oddities, the boots felt right.
Above the boots were pants of a material she had never seen, mottled shades of green and brown and grey seemingly blended together. A heavy shirt in a similar lack of pattern covered her from the waist up, and a strange thin chain around her neck held two rectangular plates that bore her name and what looked to her like numbers, even though she could not understand the actual runes. She had seen the General and his wife Erin both writing similar things when counting the wagons and sacks of food for the march, so the girl assumed they were in a written language from the Worldwalkers’ home.
She was not alone, either. Another version of her stood in front of her, in an even stranger uniform. Her other image stood at crisp attention, her uniform forgoing the chaotic mottling for a more formal appearance, green coat over pale breeches standing out from the background where her uniform tried to hide in it. Different insignia covered the left breast, and although this image was missing its left arm as well, the neat folding and pinning took nothing away from the order the figure emanated. Her mirror image locked eyes with her and raised her hand to her brow in what could only be a symbolic gesture, then faded away, as though she were made of mist.
The silence was broken by the sound of footsteps. Just one pair at first, then it swelled into a rumble of more boots than she could ever have counted. A few heartbeats later, and thousands of figures marched into view from around a bend in the road. Millie stared for a long moment, trying to understand, to remember the things she had heard about classes.
The figures were all her. Some wore uniforms, others were beset with armor; some bore swords, and others held maces in firm grips. To a person, they all tirelessly marched forward, eyes locked straight ahead and jaws set in determined lines. One, near the front, bore a silver flute, the only flash of color amidst the endless sea of grey.
The road led over the horizon, where the sun hung low in the sky, red and bloated. More sounds reached her ears: rumbles, crashes of thunder, and screaming. Onward the soldiers marched, unflinching, towards the terrible clamor. Young though she was, Millie already knew the sounds of battle. She watched herself walk past in numbers beyond counting. She had spoken no words with her other self, as she had heard others recount of their own experiences when gaining a class. She felt none were needed, now that she had broken out of the looping horrors of endlessly repeating memory. She watched, and she considered. The flute had felt closer than the others to being a proper choice, but it didn’t speak to her.
After a timeless moment, a different sound rose, almost imperceptibly at first, from the sky: not from the battlefield ahead, but the endless column behind her. The uniforms worn by her other selves began to grow darker, dipped in shadow. Their eyes began to gleam, gazes growing more sinister as the sound of their boots began synchronizing with the flashes of lightning from the low storm which had begun to follow them.
Finally, a version of herself in full color marched slowly into view. Clad in chainmail and leather, and wearing a helm of blackened iron, this new version of herself seemed somehow realer than the others. A drum, similar to the one the Battlemaster had issued her, sat strapped to her left side, and her right arm -- sheathed in a black gauntlet and wielding a steel baton -- beat a thunderous cadence against it.
As the darkened, shadowy figure approached Millie and began to pass her by, she fell in beside her, her footfalls slowly joining the rhythm of the endless march. She had made her Choice, so long delayed.
As she swam back to consciousness, the sounds of battle and and drumming thunder faded away. She could hear the Battlemaster and his wife arguing, and as she stirred, she saw his eyes were filled with sadness and guilt. His wife averted her gaze, and couldn’t hide her tears.
She wished she could bring herself to speak, to comfort him, but even though fear no longer ruled her, she made nary a sound as the changes to her soul took hold of her body.
She had traded her words for power, and henceforth, the [Thunderstrike Battle-Bard] would speak only through her drum.
|
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"title": "Skyclad - Chapter 34: The Devil’s Drum",
"author": "a_man_in_black",
"chapters": 51,
"rating": 4.7,
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"genre": [
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|
Morgan Mackenzie, flush with pride at her latest accomplishment, was eating honey. In addition to being delicious, the honey also carried medicinal properties, which ended up being a happy discovery after she had fought a swarm of [Sting-Flinger Bees] to claim her prize. Welts adorned her left flank and backside, and while her healing abilities meant the wounds wouldn’t be life-threatening, the toxins had proven persistent -- and quite itchy. The itching was the worst, and unfortunately, the system was quiet on the subject of resistances, so it seemed Morgan would have to simply grin and bear it.
The honey had shone with a golden light when she passed it in the forest, her [Primal Instinct] lighting it in stark contrast to the greens and browns that most often colored the woodlands, giving it the appearance of so many glittering jewels. With honey came bees, Morgan knew, so her time-granted confidence was tempered with a certain amount of caution as she approached: she had encountered the bees before, and knew that even a single fist-sized bee, with its burst-fire ranged attack and powerful sting, could prove troublesome.
It wasn’t just one, however. The first scout became five, and five quickly became dozens. The sweet honey was such a welcome break from her too-savory diet of meats and nuts that Morgan dispatched the scouts with an almost-negligent blast of flame before reaching out with both arms to snap off a section of honeycomb for later.
She had just managed to prise off a piece bigger than her head when she began to hear an unearthly roar rise from the forest around her as seemingly thousands of angered insects boiled out from the trees. Her shields had failed under the furious assault almost before she managed to store the honeycomb in one of her runes -- each individual impact barely caused her shield to flicker, but thousands in the space of moments overwhelmed her. With a panicked yelp, she had loosed her fire, but this time she kept it within inches of her skin. For several reasons, she had no desire to annihilate the hive: for one thing, the bees were simply obeying their instincts and trying to drive out an intruder. For another (and more saliently, Morgan admitted), she wanted to be able to return in the future and claim more honey, now that she knew where to find it. The [Skyclad Sorceress] had shimmied down the trunk and ran out along one of the larger branches, trying to get away from the bees before she took enough impacts to actually become a problem.
And then, the hive queen arrived, accompanied by an escort of drones. Rather than attack, the drones formed a living barrier around the monarch. The queen, for her part, launched volley after volley of explosive projectiles at Morgan, which she was barely able to dodge in time to avoid serious damage. The branch she had been running along fared significantly worse, and any creatures in earshot were given a vociferous, entirely involuntary education in Earth profanity as Morgan fell to the ground below.
Using [Terrakinesis], she had pulled an earthen dome over herself, then burrowed into the ground to give herself some breathing room. The bees’ stingers had quickly given rise to itchy, painful welts just in the short span of time she had spent escaping. Morgan had reached back and rubbed her wounds, and with her hands still sticky from the honey, it was then that she discovered its medicinal properties. As the soothing numb settled into her flesh, she sighed in relief.
“Bet this’ll be worth quite a bit to people...if I ever find people,” she amended, her mood taking a brief turn. She resumed burrowing her way through the earth, looking to put more distance between herself and the hive -- no doubt, the bees were still furiously angry and searching for their attacker. While it wouldn’t take much to burn the entire hive to the ground, there was no urgent need to do so. She knew where the hive was in relation to her demesne; destroying it would force her farther afield. Her diet had, up to this point, been devoid of anything sweet other than the odd patch of berries or fruit tree she harvested as she moved, and the honey was a welcome addition to her nascent pantry.
She didn’t quite understand why she was feeling a growing urge to stockpile food and fortify her surroundings -- to settle down, in other words. She did know that the storms she could see over the northern mountaintops made her very anxious, to the point of nausea; danger signals abounded when she cast her eyes northward, to the snow-capped peaks. It wasn’t anything she could put into words, but her best guesses at this point were either terrible monsters or terrible weather, neither of which she much felt like dealing with out in the open.
Her increasing caloric needs began to drive the point home when it came to stockpiling food, at least. Morgan had to eat frequently if she used her magic, and she was at the point where she used magic nearly without thinking. Her vast resources did nothing to dull the pangs of hunger that plagued her whenever she had to replenish herself, and she now spent almost as much time eating as she did experimenting with new spells. She found that she even cast spells while sleeping, which had been a shock -- waking up with her stone bed wrapped around her and contoured to her flesh had been one of the stranger experiences she’d had during her time on Anfealt.
She continued licking the honey off of one hand as she burrowed through the earth, refusing to waste any more on soothing her rump and side. It helped, but not entirely, and she didn’t want to spend any more. By this point, she was walking upright, parting the earth ahead of her and sealing it behind her as she went. After a few hundred paces (and half her Mana reserves), she began angling her tunnel upwards, sure she was far enough from danger. As she neared the topsoil, however, her [Spell Resonance] alerted her to something’s presence near where she intended to ascend to the surface. She took a couple steps to the side, took a breath, and emerged.
A very started, very familiar panther leapt into the air as Morgan sprang from the ground a few feet away from where it had been feasting on its recent kill -- one of the numerous deer that populated the Wildlands. It chuffed, yowling its annoyance after realizing she wasn’t a threat, and Morgan darted forward to tap it on the nose once more. It had become a running challenge between the two of them, and Morgan so rarely had the opportunity to get the drop on the titanic cat. Her hand, which still bore a coating of honey, left a sticky residue on the beast’s snout, and it nearly went cross-eyed trying to lick it away. Breaking into peals of laughter at the comedic sight, Morgan fled back into the wilderness.
The panther had become a welcome sight during Morgan’s frequent foraging expeditions. It seemed to have staked its own territory somewhere north of hers, and while she was almost certain she could find its lair given enough time, she would rather not risk intruding on its territory and escalating their encounters beyond their current level. At the moment, it seemed to see her as a cross between a friendly rival and a meal ticket, and it was tolerant enough of her antics. The bare-skinned spellcaster thought that was sufficient for the moment.
The mountains’ shadows had grown long, casting an eerie penumbra over the land by the time she finally re-entered her own territory. The path she took followed a winding mountain ledge that ran alongside a gorge cut by a glacial stream that flowed down the mountain. She ducked underneath a tree root that made for a convenient and obvious marker; as she passed, she felt a surge of mana rise up before the magical ward recognized its mistress and subsided. Anyone or anything that had approached without being Morgan would have received a highly energetic response. As much as she might like to, Morgan had no idea how to make her wards more discriminating; she hadn’t as yet needed to, given how everything she encountered (that wasn’t the panther) was either trying to eat her or avoid being eaten themselves.
I wish I had people to help me, she mourned.
As impressive as they might have been, the defensive wards were but the least of her magical workings in the valley. The massive spire of gleaming stone that stood in the middle of the valley lake stood as proof positive of her advancements in magical understanding. Sculpted crystal was striated alongside stone worked smoother than the most advanced tooling could manage, and it plunged into the earth to an even greater extent than the two hundred paces which raked the sky. As Morgan walked deeper into her domain, her mana reserves began to rapidly replenish, the spire acting as a conduit, tapping the deep, slow-flowing river of mana she’d felt the day she settled on this valley. Here, she was free to use her mana, not entirely without cost, but close. Throughout the Wildlands, the ambient mana was appropriately wild -- raw, primal, and difficult for her to affect. Here, she could use it as if it were her own, her spire reaching down and claiming it on her behalf.
It was not her current destination, however. She skirted the edge of the lake, and made her way over a hardened stone bridge that spanned one of the streams that led out of the valley. A short walk through a copse of trees brought her to the place which inspired her to settle here: a spring-fed pond, uphill and on one side of the valley relative to the central lake. It was a hot spring, too, heated both by geothermal activity and the mana pooling beneath it which had given her the idea for her spire. Her [Spell Resonance] had let her sense the edges of it from miles away, and closer examination had revealed its source: ley lines buried deep underground. Far deeper than she would normally be able to tap, but her spire allowed her to reach down and grasp it.
Next to the small pond stood Morgan’s house. Far more intricately detailed than any of the temporary stone hutches she left in her wake, the modest two-story stone edifice seemed to grow right out of the ground as though it were a natural formation. The stone itself was a lighter grey than the surrounding boulders; she had found this material a day’s walk to the north. Finding it calming and easy to look at, she had spent a period of several days dragging several tons of it back to the pond. Definitely worth it, she thought as she let her eyes roam over it once again.
Triling wurbles and excited purring could be heard as she approached the door, and when she opened it, she was nearly bowled over by a very energetic, basketball-sized loofah. Morgan laughed and rubbed Lulu, trying to push her off.
“Hey! I missed you too!” she exclaimed. “But I’m home now, and I found honey!”
This excited Lulu even more, and she wurbled with glee as she found the honey, cleaning it off of Morgan’s hands. As the loofah circled Morgan, however, it grew agitated when it saw the welts and rashes covering her flank. But, what the honey hadn’t managed to fix, Lulu did in short order, with a brisk exfoliation and its own brand of magic. So attended, Lulu subsided to let Morgan inside. The sorceress had long since learned to take Lulu in stride, no longer wasting energy trying to figure out just how it did what it did. She continued into her house, [Candleflame Runes] igniting in stone embrasures as she passed from room to room. Towards the rear of the house stood a stone double door, and a brief push of her will and a gesture had the doors opening far quieter than their construction would indicate, as if they hung on perfectly-oiled hinges.
A short set of stairs brought her to an underground hallway, and at its end lay a broad rotunda with runes set in floor and ceiling alike, glowing softly as Morgan approached. This area was the focus of her efforts, encompassing more space than the house above it. It was a project in constant evolution, supported by magically-reinforced stone and made larger through application of her spatial enchantments. Three arches to her left opened into more rooms, and the suggestions of doorways ringed the edges of the space, as if inviting her to complete them.
The three finished rooms were inset with multiple [Glacis Runes], and cold mists eddied around her feet as she stepped through the curtain of Air magic that kept the warmth of the main space out of the chamber. The shelves in this chamber held leaf-wrapped portions of meat harvested from the creatures she’d faced; and what Morgan lacked in butchery skills, she more than made up for in sheer volume. What would have once appeared as a macabre display to a city girl and waitress now looked like security and preparation to the wilderness-tested sorceress. She pulled more such portions from her storage runes, setting them among her current stockpile as she did every time she returned.
Enough for several months, she decided, unless I have to fight for my life! Nothing burned through her mana reserves quite like running combat, and while most of the monsters she’d been fighting were simple to deal with, she never let herself drop her guard outside her domain. She’d learned the dear lesson that in the Wildlands, there was always something bigger and meaner to fight -- and it would find you if you weren’t careful.
The next room she entered wasn’t as cold, kept at just above freezing. The stone shelves in this chamber were packed with piles of roots, tubers, and other things she had no name for; she called them what they appeared to be from Earth. Potatoes with purple skin and a fluffy texture when baked; giant carrots with skin and flesh the color of radishes; piles of nuts that bore stronger resemblances to their analogues from Earth; and one of her personal favorites, bulbs that resembled onions, but which were larger than watermelons, with a distinctly rich, savory aroma. Everything here was as outsized as everything else in the Wildlands.
Morgan’s attempts to preserve the greens and flowers she found had failed miserably, the plants wilting and growing slimy no matter what she did to adjust the enchantments. She thought, perhaps, that some kind of stasis or time-acceleration enchantment might be possible, as her own [Acceleration] skill was definitely temporal in nature; unfortunately, she’d had no success yet. Maybe when I find people, she thought ruefully as she emptied the rest of her storage runes. After that, only the honeycomb remained. Lulu, who had kept by her heels this entire time, seemed very excited by the sweet stuff, and Morgan hastily fashioned a lidded crock of stone to keep the curious loofah out. Transferring the chunk, however, left Morgan’s hands covered in the golden substance as well as scattering some on the floor, so Lulu was not as displeased as she might have been.
After a brief pass through the third chamber to empty the rest of her storage runes, and a quick swim in her pond to relax and clean herself on her own, Morgan finally made her way back down to the lake. The spire, a spike of grey and brown stone inset with glittering crystal veins that formed spiraling geometric patterns, reached into the sky over a hundred times taller than the sorceress stood. She hadn’t gained any spells or skills over the course of its construction, though it was laced throughout with thousands of reinforcing enchantments and a dense lattice of [Mana Link] runes. Despite her lack of advancement, Morgan couldn’t be displeased with it, given what it let her accomplish.
Within her domain, Morgan’s personal mana expenditure for her spellcraft approached zero, and dwindled more the closer she got to the spire. A stone path led from the lakeshore to a small island, its appearance cast so as to put Morgan in mind of a wooden bridge. Another such bridge led from that first island to a second; from that, however, no bridge issued forth towards the center. Instead, she froze the water under her feet, and made her way across a bridge of ice. Her [Frost Resistance] meant the ice was comfortably cool against her bare soles, rather than bringing the sensation of biting cold.
The air grew thicker with mana as she approached the spire, clinging to her skin and bringing a cloying scent. Once, it had made her light-headed and dizzy to come so close, but she was long accustomed to the sensation. She could no longer remember what it was like to wear clothes, but she imagined that the sensation of mana pressed against her body was similar; oddly comforting in its own way, as if the mana was giving her a hug. A very energetic, very tingly hug. Static built up through her hair and along her skin, wreathing her in crackling power by the time she reached the steps carved into the spire’s side.
The steps jutted out between where lines of crystal carved complex fractal patterns around the structure, neatly avoiding them while still being traversable. The thickness of the mana in the air dissipated as she ascended, covering a circle nearly fifty paces across at the widest point. A dozen or so paces from the top of the spire, an archway opened into its interior, directly above where she began her climb. Inside, the magic was constrained and confined, no longer playing like eager lightning through the air. Morgan made her way deeper into the interior, through a narrow hallway of stone leading to a hollow sphere.
This is where the mana in the air had gone; in this space, the mana was clearly visible and tangible. The sensation of mana against her skin and through her body was something Morgan had no words to describe. It was almost alive, and she swam through it to reach the center of the space. It hung in the air in lazy green streams, eddying this way and that. She breathed it, felt it through every centimeter of her being. The spire reached over three hundred paces beneath her feet, down to brush against the nexus of power she felt from the very first day she swam in the spring-fed pond by her house. For all the enchantments and latticework layered into her spire, she didn’t have to pull; quite the opposite. The wild magic beneath her was eager for an outlet, and her spellwork served to regulate it, to keep the magic smooth and in control. The confluence of power deep underground pulsed in great beats, like the heart of some tremendous organism, and those pulses would crush even one such as her, were she exposed to them without her spire to act as a filter.
Morgan floated towards the center of the room, drawing the magic into her lungs, and relaxed, casting herself adrift in the great sea.
This was how she had been planning her excursions. She couldn’t actually see, nor explain what she felt to anyone who wasn’t plugged in like she was. If she were ever asked, the closest she might be able to come would be sonar, radar, or something between the two. Magic lay over the valley and through the Wildlands like a net, and those that lived, grew, walked, crawled, or flew disturbed that net, and allowed her to feel the different flavors of magic and energy flowing around her. The highest mountaintops felt dead to her, and her [Primal Instinct] screamed at her when she focused too long thereon.
This had become a daily routine for her, usually in the evenings before she turned in. She would make note of which direction held the densest signs of life and movement that didn’t register as a threat, or what her instincts told her would be beneficial, and that would be where she foraged the following day.
But for the past three weeks or so, ever since she constructed the spire, she could sense that something was coming. It was too distant for her to feel anything but a presence, but she knew it must be big, to feel it from that range. Each day it drew closer, but not on a straight-line path: whatever it was, it followed the same ley lines she herself was tapped into.
Whatever it was, the strangest thing about it was that its magical presence, its signature upon Anfealt, felt oddly familiar. She couldn’t explain why or how, but the waves of Earth magic that preceded it felt like her own, only much stronger, as if her own magic were being amplified and reflected back at her from a far distant point.
Inside the spire, at its apex, suspended in her own bastion of power, Morgan ordinarily felt invincible. This approaching presence, however, dwarfed her utterly, and she imagined it could snuff her out with ease. This was an odd realization, because still, even now, her [Primal Instinct] looked at it and felt like....
Home.
So she floated, there in the magic, and relaxed to let her senses expand, diffusing her presence across her valley. What she felt at that moment first baffled her, and then took her to confusion to hope to wild excitement, because in addition to the approaching presence, she felt and heard something new. The sound was so strange, so unexpected that it took her a few moments to place it, but once she did, it was unmistakable.
The presence was still there; indeed, it had grown yet closer. And something was in its way, standing on the ley line that it was following. Many something, many small somethings that left tiny pattering footfalls that she felt through her connection to the valley, as though people were running in the distance. She also felt the creaking, groaning sensation of what had to be wagon wheels rolling across a cobblestone roadbed.
But what sent her heart racing, what had her clawing her way back to her body, what sent her soaring out the window with [Acceleration] so fast she nearly made it back to the shore before plowing into the water and beach, was a sound only someone from Earth could know.
After all, the daughter of a retired Marine, who had spent many of her formative years living on a military base, knew very, very well what the rhythmic slamming thumps of heavy machine gun fire sounded like.
|
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"title": "Skyclad - Chapter 29: Bounty of the Wilds",
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|
It had been a long journey.
Her mistress had been running flat-out for two days and two nights, barely stopping to eat and rest, and the loyal scrubby had come along for the ride. Sometimes she had clung tightly to her mistress’ shoulder, flattening herself down so the great winds couldn’t find enough purchase on her form to push her off of her perch. Other times, Lulu had quickly scurried downwards to hide in the strange airless void that she found at her hip, napping in the unchanging quiet and trusting, knowing, that if she was needed her mistress would retrieve her.
Every time the lacy puffball emerged from her preferred travel napping place, her mistress felt worryingly less than before. Thinner. Bonier. The effort she was expending was clear even to Lulu, and more than once it took a good purble-scolding before the other deigned to have a meal and replenish herself.
Their encounters with the denizens of the forest during this period of travel had all been brief, their goal not to kill and conquer but merely to evade and suppress long enough to get going again.
It had never been clear to Lulu where they were going, or what their purpose was; all she knew was that her mistress deemed it very important that they get somewhere. When they had crested the top of the mountain and seen the vast swaths of insects below, the scrubby had wondered if perhaps they were headed for a grand, glorious battle of some sort.
They were, and yet they weren’t. It was a sidestep, a last detour before coming to what her mistress had really been seeking: others of her own kind.
Together, all of them had battled against the swarm of chittering foes and emerged triumphant. Now, after the dust had settled and her mistress had been cleaned off, the ones who walked on two legs were conversing in tones that spoke of friendly curiosity and confusion. Lulu listened in as best as she could, but nothing in their tone gave her cause for concern -- and when a few of them broke away from the group and did things around fires that made mistress’ stomach growl noisily, the scrubby knew that they were in good hands.
With one last look around to satisfy herself that they would be safe for the moment, Lulu crept onto on Morgan’s shoulder and purbled a quiet goodbye before leaping away, moving off to explore a little. Learning more about the sorts of beings they would be staying with seemed to be a prudent thing to do, and as the beings in question were of the same kind as her mistress, she might learn more about her by learning about them.
The shelters these people used were things completely foreign to the scrubby, and were the first stop on her tour of exploration. The texture felt unlike anything Lulu had yet encountered, and she crawled all over the yielding surface in an effort to understand. After careful examination, she concluded that they were comprised of thin lengths of fiber woven together in some manner. It was complex, like a braided hairstyle, and yet smaller and more intricate still. How curious!
Letting her attentions stretch further away from what she was touching, Lulu suddenly realized that the smell sensations coming from within seemed to line up with what she thought of as home and safety. What strange people! Did they not want to be protected with good, sturdy earthen walls? She had half a mind to test the strength of this flexible home, but before she had even started to work up a good cleansing lather, something else caught her attention. Something with a different tinge of familiarity to it. No -- something more family than familiar.
She bounded off of the tent, purbling in her most cheerful and bubbly manner to the being who had just spotted her, and set off on her new quest.
Lulu knew she didn’t need to travel far, but she found that she had to do a lot of dodging and rerouting in order to avoid being stepped on. The scrubby had never conceived of so many of her mistress’ kind congregated in one area, and to make the experience even more daunting, they all seemed to be observing her very closely. If they were going to look, she mused, she might as well have some fun. The wurbling puffball increased her speed, and did what she could to be worthy of their interests. She hopped this way and that, burbling a melody compiled from excerpts she had heard from Moghren. Then, with a high leap, she spun so that her lacy fronds sparkled with suds in the fading sunlight.
It was at the end of this leap that she landed at the entrance to one particular wagon. With a farewell purble to the crowd that had gathered to watch, Lulu slipped inside and immediately noticed the shy green scrubby trying to hide behind some containers. Given that they were made of transparent glass, it wasn’t a very effective hiding spot.
Shuffling into the middle of the room, she fluffed her frills into a posture of easy repose, trying to school her larger mass into a less intimidating bulk. Reaching out with her emotions, she sent a quiet burble of greeting to the young scrubby.
The response she got in return was chaotic and would have made her head spin, if she had had one. The pale green loofah was wavering between excitement and awe at meeting [Loofah Prime: The Scrubby Matriarch], and was visibly vibrating where it stood on the shelf. Lulu found herself filled with the essence of warm laughter at this young one who was clearly unable to decide between quiet prostration and exuberant chatter. She made her reaction known to Pale Green with a low burble, and subtly expressed her desire to know more.
That did it. The other scrubby found its conversational footing and switched very decidedly to the excited end of the spectrum, proudly proclaiming that it was not Pale Green, but instead, Wuffle.
And I am Lulu, she replied. Seeing that the other was no longer quite so uncertain, she hopped up on a chair to be closer to the one she was talking to before asking who it was that had named the young scrubby.
Emotions and images flickered swiftly through the air, and Lulu reached out to taste them all. Discovery of the traveling wooden place that struck her as someone’s home, and peering inside to see what was there. Glass jars sparkling in the daylight, tempting Wuffle’s curious nature. Carefully cleaning delicate things, learning to spin and shift in order to get the difficult rounded corners just as uncontaminated as the rest. Attention shifting, whirling around as a large being enters the room. Hiding behind shining, clean glass.
The images came more swiftly, and Lulu watched as the uneasy truce between the small loofah and the man blossomed into understanding as the task of cleaning sample jars was more clearly laid out. ‘Biggles’ seemed to be what the man’s name was, and he had a high bar for cleanliness. Wuffle, for its part, was more than happy to oblige.
The barrage of information faded as Wuffle came to the end of its happy babbling, and the scrubby matriarch shifted her attention to her surroundings. The smell coming off of the cleaned jars sparked Lulu’s curiosity, and as Lulu contemplated them through the lens of the new information she had gleaned from her conversation, she found herself wanting to learn more. She hopped up onto the shelf with Wuffle, surprising it with how lightly she moved despite her bulk, and scooted inside the nearest dirty container to get a feel for things.
Instantly Lulu was overwhelmed with the remnants of some form of magic that was new to her. It didn’t speak of danger, not exactly, but its strength was not one to be dismissed lightly. It tingled and buzzed all over in a very unfamiliar way, and in a handful of moments, Lulu had backed right out again in order to escape the unpleasant sensations. A quick self-fluff and a gentle cleanse removed the worst of the buzzing feeling.
Wuffle made a purble of amusement that almost shifted into clicking noises from its intensity. With a smooshing of its body into something akin to a bow, it slid eagerly into the container Lulu had just vacated. The young scrubby spun and danced within, frothing up with a scent-feel the scrubby matriarch could never have previously imagined. Whatever it was, it did the trick, and by the time Wuffle slid back out of the jar it was literally sparkling with cleanliness.
Lulu was almost consumed by her desire to investigate the strange cleaning ability she had just seen, but restrained her curiosity to ask first. May I?
Only after the pale green loofah gave a hop of consent did she slide over and reach cautiously over the rim of the jar. To her relief, there was no lingering trace of the unpleasant buzzing to be found. Nothing but shiny cleanliness. She took a brief moment to file away the things she felt for later contemplation. Perhaps she could learn a thing or two from this clever youngster.
Pulling her reaching frill back out from the glass jar, she praised the little one for its thoroughness and ability. To make things as clear as possible, she fluffed out with pride at the way the younger one could accomplish something that Lulu herself could not. Wuffle, in turn, was obviously so very pleased at compliments in general. When one came from the matriarch herself, it started vibrating with pleasure so hard that it actually began bouncing on the shelf. Indeed, Wuffle was so beside itself that it didn’t even notice that its tall friend had entered the door of the carriage.
In the brief moment that Biggles was aware but the smaller scrubby was not, Lulu watched. She had gotten decently adept at reading the emotions of her mistress, and while this was certainly not her, she could still detect a good range of things. Surprise was clearly evident on the tall one’s face, as was amusement. There were a handful of smaller emotional elements, but nothing that really stood out to her as concerning, or even worthy of her attention.
The newcomer cleared his throat. “Wuffle?”
The green loofah immediately stopped bouncing, shifting around in embarrassment before giving a gleeful trill and leaping onto its friend’s shoulder.
“Heh. Glad to see you too.” His eyes shifted over to Lulu. “Been making friends?”
Wuffle squished itself into the crook of the neck, chirping in the affirmative, then added a low coo of admiration and respect.
Lulu hopped down onto the chair again, fluffing out in pride and respect in return as she burbled pleasantly. A good friend is important, she said to her descendant in images and feelings, and you seem to have chosen quite well. Taste and absorb and learn and grow together. Become a team.
Wuffle bobbed in understanding, but Biggles only looked confused. To try to make sure that the human also understood her, she leaped high to land lightly atop his head. Lulu purbled soothingly as she went to work, massaging his scalp with the gentlest of exfoliations and frothing up to give his hair the most pleasant of cleansings. How better to show approval than to give the gift of something clean?
Something tickled at the back of her mind as she was finishing up the rinse cycle. Her mistress was being fed, and would likely need cleaning shortly. With that in mind, she concluded her work as quickly as she could without sacrificing the quality of her cleaning, then hopped down with a friendly purr.
The man reached up to pat his hair, and as the corner of his mouth twitched, Lulu knew she had done well. She had done very well, she amended, as she spotted Wuffle leaning in to investigate. The two friends shared a brief moment, during which she slipped away.
Emerging from the wagon, the scrubby matriarch caught the essence of cooked food in the air. In the distance, she could detect the sounds of eating. Lulu immediately began scurrying back to her mistress.
Further exploration would have to wait for another day. Her own friend would be needing her now.
|
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|
Sara Davis shimmied back into her flimsy silk dress and slipped her feet into her silken shoes with a cat-like grace and in near-perfect silence, tying her bright red hair back with a ribbon of scarlet lace. The Eastharbor councilman on the bed next to her snored softly, deep in a sleep wrought from exhausted satisfaction. Looking back, Sara allowed herself a moment of reflection. When she arrived -- was dropped -- in Anfealt, she had quite literally hit the ground running, fleeing several goons sent by whomever had been the most recent in the line of scumbag would-be overlords bent on lording over her. She had never gotten on her knees, professionally or otherwise, for a pimp before, and she had had no intention of doing so here.
Gaining Skills in this new world’s System had immeasurably improved her life in every way she could think of. Once she grasped the basics, she had of course expected to gain skills aligned with her natural proclivities, but the improvements to her less sexual physicality -- her strength and agility, regeneration, and the like -- were beneficial beyond the ability of a formerly not-very-imposing woman to express. There were also a few other extra perks that tilted the scales a bit farther than just the Worldwalker Title; Her [Hedonist] aspect magnified her own pleasure and allowed her to gain Stamina and increase her regeneration simply by doing the things she enjoyed the most.
And I gain more of everything simply by doing what I love to do already, she thought to herself silently -- so as not to disturb her latest client. Not that anything short of a bomb could wake him now, she continued, allowing herself a momentary, fond smile. He’ll be out the rest of the night, at this rate.
Sara, on the other hand, was now fully energized and ready to be about the rest of her night’s work. As much as she absolutely loved handling her clientele in person, she simply no longer had the time to deal with any but the most important or highest-paying customers.
She made her way out of the councilman’s modest but comfortable mansion, lingering in the shadows of a side entrance long enough to allow her waiting escort to whistle the all-clear before continuing down the narrow path through the gate to the mouth of an alley. Eastharbor was safer at night now, thanks to her work over the months since her arrival, but safer was not truly safe, especially for The Harlot. Moments after she emerged from the alley and stepped onto the connecting main avenue, a small carriage pulled up in front of her. The door opened and she climbed in, greeting her assistant as she settled herself into the comfortable seat.
“Thank you, Bonnie. What’s the news?” she asked.
Bonnie -- her right-hand woman, and the first of the city’s prostitutes to throw their lot in with The Harlot -- was a slim-figured girl who fit every definition of a secretary from Earth or a scribe on Anfealt. She wore a neatly-tailored, but not gaudy or extravagant, tunic and breeches, and carried a leather-bound parchment notebook which she perused thoughtfully after straightening her spectacles. Bonnie was not her actual name, but few of the girls who worked for Sara even bothered remembering their original names in the first place, and fewer still actually used them.
“The new establishments in Docktown and the south side of Market Row are doing as well as you predicted. The only trouble has come from ship crews in port who are new to how the Daughters do things, but the Sons straightened them out fairly quickly.”
Sara crossed her arms, letting her chin fall to her chest. “The Criers’ Guild is supposed to explain the rules to newbies before they leave the docks,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Let them know their own discounts are at risk if this keeps being a problem. And spread the word among the ship captains that good behavior can get them free passes at Pinnacle. Possibly even with myself, if they can keep their crews in check.”
Bonnie nodded, making a brief note in her ledger, and then continued. “Profits at Pinnacle are still rising as word gets around. The [Enchantress] we contracted for the main hall and the stage was reluctant until we assured her you only wanted acoustic enhancements and not mind magic, so that’s complete without a hitch. The bards and other musician types should be very impressed with the benefits to their trade.”
The prostitute-turned-secretary checked off her list as she slid her eyes down the page, taking her eyes from it and giving The Harlot a look that bordered on hero-worship. With a much softer tone, she continued: “Several of the girls have expressed their gratitude for letting them learn skills outside their class, ma’am. We’ll always be courtesans of some sort, but you’ve allowed us to branch out into things we never thought we’d be allowed to experience.” Bonnie was one of the first beneficiaries of this charity, having been forced into prostitution by one of the “dark” guilds that had hitherto dominated the area; strong-armed into choosing a pleasure-based prostitution class before she was old enough to fully understand her choice.
“Some things are the same in Anfealt as on my world,” she replied ruefully. “At least here, we don’t have to worry about brutal cops and misguided laws that punish the victims as often as the pimps.” Sara gazed out the carriage window as the lantern-lit streets passed by, the sea-born mists obscuring most of the city in the late evening twilight. “It’s baffling how so many are forced into the life when there are more than enough that are perfectly willing to do so.”
Their conveyance made its way through the misty, shadowed streets. It descended from the upper hills neighborhoods, where the more wealthy individuals and elected appointees had their residences, through a sprawling business district that finally gave way to much more ramshackle constructions. Everything here was in a near-constant state of flux, new buildings arising from the corpses of old demolition -- and the Harlot was in the center of it all.
The rest of the city could fend for itself, but the ghetto, as she called the poorer sections of the city due to her Earth background, would always hold a special place in her heart. So it was that she had already funded many repair and restoration projects as her main endeavors paid off.
Bonnie continued to fill the silence in her pleasantly businesslike tone, keeping Sara abreast of profit numbers, expense estimates, and warning her about some ventures that had incurred or were likely to incur losses or extra expenses. In truth, this was nothing Sara didn’t already know -- on Earth, her natural business acumen coupled with a nearly-eidetic memory could have seen her do well in a corporate environment. It was an unfortunate fact of life that a combination of her kinks and nymphomania had rendered it impossible for her to stay on the correct side of society on Earth.
Misfortune begat fortune, however, when she arrived on Anfealt. What had been her gravest liabilities became her greatest strengths, and within a week of her arrival she had put her thumb quite handily over several local toughs, as much out of self-preservation as anything else. Efforts to keep herself from being press-ganged into a local “dark” guild’s pleasure-stock -- as had happened to Bonnie -- resulted in one less gang running the streets of Eastharbor, and left The Harlot in charge of her very first pleasure house.
At first, its victims remained battered, timid, meek things. Under The Harlot's care, tutelage, and patience, they slowly regained confidence in themselves. They came into their own, thriving just as she had thrived -- thus did the Harlot's Daughters come into being in a seedy structure that sadly befitted the current outside perception of their profession.
In spite of the name, the Daughters weren’t all female -- or even necessarily all human. Blind to gender or genetics, anyone who plied the sex trade in Eastharbor could count themselves amongst their ranks.
Alongside the Daughters were the Sons -- the iron fist under the Harlot’s velvet glove. Delivering the message that the old ways of operating the sex trade -- the conduct that had bequeathed the perception of seediness and squalor -- were over had required securing protection, and making extreme examples of any who would cross the Harlot or her Daughters.
As with the Daughters, the Sons had no regard for gender. Some of the most capable Sons were retired whores themselves, those who had suffered brutality beyond measure under the old guilds and were thoroughly pleased to mete out the Harlot’s brand of justice.
Sara’s internal reflections were cut short when Bonnie switched tracks, abandoning numbers and money to bring up another matter.
“The Temple’s Orphanage and the boarding house school were exceptionally grateful for our donation of new blankets and other sundries like linens and uniforms, ma’am.” The other woman flipped through her ledger and handed Sara a sheet of parchment almost completely filled with row after row of tiny, neat text. “Here’s the complete list of books and materials the school’s Headmistress hopes to get. I don’t think she believed you would fund their work; the first list she gave me was simply for a few used books. But our first donation seems to have convinced her.”
The Harlot signed her approval without even glancing at the total costs. “I’ll take in any woman, or man, who wants to pursue our line of work,” she said, “but nobody should ever be forced into it for lack of options.” Her expression turned dour. “Speaking of force, have the Alley Cats tracked down our missing rats?”
The secretary’s expression morphed into one of grim satisfaction. “They have. Or, rather, three of them at any rate. Irama decided to try his luck and didn’t survive the experience. The other three heads of the Cabal, however, surrendered and are awaiting your pleasure at Pinnacle as we speak.” She allowed herself a savage grin before adding, “I understand Tomtom even gained a level. The Alley Cats will have some celebrating to do tonight, I’m sure.”
“Councilman Jeem is well satisfied with the new arrangements,” said Sara with quite a bit of smug satisfaction in her voice. “We can be assured there’ll be no investigation into their sudden disappearances.”
“Not that you’d care if there was,” Bonnie fired back, with no shortage of amusement in her voice.
“Well... no, I wouldn’t,” Sara agreed, “but it doesn’t hurt to play nice when you can.”
They fell into a comfortable silence as they rode out of the former slums, the buildings under construction and renovation giving way to a broader avenue, with shops and diners and other establishments on either side of the boulevard. The paved roadway curved through this new district and looped back away from the harbor before continuing up a shallow slope. On the approaching hilltop stood a sprawling estate, hemmed in by trimmed hedges twice a man’s height. The hedges were broken in front by an iron gate, elaborately gilded and standing open, as if to welcome all and sundry. Standing to either side of the gate were several impressively-outfitted, almost ceremonial guards.
The carriage passed this gate by, circling the hedges to another, much smaller gate, this one guarded by fewer, less ostentatiously-armored men. Where the guardsmen in front were decked head-to-toe in steel, these wore mostly leather with small pieces of steel. As the carriage pulled to a stop, the guards moved to help Sara and Bonnie from the carriage with a quiet professionalism.
Sara glanced around as she debarked; these guards numbered more than she was used to seeing, and she knew from experience that for every guard she could see, there were two more that she could not.
“Pulled in extra shifts from the Sons?” she asked the stern-faced woman with a thin red braided cord embroidered down one sleeve, marking her as a sergeant of the Pinnacle’s small guard detachment.
“We need them, given who you have downstairs, ma’am,” came the reply. The polite posture was a stark contrast to the rough voice, a thick scar across the woman’s throat a silent testament to the dangers of her profession.
“Your diligence and prudence is appreciated,” she told the other woman. “I’ll get to them shortly, but for now I need to freshen up and wander the floor to be seen.”
The guardswoman nodded as Sara walked past, followed by Bonnie. The secretary continued her commentary as they walked, slowing her stride to keep from outpacing the shorter Worldwalker.
“The acoustic enchantments are working perfectly, as you can hear -- or, rather, not hear. Amplification inside the grand hall and entertainment floor, and a dampening barrier keeping the noise from overwhelming the rest of the building and the outside.” Bonnie cleared her throat, offering a smirk. “And, of course, the handy side effect of ensuring no sounds escape from downstairs.”
Sara nodded as she ascended the steps to her private quarters, Bonnie filing up behind. “And the crowd?” she asked, shedding garments as she entered her dressing room and bath. “I know the new music is a shock to this world’s tastes.”
“Not as much as you might think. Different, for sure, but after a drink or two the newcomers seem to appreciate it. Not as much as the dancing and entertainment, of course, but these...night clubs, as you call them, have found appeal with nearly everyone in Eastharbor.”
A quick wash later, and Sara was soon rummaging through her wardrobe. One thing she certainly had no complaints about with her time on Anfealt was clothing. While the poorest people may have worn rough-spun linen or less, even the commoners had access to tailored clothing. Whether due to their own Skills or those of someone they trade with, actual tailored attire was the norm and not the exception. And custom tailoring meant absolute comfort. Behind her were the days of department store clothing with sizes that never quite fit or, alternately, outrageously expensive tailoring; the clothes here were both affordable and perfectly fitted.
Sheer lace undergarments were followed by almost-as-sheer stockings, both in hues of deepest scarlet. She then slithered into a form fitting dress of a softer red, just close enough to see-through as to hint at the delights beneath and a fingernail’s width short of indecent for public wear. The neckline plunged to just shy of her navel, the body of the fabric held from bursting open by a ring of polished onyx that sat just between her breasts. Deciding to forego heels, she slipped her stocking-clad feet into comfortable red silk shoes. The lace ribbon returned to its previous place securing her wild mane of flame-red hair, and the outfit was finished with the addition of a pair of opera gloves that covered her arms almost to the elbow.
The gloves were iconic to the appearance of The Harlot, a vibrant scarlet so vividly red that it could belong to nobody else. The contrast with her pale skin and emerald-green eyes built a striking image out of her slight frame. She wore no jewelry; she needed none to keep the eyes of the crowd on her. If she gave in to her own carnal desires while on the floor of the establishment, such things were likely to disappear into various pockets and pouches in any case.
She didn’t bother with perfume, either. One of the most useful perks of her class was its signature skill [Pheromone Control], and used with proper subtlety it was the equal of all but the highest tiers of mind- and emotion-influencing magics. Wearing perfume alongside her skill would, at best, diminish its effect and, at worst, nullify it entirely.
“Now I’m ready,” she told Bonnie after the other woman added the final touches to her outfit by deftly twisting the lace ribbons into a simple braided ruffle down her back. “If you would be so kind as to check on our other guests, I need to make at least a short appearance on the floor to get a feel for the crowd.”
“Yes, ma’am,” replied Bonnie, gathering up her ledger and disappearing through a side entrance to The Harlot’s chambers. Sara left her comfortable but plainly decorated private quarters behind, emerging in the opulently furnished boudoir apartment where she entertained her own in-house clientele. There, a set of gilded double-doors with ornate carvings of illicit carnal acts of every kind stood at the main entrance of the room. She stepped through into a short hallway that opened out onto a balcony overlooking the main floor of her greatest accomplishment: Pinnacle.
Anfealt was no stranger to drinking establishments, inns, taverns, or brothels. It also had bards and entertainers; and various nobility and other elected or appointed officials and the very wealthy could enjoy large-scale, fine entertainment, of course. But what The Harlot had introduced into the local society was something else entirely. It was a brothel, of course. It was also a casino, a tavern, an inn, and a theater. In a world without magic, it would have been impossible to replicate, and she was inwardly thankful to whatever laws governed physics and magic in this new world.
Her balcony looked into the main performance hall from one side, the hall itself a massive half-dome lit by crystals and magical lenses to emulate the more technologically advanced stage equipment she was familiar with from strip clubs on Earth. Low tables sprawled away from the stage where bards and musicians played heavy beats in syncopated rhythms that were felt more than heard. The acoustic enchantments laid into the structure functioned as speakers, causing the music to appear to be coming from everywhere at once. The lights shifted in time with the wordless music as a seductive vixen gyrated between a pole and an ornate chair on the center-front stage. In this case, the word was more than metaphorical; the half-girl, half-fox held most of the room’s attention as she seductively tossed the last of her garments aside while covering herself with a gorgeous and luxuriously fluffy silver-furred tail.
Behind the showgirl, several more dancers -- both male and female, human and hybrid -- moved as one in time with the music. Sara had only needed to show them the basics of Earth’s pole- and belly-dancing techniques and the Daughters had took the bit in their collective teeth and ran with it, much to her delight.
Funny how well they take to it when they aren’t beaten down and abused, she thought to herself. The sheer stupidity of extortion and intimidation infuriated her, both on Earth and Anfealt. There was so much to enjoy about her lifestyle, when society allowed it. And on Anfealt, she was forcing it to allow her Daughters to flourish.
Not wanting to steal the spotlight from the enthusiastically preening showgirl, The Harlot quietly made her way through the shadows at the periphery of the performance hall, taking a small hidden stairway to the ground floor and passing into the slightly less intense gambling section. Craps, roulette, and card tables filled this space, a magically-muted throng of voices indicating its fullness. Scantily-clad women managed the tables, and eye-catching waitstaff meandered through the crowds with trays of drinks and bite-sized snacks from the kitchens. Anfealt had its own card games and gambling, and tables where people played crowns, knuckles, and bones sat mixed among tables for blackjack and poker.
On-duty prostitutes also wandered the floor, their availability for services advertised by a crimson ribbon wrapped around the left arm of each, from shoulder to elbow. They mingled with the crowd, and thanks to the unseen but universal presence of the Sons, those without the red band enjoyed their peace. Occasionally one or more would lead a prospective client towards the guarded passageways that led to the private entertainment rooms. The Harlot needed no sash; her scarlet gloves and attire stood as bold testament to the fact that she was always available -- for the right price, of course. That thought warmed her loins and quickened her pulse -- as did the eyes that began to linger on her lithe form as she stalked across the casino.
She kept her pheromones and scent in check, however. While she was ordinarily perfectly willing to stop and enjoy herself, tonight she was already busy enough that the price to interrupt her would be exhorbitant indeed. For now she was simply making her presence known, surveying her kingdom with sharp eyes. She shook hands, kissed cheeks, made small talk with city officials and local estate barons and merchant guild-masters.
Her meandering and socialization were interrupted by a sudden outcry by the bar, near where the casino merged with the dining area.
“Don’t you turn your back on me, whore!” came a shout followed by a slap and the crash of a drink tray hitting the ground. There was a collective gasp as the crowd reflexively flinched away from one red-faced and well-muscled man standing over a girl who looked to still be in her teens. The young woman scrambled to wipe up the spilled drinks as the man raised his hand to strike again, only for a vividly scarlet hand to slip around his wrist and lock it in place with vice-like strength.
“I don’t see a red sash on her arm, good sir.” The Harlot’s voice was flat and glacially cold, cutting through the whispers and background noise of the room. A subtle gesture behind her back with her other hand assured the approaching Sons that she had the matter well in hand. “Red sash means available. No sash means not available for any price. Why don’t you play nice and come talk to me or one of the other girls working the floor tonight?”
“I’m going out of business with all the girls in the city working for you!” shouted the man in a drunken rage. “Miri’s been servicing tenants at my inn for years, and I’m takin’ her back!”
“Years? She’s only in her seventeenth winter, and doesn’t even have a class yet.” This revelation changed The Harlot’s demeanor quite drastically, and glacial cold gave way to barely-restrained fire. She slid her gaze away from the inebriated innkeeper to look at the young woman. “How long was he pimping you out, girl?”
The youth refused to raise her eyes, speaking softly. “Took me in when I was eleven, Ma’am, when my pa’s fishing boat didn’t return after a storm. Had to earn my keep, he said.”
The room, quiet enough when the confrontation began, turned silent as the grave. The girl’s words fell like stones into a deep, sepulchral abyss. Every face, every eye turned to observe the trio.
The Harlot’s eyes turned into slits, her face a thunderhead. Her grip tightened on the man’s wrist, the vice closing so tight that the bones began to fracture. The twig-snap sound dominated the silence along with his pained cries.
Suddenly, her face cleared, and a serene smile spread across her features. “As a rule,” she said pleasantly, “the details of the Daughters’ pasts remain their own. Neither I nor anyone ask for more than they are willing to share.”
She pulls the man closer, dragging him in by his fractured wrist.
“You could have stayed away,” she continued, false warmth bleeding from her tone. “Miri never identified you; never gave you away. If you had stayed away, things would be different.”
Another inch closer. Another yelp.
“But...you came here.”
With a slight flex of her hand, delicate nails parted the fabric of her velvet glove. Just as easily, she drew them down the man’s tunic, revealing the skin of his belly...then, without even changing expression, she drove her arm forward and up, a wet splitting sound breaking over the crowd as she reached into the man’s chest.
“You.” Her arm flexed, driving a pained whimper out of the man’s throat.
“Came.” Another harsh movement and a wet, solid-sounding crunch preceded a foul odor as the man voided his bowels, rising to his toes and squealing like a stuck pig.
“Here.” The Harlot found what she was looking for, and the man’s eyes bulged, lips babbling sounds of negation in a terrified cadence as her hand finally wrapped around his heart. With a convulsive motion, she crushed it.
The man twitched and fell limp, sliding down the Harlot’s arm, terror etched with the finality of death into his expression.
“Thank you,” Sara said. “Thank you for sparing me the effort of hunting you down.”
The Harlot stepped back, withdrawing her arm. Blood followed, but instead of falling to the floor it trailed after her hand. It described concentric circles in a trail up her arm, the individual droplets lit from within, a brilliant crimson. The blood dispersed into a mist, the last of it drawn from the man’s corpse as it dried to a husk on the ground. It drew against her body, highlighting her blood vessels where they lay close to the surface, then disappeared as she made it a part of herself.
“Everyone assumes my Class is some sort of prostitute,” the [Sanguine Druid] murmured to the silent crowd. “Everyone assumes wrongly. A whore is who I am, not what I am. Never forget that.”
Several of the Sons of the Harlot pushed their way through the crowd, wrapping the body in a sheet to carry off while Sara helped a very nervous Miri to her feet. “Don’t worry, girl. You only have to do that kind of work here if you want to, and if not, we can help you learn whatever Skills you need to try for the Class you really want.”
Another waitress brought a broom and another a mop, setting themselves to clean up the rest of the mess. Bonnie stepped out of the crowd as Sara made her way to the bar to snag a small glass of wine.
“Our special guests await your convenience, ma’am,” said the secretary.
The Harlot drained the wine in one continuous motion, letting the liquid slide down her throat in one gulp before setting the glass back down. “I had this whole monologue planned for them, Bonnie, but I’ve gone and gotten myself worked up again.” She gave a sigh and ran her hands down the front of her thighs as she shivered sensually. “You know what to do; spike ‘em with negatite to keep them from using magic or skills, and it’s the harbor for them. Monologues are for evil villains, anyway.”
Her assistant departed with a nod to make sure her orders were carried out. With that, Sara turned back to the crowd that was just now beginning to resume its previous merriment and revelry. She was quite excited after the sudden display of violence and power, and picked out several promising young men and women to play with. For The Harlot, the night was just beginning.
|
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|
Morgan Mackenzie was hearing voices. Or, at least, she thought she was; faint whispers seeming to echo down the twisting corridors as if people were dancing and laughing just out of sight. The area she found herself in was maddening, with passages changing before her eyes as vines and plants drew back and regrew around her, almost as if shepherding her. No pathway stayed as it was for more than a few minutes, and within the first half an hour, she knew she was well and truly lost.
Before she left First Raven’s Roost, Moghren had briefly mentioned dungeons, if only to warn Morgan to avoid them if at all possible. Unfortunately, the old crone had offered no specifics, and Morgan had had other matters on her mind, so the question of how to recognize -- and more importantly, avoid -- dungeons had simply never been asked.
Through experimentation, Morgan determined that the hostile Mana surrounding her only really affected her Earth magic, and had little other impact. She had used Fire to burn away particularly aggressive plants, Lightning to ‘discourage’ more mobile predators, and Ice to freeze a watery slime solid.
“Thank God for small favors,” Morgan muttered. Lulu made a noise of agreement.
The little loofah refused to leave her mistress’ shoulder, purbling warnings every time Morgan approached a trap, and alerting her to danger around blind corners. A good thing, too; her [Primal Instinct] could barely keep up with those comparatively small threats, as it screamed constantly into her mind about the imminent danger she faced by merely being in this place.
To give herself something to focus on besides sheer animal panic, Morgan had taken to collecting loose stone and dirt from the walls and floor, shaping them into small disks and cubes, carving runes into their surfaces and then leaving them littered behind her. They served the secondary purpose of acting like breadcrumbs, letting her know where she had walked before. By the end of the first ninety minutes, she had come across her markers no fewer than five times.
It was growing increasingly clear to her that, beyond being shepherded, she was actively being herded towards the center of this place; by listening to how her instincts shrieked at her, she was able to determine that movement away from the center, where the heart of malice lay, was becoming an impossibility.
For certain definitions of impossible, she thought bleakly. Though the hostile aura permeating this place made it difficult, she felt reasonably confident that she might be able to simply force her way directly through the walls...if she wanted to drain herself dry and take hours in the effort. She had determined one thing: though her [Terrakinesis] was being blocked, the effect posed little obstacle to her [Plasma Glaive]. The only downside was, it imposed a fantastic drain on her Mana, and demanded all the focus she could spare to burn her way through the walls. Though she could recover by eating the meals she had prepared, she simply didn’t have enough to make it feasible.
Night had already fallen when she had stumbled into the dungeon, and she had spent the last several hours -- or more, she had no way to tell -- wandering its halls. There were sources of ambient light inside the place that kept her from tracking time that way even if she could see the sky: glowing flowers and vines; pale, pearlescent mists; and insects bigger than her thumb that reminded her of fireflies. If not for the constant oppressive sensation of menacing danger that pushed down on her mind, it would have been beautiful.
The sounds of merriment coming from just around every corner were getting more pronounced the longer she wandered. Lulu seemed to be even more agitated by it than Morgan, the loofah emanating a much lower purbling sound into her ear that was closer to a growl than anything else Morgan had previously heard coming from her lacy companion.
“She cannot catch us!” came a high, childlike, and ethereal whisper of excitement from somewhere just out of sight.
“But she can hear us,” giggled the response. “Too slow, too slow!”
The words came so softly Morgan could only just make out the meanings, the mocking tones pitched just right to carry along the foliage-covered corridors. Exhaustion pulled her towards sleep as well, the lullabye of distant music and laughter swaying with the walls as she walked.
Ignore them, she thought.
“She’ll sleep soon!” Another hushed exclamation.
“And then we eat her!”
Must not sleep.
“And her magic too!”
“I bet it’s delicious!”
She stumbled, toes catching in the scattered detritus of sticks and vines and leaves littering the dungeon floor. Morgan had run all day, and then spent an additional several hours wandering around in this lush maze of whispers; to say she was exhausted would be an understatement. The constant warnings of imminent danger from [Primal Instinct] lay upon her mind like a heavy blanket, and keeping herself hyper-alert was draining in a way she had not experienced even when running from the Pack.
Vision starting to blur and run at the edges, she regained her balance and lurched her way down the corridor for another dozen yards before slumping against the wall, legs turning to lead. "S...Something," she slurred, sliding down the wall and ending up on her knees, "is vuh....very wrong..." Lulu became frantic, the normally refreshing effects of the loofah’s ministrations now stinging her skin as it zipped across her body. Something was wrong with its mistress but it could not find the source.
WAKE UP!
“No, sleepy…” she mumbled as she slumped to her side, sprawling on the hard ground.
Now I’m even talking to myself, she thought, slowly sinking down towards sleep.
No, you are not. Wake up or die!
But I just want to sleep!
WAKE UP!
The last thought slammed through her mind, accompanied by far more than words. Images of darkness, the bite of fangs, strands of webs, and an interconnected lace that spanned the world many times over rushed through her consciousness. Glimpses of things simply outside the reach of human understanding, cold and predatory, yet simple and without judgement. Alien, but not evil or malicious. The pain of the psychic intrusion was enough to startle her back to wakefulness, and she knew immediately something was very wrong. She had not been talking to herself or to Lulu.
“I think I’ve been drugged!” she shouted at the empty halls of the dungeon, halfway between a giggle and a sob.
Spores. Pollen. Bad air.
She could tell the thoughts were not her own, now that adrenaline had buffered her mind against the worst of the effects. She knew it would not last, and needed a better solution.
“It’s in the air?” she asked the voice.
Like dust, choking my children. We are trapped within the Eye.
WIth her mind temporarily cleared, Morgan could see. Just barely discernible in the air, and only [Mana Sight] allowed her to pick them out at all; tiny motes like the glimmers of dust in a sunbeam. She had no spell to filter them out, and no time to craft a new one: even as she watched, she could feel the spores -- whatever they were -- lay on her mind again, a choking fog to snuff her out. But Morgan did not need a specific spell for her inner fire. She merely had to let it out.
And so she did.
Lulu gave a trilling wurble of triumph as actinic purple light filled the green-sheathed hallway around Morgan, the little scrubby immune to the flames of its mistress. The sorceress breathed the flames in and out, embers searing their way from under her skin to flare into a localized inferno. There was still pain, but it was distant and muted. The fire was her and she was the fire, hungry and indiscriminate. And the dusty pollen proved to be wonderful fuel.
Waves and trails of orange flames flashed out in short-lived clouds even further away from Morgan as the fire ran joyfully ahead of her. Tendrils of yellow light burned their way down the hallway ahead, and sparked secondary flash-fires that raced in and around the leaves on the walls. Tiny buds hidden just under the leaves glowed like lantern-wicks for a brief moment before crumbling away to ash.
As the fire cleansed her body, her mind began to clear as well. Anger replaced confusion, and she added its heat to the fire. Around her kneeling body, the leaves and sticks littering the dungeon floor turned to ash and crumbled to dust, and then the dirt itself began to bake, flowing like sand as the stone underneath softened. Her knees and feet and hands sunk into the floor of the dungeon leaving imprints like a child playing in wet concrete.
PLEASE STOP!
The words sliced into her mind, the mental plea gutting her rage with its primal fear and panic, and she banked the flames, keeping them just within a few feet of her body. The words came fainter, as if pushed across a vast distance, strain evident in the speaker’s voice.
You burn even the webs!
The sounds of laughter and the auditory hallucinations were gone, but, to fill the void, an entirely new sound echoed through the halls: a distant screech, a furiously angry noise that told Morgan she was no longer alone here. Further up the passageway, where her fire had not scorched the walls, dried but still green foliage rippled in time with the enraged outbursts..
You rebuked her! She traps us all!
Who? She could not speak the reply out loud, her throat and mouth too dry for anything more than a faint croaking. She pulled a pouch of broiled shellipede from her storage, chewing on the grease-moistened flesh to wet her parched gullet and work up some saliva.
Solana of the Vines...her pollen brings the waking dreams, dragging us to sleep.
Morgan sat back on her haunches to think, the heat-softened stone soothing to her bare bottom and feet. Who is us?
The reply came not in words, but images and feelings. LIke looking through a hundred eyes at once, she could see an oval-shaped clearing from many different angles. From each viewpoint, she saw many different creatures entangled in thorny vines. Deer. Wolves. Tyrannorabbits and Murdersquirrels, even a Shellipede and what she thought was the emaciated form of a giant species of bear. A titanic creature that looked like nothing so much as an overgrown panther took up a space over six paces wide stretching from the dungeon floor up to the branches that formed the canopied ceiling.
All of us. I send my children to make webs to find a way to escape, but all fall prey to her spores until you! My children show me all the prey of Solana!
“Who are you?” asked Morgan, finally finished eating and having worked up enough saliva to actually speak.
A thousand images at once skittered across her mind. Webs spun in shadows and sunlight, between trees and along the banks of rivers, in damp tunnels and the open treetops. Eggs and silks and fluttery prey, the bite of fangs and sharp tang of venom. The satisfaction of the well-sprung trap, the hatching of offspring and their subsequent flooding out into the world spinning more threads to connect to the web that spanned across worlds.
I have no name. I simply am, and am trapped here like the others.
“Oh, you’re a spider.”
Morgan busied herself eating another parcel of cooked shellipede from her storage, stocking up on calories and getting ready for another fight. She would prefer to avoid it, but her preferences had had little to do with her circumstances of late. “I suppose you’re huge too, gigantic like all the animals in the wildlands…”
It was more of an observation than a question, but the voice still answered.
Not a spider, although that comparison is closer than any other. More images flashed into her mind with the words, feelings of insult mixed with amusement. I am as large as I need to be!
“Got it, don’t call the spider fat,” Morgan replied, a trace of amusement in her tone.
Exoskeletal chitin does not get fat. It simply grows to accommodate the tissues and ichors of the being wearing it.
Morgan chuckled grimly, finished with her meal and now letting Lulu tidy up the grease and crumbs coating her hands.
“So tell me then,” she said after the loofah finished it’s ministrations. “Where is this Solana? And what is this place?”
Solana feeds us to the Eye of Madness, and the Eye, in turn, feeds her. More images followed, visions of herself stumbling through the maze and leaving her breadcrumb trail of stone runes and pieces. The visions followed all the way up to her bursting into flame, and then the pictures continued ahead without her. The path ahead doubled back on itself multiple times, distorting the actual separation between her and Solana. It finally ended with the huge cleared room with the trapped beasts, and a pool of water ringed by roots and ivy-like leaves. The water roiled angrily, and the outline of a woman shrouded in leaves and vines lay just below the surface.
Many have sought to claim the power of the Eye for themselves, and all have fallen to her spores. Free us, Burning Woman! A grim urgency flavored the last part of the message.
“So...she doesn’t like fire, huh?”
Morgan pushed herself to her feet and brushed the worst of the ashen dust from her body as Lulu purbled about to take care of the rest.
“Well, I have lots of fire.”
And the [Skyclad Sorceress] strode further into the dungeon, girded with terrible purpose, her own laughter drowning out the frantic shrieks of the plant-woman in the center.
|
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"title": "Skyclad - Chapter 20: Eye of Madness",
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|
When Rella awoke, she was surrounded by darkness, and she was floating. More importantly, she was well and truly alone. For the first time since accepting the Mantle, she didn’t have a constant flood of visions gnawing at the back of her mind. For the first time, she didn’t have the constant sensation of presence, of past [Oracles] riding along with her.
For a long time, she basked in the emptiness, luxuriating in the silence.
Suddenly, something reached out of the blackness, seizing her hair as icy fingers wrapped around her neck. She was abruptly made aware of the fact that she was not floating, but rather falling -- seconds before breaking through a barrier of cold, white light.
She felt wet stone beneath her hands, and cried out as her head was yanked back, a spray of chilled water following her.
“Long has it been, since one came this far down,” came a cool voice, tinged with curiosity.
The speaker still had a grip on Rella’s hair, taut against her scalp. She sputtered, water freezing on her face as she tried to break free. Her efforts proved futile, the hand lifting up and up until Rella was forced to stand on tiptoe. The stone fountain she had been so rudely dunked in was already beginning to frost back over, and the cold night sky held thousands of brilliant stars, illuminating an ancient and timeworn courtyard. To her left stood a woman in a plain homespun dress, golden curls framing a rounded and motherly face with sharp blue eyes. She blinked, and the dress was suddenly a fine silken ensemble with plaited ruffles down the sides and white velvet gloves. Another blink and it was a translucent blue scarf, so thin that it hid nothing at all as it wrapped around the woman’s chest and thighs. It kept shifting every time Rella glanced away even for the briefest of moments, and so distracted was she by the sight she almost didn’t notice the other figure standing to her right.
A winged helm covered the new woman’s hair, and a scuffed steel chestplate hid her figure. The armor was built for function over form; had she worn her hair short and concealed her face, Rella would have been hard-pressed to call her a woman. The hilt of the sword at her side gleamed with the polish of a lifetime of use, and a faded [Oracle]’s eye sat on the worn pommel. The armored figure watched for several moments while Rella scratched and clawed at the immovable hand and arm holding her suspended by the hair. She felt as if her neck would break or the hair pull away from her head, and then the woman on the right spoke, in clipped, businesslike tones.
“Let her go, Ruga; I think you have her attention.”
The hand lowered, the soles of Rella’s feet finally touching the ground. It did not let go immediately, and the woman on the left shifted through a dozen more iterations of attire before the one called Ruga finally relented with a resigned sigh.
“It wasn’t as entertaining as I thought it would be, waking her up in the fountain,” said the one to her left, the dress shifting to impossibly tight leathers sewn all in one piece, her voice warm and soothing. “Should have let Koma kick her a few times.”
“I’ll kick her and you if we don’t hurry this up, Ingra,” the armored woman replied. “If she’s here too long, Mother will wake.”
Koma turned away from the fountain, cold starlight casting defined shadows behind her as she walked through an arched doorway into what looked like a temple. The biting cold finally brought Rella the realization that she was naked, and she shivered while trying to cover herself.
“Where-- what--?” she stammered, glancing from one woman to the other.
“Calm down, girl,” said Ruga from behind her. “For clothes, all you have to do is think it, as Ingra does. The cold is the same way, stop thinking about it and it won’t bother you. This place has its own rules.”
Bringing her thoughts in order, Rella suddenly found herself wearing her old tunic and breeches, the outfit she had grown accustomed to during her time serving as the attendant to the previous [Oracle]. The woman behind her, Ruga, snorted derisively.
“Still haven’t grown to fill the shoes you stepped into, have you?”
“I-I’m--” Rella stuttered. “I’m still new at this! Where am I, anyway? This isn’t like the mindscape with the others…”
“It’s exactly the same,” Ruga countered, “except your sisters never learned how to navigate well enough to come this far. We had to pull you down.” She turned, following the other two women through the arch and out of sight. Rella remained where she was, awestruck and taking in the courtyard. Suddenly, Ruga was behind her again, once more seizing her hair. She marched Rella forward, through the archway, to where the women waited.
“No time to dawdle, girl. If Mother wakes up, it’s all for naught.”
“After we went through all that effort to bring you here, too,” said Ingra, dress shifting through several more changes, each seeming determined to beat the last in levels of indecency.
Ruga pressed Rella onward, following the two women out to a wide plain, where a worn stone path cut through thick grasses which stood taller than the young girl’s waist, eerily still in the calm air. A hundred paces distant, the path ended at a huge stone building, its roof braced by fluted Doric columns the height of ten men. It was towards this building that the group led Rella, stopping at its entrance.
“Welcome to the Halls of Remembrance,” said Koma, pushing open the door and leading the way inside.
When Rella caught sight of the interior, she stopped again, breath snatched out of her lungs by what she saw. Ruga simply lifted her back onto her toes, dragging her along.
The interior of the building held the sky full of stars she had seen while outside, only now they were striding through the middle of the floating lights.. The paved stone floor was featureless, but suspended above it was an ocean of glimmering cerulean and aquamarine, the orbs lazily describing individual pathways down the hall’s length. Other women walked the star-lined hall, reaching out from time to time to nudge the orbs back into position. The edges of the paved path gave way to an infinite blackness below, and Rella could not see what supported the structure at all.
Ruga gave her no time to take in the rest of the temple, quickly marching her to the far end of the hall where the path widened into a broad circular platform. The path also split here, spidering above and below, to different levels of the structure. A golden ring was inscribed in the grey stone, and the three women bracketed Rella in the center as the section of floor within the ring began to drop.
Growing more frustrated at being held up by her hair, Rella continued to claw at the iron wrist holding her up.
“Please! I can walk!”
With glacial slowness Ruga lowered her down until her feet were again flat on the floor. “I know this is new to you, and you have questions about everything you see here, but they can wait. Stop again, and Koma will move you instead of me. She will be far less gentle than I.” The hand withdrew, and Rella shook out her hair while rubbing the back of her head.
“What did I do? I don’t know any of you!”
Koma’s clipped intonation gave way to dripping, barely-leashed outrage.
“I don’t think you realize what you’ve done, giving a Seal to a demon,” she almost growled at her. “What were you thinking?”
“Don’t mind her,” interjected Ingra. “She was the [Oracle] during a crusade, had to let herself get killed by a demon abomination so that the next could lead the armies against the Bin’Drana Summoners. Tore her apart in front of all her loyal followers.” Rella gaped at the woman, mouth working soundlessly. “Sometimes we have to do unpleasant things, as you already know.”
“A decade of battle, only to die like an animal,” Koma grated, leering at Rella. “Do you know what it’s like to get your head ripped off by a demon? It’s not instant like you would think, especially when they do it slow. A succubus is the most vicious kind there is, and you gave her a Seal!” “She trembled, enraged, muscles jumping and quivering.
“If I can see her story, then so can you,” Rella objected, drawing a step away from the woman. “She was human once, before she Sinned.”
“Demons are not redeemable,” snapped the warrior woman. “They serve the Hells until their Sin is purged and they return to the Cycle. You are young and naïve.”
“And if it doesn’t work, you have a demon running rampant without a summoner’s geas,” added Ruga. “The death toll could be--”
“A lot less than letting Stormbreak fall,” Rella replied, heat entering her voice. “We can’t see past a choice not made, and you don’t know what she’ll choose!” Blooming anger starched her spine, letting her face the women’s stares.
The silent gazes persisted until the platform slowed to a stop, where Ingra broke the silence. “Enough, sisters,” she said, while her clothes settled into a slower pattern of formal suits that would not have been out of place at a bank or merchant’s guild. “The Mantle is hers until it passes on, and she’ll have to live with the consequences of that which she has set in motion. We brought her here because she cannot control the Sight.”
Koma’s hand drifted to the pommel of her sword, an absent-minded caress that Rella saw was a a subconscious affectation. She looked at the young [Oracle], a cold smile spreading across her face. “There is a solution, if you want to skip a few years of training and stay sane under the deluge. But you will not enjoy it.”
Ruga gently placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding her down the walkway. On this level, there were no floating orbs and only one path, the polished stones leading to a looming door, layered with what appeared to be thousands of overlapping protective enchantments, all linked to a central ward with a single circular disk serenely floating in midair. Her three escorts stepped forward, and Ruga let go of her shoulder as each of the three ancient [Oracles] placed a hand on the seal that floated in the center of the wards.
“This is the Armory.” Koma spoke softly, almost reverently. “You won’t be able to speak of what is stored within. These doors can only open in the right circumstances.”
“The world must reach a certain threshold of danger to everyone before we can come here directly, even in the dream.” Ingra’s dress finally stopped shifting, the woman losing her carefree irreverence as the enchantments began to disarm themselves. Her clothes settled to a simple tunic and breeches, utilitarian and subdued, with shades of brown split by a dark green crossbody sash. “We aren’t breaking any rules, not exactly…”
“But the price will weaken us considerably, so make it worth it.”
The last was almost a whisper from Ruga as lengths of chain wound through the seal began to move. The seal itself began to spin counterclockwise as if it were unwinding a screw to play out more chain, and heavy rumblings could be felt in the air.
“A bit overdone with the ominous presentation for something in a dream,” whispered Rella, subdued by the gravitas of the moment.
“This is no dream,” Koma replied stiffly. “It’s a reflection of the Halls in the waking world, and if there is need enough you can unlock the door on that side just like here. How else would the Armory be useful at all, if there was no way to access it?” Koma spoke as if lecturing a child, telling her something that she should already have known. “You simply have not had need of it in your time.”
“I haven’t even heard of it, or seen anything about it in the memories…”
The wards finally stopped spinning, the chains falling slack with a piercing rattle that sounded too loud for the empty space around them. The doors began to groan loudly as gigantic hidden mechanisms stirred to life, and they finally began to slide open.
“The existence of the Armory is not restricted knowledge, but throughout the history of Anfealt it has only been opened a handful of times in the waking world. If you had no reason to look, you wouldn’t know.” Koma gripped the hilt of her sword so tightly her gauntlet creaked under the strain, her own memories darkening her gaze. “You won’t need to actually go there on the waking side unless you have to call a crusade, and if that happens you will know how to find it.”
“We must hurry,” murmured Ruga urgently as the doors slid open with agonizing slowness. “She’s been here too long already.”
The three older women stepped through the doorway, a wide-eyed Rella close behind. The grand hall they entered next put every building the fledgling [Oracle] had ever seen to shame, in both the waking and dreaming worlds. She couldn’t see the roof; the columns that might hold one up disappeared into a misty cloudbank shot through with grim, jagged lightning. They were made of a bone-white stone mottled with grey and black striations, and so thick were they that Rella thought ten men might not be able to link hands around one. Hundreds of paces separated one from the next, and what lay between slackened Rella’s jaw and stopped her in her tracks.
“What…?”
“I told you, this is the Armory.” Koma’s voice was soft, subdued, reverent. Rella stepped forward, towards a seemingly endless field of weaponry, some in styles she couldn’t recognize, stretching farther than her eyes could see. “Anfealt is the Forge of Stories; this is where we remember the tools of those whose Stories resonate throughout time.”
The women took Rella along a winding path through the racks, and she felt like she might snap her neck as her eyes skipped from weapon to weapon:
A massive double-edged sword, seemingly crafted of a single piece of flint twice her height, with a dark substance staining its terrible edge. The bloodthirst that radiated from the blade was palpable from dozens of strides away;
A spear, its haft made of a white wood that seemed to glow against the backdrop of stone. Its head was fashioned of some intensely red metal that somehow hurt her eyes to look at;
A simple blacksmith’s hammer atop a simple pedestal. It seemed so pedestrian, and yet arranged in a circle around it were seven sets of armor that seemed as solid and strong as the columns that braced the sky;
A single-edged sword with a slightly curved blade in an ebony rack, its scabbard racked below it. A braided tassel hung from the grip, and the corded hilt bore an intricate diamond design. The blade thinned into invisibility at its edge, to a sharpness that beggared the mind.
Swords, shields, spears; hammers, maces, flails. Longbows and crossbows, knives and more. Weapons of every stripe Rella could imagine, and some she couldn’t, were scattered around the columns, defying her attempts to organize them in her mind.
The women led her past a gap in the scattered weaponry, a place between the columns where the floor sat bare for hundreds of paces. Ruga and her sisters refused to look towards the center as they skirted the edge, but Rella couldn’t help herself. Her eyes were drawn to an enchanted dais in the center of the cleared space. A Seal formed of seven glowing rings of energy encircled a massive black stone block that spun slowly in place, hovering inside the sphere of nullification magics held together by the seal. Her feet slowed as she looked at it, the dread material seeming to pull her in.
Ruga took her by the chin and forcibly turned her head away before she realized she had stepped towards it. “We don’t go there, girl. Only Mother can open that, and it’s enough negatite to kill you and wound the Mantle in the doing.”
Icy fingers of fear suddenly worked their way into her guts, and she took a shuddering step back, eager now to be away. “Negatite?” she whispered, stunned. “B-But that block...it must be six tons! Dark guilds pay a king’s ransom for grams of it!”
“Aye,” replied Ingra, her clothes flashing to a black dress and veil in funereal black. “And ten times the amount in the waking world would not be a tenth of that block. And what it holds inside is even more terrible.”
“What could require that much negatite to seal away!?”
“We don’t know,” admitted Koma, for once without anger in her voice. “It came after my time, and all of us within the Mantle agreed it was best to forget, so Mother sealed even the memory away.”
“Who is this ‘Mother,’ and why are you all afraid she’ll wake up?”
“That would be me,” came a vaguely amused voice from ahead.
As one, Ruga and her sisters dropped to their knees. Koma jerked Rella to the ground so hard she barely had time to put her hands out to catch herself, and her knees hardly fared better. Unlike the three who kept their gazes to the floor, Rella beheld the woman. She stood next to a pedestal which bore a small orb on a cloth-covered tray. Slippers of pale cream adorned her feet, below a dress of such a rich blue that it was as if the sky itself was wrapped around her body. Indeed, clouds appeared to move across its surface as her eyes drifted up. A belt fashioned of flattened silver chain draped across her hips, resting beneath a narrow waist and a matronly chest.
Her face was stern and regal in appearance below midnight-black hair which cascaded below her shoulders, but it was her eyes that entranced the young girl. They seemed as if they held the myriad stars of the universe within them, and pierced her soul with an all-seeing, all-knowing gaze.
Her presence burned, impressing itself on the world, and drove doubled lances of pain into Rella’s skull.
“Don’t look so close,” she advised. “Your sisters do not avert their eyes for fear of me, but of losing themselves within the Mantle.”
A sob tore its way out of her throat, and Rella jerked her gaze away. “Who--what--are you?”
“I was the First,” came the flat reply. “I stood alone, with no others to share my burden. Whatever trials you may face as you come to control the Sight will earn no sympathy from me.”
She wilted under that proclamation, excuses dying in her mouth unspoken. “I am trying,” she whispered. “I am willing to pay whatever price must be paid. I can’t afford to take years to train myself.”
“A dangerous thing to say, without knowing the price first.” Looking down, Rella could hear the swish of fabric as the woman took several steps. Her shadow on the floor seemed to circle the pedestal she had glimpsed earlier. “Do not think I am angry, child. I am merely...displeased with your sisters for playing such games with you while more important matters must be attended to.”
“She risks a demon unbound!” interjected Koma without raising her head, knuckles white.
“There are always demons, child. Devils. Angels. Worldwalkers and fallen gods, dark cultists, war and strife and death -- and life burgeons unending despite that. Anfealt endures! Does the anvil fear the might of the smith? It is indifferent, as is the world and the Mantle itself. The purpose of the [Oracle] is two-fold. We witness! That none may fall forgotten! We do not judge, we only preserve!”
The first [Oracle] did not raise her voice; she did not need to, and yet it carried in echoes back from the distant columns. It rebounded from the emptiness above, pressing down on the kneeling women. She stood silent for a long moment, then continued.
“We preserve the stories, and we safeguard free will. For without free will, choice is no more. Stories are made piece by piece by the choices mortals make, and without the ability to choose, the story ends. They brought you here, child, to offer you a choice. At this rate, the visions will kill you or drive you mad before you come into your full power.”
“How do I stop that from happening? How do I buy myself the time to learn?”
“You pay the price,” she replied. “Come and look at the pedestal; there, you will find what your sisters were bringing you to see.” The woman stepped out of Rella’s range of view, sparing her the intensity of looking upon the first [Oracle]. She stood, keeping her eyes on the simple carved post. It lacked ornamentation, and had been chiseled into a square, the toolmarks still rough on its surface. It was capped with a plain linen cloth above which floated the small orb she had glimpsed before. It was formed of some type of glass, or perhaps crystal, and within it swirled the same lights she beheld in the first [Oracle]’s eyes.
“Long ago, a young god from another world came to Anfealt, seeking wisdom and knowledge as he travelled the stars. You do not have years to spend in meditation at your temple, so claim the eye he traded for lost knowledge. It will filter the chaos from your Sight, allowing you to withstand the weight of the knowing. Make your choice, and remember our purpose.”
The woman faded away as she spoke the last words, leaving the younger [Oracles] alone once more.
Rella reached out tentatively, stopping just short of touching the orb. “Do I… Eat it? Or just grab it?”
The other women had stood by this point, and closed in behind her; she felt the familiar hand as Ruga once again seized her by the hair to hold her still. It was Koma who spoke then, her voice drained of the anger she had aimed at Rella before.
“You know the answer to that. And I am sorry for being rude before. Mother is right, and there are more important things than demons while those damned collars still taint the waking world.”
“Is this what you choose?” asked Ingra with a sorrowful expression. “Koma will be as quick and merciful as she can, but you already know it will be bad.”
Rella’s heart beat faster and faster, determination fortifying her spirit against the dread which sought to claim it. “Will it stop hurting after or will it stay bad?”
“It will likely be sore for months,” Ruga answered. “But the worst will pass in a few moments. The danger will be the shock. If you can hold onto yourself through that, you will recover. And the visions will be much more bearable.”
Rella let out a quick breath. “Do it, then, before I--”
She didn’t get to finish her sentence before Ruga’s grip tightened on her head and chin, fixing her in place. For a fleeting moment, she saw the tips of Koma’s gauntleted fingers, and then her world became whiteness and pain. She screamed in agony, muscles twitching and jumping as she tried to thrash her way out of Ruga’s grip.
She felt one of the women -- it must have been Ingra -- wrap their arms around her, murmuring softly. “Shh...shh, we have you...just a few more moments…”
The words in her ear brought the young [Oracle] precious little comfort as she felt something cold and solid press into the void where her right eye had been moments before. The coldness spread backward, through meat and bone before suddenly intensifying, a frozen snap she could almost hear causing her body to convulse. Another cry rose from her throat, before her jaw snapped shut and a hot, coppery taste flooded her mouth, causing her to gag and choke. Ruga and Ingra lowered her to the floor, where Koma’s iron grip squeezed her jaw.
“Breathe, girl!” she commanded.
Rella obeyed with an explosive gasp, flopping over onto her side and coughing up blood. For a moment she thought she had truly gone blind, until a soft linen cloth wiped her face. It withdrew, soiled with blood, and another was offered in its place. Sobbing, she took it and pushed herself up to sit, using her own tears to wash her face as best as she could.
She sat for a long time, or so it seemed to her. The other women stood a silent vigil, their respect keeping them from offering weak platitudes or false sorrow. She finally spoke, her voice a raspy whisper.
“How do I get out? I want to leave, but I don’t know how…”
“Leaving is as simple as willing it. There are no locks keeping us in, and we can only take things out when there is need or a price has been paid. You have paid the price, and can leave as soon as you wish to.”
It was Ingra who spoke, as she helped Rella back to her feet. With a gentle touch at odds with her earlier brusqueness, she pushed Rella’s hair aside, wiping another smudge of blood off her face while inspecting the new eye. “It is rather striking,” she commented. “I hope your would-be champion likes it. But now, I think you are out of time.”
“You cannot stay much longer or it will begin to damage your mind, eye of a god or not,” added Ruga.
“Only a few minutes will have passed in the waking world,” said Koma.
“I know,” she told them, the pain fading and part of the Sight beginning to return. “I have one more bit of business to take care of before I wake.” She held up her left hand, a flickering image of an eye coming to life on her palm. “The seal is activating. I guess I’ll know soon enough if you were right, Koma.”
With a burst of will, guided by her newly-improved Sight, Rella stepped through the dream to another place. Smokey images of walls still dripping with blood formed around the blurred yet familiar shape cradling two forms on the floor. The demon wept, and the Seal on the back of Zizzy’s hand flashed brilliant white.
The light brought the room into vivid detail, and the Constable saw Rella standing there.
“Who? How? You are here, yet not!” exclaimed the succubus.
“It’s time to make a choice, Ix’zizzixtrim,” the young [Oracle] intoned.
“What choice?” Zizzy moaned. “I failed. I was too slow, and he managed to trigger an evolution into something even stronger. Wouldn’t the Paladins serve you better now?”
“They’re much slower than you. They don’t have a chance to catch him now. But would you still take him, had you the chance?”
Zizzy flapped her remaining wing with a belated sigh of resignation. “Of course, but it will be days before I regenerate,” she groaned, indicating the amputated limb. “Even if I feed first.”
“Enough self-loathing, demon!” Rella barked. She thrust her hand forward, the dream-limb sliding smoothly into the constable’s chest. The succubus’ lips parted in a soundless gasp as Rella’s hand took hold of the chains binding the demon’s heart, forcing her to lock eyes with the [Oracle]. Her new eye, in its wisdom, showed Rella exactly how to loosen the chains -- and in the span of a heartbeat, her geas lay half undone. “Were you unbound, would you still pursue him?”
The succubus strained and flailed, clawing at Rella’s arm in blind panic, until what Rella said impressed itself upon her. Zizzy’s arms went limp around Rella’s, and she licked suddenly-dry lips. “You can’t possibly mean--?”
“I mean exactly what I said, Constable. I have made my Choice. It’s time for you to make yours.”
The [Oracle] twisted the last link with a deft gesture, and runes the color of weeks-old blood drew themselves into scarlet ribbons around the succubus. Rella withdrew her arm and stepped back, letting Zizzy collapse to the floor. The demon’s missing wing regrew in fits and starts under the guiding hand of her unbound nature, as a pulsing drumbeat rose to fill the room.
Her broken back healed itself to a series of grotesque snaps and cracks, wrenching sobs from the demon as she found herself wracked with changes she had not felt in an age. Infernal light shone from her eyes as the drumbeat grew to a physical thing. Her arms lengthened into inhumanity, hands elongating into vicious talons. She looked down at them in wonder as her veins began to pulse, glowing a hellish orange as the fires, long dormant, once again rose inside her. As her Warden uniform burned to cinders, Zizzy let out a scream, half in agony and half in demonic fury.
What rose moments later was not Zizzy, the succubus Constable of Stormbreak.
“Make your choice,” the [Oracle] demanded. “Ix’zizzixtrim, the Unbound -- choose now how your Story will be remembered!”
“Not...one...more,” the towering figure growled, muscles jumping and quivering. “He takes not one more!”
The [Oracle] regarded the enraged demon before her, smiling bloodlessly. One human eye and one starlit orb met the challenge of a pair of demonic slits, and held them fast.
“Then, rise!” she Commanded. “[Crimson Ruin], [Defiler’s Nemesis], rise and take wing!”
The roof of the building erupted, throwing masonry and massive chunks of wood into the air as Zizzy took flight, hurling herself skyward on massive beats of fiery wings. As the vision faded, Rella could hear screams and shouts of fear and panic, but those would pass in time.
She swam back to the waking world for the span of a few heartbeats; long enough to feel anew the searing pain in her replaced eye, and to see three panicked faces above her. Two golden-haired girls stood to one side, terrified, their eyes wide and shining. A handsome young man with a familiarly crooked nose stood to the other, his eyes dry but no less shocked. All three were spattered with blood.
Then, sleep took her -- and this time, she did not dream.
|
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"title": "Skyclad - Chapter 27: Shattered Fates",
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|
Rella felt the words reverberate in her chest. Speaking with the full voice of the Mantle was unnerving at the best of times, and while never actually painful, it still took her several moments to recover. A Gathering was an occasion which occurred only once or twice a century, and traditions stronger than law dictated the reactions of everyone save the Worldwalkers. Her proclamation snapped Aomhar’s jaw shut, and though his expression was sour, he returned to the slightly raised flagstone in front of Forvale’s table. The rest of the rulers did likewise, leaving Jacob Ward standing at the top of the steps near the edge of the circle. He didn’t quite have a scowl on his face, but it was close.
“Weldtir stands by the Bargain,” spoke Mette.
“Meadowspire stands by the Bargain.” Lamon Dale seemed almost bored by the theatrics, even though he had not been born at the time of the last Gathering.
“Forvale stands by the Bargain,” Aomhar said, more politely than his expression would have indicated.
“Kosala stands by the Bargain.” Desena Kos was by far the youngest of the group to wear a crown, and eyed the others warily. The young queen had never left her homeland until now, but Rella knew the nervous outward demeanor hid a mind as shrewd as any other. Bound to neutrality, she could not have told of the scheming games the girl had played to discredit her aunts and uncles to clear her path to rule even if she had been so inclined to reveal that Story.
“Drakenth stands by the Bargain,” coughed Hanz Geremas.
“The Five Crowns have answered. The Bargain is upheld!”
That is so unpleasant! I know the words; you made me memorize them! thought Rella at Koma’s echo, floating just beneath the surface of the Mantle.
This is part of our job, came the wry response. You know the rest, you have to get them to agree before our last guests arrive.
Koma was not referring to The General. Jacob Ward stood just outside the circle, and she silently thanked him for his patience. The man was angry, but held his emotions in check, bound in an iron grip as disciplined as any warrior she’d ever met. Someone with lesser self-control would likely have completely disrupted the Gathering, ending any chance of her binding the Crowns together in a unified agreement to make war on the Deskren. Another Worldwalker yet approached, however, so the young [Oracle] knew that time was running out. How the General would greet the Hammer was a thing not even she could predict.
There were many formalities that could come later. A peaceful Gathering would have been called years in advance, heralded by weeks of festival and revelry before attending to the business of introducing the new [Oracle] to the kings and queens of Anfealt. Circumstances being what they were, though, such things were a bit more hurried. Rella felt a kinship with Jacob Ward in this moment; she, too, had little regard for the usual pleasantries. She rushed through most of them, carefully weighing the risk of insulting the nobility against the constant wear on even the Battlemaster’s patience.
“Blood has been spilled in the City of Prophets. Blood has been spilled in the Temple of Remembrance.”
Mette responded first. “Weldtir is engaged with the enemy as we speak. I am accompanied by two of my legions; the remainder are helping my people recover from the flooding and reinforcing my borders against Deskren incursions, but they stand ready to march at my command.”
Desema Kos was next, straightening up and casting aside her meek facade. “Kosala has no vast armies to offer, Your Grace. Unless you foresee a need for our fleets, supplies and shipping are all we can offer.”
“It is not impossible,” Rella said with sadness. “The city of Expedition will be under siege in four days, and will fall in forty if not relieved. If they take that fortress, the path is clear to Eastharbor and then Ko’Salana itself.”
The young Queen’s face paled. “Surely the Huntress will return and drive them out.” It was almost a whisper from the woman, a faint hope.
Rella shook her head. “I saw them enter the Wildlands. I do not see them returning. Nothing is certain except that they are beyond my Sight at this moment.”
“The Drakengard are diminished still,” rasped Hanz. “Barely a dozen breeding pairs, and less than a hundred half-trained Sky-Knights. All we can provide are scouts and messengers.” The old man did not embellish or make excuses; he simply spoke the weary facts. “The lowlanders will have to do the actual fighting.”
“Infantry moves slowly,” said the measured voice of Lamon Dale of Meadowspire. “Thanks to the Storm Breakers, the harvest has not been disrupted in the Golden Meadows this year. None of our armies will want for bread, but it will take more than forty days to reach Fort Expedition. Fifty days, at least; more if you want the Magisterium’s battlemages in any condition to fight. I don’t need divination to know that having to retake the fort will be worse than losing it in the first place.”
“If Expedition falls, the paths will be open for the enemy to march on Kosala or Forvale,” said Rella as she turned to face Aomhar Valence. “You’ve had the Rangers shadowing the Black Lance ever since the day of Thunder and Mud. Can you not send them to Expedition?”
The sour-faced king, confronted with the possibility of danger to his own lands, wiped the arrogant expression from his face. “If Forvale is truly at risk, I have to strengthen my own borders...but I think I can spare the Rangers,” he allowed, rubbing his chin. “Few would be as well-suited to slipping past the Deskren.” After another moment of consideration, he nodded. “It shall be done, and extra supplies sent alongside -- so long,” he said, raising a finger, “as recompense is paid. Forvale lacks the grain fields of Meadowspire or the great cattle herds of Weldtir.”
“Remember honor, whelp,” admonished Hanz. “If they get a foothold in Kosala you’ll lose your kingdom come spring when their reinforcements arrive.”
Rella kept from smiling, but only because she had been distracted by the pieces falling together as Fate wove its web. So it was that she had a bare second of warning before Jacob finally interrupted.
“You need to keep Expedition from falling in the first place,” the Battlemaster interrupted, striding into the middle of the pavillion.
Aomhar’s expression regained its contemptuousness at the interruption, but Rella remained silent to allow the fool his blunder. “Who is this outsider giving advice? Tricks with a levee won’t march troops nearly two thousand miles in forty days, General.” The Forvalen King nearly spat the last word as he matched Jacob’s steps to close with him near the center of the circle.
“Are you the asshole that refused to allow the farmers and traders to sell us food under threat of imprisonment?” inquired the [Hand of Solace].
“We don’t do business with invaders,” Aomhar sneered, and Rella stepped back a pace, pulling Sophie and Sonya back with her. “Your wench should keep her mou-”
Crack!
The back of Jacob’s hand interrupted the King’s outburst, the impact so vicious that Aomhar lost his footing, shoulders and head striking the flagstones before his backside. His crown clattered to the masonry, tumbling away as blood spattered the stones. Two of his guardsmen rushed forwards, and Wyatt appeared, shield raised, in the span of an eyeblink.
“I am not peacebound, and you will watch your tone when addressing my wife,” said Jacob as calmly as if musing about the weather while the King’s servants called out for a healer.
“I can heal him,” said Erin, stepping forward and ignoring the drawn blades of the Forvalen Guard. “I think he’s learned his lesson. If not, my husband can continue his education.”
Jacob turned back to Rella, and she steeled herself for what was to come. The prisoner he had brought, and the terrible thing he carried in the pouch at his side, were a burden and a trial she knew she must face. At least we can get this part over with before the rest of them arrive, she whispered to the others within the Mantle.
“I’ve come to make a bargain,” said the Battlemaster. “This world seems fond of those. I’ll help you with your little slaver problem, but I have a price of my own.” He reached to his belt, tossing the pouch onto the stones before gently pushing Calvin Descroix forward a step.
The pouch opened, spilling its contents onto the stone. A collective gasp rose from the crowd, and everyone flinched back as the glittering gold loop of the Collar tumbled onto its side at Rella’s feet.
=======================================
Millie Thatcher took a half-step forward after the Battlemaster sent the rude King tumbling, her hand raised and outstretched, fingers poised to snap, when the guardsmen rushed forward. Jacob waved her down as Miss Erin stepped forward to heal the foolish man. The pretty lady with the eye-patch had to be the famous [Oracle] Millie already knew of, but she had thought it would be an older grandmother and not a young lady. The woman had stepped back with two other girls just before the General struck, and so avoided the blood that spattered across the paving stones.
Before the [Oracle] could respond to Jacob’s statement, the foolish king stood. Now healed thanks to Miss Erin’s magic, his expression was still comically angry enough that Millie had to suppress a giggle. She didn’t like laughing; her lack of speech rendered what sounds she could still produce into softer versions of themselves which Miss Jenna and the other women had all declared to be “cute as a button.” Now is not the time to be cute, she thought to herself.
“If you are not bound by the Peace of the Gathering,” he snarled, “then neither are you protected by it. I’ll have your head for that!”
“Yer pappy weren’t half the jack-ass you are, boy,” drawled Mister Hett. “Iffen ‘e was here, ‘e’d have ye up by one ear and whipped on down the hill for embarrassing yer family line. You just settle down or I might take a mind to do Old Man Valence one last favor since I missed his funeral.”
The man turned purple with rage, his hand dropping to the fancy jewelled sword at his side. Hett didn’t move, nor did he bother reaching for his axe, which lay strapped across his back; Millie knew how fast the old mule-driver could move, and she had no doubt that, were he to draw his blade, not a second would pass before Forvale would need a new king.
“If that’s not Obadiah Hettle, I’ll eat saddle leather,” boomed a man that looked almost as old as Hett. His voice was gruff and tired, but his eyes twinkled with life below a crown of thin black wire woven into a band.
Hett seemed to forget all about the red-faced Aomhar, as the other rulers and their guards stepped back even further from his shaggy form. They know him! she thought. He’s more than just a man with some mules! He turned with a grin, rubbing his beard.
“Hanz! Hanz Geremas!” he laughed, slapping his thigh. “I thought for sure you’d have fallen off your drake by now!”
“Mister Hett, a pleasure as always.” Rella interrupted the two old men with a half-bow and a conspiratorial smile. She winked her one eye at Millie, before continuing. “But I’m afraid you let your accent slip! The country farmhand disguise is ruined!”
“Aye, lass. There’s a time and a place for affectation, but I had to step in before Anfealt lost another King. The Battlemaster has more important things to speak with you about.”
“Indeed he does,” said the one-eyed [Oracle], turning to face Jacob and the collar he had thrown on the ground. “Do you realize what you have brought here? The Deskren have always managed to reclaim or destroy any of the Soul Shackles before they could be brought to me, even if it cost them entire legions to do.”
“It is said in my homeland,” croaked the prisoner, Calvin Descroix. “It is said that should the [Oracle] lay hands on one of the Shackles, that it would cause another Oasa, and the Dead Sands would take us all.”
“The Elemental Desert was not caused by the [Oracle]. She let the first Emperor put the collar around her neck, knowing the Mantle may not be Bound. Her sacrifice rent the world itself, and the Gods, in newfound humility, gathered together to seal the tear before it could swallow the world.” She bent down, pulling a linen kerchief from a pocket in her dress to gingerly pick up the collar as if holding a venomous snake.
“Those that bore the Mantle before my time,” she started almost reverently, “schemed and planned, offered riches and titles without end...sacrificed of themselves, and sometimes sacrificed themselves entirely...did their best to lay hands on one of these, or to commune with the elves.” She turned the collar in her hand, staring at its glittering surface, and let out a long sigh. “But the Gods slumber still, and the elves have long since fled for distant lands, much diminished.” Sadness, and a grim smile, washed across her face. “And yet here you stand today, throwing it at my feet. Today, we can finally take the first steps to right that ancient wrong.”
“That’s quite a lot of information to take in.” Jacob’s voice was gruff and to the point. “You need to save Fort Expedition. I can do this, if I have a free hand and enough supplies. Of elves and Gods and holes in the world, there you are on your own.”
“No one can march that far that fast, Worldwalker,” spoke the armored queen. “Nineteen hundred miles, nearly two thousand to pace the southern shore of the Sea of Possibility. Fifty days if we emptied all of our treasuries for alchemical enhancements for an army. And that’s with fair weather and no battles on the way there. Today is the last day of summer; you’ll hit the snows a week’s march before you even reach the lower end of the pass. You’d never cross the Wild Waters in time once you got there.”
“I didn’t ask if it could be done,” Jacob replied. “I said that I can.”
“And to which crown will you swear fealty?” This one Millie thought of as the Tall King, younger than the old man Hett had called Hanz, but older than the Foolish King or either of the Queens. “You lead a mercenary company with neither charter nor sanction, bound by neither oath nor blood. Yet you seek leave to travel as you will, through our lands? Impossible.”
“My oaths have already been sworn,” Jacob almost growled, not quite with contempt for the rulers before him. “They still bind me, even in this world. I won’t swear to any crown.”
“To whom, then, are you sworn?” Hanz asked, pulling a pipe from his pouch and lighting it with a faint spark from his thumb. Millie found that the most interesting thing she’d seen today, with the single exception of the warrior queen’s arms and armor, and resolved to ask Miss Jenna about the Drakengard the next time she practiced her letters. “If you’re sworn to no crown...” He let the statement hang, and Millie didn’t like the feeling his words left in the air.
“Freedom itself.” Jacob looked the kings and queens in the eye each in turn. “I have no interest in your crowns, not the ones on your heads or any left laying about. If you failed in your duties as monarchs your own people would see to resolving that; either through uprising, or by weakening your own nations until you fell, you would lose those fancy crowns if you were truly bad at the job. But those,” he spat, pointing at the collar held up by the [Oracle]. “Those are inexcusable. A person has the choice to overthrow a tyrant, or at least to try. Those things are an abomination, and the fact that you’ve let them exist for four centuries means I will never swear to any of you.” He swept his gaze back across the nobles, only to refocus his gaze on Rella as she spoke up again.
“Will you destroy them?” asked the young woman, without looking up from the worked golden circlet in her hands. “You say you serve freedom.” She looked at the General. “Would you take on this duty, to seek them out, these insults to the very idea of free will? Until the last one is gone, would you set yourself to this task?”
“Lady,” gruffed Jacob. “I already have.”
“And after?” she pressed. “Would you stand watch, lest the like of these one day come again?” Clouds had begun to build in the distance to the northwest, a cold breeze punctuating the question. Millie thought the clouds looked strange, but saw no way to interrupt the conversation without making a fool of herself and embarrassing her commanding officer.
“Until the last day, and then one more.”
At that, Rella straightened as if shocked, and drew a deep breath to Speak:
“The bargain has been struck! Five Crowns stand as Witness!”
The woman’s voice nearly knocked Millie down, and, in fact, did send several servants in various royal livery tumbling outward from the circle. She stumbled, but did not fall, bracing herself as the [Oracle] continued to Speak, while thunder not of Millie’s making rumbled in the distance.
“The Black Lance marches ever onwards. Let those who aid his banner be blessed with fortune, and those who impede him be trampled underfoot, so long as he holds to his duty without end. The Duke of the Endless March rides forth! Should he stray from his path, let Fate forget his face!”
Jacob reeled back, but did not fall, cursing as the weight of the decree fell upon him.
“What-- a Title--?”
The [Oracle] merely smiled. “You should have learned by now to have better care with your words in this world,” she said, glancing aside to share a smile with Millie.
“A title won’t get you to Expedition Pass any sooner,” said the Warrior Queen. “Nothing I know of will make armies march that far that fast.”
“That,” said the [Oracle] as she held up the Golden Collar, “is simply a matter of sufficient motivation to sufficient numbers of the right people.”
====================================
Mette Weldt stepped back as the [Oracle] spoke, an eerie silver light glowing within her remaining eye. The winds picked up again, a bitter cold that carried a wild scent in the air that tickled her memory. The younger woman stepped towards the captive Descroix man, but her attention was caught by Hanz Geremas. The ruler of the high passes of Drakenth was sniffing the air, like an animal who had caught a familiar scent. No, she thought. Like a Drake. There was nothing of fear or apprehension in the old man’s bearing; merely intense curiosity. Her own interest was further stoked when Rella spoke once again.
“We have more guests arriving soon; I see some of you have caught their scent on the wind. It is not of import to the Gathering, so let us proceed with our own matters first.” She turned to the newly titled Duke of the Endless March. “You are absolutely right that it is inexcusable that this filth has persisted for so long. Allow me to set in motion the righting of that wrong, here and now.”
“That I’ll be happy to see,” said the Duke, “although I must leave today if we are to save this city, Expedition.”
“For that, I require the blood of the original Emperor Descroix, or one of his line.”
Jacob glanced at Calvin, then back at Rella, his gaze suddenly wary. “All of it? He’s been a cooperative prisoner, and a wealth of information on the Empire.”
Mette’s spine tingled as the [Oracle]’s silvery laugh chimed across the stone circle. “By rights I could demand it, though I have seen his misery from his duties conflicting with his wishes. This one dreams of peace, but it is not to be.” Rella tilted her head to one side in thought. “No, for this a drop will do.”
The armored queen gasped as one of the girls standing behind the [Oracle] vanished in a ripple of dispelled illusion, reappearing next to Calvin Descroix before stepping back to hand a bloody dagger to Rella. A thin line opened up on the man’s cheek, and a single drop of crimson stained the tip of the blade.
“Thank you, Sonya,” said the [Oracle] with a prim smile.
Mette suppressed a grimace, and by the looks of the other rulers, they had the same thought as her. The crown of Weldtir, like most other symbols of rule, was actually a powerful Artefact. I should have seen through her illusion! Only Hanz seemed unfazed, letting loose a guffaw.
“Blind children, all of you. You shouldn’t rely on old relics. If you’d been paying attention, you would have seen her image go perfectly still without breathing or blinking.” The old man nodded with respect at the girl. “Excellent form, but remember to let the illusion breathe and fidget.”
The young Worldwalker nodded, taking another step back to stand next to her twin sister.
================================
Rella drew a long breath, bracing herself for what she meant to do. The others within the Mantle murmured with unease, but she hastened to explain herself. It’ll hurt, to craft this seal. But we may never get another chance, and I need something to motivate the people! A mere bounty of experience won’t get them moving! she thought urgently within the dreamscape. Her forebears protested, but saw her reasons. The Battlemaster may have had his own reasons to destroy the collars, but she knew he could never succeed unless she could spur everyone else in Anfealt to act as well.
There will be consequences, warned one familiar voice: her direct predecessor and the previous [Oracle]. We will be quite busy in the coming years, as will whoever takes up the Mantle if you should fall.
I’ll still be busy even then, you know! Rella smiled inwardly as the others laughed.
“Mister Hett,” she said out loud. “If I could have your assistance? Our other guests are almost here, and we must hurry so the Duke can make for Expedition.”
“I’ll be taking our new friend Descroix here when I go. His insights and knowledge of the enemy will be invaluable.” The Duke looked at her as if daring her to challenge, but Rella had seen this outcome and had no issues with it. With what she was about to do, executing the man would have been nearly as pointless as watching the other rulers squabble over who deserved the honor of playing headsman.
“As long as you take responsibility for him, he’s yours,” she replied. “No one will bat an eye if something happens to him elsewhere, under your watch.”
“Fair ‘nuff,” he replied with a nod, replacing his darkened steel helm on his head.
Rella returned to her current business, her will twining together with that of her sisters dwelling within the Mantle. Threads of silver light spun from her fingertips, weaving a net around the collar. No single mind could have traced the delicate patterns, but thousands of minds handled it together almost like an afterthought.
She let the Threads of Fate sink into the metal before tossing it to the ground between herself and Hett. With a careful flicking motion of the dagger, a single drop of Descroix blood fell into the web. No turning back now! She felt almost exultant, despite the pain she knew would come later.
“What was done so long ago, one single act cannot fully undo. But now, we set our feet upon the path of justice! Let it be declared, from the steps of every Temple and the heights of every Tower: by the power of this seal, I declare a bounty upon this Golden Shackle! Let any who destroy these blasphemous chains gain a Level as their reward!”
As her ringing voice faded into silence, and the light of the Seal flared into brilliance, Rella fell back into Sophie and Sonya’s waiting arms. Her legs felt weak, and she could no longer hold herself upright. She felt herself be lowered to the ground, her every breath a battle with exhaustion. The Seal’s light crawled along the pavilion’s flagstones, threads of silver and gold reaching and then climbing the massive columns that encircled the Gathering. At their apex, the light dimmed for a moment before pulsing outward in a massive wave that threw off the coming storm’s shadows as it spread from horizon to horizon.
“Mister Hett!” she wheezed with great effort. The Duke, and all of the kings and queens, stood in shock. Experience bounties had been declared from time to time in the past: rare, yes, but often enough to be known. A Level Bounty had never been mentioned in any records written anywhere, and Rella knew that her declaration had been the first in the history of Anfealt.
The old man needed no more prompting: he unstrapped his axe and raised it high, the blade flashing in the light before he brought it whistling downward to slam through the collar, burying itself in the stone with thunderous impact.
He froze in place, as golden light rippled from his head to his shoes. His hair, gone past white to the yellow of the last days of old age, began to darken. His shoulders stooped less, and his legs grew slightly straighter. He took a deep breath, his chest still heaving, but without the elderly rattle he had had before. The regen from gaining a level would not stay with him for very long, not at his age, but Rella knew he would have several weeks of feeling young once more.
“Ninety.” he spoke, no longer rasping or drawling his words. “Three.” He continued, turning a slow circle to eye the monarchs upon the hilltop, stepping back towards Rella with a truly frightening grin. “Do you know what you have set in motion, girl?”
“An ending,” she whispered. “Long overdue.”
Howls interrupted them then, as Rella thanked the others within the Mantle for helping her finish her tasks in time. A rush of wingbeats filled the evening air, along with snarls and yips and growls and roars. From the north and the west they came, and blades were bared as startled guards and rulers withdrew as one to the other side of the pavillion to flank the [Oracle] where she lay, propped up on the ground.
“It’s alright,” she whispered to Sonya and Sophie, but it was the Battlemaster who heard her first and called for everyone to halt. His booming voice cut through the chaos and he turned back to her.
“Who-- what--? There are thousands, hundreds of thousands!” He seemed truly unsettled for the first time since he had appeared in Rella’s Sight.
“They are--” she began to respond, but was interrupted by a reverberating growl that shook the stones.
“We are the Children of the First Beast. The Alpha has come, and we have followed.”
The voice came from all around the pavillion, from hundreds of different throats. Some chirped like birds, some yowled like cats, others growled or yipped. A massive shadow strode into the circle of stones, a canine silhouette thrown against the flagstones. It shrank as its owner drew closer to the center, eventually shrinking to match the size of its owner: a young man dressed in hide breeches tied with strips of leather, barefoot and bare-chested. His unkempt hair drifted in the autumn breeze, and the jagged scar across his chest stood out, raw and red, against his otherwise pale skin.
“Hello, Adrin Holt,” Rella managed to say with something that almost resembled a reasonable volume. “Or should I call you The Hammer?”
“They call me the Alpha, but it’s nice to hear my name.”
“Who are you, boy? And why are you here?” rasped Hanz, unfazed and unintimidated or at least old enough to not show it.
“I am Adrin Holt, and I have brought the Children of Ka’Na Oko to repay their debt to the [Oracle].”
“This is the Gathering of Kings,” Mette interjected, her voice carrying a hard edge. “The beastmen have no part of it, or of the Deskren!”
“They have millions of our brethren in chains; you know we have a part of that,” replied the young man. “But the Debt was old before there were ever any Kings to Gather.” The man turned back towards Rella, where Wyatt had placed himself with shield up. Adrin made a strange bow, dropping halfway to one knee and turning his head to the side as if baring his throat. “Lady Prophet, we have come to repay the Debt.”
“I see you, Adrin Holt, and I see the Children of Ka’Na Oko.” She weakly nodded her head towards Jacob Ward. “This man marches against my enemies. Will you, as well?”
Jacob, who had been carefully surveying the massed shapes outside the Gathering, turned back to the pair as he was addressed, laughing and shaking his head wonderingly. “How many did you bring?”
Adrin glanced at him with a shrug. “All of them.”
|
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"title": "Skyclad - Chapter 41: Unending Duty",
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Morgan Mackenzie had lost track of just how long she had spent aimlessly wandering the forest. The flood of notifications, experience, and more than one level up would have been bad enough, given what she’d just done to the dungeon. Worse, however, was the mental assault from the not-spider. It had left her dazed, drifting, in a dreamlike state of unreality that didn’t seem to fade. She remembered the fire, of course; the taste of ash and cinder in the air as the greenery of the leafy maze burned, the splash of molten earth and stone beneath her toes as she ran out of the inferno like a toddler in hell’s own burning mud puddle. Though she was immune to Morgan’s fire, Lulu had eventually retreated into the storage rune on her hip as the lava flowed around its mistress’s legs. The hardest part of getting out of where the dungeon had once existed had been breathing; Morgan had been forced to resort to using Air magic to filter out the dust and fumes as they threatened to choke her to death.
Compared to the raging fire burning in her bones, the heat of the molten stone through which she trod had felt warm and soothing. Drawing on fire as deeply as she had had wed her to the flames in her marrow, to the living thing inside her, the essence of [Fire] waiting eagerly for its chance to surge forth.
Morgan didn’t know how long she spent in a fugue state. Several days at least, she knew, because when she pulled the last parcel of broiled shellipede out of her storage, it was rotten and slick. As her mind cleared, she began to hunt as she traveled. She lost track of her days and nights, walking when she was awake and leaving a trail of ever more complex earthen campsites behind her when she slept. She killed and ate [Murdersquirrels], a [Wildpine Deer], and even a [Tyrannorabbit] that made the mistake of startling her with its scream. Her reaction to being suddenly paralyzed had been immediate and visceral, unleashing her fire to rage against everything in her reach, A reach that had grown considerably after she allocated points to her Intellect in the wake of the dungeon’s destruction. There was barely a meal left of the rabbit after that.
Headaches frequently washed away her vision and sent spikes into her brain, driving her to her knees with their intensity while a frantic Lulu hopped around looking for whatever enemy assailed its mistress. But there were no external threats for the brave little scrubby to exfoliate, for the damage was in Morgan’s mind. She had no defense against it, and her brain was the one part of her body she could not repair through her [Regeneration] skill. The overwhelming confusion had faded eventually, and all she could do was endure the headaches and hope they would fade as well.
Fortunately, they did; after what felt like an eternity but couldn’t have been more than a few weeks, she was awoken by another notification that her [Psychic Resistance] had reached the second level.
“I don’t even remember getting the first level…” she said out loud, with more than a little concern for other things she might not even remember forgetting. That concern, however, couldn’t take the shine off how good she was feeling now that the constant migraine was behind her.
To celebrate her much-improved mood, Morgan treated herself to a bath. She had built her nightly campsite within a short walk of a small stream, and made her way there through the early morning fog that blanketed the forest. [Terrakinesis] made quick work of pulling up stone and molding it into a luxuriously large and perfectly ergonomic bathtub, reminiscent of her old cast-iron clawfoot. “I really need to go back and get that old tub someday,” she remarked. The scrubby was inspecting this new thing its mistress had made, wurbling about the inside of the tub. When Morgan levitated a few globules of water from the stream to fill the tub, the loofah’s wurbles went from curious to gleeful trills. It puffled about in the water exuding lavender scented suds. “Yeah, you get the idea!” she giggled, as she heated the water with a touch of her Fire.
Thanks to Lulu’s constant ministrations every day, Morgan was far from dirty, and her incipient bath wasn’t motivated by hygiene. But sometimes, you just need a good bath to relax…
Her resistances proved to be somewhat of a detriment in this one instance. She had to heat the water almost to boiling to get a comfortable soak, but she didn’t really mind, and Lulu didn’t seem to either. She lowered herself into the water with a luxurious sigh, breathing in the steam. Her [Primal Instinct] flared to warn her of something behind her, but she didn’t even budge. A lazy, almost negligent terrakinetic shove transformed a stretch of ground behind her into a graveyard of vicious earthen spikes.
“Well that’s lunch here in a bit,” she chuckled to herself as the notification for defeating another [Murdersquirrel] faded from her view. The bath was relaxing, certainly something she needed in more ways than one. The constant demand of staying on edge and alert had begun to wear on her sanity. With her instincts finally calm for the first time since she entered the dungeon, she let herself enjoy the moment. She soaked, and she rested, and she contemplated her options for spending her skill points.
There were plenty of useless choices available, to be sure, but the ones that interested her were the new runes she could get as tattoos. [Soul Anchor] had increased to its fourth level, one time from activating all the enchantments simultaneously when she burned the dungeon, and another from her layering enchantments into her stone huts when she camped for the night. She now had three options to learn new Living Runes, and her fifty-five skill points could snag her two of them with a handful left over.
Skill Acquisition Menu
Leveling Class Abilities may provide unique skills for purchase when conditions are met.
Several unique Class Skills are now available for purchase due to learning the required skills. Experimentation and continued advancement will grant access to more skills for acquisition.
[Runic Armor(Living Rune)] - [25 Skill Points] This Living Rune links to your [Soul Anchor] rune. [Runic Armor] absorbs a portion of kinetic energy from impacts, reducing the damage you take and converting the kinetic energy into Mana. Percentage of kinetic energy absorbed and efficiency of Mana conversion increases with the level of [Runic Armor]. Living Rune level is capped at the current level of [Soul Anchor]. Improving your abilities in combat and defensive magic will increase the level of [Runic Armor].
[Runic Chain(Living Rune)] - [25 Skill Points] This Living Rune links to your [Soul Anchor] rune. [Runic Chain] allows you to inscribe one Spell per level of [Runic Chain]. Spells inscribed into the chain may be cast instantly to greater effect at the cost of increased Mana usage. Higher levels of [Runic Chain] increase the effect and reduce the enhanced Mana cost of inscribed spells. Living Rune level is capped at the current level of [Soul Anchor]. Improving your abilities in combat and destructive magic will increase the level of [Runic Chain].
[Runic Core(Living Rune)] - [35 Skill Points] This Living Rune links to your [Soul Anchor] rune. [Runic Core] stores excess Stamina and Mana provided by your metabolic activities. Skills and Spells may draw part of their cost from [Runic Core], reducing the drain on your own reserves. Amount of Stamina and Mana stored increases per level of [Runic Core]. Living Rune level is capped at the current level of [Soul Anchor]. Improving your abilities with recovery and regeneration will increase the level of [Runic Core].
Morgan let out a low whistle after reading through her options. “Talk about tough choices, Lulu,” she told the burbling puffball as it propelled itself around the gently bubbling bath by some mysterious means. She had long ago given up trying to understand how the scrubby did the things it did. Considering her options, she ducked under the bubbles to wash her hair before coming back up and continuing out loud.
“If I get the runic core...I can’t get the chain or the armor,” she realized after a moment.
As good as the [Runic Core] sounded, the armor was something she just couldn't pass up. She lay back in the tub and braced herself, then spent the points on [Runic Armor] before setting it to active with a thought. The pain of the rune inscribing itself into her skin was not as brutal as her first experience with the belt, but it was still painful. When it finally finished, an interlocking scale-like pattern had been inscribed into her skin across her entire body. It started at her scalp and etched its way down like it was being burned under her skin, the feeling growing particularly exquisite when it had crossed her breasts and reached her backside. The lines of the scales faded almost to nothing across most of her skin, the edges standing out in thicker, bolder lines across her shoulders, knees, and part of her belly.
She stepped out of the tub, drying her hair by gently pushing the water away with a touch of her Mana. "It's supposed to activate automatically by impact, Lulu. It's only a matter of time until something hits me, or...tries to, I guess. I’ll just have to let it to see how well this works.”
Done with her bath, she now felt hunger beginning to intrude upon her day. She turned to claim her meal, and stared in utter shock.
“It’s gone…”
The spikes of earth she had raised were still there, as was a cooling splash of blood, now drying in the morning air. A bit of shredded meat and bone off to one side of the arc of stone knives still dotted the ground, but other than that, no trace of the [Murdersquirrel] remained.
She took a nervous half-step backward, glancing over her shoulder. “Nothing, Lulu. I sensed nothing…”
The scrubby’s only response was a nervous wurble from her shoulder. Lulu was as keen to detect approaching threats as its mistress was, if not more so, and the loofah seemed chagrined and embarrassed to have missed whatever intruding thief had taken Morgan’s lunch. Smears and drops of blood led back towards the thicker brush under the trees before vanishing entirely, and she headed that way with careful steps.
She found the culprit just over a hundred paces away from the stream, smugly perched atop a great branch of one of the massive evergreen trees which dominated the forest. Fur and skin clung to the bark of the tree, and giblets of meat and smears of blood decorated the trunk and the ground below. On the limb itself sat the massive panther she had seen in the dungeon. It licked its paws to remove the last traces of blood, cleaning itself in a manner similar to its much, much smaller Terran brethren.
“Couldn’t wait until I’d had a bite, could you?” Morgan complained at the unrepentant thief. Her instincts were only mildly agitated by the presence of the massive predator; they had fought together, after all, albeit only briefly. Not that I would be willing to test things if she was hungry, the sorceress thought to herself, barely repressing a shudder. “I guess you’ve been following me and claiming the leftovers! Just wait next time and I’ll share!”
The feline refused to acknowledge her, continuing to groom its fur while it basked in the late-morning sunlight. She found the sight remarkably refreshing, something pretty that, for once, wasn’t trying to eat her for either meat or magic. The cat gave no sign of understanding her, but likewise showed no sign of latent aggression or skittishness. Struck by an urge as irresistible as it was irresponsible, Morgan activated [Acceleration]. She heaved upwards with [Terrakinesis], lifting a circle of Earth beneath her feet as quickly as she could manage with the skill. She leapt forwards and up, the rising circle of stone adding itself to her efforts, culminating in her landing lightly atop the same limb that held the [Nightstride Panther]. The giant cat’s ears pinned back in surprise, and a low rumble emanated from its chest. It bared its teeth at her, revealing a quartet of dagger-like fangs longer than Morgan’s hand. Before it could do anything else, Morgan reached out and gently bumped it square on the nose.
With a sound halfway between a yowl and a soggy chainsaw, the panther melted into the shadows of the branches only to appear in another tree several dozen paces away, hackles raised as it stared straight back at Morgan. Its fur stood out straight, making for a ridiculously puffy visage of a housecat writ extra-large as its tail lashed in agitation and it wriggled its snout in confusion.
“Snoot status: booped!” yelled the naked sorceress at the disgruntled feline, laughing as she dropped back down to the ground. “I’ll leave you a snack next time! You don’t have to sneak!”
Despite her cavalier attitude, Morgan kept her ears open, in case the big cat took offense and sought her. She didn’t think it would attack, but it never hurt to keep her guard up. The tub was still there, and she was still hungry. She still had a parcel of steak wrapped in leaves from the deer she had killed the day before, but a diet of nothing but meat was beginning to bore her. The occasional berries had been nice, but nothing like the rich, sweet modern foods she was beginning to miss now that the novelty of constant life in the Wildlands was beginning to wear thin.
“I guess I can kill two birds with one stone,” she said, spending most of her remaining skill points on the [Runic Chain] skill. She grit her teeth as the rune burned its way down her arms, tracing paper-thin lines until the pattern reached her wrists, where it morphed into thicker cobalt-colored bands. Inscribing [Plasma Glaive] as the first rune in the chain was as simple as forming the different types of Mana into the woven shape to cast the spell, only without turning it loose. Instead, the banded pattern around her right wrist lit up with a gentle blue glow after a few moments, then shifted colors to match the Fire and Lightning Mana of the spell’s form before pulling the threads of magic into the inscription along the band.
“Test out a rune, get some lunch, maybe find some berries to go with it…”
She set off again with a whole new plan for her day, still giggling about her encounter with the panther. “I booped the snoot, hah!”
Several hours later found Morgan sitting in a perfectly molded stone chair, with a layer of moss draped over it as a cushion. The chair rose up from a flat-topped pavilion that was the rooftop of her latest sculpted stone campsite. With one leg lazily crossed over the other, she looked over her handiwork. In front of her, a polished stone table rose up from the floor, with actual plates of food sitting upon it. A piece of Mana Crystal shaped roughly like a wine-glass -- filled with water, as she had figured out no other beverage yet -- floated a few inches away from her left hand.
Her [Primal Instinct] skill had led her to a herd of [Wildpine Deer], and several thickly sliced steaks from one now graced her table. The boosted form of [Plasma Glaive] empowered by her new rune had worked far better than she had planned, the beam of destruction killing three outright and wounding several others. “I guess the panther eats good tonight,” she said to Lulu as the scrubby wurbled its way around, cleaning up the plates.
Also on her table was a giant nut, a volleyball-sized cross between an acorn and a hazelnut. The shell had required her to crush it between two stones with [Terrakinesis], but roasting the inner part over a fire had led to a pleasant taste similar to almonds. Definitely hope to find more of those in the future.
Some things were similar to plants she knew from Earth, only bigger. A plate of greens with yellow dandelion flowers as big as her hand also resided on the table in a broad shallow bowl. Some of the familiar berries that grew all over the forest added their own red and blue colors, as did chopped pieces of something Morgan had never seen before. It looked a little like a pumpkin, but it was purple with green striations through the meat of the fruit. It was every bit as tasty as her instincts promised, and the copious juices added a nice tangy flavor to her impromptu salad. Finally, her instincts had also led her to something akin to a green onion or a parsnip, though she couldn’t decide which it resembled more. The bulb was bigger than her fist, and the savory flavor had gone perfectly with the flame-cooked venison.
Stone cutlery and utensils of varying quality lay upon the table as well, evidence of her attempts at making flatware. Actually trying to eat with it had provided varying results, and several punctures around her mouth were still healing, although the bleeding had quickly stopped. She couldn’t use her hands for working the forks and knives, but she could levitate them with [Terrakinesis]. I’ll just have to practice, she thought to herself.
“And I’ll definitely have to figure out something like tea or coffee to drink,” she continued out loud.
She sat and watched the sun set over the distant mountains, pondering her life since arriving on her new world. “I have two of those enhancement points Moghren told me about, Lulu.” The scrubby continued purbling its way around the table, seemingly content with the day. “But I think I need to save them, like she said.” She stopped to sip from her levitated glass. “For something more interesting than a fireball or my glaive spell, I mean. If they can boost a mastered spell as much as the old witch seemed to be saying, I think I should keep them for more fancy magics than just throwing fire and ice.”
As the last of the day’s light died over the snow-capped peaks on the far horizon, she stood and stretched with a weary sigh. She took a moment to check the layered circles of enchantments she had placed around her camp; two dozen [Pyreflame Runes] primed and ready to fire if the thin strands of Mana linking them together was broken. More [Mana Link] threads stood out to her senses, reaching back into the little stone house, and as she walked down the sculpted steps to the ground floor, she could see them faintly twist around the Mana Crystal in the center of the room. What had once been the jaw of a giant shellipede was now a violet-pink crystal spar. It was hexagonal in cross-section, as wide across as her forearm, and stood three feet from base to hooked, needle-sharp tip. Mana flowed out from it, along the threads of the Link, into her wards. She levitated her makeshift wine-glass over to it, and a brief push with [Gem Sculpt] saw the glass merging back into the crystal, adding another half inch to its height.
She topped off the crystal’s stores of Mana and made her way to the bed to lay down, followed by a wurbling loofah. Lulu seemed sleepy as well, and circled a spot on the moss-covered stone slab before trilling once and going still except for gentle purrs. Opposite the bed, a fireplace with several chunks of smoldering wood had nearly burned out, and she nudged the pieces together with short bursts of air and let the remaining embers do the work instead of adding Fire. Temperatures bothered her less and less as her resistances increased, and she had no worries about getting too cold.
“I need to stop wandering around,” she told the dozing scrubby. “I think I should start looking for a place to call my own.”
Her [Primal Instinct] skill surged with satisfaction in the back of her mind with that statement, and she nodded in agreement as she made herself comfortable on the bed.
“Time to claim my own territory,” she murmured, just before sleep claimed her.
|
{
"subset": "scribblehub",
"lang": "en",
"series": "8898",
"id": "17551",
"q": 0.9454545454545454,
"title": "Skyclad - Chapter 25: Wanderings",
"author": "a_man_in_black",
"chapters": 51,
"rating": 4.7,
"rating_ct": 120,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adventure",
"Drama",
"Fantasy",
"LitRPG",
"Mature",
"Mecha",
"Sci-fi"
],
"tags": [
"Accelerated Growth",
"Adventurers",
"Alternate World",
"Beautiful Female Lead",
"Blacksmith",
"Character Growth",
"Divination",
"Dungeons",
"Game Elements"
]
}
|
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