I don't know how long I slept clutching the tiny egg— when I woke up it was day once again. The sun's rays fell on me—warm, uninvited, uncaring. Slowly, I sit up— glancing at the environment around me. Blood-trees wherever I looked— my hands trembled when I saw them. Memories of what it can do resurfaced in my mind. I take a deep breath— filling my lungs with the cold air. There was no point being scared— this was the world I was going to live in.
Using the Whisper of Rot as a cane— I painstakingly stood up. My legs were still throbbing with pain— joints popping. I rubbed my slightly-puffy eyes for a moment— to remove the crystals of dried tears. There was no point crying anymore. I tapped the egg through the fabric of the Veil of the Fading Whisper— it was still snug and safe.
'I should be out of here today…'
Before I could depart— a voice called out to me.
"You lost out here?"
Not an animal. Not an abhorrent. Not a transmutant. A human. My head instantly snapped to the direction of the voice— a haggard man most-likely in his late 30's. He was wearing a cloak, blue in colour— wielding a large axe stored away on his back. He wasn't alone— he was accompanied by 4 more men, all with the same physiology and attire. My eyes momentarily narrowed before shaking my head no.
"Oh I see…" his eyes glanced over my features "You're quite injured there, would you like a vial of healing?"
'Why the hell is he offering his shit right away? What does he want?'
I fully face them— some of their eyes widening in shock as they take in the full extent of my injuries. Internally I chuckled thinking that they couldn't tell I was a kid because of how fucked up I look.
"How can I trust you?" I answered.
The man who called out to me smiled softly— taking out a vial from his satchel. Its contents were a transparent liquid with a soft green hue. I furrowed my brows as I analysed it from where I stood. He then broke the silence between the two parties.
"I have it right here… I promise we won't be of any harm"
'LIES' A disembodied voice whispered in my mind.
Instantaneously I clenched my jaw to not visibly react to the voice I just heard. My mind relentlessly brainstormed the source of the voice. Until… I realised. It was the passive skill of my Blessed Title: Veilbreaker— the skill [ Whispers of Verity ] activated.
I would've been fucked without the Blessed Title.
My face momentarily hardened as I contemplated my decision.
This is the first encounter with people, humans I'm having in weeks— and they're trying to rob me or worse. They're probably playing nice to lower my guard— easier since I'm badly injured. If I take the vial— I can recover and get the fuck out of here faster but be hunted by these fuckers. If I don't— they'll still fucking attack me and I'll be in a worse condition.
I felt anger— I felt hate. Planning to harm an injured person is beyond despicable. My face momentarily hardened. I then broke the silence that stood between us with a curt nod.
"I'll take it"
The man smiled— he walked towards me, extending his hand, the vial— shimmering green in his hand. Without skipping a beat I took it but— momentarily in his eyes I noticed a yellow glint. It was most likely a skill— an appraisal skill at that. Tilting his head, the man's gaze fell on the sheathed Whisper of Rot.
"That's a pretty little thing you got there"
'Ahh… he wants to rob me… fucking prick'
I reply with a nod as I put away the vial. I don't drink it. Either it's garbage… or it's poison. Either way—fuck that. As I did that— his face momentarily hardened. Behind his back the man tapped the handle of his battleaxe rhythmically. I noticed— so did his cohort. Their faces also hardened as they gradually started to encircle me— very slowly. As his friends moved to their positions— the man tried to distract me with small talk.
"That's an [ Eminence ] ranked weapon there— that goes for serious money"
"Oh does it…" I replied incredulously.
"Yeah, those sell for tens of thousands... How'd you get your hands on it?" As he said that he tried to reach for it— I didn't let him, turning my hips ever so slightly to make it out of its reach.
"I killed a beast and I don't plan on selling it— too useful…" Curtly I responded. In my peripheral vision— I could see that I was almost surrounded. My right hand instinctively rested on the hilt of my blade— inconspicuously injecting my mana into the Whisper of Rot.
The man's face hardened once again before smiling— with the lightest intent of malice. He licked his chapped lips before snarkily remarking.
"Oh is that so— that's quite unfortunate really… Sigh," He paused as he gripped the hilt of his battleaxe— his eyes gradually narrowing. I take a deep breath— I slowly grip the hilt of my blade. " I wanted you to give it yourself— I didn't want to kill you ju— Khh"
Thud.
[ YOU HAVE FELLED AN AWAKENER ]
[ YOU HAVE GAINED 50 XP ]
My eyes went ice cold— as he spoke his final words. I slightly crouched and slash! In a large arc— a pitch black blade slit his neck open. Blood spewed on my face whilst the man choked on his own blood. Clutching his decaying neck— his face contorted with fury as the life sapped from his eyes. Then falling down with a heavy thud.
"Same here…" I responded apathetically.
'I killed him.'
'Didn't even flinch.'
'Didn't even blink.'
'He deserved worse anyway. Fucking bastard.'
"GET THAT FUCKER!" A man roared in fury. All of the remaining 4 men from the dead man's cohort charged after me. My face hardened. I couldn't win this— too many people. I— without thinking— bolted into the blood-forest.
The men chased me like a pack of wild animals— I ran with my life, pushing past the throbbing pain in my legs. One of the men blitzed towards me at an inhuman speed— his hands spewing a roaring flame propelling him at me. My eyes widened in shock.
'WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT MAGIC!'
I didn't have an affinity— I completely forgot there are others that did. I was careless. He was right beside me within moments— he slashed his blade at my chest in a wide arc. A shallow gash appeared across my chest— I clenched my teeth hard as the pain surged. Blood coated the man's blade— with his other hand it glowed red with fire trying to palm my face.
My body instinctively jumped back— I missed his palm by centimeters. Only a strand of hair singed in the air. Gritting my teeth, I swung the Whisper of Rot in a precise arc at his hand.
Chop!
Thud…
His fingers fell to the black soil below. The black blade sliced clean 3 of his fingers— leaving only bloodied decaying stumps. He clutched his hand in agony as he screamed; taking the golden opportunity I lunged at this fucker— plunging the Whisper of Rot through his chest with a guttural roar.
"Payback you fucker!" I spat.
"Aghhhh!" The man cried— his movements becoming more sloppy and sluggish. Decay began to form around the entry point— he drew his last breath, slumping on my blade. Without skipping a beat, I kick him off my blade— ripping the Whisper of Rot out of his torso.
[ YOU HAVE FELLED AN AWAKENER ]
[ YOU HAVE GAINED 50 XP ]
"ROGER NO!" A man cried from behind.
Two more had caught up— on conjuring an ice shard which levitated in the air. The other roared in fury as he swung his arm in an arc— propelling an arc of sharp wind. The gale shrieked through the air, slashing into my back—skin tore, blood sprayed. I was airborne before I even realized.
"FUCK!" I cursed raspily.
I fell to the floor— the man conjuring the ice shard launched his projectile. I jerked my head to the hide— the shard tore through the blood-tree missing my head by millimeters.
The man kissed his lips when his projectile missed— immediately conjuring 2 more. I needed to kill this man first. Without thinking I stood back up; blitzing towards that man. The other who used wind magic sprinted towards me as he thrusted his spear at my neck.
I duck just in time before shoulder tackling the man to the ground. The ice conjurer had his ammo ready by then— hurtling both shards at me. I picked up the man I tackled to the ground and used him as a meat shield.
Twack!
Twack!
One shard impaled his face grotesquely— his brain matter falling on my lap. The other speared his shoulder all the way through— leaving a dangling arm. I wanted to puke— I couldn't take the sight of the man's brain leaking onto me. The ice conjurer had the same look of horror once he realised he maimed his friend.
"NO!" He cried, his voice choking with emotion. "YOU FUCKING FIEND— it's all your fault… I'll KILL YOU!"
His eyes glowed a sinister blue— incantations spewed from his mouth. A plethora of shards of ice manifested in the air. A tear rolled down the man's eye as he fired all of them.
My pupils dilated in awe and fear— my thoughts slowly fizzled out. My face went dark— my body became possessed. At lightning speeds, I ripped through the space between us.
My body using every fiber of muscle I had— fizzling out the throbbing pain. Shards flew at me— my body twisted and contorted dodging each and every one.
Before the conjurer knew it— my empty eyes bore into his soul. He didn't know what happened— he tried to speak but only a bloody gargle came out.
Decay began to form on his neck— I drove the Whisper of Rot through his neck. I brutally twist it with an arc, slash his neck open. Leaving his head dangling off the side of his neck.
[ YOU HAVE FELLED AN AWAKENER ]
[ YOU HAVE GAINED 50 XP ]
[ { FLOW } IS NOW LEVEL 2 ]
Standing there, my thoughts slowly returned with the pain. I was under [FLOW] once again— it leveled up too. I stood there heaving uneven breaths— my muscles cramping and screaming in agony.
"Fuck… fuck… fuck… I just killed people…"
The weight of my actions finally hit me like a tidal wave. I killed 3 people. I didn't feel guilty or sad but the fact I did shook me to my very core. Closing my eyes, I took in deep breaths to calm down my racing heart. It was all over…
Stab!
A cold metallic blade pierced the left side of my neck, driving all the way through. My eyes shot open wide— there was one more person. There were 5 in total… 4 were dead. I lowered my guard… again. I tried to curse, scream, yell anything; all that came out was a gargled scream as I began choking on my own blood. The man stared into my eyes with hatred; I did kill 3 of his friends.
Anger, fury and hate overwhelmed me, at both the man and myself. I was too careless, I lowered my guard, I got myself killed. With a roar the man slashed the blade out of my neck— I felt the cold air come into contact with my exposed esophagus.
My mind went blank, my vision going dark. I tried. I tried my very best but it didn't work out. Maybe it was never—
'IF I'M DYING YOU'RE COMING WITH ME FUCKER!' I grit my teeth ferociously and vision bleeds back in. My eyes darted all across my field of view and that's when I saw it. In the distance, an expanse of black fields. My mind steeled itself— I was going to use my skill for the first time [Hyperdrive]. I was too scared to use it as if I make a mistake I'll die.
But if I was going to die anyway, I might as well go with a bang. I crouched lightly; with a gargled raspy voice I roared.
"Hk–HYPERDRIVE!"
I felt mana conglomerate all over my body— I felt as if I was on fire. I aimed the Whisper of Rot at the man who looked at me incredulously.
BRRTTTZZZ!
[ YOU HAVE FELLED AN AWAKENER ]
[ YOU HAVE GAINED 50 XP ]
I blinked.
A different topography surrounded me, fields of black sand. Blood continued to pour from the gash on my neck as my vision darkened. Tears welled in my eyes— I don't want to die. I saw the man that had sealed my fate. His body obliterated, the Whisper of Rot caved in his chest. I shakingly stood up as I ripped my blade out from his chest.
I limped forward as tears fell down my cheek.
'I don't want to die…'
Slowly I felt myself going sluggish and slow— my breathing became shallow. My vision slowly went completely black. I was falling forwards.
'I miss you mom'
***
Unbeknownst to Kerrigan— just as he passed out. A man sprinted towards him, his face contorted with shock, awe and horror. Before Kerrigan's body hit the floor, he caught him. The man was a blonde whose hair was styled in a two block— his eyes baby blue.
Holding Kerrigan in his arms, he poured a vivid green liquid over his wounds as well as making him drink it. His wounds began to close up— the gash on his neck slowly healed, filling with scar tissue.
The boy's breathing stabilised and took deep even breaths. He wasn't out of the clear but he was safe for now. The man sighed in relief.
"What is a kid doing in a place like this…" He mused to himself.
He directed his gaze to the corpse of a man with his chest caved in. His eyes widened and he looked back at the boy. He couldn't believe that a kid caused this carnage.
"What a monster…"
Behind the man, a woman sprinted to him. Dressed in a black turtleneck and white trench coat; she was a sight for sore eyes. Her porcelain face visibly pissed off. She yelled.
"Leon why in the actual fuck did you run off!"
Behind her a group of 10 students followed her— their expressions riddled with confusion. The man named Leon snapped his head back at the woman.
"Minerva, trip's cancelled we need to transport this kid ASAP to the healer's bay"
Minerva's eyes narrowed in speculation before widening in shock when seeing the body of a boy in Leon's arms. Leon smiled as he rushed up to her holding Kerrigan in his arms.
"I just found the newest ace of New Washington Awakened Academy Minerva! Just hold his shit and I'll take him there. Okay ~Babe~"
Minerva's face went red and instantly hardened. Her beautiful face transformed into an equally beautiful scowl as she slapped Leon in the back of his head.
"Yeah yeah, just fucking take him already!"
"YES MA'AM!" Leon then vanished, blitzing across the plains of black sand at inhuman speeds.
Minerva scowled harder as she picked up the boy's belongings: a damascus steel sword and its onyx-black scabbard, a tiny egg and a vial of a transparent liquid. Minerva's eyes widened at the items.
"Why does a kid have an [Eminence] grade weapon… who is this kid?"
The students behind her were equally shocked. Some of them grumbled as their trip got cancelled. Minerva looked to the side— seeing the body of a man. His chest caved in completely— her breath hitched.
"L-Leon's right… this kid… is a monster…"