Chapter 9: Hero and Monster
"Protect the citizens, make sure they are safe."
Lt. Adnan is leading his team to guide others to safety. While defending panicking civilians who were running to the public shelter for safety a dog of three-meters tall appeared before them. Two of its teeth protruded outwards are dripping with blood. A sign showing it killed someone or something before coming its way here.
Its red bloodshot eyes put fear among the military. Although facing dangers is their daily routine, they could not stop the trembling throughout their whole body. Even the veterans among them who have faced real-life near-death situation could not keep calm from facing the gigantic dog.
"What is… that?"
"Don't think much just shoot!" Lt. Adnan command each of his men to shoot their rifle
'Ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta'
Fury of shots blasted away with no reserves. Military forces were dispatch throughout the entire nations due to the alarming states they were facing. Even though the government has squeezed out their entire power to protect their citizens, casualties still increasing. The reasons were not just instability occur in animals, but also the appearances of mysterious beasts from nowhere that has been killing everything in sight.
Furthermore, they were not able to send their forces to rural areas near the forest or near the mountains. Since they are some tribes who still live within this area, far away from the city, they are doomed to these vicious monsters with lack of military support to get there on time. Especially when the places are crowded with wild animals.
This was especially true for the eastern part of Malaysia near the Borneo Island. All contact has been lost since the start of the calamity. Not that the government did not care for them. Their hands are full of the situation they are facing now. Protecting as much as they can is the government utmost priority.
However, even with all their power it was still useless. The dog-like beast was still standing with only minor scratches. Rather than damaging it, the beast was angered instead. The beast calls out a howl that stunned everyone in the vicinity. It struck fear in people hearts making some of the civilians to traumatized, unable to move an inch. Moments later, packs of its kind came to the area.
More than twenty of them has gathered. The soldiers who were in the frontier could only hopelessly stand on their ground, feeling despair. Some even dropped their gun as they lose their hope. Some even kneeled on the ground praying for help.
Lt. Adnan tried to shout as loud as he can to gain moral.
"Fall back! Everyone retreat!!!"
To his avail, no one moved. The army was massacred one by one by the beasts coming towards them. Limbs were flying around, blood was sprayed all over making the street red. No shout nor scream was heard. Everyone, every single one of them was killed instantly. Not being able to do anything. Hassan was among the army who is working under Lt. Adnan. He just saw his superior get eaten as a whole by the beast who is standing with its four-leg in front of him.
Ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta
He shot his bullets until he ran out of ammo. He looked at the side and dozens of his friends were either killed, crush to pieces or get eaten by the beast. He finally lost his hope and just stayed there waiting for his fate. Suddenly a lightning bolt strikes the beast from the sky. Other instances there were arrows piercing through other beasts. Some even managed to land to their eyes making the beasts blind.
The beast in front of Hassan is now burnt to crisp. Then it was slice to half by a man carrying a 3-meter broadsword with one hand. Around 2-meter tall, the man has a huge back which was well built, making it seems that the broadsword was made to suit him. His shiny-gold full plate armour which covered his entire body. He turned around and smiled to Hassan
"Are you alright there, fellow soldier?"
Hassan was in awe looking at the glorious man in front of him. His shining armour glow in radiance releasing an impressive aura which shook the heart of people nearby. His presence at that moment look like some kind of a hero coming to save them. Not just Hassan, but even people nearby who was running away stop in their track just to look at him.
Their heart could not stop feeling that 'This guy will save us'. Seeing the behaviour of people around him the man smiled. He then plunged his sword into the ground and open his mouth. With his loud voice, he shouted.
"People of the earth. Fear no more! My name is Ray Varhem, the first prince of the Varhem Kingdom! I shall protect the innocents from these vile creatures!"
His shout has become hope to the civilians. They even gave a loud cheer and applauses to Ray. Hassan looks at him with full admiration, printing the man figure deeply inside his mind 'I want to be like him'
Ray raise his hand as a signal and come out with another shout!
"Archers attack!"
Thousands of arrows flying in to attack several other beasts. When they look behind thousands of soldiers wearing armor come marching in. There were also cavalries on horses and soldiers holding shield and swords on standby waiting for their command.
"Thunderstorm!"
A voice could be heard from the sky. Everyone eyeing upward trying to look for the source of the voice. When someone pointed, they could finally see an old man wearing a hooded black robe was standing still in the middle of the air. He was holding a long wand that is decorated with shiny sapphire attached on top of it. His head was brandished with white hairs. He had a composing looked in his face.
After his citation, black clouds suddenly gathered on top of the area where all the beasts were. Then the same lightning which stunned the first beast strike everything underneath it, immobilize all that within the affected area.
Ray then shouted
"All men, forward!"
Hassan with a sudden burn of passion join the counterattack under Ray command.
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After checking his half-wrecked house, he packed all his belonging. He wore a black shirts and trousers, comfortably enough for him to move well in case of emergency. It is unthinkable if there are no other incidents going to happen in the future. He even took his old 'dobok' which he wore during the time he practised 'Soo Bahk Do' a Korean martial that is similar to Japanese Karate.
"So, you do know how to fight. No wonder you have good instinct"
He did not utter a single word of reply and started to observe his house. He smelled the stench of blood from his parent room. After resolving himself he took a step closer and open the white-door that was above 2 meters in height. It made a creaking sound as the hinge is slightly rusted. He took a deep breath and entered slowly.
No one was there. He could see the room was in a mess but there was no sign of people. He checked thoroughly until a voice was heard from the bathroom. He did not rush and listened carefully to determine what's the voice was. Again, he heard the voice. It was a voice he never heard before but seems to be familiar to him. It was similar to the sound of his cat. Not just any sound, but the sound of his cat does when it is eating.
Kim panted slowly while stepping closer and closer towards the bathroom. The door was completely wrecked. It's only hanging on one hinge. The bottom part is damaged and there are several claw marks on the surface. He put his body close to the wall to slowly peek inside, being careful to not being seen. When he did, he instantly closes his mouth with his hand to make sure he did not make any noise. His body trembled as he went out of the room.
He went outside and vomited.
"People who could survive this kind of things are not many. You already expected this"
"Yes, but.. this.. that was.. No.. it can't be... It's too different."
"Are you sure? Or you just want to think it's not your cat?"
"That was not my cat!"
"Mana is inside every living being. Not just human. Animal especially could get adapted to mana quickly due to their beastly instinct."
"Then why does it has to-" He vomited again.
"It's the differences between human and animal. Humans are intelligent. Animals only rely on their instinct. Animals are born to survive. To kill, eat and live. For that, they must absorb more mana and become stronger. Eventually, they will become a monster as well"
"Monster?"
"Yes. Other beings beside human with mana are called monsters. Animals will become one too if they absorb enough. When you kill or eat a being with mana, you could absorb their mana to become stronger. Don't you feel it when you killed Cerberus and Hydra yesterday? Don't you feel stronger and stronger as you munch on that tasty roasted snake every bite you took at that crunchy meat?"
A slurping sound of saliva could be heard from the voice.
"Anyway, what are you going to do now?"
Kim wiped his mouth from the vomit and stand back up. Although his legs are still shaking, he tried to push himself to walk back inside the house.
A few minutes later he went back outside with a shovel in his hand. The head of the shovel was stained with blood. It drips and left some trail as Kim walked. He started to dig into the ground bits by bits. Rain started to drizzle as the sound of the shovel digging through the ground continue throughout the night.
After it reached around two meters deep he continued to dig to the side increasing the size of the hole in the ground. He continued until a dozen people could lay down comfortably inside the hole. He threw away the shovel to the side. He went back inside and carried out bodies of his family with his two arm and gently put them into the ground. He also went back several times to carry some limbs, and innards of humans.
Lastly, he drags along a cat corpse that was three-time bigger than him. Even though the rain was getting harder, it could not wash away all the blood that has attached to Kim body. Trails of blood that were left behind flow into the hole and formed a pool of blood. He threw the corpse of the cat as well and bury everything back. Afterwards, he just sits there hugging his knee while looking at the empty space.
No one would be able to know what is currently inside this 12-yeard old mind.
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In Kuala Lumpur, the number of beasts appearing has been depleting tremendously. Although one or two would come sometimes, it would be killed instantly by Ray army that numbered to hundreds of thousand. Despite the ferocious beasts were freakishly strong, the numbers of Ray army balance out the power. In the end, the beast fled outside the city and human has achieved their first victory.
"You there, what's your name?"
"M-Me??? I'm, H-Ha-Hassan sir!"
"Hassan?"
"Yes"
"You fought well even though it's your first time facing a monster"
"Monster sir?"
"It seems, you never saw a 'Monster' before"
"So that is a monster.. it killed... everyone"
"True. And we human should try to survive by absorbing all their mana! This way we could rule them out and protect everyone don't you agree, Hassan?"
"Mana?"
"So, it's true, this a world never experienced mana. Never mind! Seeing how well you fight without knowing mana, how about you work directly as a mediator between our world and this world. The Kingdom of Varhem would gladly help this world citizens to prosper in the future!"
"Mediator sir? Where is Varhem?"
"Can't help it then. Sylva!"
"Yes, Your Highness"
The robed man who called forth lighting form the sky float towards Ray and Hassan.
"This man here will be the mediator. Tell everyone in the empire he is working under me. And educate the people of this world about mana."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
All the information given to Hassan was news to him. He felt like the person before him, has come from another dimension. Sylva then floats around to gather some army along with Hassan to help with the explanation. As for Ray, he gathered more troops to come to him. He then invited Hassan to ride with him on his horse.
"Where are we going, sir?"
"Where else? To finish what we started"
Afterwards, Hassan joined Ray, and his troop to slaughter all the nearby monsters which ensured the safety of Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur became the first base of Varhem Kingdom.