Replacing the flashlight in my helm with new batteries, replacing my feet with rain boots, changing my lab coat with lighter clothes. Because holy shit this place is a fucking amazon!
"What has this place become?"
*drip* *drip* *drip*
Water trickles down from one leaf from another creating a nice natural harmony. The lab that was once my pride and joy has turned into nature's garden.
*click*
I turn on the flashlight as the area goes dark. Covering my mouth with a thin cloth, I walk past the weird thick mist that covers the forest while raising my hand forward as to give a sense of direction.
"This reminds me of my time back at the amazon rain forest when I was trying to find a certain animal back at the UA."
As my hand felt a wall, I walk left till I felt a panel. Kneeling down and opening the panel, I use my flashlight to look inside the hole I open. After wearing the rubber gloves, I plunge my arm deep inside, reaching for a certain circuit. Feeling a small switch small than the tip of my pinkie, I flip the switch and the door soon open.
*psssshn*
"Ancient tech, but useful for situations like this. But I wonder why must I do all these things when this is my dream? Can't I do something with my brain?"
The mist outside was immediately sucked inside the air vents in the locked room, lights turn on automatically to show a locker room.
"No one inside... I wonder where he been? I mean it's been a straight line as I travel, as long as I open each room, I'll definitely meet him."
I keep going forward with a flashlight in hand-
*tap* *tap* *tap*
"Footsteps?"
I squint my eyes, trying to look what's infront of me but only darkness greets. I took a step forward and the steps grow louder. Not before long, a rotting arm with spiralling nails crawls out from the darkness, a decaying foot steps forward to the light. I flash the light upwards and the being infront of me becomes clear. What I see is not something anyone who knows the person should see.
My heart was filled with not fear nor surprise. Taking a step forward, the individual infront roams around not knowing I'm coming closer. As one of her many eyes looks at my direction, she takes a step back. Before it could run away, I hold her arm tight and pulls her closer. I wrap my arms around her, hugging her tight within my arms. I couldn't care less what she smells like, I couldn't care less what she looks like nor how cold her hand is.
"Please don't run... I really needed this."
Her broken leg makes her body stature low, making the hug I give seem a bit like I'm carrying her. The only thing different from the last time I saw her is the six eyes she uses to stare up at me and her overgrown nails. Resisting with her slim arms, she tries to break free. But I hug her tighter and bring my lips closer to her ear whispering:
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
I could only repeat what I said until she finally clams down and stops resisting.
"I wasn't able to finish it in time. And most of all, I'm sorry that I'm wasn't there when you needed it the most. I admit I was in the wrong. I won't make excuses. So please, rest in peace."
As I was finally becoming a full-fledged researcher and chemist. I was able to meet an old friend of mine who's gone silent after we graduate high school, someone I looked up to and admire through my whole life. Someone who's always by my side throughout my teenage years and went through all the shits and giggles. She was the one who taught me about all the social life and everything I lack as a person.
Lying unconscious beneath my shadow she lay defenceless in the dark alleyways while a huge case was thrown asunder and it contents spills over. Her clothes are dirtied with unknown stains and have many cuts while being loose to show it's been overused and damaged.
A heavy storm was pouring down at us, drenched by the water fell by the starless skies, I kneel down and check up on her. I was readying myself for the worst but it seems God was giving me a chance. She was alive, barely but she's definitely alive. Time may pass since then, but I would never mistake this person for anybody else no matter how she changed her looks.
(Why? How? What happened to her these past 4 years since we graduated?)
That's the only question popping up in my head as I pack her items and brought her to the nearest hospital. After examination, turns out she was not only addicted to multiple drugs, but she also has a lot of internal problems which can't be cured with current technology while being inflicted with multiple external injuries that'll take a while to recover. Not only does her ID doesn't have anyone to call, it seems when she also changed her name and number multiple times too. It doesn't help how she doesn't even have any parents nor Guardian when we were still in highschool- I cast aside all the suspicious things aside and decided to make a decision that will change the course of my life.
I decided to take her in with me. No, maybe there's another unknown way, but... I just... I just can't leave her like this.
No matter what happens, I will take care of her and I will be by her side whenever I can... When she woke up, she can't remember anything. Not me, not her past nor anything. So everything will have to start from zero. I literally have to teach her how to communicate, from writing and reading, to speak. And when I have no time, she is placed in a mental hospital and will return home with me every evening. And so on, and so forth...
(That's right. I remember now why I started to study more seriously...)
"It was all for you."
As I hug her tighter, tears flow from my eyes without control when she finally places her hands gently behind me.
But... God can be as cruel as he is kind.
As I was getting evaluated for my title and noble prize. The hospital she was in got burned to flames by a Terror Radical group, there was almost no survivor as those who escape were gunned down. Not only the police arrived late, but a gunfight also broke out killing many on all sides. I was not informed of this until my presentation was finished and I was clearly too late.
I may have acquired knowledge and skill. But what's the point if my reason for doing it is gone? Should I find another reason? But then... Why?
Not only her body was never found and is placed as one of the burnt corpses. Her grave was also empty, I don't know when but... I stopped visiting her grave soon after. My memories of what happened after that become skewered, and... And... I can't.
"It's okay. I'm happy."
"Huh?"
Feeling, a warm hand's embrace upon my face, I could see her welcoming smile as she turns back to normal. I hold the hand that reaches me and take a step back to look at her clearly once more.
"Don't be sad, or I will be sad too. Life is hard for me, but you make it very happy."
"No, that's what I wanted to hear. This is not the real you... But, I'm happy nonetheless to hear your voice once more."
She gives off the brightest smile and disappears by the glowing light. Like how God breathe life to a pile of dust, so shall they fade like one...
"I don't know if I overcome my regrets... But at least I should not worry in the new world."
****************************************
Like a swarm of glow fly, the monster vanishes with a breath of wind within the young man's embrace. Not letting this chance go, I spring forth with the light stick in hand.
"T-that must be him, the man I'm supposed to meet."
As I came out of my hiding spot, the man before me becomes much clearer. He looked as if he was in his twenties but his messy hair was entirely white while his eyes look like corpses. Small in stature, yet he doesn't seem weak at all. He looks at me with his cloudy eyes, and with a weak smile he starts saying:
"You must be the one I'm supposed to meet. I think I'm supposed to greet myself, the name's Anselm, and no I have no family name. Wait, you're supposed to be from another world right? Does that mean you have your own customary greetings? Like, bumping heads, a kiss on the cheeks, or exchanging commodities?"
"Wha- no, none of the sorts."
The Arzture's champion is weird as he keeps bringing up questions.
"Uh, the name's Tyo, son of Galesh. Anselm is it? It p-ple... Mhm, it pleases me to meet the champion of Arzture."
I push all my anxiety and cough up a word of praise as I try to communicate with him like how I meet my superiors. But he merely nods his head replying:
"I see, I see. So her name is Arzture is it? Very well, Tyo, champion of whoever your God is. I presume you have a reason to meet me? Follow friend, we have a better place to discuss this."
"Really? T-thank you very much!"
"Chill bra, and maybe we could get you some change of clothes too."
"Oh, I can't express my gratitude."
Maybe he's not such a bad guy after all. Though his mind needs some real fixing. If what Progensia say is true, I can't piss him off. My body's life is dependent on him. We travel for a while till we reach an opened door, its light illuminates the dark overgrown paths. Giving it a sense of protection.
*caw* *caw*
Weird sounds from above creep in from the moulded ceiling that's filled with holes and opened panels. As we enter the room, feeling I never felt was born.
(This cold yet comfortable aura. This perfect unity of cold and warm... Has the winter always been like this? Yet, why don't I see any snow anywhere? Where does this refreshing wind come from?)
Anselm closes the door and gestures me to sit on the only chair that's not broken.
"Well, I would serve you some drinks but as you can see, this place is not really welcoming. Here, you can wear this for a while.
He pulls out a white coat and places it on the table.
"Oh, thank you."
I take sit infront of him while he rests his head on his hands with a tired look on his face.
"Geez, no need to be so stiff~, by the way, what do you wish to speak about? I mean, I guess it's kinda my fault for not asking her more. Maybe you can fill the blanks."
"Ah, right. I guess she wants you to meet the man you'll be living inside."
"Ey, buddy. I admit that I'm quite a pervert and probably a potential deer kisser but I'm not that much of a degenerate... Yet. I'm still perfectly straight-laced."
(What in Libera's blue balls is this guy talking about? And what the fuck is a deer!?)
"No, I think you misunderstand-"
"Oh, gOoD. Continue."
(Deep breathes... Calm down...)
"I'm talking about the parasite you implanted in my body."
He looks at me funny and pinches between his nose with a smile on his face saying:
"I see, is that how your people say, seamen? Not a very creative word, but I'll give you points for that-"
"Listen here, you terrestrial soul. I probably just died, my body is being taken over by your Goddess by some parasite, my only family is being chased by monsters and right now I'm trying to figure out what in the hell is happening right now. So please, don't make this harder for me with your shenanigans."
Before I knew it, I was already pulling him closer by the collar as I shout at his face. He taps on my arm replying:
"Hey, sorry bra, I'm having a little bit hard time myself. Sorry if I take it upon you, you just look so gullible. But to calm yourself... No, I don't know anything of such parasites, I don't even know the name of my Goddess and I probably won't live in your body because I already have a body of my own. Albeit it's not human."
I let him go as I feel myself calming down and taking the chance to wear the white coat.
(Wait...)
"Not human?"
I ask him again for some clarification and he nodded saying:
"Yup, I'm some kind of monster- oh wait! I remember now. I've seen you before. That white hair and red eyes, you look like a doll. You're that grunt talking with that Hyu guy right? The hero guy?"
"Wait, are you saying you actually saw me?"
(Hold on, there are many monsters brought into that city for all the games and events. But I never get to see one except...)
I was already backing away, pushing my seat away with force.
"There's only one monster... I only saw one monster..."
As he looks at me with a smile, the image of that monster with six eyes appeared on his face.
"No! You...!"
My mind was quickly thrown in disarray.
(If that monster really is Arztura's Champion it would explain all the monster related problems. How the caged champion class monster immediately went silent as we bring it in, the sudden invasion of monsters from the north gates and many more...)
"Y-you... You're the cause of all of this!"
I grabbed his collar once more as my rage boils all the reasons I had. Because of him, because of him, everything I cherished and lived is destroyed because of him! He grasps my arm replying:
"Hey, bro, I don't understand? You shouldn't blame anyone without proper, unreasonable and legal proof."
"You're the cause of the city's destruction!"
"Ey, by the thousand puking jarls, the one that destroyed and ruin your city is that humongous black space ship!"
"Then why did come to our city in the first place!?"
"Geez, all this repressed anger is really getting on your nerves. All right, listen here. Since you're kind enough to not result in violence, let me tell you the story of how I got into the city."
(Violence...? Right... Right, right, right, calm down Tyo. This isn't like you).
Taking deep breaths, I pull my chair back and try having a sit. He nods and continues saying:
"You, see, after a day or two of being born, I saw this giant pillar of smoke coming from far away. So being a bit human inside, I decided to follow its trail."
(Giant pillar of smoke? Ah right, a lab belonging to Hyu's companion caught on fire thanks to his companion's mother becoming mad and burning it down. Her father and younger brother went missing for weeks while travelling here for the festival. I only heard bad rumours about it, like the reason why the mother went mad was that 2 crystals from the ring of bonds broke signifying the loss of the two missing family members...)
I clenched my hand as I remember the event and look at the man infront of me wondering if he is somehow involved.
"And as I try to follow it, I realize there's a trap there and thought, "Hey, wouldn't it be better if I just get caught in one of their traps instead? That way, I won't get lost and be brought to the city too."
*slam*
"Why did you even think that!?"
My hand slammed against the table at the absurd word he said and he shakes his head saying:
"To be honest... I don't really know. Even though I'm a monster physically, I'm still probably quite human mentally... I think. So, this is just my speculation but maybe back then since I never really remember much, I stick with my old habits. Like being stupidly rash, honest and sociable even when I say I'm not."
"I see, so what happened next?"
He pinches his chin and closes his eyes as saying:
"Hmmm... Well... I can't remember much, other than that Hyu guy's sister found me and called him. Then I was brought to your city, that's where I probably met you- ah, right!"
Taken aback by his sudden rise in voice, I could only reply:
"W-what happened!?"
He rests his chin on his hand saying:
"For some reason, I suddenly fell weak when I entered the city. I Struggled a lot and can't remember much from there on," he pouts by puffing one of his cheeks.
"Hold on... So you're saying that you got into the city thanks to Hyu bringing you in?"
He swings his arm up shouting:
"That's right!"
"Ah, shet..."
So Hyu's assistance while trying to help his sister's redemption brought our city's destruction? So he's saying that basically, it's all Hyu's fault? No, wait, that can't be it.
"Please continue on."
"My, so polite. Okay, then, but before any of that, I want to ask. Do all monster become weak as they enter your city?"
"Huh? Of course not, if that's the case we wouldn't have to build walls or have any sentries at all. And I doubt any bandit would even dare thread the freezing north."
(After all, our frontier is located all the way up north, where half of our frontier is literally covered in snow and those without proper spells and preparation would freeze the moment they even took a step inside. And this city is placed in the most northern point you can find, in fact, I think Hyu called this city the Tip of the world."
"I see, I guess it really is probably my body's constitution to heat or the cage or maybe something else... And talking about defences, does your city have some kind of secret guard or something? I mean, with my new eyes, I can see body heat and it really helps me out with hunting monsters hiding below the snow bed. And before I was brought to the chopping board, I saw multiple invisible people roaming the rooftops."
"Secret guards? Well, if I know it probably wouldn't be secret anymore would it?"
(But then again, invisible people? Does he mean cloaking spell? That can't be possible. Our spells are not so advanced that we can cloak our selves yet. I wonder if they are the forces Hyu brought back from the Theocracy? If it's them, I wouldn't be surprised if they manage to turn a man into a woman).
He chuckled replying:
"Heh, true- wait for a second! No, I can't say it's a guard."
Massaging my temple I ask back,
"What is it now?"
"As I was escaping the city through the mountain. I was able to see your king."
"Wait, what!? What is the king doing in the mountains!?"
(He was supposed to be in the floating castle.)
"I don't know man, but let me tell you. Those secret guards blow, like literally shot your kings head like and killed him in a fantastical manner."
*slam*
"THE KING IS DEAD!!????"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure of it, his head is literally a pile of mush. And people mistake me for killing him and then this winged guy chase me all the way up the mountain it's a horrifying experience ya know?"
(Does that mean there are assassins going after our king!? No, that's stupid! Hyu told me that they have vowed to each of their respective Gods that they will guarantee our kingdom's safety and prosperity. And more proof of that is how the Theocracy shows their sincerity by helping us with our ceremony and sending in one of their best fighting force, the Templars to guard our city! I know with my own eyes, they are the people who would never break the promise made to their Gods. So is it the south? No, they're too busy doing their own thing and they're not stupid enough to attack us if it means going to war with the Theocracy. Then, the clans from the east? No, Hyu told me that he managed to earn their loyalty, the proof is that their respective leaders are our so-called king's advisors or elders... Let's stop, I don't wish to sunder the kingdom Hyu and the king had built).
"Urgh... Say-"
"Hold it right there sunny Jim."
"Who?"
"Let's stop that talk for now, instead, why don't you tell me about this me being inside your... Business."
"Huh? That's... Aren't you the one who's supposed to explain? You're the one that's controlling my body right now."
"Control you? Hey, I already told you I have my own body. I don't need your body- wait, what did your God tell you to do when she asks you to meet me?"
"Huh? She just told me to meet you. And I thought you're the one who's going to explain it all."
"Well, what do you know, it seems we're the same. She told me that her friend's champion would come to visit me. So maybe I thought I could meet him or her... Now that I think about it, I really wish it was a girl."
Ignoring his perverted remarks,
"So, in the end, we don't really have anything to talk about huh?"
"Yes, that sums it up just about right."
"..."
"..."
"......"
"... This is just awkward, say, why don't we just go meet my Goddess Azchiwawa or something, last I check she was in my room just across that hall."
Anselm breaks rhe silence with a solution, I nod reluctantly saying:
"Right, let's follow your instruction..."
****************************************
"Urgh... I feel even worse now!"
"Arggh!!! My baby!", "Run! Evacuate into the mountain!", "Ahhhh! They're here!", " Oh lord, what have we done to deserve this..."
Hearing the lament of humanity, I open my eyes to what seems to be a black sky filled with multiple black boxes roaming like they own the sky. Brightened by the flames of turmoil-
*thwack*
"Oof!"
(Goodbye my children...)
Feeling my balls being kicked and something heavy landing on top of me, I try turning my head and see a little girl.
(She probably fell as she runs).
"H-help me..."
I try to plead her-
"Kyaaahhhh!"
She hastily steps on my chest and face before running ahead.
"Cough!"
I cough up the blood stuck in my lungs and fell limp across the hard ground...
"What in the yon fuck is happening!? I swear I was supposed to be sleeping in some cave or something..."
(Wait, for a second! Wasn't I suppose to meet her? That's right, as soon as that boy, Tyo I think is his name and I was about to enter inside my room...)
"This happened. I guess I really am inside him... No homo."
I try turning around when I felt someone holding my armpit and dragging me.
"Well lookie here, that white hair and red eyes. Aren't you that famous ace who's acknowledged even by Hyu, the Grunt. You're a tough nut to crack if you're still alive in that state. Don't worry, I'll get you out of here! Dammit, those black demons are already so close."
I try looking at my saviour saying:
"Thank-"
*bang* *splat*
Loud gunshots ring and an unpleasant sound enter my ears while something enters my eyes, I quickly toppled over to the ground-
*bang* *bang* *bang* *bang* *bang*
A flurry of gunshots echoes through my ear as I felt things penetrating all over my body with such forces, my body tried to react with a scream but my mouth won't open at all.
(It hurts! It fucking hurts dammit! Why aren't I dead yet!? Someone, please just end my misery!)
*stomp*
Darkness enters my blurry vision and soon felt a cold finger pressing my neck as if to check for a heartbeat.
"No heartbeats, he's dead."
A women's voice enters my ear as she confirms my state.
(No shit sherlock!)
I scream at my heart.
"No shit, Sherlock!"
A man's voice replied back in anger.
(Thank you! Whoever you are. Still, Sherlock exists in this world!? Been a while since I read some good detective novels).
"One bullet is enough to kill these monsters coat in human skin. Even if we can produce this things like toilet paper, doesn't mean we carry as much. So conserve your ammo, Erica! Keep personal feelings out of this."
"Sorry, Major! But permit me for asking, what are we even being deployed for? Can't we just let the monster finish the job? We already sweep the castle and captured the king. Do we need to do anything more?"
(Wait, I thought the king was dead? I saw his head get blown to mush!)
"Ah right, you came from the Agria base back at the port. To make a long story short, the reason we were all sent to this freezing wasteland is that we got reports of our people actually being imprisoned here. I even heard that some of them are being turned into food."
"That's... Are they even human anymore!? I shouldn't have killed them so easily!"
*clink* *psss*
As if he just lights up a cigarette,
"Fuuu, settle down there spassy. Now that you know, use that radar to check if there's anyone down in the basements or somewhere like that. Every life we save counts to our goals."
"Yes, Sir! Right away!"
(These people... Are they perhaps talking about those slaves I saw during my travels to my cell? Ugh... No, I shouldn't think of others right now. Call me greedy or whatever but I have my plates full trying to figure out what's happening. I finally got a monster body but now I'm stuck with this dying body... It fucking sucks!)