The room was filled with darkness. The shining rays of morning light highlighted the red bloodstains on the furniture. The sounds of life were audible in the streets outside the apartment.
Edward's consciousness rose. His mind stepped down from the seemingly higher dimension of being and entered his physical body. He slowly opened his eyes.
"Where am I? What happened?"
He was still dizzy. Having realized that he was still lying on the floor, he stood up. Edward then took a sip of water and started to clean his room. His outside was calm, and it seemed as if he was still the same Edward as yesterday.
However, under this seemingly calm appearance, changes were ongoing. His mind was remembering, sorting, and deducing what has happened. The answer was clear.
Since his childhood, the kingdom has been implanting the knowledge to recognize a Chosen. A tiny line made of weird symbols on the exterior of the right forearm.
Edward knew now, he became a Chosen. His fate has been sealed. The average person might not know the consequences of becoming a Chosen, but he knew. His best friend worked in the Department of Securing Chosen after all.
After a Chosen was found, they would be secured. First, their arms and legs were cut while being unconscious. Then they would be put in a cell, followed by torture. After the first few years of torture, they would be integrated into the King's Army and serve the King until the day they die.
Edward's dreams were shattered in one night. His dreams of becoming a wealthy scholar, relaxing at the sea, and maybe traveling across the world were no more.
All that would follow is desperation. Edward realized he wasn't human anymore. He was a weapon too dangerous to be allowed to have freedom. Words like 'mass-destruction', 'demon', 'monster' were heard all too often when one talked about Chosen.
One day a classmate, and the next day a demon from hell.
…
What followed in the next weeks might be interpreted as desperation. Alcoholism, depression, and isolation became the center of Edward's life. Waking up at noon, drinking alcohol, having a panic attack at the slightest noise outside the door, followed by drinking himself back into sleep. This cycle continued.
After one week, he was fired from his job. After the second week, he was notified of having missed an important exam. After the third week, Edward's money pouch was empty.
Yet, Edward wasn't someone with a weak mind. One might think that he gave up on life, but Edward wasn't someone who would give up. He only needed some time to assimilate himself.
…
Edward was laying on his bed with his arms crossed as a cushion. It was still early in the morning and the sun was beginning to rise. His blue eyes were unfocused.
Suddenly, Edward stood up. His straight eyes became focused and he immediately dressed, took money out of his savings box, and left his apartment.
At first, he checked his mail while walking. Everything was as expected. Pace was worried, his boss angry, and the school did not really care about his well-being.
His mind was swiftly forming a plan. He had to leave the city. Otherwise, with time, he would get exposed by regular checks. He needed to somehow get rid of the guards at the gate though.
His brain rapidly organized all the information it had about the city. The positions of the gates, the peak entrance times, the flow of the crowd and vehicles, the strength of the guards, and other factors were organized, structured, and connected into a plan.
Somehow, his weak will was gone after becoming a Chosen. Edward wanted to live. But to do that, he needed help. He knew almost nothing about the powers of Chosen. He had to ask.
He made up his mind. Only Pace could know his powers. Even though Edward knew that Pace was part of his enemies, he still trusted him. Fifteen years of friendship couldn't just vanish.
After walking for thirty minutes, he arrived. He entered and knocked on Pace's door.
"Pace, open up. I need your help"
His voice echoed in the still hallway. He could hear steps nearing the door until they stopped and the door opened.
"Where have you been, Edward? I couldn't meet you in the tavern and you never opened the door. Also, what happened? You never ask for help."
"Let's get inside. I don't want to talk about it here."
Edward entered Pace's spacious apartment and sat down on his leather couch. Pace sat in front of him. Stillness filled the room.
"Pace, I am only telling this you because I can trust no one else. I hope you can help me."
"What's going on?"
At first, Edward didn't answer. Then he said,
"I became a Chosen. I don't know why and don't know how. But I am still the same. I want to leave the city. I want to survive. And I need your help, only you can help me."
Silence followed. Pace looked into Edward's eyes. He knew that his best friend wouldn't joke about such a topic.
"I can help you. But where do you want to go?"
"I don't know, heh. After all, the entire world is searching for me. I might try surviving in the wild or a caravan."
"No, you will only be killed by monsters if you stay in the wild. I know a way to survive. It's just a rumor, but apparently an underground organization hosting Chosen is stationed in the capital. They seem to do just fine. You might be able to survive there.
"I don't know how to reach out to them, but it's worth a try."
"Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me, we're friends after all. I can only help you flee this city though.
"Here's what you need to do…"
…
"I need sulfur and charcoal"
…
"This package of potassium nitrate please"
…
"I'd like to buy that sword, this survival kit, and a bit of beef jerky."
…
"The guards will change shifts at nine o'clock. They will use the main street to get back to the headquarters"
…
"Make sure to use the panic"
...
"Are you ready?"
"Yes, thank you for everything. I hope we can meet once again in the future. I will leave my marks at the designated place"
"Alright, let's go. I will prepare the distraction."
…
Northeastern gate, Gold City, 8:58 pm
The last carriages containing mountain berries were arriving and entering the northeastern gate of Gold City. Gold City was an important trade city that dealt with the trade of the Kingdom's famous mountainberries, hence the name Mountainberry Kingdom. These small red berries were famous for their long-lasting sweetness and could only grow in the mountains to the east of Gold City.
The carriages containing mountain berries were squeezing into the gate. One carriage's wheel broke and couldn't pass through. A large queue built up.
"Hurry up you idiots! The gate closes in half an hour!"
8:59 pm
"Alright, our shift is done. Johnny's group will come soon, so we will go now. See ya!"
Edward, leaning against a wall, heard these words. He looked up and saw the time at the tower clock. Only one minute was left.
Half of the guards left the gate. They walked along the main street for a few meters, took a turn to the right, and could then not be seen anymore.
30 seconds left.
"Just squeeze it through and repair it inside the walls!"
Another group of guards were nearing the gate from the main street.
"Hmm, earlier than expected. But the distance is still sufficient."
15 seconds left.
Edward looked into a certain window. The candle on the window board was burning.
10 seconds left.
Edward suddenly started to walk towards the gate. His speed increased continuously, appearing quite suspicious.
3 seconds left.
Edward sprinted towards the crowd. A few guards looked at him.
2 seconds left.
Edward took off his right glove. He remembered what Pace said,
"To gain the powers of Chosen, you must sacrifice a certain body part of yours, for example, a finger. I don't know how, but I think you must just think of it."
1 second left.
Edward's mark on his forearm started to grow with an increasingly bright light. However, the light was blocked by his clothing.
The group of guards were still far away from the gate.
0 seconds left.
BOOM.
A gigantic explosion appeared right beside the gate! Immediately, a shock wave spread out and kicked all kinds of goods away. Splinters and rocks injured the nearest bystanders. An ash cloud rose.
Panic broke out. Crowds of people walked in all directions except the explosion. All guards drew their swords. The captain roared,
"Formation! Group 1, protect the gate! Group 2, support Johnny's group, they are almost here! Keep calm!"
One group of the gate guards ran towards the explosion.
Because of the panic, no one noticed Edward sprinting towards the gate. He sprinted inside the crowd and was almost at the gate, whose number of guards halved. The group of guards coming from the main street ran towards the explosion to the right of the gate.
Ten meters were left between Edward and the gate, however, the captain then noticed Edward sprinting towards them. He looked into his eyes. Edward saw his expression. First confusion, then realization, and then sternness. He immediately roared,
"Enemy attack!"
All the remaining guards pointed their swords and shields towards Edward. Their formation was perfect. It was impossible for a normal human being to fight against ten guards all alone. The situation seemed desperate for Edward.
However, Edward wasn't a normal human being anymore. The light coming out of his mark turned brighter and brighter. Even his clothes could not stop the light from piercing out anymore. But nothing happened to Edward.
"Damn mark! Why don't you work! Give me power, I need strength!"
Yet, nothing happened. The distance between him and the guards was shortening.
The first guard started to attack. Edward's mind sped up, with time slowing down.
"Goddamn! You piece of trash! Just work, you f*cker! Sacrifice! Yes, I want you to sacrifice, fingers! Who needs the goddamn pinkie finger, you piece of sh*t! I don't want you anymore!"
"JUST IMMOLATE!!!"
As soon as he screamed those words, a blinding light pierced out of Edward's forearm, brightening the entire street! At the same time, his pinkie finger shattered into pieces of light, disappearing into the world.
BOOM!
A huge blast appeared in front of Edward's hand, kicking the guard dozens of meters away! The shockwave continued, throwing stones up into the air, which then hit the other guards.
Meanwhile, Edward's mind underwent changes in that instant. A certain kind of knowledge entered his brain and ingrained itself in its deepest roots. He knew without hesitation what he was capable of!
Edward's body then started to light up. With one light tap, he jumped meters into the air. Mid-air, another shock wave came out of his feet, blasting him towards the middle of the guard's formation! The created sonic boom thrashed the guard's ears.
Landing with a punch into the ground, an ash cloud rose and blinded the guards. Then, Edward held his hands at the guards in front of him.
Another shockwave blasted out of his hands, accelerating the guards dozens of meters away, as if they were hit by a dragon! Upon impact with the ground, the guards started to seizure.
With another shockwave out of his feet, Edward blinked outside the gate and exited the city.
The remaining guards tried to shoot him with arrows, however, Edward pointed his hands towards the top of the gate and let out another shockwave!
The supporting structure immediately crumbled. Stones fell out of the city wall and blocked the gate, not allowing anyone to pass it.
Some arrows still managed to pass the gate though.
Edward looked at the arrows and smiled. The arrows neared him.
Abruptly, shockwaves came out of Edward's lower body, accelerating him in all kinds of directions. Because of his speed, it almost seemed as if he were teleporting. One dodge to the left, one up into the air, and one last back to the ground allowed Edward to dodge all incoming arrows.
Edward then swiftly sprinted towards the forest, leaving the city behind. He gazed one last time at the city that was his home for twenty-two years. A tear flowed down his cheek.
"See you again, old friend."
…
While Edward disappeared into the forest, two shadows appeared on top of the city wall.
"Seems like he made it."
"Yes, as expected. Let's wait until the commotion quiets down. We will then take him with us."
"Alright. What do you think? C- or B-Tier?"
….