As we shoot the corpses the snow begins to grow stronger, the sound of rusting leaves becoming more violent every second. We immediately rush to the ship. I make sure to bring the headless corpse with its head inside so I can examine it.
We'll most likely gift these corpses to Naba and his people. Either that or we'll use them to trade for materials and knowledge. I'll have to talk with everybody so we can all keep the piece. I can't afford to come off as tyrant when there's so few people I can trust and too much danger lying in the shadows.
I gather Dai, Mei, and Ling'er in the pilots room, making sure to bring the corpse. Everyone seems to be distracted by the headless corpse so I clap to get their attention. "So what do we want to do with this?" I say with a tone of authority.
Everyone seems to hesitate but Dai responds immediately. "We can trade this for low quality materials. We probably shouldn't try to scam them since they read our intentions and we don't know their real strength. How about we form a friendly relationship for now, then we have enough knowledge we can snatch some materials from them." He said while poking at the headless corpse.
Mei and Ling'er glare at him in response. "Why don't we gift them as a sight of sincerity. We can always hunt for more with no issue. We can also use this opportunity to see if they can show us what's edible on this planet." Mei said with a slight frown.
"Mei's right. We have the advantage in terms of technology. By giving this gift without asking for anything in return we can increase their leader's trust." Ling'er said while glaring at Dai.
Dai responds by shrugging it off. "We should first check if there's anything of immediate value in the corpses. If not I say we gift them. If there are, we can trade some of the more unnecessary materials like the scales and meat." He said while poking around the corpses head.
Everyone looks at me. Honestly, I think I should just sell them to the system but since I'm working with a group I'll have to think about a way to sustain ourselves in the long term. "Alright, does anyone have any issues with what Dai said?" I say calmly.
Mei and Ling'er just stay quite while Dai continues to mess with the corpses mouth. "Nobody here is my favorite. Say whatever you want. I won't judge." I say while staring at Dai.
Mei and Ling'er hesitate, Mei choosing to say something. "How about we gift half the corpses and keep the rest? We can make a good impression and get some information on the local beast." She says while scratching the side of her head.
Dai looks at her shocked, as if he just say a newborn child solve a complex math problem. Mei just smiles at him. Dai just shrugs in response.
"Alright that's what we'll do. For now we'll wait a day and see if the blizzard goes away quickly. Ling'er does the group have any issues?" I say while looking at Ling'er with a serious gaze.
She thinks for a few seconds before speaking. "Everybody is on edge. You are asking nothing of us and are clearly favoring Dai. You are a god and after seeing what happened to our home your lack of presence is causing people to be stressed, wondering what will happen to them." Ling'er said suddenly pausing.
"People are loosing faith and quite a few people are seriously considering suicide. I just ask that you answer a few questions me and preform a miracle or two." Ling'er said with a hint of fear flashing past her dull eyes.
"What kind of questions?" I say while rubbing my head.
"Is the afterlife really real? What is the meaning of life? How will we get revenge for our home?" Ling'er said with a shaking voice.
System can you answer that?
-There Is An After Life But It Depends On Who You Worship. There Is No Meaning To Life. By Killing The God Who Attacked Your Home.-
And who destroyed my home?
-Unknown.-
How the hell do you not know!
-Host Was Isolated From The System. Your Soul Was Isolated. Your Existence Was Isolated. Your Past, Present, And Future Were Isolated. Your Solar System Was Isolated.-
Then how did you upgrade? How did you evolve me? How the hell did I access the system shop!
-System Abilities We're Limited To The Bare Minimum. The Systems Primary Consciousness Was Forcefully Separated, Leaving Only The Basic Functions Of A Timer, Shopping, And A Single Emergency protocol Enforcement Before Separation-
Can you not get his appearance from my memories?
-The Host Memories Have Been Altered When Exposed To A Higher Dimensional Terror And Greater Embodiment Of Madness.-
What do you mean I can remember it clearly! It was big and it had...it had? Ugh, it looked...like? Fuck I can't remember!
"Shit! Okay does anybody remember what ended our planet?!" I scream with clear panic in my voice. Everyone tries hard to think. Suddenly everyone but Dai begins to wildly smile, tears falling down their eyes.
"I-I can't remember?" Mei said with a stutter.
"I d-don't know?" Ling'er said while wildly pulling at her hair.
"Yeah, it was that four armed horse snake thing right?" Dai said with a slight frown.
Suddenly, everybody but Dai begins to scream. It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! A familiar roar accompanies our screams. Fuck my head! System why does it hurt! What happened to my pro-.
"Hey now, I wasn't expecting someone to actually stay sane." Suddenly, a familiar girl appears in front of us. Her long silver hair cascades down her delicate shoulders as she tilts her head, pressing her slim finger against her plump lips.
Several arms sprout out of her back, reaching towards our heads. Eventually her see through palms pass through our heads, pulling out an ever-changing mist from within our sweat soaked foreheads. With a wide smile she begins to devour the most.
Crunch*
Crunch*
Crunch*
The sounds of bones breaking and pained shrieks fills our head. It grows weaker with every bite before disappearing, as if nothing happened. Suddenly I find myself against the floor with everyone else.
Slowly everybody opens their eyes. The pilots room is the same. There is no blood. Aloe is gone. The only thing showing that something may have happened is the intense headache numbing my thoughts.
System what happened to my protection?
-We're You Not Just Saved By An Ally God?-
Yes but why the hell was I attacked!
-Because It Was Not Attempt To Kill. Even so, You Were Protected, Right?-
....Fuck you.
"Hey leader. Are you okay?" Dai said while looking at me. He moves to me and immediately checks my pulse. Completely disregarding Ling'er and Mei he bring me several rations before trying to run out to ask for help.
"Don't you dare. How do think people will react when they hear this." I say clearly annoyed. In response Dai just gives me an odd stare.
"We can take advantage of this. You were saved by a god right? This should prove that your a safe choice." Dai said with a blank face.
"So what's the proof that this happened?" Ling'er says as she stands up.
"We can have someone else try to remember the god. If they die, it's proof we survived. If they live it's a miracle provided by you." Dai says calmly.
Mei suddenly stands up and slaps him. "What The Hell Is Wrong With You!" She screams with tears still falling down her eyes. In response Dai just slaps her.
A crisp smack fills our ears.
"It was just a suggestion and even then it is a valid way to boost the faith and morale of the group depending on how we handle the situation. Touch me again and I will respond accordingly." Dai says with his face directly in front of Mei's with his familiar smile and dull eyes.
She goes silent, looking towards me and Ling'er. I just stand still while Ling'er glares at Dai, clearly getting ready to kill him. In response he looks at me. Everyone follows his line of sight.
...System. Tell me. Can I bring back the dead?
-Depends On You Mean By 'Back From The Dead'-
...Be clear.
-Do You Count An Exact Copy Of A Living Person The Same Person After The Original Dies? What If They No Longer Have A Flesh Body. One Of The Many Laws Of The Universe Is 'Death Is Inescapable'. Not Even The Gods Themselves Can Change That.-
Dumb it down so I understand.
-In The Future You Can Perfectly Copy A Persons Mind, Their Emotions, Their Thoughts, And Their Experiences Any Time Before Death. When The Original Dies The Copy Continues. The Copy Is The Same But Is It Really Another Original? In A Sense The Answer Is Yes But The Answer Can Be No Depending On Your Thoughts On The Matter-
...I'll just take that as a yes. What do I need to make the copy?
-You Need The Appropriate Machinary And To Preserve The Corpse.-
Everyone continues to stare at me, Mei clearly having calmed down. "Do it. As long as the corpse is preserved I can bring them back." I said with a slight frown.
Dai smiles in response. Mei and Ling'er put on a shocked expression, completely ignoring Dai's mocking smirk. I glare at him. "Dai, cut the crap. Stop smiling or I will punch you." I say raising the undamaged left arm cover.
"Go ahead. As long as it helps the group." He says while showing his left cheek. I don't even bother to smile or talk back, just standing up and slapping him.
A crisp smack fills our ears.
Dai falls over, a large red mark on his cheek, a small bit of blood leaking through the corner of his lip. He spits out a tooth and smiles, his dull eyes lighting up the moment he sees my calm face. "Thank you leader." He says with a shining, genuine smile.
"Freak." Mei says with clear disgust.
"Monster." Ling'er says with clear disgust.
He just looks at them with his now dead eyes and smiles. Missing a tooth and in clear pain he continues to smile. His eyes dead whenever gazing upon anyone but me.
Maybe I should kill him.