'Riot' didn't know why he said that, maybe after reading too many tales of heroic deeds done by others he felt it was time to join the league of heros and end up dead? Or maybe he was the kind that risked his life for the weak when it truly mattered?
He chucked shaking his head.
The human heart is really complex.
He promised his father he was going to return even if it meant he would rise up as an undead.
Heh, if that happened the church won't let it be. Enough of these thoughts, i have to lead the soldiers well.
'Riot' rode out with a little over a thousand men towards the location of the incoming wave.
In the distance he could see smoke rising as they rode past fleeing villagers with ash on some of their faces.
'Riot' saw a kid being carried on in the distance, looking at the child, he could see the innocence in his eyes.
He smiled reassuringly urging his mount on. After a while of riding he could finally hear the earth rumbling as monsters appeared out of a forest. 'Riot' quickly organized a formation riding back and forth yelling bold statements trying to raise morale as much as possible, as the soldiers braced themselves.
"Arrows!" He finally signalled and everyone took out their bows.
"Ready!"
The sound of bows being drawn taut followed.
"Release!"
The arrows tore through air embedding themselves in the monsters far away causing them to tumble and trample over each other. But they didn't stop, more poured out of the forest running towards them crazily.
Surprised was seen on his visage. Normally the monsters would at least be shocked and show some fear of the arrows. Causing some to scatter and lessen the density of the wave, but instead they seemed... possessed.
Could this be the work of Opus Mardi?
'Riot' pushed the suspicions away, deciding to charge on the newly found morale.
He raised his sword. "For Somer!"
"FOR SOMER!!!" They echoed following suit.
Pointing towards the wave, he yelled. "Charge!!!"
And then like a rushing tide they charged at the hoard of varing monsters that appeared before their sight. Their momentum increase as they covered more distance on their horses giving off the feeling that they could smash through anything.
Many soldiers glanced at their bold second prince with pride, eager to follow him into the annals of history.
'Riot' seeing the savage aura the monsters exuded as their dense muscles vibrated from their running, with claws that gleamed menacingly, pushing to pounce at the incoming riders.
His heart grew cold. 'I'm going to die aren't I?'
These were his last thoughts before the clash.
****
Thinking about the previous body owner's death Za...Riot thought the battle was worthy of the history books.
But his expression was deadpan. He wasn't really impressed.
As he walked on he was finally getting out the sea of bodies. He suddenly saw something in the distance through the corner of his eye.
It seemed like a person, he couldn't tell the gender clearly amidst the corpses. It sat on a tree stomp scribbling something down. Not wanting to alert it he tried to listen from a distance, but he was way too far.
But suddenly, he felt his mana deplete slowly. And just then he began hearing words.
"...how glorious was his charge, leading his men he plunged deep into the claws and fangs of beasts, for his people... But it was all for nought. For the dragon had set it's eyes on them." The voice sounded hoarse like someone who had been crying.
A woman's voice? Wait! how can i hear so clearly from all the way over here.
It didn't feel like he was using his ears, it was like the sound entered his chest. He could feel the sound waves hit his chest or rather something within. Like a super sensitive orb.
He felt odd. Then something warm flowed from his nose. He took off his helmet and touched it.
'Blood?' He wasn't sure because it was way too black, if not jet black.
His head suddenly felt dizzy as pain rushed through him.
Cough! Riot fell to his knees coughing seriously splurting out more black blood.
After some effort he calmed down. This time he was sure it was blood.
Huu..has... Heaving breathes.
What was that about! Am i sick, i just got here for goodness sake!
Immediately remembering the person he was peeking on he turned to look but found nothing there.
She's gone.
He paused and looked behind slowly.
Nothing's behind. Whew! I thought i would experience what usually happened in horror movies.
Riot didn't think much about the strange ability he had discovered, he decided he would test it out more when he got within the safety of castle walls. Right now, he was more worried about his health.
He had been walking for a while now and the sun was already going down.
Although the written language of this planet's inhabitant where different, what they called the fixed star above still had the wording of sun the same for the moon and everything else. It was similar to English, only the letters were different.
He decided to find a safe place for the night, before continuing his journey the next day. A village was a few miles from his current location and he planned to stop there for some rest so he increased his pace.
Riot walked faster as his past life memories became clearer. He estimated that he would be fully aware of himself by tomorrow. Overall he was quite in a good mood.
Focus Riot, there might still be monsters nearby.
He cautioned himself as he strode on. For some reason he was strangely excited.
'It's quite nice to be alive.' He thought while staring at the fantastic scene of dusk in the sky. The clouds looked like a water fall of light was falling off it.
After a while of walking he could see a village. This village was called Gay due to the kinds of animals reared on these lands.
A blue hippo-like domestic creature. They were reared for their milk, which was used to make a popular drink called topgay.
He slowed down his pace while taking in the details of the place.
Dead monster bodies along with some half eaten meat which he guess where from the beasts reared on the farm where all around the village's entrance.
It seems the monsters fought over the reared animals killing themselves in the process the winner ate the reared animal, then grew tired of it?
Riot head was still a bit light, he didn't have the will to think much into it.
He then turned serious the feeling about him changed.
Swurung! The sound of his sword being drawn reverberated around.
Rather than wait till he was asleep hoping a beast wasn't hiding in one of the buildings, he would rather draw them out and deal with them immediately. And that was what he tried to do.
With a sword in one hand and a dagger on the other he hit them together as a loud sound ensued. He tried to draw any dangerous creature in the village out.
Of course, if he saw something stronger than himself he could just run, after all, speed and endurance was his body's strong suit not strength.
Even his armor was light steel, that was why to compensate, it had a harden enchantment on it. Which added extra durability and defence when mana was channeled into it.
The added durability and defense depended on the skill of the enchanter, the quality of the enchanting ink and the armor material's quality.
Riot savored the feeling of drawing a blade. He felt that it was something he was used to.
Not only that, but he had recovered some key memories recently and discovered he was a pretty experienced close to mid range galactic warrior in his past life who fought all kinds of alien creatures.
But still, what he did was reckless as he hadn't even gotten use to his new body yet. In a combat situation this would most likely cause him to make mistakes which were costly.
He was probably this brave because his armor made him subconsciously think he still had his juggernaut alloy mechsuit, which he didn't.
After waiting a while, nothing came out.
He then tried using his sound sensing ability on a wide scale. Focusing on his chest he spread his senses. At the same time he could feel his mana depleting slowly and steadily.
'So this ability also relies on mana.' He thought.
After a slight dizzy feeling, he felt a myriad of sound waves of varying frequencies moving through the atmosphere. Some hit his chest. Well, not his chest though, but something in it. It harmonized with his normal hearing and it didn't feel odd at all.
'...Is this what it felt like to have a third ear?' Riot mused, remembering some strange looking aliens from his past life.
He could hear the insects walking on the grass, to the running of blood through his blood vessels. He tried isolating some sounds and focusing on others. After few attempts he finally couldn't hear the flow of blood in his blood vessels and could hear the insects movement better... It sounded disgusting.
There were a lot of carcass around so it was obvious there would also be insects.
He concentrated on the other side of the village and discovered he could sense the grass rustling on the other side.
Hm, this is quite a convenient ability for eavedr... getting information.
He had already scanned the houses and heard nothing, not even a heartbeat.
Quickly he stopped using the ability as he felt he was getting tired.
The ability probably consumed a lot of my stamina. Due to the amount of brain power required to process the large amounts of sound wave information i receive every second. At the same time taking a toll on my mind.
After preparing a bed of hay for himself in a storehouse. Locking the doors and leaving some windows slightly opened, he went to sleep.
He really wished he could watch the moon a little before he slept, but he was already tired from all the walking and knew he would need a lot of energy tomorrow. So he decided it was best he slept early.
'Sleep well. Prince Riot for luxury awaits you!' He then dozed off.
'HAH!' Riot jumped up and stretched. He gently pushed open the window, it was still dark but signs of the sun rising could be seen.
'It's a new day.' He stretched as he got ready to leave. After listening if there were any movements outside and confirming that he was alone he opened the door.
Searching his mind, he realized that the feeling like he was forgetting something was gone. He had finally regained all his memories.
"I see now... So that's how i died. Emotions really aren't ideal for a soldier." He whispered as his mood was dampened.
[What are you whispering about.]
'Huh?' Riot suddenly heard a familiar voice in his head.
[Don't you remember me?]
'This menacing voice... It can't be...Nemesis?'
[Yes, it's me! Your good old friend.]
Riot then recalled the memories about Nemesis.
Nemesis, an imaginary being i envisioned in the duration of my exile on planet Gauntlet. I formed him by mentally separating my dark thoughts and hatred towards the galactic empire and everything else from my heart.
This was done to prevent me from going insane due to the isolation and regret i felt. And also to feel like there was someone there to talk to during my final moments.
Though it was childish, because of this he had an easier time accepting death.
Odd... I didn't put in any effort into forming him or mentally simulating his actions.
Riot had a strange look. '...Have my insanity from hunger reincarnated with me? Could it be why the blood of humans and beast smelled enticing to me?!'
He suddenly felt appalled.
[Enough of your nonsense, father. I have become a new being! I have full autonomy over my actions. I! Am! Alive!]
Riot could hear Nemesis laughing hysterically in his head.
...Yep! I've lost it.