2508, June 23rd.
Cyrene, formerly a port town named Kagoshima, Japan.
The darkness engulfed the city, as it was pouring down so heavily.
Somewhere around the harbor, a man wearing a black suit and expensive looking fedora walked slowly. He then arrived at a certain dim lit hangar. His face was showing a slight of worriness, but he brushed it off and spoke in a raspy voice.
"Show your face, Sieg.", said the man. "As promised, I've brought the Schwarze's child."
He was walking slowly towards the cargos, accompanied by a child hiding behind him. The child was covered in rags and tattered clothes. Suddenly, a young man in his mid 20's appeared from nowhere. His sissy gestures were disgustingly agile. A pair of ornamental daggers were hanging from his belt.
"Oh! We've been waiting for you Mr. Jett! So how was it?", the young man named Sieg spoke gleefully. "Oh ho! Is that the child?"
Sieg moved quickly. He vanished for a moment and appeared behind the child. He then placed his right hand on the child's head and with a slight pull, the rags covering the child's head were open.
"Oh! What a poor girl.", Sieg lifted the child's chin and opened his eyes widely. "What's your name?"
The child trembled so badly after seeing his eyes.
"Ah, these eyes? These are called 'Evil Eyes'. Don't worry, it won't bite your cute face. Ihihi." Sieg added, while spinning his eyes. "So, answer me. What's your name?"
His smiley face changed into a cold glare, asserting menace to the child. His eyes were emitting a dim green glow and some runic characters were spinning in his pupils. The man in black suit was also unable to do anything. He was trembling and sweating profusely even though it was a cold rainy night.
"M-my name is Annette…", the child replied softly.
She was aware that Sieg could kill her anytime. His odd eyes were making contact with her eyes the whole time, and that fact alone was enough to make her tremble in fear.
"Annette, huh? What a cute name!", Sieg returned to his clowney attitude while rubbing the little girl's head. "So, Mr. Jett. Where did you find this cute little girl?"
"She was lurking in the building near the capital…", Jett's raspy voice trembled.
"Oh… Were you seen by anybody?", Sieg threw a sharp glance to Jett.
"I-I made sure no one saw me."
The atmosphere was really tense, although Sieg was smiling.
"I see… Good job, Mr. Jett! You've done a real good job securing this girl.", Sieg tapped Jett's shoulder. "You can leave now. Oh, your rewards will be sent tomorrow morning. Glad to have a business with you!"
Sieg then pushed Jett's body slightly, indicating that he wanted Jett to leave the place. Before Jett left, he made eye contact with the little girl.
"I'm sorry…", he whispered and walked away quickly.
Sieg watched the whole scene and when Jett was far enough, he clapped his hands twice. Suddenly, a man wearing all black appeared from nowhere.
"Yes, Sir!", the man asked.
"Follow that man. Make sure he doesn't spread the info. If he happens to say anything about this, kill him and make it look like an accident.", Sieg ordered the man.
His face was showing no smile at all.
"Roger that.", the man replied and vanished into the darkness.
After seeing the whole commotion, Annette walked backwards in fear. She knew that she was in danger.
"Well, Annette. Or should I call you Ann?", Sieg smiled widely. "Do you want to join us?"
***
Meanwhile, inside the Abyss.
A little girl wearing a gold dress was running for her life while being chased by something gigantic. Yep, it was me running for my life.
"Dea! Didn't you tell me it was a docile creature?", I screamed while panting so hard.
[It is unmistakably a docile creature.]
"Then why the hell is that thing chasing after me now?!"
Behind me, a gigantic elephant-like creature rampaged, trampling everything on its way to pieces. It had red fur and a burning hump on its back. The trunk was armored with thick and hard skin. It was easier to imagine it like a Mammoth but with a much bigger body and fiery fur. With every single step of it, the ground quaked terribly.
[It has not been an hour since you said, "Let's start the grind." and this happened.]
"..."
[You let your greed take over your body.]
"..."
[You tried to cut its tusks.]
Damn it. What she had been predicting just happened now. My greed got me real good this time.
"But… But… It was so beautiful!", I justified myself.
[You and your excuses. Even I am appalled by your foolishness.]
Her every word was right, but I couldn't bring myself to admit it. If only I were to listen to her… No, no, no! Regretting wouldn't do me any jackshit to escape from this situation. Unconsciously, I started tearing up.
[Feeling remorseful yet?]
"Why would you ask me that now? Uwaaaaaaah…"
I started crying, literally. The fear of losing my life got me good. It was a lost feeling I never expected to feel again.
"Please Dea, help me!", I begged her while drops of tears were running down my cheeks. "What do I do now?"
[Use your brain for a bit.]
She replied coldly, tearing apart my already crumbling heart into debris.
"Uuuuu…", I kept whining for a bit.
I racked my brain and recalled my experience from my last regression. The smallest information could turn the table in any situation. Then I tried turning my head back to look at the creature and… It was scary as heck. It roared loudly and the gap between us shortened since I slowed down a little bit.
"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaahh! A-Appraisal!", I screamed on the top of my lungs. "I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die! Please God, Goddess, Buddha, Devas, Devis, anyone! Save me!"
[Behemoth (Alive). Level: 15. Habitat: Abyss 3rd-25th floors.]
"Huh? Level 15?!", I gasped. "Dea, how much EXP do I have now?"
[You have 3/10 EXP points.]
After hearing that, something crazy flashed in my mind.
"If I could kill it, I would level up to 2, right?"
[Indeed.]
I tried recalling how I hunted the Imp from before. I had to prepare an ambush just to kill it. But for this one, an ambush would be too late. Considering its huge body and devastating physical ability. And I realized I had to do something to make it stop rampaging. I wiped my tears down and looked back again.
"It's about 4 or 5 meter high...", I placed my left hand on my chin while still keeping my speed. "It should weigh around 7 tons… Hmm…"
I was trying to apply my knowledge from the regressions I experienced before. After finding the solution and simulating all the plans in my head, I smirked slightly.
"We're gonna have mammoth soup tonight.", I mumbled to myself. "Dea, is it okay for me to take full control of my skills?"
[It is fine. They are yours to begin with.]
She still replied coldly but I couldn't care less about that. The only thing in my head was that I would be leveling up right after this and it made me excited.
"Okay!"
I raised my speed to the limit until my heart was pounding so loud. I didn't know if it was because of me getting tired from running or me being excited over this.
"If this failed, I would be minced meat.", was what I thought at the moment. "I can't fail this! No matter what!"
Then I jumped as far as I could to the front while turning my body 180°, giving me a full view of the Behemoth facing against me.
"Devour the ground! As much as possible!", I shrieked until my throat was hurting.
Chomp! A gigantic jaw appeared from my shadow and devoured the ground before me, leaving a hole with a depth of 6 meters and diameter of about 5 meters.
[You have acquired—]
"Drop dead, you stupid elephant!", I leaped off from the edge of the hole and started shouting. "Weaponize: Spear!"
At the same time, the dark red haze from my body liquified and formed a thin and long rod with a pointy tip forked in two. I stabbed the Behemoth in the head over and over again. It roared loudly but at the moment, I could only feel joy. My head went blank and couldn't think of anything besides the joy of killing it.
"Ahaha! Ahahahaha!", I laughed maniacally. "Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! DIE! Ahahahaha!"
[Warning! Continuing this will result in—]
"Huh?", I stopped for a moment. "To hell with that shit!"
I couldn't stop myself from continuing stabbing it fiercely. Deep down inside, I knew I had to stop myself. But the joy of dominating something entangled my logic and sanity.
[Devour.]
Chomp! The Behemoth lost its head along with its body, leaving only 4 limbs that were still standing, the soles of its feet.
[You have gained 15 EXP. You have leveled up to level 2. EXP needed until level up: 8/20.]
"Hey Dea…", I gritted my teeth. "What the fuck are you doing?!"
I felt a burning sensation inside my chest. I didn't know what it was.
[You have to control yourself or—]
Dea's robotic voice only made me angrier.
"The fuck you say, bitch?! Come out and I'll rip that mouth of yours!"
[REGAIN YOUR SENSES, FARENNA!]
Dea's voice buzzed inside my head. No, it was not her robotic voice. It was Bona Dea's voice. The very Goddess who I admired so much.
"Why…?"
Why would she contact me now? I couldn't control my thoughts. At the same moment, I felt like something was being chipped away from me.
"Ugh..."
[This is not what I wanted to see from you.]
I stood still in the middle of the remains while lowering my head. My brain was so disarrayed and my body trembled so hard. Cold sweat ran through all over my body. I knew she only did what she must do to stop me.
"What have I done?", my voice was so hoarse.
I fell on my knees and covered my face with my bloodstained hands.
[You disappoint me, Farenna.]
I broke down, like a baby.
*Farenna's newest status:
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{{{ Status }}}
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Name : Farenna
Gender : Female
Age : 8 y.o
Race : Lv. 2/30 (↑1 Lv. Up) Blood Nymph
Status : Sealed
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Sync. Rate: 10.01%
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HP : 200/200 MP: 70/100
SP : 31/70
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STR: 12 LUK: 5
AGI : 15 DEX: 10
INT : 12 VIT : 23
Unallocated pts: 5
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Equipments:
· Headgear : None
· Armor : Rough Golden Gown (Rare)
· Torso : None
· Feet : None
· Misc. : Sealing Chains of Hell (EX)
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Skills:
· Appraisal Lv. 3
· Devour (EX)
· Bona Dea (Unique)
· Crafting Lv. 1
· Weaving Lv. 1
· Weaponize Lv. 1
· (New!)Berserk (Mutation)
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Blessings:
· Blessing of Purity & Chastity
· Blessing of Growth (Inherited)
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Curses:
· Curse of Wrath (New!)
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Titles:
· Regressor
· Goddess' Apostle
· Rotten to the Bone
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