This was a simple analogy in this world. One of distinction, category, and oddly enough, order.
Everything ever created has its set of rules. With these rules came ways of maintenance, regulations, and the Karma that enforced said rules.
The universe is built upon Ether which has many complexities and states. But the way each element and state of Ether in this world can be distinguished is their Order.
Naturally, the Order which determines what is alive and what is inanimate is different. The Order by which Light shines and Shadows dwell are different.
And the Order excluded by those talented and those untalented is vastly different, whether in density or size.
[Author's note: I was meant to write something important here... Oh well.]
If each element had an Ether Code then they had laws by which they grew, evolved, thrived, or were suppressed. How great your Laws determined what Order you were on, just like Lionel who only just entered Tier 2 could be considered as a First Order.
...
As Lionel helped Richie to his feet while enduring the horrible jokes that came out of his mouth, the floor shook.
Richie grew quiet as his pupils constricted, "I guess we are going to have to deal with more than one beast hey?"
Lionel nodded, he'd already seen the creature with his order. In dimly lit places like this, few things could escape his sight.
'Passive: Heal.'
All of a sudden Richie's body became a lot lighter. He saw Sakura cast it a lot, so he had no problem mimicking it. Though as a skill most suited for light its effect was less than half, though he had a feeling that was only because he didn't understand the essence of it.
His Variation was Mimicry, his talent? Unknown.
[Author's note: Doing the S, SS, SSS thing is bothersome. I'll create a better system later, Also hope this explains how he landed.]
"Hmm, I'm sorry this is all I can do for now." Lionel let Richie walk on his own feet. Though it wasn't a full heal, it at least allowed for him to walk, albeit with slight difficulty.
"What are you sorry about? Wouldn't you rather we both fought this thing like madmen?"
"You are right! I've already thought of numerous ways of dissecting it!" The false mask of fault Lionel had put forth was shattered in an instant, only to be replaced by an expression of savagery and madness.
A choice they might soon grow to regret.
As the beast seemed to approach the surroundings seemed to quake, and when it finally came into view one could see a Minotaur.
Its deep crimson flesh was covered by gold veins as the Order it released suffocated the atmosphere, its horns seemingly breathing with the large protrusion it called a nose and red eyes that seemed to shimmer with a touch of gold every do often.
A large Saber was swung around its back rather than the giant ax one might expect. The Saber seemed to glint with a red light, which seemed to pulse as one watched.
[Main Quest: 'Escape the Beast' initiated.]
[Timer: 5:00]
[Countdown begins now.]
"Do you really wanna spend five minutes running away?" Richie asked with a slight chuckle.
"Tier. Two. Earth Order. Three." Lionel gave a simple reply.
"Right leg. Three-way separation. Left arm. Strong tendons, hard to cut. Neck. Thick and robust." Lionel seemingly didn't understand the meaning of Richie's words simply going back and forth with his eyes as he analyzed the creature before him.
"Got it." Richie seemingly didn't seem to mind. One thing they did a lot as kids, was they hunted down small rabbits and other creatures. Lionel would take the vanguard and he would support where he was needed.
After what seemed like a long-brewing of silence, Lionel spoke, "On my count."
"Three"
"Two"
"..."
"One."
As if to mark the start of a race, they burst forth with as much speed as they could muster, crossing the two-meter separation between the two in an instant.
Lionel and Richie took the right and left respectively yet from the perspective of the Minotaur their aura seemed to blend making it seem as though they were back to back.
On one hand, the Shadows seemed to envelop everything, on the other, the winds seemed to fuel their purpose.
Yet just before their attacks could fulfill their purpose it all came to a grinding halt, as all it met was the metallic Saber that should've been on its back.
'When?' Lionel's eyes constricted.
Before he could question any further he felt an incoming danger, "Richie retreat!"
All of a sudden that same Axe came swinging down diagonally leaving lethal gashes on the wall.
Richie felt cold to his core, "I was standing there wasn't I?"
Lionel was thinking of other things, "Aim for the tendons holding his muscles together, it will not only weaken him but will cause a lot of blood loss."
Lionel didn't seem to be bothered by what happened, danger was always a variable, but with him here how could Richie die?
"Ok then." Richie had no qualms about listening to Lionel, never had, and Never will.
Lionel's eyes excluded a cold mesmerizing gaze, one a chef would give to the ingredients before him, and then...
It went dark.
Quiet.
Within this darkness, one would notice 2 pairs of eyes that seemed to have entered their alpha domain.
Cut.
Slice.
Chop.
The beast seemed to put the effort in, trying to block their barrage, but alas nothing came of it, for its eyes hadn't yet adapted to its new environment.
Cut and Bruises appeared all over its body and one would assume it was about to fall, yet Richie couldn't get rid of this underlying feeling that it was playing with them.
"Lionel I think we should step..."
But before he could finish his words the world fell to absolute.
"AHH, MY ARMMM! THE BLOOD LIONEL! IT HURTS! IT HURTS!!"
Lionel looked towards Richie as his mind went blank, "Richie... Where is your arm..."
Finally when the beast finally saw it fit to look down on them, licking the blood around its lips... It smiled. Or was it a grin? Whatever it was, it was definitely something only a devil could muster.
The monster crouched, blood pouring out of its limbs, as it looked towards the screaming youth whose arms it had just eaten then back at the one who looked lost, and it let out a slight neigh which excluded a certain heat.
Then it did something neither of them would have ever expected with this devilish grin on its face.
"'Did Mako make you feel despair yet?"
It spoke.
"Blood Order?" Lionel was shaken to the core... That wasn't possible...
To that, the beast smiled a bit wider.
At the worst possible time, a quest notification seemed to pop up.
[Hidden Quest Activated: Defeat the Beast, Mako]
[Time: 01:00:00]
'Shit! '