I still have no idea where I am.
Its just typical, for this city, to not have a map at any of the street corners.
On the plus side, I'm pretty much dry now.
The only thing XXXXXXX City really has going for it, is the almost year-round warm weather.
I look to the skyline, as I walked.
What filled my vision, was a giant tower, that dwarfed everything around it.
Now, to which corporation that owned it, I couldn't remember.
Panels covered the upper floors of it, always showing what time it was.
[05:02]
Scratch that.
[05:03]
Its gonna be light soon… I need to get out of sight before people start going out and about.
"Why are you still naked like that?"
…Huh..?
I looked around.
This voice was like the same as the one before.
However, it wasn't a woman's. This voice belonged to a man. There was a snarl and sly tone to his voice.
Again, his words echoed and repeated themselves.
"Yeah, you dumbass. Can't believe you're the facilitator."
/Hey fuck you!/
…
…No response..?
/Where'd you go..?/
"…I have something I need you to do."
/…What is it./
Coming to a stop, I had my hands on my hips, waiting for what he had to say.
"…Clench your hands… then bang your fists together."
…
"Do it, we know you saw the news about the world ending."
/How..?/
"We can see you, jackass! Just fucking do it!"
Bringing my hands up, I snapped back, this time with a more submissive attitude, which surprised even me.
/Jeez, I'm doing it, I'm doing it… twist my arm why don't you…/
———
Clenching his fists, Marin assumed a more combative stance, like he was getting ready to fight.
The annoying voice of the unseen man speaking to him, said:
"Don't make this weird, just bump your knuckles together."
Retracting both of his arms back, Marin said:
"You're a lot more talkative than the other voice."
No response.
Slamming his knuckles together, a bright light had briefly enveloped the streets and alleyways.
With him as the origin of this blinding brightness, the return of the dark showed a change in Marin's appearance.
"This is why we needed you to slam your fists, its the only way to activate 'your' gift."
Marin looked down, with a surprised expression and wide eyes.
His seaweed wrappings were gone.
But he still reeked of it.
What replaced his temporary garment, was: a sleeveless, black cuirass; gauntlets; a cape that draped his shoulders; a strange red jewel at the center of his chest, black boots coming up to his knees, and a short black skirt.
Marin's eyebrows knitted and came down when he looked at his skirt, showing his disbelief and confusion.
"Guess you guys didn't have anything else for me to wear, huh?"
…
"…We honestly thought the contractor was a female. Just think of it as a kilt and not a skirt, I dont fucking know…"
…
"…Anyways, you've been appointed the War God, and what you're wearing is a War God's raiment."
Opening and closing his hands, Marin noticed that his fatigue disappeared, and chose to forgive the apparently-divine voices.
"It's cool, it's cool… this is pretty badass."
Resuming his aimless walking, Marin remarked:
"Anyways… I shouldn't even complain, I'm living on borrowed time."
———
On the clock display of the tower, the time had changed again.
0511 - 5:11 A.M.