As someone who'd chosen to giveaway his life in exchange for the welfare of his Grandfather Luke had forgotten to live. The dreams, longing, and ties he once had disappeared all in desperation to become a toy that Ryan had taken a liking to. Whether he liked it or not he was reminded of life for that's all he has in name and possession something that no wealth can ever afford
"Yawn... I slept like a log. I wonder what's for breakfast–" Upon opening the door to his room he spots the hallway trashed along with a spine-tingling sensation he once felt
'This feeling... I know this. It's an UNDEAD!'
He jumps as soon as he feels the chaotic sensation drastically moving closer and closer as it shatters his door. He witnesses a hideous being similar to the bear but with the shape of a man and the deformity of gaining bat-like wings. It had no eyes but upon emitting an ear-ripping growl it proceeded to pounce in the direction of Luke
"Kieeeeeeeek!!!"
"I don't know what the heck that is but im sure it's not friendly!!!"
He runs in the opposite direction and the bat-like monstrosity follows right after tailing him in pursuit but it eventually halts. It couldn't fit in the narrow hallway he had taken to escape but upon crossing to the other side he spots a hole in the wall. Luke felt every hair of his body rising, warning him of an imminent threat, and in response, he held his left arm
"Arghhhhh! Mother f– It hurts! At least it's still better than without a neck," He sacrificed his left arm being clawed by its feet which initially aimed at his shoulder and the two took flight
'Focus me; now's not the time to panic. I need to circulate my Order just like that time in the forest. I can heal this once I escape,'
The claws were tightly gripped even as he flailed it barely affected its flight so for his last resort he focused his Order. Circulating every bit to release a powerful attack with his right arm sending the bat-like monstrosity flying through the walls. Although it wasn't much he managed to escape before the monster had recovered its strength and continued its hunt
'Just what the hell is going on? It feels like im the forest all over again. Teach told me all about the undead. That bat monster is similar to the big grizzly I met in the forest it's a mutated variant that grew stronger the longer they remain intact. Was there an attack? I haven't seen Royce ever since I woke up, for now, I think it's best to go back to my room and get my weap–'
Just when Luke was about to turn to reach his room he spotted three or more monstrous shadow-like freaks. He didn't seem to mind the risk back when he fought in the forest but just fighting the bat he gauged its strength. He was already troubled by one but with there being three he couldn't risk his life unless he counted less there were four
"Squee!!!" He couldn't sense the minuscule rabbit monster until it bit his thigh and he couldn't help but scream in response
"Fuck!!!"
He fell to the ground and before the rest could ever reach him Luke ripped the jaws of the hare and ran for his life. Except he ran out of time the Jaguar pounced at his rear but he dodged to his right and there noticed the Hound. It sprinted whilst its jaws open intending to swallow and aim for his crotch and he quickly came back to his feet
"Just breathe..."
The beating of his heart rises to new heights and mirrors the hound but jumps at the right time for his escape. The ramping Hound collided with the Jaguar and his face was then ambushed by the Hare once more. It gave the serpent monstrosity the perfect opening to wrap itself around Luke but once it tried to sink its teeth the Hare was all it bit
"That was a close one," He managed to grab ahold of the vicious Hare and shielded his neck from ever being bit in that short amount of time
"Now that your fangs are no trouble it's time to wrap things up,"
He manages to brute-force his way out and grabs the Serpent's tail whacking it as he pleases until the rest retaliate. The Jaguar and the Hound tried to overwhelm him with numbers but Like caught wind of this and used the Serpent as a whip. The Hound was pushed back by the whiplash and the Jaguar got close but was strangled with the help of the Serpent
"I can win this! I just need to last a little longer. Come one, hang in there–"
He suddenly fell to the ground once he felt the full ram of the Goat. His strength was gradually getting weaker and the number of these freaks multiplied. These freaks were relentlessly after his life and it seemed they were about to reach their goal. Luke closed his eyes as all the strength he had was spent forcibly keeping himself awake resulting in his collapse
'Is this what death feels like? It's... empty. You meant to say I'll be here for all eternity? Fuck!!! This is not happening!!! I can't accept this! I just got my life, why is it ending so soon, there's still a lot I haven't done. Places to explore, dreams to fulfill, porn to stream. I endured for so long and yet I get the short end of the goddamn fucking stick! Get up! I don't wanna die. Not now I still have lots I've yet to do! Get the fuck up!!!'
What makes us alive is finding meaning in our time and doing everything for our thirst. So that in death we needn't be reminded of how bland our life truly was. We wouldn't need to feel regretful thus accepting our eternal rest
"Go fuck yourselves!!!"
Having greed mirrored one's drive to live, to deny, to rise from their near-broken state and reborn anew. For Grave Keepers knowing full well of their greed, their will, and their desire is what kept them from accepting death. The instance they realize their lifes purpose is when they'll be capable of accumulating Order in the middle of battle
"That's enough... all of you stop! It seems my master's teaching is applicable. Letting them experience death is the best way to understand their desire," The Chaotic beast halted in his command, and Royce gently held his disciple bringing him back to his room
...
An hour later
"Show yourselves im gonna kill you all–"
"Geez what the hell's wrong with you?" Luke found himself in his bed and a wet cloth on top of his forehead and his teacher slicing an apple in half
"Why are you here?" Luke says confused by the sudden change in his environment
"Why...? You've been groaning all day. Must be a terrible nightmare if it kept you asleep all day. Don't over your training, that might be the cause of it all. Want an apple?"
Luke sighs in disappointment and says. "What about our training then?"
"About that you should refrain from training physically for a while. I'll teach you the ways of harnessing Order. We can do it now if you want. But I don't think that needs an answer when your eyes are shining than ever. First off sit with your legs crossed as if you're meditating and I'll do the rest," Alexander gently placed his hand on his student's back sending his Order to a pattern circulating throughout his body
"The Black Crow originated from a clan but as time passed it became an assassination group taking anyone under their wing. This breathing allows you to slowly fortify both inward and outward granting you a body that excels in offense and defense. Flesh and bone withstanding great impact and organs that feed on dangerous particles you may intake,"
Learning the technique wasn't hard but it required a large sum of Order and most people who learned this technique died. Their body would naturally grow accustomed to this brand-new way of breathing and if they can't stop they'll die. That's partially the reason why this technique can only be taught once the person in question can actively produce Order
'Judging by how deep his capacity truly is even if he didn't comprehend his desire he wouldn't be troubled. But one day he'll thank me for giving him that trauma since actively producing Order is one of the ways to secure your life. Grow stronger quickly, the two of us aren't granted any time to rest so might as well train as much as we can,'
After that nothing strange happened and Luke was training his technique while Royce was inspecting the forest. They were two days in on their month-long training and yet trouble couldn't stop arriving at this small town one after another. A new face had arrived with no relation to the survey team, just as Luke became a hidden piece another was lured to this town
"I'm very sorry if this place isn't to your liking. We're recently packed with our branch members. Would that be alright?" The young lady escorted to a simple bedroom gently casually drops her bag and stretches as she lays down her belongings
"This is perfect! So when do I start? I'm an Honorary member in name but I'm so close to reaching my Grave Keeper title!"
"About that Ms. Lane-"
"Oh please call me Erica! I'm your subordinate after all. So isn't it right if you address me informally?"
"Ms. Erica, might I ask why you chose our branch? It's a small town compared to the rest. We can't treat you like your status entails and a bigger branch might be worth your while. It doesn't make any sense,"
"Well, my reasons are simple... Branch manager, I heard this place was unknown to the organization and recently flooded with death. This small town became a hotspot for a potential wide-range rebellion in such a short amount of time. Knowing that do you think I wouldn't come? This place... it reeks with an existence far wicked than the rebels our ancestors had fought,"