Timeline: Era of Arcane 660 CE, Month of Jono, 19th/30 Day
As the shockwave of darkness slammed into them, the group was sent flying through the air, their bodies tossed like ragdolls by the force of Athos's attack. They crashed to the ground with bone-jarring impact, groaning in pain as they struggled to push themselves up from the dirt.
"Augh!" Gori's cry was filled with anguish as he felt the pain shoot through his body, his muscles protesting with every movement.
"Argh!" Bax's grunt of pain was drowned out by the sound of his earth wall shattering, leaving him vulnerable and exposed.
Roki struggled to get up, gasping in pain as he fought against the dizziness caused by the powerful shockwave.
Lucy's hands shook with adrenaline as she fought to push herself up, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to regain her bearings.
Marlo's expression twisted with pain as he forced himself to his feet, every movement sending sharp waves of pain through his body.
As they tried to get back on their feet, they saw Athos laughing at them. Despite his own injuries from the shockwave, he looked down on them with a sneer, finding pleasure in their struggles. His mocking laughter echoed around them, making their defeat feel even heavier.
"Pathetic," he spat, his voice dripping with scorn. "Is this the best you can do?"
As Rika lay on the ground, her voice trembled with rage as she addressed Athos. "You monster!"
Athos, his injuries apparent but his resolve unwavering, knew he had to act quickly. "I'll start with you!" he declared, lunging towards Rika with malicious intent.
But Marlo, despite his own pain, rose to the challenge. "I'm here, you bastard!" he shouted, intercepting Athos's attack with a determination born of loyalty to his comrades.
Athos's attention shifted, his focus now on Marlo. "I've changed my mind. I'll start with you!" he sneered, unleashing a barrage of dark arrows towards Marlo.
Despite the intense pain, Marlo fought back against Athos with all his might. He skillfully blocked every dark arrow aimed at him, showing remarkable determination. Even in the midst of danger, his resolve remained unyielding.
But Athos was cunning, and as Marlo's attention was focused on the barrage of dark arrows, the sinister foe vanished from sight, only to reappear behind Marlo in a split second.
The battlefield fell silent for a moment, the shock of Marlo's grievous injury weighing heavy on their hearts.
Before Marlo could react, Athos's clawed hands pierced through his chest with a sickening crunch, shocking everyone who witnessed the brutal attack.
"Marlo!" Brando's cry was filled with anguish as he struggled against his own injuries.
"No! Marlo!" Rika's voice was choked with tears as she witnessed the scene unfold.
"Damn it, Marlo!" Gori's frustration was palpable as he clenched his fists in helpless rage.
Bax, still recovering on the ground, cursed under his breath. "I'm still too weak for this. Damn it!"
Lory's voice wavered with fear as she addressed the group. "Are we going to die?"
Lucy's eyes brimmed with tears as she shook her head defiantly. "No! I refuse to die like this!"
Roki's jaw tightened with determination. "We can't give up now. We can't Die here!"
Roki cried out in frustration, his voice filled with anguish. As he expressed what everyone was feeling. "Fuck, why must we have to suffer this predicament?"
As the dust settled and the gravity of the situation sunk in, a voice pierced through the air, breaking the stunned silence.
"What happened?!" someone shouted, the urgency in their tone cutting through the tension like a knife.
All eyes turned towards the source of the voice, searching for answers amidst the chaos.
Gori's cry rang out amidst the confusion, his voice strained with emotion. "Chalu!!!!" he called out, his words a mixture of relief and desperation.
Chalu, Bale, Raro, and Lyro, appearing like beacons of hope in the darkness, turned their attention to the injured group, their expressions a blend of concern and shocked.
Chalu's voice boomed across the battlefield, demanding answers in the face of uncertainty. "What happened?" he demanded, his words a command for clarity amidst the chaos.
In the middle of everything going on, Athos stayed cool, his attention turning to the new arrivals. Despite all the chaos, he seemed totally calm.
Inside Athos's mind, a sinister thought took shape. Despite his injuries, he saw an opportunity in the arrival of Chalu. "Tsk, this became problematic," he thought, considering his next move. "I'm still injured, Thats why I should eat this boy," he concluded, his gaze lingering on Marlo's lifeless form.
The horrified group watched in disbelief as Athos callously devoured Marlo's brain right before their eyes. It was a barbaric act, sending shockwaves of afraid and rage through everyone present.
Chalu's voice boomed with anger, mirroring the shock and anger felt by everyone present. "You monster!!!" he shouted, his words a condemnation of Athos's heinous actions.
....
[Outside the universe]
From where I watched, far beyond the reaches of the universe, I felt a surge of hope as Chalu arrived. But alongside that hope came a stark realization of the horror awaiting him.
And the sight of Athos devouring Marlo's brain instilled a sense of dread among them. I couldn't help but feel a mixture of anxiety and urgency. Would Chalu prove strong enough to confront this monstrous threat?
I focused my attention on the Creation System, seeking clarity amid the unfolding chaos. "Please reveal the current status of both Chalu and Athos," I requested, hoping for a straightforward analysis of the situation.
As the system responded with a subtle ding, it revealed a clear picture of the power and potential embodied by both Chalu and Athos.
....
Name: Chalu
Age: 15 years old
Species: Beastfolk (Chimpanzee)
Appearance: Chalu is a chimpanzee with a friendly and curious expression. He has soft, brown fur and expressive eyes that reflect his intelligence and kindness.
Attributes:
(Base form without Aura amplifying)
Strength: 74
Agility: 60
Intelligence: 188
Endurance: 72
Magic Affinity: 10%
Warrior Affinity: 90%
Aura Affinity:100%
Abilities:
Aura Manipulation: Chalu possesses the power of aura, gifted to him by Jesus, the god of magic. With this ability, Chalu can manipulate and control the energy fields surrounding living beings and objects. He can use his aura for various purposes, such as healing, protection, and amplifying his own abilities.
Personality: Chalu is a gentle and compassionate soul, always eager to help others. Despite his young age, he possesses a wisdom beyond his years, shaped by his connection to the mystical aura bestowed upon him by Jesus. He is curious about the world around him and has a strong sense of justice, often using his powers to aid those in need.
Background: Chalu is a Beastfolk from a chimpanzee tribe. Growing up, he saw wars between his people and the Eldoans. Wanting to end the fighting, Chalu set out to unite them. Guided by his innate sense of compassion and his connection to the divine aura granted to him by Jesus, Chalu seeks to bridge the divide between the Eldoans and the Beastfolk, fostering understanding and harmony between the two races. Despite the challenges he faces, Chalu remains steadfast in his mission, believing that through love, compassion, and cooperation, a brighter future for all can be achieved. "
....
Name: Athos
Age: Months years old (due to eating and absorbing different people it makes him matured)
Species: Darkspawn (Born out of darkness)
Appearance: Athos possesses a hybrid appearance, combining features of an Eldoan and an octopus. His body resembles that of an Eldoan, but with a more sinister aura. His face is a blend of Eldoan and octopus, with tentacle-like appendages framing his sharp, glowing crimson eyes. His skin is dark and mottled, with patches of shadow swirling around him. Athos's hands end in sharp claws, imbued with dark energy ready to strike down his foes.
Attributes:
Strength: 150 (increases with absorption)
Agility: 130 (increases with absorption)
Intelligence: 140 (increases with absorption)
Endurance: 150 (increases with absorption)
Magic Affinity: Varies (increases with absorption)
Abilities:
Dark Magic: Athos wields dark magic with formidable skill, capable of manipulating shadows, conjuring curses, and unleashing destructive spells upon his enemies.
Absorption: Athos grows stronger by consuming the essence of other beings. The more he eats or absorbs, the more knowledge and power he gains. When he devours someone, their memories and experiences are assimilated into his own, granting him access to their knowledge and skills.
Personality: Athos is a ruthless and cunning predator, driven by an insatiable hunger for power and dominance. He harbors a deep-seated desire to surpass all others and reign supreme as the apex predator. Unbound by morality or empathy, Athos sees others as mere stepping stones on his path to greatness, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his ambitions.
Background: Born from the depths of darkness, Athos emerged as a being of pure malevolence and chaos. He is closely related to Aurathos, the first calamity, sharing a lineage steeped in darkness and destruction. From the moment of his creation, Athos has harbored a burning ambition to ascend to the pinnacle of power. Consumed by an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and strength, he seeks to devour all in his path, absorbing their essence and assimilating their knowledge into his own. With each conquest, Athos grows ever stronger, his dark magic expanding in scope and potency. He is a force of chaos and destruction, an embodiment of the darkest desires and ambitions that lurk within the hearts of mortals
It hit me suddenly, like a lightning strike: Athos was insanely powerful, fueled by the memories and skills he'd taken from so many others. Despite his young age, he was terrifyingly strong, showing just how dark and menace his choices had been.
Athos is incredibly powerful, but so is Chalu. If Chalu boosts his attributes with his aura, he could surpass his previous strength by a considerable margin.
As things progressed, the situation got more serious, with Eldan's future hanging in the balance. It was a huge showdown, one that would decide everything. Watching from outside the universe, I just hoped Chalu would come through and beat Athos, The next Calamity.
....
As Chalu approached Gori and Rika, he could sense the gravity of the situation weighing heavily upon them. With a gentle hand, he helped them both to their feet, concern etched upon his face.
"Gori, Rika, what's happening?" Chalu inquired, his voice laced with worry as he saw the pain etched on their faces.
Before Gori could respond, a surge of agony shot through him, leaving him gasping in pain. "Augh!" he grunted, struggling to find the words.
"Chalu," Gori managed to utter between clenched teeth, his voice strained with discomfort, "that bastard... he's a monster. He's stronger than..."
Seeing his distress, Rika's expression softened with concern. "Gori..." she said, her voice reflecting both worry and pain as she too held onto her own wounds.
Chalu intervened, his voice firm yet compassionate. "Okay, I get it. Don't talk. I saw what happened. It looks like he ate Marlo." A trace of sadness flickered in Chalu's eyes as he glanced towards Marlo's lifeless body.
With a determined gaze fixed on Athos, Chalu declared, "He has to pay for what he's done."
...
Bale's eyes widened with concern as she approached Roki, Bax, Lory, and Lucy, who lay injured on the ground. She scanned their wounds, her heart sinking at the sight of their pain.
"What's happening, Roki?" Bale inquired, her voice laced with worry.
Roki winced, his voice strained as he tried to explain the gravity of their situation."That monster... he's like Aurathos."
"Aurathos? The first Calamity?" Bale echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Roki nodded, taking a sharp breath before replying. "That's what the monster said... Aurg!" His words were cut short by a pained grunt as Bale hurried to tend to his injuries.
Bale, noticing Roki's injuries, quickly reassured him, "Hang on, I'll heal you."
With a determined focus, Bale invoked her healing magic, channeling the soothing power of water to mend Roki's wounds. "Aquatic Heal," she murmured, her hands glowing with a calming aura as she worked to alleviate his suffering.
Meanwhile, Lyro tended to Bax's injuries, and Raro worked on healing Lory's wounds. Athos, despite his injuries, remained standing between them, absorbing the essence of Marlo and preparing for his next move.
To be continued