An intense ache covered Asher's forehead. His entire body felt as if it was burning.
'Just what in the hell happened?'
All he remembered was the giant spear tearing apart the skies. And then, after that, everything went black for him. Soon, he got the hang of himself. The ground beneath him sent shivers down his spine.
With bloodied feet, he stood up. As his vision cleared, he observed the surroundings. The world felt kind of off to him. There were several fissures in space here and there. Creating a breathtaking yet horrifying view.
"Just how much damage did that goddamn spear did? And how the Hell did I survive?" Asher mumbled under his breath in contemplation. Instantly, Asher's eyes widened as he held his throat.
"I'm... completely healed," Asher said with a surprised expression. This was completely out of his expectations. Yet, in the end, he didn't care particularly.
He survived. That's what mattered the most.
The raw road beneath him had become jagged at various points. It seemed as if a huge impact had destroyed everything. Or at least as far as he could see. The Evergreen Conical trees had been burned to ashes. Leaving nothing but horrific scenery behind.
As Asher started to move, he saw several heinous images that he probably couldn't forget in his lifetime. Half burn corpses and what and what not.
Asher, however, simply spared them a glance and moved on. Maintaining a neutral expression. Only he knew the terror he felt seeing such an image.
'Let's just move on'
Asher continued moving; in the distance, he could vaguely decipher a picture of a mountain and some trees.
'So it did not affect the entire world? Weird,' Asher thought, moving towards the mountain in the distance.
The burnt smell and the aroma of blood invaded his insides. Making him puke several times. Yet he continued to move.
As he walked, hours passed. With hours, days went by. Asher was sitting in a cave; in front of him were the burning flames he had ignited in order to give himself warmth.
'So, how do I get out of this?' Asher thought as he roasted fish on the campfire. His stomach had been growling continuously for the past several hours. His throat was thirsty; he felt that death would take him any moment.
Until he found a lake, and here he was, in a cave beside the lake. Setting up camp and shelter.
----
Chaotic Fermentation is when the essence inside someone becomes too chaotic. At that moment, one has to try one's best to adapt to it.
However, if a given individual is close to succeeding, the chaotic essence attacks his/her consciousness. Putting them in an illusionary world.
'However, was that really the case?' Asher thought as he contemplated, staring into the fire with wide eyes.
The screaming people, running from that monstrosity. The smell of blood. The Giant spear and him losing subconsciousness.
It all felt too real for him to think it was an illusion.
However, before he could spend eons contemplating, a huge boom resounded in his ears. With a fast motion, he disregarded the half-roasted fish and covered his ears.
'What now?' Asher thought as he slowly removed his hands from his ears. With an annoyed expression, he exited the cave, but what he saw was not an explosion.
Instead, a giant citadel towering over the nearby mountains suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Dust was hovering in the blue sky as many nearby trees plummeted to the ground.
Curious, Asher decided to move towards the citadel. However, before that, he needed to make some preparations.
'Is going there really necessary?' Asher thought with visible weariness. It was obvious the essence inside him had set an objective that he had to pass. But was going to the citadel that suddenly appeared out of nowhere really the objective?
Asher didn't know.
Asher re-entered the cave, picking up the sword on its side. He had stolen that from the dead man when he first appeared in this Hell. Soon, he extinguished the campfire and decided to move towards the citadel.
"Oh gods, why do I even exist?" Asher mumbled under his breath as he leaped down the mountain.
Somehow, after losing consciousness that night, his physical prowess had improved tremendously.
"I wonder how did I survive? Was it luck or something else?" Asher said as he contemplated what had happened that night. Something seemed off to him, but he couldn't place his hand where. It was as if a gap in his memories had been created.
As Asher ventured down the mountain, a sudden growl caught him off guard. Consequently, he tripped off a rock falling down. He gritted his teeth as he tried to get the hang of himself. As his blue eyes stared at where the growl came from, he stood up. Holding the tachi in his hands with an intense grip.
His eyes narrowed as a huge claw came out of the woods; the claw had several mushed pieces of flesh on it. He could vaguely see the bones through the skin.
Asher never had any teaching about swordsmanship.
"But is it necessary?" With a devious grin, Asher rushed forward, bringing the tip of his sword. Throwing a slash with everything he had.
However, it failed to penetrate the creature's skin. Instead, Asher went flying back. In front of him, a huge creature emerged from the forest. Its skin was transparent. Exposing its muscles and bones beneath.
Asher coughed blood as he stood up in the distance. With a bloodied face, a grim expression covered his face.
"It seems I have overestimated myself." Asher said as he looked toward the demonic beast in front of him. It's tongue coming out as loads of saliva fell to the ground.
'Should I run or fight?' Asher thought as he looked towards the behemoth in front of him. As Asher furrowed his burrows. He rushed forward towards the behemoth. He had to be devious.
The behemoth immediately moved as well. Instantly appearing in front of Asher.
Exactly what Asher had expected.
Instantly, Asher brought forward a thrust. Piercing through the behemoth's chest. However, his eyes narrowed, and he jumped backward hurriedly. Where he was previously were the behemoth's claws that had just tried to slash him.
'So it's chest isn't it's weakness?' Asher thought as he stared at the behemoth's head. Its teeth were bloodied.
'This smell is of human blood.' Asher grimaced internally. A light flashed through his blue eyes. His dark, raven hair waved as he sped forward.
'I have one try. Just one try.' Asher thought as he moved forward.
However, in the middle of his, the behemoth jammed its hand into the ground. And with that...
Asher's plan had come to life.
Instantly, his blue eyes burned brighter as he rushed forward like a hurricane. Using the behemoth's hand as a ground to walk. He moved towards the monstrosity.
'Don't lose your balance. Don't!'
Continuing his swift motion, he went towards the monstrosity's shoulder. The behemoth immediately tried to crush Asher under his hand. However, Asher was simply gone.
The behemoth, confused, looked upwards. A shadow covered his eyes as a tachi pierced it.
"Ah, don't worry little guy. The Agony has just begun!"