Khurd Fla'en and Yor Ka'an had been traversing through the wastelands for days. Living on the withered plants growing on the vast desolate plains, they were moving forward, towards the city. Except for brief rests, never once had their pace slowed down. Such was their ambition.
"Why does that god forsaken city won't come any closer ?!", cried Khurd Fla'en out of exasperation. Having traveled for almost a whole month, he had slain nearly 200 different beasts including 42 solitary eagles. He tried as hard he could to give them a peaceful death, but his skills wouldn't allow that.
Maybe my skills really are curses.
Each and every time, he bowed low to the remains of his slain enemies, paying his deepest apologies.
Having no way to cleanse himself, his hands were all covered in dried blood, giving them a very dark, murky appearance, as though they were the hands of the devil itself. Though he had found himself good clothes, his appearance just got more murkier. Never once had he allowed Yor Ka'an to slay a beast. He would never allow another human being to bear the guilt he was bearing. He wouldn't drag someone else with himself on his way to hell. He wouldn't steal someone else's peace.
If hell really existed, he was already on his way there.
Though Khurd Fla'en's appearance became more and more monstrous, never once did Yor Ka'an leave his side. She was the only one who knew the human inside him. She was the only one who could understand his pain. She had felt it herself.
The two suns were at their peak, raging over the heads of the two lone travelers. For some reason, water wasn't needed for survival in this world. There wasn't any liquid equivalent of water on this world.
"Maybe, we should rest for some time, we've been walking for quite a while", suggested Yor Ka'an.
"Yeah, need some rest, or my legs are gonna give out."
Spotting a tree a few yards away, they decided to make it their temporary base. But what awaited them was quite a surprise.
Nearing the tree, they heard faint voices. Human voices.
Being cautious, they tried to hear the conversation, which was happening right behind the tree.
"I'm telling you Serge, c'mon, just leave all your shit and be on your way, or I'm gonna blow your damned head off your miserable neck.
To Khurd Fla'en and Yor Ka'an, the conversation didn't seem one bit friendly. Moving closer, they stood a few feet away from the two fellas, right behind the tree.
"I - I don't think you should do that Bob", said the latter, who was stammering."I'm gonna die here if i haven't one ounce o' nothing.
"Just piss off, you little piece of shit, I don't care one penny about ya. I'm gonna get the hell outta this game as soon as possible, even if it meant killing you."
It was at this point Khurd Fla'en's temper reached its boiling state.
A person killing another person voluntarily was unforgivable. He would never allow anybody to commit such a grave atrocity.
He stepped out of his spot and stood right in front of the two men.
His sudden appearance stopped their conversation.
"I don't think you should do that, mister, killing fellows is unforgivable.. You're just gonna rot in hell after you die. Even your death wouldn't be peaceful.", said Khurd Fla'en, in a threatening tone, even though his expressionless face was showing no signs of anger.
The bulkier of the two men spoke first.
"Who the hell are ya to tell me what I am to do and what I ain't, you little brat ?", just @#$% off and be on your damn way.
Apparently, he seemed to be unfazed at Khurd Fla'en's bloody appearance, such was his tenacity.
"I think you don't get me, mister. If you lay a single hand on that man, you are going to end in a very bad state."
Looking at him, the man burst in a fit of laughter.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!... you got the guts to challenge me, boy. Do you know what my level is? Do you think killin' one or two beasts will make you invincible? Then you are badly mistaken. I am the no. 1 guy here, you see.", replied the man.
The skinnier man was still silent. Apparently, he was shocked at just the appearance of Khurd Fla'en.
Khurd Fla'en started to take large steps towards the man. His threatening speech had no effect on him whatsoever. His expression didn't change one bit.
"Sorry mate, I think you gonna die here", said the man, with the hint of a laugh on his face.
This person clearly enjoys violence.
The man, with a malicious grin on his face, extended his arms and made a certain symbol with his wrists, a pentagon.
Instantly, a hammer appeared out of thin air and was into his hands.
It was huge. Almost the size of Khurd Fla'en himself. Engraved with the Mandelbrot symbol on its head, the hammer seemed to radiate its own aura. It was quite apparent to Khurd Fla'en that it was a 'magical tool'. He had learnt about magical tools while hunting a "Saban". While receiving its crown, the dialog had said that it could be used to reinforce and increase the life of a magical tool. Unfortunately, he had had no clue how to receive one yet.
Tightening his left hand, Khurd Fla'en activated "God's left Arm".
Immediately, the familiar orange light covered his left hand.
With a heavy swing, the man brought down the hammer, cutting through the air, hoping to break open Khurd Fla'en's skull instantly. But with an easy maneuver, Khurd Fla'en swung his arm above his head to block it, his expression still unfazed. The hammer seemed to have no effect on him. His arm was intact and no cracking of bones was heard.
That was the effect of his curse, "God's left arm". It negated any small to moderate attacks which were caused by magic or other anomalous magical enchantments.
It had exactly the same effect on the hammer.
The man's smile vanished. "You... What is your level.. ?", said the man in an anxious voice. It seemed the hammer was his arcane attack for now.
But before he could have his answer, a crashing blow hit him squarely on his chest.
To Khurd Fla'en's surprise, an unknown enchant activated on the man's body.
Though the enchant still was weak, the man just flew 10 feet away and landed crashing on the ground, knocked unconscious.
A sigh of relief left Khurd Fla'en.
I didn't kill him.
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE DEFEATED A PLAYER!
YOU HAVE LEVELED DOWN TO -10!
AS A REWARD, YOU HAVE BEEN GIFTED WITH ISILOH'S HAMMER!]
"What a cheapskate, I just defeated the guy who had the hammer. Of course I was gonna get it."
[ ISILOH'S HAMMER
A- GRADE
DEALS 10 TIMES EXTRA DAMAGE IN COMPARISON WITH THE FORCE IT WAS SWUNG WITH. CAN BE REINFORCED WITH SABAN'S CROWN TO INCREASE LIFESPAN]
"Quite useful, I can now just deal damage to enemies without killing them", said Khurd Fla'en with a smile of satisfaction on his face.
"You can come out now!", he cried to Yor Ka'an.
Yor Ka'an stepped out of the tree's shade to face his partner.
"Did-did he die?", she asked him.
With a big smile on his face, he replied, "No, a certain enchantment protected him, so he is just knocked out. I'm glad I didn't kill him".
"That's a relief", She replied, letting out a sigh of relief, which was audible.
"Now... What shall we do about this fellow here",Khurd Fla'en said, pointing to the man, who was still standing rooted to his spot, shaking violently, after having witnessed the fight.
Looking at the man, Yor Ka'an said, "No need to be afraid, mate. This guy here does seems like a bloody monster, but he really isn't. I have been travelling with him for nearly a month".
The man looked back at Khurd Fla'en, eyeing him head to toe."Y-y-you sure you wouldn't kill me ?", asked the man in a terrified shaky voice.
Khurd Fla'en replied with a bright smile. "Don't worry, I ain't killing you. I hate killing. I just have this ridiculous power which wouldn't give me any other alternative but to kill. You don't know how much I have regretted killing all those miserable beasts with these bloody hands. I really want to curse myself".
A hint of sadness appeared in his eyes.
"The guilt I feel is unbearable, you see. But the circumstances don't allow me to stop. It pushes me forward."
Hearing his reply, the man calmed down a little bit. His fear seemed to have dissipated.
Feeling the environment lightening, Khurd Fla'en asked the man, with the same cheerful expression he had first shown to Yor Ka'an,
"Now, tell me, what is your name?
AND remember, tell me the name engraved on your hand. Careless talk costs lives."