Chapter 3 - paradise first half

The sky was a serene blend of blue and gray, a calming backdrop that contrasted sharply with the enormous pink flower on which he lay, legs crossed, completely at ease. A delicate blue butterfly fluttered and rested gently on his raised hand.

He was half male and half female, vertically.

His appearance was—a perfect vertical split between masculine and feminine. The left half of his body was of a woman, soft and elegant. The right half, muscular and sharp, was unmistakably that of a man. The two sides merged into an unnerving, yet oddly harmonious form. Even his eyes reflected this unsettling duality: the right eye glowed a soft pink, while the left eye was a piercing green, his pure white face seemed elegant, with a mild smile on his face.

In one swift movement, he swallowed the butterfly whole, his lips curling into a twisted smile as though he had just indulged in some forbidden delight. A laugh escaped his lips, soft at first, then growing louder, almost maniacal. His hands, both graceful and rough, pressed against his cheeks in exaggerated pleasure.

He looked up, eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and madness, and whispered to the sky with a grin, "Who the fuck you are... Arecus?"

PLANET- 1T2B (EARTH)

Jace was in the park, running around with his friends. The late afternoon sun bathed the playground in a golden light.

"Okay, guys," Jace said, panting a little, "I think I should head home now."

Zion, with a little pout on his face, suddenly lunged forward and hugged Jace tightly, his voice slightly shaky. "Brooo... I don't want you to go!"

Jace smiled "I'm not leaving forever, you know. It's just a few days!"

"Don't forget to bring me chocolates," he said softly, looking at Jace.

Jace grinned. "Alright, alright, I'll bring you th—"

Smash! A water balloon burst on Jace's face, water dripping down his cheeks.

"Sara!" Jace sputtered, wiping his face. "Come on, I said that's enough for today!"

Sara stood a few feet away, grinning mischievously. She twirled another water balloon in her hand. "Don't be such a baby, Jace. Fight me if you can!"

Jace smirked, grabbing a balloon of his own. "Oh, it's on!"

Sara took off running, and Zion followed suit. Jace grabbed a balloon, his eyes narrowing, the mark on his right arm glowing a faint red. He launched the balloon with precision

It zipped through the air and smacked Zion square on the head. Zion yelped and fell to the ground dramatically, holding his head like it was the end of the world.

Jace winced, rushing over. "Oh man, maybe I shouldn't have used Arecus' powers…" he muttered under his breath, trying not to laugh.

"Yeah, I'm alright," Zion groaned, standing up and rubbing the back of his head, trying to act tough even though he was still dripping with water.

Sara jogged over, flashing a grin. "Alright, let's head home, Zion. Jace has to leave soon anyway."

With a final wave, the three friends parted ways, and Jace walked home alone. His expression faded into a more serious one

"Maybe I overdid it today," he muttered to himself, but then, a small smile tugged at his lips as he glanced up at the sky. "But it was worth it."

After reaching home, Jace took a quick bath, the warmth of the water helping him shake off the day's exhaustion. He packed his bag with clothes, ready for the trip, and then left for the railway station. 

At the station, he got onto the train, found his seat, and sat down…. Looked at his surroundings then looked down.

"If Uncle were still around," he whispered to himself, "maybe it wouldn't feel this lonely..."

He took a deep breath and then he fished out his headphones, slipping them over his ears and started listening to his usual songs on repeat.

After about an hour, the train slowed to a stop, and Jace stepped off onto the platform. Waiting for him with an easy grin was his cousin.

"Yo, Jace!" his cousin called out, waving.

Jace's usual serious expression softened into a smile. "Hey, brother, I'm finally here."

They shared a quick hug, a comforting, familiar embrace. As they broke apart, the weight of Jace's earlier thoughts seemed to lift just a little. The two started walking toward his cousin's home, their laughter and light hearted banter filling the air.

Vance's house was in fields, like a farmhouse.

Jace and Vance walked together through the glowing fields, the golden hues of the setting sun bathing everything in warm light.

"What are you up to these days, Jace?" Vance asked, his tone casual but curious.

"Umm... nothing much, just busy these days," Jace replied, his voice nonchalant.

"Busy with what?" Vance pressed, trying to understand.

"Nothing particular, just... trying to fix some things," Jace responded, his words vague but heavy with unspoken thoughts.

"Oh, I see," Vance nodded, sensing the change in Jace but not pushing further. "By the way, I installed a new game! I can't wait to show you."

Jace's mood lightened a bit, a faint smile crossing his serious face. "Alright, let's go fast then," he said, picking up the pace and glancing back at Vance, who laughed and hurried to keep up.

Jace and Vance finally reached Vance's home, the familiar sight bringing a sense of comfort. As they walked through the door, Jace greeted his aunt with a polite smile.

"Hello, Auntie," he said, giving her a small hug.

"Jace! It's so nice to have you here," she replied warmly. "Come on, dinner's ready."

After a hearty meal shared over lively conversation, the two cousins were eager to jump into the games. They booted up the console and spent hours battling it out, laughing and teasing each other with every victory and defeat.

When the games were done, Vance suggested something a little more active. "Let's play hide and seek!" he said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Jace smirked but went along with it, knowing how much fun Vance always had with the game when they were young.

They ran around the house, hiding in corners, behind furniture, and occasionally startling each other with well-timed jumps. After what felt like forever, the day finally caught up with them, their energy drained.

Both exhausted, Jace and Vance finally collapsed onto their beds,

 As they both lay in bed, the night calm and quiet, Vance turned to Jace with a nostalgic smile.

"Hey bro, do you remember when we used to play hide and seek as kids?" Vance asked, his voice relaxed in the darkness.

"Yeah," Jace chuckled softly. "That was so fun. I remember once I hid behind a bush, and then two stray dogs showed up and started barking at me. I was so scared."

Vance laughed. "Oh, I remember that."

Jace grinned. "And then you came running with a stick in your hand and scared them off. They bolted, and I thought you were a hero."

"Haha, yeah, those were some fun days. Be thankful I saved you that day," Vance said with a playful tone.

"Yeah, I'll never forget that," Jace smiled, feeling a warmth from their shared memories.

And with those nostalgic memories lingering in the air, they both drifted off to sleep, smiles still faintly on their faces. The room fell into a peaceful silence, the quiet comfort of shared moments easing them into their dreams.

Three groups of men were slouched against the roadside, bottles in hand, their laughter and drunken slurs echoing through the night. The moon hung low, casting an eerie glow over the empty streets. One of the men squinted, his vision blurred from too much alcohol, but then he saw something.

"Yo, guys… am I that drunk, or is there actually a naked beauty walkin' over there?" he slurred, pointing shakily towards the shadowy figure.

The others followed his gaze, and soon another chimed in, equally inebriated. "Oh yeah, I see her… Let's go and have some fun with her, boys."

Grinning and stumbling, they made their way toward the figure, their intentions far from good. One of them, bolder than the rest, placed his hand on the figure's bare shoulder.

"Hey babe where are you heading at this time, wanna have some good fun wi- "

The figure turned around slowly, turning into a figure of a man. His eyes were cold and piercing, and his expression unreadable.

"What do you all want?" he asked in a low, menacing voice.

Instantly, the three men froze, their drunken confidence evaporating. Fear washed over them as they realized they'd made a terrible mistake.

Fifteen minutes later, a female figure walked out of the same shadows, hands soaked in blood, licking her fingers slowly with a satisfied grin.

"That was really tasty," she muttered, her voice dripping with pleasure.

The next morning, Jace woke up at 9:18 a.m., yawning as he shuffled out of his room. Vance was already up, setting plates on the table.

"So, you're finally up, Jace," Vance smirked.

"Yeah, man," Jace yawned again, rubbing his eyes. "I don't get how you wake up early every time, even though we go to sleep at the same time."

Vance shrugged while arranging the table. "I don't know. I'm just used to it."

Jace stretched and sat down. "Where's Aunt?"

"She left early this morning. Looks like she won't be back for a few days. It's just the two of us for now."

Jace's face lit up. "Oh, that'll be fun! Just us?"

"Yeah," Vance said with a grin. "One of the relatives needed her help."

"I see." Jace settled in at the table, already thinking how much fun it would be to have the house to themselves—just him and Vance, no interruptions.

That day, they played games and enjoyed themselves to the fullest, with no one around to keep an eye on them. The time passed quickly, and soon evening settled in.

Feeling overwhelmed, Jace decided he needed a break. "Ah man, all that serum is killing me... I'm not even fully conscious right now," he muttered to himself, glancing down at his hands as he wandered through the quiet fields. The soft evening breeze brushed against his face, but something in the grass ahead made him stop in his tracks.

A figure. Was it a body?

Jace's heart pounded. His hands started trembling, and for a moment, he froze, unable to move. Fear tightened its grip around him. Then, as if snapping out of a trance, he turned and ran, sprinting back towards Vance's house, his mind racing in panic.

Vance was still deep into his game, fully immersed, when Jace burst into the room, panting heavily. Without a word, Jace yanked the headset off Vance's head.

"Ahh! What's going on?" Vance blurted, confused and startled; his eyes wide. The sudden jolt back to reality made him panic for a second.

Jace, still catching his breath, looked pale. "Vance... there's something outside... something weird. We need to check it out," he said, his voice shaky but urgent.

"What's going on?... Wait, Jace, give me a moment, let me get my bearings first," Vance said, rubbing his eyes and sitting up.

A few minutes passed, Vance finally feeling more grounded after being pulled out of his game. He looked at Jace, noticing his shaken expression. "So, what is it you want to talk about, Jace?"

Jace's voice trembled as he spoke, "I... I saw a body lying in the grass... in the fields."

"A body? Are you serious? That can't be right. Maybe you're just seeing things because of too much gaming," Vance said, trying to dismiss the panic in Jace's voice.

Jace hesitated, wondering if Vance might be right, but something still gnawed at him, making him uneasy. "I might be, but... something didn't feel right. Just come with me, let's check it out."

Vance sighed, shaking his head. "Okay, okay... let me drink some water first." He stood up.

Vance took a deep breath after drinking his water, steeling himself. "Okay, let's go, brother..." he said, trying to sound calm, though a hint of curiosity crept into his voice.

Jace led them through the fields, the eerie quietness of the evening only amplifying his earlier dread. They searched the area, scanning the grass and shadows.

"I told you, bro," Vance muttered, shaking his head. "You were just seeing things. There's no way there'd be a body here."

But Jace suddenly froze, pointing toward a spot in the tall grass. "See... it's there."

he stepped closer to where Jace pointed. Slowly, cautiously, he walked toward the figure half-concealed by the grass.

"No way... this is actually real," Vance whispered, disbelief creeping into his voice. His eyes widened as he realized, "A girl? Why doesn't she have any clothes on... is she dead? But it doesn't seem like that."

Her skin was white like snow, her build was gentle looking like an angel.

As Vance's hand reached out to touch the body, the girl stirred. Her glowing red eyes shot open.

As the girl sat up, her movements slow and unnatural, Vance froze in place, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing. His eyes widened in pure shock, and before he could stop himself, a loud scream escaped his throat. "Aaaaahhh!"

The girl, startled by Vance's scream, suddenly collapsed back onto the ground, her body going limp as if the noise had shocked her system. Vance took a shaky step backward, still breathing hard, his face pale.

Her eyes were so beautiful!

Vance quickly took off his shirt and gently wrapped it around the girl's unconscious body. He turned to Jace, and said with urgency in his voice. "Jace, help me… we're carrying her back home."

Jace standing a few steps away. "Are you sure? No one's at home right now, and no one is coming back anytime soon. What if… what if this girl is bad news?"

Vance shot Jace a serious look. "We can't just leave her here like this. Now, come on."

 "Alright, if you say so." said Jace stepping forward.

Jace helped Vance piggyback the girl. Together, they made their way back to Vance's home, the tension hanging in the air. Once inside, they carefully laid her down on the bed, covering her with a blanket.

"So, what now?" Jace asked, his voice low, uncertainty creeping into his tone.

"Let's wait for her to wake up," Vance replied, staring intently at the girl.

A few minutes passed in silence, both of them deep in thought, eyes fixed on the mysterious figure. Jace broke the quiet, rubbing his eyes, exhaustion starting to weigh him down.

"Bro, let's go and get some rest. We played games all day, and I'm completely wiped out."

"You go ahead," Vance said, still focused on the girl. "I'll stay here a little longer."

"As you say." Jace gave a tired nod before heading to the other room, collapsing onto the bed and quickly drifting off into sleep.

Jace's sleep got broken at around 5 am.

"Ah.…I gotta pee!"

Jace went to the washroom.

As he was heading back to his room, he saw the lamp of the girl's room was still on. He went there to find Vance still watching over her.

"You are up pretty early again, huh?" said Jace.

Vance looked at him with his sleepy eyes and tired face.

"Don't tell me that you didn't slept whole night" said Jace with a little shock.

"hmm… maybe I overdid it."

"You must go to sleep right now. We'll figure out about her tomorrow," Jace said firmly.

"No, we can't leave her alone... What if she wakes up? She'll be so confused, maybe terrified," Vance replied, worry still clouding his voice.

"I'll watch over her. You must go and get some sleep," Jace insisted, gently pushing Vance out of the room.

Reluctantly, Vance left, and Jace settled in for the next few hours, keeping a quiet vigil over the girl. As the early morning hours ticked by, Jace kept his focus, waiting for any signs of her waking up.

Four hours later, Vance returned, looking much more refreshed. He found Jace still by the bedside.

"I feel really good now... did she give any signs or something?" Vance asked, looking at her unconscious body.

"No, she's been the same the whole time," Jace replied, shaking his head.

"That's not good," Vance said with a frown. 

"What if she's in a coma or something? Shouldn't we take her to a doctor?" Said Jace

Vance took a closer look at the girl. "She looks like she's 16," he added, his voice softening with concern.

The girl immediately got up, "I am way older than 16 centuries," she stated, her voice steady and confident.

Jace and Vance froze, their mouths slightly open as they tried to process what they had just heard.

"W-what?" Vance stammered, stepping back a little. "Who are you?"

The girl paused for a moment, as if searching her mind for an answer. "I don't remember…"

"Umm… what was the last thing you remember?" Vance asked, his curiosity piqued. "We found you unconscious in the fields."

"First, tell her to put some goddamn clothes on!" Jace interjected from a distance, crossing his arms.

Vance quickly handed her some of his clothes, and they both stepped outside to give her some privacy. As they waited, Vance turned to Jace. "So what do you think about her? I mean, what could she actually be?"

"I have no idea," Jace replied, leaning against the wall. 

" I think she could be a fairy or something like that." said vance

"A fairy?" 

"Yeah, I mean, look at her eyes! They're red and glowing. Plus, she's so pretty, like a fairy out of a storybook."

"I don't know, man," Jace said, shaking his head. "She might be something else entirely."

The door creaked open, and the girl emerged, now dressed in Vance's clothes. Her expression was calm.

They both stepped in.

Vance glanced at her and couldn't help but think, she looks so pretty, even in my clothes.

"So, do you remember your name?" he asked calmly.

"I don't know," she replied, her voice soft and uncertain.

"Well, if that's the case, we should give you a name," Vance said, glancing at Jace.

They huddled together for a moment, thinking. "She looks like a fairy, so how about we name her Fair?" Vance suggested.

Jace scrunched his face. "Doesn't Iry sound better? You know, more... girl-like?"

Vance nodded, thinking it over. "Yeah, you're right."

He turned back to the girl. "So, from now on, we shall call you Iry."

A deep smile lit up her face, and she gave a small nod. "Yeah, it's cute. I like it."

Seeing her smile, Vance felt warmth fill his chest, like butterflies fluttering inside him. He couldn't help but ask, "So, Iry, do you want something to eat or maybe some water?"

Iry looked up at him. "I'll take water."

Vance quickly brought her a glass of water, and to his surprise, she downed the entire glass in one go. She held up the empty glass toward him.

"More," she said, almost demanding.

Vance hurried to the kitchen, filling a jug with water this time. He brought it back, and once again, she chugged it without hesitation.

"Now I'm full. Thank you, Vance," she said, her tone soft and childish.

Those simple words sent a surge of happiness through him. Meanwhile, Jace, leaning against the wall, watched everything unfold, quietly observing from the side. Something about this girl, her presence, felt strange, and he couldn't shake off the feeling.

Jace grabbed Vance by the shirt, pulling him aside. "I want you to come with me for a second..." His voice was low and tense.

 "So tell me what's up? You're not that kind guy who'd bring anyone, you found lying on the ground, back home." 

Vance shot him an irritated glance. "What are you getting at?"

"You know exactly who I'm talking about," Jace replied, his tone cold and sharp.

"She's just a young girl," Vance snapped. "How could I leave her out there on her own?"

"If it was someone else that I found, would you have still done the same?Everything about her is a red flag, and you know that," Jace replied, voice growing heavier

Vance's irritation flared into anger. "Shut up, this is my house, and I decide what happens here."

Jace threw his hands up, stepping back. "Alright, alright. Do whatever you want. But don't come to me afterwards. If I find someone else lying out there, I'll be sure to bring them right to you." said Arecus with a mocking accent

"What's his problem..?." Vance muttered under his breath, shaking his head before returning to the room.

"So, Iry, do you want something to eat?" Vance asked, trying to keep his tone light as he entered.

Jace walked outside, the cool breeze brushing against his face as he wandered into the fields, his mind racing. "Who is she, really?" he muttered to himself. 

I really can't get how every single alien knows our language 

His feet took him back to the spot where they'd found the girl, the memory of her lying unconscious replaying in his mind. This time, without the fear clouding his thoughts, he noticed something he hadn't before. The grass around that area was different.

"I didn't see it earlier," Jace whispered to himself, crouching down. "The grass here is way taller than everywhere else... unnaturally taller."

His eyes traced the boundary of the strange patch, and a chill ran down his spine. It felt like the earth itself had been warped, affected by whatever—or whoever—had been lying there.

As Jace returned from his walk, he rubbed his stomach, feeling the hunger gnawing at him. Vance, standing nearby, groaned, "Ah man, I'm starving."

The girl turned toward him, a mischievous smile on her face. "Follow me," she said softly, leading him to a nearby oak tree. She gently touched one of its branches, and to Vance's shock, an apple grew right out of it—despite it not being an apple tree.

"Here," she said, offering the fruit to Vance.

He took a bite, his eyes widening in amazement. "This is... incredible! It's the best apple I've ever had," he muttered between bites.

Just then, Jace walked up to them, still a little wary of the girl but curious about what was happening. She noticed him and, with the same soft smile, conjured another apple from the tree.

"Here, Jace. You should have one too," she said, offering it to him.

Jace hesitated for a moment, watching her closely, but then took the apple with a slight smile. "Thank you, Iry," he said, biting into it. As the sweetness hit his tongue, his cautious expression softened.

After gathering a variety of fruits, the three of them carried them inside. Jace and Vance exchanged bewildered glances as they set the vibrant assortment on the kitchen table.

"Where did all these even come from?" Vance marveled, picking up a fruit that looked like a blend of an orange and a berry.

Jace inspected another strange fruit, its skin shimmering with hues he'd never seen before. "I don't even know what half of these are."

The girl, Iry, simply smiled, as though this were the most normal thing in the world. "They're all gifts from nature. Some of them you won't find around here... or anywhere you've been."

Vance shook his head in disbelief, "70% of these fruits... I've never even heard of."

Jace nodded, still in awe. "Well, guess we're in for quite the feast then."

Vance picked up the star-shaped fruit again, examining it closely. "What is this thing, anyway?" he asked, holding it up.

Jace chuckled. "Maybe it's a star fruit, literally," he joked, taking the fruit from Vance and biting into it. His expression quickly soured. "Ugh! That's spicy... I don't like it."

Meanwhile, the girl was happily devouring the same fruit. "These fruits are really common and famous on my planet. People love them," she said between bites.

Vance raised an eyebrow. "Your planet?"

She nodded. "I don't remember everything, but I know I'm from a place called 4T3B."

Both Jace and Vance looked at each other, bewildered. "4T3B? What kind of place is that?" Vance asked, clearly confused.

The girl sighed, her face clouded with uncertainty. "I don't remember much more... my memories are still faded."

"Oh, is that so... Just take things slowly, maybe your memories will come back," Vance said, trying to reassure her.

"Wait, let me grab a knife for the fruits," Vance added as he went to the kitchen. When he returned, the girl's eyes lit up with excitement the moment she saw the knife.

"Wow, what is that... I've never seen anything like it!"

Vance raised an eyebrow. "You've never seen a knife? It's just a tool we use to cut things," he said, slicing a piece of fruit. "See?" He held up the neatly cut piece for her to see.

"Wow! Let me try that too!" she said eagerly.

"Okay, okay, but you need to be careful," Vance said, handing her the knife with caution.

She took it in her hands with a sense of awe, gripping it as if it were a rare treasure.

She took a fruit in one hand and attempted to slice it, but she applied too much pressure. The knife slid through the fruit and hit her skin—except the knife shattered.

"What are you doing? Are you okay?" Vance exclaimed, rushing over. He looked at her hand, noticing a deep cut.

"It's alright... I can heal this easily," she said calmly, and before their eyes, her wound closed up, leaving her skin perfectly intact.

Both Vance and Jace stared, mouths slightly open in shock.

"But I'm so sorry I broke your knife..." she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

Vance shook his head, crouching down to her level. "It's fine, we can get the knife fixed. Just tell me you're okay. That's what matters."

"Yeah, I'm good. But still, I'm really sorry about the knife," she said, sniffling.

"As I said, we can get it fixed, so it's not a big deal," Vance reassured her with a gentle smile.

"By the way, Iry, what's that bracelet on your hand?" Jace asked, chugging down the fruits, his eyes finally catching the small shimmer on her wrist.

"Oh yeah, that's so pretty! I didn't even notice it before. Maybe it was because everything was so chaotic earlier," Vance added, now equally curious. "But what is it exactly? Is this the only thing you've got on you?"

She wore a light pink bracelet on her wrist, looked like it was crafted from a delicate pink gemstone that was slightly transparent, catching the light in a soft, subtle glow

Iry looked at them both, her fingers brushing lightly over the bracelet. "It's… something important," she said softly. "It's not just a bracelet and I love it." 

They spent the afternoon enjoying the fruits, laughing at the strange new flavors, and showing her around the house. The girl was filled with awe, her eyes wide and sparkling as she marveled at even the simplest things—like the way the light switches worked, or the soft texture of the carpet beneath her feet.

"This is amazing!" she exclaimed, running her fingers along the smooth surface of the kitchen counter. Her excitement was contagious, and both Vance and Jace couldn't help but smile at her curiosity.

Every room they entered felt like a new discovery for her, and she treated each object like a treasure. From the refrigerator to the TV, everything fascinated her. Her childlike wonder made the ordinary feel extraordinary. Even Jace, who was initially skeptical, began to loosen up, enjoying the way she made everything seem magical.

"How do you live with so many amazing things?" she asked, her starry eyes gleaming as she looked at Vance.

Vance chuckled. "It's just everyday stuff to us, but I guess seeing it through your eyes, it does seem pretty cool."

Soon, it was time for lunch, and they decided to order a pizza. When it arrived, the girl's eyes widened in surprise as she watched them open the box.

"What is this?" she asked, leaning in closer to inspect the food.

"It's called a pizza," Jace replied with a grin.

"Piizzza? Wow," she repeated, intrigued by the strange dish.

"Here, have a slice," Vance said, offering her one.

She took the slice cautiously and took a bite, chewing slowly before scrunching her nose. "I don't like this... it tastes weird."

Jace, mid-bite, nearly choked. "Yo, what are you saying? This tastes excellent!" He shot her a look of disbelief, almost offended by her dislike of pizza.

Vance laughed. "I guess not everyone's a pizza fan." He handed her a glass of water to wash it down, and she accepted it gratefully, sticking out her tongue as if trying to get rid of the taste.

"Maybe it's just not for me," she said, giving them both an apologetic smile.

After finishing their meal, Jace and Vance decided to take her to the local market to show her around. As they walked through the bustling streets, she was captivated by everything around her—humans, in her eyes, were both unusual and fascinating.

Her gaze lingered on the cars driving by, her eyes wide with amazement. "What are those?" she asked, pointing at a passing vehicle.

"Those are cars," Vance explained. "People use them to travel long distances."

"Cars..." she muttered, repeating the word as if trying to understand the concept. "Humans are so creative."

As they walked past shops, her attention shifted to the smallest details—streetlights, food stalls, and even a vending machine, which she poked at curiously. "And what does this do?"

"It gives you drinks if you put money in," Jace said, amused by her childlike wonder.

She marveled at everything, taking in the sight of humans chatting, laughing, and going about their daily routines. "Humans are incredible... so many little things I never imagined."

Vance smiled. "There's a lot more to see. We've only scratched the surface."

As they continued walking through the market, her fascination grew with every step. She stopped by a flower stall, her fingers gently brushing the petals. "These flowers… they smell so nice." Her smile widened, and Vance couldn't help but feel warmed by her innocent joy.

They moved past various food stalls, and she paused to observe a street vendor making cotton candy. The spinning sugar and fluffy pink cloud had her mesmerized. "What is that?"

"It's cotton candy," Jace answered with a grin. "Want to try it?"

She nodded enthusiastically, and Vance bought her a stick. She took a small piece and placed it on her tongue, her eyes lighting up with surprise. "It disappears!"

"That's the best part," Vance laughed. "It's sweet, but it melts in your mouth."

She giggled, and for a moment, all three of them were lost in the simplicity of the moment. Despite all the strangeness surrounding her origin, they couldn't deny that she seemed genuinely happy.

After a while, she started to notice more of the people around them. She watched couples holding hands, children playing, and friends talking animatedly. She glanced at Jace and Vance, her red eyes glowing faintly. "Humans… they're so full of life, aren't they?"

Vance nodded. "Yeah, we are. It's a little chaotic sometimes, but we make it work."

As they reached the end of the market, she turned to both of them, her voice soft. "Thank you for showing me all of this. It's so different, but… I feel like I belong here, somehow."

Jace and Vance exchanged a glance, unsure of how to respond. It was clear that she was still a mystery, but in that moment, she felt more human than they had imagined.

They went to a shop to get the knife repaired, and while Vance was inside, Jace and Iry waited outside.

"Hey, Jace, do you... hate me?" she asked, her voice soft but direct.

Jace blinked in surprise. "No, no. Why would you think that? I don't hate you. You were just... a mystery to me at first, that's all," he replied, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

Iry tilted her head, her gaze fixed on him. "But I can sense Vance's feelings but with you, it's like there's nothing."

Jace opened his mouth to reply, but just then, Vance came back from the shop, holding the newly repaired knife with a satisfied smile.

Iry looked at Vance, her eyes lighting up. "Wow, you got it repaired! That's so cool!"

Vance grinned, holding out the knife. "Yeah, and you know what? If you like it that much, you can have it."

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? Thank you so much, Vance! I love it!"

But just as she was about to take the knife, her expression shifted. Her smile faded, replaced by a distant look. "I... I have to go. Me is calling me."

Jace and Vance exchanged confused glances. "What? Who's calling you?" Vance asked, his voice laced with concern.

Before either of them could stop her, Iry turned and bolted down the street.

"Wait!" Vance shouted, but she was already running. Without hesitation, both he and Jace took off after her.

They both followed her and reached an empty park, where a figure sat calmly on a fallen tree. Iry stood in front of the figure, raising both hands as if in some silent communication.

It appeared as a young man, with piercing green eyes and skin as pale as snow and unnaturally ten feet tall

"Yo, Iry! What are you doing?" Jace shouted, his voice sharp with confusion.

Vance arrived a moment later, catching his breath, his chest heaving as he tried to process what was happening.

The figure rose from the tree, walking towards Jace with a slow, deliberate stride. "You know," the figure spoke with a voice that dripped with authority, "I've been waiting a long time to meet you, Arecus."

Jace's eyes narrowed. "Who are you, and what do you want?"

The man smirked, his dark eyes gleaming. "You may not know me, but I am also an inheritor like you. My name is Naur, and I am the inheritor of Librian."

"Librian? What the heck are you talking about?" Jace's voice was tinged with disbelief.

As Jace stood there, his mind raced. Librian? Is this guy also connected to Arecus, or is this something else entirely? And what is this 'Librian'... it sounds like Amberian. Could Amberian have had another name?.... But no, the one and only inheritor of amberian is me. Jace's thoughts spun as he tried to make sense of the situation.

But one thing is for sure…. Whoever this person is ain't normal human being 

"Before we continue chatting, Arecus, let me just..." Naur started, moving toward Iry with a menacing calmness.

Jace felt a knot form in his stomach. Something was off. "Vance, hold Iry! Protect her!" Jace shouted, stepping between Naur and Iry in a split second, his instincts in overdrive. 

Vance, wide-eyed, grabbed Iry, wrapping his arms around her tightly as she struggled, kicking and flailing. "Let me go! I have to go!" she screamed, her voice frantic.

Jace stood firm in front of Naur, his guard up. "What do you think you're doing?"

Naur smirked slightly, unfazed by the tension. "Why are you stopping me? She's a part of me, and without her, I can't regain full consciousness."

"What the heck do you mean?"

As they exchanged words, Iry twisted and slipped free from Vance's grip, sprinting toward Naur. Jace lunged to stop her, but she was too quick, slipping past him like a gust of wind. 

Vance scrambled to catch up, reaching out just as his hand touched her shoulder. Before he could pull her back, Naur turned swiftly, his eyes flaring. "Why do you insist on getting in my way?" he hissed, delivering a brutal kick to Vance's chest.

Vance went flying, crashing into the ground and rolling across the dirt with a painful groan. 

Vance lay on the ground, his body aching from Naur's earlier attack, helplessly watching as Naur reached out and touched Iry. There was a bright orange light where he touched. Her figure shimmered, glowing faintly as she began to merge into Naur. Vance tried to call out, to stop it, but the pain was too much—he could only watch, his heart sinking with every passing second.

Jace, standing nearby, was frozen in shock. He had never seen anything like this. His mind raced, trying to comprehend what was happening, but the sight of Iry disappearing—fusing into Naur—left him speechless. It was as if she had never existed. The being that stood before them, its appearance changed a little like its features were now less masculine than before,, and he had a pink bracelet in his right arm and a green in his left arm, but he was calm and composed

Naur slowly lowered himself to the ground, crossing his legs, and the moment he sat down, the earth beneath him seemed to respond. Flowers began to bloom, and grass sprouted and stretched toward the sky, encircling him in a patch of life amidst the barren park.

Jace stood there, still in disbelief. "Iry...?" he muttered under his breath, though he knew she was gone.

Vance, clutching the dirt beneath him, could only whisper, "No... no..." as the weight of it all pressed down on him.

Naur's voice echoed with a dark, unsettling calm as he stared at Jace. "Long ago, I inherited Librian. It wasn't something I sought out—one day, while wandering the forest near my village, it simply... happened. In that instant, I had all the answers everyone craved, but when I tried to explain, they called me a fool. I stopped aging. My siblings, once five years younger than me, began to look older."

His eyes darkened, filled with memories of pain and betrayal. "The villagers... they thought I was cursed, unnatural. So they planned my execution. I was just a kid... they strapped me down,My head was severed, split in two... but I didn't die."

Jace's fists clenched as he listened, tension building in his chest.

"I picked my head up... and reattached it." Naur's voice grew colder. "The terror in their eyes was the first time I realized—what I had was beyond their comprehension. Something better."

He smiled bitterly, the memory twisting his expression. "I slaughtered them all—everyone who had plotted to kill me. At that moment, the world saw what I could do, and they all wanted it. Wanted to take what I had. I felt the same from my family and as an anxious kid I murdered all of them. I killed every living thing on my planet, thinking that by doing so, I'd find the answers. I'd create something better. And I did."

Naur paused, his eyes shifting toward Jace. "I built my own world. A perfect one, free from the foolishness of others. It was so much fun existing in that world, But then... something caught my eyes. On a distant planet, you were born, Arecus."

Jace's heart raced. "Me?"

"You. You were the only one from whom I didn't get that sick feeling. You stood against the world's idiotic beliefs, against their useless ideals. You and I—we are the same. I tried to reach you, but suddenly, the connection between us vanished. For 800 years, I felt nothing from you. And then, a few weeks ago, I sensed it again. And I wanted to see you before it's too late once again."

Naur stood up slowly from his seated position, brushing his hands against the now-blooming grass. His gaze shifted to Jace, his expression calm but unsettlingly serious. "Listen, everything is nothing but just a lie-"

As he was about to finish his sentence, a dark figure appeared silently behind him. It resembled a shadow with glowing orange eyes, the same eerie figure from before—a half-male, half-female entity. One hand bore a pink bracelet, the other a green one. Its presence was overwhelming yet surreal, devoid of emotion. Without hesitation, it seized Naur by the head. A brilliant orange light erupted from its hand, encircling Naur's head, the energy burning with such intensity that it illuminated the entire park.

Jace could not even begin to process his words

Jace's mind raced. Everything around him felt surreal, like a dream he couldn't wake up from. The bright orange light was blinding, filling the entire space with an unbearable heat.

"What... what is happening?" Jace muttered, taking a step back.

Vance lay on the ground, the dust swirling around him as he stared at the spot where Iry once stood. His breath came in ragged gasps as he pressed his hands into the earth, his fingers curling into fists.

"Why... why did this have to happen...?" His voice trembled with grief and anger. Slowly, Vance pulled himself up, his face twisted in desperation. He staggered toward Jace, grabbing his shoulder with a tight grip.

"Do something, Jace," he hissed, his voice rising in a frantic plea. "Do something! Bring her back!"

Jace stared at him, shocked. "What are you even talking about?" he said, his voice edged with frustration and confusion.

"Kill yourself if you have to! Just bring her back!" Vance's eyes darkened with a sinister glint, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

"Get away from me, damn it!" Jace shouted, pushing Vance away with force. "Can't you see? He's the one who did this!"

Vance fell to the ground again, his face etched with both shock and fury.

Vance lay on the ground, his body trembling as he crawled toward the knife that had slipped from his grip earlier. His hand shakily reached out, grabbing the knife and clutching it tightly against his chest. Tears streamed down his face, his sobs barely audible as the weight of the moment crushed him.

"Iryyy... nooo," he cried, his voice broken, filled with anguish.

Jace looked up in disbelief, seeing only Naur standing before him. but he had 2 bracelets in each hand one green and one pink, and he seemed a little less taller than before

He just kept staring at Jace, as if searching for something deep within him, something only he could see.

"Naur?" Jace asked, his voice uncertain.

He approached Jace, inspecting him closely even more. "You're not even Arecus, are you?" Without warning, Naur slammed his fist into Jace's chest, sending him crashing into a nearby building.

From the rubble, Arecus emerged with a twisted grin, stretching his muscles "What's your problem, asshole?"

Naur chuckled darkly. "Problem? Your very existence pisses me off."

"Is that so? Then it is going to piss you even more."

Naur burst into laughter. "Your existence is nothing but a joke to me. You're just the inheritor of a pathetic entity that was only claimed because it was the last one left. What was its name again? Oh, yes—Amberian. How laughable. And you're not even the real inheritor, you are more like a human who just got this in legacy."

Arecus was staring at him with his usual face with no expression but sinister eyes 

"I will mudder you." 

Naur sneered. "You? You're nothing compared to me. I am the inheritor of Librian—the rejector of nature. Second to be inherited, and far superior to a fool like you who dares to stand in front of me that way."

"Can you stop yapping and show me what you really got? Because right now, you sound really pathetic," Arecus sneered, his eyes gleaming with cold amusement as he pointed at Naur.

With a sharp breath, he shifted into his fighting stance—legs spread, body slightly leaned forward, fists clenched and ready. His presence was like a coiled spring, ready to strike. "Now, come at me… or is talking all you're good for?"

Naur's face twisted with rage as he charged at Arecus, closing the distance with terrifying speed. Arecus cocked his fist back, prepared to deliver a punishing blow—but suddenly, the ground beneath him erupted. Thick, thorn-covered vines shot up, wrapping themselves around his legs and torso, tightening like a living trap. The thorns pierced deep into his flesh.

Arecus glanced down at the writhing vines in confusion. "What the… I am losing my consciousness. What are these things coated with?"

But before he could even attempt to break free, Naur was upon him. His fists moved like hammers, each one striking Arecus's face with brutal precision. The sound of bone cracking echoed through the air as Naur landed punch after punch—one, two, three blows straight to the face.

Blood streamed from Arecus's mouth, his vision fading. "Damn it… I need to break out of this…"

A fiery red glow began to radiate from the mark on his arm. With a roar, Arecus summoned all his strength, snapping the vines apart in an explosion of raw energy. Thorny fragments scattered everywhere as he tore himself free, stumbling to regain his footing.

But as he got free from the vines . Naur's fist crashed into Arecus's jaw with an earth-shattering force, sending him flying backward like a ragdoll. Arecus hit the ground with a sickening thud, skidding across the dirt before coming to a stop, lying motionless in a growing pool of his own blood.

Naur strolled over to Arecus, a smug grin plastered on his face. "What's the matter, tough guy? Down already?" His mocking tone dripped with disdain. 

Arecus's body remained lifeless, sprawled across the ground. Naur leaned down, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and lifting him off the ground as though he weighed nothing. Arecus's head lolled back, his limbs hanging limp and lifeless.

Naur shook him violently, his expression twisted into a mask of cruel amusement. "What's wrong, huh?" he snarled. "Weren't you supposed to be some great legend? The almighty wanna be Arecus?" He shook Arecus harder, his voice a venomous growl. "Where's that strength, you worthless puppet?"

Arecus was knocked down, in Naur's grasp like a broken doll, blood smeared across his pale face. 

With a cruel laugh, Naur tossed Arecus's limp body aside, watching as he hit the ground with a dull thud. "And to think I wasted my time on you," Naur said, shaking his head as if disappointed.

He looked down at his blood-stained hands, a grimace of revulsion crossing his face. "Great… Now I need to clean my hands. I can't believe I touched something so… beneath me."

Arecus lay motionless on the ground while Vance stood frozen in shock, too paralyzed by fear to move. Slowly, the poison began to fade, and Arecus stirred, his body twitching as consciousness returned. Naur watched with cold amusement as Arecus slowly pushed himself to his feet. This time, no emotion crossed his face—just a void of pure, seething rage, Naur could feel it

Arecus rose fully, his eyes locked on Naur, who raised his hands once more. Vines shot up from the earth, thorny and deadly, aimed to ensnare Arecus again. But Arecus was already behind him. His punch, once aimed at the vines, now tore through the air at Naur's back.

"What the...?" Naur spun around just in time to see Arecus behind him. Instinctively, a tree erupted between them, and Arecus's fist slammed into it with the force of a cannon. The tree shattered into splinters, exploding on impact.

Naur quickly stepped back, putting more distance between himself and Arecus. "So, you've got some tricks of your own," Naur laughed, but the humor in his voice was strained.

Arecus stood unfazed, his eyes cold, his face devoid of expression.

Arecus lunged forward, his fist aimed directly at Naur's face. But Naur, with quick reflexes, twisted his head and dodged the strike effortlessly. In a swift counter, Naur unleashed a devastating punch, expecting Arecus to crash into the ground. But in the blink of an eye, Arecus vanished and reappeared behind him.

Before Naur could react, Arecus's fist connected with a bone-shattering force, and the impact tore a gaping hole through Naur's torso. But it was like nothing for Naur, Naur turned his face towards Arecus.

"I've got you now," Naur hissed, grabbing Arecus with his hands, which morphed into thick, twisting vines that coiled tightly around him. The vines constricted, binding Arecus in place. "Now you can't escape, you bastard."

But just as Naur tightened his grip, Arecus disappeared once again, He reappeared at Naur's side, and before Naur could comprehend what was happening, Arecus delivered another crushing punch. This time, the force was catastrophic—Naur's head exploded from the impact, his body hurtling through the air and slamming into the ground on the other side of the battlefield.

Arecus stood, his gaze cold and unwavering, watching Naur's body go sliding.

Naur slowly emerged from the swirling dust cloud, his body regenerating before Arecus's eyes. The gaping wounds closed up, his flesh knitting itself back together with eerie precision. A malicious grin spread across his face as he wiped away the green blood that lingered on his lips. His jade-colored eyes darkened, turning into a menacing blood-red. His clothes disintegrated into nothing, revealing his bare skin, which now pulsed with dark, web-like veins running across his face and body. The air around him seemed to distort.

 Naur growled, his voice dripping with venom. "I guess it's time I stop playing around."

watching him naked Jace couldn't control himself

"Why the heck are you naked?" Jace asked, as he glanced at Naur.

Naur's face twisted in rage. "It's the ultimate natural form of a being!" he shouted, veins bulging as his voice echoed with fury.

Arecus smirked, shaking his head. "Ah, but it'd be a lot more fun without that little thing swinging around," he muttered, his eyes flashing with mockery.

"Shut up and die!" Naur roared.

"Why the heck are you naked?" Arecus asked, eyebrow raised as he glanced at Naur.

From the ground, massive tree-bark-like vines exploded upward, rushing toward Arecus with blinding speed. Arecus reacted instantly, leaping onto the vines and sprinting along them toward Naur. But as he ran, a vicious thorn-like spike shot up from beneath his feet. It pierced through Arecus's flesh, locking him in place. He looked down just in time to see the spike drive upward, impaling his right eye.

Gritting his teeth against the sudden agony, Arecus smashed the spike with a powerful punch, shattering it into splinters. He jumped into the air, blood pouring from his damaged eye and the hole in his foot.

"Thank the go- no myself, my brain wasn't hit," Arecus muttered,

In an instant, a tall tree grew behind Arecus, and Naur suddenly grew out from one of its branch, as Arecus tried to look back, he received a tight punch from Naur mid air and fell to the ground…. the mark had disappeared from his arm and he was laying on the ground.

Jace struggled to his feet, his body shaking uncontrollably as his every muscle screamed in agony. Naur loomed in front of him, the twisted grin on his face and his presence radiating pure malice. Even Naur could sense the overwhelming fear pouring out of Jace.

I....I'm going to die… I... I... can't... see clearly… My whole body... it feels like... it's tearing apart..

He lowered his hand and opened it but nothing happened 

I…I can't get the sword…. I am not fully conscious...my…my feet are trembling…..i can't focus

His vision started to blur as he glanced over at Vance, who stood a few meters away, frozen and helpless.

Me and my brother… Are we both going to die? This person... this thing... he's a monster.... he is going to kill us both. Jace's mind raced in despair, his breath ragged as he faced what seemed like the inevitable.

But then, just as the weight of it all seemed to crush him, something inside Jace shifted.

"Nah..." Arecus's voice broke through the chaos, calm yet cold.

"Still standing?" Naur sneered, his dark eyes gleaming with twisted delight.

He rushed toward Arecus, who appeared to be trembling, barely able to stand straight. Naur clenched his fist, charging up a powerful punch aimed straight at Arecus's face. But in a blink, Arecus's hand shot up, effortlessly catching Naur's fist mid-air. The impact caused a deafening shockwave, sending dust and debris flying in all directions.

shockwave hit the frozen Vance and it made him come back to his senses a little 

he looked at both of them

Iry will be still inside that guy right?..... why are these two fighting aren't Iry and Jace friends

Arecus slowly lowered Naur's fist, the tremor in his body vanishing. His sinister smile returned as his left hand rocketed forward, landing a brutal punch to Naur's gut, followed immediately by a vicious kick that sent Naur sliding backward across the ground.

Arecus moved forward, slowly and deliberately, his sinister smile widening as he began to sing softly, "I feel the heat as we collide..."

 Everything going on was a little too much for Jace, so he started to sing the song

Naur, confused but alert, stared at him. "What the... what is he doing?" 

Arecus kept walking, his tone casual, "like a fever, that feels so right...".

Naur smirked, though his expressions were laced with anxiety. "So he isn't done yet…. I am not getting the feeling of fear from him anymore," he muttered under his breath, but then he smiled. "Looks like I have to use that."

Naur opened his palm, summoning an orb of light. It crackled and grew, shining brighter and brighter with every passing second, and in a flash, he slammed the orb into the ground.

A massive explosion of light engulfed everything. The brightness was overwhelming, so intense it swallowed the entire world for a moment. Arecus covered his eyes with his arm, When the light finally faded, the landscape had transformed entirely. The sky looked more blue, clearer than ever before, while every cloud vanished. The greenery looked more vibrant.

Naur was now in the form of a woman, her red eyes glared at Arecus, her features sharp and fierce. Arecus pointed at her, a mocking smirk on his face. "Why do you look like a woman now? Wouldn't it be better if you fought like a man?"

Naur's eyes narrowed, her voice cold and cutting. "Female species are the most dominant in nature, you fool. Something a simple-minded brute like you could never understand."

Arecus tilted his head, unimpressed. "What? If I'd been born a girl, I wouldn't have inherited Arecus in the first place."

Naur's anger flared. "I will rip you to pieces."

Arecus pointed at Naur with a smirk. "Bad babe,"

Naur's vines erupted from the ground, twisting and whipping toward Arecus. But instead of dodging, Arecus was laughing, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he weaved between the attacks. He was having fun, his veins racing with adrenaline.

"This could be my last day, so I might as well enjoy it,"

She could feel his excitement. "He's enjoying this way too much," .

"I'll finish him off myself," Naur muttered, she could have used poison, which could easily have been Arecus's downfall but she was arrogant.

The vines had stopped, and Naur joined the fight herself. She rushed toward Arecus, but this time she was faster and stronger than before. As soon as she reached him, Arecus threw a punch, ripping her arm off with brutal force. Yet, in an instant, Naur regenerated, now even more stronger. Their battle was monstrous, their power shaking the ground beneath them.

Arecus landed a devastating punch to her torso, his arm plunging deep into her skin, but as soon as it pierced through, her body regenerated, trapping his arm inside. Naur smiled darkly, her red eyes gleaming with malicious intent. With a swift, forceful strike, she shattered Arecus's stuck arm, leaving half of it embedded within her. Arecus leaped backward, blood flowing, the jagged stump of his arm twitching.

Blood was overflowing and Arecus looked at his detached arm.

A deep anger toward Naur began building within Arecus, like a slow-burning fire. Naur, sensing it, raised his hands, summoning two massive beasts from the earth.

Arecus, battered with only one arm, a damaged foot, and a bloodied eye, narrowed his gaze at the creatures. "These look like the beasts I've faced before… I don't have really good memories of these things."

The two beasts charged. Arecus met them head-on, throwing a powerful punch into one of them. The force sent the creature skidding across the ground. But before he could take a breath, the second beast lunged at him. Arecus managed to stop its jaws with his hand, feeling the creature's strength pushing back against him.

"These things aren't just uglier… they're stronger than the ones before," Arecus thought, gritting his teeth. Behind him, the first beast was already getting back on its feet, ready to join the fight again.

Naur's legs morphed into thick vines, lifting her up as she watched Arecus battle below. In her arrogance, she believed the beasts would be enough to finish him off. She wanted so desperately to prove that Arecus was nothing compared to her. So, she left him to fight the monsters, confident they'd tear him apart.

But she failed to realise: the longer the battle was going on, the stronger Arecus was becoming.

From her vantage point, Naur could see Arecus moving faster. His attacks were more precise, more lethal—even with only one arm left, he was dismantling the beasts piece by piece.

Then suddenly, something shifted. Arecus reached the threshold of his ignition state, he successfully reached his Awakened consciousness. His muscles bulged, more defined than before. The very space around them began to tear apart, the ground trembling as red lightning crackled through the space around them like veins of energy.

In an instant, Arecus destroyed both beasts. Their massive forms crumbled, leaving nothing but silence in the wake of his overwhelming force.

Naur stared in disbelief.

"No way this can happen… He should have died from this much blood loss, but instead, he just killed them."

As the dust settled, Arecus slowly turned toward her, a sinister smile etched across his face. He began to walk toward Naur, slow and steady, as if he had all the time in the world.

Naur summoned vines, thorns, and all manner of tricks to block his approach, but nothing worked. Every attempt to stop him was effortlessly destroyed. Arecus kept moving forward, his smile never wavering, his pace undeterred, and unaffected by anything she tried.

Naur's shock deepened. She couldn't accept what she was seeing.

"What is going on...?" she muttered

The space around them seemed to warp and crack, shaking under Arecus's power. As he drew closer, his red eyes burned brighter, and his presence became darker—more sinister. It was like a nightmare, as though an emotionless demon was approaching her in this shattered, broken world.

Naur's eyes widened as a terrible realization dawned on her.

The reason Amberian was inherited last wasn't because he was the only one left... it was because he was too strong for anyone to claim him sooner

Her thoughts raced, her gaze locked on the unstoppable force before her.

"No, I can still win," Naur thought, her mind racing. "Even though he's just walking, he could appear near me at any second."

And just as she predicted, Arecus was suddenly right in front of her. 

"Ha, I knew it," Naur muttered, wasting no time. She thrust her fist into Arecus's chest, aiming to rip out his heart. "It's the end, baby," she hissed, her confidence surging.

But Arecus reacted just as quickly, driving his broken, jagged left hand into her chest. The sharp bone pierced through her easily, as though slicing through paper.

Naur's thoughts scrambled. "What is he thinking? I can just regenerate… Even if he takes my heart, it won't matter. but if I take his—it's over."

Then something felt wrong—her hand felt lighter, weaker. She looked down and her eyes widened in horror. The hand she had thrust into Arecus was gone, as if it had melted the moment it got in contact with his blood. 

"What the... I can't regenerate this. What the hell is flowing through this guy's body?"

Before she could process the shock, Arecus struck her with a devastating punch, sending her flying backward from the impact. She scrambled to her feet, regenerating most of her body instantly—except her missing hand.

Breathing heavily, Naur watched as Arecus slowly advanced again, his wounds now completely healed, as if they'd never existed. His eye, his arm, his foot and the hole in his chest—everything was back to normal, if not better. 

"What is going on...?" Naur's mind raced, dread filling her. She stared at Arecus, now fully restored. 

"I get it now," she muttered, piecing it together. "The moment he pierced me, and got in contact with my blood, it healed his whole body, but when I touched him, it was the opposite. Did he know this all along? No it was something done by him purely instinctively…. This bastard is something else."

Arecus kept walking toward her, that dark smile still fixed on his face.

Naur's eyes were fixed on Arecus, but something strange happened. Arecus started trembling violently, his muscles locking up.

"Clotting!? Now? Damn it!" Arecus cursed before collapsing to the ground, his body finally succumbing to the immense strain.

Naur paused for a moment, then began walking toward his fallen form, her grin widening. "Yeah, that makes sense. No wonder your body can't endure all this... You should've died from a heart attack. I was surprised you even lasted this long."

She stood over him, looking down with a mocking smile. "That's more like it. This is only natural." With a cruel laugh, she smashed her foot onto his head, then kicked his limp body. With each impact, Arecus's form rolled across the ground, helpless. Naur's laughter grew louder, more vicious, as she stomped on his skull again and again, sending blood splattering.

As she stood over Arecus's motionless body, drenched in blood, her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Vance, watching the brutal scene unfold, was frozen in terror. Naur's female form eerily resembled Iry, and the sight was more than he could handle.

If this keeps going, Jace will die for sure…

With panic rising inside him, his gaze shifted to his hand, where he saw the knife he had grabbed.

Naur, meanwhile, looked down at Arecus one last time, her face twisting with sadistic glee. "Now, it's time to end you."

But just as she raised her hand to deliver the finishing blow, a flash of silver sliced through the air—her face was cut in half, splitting open with a clean strike. Naur reeled back in shock, clutching her face.

That day, the hero with a stick became the hero with a knife.

"What the... who just hit me!?" she shouted, her face beginning to heal instantly. Her eyes darted around the area until they settled on Vance, standing a few feet away, gripping the bloodied knife.

"It was this guy? I completely forgot about him," she snarled, narrowing her eyes. "But it doesn't matter. I'll kill both of you here and now."

With a sneer, Naur lunged at Vance, ready to kill him with one powerful strike. But before her fist could connect, her right arm was severed, flying off from her body.

"What the... I can't heal this one either!" Naur gasped, staring in disbelief at her detached limb.

She looked besides her and Arecus stood tall, gripping his sword in one hand, his cold, glowing eyes fixed on Naur. His face was emotionless.

Arecus had risen again. The few drops of Naur's blood that had fallen on him when Vance cut her had triggered his regeneration.

Before Naur could even react, Arecus appeared in front of her in a blur. In one clean motion, his sword sliced through her arms, then her legs. The cuts were so precise that she didn't feel the pain at first--just the horrifying realization as her limbs fell away from her body.

 He delivered a devastating kick to her torso, sending her flying backward.

 As she tumbled through the air, Naur's thoughts scrambled. "I can't heal.. what the heck is that sword?" 

Arecus locked his eyes on the rising shadow, and from the debris emerged Naur, her form twisted and transformed once again. This time, her body was split horizontally, a grotesque blend of male and female, but her entire skin had turned a dull grey. Thick veins pulsed across her form, and her arms and legs had somehow reattached. Her eyes glowed a fierce orange as she staggered forward.

"I wasn't able to heal the parts you cut off," she growled, her voice laced with pain. "I had to recreate them... and attach them back to my body. It hurts like hell."

Her dark eyes darted into Arecus, but he was already calculating.

"So, she can't heal when I cut her with this sword," Arecus realized, gripping the weapon tighter as his glowing gaze stayed fixed on her.

I will just go for her head then.

In an instant, Arecus appeared behind Naur, his sword raised to strike. As he swung for the kill, a new face grew behind her head, eyes locking onto him.

 "I see you," she hissed.

Arecus swung, but just before the blade could sever her head, a vine shot out from her back, narrowly deflecting the strike. The sword missed by mere centimeters, and before he could react, the vine coiled around him and sent him flying backward.

 "Damn it! Why the hell did you hesitate...?" Arecus thought, clenching his teeth in frustration as he steadied himself. If it was her, she wouldn't have even thought twice... I could have cut her head right at that moment .

That face looked a lot like Iry.

Naur's eyes narrowed as she raised her hand, feeling the pulse of nature beneath her fingertips. "He's nothing compared to me," she muttered. The earth answered her call, grass and flowers bloomed wildly around her. From the ground, dark, grotesque creatures began to emerge, each more twisted than the last. They snarled and roared, eyes locked on Arecus, their bodies filled with primal rage as they charged forward.

In her palm, Naur held a small, buzzing insect, its wings humming softly. She grinned darkly. "One sting from this, and all his consciousness is gone. He won't even know what hit him."

Arecus stood still, his muscles tensed, prepared for battle. He watched the horde, unflinching, as the tiny insect flew unnoticed. It landed silently on his neck, stinging him. His body froze for a moment, his grip on his sword loosening. The weapon clattered to the ground, his fingers twitching slightly.

Naur's grin widened as she watched. "Yes, he's been stung. It's over," she whispered to herself, triumph shining in her eyes. "Now, these creatures will devour him alive."

But as one beast lunged, jaws wide, there was a sudden flash of movement. Its body split cleanly in two, its lifeless halves hitting the ground with a sickening thud.

"WHAT THE FUCK!!?" Naur's voice faltered. The grin disappeared from her face, replaced by disbelief. Arecus's lips curved into a slow, menacing smile. Before Naur could even blink, every creature around Arecus was torn apart in an instant. Their bodies collapsed, blood and limbs flinging around fallen leaves.

"What the hell is happening? He should be unconscious, weak… but instead, he's faster, stronger…" Naur's eyes widened as the realization dawned on her. "No, he is unconscious... He's fighting purely on instincts… nothing about this bastard is natural, damn it!"

Naur stood frozen, eyes wide with disbelief as Arecus tore through the monstrous creatures. Each beast that dared approach him was ripped apart in an instant, their bodies scattering across the battlefield like broken toys. 

A severed head of one of the creatures flew through the air, spinning before landing near Naur's feet with a sickening thud.

Naur looked at Arecus "Yo… you needs to wake up," Naur muttered, her voice barely a whisper

Three of the beasts lunged at Arecus, their claws sinking deep into his flesh. One of them clamped its jaws onto his shoulder, but Arecus didn't hesitate. He bit back into the creature, sinking his teeth into its neck. As its blood filled his mouth, something inside him stirred.

With a brutal surge of strength, Arecus shattered the beasts in a spray of blood. Their remains scattered across the battlefield, a rain of red staining the ground. The blood he swallowed began to heal him, knitting his torn flesh together. His broken arm regenerated, and slowly, his eyes regained focus, consciousness returning.

Naur, watching from a distance, felt a flicker of relief. "He's regaining his senses…" 

"I am NOT going to lose, NO MATTER WHAT….. "while saying this, Naur used his ultimate power

The ground quaked beneath her, splitting open as colossal vines as thick as tree trunks erupted from the earth, their movements violent and merciless. They shot out in every direction, tearing through buildings as if they were paper, smashing anything in their path. 

The sky, once clear, turned a sickly shade of red as flames engulfed the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the destruction. In every direction, twisted, nightmarish creatures poured from Naur's body, their monstrous forms snarling and clawing at the burning world around them.

Naur stood at the epicenter of the destruction, her orange, glowing eyes locked on Arecus. She smirked, her veins pulsing with power, feeling untouchable amidst the hell she had created. "I will end you once and for all," she shouted, her voice laced with venom.

The creatures and flames swept across the city like a tidal wave of death. Everywhere, people were screaming, running for their lives, but there was no escape. The monstrous creatures, twisted and grotesque, tore through the streets, their jagged claws ripping through flesh. Buildings crumbled as the vines coiled around them, their immense strength snapping stone and steel like brittle twigs.

People tried to flee, but the fires were relentless, burning their clothes, their skin,and their very souls. Screams of agony filled the air, mixing with the guttural roars of Naur's beasts.

Families clung to each other as the monsters closed in. One beast—a hulking, insect-like creature with razor-sharp mandibles—pounced on a group, its jaws snapping shut around a father who had thrown himself in front of his children. Blood sprayed across the cobblestone, and the children's screams were drowned by the crackling of the fire.

Elsewhere, a woman tried to hide in the shadow of a burning car, her heart pounding in her chest. But a vine, slithering like a snake, wrapped itself around her ankle. She cried out, clawing at the pavement, but the vine yanked her into the air and slammed her into the ground, over and over again, until her body was limp and lifeless. 

High above, the sky was a deep, unnatural red, the sun seemed blotted out by thick clouds of smoke. As the flames spread, the city seemed to scream and tremble under the weight of the destruction. Explosions echoed from distant gas lines, sending fireballs roaring into the sky. Every corner, every street was chaos—people running, dying, or frozen in shock, unable to comprehend the horror that had descended upon them.

Naur watched it all from the eye of the storm as the fires reflected in her glowing orange eyes. The vines danced in the flames. Her creatures continued their rampage, murdering indiscriminately, their hunger insatiable.

This was her world now—a burning hellscape, bathed in the blood of innocents. And in the center of it all, she stood like a twisted god, her power unmatched, her wrath unending.

Arecus stood atop a massive vine, his balance unwavering despite the chaotic battle unfolding around him. His sword gleamed in the crimson light of the burning city as he clashed with Naur, their power shaking the ground beneath them. Vines lashed out toward him like serpents, but Arecus dodged them with fluid precision, slicing through the branches as they came close, his movements sharp and relentless.

Meanwhile, Vance stood watching the nightmare unfold before his eyes. His body trembled as the horrifying scene played out around him—people screaming, buildings crumbling into flames, and creatures tearing through everything in sight. The suffocating smoke hung in the air, stinging his eyes as he struggled to comprehend the level of destruction before him.

In the distance, he could see Arecus battling Naur, their fierce struggle unfolding atop the twisting tower of plants. Every clash of their power sent tremors through the ground, the shockwaves rippling outwards, causing cracks to form in the earth. Vance's heart pounded as he watched Arecus fight, the chaos seeming insurmountable.

The creatures roaming the streets were unlike anything Vance had ever seen, their forms barely human, and their monstrous roars sending chills down his spine. They tore through the city like a pack of wild animals. 

Vance looked at Arecus and shouted, "We need to take this thing away from here! People are dying!"

Arecus shouted back, "Let them die!"

"What are you saying… Are you serious?" Vance's voice trembled, disbelief and shock written all over his face.

Arecus halted mid-fight, landing near Vance. His cold, dark eyes locked onto him. "Go ahead, take this wherever you want," Arecus said, standing motionless, staring him down.

"What's wrong? Why don't you take this somewhere safe for the others?" Arecus's voice cut through the chaos.

Vance stood frozen, unable to respond. His heart pounded in his chest, mind reeling as he struggled to comprehend what he was hearing.

Arecus leaned in closer, his gaze piercing. "It's only you trying to play the hero here."

Vance stammered, words failing him, his pulse racing in a mix of fear and confusion.

Arecus's eyes didn't waver, his face an unreadable mask of darkness. "I'm fighting for you. Let me."

Without waiting for a response, Arecus turned back to the battlefield. In a blur of swift, lethal movements, he re-engaged in combat with Naur, the massive figure towering ominously above them both.

Vance watched Jace "What is he doing?… No, I have to help him take this creature down…" But something in Jace's eyes stopped him. He could see the focus, the calculated strength. 

"He knows what he's doing… If I jump in, I'll only slow him down. I need to help some other way," Vance thought.

His eyes scanned the battlefield and caught something—a vine connected to Naur's feet, trailing upward to the top of a nearby building. At its peak he noticed something massive—red and barely visible in the distance.

Without hesitation, Vance sprinted toward the building, weaving through the destruction and dodging the chaos Naur had unleashed. Flames licked the walls as he burst inside. The building was burning, collapsing around him, but Vance pushed through, climbing toward the rooftop. 

Finally, he reached the top, only to be met with the unnaturally huge glowing red flower. A thick, yellow, sticky liquid oozed from its center, and the vine connecting Naur to the flower pulsed.

"Maybe he Is using this to get energy or some other thing…. but I know one thing for sure, it must be taken out" Vance reached out, but instantly recoiled. "Ah! Hot! It's too hot!" His hands burned from the touch.

Desperate, he grabbed a shattered piece of glass from the wreckage around him. Instead of trying to cut the flower, he severed the vine connecting Naur to it. The moment he did, the ground beneath him trembled violently, a massive earthquake shaking the building.

The structure began to collapse. Vance lost his footing and fell into the flower, the scalding yellow liquid covering his entire body. The pain was excruciating at first, like fire burning through his skin. But as the building crumbled, something strange happened. The pain faded. 

Vance fell from the building and hit the ground hard—bones shattered, legs broken from the impact. But within moments, his body began to regenerate, the injuries healing rapidly. He looked at himself, stunned. "What just happened?" he whispered in disbelief, still coated in the glowing liquid.

As Vance struggled to comprehend what had just happened to him, his mind racing from the bizarre regeneration of his injuries, he suddenly saw a beast charging straight at him. His body froze; he couldn't react in time. The beast's claws slashed through the air, and in an instant, Vance's arm was severed.

Pain surged through him, but before he could even process the loss, a new arm grew back in its place within seconds. Horror washed over him as the beast lunged again, knocking him to the ground. Vance tried desperately to punch and kick the creature off, but his blows barely fazed it. The beast opened its massive jaws, sinking its teeth into his flesh, tearing and gnawing at his body, but his flesh kept regenerating—growing back even as it was being devoured.

Vance screamed in agony, feeling every shred of pain as the monster consumed him, but he was helpless to stop it. The nightmare seemed endless. Just as his hope was fading, Arecus noticed his plight. In a blur of movement, Arecus rushed over, his sword gleaming as he sliced the beast clean in half, its lifeless body collapsing beside Vance.

Breathing heavily, Vance looked up at Jace, still shaking from the terror of the attack, his mind barely processing the nightmare he had just survived.

But Arecus wasted no time and rejoined his battle with Naur.

They both were fighting and Naur was losing a lot of energy.

Naur called back all the beasts, vines, and chaos that had torn through the city. The black smoke in the sky began to dissipate, revealing the bright blue above once more. The fires that had raged across the land vanished, leaving only the ruins of destroyed skyscrapers and scorched earth in their wake. Naur stood amidst the devastation, now back in his original form—a man with piercing green eyes.

Naur locked eyes with Arecus. Clasping his hands together, a massive tree behind him began to stir. It was unlike anything Jace or Vance had ever seen-a colossal tree with glowing yellow fruits.

 "I just need this to distract him long enough...so I can regain my strength," Naur thought, watching as the tree rushed towards Arecus. But Arecus barely spared it a glance, charging straight for Naur instead.

 "Fuck." Naur shouted, annoyed watching Arecus closing in. Arecus swung his sword, aiming for Naur's head. In a frantic move, Naur ducked and grabbed Arecus's sword-wielding hand. But before he could react further, Arecus slammed his other fist into Naur's face, sending him crashing to the ground.

Desperate, Naur made the tree to target Vance instead. It shot toward Vance at a terrifying speed .It worked-Arecus immediately shifted his focus, rushing to protect him.

Naur, feeling the brief reprieve, let out a shaky breath, lying in the grass as it slowly surrounded him. 

Arecus grabbed Vance and swiftly carried him to a distant, safer spot, away from the monstrous tree. Setting him down, Arecus turned his gaze back to the enormous, living tree. Its glowing fruits and massive branches towered ominously.

"So... how do I defeat this thing?" he muttered to himself, gripping his sword tightly.

He charged toward the trunk and slashed at it with his blade, but the impact wasn't major, Arecus drew back and delivered a powerful punch to the tree, causing it to tremble and shift slightly backward.

The tree retaliated, swinging one of its colossal branches toward him. But Arecus was quicker, leaping onto the branch, using it as a platform to climb higher. The tree groaned and shifted as he ascended, but he was able to maintain his balance.

Arecus leaped into the air, freeing his foot from the spike below, wincing as he muttered, "Ah man, I hate these for sure." Mid-flight, he watched the massive tree beneath him, trying to assess his next move. But before he could react, towering branches shot up around him on both sides.

Suddenly, horizontal spikes emerged from the branches, piercing into his body from all sides. Arecus let out a pained grunt as the spikes dug into his arms, legs, and torso as he got hanged mid-air.

Arecus hung suspended, blood dripping from his wounds, too exhausted to fight back at first. He attempted to free himself from the spikes but failed. His strength was slipping, his vision blurred as his blood soaked the ground below.

A branch lowered in front of him, carrying one of the strange glowing fruits. The branch nudged the fruit toward his mouth.

"What... what is this?" he wondered, confused. Arecus bit into the fruit. Instantly, a surge of energy coursed through his body. His strength returned in an overwhelming wave, healing his wounds almost immediately. With a burst of power, he shattered the spikes holding him, freeing himself from the tree's deadly grasp.

Anger surged inside him, hotter than before. "This bastard and his stupid tricks," Arecus growled through clenched teeth. He clenched his fist and delivered a crushing blow to the tree's massive trunk. The impact was so powerful that the tree split in half, its once formidable presence now shattered.

Arecus growled in frustration, scanning for Naur. His eyes locked on a flower bed in the middle of the playground. Without hesitation, he rushed toward it, plunged his hand into the earth, and yanked Naur out by the leg, hurling him across the field.

Naur mid-air "Damn it… I wasn't done," 

He flipped, landing on his feet & locked his eyes on Arecus.

I need at least 15 more minutes.

Naur summoned 2 more creatures— spider-lion hybrids that charged toward Arecus with terrifying speed and Naur joined them too.

Arecus fought off the beasts alone, his movements precise and deadly. He punched one creature, sent another flying with a vicious kick, and then exchanged blows with Naur, their fists colliding with a thunderous crack. The impact shook the ground.

The beasts regrouped and tried to lunge at Arecus once more, but this time he grabbed his sword, slicing both creatures in one swift motion.

As he turned back to Naur, a punch was already coming his way. Naur's fist connected hard with Arecus's face, sending him flying. His sword slipped from his grip, clattering to the ground as Arecus crashed into the dirt, momentarily dazed.

"Motherfucker… I will fucking end you with my bare hands!" Arecus roared, charging toward Naur with unrelenting fury.

He swung his fist, but Naur caught it, smirking. Arecus immediately followed with his other fist, only for Naur to grab that one too. With a wicked grin, Naur's body sprouted more arms, each one locking onto Arecus, pinning him in place. 

Arecus struggled against the crushing grip, his eyes burning with rage. Naur, with his twisted smirk, loomed over him. "You're nothing, Arecus," Naur taunted, squeezing tighter as more arms continued to grow and restrain Arecus, slowly crushing him. 

Arecus was held tightly by Naur's many arms, immobilized as a massive tree charged toward him. He glanced sideways just in time to see the tree about to strike, but suddenly, a rock hit it. 

"Come here, dammit!" Vance shouted, throwing the stone. The tree growled and shifted its attention, charging toward Vance. He ran fast, trying to evade it, panting heavily, and eventually hid in the ruins of a nearby building. 

Breathing heavily, Vance spotted a fire axe. Meanwhile, Arecus struggled in Naur's grasp, trying to summon all his strength. With a furious roar, he ripped Naur's arms apart and delivered a powerful punch to Naur's face. Naur retaliated with a kick to Arecus's torso, sending him back a few steps.

Without hesitating, Arecus charged forward again, determined to finish the fight. But instead of regenerating his arms, Naur used his energy to form a sharp, glowing red vine. In a swift, merciless motion, the vine slashed toward Arecus, cutting him vertically in half. His split body flew apart, tumbling across the dirt. 

Naur smirked, instantly regrowing his arms, and turned to face Vance, who was charging toward him with a red fire axe raised high. "I didn't forget you this time, pretty boy," Naur said, grabbing Vance's wrist mid-swing, stopping the axe in its tracks.

But then, a cold voice came from behind Naur. "But you forgot about me." It was Arecus, his eyes glowing with a fierce red light. His sword swung swiftly toward Naur's head. Naur leaned back just in time to avoid the blade's deadly arc.

Vance, seizing the moment, smirked. "You forget about me a lot, don't you?" Without hesitation, he punched Naur's head forward, directly into the path of Arecus's sword. The blade sliced cleanly through, decapitating Naur in a single stroke.

Naur's headless body slumped to the ground as Jace and Vance stood there, panting heavily.

Ah thank myself, 

 picked some of those fruits while fighting that tree.

"We finally did it, bro…" Jace said between breaths, a glimmer of relief in his voice.

But Vance's eyes widened, his face paling as he stared past Jace. "Lo... look behind..." His voice trembled with fear.

Arecus turned, and there, walking towards them, was Naur—whole again, a wicked grin spreading across his face. Arecus glanced down, seeing the headless body still lying motionless on the ground, but Naur had somehow grown another body.

"I AM IMMORTAL..." Naur declared, his voice echoing with dark amusement. "You really thought mere humans like you could kill me?" His steps were slow, deliberate, as he approached them.

Arecus grinned darkly, his voice low and menacing. "Too bad you're immortal... for you."

Naur blinked in confusion, barely registering Arecus's words. "Huh….?"

Before he could react, Arecus appeared right in front of him, his eyes blazing with fury. "I'll make your life worse than death."

Without hesitation, Arecus unleashed a brutal barrage of punches, each strike more powerful than the last. His fists slammed into Naur's body, over and over, with such force that his own hands began to bleed. Blood dripped from Arecus's knuckles, fusing with the punches, amplifying the pain with every hit. 

He locked his dark, piercing gaze with Naur's, his voice low and cold. "Hope to die!"

Naur looked at him, with a terrified expression his body recoiled from each impact, unable to counter or escape. The blows were relentless, breaking through his defenses, sending shockwaves through his entire form.

With a final, devastating punch—one coated in his own blood—Arecus struck Naur so hard it lifted him off his feet, leaving him dangling helplessly.

"The reason no one could get Amberian is because no one ever had what it took to face him," Arecus said, his voice low and steady. "It required the sacrifices of countless souls and worlds. It wasn't something just any random kid wandering in a forest could do." Said Arecus slowly approaching Naur.

Arecus locked eyes with Naur and let out a chilling laugh. "Are you feeling fear? Well, that's only natural."

Naur's face paled, his body taking a few instinctive steps backward. "No, that can't be... I am the great Rejector of Nature," he stammered, but his voice wavered, betraying his fear.

Arecus tilted his head slightly, his gaze never breaking. "No matter who the hell you inherit… you will always be you."

Naur's eyes widened in terror. He kept stumbling backward, unable to look away from Arecus, until he tripped and fell to the ground. His body trembled as Arecus approached, crouching down, his presence looming over him.

"You might be immortal," Arecus said, his voice low but lethal. "But I am eternal. You can't escape me, no matter how hard you try or how far you run…. I will always be there."

Naur fell to her knees, her voice trembling. "Please, Jace, don't... how can you forget the time we spent together?"

Arecus stood over her, his gaze cold. "I remember everything… that's why."

Without hesitation, Arecus kicked her under the chin, sending her crashing to the ground. He didn't stop. With brutal force, he continued kicking her, each blow echoing with the rage she once inflicted on him. The satisfaction of revenge lit his eyes as he grabbed her by the throat and hurled her into the wall of a nearby building, the impact cracking the wall behind her.

With his sword in hand, Arecus slowly approached Naur, eyes cold and unyielding, ready to finish the job. Each step was deliberate, his focus entirely on the man before him.

Vance's voice trembled from behind, desperation in his tone. "No, Jace! Don't do it… let's talk, let's fix this! We can be like what we used to be!"

Arecus didn't even flinch, his gaze locked on Naur. Vance's words seemed like distant echoes, lost in the fury that consumed him.

You can't change someone's heart, it took him decades to build this—do you really think you can change it in a single day?

His movements steady he kept advancing, sword in hand, as if Vance's words were nothing more than whispers in the wind.

"Time's up!"

Just as Arecus reached her, Naur stood up .