﹂[User Details]
▷ Name: Alderic Wayfinder
▷ Species: Homo sapiens [Human]
▷ Level: 3 [75% EXP]
▷ Title: -
▷ Profession: -
▷ Skills: -
▷ Trait: -
▷ Karma: 966
﹂[Status Detail]
▷ Strength: 5.28
▷ Dexterity: 8.10
▷ Durability: 6.34
▷ Agility: 7.56
▷ Will: 0.99
▷ Aether: -
﹂ [Evolution Details]
▷ Genome Stage: Tier 0
▷ Genes: Fragmented(40), Primitive(-), Mutant(1), Sacred(-), Ancient(-), God(-)
[100 gene points required for evolution]
There were corpses everywhere, mostly of monsters that have mutated beyond reasoning but with a few Medusaes littered between.
Although they had just won a battle, the atmosphere was tense and somber, the loss of their comrades wasn't something they could just shake off.
"Pathetic…" I was angry, vexed at not just myself but this damned new dimension. Even as I stared at the floating window before me, I was angry.
My body was battered, my lungs dry and my heart still thumping loudly in my chest. After hours of battling monsters and absorbing cores, I didn't feel particularly different.
I know that the genes worked differently than I expected them to, but I still can't help but feel weak and useless.
'This won't do, I can't take on the burden of the whole race, not when I'm this week.'
"Commanders!" Nerissa called out. I raised my head to see Nerissa and Faris looking up at me. Unlike the Medusaes, they were in a relatively better mood.
After absorbing their first set of cores, they've also completed the first test and formed a link with the Cerebrum. But although I was happy for them, I couldn't pay attention to that at the moment.
'Commander….' the word seemed foreign.
Humf~
I pushed myself off the body of the monster I was sitting on and landed before Nerissa and Faris.
"I'm not your commander anymore. You should know better."
I picked up one of the Medusae weapons and began dissecting the monster. This beast was the only primitive monster that attacked during the battle against monsters.
But although it was only one, it caused ninety percent of the casualties on the Medusae side. Luckily, I was able to end it rather quickly, but not before the death of more than fifteen Medusaes.
I wasn't opposed to the death of comrades, I've experienced so many deaths, I thought I would have become numb to it. Rather, it was the pained look of the other Medusaes that affected me.
I felt like I had disappointed them.
"Commander, what do you mean?" Faris asked. I could hear the confusion in his voice, there was also a subtle hint of… fear.
"Alderic, what do we do next?"
"You can't be serious, Nerissa! So what? We aren't a team anymore?" Faris' voice began to crack.
"Faris, you have to trust in Alderic. Moreover, the SADF is no more, at least not in this world. We have to adapt."
I couldn't have said it better, but I also understood what Faris meant. Although he was always joking around, Faris was actually the youngest on the team even before the accident. He might seem grown, but he's still just a kid.
"Got it." I pulled out a pearl like object, it was white and had a faint glow. This was the core of the monster and it was slightly bigger than the Larvae's own.
I turned around to face my ex teammates.
"We have to adapt, all of us, but just because I'm not your commander doesn't mean I'm abandoning you." I stared at Faris to make sure he understood that the last part was for him.
"I'm sorry…" Faris muttered. I smiled in return.
"But co– Alderic, how do we adapt? What is the plan?" Nerissa asked.
I looked at her and her brows raised. She immediately nodded her head. I was sure she had no idea what I wanted to do, but she could tell from my gaze what I meant,
'Trust me.'
As if on cue, a group of Medusaes began approaching with Ferelith at the head. Their eyes were all on one thing, the core in my hand.
"I'm sorry for your loss." I began the moment they stopped before us. Ferelith nodded her head, paused for a bit before speaking.
I noticed her subtle lingering glance at the core in my hand.
"So what now?" She asked. A smart question.
Even though her team was oozing with greed and she herself was looking at me with distrust, she managed to control herself well and carefully choose her words.
"Now, our alliance is over."
The air suddenly froze and a palpable tension descended between us. I couldn't blame them.
From what Vaku told me, a primitive monster was hard to kill, which was why no one actively hunts them. If that was true, then it was also a given that this primitive core in my hand would be very valuable to the Medusaes.
And because members of their race died to this beast, they would definitely feel like the core should be theirs.
Before now, it wouldn't have been a problem to collect it from me, at least in their perspective, but now that I've suddenly broken off the alliance…
"What do you mean, Alderic?" Ferelith asked. She was still as dangerous as before and all of my instincts were screaming at me to not offend this lady.
"It's as I said. Our alliance is over." I replied sternly.
"After receiving our help and hospitality, this is how you repay us?"
Ferelith took a step forward, I could feel her killing intent. It was sharp and refined, from the countless killings it took to make her this strong.
But when it came to intimidation and killing intent, she was way beneath me. I might not be strong, but I've faced more terrifying foes… I think.
I took a step forward in turn,
"We've repaid that debt. We saved your team, twice and we also have your blacksmith a blueprint. Shouldn't that make us even?"
Ferelith was silent for a moment, she couldn't rebuke my words.
"Why now?" She finally asked.
"I plan on creating a sect."