《Beyond Gods》


 Prologue: The One

    Before there was light there was a boundless void, silent and oppressing. But in the darkest corners of this void were two parties warring against each other.


    One were creatures of limitless power, each movement destroyed the fabric of reality, for the sake of simplicity lets call them ''The Unbounds''.


    The other ''race'' had no power at all, at first. Their speciality was their infinite capacity to absorb any kind of energy. We will call them ''The Abysalls''.


    Whenever an ''Abysall'' and ''Unbound fought against each other they would simply negate themselves. The ''Unbound'' pumps infinite amounts of energy into the ''Abysall'' and then both parties would die. Let me elucidate this process. If we take the power of the ''Unbounds'' as positive infinity and the capacity to absorb all power, from the ''Abysalls'', as negative infinity the result would be simply zero.


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    They did not know how long they were fighting neither did they know why they fought, maybe it was because of their extreme dichotomy, maybe it was just simple hatred.


    They continued to fight for eons, not stopping, decimating each other in the process, as well as the universe itself.


    When the universe was on the brink of destruction, because of the petty war between those two speciecs, light started to flow into the universe. It was the first of three times that the ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' stopped fighting each other.


    The centre of the light was a human creature, in it the beauty of life could be seen, lights fluctuated out of its body and  illuminated the ruined universe.


    The ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' knew, this creature was even one step over them in terms of might.


    ''The One'' has asceneded, or simply, God.

 Prologue second part: Origin

    The ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' stood there in awe, observing the godly creature and the wonderful light show.


    After a lifetime of living in utter nothingness they never witnessed such a beautiful sight, only slaughter and destruction were there agenda.


    The lights displayed every colour possible, one more beutiful than the other and it did not end there. Soon the lights started to assimilate here and there.


    The result were rainbow coloured bubbles scattered around the void. There was no timespan in which this development took place, it was instantaneous.


    Soon the balls of light started to expand in size. The ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' were not satisfied with the current course of action and started to destroy one light ball after the other. But for each light ball that was destroyed God created two more to fill its place.


    The ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' started to fall into fit of rage and their attacks got even stronger, destroying thousands of the light balls in the process.


    In their rage they did not notice the cries of agony emitting from the destroyed spheres, the cries of billions falling to death.


    Only now God took notice of these aggressors.


    What! How could I not notice them?


    God was clearly startled that he did not sense the presence of the ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'', it was only natural to feel like that, afterall this was God''s domain, he held absolut authority over this place.


    (God) "Wicked creatures, what do you think you are doing?!". His voice reverberated throughout the void, shaking the infinite space in the process.


    The ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' might be strong but they had no noteworthy intelligence, or else they might have already stopped their useless battle.


    They just looked at God in wonder, all the while destroying more of the colourful spheres.


    (God) "So... It seems you won''t stop with the fighting. Be gone!". God cried out, with a hint of anger in his ancient voice.


    Huge cages of light appeared over the ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'', drawing closer to each other until only one enormous cage remained in a void space between the light spheres.


    Afterwards God left the void and entered a huge ball of light, towering over the other spheres.


    The ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' started to trash around in the light cage but to no avail. The cage did not move at all, nor was it possibly to absorb it.


    It was kinda ironic. The ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' were now bound in a deep abyss of nothingness. Ironic... ironic indeed.


    Their small fit of rage slowly subdued and they resumed with killing each other.


    Millenia after millenia passed, only a few of the ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' were remaining, exhausted by the endless fighting. Being so close to each other they learned tactics, like taking on one adversary with multiple allies, seeing how each of their 1 on 1 battles ended in the death of both sides.


    In the cramped space they learned how to change their forms, that way they could maneuver around their ''prison'' without being obstructed by the cage''s walls.


    In the course of changing their size they learned how to change appearance, or how to manifest an appearance at all.


    In the past they were mere bundles of positive and negative energy, but now they focused this energy on just a few points. The result was astonishing.


    The ''Unbounds'' decided on a brutal but dignified appearance, celestial silver dragons with white wing membrans, brighter than any star or gamma-ray outburst (Brightest event in the observable universe). Their claws could cut reality apart, their fangs could penetrate space and time itself and their breath would ignite soul, body and mind.


    Those that reached ''Adulthood'', meaning they mastered to control their power, took the form of God as their model, resulting in the look of mechanical angels, with white wings that would illuminate every nook and cranny of infinity, swords that would simply rip through dimensions and armour so hard that not even super- and hypernova could scratch it.


    The ''Abysalls'' sticked partly with their misty forms, the mist was now just denser and spicked with giant maws and eyes all over it, a true abomination.


    Like the ''Unbounds'' the ''Abysalls'' took a humanoid shape as well when they could control their power. I say humanoid but it was far from human.


    They had no face just one giant mouth, an abyss so deep no light wil ever hope to reach the end of it, Their bodys were simple, purple black skin, two arms and two legs without any additional features, not even fingers or toes.


    With the ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' now being able to manage their power the fights got even fiercer. The battles raged on for another thousand millenia until only a handful of survivors was left. And now they faced something unknown, maybe it was because of their humanoid shape or their increasing intelligence and mastery of their might... the fear of extinction.


    In a last desperate attempt they tried to break the cage that would spell their certain doom. Unable to even make it budge they tried to come up with ways to sustain the survival of their races.


    The ''Unbounds'' quickly adapting to new situations were the first to take action, each of them took small shards of their soul and amalgamated them with each other, the ''Abysalls'' keeping a watchful gaze on them copied their actions.


    In the end a ball of pure white and pure black and heavily exhasuted ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' remained.


    With each passing year they lost hope, the balls would just silently flow in the golden cage as if ridiculing their attempts to save their race.


    Out of rage and their crushed hope the ''Unbounds'' started to attack their respective sphere of white. The suppleid energy was used as a catalyst and soon the sphere started to bulge and deform. With new found hope the ''Unbounds'' poured innumerable amounts of energy into the small sphere. The ''Abysalls'' had to do the opposite, they drained all power from their black sphere and when movement was noticed the pull started to increase.


    The end result were two small bodies of pure white with a tinge of silver and pure black with specks of purple.


    The ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' were startled by the current development, seeing how these ''childs'' had a humanoid stature meaning that they mastered their power already.


    After regaining their power to replenish their souls the ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' started to create more of their second generation and soon they wared each other again.


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    It was just after another millions of years that they noticed that they lost the capability to share their souls and again they were thrown into the depth of despair and faced their inevitable destruction.


    They cursed at God and banged on the cage but it showed no signs of breaking anytime soon, even the more powerful second generation looked like children hitting their parents legs while throwing a tantrum.


    But now with the knowledge that they could produce a second generation and in the face of extinction they broke an unspoken taboo.


    Both leaders of the second generation stood face to face to each other, they will die and they knew it, so as a last-ditch effort they ran straight into each other. Their powers distorting the void in the cage.


    When both of them collided their fierce forces destroyed their bodies and only their souls remained, a cold white, reflecting anything and a warm black that would swallow everything.


    The souls were drawn closer to each other, first only rotating at an incredible speed, like stars orbiting each other. Soon their speed could not stop the gravitational pull on both souls and they drew closer and closer until they touched each other.


    The moment that both of these souls were in contact with the other a huge outburst of positive and negative energy occured, with all their attention drawn towards the souls of their leaders they did not notice the cracks appearing in the cage.


    The black and white continued to drew closer until they were only one mass. The white and black started to devour or ignite the other, like they were sentinent beings, trying to conquer the unified soul for themselves.


    It was a hopeless situation, the tug of war for supremacy in the soul raged on for another eons. At the same time the ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' were barely alive anymore, the oldest of them having lived for God knows how long, maybe googols of years or googolplexes even, a  timespan noone would be able to comprehend.


    They withered away and in a last attempt to at least bring birth to a thrid generation they used their remaining powers to infuse it into the soul. The ball grew lager but nothing else, just calmly floating in the void.


    It was then that the ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' felt a huge surge of power, first they looked at the soul but it was still unmoving and soon their gazes were focused outside of the cage. A giant cut in reality, dimensions and spacetime itself appeared right infront of the cage. Out of the hole a golden radiance was emitted, putting the golden cage to shame.


    Soon the radiance started to glance over the remnants of the huge bubles of light God created, the silent cries that were unheard to the ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' began to grew louder and assimilate with the golden light. Like the reincarnation of the devil itself the light turned darker and darker, faces and limbs popping out of the pillar of now evil, it had no colour to describe it, black and white do not mean good and bad or warm and cold, it was plain an evil light.


    The light continued to scan the other remnants of the shattered light bubbles until everything was cleaned up. The light was now directed at the cage, at first nothing happened and the atmosphere became eerie. (What atmosphere? Lel)


    But soon enough the light started to widen the cracks in the golde cage until they were wide enough to let the pillar move unobstructed.


    Both, the ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' were terrified, they were not evil or good just neutral chaos, destroying everything without prejudice, and this was their first time they witnessed ''evil''.


    The light slowly crept to the soul of white and black, the ghostly limbs, of what could only be the remnants of human like creatures, slowly started to clawed small holes in the sphere and flooded into it. When the whailing souls all migrated into the black and white ball the golden radiance of the beam was shown again.


    The beam used the same crevices the souls had oppened and emerged into the sphere as well.


    After the light vanished a soft feminine voice resounded throughout the void.


    (???) "This is my gift and my punishment onto you. Live and die with it, young ''Origin''". The name ''Origin'' was emphasized by the female voice, followed up by a cute giggle.


    The light vanished and the cracks in the cage started to heal itself, as if it had only noticed its damage right now and began to tend its wounds. The ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'' tried to open the cracks up again, obviously with no result.


    With hung heads they turned to their only hope left and saw that the fight between white and black has subdued and mixed harmonously with each other, strongly resembling yin and yang, but in the center was another orb of golden and and a mix of other colours, howesoever one might look at it the mix of colours seemed eerie, evil and disturbing, it could be a new colour of its own.


    The whole construct started to pulsate and convulse until a small human shape could be seen. Clearly dissatisfied with their thrid generation they closed in on the small figure only to see themselves crumble away to closer they got. Out of fright they pulled back from the creature and observed it.


    The creature was small in comparison, only slightly above a human male. Its body was somehow see-trough yet one could see everything in it, I mean it, EVERYTHING!


    Sometimes the body turned a darker shade and sometimes it became brighter. Unlike the ''adult'' ''Unbounds and ''Abysalls'' this creature had noticeable facial features. Its eyes slowly opened and watched its surroundings, it held a sort of dignity and regality, a god judging the peasants.


    The eyes were both gold in colour with a black pupil with a white cross in the middle. On its forehead was a third eye that was vertically placed, its pupil was coloured in the evil, unknown mix of colours.


    Behind the creature were two black stripes floating parallel to its back, at the hight of its shoulder blades. The black stripes opened like a fan and displayed a shining golden white membrane, blinding everyone in the vicinity.


    The creature looked around its brethren and slowly opened its mouth, displaying shiny white fangs and a deep black abyss as a maw.


    (Origin) "Fuuuuuuuck it feels good to be alive!!!!!".


    The other creatures just stood there as Origin stretched his arms and legs like in some sort of anime or manga with an easygoing yet op Mc............sorry

 Prologue third part: Entry

    (Origin) "Origin huh.... Yes I like that name!"


    (Origin) "So, who are you guys?". Origin asked while looking at the stupified ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls''.


    *Silence*.


    (Origin) "Can you guys talk?" *Silence* "I guess I can help you then". Origin said with a smile plastered on his enigmatic face.


    Only seconds after his thrid eye started to shine and thousands upon thousands of semitransparent threads were directed towards the ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'', first they started to flee from the threads but with nowhere to go they decided to destroy them, without result of course.


    The threads began to entangle around the ''Unbounds'' and ''Abysalls'', seeping into their bodys until there were no threads left anymore.


    (???) "Whak hat heppnt?". One of the ''Unbounds'' asked Origin.


    (Origin) "I just gave you my knwoledge about language and communication, gestures, mimic, etc.".Origin said in a lecturing tone, like some kind of teacher.


    The rest also tried to speak up and play around with their new language ability. Some mumbled random words after random words, others tried to form coherent sentences resulting in something akin to a three year old talking.


    (Origin) "Hum.... I guess I will talk with you." He said while pointing at the first ''Unbound'' which sentence made at least sense, even if the pronounciation was not the best.


    (Origin) "I asked you guys before... Who are you and what is your name?"Origin inquired the ''Unbound'' while pointing his index at him.


    (???) "I...uhh I don''t now whack we arr. I haf no name.". The ''Unbound''s'' head hung low, as if he was disappointed in his own ignorance to his true nature.


    (Origin) "You seem to be at least more intelligent than the rest of the bunch here. I will call you Shrin and those shiny guys behind you ''Devas''. Oh right another question. Where are we and what is this golden thing around us?"


    (Shrin) "I don''t knaw where we are. A powerful being locked us in this c-cake." Shrin was still strugling with some words but his progress was remarkable.


    (Shrin) "Those are our enemys." Shrin said while pointing at the currently known ''Abysalls'' "We must destroy them!"


    (Origin) "What why?"


    (Shrin) "They are bad, killed millions of us. They must be obliterated!!!". Shrin''s tone clearly changed into a more aggressive and threatening one. His eyes clearly held disgust in them whilst looking at the ''Abysalls''.


    (Origin) "Haven''t you killed millions of them as well?"


    (Shrin) "Uhmmm... But they are evil we need to purge them!"


    (Origin) "What the fuck is that reasoning?! I can clearly see neither of you has much of a brain. You just simply murdered each other and this resulted in you guys getting trapped here, am I right? And don''t say you killed them because they are evil, because that is just no valid argument."


    After being lectured by Origin Shrin''s head hung even lower than before, ashamed of his and his brethrens actions.


    (Origin) "AHHHH. Well nevermind, lets get out of here first."


    (Shrin) "It is impossible we are not strong enough to break this cage!"


    (Origin) "You know, I know what I am since my ''birth'' just a few minutes ago. And I can clearly tell why you guys are so weak. You are simply incomplete, that is why you can''t fully access your unlimited powers, you guys are to shortsighted. From what I can see is that you guys are already incredible powerful and your powers just seem to be to opposite, didn''t you guys thought it was suspiscious? I already knew the information you gave me by the two souls that make up my unique soul. You guys were here before this guy that imprisoned you here. He is indeed powerful, but why were you here in the first place? Beings with so great but contrasting power and unreasonable hatred against each other in a vast void, where is the point in you guys being here? This i-"


    BOOM


    Before Origin could finish his speech a loud bang disrupted his concentration. He turned around to see a ''Deva'' and ''Abysall'' fighting against each other, with no real winner in sight as they were on the same level of power.


    (Origin) "ARGHHHH YOU!!! Stop this stupid shit!"


    BONK! POW!


    Two hits and the ''Deva'' and ''Abysall'' were unconscious floating in the prison. The look on both parties clearly showed a mix of disbelief, awe and a hint of fear. Surprisingly in the billion of years of imprisonment they learned a few more emotions.


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    (Origin) "You guys still don''t got a name. Hum... I will call you guys ''Dranas'' and stop fighting we gotta get out of here!". A hint of impatiences in his voice.


    The ''Devas'' and ''Danas'' simply nodded although some of them still tried to kill each other and another tried to explain to Origin that it is impossible to breach the cage.


    After only a few minutes of constant nagging and outbreak of small fights Origin''s impatience-o meter was finally full and he released a wave of killing intent fueled by his rage.


    (Origin) "SHUT UUUUUUUUUUUUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!". His roar even made the cage shudder, as if it knew it made a mistake in caging him here.


    Origin closed in on the golden cage wall and lifted his right arm and directed his palm against the wall. On closer inspection Origin has chosen a point were the cage did not fully regenerate thus leaving a small nearly unseeable crack behind.


    Energy started to gather in his palm, seemingly being collected from the cage itself as small crazes started to form over the walls.


    (Origin) "Disintegrate". With nothing more than a whisper the golden energy in his palm flew towards the cage, upon contact the cage simply dissolved.


    The acid like energy gnawed its way through the cage (Think about miniature pacmans going all waka waka at the cage) until there was only a ball of light left.


    The condensed sphere moved to Origin''s chest and was slowly absorbed until there was nothing left anymore. Origin''s golden eyes shone for a moment but the light died out in an instant.


    (Origin) "Well, let''s go!"


    The ''Devas'' and ''Danas'' were still shocked by Origin''s display of power but soon enough they recollected themselves and began following Origin.


    They moved until Origin spoke up.


    (Origin) "So... uhh... where exactly is that guy we are looking for?". It was an eligible question, they only knew that ''God'' moved into the biggest sphere there was in this vast void and even if they destroyed some of them the count was still unimaginable.


    (Origin) "Hmmmm I guess we need to comb through these universes until we find that guy. We will split up and enter those spheres, if you find him DON''T attack, he is way more powerful than we are, maybe stronger than myself. We will be treading on enemy territory so be careful. Try to sneak away from him once he is found and try to contact the rest of our group. If you are ready, GO!". With a wave of his hand the whole group dispersed and only Origin was left.


    What to do? I really wanna pay that guy back. Hum.... Well I know where he is but can I beat him? YEAHHH no problemo!


    Laughing Origin disappeared and reappeared right before a huge shining globe of light.


    (To clarify things, these balls of lights are universes. The void was not an unborn universe but an unborn multiverse. The discription of my story will only later make sense as it does not talk about the prowess of the ''Devas'' and ''Danas''. And those of you who ask why those names? It is hindi, I just cut off some parts of the words. It means Angel and Demon according to google translator :D)


    Origin moved closer to the sphere of light and slowly realities started to intertwine and coalesce. Origin''s body completely vanished into the sphere.


    Origin was greeted with an incredible sight. Galaxies still in an premature state, stars of all sizes and colours, giant nebulas floating through space, asteroid belts orbiting around planet systems, super- and hypernova happening here and there showing incredible light shows, black holes tearing stars and planets apart like insects, a truly wonderous sight.


    Origin could feel ''God''s'' presence all along and pinpoint his location but he was relucant to do so, his group would surely attack out of rage and simply be crushed, that is why Origin went first to survey their battle stage and maybe lay out traps even if they turn out to be useless against an almost allmighty foe.


    Well... I might have some fun here!


    With a devilish grin Origin ventured deep into the centre of this young universe.

 Prologue fourth part: The last laugh (first part)

    (For those that are surprised by ''God''s'' incompetence and maybe how he did not noticed that his neat cage was destroyed and that he should have noticed it if this had happened, it was because his cage was never destroyed, it was absorbed into Origin. For example if a house has heavy security against robbers it won''t trigger if you simply steal the whole house plus the security system!)


    After a few years of being engrossed by the marvelous scenery infront of him Origin decided to track ''God'' down.


    He could feel ''God''s'' very soul in this vast universe, like a unique fingerprint it had a distinct shape and structure which discerned it from any other soul. Even more so because it was ''God'', his soul compared to others was like a diamond in a pile of dung.


    Origin felt ''God''s'' presence right in the centre of the universe like a focal point everything revolved around him.


    After Origin shifted his focus on himself again he noticed a distinct change in the ''atmosphere'' (We are in space bruh... :D ) around him. Like he was emerged in water his whole body felt heavy and his movements became   sluggish.


    It did not matter wherever he went the pressure did not change, he even entered blackholes and suns but the heavy feeling could not be shaken off.


    Origin decided on a different approach and instead of fighting against the pressure he relaxed and to his surprise the pressure left and like a vent that was opened he felt a foreign energy being sucked into him and altering his body and soul.


    The new substance that was cursing through him amplified his own might manyfold. He tried using his body as a catalyst to direct the power into space. Suddenly stones, water, fire, wind, thunder, ice, roots, black mist and a bright golden light stared to shoot  out of his body.


    Taken aback by this bizarre phenomenon Origin rapidly closed the powerinflux and observed this physic breaking situation.


    (Don''t misunderstand, the ''Devas'', ''Danas'' and Origin are just beings of immense energy and gravity. The ''Devas'' are like ginormous suns and the ''Danas'' like super-blackholes, but they cannot make matter or energy just randomly appear like what Origin does right here with the help of magic, like most of you guessed already, I hope so because it was not that hard to guess! :D )


    But instead of calmly analysing his new power Origin started to wildly shoot with ''magic'' projectiles consisting of fire, water and earth bullets in the size of planets.


    (Origin) ¡°Ahahahahahah! This shit is fun!!!¡°


    After water, fire and earth he started to use giant windblades to cut planets in half, shoot thunders that would make ''Thor'' green with envy and freeze suns in just a matter of seconds.


    Surprisingly the suns were literally frozen. They ended up as huge clumps of ice hovering in the universe.


    ( ^ This part might cause a few misunderstandings. I really mean literally frozen. It is simply impossible to ''freeze'' a star. I know roughly what happens to a cooled down star, it starts to grow and burn its last bits of fuel and then ends up as a white dwarf star, but it surely won''t change into an ice block. I just wanted to underline how absurd and op magic is!)


    The roots of the ''Nature magic'' started to suck planets dry and began to bloom until a giant tree with the size of multiple earths was floating through space.


    (Planet 1) ¡°DUDE RUUUUUUN! That guy is crazy.¡°


    (Planet 2) ¡°I know man he already killed Johny, Steven and Uncle Jack. That dude is a nutcase!¡°


    (Planet 1) ¡°S-S-SIMON!! I think he wants you next!¡°


    (Planet 2 (Simon)) ¡°Wait what?! Fuck Fuck Fuck, gotta go fast!... Oh mother of God what is thi- ARGHHH!¡°


    Before Simon could finish his sentence a dense black fog has surrounded him and started to devour him bit by bit.


    (Planet 1) ¡°SIMOOOOOOOOOOOON. YOU MOTHERFUCKER I WILL KILL YOU!!!!!!¡°


    (Origin) ¡°*Sneeze*. Somebody talking ''bout me? What the heck, that planet is coming reeeeaaaaly close... Ah fuck it! BURN YOU GIANT BRICK!¡°


    BOOOOM


    Before Planet 1 could harm Origin a golden light disintegrated its core, causing a massive explosion.


    (Planet 1) ¡°AHHHHHHHHHH I curse youuuu-!¡°. Be Planet 1''s name remembered for all eternity, for attempting to stop the walking apocalypse called Origin.


    RIP Planet 1


    Year 17823 ¨C 7283991283


    (Ok back to serious business!)


    A few hours and a handful of destroyed galaxies later Origin had now a good grasp of his new ability.


    To his surprise his naturally inborn power was highly surpressed in this universe which meant that he could only destroy planets with a serious punch at most and the closer he went to ''God''s'' location the weaker his own power got and the stronger his new magic became.


    If one had to put the change to his original powers in words it would be like shooting a panzerfaust while being submerged in the ocean.


    Thinking about his surpressed power and his new ability he got he came to the conclusion that his raw energy is being surpressed by the magic essence around him.


    Only a handful of years later Origin stood now in the universe''s centre, facing the being that imprissoned him and his family.


    (God) ¡°Hoho you managed to rbeak out of my small cage, good for you, good for you! But please don''t misunderstand, this was not even the tip of the iceberg!¡°


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    ''God''s'' voice sounded aged and young at the same time filled with wisdom and juvenile temperament simultaneously.


    Origin only sneered at him but instead of attacking he decided a different approach. With his current power he could not face ''God''. Using his new aquired power would be suicide as it was made by ''God'' and he most likely mastered it already. So instead of using his original power or his magic power he decided to fuse them together.


    Using his third power, the misterious ''soul power'' as he dubbed it, as a conductor between the two endless streams of energy he started to intertwine them with each other.


    ''God'' did not wait for him to finish and approached in an instant, a serious instant there was no time lag inbetween.


    His arm shoot out like a viper and approached Origin''s abdomen. But to his surprise Origin blocked the attack with a claw formed hand.


    ''God'' could not help but grin as he felt the now combined magical energy invading into his body, trying to destroy him from the inside out.


    The energy of ''God''s'' punch was no laughing matter it contained the might to destroy universes with ease but Origins power current power could fight ''God'' on par.


    Punches and kicks flew like lightning shaking the whole universe. But this was ''God''s'' masterpiece so it easily withstood the fierce attacks.


    After only a few seconds the centre of the universe was already desolated. Stardust and debris flew endlessly in the vast void, a result of ''God''s'' and Origin''s fight.


    But no matter what Origin did he was being pushed back ever so slightly and even started to feel exhaustion.


    With ''God'' pressuring him while clearly holding parts of his power back Origin could not help but frown. It was not only that ''God'' held back, Origin could feel there was a hidden trump card so before ''God'' could use that he collected his whole might to start a fatal attack.


    God seemingly noticing how Origin concentrated his power made him grin even wider. With a flick of his finger multiple spacial rifts opened up all around Origin. The rifts were innumerable and blue fists with the strength of heavens judgement came pouring ?onto? Origin.


    Origin did not fret instead his thrid eye opened and fine strings started to spin a protective net around him.


    BANG BANG BANG ¡­.


    Thunder like sound could be heard in the entire universe and even outside of it as the blue fists connected with the eerie glowing net.


    Seeing Origin''s mysterious power and how easily his attack got blocked ''God'' could not help but frown from this outcome.


    With a thought of his millions of silvery drones appeared around ''God'', they looked like small silvery pyramids with a red glowing eye in the middle. All of them natrually faced Origin who was still gathering power.


    Only moments later a storm of red lasers bombarded the defensive net. The attack only had little success as some of the threads started to tear apart but most of them were unaffected.


    The drones started to gather and formed a huge behemoth of a mecha. It was completely silver and covered in red lines, it had giant limbs and instead of a human head it had only a red pit at the top.


    Like a beast it landed on all four and grabbed onto the fabric of space for a better grip. Its ''head'' was directed at Origin and soon started to gather red particles all around the universe.


    Clang Clang Chink Clong!


    With robotic noises the innerworkings of the gigantic robot started to rotate and like a light generator the accumuated red energy was pumped further into its barrel like head. A red ball floated before the gaint and it clearly held power far surpassing trillions of suns.


    The glowing orb was shoot directly at Origin but it seemed to be suspended in mid-air, it slowly crawled towards Origin but this made it even more so frightening.


    Origin with no way to escape, because it would break his defense, could only watch the mockingly slow energy ball moving towards him.


    ''God'' could not resist to snicker as he saw the hatred in Origin''s eyes for making the attack intentionally slow, as if ''God'' had all the time to finish Origin off.


    As the red globe collided with Origin''s net it exploded in his direction, creating a giant cone of destruction behind Origin.


    As the metaphorical ''dust'' settled only Origin and ''God'' were left, the mecha got self destructed by the blast wave of his attack (what a moron).


    ''God'' did not stop his onslaught and created a ''small'' creature (it was still around hundred meters tall while the mecha was hum... maybe many suns tall?). It had the body of a bull and the head of a wolf with thousand black horns sprouting from its head. Its teeth glittered in yellow and white with occasional lightning zapping between them. The abomination had eight legs and four eyes and was bulging with muscles.


    Each step it took towards Origin caused the space to tremble and with a loud ear piercing roar it started its death charge.


    Even Origin knew that this monster had power only a few stretches below himself. The mecha was the same but now his nigh absolute defense was broken and he had to take the charge head on.

 Prologue fourth part: The last laugh (second part)

    The Bull-Wolf abomination charged ahead with the speed of light and instantaneously appeared before Origin with a gaping wide maw and millions of vile horns directly pointing at him.


    Origin did not falter, instead he used a simple punch infused with parts of the beforehand accumulated energy and shot his fist towards the rampaging beasts head.


    BOOOOOOOM


    Distortions of space and time were caused by the mighty impact and like small serpents they started to coil around the beast and Origin.


    The punch was not enough to anhilate the viscious being but it still redirected its attack.


    (Millions of light years away a lone galaxy suddenly exploded by a mysterious force.)


    Seeing that going easy on the monster was not going to work Origin splitted his fused power into two enteties, one was a giant jet-black golem with violet coloured eyes, towering only tens of meters but its strength was unfathomable. The other one was a petite figure of a woman clad in a golden robe, her face was covered in silver feathers and in one hand she held a golden broadsword with blue linings and in the other was a small simple shield coloured completely in silver.


    The golem stood right before Origin, unmoving like a statue, whereas the woman was moving towards the bull. Each of her steps held an air of ancient elegance and noblesse like a majestic godess of war. Her thin perl white fingers held onto the sword and shield like a stoneclaw as if the woman was afraid of losing her weapons.


    The moment the woman reached the bull she initiated a mighty shield bash that shock the heavens. But her attack did not end there, she followed up with an upward slash of the giant broadsword, cutting directly into the monsters throat.


    RAAAAGHRRRR


    The beast roared in agony as black blood oozed out of its wound. The thunder that was jolting between its teeth immediately came forth and shoot towards the woman. Instead of raising her shield she simply stood there, seemingly accepting her death. In this moment the black golem made its move, with a few complex movements of his chubby fingers a black mist started to form before the golden warrior empress, building up into a huge magical circle with patterns so complex that one might need all eternity to decipher them.


    The magical circle did not simply block the bull''s thunderstrike, it absorbed it and direct4ed it against the bull itself.


    Like the waves the combo of the golden woman and the black golem continued on, their attacks overlapping with each other in perfect harmony. A redirection of an attack here, a kick and horizonal shlash there and so on.


    After only a minute the giant bull was covered in its own blood while its two enemies were still untouched. Its eight eyes glimmered with madness and soon its millions of horns started to fly towards the woman and the golem like homing missiles they moved whereever they went and even operated around the barriers put up by the golem.


    Without any way out the female warrior took the initiative and unleashed a flurry of golden strikes, destroying the millions of horns in just a few strikes.


    Infurriated by its own incompetence the bull charged again accompanied by a mad roar. Its strike was countered by a large hand of the black golem. In a deep voice it spoke to the bull.


    (Golem) ¡°ENOUGH!¡°. And with the closing of its hand the bull''s wolfhead was squelched into mincemeat.


    (Female warrior) ¡°Why are you so brutal?¡°. The female asked the golem with a cute giggle.


    (Golem) ¡°I can''t stand how that shithead tries to harm our son! Who does he think he is?!¡°. Anger was clearly felt in the Golem''s voice.


    (Female warrior) ¡°Oh darling our little Origin is already an adult!¡°


    (Golem) ¡°I know I know. But... he grew up so fast. UHUHUHUHHUUUUU!¡°. Large drops of crystaline tears formed in the golem''s eyes before they dropped down and a pitiful wail escaped his lips.


    (The power that Origin has split was his original power, the two souls of a ''Deva'' and ''Dana'' and those were the alphas of their corresponding race. I just wanted to show you that these two souls still have a consciousness and their combination is not irreversible, of course they are somehow dead because they make up Origin''s body but he can still ''revive'' them into the outer world for the purpose of fighting or just having a chat with his ''parents''. By the way, of course they got stronger with Origin and the magic power, so they far surpass ordinary ''Devas'' and ''Danas''.)


    The golden woman flew up to the golem and started to pat his broad back with a gentleness that was unnoticable on the battlefield.


    (Female warrior) ¡°Shsh... Don''t cry Orion. We will protect our son!¡°


    The woman gazed at her husband with a dazling smile


    (Orion) ¡°Victoria my sweetheart... Thank you!¡°. While wipping his tears away the golem faced ''God''.


    (Orion) ¡°YOU! Do you know how much we suffered because of you? Do YOU know how hard it was to see your own kind wither away, even your sworn enemies, without putting up a fight, just like some old plants? DO YOU KNOW?!¡°


    (God) ¡°Tch shut up. Dirt should not talk.¡°


    (Orion) ¡°YOU DARE!? I will smash your organs and trample your bones!¡°


    (God) ¡°Then lets see how you fare against this.¡°. God again simply waved his hands and with a huge grin a spatial rift opened.


    Chik Tap Chik Tap Chik Tap...


    The rustling of chains could be heard and the tapping of footsteps as the spacerift openned even wider. Origin, Orion and Victoria couldn''t help but be surprised.


    Bound in chains from head to toe were the remnants of the ''Devas'' and ''Danas''. Even if they were faceless they still held an air of being hagard and worn out. The ''Devas'' shining armor was full of scratches and completely sullied adn the ''Danas'' vivid black and glowing purple were completely dimmed down.


    Victoria even held her still armed hands before her unseeable mouth.


    (Victoria) ¡°YOUUU. YOU MONSTER!¡°. Her cry was full of sadness, grief, despair and anger. On the other hand the face of ''God'' was delighted.


    (God) ¡°AHAHAHAHAH. That''s it! That''s what I wanted to see. HAHAHAAHAHAH!¡°. His tone was not ancient or wise anymore, nor young and innocent, it was pure evil. His laughter was one that can only come from people that seek pleasure of seeing others suffer, the true demons.


    Behind the shackled ''Devas'' and ''Danas'' was a giant floating squid like creature. It had millions of eyes, even its tentacles were covered in black eyes that were restlessly looking around.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    (God) ¡°My little servant here found them in my playgrounds aimlessly wandering around and I with my grand heart decided to put them under my tutelage. Am I not generous? Pffffffft... HAHAHAHA!¡°.


    (Origin) ¡°You little motherfucker!¡°. Even Origin couldn''t help but gnash his teeth because of the scene in front of him. Those beings shared their souls with him, of course he would feel agitated if he would see them being enslaved.


    The nautilus-like monster flaied around with its tentacles, eyes started to fly out and attach themselves on the ''Devas'' and ''Danas''. Thick roots were send out of the eyeball in the bodies of the ''Devas'' and ''Danas'' latching on muscles and bones.


    The first haggard looking ''Devas'' and ''Danas'' resumed a stiff pose and started to move lifelessly towards Origin and his parents.


    Having the know-how of souls Origin could immediately noticed the corruption in his former companions souls. Roots clawing themselves in their souls, ripping it apart and infesting it with evil intent.


    Like zombies did the ''Devas'' and ''Danas'' approach first slowly then their speed started to increase until they were madly rushing at Origin.


    (God) ¡°So now its up to you. Kill them, your last brothers and sisters, or let yourself be ripped to shreds by them. What do you choose?¡°. A pleasent smile played around ''God''s'' lips as he gave Origin his wicked choice.


    (Origin) ¡°Tch, how about I take your head right now instead?!¡°


    Origin, Orion and Victoria started to rush to ''God'' without minding the ''Devas'' and ''Danas'', dodging some of their attacks or ?parrying? them.


    But who were they fighting? It was ''God'' itself or at least a God-like being. What could they do?


    Nothing.


    (God) ¡°AHAHAAHAHH that is gooood. Come try to fight me! COME!¡°


    With a crazy grin veins started to pop out ''God''s'' ?transluscent? body. A black greenish fog was emitted out of every pore, cladding ''God'' in a dangerous mist.


    The mist was absorbed by ''God''s'' body and slowly revealed his figure. A giant with eight arms, each equipped with a bloddy saber. His fingers had long and sharp black claws like the scyte of the grim reaper. His face was a green mask with a clownish smile and no other expression. His whole body emitted bloodlust and killing intent as if the being that was displayed before was just a facade, a wolf in sheep''s clothing.


    The demon swiped once and the space squid was cleaved in two and started to vanish into black mist with specks of white like beautiful stars.


    It only gave a small squeak before it died.


    Not waiting any longer Origin recollected the power of his parents souls into his own body and charged a last attack against the devil before him.


    ''The devil'' did not wait either, after killing the squid it comanded the zombie soldiers consisting of ''Devas'' and ''Danas'' to block Origin''s path.


    Like building bricks they started to form a wall but Origin already made up his mind. He condensed the power of his mother into a giant silver golden claymore with enigmatic runes carved into it. His fathers spirit was condensed into a black armor and a giant bulwark of a shield.


    Origin just swung His sword once. A golden light was emitted and in the form of thousand golden chariots it clashed with the flesh wall. The limbs of his former comrades splattered everywhere, silver, golden, black and purple blood as well as bits and pieces of flesh were catapulted into space, their bodys were completely destroyed but their souls prevailed.


    Seeing his chance Origin used the shield to absorb his familys souls. Satisfied by the result Origin turned towards the great demon.


    Hmph.


    Tch.


    They did not spare any words, only sneers and grunts, and started their attacks. The eight arms came down like death itself, its claws digging deep into Origin''s black shield. Each arm held the power to destory a few universes at once but Origin''s shield endured it all, like a indestructible wall it just stood still and let no attack pass through.


    Noticing that his attacks don''t work the demon changed his attacks. The smile on the mask-like face opened and revealed a row of sharp teeth, drenched in green muckus. Origin could feel the heat emenating from its giant maw and quickly started a counterattack.


    But it was to late.


    A giant ray of pure chaos and entropy made its way towards Origin, a maelstrom of death. Origin tried to counter it with a swing of his sword but it was clear that even his majestic sword could not face this kind of attack power.


    But Origin did not give up. He used one swing, then two, three, four,...., million of slashes stacked upon each other, creating a golden blast wave.


    Hope was seen in Origins cross pupils... and it was shattered. Instead of waiting for his ray to lose to he golden wave the cataclysmic demon used his black claws to reinforce his own deathray with layers of black energy.


    The laser''s power was amplified multiple times and had now the upper hand and pushed Origin''s golden wave back.


    Origin''s third eye openned again and the fine but gloomy strands started to form an umbrella right over Origin.


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!


    The laser came crashing down and immediately burned the threads away. Origin tried to reinforce his defense but the rate in which his defense crumbled away was way to high for him than he could replenish it. With no other way in sight Origin could only held up his shield over his head and wait for lady death.


    But it never came, or not in the way he expected it.


    Golden light enveloped him and the giant devil before him and with a poof both of them disappeared.


    (???) ¡°Tststs. Baltimor destroying my playthings I should tell father to punish him later. But little Origin is indeed a fine man now. Hihihihi.¡°. Only this distinct feminine giggle could be heard throughout the universe, it was rather sweet and refreshing like a spring breeze. Truly refreshing.


    And NOW comes the real story. Phew that was a hard birth, don''t know if this exists in english but it does in german. Schwere Geburt? Anyone knows that? No? Well ok... ANYWAY! Buckle up your seatbelts the show is about to get started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Chapter one: Luck

    If I asked you: ¡°What makes a hero?¡°, what would you answer?


    Some people might say: ¡°Courage!¡°, for others it would be strength, wisdom, intelligence or simply talent.


    But many ''heroes'' have one thing in common, a goal, the goal to become the number one. Aspiring the highest power and being a god among men.


    Now, why do these people aspire this dream, this unreachable goal? It is quite simple, they understood. They understood how weak they are, they understood that there is always a higher authority that could not be thrown over with their current power.


    The insight in being weak is what makes ''heroes''.


    But is that truly it? Do we just need to understand how weak we are, maybe seeing how our loved ones are taken away without being able to do anything?


    I call that bullshit!


    What we need is luck. Whatever we do, whatever we are and will be is all determined by luck. Yes, even everything you ''worked'' for is all thanks to luck. That guy that bought food from your stall and told his family about it thus resulting in more customers and ending in a giant restaurant that you now own was all thanks to luck. Even the food you made could only be done by luck, who taught you how to make this incredible delicious chicken sewers? Was it not your mysterious grandpa who was in reality a fucking awesome five star chef?


    It was luck that you were even born in this family and could learn from your grandpa.


    Yes I truly believe that a hero needs luck and you know why? Because I already had this sudden moment of brilliance, this miraculous insight in my own incompetence. But let me tell you what the result was, when a six year old experiences a dramatic trauma.


    No, I did not thought: ¡°YES, THAT''S IT! I have to train hard because I am weak and could do nothing about the death of everyone around me, yes brilliant! I am a genius!¡°


    NO! I suffered from a fucking mental breakdown! WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?


    Even for freakin mental fortitude do we need luck. Not everyone is born with a mind that can withstand the cruel death of his loved ones.


    My story was a classic one. Little boy living in a frontier village of a relatively small kingdom. My parents were peasants but our life was still comfortable. Taxation was low and the nobles that were overseeing our small village were quite generous and amiable. It was truly peaceful. Of course I as a small and curious boy made a huge amount of friends and held unlimited love towards my parents and everyone around me, we were a giant family.


    And naturally everything had to come to an end.


    We were raided by a bandits. First the nobles were slaughtered. Woman, man, children or elderly no one was spared, their sense of equality was truly inspiring!


    They did not simply killed them, they were hum... butchered? Yes that is a good word. They were chopped into fine pieces like what you make for a tasty stew. They began with the limbs and slowly worked their way to their upper bodies and organs. The screams and the packed scent of blood filled the air like vapor in a sauna. The stench was so thick you could literally taste the blood in the air.


    After they were done with the nobles and their guardsmen they started to rape and kill the villagers. My father brought me sometimes over to the nearby inns and of course I heard about some profanities and I even peeked on a couple engaging in their ''private time'' so the wet slapping sounds and the lustful moans were nothing new to me, but the cries of pain and curses that underlined the first truly created a strange cacophony of sounds.


    My mother was taken as well in front of my father, naturally. Her and my fathers cries still ring in my head whenever I think back.


    In the end they killed nearly everyone, only some children were sparred, I was among them.


    Now you think: ¡°And then came a divine being and WHOOSH! All bandits died and the youth now inherited the power of the phenix of chaos an will shake the earth and heavens!¡°. Yeah... well no.


    The bandits were truly crafty. They dug out a large pit and tossed the corpses inside, then they took us and tossed us in as well, afterwards they shut the hole with a iron gate and waited.


    Only two days have passed until the survival instincts kicked in. We drank the blood of our lost family and friends. We vomited but still kept on drinking and bathing in our own feces and blood of our loved ones. The stench was unbearable and after a while the first one died.


    Flies were swirling around the hole but they did not dare to enter this manmade hell, as if even the flies knew of the cruelty of those bandits.


    After a week the leaked blood was now completely dry and sucked into the soil. You have to know, the hole was big and could even be considered a small lake, so naturally the amount of blood and corpses was extremely high as well and would not dry out to soon.


    So we had no other choice than to start squeezing out the last blood reserves by eating the now rotten corpses. The feeling of your mothers intestines coiling around in your mouth and the feeling of her crushed bones is truly uncomfortable. My father was eaten as well by me. Even his genitals were not spared. Head, hairs, nails, everything was eaten. Until there were only a few bones left. Most refused to do so and died out of starvation but I continued on.


    The bandits began to bet on who would last the longest. Laughter and cheers came from above and some of them even shouted my name, Argan. Hell do I know how they knew it, maybe when they fucked my mother she started to shout my name or something, I don''t know.


    In the end when there were no more corpses left and people started to bargain on my survival I felt a glimmer of hope.


    Maybe if I am the last one standing they will let me out?


    These were my thoughts. So I took a broken rib and started to murder my former friends, one after the other. My mind was already completely on survival mode and the rest was frozen solid, maybe to help me remain my sanity in the future.


    Their youthful cires filled the pit and fresh blood flowed. The other children did not stop me, instead like hungry wolves they started to drink the freshly spilled blood, like babies drank their mothers milk. They even licked the floor clean. And as if this was the forbidden fruit, a first class meal, they began to do the same. We killed each other to drink blood and eat human flesh. Remember we were still children of age 8 at most.


    I was a coward and only killed when I was sure I could kill in one strike but this strategy provided me with a bountiful harvest and in the end I killed and ate them.


    The bandits roared madly and cheers of joy and groans of anger could be heard. Clearly someone did not bet on me. I feel sorry for that guy, he mostly lost some gold coins.


    Lucky me, I was not released. They covered the gate of the pit with another layer of thin plates, until no light was visible anymore. I did not understood them at first but when the rotting gases started to fill the pit I understood.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    I will sufocate?!


    But I was far off from the truth. The gases of corpses are highly inflammable and like I said, the bandits were rather tricky in their execution methods.


    When the pit was filled to the brim with the stinking gases the lid was opened and a long robed bandit stood there. I could only hear a few murmurs until a spark erupted in the centre of the pit, igniting the gases around me.


    The heat was unbearable and I could feel how the flames were licking my flesh blank and charring my bones. Soon enough my whole right arm was completely burned to smitherness and only a black charcoal-like stump remained. The rest of my right side did not fare any better and most parts were scorched black.


    Why it was my right side? I think it is human nature, that when you face danger you immediately turn to your strong side to defend. Well how can one defend against fire?


    The left side of my body was burned as well, but mostly only in a deep bloody red which would result in an amputation or ugly scars.


    I cried out of pain, no I howled out of pain like a dying wolf.


    But I survived and afterwards another robbed bandit came over. He chanted some words as well and I could feel how my pain was lessened and my wounds healed. But only the light wounds were healed, the black stump or the bloody red spots remained as they were.


    Without any care for me they dragged me out, my right leg was black as well, so I could not walk, or even climb.


    It seemed as if their leader was quite fond of my stubborness and so I joined their bandit group.


    Who am I kidding? I was a slave and beaten to the brink of death nearly everyday and then in the night I was used as boytoy for the leader. My ass was so sore I couldn''t sit for a weak DAMMIT! Hehehehe.... It was a fucked up time.


    Everyday I cried, was beaten and then abused. Regular day for a six year old right?


    Two years were spent like that.


    Two years I have waited for help until the stupid shit kingdom, called Ripose, took notice. TWO YEARS! We were only a hundred or so miles apart. How could it take two years for them to notice the bandits that killed an entire village!?


    A play from the heavens, that was what it was, a cruel play from the heavens.


    The village was completely desolated and only the bandits remained but when they saw the knights in golden armor and the cloaked men as well, with their ornamented robes, they were truly startled... and then beheaded.


    I did not rejoice about this event. How could I? They most likely abandoned our village and only because some merchants were killed and they lost some trading partners did they finally attack. I felt utter disdain towards these people, so I simply left.


    But fate is a cruel bitch, a whore which was born in the deepest pits of hell.


    The bandit leader survived and fled in the same direction like me and... drummroll please... he saw me! HOORAY!!!


    I could not believe it. The fatty, bald, yellowed toothed and one eyed asshole has survived and ran into me.


    The time I spent in the bandits den I acquired a small branch to support my body and help me to walk and even run.


    With the help of the branch I immediately commenced a sprint into the nearby forest, but of course a person with two functioning legs is faster than a cripple with a branch.


    He won on distance and in the end caught up with me.


    (Bandit leader) ¡°YOU think you can run away from me? I will screw you over a hundred times before these imperial pretty-boys can kill me!¡°. The fatass raored madly at me, but how could I care?


    Kill me? Well I somehow wished for it long ago so it did not sound to bad. Torture me? I endure. Threaten me? With what?


    He had nothing that would make me cower in fear again, or maybe my emotions were already completely dead. I couldn''t even remember why I was in this bandit camp or how I got my scars. The brain is a wonderful companion!


    I just looked at him coldly without any reaction, like a glacier, I stood firm and was freezing cold. He just beated me through the forest but suddenly stopped.


    I looked at the expression of the bandit leader and it was filled with utter terror, he even took a few steps back, then I looked behind me. The space of the forest started to distort and white fog was filling everything in sight. The agonizing cries of billions could be heard and a moment later skeletal hands started to dug into the bandit leader and ripped his flesh apart and splitted him in two.


    I did not even care in the slightest instead I looked down on my chest. A rusty knife was planted right into my chest, penetrating directly into my heart, it was the bandit leaders doing.


    Hmmm... So... I will die? That is it? BORING!


    I looked at the skeletal hands that were now died in red but they did not even bother with me and slowly dissipiated.


    The fog condensed behind me and with the last bits of strength I turned around. A giant door stood before me. It was obsidian black with crystal white runes on it. In the midst of it was a giant spiral of gold and silver and a gem of a indistinct colour that made even my emotionless self shiver with fear.


    I wanted to move towards the door but to my chagrin I fell to my knees. No strength was left in this eight year old body.


    I strechted out my bloody hand towards the door in a last attempt to open it but my consciousness grew already dimmer until it was pitch black. I died.


    And this was the moment where I finally realized what a hero needs. LUCK!

 Chapter two: Dream

    So dark.


    So cold.


    So lonely.


    What is this damned place?


    Who am I? What am I? I want to go out. How do I know I am inside something? Nevermind, I wanna get out!


    ¡­


    How long have I been waiting now? Is eternity a timespan? Did I wait for an eternal amount of time? Time?


    I don''t understand! I wanna get out I don''t want to be alone! SOMEBODY! ANYONE! HELP ME!


    ¡­


    Hahahahahahah nice joke! You, tell me your story. ¡­ AHAHAH good one! I love you guys.


    ¡­


    I hate you all! They leave me all at some point! I am alone, I can never be with someone else. I will always be alone. YES! This is destiny. I will be alone forever in my cozy solitude! This is what I am. Alone. So alone...


    ¡­


    What did I do to deserve this? Or is that even somethingI deserved? What?!


    ¡­


    I don''t want to be anymore. I don''t want anything to be anymore. I want to... destroy! Destroy those that caused this miserable life, destroy those that live a life. It is unfair and they shall pay for it.


    ¡­


    DESTROY! KILL! OBLITERATION! CHAOS! BLOOD! DEATH! CARNAGE! WAR! HATE! HATE! HATE! SO MUCH HATE!!!


    I WANT TO SEE DEATH!!!!


    ¡­


    YOU BROUGHT ME TO THIS POINT! YOU WANTED DESTRUCTION! I WILL BE THE END OF ALL! THE END OF EXISTENCE!


    ¡­


    AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA I WILL kILL YoU aLL! ObLiViON! AhAHaAHAah.


    ¡­


    LIGHT?! What is that? Can it be? Can I finally be free? Can I kill now? AHAHAHAHAHA FINALLY!


    (What is this Origin? For those of you who think: ¡°Ohhh it''s some god creature being completely over the top.¡° No, it is not. I will make this clear now. In my novel these godlike beings are merely godlike, they are not the omnipotent beings that we hear of. Some yield the power of what we would make out to be on the level of ''Gods'', spatial folding for example. But they are clearly more human than most of the ''Gods'' we hear of. These arrogant, emotionless and overrational bastards. All of my godlike beings will have a human component, because why not? Just because you got your hands on a freakin warhead you won''t stop being a human and you will have ?weaknessess? nonetheless!)


    What defines Origin?


    A being with virtually immortality and infinite power at his disposal. So what COULD threaten such a being? Death? No, for a being like Origin that lived already countless of eons it would maybe even seem sweet, a new experience. Who knows what comes after lady death? Those that know are, well... dead.


    An immortal being would only fear one thing. Imprisonment. Held for its endless life in a gloomy prison and not such a simple prison but a prison where your senses are amplified to the limit and time stretched from attoseconds to billions of years. Such a prison would even make ''Gods'' tremble in fear, no in terror. Terror from knowing that they would endlessly spend their lifes in torment.


    It is now wonder that even Origin cracked under such intense torture. When you wake up, bound in chains in a dark abyss, what would be your thoughts? You won''t be in happy go lucky mood. Once the realisation kicks in your psyche will be utterly destroyed, even irrational thoughts like: ¡°Will I starve to death?¡°, passed Origin''s mind. He was virtually immortal and had long since transcended to a being that could not hunger nor thirst for fucks sake!


    Just imagine it. Imprisoned for ever. Even death is unreachable for you. Slowly your mind erodes. Your personality sways and crumbles. You will end being you. In some form you will die, yes. But it will not be a sweet death. It will leave a bitter taste in ''your'' mouth, or what remained of you. It is pitiable.


    Origin could no longer be called as such. He was molded by the abyss into a being as dark as the abyss itself. He was a mere husk that contained only hate and destruction.


    When he finally transformed in his ''sweet home'' ( WARNING: SARCASM!) even the beings scattered all around the universe felt it. Dread. As if the reaper looms right above you, his scythe already drawing bloody lines on your neck and laughing mockingly at your punny strength, unable to resist him at all.


    His transformation was a wave of dark and bright light intertwined into each other, pulsating through the universe. The freightened beings called him ''The one''. What could be ''The one''? They all felt it. The one end. End of all. Thus they all began a fruitless search to stop ''The one''.


    My head hurts like shit!


    These were the first thoughts that Argant had when he woke up.


    His eyelids were heavy as though someone barred them with irons shut. He couldn''t open them, he was to fatigued to do that.


    So after some pondering of what to do he continued his well deserved sleep. Ignorant of the comical situation he was currently in.


    Two weeks passed until Argant woke up again. His fatigue was nothing to laugh at, it was as if the lost sleep from all those years suddenly washed over him. That he even woke up once was nothing short of a miracle, even if he could only form some thoughts before he drifted into the dreamland.


    But he woke up now. And to his surprise the first thing he felt was a warm and cozy feeling. It felt familiar to him, yet so foreign. He opened his eyes for the first time in over two weeks. Some dirt was still in the corner of his eyes, but by blinking a few times his eyes were now clean and had accustomed themselves to the dim light.


    First he saw a wooden roof, warm, dark brown wood that made one''s heart and mind feel at ease. Next there were wooden pillars supporting the roof of what Argan made up to be a house or a hut. The ceiling was fairly high.


    What clearly surprised him was the place he was laying in, a bed. A white blanket stuffed with fluffy feathers was covering him and shielding him from the potential cold of the night. It was not only the blanket, the pillow as well was astonishing comfortable and now Argan knew why and why he felt this bizare feeling of familiarity and foreigness.


    He hadn''t had a bed for over two years. He was eight now. Abused everyday and burdened by the sin of canibalism of his own parents and murder of his friends. He himself knew what wretched things he has done, no way around it. But his mind was still frozen unable to proccess all this, till now.


    Before he could even react two large streams of tears poured out of his eyes. He sobbed and cried like a eight year old should do after losing everything, what the hell, even a grown up man should cry once he loses everything!


    ¡°AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH¡°


    He burried his face into the pillow and screamed, screamed to his hearts content. Images of his friends and family flashed through his mind. His mind just then decided upon seeing this ''Safe heaven'' that he could finally let loose all those pent up emotions, and it felt good for Argan.


    The pillow was wet wih tears and only after a full three hours did Argan stoped crying, no he just couldn''t cry anymore, his tears were dried out or else he might have cried for many days straight.


    Argan straightened up and supported himself with his left arm to look out of the window to right next to him. The landscape was different from what Argan knew, yet it was breathtakingly beautiful. Wide green meadows that stretched into the horizon, some specks of different colors here and there, sometimes a bright pink or a fierce red, sometimes a soothing violet or a joyful yellow. Trees dotted some places and a brown way was trampled into this green ''eden'', but it was in now way disturbing to this painting like scenery, it just fitted to perfect. Deeper in the horizon Argon could see the snowy peaks of some mountains, like gentle giants they stood on the horizon, keeping watch on him.


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    The sun was slowly crawling up into the blue sky, like it was awoken from its sleep and still dizzy, and morning dew still hung in the air. Only a few clouds were flying here and there, like a flock of tiny little lambs. Argan''s mouth was agape. When had he last seen such a place or felt at peace to such a degree? Argan even suspected it was his mind that was playing tricks on him, another attempt to lure him out of the hellish nightmare that was his life. But it was not a dream, it felt to real. Even the scent of the wood and its rough surface were crisp clear. If this was a dream then Argon would love to be here forever.


    Argon relucantly parted his view from the magnificient landscape and looked around the room some more. There were a few bookshelfs, a desk and a little fireplace in the room he was currently in. A small fire was cracking happily in the fire place with a vivid red color. The door to another room was wide open and Argon could make out some kitchen utensiles and a table with three chairs. Beyond the table was another door but it was shut. When he perked up his ears he could hear faint snooring sounds from the direction of the closed door.


    He decided to stand up and explore more of his unknown location, his home forest was nowhere to be seen so he must be a great distance apart from his old home.


    When he left the bed a sharp familiar sensation ran through his body, not the sensation of pain but the sensation of you touching something. It wouldn''t surpirse Argon to much if it was his left leg that transmitted this feeling to his brain, but it was his right leg. The leg that was as black as charcoal, burned down to the very core, unable to transmit anything at all.


    Argon disbelievingly stared down and there it was. A healthy right leg, mirrored one to one to his left leg, excpect for some moles and other pesky little details. Then again did sudden realisation kicked in.


    He should be dead.


    A knife was deeply stuck in his chest and he was already so broken that death was inevitable, so why?


    The door!


    This was his only thought, that mystic door he touched before he died. He did not knew what it was but it clearly helped him. It is right that in this world healing magic could heal wounds, but it was unheard of to heal completely destroyed body parts only some legendary healers of the big empires could be able to do that. But from his current location Argant was sure, that his current host family could not have a miracle healer in their ranks. Impossible.


    With hope Argan looked to his right shoulder. But he was disheartened. There was just a simple stump. But it still improved from being a piece of charcoal to a stump. Not bad.


    He remembered all his old wounds and scars and quickly scanned his body with his left hand. From head to toe and even his back was scanned. Only the very deepest of scars remained, like the cut on his chest where a rusty knife should be, as well as a scar over his eyebrows, where the bandit leader once cut into his skull for the sake of a good laughter. The burn scars on his body were mostly washed away. But the scar on his soul would remain, for a long time.


    After getting quickly accustomed to his regained right leg, like riding a bike even if you haven''t done so in years, he walked towards the opened door.


    The smell of fresh food, maybe a steak with rich vegetables and baked bread, filled the air. But it only reminded him of the dark deeds he had done. Nausea has fallen over him and he quickly scampered out of a door that faced the sme direction as the window he had stared out at. Seconds after he left through the door he vomited. Vomiting on an near empty stomach is rather painful so Argon quickly tried to bind his memories tightly and store them back into a corner of his mind.


    This will be an ordeal...


    ¡°Sigh...¡°


    Argon could only sigh because of his mental state and had to involuntarily snicker about it. When did he last sigh? If he had done so once in the bandit camp they would have cut of his fingers at least.


    He was clearly outside of the house, fresh dirt caressing his bare feet and fresh and cool air filling his lungs. Peace. The one word that came to Argan''s mind.


    He turned his heels and walked back into the house, ignoring the vomit that was spit right onto some vivid coloured tulips. If he had known what awaited him for doing so he would have run. Far away.


    Once he was back in he headed straight for the pot and pans with the meal in it. He forced his memories to shut up and started to dig in. Barehanded. And God knows how good it felt. The grilled meat with a hinge of pepper and salt, without any other spices added, and the earthy taste of potatoes and sweet and sour taste of tomatoes as well as paprikas. This was heaven.


    He gobbled up a full three portions worth of food before his stomach started to rebel. Argon burped once, twice, thrice! And then sat back down into a wooden chair completely relaxed. A good meal can even up your psyche.


    He felt comfy in this house and was right now waiting for its real inhabitants to wake up. The sound of crying, vomiting and the greedy comsumation of food should have woken them up long ago. But only now did he hear a faint creaking sound, followed by heavy footsteps.


    Don''t be nervous. You can do this. They even gave you a roof so you should be grateful and if they wanted to kill you they would have done so long ago. Everything will be allright!


    But his thoughts were crushed as the door swung open.


    Argon stared at this ''thing'' with a blank face.


    Mother of god!


    He wanted to run, but he couldn''t, fear rooted him into his place, even the bandit leader seemed to be an insignificant ant compared to this ''being''.


    A massive torso covered in brownish fur. Hulking over three meters with a body rippling with muscles and covered in red veins. Fists, the size of boulders and arms as thick as two full grown man. A waist as sturdy as an oak and two ramrod straight legs like stone pillars. Feet, no, a pair of black hoofs as dark as the night and hard as steel. And lastly, a head of a massive bull, with two bloodshot eyes and a pair of ominous blue-gray horns. The personification of strength, a legendary minotaurus.


    The minotaurus stood there, heat wave after heat wave pouring out of his nostrils, and a dark whip like tail moving from left to right in a strange rythm.


    Yup. Dead. I am simply dead. Yes, dead. Was fun for these eight years. Bye.


    The minotaurus sneered, gave Argon a whack on his head and turned back to his own bedroom.


    (Minotaur) ¡°Go back to sleep kiddo! And don''t you dare wake me up again!¡°. With that said the minotaur closed the door to his familys bedroom and disappeared.


    Hahahahahhaha a dream right. I am indeed dreaming. Hahahahhahhaahahh.

 Chapter three: A hospitable family

    Chapter three: A hospitable family


    Argon just stood there, silent and unmoving. The minotaur that stood before him was powerful, so powerful that Argon stopped breathing and even his heart threatened to stop. The aura of this legendary beast alone was enough to probably kill him.


    To make it clear Argon''s world consists of three major continents and a few minor ones. Only one continent is inhabited by humans, its surface alone as big as half of the planet earth''s surface and the poulation counting in the billions. The human continent consists of four major empires to the north, east, south and west. First the Dalian empire (north), then the Serrien empire (east), the Gul''khan empire (south) and the Wolfram empire (west). The human continent is more like a thick stripe from north to south of the world of Arzek. So the Dalian and the Gul''khan empire are extremly cold, whereas the Serrien and Wolfram empire are close to deserts, of course their placement is not stupidly set into a desert or a world of ice, but they are close to it even if they are in an habitable zone. The other two grand continents and the minor continents are all taboo for mankind. Because great demons fill the lands here, only the so called ''heroes'' managed to settle on these continents with a great deal of effort.


    Many people tried to venture into this uncharted territory, but were quickly anhilated by monstrous beings.


    Even more scary was the fact that 90% of those that tried to venture to the ''Demon continents'' would be anhilated by wild storms, raging seas, or burning deserts once they tried the land, sea or air road. Mysteriously these harsh environments only existed on the borderline of the ''Demon continents'', the inner parts were fairly the same as the human continent or even better.


    Those that survived the monster attacks and destructive environment spread the tale. And humankind, as paranoid as it is, was currently in a phase were ''heroes'' were mass produced like cheap toys. Humankind''s reasoning was as such: ¡°They are strong and probably want to invade our lands, even if they themselves are living in an eden like world. So we must kill them all!¡°. This was a classic humankind (classic Ted, for those that watched ''how I met...).


    One of those beings that were spoken of in the tales were the race of the minotaures. Bull like monsters with the strength of hundreds of man, fists strong enough to pulverize rocks and horns sharp enough to pierce any shield. Even more feared than their strength was their endurance and courage. Even badly wounded and surrounded by hundreds of soldiers the minotaur would kill 80% of them at least in a last effort. And that was just one minotaur. If they attack with coordination, strategy and tactics, they alone could destroy the human continent. But they were not the only ones that humans feared.


    There were the Worgs, Dragonkin, Valkros and other humanlike aberrations. And the most feared and enigmatic were the Destroyers and Rift Walkers. They were the stuff of absolute legends, one alone was enough to decimate a million ''heroes'' (think more of elite soldiers than actual heroes) without a scratch. Even the various ''demon'' races worshiped them like wargods. The ''demons'' knew, even they could not face them, not a hundred and not a million.


    Of course this was just speculation and their true past was covered by a fog of excsessive tale telling.


    Nonetheless the destroyers and rift walkers were spotted last a few tenthousand years ago and many suspect that they had either died out or secluded themselves on some of the minor continents, like the star pillar or the cloud continent, both high up in the sky and unreachably for any other creatures.


    Argant regained his composure from his initial shock and quickly thousands of questions raced into his mind.


    Where am I?


    What will happen to me?


    Are these for real?


    Will they kill me?


    Why did they brought me here in the first place?


    HOW did I even end up here?!


    Questions over questions and Argon had no answer and he had the feeling that even the minotaur did not knew the answer to some of them.


    In a daze Argon went to his room and fell into his bed to get a few hours of sleep. But how could he? A being strong enough to dispose of thousands of to the teeth armed men was sleeping only a few meters to his side, how could anyone sleep in this sort of situation?


    Argon just looked out the window and peered into his own reflection. A young boy with unkempt and dirty blonde hair, it was kept short and some only recently began to regrow when he was miracilously healed from the scars on his head. His face was that of a young boy and one could already visualize the handsome appearance he would have in the future. A straight nose and sharp chin, keen eyes and a white row of teeth, also healed only recently, only the scar on his sword like eyebrows was breaking this perfect picture. But his golden coloured eyes with crossed-formed pupils. And a tinge of black and white made up for the scar and gave the boy a mysterious and otherworldly look.


    Argant did not really notice the change in his eyes and continued to marvel at his restored face and body.


    But he could not enjoy his regenerated face as he heard once again creaking from behind his door.


    His heartrate quickened up by a notch and his breathing became rugged. What would happen to him now? Will he die? These were the questions that consumed Argan''s entire being. He only now freed himself somewhat from his past memories and was already unwilling to part with his life, what he wished for only two weeks prior.


    He went to his door and slowly opened it, he should at least show some face and balls if he truly encountered his end. Argan stood there, if a person entered through the front door they would see Argan on the right side of a table and a door to the left side of the table, opposite to the main entrance would be the kitchen.


    The door creaked yet again an opened. Slowly, painfully slow even, unlike the first time the minotaur stepped out, with his wonderous light steps. A head full of long brown hair shoot out of the creak in the door. A small girl. That was Argan''s first impression. But once he had seen the cow like ears and a brown tale swing happily behind the girl he knew that she too was a minotaur. Her face was cute, yes very cute, with big brown and round eyes, a small nose and pink lips, anyone would want to guard this girl with his life, anyone except Argon.


    His mind was still on full alarm mode, so he decided to play this safe. And start with a calm introduction.


    (Argon) ¡°Hello my nam-¡°


    ¡°HIIIIIIII¡°. Before Argon could even finish his sentence tthe girl ran back to were she came from with tears glistering in the corner of her eyes.


    Fuck I scarred her. Shit she must be the daughter of this minotaur. SHIT SHIT SHIT. Please god don''t let him misunderstand.


    But no, God had made the minotaur misuderstand.


    (Minotaur) ¡°WHAT DID YOU DO?!!!!!!!¡°. The roar ws deafening and Argon emideately fell down on his butt, his hands covering his ears and his face lost of all color he stared at the door in front of him.


    WOW what an end, stupid little brat! Argant cursed the girl in his mind.


    In an instant the door swung open and the graceful steps became now thunderous stampedes as the furious minotaur charged straight towards Argon.


    (Minotaur) ¡°What have you done to my daughter you FIEND¡°. The words were spat out like dirt. Literally, the minotaur spat on Argon while lifting him up by his neck in a thight chokehold.


    (Argon) ¡°I- HUH di-d HUH no-HUH-thing!¡°. Argon struggled hard for breath as the hairy hand gripped around his neck.


    (Minotaur) ¡°YOU LIAR! Why was my sweet daughter cring then? When I found you in the plains I should have left you to die! I KNEW IT ALL ALONG! I SHOULD KILL THE HUMA-!


    (???) ¡°SHUT UP YOU STUPID PIG!¡°. And with a Pang sound a high heel was driven right into the back of the minotaurs head, rendering him out cold.


    Argon was freed from the tight hold on his neck and started to catch his breaths, after only a few seconds he calmed down.


    Right behind the minotaur, know spread across the floor, was a lustrous woman, her body had curves to the extreme, but her face was as gentle as mother nature even if it was lit by anger at her husbands temper. She would rival even the most famous human beauties, only her cow ears and tail showed that she too was from the minotaur race.


    (???) ¡°I am so sorry for my husbands bad temper I hope you can forgive him.¡°. Argon questioned himself.


    Can I forgive the guy that wanted to kill me?


    (Argon) ¡°Sorry, but no. I cannot forgive him for trying to choke me to death for some crime I did not commit.


    (???) ¡°I guess you are right, I will punish him them.¡°. A hint of a sadistic smile appeared on the womans face.


    Argon immediately realized how stupid his answer was and arrogant as well. First off they had taken him into their care for two weeks. Second, they did this all without recompensation and Argant even ate their food without asking. Third, how could he offend someone that could kill him with one flick of his fingers.


    Oh my fucking God what have I done?


    He just simply kicked his benefactors in the throat and then spat in their mouths. How could he say he won''t forgive him?


    Cold sweat poured out from his back, his body was covered with thin linen clothes, but right now they were already drenched in his sweat.


    But the deed was done. He did kick his benefectors arse and gave him no face. What would happen to him now?


    After a long silence and after the woman moved her husbands unconscious body into a bed she turned to look at Argon.


    (Female Minotaur) ¡°My name is Dariana. My husband is called Gasaf and our daughter is called Marie, now already six years old and we are all from the clan of minotaurs.¡°. Her face was somewhat proud as she talked about her daughter and her lineage. ¡°Let''s talk outside about who YOU are.¡°. She quickly grabbed Argan by the hand and left through the main door with Argan in tow. Her daughter Marie just stared at them from the door slit of their bedroom.


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    One meter out of the door Dariana came to an halt. Her head turned to the right while her body faced forwards. It seemed somehow mechanical and pretty bizarre.


    (Dariana) ¡°...this.... who... who did this? WHO DID THIS?¡°. From a silent whisper her voice turned into a raging howl.


    Argant stared at her right and saw a bunch of tulips covered in what seemed to be vomit. No it was vomit and not just random vomit. It was Argant''s vomit!


    Oh God you love kicking my balls don''t you?


    The grip around Argant''s hand tightened and the head of Dariana once again turned mechanically towards Argant, with red eyes filled with anger.


    (Dariana) ¡°Tell me. Did you ''VOMIT'' on my tulips? Simply ''VOMIT''?!¡°. Each time vomit was emphasized and Argant knew he was now in big trouble.


    (Argant) ¡°I-I-It- It was just th-that, I-I uhm...¡°. Argant searched for words but somehow his vocabulary was completely erased and he couldn''t form a coherent sentence, only some mumbling.


    (Argant) ¡°Sorr-ry¡°. This was the only thing that Argant could squeeze out of his wiped clean vocabulary.


    Argant could feel how the bloodflow in his hand had stopped as the grip got tighter.


    SNAP!


    With a lound snap his bones in his only functioning hand broke, but he gritted his teeth and did not cry or beg, Karma got him good for being so disrespectful towards his benefactor earlier.


    But the snap of his breaking bones and now completely shattered and crippled hand had freed Dariana from her trance. She looked at the piece of bloody flesh with bones sticking out everywhere in her hands. Tears misted her eyes as she looked apologetic at Argant. She had crippled a cripple.


    This was not told in the tales. But minotaur often suffered mood swings and their emotions could often reach an extreme. Hate. Fear. Love. All of them would be amplified to the apex of emotional outbursts. Even fear. Once a minotaur fears he will be feared shitless.


    (Dariana) ¡°NO! I am sorry. Sob- I did not sob- waded do hurd sob- yuuu!¡°. Her clear voice suddenly became filled with sobs and even Argant began to feel pity.


    (Argant) ¡°Meh don''t worry I have survived worse.¡°. Argant said while puffing up his chest, but in reality every second hurt like hell to him and he was reaching his breaking point.


    Gotta endure. They could have killed me anytime. Even that little girl should be able to smash my head to a pulp. GOTTA ENDURE!


    His willpower paid off as adrenaline rushed into his system and fend off the pain. But he knew he could only savor this victory for a short while.


    (Argent) ¡°Uhm... can you somehow heal my hand?¡°. Argent''s voice was meek as he did not wanted to further offend his benefactors.


    (Dariana) ¡°YES certainly, I should at least be able to heal your bones and flesh.¡°. Dariana woke up from her daze and started to mumble a silent prayer-like chant.


    White and lime green light pulsated around her hands and she slowly moved them to the unidentifiable clump of flesh she made out of Argant''s hand. The tears welled up inside her once again as she thought about what she had done to a young boy and a cripple at that, even ''demons'' couldn''t fall that deep.


    When the lights touched Argant''s hand his body felt warm and his bones started to creak and reform. Suddenly his bones formed a skeletal hand and the loose flesh began to wrap around it like snakes.


    (Dariana) ¡°I just rearanged the bones so you need to let it heal right for at least three months or so, till then you must absolutely not try to grip anything with your left hand. Understood?¡°. Her voice was now as warm as it had been at the beginning.


    (Argant) ¡°Yes I understand and I am truly sorry for well... whwat I did to you flowers.¡°. Argant hung his head low and said apologeticaly.


    Dariana only sighed but then waved him off, gesturing that it was allright.


    (Argant) ¡°You had questions, so what will it be?¡°


    Darianas eyes lit up and she stared at Argant.


    (Dariana) ¡°Name?¡°, ¡°Argant.¡°, ¡°Age?¡°, ¡°Eight, I think, maybe nine soon.¡°, ¡°Ok. Birthplace?¡°, ¡°Serrian empire, kingdom Riposte.¡°, ¡°Serrian empire? I don''t think any of the lands here are called as such. Where is the Serrian empire?¡°, ¡°To the west.¡°, ¡°Argant. Why are you lying? There is no such empire to the west.¡°.


    Argant''s mind clicked and he chuckled a bit.


    ¡°Sorry let me rephrase that. Human continent, Serrian Empire, Kingdom Riposte.¡°.


    Dariana stared at Argant with disbelief and astonishment. Gazef might have called him human, but Dariana thought it might be some kind of human-like race like the bierrs or vampires. It was impossible for a human child to trespass into the ''Demon continents''.


    ¡°Are you telling the truth?¡°. Dariana eyed Argant carefully, observing each of his reactions.


    ¡°Yes I tell the truth, but no I do not know how I ended up here.¡°. He told the truth, even Dariana''s guts told her as much but it was still unbelievable. A human child entered into a continent where even the mighty heroes perished. What sort of miracle was this?


    One of the reasons why the ''Demons'' did not invade the human continent was because they held no interest in doing so and because even for themselves the raod to the human continent would still be dangerous for them. Half of their people send to the human continent would perish, so why should they sacrifice their own people for a piece of land that was worse than their own?


    ¡°You don''t know how you came here?¡°. Dariana began to frown. ¡°No I don''t know how I ended up in the demon continents. I just knew I died.¡°


    ¡°What you died?!¡°. Darianas gaze was filled with even more disbelief. Not only does this small child say that he travelled unbeknownst to himself to the Demon continents and now he even dared to tell her that he died. What sort of fantasy tale is that?


    Argant noticed the look on Dariana''s face a look that said: What the heck is he talking ''bout?! So he decided to describe his past two years to Dariana.


    Over the course of his story Darianas face was completely pale, her ears hung low and her tail did not even move an inch. Disgust, hate, sadness all of these emotions combined into one created the ugly mask that Dariana was now showing.


    Argant''s tears started to peek out of his eyes through his narration but he kept them in check. After finishing he exhaled deeply and stared into Dariana''s with shock wide open eyes.


    (Argant) ¡°THIS is my story.¡°. He did not spare any details, not how he ate his fathers genitals nor how the bandit leader raped him from day to day, leaving deep lacerations in his anal region. If this would be just a figment of his fantasy he would be considered a psycho. But Dariana could sense the grief and sincerity in Argant''s voice.


    An eight year old, burdened by murder, cannibalism and years of torture and rape. His childhood was even worse than that of kids in the deepest slums. They at least got killed quickly, but he had to endure.


    Dariana''s brain had to process this story at first, but only short moments later she pulled Argant into a deep bearhug.


    (Dariana) ¡°UHHHHHH I am so Sob- sorryyyy. We will Sob- be your fa-Sob-mily. I will -Sob protect you forever. UHHHHHHHHHHHH!¡°


    Argant felt warm and safe in her embrace, her scent was intoxicating and calming for his irritated nerves. Her two giants mounds pressed against his tiny chest, there was of course no sexual arousal it was just the picture of a busty mother hugging her child. It was heartwarming.


    His clothes were already drenched in snot and tears but he did not get angry. Her reaction has shown her sincerity towards his situation, she really was pained herself by what happened to him and this made it all the more heartwarming.


    Roughly half an hour ahs passed and it was already midday before Dariana calmed herself down. Her eyes were completely red and face was covered in tears and snot.


    Argant chuckled at this cute sight. She was an adult but a kid in the heart.


    (Argant) ¡°You should clean your face first Miss Dariana.¡°. Argant gave her a bright smile and both of them walked back into the house.


    After refreshing herself Dariana looked at Argant.


    (Dariana) ¡°Mother...¡°. ¡°Huh? What did you say Miss Dariana?¡°. ¡°You have to call me mother from now on!¡°. Dariana puffed out her chest and her gaze told Argant there was no room for discussion.


    Argant sighed again.


    (Argant) ¡°Of course mother.¡°. His voice was frail when he said he last part, it was so bizare calling another woman mother, but had a feeling he would spend a long time here.


    Dariana nodded towards Argant and started to cook a fresh meal.


    The whole scene was obsereved by little Maria, her brain unable to digest what had transpired.


    Whaaaaa? Argant is my brother?!


    Argant''s body momentarily shuddered and he had a feeling that he created another misunderstanding.


    But upon seeing his happy ''mother'' cooking for him he could only repeatedly sigh and forget about his bad premonition. He was happy with his newfound family...


    A truly hospitable family at that! Brutal but still nice!

 Chapter four: Magic!

    Chapter four: Magic!


    (WARNING: RATHER LONGER CHAPTER!!! I wrote from 1 am to nearly 6 am so please if there are any mistakes blame it on my tiredness. I beg you, hadn''t really slept since days.)


    Argant spend the rest of the day eating with his foster mother, his foster father (the minotaurus) Gasaf was still knocked out. Whereas Marie was just to shy to interact with Argant at all, so she always kept her distance over the day.


    When it was night time Argant went straight to bed. So many new things happened to him but his mind could cope with them all perfectly. Maybe it still somewhat denied his past and accepted his current situation as how his life should have run and that''s why it is running so smooth for his psyche.


    Argant closed his eyes and began to think about the demon and human continents.


    It''s a pitty that we humans can''t understand the demons. They are quite the nice people. Nicer than the scum I know. Hum...? Wait. Didn''t the tales say that the demons are incapable of human speech and vice versa? How come they talked in human tongue and even the Serrian accent was prominent. What the hell?!


    Argant''s thoughts started to tumble over each other as they flooded his mind like locusts, hungry for answers.


    After the problem of the language barrier was placed in Argant''s mind he could no longer sleep at all.


    He understood them and they understood him and even talked in his mother ''language'' (just a dialect, all humans use roughly the same language after all.)


    He considered different possibilities like magical tools he read about in his home village. Those tools allow the user to, instead of hearing the vibrations in the air, analyze the mana emission in their own mana pools. The meaning of the words is then directly transmitted to the brain.


    But there were three problems. First, the mana pool had to have an substantial amount of mana in it, so only the highest grade of magus could use this tool. Second, he could not remember to be ever in the posession of such a valuable item. And lastly, this worked only one way. So how could they understand him?


    At the same time that Argant was pondering over this impossible to solve question, Dariana did the same. How did she talked with this human child all this day long? She did not knew the human tongue and on the demon continents the various races had their own unique languages, heck some communicated only through hand movements.


    Argant and Dariana left their beds at the same time and opened their doors at the same time. They stared at each other in the kitchen room, silent at first. But Argant broke the silence.


    (Argant) ¡°Mother how do you understand what I am saying?¡°. He was not really comfortable in calling her mother but she insisted all day long, so he went along with it.


    (Dariana) ¡°Argant I wanted to ask you the same thing, since when to you know the language of the minotaures?¡°


    (Argant) ¡°What are you talking about, you are clearly talking in the human tongue, even father was.¡°


    (Dariana) ¡°There is no way! We never visited the human continent much less mastered its language and you are clearly talking in the language of the minotaures.¡°


    (Argant) ¡°Mother please don''t jest, you are even talking in the Serrian empires dialect. It''s impossible that i am mishea-¡°. Just then Argant focused on the words he was saying adn she was right. It sounded like some gibberish but his mind knew its meaning. It was the same when we learn a foreign language. The words are completely different but we know their meaning in our own language.


    (Argant) ¡°You... are right, but how can this be?¡°.


    (Argant) ¡°AH can it be? No way.¡°. Argant''s thoughts instantly shifted onto the ominous door which he touched before his death, but what could a door have to do with his way of speaking?


    Dariana frowned as she looked at Argant and knew he was hiding something. After all he only told her that he thought he died and woke up on the bed right here, he had the indiscribable feeling to hide the truth for now.


    Deep within Argant''s mana pool was a small floating crystal, it could be mistaken as a diamond but in reality it was a living beings soul. The crytal was teeny tiny and had no special features in and outside of it. If we stood before this crystal know and would see it as a picture the background would be completely jet black, with a light blue floor, the mana pool. If we would zoom out of this picture for a bit the background would start to have white lines in it. If we go even further out the white linings would create a picture on the baclk background as if it was an ancient scripture, the ''soul crystal'' would now not be seen anymore. And if we go even further back, this time far far away, we could see that the black background was a door, a door with white runes and an insidious crystal embeeded into it, surrounded by gold and silver. The dark parts of the door stretched massive tendrils towards the soul crystal like the hands of the netherworld. But against the expectations they held the crystal with extreme tenderness, the same as a father/mother would hold his baby. Change began in the beautiful crystal and slowly its outer layer turned to a dim black color. The tendrils retracted and only left a minuscle thread, which connected directly from the soul crystal to the black parts of the door.


    The process took not even a second (I said slowly in there, but well it''s relative) and remained unnoticed by even Argant himself.


    Only later would he find out his reason for why he could understand not only this language but many more.


    Both understood that they won''t reach a conclusion so they called it a day.


    10 years later... JK (Just kidding, for all those that don''t understand)


    A few months passed since then and Argant had to help out his new family on the fields since his hand worked now properly. They were simple farmers and had to sell their harvested crops in the nearby village.


    Argant liked the fields, maybe because his father had picked him here up when he was unconscious. He did not really know the reason, but he felt always refreshed when he was outside enjoying the scenery.


    Argant did not travel with his father to the village for two reasons. He was human and it would be hard to mask him when they were vending in their stalls, it was rude to cover your face when selling goods. Second, Argant was afraid, afraid of men. Not afraid of men that had prominent beast like features such as a male minotaur, but those that looked mostly human. When he watched from the fields a group of travellers with a darkrian, imagine humans with pitch black eyes, grey skin (not disease grey but more stone grey) and grey bat wings, he cried for the rest of the day and even had a fit. His mind was eagerly processing his past but it was still to much to bear.


    So they decided that Argant would only help in the fields and try to avoid all contact with travellers for now.


    Over these months he even got closer to the cute Maria but she was still as shy as ever and tried to dodge every kind of conversation and once Argant tried to get her into a corner but she just punched him to the ground and ran away while crying. He did not blame her so he never told this their mother, he was after all the one who forced her. But he could at least remain eye contact with her and the closest they got was now only two meters apart! Success for Argant!


    The farm work was made for minotaures so it was very difficult for him, but what could he say. This life was heaven considered to his previous two years. The rate of accustomisation was rather quick and soon Argant began to build up muscle mass through his ardurous work.


    Seven months later and Argant was now truly enjoying the farm work. Of course it was still hard for a boy with roughly nine years but it became easier and easier with each day. In his eagerness he even asked his father about methods to train his body whilst not working. His father roared in happiness and started to work out a training regimen for Argant.


    It was not clear for Argant why he trained so hard for now, but subconsciously it was because he did not wanted to be a burden to them, to not be rejected in a dire situation but at the same time he held a certain distance to them, maybe because he knew they weren''t his real parents so when the decision came they would put themselves over Argant, that way he won''t sacrifiece themselves for Argant. In the end they just became even more fired up to create a family bond with Argant, Marie in her own way, naturally. Minotaures won''t go back on their words after all!


    2 years passed.


    Argant was now estimated to be ten. Maria was still nine. It was currently summer and the air was hot and dry.


    And this was a very important occasion. Once a race reaches a certain age the mana pool will condense and fuse with your soul thus enabling you to use magic. The norm was certainly broken a few times by rare talents but well they are the exemption. All the human like beings had their age set at ten, the process was not instantaneous but took roughly ten years to finish.


    (Dariana) ¡°Today Argant you will get your elemental affinity checked in the village. Are you prepared my dear?¡°. Dariana''s voice was as warm as ever as she gazed gently upon Argant, her son. She knew his troubles with men so she spoke the last words with the utmost care.


    (Dariana) ¡°You will be checked by an elder magician and he will touch your chest to check you, are you fine with that?¡°


    Dariana pittied her son''s past, who would not. And she understood how hard it would be to get into direct contact with another male for him.


    (Argant) ¡°I am prepared mother!¡°. His voice was resolute and determined, no hint of fear or anger about the same sex that did those cruel things to him.


    In the past two years he trained and... cried. For the first few months he cried everyday but it grew less and less and now after two years his mind was still a bit foggy but it got exponentially better, he even hiddenly once talked with a male traveler. It was an awkward conversation because Argant flinched whenever the traveler moved but it still helped him greatly to overcome his fears.


    The relationship with Maria grew better as well and he could even enjoy the sensation of caressing her silky brown hair. Of course any other contact was still taboo, but Argant was determined to be a good elder brother to his little sister and that required occasional hugs and other physical contact, how else would we console her if something bad happened?!


    This would be Argant''s first time to enter the village so he was still quite nervous.


    By the way Argant got pretty buff for a ten year old and his brown-bronze skin made him appear indeed handsome.


    In the two years he trained with his father and held some sparring matches even. His father also taught him how to handle heavy weapons, such as the mace, war hammer, broad- or heavysword. Argant was first relucant about the weapons as they revealed the memories he wanted to forget but he did it nonetheless. Know your friends but know your enemys even better! One should not forget that Argant used these weapons single handedly.


    Gasaf, Dariana, Maria and Argant, clothed in a dark robe and his face covered in a plain iron mask, walked side by side into the village. The villagers knew Gasef, Dariana and the rarely appearing Maria but they shot their curious glances towards the cloaked boy that was walking along side them, the mask made them even more curious.


    The village was filled with mostly minotaures and occassionaly Darkrians and other races. The Darkrians were scattered in every region of the demon continents, their tough skin and durable wings made it possible to inhabitate most places. Some cities were rather racist towards them as they held a high population and flooded their cities. (Think about Americans and Mexicans. Don''t know how to describe it better even if it sounds racist. Can''t be helped.)


    Anyway, there were also rarer races among them like the Cubrias, a combination of a cheetah and a human with horns on its head, or the Vepirs, humans with snake features. The Vepirs could be divided into two races. The more common lamia people, lower body of a snake, and the Tipans, their whole body is covered in scales, remain with their human limbs but their face has distinct snake features, e.g. they got no nose or ears, neither hair, only scales and small holes as replacement for the non existing sensory organs. (What a ugly bunch even if they stem from my imagination I cannot help but think they would be ugly.)


    Argant was quiet the entire time so that he would not attract unwanted attention. Some demons did not really like the presence of humans because some of them lost their close ones to the permanent invasions of the humans.


    They walked towards a huge chapell like house. The door was made of marble and was over five meters tall and should at lest weigh some hundred pounds, but luckily it was kept open for the people.


    All four of them were already sweating by the intense summer heat but once they entered the cool church like interior they instantly felt refreshed. Before them were a few clusters of people. Familys with their children, coming to test their elemental aptitude.


    In the front part of the building was a row of tables were the children sat that would be tested, the rest of the family stood close to the walls with gazes filled with hope that their child would be a rare genius.


    In the foremost part was a giant throne like chair with an old man seated within. One would seriously mistake him for a human but the small blue horns on his head told a different tale. Once a minotaurus reaches a certain strength they could control their bull physics and trade them for a greater magical understanding. What Argant did not knew was that his mother was a magician centered minotaurus, if not she would have developed large horns already. Female minotaures were from birth on more centered around magic so once they reached their strength requirement they could make their bull-like feature more prominent to gain more physical strength. The trade would not be 1 to 1 and one would still get slightly more powerful. For example, a male minotaure goes down the magic route. He loses half of his physical strength but gains magical strength equal to two thirds of his prior power. Those that stay on their road get a slight increase as well. It has to be told that the changes are permanent.


    Argant took a seat next to some minotaure kids, the boys faces were already distorting into bull heads and it looked... ugly. It was like a bull head with no fur and a shorter snout. Ugliness on a next level. But they had to endure to gain their future badassery when they become adult minos ¡û (calling them like that now!)


    The kids as well as the adults shot curious glances towards Argant but he simply ignored them and looked at the table while playing with his thumbs.


    After roughly one hour it was finally his turn. Argant exhaled and inhaled deeply. He checked his mask and stood up and walked to the old man seated in the throne.


    He arrived before him and silently waited.


    (Old mino) ¡°Take of your hood and mask.¡°. An old and rusty voice resounded out of the mans mouth, but Argant did not even twitch, he knew something like this would happen so he prepared himself.


    (Argant) ¡°Esteemed elder my name is Argant and I pay my respects. But I can absolutely not take of my mask.¡°


    (Old mino) ¡°Hoh you know how to talk. Then tell me why can you not take of your mask?¡°. The old man''s voice sounded somewhat unnerved but curious at the same time.


    (Argant) ¡°As a kid I was scarred by a fire and I do not feel comfortable to reveal my damaged face. I hope elder can allow this selfish request of mine?¡°. Argant''s tone was humble and dignified a must in the bandit camp.


    (Argant) ¡°If you have a way to probe into my past you would know that I do tell the truth. If my words alone are not prove enough and my memories unreachable for you, maybe my right arm would make you believe?¡°. As he said this Argant revealed his right stump of an arm and waved it infront of the old mino.


    (Old man) ¡°Oh I am sorry. I do believe you so come closer now.¡°. His rusty voice turned a bit gentler when he saw Argant''s constitution.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Argant went forwads with wide strides and waited only an arms reach away from the old man.


    The old man stretched out his hands and Argant twitched a little as the hand came closer and touched his chest, although it was covered by the robe.


    Following after that the old man closed his eyes and started to send his own spiritual energy into Argant''s soul.


    The mana pool was now completely swallowed by the soul crystal, thus it grew and got a blue shine, though it was covered by the faint layer of black.


    Inside of Argant''s soul a thin red thread was closing in on the soul crystal. It lightly tapped it and then merged into it for a bit. This thread was part of the old man''s own soul crystal so it transmitted what was seen in Argant''s soul. Hate, grief, sadness but also a sprouting seed of happiness and warm love. Some of his memories of the bandit camp even entered the old man''s mind.


    (Old man) ¡°Oh my god, what a past...¡°. The old man silently mumbled, he did not detect that Argant was human, he thought he must have been a demon slave.


    The old man probed further into his soul wihtout a slightest care in the world. But suddenly the giant door behind Argant''s soul crystal started to creak. The old man noticed the change and ordered his soul thread to come out of the crystal to observe the situation. Only a fine openning was revealed in the door but it ws more than enough.


    Thousands of ghostly, zombie like hands shot out of the creak and grabbed the soul thread like a piece dead prey. The hands started to rip the thread apart and even followed its origin into the old man''s soul crystal. The skeletal hands started to close into the old man''s soul crystal in an attempt to tear it to shreds.


    The old man immediatly severed his connection to Argan. Everything happened in a split second, he did not even know where this attack came from, he only knew its origin was Argant''s soul world.


    The old man was breathing heavily with audible and hard breaths, his face was ashen pale and sweat was pouring out of his forehead. His whole body trembled and he was beginning to stutter a word.


    (Old man) ¡°M-m-m-m-m- MONSTER!!!!!!¡°. The old man lost his cool and started to shout while pointing with his trembling hand at Argant.


    Even the families around Argant started to look confused at the old man''s sudden outburst of emotions.


    (Argant) ¡°Elder, what happened what do you mean?¡°. Argant grew nervous and he couldn''t help but think he did something terribly wrong.


    (Old man) ¡°GO AWAY! DON''T come close... you you YOU MONSTER!¡°. The old man''s eyes even began to get moist as he thought about his near death he experienced just moments before thanks to Argant.


    Finally Dariana and Gasaf snapped.


    (Dariana) ¡°WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE IS A MONSTER!? YOU WANNA DIE?


    (Gasef) ¡°NO ONE CALLS MY SON A MONSTER! NO ONE!¡°. Both parents were enraged by the crude behaviour of the old man.


    What no one knew was that this spirit thread was currently working as a catalyst to free an immense calamity.


    The door in Argant''s soul world opened even wider and revealed a pitch black space. Nothing seemed to linger in this abyss but after a short while a humanoid being started to walk out of the door. Once it left the door the door started to crumble into pieces and began to be reabsorbed into the odd being.


    The being was not bigger than any other human but with each step it took the soul world under its feet crackled. It went into the direction of Argant''s soul crystal. It only surveyed the crystal for a moment and then directly slammed a claw like hand into it. The crystal did not even resist and was easily pierced like cotton candy.


    A white and black fog started to merge from the arm of this being and entered through the crack into the crystal. The interior of the crystal started to rapidly change until it was a harmonic world of black and white only then did he being enter it.


    Currently within the church like building Argant''s parents were shouting profanities at the old man. Argant was watching this one sided exchange but suddenly let out a painstriken cry.


    ¡°AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!¡°


    Argant was very resilient against pain but this time it was a new kind of pain, hundred times more intense than anything else he ever felt.


    Argant fell to the stone floor and started to trash around with his limbs while trying to grip into the stone. His fingers and knuckles already started to bleed from the scratching and beating on the stone floor.


    Dariana and Gasaf as well as Maria and the other families watched this development with shock. Argants cries were simply to terrifying and his sudden behaviour was confusing as well.


    Argant tightl gripped his chest with his bloody fingers and started to rip on his clothes, only the mask still remained. After the clothes were ripped to shreds he started to dig in his own flesh in an attempt to dug free the origin of this intense pain. Argant was on the ground convulsing, his eyes, ears and nose started to bleed and with a SPLEGH he vomited a mouthful of blood on the ground.


    Dariana and Gasef couldn''t watch any longer and immediatley hurried to their son without a clue as what was happening and what they could do.


    Argant was already bleeding out of every orifice and his organs started to turn into meat paste. Mouthful after mouthful of flesh and blood were erupting from Argant''s mouth, painting him and his parents in deep red.


    (Gasef) ¡°WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY SON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡°. Gasef was currently mad with anger over the old man that was probably the case for all this. He grabbed the old man by the neck and smashed him furously into the stone ground.


    (Gasef) ¡°HELP HIM NOW!!!!!!!¡°.


    (Old man) ¡°I- cough didn''t do anything!¡°


    (Gasef) ¡°SHUT UP!!!!!!¡°. With another smack on the ground the old man spit out a wave of blood accompanied by the sound of bones breaking. Gasef turned his gaze towards his wife and son as he ehard silent sobbing.


    (Dariana) ¡°no nononononono! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!¡°. Dariana held Argant in her arms. His body was spasming and slowly started to trun cold. White foam was surfacing out of his motuh and his eyes rolled inwards. His body lost its color adn grew more and more still, until there were no cries of pain anymore, no movement, only the silence of death.


    (Maria) ¡°NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! BROTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡°. Maria hurriedly sprinted towards Argants lifeless body while and clutched his lifeless hands, her tears started to fall like heavy rain in summer, yet the mask prevented the lifebringing rain to fall on Argant''s dead face.


    Only Gasef cursing the heavens and Dariana''s and Maria''s sobbing could be heard. The other families with their children were utterly shocked, some even vomited when they saw Argant''s gruesome death.


    The church was dyed in red and where Gasef smashed the old man in was a deep crater. Argat''s body lay in the arms of his parents and sister. The three of them cried and finally he mask slid down of Argant''s face.


    The crowd around them inhaled a breath of cold air as they saw Argant''s perfectly human face. Some of them in the church did hate humans, but not even they could bear to see a young boy die such a cruel death.


    It should have been a happy day but it turned into a horror movie for Argant''s family. They were so absorbed in grieving over his body that they did not notice the changes taken place in Argant''s body.


    His body convulsed again and startled all people present. The right stump of his arm started to tense and veins popped out like small snakes. Skin started to rip and bones could be heard breaking.


    (Dariana) ¡°Why can''t you let him die in peace? Oh God why?!¡°. Dariana''s face was the embodiement of sadness. Even the always shy Maria was now sobbing loudly and embraced Argent''s body while it coiled around.


    RSSSHK


    The sound of skin being ripped apart resounded through the church and their gazes fell upon the right stump that was now wildly moving around. The bones of his right arm started to replicate and the blood and flesh was wrapped around it until a normal looking right arm was created.


    But that was not the end. The skin ripping sound had a different origin. Maria who was holding Argant tightly could clearly see the changes on his face. A large knife scar has vertically appeared on his forehead and was bleeding with thick globs of blood.


    Dariana tried to cast healing magic before but to no avail, the wound on his forehead was not different and unaffected by the healing magic.


    The wound revealed even Argants white skull but it suddenly warped and transformed into a soft tissue. It was first cooured pink but then another layer of tissue covered the pink tissue up. After a while a huge ball of tissue has formed in the wound.


    Dariana and the rest had no idea of what currently happened and could only silently pray or loudly curse.


    The lump of flesh transformed inot an eyeball with a creepy coloration that even made Dariana, Gasaf and Maria move back a bit.


    The ''eye'' stared in all directions before it closed again. It looked as if it was bored by what it had seen and decided to sleep.


    Argant''s skin started to turn black and white and half translucient. Even inside his body took this change place.


    On his head a pair of golden curved horns appeared. They were so sharp that there mere aura could cut millions of souls asunder.


    After only one minute his whole skin was a combination of white and black nut it looked mesmerizing. The gazes of the people were filled with surprise when a pair of golden, white and black eyes were opened. They radiated a mightiness that would dwarf everything in existence.


    ''Argant'' stood up and freed himself from the terrified Maria and Dariana.


    ''Argant'' openned his mouth and a black abyss and a row of crystal teeth were revealed. The third eye openned again and only then did ''Argant'' speak while pointing at the old man.


    ¡°YOU! AHAHAHA YES YOU WERE RIGHT! I AM A MONSTER! AND I WILL DESTROY YOU ALL!¡°. ''Argant''s'' voice was deep and filled with malice and madness.


    ''Argant'' took a step forward and the ground trembled and space distorted. Black lightning shot under his feet and turned the ground to dust.


    RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP


    ''Argant'' moved his hand towards the old man while ripping air and space apart. The old man looekd at ''Argant'' in terror.


    He did not look like ''Argant'' at all anymore, he was now a real demon god, emerged from the abysall pits of the netherworld. Which would be underestimation as even the underworld could not contain him.


    Gasef tried to stop ''Argant'' but was smacked into a wall with just a thought.


    (Dariana) ¡°GASAF!¡°


    (Maria) ¡°FATHER!¡°


    Dariana and Maria were extremely worried over Gasaf and turned angry gazes towards ''Argant''.


    (Dariana) ¡°Argant! STOP! NOW!¡°


    (Maria) ¡°Brother please... STOP THIS!¡°


    (Argant) ¡°Tch... ANNOYING!¡°


    The ground started to tremble again and large amounts of boulders floated in mid air. ''Argant'' snapped his fingers and like meteors the boulders descended upon the nearby people, turning the familys into meat paste.


    Dariana, the recovering Gasaf and Maria were staring in terror and fear.


    (Argant) ¡°AHAHAHAHAH COME ON RUN MY LITTLE PIGS!¡°


    Another number of boulders descended upon the fleeing people and squashed them into pools of blood and flesh, even those outside the church were killed by the flying boulders.


    (Gasaf) ¡°ARGANT STOP THIS MAD-! HUGH!¡°. A black hand pierced Gasaf''s chest and cleanly destroyed his heart. The arm still in Gasaf''s body moved upwards and downwards and Gasaf was split into two halfes. Organs and blood sprayed everywhere even on the little Maria, tainting her pale face into a roosy red. Dariana looked at the corpse of her husband in disbelief.


    Why did this happen?


    Weren''t we one family?


    What happened with Argant?


    Those were the thoughts that ran through Dariana''s head, before a hand ran through her head.


    With another thud Dariana''s corpse fell to the ground, a gaping hole in her head.


    ''Argant'' was staying over her corpse and started to grin with mad joy.


    ¡°AHHHH ONLY ONE PEST REMAINING!¡°. ''Argant'' stared at the pale Maria and started to walk towards her.


    The terrified Maria used the rubble on the ground to throw it at ''Argant'' but it was quickly disintegrated upon contact. She tried to crawl back but she too was hit by a few boulders as well and was in dire shape.


    SWISHHHHH


    ''Argant''s'' hand cut trough the air and landed cleanly on Maria''s neck. Her flesh was like tou and showed no resistance at all as she was beheaded.


    TUD TUD TUD


    The head banged a few times on the ground until it came to a standstill, the face was still a mask of disbelief and horror.


    Dust and blood settled everywhere as only a ruin of the church remained, countless people outside the church were either wounded or smashed to death. And this should be only the beginning.


    (???) ¡°TSKTSKTSK. And here I thought a few years for yourself would help you. This here is unacceptable!¡°. A female voice silently talked to itself but it resounded in every dimension.


    ''Argant'' wanted to jump away from teh village and continue his path of carnage but suddenly gold chains erupted from his chest and encompassed his whole body. They dug themselves into his back and started to pull his ''skin'' from the back to the chest. The black and white skin was cleanly removed and revealed a normal human skin in a bronze colour.


    Argant''s body returned to normal and a seal appeared on his chest. A yinyang symbol encircled by a golden chain. He lay currently unconscious on the ground


    (???) ¡°Now I gotta clean up this mess.¡°. A blinding golden light erupted from out of nowhere and enveloped the entire village. The owner of this voice clearly did not take this matter to serious.


    The buildings were restored and thin golden chains appeared on the chest''s of the deceased, shooting up into the air and pulling at seemingly nothing.


    The bodies were restored as well although they had no light in their eyes and were mere husks. Once the chains retracted into the bodies the peoples eyes started to light up but were soon covered by heavy eyelids.


    The whole village experienced a common amnesia as no one knew what happened the day before.


    Argant was currently eating with his family, they would try tomorrow again to test his elemental aptitude as today was rather chaotic after the large scale amnesia.


    When Argant first woke up he noticed the strange marking on his chest but before anyone could see it it seeped under his skin and dissappeared.


    He was in the dark about this marking but he knew one thing for sure. The large scale amnesia was not natural, that was magic! And he burned to find out who it was and what for.

 Chapter five: Descisions

    When Argant entered the village for his aptitude test he felt tense all the time. The moment he looked at the villagers through his mask he felt a burning pain in his heart, even more so when he looked at his family.


    Something is not right with me, I have the feeling something is amiss.


    Argant tried his best to shake this feeling off but the aching in his heart did not stop. In his mind a figment of a memory flashed past, Maria''s face distorted by fear, pain, horror and any other negative emotion. Her face was scratched and her clothes torn. It was a picture of a miserable maiden in an abyss of chaos.


    ¡°Ahh! HUH HUH HUH. What... was that?!¡°. Argant clenched his chest while a soultearing pain spread through his entire body. Of course he did not reveal any pain to the outside but his heavy breathing and his slowered steps were noticed by his family.


    (Gasef) ¡°HAHA feeling nervous yet?¡°. His father spoke with a small laugh.


    (Dariana) ¡°Nothing to worry about Argant. We will be proud whatever the results.¡°


    (Maria) ¡°Brother... You can do it...¡°. Maria''s voice was meek and her snowwhite face had a hint of pink in it.


    Argant stared at his parents and his little sister and again a few broken peices of memories flew past his mind''s eye. His father torn into two halves. A cruel hole in the head of his mother. A headless corpse of Maria.


    (Argant) ¡°I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry....¡°. Argant muttered this phrase, like a defensive mantra, under his breath, hoping that the scenes he had seen were just a gruesome fantasy.


    He could not face his family and solely shock his head while walking with hurried steps towards the chapell.


    Fast forward for a hour.


    It was Argant''s turn to be tested. The reason for why he couldn''t reveal his face stayed the same and the old man believed it another time.


    The old man moved his hand towards Argant''s chest and started to send a soul thread into Argant''s soul world.


    When the thread arrived in the soul world it immediately dashed into Argant''s soul crystal. The times when Argant was enslaved by the bandit''s flashed through the old man''s mind, but he choose to ignore them for Argant''s privacy. He only frowned a bit over the hardships of Argant.


    The vibrations the thread created upon entering the crystal were emitted through a very thin black thread to the ginormous door behind Argant''s soul crystal. The door shuddered and openned slightly, instantaneously thousands of ghostly hands shot out and wanted to grab after the red soul thread.


    A golden veil descended between the door and the crystal, servering the connection of the black thread as well as blocking the ghost hands. The old man did not notice anything in this very moment.


    The inspection was done and the red soul thread returned to the old man.


    (Old man) ¡°WHAAAAAAAA! This can''t be! IMPOSSIBLE! HAHAHAHAHAH! GREAT, GREAT!¡°. The old man jumped up in the air, shouting like a little girl.


    Argant''s parents were waved over by the old man and soon they stood before him in a respectful manner.


    (Dariana) ¡°Elder what are the results of the test?¡°. Dariana was clearly the one with the better communication skills of both parents, so she alone engaged in the conversation with the elder.


    (Elder) ¡°HAHAHA. He is quite excellent. A genius for his age if so to say! Wind and Darkness are on an exceptional high level. The affinity for Darkness is tremendously high. Luckily Wind is on an extremely high levels as well, though it is slightly inferior to Darkness. And his soul crystals mana density isn''t small either. It must be at least five or six times higher than people of his age. And there is even more.¡°. The elder began to frown but still remained joyfull.


    (Elder) ¡°I still don''t know what it is exactly but it seems he got two types of unique magic. One shoul be blood type magic whereas of the other I only caught a glimpse, but it must be extremely powerful... and dark.¡°. The Elder spoke the last part with hesitation but regained his calm in a moments notice.


    For Argant''s first unique magic he came already to a conclusion, his bloody past. Unique magic or unique abilities often develop under extreme situations only, sometimes they are hereditary but this exists only amongst the ancient tribes. Argant''s blood magic might be called unique but in reality isn''t, many people with cruel and dark pasts have this magical disposition, it is called unique because you can not get it trough talent or training, its way of requirement was unique.


    (Elder) ¡°And that''s why you have to be careful. Such an exceptional genius will most likely be targeted by the Satyrian''s. It would be best to have him train in a secluded area or subscribe him to a specialized magic academy where he can focus on one element at a time.¡°. All of the joyous tone was now completely gone after he mentioned the Satyrian.


    The Satyrian''s are a powerful organisation on the demon continents. They kidnap rare geniuses, force upon them their ideals, break their wills and create powerful soldiers with the sole goal of the humans extermination. When they only catch a glimpse of a potential genius they will destroy everything in their path to get their hands on him. A truly frightening group of fanatics.


    (Elder) ¡°Next you should go to the capital of Rennhild and receive your ''Blessing'' from the High priest.¡°.


    Argant already was informed of the term ''Blessing''. A ''Blessing'' is just a small helping hand from the God''s. They give those that receive the ''Blessings'' a unique trait. The minotaures for example are blessed by their birth by the God of Temperament, thus they can experience vast increases in strength if their emotions surge to the extreme. Blessings since birth are only limited to a few different races.


    But Blessings are not always advantageous, there are for example the Blessings of the Gods of the seven sins. These blessings can forcibly change your character, mostly for the worse.


    Blessings were another reason for the countless (mostly) failed invasions of the humans. A ginormous amount of essence shards was needed to reach the ''Godrealm'' and contact the Gods within to receive a blessing. Luckily the Demon continents held an abundance of elemental essence and essence shards were only as rare as iron, in the human continent one sole essence shard could be worth more than a city.


    It''s not that all Blessings are equal, for example there can be the Blessing of the God of War or the Overgod of War, their relationship would be God = Soldier while Overgod = Commander and naturally those that receive an Overgods Blessing are way stronger than their lower blessed counterparts.


    But what really caught Argant''s interest was his own elemental aptitude. His parents told him about the realms each element has.


    All types of elements have their pros and cons. For example Fire has a highly destructive nature (pro), but can also wound the user (con). Lightning has the highest penetrative power (pro), but is hard to control (con). Water uses mostly wide-scale attacks and has low healing spells (pro), it can also wash your allies away (con). Wind is the fastest of all elements (pro), sadly it has the lowest overall power (con). Nature focuses on regeneration and creation of minions (pro), minions can hardly distinguish between friend and foe (as long as you don''t control them completely) and nature is only over powered in regions where its essence is prominent (con). Light is the strongest type of healing magic and has powerful buffs (pro), its attack spells are only effective against undead beasts and sinful enemies, its magic also weakens in dark areas (con). Darkness has a high variation of curses and mind/body control techniques for the living and the dead (pro), it is weak against all kinds of light magic (con).


    Overall the elements are balanced but this only depends on the situation, when a person that focuses only on the light-style, which is mostly a supportive style, he will have great problems against a sin free practicioner of any other style.


    The elements can be divided into two realms, the lower realm and the higher realm. When your proficiency in an element reaches its pinnacle your soul crystal will take on the traits of this element and even your body will be changed according to the element.That way many bizarre combinations can be created. Fire + Water = A body made of vapor. The balance between the elements can be shifted or negated if oneselfs wants to. For example, even if you mastered Wind and Earth you can decide if you take on a rocky defensive form or change into a humanoid gust of wind or you just remain human.


    The people that mastered the elements are only few and even after countless years a Water, Darkness and Light practicioner was never seen.


    Although many people suspect that Water, Darkness and Light were long ago mastered. Water by the aquatic demons and Darkness and Light by their respective races that are naturally talented in those elements, like Evila in Darkness or the Nephilim in Light. The only problem is that those three races live in seclusion and are thus way to difficult to stumble upon.


    Argant was pondering for a while. He never thought he himself had so high talent. And now he had to decide on which path to walk on. The physical path of a warrior or the magical path of a magus.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    He deeply venerated his fathers strength on the fields, how he wielded meter long sicles like toys and tore even stones apart. But he also saw his mother use magic on rare occasions, when a pack of Gargan Wolves attacked the fields - Giant wolves, at least two meters shoulder height made up of roots and vines, thus they themselves mostly eat crops and are very hard to deal with because of their high regeneration - his mother only utilized a simple fire spell ''Burning cross''. Argant could only stare with wide eyes as countless crosses fell down from the heavens and pinned the wolves to the ground, burning them to ashes. In this moment it seemed as if the stars have fallen upon earth and brought with them heavenly judgment.


    A warroir had to channel the elemental essence into his ki-center, meridians and attune his whole self to his respective elements, the ki-center changes the elemental essence into a substance which can be used to build up the body and reform it (proteins?).


    The magus had to directly concentrate the essence in his soul crystal and his mind.


    To become a warrior one had to ''adore'' the path of training and the world itself, only then you could accumulate the essence within your body. A magus had to focus his mind and soul into one and then slowly channel the elemental essence through it, thus it needed a high amount of spiritual self control.


    There are also those who train in both paths but the difficult is raised significantly and only rare talents could do both.


    But who was Argant? He survived two years of torture and had mostly died once in his life, what had he to fear?!


    Argant raised his fist in the air and raised his chest high. ¡°I will become a Necromage! And then I will train my Wind essence and my name will be spread throughout the continents HAHAHAHAHA!¡°. His voice was stiffled with juvenile arrogance and naivity.


    (A full fledged Darkness mage would be called Necromancer, a Necromage on the other hand is a Darkness specialized warrior and magus. A Blazeknight would be a Fire style warrior and magus. Teslaparagon=Thunder. Aquadespot=Water. Terrapaladin=Earth. Aerisrider=Wind. Gaiasage=Nature. Luminescepriest=Light.)


    Argant''s parents and the Elder just chuckled but this is youth. Being able to overcome the impossible and thinking that a mountain is just a pebble.


    This was Argant''s descision, he would travel both of his parents paths, even if it would be arderous, Argant would endure!


    (Argant) ¡°Uhhhh... in which school should I enroll?¡°. Argant directed his questioning gaze at the Elder and his parents, the latter directed their gazes to the Elder as well.


    (Elder) ¡°Just wait a month or two and I will send a letter to the Rennhof-academy straight in the heart of Rennhilde. So when you get your Blessing you can already enroll... hum but you would be send straight into the ongoing schoolyear. Argant, do you think you can do it?¡°. The Elder looked at Argant like seeing his own nephew.


    (Argant) ¡°Tch! Of course just you wait and see how I leave these brats in the dust!¡°. Once again Argant''s voice was filled with arrogance. At least he had talent to back it up.


    (Elder) ¡°Hahahahah great. I will make the preparations and sent the letter to the High Priest Ivaroch and the head of the Rennhof acedemy Ivarly. Come back in a few days, I will prepare an amulet so that you can easily prove your identity to them.¡°. ¡°Of course Elder!¡°. ¡°HA! Call me Ravian! I am not as old as you think, only a few centuries you brat! Hhehehehe!¡°....


    Dariana and Gasef could only sigh as their son started to chat happily with the Elder Ravian. They still had other things to do.


    On the other hand Maria was watching her big brother chat so casually with a lofty figur such as the Elder and couldn''t help but feel even more passionate admiration towards her big brother. (Will Maria be in the first in the Harem? This and much more in the next episode of Beyond Gods. DADADA Tututut *Guitar Solo*.)


    Big brother must is so awesome! Huh... why do I have to be so lousy... But I will not give up, I will definetly stand proudly besides Brother with my chest held high!


    Maria clutched her tiny fists before her chest and flashed Argant a burning gaze from behind.


    A month and a half passed until a carriage with a black flame and dark angel wings as back ground was driven right before the small hut of Argant''s family. The carriage for the Darkness institute of the Rennhof academy


    It was his carriage and one way ticket to the capital, his family could not assist him in this trial.


    Twelve years. Twelve years are needed for Argant to finish his whole scholarship, then he could return to the fields or just work as an adventurer and explore the yet uncharted regions of the minor continents or the danger zones of the major continents.


    Argant showed the talisman he received from Elder Ravian, a small red piece of wood with mysterious black runes. He placed one steady foot after the other into the carriage, leaned his body slightly back and cast a solemn glance at his family. His father and mother waved frantic and Maria came even sprinting forward, her hazelnut brown hair swaying with each movement.


    She jumped off the ground straight into Argant, who in turn tripped out of the carriage to catch Maria.


    (Argant) ¡°Maria what ar-!¡°. Argant wanted to rebuke her, but a pair of soft pink lips sealed his mouth shut, the kiss lasted only for a few seconds but for Argant it felt like eternity, heat spreading from his lips all the way down to his groin.


    A thin line of saliva was drawn between the relucantly parting lips of the young boy and the young girl. Argant''s mind was filled with a thin fog turning him into an momentarily invalid.


    (Maria) ¡°Uhhhh UH... Mum and Dad always do that when they part... so... I thought we could do that too?!¡°. Maria casted a apologizing gaze upward but Argant only chuckled and shiveled her smooth hair.


    (Argant) ¡°This is something that only the bonded should do, we are to young Maria. Maybe in the future we might see each other and who knows what might happen then...¡°


    Maria was looking at Argant with eyes filled with longing but she fully understood what her brother meant and silently turned back and went besides her parents. Giving her best smile she waved frantically towards Argant while the tears just spilled like a river from her eyes. Argant had been the closest any person ever had with Maria, except for her real family. He never seriously reprimanded her, he was always calm and composed when together with Maria, showing utter affection and a strong family bond. Argant was a safe haven for Maria, she could just silently stay beside him and he would not be angry in the sightest, in fact he took that as a challenge to get even closer to Maria, to disperse her shyness like the sun disperses the night. And now he would leave for twelve years at least and the heart is an unstable thing, quick in its descision making and hardly focused on one thing for eternity. That was life.


    The carriage was already a few miles away from the small house. Argant sat in the comfortable black carriage wearing a black robe and his iron mask. Beside him was a small bag with a few spare clothes. Argant carefully eyed his bag and started to search about.


    A silver glimmer flashed in the bag and Argant immediately reached after it. Argant let out a sigh of relief and looked at the silver object. It was a sharp piece of blood smerched iron, sharp edged and viscious. One could feel an aura of hate and sin emenating from the cool steel. A cold glimmer ran past the eyeholes of Argant''s mask.


    Argant''s breathing grew ragged and small specks of smoke came out of under his mask.


    (Argant) ¡°He... Heheheh... HAHAHAHAHAH! Finally the acting can come to an end! Academy my ass! Now I can finally enjoy myself... hehehheheHAHAHAHA!¡°. Argant''s mad laughter ran throughout the carriage and the driver couldn''t help but turn backwards.


    A silver light. Pain. Darkness.


    The only things the rider could feel and see before his consciousness faded into nothingness while a deep cut on height of his eyes split his skull apart. The trotting of the horses and the vibrations shock the top part up and down, sending blood and brain matter in all directions. (His head looks now like a trash bin, ok?)


    Argant spit on the face of the rider and kicked him off the carriage into a crevice by the side of the road.


    (Argant) ¡°Let''s GO!¡°. Argant shouted and sharply swung the reins urging the horses to travel at a faster pace.


    The corpse of the man lied there on the ground a testament to what Argant was capable of.


    In the few months of waiting something in Argant changed, or better... something was added. Something infected and corrupted his soul, slightly at first but it grew powerful over the months. Something that wanted to wreak havoc!


    The thing in Argant knew only this: No one would stay in Argant''s path and the descisions HE made.

 Chapter six: Masquerade

    Argant rode the carriage atop of a small hill. The horses neighed in satisfaction because of the sudden break.


    With a jump Argant left the riders seat and stood on the cold dirt ground. It was already night and two beautiful silver moons were looming over him. The hill was desolate, only a few patches of grass were growing at the edges and no trees were nearby.


    Breathing cold air under his mask Argant looked around. His mind was filled with rage and cruelty. The urge to kill colored his eyes red, which shone like the forebidding eyes of a demonic predator.


    Argant stretched out his left arm and opened his hand up, after a quite whisper a small blob of darkness was quickly formed and slowly turned into a thin black snake. Argant hid the snake under his sleeve, the snake quickly coiled itself around his arm and could not be seen under the fine clothes.


    The blood on his left hand was formed into a thread of crimson red, flying towards Argant''s mouth and quickly being drank up.


    Argant could feel his veins pulsate with vigor as the new blood entered his blood stream.


    All these abilities simply spawned in Argant''s mind wihtout any need to learn them at all. Argant had no idea where they came from but he was thankful for the knowledge.


    A gust of wind arose under Argant''s feet and collected the loose dirt into a small heap. With a plop Argant fell into his selfmade dirt bed. He wqas long ago accustomed to the feeling of sleeping on the ground.


    Pictures of his old and new family flashed past his mind as he tried to find a handful of sleep. Whenever he thinks about them he can feel his heart skip a beat but just an instant afterwards these pictures begin to corode and are replaced by the two years of cruelty and torment. Only his most recent memory, Maria''s kiss, was still pure. Argant did not know when these last happy memories will fade and he couldn''t care anymore. His mind was already a mess of destruction and carnage, he wanted revenge!


    But taking revenge on the dead was impossible so he had to switch on living targets to vent his anger on.


    The sun replaced the moons after a while and burned its blinding rays of light into Argant''s closed eyelids.


    Argant''s eyes only openned slowly, reluctant to open up at all. The mask was moved in such a fashion that Argant''s eyes could be covered up.


    Slowly his eyes adapted to the new brightness. The horses just stood where they had been before, no need or lack of sleep was seen in their eyes or on their bodies. These were horses of the demon continents after all, great endurance and faster movement were granted through the high essence density, also absorbable by animals.


    Argant once again boarded the carriage and hurried the horses forward. The hill was left behind and the scenery changed into a thick cluster of different trees.


    The sun tried its best to shine through but the pack of trees was to dense and only a few lucky rays managed contact with the ground, thus the forest was only dimly lit.


    Different kinds of animals hushed to and fro between the thickets. Some cries or roars of prey and predators could be heard but most of them were drowned in the sound of the rustling leaves and swaying trees.


    The carriage was moving slightly slower over the muddy ground and after many hours only half of the forest was passed.


    Argant just lazily laid around in the carriage as an unnatural sound penetrated the monotony of the forest''s song.


    The sounds were unique, the sounds of battle. Argant could identify them from everywhere, the smell of blood was also a helpful indicator for Argant.


    Licking his lips under the mask he ushered the horses to a quick sprint until he was only two- or threehundred meters away from the ongoing battle.


    Argant jumped out of the carriage and moved, as swift as the wind, down the road. When he could already catch a few glimpses of burning bullets and a display of rainbow colored lights he decided to enter into the carpet of trees to remain hidden.


    Using a thin fog of darkness Argant shrouded himself and advanced closer to the battle.


    Two parties were opposing each other. One party consisted of a group of Kobolds and Ishtars, much like hobogoblins but bigger and scrawnier with sharp claws on hand and feet. The other group was clearly a group of adventurers, there equipment was clean and looked more like ornaments than real weapons, which is the reason why they are already badly wounded by the stout short swords of the Kobolds and the fierce claws of the Ishtars.


    The adventurer group consisted of six people, four female and two males. The males were clearly warriors, or tried to be ones, they had armor than shone in brilliant colors if it wasn''t smudged by their own blood and dirt. Each of them held a broadsword that was clearly to much to handle and was thus only an oversized iron board. Out of the four females two were light style and tried their hardest to heal the males, making their mana pools deplete like a river in a desert. Of the other two one was an archer and the other a pyro mage.


    To Argant this group was laughable, the clerics could not attack with light magic because Kobolds and Ishtars were very much like animals and did not sin even if they killed countless others. They had to kill for their own survival. So the clerics were already useless even if they could heal, the warriors just took one hit after the other and so the constant healing incantations costed time and mana. The pyromage was even worse. She had no training in teambattles and often hit the warriors or simply missed the swift Kobolds and Ishtars


    Only the archer possed some decent skill, using amplified arm strength to stretch the bowstring to the utmost limit the arrows that were shot by the ebenwood bow were transformed into deadly projectiles. The arrows whirred through the forest and lodged themselves in the bodies of the opponents.


    The Ishtar and Kobolds numbered twelve and were at least five times as coordinated as the adventurers. With a few barks and skreeches the Ishtar and Kobolds split up into two groups. One group of nine that was pulling the attention of the adventurers and another group of three that headed straight for the archer, although the Ishtar moved through the treetops rather than walking on the ground


    If Argant can decide between human like people and beasts on which he can vent his anger on he still possesed a bit of human sanity and thus has choosen the three Ishtar oncoming.


    The archer was overwhelmed with the enemies inteligence and tried to use her bow as a blunt weapon, but the Ishtar used their slim but surprisingly sturdy arms to smash her into a tree. The clerics changed their focus on the archer and quickly began to heal her. The result was that the warriors were overpowered by their wounds and quickly fell unconscious due to blood loss. The Kobolds ignored the dying warriors and dashed to the pyromage, the person with the potential highest offense, IF SHE COULD HIT, DAMMIT! With the Enemies being now so close the pyromage quickly chanted some spells and killed two Kobolds off before a sword lodged itself in her shoulder, the blade would have bisected her if not for her chain male under the robe.


    The clerics were stunned by the current development and could not focus on any of the people at all. A rusty blade flashed before the eyes of one of the clerics.


    Whispering a silent prayer the cleric awaited death. The other cleric seeing her comrades demise tried to move her body to tackle the Kobold away but he was already to close. Death was inevitable.


    Is what the cleric thought.


    Before the blade could cleave her head a black serpent tore its fangs into the Kobold. Instantly the flesh turned white and then purple with black spots. Foam spouted out of the Kobold''s mouth until it died.


    The snake moved deeper into the Kobold, like a drill, and soon the corpse started to twitch and move again.


    The undead Kobold turned back from the cleric and stabbed at an Ishtar that wanted to check on the Kobold''s condition. The blade pierced the green chest and in the same instant a black serpent moved around the balde and entered the gashing wound. The Ishtar coughed up some blue blood and looked with disbelieving eyes at the Kobold before it fell down. And then it stood up again with black dots covering its skin.


    With Argant''s combination in Darkness magic of poisoning and then controlling the dead he quickly raised an army of mindless ghouls.


    In the same time that Argant''s semi sentinent serpent did its work, he himself quickly disposed of the three Ishtar that wanted to execute the Archer. When they wanted to jump on her, as she was leaning against a tree, Argant quickly swiped them away with wind magic. Being in mid air and caught off guard they were easily catched by the sudden gale and thrown of course. The Ishtar howled in pain as they fell head first into the forest ground but in just a few seconds they stood up again, green blood sticking atop of their heads.


    When they turned around they were shocked. Two giant humming windblades were floating right above Argant and with a shwooosh they were fired towards two of the three Ishtar. One was directly bisected while the other managed to dodge partly, leaving behind a severed arm and a cleaved flank. The wounded Ishtar tried to turn away but suddenly its green blood formed into countless blades and started to rain down on it. With a few shrieks the Ishtar fell to the ground, unnmoving and covered in countless wounds.


    The third Ishtar stared with shock at Argant and tried to run away but a hand made of green blood, that popped out of the small puddle of the green liquid, held it rooted at its place.


    Argant grinned wickedly under his mask and a dense black fog streamed out of his left hand. The fog circled around the Ishtar and slowly entered through its mouth. When the fog was gone a black seal appeared on the forehead of the Ishtar and its red eyes turned pitch black.


    With his undead army attacking only a few Kobolds remained. Argant willed the marked Ishtar to the Kobolds and with the other undeads they were mercilessly slaughtered.


    The black seal started to fade a bit as well as Argant''s control as the eyes regained their lost color. The Ishtar stared at his fallen comrades, it completely remembered what it di just moments ago, slashing the flesh of his friends open, bathing in their blood and gore.


    With fury in its eyes it wanted to turn towards Argant but the black seal once again lit up and terrifying black lightnings crackled under its skin. The Ishtar howled in pain and was momentarily stunned. Argant moved closer and used the rusty sword to poke the Ishtar, drawing bloody lines on its body.


    After a whole minute the Ishtar died, unable to move or fight back. Looking at the disfiguered corpse Argant flashed a smile. ¡°That mind control is pretty useful.¡°. Argant mused to himself while he pursed his lips.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Argant moved his hand and the undeads turned into unmoving corpses again. Black serpents flew atop of Argant''s palm and transformed into one, which quickly resumed its position around of Argant''s arm.


    The group of adventurers was completely stunned, those that were still conscious of course.


    ¡°What you lookin'' at. Shouldn''t you heal those guys?¡°. Argant''s voice was hoarse and dry.


    The clerics looked at each other and quickly channeled the light type essence into their minds to chant a massive spell.


    A green light with flakes of gold radiated out of a magical circle inbetween the clerics. After a while a huge dome of green and gold was set up in a radius of twenty meters. The deep wounds on the warriors quickly healed as well as the tear on the unconscious pyromancer. The archer was still pretty fine, except of some broken ribs which were quickly mended by the healing magic.


    Argant looked at his ''work of art'', Kobolds and Ishtar with bursted purple skin and bloody wounds on their bodies. The look of disbelief and sadness over the loss of their comrades was still present on their faces. Argant felt this was pretty good for his first slaughter and turned towards the group of adventurers who where scrambling together.


    They were already young adults, between 16 and 24 at most, but because of the field work and rich meals Argant''s body was already the same height as those girls, the warriors were way taqler than him, they had perfect faces and seemed to be of the Elfin bloodline, pointy ears, white hair and the stuff.


    The girls were real beauties. The pyromancer had a savage air around her, red, long and curly hair, sharp blue eyes, a fine nose and pearl white skin. What was even more astonishing were the literal flames on the girls hairtips and arms. Her robe was a blood red and seemed to ignore the burning flames. She was a Krampus.


    The archer had tanned skin and short black hair, dark brown eyes with vertical pupils, dark red lips ¨C formed into a relieved grin ¨C, and a slight button nose. Her grin showed a row of crystal clear teeth and four sharp canines. The tip of her fingers were armed with sharp claws instead of fingernails. Her body was toned and her belly top barely hold her breasts in check. Her shorts revealed long musclular legs and instead of feet a pair of paws was revealed. The archer girl was a Lycanthrope.


    What surprised Argant were the twin clerics, long blonde, braided hair flowed like a golden river and their green eyes shoned like emeralds. Their rosy lips trembled slightly as they watched Argant proudly stand before the heap of flesh but it did in no way blemish their beauty. On each of the girls a pair of angel wings was placed on the back as well as a pair of blunt horns on their heads. Both of them were Valkyries.


    ¡°So... Who are you guys?¡°. Argant asked with an arrogant attitude. He rescued them after all it was only fair that they would show some respect.


    ¡°Tch. If you ask you should at least tell your name first. Bastard magician...¡°. One of the warriors muttered.


    ¡°Hoh... So I did not save your sorry asses? And this is how you repay me... Well...¡°. Waisting no more words Argant transformed into a blur with the help of wind magic and appeared right before the Elf warrior. Sending out a rocket fast fist straight into his face the warrior was sent flying into a tree. Teeth clattered out of the poor guys mouth and he coughed up mouthfuls of blood.


    ¡°Hehehehe. Now I ask again. Who are you guys?¡°. Argant couldn''t help his snicker, the warrior was just to weak.


    The other warrior, learning from his friends mistake hurriedly introduced himself. ¡°My name is Erik and I am a nature style warrior. That poor guy you send flying is a friend of my village, Kai, he himself is a nature warrior as well.¡°. Erik gave Argant a respectful nod and turned towards his friend to help him up.


    Argant turned his gaze towards the girls.


    ¡°M-m-my name is Eorina. Nice t-t-to meet you.¡°. The red haired pyromancer said in a shy manner, completely dispersing the savage aura she had before.


    ¡°Silana is my name. Nice to make your acquaintance.¡°. The archer responded in a respectful manner. Because of her race Argant esteemed her to be around four years old or younger, the adult age for all canin races.


    ¡°Lana/Lara. Nice to meet you.¡°. The twins said in unison. Tilting their heads to the side and giving Argant a joyful smile.


    Argant frowned, he couldn''t cope with the playful type he rather liked mature persons a conversation between them was more comfortable.


    So Argant turned towards Silana, Erik was still helping Kai who was still out of comission.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡°


    ¡°We came here for a mission. According to the nearby famers the Kobolds and Ishtar became a, I quote, real pain in the ass. So we came to kill them.¡°


    ?Ye... kill. I saw you guys ''killing'' them.¡°


    ¡°Yeah... This was our first job, alright?¡°


    ¡°Haaaaaah...¡°. Argant could only sigh, in terms of power they were far inferior to him and yet they sought out a quest like that.


    ¡°So, they are dead and now?¡°. Argant inquired.


    ¡°Won''t you bother to tell us your name?¡°. Silana countered, noticing that Argant might avoid this question if not asked directly.


    ¡°Why should I tell you guys? I could kill you right now, you know?¡°


    ¡°Uhhhh... Come on! Were is the harm?¡°


    Argant sneered but in the end he gave in.


    ¡°Argant is my name. I am a traveller and right now I am heading towards the capital of Rennhild. Any other questions?¡°


    ¡°No. Well... yes. Could you help travel with us to the farmer to end this quest? I promise you get a fair share of the reward!¡°


    ¡°Tell me how much?¡°


    ¡°80/20. 80 us 20 you.¡°


    ¡°Pffffffft! HAHAHAHA! Are you serious? I killed all of them and saved your puny lifes and now you wanna give me a FIFTH? You got a deathwish or what?¡°


    ¡°Allright, alright. I was just testing the waters.¡°


    ¡°50/50?¡°


    ¡°What, are you joking? 20/80 or your lifes are forfeit. Last offer.¡°. Argant''s gaze was stern and unwavering, there was no room for negotiations anymore.


    ¡°And from what should we live? The fee alone cost 5 gold coins, and the remuneration is only 125 gold. If you get eighty percent we six have to split 20 gold amongst us. Cheapskate!¡°


    Argant swayed the knife back and forth, this bloody, rusty knife. A simple gesture but a savage threat.


    ¡°Could we at least keep the corpses?¡°


    ¡°Sure. I don''t need them anyway. No words left? Good. Let''s go!¡°


    ¡°Wait a minute! Lana and Lara have to rest, no we all have to. It is quite fatiguing for your mind to walk on knifes edge for that long!¡°


    ¡°I got a carriage not to far from here, and rest assured I alone am enough for a majority of the beasts in this forest.¡°


    Instead of hustling the exhausted group to the carriage Argant himself disappeared like the wind and returned seconds later with a carriage in tow.


    Argant modified the carriage in a way that the acadamies emblem was cut down, left over was an ordinary black carriage.


    The carriage had space for four people and two seats for the drivers. The girls sat inside while Erik and Kai were driving. Argant has choosen to stay atop the carriage, lazing around and sometimes keeping watch over the surroundings.


    They quickly made their way through the forest. Silana had an excelent accuracy once she could focus on her target and swiftly disposed of potential dangers. Even Argant couldn''t help but reveal a satisfied expression, of course no one could see his face under the mask.


    Eorina took some time to practice the low rank fire spells as well.


    To execute a spell one has to collect the elemental essence in the environment, then the gathered essence, which is in an unstable state, has to be controlled, this is were mana comes in play. Mana helps the elemental essence to take form and is nothing more than a control element. The bigger your own mana pool the more essence you can control at once or over a longer time.


    A chant''s objective is to make the user fall into a state of trance for a better mana control, the problem here is that many magicians can only enter this trance in a static state and are that way more vulnerable to attacks in this timeframe.


    Only people with a great control over ones mind or special abilities are able to easily manipulate the mana within to execute spells in rapid succsessions.


    Eorina was rather weak in terms of mana control, resulting in her being unable to control the trajectory or the are of effect of her spells as well as the strength.


    Once the mana pool or ki is depleted over and over again the body switches onto another source for a last desperate struggle, the soul essence. Using soul essence to power once body has great benefits as it is an even purer energy than elemental essence itself but the drawbacks are severe, nausea and pain all over once body as well as amnesia and permanent damage to once mind and short- and long-term memory are the result.


    Thus the group stopped Eorina the moment she fainted for the first time due to mana exhaustion, a warning signal of the body.


    When the sun was already down and the moon rising the group of seven could already see a small village only a few hundred meters up ahead, a wooden gate was blocking the entrance to the village and a few horned guards were keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.


    Argant, still laying atop the carriage, looked up at the starry sky, pulling the mask from his face two rows of tears were forcing its way out of Argant''s eyes. The reason? His last happy memory, the kiss, was already clouded by the red fog of blood and madness. Argant shock his head, trying to force the corruption in his mind away, but it constantly ate away at his mind, killing Argant slowly in the process and giving birth to something much darker.


    What the fuck is happening to me?!. These were Argants thoughts as they finally stopped infront of the village gates.

 I need MOAR names!

    Guys please just randomly write down names in the coments.


    It''s just I don''t want to copy the names of other famous fanfics so I need a bit of inspiration for names that don''t sound like utter bullshit!


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    So just write down your thoughts on cool names. But I mean names for people not some anime attacks like ''Thousand Star Breaker'' or anything ok?

 Chapter seven: Whispers and Howls

    (Had a fever right after vacations. Fuck yeah missed my first two school days! -.-)


    The village entrance was only dimly lit, a few torches and lamposts hear and there, nothing much.


    The guards had ordinary weapon and armor donned, most of them were already at a critical state in their durability, a proof of countless battles, battles against beasts and bandits.


    Four watchtowers were placed on each corner of the village, at least 100 meters apart from each other and forming a perfect square.


    There was one main entrance, the one where Argant and his group arrived and another one opposite of the main entrance.


    With their hawk like eyes the guards immediately pinpointed Argant and co.. Staffs, bows and crossbows were raised in a menacing manner.


    ¡°Halt! Who goes there?¡°. One of the guards barked down. He was a sturdy man, at least two meters high with a magnificient brown full beard, brown skin and deep red horns sprouting from his head.


    ¡°Guard Captain! It''s me Silana, Erik, Kai, Eor-!¡°


    ¡°I get it already come on in!¡°. The captain interrupted and jumped down the meter high gate, landing right behind it.


    After a while the two wooden doors openned up and revealed a small pastoral village made up entirely by wooden huts. Only two buildings seemed to be extraordinary. The first was a giant house made of stone and bricks with a roof of raven black tiles and a hanging sign with two crossed swords and a wolf head as background, hanging on its side. The second house was just extraordinary big and seemed out of place in this village. The house of a noble.


    The black roofed house stood right in the middle of the village, while the noblehouse was not to far away. All the other huts seemed to center around the black roofed house and multiple roads like a spiderweb spread out of the stone house.


    Directly around the black roofed house was clear space, as if the other huts did not dare to draw closer.


    The carriage was lead by the guard captain directly towards this empty place. Now they stood infront of the entrance of the black roofed house.


    The sign swayed in the wind and loud jeers of drunken laughter and the tales of bards rang out from within. It was also one of the few houses were light still burned, defying the pressuring darkness like a twinkling star.


    Crash! The sund of something breaking rang out from within and shortly afterwards the sound of a brawl could be ehard as well.


    ¡°AHHHH!¡°. With a shout a figure flew out of the entrance at high speed, only seconds after three people followed suit and landed hard on the ground.


    Surprisingle the group did not paid these persons any mind but the person who threw them out. A man as big as grizzly, with an awfully hairy body but an even more so hairless head, so hairless that his facial features looked like a young child, if not for the wrinkles and the murderous gaze, a psycho-grandpa-baby face then.


    The gaurd captain immediately began to laugh out loud. ¡°Hahahahah! Strenok you old fool! If you treat all youngsters like that there won''t be any more adventurers! Harhahahah!¡°, the gaurd captain went closer and gave the grizzly man a strong hand shake and a bear hug.


    ¡°Hahahahahhahah! Don''t blame me Arlarn! These guys tried to wreak havoc in my guild house! Tell me how would you have punished them. They would probably be beaten balck and blue! HAHAHA!¡°. Arlarn and Strenok still laughed a while while enjoying the company of an old comrade.


    Arlarn directed his gaze to the carriage and the adventurer group that were exiting mentioned carriage.


    ¡°Silana, Kai, Erik, Eorina, Lana, Lara! Have you guys finished your job already?!¡°. Arlarn said, surprise and relief filled in his voice. Surprise about them finishing their first job so fast and relief that none of them had to be lifted down the earth.


    ¡°Haaaa... Well more or less.¡°. Silana answered.


    ¡°Ho? What do you mean more or less?¡°. Arlarn asked while tilting his head.


    Strenok also turned around. ¡°Yeah. What do you mean more or less?¡°.


    ¡°Let''s go in at first. Strenok come in as well, I am sure they got a nice story to tell.¡°. Arlarn turned already around as he said this and the group of seven plus Argant entered the guild house.


    Crack. Crush. Creak. *Break*.


    In a far away land stood lone mountain in a deserted wasteland and yet atop this hill stood a mighty blood red beast. With a closer look one could see that the creature did not stood on an ordinary mountain, it was a pile of bones. Some were already broken, others were fresh and had even some muscle tissue or skin sticking to them.


    The beast was currently curled up but suddenly it moved its head and gazed into the sky.


    ¡°It... seeeems... myyy... timmee... hasssss... COME!¡°


    The beasts body quivered and soon it stood up, shattering skulls and other bones in just a second as if there was no resistance at all.


    The blood red limbs supported an equally bloody body. It was the body of a domineering wolf. The fur of the massive wolf seemed to flow like rivers of blood and each hair had sharpness that rivaled grandmaster swords. The monster shock its head from side to side to ease its, by a thousand-year-sleep caused, diziness.


    The head of the wolf had a pair of grey eyes that held no hint of life or emotion in them at all. Under the chaps rows upon rows of charcoal black teeth was revealed, so sharp that one might faint from a simple glance.


    Moving its head to the front the creature started to perk up its ears and sniff in the air.


    ¡°Master...! I... I have waited so long... Hhahahahah!¡° The wolf started to tremble in ecstasy as it sended its demonic laugh towards the heavens.


    ¡°The day I felt your presence I swore to the gods! ''The descent of this mighty creature shall be heralded by burning winds and twisted lands. And with the coming of this horror those who draw breath shall know the true meaning of eternal slumber.'' They shall pay!¡°


    The wolf lolled and shook of the dust that settled on its body over the countless years. A dim white light was shining under the pile of bones but after only a few seconds it started to flicker and then...


    BOOM! A sound as if the world imploded into itself. CRAK. Followed by the sound of glass breaking.


    The wolf only smiled and revealed its predatory weapons in its whole splendour.


    The wolf flexed its leg muscles and then... vanished. Only the super sonic boom created by the wild dash was proof of the wolf moving away. The pile of human and non-human remnants was pulverized by the sheer force and was soon carried out by the gentle wind, leaving behind an ordinary flatland with a few rare patches of wild grass.


    In the plain a red blur flashed at the horizon and wherever this red blur flashed past, death would await. Only a trail of blood was evidence for this creatures awakening. All lifeforms, plants or animals, started to die out or wither once this red flash moved past them, even the ground dried out and started to split apart, this thing was the walking apocalypse.


    Seconds later the red blur was already way past the horizon.


    ¡°I, Ragnar shall be by your side, master! I, the living cataclysm will serve you forever!¡°. The wolf howled against the skies and continued on in its swath of destruction.


    The guild house was warm and welcoming. Tables with chairs circling them were already occupied by a variety of people. Lizardmen, avian people and other types of beast men and demi humans. In a far-off corner was a group of three people,


    Two male Valkros, beings that look the same as humans on the outside, except for a red crystal in their foreheads, but are completely different on the inside. Velkros are like vampires, except that they galore absorb the life essence of their prey, killing them on the spot. Once their red gem perceives prey their anatomy changes greatly and turns them into disturbing abominations, their heads turn lamprey like and their limbs became sharp and dangerous. Even among demons their bodies were still in the top ten of the most terrifying.


    One of them had blonde hair while the other had black hair, they looked pretty average so I won''t specify them.


    The other person was completely covered by a black robe, only two long black spikes penentrated the robe on the back. The spikes looked akin to the legs of a spider but thin silver lines were hanging down from them.


    Only a few whispers escaped the mouths of the three people and soon they stood up, threw some copper and silver coins on the table and left the guild house.


    Argant''s group was directed past the reception to a massive wooden door. Behind the door was a staircase which seemed to go up forever.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    The guild master Arlarn moved his hand against the side of the staircase and activated a blue light. Soon the space began to distort and revealed an immensly shorter staircase than before and another massive door at its end.


    One could realize easily how strong this illusion magic might have been, probably so strong that one might seriously walk up the stairs forever without going up at all in reality.


    The room they entered was quiet and spacious. It felt warm and friendly.


    Three large brown leather sofas surrounding a giant table of black marble stood in the center. Behind the sofas was a massive wooden desk with a huge pile of paperwork on top of it.


    The walls were blocked by rows upon rows of bookshelves filled with the most exotic of lectures, even from teh human continent. Of course the group paid the books no mind.


    A golden chandelier was lighting the room in a comfortable light.


    The group of nine seated themselves on the sofas. Immediately cups of tea or coffe, depending on the guests requests, were given out by a old butler. The butler smiled, bowed and left the room.


    Eight cups were placed on the table. The cups were for Arlarn, Strenok and the adventurer group. Silana and the rest immediatley noticed the missing cup and Silana was the first to speak.


    ¡°Master Arlarn I am sorry to inconvinience you but one cup is missing.¡°. Salina and the others had an appologetic look on their face.


    ¡°For whom?¡°. Arlarn gave Silana and the rest a questioning gaze.


    ¡°For our companion Ar-? Huh? Where is he?¡°. Silana gazed around the room but Argant was nowhere to be found.


    ¡°Hum? Did he not come up here with us?¡°. The others also questioned.


    Strenok and Arlarn just gave them a confused look.


    ¡°Hooo? Why do you worry so much about him? Don''t tell me! You got a crush on him?!¡°. Arlarn looked at Silana with big eyes.


    Silana''s cheeks reddened so much that it was even visible on her tanned skin. ¡°Of course not!¡°. She shouted but somehow her tone did not seem to be convincing. Even her own companions started to chuckle and grin. ¡°It''s just that he was the one who rescued us.¡°. Silana shouted at Arlarn.


    Arlarn quited with the teasing and gave Silana and her group a seerious look. ¡°Rescued? What do you mean he ''rescued'' you guys?¡°.


    Silana and the rest just scratched their heads awkwardly. ¡°Well... We somehow overestimated our abilities...¡°. Kai said, not wanting to be left out in the conversation, Elfs were arrogant and prideful after all.


    ¡°Ok just tell me exactly what happened.¡°. Arlarn''s tone calmed the group of newbie adventurers and they started to talk abot their mission and how Argant saved them from their deaths.


    ¡°He should be pretty strong it seems. Hah... you should really thank him then, but 20/80! He sure wants the money. HAHAHAHA!¡°. Arlarn''s laughter rang out trough the guild house, he already took a liking to Argant. Not only was Argant talented he also had a strict personnality and would stick with his descisions. He liked such people.


    Silana and her teammates could only sigh, they knew Arlarn''s problematic personality. ¡°I guess I should look for him.¡°. Silana stood up and left the room.


    ¡°What has he done that Silana admires him that much?¡°. Arlarn quietly mumbled to himself.


    While the group was still chatting Silana already browsed the entire guildhouse. ¡°Hah... Where is that guy?¡°. Silana was really wondering where Argant went, she could swear he was right behind them. ¡°Got no choice but use this.¡°. Silana frowned lightly.


    Her nose started to twitch and instantly all the scents in a hundred meter radius entered her nostrils. Alas Silana did not like this tracking method, it made her seem more animalistic and unwanted or smelly scents were also present.


    She needed only a few seconds to distinguish Argant''s scent from the others. A ''trail'' appeared in Silana''s mind and she hurriedly followed it.


    It leads.... to the roof?! How did he get up there?!


    Silana started to wonder. The roof was very high and the walls were protected by a thin magic membrane that loosens your footing and grip. She could not imagine how Argant went up there. The huts were to far away as that he could use them as a means to jump over.


    Silana circled around the hosue but found no point where she could climb or jump on the house. Nevertheless she focused her wind mana in her legs and took off.


    Unfortunately she could not reach the roof and even if she had no way to hold onto it.


    ¡°ARGANT!!!!¡°. She knew she couldn''t reach up there, so why not shout his name so that HE moves.


    *Silence*


    ¡°ARGANT YOU ASS! I KNOW YOU ARE UP THERE!¡°. Her voice grew even louder.


    *Chirp* *Chirp*


    Nothing. She got no reply. Only the sarcastic chirping of the cicadas.


    But sadly she couldn''t know that Argant was simply unable to answer her.


    In the midst of a different universe.


    A greenish door stood obstinately in the center of a super massive blackhole. The door had no holding nor did it seem to be sturdy but the blackhole could not even deform nor swallow it. The door appeared to be in another dimension and could not interact with the outside space at all.


    A woman clad in golden suddenly manifested right before the door. Her golden curly hair waved in the windless space. Her features were breathtaking. Eyes ¨C that changed color depending on your position ¨C so rich that you could lost yourself in them. With just a glimpse these eyes seemed to suck you in and trap your soul but in a positive way. Her lips were full and had a beautiful rosy color, one just wanted to kiss these pair of magnificient lips. Her nose was slender and just simply perfect, position, symmetry, size, everything. Her body seemed to be made up entirely off curves, be it her hips, her full ass or her breasts, curves to the max!


    Her golden robe fluttered in the space and her beauty made even the blackhole seemingly blush. A freakin physical extreme was blushing! The power of true beauty. A goddess of beauty.


    With a flick she appeared in a pocket dimension inside the dimension the door led to. From the pocket dimesnion she observed a chained figure inside the ''door''s dimension''.


    A greenish giant with multiple arms and black claws. Instead of a face was a simple clowns mask.


    White chains bound his arms and different white stones pressured the being in a kneeling position.


    The creatures head hung low and he silently muttered something indistinguishable.


    ¡°Hum... Brother seems to be doing fine but father sure is cruel...¡°. The goddess silently mumbled.


    The green giant shot his head up.


    ¡°bo...g b...r..ng.¡° The goddess''s ears perked up


    ¡°Bor...ng boring, boriNG, boRING, BORING! WHY IS IT SO BORING HERE?! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I wanna do something! This boredom will kill me!!!¡°. The giant yelled inside the dimension.


    Even the goddess had to chuckle a bit. ¡°Since when had brother such a childish side to him? Hihihi.¡°. She truly could not understand her brother.


    ¡°FUUUUUUCK and what''s up with this uglyass body? Why did it had to be this assholes body?! AHH DAMMIT!¡°


    ¡°Wait... what did he say?¡°. The goddess questioned herself. She exited the pocket dimension and stood right before her ''brother'' now.


    ¡°What do you mean with ''this uglyass body''?¡°. The goddess asked her ''brother''.


    ¡°What do YOU mean with what I mean? Of course I mean this ugly piece of shit body you put me in. Couldn''t you at least give me my body instead of sticking me in the body of this stupid asshole dipshit?!¡°


    ¡°Wait... you don''t mean...¡°. The goddess instantly shot threads of gold into her ''brother''. The threads pierced right into the soul inhibiting the respective body.


    The goddess recalled her threads and stumbled back. ¡°No way... How can this be possible? Father... you moron.¡°


    OHHH! On a sidenote, I only noticed now that I mixed up the names of teh gaurd captain and the guild master. Arlarn is the guild master and Strenok is the guard captain. Only noticed when writing the next chapter :D!

 Chapter eight: Blood

    The black roof and the cold night air felt surprisingly warm on Argant''s body. He just silently laid atop the guild house, gazing into the stars.


    His mask was laying by his left side and the robe was pulled from his body.


    His dirty blonde hair fluttered in the gentle nightly breeze. It was a peaceful atmosphere, something out of an extravagant painting.


    Argant''s firm gaze held no signs of life anymore. The peace... was just an illusion. What laid there was nothing more than the former husk of Argant.


    His mind has long ago lost the battle against the corruption and to protect those around him he used advanced wind magic to catapult himself onto the guild house''s roof. Here the people could not get close to him and so he could prevent himself from killing them if he falls into a berserk state.


    Of course once he got down from the roof he would attack them anyway but by then they must have had noticed his disappearance and heightened their allertness, so if Argant behaves suspiscious they would attack him. Another reason why he unmasked himself beforehand: killing a human won''t weigh on their consciences.


    He just prayed that in his onslaught he won''t kill anyone, he would not be able to forgive himself for that.


    Another safety measure which he installed was his darkness magic. He cursed himself countless times, a curse that drains vitality, turns your bones fragile, increases fatigue and pain, all those things were casted onto himself to make it easier for his companions to kill him. The snake which he created was also close to him and would bite mercilessly down onto him if the snake would notice an extreme change in Argant.


    (The snake is made of mana, mana is connected with the soul, so... the snake would notice a change in his soul. Yeah I know I just made this stuff up, in less than a minute to be precise. :S)


    With everything prepared Argant''s body just laid there, cold and unmoving like a corpse.


    A minute passed.


    Two minutes.


    Ten minutes.


    Half an hour.


    His body shock softly. It appeared to be just a slight trembling, at first. But soon his body started to convulse. The snake noticed the change but was still waiting patiently; maybe its master was alright?


    The red fog of carnage wraped around Argant''s soul and manifested itself in his eyes. The golden glimmer was lost and replaced by a crimson red.


    The curses did their deed and destroyed Argant''s body partly. Argant breathed in deeply and right off his lungs started to rupture.


    Argant''s body tried to sit up but its bones simply collapsed in itself and its muscles did not even budge an inch.


    The snake now realized that its master was gone and started to bite Argant. With each bite the snake''s poison and curse was pumped into Argant''s body.


    Speckles of black appeared on Argant''s skin and his flesh was starting to erode.


    Nonetheless his body, fueled by the pure animalistic desire to kill, moved up. Grabbing the snake with a hand and choking so long until it disipiated his body was now sat upright.


    His bones and flesh were forcefully mended together by blood magic, something which Argant overlooked.


    The unstable body of Argant wobbled while he was standing up, residue of the curses still made Argant suffer enormous damage to his now frail body.


    A demonic red mist spurted forth of Argant''s mouth, the blood that accumulated in his lungs. The mist slowly drifted in the wind until it started to revolve around Argant.


    The red mist gathered closely to Argant''s body and started to solidify. In a matter of seconds a ruby red armor was created, drops of blood dripping down sometimes.


    With the armor adorned Argant looked like a ancient demon king, clad in the blood of countless foes.


    The superficial bone and flesh mending finished. Argant got down in a crouching position and flexed his leg muscles.


    CREAK!


    With the sound of his bones breaking Argant jumped down the guild house.


    A large group has already gathered around the guild house because of Silana''s shouts. They could only watch as Argant rocketed down from the high building like a red shooting star.


    BOOM!


    The ground shook and a small crater was formed. The blast wave made the onlockers fall on their bums.


    A huge cloud of dust was formed around the crater where Argant was staying in a three-point landing.


    Red flickers were the only thing the observers could see through the thick curtain of dust.


    The large upheaval was heard by the other adventurers in the guild and soon the plaza around the guild house was completely crowded.


    The dust settled after a minute or two and a figure clad in blood red armor was standing there. A pair of hatred filled eyes was looming through the ventail of the figures helmet. The eyes scanned the crowed like a predator scans its next prey; looking for weak spots with an unalterable gaze.


    SCHOOOOM!


    The dust was blown away by a strong pressure, lifting up the clothes of the unsuspecting bystanders. Some screamed in surprise, others exclaimed loudly: ¡°What the fuck?!¡° and again others tried to sneak a peak of the uplifted skirts of random women.


    ¡°Uhmmmm... Fresh prey...¡°. A diabolic voice muttered.


    With that one silently mumbled sentence the fight began.


    A deep dark abyss.


    That was the first thing that greeted me. An endless void of darkness closed in on me, a paradox insult to my mind, trapped in infinity.


    My senses were going haywire and yet I could not make out a single thing. It was just utter blackness. I couldn''t even see or sense my own body in this thick ocean of gloom. I was just a consciousness floating through this abstract space, with no direction or purpose in my life.


    Minutes stretched to hours and hours to days, day to weeks and so on and so forth. In the chaotic quagmire like space and time I slowly started to lose myself, to merge with the background, the eternal darkness. The only thing that persisted was the endless obscurity.


    I wandered for so long, to long in fact. My mind is murky and only a few jumbled thoughts escaped my self.


    I felt the allure of finally relinquishing myself to the darkness, to stop the useless resistance but something, deep, deep in a corner of my mind stopped me from doing so. A flame of burning unwillingness to surrender. It was so ardent and yet so fragile, the flame that kept me from being me was slowly dying out however I could not bring myself to let this tiny thought just vanish. Each time the heated passion impended to die out I fueled it with thoughts.


    Thoughts about a thing long-lost, life. I still had a bare notion about this fragile thing called life.


    I remembered faces, some covered by a thick fog others still retaining their rough silhouette, but there was something else amongst these opaque memories.


    A light.


    A light that burned with the same passion as my own ego, my self-preservative drive unwilling to forsake my life, although it was a nuance different. It had nothing to do with my barely remaining self it was a fire that... it was impossible to describe. It was simple, yet complex; it was light, yet dark; it held the joy of life, as well as the dread of death.


    Before I even noticed it I floated towards the light. It was brighter than even my own conservation of my ego. A simple memory, a memory of a small, horned girl.


    Her slightly chubby cheeks, the beady eyes colored in a cozy brown, her chestnut brown hair that was as soft as silk and had those distinct two horns growing underneath them, her small nose, the vibrant smile, the rosy lips and her petite figure.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Her eyes were warm and filled with a love and longing that long ago breached the borders of sibling love.


    I wanted to hold this image, to never let it go and embed it in my heart. I tried to reach out to it and bit by bit I came closer, until...


    That damned red fog. I could only watch as this mist of red tried to suffocate this last happy memory. To drown it down into the darkness. And I could do nothing against it. It infuriated me, lit a burning fire of hatred, a raging inferno!


    I tried to penetrate this blood red fog with my aethereal body.


    I tried for so long, for so.... so... long. I didn''t even know why I was trying to fight the red mist, it only hurt me whenever I attacked it and yet my mind did not falter, it was screaming, pleading, to never let this light go that was dying out. Yes at some point it did die but it always came back, this frail memory always came back to me. My mind was collapsing and yet this small image came to my help, blurred from the red fog but still unique to me.


    I tried my damn hardest. Let my mind collide with this blood red fog, use my sheer will to propel my mind into the last few desperate struggles. I felt so helpless, so sad and... enraged. Enraged at my own weakness. So instead of even thinking about giving up I started to collide with the fog even harder.


    But I couldn''t even make the red fog move, instead, I was even tugged back, slightly at first but then it changed into a enormous vortex of attractive force.


    I hated this, I could only watch how the red fog started to swallow this innocent fire of... yes I admit, love. I was in love with that girl.


    If I could just remember her name...


    I urned back towards the center from where this force surged forth. A big-ass maw! All I could see was a blood red maw, littered in millions of equally red fangs. Its mouth ended in an even deeper shade of nothingness than the abyss that surrounded me.


    Two giant orbs of red were directly staring at me, through my soul and very core. The gaze alone felt extremely painful.


    If I had a body at that time I would have pissed and/or shat myself, undoubted.


    The vortex of attraction lessened and the giant creature''s mouth turned into a hellish grin.


    ¡°I am the mighty epitome of carnage, the apex of war and blood, Ra''Kha. Lesser being feel honored!¡°. The giant beast shouted, but how could I even respond, every part of its body screamed ''DEATH! CARNAGE!'', I was way to scared to even try to resist the pull that was making me steadily get closer to that monster.


    But there was one thing I wondered, one thing that nagged me so much I just had to ask.


    ¡°U-uhm... Lord Ra''Kha, why are you prisoned here?¡°. Yes prisoned. I could indubitably see massive shackles piercing into the nothingness behind the mighty beast, there were also some of its fangs broken now that I remembered.


    ¡°SH-SHUT UP!¡°. He screamed at me but how should I say... he seemed now less dangerous. He started to mumble something to himself, but considering that that guy is huge and I was steadily getting draged closer, I could hear everything with ease. He said something about a mighty creature that smashed all common sense and how he could not know he offended such a powerful being. It was quite frightening, imagining such a beast of apocalyps being beaten to a pulp.


    ¡°Now let''s talk straight you insect. I was force- uhh... uhm... I-I decided to bless you and gift you a part of my power.¡°


    ¡°What? How come my lord?¡°


    ¡°I simply decided it so shut up before I change my mind! Return to your normal life and don''t bother me again!¡°


    Normal life? What is he talking about? Wait a moment....


    ¡°Wa- was it you!? Did I lose my memory because of you? This killing urge was that all YOUR doing?!¡°. I tried to mask my anger to the best of my abilities but it was impossible, if it is true what I asked then it was that guys fault that I lost all my precious memories irreversibly.


    ¡°Of course. I tell you now. I am not such a low god like the Overgods of war or death and life, which pick their believers by simply who ahs the greatest potential. My believers need to shed their lifes and turn into avatars of carnage so that I can establish a link with them, in fact you are the only one who successed, even if I helped you a bit.¡°


    I was speechless. This dirty being of fuck-your-assity simply decided that my old life is not worth it and devote myself to mindless slaughter and bloodshed.


    ¡°WHAT THE FUCK?! WHO GAVE YOU THAT MOTHERFUCKING RIGHT?!¡°. I shouted as loud as I could, luckily the abyss here somehow let the sound through.


    ¡°YOU DARE!!!!!¡°. Ra''Kha bellowed so loud that my mind got hazy for a moment. This creature was mighty enough to make my ego dissipiate with its mere voice. I really thought I made a mistake.


    ¡°Y-y-yes! I DARE! You took everything for me just so that you could ''bless'' me on a fucking whim of yours?! What should I do now? I don''t even know my name anymore, nor the people that are close to me!!!¡°


    ¡°YOU STUPID FOOL! Who said you WON''T get your memories back or anything? THAT is why I hate humans, you are so noisy and disrespectful and just plain stupid. I really ask myself why that dumb god of creation made you guys.¡°


    ¡°WHAT DID YOU S-... What? I will get my memories back? Eh... oh... I-I apologize.¡°. I tried to bow my non-existent head.


    ¡°Tch! Insolent brat. Haaaaah.... Anyway; I told you I will gift you a part from my power, take this.¡°


    After finishing his words the grin again turned into this botomless void of a mouth. I shivered at the thoughts about what would happen next but to my relief nothing bad happened.


    The teeth that looked like bloody obelisks suddenly started to shiver and loosen. After a minute or so all fangs were now floating around, slowly circling each other until theys started to fuse into one huge red blob.


    The orb of red floated to me and upon contact the scenery dramaticaly changed.


    Fueling the small speck of memory a huge explosion of light occured. Even I myself was blinded by the outburst of light.


    The darkness vanished and was replaced by colorful specks of light, like beautiful stars they shone in thousands of colors.


    My mind was quickly filled with my old memories and even my intangible self started to form into my old body.


    Two rows of hot tears trickled down my face. Losing oneself is painful, I tell you.


    I cried until my tears ran dry. I wanted to thank Ra''Kha but he too vanished. Only the now smaller red orb was floating leisurely before me.


    I stratched my now material hand out to grasp the ball of blood red light. When my left hand touched the red orb I felt a surge of pain that was so incredible that I thought my soul would tear. Ominous red veins started to spread through my body.


    Banshee like screams escaped my throat and my tears, which I thought ran dry, now flowed again, this time because of pain though.


    I could feel teh red lines clawing their way up through my body. When they reached my eyes I could feel how they turned red and instead of normal tears now tears of blood started to fall.


    An intense thirst for blood ran through my body, the urge was so strong that my body could not contain itself anymore. In the world of light I could see how everything turns black again, this time because I lost consciousness.


    (Next comes the real fight!)

 Chapter nine: What now?

    (So I thoguht about, yeah.... uhh... adding a bit of comedy at the end. If you like it say so, if not (If that is the majority) say so too and I will stop. So just let me know in the comments below... RHYME MASTER. *Cough* Enjoy!)


    (Oh and... Tell me how to make a poll, please. The question would be: School Ark, yes or no? I would implement it after he gathered some fame as an adventurer. So for now; enjoy, again!)


    ¡°M-M-MONSTER!¡°. The surrounding people screamed upon seeing Argant''s figure.


    In the midst of the cratar stood a blood red figure. Clad in ruby armor. His helmet had only two small openings to showcase two red orbs that shone with the intensity of stars, creating the illusion as if the surroundings were drowned in blood.


    The orbs scanned the onlookers carefully and then rested on the man standing in the front, Arlarn.


    His wrinkled face turned serious upon seeing the red demon before him and he took a fighting stance.


    ¡°A-Argant is- is that you?¡°. Silana asked in a weak voice. The intensed bloodlust told her animalistic instincts to escape with all her might, but she was sure the scent of the demon confronting them was the same scent of Argant.


    Upon hearing his name the orbs looked directly at Silana. The helmet openned up at the mouth section and revealed a hellish grin, sharp teeth and a blackened tongue. The corners of Argant''s mouth ripped and even more blood started to spurt out of his bloody maw. Foul gases leaked out of Argant''s half openned mouth, a smell of dead and corpses filled the area.


    His body was in a critical condition because of the curses he placed on himself and yet the bloodlust forced his body to fight and kill.


    Silana jerked up when she saw the terrific grin and smelt the dreadful stench, she and many other more animal like demons started to lose consciousness, their minds already gave up surviving.


    Argant liked his brittle lips and looked at Silana as if she was his next meal.


    Arlarn positioned himself between Silana and Argant''s piercing gaze.


    Seeing his view on his prey being blocked a low growl escaped Argant''s throat.


    Not waiting another second Arlarn started to chant a magic spell. The grass started to sway and nearby trees started to crook and move around wildly. Roots sprang forth from the ground and coiled around each other.


    ¡°Yggdrasil''s right Branch.¡°. The roots started to glow in a warm green and brown light. When the lightshow was over a huge tree golem stood before Arlarn. Around eight meters tall with fists the size of cars and strength to smash the ground open, the golem began to move towards Argant. It was fairly slow because it had to root itself in place before taking another step, but contrary to its movement speed its attack speed was far greater.


    A giant fist flew like a meteor towards Argant''s direction but Argant just stood there, unmoving at first but his mouth was moving under the red helmet.


    ¡°Wither!¡°,¡°Blood Thorns!¡°. ''Two magics at once!'', the people were stupified, to chant two magic spells at the same time needed a huge amount of concentration.


    Black mist started to tear its way into the oncoming fist, deteriorating the wooden golem in the process. But the fist had already a high momentum and the mist had no means to slow it down.


    A wooden fist crashed down on the ground. The people were looking expectantly at the scene.


    Thousand spikes of blood erupted underneath Argant''s armor and formed a red defensive net right between him and the fist.


    Upon contact with the red net the already rotted fist crumbled and shattered into wooden splinters. Unlucky for Argant though was, that his dark magic was currently surpressed by a large margin meaning that the core of the golem was still intact.


    Around the floating green orb another layer of roots started to form and create the golem anew.


    Even in his bererker state Argant still understood that he could not withstand a battle of endurance. So instead of trying to defend against the monster of a tree he decided to go head on against Arlarn.


    Using his, by blood magic augmented, legs he shot forward like a viper. In but a few short seconds he traveled the fifteen meter distance, all the while dodging the giant fists of the golem.


    Gathering his blood at the ''gloves'' of the red armor they quickly formed into two giant claws.


    The air howled and the ground shock beneath Argant, witnesses to his imense power boost. His claws blurred and shot down like a red lightning, ten times faster than a human could hope to perceive, but only a tad to fast for a demon.


    Using his own inherited stronger body Arlarn dodged the two claws, which insted of halving him only cut of his left arm and a greedy portion of his flank.


    ¡°Nature''s grace.¡°. In no time at all Arlarn chanted a healing spell on himself. Like the golem many roots made of flesh started to form his lost body parts from scratch until he was fully recovered.


    Argant clicked his tongue, he was hoping he could simply kill his opponent and then take home his prey. Thinking again about the apetizing women he started to droll a thick mixture of saliva, blood and even some pieces of rotten flesh.


    Arlarn directed his golem to attack once again only to find the red demon dodge all his attacks or straight out block them.


    ¡°Minions of Dionaea.¡°. Another bnch of roots started to gather over the ground, this time though they formed at least tens of smaller golems.


    These golems were completely different from the first giant golem. They had no hard bark but were instead made up of smooth vines and their heads were those of venus flytraps.


    The venus golems gurgled some wierd noises and started to shot their vines towards Argant. They numbered five and each of them shot at least six vines.


    Being unable to dodge them all Argant decided to simply cut them down but to the disadvantage of Aragant he could not cut all of them down.


    Argant was now anchored to the ground and had to endure the flurry of punches by the giant golem behind him.


    The first punches could still be blocked but after he was spit on with acids by the venus golems he could no longer maintain his defense up.


    In an last attempt to break free he used every bit of wind essence to unleash a wild storm of sharp wind blades.


    His attack had a great effect and freed him from the vines although it was to late.


    Feeling an intense pain in his left side he was pummeled tens of meters away, skipping on the ground like a stone over the water and finishing his flight in a brick wall.


    The blood that was maintaining a makeshift prothesis of his right arm quickly lossened its cohesiveness and splashed on the ground with a sickening sound.


    Seeing the stump Silana was now indeed assured that the demon Arlarn was fighting was Argant. She was happy that nothing to bad happened to him, but seeing his state of mind and body her happiness quickly died down.


    Argant was on death''s door.


    Arlarn moved his golem over to Argant''s position and it quickly followed up with another flurry of attacks.


    The little black snake that was determined to let its master die to its wish could not longer hold still. It was watching this whole fight after inflicting serious wounds on its master and as well as honoring its masters wish to die here. But the little snake could not endure it any longer, to see its master being beaten down to a pulp.


    The snake slither along the ground until it reached Arlarn. Sinking its black fangs deep into Arlarn''s calf the snake injected its cursed venom.


    The golem that was supposed to attack Argant stopped midway its punch and started to tremble slightly and then crumble to dust, the venus golems started to turn into harmless vines as well.


    Arlarn howled in pain as black dots started to spread from the location where the little snake bit him.


    ¡°Nature''s grace! Nature''s grace! ...!¡°. Arlarn used a chain of regeneration spells until the black dots started to disappear as well as the pain.


    He turned towards the snake and with his sheer will a pair of sharp roots impaled the little snake. Luckily the snake was made of maic so as long as its master was alive it would not fear death ever, though it did disappear.


    Arlarn looked up to the place where Argant landed only to find him not being there anymore.


    A moment later a blood clad fist appeared in his field of vision, it contained enough power to pulverize his head and he could not block as his hands were massaging his calf at the moment. Arlarn closed his eyes to await death, a death which never came.


    Instead of seeing the red fist he saw a pair of dark blue horns. Strenok stood right before Arlarn, blocking Argant''s fist with a wide simple iron broadsword. Well it was not as simple as one saw at first. Bright blue streaks of lightning licked over the sword and burned the ground.


    His formerly red horns also turned dark blue because of the released lightning element in his body.


    ¡°Hmph!¡°. Strenok only harrumphed as he blocked the onslaught of the one armed Argant.


    With a streak of blue light Strenok reappeared behind Argant and slashed downwards, chopping depply into his back.


    While falling over Arlarn chanted another spell. ¡°Lotus spear!¡°. A large whitish root shot out of the ground and impaled Argant, penetrating through his armor like a hot knife through butter. The spear stood out of Argant''s cleaved back and started to form into large white flower petals, which in turn formed into a jade white prison around Argant.


    ¡°Cries of war!¡°. Before the petals closed Argant off completely he uttered out those few words, vomiting an incredibly large amout of blood on the ground afterwards.


    The puddle of blood started to vibrate and soon enough dozens of pairs of arms started to stretch out of the puddle, gripping onto the ground those arms heaved out dozens of red abominations.


    The ghouls roared madly and started to attack Arlarn, while a few of them distracted Strenok, they were not incredibly strong but enough to deal with a mage based person like Arlarn.


    Sadly Arlarn did not have his sturdy body for nothing. He redirected the ghouls sluggish attacks and send out one punch after the other. His mana pool was nearly depleted but it was still enough to form some quick foot shackles on the ghouls to impede their movements.


    Argant tried his best to free himself from the lotus prison but it did not budge to any of his attacks.


    One could hear Argant''s bones breaking and organs rupturing as he continued to bang on the prison. If this continues on he will most certainly die, is what Silana thought.


    She regained consciousness midway in the fight, her brain seemingly noticed that there is yet no imminent danger.


    She could not understand what made her worry so much about Argant. After all he was nothing more than a stranger to her, his prowess was indeed amazing but not in such heights that she would feel such admiration and affection towards him. So what was it that made her gravitate towards Argant? Most likely her animal instincts could ''feel'' his hidden might and placed him in the spot of ¨C what we know amongst animals ¨C the alpha. Or it was the fear of the Alpha''s wrath, forcing her into submission. Anyway, the alpha is coveted by its females and so is Argant.


    What Silana was doing was worrying about her future as Argant''s potential mating partner.


    Upon realising her own thoughts Silana blushed from ear to ear. She didn''t even know Argant, nor has she seen his face and yet she was so strongly attracted towards him. She felt like a bitch in heat, a shameless woman.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Though what was now even more important was Argant being killed right now.


    Inside the lotus prison countless sharp roots started to stab through Argant''s armor. Argant''s gaze was filled with murderous intent at Arlarn and Strenok.


    ¡°Pah! Don''t look at me like that you beast!¡°. Arlarn said while spitting on the ground. The ghouls were already completely destroyed and now his body was covered in sweat and blood, not the most appealing combination.


    Strenok was currently gathering his ki in his arms for a final lethal attack.


    Lightning sapped underneath Strenok skin and his muscles tensed up, causing his hairs to stand on edge.


    Instead of a slash he lunged forward and pierced right through the prison and Argant''s body. The lightning shot out of the massive blade, which seemed unfitting for such a swift attack, and roasted Argant''s body beneath the armor, causing black smoke to soar up through the small puncture in the lotus prison.


    ¡°RAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!¡°. A primal roar escaped Argant''s clenched teeth, a roar of a dying beast.


    The lightning continued to sap for nearly a minute before it finally stopped. The lotus cage turned into simple flower petals and Argant''s lifeless body fell with a flop on the ground.


    The blood that formed the armor was quickly losing its firmness and started to flow down from Argant''s body like a crimson river.


    ¡°NOOOO!¡°. Silana screamed with teary eyes and sprinted towards Argant''s corpse. His body was a complete mess, bones protruded from every part of his body and his orifices were bleeding profusely, additionaly his flesh was rotten by curses and completely punctured. Only the head was in a half decent state.


    ¡°Mmmmhm....¡°. The onlookers ,and particularly Silana, gasped in surprise as they heard a low moan from the conceived dead Argant.


    The blood in the surrounding area; be it Arlarn''s, Strenok''s or Argant''s, started to move towards Argant''s body.


    Once the blood gathered it started to mend Argant''s wounds, be it internally or externally. Only the curses, which dimmed down considerably, tormented Argant''s recovering body.


    Silana moved her head closer to Argant and shock him a few times with her hands. Arlarn and Strenok eyed Argant carefully. ¡°Uhm... Silana I think it would be better to stand clear of it.¡°. Arlarn advised but Silana stubbornly refused and shock Argant''s body the entire time.


    After a few minutes Argant''s body started to move, or rather tremble slightly. It would have gone unnoticed but Silana was to close to him and Strenok and Arlarn kept their watchful gaze.


    When the trembles turned into twitches Silana''s group became cautious as well. Eroina quickly equipped her fire staff and both elf warriors took on a fighting stance, the twins Lana and Lara prepared their healing spells as well.


    Argant''s head moved to the left, the face that was kissing the ground now looked directly at Silana. It was a young face, of a teen at most, although it had some rough edges already.


    His eyes were astonishingly beautiful with their golden glimmer and the mysterious black tinge and white cross like pupil. Silana found herself becoming engrossed with this pair of enigmatic eyes.


    The eyes held a certain warmth in them but a few seconds later this warmth turned into bloodlust. The former golden luster turned into a defiled red and shone like the sinister lanterns of the netherworld''s ferryman.


    Silana instinctively backed up but Argant''s arms grasped at her firmly. Argant pulled her back with only slight resistance from Silana.


    Strenok immediately swung his sword downwards and Arlarn summoned roots to bound Argant. Silana''s group prepared as well. The clerics buffed up the warriors, which in turn dashed forward, and Eroina prepared her fire style magic but was yet to execute it, because of the high risk of hurting Silana.


    Alas Strenok and Arlarn were to slow. A barrier of red light and bits of black mist defended against Strenok''s attack, while the roots were simply ignored. Silana was to close to Argant that the roots could still make a difference.


    The barrier shattered immediately but still withstood that one strike, leaving enough time for Argant to do whatever he had in mind.


    Argant completely blacked out the two elves, they were to slow after all.


    ¡°W-What are you doing?!¡°. Silana asked while wriggling around in Argant''s tight embrace.


    Argant just eyed her carefully before flashing his sharpened canines. In a swift motion his teeth found their target and sunk into Silana''s neck, piercing all the way down to her jugular.


    ¡°He is a vampire?!¡°. The people shouted, it was indeed rare to see a vampire as long as you are not within their immediate territory.


    ¡°Hiiii!¡°. Silana screamed in more surprise than pain and tried to free herself from Argant. What amde her even more afraid were the greedy gulping noises and the warm feeling running down her neck, which turned slowly into a cold numbness.


    Strenok tried to jump onto Argant to free Silana but with the new blood reserves Argant''s armor rebuild and started to shot out crimson spears towards the surrounding people, keeping them on distance.


    After a minute of greedy sucking Silana''s face was gone from tanned to pale. Her breathing was rough and her eyes were covered in haze. Her body hung down weakly, in a small puddle of her own blood.


    Argant let loose on Silana and shot his ehad back in an exaggerated manner. His mouth openned and closed multiple times until he let free a deafening roar.


    ¡°AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!¡°. Those who were asleep inside of the village were now wide awake, their instincts telling them something dangerous is coming.


    Every bit of blood in the entire village and even further started to circle around over Argant, forming a small bubble in the end.


    A unbearable pain befell Argant and he clenched his teeth until they started to crack. Unlike the drop above him another drop in a darker shade of red escaped between Argant''s teeth and infused into the blood orb.


    The orb shuddered slightly and small ripples of red spread over the globe. Like an earthquake the crimson orb started to tremble and shuder to the extreme, radiating red light in the process.


    When the trembling stopped an eerie silence filled the air. The radiated light surged back into the orb and small cracks started to appear within.


    The orb split apart with the sound of worlds breaking to smitherness.


    Roars of mighty beasts rang out from the orb, as if the orb in itself was a giant monster. And then finally the orb crumble to pieces.


    Red snow started to cover the ground but the people were still looking towards were the orb had been.


    In mid-air was a giant warhammer. The warhammer shone in red light while at the same time devouring the light in its vicinity.


    The head was made of blood red metal and densly covered by restlessly looking eyes which weeped dark reddish drops. The hilt was made of an abstract red wood and had two grips, one between head and handle and one at the bottom; the hilt was covered in a dense dark red muckus and had pulsating red lines flow from the bottom to the head where they sprouted out like spikes.


    (This dual handle thing, those that now mh might now it. Just google deviljho or alatreon hammer, both have a grip between head and handle and at the bottom, as well as a connecting piece at the back of the hammer for further stabilisation. The hammer I described is top heavy and leaned to the front, much like the former mentioned hammers. AHHH just google it dammit.)


    Might poured out from every inch of massive war machine.


    The droplets of blood started to form chains, descending downwards and slowly closing in on Argant.


    Argant was till in his prayer like position and the chains started to stab into his skin and flesh. The chains pulled Argant''s body upward like believers on the Last Judgment.


    (Please don''t go all like: ''UHHH you insulted my religion!'', or stuff.)


    The warhammer high in the air started to melt the moment it touched Argant''s body.


    The liquified metal droped onto Argant''s face, causing another series of inhuman cries, and carved its way through his skin. Miraculously the metal only burned its way through Argant''s skin and stopped halfway through. The metal was in a matter of seconds cooled down and looked now more like a red tribal tattoo, running down from the right half of his face to his right arm stump.


    Argant''s eyes returned to their original colorful combination of gold, black and white. His body fell back down on the earth, gravity turned to its normal state and the warhammer and the enormous masses of blood seemingly were absorbed by Argant.


    The smell of blood quickly disappeared adn the village returned to its former calmness.


    One week passed since then.


    My eyelids were once again heavy, I was fatigued and my body ached all over. I used up my bits of remaining energy to force my eyes open. I was lying in a neat room, from what I could see there was only a wooden desk and its respective wooden chair, above was a medium sized window ¨C open at the time ¨C.


    The room was lit by the first rays of the morning sun. The room seemed to ooze warmth and happiness but that was way to much for my sensitive eyes and mind right now, just to much colour and light.


    Thus I moved the white bed sheets further over my head. The bed was just too comfortable, it was fairly large and would fit at least three people. It was the only luxurious piece of furniture in this otherwise rustic room.


    Just thinking for a few minutes made my head dizzy, so I snuggled deeper into the soft bed. The bed shook a bit in response to my snuggling. Suddenly I heard a low snoring from my right side. I was completely startled, was my tensed body just making things up?


    Cold sweat ran down my forehead. I had neither my mask nor hood on I normally used, that meant any person could distinguish me now as a human, or so I thought for the moment.


    I turned my head left, deciding to ignore whatever I might have heard or might have not. ''If I can''t see it, it doesn''t exist'', was my reasoning.


    But sadly I could not choose to ignore it any longer as the sound became faintly louder and it was obvious coming from my right.


    Now that I think back, I don''t even know how I didn''t notice her... Well I was pretty woozy at that time.


    When I turned to the right a beautiful face greeted me, just a few inches away from my own face. It was a tanned beauty. She had dark red lips and a slight button nose, which looked extremely cute, and short black hair. Her body was currently covered by the blankets.


    I eyed the beauty before me carefully, afraid of waking her up with my mere gaze ¨C a pretty lecherous gaze if I might say so ¨C.


    Her lips were trembling slightly and after I felt a pull on my body and suddenly got closer to her the trembling lips turned into a satisfied smile.


    I lifted the bed sheets once again and this time I understood why my body felt so extreme immobile. Two clawed hands were gripping thightly onto my body while a long toned leg was currently rubbing my crotch.


    I was simply.... confused. Who was this beauty? Why was she sharing a bed with me and using me as a body pillow? Will she notice the tent between my legs? What has the future in store for me? Please stop rubbing... ahh~.


    Only time will tell.

 Sorry.

    No, I most likely won''t stop writing this fiction.


    It''s just that currently I am balancing out six different things. Work, School, Friends, Fittness, Drivers license and Writing. School and my part time jobs consume most of my free time, morning and afternoon. But because it is my last year I have to get my shit together.


    Writing simply has t be neglected for now. But don''t fret, I am writing on another fiction. Now you might ask:" If you have enough time for the new fiction, why not continue the old one?". It''s simple.


    I said it befor but the story of Beyond Gods has no setting ot planning in it, it is all made up on the spot. The problem is I have no idea where to continue and now the chapters that took mostly 2 hours time take now 5 or 6 hours or even more.


    With the new story I can produce fresh chapters and take in some new inspiration as well


    So... Write in the comments what you think about the present state of my story, be critical and reasonable, you can as well offer some advice to improve my writing or simply point out my mistakes, I will take everything I get.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Sorry again, but I hope I might see you soon when school has calmed down and I am finished with my license.


    I still don''t know the title of the new story so for now I won''t be able to link you anywhere. I will update this post when I got the title and the first chapter.


    Sorry, another time.


    So this is my new fiction for those of you that are interested: http://royalroadl.com/fiction/3262</a>


    It is called Life''s Exodus