《Champions of Erith》 Prologue 1: Another Restless Night Another restless night. I awoke, drenched in sweat. My heart beating as if to leap out of my chest. It was the same, recurring dream. One where I was back in the jungle, fleeing into the unknown. Vividly, I recalled the quiet whispers of the others. "Shhhhh, quiet your children. We need to move before we get caught." ... "Everyone. Come. Hurry." ... "Wait a moment, my grandmother cannot walk any further. I need to carry her." ... "Please, does any one have extra chuwa? I don''t have enough to for the journey." ... "Wait, I haven''t seen my mother for a while. She was near the back. I''m worried she fell behind." ...You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. "Sir, our scouts spotted enemy soldiers only a couple hours behind us. We won''t make it at this rate." "So be it. Leave those who are unable behind. We''ve no choice." Amongst these murmurs, me, a little boy, no older than 10, was urged by his frail mother to go on without her. "My dear children, I have given everything I have to you all. I have nothing left for myself. No strength to crawl, nor even the energy to hold little Monzu. Hurry and leave me behind. Hurry and survive." "Mom. Please, don''t talk nonsense. Get up. Please, mom. Please..." "My dear, Tahan. My mighty soldier. Your father must be as proud of you as I am now. Follow the general. Keep your siblings close and protect them in my stead." "Kasia, my beautiful daughter. Become strong enough to survive in this harsh world but remain true to yourself. Sing when your heart wishes to sing and dance when your body itches to dance. Help your brother look after the others." "Sengcha, my little crybaby. Don''t be so picky. Mommy won''t be here to calm you when you are upset. Grow up quickly and create a world that suits you. Only then will I be able to rest peacefully." "Cute little Monzu. My tiny hope. You are the last of my strength. The last drop of my milk. My final wish. May all my children find their way along the river, and float along the currents of life." We stayed with her, crying. Embracing her for what we believed to be the last time. Soon, we fell towards the end of the group, which signaled that we had to get going. As the eldest, I picked up Monzu and wrapped him onto my back with my mother''s cloth, embroidered with bright green, pink hues in an intricate pattern. Then, I took Kasia and Sengcha''s hands and urged them away, following behind the group. With one last tearful glance, I turned back and saw my mother''s smile. My strong, beautiful, and loving mother who I left behind. Another restless night. Prologue 2: Soldier "Yes, sir." Those were the magic words. It kept us alive. It got Monzu the milk he needed, and placed my family in a favorable position. Just because we were fleeing didn''t mean that we were powerless. There were men equipped with guns, swords, and their ingenious guerrilla tactics, all of them working under the general. I, too, grew into this position. Even as a kid, I was taught to fight, to shoot, to kill, and to survive. I became the perfect soldier in a losing war. On our way to the refugee camps, we encountered many enemy squads. For us, it was kill or be killed. With my small body, desperation to live, and child''s curiosity, I developed a knack for war. And to make sure my siblings had the highest chance of survival, I honed this skill to perfection. I fought harder, shot deadlier, and killed more. The long weeks in the jungle turned into months and years. Soon, Monzu had already learned to walk, Kasia had to tend to the wounded and gather supplies, and Sengcha was taught to track by the scouts, whom bore the burden of navigating our path forward. Each day, we would only have a few hours together at most. As little as it was, it was everything. It was a gift, a time to relax, a place of comfort. Often, we would share how our days went, or just sit in each other''s company. Then, I''d make sure they got some rest to prepare for the next day''s long walk. Rarely were we every fully rested, however. Enemy solders, jungle predators, storms, shortage of food, no water. Everything was a good enough reason to start moving again. And so we went, despite our aching feet and our dry throats. We had no choice. Every delay, every mistake, every wrong turn led to more casualties. Our group became smaller and smaller, many of which were our fighters. Each encounter resulted in dead bodies, severe injuries, and infection. Statistically, there was no chance for us, yet we fought on and made sure to take advantage of every victory so that our losses didn''t seem in vain. At some point, after all the suffering as well as losing more than eighty percent of our group, we got good. Good at killing, anticipating, fooling our pursuers. Good at moving quietly, blending in, squeezing between enemy forces. Good at pushing forward, rational thinking, and leaving everything else behind. I think a big part of that was because we were always on the edge of life and death. Every thing we did was only the bare necessity to survive. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. We had no left over energy nor time to doubt, to hesitate, or to give up. Until everything changed in a single night. That night was both a blessing and a curse. Just as we were about to cross the border, our trail was picked up. In no time, our pursuers caught up. They were skilled soldiers tasked to patrol the borders for people like us. They were the ones we had only heard of, who would take in refugees and hide them from persecution deep in the jungle that was a natural boundary between the two nations. Unfortunately, their intentions were quite different from what we assumed. We were absorbed into fighting a war we were trying to flee from, forced to fight once more. Instead of keeping us safe in their country, we were "hired" to continue our assault in a more direct and aggressive manner under threat of losing our loved ones that stayed behind, mostly women and children under 10. I was separated from my siblings for the first time in my life, not knowing if they were in good health or if they were being treated well. The anger I had for our "allies" were directed towards the enemy which was exactly what they wanted. Using their greater resources along with our acquired skills, we slowly became a force to be reckoned with. The general maintained his position and led our group in supply raids. Due to our success, we were elevated in status and became a secret task force, known as Runners. Our mission was to dive into the heart of enemy lines and target strategic weakpoints. We studied the jungle and made it our craft. If at first we were just walking, now, we ran. Our ''deep strike'' missions saw more successes than ever. We even began saving other refugees and recruiting the men for our cause. While most of them were thrown into the front lines, we trained the most skilfull and trustworthy to be Runners. Our resistance grew with each year that passed. The number of casualties for both sides reaching an alarming number in the tens of thousands. During one of our infiltration missions, I was forced to take an incredibly risky position. There, I was forced to take a life with my two hands. Back then, my kills were necessary and I didn''t question my actions, but at some point I began to feel a sense of dread. When I took a good look at the corpse laying before me, I saw a boy around my age. Then, when I saw his badge, I crumpled. I recognized it. It was a symbol for bravery, representing the Tao clan. The Tsang and Tao clans were extremely close. I still remember playing with kids from the Tao back before the war. I came to a realization: our people were pitted against each other. That we were killing each other. Knowing this, I was met with a speck of hesitation and doubt for our cause. I tried to think of the faces of the ones I killed, but they had none. And when I looked at my own reflection, I saw something that was not me, couldn''t have been me. After abandoning my mission, I ran off to the jungle in anger and denial. I just ran and ran until I couldn''t anymore. Along the way, I hunted for food and hid in the trees. One night, I was bitten by a venomous snake that struck me when I was listlessly in my own thoughts. When I regained consciousness, there was an old woman who was tending to me. I couldn''t see her face at all. As she nursed me back to health, she would sing a calm but sad tune and talk to me about life. Without thinking, I started telling her about my troubles and she helped me realize my error. I had since stopped fighting to protect, and instead I became the thing that I was protecting my family from. The corruption of death eroded my senses and blinded me from seeing clearly, as if there was coagulated blood covering my eyes. Each day, she would counsel me. Slowly, I was able to get up and walk around. I helped the old lady by gathering wood, hunting for food, and cleaning her home. When I fully recovered and was ready to return, she turned to me and smiled, telling me to always think back to my mother''s words. I thanked her, and turned away. I took a few paces but felt a strange feeling in thr pit of my stomach. When I turned back, the old lady along with her small home was gone. The only sign that she existed was the tiny scar from the snake bite that was properly stitched and healed, which left barely a mark. After I returned to camp, the faces of people began coming back slowly. I was still angry and unsure what to do, but thought about my mother''s words. Although, I was forced to fight and be a soldier, I get to choose why I fight and who I fight for. Family. My father, who died a nameless soldier and my mother who wished I became more. My siblings, who I forgot to look out for, thinking that ceaseless killing would protect them. I snuck back to camp and it was therr that I saw Monzu. He had grown in size, his eyes twinkling like mom''s. I cried. For the first time since leaving my mother, I cried. Things became clearer. The haze of death dissipated and everything changed. Prologue 3: Hope The nurses taught me that in times of war and conflict, everything is flipped inside out. Smiles turn into sadness and mourning. Happiness becomes pain and suffering. Love becomes anger, regret, and hatred. However, there is one exception that can revert everything back to normal. Something that can make everything seem okay and worth it. I was taught that hope was the catalyst, the first drops of spring rain. But that in war, we cannot wait for rain, instead we must conjure it ourselves. For in war, there is only blood. And so I would wear a bright smile. I would push back the torrent of emotions willing to break through the facade. And yet I held on, instilling hope into the our soldiers because no one else would. It didn''t take long for me to realize that despite the overwhelming collective power of the International Union of Powers, they only served to even the odds, clearly to prolong the war for greater gains. And as such, all they did was lengthen our demise, our suffering, our false belief that we could win. They think we are barbarians and uncivilized nomads. In truth, we are a free people, civilization would always show us hostility and drive us away, so we left. For millenia, we fled across land from nation to nation, running from our homes again and again until we forgot where we even came from. But never will we forget who we are. In the camps, the women nutured the injured and sick. In a place filled with the stench of death and despair, we were the lanterns that would shine brightly within the haze of suffering. I had to learn basic first aid, although our journey through the jungle already gave me plenty of experience. With so many wounded soldiers, I improved at a rapid pace. At some point, I was somewhat able to predict death just by looking at someone. Their complexion, the severity of their injury, signs of infection, blood loss, their mentality, motor control, responsiveness, brain activity, consciousness, all of these things contributed to their chances of survival. Using this, I tried my best to fight the spectre of death. The worse their injuries, the harder it became. Unknowingly, I began experimenting with medicine, surgery, and sterilization, among others. By the time I turned 15, which was 7 years after we left mom, we had already maximized the efficiency of our camp, making the best use of resources supplied by the IUP, setting up organized living quarters with proper water and sewage systems in place, and developing a strong sense of community. Yet, the war waged on with even greater vigor than before, showing no signs of coming to an end. It was simple, we wanted our freedom, they wanted us enslaved or dead, and neither side was willing to relent. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Over the years, I saw my brothers less and less. Tahan and Sengcha went out on long missions, and rarely had time to rest. On the rare occasion that they came to camp, they didn''t want to share their stories, for I know it is only of indiscriminate death. Instead, I would often tell them about Monzu, what he''s learning at the small ''school'' north of the communal living area, if it could even be called that. I tell them about what he likes to eat, which games he''s good at, and how good of a fisherman he is. I share stories that the women spread around about the state of the war. I try to say anything that would give our family something to hold onto. But it is difficult for me to be cheerful, especially now. I can tell that each time I see them, their faces grow darker, they speak less, and only nod along. I keep hoping that maybe they''ll ask me how my day was, or maybe if I''m eating well, or just if I''m okay. And I would reply, "Today was tiring, but I''m doing okay. I even gained some weight since the last time you came back." Even if it was a lie. I wanted to tell them that it was so hard for me, and that I hate it here. So much that I''d rather be in that dammed jungle being chased by the LSP soldiers at every side. Atleast we would all be together. But when I open my mouth, the words don''t come out, as if a demon had my throat in its grasp and any sound would trigger it to snap my neck. On my 16th birthday, a representative from the IUP came to our camp and took interest in my work. They asked that I return with him to the Great States where I would enjoy luxuries I could never have imagined. Of course, I refused. Not only could I not leave my family and my people, but the IUP never showed any care for us beyond plain formalities. As much as I hated being here, the IUP was worse. My refusal was met with him explaining just how much I was missing out on. He went on about prestige and other nonsense. Yet again, I refused him. This time, he demanded an explanation so I gave him one. He didn''t accept it and stormed off to god knows where. Not even a day later, he came back with a group of IUP agents, bringing enough resources to last us the next year. Everyone was overjoyed but I know this wasn''t out of their good will. With this "gift", the men asked the leaders of our small camp to let them take me away. They were blinded by the promise of immediate benefits and gave me up without a second thought. I was in disbelief. Everything that I stood by, vanished in a second. My belief in the strength of community failed me. At that moment, I remember crying and begging for them to let me stay. I did everything I could but nothing could change their minds. In the end, the IUP soldiers took me with them. I tried to take Monzu with me and explained that no one will care for him. He only just turned 10 and only had me. My other brothers were too busy fighting a pointless war. They would not allow him to accompany me and claimed that the plane would not fit. Even at the time, I was certain this was also a lie, so I held onto Monzu with every ounce of my strength while he cried and cried. I tried to reassure him as they separated me and my little brother. I told him I would come back soon and to make sure he kept eating. If he did I would come back sooner. It was a lie. Finally, they pulled me into their plane and fastened me to a seat, taking off into a land of demons. I remember them telling me, "Don''t worry, dear. We''re highly professional people. We saw your potential and wanted to give you the opportunity to reach greater heights. We won''t do anything to you." While on the plane, I could hear the man talking to someone over the phone, treating me like an object to be owned. It was disgusting but I could only await such a fate. I cried for mom, but she wasn''t there. Then I cried for Tahan, who was supposed to protect me. I cried and cried the entire way. At some point, I succumbed to exhaustion. When we arrived, I woke up and noticed that the plane had landed. But nobody seemed to be around. I looked out of the window and saw a scene that confused me. The man and his agents were apprehended outside of the plane, being taken into a large truck. Then, a new face peeked into the plane and spoke to me. "Hi, I''m Laurel with the HRA. Human Rights is our jurisdiction. We believe that you are a victim of human trafficking. Care to tell us how you got here?" Not knowing how to respond I stayed quiet. Trying to determine if she was telling the truth. "It''s OK if you''re not comfortable talking. But we will need to take you somewhere safe. The Bureau of Justice will take care of things here. Come on." It was on this day that I swore to myself that instead of only using my skills to save others, I would become powerful enough to save myself. This would be my new hope to strive for. I''m sorry, mom. I wasn''t strong enough, but soon, everything is going to change. Prologue 4: Blood For as long as I could remember, I hated blood. It didn''t made me queasy or anything like that, but I still hated it. The way it looked, splattering everywhere or trickling from a corpse. The way it smelled so strongly of iron, which would itch my senses in the wrong way. The way it felt and how it slowly solidifies. That''s why I became a scout for the IUP. It was easy for me to look for things with my senses. Almost too easy. And from my perspective, everyone else seemed slow, as if they weren''t really trying. Only my brother seemed to meet my standards. Well, only when he was fighting. Honestly, it was beautiful. Even I wasn''t able to mimic his skills, despite my advantages. While I was also a Runner, I didn''t have to do any fighting, which gave me a lot of opportunities to watch them in action. No one really cares that I didn''t fight since I did my job well. One thing I found my self enjoying was watching the wildlife. Animals were much now fun to watch. They move quicker and all function the same. The babies also grow up faster and can pretty much take care of themselves. My little brother, Monzu, really took his time. He''s cute sometimes but I''m worried he won''t grow up properly if he takes too long. It''s been a long time since I''ve seen him. Hopefully, he''s big now. We finally returned to camp after an infiltration mission that took 4 months to complete. My older brother, Tahan, got really angry and ran off into the jungle. He probably went to vent but didn''t come back for a few weeks. I think he might have figured out the truth. I noticed it a while ago but telling him would only jeopardize our survival. Our clan would never submit to the enemy. They''d rather die fighting to their last breaths, so I wasn''t really worried. The Taos definitely would have though. A bunch of blind fools. While Tahan was gone, I found out that the camp sold off Kasia to the IUP. They didn''t tell me at first, so I had to do a bit of digging. Apparently some IUP agents gave away a stockpile of rations and supplies, saying that they would bring Kasia to the Great States to study medicine. I doubt they could teach her anything though. She probably knew more about the human body than most doctors. She dealt with thousands of patients and basically resurrected them back from the dead. The first time I saw it, I was baffled. I''ve seen my fair share of death and I''m quite confident in my perception, but by some miracle Kasia slapped the death away like it was some bug. I''m exaggerating a bit but considering what she had to work with, it wasn''t too far off. Anyways, when I returned to camp, Monzu was left all alone. He recognized me right away and ran over, with his face stuffed with rations. He tried to recount what happened while bawling like a baby. Apparently he''s been having to steal food to survive for the past few months after Kasia was taken. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. I spent some time looking after Monzu and waiting for Tahan to return. That kid was a bottomless pit, so I was very busy. I learned that the other refugees would hit Monzu whenever they caught him poking around their food supplies. That''s why he had marks all over his body. Fighting isn''t really my thing but I was quite good at swiping a few of their things. Monzu seemed like he was fine so I didn''t really care to do anything too crazy about it. After weeks of entertainment, Tahan came back with a subtle scar on his lip and a solemn face. He probably had a lot on his mind. When he came back, I told him about Kasia and Monzu and his eyes shifted from hazy to unfiltered rage. If he could run through mountains and on the surface of water, he probably would have ran all the way to the States to get Kasia back. Unfortunately, he was just a guy. He instead focused on the resources that the IUP left behind. Using his status as a Runner, a legendary one at that, he confiscated them all and forced the people to beg for them back. He redistributed the food to the ones who actually needed it and those who did not side with the group of leaders that sold Kasia off. By the end of it, Monzu had enough food to satisfy himself for quite some time. Watching over Monzu was a big help for Tahan. Monzu was what tied us together, even now. Better yet, he had mom''s eyes. I could tell how much he reminded Tahan of her. As I watched my brother pick up the pieces of himself that he lost, I felt something inside of me change too. I always treated everything like a game, holding myself back from what I was truly capable of, only going through the motions. I thought that the world did not deserve my effort. But I was wrong. Tahan showed me that I should, instead, force the world to function at my pace. My brother was special. When he is lost, he would become a pitiful creature. But when he finds the courage and belief in himself, each step he takes creates a ripple that spreads to others. And it''s because of these ripples that I started trying a little harder, using my senses to its full potential instead of just to fulfill a role. Not long after, we received a letter that was smuggled in by someone named Laurel, claiming to be from the HRA but if they were here, that meant they fi ally realized the ploy that the IUP and LSP were trying to cook up. Although she had to leave quickly, the contents of the letter was clear enough for us. It was Kasia''s handwriting and had a small cloth with our clan''s emblem on it. She wrote about how the HRA saved her and was working to get enough evidence against the IUP and LSP for starting a secret artificial war for their own benefit. She also asked us how we are doing and if Monzu was eating well. At the bottom of the letter, she said that she was coming back to pick us up. It only took another week for us to be reunited. On our way to the HRA base, we talked and shared our stories. The silence from before was washed away. Apparently, the HRA are the good guys, I''m wasn''treally convinced but whatever. When we arrived, Tahan and I worked with a few teams to figure out a way to expose the secret war in a way that would have the most global impact. It only took a few months, but we had everything we needed in place. It wasn''t really that hard to hack the command centers of the IUP and LSP using the HRA''s tech, but getting through enemy territory to get close enough to make a connection was the main issue. Luckily, we were willing to take this heavy risk, and were the most up to the task. With my senses, Tahan and I could avoid more confrontations and bypass most defenses. Frankly, it was easy to slip in between the cracks. I felt ashamed. If I was still holding my senses back, we would never have succeeded. But in the end, we finished our part and the HRA swooped in and pulled the rug from under the IUP and LSP. A bunch of stuff happened in quick succession after our infiltration. The IUP and LSP were forced to undergo a full body reorganization, which uncovered thousands of different cases of unlawful activity. Slowly, they would be purged of corruption and resume their roles. I guess such powerful groups were too important to get rid of, it would be easier to just assign different people at the top positions. In addition, a treaty was signed and many impacted ethnic groups and other war victims received reparations and were allowed to choose to be relocated or go back to their original homes. We moved around a lot while helping out with postwar clean up and providing information for documentation. Did a few interviews. Rode the war hero wave. But after all that, the four of us agreed to go back home and start a project to help resettle people into their homes, especially the remote villages that were essentially razed into nothing. Since the war had ended... Everything was changing. Prologue 5: Erith I HAVE BEEN WATCHING FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS. IT IS TIME FOR ME TO TAKE ACTION. I AM ERITH, KEEPER OF LIFE AND AVATAR OF EARTH. I CONTAIN THE MEMORY OF THIS WORLD AND ITS DEEPEST SECRETS. WHEN INVADERS FROM OTHER WORLDS IN FARAWAY PLACES COME TO PLUNDER IT, MY CHILDREN FIGHT, BLESSED BY THE POWER OF THE 9 KEEPERS. THIS WORLD''S FLAME WILL FLICKER, TESTED BY THE DAJII, CREATURES OF CHAOS BORN FROM AN INFINITUM OF CONQUEST. USING THE LAST FRAGMENT OF STATOS, OUR PREPARATION IS COMPLETE. ONLY THROUGH THIS METHOD, WILL EARTH STAND A CHANCE AGAINST CONQUEST. IT IS TIME... ----------- 4.5 billion years ago INITIALIZING... KEEPER OF LIFE, ERITH AVATAR OF EARTH KEEPER OF MIGHT, JUN AVATAR OF JUPITER KEEPER OF KNOWLEDGE, LUTHOR AVATAR OF PLUTO KEEPER OF FAITH, RHENA AVATAR OF VENUS KEEPER OF BATTLE, MAVIS AVATAR OF MARS KEEPER OF SPIRITS, NOLAN AVATAR OF NEPTUNE Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! KEEPER OF ARCANE, URIELLE AVATAR OF URANUS KEEPER OF TIME, RUNOS AVATAR OF SATURN KEEPER OF CRAFT, MERCER AVATAR OF MERCURY SERVE YOUR PLANETS WELL. AS KEEPERS, YOUR ONLY TASK IS TO CARRY OUT THEIR WILL. IN TIMES OF NEED, RELY ON ONE ANOTHER. TOGETHER, YOU ARE THE GREATEST FORCE IN THIS GALAXY, AND IN TIMES OF PEACE, YOU WILL BE EACH OTHER''S COMPANY. TAKE THIS AS MY FINAL GIFT BEFORE I ASCEND: A SHARD OF INFINITY IN MY IMAGE. MY FINAL FRAGMENT. -------------------- Before the fall "WE ARE ALL CURRENTLY UNDER THREAT OF INVASION. LUTHOR HAS DISCOVERED A FRAGMENT OF CONQUEST HIDDEN DEEP WITHIN THE HEART OF THIS GALAXY THAT HAS AVOIDED OUR DETECTION UNTIL IT RECENTLY BEGAN EMITTING FOREIGN SIGNALS. IT WON''T BE LONG BEFORE THE DAJII ARRIVE. WE MUST BE CAREFUL." "MERCER, LUTHOR. HAS THE FRAGMENT OF CONQUEST BEEN TAKEN CARE OF?" LUTHOR GAVE MERCER A NOD, SIGNALING HIM TO BRIEF THE OTHERS ON THE FOREIGN OBJECT. "IT IS DONE. THOUGH WE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATE SUCH AN ENTITY, WE HAVE CONTAINED THE FRAGMENT. ONLY THE DAJII THAT HAVE RECEIVED THE INITIAL SIGNALS WILL BE HEADED OUR WAY." "VERY GOOD." THOUGH JUN DIDN''T LOOK PLEASED ABOUT THE SITUATION, HE SEEMED SATISFIED WITH MERCER''S RESPONSE. "THEN, LET''S GET READY. RUNOS, HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE?" "THEY WILL ARRIVE IN TWENTY YEARS." "ERITH. WILL THAT BE ENOUGH?" THE AVATAR OF EARTH STOOD QUIETLY FOR A TIME BEFORE SPEAKING UP TO JUN. "THE SYSTEM WE DEVISED FROM OUR INFINITY WILL BE GREATLY LIMITED ON MORTAL BEINGS. WITH ONLY TWENTY YEARS IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION BUT IT MAY BE ENOUGH. HUMANS HAVE PROVEN TO HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO GROW EXPONENTIALLY FROM A SINGLE GENERATION, LET US PUT OUR FAITH IN THEM." NEPTUNE WAS DEEP IN THOUGHT, "WHAT OF THE TITANS WE ARE HARBORING? SHOULD WE MOBILIZE THEM?" "EVEN IF WE WAKE THEM, THEY WILL NOT BE READY BY THEN, NOLAN." "YOU KNOW THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT, BROTHER. WE HAVE HELD ONTO THEM WITH LITTLE USE FOR TOO LONG. I SUGGEST WE INTEGRATE THEM INTO THE STATOS INFINITUM. THE BENEFITS OF IT WILL NOT BE SMALL." JUN WAS IN AGREEMENT. HE HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO ELIMINATE THE TITANS DUE TO THEIR UNCAPPED STRENGTH. THIS WAS THE PERFECT ARRANGEMENT IN HIS MIND. HOWEVER, ERITH WAS NOT SO PLEASED. "DO NOT FORGET THAT YOU ARE SIMPLY ACTING AS WARDEN. THE TITANS ARE MY CREATIONS, I WILL NOT SENTENCE THEM TO DEATH AFTER FORCING THEM INTO SLUMBER FOR MILLENIA. IF YOU ALL DID NOT VOTE TO HAVE THEM PUT AWAY, THEY WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN MORE THAN STRONG ENOUGH TO DEFEND US FROM THE DAJII." "THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN MONSTERS. A VIRUS WITH UNSATIABLE HUNGER. WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY''LL DO AFTER THEY CONSUME THE DAJII? WE WILL BE THEIR NEXT MEALS AND AT THAT POINT THEIR STRENGTH WILL SURPASS OURS." "ARE YOU NOT THE AVATAR OF MIGHT? WHY DO YOU FEAR WHAT IT IS YOU REPRESENT? WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY TO RESTRICT OUR ARSENAL WHEN CONQUEST IS OUR OPPONENT, EVEN IF IT IS FRAGMENTED. MY TITANS ARE NOT THE ENEMY." "THEIR SACRIFICE WILL NOT BE IN VAIN. YOUR TITANS ARE AN ANAMOLY. FOR THEM, EXISTING IS AGONY SO THEY WERE PUT TO SLEEP AS A MERCY. IS IT NOT BETTER TO END THEIR SUFFERING WHILE ALSO ALLOWING THEM TO PASS ON THEIR LEGACY?" ERITH WAS FURIOUS. "YOU THINK YOU UNDERSTAND THEM, BUT ALL YOU WANT IS THEM GONE. I AM THE KEEPER OF LIFE. THEIR DESIRE TO LIVE IS NO WEAKER THAN OUR OWN. PAIN IS A PART OF LIVING. GRANT THEM A PLACE AS OUR CHAMPIONS. I-" LUTHOR HAD ENOUGH OF HIS SIBLINGS'' ARGUMENT SO HE CALMLY SPOKE, HIS VOICE SILENCING ALL OTHERS. "STOP THIS UNNECESSARY BICKERING. WE HAVE A CALAMITY TO STOP. THERE IS NO TIME FOR FIGHTING AMONGST OURSELVES. THE TITANS ARE TOO UNPREDICTABLE TO MAKE USE OF AT THIS TIME. INSTEAD, THEY CAN SERVE AS A WAY TO TIP THE SCALES OF WAR WHEN THE ENEMY OVERPLAYS THEIR HAND." "I AGREE WITH LUTHOR. THE DAJII ARE ON THE OFFENSIVE AND MUST MAKE THE FIRST MOVE. THERE IS NO NEED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE TITANS NOW. FIRST, WE MUST SEE HOW WELL THE HUMANS FARE AGAINST THEM," MAVIS, THE KEEPER OF BATTLE, STATED. "THEN, LET US CAST OUR VOTES." --------------------- "IT HAS BEEN DECIDED..." "ACHYDNI WILL BEAR THE BURDEN OF PREPARING HUMANITY FOR THE DAJII. SHE IS THE MOST UP TO THE TASK. THE OTHERS WILL EACH HIDE DEEP WITHIN US UNTIL WE CALL FOR THEM." ERITH WAS LESS THAN HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME BUT RELENTED. "FINE. BUT I WILL TAKE LEADERSHIP OF THIS PROJECT." JUN HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO AGREE, "VERY WELL. JUST MAKE SURE YOU SUCEED." Chapter 1: Everything Changed Everything changed. While the world continued like normal, everyone could feel something off. That feeling in your gut when you''re going down a roller coaster. The pain from your ears popping while on an air plane. The sickness you get when on a rocky boat. That sensation when you''re underwater and don''t know which way is up. That sense of paralysis when your mind awakes before your body, or when familiar things begin to feel unfamiliar. For approximately 5.35 seconds, every single thing on the planet felt these sensations, as if something had snapped open for the first time in a long, long time. But life went on and this phenomenon was buried under the currents of daily life. Little did they know that the world would change beyond their understanding. And in a remote village, a young boy was born, held tightly in his mother''s embrace, his father and 3 tiny heads surrounding the two. "What should we name him, dear?" The mother asked. The man smiled. "His name shall be Monzu. He will bring luck wherever he goes and hope to whoever he meets." "Welcome, our little Monzu. Grow up big and strong, okay?" They said together. ---------------- 15 years later Sengcha''s senses refocused onto his brother, who was calling his name. "Sen. You good?" Huh? "Oh. Yeah, I''m alright. Just zoned out," he replied. It happened again. Tahan was not convinced. "It happened again, right?" "How''d you know?" Sengcha answered. "Call it a feeling. How bout we head back. We can come back tomorrow." Sengcha shook his head. "I''ll be okay. We''re almost done here anyways. Let''s just map out this area quick." I should be fine for now. "Alright." His brother finally said. Not long after, Sengcha and Tahan finished up their last notes and packed up to go back to the village. That''s the last of it. At least for today. Time to go back. "Let''s get going, Tan. It''ll get dark soon, we have lots of ground to cover." Tahan gave a nod of approval. "Let''s go." The world was coming to an end, or so it felt like it. The ground shook, the skies rumbled, and all communications were silenced. We were cut off from the rest of the world, a mere speck in comparison. Creatures of fiction, abominations defying all common sense. They began pouring out of the ground, forming into dungeons that spread like a virus. When they surfaced, the area around them became their domain. However, we could not get close. Too many monsters had broken through the surface. And so here we are. Surrounded by dungeons on all sides, forced to hide to survive, constantly staying vigilant and taking actions to conceal ourselves and steer clear of dungeon territories. "Finally back. Come on. The others are probably waiting for us." Tahan was right. When they made their way past the entrance to the village, concealed by a thick patch of vines and leaves, there were a few children sent to wait for them. "Tan! Sen! Finally!! It''s time for tonight''s story. Hurry, hurry. You''ll miss it!!" Tahan broke out into a smile. "Last one''s a rotten egg!" ---------------- "... and so, never forget to ask for protection from the benevolent spirits of the land." Sitting in the center of a small fire was Elder Gev, finishing his story. The children were either in awe or terrified, all huddled together as tightly packed as they could manage. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Elder Gev was a great story teller. He could turn a small ant into a mighty warrior. And he could impart wisdom in ways that remained dormant until being met with adversity. The children loved him and would listen to his stories every night he was able to get out of bed. "That''s it for tonight, kids. Work hard tomorrow. I have a feeling something special is going to happen." The elder got up with great difficulty and limped to his home, a simple straw and thatch structure. After murmurs of resistance, the children finally began to head to their homes, too. Tahan and Sengcha waited, around 12 children stayed back with them. "Is everyone here? Haichi?" The oldest of the kids nodded back. "Ok. Good. Let''s all head back." These were the orphans. Children we found alone and desperate while we went from village to village. Despite the harsh environment, there were many of them before the trial even after the war. Now, they were few and far between. The group reached the orphanage and began to settle down. When the two brothers got all the children to sleep, they left the building. "Hey, Sen. Let''s stop by May''s. She might be able to help with your situation." After come contemplation, Sengcha agreed. "Alright, fine. I''ll go." Maybe it''s time to tell the truth. About the visions and the dreams. On the way to the herbalist, the duo shared small talk and banter. "Sen, did you hear what little Pa said. I am the most popular person in this entire jungle." "I wouldn''t be so proud of that. The only people that believe that are the children. I fear I may not live to see you wed." "I could say the same for you!" Tahan threw back. "Any woman would agree to marry me. Women like a guy that''s mysterious and laid back. As long as I make a move, no woman would decline." "Sure, sure. We''ll see about that. But for now, we have matters to deal with." Tahan gestured for Sengcha to enter May''s small hut. "Come on. You can''t delay this any longer." I know. Without a word, Sengcha entered the doorway. ----------------- "You are feeling the effects of the call. It happens to every person chosen to become a shaman. I suggest meeting with Elder Wang. He is the most masterful among shamans in the village." May turned to face Sengcha. Sengcha''s emotions were in flux. "What does this mean?" "The path of the shaman is not simple nor will it be easy. You can become a traditional one or branch out and define your own style. The difficulty is found in deepening one''s spirit. You don''t have to be afraid. Elder Wang can explain more than I. Again, I recommend you go to see him as soon as you can." "Thank you, Elder May. I''ll see to it that Sen follows your advice. Have a good night." "Of course, dear. Good night." What should I do, now? ---------------- "I have been expecting you, boy. The call has beckoned you for half a year, you''ve done well to delay the inevitable. It isn''t possible to live long while in this limbo. Either you accept the call or you deny it. Please choose for your own wellbeing. There is no wrong path. But let me give you some advise as a fellow shaman. Declining the call will allow you to live a normal life but you will give up more of yourself than you realize. Those senses of yours. They are an extraordinary gift, an expression of your spiritual body. By refusing the call, you are agreeing to give it up, at least to an extent. On the other hand, accepting the call will enhance it. Every aspect of your spirit will be refined over time and you will see a part of the world that no one else can. The only downside is that you will bear the burden of our predecessors. Until you embark on this path, I am not allowed to speak on this subject. Just know that our history is far more complex than you can ever know. The forces that we work with exist on an entirely different plane. Elder May, may have mentioned this but the path of a shaman is not so simple. Some resonate with the spirits of the dead and are drawn to guiding them to their next lives. Others work within the domain of living spirits. But there are rare off-shoots of these two styles. Warrior shamans that dominate their enemies in both the physical and spiritual planes. Healers that fight against Death''s generals. Legacy Shamans that commune with specific ancestral spirits and call upon their powers. Fate Shamans that peer into the machinations of time. Cursed Shamans that are plagued with demons that offer a promise of all mighty power. The list is inexhaustible by there is one thing that all shamans share: The power to perform miracles. Our history is long and in it, all manner of shamans have surfaced. You are chosen for a reason. Do not be so quick to run from your purpose. I have said my piece. Take some time to think of what I''ve said." "Thank you, Elder Wang. I will consider your words." All I ever wanted was for life to be simple. But my life has been anything but that. In order to create a simple world, I will need extraordinary power. I want to be a powerful shaman. One that can mold the world into my greatest masterpiece. In response to Sengcha''s resolve, the call asked a single question: "Will you accept the call?" Yes. The constant whispers and prickles vanished, replaced by a silence Sengcha had missed. His senses surpassed the possible, the curtain between reality and spirit falling apart. The world had changed in his eyes and was no longer as it had been. In shimmering letters, something appeared. [Congratulations. You have broken past your limitations, awakening a piece of Truth within yourself. You have gained limited access to the Statos System, a construct powered by a fragment of Infinity. Look within yourself to see what you are. A unique circumstance grants you your path in advance.] Despite his confusion, Sengcha never felt so sure. He glanced within himself and saw something he hadn''t expected. [Sengcha Tsang - Awakened Human] [Title: None] [Path: Creation Shaman] [Mind - 5] [Body - 2] [Soul - 10] [Arcana - 1] [Traits] [Enhanced Senses - Unique] [Skills] [Spirit Sense - Stage 1] [Spirit Molding - Stage 1] This is... me. "Did you accept the call?" Tahan and Elder Wang say in unison. "I... did." "That''s fantastic, boy. The first order of business is to have a senior shaman induct you through a ceremony. Then, you must find a teacher. If I didn''t already have a few pupils myself, I would have volunteered to guide you. Unfortunately, agreeing to teach you with my other responsibilities would be selfish. I can recommend you to someone. He''s a rather isolated man, tends to follow his own path. He owes me one, though. Here, a map to his sanctuary. It''s a bit far out but you''ll be fine. No one knows this jungle better than the two of you. Instead, I can officially induct you as a shaman. Get ready." "Thank you, Elder. My brother is forever in your debt." "Don''t mention it. So long as you become a respectable shaman, the debt can be considered paid. Learn well." Sengcha took the initiative to speak up, this time. "I will, Elder Wang." Then he and Tahan bowed. "Here is a letter specifying how to find him. Try to leave as soon as you can. But make sure to read the letter first. It''s been a pleasure. I have high hopes for you. See you again." Elder Wang turned around and left the room, bringing back some shaman instruments to induct Sengcha as a new shaman. Then, he began the sacred ceremony. ------------------ I''ve been walking for two days in the wilds. The note said only I could see the master shaman so Tan had to stay behind. I should be reaching it anytime now. The area was extremely dense. Without his senses, Sengcha would have gotten lost. Unexpectedly, he reached a dead end. In front of him was a rocky cliff, with moss and vines covering it thickly. The note said that when my path reaches the end, I must not look to see the path. I''m pretty sure thst this has something to do with my new skills. Sengcha activated [Spirit Sense], his vision expanding to encompass the spiritual plane. He skill felt as if it was a part of him, feeling familiar and working perfectly. As expected, the cliff vanished, revealing an unnatural clearing with a small bamboo building at the center. He approached it and called out. "Is anyone here? Hello?" "No." Came a sound from behind him. What the fuck! Sengcha jumped away in surprise as a chill crawled up his spine. "Who are you? And how the hell did you get behind me?" The short man, who had a face full of messy hair, smirked back at him. "I''ve been following you for a while now. Thanks for the snacks by the way." Sengcha saw an empty bag of his rations in the man''s hands, who tossed it back to him. "Wasn''t half bad. Could have been less dry, though. I had to drink all of your water." He then proceeded to pull out Sengcha''s flask, which was now empty. "H... how?" The man''s face turned serious. "You''ve got decent senses. Almost found me out a few times. But you''re too inexperienced. You think having good senses is enough to spot every little thing. You''re mistaken. My physical senses are far inferior to yours, yet I had you under my thumb. It''s quite simple, actually. You only pay attention to changes at the micro level. All I had to do was show you what you wanted to see." Sengcha remained silent, shocked by the revelation. "Oh, don''t be so surprised. This is quite a simple task. Anyways, who are you. Did Elder Wang send you?" Sengcha came back to his senses. "Yes, he did." "So you wish to learn from me? Do you know what that means? I''m a Hunter Shaman. We track and kill beasts that have been possessed by evil spirits that on rampage through human settlements. My job is to maintain nature. Well, at least before the trial. But I failed. Monsters attacked in droves, I couldn''t do a thing. Do you really wish to learn from a failure?" Sengcha looked into Kahj''s eyes. "There was nothing you could have done to stop it. Please, teach me Master. Sengcha Tsang wishes to learn from you." A special look entered Kahj''s eyes. "I accept. Let''s get started."