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50% Immolation / Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Kapitel 2: Chapter 2

The room was filled with darkness. The shining rays of morning light highlighted the red bloodstains on the furniture. The sounds of life were audible in the streets outside the apartment.

Edward's consciousness rose. His mind stepped down from the seemingly higher dimension of being and entered his physical body. He slowly opened his eyes.

"Where am I? What happened?"

He was still dizzy. Having realized that he was still lying on the floor, he stood up. Edward then took a sip of water and started to clean his room. His outside was calm, and it seemed as if he was still the same Edward as yesterday.

However, under this seemingly calm appearance, changes were ongoing. His mind was remembering, sorting, and deducing what has happened. The answer was clear.

Since his childhood, the kingdom has been implanting the knowledge to recognize a Chosen. A tiny line made of weird symbols on the exterior of the right forearm.

Edward knew now, he became a Chosen. His fate has been sealed. The average person might not know the consequences of becoming a Chosen, but he knew. His best friend worked in the Department of Securing Chosen after all.

After a Chosen was found, they would be secured. First, their arms and legs were cut while being unconscious. Then they would be put in a cell, followed by torture. After the first few years of torture, they would be integrated into the King's Army and serve the King until the day they die.

Edward's dreams were shattered in one night. His dreams of becoming a wealthy scholar, relaxing at the sea, and maybe traveling across the world were no more.

All that would follow is desperation. Edward realized he wasn't human anymore. He was a weapon too dangerous to be allowed to have freedom. Words like 'mass-destruction', 'demon', 'monster' were heard all too often when one talked about Chosen.

One day a classmate, and the next day a demon from hell.

What followed in the next weeks might be interpreted as desperation. Alcoholism, depression, and isolation became the center of Edward's life. Waking up at noon, drinking alcohol, having a panic attack at the slightest noise outside the door, followed by drinking himself back into sleep. This cycle continued.

After one week, he was fired from his job. After the second week, he was notified of having missed an important exam. After the third week, Edward's money pouch was empty.

Yet, Edward wasn't someone with a weak mind. One might think that he gave up on life, but Edward wasn't someone who would give up. He only needed some time to assimilate himself.

Edward was laying on his bed with his arms crossed as a cushion. It was still early in the morning and the sun was beginning to rise. His blue eyes were unfocused.

Suddenly, Edward stood up. His straight eyes became focused and he immediately dressed, took money out of his savings box, and left his apartment.

At first, he checked his mail while walking. Everything was as expected. Pace was worried, his boss angry, and the school did not really care about his well-being.

His mind was swiftly forming a plan. He had to leave the city. Otherwise, with time, he would get exposed by regular checks. He needed to somehow get rid of the guards at the gate though.

His brain rapidly organized all the information it had about the city. The positions of the gates, the peak entrance times, the flow of the crowd and vehicles, the strength of the guards, and other factors were organized, structured, and connected into a plan.

Somehow, his weak will was gone after becoming a Chosen. Edward wanted to live. But to do that, he needed help. He knew almost nothing about the powers of Chosen. He had to ask.

He made up his mind. Only Pace could know his powers. Even though Edward knew that Pace was part of his enemies, he still trusted him. Fifteen years of friendship couldn't just vanish.

After walking for thirty minutes, he arrived. He entered and knocked on Pace's door.

"Pace, open up. I need your help"

His voice echoed in the still hallway. He could hear steps nearing the door until they stopped and the door opened.

"Where have you been, Edward? I couldn't meet you in the tavern and you never opened the door. Also, what happened? You never ask for help."

"Let's get inside. I don't want to talk about it here."

Edward entered Pace's spacious apartment and sat down on his leather couch. Pace sat in front of him. Stillness filled the room.

"Pace, I am only telling this you because I can trust no one else. I hope you can help me."

"What's going on?"

At first, Edward didn't answer. Then he said,

"I became a Chosen. I don't know why and don't know how. But I am still the same. I want to leave the city. I want to survive. And I need your help, only you can help me."

Silence followed. Pace looked into Edward's eyes. He knew that his best friend wouldn't joke about such a topic.

"I can help you. But where do you want to go?"

"I don't know, heh. After all, the entire world is searching for me. I might try surviving in the wild or a caravan."

"No, you will only be killed by monsters if you stay in the wild. I know a way to survive. It's just a rumor, but apparently an underground organization hosting Chosen is stationed in the capital. They seem to do just fine. You might be able to survive there.

"I don't know how to reach out to them, but it's worth a try."

"Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me, we're friends after all. I can only help you flee this city though.

"Here's what you need to do…"

"I need sulfur and charcoal"

"This package of potassium nitrate please"

"I'd like to buy that sword, this survival kit, and a bit of beef jerky."

"The guards will change shifts at nine o'clock. They will use the main street to get back to the headquarters"

"Make sure to use the panic"

...

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, thank you for everything. I hope we can meet once again in the future. I will leave my marks at the designated place"

"Alright, let's go. I will prepare the distraction."

Northeastern gate, Gold City, 8:58 pm

The last carriages containing mountain berries were arriving and entering the northeastern gate of Gold City. Gold City was an important trade city that dealt with the trade of the Kingdom's famous mountainberries, hence the name Mountainberry Kingdom. These small red berries were famous for their long-lasting sweetness and could only grow in the mountains to the east of Gold City.

The carriages containing mountain berries were squeezing into the gate. One carriage's wheel broke and couldn't pass through. A large queue built up.

"Hurry up you idiots! The gate closes in half an hour!"

8:59 pm

"Alright, our shift is done. Johnny's group will come soon, so we will go now. See ya!"

Edward, leaning against a wall, heard these words. He looked up and saw the time at the tower clock. Only one minute was left.

Half of the guards left the gate. They walked along the main street for a few meters, took a turn to the right, and could then not be seen anymore.

30 seconds left.

"Just squeeze it through and repair it inside the walls!"

Another group of guards were nearing the gate from the main street.

"Hmm, earlier than expected. But the distance is still sufficient."

15 seconds left.

Edward looked into a certain window. The candle on the window board was burning.

10 seconds left.

Edward suddenly started to walk towards the gate. His speed increased continuously, appearing quite suspicious.

3 seconds left.

Edward sprinted towards the crowd. A few guards looked at him.

2 seconds left.

Edward took off his right glove. He remembered what Pace said,

"To gain the powers of Chosen, you must sacrifice a certain body part of yours, for example, a finger. I don't know how, but I think you must just think of it."

1 second left.

Edward's mark on his forearm started to grow with an increasingly bright light. However, the light was blocked by his clothing.

The group of guards were still far away from the gate.

0 seconds left.

BOOM.

A gigantic explosion appeared right beside the gate! Immediately, a shock wave spread out and kicked all kinds of goods away. Splinters and rocks injured the nearest bystanders. An ash cloud rose.

Panic broke out. Crowds of people walked in all directions except the explosion. All guards drew their swords. The captain roared,

"Formation! Group 1, protect the gate! Group 2, support Johnny's group, they are almost here! Keep calm!"

One group of the gate guards ran towards the explosion.

Because of the panic, no one noticed Edward sprinting towards the gate. He sprinted inside the crowd and was almost at the gate, whose number of guards halved. The group of guards coming from the main street ran towards the explosion to the right of the gate.

Ten meters were left between Edward and the gate, however, the captain then noticed Edward sprinting towards them. He looked into his eyes. Edward saw his expression. First confusion, then realization, and then sternness. He immediately roared,

"Enemy attack!"

All the remaining guards pointed their swords and shields towards Edward. Their formation was perfect. It was impossible for a normal human being to fight against ten guards all alone. The situation seemed desperate for Edward.

However, Edward wasn't a normal human being anymore. The light coming out of his mark turned brighter and brighter. Even his clothes could not stop the light from piercing out anymore. But nothing happened to Edward.

"Damn mark! Why don't you work! Give me power, I need strength!"

Yet, nothing happened. The distance between him and the guards was shortening.

The first guard started to attack. Edward's mind sped up, with time slowing down.

"Goddamn! You piece of trash! Just work, you f*cker! Sacrifice! Yes, I want you to sacrifice, fingers! Who needs the goddamn pinkie finger, you piece of sh*t! I don't want you anymore!"

"JUST IMMOLATE!!!"

As soon as he screamed those words, a blinding light pierced out of Edward's forearm, brightening the entire street! At the same time, his pinkie finger shattered into pieces of light, disappearing into the world.

BOOM!

A huge blast appeared in front of Edward's hand, kicking the guard dozens of meters away! The shockwave continued, throwing stones up into the air, which then hit the other guards.

Meanwhile, Edward's mind underwent changes in that instant. A certain kind of knowledge entered his brain and ingrained itself in its deepest roots. He knew without hesitation what he was capable of!

Edward's body then started to light up. With one light tap, he jumped meters into the air. Mid-air, another shock wave came out of his feet, blasting him towards the middle of the guard's formation! The created sonic boom thrashed the guard's ears.

Landing with a punch into the ground, an ash cloud rose and blinded the guards. Then, Edward held his hands at the guards in front of him.

Another shockwave blasted out of his hands, accelerating the guards dozens of meters away, as if they were hit by a dragon! Upon impact with the ground, the guards started to seizure.

With another shockwave out of his feet, Edward blinked outside the gate and exited the city.

The remaining guards tried to shoot him with arrows, however, Edward pointed his hands towards the top of the gate and let out another shockwave!

The supporting structure immediately crumbled. Stones fell out of the city wall and blocked the gate, not allowing anyone to pass it.

Some arrows still managed to pass the gate though.

Edward looked at the arrows and smiled. The arrows neared him.

Abruptly, shockwaves came out of Edward's lower body, accelerating him in all kinds of directions. Because of his speed, it almost seemed as if he were teleporting. One dodge to the left, one up into the air, and one last back to the ground allowed Edward to dodge all incoming arrows.

Edward then swiftly sprinted towards the forest, leaving the city behind. He gazed one last time at the city that was his home for twenty-two years. A tear flowed down his cheek.

"See you again, old friend."

While Edward disappeared into the forest, two shadows appeared on top of the city wall.

"Seems like he made it."

"Yes, as expected. Let's wait until the commotion quiets down. We will then take him with us."

"Alright. What do you think? C- or B-Tier?"

….


Kapitel 3: Chapter 3

The sun high in the sky, the rustling of leaves, and the smell of nature woke Edward up. Three days have passed since he broke out of the city. What after his escape happened, he did not know. But he also wasn't interested in that, because he knew that Pace safe was.

Edward was laying under the crown of a large tree. He stood up, patted the dust off his clothes, and packed his bag. He took a large backpack with him in which several survival kits were. Knives, pans, spices, pure alcohol, medicine, flint, a tent, and all things one needed to survive in the wilderness.

His next goal was to wander to the capital city of the Kingdom, Mountainberry City. He would wander along the mountain range to the east of the Kingdom, allowing him to survive off the nutritious mountain berries that grew in the wild.

Because the mountains were an important part of the Kingdom's economy, the area would often be cleared of monsters. Therefore, Edward didn't have to worry about being attacked.

Edward looked at his missing pinkie finger and then began to wander.

After he entered the forest three days ago, he ran with superhuman speed. After 20 minutes though, his power began to swindle. Then, his ability to create shockwaves vanished and so did his superhuman powers. Next, he took several detours and ran for several hours until he was sure that no one followed him.

Hardly had Edward began walking when he suddenly felt a touch on his shoulder. Edward immediately drew his sword and turned around, only to see two figures. One man and one female.

The male was in his forties and had several scars on his face. His figure was broad and muscular, even though it was concealed under a cape. Edward knew that he was dangerous.

The female was more approachable, with a friendly smile on her face. However, below her cape, a sword was sticking out.

The male saw Edward's defensive posture and smiled.

"Don't worry, lad. If we wanted to harm you, you would be dead already."

"Who are you?"

Edward didn't drop his sword.

"We are the same as you, we are Chosen. We have been observing you for several days now. We also saw you breaking out of Gold City"

"What?!"

"Yes, it's just like I said. Here's my mark"

The man raised his sleeves and showed his forearm. A thin line made of weird characters on the exterior part of his right forearm. He was undoubtedly a Chosen. Edward still didn't drop his guard though.

"Why should I trust you? You could also be from the King's Army!"

"If we were from the King's Army, we would have attacked you from behind and not raised your guard.", replied the male.

"Hmm, that's true."

The female stepped forward and said,

"We, in fact, come from an organization of Chosen. Most of its members are Chosen and we even have the support of normal humans. We can bring you there. You wouldn't have to worry about survival."

Edward then remembered Pace's words.

"Are you the organization from the capital?"

"No, they are our enemies. We are a different organization and strive towards a goal.", answered the female.

"Enemy?"

"Yes. In the vast world, there are many Chosen organizations, each having separate goals. That's usually the sole reason why fights between Chosen break out."

"I see. But why did you find me, and how did you do it?"

The female smiled and said,

"Our Lady told us where we could find you."

"Your Lady?"

"You will find out if you follow us. You can also find out all the knowledge about Chosen and learn to control your powers if you follow us. You will have enough food, housing, and won't have to fear being killed at any moment. Therefore, do you want to join us?"

Edward didn't have to think long about it. He didn't have a reason to refuse. His goal was to join the Chosen organization in the capital city anyway. Since that wasn't guaranteed, and the opportunity to join an organization appeared, he couldn't decline.

"Alright, I will follow you."

Both the male and female smiled and started to relax. The man held his hand towards Edward and said,

"Good. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Jack, and this is my colleague Janna. I hope we can work together in the future."

Edward smiled. He took his hand and shook it firmly.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Edward."

Year 91 of the New Calendar, August the 3rd

It was midsummer. The hot sun shone upon the lands and graced everything within its reach with light. Animals hid lazily under the trees' shadow, plants spread out their leaves and absorbed all the light.

Near a certain mountain in the Great Mountains, the rustling of leaves was heard. Three figures with swords in their hands cut through bushes and emerged out of a forest, entering the empty mountain slope. Their moves were swift, and their slashes were precise. Even though the young male was lacking compared to the two other figures, he wasn't lousy. One could see that he was experienced with his sword.

"Not bad, kid. You learned fast."

"Well, I had nothing to do in the past two months, it's no wonder. But my superior talent is certainly part of the reason, heh."

"You are getting cocky, haha. Just wait until your training begins. You won't be as naughty then. I can already imagine your begging. 'Please Jack, just one short break. I can't endure it anymore.'"

"Even if I couldn't endure it, I would never give you the satisfaction of seeing me begging."

Two months have passed since Edward met Jack and Janna. During the time, he got to know their personalities. Jack was outgoing even though his fierce appearance other people deterred. He knew how to joke. He was also the one who taught Edward swordsmanship and survival skills. According to his stories, he was a brilliant fighter. Whether that was true was to be tested.

The time in the wilderness and his daily training gave Edward a more manly appearance. His shoulders became broader, his skin darker and rougher, his muscles toned, and his gaze wasn't childish anymore.

Janna was usually silent. She was apparently the strategist in Jack's group. Edward didn't find out much about her, but she seemed friendly and Jack trusted her judgment.

They were about to enter the lair of the organization of Chosen. There, Edward would learn everything he would need to know to decide on whether to join the organization. 'The Lady' would explain everything to him. Edward once asked why they always called her 'The Lady', to which Janna replied,

"We dare not tell you her name without her permission. You will know why."

Edward, Jack, and Janna soon reached the bare mountain and started climbing it up. It was exhausting, but the past two months gave Edward a better constitution. Halfway up to the mountain, Jack said,

"We have arrived."

Subsequently, he reached out to a large boulder, grabbed it, and pushed it away. The boulder proved to be hollow inside. Underneath, a pathway deep into the mountain revealed itself. The walls were extremely flat, as if they were artificial. Dim torches hang on the walls of the pathway, illuminating the way to a distant light source.

Afterwards, the group entered the pathway and closed the entrance behind them. They walked for a few minutes in silence until Janna the stillness interrupted,

"Soon you will meet our leaders and get to know our cause. Remember to be polite, they don't like to joke around."

"Oh, okay."

The atmosphere was tense. The stuffy air and weird silence made Edward nervous. What was supposed to happen? He would just meet a few Chosen, integrate into the organization, and then live his life in peace. But something told Edward that it wouldn't be so easy. He felt like he was walking into a huge trap, one that would make his life miserable. But he also felt attracted by something, as if it was his destiny.

Then, after a turn to the right, the pathway opened up into a room. Its walls were perfectly flat just like the rest of the pathway. Inside it was a wooden table. The burning candles standing upon the table lightened up the room and filled it with an herbal smell. On the left wall of the room, a wooden door led deeper into the mountain. Distant noises could be heard. Two chairs stood behind the table.

Sitting on the chairs were two figures. One man and one woman.

The man had a tall but strong stature. His nose was straight and his skin clear. His golden irises highlighted his sharp, but relaxed eyes. He wore a loose, black robe, which matched his long black hair. On his back, Edward could see a slim and long single-edged sword. It wasn't imposing because of its fine details or its elegant handle, but because of its golden color and shining light. The man spread out a dangerous, destructive air, even though he smiled at Edward.

Edward knew that this man could kill him anytime if he wanted to do so.

The woman's stature was small and slim. She had a friendly, relaxed face. Her long black hair looked elegant and matched her young look nicely. Her nose was small and fitted her young look too. However, what appeared weird were her grey eyes and her loose grey robe. It was as if the previous colors were washed away by the river of time and thus resulted in the grey that they were today. The lady emitted an archaic aura, and it seemed like time froze around her.

Edward felt like the smile of this woman could watch him for an eternity while he lived, aged, and died. The smiling woman seemed eternal.

Then, the woman spoke.

"Welcome, Edward Harrison. We have expected your arrival"

Edward noticed that Jack and Janna suddenly a few meters behind him were. He replied,

"It's a pleasure. I assume you two are the leaders of this organization?"

"We indeed are. But might you not first introduce yourself?"

The woman smiled.

"Oh, I apologize."

Edward stepped forward, put his right hand on his chest, and held his left hand behind his back. Then he bowed.

"Might I introduce myself. Edward Harrison, twenty-two years old, son of Harry Harrison. Fleeing from my hometown of Gold City as a Chosen to survive and being offered a safe haven in this noble place

"May I know the name of my lords?"

"We're glad to offer you this opportunity. As for our names, we have many. Today, many call us S-Tier Chosen."

The woman stopped, and then continued,

"Back in the Epoch of Change, some even called us Gods or Immortals.

"However... we prefer our real names. You may call me Horatia and the man to my left Olethros."


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