Bab 2: Ethereal Geno Art

The sight in front was a man battling a giant monstrosity. The fiendish beast donned acid salivating liquid from its mouth, rotted piercing teeth the size of a human adult's hand, and a body resembling that of a lion's structure with two extra limbs on its back.

Opposite stood a tall man in green, carrying a large claymore. Hoisting the weapon up with two hands, it radiated a violet shade as the man swung to cleave the beast in half.

"Die!!!" The man roared. But his shout was soon outdone by the beast's own roar. The exchange between the two was fast and furious. It left no room to question how intense their desires exuded on killing each other.

From a distance, Brigan stayed crouched down and concealed, monitoring their every action. Yet, his wide-open eyes only grew wider the longer he watched.

Had he stumbled upon an isolated region by the government?

Judging the valley's terrain, he never saw a place like this, so it was inconceivable to consider it as Earth. Did this mean the Oblivion Gate transported people to different planets? If correct, he perceived finding a human stronghold still possible.

Having spent days with nothing to help keep alive, Brigan was more focus on the likelihood regarding water and food than the insane fight no ordinary civilian could achieve.

The longer he thought on the subject, the further he understood the gravity for the man's plight. While he was no hero, if the man died now, his scarcity of food and water would prolong.

How many days could he last? Since he refused to leave things to chance, he would determine his own fate. Standing up and carrying the red box in hand, he made a dash to the fighting duo.

As he sprinted forward, both the man and the beast took notice. "W-What, a naked boy?! Hey! Don't be rash kid! This thing is out of your league!!!" Despite the urgency in the man's voice, Brigan ignored him as he leaped for the beast.

"Dang it all!!! Where did this reckless kid come from!!!" Amidst his shouting, he also made action to intercept the beast. "ROAR!!!" Emitting greater ferociousness, the beast's muscle span enlarged as its figure emanated a violet glow.

As all of this happened, Brigan began striking first. Raising his leg, he aimed a blow to one of its extra limb. His intent being, to disable or block the things used for protecting its body against the man's claymore.

The man trailing half a second behind, also realized this point but didn't have the same confidence as Brigan regarding his intentions. Having fought the beast for a while, the two extra limbs could be said to be the sturdiest and strongest part.

This analysis didn't even include the increased strength it now exuded. From his viewpoint, Brigan was just plain suicidal. What reinforced his opinion was the lack of any God Weapon on Brigan's person.

Bang! Crack!

To the astonishment of the three, beast included, the harden arm snapped, bending at an unusual degree as the beast let loose an anguished cry.

Listening from the intensity of its screams, it wouldn't be wrong to conclude its limbs on top being both, the strong and weak point to its body.

Although stunned by the results, Brigan wasn't overly so. Before he shot toward the beast, he had already experienced changes that provided confidence concerning his capabilities.

When he was standing and observing the battle, the two figures fighting were moving blinding fast. By the time he overcame the shock of an eerie looking image, the two seemed to be moving in slow motion compared to beforehand.

With keen awareness and having fought his share of scrimmages, he believed being a God Candidate would come with some form of perk. Thankfully, it all wasn't recklessness.

"Don't miss this chance!" Brigan's reminder obtained an amused snort. "I know!" Banishing the claymore overhead, the tall man gave a clean swipe. Sadly, it only severed a front leg as the beast jumped back.

But even then, it was enough to decide the conclusion of the battle. Having tremendously reduced its speed, it opposed no threat to the man.

Turning to face Brigan, he deemed it okay to give acknowledgment for the assist. "Kid, thanks. I got it from here." However, the wounded beast wasn't in consensus. With a speed that only cornered beasts could have bestowed upon them, the last remaining back arm swung out.

"You can give the kid name a rest Old Man." He to didn't see the action until the last moment. "Old Man! BEHIND!!!" Initiating a turn, the man got half way before his body lifted off the ground.

"OLD MAN!!!" Blood splashed Brigan as he watched the man whom he shared a short conversation with, but life-threatening comradery, be ruthlessly mowed down while the body tumbled and rolled on the ground.

If asked, he couldn't claim to have a deep bond. Still, these bond's lengths would often shorten considerably during crises like death experiences.

And it was on this such occasion that Brigan felt had they met sooner, or had a more extended interaction, they might've had become best friends.

But the beast appeared to give him no time to lament or grieve. It showed its adaptability by running off three legs as if it still possessed four, closing the proximity to its cause of anger and wanting to exact revenge.

Brigan met the aggression head on. Digging his bare feet in the soil, he launched forward, aiming to achieve his own vengeance. This time however, he struck with his fist that concealed the red box inside.

Engaging the attack was a giant paw gleaming with five deadly blades. What drove Brigan's fury further was the residue of blood dripping off it in vivid detail. "YOU NEED DISCIPLINE!!!" He growled out, trying to tame his raging anger more so than reprimanding the fiendish beast.

The claws only left mild scratches that hardly broke the skin surface as the fist penetrated forward, breaking bones and claws the same. Following the momentum, Brigan's fist arrived at the beast's head which he connected to bring his fist and its face downward.

Boom!

A slight cloud of dust flew skyward. Within the now sunk earth floor was a giant embedded beast head. Movements from it had ceased a while ago. "Argh!!!" Came the groan of the wounded man.

Brigan hurriedly reached the man's side. "Old Man, your alive?! Try to keep your strength. I'll get us both out of here." In no way did he want to aggravate the injuries.

"Hehehe! Kid, open your eyes. It's over for me, but I want to make a request. Can you do this for a dying stranger?" Nodding, Brigan chose not to interrupt. "Let's be clear. I'm only 29 this year."

Seeing the man stop to cough up blood, Brigan didn't continue letting the time slip pass. "Don't joke, tell me your will. If it's within my abilities, I will see it through."

"Thanks, Kid. My God Weapon, can you pass it on to my team? They will understand I fell in battle." Taking the claymore, he gave a firm promise to look for the man's team. Just as he thought the man had passed away, he got another shock.

"That?! An Ethereal Geno Art?! Ahh! So the myth is true..." Brigan watched the man succumb to his injuries. He had seen death in reality, but this scene was the first time presented up close.

Should he bury him?

With shaky hands, he covered the man's eyes. To survive and achieve the man's last will, he could only fortify his resolve and find a water source. For food, glancing at the dead beast, it was all for survival.

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Bab 3: Elber the Kind

Preparing on using the beast's remains to satisfy his hunger and thirst, he paused as the carcass shattered into a violet luminescence of dazzling sparkles.

The glimmering performance danced in the air before rushing his way. With great alarm, Brigan attempted to escape, seeking to avoid the trouble before it happened.

However, even with knowing that it's always better to be cautious when facing the unknown unless one had the confidence to overcome it, it was a useless effort.

He was completely overwhelmed as an instinctual urge made him examine his state. Following it, he received another message from within, shocking him further.

Brigan Heartforce

Race: Human

God Title: None

Genotype: Ordinary

Genophase: 1%

Geno Art: None

Viewing this telepathy message just raised more questions than answers. Even more critical, with the beast dissolving spontaneously, he lost his source of nourishment.

Still with his body laid bare to all, he took a few hours to honor his deceased comrade as he apologized for his subsequent actions. "Sorry for this Old Man, but you should understand it's used better on the living."

That's right, with little to no shame, Brigan 'borrowed' the torn green clothes before burying his dead friend.

___

Hours passed by as a black-haired youth in his mid to late teens sprinted in a valley searching for food and water. His youthful but handsome features exhibited an extreme urgency in every step.

Taking a moment to shield his eyes from the approaching sunset, he lowered his hand as warm winds blew his green torn garments with a large claymore resting on his back bobbling up and down.

This panicking youth was Brigan. His eyes were bloodshot as he searched in vain. More so, for him to be seeing a magnificent landscape of a flourishing valley like green hills, it lacked its authentic necessities for the place, making it appear illusory.

'Where is the water' became a mantra as he felt reality set in. Just as he thought of going primitive by using his body's 'water,' he caught a glimpse of purplish liquid on the horizons.

Filled to the brim with anticipation, he expressed more enthusiasm as he increased his pace. In a short time, he reached the area to see a river of purple water. In his haste, he lost sight of his surroundings as he kneeled before its bank.

With hands descending to swoop up a drink, a startled voice stopped him. "Wa-wait! Unless you plan on dying, I won't do that if I were you!" Shifting his line of sight, he noticed a slouched middle-aged man in black speaking.

More peculiar was the man's thumb inserted into his mouth. "Is something wrong with the water?" Looking back at it, he felt nothing amiss for the water to be a different color. In fact, most were different colors on each planet.

"The young people these days. Look further up." Pointing at the water almost leaving the human sight, Brigan saw dead rows of small fishes laying on the land. "What?!"

He couldn't have been that excited to miss something that obvious right?

"Young man, do you have a name? Wait, apologies! Where are my manners? Call me Elber the Kind or Elber for short." Given how the man helped him out just now, the name was well earned. "You have my thanks also. I am Brigan, nice to be met."

Nodding, Elber motioned to have him follow. "You look to be starving and in need of water. Up ahead is the village Sunless where I live. There, we can chat further on a full stomach."

Thankful, Brigan was all for tagging along. As they walked, Elber began taking glances while trying to stay from being exposed. In time, his eagerness won over his patience. "Is the weapon on your back a God Weapon? It's hard to tell because I don't see any resonation between you."

Debating on how much to spill, Brigan gave in since he could tell God Weapons had a uniqueness that made them distinctive in contrast to conventional weapons. "Yes."

"I see, I see..." Elber fully lost himself in his murmuring. Not thinking too deeply on the topic, Brigan continued following the man which upon he witnessed the large village reach their sight.

If he had to classify the image, he would call it a fortress instead. The village was structured of a hard compound, ranging perhaps more than twenty kilometers. Being the usual size of a large village, instead of wood making up the housings, it was an alloy similar to metal.

Fencing around the area was an enormous steel gate with two doors. On the top edges possessed sharp spikes, making it hard to climb over if one had the ability to overcome its height in the first place.

"Welcome to Sunless Village! Let's get moving." Proceeding forward, they were cut off by the two warriors standing guard while each owned a war spear and light armor for protection. Right away, their eyes centered on the only weapon in view carried.

"Halt, His Excellency don't allow strangers inside the village. Pay the entry fee or turn back." Wanting to refute the demand, he paused since Elber also was in consensus regarding their order.

"Young Brigan, this is normal. Considering you don't have money, handing over the weapon temporary as a loan won't cause a big deal. Later, I'll help you retrieve it from the village leader." Still worry but believing Elber had good intentions, Brigan grudgingly accepted the decision.

Once inside, the nighttime lights helped guide them to Elber's house. There, they got comfortable as they began discussing the situation. "First, take this cup of fresh water. You're going to have to wait for a little on the food to finish."

"Thanks!" Grabbing the cup, it was the same transparent shade of earth's water.

Taking a seat across from Brigan, Elber took a bit of time to gather his thoughts before he started the questioning on what he wanted to know most. "Now, how did you attain a God Weapon?"

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