Hi. Synopsis: A new frontier, a new galaxy, an old seal. The end of the world already happened once. To prevent it from ever happening, one person goes back. To enter the Game, to stop the ultimate evil, all whilst being public enemy number one. See Crule save the world. The world he failed to save once before. This story is also on wuxiaworld forums and RRL. *There is no harem* Current word count: 202,779 Table of Content: Spoiler - Prologue - Ch 1 - Ch 2 - Ch 3 - Ch 4 - Ch 5 - Ch 6 - Ch 7 - Ch 8 - Ch 9 - Ch 10 - Ch 11 - Ch 12 - Ep 1 - Ch 13 - Ch 14 - Ch 15 - Ch 16 - Ch 17 - Ch 18 - Ch 19 - Ch 20 - Ch 21 - Ch 22 - Ch 23 - Ch 24 - Ep 2 - Ch 25 - Ch 26 - Ch 27 - Ch 28 - Ch 29 - Ch 30 - Ch 31 - Ch 32 - Ch 33 - Ch 34 - Ch 35 - Ch 36 - Ep 3 - Ch 37 - Ch 38 - Ch 39 - Ch 40 - Ch 41 - Ch 42 - Ch 43 - Ch 44 - Ch 45 - Ch 46 - Ch 47 - Ch 48 - Ch 49 - Ep 4 - Ch 50 - Ch 51 - Ch 52 - Ch 53 - Ch 54 - Ch 55 - Ch 56 - Ch 57 - Ch 58 - Ch 59 - Ch 60 - Ch 61 - Ep 5 - Ch 62 - Ch 63 - Ch 64 - Ch 65 - Ch 66 - Ch 67 - Ch 68 - Ch 69 - Ch 70 - Ch 71 - Ch 72 - Ch 73 - Ep 6 - Ch 74 - Ch 75 - Ch 76 - Ch 77 - Ch 78 - Ch 79 - Ch 80 - Ch 81 - Ch 82 - Ch 83 - Ch 84 - Ch 85 - Ch 86 - Ep 7 - Ch 87 - Ch 88 - Ch 89 - Ch 90 - Ch 91 Spoiler - Ch 92 - Ch 93 - Ch 94 - Ch 95 - Ch 96 - Ch 97 - Ch 98 - Ch 99 - Ep 8 - Ch 100 - Ch 101 - Ch 102 - Ch 103 - Ch 104 - Ch 105 - Ch 106 - Ch 107 - Ch 108 - Ch 109 - Ch 110 - Ch 111 - Ep 9 - Ch 112 - Ch 113 - Ch 114 - Ch 115 - Ch 116 - Ch 117 - Ch 118 - Ch 119 - Ch 120 - Ch 121 - Ch 122 - Ch 123 - Ch 124 - Ep 10 - Ch 125 - Ch 126 - Ch 127 - Ch 128 - Ch 129 - Ch 130 - Ch 131 - Ch 132 - Ch 133 - Ch 134 - Ch 135 - Ch 136 - Ep 11 - Ch 137 - Ch 138 - Ch 139 - Ch 140 - Ch 141 - Ch 142 - Ch 143 - Ch 144 - Ch 145 - Ch 146 - Ch147 - Ch 148 - Ch 149 - Ch 150 - Book1EP - Book2Prologue - Ch 151 - Ch 152
Prologue Spoiler In spiral galaxy a few light years from what we call home, lies a solar system made of only three planet and two suns. The suns are a twin in size and shape, the only difference is one burns in a shade of orange red and the other in a shade of violet blue. The twin suns are called Alpha-Z18 and Beta-Z18. People just shorten it to AZ18 and BZ18. Many that pass through the rift to the other side assume that they have just traveled a far distance. Little did they know, having messed with the power that is light speed travel, a second universe was created as man pass through it. Everything was nearly the same, but a few changes in the way the big bang happened forced several laws of physics to be messed up. Some explorers upon entering the galaxy stated this. [Explorer]: It felt kind of strange, like I was finally able to breath. It’s kind of like that feeling when you are swimming long distances when you suddenly stop and just float there to catch your breath. As the first pioneers set forth and entered the new galaxy, the wonders that they saw were forever embedded in their memories. The first planet orbits in a peanut shaped orbit around the two suns. This planet is called Magnus. It is a planet of heat and cold. The side that faces the twin suns faces blistering heats causing the surface to liquefy. As the planet’s rotation is slow, the other side of the planet faces freezing temperatures so cold that the liquefied surface instantly flash freezes into a solid crust upon entering the darker side of the planet. This cycle repeats causing currents of liquefied metals to form this magnificent planet. Due to the extreme conditions on the planet, it is currently uninhabitable. The second planet was actually partially destroyed. Due to a collision of another planet of a smaller size in the same orbit, half of the planet is blown off and is now just debris floating around. The planet has become a croissant shaped planet. Although half the planet was obliterated, the other half remains intact. Due to the calamity that was the collision, the areas near the epicenter of contact was burnt into nothing but molten lava and ash. On the exact opposite side of the collision however, lies a large continent of greenery. It is currently uninhabited by lifeforms that are bigger than a few cells sized. Most of the area are just plants and bacteria. Most of the former residents of the planet died out with the collision. The second planet was called Theos. After the incident, it is now known as Crecentia. If one were to look at the second planet from the third planet, it would look like a red blue then green banana with red on the inside follow by blue then green at the peak of the parabola. The second planet lies at the very start of the green belt of the solar system. This allowed the intact area to be able to host life. The third planet was perfectly in the middle of the green belt. Like the other planets it took follows a peanut shaped orbit around the twin suns. If one was to view the third planet from the second planet, one could see that the planet was split perfectly in half by two colors. This is due to the twin suns having different effects on the planet itself. One side was green and blue. This side was a lush forest covering the entire half of the planet with eight great lakes dotting it. The other side was deep blue and with eight islands of green dotting the huge ocean. But this wasn’t just a normal ocean, this was an ocean of molten minerals. The area around the islands are protected from the molten liquid due to large cliffs that surround the islands like a mote. If one were to compare the size of those island to an object we were familiar with, each island’s size would rival Earth. This planet was huge. This planet was called Noxiac but some just call it Noxia. It was the only planet in the solar system with any mons at all. With a whooping seven moons, each of the moon had a name. Although they were habitable, due to the harsh environment on each of the moon, they were named after the sins. Pride, the largest moon, was a moon made of a reflecting metal that causes it to glitter in the sky. Greed, the oval shaped moon, was a moon made of precious metals. Mining operations were to be expected when thinking about exploring Greed. Lust, the moon of soft metal. The surface of the moon consist of soft and highly reactive metal. Its reactivity causes various fires and explosions as one could compare to the way of love being passionate and wild. Only certain dots of cold unreactive iron were habitable on the moon. Sloth, the moon of ice. This moon’s temperature throughout the day was below the freezing point of the liquid covering its surface. Only if one were to drill into the moon would one find a suitable temperature for survival. Wrath, a planet of fire and brimstone. Vent blowing out extremely hot air dotted the planet. Sometimes even a flare of fire shoots out too. To a blacksmith, this would be the perfect moon to start a business as the heat from the vents can melt most metals. Around the vents are cooler areas just suitable enough for survival although the heat may have detrimental effects over long time of exposure. Jealousy, a moon of silent. This was the only uninhabitable moon as it did not have an atmosphere like the other moons. Its surface is made out of a fine dust of metals and one can see various crater caused by space debris. This moon was very similar to Earth’s moon. Lastly we have Gluttony, the moon of abundance. The entire planet was covered in a prairie like grass field. No trees could be seen but on one side of the planet, a large crater about one eighth the size of the moon leading into a dark abyss could be found. From afar, it looks to be a large gaping mouth. Several years ago, a wormhole was opened up between our galaxy and theirs. This allowed pioneers to explore the three planets. Those who went to the first planet perished quickly and were never heard from again. Those who ventured to the second planet, were not as lucky as well. All of them died due to the collision incident. But although the records say that all of them died, a handful of survives left and went to the third planet with the third group of pioneers. Those who went to the third planet prospered. Over a millennia have passed and the planet was at its prime. They have even set up trade routes through the wormhole to their old galaxy. But to exploit the rich supply of minerals and metals, laborers were required. Due to the hard conditions, most of the laborers were convicts. People who no longer have a future. So to harvest the seven moons of their riches, Rigs have been set up on each of the moons. They were a prison of metal and pipes, to use prison labor to mine the riches. Meanwhile the people living on the planet of Noxiac itself enjoy a life of luxury. They mainly inhabit the large islands surrounded by the metal sea due to the vicious wildlife found on the other side of the planet. Thus eight countries appeared. Seven of the countries manage a moon each while the last one was the capital of the planet, and also the main trading port between Noxiac and our galaxy. The country of Crotina manages the moon Pride. Greed was managed by the country of Beauxi. Lust was managed by the country of Aphrodia. Sloth was manage by Gatalus. Wrath was managed by the country of Hytis. Jealousy by Juilas and lastly Gluttony by Aponus. The central island, the hub of all trade throughout the planet, was called Luxia. With all the wealth Noxia have accumulated, the other half of the planet was never explored. One may ask why with mankind's powerful technologies why they haven’t sent drones and satellites to take images of the other half. Well they tried to. But any electronic that left the habited half of the planet were immediately shut down as if an electromagnetic pulse slammed into them. Many attempts have resulted in constant failures and the money it cost to continue trying was starting to worry the governments. Realizing that using technology to uncover this ancient world was perhaps not the best of ideas, they started sending expedition groups. They were filled with people who were eager to make riches exploring the Wild. But many who went realized their electronics stopped working. Researchers have found a certain energy that interferes with electronics that seemed harmless to humans. But the energy contains the potential to carry electrons. This means it could be used as an alternative way of power. With such discoveries, the entire world was going to change....until calamity struck. A long time have passed since the first pioneer set foot on Noxia. An even longer time had pass since humanity firmed left their mark on half the planet. A certain group of individuals who would rather not affect the current status quo, silenced the researchers who discovered the energy. They instead kept the secrets to themselves. The only others who knew about it, were martial artists and the exotic mysteries of magic, spells, and rituals and those who master them. To some, this energy was known as Qi. To others, perhaps Mana, or Spirit. Many clans argue over the correct definition, but they can agree on one thing. The common folk should never learn about it. But now the group of individuals led their government and wanted to once again exploit the riches of the wild. Due to the greedy nature of governments, they have created a game out of it in order to entice adventurers and soldiers, mercenary and bandits, all sort of rift raft to explore the riches of the other half of Noxia. Not only that, they have made the other half of the planet into a Massive Multiplayer Reality Game. Each person entering the other half of a planet has to pay a fee in order to start but you would receive your gaming device, an arm bangle that shows holographic images to support your game. You also receive a shot of nanobots so that when you level yourself, the corresponding stat increases can actually improve your body. That itself attracted millions of people from all over the galaxies to participate. Everything was in order, but for some reason, like the other electronics, even the nanobots stopped working. Leaving, only the warriors and mages of old to conquer the Wild. One company stands above those who have failed. [Man with red shirt]: The opening event will happen soon. Everything is prepared for next month’s reveal. [Man with blue shirt]: Very good James, let this even mark the start of a new era. The era of the game of Noxia. [James]: Yes sir, Mr. Grimly, as president of the company that made this possible, you will become a figure remembered through history. [Grimly]: No James, I do not want to be just another spot on the long curtain of history. No…I will be a God. [James]: This…Yes sir, we shall make it happen. {Grimly}: Good good… How are our production on the moons? [James]: They are keeping up with schedule barely. Due to the harsh environment, laborers die far too easily. [Grimly]: They are just disposable Riggers, those filthy animals on those Rigs should be glad we can turn a profit from their worthless lives. Go, tell them to double their efforts in time for the opening event. [James]: …Yes sir.
Chapter 1: Rigs of Metal and Rust. Spoiler Over the large hole on the moon of Gluttony, lies a large metal structure that’s being held there by a series of large steel cables. The structure was called a Rig. It was made out of mostly iron and serves the purpose of mining the rare minerals at the bottom of the abyss. The rarest mineral found at the bottom of the abyss was Glutonium. A metal specific to the moon of Gluttony, named after the moon itself. It was found to be a rather ravenous metal with the highest conductibility of electrons, making it the best material in the galaxy to be used as electric cables. The inhabitants of the Rigs were all in rags. They all looked like beggars. Only the official staff of the Rig wore a blue uniform. Every morning, the staff would lead the laborers to the middle of the Rig where a large elevator lies. They are brought down to the bottom of the abyss at high speeds. It still takes an hour and a half just to get to the bottom though. The elevator was large enough to fit at most three hundred people with mining equipment. There is a large conveyor belt bringing up the crushed rocks up to the Rig for shipping. The raw crushed rocks are shipped to Wrath for further purification. People are brought to the Rig from all over the galaxy. They were the convicts, regardless of how severe their crimes had been. The things people have committed range from shoplifting to mass murder and even treason. Even with the sheer number of convicts being brought to the Rig every month, there still isn’t enough workers. So some people are even born on the Rigs. They were called Riggers. They have no rights at all since they were the offspring of people who no longer have rights too. Many of these Riggers were immediately put to work around the age of eight. Most die before they hit adulthood. They were mostly quick disposable laborers for the company Metallurgy INC. Today, marks the second year that Crule started working. He turned ten last month. His face covered in dirt and dust, his body thin and malnourished. He looked like he was on the brink of death. His hair was short, wild, and was as dark as night itself. His eyes were a shade of hazel, but were bloodshot due to the work conditions. [Woman with hair in a bun]: Hey Crule, did you eat breakfast today? [Crule]: No I didn’t, Ms. Burnst. It all taste like dirt. [Burnst]: You’re a growing boy, you gotta eat even if it’s bad. Your body needs the nutrients and with all the work we gotta do, you need to be on a full stomach. [Crule]: But…Ok… I will start eating breakfast more often. [Burnst]: Good lad, now run along now, tomorrow you and I are on mining duty. The large amount of residents of the Rig only have to mine four times a week and rotates on the bi-daily schedule. They work two days, rest two days. But even during the “rest” days they still had to perform their daily duties like packaging rocks to be shipped or cleaning the equipment. It was constantly busy and people had very little rest. Ms. Burnst was a middle aged woman who came to the Rig five years ago. She was convicted of tax evasion, although it was all just misplaced paperwork by the government, but they don’t care. They needed more laborers for the Rigs anyways. ________ Tomorrow morning marks the start of another two days of continuous mining. Crule work up in the morning and downed the dust stew they called breakfast. He took one of the vitamin pills and caught up with Ms. Burnst on the way to the elevator. [Burnst]: Didja sleep well lad? [Crule]: Yes Ms. Burnst. Crule’s parents died when he was five and Ms. Burnst have been taking care of him ever since. Their death was caused by an accident with mining equipment going haywire. They were immediately killed but manage to push Crule away. [Blue Uniformed Employee]: Line up you Riggers, single file line onto the elevator. The people one by one entered the elevator and got into their seats. Due to the sheer speed of the elevator, seatbelts were necessary in order to prevent immediate injury. _______ The hour and half ride down to the bottom of the abyss was as scary to Crule as always. The walls were pitch black and the only lights were the occasional flood lights they attach to the wall by the team that went down the abyss in the first place. Those lights were also managed by the Riggers on rest days. The temperature drops steadily until halfway down the abyss when the temperature starts to rise again. Lower they went, one can see caves with rivers of molten metal flowing through them. This lit up the cave in an incandescent orange glow. The abyss is constantly getting deeper and wide due to the mining. If one were to see a long time exposure of Gluttony, it would seem as if the mouth was slowly opening bigger and bigger. There’s only one type of creature found on the moon when the pioneers first set foot on it. It was a large slugs and snails around a meter tell and two meters long. They were mainly found on the grassy prairie area of Gluttony but a shelled variant can be found at the bottom of the abyss. They generally ignore the miners and are often scared away by the mining equipment. _______ When they reached the bottom, each Rigger went and got their equipment. Some carried electric jackhammers, some shovels, some pick axes. Some privileged Riggers who gained the favor of the staff even get to use heavy machinery like bulldozers and excavators. Crule got his shovel and helmet with a lamp on it and hurried and follow his group. People mined in groups for both safety and entertainment. Talking and gossip was allowed during working as long as you do not stop working. [Crule]: Ms. Burnst, please tell me what your old home planet was like? Since Crule was born on Gluttony, he never saw anywhere else and can only rely on the stories of others to get a glimpse into other places. [Burnst]: Boy, my planet was called Earth. It has a long history of several tens of thousands of years of mankind. From ancient civilizations to modern times, mankind’s creativity sparked many creations. [Crule]: What does your planet look like? [Burnst]: From space, it’s a wonderful ball of blue and green, brown and white. Full of life and wonders. We humans have covered all over the world, created huge cities of metal and concrete. Nearly everything was automated and life was great. Best of all, we have solved world hunger so no one went hungry in decades. [Crule]: *with a sparkle in his eyes* Wow! No hunger at all? [Burnst]: You couldn’t even be hungry if you wanted to. With the development of easy to access food, you can even buy a full course meal from a vending machine. [Crule]: What is a vending machine? [Burnst]: It’s this wonderful machine that spits out whatever you want when you put in money. [Crule]: What is money? [Burnst]: Lad, I’m sure I have told you what money was before. [Crule]: Oh, those simple paper strips and plastic cards? [Burnst]: *sighs* Yes boy, those “simple” paper strips and plastic cards. [Crule]: I hope one day I can have money. [Burnst]: *with pity in her eyes* Boy, I’m sure one day you will. With burning inspiration, Crule worked up the enthusiasm to work hard, so that one day, he too may have this “money”. _______ Twelve insane labor intensive hours later, it was time for the first break period. The days on Gluttony lasts 18 hours. They get a six hour period to sleep and rest after the first period. Crule was completely tired out after twelve hours. His enthusiasm still haven’t died down but his body can’t work for so long on enthusiasm alone. Sleep hit him hard and fast like a rock to the forehead. Tomorrow, will be a new day of stories. Even in his dreams, Crule imagine the wonderful metal box called a vending machine that just spits out food when you put in paper.
Chapter 2: Stranded. Spoiler After six hours, the horn was sounded to wake everyone up. Time to take your daily vitamin pill and bowl of gruel and get back to work. The groups of people slowly dragging their feet could be seen separated into two groups. The new arrivals are still hopeful and have muscle on their body to work. The ones who have been here a while are decrepit and boney. The lack of protein really affected their body mass as most barely have enough strength to lift the pick axe and so some just have electric drills taped to their hands for digging. Finding Glutonium is easier said than done. It usually appear in large pockets dotting the moon. One would have to slowly chip away at the harder black colored stone in order to find the deposit. One can see exposed Glutonium all along the walls of the hole on the way down. These are to be extracted at a later date by drones. Expanding the hole vertically may have a bad effect on the moon as well as the rig hanging from the sides of the hole. The rig might fall if they mine too vertically. [Crule]: Ms. Burnst, where are we digging today? [Burnst]: Should be the south west sector. [Crule]: I heard there seems to be a lot of snails gathered there yesterday. [Burnst]: Yes…those snails are scavengers. Without them, this place would smell like rotting flesh and excrements right now. Due to the large amount of accidents and lack of safety precautions, injury and death happens quite often. Bodies were left there if it was too maimed but if they were intact, some were brought closer to the elevator and buried there. The ones left where they died were eaten by the snails. It seems it has become a stable in their diet and since Metallurgy Inc. manages around 80% of crime and prisons in the galaxy means they have a near endless supply of workers. ______ To get to the south west sector where they were mining today, they actually have to travel there by vehicle. The hole is just too large to traverse there and back by feet in a day and the cave becomes too dark to maneuver during night. Crule’s group of twenty miners got on the large metal vehicle resembling a dune buggy. It was made out of cheap iron and steel for durability but not for comfort. The ride there usually is so bumpy, few people get bruised along the way. But they were mostly use to it by now. Bruising was the least of their problems as during dangerous moments when the snails are in the way, people may break their bones during the sudden breaking. Due to the lack of visibility, even with the powerful lights around the vehicle, at most they could only see two hundred meters around them. This makes traveling quite dangerous but most of the snails tend to avoid loud things. [Crule]: Things seems to be more quiet than usual. [Burnst]: The buggy seems to be slowing down. [Crule]: I wonder why… When the vehicle had come to a complete stop, the people in the back of the buggy could feel a huge bump. [Burnst]: Feels like we ran into something. [Crule]: I hope it’s not one of those snails. Suddenly, the people in the back could hear gun fire and screaming coming from ahead. [Burnst]: What is happening out there?! [Crule]: Ms. Burnst, I’m scared. [Burnst]: Don’t worry child, we all are here together. Then everything was quiet. Too quiet. All the gun fire stopped and no one made a sound. The leader of the group Simon opened up the door to check outside. But there was nothing there. The people normally guarding the vehicle and the driver were gone. There were no traces of blood nor were there corpses. It was as if they were spirited away. [Simon]: It seems there’s nothing here, but all the guards disappeared. Simon Wu was a former ranger. He accidentally stumbled upon an illegal poaching accident and was blamed for it. He was sent to the Rig after trial. He was a tall man, standing at six feet two. Due to his outdoors lifestyle, he was well built and had a long beard. [Burnst]: This is very strange. The main problem is how we report this. If they access this poorly we may be executed as they suspect us of killing and disposing of the guards. As there are no evidence of a fight here, we lack proof that it wasn’t us. [Simon]: …True. Those assholes assume we are just livestock so they will immediately put the blame on us to avoid unnecessary troubles. This means we got two options here. [Burnst]: Right…but both options are dangerous. [Simon]: indeed. We can either spread out and find traces of where the guards went and what happened or attempt to escape. [Burnst]: You mean jail break, which I remind you is nigh impossible. [Simon]: I know a way, although it’s incredibly dangerous. [Burnst]: Well looking around isn’t very safe too. For all you know, whatever and whoever did this to the guards is still out there. [Simon]: Either way, we are not safe. Do we still have weapons in the trunk? [Burnst]: The guards had the key, we are locked out from it. [Simon]: Damn…Do we have a lock smith here? [Random Man]: I use to be a lock smith. A calm looking man with glasses spoke up. He looks like he was only suited for an office job and was in no way physically fit enough for ore mining. [Simon]: Ah, you must be Karl. [Karl]: Do any of you have a thing malleable metal rod of sorts, a paper clip or hairclip. [Burnst]: I always keep a hairclip on me, otherwise it’s far too difficult to work with my hair constantly getting in my eye. She handed the hairclip to Karl. He turned around to face the trunk of the vehicle, put his ear against the hood, slide the hairclip in slowly and listened for the clinking sound. *Kaclick* [Karl]: It’s opened, everyone who knows how to use firearms grab one, those who don’t get one of the shovels or pickaxes, having some protection is better than none. [Simon]: Line up people, don’t fight for weapons, we need teamwork to get through this. The thirty some people each grabbed a weapon. The trunk only had a dozen rifles though. Normally it was for the guards to prevent prison breaks and violence. [Burnst]: Here Crule, take this shovel. She hands Crule a small shovel for children. Although small, it was made from a strong material that can slice through the tough rocks of the abyss without much trouble. Due to vibrational technology, all of the shovels used by the prisoner was made to easily cut through tough rocks. [Crule]: Mrs. Burnst, will we be all right? Burnst looked at Crule with kindness in her eyes. [Burnst]: Yes child, we will be all right. ______ Everyone walked in a circle with the women and children on in inside. The only thing illuminating the place was the dim glow of the various exposed ore of Glutonium and the slight orange cracks of lava seen dotting the walls. Not wanting to waste the battery on their flashlight yet, they advanced ahead. They were slowly walking toward the edge of the abyss. [Simon]: I once heard from an old friend that there are several cave systems along the edge of the abyss that leads outwards. This might be our only hope in getting out of this place alive. [Karl]: The question is, is it just a myth or do they actually exist. [Simon]: It should, on the way here I saw some small cave entrances dotting the moon. Just hopefully we can get through to the surface with no casualty. [Burnst]: Our food supply will only last a week at best. [Simon]: I know, this is a war against time to get out. [Karl]: What are we going to do after we get out though? …Not like we can get away from the moon without a proper space ship. [Simon]: We will just hijack one, there’s like several hundred prison transport ships passing every day, they won’t take notice of one single different one. Although there may not be able other people beside their group within the nearest kilometer, they still whispered, fearing that loud noises may attract the attention of what or whoever took away the guards. Crule was shivering. The temperature was fluctuating far too often. Since the pockets of molten metal kept the area surrounding it warm, the areas without it was freezing cold due to the depth of the abyss. Not a single ray of sunshine shines this far down the hole so the only source of heat they get are the molten pockets of metal, their own clothing, and the people around them. Seeing how badly Crule was shivering, Burnst called to him to come over. [Burnst]: Come here child, no need to be shy. She gave Crule a piggyback as to give him warmth and to levitate the fatigue he had from walking for so long. [Burnst]: This journey really is taxing on this child. As the youngest person in the group, Crule was also the smallest and the most susceptible to the cold. Feeling the warmth of Ms. Burnst’s back, Crule had a flashback to a vague memory of when he was younger. He was being carried on the back by a familiar woman. She looked very tired but also very proud. [Crule]: Mother… Crule muttered in as he doses off.
Chapter 3: Morning Ambush. Spoiler The group realized they have traveled quite a distance and that night was approaching. It would be very dangerous to stay in the cold areas of the abyss during night as temperatures drop far below freezing. If there were any moisture in those area, they would have immediately froze, whether it be dew or mist. The best hope they had for surviving the night would be to find a pocket of molten metal that doesn’t seem dangerous, but this is very difficult as most of them are very spontaneous and random. Somehow they manage to find an area where it was warm and stable enough to set up camp for the night. Most transport vehicle carries camping gear incase accidents happen and they have to stay the night outside of the main camp. [Simon]: Everyone, let’s set up camp here. There’s no use trying to get further during the night. [Karl]: Right, they probably haven’t sent out a rescue party as it has only one night. Most likely they just assume we had an accident and have to camp out. Simon reassures everyone, knowing that tensions are high and added with the fatigue may cause panic in some people. Having an organized group is of top priority when they are in the wild. Having conduct search and rescue missions himself, he understands the process. He was a natural born leader. Simon took a blue package out of his backpack and started to set up a tent. It was large enough for four people to lie on the floor without feeling cramp. On the top was also a small light source so one can see inside the tent. [Simon]: Karl, Burnst, after your done setting up, come see me. He beckons to the two. With Crule still sleeping on Ms. Burnst back, Karl helped her set up her tent which was about the same size as the one Simon had. Although it took a bit of effort, at least it came with an instruction manual. Burnst spread out a sleeping bag and carefully place Crule in it. She zipped up the tent and headed over to help Karl with his tent. Afterwards, they both walked into Simon’s tent. [Simon]: I called you two here because out of everyone, you two seemed the calmest. [Burnst]: Well, back in the day, I used to be a girl scout. [Simon]: Hahaha. Good good, the more experience we have, the better the chances of our survival. [Karl]: What should we do about our current situation?… [Simon]: What we need to do is to confirm our plans. We have a limited amount of time to escape and we barely know where we are. [Burnst]: We are walking towards the walls of the abyss. Assuming the distance we traveled today was about the limit of how much a group can walk in a day, we are only about half way. [Karl]: So basically we have another full day of walking before we reach the walls. [Simon]: *sighs* Sadly we have limits in the time we have to escape. After three nights, they will have assumed our camping supply has run out and send out a rescue team. If they found the site of the vehicle with no people there and an empty trunk…Well, they would be searching for us and the borders will be heavily guarded. [Karl]: That is if they don’t assume we are already dead. [Simon]: Well, I took precaution and had the back end of our group brush away our footsteps as we walked. This way they shouldn’t know which direction we went. [Burnst]: That should buy us some time. [Simon]: What I’m more worried about is what happened to those guards… [Burnst]: I too am worried about something that can take out so many armed guards and can also take on heavy fire from weapons. [Simon]: We also didn’t see any traces of blood and also none of the footsteps within the area shows the guards were carried away on foot. The only footprints where of where the guard got out of the vehicle and stood. [Karl]: No use worrying about it so much, we need to get some sleep or else another full day of walking may cause our minds and body to crash. [Simon]: True…we can’t really send people out to look for whatever or whoever took the guards. Let’s just hope it doesn’t consider us the main course after an appetizer of guards… ______ The next morning, Crule woke up to a loud sound. The snoring was extremely loud as it echoes through the tents and seem to have come from Karl. One can only wonder how someone so small can make such a loud noise. Covering his ears, Crule crept out of the tent as to not wake Ms. Burnst who was asleep next to him. Thanks to the nearby molten metal river, the area wasn’t as cold even in the morning although it was a bit chilly. Crule tried to remember the face of the woman he saw when he was falling asleep yesterday, but it has been far too long. Trying to remember something that happened six years ago when he was four was difficult as it was sixty percent of his life. One would say not being able to remember your parents face was a sad, sad thing now days but to Crule who lived on the Rig his entire life, he had no idea how unfortunate he was. But he was not sad. He had people close to him who loved him, and he knows it. He was happy to have Ms. Burnst. But happiness never lasts. Fate was a cruel mistress and torments the innocent. ______ Suddenly, Crule heard some strange sounds. It was the sound of wind, but not what you would normally hear in the abyss. It was more of a buzzing noise. Then, with his limited visibility in the darkness, Crule saw them. Large black creatures with wings. Either eyes glowing yellow in the darkness, quickly approaching the camp. Their wings beating so fast it was hard to see their true shape. It was only a blur of silvery flashes are it reflects the light emitted by nearby crystals. Not knowing what to do, Crule had to wake up the person who knew what to do in such situations. Crule quickly ran to Simon’s tent trying to wake him up. [Crule]: Mr. Simon, something is coming, and it doesn’t look friendly. Having been on alert, Simon slept lightly and was prepared to move at a moment’s notice. He quickly opened his eyes and jumped out of the sleeping bag. He reached for his gun and ran outside. Upon seeing the dark shadows approaching so close he knew that they were not prepared to fight back. [Simon]: Shit, just when we are least prepared. Crule, go wake everyone up, tell them we are under attack, maybe we will survive this ambush. Crule nodded and quickly ran around the tents shouting. [Crule]: *yelling* EVERYONE WAKE UP! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! People quickly run out of their tent with their guns, but it was far too late. The swarm descended upon the helpless camp. Their numbers were too many, far outnumbering the prisoners. The screams of people and screeching could be heard everywhere. Panic and fear ran amok around the camp. The creatures were picking up the people and biting them. Those bitten went limp and couldn’t move or speak. Crule looked on with fear at the people being were carried off. He didn’t even have time to react when a shadow swooped down and picked him up. He looked up and saw the creature closed up. It was a large insect looking bat. Then he felt a sharp pain on his shoulder and he couldn’t move anymore. No sound escaped from his mouth as he was carried off too.
Chapter 4: Desperate situation. Spoiler Unable to move or speak, Crule was carried off by the insectoid. The swarm flew for what seem like an eternity. With his mobility and voice constricted, Crule could only panic in his mind. He wanted to cry but his body won’t listen to him. The toxin was just far too strong for him to resist. After what seems like a few days, Crule got tired of panicking. He began pondering what his captors were. They have never seen anything like it. Several years on the Rig and working in the abyss and never once were such creatures mentioned. Just what are they and where did they come from? The toxin seemed incredibly strong as several days later, the effects doesn’t seem to diminish at the slightest. Crule could still fall asleep even though his body was paralyzed. When he woke up, he saw a large structure. It was a large rock protrusion sticking out of the side of the abyss at an angle. It looked like a perfect cone. Looking around, he realize there were several of these cones dotting the walls. From a distance, these cones looked like the normal jagged-ness of the walls of the abyss but close up, each of the cone were the size of large buildings. Upright, each of them were dozens of floors tall and could house hundreds of people. The insectoid brought his group inside of the cone and placed them in a room dimly light by some sort of green goo. Looking around, Crule realized several of their group members were missing. He could only assume they were used as a snack by the insects on the way back. A sudden feeling of despair washed over him when he heard a cracking sound. He still couldn’t move his body so he couldn’t see what it was, but the sound was very familiar. He heard it before when one of the riggers broke his leg in an accident. It was the sound of bone breaking. But since their voice was sealed, there was no scream. A drop of the green goo dropped from the ceiling on to Crule’s shoulder. He realized he could suddenly move his arm again. Dragging himself around, he saw the source of the sound and vomited. A large beige larva about the size of a horse was biting the head of a person. Crule couldn’t really recognize the person anymore since their head was almost completely eaten. Looking around, he realize the room only houses one larva. Knowing that he must escape, he dragged his paralyzed body with his only mobile arm to the green goo dripping down the wall opposite of the larva. He stuck his hand in the green goo but quickly pulled it back. His hands were slightly red from being exposed to the goo. But since the goo was his only hope of survival, he stuck his hand back in and started to smear the goo all over himself. Being able to move again, he looked around for Ms. Burnst and Simon. He spotted them near the larva. At least they were alive and in good shape. Realizing he didn’t have much time, he got on all fours and slowly crawled towards them after shoving some of the goo in his pockets. As he approached them, the larva seemed to have finish eating his first prey was moved on to the second. Once again the sound of crunching and cracking could be heard. Crule quicken his pace and reached the two. He put his hands in his pocket and took out some goo and smeared it over them. Being able to move again, they realize it was not the time for touching reunion, they had to rescue everyone and get away. Whilst avoid the detection of the larva, they only manage to rescue eight people out of the twelve that was brought there. Four of them were devoured by the larva. Sneaking outside the room they could finally talk but no one could say a thing. What happened to them was just too disturbing, too frightening, and too sad to talk about. Simon took charge and tried to cheer up the group. [Simon]: At least we are alive, we must survive as to not disgrace their death. We should try to find the others. Assuming they are in the same situation we were just in, they will need our help. The rest of the group could only nod and follow along. It was a bit too traumatic for some of them and the only thing keeping them sane was a goal. Quietly wandering the corridors, the group stumbled upon the insectoids a few times. Strangely, the insects ignore them completely. Simon thinks it may be due to the goo covering them, the insects were being registering them as one of their own. Suddenly they heard a scream. It sounds like it came from a human so they quickly rushed to the room. Inside they found four people still paralyzed with a fifth already being eaten. It seems some of the goo dripped from the ceiling onto his throat allowing him to scream in pain and horror. It soon ended as the larva took a large chunk out of his head. While it was preoccupied eating his current victim, Simon and the group went and rescued the other four. They were even more traumatized than Simon’s group. Originally there were twelve people in the group that was brought in but eight of them were slowly eaten one by one in front of the others. Unable to face with such trauma, the four survivors were all hollowed shells. No longer having any motivation to live, they were a burden to the group. Simon tried to cheer them up. [Simon]: Look you guys, snap out of it. You’re alive. Accept it. Don’t be such a useless bastard and get yourself up. Live on for those who died. The four still seemed to be in despair but at least they recovered a bit and could move. ______ Several hours later, the group couldn’t find any more rooms with survivors. Since they had to get out themselves, they chose to accept the rest have all been eaten or killed along the way. A dozen survivors from the original group of almost thirty. The situation seemed grim. [Simon]: Our main goal now is to find the exit. Simon said to the group to change their goal and to give them motivation. [Burnst]: What were those things? [Simon]: I’m not sure, but I heard long ago when pioneers first landed on this moon, it was filled with flowering herbs. They were extremely large hovering at over twelve feet tall. Scientists have found the herb to have restorative properties and could be used to rapidly regenerate lost blood. Thanks to this discovery, the need for blood transfusion decreased significantly. But these flowering herbs were deemed too important to leave on the moon. They were all harvested and brought back to Noxia to be farmed. What they didn’t realize was that an alien insectoid creature were using the flowers as a food source and were also helping pollenating them. The insects were deemed extinct a few years ago when the last wild one died. It seems what we are seeing now is an evolved species of the original insect species. [Burnst]: So you’re saying in order to survive the depleting food resource, they have turned their attention to the second most abundant nutrition source on the moon, us the prisoners? [Simon]: It seems that way. I’m not sure as to why we have not heard about these before. Perhaps they were in hibernation until our recent drilling operations awoken them. Either way, thanks to the goo, they seem to think we are one of them and won’t attack us immediately. We have to quickly find the exit out of this hive before the effects wear off. Since we are relatively safe for now, let’s split into groups of two and spread out to find the exit. [Burnst]: Come on Crule, you’re with me. Burnst beckon Crule to come over. She offer him a piggyback ride again. Remembering the comfortable feeling, Crule does not refuse. [Simon]: Ok, let’s meet back up here in three hours and report our findings. Don’t try to leave by yourself, it’s far too dangerous for two people to make it out alive. If you find the exit, just come back here and wait till we regroup and exit together. Knowing they probably have zero chance of survival out in the abyss without Simon, everyone else agreed and split up into their groups. [Simon]: See you guys in three hours. Everyone split up with hopes of finding the exit.
Chapter 5: Within arms reach. Spoiler While exploring the cone shaped hive, insights on the insectoids life style was uncovered. For one thing, the hive had various branching corridor system with a room every forty feet. The rooms can range from housing larva to storages. The storages seem to hold things that the larva couldn’t digest from their meal. This usually include things made of metal like weaponry and armor. Strangely enough, the hollowed out shells of the snail-like creatures that live above ground were also found. It seems the insectoid’s diet also consist of the snails but there were no traces of the slugs from the abyss. Not skipping this chance, groups that have found a storage room restock on their supplies. Soon most people were armed to the teeth. Having finally found things they could protect themselves with, their resolve to find the exit rose. The green goo lighting up the corridor and rooms were secreted by the insectoids. It seems to be a binding agent that holds the hive together. It also serves as a way to identify their kin. Due to living in the abyss since birth, the creature doesn’t have any visual sensory organs. They depend on pores on their body detecting the smells secreted by other insectoids. They have a keen sense of smell, being able to detect and receive a message from their kin from over a hundred kilometer away. Near the tip of the cone, a large opening exposing the hive to the outside. It was where the insects enter and leave. It seemed like the only exit but no human can leave from it since the cone hovered hundreds of meter above the ground. Perhaps with a parachute one might be able to survive, that is if they don’t hit any of the other cones on the way down. [Burnst]: No way can we escape this way, it’s far too dangerous. She looked over the edge at the bottom. Such an extreme height would give people vertigo. People with the fear of heights would have passed out upon looking down. The floor was visible due to the rivers of molten metal flowing through. This explains why the cone wasn’t as cold. The rivers heat up the air and it flows upwards warming the cones. The rapidly rising heated air would create extreme currents. Sticking her hand out, Burnst felt the hot flow of air. It was far too strong for any sort of parachuting to get through. Due to the rising air getting rapidly cooled as it flow up and drops, the created a sort of convection flow of air. The circulation of air was probably how the abyss stay fresh and have a constant source of oxygen even though being at such a low depth. The flow was extremely strong near the edge of the abyss. [Burnst]: Gotta keep moving, the three hour time limit is almost up. Other people were not so lucky. Three people accidentally entered the wrong room and was killed either by the larva or falling through broken areas of the hive. Due to lack of repair, some areas of the hive were falling apart as the goo starts to lose its adhesive properties. [Rigger with red hair]: S-shit, god dammit why? He was immobilized by fear as his partner was ripped in half by the flying insectoids. [Rigger with red hair]: I thought the goo was supposed to last longer! It was supposed to protect us. WHY…why did this happen?! Backed into the wall, he could only scream in terror as the insectoids approached him from all sides. [Rigger with red hair]: N-no, don’t come closer, no.no.no.no.no don’t do this, please NOOO… Four insectoids all lunged on him and began tearing his limbs apart. His scream was muffed as one of the insects attacked his head. Behind the pile of insects was a slightly larger insect. Upon closer inspection, it was different from the rest. For starters, it was about twice the size of a normal insect. To a human, this was the size of a car. Upon its head was a horn that looked like it was made of amethyst. This creature was worshiped by the other insects. The four that attacked the red haired man offered the best parts to her, for she was their leader, their Queen. ______ Three hours after they split up, the remainder of the group met up again. In order to retrace their steps, people took some goo and draw lines on the corridor walls to keep track of where they were going. This allowed them to return to the same spot quite easily. But this also lead the swarm and the queen towards them, but the group haven’t noticed that yet. [Simon]: It seems we are missing a few people. I assume from the screams that we could not save them. [Burnst]: So did anyone find an exit? Because the only exit I have seen leading to the outside was far too perilous of a drop to actually be survivable. [Simon]: I also couldn’t find any sort of exit. [Woman with dark short hair]: I found something that might work. Everyone turned to look at her, staring at her with hope in their eyes. This caused her to become shy. [Woman with dark short hair]: Uhmmm…uh…yea. I-I found a thin piece of wall that was right next to the wall of the abyss. I think it might lead to one of those mythical tunnels you mentioned before. I was too weak to do able damage to the wall but I think when we group up, with our mining tools we should be able to dig our way out. [Simon]: *Eyes gleaming with hope, a large smile slowly formed on his face as he listened* Well, well, well, it seems we have our way out guys. Let’s give a round of applause for our little miss here. What is your name? [Woman with dark short hair]: Uhmm…my name is Naomi. I was bought to the rig three years ago due to various problem with my Ex. [Simon]: We won’t question about your past here, in this situation we have to trust each other. We all are equals. Now, do we have any mining tools? [Man with green shirt]: We found some lying in one of the storage rooms on the way back. We have a few pickaxes and a jack hammer but without a power source the jack hammer won’t work though so we left it there. [Man with turquoise shirt]: Yea, we also found some shovels and flash lights. There seems to be a lot of things in the storage rooms. [Simon]: Since the insects can’t digest inorganic material, I guess they just store them in the rooms once a larva outgrows it. It seems whenever a new larva is born, a new room is made. This means the longer hives have existed longer. [Burnst]: I noticed that too. The rooms close to the wall are mostly empty or are storage rooms. The rooms near the exit of the cone mostly are inhabited by the larva. [Simon]: Let’s hurry, those screams could mean the goo is starting to wear off and they are realizing we aren’t one of them. Everyone grabbed a pickaxe or shovel and started to walk to the place where Naomi found. The swarm was approaching from the tip of the cone while the group was walking away from them. Suddenly the buzzing noise started to get louder and louder. With a keen sense of hearing, Simon picks up the noise first. [Simon]: Guys, get ready. I think a few insects are approaching us. From the corner came a dozen insects followed by Queen. Everyone could only stare in fear as the sheer number of insects darted toward them. [Simon]: Shit, we were so close…
Chapter 6: Devastation and chance. Spoiler Being outnumbered two to one, the survivors wouldn’t last long. Due to the lack of food, water, and rest, the survivor isn’t in any decent shape to be fighting. But non-the-less while facing death, you either fight or flight. Knowing they could not win in a fight, they chose to run. [Simon]: Everyone one run! We have to try to break though that wall before we all are killed. Simon bellowed out the order and everyone immediately ran. The people who were at the end of the group were already snatched up and ripped apart by the swarm. Their screams were further motivation for the others to run fast. [Simon]: Go Go GO, we have to make it. They reached the wall and people lunged at it with the pick-axe hoping to break it. They franticly swing at the wall while yelling. It seems like the insects are now taking their time in disposing of the group. The steel pick-axes were of little effect against their sturdy exoskeleton. Their carapace has been forged by evolution to survive in the hellhole of the abyss and is strong enough to survive falling debris that falls off the edge of the abyss due to the mining. Two of their six appendages have evolved into sickle like structure allowing for ripping, tearing, and slicing. They were strong enough to slice into the tough rocky walls of the abyss to dig tunnels. Perhaps they were the creators of those mythical tunnels that lead to the surface. The original insects from the surface evolved and tunneled down to the abyss to survive. There seems to be quite a few variations of the insects upon closer inspection. The insects that carried the group over contained thinner and stronger jaw in order to inject and paralyze their prey. They also have wings to help them transport things far distances in order to expand their hunting range. Although there were multiple Cone hives, they were actually one entire colony. With one Queen to rule them all, they each had their jobs. There were special insects that infect the slug creatures in the abyss in order to scout out food. Since the humans ignore the slugs, they were a good hiding place to scout. Once they have found their prey, the scout sends a signal to the hunters. The winged hunters will swoop down when the humans least suspects it and paralyze them. They are then carried away to the hive. Once at the hive, the prey was placed at the entrance of the cone. The hive insects carries them to the rooms with the larva. Some were brought directly to the Queen as offerings. The ones in the hive are more spider like. Although they still only have six legs and cannot be classified as an arachnid, their body structure are similar. They are strong enough to carry several people at a time. They were also incredibly tough since they serve as the Queen’s guards as well. Although they lack a natural predator, nature seems to deem them unnecessary and constantly barrages them with trials. That’s why although they were at the top of their food chain, they did not multiply endlessly. Although they live at the edge of the abyss, constant debris fall from the top as the abyss expands. Rocks as large as buildings crush their nest and kill all its inhabitants. That’s why they spread out their hives in multiple cones. Sometimes, rivers of molten metal changes their flow and somehow hit their hive. But thanks to the green goo being an adhesive as well as a fire retardant, their hive was relatively safe. Being able to evolve and adapt to the environment, they have become the top predator, and to these predator there was a Queen. The queen was a hybrid of both types of insect as she can fly as well. Compare to other insect queens who are mostly just large egg sacks as seen in termites and ants, she was actually combat ready as well. Her arsenal of weaponry includes her paralyzing poisonous fangs and sharp sickles. With her wings, her mobility and evasiveness would be a nightmare for even the best of marksmen. ______ Facing against their sickles that can even slice through rock, the group had no chance. Their tools were broken immediately. Having only three people left their hope was slim. Only Simon Burnst and Crule remain. [Simon]: Shit, we still haven’t broken through. [Burnst]: This seems like the end. [Simon]: GOD DAMMIT! With an enraged swing, Simon manage to bust open a small hole in the wall. Sadly it was not large enough for an adult to get through. Simon looked at the hole and realize what he must do. [Simon]: Crule, you must get away. Live on for us all. Ms. Burnst realizing what Simon was thinking was astonished but realize this was the only way. [Burnst]: It might be difficult for you to escape, but know this. You cannot rely on adults forever child. Sometimes there are things only you can do. Having hope, always move on with the determination to live. [Simon]: Go kid, survive. They shoved Crule into the hole and turned back to face the insects. [Crule]: Noooo! Don’t go, I can’t do this, I can’t. Simon proudly said while facing the insects. [Simon]: Kid, it’s time to grow up. Live, survive, enjoy life at its fullest. Burnst said with a gentle voice while facing the insects. [Burnst]: Remember, that somewhere in the universe, there will always be someone who loves you, who cares about you. Know that love is the most powerful force in the world. It bypasses even the limits of death. Live on, survive, find love and cherish it. [Simon]: Crule, look away and don’t turn back. [Burnst]: Face the future child, and look upon the horizon with hope, that the next day will be better. Crule did as he was told. He couldn’t stop crying no matter how hard he tried to hold it in. He crawled further into the tunnel until it was large enough to stand up and walk. He then started running. [Simon]: I hope the kid survives. [Burnst]: I do too, I do too. They stood side by side as the insects pounced on them. With strong resolve, they didn’t utter a single scream in the face of death. They were even smiling. To grin at the face of death, one must have no regrets or have accepted them. The father figure whom Crule could trust. The mother figure whom Crule could love. They died on that day, with their back to the hole. But they knew, Crule had a future ahead of them. Their only regret is not being able to see it themselves.
Chapter 7: Tunnels and Dreams. Spoiler Crule kept running. He did as he was told, never looking back, he just ran. The tunnel twisted and turned sometimes going down sometimes going up. Soon Crule came to a fork in the road. He couldn’t choose so he took his shovel and let it fall. The path it fell toward he would go. The shovel fell to the right so he ran right. The tunnel started to get thinner and thinner, soon Crule couldn’t run anymore and can only crawl. By then, he was tired. Too tired. He lost count of time but it seemed like hours and hours of running. Trauma and fatigue took his consciousness and he passed out asleep. What he didn’t know was how intelligent the insects were. They knew their prey couldn’t have escape far, so they took their time to enjoy their harvest before pursuing. ______ In Crule’s dream he was in the fetal position in a dark room. He was crying. [Crule]: Was it my fault? Why did this happen… Suddenly a feminine voice seem to come from beside him. “Crule, Crule, my master, wake up.” The voice seem to beckon Crule in his dreams. Crule looked up and saw a ball of light. “Don’t worry, I will soon be there. Stay alive until then my master.” The voice seem to enthusiastically proclaim. The ball of light flew away. It then squeezed out of the black sphere Crule was in. Crule could hear another voice coming from the other side. It was deep and prideful. It was faint so Crule couldn’t hear it clearly. “Did you find it?” “Yes master, I found you.” “Take this, give it to him when time comes.” “This will be our last chance.” “Yes, let’s prevent this from happening in the first place.” “I love you.” “Me too.” The Black sphere repaired itself and Crule could no longer hear the voice. Fatigue took him in his dream and he slept the remaining time without dreams. ______ When Crule woke up, he was lying in the thin tunnel with only the glow of some deposit of metal lighting up the place. No one else could be seen around him. He wonder who the voices were. Recovering his strength a little thanks to sleeping, he got back up and crawled on forward. The tunnel once again seem to get wider. This time, the tunnel was purely sloping upwards. It seems like he made the correct choice at the fork. Honestly for having lost so many parental figures, Crule had matured. He knew he could not wallow in self-pity or self-blame. He live was entrusted upon him by the ones who loved him and he can’t waste it. Remembering the final words of Simon and Burnst, he started running again. ______ The light exited from the black sphere and appeared in the form of a girl around twenty years old. [Man in the black overcoat]: Did you find it? [Woman in white]: Yes master, I found you. Reaching into his pocket the man took out a small sphere about an inch in diameter. He put it up to his head and a green light shined from the sphere. The sphere slowly changed color and soon looked like a purified gem. [Man in black overcoat]: Take this, give it to him when time comes. [Woman in white]: So this is our last chance? [Man in black overcoat]: Yes this is. He turned around and looked at his foe. The man and the woman was actually standing in the empty void of space without any protective suits. In front of them was a grotesque creature of pure death. The size of probably a planet, it was the shape of a large maggot with thousands of eyes, nose, and mouth all over it. They were all twitching uncontrollably. The creature opened what seem to be a mouth and light started to gather. [Man in black overcoat]: Let’s prevent this disaster from happening in the first place. The woman looked at the enemy then back at her master. Tears slowly fall from her eyes. [Man in black overcoat]: Don’t cry, this will all be over soon. [Woman in white]: I love you. The man looked back at the woman with warm in his eyes. [Man in black overcoat]: Me too. He hands the gem and a dagger to the girl and faced the abomination. The girl turned around and used the dagger to slice the empty void of space. A small crack appeared and she stuck bother her hands in it and pry it open. She jumped in and the crack quickly closed up. [Man in black overcoat]: Time to end this, you annoying asshole. The disgusting creature fired a condensed beam of light from his mouth as the man flew at it. A pale grey aura surrounded the man right before he collided with the beam. Then the silence of space returned. The empty space of void filled with light. Then there was nothing. ______ The woman pin pointed the place she went to last and flew over there. It seems moving a small bit in the place she was took a lot of effort. Soon she found a mirror in the void, in the small mirror that show the reflection of Crule’s face in complete terror. She dived toward the mirror and used the dagger to stab it. A hole opened up and she entered it. ______ Crule kept running through the tunnels endlessly. He started to grow increasingly hungry and with nothing to eat, he started to worry. As Crule ran further up the tunnel, the temperature started to get warmer. In the corner of his eyes he saw something. It was a grey mushroom, but it wasn’t just a normal mushroom. The mushroom was the size of a grown adult. Underneath it grew various colors of other mushrooms. Crule was so hungry at that point he wondered if he should attempt to eat it or not. While he was pondering whether to eat the mushrooms or not, the insects who were far faster than Crule had almost caught up to him. Crule was distracted from his thoughts about the mushroom that he didn’t notice the foreign scratching sounds coming from behind him. When he finally noticed the sound it was nearly too late. He turned around and saw death in the face. The insects were only five meters away from him and were coming in fast. Crule’s expression turned into despair. Then out of nowhere, a hole opened up. From it came a woman in white. But something was wrong. Everything from the waist down was missing from the woman. It seemed as if she was cleaved in half by a cleaver. [Woman in white]: Shit, I wasn’t fast enough… The sudden appearance of the woman and the approaching insects was such a confusing scene. Hearing the scratching sound, the woman looked up at the insects. [Woman in white]: Ah, just some Glutos bugs, and here I thought it was the Queen. With a wave of her hand the insects stopped. Then cracks started to form on their exoskeleton/carapace. Then green fluid started to leak out from them in large amounts. The fluid slowly gathered in a ball above them. [Woman in white]: Let’s just bleed them dry and remove the annoyance for now, I don’t have much time left. Crule starved in confusion at the scene. Just what is happening right now…?
Chapter 8: Memories. Spoiler The insects were drained of all their blood and collapsed. All that remained was their exoskeleton. The green ball of blood was about a meter in diameter now. The woman in white snapped her finger and the green ball started rotating. [Woman in white]: Die you disgusting bugs. She fired the ball of blood through the tunnel and it destroyed everything in its path. Upon closer inspection, the ball of blood even carved into the tunnel walls. [Woman in white]: Now, you must be Crule right? Crule though he was delusional. To get out of a life and death situation in such a way, he could not believe it. [Woman in white]: Don’t worry, I’m real. This isn’t a dream, you aren’t dead yet. [Crule]: W-who are you? [Woman in white]: My name is Ming, you will know me soon enough. [Crule]: What happened to you? The woman was still missing everything below the waist. It was obviously a fatal wound but yet it did not bleed. [Ming]: I have the power to control blood. Currently I’m buying myself some time by stopping the blood flow below my waist. [Crule]: I there anyway I can help? Crule didn’t know what to do. He didn’t want someone to die in front of him again. In the past few days he had seem far too much death. [Ming]: It’s too late for me. But you, take this. She hands the green gem to Crule. [Ming]: Eat it, and you will know everything. Crule was hesitant. Any normal person would not swallow a strange gem a stranger that came out of nowhere just handed you. But the situation was not normal. Reluctantly Crule swallowed the gem. Time stopped. But actually Crule’s mind moved so fast, the process of time seem to slow nearly to a complete stop. One second feels like ten minutes. Then he remembered. His name was Crule Hei An. Born between a prisoners from Earth. One from China, one from America his parents, Hei An Wu and Charlotte Hei. He was born on the Rig, lived on the Rig, nearly died on the Rig. He one day face a disaster where all his loved ones died. He survives and finds a demon sealed within the moon. He makes a deal and gains the power to survive. He leaves the prison and went to Noxia. There he found sanctuary at a local monastery. He meets a girl and saves her with his power. The girl vow to be his pupil after seeing his power. The demon who gave him powers told him what was going to happen in the future. He realize that he do not want to see any more innocents die with injustice. He entered the Game for the conquest for the other half of Noxia. But the enemy was too favored by everyone. His devil tongue manage to fool even the best of heroes, to make them believe they were justice. Crule was deemed the enemy. He became public enemy number one. Persecuted and hunted down, he fought his way through the game, only to find he was too late. The Enemy reached his goal, he released an evil so great that the entire galaxy would be destroyed. Merging with the evil, the enemy was about to destroy the planet. In a last ditch effort, Crule borrowed more power from the demon to stop the abomination. In the end they seemingly wiped each other out and everything around them but somehow the abomination survived. He proceeded to destroy the universe and he deemed it unnecessary. No survivors, billions of people, innocent people dead. The bleak future was one where mankind will face extinction. All because some idiot wanted to become a god. After the extinction of mankind, the evil proceeded to systematically remove all life in the universe. To it, life was a parasite leeching off the powers of the universe. With all life gone, only he himself will have access to all the power in the universe. He could only be stopped if he was destroyed before he reached that stage. Thankfully Crule had a back-up plan. He stored a copy of his memories and his former power in a gem in order to pass it all to his younger self. Even if it will create an alternate time line, he knew he who have failed to protect his own universe, cannot let it happen again to another. So he send his disciple with his weapon back in time, have one last chance to change the future. Crule once again returned to his mind. He know what he must do now. He having experienced it all once, don’t want it to happen again. Three minutes have passed since Crule ate the gem. He looked toward Ming with an all too familiar smile. [Crule]: Good job, my brightest disciple. Her face that was losing color seemed to gleam with her smile. [Ming]: Thank you master. But I won’t be bothering you more. I have to go now. [Crule]: Rest well my student. Tell the other me I said, “I got this.” [Ming]: Will do, will do. Ming reached into her pocket and took out a red gem. She put it to her forehead and the gem shined. [Ming]: Here master, take your weapon back, and take this gem. Give it to me in this universe, so that I can be together with master here too. Crule took his all too familiar dagger and the red gem. He pocketed the gem and looked back at Ming. With a gaze far too mature for his face he said, [Crule]: Rest well, I will deliver it. Ming smiled. [Ming]: I can always count on master… She closed her eyes and took her last breath. [Crule]: Let me give you a proper burial here on the moon of Gluttony. He took his shovel and slowly started digging under the mushroom. The glowing mushroom this size could only be one thing. The Cryogenia Biporus, the eternity mushroom. It was said to be used to preserve corpses of celebrities in the old days back when they believe in the future, technology would be able to revive them from the dead. Crule could have done it with the magic he received from his other self but doing it manually shows respect. One scoop at a time, he carefully dug the hole. He placed Ming in the hole and said a prayer. He buried the body under the mushroom and with his dagger, he carved a tomb. -Here lies装月明 (Zhuang Yue Ming) Beloved student, sorcerer, and wife. May she rest in peace with her beloved.- After a moment of silence, Crule left the shovel there and put his dagger in his belt. [Crule]: Now then, you pesky Glutos bugs. It’s time for my revenge. Then, Grimly, you’re next.
Chapter 9: Massacre. Spoiler Doing a few stretches and a few quick slashed of his dagger, Crule tested his current strength. [Crule]: It seems due to my age, I can only use 10% of my power without causing harm to my body and growth. Focusing his power to the dagger, he cut the wall of the tunnel. It sliced through the rock as if it was made of cream cheese. [Crule]: 10% should be enough for now. I have to train body so I can access more of my power. Having lost the connection to the demon from the previous world, Crule can access all the demon’s power without its constraints. The way Crule danced with his dagger could only described as beautiful. The dagger was made out of a pale silver metal that doesn’t reflect light no matter how the light shines on it. From it leaked a pale aura which leaves a trail whenever it sliced the air. Being an expert dagger user, Crule know the limits of his weapon of choice. He had to be fast, to be nimble, and to have the most extreme of reaction speed. Thankfully his speed and power allows him to finish most of his enemy off without realizing. Crule specialized in sneak attacks. [Crule]: Without the demon to monitor my powers, I can freely condense in my limbs to choose my speed and power even though my body is still that of a child. The power Crule control surges through his body. This power was a sort of magical energy. It haven’t been discovered yet but in the near future, researchers revealed the fact that the atmosphere of Noxia and its moon contains a special energy. The residents of Noxia and its moons have been constantly absorbing the raw energy. Infants and children especially absorb the energy quite faster than adults. The energy permeated their blood streams and lymphatic system. This allows it to circulate through their body, making it stronger. Research have shown that a man born and lived on Noxia would have several times the strength of a man born earth. The longer the exposure, the more strength it increases. Imagine if you will, within each person lies a container. At birth, the container was like molten glass, very malleable and will retain a larger shape the more you blow into it. Factors that were in play, were the size of the molten glass before the blowing process and the much blowing was done. The size of the molten glass before the blowing process was the person’s innate potential. The blowing of the glass into the container is how much raw energy the person absorb during that time. This means people were born on Noxia have a larger container, depending how high their innate potential was. The container size varied a lot in people, some where the size of a cup, some where the size of a barrel. There haven’t been a limit on how large the container can become. General class fighters in the military have containers the size of an Olympic swimming pool. Very very few people have such large innate potential so the number of Generals on Noxia only reached seven. Adults can still expand the container but it requires much effort. As time moves on, the container becomes more and more solid. The energy in its raw form seem to help build vitality and boosts life span. Slowly, the average age of death rose higher and higher over the years to the point where the oldest living man was over two hundred years old. The energy had the power to protect muscles and bones from the extreme strain during boosted movements and actions. This allow people to do extreme forms of acrobatics and strength. Some people were even able to bear hug a tree, forty centimeter in diameter, in half. Due to the frightfulness of this power, very few would try to invade Noxia. Most of the military consist of people who were naturally born on Noxia or the moons since they have the most exposure to the energy. Once the game started, the scientists reveal that the raw energy can condense into a single attribute suitable to the person. Crule’s raw energy condensed into something special, something only he have. Most of the time, the energy exist in the body in its raw state. Once a person can accurately control this raw energy within them, they can manipulate it into an attribute. They then can either release this energy out of their body in a form of an object, or absorb the attributed energy into their body to strengthen it and change it. The evolution of mankind seemed infinite with the energy. ______ After warming up and getting use to his powers again, Crule pumped energy into his legs and started running. He became a blur as he dashed through the tunnels toward the hive. Finding the hive was easier than he thought as streams of insects filled the tunnel trying to find him. He could follow it back to the hive. [Crule]: Some good warmup before I destroy that hive. As he dashed through the tunnel, he seem to touch each insect along the way with his dagger. The insect that have been touched by the dagger all froze then as small hole appeared on their body where the dagger touched. It seemed to be a small black hole as the entirety of the insect was sucked into the hole. It seemed as if they imploded. Their flesh and even their exoskeleton broken into dust and absorbed by the hole. Then the hole disappeared. [Crule]: Such rare organic material, I can let this go to waste. After storing a small bit of carapace in his pocket, he moved on. The insects along the tunnel were the arachnid like insectoids. Massacring all the way, Crule reached the hole where he crawled out of. The hole have been expanded by the insects to allow the swarms to pass through. He looked at the two spot of blood on the floor. His emotion wavered and his anger intensified. [Crule]: You assholes are all dead! He yelled into the hive. With anger in his eyes, he dove in.
Chapter 10: Queen and demon. Spoiler The Queen lied in her nest. Surrounding her were pieces of unknown flesh and metal pieces and tools. Only the indigestible things were left. She only have to lay her eggs once a month so she was not in danger for most of the time since she was vulnerable during egg laying. Hive security is at maximum during that time of month. The eggs that were laid were the size of a football, significantly smaller than their larval form. The egg matures and the larva breaks out. Once out, they will do nothing but eat until they reach sufficient mass. The larva Crule saw the other day was near the necessary mass to metamorphosis. They would become dormant and their outer layer becomes a hard cocoon. After a certain period of time, the insect would emerge from the cocoon fully ready to serve the queen. Suddenly, the wall of her chamber collapse. It was cut by something extremely sharp since the walls of the Queen’s chamber were the strongest in the entire hive. Standing where the wall use to be was a boy. He was the prey that they lost a while ago. But now the aura coming from the prey no longer was normal. The Queen never thought she would feel such an aura. Being at the top of their food chain, they never felt fear as they never had any predator. But the boy in front of them made them feel fear, like a feeling of a rabbit under the gaze of a wolf. The Queen panicked and order her guards to kill the boy. ______ Crule sliced open the wall leading to the queen’s chamber. Anger in his eyes, he needs his revenge. [Crule]: Sending small-fries against me isn’t going to work. He expanded his aura. Any insect that seem to touch the aura disappeared. [Crule]: You won’t be able to even touch me. He slowly walked toward the queen whilst tossing his dagger playfully like a circus performer. The smirk on his face could be described by most as evil. Crule fits the image of an insane serial killer. That was one of the other reason why after he was labeled as public enemy number one, no one argued about it. Seeing such a cruel smile on a child’s face, the Queen felt a surreal chill down its metaphorical spine. She doesn’t really have a spine but she still felt it, as if it was engrained in her by the boy’s aura. [Crule]: I should completely erase you, but you do make a good gift for whom I’m going to go visit next. So all I will do is erase your entire race except you. The queen feeling the aura expand did not think that the boy was kidding. She could only submit to the stronger being. Crule reached his hand out and focused his energy in his hands. A small black ball appeared in his hand and it slowly floated toward the queen. It seemed as if an illusion but the ball sucked up the queen like a liquid. The black ball turned green and fell to the ground. Crule walked over and picked it up and placed it in his pocket. [Crule]: Now then, for the rest of you pests. Using the full extent of 10% his maximum output, Crule condensed his energy in his aura. From a distance, the entire wall was suddenly encased in a large black sphere. As the sphere shrink, the wall was cleaved smoothly into the shape of a half circle. It seems as if the sphere carved the entire wall. Every single cone hive on the wall was gone. Crule stood at the tunnel looking out toward the darkness of the abyss. He seemed quite tired as if he went a night without sleep. [Crule]: That took far more energy than needed, but now my revenge is complete. He looked at the hole he created. He took a large stone and carved it into a tombstone. “Here lies the people who sacrificed their life, so the future can come, so that tomorrow can be a better day.” He took a moment of silence as her remember all the good times he had with Ms. Burnst and Simon. The members of the group who took care of him. The comradery shared between them. They were his family. [Crule]: I won’t let any of my friends die, as long as I am still breathing, no one else shall suffer the fear and despair we felt that day. He stuck the tombstone at the entrance of the tunnel and turned around and started running to his next goal. ______ [Crule]: She should be still sealed here. I need recover my power. Running through the tunnels, Crule started to run downwards. Instead of running upwards toward the surface, he went downwards deeper into the abyss. Soon he was even further down than the current mining level. The temperature got hotter and hotter but yet Crule was no longer affected by it. The aura around his was slightly more faint that before but it still protected him quite well. After running for several hours, Crule reached a room at the end of the tunnel. The room was a large spherical shaped. Chains littered the walls and ceiling. The walls glowed from the endlessly flowing molten metal and it seemed as if the molten liquid will burst out of the wall and overflow the room at any minute. The floor seemed man-made. It was far too smooth for it to be created by nature. Upon closer inspection, a large circle with symbols are inscribed on the floor. At the center of the circle lies a black object. The object was a black cross held up by the chains. On it, was a girl that has been crucified. [Girl on the cross]: You, who are you. How did you get here? Crule smirked when he saw the girl. The girl seeing Crule’s face shuttered. She never saw anyone with such an evil face. [Girl on the cross]: You, you are no normal child. Crule walked up to the girl and looked up at her. [Crule]: We meet again, Black Rider of the End. The girl on the cross shivered.
Chapter 11: An old friend. Spoiler [Girl on the cross]: How do you know who I am? The only ones who know who I am in my current form are the assholes who sealed me here. [Crule]: Let’s just say we have met before. The girl was very suspicious. [Girl on the cross]: I think I would have remember someone who looked so evil and you do not have the aura of those annoying heroes who sealed me. [Crule]: Ahahaha, don’t think too much about it, here I’ll show you. Crule held out his hands and a small black ball appeared. Due to using his power so much, he was low on energy and have to recover. [Girl on the cross]: This…How? [Crule]: Never mind that, I want to make a deal. [Girl on the cross]: A deal huh? You sure do know how to deal with demons. [Crule]: Yes, yes, let’s make this official. I have something to use as a contract. He took out the green ball and showed the girl. [Girl on the cross]: Oh…what a strong life force. You’re willing to sacrifice such a thing to form an official contract? Interesting. The girl opened her mouth and Crule walked up and threw the green ball into it. [Girl on the cross]: Hmm quite delicious. Having been starving for soooo long it’s nice to finally eat something so good quality. [Crule]: Now then, the contract. [Girl on the cross]: Ah yes, I was lost in the flavor. In front of Crule a large parchment of paper appeared. It seemed ancient and worn down but the aura that leaked from it was no joke. Any normal person who saw it would deemed it a cursed item. After reading it carefully, Crule took his dagger, recalled the aura on it and nicked his thumb allowing blood to flow. He pressed his thumb on the parchment and it disappeared in smoke and ashes. [Crule]: You seem to know what I came here for too. [Girl on the cross]: Of course, it took a while but the “other” me informed me of your arrival. It’s not easy being a fourth dimensional splitting into pieces and trapped in the third dimension. Honestly for a second there, you actually manage to scare me. [Crule]: Now, Famina, give me what we agreed one. [Famina]: I know, I know, hold your horses. Wow so impatient, you would have think that time travel would allow you to gain a little patience. [Crule]: As whimsical a demon as ever I see. [Famina]: Yea, well the same thing as last time. I will give you power and you set me free. [Crule]: Sure, sure. The girl began chanting. [Famina]: “From the seven seals four were open. Representing the black seal I present thee with power from it. May the insatiable hunger forever thrive. Accept the power that is Famine.” A black mist appeared from nowhere and spread through the room. Then, like a vacuum, it was all sucked into Crule. He checked his strength again. [Crule]: Good, I’m fully recovered. I can effectly access 20% of my full power now. [Famina]: Now that you have the power of a horseman from two universes, your full power is rivaled only by the gods. [Crule]: Not even the gods will stop me. [Famina]: Ha, boy, you seem to get bolder as time pass. [Crule]: I’m going to leave now. [Famina]: No! Wait, let’s chat a bit. I haven’t had any decent contact for a millennium. [Crule]: Fine, what do you want to talk about? [Famina]: Your journey. The “other” me inside of you can’t tell me any details as it may harm the delicate fabric of time. But you can. [Crule]: I guess I could. What would you like to know? [Famina]: How are the others? [Crule]: You mean the other three horsemen sealed elsewhere? They are fine. The pale rider even got free by himself. [Famine]: Sounds just like him… [Crule]: The red rider is being sealed in the most secure location known to man. [Famine]: Ha, no wonder they can keep him sealed too. [Crule]: The white rider is doing her job as usual, keeping out of the human’s path. [Famine]: She is always diligent…Anyways, what happened in the previous world? [Crule]: We lost. Apparently opening four seals out of seven wasn’t enough to stop the apocalypse. [Famine]: So we failed huh? She started to look more and more depressed. Crule tried to cheer her up. [Crule]: Look on the bright side, we got another chance, and this time we are stronger. [Famine]: I hope you can help the others too. [Crule]: I hope that damn god of yours release the other three seals before we are doomed forever. [Famine]: He doesn’t want to interfere further. [Crule]: Don’t try to justify his actions, I gave up on him a long time ago. Famina remained silent. The awkward silence was broken by the rumbling of Crule’s stomach. [Famina]: Pfff, looks like I am not the only being of hunger in this room. Your stomach may have an appetite larger than mine. [Crule]: Shut up!... He was clearly trying to cover up his blushing face. [Famine]: You’re so cute when you were a child. Sucks about you evil looking face though. [Crule]: I can’t help it. Originally, the twelve year old Crule didn’t have an evil face. But after the events that happened in the previous world, he could no longer make the same innocent face again. They continue talking about Crule’s old adventures for an hour. [Crule]: I really need to go now, maybe find something to eat on the way out. [Famina]: Ok, have a safe trip. Remember to comeback for me when the seal is broken. Crule just waved his hand without turning back. [Crule]: Got it. Crule would not forget to come back for her. She was like a sister to him. Back in the previous world, when he was afraid after being chased by the bugs to this chamber, she saved him and kept him company while he recovered. [Crule]: I will unseal you soon. Full of energy again, Crule ran up the tunnels at blazing speeds.
Chapter 12: Escape. Spoiler Not everything on the Rig was full of dust and rust. There was one room that was always clean. This was the room of Warden Brandon. [Brandon]: So how many guards are we missing this time? [Guard]: A total of six. Brandon rubbed his temples trying to levitate the migraine he got. He slammed his palm on the desk. The guard was startled. [Brandon]: %!@#$.How are we losing so many god damn guards?! We are guarding god damn unarmed prisoners who have been worked to the point of collapsing. They should not be able to overpower the guard who are fully armed no matter how outnumbered they were. [Guard]: Uhmm…Sir, the report show that there was no struggle and the prisoner were gone too. Brandon looked up at the guard with rage in his eyes. [Brandon]: Get out…. The guard quickly sprinted out of the room. Brandon sat back down on his chair rubbing his temples again. [Brandon]: I can’t keep losing guards, the higher ups isn’t going to like this and they aren’t going to keep providing more guards. Brandon stood up and walked to the window. [Brandon]: *sigh* This god forsaken place will be the death of me… ______ With his energy rejuvenated, Crule only took two hours to run all the way up to the surface through the tunnels. On the way up, he pass by one of the slug creatures. [Crule]: You will have to do. He knew the slugs were not poisonous and were somewhat edible. Not the most delicious of food but he needed the energy. He took his dagger and sliced a piece off the slug. He found a nearby river of molten metal and roasted the slice. The slice dried up fast and started cooking. It became like jerky eventually. Crule took a bite out of it. [Crule]: As disgusting as ever, but it’s better than running on no fuel. Makes me wonder how I survived off of these for so long in the past. ______ On the surface, Crule emerged from a small meter wide hole in the ground. He turned around and saw the huge expanse of the abyss before him. He looked up and saw the suns again. [Crule]: Nearly four days without sunlight, never thought it would be so refreshing. The two suns glare in the sky. The temperature and weather was nice. [Crule]: Now, I need to find a transport ship. He dashed toward one of the giant steel wires holding the Rig in place. Crule ran on top of it towards the Rig. Even the swaying from the wind didn’t seem to be able to throw him off. Soon he will arrive at the Rig. [Crule]: Maybe I will leave a little surprise for them. He smirked as he continue running. ______ Brandon was reviewing the monthly reports. He job wasn’t only just being a warden, he also manage the mining operations. [Brandon]:*grumble* Hmm, doubling our production really is increasing our yield…but the prisoners are falling left and right. Good thing they are sending more our way today, or our production would suffer… He knew if their production wasn’t up to standard, he would be the one who gets blamed. This just further added to his headache. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. [Brandon]: Who is it? [Guard]: S-sir, we got a p-problem. [Brandon]: *Sigh* When do we NOT have problems…Come in. The door opened up and there stood the guard. Then suddenly a dagger protruded from his abdomen. [Guard]: GUWAHHH, but you said you would spare me… He fell forward into a puddle of his blood. [Crule]: I lied. Brandon couldn’t understand what just happened. In front of him stood a child who looked around ten but his eyes…Staring into it one can feel despair and fear at the sheer evil emitting from them. [Brandon]: W-who are you? [Crule]: Hello Mr. Vinsion. I have a proposition for you. [Brandon]: W-what? Do you know who I am?! [Crule]: Of course, Warden Brandon Vinsion. Age forty two, father of two daughters. Family living on Noxia in luxury while you labor here on Gluttony. Your favorite food are donuts. Did I miss anything? [Brandon]: H-how?... The corner of Crule’s smile rose. [Crule]: I have my ways, Mr. Vinsion. Now then, about that deal…You give me a ship, and I will let you live. Crule expanded his aura to fill the entire room. Brandon, feeling the insatiable evil in the aura fell on his knees and nearly wet himself. [Brandon]: T-take it, p-please don’t kill m-me! [Crule]: Now that wasn’t so hard was it? Brandon reached into his pocket and threw the keys to his ship to the boy in front of him. Crule caught it midair and pocketed it. [Crule]: Now then, you die. Brandon’s eye widen. [Brandon]: But you said you wouldn’t kill me!? [Crule]: I lied. His aura condenses and it engulfs Brandon. Brandon forgot everything that just happened. All he felt was hungry, he want to eat food, and he NEEDS to eat. So hungry, so very very hungry. [Brandon]: I can’t take this anymore. He started eating the coat on his body, but he still wasn’t satisfied. He kept eating and eating, his shirt, his pants, his socks, and eventually his underwear. [Brandon]: Not enough….More, I need more!! He started to eat his hands, his arms, ravenously eating everything. Soon all that remained was a pile of blood and flesh. [Crule]: Now then, with that pest gone, the Rig can be run by the prisoner. He walked out the door and walked to the shipping dock. In front of him was a spaceship. It was quite luxurious. Its chrome black paint job matched its yellow streaks like a bumble-bee. [Crule]: What a nice ship. I’m going to keep it. The hood opened up and Crule hopped in. The engine started and he flew off towards Noxia. [Crule]: Get ready Grimly, here I come.
Arc 1 Epilogue. Spoiler Every year, a representative of the prisoner was elected. It used to be Simon but he disappeared during his last mining trip so his Co-leader Lewis took over. Every month, the representative have to meet with the warden to make a progress report. Of course the representative can make demands and hope the warden accepts it. Demands may include things like slightly better food, or a holiday. But Warden Brandon was a cruel task master. Nearly all of the prisoner’s demands were rejected immediately. Today was the day Lewis was supposed to go meet with Warden Brandon. *knock knock knock* [Lewis]: Mr. Brandon, Lewis here, I am the representative of the prisoners. I have come to report on the monthly progress. He entered after there was no reply. He immediately gagged and vomited. On the floor was a rotting pile of flesh. The blood have dried into a dark crimson showing how long the corpse have been here. On the pile of flesh was Warden Brandon’s badge. [Lewis]: This… He quickly ran outside for some fresh air only to vomit again. [Lewis]: Just what happened in there…? He held his breath and went back in to look for clues. On the table was a letter. “Dear Lewis, When you get this letter, it should be time for the monthly report. I am here to say you no longer have to do that. As you can see from the pile beside this table, Warden Brandon is no more. I suggest you take this chance to organize the prisoner to take over the Rig. The government is completely ignoring this Rig as long as supplies of Glutonium shows up every month, they don’t care who manages it. If you guys can take over, you can fool the government by sending those ores to them but you can still yet manage all of it yourself. You can use the guard’s supplies for the prisoners. I hope you do not waste this chance. It may the only hope you guys have to having a better standard of life. Many people were born on this Rig and consider it a home. You might even be able to illegally sell some of the Glutonium to make a profit to help the place. This is no longer a prison… That is if you choose for it to not be one. Take it into your own hands. The late Simon would be proud if you did. Go Lewis, become the leader. Sincerely, The Avenger, Crule ______ Lewis could not believe the content of the letter. [Lewis]: This… He suddenly realize that the letter mention the “late” Simon. He started crying. [Lewis]: Why…Simon. You were our leader, why… He stood there silently crying to himself. Minutes later he looked up with renewed resolution in his eyes. [Lewis]: This place…This shit hole will no longer by a prison to us. No…This place is our home. He went and gather all the remaining prisoners. But he first went back in the office and took the badge. Facing the masses, Lewis stood upon the pedestal. [Lewis]: Friends, hear me now. *holds up the badge* The wicked Warden is dead. Let us revolt, claim this place for ourselves. This place will no longer be a prison but our home, and we will defend our home! The people were silent. [Lewis]: I am sorry to say, that our leader Simon has died. But he left us a dream, that this place will not be a place of solitude and confinement, but rather a place of warmth and love. LETS US PUSH THOSE WHO GOES AGAINST US INTO THE DEPTS OF HELL THAT WE HAVE SUFFERED! Let us once again, feel the freedom that is life. WHO’S WITH ME! A little girl stood up. She looked up to Simon. [Little girl]: I will. Then an elderly man stood up. Simon helped him when he was sick after the guards abused him. [Elderly Man]: I will. One by one the prisoners stood up. Each saying, “I Will.” Lewis, with ambition in his eyes, punched his fists into the air. [Lewis]: Let’s do this! For Simon, for freedom, for a place we can call home! *WHOO-AHH* ______ And on that day, the moon of gluttony became a planet for riggers, for free men and women. A place that no longer that can be called a prison, but rather a country, a home, a place where loved ones reside. Few people left to visit their families that they haven’t seen in so long but most returned. They have made friends, and they didn’t want to leave them. Some even brought along their family. The Rig was no longer dust and rust but rather a shining beacon of hope for all those have lost it.
Chapter 13: Beginnings of a mentor and friend. Spoiler Simon had an Uncle on Noxia. He worked at a church. Charles Wu, Simon’s uncle raised a man who would become Crule’s teacher and best of friends. ______ My father figure once said, “Love is eternal, thus love is worth dying for.” I didn’t truly believe this until now. Staring outside of the vat through the small window I looked beside me. In the pod next to me was a woman in her early twenties. Her fair complexion, her flowing dark hair, I loved it all. I didn’t want to lose her. [Scientist]: Are you ready Mr. Wu? The man in the lab coat outside calmly said. Turning my attention from the pod beside me to the man in front of me, I said with firm conviction, [Shin]: I am. The scientist smiled with a dark hidden agenda beneath its charming glow. [Scientist]: Good, rest in peace then, Mr. Wu. This was something I wasn’t looking forward to, but I had to do everything I could to be with my beloved. The scientist walked to the control panel and placed his hand on the lever. He pulled down the lever and I felt the energy that was coursing through my body leave me and enter the pod next to me. ______ I was left outside an orphanage in a basket. My first memory was of the beautiful starry sky as I stare outside of my basket. I was but the tender age of sixteen months. The man who took me in had a very caring smile. [Clergyman]: Poor kid…being left here. Don’t worry we will take good care of you. On top of the blanket was a note. –Sorry for troubling you but I am in a very situation and could not look after my son. I am sure I will not be on Noxia for much longer, please take care of my boy. His name is Shin, please on my behalf, as my last wish while I am alive. – All the adults around me thought I was an antisocial quiet child. All I can say was I was a very logical child. I think more than I act. At the orphanage only one man thought differently. His name was Charles. Charles Wu was a man of religion, a priest from the olden days. He was a veteran of the Galactic war, and fought on the side of the pioneers. The galaxy divided into two opposing sides back then, the pioneers and the origins. They were fighting over the resources discovered on the new planet and moons. ______ At the age of seven, Charles decided to take me on a journey. He noticed two things about me at an early age…I desired power and I liked to be alone. Having these two traits will one day be the ruin of me and he knew it. To fix this problem we set out on foot into the barren wilderness near the border of the wilderness half of Noxia. I learned how to fight, how to survive, and how to protect. I learned that there is a certain type of energy flowing through the world and that my body eagerly absorbs them. Charles taught me how to harness the power to strengthen my body. These things will follow me for the rest of my life, his teachings have become my rule of which I live my life through. Traveling with him had been the best five years of my childhood. But happiness never last forever. With Charles being a veteran of the intergalactic war, he knew secrets that may warrant his death if they were to fall into the wrong hands. Being as cautious as the government can be, they decided to assassinate him. That god dam Metallurgy INC. pretty much controls the entire planet. What Charles carried with him to the grave, was what the president was planning to do with the Games that was starting soon. The day Charles died I was with him. As he lie there with a gunshot wound to his heart, he knew his time was short. He said to me two things. [Charles]: Love is eternal, thus love is worth dying for. The second thing I didn’t hear due to the explosion. I somehow survived it but had my arm scorched. This left a bad scar but not bad enough to harm the use of my arm. That day on I took on the last name of Wu to honor my father. Till the end I only manage to call him dad right before he died. From that day onwards I wanted revenge. I was completely consumed by darkness. I trusted no one, and became more antisocial than ever. If not for my beloved Kate, I would not have escaped from the endless cycle of revenge. I met her one day at the age of 15 while I was sitting in the park staring at the lake, brooding. She walked over and asked, [Kate]: Why are you so sad? She was a thirteen year old kid back then. I had no idea that my hatred would be devoured by the love I had for her. I looked up at her and was surprised. Her beauty was beyond words. [Shin]: Miss, may I ask who are you? [Kate]: My name is Kate, nice to meet you! She said with a smile. [Shin]: Hello Kate, sorry but you wouldn’t understand why I am sad. [Kate]: Oh but I do, you reminded me of when my mother died, lost in the world with nothing but hatred, asking who and why. She replied with a sigh. [Kate]: Here, take this. She hands me a piece of candy. [Kate]: Sweets always cheered me up. She said and walked away in a skip. I sat there pondering, staring at the hard candy she handed me. I unwrapped it and put it in my mouth. [Shin]: Hmm, lemon flavored. The next day we met up at the same place and chatted. This went on and on for half a year until we got together. [Kate]: Food is a universal language! She told me when I asked her about the candy. Two years later I got to know her parents. Her mother died when she was young. Apparently she use to work for the government yet Kate didn’t know what her job was exactly. Her father was a policeman. Meeting her dad for the first time was scary. I was an orphan living by myself at the age of 18. With no one really to call a parental guardian I was a lone wolf in the world. I worked part time at a local restaurant. After a long staring contest, her dad finally smiles and says, [Kate’s dad]: You better take care of her, OK? You know what would happen if you don’t… He took a quick glance at the shotgun mounted on the wall. I gulped and was breaking out in sweats. Although I knew I could win in a fight, I didn’t want to hurt her father.
Chapter 14: Tragedy and Hope. Spoiler Things happened and two years later Kate got into college and I followed her to the city. I was in culinary school and she was studying law. After she graduated, she joined the police force following in her dad’s footsteps. I too opened a restaurant of my own called -Imperial Wu-. We got married a year later, had a small wedding service with a few people attending, nothing big. A year later I learned something from a letter I received. It was from a friend of my dad. On it explained the reason as to why my father was killed and that I should watch out for government organizations. My dad died so the president’s evil plans couldn’t be leaked. His evil plan of becoming a God by unsealing an ancient force. Through his ambitions he created the Game. The technological advance where all invented by his ingenious band of scientists and programmers. This technology eventually became the bases of which the first game depend on. When the game was announced, a large rift was opened up between Mars and the asteroid belt. All major countries pooled in and sent in their best people to participate in the games on the other side of the worm hole. Originally the wormhole first opened up years ago. Pioneers set out to discover what was on the other side. They discovered a new galaxy with two Suns and three planets. Upon further investigation, two of the planets were habitable by humans. Twenty years later, the first Ark was sent through the wormhole. It contained two hundred thousand pioneers to settle on the two new planets. Splitting in half, one hundred thousand people landed on the first planet. The other half went further to the next planet. But calamity happened again after fifty years. The planet was nearly fully destroyed by another celestial body. All of the pioneers died immediately. The surviving 100 thousand on the second planet could only watch in horror. Two hundred years have passed and the remaining planet prospered. It has become the most economically powerful planet and was far more lucrative than business on Earth. I knew I had to stop the president’s plans somehow. But one fateful day I got a call from the hospital. My wife had been injured during a gunfight when trying to stop a fight between rival gangs. I felt as though my heart stopped as I raced to the hospital. Little did I know, the shot was not from the gun of one of the gang members but rather an attempt on Kate’s life. The government knew they had to cut all ties around me and to control me. For they assumed my father pass onto me information that may be of national importance they had forgotten from long ago. I was too valuable to kill, but my wife wasn’t. ______ In a lone hospital room lies a woman of around 25 of age. One can see a large amount of electrical devices around her and one can assume its keeping her alive. Out the room was a fatigued looking man and a doctor with a sullen look on his face. [Doctor]: I'm sorry Mr. Wu, I wish I could have done more but I am only a doctor, not a god… Shin sat down slowly in a chair in the corridor. You can see the doomed expression on his face slowly spread as he realizes what the doctor meant. Slowly he broke out into tears and silently sobbed to himself as the doctor walked away. Twenty minutes later the tired man, Shin was sitting there, all out of tears and in a hopeless slump, just sitting in that chair. Out of the corner of his eyes he can see a man, well more of a boy instead of a man, in a sharp grey suit standing in front of him. [Man in grey suit]: I understand you have a problem Mr. Wu. I may be able to help you with that. [Shin]: Unless you can perform miracles, get out of my face. I am NOT in the mood for any bullshit about god or anything right now. He doesn't look up but still stare at the reflection of the boy on the clear hospital floor. [Man in grey suit]: I am not a miracle worker or some sort of wizard, but I do have a way to allow you to continue living with your wife.” Suddenly the color seem to return to Shin’s tired looking face. [Shin]: Go on… [Man in grey suit]: I am here as a representative of project Antagonist and I would like to ask if you would like to apply to a certain ‘medical’ study we will be performing. [Shin]: What company are you working for? [Man in grey suit]: You would not believe it if I told you so I'll just say a government organization, let’s say a branch of Metallurgy INC. The boy in the suit explained with great pride. He talks slowly as with great confidence but one can detect his inner mischief. Shin knew where this was going. The letter he received earlier already warned him about the government but he was surprised that Metallurgy would approach him directly. [Shin]: Fine, let me hear this proposal of yours. Shin finally looks up at the boy. He was well built, not quite a body builder but perhaps a gymnast. He looks to be around 19 or so and the suit seem to fit him like a glove. His hair was thick with gel and he worn an untrustworthy smirk on his face once Shin finally looked up. To him he looks like a young traveling salesman trying to sell him a suitcase full of wool socks or something. [Man in grey suit]: We can allow your wife to fully recover. If this was before Shin looks at him like the boy was insane. But after learning about the secrets his father died to protect, he knew this was true. [Man in grey suit]: Ah, sorry Mr. Wu I was a bit unclear, allow me to explain this in layman terms. We have discovered a sort of “energy” that permeates the atmosphere of Noxia. It strengthen people’s bodies and can also be used as a sort of support either as a weapon or skill. [Shin]: How? Shin asked with a doubtful face again, trying to act inconspicuous since he already knew about this energy. [Shin]:*I must not get the government to be suspicious of me* he thought. [Man in grey suit]: We just need to allow more energy to flow through her body and allow the regenerative properties to take its course. Shin looks at him again with doubt as so the boy doesn’t suspect him. The boy’s face is just too untrustworthy. [Shin]: What's the catch? [Man in grey suit]: Ah, now we are getting somewhere. The only catch is we require testers for the project we are about to perform, project Antagonist. It's a simple game really. [Shin]: This seems too promising to be true. [Man in grey suit]: Ah but I have a contract and a pamphlet for you and your wife, please look it over and when you have make a decision, call me. My number is on the pamphlet. [Shin]: Fine, I will look it over. [Man in grey suit]: Very well then, I will definitely be seeing you later… The boy walks away with a skip in his step.
Chapter 15: Participant and gifts. Spoiler Shin stares at the pamphlet in his hands and then slowly entered the hospital room. In the bed lies his wife, Kate. She had taken shots to several major internal organs when a drug bust went wrong and is now in a coma surviving only on life support. She was a cop and was everything to him. He would gladly die if it would save her. [Shin]: Kate…I will definitely save you, even if I have to fight an entire country…Even if I have to work with that god forsaken company. He looks at her with a strong face, then opens the pamphlet. To beat someone, one must first know about your enemy. One of his dad’s teachings. -Antagonist Online, the death defying game! Beta tester wanted…” Welcome to the pamphlet, you have been selected as a candidate for beta testing Antagonist online. Upon accessing the game, one can use mythical and fantastic powers of myth and lore. Want to control fire, water, earth, or air? Want to be able to bend the very nature against its will? Entering this game will allow you to fully unlock your hidden potential. Shin read the first page of the pamphlet stunned. If what it said was true, he and Kate can both get stronger. In full hopefulness he continues reading but at the same time wary of why the government wanted him to do this. The pamphlet ends there with a few well done screen shots and a date and number. “Beta tester meeting on the 3rd! Mandatory to all who joined the program.” That was in 4 days. Shin takes a look at his wife and steeled his resolve. [Shin]: Kate, my dear, I will save you no matter what… Shin Wu looked out the window. The government will pay for this. For killing his father, for harming his wife, he was out for blood. But those who rush due to anger will lose in the end, another teaching from his father. ______ On the way back, Shin was attacked by a man in a suit. He had the feeling of a bodyguard for a government official. Shin with his training easily manage to avoid the initial attack. As a chef, he always kept his trusty filleting knife with him (Chefs don’t do this normally). Trained by his father Wu in the art of fighting, Shin trained in how to use a knife after he recovered from the explosion with the intent on revenge. He knew that the man in the suit was actually trying to kill him, persuasion was not going to work so Shin skillfully as if he was dancing cut the man’s tendons in his arm and legs as they clashed. The man in the suit just fell to his knees as he could no longer stand, his arms limp at his sides. Shin just slowly walked away from him while juggling his knife in one hand. The man in the suit whispered something to the mic on his suit. [Man in a suit]: He passed sir, with flying colors too. The man smiled, looking at Shin slowly walking into the night. 4 Days later, Shin arrived at the designated location. It was a tall commercial building with a large sign reading `Institute of Medical Research`. He walked in and was greeted by the receptionist at the door. [Receptionist]: You must be Mr. Wu, please follow me to the meeting room. Shin followed the reception and entered a meeting room. Inside were 11 people. From the looks of it there were people from all over the world with all kinds of work background. The only common thing shared between them, was all of them seemed like they could fight. They all stared at Shin as he walked in, evaluating his strength. Many of them simply scoffed and went back to chatting among themselves. Shin took one of the seats and sat down. 5 minutes later, the boy that Shin met at the hospital walked in. [Man in grey suit]: Ladies and gentleman, calm down please. This informative meeting shall start now. He said with his trademarked grin. [Man in grey suit]: Now that I have your attention, let me say a few things before we start. Some of you may have noticed, but there is only twelve people here. This is because we only needed twelve skilled people to test this game out. The others whom we have asked didn’t make it so your twelve are the selected few. After the attack, Shin guessed the man in the suit was just a test. [Man in grey suit]: Now you might be wondering why we would test you guys if you’re only going to be beta testers for a game. Well let me explain, this game allows you to gain certain bonuses based on your actual physical and mental abilities due to these Nano-bots we inject into participants. We have to be sure this doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. They allows them to be able to fully control the energy within their bodies and access their power. Also as qualifying beta testers, we present to you a small present. The boy pressed his tablet and a monitor appears in front of the room. On it was a box of what looked like liquid mercury. [Man in grey suit]: This, is living metal. Since inside the game, everyone will start out with only a small dagger, all the weapons you used will be made by yourselves. We will not allow people to bring weapons from the outside. As beta testers, this living metal which is made of the seven metals of the moons, will be a gift from the gods to say the less. You are allowed to use this metal to create a weapon of your choosing and use it for the rest of the time you will be playing with no expiration date. You can either shape it yourselves or have of our designers to make it for you base on your whims. The boy pressed his tablet again and a man walked in. He had a strange reddish hair color and wore a black punk outfit. [Man in grey suit]: This is our chief designer, Jones. [Jones]: Nice to meet y’all. Jones said with a grin. [Jones]: Well then, shall we head to the workshop? He led us next door into a room. [Jones]: Now let me demonstrate what energy manipulation can really do.
Chapter 16: Energy Manipulation and Attribute. Spoiler As we enter the room, we noticed the room was well protected. The walls seemed strongly reinforced and the furniture were all made of the strongest metals. [Jones]: Come now y’all, gather round that there table. After everyone has settled down and found a spot to sit, we looked at the table in the middle of the room. On it was a beaker of a shimmering liquid metal. [Jones]: Now y’all should be able to feel them energy thingies flowing through yer body like its yer very own blood. Pump that shit into the metal like yer trying to give it CPR. Jones stuck his fist into the beaker of metal. I could feel the energy condense on his fist. Looking around I realize I wasn’t the only person who noticed this. [Jones]: Now, let’s make something simple. He griped his hand and pulled it out of the metal. A metal rod slowly formed as his hand left the beaker. [Jones]: Now see here is yer normal metal rod, but it’s as tough as a heifer made of diamonds. Here test it. He handed the rod to a large man with rippling muscles. [Jones]: You seem kinda skeptical about it, here try to bend it. [Muscular man]: Hmph. My name is Brunic, you better remember that. [Jones]: *with a smile* Yes, yes, Mr. Brunic, shall we make a wager? If ye can bend that there stick, I’ll pay you a thousand gold. Brunic’s eyes lit up. A thousand gold was no small number. It was enough to purchase a car in today’s economy. [Brunic]: You got yourself a deal, funny man. He took the stick in his hands and with great force tried to bend it. I could see the energy coursing through his arms were slightly more concentrated than the rest of his body. It seems his control over it isn’t as good as that man Jones. Brunic’s face started to turn red as he struggles to bend the stick. His pride wouldn’t allow a puny stick to beat the muscles he was so proud of. [Brunic]: ARRRGGGG. Finally the metal seem to tremble a tiny bit. [Jones]: *whistles* Dang man, yer really manage to make that thing bend, although it was minuscule. [Brunic]: *panting* You’re god damn right. [Jones]: Well, a deals a deal, here. He tosses a small stack to Brunic. He caught it and put it in his pocket. [Jones]: Well, as you can see, the metal is quite strong. It took ol’ Brunic here quite a large amount of energy to bend it. He picked up the stick and it somehow turned limp like a noodle. [Jones]: Now, if you actually knew how to control energy to the point where you can do this, the number of weapons you can make are endless. Brunic stared at Jones with anger. His pride was hurt and he wasn’t going to let it slide. [Brunic]: Why you little… He was going to teach Jones a lesson. His fist was already raised and was on the way to hit him. [Jones]: Now, now, big guy. Don’t get yer panties in a bunch. The limp noodle of metal suddenly shot forth and curled around Brunic’s arms and solidified. [Brunic]: W-what is this, get it off me! The hardened metal locked itself onto Brunic’s arms and he couldn’t move it. It seems to be tightening. [Jones]: Now, are you going to calm down? Or do I have to cut off your arm to keep you calm. Brunic stared at fear at the metal on his arm. If it suddenly became sharp as a sword and slices his arm, he would seriously lose it. [Brunic]: F-fine, just get it off me. [Jones]: *smirks* Good good, now let’s get on to the second part of the demonstration. Jones put his fist into a second beaker. This one consist of a clear fluid. [Jones]: The living metal is called Pridonium from the moon of Pride. This is why it’s so shiny. This metal here, is Lusten from the moon of Lust. It reacts depending on the energy inputted into it. It has various different reaction base on the attribute of your energy. The beaker of clear fluid started to spin. It slowly turned turquoise starting from where Jones hand was. Soon it was a swirling turquoise vortex. [Jones]: You see here, this reaction shows that my attribute is a mix of water and wind. The spinning means I specialize in vortexes. So things like whirlpools and hurricanes are my specialty and I do better in them. So that’s why the metal rod coiled around Brunic’s arms so easily. Everyone’s eye shined with interest. Learning their attributes can mean they can finally train in the most suitable environment. [Jones]: Now, let’s get each of you tested. Who wanna go first? The first to step up was Brunic. After the humiliation he suffered earlier, his pride wouldn’t allow him to brood on it. [Jones]: Ah good ol’ Brunic, put yer fist in that there beaker and let’s see yer attribute. On the table were twelve remaining beakers. Brunic grumbled and put his fist in one of the beakers. The reaction was explosive. The liquid first caught fire where Brunic’s fist touched and it shot straight out of the beaker. The fire spread quickly and engulfed the entire beaker. But Brunic act like he didn’t feel a thing. [Jones]: Don’t worry people, the person’s attribute wouldn’t hurt them. But we should probably step back in case that thing expodinates. Everyone took a step back. The beaker melted leaving only the clear liquid burning. [Jones]: Oh-hoho, so ol’ Brunic here is fire attribute specializing in shots and corrosion. Nice nice. Brunic seemed proud as he raised his fist out of the beaker. [Brunic]: It’s a given, I am Brunic the strong. [Jones]: Yes yes, all of you here are strong, or else you wouldn’t have pass the test. Now then, who’s up next? A short haired woman in a leather jacket stepped up. [Woman in leather jacket]: I’m next. Names Juliet. [Jones]: Ah, pretty lass, let’s see what yer attribute is. The woman walked up and put her fist in the beaker. The reaction was something no one expected.
Chapter 17: Taboo Attribute. Spoiler Sparks. The beaker started to produce electrical sparks where the woman stuck her hand. The electricity starts to arc more and more and the chains appeared more and more often. Soon the beaker was a constant vat of electricity visible to the naked eye. Then it started to spin. It spun so far it became nothing but a blur of blue sparks. Suddenly the metal chairs in the room started to shift. The slowly moved toward the beaker. [Jones]: Ok, ok, stop. Before this place starts to get messy. Jones rubbed his hair and said with a sigh. [Jones]: Well, you little miss really are a freak. Very VERY few people have lightning attribute, but you, not only do you specialize in lightning attribute you also specialize in chaining and magnetics. Quite rare indeed. I inspect her closer and realize her earrings were actually small batteries. I guess it helps replenish the energy she has. Somehow she learned about her attribute by herself…Truly a genius. [Jones]: *whistles* After that display of power, let’s see who is willing to follow that up. Another woman who looked similar to Juliet walked up. She was also wearing a leather jacket but it had a different emblem on it. The jacket Juliet wore had a thunderbolt on it. This one had hammer. [Woman in hammer jacket]: Eh, I guess I’ll go next. Mah name is Claire. She went to another free beaker and put her hand in. Immediately the beaker shattered. But the constant inside have already became solid and dark brown. It was in the shape of the beaker but was slightly bigger which was why the beaker shattered. From the dark brown solid on her hand, a pulse seem to beat through the metal. [Jones]: Interesting. Your attribute is earth and you specializes in tremors. A very good attribute and specialization for demolition. [Claire]: Not as flashy but just as powerful I hope. [Jones]: Indeed it’s not as rare and flash as the little lass over there but it’s still powerful when trained correctly. Claire smiled and walked back to the group. She stuck her tongue out at Juliet. Juliet looked away and sighed. It seems they knew each other. Without Jones having to ask who wants to step up next, a man walked up. He was very quiet. Everyone’s attention fixed on him once he stuck his fist in one of the beakers. A blinding light shined from the beaker. No one can keep their eyes open in the sheer power of the light. Only those who had sunglasses could see what was happening in the beaker. Electricity. Inside the beaker was also electricity but this one was blindingly white. All fatigue Shin felt from staying the night at the hospital disappeared. It seems the light had a healing property. Jones seemed to have noticed too. [Jones]: This…I can’t even describe in words what I just saw. The man walked back and stood with the group. He still remained silent. Upon closer inspection, he seemed to have a small book and cross in his pocket. Perhaps he was a clergyman. [Jones]: Man, I’m still recovering from the shock. Anyways, that man there is lightning and light attribute, a dual attribute. Extremely rare but what’s more rare is that he specialize in healing. The man still remained silent but not everyone looked at him with admiration. Even Juliet and Brunic who were seemed extremely proud even looked with admiration. [Jones]: In this beta, you may be the most useful candidate. Now then, whose next? A shy girl raised her hand. [Jones]: This aint a classroom little miss, you can just step up and say yer name. The girl looked like she was in high school. She skipped up and put her hand in the beaker. From the beaker, vines sprouted. Flowers and grass, herbs and shrubs. Every single seed brought in from the group on their clothes filled the room and sprouted. It became like a green house. The tenacity of the plants were extremely strong as it manage to take root in metal room. The girl took her hand out of the beaker and made a V with her fingers! [Girl]: Yes! It worked! [Jones]: Little girl, your attribute is…plants it seems. Having a non-elemental attribute is rarely seen. Jesus Christ all of your attributes are rare. This entire group must be a freak show. Anyways it seems you specialize in tenacity. [Girl]: Woohoo! She skipped back to the group and awaited the next person. [Jones]: 5 down 7 to go. Who’s up next? A very skinny man wearing a t-shirt and jeans stepped up. He had the look of a NEET. His unshaved face made him look almost like a homeless bum if not for how clean his shirt and pants was. [Skinny man]: Yo man, I’m up. Names Steve. He took one of his hands out of his pocket and put it in one of the beaker. [Skinny man]: Whoa this shit is cold to the touch. Frost appeared on the beaker. The room temperature dropped significantly. People started to shiver as the temperature kept dropping. Soon frost started to appear on the walls of the room. [Jones]: Ok ok, s-stop, b-before we all f-freeze to death. Steve took his hand out and the temperature returned to normal. [Jones]: S-so our man Steve here is ice attribute. It seems he specialize in blast chill since the temperature dropped so quickly. We had to wait a while for the temperature to drop back to normal. We took this time to chat among ourselves. Few of us went to congratulate the ones who already had their attributes determined. After a short break they resumed. Shin decided it was his turn and he walked up. He stuck his hand into the beaker. [Jones]: This…!@#%$ WHAT IS THIS?! From the beaker a pale mist flowed. All the plants that still inhabited the room that touched the mist immediately wilted and disintegrated. The room went dead. The atmosphere was that of a cemetery. [Jones]: WHO ARE YOU?! WHAT ARE YOU?!... [Shin]: …. Shin gave Jones a sharp glare. [Jones]: *erk* A-anyways, this man here…his attribute is…Death. Everyone was silent.