"Ki…kill?"
The words from their superior left the young heroes stunned.
"Axel, don't say things like that lightly, especially in front of the rookies."
Spoke the squad leader.
"I apologize, but the civilian is dying."
The innocent civilian had suffered severe injuries: he had lost his left arm, his legs were broken, and his intestines were exposed from a fatal open wound.
"Bu…but if we use some healing technique, maybe we can save him."
Lara said, but the squad leader shook his head at her words.
"It won't work. Healing techniques will only close his wounds; they won't restore the blood he's lost."
"A-and if we… take him to a hospital?"
Niha protested, but the masked hero interrupted her.
"Every structure within a ten-kilometer radius has been destroyed. We would have to take him to the commercial sector, and even then, he won't survive the trip—he'll bleed out the moment we lift him."
The masked hero's words echoed in the minds of the three rookies.
"…So… what can we do?"
This time, Luck spoke, her voice trembling as she addressed their leader.
"….."
But he didn't answer. He remained silent, looking first at the rookies, then at his companion.
"…No…! We… we can't."
Lara panicked; the thought of killing an innocent person terrified her.
The other rookies stayed silent, staring into nothingness.
"Answer me something."
The masked hero spoke to them again.
"Why did you become heroes?"
It was a question they had been asked many times: why would someone risk their life fighting monsters for almost their entire life, in a war that seemed endless?
"You all spent three years in the Defense League academies, enduring training that broke your bones and tore your skin. You went through all of that to become what you are now: heroes. Now I ask you—why did you do it? Why did you sacrifice so much? Why didn't you just give up?"
The superior's words ran through the young heroes' minds. Everything they had endured in the past had led them to this moment, and through it, they found the answer they needed.
"To save people."
Luck said, unable to meet her superior's eyes.
"Well, there's someone right there, dying while you hesitate. Aren't you going to save him?"
Those words hit harder than any monster's blows. To the squad leader and the masked hero, it was just a dose of reality for the rookies. But for the young heroes, it felt overwhelming.
"It's unfair."
Niha said, dropping to her knees under the pressure.
"It's unfair… so unfair… why do only we have to suffer? Why do they always attack people and not them?"
Niha began to cry.
"Them?"
Asked the squad leader, though he already knew whom she meant.
"…Humans… they're people too."
Luck objected, her voice full of doubt.
"No, they're not."
But Niha's answer had no trace of uncertainty.
"So… will you kill the civilian?"
Asked Lara, trembling from the situation.
"No."
The squad leader's answer was as direct as it was hollow, an echo without substance. The masked hero, on the other hand, didn't hesitate to state clearly what had to be done.
"You will do it."
The masked hero's declaration was a direct order, striking fear into the young heroes' hearts.
But only one of them faced that fear.
"Niha?"
The rookies didn't understand why their companion was moving forward with a somber expression, heading straight for the civilian.
Tap… tap…
Her progress was only accompanied by the sound of her steps.
Finally, she reached the civilian, who was still struggling to breathe. She knelt in front of him and saw him clearly for the first time. He was young, probably under twenty, someone with a whole life ahead of him—but now he was dying in a painful way. Niha wanted to prevent that. An innocent didn't deserve to suffer like this, yet taking a life wasn't easy, even with compassionate intentions. For this reason, Niha couldn't stop crying.
Snif… snif…
As she cried, she thought.
Why does it have to be one of ours? This would be easier if it were just a human.
She raised her hand and rested it on his face.
"I… I'm… sorry."
...
...…
.....
...…..
CRACK.
With that silent snap, the civilian was freed from his suffering, but the action left a deep mark on the young heroes. While their superiors analyzed their reactions, none noticed that they were being watched. From far away, among the rubble of an old building, a mysterious figure lurked in the shadows, monitoring every action of the so-called "heroes."
It watched them, whispering words in a strange language.
"…Kal' drekiz."
It said this without blinking, its full attention fixed on the superhumans.
***
To summarize, in the last few hours, I died because of Gravism and was revived thanks to a sophisticated-looking man, in exchange for accepting a job offer from that same being who brought me back to life. I wasn't given any explanation about the job, and yet I accepted it.
Later, I found myself in a cave, tasked with eliminating a "parasite." That parasite turned out to be a Salamander, a monster derived from the dragon species. It moved on four legs, spat fire, stood over two meters tall, and had incredible durability—I knew this because it had been chasing me for nearly an hour.
Now I was hiding deep in a wall crevice, while the Salamander searched for me on the other side.
"Haaaa, please, go away."
I whispered, afraid the monster might hear me.
Bip.
[The Ka'li is tracking your position. If you do not change your current location, it will find you soon.]
Couldn't it be a little more positive?
Oh yes, and now this floating cube was accompanying me.
[The Ka'li is 8 meters from your current position.
…6 meters.
5.
3.]
I didn't need to see the cube's message; I could practically feel the beast's breath on my neck.
Grrrrrooo.
I could see its scaly skin from my tiny hiding spot. It continued to search, trying to detect my scent among the other odors of the cave.
At this point, it would find me, but I had nowhere to go. Inside this small chamber where I barely fit, there was only one exit—and it led directly to the Salamander.
"…!"
Wait, I could climb. If I scaled the chamber walls, maybe I could find another exit.
That's what I would do.
I raised my hands, grabbed the wall, and jumped slightly to place my feet on the cracks of the rock.
Tac.
But I accidentally hit a small stone, so tiny it could be mistaken for a marble. Yet the sound it made when hitting the ground echoed throughout the cave.
Grrrroooo.
I turned my head, and there it was: through the crack, the monster stared at me with its terrifying red eyes.
GRRROOOO!!
The Salamander roared while trying to break through the wall with headbutts.
As for me, I started climbing the rock walls.
The chamber shook from the beast's blows, but I focused solely on climbing higher, hoping to find a way out—or at least put distance between me and the monster. The farther, the better.
"…?"
What just happened? The blows had stopped, but I could still hear the Salamander's noises. It was still below.
Even though it was a killing machine, it was intelligent. All monsters were: they learned from every mistake, analyzed challenges, and found solutions. This was perfect for me. I had at most a full minute to keep climbing—and that's exactly what I did. I continued upward, followed by the cube, which floated close by.
"Haaa, why is it so hot?"
The temperature in the chamber kept rising. I began to sweat, and breathing became difficult.
"Wait, what is this?"
Suddenly, a mist appeared out of nowhere, covering me.
"Wait… is this… smoke?"
Bip.
The sound came from the floating cube, which displayed a new message on its hologram.
[The temperature in this chamber has risen suddenly:
-Current temperature approximately 48°C and rising]
"Shit, how is that possible?"
I asked myself, but I found the answer easily—just look down.
A blaze had formed at the chamber entrance. The fire was so intense that it melted even the solid rock walls.
"Agh…"
The heat was unbearable. The rocks I was gripping burned my hands fiercely, but that wasn't the worst part: the flames produced clouds of smoke that made breathing almost impossible.
'Just a little more,' I thought.
'Please, hold on a little longer,' I begged my body—to keep climbing, to ignore the pain, until I could find a way out.
"…!"
And then I saw it: an opening in the ceiling, practically a way out.
I kept climbing with all my strength. I could feel the fresh air brushing my face while the rest of my body felt like it was inside a giant oven. Breathing was almost impossible, but only for a short time—I finally reached the opening, escaped the chamber, and collapsed to the ground from exhaustion.
"Huff… huff… a… air… I thought… agh, I didn't think I'd make it."
After escaping that inferno, I tried to recover. I was exhausted, with multiple aches and burns across my body. My lungs burned, making breathing difficult, just like when I had lived under the effects of Gravism.
"Agh… it hurts, it hurts, it hurts."
This was the limit. So far, I'd survived purely by luck.
I couldn't go on like this. I had to find a way to kill that thing—and fast. But how?
"Hmm!"
And then I realized something. "I… I'm above it now."
I was on top of the chamber ceiling, which meant I was also above the Salamander.
To confirm this, I scanned my surroundings. Not far from the opening I had used to escape, I found a cliff. I looked down—and there it was: the Salamander, still trying to enter the chamber I had already escaped.
GRRROOOAAAGH!!
The beast roared in rage, continuing to break the wall.
CRAAASHH!!!
Its strength was so great that its blows caused small tremors in this part of the cave.
"If it keeps this up, it'll bring the cave down."
I had to kill this thing now—or at least stop it from destroying the walls.
"From here, it's about… 14 meters."
I had a plan, but the moment I executed it, I would reveal my position. Even with considerable distance, I didn't have the strength to run or fight—though by "fight" I meant waving a weapon at the Salamander and begging for a painless death. I couldn't afford to fail; there was only one chance. And even if I succeeded, I'd be in trouble if I didn't kill the monster.
"Haaaa, damn it."
My only options were:
1.- Wait for the Salamander to find me and kill me.
2.- Face it and die—nine times out of ten.
"…Well, here goes."
It was sad: I had just died recently, and now I was about to die again.
"No… I'm going to live."
That was the promise I made to myself. I… I had to fight for her.
"Cube."
Bip.
[What do you require, Mr. Robert?]
"Show me the weapons I can use."
[As a novice hunter, you only have access to a limited selection of weapons:
-Necronium Short Sword
-Necronium Axe
-Necronium Dagger
-Necronium Revolver:
4 bullets remaining in the revolver]
The hologram displayed the same information as before, but now it also showed the current number of bullets in the revolver.
"Hmm."
Earlier, I had chosen the revolver, thinking a firearm would be easy to use—but it was so heavy I could barely lift it. Now, with the terrain advantage against the Salamander, a long-range weapon would be useful. But last time I fired it, the recoil sent me flying backward, and I couldn't afford to fail now. Previously, I laughed at myself imagining waving a sword—maybe that's what I needed to kill this monster.
"Give me the sword."
[Necronium Short Sword: equipped]
The weapon appeared instantly in my hands.
"!?!"
But there was a problem: it's called a "short sword," yet it was enormous.
"Cube, what the hell is this? The blade alone is almost my size! Why is it called a 'short sword'?"
[I didn't name it; it's not my fault.]
"Ugh… don't tell me you were offended by what I said. Eh… sorry."
After apologizing, I tried to lift the weapon, but it was so heavy I couldn't. To move, I had no choice but to drag it across the floor.
I positioned the sword in front of me, at the edge of the cliff, above the Salamander, which had already pushed half its body into the chamber entrance.
"….."
Watching the monster writhing, trying to cross the wall, a shiver ran through me. My hands shook from fear, and the burns I had suffered while climbing still hurt.
I couldn't risk dropping the sword—by fear or by pain—so I took off my coat and tied it to my left hand with the sword's hilt, tightening it so I couldn't let go.
"Don't let go, no matter what."
I told myself. There would be no second chance. I had to do it now. I turned my back to the cliff, stepped back, and let myself fall.
While falling, I remembered why I had made this decision. When I first saw the Salamander from the cliff, its back was damaged, covered with fresh cuts and bruises, as if it had recently fought something or someone. That was its weak spot, and I planned to exploit it.
The world slowed around me as I fell at 60 kilometers per hour, carrying a nearly 100-kilogram sword. In that moment, I could think of only one thing:
'Don't let go. Don't drop the weapon.'
…
…..
.....
KRSSSH!!!
I landed on the Salamander's back, and thanks to my speed, the sword pierced its skin.
GROAAAARGH!!!
The monster let out a scream of pain, but it wasn't the only one hurt. When the sword embedded in its back, I couldn't resist the force, and my right hand let go of the hilt. But my left hand was still tied, absorbing the full recoil.
CRACK.
Without a doubt, that was the sound of my forearm bones breaking.
"AAAAAAGH!!!"
The pain was unbearable, and I couldn't stop myself from screaming. But I had to endure it—falling off the Salamander would mean certain death.
GRRROOOAAAAAAGH!!!!
The monster thrashed violently, jumping and running erratically, trying to throw me off. I tightened my grip on the sword.
GGGRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRGGGHH!!!!!!!!
The Salamander lost patience, now running in a straight line, smashing through everything in its path.
CRAAASSH!!!
The monster smashed rocks and walls at high speed, and I was hit by debris. It rampaged through the cave, using rage and pain to fuel its destruction.
Meanwhile, my situation wasn't great. My stamina had run out long ago. The only reason I hadn't fallen yet was the knot tying my broken arm to the sword—but it wouldn't hold for long. I could hear the fabric of the coat tearing from the rubble strikes.
I had to act. There would be no better opportunity to kill it.
I planted my feet on the beast's back, raised my right hand, and shouted:
"REVOLVER, NOW!"
Immediately, I felt the weapon in my hand. Its weight caused it to fall, the sight pointing directly at the Salamander. I pulled the trigger.
BANG!!
The bullet pierced the monster's back, but the pain wasn't enough to stop it. It kept advancing, destroying everything in its path. Its behavior no longer made sense.
"Agh… once more."
I recomposed myself after the shot and prepared to fire again.
BANG!!
The second bullet hit the Salamander's back beside the first wound. Blood gushed from both, splattering on me, but it wasn't enough. The Salamander barely reacted; the damage was not significant, only enough to cause bleeding. It was still far from death.
"In that case…"
I readied myself to fire again, but this time the shot wouldn't go to its back.
I used all my strength to lift the heavy revolver with one hand, but it wasn't enough. I had to use the sword's guard to support it. My previous attacks targeted what I thought was its weak spot—but I forgot the weapon didn't need my strength. I just had to aim and pull the trigger. This shot would go directly to its head.
BANG!!!!
GROOOOOAAAAAC!!!!!!!
The bullet hit its mark, piercing the beast's head. I had done it. I killed the Salamander. This should have been the perfect moment to celebrate—if I weren't still on top of the monster, whose final act seemed to be jumping off a cliff.
"THIS HAS TO BE A JOKE, RIGHT!?" I screamed as I was literally hurled into what seemed an endless abyss.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I'm sure that scream echoed throughout the cave—and it was louder than all the Salamander's roars combined… hmm, why am I thinking about that? Seriously, is this the only thing I can focus on while plummeting to my imminent death? Better just keep screaming.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!"
***
I had a strange dream. I don't remember exactly what happened, but I was desperate. I had lost something very important, and just before recovering it, I woke up.
"Ouch…"
My whole body ached, but I was alive—that much was certain.
"Where am I?" I was disoriented, but a few things were clear: my left arm was broken, I was completely drenched in blood, and it seemed I had just fallen from a cliff.
"But… what is this?"
When I tried to stand, I realized I wasn't on the ground. I was standing on what looked like a scaly mound… oh.
"Oh oh oh."
I jumped back quickly, realizing it was the Salamander's corpse. It looked dead, but I was still afraid—what if I relaxed and it suddenly jumped on me?
This was unlikely; the monster had lost half its head. Still, I didn't feel safe.
"Hmm?"
Then I noticed something else. The ground I was standing on was intricately decorated. I paused to examine it. It looked ancient, as if dust had accumulated for centuries, yet it was beautiful. Elegant patterns formed multiple geometric shapes, all interconnected. A square with strange symbols connected through a straight line to a triangle, also covered with symbols. These figures repeated and connected consecutively, all leading to a single point directly beneath where the Salamander's corpse lay.
'This is… unsettling,' I thought.
Bip.
[Congratulations, Mr. Robert.]
"Eh?"
The cube appeared out of nowhere, suddenly congratulating me for no apparent reason.
"Eh? Why?"
[You have completed your second mission:
—Find the fictive ether core: Completed]
"Find what?"
[Behind you]
I obeyed the cube and turned to look behind me. What I saw stunned me.
This place had become even stranger. Not only was the floor elegantly decorated, but there were also pillars rising to the ceiling, like an ancient temple. What caught my attention most, however, was the object at the far end of the cave.
"Is that… a sphere?"
I was right. At the end of the cave, on a platform, lay a massive sphere glowing with a grayish hue. It must have had a radius of almost six meters.
"Hmm." I realized the cube had already told me what it was a moment ago. "Fictive Ether Core."
"I found it…"
I realized I had just succeeded: I completed the missions Lucius had assigned me. I killed a monster off a cliff and survived the fall.
"Pfff." I didn't understand it—I really didn't. I couldn't stop laughing.
"Jajajajaja."
I felt strange; I no longer felt pain or exhaustion. I… I felt alive.
But my joy didn't last long. While I laughed, the cube projected a hologram in front of me.
[Your missions for the day are:
—Find the Ka'li hiding in this cave: Completed
—Exterminate it
—Take samples of its genetic material
—Find the fictive ether core: Completed
—Seal its cracks with the stigma patch
Extra conditions: Avoid at all costs letting the Ka'li infect the core]
I focused on the remaining missions, but then… what?
Why…?
Why wasn't this mission… marked as completed?
[Your missions for the day are:
—Exterminate it.]
Hadn't I already done that?
FFFIUUUUSH
Suddenly, an object flew past me at high speed.
CILNCK.
CLANG.
When the object finally landed, I realized it was the sword I had used to kill the Salamander. It was supposed to be stuck in its back, but now it…
"Revolver!!"
I reacted quickly; that sword didn't fly on its own.
[Necronium Revolver: Equipped]
I turned again to face the monster and…
…..
…
…
…
…
...
RU
VAL
DRIX
KA'LI
...
...
...…..
...…
...…..
......…
......…
.........
...........
MAKRATIZ
.........
............
...............
...............…
..................…
It was my fault.
I'm sorry.
I let it die.
I'm sorry.
I was cowardly and ran away.
I'm sorry.
And I kept running all my life.
........................
............................
I… I am punishing myself with strange thoughts. I didn't want to, I didn't want to remember, but I couldn't avoid it. While looking into its eyes, I lost control over myself.
There it was—HE. It was cold, which is why it was using the monster as a cover, but I had disturbed it too much. That's why it emerged. HE opened the Salamander's wound, tore open its back, and there it was.
Among all the thousands of thoughts and memories racing through my brain at unimaginable speed, for one second I had a clear thought—a question formed the moment I first saw HE.
.......
.........…
............
Is that… a smile?