The Samurai stood in front of him, his hair waving in the slight wind. He was wearing his blindfold, unlike the last time they saw each other. He had repaired his woven hat too. He still had a few dried up scratches on his arm, but looked uninjured mostly.
Max was on his guard. He was ready to fight him. He didn't know why the Samurai woke him up, but he felt uneasy. Max still felt weak in the knees, as he could see his legs visibly shaking. And unfortunately, so could the Samurai.
Samurai: I think you should rest a bit..
Max looked at him, still doubtful. Recognizing that he wasn't trustworthy, the Samurai removed his sword and sheath from his waist and kept it on the ground.
Samurai: I don't mean to harm you.
The Samurai raised his hands, to show that he is here in peace. Max slowly relaxed cause, he knew that the Samurai wasn't the trickster type of combatant. For some reason, the Samurai felt noble. A man with honour, Max thought.
Max: Why ain't you attacking me this time?
Samurai: Because you aren't my enemy. I was mistaken the first time we met.
The Samurai's answer was quick and crisp. Max could see that he was being honest.
Max: You know..honestly I find you creepy.
Samurai: Pardon?
The Samurai was confused when he said that. Max the repeated his line.
Max: I think you are sort of creepy. You were going behind us, aiming to kill us...and didn't give us a chance to explain ourselves.
Samurai: Us..?
The Samurai raised his head.
Samurai: So you think the other two are good people..?
Max: Well, there is another one. But yeah, they are all good.
The Samurai just nodded in response, carefully contemplating his options.
Samurai: Okay, I believe you. I won't pursue them anymore..
Max: What..?
Max was confused on why the Samurai was acting all buddy-buddy with him now. This was the opposite of what Max thought would happen if they ever crossed paths again. Although him crying at the end, did change a lot of opinions he had on the Samurai beforehand.
Max: Why..? Why are you okay with everything I'm saying now?
Samurai: If you are protecting them, then they might be worthwhile people.
Max: Exactly!! Why..?
Samurai: Because of your eyes..
Max was shook. As far as he knew, Max wasn't gay, so recieving this kind of compliment from a man was not a good experience. And he wasn't even sure if it was a compliment.
Max: My...eyes..?
Samurai: Yes. Your eyes prove that you are the tenth incarnation of the God of Perseverance.
Max: The what now..?
Max then immediately recalled the time where he woke up to the Time being, who also said something like that.
Then Max remembered something. He was alone here. Aside from the Samurai, no one were here. The blue-armoured guy, red-haired girl, and the boy with freckles were all missing. He then remembered that the porcupine-looking guy had ordered the other monstrosity to take them with him, before Max had passed out.
Max: Shit! We need to go. We need to find them!!
Samurai: Find who..??
Max: Melissa, Chuck and Lin! They were taken by a porcupine man. How long was I unconscious..??
Samurai: I don't know. For about five minutes since I found you here. And did you say a porcupine man??
Max: Yes. You know him??
Samurai: Not really...but you might be referring to an Ameliorate.
Max: An Ameliorate??
Samurai: They are successful Experiments with a consciousness and sentience. The other Experiments usually are just mindless monsters.
Max: Okay, a lot of info to hold in my brain. Do you know where they might be taken..?
Samurai: I did see a mysterious water body on my way here. When I sensed it through my feet, it felt like there was a hollow space underneath, but I didn't check it then, as I was trying to find you.
Max: A lake..?
Max then remembered the lake he had passed while running from the spirits deep within the forest. If they were taken there, they might find them. The Samurai probably used his feet and other senses to locate stuff. Probably why he was able to find Max, who was hidden in the bushes perhaps.
Max: Can you take me there...??
Samurai: As you command!
He then pointed at the exit from the village and started running. He had picked up the Excalibur and put it back on his waist. Max did trust him right now, as he had no other choice. He had to reach the other three, before something bad happened. Hopefully, it hadn't happened yet.
As they left the village and were dragged back into the darkness of the forest. Max had thought that the village was darker, but the forest was even worse. The trees were too high and blocked the moon and starlight almost completely.
Max turned to his side to see the Samurai running with him.
Max: So....what did you mean by I'm the tenth incarnation..?
Samurai: Well....let me explain. There are Three Higher Gods in the Universe. The Gods of Creation, Perseverance and Destruction. Of them the Perseverance God takes the form of a human and comes to this planet to protect and save lives. Each of his incarnations have a different purpose...
Max: And there has been nine of them before me..??
Samurai: You would be correct.
Max: So, why were you still not convinced when you saw me..?
Samurai: Usually, and I mean every single time...He takes the form of a baby first, and then that baby grows up. You are the first incarnation to already be an adult.
Max was still a teenager at heart,, but he understood the sentiment. But why was he not born as a baby? He was definently born as a baby, but that was in previous Age. Which led to his next question.
Max: This...first incarnation...do you know when he was born..?
Samurai: I'm not a hundred percent sure, as all these are legends passed down, but the First One was born in the very first year of the Age of Creation.
Max was right on the money. Every incarnation was born after the Towers were erected in this world. If he used a bit of his common sense he could see that the Towers were made by the "Children of Creation". Max wondered if there was a connection between them and the God of Creation, who happens to be one of the Three Higher Gods mentioned by the Samurai.
Max: So, everything you know, are from legends..? How'd you know I was a God..?
Samurai: I didn't. I was searching for a baby in that place made of metal.
Max: Wait...why were you doing that..? How did you know to look for a baby..? You can sense Gods or something..?
Samurai: No.. each and everytime the God is born, it leaves a huge symbol in the sky, pointing at the baby. It stays that way for a week. I was merely trying to chase Xi Fei Lin and the red haired girl named Melissa, when I stumbled upon the symbol.
Max remembered the huge golden symbol in the sky pointing down above the Dome. So it was technically pointing at Max. Max thought why that phenomenon existed.
Max: And so, you were searching for the baby..?
Samurai: Yes. I was..
Max: Then next question, why were you chasing those two..?
Max and the Samurai were running as fast as they could. They were dodging the trees and maneuvering through the forest.
Max: And..?
Samurai: I did it only because I thought they had something to do with the disappearance of the entire village.
Max nodded in agreement. So some of the story made sense. Except one thing.
Max: And if everything you learnt are from just passed down legends, then why do you think I'm God?
Samurai: Everything I know wasn't just from legends. I had already met your previous incarnation.
Max was shocked to hear that. His previous incarnation, meaning the ninth avatar of Perseverance. The Samurai had met him.
Max: You knew him..?
Samurai: Yes. More than you think. He...was my Master. He ....was the previous wielder of the Excalibur. He ...was the 122nd Samurai!!