Designation;
Echo of the Gods
Name's Timothy- Timothy Strife, and like my last name suggests, I'm not very far from the struggle. Or rather, the struggle isn't very far from me if you catch my drift.
I'll catch you up to speed. When I was six my parents got divorced and I got stuck with my dad while my older sister got stuck with mom. At the age of eight, my dad decided to "go get some milk" and I've been waiting for that milk ever since. Luckily for me, my dad wasn't so heartless that he left me on my own. Instead, he left me with his younger brother- my uncle Lewis. And for the past six years, I've lived a relatively peaceful life. Mostly…
That is until I turned fourteen. To cut matters short, my uncle got arrested last week because why not? I'm joking, he got arrested for theft. The item he was trying to theft is called a Myth Tamer. Pretty straight forward name if you ask me but to bring you up to speed, it's kinda like a "calling card" of sorts that calls forth a Beyonder. Beyonders are like demi-gods that have super powers. Powers to fight off Descenders.
Strap up cause it's time for a history lesson. Three hundred years ago, the Rapture tore the world in three. The Above, where the Beyonders come from, the Underside where Descenders come from and the High Ground where us humans live. For the past three hundred years, humans have fought against the Descenders using the powers of the Beyonders, battling side by side to keep the Descenders at bay.
The war between us and Descenders had more or less intensified in the more recent years and because of that, the High Ground is more or less in need of more Callers- that being the humans capable of using Myth Tamers.
So much need in fact, that it became martial law that anyone over the age of fourteen is demanded to have their own Beyonder. The design is very human.
Ahem. Anyway, me being fourteen, I was sent to get my own Myth Tamer at the National Myth Recruit. That event took place on Tuesday. By the end of that Tuesday, I'd already gotten my own Myth Tamer.
That is until I….ate it. Ok, look, my uncle and I got excited, we threw a party, he had some drinks, I stuck to juice, he was thrashed, I got careless, he started waving my Myth Tamer, I panicked, we fought and I ended up swallowing it. Whole.
Don't judge me, I'm a child. Judge the adult for acting childish. Anyway, the very next day, my uncle went back to the NMR in the middle of the night to steal another one. He was arrested the following morning, and for the past seven days, I've been hassled by officials trying to get answers behind my uncle's actions. Like a good citizen, I answered all their questions day in and day out one after the other over and over again. It was downright painfull.
But anyway, after all their pointless questions, they finally released me. I decided to ask what they planned to do with my uncle after the incident but they just slapped me with a "We'll keep you posted."
With how serious they were I suspected that what my uncle did my get him executed. That would suck. I didn't want that. In any case, I walked out the police door while being escorted by big scary dudes following behind me.
Once I stepped over the railings, my sneakers settling into the brick layered pavement.
"Thank you, kind sirs." I bowed.
"Sure thing kid." They waved me off.
Harsh. I thought. Though I made sure to keep that to myself.
With that out of the way, I waved a taxi home from the front of the station and after a little waiting, I got myself a ride. I slid into the taxi and instructed the driver to my home address.
While my chariot carried me home I hung my elbow over the window, letting the fresh breeze blast my face as hard as possible. It the felt good- the experience of having oxygen, carbon dioxide and everything in between rush all over my face.
It gave me the opportunity to think too. About what to do with the item my uncle left for me before he was pulled away.
"We're kiddo," the driver said, flushing me out of my thoughts. "You alright? Your face seems a bit long."
I don't know if I should slap him or ask him top pay for my therapy.
"I'm fine sir. Thank you."
After a slight nod, the driver took his payment and drove off, leaving me to my thoughts and my building. I turned from the street and face my apartment building. It was shabby, a bit run down too, with a few missing windows here and there.
But was it the cold, hard, unforgiving streets? NO!
Was it expensive? NO!
Can I afford any other options? NO!
It's unanimous folks, Miss Jean's apartment complex wins again!
And the crowd goes wild!!
As I raised my arms to do some silent cheering, the realization finally hit me just how desperate I was to distract myself. Desperately at that. I took a deep sigh before heading up to my- formerly um uncle's, apartment.
The stairs still smelled like wet wood, exactly how I left it, and it creaked with each step I took. When I reached my room, I shuddered at the thought of the door falling over when I pried it open.
The bed was only a few paces from me and believe me I wanted nothing more than to throw myself over it and bawl my eyes out till the next decade, but I had other matters to attend to.
I snaked my way through the hall and stepped into my uncle's room. His drawer was still open which was surprising. I'd have thought the cops ransacked the place after they took my uncle, I was surprised to find it more or less untouched. Which meant that under his bed...
"There it is," I whispered. "The Myth Tamer."
I pulled the suitcase that was under his bed and set it on my lap as I sat on the bed myself. After dusting it off, I sprang it open to find a card-looking object. I mean there was no other way to describe it did look like a card, hardly bigger than my own palm.
"I guess 'Calling Card' was more literal than I thought." I giggled.
My uncle threw his life away; he was sent to prison so I wouldn't be. I refused to let his sacrifice go to waste.
I'd settled my resolve and decided to call my eternal companion. My very own Beyonder.
"So, uh...How do I go about that exactly?"
Unfathomable as it was, I didn't know how to call my own Beyonder. And the Myth Tamer didn't exactly come with a manual.
"Oh wait." I realized. "I completely forgot."
The Tamer itself didn't have a manual, but the NMR did give me some instructions. Instructions that involved tapping into my 'Third Eye'.
What that meant was that I had to focus all of my thoughts onto the Tamer to get a reading of my 'Stats', meaning it'll assess my physical capabilities.
"Phew.." I sighed, concentrating my thoughts and my attention on my hands.
I felt something bubbling up in my palms, and my stomach. I was most definitely hungry so it was no wonder why my stomach was rumbling but regardless I decided to keep my focus on my palms, letting the tingly sensation fully envelop me.
[System Reading Activating]
A metallic voice called.
[Assessing Caller. Reading Physical Statistics.
Strength; 40
Stamina; 30
Flexibility; 60
Intelligence; 80
Speed; 50
Endurance; 90
Overall Assessment; Class D; Legendary Grade Tamer]
When the mystical robot stopped, I half opened my eyes fully expecting to be disappointed given the horrid numbers I was hearing. The screen that was right before glowed a bright green as it hovered above my hand.
"This trope is way too overused." I whispered.
Typical. System driven magic that grants the user power based on their stats. To be honest, I wasn't all that surprised. I mean the whole game stats system was somewhat in my expectations, my own stats were what surprised me. I mean physical traits were laughable but my intelligence and endurance were… kinda impressive if I'm being honest.
And the last part, 'Class D Legendary Grade Tamer.' I assumed that meant that my class is D and I can someone a legendary Beyonder.
Sweet. I thought.
[System Integration Complete. Begin Summon?]
I was tempted to say yes, but my instincts knew too little to take that sort of chance when I knew so little. I mean, 'Legendary Grade' had to mean I'd summon someone or something, from legend right? Like Jack the Ripper?
"No, that's a historical figure. And even if he was a legend, I doubt he'd be on the Beyonder's side of the map. Maybe someone like Merlin?"
Merlin was a mage that served the great king Arthur way back when history was relevant. I guess, and partially hoped, I'd pull for him. I mean in video games, intelligence equals magic, and with my intelligence stats being so high, I suspected I'd call someone who'd be good with magic or at least rumored to be.
"Right."
My mind was made up. I clicked 'yes' on the glowing board, which triggered a flash of super bright lights that covered the room. Both my eyes, and my stomach, cried out in excruciating pain.
I felt my ears drumming against my brain. My heart pattered just as hard, like it was trying to jump out of my chest and straight onto the floor.
To make matters worse, my stomach wasn't playing any games with me either. I felt it churning my guts like a well grilled sausage, the entire time the system's voice roared at me.
[Danger! Summoning In Progress]
It rang.
[Failed. Gateway Blocked]
My stomach suddenly burned hotter and the steel ring even louder.
[Attempting Second Summoning.]
[Failed]
[Gateway Breached. Assessing Caller.
Strength; Unknown
Stamina; Unknown
Flexibility; Unknown
Intelligence; Unknown
Speed; Unknown
Endurance; Unknown
Overall Assessment; Unidentified Class Tamer]
[Assigning New Class: Rapture Class_Timothy Reach]
Devourer! I exclaimed mentally. Even my vocal cords were failing me.
My stomach acid slowly subsided. And as for the ringing in my head, it slowly calmed down. I could feel my body move again.
"Ugh, my head…" I wheezed. "That was…awesome. The design is very..…human ."
"Indeed it is, master." A woman's voice called.
"Huh?" I blurted.
There she was in glistening silver armor. A sword held between her hands. Her legs were spread wide with her neck tilted slightly upward, the very picture of confidence. Or arrogance. Her blonde hair fluttered against the wind. Her heaven colored eyes felt like they were staring at my soul.
"Greetings Master," she bowed slightly. "My name is Artoria Pendragon. King of the land of Britannia."
Huh…?
"HUH!!?" I screeched.