The barrage I had launched towards the jester connected in the next instant. Hundreds of instruments sharpened into various weapons had impaled and skewered the man all at once. Regardless of any regeneration, that'd surely be the end of him.
I ran past the jester, who laid on the ground with weapons impaling his entire body, and went to check up on Arneb and Umai. I examined both for any injury, but to my shock, they were both unharmed. It seemed the flash of light I had seen earlier was truly nothing.
I thought to myself— Had I just killed a man!?! I mean, he was trying to kill me… and I thought he was attempting to harm Umai and Arneb. On top of that he was a Calthian elite, but did that make it right? Was he even human? I mean, his figure looked human, he talked kind of like a human, but was he? He shot light for gods sake and regenerated all injury! A massive headache rocked my mind as I thought.
Suddenly, I heard a loud chuckle behind me. I spun around instantly, the jester was laughing his head off.
There was no way he had regenerated from that! I had seen his heart protrude from his chest. I saw his brain sticking out of his head. I even had the time to think of the morality of my actions, I thought I was safe. So how the hell was he alive once more!? It made no sense. He shouldn't be alive.
"AhAHAAAhHHahHahahahHAHAHAHHAHAHAH." The jester screamed out in a hideous laughter.
"How the hell are you still breathing!? YOU VILE CREATURE! JUST WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU!!" I screamed out in horror. Nothing made sense, if someone's brain and heart were destroyed, they shouldn't be able to think nor breathe— so how is this jester doing both!?
I prepared my volley once more, and fired hundreds, no, thousands of instruments towards the jester. I needed to kill this thing as fast as I possibly could.
This time, it was different. Instead of taking the blades to his body this time, the jester blocked all the hits at once.
"What the hel-" I tried to speak, but as I did, the jester appeared right behind me. I quickly turned around to counter, but it was too late.
A large specter had materialized out of seemingly nothing and now rested in his hand, it was made of a metallic substance that loosely resembled gold, a large diamond-like ball rested at its tip. Something seemed off about that diamond though. Its presence was enough to make me tremble, there was surely something wrong with it.
The next instant, my suspicions were confirmed. Thousands of amalgamated corpses crawled out of that specter at an unimaginable speed, one after another, creatures that resembled the classmates at my school's corpses were originating from that Calthian jester's staff.
My pupils dilated in panic, my heart racing even faster than before, my entire body got stiff, but I had to act, or I'd surely die.
I raised my arm, and in rapid succession brought it down, launching hundreds of weapons in the direction of the amalgamated army, but it was too late.
In the same moment I fired, the black sphere from earlier appeared directly above me. It rushed in my direction and I barely dodged it. Now it was rushing down at me from above, while the amalgamated army was surrounding me on all sides. It seems this would be my defeat.
Those weren't thoughts of despair though. I say such knowing there's no other way. My acceptance of my defeat wasn't some remark of a man who's given up, but rather, one who's accepted his fate.
The black sphere crashed into my back once more.
It didn't kill me last time, so I didn't fully expect to die, I more-so expected to end up in some unknown place, like the dream world from earlier. But, I didn't get much time to think about it.
I blacked out once more.
"Zalman!"
"Zalman!"
"Zalman!"
"ZALMAN, wake up!"
A familiar voice called out to me, no, familiar isn't the right word. It was like a merged sound of all my favorite people's voices, screaming for me to wake up once more. It sounded like my mom, it sounded like Arneb, it sounded like Umai, it sounded like my dad, and it sounded like Astra. All of the people who motivated me as of today.
I woke up, in an unfamiliar and dark place, the smell immediately hit my nose. I opened a portal below me as they shimmered with a small glow, I immediately let out a small yelp at the sight.
The walls were made of flesh… human flesh. Skin was writhing like snakes all around me. The walls made occasional sounds for a lack of better words. The floor was constantly squirming, causing me to lose my balance.
Nevertheless, I continued my descent down the slithering halls, the place had grown quiet… too quiet. Every step I took made a disgusting sound which echoed across seemingly endless halls.
Occasionally, I'd see pillars of sorts? Yeah, pillars would be the right word to describe them, they looked like a type of white stone that protruded from the flesh walls. I hesitated for a bit, but I finally decided to touch it. Upon contact, it was almost as if this flesh was covering something else.
Suddenly, an amalgamated corpse like the ones from the jester's staff jumped out in front of me. I hastily called upon my instruments, and fired at the creature without hesitation, quickly putting it out of its misery.
That same process repeated for what seemed like an eternity, at first it mortified me— but over time, I began to get used to it.
Eventually, I ran into something new. It was a camp of sorts, a horrid smell, worse than the one before filled my nose. But I couldn't care less, at least there were people here.
I ran into the camp, a larger guy walked out of a tent ahead.
"Stop." He said sharply
I quickly did such, stopping in my tracks.
"Where did you come from, did you carry them with you?"
I had no idea what he was talking about, so I responded promptly. "I don't know what you mean by 'them' but I come alone."
"Hm… Alright. Go to the green tent."
He pointed in the direction of a large green tent on the far side of the camp— I promptly walked over there and went inside.
The inside of the building seemed like a registry of sorts, it seemed I was the only one there aside from a clerk of sorts, so I obviously walked forward.
"Name, Where you got abducted from, and your object ability please." The woman spoke sharply, it seemed everyone was overly tense in this camp.
To be fair, they lived in walls of flesh in a town with a disgusting odor, but still, it couldn't hurt to liven up. Anyways, I needed to respond to her question, so I did.
"Zalman Port, I come from Earth, Japan, and I'm not sure what an 'object' is."
"Hmm, to the red tent." She responded after jotting something down in a notebook.
I walked over to the red tent, in which I was told to take a seat. There were roughly twenty people in the room, so naturally I looked through the crowd.
Then, among the crowd, I spotted someone I knew. Was that Arneb? Yeah, it was for sure Arneb.
"Hey, Arneb."
She turned around quickly, "Hey Zalma-!" She spoke with an excited tone before getting cut off.
"Silence." The instructor looking guy in the front of the room instructed Arneb and I to be silent and sit down, apparently, he had something to tell us all.
"So, you may be wondering why you're in a little tent with orders being barked at you." He began his speech.
"So— you are all here due to your lack of knowledge on what's going on, and/or what an object is." He continued, to be honest, his speech was quite boring. I personally zoned out and began to think.
Soon enough, the speech ended. I hadn't paid much attention to it but I did catch a few key details, so to lay it out, it was like this.
The categories he did teach us were as followed; Elementum, Divinus, Diabolus, Natura. To be honest the whole system reminded me of a game system, so it was quite hard to take them seriously. Apparently my object category was Divinus. They didn't explain why or how we were classified yet, they said that'd come tomorrow, for now, we only knew our classifications.
But anyway, after the lecture, I waited for Arneb, then we left the tent. We explored the camp for a bit of time before ending up in a yellow tent near the northernmost point of the encampment. We entered— it looked like a comical guild you'd see from a game, I laughed a bit before walking over to the board and grabbing a piece of paper.
Flesh Extermination
Details; Exterminate all nearby flesh-creatures.
Reward; 200 copper-coins, along with rare information about Dualitas class objects. Along with training with any Divinus based objects.
At first, I laughed a bit more. There was no way this place seriously had a guild. But, we did need money and information— so we eventually took the job.
We set out shortly after accepting the job. We had decided the best method would be to stick together to traverse the infinite flesh halls.
As we walked, we engaged in small talk. Apparently, she had one of the three unknown object classes, being 'Lex' and she had named her object
Then, Arneb teleported in front of me and slapped me in the face.
"Huh.? How the hell did you teleport.?" I questioned in a confused tone.
"I stopped time idiot." She responded.
I burst out laughing again, "As if you could do something as cool as control time."
"I'm serious, you know!!!" She shouted back
After I got done laughing at Arneb, I realized it was natural to name your ability in this place, so I decided to do the same.
Hmm… It can summon weapons that resemble instruments, and acts as a storage for things I needed, I guess I'd call it
And that's about how it went the entire time exterminating flesh monsters, it was all playful banter inside the eerie hallways, after all— we had to take our minds off the pure scale and feel of these monstrous hallways. I mean, they seriously had to be infinite, I wouldn't believe anyone if they told me otherwise.
As we explored, we ran into our first actual threat. A large flesh thing, one significantly larger than the rest had appeared in front of us. And to make it worse, apparently it had an object of its own! It materialized a sword of sorts out of seemingly thin air then pointed it at us, and out of its tip a torrement of water appeared.
I fired my instruments at the thing, which surprisingly shot full speed even through the water, but to my shock, the monster survived! What the hell!? Up to this point, these instruments were basically an instant win! I mean, they were capable of destroying internal organs with ease and breaking through solid steel! How the hell had this thing survived!?
I attempted to launch another barrage, but in the next instant it was gone. "What the—" I tried to ask.
I heard laughter from behind me, "Sorry sorry, I just couldn't watch that embarrassing fight for much longer." Arneb said, still laughing.
Huh, I guess she could stop time after all.
I personally wasn't a fan of her taking over my fights in such a rude manner, but hey, at least I was safe.
After dying, the object-carrying monster vaporized into thin air, leaving only its object behind. A large silver rapier of sorts. I attempted to pick it up, but as I did, a sensation of overwhelming doom filled my body.
I immediately dropped the thing, and the feeling left my body the next instant. After that weird incident, I decided to carry the blade by throwing it in my vault— I mean, it worked as storage, no? I could choose what to grab out of it, so it made sense to store it there.
After that, we began to head back to the camp. It was seemingly a refugee camp for those kidnapped or defeated by that jester, I had inferred that much based on everyone's attitude. This place was probably some sort of pocket dimension possessed by the jester as well, it just made 'sense'.
I'd come to that conclusion based upon what I'd seen. I mean, the jester used the same flesh creatures that were here, I had the same feeling around these halls as I did when I saw that diamond on the jester's staff, the list goes on. They were way too similar to be a coincidence.
Anyway, the journey back was far far less talkative and playful as the journey there, as I began to think to myself silently. Where was Umai? Where was my Mother? Was everyone in my home town dead? I pondered these questions and many more, and after some time I had come to the conclusion they had to be alive somewhere. I knew that was unlikely, I knew they were probably dead, but they simply had to be alive. I'd refuse to accept otherwise, it'd be disgraceful if I lost hope so soon, plus the thought of them being dead was enough to bring a tear to my eye.
Eventually, we made it back to the camp. We reported to the yellow camp and informed them we completed our task, along with handing over the object we had collected.
The receptionist had a shocked look upon her face after seeing the object I pulled out of my vault.
"Wait right here." She told Arneb & I to stay where we were.
"Alright."
"Sure."
Arneb and I had basically the same reaction, being to simply agree and go with the flow. After seeing us agree, the receptionist quickly left her desk and grabbed someone else.
A moment later, a man walked into the room, an odd look upon his face. I wanted to say he looked shocked, but that wasn't the right word to describe his appearance. Either way, he dropped a thousand copper-coins in our hand, and began to speak.
"Here's five fold your original reward, meet our leader in the wooden house in the far right of the camp and don't mention this to anyone." He spoke with authority, as if that was an order.
"Alright." I agreed, Arneb did the same, and we were on our way.
After a bit, we arrived at the wooden house. "Should we knock?" I asked Arneb.
"Yeah, probably."
"Alright." I responded.
I knocked on the door, I heard rustles on the other side of it. And in the next moment, the door opened.
The same disgruntled man opened the door, he was decently well dressed and seemingly in his forties. He had messy-wavy brown hair that wasn't taken care of well, a thin mustache and overall looked like a total drunkard. He had a more muscular build, although it wasn't anything too insane.
"Come in."
He spoke, we listened.
As we walked into the house, I noticed a few things. For one, there were two men dressed in Earth's Military Attire, and one of them had a familiar face, although I couldn't place my finger on who it was. Plus, in the other room, there was seemingly a war room, and a good 5~ people sat in there from what I could see.
"Go into the room with the two men, they'll fill you two in."
"Uh… sure." I responded.
I walked into the room, Arneb followed. I sat next to the taller man, while Arneb sat on the other side of me.
"So… what's your name?" I asked the tall man.
"Astra."
Arneb
Had I passed out? Where was I? I rubbed my eyes, and suddenly— I wasn't at school anymore!? Last thing I had remembered, I was under a desk with Zalman and that other girl, was Umai her name? Yeah, Umai. Anyways, this was not the school I knew nor the country I grew up in, this was clearly somewhere different.
I stood up and looked around this dark place.
After examining the little I could see, I decided to just go on with it and take a step forward, as I did the ground and walls started to slither. I puked nearly instantly.
"EW! What in the hell is that!?" I shouted out
The ground was wet, it was humanoid, it felt like flesh, human flesh. It was disgusting, eerie, any word like that would be fit to describe it.
I felt like crying, I felt like puking again, I was in a creepy, flesh-filled, and pitch black hallway in a place I didn't know. I mean who wouldn't want to cry?
Eventually, I forced myself to stand back up and walk forward. After some time, a strange key appeared in front of me, it created a glowing light— the only light around for seemingly miles. It illuminated the flesh walls, it was a horrific sight that made me want to puke once more.
I quickly grasped the key in front of me, and suddenly, a massive headache rocked my mind. An influx of knowledge had just entered my mind… it was stuff I had no prior memories of but I felt as if I simultaneously knew of it. The information that I had received has some insane implications.
Could this be real? This key told me I could control time… but that's impossible? Just what was going on here, I mean, I had no real reason to doubt the key. But then again, the idea of me, a normal person, controlling something like time was absurd.
Regardless of the validity of the information the key granted me, it still provided light. That being said, I decided to carry it on me for a light source throughout these winding and neverending flesh halls.
I traversed the halls for what seemed like an eternity. I was nearing exhaustion, my breath had grown heavy at this point, and I was near collapse. I had to have been wondering for hours, maybe even days. The writhing walls, the slimy sounds upon each step, the utter darkness at the horizon of my limited lights, it was enough to drive almost anyone insane.
But, not me, I had to prevail. There had to be others nearby. There just had to be, and I didn't want to be another missing or dead person after a calamity. I needed, yes, needed, to return home to those that needed me. I couldn't simply abandon everything I cared for and those who cared for me. The people I cared for— the animals, both strays and pets I took care of, the people without a home I helped feed, and the less fortunate people I helped learn and thrive in life. What would they all do without me? They'd suffer, they'd be in pain, they'd miss me, and some may even die, and that. I could not allow it. I had to make it out of this god forsaken place. No matter what, I'd survive to get back to those who needed me.
I kneeled on the ground in front of me. I wish I could wash my hands and face, but I couldn't this time. I clasped my hands together in prayer, and began my plea to God.
"Heavenly Father, I come to You today humbly seeking your protection, for me, my family and all of those close to me. Keep us safe while we're awake and watch over us as we sleep. Assured of your love, I pray for the courage to live boldly, unafraid of challenges or dangers I may face." I finished my prayer and stood.
Then, suddenly— a large creature made of flesh rushed at me. It looked like a mad dog made out of pure flesh, the sight was disgusting. It had bearing teeth and the ferocity of a tiger. I closed my eyes instinctively upon seeing it.
I thought to myself, there was no way I would live if this thing wanted to kill me, and the look upon its mageled face screamed that it wanted me dead.
As I silently prayed once more, I realized— the noise had stopped. There was no sound of a rabid dog approaching me, the shifting flesh walls had stopped their slithering melody of noise.
I slowly opened my eyes, everything around me was standing still… as if frozen in place.
Frozen in place…
I thought of the key, I thought of stories I'd once read, I thought of all natural things I knew. What could stop everything? Was there a single thing everything in existence relied upon? Then it snapped. Everything was frozen, not in a literal sense, but in the sense everything had stopped. Sound, motion, movement, literally everything except me was stopped. It had to be one thing…
Time.
Time had to be it. I mean, what else controlled all progression? The creature, the walls, all movement, all air flow, all progression, everything had just come to a halt with the exception of me.
But, I couldn't stand here in awe forever. I had to escape, so I did. I ran, I ran tirelessly, I ran for miles in stopped time, suddenly, I saw lights ahead. I quickly grabbed the key, as I did, it transformed into a jaw-dropping golden stopwatch with times displayed in roman numerals. I instinctively clicked the watch, and time unfrozen that very instant.
"Thank you heavenly father for receiving my wish." I muttered under my breath in thanks to whatever deity gave me this ability.
As I did, I heard the walls of flesh continue their game of flesh charades, along with the sound of voices. Human voices. It was coming from the same direction as the lights I had seen before, so I ran once more. This time with a goal, with a destination. I ran towards the camp.
Finally, I arrived. I made it to the camp, the village? Who knows, either way, there were humans! Actual humans! It felt like ages since I had last seen another person. I didn't have to sit alone in the dark, eerie flesh halls any longer, I could be with well people.
I ran into the camp, and was put into a tent with a kind receptionist.
"Name, Hometown location, and Object's ability?"
"What's an object?" I responded curiously.
"Nevermind, head to the tent westward of here."
"Alright."
And our conversation had ended, I walked westward— toward another tent, and then I saw him. Zalman was in this tent! Zalman was alive! I mean, I had never lost hope he'd be alive, I knew he wouldn't die so easily— but it was still a shock to run into him! I wanted to just pounce onto him and wrap my arms around him, I couldn't be happier to see a familiar face.
But, I didn't do such things, I simply spoke.
"Hey Zalma-!"