“You know, if you’re that afraid of me, then cover it up at least a bit better.”

I shivered as I walked down the rocky and dirty path, with my sword which rested on it’s sheath connected to my belt, I felt a chilling sensation through my spine as the monster spoke to me, I rotated my head to see the monster’s head which was attached to the swords end, I was still unnerved thanks to it’s revealing jaw and sharp teeth, with it’s six eyes looking right at my head intensely.

“Uh, can I ask you a question? But if you don’t want to then---?!”

“Relax kid, I don’t bite, not for now, I’m pretty sure it’s not everyday a bioengineered weapon gets stuck onto a primitive piece of metal.”

My curiosity was piqued by the term ‘bioengineered’, as I was trekking under the warm rays of sunlight, my vision was greeted with a small town, I stopped as I looked around, after I made sure that there was nobody around, I sat on a nearby rock as I saw the monster move it’s head while maintaining his snake-like body and the two of us made eye contact.

“So, what are you? What does bioengineer mean? And, are you really going to bite me?”

The monster let out small chuckles as I looked uncomfortable asking the three questions, then it formed a hand-like appendage as I tried not to vomit, with a black bone poking out of it’s elbow, the monster used it to grab a nearby three nearby pebbles as well as a handful of dirt, it laid the items on the rock as it positioned it’s head behind the items while keeping it’s eye level with mine.

“Well kid, first of all, I’m a bioengineered organic weapon, but if you want to get specific, I’m a more-evolved version of an Amoeba, with hints of many animals DNAs and RNAs, you can assume that my form right now is my raw body, and these bones are the result of me connecting with your sword.”

Now I looked closely at the bones which the monster had let me looked closer as I compared to the sword’s blade which I unsheathed, and I found many similarities, as light was reflected from the bones I could see similar patterns which was engraved on my blade, the monster then retracted his hand back into, his body as it disappeared, it’s mushy grey flesh with red parts shifted as it formed a couple of sickles near it’s jaw.

“Secondly, bioengineered means that I am designed, or manipulated in a specific way, mostly my genes, nucleoids, and others, with unique methods, either by rearranging with CRSIPR, or others.”

“Uh… I don’t understand---”

“Of course you can never understand thanks to your primitive brain and thinking patterns!”

The monster slightly shouted as it rushed to headbutt my forehead, as I caressed it to try and dull the small amount of pain similar to how I would’ve felt if I had been hit by a wooden pole, the monster then went to retract back into the sword and popped out of the hilt, instead of the end, it then let out a sigh as he muttered something under his breath while I looked at the pebbles, it was arranged like this: one pebble poked out a dirt hill, the second pebble was entirely covered with dirt and the third was the pebble having the dirt in the centre.

“Basically, I’m the dirt, your sword is the second pebble, the first pebble pictures a plant, and the third is an abstract way of showing, you, humans.”

“You, connect with objects or living beings?”

“DING DING DING! That’s right kid, simply, I’m an animal which was bred to connect with others to enhance their abilities, by also adding other special attributes, I make my host the perfect warrior.”

“Then, who did you connected with before my sword?”

The monster, or Amoeba which he described himself, whatever and Amoeba is, reacted by frowning as he held his head down, looking as if deep in thought with a hint of guilt, I was about to try and comfort with a small hand, like how Alessia had always done to help me but then the monster shrugged aggressively as it snarled.

“Don’t touch me kid, and if you’re wondering, I can’t remember him other than his name, I do hold fragments of his memory but I need to achieve symbiosis with a creature who has brain power to access it, since it’s in the form of neurons which have a specific charge.”

“What?”

“Memory is in my body stored in a different way.”

I sighed in defeat as I got only more questions as I stood up and sheathed the sword back, the monster went in as I now continued to enter the town, as I approached the entrance, I was met with familiar smoke rising, stone exteriors, slight busy roads, a wooden wall surrounding the town as two guards in harden leather armour with spears were guarding, I saw a glimpse of my red-haired sister who walked into it as I stopped.

“So your name is Clark right?”

“Yeah, and can you maybe stay inside the sword for now, I don’t think---”

“I already know kid, and also, just call me Tom.”

I just nodded at Tom’s suggestion, as I went through a small inspection by the guards I was let in, I tried to keep a low profile as I walked through multiple shops, antiques, blacksmiths, magics, libraries and others, while I was making my way to a specific building, I could definitely hear muffled excitement from Tom as I could felt slight shifts every now and then in the sword’s sheath, I stopped in front of a building bigger than the others around it, with a logo engraved on a wooden sign hanging in front.

What is this place?

I almost jumped out of my skin as I heard Tom’s voice in my head, but somehow I was not able to make any sudden moves, as I looked around and found nothing, I grabbed the door’s knob and opened it, as I walked inside, I was greeted with soft sounds of a lute strumming, the interior was similar to an inn, with multiple chairs and tables as it’s patrons drank and chatted, I greeted the receptionist as I showed a card and then I walked towards a billboard with multiple papers pinned, each with a letter on the top right corner, as I grabbed a couple of requests which was usually what my sister would usually get but was halted as a huge pressure was applied to my shoulder.

“Hey punk, those quests are for our queen the flaming princess, pin those back.”

I froze in slight terror as many eyes were on me and the huge bulky man who has his entire chest exposed with just a few pieces of leather armour covering it, as I felt my feet slightly shake, I gulped and opened my mouth to try to deflect the little remark thrown at me, but what came out of my mouth was not what I was picturing in my mind.

“Why not you mind your own business freak.”

I did not want to say that!

“Do you know who you are talking to bottom tiered infant!?”

Clark, follow my instructions carefully.

I heard Tom’s voice back in my head as I was suddenly flooded free of fear at all, I grasped my swords handle as the huge Viking grabbed his huge axe as he twirled it in his grasp until he held the axe with his right hand, I heard Tom’s voice again.

First, wait for an attack from him which you’ll deflect as you unsheathe your sword, then use the blunt edge to hit his jaw’s hinges.

I mentally nodded as I was met with a huge horizontal swing which I halted it’s movement with my sword, I was thrown out of balance as I got back to stance just in time to block a huge downwards swipe, as the swords blade was stopping the axe’s movement to cut me in half, I yanked the axe closer as I slid the sword back and charged with the blunt end to hit the man’s jaw hinge.

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Good! NoW dEvOuR HiM!

Tom’s more demonic voice rang in my head as I saw the opposer fell to the ground, clutching his jaw in pain, I could see that I attracted quite the attention, as feelings of uncomfortableness settled, I made a dash to the exit with the papers in my hand, I stopped as I was in a secluded alleyway as I tried to regain proper breathing patterns, with fear still running in my head.

“What was that anyways?”

I saw Tom forming his body again although he hid it through my clothes, I sighed in defeat as I looked at the locations printed on the pieces of paper, I could feel Tom’s unsatiable curiosity grazing my neck hairs.

“Uh, that was a D-ranked Adventurer?”

“…… I think I’ll settle for an explanation from myself rather than you.”

“What!?”

I slightly screamed as I saw Tom move his body to connect me, I felt tingling senses everywhere while I tried to fight the slight pain and irritation that came but as I walked out of the little alleyway, I was bumped and fell down, as I rubbed my head I was met with a sight of black blur speeding away right as I caught a glimpse of white hair.

What was that?

“Alright, I understand a little bit now, also, you were pretty good back there kid.”

“I don’t know, if it weren’t for you helping me, I’m pretty sure I would’ve been the laughing stock of all those Adventurers.”

“Not really, I’d rate you in the third of my human strength tiers.”

I raised an eyebrow at Tom’s comment as I walked into one of the exits that were placed on the town’s outer gates, while I looked around and tried to find some flowers, Tom erupted from the sword’s end and peeked at the bunch of papers I was holding, he looked unamused after I grabbed a few herbs and pocketed them in my leather bag.

“Magic, healing potions, what’s next? Voodoo crap!?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Don’t mind me, just ranting about how lazy this world is, also you should be careful, one of the descriptions states about some bear spotted near your little ‘herb’ patches.”

“What did you mean about tiers? Also, what do you mean lazy?”

“Tier three means trained but inexperienced, out of ten tiers, and for lazy, you’ll see if you keep asking questions, for now just focus.”

I just hummed in response, while I kept searching, finding, and picking healing herbs, as I counted the result, I smiled with the achieved amount, I looked around to the green grass and multiple plant-life, with small amounts of trees, I plucked a small rose but was startled by the sudden appearance of Tom right in front of my face.

“Also, don’t slack off like this, those requests aren’t going to complete themselves!”

“Why are you helping me? I’m just a farm boy……”

“First of all, I’m stuck to this sword until it breaks, second, I am programmed to be the servant of whoever I connect with, and third, you remind me of him, too naïve to see the truth, but when he ripens, he’s a force to be reckoned with.”

I was filled with more questions thanks to my day one with Tom, as I walked to a nearby forest, as the green leaves by the top trees filled my vision, I took a deep breath of the wonderful air as I pulled a branch as it snapped, while I took the end of the branches, collecting the small red fruits, after a couple of minutes, I walked to my next destination.

“Adventurers, what are they?”

“Uh, basically we get paid when we complete quests which are posted by other people of the guild.”

“And anyone can register as one?”

“Yeah, well, some rules are implied---”

“So basically you all are paid thugs.”

I raised an eyebrow at Tom’s comment as I silently creeped behind a group of goblins, the small camp which had a hut was filled with grunts and screams for the next few minutes as I used my sword to slay the ten goblins, I pulled up a knife to cut the goblin’s ears as Tom formed himself beside me.

“Looks like you don’t have any problems killing those things..”

“Well, because they’re monsters… not humans.”

“Collecting their ears?”

“A token, for proof.”

Another stroll to a different location I took while I looked at my fourth piece of paper, I hid in the bushes as I looked at my target, a flower which was surrounded by a couple of huge bees which were the size of my hand, I waited to read their movements as I planned to grab and run, I took a sprinting stance and rushed to grab the flower.

“Your E-ranked right?”

“Yes, and my sister is C-ranked!”

I replied as I ran away from three angry insects which had their stingers aimed at me, I finally reached my final paper which had a picture of three wolves, Tom looked agitated as I entered a small cave opening, while I unsheathed my sword, I suddenly felt a headache as my vision became green, my ears rang as I clutched my head.

“So, how do you like night vision?”

“What? It’s, all green.”

“Exactly, if it’s not you’ll only see black.”

I blinked in confusion as I continued deeper down to the cave, searching for the wolves, as I found them eating what it seems to be a corpse, I almost throwed up, I gulped and prepared to strike the alpha which had some red strikes on its fur, but Tom’s voice halted me.

“Let me take care of the big one, you kill the rest.”

And before I could reply, Tom emerged from the swords end and formed some monstrous creature as he rushed to charge at the alpha, attracting the attention of the other two, I sliced one of the wolf’s neck and struck it’s chest as blood spewed out, I side steeped a jumping wolf’s jaws and countered it with a huge downwards swipe to the head, I wiped the small amounts of blood from my face as I sighed in relief, although it was short-lived as I didn’t saw one other wolf which dug it’s claws straight to my back, I gritted my teeth in pain as I turned to face the wolf which circled me, it seemed to think that I couldn’t see it, although my greenish vision made me see clearly, without colour, I prepared a stance and was about to swipe horizontal but a loud roar interrupted me as I saw the alpha charge at the other wolf, gruesomely tearing it’s flesh apart and killing it.

“Alright, mission complete.”

“Wait, Tom!?”

I exclaimed as I saw the wolf melt into the similar body form of Tom, which went back to my sword’s end, I now had even more questions, although I let it slide as I and Tom exited the cave after I skinned the wolf’s furs.

“Tom, I thought you could only connect with one thing?”

“I am connected to your sword, which is one thing, but I can also detach myself for a small period of time to copy another’s DNA, a companion you could say.”

I sighed as I entered the Adventurers guild again, with my leather bag filled with all of the items requested, just right as I walked in, I could sense the stares of many guild members on my back as I walked to the receptionist.

“Hello mister, are you here to claim your rewards?”

“Yes ma’am.”

I replied as I pulled up the leather bag and emptied it’s contents which was inspected by the woman, I got a better look at her as Tom disabled, ‘night vision’ as I blinked, I saw her brown bob-cut hair, with a unique red and white uniform, yellow eyes alongside of a quill as she recorded my loot, after she was finished I was given a sack, which was filled of silver coins.

Those are the currencies?

This is a lot you know!

I mentally screamed at Tom as I said thank you to the receptionist but a loud horn noise suddenly rang, all of the Adventurers grabbed their weapons and rushed out of the Adventurers Guild building, I and Tom was questioning what had just happened as I turned with an unknowingly gaze at the receptionist who raised an eyebrow as she seemed to notice something about me.

“Are you perhaps Alessia’s younger brother Clark?”

“Yes?”

“I’m Luciana, nice to finally meet you Clark, your sister has always spoken highly of you.”

As Luciana told stories about my sister’s adventures an that she had always talked about me during her breaks here, I looked back at the empty building and back to Luciana, Tom was spouting some weird muttering under his breath as I tried to get Luciana’s attention who looked like she was in the clouds as she continuously spoke about my sister.

“Uh, Luciana, what was that loud horn?”

“*Chuckles, is this your first official time here?”

“Kind of, yeah.”

“Well, that alarm means that a huge monster hunt is getting organised, or maybe an announcement by the aristocrats, or maybe even someone fighting to climb the ranks, there’s a lot of events that use that horn to gather all of the Adventurers.”

“But is it necessary?”

“Not really, just for those who want to see what the commotion is all about, although the guild master highly encourages for Adventurers to check it out.”

I nodded and waved goodbye to Luciana as I walked out of the door, while I looked around to see that the streets were almost deserted as I strolled down the walkway, I heard a couple of heavy footsteps as Tom finally stopped his demonic-like muttering.

Okay! We need to secure your home from any stalkers!---

Calm down Tom! It’s normal!

I tried to calm down Tom inside my head while I walked into a small alleyway as I leaned to the wall, as I counted the coins as Tom formed his body to get fresh city air as he calls it.

Clark! Boogeys on your right!

“What!?”

I was startled as I heard Tom’s shout in my head, as I looked to my right I was met with the sight of three guards as well as a boy with short and straight blonde hair which was well kept, blue cerulean eyes alongside of white metal armour plates, an orange phoenix logo on the chest piece, flames embroidered on his skirt-like bottom armour, and a rapier which blade was shaped similar to the fire’s tongue, as his serious eyes gazed upon me, my head screamed danger as I grasped my sword while Tom growled inside my mind.

Ask him about why he’s here, I think we both got ourselves in some big trouble.

“Eh, hello sir? What can I do for you?”

The rapier was pulled out and pointed at my neck, as I stammered while I stuttered back and tried to unsheathe my sword but the guards beside the knight pointed their spears at me.

“So, tell me, are you affiliated with the cult of science?”

What?