Chapter 12 Shadow
Jason
I'm not too fond of the smell of this car, leather, chemicals, and paint. The interior is completely white and spotless. Sterile. There is something unnatural about it, like sitting in a hospital room. The feeling of unease would not go away.
Grandfather sat next to me in the car without saying much. An old monster from a place that no longer exists. This one hundred and ten-year-old man could still beat the living hell of a twenty-year-old martial artist. It doesn't make any sense. His bones should be broken on contact, but that is not the case.
He is wearing the usual traditional robe from the old empire. Such a thing can only be seen in TV dramas, but what he is wearing is worth much more than some costume. A real silk robe from the old empire, something that should be in a museum, is being worn as evening wear. Historians would faint if they saw this. I am not sure he understands what he is doing.
“How is your training?” Grandfather said while looking out the window. He only spoke in the old language even though he could speak the language of these lands perfectly.
“I am using Jason at the moment, grandfather,” I answer him respectfully. “Nothing special has happened, everything is going smoothly sir.”
“Jason? It's better than the last one at least.” Grandfather smiled a bit.
The car stopped in front of a small neighborhood supermarket. A young, fat boy can be seen working behind the counter. He has an unfriendly face, and is not handsome, especially compared to me. A young girl is pushing him with her feet. What a vile girl.
“That is your assignment starting tomorrow. You will attend the same middle school class as him. Keep your eyes on him and protect him but never let yourself be known.” My first real assignment. The fat boy is being pushed by the girl while laughing. The girl got up from her seat and fell, scraping her knees quite badly. The fat boy immediately jumped up and went to her aid, running around to find a band-aid and comforting her as she cried. This is my charge?
“Grandfather………..permission to speak freely, sir” I couldn't stop myself despite my shaking voice. “Why must we do this?”
“This is our duty. We are the shadows.” Grandfather continues to look at the fat boy with kind eyes.
“Sir ………with all due respect. The old empire fell more than 80 years ago, and the old ways were destroyed much earlier than that.” Grandfather turned and looked at me for the first time since we got in the car. “They are no longer a ducal house. Our family has prospered and become successful, while they are now no different from a commoner.”
“And?” His voice did not sound angry. Perhaps curiosity.
“Why must we continue to serve them as a servant? Spending our own time, our own lives to protect and serve these people that are no different from us.” My voice rises as my emotions spill out. That was extremely disrespectful to my grandfather. I might be disciplined after this.
“Is that what you think? That we are servants? And they are no different from us?” Grandfather smiles and he looks over to the fat kid again. The fat kid is now hugging the girl and soothing her.
“........” I couldn't say anything. If I open my mouth again, something much more disrespectful would spill out.
“Jason, what have you learned?” Grandfather’s voice was stern.
“Sir, I have learned every martial art in the world, military tactics, philosophy, weapon handling, infiltration, and espionage.” All the lessons I have ever gotten flash by in my memory.
“......I am sorry you have to endure that.” Grandfather looked at me and ruffled my hair. “Do you know what the prince has learned?”
“No, sir.” What would a prince have to learn? Etiquette, politics, and other noble family weaknesses?
“Ethics.” Grandfather smiled.
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“Is that all sir? That's lackluster.” As I thought, nobles are like this.
“Eight hours of ethics lessons, every single day.” Grandfather shook his head as if it was unbelievable. “Sometimes he learns philosophy, family history, and many other things. But the majority of the time, he only studies ethics.”
“Why?” I forgot to speak politely. I couldn't understand why his education was like that.
“You should think about that on your own.” Grandfather leaned back on the car seat. He motioned for the driver to return home.
“Grandfather, why must we continue to be servants? I don't understand.” I felt so frustrated. The old empire is long gone. The ducal family itself has fallen, and yet we still must serve. Why?!
“Jason……..Do you think our family served them for a thousand years because of their influence or power? Do you think we are servants?” Grandfather showed a sad smile. “That is not what is happening.”
“THEN WHY?!” My emotions burst out.
“We are the ducal’s overseers and executioners.”
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A dream? I wonder if that old monster is still alive. Grandfather would never die from something like a flood. My head is spinning. Teleportation or whatever, it was like being a bowling ball. I can feel something hard on my back. I am lying on the floor, I think. My vision is shaking and blurry, I can't see anything. I should just close my eyes and just lay still until I feel better. After a while, I was able to reorient myself and open my eyes.
[Invasion]
You are the invader! Kill the Lucians or Players.
The more you hunt the better the reward. Player Killers will receive a mark of the murderer.
Reward: Chat Function
Murder? This game has never hidden its true color since the beginning. It's not surprising. I remember the family’s teachings. Killing chips away at a person’s soul. Murdering on this scale could drive people insane.
What is the goal of these games? It's not trying to kill us. Such powers that could change an entire world could easily wipe out humanity, instead, it is training people to fight and kill. It is purposefully changing us, shaping us into something.
My surroundings are extremely quiet. Am I inside a cave? Where did everyone else go? The prince held onto Miss Miyong when the teleportation started. I hope they are together at least. The prince specifically specializes his powers in such a way as to complement Miss Miyong’s. As long as they are together, they should be fine.
There is no light whatsoever. Luckily, darkness has become my true home. The familiar feelings of melting into the darkness. Since I was born, I have never felt this sense of safety and comfort. This power was destined for me.
Inside the shadow, I was able to see everything the shadows saw. This cave is not bigger than a one-bedroom apartment. It seems I was sent far away from other people. First I will find an elevated position and center myself. I chose to stay inside the shadow and slide out of the cave.
Various colors blind my eyes temporarily. Fields of flowers as far as my eyes could see. Thousands of colors I could not even describe. As if the creator had dropped all the colors of the world onto this field.
There was nothing in front of me except flowers and more flowers. The shadow carried me forward with lightning speed. No matter how far I went, I couldn't see anything else. I came out of the shadow to conserve my mana. The night was falling on the flower fields.
Then I saw them.
The darkness had shown me the way. A fire in the distance. A column of smoke shoots into the sky. Some type of village or city. I can see shadows moving about inside the city even from this far away.
As I move closer, realization begins to set in. What I am seeing in front of my eyes, is a city on fire. Violet liquid splattered all over the city gates, and bodies of humanoid creatures not so different from humans were scattered about, but something was off about them. The eyes are just a little too long, the mouth a little too big. They look like humans but something is just a little off, making me feel like they are ………wrong, somehow.
These are the Lucians?
I can hear the sounds of clashing steel, explosions, screaming, and crying from inside the city.
—---------------------
Violet blood covered the city, I could smell burning flesh. Players ran around reaping Lucians like a weed. Buildings all over the city are on fire. The city was built with dried flowers tied together and knitted into various shapes and materials. This place must have been extremely beautiful once upon a time, but now, it is just kindling.
The players looked wrong. As if they are in a trance, their eyes are unfocused and filled with madness. Many people are screaming, yelling, and laughing while slaughtering Lucians. The players use various skills and powers to crush the Lucians who do not have a way of fighting back. Lucian’s main weapon seems to be a type of short-hand scythe that would return to their hands if thrown. But without the power of mana, their weapons simply bounce off the players. Some players have even taken to torturing Lucians. Acts too inhumane for even me to watch. I was fortunate enough to not have experienced war in the old world. I had heard that war is hell on earth, so I had expected this after reading the mission. However, seeing small bodies tossed to the side of the road is truly hell.
I had thought of saving a few Lucians during my observations, but it's too risky. What could I do alone? This is the mission. Instead of fighting other players, which is extremely dangerous, it is better to hunt these Lucians who have no way of fighting back. If I wish to be stronger and survive, that is the smart choice. We are also victims of this game, the same as these aliens.
Boom
Massive explosions rang out from the inner part of the city. I could see dozens of players being tossed into the air. The mana surrounding their bodies could not be mistaken. Perhaps some Lucians are strong enough to put up some resistance. I had considered joining the Lucians, but first I must observe the situation.
I stayed inside the shadow while moving towards the inner part of the city. Players are crowding in front of a giant mana-reinforced barricade, this is what stopped them from advancing. I could feel familiar mana from here.
“Hey, Jason! Get inside!” A voice rang out in my head. Mali’s Echo. They all might be here. I did not have to wait long for the confirmation. In front of the barricade, three people stood tall in the face of hundreds of players, like some warriors from a fairy tale.
“Hey! you fucking genocidal fucks. Come on!” A young girl so valiant that she put all in front of her to shame. Miss Miyong stood in front of the barricade while motioning the players to come forward. Dozens of badly injured players scattered about on the ground around her. The player armies looked at each other and did not advance.