I feel light.
Muscles and fat come in hand with being an orc. It always feels heavy to rise from a sleep, good or terrible. Therefore, I was surprise at how easy I was able to lift myself up. I don't feel bound to the floor like usually.
Blinking my eyes, I let them adjust to my surroundings. Pillars, some broken, and torches on the wall, burning their last moment to illuminate this gloomy room. I'm still in the room where I was held captive but I'm no longer a captive. All I can see around me are dead goblins.
Strange, I don't see the three distinct goblin variants. What happened to them?
[How are you feeling?] I am asked.
It came from within my head but I knew from who the voice is carried from. Looking to my side, I find master, catching his breath, sitting in front of a pillar with eyes that one would mistake for a corpse’s. He is in a state where exhausted would even be a mild word for description. His skin is drained of its color. In all honesty, he does look like a corpse.
At then, I knew what happened to the three variant goblins. My eyes dropped to master's stomach. No bulge. I wonder where master store the substances he consumes.
[Well, I doubt you would be any worse than me.] Master said with a wry smile.
That line with his deathly appearance, a bad omen looms over me. Worryingly, I asked. [What happened?]
[I brought you back from the dead, literally. I did that by offering a fragment of my life essence. Giving you my powers is no small matter. It literally took a lot out of me.] The words barely came out clear from master’s mouth but his mouth wasn’t moving.
[How are yo.... No. How are we dong this?]
[Talking without moving our mouths?]
[Yes.]
Master gaze up at the ceiling and hums. One of the weird things he does when he ponders about stuffs. [Telepathy.]
[Telepathy? But how?] Master's unusually reserve with his words. Probably because of how tired he looks.
Master sighs again and stands up. His knees are shaking as he does so but he did manage to stand upright on his feet. When I look at his ghostly pale complexion and dead eyes, I’m impressed that master managed to even move.
Master extends his hand [Come on. I’ll explain everything as we walk back.]
[You sure about that?] asked a voice. [You could barely stand.]
The voice is master's but I can tell it is not master's. After rummaging through my memories, I eventually recall the amicable voice that I got acquainted with during the drift in my dreams.
[The Overseer?] I asked.
Somehow, I feel the Overseer nodded at my question.
[I’ll be fine. Tom’s lighter now. He’s not an orc anymore.]
I am not an orc anymore?
Wait. Why am I surprised about it? Before I woke up, I did receive a line of words that informed me of my evolution. How did I forget that?
Upon recalling those words that regards my evolution, I sprang up. I bring my hands before my eyes, thoroughly looking at every inch and corners.
My skin are not of the typical pale green or dirt brown of an orc but the tan skin of a human’s. My fingers are slender compare to the usual fat stumps. My nails are long but they are fine and smooth. Tracing from the palm down to the whole arms, meaningful and intricate tattoos are joint together. The tattoos are Helix characters but glamorized.
The words on my left arm reads;
The long awaited dawn, a world where home will be, a blind miracle.
While my right reads;
The devils we will be to turn such unfounded hope into reality. A debt is due.
I can't think of a reason as to why such words are imprinted on me but I figure it's just another odd chant or incantation that plays an aesthetic purpose. From the books I have read about Helix, they were pretty poetic, in their own way.
I move my palm smoothly over my head. I don't feel the even and rough surface but a smooth and bushy sensation brushes through my fingers. I’m feeling hair on my head. I have hair now. They are black and they reach my neck with a few strands dangling in my view.
Shocked, surprised, astonished, amazed, I knew not of which I’m feeling. All I know is that I’m not believing the whole situation. I did received a message of me evolving into an Oni but I didn’t truly believe those words.
But not doubt about it now, I am an Oni.
When I look back up at master, he nodded with an empathetic smile. [Yeah. That happened.]
[But how did I....?]
[It is a combination effort of master and I. It was an unforeseen circumstance that you met the prerequisites for an Oni’s evolution by acquiring two Arcane Arts and reaching a certain level of power. Master has given you a portion of his strength, his essence. Thus, a special bond is formed between the two of you.]
Master puts on a very uneasy face. "Phrasing." Master uttered in a low voice.
Because of master, I am alive and I have evolved.
[With such evolution, I don’t think Tom would need any help on getting back on his feet now, would he, master?]
When master heard Kai’s words, he finally retracted his hand. [I guess not.]
In addition to my great change in physical appearance, I have begun to see things. Glowing blue hues are flowing everywhere in the room. I sense power from these flows. What's all these lights?
[These are Mana flows. You now have the means to perceive Mana, just like Master. Master calls it, "Mana Vision".] Kai answers my question that I have yet to ask.
While everywhere I look has only a vibrant blue but Master has a dark purplish radiant shine to him. It felt oppressing but reassuring at the same time. I thought my aura would be of the same color with master but mine is just the vibrant blue I see everywhere.
It is a little disconcerting with this vision but I'm told that I could control the invocation. At the moment, I'm still struggling but since Mana vision would help a lot in perceptions, I will do my best in mastering this new ability of mine, given to me by my generous master.
After calming down from the fact that I'm now an Oni, I said my thanks that I can't bring out into words in my heart.
With light ease, I got to my feet. A strange feeling. Being a meek goblin and a stout orc, every movement is tedious to make. Now, I am an Oni. Things are completely different. I feel like I can fly if I was anymore relax.
There is one thing I'm still troubled with.
[Why did you speak with a brick tone at times?]
[Me? I did?] Kai asked back.
[When you told me about those..... things... information.]
Master raised an eyebrow as he hammers his palm. [Oh.] Master said. [That is not Kai. That is the system message.]
[System? What system?]
[Well....] Master lets out a huge breath that he seems to have kept it in all along. [We can talk about that while we walk back. I do not wish to be in this place any longer than necessary.] A sullen face patches on master.
Master's demeanor changed suddenly. I thought he look sad but that doesn't seem to be case. I have saw master's sorrow before and it looked nothing like the face he's making now. He seems to be looking at something.
I trace master's line of sight and find him staring at an empty corner but now I'm an Oni, I see more than just the superficial aspects. Faint traces of cyan aura lingers at where master is staring at. I also see pale charred marks on the floor.
The sign of something being reduced to nothing by [Spirit Fire]. Master only uses it to send a soul off. Without needing an answer from master, I pray to the departed human alchemist in my heart.
I look back at master.
He's not as saddened as he was when he lost Muo Li and Clammis but instead, he looks particularly disappointed.
[That's because master is disappointed. At himself.] Kai told me.
[Himself? Why?]
[Despite how strong he becomes and how he as vowed to not let anyone else die, he still failed to save a..... friend.]
I see. Master is that kind of person after all. He judged himself too harshly.
Quietly, master walked to when he sent Lubac off. Without a sound, he kneels in front the hollow remnant of the human.
Master's lips are trembling. His mouth is opening and closing, a sure sign of indecisiveness in finding the right words. I have my shares of this sort of trouble after all, so I would know the signs.
I want to console master right now but I'm not going to. Now that I have an uncanny link with master, I can also discern master's feeling and emotion. What he needs now is not consolation but reproof and reproach. He wants to be blamed.
But I can't do that. Not after all master has done for me.
It wasn't like I can't relate to master. Master has failed many of his endeavors but none of those times was he blamed or reprimanded for it. Master is just like me. As a goblin, I had also wished to be punished for all the foul deeds I committed but no one would deliver it. For most, it isn't such a bad thing to be able to get away with every misdeeds but master and I are not those kind of people.
I'm sorry, master. I can't grant your wish that only seeks to destroy yourself.
Master's face twitch when I have such thoughts.
I don't know if my feelings were transmitted but if it did, master didn't show.
"I never liked you anyway." said master, to whatever is left of Lubac. "A pompous prick, you are. A bona fide racist bastard. No matter how many times it was proven to you that there are good goblins out there, you're still.... such an asshole to them...."
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I am somehow able to understand what "bona fide" meant. No doubt it's because some of master's knowledge is also passed on to me.
"You never trusted us. You don't even eat what little Tom has to offer. You're just a plain obnoxious fellow...." master continued. His fist clenched so tightly that he had hurt himself but I didn't said anything. I can read the mood. "But.... you helped us. Without you, things would have went to the furthest south more than once. You weren't a nice person but you were quite competent. So.... I guess a thank you is in order...." Master sniffed and a laughter was held back.
Master paused. He took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm sorry.... I'm sorry I didn't manage to save you. You must be disappointed but.... I hope at your last breath.... at least.... you let go of your hatred for goblins.... well, I'm not asking for all of it but at least.... you could forgive Tom, Alabaster, Bartholomew, Cormac, and Daedrich. And.... if it's not too much to ask.... well, this might just be the easiest thing for you to do...."
Master took another deep breath before resuming his words. "Don't forgive me. I know Tom will. The four also will. And I can't live like that. I can't live knowing that nobody will ever blame me for my wrongdoings and failures. So please, don't forgive me."
After those words, master stood up. Glancing over his shoulder with solemn eyes, he said "Come on. Let's go."
Master didn't come to terms with his imperfection but he did find a compromise.
It's not what I hope for master but this will do. Healing takes time after all.
Satisfied with master's newfound resolution, I follow him out of the lair that master then destroys with his [Spatial Magic].
Hmm?
These words appeared beside master when he cast the [Spatial Magic];
[Spatial Magic: Fracture]
I wonder why.
A long and curved yellow fruit, Banana.
A round and red fruit, Apple.
A big and round shape with black and green stripes, Watermelon.
Master and I are currently passing through the forest. Master is gathering every fruit within his reach as we walk. I knew not of what these fruits are. The names just appear out of no where beside this fruits. Some additional information are written just below the names. They are description of these fruits.
Not just fruits but almost everything. The pebbles on our path, the little seedlings by the road, the twigs caught in the bushes, the small bugs going about with their own lives, I can see all of their names and what they are from the description words.
And this strange phenomenon happens to master too. I can see not just his name but everything about him.
It seems I have gained one of the infamous Arcane Art sought after by many, [Appraisal].
Name: Hyx Atlas
Gender: Male
Age: 15
Race: Violet Tail (Magic Beast)
Status: Anguished
Standing: Commoner (Exiled)
Job: None
Class: Battle Mage
Titles:
-Unparalleled Evolver
-Monster Slayer
-Pain Monger
-Kin Eater
-Ascended Being
-Goblin Butcher
Arcane Arts
Spirit Magic - Lv. 3
Spatial Magic - Lv. 6
Awakening (Legacy) - Lv. 3
Lightning Serration (Legacy) - Lv. 2
Mana Overseer (Unique) - Lv. 6
Soul Harvest (Unique) - Lv. 2
Void Exalted (Unique) - Lv.-
HP : 1500/1500
MP: 2100/2100
Overall Power Ranking : C+
Effective Combat Power: 2600
- Attack: 500
- Defense: 200
- Magic: 800
- Resistance: 300
- Speed: 800
I always know master is strong but seeing a list of reasons of what make him a monstrous being is entirely something else.
Like I thought, master indeed isn't a human but a magic beast but master was really stubborn about remaining humane albeit being a beast. I wonder why.
[Master is once a human but under some unknown circumstances that we have yet to discern, master has became a magic beast.] Kai explains. [Hmm. This is flaw that I have failed to notice. For master's information to be so easily revealed to anyone with an appraisal ability. I should come up with a countermeasure for this.]
I don't know if I should tell master this but I find Kai reading every line of my thoughts is a little bit too discomforting.
[If it bothers you, I will make adjustments on my range and depth of analysis.]
Huh? I don't quite understand what Kai just said.
[I will only read your thoughts if you have given me your permission, from now on that is.]
In addition to being aware, Kai is also quite courteous. I wish master will learn from him.
My danger perception reacted to something. I raised my head which I have been looking down at the road to test my new [Appraisal] skill, I found an apple coming straight at me. Thanks to my evolved senses, I caught the apple. My hand hurts from catching the apple.
Master have threw that apple, at me. With a smile, he said "Try not to lag behind, capish~?" Master's eyes aren't smiling. Terrifying.
Did master read my thoughts too?
"I wonder." Master said.
Yeap. He did. Sorry master, won't happen again.
[You need to learn how to prevent your thoughts from leaking out. Master and I might have refrain ourselves from intruding your personal space but without control on your part, your thought will leak to us if you aren't careful.]
So that's how it is. Yikes, this is hard. Master is going to know every last bit of my secrets if I'm not careful.
But there is something off about master's Arcane Arts' list. I'm not sure what exactly is wrong but.... no. Is more like something is missing from that list.
[Abyss Magic.]
Yes! That's it! Master should have [Abyss Magic] but there's no such magic among the list. Why?
.... No. It can't be.
"It is. I no longer have [Abyss Magic]. I gave it to you. I thought you already knew." Master dispel my confusion without glancing back while gathering more food on a wrapping leaf. The same type we put master on and dragged him to the red building. I wonder if master knows that.
"I thought you just gave a portion. Not completely." I asked. My voice has changed but the situation wasn't suitable for me to point it out.
[Master gave a portion of his power. That portion is his [Abyss Magic] and [Crimson Lord] Arcane Arts. A sacrifice. Giving you fragments of an Arcane Art just won't suffice in your resurrection.]
"[Crimson Lord]?"
When I asked, answers came but not from Kai or master.
Crimson Lord (Legacy)
Allows the user to become one with flames and able to utilize every possible fire magic. Grants fire immunity to the user. Title:
I see. Master has absorbed the Red Ogre's essence.
It took two Arcane Arts to revive me. Master sacrificed a great portion of his strength to revive me. Do I deserve this much?
[If we have waited any longer, the cost might have been more than just a normal and a legacy Arcane Art. Still, it is a miracle that we get to revive you.]
Now that I think about it, wasn't master completely out of breath just a few moments ago? Master recovers fast.
"Don't be mistaken, Thomas Atlas. I didn't revive you out of the kindness of my heart. You have proven yourself to be quite competent. I expect you to repay me, someday, gradually."
Thomas Atlas? Oh, that's right, master has given me a new name, a real name.
I'm Thomas Atlas from now on. Atlas.... I'm master's kin, that means....
As those thoughts wanders through my head, a wall of text appears before me.
Name: Thomas Atlas
Gender: Male
Age: 14
Race: Oni
Status: None (Alive)
Standing: Servant
Job: None
Class: Battle Mage
Titles:
-Novel Goblin
-Revenant
-Hyx's Familiar
-Immortal
Arcane Arts
Fire Magic - Lv. 3
Wind Magic - Lv. 2
Earth Magic - Lv. 2
Water Magic - Lv. 1
Lightning Magic - Lv. 1
Blaze of the Depths (Unique) - Lv. 4
HP : 700/700
MP: 1700/1700
Overall Power Ranking : D
Effective Combat Power: 800
- Attack: 100
- Defense: 50
- Magic: 300
- Resistance: 200
- Speed: 150
Ah.... What....? How did I.....? It's this.... mine?
"Master! Are you seeing this?"
"Yeah. I already did." Master replied, still plucking every fruits he came by. "Appraising you is the first thing I did when I revived you. I was shocked but considering you absorbed some of my essence, it shouldn't be that big of a surprise."
[The big surprises are your Mana pool and your ECP.]
My Mana.... is over a thousand. I'm not good with numbers and I never have anyone else I can compare my magic with, so I wouldn't know the significance.
[For a D rank, your Mana amounts to a C rank. And you possess ECP.]
ECP?
[Effective Combat Power. It is use to measure one's combat strength. Only sapient.... Sagax races have those. It is like the amount of experience you have in combat. For some reason, monster doesn't have this. If you have this, it can only mean that the system have acknowledged you as one of the Sagax.]
There is that word again. System?
System
The organized principles and procedures which dictates the flow and structuring of Mana. Mana which are utilized into a profound form for conventional usage is called, Arcane Art. Existed since 1.5 Billions years ago. Created by: *UNKNOWN*
Due to the shared mind of me and master, I am able to understand what the text implies. So the Arcane Arts existed for such a long time. But... unknown? Why is it unknown?
"Don't know. Another mystery for another time. For now, let's head back."
"Right." I answered.
When master's hands are full, he asked me to help with the fruits.
Of course, I happily obliged.
By the time we got back to the red building, we saw a huge crack and dent on the wooden door. I noticed master snickered but he recompose himself immediately. I doubt I would have seen master's sudden shift in his reaction if I was still an orc. Since the door was bulged, master has to put some force into opening it.
As soon as the door is opened, someone dove into master. I thought master would have reacted in time but master's mind was elsewhere at the moment and he was carrying fruits. So master ended up crashing into the floor along with the one who dove into him. The food wrapped in a large leaf is scattered all over the ground.
The one who pulled off such stunt is none other than the eccentric child-like Wisp in a form of a little girl. When she realized what she done, she bounced off of master and crawled a few meters away. I know why she scampered away in a hurry. Master was unleashing a murderous aura while staring at Nilin with a smile.
Shortly after, Bartholomew and Cormac came out. They look weary and bushed. Are those bags under their eyes? When they saw me, their tired eyes widened.
"Tommy?"
"Eeeh? Tommy?"
I nodded at their words. Smiles that I have never seen before lit up on their face. They ran into me and give me a hug. I can't remember the last time they hugged me. Wait. They never did. Did they really thought I was gone and now they are so happy that I'm alive?
Huh? This is odd. Their head almost reach my shoulders. Did they grew taller?
[No. You got shorter.]
Oh. So that's how it is. I was six feet when I was an orc but now, I'm only a little bit taller than master. My physical strength have fell drastically but my magic ability have increased tremendously.
Looks like they recognized me. Master told me my appearance has changed a great deal but I didn't think my height changed too. Apparently, I look like master but ten years older. Master's age is fifteen, so I look like a twenty-five years old master. Goblins do have short lives after all and we mature a lot faster. But now I'm an Oni. I guess fourteen years old in goblins years is twenty five in human years?
And what's more....
Bartholomew and Cormac? Huh?
How? I can pronounce their names properly now. I can't even do that when I was reciting in my head but now I can. Wow. Evolution is really a significant occurrence.
"This is just the worst~......" I heard Nilin grumbled such. She looks like she's about to cry. Her knuckles are bright red and there is a large bump on her forehead. She looks really pitiful in her current state. I even felt like comforting her but I don't want to arouse her volatile ego. She might get high again from being stroke. As how master would describe her.
Master sighs. He got up, recollect all the fruits and headed into the building without even so much as a glance at Nilin after that. After dropping the fruits inside the building, he peek his head back out. "You're free to go. I can take it from here." said master as he disappears into building, leaving the Wisp agape with her eyes and mouth, dumbfounded.
How strange. Master would often say some words that reprimands or insults the offender but he lets it go. How unlike master.
[It is a delicate moment for master.] Kai said.
Why?
[Absorbing the essence of others do come with a price.]
Absorbing the essence of others? You mean how master ate the flesh and souls of his enemies?
[Yes. He gains their memory from eating them. Their personality and character assimilates into him. The more master eats, the less he would become of himself.]
That's.... a very sever of a price to pay.
[It is. Master is now sorting his memories. I would have done it for him but he insist on taking care of this himself. He's afraid of getting drunk with power.]
Afraid being strong.... This is the first time I have heard of such thing. All the members of my former tribe, the only things they talk about are either females or getting stronger through any means. I doubt fear even cross their minds when they thought of getting stronger.
[Master knew the risk but he took it. Not for getting stronger but to save you.]
.... Looks like master have sacrificed more than I thought to save me..... Am I worth all that?
[No.] Kai bluntly told me. [But you have the chance to prove that you are.]
Kai's right. I have to work hard to prove that master's sacrifice did not go in vain.
Alright, from now on, I will train my hardest to repay master.
World's strongest Oni, here I come.
"Mou~! Why do I have to be chosen to guide these ungrateful mortals~? I can't go back without accomplishing my task. I will be laughed at." cried the Wisp. "Maybe it's because I lack the charms of a girl. But why do I care~? Mou~! I'm a Spirit of Nature. Such thing should not have matter."
Right.... First, I have to deal with this incomprehensible girl first.
I shouldn't let master be troubled by such trifling matters now. Master needs rest. I don't have any experience with comforting people but in order to repay master, I will do anything that I can. Starting from this.
I approach the Wisp and pats her head.
She looks up at me. She looks confused at my actions.
"Look. We're sorry, okay?" I told her, gently. "It is a difficult time but right now, master is in mourning. We have just lost a friend. I know you have a job to do but do you think you can forgive our impudence for now? So please understand. We will surely repay you for your troubles, okay? A cute girl like you shouldn't show such behavior after all. I'm sure your charms would not loose to anyone if you don't show such composure."
That is the truth. I do think she is a very pretty girl but she is a little bit annoying with her personality. Let's hope this would calm her down.
"Unfair...."
Huh? Unfair?
"To say such a thing when a maiden is at her worst, unfair."
What's so unfair?
[Title:
Huh? What?