The image that you would conjure when one imagine a village was a rural quietness. A serene hamlet while free of the stress of busy lifestyle was still filled with hard work just to simply get by day by day. A tight-knit community, an early start and end to the day, children playing in the fields. The village of Ohm felt robbed of those characteristics. Yearning faces, tired eyes. A yearning for a better tomorrow, a yearning for their children who were taken away from them, a yearning for a future free of invaders.

Manusya was well familiar with the last part. Happiness was a fleeting illusion in the face of extinction. When not in training for the project, Manusya spent his time being a filmmaker, recording documentaries of the lives of those last humans. They thought it was laughable, offensive even. To face annihilation and to greet it with art and memory were insults, many people have said to Manusya. But he thought otherwise, the act of leaving one's legacy before death was the most profound thing one could do. There was no shame in being forgotten, but it would be a disgrace to forget someone completely. Manusya was right, in a sense. All those humans he knew were gone, and records of their entire existence did not only exist in the ship's logs, but also in the recordings and films that Manusya made.

The people of Ohm and by extension, the Osma reaches were at risk of being forgotten. Of being erased. One would not need to be wiped off to disappear. When the Hydarians or any other foreign imperial powers settle on these lands and call it theirs, when the remaining Osmanians were driven away and forced to live in designated settlements, forget their culture and language and assimilate to the greater society, they would be destined to have the horrible fate as being keepers of an endangered existence. There would be shame, tears, and mourning of lives lost and an image of what could have been.

Manusya wanted to help, he was here to help. It was his role as steward, to slowly unify humanity and when they were ready, teach them of the greater threat beyond the stars. He genuinely wanted to be of service to these people he just met, for they were humans in need of help. He did not want to save them, it would be a disgrace to remove the agency of these people and claim to be their savior. He wanted to help them to the point where they could save themselves. Admittedly, his help would probably gain them a great advantage, but he wanted them to believe that they struggled, that they fought and won and they should be proud and held their head high.

He did not now if these people will live on, nor if they could drive away the Hydarians. Thus, the only thing he could do now was to remember them. Manusya had sent a small surveillance drone in stealth mode following behind him and his escorts. The drone was to film their trip as an invisible cameraman from a distance. Whatever happened in the future, these footage will serve as reminders of this time period.

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Manusya rubbed his chin in deep thought. He sat on a bench fashioned from the stump of a fallen tree.

A voice interrupted him. "What did you think of our village, Aksha?" It was Ahmi, the bald hunter of Ohm. He looked at Manusya nervously, fearful that the legendary Aksha was disappointed. Numa translated Ahmi's question to Manusya.

"It's wonderful. I love your culture and way of life." Manusya replied, smiling. It was quickly interpreted by Numa. "But I cannot ignore the look in people's faces. I see that you are suffering."

"That's..." Ahmi was taken aback by the reply.

"We are, Aksha." Evui interjected. "But I cannot only blame the Hydarians when they were simply sent by their nation here. They are only following orders. And the Elders and Druids have not made out lives any easier..." she said.

"Watch your tongue!" Ahmi snapped at her.

"I don't agree, Sister." Numa said, gritting his teeth. "The Hydarians have certainly made us suffer. But I understand where you are coming from. Sometimes I wonder if all of my friends who were taken by them are living more comfortable lives than this. A life of hunting and gathering, what if there would be more we could do?" he said.

"This is the lives of our ancestors! the Seven Gods have blessed us with life and an abundant environment and you show heretical displeasure and ungratefulness to life!?" Ahmi barked back.

"But we can't even fight back! are we destined to just live this life as mere slaves?" Evui said.

"Enough!" Manusya said in Osmanian. "Please. No fighting." he said in simple terms.

25% language acquisition. Manusya said in his mind while looking at his AR interface. Going around the village and hearing these three argue are unexpected boons to my learning.

He had indeed learn the various situations of the Ohm village, from their food, health, supplies, defense, education level and so on.

Indeed a tribal society. Being tribal does not mean these people are dumb, just hearing them you would know they are as insightful as any modern human. They simply lack the knowledge to advance further. He thought. There is one thing I need to check that may at least break this foul mood.

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Manusya stood up from his tree stump bench. He pointed his hand at Ahmi.

"Me, you, fight." Manusya said in broken Osmanian.

"W-what?" Ahmi replied in surprise.

"Fight." Manusya punched both of his fists together.

"I would not dare!"

"Spar. Me test strength of Ohm." Manusya started walking to an open area.

"Do as the Aksha says." Evui said. "Perhaps he wants to see how strong we are. You would do well to uphold our honour."

Ahmi's eyes were full of fear but he nodded. "If you wish, Aksha." he made his way in front of Manusya.

Manusya took off his light exosuit until he was only wearing a military tanktop to match Ahmi. He held no weapons. Ahmi followed suit by removing his daggers and bows. They were not far from the village, and some people and hunters alike started to gather to watch. None of these people knew he was the Aksha yet. The elders have not made an announcement. But since Manusya exited the Great Hut, they knew he was a guest.

"Ahmi! teach him a lesson!" A hunter shouted.

"Show him the power of the Ohm!" a villager said.

Ahmi was not encouraged hearing those words. He wanted to smack them for being disrespectful to the Aksha, but he could only grit his teeth and readied his stance. But in his mind, he knew he must not hold back and display his full powers, for the sake of the Ohm and also to show the Aksha. He was one of the most proficient fighters in Ohm.

I've fought the strongest combatants in history in virtual reality. Let's see if it translates to real life. Manusya thought, remembering his time in between cryosleeps. After countless spars and training, Manusya had settled on what he thought were the most practical of fighting styles: Close-quarters combat (CQC) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). His stance was closed and hunched, contrary to Ahmi's imposing open stance.

"I'll be the referee!" Numa said. "Ready?"

Manusya and Ahmi nodded.

"Fight!"

Ahmi charged forward and swung wide. Manusya dodged but Ahmi kept delivering a barrage of punches. One by one, Manusya redirected the punch's energy to the side. Ahmi noticed his punches were being avoided and performed a low kick to throw Manusya off balance. Manusya caught it and performed a spinning elbow punch, before grabbing Ahmi and throwing him into the ground in a Judo-like manoeuvre.

"Wow!" a spectator exclaimed.

"He's good."

Ahmi dusted himself off and prepared to charge again. It all ended the same way. Every attach that Ahmi perform were either dodged or parried smoothly by Manusya. The Aksha stole some punches on Ahmi's ribs and threw him into the ground multiple times.

"Urgh!" Ahmi said in pain. "Aksha, can I have your permission to use Aether?" he said. Numa translated this.

"Aether?" Manusya replied puzzlingly. Could he use magic? I want to see! he thought. Manusya nodded to Ahmi.

"By your will, Aksha. I will show you my full power. If you are not going to fight with an aura, then please grab some sort of weapon so it would be a fair fight." Ahmi said. He closed his eyes and started focusing.

Manusya shrugged his shoulder as he was not aware of the process. However, he took his advice seriously and grabbed a weapon: a power glove that would increase his punch and grip strength.

I will be a little more serious as well. Manusya remarked in his mind.

"Ready?" Numa said as he saw the two fighters nodding. "Fight!"

Ahmi did not attack first this time. One could see an aura of blue energy surrounding his entire body.

That's Aether! Manusya thought. I suppose I should see it for myself.

Manusya charged forward and attempted to deliver a flurry of strikes. Ahmi, however, simply raised both of his arms in front of him to take the hits. Even with the power gloves, Manusya could not break through that defense, although it was powerful enough to push Ahmi back.

"That is quite the weapon, Aksha." Ahmi said as he felt the punches of the power gloves.

Without another word, Ahmi started his flurry of punches. Manusya attempted to parry him like before but he noticed that the punches were not only stronger—they were faster. He could parry some of them, but his body was not simply fast enough to interact with all of the punches. Thus, Manusya took the full brunt of the damage.

This is insane! I can genuinely die if I do not defend myself! Manusya marveled at the power of this Aether-induced fighting. Manusya noticed that Ahmi lacked polish and proper technique, and perhaps these men of the wilderness only knew how to fight instinctually. But such powers made up for the rough skills.

Manusya was starting to feel worn out, he felt his danger sense tingling.

I have to end this now somehow! Manusya thought. But I won't accept defeat either. Then let's try this.

During one of the punches, Manusya jumped into the air and wrapped his legs around Ahmi's neck. He twisted his body to throw him into the ground. After Ahmi hit the ground, Manusya proceeded to lock Ahmi's neck in a chokehold with his legs while locking one of his arms. Ahmi tried to break free, and he could have, if not for the fact that Manusya used the power gloves to aid his lock.

"Surrender!" Manusya said in Osmanian.

After a few dozen seconds of struggling, Ahmi tapped Manusya's legs as a sign of submission. However, Ahmi quickly lost his consciousness before Manusya could let go of his chokehold.

"Oh," Manusya said as he was getting up. "I hope I didn't kill him."

A roar. It was the crowd cheering for him. They were not angry at one of their own losing, but rather delighted to see such a strong warrior in their midst.

Manusya smiled. It was a warm feeling. He had never felt such approval from other people before. Some loving individuals raised him back in the Ark, but many of the people he met were cold and distant. Any accomplishments that he had met were simply remarked as being beneficial for the future of humanity, nothing else, with no regard for the individual. This was...different to him.

He saw the sunset as the people were cheering him on. The golden hue that melts the skyline, the touch of Midas that enveloped everything. The father of all life was now retreating to the darkness, the time of rest had begun. It was beautiful, it was his first time seeing a true sunset on a planet. Manusya could not help but tear up at the sight, it was a poignant emotion that was entirely new to him.

So this is a sunset. Manusya thought. May I live to see ten thousand more.