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Avrin had decided to rest. He could not be bothered in creating a tent and decided to just use the large carry sack as a pillow. He felt no need to be cautious around Asura, in fact it seemed Asura had more or less put the past behind him due to the potential rewards he could reap.
Asura was currently gazing over the horizon, the dark night sky showering the world of Seleria with the light of the stars. The air so fresh it would be something even the top diplomats of Avrin’s universe would crave.
The sound familiar to a sort of cricket as well as other insects and birds putting their young to rest, not excluding the animals and creatures doing the same to their own kin.
Asura’s intention was to keep on guard. He felt that his master was in quite a rush to leave the swamplands, and after he felt that large mana surge he knew his master had made someone angry. So Asura was more so nervous rather than cautious.
Avrin quietly fell into a sleep, but his dream was more or less something he found unwelcoming. An image of Syrana’s dismembered body crushed against the wall with blood dripping down her face. And Ayame under a light foot, being crushed under Lang’s weight as it roared in anger.
Avrin had started to feel regret towards his actions in his sleep. When Ayame had suddenly been crushed by Lang, letting out a scream of agony, he woke up panting heavily. He had only slept for 20 minutes before waking up again. He clenched his teeth and gazed at the ground, his heart beating quickly.
Asura turned to gaze at Avrin and spoke “Master, what's wrong?” Avrin sighed as he rubbed his face “Something is wrong with me...I feel the need to follow what I believe is best for myself...Yet I feel like I'm showing little care to those around me..” Indeed, Avrin’s personality had just done a 360 from his revenge filled self to a regretful mindset.
Avrin wondered why his mind was becoming crazy with different personalities. Surely it had nothing to do with any mental issue. That was when he realised something, his eyes opened as he remembered.
“Yes that’s right...He said I could control my emotions. Could it be something to do with that...Am I subconsciously blocking things out while other emotions surface for my self preservation.”
Avrin, being as perceptive as he is, which also served as a trait which allowed him to become a general, had hit the nail on the head.
His body had indeed blocked out emotions that it felt were of no use to him in his attempt to achieve what he wanted. It merely allowed the more beneficial emotions to surface and allow him to happily get the 3 of them in his trap and leave without issue.
It also showed that he had little thought of returning to the estate, but that was also an issue in general. He took in a deep sigh and then let the breathe slowly leave his lungs.
“This may cause problems if I let my emotions continue to run rampant...Just when I thought I had them in check, they went haywire without me realising it.”
Avrin had felt like an amaetur. He had trained for several years and felt he had made progress, but a martial artist also relied on emotions to keep their mind in check. Avrin might as well be an expert with a temper problem, which would indeed affect his combat ability.
“Asura, I'm going to meditate for a bit. If anything happens let me know.” Asura only nodded before continuing to gaze off into the distance. They were currently in a densely packed forest area with little clearings. It seemed the Elven continent was indeed an abundant source of nature with forests being common sight.
As Avrin had found a small clearing about the size of an average room, he sat down, crossing his legs before placing his hands on his lap, shutting his eyes as he began to enter a Pulsing Dragon.
Blocking everything out, his mind seemed to relax his body and calm his nerves before it drifted away, as if his body was still on Seleria but his mind was floating in space.
As he entered the Pulsing Dragon, just like what had occurred inside the home in the orcish settlement, his body emitted a faint pulse which went for several meters and began to coat surrounding objects with dark matter, which seemed to nullify their gravity.
Asura’s ears perked slightly as he was able to feel the dark matter Avrin emitted. A trait he had learnt ever since becoming like this. But he paid no mind to it only spoke praise of Avrin. “Master sure is strong..No wonder he beat me..”
Asura was not the only thing to pay attention to Avrin. The Sky Metal had finally managed to burn the last of the vines surrounding it in silence. Avrin hadn't realised it due to his worry, and Asura had figured it was a small animal nearby, but he cared not to hunt as he was full and also went by Avrin’s words to not hunt if he didn't need to.
The Sky Metal seemed to slowly melt into a liquid like goo before it made its way towards Avrin. It was also then that Asuras ears perked up and he turned around only to see the metal was now gone from its position. He growled quietly as he stood up and began to look around, using an augmented eye of his own.
His eyes both widened as he spotted the metal emitting a black and red metallic mana as it headed towards Avrin. Asura rushed towards it, but the metal had reached Avrin from behind.
At that moment, Avrin had felt its presence due to it being so close. He quickly opened his eyes only to then dodge as the metal pounced towards his meditative location before slowly bubbling up and reforming.
“What sort of metal is this...It’s a lifeform…” Avrin spoke out to which Asura made its way into the clearing. Avrin clicked his tongue. “Asura, didn’t I tell you to keep a look out.” Asura gave a soft hmph. “Master, I thought it was a small animal…”
Avrin sighed before nodding. “Don’t destroy it. I need it intact. In fact just stay where you are and let me handle this.” Avrin gazed at the metal which seemed to stand a meter tall with a base that seemed like a slug.
“Sorry, but I’m not your meal. Or whatever it is you’re after. In fact, I’m going to show you that you’re now mine.” Avrin mocked, to which he rushed towards the metal and emitted a nebula mist around it as if to construct a prison.
But something unexpected happened. The metal seemed to absorb the nebula mist and its color went from black and red to purple and a sort of crimson red. “Not good..” Avrin realised. But the goo like metal then shot a spike like tendril which pierced Avrin’s leg.
The speed was incredibly fast and surprised him. The pain surged in his leg as blue blood began to seep out from the wound. But that wasn’t the worst.
Avrin felt as if the metal itself was absorbing his energy. Avrin feeling his strength leave slightly. Asura knew something was wrong and defied his orders jumping towards the metal and slashing against it, but the metal seeming to have gotten bigger due to it slowly absorbing Avrin’s energy only caught the creature in a vice like appendage and threw him towards a tree that then collapsed at the force of him hitting it.
Avrin tried to remove the tendril like appendage, but it had pierced through the ground and didn’t seem to budge. “Not...good...I guess the only way to do this is to beat you at your own game…” Avrin, feeling as if the particles making up his body were quivering, had raised his hand and began to absorb the metal.
It was now a game of who could eat the other quicker, and Avrin seemed to be winning. He felt his strength recover as the metal began to shudder into pieces. That turned into dust which inturn turned into a blackish energy that Avrin absorbed. It seemed to screech quietly.
The Sky Metal had retracted its appendage and in one moment, created a large spiral like spike that pierced towards Avrin’s chest like a bolt of lightning. And it had caught Avrin off guard while he focused on absorbing it. The metal had used its remaining energy to pierce into his chest and straight into the dark matter heart.
The only expected result that followed, was an intense pain from having his chest pierced. But as soon as the spike touched the dark matter heart, the heart itself emitted a pulse that coated across the metal and in a near instant had absorbed it, or more so slurped it up.
Stolen story; please report.
The Sky Metal liquified and hovered for only a moment before it was sucked forcefully into the wound in his chest and devoured by the dark matter heart/the core. At which moment a surge of energy rushed across Avrin’s body, his wounds steaming before vanishing. A terrible pain sweeping across his skin and his organs.
The very fabric of his being felt like he was being torn apart. It was a similar feeling to de-particlisation. He fell to his knees wailing in agony as Asura rubbed its head after recovering. It discovered Avrin’s position and rushed towards him as it spoke “Master, what’s wrong?!!”
“AHHHH!!!!..” Avrin roared out as his pupils turned purple and red, the same color as the Sky Metal. At that moment, thoughts rushed into his mind as if it were the memories of the metal itself.
First darkness, then a bright light. This scene to someone would be an enigmatic one, as if it had a prophecy like meaning, but Avrin knew it too well. It was the same scene God had showed him. It was the birth of this universe.
An object engulfed in a mana like fire which seemed like an egg that pulsed out, collided with another similar object, emitting a thundering cosmic bang. But what occurred up and close was something Avrin hadn’t seen before when God had showed him.
The two objects were indeed potential gods that had collided with one another and were not compatible, but as their souls were torn asunder, their dormant and potential energy had molded into each other and formed a thick metallic like substance that shot outwards towards the darkness of space.
The scenes then ended there, as Avrin gasped for air, sweating greatly and panting incredibly fast as he clutched the ground. Trying to piece together what had just happened. But the answer was obvious.
When two gods who weren’t compatible during the birth of this universe collided, their bodies and souls would be torn asunder, but their dormant potential energy would mold into a sort of celestial metal that would be unmatched. This was what the people of this world know as Sky Metal.
Sky Metal was nothing more than the energy of two gods who had perished during this universe's creation. Truly a secret not only people but the gods themselves would kill to have. This Metal’s importance had just skyrocketed to a whole new level.
Avrin’s face showed one of frustration and delight. His eyes widening as he wondered about the possibilities of such a thing. As he raised his hand to try and reform the sky metal, or more so a fragment, his heart began to ache as if not allowing him to.
What he didn’t know was that it hadn’t truly been devoured, it had been stored inside the core and was undergoing a sort of layer metamorphosis. Avrin had no idea that his dark matter core was sentient to a degree. This was all information he would not find out for quite some time.
Avrin stood up weakly as Asura helped him. “Master...What was that?..What happened?..” Avrin couldn’t really be bothered to explain, he only silently spoke “Take me back to the campsite...I need to rest…”
Asura complied, as he did as Avrin wished. After that, Avrin had slept for the entire night without so much as opening an eye, and Asura was even more vigilant. Not even a small animal would get within 100 meters without him noticing.
Morning had come and Avrin woke up to see Asura was also gazing around “Master, you’re awake?” Avrin nodded and stretched, feeling more refreshed. But his heart was giving a weird sort of feeling, most likely due to last night.
“Indeed. Asura, let’s be off. If I remember correctly, teacher told me that further north near the coastline, there should be a port city that the humans have set up. Before we go there though.“
Avrin raised his hand and the nebula mist he emitted began to form a large black cloak much bigger than his own, he then threw the finished result to Asura.
“Can’t have you looking like that in the open. Last thing I need is the city guard after us.” Asura stood proudly “If anyone comes after us I will show them we are not easy kills!” Asura roared pridefully, which made Avrin chuckle quietly.
The two began to make their way further north. On their way, they spotted several farm’s with farmers using a sort of bull like creature to plow their fields. It seemed these were farmers who couldn't afford to use magic to achieve the same result, as Avrin was aware there were magic tools for such things.
The farmers themselves seemed to look hard working, dressed for their work, and had others helping them. As if like a large family community. There were also several children playing around with makeshift toys.
Avrin then spotted one child who sat on a rock frowning as he gazed at the others playing with there own toys. He seemed to look more impoverished than the others.
Avrin passed by the child without a care then stopped for a moment, gazing blankly in front of him. “Nothing….Not a single shred of care for a sad child..” It was something obviously placed in front of Avrin. How could he not feel worried about this. In his former life he would indeed show some care.
Avrin then turned and walked back towards the child, while Asura stood still. Watching curiously. As Avrin stopped, he gazed down at the child. Avrin’s own face hidden from view as well as his body. He spoke “Why are you sad?” He spoke flat out, wanting the answer.
The child looked at him nervously and then sighed quietly “My friends all have toys...But my parents don’t buy me my own...They say their crop wasn’t looking too good last season… So we had barely enough money…”
The child’s story still hadn’t affected Avrin, which caused Avrin to feel more anger than sorrow at his lack of emotion. He felt things such as revenge and greed, but why is it the emotions that were most important to a human, sorrow/sympathy/regret, were not felt by him. His eyes then widened as he thought quietly.
“-That’s right…. I’m not human anymore-” A hint of sadness in his mind. But he gazed at the child before Avrin opened his hand.
He then began to form a toy using nebula mist. This was a toy he saw on an ad once when he took leave for a holiday resort on a planet. It was the latest model. A sort of mecha robot knight that was several feet tall.
It’s chest was also able to be opened to reveal room inside for a pilot. It was more like a suit then mecha considering the pilot was only a few inches smaller.
But Avrin gave a little surprise for the boy. As the boy gazed with awe, his friends looked over and pointed with shock and surprise. Avrin then gave the boy the toy and then began to walk off without feeling much at all.
The boy laughed as he stood up and began to thank Avrin several times over while his friends ran over with jealousy and surprise as they wanted to hold it and touch it. Asura blinked as he gazed at Avrin “Master, you are generous with your abilities..” Asura spoke as if trying to compliment him.
But Avrin was silent. His face still not giving a hint of satisfaction. Avrin, being several meters away from the boy, pressed the button on the mecha knights chest to which it opened spewing out rare jewels and diamonds that would cost hundreds of gold.
The children all screamed with excitement as they all then began to thank Avrin, yelling at the top of their lungs jumping up and down. “-That’s it..-” Avrin gave a satisfied smile, his body couldn’t seem to resist his efforts to try and make himself feel happiness and sympathy, as it gave into the forced urge and allowed the emotions to emit. Avrin was feeling something he secretly craved for a while.
The two continued on while the children's screams attracted the first boys child, who in turn screamed with excitement. Asura turned to Avrin and spoke.
“Master, will we be stopping?” Avrin nodded and pointed north towards a seemingly large village that seemed to have merchants go to and from it. “We will see if that village has anything to offer before continuing.”
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