Chapter 003: Carnage and the Divine Gem

My head ached and was almost-immediately tamed by a humming tune coming from a girl. It continuously breezed into my ears few blocks away from me. I had the slightest clue because of being half-awake. Anyone could immediately remember for it was so familiar. It's a song played every Christmas.

But why is she humming that piece? It's currently the middle of July. Maybe because this dimension had their own seasons. Or is it a memory she's playing on her mind? I couldn't tell. I've never been this observant even while my eyes were still at rest. This world terrified me, yet, amazed me at the same time.

I opened my almond shaped eyes and saw a girl wiping a shiny katana while humming with a smile. And the way she dressed, it looked like she's one of Flora's companions. The human embodiment of beauty raised the katana above matching the level of her nose. Examined if there's some stain of blood left. In the middle of her work, she noticed that I regained my consciousness. Staring at me blankly as I hid on a pillow.

“What will you do?!" My voice trembled with fear. Who knows what she's up to.

"Too much horror movies huh? I dozed you off with a spell that could make you rest for the whole week. It's been three days, I'm impressed you're already awake."

This wasn't the perfect response that my troubled mind expected. Next thing happened was her hands touching my neck.

"You're body temperature decreased without delay. You can still take a rest in here or maybe hang out with the dudes inside the lobby. But just be careful, you aren't yet fully recovered." She resembled happiness at any way she moved. My short existence never saw something mirthful.

I nodded my gratitude politely as my feet barely making their way through the lobby. This wooden place was constructed very well. A guess that says this residence had passed hundreds of years already, judging the way it smells. So how many storms have this place experienced? The bond of the people who lived and stayed in it made it stronger. It's a safe spot.

"Ohh you're up already. Come." The captain approached elegantly. Or maybe it's not safe here at all.

The captain took me on a stroll with his left hand locking against his belt. Showing a bit of arrogance or it may be some of his habits. Body language tells me that this man is full of courage.

...

Suddenly the captain halted: "Here we are. Six floors under the ground."

We paused in front of a suspicious wooden door. The brave man entered. It was dark if you'll look outside but when my right foot stepped in, light showered the room. A word "Radiance" was engraved on the giant roots settling in. At the center wall was a painting of an emblem golden in color, bright as light.

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I was still amazed while the captain was busy with something standing in the middle of the room. But it wasn't my problem anymore. He let out a sigh when additional lights sparkled out. Guess it was already fixed. It's a mystical bowl resting on a white pillar. Showing different scenes and faces.

When the captain let out a word, the bowl showed an image of war between two unknown creatures. They both have wings and armored in different colors: "It's the bowl of truth. The sum of its water was tears of angels who fought for the lives of weak humans. So afraid to death they cannot defend themselves. Dive into it, and you'll find answers." The captain said while staring at it.

The captain vanished the shock inside me with a knock on my head. His tough hands seized my hair and gently soaked my head on the embracing cold water of the bowl. I wanted to lose myself in it, but unfortunately unprepared for what happened, my breath couldn't.

"Ask the water for answers and it will show you everything you'll need to know." The captain said while holding my head tight.

I resisted in fear of death, not because it showed thousands of innocent lives dying because of someone's greed. But because I saw myself drowning. My chest projected that I'm deeply catching oxygen when my head felt the softness of air again.

"Ohh yeah right, you need to breathe first, I forgot." The captain mumbled his excuses apologetically. I was right, they're really brutal. The water was calling for me. What's this feeling overflowing in me? Is it my curiosity? Or far more than that.

I inhaled heavily just enough to make me last for a couple of minutes underwater. And without hesitation, I soaked my head in and opened my eyes, too weird it didn't hurt and it wasn't blurry. The proper cold of matter made my gray hair to lurch gradually. I didn't want to waste any of my limited time under these tears. So I asked in, what is this world?

Then a voice of a powerful being echoed under the water, no, at this time I wasn't under water anymore. I found myself floating on the air with human like girl covered by white silk hiding her flawless skin. She was so beautiful like a Goddess.

"This world is the parallel of the earth where you live. A dwelling place for humans that died without sin or living souls that still fighting for their lives on earth."

After the scene massively changed into some heart breaking accident. My eyes enlarged when I saw myself lying on the streets of Sumlong. There were beeping lights of red and blue. A crowd formed a circle in the scene. Few cars were crushed by a bus. It became clear, it was so clear that I'm now possessing my astral form.

I floated near my crippled body. My sluggish blood continued to wet the road. If I was malevolent, I would say it was wonderful, but I'm not. For real I was worried for no one around the accident but just for myself. It's the right time to be selfish. Gladly, my handsome face wasn't ruined. Though it was already ruined before the accident happened. But if someone responsible for this accident scratched it unintentionally. The hell I would still kill him without hesitation.

"Haha, you're too worried about yourself. And you don't look ugly, don't let yourself down." The woman said. Like yeah, I wouldn't believe you, you're a kind person, everything will look nice to you even if they're not.

The scene again changed for we came back to the parallel world this woman was referring. But not like the present Sumlong; a war was taking place on some of its lands. She raised her hands and pointed out a glorious male successfully swaying his sword, cutting the throat of an opponent. "You know who he is? He led this formidable army you're fascinated with. He's the infamous arch angel, Zuriel is the name. He fought and stayed for both deceased and the living. Right after the war, he disappeared and for where he is, now remains a mystery."

My heart pounded with proud over the general. The woman showed me countless of scenes portraying the war but, some of my questions aren't yet answered. So I asked more: "How could I leave this place, I want to go back to earth. To where I really belong."

And again, the scene changed. The water showed me a trivial gemstone resting on a purple-glamorous pillow. It was blue in color and was so tempting. Thinking about black markets, this rock could make a fortune. It's rumored to grant a wish of who ever lay a skin on it. But only the good will shall be granted. It was the "Divine Gem".

The luxury was possessed by a demon named Carnage - one of the mighty general of his kingdom. With the power of the gem, he didn't grew stronger, yet didn't became weaker as well. As if nothing changed, for the stone to activate needed good will. Carnage's heart was pouring destruction all over his veins. He was well known for his talent in killing.

I didn't ask for more but the scene again changed. The surroundings became red like scarlet and we were alone together, not with the woman, but a man standing in front me playing his sword instead. He was so close to me. He stared at me like he can really see me. Touching his hair with an intimidating smirk. It was no other than Carnage that I saw, but why?

"Because you're the key!!!!!" He responded. He charged in and his eyes glowed, portraying devastation. Before his sword could land a perfect hit on my left shoulder. The captain pulled me up, he too sensed the danger of what I saw.