Callum was set ablaze, his anger a fuel to his fire. Yet, he couldn’t help but wonder how he got into this situation.

After his undead tendency took over, then sloppily ate the somewhat cooked rabbit he’d prepared, Callum submerged himself in the river’s waters to clean the mess of the whole debacle.

He contemplated what had happened, weighing the options of staying isolated for the rest of his life or finding other people at the risk of losing control of himself.

The idea of his undead nature taking full control disturbed him. The fear of living his life where he could accidentally kill someone weighed heavily in his mind. Yet, the idea of living alone forever felt much worse.

He had been trapped inside his corpse for close to a century, only having conversations with himself to fill the social void in his heart. If he were to live another decade alone, then Callum wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep himself sane anymore. So with much deliberation, Callum decided to take the risk of meeting people.

He feared being a mountain hermit would only lead him to lose himself, and he was done feeling lonely. So with that in mind, Callum dried himself off, got into a new set of clothes, and continued his journey for civilization.

Callum wondered what happened to his created world while he was a corpse. Since coming back to life, he hasn’t been able to access his mindscape. Even when he tried to meditate, he couldn’t enter the imagined world he had spent most of his life in.

He knows it’s still there, he could feel it deep within him. After all, it’s part of his soul, a representation of who he is and what he has been through. However, without knowing how to get back in, Callum has no other choice than to experiment and gain as much knowledge as he can. He doesn’t even know if the world he’s in is Earth or not, hence his search for civilization.

If he could get into a village or town, even a city if he was lucky, then he would be able to ask questions. Maybe there’s a library that he could gain access to, somewhere he could get information about where he is and what he’s dealing with.

However, he was uncertain if he’d be able to understand them. If his gut was right and he was in another world, then there’s a chance that he had to learn their language first before he could communicate. A task that excited him more than he expected.

He majored in anthropology, and the idea of learning about the culture of a new world made him eager to explore. His mind was filled with thoughts of the kinds of people he would meet on his journey, their traditions, local cuisine, and more. However, his musings were interrupted by a sudden rumble above him, as grey clouds covered the sky like a heavy blanket.

“I should stay out of the river unless I want to get swept away when the storm hits.”

With that thought in mind, Callum strayed off the riverbank and headed into the forest. The usual sound of insects was gone, replaced by the rustle of leaves and the wind’s whistle. Even the usual critters in the woods have taken shelter in their burrows, a sign that a storm was approaching.

With haste, Callum strode deeper into the forest, his eyes searching for any crevice to shelter his huge frame. The flash of lighting could now be seen in the distance, reminding him of the coming storm and how little time he had left to find cover.

“This is taking a lot of time. I’ll get drenched before I find something to hide under.”

His mind went to work to see any signs of possible cover, deciding whether to create his own from leaves and rope or continue his search for any cave or huge trees he could stay under. Then, he remembered his unusual ability.

“Right, I do have that.” Callum grimaced, remembering the sensation of his head being overloaded with copious amounts of information.

Back then, it was bearable. He was between the line of the forest and the barren wasteland he’d created. The amount of information he was given at that time was only half. However, in this forest, he’d be sensing everything.

The crash of lightning sounded much closer now, his time of being dry counting down fast. So with as much apprehension, Callum released his hold on his senses.

It was as if the world had turned brighter, colors he couldn’t see before now displaying itself in a mesmerizing pattern. His head burned, boiling from the information overload. Any stray thought in his head was cast away in the recesses of his mind as he directed his focus at the task at hand, lest his head burst at the seams.

Quickly closing his eyes, Callum turned to his hearing. The whistle of the wind was like mini-hurricanes in his ears, the sound of pouring rain like pebbles that descended from the sky at the edge of his senses. He could hear every creature hiding within their burrows, the loud rustling of leaves, hurried footsteps in the distance, and the occasional caw of the—

“Wait, footsteps?!” Callum exclaimed, his mind jumping to overdrive at the excitement of meeting people after so long as a corpse.

With renewed vigor, Callum focused on the footsteps, forgetting the pain of his brain being fried by the huge amount of information being fed to it. He tuned out every other sound, his ears only concentrated on the thudding of boots hitting moist ground.

He heard two people, one running away while the other chased. The pursuer carried something at their side, and the sound of metal hitting leather was the only indication that they were armed. The person running away took gasps of air with each step, his breaths were labored and tired.

“No, that’s two people,” Callum muttered.

Not only did he hear the labored breathing of the pursued but also the quick breaths of the person he carried. Now it made sense why the one running away was more rugged than the one chasing after them, they were carrying someone else, and it looked like they were about to be led into a dead end.

The sounds painted a clear picture, the two people being chased are about to get cornered and killed. They were running with everything they had, yet it wouldn’t be enough to completely alter their coming demise.

The rumble of thunder above his head took Callum out of his trance, senses retracting to its usual five-foot sphere around him. It had given him information about a possible murder that could take place a few minutes away from him. If he did nothing, those two would die in the middle of nowhere. Their bodies would be eaten by the local wildlife, left to decompose for years until bones were the only thing to remember them by.

Killed in the middle of nowhere, just like him.

The thought awakened something deep within Callum. At first, it was hot, a boiling feeling that roiled within his stomach and into his spine. Then the picture of his murderers flashed before his eyes, his hands tightening into fists that threatened to puncture his palm.

He remembered the betrayal, the sting of metal biting deep within his flesh, the pain of his inability to take a deep breath, and then the coming decomposition of his body after his death. His mind flashed with his memories as a corpse, his vision turning red as he imagined the pain the two people were about to feel after their demise.

Callum felt rage bubble within his mind, his face a mask of anger as he took quick steps toward the coming commotion. With each passing second, Callum’s pace quickened, turning into a full sprint towards where the pursuer was trying to corner their prey.

The rain started pouring down, from a shower to a full storm. Wind buffeted his face, drenching his clothes and bag alike. He ran with all the strength he could muster, blitzing through the trees until he came upon a cliff that oversaw the whole forest below him. And there, he saw three people running to the cliff face.

A man carried a small girl behind his back, her face a mixture of panic and fear as their pursuer drew closer behind them. They weaved through trees and bushes, adding more strain to the man as he tried to keep his balance while carrying the little girl. Through it all, Callum saw their pursuer. Even though they wore a cloak to hide their form, Callum saw a flash of a smile underneath their hood. They were just a minute away until they were cornered.

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If Callum took the careful way down, he wouldn't be able to make it in time. It would take a handful of minutes just to get down from the cliff face. He also can’t offer a rope down, their pursuer was just a few seconds away from catching them.

So with a quick look down and a few calculations in his head, Callum hopped off the cliff and into the trees. The fall caused branches to snap and break, slowing his descent until he hit the ground with a thud. The pain was immense, yet his bones were still intact, his undead body taking minimal damage from the 30-foot drop.

Without missing a beat, Callum stood up and ran towards the cliff face. The pain of the fall had somewhat cooled his anger-filled rush, his mind now doubting the situation that was about to unfold. He hoped they were just running to take cover from the storm, that the ones pursuing them were actually guarding their behind. However, he would only know once he saw it with his own eyes.

He continued his sprint, slowing down and stopping when he saw the two people being pursued halt their tracks, inches away from the rock formation.

Feeling his face, Callum felt skin. If the people were to see him, they would know what he is. He didn't want to scare them off, and there was also a chance that they would call others to hunt him down. So with haste, Callum covered his features with his scarf and wrapped it around his head.

During that time, he saw the pursuer slow their steps, their form covered by a cloak, yet unmistakably shorter than the man he was pursuing. They took out a sword, lazily holding it to show the people they’d been pursuing were no threat to them.

“You people really are pests. So easy to trap like mice caught within a cage.” He heard the shorter individual say.

The man who was carrying the girl did the same, lowering her and taking out a weapon of his own—a dagger held in a reverse grip. His other arm shielded his companion from the coming danger, standing in front to protect her. Callum could see the man’s eyes seething with rage, ready to pounce at their pursuer and stab his dagger into their flesh.

The scene in front of Callum confirmed it, he was about to witness a murder, and it looked like the girl behind the man’s back would be seeing it too. She looked scared, afraid, and tired. Her eyes showed fear as their pursuer readied their blade in front of them. If he did nothing, the girl would be traumatized for the rest of her life.

The thought of a child witnessing someone get murdered in front of them angered Callum. His fondness for kids was immense. He dreamed of having kids of his own, and the idea of a child seeing something so gruesome was maddening.

The hotness he was feeling in the pit of his stomach traveled to his head, threatening to overwhelm him. His undead side was overjoyed, fueling his madness to tip him over the edge. Yet he staunchly pushed it down, directing his anger to another source—the blazing inferno at the pit of his stomach.

His mind grew sharp and his gaze turned cold. His body started to produce black smoke. Then, without warning, his presence unfolds, the presence of death, the end of all.

His anger was the catalyst, unlocking a power he had nurtured for decades. Callum’s ocean of mana surged within him, amplifying his presence. Birds flew out of the trees, fleeing the sudden danger he was posing. Animals ran from their burrows, scattering in different directions just to get away from him. The grass beneath Callum dried and withered as the smoke around him exploded, consuming him in black fire.

The girl dropped to the ground from the sudden weight of his presence. The cloaked figure kneeled, his sword acting as support to stop themselves from fully prostrating. The only one standing was the man who carried the girl, his anger replaced by immense fear.

Callum’s stomach rumbled, his hunger resurfacing as he kept his gaze focused between the three. He felt himself salivating at the opportunity to eat the people in his sights. However, Callum’s mind took control before his hunger overwhelmed his reason. With great willpower, he muted his hunger into pangs of pain, wrangling his undead side to behave until he took care of the situation before him.

With slow steps, Callum revealed himself. The trio whipped their heads in his direction, faces pallid as if they were looking at a monster about to consume them. He walked between the two people about to fight, turning at the kneeling pursuer ahead of him.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Callum asked in a rumble.

The hooded person in front of him shuddered, his grip on his sword tightening to keep himself from falling face-first.

“Wha-who are you?” The hooded figure stuttered, fear evident in his voice.

“I’m the one asking questions here.”

He kneeled, leveling with the person in front of him. Callum’s face was covered, yet his eyes were not. With a look, he could see the person’s eyes lock with his own, surprise mixing with the fear it held before. The person looked young, a teenager whose face was now filled with dread.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Callum asked again.

“I-I’m only d-doing my d-duty.” The person managed to stutter.

“Which is?”

The guy took a moment to think before uttering his next words, which Callum noticed.

“To apprehend them, of course.” He said in quick succession.

“Apprehend them?”

“Yes! They are fugitives on the run, and I have been tasked with capturing them. These vile criminals should be put to justice at all costs! So, please, if you would, I-”

“Why have a sword?” Callum inquired, nodding towards the quivering sword the guy used for support.

“It’s…It’s for protection, yes! You don’t know if the criminal you’ve been pursuing is armed. But with a sword, I could defend myself!” He said while his confidence grew as time went on.

“Is that true?” Callum asked.

“Yes, it’s tru–”

“I’m not asking you.” Callum interrupted, standing back up to his full height and looking back to the only other person remaining upright.

“I’m asking you.”

The man staring holes at Callum’s head took a moment to compose himself. His legs still quivered, yet his eyes contained a sliver of hope. Taking a deep breath, the man looked Callum in the eyes and said his piece.

“He’s lying,” He said with resolution.

“I see.”

Even without knowing these people, Callum already has a good enough read of the situation. Any person would understand the guy in front of him was lying through his teeth. Callum didn’t even need to ask the person behind him, the lies were so obvious they might as well have told the truth. So, without warning, Callum’s hand grabbed the kneeling person’s collar, lifting them with ease until their face was inches away from him.

The person was shorter than Callum by a head-and-a-half, his legs left dangling as Callum stared at the wide-eyed teen’s terrified eyes.

“Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to fuck off and never come back. Tell whoever sent you here that I’m protecting these two. And if I ever see your face again…”

Callum’s other hand grabbed their nape, tightening his grip until he heard a grunt of pain come out of their mouth.

“I’ll make sure to rip the spine out of your neck and plunge my arm through your mouth until it comes out of your ass. Do I make myself clear?”

The guy quickly nodded which sent his hood back to reveal a horrified pale face. Rain still dropped from the sky, yet Callum could see the guy’s eyes well up in tears, though he couldn’t care less.

Satisfied with his answer, Callum dropped the kid back to the ground, their legs failing them as they struggled to get back up. Yet, Callum’s warning gave the guy the strength to hastily get on his feet and run into the woods, leaving behind his sword clattering onto the ground as Callum’s eyes trailed the disappearing figure.

Callum took deep breaths, pushing down his anger until there was none left. The presence he had been emitting was gone with it. With one last exhale, Callum turned to see two scared people looking back at him. One a disheveled and tired man, and the other a frazzled little girl.

Seeing them and how the man kept, to what Callum assumed, his little sister behind him extinguished any remaining fury left within his heart. It reminded him of a documentary where a wolf was trying to protect its young, the instinct to protect their kin even if it meant giving their lives in exchange.

Callum lifted his arms, showing them that he was unarmed. However, the man in front of him was still skeptical. Their eyes looked between Callum and the sword left just a few feet away from him.

With a sigh, Callum slowly moved over to the sword. The action made the two people tense, the man raising his dagger while his other hand slowly pushed the little girl further behind him. However, they were confused when Callum hooked the sword with his foot and kicked it far away, his arms still in the air.

Mustering his courage, the man spoke to Callum.

“What do you want?”