Psychographics
Chapter 10: My Rusty Faith in Humanity
Southeast Payon Forest, 7km from Payon Castle, 10:43 PM
As the Midnight Messenger entered the dilapidated tavern where his ravens decided to rest, he was "surprised" to see someone he knew. He knew the person in front of him so well before, that he decided to punish him 3 years ago.
"Doing fine aren't you, my friend?" the Messenger asked sarcastically "It's been a while since I last saw you… in Juno."
The person that the Messenger was referring to was hidden behind a stack of giant tomes. Only its hood was visible due to the lack of lighting, but the Messenger was able to make out what he saw in the dark.
The person, finally noticing the Messenger's arrival, it left the book it was reading, then stood up and walked towards the misty figure. It then removed its hood and stared at the Messenger face to face revealing that its left eye was blind.
"Fuck you, Odin. Fuck you." the person said to the Messenger. "You… crazy fuck for a god!"
The misty figure laughed terribly at the person's "warm" greeting. Staring right at him was another male, blinded on the left eye. The man's voice was totally garbled. He had long, dark locks that were in disarray due to lack of self-care.
"You're reaction is pretty normal, for a human…" the Messenger started. "I'm really surprised that you recognized who I really am…"
"You're still messing around humanity's future?" the blind man questioned Odin. "Have you got nothing better to do in Asgard?"
"Apparently…"
The man clenched its fists, about to give the god in front of him a proper beating. But he held back his rage as he remembered that no weapon except those created from the Ancient Material, the Promeon, could damage a god.
"You seem pretty healthy…" the god told the blind man jokingly. "You know, if you kept staring at me like that, I may be forced to kill you instantly… Eric, the Fallen Grim Librarian of Juno."
The god's words cut through the blind man's heart. The name he had just heard was his own, a name he tried his hardest to forget. He didn't have to end up like this… starving to death and dying slowly, as well as losing his sanity due to lack of human contact.
"You were once the greatest Grim Librarian of Juno, Eric…" Odin narrated likewise in a mocking voice. "Yet you did something VERY wrong that displeased me… no, all of the gods in Asgard."
"Displeased all of the gods?" Eric, the ex-Grim Librarian snapped back, his voice filled with rage. "Humanity is displeased with all of the gods! While every single human being toils the soil, you just sit around and watch, play around with our lives and affairs, and kick us to our graves when we expire! What kind of gods are you? Huh?"
"Humans are my toys, Eric…" Odin confessed to the blind ex-librarian. "We created all of you as our servants; is it not obvious to humanity? Your kind will never be equal to ours, even if you resist!"
"Fuck you. All of you. Someday… all of the gods will be annihilated, and my fate shall be avenged."
"Oh ho ho… that's quite "troubling", puny human. I'm still having fun with your kind… because you're all so interesting to bend until you break."
"What are you up to?"
"Oh, nothing much… I just finished summoning a horde of Wraith Dead inside Commander Hyatt's garrison…"
"You're really crazy…"
"It depends on your definition of crazy, though."
"Fuck you."
"Haha… if you just saw how those soldiers ran for their sorry lives, you'll laugh your hind legs off! But…"
"But what?"
"Somebody was able to stop my summoning spree… and I'm quite amused."
"Who is it? Ha! At least a human can stop you from having fun!"
"On the contrary, I still am having fun, Eric… but that human who stopped me, he used a long-forgotten and SEALED spell. I find it surprising that a human can execute that spell with such magnitude…"
"You… you can't possibly mean…"
"Yes, a human was able to use the Doomsaday Spell for a quarter of its original power."
"Finally… humans are able to harness the spells of the gods…"
"It's clearly your fault, Eric… do you get it now?"
"My fault? My only fault was to give humanity knowledge and understanding!"
"I told you that humans and gods are NOT equal. Doesn't your insignificant brain understand that? If it weren't for you, the Doomsday spell will still be locked up inside the Library of Thoughts in Juno's depths!"
"I feel no remorse in leaking out that spell to the world… if it will stop crazy gods like you."
"Haha… fascinating. Anyway, I didn't come here just to chat with you. I come bearing news, valuable news…"
"Is it about my daughter? How is she?"
"Slow down, Eric… your daughter is still in Payon… and she's engaged to a High Wizard."
"Engaged eh? I wouldn't mind that… who arranged the engagement then?"
"Your family originally lived in Payon right? So the Royal Family settled the matter."
"I have no qualms about that. What else is there?"
"Haha… once you know who your daughter's would-be husband is… you'll jump around with joy."
"Who? Who is it?"
"He's a High Wizard… a heavily-built one, I must say. Quite rare…"
"Tell me!"
"Your daughter's would-be husband can execute the Doomsday spell."
"You're joking…"
"No, why would I? If I wanted to joke around, then I'll just take your remaining eye and put in my eyesocket!" Odin said, revealing his left blind eye.
Southwest Geffen Flatlands, 8km from Prontera West Gate, 10:44 PM
"Wh-what?" Gin asked Grey, her voice filled with surprise? "You can't possibly…"
"Of course, Gin. I will kill you… and your offspring as well." Grey revealed to the pregnant, female Stalker. "Now!"
Immediately turning translucent, Grey licked his fingers one by one, preparing to savor his next kill. His eyes kept track of Gin's movements… so even if she managed to execute a surprise attack, he will ALWAYS be able to counter.
Holding Tyrfing in her hand, Gin pointed the Cursed Blade towards Grey. "I… I really can't believe what I'm seeing." she mumbled under her breath.
"Surprised? Even your husband was!"
"What? Did you just—"
"I decided to end his suffering a little while ago…"
"You can't possibly—"
"Kill him? Not yet… I just gave him back what really belonged to him."
"You… monster!"
"I AM THE BLUR, after all… sweetie."
"What did you do to my husband? Answer me!"
"Hmm… how do I explain it simply?"
"Just say it! Then I'll kill you afterwards!"
"I like women like you who can stand up for themselves… most of your kind are pretty delicious… especially when I make them weak in bed…"
"Quit fucking around, and tell me! What did you do to him?"
"I jammed the Seal of Morroc inside his heart!"
"No!"
"Haha! Sooner or later, the seal will eat him up since he is the sole bearer of The Criteria…"
"How… how could you? He trusted you so much!"
"Trust? What do gain from other people's trust? Nothing!"
"You… sick animal…"
"What? You're going to kill me? Let's see you try!"
"If I have to, then I'll do it for my husband! No, for our dignity!"
Gin finally struck Grey with the Cursed Blade Tyrfing, but as The Blur, Grey was able to dodge the female Stalker's blow.
"You made a great choice! You knew Tyrfing was made out of Promeon, so you can even damage beings like me… or better yet…"
"…the gods…"
"Yeah, but if you want to kill me… you need to hit me. And if I hit you first, you're good as dead."
Without another word, Grey, The Blur, immediately swooped down towards Gin and aimed for her rotund belly. Gin moved as quickly as she could to block the incoming assassin, but something came in between her blade, and her assailant's hands.
It took another second for Gin to realize what was in front of her.
After crushing Grey's hands and tearing his right arm off, the being then turned towards Gin. Pushing her back was a man with red, flowing hair. He looked extremely familiar to Gin, but something about the man felt awkward. He was emanating a purple aura and his skin was now totally black. Gin's entire world almost crumbled upon hearing the man speak.
"Gin, my love… I'm sorry. I was careless…" the man said to her, tears flowing out of his glowing red eyes. "I'm about to become a sacrificial lamb…"
"Red! No! Wait!"
That was all that Red Viele'au Sylenfeit, the bearer of The Criteria, now bound with the Seal of Morroc, needed to hear. As if chanting a dark prayer, Red's body turned into a hulking behemoth but retained his normal size as a human.
The creature standing in front of Gin was no longer her husband, even though it still noticed and acknowledges her as his wife. The dark-skinned creature was covered with a red mane, and its eyes were glowing in deep crimson. It continued mumbling to itself, reciting prayers in sacred language.
"See? What did I tell you?" Grey told Gin mockingly. "You're husband is now The Divider, the same holder of The Criteria…"
"No…" It was the only word Gin could say.
"It's only a matter of time before The Divider turns this world into a living nightmare…"
"No…."
"Hahahahahahahahahaha! Finally! The Divider is awake! The premature form of the Great Demon Morroc is finally awake!"
"Noooooo!"
Inside Commander Hyatt's Garrison, Prontera Castle, 10:45 PM
After hearing a great, thundering noise accompanied by an earthshaking tremor, Cornelia decided to check outside her boyfriend's quarters to see the one and only probable cause of the explosion that ALMOST ruined her private business earlier with Hyatt. Looking outside the inner fortification's window, Cornelia stood in shock and rage. Hyatt came in behind her after a little while, and embraced her around her stomach.
"He did it again? Didn't he?" Hyatt sighed with frustration. "Who would have thought?"
"That… that idiot!" Cornelia shouted with rage, her arms flipping around, almost punching Hyatt's face.
"Take it easy, munchkin…"
"But… but look at THAT! There is BLOOD, BLOOD EVERYWHERE!"
"Malchuz wouldn't kill innocent civilians or MY soldiers, Cornelia…"
"But what if he's drunk?"
"Look closely!"
"Huh?"
"The soldiers down there are dead due to stab wounds! If Malchuz used the Doomsday spell all over again, then there must be a reason! But… the Doomsday spell kills the undead ONLY! Humans will just be drained of their energy, and structures will crumble to dust within the radius of the explosion!"
"I… I know that…. Sorry, munchkin."
"You're jumping to conclusions, Cornelia… That's why you and Malchuz never got along quite well."
"Right… It's my fault, right?"
"Nope. It's his fault."
"Huh?"
"He likes soft things way too much. That's why I made sure that my garrison was HARD enough to survive his god-like technique."
"Oh… right. Thanks for reminding me. I'll go and kill that idiot later."
"Let's go outside. I can see General Kier from here…"
"He's… fighting five Stalkers at once? Shouldn't we go to his location and help him?"
"He can handle those Stalkers on his own, as far as I know. He's not my general for nothing."
"Then where do we go?"
"To Malchuz. Onnie is with him as well."
"Right. Let's go."
Somewhere in the garrison, a heavily-built High Wizard and a neatly-combed Arch Bishop were both panting heavily after running for their lives as the Doomsday spell was cast. Hiding in a bunker where the visitor's equipment and personal effects were kept for safety, they soon realized that the rooms' temperature got hotter than usual. Looking behind them, they were shocked to find their baggage earlier this afternoon to be glowing.
"That's… Cornelia's… No…." Malchuz said, his voice obviously alarmed. "No… it can't…."
"What is THAT thing, Malchuz?" Onnie questioned about the glowing piece of metal that was now glowing even more.
"That's… Ancient Material…" Malchuz explained, losing his breath. "Cornelia found it in a dungeon located near Payon…"
"Ancient Material? You mean the Promeon? The only material that can damage the gods?"
"Yes… exactly…"
"What the heck is your friend planning to do with it?"
"I… have no idea."
"Huh?"
"The only thing this glowing metal owed me is traveling fee."
"Traveling fee? Why would it? Don't tell me. —"
"I carried it on my soulders from Payon Forest up to Sograt Border until you found us."
"I… I feel so sorry for you…"
"Really? That's something new, gramps… but still, thanks for feeling sorry once in a —"
"I'm not sorry for you carrying THAT thing! I'm worried about your future!"
"Huh? Why?"
"The moment you touch Promeon with your BARE HANDS, you get exposed to deadly radiation!"
"Radiation? I don't see any radiation—"
"You dunce! Radiation is invisible! It might have infected you!"
"W-wait, what? No!"
"And how can you be so sure? Huh?"
"Take a good look!"
"Huh? What are you… oh right…"
"I'm wearing gloves. Just like you all of you do. I take care of my lovely hands, you know?"
"Turns out your weird habits really saved you."
"You got that right, gramps. Anyway…"
"What?"
"Aren't we going to help General Kier out there? He's fighting with those Stalker dudes… That looks pretty much an unfair fight."
"Nah… he can handle himself. He can take the entire army out if he wished too."
"Oh really… I want to see him try to block my Doomsda—"
"He'll kill you before you can even complete the first line!"
"Nah, he cant… with these muscles of mine? I'm invincible!"
"Yeah… so invisible, you ran for your sorry ass from those Stalkers."
"I won't listen to an old bishop who can't even cast a healing spell on time."
After a few seconds of "debating", the bunker's door flew open, ripped from the foundation. Running towards Malchuz was a purple-haired smith, guillotine axe in hand, and wearing a maniac's smile.
"Oh… thank heavens, we're saved!" Malchuz exhaled in relief.
"What do you mean "saved"? Huh?" Cornelia snapped back in disagreement.
"You're not… going to save us from those Stalker dudes?" the High Wizard asked in confusion. Onnie took this opportunity to sneak past Cornelia and went to report to Commander Hyatt immediately.
"That old—" Malchuz cursed under his breath.
"Listen here!" boomed Cornelia. "Listen… very… carefully!"
"Huh? What in the—"
"I'm only going to do this ONCE, so don't get the WRONG IDEA!"
"What are you talking ab—"
Cornelia dove immediately where Malchuz was located. Sprawled on the floor, the pretty smith carefully placed the Guillotine axe as close as she could towards Malchuz's neck.
"What are you doing, Corn?" Malchuz gasped, trying to unpin himself from the floor. His beautiful hands couldn't move, crushed under Cornelia's single hand. Her free hand was now holding a sharp axe that she ONLY uses to kill any boss that disturbs her.
"Keep quiet! Be still!" Cornelia shouted back.
"Don't!" Malchuz's scream was muffled; closing his eyes, the last thing he saw was the moment Cornelia lunged towards him and…
There was silence between the two of them. It took Malchuz to realize that something SOFT was touching his lips. Another second passed and Malchuz opened his eyes. The very sight he saw almost drove him to insanity.
Malchuz's beautiful and soft hands moved on its own, and grabbed the person nearest him at the moment. Surprisingly, that person didn't seem to resist at all.
Another second passed and Malchuz's lips weren't still breaking away from Cornelia's. It felt pretty odd for the High Wizard, as his friend would NEVER do this. Completely lost in thought, his hands felt their way up towards the smith's head.
"No wonder you're always full of rage…" Malchuz thought. "… you're head is… pretty small compared to your other proportions. I never noticed that." He went on thinking. Four. No, Five seconds as their lips was still in contact, Malchuz stroked the hair of the woman he grew up with traveling the expanse of Midgard.
"I think… this IS a dream…" Malchuz thought. "This can't be happening! Hyatt will be furious…"
Their lips finally drifted apart as a voice came in from the door. It sounded pretty familiar to both of the two people who lay sprawled on the floor.
"Cornelia…" Hyatt called out. "What are you doing?" he questioned calmly, showing his curiosity at the event he just witnessed. Onnie was behind him, laughing insanely. "Oh… Hyatt. I was just…" Cornelia stammered.
"Yeah… I saw everything. Even though you told me earlier that you will do that, I still am surprised! Haha!"
"Thanks for understanding, munchkin… I was just… raising his morale!~"
"Well… he quite deserved it." Hyatt concluded. Malchuz's eyes were now blank.