How long has it been?

An hour?

Nah. Not that absurd.

But I'm pretty sure the slaughtering has been going on for quite some time now.

Evidence are the pile of corpses piling in this musty old room and the numbers that were over fifty is now a single digit.

Ugh~ The stench in this room is almost unbearable. Might have something to do with the increasing corpses.

There's three bed on the far side of the left and rows of cobwebbed shelves on the right, full of trinkets, I wonder what kind of room it is suppose to be.

Oops. Not important right now. Not every goblin and orc is dead yet in this room. Stay focus, Hyx.

How many goblins and orcs have I killed with these hands, so far?

Not enough, I would say.

Ah.... I'm covered in wounds, fresh wounds overlapping old wounds which have yet to recover. I should be on a bed, connected to tubes and IVs and begging for morphine but I find myself standing, facing a horde of monsters with my lips curled upwards.

These pain, it starting to feel less and less real -- this is convenient for now but it'll be terrifying and unsettling in the long run.

[Title: - Acquired]

Well, ain't that just fitting. I wonder, who gave me this titles? An administrator of this world? A god?

, huh? It does have a nice ring to it.

My eyesight drops to my hands.

These hands....

These hands which have yet to cease trembling. Are they trembling from fear or excitement? Whichever the two, my adrenaline is at all time high, accelerated pulse, shaking knees, chest fluctuating to the point which it seems like shuddering -- unnecessary sounds drown out except my enemies' and my racing heartbeat and ragged breathing.

There are only five goblins and the Orc Leader left. They are neither attacking nor moving. They are just standing where they stood. Observing me or delaying their inevitable death?

I look at my hands, once again. They are in a shape worse than ever. My nails are cracked and crooked.

Oh? I'm missing a nail on my right ring finger. Don't look at it, that's disgusting.

The state of my hands is the prove that I have used my claws without reserve and a care to the well-being of my hands.

Ah. My left middle finger is bent a little over a hundred-twenty degree backwards. Let me just snap it back.

Uuh!

Ah.... That's better.

Out of Mana and my nails aren't claws anymore. Now, how do I go about this?

"Stand down!" The orc leader warned.

Heh. That's dirty. It has taken the women hostages, including the ones on the pole. A total of four women. There is another one -- oops -- was another one. That one is already dead it seems. I'm pretty sure I saw the goblins and orc raping three women. Were they into necrophilia?

"You either leave my domain now or these women dies."

Great. Now what do I do and what do you mean by your domain? Prety sure a lot bigger monsters out there wouldn't share your line of thought and delusions.

Now, should I play the hero? But I don't feel like saving them. Or to be precise, I don't feel like I would feel anything if I didn't save them. Did the betrayal froze my heart or am I always this much of a psychopath? No. It's not that. I have just given up. I just don't believe I can save them. Is this my heart preparing for the worst?

Furthermore, looking at those eyes of the women, it told me they didn't want to be saved. Their eyes.... It reminded me of mine when I "fought" the Red Crystal Spriggan.

As for the ones on the pole, their spirits are still flaring in their eyes. And the orc and the four goblins, they are just looking dumbfounded at my apparent lack of reaction. What do I do about them? Should I just leave now? Or should I save them? Do I have any reason to? I'm not a very good person. My memories from earth maybe vague but I do remember that I'm not a very righteous person. I don't do charity.

Hmm.... charity....

Perhaps I can demand something from the women and the tied up orc and goblins when I save and free them.

Yeah, let's do just that.

However -- the unexpected occurred.

One of the women, the one who was raped, the one who was taken hostage, thrust herself into the knife which was held before her throat.

A....

Ah....

I see....

She really didn't want to keep suffering anymore. Saw that coming but.... Never thought she would really do it.

Hmm.... Would I have done the same thing?

I could have just kill myself with my own powers. It's just that easy but why didn't I? Did I want to live after all, even after being through so much?

That woman had resolve. She have long surrender herself to death and she gave her life without a moment's hesitation when the opportunity presents itself. Says a lot about her and about me.

God....

I am pathetic....

Some monster I am....

Before anyone can make sense of what happened in that four second window, the other woman did the same thing as her acquaintance. At least, I think they're acquaintance.

"What? What is this bitches doing?"

It's a human thing. You won't understand.

I raise my right fist and sent a straight jab into the orc leader's jaws. He turned when he noticed my cries but he was too late. My fist connects his jaws, fracturing and dislocating it. My physical strength is really unlike before.

The straight left him in a concussion. I follow up with a left hook. And then a right hook. And a left hook again. And a right hook again. And a left straight and finally sending him tumbling back with a haymaker.

Results? Don't know. Ain't Sherlock but I did know I broke my knuckles but that's a secret to the ones in this room. It would be uncool of me to just break down in the middle of a fight and cry for my knuckles. Well, not that my broken knuckles really bother me. I have worse, obviously.

Bothers me it may not but it still stings.

The orc leader groaned and seems to be getting up. No no no no no. You're staying down. And I proceed to stomp my feet into his face and I keep doing it until he completely stops his movement.

Ah. I have flatten his head. I went overboard.

Wow, that was therapeutic.

I look to the five goblins who are still standing stiff. Looking at them without any contempt nor respect, I ask "Who's next?"

They shriek at my words and scamper off into the tunnel where I came from. I didn't think that I was that frightening, though. Plus, I was speaking English, not the weird language.

Mah~ that's that, at least. Ah~ exterminating business is tiring.

I deliberately walk over the corpses of the orc leader and to the prisoners tied to the pole.

"Are you alright?" I talked to the woman on the most right first. Despite not being use for sexual activities of the goblins and orcs, she is all bared just like the other women in the room.

Hm...?

She has a face of a Mongolian, leaning more to the Chinese. Black hair, black eyes, yellow skin. She's pretty muscular for a woman in her mid twenties. Perhaps her peculiar body built is what exempted her from the forced procreation acts?

"I will be if you get me out of these ropes." She said, meekly.

I smile wryly at her retort. Cheeky even in such situations. Strange, I don't feel arouse even when her private parts are all bared for me to see. Do I swing the other way or I just don't swing any way at all? It might have something to do with the atmosphere though.

"You have a name?"

"Muo Li." the woman answered.

The Jasmine flower? And she has a name that befits her ethnicity. Strange. I thought such things will be different in another world. Perhaps my theory of this world being earth but with a different history route is correct? It could just be a parrallel with some strange coincidence.

I cut the rope and throw Muo Li a cloth I picked up from the ground. The cloth was just there on the ground. It's dirty and a little bit ragged but it is such a convenient placement.

I walk past the goblins and the orc who have their eyes tracking me. I then cut free the woman on the left. She seems to be of the same age as Muo Li. Also like her, this woman is also completely naked. Although, she has a much more rocky built and a physique of a man. From the back, you wouldn't be able to tell she is a woman. Even monsters have tastes, I see.

I also made sure she's alright and learned her name is, Clammis. Then I turn my attention to the orc and the four goblins.

I look at them, they look at me. Neither party said anything. We just stared at one another.

"Erm...." Muo Li calls out to me.

I tilt my head slightly at her.

"They're not bad goblins and orc" she has an accent. But why are you being shy and stuttering?

"What makes you so sure?"

"They tried to help us escape but we got caught. That's why they're in the same spot at us."

"I know you have an intense dislike towards monsters. That's evident from your actions but please understand. They not bad ones. So I beg you, please stay your hands." The other woman, Clammis also said.

Okay now, you two have the wrong idea about me. However, I can understand why I'm seen in such light. After all, the reasons are apparent if I just glance to my back. "Chill. I won't go medieval on them."

The two woman look at me, confused.

Oh right, my speech. "Please be at ease, I'm not one to make rash judgement." I wonder how much credibility I have in those words considering the blood I have just shed. "But will these gentlemen be rash in their judgement? After all, I did kill their kin."

The goblins look at me in a way that question marks seem to have appeared above their heads but the orc is shrieking and trying to shrink away from me. The orc understands me, apparently.

"Will you be hostile?" I ask the orc, up close and personal.

The orc shakes his head furiously. I'll admit. I put my face close to the orc for intimidation effect but I didn't think it would worked that well. I suppose I'll have to re-evaluate my demeanor and character.

"Is it just you or do other orcs also understands...." I trailed off and the orc blinked. I turn to Clammis. "What language am I speaking?"

"Common?" She replied in a hesitant manner.

"It's a common language? Okay, but what is it call?"

"Common. The language is called Common." She answered me like I'm stupid for asking.

Oh. The language is called Common. Right. Got it.

I turn my eyes back to the orc. "You understand Common?"

The orc nods furiously.

"Am I that scary to you?"

The orc nods furiously but when he realize what he did, he shakes his head instead. Really?

Hmm.... "Well, sorry about that. Didn't mean to scare you." Will the orc understand that?

"It's....okay." The orc spoke, in a stutter. His pronunciation isn't perfect but it's comprehensible at least.

"What's your name?"

"Orcs.... Monsters.... No names."

I see. Monsters don't have names. "Mind if I give you a name?" I asked.

I could hear the two women going, "Huh?" "Eh?" Is naming a monster such a shocking matter? Or does this world have a naming system like a certain ultimate slime's world?

"Don't need names.... Unnecessary...."

I beg to differ. "Nonsense. Since we will be doing some talking in awhile, probably, I'm going to need a name for you. So...."

No need to have your eyes widen.

"How about Tom?" I picked a name from either Tom, Dick, and Harry. I chose Tom.

"Tom..." The orc muses on the name given to him.

I cross my arms, waiting for his response.

"Tom.... It's good. Tom." Maybe looking my arms crossed pressured him because his pondering stops midway. But I'm not gonna pry. It is what it is.

"So Tom, you won't attack me when I let you go?"

"No."

"Why not? I killed your kin, after all."

"Kin....in-name. No blood...."

If I'm interpreting this correctly, Tom the orc and these dead bunch ain't blood-related. So he does not care much about what happened to them. Touche.

But even if I'm the one in Tom's position, I doubt I would care so much about those who used me for sports.

"Well, Tom. I'll let you go now. Try any funny business...." I slide my finger across my throat.

"F...funny.... b...business?" Tom asked.

God damn it, this ain't earth. "If you go back on your words, you'll be sharing the same fate as your brethren."

He nods. Ha. He didn't nod furiously like the previous times. That's an improvement.

After I cut Tom down, I also warned the other goblins the same thing before cutting them down.

Since they also didn't have names, I named them Goblin A to D, respectively, in my heart.

When the prisoners are all freed, I'm asked by Muo Li if I can give the deceased a proper burial. Of course by deceased, she meant only the women.

"How do I do that?" I asked.

Muo Li hesitated for a while before answering "We can burn them."

Is that a good idea? We are at an enclosed space but I figure we won't be here long so.... "I don't have fire magic." I replied them.

"I.... do." The orc interjected.

"You can?" Muo Li asked. She seems shocked. Is an orc using magic rare?

"Are you perhaps an Orc Mage?" Clammis asked. Her eyes are shining but I might just be imagining things.

Tom nods, wryly. The goblins are just staring blankly at us. They feel left out. Not that anyone can be blamed for that.

I don't really know what an Orc Mage really is but I think I can figure it out from observing the contexts and reactions. Goblins and orcs are races that don't normally have a magic user in their numbers. So Tom who can use magic is a rare sub variant of orcs. Every race in Evarenan possess Mana but not every race can use magic -- that kind of situation.

Tom approaches the women's corpse. He puts the three corpses parallel to each other.

{Element that incinerates and obiterates, Fire that burns my enemy, Fireball}

This language. It's not the monster language.

After that chant in an entirely different language, a fireball conjures in his palm. He flips his hand, dropping the ball of flames at the three, setting the corpses on fire. This maybe disrespectful but I almost whistle in admiration from seeing how the corpses burn so easily.

"The Cycle continues. May the dead be swift in their reach for the afterlife."

Muo Li seems to be praying. Don't want to be boorish, I join them all in the prayer. Even the goblins and Tom the orc joined in. How gracious.

"Um.... Tom?" Muo Li.

"Ugh?" Tom responded in monster language.

"Thank you for saving us."

Technically and if I'm not wrong, he probably led you all into a deeper shit by trying to bail you all out. I want to say that but I'll be nice.

"Yes. I appreciate what you did for us despite the results." Clammis, bruh, couldn't you have omitted that last part? I held back, why didn't you?

"Thanks.... Needless.... I brought more.... suffering."

And this orc went and confessed the crime himself. Is it too late to be boorish now?

My line of sight shifted to the goblins who are watching from the sidelines. "You guys helped the women too?" I asked the goblins.

"Yes yes. We did." Goblin A responded.

"Why?"

They all look down, in the literal and metaphor sense.

I can read the mood but I'm not feeling very accommodating at the moment, so I'll pretend that I can't read the mood and play the asshole. "Come on, now. Answer me." I put on my blank face. It scared Tom, so I don't see why it won't scare the goblins.

It worked. They flinched at the change of my face expression.

"We felt sorry for them." It was Goblin B who spoke up. "We are aware of the bad things we done and we...."

"We just want to help. To...." Goblin C who followed up, stuck at his words.

"For the bad things we done, we want to...." Even Goblin D trailed off. Perhaps they can't find the right word?

I suppose I can throw them a lifeline. "Repent for your misdeeds?"

The goblins blink at my words but after awhile, they nod.

I see, they want to repent. They gained a good conscious. Remarkable. Can other monsters do that too?

"Having a nice conversation with the goblins?" Muo Li cut in. The goblins shriek.

You lots get scare, easily.

"I suppose you can say that." I answered, vaguely.

"Say.... Are you perhaps Hyx Atlas?"

Oh? Are they part of the expedition team too? "I am but I'm afraid I don't remember anything else."

"Amnesia?"

It's called Amnesia here too? "Yeah. I was with some people. I think they were part of the expedtion too but none of them made it."

"Forgive me if I'm being rude but I wasn't aware that you're a fighter too." Came an understandable question from Clammis. I wasn't aware of it myself either. But question is, are going down the scumbag old man's thought?

"As I have said, I don't remember."

"Don't you have your status card or ID?" Muo Li asked.

There's an ID too? Hm. I thought status card is a package deal. Guess not. "No. I only have my status card with me but...." I show them the cracked status card of mine.

The two nod in understanding when they saw my status card.

"Perchance, do you remember the numbers of your ECP?" Clammis asked.

"ECP?" There's acronyms in a medieval setting, huh. Who knew.

"Effective Combat Power. It measures your combat strength."

Was it numbers. I'm pretty sure it was an alphabet. "I guess it's D the last time I saw it?"

"D? That's interesting." Clammis mused. "Wait, no. That's your Overall Power Ranking. That measures the overall potential of the power you possess. That's different. That's OPR. ECP measures combat strength -- how well you can perform in a battle. It's in numbers."

Oh, some mysteries solved right there.

Combat strength, eh? I don't recall see anything like that on my status card. "I don't think there's one." I gave my honest answer.

Clammis gives a look of surprise.

It was Muo Li who answers. "Perhaps that's only natural. ECP are meant to measure fighters. Non-combatants don't have their ECP stated on their status card."

Ah. That makes sense. My job is scholar, after all. So, why do I have abilities of a combatant?

"You can fight and you fought better than most in the party." remarked Clammis. "How could you not have?" Her fingers are rubbing her chin.

"Better than you two?" I blurted out.

"Definitely." A quick answer escaped Muo Li's lips. "You basically slaughtered all the goblins and orcs in this room just like that." She emphasizes her point with a snap of her fingers.

Her actions doesn't look like something befitting of a medieval setting. Perhaps the setting isn't that medieval? God, I want to get out of here fast.

I know I have a lot of questions to ask but first and foremost, "Do you know the way out?"

The two women offer me silence as their response.

"I... do...." Tom timidly raises his hand.

Oh? That's good.

"You do?" Muo Li sounded skeptical.

"We.... come and go.... Food and water....teleport circle...."

I get the first part but what circle?

"Are you saying there's a teleportation formation here?" Muo Li asked.

Oh wow. That's convenient.

Tom nods.

"Make sense. They can't eat the magic beasts around here so they will have to go out and hunt for food."

And women too, don't forget. Putting my aside my undiscovered ill-manners, I ask "Magic beasts?"

"Magic beasts." Clammis repeated my question as her answer. Looks like we misunderstood each other's words.

"What I meant is, what's a magic beast?"

Muo Li cuts in when Clammis started looking skeptical for some reasons. "Ah that. Is just another way of calling the monsters. I suppose you had forgotten about that too. Magic beast is the something like the official term for monsters."

Ah~ I see. I nod at Muo Li's explanation.

Wait.

What was that about food and water?

"Food?" the word sloppily escaped my lips.

The two women don't seem to grasp my meaning from that one word.

"Hungry....?" Tom did.

I nod.

"You haven't eaten anything all this time?"

No, Muo Li. I did but.... "Does monster meat counts?" I look at the goblins when I answered. They look sad and confuse.

Tom, Muo Li, and Clammis have their mouth agape. Understandable but what do you want me to do? Starve?

Muo Li is the first to come back from the shock. "Are you serious?"

I nod. "See this hands? It became like this because I ate those monsters' flesh."

Then the two's expression took a huge shift. Tom still have his mouth agape. What is with this comical situation? Why? What's wrong?

"How are you still alive?" Clammis asked. Wow, that's rude.

"I wish I know."

"No....P...pain?" Tom asked.

"A huge amount actually. Which is why I vowed to never touch monster meat again if I can help it."

"That's awful." Muo Li muttered. I agree --

-- Or do you not mean the taste?

Wait, where am I going with this? "You said there's food here?" I am aware I sounded a little bit forced. Evident from the way I'm grasping on Tom's shoulders and having my face just in front of his. I was too hungry to even care about the lowest of etiquette.

"Come to think of it, we were fed something when we were use for their pleasure." Muo Li said. "It didn't taste awful. It's plain. From how we are still not feeling anything after so long, I guess it's edible?"

My eyes which have shifted towards Muo Li, shift back to Tom. "Where?"

"Any...w...where....." He points to the shelves, full of trinkets and some other unknown objects.

I'm guessing he's trying to say that the orcs and goblins store their food anywhere that has space.

I sigh. Let's hope it is really edible.

I ignore the eyes that have locked on to me, widened at my erratic behavior as I went around the room, fumbling, shuffling, rummaging, ransacking every drawer, corner, shelves, crook, or cranny for food. Or was it nook and cranny? Nah~ Don't care.

I will admit. I might look like a wild animal at the moment. But you three gotta understand, I haven't had any edible food for days now.

I then come across some lump of meat wrapped in leaves. I examine it close to my face and give it a sniff.

"Um...." I heard someone's murmur but I was focus on the meat.

There's an odor but faint, not enough to repulse the me who is starving for edible food. When I unwrapped it -- I can't tell if its raw or cooked, so I give it a taste.... Oh boy, this is quite good. It tastes raw but its edible. This taste so much better than that abominable meat that turned my hands into claws. Without minding my manners and surroundings, I greedily and hastily devour it.

"Er...." Tom seems to be calling out to me, his hand is reaching out to me and trembling. He wants to ask something?

"Wut?" I inquired while chewing.

"Orc....meat...." He said with a trembling voice.

.....

.....

.....

.....

"Say what now?" Is what I said but since my mouth is stuffed, it came out inaudible.

"Hyx, that's orc's flesh." Muo Li told me. Like Tom, she is staring at me in disbelief and her body is trembling.

Clammis is wearing an expression of shock and disgust. Even the goblins share the same expression.

Orc meat....?

Ah....

What....

the....

shit....?

I wanted to throw up what's in my mouth but my hunger held me back. I'm stuck in a weird position. My mind says no but my body is telling me yes, that kind of position. It just taste too good. So, with a "Sorry." I swallowed.

Muo Li seems to want to say something but her words stuck on her throat.

Dear god, please don't let there be any side effects.

I pray as my legs gave out. I managed to position myself to a sitting posture instead of just collapsing to the ground.

Okay.... nothing so far.... Let's hope nothing really do happen. I feel hot, though. Is something coming?

And you lots, please stop staring. It's uncomfortable.

How's my hands?

Yeah.... Still shaking. Intermittent. It's not gonna stop anytime now, is it? No physical changes? Not anywhere?

Nails are still broken and the wounds are still there.

"Are you alright?" Muo Li had came up to me and asked. Looks like she managed to clear her throat. She hands me a bottle of some cloudy water. "It's what the goblins gave us to drink. It's a little bit dirty but...." She trails off but I know what she wanted to say.

Since I ate orc meat without any hesitation, she doubts I will hesitate to drink some unclear water, is highly likely what she wants to say.

"I didn't know those were...." I responded as I looked away. "I'm sorry. I wasn't...."

"It's okay. I understand. You were just hungry." She put her hand on my shoulder. Your trembling hands is invalidating your words but....

Hmm....?

What's this warmth?

"Even if you have changed so much from when we first met you. We have no right to judge you. Not after what you have been through, not after everything that has happened."

I don't know if it's just me but Muo Li seems desperate to console me and her words seem to imply she have done some unsightly things.

"You can take a rest or sleep here, if you want." Clammis told me. "We can keep a lookout."

That's generous. "Is it a good idea to stay here?" I asked. I'm pretty sure they don't. Not after what happened to them in this room.

"It's alright. I know you're being considerate for us." Muo Li assures me.

How the fuck did you know what I was thinking?

"You always were very considerate. What's more, from the look of your condition, you might have been through much worse than us. I think you deserve some rest."

I don't think you can compare it like that, missy.

"No...." Tom interjected.

"No? Why's that?" Clammis asked.

Why?

Hm?

Are those....

Ah. That's why.

"He's right." I agreed.

"What's wrong?" Muo Li asked when she sees my eyes staring intently at the tunnel where I came from.

"The goblins who ran away, they're coming back here. They brought some friends."

On hearing my words, Clammis and Muo Li's eyes darted at Tom, demanding answers.

"There's other.... tribes here. Must go.... now."

Bruh.

Can't you say that sooner?

"Any other way out from here?" I spoke in the weird language to include the goblins too.

"Wait. I think there is but allow me some time to recall." Wow, what's with the change of tone and accent, Tom? You sounded almost like Idris Elba there.

While Tom struggles to remember, the goblins have already responded.

"Here. Here. Over Here. Secret passage. Emergencies."

"Yes yes. Emergencies here."

"Aye."

"Aye."

"What did they say?" Muo Li asked, her eyes tracing where their fingers pointed.

"Secret passage, emergency exit." And my tone changed. "We gotta move now! They're coming." Yeap, I changed my tone because I heard those critters closing in. They don't sound happy.

Wait....

What....

My hearing, they're excellent. Huh....

"Hyx." Clammis shook me.

"What?"

"Tell the orc.... Tell Tom and the goblins to gather whatever useful trinkets or objects in this room." Clammis said. You were going to call him "the orc", aren't you?

I relay what Clammis said to Tom and the goblins.

The goblins simply pick up the fallen swords, knife, and shield. They don't seem interested in anything else. Sure you don't need to pack some food?

While Tom on the other hand, he goes into a corner of the room. Remove a piece of slate from the floor and retrieves two sacks.

"What's in there?"

"Magic scrolls and provisions. I secretly collects them. None of my idiot kin knows about it despite that I'm not even trying to be conspicuous about it." He then throws the provision sack to me. "You can have them.

Damn, Tom. What's with the sudden shift of your character?

"Are you guys done?" Muo Li shouted. She is holding a sword, bracing herself from what's coming from the tunnel. Don't mean to be rude but you're not gonna be very helpful if they come in numbers.

"Yeah. We're done."

"Alright then, let's go."

"Wait." Tom said. "Be...f...fore that...."

Um.... Tom, what are you doing?

He stands in front of the tunnel where the goblins are coming closer and closer.

{Element that incinerates and obliterates, fire that engulf my enemies in a flash, Firebolt}

Tom said a chant in the same odd language he used for the other spell. The firebolt shot out from his hand and explodes on impact, collapsing the tunnel. I saw one goblin trying to make a dash for it but it was too slow. At least you tried.

But what is that language? ..... Wait, I know what the language is. I recognized it. It's Helix.

Why the hell do I know that?

After collapsing the tunnel, Tom turn to us. The collapse raised a cloud of smoke and the fire burned out, right behind him. It reminds of the saying in my world "Cool guys don't look at explosions."

"Let's.... go...." He then spoke, in Common.

Well.... that ruined everything.