The sun.....

It was shining brightly, dazzling as ever during the peak of the day.

The cool breeze carries the sweet fragrance of the lovely flowers.

And during the night, the freezing air substituted with a slight chilled temperature.

Summer's here.

The hottest among the four seasons. Yet, Ninehearts offered such luxurious climate. The perfect place to be during the summer.

Other nations suffer blazing heat in the day and a mild warm, absent of the usual chilled breeze during the night.

Ah.... Ninehearts.

A nation which has its name derived from its foundation, a single but the most influential religion, the Faith of the Nines. It is also believe to be the largest faith all across the largest continent of Evarenan, Nexus.

Approximately more than three quarters of the people in this nation are complete devout to the Nines.

But as far as I know, they have yet to perform any deeds that would label them as fanatics or zealots.

Thank the Nines for that, I guess.

I was not looking forward to such a nation.

And here I was, in the middle of the noon, crouching among fields of floras. While it doesn't have an official name, most people just called this place, The Gardens. If it were up to me, I would name it Eden. I heard it meant paradise or something in a certain dead language.

The flowers, they are simply marvelous and quite potent with various properties.

Well, to the masses they might be just some flowers but I know they are no ordinary flowers. At least a great dozen of them have medicinal properties and I intend to harvest a few of those for my experiments.

What experiments? That's still a secret.

I will admit, it was odd for a twelve year old to keep secrets that involves medicinal herbs.

"Hyx? You do know we are not allow to even step into field, let alone picking them." My new friend, Felix Talron warned me. He was a year older than me.

As natural as I could, I turned to him, "Everything will be fine. Nobody will notice a few missing flowers. I don't think the ground keepers themselves even keep track of the number of flowers in this garden, do you?" assuring him with the most assuring smile I could put up.

Felix sighed. "That's not the point here, Hyx. The priests will heftily punish you for this. You aren't a noble anymore. You don't get out of trouble with your name anymore.

"Yes. I realized that. People have been reminding me for every second in my wake now so thank you for the needless reminders." I said some words that weren't meant for a kid like me and resume picking the flowers.

Sorry. Harvesting, I meant to say.

"If someone catches us here, I am not taking the blame with you."

And you said you were willing to accompany me to everywhere I wish to go, that was only yesterday.

"Wow. Not a week has gone by and I'm already betray by a friend I made yesterday. Ha. At least my family has the decency to wait for at least ten years."

"I don't remember becoming your friend."

"I don't either." I retorted with another smile.

This time, his frustration evolved from a sigh to a groan. "Can you at least do it fast?"

"Don't worry. No one comes here anyway despite this place being more spiritual than the place where they held the sermon."

I expected a retort from Felix but when I received none, I looked at him. He was standing with a straight posture, his eyes forward.

What's with the greeting stance?

"I agree on this place being more spiritual than the main church itself." A woman's voice full of dignity and resolution flow into my ears. I stiffed at such voice.

When did she got close to me? I didn't hear her approaching.

Curses.

"But what I can't agree is that your remark about nobody ever treads into such a beautiful garden."

I held back a groan. I didn't think I would actually curse my luck with those words. What a big mouth I have.

Felix who had saw the woman approaching was already in a stance for greeting. Traitor.

"Captain Vira." His greeting consist of only standing with a straight back and nodding slightly. I saw the soldiers back at my home city greets with a click of their heels. It made Felix's greeting looked slacking.

Wait....

.... What?

Captain Vira?

As in Vira Ninehearts?

The promising Elite Knight under tutelage of the Blade Emperor himself?

The rumored heir to the [Grace of the Nines]?

I had never met her but I had heard countless whispers in the wind about her. Her feats and exploits are remarkable and exceptional. She is not someone you would want to meet in a back alley even in the middle of a day.

Steeling my nerves, I got up and turned to greet her too. "Captain Vira." I saluted to her.

Oh.... what.....

She's no woman. She's a lady.

And she's beautiful.

Damn, her voice sounded more mature than she looks.

My calm facade which I had always put on to greet someone of a higher standing, crumbled before a figure that is probably more important than most I had met other than the Cardinal himself.

It wasn't just her body or her face but also the way she carried herself. Everything about her spells elegant and dignity.

But...

I couldn't help but saw anguish and desolation underneath her dazzling amber eyes.

She must have some history but I knew that information is stamped with privilege.

Although, even the solemn air around her was alluring in a way.

"Felix." Vira nodded back to him with a gentle smile. Her upturned eyes then switched to me. Before she spoke, her eyes have already transmitted the message of "I afraid I don't recognize you." to me.

Damn. She was frightening too.

Calming my shaking voice, I introduced myself. "My name's Hyx Valerius." Good. My voice wasn't shaking

"Oh?" She uttered.

Damn. I didn't think she was capable of such a surprised look. It was too lovely but why did she said an "oh" with such look?

Wait.

What did I just say?

Oh. Damn the Nines.

"I'm sorry. I have been remiss, Captain Vira. Thousand apologies. My name is now Hyx Atlas."

She raised an eyebrow at my self-reprimand. I was sure she would press on for the reason but... "I'm sure you have a good reason for that." She said so in a way that could either indicate my blunder or the change of my name.

Ambiguous words.

She then extended her hand.

If this was still a week ago, I would have took her hand and gave a kiss but I wasn't a noble, not anymore.

I just took it and did without the kiss. I really wanted to kiss those soft and pale hands of hers though.

"Please to make your acquaintance." She said as we shook hands.

"Likewise." I responded.

And that was how I first met Vira Ninehearts, a Templar Elite Knight at the age of seventeen, who later ascended to the rank of Arch Knight at eighteen.

Devouring a person's soul not only grants me their power but also their knowledge and memories. Thanks to this, I have gotten to know a lot of information for the outside world that I'm bound to adjourn into. I guess I won't have to worry so much about common sense for this world now.

Although the memories of the late Clammis are still being sorted in my mind, I don't mind it. I got more pressing matters to worry about at hand.

I hate to go against something I just promised but I will have to leave devouring you for later, Clammis. I got company.

"You know who I am?" Vira asked and stood in a composed manner. Her grip on her swords neither tightened nor loosened.

Steadily, I stand up to meet her gaze. She's taller than I remember, taller than me. "Why wouldn't I?" I asked. "We have been acquainted for three years now." If memory serves.

"Hyx Atlas is the one been acquainted to me for three years, not you." She answered so as composed as ever. I didn't sense even a slight hesitation in her words.

"I am Hyx Atlas."

She raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you believe or what you want me to believe?"

I get the feeling that she has the notion of me being some sort of a monster trying to deceive her.

I bring my hand before my eyes.

Ah.... I can't blame her for notions.

Well, the black veins back then have reached my hands. Even without a mirror, I can safely assume that my face is probably covered in them. Which would explain Vira's skepticism in my claim. Plus, I have fangs for teeth and a tail now.

Hm? My tail has became black in color as oppose to a pale green when I last saw it. Did consuming Clammis' soul changed the color?

Mah... Not important right now.

"Can you prove your bold claims?" She asked in a manner which sounded more like a challenge. She even accentuated her hidden meaning with her white sword pointing at me.

Damn it. This isn't how I want it to go.

No other choice. I suppose showing her the status card might help.

I take out the status card which belonged to Muo Li, I lay bare the information projected from the card before Vira to inspect.

Ah.

Oops.

Shit.

Name: Hyx Atlas

Gender: Male

Age: 15

Race: Unknown

Status: Undefined

Okay. My status and race are not helping with my claim. If anything, it worsened it.

Fuck.

What happened? Did the changes happened because of me harvesting a soul or was it because of my cannibalism? Either one or both of them, definitely the latter.

Crap!

"Three unique Arcane Arts and three more Arcane Arts that don't seem probable for a mere scholar. Race, unknown. Status, undefined." She reads it out with her head inclined. Damn, she's working her body language well. "Are you confirming my suspicions or you're just not very bright?" I remember how good she is with words and especially retorts.

What to do?

I don't want to fight her. She's my boss. A potential ally. A friend and someone that I presumably planned to propose to if that is what the ring's purpose is. Although, I can't say that I hold the same exact feelings for her as I did before my memory loss.

"Amusing." Vira remarked. "Most mimics or deceptive monsters would have already start running away with tails between their legs." I don't know if it's just me but she seems to enjoy sneering at me. "Have you perhaps planned for combat?"

I can't say I didn't the moment I saw you.

Worse comes to worse, a fight will likely happen between us two.

I sighed through my nose. "Is there any other way to convince you that I am Hyx Atlas?"

"Your previous name?" A second chance came immediately from Vira.

My previous name? My name back on earth? No. That's not it.

What did she mean? Come one, think. What did she meant by that?

My previous name....

Exiled...

Did I perhaps have a different name prior to my exile?

Even if that's the case, I can't remember. Though some memories did return but now my mind is assembling the memories of Clammis. I can't recall any more memories of the old Hyx.

Ah shit. This is going to end so badly. Damn it.

I end up laughing, ridiculing myself.

"I take it you give up your deceptions?" She asked but I don't feel a question from her.

"If I'm not Hyx Atlas, what are you going to do?"

A smile formed on her face. "What I'm being taught to do and what I do best."

Even without context, I know what she meant. It has to end this way after all.

Well, let's just hope I'll walk off my remaining feelings for her.

[Soul Harvest], one of its function, replenishes my health and Mana from consuming souls. So, I have recovered some health and Mana. I am not at my best however, but I will make do.

I summon [Abyssal Edge] into my right hand.

Oh? They are longer and bigger. [Abyssal Edge] that is, not the other thing under the belly.

And the moment I clad myself with [Magic Enhancement], I find Vira already standing four feet away from me when she should have been at least more than fifteen feet away.

Ah?

I received a fresh scar on my left cheek.

Eh?

When did I?

And another scar on my nose.

What the?

I invoke clarity field and right on time, it tells me of the danger that is headed for my neck. I dodge the lethality of that attack but I received another scar on my neck.

"You're better than I thought, mimic." Vira said, observing the blood that have gotten on the white blade of hers.

I take back everything I said about the monsters. Vira beats all of them in terms of speed. Without [Clarity Field] and [Mana Perception] together, I could never see her attacks coming.

She is not using her black sword.

Using only her white sword in her left hand, she unleashes a flurry of attacks which I have trouble avoiding every strike. I tried to guard it with [Abyssal Edge] but her white sword sliced through the purplish black energy of a blade. A clean slice even.

Without [Magic Enhancement], I would not have still be in one piece from those attacks that hit.

Whenever I tried to create distance between us, she close the gap faster than I could say "Shit!"

She defended against [Force Push] with some kind of shield made of light.

Whenever I find a gap in her guard, she blinks away from my attack.

When I was able to create distance from her, she used a magic that resembles what I would call a laser.

She blocked multiple [Abyssal Javelin] with small floating bucklers of light.

She even has her own version of multiple [Abyssal Javelin] except her javelins are made of light. They ripped through [Plane Displacement] and [Magic Enhancement].

Damn it. Just how much tricks does she has under her sleeves?

However, I know the problem isn't the quantity of her spells nor her techniques but her timing and aim of her strikes and spell casts. I didn't think such precision was possible and not to mention her unparalleled speed and also her chantless spell casting.

If I'm a monster then what does that make her?

....

I already know.

In fact, I can't help but see her in such a light.

A reaper. That's what she is.

My Reaper.

I gulped at the realization that she's in a league of her own and it is way above mine.

I can't win against her. I don't even have the optimism like I do for Aedrox. She's clearly better at being a monster than I am.

But.... then....

Can she picked up where I failed?

I have to sacrifice Clammis in order to save Muo Li and the others but if it's her....

Can she lead them out of here without being hindered by any more bumps in the road? With her skills and abilities, that is highly likely. A better choice than me. I should appeal this to her. Perhaps it would even paints me in a benevolent light.

....

Yeah, right. I just committed cannibalism right in front of her eyes. She's no saint to overlook that.

I don't think a bona fide saint would even overlook that.

I raise my palm and Vira understood what that gesture meant.

"Appealing for mercy?"

I ignored the smirk on her face. "Behind me, there are two humans, Muo Li and Lubac."

Her smirk disappeared then. "And what about them?" She asked, knitting her brows.

"Obviously, I wasn't exactly democratically elected to lead them out of this dungeon and I ain't the best choice of being a leader. Well, not anymore, with you here." I pointed at Vira. "Can you?"

She has a vacant stare for awhile before she burst out laughing.

Either I'm a natural comedian or she had just lost it.

She eventually stopped her sudden outburst of laughter.

"I can't." Almost like the confidence all this while was just a facade, she now has face of some in grieve. "You asked this of me because you realized the difference in our power but.... it doesn't matter. They are all dead. Every last one of them."

What is she saying? "Who?" I asked.

She gives me a frail smile. "Everyone." And she resumes attacking.

Without even having a chance to decipher her vague words, I'm dodging every hit with short distance [Spatial Leap]. I can feel my Mana decreasing at an alarming rate with this technique.

She has gotten even faster. Her white sword instantly cuts down every magic and spell before the conjurations were even completed.

Ah!

I exclaimed when my four fingers on my right hand are sliced off.

I didn't want to fight her but I have to get serious now if I even want to have a chance to survive.

Before [Distort] even begin to materialize, Vira has already avoided the point of effect.

How the.... Does she has a sixth sense?

She drives the white blade at me when I'm still in wonderment.

If this is your favorite sword, you shouldn't have used it against me. Not sorry.

I cut the white blade into half with [Sever] and thrust an [Abyssal Edge] at her.

Her look of surprise was only present for a split second before her composure returned. She guarded [Abyssal Edge] with the black sabre in her right hand.

[Abyssal Edge] dissipates the moment it touches the jet-black blade of the sabre.

Through [Mana Perception], I can tell the purplish black energy is absorbed by the sabre itself. Must be an innate ability of the sabre. How curious.

Vira casts aside the broken white sword and lifts her palm to my eye level. Light gathers at her palm.

Before realization hit, the gather light burst into my sight.

A flashbang. What's with everyone having the same ideas?

[Clarity Field] tells me that Vira is aiming for my neck. I move in a way to avoid the decapitation but her attack pattern shifts with my maneuver. I didn't get my head dismembered but I received a grave wound on my neck.

I pour Mana into my stomp and raises a cloud of dust. With the smokescreen in effect, I am finally able to create some distance between me and the Arch Knight.

I'm panting. I'm not out of breath nor out of Mana. I'm panting from mental exhaustion. I can't keep up with her thought process. It's terrifying.

"Oh?" Her tone sounded mischievous. "Can't keep up anymore?" Another sentence with ambiguous meaning.

Maybe not handing Muo Li to Vira is the right choice. She seems unhinged.

From her words just now, I deduce she has lost all her comrades and she broke from that. Is she seeking blind vengeance now?

No. Doesn't matter.

She's unhinged and that's it. No use in thinking any further. It's obvious that she is not willing to listen to anything I said. This is truly regrettable.

Deciding that fighting her would not be the best course, I slowly make my retreat while I cloak myself with [Presence Detachment]. I want to use [Spatial Leap] but it's too conspicuous and I don't think I can compete speed with her.

Be careful in not disturbing the smallest pebbles on the ground, I take small steps away from Vira.

She tilts her head. She doesn't look like she understood what just happened. To her, I just up and vanished before her eyes.

"Was it you?" She asked.

What was me? I didn't ask back out loud of course.

"The dead monsters and goblins, were they your handiwork?"

Ah.... She must have came across the bodies of the fallen. I have felt like someone was on our trail, even when we were resting in the small inconspicuous cave. Was it her? Well, whether it was her or not, she's not wrong in that question though.

"I take that as a yes."

I raised an eyebrow.

You can't even see me. What did you took as a yes from me?

She grinned like she found something amusing.

{Element that illuminates the paths in darkness, a sword of light and benevolence, Durandal}

A chant? And in Helix?

Why does she needs to chant? Hasn't she been casting spells without chants all this time? Why chant now?

A greatsword made of pure light conjures up in her left hand. A replacement for the white sword that I broke.

Wielding Durandal with a reverse grip, "You can't run and you can't hide, Mimic." she said.

Raising her hand over her shoulder and head --

Why does that pose looks familiar?

-- slanting her body back --

Is she....?

-- and she swings her whole body forward along with her left hand.

Ah.... Oh.

Just like me, she used the greatsword made of pure light as a javelin like I did with the lance.

But....

How did she.....!

I meant to ask how she knew where I am but I didn't even get to finish my thoughts.

There was just simply no time for it.

I broke off [Presence Detachment] and cast an overloaded [Plane Displacement].

Oh. That sucks.

That space barrier ability of mine has been useless as of late.

The moment I saw it shattered by Durandal, I dove to the side. It was a little bit too late however.

I mean I avoided it from going through my chest but....

It pierced into my right shoulder, ripping and tearing through my flesh, dismembering my right arm in the process.

Before my eyes, my right arm waved goodbye and blood splattered the walls, ceiling, and ground.

"I need a hand here" seems like the appropriate metaphor for my current condition.

Damn. I wish I can have a heads-up display of my status. I can feel how much Mana I have but not my health. I'm simply judging my health with the numbers of wounds I received.

I want to be able to see my HP bar.

My nerves eventually gave out and so did my legs. Both of them felt like jelly at the moment.

I look at my missing right arm.

Remnant of flesh dangling on the fresh wound and blood dripping non-stop.

Quite an unsettling sight.

Vira shakes her head in disappointment.

What are you so disappointed about?

This bitch.

But I have to hand it to her, she's good.

She even thought of hiding her killing intents. My instincts is silent because of the lack of murderous aura from her. Normally, anything that are trying to kill me, they gave out their murderous intent like a leaking faucet.

Not Vira. She kept it well hidden.

Yet, she still looks like a reaper in my eyes.

A reaper without murderous intent....

I raised an eyebrow at such a terrifying thought.

"You...." I heard Vira called out and so, I look at her. "You're not screaming nor seething with your teeth. Do you not feel pain?"

To be honest, having your arm cut off hurts less than a paper cut. Must be because of the trauma your body is sub-consciously going through but that's the case for normal people. I'm just what she said, I don't feel pain. Well, not as much as people normally do.

"I don't." I answered in just two simple words.

"Yet, you're still Hyx Atlas?" she asked.

I thought she came through a bit but her deviant smile and eyes told me she was merely ridiculing my claims. I don't remember her being so coy, at least not in the memories that I have remembered.

She takes a step forward and I crawl a step back.

"Look at you.... Just like a bug.... Waiting to be squash right now...." Her ridicules knew no boundaries.

My gaze dropped to the ground. I can't stand her eyes. The way she's looking at me.

My left hand curled into a fist and it is trembling with anger and frustration.

Why does nothing goes well?

Still....

I wonder if she is just really pissed off of me for killing "Hyx Atlas". In the memories, she doesn't show it but I think she's actually quite fond of Hyx.

Perhaps she really is blinded by vengeance after all and like always, she doesn't show it.

I didn't want it to end like this....

But....

It is what it is.

Damn i....

Huh?

What's that?

Ah?

Oh.

I forgot about that person.

My eyes slowly widen.

Vira was about to ask what brings the change to my facial expression but she later realized I was looking at something behind her. She didn't doubt my change of expression and she traces my line of sight.

And we both found ourselves staring at a humanoid, clad in an armor formed of raw minerals of the dungeon. It's right arm is a massive blade in contrast to its normal sized left hand. Its eyes glowed an intense dark purple.

It points its right arm at me.

"Harbinger!"

Aedrox fulminated my sobriquet.

"Harbinger?" mused Vira.

There isn't any wounds or cracks on its body. I was sure I hurt the very essence of Aedrox. Either I didn't really hurt it or it has an insane recovery speed. Probably the latter.

"Why Common?" I asked.

{Penchant for Helix?}

Hmm.... "Common will do." I chose.

"Helix?" Vira said it like she couldn't believe it. "What are you?"

"An entity born of the Void." It answered.

"The Void?" She's knitting her eyebrows. "How is this possible?"

She asked a question that she found an answer to immediately, or at least that's what her facial expression relays to me.

Now.... what to do?

Should I escape with her?

I look at my right arm.... where it should be.

Maybe I should consider an alternative that doesn't involves her.

Seeing as how she has no problem ending my life without a single hesitation, I don't intend to ask her to join me in my journey out of this hellhole.

Well, I did have that intent at first but not anymore.

I invoke [Light Drop] in conjecture with [Overload].

"Vira." I called out to Vira who has her eyes fixed on Aedrox. She turned.

"Goodbye." I bid her.

And the pseudo flash grenade explodes.

In that short moment of blinding flash, I cast multiple [Spatial Leap] in succession, moving away from the two. To ensure they wouldn't catch up to me in just minutes, I made a hundred feet long collapse of the passage with [Energy Sphere].

Forgive me, Vira.

If the situation was any different, we might be able to get along but not like this.

If this was the old me, the Hyx prior to memory loss, I don't think I would leave Vira behind even if she took my right arm but I am not that boy anymore.

I need to grow up.

I need to make the best choice in the toughest situation.

I can't bring that unhinged and unstable woman to my party which is filled with four goblins and an orc.

.....

No.

Two goblins.

Two..... goblins.....

Shit.

How am I gonna tell Tom?

Curse!

With such heavy heartfelt thoughts, I pressed on, leaving Vira behind with an ancient monster that might just be her match.

I know it would not mean much now, but....

Please don't die, Vira.

Win.

Then mayhap we could meet again when both of us have a clear mind.

Perhaps we can resume our long awaited banters then?