«It hurts! My arm hurts!»(Me)

I woke up with a terrifying pain in my right arm. This horrific pain is coming from the missing part of my arm. This is much more painful than anything I ever felt...

(Devouring monster)

WHY THOUGH?!

(Devouring monster)

Looks like I'll have to deal with it huh?

(Devouring monster)

You really are talkative today...

I get out and right as I take 3 steps outside, a hairy man shouts out to me.

«HEY YOUNG MAN! You're Jim right?»(Monkey person?)

Now that I look closely... He is really short. Is he a dwarf?

«Yeah, that's me.»(Me)

«Great! Luckily I decided to go there on the first day, opposing the higher ups opinions! Come with me!»(Hairy dwarf)

«Wait a second. Where are we going and why is that lucky?»(Me)

«I'm going to show you the faction I'm in! You should always join a faction on the first few days unless you want to be bullied by others!»(Hairy dwarf)

So if I don't have the backing of a faction, I'll have a bad time? Wow...

«And I'm lucky because you have great potential! Most higher ups from the factions don't go to the first two days of the tournament so that they won't lose time watching battles between weak people. You were one of those unlucky to be strong and have potential but just not enough to defeat one of the first enemies. As so, I'm the only one from a faction coming to recruit you!»

He kind of explained most of my doubts... everyone that acquires power becomes like that no matter if they are human or not...

We arrive at a Big factory-like building and go in. Inside most people are working on making weapons and others are testing said weapons. This seems like a blacksmiths faction.

«Don't get this wrong, we are not a blacksmiths faction, we are a warrior's faction. The thing here is that while we give great importance to one's weapons, most other factions only care about raw power. So while they are exhausting their talent, we are refining ours.»(Hairy dwarf)

«What will I get for joining apart from backing?»(Me)

«Well, it all depends on if you do join. But I can promise you that you will get a brand new weapon!»

I look at the dwarf full of doubts in my mind. But after looking at the smug face the dwarf was making... I made a decision.

«That looks suspicious and with quite a lot of things in that you kept hidden... I'm in.»(Me)

The Dwarf started to look disappointed until I said I wanted to join. From that point onwards he was smiling from ear to ear.

«If that's so I guess I can tell you something more! We here give very high importance to weapons, as such, you will forge your own weapon with a secret technique of ours and make a weapon so good you will keep it for life!»(Hairy dwarf)

So it's that kind of secrets this faction holds? I was expecting something like "You'll need to sell part of your soul to us".

«So do I have some sort of initiation?»(Me)

«Oh yes. But you'll have to make a vow of silence. Even if you fail the initiation, which will probably not happen, you will not spill our secrets to outsiders. You will not even hint at them existing. Understood?»

«Yeah, that's understandable.»

After hearing my answer, the hairy dwarf pulls a lever and a secret door opens on one of the walls. After going through, a whole new world appeared before my eyes.

«Welcome to the actual faction hall!»(Hairy dwarf)

In front of me, there were all kinds of things. Things from training camps that were fit for warriors, for mages, or even thieves. There were gigantic buildings where teaching would take place. And the biggest of all was, without doubt, the forges. The forges were twice as big as the camps and the buildings together. Inside you could see all kinds of materials to your weapon and armor. Everything from copper to platinum to other materials that I don't recognize were there.

«I'm kind of impressed...»

«Don't underestimate the Metal Warriors buddy!»

I get it now... I should have doubted it before but it didn't even pass through my mind... The Metal Warriors were one of the top 10 factions around here. Some even say they are the strongest but as they keep most of their power a secret, they barely make it into the top ten as their known numbers are very small. Those were true. Looking at this place makes me feel like they are very powerful but at the same time, I can't see a lot of people. They were all over the place and there were only 200 around every one of the 3 main places.

«Now as initiation, you will make your own weapon!»(Hairy dwarf)

«Is that really it?»(Me)

So they will have me make a weapon? Just that is enough?

«Yeah so now I'll tell you how you'll make it. Be ready to surprise me because I'll be evaluating you!»(Hairy dwarf)

We get into a vacant room and inside there is every kind of tool needed for forging a weapon is present.

«Now I'll tell you the secret technique we use here... This technique makes forging much easier but also much harder at the same time so pay close attention. Once your chosen metal is in a liquid state you will put a part of your soul into the metal and then pour it into the mold. You can also but more than one kind of metal and even put other things like blood into the molten metal to get special effects on your weapon. Then it's done! Oh and remember that no matter what mold you put the molten metal into, it will always become the weapon that most fits your soul.»(Hairy dwarf)

Seems simple enough but how do I do that? While I was thinking, a light appeared in the dark...

(Devouring monster)

Really? What kind of idea is that?

(Devouring monster)

That's not really the kind of explanation I was expecting but I have no other ideas so I'll go along with it.

I look at the many kinds of metal and one seems to have some kind of aura.

«What metal is this?»(Me)

«Not telling you! That is also part of the test!»(Hairy Dwarf)

(Devouring monster)

What do you mean by that? How do you know?

(Devouring monster)

Well, thanks then I guess?

After picking a nice amount of metal and putting it over the fire, I sit and wait for it to become a liquid.

«Hmmm, that metal might not be the best... That one is a very versatile metal but it's very weak at first. It can be improved but it's kind of hard unless you know of the right method for your specific weapon.»(Hairy dwarf)

So once I get to that point of no return he'll actually tell me what it is?

After the metal becomes completely liquid, which too 5 minutes because I got bored and used a combo of flame and air magic to swiftly increase the temperature, I get a random mold ready.

(Devouring monster)

All right but what kind of result will I get?

(Devouring monster)

What I wish the most? Let's see what he mean by that... I open the jar and drop everything from inside of it into the metal and watch it start emitting a bright light while I pour it into the mold. The lights had a white color but suddenly started changing to a really dark purple color. The metal wobbled around a bit and then took the shape of a sword about the size of me, maybe slightly bigger?

«Well, that was unexpectedly good! Not only did you pour a piece of your soul, you also poured one of your skills! Now both you and the weapon share souls and that skill as one. That's impressive!»(Hairy dwarf)

I GET IT NOW!

(Devouring monster)

So you are now inside of my weapon along with all of my "humanity"?

(Devouring monster)

And you used that metal because it can grow stronger with the god eater skill am I right?

AWESOME!

(Devouring monster)

With those words, I grab my new sword. It's much lighter than it looks. As of appearance, it's gorgeous dark sword.

«So, What will you name this sword?»(Hairy dwarf)

«hmm, what about Excal...»(Me)

«Taken. Be original please.»(Hairy dwarf)

Won't even let me finish the name...

«What about "God eater"?»(Me)

«hmm... Seems to fit such a large dark blade so... I guess it's alright?»

I then swing it a few times as if getting used to it, put it on my back and walk out of the faction zone. It's actually quite dark already so I walk to the dorms.

«Hey, Jim!»(Mirim)

«What happened?!»(Me)

Mirim appears from out of nowhere, which means that she came from the arena now and I didn't notice. And she is full of injuries.

«The same as who did that to your arm... That handsome bastard almost killed me...»(Mirim)

So that fucker also almost killed her? I'm gonna pay him back someday.

«So anyway, next week school actually starts and we'll have a field trip already. We'll have to form groups and we'll have to go hunt in the nearby forest. Wanna be in the same group with me and Galgo?»(Mirim)

Is that so? Wait a second...

«Yeah it's good for me but where is Galgo?»(Me)

«Oh, I defeated him and he is probably still crying in a corner somewhere.»(Mirim)

Well, that's harsh...

We have some more chitchat and go into our rooms and sleep for the night.

Looking at it now, those times were quite funny... Little did I know that in a week, my whole life would change...