Chapter 11: The humanoid creature (1)

It wasn't only Ramie who felt bitter, but so did Lance, who had an ugly complexion on him at the moment!

A day ago, Lance started feeling weird sensation in his body, or to be more exact; in the area around his stomach.

It was a faint feeling at first, but then, it started intensifying slowly and steadily, turning into a weird sensation of flowing warmth.

Anyway, as he knew that the only still functioning hospital was in the refugee camp in the east side of this city, he kept it to himself.

It went on till the earlier battle with the creature.

When he saw that his son in law was about to be killed, he shed all the hesitation in his heart away, deciding to take in the rein once more.

And it happened in that exact moment!

It started in his gut area, then, spread to all over his body.

These few moments as the creature jumped toward Neil, seemed to have stretched out endlessly, and even the time seems to come to a standstill.

Lance felt massive volumes of invigorating warm energy coursing madly within his body, making him feel an indescribably overflowing energy of life encompasses him and make him stronger, faster… livelier….

He felt as though he was at his prime, as his body throbbed with vigor and strength. He had never felt this way, not in his entire lifetime, the feeling was simply too wondrous!

But this was not the time to marvel.

As the creature landed on the immobile Neil, he exploded forth with a surging power and escalating momentum that gave him the feeling that this creature was not his match! That he could thrash him about effortlessly!

Luckily, this feeling was not an illusion, but a genuine sense of real changes occurring within his body. Thus, he surged toward Neil to kill the creature.

At that moment, he saw the creature runs away from him. And with that, his confidence rose like a tide. And he decided to pursue and finish off the damn thing.

As he rushed toward the creature again, he didn't feel the need to dodge the pieces of heavy furniture lying in his path, it felt necessary.

So, he burst forth like unstoppable train, as the sense of the new power overflowed madly in his body, shooting up his momentum even further.

It was at this moment that he made the mistake…

This new raging power surged madly within him, giving him an overwhelming sense of supremacy and dominance, making him feel as though there was nothing he couldn't handle. And that if he wanted, he could even smash a part anything standing in his way, and take on the entire world.

He had let this feeling get into his head, and get the better of him! He had misjudged his priorities, going after the creature instead of protecting the two, Thus, giving the creature an opening to go after them.

Luckily, the other youth with them reacted in time. And with some stroke of luck, it went without accidents, with no one losing his life.

So, as he carried Neil, and moved with Ramie back to the apartment in the second floor, he felt it in his heart!

He didn't know how, but he did. This new found energy in him… Was the life energy the voice had spoken of!

As for the reason why he thought so; it was because if he had to describe how this energy felt like or how did it make him feel, in one word… Then, it would unquestionably be the word 'life!'

Besides, he remembered the voice saying something about using this life energy to resist the creature and to survive.

And that was exactly what this energy enabled him to do!

Without it, they would have died no matter what they did, especially with the creature's strength and speed that normal people had no way to resist.

Not only did this energy made him feel to in optimal vigorous physical condition, but it also gave him hope.

At the moment, he was thinking of one thing! And that was hoping that this feeling of the energy coursing through his body was not an illusion! That it wouldn't wear off and disappear like the Adrenalin rushes he used to have back on his job in the elites.

Fortunately, even after they came back to the apartment, and with the passage of time, it didn't.

But he still focused on this warm stream of energy in his body, fearing that it would go away if he shifted his focus to anything else.

Luckily it didn't, making him feel a strong sense of security and control of his situation.

That sense however did not last long, shattering with one thunderous roar.

As the two massive creatures outside confronted each other, all the confidence he had mustered vanished away into smoke.

He felt as though not even a thousand of him would be enough to even scratch that pure indestructible monstrosity.

It made him feel helpless!

He felt as though he was insignificant low form of life staring at an invincible titan! It made him feel sick; it made lose the will to resist!

He sat down near Neil, and leaning on the wall, a bitter look on his face.

A he was lost in his own thoughts, Ramie who sat beside him spoke.

"Mr. Lance! That was 'something' outside… right?"

Ramie couldn't help but to say, dejectedly. His expression was terrible.

Although they both had witnessed the out of the world confrontation just now, considering everything, it could be still said that things progressed rather well, as the two giant things went their own ways, away from here.

So, for the mean time, they would be fine.

But right now, Lance had a bleak aura of despair lingering around him, as if he had given up.

Although on the long run, the situation seemed exceedingly gloomy, but if he allowed this kind of thinking to take over his mentality, then he'd die even faster.

So, Ramie resisted falling into such line of thought by busying himself in thinking of other things.

Being asked by Ramie, Lance forced out two words in response. He didn't even look at him.

"…am… fine…"

Seeing him barely responsive, Ramie wanted to initiate a conversation with him to divert his own thoughts and this policeman's into how to survive through this for now, instead of what might happen in the long run.

Thus, trying to busy himself and Lance out of the dark circle of thoughts, he spoke to him.

"Mr. Lance! I think I know what the voice had meant by the words magic artifact and life energy!"

"Oh… You do?"

Hearing these words, Lance raised his head; his interest was piqued by these words.

His face was weary, and his eyes were a bit sunken, making him look older than his age.

Rising up his left arm, Ramie showed Lance his bracelet.

"I think this is what the voice had meant by the words magic artifact…"

Afterward, Ramie went on explaining what had transpired before, during, and after the confrontation with the creature.

Lance too on the other hand told him of what happened at his end. And Ramie was completely shocked at his words.

Before, it was not conformed, but now after hearing it from Lance, it made him feel a bit of regret for having the artifact instead of the life energy.

Strength!

Speed!

Who wouldn't want that?

Anyway, it was the artifact that he got! Examining it, it seemed to project readings in his mind every time he looks intently at his artifact or at Lance or Neil.

And the manner in which these readings were projected was very similar to games interfaces; which was very weird.

It made him a bit uncomfortable, as another question just joined the endless lines of questions yet to be answered in his mind…

But looking at it from another perspective, this particularity did make using these artifacts easier to understand.

However, right now, he was in a bit of dilemma.

The last line in the projected information was a real problem. As every time he processes it, certain information is projected in his mind, displaying the option to cast the spell.

Although terms such as magic and spells were something that only existed in stories, games, etc…

But considering everything that had happened so far, these terms weren't really enough to invoke his disbelieve anymore, as things far more unbelievable were ongoing right outside.

If what the voice had said was really true, then it meant that these things were here for their own sake, to help the people survive through these dark times.

The way the artifact displayed these information made it clear to him that if he said yes, then a spell would be casted.

However, this was exactly where the problem lied. As it contained two words that made him feel quite alerted.

The first one was the word 'morphing!'

As to what did it mean; it is basically to change something from one form to another.

But what did that exactly implied?

Would the spell change something he chooses, an object or something? Or would the change occur in him?

And if that was not enough! Then the next word made him even more alarmed!

Permanent!!

How could he not be alarmed? If the change was to occur to him, and is irreversible! Then, there would be no one to be blamed other than himself!

This was a spell! And that means magic!

What did he know about magic…? Simply, nothing!

As till now, all of his understanding about this artifact was originating from games!

But this was real life!

What it this morphing thing changes something in his body, Instead of another object? And if so, would it be in a certain part of his body, or his entire body?

And if that was indeed the case! Then what is the nature of this change?

The word class contained the words subterranean, tree, and ghost, which made him feel a bad premonition!

Would his entire body turn to tree or ghost, or just a part of it?

And what about the words subterranean, what did it mean in this context?

Questions and questions crowded his mind.

To answer them, he waited for Neil to wake up; as he too had an artifact similar to his own!

He wanted to see what Neil's artifact can do, to get a better understanding of his own artifact.

Luckily, he didn't have to wait long.

Less than an hour later, Neil began to recover from his frozen state.

First, he was able to move his eyes. Then, slowly, he started moving his limps and after 15 minutes he was able to stand up and walk.

Ramie and Lance then proceeded to ask him of what had happened to him. And as expected, his answer confirmed Ramie's speculation!

It was indeed the creature's doing! Causing him to freeze with a glance!

This confirmation made all of them feel very uncomfortable, as they had no idea on whether other creatures of this type had also sneaked into the building or not.

Anyway, they decided to eat and energies themselves first, before making other considerations.

Afterward, they finally drank water and ate the noodles that they had found.

And though the two small sacs of noodles were far from completely sating their hunger, at least it alleviated some of it, making them finally feel comfortable again.

Then, Ramie and Neil proceeded to inspect their magic artifacts to learn on how to use them.

…