The girl shook her head in a negative manner.

"Last night you broke in the house...you were hurt really badly, so I chose to keep you here for the night...though..."

Lass checked the girls body, not finding a single trace of a wound or blood. He then shifted his focus back on the girls face.

"Ok...never mind."

"I know...", the girl answered, "No wounds anymore? I have...seen this before."

"If you don't want to talk about it it's perfectly fine. But just in case you do, I can reward you with a meal and clothes. You know...assuming that's what you were looking for, unless you're one of "those people" who want weapons nowadays."

"N-No! You got it all wrong! I wasn't actively trying to get weapons! I was...running away."

"Running away from who? The police? The military? Obsulyte users like us are of high value. But I need to know."

"T-Those people...those horrible people...they fill your mind with god. They...they..."

The look on the girls face turned grim.

"It's ok, don't sweat it. I believe you."

"Wait, what? You do?", the girl said in surprise.

"I know a fearful look when I see one. A look that wants to forget but can't. I was very specific in my questioning for a reason...now, assuming god was brought into the equation, I'm assuming you mean the High Clergy? But that's the church...merely charity work.", Lass wondered.

"No...they call themselves heroes. They put themselves into the spotlight...", the girl teared up.

"Chaos Sect...", Lass scoffed, "With all this shit that's been pulling up lately, these morons surely won't be given enough attention for what they do. You can find shelter here for awhile, if you want. The house already has empty rooms to begin with. Just stay out of my way."

The girl jolted up, "Wait...you're not...throwing me out?"

Lass awkwardly looked at her, "Uh...no? Now that I got a better grasp of things and we're not up and arms trying to kill each other, you can of course stay. Sonia always kept telling me stories of actual Chaos Sect victims and how their mentality went rock bottom pretty quickly. Until we can get you further help, you can stay here, sure. But bite me again and I swear..."

The girl dropped on the floor with tears in her eyes. Lass then tried looking away in dismay, thinking it was his harsh words that brought her back on her knees.

"I, um...sorry? No need to cry about it, really."

The girl looked at him with a smile on her face, "Thank you!"

"Huh?"

"I was traveling for so long...I was trying to get away. But everyone, they would just...I couldn't be helped. I wasn't ever..."

"Hmm...", Lass exhaled, realizing more and more of what the situation was building up to be.

He too knew precisely of that feeling. Not that he ever felt it. To want and not be wanted...all too familiar through his every day life and nightmares.

"Look...I kind of know how you feel. But let's not make this awkward, ok? I barely know you so...no need to cry over a stranger. I was hoping to get you some of the supplies in my med kit for your condition, but it honestly looks like you're fine."

"I...it's what I do. But it's not exactly how it seems..."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"I-I...I will show you! Please...", the girl extended her hand, waiting for Lass to respond.

"Umm...ok...", Lass extended his injured hand, giving it to the girl.

In a swift motion of light, the girl managed to completely heal Lass's hand to its original state.

Lass removed the bandages, "What the...woah. Healing abilities?"

The girl softly grunted, "Ugh...it doesn't hurt anymore, does it?"

"Having such powers but with combat abilities is...awkward. Really, who are you? I won't tell anyone, I swear on my life. But...I've gotta know."

The girl fidgeted with her hair before taking a deep breath and exhaling for a long while before giving her answer.

"I...am Ikarisa. Yes...that Ikarisa."

Lass looked at the girl in awe, "Please let this not be an isekai. Please.", he said with a straight face crossing his fingers.

"A what?"

"Nothing…just a really big worry of mine. So...world creating goddess, huh? Sounds pretty cool."

"Wait, you're not...scared?"

"I mean I was when you first said it but...cool, I guess. I live in a world where I can pop lighting out of my hands, there's kemonomimis everywhere and literal laser guns. Had you not looked...well, average, I'd be more surprised. But hey, not saying you're not pretty cool either way. Name is Lass by the way. Just so that we get that out of the way."

The girls eyes widened with surprise as her teary smile turned into a face of pure joy, grabbing Lass's hand with both of hers and shaking it up and down.

"Thank you so much! Thank you!"

Lass looked at the girl weirdly again, "Uh...sure? You seem thankful today."

"I can't even remember the last time that someone...anyone, would be like this. Treat me equally...not as a monster or fear from my name. I...thank you!"

"Good to see that you at least stop clinging in the corner. That said...how come you're here? No question that a quiet, suburban area in times like this is a perfect getaway for todays day and age, but...yeah."

"Before I was brought along with them, I was trying to find out what was wrong. I've never see the entire world at such a state...not after That Day. My guess has been that my brothers are to blame. Makaro and Kikaro. They were always after me ever since the second half was put into place."

"Second half?"

"The world was originally an empty, distorted place used to sandbox destruction by pitting monsters against each other. That was...until I came along in it. Ever since I found a way to turn this into the world it is today, it's only gotten downhill...and for them to be raising these things all over, they must be after me again."

"So that's why the world has become a newly found hell?"

"I assume that's the reason for it, yes. And if it really is, then that means that the Sentinels that once protected them must have been deployed in their own sovereign prefectures..."

"So that kids story isn't total bs after all...what was it again?"

"Magi, Drima, Decanee, Izuko and Kako. These four should be everywhere by now, judging from everything going on. Even worse, if my brothers are truly using the full extend of their powers to self govern, then-", Ikarisa was interrupted.

"Got it, we're screwed.", Lass gave her a thumbs up.

"Wha-no! Not...yet. I strongly believe I can do it. I can find them before it's too late. They already caused Obsulyte users to become straight up monsters because of it. I can't sit around and watch everyone suffer anymore...the tears and screams...I remember it all..."

"I see...and how exactly are you planning to do it?"

"Battle them...", she quieted her voice down.

"So you're just planning to throw yourself at them again? It sure worked the first time, but now that...well, the sacrifices happened, what are you going to do?"

"I can't do anything else! I absolutely must do something about this!", she raised her arm upwards.

Lass gagged for a brief second, "God on a stick, what the hell?!"

"Wha-"

"Ok, before you do anything at all, please treat yourself to a bath first. Seriously."

"E-Eh?!", Ikarisa blushed.

"How long were you basically enslaved by the Chaos Sect?"

"I guess...months."

"Months without a bath sounds like the real hell here. Look, we've got some women's clothing from some promo Sonia wanted me to do about a clothing line or something. Didn't even bother so better hope they fit you."

"Sonia?"

"A friend. As for your previous clothes, leave them to the side and I'll be sure to throw them in the incinerator. I'm going at the forge for a bit while you're at it, ok?"

"Um...", the girl hesitated.

In a the brief moment of her hesitation, a large growl was heard coming from her way.

Lass looked at the girls stomach, "I don't need to guess much, do I?"

"Uh...sorry.", Ikarisa looked away.

"No reason to. Even gods need food, no? Nowadays at least, we can mass produce anything you want with chemicals that may cause you long term brain cell decrease. How about this: You take a soaking double bath so I can point my face directly at you without having to gag on it, and then I make a ton of food? I swear I have more things than guns into that kitchen."

"Yeah...thank you again."

As he nodded and Ikarisa headed upstairs to find the bathroom, Lass carefully made his way back into the forge, slowly opening the door to get inside.

"So...Regina was it? Are you still alive."

"Oh, I'm perfectly fine. Your bank account isn't. You always used my devices to log into your online payment services. And replacement parts are already on their way.", Regina said on speaker.

"Ok, fair enough. But please, lower the god damn volume.", Lass put on the lab glasses, "Have you managed to recover video footage from last night before she took down the cameras? Specifically a face shot?"

"Yes, I already have and I ran her face through multiple prefectures MCA and criminal databases. I even went as far to check the birth records of every single hospital. She is a ghost."

"That only solidifies that what she said is true."

"I thought you said you trusted her?"

"So you heard that? Yeah, I did, to an extent. It never hurts to double check if something looks believable."

"You have some serious trust issues."

"So someone comes up to you with the conversations caption being "Hi, I'm god, I created the soil you walk on.", and despite being believable I'm not supposed to double check that?"

"You're fair enough. Human emotions are complicated."

"That's precious coming from you actually."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Before they could argue again, the front doors bell rang. Lass hearing the ring moved to the door, opening it only to find a heavily armed man, looking at him.

"Hello citizen."

"Yeah, hi. What's a military man doing here?"

"Hunting down a dangerous individual. May I please come inside your house?"

"N-", Lass was pushed aside.

As the soldier entered the house, he looked around the kitchen and living room. He grabbed his weapon tighter, as if he knew that what he was looking for was there.

"Lass, this is Regina! The Holo Visors from the forge have an innate microphone and headphone for wireless usage. I scanned him, this guy isn't a soldier at all, nowhere does he fit in a military record database. But he is in the criminal record base. Chaos Sect extremist!"

"Didn't need to tell me anything more when he barged in."

Lass grabbed the pistol he had previously dropped on the floor and pressed it behind the intruders head.

"Don't say a single word. Move over there, now."

He directed the intruder to the forge., closing the door behind him.

"Ok, now that you can't be heard, I guess I'll just finish you off."

"How the hell did you even found out?", the intruder angrily said.

"Maybe don't barge inside someone's home without permission. Also this.", Lass rolled his eyes as he pointed up.

"Got 'em", Regina bragged.

"Do you even know who the one you're housing is?"

"I had my doubts, until you solidified it for me. You're seriously after a petite girl for all this? You morons don't have anything better to do?"

"Anything better? The better was destroyed by the bastards that decided to toy with the world! While she's still powerless, we might just have a chance to give her to her brothers!"

"And do you even know where her brothers are? You're giving me a moral high ground talk while I saw her scrapping for food in my house, covered in rags and smelling of death?"

"That's all they deserve...you have no idea of the horrors we've seen. Those who we lost and the monster's atrocities...there is no god. There never should've been one."

"You realize there's much more to this, right? You have a shit load of atrocities under your belt that I can't even count. You're off it."

"You want to trust her? Fine! Go ahead! See the lies that corrupt your life along with everything else!"

As he rushed Lass and lifted up his weapon, Lass raised his gun and prepared to defend himself. However, before they could both land a single strike on each other, a heavy blade flew across the room, perfectly penetrating through the intruders side and coming out the other end, killing him in an instant while throwing his body along the way of the blade's momentum. A brief moment of silence came from Lass, standing in utter awe of what had just happened.

"Lass...", Regina tried to say a word.

Lass snapped out of it, "Don't sweat it. A lunatic like that with his sights on Ikarisa was getting nowhere. Plus, everyone knows full well what these scumbags do. At least that ended as swiftly as it started. You...did the right thing. Thanks."

"Don't sweat it. If anything, he was already dead the moment he passed this door. Weather it was you, me or the law, he was to be executed regardless. Torture, extortions, countless murders, this guy had over 100 in total. Name was ironically, Lass Haro, 27, and wanted practically everywhere."

"I'd like to have gotten something more out of him but...whatever.", Lass scoffed.

"Get what? For all their preaching, these guys are lunatics, Lass. He could be lying out his teeth for all you know. Statistically speaking, their truth to lie ratio is 90/10 after multiple member interrogation, and that was under medication. Not even science can fix a broken mind."

"I'll do with that as I will. Order some maid boys and download yourself to them to clean this up if you can. Charge is on me, obviously...no way in hell I'm touching that and getting out afterwards. I'm afraid of triggering her pissed off side again, and given how we're still pretty much strangers, a blood covered me isn't going to help at the moment."

"Finally, a sovereign body!"

"Don't get too excited. Remember that because of your autonomy, being found out will be the end of you."

"Yeah, yeah, but I will still be able to finally get out of this lab!", Regina happily said.

"You're literally showing emo-you know what, screw this. I'll just go make pasta or something. I've got to feed a god, so...yeah."

Lass dragged his tired body along the house, entering the kitchen and managing to cook a simple meal, this time using the entire pack instead of a portion for himself. He finished the dishes and cleaned around the kitchen, before sitting down by the same window again, looking out into the empty fields. Realizing the passing of time, he started wondering as to where the petite goddess could've been, going up the stairs in his search. He found the smelly, ragged clothing tossed on the ground and the nearby drawer open, it missing the aforementioned clothing Lass told her to get. Through a small creek of the door down the hall, Lass could shape out her face, stuck looking down on the floor from the bed of his room. Calmly opening the door, he confronted the curious girl.

"So...what have you got there?"

"O-Oh, uh! Sorry! I didn't mean to snoop around! I just wanted some place to change clothes in!"

"No need to apologize. I've gotten a little bit used to your curiosity anyways, but some things I don't want you touching at all. Preferably anything in the forge or that one kitchen cabinet."

"Understood! I'm fully respecting you and your boundaries!"

Lass leaned in, looking at her hands, "Hmm? Ah...that."

On the girls hands was an old looking photo consisted of him and another strong looking, old man.

"Who...is that person?"

"My dad. Died recently to one of the monster raids around here, when we were getting supplies for some new gun models. It's...quite the story. Frankly speaking, I'd rather not say much about it."

"I understand...but it feels like I've seen him before."

"Who? Dad? I guess you might have. He used to travel in every single place in the world, before secluding himself here with me. I've never seen him leave the general area or town of Inida a little down from here since I was young. You are supposedly immortal so...I guess anything is possible. With all the faces you may have seen, you might honestly be confusing him with someone else too."

"Hmm...I guess you're right."

"Food is ready by the way. I guess we will call it dinner at this time, never realized how late it got."

"I'm coming with you!"

Ikarisa softly placed the picture back on the side cabinet of Lass's bed as they both went downstairs. Putting her a big portion of food and sitting across her, he was surprised to see the food disappear as fast as he placed it in the plate.

"God...that hungry, huh?"

"It was so good! Really!"

"No need for flattery, anything could be a gold-strike after having to live under those Sect bastards. I've read on the reports of most of their victims, in moderation of course, given how untrustworthy recent news are."

"Yes...at least we're all free now."

"So there were more?"

"Mhm.", she nodded, "I was placed among many inside some sort of prison. I dunno what they were planning to do...they always kept mentioning a 'passing' of sorts. That's the only thing I remember."

"I...don't have any idea what that is. And though I don't mean to be pushy, are you planning on staying here for long? I don't mind your stay, but I will say that staying mobile might give you a higher chance of evading these guys. And they could be after you..."

"Wait, you think so?"

"It's...just a hunch.", Lass quickly covered his mouth with a glass of water, eyeing the forge the intruders body was in.

"I wasn't planning on staying for long anyway...I have to go. I must find where the the Sentinels are. If I can somehow win against them, maybe they can tell me where my brothers are. I was planning to head to some...Reingard, I think it's called?"

"The capital of Insinia, Reingard? I don't mean to be 'that guy' but given how you probably entered the forge from the window that's facing on the north, you were heading south. And Reingard is in a complete 180 direction from here."

"Umm...really?"

"Do you know what way north is?"

"Of course I...", she briefly paused, "No...I don't."

"You can literally look it up on mobile data with maps.", Lass facepalmed, "Screw it, you're just horrible at navigation."

"Hey! I got here though!"

"By accident. And reason being that you completely failed to go to the correct direction."

"I-I was planning to!"

"Oh, really?", Lass sarcastically said.

"No...I wasn't."

"Look, let's say I point you to the correct direction, but you end up running across the bastards again. How did you not escape them the first time? You clearly have some very good fight in you, so will you be able to do that again?"

"Wait? I do?"

"Yeah? It was a primitive attack, but your reaction time and everything do speak of combat experience to some decree. Don't ask how I know. I just do.", he shrugged.

"I...I don't think I do?"

"So you have no idea how you got here, where you are going or the fact that you have offensive abilities?"

"I-I do!"

"No, you don't.", Lass crossed his arms.

"Yeah...I don't."

"So you were planning on fighting some powerful Sentinel by resolving to the usage of only your plot armor, rather than skills?"

"My what?"

"Never mind.", Lass let out a long sigh.

A long pause came across the room, as Lass took a long moment of figuring out his thoughts.

"So...", she tried to brake the silence.

"Look. I will tell you this. I have never been at a combat scenario if any kind, other than beating up moronic monsters but I know full well how to fight. Evidenced by the entire weapon stash inside that forge. I will escort you to Reingard, but that's it. After that I'm coming home.", he pointed his finger.

"Huh?!", she jolted in surprise.

"Look, I was bitten till bleeding by another human, I shot someone, with a shotgun, my computer assistant turned sentient and turned into a sassy bitch, I blew up a bunch of expensive equipment in my house, I almost shot someone before ending up with a body-ehm!", Lass stopped his words by faking a choke, "Never mind the doubled down intrusion, second one being some sort of headhunter."

"Wha-"

"Mind you, that's the events of the last 24 hours. I tell that to anyone, especially some dumbass, ball scratching cops, I'm never going to get justice in any way, shape or form. So I'll do this myself."

"Wait, wait, wait! What happened allofa sudden?!"

"Case in point, I'm coming with you. I literally do not care what you say, I don't want you hurt but I also don't want my wallet and mental well-being hurt more. You gained yourself a temporary companion."

"I...I guess that sounds good! I don't quite remember the last time that someone treated me...well, like this. But I don't want you hurt at all. I can't begin to imagine the horrors of this days Sentinels. Their powers..."

"I'll manage. As an Obsulyte user, I'm explosive myself, so you're not dealing with the average person, or kemonomimi."

"Are you absolutely sure?"

"One hundred percent. I'm looking to stretch my muscles anyways. Haven't really don't any training or exercise in a month."

"Sure, sure?"

"Yes. Don't make me say it again.", Lass said in annoyance.

"Alright!", she happily got up from the table, "Then let's go."

"No we're not."

"Wha-"

"It's getting pitch black outside. Given how monsters are rampant nowadays, having an Enmity popping out of nowhere, it's gonna be a hell of a lot harder than it needs to be. Besides, I really need proper rest first. You do too."

"Aww..."

Lass rolled his eyes, "First thing in the morning, I'm grabbing some backup sword from the forge and I'm gearing up, ok?"

"Ok!", she went to the living room, covering underneath the sheets of the couch, "Let's sleep it away!"

"You sure you don't want the bedroom? I can easily sleep there. There are two bedrooms but...I'll just use one. No need for the other, it's a mess anyway."

"Nope! All good! Just gonna sleep..."

"It isn't the comfiest place though, so you-", Lass stopped by the hearing of Ikarisa's snoring, "Seriously?"

Ikarisa had surprisingly, already passed out underneath the covers of the sofa, clinging tightly to the covers, as if she feared that they would be taken away.

"From some prisons floor...I guess you'll be fine."

He cleaned up the remaining of the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, before moving up, back in his bedroom. As he got onto his bed and leaned to his side, preparing to sleep, he gazed at the poorly positioned photo from his cabinet. The moonlight reflecting off the glass, he turned the picture towards him, taking a good look at the only person that he could ever call a friend up to this point of his secluded life. He exhaled as he slammed the frame downwards, covering the photo and turning to his other side, closing his eyes and preparing to sleep.

He was happy again. Just the endless dark. No fires, no weapons. A second gift from the row of horrible dreams, he quickly gave away his body to the night.

The passing of time speeding up for them both, he began to hear voices entering his ears and mind.

"Psst. Psst!"

The voices quickly started to be accompanied by the sensation of touching on his cheek. He slowly opened his eyes, momentarily blinded by the sun rays coming in from his window, he slowly began making out the shape of a face.

"Morning!", Ikarisa silently whispered.

"What the-", Lass jolted backwards, "Ah...you. What's up?"

"Sunrise! We can go now, right?!"

"Hmm?", Lass started waking up, "Oh, yeah...that."

"Come on then! Let's go!", she grabbed Lass out of bed.

"Fine, fine! I'm up! Give me a moment to get up, ok?", he yawned, "Look, do you know how to make breakfast? Not anything complicated. Just whip out two bowls of serial and milk."

"Wait...cereal?"

"Yes, I don't need to spend on anything else to drive me to start my day. Yes, I'm legally an adult. Don't judge and you won't be judged.", Lass said with a straight face.

"Got it! Now get ready!"

As she stepped out of the room and headed down the stairs, Lass stretched out, before looking at his closet. Trading out his every day outfit for a plain pair of black boots, a black jean and a black shirt, he looked at the mirror for an evaluation.

"Plain enough. Please let this not drag any attention..."

As he got down the stairs and started heading to the kitchen to have his breakfast, he found the table set and Ikarisa sucking on her finger, with a sort of irritated expression.

"Hmm? Something wrong?"

"Nothing...really!"

As she let go of her finger from her mouth, he saw a small cut running across the tip of it.

"Small cuts, eh? Yeah, those are annoying alright. How do?"

"I think I cut it with a knife while reaching for the spoons..."

"Eh, it's fine, it's fine. Having a healing ability like that surely helps with annoying injuries like that. Nothing can heal the physical or mental pain of stepping on a BUILD brick though.", Lass tried to joke around.

"Y-Yeah..."

A small pausing moment ran them both yet again, as Lass kept looking at her finger, it refusing to close the injury.

"Uh...", he weekly looked at the finger, "How so?"

"It...doesn't work. Not on me?"

"Huh. Really?"

"I could but...no."

”But didn’t you heal yourself a while ago?”

”I-It’s…not how it works. That wasn’t really healing but I…I can’t do it again. Not now…”

Lass weirdly looked at Ikarisa, "Ok...let's just eat and go then. The blade is by the forge door, ready to go, so we're good."

"Ok!"

As they quickly finished eating their breakfast, Lass followed through with his deal, grabbing the sword off the forge's door and saying goodby to Regina, before arming himself further with a pistol.

"I don't think I'll be needing this much, since for me a conductive sword is way more destructive. But, it never hurts to have a ranged weapon."

"Should I get something too?"

"Nope, leave the fighting to me. Since you're unsure of your abilities and everything, I'll be doing all the action. That can change if you show something more, but for now, I don't want you hurting yourself with something you can't handle. Especially since I just found that your healing doesn't work on you…that or something else, but whatever.”

"Hmm.", she nodded, while opening the front door, "Then let's go!"

And so, grabbing Lass's hand, they both ran outside the house, the door clicking automatically behind them as they ventured into the open fields. After for what seemed an eternity, he was finally out of a nightmare. He was finally able to leave the same place behind. As to the reason behind it, only he knew. Was it Sonia's words? Was it the sheer curiosity to explore what was there all along? It didn't matter, because their grant odyssey was about to begin...