Its heartbeat is slow, almost non-existent.
Stays in REM Sleep the majority of the day. I talk with it once a day when it wakes up.
No signal of a tail activation, it is still dormant.
Confirmation of tri-soul, hiding inside its core.
Humanity Salvation Project
I'm the sole survivor, all others researchers died long ago.
Animals are like robots, they exist to reproduce, and through that, they find purpose.
Humans started the same, but due to the development of many inventions, they lost their purpose.
Humans developed the easiest forms of pleasure.
Unlimited food, unlimited lust, unlimited entertainment.
They could now live by simply sleeping through their days.
Humans lost their purpose, and soon enough, all of them will find unlimited pleasure, and through that, humanity will end.
No meaning in evolving anymore, everything will stop. Reproduction stopped being a priority.
Which is why the belief in philosophy is necessary.
To find purpose where there isn't, to find value, to desire greater things.
Many humans in the past have guided humanity.
And through their acts, religions have been born.
But they were nothing more than charlatans.
Their gods and style of life were just inventions, and science quickly discovered it.
Gods did exist in the past, but they are all gone now.
There is no space left for god belief in the modern world.
But without god, everything will end.
And for that, a True God will be born.
It is too late now, what has been lost won't return.
The only path is the future, not the past.
Love
Trust
Justice
Imagination
Hell
Earth
Heaven
Moon
World's End
I pull the trigger.
The glass breaks.
The devourer is free.
So I shall stand in your way.
"Im sorry for this."
I jump from my bed.
"Huff, huff, huff."
I'm home. Then this means.
"So you really live here?"
Getting from my blanket, a girl with messy pink hair approaches me.
Her captivating red eyes.
"Wait- What are you doing here?"
"Did you forget? It is time for a flashback!"
After defeating the monsters in the Wind Rift, we spent the next hour spending time in the city.
It was fun, but as it came to an end, we walked to Arstria's mansion.
All the personnel living there had already died hours before.
Flowers sprouting from their bodies.
Diam Seer, our classmate, was nowhere to be seen.
Cereja had attacked in Arstria's absence.
Many poison traps were hidden inside, so Arstria can't live there anymore.
She potentially could burn through every plant, but then the building would be burned too.
Arstria said she could ask for her relatives to give one house for her to stay.
Both of her parents had died, but she didn't bothered at all by it.
"Everyone die one day right? That is salvation in a way." - She said, with a smile on her face.
Her relatives said they could get a house empty, but only tomorrow.
I told her to stay at my home. So we had a sleepover.
"Haha... A lot happened last night."
"We aren't that close yet."
She kept being close to me through everything.
Even so, I didn't try anything. She just lost her parents, it would be wrong.
And even before, she never showed interest in that way.
Magicae's power struggles is bigger than this city itself.
Arstria's family were absurdly powerful in politics, for them to vanish in one day to a single magic user.
"One thing you told me yesterday." - I ask her as I'm brushing her hair.
"Hm?"
"Can you tell me more about the true culprits of the rifts?"
"Sure!
Human imagination have connected ourselves to rifts, that is the first explanation.
But that wouldn't be enough to connect two dimensions.
But there is one belief humans have that is massive when compared to everything else."
"What exactly? What do humans believe so much for that to happen?"
"God. Humans believe in the existence of a omnipotent True God.
You know the salamander and gryphon we saw before? I told they were from different dimensions, but that is wrong.
They are from the same dimension, the same universe as us. Just from far away.
To be precise, they are from other planets, aliens if you want to think about it."
"What in the- I guess it makes more sense-"
"Human believed so much in God, that a creature travelling through the stars noticed it.
This God sent four heralds to prepare Earth for the invasion.
They are the true culprits of the rifts, they are known as Angels by Magicae.
They go around opening rifts between dimensions for one single reason.
If a monster is seen by humans, it will be notified in all sorts of news, and that will bring this world closer than ever to the monsters.
Then the rifts will increase radically through the globe.
And God will descend to devour the planet."
"That- What the hell- It is that serious?
Then we should never have entered the war against Cereja and Stanrocc, we will need all the help we can get."
"What do you mean? They wouldn't be any help.
But I guess Saphria's absence will decrease our overall power level..."
"Hm... If we defeat all four angels, the world will be safe, right?"
"I guess so, do you want to attack their base?"
"Wait- You know where it is?"
"Of course, each Angel has a hidden dungeon inside of this city.
By entering their world, many challenges await.
Which one you want to attack?
Water, Air or Fire?"
"Then why Magicae didn't attack them yet..."
"They tried, but no one returned from the expedition."
"Wait, why there are only three options? Where is Earth?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you yet. A mage killed the Earth Angel five years ago."
"So it is possible! Okay, considering I'm Air and you're Fire, we better attack Water."
"That is fine.
Want to go after school or just skip school altogether?"
We decided to skip school.
She said in a forest park in the city, there was a temple there.
As we approach-
"What do you think you're doing?"
A sword made out of water is shot, I dodge it in the same instant.
"We came to kill you."
"Mere human, who do you think-
I see.
I shall meet you at the port.
The voice vanishes.
"Was that-"
A presence as deep as the ocean, a monster stronger than anything we've met before.
Only its serene voice creepily announced.
"I can't believe in this...
Change of plans Elewp, we will get perfect grades together.
We alone are enough to defeat her. Today, the second angel will fall."
"Are you sure about it? What about telling Magicae?
Considering the strength of the monsters, a angel is surely way stronger."
"Five years ago, two kids accidentaly fell onto the Earth Angel's dungeon.
Going against all odds, they were able to defeat the Earth Angel.
This will be the same, the odds are against us, but we can do it."
"Yes!"
I'm afraid, but I know that if Arstria is by my side, we can defeat anything.
This was my idea after all.
Night is slowly falling.
Magicae's city is near the ocean.
That is where the belief of sea monsters is highest.
Which is why the Water Angel decided to attack there.
According to Arstria, angels were slowly building up their strength for the past hundred years.
They can generate one rift per week, but different from the Fire or Air Angel, the Water Angel only activates one per month.
She had been storing them for future use.
"She knew after seeing us.
That we could defeat her dungeon.
Which is why she decided to attack with her rifts instead.
This way her chance of winning is way bigger."
We reaches the port.
Many ships had docked.
The reality's shield from the monsters is weaker at night.
Makes sense, monsters will appear where humans expect them to.
We spent the last hour looking for rifts in the port.
But to no avail, none were set.
"The rifts must be planted underwater.
We won't be able to find them.
Going underwater is paramount to suicide.
We better wait on Earth."
"I wish Saphria was here, her steel magic would be useful in attacking them underwater."
"That is true.
On a separate note, you effectively fought only twice so far right?"
"Right, against the salamander and the blood magic user."
"Did you notice something strange about your overall magic?"
"Let's see... My wind was way stronger during the first fight, while way weaker in the second.
Same for my life magic."
"There are a few concepts that were taught in class.
That I wish you were taught.
Debut Magic is one of them."
"Debut?"
"When a magic is used for the first time, it is stronger than the following times.
Of course, a magic that is been used for hundreds of times will be eventually stronger, but that is proficiency.
This world has a natural shield against magic and monsters. Imagine reality as a living being.
When a new virus enters the body, it wreaks havoc, but soon enough what happens?"
"Hmmm. Antibodies are made to get rid of any subsequent appearances of the virus."
"That is the same for magic, new magic is stronger because reality don't know how to break it down yet."
"That makes so much sense."
"The same is true for fights against other magic users, if you use the same magic repeatedly, the magic user will get a natural resistance against it."
The salamander's fire got put out way more during my first gust than my subsequent ones.
Same for the knockback on the magic user.
"Final Gambit is another thing to learn."
"Okay, let me try guessing this one..."
"When you try something in war to win... Final meaning the last attempt you have at winning?"
"Exactly, the conceptual weight is way higher when your life is at risk.
So say you have 5 mana, which is the amount a talented first year has.
The magic made using the #5 mana will be weaker than the one made by the #3 mana.
Your body will use the weakest mana inside you first."
"Then... When I use my #2 mana-"
"Exactly, that is what called a Final Gambit, when you use your last card to win.
That increase is exponential, so when you controlled the wind at first, you only knocked back the salamander.
But when you controlled the last wind you could, the entire building lost its oxygen.
You got so strong because of a few factors.
#1 = You had just awoken, so your magic was higher than normal.
#2 = You used the concept of vacuum the first time, getting the debut bonus.
#3 = You used your last usable mana, so final gambit bonus."
"This is way complex than I thought."
"This is just the beginning, haha.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Then...
#4 = You explained what you were going to do in loud voice with remarkable words."
"Huh-?"
"This world follows the concepts, if you say a super cool line before doing the move, it gets stronger.
And if you explain it, it gets even stronger.
You even said to respect the universe's laws. Of course the universe helped you.
You was totally a badass during that."
"This magic system is totally different than what I expected."
"Hahaha, that was my reaction in the class too.
So, you better remember all of that during our fight today."
"Okay!"
The water surface didn't tell the world what was hiding beneath it.
"This will be incredible."
With her hands, she generated a last blue feather.
Around hundred blue feathers in the depths of the ocean.
Rifts humans wouldn't even hope to reach.
"It is almost time to awake."
With so many rifts, she will bring something on the level of a false god.
The girl walks in water as if it is her lair.
She is born of water, made out of water.
"I honestly can't believe its vessel got temporary control.
I wonder when will it take control again.
That don't concern me, I can't die today.
I will honor you, Brother of Earth."
Her skin was translucent, and her simple organs could be seen from beneath it.
She looked clearly alien-like.
"Elder one, humans have dreamed of monsters of the deep for so long.
Such foolish creatures, in these depths only weird fishes and molluscs live.
Creatures so big could never hope to get enough nourishment.
But you do exist somewhere, needing sacrifices to keep your slumber.
It took me a while to discover I could force open rifts, this makes everything simpler.
Then, on my word, I, Clione, shall awaken you.
Monster of the Depths, Devourer of Worlds.
Fake God of Beyond.
Awaken."
The rifts coalesce, and a creature of humans's nightmares was born.
Waves formed as matter appeared beneath the waters.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"What we have to lose? Our lives? We're going to die one day anyway."
"Hah, that is right."
Why the thought of dying by her side is so romantic to me?
If we survive this, I'm telling her my feelings.
"It is coming.
I can feel the lifeforms fleeing."
"Such a good angel, employing a different god."
"What to do you mean, a god?"
What she said was true.
A eldritch being had been awoken.
Tentacles formed out of the water.
"I've read it before-"
"Do not worry, this is the alien version of it, it is not the real deal from fiction."
"But this form-"
"Let me give you one more lesson in conceptual magic.
There is a monster made out of tentacles coming from the water right?"
"Yes-"
"We do not know what it is yet, its existence was not confirmed by reality."
"Is this schrodinger now?"
"What happen if we do not name it? Instead of saying the lovecraft name, we could give it a better name."
"Are you saying that if we just call it giant squid it is going to become a giant squid? Because that is what I'm getting at here."
"That is too weak. There is another creature that we could name.
One that is actually more popular than the eldritch one."
"Oh, I know that one, from pirate fiction."
"On three:"
"Okay!"
"It is the Kraken!"
"It is the Kraken!"
The Kraken appears from the water.
"How dare it.
How dare she.
HAHAHAHA, I can't believe this is happening...
Ok, I will get my revenge on the traitor."
The monster that could sink any ship, be it from the pirates or government.
Weighing 70 tons.
"Arstria, use that finishing move, quick!"
"I can't, I need to save it to defeat the angel."
"We're so going to die."
"Indeed, but we will fight, right? Are you on my side?
If you leave, I'm dying alone."
"You're so dumb."
She laughs it off, she don't have the slightest sign of fear.
The very definition of fearless.
If I believe in her, we can win.
"Then let's begin!"
"Alright!"
We run towards the monster.
It do not notice our presence.
"It is time for that thing we practiced."
"Okay!"
I held her left hand, and we pointed our remaining hands at the creature.
She had gave me one of her rapiers.
"Fusion Magic:"
"Fusion Magic:"
"FIRE!"
"TORNADO!"
8 Left
To mimic her ultimate magic, I gave the idea of using my control over the wind to fuel her regular fire burst.
The fire hit the monster's left tentacle, it tries to defend, but the fire keep coming.
Soon enough, the tentacle is completely carbonized.
"It is a octopus right? So seven tentacles left."
"Continue like that, here comes one."
A tentacle appear from under the sand.
*Wind Sphere*
This is a idea I had, fusing swirling wind in the shape of a sphere in a close attack.
The sphere is then shot inside of something and unleashes a tiny storm.
*Wind Cut"*
I force the sphere to enter the tentacle while dodging its attacks by altering by legs to those of a canid.
The sphere explodes inside.
*Wind Explosion*
By forcing the wind to go towards all directions, I can do this.
The tentacle explodes.
Six Tentacles Left.
5 Mana Left.
"Come at me, you overgrown calamari!"
Two tentacles go towards her.
"Finishing move, fire dance!"
As if it is a elaborate dance of ballet, she walks from side to side, while delivering cuts like a piece of art.
The massive tentacles are cut as if they were nothing.
Four Tentacles Left
"Okay, I can't believe this is working."
"Just keep it up."
"Did you all honestly thought I would just stand and watch."
"You're here already to die?"
"You... How dare you!"
The monster girl attacks with discs made out of water.
Arstria had told me she is weak against water, so I must protect her.
*Wind Slash*
The wind cuts the water disks in mid-air.
"What are you talking about?"
"You... I didn't notice it before.
It is you!"
Arstria ran towards the Kraken, leaving me to fight against the angel.
Swords made out of water were shot towards me.
Do she plan on keeping her distance-
"I don't know you. So be quiet."
I ran towards her, changing my legs again to increase my speed.
My arms turn into claws as I slash the water swords away.
As I approach her to attack, chains made out of water appear all over my surroundings.
Trapping me.
"I will love to tell father that I got rid of the Angel-Slayer."
Water knives appear from all directions.
I grow fur all over myself, but they still enter my skin.
"Argh."
"You seem to be have become weaker and to have forgotten.
But the sea never forget. You killed my brother."
Spikes made out of water are shot towards me.
"AArgh."
What is she talking about... I never killed anyone that resembles her.
"Ars Nova."
Before I know it, a torrent of fire runs over the Water Angel.
"Aaaaaaaaarghhhhhhhhhhh."
Arstria had to use Ars Nova from far away to save me.
My life energy is lower than ever.
The fire tornado starts to decrease.
As water sprouts from where she was.
"You two will die here.
My name is Clione, The Herald of the Ocean."
Through the fire, a creature appears.
Wings made out of water, translucent skin.
The very definition of beauty. Like looking at the rarest pearl.
The ocean depths is her personification, pretty, but deadly.
Before I knew it, she flew towards Arstria.
From her hands, a katana made out of water formed.
"ARGH."
Arstria tries to dodge, but her chest is slashed.
"Elewp, I'm sorry.
I never said I could defeat her.
The only one who can is you."
"Arstria!"
Three tentacles attack me before I know it, breaking my ribs and many bones in my body.
"Ugh..."
*Wind*
Taking the idea from the blood user, I shroud my body in wind and get up from the floor.
3 Mana Left.
I'm reaching Final Gambit, but I don't know what I can do.
A monster absurdly strong, and an angel even stronger.
"Take this."
"Aargh-."
"I didn't notice it before, but this body.
You helped in killing my brother, didn't you."
"Yes, he was really weak to get defeated by two toddlers."
"Die!"
Arstria falls to the flloor.
As she covers her head.
The katana slowly cuts through her skin.
Clione isn't even fighting seriously.
She could have ended this way earlier.
"Stop!
Don't kill her!"
"I won't, not before I kill you."
They were talking about the defeat of the Earth Angel weren't they.
I can't remember this, no matter how much I try.
But it makes sense.
Since the first time I used magic.
It was all too familiar.
Two young girls played with no care in the world.
One day, they were playing hide and seek, and decided to hide behind a door under a shrine in the plaza.
Apparently, stuff from the city were hidden there.
But inside, a angel had decided to live there.
The two girls ventured deep into the dungeon.
Only one hour passed outside, but a week they lived inside of it.
They discovered magic, and fought through puzzles and monsters.
And finally, to get out, they went face to face with the Angel of the Underworld.
He was strong, but when everything seemed lost, one girl was nearly dying, and the other too.
To protect her friend, to protect her loved one, something deep inside her awakened.
"I remember it now."
"Did something just-"
"You can do it!"
Awaken
Awaken
Awaken
This power.
Humans and Animals have the same role in this world.
To die.
But the one who walks between human and animal.
They might save everyone.
This is my nature, to save.
And for that, I shall use this power.
"I always wanted to see this form again."
The wind coalesce in front of me, gusting my hair back.
Revealing something.
The lack of human ears.
I'm unable to digest food like a human.
Like a omnivore can.
Which is why my parents always brought only meat to me.
Chicken was smashed and turned into bread.
My fangs protruse like that of a animal.
As my hair reveals two new ears, that of a canid.
My spine can finally be free, as my tailbone extends.
A tail like that of a animal.
Instincts.
Feelings.
This is the epitome of my life magic.
Beast Magic.
Pseudo-Human Form.
"Kitsune."
The kimono flutters.
The tentacles come towards me again.
"I'm glad that you summoned a aquatic lifeform."
My hands turn into claws as my body fully transforms into that of a beast.
Bigger than a tiger.
I take the form of a mystical fox.
It is no wonder, if the belief in magical creatures brought them to life.
And if the belief of humans with power brought our magic.
Who said we could not turn into mana beasts ourselves.
9.
This number appear in my mind.
My tail flutters.
"Multiplication of all physical and magical attributes by nine.
Kitsune Form."
I am a predator in this form.
And I'm going to hunt.
Final Gambit Bonus.
*Wind Vacuum*
Multiplication by Nine through Kitsune Form
Debut Bonus
The wind talks through me as I ran towards the Kraken.
The remaining tentacles slash through me. But my already resistant fur's resistance's multiplied by nine.
No way it can hurt me.
"Beast Form. You're the hunt."
As I claw through the Kraken, its life keeps sipping out of it and onto me.
You had better summoned a creature made out of water instead of a giant octopus.
The massive creature tries catching me, but as I cut through it, life is absorbed.
I prepared for this.
"Finishing Move, Wind Vacuum"
In all of the places that I cut, I pierce with wind, and then make it vanish.
The vacuum implodes the creature through itself.
"This wouldn't be happening if it was Cthulhu.
How dare you."
Forgetting about Arstria's existence.
The angel flies towards me.
The katana is way stronger than the tentacles.
It is actually able to cut through my reinforced fur.
I'm out of mana, so I can only use the energy.
All the life energy of a massive lifeform killed by me is right next to us.
Any damage she inflicts is instahealed.
"You won't be able to defend forever."
"I don't need to."
"You forgot about me, right?
Magical infusion, fire."
My body is fused with Arstria's fire, as her fire burns through the massive lifeform's carbon.
Energy fills my body completely.
"Finishing move, Full Moon's Ending."
I bite through the angel's neck, as I ran over while slashing.
It's wings suceed in cutting through me, as they assume the form of many katanas.
"I can't die now, not now. STOP!
I don't want to die. Let me live a little longer.
Everything is going to end anyways, there is no hope-"
I won't stop, I won't show mercy.
You hurt Arstria, and I will cut through your neck.
Crack.
It is done.
"She is not dead yet, her true body is the wings."
"Huh-?"
Both wings scurried away like worms.
"You won't escape."
"I'm sorry sister, but I can't die here."
As I tried to attack, feathers fell to the floor.
Monsters came out of the rift, giant dogs made out of water.
I will just finish them and continue-
Hm? I can't move.
"Shit. Run Elewp.
I will get rid of them."
"Hahaha. The weakness of the Kitsune.
Like vampires to onions.
Like werewolves to gold.
Kitsunes can't do anything toward dogs."
"W-What."
The dogs attack.
Fear Fear Fear
I turn around and run away.
"I've used too much here, I will be waiting for a rematch in my dungeon."
Both wings, taking the form of a sea angel, a type of sea slug, returned to the ocean.
As I run, I can hear Arstria struggling against the dogs.
She used everything before, even so, she is able to kill all three.
She walks up to me, her body filled with blood.
"Haha... We've greatly injured an angel...
I say this tutoring was perfect."
"Haha, Ha-... Ha-"
So much life energy inside of me...
I wasn't myself, my body couldn't handle the multiplication.
I fall.
"hm-Hm?"
"You've slept for a while, didn't you?
It is sunday already."
"Wait, I slept through the whole weekend-"
"I guess so. Hah.
But you're fully healed."
"I'm glad we could won.
Clione escaped, but we totally survived right?"
"Indeed."
Haha...
I guess I can't run anymore.
"Arstria...
I really, really, like you.
You're amazing.
My life was so dark before I met you, and after you left.
It was all darkness again."
"..."
"So when I met you again, it was like a miracle.
I didn't tell you before, but you want to go out with me?"
"Shikimi Elewp."
"Hi!"
"A lot happened the last few days.
I lost my parents, remember?
Can I think about the answer for one day?
Meet me on the place we first met. I will be waiting for you."
She turned around, and left me in the house.
She needs to think about it.
But I guess she needs time.
I don't want to rush things.
The world is nearly ending, so we better live what we have to live, can't we?
I don't feel
I couldn't read her emotions.
Maybe my power don't want to pry into her heart.
That would be bad right?
But tomorrow.
Okay, I can wait until then.
Where we first met...
That is...
The dead forest.