I stood with Kwanita amidst a swirling cloud of dust that danced in the morning sun beneath a golden sky. The light on the western horizon heralded a new day. Whatever has befallen us in the past must remain confined to the shadows of history.
With the fall of the city of Hengard—my birthplace and my grave five hundred years ago—I had no choice but to take Kwanita with me on my quest to seek Adam in the west. Whether this girl would survive the journey remained uncertain, but I would do my utmost to shield her from the dangers that lay ahead.
Our next destination was a nearby town to acquire fresh clothes. After the events that transpired between us since yesterday, our condition has been dire. Ash and dust clung to our faces, streaked with the remnants of yesterday's chaos.
My right hand remained as it had been since I returned to the form of a normal human—mutilated. For the remainder of my life, I would have to adapt to using my left hand, the only one I possessed. Except when I wielded the Sword of Blerit, at which point a hand of light would manifest in its place.
We traversed from the battlefield towards the forest at the base of the western mountains. I wondered what had transpired during my five centuries sealed within that tree. Surely, much had changed. The forest near Hengard appeared the same, still cool and lush, a verdant canopy of trees untouched by the turmoil of the previous night.
Kwanita floated beside me on her Vimana, perched like a dutiful child. Her innocent face bore an expression of both wonder and discomfort as she glanced at me, then back at our surroundings in rapid succession.
"Is something bothering you?" I asked.
"Well, I'm not sure how to put this, but I have to ask—why are you walking?" Kwanita replied, a hint of shyness in her tone.
"Why not?"
"I'm just concerned, this floating Lotus is your vehicle; you should be sitting beside me. I feel a bit guilty watching you walk."
I nearly laughed at her words. Her heart was truly pure. She couldn't bear to see me walking because I had given her my vehicle. It was no wonder she was destined to break the seal that had bound me for centuries.
Gently stroking her head, I said, "Do not worry about me. I walk to condition my body. It has been ages since I last trained in this form."
"Oh, I see. Did you really battle the four gods five hundred years ago in the heavens?"
I sighed before answering, "That is true. In reality, they were not gods. They were merely the last descendants of Adam, inheritors of his power. Five hundred years ago, they descended upon our world, wreaking havoc upon our city in search of a rare human specimen for their experiments. It turned out that the rare specimen they sought was my own son. My wife died in that attack."
"Really? From what I've heard, the gods came from the heavens seeking a chosen one among all humans to bring to their celestial realm. It was said that the chosen would gain a special place in the eyes of the gods as a divine and sacred being. But there was one man who dared disrupt the gods in their holy place, feeling it was unjust. And that was you."
"Absolute nonsense! They came to our world, slaughtered my wife, and abducted my son, and somehow I am the villain? It is utterly absurd. That heavenly place you mention was nothing more than their mothership. I raged because they refused to release my son and obliterated all their war machines. I nearly triumphed against them, but at the last moment, one of them severed my arm, causing my sword to slip from my grasp."
"So that's how you lost your right hand," Kwanita noted, nodding in understanding.
"Precisely. The mountain near the city is where the Blerit Sword was sealed. Do you know that mountain is actually a fusion of two mountains made into one?"
"No way! How could they merge two mountains into one?" Kwanita exclaimed, incredulous.
"It is but a fraction of the true power of those four beings. It may sound fantastical, but they indeed possessed extraordinary might."
Her eyes sparkled with newfound knowledge, and she remarked, "I never imagined you could face them alone. They could destroy this world if they wished."
"Exactly. Their power and morals are utterly unbalanced. That is why I must find Adam. Only he knows how to deal with his wayward descendants who wreak havoc across the galaxy."
"Do you know where Adam is?"
I shook my head. "While in the celestial realm, the Almighty commanded me to go west and seek Adam there. I do not know what or where my journey will ultimately lead, but I have no choice except to search and keep searching."
Kwanita's expression shifted to one of concern as she said, "I'm sorry, Rhinggamana, but there's something you need to know. Since five hundred years ago, many things have changed on Earth. Far ahead lies a forbidden place, untouched by humans for decades. They say it is a den of demons."
"Really? What kind of demons?"
"I don't know. No one has dared venture there. Those who enter never return."
"If that is the case, you must stay close to me. Do not set foot off the Vimana."
Kwanita nodded.
I was undeterred by her warning. Every step of this journey held meaning; it was a divine quest laid before me. No matter the obstacles, I could only press forward.
We continued deeper into the heart of the forest. As we ventured further, the trees grew denser, and the foliage obscured the sunlight, plunging us into shadow. The deeper we moved westward, the darkness seemed to envelop us.
A chill settled in, and fog brushed against our skin. We approached a marsh, its waters entangled with gnarled roots and sunken branches. An aura of horror intensified, wrapping around us. Kwanita trembled slightly, her face pale and slick with cold sweat. But I felt no fear. My body was trained for such encounters; I had a different understanding of what fear meant.
I noticed a warning sign at the entrance of a cave, its large letters faded with age. It read sounds like this:
Beyond this cave lies danger. This place is the nest of demons. Do not proceed!
Kwanita clutched my hand like a child, her expression pleading. "We should take another path. No one has survived entering this cave."
I stroked her head reassuringly. "Do not worry. Whatever happens within, I will protect you. Besides, this is the only route we have. We must press on."
With reluctance, she steeled herself, choosing to trust me over her fear.
Together, we entered the cave, Kwanita still floating on her Vimana. Inside, darkness enveloped us completely. It was eerily silent, save for the sound of dripping water hitting the stone. The Vimana magically illuminated the surroundings with a warm yellow glow from each petal. Bats and small creatures flitted about, disturbed by our intrusion.
Kwanita gasped in astonishment at the vehicle's luminescence, and I found myself equally surprised. She looked like a goddess gliding above a lotus flower, encased in divine light. Her tiara shone, enhancing her ethereal beauty.
We walked for about an hour in the cave before a faint light appeared ahead, growing closer. It was a glimmer of sunlight filtering through a narrow opening—an exit! This was easier than I had anticipated.
"Hey, didn't you say this place was filled with dangerous demons?" I asked her as we approached the exit.
"No, that's not it. The real danger lies beyond this cave," she replied, her gaze sharp and serious.
I quickened my pace, eager to reach the light.
As we emerged, the view was somewhat disappointing. This place was not as lush and vibrant as the moist, green landscape we had left behind. Everything lay in disarray. Trees were uprooted, and twigs and leaves littered the dry ground that hadn't seen rain in ages. Strange footprints marred the earth beneath our feet. What happened here?
While I pondered the strange scene, a flurry of dark shapes rushed toward us with terrifying speed.
"Kwanita, quick, get to the hill over there!" I shouted. The Vimana obeyed my command, soaring her to safety.
I leapt towards her position. Looking down, I saw a flurry of shadows beneath us. I had no idea what sort of creatures they were, but I needed higher ground. With three powerful jumps, I reached the highest hill. Kwanita, atop her lotus, followed slowly behind me. I channeled a bit of energy into my visual cortex to enhance my sight. Finally, the darting shadows came into focus.
Hundreds of enormous humanoid creatures swarmed below, their gazes fixed upon us. They were terrifying in appearance—akin to orcs but with six arms. Their teeth were razor-sharp, and oddly, their faces jutted out like those of dogs. Thick fur covered their limbs, while their chests were devoid of hair. Their muscles bulged with raw power.
They gazed up at us with hunger, as though we were tender morsels awaiting their feast. But their expressions shifted from hunger to astonishment as they realized their quarry had ascended the hill.
One of the largest among them let out a roar that shook the air—not like a tiger, but more akin to an ape, amplified to tenfold. Upon closer inspection, I saw their jagged teeth had three layers. Moments later, the colossal monster leaped, attempting to grasp us. The Vimana soared high into the sky, saving its rider from peril. I swiftly parried the creature's assault with the still-sleeping Sword of Blerit, wielded in my left hand.
Feeling thwarted, the monster launched a more brutal attack. The others quickly began to scale the cliff where I stood. This was dire; their numbers were overwhelming.
I swiftly gathered energy from my core and soared into the sky towards Kwanita. She gazed down in awe at the six-armed creatures, their frustration evident as they watched their prey escape. Unable to take further action, the largest of the monsters rallied the others to hurl massive stones at us. I effortlessly dodged the barrage of boulders, but Kwanita was not as fortunate.
"Kwanita, we must find a safe place immediately," I urged.
She nodded, and we swiftly flew further away from the area. Almost every corner was occupied by these six-armed beings, who turned their heads in wonder as we soared overhead. Some began to retaliate, throwing giant rocks in our direction.
I could easily eliminate them all, yet something within me compelled me to uncover the truth about what was happening here. Were these monsters truly the demons everyone spoke of?
For hours, we levitated over the territory, searching for answers.
Suddenly, Kwanita exclaimed, "Rhinggamana, look! There's light atop that hill in the middle of the desert!"
I sharpened my vision and replied, "You're right. It seems that light points toward another mountain. Let's check it out."