Eric fell from the table, made his legs wobbled, and he stumbled to the ground. I had no choice but to help him. Glancing around, he then said, "I know this place. This was the first laboratory created by Rutfush. Rhinggamana, can you take me to the corner?"
I lifted him towards a massive black stone wall at the far end of the room. The surface was spotless, devoid of any moss or mold.
Eric asked with stuttering words, "can you break this wall?"
Standing three meters away, I unleashed a powerful punch, sending a shockwave that shattered the wall effortlessly with my left hand. The onlookers gaped in astonishment at the strength wielded by a man with a severed arm like mine. Beyond the debris lay a hidden chamber, filled with an array of old research equipment.
"I was once Rutfush's personal assistant," Eric began, a wistful look in his eyes. "I was deeply curious about the serum he created, but he never shared its ingredients or the methods behind it. So, I secretly conducted my own research behind this wall, away from his watchful gaze. When he decided to relocate to another lab, I hid his tools here, hoping one day I could create the serum myself. I never imagined I would use this space to save all the citizens from my own master's devil serum."
Dumba rallied the others to help create a restorative serum, following my directions. Day after day, we toiled together, combining an antidote and an adrenaline blocker into one powerful concoction capable of permanently neutralizing the Arradum virus. Gradually, Eric's body began to revert to its normal form.
By the third day, he had fully transformed back into a human, and all the medicines were complete. A new challenge emerged.
"How will we spread and administer this restorative serum to the monsters?" I inquired of Dumba and Eric.
The elder brother replied, "I'm afraid we must trouble you once more. Our abilities are limited, unlike yours, Rhinggamana Astolfo. We humbly request your aid; only you can distribute this serum to our ailing kin."
Eric and the others knelt before me, their eyes filled with sincere hope. I looked at Kwanita, who floated beside me on the Vimana, bewildered. I'm scratching my head. She gave a small nod, signaling me to accept their plea.
With no other choice, I agreed.
But how could I compel the monsters to inject the serum into themselves? I racked my brain. Then, gazing at the sky, an idea struck me.
I turned to Kwanita, "Would you accompany me for a short walk?"
Kwanita blinked several times, confused, then replied hesitantly, "Sure. Where shall we go?"
I ascended onto the Vimana, and swiftly we soared above the forest where the six-armed monsters dwelled. I gathered the thick, humid clouds into a single mass, darkening the sky above the forest. Kwanita, for reasons unknown, smiled brightly as she watched me manipulate the clouds, her joy blossoming with each playful flick of her hands.
"Thank you," she said, gazing at me.
I was puzzled. "Thank you for what?"
"For inviting me along. I would never have experienced such wonders without you. I'm truly happy."
Her words brought a smile to my face. At last, she seemed to be letting go of the grief over her sister's recent death. I refocused on gathering as many clouds as I could. The monsters below gazed up at us in confusion, as if witnessing a flock of white cotton drifting through the treetops.
Once I had amassed enough clouds, I directed the dense, black mass towards the mountaintop where their hideout lay. I had to act quickly before a thunderstorm burst forth and drenched the barren lands of the desert. The dark-skinned Negrida people gazed in awe at my arrival, a storm cloud looming above. Dumba and the others hesitated, slightly fearful.
Then I leaped from the Vimana, vaporizing the entire antidote we had created, allowing it to rise and mingle with the clouds. They transformed into a verdant green hue. Moments later, rain fell, showering the land with green droplets infused with the restorative serum.
I hurried the rain cloud toward the forest where the monsters resided. Kwanita and the others looked on, confused as the black cloud vanished from view. I had no time to explain; I needed to ensure every monster was bathed in the serum before it was wasted.
The startled monsters each choked on the green rain as it drizzled down upon them. They writhed on the ground, feeling their throats ablaze. Their roars echoed throughout the forest. I spread the rain cloud evenly, ensuring not a single creature was left untouched. For four days and nights, I continued this relentless task, guaranteeing that every monster below had consumed the restorative serum.
On the fifth day, they regained their awareness. The Negrida descended one by one from the mountains to aid their recovering kin in happiness. They yell at the sky in grateful tones after finally being able to see their relatives again after a long time. Some have even fully transformed back into normal humans. Tears and joy struck their faces at once.
I leaned against a tree at the edge of the desert, utterly exhausted. After levitating for so long, distributing the serum while manipulating the clouds had drained me completely. My body felt numb, pain radiating from my toes to my head.
I was starving.
"Here," Kwanita said, offering me a bowl of green liquid.
"What is this?" I inquired.
"It's mushroom and moss soup. I'm sorry I couldn't find anything else; that was all I could manage."
I took the bowl, and as expected, the taste was awful. But I had no choice; I needed to regain my strength after days of labor.
Suddenly, the sky darkened ominously. Thick clouds engulfed all of Dimbessa, and thunder rumbled endlessly. The winds howled in response to the lightning above. A foreboding sense settled in my gut.
"Did you do this, Rhinggamana?" Kwanita asked.
I shook my head. "This wasn't me. Something is approaching us. Everyone! Listen to me—head back to the cave on the mountain, now! We are in danger!"
Panic spread among the crowd. They rushed past the sandy paths toward the mountains. With my remaining strength, I led them to go there.
Then, from the sky, a figure descended—an imposing man radiating a green aura. He wore a flowing white robe characteristic of the Bropa, and a golden crown rested upon his head. I commanded everyone to flee back into the forest.
"Stop! Nobody moves until I say so," the robed figure bellowed from above, his voice resonating through the mountains. The thunder grew ever louder with his movements.
The Negrida and Dimbessa froze, rendered immobile by the power of this hovering figure.
"Unforgivable! Who dares disrupt my plans within my own territory?" he thundered.
I whispered to Kwanita, "You should get away from here. Take the others into the woods. I'll handle this man."
Kwanita said with concern. "But your strength still hasn't recovered. Are you sure you can face him?"
I offered no response. Admittedly, I could barely stand it. Yet, I had no choice; I had to confront this threat. Whatever the outcome, I would place my fate in the hands of the Creator.
Then I shouted, "I suspected you would appear sooner or later. You must be Rutfush, the genius scientist of the Bropa."
"You know me? Are you the one who has disrupted my plans?" Rutfush retorted, annoyance lacing his tone.
I glanced back briefly; everyone had retreated into the forest with Kwanita. At least I could feel some relief.
"Forgive my impudence, but what plans do you speak of, oh great Rutfush?" I asked.
"Dimbessa is my business empire. Every monster here is a product of my creation. Many of their kin from other cities pay handsomely for me to restore their families to human form. For those who can afford the price, I grant their requests."
I asked, "What about those who cannot pay?"
"I sent those monsters to one of my other research facilities. Many are curious about the creatures I've created. Typically, their bodies are dissected for whatever is needed for further study."
And again, I asked. "In other words, are they mutilated?"
Rutfush smiled wickedly, "If you put that way, so be it. Now, because all these monsters have returned to their human forms, my business is in ruins. I must ask you, strange man with the weird hair and a severed arm, are you the one responsible for this chaos?"
I remained silent, my emotions bubbling beneath the surface. This man's evil was beyond comprehension. Someone had to stop him before more victims fell. Yet I had vowed to remain calm, to not succumb to rage. I needed to center myself before acting.
"Hey, don't just stand there. Answer me! Are you responsible for all of this?" Rutfush demanded, irritation seeping into his voice.
I declared. "Yes, indeed. I am the one who restored all the monsters in this place to their human forms,"
Rutfush's face flushed red with anger. "How dare you sabotage me! I care not who you are; you will feel my wrath. Die now!"
A lightning bolt struck me from the sky. Dust erupted, enveloping me, leaving my fate uncertain. Kwanita screamed my name from behind. Rutfush laughed heartily, satisfied with his attack. But his laughter died abruptly when I shouted from within the swirling dust, "Elysium Light Form: Phase One: Dawn's Awakening."
I ascended into the sky, confronting Rutfush directly. He stared in shock as my body became enveloped in armor bestowed upon me by Gabriel. My right hand, now radiant with light, gripped the Blerit Sword. My hair elongated, transformed into a cascade of light.
Rutfush stammered, disbelief etched on his face. And then he asked, "Who are you?"
"I am Rhinggamana Astolfo, the man who messed with the gods five hundred years ago. And you, Rutfush, the descendant of them, your evil ends here. I will judge you now!"