The hum of engines off the bustling road of I.O.A city, a mouth dropping city wrapped around by fifty-meter wall of weathered granite. Eric weaved through the bustle, his shoes tapping a steady rhythm on the cobblestone walkway moving with silent purpose.
At the next intersection he took a left and there it was, just as he remembered, nestled between a flower shop and newly established bookshop stood a squat building with cyan and white paint adorned and a crooked sign the read Rick's Grocery. the windows fogged with age and a basket of fresh fruits and flowers sat outside like an offering attracting curious customers.
Eric pushed the door open, the bell above jingled.
Inside were shelves stacked with canned goods, packaged herbs and more. Behind the stood old man Rick, observing his goods, hearing the Jing he turns around.
'' Well, well,'' Rick said, leaning on the counter. '' back again I see, I'm guessing that bread performed wonders in your stomach.''
Eric chuckled.'' Gooday Rick. You always greet people like they're characters in your money story?''
Rick smiled'' Only the ones who are always loaded, and make my story more interesting. So, what can this old man get you this time.''
Eric walked closer, scanning the shelves around and behind Rick.'' Just here for some bread and maybe some jam, on the house.''
Rick nodded, he opened his drawer and pulls out a slender wand with a yellow crystal tied to the end.
Eric blinked. ''You're not seriously- ''
''Magic acts faster than arthritis,'' Rick said.
Beside him sat a basket of black cotton yarn. With a flick and a whispered incantation, the threads stirred. One by one, they rose weaving themselves midair into a small black sheep.
Rick smirked '' Alright Blacko go on, fetch the fresh loaf from the storeroom, the freshly backed one,'' The sheep nodded, hopped off the counter, and scurried through a curtain at the rear, moments later, the sheep returned arm wrapped around the fresh loaf. Hopped onto the counter and placed the loaf down gave a bow and went off the sweeping around the shop. After all was done Eric greeted Rick and went off.
Eric was back on the bustling streets again, with a fresh loaf of bread tucked under one arm, he stopped to catch his breath under the suns heat, leaned against a street light and pulled out a small, sleek device, his recorder. It was old but reliable, its surface worn from years of use. With his thumb he pressed the red button on the center. A soft beep confirmed the recording had begun.
''Rick used magic today, it's the first time seeing it up-close.it was amazing.'' He paused, letting the moment settle. '' But it got me thinking. About Morale, this power that shapes our world.''
He glanced at the skyscrapers that stood before him, tall, beautiful but firm and mighty, then back the recorder.
'' Morales been around for centuries. A force that has slowly shaped the world and history as we know it. It's kind of like a state of being. Like water it exists in what I call it states…three to be exact...currently.
First, there's M-mana Magicians, it works kind of like magic, that was what rick used. People born with it have to train mana control, manipulation, and casting, plus, without wands their fizzles, it's beautiful but fragile.''
After gaining some amount of rest he continued his walk home.
'' Then there are the Power-born . They are the classic superheroes. Strength, speed, flight-you name it, their powers are more raw sometimes unpredictable plus most of them are either born with it or it manifest itself a certain age, to add to that there's an awaking stage, where the of the person increases exponentially, scientist believe there's no end to how far a person can awaken, but currently people have only awakened once or twice in their lives.''
Eric's voice dropped slightly.
''Next… the System Players. The rarest of the three. They don't get powers at birth. They're chosen—by something we still don't understand. A system binds to them, gives them quests, levels, and keys. As they grow stronger, they unlock dungeons—places only they can enter. But it's dangerous. Too many people die inside, chasing power they barely understand. The last I read one of the current top hero Red Bane a level 55 player, made a public announcement begging all system-based players to stop their training at level; ten if not level twenty since going up the level the quests become more and more dangerous even though the benefits are great. But there's a upside for the players, the items they loot from dungeons can be sold in the real world, most are worth thousands not to mention points the points they received from each quest can be used to upgrade their stats or can be exchanged for money, that is the exchange rate for the player is 1 stat coin is equal to 300 lupin in cash, that's why most of them take the risk but end up dying, because of the money.''
''and lastly animals given morale, like I said earlier morale is unpredictable and exist in more than one state, Animals given powers by morale or as we call it M-Animal are animals given the power of morale through a sudden awakening. The awakening gives them human like intelligence, human communication and more.it doesn't give them powers though just makes them human intelligent. One of the current hero number 19 is a bear called Obi, even though he has no powers he was ranked 19 by the people because of his bravery in any heated battle.''
He clicked the recorder off and stared at it for a moment.
As Eric strolled down the street, a sudden hush fell over the crowd ahead, faces depicting horror and fright, ''Run for your lives, hurry run!!!,'' a man yelled pushing and shoving past other in fearful panic breaking the silence in the process. The panic spread like wildfire; people ran helter-skelter trying to escape from the yet unseen danger. Eric didn't think, instinctively he ran also. As Eric moved through the chaotic street, flames licking the surface of cars, people yelling, calling out the names of those dear to them, Eric spotted someone a little girl curled up at the edge of the road, clearly injured, unable to move. Quickly he rushed and knelt by her side.
''Hi I'm Eric and you are?'' Eric asked calmly, observing the situation at hand it was best he stayed calm as a way to comfort the girl.
'' Annabelle,'' she said as tears run down her cheek.
'' Ok Annabelle,'' he turned his back to her signaling her to get on his back. She hopped on, arm wrapped around the neck and leg around the upper abdominal region. Carrying her on back Eric made a darted through the street, ''where are those hero's?'' he thought, his breath sharp but uneven. Then boom- a disastrous rumble tore through the air behind him as the ground trembled beneath him, sending he and Annabelle crashing to the pavement, he turned to Annabelle-her body frozen in place in fear as the nightmare unfolded itself before them both. A hand rose from the ground, each finger a pillar of flesh and bone. The mighty arm suspended its body above the ground, where a head should be, was only an eye-crimson, frightening with a black crown that floated above the eye further displaying its omnipotence, it wasn't just large-it was a mistake from hell.
'' A calamity '' Eric gasp '' How did I get into the city without anyone noticing'' , he didn't give time to ponder ,quickly he took the girl and made run for it hoping the heroes would be here in time, but that act of bravery was noticed…..just by the wrong thing. The calamity noticing Eric's movement stared intently, suddenly the ground shock again as everything and everyone within proximity of the, monster begun levitating off ground, Eric and Annabelle included. Quickly Eric grabbed onto a lamppost as Annabelle hung even tighter to him, but It proved uses, Eric's grip loosened '' No,'' he thought he didn't want to die like this he and the girl. He closed his eyes preparing for when the creature would drop him to his death. His wish was granted the calamity let everything go and watched as people fell to their death, onto the ground as vehicles fell above them, railings and fences breaking their spine killing them on spot, body SPLAT on to the ground painting the road blood red. As he fell with the nick of time, ball of water appeared below, Eric fell into it breaking his deadly fall.
'' what the... I'm alive?, and I'm in water, immediately a man pulls he and Annabelle out, water drips from their hair as they gasp for breath, coughing violently on all fours Eric looks up to see a middle aged man, dirty and bleeding from his hand, he grabs them both and hauls them to their feet.
Man(in a low urgent voice): you're alive. Good. No time to process- hurry run that things preparing to attack.
Eric looked behind him, all the destruction and loss of lives caused by one person, still shaking.
Eric(confused and scared): wher…where's the little girl, where's Annabelle?
She pinches his arm.
Annabelle: I'm here…. I'm ok.
She then looks at the man before them her voice trembling
Annabelle: who are you mister? What's going on, why are you helping us?
The man quickly grabs them both by the hand ''follow me'' he cries, rushing hastily them to an alley way.
Man '' my name is Harmen…Harmen Jadehaven, I've seen too many die today and I promised I'd save whoever I can, this is time, specifically you.
Eric : you're crazy what do think this is anime? ,you aren't no protagonist, cut the emotional hero crap let's just hide wait for the heroes to arrive and let them fight.
Annabelle agreed to the option grabbing the man by the arm begging him to listen to Eric. But his mind was unchanging.
Harmen: take care of yourselves when I give the signal you run.
Then he left with heroic confidence he made his way to the road, Calamity stood there like a god of chaos and ruin, cloaked in a vortex of swirling debris, its feet never touched the ground just cars hovered, twisted metal the bodies of the dead floated like leaves. Herman step forward, arm bleeding. With one flick of a finger water from the surrounding environment coiled around him with a roar, the man slammed his arm together, immediately a tidal wave from the street, rush toward the calamity. The calamity with just a stare folds the water within itself and throws it away. Harmen rushed forth running toward the monster the puddle around him rose in spirals, twisting midair into liquid tendrils with a snap of a finger the tendrils froze turning into long spikes, he wasted no time and hurled at the enemy with incredible speed, but it was no use before it could even reach the target it had broken into tiny ice shards, then hurled it back at Harmen.
''predictable.'' Harmen muttered, clapped his hands together the ice shards vaporized into mist binding the Calamity's sight.
Then from within the fog- Harmen's shadow blurred, and BAM! A whip of pressurized water snapped across the calamity's surface cutting deep grooves into the creature's