The beginning for every Origin was the Core Gene. The situation in which a person received their Core Gene, as well as the path they had taken before that, basically their history, determined what the Core Gene would be.
Then, every Origin had an exception: a weapon called the Catalyst. They differed and, unlike the Core Gene, fell into different types.
But, on their own, the Catalysts were just weapons, quite formidable and powerful, but lacking features.
Well, that was the case until an Origin received its first gene that unlocked the Spark of the Catalyst.
It was an ability that an Origin could use through its Catalyst when necessary.
For Ardur, it became the Abandoned Star.
[Abandoned Star
A star that escaped, almost thrown out of its home world, is now ready to establish a new order in the endless lands. At will, a stream of darkness like an echo of an unstoppable plague will run along the blade, bursting out in a devastating blast.]
"Hmm..." Ardur hummed. "It's not the most complex ability, but that's even better. Right now, efficiency and speed are the most important things. I think in the future I'll be able to develop it into something more."
He was right. Despite his desire to learn more about abilities and genes, he didn't have time for that now.
Down below, events were unfolding that deserved his attention more.
"No! Stop!" One of the light guards crawled back, looking at the angry miners.
Strangely enough, it worked, partially.
Unlike the light guards, who were ready to carry out executions on orders from above, the miners in front of them were simple men who had lived peacefully in the village all their lives.
Committing the first murder was a difficult step that not everyone was capable of taking.
Well, Ardur didn't believe that. That's why he didn't intervene, watching the events unfold from above.
'A human is capable of anything, there are no limits. All it takes is the right conditions, and then humans will adapt. That's our essence, isn't it?'
Step.
The young man stepped forward, his eyes burning with hatred.
"W-Wait!" The middle-aged man tugged at his shoulder. "I know what they did to your sister. But... If you kill them, you'll sink to their level! We must be above these animals."
The young man clenched his teeth, unable to make a decision. Emotions and words mixed in chaos.
"Hey."
A voice from above made the young man look up.
"Don't listen to this nonsense," Ardur said coldly.
"Agh?"
Ardur narrowed his eyes.
"If you want to change something, you mustn't stoop to their level, you must go lower. That's the only way."
That was enough. That was what his heart responded to.
THRUST!
The sharp tip of the pickaxe slammed into the light guard's head. The flesh shreds flew in all directions as blood splattered the faces of the two remaining guards.
"Gha... Gha... Gha..." His ragged breathing and the fact that he had done it were enough to free the minds of the others.
In the blink of an eye, the previously hesitant miners turned into warriors thirsting for justice.
The wounded light guards had no way to defend themselves. They just died in the suffering they had constantly brought to the people of the village.
Ardur nodded as he descended to the miners.
"Good job. What is your name?" He asked, looking at the young man with black hair and a sickly appearance.
"Norak. That's my name."
"I see. Look, I came here to—"
Suddenly, a devastating explosion of flame tore a hole in the wall. What the miners feared had happened, or at least they thought so.
The charred corpses of the spiders collapsed to the ground, wisps of smoke rising from their burned bodies.
Still, even in this state, the spiders instilled fear in the hearts of ordinary people. The largest of them was the size of wolves.
Step. Step. Step.
A figure appeared among the particles of floating flame. Each step of his heavy boots echoed through the cave as a man in a thick coat, with brown hair, a short beard, and piercing green eyes appeared before them.
Along his right arm were tattoos resembling a pattern of flames. They glowed brightly, full of power and energy.
It wasn't just a drawing. It was his Catalyst, or more precisely, the Veyr Type Catalyst.
Although Ardur didn't know it, one glance at the man was enough to understand that this was the very Origin from Copper Chain Island.
"Hey guys, sorry to interrupt you." The man grinned widely until his eyes fell on the corpses in the distance.
With a stunned expression, he looked at Norak, then shifted his gaze to Ardur. They understood everything about each other with a single glance.
"Hahahahahaha!"
The man laughed out loud.
Unlike the villagers, who had to adapt to Ardur's actions, that man had been waiting for something like this to happen for a long time.
He stepped forward, extending his hand.
"Gador, nice to meet you. You're the one who arranged all this, aren't you?"
Ardur responded to the handshake. "Ardur, I'm with Barna. Let's say... I ended up in this place by accident and realized that something needed to change, and quickly."
The weight of his words became clear to Gador. However, he didn't mind.
"Great. Barna is a good girl, but she lacks the wildness to take risks and endanger others. Although I don't blame her for that."
"Hmm? What about you? It doesn't look like you're doing anything else."
"Hah! Do you think I'm stupid enough to start a riot alone? I'm not a psycho!"
Ardur couldn't hide his smirk. Now, he felt like he had found an ally rather than a subordinate. Someone who shared his ideas, at least about the uprising.
"So..." Gador's voice suddenly became darker. "What is your ultimate goal? Considering that you killed those four, the patrol guard in the square is long dead, and we'll soon have problems, won't we?"
"Everything is as you said. As for my goal..."
Ardur looked up.
"Well, I want to sink the Chain Island right into the abyss. You know this place better than I do. Any ideas?"
In response, Gador chuckled as he spread his arms wide.
"Of course! We must destroy all the chains! Without them, the island will have nothing to hold on to. That's it."
"But, we'll be hindered, won't we?"
Gador nodded deeply.
"The servants."
"Hmm? What the hell is that?"
"Don't pay attention to the name, they are more dangerous than any of the light guard because they are the Origins who obey Luras Ashtein."
Ardur's eyes narrowed.
"So one of them will soon visit Iron Chain Village to find out what's going on. I see... But what next? Which village would you go to next? As you understand, we need all the strength we can get for this job."
He looked deep into the cave.
"Perhaps all of them..."
Gador shrugged.
"Cobalt Chain Village. But I warn you right now. It will be difficult to convince their Origin. She is cold and has no more emotions than a piece of ice."
This could be the fourth Origin in their ranks.
"That's enough."
It was time to move on while the plan developed, acquiring new details.