Chapter 42: Slave or a God

*Rustle* *Swoosh* *Buzz*

The breeze rustled the leaves and they sang a calming symphony, complementing each other. The crickets cried loudly and insects' wings buzzed everywhere. Nature was in harmony as the afternoon sun illuminated the living, giving everyone the flame aura they needed.

*Thud*⁴⁴

Numerous footsteps suddenly broke the tranquility and harmony of nature. A group of soldiers with differing levels walked by. The intelligent lives nearby felt their intimidating aura and decisively avoided them in fear. Except for the idiots.

*Buzzzzzzzzz* *Slap!*

"Arrgh! Fuck damn it! This is the thousand time those fucking insect bit me! I swear, if I ever got my hands on one of them, I'll bite them back 10× more than what they did to me!"

A sickly-looking person slapped his nape and complained angrily in a thuggish voice, annoying the people beside him. He looked so weak and diseased, as if a weak breeze was enough to kill him.

However, none of the people behind him dared to voice out their annoyance, because this complaining person was one of the strongest persons in their group.

"Can't you just shut up? You're not the only one who's been getting bitten by the insects, you know?"

A female's voice reprimanded the guy. She hasn't taken a bath and the trekking has made her dirty, so she's been rather annoyed lately. And added with his ugly complaints, she felt an urge to stick her fist in his skull.

'I get bitten 10× more than you do! You don't get it, bitch!:

"Hahaha, I'm sorry, okay? Don't be so cranky."

The thuggish voice suddenly became softer and he apologized jokingly. The sickly man then came closer to the woman and lusted over her. He looked at her boobs and her beautiful face.

He was about to lean his thin arms over the woman, when the woman looked at her frowningly in the eye. It was as if there was fire burning in her eyes, drilling into other's minds.

The woman frowned in annoyance. The enemy has been chasing them the whole time and they had to go through so much just to escape them. This has made her negative emotions pent up inside her heart.

The feeling of helplessness when the barrier broke, the feeling of despair when she was trying so hard to escape, when she was filled with hope when she was saved, when she was filled with excitement when the gate broke, the feeling of panic when the fireballs showered, and the feeling of desperateness when she was trying to escape from the grasp of the enemies. All of them accumulated in her head and heart.

Back then, when the fireballs fell, thousands of soldiers decided to help each other and escape. So, they created hundreds of groups, and they were one of those groups.

Unfortunately, even though they were able to resist the enemy, they haven't had a single rest yet. They just kept on walking through the forest and let their legs lead their way as long as they were out of that place. Just earlier— last night, they were attacked by the enemy, therefore, they were not able to sleep at all. This has taken a toll on their mental health and negative emotions piled up in their hearts.

All of them had bloodshot eyes and some of them were even wounded. Leaves, branches, dirt, bloodstain, and etc. littered their bodies, and not even a small part of their body was excepted from the damage. Some of them even lost a limb, but they gritted their teeth and persevered just to live.

Almost not a single healer survived from the war because they were quite weak in defense. The death of healers made their group lack healers, and now, none of them can heal their wounds anymore.

This made their mood drop even further, making them impulsive, violent, and desperate. Now that they only have hours left, they want to do everything they've been wanting to do. They are like bombs, killing everyone and their selves.

"Don't try me, Gars."

The woman said threateningly. Even though she was a girl, she was also one of the 4 strongest persons in this group. And added with the accumulated negative emotion inside her, no one knows how far she might go based on impulse.

"Hahaha, I'm just trying to lighten up the mood. You don't need to take it heavily."

Gars laughed it off nonchalantly, but he was actually quite offended.

'This damn bitch! You think you're amazing, huh? Later on, if I get my hands on you, you would be begging for your death!'

"Hahaha, you should try to lighten it up. It's not good for your mind to accumulate anger. Isn't that right, Rolly?"

Gars directed his attention to the person on his other side, Rolly, one of the strongest in the group. Even though he's a level lower than them. He has experienced fighting many enemies, so he is rather flexible and strong.

This is Rolly, Insig's friend from the orphanage. However, this time, different from his lively and amiable attitude, he completely seems like a different person.

His eyes were bloodshot, but he kept his guard up, looking around cautiously in search of enemies or something important. Rolly's red armor was full of scratches, leaves, and burnt marks. His skin was so red as if they were boiling. In his hands was a red sword embedded with a flame mana crystal, radiating with heat. His sword was full of bloodstains and dents, looking quite old and used. There was an eye-catching blue ring in his hands. His face didn't have a single movement as if they were a dead person's. He looked so serious and his eyes were constantly releasing bloodlust, as if he was an Asura from hell.

He didn't respond to Gars' provocation and just minded his own business. Gars' eyelid twitches in shame and his heartbeat sped up in furiousness.

'This Rolly is already dead. Although you have to be cautious, too much is the same as too little. Being too cautious will take a toll on his mental health, which will lead to exhaustion and to death. Whatever. Like I care, anyways.'

Gars said in his mind and mentally rolled his eyes.

Gars immediately shuts his mouth to avoid embarrassing himself any further.

They kept on walking awkwardly, when suddenly, the man in front of them stopped for a second and raised his hands to his head-level.

"Hmm? What is it?"

Gars ask curiously.

Seeing the scout stop, all the others got nervous and stopped too. They prepared their weapons and their cautiousness was maxed. They listened for any weird sound and scanned their surroundings for any enemy.

This is because the one in the front was also one of the strongest in the group, and he's also of the wind affinity, which is good for scouting. That's why whenever he did something out of norm, it means that he sensed something.

*Swoosh*

Suddenly, the man in the front sped up with the help of the wind. A strong breeze blew towards the group and they were frozen for a second. The scout didn't say any words to them, which was confusing. They didn't know if there was an enemy or something. They were so nervous that they just instinctively followed him.

However, he was just too fast, so they were not able to catch up to him. However, he was still within their sight.

Some can only mobilize one leg, so they were having a hard time catching up. However, they didn't give up and they still desperately tried to live.

After a minute of running, a continuous sound entered their ears.

*Splash!*

"Wait... is this.. Water?"

'Water...? It's either a river or a lake!'

Everyone heard the sound and got excited. With the river, water users can replenish their energy. They can also use it as a landmark. But most importantly, they can also use the flow of the river to go somewhere by using a boat! This would allow them to sleep, yet stay moving at the same time! This would decrease the toll on their mind and body, increasing their chances to survive.

*Thud*³

The footsteps stopped and they gathered at the riverside. They looked at the large river and were astounded by the sight. The clear water was flowing continuously, exuding a monolithic yet weak cold aura.

"It's the [Looba River]! Its the river that surrounds the cursed mountain in a circle and then goes outside the border! Some says that it was made by a group of Sages!"

A teen soldier with a scholarly aura said excitedly. He seemed to be fond of books, facts, and such.

"No one asked, just say what's useful. Using this river as a mark, where do you think we are now?"

Gars asked while rolling his eyes.

The teen soldier then unfolded his map and searched.

'Just why does he have a map?'

Everyone thought to themselves. I mean, who would bring a map with them everywhere, when surviving in the fight was already hard enough? Weirdly enough, it even proved its worth.

"Hmm... Behind us is the camp, which is 80,000 steps away. We are now at the [Looba River], which is 300,000 steps away from the [Mountain of Wandering Souls] in front of us. Based on the flow of the river, this is the part of the river that is about to circle the mountain before going out to the border.

The world in here has differing standard measurements, so they just relied on the most basic— steps. If you use language, and you are about to travel, steps will be the most basic measurements, so it was mostly used as a form of measurement.

Hearing this, many people frowned. Even though they discovered their current location, they haven't decided where their destination is yet.

*Splash!*

Before they even got to discuss, they heard a splashing sound. Everyone looked and saw that the scout was drinking the water relentlessly and he was washing his body.

Seeing this, the solemn atmosphere was broken and everyone felt envious so they also took a rest. They removed their clothes but didn't remove their armor. However, this didn't hinder them from enjoying the chilling aura of the water.

"Hey, wait!"

Some tried to stop them but were helpless. The mental toll on them was too much. They haven't even slept a wink yet, nor have they had the time to pour out their emotions and they desperately wanted to rest.

*Splash!*³⁴

Everyone relaxed for a while and enjoyed a momentary peace. Some even went to a corner and cried their hearts out, or had a quick release. They felt really really desperate, and they can't even lean on someone or rest. Right now, they even felt like relaxing was worth dying for.

"Haaah~."

Insig heard numerous splashing and he looked out. He saw many naked men and women in the river, albeit they still have their armor on.

Some had injuries like burnt marks, cuts, bruises, etc., while others had obvious dark bags under their eyes. All of them had bloodshot eyes and all of them were rampaging around.

Some were crying in the corner, some were pouring their anger at the fishes, some were screaming, and some were having sex without even minding the others. In the face of death, no one won't hide their true selves.

Korban looked at Janine and imagined having sex with her, but Janine was only focusing on a particular person outside. Meanwhile Insig pitied them and he felt like he wanted to help them, so, he released a bit of his energy into the water.

Janine felt a soothing aura behind her so she looked back and saw what Insig was doing.

"What are you doing, you idiot!? What if they sensed us!?"

Janine asked in a whisper that had a hint of panic. Insig heard her and was doubtful.

"Well, they're not enemies right? Isn't it okay then?"

"You idiot! That's not how it works! Can't you see that they are full of wounds? That means that they don't have a healer! If they saw you, it won't even be a surprise if they treated you as a slave or a god! Everyone would be fighting for you and that would cause chaos! It won't even be surprising if they killed their parents just for a healing herb!"

Janine angrily explained, as if she has seen the selfish and most disgusting side of people.

Insig imagined it. He was gonna be forced to fed food then keep on healing everyone, then repeat, just like a slave.

After imagining that. Insig felt a chill in his spine. He suffered at the mere thought of it.

"... Sorry..."

Insig quickly stopped releasing his energy

However, some have already sensed the soothing energy and looked at their location.

"Is this... life aura?"

Some muttered in disbelief. Hearing this, everyone was frozen for a second, when a light quickly lit up in their eyes.

"Where!?"³³

Hundreds of people stopped what they were doing and asked. Even those who were in the middle of sex stopped.

'With a healer or a healing herb, I won't have to worry about wounds and I'll survive this damn place!'

Everyone was just so desperate to survive, and they were willing to pay any price for that.

Everyone hurriedly surrounded Insig's hiding place. They looked like beats who starved for days and smelled their favorite foods, or a person who was poisoned with an aphrodisiac and saw the most lewd hole or dick.

"Hey! Don't try to steal it from me! I'm the one who found it first!"

"Ha! What are you saying? I'm the one who found it first!"

The soldiers were already arguing for the ownership even though no one found it yet.

"Quick! Hide!"

'Damn it! Just calling him an idiot is not enough!'

Janine commanded and thought to herself as she sensed the enemy through the water flow and tried to hide even further. However, some were just so fast.

*Swoosh!*²

Rolly and the scout used their power to boost their speed and they reached Insig's hiding place within a second. They both looked at the thick underwater bush.

Both Rolly and the scout surrounded it and went near. They swam and reached the bush.

"Oh no.... I'm sorry...."

Insig panicked and his mind was in chaos. He saw the people surrounding their hiding place and they looked scary while looking for him. Even the original Insig hadn't experienced this, so he didn't anticipate this event.

'Damn it! Can't we just talk? What else is language for? Why is everyone so violent?'

However, he was not given a chance. Both Rolly and the scout snapped the bushes and dug deeper, trying to find the source of the soothing aura.

"Prepare to fight!"

Janine said. She also knows the importance of healer, and escaping from this place without a healer and a means of transportation is almost impossible, and Insig fits both of those requirements. That's why she is willing to fight for him.

Janine prepared his energy, Korban prepared his magic, and Guster prepared his claws and fangs. Insig searched for his scalpel when he suddenly touched something.

He reached out for his pouch and a spherical object was in his hands.

"Ah! Look!"

Insig screamed in delight. He shook Janine's shoulder in excitement.

'Oh no! Is it an enemy?'

Janine turned around nervously with a water blade prepared, but she didn't see an enemy. She only saw that Insig was excitedly looking at her

"What are you making me nervous for!? I almost launched the water blade!"

Janine angrily asked. She was really nervous because they only have a small chance of survival and she didn't really want to die. She has been looking for the smallest sign of the enemy and she won't even hesitate to attack.

Insig gave the object in his hands towards Janine.

"Look!"

Janine got angry, thinking it was something silly.

'What trouble is he giving me this time?'

She looked at what Inside was holding. However, when she looked at it, she was shocked for a moment and delight filled her heart.

"Wait! Don't tell me... This... is...!"

*Swoosh* *Rustle*

Without stopping, Rolly and the scout desperately scanned the bush for a healing herb or a healer.

'Where is it? Where is it?'

They were desperately looking for the source of the aura.

'Once I found that, I would hurriedly fly away and leave everyone! I would survive this place and live! Hahaha!"

The scout excitedly thought to himself. He can already imagine himself surviving from this shitty place.

Rolly didn't have a single emotion on his face, but his hands were sweeping the bush faster than the scout.

*Rustle!*²

Both Rolly and the scout sensed something move. Excitement filled their eyes and their heartbeat sped up in anticipation.

'Hmm? Is it there?'

*Swoosh*²

They hurriedly scanned the place where there was a movement, and they both found something. Their eyes were wide open in anticipation.

'Ha! There you are!'