Vol - 1 Ch - 5: Crack

Abraham and Alfred were standing in an open, large area of the slums. Though, for some reason, no one else was around them.

"So how does this even work?" Abraham asked, looking at Alfred drawing a weird circle made up of strange symbols on the ground. But he'd gotten no response. Seeing Alfred so concentrated on his work, Abraham just left him alone for a while.

After a bit, Alfred got up from his spot. There was a lot of sweat rolling down his face and he looked exhausted. "It's done." Alfred spoke in a tired voice.

'Weird…' Looking at the scene in front of him, Abraham couldn't help but wonder. 'Wasn't he just drawing? How did he get so tired?'

"Stop daydreaming. Come here and let's finish this vow" Alfred spoke.

Abraham slowly walked over to the place Alfred had drawn the circle."This is it right? So what do I have to do?" Abraham spoke.

"Just drop some of your blood at this place. After that, we have to swear to never betray each other."

"My blood you say…" Abraham looked at the place Alfred was pointing to. It was a circle made up of several symbols Abraham didn't recognize. 'What if…'

Abraham thought about what he should do for a while before beginning to point towards the slums. "I don't trust this. Let's test it first." Abraham spoke.

Hearing Abraham, Alfred seemed to start getting quite annoyed. And it is reasonable to be. After all, he spent so much time preparing this vow. However, Abraham didn't trust Alfred. If a vow where one can't betray each other is possible. It must also be possible to make someone take your place instead. That is what Abraham feared. Unfortunately, it seems Alfred has lost his patience. "Look Abraham, we've already wasted enough time because of your nonsense. We are making this vow immediately and leaving."

Saying so, he cut Abraham's finger and wrote something in the middle of the circle. What he wrote was written in a language Abraham could understand. It said, "Both of us, who are making a blood vow, swear not to ever betray each other."

After that, some strange symbols emerged from the ground and covered both of them before slowly disappearing. Abraham was taken back by all of this while Alfred remained the same.

"It's done. Now, let's go."

Alfred spoke as he began rushing through the slums once more. Abraham followed him.

But, Abraham wanted to test the Vow at least once before proceeding. He took out the knife from earlier from his pocket and towards Alfred. He aimed for his neck and right before he was about to stab him… an excruciating pain filled Abraham's chest. "AAAARGH"

He screamed.

Alfred turned his head back and raised Abraham's clothes. He placed his hand on Abraham's chest and spoke some words in an Unidentifiable language. The pain slowly went away. Alfred looked at Abraham with disappointed eyes and spoke in an annoyed voice. "Now you must be sure of it, all right? Let's move. 'They' must have already noticed my use of magic."

***

Abraham and Alfred ran through a small, dark and dirty alley. It was surrounded by broken houses and had rubbish scattered all around it. It stank with several smells. "Alfred, Earlier you said that 'they' could track you. So what's the point of going to our destination? Won't we just be captured there?" Abraham asked.

Abraham's question was a very good one. Even if they meet up with Alfred's comrades, they will most likely just be captured. But… Alfred seems to think differently. "It's because I trust in my comrades. I was given the mission to bring you there unharmed, And I will do just that."

"Well in that case why don't you use magic to reach there quicker? Back in the room, I was staying in… I saw you were able to 'teleport' or something similar."

"Hmmm… that's true. I am able to do that. However, That was when I still had 'their' permission." Abraham had some questions from that sentence just now, but before he could even ask anything, An extremely strong gust of wind emerged right in front of them. Accompanied by a man coming out of it.

The man was wearing extravagant clothing with a robe on his back. The robe was the particularly interesting thing about him. It had a cross along with a male figure with 6 wings engraved on it. The man himself had red hair, his face had a few scars and his skin tone was slightly brown. His figure was also a bit large with muscles on his body. He was also carrying a sword on his waist. The man spoke "Alfred. We sensed you using magic just now. Do you know what it means?"

"Yes. I know. 'They' know by now right? And you using teleportation magic didn't make our situation better either." Alfred replied.

"Mmm" The man took a glance at Abraham before replying "I see so you have Abraham with you. Very well then. I will just teleport you straight to our base."

The man seemed to know Abraham's name as well. It was quite obvious he was one of the comrades Alfred mentioned.

'Comrades…' Abraham's expression started to crumble. However, he recovered soon after. He knew he didn't have time to dwell on the past on the current situation. He silently watched Alfred and The red-haired person discussing amongst themselves. "Alright, Abraham. Come over here."

It seemed they had reached a conclusion. Abraham got close to them and a circle filled with strange symbols appeared on the man's hands. "Let's go." He spoke.

However, nothing seemed to happen. A deep silence descended upon them. Abraham was about to ask what exactly was the case but he stopped after seeing their serious expressions.

"Alfred."

"Yes, I know."

After that short conversation between them, the man took out the sword from his waist and Alfred took my hands and began running in the opposite direction.

Abraham found it hard to match Alfred's pace but he still followed him somehow. He decided to look behind to see exactly what was happening and he saw

A familiar figure.

It was his brother he saw a while back.

He was accompanied by a few other people with him. He glanced at Abraham and simply smiled.

Abraham knew immediately what was happening and moved his head back to the front and focused on running. But that didn't last long since he was attacked by a sword. 'Dammit!'

Even before he had any time to react. He could feel the blade reaching his neck. But before it did, It was blocked by another blade. A Woman with the same cross and winged figure on her back was holding it. After that, a few more people with the same symbols on their backs emerged and engaged the enemy in battle. The woman that just saved Abraham's life slowly whispered to Alfred. "Go quickly. Once you reach the place you'll be brought to safety."

Saying so, she left. To engage the enemy. Alfred nodded and fastened his pace. Abraham looked behind at the scene that was unfolding in front of him. It was quite hard to make something out among the screams, smell of blood, the sound of swords clashing and all that dust but after seeing two bodies with the same Cross with the winged figure on the ground, Abraham knew one thing.

They were losing.

Soon, Alfred stopped dead in his tracks and looked behind at the situation. "What's wrong Alfred? Shouldn't we hurry?"

Even though Abraham said that he had a rough idea of why he stopped. Alfred's expression crumpled. "We won't make it." He spoke.

Alfred took out a book from his robe. The book in question had a purple cover with golden edges along with A cross with a winged man on it. He handed the book to Abraham and spoke. "Since 'god' wants you brought to him unharmed. He will probably help us. Ask for help from that book. Quickly!" Alfred spoke.

Abraham looked down at the book in his hands before noticing his brother approaching him. Without any second thoughts, he spoke in a hurry "I'm not sure why you helped me escape from death in my world. But, that means you want something from me. I'm about to die here. Help me or you won't get what you want!"

He screamed at the book.

And as if responding to Abraham's 'request' The book began glowing. But, contrary to his expectations, Instead of him receiving help, All he got was…

…A giggle. Accompanied by

[They have found you. Child.]

The book slowly stopped glowing. Abraham looked at Alfred's face. It was the face of a man who had just been betrayed by the one he had the most faith in.

Abraham began turning his head to run once more but…

He could see a huge amount of red light coming from behind him. He turned his head only to see a huge red crack in the air. The sky turned cloudy. It wasn't night, But. A crimson moon could be seen. Time seemed to have slowed down. All the birds and other creatures started running away from that place. While everyone fighting stopped and stared ar the great crack in the sky.

And from that great crack… A terrible creature came out. "This is Insane..."

A chill ran down their spine as they stood there, shivering in fear with their eyes wide open

As they looked at 'It'.

It had several legs. No to be exact, they were its hands. It had several sections in its body. Each section floating in mid-air with a bright orange sphere connecting each one. The entire body of the creature was scaly. It was pitch black with several red thorns coming out of it. The creature had a huge disgusting face for its head with a pair of massive pincers coming out of them. For its eyes, it had several of them covering its head. And its size? It was massive. Everything looked like an Ant when compared to this disgusting, Massive being.

It looked like a being with the sole purpose of putting an end to this world as it stared at all the terrified humans below it.

It was the true meaning of a calamity itself.

***

Stein- Greetings!