Chapter 6: The Beginning of A disaster

Three years.

Three years had passed.

Three years had passed after Lucas had a talk with Ark. He had burned his entire being just for the sake of getting stronger.

A gust of wind tore through the lush grasslands of the Alps. Lucas was moving with a speed far too great to be seen by the naked eye.

In his left hand was a metallic dagger, and in his right hand was a wooden sword. 

He crossed his arms and then released a flurry of slashes on the bare mountain peak. The intensity of the attacks was strong enough to crumble the jagged peaks.

Dust rose from the site of action as he breathed heavily. Sweat glistened on the muscles of his bare back, and the same was true for his handsome face.

The metallic dagger and wooden sword crumbled, causing him to let out a heavy sigh.

It was the five hundredth time.

The weapons weren't durable enough for him to go all out. Lucas shook his head in disappointment as he looked at the demolished peak of the Alps.

"Time to leave this place." He muttered to himself, but there was someone else with him, listening to these words.

"Indeed, today is the day when the Aurora's Veil will descend here. So, what do you plan to do next?" A voice entered his ears, asking him a question; this voice came from a small mirror fragment hanging from a thread around his neck.

Lucas lifted the mirror fragment, although it wasn't reflecting anything, the voice came from it.

"Hmm...how about we don't decide anything and go down the Alps, and have a meal first?" He asked with a slight playful smirk on his face.

At his question, the sound of melodious chuckling entered his ears.

"It's your choice, not that it matters to me much, after all, I can't eat the food." The voice replied.

Lucas removed his hand, letting the fragment fall on his chest softly.

Ark has been with him for three years, mentoring him and enhancing his strength beyond the limits of a human.

Although this guidance was vague and mostly led him to puzzles and traps of deep thinking, it was all for the sake of his enlightenment.

It would have been an understatement of Lucas's potential if Ark had fully taught him everything; surely, it was a little against his duty, a little.

Lucas rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, feeling a surge of adrenaline.

He felt the softness of the grass beneath his feet, and...

Then, with determination surging through him, he sprinted toward the precipice of the cliff and leapt off into the vast expanse below.

As he soared through the air, the rush of wind whipped past him, filling his lungs with the crisp mountain air.

Lucas felt weightless, as if time itself had momentarily slowed to allow him to savour the thrill. The jagged peaks of the Alps were now behind him, and the verdant valleys were opening up like a tapestry below.

"THIS IS EXHILARATING!" Lucas shouted, though the force of the wind drowned out most of his voice. 

"Indeed." Ark replied, his tone as calm as the ocean. 

What felt like an eternity was now coming to an end; the ground was becoming clearer and clearer below them. Lucas tightened his muscles, bracing himself for the landing. 

And then... 

Boom. 

His body collided with the soft ground, creating a small crater and sending dust and smoke swirling from the impact. Within moments, a vague silhouette emerged from the haze, and then...

Lucas walked out of it, completely unscathed; there were no injuries on him.

In front of him, the path to the city was visible. It was within walking distance, so Lucas strolled leisurely, feeling the smooth and wet soil beneath his bare feet.

Although Lucas was smiling contentedly, the same couldn't be said for Ark.

"You seem to be enjoying this. But-" Before Ark could say anything, Lucas interrupted him by saying:

"I know, we don't have time, I know that. But, let me...just let me take in this ethereal beauty for the last time, before it gets destroyed." 

Listening to his calm words, Ark chose to remain silent.

Lucas continued his walk, mesmerised by the beauty of the nature around him. Before he knew, he was already in front of his vehicle.

Or what remained of his vehicle.

Apart from dust, there were ridiculous drawings and artistic work on it, making his face contorted in annoyance.

"Propeshetrous! These bastards dare to ruin my beloved truck." Venom laced his words as he moved towards the trunk. 

Luckily, it seemed that no one had discovered the secret compartment hidden within the trunk.

Pushing a button on the edge, a box smoothly popped out from the base of the trunk. Inside were his spare clothes, just as he had hoped. 

Taking them out, he stepped into the nearby bushes, seeking a moment of privacy to change.

After about five minutes, he emerged, now dressed in a tight black shirt that clung to him perfectly. Over it, he wore a dark grey trench coat that added an air of mystery to his look. 

His slim black pants fit snugly, and he completed the outfit with sturdy black military boots that grounded his appearance.

His hair was tied neatly in a bun, yet a few strands had escaped, brushing casually against his eyes and adding a laid-back touch to his otherwise sharp look.

Pulling out the smartphone kept in the pocket of his coat, he turned it on. 

However, the device gave no response.

Lucas was confused, wondering why the device wasn't working.

At that moment, Ark's voice resounded in his ears.

"Did your brain regress to the level of a primate? How will that thing work if you kept it uncharged for three years?" Disappointment palpable in his voice.

Listening to his words, Lucas had a surprised expression on his face.

He put a hand on his chin, thinking what to do now, because he didn't have a charger for it to power the battery, then...

He concluded.

Lucas had to reach the city without his smartphone.

By chance, the road where he had parked his car was one of the closest routes to the city of Geneva, and seeing the position of the sun, he still had five hours left.

Therefore...

He was going to walk till he reached Geneva.

***

"You told me that the first quest is going to be killing humans and being the last one standing, right?" Lucas asked about the fragment of the mirror.

In response, Ark replied:

"Yes, the more humans you kill, the more astral points you will get, so, when are you going to board the train?" 

Lucas raised his brow in confusion.

"Board the train? Why would I do that? Didn't you say that we need to gather astral points?" He asked Ark while changing the direction of his steps, leading to a mall.

The mirror fragment shuddered slightly.

"Indeed, that's what I had said, but you also need to gather comrades. And, I think you are going in the wrong direction." 

Lucas stopped.

"I see, but I believe that gathering some extra astral points would be better than gathering comrades. Also, this is the right place for it." 

He said while looking at the mall, named:

"Selina's Complex."

Ark finally understood the meaning behind his actions. 

He had forgotten one thing: the difference between him and this Lucas was just too vast; he wasn't as benevolent as he was.

Lucas was a person who could sacrifice almost everything just for him to gain an advantage and perhaps, a treasure. 

Ark could do nothing but chuckle.

Although he wanted to stop him, he was nothing more than an observer here. Every decision Lucas was going to take from now on was going to be his own, just slightly influenced by Ark's guidance.

Things were going to take an interesting turn.

This mischievous and chaotic child was going to massacre everyone present in the entire mall.

How lovely it was to think about it!