Chapter 13

  Walkers had steady theories that humans had to respect. They hold their energy known as Arcana dearly in their hearts. They also had elements of virtue and strength and held boundless weapons! All thanks to their Emblems, of course, so they could become an army and hope.

  William glimpsed at shadows wearing military uniforms of green color. Those should be part of camp-uniformed Walkers put here by the Federation. Purple uniforms were for outside forces, either coming from further lands or locations far away from here. But that didn't mean those green-robbed Walkers were fine and great. They were here for something and every single camp was a collective effort since they wouldn't survive otherwise.

  Walkers were required everywhere—especially because of the rich soil that was priceless in farms. Camps had to keep going no matter what.

  Many Walker organizations had to know what to protect and how, so seizing opportunities and sending Walkers where it was worth it became susceptible to politics and values. People became resources and land became a matter of act and necessity.

  Walkers fought like no human ever could, and William witnessed it even with a wet face and tears. They were unique and special the more Ranks were under their System and control. They were no longer humans even if they looked like ones.

  Most exerted weird and stylish weapons by controlling energy known as Arcana dwelling within their Emblems. Many notable elements glowed and moved under their grasp, and numerous kinds were weird and hardly comprehensive for regular people. What was inhuman strength, stamina, and regeneration? Those were just perks of this energy inside every Emblem and body.

  Walkers were no equals. Depending on their progressive Ranks, some could turn into fierce figures, while others would be barely average.

  William squinted in pain as blood dropped. He stood like a shocked kid who saw a stunning sunrise. He tried to look anyway, no longer witnessing a sea of red where some figures stood, facing even more insane figures.

  From a normal perspective, these Walkers were shining in the colors of their protection. Colorful and strong, they were pretty and reliable. Emblem's manifestations and Skills had huge importance and extensions to powers. That was what allowed them to move and walk in most Fog, hence the Walker name.

  Their eyes were usually most distinguishable, either glowing or looking pretty and colorful. Then, their skin and physical appearances would increase and turn stronger for their own sake. They developed faster than any human could, so when they fought, a blink could become deadly.

  Darks were no different, if not even more suitable to changes and sudden power shifts. Through their sheer number and weight of conquest, the hunger for power guaranteed their bodies were versatile and wouldn't hold them back. Their minds could, thanks to their instincts and Corruption that could shift their entire talent and possibilities into vivid nightmares.

  Depending on their Rank, Hordes became their homes or toys. As their Ranks went up, many special and unique Darks appeared throughout devouring time and years of evolving battles. It was about Families. Darks were capable of obliterating not just Walkers, but themselves, for their world was no longer enough and rats called humans weren't everything. It changed when they devoured and crushed humanity to their knees.

  William didn't know who these Walkers were as he tried to observe them. Not in his weight, however. As he tried to adjust his vision and ignore the nauseous voice and pain, he noticed outlines of weapons. He couldn't see their eyes. He blinked and a heavy image bore into his mind like needless.

  Darks were savage and went deeper into his head. Weaker ones from outside of this perimeter immediately sniffed a weakened prey. They slowly loomed behind him, growling and wondering if it finally weakened and lost.

  He was almost on his knees, close to drifting to darkness, but he couldn't move. He had to drive off.

  Until a Hellgar, a mixture of a wolf and a bizarre tiger, smacked him from behind, stumbling him to the ground right before its body dropped in two sizzling halves to the ground. This time, it felt as if William was split as well. He screamed in terrible pain that resonated in his right arm. He fell to piles of red and more red. The world ceased to be normal and everything turned red once more.

  [...rest...]

  [Wait and.... live.]

  He couldn't get up.

  “Oy, isn't that Gale's brat?” a sudden voice shouted from not that far away, coming from a purple-uniformed man who was a captain of a squad not part of this green group. William didn't manage to see everything and everyone. “Eh? Wait... Why is he here? A child in this place... The fuck? What happened?”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  There was a big upsetting confusion not just because of William, but because of... him as a whole. That red thing and blood. It wasn't normal. The shouting man was quite big and fitter than any human could be. That allowed him to fight with a giant sword in each hand.

  Every flex of his muscles shook his glistering weapons of silvery sheens, and every swing crashed large or small yet insane Darks away. He left sharp noises and cracking fissures of his Arcana behind, but most Darks survived this clash. Their glinting scales or skin were like diamonds.

  He was like a large fortress, swiping his opposition without killing them right away. His uniform was in tatters, so his bulging exposed arms were visible and looking thick as boulders. Against him were odd-looking Darks known as Creatures. They had prominent sharp-edged human anatomy coupled with thick or glossy skin. Their upper-tier variety of dark aspects were closing on exemplary perfectionism, so they weren't looking like beasts and monsters.

  They ranged from a stoic nature, less weight, more control, and utter masterful instincts that turned their Madness and Corruption weird, to utter ferocious warriors. Fewer Creatures had eyes, most had wide slits for mouths or little closed gaps or holes.

  All of them looked more human than anything equal to them. Glossy foreheads ended in many sharp tendrils for hair or spikes, or they had completely smooth skin akin to a mask that stretched upward, down, or made their foreheads too long.

  One of them moved when it sensed an opportunity, unleashing a torrent of attacks against the man worried about William. Those large swords wavered, but the man smacked this Creature aside with a wide swing of both blades, making a ripple of Arcana that cut and pushed it far away.

  “I have no idea what this is about, but that damned Viktor better forget his issues and return! Let's secure this kid and ask questions later. Adam, you do it! We don't have much time. Secure that brat and go to the outskirts. Leave with the others before it... huack!”

  Following his last message, the largest Creature advanced, bashing him to the wall and leaving a giant hand imprint shining in purple shadows. The impact shattered the buildings to pieces, pushing the man into the rubble.

  A different man holding a bow with spear-like arrows yelped and cut to the chase. “A kid? Are you sure about it, Dreznar?” Adam was on top of some pillar, overlooking this place from a distance.

  “Whose kid, eh?” Dreznar kicked the rubble away and immediately swung his swords aside, where that huge Creature appeared and this time used its palms for spears. He pounded at it before it came closer, and sent it through numerous rows of buildings in two big cleaves. The Creature screeched in challenge but couldn't adapt its footing.

  “What is even with this Incursion, eh?! Just do it and ask later if you can talk.” Dreznar was out of patience and Adam should take it to heart.

  Adam wanted to flee this place long ago, so he unleashed his arrows and supported his colleagues. Then, he quickly jumped towards William, aware that Dreznar's orders were stronger than the laws. He jumped, leaving afterimages behind and dodging numerous large-scale spikes coming from the sky full of Dark Fog. They dig into the ground below, creating deep holes.

  There was nothing above besides that Fog, yet he still dodged it well. Most of it was thick, hiding things. Fights and battles above were out of his picture for a good reason. The advantages were for humans, yet most Darks went with the flow because it was fun. Battles in Fogs were for occasions of death and the deepest of hunts.

  Adam reached William, who was about to be surrounded by dozens of Hellgars and a couple of young Creatures who began to channel sharp cracking energy spheres on top of their hands.

  Adam flickered his hand, which held a sizable green gem etched in his flesh. Numerous sharp blades emerged under a simple gesture, flying with unnatural speed and cutting every Hellgar to pieces. But those Creatures were further away, so he opted to strike their approaching attacks before he would use his bow. He backed away and quickly closed on William. Creatures readied their next attacks.

  “This is easy, but...” Adam pulled no strings and merely advised some clicking noises. Then, he unleashed thick spear-like arrows in a blink, bolting them at high speed at half a dozen Creatures. They backed away without dying. This allowed Adam to see William and notice something very peculiar about him.

  Then, he fell speechless.

  He was aflame. Not in a literal heat, but... he felt like it. Adam's eyes were green, flickering in great stress and corners showed dreadful fatigue. William's dark brown hair was tinged with red hues of flaming mist, and his eyes were even weirder. Red but wavering and bleeding.

  It seemed as if he had two sets of eyes upon one another, while that right arm was another thing. That glossy and convulsing Emblem seemed alive, and that line turned into a ghost. It was half there, and half wavering like empty space and husk of its former self.

  The skin was breaking and cracking. Veins were exposed and everything seemed like lethal damage to any kid. William was still breathing, kneeling, and was more than alive. He was kept alive... by something.

  “Eh?” Adam hesitated; he was reluctant to touch him, let alone hold onto him because he was not some normal kid.

  “Boss!” He shouted aside, but Dreznar was far too busy fighting against multiple Rank 6 Darks and a single Rank 7 Creature. Many other Rank 7 monsters were around the camp, busy fighting other squads or looking for their great targets, or formidable prey.

  William heard Adam’s steps and voice. He winced, unsure if this was a nightmare or not.

  So he stumbled back and fell into the corpses of Hellgars. He met their decaying eyes in his red insanity before watching Adam once more.

  “Hey, boy...” Adam said, crouching down while creating a bunch of arrows out of thin air. His bow was part of him, and William had never seen this before. This time, William was able to see it better thanks to less clutter. The bow was pulsing, looking like a surreal ghostly painting when those arrows attached to it.

  Not a thing was seen through. It was a thick and shining weapon, and in a moment, arrows collided against dozens of strikes coming from those younger Creatures.

  “This is going to hurt me. Kid...” Adam was feeling helpless and wondered if he should ditch him.