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Suvron's Pass

Two figures plummeted towards the abyss that was the bottom of Suvron's pass: an area unnaturally darker than night where souls were robbed of their sight.

For creatures facing certain death, the doomed were strangely silent; only the sound of cutting wind pierced the still. 

"Have you devised a plan yet?" Kira asked as she sensed the ground draw closer.

Kashi looked to his companion. The rushing air forced her chops upwards, her tongue all but wrapping around her face. He killed a forceful laugh, and settled for a cynical smile. "I'm surprised: You aren't panicking."

"Should I be?"

"Well, it's the normal reaction, isn't it?"

"I do not see you in a state of panic either."

He shrugged. "Well, I'm not normal."

"Neither am I."

Kashi raised his shoulders in surrender. "It's time, grab on..." Even as he said it, he realized the folly of his words. "Sorry about that, how abo- OW!" He winced as she dug her teeth deep into his left hand. "This wasn't what I had in mind."

"It works doesn't it?"

He grimaced. "You're enjoying this aren't you?"

"What gave it away?"

"You... never mind." He pulled his arm closer to his body and she dug her claws into his clothes for additional grip. "Hold on tight."

"With pleasure," she agreed, tightening her grip on his arm.

He formed a hook with his right hand, raised it overhead, then dug it into the earthwall. Debris scattered over his head as his hand broke through. It didn't stop his descent however, and he continued to fall, albeit at a slow deceleration, his hand acting as a makeshift anchor.

They crossed the dark threshold and he had to turn on 'Dark Eyes' to see through the 'black zone'. By the time he saw the ground, they had decelerated enough. He kicked off against the wall compelting the rest of the descent in a curve that killed off the remaining dangeous speed.

Kashi landed softly, and winced as Kira let go of his arm, almost reluctantly. Her teeth had left a very deep wound which in turn had reduced his max HP. Injuries and certain status ailments could permanently reduce one's max HP. Most Health potions could only restore a person's health points to the current maximum health points. There were many ways to get rid of injuries. Let them heal on their own, be healed by magic or use first aid. Only one option was available to the dark elf.

He sat on the earth, opened his inventory and took out some bandages. He treated, then wrapped the injured area, pleased when he saw his max HP begin to rise. 

He looked at Kira, and from the little he could make of her expression, she definitely had no remorse. "You might as well have chopped my whole arm off."

"Who said I didn't consider it?" she replied, a deadly glint in her eyes. "I would have fallen to my death if I did. Even you are not worth that."

Kashi got to his feet and dusted his backside, sighing as he did so. "I don't know why; that shouldn't annoy me, but it somehow does."

"Hmmm..."

The pair wandered through the dark in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. 

"Kashi?"

"Yes?"

"Tell me, why do you speak and act differently depending on who you converse with?"

"Why you do ask?"

"To pass the time? We do not know where we are headed nor do we have a way out. Besides, is it not normal for partners to understand each other?"

Kashi raised a brow. "Did you just call us partners? Few minutes ago you were planning on making a meal of my hand."

"I said partners, not friends. No one says you have to like your partner."

He chuckled at her declaration. "If you say so."

"... Answer the question."

He sighed. "You don't get distracted so easily. It's because of several reasons. Most obviously to fit in, but also to-" He paused when she suddenly tensed. Her low growl warned off whatever threat she had sensed. "What is it?"

"Do you not smell that?"

"No, I can't"

"I smell several beasts ahead and behind us. They are heading in our direction."

Kashi's brows furrowed in concentration. He equipped his last quivers and put on a pair of new gloves.  "Which direction has less beasts?"

"Behind us."

"Okay then," he said as he adjusted the straps on his gloves. "We're forging straight ahead then."

Kira snorted. "I should have lied."

"Ha, don't worry. I wouldn't put our lives needlessly in danger. This is the best course of action if we hope to survive."

"Whatever; get on."

Kashi hopped onto his partner's back. She sped down the path, using smell as her guide through the darkness. 

Kashi's vision went black, and he realised he had reached Dark Eyes' time limit. He would not be able to activate it for another fifteen minutes. Kira's muscles tightened, alerting him to the reducing proximity of their adversaries. The monsters should have caught his scent already and would chase them down wherever they tried to flee.

"Kuku.."

"What about this situation do you find amusing?" Kira asked.

"The frailty of human beings. When robbed of the senses we trust, we panic and sink into despair."

"That is a normal reaction is it not? I did not take you for the philosophical type."

Kashi chuckled softly. "I am not. But the other me witnessed something that really shook him. Well, I find it silly to worry over the limits of the human body."

"Eh? What are you planning?"

Kashi ripped off his sleeves, talking as he blindfolded himself. "If you're so worried about the limits of your body, then overcome them: it's as simple as that... Evolve." He forced his mind to focus on concentrated on the sounds, smells and wind on his skin. "Did you know? They say a blind man has much better hearing than an average man. Apparently, when one mode of stimuli ceases to exist, the body focuses on others to gain more knowledge."

"...I do not understand a word you are saying. More importantly, get ready: we will be on the enemy in a matter of seconds."

"I must thank whoever forced us donw here. Thanks to them I can get one step closer to 'him'." His tone darkened as he pulled out his arrows. "I will be the strongest!"

Growls, shrieks and the smell of blood exploded in the once serene pass as the duo crashed into the denizens of the underworld.

Kashi winced as something barrelled into, and knocked him off Kira's back. He wrestled with his assailant as they rolled on the rough earth. It smelled like dead dog, its cries like a crazed bird. He wrapped his hands around felt like its throat to ward off its repeated attempts at biting off his face. Two pairs of claws dug into his abdomen while two others thrashed at his arms. Its crazed hunger was so palpable it threatened to consume the delf; so much so his grip loosened as he found himself fearing for his life.

.

.

.

Wait... What? 

Fear? He was afraid?

A low growl escaped the delfs lips. His body trembled as rage built from the lowest pits of his belly. Fear? How dare it? How dare a species with IQ lower than a rock force such emotion upon him.  

An incorrigible roar tore across the canyon.

The assailant seized its assault, frozen by the monstrous bloodlust directed at it. 

Kashi snapped the beast's neck. He pushed the carcass off himself and got to his feet. 

Kira's battle snarls reached him but he could not afford to go to her aid. He had problems of his own; his earlier outburst had attracted a lot of attention. Though blind, he could tell he was surrounded on all fronts.

They were beautiful. Those moments before a big fight. The standoff between opponents as they measured each other. The inner battle on whether to attack or hold back.

Kashi's bloodlust had bought him some extra minutes, but he knew it would not last. All it took was one reckless beast and they would all come charging down. He calmed his quickened breath, and focused on his senses.  

He could smell them. Their bloodlust pricked his skin. The sounds of claws scraping earth and cautious growls teased his ears.  He could almost taste the anxious rage in the air. 

He channeled Ferulic's spirit, which further enhanced his senses. Slowly, images began to form in his mind. They were jagged and blurry, but over time they started filling out. He could 'see' rough outlines of monsters and soon understood what was happening. Smiling, he focused even deeper on his senses in an attempt to enhance the images.

Passive Skill Learned: Warrior's Instinct (Lv.1)

Warrior's Instinct: See the Unseen. Never Have your Back taken. You can now sense danger.

Backstab damage -15%

Can pinpoint location of bloodlust. 

Receive a warning before into some traps.

Bonus Dimension Painter: Graphic Memory (Lv.1)

Mind's Eye: Can create distinct 3-D images in mind. Grants ability to store any scenery permanently in mind. Strength of memory depends on Painter level.  Depth, smells, and sounds added with increase in skill.

Sound unlocked at Lv.5

Smell unlocked at Lv.10

Bonus Chef: Noorita's Senses (Lv.1)

Blessed Senses: Your persistence in the culinary arts grants you the ability to identify living and non-living by their smell. Also allows you to identify characteristics of wildlife by their taste. Ability to detect poison.

Secret Skill (Sustained): Mind's Eye (Lv.1)

Your advanced skills in several areas of life have opened you to new possibilities. Smell, Taste, Touch, Sight, Sound, Feel. Through various walks of life you have improved these skills to new levels. The reward is the ability to survive with only one of these. Smell what you cannot see... Taste what you cannot smell... Feel in your head what you cannot touch.

Ability to perceive a 360 view of your surroundings when activated. 

Consumes 500 MP for as long as is activated.

Radius Covered increases with Level. 

Current radii: 20m.

Kashi stumbled, overwhelmed by his new range of vision, and the plethora of information that bombarded his overly keen senses. It was weird: He could smell their interchanging emotions, and though blindfolded, he could 'see' outlines of the enemy all around him.

This was new. Not even Razznik had achieved this level of vision—not that he needed to; he was so reckless, he'd let himself get stabbed from the back, so he could easily dispatch slippery opponents.

Kashi disabled Mind's Eye. Though it was a very good skill, it was far too uncomfortable for a first time user in the middle of a battle. 

A sly grin crossed his face as he strung his bow. "Come at me..."

The canyon erupted as bloodcrazed beasts charged their small, but terrifying prey...

***

Iron. Everything smelled like cold unflinching iron; even the blood he was soaked in. In this unforgiving town wiped from the public maps, the world's unwanted struggled to make it through each minute alive. However, even their despair was colorless, unchanging, cold... yes, just like iron.

In such a world, an existence like him was both irregular and dangerous. But not for the same reasons as regular society.

"Number 12!"

The young boy, no more than eight at the most, removed his pen knife from the throat of the man he just murdered. He pulled out his walkie-talkie and answered the summon. "This is twelve. The target is dead."

"....Were there any issues?"

He looked at the limp bodies of two little girls. Both were barely dressed, and dangerously skinny. "There were witnesses but I took care of them."

"Witnesses? Who? Do they have some sort of identification?"

"No. They seem to be orphans. Probably took a shortcut after scavenging in the junkpile. I took care of it."

"Good. Confirm their deaths then return. Boss says it's urgent."

"Got it." 

The boy walked over to, then squatted over the girls' bodies. He reached out, but paused midway. His fingers shook erratically, his vision blurry and pained. Large clumps of bile forced their way up his throat and he had to resist the urge to throw up.His hands felt like they had gained thousand pounds as he watched the child's hair morph to a dirty gold hue. 

Sweat poured down the boy's face, his breaths rapid and shallow as he willed his hand forward.

With the eeriest of creaks, like a bad screw, or a squeaky door, the girls head began to turn towards him. He watched as her bones tore through her neck, spraying her blood over his dangled hands. HHe balked at the dead blue eyes, drowning in a pool of blood. The unfocused pupils vibrated madly, then fixed on his gaze. The mouth creaked, as an eerie familiar voice condemned him. "... You killed me."

***

Taiga shot up from his bed, breath rapid and hard. His eyes darted around the room in panic, only calming when realization dawned. "Fuck, that damned dream again."

He shot off his bed, and grabbed a shirt from the messy pile on his room floor. He donned it as he walked down to 'the hole'. It was empty. 

"Ah that's right. Today's off. They should be down there." He swiped an apple from the fridge then exited the apartment. He nibbled on the fruit as he rode the elevator to the bottom floors. 

He walked to the testing room, yawning as he entered. The full-body drives were occupied, with Yukino monitoring their vitals on her PDA. 

She looked up at him and smiled. "Are you joining the exercise?"

Taiga clucked. He hated that smile; It reeked of false adulthood. "Nope."

She clasped her PDA to her chest, as she turned her full attention to him. "Is there a reason?"

He averted her gaze, resting his eyes on the machines. "Not really. I already passed this phase ages ago. It would be like re-learning to ride a bicycle."

Yukino closed the distance in one swift motion. She drew her face close to his, a weird smile on her face.

Taiga balked. "Wh-what?" 

"Nothing. Just thinking you look livelier now. Did you get yourself a girlfriend?"

His eyes widened in shocked disbelief. "Haa? Are you an idiot?"

"Hmm... Was I wrong?"

"Of course you were!"

Unwilling to admit defeat, she clasped his shoulders. Her eyes twinkled as she said, "I'm never wrong. Say, what about that Ojou-sama* you've been hanging out with? Is she your type?"

Taiga turned beet-red. "Wha-hwha-what are you talking about!? I have no type!"

"Yes, yes." Yukino nonchalantly waved his protests away. "You don't have to deny it so vehemently you know? Makes you look guilty."

The young man now knew what it felt like to be a deer caught in headlights. He chose the smart option. "You know what? You win. She's totally my type. There, you happy?"

"Che." She pouted. "It's no fun if you suddenly agree without meaning it."

"You aint supposed to be having fun to begin with. This is a job isn't it?"

She sighed. "Two lectures from my subjects in one day..."

"Two lectures, was it?"

Yukino nearly jumped out of her skin in fright. She turned to see Akari at the doorway glaring at her. "Ha..ha," she laughed weakly. Realizing she had no excuses, she bowed her head, clasped her hand together and apologized in the cutest manner she could conjure up. "Sorry?"

Akari shook his head. "No need to apologize. We're used to you all ready."

"Uh... We?"

"Yes. Most of the staff share my sentiments."

"I see."  Yukino muttered, unsure whether to be happy or disappointed by how they saw her.

"Well, I'll be leaving then," Taiga prompted as he walked to the door.

"See you later, Taiga-kun," Yukino called.

"Ah, just call me Taiga next time we meet." 

Akari stopped him by the shoulder. "Dr. Yuhi is waiting for you. He says the first Centurion is ready for testing."

Taiga paused. "It's working? Then 'all of it' wasn't in vain?"

Akari adjusted his glasses, a solemn look in his eyes. "Definitely not. You did well holding on this far."

Taiga chuckled. "Don't you get old on me. I've always beat the odds. I don't plan on losing any time soon. So save your regrets for another fifty years" He said as he walked past the older man.

"Do not be mistaken. I have no regrets."

"Che. As cold as ever. You need a woman bad."

"Hmph. Not as effective coming from a virgin."

"Shows what you know. I lost mine years ago."

"To what? Your hand?"

The air grew heavy with years of buried tension as both men stared each other down. A slight chuckle escaped Taiga's lips and soon both men were laughing.

"It is okay you know," Akari said. "She is not Henri."

"Have you forgotten, Seki-tan?" Taiga flashed a sad smile. "I'm the grim reaper."

Akari watched as Taiga walked away, already back to his false cheerful self. He whispered. "Ah, but you're our grim reaper now." He turned to Yukino who stared at him with eyes filled with curiosity. "I will explain later. We are still on for dinner tonight?"

"Yes!" She replied, beaming.

"Uh, good. Um, back to work then. See you tonight."

"Wait. Just answer this one teeny question."

"Okay."

"What did you mean by 'hanging on this far?'"

Akari turned grim. "This project started long before virtual games were made. Our methods back then were a lot more forceful. We found the strain on the brain to be too much for normal humans to bear so it was scrapped without a single success."

"But you said Taiga was the sole success of the project."

"Not success. He was the sole survivor. The man called Taiga should have died three years ago. In fact, everyday he wakes up alive is a miracle. He could drop dead today, tomorrow  or whenever. To live your life knowing you could be dead any second fate turns on you... There's nothing more cruel."