Divine System: Land of the Abominations

Behind Emif was a collection of other humans, all of different colors and sizes.

Nero had just encountered most of them recently as they had all received a portion of the rations from him.

"There is huntable game within Malady's Garden."

"Is that so..."

Emif frowned, "Well, calling it huntable is a bit of a stretch. It's also just edible. Barely."

Nero raised a brow. What exactly was this thing and why did Emif seem to have such a hoirbe opinion of it?

"I think he's talking about the Teargail Fungus."

Nero turned around to face Obed who wore a rather displeased look on his face.

"A Teargail Fungus...'

He had never heard of that in his life.

Emif huffed and turned around.

A man wearing grey long robes stained with mud and blood. He sported a long grey beard as well, making him look old and wise. His voice was hoarse and dry.

Staring right at Nero, he spoke,

"The Teargail Fungus is a special plant that grows on the southern edges of Malady's Garden. While the forest might be infested with all manner of Abomination, it is called Malady's Garden for a reason... The forest holds flora of all forms and purposes. Most of them are dangerous and filled with poisons that can turn a man to stone. Others are incredible panaceas or edible at best."

Nero frowned.

"So we can harvest this Fungus and eat it?"

Emif grimaced, "Yes and know. Getting Teargail Fungus is not that easy."

"From what I know, they grow on the backs of strange Abominations that live in the southern wing of the forest."

The old man nodded, "The Bog Golems. They were originally thought to be the souls of the wrathful dead possessing constructs of stones and twigs found in the southern bogs. However, that is not all the Golems are. They are very dangerous creatures. But their bodies house the one abundance source of food within Malady's Garden."

Emif turned his gaze to Nero,

"I know what you want, so if you will consider it, we can work together. A single Golem contains enough of the fungus to feed us all and our kin for a week. Plus, we might be able to forage more plants to trade with the Templars for rations."

Obed cut him off before he could finish,

"There's a very big problem with your plan."

He glanced at the people behind Emif,

"If you all head into Malady's Garden without protection, you'll be Abomination shit in a few minutes."

The crowd fell silent.

Nero activated Heretic Eyes.

The amount of Ein Sof flowing within a person was a good determinant of how powerful the individual was. Although he had not had the courage to check out the Commander and the Prophet earlier, he reckoned there would be no harm doing so for these regular humans.

Sure enough, each one of them was miserably weak, with just a bit more Ein Sof than a grade Fe Abomination.

The only exception was Emif, who had a decent flow within his being.

Nero frowned, 'If this is how it is, then they certainly won't be useful in a fight. They will all just die."

One of the men gathered behind Emif, wearing dark brown sackcloth and frazzled black hair, took a step forward,

"It's better than waiting for our deaths here. Besides, if we don't die in the forest, we will all die here anyways."

Another one wearing dark brown sackcloth spoke up as well,

"So many of us have already died. If we stay here, even more will die by nightfall. We need to eat."

Nero turned to Obed.

Seeing the tense look on his face, Nero could already tell what was going on through his head.

Things would not be so terrible if there were rations coming in from the city. However, for some reason, there seemed to have been radio silence.

However, when he considered what he had heard the night before, he believed there was still a chance that this "Purge" meant the annihilation of every single refugee out here.

Still, he couldn't be so sure just quite yet.

"In that case, we'll only send out able-bodied men that can hold their own in a fight. Those who won't run like cowardly dogs when the time comes." Obed said sternly.

Obed's words seemed to have invited some fear in their hearts.

Most of those still living had seen more than enough horrors for a lifetime and then some.

They were very clear on their capabilities and limitations. Abominations possessed claws and teeth that could rip through steel, stone and wood. Compared to their soft flesh, those were much tougher to cut through.

Like those before them. Like their fallen kin. They would be torn apart.

However, hunger was a terrible necessity. If they didn't eat, their deaths would be far more excruciating.

"I'll fight."

A tall lanky man with a decent build wearing the same terrible sackcloth garbs as the others stepped forward.

Obed looked him over and nodded,

"You've got a weapon?"

The man hesitated for a moment before pulling out a rusty hatchet.

Obed grimaced then sighed, "That will do."

A few others stepped forward as well.

Nero felt Emif's stare trained on him.

He spared the other a brief glance but quickly looked away.

He turned around to look at Aisha who had been rather quiet recently.

Remembering there terrifying vision he had of her, as well as their short... episode in the depths of the forest, Nero thought about it for a moment.

"Aisha."

Aisha jolted from her thoughts. Seeing her brows tightly knitted together, Nero could tell she had something on her mind.

Still, he decided to ask anyway,

"Will you come along with us?"

Aisha's eyes darkened as she shook her head,

"No. I will probably be just a burden to you all. I shouldn't—"

Nero shook his head.

He hesitated for a moment then leaned in and whispered something into her ears,

"I need you, Aisha."