Essence Code

Cale's gaze was torn away from the vision hovering before him, his attention yanked to the origin of the desperate pleas and shrieks.

Before he could register anything in his mind, a splurt of blood discharged out from the torn limb of a boy, held in the air like a doll by the arm as his body was effortlessly and inhumanely yanked apart. Cale could perfectly remember every sound and detail of it.

The sickening crunching and ripping of the bones and muscle, the haggard and desolate pleading of the boy, the spine-tingling slurp of the beast's tongue licking the blood of the dismembered limbs. Cale instantly thought of his cat, who would lick his hand. It sounded identical to that sound, except this time, it was a much more menacing iteration. 

Cale's eyes could only latch onto the beast, his body frozen, and his mind shambles.

His mind was a rampant mess. Numerous questions raced through his mind, but none were answered, resulting in more and more. His vision filtered out every insignificant detail and only perceived the fleeing humans and the trio of abominable human-like wolves treating them as their playthings.

Cale used his hands as support to jump to his feet, his pale ivory hands sinking into the mud. Instantly, he erupted into a full-blown sprint in the opposite direction of the beasts. 

As a part of human nature, he followed the directions of the rest. Some stumbled because they tried to run faster than they should have. He even noticed a few who were just too unfit and naturally lagged behind them. Cale ran past some of his peers and eventually found him smack-dab in the middle of the fleeing herd of humans. His mind raced, and the gears in his mind turned. 

'A trap.'

It was too simple and unlike wolves. Wolves traveled in packs, and there were only three of them present. Cale wasn't very educated since he spent most of his life in highly low-income areas that barely had housing. However, he knew the essential nature of these animals.

His heart raced, and he narrowed his eyes in seething frustration. There was an apparent detour to his left, but his mind fought against his heart. 

It seemed too empty, too conveniently placed. Something or someone had put them there; he didn't know what the reason was, but there was no way they would just throw them here and give them a free escape route. His eyebrows furrowed; he knew this could function as a future detail to base things on, but at the same time, who knew the purpose?

He was a dirty Outlander; for all he knew, it could be some rich people who enjoyed watching a death battle of teenagers. They'd want to see them die to get a kick out of it.

The detail wasn't completely registered in his mind, at least enough for him to introduce it into his stream of thoughts. Still, Cale possessed a game-like system that listed out his details like some NPC in a game. He wasn't even aware that he was now in a new world. The monsters existed, too, before this particular event. But back then, no one had whatever this System was. Everyone back in the outlands and in Thorya were just basic humans.

Powerless. 

Cale persisted forward, his mind scrutinizing the forest around him.

He knew that if they kept going onward, they'd be trapped, compelled to take one of the routes to their sides.

But those were traps also. 

One of the two other options was to fight.

There was no second thought Cale put into it; that option was already cleanly brushed off the table. No human could tear a limb off, and the fact these beasts did it effortlessly was a testament to their strength.

The last forbidding option was to flee into the forest, where other unknown dangers could rest. However, it was the only option that could give him some chance of surviving.

Quickly, he dashed to his side, knocking down a round-shaped girl with bouncing blonde pigtails. His figure rushed past her, not even offering her a second glance. 

He lept above the slight ascent in the ground that most would probably trip over if they took the same route as him. His speed remained steady, utilizing motions that wouldn't sacrifice his speed at the cost of burning excessive stamina. 

Soon after, a new wave of yells and cries rang out from where he was heading. He frowned but persisted on forward. The ominous feeling swelling in his stomach rushed to his chest, and his heart ached. He knew he could've easily just saved that girl's life, but doing so would put himself at risk. 

He put his head down and continued running.

--

He nodded in agreement. "True," Cale said.

His gaze traveled to the dimming fire. "But I wonder," Cale reconnected gazes with Leon as fast as he disconnected it. He cocked an eyebrow at the semi-ominous sentence.

"Why is it?" 

It was short and straightforward, but an oncoming feeling of impending danger burrowed in his gut, the hairs on the back of his neck raising. 

Leon's eyes oozed a grim light as he stared into Cale's soul. Cale stared back, hesitant to answer.

Before he could, he seemed to suggest some answers for him. "Is it intelligence? Could it be that you're highly intelligent and know how to escape any situation like knowing each way was a trap and that the forest was the safest option at the start of all this? Or maybe you only think for yourself, risking others for your own safety?"

Cale shuddered and narrowed his eyes, his prior sentiments of apprehension slowly altering into rage. 

Leon gave him a toothy grin. "Or... You possess a trait or Skill you're not telling us. After all, we've never seen what happened during these events, only what you tell us."

Cale's rage dissipated as a vague sense of uneasiness settled in. Labeled as a liar over a selfish scum was much better. Cale shifted in his seat, "Or lastly, you're lying about your strength. I mean, killing a hybrid beast that has nearly 15 strength and 12 durability? It could be that you're stronger than you say... Or maybe you're a little spy set in here to watch over us. After that entire fight, all you have to show is a mark left on your hip. Really, one attack landed on you?" Leon's voice gradually heightened, and the bubbling sensations of his being threatened to explode. 

Cale didn't answer; his mind was empty, and his eyes stared back into Leon's. "Maybe I'm just lucky." He simply responded.

They remained at a stalemate before Leon smiled and sat up, "Maybe you are. We'll see."

Lapis gazed at Cale from the corner of his eye. These antics for Leon weren't out of the realm of normality, and Ardyn knew that too.

Ardyn simply stayed staring at the fire, but he listened intensively regardless.

"Regardless, it is time to head out. Beasts will start being active. Perfect timing for us to start." Ardyn and Lapis stood up on cue, following suit behind Leon. 

Cale, still bewildered, lazily stood up and strode behind them, his eyes glued to Leon's back.

Half an hour later, the cohort was clad in brand-new gear. Leon wore armor that guarded all of his essential spots, which would heavily negate his combat performance if injured: his stomach, chest, shoulders, thighs, elbows, and knees.

Ardyn was covered in mobile metallic armor that was spread thin throughout his body. His defense wasn't spectacular, but it was small enough to allow him to move freely.

Lapis... wore none. Cale raised his eyebrow briefly before receding it, realizing everyone has quirks. As far as he knew, he had none. 

The sun slowly ascended, painting the woodlands a vibrant shade of orange; the doors of the croaky wall unfurled, revealing the forboding forest in front of them. Leon finished strapping his breastplate around his armpits, and Lapis concluded his short stretching session.

Cale sat with his sword resting on his shoulder, the butt of it placed on the ground. Ardyn stood against the wall, humming a rhythmic tune as his eyes were shut. Leon looked around before calling out to the others.

"We leave."