The Ancient Genes

"Never expected to find so many people living here.." Blinken muttered as he looked around the settlement with a little surprise.

"Well, can't deny that.." Max replied with an odd smile on his face. After all, the place outside had been so dangerous. Even getting inside was enough to kill people, and yet there was an entire settlement here.

"Hahah..this is actually very less from the initial people we had.." Old Chief's voice rang from behind, and Max slightly turned his head to see the old man walking towards them and taking a seat by their side.

"How are they?" Blinken asked as he looked at him.

"Injuries are serious," The old Chief spoke with a dark look on his face.

"They should be able to hold on. It might take time to heal though.." Max looked at the old man in confusion.

"But, this is not the place where we want them to be in such a vulnerable condition. Anything can happen at any time. We can't afford people in that condition.." The Old man frowned.

"You don't have any other option, do you.." Max smiled helplessly at the old man. It was not like they could magically heal a person.

"Actually, there is a way.." The Old man spoke pupils shrank down a little, and he stared at Max. One could tell how serious he was from the look on his face.

'Why is he looking at me like that?' Max wondered, feeling something odd about the situation. But, then again. There shouldn't be anything that the old man would expect from him when he himself was so wrong.

"But, I need your help in this.."

And, Max was proven wrong.

His face twitched hearing the Old man's word, but the Old Chief bowed to him the next moment, and this made the situation a little awkward.

"Please explain the situation first…" Max asked with a sigh. He didn't mind hearing him out at least.

The Old Chief finally raised his head as he slowly began to speak, "I know this might be selfish of me. But, I promise to not put you in harm's way. I just need you to lend me your ability to steal the Fruit of Life.."

"Fruit of life?" Blinken muttered with raised brow.

"Yes. It's one of the reasons that we have been able to survive in this place.." The Old Chief nodded.

"Is that the reason that you guys have this pale white appearance?" Max asked curiously. He sure felt that there was something odd with these people. And, they even shared the same pale white hairs and skin. It seemed to be some kind of effect.

"Yes, you are right. It's the result of us consuming those fruits.." The Old Chief nodded as he began to explain what this fruit exactly was.

According to his story, every month a white ray of light would shoot through the sky, and it would signify the birth of the Tree of Life. The tree seemed to contain a radiance and shone in the night like a star.

The fruit from these trees contained intense energy. The energy which seemed to be coursing around the place. The fruit could even raise a dead if one exaggerated its ability. And, that was not what it was only limited to.

Most of the people here who had consumed the fruit had experienced an increase in their abilities as they gained a separate source of energy. Of course these people didn't have much idea about this energy. But they learned to use it in two ways. First was to strengthen themselves, and the second was to use this energy to heal themselves.

"Does it instantly increase your strength?" Blinken asked in surprise.

"Not actually, you have to slowly let it slip into your body. But if time calls for it, we can forcefully borrow more to momentarily increase our strength to the extent which our body could bear. And, in the same manner we can use the extra energy to heal our wounds.." The Old Chief explained.

"I see. So, this is what that Old guy was doing. Isn't that basically a cheat? Yet he still couldn't beat me.." Blinken smirked when Max slightly nudged him to mind his words. They were discussing something important here, after all.

"Uhmn..Please continue…"

The Old Chief smiled at him as he further spoke, "We need this fruit. But, there are two problems. First, it appears randomly.."

Max and Blinken both looked at him in confusion. That didn't seem like much of a problem when it shot out blinding radiance.

"Second.." The Old Chief continued with a sigh, "That thing you saw there..the Juggernaut. It will be there before the tree appears.."

Both Max and Blinken's eyes dilated for a bit as their faces twitched.

It certainly sounded like a huge problem now.

"We need those fruits. It's impossible to survive without it here, not to mention, our hopes of getting out of here depend on us increasing our strength as well. But, we always lose people in this interaction."

"That thing is a monster.."

"But, things might be a little different if you help.." The Old Chief finally got to the point as he looked at Max with a little expectation in his eyes.

"Your ability to fly and create that human-like projection of yours can definitely help us in stealing the fruit. And, since it's not living to begin with, we will be able to avoid casualties as well." The Old Chief once again bowed his head a little, "So, please lend us your strength.."

"I said you don't need to do this." Max shook his head as he spoke, "Besides, I will go even if you don't ask me. I am interested in this Tree after all.."

Max had this feeling that this tree was exactly the thing he was looking for.

'A tree full of life in a place which sucks life force…doesn't seem like a coincidence..'