Void Spawn - A litrpg adventure fantasy

Upon making landfall, Smith and the crew led the way deeper inland. Though still somewhat near the range of the coast, they soon saw signs of the tribe the captain spoke of.

It was a small community. Samael counts 80 or so inhabitants. The people here were pale, extremely so compared to the typical men and women of Ergo.

Their facial appearances were a lot sharper, and all of them were awakened except for the kids too young for their powers.

Draped over their bodies were thick coats with fur white as snow. Something Samael was quite surprised with.

According to analysis of the area and predictions, this place is supposed to be desolate with how violent the winter and blizzards were.

They were wrong. Extremely so.

It seems not only are there people here, but animals too.

Does this mean there are abominations too?

Samael shook his head. If there were, they'd be little or extremely weak because the people here were weak.

Smith approached first, his hand raised as he cleared his throat.

"U-uh Kash-Kashpo Lu-Luker, pal!" He screamed in an uncertain and accent-heavy tone.

Elyria, scan the language for me, please.

A high-pitched ping echoed in Samael's ears as he felt deafened for a moment. Yet, the moment his hearing returned, he was able to fluently understand what Smith was speaking.

"We come in peace!" Smith spoke.

The men of the tribe, recognising Smith's face, blew a horn that called for another dozen or so people to flood out, carrying crates of boxes that had the same appearance as their cargo.

"Straightforward, aren't they? They know we come to trade, so they trade," Smith muttered to Samael as they watched the people put the boxes in a linear line. Smith's men did the same. "Sometimes I wish people back home were just like this, honest and without malicious intent."

Samael wished the same. There was beauty in this simplicity. Something he feels is slowly vanishing.

But it'll never happen.

Humans were born scheming and with the talent of deception. It was simply in their nature.

Was he the same?

Though he regards himself as a human being, on paper he was not. He was Void Spawn, a creature birthed from the darkness of the depths.

It didn't matter anymore.

Samael rid himself of the unnecessary thoughts as he approached the tribesmen arranging their loot.

Inside the boxes were bars of bluish steel ingots that permeate a thin veil of frost. It was bizarre how it almost seemed as though it was breathing.

"Away! The trade is not established yet! You'll sully the metal!" roared a tribesman.

Smith's and the others faces paled as they realised the target of the scream.

Samael's gaze landed on the man, his crimson eyes causing the tribesman to flinch and involuntarily take a step back.

"What is your name, tribesman?" Samael spoke in fluent Trapaizan, startling the man further.

Smith himself and his crew were dumbfounded, with mouths left agape by Samael's speech.

Smith had studied the tribesmen for years, and yet he had only come so far in deciphering their ancient tongue.

How did Samael know about it?

The tribesman swallowed as he cleared his throat. "Igi is my name."

Samael's gaze landed back on the steel. "What is this steel, Igi?"

"Belkis steel," Igi answered. "How do you know our tongue? You are not one of us."

"It is nothing you should worry about," Samael brushed the answer off. "You said until the trade is done that the steel cannot be touched. Why is that so?"

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Igi shifted from his stance. "Belkis steel is sacred. Our ancestors taught us that only members of the tribe can touch it or otherwise when it is offered in an equal exchange."

"Your ancestors... Did they tell of where this belief came from?" Samael probed further. Yet, he could sense Igi's discomfort in his twitchy movements and avoidance of his gaze.

"I-I will not tell you anything else. You came for trade, so trade!" Igi spat.

A small smile formed on Samael's lips. The people of this tribe, though weak, were brave to an extent. Or perhaps they were simply ignorant of the true powers and forces at work.

It did leave a nasty taste for some reason. Something within him keeps on flaring when he is addressed without respect.

Perhaps... Is it the path I chose? The path of a sovereign...

"Bring me to your tribe," Samael commanded, not asked.

The man trembled as he felt an intense surge of pressure befall his shoulders.

Unable to refuse, he nodded.

"T-this way..." Igi led the path.

Smith and the rest simply fell silent, unsure of what to do next. Ajax himself stayed back, knowing he could not contribute in any meaningful way, seeing as he is not versed in the language.

It did not take long before Samael was within the confines of the camp. It was a humble community, as he deduced. But it seems his arrival warranted confusion.

The people stared at Samael with knitted brows, their mouths agape as they glared at Igi.

Samael could even hear their murmurs, branding the man as a traitor to their tribe.

Samael knew he had to step in.

"Igi has done nothing wrong. Bring me your tribe leader," Samael ordered, his voice rippling through the entire camp.

The people shook as many cowered in fear. Some of the stronger men hurried to fetch their leader.

Soon, Samael saw a man around his 40s wearing a lot less protection from the cold with his bare chest exposed and what appeared to be a white bear fur slung over his shoulders.

He had the same sharp features as the rest of the tribesmen, with the exception that he bore a massive claw mark that rippled across his face.

Behind him was a woman, smaller and a lot more fragile than the man. But an echo nonetheless. She carried a small boy around the age of 6.

"Who are you?" the man asked, his tone heavy and befitting that of a leader.

The people remained on guard. Samael could see in the periphery of his vision their hands hovering near their makeshift weapons.

"I am Samael Blank, a watcher and a Saint-ranked echo," Samael's voice, enhanced by Void matter, thundered in the air, shaking the foundations of their community. "I ask you the same. Who are you?"

The man's body trembled, his knees shaking so violently that the mundane could see it in broad daylight.

Brave, Samael repeated.

"I—I am Gartora, son of Tartukaz, chief of this tribe," Gartora answered, cold sweat trailing down his forehead. "Why do you seek me so?"

"I wish for no conflict," Samael replied. "I come with a mission from my homeland. We seek the forces of our enemy, and our information tells us they were last seen in Pillari."

"Pillari?" Gartora asked. "This is not Pillari."

"For you it may not be, but for us it is. I know of the history of this place, how it was once a beautiful land teeming with life. But the winter killed everything, and we were nudged to believe that nothing grows or lives here—until I saw you and your people," Samael clarified.

"We are not the only people here," Gartora clarified in return. "This land is filled with many other tribes."

There are? Samael's brows knitted. "Do you know where these tribes are?"

"Near the mountains or not?" Gartora asked.

Samael's gaze wandered. Their intel did not specify where the enemy was. However, if he were the enemy, he would hide somewhere where there are not many people.

"The mountains," Samael replied.

"There," Gartora pointed north, farther and deeper in the blizzard. "March that way, and you will be near the mountains."

Samael nodded. "Then I shall leave you and your people in peace."

"Wait!" Gartora called as Samael halted his steps.

"What?" he asked.

"The mountains are sacred. The people of the Kynari protect those lands. Be wary of them; they are not as level-headed as we are," Gartora warned.

A small smile formed on Samael's lips. "Do not worry about me, Gartora, son of Tartukaz..."

Samael spared a glance ahead at the raging blizzard north.

"Worry about them."

***

"We got a lead," Samael greeted Ajax.

The man's visor tilted towards Samael as he could see the frost leaving the gaps of the helmet.

"What's our lead?" Ajax asked.

"North," Samael pointed. "They said there's a tribe there that protects those mountains. They may know something."

"Further down?" Ajax asked. Samael could almost envision his brows rising.

"Yes, further down." Samael gave the man a nod.

"People live there? How? Intel suggested nothing can withstand the cold," Ajax reasoned.

"Suggested, Ajax, suggested," Samael pointed out. "It seems the human body is tougher than we thought."

"If they protect those mountains, then there must be beasts." Ajax shifted his gaze towards the mountains on the horizon.

"That's what I think..." Samael's voice lowered.

Ajax returned his gaze towards the man. "You sound unsure."

"I'm thinking beasts aren't the only thing they're fighting off." Samael's jaw tensed.

"You think they're fighting off the Omens."

Samael nodded. "I think they are."

"How are you sure?" Ajax crossed his arms.

"Where would be the best spot to hide? The mountains are practically a paradise for them to claim since nothing is supposed to be there," Samael pointed out. "Not only is the cold harsh there, meaning they should be the only ones capable of living through it, but the environment itself is dangerous."

Ajax fell silent. The point was there.

"You have other agendas," Ajax abruptly spoke, startling Samael.

"Why do you say so?" Samael turned to him.

"I can sense your eagerness to meet this tribe in your tone."

Samael's brows furrowed.

"What is it you're omitting from me?" Ajax pressed on.

"I found something on my mission to reclaim a vital fortress," Samael recalled. "A book."

"Book? What was in it?" Ajax asked.

"It... It told of another god they called Namesh Lit Karpa, the giver of life." Samael's fist tightened. "In the archives, I saw only one mention of this deity's name. All others were gone and terminated."

"You suspect there's another god?" Ajax asked.

"I do," Samael confirmed.

The two fell dead silent. Only the billowing of the cold, harsh wind could be felt on their skin.

"If there were another god, where is he now? Why has the church remained silent?" Ajax asked.

"I think it must have something to do with Taranius," Samael shot.

Ajax's head snapped towards him. "You think Taranius and this god fought?"

"I don't just think so; I know they did. My gut tells me so, and I've never been wrong with my gut," Samael insisted.

"So what's your plan?" Ajax asked.

Samael's gaze slowly locked on the mountains.

"We march north."