|Location: City ruins, ???|
-ZERO-
I quickly exited the trembling building I was in and ran to see where the explosion had come from. The buildings I had previously seen in the north were gone, and black smoke came out of them while also enclosing the region.
I instinctively jumped to a higher location so that I could see what was going on better. I made an effort to scout and survey the area on my own, but the smoke grew thick and obscured my vision. As soon as I yelled for SAI, I waved my hand.
I told the hologram, "SAI, what's happening?!," and it immediately gave me what I needed.
[Four life signatures found, triggering acute perception.]
At that very moment, I heard a trinket chiming inside my head, and my sight started to magnify and I could penetrate the smoke.
When I finally got to the end of the scape, I could make out three individuals similar in features but the resemblance is there, siblings perhaps I thought: two women and a man. One of the individuals appeared to be close to death because she was lying on her back to the ground and barely able to grasp for air. She was accompanied by two other individuals, each of whom wielded a long sword with a single sharp edge. One of them kept watching over the creature's back while the other pointed their sword directly at it. "I assume they are the ones you found to be SAI."
[Affirmative.]
This creature has more robust features than the animaloid form would suggest. Its back is protected by a razor-like scale rather than fur, and its fangs are the size of a human head and covered in acidic saliva. The creature is three times bigger than the people in front of it, which makes matters worse. I could already tell that there was nowhere else for the people down there to flee as it prepared to attack them. And from where I was, I could feel the animal's bloody glare as it hunted for prey, and suffocated them with its intense bloodlust. To sum it up, things aren't good for them.
Looking from afar, I can't help but be amazed by what I saw.
However despite my jolly thoughts, I too realized that saving them would benefit me more at the moment. That's when SAI suddenly appeared in front of me.
[Zero notice, based on the previous book acquired, God's Anatomy, the creature ahead is a specimen SK381]
SAI showed me a detailed anatomic structure of the creature, that's when I realized the uncanny resemblance of it from the books in my memory, a hazy thought but I'm sure it was written there.
Muttering to myself, " 381?" I felt a sense of nostalgia and can't help but feel weirdly sympathetic towards the creature, maybe it's because I need to choose either to help it or those people.
Putting that aside, a new surge of information rushed inside my head and with great detail 'I know' this organism was created through bioengineering by fusing canine DNA with ancient DNA from unknown fossils, which was then incorporated into human genes. The creature is therefore extremely intelligent and environment-adaptive, but is blinded by its unsated hunger.
My mind briefly strayed because I was so fascinated by the creature, but soon returned to the three other people who were also struggling to the ground. They were in danger if I didn't help them, as evidenced by their blood-stained clothing and trembling knees in front of the creature. "Hmm, but do I have to save them? I don't even know anyone down there; once more, I do have some questions."
I began contemplating and imagining different methods of approach. from shaking hands when I jump down, landing in front of them. Then what if I walk slowly as I enter the scene? Or what if I suddenly kick the creature and act like I'm passing by? But I can also smash those three and try to converse with the specimen. or I can try to reconcile them.
Numerous ideas popped into my head.
But I'm taking too long to make a decision. When I returned to the scene, the man had moved forward and had attempted to strike the beast, but he had been easily deflected. I twiddled my thumbs and said, "That's to be expected."
He felt his legs and arms tremble, and as far as I can tell, he tried to distance himself from the beast's talons after the beast blocked him with them. allowing himself time to prepare and launch another attack.
Incredibly, he was aware of how undesirable their situation was, but he is still fighting, very fascinating.
The animal struck without hesitation; the man had a hard time dodging the attack because it appeared as though its claws were moving so quickly. The attack immediately sent him flying, with a large claw mark on his chest exposing not just his tanned skin underneath the ragged clothing but also his flesh.
Amazingly the man used the opportunity to roll in the direction of his friends, while leaving a trail of blood soaked ground.
Grinning through its canine, showing its intelligence the creature mocked the man as he struggled to stand on his own, as it licked its blood-covered claws.
The other person in the group quickly assisted him to stand. And taking this opportunity the beast suddenly emits a foul smell that slowly engulfed the area.
That's also when I noticed the group down below started to cough violently as I watched over them from afar, thinking to myself that it was their end but something unexpected happened that caused me to be a bit baffled.
The man from before, who could hardly stand after taking the blow, is now slowly standing firmly despite his heavy coughing and blood-drained skin. "SAI, what's that?" she asked, pointing at the girl as her hand started to glow.
As he catches his breath the man quickly regains composure and with a wide swing he slashed the gas around them and as if bending the wind through his will the gas quickly dispersed around them.
The beast roared, as if displeased by what was happening.
SAI then chimed in the moment with its analysis.
[Analysis error limited, photon emitted reveals that the girl affects cell regeneration, speeding the process of 'healing'. For further information close examination is necessary to learn more about what is this photon resonace.]
"Curious me, something even SAI can't tell at a glance despite being in range. Better get going, then,"
I said and then without hesitation I leaped down, as I grin ear to ear.
As I fall from above the same scene repeated where the beast manages to easily launch another hit against the man and send him flying but is trying his best to stand his ground, it was akin to an animal playing with its food.
A midst in the air I twisted my upper body opposite from my torso and used that momentum to shift my position and aimed to land on my feet, where the loud sound of my feet slamming into the ground caused a sudden halt to the man and the beast's feud.
"Three point three two zero seconds" I said as the dust around me began to settle.
Reacting to my sudden appearance the man clearly flashed a wary look against me, responding to what I did he quickly aimed his blade in my direction, the sudden action made me giggle.
The man's attention suddenly shifted from me to the beast, following his gaze I turned around and felt the sharp claw piercing through the air, aimed directly on my neck.
I quickly used my right foot to deflect its claw which upon contact suddenly produced a loud sound of two metal rods slamming each other. In response to its greeting I quickly counterattacked, using my only grounded foot at the moment, I rapidly twisted my body and used it to hit it in the abdomen after flashing it in front of me after I deflected its claws.
Before it even could recover from that i instinctively dashed and punched its head sending it a couple of feet away.
The man upon closer inspection, seemed taller than me, his skin tanned maybe due to the sun, but what drew me in was his emerald eyes that looked at me in disbelief and buckled his knees as if he couldn't believe what he just witnessed.
After making an effort to catch him, the girl came running towards our direction. I instinctively let go of him, as he sat on the ground, breathing heavily through his mouth that probably tasted like rust from all the blood rolling out from the wounds around his body, some making its way into his mouth.
The girl, upon reaching us, immediately kneeled beside him with a worried expression she began releasing a Borealis-like effect that engulfed him which immediately captured my attention once more. As my curiosity grew. I immediately observed the girl carefully.
However, I could still see their labored breathing and their faces continuing to turn pale as the girl continued to emit this strange light, and the bruises the man had sustained completely vanished.
I felt a familiar vibration from behind me which caused me to sighed in disappointment, after saying, "Ugh! Please again? Can't I have a moment to watch?"
The creature tried to launch a surprise attack as it dashed toward me, its claws aiming at me before I could continue to investigate the strange phenomenon.
I instinctively shielded my hands from its mutant claws. Maybe it might be because I was complacent or maybe I overestimated my body. But I noticed a sensation from it that I had never felt before, and at that precise moment, an idea popped into my head.
"I'm getting hurt by this thing" I whispered to myself in disbelief.
A layer of my skin was torn off by its razor-sharp claws. That's when a sudden panic rushed over me and without hesitation sent it flying once again. The beast's head immediately pierced the concrete wall when it made sure to send it across two buildings.
That should do it, I thought after picking myself up. "Um? Hi, I'm Zero," I said before turning my attention back to those two and the unconscious girl.
To appear friendly, I grinned once more.
Despite my friendly greeting, their pupils shrank, sweat dripped from their brows, and I could feel them trembling as they looked in my direction.
I then heard the beast's snarling sound emanating from my back. Then I understood why they trembled in terror when they looked at me.
I saw a bigger piece of the cement wall fly towards me as the man pointed at me with his shaking finger.
I quickly shifted my body and, with a clenched fist, effortlessly punched it to pieces, only the accompanying dust tried getting into my eyes. I observed the beast standing there, unaffected by my actions.
"That exoskeleton must have protected it," I thought and looked around for something to use to get past its defenses. The only useful item nearby is the man's sword, though my fist would do the trick if I hit it hard enough but the sensation from before made me hesitant and went for the man's sword instead, which I borrowed by the way and did not steal.
"Wait"
Without paying any more attention to him, I swung the sword as I dashed in the direction of the beast. I struck the creature, intending to cut off its head, but it was quick on its feet and managed to quickly put some distance between us. I didn't hesitate and pursued it right away, this time being more accurate with my strike.
The fight continued, with me striking the creature repeatedly, thinking, "Wow, this is a good knife." Though it took longer than I anticipated, the beast eventually realized that every time it thwarted my attack, it had gradually dulled and cut its razor-sharp claws. I observed the beast turning vicious.
When it realized what I had done, it began to screech loudly, filling the entire ruin with its loud voice and nearly blowing our ears out of their sockets because I was in front of it. Its raucous sound started to negatively affect me. I clamped my hand over the sword and struck with all of my might, slicing the blade toward its neck. Moreover, it was too late for it to respond.
I yelled at the top of my lungs, "SHUT IT!"
Ironically, from my strike, a strong force suddenly burst forth, unleashing a massive shock wave that rendered me speechless and for a moment felt dizzy. The beast and nearby structures were destroyed.
"Woah, this sword is amazing- sword- half-?" I said, looking at the battered sword in my hand.
100% the sword's fault, the massive tremor it generated disturbed the fragile foundation around us and caused the nearby buildings to quake and begin to fall. Before the buildings could bury our heads, I quickly snatched these three people around me to escape, while throwing the weapon of mass destruction away.
I told the guy, "Hold onto me, and don't let go."
I immediately began running away from the ruins before he could finish his sentence.
"Ah!"
We manage to escape safely.
I feel bad as I look at the once-enchanting ruins of an ancient city that are now crumbling in front of me.
I set the final two on the ground next to one another. They appear to be unable to process what has happened based on how speechless they are, and all I can do is do what I do best. I was hoping to brighten the mood after that eventful encounter.
I unmasked myself and smiled more broadly. They didn't say anything; they just stared at me strangely. However, I continued to smile. I wish they wouldn't take this as something bad anymore.
I noticed how the man looked at me nervously as he spoke with his trembling voice.
"W-Who are y-you?"
"Me? Zero." I said with a wide smile, but it also made me wonder, why did I even smile earlier when I just met them, they couldn't even possibly see it cuz of the mask.
'Wait did the guy point his sword at me cuz I smiled with a mask on? Making it a bit weird?'
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