Vengeance Without Duty

Before I could speak a word, Marie ran up to me and hugged me so tight, I swear I could feel a few ribs break. Afetr letting go, Marie started searching around my body for any noticble changes.

"Hey Kaiden, since when have you been wearing armbands?"

Remembering what happened inside the white space, I quickly grabbed Marie's hand and placed it against the monolith, and shortly after, she disappeared.

P.O.V - Marie

Shortly after Kaiden placed his hand on the pillar, he disappeared. Not knowing what happened, I started to panic. Falling to my knees, I struggled to breath. Claire and Joshua came to my side, telling that Kaiden will be back, that it would all be alright, but I just could't believe them. Kaiden was the only person I had left in this world. My parents had known Kaiden's ever since they were in high school, so naturally they visited frequently, then as the years went by, me and Kaiden became inseparable. When we were in our final year of high school, our parents were involved in a car crash, everyone, in both cars, died on impact. Ever since, Kaiden had always been there, and the thought of losing him...

A blinding light suddenly appeared in front of us. After my regaining me eyesight, I saw Kaiden, standing where he stood before he disappeared. Running up to him I hugged him as hard as I could afraid it was just a dream and he would disappear again.

After calming down, I let go of Kaiden and searched his body for any abnormal signs, when I noticed a Armband on his left arm.

"Hey Kaiden, since when have you been wearing armbands?"

After asking, Kaiden suddenly grabbed my hand and pushed it against the pillar.

P.O.V - Kaiden

After Marie disappeared, Claire and Joshua bombarded me with Questions. As I slowly explained to them what had happened, I could see skepticism on their face.

"If you don't believe me try for yourselves."

Slowly walking towards the monolith, Claire and Joshua looked at each other, and put their hand against the monolith.

Now alone I figured it would be a good idea to gather more information.

As I read through the guide book, I noted two very important features, one being that i needed monster cores, if i want to purchase anything from the store, and two, when I kill a monster I can absorb a portion of their mana to strengthen my self. According to the guide book there is two facets that I can strengthen. The first facet is the body, this is divided into strength, stamina, computing power, agility, and reaction time. The second facet is mana, this is divided into capacity, conductivity, purity, resistances and casting/ invoking.(A/N - Explanations for each of the listed will be in the in the author's thoughts.)

*clang*

Quickly looking around, to find the source of the sound, I saw a dog standing a fair ways up the street looking at me, as if I was prey.

After staring at each other for a while, the dog started running towards me. As fast as I could I ran to the car, and opened the trunk, taking out the lug wrench. With the wrench in my hands I prepare for the dog's attack. Waiting patiently, I saw the dog suddenly burst forth with speed, i'd never before seen and I quickly step the side. As the dog was running so fast, he couldn't turn fast enough and rammed into the rear bumper of the car, taking this chance I swing with all my might and hit the dog on the back of the neck, breaking it. Looking at the dog that lay in front of me, I grew nauseous and threw up right next to it.

*remnant mana detected, absorbing, please allocate to strengthen d.e.s.i.r.ed facet*

Ignoring the A.I. I quickly cleaned the borders of my mouth.

"Strengthen casting."

*cast/ invoke time reduced*

Staring at the dog, I realized this would be the perfect opportunity to test my newly acquired skill.

Placing my right hand on the dog's head, I concentrate and think the word 'reanimate'. A purple gas was released from my hand and slowly encapsulated the dog. After about ten seconds passed, the capsule disappeared and the dog started twitching, and I could feel a connection form between us.

Staring at the dog I started feeling dizzy, and as I lost concentration, the connection between me and the dog vanished and it slumped back onto the ground.

After resting for a minute, the dizziness, slowly faded.

'It seems that it costs mana to keep it reanimated.'

Slowly rummaging through the debris around me, i searched a sharp piece of metal or concrete. Finding a snapped of piece of rebar, I walked back to the dog and opened it up from neck to stomach. Taking in a few sharp breaths, i stick my hands into the dogs c.h.e.s.t, searching for a round gem like object.

P.O.V - Marie

After having listened to the explanation, I grew somewhat confused, should I be angry that they nearly caused humanities extinction, or happy because of the gift they've given us. Throwing the thought to the back of my mind I continued on to the tutorial.

Reading through everything, I couldn't help but be amazed, the options given were dreams come true for many people, including myself.

After having read through the classes and sub classes, I ended up picking spiritualist and apothecary.

Finishing the tutorial, I was sent out of the monolith, and the first thing I saw was Kaiden, with his hands inside some animal.

"KAIDEN! What are you doing, why did you kill a dog."

"Marie! Good, come hear and check this out."

"ARE YOU SICK?!?!, Why do you want to show me the inside of a dead dog."

"No, I want to show you this."

As Kaiden finished speaking, he stood up and walked over to me, clutching something in his hand.

As he stopped before me and opened his hand, I saw a jewel laying in his palm, covered in blood.

"This is a monster core, you need it to buy stuff from the store."

As Kaiden explained, I couldn't help but grow sick.

'Did I really have to kill things?'

Thinking further, the world around me went dark.

P.O.V - Kaiden

After having shown Marie the monster core, she suddenly turned pale and fainted. Picking her up of the ground, I carry her to the car and lay her on the back seat.

"I know this is going to be hard for you, but I can't shield you from this."

*monster core detected, absorbing energy, gained 1000 points*