AGED

Long ago after the pandemic that had swept the lives of many and other humans turned into something else –monsters that had appeared and eaten their own kind like their minds could only think is to satisfy the hunger they felt the first time they awoken after turning. Enemies from other planets invaded the Earth and the world was in the tip of destruction when miraculously, humans gained the power to strike back.

Strength.

Wisdom.

Agility.

Their abilities risen enormously and then they finally had new hopes for a new day. They fought tirelessly and managed to lessen the monsters but it wasn’t enough to completely eradicate them. Soon the elite humans that had gained the greatest abilities got tired and one after another, they requested for a rest that is not likely to happen as monsters flooded in on Earth endlessly. They tried to look from where they were coming but they couldn’t figure it out. Aside from the turned, monster from another world came in to wreck Earth.

One night when the elites wishes for everything to come to an end, a massive gate stood tall in the air and a countdown a top the edge of the gate with numbers saying  ‘95:59:30’ slowly ticking as if it was indicating of something will happen when the numbers meet the same digits.

A meeting was held and the elites all decided to enter the gate when it opened. During the time of peace, the monsters strangely went bay and was obediently docile.

One person raises his hand and objects at their plan of bombing the gate and makes an ambush head-on. He is one of the strongest and people were gossiping on how strangely, he is getting stronger after he fights. They accused him of stealing other’s abilities by killing them but they didn’t dare to tell their conclusions in front of his face.

Other elites didn’t listen to what he suggested so he left and didn’t come back. Craftsmen gathered and in their given time made the best of weapons and equipment for the elites to use in their upcoming battle. They believed they will go home victor and everyone’s heart should be at ease. Elites of 200 went on and marched in the gate that showed figures of ’00:30:09’ that greatly made uneasiness to each and everyone’s heart but seeing the gallant posture, gears and equipment the elites wore, the unease went away almost immediately. But even if the given time was already here, the strongest elite didn’t appeared and people cursed at his name until they are satisfied. Nuke and bombs were ready to launch by signal. The clock was slowly ticking until the moment everyone was waiting for. They hitches their breaths and the elites marched in front while the people that is managing the bombs and nukes readied themselves for the signal they all been waiting for like they done in the drill.

’00:00:00’

The air changes and it almost feels like they are inside a refrigerator. Someone chills from the low temperature others started to put on some clothes but most of them like the elites, didn’t bother to do so and waited for the clicking that is currently coming from the gate. People around couldn’t decide what to do first, to breathe or blink from the tension the gate is giving them.

A gallant man with a red cape and silver with blue vines design all over his helmet was looking straight to the gate and waiting for the surprise that it might throw to them. His armor is shining silver, hugging the muscles that almost screaming from his chest plate, he looks majestic in his battle gear.

The gate crackles like bones rusting for not being moved in quite a while. The crisp sound of snapping induces chills to anyone that’s listening to it. The clear clouds in that sunny day become dark clouds of a storm approaching. It slowly opens and the great mass of demonic energy seeps out. The people near the gate lost their minds and begin attacking the one closest with them while some snapped their heads dead. The elites immediately sway the people away and instructed the bombers to shoot the explosives to the little opening. The baptism of explosions rang in their ears and closes their eyes from the bright lights of the bombs.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

It lasted for quite a while and the gate were still opening. No one dared to peek towards the gate. Most especially the humans that are not gifted with anything and just there to give emotional and mental support to their love ones that will be going to raid the place.

“Ready your weapons!” Gunther the Brave said and unsheathed his sword before marching towards the gate that is being coated with demonic energy. Fear creeps in their hearts. The loud swallowing from their throat makes it more like a rhythm of a deaf song. They don’t know what awaits them inside the gate but they bravely went inside and see their fates.

One after another, the elites went in and they bravely face the danger with hopes of a better future. When the last elite entered the gate, it automatically closes that made the humans watching panics but the government ease their hearts with the phrase, “heroes never dies until they got peace for us to be alive!”

The dark days lasted for quite a while. The turned humans can still be seen from everywhere and attacks them. Thankfully, the few elites that stayed to ensure the safety of the humans that remained on Earth was there to eliminate them and thus the threat got lessened.

Weeks.

Months.

Years.

Until fifty years after the elite’s subjugation, a group of people appeared in the very center of the people’s stadium that dedicated for the elites that bravely faced the ominous gate. Gasp and shocked expression caught the attention of many and after a moment of surprise, they started to shed tear and cries of hurray filled the stadium.

Unlike from what they wore in that memorable day, ragged and torn with thick coat of dirt filled their clothes. Their shining weapon and armors lost its glamour and their faces evidently aged.

“That is how the Earthex was born and we are now living abundantly because of their brave hearts and…WHAT BULLCRAP IS THAT?!” He shouted and threw the book away to the sea of fire that can be seen around. It went ablaze before it darkens and turned into ash but he didn’t gave a second glance to it and looked back to the creature kissing the ground with his kowtowing position. The air shifted and the flames dances.

“WHAT THE HECK WITH THAT BLUNDER THEY GIVEN TO MY NAME?! A MURDERER? WHAT BULLSHIT IS THAT?” His nostrils smoke like the pipe of a train and he focuses his energy that is messily scattered around to the one creature that had brought him the book that made his head boils.

He is round like cotton but has many spikes that are harder than a 16 gauge needle that is use for collecting blood. Bluish furs that are resistant over fire, he looks cute until you held him in your arms. He gained the title of “the mighty little” for being brave enough to challenge a five meter tall creature and defeated him with just three moves.

“But master…I am not the one that published this crap of a book! I just went and followed your order master!” He lifted his eyes and made it rounded like marbles being reflected with sunlight. But as to his expectation, the man is not the least bit touch by his attempt to sway his heart from punishing him. Summoning a long needle like creature’s spike, the creature trembles and slam his head to the flaming ground while begging for his master’s mercy but he could not give sympathy and strike the needle on his fluff fur.

“OH GREAT DEVOURER! PLEASE HAVE MERCY ON ME!! I JUST ANSWERED TO YOUR WISHES! NOT MY….” He didn’t finish his words and like the book he had given the man, he turned into ashes. Silence filled the air before a sound of wind from his side caught his attention.

“Did you snap again? Poor soul.” The newly arrived creature has horns on both temple which points in the sky. He is tiny as a dwarf’s size but has wings like pixies that flutters and scattered glowing dust that can be harmful to ordinary human. His eyes were completely black and a thin golden line can be seen when he open and closes it.

“What took you so long Geoff? Is it that hard to go there and ask about the task I had given them?” Displeasure was evident to his voice that made Geoff roam around him, scattering his golden dust but the man just shove him away from his sight which Geoff pouted into.

“If it weren’t for me Devourer Leon Thournefield, you would be a loner king avoided by all because of your grumpy attitude and kill ‘em all bonanza whenever they did wrong. My, my why don’t you be kind once in a while like---what the hell are you doing?!” Zaaap! “Where are we again? Oh right, be nice like me!” Geoff smiled sweetly while a poor creature was slowly melting at his foot. Leon just rolled his eyes and sat on a bony throne adorned with jewels like eyes that emits a strong aura. He had been in this space for the longest time he remembers and he has enough of the redundant life he has in here. He misses the fun, the food and the manga he had forgotten to bring when he went inside this ridiculous gate. He forgotten the time he had spent in this gate. Long before, when the elites came into the already finished gate, they made a fool of themselves by fooling Leon to be the one to guard the gate since he is the one that defeated it. He is a fool for believing it. He thought that they had finally admitted their wrong when they rejected his idea of supporting his studies from his near to awakening power. He thought they will come year after to change shifts but he forgotten already how many years he had spent in here alone in the lands of monsters. He discovered a lot of mysteries and one of them was the door that connects this gate to other monster world. That is how he came to know Geoff who stayed with him by being amused on his strange behavior that is unlikely to their ‘monarch’ system.

But that is none of Leon’s care as of now. He really wanted to cut his long black hair in the barbers and shave his roughly cut beard. His clothes smell not because of filth but the burns from the flames around him. He has this black cape resting in his shoulders and pants that almost color like dirt now. He is a little cleaner from the elites and even with all the filth in his body, he is still attractive. Right now, all he wanted was a nice bath and a warm delicious home cook meal.

Geoff hugged his head but Leon softly removing his arms away. Geoff giggled before he pointed to the right side of them on which where the exit and entrance to this gate was.

“The gobolines said that the shamans they had developed the portal that you wanted. Why do you want to go back that much? You don’t know how much time had flowed in there or if you are still welcome in that place! Aren’t you satisfied in your new found ruling in here Leon? You managed to protect the gate for a long time and while doing that, you gave these monsters a path to peaceful trading as you acting the middle man. You’ve done great things Leon! Why misses a world that already shunned you away?” But instead of answering, he stood up and a creature appeared on his side holding his trusty baseball cap that had faded through the time. He puts it on while Geoff given him space to fix it. He put on an expectant look before walking to the location. The sea of flames went off when he started to walk the path and that made the surrounding creature to bow down after seeing his visage.

“Aren’t you going to greet back? They are greeting you though! Hello there! He’s just having a bad day hehehe! Aww! Meanie!” Geoff rubs his head after Leon hit it, the monsters nearby secretly laughs and a good day once again blessed their life. They are thankful towards Leon who had given them work to do and protected them whenever misunderstanding arises. He gave them shelter and helped them even though he doesn’t want it to be seen as a big deal.

Leon doesn’t know the affection of the monsters and creatures around but either way they have a special place in his heart. He entered the portal and greeted by cool air and vast greeneries of the gobolines territory. Unlike his domain which flames what keeps the temperature high, the trees and grass makes him want to take shelter in this place but there is one thing that he hates.

The gobolines nature to mate.

Night and day, Leon will hear unpleasant noises that will disturb his peaceful slumbering that is why even if his domain is hot, he prefer the peace over the oasis of pleasure like this.

“Welcome oh great devourer! We are pleased to see you once again in our humble abode!” Unlike the gobolines beside him, the one that greeted Leon was bigger and has a huge hat in his head and a staff he uses to walk. He is called the chieftain and rumored to be the strongest in their tribe. Leon bowed his head once and wanted to prick his ears from the faint noises of grunt and moans. Geoff was giggling on his shoulders while watching Leon’s ears slowly being colored with a tinge of red. The chieftain bow once more and introduce his shamans that developed what Leon wanted…

A teleportation portal that could connect to Earthex without any mishap in their space or barrier, he had been wanting to go back and have a way to get back in here if he doesn’t see it worthy to stay in Earth. When he severed the connection of the gate from Earth and made sure to give a portal key to the elites for their promised switch guarding, the gate went out of everyone’s eyes as he switches it to an inhabited location that no one will find out.

“We greet the great devourer!” One by one the shamans bowed and Leon told them to raise their heads. With a little excitement in his tone, he placates it with a cough and started to question them.

“Is it true that you all developed the portal I am inquiring your tribe?” It was straightforward without any caution and the shaman answered almost quickly.

“Yes my lord. We ensure you that our test went successfully! You can now venture home my lord and has the ability to go back as well!” Leon grinned and thought to himself… finally, a nice bath and delicious food. This is my savior in this tiring life!