【Story】Creeds of Earthlings Series

Creeds of Earthlings Series Ch. 1

“Rhapsody of Creation – Kingu”

On a vast land, there was a marvellous building of red bricks. That was the Database of the Eldus, which specifically stored and managed the resources scavenged from other planets.

“Ten, eleven, twelve…”

Inside the Database, a man, Kingu, was counting a basket of crystals in front of him. But the counting was interrupted by footsteps from the entrance.

Kingu turned around to welcome the visitor—a proud, confident young lady.

“Oh, it’s Shamash… No, I should call you Lady Shamash. Congratulations for becoming the elite of our clan,” Kingu greeted Shamash with a sarcastic grin. 

“What’s this visit for? Shouldn’t you be busy with the preparation? After all you’ll be leading the others to seek our origin.”

“Kingu, join the journey with me,” said Shamash, trying to push Kingu with her intimidating gaze.

For a moment, Kingu hesitated; he soon calmed down and rejected Shamash.

“…You must be joking, right? I’m just a data keeper. This is way out of my league,” Kingu said, scratching his cheek.

“Stop pretending, Kingu. You used to create innovative spells. Your extraordinary talent shouldn’t be wasted here.”

“Aw, busted,” Kingu shrugged exaggeratedly, and continued, “Then you must know the reason why I’m working here.”

“You broke the rules of our clan by disrupting the fate of another realm, which led to their doomsday…” Shamash sneered in disdain, “Humph, that’s utterly nonsense. What a coward!”

“So this is who you really are? I thought you were another conventional model student,” Kingu said, amused by Shamash’s true nature.

“I’ll risk everything to get what I want.” The greedy desire in Shamash’s gaze was revealed completely.

As Kingu scanned Shamash with his squinted eyes, his inner desire was gradually lit up.

“What an interesting fellow. I’m gonna have so much fun with her.”

Kingu reached his hand at Shamash and smirked.

“Alright, I’m in, but don’t let me down. I’ll quit as soon as I’m bored.”

And that was how Kingu joined Shamash’s venture team to the land of origin, which was named “the realm” in the later days, the world with ample mana. 

Kingu concealed his relationship with Shamash in order to sniff around. Among all duties assigned to the Eldus, he found Ninhursag’s the most intriguing—producing creatures named “Earthlings”.

In a spacious room, a dozen enchanting circles were drawn on the floor with a bunch of clay dolls placed at the center. The clay was made of mana-filled soil from this planet. Mixed with other ingredients, the dolls became the life core of earthlings.

After inspecting the integrity of the enchanting circles and the dolls, Ninhursag signalled the other Eldus to return to their positions with a nod.

“Mana, please grant us power, blessing, and vitality.”

As Ninhursag mumbled, the energy residing within surged, lighting up the enchanting hana on her tanned skin. When the other Eldus followed, the whole room was filled with dazzling shine, blinding Kingu.

When the shine faded, all the clay dolls were turned into five-year-old children. Despite their different genders and faces, they were all browsing around curiously at the same time, inquisitive about the dawn of this world.

At this moment, a graceful figure entered the room and asked Ninhursag, “Are the earthlings ready?”

“Yes. Phase one has been completed. In the upcoming days, I’ll be speeding up their growth and inculcating knowledge into their minds with spells for every seven days. They’ll be fully mature in about thirty days,” Ninhursag reported, but her facial expression implied that she didn’t want this job. 

Shamash never noticed the unwillingness written on Ninhursag, nor did she care.

“Remember to program fear into their souls. As long as they worship us, they won’t defy us,” Shamash ordered.

“…Understood.”

“Mmm, that’s not enough… Inhibiting seals must also be added to all earthlings except for the combat earthlings.” 

Squinting at Ninhursag, the tone of Shamash became mean, “The production of labour earthlings is too slow. You must speed it up by all means!”

Yet not every production was smooth. Some earthlings might explode due to overpressure from the spells. Ninhursag, who treated the earthlings as her own children, collapsed after several failures. Since then, she had given up on producing earthlings.

The displeased Shamash went over to reproach Ninhursag immediately, “Ninhursag, are you defying me by suspending the earthling production?”

“Yes. I can’t do this anymore. They’re all lives, yet they’re born to be sacrificed! It’s against the creed of our clan!”

“I get it. It’s alright if you don’t want to do it.”

Shamash looked over to Kingu, who was standing with other Eldus, and said, “You, do it.”

“Yes ma’am,” said Kingu, bowing at Shamash with a bright grin. His exaggerated moves somehow matched his vibe. Then he directed the other Eldus to produce earthlings. Not only did he perform the ritual accurately, but he completed it two times faster than Ninhursag did.

“This is…impossible…Not even Enlil could completely comprehend the ritual, but…Why? Who are you exactly?” Ninhursag was utterly surprised.

“Who am I?”

Kingu laughed as if he found Ninhursag’s question amusing.

“Consider me as a keen fun seeker.”

Before Ninhursag could ask further, she got kicked out by the other Eldus at Shamash’s order. Since then, Kingu had officially taken over the earthling production. 

The duty was interesting at first, but Kingu was gradually bored by the monotonous routine.

“Overwhelming control is boring…” Kingu mumbled. All of a sudden, a playful grin appeared on his face as if he had a fun idea.

“Ugh, how boring this is…Can someone change this overpowering situation?” Kingu was lamenting next to the window. Next second, a playful grin appeared on his face as he glimpsed a man outside.

“Aw, looks like something fun is about to happen.”

Creeds of Earthlings Series Ch. 2

“Liberation of Talent – Enkidu”

On a grass field with plentiful silvergrass and halos-transporting pipes, there was a man named Enkidu napping peacefully. Feeling the soothing breezes, his mind drifted back to the old times in his hometown…

Back in the old days, Enkidu was looked down upon by his peers, but it never bothered him much. In contrast, Enkidu felt even more carefree than before. 

Enkidu had been researching alone on subjects that intrigued him. This day, in the furthest reaches of the desert, he was observing the mana contained in some crystals, which were scavenged from Galaxia.

“Whoa!”

A girly moan sounded behind Enkidu. When he turned around, he saw an orange-haired girl who had just stumbled on the ground.

“…Enlil, I think you should do some research on the reason why you trip yourself every time you meet me,” said Enkidu with a slight frown.

Not only wasn’t the girl provoked, but she giggled.

“Sure. I’ll tell you when I figure out why, but it might take you a lifetime to wait,” said Enlil.

Enkidu and Enlil smiled when their gazes met. There was an exclusive connection between them.

“I still have some questions about the memory reconstructing circle. Can you help me with that?”

Enlil handed a scroll to Enkidu, but he seemed not interested. After taking a look, he shifted his attention back to the crystals.

“How come a genius like you seeks help from a fool like me?”

“Enkidu is no fool at all! Frankly speaking, you’re much smarter than me, but it has to arouse your interest first. You pour all your effort to pursue everything you long for,” Enlil paused with a sweet smile, and she asked, “Am I right?”

Enkidu would like to answer, but a childish shout woke him up. 

“WHOA!”

Waking up from the dream, Enkidu saw an eight-year-old girl trip in front of him, resembling Enlil in his dream. When he was about to give the girl a hand, a man came over—Kingu the Eldus, who had been Shamash’s favorite lately.

“Sorry. Looks like I just disturbed your nap.”

Kingu’s apology did not sound like what it meant because of his playful tone, but Enkidu was not offended at all. His attention was all caught by this little girl in front of him.

Intrigued by Enkidu’s reaction, Kingu told him about the girl, “her name is Elpis, an earthling produced two weeks ago.”

“…She has Enlil’s life sequence…” 

“You…”

Kingu first raised his eyebrows in surprise; then he smiled and revealed, “You…you’re right. You’re the first one to discover it. No wonder Enlil would invite you to this venture.”

Ignoring Kingu’s compliment, Enkidu crouched down to stare at Elpis.

“Kingu, I want her,” Enkidu muttered with a firm stance.

“No way. Every earthling has a record. If Shamash finds out, you and I will be dead.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll give her back to you, but before that, let me instruct her.”

“…Alright. If you insist, I’ll let you take her. And I’ll come to you every seven days to boost her growth.”

Kingu then left with a wave of his hand. When he was leaving, there was a smirk on his face as if he had just found an interesting game.

Enkidu and Elpis were alone on the grass field, looking at each other; anyone could tell that Elpis would become gorgeous just by looking at her innocent facial profile.

“Would you like to go home with me?” Enkidu asked Elpis softly while stroking her cheek. 

The innocent Elpis scanned Enkidu out of curiosity. Then she gave a pure smile and nodded.

“Sure!”

Yet the outcome was not as Enkidu expected. Elpis’s intelligence was way slower than Enlil’s. No matter how hard Elpis tried, she never met Enkidu’s expectations.

Seven days passed quickly, especially when Enkidu had lost his hope. This day, Kingu visited to boost Elpis’s growth.

“AHHHHH—”

The boosting procedure was a torment to Elpis, who let out a nerve-wracking scream. Annoyed, Enkidu turned around to leave the house—

“Enkidu…Don’t…leave…” Elpis murmured powerlessly, reaching her hand toward Enkidu. He stopped for a moment, but left eventually.

After a while, Kingu walked out of the room and spoke to Enkidu, “It’s done. She might have a fever tonight. Keep an eye on her.”

Kingu left after leaving the words. Returning to the house, Enkidu went straight to his room silently when he saw the blushing Elpis lying on the couch.

A banging noise startled Enkidu when he was almost asleep. Leaving his room, he found that Elpis had dropped onto the floor, panting in agony.

“…Just give her back to Kingu tomorrow. I’m better off on my own,” Enkidu decided as he put Elpis back onto the couch. While he was returning to his room, another bang stopped him—Elpis dropped onto the floor again.

“Well…Looks like I have no choice.”

Scratching his scalp in frustration, Enkidu brought Elpis back to his own bed. After putting her down, he lay down to prevent the same accident from happening again.

“Mmm…Enkidu…There you are…So good…”

Elpis smiled when Enkidu was the first one she saw. The smile somehow resembled Enlil’s, which softened Enkidu’s heart. He comforted her softly, “You’re ill. Go to sleep.”

All of a sudden, Elpis got up and kissed Enkidu on the cheek, who pulled her away immediately.

“What…what were you thinking?” Enkidu could still feel the remaining heat as he touched his cheek.

“It’s because…Enkidu seems lonely…so I…Wheeze…” Elpis suddenly gasped, but she continued speaking with hard effort, “I’ll try…my best to study…Please…don’t leave…Elpis…”

“…Stop overthinking. I won’t leave you,” said Enkidu, who couldn’t reject the little Elpis.

“Great…” The relieved Elpis finally fell asleep.

With that promise, Enkidu had no choice but to continue instructing Elpis. Yet stray thoughts kept lingering in his heart ever since that kiss. To clear his mind, Enkidu took Elpis for a walk as well as her first combat training.

“Activate the spell to gather mana. Then convert its form and unleash it.”

“Okay.”

Following Enkiu’s instruction, Elpis quickly gathered green mana, compressed it, and unleashed. The unleashed air blade chopped off dozens of trees. This hit had completely blown Enkidu’s mind.

“Despite having Enlil’s life sequence, Elpis was a monumentally different individual from Enlil. She has the combat talent that Enlil lacks,” Enkidu pondered.

While Enkidu was absent-minded, he failed to notice an approaching beast that was ready to engulf him—

“Mmm!”

“Damn it!” Enkidu was enraged when he saw Elpis get bitten to the point of bleeding. He launched a mana strike to blast the aggressive beast away.

“Elpis!” Enkidu went over to heal Elpis with a spell.

“I’m so glad that you’re safe…” Elpis stroked Enkidu’s cheek and smiled genuinely.

“You’re the one who got hurt! Painful?”

“Yes, but I’ll feel pain here if I see you get hurt. It’ll be much more unbearable than getting hurt physically. I’m relieved as long as I can protect you,” said Elpis, putting her palm on her chest.

The deeply touched Enkidu held Elpis’s hand tightly. He felt a heart-wrenching pain when he saw the blood-soaked clothes on Elpis. The firm hand grip from Enkidu worked as a cure to Elpis, who managed to get up and kissed Enkidu on the cheek.

This kiss was not as hot as the last one, but it ignited the emotions lurking deep inside Enkidu’s heart. As the breach of his soul was filled, the flatline in his life started pulsing again, and everything looked beautiful as brand new in his eyes.

Ever since that kiss, Enkidu and Elpis had become much more intimate. He taught her all the knowledge he had in his brain; He shared with her the things that he treasured the most. Whenever she was happy, the joy was his too.

“Why do I feel warm and delighted whenever I see her smile?” Enkidu was stuck in this thought as he was unable to explain this sort of emotion. Soon, his thinking was disturbed by Kingu.

“Hey there. Here I am again,” said Kingu with his signature playful tone. “She seems energetic. Looks like it’s a good day to boost—Enkidu, why are you blocking my way?” Kingu said while gazing at the humming Elpis outside the house.

“Kingu, please leave.”

“Hey, hey, hey, what’s wrong?”

Scanning Enkidu, Kingu figured out why very soon.

“You don’t want to see her suffer? That’s a no. Don’t you remember our deal? You can borrow that toy, but you gotta return it to me eventually.”

“What toy—” Enkidu’s word was interrupted by the warmth in his palm—from Elpis. She held his hand and smiled at him.

“I can take that!”

“But you might get hurt.”

“Yes, but I wanna grow up faster so that I can protect Enkidu.”

As Elpis insisted, Enkidu had no choice but to let Kingu do his job. The boost was finished after a long period of torture, and Elpis grew up into a fourteen-year-old girl.

The upcoming days didn’t resume normal as Enkidu had expected. Next day in the morning, he found Elpis crying.

“Elpis, what’s wrong?” Enkidu asked.

“Enkidu…”

With the tears on her face, Elpis threw herself into Enkidu’s embrace and sobbed, “boohoo…I might be dying.”

“Huh? How come… Which part of your body doesn’t feel well?”

Elpis blushed when Enkidu asked about her well-being. Hesitating for a while, she eventually whispered her situation to him.

Surprised at first, Enkidu then searched his knowledge bank for the answer.

“That means…your body is mature.”

Although the physique of Eldus still contained a reproductive system, the evolution process had eliminated most of their sex characteristics, which was the reason why Enkidu had no idea how to solve Elpis’s mystery. At last, he called Kingu for help.

Kingu then assigned a female Eldus to teach Elpis how to deal with her mature body. By the time everything was settled, the nightfall had already arrived.

“It’s been a tough day. Go to sleep,” said Enkidu.

“Enkidu… I’m still scared… Can I sleep with you tonight?”

Enkidu was defeated when Elpis pulled his sleeve in an adorable way. With a reluctant headshake, he indulged her by rubbing her head and said, “…one night only.”

It didn’t take Elpis too long to fall asleep. When Enkidu almost fell asleep, he felt the touch of Elpis’s body in his arms.

An inner impulse woke up when Enkidu felt Elpis’s soft body and her pleasant aroma. Before he lost the last bit of sanity, he rushed out of bed to calm himself down with a cold shower.

“That was… lust… No way…It can’t be! I was turned on by Elpis—”

“What’s…the feelings I have for her?” Enkidu murmured in confusion.

As time went by, this day was the last boost for Elpis. After that, she would be caught up in the ability test for earthlings.

The fully grown earthlings must go through a series of tests in order to identify the ability of each individual. The result would determine their future positions. Elites would be enlisted in the combat division, which was the most privileged group among all earthlings.

Watching Elpis’s battle from the Eldus section, Enkidu felt a tremendous heartache whenever she got hurt.

At last, Elpis earned herself the combatant qualification with her overpowering strength. Meanwhile, Enkidu left his seat before the result announcement, heading straight to Earthling’s preparation room.

“Enkidu!” The thrilled Elpis called him. “I win! Now I can become a soldier and protect you!”

Despite all the painful injuries she had, Elpis was still smiling purely like their first encounter.

Enkidu could feel nothing but regret.

“I shouldn’t have taught her how to fight… All I want is nothing but her carefree smile… I want her to be with me forever… I love her so much…”

Recognising his true affection, Enkidu pulled Elpis into his arms to hold her tight. He buried his face into her aromatic hair and mumbled, “I will save you…at all costs!”

Creeds of Earthlings Series Ch. 3

“No. 1125 – Zack”

Zack the earthling had only one thought in his mind when he first saw Valanthe the elf.

“Ah…She’s an utterly different individual from me, colourful, mesmerizing, and eye-catching. She’s also the type that I can’t handle.”

Valanthe, the heir to the throne of Arcus elves, was invited to have a guest stay in the Eldus’s territory. In fact, she was being held hostage.

Shamash had arranged a grand welcome for Valanthe. In the lounge, a crowd of earthlings was greeting the arrival of Valanthe. 

Even though Valanthe knew that she was merely a prisoner here, she never displayed any fear or frustration. Wearing a stunning dress, every move of hers was a kind of pride that could capture the others’ minds. Zack was one of them.

At that moment, Zack never foresaw a chance to approach this dazzling precious.

Yet fate was not something predictable, which somehow connected individuals in a miraculous way.

At the same night, Shamash summoned Zack.

“Starting from tomorrow, you’ll be serving Valanthe, the princess of Arcus. You shall comply with all her orders except leaving the forest,” Shamash ordered sternly.

“…Understood.”

As a tool produced by the Eldus, obedience was Zack’s only option.

Next day, Zack knocked on Valathe’s door, but he got nothing in response. It remained the same when he knocked again.

“Did she escape?”

The panicked Zack put away his manner and entered the room. Inside, the whole space was only vaguely illuminated by the moonlight. Valathe was sitting by the window ledge, weeping. Tears were shining as they rolled down her cheeks. Her vulnerability constituted a great contrast to her pride.

“She’s crying…I thought a tough one like her would never cry…”

An unspoken sympathy drove Zack to approach Valanthe, who began to sense his presence.

“Who?” Valanthe stared at Zack vigilantly.

“I— Ouch!” 

Zack was shut up by a book thrown at him, which scratched his forehead to bleed.

“How dare you! Who let you in!” Valanthe switched from fragile to domineering, beautiful yet dangerous like a rose with thorns.

“Please forgive me…At Lady Shamash’s order, I’m here to serve you, your highness,” Zack introduced himself.

“Humph! Save it. You’re just Shamash’s spy.”

“…I, Zack, will comply with every order you give except leaving the forest.”

“Oh,” Valanthe gave a mocking grin. She pointed at her feet and said, “Kneel down and kiss my feet then.”

“Understood.”

Zack followed her order, although he didn’t get the meaning behind. Kneeling down, he lifted Valanthe’s left foot carefully.

“Her foot is so tiny compared to my hand. I feel like I might break it if I squeeze harder…”

Bending his body forward, Zack slowly kissed Valanthe’s foot—

Slam!

Before his lips touched her skin, Valanthe slapped Zack as hard as she could.

“Don’t you feel ashamed of yourself?” Valanthe yelled with her face completely flushed.

Valanthe then stormed back to her bedroom and slammed the door, leaving Zack stunned.

“I didn’t know that there was such a side in her…”

This was how their story began. Zack stood by at the doorstep every day to wait for Valanthe’s order.

Although Valanthe often made absurd orders, Zack would try his best to fulfill them. As time went by, he began to know more about Valanthe—tough and glamorous on the outside, but fragile and sensitive on the inside.

Zack was unable to take his eyes off Valanthe—her displeased pouts, her nostalgic weeps, her prankster smiles and…

Every night, Zack longed for another morning to meet Valanthe. He thought he would be satisfied with the status quo, but his optimism ended very soon—

This was the thirtieth day of Valanthe’s stay. Just like another day, Zack dressed properly and came to her room, but the door was left unlocked.

Minimal noise sounded inside the room. Entering anxiously, Zack saw a nerve-wracking scene—Valanthe was making out with a shirtless male earthling on the bed.

With erupted rage, Zack’s body acted faster than his brain. He turned the purplish mana into shadow to tie up the male earthling, who was on top of Valanthe.

“I… am… sorry… Spare…me…” 

As the suffocated earthling begged, Zack tossed him to the door and shouted, “GET OUT!”

“Valanthe, what happened to you?” Zack asked nervously, lifting the exhausted Valanthe.

“Just my rut period,” the blushing Valanthe grinned seductively.

“We, the Arcus elves, have a regular oestrus period, and it’s a torment to us. I spent some effort finding a mate, and now you just sabotaged it…Mmm…”

Valanthe’s arousing moan and her intense body scent were tearing down Zack’s long-obeying values.

“Let me soothe your pain.”

As Zack stroked Valanthe’s cheek, he started panting, and his body became burning hot.

This was his first time acting out of his own desire. All this time, he thought that he had none, but it was just locked up in the deepest of his heart.

Zack wanted to possess; He wanted total control; he wanted to occupy this being that was too beautiful to be true.

Pinning the burning hot Valanthe on the bed, Zack kissed her aggressively. He let his sensibility override his senses; He let his instinct rule his body, leaving his marks on the body that he once thought untouchable…

Creeds of Earthlings Series Ch. 4

“No. 5722 – Ralph”

“First-aid box, checked; Whetstone, checked; Spare clothes, checked…”

Not only was Ralph the earthling counting the items on the table, but he was also checking the functionality of them.

Just when Ralph was ready to go through the third inspection, quick knocks on his door stopped him. At the doorstep, there was a short-haired woman.

“Ralph, why are you still in your room? It’s almost time to go.”

“Schnauzer, it’s my first battle. I must be extra careful,” Ralph answered sternly, and he continued the inspection. At this moment, another lady walked in and held his hand.

“Haha. Ralph is still over-cautious as always. Relax. I’m coming with you,” said Aurora with a confident smile.

“Right. Aurora is an earthling born in the first batch. She’s very experienced in battles. Just put your faith in her. Besides, you still have the other earthlings and me.”

Schnauzer wrapped her arm around Aurora’s shoulder when she was talking. The smile on their faces had displayed the trust they had in each other.

“Alright, I hear you.”

Ralph was obviously talking in a trance, drifting his gaze to the back of Schnauzer and Aurora, who came to notice his strange behavior. 

“Don’t bother to peep. Elpis is not with us. She would meet us at the meeting point,” said Schnauzer.

“Oh, is that it…Ouch!”

Flickered by Aurora in the forehead, Ralph looked at her in confusion.

“Get rid of that look in front of the Eldus, or you’ll end up in the rehabilitation room again,” Aurora reminded Ralph.

“Huh? What look?”

“So you really don’t know…” Schnauzer heaved a sigh and continued, “That’s the look of obsession.”

“Ralph, we’re still earthlings even though we’re in the combat division. You can’t have unnecessary feelings towards another earthling. You hear me?” Aurora lectured with her arms crossed. 

Ralph nodded in dejection. When the three arrived at the lounge, Shamash the Eldus stepped onto the stage and looked down at the crowd of earthlings.

“Since the Minerelves have refused to sign a treaty with us, we’ll show them the consequences of defying me.”

There was a kind of bloodlust sparkling in Shamash’s eyes when she was giving her speech.

“Annihilate them. That’s the order. Copy?”

All the earthlings knelt down with their arms crossed above their chests, except for Schnauzer. Instead of obeying, she asked Shamash, “Lady Shamash, please forgive my rudeness. Despite the fact that the Minerelves turned down the offer, why should we attack them when they’re not hostile—”

A water arrow scratched Schnauzer’s cheek to bleed.

“I can’t recall that I’ve given you permission to speak, earthling Schnauzer.”

The exquisite face of Shamash frowned, exuding a terrifying aura. Some of the earthlings were quivering out of fear; Some were already scared to cry.

“But—”

When Schnauzer was about to ask again, Aurora cut in, “Lady Shamash was right. Those inferior elves have overestimated themselves.  An unforgettable lesson is what they needed.”

Shamash didn’t speak until she had stared at Aurora and Schnauzer for a while.

“Set off.”

She left after leaving the command.

“Phew…Great. They’re alright,” Ralph thought as he relieved, releasing the clenched fists. He was already prepared to die protecting Aurora and Schnauzer if Shamash had decided to punish them.

Later on, Shamash led the earthlings to the forest in the north, a place near the Minerelves’ habitat. 

“Mana the holiness, please grant us your strength and let our names spread,” Shamash prayed as she looked at the earthlings.

Shamash’s prayer had gathered a hue of mana in the air. Next second, the hue fell onto all the present earthlings, including Ralph.

“The energy is surging inside me…Ah…This is how our master’s blessing feels like…” Ralph was amazed by this miracle. 

What he didn’t know was that it wasn’t a blessing at all. Shamash was merely enhancing their power with spells, which actually cost the vitality of the earthlings.

To earn Shamash’s trust and compliment, the earthlings ran into the forest immediately after gaining power. Very soon, the forest was occupied by slaughters and the screams of Minerelves. No matter how hard they had screamed, nothing could stop the carnage.

As the fire-red mana fused with Ralph, his body became translucent as glass. He threw a punch to unleash a fireball, igniting the shrubs on fire. As the elves were forced out of hiding, they fled in panic as soon as they saw Ralph.

“He’s…badly injured and harmless. Just let him go,” Ralph thought as he was too soft to kill a weak elf, but it wasn’t his choice to make.

“Hunt them down,” Shamash came over and ordered.

“…Understood.”

It didn’t take Ralph too long to pursue the heavily wounded elves.  

“Please…Mercy…” the elves begged.

“…I’m sorry…” Ralph conjured mana to blast a fireball at the elves—

Sizzle——Hot vapour erupted out of nowhere, forcing Ralph to step back.

“You’re…a machina!” Ralph was shocked when he got a clear image of the figure blocking the elves away from him. 

“Beta! You’re here to save us…Boohoo…” The elves went over to Beta, the masculine machina, gladly.

“Don’t go over! You’re fooled by the machinas. The Eldus only want to sign a peace treaty to protect you—” Ralph was trying to stop the elves, but his speech was interrupted.

“Treaty? Cut that crap. What kind of a peace treaty requires offerings of a thousand minerelves every year to help you forge weapons?” Beta sneered, “Don’t you feel ashamed of what you said? You were literally killing them a moment ago.”

“Huh? I…I didn’t know that…And I don’t wanna do so either, but I have to follow the master’s order!”

“Can’t you think before you follow orders? Does that mean you’ll go to die when they tell you to?”

“…Yes, because they gave me life. It’s also theirs to decide.”

“ARGHHH! How stubborn can you earthlings be! I’m so sick of this…Alpha!”

As Beta called, another masculine machina jumped out of the bushes, blocking Ralph’s six o’clock.

“Catch him! I need to take him back to Mech City and lecture him properly,” said Beta.

“Ugh…Things are getting troubled…” Alpha posed for battle reluctantly, getting ready to subdue Ralph.

All of a sudden, an uninvited guest descended from the sky and rescued Ralph, leaving Beta and Alpha in shock.

“Elpis!” Ralph shouted as he lifted his head, looking at the young female earthling, Elpis, who was flying with the control in the air currents.

“Phew, right on time!” Elpis continued with a sweet smile, “Machina has arrived to back the elves, so Lady Shamash ordered us to retreat. It anxious me when I saw you cornered by the Machinas on the way back. I’m so glad that you’re safe in one piece.”

“Thank you…” 

Ralph felt like his heart had skipped a beat when he saw Elpis smile. With his heart racing, he let himself indulge in this moment of happiness.

Yet happiness never lasted long.

The trip back to the base was short. When the two earthlings were walking, Ralph found a bleeding wound on Elpis’s arm.

“Huh? Elpis is injured…” Ralph felt guilty when he found the wound on her. “It must have been a cut by the leaves when she was trying to save me back then…It’s my fault…”

“Elpis, your arm is hurt. Let me—”

“Enkidu!”

The moment when Elpis saw the presence of Enkidu, the male Eldus, all her attention was caught on him. She ditched Ralph to throw herself into Enkidu’s embrace.

Instead of feeling annoyed, Enkidu pampered Elpis by rubbing her hair. There was an uninterruptible atmosphere around them.

“I mean nothing to Elpis…”

Bang! The noise behind Ralph disturbed his thoughts. Turning around, he saw the injured Schnauzer and the unconscious Aurora.

“What happened to you two?” Ralph went over as fast as he could to help.

“Why…What’s the purpose in these meaningless battles…Why do we have to fight at the cost of our lives…” Schnauzer murmured.

“Schnauzer…What are you talking about?”

“…Nothing, Ralph. Just forget what I said. I was just exhausted…I’ll take Aurora to the medic station,” said Schnauzer, carrying Aurora on her back. However, there wasn’t even a hint of exhaustion in her blazing gaze…

Creeds of Earthlings Series Ch. 5

“No. 6666 – Elpis”

In the olden age on the planet where it was called “the realm” in the later days, a war between Machinas and aliens, Eldus, erupted. To strengthen their military power, the Eldus created an inferior life form named “Earthlings” based on their own physiques.

Those earthlings gifted in combat would be assigned to the combat division. Elpis, the young female earthling, was one of the combatants.

This day, she was assigned a task to eliminate the minerelves, but they had to abort the mission because of machinas’ reinforcement. She managed to rescue a fellow during the retreat. Despite minor injuries, she returned to the base safe and sound.

In the middle of a conversation, a glimpse at someone brightened up Elpis’s day. 

“Enkidu!”

Elpis ran into Enkidu’s embrace, who rubbed her hair with indulgence. A few seconds later, Enkidu pulled her away as the expression on his face changed. He took a step back to maintain a distance between them.

“Again…” Elpis lay her head low in dejection.

Elpis had a unique growth different from the other earthlings. When she was eight, she was taken and raised by Enkidu the Eldus. The spoiling by Enkidu made her an earthling innocently.

Enkidu was alerted by Elpis’s frustration. He became irritated when he found the wound on her arm. Then, he carried Elpis without saying anything, heading straight to the medic station.

Feeling the warmth from Enkidu’s chest, Elpis felt like her body was completely numbed. 

“Sometimes getting injured is not that bad, actually,” said Elpis.

A slight frown appeared as Enkidu said, “What’s with that silly thought? Get in.”

Arriving at the medic station, Enkidu left as soon as he dropped her off. At this moment, Elpis felt pushed away again. While she was being treated, she couldn’t help but have all kinds of stray thoughts in her mind. 

“Enkidu is avoiding me…Why? Did I do something wrong?”

The minor injury soon recovered. After the treatment, she wandered around the base.

“Huh? Someone’s moaning…It came from that way.”

The sound led Elpis to the door of a luxurious room.

“Is this…a shirt?”

The confused Elpis found that the door was unlocked when she picked up the feminine shirt on the floor. The moan sounded through the slit of the open door.

When the curious Elpis peeped, she was completely stunned by the scene—a male earthling was slamming his lower body to a female elf rhythmically. The most shocking part was that both of them were naked.

“What are they doing…They look like they’re in pain but also enjoying themselves at the same time…”

As Elpis watched the forbidden intimacy, her cheeks started to blush while panting.

“Huh? Why is my body turning hot…”

Hot blood that carried overloading sensations surged from her lower body to her brain. As everything was too much for this innocent one to bear, her body eventually collapsed, stumbling onto the floor. Meanwhile, the fall startled the couple indulged in the overwhelming lust inside.

Pushing the male earthling away, the naked female elf came to the doorstep. She then tilted Elpis’s chin with her index finger, allowing her to look into the pair of lust-tainted eyes.

“Aw, Zack, looks like this adorable earthling is enjoying our show,” Valanthe the elf said to Zack the earthling on the bed, smiling seductively.

After getting dressed, Zack came to Valanthe, “Lady Valanthe, she’s Elpis, Sir Enkidu’s favourite earthling.”

“Hmm, I didn’t know that those arrogant Eldus would be fond of earthlings…How rare is it?”

Elpis, who didn’t get Valanthe’s sarcasm, asked sincerely, “What were you doing?”

Surprised at first, Valanthe answered with an intrigued smile, “We’re making life.”

“Making life? Isn’t it something only the masters can do?”

“No, it isn’t. All creatures can do it, and it’s a very pleasant and relaxing thing to do.”

“Is it true?” Elpis continued her questions, “Can I do it with Enkidu? Will it please him and make him relax?”

“Of course it will.”

“Could you please teach me then?”

Elpis held Valanthe’s hands and asked wholeheartedly. At this moment, Valanthe leaned close and bit Elpis’s lip gently.

“With your sincerity, I’ll teach you a lesson.”

“Lady Valanthe!” Zack, witnessing the whole conversation, finally spoke. “This is…really out of line.”

“Humph! It was already out of line at the moment you pinned me down!” Valanthe scowled at Zack and continued, “This is an order. Do you understand?”

“…Understood,” said Zack, bowing reluctantly to follow the order.

Then Valanthe led Elpis into her room. This time, she closed the door deliberately to conceal all the rhapsody that happened later that night…

❉❉❉

Late at night, the frustrated Enkidu dragged his exhausted body back to his room.

“Shamash refuses every opposing voice. With the worsening situation, Elpis will go out on the field more and more often…I gotta stop it before she burns out…”

When Enkidu was going to bed, he sensed the warmth that didn’t belong to his bed. In a split second, all his nerves tightened, allowing him to subdue the uninvited guest.

“Ouch!” The one on his bed moaned.

Enkidu let go as soon as he recognised the voice.

“Elpis! Why are you here?”

“I’m here to do the pleasant and relaxing thing with Enkidu,” said Elpis, leaning into his embrace. The soft touch reminded Enkidu that she was completely naked.

Enkidu almost lost his sanity when Elpis’s smooth skin rubbed against his solid muscles. His last bit of rationality made him push her away.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!” This was a rarely-seen yell from Enkidu.

Elpis collapsed, for she had never been scolded by Enkidu. Tears of disappointment, guilt, and frustration kept rolling down her cheeks.

“Boohoo…I’m sorry…Enkidu…I thought that could make you happy…Boohoo…Don’t leave me alone…”

The devastated cry of Elpis stunned Enkidu deeply and ached his heart. Pulling her into his arms, he patted her back gently like the old times.

“Sigh. You silly girl. When did I say anything about leaving you?”

“But…you used to hug me and kiss me, and you’ve been avoiding me lately…I’m lonely…”

Elpis buried her head into Enkidu’s chest, sniffing his body scent.

“That’s because…you’ve grown up. I can’t touch you as we used to anymore.”

“Why? I enjoy Enkidu’s touch, don’t you?”

Panting, the blazing desire in Elpis’s gaze couldn’t be concealed anymore; leaning close, she touched Enkidu’s nose with hers.

“Get out…We can’t…do this…”

Enkidu struggled to push Elpis away, but his will was already too vulnerable. He was about to suffocate.

“I don’t get it. Why can’t we do something pleasant and relaxing? I just want to be close with you like we used to be.”

Enkidu’s last bit of sanity was crushed at the moment Elpis placed his hand on the softest part of her body. He finally pressed his lips against Elpis’s.

Enkidu’s emotions erupted as the chain that restrained his thoughts had been broken; all the repressed feelings were turned into catalysts, evoking the chemical reaction of lust to the greatest…

Creeds of Earthlings Series Ch. 6

“No. 0008 – Aurora”

A girl was striding through a hallway with a bouquet in her hand, arriving at the medic station where the door was left ajar. The girl, Astrid, entered the room quietly. Inside, another girl was sleeping tightly on the bed next to the window.

Even though Astrid had tiptoed to the bedside, she still alerted Aurora in bed. As soon as Aurora saw Astrid, the vigilant look on her face eased.

“Here you are, Astrid,” said Aurora with a tired smile.

“Aurora, I was terrified when Schnauzer told me that you fainted yesterday.”

“I’m sorry. I must have been through too many missions without enough rest lately. I feel so much better now after a sleep.” Aurora then sat straight and gave Astrid a bright smile.

Not only was Aurora a combatant with the most privilege, but she was also an earthling born in the first patch. Still, she never acted superior to any other earthlings. 

“How about you? Isn’t the recon division busy too? Is that okay for you to visit me?” Aurora cared about Astrid, even who was lower in rank.

“It’s been intense out there. So many fellows were killed in reconnaissance missions lately, so all non-emergency missions are suspended,” Astrid explained. 

“I wish the war could end sooner.” Astrid heaved a sigh.

“…Right. I hope so,” Aurora answered after a pause. Meanwhile, the smile on her face vanished, changing into a grimace. 

“But I don’t think this wish would come true easily…” Aurora concealed this thought.

“Huh? Aurora, what’s with the pigment on your elbow?” Astrid asked when she spotted something unusual on Aurora’s arm. 

When Astrid was reaching for further inspection, Aurora raised her arm one step faster.

“It must be some dirt. I’ll get myself clean later.”

Lowering her head, Aurora glanced at the dried cracks on her elbow, which were exceptionally obvious compared to her light and smooth skin.

“Yes…I’m alright. This is merely the injury I got from the last mission,” Aurora comforted herself. Deep down, she doubted it.

Astrid continued sharing her daily life without sensing Aurora’s anxiety. Their conversation went on until someone showed up—Shamash, the Eldus.

“Aurora, get ready. Take down the corrodent leader.”

“Lady Shamash, Aurora is not in the perfect shape for battle now. I don’t think she is suitable for fighting those ferocious beasts…” Astrid made her decision when she saw Aurora’s pale face. “I’m willing to fill her spot.”

“You?” Shamash stared at Astrid in disdain. “Impossible. Even for the combatant division, only a few are strong enough to battle those corrodents, let alone a reckoning earthling like you? Stop daydreaming.”

“But—”

“I’ll go,” said Aurora, who managed to get out of bed and knelt with one knee. “I’ll deliver your order, Lady Shamash.”

“…Get yourself ready.”

Aurora got out of bed as soon as Shamash had left. She patted Astrid’s shoulder to reassure her, “I’ll be alright. Don’t worry.”

After the farewell, Aurora joined Shamash’s squad, heading towards the lair of the corrodents in the south.

Arriving at the destination, Shamash spoke to the most well-built beast among the others.

“Kingpin, we’re here to challenge you with your favourite deathmatch.”

“Alright. There’s only one rule for our clan. The last one standing will be the king,” said the kingpin, staring at Shamash with its bloody-red eyes. “Who will be my challenger?”

Aurora stepped forward. As her limitation was disabled by Shamash, the energy cycle was activated, and her body became translucent.

“Humph. I was expecting a stronger challenger…Mmm!” The kingpin shut its mouth when it saw the dent smashed by Aurora barehanded.

“Am I strong enough for you?” Aurora remained calm.

“Hahaha. Great! Looks like I’m gonna have a good time! Tiny girl, don’t die too soon!”

Reflecting bloodlust in its bloody-red gaze, the kingpin flexed its muscles and smashed an even bigger dent with its thick arm.

After displaying the strength of both sides, the fight officially began. Heavy punches were thrown at each other again and again. 

Although Aurora was no match for the kingpin in terms of physical strength, the durability of her enhanced body was superior to the kingpin’s. She recovered quickly, even after taking multiple heavy strikes from the beast. With her agility, she eventually took down the kingpin.

“Mmm…” Aurora paid the equivalent price for her victory—three broken ribs, a broken right arm, and a broken left leg. Still, it wasn’t the physical injuries that hurt her the most, but Shamash’s cold attitude, who cared nothing but for her dominance in the clan.

“Ha…We earthlings are nothing but disposable tools to them…” While Aurora was mocking at her insignificance, her body was falling forward—

Someone caught her in time. It was Schnauzer, another combatant.

“Thank you…Schnauzer…”

“Stop talking and save your breath. Let’s go back for a proper treatment,” said Schnauzer while scowling at Shamash.

“Stop that, Schnauzer. You’re acting too obviously. You’ll be punished if someone sees that.”

The moment Aurora pulled Schnauzer back, Schnauzer was utterly shocked by what she saw.

“Aurora, your face!”

“What? What happened to my face?” 

Aurora was unable to touch her face, for her fingers had vanished.

This was merely a beginning. The decomposition started spreading from her limbs to her torso, which broke down into dust as if a piece of crumbling leaf.

“Ah…Can’t imagine that I’m dying in this way…”

Although Aurora was shocked at first, she accepted the truth very soon, for she had figured it out somehow.

“I can’t change my death, but at least I can do something to stop this tragedy from happening to my brothers and sisters …”

Pressing her cracked forehead against Schnauzer’s, Aurora said with her last breath, “don’t… trust… the Eldus… They’re… liars… Schnauzer… Please… protect… Astrid… and the others… for me…”

Aurora’s voice diminished just like the way her body decomposed. At last, there was nothing left but dust in the air.

Schnauzer lost control of her tears at the moment she stared at her empty arms. Unable to withstand the heartache, she vented the pain through a cry.

“AURORA—!”

Yet Aurora couldn’t hear or feel anything anymore…

Creeds of Earthlings Series Ch. 7

“No. 0017 – Astrid”

There was a girl waiting at the doorstep of a building in the forest. Astrid, the girl who had been waiting, kept repeating the actions of looking afar and turning back disappointedly. 

“What takes Aurora and the others so long…Did they…” 

Astrid shook her head to reject all negative thoughts inside her head.

“Impossible! Aurora is the most experienced combatant. There’s no way that she would lose!”

At this moment, rustles sounded from the forest entrance. Turning around, Astrid saw the return of an army led by a clean, egoistic lady. She was also the master of all earthlings—Shamash the Eldus.

Dozens of earthlings were following behind Shamash. In contrast to her neatness, all of them were ragged with injuries.

Astried’s effort in searching Aurora went in vain, but she found another familiar presence—Schnauzer the earthling. As soon as Astrid saw Schnauzer, she went over and grabbed her arm.

“Schnauzer, so happy to see you here. Where’s Aurora?”

Remaining silent, Schnauzer’s exhausted face became gloomy. Astrid sensed something was wrong, but she refused to believe it.

“Hey, Schnauzer, stop joking with me. Just tell me…Right. She must be wandering somewhere else again,” said Astrid with a forced smile.

Schnauzer tried to speak the truth, but the words were stuck in her tongue.

“Please…Tell me that Aurora is alright…” Astrid sobbed, shaking Schnauzer’s shoulders desperately. 

“I’m sorry…Astrid…Aurora is…gone…” Schnauzer finally spilled out the truth.

“No…No way…Impossible!” Astrid cried in hysteria, “She’s the strongest earthling! How come she died…I need to see her!”

“Aurora… Her body fell apart and decomposed into dust after the battle… Nothing has left…”

“Nonsense… Aurora died without leaving a body… This doesn’t make sense at all!”

With her body trembling, Astrid burst into tears when she finally admitted the fact.

Unable to contain the grief, the weeping Schnauzer held Astrid tight to comfort her.

“It was hard for me to believe, but she crumbled in my arms, and I couldn’t save her!”

“NO! NO! I CAN’T EVEN SAY GOODBYE TO HER!”

Shaking her head, Astrid was utterly crushed by Schnauzer’s words. She could do nothing but wail until her body was exhausted and passed out.

Regaining her consciousness, Astrid found herself in the medic station. Although she was still heartbroken and devastated, she realized that Aurora’s death was irreversible.

“Aurora… Although she has no remains, I can at least have her stuff.”

Astrid left the medic station. By asking the slave earthlings in the hallway, she found out that all of Aurora’s belongings were sent to the 10th storeroom on the third floor.

“Eighth, ninth, tenth…Here it is.”

There were a lot of things placed on the shelf, but it only took Astrid one glance to spot what she had come for—Aurora’s battle gloves.

When she held the gloves in her arms, she picked up a familiar scent, reminding her of the good times with Aurora. 

“Aurora…” Astrid wept.

“Shamash, can’t you treat them carefully? You’re driving me crazy,” said a male voice outside the room.

“This voice…Sir Kingu?” The curious Astrid peeped through the door. “Lady Shamash is here too…This is weird. What are they doing in the storage?”

“Humph. Stop pretending that you’re not enjoying it,” said Shamash, who signalled Kingu to move with her arms crossed. “Stop wasting time and move that up.”

Kingu, the male Eldus, heaved a sigh with an exaggerated body gesture. Then he carried a lengthy thing wrapped in a white cloth upstairs. Soon, the two left after dropping it off.

Driven by curiosity, Astrid went to the fourth floor, where the whole area was sealed by wooden bars. The place was slightly illuminated by the light from downstairs, but it wasn’t a problem for Astrid, for she was a well-trained reckon. A lot of objects wrapped in white clothes were laid on the floor.

“What are these…”

The moment Astrid unveiled the cloth, she stumbled to what she saw.

“It’s an earthling…And dried cracks are all over his body…So these are all earthlings here…”

“Wheeze…” Those unidentifiable bodies were still breathing weakly.

“These earthlings are still alive! Wait! Someone’s coming!”

Astrid hid as someone was near.

“Shamash! Wait!”

The footsteps stopped for a female calling.

“Enlil, what are you doing here…Kingu must have told you,” said Shamash.

“It’s too tragic to leave those dying earthlings here. Please, stop enhancing earthlings’ strength with spells.”

“Impossible. Without the spells, they’re nothing but trash.”

“But they have to exchange power with their lives!” Enlil yelled. “Their bodies can only withstand twenty-five to fifty power-ups! Once they’re overloaded, their bodies will fall apart!”

“What! Is that the reason for Aurora’s death…Darn it! Darn it!”

Rage erupted in Astrid’s mind, but she couldn’t make a sound. Once she exposed her presence, Shamash would definitely kill her to keep her mouth shut for good.

“I can’t die here…I need to tell this to Schnauzer!”

Astrid bit her wrist hard to bleed in order to stop herself from making any sound.

“…Your mind must be clouded by that exhausting research. If not, why would you question the decision of the venture leader just because of those worthless earthlings?” Shamash implied a rage warning to Enlil.

“…Em…I must be tired…”

“Then let me walk you back to your room. Take some time off to cool down your mind,” said Shamash in a much more peaceful tone. 

As their footsteps diminished, Astrid’s tightened nerves finally eased.

“Phew…Great. I’d better leave this place now,” Astrid thought as she fled the fourth floor.

However, the eased Astrid didn’t notice that Enlil was smiling wickedly at her…

Creeds of Earthlings Series Ch. 8

“No. 3578 – Radha”

At dusk on the outdoor training field, a female earthling Schnauzer was punching a training pole with all her strength. She didn’t ease up a bit, even when her fists were all swollen.

“Damn it! Damn it! Aurora died in my arms, and I couldn’t save her…” Schnauzer vented her anguish through her fists.

Earlier in the day, Schnauzer had gone on a mission with another combatant, Aurora, who had taken down the king of corrodents by herself. However, the battle had burned out her vitality, which led to her death in Schnauzer’s embrace. 

With this traumatic separation, even a calm individual like Schnauzer was unable to take it. So, she headed to the training field to release her emotions as soon as she returned to the base.

“Huff…” The exhausted Schnauzer finally stopped and collapsed onto the ground. At this moment, she glanced at a quarrel happening at the field entrance.

“P-Please…L-Let me go…”

A ragged girl had her wrist grabbed by a male earthling.

“This is the training field exclusive for combatants, not a place for you, slave to visit,” warned the male earthling.

“I-I just want to talk to my sister…I didn’t mean to trespass! Please let me go…”

“No! What’s the purpose of having rules if I just let you go? You shall be punished— AHH!”

While the male earthling was wearing an indecent grin, he got knocked out by Schnauzer.

“Radha, are you alright?”

“Boohoo—!”

Radha ran into Schnauzer’s embrace and sobbed, “Sister… I’m scared…”

“Everything is alright now, you silly crybaby,” Schnauzer comforted Radha with a gentle pat on her back, as if an elder sister was pampering her beloved younger sister.

Schnauzer and Radha were not blood-related, but they were born in the same batch. As they had known each other for their whole life, they decided to call each other sisters. 

“Of course I’m not scared when I’m with you, but even a tough one like Aurora would be dead…” Radha continued with tears in her eyes, “If you’re gone, I’ll be unprotected in the slavery division…”

“Radha,” Schnauzer stroked Radha’s head and reassured her, “don’t worry. I’ll find a way to get you out of slavery. If I can bring you to the supply division, you’ll have a better status and privilege.”

“…Thank you,” Radha said as she snorted.

At this moment, someone was coming in a hurry.

“Schnauzer!”

“Astrid! Feeling better after waking up?”

Astrid shook her head; after calming her breathing pace, she gave a stern look at Schnauzer. Sensing something important, Schnauzer’s expression became serious too.

“Schnauzer, I have something very important to tell you,” Astrid said hesitantly while guarding against Radha, implying a lack of trust in her.

“It’s alright. You can trust her. Just say it.”

“…The physique of combatants will fall apart after twenty-five to fifty battles. I heard it from Enlil.”

“Are you sure about what you just said?” Schnauzer was utterly stunned.

Astrid reluctantly nodded and continued, “…I also found the dying, cracked earthlings in the storage. Those Eldus must have hidden them to keep us away from the truth.”

“…The battle over-consumed Aurora and caused her immediate decay…”

Schnauzer went silent; next second, she threw a hard punch at the ground, smashing a dent out of it.

“Those scums… I will never forgive the fact that they treat us like disposable tools…” Explicit hatred was exuding from Schnauzer’s squinted eyes. “We earthlings have the advantage in number. As long as we stand as one, we can overthrow those Eldus eventually. Astrid!”

“I’m in. They must pay for what they’ve done to Aurora.”

Schnauzer and Astrid left the conversation for their crusade, leaving Radha alone, who watched them worriedly. 

“We earthlings can never win the masters. What should we do if we get busted…”

Worrying about Schnauzer and Astrid, the absent-minded Radha bumped into Shamash while she was delivering earthlings’ food.

“I…I’m so sorry!”

Radha knelt on the ground and begged for mercy as if she had committed a deadly crime, shivering like a weak prey to a lion. 

Sensing something wrong in her strange behavior, Shamash interrogated coldly, “Why are you so frightened? What are you hiding?”

“I…I didn’t.” Radha’s denial was so weak that anyone could tell she was lying.

“Earthling Radha, at my order, tell me what you’re hiding.”

Shamash’s words triggered the spell programmed inside Radha before she had been fully grown, which would amplify earthlings’ fear towards Eldus. Whenever this spell was triggered, the earthlings would not be able to reject any order from the Eldus.

The moment when Radha was drowned by fear, she spilled everything to Shamash. That was the reason why the revolution died before it could begin.

Schnauzer, who confessed to all the crimes, was exiled to the underground, while Astrid was demoted to the slavery division. As for Radha, she was promoted to the supply division, which was responsible for the preparation of weaponry and other battle supplies.

Just when Radha thought that she could lead a more secure life, something unexpected happened to her.

This day, she ran into an acquaintance when she was picking herbs in the forest.

“Radha.”

That came from a low but soft voice, yet it sounded like a nightmare to Radha.

“You are…Schnauzer…I thought you were dead,” the terrified Radha said in a shaky voice.

“Almost, but the machinas pulled me back from the verge of death,” said Schnauzer, revealing her metallic body under the cloak.

Stepping back with a gasp, Radha said, “The way you look…The masters will definitely hunt you down if they see you. Why did you come back?”

“I’m here for you, Radha,” said Schnauzer, reaching out towards Radha. 

“Would you like to move to Mech City with me?”

“Huh? Meaning I have to live with those machinas?”

“Yes. Don’t worry. They’re very kind, and they’ll never hurt you,” Schnauzer reassured Radha.

“I’d rather die than be with those steel objects! I won’t let you ruin my peaceful life!” 

While Radha was having this thought, she said to Schnauzer with a weak smile, “Well then…Just give me some time to pack my stuff, and I’ll meet you here.”

“Alright. I’ll wait here,” Schnauzer said, nodding without doubt.

Yet Radha was not going to pack her belongings, but she went to inform Shamash again, who led a few Eldus to meet Schnauzer along with Radha.

“Sigh, I started feeling sorry for you,” Shamash teased at Schnauzer. “I can’t believe that you would be fooled twice by her.”

To her surprise, Schnauzer laughed out loud instead of getting enraged.

“Hahaha. I knew that you were the snitcher, Radha.”

Radha looked away cowardly to avoid Schnauzer’s gaze.

“…Then why did you do it if you knew it was a trap?” Shamash was perplexed.

“That’s because I want to make a deal with you.

When Schnauzer looked into Shamash’s eyes, there was no fear or respect, but her unbendable will.

“You want to defeat the machinas, don’t you?”

Intrigued, Shamash grinned and said, “Interesting. Tell me about your thoughts.”

Creeds of Earthlings Series Ch. 9

“No. 8299 – Leonard”

\t\t“Alright. No. 8299 is completed.”

\t\tThis was the first thing that came to Leonard the earthling’s consciousness since he was born. Since then, he had been living with the other newborns in a chamber. All of them were forbidden to leave the room except for a daily walk in the morning.

\t\tAlthough life was dull, Leonard and the others still followed the rules, until one day at dusk—

\t\t“Hmm hmm—” 

\t\tDelightful humming sounded outside the room. Despite its whispering volume, Leonard still caught the tune.

\t\t“A…song…Who’s humming?”

\t\tThe little Leonard looked around to search for the sound source. He was so carried away that he left the room without noticing it. Walking along the hallway, the little Leonard bumped into the humming, graceful lady—

\t\t“Ouch!”

\t\tThe girly moan caught the attention of a male earthling in the hallway, who hurried over to lift up the lady stumbled on the floor.

\t\t“Lady Enlil, are you alright?”

\t\t“Yes, I’m fine,” said Enlil while getting back on her feet. She continued with a sweet smile, “I’ve already got used to tripping, so I know how to fall safely.”

\t\t“Huh? Good to hear that,” said the male earthling. Turning around, he grasped Leonard brutally and yelled, “Leonard, you’ll be punished for leaving your room— Lady Enlil?”

\t\t“He’s just a child. Just let him go,” said Enlil, standing in front of Leonard. Despite the smile on her face, her words implied her absolute authority, which intimidated the earthling to remain silent.

\t\t“Remember not to wander around next time,” Enlil spoke gently, holding Leonard’s tiny hands.

\t\tThe overwhelmed Leonard nodded, and he watched Enlil leave in a trance. While she was leaving, her pleasant scent was the only thing on his mind.

\t\t“She is an Eldus, the superior existence that we must obey…”

\t\tSince then, the Eldus had become Leonard’s unquestionable faith, a divinity that no one could tarnish. His belief had pulled him through all the challenges and barriers. When he was fully grown, he earned himself a qualification as a combatant.

\t\tAt that time, Leonard thought that his faith would last till the end of his life. Yet truth was undeniable and everlasting. 

\t\t“Done!” Leonard raised the handmade wreath that had taken him seven days to finish. He talked to himself enthusiastically, “I hope this wreath can cheer Lady Enlil up.”

\t\tLed by Shamash, the war between the Eldus and the native creatures intensified. As the number of casualties escalated, Enlil’s smiley face gradually became a deep frown. Leonard, who cared about Enlil, decided to cheer her up by sending a gift.

\t\t“Let’s give it to her as soon as possible.”

\t\tWhen the impatient Leonard was on his way to Enlil’s location, he was distracted by some gossip in the hallway.

\t\t“When will this war end?” A short-haired female earthling said in distress. 

\t\t“Sigh, who knows. I heard that the machinas tried to negotiate, but Lady Shamash kicked the lobbyist out…Of course, the master would want the war, for they never engaged in any battles. It’s always us, the earthlings, who are made for war. Aurora was dead because of the overloading—”

\t\t“What are you babbling about?” Leonard was provoked.

\t\t“L-Leonard,” said the female earthlings, bowing in awe. Although they were all earthlings, the combatants had the highest status among all.

\t\t“Our lives are granted by Eldus. It’s our honor to die for them. As for Aurora, she was dead only because she was too weak,” said Leonard, scowling at the female earthlings. “Don’t let me hear any of these rumors ever again. Remember what happened to Schnauzer!”

\t\tThe frightened female earthlings fled after apologies. Losing the good mood, Leonard cancelled his plan to meet Enlil. Yet he spotted someone familiar on his way back.

\t\t“That’s…Lady Enlil…What’s with the grim look on her face?” Leonard was worried, and he made a decision, “I can’t let Lady Enlil act alone. Gotta follow her.”

\t\tLeonard tailed Enlil to a hillslope, where a male Eldus was waiting for her. He went over to stroke her hair as soon as he spotted her. 

\t\t“So she’s meeting Sir Marduk…I guess I can go now— What?”

\t\tJust when Leonard was about to leave, he witnessed something jaw-dropping—Enlil stabbing Marduk brutally.

\t\t“No…This is impossible…This isn’t the Lady Enlil I’m familiar with…”

\t\tDenying the truth, Leonard turned around to run away. He spent all his strength to flee from the scene that tore his faith apart without recognizing his destination.

\t\tWhen Leonard finally drained his stamina, he crawled into a tree hole and sank into a slumber. He remained asleep until a fierce quake and a deafening blast woke him up. 

\t\t“What happened—”

\t\tCrawling out of the hole, Leonard spotted the unusually tinted sky as well as the strange ambience in the air.

\t\tAs his mind focused on the changes, Leonard did not notice the unknown activity on ground level—vessels broke free from the soil and drifted to where Leonard stood.

\t\t“Whoa!”

\t\tLeonard murmured as he looked down at the vessels sneaking up on him, “Why are these vessels moving…Hmm…I can’t breathe…”

\t\tAs the vessels constricted, everything became blurry for the suffocating Leonard. Before losing consciousness, he got hit hard by a great momentum.

\t\t“Cough…” 

\t\tFreed from the asphyxiation, Leonard gasped rapidly to breathe in fresh air. After adjusting his breathing pace, he was stunned by a magnificent azure dragon standing in front of him. He instinctively guarded himself with a mana shield.

\t\t“Don’t come over!” Leonard shouted as he pointed his weapon at the dragon, who ignored his hostility and destroyed the aggressive vessels with its claws. 

\t\t“That should be safe,” said Cang Bi, the azure dragon. Then it turned to Leonard and said, “Calm down. I won’t hurt you…It’s not very convincing with the way I look now…Wait a moment…Hope this will do…”

\t\tAfter scanning Leonard for a while, Cang Bi drew a circle in the air to wrap itself up in a layer of mist. The mist eventually disappeared, revealing a shrunken figure—Cang Bi in the form of an earthling.

\t\t“Can you trust me now?”

\t\t“Humph! Don’t ever try to deceive me. I know you’re with those machinas… Hmm?”

\t\tLeonard attempted to attack, but he was too hungry to do anything. In the meantime, his stomach growled. 

\t\t“Ahem… I’ll search the woods for food,” said Cang Bi, who was holding back his giggle, but his gaze sold him out. At this moment, Leonard blushed with embarrassment. 

\t\tLater on, when Cang Bi came back with food, the starving Leonard rushed over for his long-awaited feast immediately.

\t\t“Nom nom…I can see that you’re not a wicked creature. You’re just deceived by those machinas. They framed my masters so that they can keep our mother for themselves—Cough!”

\t\tLeonard was choked by the food, and Cang Bi patted his back softly.

\t\t“Just don’t believe them! They’re liars!” Leonard continued when he was finally able to talk.

\t\t“Are they?” Cang Bi reached out to Leonard with a woeful look. “Then would you like to come with me for the truth?”

\t\tThe hesitant Leonard recalled the horrible look on Enlil.

\t\t“…I want to know what I’m believing in…” 

\t\tLeonard took Cang Bi’s hand, agreeing to join him. The next second, Cang Bi returned to the dragon form and took him to a cave located in a dead forest. Inside, there lived dozens of Minerelves and Floral Elves.

\t\t“Cang Bi! There you are!”

\t\tA minerelf without one arm greeted Cang Bi delightfully, but he hid behind the dragon as soon as he spotted the presence of Leonard. 

\t\t“…Who’s he?”

\t\t“Don’t worry. He’s a friend of mine. He won’t hurt you,” said Cang Bi.

\t\t“But he looked alike with those creatures…” The minerelf remained cautious.

\t\t“Who are those creatures?” Leonard asked, although he already knew the answer.

\t\t“Of course, those invaders who call themselves Eldus!” The minerelf continued agitatedly, “One day, they invaded our home and slaughtered my kind just for their weapon production!”

\t\t“No…Why…”

\t\tLeonard’s denial stopped as he glanced at his weapon hidden under his belt. The gem embedded on the handle suddenly became ironic.

\t\t“Not only that, but they cast us out of our forest so that they could finish their research. We would’ve been dead if Pompeii hadn’t rescued us…” Another floral elf joined the conversation. Leonard was speechless when he saw their genuine expression.

\t\t“So…Everything I believe in is a fraud?” Leonard asked Cang Bi in confusion.

\t\t“…I won’t force you to accept that. It’s your choice to keep holding on to your faith.” Spreading its wings, Cang Bi said before it soared to the sky, “But truth never expires. As long as you don’t give up, you will discover it eventually.”

\t\tLeonard clenched his fists as he looked at the soaring Cang Bi who lived in liberty.

Creeds of Earthlings Series Ch. 10

“Lust of Arcus – Valanthe”

In the olden age, Arcus elves resided in a utopia-like garden on the western continent. The garden was filled with all kinds of eye-catching flowers and plants, which oozed a pleasant aroma. 

A petite silhouette was striding in the garden, heading to the center lake. When she put her hand into the water, it was miraculously stained azure. The tainted water then vaporized; In a split second, the vape gathered into a blue staircase, which linked to the palace built above the lake.

It took Valanthe, the petite girl, a slight jump to the staircase. As she climbed up, she came to a palace with a vibrant, liquid-like hue. Pushing the door open, she spoke to a lady sitting on the throne, “Mother, how may I help you?”

It was another arrogant voice that talked back.

“Oh, so you’re the heir to the throne of Arcus?”

A beautiful yet dangerous lady leaned close to Valanthe and tilted her chin, forcing their gazes to meet each other.

“Your beauty does live up to fame.”

“Get your hand off me!” Valanthe smacked the lady’s hand and scowled. “I don’t need a compliment from you invader!”

“Valanthe!”

The Queen of Arcus, sitting on the throne, scolded. Then she turned to the lady and apologized, “Please forgive my daughter’s impoliteness, Shamash.”

“It’s alright. Good to know that she’s an energetic girl. That means she won’t be dead easily,” Shamash giggled and continued, “Queen of the Western Elves, we’ll be picking your daughter up at the promised time. See you tomorrow.”

Shamash strided her way out of the palace, leaving Valanthe and the Queen in the hall.

“Mother, could you please explain this to me?”

“Valanthe, I’ve agreed to become the Eldus’s ally. As a friendly gesture, you’ll be temporarily living with the Eldus as the heir.”

“…So I’ll become their leverage?” Valanthe sneered, for she was clever enough to figure out the truth behind this deal.

“Relax. They won’t harm you. Just go back and pack your belongings. The Eldus will be here to pick—”

“Enough!”

Valanthe confronted the Queen agitatedly, “Mother, are you going to betray Lady Zana? Without their music, we can’t make it through the oestrus period—”

BAM! The angry Queen bashed the handle. Not even clenching her fist could ease her resentment, which was irritating enough to make her quiver.

“That’s the only thing that drags us down! We could have been the best with our outstanding ability…”

When the Queen lifted up her head, there were quintet halos running in her pupils. 

“The Eldus…They are vicious invaders indeed, but they have profound knowledge that can help us get rid of our biological flaws,” the Queen eventually explained her incentive.

The Queen then held Valanthe in her arms and whispered, “Valanthe, I’m sure that you’ll get me.”

Although Valanthe voted against the alliance with the Eldus, family ties overpowered rationality. At this moment, she held the Queen back.

“I understand. I’ll go with the Eldus tomorrow.”

Since then, Valanthe had been living in the Eldus’s base as a hostage. Yet living alone in a strange place was a torment even for a tough one like Valanthe. Fortunately, her solitude was soothed by Zack the earthling.

Valanthe knew clearly that Zack was merely Eldus’s tool, but his gentleness, his words, and his presence made her guard drop bit by bit as time went by. On the day when her oestrus period began, she completely fell for him.

Emotional attachment grew stronger and stronger as the physical intimacy became more intense, which also distracted Valanthe from her nostalgia. However, tragedy always knocks on your door at the best moment of life.

On this quiet night, Valanthe was gazing at the scenery outside the window. She became even more anxious as the vessels residing underground were all gone.

“Valanthe, go to bed. You haven’t been sleeping for two days. Don’t wreck your body,” Zack said softly.

“Sigh. I can’t sleep in bed. My mind is so unsettling right now. Zack, can you make me a hot drink? Something sweet may help calm me,” Valanthe requested.

Zack nodded, then left the room. After confirming his absence, Valanthe opened the window and let someone in, who knelt before her immediately.

“Your highness, I’m so glad that you received my Hue.”

“Hue” is a unique ability of the Arcus elves—the communication between their kind by altering the brightness of the color tone.

“What happened exactly? Why is my mother trapped inside Mech City along with the others?” Valanthe asked desperately.

“Requested by Shamash the Eldus, the Queen led the army to aid the Eldus in the Monesis heist. But I heard that the leader of Machinas sealed the whole city in order to stop them.”

“What…How come…” Valanthe sat on the bed out of devastation.

“The remaining elves are all terrified. Your highness, in my humble opinion, you should return as soon as possible.”

“Return?”

“Now that the Queen and Shamash have gone, you’re not abiding by the deal anymore. Besides, it’s also a chaotic moment for the Eldus without their leader. There’s no better timing for escaping than now.”

“Shouldn’t I feel happy about going back?…” Valanthe grasped her collar as her head was wrestling with her heart. At this moment, she thought of Zack.

“No. I can’t jeopardize the sake of my clan because of personal attachments!”

Valanthe, who had made up her mind, reached out towards the elf and said, “You’re right. For the sake of our clan, I must go back.”

“Let’s go before they spot us… Mmm!”

Just when the elf was about to climb out of the window, a fire arrow pierced through his body.

“Hey! Are you alright?”

Valanthe shook the elf, but the arrow was shot into his fatal part precisely and killed him.

“Luckily, I got here in time, or I would be losing our adorable elf queen here,” said Enlil the Eldus, who just entered the room with a smile.

With all the grudges, Valanthe could no longer hold back her rage. As she surged the power, the whole room was tinted into beguiling blue in just a blink of an eye; the room temperature dropped below zero. Other creatures would surely be frozen, but Valanthe could move freely. 

Valanthe revealed a hidden blade and charged at Enlil, who was caught unguarded and got her cheek cut.

“Ouch. You’re good, the future queen. Too bad that you’re alone now,” said Enlil with a smile, licking her own blood; there was no trace of anger.

“Surround her.”

At Enlil’s order, the ceiling was smashed, followed by the appearance of five earthling soldiers, cornering Valanthe. In the meantime, Enlil compressed the fire element into an arrow, aiming at Valanthe. 

“Guess my life ends here…Mother, we’ll see each other very soon,” Valanthe thought as she braced herself for death, but she didn’t feel the anticipated pain; Instead, she was wrapped up in a familiar warmth.

“Zack!”

“Run…now…”

Taking the hit for Valanthe, Zack had his body burnt charcoal. The moment he had finished speaking, his body collapsed powerlessly.

Valanthe couldn’t express her grief even for one second, for any hesitation would make Zack’s sacrifice go in vain. 

While the earthling soldiers were still in shock, Valanthe seized the chance to leap out of the window. Meanwhile, her tears drew a parabola in the mid air…

Creeds of Earthlings Series Ch. 11

“Crimson Aggression – Rlim”

Creeds of Earthlings – Ch.11

In ancient times, ample vegetation stood on this land of life.  The radiant sun cast shadows over the woods, creating the tranquility of the day, except for one tree, which seemingly was breaking this harmony.  A dark shadow was lurking somewhere, pulsating like a life form.

All of a sudden, a violent earthquake appeared for a while.  The disturbance had woken something up from a slumber; it wriggled fast, with a protrusion on the surface.

Crack——The shadow split open, revealing a pale, white worm with ruby-red eyes.  Rivers of blood were bled from its sockets.

“Ahhh, finally out of that oblivious nothingness…” Rlim, the white worm, wriggled while opening its great gaping maw, engulfing the ample elements nearby.

All of a sudden, a few strands of lights had scratched across the gloomy sky like meteors into the realm.

“My brothers and sisters.  So they’ve broken loose to seek the blessing of the essence?” Rlim gazed at the lights while biting itself out of control.

“Hehehe, interesting.  Let’s see who’ll be the first to arrive at the beginning of the origin.”

Afterwards, Rlim had been gathering power on this land.  However, slow progress made it take the plunge.

“Power…I can feel the power of my essence on the base of those Eldus, but also that “being”…If I could stay hidden..”

Rlim, therefore hiding in the bushes, waited patiently.  Soon, five creatures came.

“They’re earthlings…tools created by the Eldus…How fascinating.  Their physique is inferior to that of dragons, elves, and beasts, but their intelligence brings them superior power beyond the flesh by using tools.”

Rlim, sizing up the earthlings, triggered the power to twist its shape and mimic their bodies, transforming itself into a white-haired youth.  Walking with his thin legs, Rlim jumped into the shadow of a male earthling in the rear.

“Be my captive.” 

Hidden in the shadow, Rlim cracked a smile and moved his fingers; then the male earthling followed his action like a puppet

Rlim continued to conceal itself in the shadow to manipulate the earthling, which created no suspicion among the others.  As a result, he successfully infiltrated the base of Eldus.

“Here it is.” The earthling, controlled by Rlim, arrived at the source of the power.  However, there was nothing except thick, grey walls.  As he touched the surface, acute pain was sent through his fingertips.

“Of course, a magic barrier.” Rlim raised his chin.  “That being would be too naive to think this barrier can stop me.” 

Rlim circulated power as he bled tears of blood.  Two crimson arms stretched out of its shadow, ripped off the barrier.

Deafening noises and blinding lights crossed; eventually, a crack was pulled off on the wall.

“Let’s go in.” Rlim waved; the frightened male earthling, despite himself, made a step.

Although Rlim took over his body, his consciousness still remained.  The earthling couldn’t help but watch himself act under control.

“WOAHHH—” The earthling let out a painful scream, followed by the broken sounds of his elbows and ankles.  Blood came out of the five sense organs, but he never stopped advancing.

“The curse for those who break into the barrier… Umm, I’m gonna be fine by staying in the shadow.” Unshaken, Rlim continued to control him.

Soon, they reached the end, a plain-white place without boundary, which made a wisp of darkness exceptionally conspicuous in the center.

“Urg!” The earthling died as his skeleton shattered.  Rlim then walked out of the shadow; its attention and even soul were all occupied by that darkness.

Rlim, shivering with horror, felt the fear spontaneously in the face of this supernatural existence.

“This is the clone of the essence… Finally, we meet each other…” While Rlim was shedding its blood-like tears, it wore a smile of ambition and desire.

“I will own you and take control of the supreme power.”

Rlim reached out towards the darkness, but a sense of heaviness immobilized its lower body—numerous bugs were jumping on it.

“The despair of my brother is exceptionally delicious.” A bewitching woman put on a mysterious smile.  “Long time, my dear brother Rlim.  What are you trying to do to the clone?”

“Xada, you’re still loyal to the essence,  even though it has gone insane… Emm!” Rlim’s shoulder was pierced to bleed by her sword.

“Don’t you dare insult it!” Exuding with Bloodlust, Xada kept swinging her sword to many cuts on its body.

“Hold the sword, Xada.” A voice stopped her move, followed by the appearance of the pink-haired Enlil.  She spoke gently as she put her hands on Xada’s, “You’re killing it.”

Rlim was a bit surprised to see Enlil, and soon it realized what was going on here.

“Oh, it has been a long time.” Rlim forced a smile to greet her before turning its face to Xada.  “Killing me doesn’t help.  And you can’t set the essence free alone.  Let’s work together.” Rlim captured the chance to lobby.

“Rlim is right, Xada.  This is for our own good.” Enlil was helping.

Xada pondered for a while and decided to let go of Rlim.

“…Brother, don’t ever do anything that defies the essence again.”

“Of course.” Rlim looked at Enlil and Xada with a smile. “Let’s achieve the goal together.”
That was how the three, who had different clandestine purposes, established an alliance to bring unpredictable changes into the realm.