AGED

Fifteen...year old?!

"Alas! You are here oh my king, my master Great Devourer!" The chieftain of the Gobolines was about to kowtow in front of Leon riding in Xing Ling but he told him that he doesn't have to. The warriors of the gobolines assisted the chieftain up and the shamans behind were all bowing their heads towards the benevolent Devourer. 

Leon scanned the surrounding and frown when his ears that he tried so hard to block was picking up again the gobolines music of pleasure it painted a wrong idea to the gobolines and everyone that is present all kowtowed on the ground with their forehead planted on the ground. Leon clicked his tongue before ignoring their position and started to inquire.

"Does the portal functioning well without any errors?" His words were sharp and heavy that greatly scared the gobolines tribe. But deep within, Leon was hopeful that he would be getting that dream bath and meal he had been wanting for! 

Leon went down of Xing Ling that neighed weakly. Geoff went down as well with his nose sticking to the sky. He is currently in a good mood after knowing that Leon did the effort to use his skills on him just so he could be able to go to him in his trip but little Geoff knows what awaits for him in the other side.

Xing Ling tapped his hooves aggressively while his eyes droop like he wanted to let Leon know that he is sulking but the master couldn't tell the difference. Leon is focused on inspecting the portal and after he is satisfied, he focused his eyes towards the shaman that is still kowtowing in front of me. 

"Raise your heads", strong and dignified, Leon waits for them after they immediately went on their feet without fixing their appearances. He pointed at the bluish dark portal stood at the middle of their village. It was huge enough for an average height man like Leon to fit in and it was one or two people wide. The weak sparks can be terrifying to a normal human but to Leon? It was nothing but just light to brighten their place. The gobolines present at the moment were gathered around the portal and the mothers were holding their misbehaving children. 

Geoff went about and was inspecting the portal upclose. Then Leon raises his hand and every one went silent. He put his fingers on his chin and nodded upon completing his analyzation. 

"I couldn't measure how much grateful I am from your accomplishment. Alas! I will be able to go venture beyond the gate that had been close for their sake! I am impressed. You made all of this without any guidelines and or basis. I am impressed! I will forever take this as a debt to the..." But before he could even continue what he is saying, the goboline chieftain kneeled in front of him, his hands were clasp together and his face become uglier than it was before. Tears were dangling on his tiny eyes and snots were hanging on his long huge nose. 

"OH MY KING!! WE DON'T DESERVE SUCH DEBT IN YOUR HEART! OH GREAT DEVOURER!! PLEASE PULL YOURSELF AWAY FROM SUCH THINKING FOR WE ARE NOTHING BUT YOUR LOYAL SUBJECTS! WE DO WHAT YOU NEED THAT'S WHY MASTER, PLEASE!" and he slammed his head to the ground. It became a signal to every goboline around to do the same position and slam their heads on the ground. 

Leon clicked his tongue and then said, "I just stated that I am indebted, why with this kind of reaction? I will say it again, I am indebted with the goboline territory. There is no need to have this kind of ---" But the chieftain cuts Leon and cry even more.

"OH GREAT KING! WE WILL REMEMBER THIS DAY IN OUR LIVES! PASS DOWN TO EVERY GENERATION AND WILL ALWAYS ENGRAVE IN OUR HEARTS! YOU WILL BE---ACCCKK! COUGH! COUGH!" The chieftain bent down and throw a fit after Leon hit his throat with a chop of a hand. His face shows displeasure and seeing that this tribe is making it worse, Geoff clapped his hands that had caught all their attention.

"Listen now lowly creatures of the west! I, the great and might Geoff will accompany the great devourer and will make sure! Yes! I'll make sure that he wouldn't be harm, even just the tip of his hair that's why, lay down your ease and stop the drama before all of you melted in my hands~" Shivers strikes to the spine of everyone and they immediately stood up that made Leon nod his head. He went closer to Geoff and patted his head before walking closer to the portal. Xing Ling neighed and Geoff looked at the pitiful mount. He stared at him for a good few minutes before it snapped into his brain that maybe, he has something that might help the poor mount. He rush towards him and made him chug the liquid inside a glass container. Geoff patted the head of Xing Ling and then when the liquid were all gone, he convulses before started shrinking. Geoff giggled before following Leon that is already inside with half of his body. Geoff looked back once more and waved before he followed Leon that is no longer in the portal. 

--

Leon felt like he was inside a swimming pool, at the deepest and slowly getting out of breath. He can't see anything and his eyes stings when he opens it. He is paddling in the air like a dog learning how to swim. 

There is a beeping noise that is tickling his ears and he felt his limbs were tied by the current of the water. It felt heavy and he felt frustrated when he couldn't use his skills. Leon couldn't remember how long he had been drifting but his eyes were getting heavy and no matter what fight he does, he still went to sleep before he could hear the warning from the system.

『WARNING!!! System N-000 is being swallowed by another system. Attempt to counter attacker commencing...』

『Attempt failed! Trying alternative solution...』

『FAILED!!! Looking for another solution. Please wait...』

『Solution found! Proceeding emergency auto-pilot.』

『Triple exclusive skill barrier made! Error! Virus eating data...commencing to emergency absorption...』

It was getting faint and Leon couldn't understand more but the final ding after so many mechanical sound that rang in his ears made him calmed down and drift to the place that he finds comfort everytime.

--

Geoff went later after Leon at the portal and he immediately sense the shift in the air. Having the sturdy skin of a horned beetle, he enhances his body and covered himself on what they called inner ki. Gritting his teeth he went on and let the current take him. It wasn't all grand like how other portal with beautiful colors spiral to one another and making a path, it was plain dark and boring nothing that almost look depressing upon seeing much longer. He didn't see the end of it when Xing Ling transformed again to its orignal form and blocked his view. His head hit on its hard back and he went unconscious. 

--

It was a dozen chances that a wish will be granted. There is only one wish in Leon's mind. It was too late for this lifetime, he is old enough to be able to do that and even if he wishes for a second time, that was just a foolish hope since there is no skill or miracle that could grant him that. He lived his live almost like dead for seeing his dreams but couldn't take hold of it. 

Leon had been living as if dead and the only thing that keeping him afloat was the promised he had with the elites. But that stand to nothing anymore. Humans had been the epitome of evolution as they improved whenever time passes by. That is also the reason why Gods were desiring them so much and also scared of their potential to greatly surpassed them. Their opinions about them were split into halves and a faction was made for those that want them to perish and those that wanted them to continue flourishing. 

Sunlight tickled his face from the heat, Leon groaned from the hot feeling before lifting his body up with his eyes still closed. His hands were caressing the soft layer of moisten grass that dampen his clothes and hands from contact. He doesn't know how long he had been there or is he in the right place. 

"I swear if the goboline...damn." He couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing. The green trees, lush in its bright colors were covering his sight and the gentle breeze of the air unlike the humid warm inside his domain. The minty fragrant of the forest and the familiar feeling of home all greeted Leon and that was the first time after a thousand years inside the gate that tears went out of his eyes. 

He lifted his body up and was immediately confused when he noticed that his clothes became bigger than his body. He tried to put his arm down and the sleeves swallowed his hands. Leon put his arms up and his thin frail arms appeared in his eyes.

"What the hell happened?" He murmured to himself and then a river bumped his sight. Without thinking much, he went to the side and look at his reflection that made him fall to the ground. Lines that had already stacked up in his face became smooth like a porcelain ware from China. The bags under his eyes and dark circles that made him a madman was all gone and he couldn't be more surprise than anyone else because, he literally was a man of bones walking with one foot in the grave! 

"What the actual fuck is this!" Leon touches the water and the reflection still display the same young face that he had long time ago. Leon could not be mistaken. He had been reminiscing the past and how he has the face of one of the actor in his country. This just couldn't make sense! He tried to summon his status window but nothing appeared like it usually does. He tried to summon it once again but like what it was earlier, there is no window that appeared in his eyes.

"What the---"

"WHO COMES THERE!" Loud and panicky, Leon heard a yell behind him and after that a sound of reloaded gun went into his ears. He didn't move and so the footsteps slowly becoming near. The surrounding felt so quiet and Leon could hear the sound of the other's heart beat. He decided to slowly put his hands up but the moment he moved, the clinking of the metal entered his ears and he stopped. 

"DON'T ACT STUPID! I AM ARMED!!" He announced and Leon wanted to suck him dry to let him know who is stronger from the both of them but after several times of failure on making his skill window appear, he got tired and let things be. Leon slowly raised his hands on the top of his head and then announced. 

"I am innocent. I am not armed!" He got weirded by his voice that is full of vitality even the other person was surprised on how youthful his voice was. Leon took his time to turn and the other patiently waited until his eyes popped wide open. 

Twenty-one, no less than eighteen, this kid looks like he just entered highschool. The man was evidently surprised and lowered his weapon. 

The same with his reaction, Leon was even surprised with him. This is the first time he is seeing a man from Earth and looking at the shape of this man...he looks unusuallly...normal.

The only thing that felt like from the old age was the long beard that reaches the floor. His clothes, weapon and hat were all stylish and on the newest trend that Leon is not familiar of. The man reaches his hands and Leon felt like he is seeing something straight of a fantasy movie. Bony hands with lots of veins popping, he doesn't look unhealthy or malnourish but the frailty of his appearance makes Leon felt dominance against the man. 

"I never thought I would be seeing someone like you in my entire life. Come here child, I am not a bad person." The man offered his hand and was waiting for Leon to accepts it but he doesn't know what is running in his mind. 

The one that declares them as not bad where the villains that will bring you harm in every movie. I musn't be fooled!

Leon slowly went closer to the man and still put his guards up. Betrayal had been the first reason why the main character always dies that's why Leon is faking a smile and was making sure he is looking as innocent as possible like what his appearance implies. The old man smiled and Leon doesn't know if that is genuine or not. But a little more and they were right by side, Leon paused upon seeing the tears that is gushing out of his eyes that being covered with layers of dark circles. Leon panics and unconsciously supported the man's collapsing frame. 

"Are you alright old man? I didn't do anything to you yet! So don't die on me like this!" Leon blurted out continuously after feeling that his old habits of being concerned to another person is coming out of him after reverting back to his young self. The old man laughed and Leon thinks he already lost it. He raises his arm to pat Leon on his shoulders and upon contact Leon realized how heavy his arms was after hearing his bone crack a little. 

"I never once thought in my life to see someone like you. Where did you venture and you looked like a ragged kitten swimmed in the pool of mud without cleaning himself. Haiyaa~ this clothes were too big for you. Come, come I will provide you food and clean yourself! This won't do! I read on articles that kids were easy to catch diseases so you have to clean yourself! My house is not that far from here. A little walk won't hurt ain't it? By the way, how foolish I am! I haven't told you my name. I am Eucrid, been living in this forest. It was really nice to bump into you. After all, the kinds of you were already extinct a few hundred years now." Leon stopped from caressing Eucrid's back and look at him with widened eyes. 

"What did you say? Did I hear it right?" His hands started to tremble and the lump on his throat was too much enough for him not to swallow. Eucrid pat his shoulders again and this time Leon didn't bother to complain and was just waiting for his answer. Eucrid notices it too and his face became serious before answering Leon. 

"New babies had been a miracle for the passed years Leon. The last batch of kids was my generation." Leon literally felt the blood in his veins left his body and he became as pale as white paper.