2073 year.“Get up, get up,” opening my eyes, I saw that my little sister was trying to wake me up, “today is an important day!” Have you forgotten?She kicked off her shoes, stood on the free edge of the bed and began to jump. Seismic waves generated by a relative killed all hope for another five minutes of healthy sleep. Spatya loved, and my sister liked to imagine that she was ten years old again. Only it was already over twenty, and it came out rather clumsily."Octavia, stop it, you know I'm awake!" I said to my sister, who made me jump fifteen centimeters on the mattress.My sister was smart, and she knew that if I enter into resonance with the bed, then I can easily fly off her window.“Do you want to feel the power of heavenly wrath again?” - "heavenly wrath" meant a pike from the highest point of her jump and an accurate elbow strike on the ribs.- No need! I instantly shifted into a sitting position, dangling my legs off the bed.“Yes, I just decided to cheer you up, otherwi
The car stopped abruptly. I swallowed, but still pulled the handle, thanked the driver and went outside. A bright light hit my eyes, and my heart began to tap dance. After all, there was a huge number of cadets near the entrance to the central department.Horror, what a crowd here, a hundred people! By the end of the training, our number should be significantly reduced, no less than two or three times. I hope I won't be among the excluded.Looking at the candidates, I saw fire in their eyes, some fear. Everyone came here for the same thing.A man with a military bearing, obviously from the Academy, began to divide us into groups. The crowd, like a living snake, began to disperse and line up in small columns.Excitement gradually grew into ... boredom. When will this ceremony end? Now, I suppose, there will be fiery speeches - the most unnecessary part of the performance. At least for me. It's better to start learning right away.Bright flash of light. We instinctively covered our face
The Beginning of TormentNoisy. It is difficult to breathe because of the large crowds of people. The corridor we are walking down is clearly intended for fewer people. It made it damn hot. The shirt began to stick uncomfortably to the body, which made me wince every time if someone touched my back.As soon as the other cadets and I got to the fifth floor of the first building, we were immediately met by the God and the Goddess. Because of what I had to stop and immediately line up in ranks. The gods stood near the open door to the auditorium. That's where all the young warriors went.I immediately understood who they were, and there is no need to guess. A man, a huge giant, in scarlet armor, and a girl with pitch-black curls and her tunic of the same color. The average person obviously wouldn't dress like that. For sure ...The man began to examine each cadet. His eyes even fell on me a couple of times. Not very nice...“Everyone lined up quickly,” the command rang out. - I am David,
- I said get up!The door was pushed open loudly, slamming it against the wall. Three men in blue armor ran into the room, and they brought the uniform of the Academy into the room. It was like a military one: a T-shirt, trousers, berets and a jacket, if we get cold outside. And everything is black.As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw “6:00” on the clock.- Stand up!!!Aran immediately jumped out of bed, while three of David's subordinates watched me wrap myself in a blanket.Horror, I can not get up, the body refused. Reptiles, I understand, to wake up at eight in the morning, but at six - this is chaos! I tried to get up, but my mind began to drift into sleep. Yes, they are crazy, now instead of screaming they blow the bugle.“Help him up and go out,” one of the wakers barked, and the trio went off to join the others.Aran implicitly carried out the command. He rushed to the bed and began to shake me in different directions."Alester, get up, we've got to go!"- I'm getting up... I'm
“Hello guys… I hope you don’t screw up like yesterday.“Hello, teacher,” I answered him with the same smile, “this will not happen again, but so far only with your subordinates, I’m not sure about you.”- You are funny. Good. Team number one, which one of you is the leader? Yesterday I told everyone to choose a leader.- The leader of the first team - Alester Lambert! Aran answered for everyone.- Then proceed, - nodded Amedeo and pointed where to look, - this is my Renegade. Defeat him or die.In the center of the training ground, out of nowhere, stood a man in his thirties, all in torn clothes. His skin color was as gray as if he had died long ago.- Renegade? What?! I was surprised.Yes, it's mine and I manage it. We have a couple of them to train beginners.The renegades have only tremendous physical strength, it is possible to slaughter him with our tactics, but it will be more difficult than with a person. But the main difference between the Renegades from man and God is that th
AwakeningTwo months have passed since I entered the Academy. During this time, my friends and I died eight times. Killed us, as always, Amedeo. I also went to the Goddess of Wisdom... or, I'm beginning to suspect, stupidity. Indeed, after my negative answer to the question “did I notice anything strange behind me,” she simply sent me back to the hostel. I went up to her for almost two hours ... I won’t forgive! I will pick up the right moment and take revenge! .. Well, okay, I digress. Everyone on my team was able to awaken their magic except for me. This is sad. I don't understand why my magic doesn't awaken. What am I doing wrong? After all, the catalyst for magic is the fear of death ... maybe I'm not afraid of it? It makes me feel like I'm dragging my comrades back. Amedeo did not order the use of power outside the training ground, even if they could acquire it. If the whole team could wake up, then she rested until the end of training with the God of death and the beginning of
“Nothing shines for you,” I put my hand on Aran's shoulder. “Now KEEP WASHING THE FUCKING WALLS!” Fucking fireball!***I'm on the stairs. I'm covered in sweat and suffocating. I was again summoned to the tower of the Gods... only now I'm standing in front of the door with the sign "Amedeo - God of Death". And the funny thing is, Albertine's room is opposite.There is only disappointment in my heart. Amedeo killed us again, and all because of me. How many times do I and my friends have to die for my power to awaken? What the hell am I doing wrong?!Alester, come on in.No sooner had I knocked than they called me. Do the Gods have cameras built in somewhere?Opening the door, I went in. His room is luxurious, everything is decorated with paintings, Persian carpets. The golden statues of the Griffins were pleasing to the eye. Social life in all its glory.God was sitting at a wide table, covered with papers and seals. He didn't have the usual snake smile on his face. Why did I feel unea
Her hands were shaking from adrenaline, and a crazy smile appeared on her face. Joy, happiness, that I could. I managed.“I didn’t expect this,” God said in complete confusion, but immediately coming to his senses, he looked at me. - You're awake. And now. - Amedeo broke my ice spike, as if nothing had happened - it's time for me to revive your comrades.- What does it mean?God dusted himself off and went to my comrades. The barrier was asleep, the doctors are already there. As if they knew everything in advance.- Was it a performance? Full of anger, I asked.“Yes and no,” Amedeo gave an incomprehensible answer.The God of Death took his severed hand and pressed it against the stump, the limb immediately fused. Not even a scar left.“If you hadn’t awakened, your comrades would indeed have died. You're a Godslayer, do you think we'd kick you out of the academy just like that? Moreover, do you think you could easily defeat me, the second generation of Gods?- Of course not. But not by
The Rancia empire prospered. Those terrible times when the Ransians fearfully expected the birth of their own children are far behind. With the accession to the throne of the new emperor Claude re Tigras the First and Empress Daisyre re Tigras, the people stopped living in fear and excitement. Now every Ransian, human or not, had the same right to life and happiness. The persecution of non-humans stopped, because the ruling family also did not belong to the human race, mixed marriages began to appear more often, and cities grew. Life became calmer, now the imperials were not afraid to travel between cities, risking being in the mouth of some monster. All creatures, of course, did not disappear, but as a result of a number of innovations introduced by Claude from the experience of his mercenary life, they greatly facilitate the fight against these creatures, forced them to go away from human habitation or hide deep in their holes. Man again became the dominant race on the planet, and e
- Oh, those boys. Alita purred as she slid off her man's lap and sat down on Claude's bed. “In general, sweetheart, when we burst into the hall, we only made it to the finale, when you, with completely wild eyes, rushed towards the door until you stretched out on the floor, not having reached us a few steps. And then Alexander quickly stepped forward, ordering that you be lifted and taken to the imperial chambers and called for a doctor, and then he explained to everyone present that according to some ancient law, I don’t know where he dug it up, you become the next emperor, taking the place of the deposed you ruler. We didn't even believe what we heard. You are Claude and the emperor. It sounded kind of unbelievable. And to be honest, they also managed to catch this cold, so they thought it was the result of a fever. But as it turned out, no, they heard right and you were really glorified as the future emperor. He cleverly organized everything here. So even the few dissatisfied witne
- Infections... It's people like me that you call an infection?- Yes. To be honest, I even liked you a little, not often non-humans managed to hide from my eye for so long, and your stupid principles ... naive, frankly childish, but noble, made me smile. However, the fact that you are a monster cannot be changed and you have no other destiny than to die.“It’s like seeing which one of us is a monster.— Ha! Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror?“Appearance says nothing about a person. Yes, my eyes and ears are different from human, but there is much less blood on my hands than on yours.- What are you talking about. Turn around. All these people could live if not for you.“My fault for their death is no less than the one who set them on me. At least I was only defending myself, not sending them to their deaths.They died because they were doing their duty.Or because they were left with no choice.This conversation did not lead them anywhere, without bringing clarity or sat
And now only three of them remained, the horses carried the tired mercenaries forward, whipping dust into the air and crumbling the age-old stone into the sand. Two hot streams of steam escaped the air from the wide, nervously quivering nostrils of the driven horses. No one believed that they would catch up with the warrior, only hoping that the emperor would not realize his terrifying plan immediately upon the arrival of his assistant. On the horizon in front of them rose the towers of San Pen, brightening up the dull landscape with each kilometer growing higher and higher, delighting and frightening at the same time. Claude did not know what awaited them in the capital, for the first time he did not have at least some slightly thought-out plan, only one desire to be in time, not to be late, to stop. Inside, everything was shrinking from a bad premonition, but the guy drove away uninvited thoughts. You should never take on a job with a gloomy attitude to its failure, otherwise, every
Leata's voice broke through her rage-clouded consciousness. "Finally!" the guy exhaled, looking at the best thing to do in order to retreat without consequences for his health and life. It was not far to go, the creatures had already almost pressed him to the failure, from which the mercenary was separated by several steps, he needed only a couple of three seconds to get the coveted vial and jump over to the other side. Taking a step back, he seized the sword more comfortably and threw the dagger at the creature closest to him, slashing the blade across the entire expanse available to him and forcing the creatures to retreat a couple of steps. Here are his seconds. Rushing back, he removed the blade with one hand, and with the other he felt for the coveted cork. Which is specially marked so as not to be confused with others. The previous experience of using this remedy in the battle with sectroses taught him decently, but there was no time to sip drop by drop. Let it be what will be.
Aiyana, hurry up. Something is not happening.- One more second. Here it is! - the girl purred enthusiastically, pressing the lever near the capsule, and completely not noticing what was happening around.- We have no time. It's time to go.- Not! Until I find it, I won't leave.- Crap! Is it worth your life?- Yes!Discouraged by the answer, the mercenary fell silent for a few seconds. That's devotion! She could be admired if he and his comrades of life did not depend on her.Tell me what to look for! - finally, unable to stand it, he grunted, finally entering the room and feeling the cold enveloping from all sides.- You don't know the language.But I can see. I'll find it by sight. Show me or we'll all stay here.She did not argue further, obediently showing what symbols she had to find. There were few of them, at most four, of which one was a letter, and the rest resembled modern numbers. It was not even a name, but rather a code. He moved along the nearest shelving unit, running
At Leata's remark, Claude only shook his head, as they approached the ruins, Leatrice became more and more irritable and angry. He did not know what was eating her, most likely she was also afraid. After a quick bite, they hit the road. The sounds that accompanied their breakfast didn't help their appetite, and neither did their conversation. In anticipation of a meeting with the owners of these voices, people unanimously grew gloomy, but walked, carefully looking around. It gradually began to get light around, mischievous rays gently ran across the grass, reflected in drops of dew, flashed on people's weapons, playfully looking into their eyes and blossomed with a gloomy rainbow, reflected from the surface of the lake. The one that Leata called the "Lake of the Dead". For what it received such a name, no one knew, but the assumptions were different. Maybe the ancients drowned their dead in it, or maybe this is due to some mysterious story, since the lake was no different from its cou
- What the hell! cried Claude with a loud splash as he went under the water. The turbulent river picked up its prey with the joy of a small child who discovered in his power a toy he had long desired. The big man was twisted and twisted, sometimes hitting the side of the shell. Water clogged in his mouth, nose, forcing him to spit, smearing haze before his eyes. You can't give up! Claude remembered that he was not alone in the water, but he did not have time to really see the creature that had so cleverly discounted him. However, this did not give a reason to underestimate her. Ripping up the water with powerful strokes, he forced himself to swim up. Thank the Gods, he did not have time to take aside. The shell, like a native, clung to him, dragging him along, trying in vain to pull him under him. The body already almost did not obey him, bound by a terrible cold. Pushing off from the surface of the water, Claude desperately jumped up in an unsuccessful attempt to grab the edge, feeli
— Falcon. Daisyra prompted, following his gaze. For her, this distance was not a problem. - Beautiful.- Yes. And lonely.- How are you!- What did you get?“This is how we met you in that tavern.- When it was. Seems like another life.- Yes. And I'm glad we met.- And I.They had a strange conversation, they seemed to be talking and at the same time not. Pictures of their meeting floated before his eyes, taken apart by the words of the girl, and seeing himself, he looked and did not recognize. Now he was no longer the same person. Claude has changed. Becoming somehow something ... more integral, but still in his chest did not want to melt a tight lump that appeared there in childhood, as if not allowing him to free himself from the cage created by himself.- For me, he is not alone, but strong. Rolk muttered thoughtfully.— Who are you talking about? Caer joined in, also following his eyes sparkling in the rays of the sun, following the bird circling above them.- About both.“We wi