[Flames of Imperfection]

PRINCE

I've long knew that I am full of flaws. Despite my best efforts to fix the holes of my character, more and more gaps are created as time goes by. The fact that I can't even thread the path that I want just reveal what kind of life I really have.

But I am just a human, full of imperfections. No matter how hard I try, what I will amount to will always be within the boundaries of humanity. Within the boundaries of flaws and mistakes. Though I believe that there is beauty within imperfections. You can only know how great something is when you have seen the lesser version of it.

Life is full of flaws and impracticality. Despite how long you plan something, sometimes it just never go the way you wanted it to. No matter how accurate a bullet is, there are still chances that it might miss. Life offers a way for unexpected things to happen. A flaw of creation, to match perfection.

-

"Gah!"

A claw strike me directly to my chest, and I was sent rolling over the ground. My entire body was covered with wounds, and my reserve is like a puddle compare to the previous ocean. It's been only a little above forty seconds since I used Hell's Cage, but I am already at my limit.

'Am I going to die here?'

I thought. I was never scared of death. For me it was only natural for an individual to eventually perish. It's just a matter of who lived the best life. I wonder, have I live my to the fullest? Are my actions enough to compensate for my early death? Will my sister be okay even if I die now?

Who will protect her in my place? Who will be her sword and shield as she used her powers to save everyone? Who will be her brother when she is all alone? Can I just really die without consequences? What will happen to her if I am gone?

"Fuck that!"

I have no clue whatever was the reason, but I managed to conjure another wave of flames. My mana right now shouldn't be enough to even create an ordinary fireball, but for some reason I could still use my powers. Maybe it was because of my will to live, my will to stay by my sister's side that I was able to continue fighting.

"I can't afford to die yet! There are people waiting for my return!"

Reason gave way to instinct as I continued to clash with horde of monsters. I grabbed a monster on the head with my right hand, and blasted with flames with my left hand. Then I leapt off its corpse and kicked another monster away. 

"If I die here there wouldn't be anyone to protect them! There wouldn't be anyone to save them!"

I ducked below, just in time to dodge a monsters swing. I grappled onto its arm, and made way onto its back. Then using my two hands, I gouged out its eyes, and conjured a fireball directly onto its retina. However, another monster struck me on the back with a heavy punch that send me staggering on the road. 

"Gah..."

I tried to stand up, but I just coughed out a mouthful of blood instead. Some of my ribs are broken, and I am at the brink of losing consciousness. My entire body was radiating pain, and my mana was completely drained. My skill, Hell's Cage, was already deactivated due to the lack of mana.

'Ah... I guess I really am dying today.'

"Sis. Do you have dance practice today as well?"

"Sis. I told you to not get that comfy with that Kevin guy."

"Sis. I'll be playing basketball with the boys later. Go tell dad for me, okay?"

"See you later, sis. Love you."

I slowly watch as another monster charged straight at me with the intention to squash me into mincemeat. The abominations from another place, that came to destroy ours. Even doing everything I could, I still succumbed to their strength.

That was my imperfection.

'I'll be going now, sis.'

"Take care."

As I slowly close my eyes, I caught a glimpse of something different. The monster that was the emissary of my death suddenly exploded into a pulp, then burst into flames. The flames was similar to mine yet somewhat distinct. If my flames was the result of my imperfection, the result of my non-stop endeavor to change... then the fire that I am seeing right now is the opposite of that. It was far from perfect, but it doesn't try to hide its flaws. It embraced its flawed nature. That's what made it beautiful.

The perfect flames of imperfection. Such an honor to see it before I die.

-

RAY

"Phew... Luckily I managed to arrive in time."

I looked over the surroundings and found Prince lying on the ground, unconscious and full of injuries. I rushed with my full speed, but I still thought I would be too late since the number of enemies was just too vast. However, it looks like god still fancied me some miracle.

A few seconds earlier.

"Please. Let me make it in time."

I was dashing like the light, making my way through the path to Viesyu. Since the road was already cleared of monsters, I could focus entirely on speed and didn't have to stretch my mana to sense. However, before I could go far, I caught glance of two people running from the distance.

'Marvin and... Ralph? Aren't they supposed to be fighting alongside Prince? What are they doing here?'

A few seconds after, Marvin finally noticed me, and beckoned for Ralph tom stop. 

"Marvs! What are you guys doing back here? Where's Prince?"

"Brother Ray. We came to ask for help! Is sister Ramielle around? You have to call her, quick!"

'Oh, that's right, they don't know about my strength yet, so they seek out Ramielle who's strength is already well known. Can't blame them, I would do so too if I was in their place.'

Marvin was a year younger than me, so he, like Lancemeir, calls me brother as well as a sign of respect. I don't require it from them, but they choose to do it. I can't complain since it just shows that they were raised properly.

"Ramielle is on the campus. She already got a heads up from Sky, so she should be on her way here soon. It's best you tell her yourself though."

"What about you?"

"I'll head over there first."

"But there's too many enemies there! No disrespect but if you go now it would be suicide."

Marvin tried to stop me, but I didn't listen to him and made my way to Viesyu proper instead. Before I can even get close to the center of the town, I already sensed the humongous amount of enemies at my destination.

'A hundred? No, a hundred and twenty-three? Jesus. How did this many monsters gather here?'

Although there were a lot of enemies, it will not be that much of a trouble for me. In the end, the quantity lacks quality. They could send a hundred ants, but it won't be enough to kill the frog. However, that doesn't mean that it will not be tiring to clear them all.

'I swear, I overwork myself too much.'

-

I grabbed a monster by the arm and threw it against another monster. By the way, these monsters are the abomination kind of monsters. Unlike the ones that I previously fought, these monsters are not a product of evolution or some kind of mutation, but ones that came from the rift.

The Infernal Hound, Gale-Claw Bear, Overgrown Centipede, as well as the Swiftblade Mantis were all regular animals that had evolved due to the influence of mana, or at least I believe they did. Fortunately, there isn't any zoo or animal shelter near us. If there were, then we're probably fucked.

Though I don't think that every animal in the world evolved due to mana. Some animals still retained their previous form, but I can't say that they didn't undergo some kind of change as well. Still, animals are necessary for our world, so I try to not kill them too much.

"But they sure are a lot."

I have already slain about ten monsters already, but I can't see their numbers decreasing one bit. Not only that, but they are also adapting to my strategy. Instead of attacking one by one, they are now matching each other's timing. These monsters also possess some kind of natural intelligence, maybe that's what enables them to be a powerful predator.

'I need to finish them together at once.'

*snap*

"Fiery Binding."

A chain of fire encompassed the surroundings that quickly shrunk to bind the monsters. Some were directly cleaved in half by the chain, but the others who were more durable were just entrapped instead. 

"Muspelheim."

*BOOM*

With a single wave of my hand, a massive blast of pure destructive fire desolated the ground and the monsters. A massive crater of fiery hell was created, and the monsters were trapped were nowhere to be seen. When they saw this, the remaining monsters halt their attacks. As if by instinct, they each scramble their way out of my sights. Maybe it was their instinct telling them to run away and survive.

As if I was going to let them.

"Spear of Flames."

Eight identical spear of pure fire was created all around me. These spears was the product of my experimentation of the attribute of fire. Elemental mana is more easier to materialized than pure mana alone.

"Go."

The spear of flames quickly rushed out towards the fleeing monsters. Some tried to dodge it, but the spear changed its directions and directly hit them. These spears can reach their targets as long I have them in my sights and I have enough mana. You could compare it to the homing missiles of fighter jets.

*Boom*

Several explosions were created as the eight spears each hit their targets. Finally, after tens of minutes of fighting, only a single monster remained. The reason why I didn't send a flame spear against this monster is because of one sole reason...

It didn't run away.

It waited for me to finish its allies, and just stood where it was before. As if he was waiting for me to finish killing everybody. After making sure that it was the only one left, the monster suddenly spitted out something from its mouth.

"An orb?"

An orb, about the size of snow globe, was held by the monster. It was pure grey and was shining like hell. The monster slowly walk and made its way towards me. To my surprise, it then bowed and offered the orb to me.

"You're giving me this in exchange of your life?"

To my shock, the creature actually understood me and nodded. It even pressed its head onto the ground even firmer as if it was begging me to spare it. This fervent supplication took me by surprise. I took the orb from its hands, and inspected it.

"What the..."

When my fingers made contact with orb, I could feel my mana greatly enhanced. It felt like it was more purer, like the dirty impurities were filtered out.

'Is it some kind of artifact? Doesn't matter, this shit is for real.'

What made the situation of our world different from a game is the exception of items. All we have accessed to was our own power and skillset, but with the addition of this orb...

"Muspelheim."

I cast Muspelheim over one side of the road, and the results?

"Fucking hell..."

It was twice as stronger.

The creature twitched in fear when I suddenly casted a skill. Its body was constantly shaking and it banged its head even more firmer. However, I didn't notice this since I was too caught up with the effects of the orb.

"Ah, I'm sorry about that. I was just testing it. I have confirmed that it's real and would be useful, so I'll accept your offer."

Once again, as if he could understand me, the creature raised its head and looked at me in the eyes. It eyes were asking me if it could finally flee from this place safely.

"Yes. Go now. But make sure to never show yourself to me again."

The creature happily bowed, and quickly left from my sights. It seemed ecstatic that it thought of offering the orb for its life. I guess intelligence really does make a difference.

But it still doesn't have enough of it.

"Combust."

Before the creature could completely escape, its body suddenly lit aflame and was soon burned to ashes. I picked up the bloodied Prince, and soon went my way back home to the academy.

'I can't wait to show Sam this thing.'

I guess, we really do learn something new everyday.

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