A SINNER

Lynne flew forward, his feet coated in green flames, as two Chakrams, strapped to the chains, appeared in his hands. Behind him, Thalia rushed forward, conjuring a spear-like weapon from water, hovering above her head, while Parsia and Fen’er drawing back to the rest of the group.

Lynne swung the Chakrams in a downward arc, cutting directly through the panther-like beast, splitting it half. Blood gushed out and splattered across him, but he pressed on, completely ignoring it.

Thalia pressed on his side as the two flanked the incoming band of beasts from both sides. She began conjuring one water spear after another, sending them flying forth, as each pierced a beast straight through the heart. Some she threw into the air, cutting down flying beasts like flies as they began raining.

The two Chakrams burst out in golden blaze as Lynne danced with them in whirlwind fashion, blasting apart trees and rocks around, alongside the beasts that were touched by it. Burning blaze erupted, catching alight along the string of splintered trunks of trees and dry leafs. From its heart he propelled forward, splitting the burning fires apart as if they feared his very touch. He raised both his arms and knees slightly up as she descended into the very heart of the Beastkin’s group, slashing the Chakrams into the ground.

Explosion occurred, followed by a massive shockwave that splintered earth beneath, creating a massive crater. Beast after beast fell, screaming in agony, but Lynne suddenly felt a sense of danger. As he glanced back, he saw a gigantic bear-like creature swinging axe at him; he raised his arm to defend, but a spear suddenly flew through the creature’s head, blasting it into smithereens and causing body to bolt sideways like a ragdoll.

Without waiting any further, Lynne got onto his feet as a pack of boulder-sized wolfs bared their fangs at him and leapt forward; there were nine in total, completely encircling him.

Meanwhile, Thalia fought off a barrage of bats, falcons, eagles, and a seeming lion with feathered wings at its back. Still merely conjuring spears, she kept dancing in circle as she sent them flying, barraging the sky back.

Behind, Parsia and Fen’er were holding vanguard against the beasts that managed to slip through the cracks. Fen’er wielded her silver sword, while Parsia didn’t use Urumi but instead merely basic Spell Arts, from flinging a round fireball to causing earth to quake and split apart with sharp pillars erupting from beneath.

Others, still behind, stood in place, seemingly frozen, awed and shocked. Before them stood four they believed to be equal, yet had stripped away the reaches of their realities within a single battle.

From the start of the battle, Lynne had a strange feeling in his stomach – he felt it too easy. Most of the ‘beasts’ they were fighting were actually just ordinary animals. As he was fighting off oversized wolves, he ducked and focused his sight to the east as two wolves blew past above his head. In the distance, he spotted a glint – a reflection from the armor.

“… don’t tell me…” he muttered, sighing inwardly. Evading another attack by rolling sideways, he cast a glance at the others; Thalia was overrun with birds, while Fen’er and Parsia were relatively fine. “Go,” Lynne muttered as the bird and the monkey appeared on his shoulders. “Find out who the hell is that.”

He then propelled himself backwards as he swung the two Chakrams, cutting two wolves’ heads clean off, causing blood to rain. Forest nearby had completely collapsed and cracks ran like rivers through the ground beneath. Heaps of beast corpses were strewn across, earth dyed crimson red, while some, on the brink of death, wailed on into the sky. Yet, the number of them never ceased to drop. How the hell did they sneak up on us while this large in numbers?

A swooshing, incoming sound caught his attention as he looked up. An arrow coated in thick layer of flames was falling from the sky, aimed at Fen’er, Parsia and others. And after it another. And then another. Hundreds of them soon blasted off into the sky and rained down.

“They really are humans,” Lynne muttered, glancing at Parsia and Fen’er who met his eyes. “Don’t,” he told them, his voice echoing inside their minds. “I imagine they’re testing to see how strong we are.”

“It’s pointless,” Fen’er said, sneering. “I’m the weakest of the four of us. I’ll explode somewhat and try to scare them off. If that doesn’t work, just go over there and kill them.”

“… hai, you really haven’t changed.” Lynne said, sighing.

“But you have.” she winked as her deadpan expression suddenly grew serious.

Her silver sword quickly turned crimson, as if filled to brim with blood, as her pale skin gained color. She swung the sword in an upward arc, causing ground beneath to crack in a straight line, as wind and blood cruised through the sky at speeds surpassing what eye could see, crashing against arrows and blowing them all to smithereens in one fell swoop.

Taking the opportunity, Lynne pressed on through the woods as the monkey and the bird landed on his shoulders.

“Humans, two hundred – give or take,” the monkey said. “They don’t seem strong, but I’m getting a strange vibe from them.”

“I’m getting a strange vibe from the entire situation,” Lynne said. “Let’s just ask them kindly to explain.”

“…”

“…”

“Be careful,” Thalia’s voice echoed inside his mind, startling him slightly. “Call if something happens.”

“Hai hai, you be careful not to get any bird crap on you. I’m not touching you if you do, get it?”

“What, I thought kinky stuff?” Thalia teased.

“I do, very much so; tie me up and chain me to a bed and do me wholesome, but at least smell like a human during it.”

“Dully noted.”

“…”

Lynne broke the perimitter of the beasts rather easily, swinging his chakrams in a horizontal arc, cutting dozen or so boars and quills as he finally reached the forest’s end and broke out onto the clearing. Before him stood a small army of sorts, all sitting atop horses, focused on him; his clean, white robes were completely red, and his usual, brown hair was dyed as well. He very much looked nothing like himself.

“Hello there, friends,” he spoke in a warm tone, smiling at the group; however, due to the fact that he was covered in blood, his warm smile looked more like a devil’s grin before the slaughter. “What a wonderful day, no? Sun shining, but it’s not too hot, but not too cold either. Birds were singing, rivers were flowing… so why the fuck are you trying to ruin it for me, huh? Are you compulsory bandits? Murderers? Hah, I don’t care! Just go away and do it elsewhere!”

“You’re a Sinner,” the man at the very front, riding a gold-enamored steed spoke as he looked at Lynne with disgust. His face was covered by a helmet, but Lynne was able to discern gold beard and blue eyes. “God does not allow Sinners to speak! Bend a knee and accept God’s punishment!”

“… you’re kidding me?” Lynne sighed, rolling his eyes. “Shouldn’t we hold a trial or something first? You know, where you tell me how screwing around for the greater part of my life has led me down the path of darkness? Give me at least something guys! Shouldn’t you be well-versed in good, old emotional manipulation? You can’t just come out and say ‘Hah, bastardized Sinner, knee and die!’. It’s not poetic! You gotta make it poetic!”

“I don’t think they care very much about poetry, Lynne.” the monkey added.

“Ah, they should!” Lynne said. “Half the reason I enjoyed reading Rickard’s ‘Men And Gods’ was the poetics the characters spat at every corner!”

“Sort of like what you’re doing now?” the bird asked.

“Exact-hey, shut up bird-brain.”

“Enough!!!” the leading man roared as he leapt off the horse and drew a sword from his scabbard and pointed it at Lynne. “Today, I shall execute God’s punishment! Repent your Soul, Sinner!” the man rushed at him whereas Lynne flicked his finger gently, blowing the man backwards into the group of horses. Neighs and sighs and whatnots erupted, as they stared at Lynne in wonder.

“… why are they so surprised?” Lynne was just as baffled. “Didn’t they just see me cut half their pets in half?”

“Impossible!!” the man roared as he stood up from the crowds. “Sinners can’t fight back! Kneel! Kneel you damned Sinner! Kneel!”

“… he’s not kidding me.” Lynne sighed as he retracted his Chakrams and began walking towards the man. “Listen here---” Lynne suddenly paused and flew backwards; just a breath later, a bolt of lightning crashed into the spot he was standing.

Looking upwards, he spotted a woman hovering in the sky, wearing massive, intertwining teal dress. Her hair was golden like sun, face oval-shaped and eyes round. Flickers of thunder danced about her as she stared down at Lynne.

“Priestess!” the man roared as he knelt before the woman. “You’ve heard our Prayers! Please! Forgive this humble Servant! I have failed to punish the Sinner!”

“Don’t worry about it Ned,” the woman said, smiling at the man gently. “Take your men and the Beastkin and return.”

“But, the Sinner--”

“I’ll deal with him.”

“Yes, Priestess! Come on men! You’ve heard Her! Let’s go!”

“Aye!”

Lynne didn’t try and stop them, and merely stared at the woman, somewhat indifferently. He noticed immediately that she’s in the Grand Realm, Fulgur Child. However, he also immediately understood that their ‘God’ was probably a Magus, one much stronger than the woman before him.

“You’re not going to chase after them?” the woman asked.

“What for? I may be a… ah, a Sinner, but I’m quite a forgiving man.” Lynne said, smiling.

“You and your friends should turn around and walk away,” the woman said in a warning tone. “Lest grave things happen to you.”

“Ah, come on, you can do better,” Lynne said, chuckling. “Why don’t you call your big brother over? I want to see how far up the Grand Realm he’s gone. However, seeing you’re merely a Child, I’m not too optimistic.”

“… says a Celestial Magus.” the woman sneered mockingly.

“Aye,” winds roused around Lynne as fire erupted beneath his feet, spreading in a circle like fashion; all seven Natural Flames melded into one as they danced around him, causing his aura to explode. “Now, just a quick question: did you bunch hire a Shamanic Tribe awhile ago to trap some poor bastards in another dimension?”

“… what’s that to you?” the woman asked, frowning.

“So you have,” Lynne chuckled. “Good. One day, you and I will meet again,” Lynne said, waving, as he turned around and began walking away, flames surrounding him vanishing. “Warn that big God of yours. Tell them that a guy who’s met an actual God is coming, and he better not disappoint me.”

The woman stared at the fading figure in confusion for a moment as it dawned on her; her lips parted, eyes widened, and her breathing got slower. He… he escaped World of Gods?!! Impossible!!