In a corner of the expanse that was the void, a godling stood on a deserted planet, he grit his teeth; focusing on healing the wound that prevented him from fleeing, his arm had been separated from his shoulder, cut all the way to his essence, he hissed as he dropped to his knees, he hadn't survived so long just so he'd die on a planet such as this, he would be furious if he died here.

If only he had more time then perhaps- perhaps he could form a black hole, one that would swallow him and the remains of the earth and spit them out elsewhere, far from his pursuers. It didn't help that he was more than exhausted, not only losing his talisman, but so low on essence that it seemed an impossible task.

"I have to surpass my limits" He muttered to himself as he struggled to his feet

"Isn't that nice? The little one wants to surpass his limits"

He gasped and did a 180 degree turn, his eyes widened "I-it can't be. You shouldn't be alive." He gasped

"Did you think such a weak attack was going to destroy me?! You are not even yet a god" Across the boy a man stood, his goatee an unusual green color, his bald head glistening in the sunlight, he wore a satin sleeveless tunic and black leather pants, his sword was sheathed at his side, a red ropey fabric acted as a belt, on his feet he wore a wooden slippers

The godling grit his teeth and held out his left arm "{Rockstorm}"

The ground beneath his feet rumbled and rubble floated, bigger pieces of rock began to ascend into the air, "Die" He said.

His adversary grinned as the rocks fell, he unsheathed his sword in a quick motion "{Atomic slash}", He took to the air and slashed, once, twice, thrice, his slashes cut through the air and rocks altogether, he grinned as the other projectiles dropped harmlessly

"Hm? Is that it? You must have used too much essence already"

"Shut up" The godling hissed, his mind reeled from the effort, he swayed as the wind whipped around him, his brown hair billowing in the wind, he huffed in exertion, his black robes stained red with his own blood

'I can't die here. I won't'

"I'll kill you" The boy glared

"Big talk for someone missing an arm, don't you think?" The man sneered "You can't even walk properly. Why don't you just give up and die peacefully?" He continued taking a step forward

"{Darkorb}" The boy grimaced as he spoke, three orbs seemingly formed from his shoulder

"Finally taking me serious huh? It doesn't matter" The man grinned

An orb shot forward, heading straight for the unimpressed swordsman "Man. kids these days" He sighed as he pulled his sword from its sheathe, the orb expanded and then started to take shape, finally forming a greatsword

"It surprising that you still have this much essence left, its a surprise you can draw from it at all" The bald man stated

"That's the masters essence for you" A voice said from behind the boy

'H-how?'

He felt a sharp pain in his neck and his feet collapsed from underneath him

"How…did…you…" He could manage as his sight become bleary

"I specialize in silent killing" Came the reply

"Took you long enough, i was going to kill the brat for his insolence"

"…Poisoon" The boy drawled

'How could i have been so stupid ~ i shoold have watched my back all the whilr' the kid thought

"Only the very best. After all we wouldn't want to mistakenly lose the masters essence as you die" He couldn't tell anymore who had spoken, he heard a low whirring sound and closed his eyes, he was going to die here after all.

A bird chirped somewhere 'am i in heaven? Was there even a heaven for gods? Maybe some other special place? Purgatory maybe?' His eyes fluttered open, he lifted his arms to his face, Where was his other arm? Oh yeah, he lost it, his second hand immediately went to his shoulder, it was a stump

'Am i not supposed to get another arm?' He thought as he stared at the milk ceiling

"Aren't i dead?" He asked himself

"Unfortunately, no" Came the calm reply

"…I see" He sighed and then his eyes widened in realization, he shot up quickly glancing around the room wildly

On a armchair in the side of the room lounged a man, his stainless white suit seemingly melting into the colors that swirled around him, his eyes shadowed by his raven colored hair, he smiled neatly, the corners of his lips tugged upwards to form a prefect curve, not wide enough to show his teeth but enough to make him comfortable

"My creatures call me Djaka, You may call me Lekhi"

"Which your given name?" The godling narrowed his eyes

"Neither" The man said simply.

"Where am i?" The boy asked, his curved horns looking almost ethereal

"The dark space" Again the man replied calmly

"Why am i not dead? I was poisoned" The boy asked, careful to keep his mask of nonchalant dismissal on

"I decided you'd b more useful alive" Djaka said

"You're this… Master?" The godling felt his jaw tighten

"Dear me, of course not" Djaka said "I felt your call for help and decided just this once to answer" he continued

"Why?" The boy asked, his eyes betraying no emotion

"If you were to be a thorn, which would you be?" Djaka asked

'is this a trick question?'

"The bloodiest" The boy returned

"Quite bloodthirsty are we now. If i were a thorn, i'd be the one burrowed so deep beneath the flesh, it would be almost impossible to wedge out; the type that rots flesh from the inside out" Djaka grinned.

"…" The boy raised a brow

"What is your name?" Djaka asked

"I do not have one" The boy said watching for a reaction

"Oh? That makes things quite interesting" The other grinned delightfully

"How so?" The boy asked disconcerted

"Tell me. Who created you?" Djaka commanded

"I… I do not know" The boy answered

"Do tell me more"

'I can't stop talking, what is this?'

"I awakened beneath the earth and clawed my way out a few centuries ago, only to find i was the only living person on the planet i awakened, i was distraught. I found a mana torrent that led me to an essence bank"

"You stole it?" Djaka asked in surprise

"Yes. With my new powers, memories of how to use it, i tried to create new life, it worked for a while, simple life forms and plants; and then they began to die, simply crumbling, not before their life sources were overtaken with darkness" The boy said breathlessly

"…The plague" the other leaned forward in his chair

"A few days ago, i was attacked by a group who claimed to be retrieving something of their masters, i tried to fight, but i was outnumbered, so i ran, they took my arm" The boy finished, beads of sweat rolling down his face

"Did they mention this thing they wanted to retrieve?" Djaka arched his eyebrow

"…" The boy bit down on his tongue

"Don't resist too much, you'll get hurt" Djaka sighed

"… A talisman, they wanted a talisman" The boy gasped

"A talisman?" Djaka arched an eyebrow

"It had a snake pendant with ruby eyes, it appeared after i had taken the essence" The boy said, sweating profusely

"A binder" Djaka said thoughtfully

The boy huffed on the bed, his head felt heavy and his shoulders were slumped

Djaka stood from his chair and approached the boy who tried to scoot away from the man. Keyword : Tried. The man set his arm to rest on the boys shoulders and licked his lips, at first silence reigned and then there was a squirming beneath the boys shoulder, another arm sprouted forward in a spray of blood

"W-what…" The boys eyes widened in shock

"Your essence. It does belong to the master" Djaka said letting go of the boy

"You know this master?"

"I revere him" Djaka said

The boy flexed his fingers then glanced at the man that now stood beside him

"Then why…" he had started before he was interrupted

"Remember what i said before" Djaka said "I'd rather be a thorn that rots flesh from the inside out"

"…Thank you"

Djaka let his smile disappear as he tuned to exit the room "Eradriel" He said at the door

"…?" The boy furrowed his brow

"It's as good a name as any"

"What does it mean?" The boy asked

"Holder" The other said before he stepped out of the room and the doors shut behind him

"Holder of the plague" He whispered as walked away