“Papa… no…”

Lusaia collapse to her knees. The mangled corpse of her Papa is so grotesque, she can’t bear to look.

“Mwahahaha! Take a good look at your ‘father’, Messiah. He protected you only to be killed. Why? That’s because you exist.”

The minotaur leader looks down at the child with a condescending smirk. Its sadistic satisfaction fills its heart with pure excitement to see this child suffer.

Lusaia feels empty inside with all the hope in her world being taken from her. Like a lifeless soul, her eyes stare blankly into the dirt beneath her.

The minotaur leader picks Lusaia up but Lusaia no longer resists. What’s even the point of resisting? There’s no reason for her to continue this endless struggle anymore.

“Well… It seems you have lost all reason to live. That doesn’t matter. We were ordered to find you but what we do to you is at our discretion.”

Lusaia doesn’t respond, she lifelessly dangles as the minotaur leader holds her by the neck.

“As a mercy for letting me face such an experienced opponent, I shall grant you your wish for death…”

A malicious grin floats on the leader face.

The other minotaurs return to their leader’s side once satisfied with the execution of their enemy. They too hold a sadistic anticipation to witness the execution of their target.

The leader places its hand on the top of Lusaia’s head while it holds tight to her torso. Just as it’s about to pull the two halves apart…

Phwoosh~… BOOM!!!

An object bolts through the air at supersonic speed before the shockwave releases a second afterwards.

“ARGH!!! It hurts! It hurts!”

The leader screams in pain. Its left arm has been completely obliterated while the right has been sheared off beneath the elbow.

“Eh?”

Lusaia falls to the ground confused as to what just happen. She was certain that that would be her end but here she finds herself holding onto a bloodied red arm.

The other minotaurs are flabbergasted by the sudden surprise attack. They scan the surrounding but there’s nothing in sight that could be the cause of that shot.

Then, “Moo?! MOO!? MOOOOO!!!”

From the back of the group of minotaur, one begins screaming and bellowing in panic. The rest turn around to see half of its body missing. What has been replaced with is a black ectoplasmic substance mixed with bits of human flesh.

The leader notices the commotion as well and couldn’t help blurting out, “Impossible… What are you?!”

Reino’s dismembered corpse by the tree is gone, a trail of black and red leads towards where the panicking minotaur is.

A few of the dying minotaur’s comrades’ approach to help rip it off but…

“Moo?! MOOO!!!”

“MOOOOO!!!”

They too are grabbed by the black ball of mass.

It doesn’t take long for the three minotaurs to be consumed. They are reduced into nothing but a black pool of mass on the grass beneath.

Then, the black goo starts to congeal in its centre. It rises and shapes itself until it at last resembles something human. Bits of human flesh float around within it as they reassemble itself. The black ectoplasm binds onto them and they begin to grow.

Soon, a hideous looking monster stands before the minotaurs. Rows of sharp teeth line it’s jaws as the edge of his lips are pulled back to his ears. The eyes are fully red and they glow a crimson hue. The fingers are no longer human as they become a bent needle much like a curved rapier.

The creature is not fully healed with large slits all over its body barely held together by the same black ectoplasm. However, that makes it more terrifying to look at. It stands on both feet bending slightly forward as if it can pounce at any moment.

It opens its jaw to take a deep breath before it releases it all at once.

“ROAAAAAAAARRRRR!!!”

An ear piercing shriek shook the earth and into the atmosphere above. Rage, anger, madness, everything in its vicinity felt the insanity that one outburst induced on them.

The minotaurs fell back onto their butts as they begin whimpering like little baby calves. The leader, for once in its lifetime, felt fear that surpasses anything it has ever fought before. Everyone has fallen to the ground as if “kneeling” to a ruler exuding its authority.

Everyone but Lusaia.

In front of her, it was the remains of her Papa. It was hideous and the monster that formed from it frightens her. Yet, when it roared out in anger, Lusaia can’t feel fear from it. In fact, it is as if her Papa was crying out his pain.

Lusaia watch around her, the minotaurs and their leader are scurrying away from it. However, it is futile.

Her Papa charges forward towards the closest minotaur he can find. It transforms from his humanoid form to the slime-like mass from before. Expanding to the size that could swallow the minotaur whole, jagged teeth protrude out just before it wraps the minotaur whole.

The minotaur struggles but doesn’t take a second before it becomes motionless. He repeats again to the other minotaurs no matter how much they try to kick back on the ground to flee from it.

As Lusaia watches her Papa eating the minotaurs whole, the only minotaur that still manage to keep its composure is the leader.

What is this thing? It can’t help but shiver at the sight of it. The killing intent exuding from the monster is enough to make it wet itself. A sensation of death looms throughout.

It doesn’t want to die but fleeing from that monster is impossible. All its comrades look at him before their death, their eyes plead to him for his command. It racks its brain as to any strategy or spells it can survive through it. As expected, there is none. Death is certain.

The leader looks around frantically for anything he can use. A weapon, a shield or a distraction, anything can work in this situation!

To its side, the leader notice the girl sitting there unfazed. Her face has regained the hope she once lost as she looks on at her father’s handiwork.

That’s it! A plan floats into the leader’s head.

If the leader can reach the girl and take it hostage, there is a chance for survival.

It crawls towards the girl while she is distracted.

It is so close now! Just a bit more…

Shiak! Shiak!...

Two sharp object pierces through the leader’s back and out of its chest.

“Guh! Gaaargh!!!”

It screams and beg but the words can’t form out of its mouth. Both lungs have been punctured and the leader’s body is hoisted into the air.

“Ah, Papa!”

Lusaia calls out happily to the man holding up the minotaur leader’s body.

The leader turns its head around and in the corner of its eyes… It begins to regret looking back. Insanity, pure and unfiltered madness. It permeates through the human’s eyes. It is no longer in its monster form except for the arms that pieced through the leader’s body.

“Shpair… Meeh…” The leader croaks with what strength it can muster

“Fufufu…” The human monster chuckles under its breath. “Mercy? You want mercy? I’ll give it you, alright.”

Crack… Crack! Crack!

The leader’s spine and ribs starts breaking. It’s torso lengthens sideways as Reino puts force in his arms to split it wide open.

There is a smile on his face. A smile so sinister and malicious, the leader understood clearly, there is no mercy.

“You tried giving Lusaia death as a form of mercy, yes? Then let me give you the same courtesy as well.”

The minotaur wheeze and whimpered. It doesn’t want to die. The notion of death from Reino’s aura instils unspeakable fear into it.

Crack! Crack! SPRACK!

The breaking of its spine and ribcage continues until one has divided into two…

----

In both hands, I hold onto each half. Split wide open from the centre, the heart is exposed. I release my right arm and grab it.

Splat!

The thick crimson liquid splatters over me. My face remains unfazed.

I toss the body aside as if it is disgusting trash and breathe in the warm sooty air in the atmosphere. The raging flames around us have died and only the embers are all that remains.

“Papa!”

Lusaia rushes up from where she sat and plunged into my waist. I can’t help but say, “I’m back, Lusaia.”, as I make a gentle smile.

Seeing Lusaia snuggling into what’s left of my tattered shirt, the slimy mucus from her crying face rubbing onto it reminds me of the day we first met. I kneel down and push her off of me for a bit.

“Come on, you can stop crying now. I promised you, right? Papa can never die! Hahaha!”

While I joke about it, Lusaia doesn’t seem too amused. In fact, she appears even more saddened than before.

“Lusaia… hick! Lusaia almost thought Papa will die! Papa don’t scare Lusaia like that! Muwaaaaaaah!”

In a sudden release of relief, Lusaia bursts out into tears. I brought her close to my chest and hold her tight…

Ba-dump­…

“Urgh…” Not now…

I grab Lusaia and push her far away from me.

I take a few steps back as I my hand reaches where my heart is and clench down on it.

Lusaia falls onto her butt and quickly gets back up.

“Papa?! What’s wrong?”

“Stay away...”

I’ve consumed so much flesh already… Was it not enough?

The power of my Symbiote form increases my strength, speed, and reaction just like before. There is also another effect which allows for rapid regeneration of flesh before I can die but there is a side effect.

Matter cannot be magically created from thin air. If I do not consume the required amount of flesh for a given amount lost cells regenerated, my natural instincts will crave for it. An insatiable hunger will overwhelm me and I cannot control myself…

What? Lusaia don’t come any closer…

Lusaia ignores my warning and approaches still. I try to distance myself from her but I am at the limit of my control.

“Papa… is something wrong?”

I do not respond. No, I cannot respond anymore.

“Papa?! Why is Papa in scary Papa mode? Papa, it’s Lusaia!”

Like the walking dead, this human body of mine turns monstrous. It walks towards Lusaia jerkily as I use what little control I have to hold myself back.

Lusaia is frozen in fright and stands there unable to move away.

Run Lusaia! Run!

No matter how much I scream, my words cannot reach her.

“Papa… it’s Lusaia…”

My hand reaches out for her neck and my jaw splits wide to reveal the sets of barbed canines beneath.

Just as my hand squeezes down on her neck…

I collapse…

----

When I come to, I find something heavy lying on top of my chest.

I open my eyes and the light golden rays of dawn shines through the gaps between a tattered tent tarp. Clumsily lopsidedly supported by tent sticks not properly hammered into the ground, I can tell whose work it could be.

I tilt my head down to my chest and I find the culprit snoozing quietly on top of my chest.

I can’t help but chuckle, her attempt to set it up is kind of adorable.

I place a hand on her head and pat her softly.

But soon, the events of yesterday hits me. I… almost killed her, didn’t I?

I reluctantly pull my hands away from her.

Inside my heart, I’ve decided to take Lusaia in as my daughter. However, would she want a monster like me to be her father? I can’t help but feel slightly perturbed as to that thought.

Then, Lusaia starts shifting and turning on my chest. Her eyes gradually open, still a little drowsy. She looks up towards me to find me awake and her eyes lit up with glee.

“Good morning.”

“Hehe! Good morning, Papa.”

She plunges her head back down into my chest and snuggles with me.

Geez… this girl is so clingy. I smile seeing her acting so lovingly.

Still, it is surprising to see Lusaia still acting like this after what happened yesterday. Is she not afraid of me? Afraid of what I am? Her still snuggling with me like this proves so but I am not confident with such an answer.

I get myself upright, I notice the minotaur leader’s corpse some distance outside of this poorly made tent. Part of its torn body has been dissolved…

I see… Thank you, Symbiote.

Lusaia still clings on to me not letting go. Though I don’t mind it now that I see her as my own daughter, we can’t talk properly if she remains like this.

“Lusaia, would you mind letting go for a bit?”

“Ok.”

Instead of forcefully pulling off of me, I ask her first. She happily agrees and release her grip from my chest.

Seeing her adorable little face and bright smile like this… how can any father not smile and pat her? She truly is a precious little one… But her answer may change everything.

“Lusaia… I’m going to ask you a few questions, is that alright?”

She nods her head thought slightly confused.

“Are you scared of me?”

She shakes her head. “Why would Lusaia be scared of Papa?”

“You’ve… seen what I am. I am not human nor anything resembling a human. Yesterday, I killed those minotaurs and almost hurt you… Are you sure you’re not scared of me?”

Lusaia stares at me without saying a word and looks down to ponder. She raises her head back up again and finally opens her mouth.

“Papa is scary… but only when Papa is mad. Lusaia knows Papa is very kind and warm which is why Lusaia will always love Papa! Hehe!”

Scary when I’m mad, huh?... Yea… I was angry then.

Hearing her answer and I can’t help but laugh at myself.

What was I worrying for in the first place? It was all for naught in the end.

“I see… That makes me happy. Last question, how would you feel if I become your real father?”

Her mouth slowly drops and her face brightens up with excitement.

“Papa will be… Lusaia’s real Papa?!”

“Yeah… Woah! Hey!”

“Yay!!! Lusaia loves Papa lots!!!”

Haha… This little girl…

Lusaia plunge herself into my arms once again. Her shark tail wags happily like a small pup getting praised. I hug her tight and enjoy the moment where I am given another chance to redo mistakes again.

No matter who it is, a dragon or a god, they shall not take Lusaia away from me. Even if I must kill, even if I must be broken, that is alright. You cannot stain what has been dirtied, you cannot break what is already broken.

This power of mine that hated for so long… Become my strength to keep the ones I love safe…