(RE) Koun

Opening a peanut can butter with a peanut could make you a torturer, just like when you make chicken to eat those hot wings you left on your plate, did you know? I guess you didn't.

Sometimes random thoughts like that suddenly pop into my mind, although I love it when there's a sliver of inspiration or a vision of something about to happen to me. That's a good thing, at least for me because I don't have to face too many unknowns in my life.

"A fine and real water bed...There's just one more thing to make this good."

Its not my hobbies to sleep on the ocean, however it's feels good to let your body free being flown with the wave created from these salty water. To speed things up, I was laid on my back in the sea with nothing but clothes and my random thoughts.

Yet nothing last forever we can change the future, from one pro jumper said. The time in this place also move the same as to how I predict, and the sun also rose from the east. Now that it have reached noon where the sun have gained its perfect form, the burns can be felt piercing my skin as I forgot to bring a nice UV glasses for my eyes.

'...How long is it?'

Becoming numb as both side of my body faced different temperature, I wonder how long this sun above my head will drown. Sometimes, I switched my back and my front to make it even, however those dark deep abyss when I looked down...is not a very good experience for those with Thalassophobia.

Oh...There's also some sharp fin emerges while I faced the sun, but I don't really mind it because there's no harm from these cute undersea creature for me, not so sure for others though.

"Hmm~ How many event did I miss again? Daily sign in still on chain, so maybe there's nothing wrong as long this one went well. Eyy! Back off! Keep your distance Megalodon sire!"

Well...I'm not really ignorant about time, but to keep awaiting something to happens is just suck. Not only I can't feel the thing between my leg because all this cold, sleeping is out of option too. As I don't want to turn the water around me become lukewarm sea water.

'...It's not that easy..huh?'

Yeah...The almighty sun didn't let me got a wink for more than seconds. Open and close again and again, as that is how human blink. Maybe there's something going to happen when I reach my hand up just like those opening I saw back in my days. Was it Diver again?

*Splashhh*

Nope, there's no one who can answers this damned soul wish for help. No luck and no curse are the odds that I got. The sun still shining on its throne, while me being a half-half human surf board on the ocean.

"...Nothing happen, even though i have been waiting in this area but no one came...Sorry Megalodon sire or mam, I left you out. Although you don't see me as a friend, your presence are really appreciated."

Founding nothing on the surface, I decided to swim again and this time, to the deep unknown of the ocean. Not like I have any choice either, do you want me to race with this power house million years ago?! To make it worse, there's some black crystal from all of its body which is pretty easy to recognize.

'...It follows me around.'

The sea in this world is the same as the sea that I knew...well somewhat, with giant tentacles monster, giant slug spurting monster, annoying flying bug monster that made my hand numb every time I grab it, and did I tell you about coral-like amphibians monster? Ohh...You better don't put your head inside of its hole-looking mouth.

I almost lost my hoodies to escape from its acid.

'Next is shark,and not a waifu one for that.'

During my time in here I keep swimming into the unknown sea to look for any remnant of civilization. As to why i did that? I can only say it's for my entertainment,deep sea exploration is one of my dream.

For the equipment needed? Nah...I can do fine with my body and casual outfit alone, it's not my thing to use tight diver suits with oxygen tube plus more equipment in the sea, where most of my movements are limited with water. I can do fine as long there's no emergency or sudden battle encounter.

By the way, what I mean casual is a set of jacket and long black training pants, there's a small mark of Adidas on it.

'There's nothing here, dark is one thing but I can't see its end. Let's just mark it and move to the next place.'

...

....

.....

After that, I keep moving from places to places in this unknown sea with one lone Megalodon on my tail. I don't really want to know about my figure for that sharky, but as long there's room for mediation it should be fine right?

In the end of my swimming with Mr.Sharky, yes it's a male I saw it when he turned, without any interesting remnant or undersea landmark to be found, I swam back to the surface with the huge man following me around, I don't really know if he's fine in this water depth or those crystal change its nature.

"There should be something around here, but to think not even one small building to be found. Was it really beneath the sea?"

I went back and lay on the surface, because I didn't want to use any more energy to keep my body afloat like flapping my hands and kicking my legs. Who knows if the shark will change its mind, as I can see the sun has now shifted its throne.

Wasting my time in the sea, those sharp fin once again comes out once I do the same activities from before. Now that I have knew about him...No, I didn't relaxed at all, who would when there's giant ancient looking thing under the sea you swim right now. I dip my head underwater to gain a better look of him.

'...You got that hungry bruh? And I thought our relationship was special.'

What I see is nothing special, that shark was moving fast which could shake the water beneath me, and charging to one of those sea monsters that got the looks of coral. Using his giant teeth to tear apart his prey, Mr.Megalodon feast on his preys blood.

About those coral-like sea monters, they got some long and slimy tentacles to lure its bait. Unfortunately, the shark noticed it and tear its shell which is thick and hard as heck so easy without any effort, and also looking from how many those tentacles assembled in tiny space, there's only one thing.

'Yeeep it's mating season, should I be tentacles specialist, biologist, or scientist next time? Pft.'

Done watching many spectacular performance in the sea, I swim to my left as that was where the shore supposed to be. I don't know if by the time I arrived there the night will comes or not, but the shark is busy with his meal, so this is the time to go.

...

....

.....

Night soon arrives and sun almost set, which make it difficult for me to see the distance. Not stopping to mind those meaningless things, "just keep swimming" are the words which make me thought about one small blue fish with short memory disorder as I paddle my limbs.

'Hmm yeah it's kinda similar to that Eden manga. The distance are the illusion, there's a chance to make those illusions disappear though.'

Since night vision is not common for everyone, I think, and mostly it's racial trait for those connected to their race or bloodline and something. I pick the easiest method, which is to gain the same eyes that have night vision.

Who am I talking to, I should've just teleport or fly and kick those sea monsters. Now that the shark has gone, there's some loneliness that I can't hold on to and blurred my mind from thinking straight.

'Implementing bio restructure for self, targets the eyes for additional night element.'

'Further restructure for self, shift the light in surrounding area to gain better optic concealment.'

Sinking myself while forming some words inside of my mind and stay focused for each of its meaning, I can feel some drastic change that appeared from my body by the end of my recitations.

I opens my eyes with a better view in this sea to go and also some stealth from any sea monsters that could see me, now that I think about it...Do those thing use eyes as its method to find its prey? Not that I can find it out, I ain't some sea monsters expert.

'Yosh everything is normal..now we go'

Done with my preparation, I swim again with different side of the world that I can see better than before beneath me. Though there's no far-sight added into it, those darkness which was hard to see before have now become easier to see. However, the more closer I get to the shore, the more monsters appeared in my view, I paddled a little bit faster.

...

....

.....

By the time I reached the shore, to where my base was before I set into the sea. There's a party taking place on that place with lots of sea monsters doing hippity-hoppity destroying my property. My tent got messed up, and those freaking monsters dancing celebrating its demise.

One thing about the 'what' I have did before to gain more sense than normal human, those are some simple spell or recitations that even an idiot like me can do. To push my body and gained different aspect of effect, while forming some clear image using the words.

And in the middle of my explanation, there this one guy who keep wriggling in front of me. Remember I only shifts lights around me, not completely invisible. So one or two of them ended out to find me is not a weird thing...or it's just my incompetent self fault to blown my cover.

'...You found me? Nice job, now...'

Reaching my hand onto one of its tentacle, I can feel its neuron activa-...umm its neuron destruction thing to spread into my body, its not that hard to handle, it's like when I can't feel my fingers from gaming too much.

The other end also can feel something touched its body, and following its instinct just like the rest of its family. The monster launched tentacles attack to my way aiming to immobilize me completely.

'Borrowing one knowledge from archive, implementing catharsis for opponent and its surrounding.'

Finishing those words in an instant inside of my mind, I dodged its tentacles while retreating to some nearby cliff that shows no sign of those monsters watching or swarming around it. As I hide behind that cliff to spy those monsters, that one monster have been marked slowly returning to its member.

It showed some sign of confusion, but not for long.

'...I hope you can got the peace you have wanted, because this is going to be more than sting.'

The monster joined its friend and also the same just like any others monsters, hippity-hoppity destroying my property. Oh yeah I almost forgot, those thing are not really tall. Its around some normal grown men maybe? That's why I can reached its top easily.

The sea monster returned to its friends and uses it's tentacles to rip and tear my tent.

"Peace is just an option..."

"...Can I hold out with three...Who cares anyway."

Calculating the radius and its effect, there's some doubt for me to really did this thing. Not that I feel sympathy for the monster, but it's about me to cast three spells at once that can strain my body, but I threw away those doubts because the thought alone was nothing more than a simple ego worries.

"...Good bye Kevin,Dissolution *snap*."

One snap from my finger Kevin and friends turned into gooey substance, it starts from Kevin that have the mark and it spontaneously spread to every one beside him. Not wasting my time, I run to the direction of my tent avoiding any monsters in the way and grabbing my stuff, one bags plus lantern that got violated by them.

'I hope you got that peace you searching for.'

"...Let's move to other place."

Without my tent to sleep I walks with two spell taking effect in my body. The direction is a small village near the coast where a port and huge defense line protecting the land from the threat of the sea.

I didn't take this place as my base even though there's many empty house in there, because not only the residents are not friendly to outsider, but there's something that told me if I'll got into the current of scenario the longer I stayed in this village.

'...Was it under tide? Which one again?'

More monsters appeared as I close my distance to the village, learning my lesson and be a better human for society, I didn't repeat my past mistake. This time, I keep my distance from them while keeping some room to move to handle the uncertainty.

'Oh..it's Skadi the bard one, wait that's wrong I mean...'

There's a figure of woman with white long hair and showy red dress smacking away those monsters with a big black case. I know it's Skadi, but I have to correct my greetings when I meet her. How can I nonchalantly 'Oh it's Skadi'...sometime the biggest regret in my life is none other than myself.

'UWOOOHHH...Wait that's one for Suzuran...What was it again??'

From my view as innocent bystander Skadi have the higher ground against those swarm of monsters, she literally beat up those sea monsters. Though not using her sword, the impact from that black case is enough to send them to oblivion.

'Now I remember....Kyaaaa~ Skadi~ Kyaaaa~...Fhew...Glad I did it right.'

Deep down I screamed to think I can see her real life figure again moving so fluidly with that fluffy long-long white hair and bare thighs. Her red dress and blue witch-like hat make her beauty rose to more than being flashy and glamour just like an apple emitting corrupting aura within, which is not a problem for me.

'So it's under tide then, threat that can be counted are...three...or maybe four with that shark counted.'

Realizing the world I'm in where some sea creatures that aiming for one of her tribe, I put myself ready for any chance there's preemptive chance to move with my spell. No way I'm facing her with only good eye and some chance to blind her.

Not only that, someone as strong as her usually have a ridiculously high level of presence perception, although its Skadi I'm talking about who shows little care in her surrounding, who knows if she'll just say-

"Come Out."

Come out! To somewhere in random as she said to others, "I fell killing intent." Wait, let me switch back first.

'Yeah just like that and then, there's a somewhat weird person clapping about how great you are to find them.'

'*Clap* Wonderful *Clap* Very wonderful *Clap* lady. Or something like that.'

I hope now it's not for that skit but..well brace myself. Wiping my none existent sweats, I used this chance for another preemptive I spoke from before. Now that she already found out about my presence and didn't charge blindly, there's should be a chance to talk with her.

'Implementing bio restructure for self, target my face and changes it to others. Code name for conversion, Suzuki Bondo'

However there's still a sliver doubt about Skadi, I don't know if she's talking to me or other presence she sensed in this area. As her blood could attract those monsters to her and also open some kind of bond of her with the sea, maybe I'm being cocky if that's true.

Putting on my spell in case someone could pass through blur,I only change my face with another character that come in mind. I walked forward to meet Skadi because she had defeated all the sea monsters here while I clashed with my own monologue.

With that fierce gaze of her, my doubt have been cleared away. Skadi can clearly feel my presence in this place, maybe even before she finished those bunch around her. She was facing me while setting up a stance to lunge at my head. There's also some others beside her, the same cast just like before.

'...Now what kind of approach should I pick?'

"Good evening ,it's a pretty moon isn't it. Can I have your number?"

I turn my gaze to the moon while raising my hand to show them how beautiful the moon is, not like I know if its really beautiful or not for them. The changes are only my sight, face and lights around me, which made them could heard my real voice which is pretty low in tone.

'...No responds, let's change it to different approach.'

"During this peaceful night...It's a perfect time for the tide to rise. Don't you think so?"

"...Do you think so."

Using two different kind of approach I tried my best to talked with Skadi the corrupting heart. Only to met her unchanging attitude with vigilance for every words that'll comes out from my mouth.

"It can even talked so fluent?! What is that thing?!"

This time, I gained more responds than before. One of those is from one of cast in this scenarion, Irene. An inquisitor girl who joined her mentor into this mission to investigate or something. She tried to catch Skadi who fled after she bleed only to found her strength can't match her.

"...Singer?"

Said Anita as if confused what thing reside in Skadi view. The same as others, she can only see some blurry image and also a male voice which is mine. She's one lone girl together with Skadi in this scenario after Skadi pique her interest.

"...Who are you?"

"Why don't you guess? I do know you."

Skadi asked to me with her case ready to move with her agile body, which is surprising because I'm already in my own battle station right here, while I replied back to her. So you know, I keep using different type of approach to her, so I can find out which one is the best benefit.

"But I don't, who send you here?...No...It doesn't matter."

Oof, that's hurt. Skadi said as she showed some invisible aura from her body and charged with her black case. She moved fast with her rush straight onto the top of my head with her black case, ready in full swing.

*Swisshh*

I dodge it with bending my body back down. Sliding on the sand and dirt, I retreat to find out the reason of her sudden changes. Next She tried to smack that coffin onto my body, as if she told me to get inside it.

*Smaash*

Dodge it again with somersault to the back, using this chance to reposition myself. I wipe the dirt that stick to my clothes which only made her to cover her body with that black case as if to shield an attack, I don't even try to attack her though.

"It's still your turn to find out lady singer."

"..."

Skadi keep rushing her moves at me, she didn't stop and not even slowing down from swinging that big case at me using every ounce of her strength. I'm aiming to got hit either, each of her charge and attack could obliterate any normal human to bits so no way I'm taking that without benefit.

*Baam*

One of her attack hit me and send me fly backwards, just like what I expected her power is ridiculous. However I act as if it's got me down and lure her away from everyone beside her, farther to the coast. Skadi who noticed my slumped down figure, knows if its her chance to land the finishing move.

However time is getting dire as I can see the people around her also chase after Skadi to stop her. At first its only Anita who escape from Irene watch while she got busy protecting the residents from that village. Now that Irene had cleaned up, she chase after Anita shouting her to stop.

Meanwhile our girl is ready to bashing-bashing that black box to me, she leaped into the air and using her own momentum to land a devastated blow to her enemies which showed some kind of relation to her identity, however it all lost its meaning after she saw my blurred figure, maybe this blurred state kinda remind her to something.

"Don't you ever been told to not step right into enemy's trap singer?"

"You're bluffing."

"Oh~ You find it out then. Too bad."

*Booom*

With a little exchange before she hit me pouring her strength into that swing, Skadi retreated to confirm if she had succeed in defeating me. However she only got surprised as her attack didn't even scratch her enemy.

"I'm pretty sure I've hit you."

"Are you? I guess you're not sure enough then."

Let me explain, using her attack to launched me back near the coast, I used the light from the moon to distract her and made her aim for my shadow reflection instead which does nothing to it. Using the spell in slot and tricked her is not that hard to done.

"...I see, so its your reflection. Only a simple trick."

"Bingo~ You guessed it right~ wanna eat some candies?"

"..."

*Swissshhh*

Our little bout continuing as Skadi used her black case with more vigilance from my trick which I wouldn't use anymore for her. This time I faced her in close range and keep dodging her attack while knocking her back from each gap she made in her movement.

"Focus Singer, or you'll only fell into my trap again."

"Kuhhk..."

I land one of my kick onto her thigh and make a gap to knock her chin up, I never put my guard down when facing her in this little bout. Although Skadi kinda recognizes me as somewhat of formidable foe, she just keep showing gap which I would gladly take.

"...Did you...Fear me? Can you answer this Singer?"

"..."

"I guess not."

Slowly the puzzle and piece of this mystery of why she attack me formed into my mind. I figured it out if Skadi thought of me as one of her nightmare which could make her fell into distress before her sleep, maybe its because of this blur that remind her of dark past. Memories like that could only triggered with certain condition, which is right now.

"...You're not attacking."

"Ofcourse I ain't attacking, how could I even hurt you."

"..."

"Are you ready to listen now...Skadi?"

Let's just pick peaceful approach with her, because not only her, but there's also her captain Gladia, Irene mentor, and also Kalsit which would only make the situation become more messed than before. If I've to fight however, there's still Mr.Megalodon awaits me in the sea.

"...You want to talk? Only talk?"

"Well...You better don't trust me so easily Skadi, there's also some chance I'm tricking you."

"..."

Habits die hard, I keep making others vigilance stay high no matter what it takes. I really should have broke this chain days or another persona will be born from me, maybe it'll be Skadi Killer or something like Kyaa Skadi the Orca.

"Hahaha...Pardon me, for now can I walks closer to you? This is something that'll need you finger prints."

"...Who send you? Rhodes Island?"

Oh a perfect chance to trick her again, Skadi lower her guards as she did that with putting down her black case beside her. This time she appeared to be more concerned about the wound she got before as the more her blood flow the more people around her will be hurt.

"Nope, I'm not from Rhodes Island. However this package is entrusted to me by a certain doctor for you, you should've know who it is."

"...Then you're really sent by them."

"Oops, you got that right hahaha! My memories have grown bald! Sorry about that."

Loosening her guard, I keep talking to close my distance with her. Which in fact my refraction to trick her on the front, the real me is already beside her almost reaching her hand. Skadi keep watching my refraction as the closer I got, the more she realizes something is wrong.

"You're there, don't think the same tricks will work twice."

Skadi caught the hands which almost grab her waist. Its not a surprise as I already predict this from her, she's a hunter, how can such tricks got her twice in the same day. She grabbed my arms squeezed it to not let me escape again, her grip strength which is far above gorilla is no joke.

"Ow ow oww...You got me there~ Yaahhh I never thought you can figure it out."

"Hurry and tell me the truth, who send you here."

Skadi use her other hand to apprehend my other idle hand, if only she's not holding it as if to break it this scene will be quite romantic. Alas as this is the result of my random approach. Skadi with her red eyes looking onto the way where my chest is.

"...My head is over here."

"..."

Maybe because of my low and heavy sound which make her hard to deduct where's my mouth is, everytime I spoke she always watched my chest. Here I though there's something wrong with her. Ahh not good, even though my arm is being crushed, her face while looking up to meet my eyes is just too cute.

"First, could you let these go? Your strength will really break my arm."

"If I release you then you'll run away."

"Hmm...Fair enough, then because you hold mine, can I hold yours?"

"?"

Using this opportunity to distract her and loosen her grip, I slipped my hand that was being held in hers and moved it down to fit each of her fingers with my own. Skadi was surprised when I tricked her again into holding her hand with her fingers intertwined with mine.

"Look Skadi, we're holding hands don't you think-Ackkk okay okay haha."

"...Stop messing around."

"Aye mam~"

...Yes, just like before. This feeling which put a stop to everything I can feel even the joy of live have now emerged again. Skadi have indeed become more ready to hear me out, however there's something that forbid me from enjoying this time with her. It's weird, what is wrong with me. The more I spend my time with her, the more I hate myself.

'...I really hate myself. I guess that'll never change.'

"...What's wrong? Didn't you said Doctor have something for me?"

"...Ah...Yeah...About that, its this feather."

How a normal people feelings are something foreign for me, however to feel this dark and deep hatred towards my own self after looking at her face only mean one thing.

'...I...I've messed up her life before haven't I?'

I should've happy and delightful to be able to hold hands with someone I really adored from back then, at those time there's not even a chance to look and got her real look just like now. Soft and warm hands, fluffy and long hair, big and round eyes. The more I look at her more dark emotion emerge stabbing my hearts which make me want to kill myself.

"Feather? I never seen this before...I thought you need my finger print...Ah...I see, for the receipt."

"...Yes, you're right. Just touch this feather with your finger and my receipt will appear. Any finger is fine, you can even use your toes-Ackkk ow ow owww..."

"Stop talking."

"Aye."

"But I never know Rhodes have this tech before...Are you tricking me again?"

"For the first clarification, this feather is my power. The second one is....Wait Lady let me finish first,please don't break my arms, I need you finger print as the key to open its content that Doctor sent for you. As to how it works? It just works with my art and their data I guess."

Putting another lies on the top of another lies, I felt Skadi's grip weakened, but I didn't break free because...because...I still want to enjoy this last time with her, it doesn't matter how my feelings is, as long she got the happiness right now then its fine.

"...W-what...uhhhh..."

"..."

Skadi touched the feather, which is clearly not the magically creator receipt that could serve as any cashier for seven eleven. That feather is none other than one of Divine Key created in the past era through humanity advanced technology to gain its freedom. The key of sentience, 8th Divine Key weapon that could manipulate someone consciousness.

"...I'm sorry if I've mess your life in different world....I'm really sorry."

Using the feather to make her sleep, I throw her body to the two of them who watch everything about our little bout, thankfully Irene can catches her well...not with a smooth landing though. While Anita worried about Skadi condition.

"Miss Singer! Wake up! Singer!"

"Ughhh...Could you get her off me first, that thing doesn't seemed too idle. Get back."

Those two are also inside of my illusion using the feather, they stood still as if a doll without any soul with Skadi who do the same. They lined up without any focus in their eyes ready do do everything ordered by me, and stuck inside the dream of their mind.

"...You're brave, stay strong both of you. Let us never met again, take this with you Skadi."

I make them walked back to where they belong in the scenario and also erased any memories about me. They walked away to do the same story just like how it'll be told, and looking at this result...I felt grateful, grateful because I'll never seeing her again and never disturb her life.

"Hmm...Let's return, looks like I have finally broke my continuous log in chain."

Behind me a portal appeared out of thin air, the portal that connected me to every kind of tragedy. Yet there is no more stopping or returning for me as emptiness awaits my presence. I step into the void with regret filled my heart and my head never turning back to her.