Chapter Four

Gavin didn't answer when he heard Erebus' request. He looked down at the floor and started thinking of the request. It's not a hard thing to do, but at the same time it's complicated.

Everyone in One City knows Transmigrators are not to be messed with. They know from stories and experience themselves that Transmigrators should be respected, or feared.

To Gavin's knowledge, there are a number of Transmigrators that came to this world and had risen up and made a name for themselves. The Martial Arts Transmigrator, Deo was one of them. He took part in the Elven-Demon war, even though he was a human. It was said that his punches alone can bring down countless demons. His kicks themselves can split a mountain if given enough power, or Sky Azul, the Angel Songstress. Her melancholic voice could heal those as far as her voice could reach. She is from the Angel race, which is rarely seen, but they exist and live in the skies.

They are several of many Transmigrators out there that have made their name on this world. Even Zrass, the Banana God got himself a name amongst his worshippers. He was given the title because of his obsession with bananas, and his outfit which he wears during battles. Even his abilities are related to bananas.

Gavin decided it wouldn't hurt to give the Transmigrators a good reputation, because there's rarely any Transmigrator that does bad things, except that "woman". He made up his mind and looked at Erebus.

"I can do it, but it's not easy to do so. You'll have to make sure you do something that won't stain the name of your people later." He said.

Erebus smiled faintly and nodded.

"Don't worry. Soon everyone will also be hearing about me."

*******

Two days later, outside of One City.

Erebus could be seen walking out of the city gate. He wore his usual outfit. Black coat with a white shirt inside, and then a black trousers.

'I look like an edgy bastard.' He thought to himself. He chose this outfit because wearing dark clothing would help his abilities more. Imagine wearing a colourful outfit but having the ability of shadows. It removes the purpose of the shadow's stealth.

Erebus started heading west, where the psycho Transmigrator was last seen. From One City to Interna Town, it would take at most two days by horse. For Erebus he only needed half day. He would use 'Shadow Step' to save time. He didn't need to worry about his mana. Shadow Step only costs 3 Mana points for every use, and his mana would regenerate five points every two seconds.

He may look like he doesn't wear any armor and is easy to hurt, but there's a feature where you can hide what armor you wear and you won't lose the attributes of the equipment you're wearing. Erebus has a full set of armor, yet to everyone and himself, he's only wearing his casual outfit.

'This is pretty neat actually. My enemies can't discover what kind of armor I'm wearing.' He thought in his mind while travelling to another shadow. He ran pass by a few travellers and merchants on his way, but he didn't bother to stop and meet them, because they can't even see him travelling. One second he's at a tree not far from them, the next second he's at another tree about 70 meters away.

It took him about six hours of non-stop travelling before he had to rest. He picked a very secluded area, hidden from the path and amongst thick leaves. He took out a loaf of baked bread from his inventory and started munching on it.

'Still warm.'

He then quenched his thirst by drinking a gourd of water. After 30 more minutes of resting, Erebus decided it was time to finally continue his travel. As he was standing up, he heard a tune from an instrument and a loud whizz. Before he could react, he saw a white feather flying directly at his body. As it entered Erebus' 5-meter radius, a shadow circle manifested infront of his torso and blocked the projectile.

This was Erebus' passive, Shadow Protector. Projectiles wouldn't be able to hit him even if he was sleeping, and swords can't cleave him because then it would just get blocked.

Erebus looked at his assailant, and to his surprise it was a young.... Woman? Or is it a man? He can't really tell. The person looks too feminine to be a man, and too "flat" to be a woman. They were wearing a beret, had dark hair with aqua braids hanging above the shoulder. The person had aqua green eyes, wore a long sleeve white top with a corset at the middle and teal shorts that had gold embroidery. They are also wearing white stockings along each leg. In their hands was a lyre with blue strings.

'This appearance.... Isn't that Venti? How can he be here?' Erebus thought.

Venti is a character from a game that he once played before he was transmigrated , and in that game he is a god called Barbatos that disguises himself as the bard Venti.

'The real question is why is he here?'

Erebus' shadow dome dematerialized and the two now locked eyes. Erebus wanted to take the first action, peacefully.

"Venti, is it?" He asked him.

The bard's eyes widened hearing his name said by a stranger. Erebus could see that Venti is trying to be calm from just the reaction.

"How do you know my name?" He asked Erebus. Venti now had the fierceful warning look despite his playfulness.

"How I know your name is not your concern. What you should know is that I am not your enemy." He replied.

Venti didn't reply for a moment, probably thinking about what should he do and what he shouldn't.

'This person is a Transmigrator. I can feel it. He doesn't bother to hide his overwhelming power at all. He's powerful, yet he's being passive. Maybe I can trust him.' Venti thought.

"Alright. What is your name?"

"The name's Erebus, sir." He replied.

"Did you just called me sir?" Venti raised his voice.

"Well yeah.. You're a guy aren't you?"

Technically, when Erebus played the game, Venti's gender was male, but he looked somewhat feminine.

"You bastard! Say it again and I will hurt you!" Venti yelled.

"Wait.. you're a woman?!"

Erebus did not expect that.

He had a lot of questions in his mind, and one being how Venti's gender changed, how is Venti even in this game, and why is Venti here.

"WAIT!!!! Before you hurt me, I want to ask you a question. Where are you from?" Erebus asked.

Venti frowned.

"I'm from Lunarite City. Why?"

'Lunarite? This is wrong. Venti is from Monstadt. Could this be that it's a different game, the profile and gender was changed? Could the other characters be here and was genderswapped too?' Erebus monologued.

Either way, he had a reason to make Venti his ally, one being she's a strong ally. Erebus wouldn't turn down this opportunity. In his eyes, Venti is a precious treasure!

"And... Where is Lunarite City located?" He asked her.

"If you're aiming to reach Lunarite City, then you need probably a week to teach it. It's located far west. I live there, but I'm a wandering bard. I don't stay in one place."

'West. That's where I'm headed, but I need to deal with that monstrous woman first.'

He looked at Venti and tried his best to put on a smile.

"That's where I'm headed, but I have some matters to attend to at a town. Have you heard of the female Transmigrator going rampant lately?" He asked Venti

She nodded. "I've heard about her. My people call her Zero."

"Zero?"

"We call her that because everytime she attacks a town, nothing else is left. It instantly became so like a wasteland with nothing on it. No traces of bodies, buildings whatsoever."

Erebus could only be silent when he heard that. He instantly felt something he never felt before.

Overwhelming rage.

Of course, he felt angry numerous times before, but this is something that he can't even comprehend. It's like he had years of built up anger and he could only release it now. He wanted to destroy Zero. He wanted to disintegrate her until there were no speck of dust left.

Venti saw his eyes, and felt the fury coming from Erebus. She knew instantly that he was angry.

"Uh-"

Before she could say anything, Erebus pulled her arm and used his 'Shadow Step' ability. If he was touching someone else and used the Shadow Step ability, they would travel with him but the Mana consumption would be doubled.

"AhHhhhHHHHHHH." Venti could only scream everytime Erebus changed spots.

*****

Interna Town, six hours later.

Erebus immediately stopped using his ability and stopped at the gates of the town. To his surprise, the Town was still intact, but there were chaos everywhere!

Dead bodies, cries of children, people groaning in pain, mothers screaming for help. Buildings were burning down, smoke were rising up to the sky.

Total mayhem.

Then suddenly from the Town Center, they could hear the voice of a woman, laughing hysterically. When they rushed over, they saw in her hands, she was choking the town chief to death. He was coughing and gasping while trying to break free, to no avail.

With a snap, she instantly killed him while giggling like a b*tch. Then out of nowhere, a purple streak appeared and hit her body, exploding on impact and threw her away several meters back.

Shadow Bomb. A ranged based ability Erebus had obtained when he played before. The effects of the ability are moderate knockback, damage and confusion for eight seconds. To be fair, Zero WAS confused what had hit her, and how she got hit. She groaned in pain as her HP was dropping down slowly. She stood up painfully and looked at Erebus and Venti.

"You... DARE TOUCH ME!!!"

She leaped several meters forward, probably used an ability to propel herself and prepared her sword for a downward strike.

'She's quick.' Erebus thought.

Zero moved her sword from behind her and above her head, striking downward towards Erebus.

'But I'm quicker.'

He combined his punch with his shadow element, and dodged the strike just in time. The sword passed where he was standing, and he quickly punched Zero's neck with full force behind it. He was still angry.

Zero once again felt confused and pain as she choked on the ground, trying to comprehend what just happened.

Venti saw the whole thing and was surprised to see Erebus' speed. She couldn't even see when Erebus dodged. The next thing she saw was Zero lying down on the ground. It all happened so fast.

"How the f- COUGH!! HOW THE HELL DID YOU HIT ME?!!" Zero yelled from where she was.

Erebus didn't answer, but was focusing on the red aura that was collecting around Zero.

'She's being controlled by something else.' He deduced.

He walked over near Zero, and suddenly, the red aura manifested into a spear and tried to stab Erebus, which his passive blocked easily. He scoffed at her efforts.

"You have to try harder than that." He said, while smirking at her face.

"GAH YOU FUCK! I'LL KILL Y- MMPH."

Erebus grabbed her face and lifted her with one hand. Zero tried to break free from his grasp and tried to hit his face, but he had long arms.

"Is this how you did it earlier?" He asked, with rage in his eyes and tone. He slowly grabbed her face much stronger and Zero now felt the pain from his grab. She was panicking and tried harder to break free.

As he put more force into his grab, she started to cry for help and mercy, but Erebus didn't want her to live! He wanted her head to explode! A little bit more and her head would become red bits and then-

A tune from an instrument came, and he saw Venti playing her lyre with a melodic tune, and a breeze of wind passed by. Little by little, the music fought off the red aura that was engulfing Zero's body. Her furious state of mind started becoming calm. Her eyes no longer have that red glint.

In short, Venti kind of healed her, but not really. Her music would only keep Zero in a calm state of mind for so long, and if the red aura that is still in her body gets triggered, she might become rampant again, and chaos would ensue.

Erebus let go of her head and she dropped to the ground. Her life flashed right before her eyes when she thought Erebus was going to explode her head. Now Erebus looked down at her and is wondering what to do with her now that she's in this state.

'Damn it!'