2 [Chapter 1] - Devour

(3RD POV - Unknown Forest)

Across the white winter wonderland walked a Honkai zombie, she wandered aimlessly through the snow while dragging a rusted sword with her, unaware of the presence behind her.

[Honkai Zombie - Level 3]

[Strength] - 30

[Stamina] - 20

[Agility] - 25

[Skills]

Regeneration (Basic)

Once the zombie took another step, a new pair of footsteps closed in, gaining her attention but not fast enough before her head was lopped off by a black blade.

"You're getting better and better, but still not enough, keep going." Greed's voice stated.

"I see..." Fate replied quietly before turning around to see more zombies approaching the area.

The first zombie sprang forward wielding a large spear and attempted to impale Fate right on the spot but the latter immediately parried the attack before decapitating the zombie's head. As one body fell, more joined into the fight and bloodshed with Fate effortlessly killing them off.

One strike, one dead.

Two strikes, two dead.

Three strikes, three dead.

"Y'know, you're incredibly sharp for a Honkai zombie." Greed commented.

"I do... what is the best for both of us..." Fate earnestly answered back before giving the blade a rare question from the zombie.

"Speaking of which... why were you so deep underground, Greed?"

"I choose my own masters and wielders, there weren't any suitable or worthy host until I saw you, even though you're a zombie." Replied the blade.

"Huh... does that mean... I'm suitable for you?" Fate asked, curious.

"Yeah, while you may have your own little flaws and all but you're much better than all the rest of my previous masters, all fussy annoying brats but one."

"Who?" Questioned the rogue zombie, tilting his head.

"Heh, the one who's got the same name as you, Fate Graphite or Barbatos or something else?" Greed stated, as if nostalgic at the thought.

"I see..." Fate Vassago repeated blankly.

"Geez, at least put a bit more words or emotions into your sentences, won't hurt much." Greed sighed.

"I'll try..." Said the thrall before glancing at the decaying corpses.

"Something on your mind, partner?" Greed asked.

"While I'm... glad to be getting stronger... at surviving... I don't feel like I'm improving..." Fate admitted while looking at a box in front of him.

Invisible it is to others, but not to Fate or Greed.

[Fate Vassago - Level 1]

[Strength] - 1749

[Stamina] - 1853

[Agility] - 1641

[Skills]

Gluttony, Appraisal, Regeneration (Basic), Strength Reinforcement, Stamina Reinforcement

"I've... slain so many of my own kinds... yet I'm not progressing further..." Fate remarked, gesturing at the Level 1 sign.

"Ah... my previous master also said the same thing, but I'll repeat once again." Greed began as the Honkai thrall listened on.

"Gluttony is a skill that steals the stats and skills and abilities of others but in exchange, you don't gain any single bit of experience."

"This skill itself is powerful enough to break the logic and balance of this world, thankfully or not, hardly anyone knows of this ability except for us two." Greed stated.

"I see..." Fate replied, hefting the black blade onto his shoulder.

"I suppose I'm the only one who can do this..." He added before readying his blade again at the sight of more zombies approaching.

"Ah, I suppose Honkai zombies can be forgetful sometimes..." Greed sighed again.

"Where... did this come from?" Fate questioned at the sudden comment.

"You're not alone, remember?" Greed said as Fate looked down at him.

"I'm with you, aren't I?" Stated the blade as the thrall let out the tiniest of smile.

"Sorry, then I suppose I'll be counting on you for now on." Fate declared before walking towards the growing horde before breaking into a sprint.

"Of course, I'll be counting on you as well!"

"After all, I will stay with you until the very end!" Greed declared as well as Fate began to swing him into the horde of zombies again.

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The night sky is lit ablaze with stars from the distant galaxies as well as the rare sights of the northern lights that coloured the snow-covered forest in a vibrant green and more colours. Deep within a cave modified to suit basic needs, Fate sat in front of a firepit while roasting the corpses of a recently slain wild boar and hare.

"If there's one thing... I hate about gluttony..." Fate began but Greed cut him off.

"Yeah, my previous master also had this problem but sadly, the skill; gluttony also gives the user a massive appetite or needs to consume."

"So annoying..." Fate commented on the skill before ripping a chunk off the cooked boar and began devouring it.

"While the skill has some repercussions, at least you're looking better than before." Greed remarked at Fate's newly acquired clothes.

Gone was the formerly clothing that was formed from skinned fur of wolves and other animals alike and replacing Fate's clothes was a ragged black jacket that covered his slightly torn shirt. He wore a simple pair of trousers that was ripped at the end and all around, replacing his fur woven shoes was a pair of black sneakers, old but still durable.

Unfortunately, the corpses were all females so it would be desecration but thankfully, Greed manages to stop Fate from going to far just in time as he was gathering the clothes.

"You... too..." The thrall replied, glancing at Greed's now pristine and polished form.

"While I'm glad I'm no longer rusty looking, that doesn't mean you should neglect cleaning me up!" Greed stated clearly.

"I'll try my best..." Replied Fate.

"Well, better than nothing so much obliged, partner." Thanked Greed.

"Now, I believe it's time for what you call, sleep? Unless you want to hunt some more, not that I'm complaining." He added.

"Zombies like me... don't need to sleep... I think..." Fate refuted, though uncertain.

"Then it would be..?" Greed questioned slowly.

"Mhm... more hunting than sleeping..." Fate answered, earning a chuckle from his blade.

"Alright, you do you and I'll do me, easy enough?" Said Greed.

"Yes." Affirmed Fate before the unique pair walked out of the cave and were greeted with the lights of the vibrant aurora.

"You know... if the Honkai never existed... I wonder if this sight would stay the same forever..." Greed nonchalantly wondered.

"If the Honkai never existed... you would still be rusting away in that cave..." Fate pointed out.

"Ah, you're goddamn right." Greed exclaimed.

"Sometimes... you're very daft..." Fate commented.

"Hey, shut up! Oh, and maybe you wanna turn around." Greed rebuked.

Just as the sword said that, the thrall turned to see a large-as-fuck bear glaring at him hungrily.

"...How are you so calm..?" Fate questioned, eyes faintly twitching.

"Duh, I'm a bloody sword!" Greed stated before Fate leapt over a gigantic paw swipe.

"Doesn't change the fact... that there's a bear here..!" Fate rebuked again as he continued dodging the claws while peering at its stats.

[Northern Bear - Level 15]

[Strength] - 14725

[Stamina] - 21738

[Agility] - 17362

[Skills]

Roar of Intimidation, Strength Reinforcement (High)

"Can I... even kill this thing..?!" Fate muttered out loud before raising his blade.

"Oh, man up already! Or is it zombie up?" Greed said offhandedly.

"Will you... help... already..?!" Fate demanded, straining against both paws on the black blade while stopping himself from being squashed.

"Hey, the only way I can help is just by existing, I'm a sword, not a man." Greed retorted, earning a tiny puff of irritation from the thrall.

Fate said nothing but growled as he pushed the bear's arms away from him before rolling aside.

Just before the abnormally giant bear could even swing its paws again, Fate jumped back before he immediately dashed forward and stabbed Greed right into the bear's shoulder.

This earned a loud roar of pain as the thrall swung himself onto the carnivore before trying to dig the blade deeper into its body.

However, this simply forced the bear to go on a rodeo trip, smashing and crashing its way through the forest and trying to dislodge Fate from its shoulders.

Fortunately and unfortunately to no avail, the thrall simply held on tighter before he ripped the blade out, expelling blood from the wound then proceeding to stab Greed into the bear's nape.

This time, the bear roared again as it finally managed to shake Fate off its body, sending the thrall tumbling across the snow before hitting a tree.

The knock managed to hit some air out from Fate before he blinked several times and leapt aside just in time to see the bear swipe his claws at the tree, leaving behind a large mark.

The thrall unconsciously gulped, he must avoid those claws at all cost.

Fate dodged again to avoid the opened jaws of the enraged beast and just managed to see the multiple razor sharp teeth clamp onto a loose tree before the bear ripped up the plant.

Instantly, it swivelled around before spitting the bark out of its jaws and gave chase to Fate who began sprinting through the trees while making up a plan as far he knows.

The bear was strong and dangerous, no doubt about that, his stats may be lower than the animal's but he was still more nimble and agile than the bear.

Fate leapt over a small boulder before diving into a bunch of bushes just as the bear came crashing through into the area, losing sight of the thrall.

However, though Fate was out of sight, his scent of the undead and blood was not, thus the bear began sniffing loudly, taking in all the smell to pinpoint where its prey is.

Immediately afterwards, Fate started slowly and quietly crawl his way around the bear just until its back is fully facing him, before the beast could make anymore movements.

Fate jumped at this opportunity.

The thrall instantly grappled onto the back of the bear before trying to push Greed deeper into its neck, but the intensity of the pain was enough to make the bear go crazy.

Unexpectedly, the beast's head swung around just enough to bite onto Fate's left arm although the thrall felt no pain, Fate was now struggling with one arm.

With a violent tug, Fate found himself thrown through the air before he crashed back into the snow and bushes, he soon blinked several times before immediately bringing his arm up towards his face and preventing his head from being bitten off just in time.

However, this simply pinned him down while allowing the bear to do as it please with his arm, Fate continued to struggle against the aggressive animal before he saw Greed still lodged into the bear's neck and just a hand's reach from him.

Struggling, Fate reached out his free hand towards the blade before he gripped onto the handle and instantly ripped Greed out from the bear. The animal then roared in pain, letting go of the thrall's arm who took this chance to roll away before aiming the black sword right at the bear.

With a single thrust, Fate stabbed Greed right into the bear's eyes.

The bear immediately roared in immense pain and agony before Fate ripped Greed out from the beast's now bloody sockets and instantly spun around and slit the bear's throat.

Blood erupted from the open wound before it drenched Fate's unwavering face in red as his eyes continued looking at the dying animal with apathy.

"Well, that was bloody brutal." Greed remarked as Fate remained silent before his stomach gurgled slightly.

So, are you gonna to do what I think you're gonna do?" Asked the weapon which is soon positioned to stab into the carcass.

"Yes..." Fate answered before he got himself busy again, disregarding the mangled arm.

The white snow-covered forest soon find itself covered in red again.

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[Fate Vassago - Level 1]

[Strength] - 25901

[Stamina] - 27491

[Agility] - 23743

[Skills]

Gluttony, Appraisal, Regeneration (Basic), Strength Reinforcement (High), Stamina Reinforcement, Roar of Intimidation

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