The Corrosion

"What... what is that?" Emily stammered, horror-struck by the grotesque wound.

"It is a wound I received during the onset of the world collision. Now that your curiosity is satisfied, let's resume the journey. We should be able to reach the city by tomorrow. Let us continue," Liam said, resuming his tracks.

The people remained stunned and rooted to the spot. All the rumors about him were true! Even the wound he revealed seemed impossible in today's world, as everyone had become immune to the monster miasma!

As they began walking again, the group was filled with a mix of emotions. They couldn't shake off the shock of what they had just witnessed. Liam's revelation had shifted their perception of him, and they now saw him in a different light – not just as an experienced guide but as a survivor from a time long past.

Throughout the journey, the group couldn't help but wonder about the world collision Liam had mentioned. It was a period in history that they had only heard of in myths and legends and in books, and now they had someone standing before them who had lived through it.

The group stayed silent and awkward during the journey. Even during their rests, no one said anything more than necessary. Even the usually talkative Mary had kept her mouth shut.

All of this made Liam sigh repeatedly. This was precisely why he always covered the wound. Whenever anyone looked at it, they would pity him and gaze at him with sympathetic eyes, which didn't make him feel good.

But the group had been pestering him too much, bombarding him with personal questions, ever since they began their mission. They were curious about his background, why he seemed physically weaker, why he worked as a mercenary, and many other personal questions.

They had been pressing him for answers for the whole month they had been on this mission. Although he thought he could endure it for just another day, the morning fued and the repeated questions about his origins pushed him to a breaking point. That's when he decided to show them his wound. Although it turned the conversation in his favor and silenced them, the sudden change in atmosphere within the bustling group left him feeling uneasy and uncomfortable.

Night fell, and they set up camp. Unexpectedly, they didn't encounter any monsters, which was a stroke of luck.

After having his dinner, Liam took it upon himself to be on watch for the night. "I will take the first watch tonight. Get some good rest, everyone. Tomorrow, maybe after two-three hours of journey, we will reach Tyler City," he announced, making sure the group was aware of the remaining distance.

'At least this way, I won't have to listen to their moans all night,' Liam thought inwardly.

The others nodded their thanks, appreciating Liam's willingness. With that, they settled into their tents, while Liam prepared to guard their camp.

Under a sturdy tree, Liam made a comfortable spot to sit and keep watch. He leaned against the tree trunk, his eyes scanning the surrounding darkness, his senses heightened to any potential danger.

The night was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. Liam's mind drifted back to memories of his past, to times long gone, and to the world collision that had left its mark on him. But he didn't dwell on those thoughts; instead, he focused on the present, on how to make enough money to buy the potion to solve his corrosive wound.

As the hours passed, the sky was adorned with a sea of twinkling stars, casting a soft glow over the campsite. Liam's vigilance remained unwavering, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

"What do you want?" Liam said without even looking in a particular direction.

"Haha, it seems like I was caught," a rough voice sounded from behind him, and Liam knew who the owner of the voice was.

"Can I sit here?" Stuart said as he came near Liam and pointed to a spot next to him.

"Do as you wish."

"Alright, thanks." Stuart sat on the ground and looked up at the beautiful starry sky. "The stars are so beautiful right-" but as he was speaking, Liam cut him off.

"Cut the crap and tell me why you're here. It's cringy listening to your girly comments on the sky."

"Ahem- alright." Stuart let out a dry cough, as if to hide his embarrassment. He then proceeded to ask what he had come to Liam for.

Liam remained silent for a moment, his eyes still scanning their surroundings. "Speak your mind, Stuart," he said finally.

Stuart took a deep breath before speaking. "I wanted to apologize, Liam. For the way we all treated you earlier, asking about your past and all that. It wasn't right, and I understand why you didn't want to talk about it... but you know... uh.." At the end, Stuart found it a little awkward and embarrassing to ask what he had in mind.

Liam, giving Stuart an annoyed look, said, "If you don't have anything else, just go and sleep."

Stuart shifted uncomfortably, feeling regretful for his previous insensitivity. "Ah... well, I hope you don't mind. I've had this question since my childhood - what really happened on the day of the world collision? Although I've read about it in books and all, they've just remained as some sort of distant stories. I can't fathom what the survivors, the first generation, had gone through. You don't have to answer if you are uncomfortable, and I am really sorry for questioning things so insensitively..."

Stuart began to panic, making awkward gestures with his hands, clearly uncomfortable asking Liam about his past. "I-I will just go and sleep. Sorry for disturbing you and reminding you of the terrible experience." He attempted to get up, wanting to give Liam space.

Liam's expression softened as he watched Stuart's genuine remorse. "Wait, Stuart," he said gently, gesturing for him to sit back down. "It's alright."

Lifting his shirt once again, Liam showed Stuart a closer look at the wound on his torso. "Quite disgusting, eh?"

"Ye- No- no!" Stuart once again flustered with his slip of tongue.

"It's okay, man." Liam then shifted his vision towards the starry night sky that seemed to have two moons that were staring at him.

"You know about this state of the wound, right?" Liam asked Stuart.

"Not entirely, just that it only occurred to people when the world collision just started, and that now people are immune from it."

"Well, you're not wrong," Liam replied.

"This is a disease called corrosion, and it's caused by monster wounds that are infected with the monster miasma," Liam explained while Stuart listened intently about the dangerous condition that affected people during the time of the world collision.

"The current generation is all immune to it because of the genetic evolution over time," Liam continued. "They are descendants of the hunters, awakened, rankers... whatever you call them. Their lineage has adapted to withstand the effects of the monster miasma."

As Liam pointed up at the three moons adorning the sky, he spoke about a time when the world was vastly different before the cataclysmic collision. "And back then, we had only one moon. And now, there are three... haha," Liam chuckled, finding some amusement in the cosmic changes.

"800 years ago, before the apocalypse... or what we referred to as such in those days," Liam gestured towards Stuart, who nodded in understanding.

"The world before the apocalypse was a completely different place from what it is now. There were no monsters, no mana, and no special abilities; everything was just... normal," Liam said solemnly, reminiscing about a time long gone.

"But when the collision occurred, everything changed. Though some may argue it was a boon and necessary for the world, but for me, it was nothing but a curse... it took everything away from me – my family, friends, dreams, everything," Liam's voice turned coarse as he recalled the painful memories.

Stuart could sense the weight of Liam's words and the emotions tied to his past. He felt a mixture of awe and sorrow, realizing how much Liam had endured.

"And with no monsters or mana, no one had immunity to the miasma; anyone could get infected from even the smallest wound. Countless people died, regardless of their age without the potions."

Liam continued, recounting the harsh realities of that time. "The only survivors were the hunters – those who had hunted monsters and gained access to the world system. But they kept it a secret for a while during that period. And well some other normal people that were saved by the hunters."

"Ordinary people were completely different then. Killing and homicide were frowned upon and resulted in a lifetime in prison. So for normal folks, killing monsters was different and almost impossible. Due to the rampage of monsters and other races during that period, the whole world reeked of blood. Life and death were indistinguishable; a loaf of bread was more valuable than a person's life."

Stuart absorbed Liam's words, feeling a sense of despair at the cruel reality that had prevailed during the world collision. "It must have been a truly dark and terrifying period for everyone."

Liam nodded somberly. "Indeed, it was. Weak people had no value, and survival was a constant struggle. But amidst the darkness, some individuals rose to become the hunters, wielding powers beyond imagination to protect and rebuild the world... or so they say. In truth, it was more of a survival of the fittest."