Only Beasts and Men

The swarm had reached the gates, and cultivators from another clan appeared. A small group of 50. I did not know which clan this was, but they were expected, and thus countered with a small group. Though, it did split the clan.

A quarter was fighting the other cultivators, the rest were fighting the Beast Swarm. The monsters at the front were weak, and were shot down by arrows and magic. The stronger beasts had been slain by me, the core of the swarm was scattered in the battle.

Many beasts were running off, left and right. The cyclops started speaking.

"Ah. Me Sorry." the giant spoke, deep voice with a thick reverberating throat. It kneeled down in exhaustion. The green fairy came up to it. Hugging him and healing his wounds. It held its head in pain, wherein his eye lay his soul.

"Thank. Love you." he said to the two fairies.

A gentle giant, and two little fairy lovers. A beautiful story to be told. I felt my heart grow bigger, I never knew that beasts can fall in love.

I flew to them with a friendly smile on my face. The two fairies stayed on guard.

"Stay back." said the green one. The blue one continued to hold its guard.

I guess the look in my eye gave it away.

I was going to take a small trip to hell today.

With all my power, a lightning blade formed, the fairies blasted away with magnetic force. Before the cyclops could even think, I stuck my blade into its greatly weakened eye.

"Ah." it spoke, still, life fading inside. It gave one last look at me.

"Why?" it asked.

and then it died.

The soul was a melted point. Condensed further down, it contained incredible strength.

The power of earth pulsing. In my hands, lay the strongest power I have ever seen.

It took one bite to consume. I felt the earth bowing to me. My strength was greatly multiplied in that simple instant. A new element began to refine my soul, as it began to melt, condensed further down.

The simple essence of things, as things go up, and then come back around.

Condensed even further. My soul began to melt, it slowly entered my body and my blood. My third Eye grew immensely in strength and capability, as another pupil appeared. The lightning bolts stronger and faster, If I had my hands tied I could still use it to cast magnetic power. Lightning, magnesis, and earth. There was a new element intertwined. I could feel my skin grow stronger by many, many times. If I took those hits now, I would only be marginally injured.

I would reach the next stage of evolution when my soul had fully melted down. My power grew so rapidly, that small shockwaves of energy were coming from my body, my soul slowly condensing.

I could hear the fairies cry. For some reason, they asked the same question as that giant.

Why?

I asked them why not. To that they had no answer.

They flew away, vowing vengeance I'm sure. So I was forced to strike them down with a dual lightning bolt. They both evaporated instantly.

I sat in the dwindling swarm and thought.

Every individual will feel that doubt. Am I good? Am I evil? Only the greatest sages remain tranquil.

Do you cry for the cattle, or rejoice at the meat?

Every living thing has a single heartbeat. And when they see it, they will know, It's a beautiful thing when blood contrasts with snow.

The fields of karma move slowly inside, what is good or evil, only the reaper can decide. Swirling in the mire of karmic winds, wondering of the minds outs and ins, only the guilty admit their sins.

Angels fall to hell, while demons climb to heaven.

But there is nothing good or evil, only beasts and men.

I could already imagine them swimming in the river, at least they will enter the next life together.

What I did was justifiable. They were beasts, part of a maddened swarm. I would walk back to the clan and be called a hero.

Still, my heart was pressed. Because they did not need to die. I killed them, because I felt strongly that I needed that soul, because I had not eaten for a very long time. I was starving. You can't blame a wolf when it hunts down a rabbit.

Still, I blamed the wolf.

But, after enough time. I'll forget I ever did the deed. This was how demons are born. Over time, guilt crushing their heart until it's a blackened diamond that doesn't feel anymore.

To my surprise the lord did not comment. Au-ha, only served to console me.

"Don't worry, It was quick, and painless. They are going to be reborn together once more. Nothing to be sad over." She had a viewpoint of a sage, drawn from a world's worth of experiences and information.

"You're right." I could only weakly sigh, as I got back up. The few remaining beasts were blasted into pieces from a magnetic pulse from the three-pupiled third eye.

As I walked back, into the clans gates, I was welcomed in cheers. The women came up and hugged me, ruffling my hair, and all shouted out my name.

"Mo Star!"

"Mo Star!"

I wonder what Mo Yang would say, and especially Mo Wen. I suddenly felt undeserving of the name.

The losses were minimal, the small group of enemies from another clan had been repelled. The cyclops' death brought about a quick end to the swarm. The Queen came up, a bright smile on her face.

"Amazing! I'm honestly amazed." Ye Ning was ecstatic, "ahhh, what a thrill! I managed to catch a glimpse of your kill at the last moment." she turned to me, looking me in the eye seriously.

"Thank you, my people would not have felt safe with that creature around."

I merely smiled and nodded, trying not to let the tears break the aqueduct. That innocent gentle giant, I could feel his soul within me still. I know I would dream of him tonight. Even now, his corpse was being picked apart, every bit of his body from skin to blood will be used. Eaten, employed in alchemy, made into armor and weapons, used for decoration.

Extreme shame and degradation. My red cloak from Jia was torn into pieces, I now wore one made of red lightning, as a beast would.

I wanted not, but I could not avoid it. A beast needs his sleep, as a cultivator needs meditation.

---------------

I was a creature, born massive and pure. Blessed by the earth. I stood above the tree's and felt the warm sun drizzle on my skin, one large eye to see all, and a strength that could topple the mountains.

All beasts were afraid, and ran away upon the mere sight of me.

Why? I tried to speak, but the words came out so broken and weak.

"Dont. Run." but by that time they had long been gone. I walked the earth, the path lonely and long. It was then one day I came upon the fairies song. So beautiful, so pure. I knew, I had to go. Leave them be.

But then they came, one blue, one green. Little light beams. "Come, let's all sing together."

The fairies knew the gentle giant's soul was one of the purest nature. It had come from the trees and the soil itself. Blessed by the earth, his soul was the most gentle heath.

And so we stayed together, for centuries in this peace. I came to know the words "I love you" and sang it to them every day, my heart would flutter whenever they sang it back. After so much time, we went exploring. We rode on the clouds, talked to the trees, climbed up the mountains and felt the wind's fresh breeze. One day, a monkey spoke in our minds. I saw an endless night.

I awoke to a fight. Blue and green had come to me. I told them I was sorry.

Then came the beast, who ate my soul. I asked him why, but I already knew. Still, a drop of me remained left to float down to the river. This beast had taken final pity and did not eat me to the last. I met my girls at the basin. I finally could speak with the elegance with which I was thinking. Still, all I had to say was "I love you."

After enough time, came the end. We were all shedding tears of fear and excitement. A new journey would begin. We jumped in together. In this life, we had stayed together forever. In the next life, I'll find them again.