Despair

As mana seeped into the earth's atmosphere, everyone obtained a system which represents their attributes and help them in becoming stronger through level up. Everyone acquired a skill from the system at the beginning.

Everyone except 8 generals can only wield one skill at a time. Unlike shown in fantasy novels, they didn't obtain any skills after killing monsters. They were only able to gain experience points after killing them which represents the life force of the monster. Even normal equipments and weapons were very rare drops.

As the source of all this, was Terra the earth spirit, who gained sentience only a half a million year ago, the skills granted to the humans weren't much powerful. Even the weapons and equipments she granted weren't of much use. Still, humans preserved through everything and forged weapons themselves with body parts of the monsters.

Humanity didn't have much time for development because of all the chaos caused by Yoguloeme race. Still, they managed to create new devices which operates on the basis of mana and produces better output than normal machines. A regular sized drone camera with the help of mana can fly at double the normal speed. They can even become invisible with the help of an ability obtained by Aisha (Neon's Sister).

" I must find him." Rudra muttered as he ran with a bag of supplies on his back.

After he found his brother's name, he quickly collected all the information about his brother and set out alone in his search, though others tried to stop him but he did not yield to anyone and ran out. Fortunately, the soldiers of the base already killed almost all of the monsters near the base to ensure their safety.

It was also the reason Rudra was able to reach the base without encountering any monsters.

Arjun went missing on a scouting mission near Grand Canyon Junction, Arizona. According to the images captured from a scouting device, a Prisoner was seen roaming around this area. A squad of 8 people including Arjun was made to confirm the situation. They lost contact with the base on the same day they arrived at Grand Canyon Junction.

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Grand Canyon Junction, Arizona, USA

Valle Airport.

" Stop you idiot."

Rudra came to halt as the voice inside his head screamed.

" What? Why?"

" I can sense a powerful presence up ahead. He is one of the general of Yoguloeme race.

You will die without even being able to do anything." The voice explained.

" If he is here then does that mean...." Sweat trickled down Rudra's forehead. He gulped down unconsciously.

If he is the one that the scouting team encountered, then the chances of his brother being alive were pretty low.

" Master, can you sense anyone else in this area?" Rudra spoke in a nervous tone.

" I already told you boy, I don't sense any presence near this area. Your brother is dead. you should move on." The voice said in a low tone.

" SHUT UP." Rudra screamed out loud.

He himself knew it but doesn't want to believe it. He kept denying the truth even though it is in front of him.

Rattle.... rustle...

Tap tap tap

A figure approached Rudra from behind.

Gulp

Rudra took another gulp as he noticed his surroundings became eerily quiet. A figure stood exactly 10 feet behind Rudra. A chill ran down his spine as the footsteps of the figure echoed around. He didn't dare look back.

" Oh! what's this? a human, and a general at that." The figure muttered in an amusing tone.

All the hairs on Rudra's body, as he heard the figures voice. He wanted to say something but couldn't. He felt something stuck in his throat.

Rudra slowly turned his head backward to look at the figure whose voice he heard.

The figure looked like a humanoid monster, his whole muscular skin was red, he has no eyes, his mouth contained razor sharp teeth which can tear through any flesh, his tongue occasionally flicked out from his mouth.

Rudra's mind blanked for a second before he regained his composure.

" Are you the one who killed the my brother?" Rudra spoke in a cracked tone, each word slowly came out of his mouth.

" Huh? who are you talking about human?" Rug spoke in hushed tone.

" The one who came here with a scouting team." Rudra spoke in a shaky voice.

" Hmm.. now that you mention it, I remember a face which looked quite similar to you. Oh! Perhaps are you talking about him." Rug spoke and slowly started circuling around Rudra.

" Y.. yes, wh... where is h..he?"

Rug stopped in front of Rudra, he lifted Rudra's face by his chin and spoke.

" I killed him." He spoke each word slowly with an eerie grin plastered on his face.

Rudra's face became pale as he heard Rug's response.

Rug smiled an eerie smile as continued to speak.

" Aah.... It's really fun to torture humans, your brother was like that too. He kept pleading me to spare his life, but you know what I did."

Rug took a dramatic pause and spoke-

" I ate him alive, aah... his screaming voice was so melodic that I even stopped paying attention to anything else. But good things always come to an end, don't they? At the last moments of his life he spoke something like ' I am coming to join you mom, dad... brother. Hm... but that left a bitter taste in my mouth."

Rug's tongue flickered out of his mouth and licked Rudra's face.

" I wonder if I will be so fortunate enough to hear that again from you?"

' I am coming to join you mom, dad.... brother.'

This sentence broke the last seal on Rudra's sanity. As the seal broke, Rudra broke too. He didn't become angry, but instead his mind broke. His body went limp, all the life in his eyes vanished as only a broken self remained.

" Hmm... what's this? No no you can't become like this, I want to hear that melody again." A desperate voice came out of Rug's mouth as he shook Rudra's body left to right.

" Hey, wake you, you can't die like this, NO, No , please don't die like this, I.. I want to hear it again. I want to hear it again" Rug's voice cracked as madness flashed in his eyes.

Rug punched Rudra in his stomach, head, back, everywhere with minimal power as he repeated only one sentence like a broken record.

" I want to hear it, I want to hear it."