If he were still an H-rank beginner hunter, Jinju would have succumbed to the brain torture by now. But he was an A-rank now. Was. No matter how weak his current month-starved body seemed to be, with hardly much muscle left in his arms and legs, a demon hunter once an A-rank would always be an A-rank (until progressing further).
I know this is not real, I know this is not real, I must not believe anything I see, hear or sense…
The overall sight of the cosmic horror spread out around him was only yet another mind trick implanted by the inhumane creature somewhere near or far. He couldn't even determine if the Gargonian was present in the hollow space inside the piston 'double-doors' or if they were remotely manipulating him.
How unfortunate for his useful hands to remain shackled by the alien technology of the super-strong magnetic discs! And how clever of the Gargonians who had chosen to handicap him like that.
I'm hating this. I'm hating… that THING! Once I get my hands free again, I'll show them—
"
So this one proudly mocks us and thinks we cannot survive against a meteor who thinks it can take down a neutron star?
" the unknown voice continued reading Jinju's mind and offered harsh teasing replies. "
This is why we wish to study this one's race. To find the reasoning how such a weak creation can even dream of ever defeating the higher order architects of space-time like us. Then set an example, we shall. Just as we set an example for several other primitives before us.
"
"
Come out of the shadows, if you think so highly of yourself, you stupid cosmic demon!
" Jinju's mind took a sip of fresh blood-pounding rage, enhanced in part by making him remember the loss of his companions and the diplomats before him. Atleast now he had a sure probability that these Gargonian creatures had been to blame for their absence. "
And for the love of God, if you believe in Him, unhand me from your cursed magic! If you wish to test what a man can do, face him off as one then. For even the best of men have manners that you arrogant space scum cannot ever hope to realize!
"
Nothing appeared to happen for the next few heartbeats. Until the world returned back to its default darkness.
Ah, is he actually going to release me? At last?
Everything embraced the song of silence once more, showing off no signs of any activity happening.
Then he heard a deep rumble. It came from the direction in front of him, further deeper into the way that the doors had supposedly been gatekeeping. His nose picked up a strange kind of scent that he had never experienced before – an orthogonal sensation between sweet and spicy, in a way that it reminded you of bright blue bell peppers growing on an ocean of milk under a triplet moon shedding hazy light onto a whole world that Jinju's mind imagined just based on this unique and awkward fragrance.
That smell… what is it? Never in my life have my nostrils tasted a flavor so beautiful and so out-of-place. Well, whatever it may be, I'm not here on a vacation trip. I must not get distracted! Wh-whoaaaa!
His body seemed to be pulled into the depths of the dark areas ahead of him, almost as if he himself became magnetic.
He fell face-first onto the floor, tripping over something in the dark. Jinju immediately switched his position back to his feet in order to not let any chance be given for anyone to attack while he was down. He was a dungeon hunter of the demon hunter type, someone who believed that he should always be cautious and ready for action. All the pain and depressing feelings of doubt and insecurity could kiss his boots as he progressed away from them.
He spat out some dirt from his mouth as his eyes saw a ring of runes illuminating the current area he had been forcibly given the red carpet treatment to.
More like a black carpet treatment, if it ever exists.
And then, he saw the thing.
A Gargonian.
Once more. As if his previous encounter with them last month wasn't enough to scar him forever.
Whatever happens… I better hope this blasted being doesn't use that bright light magic or whichever ability it was that wiped off my memories temporarily. Can't risk another dose of amnesia.
"
Gargonian
!" he shouted out involuntarily, as if naming the creature would have any benefits at all.
"
Human
," the complex entity hovering in the air without any effect of gravity answered in a mimicking tone. It held a sword in one of its bizarrely shaped 'arms'. A blade so cruel and powerful, it seemed to be causing dents into the floor where its tip touched simply by resting it there.
He noted that the monster didn't need to open its mouth to talk. Perhaps the voices were injected into his mind directly? No wonder he couldn't detect the direction of the sounds – they were all being propagated from inside of him.
Such scary mind manipulating power!
"
Answer me one thing, though
," Jinju Wan remained non-chalant as best as he could. "
Aren't you guys supposed to be speaking in sounds like gar, gon, glob, glub instead of this? Are you really a Gargonian
?"
The demonic alien simply opened its mouth to speak but it sent out a shockwave through the air, blowing wind over Jinju's hair to give him a slicked-back hairstyle. Its breath was the source of that unusual smell he had picked up on a while ago.
Nasty face. But nice breath. Usually it's the other way round. But man... Gotta take care of this filthy overhyped fool who thinks he can beat us humans around like flies.
"
This one gives us a bad name
," the Gargonian's thirty pairs of eyes looked down at the human who matched only half its height. "
We call ourselves the Kghinsktaxvik. In the span of time of our expedition on this rock dwarf planet, we have learnt a great deal about this one's species. Would this one like to know what we call the likes of humans in our tongue
?"
Jinju didn't respond.
The monster replied on his behalf.
"
This one should like to meet our master. The master can explain
."
Ugh! Ah!
The monster moved so fast that Jinju couldn't even see the tentacle-like arm zooming towards him. It wrapped him tightly enough that his ribs couldn't expand anymore, disallowing him from breathing.
The cosmic demon clapped another arm with a third in a way of snapping fingers, producing a portal to open up beside it.
The Kghinsktaxvik flew through it, traversing a whole universe's wavelength of space into a different world. Its home world.
And towering above them was a massive throne with a massive kingly Kghinsktaxvik seated upon it. Their king grabbed the subordinate and brought him at eye-level with him. Jinju could only watch and listen and pray silently that his ribs didn't crack under all that pressure. His body was no longer the A-rank self he used to be.
Hundreds of other Gargonians stood vigilant in a protective 'dome' of floating guardians and advisors circulating around their evil god.
"
Larflehrouk, you bring a
thukthuk
into our sacred land?
" their ruler questioned his servant. The 'thukthuk' word was meant for describing 'human', Jinju assumed.
The king Kghinsktaxvik spoke directly into Jinju's mind without having to open its royal mouth.
"
Behold, primitive one! I am Urrotharrongomonasht. Your kind is a pest to your own home world. We Kghinsktaxvik only hoped to commit your universe a favor by deleting your kind's presence before it's too late. Thukthuks should never have been given the gifts. So our servants have collected sufficient data about how thukthuks operate. All thanks to the little pests who sacrificed their lives and memories for the greater good
."
!!!
Jinju tried to force his arms to atleast create some room to breathe for his ribs to expand and shrink properly. He also realized that his body seemed to function normally without having to breathe in this dimension.
"
Master Monasht
," the lesser Kghinsktaxvik by the name of Larflehrouk spoke up. When communicating between themselves, they actually used their mouths, Wan noted. Only when it was Garg-to-human communication, they could simply rely on their psychic abilities. "
What do we do with this one?
"
"
Give this one a demonstration of what is about to happen to all of its kith and kin very soon
."
"
Understood, our lord.
"
The duo jumped back out to the Ichin Serko area back on Earth through a portal, this time in a new location. Somewhere more familiar to Jinju's eyes.
The Gargonian Moutain Pass region! That's it. Finally I can find my way out.
"
We are aware of this one's mapping of this upper echelon of our base
," the Gargonian threw him down to the floor by releasing the grip of its arm. "
But this one is incorrect in extrapolating its fate. Our lord demands for this one to taste a sample death first
."
Death? Oh hell no.
Feeling nostalgic about his early cowardly weak phase of dungeon hunting, Jinju Wan made a run for his life. His arms remained useless, bound by the magnetic discs around his wrists.
I must… survive. I need to inform the Council. Everyone is in danger. They don't even know much the Gargonians have evolved! I must—
With teary eyes, Jinju almost forgot about how fast these demonic beasts could move. All he saw was a blur of shadows, scales, metal, limbs and eyes accelerate and overtake his vector of movement. The monster blocked his path.
Its sword was ready to strike.