[Recording…]
Unveiling himself from behind, the man seemed unsurprised and already expecting him.
Both of them raised their hands and showed their terminals.
"Recording."
"Recording."
Both followed the etiquette law of recording, fully aware of its reach — even this far from civilization.
"Kid, what brings you here?"
"I was curious, looking for something to cash on. I guess. Uhm… Mind if I take a look?"
Cain glanced at the haul the man was cashing in while sizing him up. He looked built for the job — hazmat suit and all.
"Sure, convicted or bankrupt?"
"None so far, how about you?"
"Murder, I killed my wife and his lover when I caught them."
Cain had heard worse. Arthur had drilled it into him — never judge a criminal by the crime.
"And then? Clean getaway or messy aftermath?"
"Not an atom left."
"Oh."
'I've never had a wife... is sharing a man really that bad?'
Cain was still lost in thought when the man turned to him.
His pulse quickened, and his hand instinctively moved toward his firearm.
"Look at you, all flustered. This uranium crystal is about usable grade to average grade, sells for around 30 to 45 silver per kilo."
"If you want a share, there's another outcrop over there."
He pointed at the torn hazmat suit and spoke, voice flat with warning.
"Been here seven hours."
The man halted, fist clenched. The ground split open, spilling a heap of giant corpses, their slick bodies oozed blue blood.
"These fuckers had been messing with me ever since."
Cain stood still, uneasy. He wasn't sure if he was safer with the man... or simply next in line.
'Cain, pull it together. Be strong. Be brave. Analyze what he's trying to say.'
"So, what you're saying is… there's a lot giant in this area?"
"Correct."
He let out a slow breath he hadn't realized he was holding, the tension in his shoulders finally eased.
"How about above this cliff?"
"I think Borderwall missed the quarterly sweep. These pests are still here. What do you make of it?"
'Right... this is why Grandpa warned me. It's supposed to be hard. Brutal, even.'
Cain looked at the bodies stacked high. He couldn't shake the feeling that the old man didn't think he could handle it.
"Thanks for the info."
"Wait. You got any extra ration?"
"Roosevelt brand, ten for 10 silvers."
"Deal."
Despite them being ten meters apart, the terminal beeped, signaling Cain got his transaction money.
[10 Silver added to Credit]
Cain handed him the licorice ones — the kind he never liked.
The man in the hazmat suit gave him a strange look, baffled by the flavor, he felt a little ripped off.
"Sorry, my tastebuds are kinda weird. Hehe."
Cain could only put on a straight face and lie. Wealth never softened his grandfather's grip. Even other fortresses had a nickname for him — Stingy Arthur.
Unable to bear the man's gaze, he bid farewell and started climbing the cliff.
"Goodbye sir, may the spirit of our fellow men give you fortune."
"Same."
Climbing higher, Cain caught sight of the man bracing a long sniper rifle on the truck's roof, barrel glinting as he took aim.
The barrel had pointed straight below, right where he'd been climbing.
'Oh, come on!'
He couldn't dodge.
The bullet almost grazed him.
A deafening roar erupted overhead.
"Watch where you're going, boy. Name's Allan Runner. If you're ever looking for business, find me on Social."
"Thanks, mister… I guess."
The giant slammed into the cliff like a wrecking ball. Cain flinched as it bounced once, twice, limbs twisting unnaturally, then hit the ground with a sickening thud that echoed through the gorge.
'He was probably around Journeyman or Warrior level, Gladiator perhaps? I need to get tested soon.'
Cain flew with care, keeping tight to the cliff wall. The wind tugged at him, but he stayed low and silent, trying to avoid the ire of the birds.
The edge rose into view. He crested the cliff, landing atop the plateau with quiet focus.
Pebbles cracked as they made contact with the sole of his shoes. Bit by bit, ice gave way to porous stone.
'I must be over a hundred kilometers out by now... right?'
The frigid howling winds shifted, reduced to small interludes of chill mixed with dust.
Ice now gave way to the peculiar patch of rock.
Approaching the next destination, he heard clashes of steel and pounding stones.
Ferocious roars and growls echoed as he drew closer.
Cain could also smell the faint smell of blood.
Spotting a tree, he took advantage of its height, creating a vantage point.
In his bag, a telescope.
Nothing fancy — just glass lenses in a worn metal casing, scuffed and scratched from frequent use.
Stroking the small scratches and dents from the alloys surface, couldn't help but think of his time with the old man.
"Grandpa, I wanted the new All-terrain Vision Goggles, they are so cool."
The telescope swung and bumped against his forehead, just under the fringe.
Cain's young eyes pooled tears while a red bump on his head throbbed with pain.
"Idiot boy! Every drop of stamina counts!"
"Take the telescope."
Cain hurled the telescope and bolted, hot tears spilling as his anger boiled over.
"I hate you, old man! I hate dad for never coming back! I hate you all!"
Those words.
His lips didn't mean to utter.
Shame washed through him. Thinking he knew better than the over three century old monster.
Shaking off the harsh reminder, Cain started to observe.
Shapes filled his lens, oblate and cuboid, some sprouting pairs of arms, others tangled in tens. Their bodies were metallic grey, rust blooming like moss.
'There they are... the shardlings. Took them long enough to show up.'
"They're engaged with something... I need a better view."
Switching to another tree, he peered to his telescope once again.
He saw gold-toned hair, predator-slit eyes, and a back rigid as a javelin.
Beside the feline looking man, an ash-grey skin, a gritty texture, and a long-nosed figure clutching a staff.
'I see terminals in their wrist, are these beastmen? Maybe demons?'
"If they spot me sneaking, this could turn into a bad misunderstanding."
Cain approached with caution, unsure if these people would welcome him or see him as a threat.
'Might as well try. If they're friendly, this gets a whole lot easier.'
Cain started undoing his spells.
As his silhouette came into view, the two beastmen exchanged quick glances but kept their focus on the shardlings ahead.
The lionare fighting bare-fisted roared at Cain, baring its fangs. Its eyes burned as they locked onto his — wild and unreadable.
'This should be enough.'
Both firearm devices held ten counter-shots each — covertly.
Eyes serious, he was focused on the most important thing in this world.
'They better not get in my way.'
One misstep, Cain was ready to paint the unprocessed pavement red.
'I'm just here to make money.'