The beast's gaze remained inside the tiny partially dark cave. Its breathes were soft. Its body stayed still not even daring to flinch by the slightest.
For what reason could the predator possibly be this cautious right now?
Well, for what lain on the cave. Whatever it gazed upon mafe is blood pulse with hyper intensity and its senses sharpened even more than the stinging cold of this snowy terrain.
And indeed, within the dark marble of its eyes that seemed to bare no end. A glow mirrored in them.
The glow seemed to a dense red that made it look dim even the more in its eyes and yet, when this beast gazed upon this. Let's say that... it knew that it was potentially screwed.
For the cave, a boy with a scrawny physique, about 4 feet tall, pale earth skin, short dark shiny middle parted hair in torn clothing, squatting down as he gazed back at the beast with something similar to its malicious observation. But more different. More horrifying than its own. And even more hazardous. Gazed upon this beast with heavy vermillion eyes that perfectly lit up jn this dimly lit cave. Like a marble that shined like a star under a dimly lit room.
And why, the beast was so terrified? Well, not terrified rather... more alert than terrified. Because fear would limit it, its thoughts, its actions and its every move against the prey that finally turned into a predator of its own.
But shone in this boy's eyes wasn't a flash of malicious intent. No, rather its was sensation that had long been exposed before the beast's arrival. A sensation that played around with his mind so he might think that it was another feelings. Another false one that disguised itself as a rather harmless feeling. Ambition.
That was mask that this feeling wore in order to keep this child going without making any mistakes. Or being conflicted enough to drive him mad. No, this feeling wasn't just all that it was. It was smart. And so it calculated and acted. So that this vessel may takes things slowly and progressively evolve into s state and body that could finally handle the truth.
And what was this truth?
Greed. Simple. Untapped. Unfathomable greed. That disguised itself perfectly but in this moment, glinted effortlessly through this boy's eyes and in just that single moment.
The beast saw it. What? The even greater predator that hid inside this piece if prey and pawned it for its own game.
And as the stare down continued, the beast flinched, its four limbs shifted and a heavy breeze passed by its body. As we now see that Vermur is running. Not just fast, but monstrously. At a speed that would terrify the common folk, but in this case the beast interpreted as something else. And that the prey that it had chosen was no longer protected by the predator that lingered within.
And indeed, as Vermur dashed across the snowy winding road the terror that mirrored in his eyes had returned. But his focus seemed to be even greater as he dashed forward without rest and without looking back.
For his only goal right now was to escape.
But unfortunately, this beast whose eyes held nothing but a dull singular hungar.
"Grrraaa!"
Now glinted with something clear. Something that a person could see. And when they saw it... this emotion that was clear as day, they would be terrified to the bone.
And this was.... fury.
"GRWAAAA!"
The beast roared with so much energy that burst of the shock wave from it powerful enough to send Vermur flying into a deadly height in the air as his body quickly descended.
As his body descended, he spared a glanced to his back and saw something that surprised and terrified him simultaneously. The beast had gone. And what took its place was an ovular object. That seemingly stood at a height of about 200cm. Its shell was a dim gray and covered in dark gray silk like material that spiraled around it like a spider's Web. The silky mass bore a dim deep blue glow that emanated from its inner coatings.
The atmosphere around the egg seed clearer compared the one of this terrain which Vermur had gotten used to.
And on instinct, he curled himself into a ball and wrapped his hands around around his legs to his structure. And shortly after, heavily crashed into the snowy growing of the place that he and previously escaped from this beasts pursuit.
No heat nor truly horrendous damage was made to him or the area that he crashed into. For he got up a few seconds after crashing, his face suddenly grim and his gaze was full of calculation and desperation. Why? Because he one, had seemed to finally understand that weight of this situation and two, whatever had happened to that monster from earlier... it didn't he seem like he had to simply wait around to know what would happen next.
No, for he had to escape thsi place and get to know more about the place he was generally located in. If there were even any people around to help him with that.
But one might ask, what happened to the amnesiac boy that once pranced about?
Well, he was the same old Vermur its just that one who was simply cautious would follow the previous events from earlier and think, the error check.
And yes, this was indeed related to this unanticipated change in his entire being.
And so there was another emotion that faintly yet clearly eminated in his eyes. Avidity. A strong one that fiercely gnawwed away at his calmness.
For a flashback could clearly image the reason for his distress as we see Vermur snap back to reality with an acute gasp that hinted at the impulsive interruption of his rest.
He awoke. His breathes calm instead of wary. His mind cleared instead of buzzing with dozens and dozens of thoughts. His face although was smeared with a clear dull discomfort that silently drifted him into a daze.
His eyes shimmered dimly with a deep vermillion hue that wasn't like the glow in his eyes before. Almost as if it was someone who had awakened. Someone who had decided to quietly assess the complexity of the situation before hand. Someone who... understood way more than our poor boy ever could.
Tsszt!
His daze was sharply interrupted by a sharp scratchy flashing sound as a dim silvery glow emmited upon his face.
His gaze responsively landed on what seemed to look like a screen if the sorts.
The screen bore information that momentarily confused him before his face quickly contorted into an a curious and relaxed expression.
He sighed and lifted his back up straight as he looked down upon the screen and information that mirrored within.
[NOTICE!]
ERROR CHECK COMPLETE!
PHYSICAL ER.---> NONE (Er3476)
MENTAL ER.---> LOW TIER (Er4568)
SPARK ER.---> NONE (Er0003)
Er3476 is a 'low tier' with no risks of worsening. Note, that this error can prohibit progression at certain points of quest completions.
Would you like to correct low tier Er3476?
Yes Or No?
Vermur stared blankly at the screen but was soon replaced with a cold calculated one as he quickly mummered the words 'yes'.
And no sooner had he said this than the screen disappeared and reappeared with new information.
[System window]
Er3476 has been identified and processed.
Calculating possible solution to this error.
[....]
[....]
[....]
[....]
[Solution has been identified.]
[Would you like fir the detailed cause of this explanation?]
[Or shall we initiate correction of Er3476?]
"Yes."
Vermur said his voice laced with a low hum as if trying to moisten his throat.
And soon after...
[Notice]
Er3476 has been classified as a low tier error.
Tsszt!
[Notice]
Singular solution for this error is completion of spark and mind integration.
Would host like to commence with this procedure?
"Yes."
Vermur replied immediately as if understanding the effects of the situation that was being presented before him.
Tsszt!
[Master Vermur has granted permission for the completion of the spark and mind integration.]
[Commencing the spark and mind integration]
And just as the screen was flashing to show more information.
Stomp!
A heavy slow yet thunderous stomp boomed through the air and Vermur's head as his flashback ceased with the enclosing shadow of the beast that knelt down to check and take a peek inside this cave.