"What am I? A human or a monster?"
This was the question haunting Nyachi, a once-renowned exorcist. He had never imagined that one day, as someone devoted to purging monsters, he would himself become what he despised most.
When he first discovered his monstrous transformation, his pride as a human and his honor as an exorcist compelled him to try to end his life. But despair overtook him when he realized that no matter what method he used, he simply couldn't die. His life force—or whatever was sustaining him—had transcended human limits.
"Still thinking about how to kill yourself, Nyachi?"
A sharp, grating voice, like a knife scraping glass, broke through the sound of the damp sea breeze. It was dripping with mockery.
Sitting on a desolate beach and staring out at the dark blue ocean, Nyachi stood up and turned toward the source of the voice. He saw a grotesque humanoid figure approaching.
Before he'd been stranded on this godforsaken island, Nyachi would have instinctively sought to eliminate such a creature quickly and cleanly, minimizing collateral damage.
Now, however, he simply shook his head and sat back down, too drained to respond. He knew all too well what this monstrosity was: another exorcist like himself, a comrade-in-arms who had suffered the same misfortune and become his inhuman kin.
"Not answering, huh? You used to be a lot more polite," the creature said, sitting beside Nyachi. It seemed genuinely interested in striking up a conversation, perhaps to alleviate boredom or ease Nyachi's inner turmoil.
"I don't want to discuss whether we're still human or not anymore," Nyachi replied, glancing briefly at the mummified figure sitting next to him.
Unlike a typical mummy, this creature's eyes were startlingly vivid, brimming with a vitality that starkly contrasted with the deathly aura surrounding its shriveled body.
"I think it's worth discussing," the creature said, leaning closer. "After all, we have opposite views. You insist we're monsters and think we should end it. I, on the other hand, firmly believe we're still human—just better."
"You think this—our state—is still human?" Nyachi raised a hand, letting the dim moonlight reveal its skeletal, shriveled form. Blackened veins of deathly energy coiled around it like chains.
"Why not? Have we lost our memories, our minds, or our humanity? Have you ever felt an urge to feed on human flesh? No? Then why should we stop calling ourselves human?"
The creature stood, spreading its arms as if to embrace the ocean. "We still hold our memories as exorcists. We still have the same desire to protect humanity from evil. Why should mere physical changes strip us of our humanity?"
"Isn't this enough?" Nyachi retorted, rising to his feet. "You've felt it yourself. While our minds and memories remain intact, can you guarantee that when we encounter real humans, we can suppress whatever primal instincts this body might have?"
"Absolutely," the creature replied without hesitation. "Even in this form, I remain human. I'll live as a human and continue my work as an exorcist, defending humanity."
"Our families and friends will never accept us," Nyachi said, his gaze drifting to the murky sky. "We'll be seen as monsters."
"And?" the creature shot back, incredulous. "Just because they won't accept us, we should throw our lives away? That's absurd! Have you considered how much more we could achieve as exorcists with this power?"
Nyachi attempted to respond, but his dry lips twitched into a strange grimace—half-smile, half-cry. He was struck by his companion's resolve. Even as a monster, Ingar's first thought was how to use this new power to protect humanity.
Ingar gestured at his emaciated form. "Look at us. Yes, we're hideous, but can you deny how powerful we've become? No need for food or water. Conventional attacks are almost useless against us, and our bodies regenerate. Imagine how much more we can do for humanity."
Nyachi nodded reluctantly. "True. Not needing sustenance alone is incredible."
"So? With this power, we can protect far more people than before."
"But how do we return to human society?" Nyachi asked softly.
The question deflated Ingar, who slumped onto the sand with a defeated sigh. "Yeah… how do we go back? If we're stuck on this cursed island forever, I might as well join you in pondering ways to die."
"We'll find a way," Nyachi said, attempting to console his disheartened companion.
"How? We don't even know how we ended up here! One moment we were on a ship exorcising a spirit, and the next, we're hit by some freak wave and wake up as this on a deserted island."
"Nothing about this makes sense," Nyachi admitted, sharing his companion's despair.
While the two exorcists-turned-monsters were trying to make sense of their predicament, something appeared on the horizon—a faint green light dotting the distant sea.
"What's that?" Ingar asked, excitement creeping into his voice.
The barren, lifeless island had been unnervingly quiet for days, so any sign of movement sparked hope.
"Don't get too excited," Nyachi warned, his expression darkening as he squinted at the growing light. "Anything moving in these waters isn't likely to be friendly."
"So what? We're not exactly human anymore. Whatever it is, we can deal with it—or even work with it for a while if we have to."
"You were just insisting we're still human."
"In spirit, yes. Physically? Not at all," Ingar quipped, shrugging.
As the green light grew closer, it became clear that it wasn't a single source but an entire fleet.
"Wait… am I seeing double?" Ingar muttered, rubbing his eyes. "How did one light become so many?"
"It's not your eyes," Nyachi said grimly. "There are dozens—maybe hundreds."
When the fleet finally came into view, both exorcists froze in shock.
"Holy—!" Ingar exclaimed. "That's not a ship; that's a city on water!"
The vessels were massive, towering behemoths glowing with an eerie green light. Their size and numbers were beyond comprehension.
"How is this possible? These things are big enough to level entire harbors! And there are so many of them!"
"Forget logic," Nyachi said, his voice trembling. "In a place like this, nothing follows the rules."
As the ghostly fleet closed in, the two exorcists could only watch in a mix of awe and dread.
The fleet's sheer scale and the implications of its presence were horrifying to contemplate.
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/INNIT
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.