Omega Wars Chronicles

Chapter 39 Episode 38: I Swear It

 
At the hall of the Shard Court, Zotek, Schroeder and a Keigra woman dressed in black were standing in front of a body covered with a white sheet.
"So that is what happened?" Zotek asked.
"Yes, i'm afraid so." The Keigra woman said.
"Thank you for supplying us this information." Schroeder said, "Can you please give us a moment?"
The Keigra woman bows her head in response and quickly turns around to take her leave.
"How could this happen?" Schroeder asked, "If Onak didn't arrive at that moment, then that man and his daughter-"
"Would have been sucked dry." Zotek cuts in, "The identity of that body was Basak; he came from the Tick clan of the Hiveling race and his kan ability allowed him to drain the blood of anyone from the limbs of his back for a power boost.
Just one touch from those limbs and that man and his daughter would be gone."
"Yet, Onak was able to kill him with one blow... Impressive." Schroeder said with a smile, "Still, why did you call Basak a 'Hiveling' when he is clearly an Insectoid?"
"Are they still calling them that primitive name?" Zotek asked as he turned his back to walk away which caused Schroeder to quickly follow him, "Ever since the great devastation that befell them, they became united and changed the name of their race. They decided no more will they be called 'Insectoids' but Hivelings instead, to show their unity.
And also, they view the name Insectoids as an insult now."
"Wow." Schroeder said, "And with Rora leading them, they've become quite a fearsome foe."
"Tell me something, Schroeder... Did you notice something about Basak's body when he was presented to us?" Zotek asked, "His appearance was more human-like; he didn't even have the head of an insect.
He still had some insect features such as the antennas on his head but still, the rumors about their evolution is true. I've even heard about other powerful Hivelings popping out such as Solavan."
"Solavan?" Schroeder asked with a quizzical expression.
"You've heard of him?" Zotek asked as his eyes rolls towards Schroeder.
"Yeah. I heard he is the guy with the Kan ability of 'Evil eyes'." Schroeder replied, "They say that when he activates his power, multiple darkened eyes appears on his body and each of those eyes carries an uncanny ability.
I didn't know he was a Hiveling."
"The Urokai race has been wiped out and rumors say it was the Hiveling race that did this." Zotek said, "Our enemies are getting stronger and the Hivelings evolution proves it.
Though i learnt that the only clan that didn't really go through evolution in the Hiveling race were the shadow ants."
"Still, they were able to get into the Keigras domain without setting off a single alarm." Schroeder said, "Zotek, if this should go on, then the tournament will be cancelled."
"I know." Zotek said, "And that's why..."
"I'm going to get to the bottom of this." Zotek said as his calm demeanor instantly changes to a frowning demeanor.
  Meanwhile, Pit, who happened to be leaning on a wall of a house in the Keigra street, takes notice of different parents walking and talking with their children; at that moment, Pit quickly had a memory of a black haired Ripar man and woman handing little Pit over to her grandfather.
As Pit's grandfather held her by the hand and was leading her to his house, Pit turns to look at them.
"Will i ever see you again, mama and papa?" Pit asked.
"Sure, you will." Pit's mother replied with a smile.
"We will definitely come to visit you." Pit's father said while smiling with his eyes closed, "It could be this year, next year, who knows. But one thing is for sure, it will definitely be a surprise."
This response quickly made Pit smile brightly.
"Okay, in that case, i'll be waiting for your return." Pit said.
Year after year, Pit would stand outside her grandfather's house, waiting for her parents visit. In the evening, at the age of 12, Pit sat outside her grandfather's house with a saddened expression while her grandfather stood behind her.
"Pit..." Her grandfather called softly.
Pit looks back at her grandfather while seated as tears were flowing out of her eyes.
After remembering those moments, current Pit exhaled while having her arms crossed.
"Hey." A masculine voice said.
Pit's eyes rolls to her side and sees the person to be Govo.
"Hey." Pit replied.
"How are you doing?" Govo asked as he leans beside Pit.
"Fine, i guess." Pit replied while facing forward.
"Ok. That's cool." Govo said while facing forward as well, "Anyway, i never got the chance to thank you properly."
"Don't worry, I was just lending a hand." Pit said.
"Still though, thanks." Govo said.
"You're welcome." Pit replied.
"So, uh... You were thinking about something?" Govo asked.
"My past." Pit replied, "The second half will soon start and i need to clear my mind and stick to the main reasons why i am participating in this tournament."
"Which is?" Govo asked with a raised brow.
"My grandfather." Pit answered, "He was always there for me when i needed him most and it was because of him i made this promise."
A flashback occurs as Pit and her grandfather were walking and discussing with each other, Pit quickly ran in front of him.
"Don't worry, grandfather." Pit said while smiling with her eyes closed, "When I'm old enough, I'll become a pilgrim for you. I swear it."
After explaining that moment, Govo stared at Pit with a bit of astonishment.
"Wow. Did your grandfather fail at becoming a pilgrim?" Govo asked.
"No, it was one of his sons; my uncle Jihiro." Pit replied, "From what i learnt, my uncle when he was younger, had high hopes in becoming a pilgrim but he never got the chance because of a terminal illness he had."
"I'm so sorry." Govo said.
"Ever since i learnt that, i feel the only way i can honor my grandfather for everything he has done for me is to succeed where my uncle didn't." Pit said.
"But what about your parents?" Govo asked.
"I don't want to talk about them." Pit said.
"Why not? They are your parents, aren't they?" Govo asked with a raised brow.
For a moment, Pit's eyes rolls towards Govo and sighed.
"When i was 6, my parents gave me to my grandfather, promising me that they'll come and visit, but they didn't. I waited year after year for my parents arrival, always telling myself 'Maybe it might be the next year' until i got to learn the truth."
A flashback occurs as Pit entered a room and spots her grandfather reading a note; Pit's grandfather takes notice of Pit standing behind him at the door and leaves the note on the table. As Pit's grandfather walks past her, Pit moves towards the table, picks up the note and began to read it.
"Dear father Ujiro, we know we promised Pit that we would come and visit her one day but unfortunately we have better things to do than to come and see her. We hope our little girl will understand.
Yours truly
Pit's parents."
Being done with reading the letter, Pit's eyes widened in pain and disbelief.
After recollecting that moment, Govo stared at Pit with a stoic demeanor.
"Pit..." Govo said softly.
"I'm 15 but up till now i still don't understand." Pit said while facing the ground, "What could be more important than visiting their own daughter? Since then i gave up on anything concerning my parents and started focusing more on my grandfather."
"I see." Govo said as he resumes facing forward.
"You have good parents, Govo." Pit said as her eyes rolls towards him, "Don't take them for granted."
Govo nods his head in response and Pit resumes facing forward.
"I have another question to ask." Govo said.
"What is it?" Pit asked.
"Ever since you lost to Karma, they say you've become a completely different person." Govo said, "I want to know, is she the second reason why you're so focused in this tournament? I'm just curious."
Pit stares at Govo for a moment and faces forward again.
"Yes, she is." Pit said, "Karma... Someone needs to put a stop to her. Everything she has done... Everything she might do... She's extremely dangerous."
"We had a lot of extremely dangerous classmates but-"
"You don't understand." Pit cuts in, "Her actions has been so questionable that you would wonder if she truly has a soul and the worst part is that she does those horrible things because she feels she is untouchable among her peers.
Someone needs to knock her off her high horse and I'm going to do it."
"Well, don't count on that. The tournament is unpredictable and she might end up facing anyone." Govo said, "After all, Onak and Dam are there; not to mention Sting who made a shocking display of power when he flattened Gorn and Xorian who defeated Jagami, have also shown to be a threat. You need to also focus on them too."
"You're forgetting Cloud." Pit said, "He did manage to make it to the tournament but yeah, you're right, the tournament is unpredictable; anyone could face anyone."
  Back at the Shard court in one of their many rooms, Karma who happened to be meditating on the ground, quickly had a recollection of her 13 year old self panting for air in a cave while Riu was staring down at her.
"Keep that temper of yours on a leash, Karma." Riu said, "Even your father wasn't like this."
"I am not my father." Karma said.
"No, you're not." Riu said, "You're different from him. That's why you don't need to go down that vengeful path he once took."
"If someone took everything from you, would you let that person be or would you show that person the err of their ways?" Karma asked while facing the ground.
"A dragon's natural instinct is to destroy." Riu said, "It takes immense training or a rare dragon to even control that instinct.
  Your tribe were warriors that had the Kan enhanced abilities of a dragon while maintaining their human form and sanity... Sort of, and because of that, they perform a ritual on their young ones at the age of 14 known as 'Sterilization' in order to cut off their latent dragon power so as to maintain that sanity.
You're 13 but your actions lately makes me wonder if i should wait for next year or perform it now."
"You haven't answered my question, master." Karma said while still facing the ground.
"Vengeance isn't always the way." Riu said.
"Then what is the way?" Karma asked as she raised her head to look at her master.
"Your thirst for vengeance and power is corrupting you..." Riu said, "Making you darker than your father. What you did during your survival training to that creature was disturbing.
You could have either spared its life or given it a quick death but you chose to thrust your hand into it's belly and twist it's internals, and the look in your eyes..."
Riu quickly recalls as the blood soaked Karma glanced at him with an emotionless demeanor.
"Despite the apathetic look, your eyes ... It was as if you enjoyed what you did." Riu said after recalling that moment, "If I hadn't stopped you, I wonder what you would have done next."
"Its that creature's fault for being so damn weak!" Karma said, "Isn't that what happens to the weak? They are always at the mercy of the strong."
"Is that the kind of attitude you're now developing?" Riu asked, "Taking pleasure in torturing those weaker than you?  I can see I need to do the sterilization quick."
"Except I don't need the sterilization." Karma said, "If I'm going to get stronger and exact my revenge on them, then I'll need all the power and strength I can get."
"Enough!" Riu said out of irritation, " Have you learnt nothing? You would rather turn yourself into a monster even if it means you acquiring power? This is not what your father would have wanted."
"My father wants me to get stronger and that's what I'm going to do." Karma replied, "If i have to sell my own soul to acquire more power then so be it!"
"This path you're taking will only lead to your undoing." Riu said, "Keep following this path and you will be destroyed."
"Nothing can destroy me." Karma said, "What doesn't kill me, only makes me stronger."
"Wrong." Riu replied, "I can easily kill you, and many others far above you can easily do it."
"Will you do it?" Karma asked.
"No." Riu answered, "I'm not going to kill the daughter of my adopted son."
For a moment, Riu stared at Karma and sighs.
"I had doubts on what I'm supposed to do but now, I've finally made up my mind." Riu said, "I'm leaving you."
Hearing this, Karma became slightly shocked with Riu's decision.
"Since you won't listen to words, learn from your punishment or trainings, I'm going to leave you so you'll see the result of your actions." Riu said, "No more trainings, nothing. Your father sent you to me so that you'll become stronger but in becoming stronger, you are losing your humanity and I wont be responsible for it."
"Go ahead, then." Karma said as she turned her back and crossed her arms, "Its not like I needed you anyway."
After recalling that moment, Karma was standing beside a wall with her hand placed on it while facing the ground.
" You are talented but there is a limit talent can take you." Riu's voice replayed in current Karma's head, "Do not let yourself get drowned in your own power because one day you will have to face the reality of your own weakness."
"Face the reality of my own weakness? Pathetic." Karma said within herself as she cracked the wall with her fingers, "Like I have any to begin with. If there's anyone that is weak, its the lessers I've defeated.
Ever since I arrived at the Tall order pilgrim academy, I've met a lot of people that claimed to be strong but in reality, they are nothing but over hyped weaklings."
"Every last one of them." Karma said within herself as she recalls standing and staring down at the unconscious bodies of different students of the pilgrim academy, "All that stood in my way, I have destroyed."
"And as for Onak..." Karma said within herself as she recalls the image of him, "I'm sure that if the teachers didn't stop us from fighting, I would have put him down.
However, he has become irrelevant to me now because there are two people I'm looking forward to fighting..."
"Cloud and Sting." Karma said within herself as she recalls their faces, "Sting: a warrior with so much skill and power but yet chooses to act like a fool, and Cloud: I don't understand what is going on with you but with this tournament, I'll expose you for what you are and its by my hand you two shall be crushed.
I'm not that weak, pathetic girl anymore. I'm not that useless crybaby trash that couldn't do anything about the massacre of her own people.
If there was a time i faced the reality of my own weakness, it was back then but now.... Now i'm strong; now i'm unrivaled among my peers and i'll continue to be unrivaled.
I will show the whole world what  true power looks like and from there, I'll become a pilgrim and find out the bastards responsible for my tribe's demise and crush them!"
"This I swear it!" Karma said as she raised her head while glaring with glowing irises.