The Way of the Future: Age of Machines(Completed)

A Little Girl

The village burned down, as it should. The flames consumed the wooden structures, burning through the grass and engulfing the palisades. It only took the flames a few minutes before it engulfed the entire village, reducing it to ash.

The smoke rose high up the sky; it was a cloudy day at least. The smoke rose up to add more to the grim nature of the surrounding lands, where the dead were scattered all over. Artemis watched on as the village fumed, he felt relieved.

He felt as if he saved himself and his empire from destruction, whatever those were, they were a threat! Thankfully, he was the only one alive around these parts; there was nobody else to discover what he had destroyed.

He did not learn what the name of the village was but it was no longer important, it was gone and Artemis should just move on. A grim start to his adventure, not something he'd endorse but still a start. He dusted his uniform and pants and headed off along the dirt path once more, he wanted to deviate from it but he was determined on finding another path.

Ding! He could just fly. He had thrusters and all.

But that would ruin my experience, he thought. No, that is stupid, I must monopolize my abilities as best as I can to achieve my objectives. And so he did, after a brief moment of activating his thrusters and positioning himself for launch, he ascended.

He did not reach too far, just enough so he could see the surrounding areas. He scanned his surroundings, there were hills further north, the forest continued towards the west and the plains to the east. The bodies also continued to the west along with the plains.

Maybe If I follow the plains, then I'd find a path.

And so he did, he flew west and followed the plains and the bodies of the dead creatures thereof. They littered the dead grass as far as he could see with his normal eyesight. Thoughts ran down his mind as well as thousands of calculations of countless variables, all being done at the same time.

He was at full alert, he felt threatened and choked. This place was cursed with something unbecoming. He did not want to think of it at first, but he thought to himself: Am I the one who caused this?

Maybe, he concluded. He was generally unfazed as always even if the bodies began to crank up.

Suddenly, as he was flying above the plains, he saw some shadows in the distance. Silhouettes appeared small and tightly packed but they were moving still. Upon further approach, they appeared like Ogres, he thought they were Ogres at first. But, they were actually not anymore.

Oozing Ogres.

Their skin was darkish green and oozed like the figure he saw down the well. Their facial features were still there but were almost fully unrecognizable, he only knew they were Ogres after scanning their bodies. The scanner determined them as [30%] similar to Ogres.

30 percent, what small percentage of their original being remained after being transformed into the hideous creatures they were now. They moved in a tight formation, they were all following or something.

Rather, they were chasing something.

Artemis came closer and closer, he was up floating in the sky so he was probably safe unless the Ogres suddenly grew wings from their backs and flew at him. No, they had no such ability. He saw what they were chasing, or following.