Chapter 8: Magic Surge

In Peter's room, Grimzna and Peter relaxed on their separate beds, reading their individual comic books. Notably, the room's layout had undergone a change, with the addition of a second bed.

Adjacent to his bed, Grimzna's personal belongings, including his katanas, jacket, and gloves, were neatly arranged on the desk. He had adapted to Earth's customs, now wearing clothing more akin to that of a typical human.

Five months had passed since Peter and Grimzna first met.

Just then, a knock echoed on Peter's door, followed by the entrance of his sister, Melissa. She turned to Peter and asked in a rude voice...

“Oy, mum’s out, what do you want for dinner?”

Before Peter could respond, Melissa shifted her attention to Grimzna and asked the same question, but with care and politeness.

“What do you feel like eating, Aiden?”

Grimzna stopped reading and closed his book. He sat up on the bed and responded politely in a soft voice.

“Maybe some Japanese cuisine. What about you, Lisa? What do you feel like eating?”

Melissa couldn’t help but giggle, as she playfully covered her mouth.

“Awh, it’s fine. We will go with whatever you want to eat! Japanese cuisine, was it?”

Any observer would easily notice that Melissa was utterly smitten with Grimzna. Her fondness was evident in the way she spoke to him, her body language, and the unmistakable expression on her face while talking with him.

Grimzna replied, “Then I guess we’ll be having Japanese cuisine for lunch. We’ll get change and head down to call for you when we are ready.”

“Okay, just knock on my room when you’re ready!”

After the conversation, Melissa left the room, closing the door behind her. Peter, who had been observing the interaction, did a quick glance at Grimzna from the corner of his eyes.

“Well…that treatment between you and I are staggeringly different.”

“Really? I think she treats us both the same. She’s nice.”

“Well yeah, to you maybe!”

As Peter and Grimzna readied themselves for going outdoor, they bantered about the contrasting treatment they received from Melissa. After changing, Grimzna fastened his katanas to his waist. As he secured them, the katanas gradually dissolved and vanished from sight, becoming invisible to the eyes.

“Do you always have to bring them everywhere?"

“Well, yes. They are my weapons, what if something attacked us?”

“Nothing is going to attack us, Grimzna. Plus, aren’t you able to transform your limbs into a blade or weapon?”

“They aren’t as strong as my swords, and I don’t like leaving them around.”

The trio left the house, locking the door, and engaged in casual conversation, with Grimzna effortlessly blending in.

Since the day Grimzna met Peter, he had been secretly living in his room for two weeks. However, they both knew that they couldn't keep this a secret forever, as sooner or later, Peter's family would discover his presence.

Whenever Peter's family knocked on his door, Grimzna had to quickly hide in the confined closet to avoid being discovered.

Grimzna had to be cautious, especially when Melissa entered Peter's room without warning, forcing him to use his magic spell [Sleep] to knock her out to keep her from noticing him.

Thus, it led to them coming up with a plan, where Grimzna posed as Peter’s friend from his university. Through multiple clever persuasions, Grimzna managed to convince Peter's family to let him stay, provided he paid a rent for his stay. Leveraging his magical abilities, Grimzna secured employment and acquired legal documentation, though some of his methods would have been considered illegal by Earth's standards.

Back to present, Peter asked his sister.

“So where is the Japanese restaurant?”

“It’s at District 10.”

“That’s so far, do we really have to go there just to eat Japanese?”

“If it’s too far for you, you can go back home. Aiden and I can go by ourselves.”

The siblings started to squabble once again, while Grimzna peacefully walked beside them, enjoying the walk. They took public transportation and arrived at the Japanese restaurant, where they ordered their lunch.

During the meal, Grimzna and Peter discussed about Agromoth, the world Grimzna was from, while Melissa was preoccupied in her drama series on her phone, uninterested in their "comic" topics. Initially, Grimzna was hesitant to disclose any details about his world to Peter. However, as they got to know each other better over time, Grimzna eventually felt comfortable and saw no harm in sharing the information with him.

“So your world was in a war? And it was your nation, Ceania, against the Nation of Armoury, Ocara?”

“Yeah, originally the kings had a truce, but the Ocara King broke the truce and invaded us.”

“Ahh, is there a reason why they attacked? Oh, and what did they use for war, considering their title is Nation of Armoury, did they not have magic?”

“We haven’t know why they attacked. They still use magic, Peter. They have that name because they devote most of their magical use into developing weapons and armour. Literally no one can survive there if they didn’t know magic, unless you live in the city then you are free from the occasional trolls and monsters’ invasion in the wild.”

“And yours just use magic directly?”

In response, Grimzna confirmed with a nod and proceeded to elaborate on the strengths of both nations. He explained that in Ocara, magic was harnessed to invent various technologies, ranging from formidable weapons of war to everyday objects like clocks.

However, the weapons in Ocara required individuals with magical aptitude to wield or use them, setting them apart from Earth's conventional weaponry.

On the other hand, Ceania was renowned as the land of magic and martial arts. The people of Ceania primarily focused on mastering magic to fortify their physical prowess and enhance their combat abilities.

Their conversation about Agromoth seemed never-ending as they delved into various subjects, each exploring a different aspect of the fantastical world.

“So each nation has 3 commanders that work directly under the king, and each commander specializes in different expertise?”

“Yes, usually one commander will be for offensive strategy and another for defence. The 3rd commander role differs from each nation, some focuses on exploration and the medical field.”

“Hahaha, what about you? You belong to the agriculture side?”

Peter jokingly asked and laughed where Grimzna answered back in a calm yet eerie manner.

“No, I belong to the [Dagger Division]. We specialize in espionage and assassination.”

“Wait, so you’re like an assassin? That’s so cool, oh my god! What do you in the division?”

“I’m a commander, I lead the division. There is rarely a time I have to go out on a mission, with so many subordinates under my rank.”

“Explain this to me, you specialize in spying basically. So why were you drafted to fight on a war? That doesn’t make sense.”

“Among this division, there is a subdivision which are the elites. We are a special case, suitable in both combat and infiltration.”

Grimzna and Peter continued to talk endlessly until they finished their meal and decided it was time to go. Grimzna paid for the meal, and the trio left the Japanese restaurant feeling content and satisfied. Melissa gleefully thanked Grimzna for the meal.

“Thank you, Aiden~. I’ll treat you next time!”

They decided to take a relaxed walk around District 10, having a casual conversation along the way. It felt as natural as friends going for a stroll after a meal. Grimzna was talking with the siblings.

“So what do you guys think of bitter gourd?”

Both Peter and Melissa answered in unison.

“I’m okay with it, don’t hate it, don’t love it either.”

Melissa asked him back the same question to which Grimzna replied,

“Bitter gourd…I can never get used to its taste. I don’t like it, it’s a reall –”

Grimzna suddenly stopped in his speech, his eyes opened wide in surprise. The siblings found it sudden and weird that Grimzna stopped talking.

“Aiden? Are you okay?”

Grimzna remained silent, experiencing a sensation he hadn't felt since arriving on Earth. A tremendous weight seemed to bear down on his entire body. It was the presence of magic, but more specifically, magic from another world.

“This is……!”

Melissa and Peter called out Grimzna's Earth name loudly, snapping him out of his trance.

“Aiden!!!”

Peter, feeling that Grimzna had detected something, began to whisper, and Grimzna followed suit, keeping their conversation private from Melissa's ears.

“Did you sense something?”

“I did, magic.”

“Magic? Isn’t that normal? You said that some humans on Earth possess magic essence.”

“The magic essence your people possess is so miniscule I can’t sense them if I don’t concentrate. But this one…it’s on another level. I’ll have to investigate.”

“Wait, take me. I want to see as well!”

“No, you’ll stay with Melissa. This might be dangerous. I’ll come back and tell you everything, so you just stay here.”

As Melissa observed them whispering, she felt left out. Curious, she tugged on Grimzna's shirt, eager to know what they were discussing so she could join in the conversation.

“Sorry, Melissa. I just remembered about something important, I’ll have to go first. You and Peter can head back home. I’ll see you later.”

Noticing Grimzna's serious expression, Melissa decided not to inquire further and simply nodded, showing her agreement with his decision.

Grimzna quickened his pace, heading towards an empty alleyway to find a secluded path. When the chance presented itself, he casted [Invisible] and unfurled his wings from his back, soaring into the sky.

He flew to the direction of where the magic was originating from.

“It’s been a while since I sensed magic on this scale.”

“Is it a portal to Agromoth? Am I finally able to return back to my world?”

Countless possibilities regarding the magic filled Grimzna's thoughts. As he sensed he was nearing the source, he swiftly decelerated his flight and landed atop a tall building. Standing on the edge, he surveyed the area below, seeking the origin of the mysterious power.

Furrowing his eyebrows, Grimzna concentrated intensely. As he did, the whites of his eyes gradually darkened, and his burgundy pupils transformed into a deep blood-red hue. His perception sharpened significantly, granting him the ability to see distant details with astonishing clarity, akin to the keen vision of an eagle.

[Evil Eye: All-Seeing]

Moments after activating his power, something caught Grimzna's attention—a girl with striking violet hair that made her stand out from the crowd on the street.

“Is that…her?”

Grimzna kept a close watch on her, observing her actions and carefully noting her attire.

“It looks like her, but she looks normal.”

“What is she doing there? Just standing and staring around. Is she lost?”

Just as Grimzna was theorizing what the violet hair girl was doing there, the girl suddenly turned to look at him from afar, catching him off guard. Grimzna was on a building that was at least 30 stories tall, while the girl was on ground level.

Grimzna immediately jumped back and hopped away from the edge of the building.

“What the hell was that? Did she see me from that far?”

“I casted [Invisible].”

After waiting for a while, Grimzna cautiously returned to the edge to take another glimpse. He noticed that the girl with violet hair was now walking alongside another person—a shorter girl with pink hair in pigtails.

“Hmm, she’s with someone. I’ve never seen her before.”

Grimzna, sensing the magic aura had vanished, led him to believe that there was nothing more of significance to observe. But he kept what he saw in his mind, ensuring that he will be asking Peter some questions.

Consequently, he flew back to Peter’s house, where an excited Peter awaited him, eager to hear all about his findings. Grimzna shared every detail with Peter and asked him some questions.

“Remember when I asked you about the violet hair girl we found on your computer last time?”

“Yea, the one that you said looked like someone you knew from Agromoth, right?”

“Yeah, I found her lookalike in your world.”

“Really? What if it is actually her? Maybe she also came here like you did, was the magic aura from her?”

“No, it’s not her, just a lookalike. The one from my world is already dead.”

“Oh…sorry. Was she your friend or…?”

Grimzna chuckled at the possibility of the deceased girl being his friend.

“Friend? Far from that, we were enemies.”

“Ah…okay…then what about the magic aura?”

“Haven’t figured out, the magic aura spanned too vast, it was emanating from the whole area so I couldn’t pinpoint its exact location.”

Grimzna elaborated that in his world, such a phenomenon occurs when someone, like a commander, with substantial magical aptitude utilizes their power. Another possible cause could be the opening of a significant portal elsewhere.

Grimzna expressed his belief that the former explanation was more likely to be the cause. However, he now regretted investigating the situation, as he suspected that whoever had released the magic aura was likely luring individuals like him to come closer.

The moment Grimzna chose to use his [Evil Eye], it inevitably emitted enough magic to reveal his presence to others in the vicinity.

“Doesn’t that mean they know who you are?”

“No, it would only expose my existence, not my identity. I made sure I was somewhere hard to spot, and I had [Invisible]. So the likelihood of knowing who I am is low.”

“But never zero.” Peter butted in with his sentence.

“Did you steal that from a movie or something?”

They changed the subject to movies and stopped discussing their discoveries. While Peter was carefree and easily distracted, Grimzna couldn't afford to be the same. He had learned that there were others like him on Earth, possibly even in their city. This made him realize the importance of being cautious and discreet when using his powers in the future.

 

 

Part 2

Inside a spacious warehouse, in a dimly lit room, 30 figures were seated around a large round table, each adorned with a hooded cloak that concealed much of their faces. The individual positioned at the center of the table began to speak, followed by others, their voices alternating between men and women.

“So it has been confirmed?”

“Yes, grandmaster.”

“Hahaha, our next Chosen One may be appearing soon! And it might be any one of you…”

Amidst the discussion, the voices of both men and women grew louder. Some engaged in conversations with those sitting beside them, while others chose to remain silent, observing their peers' reactions by glancing around the room.

“Silence, people! Silence! I know you are all excited, and some are confused.” A deep voice shouted, it was the man sat at the center of the table, the grandmaster.

“Tell them what you saw, my brethren.”

A younger man’s voice started to speak loudly.

He recounted a peculiar sight he witnessed one night. Something had descended from the sky, hurtling down, and crashing into Sunnyvale's park. He emphatically stated that the entity he saw was unlike any human, even though it bore a humanoid appearance. It emitted a faint glow and appeared to be wielding a sword.

However, he was afraid and kept his distance. He didn't dare to approach any closer, fearful of the consequences if he did.

“But that is alright, you came back and told me everything. Even though there were others that did not trust you, I still did and gave you the device to bring us back proof.”

The grandmaster took over the young man’s explanation, explaining the events that followed the sighting of the falling entity. The member who first spotted it was provided with a special device by the grandmaster—a device capable of tracing magic essence. The device's ticks would increase in frequency as it detected denser concentrations of magical essence.

“And there it was, we found the proof. The highest frequency the device has ever been.”

The grandmaster slid the device across the table, displaying the data it had collected, which served as undeniable proof of the truth behind his words. The device appeared otherworldly, it was shaped like a rock. It had runes written on it, that emitted a pulsating blue light.

He announced that they will now begin their plan of capture on their target. However, there were voices of doubts that questioned his integrity.

“How do you know it records magic essence?”

“This is not actual proof. We want to see it for ourselves!”

“How are we going to get it to grant us powers?”

One member rose from their seat, pointing an accusing finger at the grandmaster, and yelled at him.

“I’ve been in this organization for months, yet I’ve never seen any concrete proof or progress! There are always just rumours that led to no questions answered. I’ve had it enough with your delusion, you are just a mental that wants to elude others into your own fantasy!”

The man continued to criticize the grandmaster, and some other members followed, intensifying the situation. Though not entirely visible, the grandmaster's expression gradually shifted into one of anger.

The grandmaster extended his hand, palm facing the man. From his palm, a ball of fire, the size of a basketball, magically materialized and hurtled towards the man. Struck by the fiery blast, the man was pushed back and fell to the ground.

The grandmaster slowly walked over to the man, who now lay on the ground, staring as the grandmaster walked over to him. The man was coughing up blood from the impact he had received.

“I am the proof, William…” The grandmaster spoke with firmness and coldness in his tone.

The grandmaster turned to the other members, who had fallen into silence, clearly taken aback by his actions.

“Now do you all still think I’m delusional?!”

The majority of the others shook their heads in disagreement, while some outright replied with a simple "no."

The grandmaster climbed up onto the table, standing on the center of it and started to preach.

“Let me tell you what I think, to me, humans are fundamentally weak and fragile creatures. In our world, most animals could easily kill us in the wild. The only reason we were able to come out triumph is because of our brain.”

“So let me ask you, what would happen to humans if there were a species out there, where they possess intellect like ours, with body or powers that would transcend human capabilities? That’s right, humans would undoubtedly lose.”

“It wasn’t until 5 years ago, where my life truly changed. The day I truly felt different, like I was meant to rule the world.”

Five years ago, the grandmaster encountered a severely wounded creature that hailed from another world. The hellish monstrosity appeared to be no larger than a dog, yet its terrifying visage was a twisted combination of rat and nightmare. Though it resembled a rat, its snout was brimming with razor-sharp teeth, and its eerie tails were long and whip-like, each tip equipped with a bone-like spike that only added its menacing aura.

When he manged to end the creature’s life, he discovered that the act granted him powers. As the creature took its last breath, it puked out the device from its mouth. The grandmaster soon realized that every time he used his power, the runes on the device would glow brighter.

The glowing runes on the device confirmed his belief that they were a sign indicating the presence of magic. From then on, he became obsessed on finding more beings from other worlds to acquire their abilities.

“This is why I started this organization! I wanted to share such blessings with you all! What I’ve shown you, is just a mere fraction of my power! But you all needed convincing, so what choice did I have?”

The rest of the members nodded in agreement, some even chanting cheers, as if they were part of a cult, completely enamoured and influenced by the grandmaster's ideas, all eager to attain supernatural powers just like him.

“Then what should we do?”

“As of right now, the target is living with someone, who seemed to have accepted their existence. But we can observe its routine, see where it takes us, and look for the best time to strike.”

The group continued their discussion, strategizing and assigning specific roles to each member as they planned their next moves.