True Colors

  “A hero from another world, seriously?” Rei asked with a surprised expression.

  He had to admit, hearing himself say it out loud did make him sound like he belonged in a padded cell. But it was too late to turn back. For his plan to work he’d need to gain this world’s trust and admiration and what better role than as the hero. 

  “I don’t know exactly how I ended up in that field but in my world I’m a hero.”

  “If you say so.”

  The two continued to walk through the forest in silence.

  The forest was similar enough to the usual forests you’d find on earth. However if you looked closely you’d notice the strange creatures hiding within every tree and bush.

  “So what’s your world like? I’m guessing you don’t have forest sprites and jackalopes.”

  Maxwell was surprised to hear Rei’s interest in his world.

  “You’re right, we don’t have any of those in my world, well at least none that I’ve ever seen. But we do have forests and I’d bet there are creatures in my world that you’ve never seen before.”

  Rei smiled “Maybe or maybe you’re just a drunk who wondered too far into the forest and now believes he’s some kind of hero sent from the heavens.”

  “I see now. She doesn’t believe I’m from another world” thought Maxwell as he tried to give a light hearted smile.

  “I guess it does seem a bit far fetched but I can ensure you that I’ve never lived in a world like this before. If I had then wouldn’t I have known about flesh weed? Or how to get to Dulciena?”

  Rei paused to think for a moment. “You could just be an idiot.”

  Maxwell clenched his teeth in order to resist the hate filled comment that sat in his throat.

  “I’m not saying you have to believe me. I wouldn’t even believe me.”

  Rei stopped walking and turned to face Maxwell.

  “Look I’m not saying I believe you or anything but you seem to genuinely believe in this whole “hero from another world” story so…”

  Before she could finish her thought a loud scream caused all the forest creatures to scatter.

  Rei froze as her ears adjusted. She took a deep whiff of the air and with her combined senses she was able to find the exact origin of the scream.

  “Follow me and stay close.”

  In moments Rei was sprinting in the direction of the scream.

  Seeing no other option Maxwell followed after her.

  The two ran through the forest until they came to a clearing. 

  A young woman cowered in fear as a monstrous figure towered over her. 

  Its skin was a light shade of green and it had an under bite with jagged teeth sticking out. Its eyes showed no emotion, like a shark that’s found its prey. 

  Rei took one look at the creature and in a puff of smoke transformed into a young woman. 

  Her skin was remarkably pale with red eyes and short, stark white hair. Her new attire seemed similar to that of a kunoichi, a female ninja. However, while she may have appeared human her two tails and cat-like ears still remained.

  She drew her blade and leaped in between the creature and the woman.

  “Back off or I’ll gouge your eyes out!”

  The creature ignored Rei’s threat and reached for both her and the woman.

  In a swift motion Rei swung her blade at the creature’s massive clawed hand. 

  At first it appeared she may have missed only for all the creature’s fingers to fall to the ground and a mist of blood to spray everywhere.

  The creature roared in pain as it clenched its fingerless hand trying to stop the bleeding.

  “What are you waiting for?! Aren’t you supposed to be a hero or something?!”

  It took Maxwell a moment before he realized she was speaking to him. He was too distracted by the creature’s immense strength.

  Even though its fingers were sliced off just moments ago the bleeding had already subsided and new fingers had already started to regrow as if Rei’s attack had never even occurred.

  “Fascinating” thought Maxwell. “There wasn’t any creature on earth that could have healed let alone regenerate that fast.”

  The creature swung its newly formed claw at Rei who easily evaded while landing another slash along its arm.

  The slash was little more than a scratch to the creature. 

  In response to the feeble attack the creature ignored Rei and lunged for the defenseless woman still cowering in fear.

  Rei saw this and raced to meet the creature before it reached the woman.

  “Is she suicidal?” 

  With her blade drawn Rei intercepted the creature and sliced at its legs so that it was forced to pause its assault and kneel.

  As the creature came face to face with Rei it bared its teeth in an attempt to intimidate the yokai into moving aside.

  Despite its overwhelming size advantage Rei stood her ground showing no signs of backing down.

  The creature looked almost confused for a moment. It was clear it had never encountered a creature like this before. 

  “Who would face such a strong foe and risk their own life for a complete stranger?”

   As if deciding that the woman wasn’t worth the fight the creature turned its attention to Maxwell. 

  Their eyes locked on one another and in a single bound the creature stood towering over Maxwell.

  “So now I’ve caught your attention.”

  Maxwell looked up at the creature showing no signs of fear but admiration. He had hoped he’d get a chance to have a closer look at the creature. Its muscles rippled beneath its green skin with strength unachievable by the human body.

  “What a perfect test subject you’d make.”

  Before the creature could attack Rei dashed over to Maxwell and shoved him out of the way.

  “You really are an idiot! Are you trying to get yourself killed!?”

  Without any time to react Rei was struck by the creature’s powerful blow and sent flying into a tree knocking her unconscious.

  “Well that was underwhelming.”

  The creature turned once again towards Maxwell.

  Once again Maxwell showed no signs of fear and merely stood up and dusted himself off.

  “Stop” ordered Maxwell.

  The creature froze in place after hearing Maxwell’s command. 

  “Looks like you’ve become one of my test subjects after all.”

  When Rei had shoved him out of the way Maxwell had taken the opportunity to retrieve a device he’d stored inside a fake tooth.

  The device was smaller than a grain of rice and was designed to pierce the subjects skin. It would release a genetically engineered parasite that would latch itself onto the subject’s brain and alter the subject’s behavior, forcing them into becoming more subservient.

  Seeing his opening while the creature was distracted with Rei, Maxwell flicked the tiny device at the creature. 

  It wouldn’t even feel the tiny prick and even if it had, it would have already been too late.

  “Break your left arm.”

  Just as he ordered the creature reached over and gripped its left arm so tightly that a loud snap could be heard before the creature roared in pain.

  “Be silent.”

  In an instant the creature’s roars were silenced with only its tears to show its pain.

  “You’ll heal from that in no time, why don’t we try something harder, something more exciting.”

  Maxwell thought for a moment before the twisted idea came to him.

  “Rip out your heart and crush it.”

  Despite the brutality the creature had shown just moments ago Maxwell could see the fear in its eyes as its own body turned against itself.

  With shaky hands the creature drove its claws deep into its chest without making a sound and retrieved its own beating heart as commanded. 

  The heart was ten times the size of a regular human’s heart and was beating so hard that the creature nearly dropped it.

  Then without any hesitation the creature crushed the heart with one hand. 

  Maxwell watched as the life drained from the creature’s eyes and its body went limp before falling over.

  “I guess you can’t grow a new heart.”

  Maxwell knelt down to observe and take note of any other effects his device had on the creature when a voice pulled him from his thoughts.

  “Um…excuse me? But are you the hero Maximus Luminose?”

  “How many times were people going to ask me that?” Thought Maxwell as he stood up to face the woman.

  “Forgive me if I’m mistaken but I just wanted to thank you and your friend for saving my life.”

  Maxwell looked over the woman as an idea began to manifest within his mind. Why pretend to be a hero from another world when he could just be the hero from this one?

  “There is nothing to forgive miss, you’re correct. I am Maximus Luminose and I was just on my way to The Kingdom of Dulciena.”