Ants

Alden widened his eyes as he watched Light McKing effortlessly beat up a monster that was more than 3 times his size. He would grab its arm and throw it across the cave and he would speedily race across the cave, reaching the other side before the bull orc. Then he would strike the monster, causing it to fly away to the other end of the cave. He would then appear on the other side with a flash and punch the orc, causing it to return in the direction in which it came. It was as if he were playing tennis with himself, and even then he was just not losing.

Alden watched in awe from the way he lay on the floor. That was the power he desired, to be able to fight so effortlessly and toy with an A-grade dungeon boss. The large muscular beast that Light was toying about with was quite a formidable opponent even for A-grade rangers. It was just astonishing witnessing such power.

Alden was broken out of his thoughts by a wail. A cry that was just full of pain and sorrow. Even though the air was full of dust and large boulders prevented one from seeing any of their partners, Alden already knew where the cry had come from. His heart began to beat rapidly for some reason and breathing became difficult. Suddenly the dust that had not bothered him began to irritate his nose and threatened to make him wheeze, and he could feel his body grow numb as his mind teleported to some faraway place. Alden felt his legs carry him in the direction of the grievous sound. The possibilities were making themselves known in his mind and his heart was squeezing with worry and expectancy.

Then he saw it.

It was Justin's motionless body, partly covered by a pile of rocks. Next to the limp body was Lily, his sister. She was sitting down next to the body crying, her head lowered and her hands spread out towards Justin. Alden immediately realized what she was trying to do. She was trying to heal a dead man.

Standing next to the two was Lyle, gone was the playful look that always sat on his face. His face was stoic, cold, and indifferent. It was like he had lost every form of emotion, be it happiness or even sadness.

"He's dead, Lily," Alden said, walking over and placing a palm on her shoulder. Alden knew he had to stop her, what she was doing would help nobody, not Justin and not herself. Alden could not bare to watch someone get so mindless due to being controlled by grief. It was too pitiful.

"No, I can heal him! I can..." Lily insisted in between a burst of tears. She never retracted her hands and the blue glow that covered her hands grew more intense.

"No! No, you can't! Justin is gone, alright! So stop it!" Lyle suddenly shouted at Lily, grabbing her hand. Lily looked up in surprise, and just burst into a new wave of tears.

"Hey, what's going on?" A familiar voice said.

Alden turned around to see Arnu. Arnu appeared from behind a heap of boulders but when he saw what was happening. He sprinted over to his dead brother and crouched next to Lily. He placed a hand on her back and cast a look in the direction of his brother's body. He had already understood what had happened and even though Alden could see a wave of different emotions make themselves known behind Arnu's eyes, Arnu still somehow managed to hold them back and stay composed.

"Shh, " Arnu said holding his sister close and letting her cry into his shoulder.

Alden heard a massive sound and he turned around and saw Light McKing. McKing had finally managed to defeat the boss and Alden knew that because of the notification that had popped up in his head. McKing flew towards where the siblings and Alden were and he regarded them with eyes that were full of contempt and distaste. He was not sorry about what happened, rather he was disgusted. He was not disgusted with himself but with the fragile nature of those weaker than him.

"So weak, like glass...That's why I hate you ants," He muttered to himself as he stared down.

Lyle looked up and glared at Light, his eyes full of anger and hate. Arnu didn't have time to warn him before Light appeared right next to Lyle and backhanded him, making him fly away, he smashed into some of the large boulders as he went and by the time he had stopped, he was not moving.

Alden widened his eyes in shock, he had just witnessed a man get killed so easily, and it was very clear the perpetrator did not fear facing justice. He was confident he could get away with killing somebody who was much weaker than him and he knew there was none strong enough to stop him. From all of the years Alden had lived, survived, and gone through life while being at the very bottom of the food chain, there was no other time that he felt weak. No, he was experiencing true weakness.

"You bastard!" Arnu shouted. Alden turned and watched him in shock. For the first time since he had met Arnu, Arnu had lost his cool. Then he saw Arnu cast him a look, and it was then that he realized that the quiet boy he knew was still the most composed person there. In Arnu's eyes, Alden could see exactly what he wanted him to do. Alden nodded, letting Arnu know that he got his message.

Arnu sprinted toward the unsuspecting Light McKing, who just watched Arnu charge at him. He seemed amused that this tiny ant was challenging him, the king of the jungle.

Alden turned to Lily, he could see tears streaming down her cheeks as she watched her only brother charge toward death. Alden could not imagine the misery and shock she was going through. Alden himself was confused, he had unconsciously taken Lyle as a friend, and that friend had been snatched away from him, and now the man he had taken as his companion was charging toward his death.

Alden felt distressed, he didn't understand why he wasn't the one charging at Light McKing angrily, in an attempt to hurt him, to make him feel pain. Why? He asked himself. Then he understood why. He had to grow strong.

Alden ran to Lily and placed his hands around her. He cast one last look in the direction in which Arnu had run. Alden saw Arnu lying on the ground, a gaping hole in his chest that Light had made. Arnu was dead and Alden knew he had to hurry, as both he and Lily were the next target. Alden turned away.

[GLITCH (lv 1) ACTIVATED]