The Knights are broken
Chapter 3

In a large lab, complete with sophisticated tools that compose the function of a large tube filled with water. In it looks a naked body that is familiar floating slowly with the foam that comes out of the breathing apparatus. They seemed very busy working with each computer in front of their eyes, while talking about the human body tube that looks helpless.

"Master ...!" exclaimed the woman in glasses, while giving a signal with body language.

Damian who was dumbstruck in front of the big tube was shocked, "W-what?!" he said, non-stop smoking the cigarette he was holding.

The woman walked in front of Damian, then crossed her hands, "No smoking in the lab" the woman warned.

Damian ignored the woman's words, he continued to smoke a cigarette that seemed to be his last puff.

"This incident has never been made public, quite strange, right? Jane," Damian said to the woman in front of him. Her name is Jane.

"You think?" asked Jane briefly with a cynical face.

"Yes, it's pretty weird. The government is completely covering everything up" Damian said as he walked into the room next to the tube, and opened a computer displaying a hologram of Adam's biodata.

"Hey! Don't put cigarette butts on the table ... Ah, that's it."

...

Somewhere, in Mid-Geb.

The warmth of the morning did not last long, when the sky began to be covered by clouds. His body that was tanned due to the sticky ground was slowly being flushed by the rain.

For the first time in his life, Adam saw something terrible. Where blood and flesh splattered at the end of the place, and were swept away by the torrent of rain. And the earthen pits slowly filled into a puddle that looked like a thick red porridge.

Surrounded by strange creatures, Adam could only speak a thousand languages. His mind does not function normally because many minds are full of question marks, "Why don't I wake up? Wait, don't tell me it's real, ' he thought.

One of a group of strange creatures came closer, so close that it met face to face. Even his warm snores of breath accidentally blew the surface of Adam's face. With a threatening look, he said, '"This guy is mine!" cetus while floating the black claws are shiny-sharp.

But the attack had to come to a halt when it felt that there was an oddity with Adam's expression not budging at all. He again threatened Adam by saying, "Give him a chance to run in ten seconds. I'll count from.. now! One...! Two...!"

However, Adam still did not budge, making the creature scratch its head in astonishment. Feeling like he was out of his way, he put his big claw around Adam's neck, "When you're gonna get cut, you son of a bitch! Why not just run?!" he snorted like a horse.

"How hard I run, the result will be the same" Adam replied calmly.

Hearing Adam's statement, he instead laughed very loudly, "Hahaha! Yep... Also true. You're a very weak human being!" taunting the creature while banging Adam on the shoulder. Adam was very upset with the teasing.

"I can measure Mana by smelling it," the creature breathed deeply, "Your scent is fragrant as well, but strange... Where is yours empty" continued the monster scratching his head, "You are a deformed creature huh?" his ridicule, while pushing Adam's chest with the tip of the index.

The creature's mockery didn't lure Adam, he just reacted by throwing his gaze away, "Huh? A fragrance? Though I haven't had a bath in a week" he said in his mind.

Unknowingly, the atmosphere of the war had already stopped, even the hysterical sound was no longer heard. All these strange feathered creatures gathered round the strongest place, the King.

The larger creature approached the higher figure, looked down and said, "Master, Mandraak. We have not found a living one anymore. All but this man had been slaughtered" he said, pointing at Adam.

The strong figure was named Mandraak, his body upright walking slowly with a worn-out black robe. The robe covered all parts of his body except his hands. Then, he pointed to the human body lying on the ground, telling his men instructions to check on the human condition, "The man is still breathing" he said.

One of the creatures that was close to dragging the man's body, suddenly made him shout thrashing. One more creature came close to the man's neck, he chewed his soft neck, until the head detached from the body.

Mandraak approached Adam, and said, "I want you to turn away from here. But just walk slowly. Don't you dare turn your face or run. Then I'll guarantee your safety." Mandraak pointed towards the eastern forest, "Go there, tell them about my sadism. But remember, if you turn or run. I don't hesitate to kill you. Remember that, I'll kill you right away." he continued in a threatening tone.

"You're going to kill me, when I turn around," Adam hesitated.

But it was immediately denied by Mandraak, saying, "I am Mandraak, I never lie."

As all the creatures there laughed, one of them said, "Well, I want to see him run away and cut off." Hearing the ridicule, the other violent creatures burst into laughter.

The confident Adam turned towards the forest, saying, "Heh, this will be easy."

The creatures opened the way for Adam to leave. But, Adam was only halfway, Mandraak moved to do something without Adam's knowledge.

"By my authority to control the fear of a being, all who know of my existence, will submit under my absolute power, which is Fear."

Mandraak raised one of his hands and let out a hint of dark aura from the tip of his index finger. He glanced sharply at Adam, sending a message, "Whoever is cursed by mine, even the Gods will be afraid before him. With the rules I've made, if you break them, you'll go crazy or die."

"Huh? What's he talking about? I couldn't hear from this distance" said Adam who started running towards the forest.

Terrace ...

The Mandraak kept watching from a distance.

"When my distance to him is very far, but it feels very close. Me why? What's he doing back there?" adam muttered, and began to have panic attacks. Adam's breath was already irregular and his mind had become muddled, "What is this? Why am I .. getting scared? I-I'm afraid to turn, afraid to run, afraid to be quiet, even afraid to lose consciousness. I have to keep going, because ... I'm afraid to stop."

Adam decided to keep going. Walking from the morning until unconscious at night. Along the way he was only overshadowed by the fear of Mandraak who did not stop.

Half-conscious, Adam heard a whisper from his ear, a girl's voice shouted but the voice muffled, "Haloo ...? Are you conscious?"

Adam's fear suddenly faded, visible from the eyes that began to empty slowly filled with life. However, the body has felt very tired and can no longer bear the burden, so he ended up falling unconscious.

Upon awakening, Adam spontaneously opened both eyes, because he was shocked it was late at night. "Well, what just happened?!" said Adam who was reflexively moving waking up from his sleep.

Slowly he looked towards the back of the body to make sure of the situation, he subconsciously shouted, "That creature, a...!"

Suddenly a girl appears beside him interrupting Adam, "Hey-hey, what's wrong?!" She was a blond girl, staring innocently at Adam with her dark yellow eyes, "Did you hear me?" The color of her lips was pretty, like a pink water guava, closing tenderly as she spoke. Her tiny face was visibly irritated as Adam ignored her talking, "Why ignore me so?! What kind of creature do you mean?! Listen no...? What are you doing in the middle of the night in this forest?" the girl asked, holding Adam's shoulder.

But, Adam responded cynically and replied, "Nothing .. I'm going."

Hearing that, the girl became angry. He hit Adam's body hard, and said, "Conscious...! I just helped you, at least say thank you enough."

"Oh, Alright. Thanks, but I don't have any treasure to—" the girl spontaneously cut out Adam's words. "I'm not a double eye ...!" said the girl snapping, while hitting Adam's shoulder.

The girl was upset, visible from her blushing white face. He said firmly, "I've helped cast evil magic, but it's been treated like this instead. Hm ...!" he said while crossing both hands.

"All right, thank you."

The girl's expression instantly changed, she smiled happily replying, "Sama-sama ...!"

He started to introduce himself by starting to pull Adam's right hand, "By the way, introduce my name is Joy Abby, just call Joy. I live in a village near here. It just so happened that me and my friends were looking for twigs, and accidentally saw you looking so messed up. You were exposed to the Mana of darkness, but lucky I can use a little purification magic and..."

Tired of listening to the girl named, Joy Abby who did not stop babbling, Adam tried to stand up slowly. Although he looks staggering, he tries to balance by breathing long breaths. However, stamina has reached its limit. Unable to stand up again made him fall unconscious.

Waking up the next day, in a small house. Looks like the girl named Joy was cooking something last night.

Looking at Adam who was planga-plongo after waking up, "Hey, sleep well?" joy said, "Later change your clothes, yes, because what you're wearing is broken" he continued, pointing at the brown cloth on the table.

"Huh, clothes? adam said, staring at the shabby clothes he was wearing, and continued muttering, "I remember wearing a hoodie. Why even this shabby cloth?"

"What the hell?! Keep talking to yourself!" suhut Joy denounced with a dissatisfied expression.

"Hey, you. this is dima—" Joy cut out Adam's words and snapped while brandishing a medium-sized wooden spoon. "You! You are! You are! I told you, didn't I?! My name is Joy! Remember that!"

Hearing that, for a moment Adam just stares at Joy. The gaze that made the girl should blush was ashamed, "This is my home" he said stammeringly.

Adam sees the rest of the house, begins to feel concerned about the place Joy considers home. Although it is still habitable, but the foundations of the house have been very weathered.

Joy watched Adam who kept glancing to his side, feeling uneasy she said, "I know you don't like this shabby place, but stay a while. Until you feel okay. Then go away."

"Just relax, I'm a lot more used to this place. But, don't bother with me. I'm leaving," added Adam, with a slightly squeaky face.

He got out of bed, waving his hands while saying goodbye coolly. However, before his steps reached outside the door, there was an empty stomach sound. Adam had to turn around and sit on a chair in front of the dining table.

Joy chuckled at this man's behavior, putting a warm breakfast of porridge on the dinner table, saying, "Call me Joy, yes."

Adam did not care what the girl who cooked the food said, he just ate the food with his greed. "It felt pretty good" he said, seeming to have lost his veins.

Hearing that, Joy felt very happy, she pulled up the other dining table chair and began to open the conversation, "I can guide you around in this region. But, tell me your name first."

"My name...?" say Adam unceasingly chewed the food that he then forced to swallow, "Ah ... Adam Maula, just call Adam.."

"Gee ...! What a good name. Adam, greetings."