Dark Divinity

She was undeniably beautiful and graceful, yet her current demeanour was far from poised. She ate with an almost desperate hunger, sneaking glances at him, clearly praying he wouldn't take her food.

Omen remained patient, waiting until she finished her meal. He noticed her struggle to reach a glass of water placed too far away and, without a word, handed it to her. She accepted it with cautious eyes, drinking it with a feline's guarded grace.

When she was done, she lowered her gaze, refusing to meet his eyes. There was submissive air about her now, Omen didn't pressure Luna further, understanding that her current demeanor was likely rooted in a form of respect for what he had done during their first meeting in the mess hall. He didn't delude himself into thinking she saw him as her master or anything similar. If her customs were akin to those of the Red Giant regarding debt, then he likely had only one favor to ask of her—or perhaps two.

He recalled their initial interactions. First, he had allowed her to steal his bread, a gesture that might have seemed small but meant a lot in their dire circumstances. Then, he had returned his supposed pay of meat to her, further solidifying his unintended generosity. Funny enough, there was a third instance he hadn't realized: the glass of water. It counted as a favor as well, though it hadn't dawned on him at the time.

Omen watched Luna as she resumed her meal, the tension between them easing slightly. She still avoided direct eye contact, but her body language was less guarded now. He decided to take a softer approach, hoping to build a sense of trust.

"Where can I get utility weapons, anything from clothes to charms, I'm in dire need of them and if possible, could you take me there?", Omen's question seemed to catch Luna off guard, her eyes widening in surprise before a toothy smile spread across her face. She raised two fingers, a gesture that made Omen's heart sink.

Omen's face fell as he realized that his inquiries had inadvertently covered more than one favor. He hadn't anticipated that asking about armor and underwater breathing assistance would amount to two separate requests…and she had also picked up on this as well "Seems like I'm out of options," he muttered to himself, cursing his own oversight.

Luna's expression softened as she nodded in acknowledgment of his predicament. She stood up gesturing for him to follow. Omen responded immediately as he followed Luna out of the bunker into a different one. This one was notably smaller and situated further from the main areas, closer to the giant barricade fence than to the living quarters of the humans. As they approached, the entrance door rolled up automatically with a quiet hum, revealing the interior of the bunker.

Rather than the chaos of violence or the intensity of sexual encounters he had often stumbled upon, he found a more mundane scene: a boy and a girl were engaged in training with a collection of knives.

The boy was practicing precise, fluid movements, his focus unwavering as he handled the knives with practiced ease. The girl, equally absorbed in her training, demonstrated a series of defensive maneuvers with a grace that suggested she had spent countless hours perfecting her technique.

'Yes this was how it was meant to be in this wilderness, not everyone acting like an animal trying to fuck each other'. He remembered how those blue skinned aliens had mated with their captives and fucked them to death. Omen watched them for a moment, appreciating the normalcy of the scene. Luna moved to a corner of the room, her presence seemingly unnoticed by the two trainees as they continued their practice.

As Omen looked around the small bunker, the sudden realization hit him hard. This was where his roommates had gotten their gear, the very place he had been unaware of until now. The room was a treasure trove of high-quality apparel, weaponry, and utility goods, all in excellent condition. He felt a surge of fury and shock rush over him.

He spotted a range of items: neatly arranged clothes, meticulously maintained weapons, and various tools that looked as if they had never been used. A particularly striking piece of equipment caught his eye—a black suit of armor, hung with meticulous care. It was clear from its design and craftsmanship that this armor could withstand almost any physical attack. The sheer quality and condition of the armor spoke volumes about its effectiveness.

'How did he never know about this place?', Omen's heart sank as he imagined how different his last purge might have been if he had access to such gear. He glanced back at Luna, who was watching him with a calm, almost detached expression.

Omen turned back as he scanned the wall, trying to make sense of the vast array of options, a voice suddenly cut through the silence.

"What are you looking for exactly?" the voice asked, carrying an edge of curiosity and authority.

Omen spun around quickly, his hand instinctively reaching for a weapon he hoped to find. His eyes met those of an acolyte, standing with an air of confidence and a knowing gaze. Omen's gaze lingered on the acolyte, struck by her unexpected appearance. She was different from the others he had encountered. Her bright red eyes were a stark contrast to her otherwise innocent demeanour. With a wide, chubby face and an expression of genuine curiosity, she seemed almost out of place among the more imposing figures he was used to. The black-cloaked hood she wore only added to the paradox of her appearance—an air of normalcy coupled with a touch of the supernatural.

"I'm trying to find gear that will help me survive the next purge," Omen explained, his voice steady despite his initial alarm. "Something that can protect against extreme cold and aid in underwater breathing."

The acolyte's eyes narrowed slightly, their expression thoughtful. "You're looking for specific equipment, then?" Omen made his request aloud because he wanted to gauge the reaction of any official here, the slight narrow of her eyes confirmed his suspicion. The next portion dealt with a large expanse of water.

She didn't wait for a reply but led him to a section of the room filled with various pieces of cold-weather gear. As Omen followed the acolyte to a different section of the room, he couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and apprehension. The area they approached was filled with various types of clothing, each designed for extreme conditions. His eyes widened when he saw a collection of slim-fit, elastic clothes that looked incredibly tight and form-fitting. The sight was almost comical, and Omen's face crunched in embarrassment as he imagined himself wearing such garments. The thought alone was enough to make him uncomfortable.

Fortunately, the acolyte moved past these items with a dismissive gesture, focusing instead on a small black box she retrieved from a shelf. She carefully opened the box and began pulling out a variety of clothing options. The garments she displayed included scaled clothes that looked like they were made from some sort of reptilian material, furry clothes that were thick and appeared to be very warm, and other pieces made from thick wool.

"These items are designed to handle extreme cold," the acolyte explained, her tone serious. "You can choose any one of them, but be aware that most of these clothes come with significant drawbacks. Some might protect you well against the cold but could be cumbersome or have other negative effects."

Omen swallowed hard, feeling a pang of anxiety as he processed the acolyte's words. "My roommates had all come into the bunker with luggage, and a lot of other participants did as well," he said, trying to piece together the information. "Why was I not informed about this before, then there would have been no need to come here?"

The acolyte looked at him with an enigmatic smile. "Of course, why not? They are all old purgers and were privileged to take multiple items from my collection at once. As for you, well, you're a newer participant, so you're limited to one item…so choose quickly, I have other things to do"

Omen silently examined the three options laid out before him. The first was a full dark blue armor with black wool lining the collar, wrists, shoulders, and joints. It looked exceptionally well-crafted, designed to offer protection and durability. As he attempted to lift it, he found himself struggling with its considerable weight.

The acolyte noticed his difficulty and spoke up, her tone tinged with an undertone of caution. "The Blue Shore is highly sought after because it's one of the few armors that provides durability against all temperatures, whether hot or cold. Its helmet also grants the ability to breathe underwater. However, its primary drawback is its weight, which can be quite cumbersome. Unless you're certain of what the next purge will involve, I'd advise you to choose wisely."

Omen could sense the suspicion in her voice, as if there were more to the armor than she was letting on. The idea that the armor's weight could be a significant disadvantage was something he had already noticed, but there was also a hint of something more beneath her words. He wondered if there were other factors or hidden drawbacks he hadn't yet considered.

He carefully set the Blue Shore armor back on the display and turned his attention to the other two options. Omen saw a full black suit made entirely of obsidian-scaled metal. It was a striking contrast to the Blue Shore's dark blue hue. . As he reached out to feel it, he felt a rush of unfiltered energy go through the armour, almost as if it were alive. The substance felt cold to the touch but vibrated with perceptible intensity.

Unlike the Blue Shore, which had no active abilities beyond bulk and durability, this obsidian-scaled armour appeared to have something more. Omen could detect a powerful aura flowing from it. He looked at the acolyte, who was observing him with wonder and anticipation. "What can you tell me about this one?" he enquired, his tone tinted with interest.

The acolyte's eyes lit up with a knowing gleam. "Ah, the Obsidian Aegis. This armour is unique. It is made from a rare material that channels and amplifies raw energy. Unlike the Blue Shore, the Obsidian Aegis comes with an active skill—its ability to absorb and redirect energy attacks. This means that if you're facing opponents who rely on elemental or magical attacks, the armour can turn those attacks back against them."

"This armour was forge-mastered recently. It's the only one of its kind and would have been taken already if not for its severe drawbacks. This armour grants exceptional movement in the water, transforms the wearer into a sea creature, and is immune to even the most freezing temperatures. Additionally, whenever it is exposed to water, the wearer experiences infinite strength growth. However, there are significant risks."

Omen's eyes widened at the description. The armor's capabilities sounded almost too good to be true, especially with its promises of ease in water and strength enhancement. But the acolyte's next words tempered his excitement with a heavy dose of reality.

"Unfortunately," the acolyte continued, "the armour melts instantly when exposed to intense heat. The melting point is so high that it would scald the most durable skins and could potentially kill you from within. The main reason why it's avoided, though, is that once you drink water while wearing it—even just a sip—every ounce of life would be drained from you until either your exogene is depleted, or your life force is completely drained."

Omen felt a chill run down his spine as he absorbed the implications of the armor's drawbacks. The idea of being drained of life force from something as simple as drinking water was a harrowing thought. This would have been more terrifying to others but to Omen he only needed to keep his mouth short and with [Iron lungs] remain underwater to escape the heat.

With a confident smile, he addressed the female acolyte. "I'll take this one," he said, pointing to the Obsidian Aegis. His earlier hesitation about the white armor had faded; it was clear that the Obsidian Aegis was the better fit for his needs.

The acolyte's eyes sparkled with approval. "A bold choice," she said as she carefully handled the Obsidian Aegis and began preparing it for him. "The armor is unique and has the potential to be incredibly powerful in the right circumstances. Just remember the risks and use it wisely."

Omen nodded, appreciating the acolyte's guidance even though he secretly plotted on how best to kill her, and then looked at her once more. "Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."