Oh Hunter My Hunter

The earth shook and rumbled, a deep, resonant tremor that sent vibrations through Amias's bones. Something massive was leaving its mark on the world and he was lucky enough to feel every moment of it. He stumbled forward, then back, nearly losing his footing before catching himself and feeling a bit impressed in himself. His gaze flickered to Tobi.

"So, regressor, do you know what that might be?" Amias asked in a nervous laugh, his voice laced with wary curiosity.

Instead of an immediate response, he saw Tobi staring upward, his expression unreadable. Following his gaze, Amias turned and felt his breath get caught in his throat.

A tree. A colossal, incomprehensible tree.

He had never seen Mount Everest in person, but he imagined it was about that size. Its bark was stark white, glowing with a golden radiance that pulsed faintly, as if the tree itself were breathing. The branches twisted and coiled, writhing like a nest of serpents, layering upon each other in an unnatural tangle. Each leaf shimmered with a different colour and shape, a mesmerizing, kaleidoscopic spectacle. And then there were the fruits: ripe, wondrous, magical, tantalizing, succulent. The sight of them sent an almost primal yearning coursing through Amias. His body moved before he could think, each foot stepping forward, drawn in by an invisible force, his mind clouding with hunger for just a single bite, a single taste. He went to it like a moth to a flame.

Tobi stepped in front of him, breaking his trance.

"Where are you going?" he asked, watching Amias carefully.

Amias blinked several times, his mind clearing, and confusion settled over him. "Wow. I was just thinking that fruit looked really good."

"Oh, did you?" Tobi said, voice edged with amusement. "Well, you're not the only one who wants that fruit."

Amais laughed as he looked. "Haha, look at those ants climbing that tree... Were ants always that big, though?" he asked, a bit dazed and confused and then he shuddered.

What he had initially mistaken for ants climbing the colossal trunk were, people. Dozens, if not hundreds, were desperately scaling its massive expanse, scrambling over one another. One by one, they slipped and tumbled, plummeting to their deaths. Some were impaled on jagged lumps of bark, their bodies skewered like insects on a pin. Others disappeared into the tree itself, swallowed whole by some unseen force. The ones that fell freely simply vanished into the abyss below.

Amias felt sick. Just moments ago, he had laughed at the sight, unaware of the horror unfolding. He turned away, guilt gnawing at him.

"Why? What are they doing? Why was I?" He shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. "Why was I going for that?"

"This is the beginning of the end for humanity," Tobi said plainly. "Have you heard of Judgment Day? Ragnarok? Events like this are happening all over the world. Though, this one's actually in our favour."

Amias gaped at him, disbelief and anger rising in his chest. "Humanity's dying, and you're fine with it? This is 'in our favour'?! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Tobi regarded him with a quiet understanding, unfazed by the outburst. "That's a good response. I was being insensitive," he admitted.

Amias hesitated, guilt creeping in. "Yeah… maybe, but still. Sorry. It's just... wow."

He sat down, turning his back on the tree. He couldn't watch anymore. He didn't want to risk falling under its spell again. Tobi, however, remained standing, still staring at it.

"How are your burns?" Tobi asked suddenly.

"Oh, um… they're fine. Well, not fine, but not as bad as yours. The fire guy didn't take me too seriously."

He sighed, rubbing his face. "To be honest, this all felt like a really cool dream until now."

It had been thrilling, almost exciting. But now, the weight of reality hit him. The world was ending. He might die. And while everyone else was suffering, he had been daydreaming about a girl.

'Oh man, this really sucks.'

"How did you get used to this, anyway?" Amias asked, desperate for some kind of solace.

Tobi took a moment to answer. "I've lived for such a long time… eventually, I forgot what it meant to be human."

His voice was quiet, somber. Then, he smiled. "That's why you should keep that side of you, Amias. Never lose your humanity."

Amias nodded slowly, studying him. "So, if you lost what made you human… why do you care about me?"

Tobi shrugged. "Because I wanted to. There's no other reason."

Amias was surprised but couldn't help but smile. He felt strangely at ease.

"Anyway, regressor… just what is that tree?" he asked, curiosity gnawing at him even as he tried to look away.

"That tree is said to bear the fruit of ambrosia, the food and drink of the gods. Your body craves it instinctively, like a siren's call. But if the fruit isn't ripe, eating it will kill you. If it is… it grants powers reserved for the divine."

Tobi's words sent a chill through Amias. He glanced at him, nervous. "Y-You're joking, right? I'm just a human, ya know."

Tobi didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned fully toward Amias, his dark eyes glinting with something unreadable as he grinned.

"Are you ready to walk the steps of divinity, Amias Walker? To walk alongside among the gods?"