Chapter 35: A Strange Bird

Kana turned around at high speed, her body tense, ready to attack. Jolly jumped in front of her, blocking the way, she held up her hands, signaling for Kana to wait.

“Move, I told you that thing was bad news. Only high-ranked monsters are capable of speech, it is dangerous.”

She wanted to push Jolly aside, she wanted to force her out of the way, but she did not want to hurt her anymore than she already had. “Please wait, at least let it explain before we do anything, please!”

Kana saw that Jolly was standing firm, she was not going to move. The only way around her was to use force, she did not want that. “Haahhh, fine, but one wrong move and I am ending that thing, I swear it.”

The bird stared directly at Kana, its gaze sharp, it clearly did not like her attitude. {A mere human dares to threaten me? It seems humans are as arrogant as ever.}

“Hmph, says the dying bird.” She crossed her arms, getting comfortable in her seat, she was ready to hear its story just so she could kill it afterward. Jolly was also ready for it to start talking, she leaned forward. “What happened to you?” It shifted its gaze from Kana to Jolly, it stared at her for a few seconds, its head tilting, then it lifted one of its wings, holding it directly above her head.

“You-” Kana started to move, but Jolly stopped her, she gave her a look that said it was alright, she trusted it.

{Hmm, how interesting, your body is tainted with corrupted mana. This is interesting, who did this to you, human?}

“Ah, the association, they do this to all players that register there, though we do not even realize that we are being controlled. I myself only got free not long ago, I am still not sure how.”

{The association? Is that so? Which city are you from?}

“Zenith City.”

{Zenith…hmm, I see. I will return the favor for helping me, human.} Its feathers began to glow a bright yellow, the light filled the entire car. A few moments later the light disappeared, then Kana saw it, a thick, dark cloud of energy floated above Jolly’s head, the cause of everything.

“Corrupted mana…” she said, she was shocked at how much came out of her. “How… how is this possible?” she whispered, her usual confidence was gone.

The bird’s glowing feathers dimmed, it lowered its wing, its piercing eyes now fixing on Kana, its expression a mix of disdain and curiosity. {Foolish human. You play with forces you do not understand, then you wonder why you are consumed by them. This corruption has rooted itself deep within you, it was fed by your arrogance and your ignorance.}

Kana’s fists tightened, her fiery attitude was returning. “Watch your mouth, bird, we did not choose this, alright? You have no idea of how much we have suffered.”

Jolly remained quiet, she did not want to cause more trouble with her words. The bird’s gaze was still locked onto Kana, it was as if it was staring into her soul, seeing all her secrets.

{Suffered, you say?} It almost laughed, but the sound was cold, it had no humor in it. {Oh, how predictable. Humans, always draping themselves in the shroud of their own pain, proclaiming themselves the victims of forces they barely comprehend. Do you think your suffering is unique? Do you think it justifies your weakness, or the harm you have done?}

Kana glared at the bird, her expression was serious, but this was all a mask for the unease she felt. “…We….” She did not know how to respond, she had no words.

{Tell me, human, what is a monster to you?}

“Huh, monsters are evil things that kill humans, they all deserve to die for the world to be at peace.”

Jolly looked at the anger in Kana’s eyes, this did not stop the bird from educating her.

{Such naivety. You know nothing about the workings of the world. I will ask you this, what is corrupted mana?}

“It is the mana found in monsters, it is disgusting and evil, it corrupts everything.”

{Good, now think about what that mana did to you. Has it ever crossed your mind that the monsters you hunt may have been infected, just like you?}

“…” She was speechless, she had no answer.

Its gaze now felt like a heavy weight on Kana, it was waiting for her to answer back, but she could not. {Speechless, are we? I thought as much. You humans see the world in black and white, yet you swim in shades of gray. You hunt, you kill, you destroy, all under the guise of righteousness, you never once question the foundation of your so-called morality.}

Kana’s fists clenched tightly, her usual fiery replies were gone. The words dug deep, they stirred something uncomfortable inside her.

Jolly finally spoke, her voice was hesitant but steady. “Are you saying… the monsters we fight, they might have been victims too? Like us?”

The bird turned its sharp gaze to Jolly, a faint glimmer of acknowledgment appeared in its eyes. {Precisely. Do you think corruption chooses its hosts with malice or intent? No. It spreads indiscriminately, it consumes all it touches. And yet, you humans, blinded by your self-importance, declare yourselves saviors while you condemn those who were less fortunate.}

Kana finally found her voice, though it was quieter than usual. “Then… what are we supposed to do? Let them roam free? Let them kill us?” She looked at the bird, not with anger this time, but with a real curiosity.

{I am not suggesting passivity. Survival often demands violence. But understanding, that is what sets apart those who seek true change. Your hands may wield blades, but your minds must wield discernment. There are monsters born of malice, creatures that embody destruction. There are those whose evil has been twisted into something greater by the corruption, amplifying their hunger for chaos. And then, there are the innocents, the beings who lived their lives in balance with the wild until the corruption seeped into them, filling them with an unnatural thirst for blood. You do not face a war against all monsters. What you truly battle is the corruption that taints them, and yourselves.}

“If what you are saying is true, then the Association… is just the tip of the iceberg?”

Kana also joined in, “I fear we… are nothing but ants in this world.”

The bird let out a chuckle, {Poor things. You think you understand the world, but you are trapped in a bubble, small and fragile, built on limited truths. Beyond Zenith, beyond the borders of the Association’s control, there are places, cities, and continents where humans have embraced the corruption you fear. You have no idea how far humans have gone. Judging from your mana levels, you two are but ants.}

These words hit so hard, Kana did not want to believe them. “What are you talking about? Nobody embraces corrupted mana. It is dangerous. It ruins everything it touches.”

{Hmmm.} It stared at them, it noticed that they had a lot going on in their minds. {I believe this should be enough for now, think over what I have told you. And as for you, fiery one, unlike the other girl, your corrupted mana is going to need a delicate touch, one I cannot do in my current state.}

“I see, so I am not free yet, huh… Am I beyond saving?”

{Not beyond saving, no. But the corruption within you has taken root deeply, it has intertwined with your own essence. A simple cleansing would shatter you.}

Jolly gasped, “S-Shatter her?”

Kana stared at her hands, she flexed them as if trying to feel the corruption pulsing through her veins. “You are saying this… this thing inside me is part of who I am now? That without it, I might not even be me?”

{As I have said, that is all for now, think over my words.}

Jolly noticed that Kana was feeling down, things had just gotten more complicated for her. “Hey, it is okay, Vell might still be able to help, let’s go find him.”

A weak smile crept up her face, “You are right, there is still hope.”

The bird’s voice chirped in, it was shocked at that name.

{Did you just say Vell?}

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