Origin Seeker

Two days after they arrived, the operation was officially started.

The plan that they were given was to make their way from the kingdom through the frontlines and ultimately cut their way through to the third continent. They were obviously going to meet resistance along the way and it wouldn't be a fast process.

Dream had actually asked why they wouldn't just drop in by flying, and what they told him was that they wanted to use this spearhead as a way to lessen the pressure on the frontlines. Basically, since they had the combat power they were going to make full use of it. He didn't have any objections, not that they would matter much. 

Currently, Dream, Riddick, Idona, Ciroc, and a few dozen other mage and fighters were at the front gates to the city.

"We'll use these carriages to take us to the target outposts. They're mana driven and although they aren't fast, they can carry all of us."

Dream looked around at the 8 carriages lined up. They were made of wood and metal and they were enchanted to be run off of mana. The inside definitely did not look the most comfortable, though they were right about it being big. 

'These carriages suck.'

[Yea.]

"Alright, I'm going to call out whos on what carriage..."

For the next few minutes, Ciroc assigned people their carriages. He and Idona were together along with Dream, Riddick, and 5 other fighters. Everyone else, who totaled up to 50, were assigned to the other 7 carriages.

'Huh. Looks like I'm going to be the safest during this trip. That may or may not be a good thing.'

Dream boarded the carriage along with everyone else. When they were loaded, all the carriages finally set off. 

"*sigh* Next stop, Demon outpost. It's supposedly helmed by a class 3. None of us have ever fought a demon before, so whoever fights it needs to be careful." 

Ciroc sighed and sat back. In front of all of them was a table with a big map on it. This map had their route and all the outposts on it marked. In Dream's vision, Sophia overlayed the map with theirs and sent drones to recon the outposts, getting their situation. She also used the satellites to verify the location accuracy.

[Everything checks out. The outposts are the villages that have been overrun. Though I'm not able to verify the strength of any leader.]

Dream nodded. He didn't really care about not being able to verify the leader strength. They had class 4's with them. The chances of them dying were slim to none.

Another assurance Dream had was the fact that he had 4 drones overhead watching the surrounding few dozen miles as well as a satellite. With this, they wouldn't get caught off guard.

"With our schedule, it'll be a week or two before we reach the land bridge. Then it'll be another few weeks to get to the core of this demon race. Though we definitely won't be bored. We're going to be hitting many villages and small cities that are battling the demons or have been overrun. It'll be a busy month."

Ciroc laid out their schedule. Dream wasn't too unhappy with that. As long as they were doing something and not wasting time in these stupid carriages, he would be good.

'I'll have to find time to head up to the station.'

[If you have the energy. Who knows how much you're going to be fighting.]

'Maybe. How close is our destination?'

[At the rate you're going, we'll make contact in around 7 hours. And I have something you would want to do until then. Come on up.]

Dream closed his eyes as he sat, letting Sophia bring him into his mind space.

He appeared in their fighting arena. When Dream saw Sophia in front of him, he thought they would fight again and felt his muscles tighten out of reflex.

[You won't be fighting me. I've been collecting tons of data on the demons from the army, and I'm going to simulate them so you can fight them.]

"...Oh. Alright."

[Though since the demons we've found are only class 2 at most, they won't be able to harm you individually. So you'll obviously fight more than one. Here.]

*Snap*

With a flick, demons began spawning in front of them with loud screeches. When Dream saw them, he was a bit surprised.

The demons weren't as grotesque as they usually were portrayed in video games and movies. Most of them looked like humanoids or beasts, though a defining factor for both was the horns and bone. Many had bone exoskeletons that acted as an external armor, something that wasn't common in regular animals. So although they were definitely recognizable, they weren't anything like a zombie or crazed beast.

[The surprising thing about demons is that they aren't stupid, something I only learned after the army made contact. They use numbers to their advantage and fight best in groups. Another thing that I found interesting was that the more there are in one place, the stronger the individuals become. It's like they share their power.]

"There has to be some limit though."

[There is. Just because there are 1000 class 2's does not mean that they somehow become as strong as a class 3. It's more supportive if anything like transferring energy. But it is noticeable, so 1000 class 2's will be infinitely harder to defeat than only 100. So class 2 human groups would be hard presed to put up a fight.]

"I see."

[There are also many different types of demons. Some are mages and can use magic, some are fighters, some are ranged. They cover all areas of expertise, and their skill is considerable. Other than that, I haven't been able to gain much more information. We'd need to observe more powerful demons to see more.]

"That's fine. So you want me to fight these demons?"

Dream looked ahead of him. Demons were everywhere, at least a few thousand.

[Yes. I'll pit you against a horde straight on. You have your full power at your disposal. Since I know you'd be able to fight them indefinitely with your mana regeneration and Aegis, this will only serve to show you their habits.]

Dream nodded. One of his biggest strengths was definitely his longevity. He regenerated mana extremely quickly, especially with his tools. So the only way he would get overrun was if the demons could force him to expend more mana than he regenerated. That wouldn't happen with only these class 2's.

[Then let's get started.]

Dream was suddenly moved a distance away from the horde of demons. Moments later, lances of fire, ice, and rock began flying to him by the hundred. The horde also began charging him while archers launched metal-tipped arrows filled with mana. They were really about to hit him from every angle. But it wasn't like Dream needed to dodge or tank everything.

"I often wondered why people never learned the power of deflection."

Not even a second after he said that, the projectiles had reached him. He simply stood there as if nothing was happening. And before they could scratch him, they suddenly changed direction, crashing into the ground behind him.

"It's such a useful technique. Saves lots of energy. Aegis."

"Yes, my lord."

Aegis flowed out from his clothes and conglomerated in front of him. Dream pointed.

"Go play."

"As you wish."

Aegis stood and faced the demons. He then grew four additional arms on his back, and all six turned into blades. Not a moment after, he dashed into the horde.

*Slice*

7 demons were cut in half with a single swing of his blades. This was only the start of a one-sided slaughter. He buried himself in the horde and spun around constantly in order to maximize his killing rate. Blood and limbs began to coat the floor and create pools of red.

But he couldn't handle them all alone. Many got past him and continued to Dream, who took out a few flux guns and over a dozen blades of his own. His weapons floated around him as if having a life of their own.

The next second, he also dashed into the horde. His guns fired incessantly, bringing down dozens before he even made contact. And when he finally did, his blades created a barrier around him, slicing everything that tried to get near. 

*Splash!*

Gallons upon gallons of blood were spilled. But as expected of a horde of demons, there was always another to take the place of those killed. It was a never-ending battle, and Dream eventually had to pay attention to his mana expenditure. 

He was constantly concentrating on his weapons, the demons around him trying to slice him, and the projectiles flying in from above. Lots of information poured into his mind, but after a while of fighting, he began developing patterns and his mind wasn't so burdened. His mana consumption also decreased as he found more efficient ways to avoid attacks. 

Eventually, Dream reached peak efficiency. His mana expenditure rate was brought below his regen rate and he wasn't taking damage. At no point did he receive a wound and he was always on the offensive. Though he would eventually come to run out of bullets, he even found ways to recycle the rounds he fired. Plus he could always just get rid of the guns and use blades.

Thousands of demons were slain a minute by both him and Aegis, who had come up with a very creative way to kill enemies. Aegis had turned entirely into individual blades and went flying around through the heads of the demons, like a swarm of wasps. His killing efficiency far outstripped Dream's. Though Dream wasn't trying to compete and was only excited to see the various forms of this piece of armor.

...............

"We're coming up on the first outpost. Everyone ready up!"

7 hours later, Ciroc shouted out to all the carriages. Dream heard this up in his mind space.

[Well, I guess this battle has come to an end.]

Suddenly, the endless waves of demons disappeared. Dream froze in place, having just sliced off the head of a demon. 

"*sigh* My bloodlust is a little high."

Dream was currently drenched red, and as he took a step, his foot sloshed through a swamp of blood that rose to his ankles. His aura as violent and bloodthirsty, and anyone who were to see him right now would think that he was the hellspawn. 

After mercilessly killing for so long, he couldn't help but be carried away by it. It was infectious, and even he knew how much he had been affected. 

[Just don't kill anyone when you go back out.]

"Heh."

Dream suddenly put on a wide grin. Even the mere mention of killing got his blood boiling again. 

[Alright, go on back.]

Dream nodded and closed his eyes. Moments later he was back in the carriage.

"Hm?"

Noticing something off, the others in the carriage looked over. When they laid eyes on Dream, who had opened his eyes, they suddenly felt threatened.

"Boy? What's wrong with you?"

Even Riddick couldn't help but speak up, concerned. Dream's aura was deadly and bloody, something that he had never seen from him before. Dream looked to them, remembering his aura. He smiled.

"Oh, sorry."

He activated his skill and retracted his aura, apologizing. Though the people near him still didn't feel safe.

"...Interesting."

Ciroc had also turned his attention as did Idona, but it was more out of interest. This young kid with only B+ level mana was capable of threatening all the class 3's in the carriage. Not everyone could produce an aura like that. Such a barbarous nature could only come from absolute slaughter. And they got curious as to what this kid went through to give him something like that.

Little did they know that it was himself. Sophia was basically capable of reproducing reality inside his mind space, and it was a definite truth that one's own thoughts changed one's nature more than external environments. 

After that little spook, everyone focused back on the matter at hand. Ciroc spoke up.

"I've sensed demons ahead. We'll hit a bit of resistance in front of the village, but they're mostly concentrated within. Gather a squad."

"Uh, actually, do you mind if I go? Like, just me and Riddick."

Dream chimed in before everyone scrambled out. Ciroc looked at him, amused.

"You want to handle them alone?"

"Preferably, yes. Though I'm not sure about how strong the class 3 is, so I want to take Riddick just in case."

"That's fine."

Idona spoke this time, giving the okay. Ciroc seemed to understand and nodded as well. 

"Go ahead."

"Thanks!"

Dream immediately hopped out of the carriage. When he did, he rose up into the air, overlooking the demon village. 

*Screech!*

From far away, a violent scream was heard. All 8 carriages stopped moving and everyone hopped out.

"Attention!"

Ciroc jumped out and called everyone over.

"Dream and Riddick are going to handle this village alone. Everyone, just stand back and be ready to support if anything unexpected happens."

"Alone?"

"Well, if it's the prince then maybe."

"Who's the prince?"

Chatter arose and everyone began focusing on Dream in the air and Riddick on the ground. 

Dream didn't pay attention to them and scanned the village.

[Majority class 1, 300 class 2, and one signature that's weaker than Riddick but has surpassed your own mana level by a bit. Likely a new class 3.]

"The perfect enemy."

Dream smiled, feeling excitement well up in him.

"Old Man."

"Yes?"

Riddick rose up next to him.

"I think I can do this alone."

"Maybe. That's definitely a class 3, though it's weak. The class 2's are also a problem. But if you're confident, then I won't stop you. I'll just be nearby."

"Sure."

Dream looked down towards Ciroc and Idona. They nodded, as did he.

"Then I'll be off. Enjoy the show."

"I will."

Saying so, Dream blasted off towards the village a few hundred meters away. The rest of the expedition force watched him after rising into the air.

"Just him? Why isn't Riddick going?"

"Maybe he's testing him."

"Maybe. Let's see how he does against them. Hopefully he has good crowd control abilities."

As they chattered, Dream had approached the village and landed on the ground, catching the attention of all the demons there.

The horde of nearly 1500 looked over to him. Others within the village jumped on top of buildings and came out of houses.

As they looked at him, wondering why a human would be so foolish as to just offer himself up, Dream's aura exploded out. A wave of violence washed over all the demons and even the team a few hundred meters back, and those weaker than him couldn't help but cower under the ruthless and threatening feeling.

After that, his weapons appeared next to him. 10 swords began circling him like guardians. Aegis prepared to activate, but it wasn't time yet. Dream looked over all the demons, like a predator at its prey, and smiled eerily.

"Let's dance."