GREED: ALL FOR WHAT?



Soverick and the others were spawned after the arena was set. The battle sage monkeys with ancient bloodlines all felt it immediately. They knew as soon as they were spawned that a fated enemy was among them. It started as a chill from deep within them and extended to an uncomfortable tingling in their extremities. Then their bloodlines became agitated.

"Do you feel that?" One of them asked the people around them.

"What is that feeling?"

"Something is wrong."

"I feel weird."

They clamored amongst themselves, looking for the cause of their discomfort. It is a disconcerting feeling to have their instincts warring against reality. Their bloodline is activating the mode of fight or flight that weak creatures feel. As transcendents, lords, and kings of laws, they have soul-bodies, so they shouldn't be affected by such a thing. 

Yet, they feel as if an enemy is near, and they should get ready to fight or escape. But they can't see their enemies either. The major problem is not the absence of an unseen enemy. It is that they should have perfect control of their body even if an enemy is around them.

All 3 million of them that qualified were spawned on a single side in the arena. They are close to each other, so the confusion that a portion of them are feeling is causing spreading amongst them and creating a disturbance.

"Stay away from me. Stay away from me, or we'll fight." One of them said to those around them in agitation.

This person brandished his weapon and forced others to stay away from them. This occurrence is not unique. The instinct to prepare for a great enemy is making them lash out at their surroundings. They can't see what's causing them to be this irritated, so they are directing their aggression toward what they can see.

It is not their fault. They know that the battle sage monkeys around them are not their enemies. That's why a great fight has not started yet. It is not every one of them that is feeling paranoid and agitated. Actually, only a small portion of them are feeling weird. The rest of the battle sage monkeys are just on high alert and ready to fight. 

The highly alert battle sage monkeys were startled at the reaction of the weird people, but they didn't take offense due to their aggressive behavior. They are aware that something is wrong and that there is something dangerous around them. They also know that the dangerous things are not the battle sage monkeys around them. The battle sage monkeys around them are the only ones that they can trust in this weird situation. So they held themselves from going all out.

The feeling of aggression is just one of the reactions to the presence of a sworn enemy. Some other people aren't taking it so well. Their bloodlines activated within them with a boiling sensation. It is not a pleasant feeling at all. But it is also making them recollect some things. These strange memories are shutting them down. At least they aren't becoming violent.

Ghaster is shaking. He has been spawned at the very front of the battle sage monkeys. Other battle sage monkeys with crowns were spawned in a single line in front of the others. Their lieutenants were spawned behind them, followed by groups. People in a faction were spawned close to each other, so everyone has someone familiar close to them.

Ghaster has the crown of one of the 5 king crowns, so he was spawned at the head of the battle sage monkeys. He has not examined his environment since he was spawned. He doesn't know their spawned arrangement or who was spawned close to him. He started shaking immediately after he was spawned, and that shaking only increased with time. His body is reacting violently because of the memories that have been invoked within his bloodline.

Ancestral memories are never clear. They are called memories, but they are more like intents or wills. You don't remember how your ancestor learned to fight with a sword with your ancestral memories. You only instinctively know how to fight with a sword like your ancestor. 

Ancestral memories just make you fight better, as if you're remembering how to fight. It is like someone with amnesia doing things that they have forgotten how they learned. It is like muscle memory. You fight without really thinking about it. It is something ingrained in your psyche. It is never clear, but the memories Ghaster is getting right now are different. They are clear memories with vivid images and distinct emotions.

The memories came to him unbidden. He lost his perception of the present. The past came rushing to him like a tide. He didn't resist, so it drowned him easily. But he didn't suffocate. There are no issues with compatibility, so the memories embraced him. The memories are his, and he is the memories. They are one through all of time as joined by the immortal lineage of Heavenly Punishment And Destruction.

FLASHBACK 

He can see himself running. He is running, and he is angry. His heart is beating wildly in his chest. It is threatening to burst out of his chest cavity. His beating heart is pumping blood through his body. This blood is saturated with Mana. So his heart is responsible for pushing Mana into every part of him. 

He accompanied his heart in its efforts by breathing rhythmically. He is not breathing in a random manner. He inhales and pulls mana-rich air into his lungs. The Mana is then absorbed by his blood, where it flows to his heart and is pumped through his body. His rhythmic breathing ensures that Mana cycles his lung in sync with the beating of his heart. It makes his body a deep well that Mana enters without pause in an unobstructed flow.

He can feel energy thumping through him. It is thrumming wildly through him. The cycling of energy is immense. He is taking in too much energy because his heart is beating too fast. While there is no obstruction to the flow of Mana, he can't control this much energy. But he needs it for what's about to occur.