Chapter 13: What makes a monster (1/2)

Alex therefore followed the direction the smog was thicker and it kept getting thicker and thicker until he could barely see his surroundings. He feels a bit grateful that he doesn't seem to get sick from the smog no matter how thick it got, probably a result of his physique.

After reaching a point where the smog could be almost be felt, Alex found himself in front of an ominous cave.

'No matter what there is beyond the entrance....I have to fight it, for the villagers, for the mother and her baby. I became the most revered and powerful being in this world upon coming here so the least I can do is help those who were not blessed with the same fortune' Alex isn't a justice freak, sure, he helps those in need, but he wouldn't call himself a hero. That sort of title not only is cringy and one-dimensional, but the expectations placed on a 'hero' are extremely high and he wouldn't be able to bear it.

Back when he was in middle school, a big fire occurred at his school and he was lucky to be far from the fire and was able to escape. While evacuating, he reached a classroom where the fires blazed and there were students screaming in there. Alex was only able to help one student as he evaluated he would either asphyxiate himself or get third-degree burns if he tried to help the others, a hero, on the other hand, would jump in regardless or risk, and save the students, Alex didn't have that kind of plot armour. Although he went to search for the nearest fire extinguisher, and when he found it and came back, firefighters, the real 'heros' of the day, fortunately put out the fires and saved all of the students who only had minor burns and wounds. Alex was even scolded by the firefighters for not evacuating to safety. Alex didn't care about his 'feats' being spread, he wasn't a hero after all. Nonetheless, later that day, the student he saved and their parents personally thanked him and he had to admit it felt good.

'Old times' Alex felt way too old and time had passed too fast. What seemed like just days ago he was still a high school student, studying for his big exams and caring for his younger brother. Now, he is already 23 years old, in the prime of his youth, in another world as a 'god'.

Putting aside his thoughts, Alex stepped in the cave with conviction and determination, determination that he would save them.

The cave was dark, with only a single light source. Alex felt goosebumps and chills on his back, looking to the source of light, it was a giant lizard, the size of a fridge, with glowing orbs on his head, sticking out on 2 antennae, similar to the terrifying deep-sea fish from his past world.

It looked like the lizard was the source of the problem. Strangely though, instead of attacking, the lizard mouthed something and he heard a deep voice, that no human could ever make.

”Here to fight me? I advise you not. You are going to die a painful death if you don't get as far as possible from me”

Alex was shocked senseless at the speaking monster, and even more so, at his words. A monster that could speak and form correct sentences, that meant that this monster was intelligent and conscious?

”I think this smog you're emitting is killing the villagers. If you could just stop emitting it or I think I'll have to deal with it another way” Seeing a conscious monster made him hesitant, but Alex steeled his resolve and awaited for the monster's response.

Seeing him unaffected by the smog, the lizard mouthed ”You're not affected by my curse, I finally found someone who can survive it. I can't stop this curse. I've been born a few days ago and the smog keeps getting stronger and stronger and I know this kills almost every living thing in an area.”

The lizard was right. In a few kilometers perimeter around the cave, every single fauna and flora has withered and met its demise. It was a very scary thing. Alex met its eyes and weirdly, felt like the creature was in immense pain. The 2 looked at each other, Alex thinking about what he has to do and the lizard thinking about its existence.

The lizard broke the silence first, and told him ”When I was born, I wanted to love, to eat, to obey my instincts and lead an ordinary existence. But I was given a curse, that of killing everything in my surroundings, a curse that would progressively get stronger until every happy thing will end at my hands. I know, I have led but a miserable existence and I'd rather die at this point than live to see everything I could care about disappear”

It seemed to be more of a self-deprecating monologue than the lizard speaking to him, but Alex felt tears in his eyes at the words of the lizard.

When monsters are just being monsters, following their instincts and causing harm 'voluntarily', eliminating them is morally just and feels easy to do, but this monster in front of him, it has a consciousness, intelligence and knows its actions are bad, but cannot change them despite that. It's very confusing, even if the monster causes death and despair, it didn't choose to be this way.

Alex felt his resolve break down and immense pity and distress that someone could be born, a danger to everyone and one that needed to be eliminated simply because of its birth circumstances, not its will.

In that sense, what makes a monster, a monster?

Alex felt like he had to think about it later, but his onslaught of thoughts was interrupted by a notice on his retina.

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(Requirements met for a new function, Creature Appraisal)

(Creature Appraisal awakening in process)

(Creature Appraisal awakened)

(Undergoing Creature Appraisal...)

Name: Unnamed

Species: Nightmare Lizard

State of Existence: Mortal God

Notes: A king of poisonous reptiles born once every few hundred years. If it isn't eliminated when it's still young, its poison can spread very far and kill everything in the area of its smog. Nightmare Lizards are usually unintelligent and unconscious, but this one was born with high intelligence.

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Alex was surprised at the new function, appraising living beings and giving him comprehensive data on them but trying out the new function would have to wait.