A Knull!
Even though Uncle Bob barely spoke of the tales of those creatures to Ryuk, there was no individual on EndEarth who could claim to have no idea of what type of creature they were.
According to what Ryuk had been able to learn about this world from the other core hunters he reluctantly met with, it was said that the world had changed and that it wasn't only humans living here.
There were new creatures, like vampires and werewolves, which Ryuk understood to be humans who drank blood and those who could shift into wolves.
Even though Ryuk himself had not met one in person, the way they were described to him made it easy to believe in their existence—it couldn't be mere fantasy.
But reigning above all these creatures, and striking terror into the hearts of every living being on EndEarth, was the group known as the Knulls.
They were said to be savagely powerful and supremely intelligent, with the average Knull being able to flatten entire cities.
They had no allies, and neither did they care about humans, vampires, or werewolves.
They would kill and devour anything on sight to improve their power.
It was even said that it was due to the existence of these Knulls that the human race was given a breather, as the other powerful creatures that should have hunted humans ignored them to focus on battling against the bigger threat.
Eventually, those creatures were forced to ally with the humans themselves.
The Knulls were like the lions of a jungle, and their name petrified every single living thing on EndEarth.
That was why Ryuk found himself unable to move away from where he stood, looking dazedly at Uncle Bob.
It had never been recorded that a Knull creature had ever come to Sector E. What petrified Ryuk the most was the fact that the Knull had come looking for him!
Why would a Knull come looking for him, a boy from the trashy Grade E city of EndEarth?
"I know you have a lot of questions in your mind, Ryuk. You are desperate for the answers, aren't you?"
"About who your mum and dad are?"
"About why you're robotic instead of human flesh?"
"About why I have always ignored every one of these questions of yours whenever you asked?"
Uncle Bob said, as Ryuk noticed the ground beneath his feet suddenly began shaking in a powerful tremor.
He watched as the space before Uncle Bob opened and something emerged from deep underground.
It looked a bit like an altar, and on top of it were two objects.
The first that Ryuk could see was a gem, a glowing blue gem inscribed with strange runic lines, and the second thing was an... egg?
Uncle Bob's hand stretched outward as he took the two objects in his hands and turned back to Ryuk, walking towards him.
He arrived before him and kneeled on a single knee, but this time, Ryuk was unable to muster a word as he stared into Uncle Bob's eyes.
The way Uncle Bob was looking at him—it was remorseful.
It was filled with so much sadness that Ryuk's heart almost spiraled out of his chest.
He could sense it—something bad was about to happen.
And only now did Ryuk's attention return to the fact that Uncle Bob's body was dispersing into ashes.
"Uncle Bob... your skin..." he called out to him, but Uncle Bob only smiled.
"Look at these two objects, Ryuk," Uncle Bob said, as Ryuk's attention was forcefully drawn to the items in his palm.
"This gem right here in my hand is the reason why we've been here for close to 16 years now," Uncle Bob said as Ryuk's eyes narrowed.
"What is it?"
"It's a guide, Ryuk. To reveal to you your full potential. With it, all the answers you want will be revealed to you. All I beg of you is to have patience. With patience, everything you want will be in your hands," Uncle Bob said. He continued before Ryuk could say a word.
"And this egg... it's a present from your mother to you. I am a loyal follower of hers, and she tasked me with the responsibility of raising you in her stead. As a present for when you turn 16 years old, she asked me to give this to you."
"I have previously felt you were still too young to carry the burden of this all, but now, I'm afraid I can no longer delay."
A present from Mother? Ryuk thought in his head, feeling an ache in his heart. But he pressed it down as he advanced towards Uncle Bob and grabbed his hands.
"Uncle Bob, you're dispersing into smoke. What exactly is wrong with you?" he asked, this time his voice louder, as he noticed that Uncle Bob was really starting to fade into nothing.
Both his legs were gone, and his entire body was starting to vanish as well.
Ryuk moved, trying to drag the ashes back into his body forcefully, amidst tears raining down—tears he himself was oblivious to—but he failed.
Ryuk's body already knew what was wrong with Uncle Bob, while his mind refused to acknowledge the fact.
"I've been dead for a long time, Ryuk. Ever since I was separated from her and helplessly ran away from that war."
"The only thing that kept me alive was you and her final order given to me."
"What nonsense are you saying? We need to find a way to get you to Old Jack. He can save you!" Ryuk said as he moved to his uncle's side, wanting to raise him by his arms.
But with shock, he watched as his hand passed through his uncle's body almost like Uncle Bob was nothing but a hologram.
"Take it, Ryuk," Uncle Bob called seriously, stretching both objects forward toward Ryuk.
But the boy paid the items no attention, still trying to push Uncle Bob's body, failing repeatedly.
"Ryuk..."
"Ryuk!"
"Ryuk!!"
The third call brought Ryuk back to reality as he turned his teary face to his uncle, who stretched out his hands.
"Take it, please."
"You need not worry about me, for I will always be with you."
" I promise..." Uncle Bob consoled as Ryuk felt the two objects in his palms.
The moment the objects passed onto him, Uncle Bob started disintegrating into ashes incredibly fast.
Ryuk himself felt a wave of drowsiness hit him as both objects in his possession suddenly burrowed into his heart, sending an endless wave of pain slamming into his head.
Yet he ignored it as he tried to hold on tight to Uncle Bob, only to fail.
His body wrapped around Uncle Bob tightly, trying to prevent him from leaving.
But no matter how hard he tried or cried, Uncle Bob only kept dispersing.
In his final moments, Ryuk felt a hand wrap around him.
It was Uncle Bob's remaining right hand, and for one last time, he felt the familiar coldness of that body.
"You've really grown, Bloody Mutt."
"You made me proud..."
These were Uncle Bob's last words as Ryuk felt his body completely disappear into nothingness.
The last thing he saw was Uncle Bob's smile—one so peaceful, a smile Ryuk had never seen on his uncle's otherwise otherworldly serious face.
"UNCLE BOB!"
"UNCLE BOB!"
Uncle Bob is gone!?
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Automatic detonation of secret lab will now begin in 3... 2... 1!"
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Ryuk's roar was automatically cut off as an incredibly fiery explosion rocked the entire area around him.
Immediately, a body was sent flying out of the ground, rolling chaotically through the air before smashing into the top of a hill.
The entire world blackened out instantly.
The last thing Ryuk saw in his line of sight were the following words:
[Draconic Pets Evolution System Integration Has Begun!]
[A Worthy Bond Has Been Detected.]
[Undergoing Fusion Process.]
.....
A/N:
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In and Out_SnowySmoos.