I sat on the ground holding the last person in my arms; blood pouring from his cut stomach. I arose from my crouching position. I sat my friend's body down gently. "Damn you, necrophiliacs. I'll slash you and your friends like you did my sister long ago." I cried. I readied my blade. As they charged at me, I closed my eyes. I could track their movement. Closer and closer, I could sense their bloodlust. I slashed the air. I heard whimpering. I slashed the beast in half. Its blood soaked the ground crimson. Another beast charged at me. I could tell this was the boss, it was a human though..."Who the hell are you?!" I screamed. "I didn't expect you to single handedly take on my puppet. So I shall take you on. But before that I must confirm something, are you Joel?" he asked. "Who the hell are you?! Answer me!" I demanded, I wore a surprised expression. "Dear don't misunderstand, can't you recall your own dad?" he continued, "No matter. I will show you your maker." he smiled. I readied my blade. He charged at me full speed, I thrust my blade through his chest. He fell with a thud. "I'm sorry, dad but I have to survive. I've shown you mercy you may or may not live." I said with a small smile. He was unworthy of my mercy yet I showered him with it. "Dammit! Why do I itch so suddenly?" I cried. The sun rose beyond the horizon. "Damn, how many hours have I been at it...? Shit! I gotta go." I rose to my feet, blood soaked my white attire.
"Dammit! This map is shitty where do I go? I know villages have goblin's and terrifyers. I'd be killed within seconds of entering. Even an uneducated fool like me can understand that. But if I go through the forest than I'd lose strength. Fuck it, I'm going through the forest, huh?" I felt something tug on my sleeve. I jolted as a humanoid figure appeared in front of me. It was tiny, yet a sturdy figure. I felt my strength drain. It spoke softly but I couldn't decipher anything it said. "What the hell?!" I lost my balance falling to my knees. I fell endlessly. I felt like vomiting. But with my knowledge from Earth, I knew better. I landed in a bush; scraping my scab. "Goddammit! What did I do to you? Know what, fuck you too! I've always hated the silent treatment." He stated walking the forest in front of him.
"A pleasure to do business with you, my good sir." a man from behind the counter; handing me two short daggers, a black folded cloak, and a pair of gloves along with healing elixirs and potions. "Thanks." with that I hurried out of the shop. I hadn't been so damn intimated in years. I got here by luck. A gang of men looked suspiciously at me, as I walked by one of the members buffed up on me. I took that as a threat so I put him on his ass. The other men charged at me like I wasn't going to show them to. I knocked them unconscious. I searched their pockets for anything valuable, I found a map and money and that's how I got here with their money. Is that considered robbery? No, they were going to do the same. A picture popped into my head. It was Yuzu. Damn, I wish that sis was still here, I thought. I felt something brush up against me. What the hell, I thought. I turned around a blossom on each side. Two girls attached themselves onto each arm. This wasn't normal. My face turned red. "You know, handsome men like you don't go unnoticed!" The girl on the left grinned. "Don't be foolish and trust that witch. You are mine. You don't need Miss Bitty No Tits over there." The girl on the right remarked. "No! He's mine! And you don't need to be so proud over there; she's not worth it. Take me, I'm at least an F-cup." The girls both rubbed their cleavages on me, attempting to persuade me into taking one while disputing over which was better. "Shesh, this is embarrassing. I'll take both of you. Just don't look at me with them seductive eyes and don't fight over me." I folded under pressure, the girls smiled. I found an inn and I rented a room with three beds.
"Yuzu?" I turned towards the sobbing girl.
"Y-you killed me! Why brother, I was always there for you? I hurt so bad. Why did you do this to me?" she replied, her lower torso ripped off, blood soaked the ground crimson. "I didn't-!" I screamed, I felt pain like no other. I sobbed. "Are you ok, Joel?" "What's wrong?" they said in sync. Then I noticed the two girls on both sides of me. They were undressed under the covers. "Yeah, I'm sorry. It was a bad dream." I arose from the bed dressing myself in my new equipment. I was dressed in my normal clothes and my black cloak and gloves. I left the inn, I handed the man a bag of coins before I left. He was in awe.
"Goblins, up ahead! Two on the right and three on the left." She said, I readied my daggers. The goblin's held weapons in their hands. The girls claimed the right. I charged at the goblin's on my left. They attacked me with their clubs, dodging, I cut off their arms with my daggers with speed faster than a bullet. However, their arms regrew completely, grabbing their clubs. I cut off their heads before they could attack. Yellowish liquids soaked the ground. I wiped off sweat, looking towards the other two I sighed heavily. The two girls were being tossed around like a train off its track. I ran towards the last of the goblin's, slashing their heads off. The girls screamed. Shesh, I thought, looking towards the anomaly. Six-feet two, a hairy beast in armor. It charged at all of us, I pushed the girls aside. It slashed me, blood spilled from my stomach. My armor was pierced. I held my stomach. What should I do? It's impossible, but I can't give up, I thought. I drank a healing elixir, jumping backwards, I stood in stance ready for another attack. It charged at me. I countered its claws with my dagger, stabbing it in its armpits. The beast fell back. In a high-pitched cry, the beast split into one thousand copies of itself. I evaded attacks with ease. I split two in half on the left side. I presumed caution with my agility and held back. A lightning strike announced the arrival of another member. He was dressed in a red cloak. He waved at me. "Tell me sir, do you reside with the guild of the lost." he asked, "No. What's that?" I replied. "I see. Sorry, but I was watching as you faced that mob-beast, it was incredible that you evaded their attack with ease and cut two in half with precise hands." he looked at me surprised. "I'm just a traveler," I continued, "I found myself here with this map, but it was bugged." I drew my broken blade from its hilt. "I was attacked at midnight last night. Unfortunately, my blade broke on the hobgoblin, so I stabbed it in the stomach." I said, showing him my broken blade. "Are you saying you could have done it better?!" he asked. I shook my head up and down. His jaw dropped. "Watch out!" I screamed. Ten mob-beasts charged at him. The man waved his hands and disintegrated them all. "I'm Al, the head of the council. I'm guessing, you're, Joel? If you're free, I'd like for you to check out our guild, I'll show you around." he requested. "Sure." I replied.
"Who's this guy, didn't I tell you weak men aren't allowed here?" the guild master grabbed his collar. "Joel, show him." Al demanded. Within a blink I held my sword to his neck. "What the hell, how are you so fast?" he asked. Blood dripped from the jagged edge sword. "Fine, I'm game Al, just get him off me." he sighed, "Joel, back down." Al said. "Ok." I replied. "I'll show you around the guild now." He took me around the guild, and when we reached the climax, we strolled up to the counter. "And now is where your magical abilities will be tested; place your hand on the stone." Al replied with a smile. I followed suit, placing my hand on the stone as if it responded to my touch by glowing blue, then green, then red, and finally black. Al looked stunned as he read the description engraved on the stone. Al looked up at him, smiled. I suspected he was going to say something dumb. "Don't you see, guild master, this is the next hero? He wasn't summoned by the evil goddess." Al gazed at the guild master, who had emerged out of thin air like a shadow. "It seems we have a miracle. Everyone bow to the new hero of Kino."
Two years had passed since that moment, the two girls Carrie and Rose still attached themselves on each arm. I had magic abilities drilled into me. I mastered the lightning spell along with spells I weaved myself. I could control time for a minute or two. I would eventually rival the god of this realm that I'd eventually have to fight in my long adventure. I had begun at this place as a newbie. Raising levels to the max was an absolute in this cold world. I found I could increase my levels past 100 to 900. And ever since I trained my body to its limit. "Joel, the expedition is ready to go." Richard stated. "Let's go kick some ass." I replied.
Dungeon Ari…
The holy cave stretched out before them, its normally creepy emptiness all the more unsettling given its status as the goddess's monster menagerie. My cloak with its titanium weave rustled against the stone floor, my armory of weapons reflected in the meager light cast by the crystalline walls. Fresh blood still clung to the ornate hilt of his sword, a grim reminder of the beasts they'd battled outside.
"Something's wrong," my friend whispered, following the creases of their folding daggers. "A place like this is supposed to be full of—"
"Quiet." My voice cut through the darkness like a blade. My hand wrapped tightly around the hilt of his sword, the muscles tensing as he drew it out of its scabbard with one smooth motion. Expectation hung heavy in the air, and something changed in the darkness at the end of the cave. "Whatever is inside here with us," I breathed, moving slowly towards whatever had stirred, "it's close. Too close." He motioned for them to remain still. The beast finally revealed itself; it was massive, perhaps 10 meters tall and stood on its feet. I felt something was wrong with me, something was interfering with my powers. The beast approached me with its claw bared, with a swift flash the beast's arm fell off. Who did that? I wondered. There were more flashes, I looked back and noticed my companions were dead. "Dammit! I scarcely knew them, and you murdered them! They were going to take me to a bar where we would get filthy drunk! I hate you!" I felt like his adrenaline was pumping and I was going to burst. I wasn't paying attention when the beast's arm regrew; it appeared in front of me in seconds, claws bared, tearing into my reinforced cloak; blood sprayed from my arm, and I jumped backwards to avoid the next onslaught. Damn it, if I can't use my abilities here, I'll perish. I considered. Just then, a girl of petite size appeared, with long black hair and golden eyes that could see deep into your soul, her face like that of a baby. Someone should not have been there. "Y-yuzu, b-but how?" I asked. She did not reply. She followed the beast's movements, seizing it by the claw and tossing it into the wall with ease. The beast whimpered as it scraped its hide against the crystal wall. As Yuzu approached me and held my hand, the room fell silent. The beast could not move, as if something was restraining it against the walls. "I thought I had lost you forever," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "But I've always been in your heart, Joseph. I've never really left you. I came to you because of your heartbeat, a bond that's been there since you were born in the old world. That's why Mom and Dad had to send us away; it was because you awakened Skull from his grave. And on that fateful day, you also set Pandora free from her box." A gentle smile appeared on her lips as she started to fade away, tears rolling down my cheeks. "Sister, I made a promise, and I won't let today be my last." I felt a comforting calmness in my heartbeat. She reached out her hand toward my chest, slowly merging into me. The beast that had been trapped within the wall was finally unleashed. I got to his feet, my arm in a terrible condition, making it impossible for me to wield my sword. Still, I was determined to charge ahead with all my might, ready to unleash my justice skill, which wasn't limited like my other abilities. The beast looked at me with a low growl; its skin was bloodied, yet it moved with an eerie elegance. I charged ahead like a cheetah sprinting in a marathon, noticing that the creature looked pretty battered. But something felt off; it moved as if its injuries didn't bother it at all. Then it hit me—it had completely healed. This was going to be tough, I thought. As I realized this, I saw it trying to pull something out. I paused for a second and heard a voice. "Joel, I wanted you, my child, but you tried to take my life. Yet, look at you now. I created this cave." The beast raised its paws in a mocking way. "You tried to kill me first, father. I guess you're the Fox? It's funny how I'm out here living my life while you're stuck here plotting revenge for something you did to yourself. I have my own reasons to fight." I couldn't help but feel a bit amused; it was honestly pathetic. I needed to avenge my sister, and he was in my way. I was determined to show him what happens when you cross a survivor. Now, he was after revenge. I had to put a stop to this. "I'm going to kill—!" I cut him off mid-sentence, lunging for his throat and driving the dagger deep into his neck. I had leaped, using stealth to get to him, and as I made contact, I plunged the blade in. Blood poured out, silencing him as he fell, reaching out for me. At that moment, I pulled the knife back, and he crumpled to the ground.I was hit with a wave of intense pain in my arm after injuring it while using it. Blood was oozing from the wound, and I found myself torn between treating my injury or carrying my fallen friends to the nearest healer. In the end, I decided to tough it out and keep moving. I managed to lift one friend onto my back, my arm feeling like it could break at any second, but I pushed through. The other friend I held close in my arms. When I finally reached the healer's place, I was soaked in blood, with crimson stains all over my clothes as I laid them down. "I've heard you're the best healer around. Can you help my friends who were trapped in a dungeon?" I asked, trying to hide my own pain. "You have a wound, sir. Do you need treatment?" she responded, her face showing concern. "Why are you worried about me? They're the ones who need help." I hesitated for a moment. "They can't be healed; their souls have been ripped from their bodies," she told me. I looked down, kicking at the grass in frustration. I had lost more people. When would this nightmare end? I thought. On my way back to the guild, I wore a cast on my arm; it had been treated, but the scar was still there. Even though I got some congratulations, I felt nothing inside. That night, I decided to drink heavily to numb the pain.
Seven years before teleportation became a reality…
"Joseph, I truly regret what happened to your sister. I feel the same urgency to see that beast put down. We've found Pandora's box, but we can't seem to keep her contained," he said, locking eyes with me just as I looked away. "Why didn't you get here sooner? You could have saved her," I shot back, my gaze glued to the ground, drowning in my emotions. "Those bastards took her instead of me. Why couldn't it have been me? I swore I'd get my revenge, but how on earth can we face a goddess!?" I looked up at the man, while the girl held my hand, grounding me as I battled my inner chaos. A thick silence hung in the air. Finally, the man found the strength to continue. "It was never meant to happen before midnight when we arrived. We're at the mercy of the goddess Kuni. By morning, we'll be gone. And remember, Pandora is just an angel; she's the one who creates monsters. You have the strength to face Pandora, Joseph, but you'll come to understand that today isn't the day. You need to hold on until then." Just then, a ray of sunlight broke through, and the man and woman joined hands, swept away by the wind.
I can't see a thing. What's happening? I was just at the bar, sipping on my drink.
"Is this sad excuse of a person really the hero? What do you think of me?" A voice, dripping with frustration and anger, said as it pulled something from my head, making me realize I might have been kidnapped. "Today was his birthday, right? Well, who cares? I'm still going to celebrate. Sure, he's a bit of a simpleton. When I brought his cake to the bar, he asked me to put him in a straightjacket and cover his head with a bag. I was completely taken aback, but I went along with it. I took him back to my place, hoping he'd want to have some fun, but instead, he just cried all night. So, how about we let loose at this party and forget about last night?" A young woman made acomment, and I couldn't help but notice her bra, which revealed quite a bit of her cleavage. She looked to be about twenty-one. As I scanned the room, it struck me that most of the girls were just in their bras and underwear. "Is there any chance I could get out of this?" I asked the person who had put me in the jacket. "Sure," she said, and instead of taking it off, she started cutting the jacket open. I found myself wondering if she even knew the right way to remove it, but I decided against asking—didn't want to risk her getting upset. I pushed myself up from the well-worn leather couch, my legs a bit shaky, and began to navigate through the bustling room. My eyes were scanning the space, desperately looking for a way out. The noise was a lot to handle—snippets of chatter, bursts of laughter, and the occasional blast of music filled the air. I was feeling incredibly anxious. This wasn't just any gathering; it was a titty party, and I had never experienced anything like it before. The last thing I wanted was to make a fool of myself or draw unwanted attention that might annoy the others. Honestly, I had enough chaos in my life already—family shit, guild issues, and personal battles that felt like they were consuming me. I couldn't handle another complication or a moment of humiliation. So, I moved cautiously, with purpose, trying to blend in while also mapping out my escape plan. My heart was pounding, and I was painfully aware of how out of place I felt, wishing I could just fade into the background and avoid causing any ripples "Hero? Is that really you?" A voice sliced through the tavern's soft chatter. Al rose from a corner table, his chair scraping against the wooden floor. His sharp gaze swept over me, taking in every detail of my battered state. I must have looked a sight. My once-pristine armor was now a jumbled mess of rips and bloodstains, and my skin was pale and drawn. Exhaustion clung to me like a heavy cloak, weighing me down more than any armor ever could. Al moved closer, his steps measured. "You look like hell," he said, a blend of concern and accusation lacing his words. "You really took a beating, didn't you?" His hand hovered near me, as if he wanted to help but was hesitant, unsure if touching me would only make things worse.
I met his eyes, struggling to push through the haze of fatigue and sorrow. There was something different about Al—something I had never noticed before. "Al... you're a girl?" The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. She was clad in leather armor, her hair shorter than I remembered, and her features were sharp and striking. How had I missed this all those years? After all our time working together, this was the first moment I truly saw her. "Yes, I am," Al replied, her tone cutting. "But let's not dodge the real issue." Her eyes blazed with a fierce intensity that sliced through my mental fog. "You finished the guild's mission, but the others... they didn't make it, did they?" The weight of her words crashed over me like a tidal wave. The faces of my fallen comrades—each one, their last moments—threatened to drown me right there in the tavern. The words burst from my throat like shards of shattered glass. "No. They're all gone." My voice shook with a rage so intense it could melt steel. "Every last one of them. And I... I couldn't save them." The hatred in my eyes blazed with the ferocity of a thousand funeral pyres, a raw, consuming emotion that threatened to swallow everything in its wake. Al's gaze remained steady. "Did you come across the man?" Her question lingered in the air, heavy with unspoken understanding. "That man," I spat, my fists tightening until my knuckles turned white, "is my father. I have no idea how in the depths of hell he found me, but yes, I faced him. I killed him in battle." The memory surged back, visceral and brutal. "I drove my sword straight into his throat. I watched the life fade from his eyes." I wanted the conversation to wrap up. I needed it to end. But something gnawed at the edges of my mind, a sliver of doubt that wouldn't let go. "He took their souls," I continued, my voice dropping to a haunting whisper. "Ripped them from their bodies like a predator tearing flesh from bone. And when I killed him, they didn't come back." The question burned within me, a festering wound. "Could that mean he's not really dead?" Al lifted her wine glass, the deep red liquid swirling like blood. She took a measured sip, her eyes locked onto mine. "It's said he's no ordinary man," she said, her voice heavy with the weight of ancient tales. "He's a god. A trickster who revels in toying with humanity. He takes the form of a beast, hunting down those who dare to challenge him. You survived where many have fallen." Her next words sent a shiver down my spine. "But there's something you need to know about me. Two years ago, I fought him, and something... changed. I gained two consciousnesses—a man and a woman, trapped within me." She leaned in closer, her intensity mirroring my own. "Haven't you felt it? That odd sensation of not being alone in your own body? Like there's another presence, another consciousness sharing your skin?" And in that instant, I sensed it too. A gentle shift, a strange presence hiding just beneath the surface of my own thoughts. Another being, observing, waiting, coexisting with me. I was no longer just me. We had become... something different.