Breathing heavily from our battles, we raced back to the army. Alvin created a small opening in the wall to peek through. The battle was over, and our army was victorious. He dropped the wall completely, revealing the scene to our comrades. Smiles spread across their faces as they saw the three dead giants and the last of the demon generals lying on the ground. An enormous cheer erupted from every soldier at the sight. Thousands of goblinoids lay dead on the battlefield, while we had suffered only minor casualties. The men and women were mostly tired, but every last one had a grim determination on their face, ready for what came next.“We have made miracles here!” I shouted to them all. “You have taken down an army of enhanced goblinoids with very few casualties, many times larger than our own! The giants that would have leveled our resistance lie dead at the hands of Ellie, Eve, and your Lord Alvin, and the final general of the Demon King lies dead at my feet. We can do this; we can
As we stepped through the shattered remains of the massive doors, we entered the entrance hall of the Demon King’s castle, a cavernous space that exuded both grandeur and menace. The walls, constructed from a glossy obsidian-like stone, rose high into the vaulted ceiling, lined with towering columns adorned with intricate carvings of twisted designs that seemed to writhe in the flickering torchlight. Dimly lit chandeliers hung from above, casting eerie shadows that danced along the polished black marble floor.Along the walls, doors of dark wood stood sentinel, leading off into various chambers. Some of these doors were ajar, offering tantalizing glimpses into rooms that might once have been opulent but now lay in ruin. A damaged library, its shelves overturned and books scattered, hinted at a once-vast repository of forbidden knowledge. A sitting room, its furnishings draped in tattered velvet, bore silent witness to gatherings long past. And a small dining room, its table set for a
Tired. That is the only word that could describe me at this point. My companions and I had been fighting through an entire day and night against hordes of strong monsters, giants, a fallen angel, and finally culminating with that giant monstrosity of a gargoyle. I was tired. However, I would find no rest, not as long as this being, this Demon King, still drew breath. Sabnock stood there in front of his throne with a bored expression on his face, holding his ax in both hands. I stood, shoulder to shoulder with my companions. These three people, whom I have grown closer to than anyone from my old world, had become my family. But still, there was Sabnock, and here were my companions and I, stressed and tired. I remembered the only other time in my life that I had been this exhausted before.I could still hear my sensei yelling, “Is that really all of the resolve you have? Stand up, control yourself, and let that primal beast out. Roar and growl if you must, but you must control it and th
Pain. That was all I could feel. The drawback of Shishin, using one hundred percent of your muscle mass, was that your muscles would start to tear themselves apart. It was painful and possibly deadly. It was hard to breathe; I felt as if something heavy were on my chest. My entire body ached, and I had a raging migraine. Slowly, groggily, I opened my eyes. I didn’t recognize the opulent room that I was in. I looked down at my chest and saw Ellie sleeping across my body. I smiled and lifted my arm slowly, painfully, and patted her head.Ellie lifted her head, and a tear fell down her cheek as she mumbled in her sleep. I smiled and patted her again, saying, “Ellie, if you keep laying there, I am going to suffocate.” She smacked her lips and sat up. Her bleary eyes met mine, and she sat bolt upright. Her hand went to her mouth, and she started crying so hard. She threw her arms around me and hugged me tightly. I consoled her as a few tears came from my eyes as well. We hung on to each ot
As I stand here in this world, I can feel the weight of my frustrations heavy on my chest. My heart aches at the thought of the corruption that runs rampant in the world, and I can't help but feel like most people are inherently evil.It's not just the people in power - though they are undoubtedly some of the worst culprits. Even the average person, the person walking down the street next to me, seems to be consumed by their own selfish desires.It's a cruel irony that my skills are better suited to a time centuries in the past. I'm a skilled fighter, trained in hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship, but in this world of guns and technology, what good does that do me?I suppose I could try to learn how to use a gun, but that seems like a betrayal of my own principles. And even if I did, what good would it do me when my opponent is always standing so far away?It's not like this world is completely without hope, either. There is magic here, though it's so weak that it hardly seems wort
When I opened my eyes, I was standing in the middle of a goblin village, surrounded by angry-looking goblins. My heart pounded in my chest as I took in my surroundings. The village was a chaotic mess of crude huts and makeshift buildings, with goblins running around in all directions. A large cauldron sat next to me, filled with bubbling green liquid. And dangling above it, I could see three people - two women and a man - who looked like they were about to be cooked alive.My mind raced as I tried to come up with a plan. I looked down at my wrists, and the two symbols - one for heaven and one for earth - that were now branded onto my skin. With a deep breath, I focused my mind on my black katana and willed it to my hand. I felt a rush of energy coursing through my body, and I was holding it once again. A commanding voice bellowed from one of the larger goblins near me, its guttural words unfamiliar to my ears. Thanks to Metatrons gifts, I understood its meaning: “Kill the intruder.”
We stared at each other, those few seconds stretching into an eternity. A subtle shift in the man's expression marked his return to the present. His gaze swept over the scene, taking in the aftermath of our battle - the lifeless goblin bodies and the fallen chieftain. Slowly, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth."Ellie," he addressed the warrior woman, his voice steady, "Collect the ears for the bounty.""Sure thing, Alvin," Ellie's response was as swift as her sword. She approached the nearest fallen goblin and methodically severed its ear with a practiced swing."Eve, go through the camp and secure our belongings," Alvin directed the sorceress. Eve's gaze flitted between her task and me. It was apparent she held a wary curiosity beneath her composed demeanor.As Eve commenced her task, Alvin approached me. His strides were deliberate, purposeful, and his presence carried a mix of gratitude and authority."Well met, traveler," Alvin extended a hand in greeting as he neared me,
Amidst the aftermath, while Ellie diligently gathered the ears of the fallen goblins and Eve continued her methodical looting, I found myself lost in a state of exhilaration. Despite my initial misstep, the aid of Metatron had transported me to this uncharted realm. The very air felt purer than anything I had ever known, each inhalation seemed to infuse me with invigorating oxygen, a testament to the world's lack of pollution. The battle, oh that glorious turmoil, made me feel more alive than ever. It was during such chaos that my senses were heightened to their fullest. Yet, I couldn't dismiss the words of my sensei, echoing with caution about the addictive allure of battle. Control, he emphasized, was the key to wielding such power responsibly.Magic coursed through me, a sensation unlike any I had experienced. My chi, once a mere puddle, now resembled a vast lake, deeper and more potent. The arcane energy of this realm surpassed that of my old world, and with it came the potential