Rowan, with his short, straight black hair styled in an undercut and intimidating gray eyes, appeared far from intimidating to Gaige. However, to his group, he radiated a dominant aura, evident in his leadership.
But Gaige was disappointed. None of the leaders he had hoped to follow for protection and guidance in adapting to Earth met his expectations. He speculated that these individuals had lost their otherworldly strength due to an extended stay on Earth. Gaige couldn't reconcile the image of these formerly powerful beings with their current vulnerability.
"There's no way they escaped from the other world with this level of strength. I'm sure these people were once formidable before coming here."
"What are you casting?" Rowan demanded, jabbing Gaige's neck, drawing blood that trickled onto the longsword's blade. Misunderstanding Gaige's muttered incantation in Soleil's language as a spell, Rowan reacted in defense.
"Y-you!"
Gaige abruptly stood, accidentally causing Rowan to scrape a patch of skin from Gaige's neck.
Strazz and Howl retreated cautiously while Minka remained at Gaige's side, silently observing his neck.
Gaige sighed and raised his hands to demonstrate he posed no threat. He informed them, "Andy asked me to save you."
Rowan finally sheathed his longsword and signaled for Gaige to lower his arms.
"So, where do you come from?"
"Novel – KimNery – Gaige."
Gaige hoped that they would recognize the famous novel from which he originated.
"Gaige Feryuson?" Howl interjected, his excitement evident. He had been reading about Gaige in a trending novel. "You're Gaige? Can I have an autograph?"
Howl approached Gaige, momentarily disregarding his previous wariness. However, when Gaige glared at him, Howl quickly retreated.
"Is my life a joke?"
Howl trembled, realizing his error, and lowered his head. His journey to Earth had been much less dramatic than the others, as he had merely ridden a spaceship. Unlike his companions, Howl had transmigrated directly to another planet unbeknownst to Earth. Gaige sighed and suggested, "Apologies would be better spent in explaining our situation."
Rowan interjected, "We should return home first. It would be problematic if authorities discovered us here."
All agreed, and Gaige followed suit. To his surprise, Minka, the lady with a goddess-like figure, transformed into a gigantic duck.
"Why a duck?" Gaige inquired, puzzled as to why she chose such an unusual form, tarnishing her appearance.
"I had no other choice; my system only offers this transformation, and we lack means of transportation. Earning money on Earth is challenging, especially without proper identities," Minka explained with her large yellow beak.
"Oh, I see."
Gaige stroked Minka's soft feathers before climbing onto her expansive back. Once everyone settled in, she elegantly took flight. However, Gaige noticed Minka slowing down, so he chanted a prayer and gently caressed her back.
Startled by Gaige's sudden healing of her broken wings, Minka emitted a short quack. Soon, her wings were fully functional once more. Minka had been wounded by numerous bullet holes, preventing her escape from the purger.
"Thank you," Rowan conveyed on Minka's behalf. He gazed at the night sky, appreciating the gentle breeze. He was genuinely thankful that they hadn't lost their lives today.
"Purger."
Gaige interrupted the peaceful night to inquire about the purger once more.
Rowan sighed, and it was he who began to speak, revealing ominous details. He spoke softly, as if recounting a painful tale.
"Purgers referred to us as returnees and made it their mission to purge us. They are not a collective; each operates independently, possibly competing to eliminate the most returnees. We don't know what becomes of us once we are purged, nor the reason for their pursuit. All we understand is that it is their purpose to hunt us down. They target us when we lose our powers, making their task easier."
"Quack!"
"That's why we use Minka's system to track new returnees. They can protect us."
Gaige concurred; it was more effective to stick together than to face purgers alone. By seeking protection from newcomers, they could offer information and help them adjust to Earth's way of life.
"Quack!"
"Apologies, Minka. You can assist him with other matters later."
"So, will someone come after me as well? Is it even worth returning?" Gaige muttered in a different language, catching Rowan's attention.
"We've all worked hard to return home, yet it's disheartening to feel unwelcome," Rowan confessed. Strazz shared similar sentiments, longing for a peaceful resolution. "I wish they'd simply let us return to the other world instead of purging us. It would be a more peaceful solution."
Gaige scrutinized Strazz, perplexed by how an unassuming girl could speak so naively. He pondered inwardly, "There's no way you can persuade someone who almost died trying to return to Earth to leave once more."
Though Gaige wanted to argue, his linguistic limitations stifled him.
Upon their return, Andy greeted them with a worried expression and a barrage of questions. Gaige allowed the group to have their reunion while he headed straight for the room where he had ordered his subordinates to prepare bedding. However, he found them shamelessly sprawled across his makeshift bed, fast asleep. Gaige was utterly drained. He hadn't had a chance to rest since his intense battles in the novel world, and even after returning to his original world, he had been on the move gathering information. What depleted him the most was expending his powers to assist this group of returnees. Too exhausted to kick his underlings out of bed, Gaige settled for pulling on his red fur coat and lying down on the floor. As the five returnees chatted among themselves, their voices gradually became distant murmurs as his eyelids grew heavier. The following morning, Gaige expected to wake up on the floor. To his surprise, he found himself next to a strikingly beautiful woman, his head nest
The Earth was a peculiar place. A world inhabited by single-life beings, where death meant the end of existence. There were no second chances or afterlives here. Earth's survival rate stood high compared to other worlds with monsters, magic, and supernatural creatures. It was a less savage place, where a single life was deemed sufficient for all. Yet, every now and then, souls with multiple lives found themselves lost and stranded on Earth. To rectify this anomaly, "they" would send these lost souls to worlds where their existence matched. However, once one experienced life on Earth, the desire to return here would overpower any longing for a life of perpetual struggle. The transmigrators' ultimate goal had always been to return to Earth. They yearned for a life free from bloodshed and endless battles. Yet, upon their return, they were met with cold rejection. Earth was exclusive to single-life beings. Everyone and everything here had but one life to live; a single life was the sol
In the heart of the day, the sky stretched out like a breathtaking canvas, adorned with shades of tranquil blue and milky white. These were the mornings Earth was meant for – green plastic lawns, garden chairs, weathered wooden porches, and delicate butterflies pirouetting above the steamy urban pavements. The sky, deep and serene, stretched infinitely, punctuated by sugary-sweet clouds. Gaige inhaled the nostalgia-laden breeze, savoring the tranquility. There were no monsters lurking on the ground, no wyverns soaring through the sky. This serene morning would have been perfect if it weren't for the existence of the purgers. "This is only the second day," Gaige muttered, his thoughts serving as a reassuring mantra, an attempt to quell the rising tension within him. "Why are you breathing this polluted air?" Minka's voice pulled him from his contemplation as she stepped out of the glass door of the department store. Gaige had decided to accompany Minka on their city stroll, his pres
"Howl, work your magic on calming them down," Rowan ordered, rubbing his temples as he wrestled with thoughts. Facing multiple purgers at once was an insurmountable challenge. Gaige might have the strength to survive, but the rest of the group lacked the power to confront even a single purger with their current abilities. Rowan continued massaging his temples, pondering how they could endure this impending ordeal. "Did the spirit give any indication of how long this hunt will last?" Rowan inquired. "No," Gaige replied. "How generous of her to leave us in suspense," Rowan quipped with a wry smile. With Howl's group now calmed, they looked to Rowan with hope, eager for him to devise a plan to save them. Rowan sighed, understanding their anxiety. Their one advantage lay in Gaige's divine powers, sealed onto parchment paper for convenient access to healing spells. However, healing wouldn't be of much use if they died. He mustered his composure, addressing the group once more. "Firs
For most people, death remains shrouded in mystery and fear. Perspectives on what awaits in the afterlife vary widely, each one as bewildering as the next. But for the purgers, death is an unyielding certainty. Purgers, blessed with unnaturally long lifespans, bear the weight of knowing that this existence is their sole chance. They grapple with the awareness that death holds no second chances or reincarnations for them. They are trapped in an irrevocable decision, forced into their grim profession by various pressures beyond their control. Many returnees painted purgers as psychopaths due to the brutal and vicious manner in which they eliminated their targets. However, these actions were driven by a deep-seated rage toward returnees. It had become second nature for purgers to harbor intense hostility, leading to savage murders. Minka, clenching her fists in frustration, shared their cruel fate. "Purgers are never content with merely ending our lives. They take pleasure in tormentin
Twenty-eight days had passed, and the night sky glittered with stars, as though they might cascade like snowflakes at any moment. Gaige and Minka, stationed on the rooftop, gazed up at the tranquil sky, counting down the minutes until the angel's prophesied hunt would commence. "Five minutes left," Minka announced over the stolen handheld two-way radios, one for each of them. This ensured that everyone remained in constant communication, both inside and outside the building. The group had divided into three teams: Minka and Gaige were lookouts, Rowan and Andy served as decoys to lure the purgers into their carefully constructed traps, and Straz, Howl, and his friends manned the control room. Howl would oversee the traps and assist Strazz in deploying her poisonous fog and smoke when a purger was near. In essence, they had transformed their dilapidated building into a trap house designed to ensnare the purgers. But, of course, their fervent hope was that the purgers wouldn't show u
Twenty-nine days ago, Gaige and the rest of the group hadn't considered the possibility that the Gatling gun wielded by the first purger they killed could come to life. The notion simply never crossed their minds, and they had left the Gatling gun abandoned in a cornfield. Now, with the shotgun from the recently defeated purger suddenly showing signs of animation, they couldn't help but wonder about the fate of the Gatling gun. This made them wary, suspecting that the Gatling gun might return with an even deadlier assault. "How dare you kill meeeeeee!" The shotgun's voice emanated from its muzzle, but it remained stationary. Minka kept herself concealed within their hiding spot, wary of the shotgun suddenly firing. Meanwhile, Gaige acted swiftly, enveloping the gun with his aura. He grappled with the dilemma of how to eliminate a gun, being an object, and unfamiliar with disassembly, as the world he hailed from had no such firearms. Gaige concentrated his aura into his hands, repea
Gaige's voice quivered as he relayed the ominous news to the group. "There's a lot more coming!" Though his speech difficulties lingered, the tension and adrenaline coursing through him were undeniable. Initially, Gaige counted ten purgers, but their numbers swelled beyond twenty, eventually surpassing fifty. He kept his composure, not wishing to alarm the weaker returnees on whose survival he bore responsibility. "Should we retreat?" Andy's voice quivered as he posed the question, echoing the concern in Minka's shaky tone. "Where could we even retreat to?" Minka added, voicing the grim truth: they were completely encircled with no escape route. Sweat beads glistened on Gaige's forehead as he wracked his brain for a strategy to survive the impending onslaught of purgers. Fifty was a staggering number, well beyond their preparations for roughly twenty opponents. They had never anticipated facing more than fifty purgers simultaneously. Gaige mused, "Could there be other tasks for p
Once Gaige Feryuson returned to Earth, the system was no longer with him or anyone else. He was overjoyed when he gazed into his reflection and saw his appearance revert to what he recognized as his original and very first identity—the average-looking Kim Nery. Though he looked plain, weaker, and less imposing than the main character-like appearance of the Commander Knight Gaige Feryuson, he loved his Kim Nery look because it granted him more peace and a sense of calmness. "Papa! You look uglier!" Lambert pointed out, and he immediately jumped into Gaige's arms when he noticed him descending the stairs. "You don't have to be rude anymore," Gaige said. He laughed at his son's apt remark. "Bert, the purger system is all gone," and he gave him a kiss in appreciation for the fact that his son still recognized him despite his current downgraded appearance. Lambert pouted, causing Gaige to laugh even louder. Lambert said, "I am just being honest, papa." Everyone gathered one by one, draw
The chaos surrounding Gaige Feryuson showed no signs of abating, even after the one who initiated it had perished. Explosions and fires raged, and the air echoed with screams and cries. The streets were strewn with corpses and blood, and despair loomed over everything. Gaige Feryuson realized that the world had indeed been abandoned because the once-familiar skies were now devoid of the countless angels he had grown accustomed to seeing. For Gaige, it was far from comforting to gaze up at a clear sky for the first time without spotting any celestial beings lazily drifting through the heavens. Despite the departure of the immensely powerful creator, this didn't imply that only humans would remain. The remaining purgeable beings still existed, and although their extraordinary abilities would gradually wane, new returnees would continue to arrive. This was a fortunate development for the returnees and transmigrators, although not all of them were benevolent; some certainly posed a thr
Each existing world has its own set of rules and foundational principles. Whenever something or someone violates these laws or disrupts the foundation that sustains its existence, the gods, along with the celestial beings, step in to intervene. The Purger system is one such example of divine intervention. Its purpose is to ensure that Earth remains exclusive to single-lifers, and this exclusivity serves a specific objective. Single-lifers are inherently less powerful than multiple-lifers, making purgers indispensable for Earth's stability and balance. However, the gods retain the freedom to abandon a world if it becomes excessively troublesome and burdensome to maintain, regardless of the significance of its inhabitants. In the case of Earth, the loss of an archangel, a significant decrease in the purger population, and a recurrence of errors have made the gods less inclined to rectify the situation and more inclined to forsake the world. Abandoning a world is a relatively straigh
Gaige Feryuson and his family had safely departed Yawyklim City. Each member settled into their seats while Gaige piloted the minibus. It was a moment of respite, albeit brief, as an unexpected and massive explosion rocked the entire city of Yawyklim. Gaige slammed the brakes suddenly, causing all his passengers to lurch forward, then quickly settle back in their seats. Everyone peered out the windows, their curiosity piqued by the sudden explosion. "Hasn't the hunt concluded?" Cain inquired. In response, the others simply shrugged, equally perplexed. As they were leaving, they had witnessed angels descending from the sky. They assumed it was the angels' responsibility to restore order following the hunt's chaos. They didn't quite comprehend the methods the angels employed. Gaige mumbled, "Hmm, it's not the angels." He enhanced his vision using his divine abilities to see farther and observe the events unfolding inside the city. Although his vision was somewhat limited, it was enou
The administrators and gods had convened in one place to investigate the individual responsible for tampering with Earth's purging system. They had initially waited patiently for Andy YDna's summons, but several seconds had already passed, and the elusive purger had yet to appear. The significant time difference between Earth and heaven meant that waiting for even a brief moment in heaven translated to hours on Earth. The delay in receiving the summons was causing irritation to mount among those gathered. One particular god, his patience worn thin, unleashed his frustration upon the system administrators, angels, and toads. "What is going on? How much longer must I endure this waiting?" he growled. As a god vented his frustration, the surroundings quaked, and those beneath him gasped for air, momentarily losing their ability to breathe due to the sheer force of his presence. "Please, remain calm," Lord Lintian urged, trying to maintain composure. He sighed while his hands were occu
Ainspenser couldn't comprehend why everyone was staring at them with evident dismay. Frustrated by the situation, she questioned, "Why are they acting like this?" Gaige Feryuson, however, merely let out a heavy sigh and chose to ignore her inquiry. The murmurs from the onlookers continued, with voices speculating, "Which side is he on?" In reality, Gaige didn't align himself with either side. He walked away from the gathering to avoid getting caught up in the brewing drama. As all eyes followed him, they were taken aback when Gaige's fist struck something that appeared invisible. A resounding noise filled the air, and an invisible figure was sent tumbling. The invisibility spell concealing Andy shattered upon impact with the wall. He struggled to regain his footing but couldn't utter a word. Gaige reappeared in front of Andy, aiming his gun at Andy's forehead and firing without uttering a word. The sudden gunshot sent shockwaves through the onlookers, rendering them momentarily sp
The Central Plaza was enveloped in the suffocating aura of death. Purgers opened fire fervently, even before they touched the ground. Fortunately, the purgeable beings were ready. Those with the ability to create shields covered those charging forward, allowing the others to engage the purgers immediately. As the two sides collided, the area became drenched in blood, and the acrid scent of death hung heavily in the air. The triumphant shouts of the enemy were nauseating, but no one wavered. "We can win!" declared one of the leaders upon seeing the purgers sustain more damage. The initial elation and confidence of the purgers quickly dwindled as the purgeable beings gained the upper hand. No one had expected these typically fearful and feeble individuals to respond with such ferocity. It caused the purgers to feel iffy about the sudden change. Also, the purgers' morale declines even more as they worry that they might not respawn as a result of the system's ongoing failure to co
Except for Gaige and Ainspenser, everyone had gathered at Yawyklim Central Plaza. It was an unprecedented occurrence during the hunt, where opposing sides engaged in direct combat instead of scattered skirmishes. Purgers typically operated individually or in small groups, and rarely had they united en masse. On the other hand, purgeable beings were usually helpless and unprepared during the hunt. However, this time, they had learned how the hunt worked and gained the knowledge of how to combat purgers. The fear and vulnerability that once filled their eyes had given way to determination and a will to survive through their own strength and abilities. All of these changes had come about due to the efforts of both Andy and Gaige. Gaige had successfully persuaded the purgeable beings to cooperate, while Andy had effectively led the purgers. Even the angels observing from above found themselves anticipating the outcome of this rare event. With no clear distinction between hunters and pre
A gentle breeze carried an oily scent through the air. Distant roars, initially faint and unclear, gradually intensified in volume and significance. Suddenly, Gaige Feryuson found himself in an open, expansive area that left him feeling uneasy. Perplexed by his circumstances, Gaige slumped down, gazing vacantly at the sky while making feeble attempts to grasp at the mud beneath him. "Why am I in the mud?" he wondered, his words being spoken with his mouth but only echoing within his mind. As he continued to survey the peculiar scene, he struggled to recall what he might have forgotten. Just then, a powerful gust of wind tore through the space with swiftness. However, the wind seemed to be coming from his eyes, so he turned his head to the side to shield himself from it. Gaige's face stung as the mud struck him with force. It was at that moment that the open space abruptly transformed into a confined area, resembling a dungeon. "Haha! Seriously." He laughed as he finally realize