"...So what the hell was that?" I turned towards the chaos that has been created.


    Rael brushes off the dirt from his cloak as he responds with, "A mess."


    "That Phantom guy, disappeared without leaving a trace." Surprised I was.


    "Yeah, that''s kind of his thing." Rael responded.


    First of all, how did I get transported to this world? And why? In a moment I was in my room, and the other moment, I found myself in the market...


    This doesn''t make sense, not to mention I have zero survival skills!


    "What are ya spacing out for?" He glared at me as I was dumbfounded.


    "Nothing."


    "Let''s get outta here."


    "Huh? Why should I follow you?"


    "Stop being unappreciative, let''s be real. You dunno a thing ''bout this place right?"


    Fuck.


    The bastard''s right on that.


    "Stop spacin'' out." He started walking ahead, and flicked his wrist, signaling me to follow.


    "Let''s get outta here before we get caught up in another mess."


    Without waiting for my answer, he kept moving.


    I got nowhere to go anyway, I guess... I''ll follow.


    The alley was a total mess, trash were scattered probably due to the gust of wind that had hit earlier. Rael took a smooth turn back to the alley where we had met.


    "You dunno a thing about this place," He stated as we walked forward, "so where did ya came from?"


    To his question, I responded, "A country called Japan."


    "Japan? Hm..." He stopped, "Never heard of it." He responded as he started moving again.


    I wonder why he hasn''t heard of a place called Japan in this world.


    Hehe.


    The main road where the marketplace was located, was near. "I ain''t an expert ''bout this city, I have only been here for a few days," He paused as he observed the market which was left empty due to the chaos. "This shit''s empty now, anyway this place''s supposed to be the main trade center of Kaldor."


    "Trade center? I heard that this place''s also known as city of wolves?" I questioned, we had exited the alley, the marketplace was a mess as well.


    "City of wolves? Probably cuz it ain''t safe at night."


    That''s what I heard from that old guy as well.


    He continued, "If you stick alone, you''re probably gettin'' robbed or even worse."


    "It''s a mess here." I muttered.


    He heard me, "Of course it is, you dumbass"


    The market''s coming to an end?


    It had gotten a bit more livelier, more people could be spotted compared to the empty streets from before.


    "Just to make it clear I ain''t your tour guide." He said.


    "Yeah, yeah, I get it." I scoffed.


    I noticed a sign, which read ''Vertheris'',


    Heh? This isn''t Japanese, doesn''t seems like it''s english either... I can read it?


    This doesn''t make any sense... Come to think of it, I can also understand their languages.


    I read another sign to confirm it wasn''t a fluke, I could read it.


    What the fuck?


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Due to me being lost in thoughts, I hadn''t noticed my surroundings beforehand, where now I found myself with crowd again, footsteps and chatters. But the people had a different vibe compared to the people I saw in the town previously.


    He stopped, "Here we are," he took a deep breath, "Vertheris the center of the town, also known as the hub of passerby."


    Hub of passerby? A common place where travelers cross paths? Possibly.


    "So exactly, why did you brought me here?"


    He headed forward, "There ain''t no particular reason, I just got business to do."


    "Business?"


    "I made it clear I ain''t your tour guide," He paused, "you follow me around cuz you dunno where to go." he said as he approached a guy that seemed like he was in his mid 20s, "Not to mention ya owe me one."


    The man he approached was just a little taller than me, who wore a green cloak under his long black coat. His face seemed tired and had a messy brown hair that seemed overgrown.


    It''s hot in here, how can he wear such clothing? He earned my respect, what a dedication, trying to look mysterious as possible!


    "I haven''t see ya in a while, Dain!" Exclaimed Rael.


    The guy glared at Rael as if he was annoyed to his presence, "We just met a few days ago."


    To his response, Rael stated "Ya dumbass that was about several days ago." No response came back from Dain, "Anyway how long are we gonna stay in this town?"


    "Don''t know, but probably for more days."


    Rael put his hand on his chin, "I see..." He continued, "Anyway, I met this broke ass who got lost."


    I was not satisfied with that description of me, "That''s a rude way to put it bastard."


    The guy took a glance, "I am Dain Rutherford." He said in an expressionless tone, his name sounded European. "Yuma Tanaka, nice to meet you."


    Rael''s eyes locked towards one a raw of wooden stalls, the scent of sizzling meat and fresh bread carried through the air. "My stomach''s been growling, save your yap exchange for later."


    We seated in one of the rows, "You''re broke ass right?" Questioned Rael.


    Yeah, do you a guy who got transported here against his will to be a rich as fuck?


    "I got ya, just don''t expect much." He said to me, as he went to order the food at the stall.


    "Strange clothes you got there." Dain''s eyes turned to my clothes.


    Track-pants and a black t-shirt with a brand logo on it, of course it''d look strange to people in this world. I probably look suspicious.


    "Yeah, I am not from around here."


    His face had a look which felt like he was not buying it. "You see, I was robbed and it lead to me being broke."


    "Oh, I see." He replied keeping his response calm.


    Rael came back to the table, along with a waiter who had brought the food.


    "This shit''s delicious! I hadn''t eaten for the whole day!" Rael exclaimed, after taking a bite of the sizzling meat.


    I took a bite,


    Fuck.


    It taste good, what kind of meat is this? (Side note: Paragraph commenters please refrain from commenting here please.)


    By the time we had finished out meal, it was about time for night. On the other table I overheard some people, "You know how Phantom appeared here today right?" said one of the people in the table, he continued. "I actually saw him today, he single handily defeat the knight Cedric."


    "Didn''t Phantom made a wreck? Why didn''t the Umbrals appear?" Questioned one of them.


    He responded with, "I heard they only appear at night."


    "Umbrals?" I muttered.


    "It''s not worth of a much thought into it, I heard they are sacred beings that protect the city at night." Rael spoke out to my concern.


    Sacred beings that appear at night?


    "Unless you''re some crazy bastard, who has done some crazy shit to piss them off, they won''t target you."


    He got up from the table to pay the bill, night was already here.


    "Well then, I got to go." Dain headed back as he blended into the crowd.


    Rael came back as he paid the bill, "That guy already left?" He looked at me, "C''mon we gotta search for an inn."


    "... So uh, Rael. Why are you exactly helping me out?"


    He went forward, "Stop being unappreciative will ya? I owe you twice now. I just pity you."


    I scoffed, shoving my hands into my pockets. "Pity huh?"


    The dark sky had grown all over the city, the street lamps were flickered. Rael walked ahead searching for Inns, the chatter around us had faded, people kept their heads low as if they were trying to avoid something.


    And then I noticed a figure at the far end of the street.


    What the hell is that? It looks like a wolf?


    Rael kept walking unconcerned. Then I noticed another up at the rooftop, it felt like it was deeply glaring at me.


    "Hey... is that what they call the Umbral?"


    Rael turned to the wolf like figure, his expression barely shifted, "Possibly."


    The Umbral descended down from the roof, "Hey what the hell?" I spoke out in confusion.


    Another one appeared from the back, and the one at the far end of the street from the front had started moving closer.


    "Shit, what''s going on here?" Rael was confused as I was.


    The nearest Umbrals lunged.


    I dodged it, barely. My body moving before my brain could process it. I turned, another one leaped. I ducked, legs nearly giving out as I stumble back, narrowly avoiding its claws.


    The fuck? They are only targeting me? What have I done?


    I got no time to think, move!


    I ran.


    Fast as I could, I got an adrenaline boost, the sound of footsteps, no something faster, but it was not theirs but mine. They didn''t create any sound.


    I dodged left and right continuously.


    Fuck! Shit! Shit! I will be dead at this point!


    Another leaped, slashing it''s claws if I had been a second late, my head would''ve been cut off by now.


    Too fast. Too many.


    I can''t keep this shit up!


    A blur to my side, one of them cut me off. I got no way out.


    I hit the ground hard, there was no escape. The weight of the Umbral pressed down, its smoky, shifting claws ready to tear me. I stared into its hollow, glowing eyes.


    I am dead.


    It was a fun time living.


    Then, I saw a flash of silver, and a sound of metal which hit the ground.


    *Clank~!*


    A knife fell onto the ground.


    From above Rael''s voice rang out, "Pick it up or you''ll die, dumbass!"


    ---