《Endless Wander》 When Worlds Collide "¡ªWhere am I?" That was the only thought running through his mind. The crowd around him stared with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. He looked down at himself¡ªhoodie, jeans, sneakers¡ªcompletely out of place. The people surrounding him wore robes or armor, their hair in unnatural hues of blue, green, and silver. "It seems¡­ I''ve ended up in a different world." His reaction was surprisingly calm for someone who had just been transported to another world. As he wandered through the bustling market, he gradually realized something unusual¡ªhe could understand the language. "At least I won''t have a language barrier," he muttered under his breath. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. No signal. "Figures," he sighed. "Not like I could use my money either¡­" After aimlessly walking through the market, he found an old inn that looked like it hadn''t been maintained for years. The walls had cracks, and the wooden door creaked with every slight movement. "This place¡­ maybe I can work here in exchange for a room," he thought. "I need time to figure out what happened to me." Stepping inside, the interior was just as worn as the exterior. Behind the counter stood an elderly woman, her once-youthful beauty now eroded by time. He approached the counter cautiously. "Excuse me," he said, choosing his words carefully. "I lost all my money to a thief. Could I stay here if I work for you in return?" The old woman studied him with sharp, knowing eyes before speaking in a slow, measured voice. "Your clothes¡­ They are quite strange. You must have traveled from a distant land, no?" "Indeed. I do have some spare money left, but¡­ would you be willing to help me?" The old lady sighed. "Looks like I have no choice. You can help with the chores." "Thank you very much!" She handed him a key, and Kazuki headed to his room. It was small, with only a bed and a wooden table. He collapsed onto the mattress, staring at the ceiling. Everything had changed in an instant. He had just been heading to a convenience store¡­ and now he was here. "I guess I''ll have to sleep hungry tonight." After having a sleepless night he went downstairs and asked the old lady for the chores. He finished it with a rush and got ready to go out. "Granny I finished all of it." "Young men are so fast. If I had to do it then I would''ve taken alot more time."Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. "Granny, I have some questions. Can people around here use magic?" "Why? Do you not use magic in your country?" "No, our people can''t use magic. Which type of magic can you use around here?" "Hmm, it''s been a long time since I''ve used my mana, but I''ll show you." The old lady slowly raised her hand halfway, palm facing upwards. A faint glow flickered to life at her fingertips. Like embers dancing in the wind. Flames erupted from her hand like it was awaiting her command. The air shimmered with heat casting shadows of them in the wall. The flames are unnaturally steady without any visible fuel source. That shouldn''t be possible. Heat transfer, combustion- none of it made sense. Is energy being pulled from the surroundings? No- that wouldn''t be possible since there is no temperature drop. What is causing it? The old lady looked at him and smirked. "There are 7 types of magic. This one is the fire type. The other 6 are wind, water, ice, earth, dark and light. Most people can only master 2 types at most." "Can you teach me, granny?" "You''re asking too much of an old person like me¡ª" "Please granny, it''ll be really helpful for my travel." Old lady let out a sigh. "Alright, but I can only teach you fire magic basics¡ª" "That should be enough." His tone was neutral, calculating. If I can understand the fundamentals, I can reverse-engineer the process. "Come with me, young man." The old lady led the way. They stepped outside, the air colder than inside the inn. The backyard stretched before them, a patch of dirt and stone surrounded by weathered wooden fence. "Close your eyes and feel the mana in the air. Magic is all about visualization and mana control. The more mana you can gather the more complex magic you can use. Now, if you have the affinity for fire magic, you''ll be able to use it." "Are people born with elemental affinity?" "That''s right. Now close your eyes and try to convert the surrounding mana into a ball of energy. Then use it to visualize a fire ball." Kazuki closes his eyes and lifts his hand halfway, palm facing upward, just like the old lady. Mana? Energy? I think I get it. We didn''t have mana back in my world. But since they have mana here they learnt to convert it through their affinity. But- the big question is can an outsider like me convert the mana? Might as well just try. He paced his breathing down and tried to gather up all the mana through his visualization. But it failed, he wasn''t able to produce the flames. It made him confused as he was too confident that it would work. Seeing that he failed to use fire magic, the old lady tried to confront him. "It''s okay boy, maybe you have different elemental affini¡ª" "I''ll try one more time." "Eh¡ª?" "I''ve figured it out. I''ll try it out in my way." He lifted his hand again. But this time instead of lifting his hand halfway, he lifted it upwards fully stretched. Mana itself is the element. Instead of trying to gather mana, I should imagine gathering the air. Then convert it into fire. Since this world works differently, it''s logics are different. This should be all. The surrounding air suddenly shifted towards the stretched palm of his hand. The old lady took a step back narrowing eyes. The breeze swirled unnaturally towards his fingertips, yet no flames appeared. Then, all at once¡ª Whoosh! A burst of sapphire blue fire erupted in his grasp, crackling with intensity that dwarfed the old lady''s demonstration. The heat surged outwards, warping the air, the dry ground beneath him darkened as if scorched by the sheer energy. The flames weren''t just burning- they were roaring in palm of his hand with such terrifying efficiency. The old lady''s breath caught in her throat. Kazuki observed the flickering sphere in his palm, his expression unreadable. "That should be enough." He muttered. The sheer heat suddenly dropped and cold wind roared through the place, such as it was trying to compete with the intensity of the fire. The old lady swallowed hard, with a fearful expression in her face. "What in the world was that boy?" "I guess it was a bit overkill?" "Overkill- that word is like a fly in front of a giant..." She fell into her knees and looked at him in the eyes. "Are you sure you''re just learning?" "Yes, it''s my first time." His expression unchanged. Struck with disbelief the old lady contemplates if it was all real or just her dream. After a little while she finally comes to her senses and accepts his power. "You have alot to explain to the townsfolk and his majesty in the castle- that wasn''t just ordinary magic. You''re probably the strongest fire magic user in the entire natio- no, the entire world..." "Drawing attention was not my intention. But I can''t avoid it now I suppose." He sighed while scratching his head. I definately need to learn how to control the intensity of the elements. Two figures suddenly hopped behind him- Aiming for his neck they swang their sword. The wind from the rushed blades touched his neck. Kazuki turned to face his assailants¡ªonly to see their blades stopped mid-swing, caught effortlessly by a single figure. A woman, her form imposing, her hands unflinching against cold steel. The attackers gritted their teeth, but she didn''t budge. She wasn''t human. That much was clear. Kazuki''s eyes narrowed. Who¡ªor what¡ªwas she? The Demon Generals Triumph "Impossible..." One of the attackers clenched his sword tighter. "She stopped it with her hands?!" The woman shattered both swords effortlessly with sheer strength, her full metal armor gleaming¡ªsave for her exposed head. Her voice was calm yet unwavering. "As long as I stand here, you will not lay a hand on him." The two attackers immediately retreated, coming to a sudden halt. The woman, who didn''t seem human, murmured quietly, "They never learn, do they?" Kazuki, having grasped the situation, finally spoke. "If I''m not mistaken, you must be a royal guard, right?" "It''s not time for talk. We''ll discuss everything once we''ve captured these criminals." "Then I''ll use my mag¡ª" "No. From what I saw, you can''t control it properly yet. It''s best if you stay out of this fight." Kazuki understood and stepped back, leading the old lady inside the inn. The attackers, finding no opening, lunged at the woman. But she was faster, her reflexes, power, and speed completely outmatched them. With effortless precision, she dodged their attacks and delivered a swift punch to their guts, knocking them unconscious in an instant. They never stood a chance.Soon after, the guards arrived to apprehend the criminals and take them away. After everything settled, the woman stepped inside the inn and faced Kazuki. "You were right. I am a royal guard of the kingdom. My name is Elina." "I''m Kazuki. I''m a traveller from afar."Elina gives a small nod. "I know where you come from, we shall discuss the details in the castle.""Hold on a minute," Kazuki glancing toward the old lady."I need to thank her first." Turning to the innkeeper, he gave a respectful bow. "Thank you for letting me stay here despite not having any money¡­ and for teaching me how to use magic." "It''s alright, boy. I can''t stop you since a royal guard came to escort you. Good luck on your journey ahead." The old lady let out a small sigh.Kazuki climbed onto the horse and bid farewell before they set off toward the castle. The town''s scenery was picturesque. Roughly two storey buildings adorned with flower pots. An exquisite fountain stood at the heart of town, reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun. But among the charming town, he could feel the frightened gazes aiming on him.Elina turned her head with a serious expression. "It''s because of your overwhelming presence, you showed earlier." Kazuki rubbed back of his head with his hand and gave a sheepish smile, a clear sign of embarrassment. "Well... That wasn''t my intention.."Elina glanced at him for a moment before turning her gaze forward. Her voice was steady as she announced,"We''re here. I''ll arrange a room for you, stay here for a moment." She dismounted the horse and walked into the castle. The white walls gleamed under the setting sun, reflecting a bright glow onto Kazuki''s face. He covered his face with his hand, palm facing the reflection of the bright glow. He looked at the pointy structure of the roof. The sunlight brightened the purple tone. Impressed from the castle and the surroundings, he muttered,"It''s very peaceful here." His admiration of the castle was abruptly disrupted by a guard stepping forward. "Sir Kazuki, come with me, I''ll show you your room." The guard escorted him to his room. The room was massive, a perfect example of royalty. A knock echoed at the door. "May I come in?" "Yes." Elina entered the room. "The king will see you tomorrow. It''s quite late today¡ªyou should rest." "Understood." Elina turned back, reaching for the door handle, but just before she could open it, Kazuki reached out, stopping her. "Hold on, I have some questions I want to ask you." Elina removed her hand from the door and turned to face him, narrowing her eyes. "Fine, go ahead." Kazuki''s expression turned serious as he asked, "It seemed like you knew those two who attacked me out of nowhere. Who were they?" "They were sent here from the enemy kingdom." "And that enemy kingdom is¡­?" "Yes¡ªmy home... the demon kingdom."Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Elina''s eyes held a trace of sadness as she spoke. "They don''t want anyone powerful aiding us. So they tried to assassinate you the moment you caused a scene with that giant fireball." "You have horns¡ªyou''re a demon too. So why did you side with humans?" Elina let out a small sigh. "It''s a long story, and I''m not just a demon. I''m part demon, part elf. For now, just get some rest. You''ll hear the rest of the details tomorrow from His Majesty instead." "¡ªOkay." Just as Elina was about to leave, a guard hurriedly opened the door, stepped in, and fell to his knees. It was as if he had seen a ghost. His face was pale with terror, and his breaths came fast and uneven. Elina''s expression darkened with concern. "What happened?" The guard took a moment to catch his breath before standing up. "We have an invasion! The demon soldiers¡ªthey''ve invaded the town!" "What?! How did that happen?! What was everyone doing?!" "We couldn''t stop them! The demon generals are here too!" "Where are our generals?!" "They went to stop the invasion¡­ but they haven''t returned!" "Tch¡­!" Elina quickly turned to Kazuki. "You stay here. I''ll deal with the situation." Without wasting another second, she rushed out. Even though Kazuki didn''t show it on the outside, deep down, concern gnawed at him. ''Why did they attack all of a sudden? Is it because of me? If all of our generals have already left for the battlefield and the demons have successfully invaded, then that means¡ª'' A sudden ruckus erupted just outside the room. Kazuki rushed out and saw a tall figure, towering over him, slowly approaching while slaughtering every guard in his way¡ªwithout even lifting a finger. His eyes locked onto the figure''s head. He noticed two large horns. A demon. And with such overwhelming power, there was no doubt¡ªthis was one of their generals. ''What is someone like him doing inside the castle...? Is he here to kill me?'' Kazuki gulped, his body stiff with fear. The guards'' attempts to stop him were futile. They lunged at him, only to meet their deaths in seconds. Some were beheaded instantly, while others had their organs sliced open, their lifeless bodies collapsing onto the cold floor. Watching the endless slaughter unfold before him, Kazuki took a cautious step back, his hands trembling as he began forming a fireball. But, in an instant¡ª Kazuki was airborne. The demon general had closed the distance in a blink, gripping Kazuki''s throat and lifting him off the ground with a single hand. "You''re not wanted in this world," the demon murmured, his voice deep and cold. "Resistance is futile. Just give in, and I''ll end your life without pain." Kazuki struggled, gasping for air. His hands clawed at the demon''s grip, but it was like trying to pry open iron shackles. His lungs burned. His vision blurred. Yet, he still tried to resist. He attempted to summon another fireball¡ªbut nothing happened. His body wasn''t responding. ''Is this it? Is this how I die¡­? What have I even done in my entire life...? What a pathetic death. Not even a heroic one huh...? I suppose, this is what I deserve. I wasn''t even able to help out the soldiers...'' Just as Kazuki was about to pass out from lack of oxygen, a mysterious girl''s voice echoed in his consciousness. "You let them die¡­ poor soldiers, they''re all dead because of you." ''Who are you¡­?'' "You let down those who believed you might be their savior." ''How are you in my mind? And what do you want?!'' "You won''t die as long as I will it¡ª" "SHUT UP, GODDAMMIT!! AAAAGGHHHHH!!!" A surge of rage coursed through him, and with sheer strength, his hands clamped onto the demon''s arm. His fury boiled over, and in one swift motion, he broke free from the demon''s grip. However¡ª It wasn''t enough. The demon general reacted instantly, driving his foot into Kazuki''s abdomen with a force that sent him flying. He crashed into the wall with a deafening crack. "NGH¡ª!" He gritted his teeth, but the scream still forced its way out, along with blood spilling from his mouth. He could feel it¡ªhis bones cracking, his organs crushed under the force. Agonizing pain spread through his entire body. If not for that voice keeping him conscious, he would have already died. But this¡­ this was worse than death. His vision blurred, and the strength to stand or even speak had completely left him. Kazuki barely managed to move his lips as the demon general approached, his heavy footsteps echoing through the silent, bloodstained hall. But his body refused to obey. "I told you, resistance is futile. I can''t bear to watch you suffer any longer. I''ll end it now." The demon general unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Kazuki''s chest. "Now, prepare to die." He swung his sword from above¡ª But¡ª Multiple frozen ice spears roared through the air, forcing the demon general to dodge and step back. A young figure dressed in royal attire dropped to his knees beside Kazuki. "Are you alright?!" His voice was urgent. "Healers, heal him quickly!" He turned to face the demon general, drawing his sword and shifting into a unique stance. Two healers rushed forward, immediately tending to Kazuki''s injuries. The pain began to fade, but the healing process was slow. "They are the top two healers of this kingdom," the young man said. "I don''t know what she saw in you, but if she believes in you¡ªso will I. Just be ready to flee as soon as you regain some strength." The young king''s gaze hardened as he prepared to lunge forward. "Don''t worry," one of the healers whispered, though fear was clear in their eyes. "If His Majesty is here¡­ we won''t lose." ''His Majesty? That means¡­ he''s the king? So young¡­ And what does he mean by she believed in me? Who is she?'' Kazuki clutched his stomach, enduring the pain as his thoughts raced. "I promised Elina that I would keep you safe. I cannot break that promise! AAAAHHHH!!!" The young king charged, swinging his sword with all his strength. The demon general blocked the strike effortlessly. "You humans are pathetic," he scoffed. "You don''t even know when to give up. Can''t you see that we''re far stronger than you?" The young king gritted his teeth, pushing against the demon general''s blade with all his might. "Even if we can''t win¡ªwe will still fight. Even if it costs us our lives. We will never abandon our kin. Even if it meant splitting the heavens apart, we will stand our ground!" His voice rang out defiantly. "You demons will never understand what it means to fight for your own people¡ªbecause all you seek is the satisfaction of taking lives! Humanity has survived this long because my ancestors refused to surrender to your cruelty. And I will do the same!" The demon general pushed him back with an annoyed expression. "All you do is talk big. Can you humans even do anything?" "I''ll show you." The young king flicked his hand, summoning multiple ice spears that shot forward at incredible speed. However¡ª The demon general dodged them all effortlessly. On the other side¡ª Kazuki, now partially recovered, staggered to his feet. He wasn''t going to flee. Even through the pain, he stretched his right hand into the air, blood dripping from his head and mouth. ''If I can conjure flames that powerful¡­ then I can wield other elements too. Others may not know this method, but it''s what I excel at. Also, I feel a strong presence nearby. Might end this fight as soon as possible.'' The wind howled, swirling around his fingertips. With a swift motion, he launched it forward. The wind, shaped like sharp spikes, shot toward the demon general at terrifying speed¡ª And just before impact¡ª They turned to ice. One of them pierced straight through the demon general''s arm. The demon''s eyes widened in shock. "H-How did you¡ª" He was too stunned to finish his sentence. He had never seen wind magic converted into ice and still maintain its speed. The young king''s face lit up in excitement. "Looks like Elina was right about you!" "¡ªDid someone say my name?" Elina appeared out of nowhere¡ª And suddenly, everyone''s eyes filled with hope. Chosen Paths "Are you okay? You look seriously injured. Please take a rest... I''ll handle everything here now." Elina reached out to Kazuki in concern, supporting him to take a seat on the floor. "...Are you sure you can handle this alone?" Kazuki''s voice was strained. His words were weak and unclear, as if speaking through a lot of pain. Elina nodded with a smile. Facing the young king, she said, "Lord Jonathan, please take care of him." King Jonathan approached Kazuki and started healing him with the two other healers. As for Elina¡ªshe faced the demon general, drew her sword, and pointed it towards him. "Your days are over, general. You shall not leave this place alive. You''ve hurt the most important man in this world. Now, you will pay the price!" "You traitor! Leaving your homeland wasn''t enough that you had to side with the puny little humans?!" "You are not to decide what I should have done. You cruel demons deceive other races and take their blood whenever you feel like it. I couldn''t stand such cruelty. You ought to be stopped!" Elina started walking towards him, gradually increasing her pace. When she got close enough, she lunged towards him with terrifying speed, delivering a devastating kick to his stomach. The demon general was sent flying upwards, breaking through the roof. Elina jumped with intense force, reaching the sky. She kicked him again while airborne, sending him crashing into the ground, creating big cracks and a cloud of dust. She returned to the ground, landing swiftly. The demon general stood up, bloodied, as the smoke cleared. "You¡­ won''t get away with this¡­ Our king will make sure to kill every last one of you¡­" "Are you done talking?" Elina slowly approached him. "Stop¡­! Don''t come forward!" She slowly walked past him with a cold gaze. When she stopped, the demon general''s head slid off his body and dropped to the ground. His body fell to its knees before collapsing. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. She cut through his head with ease. Such power was terrifying, even to the demon generals. She looked at the burning town and let out a sigh of frustration. "I couldn''t save anyone in the town¡­" Black smoke from the fire rose into the sky, covering the stars. Countless corpses of humans and demons littered the bloodstained roads. Kazuki, on the other hand, was feeling a bit better due to continuous healing. King Jonathan helped Kazuki stand. "Go to your room and rest for a while. I shall go and look for any survivors. Elina should be back soon to check on you." Kazuki nodded. King Jonathan left the castle with the two healers. Kazuki, struggling to walk, managed to get to his room, using the wall for support. He sat on the bed and thought, ''I need to get stronger¡­ Just a scratch on my arm, even though I used up all my energy on that attack. I''ll die before too long if this keeps up.'' Meanwhile¡ª Elina was about to turn back to return to the castle when she noticed a mysterious girl standing afar in the dark. A black robe covered her pale skin, with her face half covered, only exposing her lips and chin. She lifted her right hand, pointing it towards Elina. "You must accompany him on his journey. We chose you to be his support. Don''t disappoint us." "Wait¡ª Who are you?" The girl turned and walked away, slowly disappearing into the smoke. ''Who was she? And what did she mean by "they chose me to travel with him?" Was she talking about Kazuki? Wait¡ª I think I kind of get it now¡­ Maybe she was the one who summoned him. If so, then I should have tried to approach her¡­ Ugh!! I''m so stupid! Anyway, enough thinking, I should hurry back.'' Returning to the castle, she hurried to Kazuki''s room. After seeing him safe and sound in bed, she let out a sigh of relief. "I''ll be guarding you tonight while you rest." Her gaze was soft yet determined. "Eh¡ª? Wait¡ª Did you defeat the demon general already? How powerful are you?" He seemed shocked. "Just enough to protect you from the demon generals." She smiled at him with a soft gaze. ''Why does she seem so happy about it¡­'' "Anyway, the demons¡ª I don''t trust them. So I''ll stay in your room." A concerned look was clear on her face. "I don''t think they''ll take a ste¡ª" Cutting him off, King Jonathan entered the room and informed, "Ahem, sorry to interrupt your conversation, but I found some guards who weren''t injured. They were just hiding¡­ Well, it''s not like they could have done anything against them. Since I''ve informed you about the situation, I guess I''ll go back to my room. Have a good night, gentlemen." King Jonathan left the room with a little smile on his face. He knew what the mood in the room was. "I''ll sit on the sofa, you just turn off the light and try to get some sleep before morning. We''ll be leaving the town." "Leave? Why?" "We need to let others know and act accordingly. Now, enough chit-chat. Lay down and sleep." Kazuki lay down on the bed and closed his eyes, thinking about how he would be able to get back to his world. The morning arrived, and sunlight entered through the window, shining on the white floor. Kazuki''s sleep was interrupted by the light. Elina had fallen asleep on the sofa while guarding him at midnight. The sunlight struck her face, making her look like an angel. "So beautiful," Kazuki murmured. Elina''s sleep was also disrupted by the sunlight. She looked at Kazuki and noticed him staring at her. "What are you staring at¡ª?" "Oh¡ªsorry about that, it''s nothing." Elina let out a sigh. "Before we leave, there''s something I need to ask you, and something I need to tell you. It''s about a girl who appeared out of nowhere and vanished into the smoke." "A girl?" Kazuki asked, his expression growing serious. He jumped off the bed and stood up. "I''m also willing to share my past with you. We should get to know each other better before we set off." The Untold Story of A Warrior "Mother¡­? Father¡­?" A little girl in a pretty dress sat on the cold, blood-soaked floor of their newly moved-in house. A birthday cake sat on the table. The candles were out. She had just turned nine that day. Her dead parents lay beside each other, holding hands, terror frozen on their faces. They had been murdered in cold blood, their throats cut open. The night consumed the house in darkness. Only the moonlight filtered through the blood-stained window. Blood stained the little girl''s face. There were no tears on her cheeks, yet her eyes revealed the depth of her fear. She was scared of the Kingdom of Demons. One year before the incident, on the exact same day, in the Elven Kingdom¡ª The sun shone brightly overhead. Houses were carved into massive trees, all connected by hanging bridges. A little girl played hide-and-seek with her elf friends in the tall grass. "Elina! Lunch is ready, come and eat!" her mother called from the front of the house. She had silver hair, her face delicate as a flower. "Coming!" After arriving home, Elina sat at the dining table and started eating. "Take your time and chew your food properly," her mother reminded gently. After finishing lunch, she grabbed a wooden sword and ran outside. "Hyah! Hyah!" She swung her sword repeatedly, over and over again, until evening. "Mother, why does Father only come home on my birthday?" she asked, sitting on a small chair, sweating in the summer heat. "Your father is a busy man, Elina. He has a lot of work to do," her mother said while wiping her sweat with a towel. "What does he do?" "He''s a demon general in the Demon Kingdom." "Is he strong?" "Super strong!" "Can I be strong like him someday?" "If you train hard, you might even become stronger than him." "Then I''ll train even harder starting tomorrow!" Elina jumped off the small chair and flexed her arms, showing off her "muscles." Her mother laughed softly at the cute expression. "Now eat dinner and go to sleep. Father will be a little late today." "Then wake me up as soon as he comes, okay?" Elina''s mother nodded. That night¡ª Elina was soundly asleep in her bedroom. Meanwhile, in the kitchen¡ª "Why are you so late?" "Sorry, I left the Kingdom a little late due to some extra work," said the man with two red horns. "Elina fell asleep waiting for you. Go and wake her up." "Wait, I have some good news!" "What good news?" "I earned the king''s permission to take you and Elina to the Demon Kingdom next year. I also bought a house. I''ll come one week before Elina''s next birthday to bring you both there. Don''t tell her yet¡ªit''ll be a surprise." You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. "Are you sure it''s safe? If you''re planning to take her with us, then¡ª" "Don''t worry, our King himself seemed happy about it." "If you say so¡­" Elina opened the wooden door, half-asleep, rubbing her eyes. The noise had woken her up. "Father? Why didn''t you wake me up¡­?" "I was just about to, my dear. Look, I brought a cake with me." "A cake?! Yayyy!" Elina was overjoyed. It was her first time cutting a cake on her birthday. The family was enjoying their lives, unaware of the tragedy yet to come. The night was warm and peaceful. The moonlight shone on the tall green grass. The crickets sang their quiet song. One week before the incident, in the Elven Kingdom¡ª The afternoon breeze rustled the leaves as Elina trained with her wooden sword. Her mother sat in a chair, embroidering a delicate pattern onto a silk cloth. "Elina," her mother spoke without looking up, "Today, your father is coming." "Why?" Elina stopped her training. "My birthday is still a week away." "We''ll be leaving for the Demon Kingdom tomorrow." "Really?" She ran to her mother and hugged her in excitement. "Then I can train with Father and become stronger than him!" "Yes, you surely can." Her mother chuckled softly, reaching out to smooth Elina''s silver hair. "You really are his daughter." The next day¡ª "All done!" Elina packed her bags and rushed toward the exit of the town. "Elina, hold my hand." Elina looked up, confused. "Why?" "Just hold it, or you''ll get lost." She obeyed, squeezing her mother''s fingers as a tall figure emerged from the forest¡ªher father, clad in obsidian armor, his two red horns barely visible against the dim sky. "Elina!" He grinned, kneeling down to pat her head. "Are you ready for our new adventure?" She nodded excitedly. Elina''s father reached for his wife''s hand. "Let''s go." As they walked, Elina couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off. She wasn''t sure if it was the way her mother kept glancing back at their village as if seeing it for the last time, or the way her father''s grip tightened every time a bird cried out in the distance. Something wasn''t right. The day of the incident, morning¡ª Their new house in the Demon Kingdom was nothing like their home in the Elven Kingdom. The towering trees were replaced by jagged stone formations. The air smelled of ash and fire. Elina was fascinated. Everything felt foreign yet exciting¡ªuntil she noticed how the demons stared at her and her mother with cold, calculating eyes. Her father told her not to worry. But the feeling in her chest¡ªthe same one she had when they left town¡ªnever faded. The Night of the Incident Elina''s father brought her a cake to celebrate her ninth birthday. He patted her head gently. "Happy Birthday, my dear." Elina''s eyes sparkled with happiness. She was about to cut the cake when¡ª BANG! The wooden front door slammed open. Footsteps echoed through the house, growing louder with each passing second. "Elina, go to your room and hide in the closet," her father ordered, his voice sharper than she had ever heard before. "But¡ª" "Now." Her mother''s voice trembled, and that was what scared her the most. Without another word, she turned and ran toward her room, clutching her dress as she shut the door behind her. She opened the closet and climbed inside, pressing herself against the back wall. Then, she heard the voices. "You thought you could get away with bringing an elf and her half-breed child into our land?" A stranger''s voice rang through the house, filled with disdain. "I had the king''s permission," her father responded firmly. "The king never gave such permission. I spoke with him today." "What? But¡ª" "Bring me the child. We''ll execute her along with her mother." "You will not lay a single hand on them." Her father''s voice was a deadly warning. A laugh followed¡ªmocking, cruel. "You''re outnumbered, General. You stand no chance." The sharp ring of steel being drawn filled Elina''s ears. Then, chaos¡ª Her mother''s scream. Her father''s roar of fury. Elina couldn''t breathe. Her entire body felt paralyzed by terror. The sounds of struggle lasted for what felt like an eternity. Then¡ªsilence. Nothing but silence. Trembling, she stepped out of the closet and onto the cold floor. Leaving her room, she saw them¡ªher parents lying motionless on the ground, their hands still intertwined. Their throats were slit, their faces frozen in horror. Her father, the strongest person she knew, defeated. Her mother, the kindest person in her world, gone. She sat beside their bodies, but no tears came. She was scared. Scared of the Demon Kingdom. Her voice trembled. "Mother¡­? Father¡­?" The assassins were still there. She could feel their presence behind her. She knew she had to run, yet her legs refused to move. All she could do was stare at her parents'' lifeless bodies. "Elina!" A familiar voice rang in her ears. "Elina!" The voice called again. She turned just in time to see the assassins¡ªwho had been waiting for her to turn around¡ªsuddenly sent flying into the walls. A familiar figure grabbed her and ran out of the house without hesitation. "Elina! Snap out of it!" Elina blinked in confusion, her vision finally clearing. She recognized the face of her rescuer¡ªher aunt. One of the most powerful elven warriors. "Elina, I''ll leave you far from here. Then you must run as fast as you can and don''t look back. Got it?" Elina didn''t understand, but she nodded. Her aunt turned back, leaving her at the Demon Kingdom''s border. "Now, run!" Elina, finding her resolve, ran as fast as she could. She didn''t look back. Not once. Finally, the tears came. She couldn''t hold them back anymore. She ran and ran. Until she was hungry, thirsty, and completely worn out. She collapsed in front of a man wearing a white robe. A human¡­ Harbinger of Chaos The guards had already extinguished the town''s fire before dawn. The sun pierced through the clouds, casting its light upon the gravestones of thousands. What was once a thriving town was now nothing more than ruins. Only the smell of ashes remained. Four horses stood at the town''s exit, their riders¡ªElina, Kazuki, King Jonathan, and a royal guard¡ªready to depart. King Jonathan turned to Elina and Kazuki and said, ¡°I''m heading to the other towns to warn them.¡± Elina nodded. ¡°Then Kazuki and I will go to the Elven Kingdom to seek aid. Make sure to stay on guard while traveling.¡± King Jonathan nodded, then spurred his horse forward, his guard following at full speed as they disappeared into the depths of the forest. ¡°Shall we get going too?¡± Elina asked. Kazuki nodded, and together, they disappeared into the forest. They rode through the forest as Kazuki thought, ¡®She has gone through so much, yet she spoke of it as if it were nothing.¡¯ Elina noticed him lost in thought and smiled softly. ¡°Don''t worry, it''s been a decade since that incident. I struggled to accept it back then, but now¡­ I¡¯ve moved on.¡± The forest rustled as the wind weaved through the trees. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled patterns on the ground. The chirping of birds echoed softly, blending with the rhythmic hoofbeats of their horses. The birds suddenly burst from the trees, their wings flapping loudly. In an instant, everything fell silent. ¡°Halt!¡± Elina whispered. Kazuki furrowed his brows. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Don''t speak. I sense a demon nearby.¡± Suddenly, a shadow leaped from the bushes and rushed away at an incredible speed. "Kazuki! Use magic!" Elina shouted. Kazuki swiftly gathered the surrounding air, converting it into ice spikes before launching them at blinding speed. The spikes pierced through the demon''s body, making it fall to the ground. Elina and Kazuki approached the demon¡¯s lifeless body, their eyes fixated on its still form. Its mouth hung open, hands splayed wide. ¡°It might have been a messenger. We should pick up the pace.¡± Kazuki said. Elina''s grip tightened around her reins. ¡°If we continue riding even at night, then we can reach the Elven Kingdom before tomorrow night.¡± ¡°We can''t continue at night. It''ll be too dark.¡± ¡°You can use fire magic, right?¡± Kazuki hesitated. ¡°Yeah, but I cannot control the power¡­¡± Elina smiled. ¡°Don''t worry, just think of it as holding a flower in your hand¡ªgently.¡± ¡°I''ll try¡­¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Kazuki lifted his hand halfway, palm facing upwards. ¡®Holding a flower¡­¡¯ A nearby flower dissolved into particles, vanishing into the air. At the same time, a very small yellow fireball flickered to life in Kazuki''s palm. Noticing the flower dissolve into particles, Elina shifted her gaze to the fireball in his hand before locking eyes with him. Kazuki''s eyes widened, mirroring Elina''s reaction before he muttered, ¡°This is new¡­¡± ¡°I''ve never seen this kind of magic before.¡± Kazuki''s expression shifted into a nerdy grin. ¡°There''s a possibility that this isn¡¯t magic¡­ It might be quantum manipulation.¡± Elina blinked. ¡°Qua¡ªwhat?¡± The grin on his face widened. "I might be able to transform any object or element into something else¡ªand control them." Elina sighed, her tone turning serious. "We can figure that out later. For now, we need to hurry." "You''re right¡­ let''s go." They pressed on, speeding through the forest as shadows of trees flickered past. Fallen leaves crunched beneath their horses'' hooves, blending with the rustling whispers of the wind. They only stopped for short breaks before continuing. Night fell, but they pressed on, guided by the faint glow of Kazuki''s fireball, which cast light for at least eight meters around them. ¡°I hope we don''t get lost,¡± Kazuki remarked. Elina shook her head with a reassuring smile. ¡°We won''t, don''t worry. I remember the path very clearly even to this day.¡± Suddenly, an arrow shot out from Kazuki''s right side, whistling past his face before embedding itself into a nearby tree. Kazuki scowled, his frustration evident. ¡°Seriously?! How many more assassination attempts are they going to make?!¡± ¡°Keep moving! If we stop, we''ll get hit!¡± Elina shouted. Arrows rained down from the sky, whistling through the air as Kazuki and Elina barely managed to dodge them. ¡°If we don''t do anything, we''ll get shot eventually!¡± Kazuki shouted. ¡°Then just make a big blue fireball!¡± Elina yelled back. ¡°What?! The forest will burn down if I do that!¡± ¡°Who cares?! If you die, then everyone else will die too!¡± ¡°Should I create a star?!¡± ¡°What¡ª?! Don''t make jokes right now!¡± ¡°But I''m not jo¡ª¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Fine! But I''m not making a fireball!¡± ¡°Then what will you do?!¡± ¡°Just watch!¡± Kazuki pulled his reins with one hand, bringing his horse to an abrupt stop, while he raised his other hand into the air. The trees within a one-kilometer radius dissolved into particles and formed millions of razor-sharp ice spears. Elina''s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What the¡ª?! How did you even do that?!¡± Kazuki smirked. ¡°Remember I told you about quantum manipulation? I tried, but unfortunately, it can''t manipulate living beings. But this is what it can do.¡± The ice spears hovered in the air for a brief moment before launching forward like a storm of projectiles. They tore through armor, flesh, and anything in their path. Screams erupted from the hidden attackers as the ambush was instantly crushed. Silence followed. Elina stared in brief awe before speaking. ¡°If you can do that¡­ do we even need the elf warriors¡¯ help?¡± Kazuki shrugged. ¡°Maybe not.¡± Elina sighed. ¡°Well, since we''re already halfway there, we might as well show our faces.¡± After a long journey, they finally arrived at the Elven Kingdom''s entrance. Elina took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. ¡°We''re finally here. It feels so nostalgic.¡± ¡°The grass around here is quite tall.¡± Elina smiled. ¡°Isn''t it? I always used to play in these tall grasses.¡± Suddenly, a familiar voice called out to them. ¡°Is that you?! Elina?!¡± Elina''s breath hitched. ¡°Aunt¡ª! You''re still alive¡­¡± ¡°Of course, I am. Did you think I''d be killed by some petty demons? Hah! Well, I guess that doesn''t matter now. You''re finally here, after all. You''ll be staying here, right? And who is that with you?¡± Kazuki smirked, his tone teasing. ¡°Who, me? I''m her boyfriend.¡± Elina''s face turned bright red. ¡°S-Since when?!¡± Kazuki chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m just kidding, chill out.¡± Elina¡¯s aunt burst into laughter. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t laugh,¡± Elina protested. Her aunt struggled to contain her amusement. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s just¡ªyour boyfriend is hilarious.¡± Elina¡¯s face turned red as she pouted. ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend! I¡¯m just protecting him from threats.¡± Kazuki smirked. ¡°Wow, way to make me feel special.¡± ¡°You''re not!¡± Her aunt wiped away a tear from laughing. ¡°Oh dear, you two are adorable.¡± Elina groaned. ¡°Can we just go inside already?¡± ¡°Fine, fine. Let''s get inside. I''ll call the others too.¡± As they stepped inside the house, a sudden gust of wind swept through, sending a chill down their spines. A similar kind of gust swept across the desolated plains of the Demon Kingdom, carrying with it an eerie silence. A lone figure appeared before the demon king''s throne. A human with jet-black hair and brown eyes, wearing a black robe, knelt down. ¡°My lord, I have arrived. Give me the command.¡± A deep, resonant voice echoed from the throne. ¡°Go and kill that summoned man.¡± A subtle smirk played on the human¡¯s lips, hidden beneath his lowered gaze. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± A Fellow Earthling ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± the human murmured, a subtle smirk playing on his lips, hidden beneath his lowered gaze. He rose to his feet and stepped into the shadows, vanishing without a trace. Meanwhile, far from the darkness of Demon Kingdom, Kazuki and Elina stood before the Elven Council. Three elder eleves sat gracefully on the branches of ten thousand year old Elven tree. Though their appearance was youthful, each carried the weight of a thousand years. Among them was a silver-haired woman with piercing purple eyes¡ª Elina''s grandmother. With a presence both regal and commanding, she observed Kazuki with an unreadable expression, her gaze sharp enough to pierce through deception itself. Kazuki''s nerves tightened under the three Elder''s intimidating gaze. Like they could tear every bit of flesh from the bones of his body in an instant. Elina standing next to him noticed his face getting pale. An intimidating voice came from one of the Elders. ¡°Speak your business.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m here to request some aid for the war against demons¡­¡± ¡°And why should we, the Elves, involve ourselves in a war that doesn''t concern us?¡± Kazuki swallowed hard, steeling his resolve. ¡°If we act now, the demons might kill every¡ª¡± ¡°You''re mistaken.¡± The Elder''s voice cut through his words like blade. ¡°We Elves are more than capable of protecting ourselves. As for aiding you in the war, we have no reason to involve ourselves.¡± Kazuki clenched his fists, but before he could argue, Elina stepped forward, her voice sharp with frustration. ¡°Even if the Elden Kingdom remains safe, the other Kingdoms will be wiped out. Do you really want that?¡± One of the elders¡ª Elina''s grandmother, responded with an unwavering voice. ¡°You are welcome to stay if you wish, but do not mistake our hospitality for allegiance. Our swords will not be drawn for your cause.¡± Her purple eyes locked onto Elina''s, a warning not to press further. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°I understand¡­¡± Elina muttered in disappointment. Kazuki and Elina bowed in respect, leaving the Council. They slowly walked through the plane texture wooden floor, returning to Elina''s aunt''s house. ¡°Don''t worry, we will still be able to defeat them considering the power I wield.¡± ¡°You''re right¡­ we should be able to.¡± ¡ª ? ¡ª [Your skill: Quantum Manipulation has been temporarily sealed.] A message popped up in front of my face. It had a transparent screen. I noticed that Elina wasn''t able to see it. [System use unlocked] [You can now use the skill: Gate to traverse the known worlds] ¡®What? Traverse the known worlds? Does that mean I can go back to my world?¡¯ However, no matter how much I tried, I just couldn''t bring the screen up again. And I couldn''t try calling out some commands since I didn''t want to let anyone know about this besides Elina. ¡°I''ll go out to get some fresh air.¡± I said, pushing myself up from my seat. Elina glanced at me but didn''t question it. ¡°System¡­¡± ¡°System screen¡­¡± + [User Info: Tenma Kazuki, Strength (lvl 15), Agility (lvl 1), Stamina (lvl 1), Endurance (lvl 1) User Skill: Quantum Manipulation (Temporarily Sealed), Gate Skill Potential: Rise of Dead] + ¡°Skill, Quantum Manipulation info¡­¡± [Quantum Manipulation (sealed): A powerful skill that can manipulate anything except biological creatures.] ¡°Information about the seal¡± [Quantum Manipulation Status: Temporarily SealedEarly Reason: Early Excessive Use] I couldn''t say this wasn''t expected. Even I was even a bit shocked when I got that kind of power at first. ¡°Gate info.¡± [Gate: A useful skill to travel between worlds that have been already visited before Daily Limit: 1] ¡°Use Gate.¡± [Select Your Destination ¡úU7MWE] There was no other option. It meant this was my world. After all, this was the only wolrd I''ve been to before. ¡°U7MWE¡± [Access Denied] ¡°What¡ª But why?¡± I wasn''t able to think properly. All of this information was too much with the frustration of not being able to return to my world. I sat down on top of the grass to rest for a bit. But life had other plans. ¡°Kazuki!¡± Elina called out to me while running towards here. She stood in front of me while taking some breath. ¡°Kazuki, I sense a powerful presence. Just like yours¡­ or more powerful. It''s approaching us fast.¡± I had a hunch that this person Elina spoke off might be from the same world as me. As no one else had such a powerful presence in this world according to Elina. I saw a figure gliding through the air approaching towards the direction I was sitting. I stood up and waited cautiously till he landed on the ground. ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked. ¡°Me? Oh well, I''m sorry for intruding so rudely. I''m just a hitman hired by the Demon King to kill you.¡± ¡°Kill me? A human is working under a demon?¡± ¡°I''m sorry but you''re mistaken. I''m not working under anybody. I''m just doing them a favor in return for something.¡± ¡°Oh? And what is that something?¡± ¡°Tenma Kazuki, am I right? Look, I had no plans to interfere with you. But this situation forced me to. So it''s better if you don''t ask anymore questions and let me just complete my mission.¡± That said, the guy immediately leaped towards me with an incredible speed before I could even react. Elina grabbed my hoodie and pulled me backwards. The guy barely missed the punch he was about to land on my face. ¡°I''m in a hurry, so please try not to waste my time whoever you are lady.¡± ¡°Sorry, but you have to face me first if you want to kill him.¡± Elina looked determined. But determination alone couldn''t stop this guy. I became sure from his face that this guy was from my world. ¡°If you''re from Earth, then we can talk.¡± ¡°Talk? About what? I only need to return back to our world. Even if it means killing a fellow Earthling.¡± My attempt to talk the situation through did not work. I was not strong enough to stop him. My only power¡­ or rather skill was sealed due to unknown reasons. ¡°Kazuki, use your power.¡± ¡°Sorry, but I can''t.¡± ¡°What do you mean you can''t.¡± ¡°It''s sealed for some reason.¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Stop talking to each other. I''m literally standing here to kill you. Do you not have any fear?¡± The guy was pretty annoyed with our conversation. Who wouldn''t be if they were ignored like this. He let out a small sight. ¡°I''m tired, I''ll just finish this quickly.¡± He instantly appeared infront of Elina and sent her flying far off with a single punch. Now he and I were alone. I figured it was probably over for me. He leaped towards me. Crunch! I could hear my bones crushing as he landed a punch straight on my face. That was it, my vision was blur. The pain was intense. And I could barely keep my senses. Finally I passed out. Just then, I heard a familiar voice in my head. Yes, it was the mysterious girl''s voice. Revival and The Crimson Awakening I was laying on the ground in immense pain. I could barely keep my senses. Then I noticed Elina far off on the ground. Her hands were shaking while she struggled to stand up. She was looking at me. For the first time, I saw fear in her eyes¡ªnot for herself, but for me. I tried to call out to her, but I couldn''t move my lips. The last thing I saw was a teardrop that fell from her eye. Finally, I passed out. ¡ª ? ¡ª I noticed him getting struck by a powerful punch. I knew that he was going to die. I was afraid. I didn''t want him to die. Not because he was the only one who could save this world, but because I was tired¡­ tired of losing the people close to me. I tried to stand up, but it was not possible. Without realizing, a teardrop fell from my eye. I still couldn''t protect the people I loved. I couldn''t do anything but just watch them die. I noticed the human standing next to his lying body. After that¡ª I don''t remember anything¡­ ¡ª ? ¡ª Elina stood up, facing the other worlder who had probably just killed Kazuki. Her gaze was extremely cold, like she could take his head off at any moment. ¡°What are you staring at? If you don''t want to die like him, then just stay out of this.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Are you even listening to me?¡± ¡°...¡± Elina wasn''t herself anymore. Her usual piercing purple eyes twisted into something unnatural. A deep crimson bled into her irises, swallowing their former color like ink spreading through water. The whites of her eyes darkened, turning as black as the void itself. Her two crimson horns grew larger, as if they wanted to pierce through the flesh of the one she was facing. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The air around her felt darker. She slowly approached the other worlder. Shing! She unsheathed her sword. ¡°Ahh, so you can transform too. Well¡­ it''s my fault for not coming prepa¡ª¡± Shnk!¡ªWhoosh! The blade cut through empty space where the other worlder had been a second ago, causing a violent stir in the air. ¡°You scared me for a moment there. Fine then, if you want a fight, I''ll give you a fight.¡± He took on a fighting stance, treating her as an equal opponent. Shnk! Elina slashed through empty space again as the other worlder ducked beneath her. Thfft! He landed a swift punch on Elina. Elina took that punch without flinching an inch. She grabbed his arm and yanked him forward. ¡°Wha¡ª!¡± Whaam! Elina delivered a strong headbutt. ¡°Arrghh!¡± His vision blurred for a moment. Elina pushed him forward. Shnk!¡ªtnkk! Her sharp blade clashed against the gauntlet he had equipped from the system. But the impact sent him flying through the air. ¡°Gwack!¡± Blood spilled from his mouth as he tumbled across the ground. ¡°Y-You leave me no choice.¡± He stood up from the ground. The air around him thickened, forming a wall as strong as titanium. Shnk!¡ªTunng! Elina''s sword just bounced off as she tried to cut through it. ¡°Pathetic¡­¡± He grabbed Elina''s face and started to crush it under the sheer pressure of air. Elina''s horns shrank back to their normal size. ¡°Nngh¡ªghkk¡­ K-Kazuki¡­! I¡­ Can''t¡­! I don''t want to¡­ lose him¡­ too¡­¡± Elina became unconscious after throwing her legs around for a little bit. He kept crushing her face, but¡ª ¡ª ? ¡ª I heard a voice. It was her, the mysterious girl. ¡°Wake up¡ª She needs you¡­¡± This whispering voice was enough to wake me up. ¡ª + ¡ª [System Notice: A Temporary Buff Has Been Received] ¡ª + ¡ª ¡ª + ¡ª [Strength: lvl 15 ¡ú lvl ??? Agility: lvl 1 ¡ú lvl ??? Stamina: lvl 1 ¡ú lvl ??? Endurance: lvl 1 ¡ú lvl ???] ¡ª + ¡ª ¡ª + ¡ª [System Notice: You have been revived] ¡ª + ¡ª I opened my eyes and saw that guy holding Elina by her face. I got up and appeared behind him. Grabbed his arm, broke through whatever air shield he used, and crushed it. ¡°Arghhhhh!!¡± I had no idea what Elina did to hold him out for so long. But whatever she did, it was great. So I grabbed her and delivered her to her aunt''s house. ¡°I''ll be right back.¡± ¡°Wait¡ª¡± I had no time to chat with her aunt right now. I had to take care of the guy from Earth first. My body felt very light. I could cover the distance one can imagine in an instant. I returned to the guy. He looked like he had seen a ghost. Poor guy probably thought I died. ¡°H-How are you still alive?!¡± I had the answer to his question. It was very obvious. I gave off an ominous smile. ¡°It''s simple, I''m just more preferred than you are.¡± ¡°No¡­ This can''t be happening¡­! I''ve been in this world longer¡­! I should be stronger than you¡­!¡± I laughed at his statement. Why wouldn''t I? It was such a dumb statement. ¡°Don''t you realize? If you were doing everything right, then why would I be summoned here after you? Shouldn''t I be in my own world enjoying my daily life?¡± He gritted his teeth as hard as he could and glared at me. ¡°Y-You! I''ll kill you as many times as it takes!¡± He had just become a laughing stock. He didn''t realize that he was no match for me, even after I broke through his strong¡ªor rather, weak¡ªdefense. ¡°I''ll give you 10 seconds. Land a hit as hard as you can.¡± He seemed rather unpleasant with the way I treated him. So I started counting. ¡°1¡­¡± ¡°Hey! Stop!¡± ¡°2¡­¡± ¡°I said stop!¡± ¡°3¡­¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°4¡­¡± He finally started to prepare for a punch with his left hand. Since I crushed his right arm, he couldn''t use it anymore, right? ¡°5¡­¡± The way he compressed the air around his fist, it looked tougher than the strongest metal on Earth. ¡°6¡­¡± Although, I wondered if it would even leave a scratch on me. ¡°7¡­¡± Thwack! ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± As I thought, it didn''t ev en leave a scratch. ¡°B-But how?! It can''t be! I am supposed to be stronger than you!¡± I watched as he fell onto his back and slowly crawled away. He was scared, and I liked it. I liked it way too much. War This guy was so scared he couldn''t even move. The thought of whether I should kill him or not crossed my mind. If my temporary buff wore off, he would become a threat again and try to kill me and Elina. I couldn''t afford to waste time. After a few seconds of staring at him, I finally decided what to do. ¡°I''ll ask you a few questions. Answer them honestly.¡± ¡°Y-Yes¡­¡± ¡°How did you come to this world?¡± ¡°I-I was summoned out of nowhere¡­ It was five months ago¡­¡± ¡°How much do you know about the system?¡± ¡°T-The system¡­? Oh, y-you mean the r-ruler of wo¡ª¡± Thwash! ¡°Shit¡ª!¡± Blood splattered all over my clothes as his head burst open from the inside. I immediately started searching the surrounding area but couldn''t see anyone. Who could do this? ¡ª + ¡ª [You Have Successfully Defeated The First Otherworlder] ¡ª + ¡ª Defeated? He was literally killed right in front of me. ¡ª + ¡ª [Temporary Buff Has Worn Off] [Strength: lvl ??? ¡ú lvl 15] [Agility: lvl ??? ¡ú lvl 1] Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. [Stamina: lvl ??? ¡ú lvl 1] [Endurance: lvl ??? ¡ú lvl 1] ¡ª + ¡ª [LEVEL UP +112] [Strength: lvl 15 ¡ú lvl 40] [Agility: lvl 1 ¡ú lvl 30] [Stamina: lvl 1 ¡ú lvl 30] [Endurance: lvl 1 ¡ú lvl 30] ¡ª + ¡ª Level up? Does this mean I level up by killing people? Absurd. It was totally absurd. And yet, I thought I knew who was behind this. It was most likely the girl who kept talking in my head. Elina told me she had seen her. I needed to explain all of this to her in case she saw her again. ¡ª + ¡ª [Congratulations! You Have Unlocked The Skill: Rise of the Dead] ¡ª + ¡ª ¡°...¡± Was this delayed information? In any case, this was my chance to test out the skill. I approached the lifeless body. I hesitated at first but finally decided to try it out. ¡°Get up.¡± ¡­ ¡°Dude, get up.¡± ¡­ ¡°Sigh¡­ Fine, I''ll say it.¡± ¡°Arise.¡± Hhsshhh¡­ wrnnn¡­ The headless body slowly sank into the ground, and a new, complete version of him emerged. He knelt before me. Everything about him was the same, from his head to his toes. The only difference was his pitch-black eyes. ¡ª + ¡ª [Successfully Harvested the Soul of the First Otherworlder] [Congratulations! You Have Unlocked the Role: Necromancer] [Give a Name: _________ ] ¡ª + ¡ª I get to give him a name? I guess I''ll call him¡­ ¡°Shadow.¡± ¡ª ? ¡ª By the time I returned to Elina, she was already awake, sitting on the bed. ¡°¡­You''re here!¡± She jumped up the moment she saw me. ¡°I was so worried!¡± She hugged me desperately, as if I had returned from the dead. Well¡­ technically, I had. Her face looked like she was about to cry. ¡°I thought I lost you too¡­¡± ¡°When did I become that important?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Obviously, she pouted at my words. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve got a long, weird-ass story to dump on you. Got a minute?¡± ¡°Does it look like I¡¯m busy?¡± So, I explained everything¡ªthe system, how my quantum manipulation skill had been sealed, and everything else that had happened in a single day. She was shocked. I also asked her how she managed to hold her ground against Shadow for so long. Her response was¡­ unexpected. ¡°I don''t know¡­ I don''t remember anything¡­¡± I smiled softly at her. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Thank you.¡± She nodded and went back to bed. ¡ª ? ¡ª The next day, we prepared to set off for the Demon Kingdom. But before we started our journey, I wanted to test something. ¡°Come forth, Shadow.¡± Wrnn¡­ I wanted to test my strength against him. Even now, he might still be stronger than me. ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate¡ªcounter me.¡± I lunged forward and aimed a punch at his jaw. Vwump! Shadow blocked it effortlessly with one hand. Then, he pulled me in and landed a swift kick on my arm. ¡°It¡¯s enough.¡± Shadow nodded and disappeared into the ground. I had undoubtedly grown stronger¡­ but still not enough to dodge his attacks. ¡°Kazuki! We¡¯re leaving!¡± ¡°Coming!¡± The entire village came to see us off¡ªespecially Elina. She hadn¡¯t returned in a decade. ¡°Come again, okay?¡± ¡°I will.¡± Of course, I was ignored like I didn¡¯t even exist. ¡°Shall we get going?¡± ¡ª ? ¡ª ¡°The wait is finally over¡­ he¡¯s back.¡± All the demons bowed in respect¡ªincluding the Demon King. Thump¡­ Thump¡­ Footsteps echoed through the hallway as a figure clad in black knight armor approached the throne. His suffocating black aura was proof of his tremendous strength. The Demon King stepped forward. ¡°My lord, I¡¯ve prepared the soldiers as you requested.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°My lord?¡± ¡°Have they left the Elven Kingdom?¡± ¡°Yes, my lord. They have already departed.¡± The figure clenched his fists. ¡°Be extremely cautious.¡± He sat on the throne, narrowing his eyes. ¡°That man¡­ is not ordinary.¡± The Demon King bowed once more and left the t hrone room. ¡°Sigh¡­ You heard the lord. Go and relay the message to the soldiers.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The demon general saluted and left. The Demon King gritted his teeth. ¡°This brat¡­! I had to revive the first Demon King because of him¡­!¡± Survive Three days have passed since we left the Elven Kingdom. We were travelling at a slower pace to conserve our strength for the war ahead. There were no birds in the forest. No wind rustled. Only the rhythm of our horse''s hoof against rang in our ears. ¡°Kazuki, stop!¡± I pulled the reins as hard as I could. ¡°Be on your guard. I can sense a Demon General.¡± ¡°Can''t you handle it alone?¡± ¡°I can, but he''s strong. Stronger than the Demon King.¡± ¡ª + ¡ª [Skill: Quantum Manipulation Has Been Unsealed] [30 Minutes Remaining Till You Can Use Skill: Quantum Manipulation] ¡ª + ¡ª Unexpected. But totally worth it for the upcoming war. I should leave the Demon General to Elina and go straight to the Demon Kingdom. ¡°Hey¡­ I think I will be able to use Quantum Manipulation again after thirty minutes.¡± ¡°Really? That''s great news. Then you should head to the Demon Kingdom. I''ll follow you as soon as I''m done with the general.¡± ¡°Yeah. Be careful.¡± Elina persued a different direction. I rushed towards the Demon Kingdom leaving her alone. She was strong enough to handle herself. I saw a large army standing a few hundred metres away. I could sense a monstrous presence from a nearby rock from where the army was. But knowing I would have my skill back in due time soothed my mind. ¡°Shadow, go.¡± I came off my horse and travelled the few remaining meters by walking. Shadow had already killed a few hundred soldiers of the Demon Army by now. As expected, they didn''t stand a chance. But only one presence overwhelmed me. He was not hostile. So I tried to ignore the presence. I noticed a strong figure with buffed arms standing in awe. He was indeed the Demon King. He was surprised by the fact that I was commanding Shadow. I laughed quietly and said, ¡°Would you like to see more of these?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°Arise.¡± Hundreds of souls responded to my call. One-fifth of the demon army was now under my command. The Demon King¡¯s face was fascinating to look at. He was staring at his own dead soldiers with eyes of surprise. Like he had never seen a human use necromancy before. However, I was not worried about him. I was worried about the one who stood up at the top of the tall rock, unfazed. He was watching my every move cautiously. I could feel his strong presence overwhelming mine. Even Shadow would lose against him. ¡°Are you coming down?¡± ¡°...¡± His stare sent shivers across my spine. I rolled my fists in fear. Damn this, I didn''t expect this situation at all. ¡ª + ¡ª [20 Minutes Remaining Till You Can Use Skill: Quantum Manipulation] ¡ª + ¡ª ¡°...¡± Only twenty minutes. If I only survived twenty more minutes. This was not the first time I was afraid to take action. I already lost and revived two times. But, this time was different. I tightened my grip on the dagger. ¡°Shadow, it''s time. You know what to do.¡± This was a risky move, but, if he somehow pulled it off¡­ I needed to buy some for Shadow to sneak out from the Demon''s King¡¯s sight. So¡­ I finally stepped on the battlefield¡­ ¡°Go everyone.¡± Shuk, shuk, shuk! Sliced open several throats and gave my soldiers an opening to infiltrate the army. I kept slaughtering the army so the Demon King targets me instead of Shadow. I came to a stop. Wiped stained blood from face. ¡ª + ¡ª [LEVEL UP +21] [Strength: lvl 44 ¡ú lvl 49 Agility: lvl 39 ¡ú lvl 45 Stamina: lvl 37 ¡ú lvl 45 Endurance: lvl 33 ¡ú lvl 35] ¡ª + ¡ª ¡°Arise.¡± ¡ª + ¡ª [You Can Use This Skill Only One More Time For This Week] ¡ª + ¡ª That was enough for me. I already converted half of the demon army into my soldiers. So, I needed only one more person in my collection of souls¡­ Shadow was currently clashing against the knight just like I ordered him. I could grasp from the fight that if he used his full strength, Shadow would''ve already been defeated. I figured he wouldn''t fight at full strength with someone inferior to him for his pride as a knight. Yes, the strategy of buying time was going exactly like I wanted. ¡ª + ¡ª [10 Minutes Remaining Till You Can Use Skill: Quantum Manipulation] ¡ª + ¡ª Perfect. Now, it was time to fight the Demon King. He was standing, focused at me. ¡°Time''s up Big horns. You''re about to die.¡± ¡°You''re not strong enough brat.¡± ¡ª ? ¡ª Kazuki lunged¡ª klang! Their blades clashed, sparks scattered. Their strength matched, neither side yielded an inch. The King drove his foot into Kazuki''s stomach. ¡°ughh!¡± The Demon King swung his blade. Kazuki twisted his body¡ª barely dodging the deadly arc. Without hesitation, he swept his leg low, the Demon King lost his balance. Kazuki didn''t waste a second. He drove another foot into the King''s skull with brutal force. ¡°Arghhh!! You brat!!¡± The Demon King roared in fury. Before Kazuki could retreat, a powerful arm grabbed his leg. With monstrous strength, the King swung him like a ragdoll¡ª slamming him into the ground with a thunderous impact. ¡°Gwah¡ª¡± Without hesitation, the King swung him again. Kazuki gritted his teeth, twisting mid-air. At the last moment, his blade carved through the Demon King''s fingers. With a snarl of pain, the King''s grip loosened. Kazuki landed hard, but was totally free. ¡ª ? ¡ª ¡°That was¡­ painful¡­¡± ¡ª + ¡ª [5 Minutes Remaining Till You Can Use Skill: Quantum Manipulation] ¡ª + ¡ª Still five more minutes? I was already at my limit. And shadow was about lose too. ¡°Y-You brat! Now you''ve done it! Grrr¡­!¡± ¡°What the¡ª¡± The Demon King''s horns grew tall. Eyes sharp crimson red with black mixture. His aura felt different. Dammit. Did he always have such power?! My heart skipped a beat¡ª I couldn''t sense Shadow¡¯s presence anymore. Neither could I see the knight fighting Shadow. Shit. I was about to die¡ª again. ¡­Klung! I opened my eyes at the sound and saw two swords clash against each other. I was saved again¡­ By Elina, my hero. ¡°Sorry, I''m late.¡± ¡°Elina, the King''s not important! Hold on against the knight!¡± ¡°What kni¡ª¡± BWAM!! Elina hit the ground just like a meteor. Fuck. He was here, standing right in front of me. ¡°Go and take care of the lady. This young man is mine.¡± ¡°But my lor¡ª¡± ¡°Do as I say.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord¡­¡± My lord? Just who was he? Was I fighting some kind of God? All kinds of question occupied my mind. However, I was answered before could even asking. ¡°I''m the first Demon King of the Demon Kingdom, Asmodeus. Young man, I''m impressed by your skills. You have my respect. State your name.¡± F-First Demon King? No. This was beyond my nightmares. Demons aren''t supposed to be this strong. My voice trembled in fear as I replied. ¡°...Tenma Kazuki.¡± The entire battlefield stood still. Neither mine nor the demon soldiers remained. They were all wiped out by a single person. ¡°Tenma Kazuki, I noticed you''re trying to buy time. Perhaps, are you waiting for someth ing?¡± ¡°...¡± I didn''t answer him. No, I couldn''t answer him. If I could only hold out for a bit longer¡­ ¡ª + ¡ª [1 Minute Remaining Till You Can Use Skill: Quantum Manipulation] ¡ª + ¡ª