章 3: Chapter 2: Za Warudo(Da World)
A/N: I am me and you are you. But who is Ren and who is that? Gimme reviews and powers tones and comments and I'll post the 3rd chapter soon :)
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Alright, Ren. One step at a time. Find a way out of this mess without getting roasted or crushed.
I peeked out from behind the rocks, my heart racing as my eyes scanned the battlefield.
The fighting was still intense, with Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom soldiers locked in brutal combat. Fireballs lit up the sky, and the ground trembled as boulders tore through the dirt.
But I wasn't focused on the chaos. I was looking for an opening.
"Push forward! Don't let them regroup!"
The shout came from a Fire Nation commander, his voice carrying over the din of the fight. His words sent a group of soldiers rushing forward, with the group behind bending jet-streams of flames to slow down the massive clusters of rocks that aimed their infantry.
I didn't wait to see how the clash played out. Using the distraction, I slipped out of the rocks, keeping low as I darted towards a destroyed cart, hoping to find anything useful but all it did was have me use it to hide once more.
"Regroup at the ridge!" someone yelled, their voice frantic. "Hold the line!"
I peeked out cautiously. The fighting was shifting, Earth Kingdom forces were pulling back, bending walls of stone to slow the Fire Nation's advance. Their retreat carved openings in the chaos, but it also left me stuck in the middle of a shrinking no-man's-land.
A shadow moved to my left.
I froze, gripping the sword tighter as my eyes darted to the figure. A Fire Nation soldier, his armour scratched but intact, was moving quickly, scanning the area with a practiced precision.
Don't see me. Don't see me.
But he did. His head snapped toward the cart, and for a moment, we locked eyes.
"Over here!" he shouted, raising his weapon—a curved blade that glinted menacingly in the firelight.
Shit.
I bolted.
The soldier's footsteps thundered behind me, gaining ground fast. My legs burned as I weaved through the wreckage, the sword in my hand slowing me down with its weight.
"You can't run forever!" his voice rang out, too close for comfort.
I didn't answer. Words wouldn't save me.
Instead, I spotted a splintered pole, a broken spear, lying half-buried in the dirt. Without thinking, I scooped it up, gripping it in my free hand.
Two weapons. Double the survival rate. Right?
I rounded a corner, the jagged remains of a stone wall coming into view. My eyes darted up and down, taking in the crumbled structure. It wasn't tall, but it was solid enough.
The soldier's footsteps were closing in.
I pressed myself against the wall, heart hammering as I clutched the spear tightly, hiding the sword behind my sleeve.
The soldier rounded the corner, his blade raised, his eyes scanning the shadows. He didn't see me at first, too focused on looking ahead.
Good. One chance. Don't screw this up.
I waited until he passed, his back exposed. Then I stepped forward, the broken spear thrusting out in one motion.
It struck his thigh, sinking deep. He stumbled with a pained shout, his blade clattering to the ground as he dropped to his knees.
Before he could recover, I swung the sword, the blade cutting cleanly through his exposed neck.
The soldier fell forward, lifeless.
The system chimed in my mind, its tone calm and detached.
|Combat Experience Gained. Skill: Basic Swordsmanship (Lv 2).|
Level 2? Fantastic. Still doesn't make me a warrior.
The soldier's blood pooled at my feet, but I didn't have time to think about it. The battlefield didn't wait.
Another explosion shook the ground, rattling my teeth as fireballs lit up the sky. Dirt and debris rained down around me, forcing me to raise my arm to shield my face.
Keep moving.
I sprinted toward the nearest set of rocks, keeping low as the chaos of the battlefield raged on. My legs burned, each step a struggle, but I didn't stop. Fire Nation soldiers were advancing, their bending cutting through Earth Kingdom defences like knives through paper.
"Hold the ridge!" someone shouted, their voice strained and desperate.
The Earth Kingdom forces were retreating, bending walls of stone to slow their enemies, but even I could see they were losing ground.
A stray fireball crashed into the dirt ahead of me, its heat brushing against my face as I skidded to the side. My foot caught on a jagged piece of rubble, and I stumbled, falling hard onto my hands and knees.
"Damn it," I hissed, pushing myself up.
The jagged rocks I was aiming for were just ahead. I forced myself forward, ducking as another boulder hurtled through the air, smashing into a cluster of Fire Nation soldiers.
Sliding behind the rocks, I pressed my back against the jagged surface, panting. The heat and smoke from the battlefield were suffocating, but at least I had cover. For now.
The system chimed again, its tone sharper this time.
|Sub-Objective Complete: Survive 10 Minutes.
Reward: Observe Skill Unlocked.|
A second line followed almost instantly:
|Skill: Observe (Lv 1)|
Allows the user to gain basic information about targets or objects within view.
I blinked at the glowing text, the words cutting through the haze in my mind.
Observe? Like, what? Am I supposed to scan people like some kind of walking encyclopaedia?
Before I could think too much about it, instinct pulled my gaze upward. A Fire Nation soldier darted through the smoke, his weapon raised, eyes scanning for any survivors hiding among the debris.
I ducked lower, my breath caught in my throat. Without even meaning to, the new skill kicked in.
The system overlay flickered to life, outlining the soldier in faint lines as words appeared:
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Name: Jonathan
Status: Healthy
Threat Level: Major
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Healthy? Major threat? Yeah, no shit.
The soldier moved closer, his boots crunching over the debris. My heart raced as I gripped the sword tighter, holding it close to my chest.
Stay calm, Ren. Let him pass. No sudden moves.
The soldier moved closer, his steps deliberate and precise, scanning every inch of the rubble. His blade glinted in the firelight, and his sharp eyes darted over the jagged terrain like a predator searching for prey.
He's too thorough. He's going to find me.
My grip tightened on the sword as I crouched lower, the broken spear tucked under my other arm. I swallowed hard, my mind racing.
If it worked once, it can work again.
I slid the sword beneath my sleeve, mimicking the same setup from before, while keeping the spear at the ready in my other hand. My heartbeat thundered in my chest as I edged around the rocks, letting my footsteps blend with the distant chaos.
The soldier rounded the corner, his focus snapping to me instantly. His lips curled into a snarl.
"Found you," he growled, raising his blade.
I stumbled forward, feigning desperation as I extended my free hand.
"Wait!" I shouted, my voice cracking as I played up the fear. "Don't—"
He wasn't buying it.
The soldier lunged before I could make my move, his sword slicing toward me in a clean, practiced arc.
Shit—!
I barely managed to dodge, the blade grazing my shoulder as I rolled to the side. Pain flared, but I didn't stop. My free hand snapped the sword out from my sleeve, swinging upward in a wild arc.
The soldier blocked with ease, his blade meeting mine with a deafening clang.
He's better than the last one.
The force of the clash sent vibrations through my arms, but I didn't lose my grip this time. My movements felt sharper, more instinctive, as I parried his next strike, stepping back to create distance.
Okay, slight improvement. Still going to die, though.
The soldier pressed the attack, his blade whistling through the air as he aimed for my chest. I blocked again, my foot sliding back to brace myself. The impact wasn't as jarring this time, and I noticed my swing had more control—less flailing, more precision.
But I was still on the defensive.
Think, Ren. You're not going to win by trading blows with him.
My eyes darted to the broken spear still clutched in my other hand.
I feinted a swing with the sword, drawing his focus, then dropped low, driving the jagged edge of the spear toward his leg.
The soldier moved to block, but his attention split too late. The spearhead ripped into his thigh, and he stumbled with a sharp cry, his footing faltering.
I pressed the advantage, thrusting the spear again to force him back before swinging the sword upward. The blade caught him under the arm, slicing through the weak spot in his armour.
He let out a guttural cry, his weapon clattering to the ground as he fell to one knee.
I stepped forward, raising my blade. He looked up, his expression a mix of rage and pain, but I didn't give him a chance to recover.
The sword came down, and the fight was over.
The system chimed again.
|Combat Experience Gained.
Skill: Basic Swordsmanship (Lv 2 Progress: 45%).|
I staggered back, chest heaving. My shoulder throbbed from the earlier graze, but I ignored it. The broken spear was still in my hand, splintered but usable.
Better. Not great, but better.
The battlefield raged on, but something shifted in the chaos. The relentless push of the Fire Nation forces faltered as Earth Kingdom benders rallied, their movements sharp and coordinated.
I crouched low, sticking close to the uneven rocks as I watched from the shadows. A group of Earth benders raised their arms in unison, slamming them down with a synchronized shout. The ground beneath a cluster of Fire Nation soldiers erupted, jagged spikes of stone piercing upward, sending several leaders sprawling or worse.
The impact was immediate. The Fire Nation troops, once pressing forward with unrelenting precision, hesitated, their lines breaking apart.
"Fall back!" one of the Earth Kingdom commanders roared, his voice cutting through the noise. "Push them back!"
The Earth benders didn't waste the opportunity. Massive boulders and waves of dirt surged toward the disorganized Fire Nation soldiers, forcing them to retreat under the pressure.
This was my chance.
I tightened my grip on the sword and broken spear, scanning the area for the safest path back to camp. The Earth Kingdom forces were already retreating in groups, their movements hurried but controlled. If I stayed too long, I'd get left behind.
You've made it this far. Don't screw it up now.
I slipped out from behind the rocks, keeping low as I darted from one piece of debris to another. The fighting was still too close for comfort, stray fireballs and flying chunks of earth still tore through the air, but the chaos was finally shifting in my favour.
Ahead, I spotted a familiar banner fluttering in the distance, the Earth Kingdom camp. Relief flooded through me, my legs burning as I pushed myself harder.
Around me, other Earth Kingdom soldiers streamed toward the camp, their faces etched with exhaustion and grim determination. Some were limping, others carried by their comrades, but they all had the same goal: get to safety.
A fireball exploded nearby, and I ducked instinctively, the heat licking at my back.
"Move it!" someone shouted, a soldier waving others forward. "They're falling back, but they're not done yet!"
I didn't need to be told twice.
The camp came into view, a hastily constructed fortress of stone walls and makeshift tents. The sight of it made my chest tighten, the adrenaline that had kept me upright starting to fade.
I stumbled past the gates, collapsing against a stack of crates just inside. My breath came in ragged gasps, my body aching from the strain.
For the first time since I landed in this nightmare, I felt something close to safe.
The system chimed softly in the back of my mind, but I ignored it for now. My vision blurred, exhaustion threatening to pull me under, but I forced myself to stay alert.
One fight down. Who knows how many more to go.
~Pov Change~
Ren stirred, his body stiff and aching as consciousness clawed its way back. The air around him was heavy with the pungent scent of blood and smoke, mixed with something sour he couldn't quite place. His eyes blinked open, adjusting slowly to the dim, flickering light of the makeshift camp.
Ren tried to sit up, wincing as a sharp pain flared across his shoulder. His hand moved instinctively to the spot, finding rough bandages wrapped tightly around the wound. The fabric was coarse, soaked in something that stung faintly but seemed to be doing its job.
He wasn't the only one here.
The low murmur of voices reached his ears, a constant backdrop to the groans and cries of those less fortunate. Around him, the tent was crowded with bodies. Some sat slumped against the walls, their injuries mild but enough to take them out of the fight. Others lay on the ground, their faces pale and twisted in pain, blood soaking through hastily applied bandages.
To his right, a soldier cradled his arm, the limb bent at an unnatural angle as another man tied a splint with trembling hands. Further down, a young Earth Kingdom recruit, barely older than Ren's current body, stared blankly at the ground, his leg heavily bandaged but dark stains still seeping through.
In the far corner of the tent, a man let out a strangled cry, his voice breaking before fading into silence. Ren turned his head just enough to see a medic pull a bloodied sheet over the man's face, their expression grim as they moved to the next patient.
The sheer weight of it all pressed down on him. The air felt suffocating, thick with despair and desperation.
Ren's fingers curled into the fabric of his makeshift cot, his mind racing to piece together how he'd ended up here. The last thing he remembered was staggering into camp, his vision blurred and his body barely holding on.
A medic must have found him and dragged him into this overcrowded tent. The bandages on his shoulder told him as much, though they were little comfort now.
Sitting up fully, Ren swung his legs over the side of the cot, his bare feet brushing against the cold dirt floor. He scanned the room again, this time more deliberately. Some of these people wouldn't make it through the night, that much was clear.
The tent flap opened suddenly, a soldier rushing in with another injured man slung over his shoulder. The commotion briefly drew everyone's attention before they returned to their own suffering.
Ren's gaze lingered on the new arrival, watching as the soldier barked orders at a medic. The injured man was barely conscious, his chest rising and falling in shallow, uneven breaths.
Suddenly the soldier's eyes glanced towards and raised his eyebrows as if he recognised him.
"Ren, right?" the soldier said, his voice brisk, cutting through the low murmur of the tent.
Ren blinked, startled. "Yeah." His own voice came out rough, barely above a whisper.
"The commander wants to see you. Get up."
The soldier didn't wait for a response, stepping back toward the entrance and gesturing impatiently.
Ren hesitated, his gaze darting around the tent. His body still ached, his shoulder pulsing with a dull pain, but the weight in the soldier's tone left little room for argument.
Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself to his feet, steadying himself on the edge of the cot before following.
The air outside was colder than he expected, the night thick with smoke and the faint glow of distant fires. Soldiers moved purposefully through the camp, carrying supplies, tending to weapons, or simply slumping against walls to catch a brief moment of rest.
The soldier leading him didn't speak, weaving through the chaos with practiced ease. Ren followed closely, his mind racing as they approached the far end of the camp, where a larger, sturdier tent stood apart from the rest.
The sight of it sent a jolt through Ren's mind, a flicker of familiarity he couldn't explain. His steps slowed as fragmented images flashed behind his eyes, memories that weren't his, yet felt like they were.
He knew this tent. He knew the man inside.
Commander Jiro.
The name came unbidden, as though dragged from some deep corner of his mind. Jiro. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a booming voice that could rally troops even in the bleakest moments. Ren's head throbbed as more details pushed their way forward: Jiro's sharp eyes, the scar that ran down the side of his face, the way he carried himself like a man who had seen too much and still refused to yield.
How do I know this?
The memories didn't stop. The layout of the camp, the faces of the soldiers, names and details swirled together, overlapping with his own thoughts until it felt like his head might split.
"Keep moving," the soldier barked, his voice breaking through the haze.
Ren shook his head, focusing on the present as they reached the tent. The soldier held the flap open, gesturing for Ren to enter.
Inside the tent, the atmosphere was suffocating, the flickering light of a single lantern casting jagged shadows across a tattered map spread over the central table. Commander Jiro stood at the table's edge, his broad frame towering over the scene like a stone pillar, unmoving and unyielding. His scarred face twisted in a scowl as Ren stepped in, the tent flap snapping shut behind him.
"You took your sweet time, didn't you?" Jiro barked, his voice a sharp whip that made Ren's spine stiffen. "What the hell were you doing, taking a nap while the rest of us fought for our lives?"
Ren flinched but managed to steady his voice. "I—"
"Shut up," Jiro snapped, his glare cutting through Ren like a blade. "I didn't ask for excuses. Stand up straight when you're talking to me, boy."
Ren straightened reflexively, his bandaged shoulder screaming in protest. Jiro's eyes swept over him, taking in every scratch, every awkward shift of his stance, before finally landing on the sword in Ren's hand.
"You've got blood on that blade," Jiro said, his tone almost mocking. "How many did you kill?"
Ren hesitated, his grip tightening on the hilt. "Three," he said finally, his voice low.
"Three?" Jiro's laugh was cold and humourless. "You're joking, right? Three? Is that all?"
Ren didn't answer, his gaze fixed on the ground.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Jiro roared, his hand slamming against the table with enough force to rattle the map.
Ren snapped his head up, his heart hammering against his ribs.
"Three," Jiro repeated, his voice dripping with disgust. "Three kills. That's what you've got to show for an entire battle? Do you think that's good enough? Do you think that's going to stop the Fire Nation from marching in here and roasting us alive?"
"I did what I—" Ren started, but Jiro cut him off with a sharp wave of his hand.
"You did what? Your best? This?" Jiro gestured at him, his lip curling in disdain. "This is your best? Let me tell you something, Ren. Your best is dog shit. A child with a rock could've done more than you did out there."
Ren's jaw clenched, his nails digging into the hilt of his sword, but he stayed silent.
"Three kills," Jiro muttered, pacing around the table now, his steps heavy with frustration. "We've got boys out there half your age taking down twice that. But you? You're standing here like a limp noodle, looking at me like you expect a pat on the back."
"I—"
"Spare me!" Jiro snapped, rounding on him again. "You're a disgrace to that uniform, you hear me? A waste of space. If I had any sense, I'd send you back to whatever hole you crawled out of and let the Fire Nation put you out of your misery."
Ren's throat tightened, but he forced himself to speak. "I'll do better next time, sir."
"Better?" Jiro sneered, stepping closer until he was right in Ren's face. "You'd better do more than better. You'd better kill. You'd better fight like your goddamn life depends on it because it does. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, sir," Ren said, his voice barely audible.
"I said, do you understand me?" Jiro bellowed, his voice echoing in the small space.
"Yes, sir!" Ren snapped back, his voice stronger this time.
Jiro snorted, stepping back with a dismissive wave. "Get the hell out of my sight. And the next time I call for you, you'd better have a body count worth mentioning. Now move."
Ren turned slightly, his eyes narrowing as Jiro muttered something under his breath and returned to the map. His heart was pounding, not just from Jiro's words but from the sheer pressure radiating off the man.
The system's presence tickled at the edge of his mind, almost as if it were nudging him.
He clenched his jaw and thought, Observe.
The text flickered to life, faint against the dim light of the tent:
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Name: Commander Jiro
Status: Healthy
Threat Level: Invincible
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Ren's stomach dropped. Invincible?. The word hung in his mind like a warning bell, a reminder that whatever else he might think about Jiro, this man was someone he could never hope to face, let alone defeat.
The weight of the word pressed down on him, and he quickly forced his eyes away, hoping the system wouldn't decide to flash any more warnings his way.
"Yes, sir," Ren said again, his voice steady despite the knot in his stomach.
Jiro didn't even glance at him. His focus was back on the map, his hands tracing over plans and formations as though Ren no longer existed.
Ren turned and slipped out of the tent, the cool night air hitting his face like a slap. He exhaled shakily, the tension loosening only slightly as the distant sounds of the camp buzzed around him.
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The plane of existence was timeless, a void of swirling light and energy that seemed to stretch infinitely in every direction. Here, where concepts like space and time were little more than suggestions, two figures stood, their forms shifting and amorphous, radiating an otherworldly glow.
One figure, cloaked in a faint golden aura, crossed its arms. Its voice echoed, layered and resonant, as it broke the silence.
"You interfered again," it said, a sharp edge of disapproval in its tone.
The second figure, its form darker, more muted, but no less imposing, let out a low chuckle. "Interfered? Such an ugly word. I prefer... guided."
The golden figure's glow pulsed, flickering in what might have been irritation. "Don't toy with me. You pulled that soul, Ren, from the flow. That was not your place."
"And yet, I did it," the darker figure replied smoothly, its tone calm but laced with amusement. "Let's not pretend we don't all nudge the strings when it suits us. I simply gave a lost soul a chance to matter."
The golden figure leaned forward, its glow intensifying. "You expect me to believe this was an act of altruism? You, of all beings?"
The darker figure laughed again, the sound reverberating like distant thunder. "Altruism? Hardly. But I see potential where others see waste. That boy... Ren. His soul was aimless, discarded by his own world, drowning in mediocrity. And yet, in him lies the possibility of something... significant."
"Significant," the golden figure repeated, scepticism heavy in its tone. "You threw him into a war-torn world, stripped him of comfort and familiarity, and handed him a sword he barely knows how to use. Tell me, what exactly do you see in this chaos you've created?"
The darker figure tilted its head, the faint outline of what might have been a smile forming. "Growth. Struggle. Change. You and your kind are obsessed with order, with predictable outcomes. I prefer the unpredictable. Chaos breeds strength, my luminous friend. And strength... strength changes everything."
The golden figure's light dimmed slightly, as if considering the words. "And if you're wrong? If your chaos crushes him instead of forging him into whatever tool you imagine he'll become?"
"Then he'll be like the countless others who've failed," the darker figure said, its tone unbothered. "But if I'm right... well, let's just say the ripples will be... entertaining."
The golden figure stood silent for a moment, its glow steady but subdued. "You enjoy playing these games far too much. It will be your undoing one day."
"Perhaps," the darker figure mused, its form shifting slightly as if shrugging. "But for now, Ren's story begins. And I, for one, am eager to see how far he can go... or how far he'll fall."
The golden figure turned away, its light receding into the infinite void. "Your meddling always comes with a price. I hope, for his sake, you've accounted for that."
The darker figure remained, silent and still for a long moment. Then it chuckled softly to itself, the sound fading into the endless expanse.
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A/N: WHOA we got random divine beings in this story now. Have I completed the cliche isekai story introduction?
This chapter is definitely weaker than the first as the last one I was able to write as if I was there but the moment he started adapting, I have to adapt in writing too. Match his level of strength with words.
週次パワーステータス
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