章 4: Side task
The sky was the color of blood, and the sun looked like a bleeding wound on the horizon. There was no place for humans anymore. Magical creatures had taken full control, turning the earth into a battlefield of magic and supernatural forces.
These creatures were powerful and overwhelming, living in every corner of the world—from dense forests to barren deserts. They dominated everything, transforming human cities into ruins and their fields into playgrounds for magical beasts. Their magical prowess made them the undisputed rulers. Humans, once the masters of the earth, had become mere prey for these majestic beings.
Humans lived in darkness, moving between caves and abandoned tunnels. There were no longer large human communities; instead, humans had split into small groups struggling to survive. They depended on scraps of food and polluted water, fighting daily just to stay alive.
The dark days dragged on, and as they did, humans were divided into two groups: those who hid from the dangers and those who sought the light. In the dark caves where humans hid, a brave group decided to take the bold step of confronting the greatest danger. Rumors said that the King of Beasts, the Great Dragon, resided at the peak of Chaos Mountain, the source of all the catastrophes plaguing humanity.
The group gathered in the dark, their eyes shining with hope and determination. They spoke of plans and strategies, but most importantly, they knew this journey might be their last. There was no room for retreat; they had to reclaim their world from the claws of the beasts.
At dawn, the group set out, beginning their long journey toward Chaos Mountain. The early days of their journey were fraught with difficulties, as they navigated dense forests and treacherous mountain passes. Even nature seemed to oppose their mission, with winds howling against them and rains flooding their paths.
As they progressed, magical creatures attacked them from all sides. The battles were fierce, and blood was spilled. The group began to dwindle, with members falling one by one, victims of magical beasts and harsh nature. But the group pressed on, driven by a single goal: to reach the mountain's peak and slay the dragon.
Only a few members remained, but the challenges were far from over. The mountain itself held secrets and dangers beyond imagination. Rocks crumbled beneath their feet, and the mountain walls pulsed with terrifying magical energy. They knew every step could be their last, but they did not lose hope.
By the end of the journey, only one member of the group reached the summit.
The sky wore a cloak of darkness, and fierce winds roared atop Chaos Mountain. The mountain loomed over the earth like a crouching giant, shrouded in mystery and terror. There, at the peak, stood the sole survivor, his body battered with wounds, his eyes glowing with exhaustion and despair.
Before this weary young man stood the Great Dragon, its fiery red eyes glowing like embers in the dark. Its massive body covered the horizon, and its outstretched wings instilled fear in the heart. The dragon gazed at the hero with an expression of disdain and malice, as if mocking his desperate attempt.
The hero felt the weight of his wounds and exhaustion pulling him down, as if his body could no longer hold his energy. Dark thoughts crept into his mind, whispering that it was all over and that resistance was futile.
The young man stood and cried out with a broken voice, "Is this the fate you chose for us? To live as prey for you and your kind?"
The dragon replied in a deep voice that shook the earth, "You humans are weak and fragile. What drives you to persist in this doomed battle? Surrender and become part of my dominion, and I will make you part of the invincible force."
The dragon's voice was calm and wise, as though it carried the wisdom of the ages. It added, "You humans are weak in the face of the forces of the universe. You strive to control what you don't understand, walking a path that defies your true nature. Why not accept your weakness and learn from the wisdom of time?"
The hero sank deeper into despair and muttered, "We have no other choice. We live in fear and hunger, losing hope day by day. How can we accept such a fate?"
The dragon stepped closer, its fiery eyes scrutinizing him carefully. It asked in a voice blending wisdom and mockery, "Do you intend to fight me despite your miserable state? Do you think the fragile hope of humans can stand against my absolute power?"
The hero hesitated for a moment, but the glimmer of hope in his eyes did not fade. He said firmly, despite his weakness, "Yes, I will fight you until the end. Because hope is all we have left, and we won't let it die."
The dragon exhaled a burst of magical fire as if acknowledging the hero's determination and said, "I will give you humans a chance, a chance to survive and turn the tides. What do you say?"
The hero looked into the dragon's eyes, and despite the fear coursing through his veins, he nodded and said, "I accept, no matter what."
~~~~~~~~
"Edward, stop telling children's stories and let us eat."
"Don't you know any other story? We've known this one since birth; there's no need to finish it."
"Don't be mad at him, Edward. He's just trying to pass the time."
Klaus's body shook with anger. Every time he tried to cheer them up with a story, he faced this constant grumbling. It seemed they were a hard audience to please.
"Damn you all. I won't talk to you anymore," he said, adjusting his glasses—a habit he had when he didn't mean his words.
We sat down to eat the food the guards brought us, just bread and salt. What did you expect? It's the food of slaves.
Edward, the aggressive strong one; Klaus, the arrogant intelligent one; Theodore, the reckless skillful one; Oliver, the cowardly lovable one; Ratos, the reclusive attractive one... and me, White.
What a fantastic group! Despite everything, we were like one family. Whether in the orphanage or the cell, none of us could imagine living separately. Unfortunately, it seemed none of us considered the idea of dying together either.
Years ago, we found some old, eroded stones in the wall, possibly due to humidity and time. We started thinking of exploiting this weakness to escape. After much effort, we managed to create a small hole in the wall. It was just big enough for my thin body to pass through. I crawled slowly through the opening and emerged into the dark corridor on the other side of the wall. It turned out to be a back passage rarely used by the guards.
Later, we realized that escape was impossible due to the palace's location in the middle of mountains and forests. We abandoned the plan and waited for the end of the rituals. Of course, we used the hole to steal food from the guards and closed it occasionally.
But one night, while I was outside, I paused to gaze at Gosho's room—that damned magician. "If only I could kill him," I sighed at my foolish fantasy. Before I could return to the cell, I heard voices from inside, carrying a secretive tone, which piqued my curiosity. I decided to sneak closer to the door quietly and eavesdrop on the conversation inside.
I leaned in slowly and pressed my ear against a small crack in the door. Caution required me to remain perfectly still so as not to make any sound that would alert them to my presence. Of course, if Gosho had a magical way to detect me, he would have caught me years ago, so I wasn't worried.
"We must be extremely careful this time," said the first voice, filled with concern. "Any small mistake could expose our entire plan."
It was Tyrian's voice! The guard captain.
The second voice replied confidently, "Don't worry. I've ensured every detail. The leader will be pleased with the final result. We just need to wait for the red moon to appear."
I imagined Gosho stroking his black beard as he continued, "On that night, we will complete the 'Emergence' ritual and sacrifice those Luminians to turn Lyana into a witch as the leader desires."
I swallowed hard. Sacrifice us? We had been waiting, thinking the rituals would end with a farewell celebration, and we'd return to our cursed lives. How naive we were!
I knew time was short, and I had to act quickly. There was no room for hesitation; I had to exploit this for my benefit and escape. I didn't think about the others, and that's how I ended up on the mountain. Though I had completely forgotten that survival there was impossible, you already know the rest of the story.
As I ate, I thought about a plan to escape from here. I hadn't told the others yet and didn't want to cause unnecessary commotion before finding a clear solution.
"Escape is impossible. The place is isolated, and the beasts will kill us before we reach the nearest village."
"Maybe we can steal a winged horse! That's how the leader visits here every time to check on the situation. But we've never ridden one before! Is it like riding a bike in my world?"
As I drowned in all the possibilities and probabilities—some seeming promising before I realized they were doomed, others hopeless and embarrassing even to consider—I heard a notification from the system!
New Notification: A new side quest has been added. Please check the quest details in your task board.
I opened the quests to check it out. This was the first time I'd received a side quest.
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Side Quest: Go on a hunger strike for a full night.
Quest Level: 1.
Rewards: 50 points.
Do you accept the challenge?
[Accept] [Decline] [Back to Home Page]
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Fifty points for sleeping without food. It seems the system is feeling unusually generous!
週次パワーステータス
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