We traversed the darkness where an eerie silence lingered, and water dripped from the rocky ceiling. A foul smell faintly assaulted my nose in this cold and chilling air. Quiet footsteps from my group echoed as we moved forward with our guards raised. Sounds of metals shifting from the knights’ armor faintly clanged as we went deeper into the dark cavern.
As for me, I was behind my classmates, along with a few non-frontal combatants. I wore a brown robe which reached just below my knees, then a skirt which reached just above it, and of course I wore shorts — no girl wears plain underwear when going to a fight while wearing… this. But this era didn’t have anything like the ones from the world we originally came from, but good thing they gave us high-quality clothes. That at least made it a bit more comfortable.
Underneath my robe was a dark shirt and protected by brown leather armor. My dark hair was tied into a ponytail to avoid any visual obstruction. I was a mage, therefore, as the one focused on magic, wearing heavy armor was not good to me, even chain mails were too heavy for me.
There were a total of 50 people here, 40 of which were the heroes summoned to this world — including me. While I was here anxiously watching my surroundings, most of my other classmates were walking with misplaced nonchalance and arrogant grins.
There was something wrong with the heads of some of these people. They were enjoying this. Well, we were supposed to be very special, being heroes from another world and all. And we were supposed to be stronger than the average fighter in this world. So everyone was pretty confident. Not me, though. Putting myself in danger was not exactly a pleasant experience.
We suddenly heard a faint sound of metallic clunk from ahead of us, in the darkness. From which a moment later, several more of the same sound followed it. As they got into the light, we realized what we had encountered. Figures walked towards us in a slouch, their faces were bare — bare bones — yes, their faces were only skulls. Their bony fingers held swords, shields, and spears. Their armor left a few gaps, exposing their skeletal body.
They were the undead.
When this cavern was discovered, it was assumed to be a new dungeon that we could dive into. As heroes, we were sent here to investigate, clean it up, to train, garner experience in combat, and become stronger. Facing monsters was expected in a dungeon. I have faced a few undead creatures prior to this, so I wasn’t that shaken this time. Although I may have freaked out a little the first time I saw a dead corpse moving. Zombies were way scarier in real life than in movies, no matter how realistic they may look.
A lone figure of a man stepped forward, he was seventeen years old. He adorned a lavish bluish and gold armor with an extravagant sword in his hand. His hair was golden blonde, and he had a pair of golden eyes.
“Mere undead, can’t say I’m not disappointed.”
“Please, hero, the purpose today is to train while cleaning up the monsters at the same time. I ask you to please give it your all,” the knight captain said to the young man.
This classmate of mine was named Kiran Alaion Morgan, and he was the strongest of all my classmates. A swordsman type. He was the dream of any girl to have as their partner, a charming and handsome man. And in this world, it only made him a way better person in the eyes of people. Men admired him, and women loved him.
We were never close. I didn’t really have any special feelings towards him. We were all friends here. Although, I didn’t particularly have any deep interaction with a lot of them. I had always pretty much preferred to be alone. Why? I wanted to spend my time somewhere else. We all have our interests, don’t we?
Of course that didn’t mean I would ignore everyone entirely. Not quite smart to not at least befriend them a little. One ought to make connections, after all. But I admit, because of that I didn’t have someone to call as a best friend in this class. Just friends. But isn’t that enough?
Kiran charged towards the undead, their swords clashed, but the undead stood no chance as its sword broke in the collision before it was cleaved in half. Kiran held out his hand and a blast of light eradicated a few undead away all at once.
“Kyaaa! Kiran, you’re so cool!”
“Amazing!”
“You look so handsome!”
The squealing ladies in the class threw compliments and praises to show their admiration. I didn’t show any interest, but watched out for anything behind. Was it really something to be praised about? No! Not at all. Why? Well, power you got easily without much effort at all isn’t something incredible.
The moment we arrived here in this world, Kiran already had a strong power which was easily determined by testing out our magical capabilities. Basically, he was a cheat. He was one of those OP protagonists you see plaguing shows or stories today like damn pests. He didn’t even have any drawbacks! Would have been better if there were some drawbacks, but nooo. He was perfect.
A freaking Mary Sue! Except he’s a man. So maybe, Gary Sue???
So, was I strong? Nah, compared to my fellow heroes? I was not one to stand out. I was just decent.
“Looks like there’s nothing to worry about. Let him handle everything.”
“Yeah.”
I glanced at the two guys talking to each other next to me. Yeah, no one was really paying attention to me. But that was good, if they didn't pay attention to me, I could only hope for the enemy to also not notice me. I was glad the OP guy gets to handle everything because I didn’t want to stress about facing any enemy. Less risk for me.
Fighting means death, you know? I didn’t want to die! I was too cowardly to fight. I just wanted to come back home. Those who summoned me here all of a sudden, those damn bastards who can’t even solve their own problems and shove it into a clueless third party’s hand. So annoying.
I mean, that’s pretty fucked up! They should be ashamed of themselves.
And most annoying of all, a lot of my classmates just accepted everything like it was nothing! That was why they’re broken in the head. Damn idiots, thinking they get to play hero, so they think everything’s fine. Those fantasies they have were damn annoying.
Even though I have a lot of daydreams and fantasies, I know which threshold between reality I shouldn’t cross. So once we destroy the Demon King — wow, how original, where have I seen that before? — I could finally get back home and read my books and watch TV and so on. This medieval era sucks.
Just then, more skeletons in armor emerged from the darkness and began to surround us. But everyone was relatively calm.
“Damn, there’s a lot of them.”
“Good thing they’re easy to kill. Charge!”
Those who attacked with melee clashed with the skeleton soldiers. Of course, I, as a magic caster, remained at the back with a few others — healers, archers, and fellow magic casters. While the heroes who engaged in the melee wielded swords, spears, daggers, axes.
I saw one who was about to be struck from behind, so I cast my heroic magic spell and an azure streak of light struck the skeleton soldier. Sensing the destroyed enemy behind him, he looked at me for a moment before promptly proceeding to attack the next enemy.
Wow, not even a thanks, okay…
Well, this was a battle, so I guess it’s fine.
The knights and heroes fought the numerous enemies, as the archers fired arrows, healers gave support magic, and magic casters like me fired magic spells.
Then, a short while later, everything quieted down. The enemies had been defeated.
“Whew, that was easy.”
“Alright, let’s continue on and figure out what’s deep inside.”
And thus, we continued on into the cavern.
On the way, we encountered an undead type called a lich. But that was easily taken care of. In the face of heroes that were supposed to fight the demon army, these undead were nothing. I heard powerful undead creatures were particularly rare, so there were mostly weaklings.
To be honest, since we were still in this place for the sake of training, it meant that we were not yet powerful enough to face the Demon King. We may be stronger than the standard in this world, but we have yet to unleash our full potential and master our magical abilities.
A while later on, facing no one or anything, we arrived at a wide chamber, but there was nothing special here. Just a plain rocky, empty area. It was a dead end.
“What? This is it?”
“Then what’s with the massive doors? Almost looked like it was hiding something special.”
The knight captain stepped forward and looked around. “Huh, we expected more. We didn’t even meet much resistance. We should look around.”
And so we looked around. I searched for anything on the sides and corners, but nah, nothing. Then to the ground, anything shiny? Nah. I arrived at the center of the chamber, then looked up.
You see, this might be like those times that there’s a puzzle and we have to figure it out. Of course, I hoped none of that was here. I hate puzzles! It sucks! Even in games, if I could skip it, I would. If I couldn’t, well — YouTube time! Not only that, I don’t even want to touch puzzles in real life.
At any rate, there was nothing weird with the ceiling. I guess I should be relieved.
“There’s nothing here,” Kiran said to everyone.
The knight captain walked towards the center and called everyone in. As I would prefer not to stand in the center of all, I walked back, away from the captain and into the crowd.
“It would appear that there’s nothing here, so let’s leave everything to the archeological team.”
Good! Finally, I could at least get away from death for a while. I hate dangerous places. If I could, any place that has a chance of death, I would rather stay away from it as far as possible.
“Alright, let’s mo—”
Hm? What’s wrong with him?
The knight captain just froze there with a frozen expression. And suddenly, his entire body convulsed violently.
“Knight Captain, what’s wrong?!” the knight beside him exclaimed.
Everyone was confused, unable to comprehend what was going on. I too had no idea, and my heart raced in apprehension. Whatever it was, it was nothing good. My instincts were telling me that there was danger approaching. Something truly bad was about to happen.
“AAAAAAH!”
I stepped back the moment I heard his screams of agony as his eyes wept blood. Yes, blood! His eyes turned to the back of his head, and his body contorted from his hands and legs. Like he was a doll being played and ripped around.
“Aaaah!” a girl screamed in horror.
“W-What the hell?!” one guy’s eyes widened in shock.
“Kiran, protect me!” one girl stepped closer to Kiran with a frightened expression.
Everyone in my class panicked at the horrendous sight. From his contorted and twisted limbs, blood spilled out as the skin disconnected from each other and bones broke apart. Then his head revolved a complete 360 with a loud crack, exposing the bloody bone and spilling red blood. Everything ended when he dropped to the ground like a puppet whose string had been cut.
Everyone gasped in utter horror.
“Everyone calm down!” Kiran shouted, his voice conveyed no trace of anxiety.
He was stronger than the captain anyway, so he must have thought he was safe. However, something was wrong, I could feel it. That was no normal attack.
Then, as though I was right, four of the knights which came with us froze the same way as the captain.
“Ggghhg.”
“Aaaaaah!”
“Meeuuuuu!”
“Moootheeer!”
They all began to twist apart as though someone was folding and twisting their body, they cried desperately as it happened. Blood flew in the air and splattered to a few of my classmates. Then the same thing happened to the remainder of the knights, but more swift.
“What t-the hell?! Run!”
I was delayed from registering that panicked shout. My feet trembled in fear as I watched the several bodies of the knights lifelessly fall down, and the horrible way they died.
As I froze there in terror, five of my classmates that had already started running away first also suddenly froze. They froze in a running posture, as if something was restraining them from moving instead of being frozen from straight up terror. Their fingers slightly twitched, and eyes frantically looked around, seemingly confused about what was happening to them. Seeing that, the rest stopped in place as they watched with wide, horrified eyes.
“None shall escape.”
An eerie, hollow, and chilling voice reached my ears. I couldn’t determine where it came from. Their voices just sounded like they were coming in all directions.
“Fools.”
“Humans.”
“But something different.”
“But they can die, nonetheless.”
The body of the frozen five classmates began to contort in weird and unnatural angles. We could hear the snap and breaking of bones, blood seeping through their stretched and ripped skin. Their pained and strained screams filled the chamber, and we watched in utter horror, absolutely disturbed in the depths of our hearts. And finally, their necks were snapped, killing them instantly. They dropped lifelessly to the rocky, cold floor. They were heroes, stronger than normal humans, and they were killed just like that.
I’m fucked. I’m so fucked!
Was I going to die here? No, I didn’t want to. We could still run away from here, only five were frozen there. Could that be a sign?
It was then that I realized something. If we wanted to escape, that could have been the chance, since the unknown opponents were only keeping a hold of five. However, it felt wrong. It felt wrong to just leave them as some sort of sacrifice.
Cowardly, I may be, but I didn’t want to leave anyone behind. That would be too cruel.
Then, was the only option was to fight the enemy? But I could not see them.
“What the hell?!”
“Shit!”
“Show yourselves!”
Then, at that moment, above us, in the air, vague white entities floated above our heads. There were five of them, and they appeared to be transparent, like ghosts.
Ghosts?
“You dare disturb our domain?”
“Unacceptable.”
“We didn’t want to. The knights brought us here!” a girl named Irene Berones frantically said to the ghosts. She had red hair and brown eyes. I saw terror in her eyes as she looked above, but she seemed to be resisting the fear and pushed on. How brave of her.
“Even so, you attacked the guards.”
“Hostile action!”
“You may be stronger than normal humans, but you are nothing before us.”
They flew all around, moving like fishes swimming in water.
It was then a beam of golden light hit a ghost. We all watched in shock and looked towards the source of that attack — it was a reckless and stupid thing to do! That was just provoking them further. We saw it was Kiran, he was sweating profusely, and there was an obvious sign of panic in his eyes.
The attack went through the ghost, but the ghost instantly froze in midair when it made contact with the attack. There I noticed something was strange. The ghosts were constantly moving, and the way that particular ghost froze was instantaneous — exactly the moment the beam made contact with it. Like it was immobilized. But that immobilized state didn’t last long, and it continued to fly around again.
“Useless.”
“You cannot harm us.”
“Cannot kill us.”
“W-What?!” Kiran yelped.
Everything he believed about his strength, this confidence, was shattered in that instant. He felt the fear of death and tried to fight it, but in the end, he failed to destroy the object of his fear. His powers failed him.
I took a deep breath. Would we have a chance to run? Yes, there was a chance. It would be incredibly risky, but if done right, we could run away from here.
“Please let us go!”
“We’ll do anything!”
“We’ll give you what you want!”
“Let us live!”
My classmates suddenly all screamed at them. Negotiating? Or begging? I had no idea if it would work. But these were monsters. No way they would listen, right?
“Is that so?”
“Very well.”
“Hehehehehe. Then listen.”
All the ghosts cackled as though they were expecting something entertaining. This was beyond my expectations. But perhaps this was better.
“W-We’re listening!”
The movements of the ghosts slowed down.
“To forgive your transgressions, you shall offer us a sacrifice.”
“Something interesting.”
“Something that has value to the nature of human life.”
“Something they fear to lose.”
“Something they love.”
All my classmates looked at each other, puzzled about what to make of that. Was it some kind of riddle? No, they specified to offer sacrifice.
“Y-You want a souvenir? A-An object important to us?” one of my classmates asked nervously.
“Wrong.”
“Humans sure are stupid.”
“Idiots.”
“Fools.”
“We want human life.”
I took in a sharp breath at the realization. They wanted a human sacrifice. Then…
“One of us has to be offered?” one asked.
They all looked at each other, likely thinking about what to do, or who to sacrifice.
“D-Don’t offer me. I’m essential to the fight against the demon king,” Kiran said with no hesitation.
“Also me, come on, aren’t we guys close to each other?” Irene said with frightened eyes.
“Please not me, remember? I’m always helping you guys with assignments.”
“I saved your asses one time.”
“I treated you with food.”
“We’re friends, right?”
Each and everyone one of them spoke out their merits and achievements. But what about me? What was my importance? What did I do for any of them? But, was what I did for them even important?
It was then, before I could say anything, everyone was looking at me…
When I realized this, I stepped back with trembling legs. I felt even colder, my heart throbbing to the point that it almost felt painful. I was afraid.
And thus I spoke with a trembling voice.
“W-What are you guys looking at me for? A-Are you…? But aren’t we friends?”
Yes, we have interacted, right? I didn’t do anything mean to them. I hurt no one, bullied no one. But why were they looking at me like hungry, desperate beasts?
“Syndra,” Kiran stepped forward with a desperate expression. “You, you can be offered.”
My eyes widened. “W-What? N-No, please! No, there’s still another way to get out of here!”
And then the others spoke out.
“There’s no other way!”
“They’ll kill us!”
"You ain't strong enough to take on the demon army, anyway. So save us!"
What? Me? Save them? At the expense of my life? Who do they think they are? I have been keeping up just so I won’t die, just so I’ll survive. And they would attempt to take my life away?
Unacceptable.
“No! I’m telling you, if we attack them, they’ll be immobilized, and we can run at the same time. Strike them once they’re near or keep attacking them now that they have shown themselves!”
“Syndra!”
“If they vanish, then attack in all directions! I believe a weak attack will suffice!”
“You don’t know that! They’ll surely kill us the moment we try to run,” Irene sternly said to me.
“No! Listen to me, we can try. I’m sure this will work!”
It was then that the ghosts cackled.
“Kukukuku. It would appear you have made your choice.”
“Bring your choice to the center.”
“Offer.”
“Hurry.”
“Before death arrives at your doorstep.”
They all walked towards me.
I held out my hands.
“S-Stay away! I don’t want to hurt anyone!”
No, they wouldn’t, they wouldn’t really sacrifice me, right? No…
“Get her!”
Before I knew it, someone had suddenly leapt and restrained me. I tried to free myself as I struggled, but they immediately threw me to the center. The hard ground grazed my skin and pain hit my body.
When I looked up, my breath shook as I saw the ghosts revolving around me.
“Leave.”
“All of you.”
“And never come back.”
“The gates shall be sealed once more…”
“With this sacrifice.”
No, it can’t be, no…
When I looked at them, my classmates, they had already begun running away. None I could see looked back. They had left me here to die.
Why? Why was I here? I only wanted to go back home.
This world. Fuck this world!
This all happened because of this hero game of theirs!
This cursed world!
And those who willingly sacrificed me…!
Ah, no, there was no point in thinking about anything, anyway. Resentment was pointless, for there was no tomorrow for me.
I looked up at the ghosts.
“O one who is sacrificed.”
“Time to sleep.”
“Hm, but she is the same as the others.”
“Different.”
“Fascinating.”
“What is happening outside?”
“Nevertheless, time to proceed.”
“...”
I gave up. Struggle was pointless.
The ghosts all charged into me. The next thing I felt was intense pain all over my body. Head, waist, legs, back, neck, everywhere.
“Aaaaaaagggh!” I screamed and writhed in agony.
It felt like my entire body was being carved from the inside out. Blood splattered out of my mouth, and all I could see was absolute darkness, like how one closes their eyes to sleep. The intense pain didn’t end in a minute, but it felt like an eternity. I could only recall that I ground myself on the hard ground as I was subjected to extreme agony.
I prayed for death.
This was hell. I experienced different kinds of pain. It felt like something was skinning me, burning me, pulling out my organs, stabbing me, impaling me, bashing my head, gouging my eyes out, cutting my tongue, breaking my fingers, slicing off my face, and many more that I couldn’t even remember anymore.
Maybe those were not happening to me physically, but I felt all of those.
Please kill me...