WAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!
I woke up oblivious to my surroundings as endless excruciating pain assaulted my every being. Clinical signs of hypovolemic shock or something similar along with a nauseating feeling were evident in my miniscule electrified movements.
The feeling of a void in the center of my head was felt, forming and vacuuming my organs like a blackhole making an impression of indescribable agony.
My brain felt like a Rubik’s cube being played, with the parts being randomized as they twist and turn, creating nauseous discomfort. Matched with a loud continuous ringing you hear when someone explodes a fire cracker near your ear making me almost deaf. Eventually the pain lessened as I muster all my might to find my bearings, opening my eyes, unfurrowing my brows and blinking away the remnant ache and the goddamn motion sickness that refuses to stop spinning.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Am I blind?
Dozens of luminescent blue boxes with words covered my vision as I try to swipe them away realizing that I also cannot breath.
I find myself covered in white fiber cocoon with gel-like liquid with the same appearance and consistency of egg whites. Panicking, I thrashed, wailed, and flailed my limbs destroying the catacomb like prison I found myself in.
I was greeted by the bright waning light of the moon, enough to illuminate the grand darkness of this new world, brightening the forest full of trees with green luster like aura, beautiful beyond compa-
“BLEEERGH!”
Lookie, there goes my dinner…along with that awful nauseating feeling.
Wiping away the debris wrapping my face and my body, I started observing where that idiot of a guide discarded me. I perceived myself to be near the clearing of a wide forest with gigantic trees of green neon blacklight but without leaves and with thousands of white cocoons like the ones covering me, littered in the ground all over the forest floor. The forest trees were sparse, not dense at all that goes for miles.
Logic dictates that when you see countless stars in the sky outlining the darkness all over the place led me to the conclusion that it is night time in this world.
Thank the heavens for the presence of the big ass moon and the trees lighting everything up. I quickly maneuvered from my sitting position confirming the soundness of my naked body. I noticed I have very long dark brown hair-wait,
Yep, speaking of noticing, I am currently naked. Darn it Ostheroth! Did you strip me before throwing me headfirst to god knows where?!
Sighing, I looked around and noticed that silence permeates these woods and based on the number of cocoon that I assume were infested with people sent in this world with me, it is still safe as I notice movements from the cocoons.
They are starting to wake up.
Well there is no point of continuing my sightseeing escapades. Based on my knowledge on virtual reality games the boxes I shoved to the side of my periphery are prompts.
Hmmm, best to check them fast before anything else. For the devil knows those are more important than my uncovered butt that right now is suffering from the freezing bitch slap the wind oh so generously provides.
Checking and swiping the notification prompts one by one, I found out that the pain I felt was not really from a fall but a backlash from skill accumulation, a skill granted to me by my favorite buddy. DAMN SON! My smile grew more evident as the time passes by as I interestingly read through the boxes. I was ahead of everyone else by 10 stat points by being the first one to learn a skill. My fury for that cloaked reaper vanished in an instant.
“Status!”
“June…June Heistman”
“Fiddle~ fiddle~ fiddleeee~ swipe swipe swiiiipe~”
I hummed inaudibly as I swiped the air. I saw others doing the same thing but I don’t see their box prompts. Hmm so only I can see my own huh.
I see, things are simple enough when you have experience in playing rpg games.
I glimpsed at the awakened peeps from my peripheral side making the same gestures as I do. They barely made any noise as they mimic us, the early birds. It was kinda hard at first to focus on doing mah thing and making sure my little private doesn’t salute to the major boobies of naked girls while I peep on them. Too bad they all dressed far too hastily to leisurely enjoy the view.
*sigh*
The freezing wind of the evening eventually dried me up as I equipped the simple brown garments and boots from my ring. Oh look at that, the daggers I equipped came with sheaths attached to a belt. Hmph, only a few points added to the attack and my clothes don’t give no shit for protection either. I need to find a town sooner and craft me some quality gears.
Nonetheless,
Not only do my stats outrank the others, they are way too overpowered for a level one! I chose some crafting skill and revival for my trait blessing. I have my special reasons for picking my traits. Don’t judge yet people, hehehe you’re about to witness a legend being born later.
Soon, everyone start having conversations with each other. I on the other hand was busy studying the map while thinking that something is wrong. I feel that I am forgetting something.
Something really important
Ostheroth’s face resurfaced in my mind as I measure the distance from where I’m sitting to where I’m supposed to go. The capital was approximately a few hours from here. Marking the trail to the ocean port, I felt my trait of increased senses kicking to gear as miniscule vibrations on the ground are felt by some of us who picked the same skill.
Then it clicked.
Shit.
“EVERYONE RUN! QUICKLY HEAD SOUTH FROM HERE! THE QUEST WILL BE FUCKING US IN A MOMENTS NOTICE! GROUP YOURSELVES AND RUN TO THE CAPITAL! THE HELLSPAWNS ARE CHARGING FROM THE WEST AND THEY WILL BE HERE IN A FEW MINUTES!”
I screamed my lungs out as I pointed to the direction of the capital. Commotion evidently provoked the silence that once held the peace of the night as chaotic tumult ensued, gripping everyone in fear and anxiety. Due west, torch fires can be seen and all understood what’s happening. Based on the Quest box, we are being hunted. Only a handful remained calmed, literally can be counted by hand.
The old geezer monk that took me and fed me from the previous world used to say that I was an excellent judge of character. I just wish he knows what he’s talking about. I really don’t want to trust my life with some coward undependable amateurs. That would be a foolish way to die.
I barked once again and pointed at those people I deemed useful. . I am also quite sure they were looking intrigued, staring at each other (and me) as they size everyone up. They are the ones I saw without fear in their eyes, calmly smiling or looking indifferent while everyone thrashes about while scream-running with great abandonment of pride as a high human.
I don’t want to die without a fight, so I took control.
“YOU!”
“YOU!”
“YOU!”
“YOU!”
“YOU!”
“YOU!”
“YOU!”
“YOU!”
“YOU!”
“YOU!”
“AND YOU! THE ELEVEN OF YOU COME WITH ME! I HAVE A PLAN! LISTEN FIRST! LEAVE IF YOU’RE NOT INTERESTED!”
Not stopping to catch my breath, I continued.
“WE’LL START RUNNING BACKWARDS, FACING THE HORDE! THE FOUR OF YOU, I HOPE YOU KNOW HOW TO USE THOSE BOWS ASSUMING IT’S THE WEAPONS YOU PICKED. RUN SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF US! WE WILL INTECEPT THOSE THAT WILL ATTACK YOU WHILE YOU COVER FIRE FOR US DEFENDERS. CONSERVE YOUR ARROWS AND ONLY FIRE TO THE ENEMIES IN THE PROXIMITY OR ONES ATTACKING THE VANGUARDS! PICK TWO MELEE FIGHTERS TO PRIORITIZE IN PROVIDING COVERFIRE! PICK NOW!! NO USE RALLYING UP THE OTHERS THEY’RE TOO SCARED TO DO SHIT!”
“You’re the one who started shouting, causing panic here and ther-”
One of them, a pretty little redhead female rebuked me but stopped when I didn’t bother slowing the pace of my voice. She then deftly organized the three ranged units and assigned them with whomever to cover. The other people started copying us and formed their own forces as well.
“YOU TWO BIG HANDSOME GUYS WITH THE HALBERDS! BOTH OF YOU LOOK REALLY STRONG! WE’LL DO A SPADE FORMATION WHILE MOVING BACKWARDS AND YOU GUYS ARE THE SPADE’S TIP! FIGHT IN THE FRONT WITH BACKS AGAINST EACH OTHER WHILE HOLDING YOUR FORMATION!! MOVE BACKWARDS WHILE FIGHTING AND DECIMATE EVERYTHING IN YOUR WAY!”
“Aye. You look like you know what you’re doing. Count me in.”
“That’s more I like it! I love to fight unhindered, so the frontline is mine!”
“THE FOUR OF YOU WITH SHIELDS AND SWORDS WILL FLANK THE MUSCLE BROTHERS FORMING THE WALLS OF THE SPADE! PREVENT THE MONSTERS FROM PASSING YOU BY AND HURTING THE RANGED UNITS! ME AND THIS GLOOMY DUDE WITH KNIVES ARE THE VERSATILE FORCES! WE WILL SWOOP IN AND OUT OF THE FORMATION TO EASE THE PRESSURE OF THE SHIELD UNITS AND KILL THE ONES THAT INFILTRATES INSIDE THE SPADE! THOSE WHO DISAGREE SPEAK NOW AND STOP WASTING TIME! I HAVEN’T HAD SEX YET WITH THE LADIES FROM THIS WORLD SO I DON’T WANT TO DIE TODAY!”
All of them laughed in regards to my last comment but no one voiced their dissatisfaction. Everywhere people formed parties while running towards the capital. I immediately invited the eleven people in my party. I sigh in relief as I cut my long flowing hair and looked into the horizon where an army is swiftly approaching. People followed my example and cut theirs as well with reasons that long hair would hinder them while fighting.
For those of you who were asking, the cocoons that held us earlier were mixed with impurities from our bodies. It cured the others from their nearsightedness and diseases from the past life, destroyed our fats, added extra height and muscle for others, and made our body and faces more slim, beautiful and chiseled. After the metamorphosis we emerged like perfect reflections of ourselves. All of us emerged with overflowing and irritatingly long hair twice as tall as us.
Now where was I? Ah yes.
I can already see from a distance the monstrosities bolting towards us while holding all kinds of weapons and sporting leather armors. They looked like goblins, only red. 4 feet tall with two short horns protruding in their bald heads, they were armed with sharp teeth and fur covered tails with their lower half covered with thick fur as well, resembling the lover half of goats if goats walk bipedal. These little demonlings must be the hellspawns that numbered in the thousands. The ground vibrations increased as the sound of their little warhorns were heard in all corners of the forest followed by the resonant beat of the drums a few hundred 10 feet tall, troll like creatures were carrying.
“FOOOOORM RANKS! SPADE FORMATION NOW! WE’LL RETREAT WHILE HOLDING THE FORMATION! DON’T MAKE FOR THE FOREST CLEARING! WE GO EAST BOUND! NOOOOW!”
“Wait what?! What the hell are you doing?! The capital is south you moron! All the others are heading south!” (said gloomy dude)
“EXACTLY! THAT’S WHY WE GO EAST! THE BEASTS ARE HUNTING THE WHOLE HERD NOT SOME STRAY SHEEP! WE’LL GET MASSACRED IF WE GO WITH THEM! I FEEL THAT WE WONT HAVE ENOUGH STAMINA TO OUTRUN THOSE BASTARDS FOR TOO LONG!”
All of them looked at me like I’m some messiah about to save them from their doom. I never noticed it before but the monks really influenced the way I say things. Maybe high amount of wisdom in my stats helped me say those cheesy lines of mine. Anyway my logic was foolproof so they went along with it.
“LOOK! SEE THE GLOWING LINES OF THE EASTERN HORIZON? SAME WITH EARTH, THE SUN RISES IN THE EAST! DAWN IS SOON APPROACHING AND I THINK THESE CRITTERS DON’T LIKE SUNLIGHT VERY MUCH! IT WILL GIVE US THE EDGE WE NEED LATER.”
“Stop shouting, we get it! Move your ass before they overrun us with numbers”
“Sorry Red.”
“WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST CALLED ME?!”
“SHHHH!”
“Ugh”
Laughing, we sprinted with the cover of the trees as aid, hopefully reducing our visibility. I was right, that red-haired girl really has a short fuse. My prediction was right on point as well. The majority of the hellspawns focused on the large group of fleeing humans. A few hundred went for us. My blood is being pumped harder as adrenaline surged within my body, sharpening my senses further. The fight we were expecting is about to come. I wonder if my past trainings bore fruit.
Let’s find out, shall we? J
*end of first chapter*
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