Chapter 8: Chapter 5:Ehan

After a while, more participants joined, and soon I sat in the carriage with five other people. Each of us wore the tight black shirt that identified us as participants. Next to me sat a man slightly taller than me. His blonde hair was tied into a ponytail with a thin rope, and his blue eyes curiously scanned the carriage. Beside him was a girl in a brown short-sleeved jacket, with a large round button sewn onto the hood, creating a smiling face with the additional stitches. Her red eyes stared out of the window, and her medium-length black hair was tied into a ponytail. I could see many wounds on her hands. "She must have trained a lot," I murmured to myself, unable to help but worry about her condition.

In front of me sat a young boy wearing a blue jacket over the black shirt, which had a playful appearance. His green eyes looked at me with curiosity, and his curly brown-blond hair hung slightly recklessly on his face. Next to him was a slightly older-looking young man in a black jacket adorned with white seams resembling emblems. His platinum-pink hair faintly gleamed in the sunlight.

Next to the man was a girl with brown-black hair who was desperately trying to engage in conversation with the girl in front of her. Her white jacket with red seams displayed a small emblem on her shoulder, resembling a box.

As the carriage continued, I looked out of the window and noticed the gazes of various races directed at the carriages, as if we were celebrities and they were the press. The colorful houses gradually turned into run-down wooden huts, and the farther we went, the less frequent the settlements became until we finally arrived in the middle of a vast steppe. The carriage door opened, and we were instructed to disembark.

Each of us left the carriage, and I could smell the scent of wet grass as the wind tousled my hair. In front of us were weapons embedded in the ground: two daggers with red blades, a white bow, and a leather quiver filled with arrows. Additionally, I saw the scythe that Shinoa had given me, a massive halberd, nunchaku, a pickaxe with a blade attached to its handle, and a small, rusty bell attached to a stick.

I looked around, noticing that each participant was reaching for their weapon. I pulled my scythe from the ground, feeling its familiar weight in my hand. The young boy held onto the stick with the bell, the girl had her daggers ready, the tall man grabbed the white bow, and the girl with brown-black hair pulled her pickaxe from the ground. The man with the platinum-pink hair took the huge halberd and leaned it on his left shoulder. The blonde boy picked up the nunchaku and tucked them into a side pocket on his pants.

I examined the black scythe in my hands, my eyes resting on the sharp blade. "This is the first time I've really looked at it," I said, my voice filled with a hint of excitement. The blade itself had a gloomy elegance, with small red dots encircled by a thin, dark blue circle. They almost looked like blood drops lost in the darkness. The eerie image gave the weapon a mysterious aura that only heightened my fascination.

I looked at the black scythe in my hands, my eyes resting on the sharp blade. "This is the first time I've really looked at it," I said, my voice filled with a hint of excitement. The blade itself had a gloomy elegance, with small red dots encircled by a thin, dark blue circle. These small red markings almost seemed like blood drops lost in the darkness.

The leather handle of the scythe felt firm and high-quality in my hand. The craftsmanship that went into making this weapon was unmistakable. The details, from the sharp blade to the sturdy handle, spoke of a precision and care that impressed me.

Out of curiosity, I twisted the bottom end of the handle, and to my surprise, a chain suddenly fell out and clinked softly on the ground. I observed this unexpected detail with wide eyes, my heart beating faster with excitement and surprise. The chain gleamed in the pale light, and I could see that it was firmly connected to the interior of the scythe, with the other end linked to the end of the handle.

One end of the chain was connected to the interior of the scythe, while the other end was linked to the end of the handle, functioning like a morning star. I looked at this unusual weapon accessory and considered how best to use it. After a moment of thought, I decided to secure the chain back into the handle. It was a tricky task, but with patience and skill, I managed to secure the chain back in place. I carefully twisted the end of the handle to ensure everything was secure.

"Why are we waiting?" the little boy with the bell impatiently repeated. The woman explained patiently, "The first monsters will arrive in about an hour, and it will continue until sunset. Then comes Ehan, specifically the monster you need to kill to pass the first trial, but the number of defeated monsters doesn't make you a hero."

I took a few steps back and lay down on the grass. "What are you doing?" the woman asked. "I'm relaxing," I replied calmly, trying to mask my nervousness. "Don't you want to prepare?" asked the girl polishing her daggers. "No, why waste energy now when you can warm up just before it starts," I explained calmly. The girl seemed to want to say something but decided against it.

The man with the halberd laughed and said, "I like the way you think." He then thrust his halberd into the ground and also sank to the ground. The girl with the pickaxe commented, "Neither of these two idiots will become a hero."

My eyes were almost closed when suddenly a slight tremor shook the earth. I immediately jumped up and noticed a group of monsters nearby moving toward the city. My heart raced with excitement and fear. I woke up the halberd-wielding man, who was still deeply asleep, by yelling in his ear, "Hey, it's starting!" He startled awake and looked at me in shock as I picked up my scythe from the ground. My hands trembled with tension, and I slapped myself to focus on the task at hand.

As I examined the monsters more closely, I realized that there were four different types of creatures. The threat was real, and we had no time to lose. Our city and its residents were in danger, and it was up to us to stop these monsters.

One creature moved on all fours, an impressive three meters tall. Its fur was deep black, and its powerful, clawed front paws had long, dagger-like claws. Two razor-sharp fangs protruded from its mighty mouth on each side.

The second monster was comparatively smaller, only a meter tall, but by no means less dangerous. It also moved on all fours and had spikes resembling a hedgehog's fur. Between the needles protruded whip-like structures with small nails. These thin, flexible whips seemed designed to capture and hold their prey. The claws of this monster were curved blades, posing a serious threat. Its grotesque appearance and dangerous characteristics added an extra challenge we had to deal with. Our strategy had to be thoughtful if we were to defeat these bizarre and dangerous creatures

.

The third monster was of impressive size, standing at a full two meters tall, and walked on two legs. It wore a loincloth, and its skin had an eerie reddish-brown tone, appearing shriveled. When it smiled, razor-sharp teeth were visible. With its four arms and long red nails, it looked even more menacing. Its pitch-black eyes seemed to gaze into the darkness, and on its back, it carried two long swords and a bow embedded into its own flesh. This macabre appearance sent shivers down my spine.

The third monster carried on its shoulder a small creature, about ten centimeters tall. It had a green horn on its head and was covered in white fur. "There are a total of thirty monsters," I whispered softly to myself as I observed the threatening scene before us.

"Huh?" said the man with the halberd, who had caught my words. "You can see that?" he asked in astonishment. I nodded, my eyes fixed on the monsters, and tightened my grip on the scythe with both hands.

The dragon carriage rushed toward the city as we all prepared for the upcoming battle. The woman with the daggers and the woman with the pickaxe were ready, as was the little boy swinging his bell-topped stick. A gentle but faint ringing sounded as a black cloud enveloped him. He twirled it in a circle, shaping it into a ball that eventually transformed into a shortsword with a light blue blade.

The man with the nunchaku pulled them out of his side pocket, and a purple flame enveloped the weapon. He ran after the two women. The man with the halberd rushed forward as well. I hesitated for a moment, bit my lip, and then ran as well.

Glancing back, I saw the tall man stringing his bow. But as I turned my attention back to the front, I saw the monsters getting closer. Fear spread within me, and I bit my lip again until it began to bleed. The first monster approached threateningly, and the impending battle filled me with indescribable fear.

A whipping blow narrowly missed me, and I swung my scythe, hitting the monster's neck. However, my weapon didn't pen*trate its skin. "Kac...!" Another blow struck my stomach, and the pain was unbearable, as if my body were being torn in two. I gasped in pain as I fell to the ground. The monster approached, but I clung tightly, and before it could reach me, I struck one of its eyes with my scythe. A chilling howl echoed from the monster, and it recoiled. I scrambled to my feet, but a white arrow struck my shoulder, and I screamed in pain. The withered monster aimed its bow at me, but I couldn't discern from where it shot its arrows.

I wanted to rush at it, but the other monster attempted to strike me with its whips. I leaped to the side, ramming my scythe into one of its whips. Purple blood flowed, and the monster howled again. In the corner of my eye, I saw the withered monster pulling the small creature with the green horn. A white arrow pierced its skin, turning the horn red. The once white monster was now covered in its orange blood, but I saw the flesh pieces reassembling. The small creature was alive again, and the withered monster drew its bow. An arrow flew towards me, grazing my chest, and my breathing quickened.

I sprinted, and in that moment, an arrow pierced my left arm. Despite the burning pain, I ignored the injury and continued running. The monster screamed, pulled the sword from its own back, and I felt the danger behind me. With a quick maneuver, I managed to evade the sword strike and swung my scythe in a powerful cut.

Before the monster could react, I skillfully jumped to the side. The sight seemed to perplex the creature, and in that brief moment of confusion, a strike from my whip shattered its head. A bone-chilling sound accompanied its death.

With the scythe in hand, I focused on the second beast. With a targeted swing, I struck the monster's whip, and a painful cry filled the air. Unfazed, I approached the writhing monster and grabbed it firmly. "Die," I whispered, and sharp nails curled from the monster's claws, digging deeper into its flesh.

Desperately, the creature tried to escape, but my scythe was stuck in its whip. It screamed and roared as the nails did their work. Finally, unable to withstand the pain, the monster collapsed and perished.

I pulled the arrows from my body and let out a short scream as the pain surged through me. Determinedly, I walked towards the others who were also entangled in the battle. Another arrow flew towards me, but I blocked it with the blade of my scythe. Slowly, I approached the monster armed with two swords, which was coming towards me. It threw its bow aside.

In a trance-like state, I twisted the knob of my scythe and swung it with impressive precision. The upper part of my scythe detached and flew towards the monster. Unable to stop in time, it was h*t and fell to the ground. I rushed towards the weakened creature, grabbed the upper end of my scythe, and thrust the blade into its skull. With a mix of determination and disgust, I crushed the small creature on its shoulder.

After successfully dealing with the monster, I turned my gaze forward and noticed that the others had also successfully completed their battles. A moment of relief washed over me as the realization that the threat was overcome slowly sank in.

"How many did you take care of?" the man with the halberd asked. In response, I raised four fingers. "Only? That's quite few," he remarked with a hint of surprise. I realized he had higher expectations. "And you?" I asked, curious about his performance. He counted briefly. "Seven or eight," he finally replied with a certain satisfaction in his voice.

Internally, I shook my head. If I had used my abilities, there would have been more easily. But I stayed silent and acknowledged his reaction.

I took a few steps away from the corpse and sat down on the ground to catch my breath. "Pretty out of breath," I admitted. The man with the halberd laughed. "They say more and stronger monsters are coming," he said, putting his hand on my head. A yellowish-green glow emanated, and I felt my wounds slowly closing. "So you don't croak on me here," he added with an amused smile.

After an hour, I sensed another tremor, this time more intense, and the others also noticed it. With a keen look, I stood up, gazing into the distance, and spotted three different types of monsters. The first creature moved on all fours, its snowy white fur and five glowing red eyes giving it an eerie aura.

Another standout monster wielded a sword with a green-glowing blade. Its brown loincloth and pitch-black eyes, peering from a face with ash-gray hair, gave it a peculiar and fascinating appearance. It seemed to be the only one of its kind.

The second monster floated majestically in the air, its gray skin reflecting light in an eerie way. It held a bow in its hand, and where its eyes should be, there was an empty space. A disturbing sight, as if it were laughing, but with no visible feature of facial expression. The absence of eyes added an extra dimension of creepiness, while it seemingly floated and silently displayed its presence.

I stood there and shared my observation with the others: "There are a total of forty monsters." The sword-wielding monster moved so fast that I barely noticed it before it suddenly stood in our midst. "Good day, dear candidates," it said theatrically. A cold sweat ran down my back. It could speak, and it was incredibly fast.

The woman with the daggers tried to hit its neck, but the monster effortlessly blocked the attack with its sword. "Not like that, that's boring," it commented. With supernatural speed, it grabbed the woman by the face and slammed her into the ground. Then, it pointed at the other monsters. "Defeat them, and then I'll allow you to fight me," it said arrogantly.

I swallowed hard as it looked at me with a mocking smile. "You're a ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛." Its last words didn't reach me, as if the silence had drowned them out. The monsters approached, and I noticed the woman with the daggers unconscious on the ground. "I hate being nice!" I shouted and swung my chain scythe at one of the flying monsters. I was dragged a bit by the momentum, but I hit the monster. The halberd bearer whistled and covered my back. A white arrow flew towards one of the white monsters, injuring its eye. It howled, and the little boy swung his stick, the bell ringing, and all the monsters, except the humanoid being, writhed in pain.

"This is your chance," the boy exclaimed. I twisted the knob of the scythe and swung the scythe at the white monster, hitting it directly in the face. The red and white blood sticking to my blade slowly dripped down, sending shivers down my spine. The boy with the nunchakus jumped into the air and slammed three of the flying creatures to the ground. These were immediately killed by the halberd bearer. Several arrows flew over my head, hitting more monsters that howled. I rammed my scythe into one of these monsters, while the woman in the white uniform took care of the unconscious one. The once green grass slowly stained itself with the blood of the monsters. "Fourteen more!" I yelled. "Got it!" replied the nunchaku-wielder. I kicked one of the white monsters in the snout, then stabbed it through the eye with the handle of my scythe. As the monster from behind approached, I thrust my scythe into its face, and before the one from the side could catch me, I saw an arrow pierce its eye. Quickly, I grabbed the arrow, infused it with mana, and its white fur gradually turned red, with small thorns protruding from its body.

My legs felt like burdens of lead, and breathing was a laborious effort. Covered in wounds, my jacket in tatters, and my pants already torn, I felt exhaustion in every fiber of my being. Several arrows painfully stuck in my legs and back. Yet, despite the physical strain my body endured, my determination remained unbroken. With a persistent will, I focused on the last remaining monster.

Around me, silence prevailed, interrupted only by the faint applause of the humanoid being attentively observing the scene. The remnants of the bloody battle lay scattered around me, and the air was tense with the anticipation of the impending duel.

With trembling hands and a weary gaze, I took one step after another. Each step seemed an arduous effort, yet the will to win propelled me forward. The humanoid being watched my movements with a smile, as if aware of the challenge it presented.

My grip on the chain scythe tightened, and I gathered the last reserves of my strength. With my last ounce of energy, I lunged at the monster, determined to eliminate the final threat. I raised the scythe, but felt the unbearable weight, as if it had suddenly become much heavier. Struggling, I dragged myself forward, but three meters before reaching the monster with my scythe, my strength failed. Exhausted, I collapsed onto the blood-soaked ground.

My breath came in gasps, and the world blurred before my eyes. The scythe lay heavily in my hand, and the final battle seemed unreachable. The humanoid being regarded me with a smug grin, as if it had already foreseen the outcome of the duel.

I opened my eyes and found myself in a familiar environment. The walls were adorned with old posters of comic heroes, scattered crayons and paper lay at my feet, and in front of me was a closet door. After a moment's hesitation, I decided to open the door. Immediately, the familiar scent of tatami mats enveloped me. On the floor sat a woman with silky black hair. Her face radiated natural beauty, her red eyes and white T-shirt, paired with jeans, gave her a harmonious appearance.

A glance around revealed that snow was falling outside. A small Christmas tree adorned the window. The door opened, and a little boy in warm winter clothes came in. "I'm home, Mom!" he exclaimed happily. The woman smiled affectionately and asked, "How was school, sweetheart?" The little boy began to take off his shoes and jacket. "It was a lot of fun; we made a star." The woman's eyes lit up with joy as the boy proudly pulled a yellow paper star from his backpack.

The woman lovingly embraced her son, and I sat down, watching as she lifted him up, and he proudly placed the handcrafted star on top of the Christmas tree. Curiously, I approached the tree, which reached up to my neck, and examined the star more closely. Laughter escaped me as I recognized the simplicity and imperfection of the star. "Did I make something like this?" I chuckled to myself.

The boy took a piece of paper and a red crayon from the closet. Kneeling in front of a small table, he placed the sheet on it and began to draw with dedication. Meanwhile, I could observe the mother being busy in the kitchen – the sound of cutting vegetables, the soft bubbling of boiling water, and the tempting aroma of miso filled the air. I closed my eyes and let myself be carried away by the everyday sounds around me.

When I opened my eyes again, the meal was on the table. "Enjoy your meal!" they both exclaimed with radiant smiles. I reached for a carrot from the curry and tasted it. "Tastes good," I said as I swallowed the carrot. As I looked at the family photos on the wall, I realized that the woman was nowhere to be seen; only the child was immortalized in the pictures. My gaze fell upon an expensive-looking black DSLR camera on the dresser. With this realization, I returned to the boy and examined his painted picture once again.

In the upper right corner, there was a red sun, and below it, three figures were recognizable – a woman, the child, and a figure in tattered clothing. The child's smile in the picture seemed perplexing to me. It appeared as if it were staring at me with a smile. Feeling uneasy, I took a step back, and suddenly, everything around me turned black.

"It's strange to see one's own past. But what happened next, and did I really paint this picture?" I questioned myself, furrowing my brow.

I continued my path without a clear destination. A thought gnawed at me: "I feel like I've experienced something like this before, but when?" Step by step, I moved forward, always straight ahead, or at least it felt that way. Soon, I stood before a white line that seemed to mark my path. "Either this is my death or the moment I wake up," I thought as I kept walking.

The steps led me to a doorway. "Neither my death nor..." I interrupted my monologue by slapping myself on the thigh. However, the pain I felt seemed different. A real pain, but in a strange environment. "I'm not in reality," I said to myself, trying to comprehend the surreal situation. The line between dream and reality blurred, and I found myself in a state of uncertainty and confusion.

Everything around me started to blur, and I opened my eyes. A wet sensation on my face made me realize that it was raining. The gray clouds hung heavily in the sky. "Won or lost?" I called towards the rain clouds. "Won," the dagger-wielder replied confidently.

Her clothing had taken a toll as I picked myself up and observed the others, resting. Torn clothes and dull, lifeless weapons testified to the battle they had just endured. "You were unconscious for quite a while, not surprising, actually," she remarked. I approached the humanoid monster's corpse and examined it closely. My scythe was embedded in its neck.

"How did you defeat this thing?" I asked, directing my attention to the group. The man with the halberd replied, "It was more of luck. It didn't attack us, but sat down calmly, took your scythe, muttered something, looked at the sky, laughed loudly, and then stabbed itself in the neck with your scythe."

I looked bewildered at the monster's corpse. "Why, even though it seemed so powerful, did it take its own life?" The group hesitated for a moment before the man with the halberd answered, "We're not sure exactly. Maybe it had some hidden weakness, or it had a moment of vulnerability. But one thing is certain, we were lucky it ended like that."

Above us, a red ring of light appeared, rapidly expanding, and something monumental emerged from it, crashing to the ground. Accompanied by a cacophony of laughter, crying, and screaming, a being with light blue skin manifested. On its back, several faces were visible – some appeared happy, others sad or desperate. The creature's yellow eyes pierced through us as it moved on impressive thirty-meter-high legs.

The words emanating from the faces on the giant being's back pierced the air. An emotional chaos of screams, laughter, and crying filled the surroundings. The desperate exclamations sounded like a whirlwind of emotions unloading in the gloomy setting.

"It hurts, Mom, I want to go home!"

"I feel like vomiting!"

"Hahaha, it's so beautiful!"

"Help!"

"Why am I so happy?"

"Why do I have to cry?"

"It hurts!"

"I'm bleeding."

"Why is no one helping me?!"

"I want out!"

"Please save me!"

"Do I have to suffer?"

"Is this a punishment?!"

"Help, help!"

"Why does no one help me?"

"It hurts!"

"I'm bleeding all over!"

"Why do I exist?"

"Hahaha!"

"Help."

"I need a break."

"Why do I have to go on?"

"It's hopeless."

"Help!"

"I suffer, I want to live."

"Help, help, help!"

"Why is there no hope?"

"I want to die!"

"Help, help, help, help!"

"I have to keep going."

"It's always so beautiful."

"The rain feels good!"

"I love you!"

The words merged into a disturbing chorus of emotions, and the faces on the giant being's back seemed to tell the individual stories and torments, joys, sorrows, confusion of countless adults, children, and monsters. Each expression reflected a unique life story, full of pain, joy, despair, and happiness. It was a scene that challenged my imagination and drew me deep into the darkness and mystery of this unusual place. The faces on the back of the creature formed a kind of collective memory reflecting the feelings and experiences of those who had encountered this unusual place.

The rain, gently falling on us, created a peculiar contrast to the intense emotional backdrop. The disturbing image of emotional torment and faces on the creature's back, combined with the distorted sounds of the unsettling chorus, was too much for me. A sense of disgust overwhelmed me, and I bent forward to vomit. My body responded to the unreality and horror of this scene, and I felt the bitterness of the vomit as the feelings of discomfort and revulsion mixed within me. It was a physical reaction to the overwhelming and surreal reality that lay before me.

Adrenaline surged through my veins, and the beating of my heart seemed to conduct the sound of the impending battle. Without hesitation, I grabbed my scythe and rushed towards the monster. The others had already initiated the attack, and with each injury they inflicted on the behemoth, the eerie sounds of agony became more intense – a cacophony of laughter, wailing, screaming, and roaring.

The wounds inflicted by the others seemed to close on their own, and faced with these regenerative abilities, I opted for an alternative strategy. Channeling mana into my scythe, I formed two pitch-black daggers with red handles connected by a chain. Positioning myself in front of one of the massive legs of the monster, needles suddenly shot out, piercing my left hand. Suppressing the pain, I thrust the left dagger into the thick skin of the behemoth. Green blood poured over the blade, dripping onto my clothing. Determinedly, I drove the right blade into the monster as well, beginning to pull myself up despite the agonies.

Hanging about ten meters above the ground-level chaos, a mixture of exhaustion, determination, and doubt filled me. The constant struggle against the diminishing gravity took its toll, but the determination to defeat the monster kept driving me forward.

The needles pierced my legs, but I clung tightly to the daggers. A needle aimed at my left eye, but I instinctively dodged, and it only injured my forehead. Blood ran down my face, yet I did not give up. I climbed higher, and as I glanced down, I realized that the wounds I had inflicted on the monster were already beginning to close. Nevertheless, I steadfastly clung to my goal and repeatedly thrust the blades into the monster, determined to defeat it.

In the midst of the horrifying events, the face of a child suddenly appeared, staring at me with empty eye sockets. "Want to play something?" a childlike voice asked with a smile. I shook my head. The face started to cry. "Why?" it asked desperately. Without addressing it, I plunged the right dagger into the monster's flesh. The face suddenly transformed its crying into hearty laughter. "This is not a monster," it said. Determined not to be distracted by the bizarre sight, I continued my fierce battle.

Suddenly, the face of an old man appeared again. "Isn't the weather beautiful?" he asked me. I nodded in agreement. But then an unexpected question followed: "Why do you want to kill this being?" The answer came dryly and without hesitation: "Because I want to be a hero." The old man inquired further: "What makes you a hero? Just because someone believes they become a hero after killing something or someone." Lost in thought, I searched for an answer. "The feeling of being called a hero after accomplishing something great might make someone a hero. Defeating monsters and saving lives," I explained. The old man looked at the sky and added, "I hope you'll be happy believing in that." Confused about the meaning of his words, I continued to climb. What did he mean by hoping I'd be happy believing in that?

The gray sky drizzled rain on my face, and the cold felt pleasant. Doubts continued to nag at me as I once again plunged the right dagger into the monster's flesh and continued my ascent.

Another face suddenly appeared, the face of a girl. "Do you know how to get home?" Her question reached me, but my urge to climb higher prevailed over everything else.

The continuous effort of ascent took its toll on me as I casually spoke to another face that crossed my path. "Please ask someone else," I muttered, unable to be distracted from my determined goal. The girl's sobbing and crying gradually faded away as I relentlessly continued my ascent.

Finally arriving in front of a gigantic mouth, a strange dialogue sequence permeated the surreal environment. The dagger pierced the resistant flesh of the monster again as I answered briefly and to the point: "It was raining." The question about the view from above led me to let my gaze wander. A majestic scene unfolded before me – a large pillar in the distance, surrounded by lush forests, gently flowing rivers, and majestic flying creatures. "Yes, it's a beautiful view," I replied. The face smiled and thanked me, and I continued my arduous ascent.

With each additional meter, my vision increasingly blurred, and I felt my strength slowly waning. Exhaustion gnawed at me, yet the determination to climb higher persisted. Suddenly, a piercing pain shot through my leg, and an involuntary scream escaped my throat. "You stupid f..." I cursed before the spike shrank and retracted from my leg. The hole in my leg betrayed the attack of the unknown entity. A few tears rolled down my face as the pain and exhaustion seemed to overwhelm me.

Despite the hardships and emotional turbulence, I continued my ascent. Each step was a challenge, and while my vision might have been blurred, the will to defeat the monster propelled me forward. In this distorted reality, the back seemed closer, and the cacophony grew louder.

The ascent was a martyrdom of pain and torment, yet I clung with all my might to the daggers, my eyes tightly closed to shield myself from the surroundings. Despite the painful exertion, I climbed unwaveringly. More and more faces appeared, whether young or old, human or not. Yet, undeterred, I fought my way through. Finally, I reached the top, standing on the back of a mountain made of faces. Laughter, crying – everything seemed to become indifferent. My legs gave in, the wind blew my hair back, and the drizzle felt pleasant on my skin. Triumphantly, I pointed to the sky and shouted, "I did it! Try to top that! My body is torn apart, but I'm up here, hahaha!"

A sense of relief washed over me. But then, I grabbed the daggers, let mana flow into them, and formed a long, pointed staff. I thrust it into the flesh of one of the faces, green blood flowing. In the frenzy of emotions, I infused mana into the staff again, and numerous spikes shot out of it. An act of revenge, a torturous punishment for the monster. But it remained motionless, no attacks, no resistance.

After pulling the staff out of the wound, I sighed heavily. "I have no idea how to defeat this beast." The wound closed on its own. "Great, rub it in my face," I said frustrated. The face laughed. "As I said, Ehan is not the monster." A feeling of déjà vu swept over me. "Someone else said that, not you!" I realized. The face frowned. "I am all, and all is me." I slapped my hand to my forehead. "Don't go all Shakespeare on me. He ruined fourth grade with Hamlet!"

The face put on a smile and opened its mouth as wide as possible, suddenly stopping at a diameter of four meters. I jumped back despite the pain, narrowly avoiding it. I let mana flow into the staff and formed a chain, with Jitte-like blades attached at the ends. With one of the blades, I thrust it into the creature's body, and blood slowly flowed out as I limped toward the head. The faces around me laughed, cried, screamed, roared, and cheered louder.

The rattling of the chain, tightening with each step, was swallowed by the cacophony around me. The blade stuck in the monster's body and was dragged by me. Every step I took toward the creature's head seemed to be accompanied by a chorus of laughter, crying, screaming, roaring, and cheering.

The tension in the air was palpable as I approached the final moment. The faces seemed to be eagerly awaiting the end of this unusual battle. The chain vibrated with the energy of my determination, and the Jitte-like blade within the monster left a trail of green blood.

With one last powerful thrust, I attempted to ram the blade deep into the monster's head again. But this time, it bounced off with a clang. "That's tough," I muttered as I looked at my aching hand holding the blade. Determinedly, I pulled on the chain, sending the blade flying towards me. I caught it skillfully in the air and infused mana into it again to shape my scythe.

With a swing, I again aimed the scythe towards the head. However, once again, it rebounded, and the vibration intensified the pain in my hand. Frustrated, I sighed and sat down as the rain grew stronger. An impulsive punch to the monster's head brought no change, except for the pain in my hand. I lay down and whispered softly, "I am really weak." A forced smile seemed to swallow my disappointment as the rain continued.

My gaze turned to the sky, where the moons already presented their silver discs. "The rain has subsided," I said with a soft, sad voice. The cacophony of faces had long ceased, only the wind continued its faint melody.

In my introspection, I wondered about the fate of the others. "Are they already dead? Are they still alive? What might they be doing now?" Self-talk found a place in my lonely world. Suddenly, a female voice broke through my thoughts. "Well, they are still alive, and yet not," she replied with a calm tone.

I jerked awake and immediately stood up. Before me, I saw a young woman with silver hair that had a subtle purple shimmer. Her body was artfully adorned with several tattoos that seemed to merge into faces. Completely naked, only her long silver-purple hair covered her body. A feeling of discomfort overwhelmed me, and I averted my gaze, as if I didn't want to look closer. "An exhibitionist," I blurted out in a spontaneous exclamation, trying to hide my unease.

The woman laughed carefreely. "It shows that you're still a child," she remarked with a certain superiority. My eyebrow twitched in mild disagreement. "I am not a child!" I defended myself as the evening sky witnessed our unusual encounter.

She approached me, still looking at the moons. "Aren't the moons beautiful?" she asked with a slight smile. After a while, I got used to her nud*ty and nodded in agreement. She came closer, opening her mouth. Confused, I looked at her, and suddenly, I found myself in front of a cinema.

"Huh?" I stammered, and my gaze wandered bewildered through the suddenly transformed scenery. It was as if my world had transformed instantly. The warm sun, people walking around, familiar conversations, and ubiquitous writing, everything appeared just like in my old world.

"All good, Zero?" someone suddenly asked behind me. I turned around and saw Loid, who was emptying a bottle. Confused, he looked at me. "You're wearing funny clothes. Is it a trend to wear the school uniform when we're free?" I looked down at myself, my once torn clothes were now my school uniform, and my body wounds seemed to have disappeared.

"I'm back?" I whispered as the realization slowly sank in. The sight of my old world.

Loid nudged me with a broad grin and exclaimed energetically, "What nonsense are you talking about? Come on, we need to buy the tickets and popcorn." His hand patted my back companionably, and we continued our way towards the cinema entrance together. As a gentleman, he held the door for me, and we entered the air-conditioned room. "Ah, the air conditioning feels so good!" he remarked with an enthusiastic smile. I couldn't help but agree and followed him further.

As we rode the escalator up, Loid pointed to a conspicuous poster by the elevator. "Look, they've released the new part of Orek." I nodded with interest as we observed the colorful variety of people around us. Arriving at the top of the escalator, we headed straight to the ticket counter. A strange feeling of being watched overwhelmed me, and my eyes scanned the crowd. Everyone seemed normal – some walked hurriedly, others laughed while holding popcorn in their hands.

"Is something wrong?" Loid pulled me out of my thoughts as he asked the question. I flinched and shook my head. "Just thought I was being watched." Standing in line, Loid took out his phone and announced, "The movie starts in an hour."

The woman bit into my left arm, and the taste of joy seemed to spread within her. "You're not from here, and yet you taste so good," she said with euphoric voice, tears running down her bloodied face. She bit again, over and over.

Her smile became increasingly distorted, as if she was being served the most delicious meal that

ever existed. With a bizarre expression of satisfaction, she bit into my fingers until only bones clung to muscle fibers. She persisted, biting into my forearm, my blood continuing to flow until only bones remained. Then, she bit into my upper arm, screaming out, "This tastes so good!"

"Two tickets for 'The Beginning is the End,' please," Loid said to the cashier. She pulled out a leaflet and looked at us expectantly. "Where do you want to sit? Unfortunately, there are no double seats left."

Loid waved me over, and as I stood next to him, he pointed to the seats in the middle. "Would that be okay for you? I'd sit a few rows away, but we have middle seats, and maybe we could swap with someone."

After Loid handled the payment, we received our tickets. The cashier directed us to our seats: "Theater 13, Row H, Seat 25, and Row F, Seat 29."

Loid and I decided to buy two more packs of popcorn and sodas to complete the cinema experience. Armed with snacks, we made our way to our theater. As we opened the door, the enticing scent of fresh popcorn and the subdued excitement of other moviegoers greeted us.

In the theater, the lights were dimmed, and we skillfully navigated our way to our seats. The rows were still relatively empty, but it didn't take long for the theater to fill up. We settled into our seats, the popcorn bags rustling softly, and the sodas fizzing in the cups. The anticipation for the movie spread, and I felt everyday worries temporarily recede into the background. The cinema visit promised to be a pleasant escape.

I sank into my seat, gazing at the empty screen. The excitement for the movie, mixed with the normalcy of the moment, helped me momentarily forget the strange events. The cinema visit promised a welcome break into another world, at least for the next few hours.

"Dear visitors, we kindly ask you to switch your mobile phones to silent mode, and please refrain from film piracy, as it is expressly prohibited and will result in a fine," announced a speaker as a small animation clip illustrated this. I felt my pants, but my phone was nowhere to be found. "Strange, I always put it in my pocket."

I reached for the popcorn and put it in my mouth, chewing contentedly. Then I took a sip of the soda. The lively anticipation in the theater intensified as the lights dimmed further, and the movie credits began. The screen filled with images, and the sounds of the moviegoers gradually faded. The movie theater became a portal to another world, and I looked forward to getting lost in the magic of the film for a while.

The darkness enveloped the theater, and the opening credits began. An amateurish video appeared on the screen, filmed by a shaky camera. A vast meadow was visible, and the camera swayed uncontrollably back and forth. "There! There he comes!" shouted a female voice as the camera zoomed in on a child with black hair and a yellow headband, running through a finish line.

The camera swung wildly until it finally steadied and showed a black-haired woman tenderly hugging her son. "Wh..." I could only utter, my attention fixed on the screen. The woman held the child on her shoulders, proud and affectionate at the same time. "This is my son!" she proudly announced to the camera. I stared in amazement at the screen as the woman lifted her child and he joyfully exclaimed, "Mom, I won, I'm the fastest!" The woman laughed heartily and replied, "Yes, you are!"

The video began to shake wildly again, turned black, and the image returned to light. A snowy road stretched in front of the camera. "I'm cold, Mom. What's for dinner tonight?" asked the child, dressed in a blue scarf and a brown jacket. It wore boots, while the woman wore a white coat with black gloves and black boots, along with a blue scarf. The crunching of the snow was audible, and the white breath was visible. "Pizza," replied the woman. The child hopped briefly, "Yay, pizza!"

The woman laughed heartily. As they stood at an intersection, the child looked up at the sky. "Do you think it's fun?" The woman looked at her son, puzzled. "What's supposed to be fun?" The child looked ahead again. "Just winning, just being known as the strongest."

The woman thought for a moment. "If you only win, you stagnate. But if you lose too much, you lose the desire to face new challenges. Being the strongest makes you lonely, you're not understood. But as the weakest, you can work your way up bit by bit and find out the advantages and disadvantages of strength. But you have to make sure everything balances out again."

Her son looked at her inquisitively. "Balances out?" The woman nodded. "If everyone were equally strong, there would be a power imbalance. That could lead to problems, for example, in empathy. If everyone had the same measure of strength, it would be difficult to empathize with others, to understand their difficulties. Imbalance allows for a certain equilibrium in interpersonal relationships."

The woman's words made the boy thoughtful as they continued their way.

The monster, having assumed the form of a woman, bit into my left leg again, and an inexplicable feeling of sadness spread in its mouth. "Why does this taste so sad? It doesn't make sense. Tears keep streaming down my face," she asked as she swallowed the piece of meat from my thigh. Tears flowed in torrents down her cheeks. Another bite, and the tears seemed to flow even more intensely. The sound of her sobbing and crying mixed with a soft laughter that followed.

She continued to devour until only bones clung to thin muscle fibers. The sound of her sobbing and crying filled the room, but it was accompanied by a faint laughter, creating an eerie atmosphere. The monstrous behavior of the woman, trapped in an inexplicable interplay of sadness and laughter, intensified the surreal and creepy mood permeating the space.

"Mama, why is the sky ⬛⬛⬛⬛?" asked the boy, the video turning a bit redder. The mother did not answer. "Mama, are you asleep?" he asked again, but she did not respond. I closed my eyes and covered my ears, tears streaming down my face. "⬛⬛⬛⬛ that is ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛!" The boy began to tremble. "Mama, are you sad?" No response. "Mama?" The child looked at the ketchup bottle in his hand. "Mama, I'm hungry."

The oppressive silence and the inexplicable behavior of the mother affected the boy as he tried to gain her attention. The contrast between childish innocence and the strange situation intensified the unsettling atmosphere of the moment.

The monster, having assumed the form of a woman, bit into my right leg, and a sense of emptiness filled its mouth. "... It tastes like nothing, neither good nor bad. It's like I'm eating air," she said, yet she couldn't stop eating and chewing as if it were an addiction. "It tastes like nothing, but why can't I stop?" She continued to bite into my flesh.

The inexplicable behavior of the monster, trapped in the experience of tastelessness, created a disturbing atmosphere. The monster's obsession to continue eating despite the empty sensation intensified the scene's dark and eerie nature, ingraining a sense of unease into the situation. The absence of sensations and the monster's mysterious craving heightened the eeriness of this unsettling encounter.

As I slowly uncovered my ears, there was nothing to hear. When I opened my eyes again, I saw several shadowy figures sitting in the cinema, staring at me with white eyes and a huge, distorted smile. I wanted to run away, but I realized my arms and legs were no longer there. I tried to scream, but the shadow next to me held me tight, although I felt little resistance. What's happening? Help! What are these monsters? Am I dying? It hurts! Why is no one here? Is the movie over? What is this place? Where am I? These thoughts raced through my head over and over again. I closed my eyes.

The monster menacingly raised its head again, ready for another bite, when suddenly a creepy scythe with numerous faces found its way through the air, slicing off the monster's arm in a single, precise cut. "The scythe belongs to Shinoa," announced a woman with a mix of determination and triumph in her voice. Shinoa, arriving just at this crucial moment, looked at my mutilated body and commented with a sarcastic tone, "I knew he wouldn't make it, but being eaten is something new." She scratched her head nervously.

The woman turned to Shinoa: "Hey Shinoa, what are you doing here?" But the response was blunt: "Shut up, Ehan, it's something that doesn't concern you." Ehan took the severed arm and attached it to the cut, with the tissue regenerating surprisingly quickly. "Can I take the boy now?" Shinoa asked. Ehan placed my body on top of the monster's body and stood up. "The good old Sin Scythe, and no, you can't just take him?"

Shinoa clenched her hand into a fist and moved it abruptly. The scythe, which had just been in the monster's body, flew towards Shinoa. Ehan noticed a thin wire attached to the handle. Shinoa approached Ehan as she raised her arms. Suddenly, Ehan's lower body froze and shattered. "Pretty annoying that I have to do the dirty work," said Nia, who had just climbed up. "Can't help it if you can't climb faster," Shinoa replied.

"Nia pulled a small, round black pill from her apron and put it in my mouth." There, that should make him survive." A loud clap was heard, and Shinoa and Nia flinched. "You're pretty dumb, aren't you?" A large hand grew out of the monster's body and grabbed my body. "Shit!" Shinoa and Nia exclaimed simultaneously before the hand threw me with full force.