Chapter 5 - A new world

The world around Sagil changed in an instant, almost like someone had switched camera angles in his brain. The strange, sudden influx of information startled him, making him feel dizzy, as he tried blinking his heavy eyelids several times. The snapshot of light vanished as his eyes were swamped in darkness, struggling to adapt.

He dropped to the floor in a huff, throwing his quivering hand to his forehead as he contemplated what just happened.

"Fuck!" he yelled, slamming his fist into the tough soil. "What the fuck did that mean!?"

The first voice had scoffed at Sagil's question, mocking him as it said, 'Niiiice question. I'm sure the question has an answer that will help your journey in finding her.' It baited the young man to fall to his knees and beg the abyss to change it. The voice simply laughed in his face as the other answered the original question.

"Where the fuck is the Abyssal rfitgaol?” Sagil sighed, struggling to a sitting position and throwing his head to the sky.

Rays of sunlight filtered through a haze of clouds, shining on the charred ditch Sagil found himself in. He stumbled over the coarse smouldered ground, trekking to the edge of the hole, and grabbed a rock jutting out from the side. He threw himself up the slope, dangling about until he found another jut to place his foot. He continued to struggle up the slope with deep exhales of the suffocating air. The sweltering heat sapping his energy. With one last push, he finally stumbled out of the mound.

Sparse barren trees withered from the coarse soil that layered the ground. Rotting corpses were strewn atop that soil as blood-drenched weeds were sprinkled around them. Festering miasma hung over the wasteland, coating the scarred earth. Death. Death was all around. Only tainted by the sound of crashing ocean waves.

“Hello!” Sagil yelled as he stumbled across shattered steel, and splintered bark that scattered the land. He desperately tried looking for some sort of life amongst the death, tripping over a corpse as he did. The corpse was cut in half. It would have been a clean-cut if the blood and guts hadn’t been festering all day. The fur covering the back of the corpse was clotted with blood from the dry pool it floated on and the skin had lost its colour. It was probably the most beautiful corpse Sagil had ever seen. He could never kill a monster with a cut this clean.

This didn’t cross Sagil’s mind, however. Another world, huh? He thought to himself, tracing his eyes over the grey fur and wolf-like ears protruding out of the dead women’s silver hair. Then, his eyes caught movement. A slightly lighter shade of red danced across the bloody fur leaping across to the crimson weeds scattered around it.

He grabbed the bloody weed and pulled with all his might. He stumbled backwards as it jumped from the ground and dropped beside him. He had ripped it from the ground yet a long line of crimson attached to it still led into the ground.

He walked towards the hole he had made, yanking on the thread as he reached it. He continued yanking as more and more crimson flew out until it snapped him back. It wouldn’t pull anymore. The ground trembled. He pulled again. The ground trembled again. He pulled agai-

“Oi, get away from her!” A tanned, half-naked figure howled from beyond the ditch. It dropped to all fours and bounded across the wasteland. It slammed its paws into the coarse dirt and propelled itself into the air, leaping across the ditch.

Sagil clumsily pulled his sword from its sheathe as the wolf-like human pounced at him. The distance was closed within an instant. He pinned Sagil to the ground with his large hands.

Drool splashed onto its prey as it bared its sharp fangs. But they didn’t clamp down onto Sagil’s flesh. Its amber eyes had creased with anger but hesitated as a tremor coursed through the ground, growing closer.

Sagil used this opportunity to free an arm from the weakened grip. He threw his hand back and snagged on the crimson thread, pulling him back just enough so he could push off the beastly human. The beats pounced at him but his sword was swung upwards, forcing the beast to the right. Sagil twisted his wrist and slammed the sword to the right, missing the beast by a hairs-width as it swivelled to the right. Its claws pierced Sagils arm, tearing at his bicep with a vicious swing.

He yelped but forced his screams down by clamping his teeth together, determined to survive. He rolled to the side, avoiding another claw swing and arcing his katana in the air, colliding into the tanned arm. Only sparks spewed from the collision as the sword ricocheted off the impossibly hard arm. The beast’s lips curled in joy at its prey’s open mouth and pounced at his neck, ready to tear his flesh asunder and coat the soil in fresh blood.

But the fangs only grazed flesh.

The ground below them exploded, sending the two flying and wrenching the sword from Sagil’s grip. Rocks and soil scattered in the air crimson erupted from the ground with a screech. The deafening sound coursed around the island as a gargantuan glided through the air. Its head convulsed as skin pulled back to reveal thousands of fangs ready to shred flesh like paper. It barrelled from the sky and crashed into the ground, sending tremors through the ground.

Sagil struggled to his feet with deep breaths and his hand shoved over his bicep, stopping it from spilling out of the torn flesh.

The earth wouldn’t stop shaking as he hobbled over to his sword, muttering failed incantation after failed incantation, his wounds refusing to close. He glanced between his sword and ripped arm, unable to decide the best action. His hesitation only led to more pain as the ground shattered and spewed bits of the earth at him. His body buckled under the force of the shots and flung him to the ground.

He stared at the cloudy sky before the rays of sunlight that filtered through them were blotted out by a crimson worm.

It screeched again, ready to devour its prey as it slammed through the air towards Sagil when it suddenly jerked to the side. The silver beast slammed into its tough body and clawed at its flesh, ripping its asunder.

Blood rained down, drenching Sagil as the beast crashed next to him; the beast pouncing on thin air as the worm immediately burrowed under the earth.

Sagil struggled to his feet and pulled his sword from the ground with a deep breath. There’s no way I can hurt it with this body. He cried inside.

He lamented on how useless he was. He couldn't use magic and his sword skills were mute with one weak hand. Not that he'd be able to do anthing when he couldn't cut the wolf-like human. As he did this he watched his surroundings and listened closely. All he could do was try and survive so he needed every hint he could get. When will it strike? Where will it strike?

The beast was different. He had the strength to be proactive. His ears twitched and he dropped to all fours, bounding towards the ditch right behind them.

Sagil hobbled over in pursuit, keeping track of the distant tremors. If he couldn't evade its attack his only chance of survival was the man who had attacked him.

“Stop being useless!” the man barked as it jumped into the ditch, almost as if it knew how Sagil thinked. "You'd be better as bait."

Sagil struggled to think of a reply as he peered over the edge to see the man digging a hole. After all, the man was right. He was useless. But it's only becuase i'm randomly here and i can't imbue my mana into the air. And, im still confused about where I am and what those voices were and where Misaka is, nevermind the others. Plus he fucked my arm. He tried convincing himself.

“I have my own idea, think of your own!” barked the beast as it dug into the ground like a dog.

“W-Well, it looks like it’s already here so you can’t carry out your idea!” Sagil yelled in as the ditch'ssloped ground shook visibily.

The mound of soil shattered. The beast pounced. And the bloody worm erupted from the hole.

They collided in a bloody mess as the silver beast ripped into its flesh, clutching its insides and swinging himself around to the top of the worm. He smashed his hands into the hide again and again, pummelling it into oblivion and sending it crashing to the floor. It squealed and screeched as its body convulsed trying to rid it of the pest. Its flesh pulsed up an down and jerked up until the wolfman finally lost balance. The worm quickly changed directions and send the pest propelling off through the air.

“Give me that giant black claw!” He barked at Sagil as he landed with a thud. He rushed towards him and spat, “My claws are too weak to bring it down.”

Sagil stopped himself as his hand moved on it's own. He looked at is father's sharp sword with a gulp. He scrunched his face and spat "I can fucking do it.!"

“You’re broken and weak as it is!” He yelled, snatching the katana from Sagil with little care for his determination and pride that he had riled up.

Sagil opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. He was annoyed at himself for being so useless but not becuase he had given the sword away so easily. He sighed. It was a matter of life and death but it made his skin crawl.

The tremors grew larger and the ground shook. The worm was nearing another attack. But the Wolfman didn’t wait this time. He gripped the katana with both hands and tensed his tanned muscles before smashing it into the ground, scattering the soil and cracking the rock it lay on.

The worm shuddered as the force sent shockwaves crashing into it, forcing it out in an instant. The wolf-like beast let a grin slip as it pointed the sword above the ditch.

The worm erupted from the hole, flying straight into the point of the stuck-out sword. Blood spewed everywhere as the monster’s flesh was torn from top to bottom. Its screeches turned to whimpers as its blood loss weakened the monster. The silver beast snatched the opportunity and threw himself at the monster, spiralling through the air with the sword thrust out. The monster tried swivelling towards the attack, opening its razor-blade covered mouth. The beast flew straight into the mouth, giving the worm no chance to shred flesh as it pierced through the tail in an instant.

The beast landed in a cacophany of blood, guts, and undigested limbs as the monster crashed to the ground with a thud.

The crimson-dyed man walked over to Sagil, who finally collapsed in relief and pain, and threw the bloodysword into the cracked ground next to him.

“Th-thanks,” Sagil stammered, clutching his bicep. “But why in the hell did you randomly attack me?”

The wolfman did a double-take as he was walking away.

“W-Why?!” he barked, stomping towards Sagil and grabbing him by the collar of his tunic. “YOU WERE MESSING WITH ONE OF MY DEAD BRETHREN!”

His amber eyes were like daggers stabbing into Sagil’s. His brows creased around them and his lips quivered in anger.

“N-No I fucking wasn’t!” Sagil spat in response, struggling as he was lifted from the ground. “I was messing with the red weed.”

“You…!” The wolfman’s nostrils flared in anger and he slammed Sagil to the ground. “You brought that thing then!? How stupid can you be?”

“…?” Sagil let out, winded from the force of hitting the ground.

“There was no trap you were setting, nor are you strong enough to kill it for food. What were you thinking?”

Sagil spluttered and wheezed as he got to his feet, forcing speech. “I… d-didn’t know.”

The man’s fierce glare wavered in confusion.

“How? We’ve been fighting each other for the past month on these shattered islands. You fucks even massacred us in negotiations by tricking us and unleashing another like that!”

“I…” Sagil stopped himself. He around at the corpses strewn across the battlefield, more mashed than they were before. Some were human, no doubt about it, but a lot had animal characteristics, like the wolfman before him. And the beautiful corpse he saw before.

The man quivered in anger, with a festering resentment inside. It was built upon the death of his brethren. Sagil held his tongue despite his own anger pricking his skin.

“I’m not sure what’s going on. And,” he gulped, “I’m sorry for all of the causalities. But I…” he paused, wondering how to explain that he wasn’t here until he randomly was. “… don’t know where I am."

“Huh?”

Sagil sighed as confusion spread across the man’s body. At least it wasn’t anger.

“Yeah, hehe,” he forced a laugh, praying he didn’t get ripped asunder. “I really don’t know what to-”

“Shut up.” The man simply stated. He walked back towards Sagil and snatched his ruined arm.

“Oi!” Sagil screamed and pulled the katana up.

“I said shut up.” He replied, slapping the sword away. I can tell you ain’t lying but I don’t fucking like you and I don’t fucking trust you. Not all humans are bad but the rangers from that village…are.”

As he pointed his finger towards a forest atop the main landmass, his brow furrowed, eyes creased, his nails dug into Sagil’s flesh, and his lips curled as his body trembled.

His festering resentment sparked into anger as he saw a party of green-cloaked humans galloping over on bulky lizard-like horses.

“Fucking liar!” He barked, throwing Sagil to the ground as cries sounded from the rushing party.

The wolfman fell to all fours as arrows flew past him, one nicking his cheek and the others sinking into the soil. The beast dug into the ground, slamming all of his strength into the floor to propel him away.

The horses struggled to keep up with the wolf speed as the riders let off an array of razor-sharp arrows. The man scampered from side to side, looping in and out of each trajectory. This slowed him down and the arrows started hitting their mark now the archers were closer.

The wolfman tried leaping over the ditch but his paw was knocked as an arrow pierced into its tough skin. Its momentum sent it tumbling down the ditch and the riders caught up. Their sights fell upon the injured beasts but as they pulled the strings of their bows back blood spewed from the closest horse.

In a flash the beast had pounced onto the lizard and wrenched the scales from its muscular neck, slashing the jugular veins. It then snarled as it scampered back around the ditch, sprinting for the other edge of the island.

He was much slower though with a wounded leg and couldn’t create enough distance as the others reach his sides.

The blood-covered beast howled, parrying a steel blade and dancing between an array of arrows. It ducked under another ranger’s sword swing, slashing the knees of the lizard it rode. The rider was thrown off but before the beast could kill an arrow ploughed into the beasts’ muscular thighs and threw him to the floor.

An arrow ploughed into the soil, nicking the wolf ear of the man. It leapt to his feet as a sword sliced through the air and almost knocked off his head as his legs buckled. It sliced a chunk of flesh from his shoulder instead as the beast manipulate did with his paw.

He tried barking but only a whimper came out as blood poured from the wound.

“You mutt! Killing a lone human, some beast saint you are!” A rider shouted, slamming his sword through the air. “Just die-ghrg!”

His sword fell to the floor with a thud as his insides were almost ripped out, his flesh torn asunder.

The other rangers hesitated in shock as their friend closed in on death. The shock threw their aim off, giving the beast an opportunity to create distance.

The rangers shook off their shock and knocked more arrows to their bows. Each and every shot missed as the beast scampered off into the distance. One ranger spat in disgust as he hopped back onto his lizard.

“Stop! He’ll kill you if you’re alone and my land-dragon is fucked!” another yelled, the dying soldier in his hands.

“Then come with me!”

“I’m not leaving Hilsan behind! I order you to stop! We came here to save our fallen from the corpse eater, we weren’t supposed to fight those beasts on a truce day!”

The hot-headed ranger smashed his fist into the tough scales of his land-dragon and threw his head back.

“Fine!” he yelled, releasing his pent-up frustration before jumping to the ground. “Wait…”

The other rangers tending to their injured ally looked up. “What?” two said in unison, the other muttering to herself as her hands glowed a pale green above the bloody wound.

“Why is our ‘leader’ over there still?!”

He glared past the ditch where Sagil stood. With him was a tall lean man leaning on his land dragon with his green cloak draped over his shoulders.