The constant agony was nigh-unbearable, but it was that very same agony that kept him aware that he was still alive.

But his mind was lost.

In a distant land, lying with his back upon the snow of an icy mountain, he gazed aimlessly at the frozen sunlight.

A gigantic white dragon was soaring through the sky, opening its mouth and unleashing its brilliant flames in his direction.

Then, he finally opened his eyes.

Or, more like an eye, since his right eye was currently bandaged up along with the most of his face.

“Glad to see you awake, sleepy head”

An unfamiliar voice.

Unfamiliar face.

Arma almost panicked before the sharp pain reminded him that even if he was in danger, he was in no shape to defend himself.

He was at this person’s mercy.

Arma sniffed the air.

Not a dragon.

That much was clear.

Just knowing that made Arma calm down somewhat.

The pain prevented him from sighing in relief though.

“I am Rene. Rene Leville. What about you?”

Using the all the voice he could muster, Arma’s throat made a coarse and raspy noise, it seems like his throat was also damaged quite a bit.

After several failed attempts, he finally managed to make his voice comprehensible.

“A-a…Arma. Arma Blood”

“Arma-kun, huh? It is very nice to meet you, right guys?”

Now that Arma was aware of it, there were four others around them, just sitting there motionless. Their eyes were all closed.

But what was undeniable was their lack of heartbeat and the smell they exuded.

For some reason, Arma could always sense life around him, but even if he strained his senses, the only ones that had life within their bodies were Rene and him.

The others did not have life within their flesh, instead they looked like mere puppets controlled by strings.

“This is the hero, Lord Reven”, Rene pointed to the person wearing a light armor and a two handed sword in his arms. His light blond hair was his most distinguishing trait.

“Shaela, the Priestess”. A strikingly beautiful woman in her mid to late twentieth. Her hair was even lighter than that of Reven’s, almost white in color.

“Arthur, the tanker”. A very large man wielding a gigantic warhammer. His entire body was covered in armor, even his head was concealed under his helmet.

“And Mevin, the White Mage, my master”, a very lean and tall man whose ears made it obvious that he was of elven blood.

“They are not alive”

“I am surprised you could tell at a first glance”

Rene sadly remarked.

“You are correct; all of them are no longer among the living”

Arma was getting more and more freaked out by the second.

“So don’t you do anything stupid and make yourself die faster. Otherwise, I will have to reanimate you too”

Arma: ‘This person is nuts!’

Arma: “*Gulp*. Ok”