Chapter 1 – Into another world.

End of the line. For me, that is.

“Erk!”

I touch my ribs to find blood coating my hand. I got shot just as I ran into this building.

Well, isn’t this thrilling? I barely escaped that place for taking on such a dangerous request. I expected this to be a setup, but I’ve been so bored that I agreed to walk into this trap.

“Hehe. I’m bleeding. Ah~, today’s the day. Finally.”

I quickly shut the metal door and barred it with an already bent metal stud I struggled to move. With each excessive movement, more of my blood poured out of my wound. Even though it won’t hold them out, it’ll have to do.

That’s not to say I’m running away. This is planned. I knew they would backstab me, I knew they wanted me dead. I’ve been waiting for the day they would show their fangs when they went on a power trip.

The moon shining upon the night is oddly blinding bright. I felt an ominous chill running down my back and smiled as big as the moon’s lunar shape shining brightly in the sky.

As I find myself limping past a room, I found a scummy looking guy staring back with a wicked smile. He had black hair, pale skin. His dead fish eyes were about the same as mine. He was painted in blood. He was me.

I find it hilarious I’ve become, what I’ve loathed and always aspired to be. Trash.

Then another jolt of pain snapped me awake. I have one last job to do.

I could hear the door being pried open and dogs barking. When I made it up the first floor of this abandoned building, they tumbled in with bloodlust in tow.

The dogs quickly catch up to me, but I quickly dropped them with a shelve rolling down the steps. Their panic gave me an adrenaline rush to which I made a blockade then rushed up the second floor.

There, my prepared arsenal of weapons stood hidden at the end of the hallway.

“There he is!”

Before I was able to reach my box of goodies, a man crawled through the window and sprayed bullets down the hall. The geyser of smoke was rapidly coming towards me. I ducked and rolled into a room, finding myself trapped and shot again on the thigh.

“I guess,” I wheezed. “my luck’s finally ran out.”

I tore a strip of cloth from a dusty curtain and wrap my injury. I can hear footsteps coming closer and crashed open the window.

“Dammit, did he jump?!” He ran into the room and screamed. “Hey, did any of you guys see where he went?”

Before he was able to get his answer, I crept behind him with a broken glass shard and sliced his throat. I also shoved my beloved switchblade under his jaw for good measures and looted his rifle.

You may be wondering why they wanted me dead. I don’t want to brag, but I have powerful connections and I am someone else’s powerful acquaintance. I always have something other people want. Information. As I don’t belong to any organizations, these people were upset I turned down their offer when they tried to recruit me. They tried to make life a living hell for me, and in return I’ve destroyed their group. These people are here for revenge.

This became a one-sided relationship as I freaking adore them to the bottom of my bleeding heart. They’re like children on an extreme level of tantrum, or demon spawns hellbent on killing me.

As I climbed to the third floor, I can hear my name mixed with profanities. I let down another barricade of furniture to buy more time as I took what I needed from my box of goodies.

Good, the rest of them are gathering in this easily crumbled- I mean the Prop building. All those swearing, all that hate, they make my body explode… figuratively. Not quite literal yet- oops, oh dear… I almost spoiled it~.

Who are they? Heh, let me enlighten you! They are people I love. I had some history against them but I’m grateful. They’ve unshackled my mind and made me who I was today, and that is a useless, twisted heap of shit.

My heart races with excitement with each step. Yes, you may call me a psychopath, but I'm just a lowly scum living in this world. I'm no better than trash. Hm? You said something? You want to call me a good for nothing worthless shit? Go ahead, but I think I deserve bigger insult. C’mon! Bring out all your momma jokes anything! Make me feel miserable~.

Finally, I reach to the highest floor of the building closest to the night sky. I stumbled over my shaking legs and slumped against the ledge, looking up to the silver moon right above me.

I thought to myself what a wonderful night it’ll be. Tonight, I will be trash cleaning up other trashes. My debt to them will finally be paid.

When I looked back down, I see a trail of my own blood. Honestly, I’m a little impressed I made it up here with that much blood loss.

“Got him-!”

The instant a figure poked his head in my blurry view, I popped him. This caused a panic in their ranks as they’ve only made it up through one entrance.

I kept the trigger down. So long as I held it down, they don’t dare to come out. I tossed aside the rifle after its barrel glowed red hot and drew my magnum. They noticed the silence and barged into the place not before I added two casualties on their side.

“Urgh!” I cried as my gunshot wound stung me. It made me drop my aim. They seized the opportunity to surround me, barrels pointed at me.

The reason my life wasn’t immediately taken was because they noticed a light show dazzling under my coat. I had strapped on a vest of explosives that turned their faces as white as a sheet.

I used what strength I had left to greet the leader with a smile. “Hey, fancy seeing you guys here again.”

“You brat. You do have a death wish.”

“Not as much as you.” I huffed. “Just letting you know, these explosives will detonate when my pulse stops. You don’t want to test that, do you?”

I gave him a big fat grin. Their faces twisted into disgust. Excellent! I love those bitter glares being casted on poor ol’ me.

“Cat caught your tongues? Why aren’t you ending this poor sob?” I continued to tease. “Don’t you feel empowered now? I’m bleeding out. I can die any moment. I’m practically useless and can’t fight anymore. I dare you, shoot.”

“Listen here. You have something we want.”

“I don’t recall taking anything from you-. Argh!”

That resulted in me being shot in the foot.

“Haha, you did shoot me.”

“Hey, stop it!” One of their people yelled. “You’re going to get us killed!”

“He’s right. If I’m dying, I’m planning to take you guys down with me.” I said, pulling out a button. My thumb had already pressed it by the time they were able to take it from me. “Oh fun, oh joy. Hehe~, let’s go enjoy the paradise of hell together~. Come with me to see where life will bring us after death! HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

“Y-you’re insane!”

“Fool, haven’t you noticed the first time you saw me? I AM INSANITY ITSELF AT THIS MOMENT!”

You know that Prop building we’re on? I called it a Prop building for a reason as it’s become the stage for my final act.

An earthquake ruptured below us. A large crack split the building into several slices then I found myself floating in the air. The people below were the first ones to experience being crushed by rubble.

“GYHAHAHAHAHAHA! It’s happening! It’s happening!” I shrieked and every word I spit out cracked.

My body gets injected by a unhealthy dose of adrenaline pluming through my systems. The chill going down my spine excites me even further as I kept my eyes on the beautiful shimmering moon basking me in its light.

I Arden Charles, a information broker degenerate, hated by many, feared by none. With blackhair, bagged eyes, and a satisfied smile I declared myself to die today. To track down and kill these group of people I both love and despise makes my heart flutter. I finally release myself from their torment.

Then everything went black.

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“At last, the last piece has arrived. Welcome Arden.” Multiple voice echoed into my mind.

I opened my eyes. The area is dark, because it is. Underneath me is a blue disc of flames that doesn’t hurt. “This is hell? That’s it?” I sighed in disappointment. “I was expecting a bit more finesse. A horned macho waiting for me on his precious throne with a pitchfork. Not a choir of angels.”

“A-Arden?” That voice sent shivers down my spine. I immediately sprung my switch knife and looked to the source of voice calling me.

“Ha… haha… I see… hell is a place where your nightmares become t-true isn’t it?” I stare at the women looking earnestly at me. A blonde long haired women and green eyes. Her tight office wear gave her this hourglass body most boys would ogle. Me? Because of my history with this women, I wanted to vomit. She and I go way back, way before I was adopted by foster parents. Her name is Noel Percy.

Carefully examining my surroundings… there are twenty four people in total, all faces I recognize. They’re my classmates of my 12th grade class.

“Arden…?” Another one of my nightmares. Bastian Lartius… that self righteous bastard that always try to play the hero in everything. I’m not jealous of him. I hate that justice aura he always holds. You can say I am his opposite in everyway. His bushy brown hair is the same as always and that uniform… he appears to be working for a cooperation. He’s living a regular life, boring~.

I’m confused. The angels are quiet. Other people here are shouting at them and they’re not responding. I going to hate myself, but I need information.

“Bastian, Noel, did you two die?”

“I-I died!? I was on a computer when suddenly I was brought here! I died from over working!?” Noel exclaimed.

“Hold on. I was printing things back in my workplace, I can’t possibly die.” Bastian pinched his brows.

“I was shot multiple times then crushed by a building. I should have died.” I look to my arm and it was miraculously healed.

““HUH!? HA!?”” The two dropped their jaws.

“You have not died. Rest assured, none of you have died.” The angels spoke in unison. “Listen well, your gods have agreed to lend you to us for a game.”

“Game?” Someone asked.

“A war game. We will divide the twenty-four of you into two groups and send you to two opposing kingdoms.”

“H-hold on! We have lives back in our world! We don't want to fight!” Noel cried.

“And your god(s) do not care. Your group was chosen to participate by divine law which your god(s) agreed upon. You will be transported to another world where you’ll be given social statuses and become heroes for your kingdom.”

Interesting… a 13v14 battle. What? I don’t plan to enter the war. I’m going to do what I want. Anyhow, let’s shake things up a bit~. “Question!”

“Please.”

“Are betrayals allowed?”

“Be…trayals?” my ex-classmates muttered.

“Arden! What are you doing?” Bastian bellowed. He tried to grab my collar but then backed away from the angel’s magic sword protecting me.

“I’m trying to spice things up. It won’t be fun without any psychological tactics. Angels, are those allowed?”

“They are. However, one must carefully think before acting. You may forfeit your life before you attempt to defect to another kingdom.”

“Great, and for what reason will we fight? Will there be a reward?”

“The winners are granted a wish of their desires and a decision to return home if request.”

“What if all of us went on the same side?”

“You will all be perished and are unable to return to your old worlds.”

Interesting, haha~, everyone’s making the same face. I’m all for going to this strange new world. This will delay my grand performance, but I can always restart and build my great fall in another world. If I’m lucky, I can also kill Bastian and Noel in the process. Besides, I’ve taken revenge in my old world.

“Now heroes, the setting is complete. We will provide rules for the game after you introduce yourselves to leaders of your leader. Go serve your kingdom well and reach for victory!” The angels sang. The blue disc below us grew more violent and engulfed all players in the room.

This is going to be a blast. I’m truly a scum that’s going to another world.