> Prologue <
The Beginning
'No one is coming.' Aira thought on the day of May 26.
The bedroom she was in was dim and frigid. A trail of light shines through the slightly open door as her mobile phone which shows a wallpaper of five people standing together was thrown on the neat white bed. This was the picture Aira took five years ago before with her family.
In the picture, her sharp-eyed father shows a smile with his eyes slightly curved towards the camera, and her delicate and youthful mother smiling brightly as she hugged her husband's arm behind her three children. In front of her parents' position, below the stand, Aira's blockhead's oldest brother stood in front of their father's position, showing a confident grin with his chest huff and arms crossed, then her upright second oldest brother look at the camera with a hint of a smile, and herself who was the youngest and the only daughter of the Giyera Family stood grinning with her hands on her jacket's pocket.
As the screen turned black, silver moonlight light shone upon her lean figure clothed in a black and dark green tracksuit as she moderately opened the window of her room, gazing at the scenery of her community under the full moon that hovered over the starry night sky.
The house she is living in is built on the higher ground of the Sumar Quezon. A suitable area where she could see the many dark and white well-built buildings of this land. And as usual, as some vehicles drive on the streets and road, most of the residents were asleep and a few nighters, mostly those her age are awake. A rare sight as tomorrow could be said the day when another batch of youth are gonna have their service in the military due to the worsening situation on the borders. Including herself.
Looking at the scenery of this city made her somewhat nostalgic. Unlike a few years ago when children used to play around and adults chatted together with beers in their hands while singing their vocals out every now and then, due to the many changes that happened, this huge modernization brought a sense of dullness she had long gotten used to.
An emptiness that had grown wider like a pit that she often wished to fill in with anything even if it fade later.
Most would think someone like her, a child of one of the families that are contributing a lot to the current nationwide crisis is living a fantastic life before her service. However, contrary to everyone's thoughts and judgment, just like before when things were yet to go wild across the world, she was still a loner.
A fact, she could only sigh in response.
A girl like her who had grown up with a mindset that thinks of gain and loss couldn't truly connect with anyone to be her close friend. Even if she tried to blend in, knowing she would gain nothing besides the concept of 'friend,' she couldn't maintain such a relationship
'Still.'
As she grew more mature, and just graduated high school a week ago, seeing how her former classmates laughed together and still stayed connected after high school, knowing the turmoil in her heart, she knew she was envious. A feeling she thought would never feel.
'I also want that.'
There was regret and acceptance as what is done is done. She knew her flaw and circumstances well and even if she could go back, nothing would change so long as she continue to balance their value and benefits. It would only be superficial.
She was fine with this kind of loneliness...
But, as it is said that humans are social creatures, Aira knew her heart yearned to have a companion. A companion where she doesn't have to be cautious of their motives or value.
A dry chuckle left her lips knowing she was regretting not holding it even if she couldn't fully understand it.
Closing her eyes, and lowering her head, Aira let out a long breath. Her long black layered hair was no longer tied and was a little messy though she didn't have the urge to brush it as her dark brown eyes that reopened were blank behind the sharp golden-colored glasses.
She ignored the urge to grab her phone to check again and quietly walked to her gaming chair, passing the stand where her graduation gown hung in the dark along with the many medals she received, her certificates, and the mail from the military official, before sitting down.
Touching the mouse, the soft glow of the computer screen illuminated the dimly lit bedroom, casting a pale light on the dull face of Aira. Her eyes flickered to the news website, where the latest events of a battle at the border were reported.
"In a devastating turn of events, at mid-hour on the west coast of the Philippines, the Navy forces suffered a significant loss at a sudden assault that caught our navy off guard, resulting in heavy casualties and a strategic setback hereby the government announcing the acceleration of Project ALPHA-"
With a grimace, her lips pursed. If it had been the previous night, she would have looked into more but she wasn't in the mood to get into details of this news yet. Because, on the table beside the computer, there is a medium chocolate size cake she just brought with the neatly written name,
Aira Giyera.
Happy 18th Birthday!
'I'm eighteen now... It's been almost four years,' she thought without much disturbance in her heart.
Despite fully knowing she hadn't been with any of her family much aside from the important gathering or official events, there was no feeling of sadness or anger. While it should be normal to react like that, Aira who couldn't fully express her feelings could rationally accept their absence while throwing away her own negative feelings.
'Then, why did I even wait?'
Perhaps, she did want to see them...
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Unfazed by the chilliness in the room, Aira grabbed the spoon as the clock that hung on the wall continued to tick. 11:10 PM. It's almost Midnight.
'Whatever. Let's just eat it.'
Aira raised her head and looked at the bright moon, "Looks like it's just you and me tonight again," She said. If the moon was really a person, it would have been really nice.
With a shallow smile, "Happy birthday," Aira told herself.
Never noticing how the world becomes quiet. As if life died in a matter of seconds, there were no more insects making noises, and the people awake and using their gadgets were startled when their devices suddenly shut down.
"Huh?"
Aira raised her brows in surprise as she at the black screen of her computer.
Meanwhile, the shouts of her fellow nighters wail as their screen also turned black.
"Sinong putang ina-!?" (Who the fucking-!?")
"Oi! Bakit mo pinatay yung computer!?" (Hey! Why did you turn off the computer!)
"Hindi ako!" (It isn't me!)
"Nooooo! Yung raid ko!" (Nooooo! My raid!)
Under the full moon of the night, as all the lights shut down worldwide, animals instinctively hide away as they suddenly sensed something alarming – A bright golden light shrouded the entire world – People who noticed and those who didn't were unable to react altogether. Disappearing in the world, leaving the animals behind with mankind's creation.
GLOBAL ANALYZATION COMPLETE
'W-what?'
Aira who couldn't even have a to eat that chocolate cake suddenly found herself in this seemingly infinite void that was neither black nor white. Even if she tried to comprehend this place, she could not make sense of it like a dot of sand that always slip away from her grasp.
'What is this?'
She tried to move even an inch but was unable to. She tried to make a sound but was also unable to.
'I... What the heck?'
It was then she finally was aware of the lost sensation in her body. The heartbeat of her own, the breath that always flow through her lungs, and the noise that was always there... There was nothing.
In a sense, it should be natural for her to panic in confusion and fear but all there was calmness. As if this doesn't bother her when it should have. Too calm that her mind rationalized the answer she seek.
She isn't in her human body anymore.
"Aira? Is that you?"
"What the hell is this place?"
'Kuya?' Aira heard her eldest and second older brother's voices and tried to find or sense them but, she could not.
Because what she heard was the voices of others.
"Who?"
"Asan ito?"
"Mama?"
"Who?"
"Sino kayo?"
"Huh?"
The voices were odd, tinged with echo; some were even foreign to her yet her mind could somehow understand their words.
"What's going on?" She tried to ask any of them and what answer her and everyone's very question was a voice. A loud and steady voice that is either man or woman said,
ATTENTION RESIDENTS OF EARTH #0000
DUE TO THE THREAT THAT THREATENS TO ERADICATE THE WORLD PLANES
A TRIAL WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR THE HUMANS WHO MEET THE REQUIRED CONDITION FOR DEPLOYMENT IN CERTAIN WORLD PLANES.
'Threat? World Planes? As in danger to the whole... Universe?'
Just like many youths of the current era, Aira who had watched many anime and read novels, thought,
'If this is what I think it is... Am I going to be transported into another world!?'
CONGRATULATIONS "AIRA" FROM THE FAMILIA "GIYERA" OF REGION PHILIPPINE
YOU ARE A CANDIDATE CHOSEN TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST GENERATIONS OF THE HUMAN RACE OF EARTH #0004
'I'm a candidate to become one of the first generations of the human race? This is different from what I expected...'
MATCHING TRIAL...
YOU HAVE MATCHED "THE ABYSS OF HELL"
GENERATING VESSEL...
GENERATING DIMENSION...
'Cold.' The hair of her skin stood up as soon as Aira opened her eyes. Standing on the dull gray floor, clothed in a familiar dark green camo uniform, equipped with a wooden shield and a short sword, the first thing she saw was a bed with a gray pillow and a blanket.
Blinking, she moved her gaze to look at her surroundings. Like a small cage with invisible walls – under the square solid concrete roof lay four pillars with strange text carved all over them. And beyond those pillars were the uneven dirt and scattered wobbling hideous short dark gray creatures. Making weird "kekeke" with their unmoving grinning sharp yellow teeth as they walked on their two-toe feet, each holding a pointy rock in their four-finger hand.
NAME: GRIBLIN
SPECIES: EBORN GRIMM
> HOSTILE
"Woah..."
Aira's throat moved, her natural straight posture tensing as her gaze continue to wander more. Surrounded by monsters, the trees from a distance were black and wrinkled, lifeless with their menacing pointed branches seemingly moving as if aware of her gaze.
It was bright yet there was no sign of sun. How was that even possible? She thought, noting how the sky is dark red as if crying blood with that lone silver ring hovering like a full moon.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED A TASK!
TASK: EXTERMINATE TEN ELDER GRIMM 0/10
"This is..."
Aira almost couldn't believe what was happening.
A system that informs about a threat that endangers many worlds before being brought into a trial. This reminds her of those in novels where the main character is put in another dimension to get stronger before returning back to earth where they would save their world from monsters.
Isn't her situation similar to that?
Gazing at the blue screen floating in front of her as her eyes roam the surrounding, Aira couldn't help but make an excited grin. Thrill and fear boil within her as her heart beats so loudly as if about to burst through her throat.
Absolutely insane.
Who gets excited to be thrown in a place where death literally stares at you?
Aira felt her hands tremble indicating her fear but, her mind was clear. A wry laugh escapes her lips.
Her future has once again changed. A future that is uncertain but certainly filled with death.
She's scared but compared to that dull and helpless lifestyle where she was about to throw herself into the war to fill the hole in her heart even if she died, this was like a dream come true.
A lifetime chance that could change her life forever.
A chance to finally prove something in her life.