Martin kept running nonstop, his clothes covered in mud. Thanks to his ability, he sensed the imminent danger and rolled on the ground at the last second, dodging the attack aimed at his neck.

“Just a bit more,” he thought, seeing the mining post a few meters away, its entrance illuminated by a torch.

PAAAM.

Martin collapsed face down, swallowing mud in the process, his face dirty and vision blurred. However, the rain immediately washed his face, restoring his sight. He tried to get up, but fell again; his body wouldn’t respond.

—Tchh, I’m getting rusty. I wanted to cut both —said a robust and enormous silhouette slowly approaching.

Martin turned his head and saw that his right foot was missing. Fear and panic flooded his entire being, his pupils dilated to the maximum, and his mind began to whirl, entering a state of stupor. His body reacted involuntarily, and he vomited on the spot.

—Keep running, go ahead —the man said with a sarcastic smile.

—I-I-I didn’t do… anything… I-I just wanted to go-go back to my world… —fear rooted in Martin’s soul prevented him from speaking without stuttering, tears filled his eyes, not from pain but from facing death, his wound didn’t even hurt at that moment.

—WAAAAAA! FORGIVE ME, PLEASE! I DON’T WANT TO DIE AGAIN! I HATE THE DARKNESS! THAT DAMN ETERNAL LONELINESS! I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK! —crawling with his hands and leaving a trail of blood on the ground, Martin cried out for his life with all his might.

PAM.

Martin’s body flew into a small hut, which collapsed on impact. The people from the mining post were not present, probably due to the storm.

—Don’t be pathetic and die like a man —said the man named Rast angrily, approaching step by step.

“It’s over…” Martin closed his eyes in resignation, his will to live fading. He had tried his best, but it was in vain against such a monster; it had all been a senseless game from the start.

Debris covered the young dark-haired man, who looked terrible, his body covered in mud and blood, missing a lower limb. Without knowing his purpose in this world, filled with regret, and with a very short second life, he was saying goodbye. He never thought that naming a god at random would bring such consequences. Isekai worlds were not supposed to be like this; where was his special power, his trump card, the blessing of a god, the system to guide him, the tutorial village? He never knew anything about this world and had to figure things out on his own, but in the end, he failed… everything was too unfair.

Martin, with his eyes closed, waiting for his death, could clearly perceive the crimson red light approaching step by step, shining like the stars in the sky. However, if one paid attention, in a corner of the hut, a small dark purple light representing anger could be seen.

“...” The dying boy was puzzled by this fact, but his body acted on its own, as if detached from his brain.

—Goodbye —

Rast stabbed towards Martin’s heart, who was dying from blood loss, but Martin turned quickly with his last ounce of strength, dodging the stab.

Martin grabbed Rast’s foot with trembling hands, and Rast looked at him with disgust.

—You’re pathetic —said the enormous man with a tone of contempt, his amusement turning to boredom in an instant.

Seeing the spectacle coming to an end, the man looked coldly at the ground, his face reflecting indifference as if he were cutting weeds in the garden. The divine mission he was entrusted with was the only thing he had left in life, but this particular matter involved personal feelings, so he took his time carrying out the task. He wanted revenge for his family and for the young man to experience the same despair as those killed by the former apostle.

The torrential rain, which fell relentlessly, made visibility around difficult, reducing it to a few meters. The storm in full swing suppressed any ambient sound, and the sporadic lightning illuminated the surrounding area, momentarily blinding anyone who looked directly at it.

All these factors combined gave a sense of insignificance before the majestic storm that seemed to swallow the desert. Rast stood, looking terrifyingly at Martin, as if he were the storm at this moment and the young man at his feet a mere insect. In a sequence of fluid movements, he raised his sword to the sky and brought his arm down in a vertical slash, disregarding everything else.

—SQUEEEESH!—

Slash.

In response to the sudden noise, a cut was made, sending a stinger flying. Rast jumped back and saw a sulfur scorpion writhing in pain from the loss of its limb. The animal wasn’t supposed to be there; in such weather, they usually hid underground. But something had caused this particular one to take refuge in a hut.

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Distracted by the storm, Rast hadn’t noticed the animal. Without time to think about what happened, his face quickly turned green, and he lost his grip on his sword, losing his strength. His veins swelled and became visible through his skin. He fell to his knees, vomiting blood from the venom. A quick visual inspection revealed a wound on his right side; he had been pierced.

The enormous man who seemed invincible was writhing in pain, howling like a wild beast, echoing throughout the mining camp but drowned by the relentless rain.

The young dark-haired man watched the scene through the sporadic lightning flashes. It looked like the end of a horror movie, with the killer dying tragically and unexpectedly, the surroundings in complete chaos and disarray, blood traces all over the scene.

An icy cold began to invade Martin’s body; his consciousness was fading slowly. Blood continued to pour from his severed leg; death was coming for him. The young man had spent all his luck surviving this disaster. He never thought a small animal would be so significant. First, it helped him form his ethereal soul, and now it saved his life. An unexpected miracle had occurred before his blurry eyes.

—Just a little more…— In a low voice, the dark-haired young man exhaled his last words before sinking back into darkness.

Year 775 of the Divine Calendar, Sulfur City.

BOOM BOOM BOOM.

A fireworks display was in full swing, bright lights illuminating the dark sky covering the world. Dozens of shapes could be seen above, and passersby pointed up joyfully, surprise evident on the faces of the youngest. Others drank alcohol until they collapsed on the sidewalk. The majestic and eternal night, which seemed never-ending, was slowly disappearing. On the distant horizon, a huge sun was rising, illuminating the sulfur desert.

Among the noisy and tumultuous crowd, large signs were visible, announcing “Dawn Day.” The predominant colors among the crowd were orange and yellow, alluding to this day. People dressed in loose clothing enjoyed the festive atmosphere, dancing and singing with anyone who approached. At that moment, there were no distinctions; everyone belonged to the same world.

With the sun rising on the horizon, enormous black walls extended to both sides of the desert, with no end in sight. Between these walls, a huge fortress city, spanning kilometers, bathed in the first rays of light. At least a million people lived in that edifice.

—Excuse me, miss, would you like to dance? —asked a man who was staggering while standing.

—No, thank you, I’m busy now —a fair-skinned girl with long brown hair walked by in an elegant blue dress, attracting everyone’s attention.

Her exceptional figure was visible through the dress, accentuating her slim waist and delicate face, leaving any man’s mouth agape at such beauty. She wore sunglasses to slowly adapt to the sunlight.

She walked with a butler by her side, an old man in a suit with a wrinkled face and a blind eye. He carried a rapier at his waist, emitting an aura of chivalry and respect. It was obvious they belonged to high society, which was very common in the capital, where nobles flaunted their status.

—Madam, your family is waiting for you at home to celebrate Dawn Day —said the old butler respectfully.

—I know, Graham, but I need to check on something —

—I understand, madam, but we have a tight schedule today. You must hurry —

—It will be quick, don’t worry —replied the girl in the elegant dress, trotting lightly in heels. She had been visiting a specific place daily and took advantage of a gap in her schedule to come again.

Knock, knock.

—Who is it? —asked a cautious voice through the door.

—It’s me, Myriam —replied the high-society girl.

—Madam Sylver! —the voice said joyfully, slowly opening the door to reveal a teenage girl.

—Happy day, Myriam —Lady Sylver responded with a greeting, a smile forming on her face.

—May I come in? —

—Of course, ma’am. Forgive my manners —the girl who responded belatedly stepped aside and bowed in respect.

—I didn’t think you would come on such an important day, madam. I would have tidied up the room… it’s embarrassing for you to see this place like this —the girl closed the door and started tidying the room for her guests to sit.

—Don’t worry, Myriam, it will be quick —Lady Sylver looked amused at the mess in the room, with scattered alcohol bottles, half-eaten sandwiches, loose balloons, and dirty dishes.

—My mother and sister left for the fireworks festival a while ago. I stayed behind to keep an eye on things in case anything happened—

—There’s no need for you to miss out on the fun for this small task, but thank you, I appreciate your dedication—

—It’s nothing, madam— the teenager said, blushing with the compliment.

—So, any news?—

—None, the man still hasn’t woken up, so I haven’t been able to find out anything—

—I see… keep me updated on the situation, and don’t tell anyone else, Myriam—

—Yes, madam, my lips are sealed— the girl had regained her enthusiasm, feeling happy to be recognized by such an important woman.

Lady Sylver was among the wealthiest and most prestigious aristocrats in the city, holding power comparable to the royal family. Her word was nearly absolute in most places. The Sylver family gained their wealth from owning silver mines scattered throughout the sulfur desert. They also contributed to the founding of the nation and managed its finances and economy over the years, inheriting the title of Minister of Economy through generations.

—Thank you, Myriam. I’ll see you soon— with a slight smile and overflowing elegance, Lady Sylver bid farewell to the teenager. Myriam and her family worked in the “Silver Mansion,” the main house of the Sylver Family.

The duo of visitors stood and left in the blink of an eye, as if the meeting had never taken place.

—Madam, forgive my impertinence, but do you plan to keep investigating?—

—Of course, Graham. As the future matriarch of the family, I must be aware of the current landscape, especially regarding matters related to the church—

—...—

—I know it’s dangerous to get involved, but the church has been on the rise these past decades, gaining more power and influence. I need some backing to stand up to them, without relying on my father or the family name—

—I understand, madam. This servant will follow you to the end— replied the butler Graham, his face showing an unwavering resolve.

Lady Sylver nodded slightly with a smile on her face as she walked through the bustling streets. The butler Graham had served her family since he had any sense of reason, making him her most trustworthy ally. He was also a former knight of the kingdom, so his combat skills were of the highest level.

The journey proceeded without problems for about five minutes until a small figure stood in their way.

—Madam!— the teenager named Myriam was gasping for air.

—He’s awake!—

Lady Sylver opened her eyes in surprise and looked around cautiously. Seeing nothing strange, she turned around and headed back to Myriam’s house, while the butler Graham kept an eye on the surrounding people.