As the flash of light that blinded Zero subsided, he found himself in a glade of lush green grass and vibrant flowers that swayed with the sea-breeze wind. Around him, dozens of people looked about with startled gazes.
Almost immediately cries of shout and panic flooded the tree enclosed glade that contained 100 people.
“Where the hell is this?”
“Oi, mate! What happened to the train?”
“Bloody hell, what is going on? Where’s Melbourne? Where’s the train?”
Around Zero, 99 individuals sporting Australian accents all began talking rapidly at once as they fought to be heard over the others. As their voices rang out, memories of a lifetime long lost began returning to Zero.
He was 19 when he was transported to the Abyss. Still a kid really, as evident from his boy-next-door appearance and youthful face that portrayed him as 16 or 17 rather than going on 20. He was still naive when he was transported here, traveling the train from Melbourne to Sydney. He went from taking the tube to school, to suddenly being transported to this lush forest in a group of 100 individuals. He didn’t know it at the time, but that would be the start of his, and humanity’s, nightmarish new life. They had disappeared from Earth, only to enter the Abyss.
It was almost reassuring when he was transported from Earth. The disappearances of people on Earth had been going on for a long time, 15 years in total, but still no one knew what was going on. Crises around the world followed by military rule being instated allowed for some semblance of control and normality. If anything, the disappearances helped the world. Nations came together to form pacts and alliances, clustering together in tight-knit communities. Shortages of food around the world and lack of cohesion were eliminated, as people banded together for humanity’s safety. It was cruel then, to leave a world of love and care, only to come to this one.
As brooding thoughts entered Zero’s head, a new existence flashed to life above the heads of the gathered. At only a foot tall, a fairy with butterfly wings and pale purple skin appeared with a high-pitched childish giggle.
Instantly, Zero’s mood darkened as venomous thoughts entered his mind. With fists clenched, he barely restrained himself as he so desperately wished he still had the strength of his past body in order to tear the devilish creature before him to shreds.
“Welcome friends! Oh how good it is to see newcomers! Really, it was quite a bore the past few Tutorials. Everyone died off so quickly. Hopefully you’ll be more entertaining to watch die.”
Zero grit his teeth as murderous visions of his past deeds of killing the fairy’s kin in the 2nd and 4th Zone worked to sate some of his anger. While he stayed silent though, the gathered people reacted starkly different. Many screamed and backed away at the fantasy-like creature. A handful of others barged forward however, yelling at the creature and slurring insults. Among them, one man’s deep baritone voice shouted out above all the others.
“Oi, piss off c-nt!”
At the man’s words, jeers of agreement came from the rowdy teenages and young adults in the crowd. These jeers did not last long.
With a sneer that marred its face, the fairy bared vicious white fangs at the man before reaching its hand out and making a grasping motion. In response, the heavily tattooed man that swore at the fairy was lifted in the air as he began frantically clawing at something invisible around his throat.
Zero merely watched with stoic ease at the proceedings, the same proceedings of his past life. As for the others, screams of alarm and shock erupted.
“Now, as I was saying before being so rudely interrupted,” the fairy spoke over the ruckus while tempering its vicious facial expression. “You have all been transported here to the first level of the Abyss, known fondly by your previously summoned humans as Origin, or the Origin Zone. This is your new home, and most definitely your deathbed. But, where you die, whether here in Origin or in other zones, shall be determined by the choices you make.”
Giggling at a joke only the fairy itself knew, it continued while still using its power to lift up and strangle the man.
“But, please, please, please,” the fairy squealed while smiling brightly at the gathered group, “don’t think myself or this situation unfair. Of course, you’d be right. It is unfair, but so is life. However, your journey in the Abyss is based on true free-will and independence. No laws exist here, no social norms rule over you, no basis for right or wrong. You make your rules. Whether you have power or not though...”
The fairy shrugged while glancing at everyone present to make sure they understood the gist of her words. Of course they wouldn’t however. The reality of their situation they are in hasn’t sunk it, nor will it for some time. Only one person understood, and he stood ready in the back of the summoned 100 people.
“Well, words are always harder to get across than actions. So, as that is the case, let me give you all a demonstration.”
As the fairy’s words rang in the clearing, Zero began walking forward. Lithe, with a minimal amount of muscle from years of cross-country running, he forcefully moved through the sparse crowd with what little ability he had. Around him, others threw insults or looks of reproach his way, but he remained focused on the fairy. The fairy that opened its fanged mouth to bare a hideous and ruthless smile that stretched its face much too wide. Then, just as Zero broke through the crowd to appear before the fairy, it tightened its balled hand.
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Blood rained from the sky as the man who remained hoisted in the air this entire time fell to the ground. Headless, and spurting a fountain of blood.
“Mother, Mary, and Joseph!”
“Oh dear Lord!”
Cries for the Lord and screams of fear mixed with sounds of people vomiting. Around the dead man’s body, the 99 gathered people retreated in a flurry of motion. As they stepped back, Zero stepped forward.
“Oh? Looks like one of you in this group is interesting. Well, come forward! Come forward little flesh-bag. Let me give you a reward.” The fairy, ever enthusiastic, returned to its normal state of peppy attitude as it zipped through the air with its wings before landing atop the corpse’s back.
“Listen up cattle!” The fairy shouted while looking over all the horrified individuals with a gaze of innocence. “In this world, many choices are yours to make. But to follow through with your ideas and choices, requires power. In the Abyss, power is gained through Runes.” As the fairy spoke, it made a lifting motion with its hand and a pentagon appeared floating in the air as it rose from the corpse. “This is a Rune,” the fairy continued on in its high pitched voice, “and Runes can be gained through killing creatures and your fellow humans alike. Runes come in different varieties, from Strength, to Agility, to Intelligence, to Regeneration, and much more. They drop partly by luck and chance, but mainly based off the dead creature’s main characteristic. If you fight and kill a creature with high Agility, you will most likely get an Agility Rune.”
Having explained, the creature looked around with anticipation, but paused when it noticed no one in the crowd had understood what it said. Tapping its finger to its chin, the fairy’s brow scrunched together in thought. Then, as if a light bulb had clicked to life above its head, the fairy’s confused expression melted away to be replaced with a jubilant smile and shining eyes.
“Think of this like a game. But instead of leveling up and gaining points you use to make your character stronger, you instead gain Runes that do the same. Additionally though, items of use and power can also be acquired in a similar fashion as one gains a Rune. Place a hand on the dead creature, and an item may spawn. Still, it is far easier to simply kill your fellow cattle-kin and take their items, but that’s just my opinion. So!” the fairy shook its head and erased its sulking expression before continuing its lecture. “Only Runes and items drop from things you kill,” the fairy paused while flickering its eyes over the crowd, “and Skills. But, that’s another story for-”
“OI! What the actual fuck is going on? THIS ISN”T A GAME!”
“I just wanna go home! I just wanna...”
“Ma dude, I ain't seen nothing like dis.”
“Brah, shits cray.”
Before the fairy can speak again, a gaggle of people interrupt in furious voices. Among them, four threw insults and slurs at the fairy as tension and fear took over. The fairy's normally immaculate smile faltered as it heard the words. As for Zero, a hooded look of patience at the inevitable to come darkened his normally mocha brown eyes.
“I. Said. SILENCE!”
With the shout of the Devil himself, the fairy’s beautiful appearance wrapped as tendrils of purple substance materialized from her abdomen to wrap around the four individuals in the crowd who cussed at her. With the ease of snapping a twig, the pencil thin tendrils of purplish substance cleaved through the midsection of all four aggressors..
The sound of a wet and sloppy material pooling and splashing on the grass echoed while the stench of intestines and blood assaulted everyone’s noses.
“Seeing as you do not care for my words, I think it best to just begin then. We shall see how many are left at the end. Maybe then, you will pay greater attention to my beautiful self’s words.” Having reverted back to her normal appearance of a lovely and energetic fairy from any child’s fantasy, the fairy huffed in a childish anger. With a wave of her hand, Runes from all five corpses floated out of their bodies before being whisked away in front of the fairy. Eyes of mischief danced around the remaining 95 humans before landing on Zero. There, placid eyes of a deep brown that blended in so well with his black pupil stared back at the fairy in relaxed ease. Surprise lit up the fairy’s face as she watched this youthful flesh-bag in front of her remain stoic and calm, even as five members of his race were brutally and flimsily executed.
“For you, young fleshy. May you use the Runes well, as I would hate to lose someone as interesting as you in the beginning.”
With a snap of its fingers, the five Runes zipped across the air before impeding themselves in Zero’s figure. Immediately, a surge of hidden power bloomed within his body.
“Now my little insects,” the fairy soared high in the air as it squealed maddeningly in glee. “You will begin your first challenge. To win, you merely need to kill all your enemies I summon. But, since this may be too hard and I don’t you all to die, I’ll stop the challenge when fifteen of your kin die. Whether that is from the enemies or from yourselves...”
The fairy shrugged nonchalantly while smiling its cheshire cat smile as it left the sentence unfinished.
“But do enjoy! This is after all, the start of your journey.”
With a snap of her fingers, a barrier of purplish light exploded from the fairy's body in the sky before encapsulating the open glade like a dome. Within the dome stood the remaining 95 humans. With a flash of light however, new figures were materialized across from them and trapped in the dome as wel..
On the other side of the dome, standing no higher than 4 feet, appeared brown and pale green toned humanoid creatures that all wielded crude yet deadly weapons
As cries of panic filled the air behind him, Zero reached down to grab two short swords that the fairy materialized before each of the humans. Uncalloused hands wrap firmly around the worn leather grip of the two swords that lay discarded. It was an eerie feeling for Zero. His body wasn't used to the weight of the sword, the feelings of slight strain on his muscles. Yet his mind... his soul... both knew it was right.
And for the first time in 6 years, a smile crept onto Zero’s face as he looked ahead at the charging Goblins that sought to peel skin from body.
Oh, how he longed for the chance to come back and torment the creatures that ruined him. How he so wished to feel their blood beneath his hands.
Oh, what a joyous day it would be.