Chapter 28: Omniterra
[Merger complete!]
As I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on the ground, staring up at the open sky. The sun was bright, its warmth almost foreign against my skin. For a fleeting moment, I wondered, was I back at the field of swords? But no, the air felt different here. The atmosphere was thick with the scent of earth and fresh vegetation, as if the land had just been washed by a gentle rain. And then, there was the weight of the absence, a strange emptiness where my sword should have been. My hand instinctively reached for the familiar hilt, only to find nothing. I was unarmed.
[Player: #23081]
[Welcome to the Omniterra]
[You have all been given the chance of becoming the successors of the gods.]
[Good Luck!]
Was this the merger? Sitting up, I surveyed the unfamiliar landscape. People were scattered across the open field, their faces a mix of confusion, anxiety, and fear. This wasn’t the field of swords; there were no blades, no combat here. Instead, the land stretched endlessly, vibrant and full of life, as though untouched by war. But the absence of my weapon… It felt like a cruel reminder of how powerless I truly was in this new world.
My eyes scanned my surroundings, and then I realized something else, my attire had changed. Gone was my battle-worn armor, replaced by simple, unfamiliar clothes. A loose-fitting tunic, soft fabric in a color I didn’t recognize, and trousers that seemed designed for comfort rather than defense. The clothing was strange, yet functional. The others around me wore the same, humble, practical outfits. We had all been stripped of what we once were, and perhaps it was a deliberate act to level the playing field.
In the distance, a sprawling city stood. Its towering walls rose high, casting long shadows over the fields below. The city resembled Eryndor in its grandeur, but everything about it was larger, its walls thicker, its towers taller. To the north, snow-capped mountains loomed majestically, their peaks rising above the clouds, dividing the earth from the heavens. To the east, the landscape shifted into a dense, mist-covered jungle. No, not just a jungle, it was a swamp, thick with humidity and alive with the distant calls of strange creatures, their voices echoing through the thick, damp air. To the west, golden fields stretched out, crops swaying gently in the breeze, their soft rustling almost musical. Small villages dotted the horizon, their silhouettes barely visible in the distance.
This was a new world. A new opportunity. A chance to grow stronger, if I could survive it.
My thoughts were interrupted by a fragile, feminine voice.
“Excuse me, mister?”
I turned to see a girl standing a few feet away. She was small, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders in soft waves. Her wide eyes betrayed a mix of fear and hope, and despite her youth, there was an air of vulnerability about her. She looked younger than me, and her tone carried a foreign accent, yet I understood her perfectly.
She hesitated, her gaze flickering nervously between me and the ground. “Mister, do you happen to know where we are?”
I narrowed my eyes, sensing something odd about her demeanor. Still, I answered curtly, “No.”
She looked down, her lips forming a faint pout as she fidgeted nervously. Then, in an attempt to ease the tension, she added, “You’re not Japanese, are you, mister?”
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Japanese. The word rang a distant bell in my mind, like a forgotten memory from another life. But before I could dwell on it, she smiled sheepishly and introduced herself.
“Oh, how rude of me! I’m Hina Kobayashi,” she said cheerfully, extending her hand, her nervousness still evident. “What’s your name, mister?”
My name? Did it even matter anymore? The question caught me off guard. I hesitated, as though the very concept of naming myself was foreign. Why did I feel compelled to answer? Was it a longing for something, some shred of humanity?
Before I could respond, a familiar screen blinked into view:
[Race: Human]
[Level: 1]
[Title: None]
[Skills: Insight (F-Grade), Charm (F-Grade)]
[Stats: Str-8, Agi-17, End-11, Int-24, Mag-31, Luck-26, Cha-15]
She wasn’t part of a trial like I was. But what was "Cha"? I hadn’t encountered that stat before. I focused on it, trying to inspect the details. The screen flickered, and I was met with an error message.
[Error]
[Skill level too low to look at details of skills!]
[Error]
[Skill level maxed!]
[Error]
[Skill reacting...]
[Skill evolving with traits of Title Villain...]
…
[Evolution Complete!]
[Window of the Soul (Unique-Grade) has evolved to Devil’s Eye (God-Grade)]
[Details: Can inspect stats, skills, titles, and traits of anything.]
The notifications hit me like a tidal wave. I struggled to process the flood of information, but my focus shifted to the new skill. Devil’s Eye. It felt... powerful. Did it bring with it new dangers? New possibilities? The world around me sharpened, and I could almost feel the weight of everything, my own body, the ground beneath me, the air in my lungs, heightening my senses.
I activated Devil’s Eye and, for the first time, truly observed Hina.
[Race: Human]
[Level: 1]
[Title: None]
[Skills: Insight (F-Grade), Charm (F-Grade)]
[Stats: Str-8, Agi-17, End-11, Int-24, Mag-31, Luck-26, Cha-15]
I focused on her skills.
[Insight][Grade: F-Grade][Type: Passive]
[Details: Occasionally grants the ability to make better decisions through intuition.]
[Proficiency: 2%]
[Charm][Grade: F-Grade][Type: Passive]
[Details: Unlocks the special stat "Charm" (Cha), influencing interpersonal interactions and persuasiveness.]
Her stats were… weak. She seemed unremarkable, vulnerable even. Hardly someone who could survive in this world.
As I refocused on her, I saw the unease in her expression. She must have thought I was insane, having zoned out for so long. I shook my head slightly, trying to push away any lingering sympathy.
“Bye, mister,” she said, her voice tinged with uncertainty. She turned and walked toward a small group in the distance, their faces equally confused.
I watched her go, but something in me resisted the instinct to call out to her. Attachment could be dangerous, something I’d learned the hard way in previous trials. Connections, however fleeting, were liabilities. In this world, they would be a weakness.
My gaze shifted back to the towering city on the horizon. That was where I needed to go. The answers I sought lay there, and perhaps the power to finally transcend this endless cycle. If becoming a god was truly the goal, then I would take it. No hesitation. No compromise.
The city was my destination. And this time, I wouldn’t let anything get in my way.