A brief silence falls upon us. One that lasts forever and not even a single millisecond simultaneously. Then laughter erupts from my lips, booming in the otherwise quiet cavern. I throw my head back against the stone wall as mirth shakes my shoulders. Tears spring to my eyes as hysterics overtake my senses. My whole body quakes with uncontrollable amusement. It’s so hilarious that I cannot stop laughing even if I wanted to, gasping for breath as I cackle madly at the absurdity of the request.
It’s ridiculous! Absolutely preposterous! There’s no way she is serious, right?! Is she honestly telling me she expects me, a measly hunter, to defeat a deity? A divine being that embodies some aspect of reality itself?! Of the universe! HAHAHAH! How utterly absurd! I cannot even imagine a task more impossible to accomplish! Why, even attempting to perform such a feat would be akin to suicide, if not outright insanity itself! The sheer hubris needed to conceive of such a proposition, to assume oneself capable of carrying out such a mission, it defies belief! It’s positively delusional!
And yet... Yet... Why, when she says it like that, I want to accept it, say yes, take her hand, and agree to take part in this absurd endeavor of hers. Challenge the world, no, the universe, to a battle of wills and stake everything on our own determination and desires, to grasp fate with our own two hands and shape it as we see fit. Defy the gods themselves in their own domains and prove our worth on an eternal scale.
Show that we are not playthings, mere pawns to be used and discarded without a second thought, but living beings with thoughts, emotions, dreams, goals, wants, and needs of our own, capable of carving out our place within the world through nothing but sheer grit and persistence.
Have the courage to face down the uncaring void of infinity, and stare it in the eye, telling it, “No, I will not roll over and die! I will not bend my knee and submit to your whims! I will defy you, struggle against you, resist you, and someday, I will defeat you!”
Why? Why do I feel this way? Why do these thoughts resonate with me? I want to reject them, deny their validity, cast them aside, and disregard them. I want to laugh in Lucienne’s face, scoff at her ridiculous proposal, and tell her to get lost, to leave me alone and never show her face before me again. And yet... And yet... Despite my best efforts, despite my best intentions, despite every fiber of my being screaming at me to do so, I cannot help myself from wanting to agree with her. To accept her offer...
She is mad. Definitely a crazy rabbit. Absolutely certifiable. There is no doubt about it. It’s the only logical conclusion. Anybody would reach that conclusion. Any sane person, that is. And I am a reasonable, rational individual. I would never consider something so ludicrous as challenging a divinity, let alone join in on the crusade of a deranged loon against all reason. Only a lunatic would even entertain the possibility, much less act upon it.
So why is my hand already reaching toward hers? Why am I stretching my fingers across the gap between us, moving closer and closer toward that small white paw, waiting expectantly for me? Why do I feel compelled to wrap my digits around hers and clasp them in mine? Why is my mouth opening, preparing to utter words that have no business existing anywhere outside the confines of insanity itself? Why does my heart skip a beat when I hear the echo of my voice, soar joyously as I reply, “Alright, I accept,” to such an inconceivable notion?
Perhaps I am going insane, too. Maybe I was born defective, missing that crucial part of my mind that enables sound judgment, and it just took longer for everyone else to realize that. Yes, that’s it. I have gone crazy at last. Delirious from hunger and fatigue. Lacking oxygen in the brain due to overexertion. Hallucinating from exposure to elements and trauma. All likely causes, but none would explain why this feels so right...
“What? You do? For real?!” The rabbit’s eyes widen in shock and disbelief, “Are you mad?! No wait, stupid question! You actually said yes, without hesitation! Wow! Just wow!”
Huh? Wait... Did she not... Waaaiiitttt! “YOU DID NOT EXPECT ME TO AGREE!?” I scream in astonishment, flailing my arms frantically.
“Of course not! I expected you to question my sanity or tell me to fuck off!” She bellows in response, throwing her arms up in frustration.
“BUT YOU PROPOSED THIS INSANITY IN THE FIRST PLACE!” I shriek at her, stomping my foot against the hard ground in indignation.
“And you were supposed to decline! Then I would come out with a more modest and understandable goal that you couldn’t say no to, making you seem like a hero for agreeing to help me with the lesser objective!” She retorts, pointing accusingly at me. “Yet you went ahead and accepted the first thing that came out of my mouth!”
I glare daggers at her as I shout, “Well, too bad! We are going to fight a God, whether you like it or not, and I’m going to drag your furry ass to the divine realms if I have to!”
“Wait, wait, wait! Calm down, Alice,” Lucienne pleads, holding her palms out. “Maybe we should slow down a bit? Take a moment to breathe and think clearly? Why don’t we talk about this over some nice...”
“NOPE! System, register a quest party! Goal and settings based on the conversation!” I interrupt her as I tap into the world to bring up the prompt. It appears before me instantly, displaying a menu consisting of two options: confirm and cancel. Grinning maliciously, I tap the button that reads ‘Confirm’ and watch as the window vanishes.
<< Initializing Party Submodule >>
<< Processing Query... Done >>
<< Scanning Targets for Applicability... Complete >>
<< Scanning Prior Conversation for Objectives >>
<< Selecting relevant data... Done >>
<< Party Objective: Kill a God (Unspecified) >>
<< Querying Parties for Consent >>
I catch Lucienne's incredulous gaze as she stares at me, mouth agape. Her expression morphs into one of fury, as she spits venom at me, “You’re kidding me right!? Party contract? Are you insane?! You cannot seriously be considering signing a contract that literally says to ‘Kill a God (Unspecified).’ No! No fucking way! I will not take part in such a blatant scam of a deal! Nope! Nu-uh! Not happening!”
<< Consent Detected in Prior Conversation: Handshake, Verbal Agreement >>
“Too late~! Already done!” With a cheerful sing-song tone, I childishly stick my tongue out at her.
<< Forming party >>
“NO! TAKE IT BACK! NOW!” Luci screeches in outrage as she leaps toward me with arms extended.
“Ooops! Too late! Can’t change it now! You signed up for this!” I dodge to the side and stick my tongue out at her again, taunting her further.
She growls menacingly as she spins to face me, lunging for me a second time, only to miss as I jump away. “Alice! You! Will! Pay! For! This!”
<< CONGRATULATIONS! >>
<< Your party has been formed successfully >>
<< Current Party Members
- Alice
- Lucienne >>
<< Party Goal: Kill a God (Unspecified) >>
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<< Would You Like to Choose a Name for Your Party? >>
Wait, I can name it? Awesome! This is so much fun! Heheh! Let’s see then... Hmm... Ooh, I have a great idea! The best of ideas! Yup! Nailed it!
With a triumphant gaze at Lucienne, I proudly proclaim the party name “Bunnihilation”.
“LIKE HELL!” Lucienne shrieks, barreling into me. Her arms wrap around my neck, tackling me to the ground with a loud thump. I wheeze as the breath is knocked out of my lungs by the impact of my body hitting the floor. Pain shoots through my skull as it smacks against the stone below, stars bursting across my vision. But even as I lay stunned, struggling to breathe, I can’t help but laugh gleefully at the sight before me.
Lucienne sits astride my chest, trying to glare at me with all her might, but the light beaming from my Solar Flare skill blinds her and forces her to squint and the blush creeping up her neck and cheeks makes it hard for me to take her seriously. Her fur glistens in the light, highlighting its pure whiteness in contrast with my copper skin. The light dances across her features, accentuating the roundness of her face and giving her a soft look despite the scowl plastered on her face. She looks adorable! Like a fluffy little bunny!
I chuckle at the comparison as I lift one hand to poke her cheek affectionately. “Ahahaha, you are such a cute angry rabbit,” I coo playfully, poking her repeatedly, enjoying how she scrunches up her face in irritation. Maybe not enjoying her hands tightening around my neck and slowly cutting off my airflow...
“I’m not a rabbit! Not a bunny! I’m a lapine dammit!” she snaps back. Her grip loosens for a moment, allowing me to suck in a deep gasp of air, but then tightens again, crushing my windpipe mercilessly. Oh well, not much longer to live... I think I’m getting used to dying, anyway.
“That’s just another word for rabbit,” I croak out as my vision starts to fade to black.
“Aaaaaargh!” Lucienne shouts, releasing her grip and leaping off of me. I cough, clutching at my bruised throat as I lie flat on the ground. Air rushes back into my lungs, revitalizing my exhausted body and easing my aching chest. “Why did I even save you?!” she yells, throwing her hands in the air in exasperation.
I stay motionless on the ground, too weak to move or respond verbally. I do, however, manage to raise my thumb upwards in a sign of approval. She whirls around and glares at me with enough intensity to melt steel, causing me to giggle silently at her. If looks could kill, then I’d be dead multiple times over.
I should respond, but... The floor is so warm and cozy. I think I’ll just rest here for a little while. Everything hurts like hell. My limbs feel heavy. How long did I spend running and dodging again? Ugh, everything sucks. And I haven’t eaten anything in forever! Was it really just one day? Feels like forever...
“... but no..., ... traveled all this way..., ... saved....” I can make out parts of a sentence in the background, but it’s too hard to concentrate on them, too difficult to comprehend what is going on. My brain just refuses to function anymore, shutting down into its most basic functions—breathing, heartbeat, staying alive, etc. Sleep... Need sleep... Can’t remember when I last had it...
I close my eyes, letting exhaustion overtake me, sinking deeper and deeper into the darkness. Eventually, all external sensations fade away as consciousness slips away.
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The verdant canopy of trees above blocks out much of the sunlight filtering through the clouds above, casting the forest floor in shadows, leaving only the occasional ray of golden sunlight streaming down to illuminate my surroundings. A light breeze blows by, rustling leaves overhead and causing branches to sway ever so gently in its wake. Birds chirp in the treetops, singing among themselves as they flit from branch to branch, preening their feathers and searching for insects hiding amongst the foliage.
Something tugs at my dress, pulling my attention away from the scenery, drawing my eyes downward, and settling on a familiar pair of crimson irises. A white rabbit, small and delicate, stares back at me with inquisitive curiosity, its little nose twitching as it sniffs the surrounding air. Its furry white ears perk up at the sudden movement, standing upright on its head. A delicate smile forms upon my lips as I squat down to pet it.
“Here to get me killed again? That’s your hobby, isn’t it?” I ask the bunny as I scratch it under its chin. It leans into my touch and nuzzles my fingers, enjoying the contact. I giggle as the rabbit’s whiskers tickle my palm. Its nose is so velvety smooth and the fur so soft that I can’t help but want to pet it some more. But the rabbit has plans of its own. It turns around and hops away, stopping after only a few steps and looking back.
“Oh, you want me to follow?” I rise from my crouched position, dusting off my dress, and walking after it. “And no system screens to force me this time? Progress!”
The little creature leads the way, weaving its way through the undergrowth with practiced ease. We walk in silence, following a winding path that eventually ends in front of a clearing in the woods. Here the sun shines brightly on lush grassy meadows, surrounded by thickets of wildflowers whose colors shine brilliantly against the backdrop of greenery, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere, as if one were standing inside an enchanted fairyland instead of within some ordinary forest.
In the very middle of the glade sits a magnificent tree whose trunk stretches upward into the sky, towering above all the other vegetation nearby. It appears ancient, with its bark weathered and worn from the passing of many years, but still strong and sturdy, supporting its massive canopy without even wavering under the weight of its crown. There is an air of majesty emanating from this enormous specimen, radiating outward from every inch of its gnarled surface. As if it was a living embodiment of nature itself.
Beneath the shade of this colossus stands a large wooden table with six chairs on either side of it, covered in plates and dishes filled to the brim with food. Meats, vegetables, fruits, breads, wines, cheeses... everything one could hope to eat gathered together in great abundance, forming a feast that rivals that of kings and emperors themselves. The seats remain empty, though, waiting patiently for their occupants.
I approach cautiously, unsure of how to react. Should I be concerned by the scene or excited by the prospect of free delicious-looking food? I sit down in the nearest seat, ignoring the prickly sensation running along my spine, and examine the dishes spread before me. A succulent roast boar rests in the center of the table, surrounded by various vegetables and side dishes. Some appear recognizable, such as carrots and apples, while others are less identifiable, appearing foreign to my untrained eye.
“You can eat now,” a voice whispers in my ear. Startled, I spin around, turning toward the source of the noise, finding nothing there, just the same scenery surrounding me as before. Unsettled by the mysterious presence, I scan the clearing, seeking the speaker out with my gaze, failing to locate the individual despite my efforts.
Just as I wonder whether I imagined hearing anything in the first place, another voice answers my unasked questions, “I do not mean you harm.” This time it comes from behind me, though there’s no sign of anyone nearby. Again I swivel in my seat, examining the clearing as thoroughly as possible, peering intently between every blade of grass, scrutinizing every flower petal, seeking clues to uncover who is speaking to me, all to no avail.
A third voice adds its opinion to the mix. “There is but one thing I want to ask of you.” This voice emanates directly from above me, sending a shiver racing down my spine at its proximity. I tilt my head upwards, gazing upward at the massive tree looming over me. Its branches shake, as if a hurricane rages through its topmost leaves, scattering petals across the surrounding landscape. Strangely enough, though, there’s no hint of any sort of gust or breeze affecting anything else in sight. Everything remains perfectly calm and motionless except for this solitary giant.
“Help my son,“ a fourth voice states in a pleading tone, echoing across the whole area. A heavy silence settles around me once more as the tree ceases to move, leaving me feeling alone again in the now ominously quiet clearing. I swallow nervously, licking dry lips as nervous sweat beads across my brow. My heart races as adrenaline floods through my veins. Every muscle tenses, ready to flee if necessary, although I don’t know what I should run away from or why I need to do so.
I almost jump out of my seat when I notice something moving in the corner of my vision, darting my attention towards whatever it could be. Phew... It’s just my little companion. The bunny climbed onto the table during the conversation and nibbles at some treats laid out on the edge. It glances at me for a moment before returning its full attention to its meal. Well, at least somebody doesn’t mind all this weird shit going around, heh.
The moment passes and my heart returns to normal. My muscles relax, allowing me to slump back down in the chair, exhausted. I stare at the delectable sights arrayed out in front of me, feeling drained of energy after the ordeal. I might as well have a delightful meal before it’s stolen away by an invisible ghost or something…
What should I try? So many options are available. Do I start with the main dish? That boar looks especially tasty... Nah, maybe something lighter first? But if I don’t have enough strength to handle such a heavy meal, then... Wait, what is that?
I reach for a serving platter on the far side of the table and lift off the lid covering its contents. The smell of roasted meat fills my nostrils as the steam escapes from underneath it, filling the surrounding air with a heavenly aroma. Haha, a rabbit roasted with sweet berries sauce?
“A friend of yours? Or maybe a suggestion of what I should do once I catch you?” I wonder aloud, grinning at my tiny companion. It huffs disapprovingly and turns its face away, snubbing me. Rude. I am only joking, after all... probably.
I raise the dish containing the meat and sniff its contents, savoring the exquisite fragrance wafting up from the plate, taking pleasure from inhaling it deeply, and exhaling slowly afterward, appreciating the scent one last time before proceeding further. There are few things I love more than good cooking, and this smells amazing! My stomach growls in agreement, reminding me it has been quite some time since I last ate anything decent.
Fork? Knife? Manners? Who needs that when you can just devour everything like a starved animal? Time to dig in! Using both hands, I grab at the meat and sink my teeth into it.
----------------------------------------
“AAAAAAAARGH! WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU PSYCHO?!?!” screams someone right in front of me, jolting me awake. A swift kick in my ribs sends me tumbling onto the ground, leaving me lying in a heap next to the burned-out fireplace.
I look up, blinking in confusion, unable to make sense of what just occurred. “What in the world was that for?!” I exclaim in exasperation, staring at Lucienne with wide eyes. “I was just eating...” I trail off mid-sentence as I notice something different about my companion. Did her ear always have that bite mark?