I haven't seen someone alive for at least 12 hours, which might not seem a lot for some people,  but walking in solitude through a jungle in an unknown world, without knowing anything, can take its toll. Luckily I am and has never been one of those, I was always in solitude, suffering and fighting myself, and it never bothered me or so I thought.

As soon as I heard the voice my body suddenly started running towards it. I ran trough hard jungle veins which seemed almost impenetrable before, this might have been the effect of my motivation pushing my body forward, I can't be certain.  When I arrived at the origin of the voice, I was so shocked I actually fell to the ground this time around. What I saw was a campfire and by it was an humanoid bull, A man very large in height, I would presume at least 2 meters tall although he was rather skinny, from his head 4 horns were sticking out from every direction, on his forehead he had what seems to be a tattoo of an eagle, his eyes were red as a rose, but the entirety of the eye had sparkles of red instead of just the iris,  more like he had gone through the largest bag of marijuana in all of history.

When he saw me he too fell to ground, a second later he suddenly bursted into laughter and from what I observed he had not a look of surprise in his eyes, no, this was just the eyes of someone truly happy, he continued to laugh for a second then he suddenly said,

"Rather small manhood you have there, creature."

And continued to burst into laughter, I couldn't stop myself from mimicking his actions and also started laughing, mostly since his appearance to my eye looked rather funny and the way he laughed just, well, spread. What a liberating feeling, I haven't laughed in years and now I am lying on the ground laughing together with some wierd yet comforting being.

We continued to laugh for a couple of second more until we suddenly stopped and just starred at each other.

" My name is Muto, I come from the planet of Irue, a pleasure to meet you naked man"

I didn't really know what that meant but I come from the planet earth so I should probably say that,

"Hello Muto, My name is Fey, I come from a planet called earth, but why are we stating what planet we are from? what is this place?"

"Ohh yeah, you are naked, you must have just arrived, am I correct?"

"That is correct."

"I presume you met a being that asked if you wanted to redeem yourself?"

"That is also correct"

"That funny looking being, Well this world is from what I have collected a place where everyone from this universe travel to after they met with death, or at least if you agree to redeem yourself"

Without really thinking I answered,

"Hmm is that so"

Muto took up what seemed like a cup from the ground and drank and then continued,

"Redemption seem to be a very vague term around here, because different planets have different rules, it might be that everyone comes here if they choose to, it seems only those who feel they need to be redeemed agrees to travel her. Redemption is a funny thing, it assumes different meaning in different places."

I quietly nodded in response.

Muto looked like he was in deep thought for a second and then continued with,

" Well enough about that, this so called game is a rather cruel thing,  to actually win the game and go what is presumed to be heaven you must ascend from this world into another, almost like climbing a ladder, but with worlds as its steps and at the peak of the stairs, the final world, the final destination, heaven."

I was confused as hell at the moment, but from what I gathered from Muto it seems like you have to climb worlds like a ladder until you reach the final destination. Without really thinking I said,

"Then how do you ascend to the next world?"

Muto showed a grim face and said,

"Well actually there is said to be a number of ways to ascend to the next world, but people don't seem to be very enthuastic in sharing how, there is actually only one way which with certainty works."

Muto kept quiet for a couple of seconds so I continued to say,

"Well, tell me, what is it?"

"How do you think I knew about world ascension or even that you can ascend in worlds in the first place?"

I thought for a second and answered with what seem to be the most logical solution,

"Someone who did told you?"

"That's right, everyone who ascends can descend to the previous world or worlds, and they can even lead those who are below them up."

"That's the power those people hold, those people are usually unfair and dirty, climbing almost always comes with a price, be it you entire fortune in this world or your soul itself."

"What's funny though is that even though these people have power to lead people up the stairs, to the next world, what truly rules this world is not that privilege, no in this world, strength is everything, were no laws have been forged,  those who hold power forge them."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Isn't that really interesting? in my old world we had old wise people to rule us, now you can be as powerful as you want"

Muto continued to laugh while drinking some more from his cup.

I suddenly realized a very daunting truth, in this world were strength is everything, there is probably more advanced races than the humans, both in weaponry and overall physical strength. Seems like in this world your previous life do have impact.Sadness fell over me as I realized that this was probably a world where I once again will perish, once again a world where I have been born under wrong circumstances.

Muto could see the trauma in my face and quickly added,

"Well you don't have to be sad,  millions of races decided they were not meant for ascending this world and settled all around the place, it's actually not bad, age seem to be irrelevant here, you could settle and live a decent life. But those who are weak, gets pushed around, trampled on, you should probably prepare yourself mentally."

My thoughts suddenly turned a bit brighter as I realized that this is not earth, there must be other means to prevail in power, other means to survive, and with a little luck I might really be able to at least redeem myself in this world, not in the view of god but in the view of myself.

Mute realized the change in my eyes, and started to grin a bit. I never show my emotions in my face but for some reason Muto is able to read the movement in my eyes and make reasonable assessments of my mood. Maybe this is one of the powers his race possess?. I thought about asking him for a moment, but when I thought about it I realized I had asked plenty and it was time to repay him.

I took a look around, I was especially looking for the cat that I brutally stoned to death 5 hours earlier. For some reason it didn't seem to be close by, until I realized I probably dropped it when I was running over here.

"I will be back, I just have to get something real quick"

"Sure, take your time creature"

Muto probably forgot my name or he prefer to call me creature, Well it never bothered me in the past what people called me, but the name creature suddenly reminded me of Golem in lord of the rings or some other creepy movie character.

"Please call me Fey."

"Yes, Creature Fey."

Hmm, intelligence level 500?

I quickly ran and grabbed the cat, when I returned Muto saw the cat and gave me a big smile.

"Creature Fey, I love you"

At least the bull knew how to show affection, after I thought that I immediately regretted my decision. Muto fell to his knees, as he went down on that mush forest floor he opened his mouth and started licking my toes. I tried to too keep calm but ever since I arrived to this world my emotion seemed to be overflowing, this might because the revelation I had before I died, well who knows.

"What the fuck are you doing?!?"

"I am showing my affection, this is to initiate friendship, at least in my tribe."

"Please stop doing that, this is not something I enjoy...."

"Owh, but it feel good on the toes doesn't it"

For some reason it felt kind of good, this was not a tongue of a normal human being,  no this was a bull man from the planet Irue's tongue, and for some reason he made my toes very warm. But this is to weird and to uncomfortable, I don't think I would like a man to like my toes in the future.

"Get your tongue of me, now"

He instantly removed the tongue and showed a glint of fear in his facial expression.

"Friend, you have a very dangerous vibe about yourself when you get angry."

I guess the face that scared a lot of people in my previous life have come to be useful in the next.

"Just cook the freaking cat, and let's forget this ever happened!."

"Yes, Creature Fey, as you wish."

During the meal no one of us said a word, we were both in euphoria, the cat tasted really good for some reason, maybe this was Kobe beef, the afterworld style, or there  might be food even better, the possibilities in this area seemed endless.

Suddenly Muto looked with a big smile on his face and said,

" You know what there might actually be a way for people like you to become powerfull!"

"How?"

"Have you heard of something called,

magic?"

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