Amane fell to his knees in pain as he felt a sudden sting on his left shoulder, which he then held as blood trickled down. He didn't knew what hit him. Yet his eyes widened in fear as he saw a huge shadow of what seemed as if a beast enveloped his. His heart pounded at the realization that his attacker was just right behind. He could hear its unearthly groans and breathing that sent jitterbugs of fear up to his spine. It's. Just. Hell. Behind.

Although hesistant, he slowly turned around just to find a ten feet tall, muscular bull standing on two feet with a big bloody axe on its hand. Its eyes were void that even just a gaze upon it could make him feel so lost. It's oddly frightening.

Rather recklessly, he stood up looking too small against the opponent. He activated his two new skills and carelessly lunged with one hand his just-equiped longsword to the bull's chest— which, sadly, seemed to inflict it no damage and instead broke the weapon's blade into shattered shards of worthless metal. All that's left is the handle. He realized then that he was aimless, hopeless in this fight as the bull flinched a bit and then aggravately picked him up as if a garbage and trashed him away in rage towards the far woods. Things just went by too fast and before he knew it, he felt his whole body weakened as his back hit the hard trunk of a sturdy tree, sending dreadful jolts of pain towards his insides— but worse is that he felt the back his cranium cracked by the impact. He fell, flat to the ground as if the goblin he mercilessly took the life earlier. His blood was starting to pool over him. Every inch of pain consumes him as loud, heavy thuds of the bull's footstep shakes the ground as it slowly approaches. He wanted to get up, but he feels so weakened to do so. He wanted to fight, but he lost his strength and the will to. It's way too powerful for a newbie. He's hopeless— because he was aimless. If he knew it would be this hard and painful, he could've just retreated back to his insipid life. But it's too late, there's no turning back. His eyes was wide as tears swelled up, mixing with his own blood as the foosteps get louder and nearer. No, he cannot die here. Not now. He still aspires to explore this new world. This couldn't just be a free taste. He needed to live.

A screen popped up then right in front of his eyes, his tears made it blurry but he managed to make out the words written as two objects fell to the grassy ground stained with crimson.

'You received a health elixir and a katana'

And then,

"IT'S A BOSS FIGHT, LOOK OUT FOR ITS WEAKNESS!"

It was from a player, too, named Hyoukyou.

Whoever that player was, it is a godsent angel that came down from heaven to stir up hope inside of him as he gathered all his last strength left and desperately drank the health elixir. He felt energy ran through his veins at that instant, he felt so alive and he felt the pain no more. The crack in his cranium seemed to be gone, too. By that, he took the katana and stood up. Why cower in just his second fight in this game anyway?

His opponent, seeing him recovered, growled in anger and charged towards him.

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He just stood there, rather confidently, as his eyes searched for the bull's weak point. Then he noticed that the black fur in the bull's chest was mixed with dirty crimson— it was the part that he hit earlier!

A little smirk curved upon his lips, moving aside to evade the bull's attack as it desperately tried to strike him over and over but only kept on an awful streak of misses. Amane toyed the bull as he counterattacked, waiting for the right time to catch it off guard. He can't help but smile at the thought that the 'boss' was hopeless and desperately aimless. Every second sips away the energy of the bull— especially the wound on its chest that kept on bleeding in addition to the damages caused by Amane. This went on for what felt as if forever as they both screamed their battlecries.

And then there it came— they were both exhausted but the bull was the one severely damaged. He took that chance, gathering the strength he still had even while panting so heavily and wanting to collapse, he charged and then eventually pin his blade on the same spot on the bull's chest. It hopelessly grunted before it finally succumbed to its end.

Screens appeared as a sign of his victory. He reached the fifth level and received the bull's axe as his trophy.

"You are indeed amazing, young man" a familiar voice spoke . "Very few survived this intensity of training."

Amane turned around. Ah, yes of course. It's just Toshiro. Who else could it be?

"Very few survived? What do you mean by that?" He can't help but ask as the world slowly blurs into hazy images in his sight.

"They were weak, unlike you; you've proved that you really are one of the chosen nine to save Augeia from the vanquish of evil. My, you're exhausted, let me take you to the safe haven."

That was the last words he heard before he felt his body fell down to the ground and the world finally fade to black.

It was refreshening, though, he felt as if he had been in this place before— or that he lived here for lifetime already. As if a part of him was born to be here. He slowly opened his red orbs, acclimating to the surroundings. A white ceiling, ah, yes. This might be the safe haven.

"You're finally awake" a distinct voice of a woman said.

Does everyone needs to ask that every single waking moment in this game?, Amane thought before turning his gaze from the ceiling to the woman beside him.

That stunning hazel iris and an eyepatch on her left eye greeted him. Her auburn hair was down to the small of her back. He felt as if he had seen her somewhere before.

"Are you okay now?" Said she with a hint of genuine concern in her voice. That's cute.

"Uhh.. I guess am fine."

"I'm happy you're here too, it's been a while."

"H-huh? Have we met before?"

"I'm the girl you saved a year ago.." she had that sweet smile curved on her lips. "My name's Doyou Hyoukyou... Just call me Hyoukyou."

Wait.. that eyepatch..was she also the one who gave me the wristband?, Amane can't help but think.

"I'm Hitsugaya Amane. How did you got here?"

"I-I don't know either... I just slept... And then I woke up in this weirdly amazing place... And a girl named Azranea greeted me.. and... and trained me."

"Same as what happened to me.. were you the one who dropped off the writsband to my place?"

She nodded shyly. He smiled.

"What's your class?"

"Assassin."

He was stopped for awhile. It was an assassin who defeated him on the PvP before. The one he despised the most. He shook his head, it was the girl he saved so he doesn't have to worry.

"H-Hitsugaya-san, did I say something wrong?"

"Ah? No, no, sorry I was a little spaced out."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

His reply was a nod.

"Azranea-chan told me to create a party with you..."

"P-party?"

She smiled and nodded.

"Alright..."

"Let's get stronger together, H-Hitsugaya-san!"

The way she acts was awkward but that makes her rather... beautiful? All he knew was he can't help but smile, his cheeks heating up as he patted her head.