Strong gust of wind blows through the forest, the cold breeze helps brighten the hunter’s mood. Kori and Illumi return to their camp, lively chatters and laughter fill the atmosphere. Staring down on the ground, Illumi couldn’t decide as to tell Kori everything.
Reaching out his hand towards Illumi, Kori smiled, and said. “Let’s go.”
Captivated by the innocent smile, Illumi grasps Kori’s hand, and grips it tightly. “Sorry. I couldn’t make up my mind right now. But I’m sure you'll be able to break the shell of my anxiety. I know you could…” Illumi thought to himself.
Their first day was spent socializing with each other. It could have been that they underestimated their mission, and let their guards down.
Days went by, and almost reached a week of their missions. Everyone had grown accustomed to their life in the forest. Some take it as an opportunity for a vacation, though most have been impatient, waiting for a battle that may never come. A few had left to join up to the east days ago, and with a magic for long distance communication. They’ve been keeping up to date with the situation, and everything was under control.
Everyone in Kori’s group bonded even more over the past days. Learning about each other, and discussing their battle prowess. No longer were they sitting in awkward silence, instead, their conversation always went overboard with Eric’s overreaction, and Ire nonchalant attitude. Sitting beside Kori and the others, Illumi felt as though all of his problems went away.
Nightly routines for Kori and Illumi consist of them talking for hours, as others fall asleep. Their conversation went by smoothly, being able to catch up with everything, Kori has proven his passion in science.
On the 7th night, everyone was awoken by a loud scream from the communication team.
“Alert! Alert! A group of crazed beasts had ambushed the east line, they couldn’t stop all of them. Get ready for battle!”
Kori and Illumi haven’t slept yet, and were able to respond swiftly, and prepare the party’s weapons and combat gear. With no time to waste, all of the hunters took their positions and secured the battlefield. Kori’s group was tasked to watch over the camp with another group, as they stood their ground with the whole camp in their view. Those who were guarding the camp had stood for a couple hours, waiting for the result on the battlefield.
“Stand your guard! Don’t lose focus! The others will finish up soon! Don’t let a single beast step on their feet in the camp!” Kori yells, assuring everyone of their positions.
One of the people in the communication group that was standing in the middle of the position had received a message.
“Understood!” she replies to the carved crystal, neatly strap in the center of the metal box. “Everyone at ease! The other hunters had finished killing the strays. There are multiple injured hunters, those who are able to help, follow me!” she shouted to everyone.
Mi and Eric didn’t hesitate to go, Ire went back to her tent, looking half asleep. Kori turned to Illumi and said, “You can stay here. Us three will go.”
Illumi nodded, and went back to his camp, as did the other hunters that didn’t go with the girl from the communication team.
Sitting by the campfire alone, Illumi started to feel sleepy waiting for the others. His eyes getting heavier by the second, Illumi finally gave in and fell asleep by the campfire.
Moaning of injured and loud cheering of hunters woke up Illumi. Kori, Eric and Mi had returned, crutching the injured hunters. Illumi sat up straight, waiting to greet the others.
“So sleepy!” Eric moans.
“Me too. I could sleep for a whole day!” Mi joined in to moan.
Mi and Eric went straight to sleep, Kori covered them with their blankets, and went to sit beside Illumi. “You haven’t slept yet?” He asked.
“I did for a bit. But I woke up and thought I could lend some help. Looks like you guys had everything under control.” Illumi replied.
Kori chuckled. “I didn’t really do much by myself. Mi and Eric were the ones who had the skill and strength to help.”
The girl from the communication group comes to Kori and Illumi, blushing red, she said. “I have a report for all of the group. Half an hour ago, Mira reported a sight of fast moving creatures passing by group’s 4 post. Group 4 didn’t report back, so Mira went to their post for a check up. She said to stay alert until she reports back.”
“Understood. Thank you for your help, Sherry.” Kori replied to her with a smile.
Sherry grin gleefully, “I’m just doing my work. I have to go and report to the others. See you later Kori!” she said, waving her goodbye.
Illumi turned his gaze away from the two, and stared into the fire in a bit of envy.
“I’ll take the first watch. I already had my nap. You should take a rest for now. I’ll alert you guys if anything happens.” Illumi gives his suggestion.
“Then I’ll take your offer,” said Kori. Taking his leave and going to sleep in his bedding.
Illumi kept the fire going, keeping a view of the surroundings and listening to any weird noise. Lose in his own thoughts after an hour, he started to show signs of sleepiness. Chilling breeze of the night wind and the chirpings of crickets made it hard for him to fight the sleepiness, and he finally fell asleep after half an hour.
Deep in his sleep, Illumi had nightmares of him relieving his past life as Kido Haruki. All the bad decisions he had made. People that he had ignored because of his arrogant attitude. People that he pushed away, and the feelings he rejected. Everything started to shatter slowly, like a broken mirror.
Crispy voice creeps in from the cracks. “I-I’m… coming for… you… y-you can’t… escape me… this time…”
The nightmares had become worse, as everything he had done in his dream made him feel a lot worse, eventually, everything started to crumble, piece by piece, and everything went dark. Sitting alone in a dark empty space, driving him to insanity. Time felt like it had stopped, but at the same time, felt like it had been years. A small light started to shine through a crack in the darkness. A soft whisper trying to get his attention.
“... wake up… wake up… they’re coming… you have to protect everyone… wake up… wake up!” the tone of voice changed to alert him.
Illumi woke up from his nightmare, sweating profusely, panicked, he screamed at the top of his lungs.
“Everyone, wake up! We’re under attack!”
The chirping of the crickets comes to a halt. The hunters woke up by the scream and were confused, some started to get alerted and grab their weapons.
Kori and the others hastened for battle position. Taking their stance, all of the hunters waited for battle, but everything was dead silent. Not a breeze of wind, or the sound of other living creatures.
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“Stop playing around! Everyone is very tired! We don’t have time for your bullshit!” a hunter yelled out his frustration.
The hunters started to get frustrated and groaned in dissatisfaction. All eyes were set on Illumi, sitting by the campfire, cowering and covered in sweat.
Kori went to Illumi and asked, “Are you sure we’re under attack?”
“I-I don’t know… That’s what the v-voice said to me…” Illumi replied.
“Everyone ready for battle! We’re under attack!” the leader of the communication group screamed out.
The hunters that were about to go to sleep were disoriented by the order, and quickly went back to their group position. A loud growling echoes through the camp, in a blink of an eye, a group of tigers jumps out of the forest and starts attacking the hunters. Being on the far edge of the camp, Kori’s group didn’t get attacked.
Standing up and regrouping with the group, Illumi took his position and waited for Kori’s order.
“We’re going to group 11 as backup! Brace yourself!” Kori shouted to his group.
Running towards group 11, Kori’s group provided back up to the other hunters that were attacked. Illumi couldn’t move well, and stumbled around as his legs were shaking uncontrollably. He’s left behind as his team is moving in tangent with each other, providing cover for others.
Hastening his pace, and hardened his resolve, he caught up with the group and provided support to his group. WIth the help of group 11, they managed to take down one of the monsters after a tough battle.
“Keep up! Support will arrive in another hour!” the leader of communication shouted.
The hunters managed to take down most of the monsters, with some still struggling and fighting till its last breath. Illumi had trouble breathing, as he tried his best to keep up with everyone in his group. Falling to his knee, stumbling over the corpse of one of the tigers. Upon seeing the mangled corpse up close, he cowers in fear.
A pat on Illumi’s shoulder startled him, and had him cowered lower to the ground in reaction.
Kori’s voice reached out to him, worried about his status. “Illumi? Are you okay?”
Realizing it was Kori, Illumi relaxed and recovered from his cower. He looks at Kori who’s smiling, comforting him from his fear and anxiety.
“Don’t worry. We’ve won.” Kori said, extending his hand towards Illumi.
With Kori’s help, Illumi got back up, and had a glance of the surrounding views. Broken pieces of earth scattered throughout the camp, burying most of the tents and supplies. Fire blazes the corpses of both hunters and the monsters, burning everything in sight.
Illumi took a deep breath trying to calm himself. Those in his group were unharmed, and showed signs of exhaustion. His heart suddenly started to race once again, driving him into a state of panic. He tried to look around for any sign of another attack, but couldn’t find any. A chill ran up his spine from his feet. He looks at the corpse of the monster, as if it’s looking at him back.
A red glow arises from the corpse's dead stare, as if it’s coming back to life. The feelings that Illumi had, reminded him of the monstrous wolf that had attacked Illumi’s village.
In panic, he charged towards Kori, screaming for everyone to hear. “They’re not dead! Run! Or we’re gonna die!”
Illumi’s screaming had everyone disoriented, exhausted, having to fight for their life, the hunters' reactions dulled. As it happened before, most of the corpses of the monster stood up in an instant. The monster's eyes glowed dark bloody red.
One after another, the monster killed off the hunters, biting their bodies like it was made of butter. Illumi couldn’t think of what to do, everything had happened too fast.
The same crispy voice he had heard whispers from behind him.
“Y-You’re mine!”
His legs frozen solid, the fear had got into him. Mi ran towards him at a very fast pace, pushing him aside as hard as he could. The monster didn’t stop its track, and bit everything in its path. Mi couldn’t avoid the attack, as his momentum pushed him forward, and had the monster bite his shoulder.
“What are you guys waiting for! Run!” Mi screamed out.
The monster wouldn’t let go of Mi, as he struggled and stabbed the monster in its face multiple times, but there was no reaction.
Kori quickly grabbed Illumi and tried to run away, but they were cornered by a few of the monsters.
“We’re surrounded!” Eric shouted. “I… I don’t think we can escape this one Kori…” he said, as his hopes of survival withered away.
“Don’t worry! We can get through this! We just have to survive until backup comes!” Kori shouts, trying to reassure everyone.
“It’s impossible… there’s no sound of battle anymore… we’re the only ones alive right now…” Ire started to bawl out in tears.
Kori kept himself calm, turned towards Illumi and said.
“At least… you need to survive this. No matter the pain you go through, the death that you had to see, and the guilt that you have to endure… I’m sure you will save everyone…”
Kori gave his biggest smile for his group and said, “I’ll go and distract them. You guys take the chance and run as fast as you can.”
Illumi stood silent, as he watched Kori run into the crowd of monsters, throwing out all of the spells he could conjure. Ire screams out her heart, as she watches someone she loved being torn into pieces by the lightning fast attacks of the monsters.
Eric held onto Ire as hard as he could, as she struggled to run towards Kori to help. Illumi is still frozen, as if his mind and body are in different places at the same time. He turned to a gap in between the monster to run away, but the monsters outnumbered them, as Kori’s effort was futile.
Ire managed to lose Eric’s grip, and ran towards Kori’s shredded body parts. Eric tried his best to protect Ire, but his right arm that still had a grip of Ire was bitten clean off. The monsters took notice, and turned their gaze upon Ire, taking no time to chase after her and shredded her to pieces. Eric toughs up the pain, as he tries to shield Ire, and takes the brunt of the hits.
Froth started to come out of Illumi’s mouth, having a taste of total despair for the first time, as he watched everyone he held dear die, one after another.
“Haha… Hahahaha… HAHAHAHAHA!!” Illumi started to laugh maniacally.
All of the monsters stop their action in sync, as their fur stands straight.
“W-Who are you!?” The monsters speak in synchronization.
“HAHAHAHA!!... This is a joke right… It has to be… It makes no sense…” Illumi blathered.
“W-What are you doing in that body!?” said the monsters, as they turned their gaze on Illumi.
“I mean… I’m the main character right!? I’m the one who got reincarnated to another world right!? Then where’s my overpowered sword! Where’s all the girls who would surround me and showered me with their love! Where is anything that is good! That had ever happened to me! Tell me, you fucking piece of shit!” Illumi continued his blathering.
Half of the monsters ran at the speed of sound, reaching out to Illumi. Bearing their fangs to attack in synchronization.
“And you… I thought I already told you… Disappear…” said Illumi with a serious tone, staring fiercely towards the attacking monsters.
In an instant, the monsters that were attacking Illumi turn to dust, blown away by a strong gust of wind from Illumi, who’s conjuring multiple marble size balls of fire.
“I’m so tired of this shit. You just have to ruin everything… Disappear… Get lost… Die… I don’t care what you do. Just get out of my sight!” Illumi expressed his anger. Firing the marble size balls of fire, targeting the monster’s head.
Some of the monsters managed to dodge as they scrambled away trying to get away.
Illumi stops his attack, seeing most of the monster able to dodge his attack. He set his sights on the high-speed monsters, and locked in. One by one, the monster burst into flames, turning their body to ashes.
He stood in silence once again, looking around, and started to cry. With his body shaking like he has a fever, he scrounge around looking for any survivors. Pulling the one who’s still breathing out in the open, and continued his search. Half dozens of injured hunters with more than a dozen with fatal wounds and missing limbs, but no familiar faces were around. With limited first aid knowledge, Illumi could only bandage the heavily bleeding one.
Waiting for the promised backup, Illumi sat under a tree, gritting his teeth, as he contemplated in agony. He continued his crying, while the survivors moaned for help. A few minutes later, he collapsed to the ground.
A familiar voice rings in Illumi’s ear, waking him up. The backup hunters tended to the injured, as Mira gave out her orders to the hunters. A couple of hunters were treating his injury as he lay flat on his back.
“He doesn’t seem to be hurt that badly. You go and help the others, I’ll tend to him myself.” said one of the hunters who’s treating Illumi.
Illumi turned his face and realized it was Robert. He himself had an injury, covering half of his face.
“MrRobert…” Illumi called up to him.
“You’re awake!” Robert exclaimed.
“I’m okay… you can treat the others… I’m just tired…” said Illumi.
“Seems like it. Glad you’re safe, boy…” said Robert in relief.
Hours passed, the treated hunters and the dead were put on a separate wagon. Mira stood on top of a crate, giving her orders.
“Our task here is done! Those who can’t walk, get on the wagon! We’re going home.” Mira said, with a look of disappointment.
Illumi got on one of the wagons, as Mira insisted. Illumi waited as the hunters were still carrying the injured into the wagon, and they set off as soon as they were done.
“Stop!” one of the hunters said. “You almost forgot another one!”
The hunters loaded another injured person, laying him down next to an empty space beside Illumi.
“I… Illumi…” the injured person called out to Illumi.
Illumi turned and was surprised as he saw Eric. “Eric! You’re alive!” he screamed out. Eric passed out, with Illumi cried out in agony holding on to him.
The morning sun shines down the forest, as the wonderful memory made was lost forever, leaving nothing but death and carnage. The hunters set their destination back to their city, having lost more than half of their people, and for Illumi, the friends that he had made.