''Take this, evil!''
''Argh...! Where the hell are you shooting at?!''
Amidst the extrely chaotic scene around , I sit beside this... man. I an, he's a skeleton.
''Miss Chloe, how are you lately?'' His bony jaw slightly opens, from which an abyssal, deep voice erges.
''I'm good, really. It's been a while since we've talked, right? How about you?'' I reply.
''Life in Zircon is peaceful, unexpectedly. It's all thanks to Miss Aurora.''
Golden light flickers in Skely's deep eye sockets. He gazes into the distance, seemingly reminiscing about sothing.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot.
About... our purpose here. Alia talked to before this. She asked if I felt alright giving up the powers I worked so hard for. Now that I am in my own body, although familiar, there are aspects I still can't get used to.
For instance, I no longer possess the sa instincts for combat that I once did. The knowledge of using a sword is still here in my head, but there's a sense of disconnection preventing my body from moving like I want it to. Even the mastery of fire and lightning magic is gone. I've beco much weaker.
But at the sa ti, so strange abilities now sit in my hands.
Like... the prospect of mass healing, a way to manifest barriers, and sothing itching on my forehead, a third eye, that allows to peer further into reality. Sohow, I feel this is more natural—maybe this was my aptitude all along.
''Hah...''
Now that I think about it, fighting is exhausting, after all.
I just wanna laze around and do nothing...
The point is, I'm more than ready to return to Earth. At least, that was what I thought until I saw the will in Aurora's eyes. I honestly can abandon these relationships I've made so far in this world in exchange for a ticket ho. It's going to be painful, and I'll live the rest of my life feeling guilty for not helping these people, but I can endure it.
For my family.
Yet, Aurora has no family left. To her, these people—these connections that she has made here—are her family. The clingy girls, the strange monsters, and the horrors coming from the depths of the cosmic—all hers.
Even if I said I wanted to go ho, she would probably send off with a smile and choose to stay.
I don't want to let her shoulder everything alone. No way.
So... I'm staying, I guess.
''Unpredictable, isn't it?''
''Huh?''
For a brief mont, the flicker in Skely's sockets tells that he's smiling.
''What kind of fate we're tied to, I an.'' He says. ''I died once, ca back as an undead, reunited with my sister... and now, I'm probably the happiest skeleton in the world.''
''...''
Happiest skeleton... huh...
''Wah...?!''
As I stare blankly forward, lost in my thoughts, a strong gust of wind blows over. This ti, no one misfires their magic, but instead, a colossal dragon is cruising above us.
''...I thought dragons were gone?'' I unknowingly mutter.
''Ah, about that...''
So, it turns out that Aurora managed to snatch a dragon while hunting.
It beca her subordinate, and that's good, but... why did it have to be a beautiful girl? Why is everyone beautiful girls? Seriously, there's sothing wrong with this.
Ahem.
Either way, with them cos... the horrors.
''These guys just got so powerups,'' Aurora explains, her deanor sowhat rry. ''They can be your sparring opponents.''
'''' ... ''''
Expectedly, the mont that line drops, the whole atmosphere gets much quieter. No one wants to fight these... abominations, after all. For , who knows roughly what horrifying things they can do thanks to Aurora's yapping, I wonder if they are even good opponents to begin with.
Take the husky, for example. Won't I just fall over and get stuck in a nightmare as soon as the battle starts?
I know that statue. If I blink even once, it will snap my neck. That... creature wearing a plague mask, too, will kill off my organs or sothing if I touch him, right? Not to ntion the uncanny deer...
I can't believe I'm saying this right now, but I'd rather fight Slenderman. Not that I'm willing to fight, anyway.
''You guys each pick an opponent. We'll do a quick sparring session—no questions allowed.''
''Yes! I want to fight Sle—no, Mister Slen!''
So, here I am again, facing the slender man in a suit.
After the other kids get absolutely destroyed, it seems I am the only one left who can uphold humanity's honor. Yet, looking at Mister Slen's wriggling tentacles, I can't help but feel repulsed. His faceless face, that bleach-white skin tone...
And what? Why is he holding a bloodied knife?! This is so wrong on many levels!
''Chloe! Avenge us...!'' Luxia, who nearly got 'cured' to death by the doctor, shouts.
''Don't lose... too fast!'' Nydia, whose head seems a little strange after experiencing a nightmare, awkwardly yells.
The rest are probably too tired to speak.
Hellish.
The Aurora way of practicing isn't just hard—it's absurd. But then again, it might just be the best.
''Heheh...''
Perhaps a screw has fallen off my head as well... because I feel rather excited. Even if my body and my skills aren't the sa, with my tirelessly honed fighting techniques, I can still do sothing, right?
Right, if I can just adapt and beat my opponent...
Such thoughts flash through my mind as I hold a sword. But then, the match is about to begin.
''Start.''
As soon as Aurora says that, Mister Slen's figure promptly vanishes.
Fast.
No, this is clearly so sort of spatial magic, and if I can't spot him, I can spot his intent! This is what divine vision is for!
''Got you!''
Quickly turning around, I fully expect to parry Mister Slen's knife attack, but halfway through... I realize sothing sharp is already pressing against my neck.
''...''
At so point... well, I can't really make an excuse for this. My speed is just so much worse now.
I guess I need to start to grind back so of the skills I've lost now.
''I lost.''
In the end, the fight ends in a predictable loss for , and I proudly enter the losers' side afterward. Lazying around is next on the schedule, and although everybody is kind of annoying for fawning over my Aurora, it isn't all that bad.
Aurora, too, is unexpectedly cooperative. I an, more socialable.
''What do you want to do next, Aurora?'' Soone casually asks.
''Hm?''
Narrowing her eyes, she contemplates for a few monts, then nonchalantly replies, ''Horror.''
'''' ... ''''
Sohow, that brings a bad premonition. It's not one of those terrible 'pranks,' right?
''I'm going to summon a new horror.''
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