A monster with a face of a lion wearing a gold crown, the paw of a tiger clutching a jewel-studded royal scepter, and vast dragon wings large enough to cover the night sky.
It was a creature destined to awaken from its long slumber at the hour of the prophesied end and devour the world.
— You are admirable.
I coughed up a bowlful of blood and gently ran my opposite hand along the shaft of the tightly gripped spear. Black flas rose along my touch.
The fla surged up the shaft and reached the tip that was buried deep in the monster’s chest.
“I am indeed, and it’s over for you.”
— You don’t look too great yourself, don’t you?
I couldn’t help but laugh. There was a massive hole in my abdon, one leg was crushed, and an eyeball dangled by the optic nerve.
“But I survived and you didn’t. Who cares about what you look like in the end?”
— I agree with that.
I trained endlessly to beco stronger, and survived thousands of deadly trials and battles.
I then hunted down and destroyed the lunatics who worshipped this monster for centuries. That alone took exactly 20 years.
After that, I scoured their research, discovering the path to hell and where this creature resided. That took another 15 years.
— My end is near. Before that, I’ll offer you one small courtesy.
The lion headed monster’s gaze aid behind .
— You must trust them, but they aren’t actually your comrades. I stand before you as your enemy, but they hide behind your back.
Oh, I was wondering what this monster was talking about. I glanced behind toward those watching our battle. A knight, a mage, and a saintess. Five years ago, a series of… let’s call them ‘coincidences’ brought us together.
“I know.
— You do?
The monster stared at clinging to the last shreds of life, though the black fla from my spear was consuming it.
Still, it resisted death a little longer.
I clicked my tongue, yanked the spear out, and stepped back a little so everyone behind could hear loud and clear.
“The knight’s sword is the only national treasure of the black empire.”
“You…”
The knight’s face stiffened and his grip tightened on his sword hilt.
“If he had unleashed that sword’s power, I wouldn’t be this badly wounded.”
“...”
The knight remained silent, and I continued to speak.
“But the emperor didn’t give you that sword to kill this monster in front of , did he?”
It was actually to kill instead, after I kill the monster and lose purpose.
There was only one reason for that. Because I threaten his position.
“That so-called saintess already has a lover.”
Yet for five years, she acted as if she fell for , and did her best to seduce .
“Just so I would fall in more despair if I were to die in front of her.”
Apparently she needed a cure for her lover’s incurable disease, sothing only the church could grant.
Even just a mont ago, she looked ready to cry over my wounds, but now her face turned pale like snow.
You painted yourself white, but now you look even whiter. How incredible.
“The mage seems to hate that I oppose slavery.”
After all, there was no better material for human experintation than slaves. Mages, a group of people who aid to monopolize knowledge, received many benefits from the class system.
— So…
“Yeah, I’ve known for five years they plan to kill after this.
Because of that, I didn’t even bother rembering their nas. The lion-faced monster showed confusion in his eyes.
— Then why are you here?
“Because I want to go ho.”
— I… don’t understand what you an.
No need for that. With that as its unimpressive final words, the monster stopped breathing.
“It’s over.”
I only had one goal from the beginning. To kill this thing so I could go back to the beautiful planet nad Earth.
Killing the monster and stopping the apocalypse was the condition for returning to Earth, where my ho was.
Then, the bastards behind finally dropped their act.
“I’m actually glad we’ve been exposed so we can stop pretending. You are a threat to us.”
“Not just your power, but your ideas are even more dangerous.”
“I can finally stop pretending to be admired by you even though I felt infuriated when you mocked the holy teachings, and I don’t have to act like I’m in love either.”
This was hell so there were no witnesses. They’d kill and spin so excuse.
I smiled brightly. It didn’t matter. Just as they didn’t treat as their ally, I gave them the sa treatnt.
“You all, do you know this? I despise this world.”
People were obsessed with religion and rank. They threw waste out their window carelessly, and they didn’t even wash themselves properly.
Knights, nobles, royalty all wore fancy outfits, but they drenched themselves in perfu to cover the stench they had from not washing themselves which drove crazy just by being near them.
Even that saintess who thought of herself as a beauty, wasn’t that attractive to .
Priests with zero dical knowledge try to treat people with garbage thods, and people obey them, only to worsen their illnesses and die in the end.
Mages know this, but they stay silent to keep their power.
“If you knew, then I’m sure you’re already prepared. I won’t give an apology.”
“Oh please, were we ever close enough for apologies?”
We’ve been together for years, but I don’t even know your nas. I scoffed at the saintess’s words and shouted to the heavens.
“I’ve completed my mission! Keep your promise!”
At the sa ti, the sky of hell split open, and brilliant white light poured in.
— You’ve done well.
“Send back.”
To return to the world, my ho, that’s all I wanted.
— Do you truly hate this world? The world I created?
Did I really need to answer that? I could rant for four days straight about why this place sucks.
— You have power that could rival . But if you return to Earth, that power will vanish like it never happened.
Not even the king of this world had the benefits of Earth.
The power I have right now? I only worked hard to get this power so I could return to Earth.
I saved money to buy a new computer, and I shall indeed spend that money to buy it. I wasn’t going to think that it’s wasteful now.
— You could make history here. You are capable of wiping those in front of you in an instant, no?
“Just stop, you’re relieved that I’m leaving like we promised, aren’t you?”
There was no way that a god welcod another that rivaled its strength. It was unnecessarily testing . If I had the slightest attachnt to this world, I’m sure it would punish .
This divine voice only belonged to a petty, paranoid god. A perfect match for this trash world.
— You aren’t wrong. Then farewell.
“Better keep your promise.”
Find soone Earth destined to die, and let take over their body.
I’ll lose all my achievents, but my mories, experience, and soul will remain. That was the agreent we made from the beginning.
— Ti on Earth has moved forward 25 years since you arrived here.
Good, it hasn’t been too long. I’ll need to work a bit hard to adjust, but it’ll at least be better than this dump.
Surely Earth has beco a better place after 25 years.
“If you found it, send back.”
The light that engulfed shined brighter than before, and I felt my consciousness slipping away from this world.
Suddenly, all power drained from my body. All my physical strength and magical power disappeared.
“Ah.”
When I opened my eyes, I found myself shivering. The first thing I felt was the cold breeze from an air conditioner on the wall.
The powerlessness I felt? I didn’t care.
“More importantly,”
I noticed a cold, fried chicken next to my computer. It was chicken breast, which wasn’t my favorite.
With a shaky hand, I picked up a piece and brought it to my mouth.
“Mmm.”
Why did I dislike chicken breast for being dry? It’s so delicious to the point I’m crying right now.
I couldn’t even rember the last ti I tasted sothing like this.
It was enough to shake my tongue in shock. Yes, this is real food.
The fried chicken disappeared in an instant as if it never existed to begin with.
I headed to the bathroom after. I saw a flush toilet, hot shower, shampoo, soap…
“I can’t believe this person was destined to die.”
This room was similar to the one I lived in my past life, but it wasn’t the exact sa one. This body belonged to a person that was destined to die, and I took over it to prolong it.
“I wonder what the reason was.”
It only took 10 minutes to find out. The air had a sharp sll that stabbed my nose.
“Fucking hell…!”
I dashed like lightning, shut off the gas valve, and dumped water on the stove. After successfully putting the fire out, I let out a sigh of relief.
“Unbelievable.”
Returning to Earth after saving the world, only to die in a gas explosion right after? I wouldn’t have been able to die of frustration.
After deeply sighing, I looked at the phone that was on the ground. Thankfully, there wasn’t a passcode or anything like that.
“Is it just or has nothing changed in 25 years?”
Flip phones ca out in 2004, and Galaxy S3 released in 2013. I thought we would have flying cars after 25 years.
I looked around and turned on the phone while scratching my head.
The screen asked for my right index finger. I placed it, and it unlocked.
“I need to first find out who I am.”
I wasn’t given any information, so I knew nothing about the body I took over. The first thing I saw was “Parents’ morial Day” marked on the calendar.
“So his parents passed away already huh.”
My condolences. I’ll make sure to make good use of your body though.
I showered and made myself clean, lied down on the bed and browsed the internet on my phone.
“...”
I sat up only a mont later.
[13 years since the Erosion Zones appeared, how have our lives changed?]
[Hunter Steven K. of Chronomaker: ‘A state like total war… full support from companies and citizens needed- ]
[Erosion Zone in North Korea expanding. Association again says ‘Investigating’]
[‘A retreat for progress’ excuse by the hunters. Ceasefire line no longer safe.]
[South Korea’s GDP hits zero this year. ‘Final stronghold collapsing?’]
I rubbed my eyes as I read the news. What are these headlines?
After about 4 hours of reading, I clenched my eyes shut.
“What kind of nonsense is this?”
If I had to summarize what happened to Earth 25 years of being away, then I could do it in just one line.
“It’s falling apart?”
Slowly but surely, it was falling apart.
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