As I emerged from the portal Lucifer had opened, the first sensation that greeted me was the distant chirping of birds. Blinking against the brightness, I found myself surrounded by unfamiliar trees, their bark massive and their roots intricately twisted.
"Ugh... My head is pounding," I muttered, grimacing as I surveyed my surroundings.
Realizing I was in the midst of a forest, I attempted to stand, but my body refused to cooperate. Even with effort, my legs gave out beneath me, forcing me to remain prone on the ground.
My head throbbed relentlessly, as if I'd been struck with a hammer. Deciding to rest until the pain subsided, I gazed up at the sky, noting the presence of two suns—a stark contrast to Earth's single orb.
After a period of rest, I gradually sat up, taking stock of my surroundings. Shirtless and with the memory of the crest Lucifer had marked me with still fresh in my mind, I traced my finger over the symbol.
"This is to restrain my use of the Sinner's System," I mused aloud.
Suddenly, a faint voice echoed within my mind, addressing me.
"Welcome, Child. Chosen by thy God, you are reborn in the magnificent world of Ruina. No longer human, you are now known as a Sinner among the Specia of this realm. Rejoice, for you are favored by God."
It dawned on me that the voice echoing in my mind was indeed the Calling Lucifer had mentioned. Its words reverberated with a weighty purpose.
"In this realm, you, the Children of God, the Sinners, are destined to safeguard this peaceful world from the malevolent presence of Lucifer, the Devil! Your training must commence immediately, preparing you for the inevitable confrontation with this sinister entity."
Lucifer had spoken truthfully about the prophecy regarding her demise. Whatever game she had played with me before, I was now free from her influence, able to chart my own path.
"Look to your left, dear Sinner, where seven different types of weapons await your selection."
Following the Calling's instruction, I turned and saw seven pedestals arranged in a straight line. Eager to examine them, I approached. Each pedestal held a distinct weapon: bow, sword, shield, staff, dagger, halberd, and knuckles.
"These aren't ordinary weapons," the Calling elucidated. "Crafted by God herself, each possesses formidable magical abilities unmatched by any others in this realm. Choose wisely, Child. As the weapon of your choice can no longer be changed once you've picked."
Choosing one seemed daunting. How could I decide when I lacked knowledge of their use or compatibility with myself?
"Fret not," the Calling reassured. "Your chosen weapon will adapt to your Karma, transforming to suit you best and maximizing efficiency in your hands. Upon selection, you will be granted the knowledge to wield it effectively."
"Karma...?" I whispered,
"For those unacquainted, enlightenment shall dawn," the voice of the Calling responded. "Karma embodies the essence of goodness within Sinners. Unique to each individual, it reflects the very core of one's personality."
The concept struck a chord within me. Karma, the antithesis to the Sinner's System. It seemed fitting, yet I couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity.
As I pondered, the earth trembled beneath me, colossal footsteps echoing in the distance. Panic surged through me as the ground shook more violently, signaling the approach of an enormous entity.
Turning to face the source of the disturbance, I watched as trees toppled and birds scattered in a frantic frenzy. Fear rooted me in place, rendering me immobile despite the instinct to flee.
"Shit, what the hell is that?! It's coming towards me. This is stupid! I should've run away from this place by now. But, why am I not moving at all."
As the creature drew near, an eerie silence descended upon the forest. I scanned my surroundings, eyes darting in search of any lurking danger concealed by the dense foliage.
Just as I began to ease my guard, something soared into the sky. Squinting against the sunlight, I strained to identify the object, but it closed in too swiftly for me to react in time.
"Shit-!"
Boom!
The impact sent me hurtling backward, screaming in agony as I rolled across the forest floor, the pain shooting through my body.
"Argh!!" I groaned, feeling as though my ribs were shattered from the force of the blow.
"Ah!... What the fuck! That hurt so bad! Agh!.." Clenching my teeth, I struggled to endure the searing pain, my body wracked with agony.
As the dust settled, I surveyed the scene, a massive crater marking the spot where I had stood moments before, a tree now embedded in its center.
"-How?!" I gasped, the sound of approaching footsteps indicating that the creature was still on the prowl.
Trembling with fear, I forced myself to my feet, hands shaking uncontrollably.
"This is bad. I can't see a damn thing with that monster lurking in the shadows. I need to act fast," I muttered, my gaze darting toward the pedestals across from me.
"If this continues, I'll die for real! I have no other choice!" I gritted my teeth, my resolve firming as I focused on the weapons on those pedestals before me. "I need to do something!"
Once again, another tree was sent flying towards me. This time I was able to avoid the danger and ran straight to the pedestals.
The voice in my head urged, "Choose your weapon, Sinner."
"F**k off! Just shut up!" I snapped, grabbing the bow and arrow, my hands trembling with adrenaline as I aimed toward the source of the approaching footsteps.
"You said I'd be blessed with the knowledge to wield the weapon upon touching, right?! It's now or never! Give me that knowledge, NOW!" I screamed, desperation driving my words.
As I aimed into the woods, the bow underwent a remarkable transformation, reshaping itself in my grasp. In an instant, my mind was flooded with the understanding of how to handle a bow.
Without hesitation, I pulled the string taut, focusing my aim with unwavering determination. The arrow began to glow with an intense brightness as it absorbed energy from its surroundings. With a deep breath, I released the string, the arrow streaking toward its target, leaving a blazing trail in its wake.
A roar of pain echoed through the forest, indicating that my shot had found its mark.
"It hit?!" I exclaimed, exhilaration coursing through me at the success of my first shot. However, my elation was short-lived as a colossal humanoid figure emerged from the woods.
"... I didn't expect it to be so massive. There's no way I can survive this..." I muttered, my heart sinking as I backed away slowly.
The creature bore a striking resemblance to the Minotaur of Greek mythology, its bull-like head atop a towering, muscular frame. It loomed over me, its sheer size dwarfing me in comparison.
Judging by its demeanor, it was clearly enraged. I knew fleeing was futile; the creature would easily overtake me. I had no choice but to stand my ground and fight, whatever the outcome may be.
The Minotaur loomed roughly a hundred meters away from me, the arrow I had just shot piercing his right eye. It seemed like a stroke of luck, but it gave me an idea. If I could blind him completely, I might have a chance to escape.
"Here goes nothing," I muttered, loading another arrow and pulling back the bowstring. Once again, the arrow began to charge up, ready to unleash its power.
"All I have to do is aim for your left eye," I whispered to myself, struggling to steady my trembling hand. Meanwhile, the Minotaur scraped its hooves against the ground, a clear sign it was preparing to charge.
"I can't afford to miss this shot," I thought, my heart pounding in my ears as adrenaline surged through my veins.
"Please, don't miss..." I muttered under my breath.
As I released the arrow, the Minotaur charged toward me at full speed. Just as the arrow was about to hit its mark, the Minotaur deftly redirected it with its horn.
"Damn it!" I cursed, feeling my hope wane.
But then, the voice of the Calling echoed in my mind once more: "Choose your weapon, Sinner."
Realization dawned on me; the Calling had never specified how many weapons I could choose.
"You want me to choose?! Fine! I'll choose ALL OF THEM!" I shouted, reaching for the shield to defend myself against the Minotaur's imminent attack.
"A wise choice," the Calling responded.
With a thunderous crash, the Minotaur rammed its head against my shield. Miraculously, I managed to deflect its blow, causing the creature to recoil. Seizing the opportunity, I reached for the sword on the pedestal and prepared to strike back.
"It's my turn!"
With determination, I thrust the sword towards the Minotaur's chest, aiming for his heart. But he anticipated my move, swiftly covering his chest with the palm of his hand.
"Seems like this creature knows what I'm trying to do." I thought, frustration mounting.
As the sword became lodged in his hand, I released my grip and scrambled away. The Minotaur retaliated, swinging his massive hand at me. Thankfully, I managed to defend myself with the shield, but the force of his blow sent me hurtling backward, crashing into the pedestal.
The impact shattered my left arm, sending waves of excruciating pain through my body. But I couldn't afford to dwell on it now; I needed to keep fighting to survive. With the knuckles closest at hand, I quickly donned them, taking cover behind the pedestal to buy some time.
The Minotaur, however, spotted my hiding spot and demolished the pedestal with a powerful swing. I narrowly evaded the attack, landing a solid punch on his face as I leaped away.
The Minotaur staggered from the blow, and I seized the opportunity to create distance between us. His enraged roar filled the air, veins bulging on his muscular frame.
"Bring it on, you stupid cow!" I taunted, bracing myself for the impending clash.
We both exchanged blows to one another. Hitting each other's fists with every single swing.
We exchanged blows relentlessly, each strike reverberating through the air. Despite the Minotaur's formidable strength, the knuckles I wielded somehow managed to absorb the impact, allowing me to hold my ground.
After a grueling battle that seemed to stretch for an eternity, both the Minotaur and I found ourselves exhausted, our breaths labored and our movements sluggish. Sensing his fatigue, the Minotaur dropped to his knees, his once-menacing glare now replaced with a weary gaze.
"Feeling tired already? I could keep this up all day!" I taunted, a surge of adrenaline coursing through me.
He glared at me, his frustration evident, but it was clear that victory was within my grasp. He was no longer the raging beast he once was; his movements were sluggish, and blood oozed from the wound on his hand.
"Let's end this!" With renewed determination, I charged towards him, his feeble attempts to retaliate easily evaded.
I struck him with a critical blow to his belly, causing him to drop to his knees. Hastily returning to the pedestals, I seized the dagger and halberd, using them to incapacitate him further. Circulating around him, I methodically targeted his vulnerable points, rendering him immobile.
With a swift leap, I mounted his back and plunged the halberd into his left eye. His agonized screams filled the air as I drove the weapon deeper, unrelenting in my assault until his movements ceased altogether.
"I did it..." I murmured, disbelief mingling with exhaustion as I collapsed to the ground.
Crawling towards the pedestal one last time, I grasped the staff, feeling its power coursing through me. With a desperate cry, I invoked its magic, commanding it to heal me and disperse the weapons I had used.
"If magic can bring destruction, it can also bring life. Heal!" I shouted,
As the weapons vanished into thin air, I felt a surge of relief wash over me. Exhausted beyond measure, I succumbed to darkness, the Calling's words echoing in my mind as I drifted into unconsciousness.
"From this day forth, you shall be known as The All Class Karma. May luck guide you on your journey to vanquish the Devil. Welcome to the World of Ruina."