As the fireworks illuminated the sky, heralding the arrival of dawn, they served as a symbol of the goddess, whose radiant light was believed to cleanse the world of darkness. However, even the divine presence of the goddess could not save the people of the slum from their tragic fate, as they faced extinction in that dire moment.
"N-no, wait! Don't rise yet!" I shouted, even though words would not halt the rising sun.
My descent from the mountain was never going any faster either, and risks had to be taken for the fastest route. Using a large dead tree as a makeshift sled, I glided down the barren mountain slope, hoping to reach the slums faster.
The ride's effectiveness turned into a dangerous menace as it relentlessly accelerated, displaying no indication of slowing down, but rather, hinting at an inevitable collision with the walls of the slum houses.
"Not a great plan, Cipher!" Getting off alive from this crazy ride before it barrages into the slums, I struck the one dagger on the earth, followed by the other. The soil was too soft for the dagger to stick. It decelerated my descent in exchange for more bruises on my arms as a trade-off.
The relentless hunger began to take its toll on me. My grip on the ride weakened, and in a moment of weakness, one of my hands slipped, causing me to plummet and crash into the chipboard walls of the ride.
"Argh! What have you done to my house, you brat!? " the awakened house resident shouted in the mess I had created then the neighbors soon followed in the noises. "How are you going to pay for this!?"
"Here! Take this and get a better place to live in as far from here as possible." I replied, tossing the pouch of five gold coins into her lap before scowling back into the neighbors "And freaking rift is going to open, you imbeciles! Get out of bed if you all want to live!"
Blood was dripping from my head and I lost one of the blades from the fall. And with the hunger getting worse, I could only put much strength into running.
And with luck, the shop was already open and the man was already outside, smoking a cigarette as he sat on the porch.
"Oh, look who finally shows up…Hey, brat! Do you know how long you've been gone!? The other brats have been looking for you!" the man grumbled, dropping his smoke to crush. "Hold on, what happened to you? You're soaked in blood"
"I was kidnapped by players, okay!? I barely survived inside the rift and just crashed from the cliff. Where's Nate and Gabby!?"
"Get yourself fixed first, kid."
"I said Where!? We have no time for chitchat"
"T-The young snort is still sleeping. But the girl's probably on the beach again, sulking from your sudden disappearance."
"For the love of—OF ALL PLACES!?" I scowled. "Wake Nate up and prepare to leave the slums. If I haven't returned in ten minutes, don't come looking for us and leave without me."
"Brat, you telling me to ditch my house!?"
"This place is already done for! A wave will commence as dawn strikes, and no one in the slum will survive. If you wish to live, leave the shop and take Nate with you inside the city." I claimed, then retrieved a sack of gold from the storage. "Here, if we don't get back in less than ten minutes, take care of Nate and live somewhere safe."
Dawn was starting as I hurried towards the beach, trying to ignore my short breathing. My huffing was clear in the silence of the lower level of the beach and only a few fishermen were starting to set sail.
In the docks, Gabby was staring at the incoming dawn with hope, not knowing that right now, what it will only bring are disasters.
"Gabby!"
"C-Cipher!?" she called, running to embrace me before pinching my ears. "Where have you been!? I was worried sick. I thought you left us for good! And the blood—"
"I-I'll tell you later. Right now, we have to—" It was already too late. The sun had peeked from the horizon and a cracking sound echoed in the air.
The serene sea transformed into a chaotic spectacle as small portals started to open one by one. In the skies, flying creatures hovered through the portals, while in the sea, fishmen and boats appeared, heading towards our shores. The fishermen, initially planning to fish, abandoned their boats and swam back to the shore in a state of panic, screaming frantically at the sight of the otherworldly beings approaching.
"We have to leave! Now!" I claimed, grabbing her to escape from the incoming visitors as the crowd of escaping people grew.
The startled masses couldn't comprehend the sight before them and fled in terror from the advancing armies of the other realm. Many of the creatures had already crossed over to the mainland, launching a relentless attack on every living being they encountered, leaving chaos and destruction in their wake.
"Hold on, don't let go!" I tightened my grip on hers, preventing us from getting separated from one another as too much traffic bumped into us.
"Ah! Cipher!" Gabby shouted and from the above ground, a flying half-human circles the and diving to catch to retrieve the running mass and one aimed at Gabby.
"Get your claws off of her!" with a quick plunge the moment it dived, it creature cried in agony with the only blade I had stuck in its chest and flew some distance from us. The other bird people glare after the scene, staring as if waiting for an opportunity to dive.
** Creature information **
Desert Harpy
Level 3
HP: 220/230 MP: 1/1
**********************
"What are you glaring at!?" empty-handed, I retrieved back the bow and aimed, causing it to flinch and fly higher. "Go! Find the others. I'll catch up after I clear our tail!"
"No, I'm not leaving you. I won't let you out of my sight again."
"I said GO! Nate is waiting for you!" I shouted, releasing arrows into the incoming enemies until all of my bolts had been wasted. They were too fast and the blood entering my pupils caused me to miss. Yet the worst part was... Gabby was still loitering around. "Darn it! Let's go!"
Grabbing her hands once more, we flee towards the smithy to check on the others only to find it abandoned with a note on the table.
[
We've already evacuated to the gates, Brat. Leave as well if you find this.
- Simon
]
"They've already left for the city. And we should too." I claimed but just before we could leave, the porch was already guarded by a slithering creature with a trident in its grip.
** Creature information **
Drylands Naga
Level 5
HP: 400/400 MP: 1/1
**********************
"I can't fight that thing. Not in my condition…" I claimed. "Back door!"
"This place has no back exit, Cipher" she claimed.
"What!? What kind of house is this!?" The walls suddenly shattered as thick ice barraged, creating a large hole in the smithy. And from the other side, a girl entered. "Ellie!?"
"Ellie?" Gabby asked, glaring as her grip on my shoulder tightened.
"A friend I made while I was abducted"
"You were kidnapped!?" Gabby questioned.
"Long story. And better leave the storytelling until you guys get into safety." Ellie claimed, gesturing for her to be followed.
Gabby was reluctant for some reason but considering the situation, only Ellie was the one who could get us to safety. With her ice magic blocking every creature's path and attacking the flying harpies with lightning, I knew our lives were in good hands.
"How's your mana? Can you still keep up?"
"You're asking me? I'm even in better condition than you are" Ellie scoffed then laughed, before sending a fireball into an incoming enemy, blasting it in a distance.
"Just answer him, lady" Gabby pointed.
"Geez… what an attitude," Ellie muttered. "I'm fine. Still have enough so don't worry. We'll make it into the gates. I promise"
She was confident but her staggering breath and magic casting getting slower and slower were hinting it off. She's already near mana depletion.
"Ellie, focus on escaping! We're already near the gates." I claimed, but as we arrived, the place was filled with the slums rioting and begging yet the city gates were shut tight. Even the blacksmith and Nate were still outside. "What's happening!? Why are you still out here!?"
"Sis! Ciphy!" Nate claimed as he ran into her sister's arm.
"Sorry, kid. We tried but these damned men won't let us in even after taking our gold." Simon claimed.
"Those bastards… what now!?" The crack from the final rift was getting larger and Ellie had fallen unconscious in my arms, leaving none of us capable of defending ourselves. But her last magic created a large wall of ice, leaving no space for the enemies to advance.
Yet it wouldn't last for much longer.
"What should we do now?" Gabby asked as Simon and Nate looked at me, then some of the slum folks turned their heads unto me, hoping for answers. But I don't know what to do anymore.
Was it gonna end here? Was my action of diverging from the original timeline causing us to perish this early?
I didn't want to believe in it but it was what it was telling me. I caused this to happen.
"Cal…pe…" Ellie groaned, before once again losing consciousness.
"What are you saying!? Calpe? Cal… pe…"