Inside the hospital, the smell of medicine permeated the room. An old man with glasses lying down on a hospital bed while reading something on his phone. A novel full of miraculous beings and exciting blood boiling adventure taking place in a world that no one can seem to reach. An old woman arranging azalea flowers in a vase beside his bed.
"Older brother, do you know the meaning of azalea flowers ?" said the old woman while sitting on a sofa beside his bed.
"Nope, sister, you know me right. I don't know many things. Our mother always calls me a smart child but I know I am not. Rather than that, you are the really knowledgeable one. How's your little grandchild ? Are they healthy ?" said the old man while smiling looking at his sister.
The old woman sighs and doesn't know what to say to her older brother. She always knows that he's the smartest one of the siblings yet he is also the unsuccessful one in this life. He likes to read novels and has been trying to write some when he's young but never succeeded. Even right now, at the end of his life, he still loves reading novels that much.
"My family is alright, my little grandchild was born healthy and can still live a hundred more years. Rather than that, the azalea flowers that I give mean good fortune and stay healthy. Well, staying healthy is a bit too much, but good luck can always apply anytime, right ?" jokes the old woman while wiping some mist in her eyes.
The old man was smiling at his sister's small jokes. He knows that he doesn't have much time to accompany his sister in this life for much longer. People say that you will remember many things and some fragments of happy memory will flash automatically when you reach the end of your life. Today, it happens a lot, and maybe, this is his final day meeting this lovely sister.
"It's good then and thanks for the azalea flowers." said the old man as he went back to read the novel on his phone.
The clock on the wall was ticking and hours just passed by like that. The old woman was reading some news on her phone and found some interesting news. The old man was reaching the end of the novel. Sadly the story ended without a proper ending because the author dropped the novel. While scrolling the last page, the old man grimaced.
"Oh! Come on! The Bald Holy Son That Overpowered The God! Why did you drop this great masterpiece ? And he still has the nerves to ask if I'm curious. Wait.. what ? Do I want to reach the ending ? Of course I am!"
[Ding! Choice Selected]
Huh? The old man was confused by the sudden sound voiced in the calm hospital room.
"Sister, did you speak to me just now ?"
Looking weirdly at his older brother, the old woman spoke.
"No, you must be tired. Rather than that, look here older brother, I read some interesting news. The media released some photos when the last solar eclipse happened some days ago. They caught some blurry figures near the sun. Some crazy people commented that it was an alien. The crazier one says that it was a God. Funny right ?"
The old man laughed while feeling a little weird.
"Hahaha.. Sister, that's funny. His hair must be burned if he passes by the sun. Maybe it's really my good fortune to see something unbelievable today. Hahahaha!!"
The old woman held a bottle of water and let the old man drink. After speaking a lot today, his older brother must be a bit tired. The older brother feels that when he closes his eyes right now, it won't open again. With the last bit of consciousness remaining he said his last words slowly to his only sister.
"Thank you sister... I will miss you a lot after today.. I will meet our mother soon. I hope.. If there's a next life.. We will meet again... Of course as an older brother I will protect you like this life.. Always…"
"No, I'm also thankful. If there's a next life.. Please let me be your little sister again.."
[Ding! @#@%#..]
The old man smiled back while closing his eyes slowly. Many fragments of happy memories when he's younger flashed by like a flood that cannot be stopped. Some time later, ringing electronic devices sounded in the calm room. The old woman's tears flowing from her eyes.
===
An archaic hymn sounded from the depth of the bright universe. Many exotic beings such as demons and gods feel their souls trembling because of it. Seconds later, the voice is gone, and the universe returns to festivities of wonder. Nobody knows what's the meaning behind that phenomenon.
As the voice faded, in the deepest altar of the brightest empire, an old man with a poise like an emperor walked slowly toward one of the candles. There are many specially decorated candles beside it, but this one looks a lot more ordinary than the rest. His eyes slowly opened wide and a warm smile formed on his face. The ordinary candle that should have been out for a long time suddenly lit itself with fire that seems more ordinary than the rest.
In a void outside the known verse, a terrifying existence full of mist and monstrosity that defies all the rules of probability opened its eyes. The void trembled and many cracks formed in the space that defy common sense. It can seem to pierce all existence, fortunately, its sight has been blocked by an ordinary light from the borderline of that universe. Moments later, that existence slowly closed its eyes and continued to slumber.
A hazy figure leaning against the wall of the ancient ruins borderlines the universe. The definition of time and space seemed vague in this place. Universe itself should be infinite and have no borders, but here what shouldn't exist can be found. Walking slowly toward an empty throne beside a pond full of stars, the figure continued his activity with his fishing pole. His eyes fiercely looked at a gate behind the slumbering monstrosity.
"All the pieces should have been placed properly. Shall the cradle of fate spin once more time toward the unknown. Azalea flower means good fortune and staying healthy. I hope that's the case because this time he really needs a lot of luck."
===
In a fallen city, thunder roars through the sky, rain pouring down a lot, smell of blood and mud mixed into one. A bloodied figure standing straight refusing to bend while many weapons pierce his body. A runic crest formed on his hand, then throwing his blazing spear at the faraway hooded figure. Many defensive runes formed to stop the advance of this spear.
"Why ?" the only sound that the bloodied figure uttered with his last power.
The hooded figure hesitated a lot, moments later a beautiful female voice sounded to answer his question.
"The war is over. The demon king has been vanquished. Thanks to you, hero, we can have the long awaited peace.. To answer your question.. It's because you are not needed anymore. An unpredictable existence that holds too much power is not needed in a peaceful world. So, hero, please die."
"Hahahaha.." the bloodied figure laughing hysterically borderline madness
Looking slowly at all the hooded figures, the hero remembers their runic force. His former companion, his lover, many federation high level, and some alliance members. While slowly closing his eyes, the hero failed his 1st turn.
===
Closing the novel, the author slowly walked toward a big shelf fully packed with similar books. Reminiscing the 1st volume of the world he created. A world full of indescribable beings and miraculous things that makes one wonder how he can make it happen. Moments later he walked back to his desk carrying a new book with volume 100th written on it.
The Invincible Hero Soaring To The Universe, the title written on the novel cover. He wants to write a proper ending for the hero. The word proper itself is a bit vague because of the happy ending or the sad ending, only the author knows. Sadly, the hero never has a happy one through his 999th turns.
Browsing some comments on his last work published online, one particular comment successfully attracted his attention. Odlanyer, such an extraordinary domineering name should be written by a rich person, maybe he will donate some money that can last a month. Let's see what he's commented on.
"Duck Author! Have you ever gotten unreasonably attacked by a duck ? This story is so unreasonably long and yet no single happy ending for our main character! Is this really what a human can do ? Are you actually a demon in human skin ? Is this novel going to be dropped soon ? Do you even dare to live in your own story world with how dangerous it can be ? Answer me DUCK AUTHOR! YOU DARE ? – Odlanyer"
Some muscle formed on his forehead. Reading multiple times, the author doesn't know how to reply to these dark humor. He wondered how in the first place such an unreasonably odd character successfully attracted his attention. Slowly typing his answer to reply to these strange fans.
"Dear Reader, thanks for your deep love of the novel that I created. To thank all the love you show today, I will properly answer some of your questions. No, I never get ducksaulted! Yes, I am a human being. No, it won't be dropped and will have a proper ending! Lastly, DUCK I DARE!! – Author" while clicking submit to the comment below
Walking to the bed, his head felt a little dizzy. He needs some rest after reading through a whole volume of his previous work. Creating a novel is not easy, many factors and plots need to be well thought out to create connected lines. Feeling a headache, he slowly losing his consciousness.