I didn't know how much time had passed when I started to feel myself coming back to consciousness. I felt myself smiling as I was hugging my own shoulders in a crumpled-up position. The drool on my cheek convinced me further that I layed in the safety of my bed.
- Thank god, it was just my fantasy that created that stuff yesterday. Maybe I should start doing artwork again, I haven't touched it since that Marin from art class told me I was copying Picasso too much. It was definitely unfair because he was copying Michelangelo himself, but it was hard to call him out since he was good at it. What a snobby snake he is, that Marin... Or turtle, maybe
But Michelangelo...
I wonder if I was like Adam from that painting in the fantasy yesterday...
Either way, I guess it's time to rise up and take my morning gacha roll---
Wait a second, why is my bed so... -
As soon as I pressed my hand against my bed, it didn't feel like my bed at all. A hard, chilling surface pressed against my palm and I felt a shiver down my spine. Could it be...?
*Haaaa*
I let out a fear-filled sigh as I opened my eyes slowly and found the sight of nothing.
Darkness.
Only the nearest area around me was illuminated to any extent, and in every direction, there was nothing but a slow fade into black.
Wiping the drool from my face with my shirt, I remembered more details from the fantasy yesterday.
Soon I had no choice but to believe the fantasy was in fact reality. It was particularly disorienting for a moment, since I'd always been told the line between fiction and reality is very distinct. My exhales started to sound like consecutive sighs, the situation felt stressfully taxing on my mind and soul. The question of where I was couldn't even be answered. Judging from the information I could gauge, it would seem like an abandoned warehouse or something. But the world I knew was already left behind me when I lifted into the sky, so it probably wasn't the answer. Standing up, I dusted my pants off and fixed my brown hair in place as I suddenly heard echoes around me.
* ban ban ban Ban Ban BAN BAN BAN *
It became really loud, but I couldn't tell what direction it came from. How big was this room...?!
The sounds were like footsteps, but had a strong bass to their sounds like their shoes or feet were made of steel themselves.
Then suddenly, behind me
"What do we have here? If it isn't another pirate of Mankind"
Quickly remembering the name of the figure from yesterday, I replied while turning around
"Kah...?"
*KADON*
Feeling a strong pain in my hip, I was kicked down to the floor by this figure. As I had just managed to get up from the ground, it was quite irritating to fall back to it again and to feel the cold metal against my skin again. Ignoring the pain I felt for a moment, I looked up toward the direction of the kick and saw a person disguised by the shadows standing menacingly.
It revealed itself soon as it stepped forward onto the lit circle.
"I thought we already disposed of all of you."
A good-looking young man with brown hair and glaring half-brown half-red eyes dressed in a tall, black cape that swept across the floor around him and a tall collar that bent down showed himself.
I immediately felt a sense of dislike toward him, aside from the kick he'd just given me. I'd always had a sense of vengeance against people with good looks because they made me feel bad over something I didn't even have control over.
The young man started slowly encroaching me, shuffling his coat around in the process which revealed a very formal old-looking suit underneath his coat. As soon as I had been kicked down, fear had already been forgotten on my side, and I stood up quickly and started speaking
"Ey, what do you think you're doing...!? Who are you to begin with?!"
A resentful look flashed from the young man's face as he dashed forth, almost instantaneously appearing in front of me. Without a chance to react, I felt a blow to my stomach
*DON*
"I need not introduce me nor my master to someone like you. Low-class peasantry like you hurt my eyes by even looking at you.
Hence, I shall not even grace your existence by letting you see my eyes, and still dispose of you without issue!!"
Adhering to his words, he closed his eyes as soon as he finished dealing the blow. I flew back into the darkness outside the lit circle as a result of said punch, sliding across the metal for a couple of meters until I stopped.
Aside from the pain, it made me almost want to throw up immediately as I stabilized my landing. Managing to prevent myself from vomiting, I felt a strong desire to fight back surge within me.
- There's no doubt that this guy is strong, unbelievably strong. The blows I've already taken feel like they come from a source of unbelievable strength. Like their fist itself holds the very intent of killing me.
There's also no denying that the most logical option here is either fleeing in the darkness somewhere, or pretending to be dead in hopes I'll be left alone. But...
But I don't want to do that. This creature reminds me of a certain person back during my Judo practice who was always ahead of me. Every time we'd face each other, he'd close his eyes to show how much better he was than me at it.
Without fail, he won every time we battled.
Why must the world be filled with so many people wanting to show off how much better they are?
It's exhausting for me to see, but I guess it's my fault for failing to surpass it.
Even then, I think I would most likely do the same thing if I was in their position...
But as someone who's always been belittled, I refuse to let anyone arrogantly look down upon anyone who's just trying.
My justice won't allow it...! -
Grabbing my shoulder, hurting immensely from the earlier impact with the floor, I managed to stand up again. Although my legs were shaking a bit more this time.
I looked ahead toward the circle and saw the young man standing by the edge of the light. Checking back on where I was standing in the moment, I made the realization that gravity must be different wherever I was in comparison to Earth.
So I had really gone to space...
My body also felt lighter as I started thinking about it, making me more confident in my physical ability. I threw myself forward toward the man in front of me. I still had doubts about whether he could fight blindly or not.
I surprised myself with the distance and speed I was able to leap forth with, and as I got closer to him I threw a punch mid-leap.
He stood completely still.
Not budging a single millimeter.
- There's no way I believe you, you strange creature...! Take this! -
"!?"
Almost as if he'd anticipated it perfectly, as soon as the punch was going to connect, he moved his head alone to the left just enough to barely miss the punch. I barely felt my fist graze by his hair as I flew forward and crashed into the ground again. This time, I'd at least come into the circle of light which was important for me to have any advantage in this fight.
Still, I couldn't believe that I missed the punch. That certain person in my Judo practice had always been hit a couple of times, or had moved very drastically when trying to dodge.
"Tch, I should've moved a little bit more to the left. I let him touch my divinely blessed hair."
-This guy is dangerously precise, even when he's blinded...!! What is going on? -
...