Kimir noticed how worn out Tomoki looked—exhausted, barely able to open his eyes. They had been running for so long, with nothing to eat and nowhere to rest. As Kimir was thinking this, Tomoki suddenly spoke up, his voice filled with frustration. "Why is this happening...?"
A heavy silence filled the cave after Tomoki's words. Kimir rummaged through his backpack, searching for supplies. After a moment, he found three cans of food, just enough for both. He sighed, unsure how to answer Tomoki's question, but knowing they needed to keep going.
"Honestly," Kimir finally said, handing a can to Tomoki, "I don't know why we're here. But I do know that we have to survive, no matter what. So here, eat something and try to get some rest."
Tomoki took the food, grateful but still lost in his thoughts. "Thanks, man..." he muttered, the weight of everything that had happened still pressing down on him.
Kimir watched Tomoki as he ate, realizing how much the young man had been through already. They were both trapped in this nightmare, but they had to keep going, keep fighting, if they wanted any chance of getting out alive.
Tomoki hesitated before asking, "What were you doing before coming to the god's battleground?" His voice was quiet, almost hesitant as if he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.
Kimir's reaction was immediate. His eyes dropped to the ground, and a shadow seemed to pass over his face. It was as if Tomoki's question had struck him with an arrow of grimness, piercing through whatever wall he had built around his emotions. "I was... with my mother," Kimir finally replied, his voice laced with sorrow that made the words heavy. "And then suddenly I was here as Gen 10."
The sadness in his tone made Tomoki's heart clench. He hadn't meant to dredge up painful memories, and now he felt the weight of that mistake. "I'm sorry, Kimir," Tomoki said softly, regret clear in his voice. "I didn't mean to—"
"I feel sad for you," Tomoki continued, the words slipping out before he could stop them. "I wonder... are my friends even alive?"
Kimir didn't respond at first, his silence stretching on until it became almost unbearable. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke, his voice flat and distant. "I don't know, rookie, honestly… you should sleep."
Tomoki looked over at him, but Kimir kept his gaze fixed on the ground, his expression unreadable. After a moment, Kimir took a deep breath, as if trying to shake off the weight of their conversation. "We have some distance to cover tomorrow," he added, his voice firmer now. "So get some rest."
Tomoki nodded, the unspoken pain between them hanging in the air. He lay down, his mind churning with thoughts of his friends, of what might have been, and of the strange, grim man who had just opened a small window into his past. Sleep didn't come easily, but eventually, exhaustion pulled him under, the quiet sounds of the camp the last thing he heard.
The sun's first rays began to shine, and birds chirped, even in a world where death was so common and bloodshed was everywhere. Kimir was the first to wake up and started packing their gear and supplies, with a journey of 23 kilometers still ahead of them. "Hey, Tomoki, wake up! We don't have the whole day to waste now." Tomoki, still feeling the soreness in his legs and the pain from running so much, groaned, "Ahh! I don't wanna." Kimir threw his backpack onto Tomoki's face. "For God's sake!" Tomoki screamed. Kimir added, "Wake up now!"
They started moving and suddenly Tomoki opened up his stats to check it. The sound of nature behind was so silent and still beautiful in its own way
Rank- Private (Pvt)
Days Survived- 1 day
Kills- 0
Class- Unknow (not enough level)
Team- N/A
Weapon Skills- F
Level- 0
"Damm, nothing new" Tomoki looked down, Kimir was literally laughing at him "ARE YOU DUMB!!! FR BRO YOU CAN'T JUST GET STATS UP FOR RUNNING"
The river flowed steadily, its gentle sound providing a rare moment of peace, contrasting with the heavy silence that seemed to linger behind them. In a world where no one knew when death might strike, such tranquility felt almost surreal.
"Hey, by the way, what's your team's name?" Tomoki asked, breaking the quiet with a note of curiosity. Kimir glanced at him, puzzled. "Didn't I tell you?" he replied, tilting his head to the right in confusion.
"No, you never did," Tomoki responded. Kimir suddenly burst into laughter. "Oh, my mistake! By the way, we call ourselves the Nova Aetas." Tomoki frowned slightly and remarked, "That's a weird name, bro." Kimir looked at him with a soft smile. "I know it's a strange name, but it means a lot to us."
Tomoki glanced at Kimir, his curiosity evident. "Why is it so important?" His voice was soft, reflecting his confusion and the desire for answers.
Kimir looked up, a gentle smile on his face as he began to reminisce. "Well, it was named by someone important to us," he explained, his tone warm with a hint of nostalgia. "That person isn't with us anymore, but many of us are still here because of him."
Tomoki's interest was piqued. "Who was that person?" he asked, his mind brimming with questions.
Kimir's smile faded slightly as he shook his head. "That's a different story for another time. Right now, we've got a long way to go, and we need to focus on surviving."
The river, meandering through the forest, sparkled under the morning light. Its clear waters, flowing steadily, reflected the blue sky and the surrounding greenery. Kimir and Tomoki walked along the riverbank, their steps steady and measured as they followed the winding path.
Tomoki took a deep breath, savoring the freshness of the morning air. He glanced around, taking in the beauty of the scene. The river's gentle flow and the sounds of birds waking up created a stark contrast to the tension and fear of the previous night.
"This place looks so peaceful," Tomoki remarked, his voice carrying a hint of wonder. "It's hard to believe we were just running for our lives."
Kimir nodded, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. "Yeah, it does. But don't let the calm fool you. We have to stay alert. The river can guide us, but we need to be careful. It's easy to lose track of time and get complacent."
Tomoki followed Kimir's gaze, noting the occasional ripple in the water and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. "I'll keep an eye out. It's nice to have a bit of peace, even if it's just for a moment."