Pain, overwhelming and searing. It was the first sensation Roran became aware of as the darkness began to fade. The smell of burning flesh filled his nostrils, twisting his stomach as he struggled to make sense of his surroundings.
Memories, fragmented flooded his mind, each one a vivid experience from a life he hadn't lived. It was as if he had lived another person's life, he experienced the feeling of their fears, desires, and even their darkest fantasies, something he absolutely wished to forget. One particular memory stood out, a desperate longing for death. A shiver crawled up Roran's spine. _What kind of idiot person wishes for death? And who was this demoness he feared so much?_
Before he could dwell on it, Roran suddenly noticed that the pain, while still present, had lessened significantly. The unbearable burning sensation that had consumed him was now replaced by an intense itching, spreading across his entire body. He could feel his skin closing up and healing.
"Haa!"
Roran gasped, taking in air desperately like a man starved of air for years. The rush of air burned his throat, triggering a fit of dry coughs that felt like his insides were being ripped apart.
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
The coughing subsided, leaving him with a raw, searing pain in his chest. He winced, trying to steady his breathing.
"He's actually still alive after being cooked by the demoness's dragon flame!" a voice nearby exclaimed in disbelief.
"Talk about being an unkillable cockroach. This guy didn't actually die," another murmured, equally astonished. Roran, now sitting up, could feel their eyes on him.
_Unkillable cockroach?_ He grimaced as fragmented memories of how he got into this situation replayed in his mind.
...
My name is Roran Bryce. The last thing I remembered was settling into my worn-out recliner, a mug of lukewarm coffee in hand, and the soft glow of my laptop screen illuminating the dim room. A yawn escaped me as my eyelids grew heavy, and I surrendered to the embrace of sleep.
But my consciousness abruptly returned. The scent of damp stone and burning incense invaded my senses. My eyes snapped open to a dimly lit chamber, its walls covered in cryptic symbols that seemed to pulse with an eerie light. At the center of the room lay an ornate circle inscribed with runes, glowing ominously.
Four figures stood before me, each draped in dark, hooded robes that concealed their faces. Despite the concealment, an oppressive precense seem to radiate from them, seeping into the very air.
"Ah, the summoning worked," one of them rasped, his voice gravelly and cold.
Panic surged through me as I scrambled backward, heart pounding against my ribs. "Where am I? What's going on?"
Another figure chuckled, the sound haunting as it echoed off the stone walls. "You, mortal, have been summoned to our realm for a purpose."
My eyes darted around the chamber, searching for an escape, but the chamber seemed sealed and impenetrable. "Brought here? By you?"
The third figure stepped forward, pale hands adorned with intricate tattoos emerging from beneath the robe. "Indeed. We require your... expertise."
I blinked, trying to mask my fear with sarcasm. "Expertise? I think you've got the wrong guy. I'm just a software developer."
The fourth figure's eyes glowed beneath his hood with a sinister crimson, piercing the darkness. "Do not underestimate yourself. In your world, perhaps it's mundane. But here, it's invaluable."
A cold dread went down my spine. "What do you want from me?"
The first figure produced a parchment. "Our world is on the brink of chaos. Forces from other planes are invading our realm."
Confusion clouded my thoughts. "And what does that have to do with me?"
The first figure's voice was calm but insistent. "An ancient prophecy speaks of a being from another realm who can tip the scales of the invasion."
A nervous laugh escaped me. "And you think that's me?"
They exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. The second figure's reply was slow and measured. "You possess knowledge and abilities unique to your realm. With our guidance, you will harness them to serve our goals."
Suspicion crept in. "And what exactly are your goals?"
A sinister grin seemed to form beneath the third figure's hood. "To overthrow the tyrannical light and usher in an age of darkness and chaos."
My stomach dropped, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead. "Wait, you want me to help you... bring darkness?"
The fourth figure leaned in, his breath chilling my skin. "Do not worry. In our world, darkness is liberation."
I shook my head, trying to grasp the absurdity of it all. "No way. Send me back."
Their laughter echoed, like a haunting melody. The first figure responded, "Return is not an option. You are bound by the summoning."
Desperation clawed at me. "There has to be a way."
The second figure's eyes narrowed, their glow intensifying. "Cooperate, and perhaps we might consider it."
I weighed my options, the realization settling in that I had little choice. "Fine. What do you need me to do?"
They exchanged another round of glances. The second figure replied, almost cryptically, "...That is... for you to figure out... Ours, is to only offer guidance... we cannot... interfere. The rest... is up to you... to decide."
"Huh?" The vague reply startled me. My gaze flickered between the four figures, who remained silent, staring at me with unnerving intensity. A sense of dread seeped into my bones. "What's the plan? You have a plan, right? Right?"
Silence stretched on, amplifying the cold dread settling in my gut. _F*ck. This guys were not following the script. Where was the part where they grant me some cool power? Or at least some dark, ominous ability to fend for myself? Who the hell wrote this script? I swear, I'm going to file a complaint._
Finally, when the silence became unbearable. I spoke up, my frustration bubbling over. "Oi, this is the part where you give me some power or something to protect myself, right? How do you expect me to go out there like this? I don't even know where to start. Hey, how about you start by telling me where I am? Who are you guys?"
The four figures exchanged another glance before the fourth figure gestured towards a passageway. "Come with us."
Without a word, they turned and began walking away. I hesitated only a moment before following, my mind racing with a million questions.
They led me to another chamber, similar to the previous one but larger, its walls covered in even more intricate symbols. The air here was thick with a sense of power. At the center of the room stood a raised platform, its presence even more than the four.
The platform looked ancient, its rectangular structure seem weathered by time, covered in cryptic runes that glowed faintly with an eerie light. These runes intertwined, forming a complex circle at the center. Above it hovered a pitch-black crystal orb, its surface polished to a mirror-like finish, glowing with a pulsing red hue that radiated a sense of dread and foreboding. Chained around the platform were fifteen grimoires, each distinct in appearance and exuding a powerful, malevolent aura.
The fourth figure turned to me, his voice low and commanding. "Place your hand on the orb."
I looked at him, hesitation freezing my movements. "What is it?"
"The answer to your questions," he replied simply, before the four of them turned and left me alone with the ominous artifact.
Taking a deep breath, I approached the platform, every instinct screaming at me to run. But something, a strange pull, drew me closer. I reached out and placed my hand on the orb. The cold surface pulsed beneath my fingers, sending a surge of energy coursing through me, intertwining with my very essence.
Everything went black.
---
When I woke, I was lying on the damp stone floor, somehow no longer on the platform. The crystal orb had changed, now emitting a red, almost black light that glowed menacingly beside it. The grimoires trembled restlessly, and the runes on the platform shone with an ominous light, distorting the space around it, especially near the blackened light.
Bang!
The door to the chamber burst open, and the four hooded figures rushed in.