[External POV]
For several hours now, a handsome young man with cyan-colored hair and ivory skin had been wandering alone through this vast forest. Time began to stretch endlessly, and questions essential to his survival, such as how to find food or water, continuously churned in his mind.
The distinctive scent of vegetation and the damp earth soaked by rain, the fresh air filling his lungs, and the sunlight piercing through the thick canopy of leaves to gently warm his skin—it was inconceivable that all these sensations were merely figments of his imagination.
Everything is real.
This is definitely not my mind playing tricks on me at the brink of death.
Indeed, how could a human brain produce such a level of abstraction in a state as dire as nearing death's door? On top of that, the overwhelming sensation of hunger was progressively weakening him. Traversing this immense expanse of green trees was draining him faster than he had anticipated.
Erm, I'm seriously lacking endurance.
Getting used to this body during such an exercise is no easy feat. Yet, despite having only inherited this body a few hours ago, it felt strangely familiar, as if it had always been mine.
After several more hours of searching for a potential way out, the young man reached a sort of clearing. The trees parted, revealing new scenery. Internally, he hoped this marked the end of his journey, as he was beginning to feel utterly exhausted by the long and grueling walk. Numerous pathways emerged in the clearing, which reassured him—it implied the regular passage of people.
So, I'm not alone? Even in this utterly remote place where I have no idea where I am?
He was visibly relieved by this realization. A faint smile appeared on his face, and a wave of newfound energy coursed through his body.
The sun, nearing its twilight, was hidden behind the distant mountains and the dense forest, casting beautiful contrasts and warm hues over the lush greenery.
"GROUAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
"What was that?!"
He jumped at the sound of a terrible growl. His previously calm demeanor was instantly replaced by a sudden and unexpected sense of tension.
Growing wary, he began to scan his surroundings. In the distance, he saw a young woman clad in leather armor, wielding a short sword in each hand, fully engaged in combat. After a few seconds of observing and trying to grasp the scene unfolding before him, he spotted a massive creature pursuing the woman. From his memory and knowledge of mythology, it resembled a Cerberus—a monstrous three-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld in Greek mythology.
The young woman in the distance appeared to be struggling, pressed hard by the relentless attacks of the Cerberus. The dominance of the three-headed beast grew increasingly apparent as their battle unfolded.
Suddenly, the young man thought he saw one of the Cerberus's heads turn and look directly at where he was standing.
It… noticed me?
Indeed, despite being half-hidden at the edge of the forest and over a hundred meters away from the action, the Cerberus demonstrated its exceptional visual acuity.
Fear struck him like an anvil crashing down. His body and mind became paralyzed. In this state of sheer terror, it was almost impossible for him to even form a coherent thought.
He wasn't supposed to see something like this, especially after spending so little time in this new world.
The young man was convinced he could do absolutely nothing. That conviction grew even stronger when he saw the monstrous beast violently hurl the young woman's body with a swing of its massive head, tossing her like a ragdoll.
I'm scared…
I'm scared…
I'm scared… I'm scared… I'm scared…
I'm next.
Obsessed with the situation, his emotional state shattered into pure, unrelenting fear. He was sure the young woman would die before his eyes. Especially since, just before losing her strength, she had cast him a glance full of desperation and a plea for help.
So, she's going to die? If I don't move, she will…
Indeed, if the young man remained frozen in place, paralyzed by fear, the poor woman who had silently begged him for help would certainly die. But he, too, was in danger. His survival was entirely compromised in this situation.
Especially now that the Cerberus had noticed him. He knew with absolute certainty that, once she was no longer in this world—brutally and savagely killed—the Cerberus would come for him and end his life just as horrifically.
Her, me, death, Cerberus, killed…
Darker and darker thoughts invaded his mind. His traumatized imagination vividly played out the scene of the young woman's death.
Why? Why so soon? Why, after being given a second chance, do I find myself in this situation? I'm not extraordinary, nor a hero from some fairy tale. How on earth could I do anything…
At that very moment, a flash crossed his mind. The scenery around him shifted, as if he were once again being engulfed by darkness. Images formed before his eyes, creating a new scene. He was now on the rooftop of a school, standing before another person. This person looked at him with a gentle smile, tears streaming down their face.
"There's nothing more we can do…"
The sound of her voice was both chilling and warm. She didn't even have time to grasp what was happening before the "person" probably a girl, leapt from the rooftop, crashing to the ground below.
She was dead.
The imaginary space dissolved like smoke, leaving him with the final, haunting image of that person's death.
The young man snapped back to reality, and the original scene around him had changed little. The Cerberus was now dangerously close to the poor woman lying motionless on the ground.
Her future was in peril.
I need to do something… but what?! I'm powerless. Completely powerless. That monster is going to kill her… and then it'll kill me right after…
A bitter thought crept into his mind, echoing the vision he had seen earlier.
If I don't act, like in what I saw, someone will die. But how… how the hell do I do something?!
His fear began to morph into anger and self-loathing. He felt so utterly impotent.
I… I need to act.
But if I act, if I decide to intervene, I'll be risking my life… my new life…
But if I run, knowing I could've done something, how could I ever look at myself in the mirror again?
Conflicting thoughts swirled endlessly in his mind. Time, however, continued to pass, and soon it would be too late.
Act, don't act, act, don't act… Act.
I have to act… if not for her, then at least for myself.
Raising his gaze, still terrified and horrified by the crushing presence of the monster, the young man looked at the Cerberus again. This time, his eyes reflected a new determination mixed with regret, guilt, and fear.
But at that precise moment, something strange happened. A surge of power coursed through his body. He felt strong—much stronger now. Why he had become so powerful, he couldn't begin to explain, but that didn't matter for now. He had to seize this chance to save the young woman.
Summoning all his courage, he tried to move toward her position to check on her condition. However, she was still several hundred meters away, and the Cerberus was only a few steps from her motionless body.
Unfortunately, the Cerberus reached her before he could. But just as it was about to deal the final blow, something even stranger happened. Without understanding the cause, an aura of power enveloped his body, making him even stronger than before. If his earlier surge of energy had merely freed him from the Cerberus's oppressive presence, this time his speed far exceeded anything he had previously been capable of.
I can do this. No, I have to do this. If I hesitate for even a moment, death awaits me.
Then, the young man charged forward.
With his greatly enhanced speed and strength, he crossed the distance between himself, the Cerberus, and the fallen warrior in just a few moments. He positioned himself between the Cerberus and the woman, using his body as a shield to protect her.
The Cerberus struck with one of its massive paws, attempting to crush him. Thanks to his extraordinary speed and strength, he had just enough energy to withstand the full force of the attack.
Moreover, the sheer power of his high-speed charge created a transfer of energy strong enough to destabilize and knock the Cerberus off balance.
The enormous beast toppled to its side, crashing to the ground with enough force to create a massive crater several meters in diameter.
However, despite the impact, the Cerberus managed to get back up, now radiating an intense and terrifyingly murderous aura.
"Huuhh!"
The Cerberus attacked without hesitation, its three monstrous heads lunging dangerously close to his body, their accelerating jaws ready to tear him apart. Unsure of what to do, the young man, still slightly terrified, stepped back to avoid the danger. He tried to analyze the situation as a whole, hoping to make the right decisions.
The problem was that the Cerberus gave him no respite, attacking him relentlessly. It seemed tireless.
This fight is far too risky for me, he thought. But at least it doesn't seem interested in the woman anymore.
Indeed, she lay unconscious on the ground, dozens of meters away from the action. Thanks to his intervention, Shintaro had allowed her to escape certain death—or at least delayed it.
As he retreated, his right foot struck a large root, causing him to fall violently to the ground. This unfortunate mistake gave the Cerberus a perfect opportunity to attack. Acting on instinct, Shintaro positioned both arms defensively, managing to block the first head of the Cerberus. However, the other two jaws, with their razor-sharp teeth, violently sank into his body.
Even with the overwhelming energy and feeling of power surging through him, the Cerberus tore into him effortlessly, as if his body were made of butter. The right head ripped his leg apart, exposing the bone beneath his battered flesh. The left head pierced his stomach, its fangs sinking deep into his organs.
"ARRGGHHH!!!!"
A scream of pure agony erupted from Shintaro's mouth. The pain was unbearable—the worst sensation he had ever experienced. The idea of watching and feeling his body being torn apart was horrifying for the poor young man. Yet, despite the excruciating pain, Shintaro knew he had to stay conscious. Falling unconscious would mean death, both for him and for the woman whose life depended on him.
His weakening body began to bathe in his own blood. Shintaro could feel his strength draining away, leaving him bit by bit.
I'm in bad shape… but I have to keep fighting.
My mind feels empty.
He tried to fight back, but his body wouldn't move. It was too battered to continue. The feeling of power and determination he had felt earlier began to fade, replaced once again by fear and terror.
No… no… this can't…
I must pull myself together.
Shintaro used every ounce of mental strength he had left to remain conscious. The enraged heads of the Cerberus dug deeper into his poor body.
With one last surge of resolve, Shintaro gathered all the energy left in his body and compacted it into his fist. With a gaze filled with rage and determination, he punched the monster with all his might.
The impact of his blow was so immense that it created an incredible shockwave. The Cerberus exploded before him, its body utterly pulverized, its entrails and blood scattering everywhere within several meters of his position.
The monstrous beast's blood splattered across his body, staining his once metallic hair with a deep crimson hue. The putrid stench of the Cerberus's entrails made the young man feel nauseous, but he did his best to remain focused. Still, his head spun. His final attack had been devastating, but it had drained every ounce of energy he had left. The problem with this strategy was clear: while he had emerged victorious in this fight, there was no guarantee that even more vile dangers wouldn't suddenly appear.
It was the only option…
Shintaro felt nothing inside him anymore. He was utterly drained, and his consciousness was fading little by little. He collapsed onto the ground. The sky above was blue and cloudless, and the grass tickled his ears as he bled out, drop by drop.
But just as he thought he was doomed to die from his terrible injuries, Shintaro noticed the young woman he had fought to save. Her hands entered his field of vision, glowing faintly with an emerald light. She looked as battered as he felt, but there was a strange determination etched into her expression.
How… how did she manage to get here? I… I thought she had been unconscious…
Various questions swirled through his mind as he watched her make gestures he couldn't understand.
"Stay calm, please. Everything will be fine in just a moment."
Her voice was calm, but there was an undertone of nervousness. The young woman was doing her best to reassure him, though it was difficult for his battered mind to process.
His vision darkened slightly as his eyes met hers.
"I'll do everything I can to save you, but you mustn't move!" she shouted, her nervousness giving way to panic.
The faint emerald glow around her hands intensified and began to envelop his entire body. Shintaro didn't understand the actions she was performing, but after a few moments, he felt new strength coursing through him. His horrific wounds and unbearable fatigue began to fade, despite his belief that survival was impossible.
This is... incredible.
Several dozen minutes passed, and his body was fully healed. There wasn't a single scar or visible mark left behind. Shintaro couldn't hide his astonishment at the miraculous feat of healing.
"Thank you so much for your help. Without you, I'd surely be dead," he said, catching his breath.
"What's your name?"
The young woman turned her head toward him, a faint smile crossing her face, though it was clear she was still exhausted.
"My name is Violet Kairos. You can just call me Violet. And you don't need to thank me for saving you—it's thanks to you that I'm alive. I owe you my life, and I swear it on my name," she said.
Violet bowed respectfully before him. Shintaro was slightly unsettled by her gesture, as it was clear that their survival had depended on each other's actions.
Violet raised her head, seeming ready to address him again, but she hesitated, realizing she didn't know his name. After a brief silence, Shintaro spoke up.
My old name was Shintaro. Letting go of that name would mean burying my past life, fully abandoning it so I could start over completely.
Shintaro took a deep breath before responding.
"My name is Glenn. It's a pleasure to meet you."