March of 2021

"Wake up, you useless piece of shit! You're this close!" I cried out with all my might as I spat out blood.

"Don't die! Don't die! Don't die!" I repeatedly yelled.

Each scream gets silent as time passed by... while I slowly succumb to the void devouring my existence.

The blank night sky and the crimson moon started fading away... as if a black hole was absorbing it.

The harbor began disappearing too... Well, at least its remains.

What used to be an iconic piece of infrastructure is now reduced to dust and pebble.

And along with the dirt and shrapnel, a pile of corpses blankets the ground like snow. For every second, the void threatens to fully envelop the hell I've been living in... like it's mere moments away from becoming just another memory.

"I want to go back..." I whispered to myself as I closed my eyes.

|...|

I opened my eyes and silently said, "I'm here again, huh?"

I've lost count of how many times I've been in the dark nothingness. So much so that I've gotten used to it.

Whenever I come back to this place, all I can think of is, 'when will I be back?' Or, 'how long will I be here?'

But right now, my guts tell me there won't be another chance... that I'll be in the void for an eternity, gradually losing myself to the consequences of my actions.

"Anybody here?!" I yelled as loud as I can.

"..."

While I was met by silence, I sat down with my legs crossed and began to contemplate.

"Nori, are you there?" I casually asked.

"..."

Nothing? Well, that's expected. She was with Fukitsu a few seconds ago. Hitoshi caught me off guard, but thanks to my enhancement, I prevented a one-sided massacre.

I was able to convince Sir Konstanin and Sir Rigor in the first phase. The second phase nearly ended in a disaster, but Fukitsu saved the day. And the third phase was as smooth as Dwayne Johnson's head.

Nothing went wrong so far except...

With a menacing smirk and slight giggle, I muttered underneath my breath, "Hahaha... it worked."

Well then! He should appear any moment now...

Unbeknownst to my anticipation, a sinister voice crept behind my back. Just hearing "him" speak one syllable is enough to make me shiver in fear. Even though I expected his sudden appearance, I can't help but raise my hands like a police officer was arresting me.

My life is on the line, and it's no figure of speech... right now, there's a dagger pointed at my heart.

"How have you been doing, Miles?"

"G-Great! H-How about you... Eric?"

"..."

|Two hours earlier|

My eyes were open as wide as possible, and without any thought, I whispered to myself, "What the fuck is this?"

This is definitely surprising... but it's a welcomed one. Although I should probably assume the worst, witnessing this monstrosity made me think nothing will go wrong from now.

"It's a sight to behold, Miles... burn it in your eyes! This is what I'm capable of!" Sir Rigor yelled as he clenched his fist. With eyes seemingly blazing from determination, Sir Rigor's energy can't get any more infectious.

When I was a kid, I was an avid fan of the transformers. Optimus Prime's motivational speeches had me standing on my theatre seat and convinced me to fight the Decepticons.

Sir Rigor resembles him right now.

"We're ready when you're ready, Miles. Ten thousand of my men are encircling the harbor... "

With my fingers shivering and my head facing the ground, I muttered, "Before I use my enhancement, I have a request, Sir Rigor."

"Your woman Ria, right? Don't worry... if the worst-case scenario happens, consider it done."

I lent my hand to Sir Rigor and replied, "Well then, I'll start now... but I'd like to relocate. Doing it on the roof of a building isn't comfortable."

"Go on ahead... it's been a pleasure working with you, Miles." Sir Rigor responded as he shook my hands.

Depending on what happens in the next few minutes, this may be my last handshake. It's been a solemn life, but these past few weeks have been a journey.

After losing my parents, I wrote a poem and got stuck in another world with an idiot. And ever since then, my life became an adventure... like the plot of a fiction novel.

I know I said I wouldn't die until I found my satisfaction, but this year's March... I've been happy.

Oh... that's enough sentimental thinking. I still have to see the future. Hopefully, I won't... die.

|...|

A dark, empty room with only a chair in the middle... Sir Rigor managed to prepare ten thousand armed men, but he can't even get me a decent accommodation.

I may die in the ultimate shut-in neet way! In a dark room, all alone! Ah, this sucks!

As I regret my choices in life, I heard a knock beyond the rotting door.

"*Thud!"

"Who goes there?!" I shouted as I approached the door.

"M-Miles!"

Eh? Reyna? What's she doing here?"

"Reyna, aren't you supposed to be in-"

Before I could finish my sentence, the door broke down, and what appears to be a bull charged towards me.

"Reyna! What the hell are you doing?!"

"This may be the last time... let me enjoy it, please." With a sobbing voice, Reyna quietly replied.

With her hands on my shoulders and her face against my chest, Reyna's weak voice cried out.

"Don't die." She whispered. I could feel the tears flowing from her eyes and soaking my shirt. She sounded like a child getting separated from their parents.

I gently placed my hand on top of her head and responded, "Don't worry... I won't die."

"When all of this is over... I won't lose, Miles."

'You won't wha-... Oh. I'd like to see you try."

What did I get myself into? It's not like I'm a romance novel protagonist, right?

|...|

It seems like I have a love triangle now... Ain't that troublesome. If only the author wasn't such a horny bastard.

Anyways, it's about time to get serious. My plan worked wonders, but... it will all be in vain if this fails.

"Nori..." I whispered underneath my breath.

|...|

As I closed my eyes in anticipation, the bright and cheery voice of Nori greeted me. "Took you long enough, Master!"

"You barely made in in time, twig." Fukitsu barked.

"Eh... a bunch of things happened, so I apologize for being this late. Let us make the switch, shall we?"

"..."

Uhh...No reply?! What the hell is this supposed to mean? I feel like they know something I don't, and it's not good news.

"Master... I'd like t-to update you about something." Nori barely muttered.

"G-Go ahead..."

While scratching her head with a poker face, Nori exclaimed, "Uhh... Master, you may die."

"Eh?"