The Severed Thread of Fate (1)

"Such a festive mood this is." I muttered under my breath as I stroll around the site of the festival. Cheers and shout of joy was heard. The breeze was gentle and calming. A perfect atmosphere to have a relaxing time away from theories I was learning in in the academy, which made me feel like toddler being taught quantum physics. (more specifically a toddler with a brain disability that heavily infringed on my ability to form any coherent thought)

"Yeah, no shit, Sherlock, its like one of the largest festival around," Mia looked at me with a dumbfounded look. And of course her majesty Mia Verlice here would be ruining the mood.

"Hah… its called enjoying the little things in life, Mistress Mia" I stated confidently.

"You should try and utter those words while checking your pants."

'Huh? When did this girl?' I must have given her quite a surprised look cause responded with a cocky grin

"Why? Just because I'm from a noble family, you expected me to be so sheltered?" She raised her chest in confident. She must've encounter this situation a lot before huh?

"Well, not really, that was only a small part of it. The part that I'm surprised of is when did you start to come up with these sly responses; and secondly who the fuck, except for 12 years olds, even make small pp jokes anymore." I expressed my thought sincerely.

It seems I shattered her confidence, cause she seemed disheartened. "Hah.. well, in all honesty, I've had these kind of response quite bubbled up inside me, cause gotta maintain reputation of the clan and the family and all that."

"Struggle of a noble huh?"

"Well, I guess. But I mean of course my struggle isn't really comparable to those who's truly suffering out there. I am very blessed compared to many." Mia emphasizes on her point.

Humble. Quite refreshing coming out of her. "Well you are definitely true on that part, but it doesn't really invalidate your problem, it still matters. You're still a human, with a life, and problem, and there's nothing wrong with that."

"I see…" Mia softly said. I couldn't really see her face, but I'm guessing she must be somewhat surprise in hearing that. In a world where strength rules above all, there is no place for such weakness or insecurity. No such place for validating people's suffering, what matter most is your strength.

"So are you using that pent-up feeling you had over the years and unleashing it on me?" I slightly cracked a joke.

"Of course, how did you know?"

"Experience tell me so."

"You must've been bullied a lot," she said in a concerning tone.

"That's not what I meant, you idiot." She really has no chill when she speak freely. "Anyways, speaking of which, why did you invite me to stroll around today?"

"Cause Shin said he had some errands to run." She answered unflinchingly

"Damn straight. So I'm the back-up plan, I see how it is."

"You should be glad I'm even extending this invite to you." She said condescendingly.

"Uh-huh. No but you should've invited like Jun-seo or something. "

"Why, do you not want to hang out with me?"

"No, its nothing like that. It's just a little weird cause we were on some bad terms before. And, you're probably more close to him."

"Well, I mean it doesn't really matter, now that I know you better, you're much more tolerable."

"Fair enough, I guess," I nodded in understanding. She had a point, and also I don't really mind it, since I don't feel the need to avoid the main casts anymore.

"And also," she stopped in her track. "You seem much more authentic than a lot of those I have met. I much prefer this side of yours, it's very comforting. Don't let anyone ruin it."

"Haha," I couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "I guess so, and I won't, I promise"

We walked around the festival and try some of the various food they had to offer, and generally just watching some of the interesting mini game people were playing. It was quite the experience, especially the fact that this was quite a futuristic society compared to my original world.

After a while, we found a bench and sat down.

"Hah.." Mia let out a sigh, "walking in this heat is just too much." But then suddenly, something clicked within her mind. "Hey, do you have wind affinity mana by any chance?"

"Girl, if you're thinking of telling me to create a nice breeze for you cool down, it ain't happening," I bluntly shut her down before she can make her suggestion. "Use this instead." I took my dimensional storage and pulled out a fan.

"Ugh, fine…" with a defeated sigh, Mia grabbed the fan and used it to fan herself.

"Can you fan just a little bit to the left?" I requested elegantly.

Mia stopped the fanning in annoyance and glared at me, "why don't you do it, you fucker!" She shouted, throwing my little fan at me at breakneck speed, which mind you could've give someone brain injury if they were a normal human. Luckily I dodged it using my skill.

"Idiot," I remarked

"Oh-" suddenly, behind us, we heard a rather familiar voice. We turned around to see Eliss,…. And the fucking King of Alys… along with like 20 fucking bodyguard surrounding them both.

"Your majesty." Mia swiftly greeted the King

"Mia Verlice of the Gentle Storm Clan, it's a pleasure meeting you on this fine occasion." The King greeted. The king then turned his head towards me and asked, "and you are?"

"He's the one we discussed about last time, father," Eliss spoke up.

"Ah, I see, I've been meaning to meet you. Jin Shinpei was it?"

'What a pain,' I heaved a sigh internally before speaking up, "that is correct, your majesty."

"I would like to once again thank you for helping my daughter in times of need."

"It is my duty as a soldier, your majesty." I cringed exponentially at that line. i don't know why I could feel Mia internally giggling right now.

"Well spoken," the king smiled. "Regarding the compensation, have you made your decision yet?"

"Not at the moment, your majesty."

"I see, need not to worry about it, take your time."

"Thank you, your majesty." I said wholeheartedly.

"Shall we go, Eliss?" The king turned his gaze back to his daughter.

"Umm… is it possible if I stay with my friends for a little while…?" Eliss mustered up a smile as she asked.

"That should be not be a problem, go ahead. Make sure to return by the time the tournament start," the king permitted.

"Thank you very much, father!" She excitedly said.

"Be careful now," the king turned his attention towards us, "please take care of my daughter." For a moment there, he looked like a genuinely concerned father and not a cold and indifferent ruler.

""We will.""

Afterward the king walked away and continued his exploration, leaving Eliss with us.

"Haaahh…." After the King gotten far enough, she let out a heavy sigh and slumped down on the bench with us. "How tiring, thank god you guys were here."

"Pftt-hahahah" Mia couldn't hold back her laugh. "Its my duty as a soldi- HAHAHA"

"Shut the fuck up," I said in embarrassment, "I needed to make a good impression."

"Well," Mia said, wiping her tears, "first of all, his first impression of you was actually the fact that you avoided a meeting with him; second of all, that 'its my duty as a soldier' was a little too much."

"Huh? Cringy part aside, I believe I executed that perfectly." I argued

"No it was definitely a little be overboard, you didnt have to be that formal," Eliss said with a smile.

"Fuck."

"Anyways, what were you guys doing?" Eliss asked in an interested tone.

"We were just strolling around the festival together. They got a lot of stuff this year," Mia answered.

"Together? Like a date??" She exclaimed while covering her mouth for what looks to be a shock expression.

"Haha, you're funny, princess," I chuckled.

"Yeah, he's right," Mia continued on, "as if a person such as I wou-"

"What she meant to say that I'm such a high value person that I'm completely out of her league!" I interrupted Mia with a smile.

"You fucker, it was suppose to be the other way around!"

"Hey hey, you asked me to come to walk around the festival together," I retorted with a smile.

"Ugh, I don't like how that's a good point for this argument." Mia clicked her tongue. "But as it stands, it seems my truth is much more reasonable."

"Haha, I was just messing with you guys," Eliss chuckled at our banter. "Oh, I remember how Mia use to talk so much smack about you in the past. It's good you're on good terms now."

"I know, and I didn't say a word about her, and yet I'm the one that's called an asshole on almost every occasion," I heaved sigh of disappointment

"Cause you were an asshole, you idiot. I mean, you still are."

"No, no, she has a point," Eliss nodded.

"She doesn't." I refused to acknowledge it. "Anyways, have you guys prepared well for the tournament?" I popped the question.

"We should be fine," Mia assured.

"Yup, I'm confident we all can get to the final battle," Eliss nodded.

"They have been training really hard," Shin admitted. "Mia might have a chance to win against me."

"Hmm, nah thats impossible, beating Shin is jus- huh…?" We all turned around to meet the his golden eyes and white hair.

"WAHH!" Mia jumped at his sudden appearance.

"Don't just magically appeared like that, you asshole!" I shouted.

"That also gave me quite the fright," Eliss murmured.

"Haha, my bad my bad, anyways are you guys ready?" Shin asked with a smile.

"Oh is it almost time?" Eliss questioned as she checked the time.

"Yup, we should head over to the arena soon," Shin nodded.

"Alright, let us go, shall we? Jun-seo may be waiting for us there." Eliss said as stood up and followed behind Shin.

"Let's go, Jin." Mia urged with a smile as she stood up.

"Stop saying my name so casually, it cre-"

「The thread of fate have been severed. Behold, a new beginning of futile endeavor」

"ARGGHHHHHH!" I let a blood-curdling scream, feeling a pain which scorched the essence of my very soul. Death. That was the only way I could describe it. The pain and dread and fear. This was much much worse that before.

"Hey, Jin! What's wrong!" Mia quickly rushed towards me. "Shin! Eliss! Something is wrong with Jin!"

"ARGHHH FUCKK MAKE IT STOP!!"

"Shit!" Shin cursed as he swiftly grabbed me and activated his skill and teleport us to the forest on the outskirt of the human domain.

—-

(Shin's POV)

"ARGHHH GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!!" His pain and agony continued on for for another 5 minutes or so before it died down.

As he struggled to breathe, gasping for air, I tried to use a healing skill I have mimic on him to try and help in recover a quickly as possible.

Jin Shinpei fell unconscious afterward. Just what the hell was that, was it that voice again? What is going on, I can't comprehend anything.

"Hey, Shin, what happened to him?" Mia, who was watching silently next to me, finally asked in concern.

"I really am not sur-"

Whoosh—

"Keuh—" Suddenly, a hand grabbed my neck. Surprised by the sudden ambush, I tried to retreat, but the hand stayed firm and I was unable to break away from the grip. Shit.

I met his glowing, icy, silver white eyes, glaring into my soul. He held an indifference that was silent yet deadly. The man before me was Jin Shinpei, but something within me screamed, urging me that he was not the Jin Shinpei I know. I felt true fear before his might. His eyes tells me he could end my life at any moment.

「■■■ you must reweave ■■■, ■■■ of fate, or ■■■ death shalt await」

As this 'Jin Shinpei' utter these words filled with indiscernible gibberish, he began to lose consciousness once again, loosening and letting go of his grip around my neck.

"…" Just what in the hell was that? This was not the first time I have seen Jin like this, it also happened during that hunt of our. Something is not right about his existence, possessing an alter ego which seems to be a being beyond anything comprehensible.

'Should I kill him?' A dreadful thought resurfaced in my mind

"Are you okay, Shin?" Eliss reached out to me, snapping me out of my own thought.

"Y-yeah.." I answered in a daze.

I shook off the thought and think about it, a bit more rationally, 'This being, his alter ego, seems to not be hostile towards us in any sort of mean, but rather it seems to be warning us about something, that could possibly lead to our death… there is still too much unanswered question to draw a conclusion…"

"Shin, is Jin okay?" Mia called for my attention as she held Jin in her arms. "Just what the hell happened?"

"That… I'm not entirely sure myself."

"But you have an idea, no?"

"That…" I contemplated whether I should tell her…

"Come on, spit it out!" To my surprise, Mia raised her voice. It seems that was quite mad, to say the least. She must've grown quite fond of him.

"I'm not sure, this has happened before, and it may be a psychotic episode, from what I have seen so far," In the end, I decided to lie. This was a matter between him and I, and it is mostly not wise to involve any people of this world into it.

"Then, should we send him into treatment?" Eliss suggested.

"Possibly, may be we sh-"

"N-no need… ugh…" it was then that Jin awoken from his slumber and regained his consciousness.

"Jin!" Mia exclaimed. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah just a little headache." Jin said with struggle in his voice. "You guys should head to the arena, or you're gonna be late."

"Who cares about that now? Look what happened to you!" Mia retorted.

"As I said, I will be fine, you don't have to worry about me, you idiot," he slowly got up and regain his balance. Then, he turned my gaze towards me. "Let's go," he said.

"…" I stared at him for a while before activating my skill.

[Eternal Mimicry - Teleportation]

Then, we were once again back to the site of the festival.

—-

(Jin's POV)

'God, what a nightmare that was.' I heaved a sigh. This voice in my head is incomprehensible, I don't understand what it is. Is this the result if my reincarnation? Or is it a cost of possessing an ability that should not exist in this world plane? I can't think of any conclusions..

When we got to the arena, I had to separate from the three of them since they were running late, and the tournament is about to start.

"Hay, are you sure you're okay?" Mia checked in on me before she's about to leave.

"Yeah, I am. Stop being so concerned about me, its weird coming from you," I remarked.

"Oh shut up, but I'm seriously concerned about you, its the first time I've seen you like that." To that, I couldn't help but smile, the kid is a really good person. If I hadn't read the story before entering this world, I would've mistaken her to be a naive toddler who lack empathy, consideration and understanding of other.

"She's right, it was very odd, you did not look like you were in a state that is susceptible to a psychotic episode," Eliss said. Psychotic episode? It seems that it looked to them as such. It's a convenient excuse, I'll take it.

"I'm fine now, don't worry about me, you all should get going, the tournament is about to start."

After they left, I went to enter the arena to find a seat to myself in the audience. The place was huge and extremely crowded. There must've been at least half a million people here.

Down there I could see Shin, Mia, Eliss and Jun-seo getting ready with their equipment. It seems like the first event would be somewhat like a battle royale. Eliss is checking the tension on her string; Mia was warming up with her rapier; and Jun-seo was testing his skill with the sword; and Shin was merely standing there, most likely thinking of what wold be the best way to win this event without showing too much of his power.

As I gaze around , I could see many smiles and joy, from normal civilians, to soldiers, to the leaders of humanity. In this world, devoid of freedom and peace, humanity still manage to find hope. Truly, it amaze me sometimes, the tenacity of human being.

However...

[Hidden Danger beyond the host's capability detected!]

[Initiating temporary control of Wildcard: "Absolute Probability Manipulation".]

[Message received!]

[Sender: ???]

["You can not perish today. It is too early. Remember, this is the last chance, no mistake can be made. Run."]

"What..." I couldn't help but feel the chills running down my spine as the transparent system windows suddenly appeared in front of me. "Run...?"

It was at that moment, the clouds above turned dark, and thunderstorm began to brew. A dense demonic energy made the air felt extremely suffocating. Screams and terror filled the arena.

[Wind Mimicry]

I quickly burst forth, activating my skill to pass through the various panicking audience, and made my way towards the four main protagonist. The safest place here right now can only be next to Shin.

"Jin, what is the meaning of this?" Shin uttered as he gaze off into the distance om disbelief.

"What do you mean?" I followed his line of sight to see what he was looking at. Then suddenly, a terror, one I have never felt before gripped me by my throat.

There, in the middle of the arena, was spatial tear. One that was growing with each passing seconds. As the distortion continued to grow and grow, my heart began to beat faster and faster.

[Eternal Mimicry - Telepathy]

[This is what I think it is, isn't it] Shin activated telepathy and conveyed his thought.

[Yeah... Shin, hide our mana signature, all of us..]

[Eternal Mimicry - Mana Alteration] Without saying a single word, Shin followed my order and activate his ability.

There was only one character capable to creating a spatial tear of this magnitude. It was then a giant dark hand with seemingly much more complex golden runes reached out through the spatial tear. A tremendous amount of bloodlust can be felt, causing many to fall in fear.

This 'being' step through the spatial tear and gaze around. It's crimson red eye sent shivers my spine. It was then, for the first time ever since arriving at this world, I felt an unquenchable fear.

"This is impossible..." There is not way that such absurd event is possible. I looked back at that past months or so since I have came to this world and see where I could've done wrong. Where could I have made a mistake for things to turn out this way. Yet, ultimately, it was meaningless. For what possible regret can go against that being standing before us.

The being revealed a smile, one that was filled with viciousness, seemingly satisfied with the fear it had evoked.

"Greeting, lowly humans..." its words were filled with dreadful demonic energy, beyond anything comparable. "I am V■zl■■z"

It is unmistakable. There was only one being with possessing such name.

"I am the one you lowly insects refer to as the Demon King."

On this fateful day, the demon king ascended upon this world. Truly, the withering flower of doubt have revealed its true nature. A dread unlike any other.

Thus, began a future of incomprehensible terror. Breaking free from a world full of lies. Going beyond to a world filled with unspeakable dread.