Death

[Weapon Name: Unknown Katana

Description: ?????????????????????????????

Usage: ??????????????????????????????

Note: Null.]

I really have no idea why I chose this weapon. But…

…I have a feeling I've seen it somewhere before, though…

…I can't remember where.

Well, that doesn't matter.

What matters is reaching Ellie before whatever's after her can get to her first.

Which…

…well, I feel like it's a suicide mission, considering I can't defeat it if even she herself couldn't.

"Stem…"

[Yeah?]

"What would it take for you to unseal my mana?" I asked, walking through the forest with my eyes peeled for any danger, alert to every little rustle or snap of a twig.

[100 LP]

"...I see," I muttered, contemplating my next move.

To unseal my mana, I'd need at least three months' worth of LP, time I really don't have right now.

Tsk.

I hate this whole concept of LP.

It irritates me to think my life is tied to some point system.

But…

…I guess I have no choice.

"What exactly is the first phase of the conquest?" I asked instead of diving straight into questioning the whole conquest ordeal, as I had come to understand how this system worked.

[Conquest: First Phase.

The journey is long, but every step counts toward the ultimate goal.

Description: Survive until the 'END.'

Trial: Final.

Reward: The memories of *****.

Penalty: An eternity of unimaginable pain.]

What…?

What does this even mean?!

What is the 'END'—

"CRAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!"

I collapsed again, overwhelmed by that same searing pain.

"Haa… ha… ahh," I panted through gritted teeth, my mind already a mess from the constant onslaught.

[Just… stop trying to understand what's going on… it's for your own good.]

"Yeah," I gasped, beyond annoyed with this whole goddamn situation.

I hate that goddess.

How could she send me to this cursed world without a shred of hope?

I don't even know why I was brought here.

Or why she chose me.

Sigh.

If I ever get the chance, I'll kill that witch.

Rustle.

Huh?

As though by instinct, the moment I heard it, I dove behind a tree, using it as cover. I pressed myself against the trunk, trying to calm my already panicked mind.

A mana beast.

It was bound to show up eventually, I suppose.

Damn it.

But I don't think I can even take on a mana beast at my level. I have no mana and no real combat skills whatsoever.

Sigh.

I took one deep breath after another and then…

…I looked.

Right there, some distance away, was what I could only call…

…a bloodbath.

I saw corpses…

…heads…

…lungs…

…and other remains that made me want to throw up.

Growls.

Rumbling.

I heard it.

That was definitely no ordinary beast.

I followed the sound and found a young girl—or rather…

…what was left of her, being devoured.

God.

What the hell is that?

There, munching on the girl's innards, was a creature I'd never seen before.

Perhaps if I had Amael's memories…

…I might have recognized it.

Bare.

It was bare, with no fur—nothing that made it look like a typical mana beast.

Wait.

Is that a Ryquin?

But…

…that shouldn't be possible.

How did it get into this ancient world?

How did it even make it to the empire—into Artens—undetected?!

No…

…that's impossible.

That only leaves one possibility…

…this Ryquin has been here since the creation of this ancient world.

…I can't believe it.

To think that Ryquins existed since the age of the gods' extinction.

It's inconceivable.

No…

…not even the game mentioned this.

It was said that Ryquins only began appearing ten years before the canon events—the official start of the story. They reportedly wiped out the Dwarven Empire two years after their first appearance and then vanished. No one knew where they went or when they'd return, but their return was imminent.

They were one of the catalysts for the game's [bad endings].

But to think the existence of these creatures dates back to the age of divine extinction?

This…

…only means there's more to this than meets the eye.

There are deeper secrets, ones the game never mentioned.

The creature was bare-skinned, with no eyes or nose—just a blank face and a gaping mouth.

A vortex of teeth.

There's no better description.

Its teeth were razor-sharp and as long as my index finger.

Its body was vaguely humanoid, except for its limbs, which were animalistic. Its claws were absurdly sharp, sharp enough to cleave a boulder in one swipe. The same went for its legs.

"KRESHH!"

It growled…

…and turned in my direction.

"Oh, fuck," I muttered, gripping the hilt of my katana. But then…

…a blur…

I glanced to the side…

…and there it was—a claw tearing through the air, making its way for my…

…neck.