CHAPTER 3: New weapons (2)

I sat there, legs crossed, staring at the strange objects before me. "Is it okay if I touch them?" I muttered, eyes locked onto the items.

After waking up, I had taken the time to examine my surroundings more thoroughly. The scene before me was a mess.

The flying creatures that had nearly devoured me were now lifeless husks. But what I hadn't noticed at first was that two of them had been cleanly slashed apart, while the third—the one that had likely broken my arm—had a deep wound at the base of its wings.

The only explanation I could come up with was that they had been cut down by the mysterious objects now lying before me.

The orb, apart from glowing with that same hypnotic red light that felt eerily familiar, seemed harmless. The other two objects, however, were a different story.

At first glance, they resembled rings—just slightly larger than normal. But upon closer inspection, they were more akin to circular blades. Their color was so intensely red that it was difficult to discern their material, and they were unnervingly thin.

'Are these... weapons?' I thought. But if they were, how was I even supposed to wield them? There was no apparent handle, no safe spot to grip. And considering that they had not only pierced the cave floor but also, hypothetically, sliced through the creatures, they were likely heavy and incredibly sharp.

Despite the unease they caused me, I felt an inexplicable attraction to them. It was as if I had seen them before—as if I had wielded them before. Ignoring them simply wasn't an option.

I decided to test them cautiously. I tossed small rocks at the weapons, then draped my scarf over one. The only reaction was a slight increase in their glow—especially when the scarf made contact.

Gathering my courage, I slowly extended a finger toward one of the weapons.

The moment I touched it, its glow intensified dramatically. "Waaah!!" I yelped, yanking my hand back.

As if responding to my shock, the weapons suddenly sprang to life, spinning rapidly and flying around the cave, carving deep gashes into the walls and floor.

"What the hell—?!" I shouted, scrambling to dodge the whirling blades that had, just moments ago, been lying dormant.

I wasn't fast enough. One of the weapons was already inches from my face.

'I'm not going to dodge in time!' The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.

I clenched my eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable impact, my heart pounding in my chest.

But nothing happened.

Confused, I hesitated before cracking one eye open. The blades were still spinning violently, as if nothing had changed.

'Did it just... change direction before impact?' I thought, my breath still shallow.

But there was no time to dwell on it—I was still in danger.

'Think, think, think!' I racked my brain for a way out, moving carefully within the limited lit area of the cave.

'What if I destroy the orb?' The thought came to me suddenly.

I turned to where the orb had been—only to find it gone.

"Wha—?! Where did it go?" I gasped, barely dodging another strike.

Then, another realization struck me. "Why is the ground glowing brighter wherever I step?"

Still dodging as best I could, I finally glanced upward.

The orb was floating right above me, following my every move.

I raised my hand, intent on smashing it. "If I destroy this thing, the weapons might stop moving or even—"

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a voice interrupted, nonchalant yet carrying an undeniable weight.

Startled, I froze. My other hand instinctively lifted to block the incoming blade.

"Don't close your eyes again, you idiot! Look at it!" the deep voice commanded, cutting through my panic.

It took every ounce of my willpower, but I kept my eyes open as the weapon approached. My breath hitched. My instincts screamed at me to move, but I forced myself to watch.

Then, the impossible happened.

I stood there, frozen, watching the weapons continue their frenzied dance around the cave.

"Hah... Maybe this really is a dream after all," I murmured, lips curving into an incredulous smile. "Seriously, how is something like this even possible? What kind of world have I woken up in?"

This time, both blades came at me at once.

But I no longer felt fear.

"I don't need to be alarmed anymore," I said, lifting both arms.

The high-speed, razor-sharp blade—the one I assumed had effortlessly sliced through those creatures—the one that had torn the ground as if it were paper—

It had rebounded upon contact with my hand.

And I had felt nothing but a soft warmth against my palm.

A moment later, the two ring-shaped blades—my supposed attackers—settled into my grip as if they had always belonged there.

"Looks like I've just acquired two new weapons," I smirked, holding them firmly in my hands.