.
My shoulders are starting to numb from carrying a backpack full of food and utensils. My aunt brought her baby so, me and my brothers are forced to carry all the luggage for two hours now.
"Can you see that mountain? It only takes one and a half hour to reach that by foot." My aunt had been talking non-stop but I don't give a damn. The purpose of family outings is to relax, but this is out of the definition. This is physical labor. Why are we even doing this?
The peace and the amazing view from this mountain couldn't make up for the torture we have to go through just to reach it. I am utterly upset with this situation.
"We're almost there! I can see the black lake from here!" Kleian, my brother gained back his energy and went up the hill in a rush.
I can't say I'm enjoying this. My back hurts so bad, I feel like my bones would come off at any second. My brothers are now swimming in the lake and trying to splash water on me, but I was too far from them and too unhappy to join in with their fun activities.
The Fluer Lake is a popular tourist spot discovered through Google Maps. The water was so still and clear, you can clearly see the stones underneath them. The stones were as black as charcoal and the sand on the lakeside is in a deep shade of red. That's why I can't bring myself to take a dip. It's way too mysterious and confusing.
My brothers giggles slowly faded and I was brought to reality by the noise coming from my earpiece. Distant roars, shouts and explosions came from all directions, drowning the sound of two helicopters hovering above to document the raid.
"This is a surprise. Top three player Angelica is on the lead! But wait, she is closely followed by the top one player, ColgateNoodles!"
I groaned and slapped myself in an attempt to gain back my concentration.
The world ended four years ago. Monsters and dungeons started appearing at random locations all over the continents; in the middle of the city or in a remote place like this. It took only a few hours to destroy the civilization built by humans for hundreds of years.
It's both sad and laughable to think how much we are lagging behind from the rest of the universe in terms of technology.
Laws were reinforced to fit the game-like system that controls the entire planet. It took us a year to organize that.
Still, humanity's resilience is top-tier. We can efficiently use the different skills bestowed upon us by the system and improve it.
Reaching this far was no easy feat. I won't let my hard work go to waste. I will be the first player to clear a dungeon of this scale.
With grim determination, I jumped in the air while activating my flashy wings.
[Wings of a Fallen Angel]
[Your health will rise by 50% when you are in mid-air]
Noticing the wyverns circling me from above, I quickly changed my armor. I brandished my swords, sending waves of energy to my enemies.
"Eat that you power-hungry creatures!" I said as I glanced at the helicopter.
"Angelica Fluer finally showed us her wings! What more does she have under her sleeve? Will she be the first player to clear this dungeon?" The commentator couldn't help noticing the change. But with the appearance of wyverns, they changed their course to avoid getting attacked.
[A remnant of your memory has been retrieved. Three more remnants to complete the quest.]
The message kept blinking in the corner of my eye.
When the wyverns started locking on me, I lost the chance to check on the new notification. These creatures are swift, I'll be dėad before I knew it if I'm not careful.
So, I glided in the air, gracefully avoiding their fearsome talons.
Soon enough, I reached the boss room.
The boss room is on the other side of the lake. It was an old, four-storey mansion; awfully similar to haunted houses back in the day.
Wasting no more time, I kicked the door open and activated all of my buffs. To my surprise though, the scene before me was a complete contrast of the mansion's disturbing exterior.
In addition to that, the boss is nowhere to be seen. The ground where I'm standing is reflecting the red sky like a mirror stretching as far as the eye could see.
I got momentarily disoriented and stood there not knowing what to do next. Clad in metal armor, with my mechanical wings and two swords ready. I look misplaced in this seemingly tranquil scenery.
'How weird, where's the boss?'
As if to answer my question, holograms started appearing all over the place. Each of them depicting the dėaths of my loved ones. The aunt I so find vexing, my noisy brothers, my overprotective mother. Even the friends I betrayed.
"Huh?"
Wherever I looked, the holograms are there, as though mocking my achievements.
'Their dėaths were a necessary sacrifice for the greater cause.'
And then an inner voice spoke to me. 'But, you caused them intentionally for they are a liability in a world where only the strongest survive.'
I want to deny it. I have no conscience, no morals. Having them will make me weak.
This is not supposed to affect me. The past me no longer exist. I am an entirely, different person. So, why are these treacherous tears crawling on my cheeks?
The truth is, the reality of the world ending didn't sink in just yet. In those years, a part of me always hoped that all of this is nothing but an insanely long and surreal nightmare.
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ⓒ sinrysch
YOU ARE READING
Why Fiction? (Short Stories Compilation)
Random'Cause magic don't exist in real life.
