Chapter 3: Who Let The Dangers Out: Tango With The Unknown!
01
"Argh...." I stretched out, feeling a pulsating pain in my back. "What a horrible be-...
- Wait a second!
Reality hit me all at once, ripping me from the last remnant of sleep. I wasn't in the comfort of my bed, but rather on a mound of hay in an abandoned barn. The sun sneaked through the cracks in the old wood, casting golden rays directly onto my face.
My stomach growled like a hungry monster, but it was thirst that tormented me the most. What was left of the stale bread and moldy cheese became an improvised breakfast. But water, that was a problem. None since I arrived in this world. Between bites, a subtle sound caught my attention. Could it be running water? Was I so exhausted yesterday that I didn't hear it?
I swallowed the last piece of bread and got up. The barn seemed much less threatening under the sunlight, and nature was vibrating in a symphony of colors and sounds. The birds sported exotic plumage, and their shapes were oddly familiar. Still, with a bizarre twist - I'll never forget the toucan with the hummingbird's beak.
I followed the soundtrack of what I suspected to be running water. After a relaxed ten-minute walk, there it was: a small stream, its waters murky and opaque under the morning sun. For a moment, I was tempted to drink directly from it.
However, an old piece of advice echoed in my mind: "Never drink water directly from the source if you can't boil it, even if it seems clear and clean. Transparency doesn't guarantee the absence of microorganisms!" The words of 'Pink_Fire_Flames', a creator of game tutorial videos that I used to watch, may have saved me from a terrible stomachache.
Of course, that water was neither clear nor clean. With no possibility of boiling it, I opted to investigate the source. I picked up a fallen branch and walked a little upstream, looking for any sign of contamination. Instead, I found something much worse: a dead creature, a grotesque hybrid of rhinoceros and capybara, lay in the middle of the stream. Repugnant. So much running water, and I couldn't drink a single drop, let alone boil it. What the hell!
I know what you're going to ask: why didn't I go further upstream before the water reached the dead animal? Well, I tried, but the water's color was the same. And I really didn't come to this world to die of contaminated water a day later.
Without a backpack or something similar, I was stuck carrying my only possession in hand, the wine bottle. After spending all day in that hot sun, it wouldn't stay in good condition. I knew in the end, it would just be extra weight; I didn't have another choice; there was no way to keep carrying the bottle everywhere, so I decided to leave it on the ground and move on.
I was returning to the barn, now much more frustrated than when I woke up. The sun was scorching, and I had to do something about this before returning to the road. While walking, I remembered an episode of a survival show I once watched, 'Man vs. Nature, ' I think? Which suggested using a T-shirt to protect your head against the sun. So, upon reaching the barn, I turned my shirt inside out, as the outside was all dirty and messy, and wore it on my head as an improvised turban. I didn't know if it would work, but what choice did I have? Also, I rolled up the hem of my pants as high as possible; I knew the journey would be long, hot, and very dehydrated.
Then I hit the road, continuing in the same direction as yesterday. Now, with the sun illuminating everything, I chose to walk in the line of trees, a little further from the main road, it was a little cooler, and I wasn't so visible. Since the encounter at the camp, the landscape had changed to rolling hills and forests, much different from the open steppes before, thankfully.
The mind tends to wander during long walks or under extreme dehydration. As I moved, I started to observe the sun. There was only one, and it was the same color as ours. A good thing, maybe? My passion for Astronomy made me ponder about the physical properties of this alien sun. But then, what about time here? Would the day be 24 hours? And a year, how many days would it be? AAAH! What a THIRST, my head hurts so much. I decided to stop thinking and try to just walk.
02
Judging by the sun's position, it had been a few hours since I left the barn when a somewhat unpleasant reality took over me after I stopped pondering: I was stinking. Not that I could do much about it, I wouldn't risk bathing in that stream. The constant walking, the dirt, and the scratches... all contributed to a very unpleasant smell. I just hoped that if I met someone, they wouldn't think I was a vagabond or something like that.
My thoughts turned to the clothes I was wearing. I remembered Kazuma in the Light Novel. He was transported to this world wearing a tracksuit while I was wearing a 'Field of Battle' game shirt (now wrapped around my head) and sports pants. Indeed, like him, it seemed like a scream of "virgin" to everyone who could see.
I continued walking, my steps echoing on the road becoming increasingly worn out, just like my fake all-star (which was already starting to poke through, just like my hopes, by the way). At first, it seemed like a real road, full of small stones. Now, it was more like a beaten dirt path. This was not good.
I kept going my way, having no idea how many hours had passed. The only certainty was that I saw no sign of life except for the guys I met yesterday. Still, strange sounds filled the air, coming from the vegetation around. They could be animals or maybe monsters. Without even a knife to protect me and only having a stick as a defense, each strange noise was a reason to speed up the pace. There was always the feeling of being stalked; maybe it was just paranoia... or perhaps not. Either way, whenever this happened, I walked faster, my heart was pounding, and I forgot about the thirst, which was already consuming me.
The sun was no longer at its peak, it seemed like late afternoon, and the thirst was even worse; with a tremendous headache, dry mouth, dry throat, and pain all over the body, everything was terrible. I really started wanting to give up (At least the shirt did the trick, amen!).
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity walking, I saw something... A sign? Yes, a sign! It was the first indication of civilization I found. The wooden sign pointed to the right at a fork in the road.
I approached, half incredulous. The wood was cracked and stained in several places. The paint, once bright, was now faded, adding another challenge to my task. But, with some effort, I managed to decipher:
"Cong...ts, trav...er! You are... 300 F...ls... to reach the... extraordinary.... of the crimson demons!...marvel at... our renowned... lineage... feared even by the...ng Demon! If you... tourist, welcome... to our a...dorable community! If... a demon... dare... to confront... our unmatched...a strength?"
Despite the wear and tear and the lack of some words, the message was clear. The sign was pointing the way to a place called the Village of the crimson demons. Apparently, a community that took pride in its strength and legacy, even daring to challenge monsters.
After interpreting the message on the sign, I stood there momentarily, swallowing the dryness in my throat. The theatrical language, the grand deeds, all this was very characteristic of the crimson demons. At least this world seemed not so different from that one so far. But 300 f...is? What unit of measurement would this be? I can't remember anything similar...
However, regardless of what it meant, this could be an opportunity. I knew that the Village was distant from Axel, at least in the world of the light novel. So, this could be my best shot to find people with whom I could somehow relate. And even though it was a long journey, I only had a few options.
The worn-out state of the sign suggested that the Village was very far away, maybe many days' journey, but even so, I felt a glimmer of hope. With a set destination and renewed motivation, I was ready to face the unknown waiting for me on the road…
03
I continued my path. Now, towards the so-called Village of the Crimson demons. As the sun set, my hunger and thirst intensified, becoming increasingly unbearable. The sunlight was gone, and the road grew darker; the shadows of the trees looked scarier, so I decided to now walk on the road. However, considering my extreme thirst, my mind started playing tricks on me. Reality seemed distorted. My steps became irregular and uncoordinated. I could feel my consciousness slipping, but I kept walking, stumbling on the beaten ground and fighting exhaustion.
Then, something happened. I was almost fainting when I heard a strange noise, a loud, screeching sound. My eyes widened as I saw what appeared to be a group of small creatures coming toward me. They were the size of rats but with wings as thin as bats' and eyes that glowed in the dark. I could have called them fairies, but that term seemed too tame for what they truly were. These beings were far more bizarre, something that defied all known definitions from my world.
They circled around me, emitting that strange, high-pitched sound. I tried to move away from them, but my energy ran out faster with every step. I remember thinking how such a ridiculous situation could become so threatening. It was simply terrifying.
That night, I was being harassed by a swarm of buzzing fairies while struggling to keep my sanity. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry; I didn't know if that was real. My heart was racing, my mouth was dry, and my skin was sweating, even though the cold of the night had fallen. My stomach ached from hunger, but it was the thirst that really tortured me.
The moon's rays shone through the trees, creating a dark pattern on the ground. The light reflected off the translucent wings of the creatures, making a show of iridescent lights that danced and moved around me. I tried to shoo them away, waving my hands, but they seemed amused by my despair, buzzing louder and flying closer. In frustration, I picked up a stone and threw it in their direction. They quickly dispersed, but in seconds they were back, buzzing around me.
I continued my walk in the darkness, my feet heavy and my head spinning. The constant buzzing of the fairies in my ears amplified with each step I took. The sound was disturbing, but more than that, it was the feeling of being watched that made me increasingly anxious. Were these little creatures just playing with me, or did they have more sinister intentions?
Despite all these disturbing thoughts, I tried to stay focused and concentrate on moving forward. However, exhaustion and disorientation were consuming me, deeper and deeper. My legs felt like lead, my eyes struggled to stay open, and my throat... My throat burned with unbearable thirst. I could barely think of anything else but water…
Just as I was about to allow myself to fall, I spotted something in the distance. Suddenly, all the fatigue and pain seemed secondary. What I saw emerging from the tree line was what I feared most. All that noise attracted a silhouette, and the faint moonlight only outlined its bulky shape, but that was enough to make me stop in my tracks.
Its size resembled a bear's, but it was much larger than any bear I had ever seen on TV. Its red eyes glowed in the dark, and even from a distance, I could see their cruelty. The fairies began to scatter, anticipating what was about to happen.
Adrenaline flooded my system, and my mind suddenly cleared despite the paralyzing terror. I didn't know where this sudden surge of energy came from, but I clung to it. The only thing I could think of was to run. It didn't matter if I was weak, thirsty, hungry, or exhausted. It didn't matter if I had a clear idea of where I was going. The only thing that mattered was to put as much distance as possible between me and that creature.
The road under my feet seemed to sway and ripple, making it increasingly difficult to keep my balance. But I kept going, my lungs burning, my head pounding, every muscle in my body screaming in pain. Even with blurred vision and buzzing ears, I ran as if my life depended on it. Indeed, that was exactly the case - my life was at stake!!
The minutes dragged on like hours, but I kept the pace. I could feel it. I could hear the presence of the creature behind me, its claws scratching the ground. It was getting closer, but I wasn't going to give up, not yet.
Then, suddenly, something happened. My foot tripped over a stone, and I fell with no balance to save me. I rolled on the ground, my screams lost in the night wind. Pain spread all over my body, but I felt a consuming emptiness. My vision faded, the buzzing turned into silence, and my mind gave in to exhaustion. The last thing I remember before everything disappeared, was the starry sky above me and the certainty that my journey had come to an end.
-
In the pitch of unconsciousness, a flicker of sensation made itself known, something strangely lucid amid the void I was sinking into. It was a damp and warm feeling, like the breath of a large, fierce animal. In some distant corner of my mind, I recognized this contact as an imminent danger. Still, my body was beyond any capacity to react. I was defenseless, left at the mercy of whatever was probing me in the darkness.
And then, suddenly, a new sound filled the void. They were voices, sounding both authoritative and concerned. Hearing them had never provided me with so much relief before. However, my mind was wrestling in the abyss, unable to identify the words it heard.
Along with the voices, I heard the thunder of something large and heavy moving urgently. The sound reverberated through the ground, and the soil vibrated under my body. It seemed almost like an earthquake. The predatory presence that was near me abruptly backed off. My pursuer disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
The last thing I heard before absolute silence enveloped me was an exclamation: "There's someone down here!". These words were like a distant echo, fading away as I was dragged back into the depths of unconsciousness.
At this point, I had no more strength to fight against the abyss pulling me. I had reached my limit. Even so, the voice I heard ignited a small flame of hope within me. Maybe I wasn't alone. Maybe, just maybe, I had a chance. With that last thought, I succumbed to the weight of exhaustion, allowing the darkness to swallow me completely.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone