Unlimited Writing Works

No One’s Story, Chapter 6

January 10th, 2019

6 – Indy Ploy – III

“▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅”

An incomprehensible roar echoed in the depths of the Lost Woods. Following it, vast torrents of dark mana swept out in every direction.

Standing in the direct path of the Wrathful Sin Dragon’s breath, it was too late for me to dodge. However… “You’re out of tricks!”

I swung my right hand holding my faithful companion (stick). True to the moniker I had given it, my faithful companion gathered the nearby shadows and released an attack towards the dragon breath.

A stream of jet black mana clashed with a chaotic slash of darkness. Shockwaves blew away the mist shrouding the area as well as the ground. After countless attempts, I had finally gained the ability to oppose the dragon.

But I still came up short.

My faithful companion (stick) did its best, but the slash I sent was quickly being eroded by the dragon’s stream of pure mana. However, it bought time. And that time was all that I needed.

While the dragon was tied up blocking my attack, I leaped into the air. My title of (tentative) Legend was put on full display as I borrowed its strength to vault over the dragon breath.

Seeing my actions, the dragon’s fiery crimson eyes swiveled. Staring back at it, I felt a boundless killing intent, malice that was almost enough to be an attack on its own.

But it wasn’t.

I landed on the dragon’s head. Without wasting any time, I ran along its neck and swung my hand at its exposed nape. Like before, my faithful companion gathered the nearby shadows and sent out a slash of chaotic darkness.

An ear-splitting shriek sounded as the attack ground against the dragon’s scales. It seemed that it wasn’t by chance Braves could only seal it away. But I had already expected that outcome. As it was a creature of boundless mana, an attack of pure energy could do nothing against its scales and was dispersed by the dragon’s mana. However, I wasn’t done.

If my attacks were being obstructed by mana… well, I had a skill perfectly suited to oppose that. It had taken over a hundred deaths to figure out how to use it like I intended, but now-

I swung my faithful companion again. Instead of using a mana-imbued slash, my faithful companion’s wooden form clashed directly against the dragon’s bare nape.

The outcome should have been obvious. Being mere wood, the stick would shatter without my mana. At least, that should have been the case. But after making protective gear for Aria and testing the limits of my Absolute Memory, I learned something interesting. And the result of that was shown in the messages popping up in my field of view.

Your companion receives the effect of Mana Resistance LVL 5.
Your companion receives the effect of Physical Damage Resistance LVL 5.
The sensation of replicating skills with mana has been successfully memorized. Grant Skill LVL 1 obtained.

Physical Damage Resistance and Mana Resistance. They were skills that mitigated the effects of physical damage and magical phenomenon. Defensively, it allowed me to somewhat resist the dragon’s breath attack, which was a combination of both. Offensively-

Ordinary wood met indestructible dragon scale and won out. Tarry black blood gushed out and the dragon roared once again. However, unlike the incomprehensible roar from before it was that of a wounded beast, primal and guttural. For the first time in the fight, the dragon flapped its wings and tried to escape.

But after all of that effort, I wouldn’t allow it to.

“Die.”

My faithful companion lashed out for the final time in the fight. Having pierced the dragon’s outer defense, my attack went unopposed.

For a moment, it was as if nothing happened. But then, like in old anime where a sword slashed apart a monster before they realized it, the dragon’s head fell to the ground and a geyser of tarry blood sprouted in its place.

I let out a sigh and jumped off the dragon’s body. When I landed on the ground, more messages appeared in my field of view.

The Wrathful Sin Dragon has been slain.
(Tentative) Legend has become Legend.
The sensation of being bathed in boundless dragon mana has been memorized. MP increased substantially.
The sensation of being bathed in dragon blood has been memorized. HP increased substantially.
The miasma of the Wrathful Sin Dragon has been memorized. Curse of ****** LVL 1 obtained.
The boundless grudge of the Wrathful Sin Dragon envelops you, attempting to usurp your body. It has failed due to the effects of The Nameless. The sensation of the attempt has been memorized. Dragon’s Grasp LVL 1 obtained.

“…That bastard.”

Trying to pull a fast one even in his death. It was meaningless, but it would have been annoying having to redo the fight. While Absolute Memory allowed me to restart, it didn’t allow me to jump back in the middle of the fight against the dragon.

My hypothesis was that it had to do with the vast amount of mana in the area preventing a successful recollection. Since the dragon’s mana was so much higher in density and quantity than my own, I could only revert to a point before I began battle with it. However, now that I had obtained its strength, that was likely to change.

I stared at the dragon’s corpse and decided to check its status.

Status Screen

Name: ****** (deceased)
Summary: The Wrathful Sin Dragon. Once known as ******, it was revered as a guardian deity. However, after the Brave Kimura seduced its daughter and then abandoned her in favor of other women, ****** was furious. Its natural divine might was converted into demonic energy and it destroyed the nation that had summoned Kimura. Only after the Brave Kadashi and his companions appeared, sent by the Goddess Serena herself, was ****** defeated. However, they were only able to seal it in the Lost Woods and could not kill it.

…Hm. I had expected something along those lines, but it was still unexpected. So the dragon was originally a divine being but fell into darkness after its daughter met one of those useless heroes… I could sympathize. People like those deserved to die.

Ah, but me abandoning Aria was different. For one, I gave her proper compensation. For another, it was only temporary. In fact, now that I had ‘leveled up’, so to speak, it was time to act befitting of my title.

But first, it was time to check the outside world. My clash with the dragon had taken a long time, both in lifetimes and actual time. It should have been long enough for the hidden parties to reveal themselves.

With that decided, I left behind the corpse of the Wrathful Sin Dragon and walked out of the Lost Woods.

Status Screen

Name: Nowun
Gender: Male
Age: ??
Race: Human
HP: 1,000,000 (+1,000,000)
MP: 500,000 (+500,000)

Skills
Absolute Memory LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill granted to Nowun by Goddess Serena using the infinite human potential gifted by Earth’s Creator. Grants the concept of ‘Absolute Memory’ to the user.

Information Concealment LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill recognized by Goddess Serena due to the user’s ability to withhold and conceal information. Grants the concept of ‘Information Concealment’.

Chaos Affinity LVL 6 – A skill granting the affinity of Chaos, the magical element that disrupts all others.

Physical Damage Resistance LVL 6 – A skill granting resistance towards physical attacks.

Imperial Slash LVL 6 – A subset of the martial skill “Imperial Swordsmanship”, which is the greatest swordsmanship available to the current era of humans. Using physical strength (or an appropriate substitute), lash out with the force to sever steel.

Indomitable Will LVL 6 – A skill granting resistance towards mental status effects.

Darkness Affinity LVL 6 – A skill granting the affinity of Darkness, the magical element embodying shadows, void, and negativity.

Mana Resistance LVL 6 – A skill granting resistance towards phenomenon involving mana.

Analysis LVL 2 – A skill gained through the skilled usage and interpretation of mana fluctuations. Allows gaining of information through reading the world’s record. More is shown with greater expertise.

Grant Skill LVL 1 – A skill born through the familiarity of what makes up the essence of a skill. It allows the user to grant a skill they are familiar with to a targeted individual.

Curse of ****** LVL 1 – A skill embodying the wrath of ******, the fallen divine dragon. Attacks cannot be defended against and inflicts the status ‘Soul Corrosion’.

Dragon’s Grasp LVL 1 – A skill embodying the saying that one cannot escape once inside a dragon’s grasp. However, you are an exception to the rule as you are ‘no one’. It becomes possible to bind beings by directly restricting their soul. A greater effect is shown with higher levels.

Titles
The Nameless – Obtained by giving a pseudonym to Goddess Serena and refusing to present one’s true name. Due to this, the original name is discarded and one’s true nature becomes indistinct and impossible to grasp.

Otherworlder – Obtained by all those transported by Goddess Serena to Asifant. Grants language translation and basic knowledge of the world.

Karmic Anomaly – The title granted to one whose karma cannot be discerned. Effects are unknown.

Martyr – The title granted to one who sacrificed their life for the sake of another. Doubles HP and MP.

Aria’s Savior – The title of the one who saved the elven princess Aria Sylvania from suffering a fate worse than death. She will never forget your kindness and owes you her life.

Legend – The title of one who defeats ancient beings of catastrophy. Grants unrivaled strength and speed.

A desolate wasteland. After the fall of Alvheim, the protectors of the Ancient Forest were no more. The lineage of warriors dating back to the birth of the world tree had been slain, caught off guard by humanity’s recent acquisition of the taboo element that disrupted nature itself. Although the mysterious Fae escaped the fate of the Elves, they had withdrawn into their homeland, the realm of fairies hidden between the cracks of the world.

And as such, within the Ancient Forest, the only trees that remained were those belonging of the Lost Woods. The rest had rotted away, their life essence ruined by the Chaos of the Empire and the false Light of the one they called the Brave.

A decade had passed since Aria parted with Nowun. During that time, the towering and majestic Ancient Forest had been reduced to nothing and the noble beings once living within were either in hiding or enslaved as playthings of humanity.

Empty and desolate. That should have been the case. However, there was one person that remained. Although the Ancient Forest had been ruined, the heart of the World Tree was not yet destroyed. And the reason for that was the sole elf that remained after all of her kin were placed under humanity’s rule.

Aria stared at the one the Empire called a Brave.

He was young. Younger than herself and Nowun when they first met, the Brave looked to barely be in his mid-teens. More of a boy than a young man. However, his youth did not dampen his strength. If anything, it seemed to emphasize it since there was still endless room for growth.

Like Nowun, the Brave possessed black hair and dark eyes. However, that was where the comparisons ended. Whereas Nowun’s hair was set in subdued bangs, somewhat obscuring his eyes, the Brave’s hair was spiked in defiance of gravity, the result of the overwhelming mana buried in his body.

The Empire had gifted the brave a suit of armor. Shining white from its mithril plates and glowing from orihalcum trimming, it bestowed an aura that seemed to be holy. Paired with the splendid adamantite long sword and shield in his hands, anyone looking upon the Brave would find themselves incapable of denying his legitimacy to hold that title.

However, that appearance was fake. Instead of a Brave, the legendary heroes that were summoned to save the world, the one before Aria was a villain of the highest order. Rather than wielding the sacred armaments blessed with the Goddess’s Light, his equipment was man-made and bore the taboo Chaos element.

Worse than the Demon Lord that possessed Darkness, the Chaos element ruined the world whenever it appeared. And in complete ignorance of that, the Brave had arrived before her as well as the World Tree.

Staring at the Brave who knew nothing of his sins, Aria let out a sigh. Indeed, Nowun had been correct in stating that youth was an issue. And that youth would now lead to the end of the world… that was, if Aria fell that day.

The depths of the ruined world tree. There, in the deepest hollow, a glowing light was encircled within roots. A light that held the Sword of Mana, the blade that would allow its wielder to dominate the whole world.

Facing off against the one that humanity hailed as their hero, Aria let out a long breath and stood her ground.

< – Previous TOC Next – >
No One’s Story, Chapter 5

January 10th, 2019

Aria awoke to the sound of a crackling fire and the scent of roasting meat. It took her a moment to realize that she was awake, but when she did, she immediately jumped to her feet. Her eyes frantically scanned the surroundings and she reached for the bow on her back. However, there was nothing there. She blinked, and then remembered that she had lost it while running for her life.

“So you’re finally awake.”

A masculine voice snapped her focus ahead. There was a man sitting in front of her by a fire.

For a moment, her thoughts flashed back to the ones that had captured her family and chased her throughout the Ancient Forest, but then she realized that the man in front of her couldn’t belong to their group. For one, he was too slim. Although he appeared human, unlike those cruel warriors, his body was thin like that of a scholar or mage. For another, his facial features and hair didn’t match men who hailed from the Empire. Black hair and dark eyes could only be seen among those who hailed from the Sun Kingdom in the East.

“Relax,” he said. “Although I can’t guarantee your safety, I can at least assure you that I won’t harm you.” Saying those words, the man handed her a plate of roasted meat and a cup of water. “Here. You’ll probably want something to eat after what you’ve gone through.”

Aria hesitated, but after feeling the rumbling in her stomach and smelling the delicious aroma drifting towards her, she accepted it.

The moment she did, the man turned his attention back to the fire. There, a boar was being roasted over the fire on a spit. A few pieces had been sliced off, but there was still enough left for her to recognize it. When she did, Aria’s eyes grew wide. “Black Steel Boar?”

The man nodded. “That’s right. Did you want something else?”

“No. It’s just…” Wasn’t killing a Black Steel Boar difficult to do? Even her father’s guards only managed to do so by working together. For that man to be able to do so by himself…

Aria decided to stop thinking about that. For the moment, all that mattered was that she was safe and that the man had saved him. She turned her attention back to the food handed to her and began to eat.

Whether it was because of the stressful situation she had encountered or because of the knowledge of the luxuriousness of the meat she was eating, Aria felt queasy. However, she didn’t let it show and quietly ate her food.

After a while, she finished. However, she noticed that the man was still cooking and hadn’t eaten a single piece of meat. “Um… aren’t going to eat as well?”

The man shook his head. “I’m not hungry.”

After that, he didn’t say another word.

Time passed with nothing more than the crackling of the fire. Since that was the case, Aria stared at the man in front of her.

He was young. Although it had been hard to tell at first, the man couldn’t have been much older than her, if at all. Furthermore, he was dressed oddly. His shirt was fairly ordinary, one made of a dark cloth, but his pants and shoes were strange, made of a material that Aria couldn’t identify. All that she could tell was that they appeared fairly durable, yet remained comfortable. That and they were a dark gray.

“Satisfied?”

Aria flushed and quickly averted her gaze. “I didn’t mean to stare.”

The man shook his head. “Not that. Are you still hungry?”

“Oh. Um… I’m fine. Thank you for the luxurious meal.”

A curt nod was all the man gave in acknowledgment before he returned to tending the fire.

Again, it was silent. The man seemed comfortable with it, but Aria found herself shifting in place. But just before she opened her mouth to say something to break the silence, the man spoke.

“Nowun.”

“…No one?” Aria tilted her head. What did the man mean by saying no one? Did he mean that there was no one around?

“Not that. My name is Nowun. You can call me a… traveler of sorts.”

“Ah.” Aria flushed at the misunderstanding. “I’m Aria.”

“Aria…” Nowun nodded and said, “It’s late and you’ve been through a lot. Rest. Tomorrow, we can talk about what you’re going to do next.” After saying that, Nowun pulled out a handful of gray furs and offered them. “Use these for bedding. I’ll tend to the fire and keep a look out.”

Aria took the furs. When she did, she froze. Although they appeared ordinary at first, when she held them, she remembered a story she had heard about creatures with similar pelts roaming the Ancient Forest.

“…These wouldn’t happen to be the furs of Fenrir Wolves, would they?”

“Just sleep.”

“…Yes.”

That was right. The man- Nowun had saved her and fed her. Although she still didn’t know why, the fact that he did was still true. And besides, he was the one who answered her plea when the Goddess had not. Thus, it wouldn’t do to keep pestering him like she was.

Deciding that, Aria carefully arranged the furs and laid down to sleep. The entire time, Nowun did not avert his gaze from the fire. Whether it was out of consideration for her circumstances or if it was his personality, Aria didn’t know. However, that didn’t change her feelings.

“…Thank you for saving me.”

Nowun paused for a brief moment and then said, “Sleep.”

Aria smiled and closed her eyes.

I waited until Aria’s breathing steadied before turning around to look at her. For someone that had gone through a stressful situation, she was awfully talkative and carefree. While it was better than being completely on guard, it was still a bit strange.

“’Thank you for saving me’, huh?”

I muttered the words that she had spoken just before she fell asleep. It was true that I did, but that was something done on a whim. Surely it wasn’t enough to drop her guard like that. The only reason I could think on why she might act in such a way was my title.

Glancing back at it, I noticed that the description had changed.

“…She owes me her life?”

It was concerning. It seemed like troublesome events kept occurring one after another. Going by the usual flow of narrative, this would probably end up with her swearing eternal loyalty or something tomorrow.

I shook my head and stared back at the fire. More specifically, I stared at my faithful companion who was having a baptism of flames.

Status Screen

Name: Faithful Companion (Stick)
Summary: A stick you picked up and used a lot in the past. Even though it can’t remember you doing so, the stick has become accustomed to your mana and now has obtained a portion of your powers. The best weapon, capable of cutting through the Wrathful Sin Dragon’s scales. Having bathed in the blood of a sinful human, a Black Steel Boar, and a pack of Fenrir Wolves, it has gained new capabilities after being tempered with flames.

“Interesting.” I pulled out my faithful companion (stick) and stared at it. Although I couldn’t see any differences in its appearance, I noticed that it felt a lot sturdier than it did in the past. Maybe now I would be able to cut down that Wrathful Sin Dragon?

I considered that for a moment and decided against it at this time. The Goddess would have already noticed my strength and affinity towards chaos and darkness. At the moment, she would be thinking that I had an inherent disposition towards both while still believing that I wasn’t using my power of memory.

At least, that should be the case if Information Concealment was working properly. It was a bit concerning that I couldn’t receive confirmation, but it was all I could hope for.

In any case, trying to kill the Wrathful Sin Dragon now would tip my hand. I had something in mind for that later, but for the moment, it would be good to see how events played out.

Placing my faithful companion (stick) back in its rightful place at my side, I turned towards Aria and frowned.

“What am I going to do about you?”

She was an elf. Not only that, but an elf princess. And furthermore, she was young. While she would be an adult by human standards, by the standards of the long-lived elves, she was barely a toddler.

On her own, it would only be a matter of time before she was captured and forced to suffer a terrible fate like the other elves I had seen in the wagon. However, I couldn’t very well take her along and protect her the entire way.

Hm…

When Aria woke up, she noticed that Nowun was nowhere to be seen. He had vanished without a trace, almost as if yesterday was just a dream. And she would have thought that to be the case, were it not for the pelts that she was still sleeping on and the cooked Black Steel Boar laying nearby.

“…Mister Nowun?”

She called out his name, hoping for a response. However, there wasn’t one.

Anxiety gnawed in her chest as well as guilt. Could it be that she was too much of a burden for him to deal with? Or did she irritate him with her questions the other night, causing him to leave her behind?

It was true that she was weak, but she could learn! Her father said that she had a talent for wind magic that hadn’t been seen in many generations. So if she had the chance, she could be of use. But… it seemed that she wouldn’t have that chance.

Aria clutched her knees to her chest and lowered her head. “Why should I be surprised? Mister Nowun must have saved me on a whim. Since he could kill a Black Steel Boar by himself, he should be extremely powerful. Someone like me who can’t even call the spirits properly-“

“You worry too much.”

Aria raised her head and smiled. “Mister Nowun! You didn’t leave me behind!”

“Though I’m selfish, I’m not cruel enough to leave someone helpless behind on their own.”

Aria felt a sharp pang in her chest at being called helpless but couldn’t disagree with him.

“In any case,” Nowun said. “Take a look at these and tell me if they’ll fit.” Without another word, he tossed a bag at Aria’s feet.

She grabbed it and took a look inside. When she did, her eyes widened and she quickly closed it. “Mister Nowun, I can’t- These garments are far too precious!”

Nowun sighed and muttered something under his breath. It was soft, enough that Aria couldn’t hear it, but she could tell that he was exasperated.

“I made them for you so stop worrying. Now hurry up and tell me if they’ll fit so I don’t have to waste any more time.”

Aria hesitated, but seeing the stern look in Nowun’s eyes, she nodded. With a deep breath, Aria opened the bag again and carefully pulled out what was inside.

It was a full set of dark clothing. While plain in appearance, nothing more than a simple shirt, pants, and boots, they were anything but. Although Aria was untrained in appraising magical items, she could easily feel the surge of power coursing through each piece as she held them.

“So? Are they the right size?”

Nowun’s voice brought Aria out of her reverie. “Ah, yes.” Taking another look at the clothes, she saw that, although they were a bit big, they would fit her well enough. “It should fit.”

Nowun sighed. “I didn’t ask if they would fit, but if they were the right size.”

Aria flushed. “I-I mean… they’re a bit big, but I should grow into them! I’m still not fully grown yet, so…”

“A bit big, huh?” Nowun frowned and scanned Aria head to toe.

Her flushed cheeks grew even redder and she averted her gaze.

I had overestimated her size. It couldn’t be helped since it was dark last night and I didn’t get a good chance to look at her while we were running away. “…Hm. I guess you’re right. They are a bit big, but at least it will last a while longer that way.”

Like she said, she still had room to grow. If anything, it was fortunate that I got anywhere near close considering that I had never made any type of clothing before. Granted, what I gave her was literally woven threads of Chaos and Darkness so making it was easier…

“U-Um, Mister Nowun?” Aria’s voice drew me out of my thoughts. “Why are you giving these to me?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You’re weak and I can’t be bothered to protect you.”

Aria winced. With her beautiful face, it was a pitiful expression. I was sure that if it was anyone else that saw it, they would immediately apologize and comfort her. However, it was me, so I simply kept talking.

“It would take a while for me to explain, so just put them on and check your status. Tell me when you’re done.”

After saying that, I turned around.

I heard Aria fidgeting from behind me, as if she was uncertain, but after a few moments I heard the sound of rustling clothes, indicating that she had gotten over it and decided to change.

“I’m finished, Mister Nowun.”

I turned back to face her. Although unintended, the dark clothing suited Aria extremely well. Since her hair and skin were light, it contrasted well with the dark clothing. Also unexpected was the fact that her shirt hung a bit loose over her chest, allowing a brief glimpse at the valley beneath. But more importantly, her pointed ears were nowhere to be seen.

“I see that it worked.”

“Um… what?”

“Check your status.”

Aria frowned but did as I told. When she did, her eyes grew wide. “This is…?”

I wasn’t surprised. If I was her, I would have the same reaction considering what I handed her.

Status Screen

Name: Chaotic Darkness Attire
Summary: A set of clothing woven by an expert of Chaos and Darkness and restricted to Aria Sylvania. Through intricate interweaving of mana to serve as the material, the wearer gains the skills Physical Damage Resistance LVL 3, Mana Resistance LVL 3, Illusory Appearance LVL 3, Auto-Defense Chaos-Dark LVL 5.

While not perfect, it offered a lot of protection. I had the idea after wondering how to keep Aria safe without having to personally protect her yesterday night. To compare with the equipment the men were wearing…

Status Screen

Name: Chaotic Imperial Plate Mail
Summary: A set of plate mail bestowed upon imperial soldiers, enchanted for the purpose of defeating the Alvheim warriors. Bestows Magical Attack Damage Reduction LVL 4.

The level of skill their equipment bestowed was higher, but that particular skill was essentially a weaker version of the one I had. Magical Attack Damage Reduction only reduced damage inflicted by spells whereas Mana Resistance reduced the effects of any phenomenon involving mana. That included things like mind control, curses, divine retribution, etc.

As for how I knew that… well, the Wrathful Sin Dragon was an extremely powerful individual.

In any case, what I gave Aria was objectively superior and the culmination of my current knowledge of mana and skills. While it wouldn’t stop something on the caliber of that damnable dragon, it was more than enough for people like the soldiers the other day.

Aria stared at me and then bowed. “Mister Nowun, I owe you-“

“Stop it.” I cut her off before she could say anything else. “I saved you on a whim and gave you those on a whim.”

Aria raised her body and then looked at me. She seemed as if she wanted to protest, but I didn’t let her. The reason was the decision I made yesterday.

“I’ll be honest. I want nothing to do with you.”

Aria flinched.

I kept speaking. “You’re weak, you’re young, and you’re extraordinarily beautiful. Each is a problem on its own, but could be compensated for in one way or another. However, you possess all three. Not only that, but you’re an elf. While I might be strong, being with you is a recipe for disaster.”

That was the truth. I might be strong, but I wasn’t strong enough yet to deal with the attention that traveling with her would attract. Not only would I have to deal with the Empire, but I would have to deal with all sorts of obnoxious upstarts wanting to flirt with her. Considering that I didn’t look particularly powerful, it would end up triggering far too many flags for my liking.

…I was lying a bit there since Information Concealment could probably prevent that, but prolonged usage of the skill would draw the Goddess’s attention since it concealed my actions from everything, including her gaze.

Probably.

“B-But Mister Nowun-“

Her expression was pitiful, like that of an abandoned puppy. A beautiful young woman with an appearance that couldn’t be faulted and only praised was making such an expression.

If it was known I was leaving someone like that behind, especially since she held unending gratitude, I would have been the public enemy of every man on Earth. But this world wasn’t Earth and I had no need for someone who was so weak.

“The boar should serve as enough rations and the pond is clean. Good luck.”

With that said, I activated Information Concealment and left Aria behind.

I was too weak to protect her or myself. That was the truth.

For now.

< – Previous TOC Next – >
No One’s Story, Chapter 4

January 10th, 2019

4 – Indy Ploy – I

Aria gasped for breath on the forest floor. The commander, that wicked human warrior, stood over her. But she could do nothing.

His face was hidden beneath that steel helm, but she could sense the lecherous gaze beneath it. And in sensing that, she knew the fate she was about to face. But she didn’t want it. After running so far, after abandoning her family and kin out of fear, after doing her best to survive, was she to suffer the same fate?

It was cruel. Far too cruel.

Why had the Goddess forsaken them? She was taught that Elves were the closest to nature and the Goddess. They were her favored children, the proof of which was their ability to freely meld mana and call upon the spirits. So why? Why did Goddess Serena ignore them in their plight?

The man laughed and said some words, but Aria couldn’t hear him. The loss of blood from her left arm, the lack of air from the rough treatment, and the blow across her face made her consciousness faint. But she held on. She held on because she knew that failing to do so would mean that it would be even worse after she woke up.

She had seen it first-hand, her kin played with and tortured for being so ‘lifeless’ and turned into nothing more than dolls.

But it was impossible for her. She had gone through too much.

“…save… me…”

With all her might, she breathed those two words.

The Goddess had abandoned Aria and her kind. Moreover, humans had declared them as mortal enemies, conspirators with demons.

Asking her for help was pointless, as Aria’s previous prayer had shown.

Even so, she wanted someone to save her.

A desperate, unheard plea. It was one that she knew would go unfulfilled, but one that she still prayed for with all her might.

The slave leader laughed and began reaching towards her chest.

Seeing that, Aria closed her eyes. But then-

“Tch. I knew what I was walking into but this is still sickening, even the second time.”

The scene was the same as the first time, even though it felt like a lifetime ago.

Six men surrounding a wagon of battered and abused elves.

One man looming over an elf on the ground, just about to remove her shirt.

It really was disgusting, just as bad the second time as it was the first.

The man looming over the elf turned towards me like the first time. But this time, I didn’t wait for him to finish examining me.

Darkness flooded the surroundings. The already dim forest became completely black.

“Nullinvoyd! Scatter the shadows!”

To the man’s credit, he didn’t hesitate before attempting to disperse my magic. But that was just what I wanted.

In the brief moment before the shadows dispersed, I moved. My faithful companion (stick), cloaked in chaos and darkness attributes, slashed through the man. Considering that it was capable of scratching that demonic dragon, I wasn’t surprised when the man fell apart in two halves and spilled out blood and gore.

I remembered to grab his sword and sheath, binding it to my back with a thread of darkness, and then picked up Aria. At that moment, the light returned to the forest. However, it was too little too late. By the time the men registered that I had slain their leader and rescued Aria, I was already gone.

After leaving the men and captured elves behind, I made my way to the depths of the Ancient Forest with Aria in my arms. Her left arm was bleeding out after I removed the chained arrow piercing it, but I managed to close it with a patch of Darkness mana. Her body seemed to know what to do from there since the wound gradually began to heal.

That done, perhaps knowing that she was safe after my actions or at least finding me a better alternative than the men from before, the beautiful elf fell fast asleep.

Staring at her peaceful expression, I couldn’t help but frown. “…This is going to be troublesome.”

I saved her on a whim initially and the second time around I had decided to save her due to the title I now possessed. However, I hadn’t considered what would come next after that.

In most stories, it would be fine to wander around with an elf as a companion. However, while I didn’t know the full details of the event that occurred, I could sense something was wrong. The event that allowed me to meet her and the actions I had taken meant that I would be drawn into something troublesome soon enough.

Of course, I could undo any of that at any point and leave her behind, but that would have left a bad taste in my mouth.

I shook my head and focused on the matter at hand: finding a place to rest for the night.

After walking long enough for night to fall, I had managed to reach a small clearing with a pond. A few boulders scattered nearby would serve as seats while the body of water provided one part of the required resources. What was left was to create a shelter, fire, and obtain food.

Aria was still asleep and didn’t seem like she would wake any time soon. If she was awake, I could have used her expertise and familiarity with the forest to gather resources, but as she wasn’t, I would have to do it myself. But it would be bothersome to keep carrying her with me…

So far, I had avoided encounters due to using Information Concealment. Unfortunately, I highly doubted that it could be maintained as an area of effect when I wasn’t present. I also wasn’t in the mood to find out.

“…Well, hopefully this is enough. If not, blame your misfortune.”

I held out my hand and wrapped her body in shadows using Darkness Affinity. At the same time, I used Information Concealment to erase any signs that we had been in the area. It was imperfect and a strong monster could probably see through it, but there was nothing more I could be bothered to do.

After a few moments, Aria became invisible, shrouded in shadows. That would hold even if she moved around for a while, but if she was smart, she would stay put.

With that accomplished, I made my way out into the dark forest. Now that I had a new weapon, it was important to test out its capabilities.

Although it was dark, with my skills I could see just as clearly as if it was day. At my left side, there was the sheathed sword that I had taken from the man I killed. On my right, bound to my body by a thread of shadows, was my faithful companion across ten thousand lives. Though it was a simple stick, I had grown accustomed to channeling it with my mana to use as a weapon. Considering how it was able to cut through the dragon’s scales without breaking, I deemed it worthy enough to remain as my primary weapon.

However, that could change if the sword I picked up proved stronger.

A slight rustling sounded from behind me. Before I had a chance to examine the source, something rammed itself into my back.

“…Huh. Is this what the dragon felt like when I was fighting it?”

Turning around, I saw a boar. It was covered in dark fur and had long ebony tusks. Those tusks must have been what hit me. And looking down, I noticed a few scraps of dark fabric where my shirt must have torn off.

It was a strange feeling. Before the Goddess transported me, something like that would have definitely killed me. In fact, before I had started to challenge the demonic dragon, I would still have died to such an attack. But now, all I felt was as if someone had tapped me from behind.

The boar blinked and then reared back. It must have realized that it had attacked something it couldn’t stand a chance to defeat.

But it was too little too late. Drawing my newly acquired sword with my right hand, I slashed at its exposed neck.

Crack.

That time, I blinked. The sword that had easily taken my life the first time, the sword that scattered my darkness… when it struck the boar’s fur, it cracked. Not only that, but it didn’t even leave a single scratch on the boar.

While I was confused, the boar retreated. Quickly spinning around, the dark-furred beast dashed off into the forest. And like how it attacked me without notice, before I could react, it had vanished without notice.

For a while, I simply stared off in the direction where the boar disappeared. I had no doubt that the Goddess was laughing her head off at the moment. If it hadn’t been me who experienced it, I would be doing the same.

But it was, and so I was far from amused.

…Still, it was strange. It should have been obvious that a forged steel blade would do more than a stick. Yet, it failed to leave a single scratch on the boar whereas the simple stick I randomly picked up when I awoke eventually managed to cut through a dragon’s scales.

“…Let’s try again.”

I closed my eyes and remembered.

A slight rustling sounded from behind me. Before I had a chance to examine the source, something rammed itself into my back.

That time, I didn’t bother musing. Instead, I wrapped my new sword in chaos and darkness and swung it at the boar’s neck-

CRACK.

An even louder noise than the first time resounded from the sword. And it did so before even getting close to the boar.

While I was confused, again, the boar vanished without a trace. But unlike last time, I decided to examine the sword in my hand.

“…What a shoddy blade.”

It was completely ruined. The moment I channeled my elements, the blade was splintered. The appearance it held was like that of fractured glass. And just like fractured glass, when I moved it slightly, the entire blade crumbled into a pile of worthless shards.

I sighed. “…What kind of world is this, where a simple stick has better performance than man-made steel?”

At that moment, the Goddess would be laughing again. Not wanting to give her that satisfaction, I closed my eyes once again and remembered.

A brief rustling. Without a second thought, I spun around with my faithful companion in hand and chopped at the charging boar’s neck. This time, I felt no resistance. Instead, I felt a gush of warm blood stain my pants as the boar’s headless body fell forward.

I sighed. There was no need to question if that Goddess would have found my situation amusing. Still, it would be too much of a hassle to go back yet again. And it would also be strange if I never encountered troublesome events after being transported.

In any case, the boar would serve well enough for food. It would probably take a few attempts to cook it right, but something was better than nothing. The problem was the worthless piece of metal hanging on my left side.

I placed my faithful companion (stick) back at my right side and then drew the sword in its place. Since I hadn’t used it, the blade was still in pristine condition.

“In that case, why did you shatter?” I muttered and then decided to gradually fill the sword with chaos and darkness mana. However, before I poured in even a thousandth of the amount I used with my faithful companion, the blade began to crack.

I frowned and drew my mana back. Almost immediately, the blade returned to its normal condition.

“Curious.”

To experiment, I decided to use only darkness mana. However, almost immediately, the blade turned into rust.

“Hm…”

I closed my eyes and remembered.

I was holding the sword. It was still in pristine condition, not yet tainted by any element. This time, I reached out with chaos. The effect was more favorable, and the sword grew with an ominous purple light. However, before I managed more than a hundredth of what I was used to using, it completely shattered, sending metal shrapnel in every direction.

That included the boar’s corpse. What had been a relatively undamaged source of meat was instantly shredded, turning into unsalvageable chunks.

I sighed and remembered again.

“Like I thought… What a shoddy blade.”

I had expected a strong sword that I could use to actually kill that damned dragon. But instead, I got a piece of scrap metal that was weaker than the random stick I picked up in the Lost Woods.

I tossed aside the rusted scraps of steel in my right hand and glanced at the brief message in the middle of my vision.

The sensation of examining with mana is memorized. Analysis LVL 1 obtained.

…Well, it seemed that the sword wasn’t completely worthless. On examining the new skill, it seemed that its effect was something similar to ‘Scan’ or ‘Libra’ from certain RPGs. Using it on the boar’s corpse, a screen appeared.

Status Screen

Name: Black Steel Boar (corpse)
Summary: A boar infamous for its speed and durability. While defeating it provides great experience akin to defeating metal slimes, doing so is much more hazardous. Many an adventurer has fallen prey to such thoughts. On a side note, although it is resistant towards physical attacks while alive, when deceased, its flesh is perfectly marbled and tender making it well-loved among the upper nobility.

“Interesting.”

Although the skill didn’t provide as much detail as when I examined my own status, it provided more useful information. Not only that, but it was information that I didn’t know. It would appear that the Goddess’s system filled in the gaps for me.

That would be useful.

Out of curiosity, I used it on my faithful companion.

Status Screen

Name: Stick
Summary: A stick you picked up. Since you’ve used it a lot in the past, even though it can’t remember you doing so, the stick has somehow become accustomed to your mana. The best weapon, capable of cutting through the Wrathful Sin Dragon’s scales.

That would explain it. Although it was somewhat concerning how the stick seemed to have remembered my mana and didn’t bode well for if the Goddess could do the same, there was nothing I could do about that except try to get stronger as fast as I could. Still, the fact that my faithful companion (stick) was the best weapon and that the dragon was called the Wrathful Sin Dragon was useful.

As for the poor excuse for a sword lying in pieces on the ground next to me…

Status Screen

Name: Nullinvoyd (ruined)
Summary: A demonic blade created through the painstaking effort of the Empire’s brightest magi and enchanted with the dreaded Chaos attribute. It is capable of disrupting all mana in the nearby vicinity, making it the bane of magical creatures. Unfortunately, it has been ruined through experiencing a chaos greater than its own.

“Tch. What kind of sword can be called a ‘bane of magical creatures’ yet be unable to kill a simple boar?”

Since it was called a magical creature bane, it should have easily cut through that boar’s fur.

…Unless the boar wasn’t magical? Hm… that merited some thought.

The sounds of branches snapping echoed from all around me. Glancing around, I saw a pack of silver wolves draw near.

Status Screen

Name: Fenrir Wolves
Summary: Wolves that bear the ancient bloodline of the dreaded Fenrir, slayer of Odin. While weakened, they are still a force to be reckoned with. They are the natural predators of Black Steel Boars, possessing claws and fangs that can bypass any defense.

I sighed after reading their status and then raised my faithful companion yet again.

Status Screen

Name: Nowun
Gender: Male
Age: ??
Race: Human
HP: 100000 (+100000)
MP: 20000 (+20000)

Skills
Absolute Memory LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill granted to Nowun by Goddess Serena using the infinite human potential gifted by Earth’s Creator. Grants the concept of ‘Absolute Memory’ to the user.

Information Concealment LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill recognized by Goddess Serena due to the user’s ability to withhold and conceal information. Grants the concept of ‘Information Concealment’.

Chaos Affinity LVL 5 – A skill granting the affinity of Chaos, the magical element that disrupts all others.

Physical Damage Resistance LVL 5 – A skill granting resistance towards physical attacks.

Imperial Slash LVL 5 – A subset of the martial skill “Imperial Swordsmanship”, which is the greatest swordsmanship available to the current era of humans. Using physical strength (or an appropriate substitute), lash out with the force to sever steel.

Indomitable Will LVL 5 – A skill granting resistance towards mental status effects.

Darkness Affinity LVL 5 – A skill granting the affinity of Darkness, the magical element embodying shadows, void, and negativity.

Mana Resistance LVL 5 – A skill granting resistance towards phenomenon involving mana.

Analysis LVL 1 – A skill gained through the skilled usage and interpretation of mana fluctuations. Allows gaining of information through reading the world’s record. More is shown with greater expertise.

Titles
The Nameless – Obtained by giving a pseudonym to Goddess Serena and refusing to present one’s true name. Due to this, the original name is discarded and one’s true nature becomes indistinct.

Otherworlder – Obtained by all those transported by Goddess Serena to Asifant. Grants language translation and basic knowledge of the world.

Karmic Anomaly – The title granted to one whose karma cannot be discerned. Effects are unknown.

Martyr – The title granted to one who sacrificed their life for the sake of another. Doubles HP and MP.

Aria’s Savior – The title of the one who saved the elven princess Aria Sylvania from suffering a fate worse than death. She will never forget your kindness and owes you her life.

(Tentative) Legend – The title of one who (challenges) defeats ancient beings of catastrophy. Grants superhuman strength and speed.

Status Screen

Name: Aria Sylvania
Gender: Female
Level: 21
Age: 18
Race: Elf
HP: 173
MP: 1236 (+618)
Attack: 23
Defense: 17
Agility: 69
Luck: 50

Skills
Wind Magic LVL 4 – The skill to utilize wind magic
Spirit Magic LVL 3 – The skill to utilize magic involving the spirits of nature
Archery LVL 1 – The skill allowing combat utilizing bows and arrows.
Wind Attribute LVL 4 – The skill born from the shape of the soul, influencing the natural characteristic of one’s mana. Wind magic becomes easier to perform while Earth magic becomes more difficult.

Titles
Youngest Elf Princess – The title given to the youngest princess of Alfheim royalty. MP is expanded by ½.

Darling of the Wind – The title given to one who was born favored by the wind. Grants the Wind Attribute and increases growth of wind-related skills.

Deserter – The title given to one who abandons their people for their own sake. Affinity with own race greatly decreases.

< – Previous TOC Next – >
No One’s Story, Chapter 3

January 10th, 2019

3 – Xanatos Gambit

I opened my eyes to see a dark forest canopy, covered in gray mist. Though it felt unfamiliar, I could already remember what it was and, more importantly, where I was.

“The Lost Woods. And it seems to be early morning once again.”

The time and place was the same as the one in my memory. However, there was a slight difference.

“…I’m stronger.”

I could feel the flow of mana around me now. In addition, my body felt sturdier. To confirm it, I tried to pinch my skin. Instead of the soft feeling of flesh, it felt like stone. When I applied a bit more force, I was able to distort it like it normally should, but that was already confirmation of my hypothesis.

But for a final confirmation, I examined my status, the quantification of attributes devised by the Goddess. A brief thought and the window of light appeared in my eyes, showing mostly what I expected to see. A title for sacrificing my life that increased my stats. New abiliites reflecting the experience memorized by my body. And a technique that I comprehended from the one who cut me down.

The only unexpected portion was the title of Aria’s Savior. It seemed that my actions were more influential than I thought if the Goddess’s system granted me a title for it.

An earthshaking roar erupted from nearby.

“I forgot about that guy. Tch.”

I glanced towards the direction of the roar and considered my next course of action.

The one approaching was a towering demonic dragon, covered in a dark miasma and obsidian scales. The first time I saw it, I immediately activated Information Concealment and fled the scene since victory was impossible and defeat held too many cons. But this time was different.

“Victory is… still impossible. But now that I’ve confirmed it, defeat is beneficial as well.”

The Goddess was watching from somewhere up above. And she was strong. Strong enough to pierce the walls between dimensions and pull souls to her own world. She was also mentally unstable, living only because she could not die. And then there were the questionable circumstances of my first death to consider. Was it truly a series of unfortunate coincidences? Or was it divine meddling?

I wouldn’t be able to confirm either way, so it was better to err on the side of caution. That led to my actions during our talk and my choice in ability. It was a gamble, but one that played out well. Although my personality was distorted, my identity lost, and my name changed to a name that was not a name, what I gained in exchange was worth it.

…Unless that was what the Goddess wanted me to think. But that way led to madness, so I dismissed the thought.

The sounds of falling trees drew near. At the same time, the ground began to tremble, shaking as the demonic dragon approached.

I cut my thoughts short and stared at the approaching figure. Dark miasma and an oppressive atmosphere spilled forth. Victory was impossible. A primal instinct from deep within indicated certain defeat. But-

Mind-numbing fear memorized. Indomitable Will LVL 1 obtained.

-In this world, there was no experience that would not benefit me.

I picked up a stick from the ground nearby and walked towards the dragon.

One step. Two. Three.

The dragon emerged from the darkness, staring at me with crimson eyes that flickered like hellfire. A cloying smell of decay filled the air, the result of the dragon’s decomposing body that was kept alive only through its massive mana and unending rage.

It came to a stop before me.

Of course. I would have done the same if I was in its situation. As a powerful being that could overturn nations, facing a tiny human who dared to pose a challenge while armed with nothing but a stick the first response would be confusion. However, the next-

“▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅”

A sound erupted from its throat that no human could ever produce. At the same time, a stream of pure dark mana evaporated my body.

Fatal blow memorized. Mana Resistance LVL 1 obtained.
Darkness mana memorized. Darkness Attribute LVL 1 obtained.
Overwhelming power prevents further memorization.
The title (tentative) Legend has been obtained for challenging one even the Braves could not fell.

I opened my eyes to a dark forest canopy, covered in gray mist. When I did, I remembered the last flurry of messages to appear before my eyes and sighed. “…I suppose it would be too much to obtain that strength in a single encounter.”

The mana of a dragon, the overwhelming energy that could destroy nations. With it, I would have almost nothing to fear in this world. But it seemed that my ability had limits as well.

I shook my head. “No matter.”

If once wasn’t enough, then twice. If twice wasn’t enough, then three times.

If I wanted to live a life free from the Goddess, I needed power. And while this place might have been a deathtrap to anyone else, for me, it was the perfect location to improve.

I picked up a nearby stick before walking towards the dragon. Perhaps sensing my determination, a roar erupted in the forest earlier than before.

I smiled.

…I was no longer smiling.

I had died and ‘revived’ over ten times without obtaining any benefit. Each time, only the message ‘An overwhelming energy prevents memorization’ flashed in front of my eyes before I woke up on the ground facing the forest canopy.

It was time to change my tactics.

I picked up a stick as before, but this time experimented with the ‘chaos’ attribute I had obtained.

A hundred attempts went past. Each time, the same fate. Still, there were some benefits. By imbuing the stick with the chaos attribute using my chaos affinity, I was able to inflict a tiny wound on the dragon with Imperial Slash. And in doing so, both leveled up.

…This approach merited experimentation.

Another hundred attempts. My skills increased substantially, but were still not enough to defeat the dragon. Chaos was insufficient. Perhaps Darkness, would work better?

Yet another hundred attempts. Darkness helped to disrupt the dragon’s mana, but nothing more. On the positive side, Imperial Slash leveled up. Physical and Mana resistance did as well.

Soon.

…After ten thousand attempts, I gave up. It seemed that there was a hard limit to what I could do with just a stick and my bare hands. While the dragon could no longer kill me with its breath or attacks, the same held true for me, at least in my inability to slay the beast.

I laid on the ground facing the forest canopy. The damnable dragon’s roar erupted in the distance, and I promptly activated Information Concealment. Almost immediately, the roar stopped. It was probably being cautious. While it had long lost its reason, instincts remained in the beast. For something to suddenly vanish beneath its sight indicated unknown powers.

In short, I was free to do as I wished without worrying about it chasing me for the nth time.

I stared at the misty forest canopy for a few moments and then opened my status.

Status Screen

Name: Nowun
Gender: Male
Age: ??
Race: Human
HP: 100000 (+100000)
MP: 20000 (+20000)

Skills
Absolute Memory LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill granted to Nowun by Goddess Serena using the infinite human potential gifted by Earth’s Creator. Grants the concept of ‘Absolute Memory’ to the user.

Information Concealment LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill recognized by Goddess Serena due to the user’s ability to withhold and conceal information. Grants the concept of ‘Information Concealment’.

Chaos Affinity LVL 5 – A skill granting the affinity of Chaos, the magical element that disrupts all others.

Physical Damage Resistance LVL 5 – A skill granting resistance towards physical attacks.

Imperial Slash LVL 5 – A subset of the martial skill “Imperial Swordsmanship”, which is the greatest swordsmanship available to the current era of humans. Using physical strength (or an appropriate substitute), lash out with the force to sever steel.

Indomitable Will LVL 5 – A skill granting resistance towards mental status effects.

Darkness Affinity LVL 5 – A skill granting the affinity of Darkness, the magical element embodying shadows, void, and negativity.

Mana Resistance LVL 5 – A skill granting resistance towards phenomenon involving mana.

Titles
The Nameless – Obtained by giving a pseudonym to Goddess Serena and refusing to present one’s true name. Due to this, the original name is discarded and one’s true nature becomes indistinct.

Otherworlder – Obtained by all those transported by Goddess Serena to Asifant. Grants language translation and basic knowledge of the world.

Karmic Anomaly – The title granted to one whose karma cannot be discerned. Effects are unknown.

Martyr – The title granted to one who sacrificed their life for the sake of another. Doubles HP and MP.

Aria’s Savior – The title of the one who saved the elven princess Aria Sylvania from suffering a fate worse than death. She will never forget your kindness.

(Tentative) Legend – The title of one who (challenges) defeats ancient beings of catastrophy. Grants superhuman strength and speed.

Going by the knowledge that Goddess gave me, my skills were on the level of an A-ranked adventurer. To put it in perspective, those people were the ones sent out to scout dungeons containing dragons, arch demons, and other calamitous beings. Powerful, but not all-powerful.

My HP and MP, essentially my durability and mana pool, were more outrageous, rivaling a dragon. Even compared to those Braves, also known as otherworlders, brought over by the Goddess, I was magnitudes above them since the highest amount for humans was 999. Coupled with my new title that enhanced my abilities even further beyond the limits of humanity, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about in the outside world so long as I didn’t act too conspicuous and draw out ancient beings of catastrophy.

“In that case, I suppose it’s about time.”

I picked up my faithful companion (stick) and headed towards the boundary between the Lost Woods and the Ancient Forest.

I had a debt to settle.

< – Previous TOC Next – >
No One’s Story, Chapter 2

January 10th, 2019

2 – Thanatos Gambit

The most dangerous place in Asifant was the Lost Woods. A subsection of the Ancient Forest, home of the High Elves and Greater Fae, the Lost Woods served as the resting spot of beasts and creatures long forgotten by the world. Disastrous beings existed within the Lost Woods, either sealed by the past Braves of Goddess Serena or sleeping peacefully in self-imposed solitude. Regardless, the beings in the Lost Woods were dangerous beyond measure.

It was widely known that those who wandered into the Lost Woods were doomed to never be seen again. It was, in essence, why the name the Lost Woods came about. It was a dangerous no-man’s land that stood on the northern border of the Ancient Forest serving as a natural barricade. No one alive would be foolish enough to willingly venture within.

But there were a few unfortunate souls who were forced to do so.

Aria Sylvania, the youngest princess of Alvheim, ran across the dimly lit forest ground. Her chest heaved from exertion beneath a tattered green tunic, moving up and down in a way that would distract most men while her golden hair trailed behind her. Within the dark forest, it served as the only flash of brilliance whenever it caught the sun’s rays.

Ordinarily, Aria welcomed such a fact. In the dimly lit Ancient Forest, such brilliance was considered both a blessing and a sign of the Goddess’s Light. But at that moment, it was nothing more than a curse.

“There she is! That golden flash up ahead!”

A man’s voice called out from behind Aria. It was soon followed by the sound of horses and wagons.

Aria bit her lips and refused to look back. Doing so would cause her to see the imperial soldiers closely gaining on her. Doing so would cause her to see the battered and abused forms of her family and kin. Doing so would cause her to falter and suffer the same fate.

“Give up, Elf! We’ve rounded up the rest of your kind! Even if you keep running, no reinforcements will come to help you!”

The same man’s voice echoed from behind her. He was the commander of the soldiers, a powerful human warrior. Equipped in full black platemail and bearing an enchanted blade that defied nature’s magic, that man had easily cut down Aria’s father and the twelve guardians before Aria’s eyes.

Aria forced away her tears as she recalled the scene and kept running, calling on the wind spirits as she did to grant her speed.

“It’s useless! Nulinvoyd, disrupt nature’s harmony!”

The commander’s voice cut through the silent forest. At the same time, an ominous purple light flashed and Aria felt the wind spirits leave her side.

“No…!” She stumbled, barely catching herself before it was too late. Doing that, she was able to keep running. However, without the aid of the wind spirits, it would only be a matter of time before they caught her. And if they did, she would suffer the same fate as the others.

She had seen what those men did to her family and kin.

She didn’t want that. Death would be preferable, but those men would not allow it. So the only recourse for her was to run.

The Lost Woods were before her, only a few paces away. The distortion in the air and the soft gray mist surrounding the trees up ahead served as the dividing border between it and the Ancient Forest.

Aria took a final glance backwards. Her elder sisters and her friends were in the wagon, surrounded by men in armor. Standing at the fore upon on a war horse was that man, the invincible commander. His face was still hidden beneath his armor, but she could imagine the triumphant look on his face.

In but a few moments, it would be Aria’s end. One way or another.

Staring at the boundary of the Lost Woods and her certain death, peaceful bliss in comparison to the cruel fate she would have if she was caught, Aria smiled and reached out her hand.

And then she felt a piercing pain in her left arm.

Before Aria could recognize what was happening, she was pulled backwards through the air. Her eyes widened as she stared at the distancing boundary.

It was there.

It was right there.

But, just before solace was in her grasps, it was wrenched away from her.

Aria’s body crashed to the ground and she lost all of the air in her lungs. She gasped and clutched at her chest, trying to breathe. But before she could, a figure leaned over her. One dressed in platemail and clutching a sword shining with ominous purple light.

“I told you it was useless, Elf.” The commander shook his head and then grabbed Aria’s hair.

She tried to scream, but she still couldn’t breathe. Instead, a pained gasp fell from her lips, sounding like a squeal.

“…There it is. That sound is exactly what I wanted to hear from you. Ah… to think that we could experience such things with the fabled elves themselves. And all we had to do was convince the populace that you were all minions of the Demon Lord. Amusing, isn’t it, how easily faith and loyalty can be forgotten with fear?”

Aria didn’t respond. Instead, she reached out with her right hand, trying to free herself from the man’s grasp. However, seeing her resistance made him pull even harder on her hair.

She gasped, unable to do anything else. The rough treatment caused her vision to dim, but before she had the bliss of blacking out, the man slapped her.

“No, Elf,” he said. “That would be far too easy. And while the nobles might want a broken toy, my men would like you to struggle at least a bit. You’ve made it this far already, so try to do so until the very end, alright?”

“…save…me…”

The man laughed. “Oh you’ll be ‘saved’ soon enough, Elf. Don’t worry. It’ll be a bit rough at first, but we’ll let you taste heaven soon enough.” Saying that, the man reached towards Aria’s shirt-

“…I had considered the possibility that I would come across a clichéd event, but for it to be something as disgusting as this… tch. And now I can’t even forget that it happened.”

-and then froze as someone called out.

I sighed and shook my head.

A beautiful elf, pinned on the ground beneath an armored soldier. A cart filled to the brim with even more elves, each with blank eyes and battered bodies. And to complete the scene, it was occurring in the depths of the forest, far from human civilization where none could come to the aid of the elves.

The man pinning down the elf stood up and turned to face me. When he did he said, “Aren’t you one of the Braves that the Emperor summoned? What are you doing here?”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I scanned my surroundings.

One, two… six men. Each were equipped with thick platemail and armed with a long sword. Furthermore, their toned bodies and calm postures showed that neither were for show.

The man in front of me shook his head. While his face was hidden by a full helmet, I could imagine the irritation on his face. “Not answering, huh? Well… don’t blame me for roughing you up a bit then. As a great hero, I’m sure you can take it, right?”

Finished with his words, the man drew his blade. Like the others, it was a long sword. However, unlike the others, that man’s blade shone with an ominous purple light.

I carefully observed the flow of energy around the blade and then sighed. “…It’s impossible after all.”

The man lunged forward and swung his blade.

I ignored it, instead focusing on the elf still laying on the forest floor. While she was in rough shape, she was still well enough to see me. Her eyes, a dark green like the very forest surrounding them, were wide with shock and then realization.

Good. It would have been a waste if she hadn’t realized it.

Cold steel cleaved into my body. At the same time, a surge of energy erupted, disrupting the weak flow of mana I possessed.

“Huh?” The man froze in front of me, confused. “Why the hell are you so weak?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I staggered back and forced my body to remain upright as I watched the elf escape.

It was unsightly. Her steps faltered and she was barely covering any ground. At that rate, she would be captured in no time again.

…But I could do nothing else. Not yet.

“O-oi! You- Dammit! The Emperor’s going to kill me for this…!”

My vision faded as I heard the man’s panicked words and I felt it, the creeping chill of death that marked my end. But, just before my consciousness vanished completely, a flurry of messages appeared in my field of view.

Chaos energy memorized. Chaos affinity LVL 1 obtained.
Fatal blow memorized. Physical damage resistance LVL 1 obtained.
Imperial Swordsmanship (incomplete) memorized. Imperial Slash LVL 1 obtained.
Dying for the sake of the elvish princess, the titles, ‘Martyr’ and ‘Aria’s Savior’ have been unlocked.

…Just as planned.

Status Screen

Name: Nowun
Gender: Male
Age: ??
Race: Human
HP: 100 (+100)
MP: 20 (+20)

Skills
Absolute Memory LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill granted to Nowun by Goddess Serena using the infinite human potential gifted by Earth’s Creator. Grants the concept of ‘Absolute Memory’ to the user.

Information Concealment LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill recognized by Goddess Serena due to the user’s ability to withhold and conceal information even from her. Grants the concept of ‘Information Concealment’.

Chaos Affinity LVL 1 – A skill granting the affinity of Chaos, the magical element that disrupts all others.

Physical Damage Resistance LVL 1 – A skill granting resistance towards physical attacks.

Imperial Slash LVL 1 – A subset of the martial skill “Imperial Swordsmanship”, which is the greatest swordsmanship available to the current era of humans. Using physical strength (or an appropriate substitute), lash out with the force to sever steel.

Titles
The Nameless – Obtained by giving a pseudonym to Goddess Serena and refusing to present one’s true name. Due to this, the original name is discarded and one’s true nature becomes indistinct.

Otherworlder – Obtained by all those transported by Goddess Serena to Asifant. Grants language translation and basic knowledge of the world.

Karmic Anomaly – The title granted to one whose karma cannot be discerned. Effects are unknown.

Martyr – The title granted to one who sacrificed their life for the sake of another. Doubles HP and MP.

Aria’s Savior – The title of the one who saved the elven princess Aria Sylvania from suffering a fate worse than death. She will never forget your kindness.

< – Previous TOC Next – >
No One’s Story, Chapter 1

January 1st, 2019

1 – Odysseus Gambit

When I opened my eyes, there was a woman standing in front of me. She was indescribably beautiful, but that was mostly due to her shifting form preventing me from getting a clear grasp on her image. In one second, she looked like a calm Eastern beauty with white jade skin and dark long hair. In the next, she was a Western beauty with blonde hair and a curvaceous body. From there, she shifted to countless other ideal beauty types.

“Hm.” She spoke, a voice that was a chorus of soft melodies. Like her form, her voice was indistinct. Though a single word was said, countless accents and pitches of voices emerged as she spoke. “You’re quite the strange one, aren’t you? Most people usually have an ideal in mind when they see my beauty.”

I was confused.

“Indeed, most are in this situation.” The woman nodded. “However, it seems like your case is a bit more justified. Let’s see… this form should serve well enough.” With those words, the woman’s body was covered in a blinding white light. When it died down, there was a teenage girl standing before me. Like her other forms, she was beautiful. However, it was a normal sort of beauty, the type that could probably be found if you looked around enough. To be more exact, she held the appearance of a Japanese school girl and was dressed the part with the stereotypical sailor uniform.

“There we go. Now, take a seat please.” She waved her hand and everything changed. Though she and I had been standing, in an instant we were seated across from each other on a wooden table.

Whether it was from the change in scenery or because I was faced with a clear form to focus on, I managed to get a hold of my thoughts. And by that, I meant I finally realized the exact scenario I had found myself in.

As if reading my thoughts, the teenage girl- no, the Goddess nodded her head. “That’s right. To put it in your own words… you’re going to experience an ‘Isekai’.”

A dark void stretching out into infinity. In the center of that, seated across from each other at a wooden table that was somehow lit within the black void were a young man and a Goddess.

The Goddess smiled and placed her elbows on the table, lacing her fingers together to rest her head.

I didn’t respond. Instead, I mulled over what she said.

Isekai. Though a Japanese word, from what I knew it referred to a sub-genre of stories and anime where the main character was brought to another world. That world was usually a fantasy world filled with magic, mythical creatures, and almost assuredly a Demon Lord or two. Exciting due to its difference from the decidedly magic-lacking Earth, but also dangerous for that exact reason.

“You’re quite the interesting one, aren’t you?” The Goddess tilted her head and then said, “Most of the ones I’ve transported from this world have either been excited or terrified. You’re quite composed, however.”

I still didn’t respond.

A Goddess. From her words, I was not the first person she transported from Earth. However, the question became how and when she transported them. Dead? Alive? Or in a state in between? And where did that leave me?

“Most of the time, I bring people over when they’ve already met their end, but I’ve transported a few who were still alive.”

I cut my thoughts short and stared at the Goddess.

She stared back, still with that soft smile on her face. It would have been calming, and to most it probably was when considering her beauty. But there was no way I could stay calm.

“It’s rude to read minds.”

The Goddess waved her right hand and said, “Sorry, sorry. I couldn’t resist.”

“Try.”

The Goddess’s smile widened and she nodded. “Very well. I, Goddess Serena of Asifant, will not read your mind from this point forward.”

A brief light flared as she spoke those words. It probably meant that she was under oath due to vowing on her name and title. At least, that would be what she wanted me to think. However, I had no assurances.

Thus, I stopped thinking.

“Now,” the Goddess said. “Let’s get down to business, shall we?”

I nodded.

“Hm… you’re quite the cautious type. I wouldn’t have thought that from how I saw you act in your daily life, but I suppose the true nature of a person only shows up when they bare their soul… In any case, to cut this short: you died.”

I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. I thought that might have been the case, but to hear it from the Goddess directly shocked me.

“It really was unexpected,” the Goddess said. “You could only really blame your death on bad luck. Your body was fine and your mind was stable. However, while you were sleeping, your apartment complex collapsed. Since you were on the ground floor, you died instantly beneath the rubble.”

“…How did it collapse?”

The Goddess shook her head. “Even I’m astounded. In all the years I have existed, I have never seen such a convoluted chain of events.”

I stared at the Goddess, waiting for her to continue.

Seeing my lack of reaction, the Goddess sighed. “Fine. I see that you’re not amused. Still, it was really strange. Basically, due to everyone else in the building moving in different directions at the exact same time, the main support beam for the building twisted. Then, a slightly strong wind shook the complex, causing the support beam to break.”

“But my room isn’t anywhere near the support beam?”

The Goddess nodded. “That’s right. And that is why I said you can only blame it on bad luck. It just so happened that the wind blew a pigeon off course and caused it to land on the roof over your room. In the end, everything came crashing down like a house of cards.”

…It was unlikely. Extremely so. Far too coincidental for my taste. But I remained silent, keeping my suspicions buried deep in my heart.

“And that’s the reason why I’m here. To be honest, I had planned to head over to Japan like I usually did to transport another soul, but your karma is just too interesting to pass up.” With those words, the Goddess’s smile returned. However, this time the smile was different. Rather than one of a calm beauty, it was that of a sly fox. “With you around, the world is definitely going to become a lot more interesting. So what will it be? Are you interested?”

I didn’t respond for a moment and considered her words. Then, I said a single word. “Why?”

“Hm?”

“Why do you need to transport souls?”

“Ah, that.” The Goddess frowned. “Hm… to put it simply, I’m bored.”

“…You’re bored.”

“That’s right. It’s fun and all making a world and having your creations fight it out, but it’s boring when you know how it’s going to end. Sure it’s fun every now and then to drop in and help out some random people, but even that gets boring.” The Goddess sighed. “It wouldn’t be so bad if I wasn’t immortal. But I am, and so it is.”

“Then you transport souls from this world… just to amuse yourself?”

The Goddess nodded. “That’s right. Your world’s God is pretty lenient on that. As long as you want to go, there aren’t any problems. And if you want to come back after you die in that world, you’re free to do so. That condition applies even after thousands of thousands of years… mostly because your God wiped the life out of eight worlds that decided to not follow that rule.”

Again, I had no reason to believe the Goddess’s words. However, they seemed… plausible at least.

“So,” the Goddess said. “Any other questions? Or have you decided?”

“What other souls have you transported?”

“Hm? Oh, that. Well… pretty much every author of an Isekai story in your world is someone I transported once. After they died they must have decided to reincarnate back here. Some of those memories must have come back to them. There are a few others too that are there right now, but it looks like they’re going to recreate the same old scenario. I thought another hero or two might mix things up, but if it’s you…”

The Goddess smiled. “Well, it should be interesting no matter what you do.”

I was silent.

In the meantime, the Goddess didn’t say another word and simply stared at me.

Finally, I said, “Alright. Since I’m dead anyway, I’ll go along with your little play.”

The Goddess’s smile widened and she clapped her hands together. “Wonderful! Now I usually give each person I transport a special gift to spice things up… Alright, fine. You can stop giving me that look. It’s actually a gift from your own God that I can repackage for you.” She snapped her fingers and a glowing light appeared in front of me. It was a twinkling orb, almost like a star was condensed into the size of a baseball.

“You can call it… the infinite potential of humanity. Really, that guy is super skilled. Much better than me at least in making things. Maybe if I could have figured that out, it wouldn’t be so-“ The Goddess shook her head. “Anyway, when you grab that, you can use it to get whatever power you want. Time travel, teleportation, immortality… Well, I say that, but no one’s actually ever picked those. It might be just those guys in Japan, but everyone I transport seems to just pick a branch of magic.”

I allowed the Goddess to ramble on while I grabbed the orb and carefully pondered on what to choose.

“…You’re really something else, huh? Being this impertinent, being that cautious… well, I guess that’s why you’re interesting. Fun fact, I usually don’t tell people this much information before sending them off. You can think of it as a special benefit for amusing me.”

Amusement, huh? Indeed, to that Goddess that would be all this moment was.

So, because she thought that, of the possible powers I could choose, there was only one that remained. Especially if her words about the orb containing the infinite potential of humanity were true.

“Memory.”

The Goddess blinked. “…What?”

I turned my gaze away from the orb and stared at her. “I want the power of memory. To be able to store every experience I have. To be able to recollect everything I experience. And then, to be able to maintain those experiences as long as I want, no matter how much time passes.”

Serena stared at the young man standing before her.

He looked just like every other young man she had transported in the past. Almond shaped and dark eyes. Black hair. An average build. Although he wasn’t from Japan like the others she had transported, he had similar physical characteristics.

But his personality was completely different.

She could have attributed it to the differences in culture. After all, the person standing in front of her was in a place essentially across the world from where she usually went. And she would have never seen him either, if not for the strange karma she felt around him.

Perhaps that explained his nature. Perhaps it didn’t. In either case, it was amusing. Especially upon hearing his request.

“Memory, you say?”

The young man nodded.

Serena couldn’t understand him. What use would there be for a perfect memory? It would indeed make learning things faster, but that couldn’t make up for a lack of starting talent or potential.

But then again, there were already enough baffling events surrounding the young man that another didn’t make much of a difference.

“Very well. Then, if you close your eyes, I will give you the power you wish.”

The young man nodded again. “Understood.”

“Now one last thing… is there anywhere you want to appear in the world? Or anyone you want to be? Reincarnation while keeping your memories is possible, as well as recreating your old body. I usually transport people near a village on the frontier, but you’re free to choose wherever you desire.”

Like before, the young man was silent. And then he said, “Send me to the most dangerous place possible.”

I stared at the Goddess, gauging her reaction. I was curious about something, but I quickly suppressed that thought. Not until I crossed over to the other world.

The Goddess stared at me for a while longer before breaking out into laughter. “Of course! The most dangerous place in the world… why not? I don’t know what you have planned, but it’s definitely going to be fun.”

The ground shuddered. Looking down, I saw that a vast portal was opening up. It was an ominous sight, an enormous vortex of energy and lights.

The Goddess stared at me one last time and said, “Good luck… come to think of it, I still haven’t heard your name.”

The ground shuddered even more and the vortex began rising. Countless sparks of energy gathered around me, slowly enveloping my body in light and obscuring the Goddess from view.

I paused, contemplated for a moment, and then said, “My name is Nowun.”

With those words, the vortex consumed me entirely and the Goddess vanished from view.

Status Screen
Name: Nowun
Gender: Male
Age: ??
Race: Human
HP: 100
MP: 10

Skills
Absolute Memory LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill granted to Nowun by Goddess Serena through the infinite human potential gifted by Earth’s Creator. Grants the concept of ‘Absolute Memory’ to the user.

Information Concealment LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill recognized by Goddess Serena due to the user’s ability to withhold and conceal information even from her all-seeing eye. Grants the concept of ‘Information Concealment’.

Titles
The Nameless – Obtained by giving a pseudonym to Goddess Serena and refusing to present one’s true name. Due to this, the original name is discarded and one’s true nature becomes indistinct.

Otherworlder – Obtained by all those transported by Goddess Serena to Asifant. Grants language translation and basic knowledge of the world.

Karmic Anomaly – The title granted to one whose karma cannot be discerned. Effects are unknown.

Next
On Writing Style

December 20th, 2018

Writing is fundamentally an art. Even so, it possesses key principles that must be followed during the process. These key principles will differ depending on who you ask. Some will say clarity. Others, elaboration. Others still, brevity. The answers you’ll get back are as varied as the writers that exist.

Why is this?

You would think that a general consensus would have been achieved given how long writing has been around.

Although I’m nowhere near an authority on writing, I want to give my thoughts about it after writing on and off for a few years.

Writing is inherently formless. The process of writing is simple: you have a thought, intention, or emotion, and you write words in order to shape it in a form understandable to other people. The difference comes in the shaping step. The first step is the same for everyone. After all, it’s impossible to write without having anything to write about. The second step is what trips people up.

Writing is like breathing. It’s best left to its own devices since it can self-regulate. When you focus on it, you disrupt the natural rhythm and process. To be more specific, when you consciously think about breathing you obtain control over the process. However, in doing so you lose its natural rhythm and flow. The same comes through in writing.

When you are writing, it should be as simple as breathing. With a thought in mind, you simply write as if talking on the empty page. Your thoughts take form in the shape of sentences, and the sentences gradually string together in some order to structure your thoughts. If you don’t focus on the process, what is left on the page will be your natural rhythm, the flow of thoughts that naturally come to mind. It may not be structured well or even understandable, but it’s fine. Those words you’ve written will still be yours as well as a reflection of your thoughts.

If you read your writing and find it disorderly, there are two potential causes. One, your thoughts are muddled. By that, I mean that you simply don’t know what you’re thinking about, or you think about too many things. It reflects a sort of chaotic rhythm that might make sense to you, or might not. Two, your ‘translation skills’ are lacking and the clear thoughts in your mind become lost in the process of carving them out on the written page. To fix that is simple, but strenuous: copying structure.

Like how a doctor dissects a cadaver to understand anatomy, it’s important to dissect writing in order to understand form. The degree of dissection, or analysis if you want a better word, necessary to improve your understanding of the written form will vary from person to person. The method of analysis can differ as well.

Some will gain an understanding of form by simple reading. Others by copying verbatim, word for word. Others by looking at each line and seeing the meaning. Others still by looking at the paragraphing. There are as many forms in writing as there are that you can make out.

In the end, I guess I just want to point out that you shouldn’t think too hard about whether your writing is good or not in the moment. The quality of your writing comes from improving your understanding of writing forms and organization. Instead, just focus on getting your thoughts, emotion, and intents through onto the page. Everything can be fixed later on.

That’s all I’ve got to say for today.

Thanks for reading and I hope my thoughts help you in some way.

In any case, have a wonderful day and until the next.
The Journey Begins

December 18th, 2018

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton