Black Ball
Chapters 1. About Death

When I opened my eyes, a very strange sight appeared before me.

A large lizard is attacking a man. Despite the huge difference in size, the man tried to survive all the attacks of the big lizard.

While I was still confused, trying to observe the circumstances.

At the bottom of a cliff surrounded by thick trees, there was only me, the man, and a big lizard. And another smaller lizard was lying motionless and drenched in blood.

Where'sme?

That was a question that immediately came to my mind. The last thing I remember was sleeping in the room, so this is a dream?

I'm shaking. A scene that feels so real cannot be just a dream. Even the heat generated from the big lizard's breath burst was felt by me.

This place was the Black Forest north of Lorisa City, a village at the end of the Human Kingdom.

Wait, how do I know this place? Although it felt strange, it seemed like a memory had suddenly appeared in my mind.

After remembering this place, I also remembered why I was here. At first me and my three friends were assigned to carry out the mission of defeating the big lizard of the adventurer guild. However, the lizard, which is estimated to be only a few tails, even appeared more than ten tails. Worse yet, they ambushed us on a fairly narrow road on a cliff.

It didn't take long until we killed half of that group of big lizards. Unfortunately, when the lizards left four, one of them hit our friend and fell off a cliff.

With a quick movement I decided to jump after saying to my other two friends.

“I'll help him.”

There's my ice creation magic that can make landfall from high ground, landing unscathed.

Unfortunately, the moment we thought we were safe, a huge lizard appeared, twice as big as before. Besides its large size, it also had sharp teeth and fangs. We soon found out it was the leader of the lizard herd just now. Plus, this huge lizard could spew fire from its mouth.

If the four of us gathered together, defeating the huge lizard that had a height of about two meters, could still be defeated quite easily. However, this time, without a strong defense and one with a long-range attack made our formation extremely unfavorable.

Zazki, my friend who was fighting against the big lizard, looked overwhelmed. The great sword he carried was not enough to inflict a deep enough wound because the scales of the lizard were extremely hard. Even with a sword ability that could emit fire, it still could not deliver fatal injuries. It was as if the scales of the lizard were resistant to fire attacks.

Although the lizard has a large body, its movements are quite agile. He used his jaws, claws or tail to attack Zazki. He could even stick to the cliff wall like other smaller lizards, then jump towards Zazki with his sharp claws or spout fire from his mouth.

While I, a witch with a magic book in hand, could make small ice plates and puncture the ice into the body of a large lizard. However, just like Zazki's attack, the ice plates I shot couldn't make a deep enough wound.

There was one magic that could injure the big lizard, that was the great ice spear magic, but making that magic took a long time. While I was trying to make it, as if knowing the magic I was going to use, the big lizard spouted fire from its mouth towards me. Without being able to complete the magic, I made a wall of ice, trying to survive the burst of flames.

There's nothing I can do, and neither can Zazki, how much longer we can hold on. Our only hope is that our two friends come to our aid. But when viewed from the height of the cliff when we fell, it took more than an hour to get to the bottom of the cliff. In addition to the cliff that was quite steep, the rope that we had previously prepared was not long enough.

I stared at the magic book in my left hand. The book shone when I used magic. The page in the form of a picture, immediately opened according to the type of magic I would use.

Why am I here? Last thing I remember, I was in the room, right? And what are these memories that appear, as if someone's memory has entered my brain. 

There's a lot of weird stuff going on. I don't understand this kind of situation either.

But, if I die here, I don't actually die right? I'm gonna wake up from this dream, right?

The questions suddenly popped up, then I realized something.

Right, it's just a dream, even if I die here, I won't die. So it's okay to die here.

I was still staring at my magic book which suddenly the paper sheets of the book moved slowly, then until it finally closed.

“Rizkal!” zazki yelled loudly at me. He did not see me and still focused on the big lizard in front of him. His eyes still looked sharp, he had not given up. “I will attack with all my abilities, you focus on your magic only.”

“I understand.”

Wait, my name is Rizkal?

I shook my head, this is not the time to think about it. Right now, for some reason, I feel like I really want to help Zazki with all my abilities. Even though just a moment ago I wanted to give up, it seemed, I wanted to give it a try once more.

The magic book in my hand opened once again, on the open book sheet there was an image similar to an ice spear and there were many symbols around it. Apart from being a magic storage medium, magic books are also used to convert one's energy into magic.

I stared at the big lizard once again and raised my right hand up. Although this was my first time using magic, I felt that this was common to me. Ice chips began to form on top of my hand. 

As if knowing what I was doing, the big lizard tried to spout fire at me. However, before that happened, Zazki with his great sword blazing with fire, slashed at the mouth of the lizard. The lizard jumped on the cliff wall, still trying to spout fire at me.

Zazki did not stay still, he jumped on a cliff wall and jumped once more, until the lizard was within range of his fire sword. Zazki only survived when the lizard jumped into the cliff wall, but this time he followed the lizard wherever he went, to protect me.

When I was making magic that took a long time, I could not protect myself, if I was forced to make magic survive, the magic I was making would automatically fail. Usually, my friend who has a strong defense will protect me. It seemed that Zazki was unable to protect me from the burst of flames, therefore he chose to continue attacking the lizard continuously.

In a few seconds, the magic I created was finished, a huge ice spear. The ice spear was more than a meter in diameter and more than five meters long, with one end being pointed. 

Before I fired the magic I made, Zazki lost his balance and was struck by the lizard's tail. He slammed hard from a height of dozens of meters. Without stopping, the lizard jumped from the cliff wall towards Zazki who was lying limp on the ground. In an instant, three sharp lizard claws, pierced through Zazki's stomach.

Then, it didn't take a second, my ice spear moved quickly and pierced through the neck of the big lizard. The ice spear was stuck on the ground right next to Zazki's body which was stuck in the lizard's claws. Zazki and the big lizard are not moving at all. 

Looking at the red blood coming out of Zazki's body, my body felt limp. I fell to my knees with both hands supporting my body.

Why is this happening to me?

My stomach felt nauseous, then spewed out the contents in my stomach.

In an instant later, my gaze turned gray. Even the sky that was once blue also turned gray and the bird that was flying, was still motionless.

Time stopped?

I tried to stand up, my nausea had started to go away.

Then a golden dot appeared before me. That point gradually turned big, until it finally became as big as a hand.

The sound of applause sounded.

A little while later, a small creature of golden light appeared in front of me. The little creature shone brightly among the all-gray background.

“Excellent, amazing,” said the little creature excitedly. His voice sounded small but quite loud, like the voice of a child. He still clapped his hands and flew around me a few times. The two wings behind his body moved swiftly to the point of being invisible while he was flying. “Excellent show.”

The little creature stopped right in front of me, his hands crossed and a big smile was seen on his face.

“Welcome to my world, dear master.”

There are a lot of things that make me confused and a lot of questions that I want to ask. But the most important question is…

“Your world?

The little creature nodded then laughed loudly.

“You remember the last black ball you held? This world is inside that black sphere.”

“Cannot.”

I remember thinking that it was a black hole, there was a possibility that in the black hole there was another universe like now. But the black sphere I found didn't absorb anything at all.

“Great right?” The little creature chuckled softly, as if proud of himself. “Although I have never seen the black ball directly, but, there is no doubt, this world is in the black ball.”

“So I got into that black ball?”

The little creature put his hand on his chin, looking to think of something. “Hmm, arguably right and wrong. Basically you enter this world during a dream. When you get out of this world, you go back to your world when you wake up.”

“So this is just a dream?”

“Tet, tet, is wrong, even though it enters during a dream, spirit or can be called spirit enters into a black ball and then takes a body here. Like now you took a body called Rizkal. Rizkal memory you can still remember, although to remember it you need time and effort.”

“Then the original Rizkal?”

The little creature showed its teeth, a laugh sounded quite evil. “Of course the spirit of Rizkal no longer exists, you could say he is dead.”

I just stared at the little creature in front of me, not believing his words. Rizkal, the name of the owner of the body I was taking, the memory I can still remember, but that's why, given all his efforts up to this point, then suddenly someone from another world took his body, doesn't that sound sad?

“No need to think," continued the creature like tau content in my mind. "This world was created for someone who came in here. If one day you die while in the body of Rizkal, you will automatically be transferred to the body of someone else in this world. You could say that in this world you will not die. And because the pain of death is so painful, you can only feel that pain 10 down.”

“Wait a minute,” the explanation is so fast, there are many things I do not understand yet. “So even though this is just a dream, I can feel the pain?”

“You misunderstood, this is not a dream, only the entrance only when you are in a dream. Of course this world is just like your real world. You can see, hear, feel the same as in your world. Although because for the convenience of the masters who came here, the pain can only be felt 10 down.”

“I still don't understand 10 down.”

The little creature flew slowly to the left and right, several times. “So if you die, the pain you can feel is only 10. Let me think, it can be said that the pain of 10 down is like, in the injection, hand scratched knife or hit. Yeah, like that. Then if the hand is cut off, you could say the pain can reach 50 and above. So even if your hand is cut off, you can only feel pain like a knife scratched.“

I frowned, understanding all the speech of the creature in front of me.

“If compared to the pain when death arrives, the pain can reach 1000 and above, of course depending on what death is due to. Although I am not so sure because I have never experienced it. Anyway, in this world made for the convenience of all the masters who come here.”

I nodded a few times, gradually beginning to understand it. “So before I came here, many others also came here?”

The little creature nodded. “As I recall, the last master who came here about 70 years ago. At that time if not wrong, Indonesia is still colonized, right? I remember that master came here and became a leader in one of the kingdoms. With the experience here, he said, the master became the leader against the invaders.”

“True, great once.”

This time, the little creature smiled widely then laughed. “Allowed, this world is indeed great. You can be anyone here.”

“Wait, if you may know, you know what the name of the last master is?”

“Of course I know, but sorry, the secret of all the masters who have come here can not I say.”

I nodded in understanding. “So how many masters have come in here?”

“Hmm let me remember, which must have been over 100 mister.”

“And the age of this world is?”

“More than 10 thousand years.”

I rounded my eyes. 10 thousand years can be said it was ancient Greek times right? But wait a minute…

“Time here is different from in my world?”

“Of course it is different, if the black ball has no owner, the time here goes the same as in the world you are in. But if the black sphere finds its owner, the world here is very slow, you could say about a minute here, just a second in your world. Then if you are not in this world, the time of this world does not run, the time runs again, if you enter here or in your original world you die."

“I don't understand."

"You know, my explanation was so futile" explained the little creature with an annoyed grunt. "In this world, you can be anyone. Let me see."

The little creature took a very small book from under his clothes. The little book was perfect for his little hands. He opened it and looked at it for a while.

"Lazy, have no purpose in life, like to be alone, give up easily, always pessimistic."

Wait, how do you know all that, hey?

"Couldn't you?" ask the little creature to me with a cynical smile on his face. His eyes looked like they were humbling me.

I didn't answer.

The little creature nodded several times before continuing his explanation. "I think I was right, the Rizkal you entered was an adventurer. His parents died when he was 10 years old when his village was attacked by monsters. Even so, she did not give up on her life, along with her childhood friend who also lost her parents, she decided to study magic books and become an adventurer. 8 Years passed until he finally became one of the strongest adventurers in the kingdom."

The little creature looked at me once more, still with his cynical smile. "Where, Rizkal is great, right?"

I still choose to keep my mouth shut.

The little creature laughed loudly. "No need to think about it, wouldn't the world be more colorful if people were different?"

After he stopped laughing, he put the book under his shirt. With a smile still wide, he flew over my head and sat on top of my hair.

"So how, do you still want to remain a Rizkal in this world? Or want to be another, hmm, suppose to be noble, they live just sleep all day no problem, food or girls are always ready to be available in the room. It fits your nature, right?"

Did ya? This is the life I have always dreamed of. Does it matter if I live like that?

"Or maybe you want to be a hit man? You know, the thrill of killing someone is also said to be fun. Although I warn you, if you choose this, it is possible even in your real world, you do not hesitate anymore when killing someone."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"Right, I don't recommend it either."

"If I want to be a noble, how come…"

"Of course you have to kill yourself with a body now, then I will select a suitable noble body."

Although I could not see his face, but his voice sounded unhappy. He wanted me to choose the first option. Well, being someone with a good personality doesn't seem so bad.

The little creature flew once again, he stopped right in front of my two eyes, his eyes twinkling. "really? Ah thank you. If you choose to become a noble, your life would definitely not be interesting to look at. Anyway, after 70 years have passed and nothing has happened, I also want to see some exciting action, you know. Well even though I also want to hear the situation in your real world right now, it must have changed a lot."

I smiled at the behavior of the little creature in front of me. His very expressive voice, sometimes cheerful, sometimes happy, sometimes upset, and various other sounds, makes me not tired of hearing his voice.

I'm nodding. "The next time I'll tell you, you'll be surprised to hear the progress that's happening in my real world. Besides, we'll see you a lot, right?"

"You're right, I'll come out at any time if you need an explanation, but I won't help you do anything either. And one more thing, I won't come out while you're fighting. I think it'll reduce the excitement of the fight."

"Alright, I get it, I'll try my best."

The little creature gave his thumbs up with a big smile on his face. "If there's no more questions, I'll go first."

"Wait a minute, can you help Zazki?"

"Hmm your friend over there, huh?" he said while watching Zazki for a while. "He is still alive, but due to his wounds that are too severe, in a few minutes he will die. Unfortunately I also do not have the magic to heal such wounds, but I can kill as soon as possible so that he does not feel any more pain. How's it?"

"No need."

"Hmm, all right, then I'll see you again."

The little creature waved his hand at me. Not long after, his body turned into a lump of light then shimmered and disappeared.

Along with the disappearance of the little creature, my sight which was originally gray, now colored again, the sky was blue and the birds also moved back.

Time has moved.

After finding out Zazki was alive, I stood up and ran towards him.

Looking at the blood that previously made me feel nauseous, this time I did not feel it.

I see, Rizkal is used to seeing like this huh?

There was a strange feeling when recalling Rizkal's memories, even seeing Zazki whom I had just met, didn't make him like a stranger at all. Plus, looking at her current state, it made my heart ache.

I knelt down, trying to ascertain if he was really still alive.

Before I move my hand towards his nostrils, his eyelids move. Looking very troubled, he opened his eyes. His eyes were red, as if his eyeballs were splashed with blood.

"The end," said Zazki stammered. "You defeated him," he continued in a weak voice, blood spilling out of his mouth. Although it looked extremely painful, he smiled faintly at the tip of his lips.

I nodded, trying not to shed tears.

How sad!

Even in front of me, my friend who desperately needed help, but I could not do anything. Even after recalling all of Rizkal's magic, none of them could heal fatal wounds, at most there was only magic to heal scratches.

"That's okay," said Zazki, his eyes half-closed. He breathed heavily. "I want to ask for help."

His previously lying hands were covered in blood, moving slowly and trembling. He used all his remaining strength to move his hand. He took something from behind his blood-soaked shirt.

A pouch.

A small pouch of deer skin that he took care of every day. There's something very valuable in it. The gold coins he had been collecting were inside that bag.

Zazki put his pouch over his chest, his hand lying under it.

"Please" said Zazki. "Please take care of my sister until they live independently."

I close my lips, even under these circumstances, Zazki still thinks of his two young sisters. "I get it, I promise to take care of your sister."

"Thank you."

After thanking me, Zazki was silent for a while, his gaze was also blank. This time, I checked her condition which was delayed. His breathing had stopped, as had his heart rate.

Zazki is dead.

I moved my hand, closed both of Zazki's eyes which were still open, and then sat down limp nearby.

I noticed Zazki's situation once again. His stomach was pierced by the claws of a large lizard. Everything seems so real, although I still think this world is just a dream world, but the feeling I feel right now is so real, even at a certain moment I felt I was someone born in this world.

I turned my head to look at the sky, the sky was bright, in contrast to my heart that felt very gloomy. Whether the last time my heart was sad like this, even when my grandmother passed away a few years ago, did not make my heart sad like this.

I closed my eyes. The tears that I had been holding back, finally started to come out.

It's not just about death that makes me so sad.

I remember something. Two days ago, I got hit by a motorcycle. Even without the slightest injury, but the phone I was holding, slammed very hard hit by the handlebars of motorcycles that drove at high speed. My phone was immediately smashed into the wall, as well as a motorbike and a motorist were seriously injured.

When I experienced that incident, I was very upset at the biker, the phone that I loved so much, even so unfortunately I could not live even one day without a cell phone. And in front of my eyes, the phone that I loved so much was smashed.

I wanted to get angry at the biker, but seeing that he was also severely injured, I decided to hold back my anger.

The people around immediately helped the biker. While I was feeling sad, picking up my phone that was already split into two parts, the screen cracked shapeless.

It was the saddest day of my life.

That's what I thought that day.

But after experiencing the incident just now, I just realized, if on that day I also got hit and died, not only can I not feel sad anymore, but also, but everything I had up until now disappeared unceremoniously. So I should be thankful that I'm alive, right?

Just like Zazki had experienced, all the fighting abilities he had trained since childhood, the money he had painstakingly accumulated, disappeared from his side along with his passing from this world.

But the one thing I really admire about Zazki, even though he is on the verge of death and excruciating pain, he still thinks about his two younger siblings.

I wonder, if one day I am on the brink of death, can I think of anyone else than myself?

I sighed, putting away everything I thought, there was no benefit in thinking about the events that had yet happened. Right now there's something I need to do.

As I stood up, I heard the sound of footsteps from behind the trees.

Not long after, the two girls that I had been hoping for came, finally showed up.

I bit my lips, between happy and sad to see them both.

Nazdia, wearing full armor to head protection, only had a T-shaped hole in his face. On his back was a shield that almost covered his body. His right hand carried a spear.

She removed her head protection as she arrived before me, her sweet smile looking extremely charming.

“Thank God you're okay.”

I nodded slowly, and realized the girl next to him looked shocked to see something behind me. He immediately ran towards Zazki lying down.

Anifsa, crying hugging Zazki.

Of course, friends who have been together since childhood, will certainly be very sad if they see their friends die without being able to do anything. Maybe me and Nazdia would be like that if one of us died.

Even just being together for a few months with them, was also enough to make me very sad.

"Leader of the big lizard?" nazdia said with an annoyed face looking at the big lizard that was still pierced by the spear. "If I were here…"

I nodded, however, whatever we are doing now is in vain.

"Could it be that the leader of the big lizard is deliberately waiting here?"

"You're right, lately I've felt monsters are smarter than usual."

In fact, large swarms of lizards are monsters that used to live inside the cave and only come out at night to forage. Moreover, this is my first time encountering a large lizard that ambushes a human. Plus the presence of a lizard that collides and falls with someone, it is also very rare.

It was as if someone was ruling them.

"Don't that mean we should be more careful?"

"Right," I said slowly. And that indiscretion killed one of the strongest swordsmen in Lorisa City.

I looked away at the face of the girl standing next to me. His face looked sad to see Anifsa still crying.

Although this was the first time I saw such a beautiful face in front of me, but I also felt familiar because in my memory had been a dozen years with him. A very strange feeling.

"What's wrong?" nazdia asked seeing me daydreaming about it.

"Ah, it's okay, I just feel, today you're very pretty."

Nazdia looked at me with a sharp look. "It's not the time for that."

"Sorry."

I turned my eyes to see Anifsa standing, her hands holding a bloodstained bag. He walked towards me.

"Here..," Anifsa said to me by sticking her hand out at me. Both of his eyes were still wet with tears and several times rubbed them with his long sleeves.

"That's it" I said, recalling an event that I might never forget in my entire life. "He asked me to take care of his two younger siblings enough to live independently."

"Thank you" Anifsa said softly. He bowed his head, tightly holding the pouch with both hands.

"But before that, I haven't asked Nazdia's opinion."

I turned my face to Nazdia.

"Of course I'll follow all your options."

"Thank you, Nazdia,” said Anifsa ahead of my speech. She immediately hugged Nazdia tightly, who was still crying in her arms. Nazdia rubbed his back slowly, trying to calm him down.

Anyway, I remember something, this kind of thing happens a lot. Even 8 years ago when our parents died by a monster. We cry for days, but whenever we cry things don't change. Therefore, Nazdia and I stepped forward together, becoming adventurers.

Even during those 8 years, I don't know how many times we've seen other adventurers die. Death should have been common to us. But somehow this time I feel very sad to lose Zazki, maybe this is because only they were close enough to the two of us all along. Even with Zazki's two sisters, we've seen them quite often.

"So, what about after this?" ask Nazdia to me.

I looked at Zazki who was not moving once more.

When the four of us, Zazki was the one who used to make the decision. But after Zazki's gone, I don't think anyone else is worthy of me. Even when we were alone with Nazdia, I was the one who made the decision.

However, that was when this body still belonged to Rizkal.

Compared to me, I never made a decision. Even the purpose of life I don't know. I'm an introvert who prefers to be locked up in a room. Even just speaking fluently to the two girls, it was already progress that I could be very proud of. Plus, you have to make a decision for both of them.

But anyway, I have Rizkal's memory, I should be fine.

Rizkal, I beg your help.

I observed the situation once again. We can't leave Zazki's body like that, plus the scales of a big lizard leader can be used to make fire-type weapons, they must be quite expensive. Looking at those two reasons, I finally decided.

I tried to get rid of the phlegm in my throat, before I started talking.

"We can't possibly leave Zazki here and the scales of a big lizard leader can also be sold quite expensive. If Anifsa doesn't mind, what if you go back to the city and tell the adventurer guild to take the scales. Just in case, 5 horse carts should be enough. Me and Nazdia are waiting here."

Anifsa let go of her embrace, once again wiping away her tears. He's nodding.

"All right."

With Anifsa running at speed, arriving to the city should not take an hour. However, just in case…

"Bring this up."

I took out two pieces of magic stones which at the center gave off a faint light. If one of the stones is broken, then the light on the other magic stones will change color, and if the two magic stones are separated, the light on the other magic stones will change color, so the light on the two stones is in the form of a directional line towards the existence of the other stone. Although this object is very useful, but the light that shines only lasts no more than a day.

"I understand."

Anifsa received the magic stone, then gave the pouch she had been holding, towards me.

With some hesitation, I accepted, after all this for Zazki's two sisters. We should talk about it later.

I put the bag under my shirt.

"All right, I'm leaving."

"Anifsa, be careful."

Anifsa nodded at Nazdia. Then with a quick movement he ran and left us both.