Re: Turning
The Underworld's

Far away in nowhere. Below the surface of the earth.

Shinnichi fell with a thud. Landing on the cold floor, Shinnichi opened his eyes. Darkened. There was a faint green light, yet he could not see seven meters in front of him.

"Aragh!"

Shinnichi tried to get up, but the wound on his right hand was still not completely covered. Attacked by the stinging pain, he scrunched up the pain. Shinnichi couldn't even look at the right side of his body.

The white shirt behind his vest was stained with his blood. The smell of blood began to pierce his nose. The sound of droplets making goosebumps also prevented him from looking down. Shinnichi forced his body to stand up.

"Ugh.." - UH...."

Groaning, Shinnichi leaned against the cold cave wall. He can see his surroundings well.

Now, he's in some kind of cave. Green crystals sticking out of the walls and roof. Gives a soft faint light. The sound of water could be heard in the distance.

"Where...me?" shinnichi murmured wondering.

Shortly after, the memory came. Shinnichi rounded his eyes.

Fiona-sama!

Shinnichi tried to walk. However, the pain in his arm prevented him. He fell back to the ground.

I have to go back! Fiona-sama! Fiona-sama needs me!

Shinnichi pulled his body above the ground. Panicking, his heart rate became faster. Making the wound on his hand pulsate again.

"Urghs! Fiona-san...."

Shinnichi covered his wound. Preventing more blood from escaping from his body. His head began to feel light. But, Shinnichi did not let his consciousness fly. He knew that if he fainted here, he might not wake up again.

Shinnichi gritted his teeth and then stood up again. Walk while leaning against the wall. Leaving traces of blood behind him.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

Shinnichi continued down the cave. The gentle light made her a little calmer. Despite that, the roars and mysterious sounds in the distance made him worried.

But, Shinnichi did not stop. It keeps going. Find a way out or someone for help.

Followed by the sound of blood droplets, Shinnichi reaches a pair of paths. One goes to the left, the other goes to the right. Shinnichi stop.

He doesn't know where to go. However, the sound of the water flow on the left road drew him to it. His throat feels dry. No matter how long he had been in this cave, he did not know.

With the urge to drink, Shinnichi walked down the left path. The sound of the water became clearer.

After a while, Shinnichi finally arrived.

An underground river. The water was clear as crystal. Shinnichi could see his base filled with pebbles and crystals that he had encountered in the cave. The crystal dyed the clear water with a green light. Upstream, there is a waterfall as high as 20 meters. Faintly, there are several rainbows above the waterfall. Adding to the beautiful impression this place has.

Shinnichi. If this is a normal situation, he wants to go with Fiona here.

Shinnichi knelt by the river. Kick some pebbles. It makes a calming sound.

Shinnichi took a dip in water and drank it. Fresh water soaks the throat. Feels cold and sweet. Shinnichi drank a few gulps. He also washed his face. Refreshingly.

Then, he turned to his right arm. His blood had dried up, covering the exposed flesh, muscles and bones. Shinnichi could not look at her for long. He washed his wounds with cold water.

Finished, Shinnichi looked around him. Some large boulders on the river bank. There is a gap in between. Shinnichi walked towards the rock and leaned back.

He raised his left hand and bit his shirt. With all his might, he tore off his sleeve. Then, Shinnichi painstakingly tied the cloth to his right hand. Trying to cover up his wound.

It is not easy to do it with one hand. Shinnichi had to endure the pain inflicted as his cloth rubbed against his wound. But, about 15 minutes later, he managed to tie it up.

Shinnichi leaned his body back. Feeling the cold sensation of the huge stone. A little reminiscent of Fiona-sama.

Shinnichi sighed. Listen to the sound of the waterfall. Trying to calm down.

Shinnichi closed his eyes. The faces of Izumi, Yonaka and Fiona. He can't afford. There are only bad memories that come up. Shinnichi held his head. Look at the glowing ceiling of the cave.

Thought burdened. Duel, betrayed, he had no idea what would happen again. He was afraid to think about what would happen.

Shinnichi hugged his knee.

Shinnichi doesn't know what to do. He's alone. She's terrified. He wants to go home.

Originally, he was just an ordinary High School student. Being summoned to another world might be one of his dreams. But, after coming to this world, he realized. This isn't a fantasy. It's the real world.

And the world is unfair. One might have extraordinary strength. However, there are also people like Shinnichi who are even below average.

Even though he continued to train hard every day. Although he could defeat Samejima once. It's still weak.

He wants to be strong. But, what can he do?

He's just a coward who fights dirty tactics. A weak man who cannot stand before the enemy. A person who is protected is not one who protects.

"Yonaka... Izumi's... Fiona-san...." Shinnichi muttered the names of his friends. "What should I do...."

❂❂❂❂❂❂

Shinnichi did not move. He still hugged his knee. In his heart, he still held a small wish. That someone would come in a moment and save him.

One hour. Two hours. Three hours.

Every second. Every minute. Hourly.

Hope is getting smaller.

Shinnichi's world is shrinking. Claustrophobia strangled the young man. Hold it in place and prevent it from coming out.

He can't even sleep. Every time Shinnichi closed his eyes, the shadow of his friends in the royal hand appeared. Haunt him. A real nightmare.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

"My."

A voice entered his ear drum. As if answering. Make the young man look.

A giant rat. That was the first time Shinnichi thought. The size of a large dog, the rat had three pairs of red eyes. Sharp claws and sticking canine teeth. The way he stood up reminded Shinnichi of a meerkat. Just like meerkats, six similar mice also appeared behind him.

Shinnichi swallowed his saliva. They know they are not ordinary animals. They're monsters.

Shinnichi stood up slowly. Trying not to provoke them.

The rats tilted their heads. If they're not six-eyed giant rats, they might look cute. However, they were even more savage than his appearance.

"Kraa!" Hissing loudly, the first rat jerked his head.

The sprat! The sound of a wet slap hit his chest. Fearfully, Shinnichi touched his chest.

Wetter. Sticky.

He prayed it wasn't his blood.

"""Kuraa!"""

Before he could figure out what his hand was feeling, the seven mice lunged forward.

"Ohhh!" peekit Shinnichi's. He knew if he was silent, death would pick him up.

"Kra!"

"Kra!"

"Short!"

The seven mice opened their mouths. Hissing, roaring. Eliciting a savage voice that was more in line with sorts than a rat. Every now and then, one of them would open his mouth and jerk his head. Firing green liquid.

Shinnichi doesn't know, but the monster is an Afanc. A rat monster that can shoot poison. Hunting in groups, they are very dangerous if faced alone.

Not being told though, his instincts could still tell that the group of monsters could tear his body apart easily. It doesn't stop. Shinnichi continued to run while avoiding the crystals, stones, and even the liquid that Afanc shot out.

The distance between them does not change. Getting closer even. Shinnichi could feel death behind him.

"Aah!"

Shinnichi stopped suddenly. He reached the edge of the slope as high as 20 meters. There was a waterfall beside him, but there was no way he could jump down. He can't escape anymore.

"Damn!" Shinnichi. There's no choice.

He turned to face the Afanc group. Shinnichi drained Mana into his palm. Making the ball Mana bigger than usual. However, before being able to fire it, Shinnichi stops.

His face turned pale. He could see a large black figure behind the Afancs. Stalking them like a predator.

"Kura!"

Shinnichi. The poison of an Afanc sped towards his face. Shinnichi raised his left hand to cover his face.

Be late.

"AARGH! My eye! My eyes!"

A burning sensation attacked his face. He could not open his left eye. Shinnichi tried to wipe the poison from his face. Trying to stop the pain.

He retreated backwards. His feet did not step on the ground. He could feel the pull of gravity. Floating feeling. Stomach turning.

"Ah."

Unable to say anything, Shinnichi falls.

I felt the air whistling through it. He heard something. Something terrible. Not like anything he'd heard before. Like a monster from hell.

The howling of a Wolf and the frightened voice of the Afanc were the last things he heard. Before his body hit the water.

✾✾✾✾

Darkened. Chilly. Stuffy.

The young man floundered. Stumbling in the cold water. Swim towards the surface. Wherever it is.

His body was dragged by the currents. The water pushed him to the bottom. Swiping his body with hard earth and rocks. Like a giant washing machine.

Shinnichi. He did not know where the surface of the water was. The air he had was getting thinner.

He can't see. Up, down, left, right. Everything looks the same.

Shinnichi's heart was broken again. The hope he held was dashed. He realized the reality he was experiencing.

He's alone. No one will save him. Most likely he will die. But, he doesn't understand.

Why is this happening?

Why does he continue to suffer?

Why is he here?

Wh why?

Why would... It lived?

The air is getting thin. Shinnichi stopped thrashing. His eyelids are heavy. He wants to sleep. He wants to rest.

Maybe, forever.

Once again, Shinnichi loses consciousness.

✾✾✾✾

Shinnichi surrender. However, this is not the end of the story.

Whether it was because of a miracle or something else, good fortune still sided with him. It's carried away by the current. Entering an underwater route. Heading into the cave with an air bag.

His body is stranded inside. Unconscious, yet still alive.

The cave is quite big. Its size can be compared to a small stadium. Unlike the rest, this cave looks unnatural. The walls look artificial. It's like a secret room.

At the end of the bed was a queen-sized bed. Furniture complete. A pair of chairs with tables, some tableware and cookware and even a closet full of books. In the corner of the room, there was a pile of bones of an animal. Someone once occupied this room. At least in the past.

Dust had gathered on the surface of all the objects in the room. Makes them look gray and dirty from the original. Indicates the residents of this place have not visited for a long time.

"Uhuk! Uhuk!"

Shinnichi. Coughing. Trying to get rid of the water that filled his lungs and stomach.

"Heah.... Haah...." Shinnichi opened his mouth wide. Trying to breathe air.

Shinnichi pulls himself to the mainland. He shivered in the cold.

"I... am still alive?"

Shinnichi looked at his hand. Wet and cold, yet alive. But the problem is bigger. He's cold. His low body temperature can harm him.

He looked around him. A little surprised to see familiar artificial objects. He didn't think about it too long. His eyes were fixed on the purple blanket on the bed.

Shinnichi limped towards the bed. He took off his clothes and threw them on the ground. He pulled the blanket over her and covered her body.

It was full of dust and his body felt dirty. But, better than nothing. Shinnichi tied the blanket so as not to fall. Even so, he was still cold.

Shinnichi was looking for something in the room. Finding nothing, he took a chair and broke the legs of the chair and its backrest. He carved a magic circle on it. Studying in the library every day at least gives results.

"O Lord Ifrit, lord of fire and heat. Give me a source of warmth. [Fire Magic: Spark]."

Using his potluck, Shinnichi burns the chair. The fire started burning. Gave a little warmth to him. He also put his clothes next to the fire.

Fatigue finally attacked him. He realized how heavy his body was. The pain kept attacking him. From his right arm, back, and head. Shinnichi just regained consciousness. His left eye could see nothing.

He touched her left eye. He felt nothing. He didn't even know if his eyelids were open or closed. The area around his left eye was numb. His left vision is gone.

Shinnichi can only resign. He knew something like this would happen. Unlike his right hand that was cut off, he could not blame anyone but himself.

Shinnichi lay on the floor. Trying to rest and close his eyes. Too many things happened today. In a few moments, Shinnichi had already fallen asleep.

Unknown to him, there was "something" in the room. Unmoving, he stared at the black-haired young man silently. A century has been waiting.

The time has come. For retaliation.