Chapter 2 : "The haunted Hill"

“So, hey, lovely readers! I’m Aiya, your one and only Goddess of Creation!” The sparkly, silver-haired nuisance hovered above me, striking a pose like she was auditioning for a divine idol group. Her voice was all sing-song, like she was narrating a fairy tale instead of ruining my afterlife. 

“Welcome to the next episode of Kazuto’s Grand Misadventure! Buckle up, because it’s gonna be a riot!”I groaned, trudging through a field of knee-high grass that smelled faintly of mint and regret.

 “Who are you even talking to? There’s no one here but me, and I’m already over your nonsense! ”Aiya spun midair, her disco-ball aura flashing like a malfunctioning nightclub. “Fantasy nonsense? You’re the one living in a fantasy, genius! My world, my rules! ”Tch. Whatever.

” I kicked a rock, watching it skitter into the distance. “So, what’s the deal now? You gonna drop another flower pot on me or what? ”She gasped, clutching her chest like I’d insulted her entire sparkly existence. 

“Ignore him, lovely readers! He’s just grumpy because he has no idea what kind of powers he’s got. Such an idiot. I’m sure he’ll figure it out… eventually.

 “Ignore who?!” I shouted, throwing my hands up. “I’m right here, you floating lightbulb!”Aiya’s eyes narrowed, her glow flaring like a warning sign. 

“AHHHH, I’ve had enough! Kazuto, if you don’t shut up, you’re fighting three empires alone!”I froze. “W-What? Three empires?” I cleared my throat, forcing a grin.

 “My radiant, all-powerful Goddess Aiya, I humbly beg you to continue your beautiful, totally-not-annoying words. I’m listening.”She smirked, clearly eating up the fake flattery. “Tch, sugar-coating now, huh? Whatever.

 Works for me.” She floated higher, addressing her invisible audience again. “So, on today’s journey, Kazuto will explore the Meera Hills! I’ve heard rumors it’s haunted. 

Spooky, right? But me? I’ll just be watching him get cooked, of course~ “Haunted?” I stopped dead in my tracks. 

“You’re sending me to a haunted place? After I barely survived plant-wolves? What’s next, ghost gardeners throwing haunted flower pots?”Aiya cackled, clapping her hands. 

“Ooh, good idea! I should totally add that to the script! “There’s a script?” I muttered, rubbing my temples. This goddess was gonna be the death of me. Again.The Meera Hills didn’t look haunted, but that didn’t mean much.

 The rolling slopes were covered in wildflowers, glowing faintly under a twilight sky that looked like it was painted by an overzealous artist.

 The air was cool, with a breeze that carried whispers probably just the wind, but knowing Aiya, it could be actual ghosts. 

Distant peaks loomed like jagged teeth, and every so often, a weird shimmer rippled across the ground, like the world was glitching again. I was starting to think Aiya’s “masterpiece” had a few bugs in the code.

“So,” I said, glancing at Aiya, who was floating lazily above me, sipping what looked like a cosmic slushie. “What’s the deal with these hills? Why are they haunted? ”She slurped loudly, then grinned.

 “Oh, you know, just some restless spirits. Old warriors, cursed nobles, maybe a grumpy farmer or two. Nothing too scary.”Grumpy farmer?” I raised an eyebrow. 

“What, he’s gonna haunt me with a spectral pitchfork? “Maybe!” Aiya giggled, tossing her slushie into the air, where it vanished in a puff of sparkles. “The Meera Hills used to be a big deal ancient battlegrounds, sacred temples, all that jazz. 

Now it’s just a hotspot for ghosts who don’t know how to move on. Your job is to check it out and, you know, not die. ”Not die,” I repeated, deadpan. “Great plan. You should write a self-help book.”She stuck out her tongue.

 “Just keep walking, Chosen One. You’ve got Flower Pot Mastery, remember? You’re basically unstoppable.”I groaned. “Stop reminding me about that stupid power. 

What am I supposed to do, grow tulips at the ghosts? ”Aiya’s eyes glinted mischievously. “Why don’t you try it and find out? ”Before I could retort, a low wail echoed through the hills.

 The grass around me shivered, and the temperature dropped like someone had flipped on the cosmic AC. I froze,. “Okay, that’s not the wind.”Aiya clapped excitedly. 

“Showtime! Go get ‘em, Kazuto! ”The ground in front of me rippled, and three shapes rose from the dirt like smoke. They were humanoid but wrong translucent, with glowing red eyes and tattered armor that looked like it belonged in a history museum. 

One had a sword that flickered like a bad hologram, another clutched a spear that dripped black ooze, and the third… was holding a pitchfork. Of course.“Really?” I muttered. “A haunted farmer? ”The ghosts didn’t answer.

 They just wailed again, the sound drilling into my skull. My heart raced, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Alright, Aiya, what’s the play? How do I fight ghosts? ”Her voice chimed from above, infuriatingly cheerful.

 “Use your powers, dummy! Say the magic words! ”I dodged a swipe from the sword-wielding ghost, its blade passing through a tree and leaving it smoking. 

“You mean the stupid Spanish thing? Fine!” I took a deep breath, feeling like an idiot for the second time today. 

“Uno!” The katana flared to life, its black blade humming with energy. I swung it experimentally, and the sword-ghost recoiled, hissing. Okay, cool, the sword worked.

“Dos!”Obsidian samurai armor snapped into place, light but sturdy, making me feel like a walking tank. The spear-ghost lunged, but I sidestepped, the armor absorbing a graze that should’ve hurt like hell.

“Tres!”The demon mask materialized, sharpening my senses. I could feel the ghosts’ movements now, like my body was wired for combat.

 The pitchfork-ghost charged, and I parried its attack with a flick of the katana, sending it stumbling back.“¡Muerte!” The purple aura exploded around me, and time seemed to slow. 

I moved like a storm, slashing through the sword-ghost in one clean strike. It dissolved into a puff of mist, wailing pitifully. 

The spear-ghost came next, but I spun, slicing through its ooze-dripping weapon and banishing it back to wherever ghosts go. 

The farmer-ghost hesitated, brandishing its pitchfork like it was rethinking its life choices.I pointed the katana at it. “You gonna make this quick, or do I have to embarrass you in front of your ghost buddies? ”The farmer-ghost wailed and lunged.

 I ducked, then swung upward, and poof it was gone, leaving behind a faint smell of hay and disappointment.I stood there, breathing hard, the purple aura fading. 

The mask vanished, and I yanked off the armor, which melted back into my normal clothes. “Okay,” I admitted, “that was kinda badass.”Aiya materialized, applauding like I’d just won a game show. 

“Not bad, Kazuto! You didn’t get cooked! “Yeah, no thanks to you,” I muttered, sheathing the katana. “What’s with these ghosts? And why do I feel like you’re not telling me something? ”She waved a hand dismissively.

 “Pfft, details! The Meera Hills are just a warm-up. You handled it, so let’s move on to the fun stuff! ”Fun stuff?” I narrowed my eyes. 

“What, like more ghosts? Or are you gonna make me fight a haunted wheelbarrow next? ”Aiya grinned, and the sky flickered again just for a split second, but enough to make me suspicious. “Oh, Kazuto, you have no idea what’s coming. Let’s just say the Meera Hills are the least of your problems.

”I sighed, trudging after her as she floated toward a path leading deeper into the hills. The wildflowers glowed brighter now, casting eerie shadows, and the whispers in the air grew louder.

 I didn’t know what Aiya was hiding, but one thing was clear: this world was a mess, and I was stuck in the middle of it, armed with a katana, a dumb power, and a goddess who thought “fun” meant throwing me to the wolves ghostly or otherwise.“Middle finger to all of this,” I muttered, flipping off the sky for good measure.

 If Aiya wanted to play games, I’d play them my way. And maybe, just maybe, I’d figure out what “Flower Pot Mastery” was actually good for.