Chapter 1 - The Contract

The world between life and death. A land of swords and sorcery. In the deep forests famed for claiming the lives of anyone who dared enter them, a fight broke out. Anyone nearby would be able to tell what was happening. The trees shook and birds cried as an unseen force hopped from branch to branch, shaking as I deflected oncoming darts from an unknown assailant, the tips coated in a poison most purple and potent. I wore steel that in this situation felt more like a hindrance than a help. Darts that managed to meet their mark poked from my armor as I desperately raised my shield in accordance to the whooshing sound the darts made. Homing in like missiles towards me. “We don’t have to fight, you know!” I shouted, my voice hoarse and strained from dehydration. I had been running and hiding for a whole day now. The closest I had to a break, was the occasional reprieve I would be granted by my pursuer to rest. These were usually brief. Eventually I ran out of breath and leaned against a tree and collapsed. I couldn’t keep running, my legs were quitting. On a nearby branch a figure landed. A woman. She wore the cloak, tunic, and pants of a huntress. Green as the foliage we ran through. In her hand gripped a blowpipe, she lowered her hood and revealed her face. On her face bore a familiar birthmark. A number ‘79’ stuck out like a sore thumb on her cheek. She had a number just like me, except mine was ‘1’. Her skin pale, and her eyes a deep blue. She had wavy hair that shone as bright and yellow as the sun. “You gave me a good chase, but you know as well as I that we can never find peace until the other is dead.” The woman spoke, her voice smooth. “It is a shame you walked into the domain of the huntress Lorelei Raynes.” She proclaimed. Almost detached. The strength of her attacks indicated she had killed a few before this. I slowly gripped the earth, grabbing a fistful of dirt before tossing it in her eyes. “Perhaps you shouldn’t brag before a hunt is over.” I stammered before frantically running away. I could barely stumble my way through the woods before. It wasn’t long before I found myself at a dead end. Just a cliff edge separating me from a raging river below. Lorelei had found me by now, I was foolish to think I could escape. I looked at her one last time, I probably would die, but the odds were a lot better than staying in the woods with her. I carefully removed my armor and trees shook with her impending approach and assault. Keeping only my trusty weapons, I jumped for it. A rush of air slapped me in the face as a homing dart desperately attempted to catch me midair. However gravity won out and I fell into the river below, stopping the dart in its track. The cold water and the impact made me pass out immediately, all I could do was hope I did not drown. The last thing that came to mind was the following words: ‘Whichever man or woman number branded survives, shall have whatever they so please.’ There were people I needed to save. Not in this world, not yet anyways. But the world I came from. The world I lived in before reincarnation. I thought only of my past.

“A real man does what he can and tries his best.”

That was the motto I lived by. My name is Razan Hamada. I am 27 years old, and I am a schoolteacher. This motto was instilled into me by my father, and into my father by my grandfather. A motto carried by generations of Hamada men. I lived in a small countryside town, with a small city area surrounded by farmland. Famed for its high quality rice and fruits. Everyday I did the same thing, I made myself eggs and toast for breakfast, before drinking some coffee. I preferred it black. Afterwards, I had a cold shower, it helped me wake up faster and to be quick. I then dry off and wear the same black and white suit. I neatly combed my hair as well. I am unmarried and my house is more of a small shack consisting of a single bedroom, a livingroom, bathroom, kitchen, and dining hall. I don’t even have a girlfriend. Outside my house was my bicycle. I rode that to work everyday. It was autumn and there was a slight chill in the air, a crunch under my feet as I walked over leaves towards where I parked my bike last. I took the same path everyday with little deviation save for situations like construction. I checked my phone before leaving. Just a text from a friend of mine. Miko Hirashi. She was also twenty seven. Childhood friend, and someone I liked a lot. I just don’t have the nerves to say anything. ‘Was hoping we could go see a movie today? Please respond.’ I felt my heart race as I read it. I eagerly applied ‘Sure thing, see you after work.’ I grinned as I rode off onto the street. My head was in the clouds, we rarely got to do anything together as she worked at the local bank with longer hours than a measly schoolteacher. I imagined us enjoying a good film together, or perhaps criticizing a bad one. I was torn regardless of my daydreams not long after by a shout. A girl? I looked around trying to find the source of the noise. I was about a few blocks away from the school grounds but the sound came from a nearby alley. Tetsuo Yagami and his crony Ken Sato were harassing a female student. Haruka Kochiko. All three were third year students and I taught them. I knew I had to intervene. “Yagami-kun! Sato-kun! Leave her alone, will ya?” I called out, I was a little ticked off but I was an adult. I had to be responsible and protect everyone. “A real man does what he can and tries his best.” The motto rang through my head again as I got off my bike and walked over to them. Tetsuo was holding a wad of cash no doubt extorted and a knife. “Agh, go away Hamada-sensei!” He waved the knife. He looked oddly frantic and distressed. “Hold on, Yagami-kun, calm down. I’m not here to hurt you, and I’m not going to do anything. Just hand Kochiko-kun the cash and let’s all go to class.” However a nearby police siren spooked Tetsuo some more causing him to flee, he ran right into me, knife in hand. It likely was not intentional. But he did it anyway he inadvertently stabbed me. I felt it like a punch to the gut. I didn’t dare look down at where he stabbed me, but I felt sick and dizzy. The last thought that ran through my mind was Miko. I wanted to see her one last time, yet the only face I saw was Tetsuo, panicked. Dropping the knife and calling for help. Death came fast and cruelly.

I floated in an empty void, a far cry from the heaven most people expected yet too warm and comforting for it to be hell. It was more like a state of limbo. Eventually, a woman came into form. She was blindfolded, with white hair that waved and flowed as if a draft carried it. Yet there was no wind. Her clothes are reminiscent of the Greek gods and goddesses I planned to discuss in class today. They were white which contrasted with the black void we both stood in. Her skin pale, her lips red and her tongue black as coal. “You finally came too, consider this your afterlife.” The woman's voice was shrill, and made my hair stand on end. I felt a sense of panic hearing her voice. “Yet you have regrets, I’m afraid heaven or hell shall be no home for you. But I offer you a second chance, take it, and survive. If you are successful, then you will wake up in the hospital, a survivor of an accidental stabbing. Rather than a lost soul wracked with regrets.” Miko’s face flashed before my eyes as she said this. I never told her how I felt. “Please, what do I need to do? I’ll take it, I’ll do anything!” I got on my knees, begging rather shamefully. “Why you shall not do much. Just sign this contract and you will be reborn in a contest.” As she said this a papyrus scroll stood before me, a pen floating in front of it. Nothing was there save for a line to write my name. “Hold on, what am I signing here?” I asked, a bit reluctant now. The woman simply smiled and continued her speech “You will be given a number and eighteen years to prepare. In a world of swords and sorcery you will fight in a battle royale between 99 other souls. The winner will get their wish granted and the opportunity to go home.” I thought it over carefully. “Do not worry, eighteen years is a long time to prepare and train, and everyone will fight on equal grounds.” She assured me. “Unless you reject my gift, perhaps on some moralistic grounds?” She guessed exactly what I was thinking. “I can’t accept this.” I began. “I can’t hurt others.” However the woman simply said one phrase I knew all too well: “A real man does what he can and tries his best.” Before showing me the people in my life. Miko would never marry, die young to suicide and be forgotten. Tetsuo would be sentenced to prison. His life ruined, a fate he perhaps deserved, until she showed me the money he tried to steal would go towards his sick sister. The sick sister his deadbeat parents would neglect. My death hurt everyone around me. She showed me students, coworkers, and my parents. Everyone's lives are ruined or damaged because of my death. Yet the opportunity before me stood there, everyone was already dead. What was the worst that could happen? “Death in the game would simply mean departure to the afterlife.” She explained. “You stand only to gain, surely you wish to protect those closest to you? Though I must admit, not too often do I sense a man's drive to protect his killer.” She looked amused now, as if everything was just a game to her. She certainly knew how to drive a hard bargain.

“Fine…” I relented at long last with a sigh. “I accept. What are the rules?” The woman’s face looked serious now. “The rules will be explained at the game's start, eighteen years from now. You will be reborn with your current memories and knowledge. Just spend the time preparing physically and mentally.” With those parting words I felt a flash of light, and the smell of fresh air for the first time hit my nostrils. I had been reborn.

Remaining participants: 100/100.

Game status: Awaiting start.

Razan Hamada Status: Reborn.