Another World - Part 3

“That’s a dragon?!” Caio exclaimed, eyes wide at the imposing creature hovering in the sky. Its scales gleamed like rubies under the crimson light of the largest moon, and the beat of its wings echoed like distant thunder. Farther ahead, he saw a rider atop the dragon, flanked by smaller dragons, each with its own rider, flying in tight formation.Leaning against a gnarled tree in the shade of a small forest near the village, Caio muttered, “Got it, a squadron. One hell of a formation, I’d say.” The crystal in his chest pulsed, purple mana thrumming as if reacting to the dragons’ presence.Heading toward the village, Caio took in a grim scene: crude stone houses, people in rags, and chained slaves hauling loads under the stern gaze of guards. Various races—some with scaly skin, others with glowing eyes—mingled in a cruel hierarchy. So this is normal here? What a brutal world, he thought, his stomach churning.Walking further, he found a bar, its wooden facade creaking in the hot wind. As he stepped inside, the smell of sour ale and smoke filled his nostrils. Every eye turned to him, wary. A burly man with a gray beard and a scar slicing his eyebrow stood up.“Hey, you!” the man called, his voice deep but tinged with curiosity. “You look like you’re from far off. Tell me, where’re you from? Sit with us and share your story!”Wait, how do I understand their language? Caio thought, confused. The crystal’s doing? I’ll figure that out later. Time to gather info. “Thanks,” he said, sitting at the splintered wooden table across from the group.“Whoops, where’re my manners?” the man laughed, thumping his chest. “I’m Vorin. These are my friends, Lira and Toren.” A woman with braided hair and golden eyes nodded, while a lanky young man with tattooed hands gave a crooked smile.Okay, time to whip up a convincing story, Caio thought. “I’m Caio. I’m an adventurer, wandering these worlds without a plan, seeking revenge against… them.” He hesitated, keeping it vague. Part of that’s not even a lie, he reflected, feeling the crystal pulse in his chest.Vorin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “‘Them’? That’s pretty cryptic, friend. Who are these ‘them’? And where in the Triad Realm are you from? You don’t look local.”Caio forced a grin. “Let’s just say I’m from… way out of town. As for ‘them,’ they’re some big shots who screwed me over.” He shrugged, trying to play it cool. If I say too much, I’m gonna trip over my own lies.“Wait, by ‘them,’ you mean demons?” Vorin leaned in, his eyes glinting with a mix of empathy and bitterness. “I get it, friend, you’ve got a tragic story. Those bastards have taken so much from us too… We’ve lost what we loved to them.” He snapped his fingers. “Hey, Toren, grab a drink for our friend! Don’t worry, Caio, this mug’s a toast to our shared cause: hating demons.”So demons are the bad guys here, Caio thought, feeling the crystal in his chest pulse, as if stirred by the word “demons.” He took the mug, the bitter liquid burning his throat, and muttered, “What about those dragons out there? Who are they?”Vorin let out a hoarse laugh. “You don’t know them? That’s the Dragon Hero’s Squadron, the elite force fighting demons on the front lines.” He shrugged. “No idea what they’re doing on this continent, but I hope they don’t bring destruction to the village.”Hero? Could it be one of Earth’s summoned? Caio thought, his mind flashing back to his studies at the Academy. They wouldn’t move like that without a reason. A battle’s coming. “Interesting,” he said, keeping his tone neutral. “What’s this ‘Dragon Hero’ deal? Just a fancy title or something more?”Lira answered, her golden eyes narrowing. “They say the Dragon Hero is a chosen one, blessed by the Gods to lead the riders. But no one knows who he really is. All I know is he doesn’t show up without a reason.”The conversation flowed, between sips of ale and tales of the village. Caio pretended to listen, but his mind raced: demons, dragons, Gods. The crystal pulsed, warm, as if trying to speak. What did you get me into, voice? he thought, recalling the hooded figure.Suddenly, the bar’s door slammed open with a crash. A disheveled young man with torn clothes and a sweaty face stumbled in, gasping. “We’re under attack!” Sylas shouted, his voice trembling with panic. “Demons are in the forest!”Caio sighed, sarcasm creeping back. “Of course this would happen…” he muttered, his hand instinctively touching the crystal. Alright, let’s see what this world’s got against me.The bar emptied in seconds, the ground shaking with the sound of boots and shouts. Some ran toward the forest, clutching makeshift weapons, while others fled, vanishing into the village’s shadows. Vorin turned to Caio, his short sword glinting in the moons’ light. “Hey, friend, you said you’re an adventurer. You’ll help us, right? The demons are our enemies!”I know a lot about mana, but fighting? Not so much, Caio thought, the crystal pulsing hot in his chest. Logic says run, but I need to learn about these demons first. “Sure, I’m in,” he replied, forcing a confident grin.He followed Vorin and the others outside, the air thick with smoke and the distant echo of roars. Ahead, the village buzzed: warriors with swords and shields organized, while mages gripped staves crackling with energy. A commanding voice cut through the chaos: “Move, quick! You and you, to the front line! You, stay back with the support!”A towering figure emerged from the crowd, his polished iron armor reflecting the crimson glow of the largest moon. He was a knight, his tattered cape billowing, a scar crossing his jaw. Vorin approached, clapping Caio’s shoulder. “Boss, we’re helping too! Oh, let me introduce him. This is Caio, an adventurer we just met. He’s joining the fight.”The knight fixed his gaze on Caio, sizing him up. “Understood. We need every hand.” He extended a firm hand. “I’m Kael, knight of the Valrath Empire, assigned to this territory. No time now. Choose: front line or rear with the support.” He turned, already barking orders to others.This guy’s loyal to the empire down to his bones, Caio thought. Honest, but busy. “Got it,” he said, keeping his voice steady.Vorin looked at him, eager. “Front line, friend?”My goal’s to observe, not die on day one, Caio thought, the crystal humming as if warning him. “Sorry, I’m going with support this time.”Vorin nodded, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. “Alright, see you later then.” He charged toward the front, sword raised, while Caio headed to the rear, where mages and archers prepared. Time to see what these demons are really about.
Caio pressed forward through the village, the air thick with the stench of blood and sulfur. Children’s screams pierced the night, mingling with the clash of swords and the boom of spells erupting in the forest. Bodies lay among gnarled trees, some mutilated, others still writhing under the shadowy claws of demons. So this is a real battle, Caio thought, the crystal in his chest pulsing with a restless, almost hungry energy.I didn’t pay much attention to combat classes at the Academy, but mana? That I’ve got down. For now, I’ll stick to healing, he decided, his mind racing with calculations. Observing the demons up close might reveal their weaknesses—and what this crystal was doing to him.He approached a young girl slumped against a tree, her torn dress soaked with blood. A deep gash sliced her abdomen, and she coughed, her face pale, her eyes wide with fear. “Hey, let me help you,” Caio said, crouching beside her.“W-who are you?” she stammered, her voice faint, nearly drowned by another cough.“I’m… let’s say a doctor,” Caio replied, flashing a crooked smile that hid his uncertainty. “Let me fix that.”“I-I don’t have money,” she murmured, her fingers trembling against the wound.“Relax, this one’s on the house,” he said, his voice steady but his eyes already analyzing the injury. Basic healing was the first thing we learned at the Academy. A cut like this should be easy.He placed his hands over her abdomen, channeling mana. But instead of the golden-green glow he expected, a purple flash erupted, followed by a liquid darkness that enveloped his hands, like living ink. Darkness? Healing’s supposed to be golden and green. What the hell is this? he thought, his heart racing. Still, the wound began to close, the skin knitting together before his eyes. It worked… but what was that?“All done, good as new,” Caio said, forcing a light tone, though his mind churned with questions. “Now get out of here fast, before more demons show up.”The girl, Mira, widened her eyes, touching her healed abdomen. “Unbelievable… I’m cured! Thank you, doctor!”“Yeah, yeah, sure. Just go,” Caio replied, waving her off, his focus already shifting to the forest. This crystal’s playing games with me. That darkness… is it tied to the Threshold’s voice?Mira ran, vanishing into the shadows, her pain gone with her. But the demons’ roars grew closer, and Caio knew the battle was far from over.
Caio pressed through the burning village, the air choking with smoke and the metallic stench of blood. Screams of pain echoed, blending with the clash of swords and the roar of spells bursting in red and blue flashes. He healed the wounded along the way—soldiers torn apart, villagers shredded by demonic claws—but his presence was no longer hidden. The crystal in his chest pulsed, black mana glowing beneath his shirt, drawing fearful glances.“So you’re the one healing everyone!” Elara, the gray-haired mage, shouted, emerging from the smoke, her staff crackling with blue runes. “Come, quick! We need you!”Caio followed, his sharp mind assessing the chaos. Great, I’m the field medic now. “I’m not some high-level healer,” he started, but Elara cut him off.“We’re here!” She pointed to the front line, where the village gave way to a blazing forest. Seriously? I said no front line! Caio thought, his heart racing. Before him, warriors clashed with demons—near-human figures with twisted horns and ashen skin gleaming like obsidian. So that’s a demon. They look human… but that cruelty gives them away.“Quick, help us! Don’t let them die!” Elara pleaded, pointing to a group of wounded, their bodies torn by deep gashes.No time to think, Caio decided, kneeling beside a soldier groaning, his chest ripped open by claws. “Argh, cough… Heal the others first, I’m done for,” the man rasped, blood dripping from his mouth.“Easy, no one’s dying on my watch,” Caio said, his voice steady, though his mind raced. He placed his hands over the wound, channeling mana. Again, black light erupted, a liquid darkness that enveloped the gash, sealing it as if time reversed. What is this black mana? No fatigue, no overload… this isn’t normal.“Unbelievable… I’m healed!” the soldier gasped, touching his chest. “Thank you, doctor!”“Alright, get back to the fight,” Caio said, already moving to the next wounded. This mana’s freaking me out, but it works. He healed one after another, sending them back to battle, his mind spinning with questions. I’m using mana nonstop and no burnout? This is the crystal… or the Threshold’s voice.Suddenly, a massive shadow loomed over him. A demon, larger than the others, with horns curved like blades and eyes glowing like embers, pointed a black sword. “So you’re the one sending these insects back to fight,” it growled, its voice like metal scraping stone. “Kill you, and our problems end.”Before Caio could react, Vorin, Lira, and Toren stepped in front of him, swords and spears raised. “We meet again, friend!” Vorin shouted, flashing a defiant grin. “Leave this demon to us! Go!”The demon laughed, a guttural sound that chilled the blood. “Hahaha! You think you can stop me?” With one swing of its sword, it felled all three, their bodies collapsing with deep cuts, screams of pain ringing out. “Run, friend, you can’t fall here!” Vorin yelled, before the demon stomped on his face, silencing him. “What a noisy insect,” the demon said, turning to Caio. “Let’s finish this.”Caio froze, the crystal pulsing with a fury he’d never felt. This is the demons’ nature. Despicable. I’ve always wanted peace, avoided violence… but now? His eyes narrowed, his mind sharp as a blade. Demons must vanish. The crystal flared, black mana surging through his arms, and the Threshold’s voice whispered: Now, unleash the void.The demon locked its red eyes on Caio, its laugh echoing like metal scraping stone. “Don’t look at me like that, healer. What can you do? A healer’s just a healer, and there’s no one here to protect you!”At the Academy, I skipped combat practice, let them beat me to get it over with, Caio thought, his sharp mind dissecting the situation. But combat mana? That I know. He flashed a cold smile. “No one, huh? Who said I need anyone? By my sword, you’ll fall.”The demon laughed, its guttural sound reverberating through the ruined village, where the ground was caked with ash and dried blood. “Sword? What sword? Hallucinating already, human? Stalling for time?”Sword mana was my specialty at the Academy. Let’s see if it’s enough, Caio thought. “Let’s finish this,” he said, voice steady. The demon charged, its black sword slicing the air. Caio closed his eyes for a moment, picturing a blade. A black mana sword materialized in his hand, its liquid aura pulsing like a living shadow. He channeled mana to his eyes, and the world slowed, each of the demon’s movements sharp as if in slow motion.That dark energy again. I’ll deal with it later, he thought, focused. “This sword,” he said, raising the weapon. “Who am I? Never said I was just a healer.”The demon snarled, its horns glinting in the forest’s flames. “Don’t dare mock me, human! Even with a mana weapon, this is your end!” It attacked, but its speed seemed sluggish, as if moving through mud. Caio dodged with ease, his mind calculating every step.“Tch, lucky too? You won’t escape again!” the demon growled.“Slow as a slug, demon,” Caio shot back, his eyes glowing with black mana. How is this possible? I see everything… his energy, the core pulsing in his chest. He realized: the mana in his eyes, awakened since the Threshold’s voice touched him, made the world crystal-clear, every move predictable. This is her doing.Caio lunged, driving the black sword into the glowing core in the demon’s chest. The creature fell slowly, eyes wide. “H-how… who are you?”Destroying the core should kill it, Caio thought. But the demon laughed, its voice weak but malevolent. “Hahaha, I’m no third-rate demon, human! One core won’t end me!” Its body twisted, two new arms sprouting, its ashen skin cracking as it grew, horns lengthening like blades. “Now the real fun begins, human!”It attacked, but its speed barely changed. Caio dodged again, his eyes spotting five cores glowing in the demon’s body. Five cores. Got it. “This is your end, demon,” he said coldly. With precise strikes, he shattered each core, the mana sword cutting like liquid shadow. The demon collapsed, its body dissolving into ash that drifted in the air.Too easy. This has to be the voice, Caio thought, panting. I need to talk to her later. But the demon’s energy gathered, a black mist that surged toward him, sinking into his chest. The crystal pulsed, hot, absorbing it. What was that? Ignore it for now.Kael, the commander, emerged from the battle’s wreckage, his armor stained with demonic blood. He fixed Caio with a suspicious glare, hand on his sword’s hilt. “I thought you were a healer. Who are you, really?”