Being a Nobody
When Tang first opened a book as a child, he was mesmerized by a world teeming with billions of people. But amidst the crowd, there was always that one extraordinary individual who defied the odds, embraced adventure, and lived a life filled with excitement and purpose. Determined to script his own thrilling narrative, Tang made a solemn vow. He delved into countless projects, honing his skills and talents to perfection. Yet, he couldn't escape the realization that there were others who far surpassed his abilities. As he grew older, Tang became a daring helicopter pilot and found love with his high school sweetheart, who now carries their first child. It seemed that Tang had finally discovered the exhilaration he had always craved, but little did he know, this was just the beginning. During a routine client escort, tragedy struck as Tang faced a fatal helicopter crash. Just as he was about to succumb to his fate, a mysterious voice echoed in his ears. And when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a strangely familiar yet unfamiliar room. Tang soon discovered that he had been transported to a magical realm, where he yearned to reclaim his role as the protagonist. But it quickly became apparent that this new world wouldn't make it easy for him to seize the spotlight once again.
Undead
Sebastian's body ached as he finally reached the top of the cliff; his limbs heavy and his breath ragged. He collapsed onto the ground, his frail form dragging across the rugged terrain. The exhaustion was etched on his face, a mixture of disbelief and frustration.
"Yo-You gotta be... kidding me," Sebastian muttered between gasps for air. The realization of the time it had taken him to complete this journey hit him like a wave. It had consumed an entire day, far longer than he had anticipated.
As he lay there, his body trembling with fatigue, Sebastian couldn't help but question the purpose of the challenge for the thousandth time. Doubt crept into his mind, threatening to overshadow his accomplishment.
But then, as he looked up at the vast expanse of the sky above him, his lips formed a smile. With a mixture of exhaustion and pride, Sebastian slowly pushed himself up from the ground. His body protested, but his spirit remained unyielding. He took a moment to survey the breathtaking view from the top of the cliff, the beauty of the landscape stretching out before him.
As he stood there, catching his breath, Sebastian scanned his eyes around the cliff and spotted a flower blooming near the edge. It was bright white in color and seemed to shimmer with magic. Its petals were beautiful in their own way, with long, elegant lines. They almost appeared artificial, with a slight pink tint to them. Sebastian stared, mesmerized, as the petal began to glow brighter, until it was glowing like a small sun.
Sebastian carefully walked towards the flower, unsheathing the dagger on his waist, and began digging it out of the ground, being careful not to damage the delicate flower. With one last tug, he pulled out the golden petal from the soil. Sebastian held it out before him for inspection. The petal reflected light in a dazzling way, and he could swear that the sun was trying to catch it.
Sebastian let out a soft laugh, but his laugh was cut short when he heard wings flapping, creating a gust of wind that hit his back. The shadow of an unknown figure overshadowed him.
His eyes widened as his body uncontrollably trembled, but nevertheless, he was able to turn his head slowly to look at whoever stood behind him.
His heart raced as he realized what it was. Behind him was a man with wings, but the left side of his face was nothing but a skull, with a hollow eye socket. His skin was pale, as if it had never met a ray of sun before. His right eye, which Sebastian noticed immediately, was red, with a pupil that resembled a snake.
But most importantly, they were glowing. It reminded Sebastian of fire, of lava, and molten metal.
The man's lips formed an amused smirk. "Lucky me to come across a human child," he drawled, his voice deep and smooth, sending chills down Sebastian's spine.
Sebastian's heart raced as he found himself face to face with the menacing undead. Fear gripped him, paralyzing his body and clouding his mind. He desperately searched for a way to escape, but his body felt heavy and unresponsive.
The guy's smirk widened, relishing in Sebastian's vulnerability. "You humans are so fragile," he sneered, his voice dripping with malice.
Sebastian's breath hitched in his throat as the reality of his helplessness sunk in. He had come so far, endured so much, only to face death once again. His grip on the golden petal tightened, his knuckles turning white.
The unknown guy took a step closer, his presence suffocating. Sebastian's mind raced, desperately searching for a way to turn the situation in his favor. But his body remained frozen, his legs refusing to carry him to safety.
He tried to move, to fight, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't. The only thing he could do was stare into the void of the dead man's eye sockets. "You don't seem like much, so adding you won't help at all," the man stated, a dark glow appearing on his hand. When it vanished, a whip made out of what seemed to be the spine of some creature appeared in his hand.
Before Sebastian knew it, he was slammed to the ground on his back, the whip wrapped around his feet. He could feel the bone fragments of the whip scrape against his flesh, sending jolts of pain through his body.
Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes as he struggled to breathe, but for some unknown force, Sebastian was able to throw the flower towards the man. As it glowed brightly, the man covered his eyes.
The whip around Sebastian's feet loosened as he stood up on the ground and ran away. But luck was once again not on his side. It didn't take long for the flower to stop glowing, and the man jolted his head towards Sebastian, clearly pissed.
He raised the whip in the air. Sebastian tried running faster, thinking the whip wouldn't reach him. But when the man brought the whip down to the ground, an invisible impact hit Sebastian's back. His clothes ripped, and blood started gushing from a deep wound that suddenly appeared on his back.
Sebastian fell to the ground, screaming out in agony from the pain. His wounds felt like salt being rubbed directly on them. The man walked towards Sebastian, stomping on his back and raising the whip once again.
"You imbecile, it was foolish for you to piss me off," the man stated as he continued to whip Sebastian with each word. Sebastian tried kicking or biting the undead guy, but his efforts were futile and weak, as if the person was made of iron.
Suddenly, Sebastian felt his strength being drained. His vision blurred, his chest tightened, as he struggled to keep his eyes open, feeling his consciousness slipping further away.
The man grabbed Sebastian by his hair, pulling him towards the edge of the cliff. "Die," the man stated as he threw Sebastian off the cliff.
Sebastian was falling, faster and faster, until he crashed against the trees below and finally onto the ground. Sebastian's body lay motionless on the ground, the pain from the fall radiating through his battered form.
Darkness enveloped his senses, and for a moment, he feared that this was the end of his extraordinary journey, leaving only him as the mysterious guy flew away.