Hololive Alternative: Destiny is not Absolute

Minor disclaimer: This rendition presents a revised version of the initial Hololive Alternative story I wrote but this time the first volume is finished. While the perspective of Mumei remains intact, I've entirely omitted Amelia to concentrate on Mumei and the intricate world I've fashioned around her. Significant alterations have been made, and despite my sluggish pace of approximately 1.5 years, sorry for my lazy ass, I trust you'll find enjoyment in this revamped rendition of my Hololive Alternative story. Presently, only ten chapters have been released, with more slated for release in the upcoming weeks. Have a nice day and I wish you a pleasant read.

* * *

The distant gleam of the moon pierced through the pitch-black night, casting a feeble yet flickering glow which painted a stark contrast against the surrounding abyss. 

The seemingly endless expanse of sand beneath my feet stretched out infinitely, while silence, thick and heavy, enveloped the air, broken only by the eerie crunching of my footsteps.

The relentless presence of sand invaded every crevice, causing my eyes to sting and water. It coated my mouth and throat, making me feel suffocated and ill. 

Persisting through this desolate terrain, the lonely silence was abruptly shattered by the approach of camels, their steady footsteps resonating through the desert, offering a glimmer of hope in the barren wasteland.

Summoning my last reserves of energy, I channeled my new found hope into transforming, twisting and shifting my physical form until I took the appearance of an owl. Feathers burst forth from my once-human skin, capturing the faint light and glimmering akin to polished hazelnuts.

My toes elongated and contorted into razor-sharp talons, my visage extended into a formidable beak, and my very bones rearranged themselves to accommodate this newfound avian frame.

With a single, mighty stroke of my wings, I liberated myself from the constraints of the earthly realm, soaring into the ink-black night sky. 

The sensation was nothing short of thrilling, as the wind embraced my feathery form, creating a sensation of boundless freedom.

However, the euphoria was short-lived. The strain of maintaining my avian form soon weighed heavily upon me, draining my energy with each beat of my wings. 

What had initially felt like boundless flight now resembled the exhaustion of traversing a marathon with every movement.

The desert winds, akin to vengeful specters, howled relentlessly around me, their fury threatening to engulf me in the towering sea of sand dunes. 

With my energy reserves dwindling, I summoned the last vestiges of strength, wielding my wings against the gusts, slicing through the relentless winds to maintain a precarious flight.

But from my vantage point in the sky, I finally caught sight of the camels. They were part of a larger caravan stretching out before me, an impressive procession of carriages, horses, and camels.

The travelers accompanying the caravan walked closely alongside the camels, some firmly gripping the reins while others guided the majestic animals along the treacherous path.

In addition to the humble travelers, armored knights on horseback rode as a protective vanguard. Their vigilant presence spoke volumes about the dangers that lurked in the darkness, their watchful eyes scanning the horizon ceaselessly for any telltale signs of peril that might threaten the caravan's steady progress. 

The caravans progress was marked by the jarring clamor of wheels grinding against the rugged path and the rhythmic cadence of hooves pounding the ground. 

Leading the caravan, the knights rode steady, their torches casting an eerie dance of flickering shadows upon the unforgiving terrain.

But the tranquility was brutally shattered in an instant. A thunderous roar, akin to a primal scream, ripped through the previously undisturbed hush, tearing the very silence apart. 

The ground itself quivered under the approaching tumult, heralding the swift and numerous advance of an unknown force. 

It was clear that something was hurtling toward the caravan with startling speed and in considerable numbers. 

Slumbering figures stirred abruptly, roused from their repose, disoriented and gripped by alarm, scanning the obscurity for the harbingers of impending danger.

The knights grounded the advance of the caravan to a sudden halt. The wavering light of their torches lent an unsettling quality to their faces, as it painted their fearful features with ghostly, shifting shadows.

Some members of the caravan seemed to vanish into the impenetrable shroud of the night, their forms swallowed by the abyss.

With swift reaction, the leaders of the caravan summoned the soldiers, who promptly formed a protective ring around the convoy. 

Drawing their swords and raising their shields with grim determination, they swore an unspoken oath to defend the caravan against the impending onslaught. 

The attackers, creatures of unforeseen ferocity, descended upon them with a savage intensity that caught the valiant defenders off guard.

In the face of imminent peril, I sprang into action. I quickened my stride towards the besieged caravan, my path guided by the piercing chorus of bloodcurdling screams.

The crescendo of noise swelled with each passing moment, and my heart raced in time with the surge of trepidation and adrenaline coursing through my veins.

My descent brought me to a concealed perch atop a nearby dune, obscured from view by the tumultuous events unfolding below. 

Shedding my avian form, I took a brief moment to catch my breath and survey the situation. 

It was then that the source of the commotion revealed itself: a nightmarish horde of monstrous beings, charging relentlessly toward the caravan. 

Their ghastly white skin bristled with cruel spikes, and malevolence gleamed in their eyes, their tails tipped with serrated blades reminiscent of swords.

I sprang into action, determined to lend aid to my final hope in this desolate and unforgiving landscape.

The air hung heavy with the metallic scent of blood and sweat, and the very ground quaked beneath the brutal exchanges between the two forces. 

My frantic gaze swept the tumultuous scene, revealing fallen soldiers lying motionless upon the unforgiving earth, while others were ruthlessly dragged into the enveloping abyss of darkness by the relentless assailants.

My initial instinct was to reach for my long sword, the blade that had served me faithfully in countless perilous situations. 

But in the midst of the adrenaline-fueled chaos, I remembered with a sinking feeling that my sword was no longer whole—it had been shattered in a previous confrontation, rendering it useless. 

Desperation gripped me as I searched for an alternative, and my fingers found the hilt of my concealed dagger. 

Without hesitation, I moved the weapon behind my hand, initiating a transformation process. It began to shift and reshape itself, as if guided by an otherworldly force. 

The dagger elongated into a slender, razor-sharp sword, its once plain hilt now adorned with intricate runes that pulsed with a faint, ethereal light. 

With the transformation complete, I surged forward, joining the battle. 

The first monstrous creature to cross my path lunged at me, its enormous jaws snapping through the air with terrifying force. 

I narrowly evaded its razor-sharp teeth, sidestepping to the right with a dancer's grace. In response, I countered with a swift, expertly aimed strike, the blade of my weapon slicing cleanly through the creature's scaly hide. 

Dark, acrid blood spurted from the wound, and the creature let out a bone-chilling roar before collapsing into the sand.

The moon's cold light helped to highlight their grotesque details—their pallid, scaled skin, the malevolent glint in their bloodshot eyes, and the gruesome maws that gaped open, revealing rows of dagger-like teeth.

But there was no time for respite, for the battle raged on around me. 

These creatures were cunning hunters, their tactics reminiscent of a pack of wolves. They moved in coordinated packs, trying to encircle and overwhelm both the caravan and me. 

Their sheer speed and ferocity of their immense jaw which were lined with rows of serrated teeth, snapped through armor as though it were made of paper, making each confrontation a perilous dance of life and death.

Another monster lunged at me with lightning speed, its massive jaw poised to strike. I narrowly evaded the deadly bite, my sword flashing through the air to deliver a deep gash across its side. 

It emitted a deafening screech, but its pain-fueled rage only drove it to attack with even greater fury. With each clash, my weapon met its resistance, and I felt the tremendous force of its attacks reverberating through my arms.

Despite the ferocity of the creature's onslaught, I stood my ground. With precision, I delivered two well-placed strikes, causing the monster to bleed out.

But the battle was far from over. Engaging in combat with yet another monstrous creature, I remained vigilant, simultaneously keeping an eye on the members of the caravan. 

Amidst the chaos of the onslaught, some had become separated from the main group, facing imminent danger. I couldn't afford to stand idly by while they were at risk.

Spotting a lone traveler who had fallen to the ground, cornered by two of the monstrous creatures, I dashed to his aid. 

My sword sliced through the air with a graceful arc, severing the head of one of the monsters just in the nick of time before it could lunge at its prey.

The other, undeterred, lunged at me with a savage bite, but I deftly sidestepped its attack, narrowly avoiding the gnashing jaws. In a fluid motion, my blade found its mark, and the creature crumpled to the ground.

Turning to the frightened traveler, I extended a hand and helped them to their feet. "Are you alright?" I asked, my voice firm yet reassuring.

Their eyes widened with gratitude and fear, but there was no time for hesitation. "We need to get back to the others," I commanded, urgency lacing my words.

I signaled for them to follow closely as we swiftly rejoined the caravan's defensive perimeter. 

Some of the soldiers looked at me in confusion, likely because they didn't recognize me as one of their own, but there was no time for explanations.

I shifted my dagger once more, this time into a bow, and I turned my attention to the creatures at a distance. 

Drawing an arrow from thin air, I took careful aim and let it fly. The arrow found its mark, striking a monster in the eye, causing it to thrash in agony before collapsing.

Gradually, the caravan's defenders gained the upper hand. The creatures began to falter under our combined onslaught, and one by one, they fell to the ground, lifeless. 

As the last of the monsters lay still, I sheathed my dagger and turned to face the cheering caravan. 

The soldiers, panting from the fight, sheathed their swords as well, grinning from ear to ear. It was a hard-won victory, but one that we had earned through the blood of fallen.