Return (1)

Life can be unexpected. 

That's what I learned when I appeared in another world. You'll probably have your whole life planned out but then something happens and it is all thrown out the window. 

Well, something similar happened to me. 

I remember it being just an average day. 

I had just finished school, started my part-time job, and just arrived home. 

Letting out a breath as I closed the door to my dorm room, I quickly stumbled to the bed and laid down. 

It had been around 5 years since my parents died in a plane crash causing me to be an orphan. Apparently, my grandparents didn't approve of their relationship so they cut contact. I didn't bother to contact them as I already had a lot on my plate. 

With me going into my final year of high school and trying to get some money life was really becoming a pain in the ass to live. 

'At least it ain't all bad' 

Looking at my phone I opened up an app where I could read web novels and webtoons. Opening the current thing I was reading I could feel my eyelids get heavy. With a yawn, I closed my eyes. 

However, the next moment a warm breeze hit before the sunlight hit my closed eyelids. 

'Ugh, why is the sun shining in my eyes?'

Opening my eyes I stared at the sun which was surrounded by a red sky. 

Wait red sky?

I instantly shot up and looked around the area. I wasn't in my crapy apartment anymore instead I was on some rocky terrain around me people wearing what I could only describe as rags were walking. 

The fire was set to the huts and people were scrambling to get away. 

Looking in front of me though I saw a group of people who were dressed in some sort of fantasy-type armor. At first, I thought it was some sort of fantasy-type cosplay however, when a giant magic circle appeared causing a giant fireball to hit one of the monsters that appeared out of nowhere I froze. 

'The fuck was that?' 

Before I could think any further I felt someone grab my shoulder "Come, young man, move!" 

Seeing a middle-aged guy pull I didn't resist as I wanted to get away from the carnage. After running a good bit I started to walk with the other people. I could see many people sitting or crying however, I was still in a daze to focus on the gazes that were directed at me. 

'Just where was I?'

I had read my fair share of light novels and manga where the main character was transported into a different world however, they had some type of system that helped them or overpowered abilities. 

'System? Status? Information? Open?' 

Trying a few different prompts I decided to give up after nothing happened. Looking around I then saw the old man who helped me "Uh hey excuse me," 

Turning toward me the man observed me from top to bottom before a puzzled look appeared on his face. 

"Do you know where we are?" Looking at me in confusion the man answered my question "We're in the province of Soloker," 

'Soloker?' 

I was about to open my mouth to ask more questions but I was quickly silenced by a loud noise. Turning my gaze toward a cliff I saw a man dressed in armour while riding a horse. In his hands was a horn but he put it down to reveal a…scroll? 

"This is a degree from his majesty the emperor himself!" he shouted which caused all of the people to look at the guy. 

Looking at the paper he started to read what was on the paper "People of the Empire of Reawigon! The fate of this great nation is at stake! The Mercenaries have fled, and the knights are falling! There is no place left to run away from those creatures created by the Great Calamity! Now you must stand up for yourselves!"

I then heard a few shouts of agreement but from what I observed the people agreeing seemed to be some sort of knights. 

But then a bad feeling wielded up in my gut. 

'Wait don't tell me…'

"Our Emperor commands us! Let us fight for the name of this great nation! For Reawigon!"

"For Reawigon!'

Hearing the other people start shouting I looked into the ash grey sky. 

'Welp…can't say my life was all bad'

Yup.

The day I was summoned to a new world I was enlisted in the military of the Reawigon empire due to the military power of the empire not being enough to face the great calamity.

And thus those tortuous days began. 

Regardless of status be it noble or commoner, all men between the ages of 15 and 50 were drafted into the Templar Knights. 

Remembering those days still made me shiver. After 4 hours of sparing, after four hours we got lunch which was just… well let's just say I missed my cup nobbles then we had to run to the top of a mountain with weight strapped to our shoulders and if he didn't make it in time we would be punished with a ridiculous amount of push-ups, however, I suppose there was something good that came out of it. 

One day as I was sparing with one of the other trainees I was told that I had some magic talent thus I was trained as a mage.

After 2 weeks I had made up my mind. 

Home. 

I needed to find a way home no matter the cause. I was willing to do anything in order to make sure I returned home. I have spent a total of 10 years in the military and made a name for myself thanks to my unique abilities. 

However, it wasn't after 15 years that I discovered a way for me to go back home. While I had tested it a few times I would always run out of mana the fuel that all magic runs on. Despite my being the strongest existence in the world to the point of rivaling the gods I didn't have the power to go back home…at least not yet.

But with the war between the Great Calamity coming to an end I thought of an idea that was probably suicidal. 

What if I killed the Great Calamity and used it as a way for me to go back home?

Thus that was where I was now. 

The empire thought I was going to make some sort of last stand but that was far from the truth it was still going to help as there was an army of monsters near the Great Calamity. 

*BOOOM* 

A loud explosion shook the land beneath me however, thanks to gravity magic I was able to keep my barrings. 

Out of the smoke appeared what seemed to be a human, however, it wasn't. 

Its white hair was down to its shoulders which had ash-grey skin tone along with animalistic golden eyes. One of its arms was black with many purple lines all over it. Its body was extremely muscular as if a god had sculpted it. However, its other was missing as black blood spurted out. 

Raising my hand a flurry of glowing golden magic spears around the area. Flicking my wrist downward all of the spears charged toward the calamity with tremendous speed. However, at the same moment, it clenched its black fist causing the purple lines to turn a crimson red. 

The many spears heading toward it quickly disappeared into crimson particulars.

'It has a range to!?' 

Clicking my tongue in annoyance I quickly used another spell. Appearing above it a dark green aura had enveloped my fist and I then struck down. 

*BAM*

However, my fist then made contact with its ash-grey arm. 

'Wait he regenerated it so quick-' 

Before I could finish my thought pain coursed through my hand I was then thrown to the ground with tremendous force. 

Quickly teleporting out of the way I felt my mangled hand regenerate as I thought of my next move. 

But before I could react bolts of crimson lightning charged toward me causing a blue barrier to appear around me. As I looked closer though I saw that cracks were forming and quickly spreading around the barrier but it gave me enough time to teleport behind it. 

Just as I appeared behind I quickly put up my arms before a powerful kick landed on them. I could feel and hear my bones crack as I was sent flying back. As I was sent flying back crimson flames started to run toward me however, once my arms healed I appeared in the air again. 

But as I did that I felt a powerful source of energy behind me and when I turned around I saw a giant red pillar descending toward me. Suddenly the area around me started to vibrate and as the crimson pillar was going to hit me it phased through leaving me unharmed. 

Suddenly crimson-red flames enveloped my arm before a gauntlet appeared. Using teleportation magic again I appeared in front of it and let loose a hard punch. It also did the same and launched its jet-black arm forward colliding with my gauntlet. 

As they connected a giant shockwave rippled through the area causing the land beneath and around us to crack and rise. 

We both took a step back however, I then charged forward and delivered a punch to its face. Before it could recover I delivered another punch and another. 

However, when it blocked my fist I used my other hand had a powerful green glow surrounding it, and launched it at the creature's chest. Connecting I then could feel my hand enter its flesh before it shot back creating a gaping hole in its chest. While it wasn't big it was big enough to where I had grabbed its heart. 

"Argh! You damned-" Hearing let out a curse I smiled "Yea take that, you bastard!"

We had fought for an entire 2 days ignoring the damages as we regenerated to the point our mana and stamina were at rock bottom. 

Looking at my gauntlet I watched as it melted back into crimson flames and hit the floor. Before I could celebrate my victory the Great Calamity grabbed both of my arms before it game be a bloody grin "If I'm going down I'm taking you with me you damn human!" 

I then tried to pull my arm back however, its grip was too strong. At the same time, I felt the mana around me fluctuate before they started to conglomerate around the body of the Great Calamity. 

'This is bad!'

My mana was at an all-time low but I still had enough to where I could use one of my top-tier spells and I didn't have the strength to cut my arm off. Not only that if I did cut my arm off using my remaining mana I wouldn't be able to regenerate before those assholes appear!

But it wouldn't matter if this bastard just exploded himself anyway!

Gritting my teeth I then decided to activate the spell that was the key to going home. 

A giant purple magic circle appeared beneath us as the mana in the air then headed toward it instead. 

"You! What are you doing!?" 

Ignoring its yelling I waited as the magic circle beneath me charged up, 

"AHHH!" 

Letting out a scream I watched in glee as the great calamity was in pain. But that didn't last long as soon pain had enveloped me too causing me to groan. However, as I looked closer I noticed that the ash-grey skin of the great calamity was cracking as golden lines started to appear all over it.

But soon my vision turned black and a comforting silence descended around me.

***

A man looked over the ruined battlefield. This area that was once lush with life had turned into a barren wasteland of destruction. 

As he examined the destruction something had caught his eye. 

Crouching down he picked up a badge along with a destroyed black cloak. Examing them and the surrounding mana gave him an idea of what had happened.

"So he's dead too," muttering that he left both the badge and cloak on the floor. 

After all the empire had to mourn a fallen hero. 

***

[At the same time at Earth]

In a quiet dorm room, everything was almost empty inside as if the person was going to move but then a giant portal appeared on the ceiling before a youth clad in medieval clothing fell through and landed on the floor. 

Feeling the pain in my back I groaned before I slowly opened my eyes revealing a bright portal that had disappeared when I blinked. Slowly getting from the floor I looked around the familiar place. 

It was the same as I remembered it before I was isekai'd anyway.

This was my dorm room that I had grown to miss in 15 years away. But just as I was about to shout I was back a familiar voice entered my ears causing me to freeze.

"Where in the universe am I?" 

Looking beside me I turned to see a floating ball of red fire. Ball then turned to me with bright red slights that I assumed were its eyes locked with mine.

'Wait don't tell me-'