Solo Leveling Trinity [Completed for now]

****

The passage that connects other dimensions to ours...

The "Gate"...

The Dwelling of Monsters, otherwise known as a "Dungeon".

And...

Those who hunt monsters, are called "Hunters."

It was said that several years ago, one of the worse calamity visited Mankind. An immensely powerful Magic Beast that appeared after a Dungeon Break occurred within the first S-Ranked Gate that appeared in the USA was responsible for destroying a portion of the western portion of the country, killing hundreds of Elite Hunters at the same time.

This Beast was known as Kamish, and was often called Humanity's worst calamity.

However, this world didn't know that Kamish was only the beginning of the end. This world was caught in a desperate struggle of dominance between higher Beings, not knowing about the dangers that would befall upon them.

But, just like Pandora's box, even if all manners of misfortunes, all forms of evil, sickness and death was released upon the world, there was still "Hope".

This is the beginning of Kasuga Arata, the E rank hunter who would soon inherit the powers of another world and become the "Hope" of humanity.

*****

"RUN! GET AWAY FROM HERE!"

Arata immediately grabbed the girl's hand as he tried to pull her along. However, the girl remained rooted to the spot as tears began forming around the edges of her eyes. Arata felt his chest tighten but as he looked behind him...

The enemies were relentlessly approaching them.

Tch, this is bad...

"QUICK! They are approaching us! It's now or never!"

Finally, Arata forcefully dragged the girl with him as she stared wordlessly at him. Her lips were in the shade of pale blue while her entire body continued to tremble ever so imperceptibly.

Arata cast a glance behind him and found the approaching creatures steadily advancing upon them.

'We won't make it... ...'

She had stalled for too long and now the consequences were setting in.

Even now, the girl's face still showed traces of fear and shock. He couldn't blame her, not after what had happened. Her mind was still unable to process the facts that happened.

However, he knew in his heart that he couldn't do it. He couldn't abandon this girl to her fate. If he did, what awaited her was only a gruesome death. The other party members should have left the dungeon by now so there was only one other choice he could make. He definitely did not want to suffer the guilty conscience of abandoning such a person behind in this godforsaken place.

He let go of the girl's hand as he steadied his gaze forward. A flicker of astonishment flashed across her face.

"Arata san...?" Her voice was one of disbelief but Arata simply replied...

"There is no time left. Please leave now." His expression remained hardened. There was no time left to run if one of them didn't stay behind to buy time.

"But..." The girl was still hesitant but there was no time left. Any minute now, and they would both be dead.

"This is my choice, so it's fine. You have people waiting for you...don't waste your life here. As for me... ...well, I certainly won't have any..."

"A-Arata san..."

" Now go!" After hearing his declaration for a final time, the girl finally bowed her head as tears streamed down her face as she forced herself to run towards the exit.

Arata took several deep breaths.

"Fuu-woo. Fuu-woo..."

'Now that it has come down to this, I'll at least take one down with me.'

When he looked behind him, the silhouette of the girl was slowly fading while the rampant footsteps approaching him became louder and clearer.

What a relief that was...

'Only I'll die here now...'

He wasn't doing this simply because of some noble determination to sacrifice himself or anything like that. No, there certainly was an element of him calculating the best possible outcome in his decision.

Even if he somehow survived and got out of here today, he would still have to live as a cripple the rest of his life. Obviously, he wouldn't be able to carry on as a Hunter then.

But, as he recalled the memories of his life, a wry smile formed on his face. He knew that even if he were to perish here, the people he knew would simply forget about him soon and his death wouldn't really be a bother to them. After all, he had no accomplishments to speak off. But with this...he could finally say that he had at least accomplished something with his life.

ROAR!!!!!

ROAR!!!!!

Finally, the creatures arrived.

*****

Arata spat out a mouthful of blood. An unimaginable amount of pain rushed in like a tsunami wave.

SLAM!!

Sounds of bones breaking could be heard from all corners of his body.

He shrunk away from the intense pain.

"Euh... ...Euh, euh... ..."

As he began trembling, the creatures slowly surrounded him and his entire being began shuddering non-stop.

Now that he was facing his final moments, tears slowly pooled around his eyes.

As he saw the incoming scythe of death approach him, Arata finally closed his eyes.

***

'Ah...this is really the end."

***

A world that was richly colored.

That was the scenery that leapt into the eyes of Arata. No end could be seen.

Various colors mixed in this space like a kaleidoscope.

It was as though he was lost inside a world within a bubble.

There was a chalk white patch that stretched forward. As Arata transverse the white path, he peeked down over the edge.

He advanced the path for several dozen minutes where no end could be seen with mere few words.

In that mysteriously colorful space, from the sky, rainbow colored light descended down beside Arata.

The light descending from the sky was increasing in density, and before long it became a shining bright stair that possessed substance.

Every time Arata climbed up a step, the step below him vanished--

'Where am I?'

Arata looked around at the surroundings. He was now far above the sky, under his feet was a shining stair, and other than that there was a sea of clouds spreading endlessly. It was a sight that looked unreal.

Every time he climbed a step, he felt as though his existence was getting converted into something more immaterial, like a virtual image, or a ghostly body.

Should he say that it felt like ascending to heaven, or should he say that it felt like he was being liberated from earthly desires and the woes?

[Welcome, child of another world.]

A voice resounded inside his head... ...his head?

The voice didn't resound in his head, but in his very thoughts itself.

The scenery changed.

Clouds were increasing in the surroundings, tinged with a golden color as they shined.

When he noticed there was no stair under his feet, Arata was floating lightly inside the cloud.

Light was scattering before his eyes.

The true identity of the thing that emitted light was rainbow colored feathers. They were feathers of a bird... ...no, there was no way those feathers came from a bird. If they weren't the feathers of a bird, then they must be the feathers of someone--the feathers of an angel.

The silhouette of a huge angel emerged amidst the scattering feathers. Six pairs of wings, twelves wings where each one was larger by several times than the owner's body were spreading out. That figure was overwhelmingly magnificent.

With the golden clouds behind him, the rainbow colored wings spread wide--it was a sight like the religious painting of a Supreme Being.

He put his white hand on his graceful slender jaw, and let out a voice that sounded like a light tone color played from an instrument.

As Arata looked up at the Mystical Being, realisation finally dawned on him.

'That's right, back then...'

[You have guessed it correctly, child. You, who have perished have now stepped into the boundaries of the cosmos.]

Arata felt a shuddering density from the light floating golden clouds as the Supreme Being in front him spoke.

Arata could only smile wryly. To think that his life would really come to a close so quickly... ...and he would soon enter the void of eternal rest.

But, there was at least one useful thing he managed to exchange his life for. He had saved somone else. That could already be said to be his biggest accomplishment in life.

Well, now that he was here, his meaningless and painful life would finally come to an end... ...the memories etched and deeply ingrained within both his heart and mind would finally disappear as well...

He could finally be freed from the pain his heart had suffered all these years...

The 'Angel' gazed down upon Arata, noticing the internal turmoil in his heart.

Arata finally regained composure as he spun his words.

"Based on your appearance, you should be an Omnipotent Being in charge of the afterlife. Since this is really the end... ...then no matter where I go, I will accept it. If you wish for me to pass on in peace or suffer eternal damnation, I would be fine with either as well. After all..."

The Angel bore its eyes into Arata as a seemingly knowing expression slowly started forming on his face.

Maybe it would be fine for me to leave it to this child instead...

[It seems you were already prepared for this beforehand. But, let me just ask you this, Arata Kasuga...Don't you feel anything leaving your family, your loved ones behind? Don't you have any lingering regrets left in your world? Right now, you aren't entertaining the idea that you shouldn't belong here?]

Even though the 'Angel' knew what happened to Arata, it still wanted to ask. It wanted to hear the answer straight from Arata.

"Regrets? Feelings? No...even if I did have any, it would be meaningless as well... ...that is just how insignificant I was back in my world. Even if I return, nothing will change. Since my presence isn't needed anymore... ...regrets will serve naught a purpose. My death wouldn't even make any changes...just like how I was viewed all this time, my presence is just that insignificant. I never achieved anything and I am just so tired of everything as well... ...wouldn't this outcome be the best for everyone... ...?"

It was precisely because he was weak, that he couldn't accomplish anything...that they all chose to discard and belittle him. He had never once received any form of acknowledgment from his parents. But, could humans really be so cruel? Even the girl he liked.... ....

Arata spoke out while the 'Angel' simply listened on before sighing.

[To think that a child from the world governed by the Rulers managed to appear here. It seems that due to the fracture between dimensions, you managed to slip past the gaps and arrive here even though you do not belong to this world...to this dimension. You being here could also be said to be an achievement in your life.]

Arata looked up again, except this time, a question mark appeared above his head.

'What is he talking about'?

The 'Angel' carried on.

[I have seen your life...what you have suffered, what you have gone through. I do believe part of your answer stems from your experience. But, I do not entirely believe the answer you gave me as well...]

The 'Angel' pointed at Arata as a streak of light penetrated his head.

Arata was suddenly dragged into his subconsciousness, causing past memories to start surfacing.

What spread within the inner heart was an overwhelming and vast darkness. It was a place that gave off a feeling where a person would lose themselves. However, on the surface of the darkness, slight ripples were spreading out.

Continuously heading towards a deeper place within the darkness.

It was an image of the deep sea. The pitch-black color of the darkness slowly became more and more dark.

The parts of Arata's mind that were disconnected were being dismantled bit by bit and lie scattered across the vast empty darkness.

Those pieces scattered everywhere contained countless memories of his life so far.

And then even further into the past----the events that were seemingly painful to recall, the distant scar....

The bottom of his own mind. In the lower strata of his unconsciousness that was far separated from consciousness, forgotten pasts were precipitating as if being thrown away.

***

[Look into your past again, Arata Kasuga...And tell me once more, do you really believe in that answer you gave me? There is a reason that brought you, who is from another world, before me... ...Now, show me the answer you really seek...]