Jin Takeru

{POV JIN}

Ouch, how long have I been here?

My memories start to return. That's right, ever since the great earthquake struck the place where I worked, I ended up stranded in this barren land filled with these strange monsters. The surroundings are so alien and terrifying, with a perpetually gloomy grey sky and bizarre peach trees towering in the distance.

To survive, I had to fight hard during the first year I was stranded here. Every day was a battle against hunger and fear, hiding from the ferocious monsters that roamed everywhere. Their skin was thick and rough, their red eyes always searching for the next prey. This world seemed to know no mercy.

Humans cannot endure hunger for that long. My body reached its limit, every muscle felt weak, and each step was heavy. The only way I could stay alive was by eating the strange peaches that grew near my hiding spot. These peaches looked peculiar, their skin a dark red with a mysterious aura emanating from them.

Without thinking twice, I ate the peach. Immediately, hell broke loose. My body started to feel strange, as if every cell in my blood was rebelling. Blood flowed from every orifice—my eyes, nose, mouth, ears. My muscles swelled, my skin stretched, as if my body was trying to reshape itself.

The pain was unbearable, like thousands of knives stabbing from within. I could only hope to stay alive if I endured the pain a little longer. That intense pain lasted for a whole week. The excruciating suffering transformed me into a creature like the inhabitants of this world.

Gradually, my mental state deteriorated, and my mind became insane due to this irrational transformation. In my mind, I kept wondering. Why? What did I do to deserve such torture!?

During the transformation period, I always remembered the faces of my family. However, the monster's lust within me began to erode my memories. One day, I finally became a full monster, my mind completely adrift in a sea of darkness.

Yet, I still lived. Occasionally, my mind would resurface in certain conditions. Strangely, every time my mind returned, it always happened when two moons in the sky were shining brightly. When the moonlight faded, I became a monster again. This cycle continued, and I lost track of how many years had passed in this damned world.

The time came when I was walking and fell into a valley filled with super-strong monsters. Nice! What a great trial, I thought sarcastically, having been struck by misfortune so many times that I had come to terms with it. Long story short, I managed to defeat the super-strong monsters in that valley. Of course, when that happened, the moons were still shining brightly, keeping my mind within my body.

By the way, my body has a power called Adaptation. With this power, I can adapt to conditions, environments, or enemy attacks, becoming immune to them. This power is the only reason I am still alive in this horrifying world.

After defeating the last monster, I piled up their corpses to form a towering heap. Heh, who knows what strange thing I did out of boredom, I thought sarcastically. But who cares? In this world, a little entertainment doesn't hurt, even if it's very bizarre.

Suddenly, my body reacted strangely again. The immense pain I hadn't felt in a long time reappeared. My stomach started to swell like a balloon ready to burst. I screamed with all my might, venting the unbearable pain. My screams echoed in the silent valley, mingling with the fierce cold wind.

In this dark and suffering world, I felt my body transforming. Like a caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly, I experienced drastic changes within me. Every cell in my body felt like it was burning, yet slowly transforming. The maddening pain seemed to shatter every boundary of humanity within me.

I staggered, feeling my bones stretch and contract, my thick and rough skin peeling away, replaced by smooth human skin. In the darkness, I slowly saw the light. A light of hope that gave me the strength to endure.

As the pain reached its peak, I felt an explosion of energy from within me. It was as if a great force was pushing out from inside. And suddenly, I felt my body become light. When I opened my eyes, I found myself with a human body again. My previously hard and scaly skin was now smooth and soft. My large and terrifying muscles had changed to become proportional and human-like.

I took a deep breath, feeling the cold wind brush against my now sensitive skin. I looked at my hands, which were back to normal, and for the first time in a very long time, I felt truly alive. Like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, I had regained my human body.

Although my body had changed back, I knew that life in this world would never be the same again. Something within me had changed forever.

After the pain subsided and my body returned to its human form, I turned around and my weary eyes widened slightly because my monster body was still there, lying lifeless. I truly felt as if I had been reborn, separated from the monster that once inhabited my body.

Suddenly, I felt the footsteps of someone approaching. My heartbeat quickened upon hearing those steps. As I looked towards them, my eyes caught the figure of an extraordinarily beautiful young woman. Her hair was jet black with a ribbon adorning the left side. Her fringe hung on the right side of her face, and her deep violet eyes exuded strength and determination. She wore a peculiar uniform that looked like formal military attire from the Second World War era but with a modern twist.

The moonlight reflected off her immaculate uniform, giving it an almost magical golden glow. Each step she took radiated calm and bravery. Her face was calm yet full of determination, and I felt as if I were seeing a saviour in the midst of the darkness engulfing this world.

I wanted to cheer, but my body refused that desire. Perhaps I was too exhausted after the transformation I had just gone through. My body felt heavy and weak, as if I had just fought with all my might.

The woman approached, and I could see the tension in her face gradually relax as she realised I was not a threat. She stopped a few steps in front of me, her beautiful eyes looking at me with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Finally, I am safe," I muttered to myself, feeling exhaustion creep over my entire body. Even so, there was hope growing in my heart. In this world filled with horror, perhaps there was light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps, just perhaps, I could find my way home.