Chapter 2

I think this might be the day I die.

Maybe.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck me," I cursed repeatedly. I know it's a problem, but you can't blame me because there's a fucking literal monster that will kill anyone they set their eyes on in the station!

I ran with several people behind and in front of me. I wasn't athletic, so I maintained a rather slow pace compared to the rest, and I was quickly getting tired. My legs felt like they were about to give up, but I persisted. My body wanted to rest, but my brain said no. If I did, I might die. I will not die, not today, nor tomorrow, nor any other day. I want to live to my fullest in this life. That was my goal.

"D-Damn it, how far is this evacuation center?" I said between breaths as my pace slowed down even more. "Ah, my sides, it hurts," I groaned.

I took a deep breath and was about to run again when something shining so bright erupted in front of me. I had to cover my eyes to avoid getting flash banged by whatever it was. When I could see again, I saw not one, not two, but three fucking Antimatter Legion forces in front of me.

"Ah." Those were the only words I could mutter. Fight? Nah, fuck that, I'd run. So I did. I ran like a crying child running away from his mother.

Embarrassment be damned. My life was more important than dignity itself.

"AH! HELP! They're here!" I screamed for anyone, anyone that had some sort of fighting skills to help me, for the love of God.

I peeked behind me to see if they were still chasing me, and they were. "AHH!—Oh." I stumbled.

I fell to the ground with a thud, my face flat on the ground. I tried to get up and was soon met with a flying Void Ranger with its blade raised in the air, ready to slash me right in the face.

'Ah, I might actually die today,' I thought, preparing to close my eyes. There was nothing I could do. Dodge? I wouldn't be fast enough. 'See you, second life. I'll miss you.'

"Hold on!" When hope seems lost, it rekindles.

'That voice,...Arlan?!'

I heard the clashing of blades, and as I opened my eyes, I saw Arlan, with his gigantic sword, parrying the attack from the Void Ranger. Damn, he's strong for his small height.

"ARLAN! You saved me!" I shouted, tears falling from the happiness and relief I felt. I felt like hugging him if he wasn't busy.

"Run! I can't hold it much longer," Arlan said through gritted teeth.

"Of course, I'd be on my merry way," I quickly said, pulling myself up and running again like the coward I was. Arlan was the head of the security department, so I had no doubts about his capabilities to beat those pieces of shit to death. Good luck to him.

When I thought I ran far enough, I took a moment to rest. I took a series of breaths to steady my breathing. "Hoo, ah, my side still hurts." Then I realized something. Didn't I run in the opposite direction of the evacuation zone? I facepalmed myself. "Ah, damn it, me."

Should I run back? But there would be the legion waiting for me there, and Arlan should be gone by then.

I took a moment to ponder over my limited options.

"Or I just wait here, hoping for the best." That seemed to be the safest way yet risky at the same time. But knowing no other options, I went for it. I tried to find the safest place to hide and saw a large box. I thought of an idea to get in there and wait till everything was over.

Not a bad idea at all.

When I tried to approach it, in the corner I was about to walk past, I saw a Void Ranger on the side, attempting to cross paths with me.

"…"

"…"

We both stared at each other silently. Neither made a move as it seemed like both of us were surprised by the development.

"…"

"…"

The moment it tilted its head downwards, I spoke.

"Hahaha, uh, funny thing is…" I trailed off, nervous, feeling like my heart was about to burst out of my chest being close to a creature that could basically end me within seconds. My eyes dropped down to its blade when I saw it move an inch. That's when I made a run for it.

Behind me, the lone Void Ranger let out a screeching sound like grinding a fork on a plate. When I peeked back, it was chasing me.

Oh, I was fucked.

I tried every possible way to get it off my tail: pushing boxes, computers, even notebooks—anything to slow it down. But no, everything I threw at it didn't slow it down.

At this point, stamina would be my worst enemy.

"Ha! I can't run anymore," I let out a breath, my legs feeling like they were burning. My heart was pumping like a mini machine gun. I hid around a corner, finding myself in a temporary safe place. I dared not peek, afraid that it might see me.

"I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead." Those thoughts swirled around my head, not allowing me to think logically and rationally. All I knew was that I needed to hide and be safe. That's all that mattered.

Just as I began to calm down, I felt something grazing near my ear and heard a loud snap. I turned my head and saw a blade piercing through the cement wall.

I widened my eyes as the blade moved toward me. Luckily, my quick reaction time worked perfectly as I dodged it by ducking, but I wasn't safe yet as I felt some force on my stomach. I realized I was being kicked.

I was hurled against the wall. The metal made it a tough landing on my back. I screamed in pain as I tried to push myself back up, but all attempts failed as I realized I couldn't feel my body anymore.

I watched as the Void Ranger that chased me stood in front, its blade ready to cut me down.

"All that for me? Seriously, I don't know why you guys are obsessed with killing," I said, chuckling slightly. At least I found some humor at the end of my life.

When its blade was raised as it started walking toward me, I closed my eyes for the second time. I doubted Arlan would be here to save me with all the hassle he had to deal with back there. I had no choice but to accept it.

[Host Life Endangered Detected]

[Initiating Activation Mode]

Eh? I was confused by the sudden voice. When I opened my eyes, I still saw the Void Ranger, but it was not approaching me anymore. It appeared to be nervous and wary of something. Like it was afraid.

I blinked. Wait, afraid of what? I looked around me and saw no one else.

Was it afraid of me? I shook my head. Nah, that's impossible.

Then, in the corner of my eye, I saw something faintly glowing on the side. I soon realized it was my watch.

Eh?

[Power Band Activated]

[Elemental Forms Granted]

[Tier 1 Unlocked]

[Tier 2 Locked]

[Tier 3 Locked]

Wait, is this watch talking? I started to notice that the source of the voice was none other than my watch.

[Tier 1 Initiating]

[Complete]

[Permission None]

I saw the once-black screen of the watch change to a lightning symbol in a blink of an eye. I felt like this was a dream of sorts.

[Elemental Form - Lightning - Activated]

The Void Ranger that appeared to stand very still suddenly screamed out, which startled me and made me look back at it. I widened my eyes in fear as it proceeded to rush toward me, enraged by something.

I screamed, instinctively placing my hand in front in any way to defend myself. Suddenly, I felt something brushing on my arm. Then I heard a loud bang that followed.

What I saw left me in complete disbelief. I saw the Void Ranger lying down. But that was not the most surprising thing I saw. It was my hand that had a spark of lightning surrounding it.

[Lightning Elemental Mastery 1%]