I quickly took off as I was chased by hungry, violent wolves. I knew that I wouldn't be able to shake them off but what other choice do I have?
Luckily since they all lunged towards me, they hit each other in the process, buying me some time.
Entering the forest, I quickly climbed up a tree and got up to the highest branch. They definitely can't get me now!
However, when they arrived, I heard what sounded like wood chipping. When I looked down, I saw that the wolves were clawing on the tree and it was thinning as the seconds passed by.
Shit, how the hell did I get myself into this mess? Why must I face this situation? Damn it, I knew the look on the king's face was suspicious. How did I not figure that out? Of course, royalty is going to have no use for the weak! Why can't I be given a second chance?!
"Bastards!" I yelled as I snapped a stick off the branch and threw it down towards the wolves. I regret doing that because right after, the wolf which I had hit swung its claws which seemed to glow and suddenly the tree I was sitting on slowly fell down.
"Oh shit!"
I quickly jumped towards another tree branch and watched as the tree I was just on fall, crushing a wolf.
Whew... that was close.
Snap!
"Huh?"
The branch which I was holding on suddenly snapped and I fell onto the ground.
"Oof!"
Crap, that hurt.
"Grrrrrr~!"
I heard growling and I immediately got up on my feet.
There were 5 wolves glaring at me with hostile eyes. I gulped as I slowly back away and waved the branch like a weapon. But in a panic, I threw the stick at them and ran away.
Oh, what the fuck, like hell I can take them on. I'm useless, I can't do a thing against them! If only I had a class, then I might stand a chance. But no, the goddess that sent me here made me inadequate.
As I was deep in thought, I wasn't focused on the road ahead of me. So... I tripped.
"Huh?"
I fell face flat into a puddle of mud. Shit, what the hell?
I then felt something grab my right leg and immediately I felt a sharp pain.
"AAAHH!!!"
I turned and one of the wolves had gotten a hold of my leg. It had already sunken its fangs and I could feel it sinking in deeper. Fuck, that hurts!
Using my other leg, I kicked the wolf in the face repeatedly until it let go. I then got up and continued forward.
With an injured leg, I was unable to run normally now so I resorted to limping. I could hear the wolves behind me catching up as I struggled to flee.
"Why... just why?"
Why must I be cursed? Why must misfortune follow me wherever I go? Why can't I just live a life where I don't have to live under everyone's shadows and move forward as a normal person could? Have I not suffered enough?!
I'm like a lonely pawn against the entire chessboard. A puppet that has no use and tattered.
Crumble!
"Huh?"
The ground below me began caving in and I fell down the endless hole. I watched as the surface slowly appeared further and further, then I collided with what felt like water.
I watched as the moonlight slowly became dimmer and blurrier. I was starting to drown, but I didn't even try to swim up.
What is the point... in trying anymore? Even if I did get a new chance in life, I'd still play by destiny's rules. I can't do anything... it's useless to fight something that you can't see...
Curse the king... curse everyone that has treated me harshly... curse that goddess... for transferring me here with no worth...
I'll just die... no need to do anything else... if that's what everyone wants...
My life... sucks...
Then... my vision went black.
...
...
...
"How boring... you're giving up like that?"
...
...
...
Huh? What was... that voice?
...
...
...
"Hmm, you don't look much, but I can sense intense hatred coming from you. Maybe it chose you."
I slowly opened my eyes as I saw a figure clouded in black smoke chained to a spiky throne.
I looked around and there was nothing but darkness. The floor felt wet and I looked down to be standing on water. However, it was extremely shallow so I could just stand and walk through it like nothing was there.
But anyway, I looked over at the dark figure and questioned him.
"Who are you?"
I couldn't tell if the figure had any eyes since I didn't see any but I'm sure I was looking at his face.
"I am Noctis, guardian of the Qliphoth, the devil's tree."
"Qliphoth? A tree? What tree?"
"Look behind you."
I turned around but I saw nothing. There was no tree behind me and I was wondering if this guy was lying to me.
"You need to look closer, it's bigger than you think."
I eventually looked up and I saw it.
The base was probably pitch black so I couldn't have seen it but the leaves definitely exposed it. It was dark violet, red, and blue. Vibrant colors that were blinding yet dark. This is the Qliphoth? The devil's tree?
"What... the?"
"So... I have a question for you..."
"Naoko. Naoko Akujin."
"Naoko, I see. Naoko, I can see that you are weak, haunted by tragedy, and possess a massive amount of hatred. Am I correct?"
"...that... is correct."
"I see... so Naoko, do you know why you are here instead of being sent to the underworld?"
"This isn't the underworld?"
"No, this is a dimensional area created by the Qliphoth itself. I was chosen to watch over the Qliphoth's every move in case it would decide to one day attack Yggdrasil, the god's tree."
"Umm, no, I am clueless as to why I'm here. I know I died but this doesn't look like the hell to me."
"If you want to, I can send you there but first I must tell you why you are here."
The figure cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Naoko, you were chosen by the Qliphoth to possess its powers."
...w-what?
"You heard me, you are chosen."
"M-me? Chosen? Why?"
"The Qliphoth was a tree built from the fragility, misfortune, and hatred that the first demon emperor had for the surface dwellers, mostly, humans. Once every Millennium, the Qliphoth will grow a fruit that will grant unimaginable power to those that consume it. The Qliphoth will choose souls that are moving or are currently in the underworld to this realm and allow them to consume the fruit if they wish to. However, if that person doesn't meet the 3 requirements, they will suffer and die."
"So, I was chosen by that tree?"
"Yes, precisely."
"And you aren't going to stop me if I do anything?"
"My objective is to simply warn those that choose to consume the fruit. So I ask you, will you consume the fruit that the Qliphoth is going to provide to you?"
"...is there a downside?"
"Yes... you will need to abandon your humanity. The fruit is filled with dark demonic energy, a human is unable to possess. You have two choices. One, decline and enter the underworld to be judged, or two, consume the fruit and cast aside your former life and become anew."
I hesitated as I stared at the tree.
...my former life sucked...
I am given a second chance by this... extraordinary tree. But will this fruit that this tree provides change anything? My life... is full of misfortune.
...
I don't want to go to the underworld to be judged by some stupid god. If I'm gonna get a second chance, then I'll do it right.
The tree suddenly glowed and slowly descending from the tree was a small fruit. It was small, about the size of an apple.
"So you've chosen this path... I will not stop you but I wish you luck."
Noctis said.
I took ahold of the black fruit and held it in my palms. It was glowing purple, giving off an uneasy vibe but it didn't matter to me anyway. I'm already dead so who the hell cares? As long as I get what I want, I don't care whatever this fruit does to me after I consume it.
"So I just eat it?"
"Yes, whole."
Without even thinking, I immediately consumed the fruit. It tasted... good. It was sweet.
I continued to consume it until nothing was left. Then suddenly, I felt power rushing through my veins and it burned. I looked at my hands that had red glowing cracks appearing all over them. Not only that but a blue aura appeared around me and I felt my heart tightening up as it did.
[Host has severed all ties with humanity...]
"Ah... AAAAHH!!!"
"Bear with it, Naoko! Think of the one thing that will anchor your mortal self to your body! The fruit will sever the consciousness of all ties with the mortal body that has consumed it! Those prior to your arrival have never been able to succeed but I believe you are special! Think of anything that can keep you sane! Otherwise, you will be a mindless beast that will only cause havoc and eventually captured, then used as a vicious beast!"
Something that can keep me sane... what... can keep me sane? What is the only thing... to keep me sane?
Then I remembered Risa, the only person that never treated me cruelly. The only reminder that says that the world isn't so cruel.
[Host has managed to attain his consciousness...]
"Y-you are doing it, Naoko! You are absorbing the Qliphoth's power! Do it, Naoko, DO IT!"
I watched as the aura around me was absorbed into the center of my chest along with the cracks around me. They were all centered to my chest and I felt all the power inside me calming down to the point where it was freezing.
[Host has consumed the power of the Qliphoth...]
What is that voice? It sounds like a demonic female voice.
However, I didn't have time to think of it. As my consciousness slowly left my body, I only heard the demonic voice talk to me.
[Host has passed the trial of fallen...]
[Host has been granted access...]
[Greetings... Host...]