CRASH.

Shobai landed face-first in the Black Forest: a dense, dark hellscape far below the castle walls. Shrouded in an all-consuming mist, the ominous, overgrown forest was known for swallowing up humans and demons alike. Between the vile monsters, carnivorous plants, and mazes of insanity, few dared to venture there and even fewer returned.

Where am I? He coughed, struggling to breath in the foul mist. Above, Shobai could vaguely make out Vastian Castle perched atop a rigid cliff some fifty meters up. It was a miracle he survived the fall with only a few scratches.

SQUISH. 

There was something warm and sticky beneath his body. Like quicksand, it slowly pulled him deeper down into the muck. A familiar wave of disgust washed over him. Oh no. He yelped, struggling to break free. The smell, the mist, the texture, it could only be one thing… poop! The guards had thrown Shobai into the castle’s septic heap!

Why! He screamed into the void. Why is this happening to me? I did everything right! I did everything you said, Lord! I was a good student. I worked hard. It’s not my fault! 

As his eyes shifted to the weapon, a bitter resentment coiled around his tongue. The book mocked him from a flower bed nearby.

The power of love… yeah, right! He snapped, sinking even deeper. What would demons know about love? Even my classmates are… Shobai’s gaze drifted away.

Ex-classmates. If what Tiana said was true, he didn’t have any classmates. He wouldn’t need to worry about school or fellowships or work-study because he died. And instead of resting in Heaven with God, he was summoned to be a hero in another world with no HP.

If this were a video game, they would have given him maxed out abilities, a legendary weapon, and at least enough money for food and a place to stay. But this wasn’t a game, and he wasn’t a hero.

Screw this! Shobai struggled through the muck. If this world wants a fight, they’ve got one. He didn’t know anything about this place. He didn’t know how to escape the forest, if the demons would kill him, or what he would do if he saw Tiana again, but none of that mattered. Whether Asyralon or New York, Demon Lord or classmates, it made no difference to him. He would never give up on himself, again. Even if he had to start over from -1.

CRACKLE. CRUNCH.

Suddenly, the forest surged to life! The ground cracked and trembled. The trees swayed and snapped. Even the muck seemed to shift around Shobai. He was free. And with a rolling crash, the mist cleared before him revealing two paths.

To the left, a wide road that led North, to a small town near the castle. To the right, a narrow road that winded South, deeper into the forest. 

He could feel his heart beating through his chest. Would he be able to handle what came next? Picking up the weapon, he whispered a silent prayer. 

 Father, help me. He said and reluctantly took his first step down the road.