The screeching of terrified civilians echoed across the plaza. Haru, barely keeping himself steady behind the abandoned cop car, clutched the smoke grenade launcher tightly, heart hammering in his chest.
Haru (inner thoughts):
I can't believe I'm doing this… This is insane. But if I don't, she'll die…
From the fading smokescreen, Haru peeked out and spotted Misaki. Her uniform jacket torn at the shoulder, her gun nearly empty, her breathing ragged. She'd been dodging swings from the monstrous Lesser Darkness Wolfman—a creature Haru knew all too well.
Haru (inner thoughts):
It's not just a Wolfman… it's one of the corrupted spawn…
He remembered writing this lore back when he was in junior high. A backstory born from a "what if" scenario that spiraled into one of the most foundational myths in his game world:
Long ago, when the twin goddesses Elaria and Nyxara shaped the world, they argued.
The Goddess of Light, Elaria, sought harmony and hope.
The Goddess of Darkness, Nyxara, craved balance through resolve and power.
Their ideals clashed.
And one day, so did they.
During a violent confrontation—when both let their emotions dictate their divine magic—they struck each other with spells of light and dark laced with rage. That anger-tainted light and darkness fell to the new world below.
The result?
The birth of corrupted, self-sustaining magic.
Creatures born from wrathful light and vengeful dark.
Some simple. Some intelligent.
Some… like the Lesser Darkness Wolfman, born with the ability to control magic tied to Nyxara's domain—but not by her blessing.
Haru (inner thoughts):
That thing… was born from my story. My imagination. And now it's trying to kill someone in front of me.
Misaki's leg buckled—she slipped on rubble and fell backward.
The Wolfman raised its axe, dark energy gathering around it, the ground cracking beneath its stance.
Misaki (panting, whispering):
"No… not like this…"
Haru (shouting):
"HEY, FURBALL! PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN LEVEL!"
Haru burst from cover, fear burning in his lungs like acid.
He wasn't athletic. He never was.
But this wasn't gym class.
This was his game. His world. His responsibility.
With trembling hands, he gripped his chosen weapon—a basic sword, forged from the same common template he designed as the Warrior class starter gear.
The Wolfman snarled, shifting its murderous gaze to Haru.
Steel clashed with corrupted iron.
Haru (gritting his teeth):
"H-Holy crap… it's heavy…"
The sword trembled in his grip, his muscles screaming from the strain of parrying the Wolfman's axe.
Haru (thinking fast):
Stagger time after a heavy swing is 1.2 seconds… That's my window!
He ducked under the follow-up attack, pivoting his body awkwardly.
Haru (panting, then smirking):
"You picked the wrong forest, Red Riding Hood's got a sword now."
The Wolfman blinked.
Misaki, still shocked, stared up at Haru—this chubby, clearly terrified boy now standing between her and death.
Misaki:
"You… You're that student…"
Haru (still panting):
"No time… Get up…! I'll hold it off!"
Just then, a world system message appeared in glowing golden letters in the sky.
[WORLD SYSTEM MESSAGE]
New Rule Update:
Monsters born from corrupted light and darkness are immune to non-magical damage.
Magic weapons must be acquired through dungeons or special quests.
Countdown: 00:05:39
Misaki (reading the message):
"Magic weapons…? Wait, then your sword—?"
Haru:
"It's still a common one…! That's why it's not doing full damage!"
"But if I can stall it just long enough—!"
Suddenly, another notification blinked before his eyes.
[Bond Quest Unlocked – Misaki Jinno]
Help her survive this encounter and awaken her path.
Reward: Unknown.
To be continued…