Squelch.

Shrrrkkk

Thup thup thup

I listened to the constant drop of blood hitting the ground as I looked at the mutilated body on the floor.

In my arms, I could see the neck and spine of the human I had just killed.

The blood quickly formed a small puddle, yet it seemed like a common occurrence in this area.

All around me, I could hear screams—screams filled with pain. Screams for help. Screams for someone to save them.

The irony—this wouldn't work anymore, for this was the real world, and the past was a memory.

Tap tap tap

My feet softly pressed against the ground as I walked toward a huge pile of corpses.

Thud…

I threw the body onto it as my face remained stoic.

No one knew what happened or when it started, all we knew was

one person began, and then the

whole world followed.

I just slept… just slept and woke up in this purgatory. No warning beforehand, no rescuer in sight. It was as if I had been thrown into this world.

The old world disappeared quickly, and all of a sudden, the government was dissolved.

At first, I thought it was just a nightmare… everyone thought it was too. But no, now we realized it was far worse than a nightmare.

This was our reality—and you survive by killing.

Because if you don't—

My thoughts paused as I turned around.

A few meters from me, I could see an almost frozen sculpture.

Sweat dripped from his head as his fist trembled in the air.

Below him was a small child holding a teddy bear. Her eyes were large and teary as she blinked and looked at the man attacking her.

It created a sense of weakness—or innocence—untainted trust that the man couldn't bear to destroy.

I watched as the man struggled and finally forced a smile, crouching to be at eye level with her.

"I am sorry I—"

Squelch…

I saw her fist pass through the man's head as his brain exploded like a melon.

The little girl flashed me a smile as she dragged the body and threw it onto the mountain of corpses behind me.

This was the new world, and this was my reality. If you failed to adapt, failed to kill, failed to make the sacrifice, you would end up like that man.

But this new world didn't just reward survival—it also…

"Ehm…" I groaned as my eyes flashed with pleasure.

I could feel a warm energy traveling quickly across my body as my bones creaked. My skin tingled as immense strength filled me.

This was a benefit given in this cursed world: strength. The more you kill, the stronger you become.

Either evolve or become extinct.

"Hm, what is this?" I murmured as my body suddenly became light, and before I knew it, I floated into the sky.

I had awakened the power of flight…

It almost felt like a third limb. Although unfamiliar, I felt I could control it—and I did.

My body stabilized hundreds of meters in the air as dozens of eyes locked onto me.

It had been a month since this all began. Millions had died, but with their deaths, those who survived were transformed.

Slowly, we diminished in number, but those left were stronger, faster, and more decisive.

It was almost like we were being reared just to build the strongest creature.

I looked down at those watching me. I could see them longing for my strength. They wanted to be this strong too—to take the leap I had taken and gain the power to survive in this world.

Alas…

Shrooom

I descended quickly as I turned into a blur.

"Argh…"

Slash…

Rrrrrkkk

Sounds of muffled groans and flesh being torn apart rang out as I killed them all.

I floated back into the air as my whole body was covered in blood. The sticky thick liquid drenched my clothes, and I felt no remorse.

I was already numb. The fact was, they and I were once the strongest. For a moment, we were at a deadlock—unable to fight each other without risking attacks from others—but now that I had broken through…

They had become lambs on my chopping board.

The rays of sunlight lit up this world as I felt the glow land on my body.

The clouds cleared, revealing the ruins this world had become.

Thick red ground all around. Buildings demolished. Tens of mountains of corpses scattered across the city.

And with the sun brightening the day, I could see others rising from different parts of the city.

They were clumsy, still stunned by their sudden ability to fly. It amused me in a way, but alas… it meant one thing.

A bloodbath was about to begin.

I am Amu, and this is my story—my life in this dead-ridden world.

**********

Crack…

A neck being snapped rang out.

Thud.

Slowly, the body fell to the ground as the sun cast its light on me.

I felt ridiculous, almost like a pagan. Was this what I had turned into?

Was this how strong my belief was… even with the bright sunlight, I felt my heart—my body—was as dark as a cursed soul.

"May your soul find the guiding path to the Lord…" I clasped my hands as I muttered softly.

Afterwards, in my oversized dark robes, I turned around and left.

With my fading back, an orphanage could be seen, with the corpses of children scattered all around the ground.

My name is Latun… and this was my story in this new world.

I was nothing but a devoted believer of Chalum. I believed the teachings of my teacher to stay away from the mortal world.

I ran off from the Federation, quitting as a promising soldier to pursue my dream and goal.

Yet in the new world, as I watched my so-called teachers fall into the dark path—those I once held with devotion—I feared it broke something in me. And I had to purge them.

But alas, over these weeks, I had realized something: Chalum was testing me. And my goal is to purge this world of all its inhabitants, for they have fallen into the dark path.

"Thus… may your eternal home be more beautiful, and may you sing and serve the Lord Chalum. AFERISTA…" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Standing at the outpost of this city, I muttered my prayers.

Then…

Boom…

A large explosion rang out as the entire city was disintegrated by me.

Without turning back, I moved my feet, crossing kilometers with each step.

My target was another city—another life I had to return to my Lord Chalum.

And another cleansing of this wicked world.

I alone am the messenger, and it is within my right to deliver the message.