My thoughts, once scattered and chaotic, silenced themselves and settled, trying to go as unnoticed as possible so they wouldn't be heard by the demon, whose icy breath I felt on my neck.
"My name is… 吞噬並摧毀幻想的人." The one who devours and destroys illusions… sounds imposing, it certainly suits you. But more importantly, how the hell did I understand that if I don't speak Mandarin?
"This space is beyond the limits humans can comprehend. Here, in this place, nothing exists, yet within it exists the infinite whole. And while your knowledge of speech exists, there is no confusion of language, no Babylonian curse to prevent you from understanding all the other languages of your 'yard'." There it was again… that prickling sensation on my neck, feeling the dark whispers of the devourer. But this time, I calmed down after hearing his explanation… wait, what's this about a Babylonian curse?
"Simple, 'God' descended, trying to protect them from discovering something they shouldn't, with a rather lax method: the confusion of speech or distinction of languages. I tell you, if it had been me, I would have thrown a meteor, as I had done before with other creatures that inhabited before humans." Wait, so if God and the Tower of Babel are real, do the other superior beings mentioned—Leviathan, Behemoth, Mammon, and all the others—exist and existed?
"Obviously, but outside the yard. They don't enter such a small place. But those who are weaker go in and out unnoticed, without bothering any inferior being. I mean, they don't want to play with someone more powerful's food and end up being someone's appetizer just for having played with their food." Shit, so, are you telling me Earth is just a buffet for the big ones?
"Duh, obviously, that's why we left the world prepared for you to live with many comforts." Damn, and here I thought I was special. Turns out I was just a slightly more delicious appetizer, and the world I was so proud of dominating was just a farm.
"Yes, in fact, you were going to be my appetizer before I started eating the rest of the souls that are coming out, but I decided to play with my food a bit first, so that's why we're here, and that's stopping there. Aren't you interested in your destiny?" I sweated cold, thick drops sliding down my forehead as I realized the close call I had dodged. I started to pray, watching as the wheel approached one of the darkest destinies and slowed down… "To be reduced to a consciousness trapped within the hive mind of the undead, feeling the putrefaction of each body, the insatiable hunger of each one, and the voiceless despair of millions, while your own identity slowly dissolves into that chorus of agony, unable to do anything but be an eternal witness to universal decay."
"Hohohoho, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!" Oh no, no, no, no, no! Watching as it slowly stopped on that option, panic began to torment my thoughts, making my prayers more desperate, hoping that the God who exists would hear and help me… but I was already one step away from the end of my life.
"Go to hell! He's my food, why are you bothering me?!" The space rumbled, flames covered the void, furious winds lashed where my face was supposed to be. My soul truly feared for its existence for the first time since arriving here.
"I heard the cry of one of my children, who with terror in their tears cried out for their father's help. And while I promised not to interfere with them eating, I never allowed them to be tortured in this way, so, set him free!" Shit, oh holy… shit, that's… God? I can't fully comprehend his existence, I feel my consciousness slowly fading, so it wasn't a trick…
"I curse you, Kazanami Tatsukawa! Why the hell did you have to call him?! Now?! The wheel has already dictated your future, and your God! The one you desperately cried out to, he won't be able to prevent it! I know where he will send you! And there, there will be your cursed destiny! I won't give it to you, infinities of evil hosts will! Demons from the depths of Tartarus will make you wish this had been your end, and there…! There! There will be gnashing of teeth, infinite torment!" Those were the last words I heard before a blinding light instantly covered my sight.
(Some time later)
Peep… peep.
The nearby chirping of a bird woke me from my slumber. I sat up, eyes crusty and vision blurry, slowly adjusting to the sunlight piercing through the dense foliage of the trees and hitting my face… foliage of trees?
"And where the hell am I supposed to be now?!" Quickly turning in every direction, I tried to find any sign of human civilization… or anyone who could speak.
But I was terrified to see nothing but imposing trees, older than time itself, and these were the only ones here, no trace of human intervention, just the imposing presence of nature.
"Okay, first, I need to calm down. Second, find water. And finally, remember how the hell I can orient myself with the sun." Looking at the canopy of the trees, and the scarce sunlight that managed to pierce through, I couldn't help but think… how beautiful it is to be lost.
"Where will I go first, hmm? I'll do it the old-fashioned way." Looking down, I looked around, approached a tree, and tore off a branch that seemed like it would break at any moment.
Tossing the branch as high as I could into the air, I watched it spin rapidly. As it fell to the ground, I saw it stumble twice and finally land diagonally… let's say, to the east, hahaha.
"I hope there's water there." Feeling a bit of dryness in my throat, I walked slowly, only then realizing that while I had a new opportunity with landscapes I could only have dreamed of knowing, I had left so much behind, an enormous price for an unknown opportunity, one I didn't even want. I didn't want to leave behind… my family… her… my future… my beautiful future… which, in reality, I don't give a damn about. I'm just using it as an excuse, trying not to remember everything I'm losing: my mother… with her advice, her unconditional love, her comforting presence; my father, tough character, never truly showing me affection, but always present with his silent concern, his hard work trying to ensure our family never lacked anything; my… my siblings, all of them… I… wonder what their lives will be like without me, never being able to see them grow up, never being able to defend them. They'll surely be bothered, I hope they're strong… And she, Sofia… her childhood wasn't easy, like so many others, but I wanted to be there for her. Why did destiny, so indifferent, give her to me only to then snatch her away? Her soft voice, her sweet gaze, her unique laugh that brought me joy even on days I worried if we'd eat?... No… I won't allow it… if superior beings exist, there must be something that allows me to return…
"Wait for me, Sofia, wait for me all of you! I swear before the heavens… I will return to you, even if it costs me an eternity, I will return to you, even if it's one last time and I dissolve into dust, I will be with you, one more time!" I shouted to the clear skies I saw through the foliage, with a hand on my heart and all my determination in my voice, I declared arrogantly with thin lines of tears, but still smiling, daydreaming of their expressions when they saw me return.