The rain was heavy. Mist and fog wrapped around everything, and then—he woke up.
Panting, dazed, and horrified, he sat up. His hands shot to his face.
"Where the hell am I?"
One second I was walking down the street, and now I'm here? What the hell's happening—and what is this pain?
He looked down and froze. His leg was twisted in on itself.
"Shit! What the fuck's wrong with my leg? Why is it broken? What the hell is happening to me?!"
Think, dammit, think. I can't see anything, and my leg hurts like hell. Should I shout? Maybe someone could hear me?
"Hello!? Anybody there!?"
Then suddenly, a voice echoed through the fog.
"I can hear you! I just can't see you! Do you know what's happening!? I was at home cooking dinner for my kids—then all of a sudden, I was here!"
"I was going to ask the same thing! I was walking home, and then I just—ended up here! Also, for some damn reason, my leg's broken! What about you!? Did anything happen to you when you got here!?"
The woman—the only other person here with him—suddenly fell silent.
Why isn't she answering?
"Hello!? Are you still there?"
The young man couldn't finish his sentence. As he was shouting, a monstrous sound echoed from the direction of the woman—something not human. Something's wrong. Almost demonic, completely unknown to anything he had ever heard before.
Shit, shit, shit. That scared the shit out of me. What even was that?
This damn leg—fuck!
Then he froze.
Wait. My leg... it's not hurting anymore. What the hell?
He looked down—and saw it. His leg wasn't broken. It was straight and perfect, as if it had never been twisted at all.
As he slowly got up, that same monstrous sound echoed through the fog again.
Then—lightning struck. For a split second, the world lit up. Just enough for him to see it.
The monster.
"What the fuck—"
He bolted, heart pounding. His thoughts scrambled as his legs moved on instinct.
What the hell was that? That wasn't human. That wasn't anything I can define. That was a monster. Fuck—I don't want to die. I don't want to see that again. Please—just let me run fast enough to get away!
Then, something hit him. A sharp pressure in his chest—instant, cold, final.
He looked down.
No time to think. No time to understand.
He'd been stabbed—by something he couldn't even begin to comprehend.
Looking down at the object in his chest, his mind raced.
Am I going to die? Here? I don't even know where I am. Why me? What did I do to deserve this? My body—I can't move. This is it… isn't it?
The pain grew sharper, hotter. His knees gave way, and he collapsed into the cold mud beneath him. Tears mixed with the rain as he started to plead.
"Please… just let me go. Please… I don't want to die…"
But it was for nothing.
The monster reached him at last and let out a roar—inhuman, guttural, like a predator celebrating its hunt.
As the beast's shape lowered itself down, he saw it—a reptile-like monster with canine teeth, four tails, and long talons, some of which were now buried in his chest.
His vision blurred. He couldn't think anymore; everything was slipping away. Just before blacking out, lightning struck—and through the white flash, he saw a silhouette cutting through the fog.
A man. Dashing, composed—blood-red hair and attire far too regal for this nightmare. A nobleman, or something close to it.
"Pathetic. You otherworlders never cease to amaze me," the man said, his tone sharp yet bored. "Always on the brink of death to such lowly creatures. It honestly makes me wonder why we're tasked with saving any of you."
With a flick of his hand, the air cracked. The monster that had loomed moments ago ignited—combusting violently, its remains scattering across the mud and mist.
"Absolutely vile thing," he muttered, brushing invisible dust from his coat. "But you know what? It's befitting of a grade-ten species—rotten, filthy, abhorrent scavengers."
Looking down at the man, he had nothing but disdain in his eyes.
"Something like you, coming into this world and being like this. What right do you have?"
After he said that, he lowered himself onto his knees and pulled the talon out of the man's chest.
"Fucking hell, are you dead already—"
He was cut off as the gaping hole began to heal before his eyes.
"This one's got something decent for once. Unlike those other otherworlders who came before him."
Lifting the unconscious man onto his back, he couldn't help but mutter.
"Filthy otherworlder, making me carry you. When we get back… hell's waiting for you."