Hinata POV
"Okay, Alpha. I'm heading out," I said, pulling the cloak tighter around my shoulders. The fabric brushed against my neck, cold and light, like the feeling before a storm. It's finally time for my first true Omniversal journey.
"Remember, I don't know when I'll return. But at the latest, a month. If I don't come back by then, it means I'm already dead."
I said it as lightly as I could, but the words tasted heavy. The world I chose wasn't particularly dangerous, at least not compared to this one. Still, accidents can happen, especially when testing something this absurd.
"Please… take me with you," Alpha said, clutching at my sleeve. Her fingers trembled slightly.
I sighed. "We've already talked about this."
She doesn't realise I can't even guarantee my own safety, let alone hers. I don't have a comparison mode to pull her back if things go wrong. And even if I did, it's far too early for that kind of risk.
"Is it really necessary?" she asked again.
Her voice was small, like a child afraid of being left alone. Maybe she thinks I'm abandoning her. Or maybe she's simply afraid of losing the only person who doesn't see her as a monster.
"It's something I have to do, Alpha. For the future," I said, forcing my voice to stay calm.
She tilted her head slightly, confused as always. Of course, she wouldn't understand. I barely do myself. But this test is essential. If I succeed, I'll have answers, important ones. I'll know if the Gacha System still functions beyond this world's boundaries and whether time runs equally between dimensions.
"Now go back to your room," I said gently.
Her lips parted like she wanted to protest, but she stopped. Alpha obeyed instantly, closing the door behind her without another word. She's a good girl.
Once she was gone, I finally relaxed my shoulders and turned toward the window. The air shimmered faintly around the card in my hand, the Travel Card.
"Alright," I whispered. "Let's see if you actually work."
I focused on the card, selected the world, then hesitated. I wasn't sure about the timeline. The event I was searching for wasn't shown in the anime, but I tried giving vague details anyway.
I exhaled and pressed confirm.
The card pulsed once.
Then, everything changed.
The wooden floor vanished beneath me. In the blink of an eye, I was standing amidst towering trees, sunlight filtering through dense leaves. The air was thick and damp, the smell of earth and moss filling my lungs.
So, it worked.
"Looks like I'm still in one piece," I muttered, half in relief.
Immediately, I activated Mana Perception, Thought Acceleration, and Analytical Appraisal simultaneously. A familiar rush filled my head, information flooding in from all directions. Within seconds, I had to stop.
The drain was massive. I could feel my magicules bleeding away into the void, unrecoverable. Of course, it makes sense. The density of magicules here is nearly nonexistent.
Also, it's exhausting, especially Mana Perception and Thought Acceleration. They drain me mentally more than physically.
Still, that short burst was worth it. I confirmed what I needed.
First, my skills function. That's a relief, though I won't be using any of them or my arts unless absolutely necessary.
Second, I can sense an energy similar to magicules, which I assume is mana, since this is a magical world where magic exists.
"Good," I murmured, glancing at the semi-transparent window that flickered before me.
The System Interface was intact.
Assimilation: ongoing [Talia: 62%]
I checked the item tab. The cards inside the inventory were still there, their faint glow stable. But I knew the rule. The Gacha's storage service works only once per card. If I take them out, I won't be able to return them again.
I closed the screen and exhaled softly before moving toward my target, the faint magical signature I had sensed earlier while using Mana Perception.
---
3rd POV
In the middle of the forest, a group of men in black robes, swords gleaming in their hands, had surrounded a red-haired woman dressed in green. She fought desperately, her blade flashing as she tried to fend off their relentless attacks, but the tears in her robes and the blood seeping from shallow cuts told the truth. She was completely outmatched.
Yet, despite their clear advantage, the men showed no hurry to finish her. Instead, they seemed to enjoy her struggle, each swing of her sword only fueling their cruel amusement.
What they didn't realise was that someone else was watching them from a short distance away. The observer, cloaked in black, stood silently among the shadows. Unlike the men, their face was completely concealed beneath the hood.
---
Lilia POV
It seems this is finally my end. I can tell these men aren't ordinary bandits; they move too precisely, too in sync. They're trained. If this had been just a few days ago, I could've handled them easily. Even as an intermediate-ranked, that level of strength would've been enough to deal with their kind.
But now, I can't even channel my mana anymore.
Who would've thought those assassins had coated their blades with poison? Even if I'd known beforehand, I still would've taken the blow. It was the only way to protect the princess, my duty as her guard. If something had happened to her, my life would've been forfeit anyway.
I suppose I was lucky not to die outright from the toxin. But the damage was done; my legs no longer respond with full strength, every movement feels like dragging chains.
Haa… I can't keep this up much longer. I'm exhausted, bleeding, and soon I won't even have the strength to lift my sword.
I wonder who sent them. Were they from the group that tried to assassinate the princess, or just another faction trying to use me as bait?
"Do it," the leader barked.
So, they're done playing.
As their blades gleamed under the fading light, fragments of my life flickered through my mind. My father's disappointed eyes. The night I was violated. The endless web of palace conspiracies. And finally, the betrayal by the very people I risked everything to protect.
It's almost funny. Not once in this life did something truly good happen to me. No one ever reached out, not even for selfish reasons. I was never of use to anyone.
Heh. Maybe this is how it was always meant to end.
And yet, somewhere deep inside, I still find myself wishing that just once someone would save me.
Someone who'd care, even if it was a lie.
Just once, I want to feel what it's like to be loved.
As the sword swung down toward my neck, I let my weapon slip from my hands. There was no point in resisting anymore. I simply closed my eyes, waiting for the pain I knew was coming.
But it never came.
Instead, I heard something else, thud… thud… the heavy sound of bodies hitting the ground.
My eyes snapped open.
Standing in front of me was a figure cloaked in black. Their face was completely hidden, but I could tell from their build that they were younger than me.
At their feet lay the man who had been about to strike me, his body sprawled lifelessly on the dirt, his head severed clean from his shoulders. Blood spread slowly across the ground, seeping toward my boots.
I don't know why, but I feel like my wish is going to come true.
*******
So how was it? Any suggestions?