What is it with people's philosophy of success and failure? It's like they have an entire vendetta against those who succeeded in life through survival.
I for one do not believe that studying and pursuing education is the only pathway to succeed in life. For me school was just a place to learn, not a place to compete against each other on who becomes who and who gets what.
To be very honest with myself, I actually do enjoy learning. I'm no geek nor am I a nerd. But I genuinely enjoyed learning, even though I practically failed at times. And in the process of learning, you get to meet people and make friends to hangout with. I really miss the good old days of school where we'd worry over nothing and just continue the days as a typical day-to-day student, study during the day, continue studying in the afternoon, and hangout with friends afterwards.
But nowadays society basically places high value on those who have finished their college days. At first it wasn't bad, I was even hyped. But as I go by my life, the years have changed. Because of today's social norms, schools became grounds for competition of grades, students losing friends, not knowing what's wrong with themselves. I've seen many of my buddies go separate ways due to a clash of different approaches and ideas. They say college makes students independent? No, my friend, college turns you against everybody else, that's why students wish to go solo, that's why disputes happen. The more achievements you gain, the more chances you have in succeeding not only in school but also in future work. That's why inside a student's mind, they are nothing but selfish bastards of ambitions, bastards who'd use anyone to their advantage just to stab them in the back later onwards. Tch, talk about machiavellianism.
So yeah, independence huh? Sure, if that's what you'd call independence, then so be it.
Damnit, sometimes I even thought of how cool it would be in college. Well, it's not looking good for me. Been stressed out for the last couple months, money problems, forgetting a flood amount of school work online, trying to keep up in class, fighting the urge to break myself in pieces.
Y'know what? I sometimes wonder if the crap I've painstakingly learned in college could be used in real life. I mean damn, I know you need math as a cashier but let's not be blind to calculators and how to use them. And doesn't even think about countering. Because there's an entire plethora of jobs and careers that don't really need your fancy looking paper of success (diploma), and damn do they pay you a lot.
I mean, being an IT office guy lands you a hefty life in the form of dollars. Not to mention operating a crane gets you 100K dollars (depending on how big the workload is). And where I came from, dollars have higher value to our own form of currency (PHP).
With all this school dread and familial expectations, I was bound to be pressured, reaching a boiling point.
And one day I just did.
I lost it.
It was hell.
I'm not sure about other people out there but, here where I am, clearance's are a nightmare. You get a clearance for the exams, a clearance for both academic and non-academic clubs (in my case we got two different academic clearances and a non-academic one), grand student council clearance, your college of choice's department clearance, and finally, the DSA's clearance.
Yay…
Seven totally different clearances, the deadline you ask? Two weeks…
My brother in Christ, the hell was the school thinking? Do I look like the flash to you? You can't possibly expect a student to speed blitz an entire list of seven different clearances in two weeks. Even though it was the finals, we still had classes, unfinished work, reports and a whole lot of activities to do. Sure, some of the exams could be passed via Google classroom, but not all of em'.
Not to mention, in signing up for specific parts of our school/exam clearance, there was a given date and time for each department. And my department only has two days, Tuesday and Thursday. And I finished it in six days (yes, I had to go to school on Sunday for the rest).
The non-academic club was rather simple, pay for the club's fees and you're all done.
Here's what pissed me off.
The two academic and department clearances got me fed up. I had to literally ambush these guys whenever one of my classes was over only to find out that the guy you were waiting to get signed was still in class.
What the fuck?
I was losing my shit…
Not to mention, whenever you want to get signed, they would check if you had paid the fees. Once you pay the given amount, you find out that they were also checking for your attendance in all sorts of events and gatherings. Not only do you have to offer sanctions, you also need to meet all sorts of requirements to get signed from the academic and non-academic clubs advisers.
And at this time, I had zero clue to where I could get my hands on the department clearance in advance so that when I'm done with all three of my academic and non-academic, I would simply just have to figure out who I should approach to get signed, and once done with it, I just have to go to the DSA's office to not only get my clearance but to also know what to do to get signed. Afterwards, I would have to go seek out the department dean's signature, once done with him, I'd only have to go pay the treasurer for my exam bill and I'd be done with all this crap.
That was supposed to be my plan…
And it didn't go the way I planned it…
In the process of getting signed by one of the academic clearances, I had mysteriously and magically lost ALL of my clearances…
Yeah…
All of em'...
To hell with this shit!
I've even brought with me the sanction's specific requirements.
And it's all useless now…
Fuck…
Literally…
I basically wasted an entire day's worth of saved lunch money for nothing.
I don't believe it…
I just couldn't believe it…
Like, what the fuck?
I've worked so hard in chasing these bastards to get signed, only to know that I had lost ALL my clearances in the process… without even knowing…
My god…
What the…
Shit, I don't even think I have energy left to cuss out loud… I'm just done… I'm tired as hell… I'm so hungry due to saving up money only to be used as a joke… damn…
If I had known, I would have gone out and eaten tons of foods I've been wanting to get a bite out of… shit…
Damn this feeling of regret.
It's too damn much, suffocating even.
My life's fucking over…
My family all had expectations, and this is what I can give…
Fuck…
So what do you do when you're faced with this much dread? Trying to cheer yourself up? Do the entire clearance process again? My guy if you weren't listening from the beginning, the deadline is within 2 weeks only. And I only have an hour's length worth of time left and the entire school closes for a short break.
Yeah…
I ain't the flash…
So what did I do, you ask?
I went home.
As simple as that.
I just sat there, on my spring busted sofa. Pondering, going in deep thought. Being eaten alive from all of the expectations placed on me. I couldn't help myself from feeling the guilt.
I've let them all down…
Why the expectations you may ask?
To get a stable future…
They all said the same thing.
'Education is the key to success'.
With all of this cramped feeling in my chest, I couldn't help but reach out to one of my drawers. Opening the mid-sized plastic drawer from the very top, I pulled out an entire pack of cigarettes.
The thing is, I haven't puffed out some smokes in a while since I got caught multiple times for keeping packs of cigarettes. I think it was around eighth or ninth grade that I started smoking. I mean, it just happened. My grandfather was a chill guy, I know he was. So when he passed me a homemade rolled up tabasco, I was taken aback.
And whenever I would come to visit him, he'd throw me a pack of cigs.
Lighting up one stick, I sat back down on the sofa puffing out some smoke.
I stayed there in silence, occasionally inhaling and blowing out from my cigarette.
At some point, all that's left was the cigarette butt. I discarded the cigarette butt inside the mug I use as an ashtray.
Taking a glance at my phone screen, It was already 9pm.
Sadness threatened to splash tears from my eyes, and I couldn't help but sight.
Whenever I would feel like this, I would pull out my phone and play some games. Busying myself so that I'd forget the feeling of pain in the form of disappointment.
And it somewhat worked this time around. I was genuinely getting better. In times like these, I really am thankful to all game devs. They really did a good job.
Noticing that I was only down to forty-four percent in battery, I turned back to my homescreen.
Since my phone was also starting to heat up a bit, continue playing any further. Instead, I went to Facebook.
Scrolling down for quite awhile, I saw something. It was news from the anime group I joined. Scrolling to the most recent ones, I stared at the screen and nearly dropped it.
It was news about Tensei shitara slime Datta Ken's last and final volume, volume 23.
I was sad and happy at the same time. I mean, who wouldn't? I was happy about the new volume and sad knowing the main series were ending, after all, this is the final volume.
And since it was still new, I couldn't read it just yet due to translations.
Knowing this, I exited the app and went to TikTok. And sure enough, some content creators out there made videos about the new volume.
Apparently Veldanava was alive all along, he was just frozen in deep ice because of Velzard. They also mentioned that Binemaru got stronger. And Rimuru now has all three true dragons.
How cool is that?
Though, the biggest shock to me was Feldway. He is somewhat a Rimuru simp as of now. Kinda like Diablo 2.0.
This was what was known as of now. Since some parts were still not yet translated, I had to wait.
Damn.
It was already 1:22AM.
It took awhile to calm myself down. And thankfully, I hadn't done anything crazy.
And my phone currently has 26 in battery percentage.
After changing clothes, I went to bed with both my phone and charger in hand. I plugged it in a nearby outlet close to me and slept the night.
Life's been fifty-fifty so far.
And I couldn't help but feel like shit.
As the days went by, I went to visit the school since it was open for second semester enrollment.
And yeah, you could probably guess it.
Before enrolling, you have to clear the enrollment clearance of your department.
Fuck…
It took me three whole hours to finish. And when I was at the DSA's office for the enrollment form, it turns out you couldn't get enrolled if you don't have the Finals permit.
And to get the Finals permit, I would have to do the entire seven clearance again, since I lost mine (all of it).
And you guessed it, there's no time to do that shit.
So yeah…
Here you are with me currently… a
I'm at the top of a roof.
You probably know what's gonna happen next, right?
Yeah, I'm jumping off the building.
*Whosh!*
*Thud!*
*Bang!*
*Splatter!*
...
…
.
Damn…
Didn't know the afterlife was this bright. Oh, if you're wondering where I am, I'm currently inside a glowing white room.
Don't know why but I've been hearing things from inside here. Am I hallucinating? Or am I just going crazy?
Hmmm.
Maybe both.
Why?
Oh, I don't know, I thought the afterlife was pleasant, not haunting.
Though the white void kinda helps, I don't know what I'd be if it were darker. I'd probably be screaming or something.
But strangely enough, I'm actually feeling relaxed.
Is that normal for a dead person? And what am I the only one here? Aren't there supposed to be lots of others here? Is this hell? I mean the place is all white but I'm hearing lots of voices, so this is probably not heaven either…
Then shit, where am I?
If this was heaven, then what's with the voices? This is probably hell, right? Disguised to look like a paradise but in reality, it's a hellhole in the making.
I can feel a tugging sensation all over me. As if to pull me apart in all directions.
I can feel my neck being pressured by something unseen, my limbs going numb from this tugging sensation. I feel like my entire body is being tied up in a bind.
Shit…
It's suffocating…
If this goes on, I'm definitely going to blank out. My entire body was heating up fast, like an oven. My eyes were watering itself. My knees were threatening to bend. I was becoming heavy.
*Crack~*
*Crack~*
Oh no…
Was that my bones just now?
I couldn't ponder any longer as my whole body was violently slang over to god knows where.
As I was being flinged, the distant voices grew louder and louder.
I was struggling to keep myself sane. At this point, I was already going out of my mind.
But just as I was about to, the white void shattered.
…
I could feel myself falling.
The intense wind currents cut through as I fall. I don't know where I was. But I can feel it…
The sense of something foreboding up the horizon.
Whatever it is, it ain't something simple.
Stranger things are bound to happen… a very complicated thing…
This much, I'm certain of.
But the problem is…
How the hell am I gonna survive, I'm literally falling from the sky!
In heights like this, I'd come down forming a bloody paste on the pavement.
Ahh, screw the feeling of something foreboding, I'm quite literally gonna again.
Wait, did I just say 'die' again?
Am I back to life?
I could go on and on about how out of place my situation was, but apparently, fate has its own course.
As I fell from the skies, the ground below gradually came closer to me.
*Boom!!!*
I landed.
Explosively, if I have put it in words. And what do you know, I landed straight up standing, and I'm actually alright.
There's no problem.
…
Maybe there is…
Quite frankly, I'm stuck here. In such an awkward position no less. If you were to look at me now, I'd undoubtedly look like a stick that's stuck on the ground…
Comedic…
I look like a joke. My body's lower half and stomach is completely submerged to the ground.
And to be honest, I don't think I can move. It's like I'm paralyzed except for my head.
By the looks of things, I'm clearly not harmed. I don't even feel any pain. No, rather, it's like my body just doesn't register 'feeling' anything anymore. Is it because I've already died once?
Whatever the reason is, all that matters as of now is that I survived the fall. That's what's important.
But now, I'm facing a whole new urgency…
And that is…
How do I free myself from the ground?
I can't exactly feel my limbs. It's like they're just ignoring me or something.
I can't fucking move…
I mean, I'm lucky that my arms are safe and not stuck. But how do I get up from this predicament? My entire body feels like it just turned itself into spaghetti.
Shit.
I don't even think people live in this area. It's literally a forest.
And who in their right state of mind would even live in a forest?
…
In a distant land.
A sharp and rhythmic sound of what seems to be marching soldiers? These soldiers were clad in armor of pristine white. By their waists, the sword sheathed in their respected scabbard.
From above, they all looked so small. And their numbers were clearly up in the millions.
Not so far away from the soldiers, there was a group, or rather a battalion of what seems to be mages.
Although not as numerous as the soldiers, the mages were a force of their own.
They all marched forward regardless of how hot the weather was.
Nearing the forest, the arm's leader halted a few meters from the forest.
As he barked a command, the battalion leaders each made their way to the commanding figure.
However, just as they were about to group, the skies from above shattered into pieces. And something foreign came into contact with the world.
Something terrifying…
Unknown.
And soon enough, something fell from the skies. They couldn't make out what or who. They simply just saw something falling.
As if it weren't even there. The dilapidated skies fixed itself as though time was being reversed.
Those from below couldn't comprehend what was happening right before their eyes.
"Is this the handy work of the east?". One of the battalion leaders murmured. Hearing this, his fellow leaders couldn't help but think of the possibility.
…
The skies shattering.
The Eastern Unity could only speculate the phenomenon from afar.
They were intending to place traps in the forest by sending agents. They were planning to take advantage of the sounding forest in the upcoming war.
The opposing forces, the Western Planes, were a powerhouse in their own rights. Going against a resourceful force like them will only result in a massive loss in their technological advantages.
Yes, the East is highly technological however, the fact remains that it took them centuries to achieve such an advantage. Whilst the West was already powerful, they own an abundance of wealth and power.
If the East holds vast technological intelligence, the West has power.
After all, who wouldn't do anything for money?
And from the north, lies the Central Kingdom of Ice, Glaciers and undying snowstorms. They bare true 'Strength', might and immovability.
So the question is, now that there came an 'unknown' in their playing field, what will transpire? And are they a blessing to this world given the form of grace or are they a curse that spells out their damnation?
…
In the forest.
I was still stumped but surprisingly, I can now slightly move.
Hooray!
Man is it tough to be paralyzed.
I sure as hell don't want to go through with this ever again. I mean c'mon, ya' really wanna ask why?
But in all seriousness, I need to unstuck myself from this mess. Hopefully I can now exert more upper body strength.
As if to pry myself, I focused my strength pressuring the ground, trying to unbind myself.
And slowly but surely, I was rising up steadily without any probably. But I can't help but wonder to myself, 'since when did I got this strong?'
I may not be able to feel anything, but I'm not ignorant enough to believe I got to this point overnight.
Maybe this a resounding effect of dying and coming back to life again? Why am I even asking myself about this. I don't even know where I am. I can't answer any of my questions.
Well...
I'll just have to find out as I go forward.
As I snapped out of my thoughts, I had managed to free my waist from the rubble. Just a bit more, and I'd be all free.
Deciding to wiggle myself, I enlarged the gaps from the ground. I placed both my hands in front of me and leaned myself forward.
This action unstucked me all the way to the knees.
Nearly there.
Tacking a seat, I pulled myself out by picking up both of my legs.
Finally, I'm free.
Now that I was no longer in the ground. The next on my to do list was, 'how do walk again?'
I may have regained the will of my upper body, but I'm not so sure about my lower parts.
I basically had noddle legs.
However, it didn't take that much time. I had slowly began to walk again, although slightly shaky I still managed.
The next on my list was to know where I was.
After all, I had to know.
I can feel it, this is no ordinary forest.
Something big is lying somewhere. And something tells me it'll have my answers.
I may not be certain, but my gut tells me I could find something.
Hopefully it's answers that I find. If not, whatever it is that I find'll be useful.
I began to walk near the dirt roads. Going anywhere else will get me in danger, I just knew it.
Wherever I am right now, it's got me all on guard. This place is creepy are hell.
The surroundings may look all green and harmless, but sometimes I feel like I'm being silently watch.
Creepy
Continuing down the my path, I could slightly make out what seems to be a cave further ahead of me.
Huh, wonder what's up there...
...
In front of the cave.
I could hear the winds blowing my hair, must be the air inside.
Venturing inwards, I took a steady step. Unlike outside, the dirt within the cave was moist, slippery even.
And in my defense, I just re learned how to walk again a couple of minutes ago. So in precaution, I thread steadily and slower.
This place may be a cave, but it sure does know what a light is. In some parts of the cave's walls, there were crystals that glows.
With this much illumination, It like I'm staring right at a monitor. It may not be the brightest, but it was more than enough to light up the way.
And as I go deeper into the cave, I've noticed that the feeling of being stared only intensified.
What in the world could possibly be in here?
Staring at me with this intensity could punch a hole in me. That being the case, I'm surprisingly calm about all of this. Normally, I'd freak out or do something stupid.
Bit right now, It's like a strange understanding of unseen. It's like I'm but... different...
I'm not high or anything, but I feel fresh and rejuvenated. I'm approaching things differently from before.
And above all else, I feel much more powerful. I feel like I'm hundred times stronger than I once was.
If I were to be in a bar fight, I feel like I'd kill everyone there in a single punch while decimating the entire place.
I felt dangerous...
This new found strength, I wonder if I can take down a tank...
Heck, am I bulletproof?
That would be a dream come true.
Even if it were a house, I feel like could run straight at it without stopping.
But enough about that.
The cave comes first.
And imma a lot of answers from whoever it is that did this to me.
As a matter of fact, dying means the end.
I was supposed to be dead.
Yet here I am, alive and well.
And only that, I'm also hundreds of times stronger.
Whatever creature brought me here, it clearly had It's plans.
...
End of CHAPTER 1: Let's Take A Dive
P.S
Rockie Author here.
I just want to make things clear, I'm new in this field of work and have no experience whatsoever.
That's why, if I ever make a mistake, please do not be displayed. I ask of you the readers to understanding.
And please don't worry, because I'll doing my best in uploading chapters in time.
Peace out✌️