Helloooooo! Everybody! It's good to see you after so long! I'm your dear and friendly neighbor Wiccan-san, ready to bring you a new story for you! It's a fic I have been working as a birthday gift for one of my Jobros back in the college! The story and plot was mostly his idea, something he brought out of blue a good day before this whole pandemic issue started! And as a good friend, I wanted to give you the best of my work with this!
I hope this first chapter is of your liking and please, don't forget to let your reviews!
Chapter 1: A Lost Soul That Stand at the Ends of the World!
"The hell?!"
The moment I burst opened my eyes, I got dumbstruck when I saw the place where I was—or should I say lack of thereof? Because I was in a seemingly infinite white space!
"Just what the heck is this place?" I wondered aloud with a stunned look, doing my best to not panic since it would do nothing to help me.
BUT! When you suddenly woke up in the middle of location that embodies the literal nowhere(!), you can't help but feel anxious at best and/or completely terrified at worst—and it gets even more disturbing when you got no memory of how you get in to begin with!
Is this the Limbo?! Did I die?! Was I trapped in my own personal hell?! Was my virgin anus gonna receive a baptism from nefarious demon-like creatures?! I CERTAINLY THAT THIS SITUATION IS NOT THE LATTER BECAUSE I'M STRAIGHT AND I WOULD RATHER GET DROWN IN MY OWN BLOOD THAN EXPERIECING SUCH A THING, THANKYOUVERYMUCH!
"AAAAAAAARGGGGGHHH!" I cried with a frantic look as my hands where digging hard into my skull. "Please God of whoever is sitting their sorry ass in the Throne of the Universe! I want a sign that I will be alright! And please tell me I ain't in the Door of Truth from FMA!" My prayers were pitiful to say the least but they held some logic.
You see, as a well-versed Otaku/Geek/Gamer/Nerd—(So many slashes, geez!)—I am certain that appearing in a location like this is NEVER a good sign because that would usually means that either you have been snatched by some kind of Alien entity to god-knows-where without any possibility to escape… It's that or this is but a simple dream and you would wake up at any moment.
Yes, I could pretend this is just the result of some hallucination induced by drugs—Buuuut~! I don't use those things and I'm fairly certain I wasn't exposed at them either. Still, the odds of this being a dream (or a Nightmare!) seem to be entirely plausible.
Hmmm… If I recall correctly, in the movie The Inception, the main cast explained that one of the clues to realize you're dreaming is being unable to remember how you get here in the first place. Yeah, that's right. If this is a dream then all I have to do is recall all I did before showing up here.
I hit my fist on my palm and grinned in relief. "Ok…! That's easy! Well… I was… Umm… I was… Awake?... Ugh! Come on, Alexander!" My previous enthusiasm, however, was short-lived when I began to practice this simple exercise. "This…! This makes no sense!" I shouted before falling on my knees holding my head.
No matter how hard I tried to remember… There was nothing there! I couldn't remember anything of what I did before!
Of course, that could be attributed to my innate paranoia as I tend to think things through too much and sometimes I overlook certain things. Case point, I remember one time when I was in my house when… I was…Ummm.
"You have to be kidding me!" I facepalmed hard—ouch!—as I grunted in mild annoyance.
I get not being able to remember my past activities short-time wise. Yeah, dreams can be mind-crushing but… Not being able to recall something as important as my time with my family…! Just what the hell is going on with me?!
My panic grew even further and I breathed more agitatedly. The complete inability to look into my own memories is completely disturbing—No, wait! I can remember my name and several events from my life so there is no use to become anxious. I just need to take a deep breath and slowly let my mind flew and—
THUUUUMMMM—BA-DUMP!
"Gaak!" I groaned at the sudden pain as I held the left side of my chest—where my heart is—with a dead grip. "Was that… Was that a heart attack what I felt?" I mumbled in both shock and fear. It's like my mind was a computer and somehow just hacked it to block my memories with a painfully burning firewall.
「Ah, it seems you're awake! Good! Good! 」
"What…?!" My head snapped and I gazed at every single direction furiously in search for the voice I just heard. But to call it a single voice would be an understatement because I'm pretty sure I heard SEVERAL voices merged as one—and pretty distorted sound-wise if I may add!
「Ahah~! Don't be so frantic, boy~! I ain't your enemy, ya know~! 」
"Is that so?" I absolutely hissed at this mysterious being in my head—which more than likely is the one who brought me here. Truly, this is the last thing I needed, being second only to my newfound philosophical question about my existence. "Just what the hell I even did to deserve such an outcome?" I couldn't help but wonder aloud with a huff.
「Now, now. This is neither a punishment nor a reward, my dear human male 」
"You says so but in my point of view, stripping someone from any sense of self by removing their memories seems pretty much like a living hell" I replied back with a deep frown, folding my arms as I glanced at the blank sky(?) waiting for an answer.
「Ah, you think that only because you don't see the full picture of this situation. You're thinking on the assumption that this is what you mortals call Hell… But I guess that can't be helped 」
…
"Huff… I think that make some sense" I blinked in respond, thinking that reasoning is quite logical. On the full scope of things, 'Hell' is but a mere term which depends on what people view as 'punishment' or 'bad'.
「Oho~! You are a funny one, aren't you? I'm amused you are such an understanding person!」
"Pfftt! As if!" I scowled at 'it' before taking a seat on this blank floor to relax. "To be honest with you I'm still pissed and scared as hell… But since you're pretty much the reason I'm trapped, the best I can do is hear what you got to say" I elaborated with a hum before sending a piercing gaze to the horizon. "Well? Shot it, you damn God!"
「… Well, color me surprised. I'm impressed by this sudden reaction 」
"As I said, panicking won't help me escape or return home. Even someone as dumb as me can see that" I said with a neutral tone.
「No … I wonder if you… 」
"What?"
「Ah, pardon me. I was just babbling… Please don't mind me 」
"O-K…" I was totally NOT convinced at all but I let it slide aside. My priorities remain the same as before, finding out why I am here and why I can't access most of my memories. "Just tell me what I am doing here, would you? And by the way, please restore my mind. It's kind of unnerving not being able to remember"
「I cannot answer that question of yours 」
"Suuuuuuuuuuuure!"
「It's true. I can't tell you the answers you may want… However, I can give you the ones you need 」
…
…
…
"Right. That's totally not suspicious at all~!" The sarcasm is real mind you!
「Haha~! I knew I liked you for a reason!」
"Uh-huh. Whatever you say dude—!"
「I ain't a man 」
"… Ok then… I take you're a woman, right?"
「Nope 」
"…Right" I deadpanned at the horizon as I pinched my nose's bridge with a tired sigh. I think it would be better to leave the subject, my sanity is fuzzy at best so let's not crush it on accident. "I'll start with something easy then… Am I dead?" That's my main concern right now since humans' mind are not meant to understand an alien phenomenon like 'Death' is, and it could explain my amnesia if only a little.
「You aren't dead by any means… But that doesn't means you are alive either 」
"Oh, I call that bullcrap! How come am I neither dead nor alive to begin with?! It doesn't make sense to be in middle area of those two spectrums of reality!" I shouted with a pissed look, clearly unnerved by this answer I got.
「Ah, there is so more in the Creation you humans don't understand… Life and Death happen to be a few of them. Not like I blame you for that though 」
I inhaled deeply at this, controlling my impulses to shout. I have to stay level-headed so I won't end up being thrown in the heart of a star just because I pissed this mysterious entity off accidently.
「Oh no. I won't do that! My modus operandi is not that ruthless!」
Ah, that is a relie—Hold the phone! Did it just read my mind?!
「I think that should be pretty obvious, isn't it? I mean, my existence is above your dimension as matter of fact 」
That… That's a good point, I guess.
It shouldn't surprise me either since my Geek knowledge allows me to have some good grasp of this thing's nature or at least have a faint idea of it. Powerful being capable of establishing communication across dimensions may be the common rule in the outside.
Thinking about it… that also means 'it' was hearing all thoughts I have 'til now and while I have some inclinations in theorizing this being hacked my memories like a total jerkass God, my gut feeling tells me otherwise… I-I think I will stay quiet for now and calm down.
"I ain't gonna assume you're an All Mighty being or a All Good creature… But if you want to talk, I'm willing to listen to you"
RUUUUUMMMMMBLEEEE!
For a moment, the entire space shook as if it was being under the attack of a small tremor but surprisingly enough I stayed motionless. Somehow, I guessed it was just a natural reaction from the Higher Entity.
「Hoh~! I really like that assertive attitude of yours! Direct to the point, huh?!」
"Hardly… You may know it by this point but I'm nowhere as courageous as I am showing to you right now. I'm just a simple human trying to use what little it has of rationality to take the better route" I responded truthfully, letting out a sigh as I smirked apologetically at my own self-decrepitating mindset. "In any case! First we need to know each other in order to communicate better! I'm Alexander Wheeler or 'Alex' for short!" I said with a polite tone and a friendly smile. "Now, I dunno if you got a name of something akin to one… Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if don't have one to begin with but I really need a term to call you. I'm not exactly fond of the idea of calling you 'it' any longer"
「Aw~! How honest and well-behave guy!」
"Yeah yeah… Keep saying that. Just tell me who the hell are you!"
「Who am I? Well, one name you could have for me would be The 'World', or perhaps 'God' or perhaps the 'Universe' or perhaps… The Truth! I am All and I am One—! And of course that means that I'm also you!」
…
…
…
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?! Am I in the Realm of THE Truth?!
「Oh don't worry! I'm not that entity! I'm merely using its words for my own benefit, that's all!」
Oh thank goodness! I don't know how I would take such revelation if you're lying… You aren't lying, are you?
「I assure that I'm nothing but being truthful here, little one 」
"That pun sucks! Don't antagonize me by giving me a second heart attack!" I snapped with humorous rage á la One Piece-esque.
「Ehehe! Pardon me but your reactions are a bit amusing to see~! 」
"Just get to the goddamn point! Why did you brought me here?!"
「Ah, that… Well… How do I put it?... The thing is… Umm… I didn't brought you here, young one 」
You… WHAT!
「I know it's kind of implausible but I speak the true. I didn't do anything to bring you forth, if anything I'm merely an outsider in this whole operation as I just happened to be here when you were brought. That's all 」
Uh! You…I…But!
Then WHO did this to me?!
「I'm afraid I cannot respond that question… But that doesn't mean I cannot bestow you with a piece of information you may find important 」
Instantly, all my rage dissipated as I gained a thoughtful look. "Information, you say?... I don't see why I shouldn't take it. Ok, I'm all hears"
「Excellent! Now, allow me to explain! You are currently about to be sent into another Universe. A Universe similar yet different from your own 」
…
…
…
"What" That's my only intelligent answer.
Being thrown into another universe was hardly the first thing that crossed through my mind but it certainly was present as I didn't reject that possibility. Reading so many stories in fanfiction tend to make you more open-minded, that's for sure.
However, while the revelation on itself was surprising, it didn't change the fact that the implications may be a bit off charts in a biblical scale. I ain't an expert when it comes to Cosmic Rules between Universes but I can assume that sending a person to another universe just like that can't be considered as a good sign.
"Do you even know where I will end?"
「Hm, it's difficult even for me to determinate your destiny. Someone—or rather something—is blocking my foresight but I have seen enough to have a gist of it… Your destination appears to be a world full of magic and— 」
"It is Highschool DxD?!" I rudely interrupted God(?) by asking with a sparkled look, because why the heck not.
「 … Beg you pardon?」
"You know. The world where angels, devils and pretty much every mythology is the real thing and where the voluptuous women with hot bodies are basically the de facto appearance of most females with humanoid looks" I elaborated with a smirk.
Yeah, I know the way I say it would've made me sound like a pervert but considering how the series is view by the general media, that's the best description I have.
I mean come on! It may be a world full of dangers considering the tense relationship the Three Biblical Faction have with each other but the fanservice and eye candy is well-received, and let's not talk about the possibility of learning magic!—if I am not gonna end up in an apocalyptic timeline or during a pretty bad, that's it.
「Ah… No, I do not think so 」
… Crap!
"Harry Potter's World perhaps?" That would be my second option. My knowledge about that world is dull and is only related to the movie sagas but at least I have a good grasp of the functions of the Wizarding World.
「Nope 」
… Double Crap! Now this is getting concerning!
"Please, tell me that at least it would be Fairy Tail! I don't want to be thrown in a universe like the Nasuverse series, Shinmai Maou no Testament, Akame ga Kill, Elder Scrolls, Dragon Age, Full Metal Alchemist, Final Fantasy, Grandblue Fantasy, the Witcher, DC Universe, Marvel Comics, Soul Sacrifice, Game of Thrones, Kingdom Hearts, the To Aru series or any gore-esque like universe!"
「I'm deeply sorry but you are not going to be sent to Earthland… 」
GODDAMMIT!
「But you won't end up in any of those other universesyou mentioned so… Yay~? 」
…. Eh?
EH?
EEEEEEEHHH?!
"Now hold on, if I ain't going to any of those universes then where the heck I will be sent?!" I asked with a dumbstruck look since the universe I named where pretty much the only ones I have seen—at least that's what my memories say.
Please let it not be Warhammer! Please let it not be Warhammer! Please let it not be Warhammer!
「I think… Your people designated this one as Black Clover… Yeah, that's its name 」
MY!
EYES!
GOT!
BIG!
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHH?!" I hope I heard it wrong.
Did it seriously say that?! Sure, The Black Clover was a fairly well-knew Anime and Manga back on my home and it has a pretty interesting plot with some good characters and mechanics behind it—BUT IT WAS ALSO ONE OF THE FICTIONAL VERSES I HARDLY HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE AT ALL!
My memory loss aside, I can't remember much from that series considering I haven't been religiously devoted to it and I didn't get past the third arc. Being thrown in that world would be a death sentence considering it has a darker plot than the likes of Fairy Tail and… Well, let's not forget the fact that THAT WORLD IS UNDER A COLD WAR AS FAR AS I KNOW! WITH THREE KINGDOMS BEING THE MAIN THREATS IF I MAY ADD!
I began to chuckle before bursting into a mad laugh due the sheer shock "Ahahahahahahahaha—! Well shit!… That's it! I'm gonna die, and I won't be able to even discover the answers I want on top of that!" As I spoke, my laughs turned into a soul piercing stare full of anger and despair. "Why couldn't be a universe that I at least know?! It's like my existence is becoming a cosmic joke for the look of things, isn't it?! I don't even have magic for goodness' sake! I'm not even like Asta!" I shouted with a semi-broken tone.
「It's true that you lack Mana due your origins. And I myself think this must be some type of challenged for you in some sense. But I advise you to calm down, my boy. While I can't directly interfere with you fate, I think I can help you 」
"What… You will help me?" The God's word stopped my depression as I looked up at the blank sky with a hopeful expression but that quickly was replaced with a scowl and finally a distrustful stare. "Yeah, right, as if. Surely, there is a catch isn't it. I know enough about this kind of deals to know there is always a price to pay when something seem too good to be real" I grunted with a deep sigh. And that's without considering the possibility that my suffering is more than likely for the entertainment of some bastard out there!
You're going to give me something just because I want it? I hardly believe that!
「Sadly, you're right. The balance is needed for all things in the Creation—an Equivalent Exchange must be done, if you're willing to pay the price 」
I couldn't help but frown at this but looking on the bright sight, this could allow me to survive and help me find the answers I seek. Besides, there is nothing else to lose here. As I am now, I ain't different from a walking corpse if I lack my memories.
"Well then, say it. What do you need?"
「Very well… The requirement tends to vary from each individual but in your case I think a life would be more than enough 」
I blinked in confusion… A life? What does that means?
「I'll elaborate. I'm saying I will take a life in exchange to bestow you with the power you need. It will be the life of a random person, as it could be pretty much anyone, though they'll have a more peaceful death. However, if you refuse to accept the deal then that person will remain untouched 」
"… Just what the hell is wrong with you? How could you ask me that?!" I replied with a frantic expression, not liking where this was going.
Even if it was the life of a random person, I couldn't even think about choosing their destiny just because I was such a pitiful being with the selfish desire to find answers. And God said it, it was a random person.
What if it was one of the main cast in Black Clover? What if they were the loved one of a certain person? What if they're a father, a mother perhaps, with their children having a happy and peaceful life?! WHAT IF THIS DECISION WOULD NOT UNLEASH THE SUFFERING OF A FEW BUT A WHOLE COUNTRY?!
「There is a saying among your people: "It's a Life not more Important than Another?" Frankly, several humans tried to answer this question by making their own theories and philosophies but in truth, those are nothing but mere words that cannot encompasses the inescapable reality of your true nature. You humans are contradictory beings after all, always changing, always growing. You're far from perfect as some of your religious schools state. You are as matter of fact perfectible being in an ever-changing state. Some of your kind would try to deny it, but your nature as beings of desire is the absolute 」
It doesn't make it right to just took the life of someone else. It's true that humans can be selfish but we have morals and codes!
「And those so-called codes, ideals, dreams and morals can be broken when you're being cornered. The Seven Desires of the Mankind are always there no matter how much you try to suppress them or deny their existence. You cannot deny this. And the price set in the table will not change either, the decision is yours at the end though 」
"T-That's no fair… I want to find the bastard that threw me here… But I wouldn't do that if that means killing a random person out of my sorry whims!"
「Sometimes you need to make hard decisions. Even Saints and Tyrants know that as well 」
"Goddammit!" I clenched my fist 'til blood was drooping on the floor. Then, I began to hit the blank space below me consecutively in rage and despair. "Goddamnit!Goddamnit!Goddamnit!Goddamnit! DAMN IT AAAALLL!" I bellowed with primal fury as my fist hit the floor multiple times.
With each punch I felt how my skin and bones where shaking and yelling in pain, shouting at me to stop but I didn't stop. It was the only stress-reliever I have at the moment and I only ceased when the marks of my now-bloodied knuckles where imprinted in the ground, tainting the pure white alabaster floor with my dirty blood and sweat.
「Please, stay calm. In this situation there is neither a good choice nor a wrong answer. In the end, it all depends of the point of view to determinate if something worth it or not 」
"SHUTIT!" I roared. Feeling how my strengths where leaving my body as a strange steam emerged from my very skin as if I was being disintegrated. "Now what's happening?!"
「You're time here is ending! You need to make a decision! NOW! 」
"I…I… Please, whoever you are, forgive me for this!" I cried with some tears in my eyes as I stared at my own reflection on the floor with a painful look.
Then, I said those dreadful two words that will surely haunt me for the rest of my life.
"DO IT!"
「…As you wish. I will have to make some modifications to your body but I think you'll be fine. Good luck, Human 」
VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMMMMMMM!
A black vortex appeared in the sky and, in the moment, I met absolute darkness.
(?)
Yami Sukehiro was—surprisingly enough—in a good mood this day. He was able to wake up without needing to beat the ever-loving shit out of his subordinates to make them shut their traps. His entire squad was behaving well enough in his book as matter of fact! No dumb fights! No shouting! No arguments! NOTHING!
And the best part was that this day neither the Magic Emperor nor his captain peers where bothering him with secret meetings or new missions or even pestering him about the troublemaker tendencies of squadmates. Heck, today seemed to be one of those days that just happen once in a century!
In short, the Captain of the Black Bull Squad was having a good day.
"Huff… It's too good to be real though…" He mumbled with a faint smirk as he exhaled smoke from his smoking mouth. "Ah, well. I better take advantage of this and take a nap" He hummed with a nod, walking through the ever-changing hallways of his headquarters.
"CAPTAIN YAMI!"
Sadly, though, his good mood disappeared the moment a certain resident delinquent suddenly appeared out of blue.
'… Well, it was good while it lasted' He couldn't help but grimace at this. And he was having such a good day…
"CAPTAIN! CAPTAIN! YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!" The delinquent, Magna Swing of the Rayaka Village, shouted with his usual explosiveness. "There is something you have to se—GAAAK!" His impetus, however, was cut off when the corpulent captain trapped his head with an iron-clad grip.
"Keep your damn voice quiet if you don't wanna die, Swing!" Yami scowled with a dark aura, looking at the fire magic user with a dead stare.
"I-I'm sorry!" The black-gray haired young man groaned under the grip as he tried to elaborate while sustaining the force on his skull. "It's just that… Someone appeared in the kitchen!"
"Ah?" That respond made the black-haired captain lessen his grip as he raised an eyebrow in confusion. "'Someone appeared in the kitchen' you say?" He muttered with an irritated tone. "Is this some kind of bad joke, Swing! I was having a good day but you just showed up and ruined it because someone literally appeared in the kitchen!" He whispered with a menacing stare. "You got three seconds to explain this before I kill you… One…"
Magna paled at this and quickly began to speak. "Y-You see, Captain! I was having a normal day eating my breakfast, this time without having that dimwit Charmy trying to steal it or the Drunkard whore pestering me with her usual jokes about my V-card! OR! Having that bastard Luck pestering me and damn, I would love to shut his trap—!"
GRIP!
"TWO…!"
"Ack! Ok, I'll resume it! One second, I was prepared to eat my food but the moment I blinked 'BAM!' some random guy appeared out of nowhere!" He explained with a grunt. "And there was no portal! No Magic Signature! NOTHING! That dude, a teenager if I may add, just appeared in thin air!"
That perked Yami's interest. "A teenager? It's a novice Spatial magic user?" The towering man asked as he stopped squishing the delinquent, letting him alive (for now).
"No, sir! At least we don't think so…! He is unconscious so I hardly doubt he opened the portal" Magna explained with a serious tone. "But that's only half of the story. The wardrobe that guy uses is weird so it's possible that he is not from this kingdom"
"Not from this kingdom, huh?" Yami mumbled, placing his right hand on his mouth to pull out his cigar and exhale smoke. "Well, this certainly is odd. Take me where he is"
"Of course, Captain. He is still unconscious but we have the drunkard and Gordon to survey him just in case" The delinquent nodded in acknowledgement as he led his boss through the hallway, explaining the situation with more detail now that his life wasn't in danger (for now!).
Aaannd just like that, Yami's seemingly perfect day was ruined!
'I just hope this won't cause us any more troubles' The Captain of the Black Bull sighed tiredly, not knowing how he just jinxed his and the entire world's fate.
← To be Continued
NEXT CHAPTER – An Unlikely Meeting with the Black Bulls!
Author Notes:
WELL! That's it my fellow readers! That was the first chapter for you! How was it? Good? Bad? Half-Bad Half-Good?
Not only we see our dear protagonist in a situation very disturbing at the beginning but he's also force to take a hard decision. He had either to choose between remaining as a powerless human with zero powers in a world where monsters, devils, and other mystical beings exist; or accept the deal 'God' purposed to him.
While it may seem very simple—cuz many guys and girls would disapprove this—the question itself held some philosophical and mind-screwing connotations, which could pretty much break a guy who is currently facing an existential dilemma (like Alex). And let's not forget the fact that poor Alex can't even access most of his memories for some reason unknown to him, thus creating a deep wound/scar in his mind.
I mean, if you are unable to recall past memories then things can get pretty much screwed. You just have to see Full Metal Alchemist to further understand this, specifically Alphonse's dilemma regarding his experiences as a soul trapped inside a metal armor with little to no actual knowledge about his days as a 'human'. I'm pretty sure those who have seen FMA surely got the gist of what I'm talking about.
Now, letting that aside, I would love to hear your suggestions about what kind of Magic Alexander would obtain. Keep in mind that you can send me your opinions both via Reviews or PMs—but I prefer the former because that way both author (moi) and readers can participate. It can be pretty much anything you can imagine. Heck! You can even select magical powers from other universes, with a good explanation and summaries of course.
Without anything else to add, I bid you farewells! Please remember to send your Reviews~!