Sitting in a corner, on the side of the road. He wanted to live more than anything else, his situation was going to change, he knew it. His name was Kurushimi, Hikage.

  “I know you're suffering, but wait a little longer. Give yourself a chance, you'll show God himself that you can defeat him. Come on, Hikage.”

  Every step he took was painful. His vision was blurred with blood. The car had long since left, leaving him behind for dead.

  “Don't you dare give up, you haven't accomplished anything yet. You haven't let go of all the suffering you've endured your whole life.”

  Hikage: -YOU WON'T GIVE UP, RIGHT?

  Trembling, with his last ounce of strength, he fell to the ground, crawling without ever letting go. He struggled to stay awake. But his eyes wanted to close.

  “Not yet, I can't die. I won't die...”

  ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

  The sunlight warmed his face, dazzling him. He woke up slowly. With an emptiness inside.

  The air was fresh, soft, and soothing.

  He was in a hole in the ground a few meters deep, the hole forming a circle that the naked eye would describe as perfect.

  Before him stretched vast plains and mountains in the distance, with a city made of stone in the middle.

  It was huge, leaving someone from the world of Hikage speechless.

  Hikage: “A city made of stone, nature as far as the eye can see... Have I just been reincarnated? No, my body is the same, and my pain is gone. A second chance in a second world, perhaps a summoning. No, I would still be dying. My will to live... no. My desires never would have any effect on our world, actions have effect. So I'll put my money on a god who wants to test my arrogance. I did said that if I got back up, I would prove that I could defeat him. But I'll have to train, and train hard.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  ???: “Finally, I've been waiting for this for so long.”

  Said a black shadow in Hikage's body, without Hikage knowing it.

  Small houses stood along the road leading to the city. A black hood was draped over a fence.

  Having been naked since his arrival, he didn't hold back. It must be said that his body often embarrassed him, he wasn't built like a hero in fairy tales, but even so, he trained in the morning with some push-ups and plank sessions.

  People stared at him along the way, some farmers clearly judging him.

  The city walls were at least two stories high and seemed fairly new. The entrance to the city reminded Hikage of the entrance to a fort.

  Hikage: “Wow, there's no vegetation on the walls. Either they're very well maintained or they were built very recently. It looks like the main entrance is guarded by guards.”

  ???: -Do you want to go in too?

  Just to Hikage's left stood a young man with flaming red hair. He looked to be about the same age as Hikage and was dressed in clothes that made him look like a farmer.

  “His smile is dazzling. He doesn't seem to have a single worry in the world.”

  ???: -I do, though. I have to get into this city, and I bet you do too. And for your information, a smile helps everyone.

  Hikage: -Oh, really? The only problem is that I don't think I'm capable of smiling. Lying to myself isn't my thing. The day I smile, the world will be mine... or I'll die trying.

  ???: -What a sad future, because I'll stop smiling on that day. The world should belong to everyone and be shared. No one should have possession of the sunset.

  Hikage: -Hahahaha, you're not human, are you?

  ???: -Oh yes, it's just as selfish dream as yours. My name is Hikari Kibo.

  Hikage: -Hikage Kurushimi. Pleased to meet you.

  Hikari: -Nice to meet you, thought today will definitely not be the day we enter the city.

  Hikage: -Is it that difficult?

  Hikari: -You're a stranger with a black hood, and I'm just a farmer. Nothing more suspicious than that. Right?

  ¨I can imagine worse, imagine if I didn't have a hood. ¨

  Hikari: -Oh no, don't put that kind of image in my head.

  Hikage: -I'm 100% sure I thought that... So, what's youre plan to enter?

  Hikari: -Well now that I have met you, I might have a idea... have you ever thought of joining the army?

  Hikage: -Not really, but I wouldn't be opposed to the idea.

  Hikari: -Good, then I got a plan... But just to be sure, you know how to use a blade?

  Hikage: -What if I say no?

  Hikari: -There's a first time for everything, right?