1 Restarting with an unbearable ally

"So that's how it is, huh?"

The young boy remarked, pushing his long, jet-black hair to one side.

"All the evidence points to the fact that I, Hunter, have been…"

Breaking the silence, he struck a pose; pushing his glasses against his face, as he held his slender chin with one hand, and placed the other against his hip.

"... Transported to another world!"

He exclaimed as he stared at the ground, where a large, glowing circle marked his landing. Surrounding him, trees the size of skyscrapers turned the landscape into a city of dark brown.

As excitement flowed through him, he started to examine everything within reach.

The atmosphere was not all that different from what one would experience in an average woodlot. It's inhabitants, however, were undoubtably of an alien nature; unlike anything he had ever seen back on Earth.

"This one's like a slug, but with a sharp horn on its head."

He said, quizzically observing a small animal he'd picked up from atop a nearby boulder. Nevertheless, he tossed it to the side in favor of more interesting sights.

At the same time, a small rustling noise suddenly began emanating from a neighboring bush, catching his attention.

"What could that be? Is it another specimen? It has to be. This is so exciting, my palms are getting sweaty. I can't wait to get a peek at this one."

Hunter murmured, while slowly approaching the shifting plant. With a quick motion of his hands, he split apart the shrub's branches.

"What!? It can't be! I didn't-I didn't account for something like this!"

He shreaked, shocked at the sight in front of him. That was, until another voice interjected into his rambling.

"Shut the hell up, will ya!? I need all the sleep I can get! There's a big game tomorrow!"

It was the voice of a person he knew, but didn't necessarily like. To add on to that, the person in question was a girl. Unfortunately for him though, that girl was also his…

"Sister!? What are you doing here!?"

He asked, obviously dismayed by her presence. To which, she simply jumped to her feet and clocked him on the nose, doing it all while keeping her eyes closed.

"Quit yer yappin! Like I said, I need to go to sleep!"

She repeated herself, to Hunter's annoyance.

He hated his sister. She was such a conformist normie, Rivalin was her name. Throughout his life, she would always mistreat him. As a matter of fact, she was one of the main reasons why he had tried out a spell one of his friends had given him.

The spell was supposed to send him to a land of his dreams, to the pasture of his desires. In short, it was intended to transport him to another world, because his own was too much to handle.

However, all of that was for nothing now; for his dreams had been tainted by the presence of the very person that he'd been trying to escape.

"No… No! I will not have my fantasy shattered by the likes of you!"

Expressing his frustration, Hunter took hold of a sharp stone resting by his side. With a malicious intent, he made his way towards his sibling, who was still sleeping in the middle of the forest floor.

"You're so irritating! It's almost like you don't even realize how big of a disturbance you are to everyone around you! DIE!"

Ending his tirade, Hunter threw the stone at Rivalin with all of the strength he could muster in his arm.

"Ow."

She muttered.

Noticing the outcome of his anger, Hunter reminisced over his past.

--Hehe. I was never really known for my strength. Hehe.

With rage boiling in her eyes, Rivalin arose from her slumber, locking sights with her younger brother.

"What the fuck did you just throw at me, Hunter?"

She questioned him, a menacing aura emanating from her face. His blood running cold, Hunter's mouth shriveled into itself, as his legs suddenly froze in place.

"I-I-I-I-I..."

He wearily murmured under his breath. Noticing the fear in his tone, Rivalin casually got up and began walking towards him.

"... I-I-I-"

She placed a hand over his shoulder.

"Don't worry about it…"

She said, with a sympathetic expression. Her actions surprised Hunter, as they seemed way too out of character for her. So much so, for a split second, he began to contemplate whether or not he was the one in the wrong.

"Rivali-"

Interrupting him, Rivalin finished her sentence.

"... Any last words?"

The second time around, instead of his mouth, it was Hunter's ass that turned inside out. Rivalin continued.

"Thought so."

With that, she viciously plunged her fingers into Hunter's nostrils and pummeled him into the ground.

"EH!? NOT SO BRAVE NOW, ARE YA!?

She openly taunted Hunter, her fingers still stabbing the inside of his nose.

Absorbing in the details of his current standing, Hunter could only think about one thing.

--Home… I wanna go home.

Meanwhile, outside of his headspace:

"YOU FUCKING BASTARD! WHAT WERE YOU TRYING TO DO!? KILL ME!? YOU'D DO THAT TO YOUR OLDER SISTER!?"

Rivalin asked between her insults, to which Hunter responded.

"Yeah. That was kinda the whole plan. I've attempted it before, and I'll set out to do it again. Now please… QUIT VIOLATING MY NOSE!"

His answer annoyed Rivalin.

"SOME FUCKING NERVE YOU HAVE, BASTARD! HOW ABOUT YOU GROVEL!? PIN YOUR SHITTY FUCKING FACE INTO THE GROUND AND KISS MY FEET!"

Rivalin pulled on Hunter's nose, using it to press his mouth against the dirty floor.

"GHA! NO! WAIT! HOLD ON! HOLD ON! I YIELD! I YIELD!"

"NO! THAT OPPORTUNITY IS LONG GONE, HUNTER! KISS IT! SMOOCH THE FUCKING DIRT ON WHICH I STAND! YOU STUPID BASTARD!"

*****

Separate from the aforementioned altercation, in the mysterious corridor of a darkened castle, a group of darkened figures made their way into a secluded room. One of them in particular, stood monstrously above the rest.

"Do you truly feel as if summoning heroes from a foreign universe will bring about the end of our troubles, sire?"

A female voice asked, her question clearly aimed at the lofty figure guiding the horde.

"I definitely hope so. It is during times like this that our kingdom cannot afford to be entitled."

They continued to the center of the chamber, coming to a stop in front of a pair of super expensive-looking curtains.

"Now, silence! Show your respect to those who will liberate this nation from the threat of impending DOOM!"

The leader exclaimed to the rest of his subjects. Who, in accordance with his serious demenour, stooped their bodies down onto one knee and lowered their heads.

With his underling's display of obedience fully orchestrated, their leader returned his attention to the striking veils, proceeding to then extend one of his skeletal arms to the side, blowing them from his path.

"We welcome you, oh grea-"

He abruptly paused mid-sentence, both of his arms collapsing onto his sides in a tranquil disarray.

"Is everything alright, sire?"

The same female voice asked.

"Somebody please explain.….."

He began, with an ominous ferocity emanating from his voice.

"....WHY THE HELL THIS ROOM IS EMPTY!"