Camp Twilight (2)

After a brief rest, I left the infirmary, my footsteps carrying me along the winding pathways that crisscrossed the camp. The strange feeling of witnessing fiction manifest into reality enveloped me as I traversed the familiar yet alien landscape. As I strolled through the pathways, I searched for the answers to certain questions in my head.

"How come I didn't receive any assistance while coming here? I literally arrived here with five holes in my chest."

*Sigh...*

Recalling the grim sight of the grey corpses that greeted me upon awakening, I realized those corpses were likely ghouls. What unsettled me most was the fact that there were about ten of them.

"There is no way a newly awakened demigod can defeat that many ghouls considering he has yet to know anything about combat or controlling his powers."

Yet, it was obvious that the massacre of the ghouls bore the unmistakable imprint of his involvement. The absence of any other living beings in the vicinity of the incident only served to support that.

"How did I even transmigrate to this world anyway? And who am I?"

Amidst the swirling sea of uncertainties surrounding my arrival in this world, I was sure of only one thing: the boy whose body I now inhabited had met his demise, likely at the hands of the ghouls, before I was transferred into the body.

Only one soul at a time can inhabit a body.

That was the rule set by the god of the underworld, Hades, who had the authority to govern over human souls. Thus, for me to take possession of this body, it must have been devoid of any other soul in the first place.

On the other hand, there was no character in the novel bearing my distinct appearance: black hair with crimson eyes. Regardless of how much I rummaged through my memory, I couldn't remember anyone who matched the description of my looks. On top of that, I also had no recollection of this body's past.

My thoughts once again drifted away.

"I wonder if anyone survived that fall?"

As the last moments of my death flashed before my eyes, I was certain I died from that crash. Though the bitterness of death lingered, it was not accompanied by the weight of sorrow. There existed little to lose in that world for me. Thus, there remained no cause for lamentation.

Lost in the labyrinth of my thoughts, I stumbled upon an expansive field dotted with an array of training dummies. Alongside the field lay an arsenal of weaponry, stretching along the side of the field, with various weapons.

There were some teens training and talking to each other from time to time. I noted there was a narrow gap of at most two or four years separating them. As I watched them train, yielding inhumane strength and agility, a revelation dawned upon me. Those who possessed the ability to harness divine energy were granted a personal window called the

'Status window'

The status window served as more than just an interface of personal information; it showed the user's stats and abilities. However, in the case of demigods, the activation of this interface was dependent upon their arrival at Camp Twilight. Only after the godparent acknowledges a demigod as his/her child, would access to the Status Window be granted to that demigod.

Gods were able to get into contact with demigods through the campfire. The campfire in the heart of Camp Twilight was crafted by the benevolent hands of Hestia, goddess of home, whose flame formed a link to Mount Olympus. It served as a medium through which gods could communicate with their demigod children.

Each evening, the sacred flames of the campfire were kindled. Gathered together in camaraderie, the residents of the camp converged around the flickering flames and ate lunch. It was during these gatherings that newcomers were acknowledged by their godparents and bestowed access to the Status Window. As the evening was unfolding, I too anticipated the moment when my own godparent would claim me.

'There is also the mystery of a human parent as well.'

Well, I can't do anything about it right now. I might as well just leave that for my future self to deal with it.

Seated upon a weathered wooden bench, I heaved my gaze upon the diligent figures engrossed in training. With each passing glance, I sought any signs that might reveal the presence of the main character. If I could confirm his presence, I would be able to somehow estimate at what point the story was at right now.

"Let's see... Not you... Not you... Definitely not you..."

I eliminated them one by one until only one was left.

"Not you eith-"

My eyes stayed on the last person amidst the throng of demigods. I tried to put my finger on who she was. Compared to others, she had a distinct aura around her, setting her apart from the rest.

Absorbed in her training, she wielded her sword with relentless precision, each strike a testament to her skill, destroying the training dummy made out of straw. With each fluid movement, her body and weapon perfectly aligned, weaving a sight akin to a graceful dance.

Her long black hair, fashioned into a high bun, had become messy due to the intensity of her training, from which strands of hair cascaded down to frame her face in a wild halo. Her soft and tan skin exuded a natural radiance, while her physique, standing at around 170 cm, had a slim figure.

Her charming appearance was undeniable, drawing the attention of both boys and girls alike, who stole brief glances in her direction as they went about their own training routines.

'Eleanor Aiken'

I recognized the girl was one of the members of the main cast. Though not occupying the role of the female lead, her presence loomed large, a dominant force within the narrative. She was none other than the daughter of Poseidon, one of the Big Three. Her eyes, a captivating fusion of blue and green hues, mirrored the vast expanse of the ocean, the realm ruled by her father.

"Damn... Even though she came just yesterday, her fighting skills are exceptionally great for a newcomer."

"I guess carrying the blood of one of the Big Three really is on a different level."

"I heard she was able to kill a Cyclops before coming to the camp."

"Oh! For real?!"

As the murmurs of admiration swelled around her, Eleanor departed from the training grounds.

As I watched Eleanor leave, something clicked in my mind. The beginning of the novel was just before the main character turned 16.

The main character, upon reaching the age of sixteen, was told by the voices in his head to depart for Camp Twilight, bidding a bittersweet farewell to his mortal mother before setting out. Along the way, he came across another demigod, the female lead, who shared his destination. They joined together on the way to Camp Twilight.

Finally, after a couple of days, they arrived at the camp. Yet, before they could cross the threshold of safety, the minotaur, a creature of myth, attacked them.

Although they were accompanied by other demigods, the power of the minotaur was beyond what was expected. If not for the main character's OP abilities, they stood no chance of survival.

"Hmm..."

If she reached the camp yesterday, then that would mean the main character and the female lead should be arriving at the camp this evening. The man's cryptic words in the infirmary now made sense, aligning with the anticipated arrival of the two demigods by evening. It couldn't be a coincidence.

As I cast my gaze skyward, the sun was setting down the horizon: It was already evening.

*Roar!*

*Aaaah!*

*Argh!*

The series of screams mixed with the primal roar of a fearsome beast shattered the tranquility of the camp, jolting everyone into a state of high alert. I snapped my head in the direction of the tumultuous sounds.

Amidst the dense trees, a towering silhouette emerged, casting a menacing shadow that loomed large over the surrounding landscape. Standing at an imposing height of around five meters, the creature possessed the unmistakable features of a minotaur—its head and tail reminiscent of a bull, while its body bore the explicit form of a man. Two formidable horns, curved and razor-sharp, adorned each side of its head, a chilling symbol of the creature's ferocious strength and primal fury.

Most of the demigods on the training ground seized a weapon and rushed to aid their comrades. Their swift actions reflected their familiarity with monsters. It was evident that they had grown accustomed to confronting monsters.

I also rose from my seat and strode toward the intimidating silhouette of the minotaur. My intention was to confirm the main character would kill the minotaur as he did in the novel. To be honest, I was also eager to observe the impending battle between them, to catch on to one or two things from the clash between the main character and the minotaur.

After all, the prospect of becoming strong didn't really bother me, instead, it made me feel something I had forgotten about its existence. I felt enthusiastic.

"Getting my hands on a little bit of power wouldn't hurt anybody, right? You don't always get to find yourself in a fantasy setting after all."

A grin slowly crept upon my face before I knew it. After all the years, it was the first time I felt this way. But this unfamiliar sensation didn't feel bad either. Not at all.

The emptiness still lingered. Though I was not sure if power could ever fill it, what was there to lose?