Chapter 1: Introduction

  I never considered myself a good person. I mean, I haven't been good to anyone in my 22 years of life. I’ve been wasting away in my room for so long now. I only just recently became an esper and I don't think I can do this anymore—it’s too much for me. I was just some random ass shut-in, so why am I now an esper?!

  It happened a couple months ago, I awakened. I’m not sure how strong I am because I never entered the system as an official esper. If I get found out, then I’m going to get thrown in jail. Not fun, not fun at all. Anyways, when I awakened it was like this really bad headache. Like worse than a migraine—worse than when I’m sitting on my bed cutting myself sobbing alone. It also was accompanied by a fever, so I felt like utter shit for a week. A week.

  Anyways, it has been 4 months since then and I think I might be a rank B or A esper because I’m really powerful despite my frail body. So far I can like, slice things with my fingernails? They get really sharp—almost like knives and it’s fun to do. I found another one that was pretty simple—wind manipulation. So that's cool, but I still don't want to be an esper. I actually tested it out on a rift that spawned when I was on a walk. Only took an hour and nobody saw me, thank God.

  In the rift I was in, the portal closed after a few minutes. I had to fight a lot of monsters and only got a few injuries somehow. I think it was a low level dungeon because I’m rank B—I think. The terrain was similar to a jungle and it reminded me of the prehistoric era since there were large bugs. The boss was in a nest at the top of a tree, it was a big macaw. The boss dropped a mana stone, which is used to replenish a little mana for espers when there are no guides around.

  I think mana stones are the reason I haven't gone berserk yet because I love rifts now, they're surprisingly fun. Though, I’ll need a guide soon because my body state keeps getting worse. Ever since I did manifest, my depression actually started to get a little better. Then, it got worse again. False hope. I’ve been doing okay though, I rarely am able to go into rifts because they happen a lot during the day and I have to make sure to steer clear of other people. The rifts I do go into are normally pretty weak and are in secluded alleyways.

  ———

  I looked around, smelling the damp, gross city air as I stepped into the alleyway. The portal was bigger than the ones I had seen before, more vibrant too. It casted an ominous glow as I looked up at it. The color it glowed was a bright teal, colors didn't really indicate anything, but the brightness…

  “...Is this an A-class rift.?”

  I murmured as I looked behind me before I stepped inside the rift. I thought I sensed someone. I don't know. I sighed,my head turning back around as I stepped inside the rift. I gripped the straps on my backpack—filled with a measly amount of supplies—as I was transported to the unknown world.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  It was cold inside, the grass was frozen. A crunching came underneath my feet as I walked. I shivered, holding my arms close to me as I grinded my teeth. The portal closed after a few minutes as it senses my presence inside.

  “A hoodie and sweatpants weren't a good choice.”

  I said, my voice low as I looked around, trying to find where the boss would be. Since this was a higher level rift, the monsters would be stronger and the boss’s lair would be deeper inside. My black hair swayed in the wind, the messy bangs which cover my eyes swaying out of the way revealing my muted blue eyes. The back of my hair was an ombre going from black to a muted purple. I changed up my appearance every now and then since it was a way to cope.

  A giant hare came from behind a tree, screeching as its cyan eyes showed nothing inside. The white fur was rugged and patchy. As it dashed in front of me, its claws outstretched, I used some wind magic to distract it before elongating my fingernails and slicing its neck. The blood splattered on me, coating a part of my clothes in a deep red. I sighed, making my way into the forest where the hare came from.

  I made sure to keep a low profile, dashing from tree to tree. The tall pines ascending higher than I could see, the dark wood a stark contrast to the snow that littered the ground. There were a couple more hares as I made my way deeper into the forest, gaining a few scratch marks from their claws.

  I stopped for a break, I had been traveling nonstop for the past three hours. Where the fuck was the boss?! I sat down on a sturdy tree branch and took off my backpack, setting it down in front of me. I took out a bandage and wrapped up a deep cut on my forearm. My skin was pale from staying inside all the time and littered with previous scars. I took a sip of water from my water bottle as I caught my breath. Ever since I became an esper, I worked hard to get back into shape and now I have decent stamina. I took out a small bag and ate a couple of potato chips. I felt alone. I couldn't eat this. I gagged, putting the chips away. Why was I like this.?

  To subside the growing thoughts, I put my backpack on and started my journey again. I sighed, my mind going over the manhwa I had read and what very specific novel genre I wanted to read, but couldn't find. I had to focus, I reminded myself.

  After a few more hours, I made it to the boss' lair. I was out of breath and severely injured now. I groaned as I entered the lair. It was an underground cave, filled with spikes of ice. It was somewhat warmer here, but reeked. There were a couple child-sized bats I killed easily. Then, the boss. It was perched in the middle of the biggest part of the cave, which fanned off into multiple smaller sections. The bat was somehow majestic. The way its wings fluttered was so elegant compared to the previous bags. I stumbled a little bit before crouching, scouting the best method of attack.

  I heard a heartbeat. Every one of my senses were enhanced. My ears flicked—wait what?! I stopped moving for a second and touched the top of my head. …Wolf ears.? And a tail?! I internally panicked, hoping they would go away after the rift was cleared!

  I think they helped though, so I was fine with them for now. I continued to scan the best route and I started to grow closer towards the elephant-sized bat. It had fangs and a horn right above its nose. Its back had large spikes on its back too. It reeked of poison, if the fangs happened to scratch me then I’d be dead.

  My heart raced inside my chest, threatening to jump out and leave me to bleed to death as I watched the creature. I found my chance to attack, leaping up and stepping on air as I used wind manipulation. I made sure to be as stealthily as possible and then it screeched. The sound made me fall down. I couldn't move and there was a loud crack. My ankle hurt like hell as I tried to get up. I groaned as I made it to my feet. The pain wasn’t that bad.

  The bat was flying down at me now, its eyes containing a fury of hatred and malice. I dodged its attack as it swooped down, scratching it deeply with a fingernail. I used wind manipulation, quickly catching up to the creature, I injured its hind leg, a deep gash in its thigh. It kicked at me and I made my way towards the opposite side of the room. It charged again and I dodged. I latched onto one of its back spines and penetrated it with a sharp fingernail, basically a claw. My tail swished a little as I rode on its back. I moved and stabbed its wings, making it fly unsteadily. As I finished destroying its wings, it fell to the ground, still alive. I then kept hacking at its body until it bled out, which luckily didn't take long.

  I grabbed the rather large mana stone it dropped and I exited the portal which had opened up.