Haru
This isn’t good.
I thought to myself as I began to press my back against the forest tree.
Looking down I see my hand on the cold grass, disconnected from the rest of my arm, and like a waterfall, blood began violently gushing out of my arm and onto the grass.
I wanted to put my hand over my wound and heal it with my fire attribute, but I felt too weak to move.
I wanted to scream from all the pain that was radiating from my left arm, but couldn’t find the energy inside me to.
All I could do was sit here, with my legs stretched out on the ground.
Taking a deep breath, I began to look up at the starry sky. Every dazzling speckle of white reminded me of all the good times that I had as a kid.
The simpler times.
The times when I wasn’t obsessed with trying to get girls to like me, but instead playing with my best friends Seigi, Jin, and Jim outside during recess.
The times when the twins, Jin and Jim, would argue about pointless things while Seigi and I secretly mock and make fun of the two of them.
The times when we would stay inside and play cards when it rained outside and sleep without a care in the world.
The times when we didn’t know that we were poor and never worried about rent, food, or taxes.
Those were the times. Such simple times.
I wonder how they’re doing up there, way up in the skies.
Though I guess I should worry about the situation I’m in instead of worrying over dead people.
Soon, I began to hear many tiny footsteps echo amongst the forest trees. From behind the trees I could see the monsters that hid in the shadows.
Though I couldn’t make out what they were entirely, the sound of their antennas was the key info that I needed to determine what they were.
Deco Ants.
Weak on their own, but strong in numbers, these ants weigh around 80 pounds and stand at an astounding 3 feet.
Within only an hour or so, these creatures could decimate an entire village out in the countryside with ease.
Heh. So this is how it ends huh.
Me, Haru Ishino, the man who defeated General Vick and General Grant from the Kingdom of Tor.
The man who defeated 2 out of the 14 great demonic beasts, was killed by mere Deco Ants.
It’s pathetic to say the least. Though, my life so far has always been pathetic.
42 years that I have been alive. I gained fame, authority, and power, but at what cost.
I lost everything!
The woman of my dreams, Sachi Ishino, killed! And by the very person that we cared for, nurtured, and loved! Our own son!
All of my friends, killed in the war against the Kingdom of Tor!
And in despair, I try to heal my wounds with sexual pleasure from the women that I bring home every night.
I’m an awful person! An awful husband and father!
...
I’m such an awful person.
A person that has lived a life full of regret.
Looking around I see the Deco Ants inch closer, waiting for the right time to jump.
A few seconds pass by.
I took a deep breath, looked up, and softly smiled at the starry sky.
Suddenly, as one of the Deco Ants leapt towards me, so did all the other ones as well.
And as they began digging into my flesh, my cheeks, my legs, and eyes, I have only one thought left inside me.
That if I were to somehow go back in time, I would make it so that there would be a happy ending.
An ending where in 10 years, we would all have a barbecue at my place.
Our wives would get together and talk about whatever they usually talk about.
Our kids, running around playing tag on the grass, while us guys with fire attributes grill the meat and make small talk with the other husbands.
I want a future where I’m reliable for my kids and wife.
A future where I still find time to hang out with my friends and be there for the people I care for most.
A future where no one suffers and instead of focusing on food, money, or status, we focus on how much fun we’ll have everyday.
That’s the future I really want.
And with that thought out of the way, I close my eyes.
And dive head first into the dark depths of death.
