Sword God in a World of Magic Chapter 3 - Dream?

~5 minute read · 1,208 words
Previously on Sword God in a World of Magic...
Alex, a promising MMA fighter, suffered a devastating leg injury that ended his career, forcing him to work as a grocery store cashier while planning for college. Walking home through rundown streets, he investigated cries from an injured dog used as bait in an alley robbery. In self-defense, he knocked out one robber, who died from the fall, but a hidden accomplice struck him down with a crowbar. As azure souls departed their bodies, a gigantic hand snatched Alex's soul from the void, pulling it through a rift amid a playful 'Yoink!'
"What? What happened? Where am I!?" Confusion overwhelmed Alex's mind completely. He sensed that a major event had struck him. It felt as though he'd escaped a dream upon waking moments ago. Still, his whereabouts escaped him entirely.Alex realized he stood amid the grandest hall he'd ever laid eyes on. The immense scale of the space left him stunned. He guessed this chamber stretched beyond a kilometer in width! Its height likely soared to a hundred meters!Who could erect such a monstrosity!?Black and red hues dominated everywhere, stirring a sinister aura.'Did a teen decorate this spot? Who slaps black and red on a majestic hall?' Alex pondered, brows knitting tight. 'Worse, why so vacant? Wall fixtures exist, yet the middle holds just this massive, gloomy rug.'Alex eyed the carpet, spotting an embroidered pattern. A pale jester's mask appeared—essentially, a grinning face on a white mask. 'Spooky.'Alex gazed ahead, eyes bulging wide.A massive throne loomed roughly a hundred meters in front of Alex. It spanned over ten meters across and scraped the ceiling of this colossal hall. Someone occupied the seat.A youthful figure, perhaps early twenties like Alex himself, lounged there. Long hair in black and red flowed from him, though its full length hid since he faced Alex directly, smirking. Red eyes marked another striking feature, unnoticed from afar.Still, he appeared somewhat comical, dwarfed by the oversized throne. 'Goth teen?' Alex mused. 'Goths lean black and gray, right? Emos favor black and red. His outfit screams designer here.'Alex kept staring while the youth smirked in return.Seconds ticked by.Alex glanced awkwardly left and right. No words came from the other side—just intense staring.Should he start talking?Plenty of questions burned inside, so sure, why not?"Excuse me!" Alex bellowed, voice booming through the empty expanse. The guy sat about 100 meters off. Nothing happened.'Didn't catch that?' Alex wondered uncertainly. He stepped ahead.Thump!Alex tumbled forward, hands breaking the fall just in time. 'Huh? My cane—where?!' Panic surged as he scanned for it. No luck.'I manage without it sometimes, but damn, it's clumsy,' Alex reflected, rising steadily. Balance held firm, shocking him. Normally, ankle nerve damage made his right foot flop awkwardly. Standing required precise weight shift down the leg. One step forward hit him—his right foot worked perfectly!How?!Alex steadied on his left while lifting the right in the air. Complete range!Zero clumsiness!Whoooosh!A roundhouse kick flew out, mind exploding with thrill.This mirrored his old fighting days!'What in the world?!'Alex tested the leg further with jumps and kicks. Moments later, he sighed, enthusiasm fading. 'No chance it's truly fixed. Healing wouldn't erase all stiffness, and foot muscles would've weakened.''Clearly a dream.'BOOOOM!An explosive roar filled the hall from ahead! Ears rang fiercely as a shockwave hurled Alex backward.Fortunately, no harm came from the blast."Every damn time!" a furious voice bellowed. Alex shook his head, steadying himself."Every damn time!" it raged again, fury building. "Every time a soul from your world arrives, you all assume it's a dream!"Alex raised his gaze toward the throne.Was that youth talking?Too far to tell clearly.'How do I hear it so near, then? Like he's right here.'"This grows tedious!" the voice snapped irritably. "Why doesn't one of you just approach? Why not stride right up once?"Alex searched about for the source, finding nothing nearby. Yet it emanated from ahead. That youth for real?"Every damn time, I observe you lot, and every damn time, same bullshit routine!" the figure yelled.Alex noted slight body shifts, tough to gauge afar. "Oh, what hall is this? Oh, what's with my body?" Sarcasm dripped from the shout.'Right arm up, mimicking talk,' Alex focused, peering distantly.BANG!Fresh blast, but Alex stayed on his feet this time.Yet more astonishing.Because he'd witnessed the cause.The youth raised his right arm, smashed downward. Shockingly, the throne's armrest retracted beneath the fist!A ten-meter-wide seat compressed past five meters!And the boom?That fist impact!A simple armrest pound flung Alex from over 100 meters away.Madness!Description took time, but reality rushed on. The youth ranted still."And then. And then! You spit the exact same crap! Always 'excuse me'! Mix it up—say 'hello', 'good morning', 'fuck you', anything!"Alex struggled to process.'Impossible. Gotta be dreaming!' he decided.Whoooop!Distance vanished instantly. In under a second, Alex faced the man half a meter away."What did you just fucking think?!" the youth snarled, eyes slitting. "Dare it again! See the fallout!"Terror gripped Alex oddly.Normally, no fear for a throned youth, but caution screamed now. One slip could spell disaster!Alex met the glaring eyes nervously."Then, how about I say it instead?" Alex ventured.The youth blinked, stunned."Oh, that's a new one," he remarked, anger evaporated. "Proceed. Let's watch this unfold."Alex swallowed hard."This is obviously a dream," Alex declared."What suggests that?" the youth queried, reclining. The throne's far back slid forward automatically."That," Alex pointed at it. "Thrones don't move like that.""Mine does," the man grinned."How?" Alex pressed, curious for the logic."Like this."Whoop! Whoop! Whoop!The hall warped wildly. Walls rushed in then receded far. The throne flailed like a street-side inflatable tube man. Alex remained composed."See?" Alex stated evenly. "Total dream signs."The distortion ceased; the youth scrunched his nose."Alright, this bores me."SHING!Alex's right foot severed at the ankle—gone.The youth hadn't budged.Alex crumpled in shock, staring at the gushing stump. Horror flashed, then calm returned oddly after seconds."See? No pain," Alex noted. "Proves it's a dream."The youth laughed softly. "Shock's numbing you. Wait it out," he smirked.Alex eyed him skeptically, then his leg. Morbidly, he wiggled it. Time ticked.A grimace crept on. "Okay, slight sting maybe.""More time," the youth urged.Alex sweated, breaths hastening."Okay, hurts plenty.""Time," repeated the smirking youth."Maybe… maybe… argh!"Alex clutched his leg, body tensing, breath ragged.Then he snapped.No fault—lop off any streetwalker's leg and watch."There we go," the youth smirked. "Now, do you-""Aaaargh!"The youth's brows creased. "Okay, now do-""Aaaargh!""Shut up!"Whooop!Pain vanished abruptly.Alex's mind reeled.What?He glanced down—foot restored. 'Huh?'"You done?!" the youth demanded irritably. "Got it out, or need more yelling?"Alex fumbled to grasp reality."Alright, dragging on!" The youth rose.BANG!A side kick sent Alex flying two meters."Alright, so," he approached. "You died. Dead. Not dreaming."BANG!Another kick.Alex hacked repeatedly. Those packed power!The youth neared. "Afterlife bound, I snatched your soul."Alex rose, but a kick hurled him afar before standing."I've brought you to my Realm," the youth smirked, arms sweeping the hall. "My private palace."Alex scrambled up as the youth closed in.Whoosh!Kick whiffed—Alex twisted aside. BANG!Alex's fist cracked the youth's face!