Chapter 4: Black Mist
There was an almost invisible black smoke beginning to gather from every nook and cranny into a single mass. I don't know how I didn't notice this anomaly in this space of dazzling whiteness, but it doesn't matter. Even if I had noticed it, I wouldn't have changed anything.
The black mist began to gather into a sphere, and its color darkened with each wave, until it became black like a black hole.
I kept my eyes on it, observing the changes. I saw it begin to churn and take on strange patterns. It started moving like bacteria, and suddenly began to take on a strange shape. It was familiar to anyone; yes, it was a human shape: a head, legs, arms, and a body. But what drew my attention more than this shape was its strange face; there was nothing on it, no nose, no eyes, no hair, and no ears. Just a large, smiling white mouth.
Its smile evoked a feeling of unease, as if someone had poured a bucket of ice water on me. I felt cold in every limb and cell of my body. But so what if I felt it? I had no escape; I was powerless now. So what if it was black? So what if it was frightening? That wasn't important.
After a few seconds, the black shape settled into its human form.
I had been watching it since it was gray mist until it became a black sphere and then a human shape. I didn't miss a single moment of these moments; I didn't even blink.
I kept looking at its face, waiting for any reaction. It didn't move; it remained standing in its place opposite me, as if observing me.
I didn't say anything and did the same thing. I didn't blink; I kept my eyes open for fear that if I blinked, it might make a sudden move, as if I were in a staring contest.
Time passed slowly; a minute felt like an hour. I endured it and continued observing in silence.
One minute!... Two minutes!... Three minutes... Twenty-five minutes.
I could no longer bear this silent atmosphere, in addition to my eyes no longer being able to tolerate it. So I broke this silence and said:
"Hello...!"
Well, it wasn't a successful initiative, but I tried to continue as if I were addressing someone I knew.
"Hello, how can I help you?"
I kept a fake smile on my face to match him.
He didn't answer, as if he hadn't heard me; he completely ignored me. I didn't pay it any mind and continued talking.
"Sorry for the disturbance, but can you tell me, what is this place?"
He ignored me again. I didn't take it personally. Instead, I sat down to rest a bit, and when I regained some energy so I could stand and move, I noticed that he had shown a reaction.
I didn't know the reason, but this made me think of something.
"Alright, if you don't want to communicate, then so be it."
I turned in the opposite direction and started moving away from him. And when I had covered about twenty meters, I heard an annoying sound buzzing in my ear:
[Wow, you really are impatient!]
"...?"
I froze in place, trying to get used to this annoying sound, then turned around. I focused my eyes on that strange body and began squinting as I stared at it.
I saw the humanoid form tremble slightly, then that annoying sound returned:
[Do you like having someone examine your body with their eyes?]
"..."
I didn't answer and remained standing. I felt the matter was somewhat familiar. That's right, I was now like him.
[Well, it doesn't matter now.]
[I'll finish my work here and go take a shower. The gazes of mortal beings are really filthy.]
His annoying sound rang in my ears again, like the friction of two huge metal masses.
[Congratulations to you, you mor...!]
"Silence."
[...]
I could no longer bear it, so I shouted and continued:
"Stop talking with that voice!"
[Oh?! Alright, you're just like them too!]
There was a hint of sadness in his voice, even though his tone hadn't changed, I felt it.
[And now, how about this?]
"This is better, thank you."
The voice became more comfortable now, and I enjoyed this clear voice, then I said:
"You can continue now."
[...]
[Alright, where was I? Ah, yes, ahem ahem.]
[Congratulations, little mortal, you have obtained the opportunity to save your people from what they are in.]
I was surprised by his formal speech, especially by my description as "mortal," and about the state of my people... what did he mean?
I didn't dwell on that, but asked him:
"What do you mean by saving my people from what they are in?"
[I mean saving them from the destruction that awaits them.]
"..."
I remained silent for a few seconds, then said:
"What salvation are you talking about? And what destruction? My people have been almost annihilated."
The humanoid didn't answer me for a few seconds, then said:
[What do you mean almost annihilated?]
"Hmm? Yes, a war broke out and ended with the destruction of the entire world."
[Huh? I don't believe it, let me check.]
He didn't believe my words and began moving his hands in the air as if writing something.
He stopped moving and began observing in silence.
[...]
I heard a hint of shock in his voice, then he said:
[Ahem... It seems your world is really unlucky, but it doesn't matter.]
Then he returned to his formal speech:
[Human, since you are the first human to find the Gate of Illuminated Fortune, you will be granted a reward you never dreamed of before.]
I swallowed my saliva as I listened to this wonderful talk, as if I had been expecting something. Then he continued:
[Since you are the first human to find the Gate of Illuminated Fortune, you will get an additional reward.]
[And since your world was destroyed before that thing happened, you will get another reward.]
[Total: 5 mysterious boxes + Awakening Potion + Antidote for any disease.]
His voice was beautiful, as if I were listening to a lullaby. I had felt from the beginning that something wonderful would happen because of this strange gate.
I stepped towards this strange form and extended my hand as an expression of my thanks.
The humanoid didn't understand anything and tilted his head in curiosity, then said:
[What is this?]
"Nothing, it's just that in our human customs, thanks are given through a handshake."
[Oh.]
[Well! I thought thanks were given by bowing.]
I answered him without hesitation:
"Sorry, but in this world, no one deserves my bow except God."
[...]
The humanoid didn't answer; instead, he stretched his hand to mine, shook it, and let go quickly.
[Alright, here are all these things. I hope you get lucky with something good.]
He said this, then pointed to the pile of gifts on the ground, and scattered just as he had formed in the beginning.
Oh! I forgot to ask him how to get out. Well, that doesn't matter now.
I quickly approached the pile of gifts as if I had been cured of that overwhelming hunger and thirst. There were 5 boxes of different colors, in addition to two potions: one for awakening as mentioned, and another for curing diseases.
I set the antidote aside, as I didn't need it now. If I were on the brink of death, I might have used it.
I took the Awakening Potion in my hand and began examining it. It wasn't something strange; it was transparent like water. I didn't look at it for long; I opened it and drank it in one gulp.
It didn't have a distinctive taste, like ordinary water, but its results were not ordinary. I started feeling some heat in my body, due to accelerated blood circulation. My body was screaming with excitement; the blood inside me was dancing as if at a party; my body on the outside was trembling violently. And suddenly it stopped, and I started feeling a strange sensation, a distinctive feeling of strength.
I felt as if I were born anew; I felt as if I could shatter a wall with one blow. It was a wonderful feeling, and to my surprise, I noticed that fatigue, hunger, and thirst no longer affected me. I felt as if I were full of energy.
I enjoyed this wonderful feeling for a bit, then turned my gaze to the rest of the gifts. I grabbed the first box with my hand, my heart beating with excitement... I didn't know that my life would completely change just by opening it.