My parents were monsters, cruel and unrelenting. Abuse was my daily reality, a constant shadow. The environment twisted my heart, shaping a jagged personality.
My father's kicks came with his drunken rants. "That brat with the abominable eyes," he'd sneer. My mother's blows were paired with heartless words, cursing my existence. Or the fact that she turned a blind eye when my father abused me.
"I had to give birth," she spat bitterly. "Can't even kill an unwanted brat here." Rage veiled my thoughts...I'd kill them someday, my survival instinct screamed.
One day, they vanished, leaving me behind. My uncle's family took me in with kindness. I vowed to be a problem-free child for them.
Their warmth showed me what love could be. I became invisible, a harmless mob. Mimori Touka learned to blend into the background.
But before the transfer, my true self stirred. The real Mimori Touka, long suppressed, emerged. That moment in the ritual unleashed it fully.
I opened my eyes to cold, jagged ground. My back ached from the rough surface. "So this is the Disposal Ruins," I muttered.
Darkness enveloped me, deep and suffocating. I whispered, "Status Open," hoping for clarity. A robotic voice echoed, but visibility remained poor.
I fumbled for my leather bag, my unique item. Its jewel glowed faintly when I channeled magic energy. The dim light revealed a grim, cave-like ruin.
A skull, split in half, lay nearby. My stomach churned, what broke it? The realization hit: something dangerous lurked here.
My heart pounded, instinct screaming danger. This was the Disposal Ruins, where none survived. Death's stench clung to the air, oppressive.
Memories of my parents' cruelty resurfaced. That same dread: I'd be killed if I stayed. My pulse raced, urging me to live.
An orange glow flickered behind me. A beastly roar and a foul stench filled the air. Something melted the ground with a hissing sound.
I froze, knowing movement meant death. My reasoning held me still, but instinct broke through. I bolted, stumbling but narrowly dodging a heavy strike.
Wind pressure knocked me forward as I ran. Something massive had swung at me. My body trembled, adrenaline surging through every cell.
My teeth chattered, fear overwhelming me. The leather bag's light marked me as prey. I hid it in my uniform, slipping into the darkness.
Breathing raggedly, I fought to stay silent. The thought of being torn apart haunted me. I had to escape, driven by raw instinct.
Tears streamed down my face, not from sadness. Fear wasn't the only emotion—something else burned within. Frustration, defiance, a refusal to break.
I tripped over a protrusion in the dark. Gasping, I turned to face the threat. "Oh, shit," I cursed, not scared but furious.
This wasn't just fear, it was anger. The goddess, my classmates, this ruin, they underestimated me. My status ailment skills weren't useless; I'd prove it.