Reincarnated into A Fantasy Realm

Chapter 1: A New Feeling

Survival instincts were and still are an important part of life. If a person where to get stuck is a place they know no information about, would they survive even for a day? The most realistic answer is no, they wouldn't at all without doing something that could've or did cost their life. No matter the time, the place, the day, or era, without your needed survival instincts to carry you is such dire situations, you'll never make it out safely without doing something that could've cost your life. Even in a game, the same rules stand tall like the walls that was trapping Sutāru where he stood. The redhead knew it quite well that even with high knowledge of where he was and it's whole playing field, he had little to no idea of what his purpose is to do. It was as if the gods knew what it is they are doing, and had full trust in Sutāru to not question why he was the only person to be picked. And they were correct to put trust in him, the redhead didn't bother to ask why.

"Why are you frozen in place Kagayaku? We are ordered to report back to Exsis Headquarters to file the play."

Sutāru didn't respond as he continued to stand in place even with the pouring rain falling. Kagayaku wasn't his name and nor did it sound like his name at all. Sutāru was the redhead's name, it always have been. But can he really identify himself as Sutāru if his whole look is completely different and unrecognizable?  If anything, his soul should've just been changed as well.

"Oi! Are you just gonna ignore the captain like that?!"

"Ugh, this is totally why you're the worst Ribenjā in the whole Aragami Celistix. Not only do you disrespect the captain and the others, you don't even bother to listen to her!"

Sutāru snapped out of his trance and stared right at the taken back male who stood next to the worried Captain. His cold eyes flashed as the redhead held a straight, serious, cold face.

"I don't think I should be hearing from a person who thinks their top of the charts. I suggest you mind who you're talking to from this point on."

It was silent, maybe a bit too silent. Sutāru, or at least what he prefers to be called rather than the loser bum Kagayaku, moved his now soaked long hair out of his face and began to walk down the lit up streets of Eikyō. Though he couldn't remember exactly where he was placed, the redhead did remember just how bad of a character Kagayaku was after the way he was treated in the Aragami Celistix. It was a whole storyline and Sutāru always enjoyed replaying High-Rise Eikyō 7 just so he could choose different choices that would lead to different outcomes. And one of them just so happens to be where Kagayaku would go against the Aragami Celistix and prove his power to everyone. It was always Sutāru's favorite path to choose and each time he would cheer when it was time to fight against Headquarters.

"Tsk, who the hell you think you are huh?! I'm the higher-up, who are you to define me?!"

"Please Urami, calm down. Kagayaku is just sad about the fact he's the reason we lost the match today again."

Sutāru gritted his teeth as he put his hands into fists. Feeling the urge to talk back, the redhead was just about to turn around when three rectangles popped up next to him. Each having a different line.

1.) "I'm not the reason we lost today! You all left me to die out there!"

2.) "I'm sorry... I didn't know our opponents would have such a plan up their sleeves..."

3.) "Honestly, all of you are just mad at the fact I did most of the work."

"What?... These choices... are the same as the game's voice lines... These are the choices of the 'The Bitter Reprisal' path."

Not wasting much time to be hesitant, the redhead chose the first choice. And just like how his mother would ask for Sutāru to help her with something, all the same words in the voice line he chose, suddenly came out of his mouth without him even forcing himself to say it.

"I'm not the reason we lost today! You all left me to die out there!"

"Left you to die?! You ran in the mid of the fight and went straight for the leader of the other team right when we reached one minute! We tried to save you but you being so dumb, it was useless to do so!"

"Alright. I'm the captain here so can we please just get back and file to Headquarters already?! I'm sick and tired of all of you fighting! Especially you Gijutsu. If you and Urami don't stop picking on Kagayaku, I'll have both of you off the team next time."

"Y-Yes Captain Kugutsu! We give you our s-sincerest apologies!"

Both Urami and Gijutsu got down on one knee and bowed their heads to show their highest form of respect they could possibly show the Captain. Kugutsu wasn't one to be taken lightly at all. Sutāru knew that well after seeing how the Captain acts in 'The Bitter Reprisal' path. The amount of times it pissed the redhead off whenever the battle between Kugutsu and Kagayaku happened. Goodness was it difficult and ridiculous to beat. Sutāru was about to say something but once again, three rectangles with voice lines in them appeared next to him waiting for the redhead to choose one of them. They were still in a conversation and to finish it, Sutāru would have to go through it all. New world, new feeling, new body, new everything. And he was definitely there for it even if it might end soon.

The heavy rain continued to fall down from the dark blue mixed with purple sky. Sutāru let out a low but fairly long yawn as he continued to glide around and under cliffs, mountains with holes in them that looked to be made for glide training, and some hills. The redhead wondered how much longer it'll take to get to Headquarters since it never took this longer before for him to get back when being the one playing the game. Is this really what the team must do when the screen goes black? Sure, gliding was definitely much more efficient and was the fastest way of transport, but to think it'll still take this long just to get to the portal that would put him and the rest of his 'team' into the Main Room of Headquarters. Or mainly known as the Report Chamber since that's where the head of the whole Aragami Celistix would be 24/7.

"I'd advise you pay attention to where you fly Kagayaku. These plains aren't where you want to space out like that."

"Yea Kaga-Oroka. Space out like that again and I might just push you into one of the mountains!"

"Shut it Urami. The Captain already told us to stop picking on that guy. Do you really want to get her mad again and end up getting kicked off the team for your stupidity?"

"Jeez Gijutsu, I didn't know you were such a buzzkill."

All Sutāru could do was sigh and he dived down towards the ground and reached out his hand and put it into the water to feel the coolness of it while also increasing his gliding speed. Everything felt a bit too real for the redhead. One minute he's being beat up by a group of bullies who don't even know better and the next he's placed into High-Rise Eikyō 7 while playing as Kagayaku. While the character choice sucked, he wasn't complaining all that much since this world was indeed peaceful when war isn't going on between the Aragami Celistix and Mistis Aquarelle. But all of a sudden, Sutāru let out a gasp as he spot something that gave off the feeling of being in an realistic dream. A golden fish in the water swam the same speed Sutāru was going and was one of those type that could turn into a phoenix is powerful enough. And sure, in High-Rise Eikyō 7 there were many of these species that have two forms, but these type of golden fishes were rare beyond imagination. Only one was the redhead able to spot one when playing from behind the screen of his phone. But this time, not only is he up close, it's as if the fish was swimming with him and not away from him. It made Sutāru smile as he boosted himself with his wings and watched as the transforming golden fish sped up to catch up with him. It was a strange feeling inside his heart, but something told him that the phoenix would stay by his side as long as he lives

The Captain watched quietly as Kagayaku (Sutāru) flew with the flame phoenix that had completed it's transformation. The two flew fast like they were tied to each other and even did small tricks while close to the ground. Kugutsu smiled as she focused back onto what was in front of her. Maybe, Kagayaku would do just fine of that phoenix stays by his side from now on.

'You seem to have changed Kagayaku. But maybe it was for the better for all of us...'

'I wonder if this phoenix has something to do with the 'A Bitter Reprisal' path. It never showed up before, or at least that's how I remember it.'

The flames shone bright and the heat that radiated off was anice source after how chilly it's gotten. THe change was sudden, but this new feeling felt great to Sutāru. And he wasn't going to let go of it for as long as he stays where he is.