Another World Story

Day Fourteen: Ashura

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Day Fourteen: The Ashura

A day had passed since John had woken up, and although he still felt numbness in his legs, he could now move them more or less. However, he still couldn't stand, so he was lying on the bed, recuperating. He wasn't sure how long it would take to fully recover his limbs, so he asked the rabbit. The rabbit explained that it had to create a lot of rejuvenation medicine for him to recover to his current state. It also took a month for his limbs to grow back. So, effectively, it was currently his first month, two weeks, and a few days since he had transmigrated to this world.

John had also tried various ways to make the system show his full status page, but it seemed he could only open two pages for now. He still hadn't allocated his stat points as promised and just ignored it. Lying down most of the day, John had no one to talk to when the rabbit went to gather food. Speaking of food, the meals it prepared tasted terrible. No, actually, they were just bland. But since he had no choice, he ate them quietly. John swore that the moment he could stand up again, he would do the cooking. No more tasteless meals!

John also asked the rabbit for information about the forest—things like how monsters were spread, which directions to avoid, and what plants were edible or not. Mostly, he wanted to know what could help him survive.

The rabbit, having no other activities, answered each of his questions that it could. The more they talked, the more John felt that the rabbit was more like a human than an animal. He wanted to ask about the rabbit’s background but decided against it. It hadn't asked about his background, and he wouldn't answer if it did. So, John decided not to probe into the rabbit's situation.

There was something that caught John's attention—language. After talking to the rabbit for more than a day, he just realized that they were speaking different languages. John was speaking his native language, while the rabbit spoke its language from this world. It was a slow realization. Was it really because he only had 6 in Intelligence and 7 in Wisdom?

John didn't want to believe it. So, he shifted his attention to the rabbit's language. He asked what language it was speaking. The rabbit looked at him with confusion before answering, "Ashuran." It was the language of this world, derived from the name of the world: Ashura.

It was said that in ancient times, creatures like the rabbit, monsters, and many other races did not exist. Only humans inhabited the five main continents of Ashura: Northern, Western, Eastern, Southern, and the Central continent, where John was now. The Central continent was once whole but was now divided by a giant river called the River of Annihilation. It was said that this river brought the existence of monsters and other races to the world.

The rabbit added that among the many races brought by the River of Annihilation were the gods—entities worshipped by the races.

Gods? Were one of them responsible for my transmigration and Alex and the others' disappearance? John wondered.

The rabbit continued its story:

It was said that the River of Annihilation appeared during the Great Cataclysm. The Great Cataclysm had two phases. The first phase caused immense destruction but also filled the world with boundless energy. The second phase created the River of Annihilation and brought forth new races. This period plunged the world into chaos, with wars erupting everywhere.

The native humans fought against the new races. The war lasted over 300 years and only ended with the appearance of the Saint and the Hero, who were said to have brought peace through a decree from the gods. The decree was for the races to forget their differences and coexist. However, not all races agreed readily. The disappearance of some races was attributed to the work of the Saint and the Hero, though no one truly knew how they vanished. Many speculated but kept their thoughts to themselves, fearing they might meet the same fate.

Now, the Saint and the Hero were revered throughout Ashura. The Hero had disappeared with time, but the Saint had not. Each generation, the Church of Creation would choose a Saint candidate and proclaim her as the Saint.

The Main Church of Creation was founded on the Southern continent to worship the God of Creation, one of the many gods that did not exist before the Great Cataclysm. No one knew how the Church of Creation came into being, and no one dared to investigate. The gods' power was terrifying, though no one had directly encountered their anger. It was the Church of Creation that summoned the first Hero to end the war between the races.

Many churches worship different gods throughout Ashura, and to this day, there were ten gods said to be of equal power and faith.

"And they are?" John asked, seeing that the rabbit had stopped to sip from its mug.

"I don't know," the rabbit said casually, sipping. "I don't have much interest in gods, and I don't have faith in any of them."

John felt there was a deeper meaning in the rabbit's words but chose not to ask. Just as the rabbit hadn't probed into his background, he would do the same.

"Continue," John said.

"Hm."

The world of Ashura, altered by the Great Cataclysm, created places known as No-Man's Lands—areas devoid of civilization. For example, the forest they were in was once a No-Man's Land, but due to an event that occurred hundreds of years ago, it had become a pseudo-No-Man's Land. Only its deeper parts were dangerous, where monsters capable of destroying villages, cities, and even countries lurked. In their current location, a monster capable of destroying a country resided.

John's eyes widened at the rabbit's words, and he looked at it with doubt. The rabbit nodded and said, "The Lake. There it slumbers at its deepest part."

Gulp!

John swallowed nervously. He knew the rabbit wasn't lying. If such powerful creatures were awake, the monsters around would have attacked them by now.

"Don't worry, I've lived here for as long as I can remember. That beast hasn't woken up since. Plus, if it wakes up, the one that lurks in the water would also awaken," the rabbit reassured him. But John's forehead was now slick with sweat.

There's something even more terrifying?!

"The one that lurks in the water... Is that why those beasts avoid any body of water in this forest?" he asked.

"Hm. You might not believe me, but I've seen it once."

"You have? How are you still alive?" John asked, wondering how the rabbit had survived if that terrifying monster had awoken.

The rabbit shook its head. "No, it doesn't attack creatures below it. It only targets those close to its level to gain energy. There was a beast that woke up about ten years ago, one that lived in the sky atop the highest tree. When it woke up, it was like a hurricane hit the forest. The gale almost uprooted this tree, but it didn't last long. The moment it awoke, the one that lurks in the water also stirred from its slumber. Though it doesn't attack those below it, its immense pressure nearly killed me. Many beasts cowered in fear, and the beast atop the tree fled quickly. It knew it would die if it stayed, but it was caught. As I said, it lurks in the water. So as long as there are bodies of water, it will appear."

John's eyes lit up as he came to a realization.

"So that's why. The one in the lake didn't dare to wake up because it would die if it did." John nodded, convinced.

"Indeed," the rabbit said. "That's why I can live here. The beasts outside won't attack, and the beasts in the lake won't wake up. This seems to be the safest place in the area."

John nodded again. He then thought of something and asked, "By the way, if I can't get out of this place, how are you able to get out? You've already been chased by the Night Wolves to my area, which seemed much further from here. How did you manage to bring me here?"

Now that John asked, he realized how the rabbit had managed to transport him.

The rabbit looked at him, casually sipping from its mug, and smirked as it raised its left front leg.

And at that moment—

Swoosh!

John's eyes widened as he saw what the rabbit did. His gaze flickered between the rabbit's smirking face and the floating rock that had appeared out of nowhere and now hovered atop its finger.

Is this...

Mahou?!