A girl pressed her forehead against the glass window.
A chill spread across her skin.
Each breath grew heavier than the last.
She placed her hand on the cold surface of the glass.
The warmth of her palm clashed with the chill of the window.
Yet, her hand trembled slightly. Her thoughts raced.
'I can't lie to myself; I'm nervous.'
Outside, the green forest stretched endlessly, surrounding the train on both sides.
In the window's reflection, she saw herself. Her red hair, usually neatly arranged, was now slightly messy. She drew her hand back and clenched it.
'Is this enough?' she thought.
She glanced to her right.
'This time, I brought Ortis with me. He's skilled and should be able to act as a strong shield. I also brought more healing potions than before.'
Everything was ready.
Her hands trembled.
Another girl's voice drew her attention.
"Princess? Are you feeling unwell?"
She turned. Beside her, a teenage girl with shoulder-length brown hair and clear skin watched her. Her brown eyes radiated genuine concern.
"I'm fine, Reva. I'm fine."
Reva frowned with worry.
"You seem preoccupied, Princess. Is it about the person who bumped into you earlier? That person was really rude."
She forced a thin smile at Reva's concern.
"No, Reva. Maybe he was unwell and in a hurry."
She turned back to the window.
Lost in thought.
'That collision… such a collision never happened before. I know who he is. I know that boy. I remember his face. In my past life, he didn't survive. I remember because he was the child of someone I knew.'
A breath escaped her.
'But that collision… it never happened before. What has changed? What is beginning to shift?'
She closed her eyes.
'In my past life, Reva and that boy died here. This time, I will minimize casualties. I won't let Reva or that boy die. May the gods bless us all.'
She opened her eyes, glancing at the clock on the white bracelet around her wrist.
12:29.
She began counting down in her mind
3…
2…
1…
BOOOM!
A massive explosion hit the front of the train, right at the engine. The train braked suddenly, creating a violent jolt. The dark red-haired girl grabbed the front seat with her left hand to keep her face from hitting it, while her right hand pulled Reva close, protecting her from striking the wall.
A small groan escaped Reva as she held her forehead.
"Ouch… Princess, are you okay? Did your hand get hurt?"
Her voice remained calm.
"I'm fine, Reva," she said, even as her heart raced.
She surveyed her surroundings.
Her breathing grew heavy. Groans and screams began to fill the carriage.
Ortis approached her.
"Princess Katarina, are you alright?" His deep voice called out.
"Yes, I'm fine, Ortis," Katarina replied.
She began to rise, taking command.
"We need to move all passengers to the middle of the train. Reva, tell the guards to evacuate everyone to the central carriage immediately!"
Ortis and Reva exchanged a puzzled glance, but before they could ask—
BOOM!
A second explosion, smaller but closer. The connecting door between carriages shattered into pieces. Amid the smoke, a figure appeared. His black cloak covered his entire body. In both hands, he gripped scythes stained with blood.
Katarina's blood boiled.
'He is the Blood Scythe. He killed Reva in my past life.'
"Princess, go to the middle carriage with Reva! I'll handle him!" Ortis shouted, drawing his weapon.
Katarina shot him a sharp look.
"You must keep your distance, Ortis! Fall back if it gets worse. For now, hold this line while Reva and I guide the others. I'm counting on you!"
Ortis nodded.
"Yes, Princess!"
Katarina immediately moved toward the rear of the carriage, followed by a nervous Reva.
☆☆☆☆☆☆
Alex stood amidst the chaos. The train had braked abruptly, and passenger screams erupted. He intended to help the injured, but—
CRASH!!
All the windows shattered at once. Hooded figures in black cloaks, faces hidden, surged in. They drew short swords and began attacking mercilessly.
One of them lunged at Alex, swinging horizontally at his neck. His body still felt stiff and vulnerable.
Alex ducked. He grabbed the attacker's wrist, twisted it outward, and seized the weapon. In one swift motion, he thrust it into the figure's head.
Slash!
The strike, which should have drawn blood or a scream, produced nothing. The figure dissipated into smoke, weapon in hand vanishing with him.
Alex called out to Krystal.
'What was that? Krystal, what was that?'
Krystal's calm voice eased his confusion.
'It seems that was one of the attacker's talents.'
Alex swallowed.
'Talent? What's that? I can't even fight yet, and the opponent is already using abilities like this—'
Suddenly, Krystal's voice echoed.
'Behind you, Alex!'
Alex spun to the right as fast as he could.
SLASH!
A warm sensation grazed his neck. The diagonal strike almost severed a vein—if Alex had been a second slower, it would have been fatal.
The attacker pressed on recklessly. Alex dodged, relying on his old combat instincts. A straight thrust aimed for his nose. Alex tilted his head; the sword only scratched his cheek.
Alex thought.
'Damn, this body… if I survive, I really need to train it.'
Alex clenched his left fist, landing a hard blow to the opponent's right ribs.
Bugh!
As the enemy faltered, Alex followed with an uppercut directly under the chin. The head snapped upward before vanishing.
Without pause, two more appeared. Alex began to struggle. He used passenger seats as shields, taking advantage of the now cramped and suffocating space. Cuts began to appear across his body.
Alex spoke to Krystal.
'Krystal, don't I have a weapon?!' he shouted while dodging simultaneous slashes and thrusts.
Krystal answered.
'One of your gifts is a sword called the Changing Sword. You can use it now. Imagine a sword in your hand.'
Alex closed his eyes briefly, picturing a blade in his right hand. His palm glowed brightly, and from the light emerged a longsword with an elegant white hilt.
The surprised enemy created an opening. Alex thrust at the right opponent and kicked the one on the left. One vanished, the other staggered. Wasting no time, Alex swung horizontally, decapitating the staggered foe.
Alex approached one of the train security guards.
"Are you okay? Can you still fight?"
Pain was etched on the guard's face.
"Yes… I can still manage," the guard replied.
Alex gave him a sharp look.
"Escort the others to the middle carriage! Evacuation seems to be concentrated there!" he ordered
Suddenly, another loud sound rang out.
The rear carriage door burst open. People panicked and ran. Alex dashed to the second-to-last carriage to make sure no one was left behind. There, he saw a young man in his twenties with a bag over his left shoulder. He was surrounded by three clones.
He fell. One clone raised a sword high, ready to strike.
Alex shot forward, intercepting the attack from below with his Changing Sword.
Ting!
Sparks flew from the collision between Alex's sword and the clone. Two more clones attacked from the sides—one slashed at his stomach, one stabbed at his chest.
Alex rotated the blade to deflect the thrust and twisted his body dramatically. Difficult, but with his experience, Alex took them down one by one. The cost: fresh cuts across his body.
Alex smiled faintly.
'At least my face is still intact.' he thought.
He turned to the young man and helped him up.
"Are you alright? What happened?"
The young man's face was still dominated by fear; his breaths were heavy.
"I don't know… they targeted me and wanted to take my bag."
Alex glanced at the bag.
"What's inside?"
The young man shook his head.
"I don't know. I was just paid to deliver it to Osteria Academy City. They said I must not open it."
Alex rubbed his forehead with his left hand.
'Damn. This attack might be a cover for this bag-retrieval mission.'
Suddenly, the rear carriage door opened again. A hooded figure wielding a bloodied short sword appeared. Behind him, corpses littered the floor. Alex winced; the scene reminded him of his old world.
The figure lifted his hood, revealing a horrifying smile.
"Let's make this quick…"
He pointed at the young man's bag.
"Hand over the bag, and I'll kill you quickly. Or fight, and I'll kill you slowly."
The young man beside Alex flinched, terrified. Damn it, Alex's body trembled too.
Alex spoke.
"Hey, you gonna give up the bag?"
The young man shouted.
"Of course not!"
Hearing the boy's shout, Alex looked at the hooded man.
"Did you hear that?" Alex raised the Changing Sword into a ready stance, tip aimed at the man.
"He said no. So, let's fight."
The hooded man chuckled, his grin widening.
"Very well."
Suddenly, dozens of figures emerged from under the floor. Forty? Fifty? The carriage now felt suffocating with enemies.
'So he's a talent user or whatever…'
Alex and the young man were surrounded. The young man stood with his back to Alex, holding a sword with trembling hands.
Alex glanced at him.
"Hey, what's your name?"
The young man panted heavily.
"Ilyas."
Alex looked back at the bag.
"This bag must be very important. When there's an opening, run, Ilyas."
Ilyas looked at Alex.
"What if there's no opening? And what about you?"
Alex smirked faintly amidst the encirclement.
"Then at least you won't die alone."
Ilyas swallowed. In an instant, dozens of figures lunged from every direction.
"UWAAAHHH!"
Alex shouted, adrenaline and courage surging.