VitaVitaAR

Reborn in a Fantasy World, This Time I Shall...!

Dirt Road

---

The carriage's attackers hadn't been prepared to be attacked themselves.

While they'd managed to put together a hasty defense of their own, it was clear that they were taken aback by the pressure that was suddenly being placed upon them.

With the green-cloaked men who had gone to meet the new arrivals dead or fatally injured, injured, the carriage's attackers could no longer afford to focus solely on breaching its defense.

"Shit!" snapped one of the green-cloaked figures, "Who are these people!? Hurry up and---"

He was cut off with a strangled cry as the Zweihander-wielding maid rushed him during his momentary lapse of focused, bringing her blade down so swiftly between his neck and shoulder that she nearly split him in half diagonally across his torso.

As she tore her weapon free from his body, she twisted her frame and brought the blade across another attacker in mid-swing, hacking his right arm from his body and sending him screaming to the ground.

Despite her frame, it was clear that a considerable amount of power was behind each swing. No wonder she had remained standing as the carriage defenders had been worn down.

A swift downward stab ended the green-cloaked figure whose arm she had just severed.

While they were still outnumbered, it was clear the sudden appearance of unexpected assistance had shaken the green-cloaks resolve.

"Grrr... retreat!"

Indeed, now that the tide was turning, it seemed they no longer fancied their chances, turning and vanishing back into the tall grass as swiftly as they could manage.

"... Thank goodness..." the petite maid with a sword and shield said, before slumping against the side of the carriage with a sigh.

"Linie!"

The taller maid rushed to her side, swiftly kneeling and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm okay, Shiela... don't worry..." she half-murmured.

It was hard to tell just how bad the shield maid's injury was, but it was certainly deep enough to tear through the leather padding on her waist.

"M-Mistress, you don't know that it's safe---!"

There was a voice from within the carriage. Moments later, the door opened.

From within emerged a blonde girl of around seventeen years old in fine clothing, a grim expression on her face.

"How dare they assault a carriage belonging to my family," she narrowed her eyes, though she was clearly avoiding looking directly at the carnage, "I-I'll have these bandits exterminated for this."

Though her tone was sharp, the hitch in her voice as she surveyed the violence around the carriage revealed a considerable amount of her true feelings.

"Mistress, Linie is hurt," the zweihander maid, Shiela, said as she remained close to the smaller girl, "And some of the others... they're..."

She trailed off.

"... I see," the young woman said, averting her eyes after a moment, "... I'll make sure they pay for that, on my honor as Duke Darnell's daughter."

After a moment's pause, she spoke again.

"How bad are Linie's injuries?"

Sheila hesitated for a moment.

"I-I'm not sure, I---"

"I-I'm fine, Mistress," chimed in the smaller maid, "S-so, you don't need to wo-"

"That's nonsense and you know it, don't behave so foolishly," asserted the young woman, "Do you wish to reflect badly upon me? Hmph. Rest until you can be administered first aid at the very least."

With that, her gaze briefly left the maids to fall upon the newcomers, the armored man and the two kitsune.

"... I take it you assisted in driving off those rotten boors?" she asked, cocking her head.

@Raineh Daze@PKMNB0Y@Sir Lurksalot

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

It was hard getting over such a sharp response.

Robin sighed heavily to herself.

Aah, she'd just been trying to be polite, what did she do wrong? She realized she hadn't really thought about the potential relations between her own homeland and the neighboring nation and its residents, but at the same time she'd been so use to having such pleasantries be well-received...

The pretty baker lady just a few days ago loved it!

"Aaah, I really upset her..." Robin lamented aloud, mostly to herself. All she'd wanted to do was give a good first impression and show that she respected the shinobi, too.

Her tone of voice had let her know everything she'd needed to hear, though. It wasn't as if the brunette was oblivious.

Sagging forward where she sat, she let out a heavy sigh.

"Next time I see her, I'll have to apologize if she'll let me..." she murmured.

This was someone they were meeting with, so it was important to at least try and have a good relationship. She hadn't intended to offend her at all, so the fact it went like this---

She was a hero! And a hero tried to fix things when they made mistakes!

Most of the time, at least, but she was hopefully not going the route of one of those tragic heroes who only works out what they've done wrong when it's too late.

Reborn in a Fantasy World, This Time I Shall...!

Ruined Inn

---

I don't really know how to respond to my face being described as kind of like an adult's.

What does that mean, really? If you look close enough you can barely figure it out?

It's not exactly reassuring is what I'm saying.

The fact that the other girl describes staying with me as 'babysitting' earns her a sharp glare. Urk, I'll find a way to pay her back for that. I might not even know her name yet, but I'm definitely not going to forget that little joke until then.

Glancing at the windows again, I sigh.

There's no point in dawdling anymore. It's clear that something unpleasant is going on here, beyond just the undead outside. Seriously, what's with that scratching down below?

The disturbing possibility of it being the age-old nemesis of any seasoned veteran of a certain game series, the undead dog, fills my mind for a moment before I dismiss it.

Not that it might not be an undead dog, but rather because I don't want to think of this in terms of a game. Sure, plenty of isekai protagonists treat it like that, but I can already feel the air on my skin. I have a full sense of my body, as awkward as that is given my new form.

To put it simply, this isn't a game. Treating it like one is something only an idiot would do.

We've been dumped into a ruin surrounded by undead, so I can't exactly say this feels like the lighthearted game universe isekai that suits that kind of behavior. And even then, when written by better authors, those are the ones that hit the protagonists in the face with the reality of their new world eventually.

That's right, you'd have to be an idiot to treat this like---

I stare blankly at the dragonman for a moment.

Status? Why would you even expect that to work? Why---

Hold it.

"... Status."

It's still hard to get used to my own voice as it is now. Seriously, it's exactly like I imagined Sephily talking.

But it's going to be even more difficult to get used to the screen that just materialized in front of my face.

"Seriously!? This is one of those kinds of settings?!"

No way, that can't be it, right? Is this something only the reborn people can do? It'd have to be, right? This definitely isn't the sort of start a lighthearted game isekai would take.

Right?!

Right?!

It's all there, including my race(High Elf) and my stats(1s in everything but dex and magic). I even have a level.

I'm only level 1, but still.

What kind of tone is this world anyway?!

I inhale deeply. No, I can't think of it like that. There's no inherent 'tone' to another world.

Even if it sure feels like a bit of a cruel comedy right now.

---What's this?

Star Mirror?

It's a skill. A skill with a description explaining a certain sort of magic that uses the stars.

...

I probably shouldn't be excited in this situation, but I was only making a guess when I picked up the staff, thinking I was going to be a mage.

But this seems like it confirms it?!

Despite everything, I actually have magic!? That'd be a silver lining, no doubt!

Only---

How do I even use it?

Is there incantations? Do I need some sort of ritual?

Urggh, of course there's no instruction manual. There's a status screen but no tutorial.

If this is a game world, it's starting to feel a bit more like that certain series. Surrounded by undead with no instructions in some ruined hellhole?

Familiar in a concerning way.

"Start a fire?"

The other elf is back, this time asking about fire. The dragonman's managed to conjure up some flames, too.

What, did he get a tutorial and I didn't? Is this some kind of joke?!

Trying not to show any envy that he figured it out that fast, I take a deep breath.

"Well, it looks like we don't need to know the conventional way," I begin, "But if you're talking about fighting the undead with fire, you can't just light them up and that's that."

Just lighting a corpse on fire isn't the end of things, after all.

"First, if they're not dried out it's going to take a while to burn them until they can't move," I continue, "Which means now you've got an attacker that's trying to kill you while also being on fire. Congratulations, you've just made your situation worse."

I wave my hand, to illustrate the leaping flames that would presumably be coating the undead's body.

"Plus, some of the undead outside clearly have armor, which is going to be a problem. Unless you can make fire hot enough to cook them inside, in which case you can probably burn the unarmored ones fast enough to kill them outright."

Or, well, whatever you want to call permanently disabling a shambling corpse.

"What I'm saying is you can't just say fire's going to solve the issue, okay? If they don't feel pain, all you're doing is making a bigger problem for yourself and everyone else."

Not that fire is the worst idea, but I don't want anyone here thinking it's a perfect solution to our problem.

Our problem being the literal zombies outside.

"That girl with the hammer has a good weapon for taking them on, at least," I add with a sigh, "And we'll need it because there's no way staying here for too long is a good idea."

That dragon guy was able to summon fire just by saying a word, so it has to be incantations, right?

But what do I say to cast a spell?

If I could figure that out, then---

I let out another sigh.

Speaking of my skill, though---

"Oh, right, try saying 'status'. It's ridiculous, but it works, it brings up a screen. There's stats and everything."

No reason not to let anyone else know. In fact, I should let that other girl know. And show her I'm not just being babysat.

"I'm going to let her know, too."

I'll just head after her.

@PKMNB0Y@Aku the Samurai@SilverPaw@RolePlayerRoxas

Qlippoth Shift: A Supernatural Action RP About Combating Otherworldy Anomalies

@Lord Frostecs: That concept sounds workable to me.

Qlippoth Shift: A Supernatural Action RP About Combating Otherworldy Anomalies

@Nyahahameha: Hey sorry for the delay, I've genuinely just had a hard time settling on how I feel about her ability set.

Since you wouldn't be able to join until after this mission's conclusion you haven't missed anything though, so don't worry on that front!

@Lord Frostecs: Depends on what your concept is, but yes you could probably join.

Reborn in a Fantasy World, This Time I Shall...!

Dirt Road

---

The battle wasn't going well for the defenders.

While those who remained were holding their own, it was clear that the initial ambush had claimed the lives of many of the carriage guard. Several men armored in half-plate lay injured or dead on the dirt road or collapsed into the grass.

Of the remaining defenders, however---

The dark-haired, sword-wielding maid drove her blade through the chest of one of the attackers, a spurt of crimson erupting from the wounds of the green-robed man as he collapsed with a gurgle. But the moment she'd stepped back, she was already being set upon by another attacker, putting up a hasty guard as swiftly as she could as the sound of steel meeting steel rang out across the road.

A shorter maid with a more petite build, with contrastingly white hair, wielding a smaller blade soaked with blood already and a shield was sticking closer to the carriage door, panting heavily.

It was clear she'd been injured, a slash through the leather at her waist, and yet she was still standing ready to fight off any attackers.

Out of the defenders, she was the first to notice the others.

"Ah? Sh-Sheila!"

The zweihander-wielding maid forced her assailant back, a swift slash across his front killing the man and giving her a moment to see what the shield-bearing maid was trying to point out.

"What? Who---"

Before she could comment further, she was already under attack once again.

"Reinforcements?!" snarled one of the green-cloaked men, "There wasn't supposed to be anyone else!"

Still, the green-cloaked attackers by far outnumbered both the newcomers and the carriage's defenders, some of their number breaking off in order to try and halt any attempts to provide assistance.

However, even this took pressure of off the carriage's defense.

@Raineh Daze@PKMNB0Y@Sir Lurksalot

Reborn in a Fantasy World, This Time I Shall...!

Forest Shrine

---

It was perhaps fortunate, at least at first glance, that the medusa, the goblin, and the halfling had awakened in such a peaceful-seeming spot. Sunlight filtered through the ruined, collapsed ceiling and the trees surrounding the long-abandoned site of religious worship, and the ever-present background noise of birdsong continually serenaded their ears.

To put it simply, given the situation they were already experiencing, they could have awakened in a worse spot.

The ruined shrine was overgrown, vines and ivy twisting over the stone, even small shrub and trees finding their way up through gaps in the concrete.

Above them, high atop one of the broken remnants of the roof, a large black bird alighted. It was a raven, no doubt, tilting its head in seeming curiosity for a few moments as it regarded the strange assortment of individuals below. It was an odd group, no doubt, who expected these three to just show up out of no-where?

It'd have to let her know.

Even if they didn't survive.

The raven spread its wings and took flight, cawing once, sharply, as if to try and get their attention.

It was at that moment, perhaps, that it would become clear the birdsong had suddenly ceased.

The forest was dead quiet, in fact. Moments ago it had been flush with life. Even if they hadn't seen any of the animals aside from the raven, there'd clearly been plenty present.

But now all that could be heard was the subtle sound of the wind blowing.

But no.

That wasn't it, was it?

There was something else.

It started faint, but was started to grow in volume.

A scraping sound, as if something was grinding together. Along with it, a rattling sound, and the rustling of foliage.

The thud of footsteps.

Something was getting closer.

@Rune_Alchemist@Rin@Pyromania99

Qlippoth Shift: A Supernatural Action RP About Combating Otherworldy Anomalies

On one hand, she'd managed to toss the komainu away from herself to open her path to the main threat.

On the other, it had instead lunged for Agent Zhao immediately after recovering, what damage she had inflicted far too little to successfully cripple it.

Thankfully, the Chinese Agent had managed to redirect one attack into his new attacker, which meant her pathway to the main threat was still open.

Presumably, the most efficient way to destroy every remaining opponent would be to deal with him rather then take them all out individually. Disabling the central spirit was the best option they had.

Why was this spirit using komainu to begin with? If he was a negative presence, how could it even create something in the image of the stone guardians?

It wasn't adding up, especially given the purifying smoke and Agent Zhao's blows hadn't had the expected effects, but there wasn't any time to worry about that now.

If spiritual purification wasn't working, the best possible route was overwhelming him with force.

With most of the enemy dissipated, Arisa could focus, raising Ifrit's enormous blade back over her shoulder and channeling magical energy down her arms, into her fingertips, and up the blade's edge. Flames leaped across the weapon's form, surging across the massive sword and swiftly turning it into a column of fire gripped in both her hands.

Slamming one foot forward, Arisa swung it down, projecting an arc of near-white flame towards the samurai that seared the air as it passed.

Agent Amano's efforts weren't in vain. The naginata was lodged to the floor, and the Agent's first blow struck her in the side. The phantom visibly gritted her teeth, a far more notable response then any prior phantoms had given, before leaping back out of range, hands no longer on her weapon.

As she moved back, she drew its replacement: A rather long-bladed katana gripped in both of her hands, which she immediately swung in a waist-high arc.

Reborn in a Fantasy World, This Time I Shall...!

Ruined Inn

---

Before I could even think about the answers I was being given, the elf(or rather the other elf I guess, given that's what I am now too) kneels down in front of me.

What is he doing? Why is he talking like that?

It's this sort of pleasant, calming voice. I can't deny it's not a little bit relaxing, kind of like listening to some really easygoing narration or something like that, but what's the deal?

Why would he---

Oh.

Oh no.

As he speaks, the realization hits me square in the chest.

He thinks I'm a child.

Seriously?!

Ah, this body... okay, it's not like this body isn't small and cute and petite but I probably haven't even ended up as a child, right?!

The sudden doubt in my heart of that assertion doesn't make the situation feel any better. Neither does the pounding. I'd already seen the shambling figures outside, it doesn't take a genius to figure out what's going on.

I press my hand to my chest. My heart is pounding, I can feel it through my fingertips.

I take a deep breath.

"Firstly---Do I seriously look like a child to you?!"

It comes out angrier then I'd intended, but I guess it's impossible to hold the indignation back.

I can only imagine this feeling is the very same as the elf mage I adored from my favorite light novel when a similar mistake was made about her age.

"Secondly---I was on a plane too. So I wasn't the only one, then."

I let out another sigh, pressing two fingers to the side of my head as I glance towards the window. The move with the mirror was pretty smart, it seemed like the undead out there were drawn to sound. At least he's not completely dense.

"Then this really is an isekai situation," I continue, taking a step forward, "I'm guessing we all experienced that plane crash, even if some of us were lucky enough to sleep through it."

I glance towards the girl with the hammer and the white robes and armor. I guess if you had to die in a plane crash, sleeping through it successfully was the best way to do it.

Hopefully this didn't mean anything about her usual level of attentiveness.

"We've all been reborn as new people in another world," I add, deciding not to elaborate on the details of my personal situation, "And unfortunately it looks like we're surrounded by undead, because it couldn't just be easy."

It looks like some sort of battle took place here. The barricades, the damage to the surrounding buildings, this isn't just an abandoned town.

Did whatever deity that managed this transition have a sick sense of humor, or are we meant to do something here? Or was it left to chance?

Either way, I know we have to move quickly.

"In any case, we'd be idiots not to stick together, and I certainly hope none of you are that stupid," I say, down at myself briefly again. Hearing myself talk in this cute new voice is awkward, and reminding myself of my new outfit and body is even more so. My hands are just so delicate-looking...

I never thought I'd be thankful for a life or death situation, but it's helping keep my mind off my new form a little.

"You said you found that hammer sitting in your room?" I ask, addressing the girl in the armor with the robe, "Everyone should go back and check their rooms one more time if you haven't already, then. There might be some more supplies there."

If she had a weapon, then maybe---

This is a mage's outfit, right? I was freaking out pretty badly when I first woke up, so I hadn't thought to look around that much.

I turn and step back into my room.

Leaning against the wall near the door is a curved black and gold object, one tip decorated with what almost looked like an abstract horse's head, the other simply terminating in a point.

It's not exactly hard to guess that it's a staff.

I might have no idea how to use it, but---

It's better than nothing.

I always liked playing a mage.

@RolePlayerRoxas@Aku the Samurai@SilverPaw@PKMNB0Y

Reborn in a Fantasy World, This Time I Shall...!

Ruined Inn

---

Okay.

Calm.

Calm down. Think rationally.

This is a fantasy world, and it's not a dream. That's obvious. That much is perfectly clear.

So, at this point, I have to assume that I've wound up in some kind of isekai situation. I thought that was pure fiction, but apparently not!

At least, I don't have any other explanation for it. I clearly remember my life. I remember the plane crashing. I can picture the faces of people I know.

But undeniably I'm here. Undeniably this is me. Every move I make, this cute elf girl follows. My facial expressions. My hands. Absolutely everything.

Seriously?!

I was isekai'd and I had to end up a girl!? How tall am I?! Why did it have to be the awkward possible outcome!? The mere fact that this girl, at least when it comes to fiction, is exactly the kind of character design I'd like---

There's someone knocking at the door.

I don't have time to collapse in despair. I don't have time to think about anything else. Worrying about my new form has to wait.

Before I step away from the window, I finally take notice of the street below. It's not lively. It's not bustling. I can see shapes shambling, armored figures slowly staggering based ruined fortifications and smashed storefronts.

I can see bones.

...

This place is a ruin. And I'm pretty sure those shambling figures aren't friendly.

Inhaling deeply, I turn away from the window and approach the door, opening it hesitatingly after a few moments.

The person before me is another elf.

Is he someone else in my predicament? Is he native to this place? I have no idea. I don't know how to ask.

I'm pretty sure I heard other voices outside though. Looking past him briefly, I can see a blonde-haired girl in white robes and armor, with a huge hammer. There's also a dragon man of some sort? He's got scales and horns...

This is seriously a fantasy world. I'm seriously a tiny elf girl.

I can't have a breakdown. I can't freak out. I'd just look insane to these people. It's not like they know what's going on, it's not like I can know if they're in the same situation I am.

"I... I-I'm fine," I manage to stammer, averting my eyes. Ugh, I'm totally freaking out. I can't hide it well at all. My hands are shaking. I'm breathing unevenly. My heartbeat is hammering.

I'm trying and failing not to think about every aspect of my new body, every way it's jarringly different from my old self.

I inhale deeply again and try to clear my head.

"How... how did you get here?"

It's a blunt question asked clumsily. But I can't really see any other way to broach the subject.

If they've also been placed in an isekai situation, then at least I'm not alone, though part of me doubts any of them are in my exact situation in other ways.

If they're native, then maybe they can explain to me where this is and what everyone is doing here.

And why we're all in a place like this.

@RolePlayerRoxas@Aku the Samurai@SilverPaw@PKMNB0Y