Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 40 - 38 Fallen Demon Hunter VS Supernatural Power User 1_2

Chapter 40: 38 Fallen Demon Hunter VS Supernatural Power User 1_2

This was a wish born from complete ignorance of the sheer impossibilities of the world.

-

I first encountered the world of unusual phenomena and demon hunters twenty years ago.

Back then, I was young and fervently curious about the mysterious events detailed earnestly in obscure books. Phenomena such as ghost ships whose crews mysteriously vanished, hellish sounds heard from the world’s deepest borehole, or strange occurrences like ghostly knockings, eerie photographs, doppelgängers, and more—I had an interest in these supernatural tales that surpassed all others, ever since I could remember.

These experiences, inexplicable by any common knowledge, completely surpassed my life and experience, stirring fear and fascination within me. I often imagined how I would react if I truly encountered such events, and whether I could be as clever and courageous as the characters in those stories, or perhaps even gain powwers beyond the real upon solving those mysteries.

Likewise, I took pleasure in metaphysical and spiritual knowledge—meditation, Spirit Communication, exorcism, Divination... There was a time when I secretly practiced these things behind my friends’ and family’s backs, as though I truly believed in them.

If my friends and family knew what I was doing, they probably would have thought I really believed it. Of course, I did not truly believe; I merely wished that these things could make me believe. It was these very practices that freed my spirit temporarily from the tedium of studying and work, transporting me to a magical realm of fantasy. As time passed, I became increasingly obsessed—to the point of fanaticism.

However, such good times don’t last forever. When one truly obsesses over something, traces of it inevitably show in their life. Once my secret was discovered by my family and friends, they cast strange glances my way, treating me as an eccentric and gossiping about me behind my back.

In reality, I never considered myself different from others. If I were to openly share my innermost thoughts, not all, but certainly the majority could resonate. The desire to break free from reality’s gravity, venture into an unbelievable dimension, and experience thrilling encounters and adventures—a dream countless people have during their youth. Even those who mock fantasies and pride themselves on their realism surely hold some secret hope that elements of those fantasies are real. I was simply more honest with my desires and indulged in this dream longer than those around me.

After graduating from university, I didn’t give up on these interests and even found some like-minded new friends. External criticisms sometimes don’t deter people from their passions; they can instead strengthen their resolve and solidarity. We used our spare time and vacations to investigate urban legends and clues of supernatural power, sharing the leads and failures we discovered in the process.

Then, one day, I encountered the supernatural event I had always longed for.

In a haunted, deserted dead end that no one cared for, I stepped in with a few friends from an offline meetup, with a casual "let’s just have a look" mentality. Yet, this seemingly insignificant exploration among many failed attempts hid a genuine evil spirit.

At first, we reached the end of the dead end and found nothing. The anomaly occurred on the way back. Chatting and laughing, we slowly realized that no matter how long we walked, we couldn’t see the entrance to the alley we had come from. By the time we realized something was off, it was too late.

In a state of panic, we searched for a way out, but my companions disappeared one after another. The bustle from the streets outside the alley faded away until it vanished completely. The neon city lights and stars above extinguished without notice. The dead end gradually transformed into a Devil Realm, isolated from civilization.

When I snapped back to my senses, filled with dark and terrifying thoughts, all my companions were gone, and I was left alone in this eerie dead end.

This place really was haunted!

In extreme panic, I broke into a run towards the exit.

But no matter how long I ran, it was as if I were running in place. The dead end, supposed to be a straight path, now seemed to be a Möbius strip, and I was the ant running futilely on its surface.

Even the high walls on either side presented incomprehensible changes. I tried to escape the alley by climbing the wall, but setting aside my lack of climbing experience, whenever I used all my wits to climb high enough, the height of the wall visibly increased.

I had no choice but to return to the ground, trying again to move towards the exit. However, I no longer harbored any hope for my efforts.

Time flowed by, second by second, minute by minute. After an unknown number of hours, the alley remained in a horrific night, and thirst and hunger began to emerge.

I don’t know how much time passed, maybe a day or two, intense hunger and thirst finally hit an unbearable peak.

It was unclear whether my physical strength or morale dried up first, but I could no longer walk. The prolonged anxiety and panic numbed my spirit thoroughly, like a piece of meat that had lost all elasticity.

After a long numbness, I finally broke down and cried out in despair in the dead end that seemed to have no end.