Apocalypse respawn

The thoughts raced through Rargnes' mind.

How was this possible? Did this mean the world wasn't reset, but only everyone's thoughts except his? Had he not noticed anything because he remained stuck in the tutorial or as a slave?

No. If the zones took people based on their proximity, this body would have been too far from the supermarket.

At this distance, the bar should have been taken as well. Or perhaps it was a question of radius? But the houses were empty too? If it only took humans, leaving everything else?

A thought emerged in Rargnes' mind. Had he seen any animals or their corpses since he was caught up in the apocalypse? Something was off. He couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Rargnes? Rargnes!" a voice, growing in tone, brought him back.

"I don't know!" he shook his head. "It's not me!"

"And who then?" asked Sengrar. "

Couldn't the mages do this?" asked Rargnes.

"Why would they? Even if they could, they would have had to see Rargnes many times" said the goblin.

Sengrar squinted and seemed to see something peculiar appear in front of Rargnes. Words like the system, chaining together.

[Rargnes-empathetic is shocked and doesn't understand what's happening to him. He finds a corpse of someone who looks like him and recalls his memories.]

[Suspicious, he reaches out for the gun on his coat.]

A sparkling light, like a sun, appeared in Sengrar's hand, blinding the group who shut their eyes, hands shielding them. The specter of the statue materialized beneath this reddish-orange orb.

"Drop that revolver," ordered Sengrar, pointing his specter at Rargnes' face. Rargnes gradually reopened his eyes.

"Do as I say or I'll shoot!"

"Would you have managed to become a mage? Who do you think you're fooling!"

Sengrar shifted his specter, and it materialized an energy ball that grew in size, until it was the size of a hand, hanging in the air before being fired, grazing Rargnes and penetrating the building behind him.

Rargnes released his grip on his hand, and the gun fell to the ground.

[Someone wanted to manipulate him! Thought Rargnes. How could he become a mage so quickly? The goblins lied! His visions too!]

Sengrar glanced at the gobelin, astonished by the scene. A similar text but contained in a different space appeared.

"An ability user! With incredible talent for magic! Such an explosion could only be the work of an experienced mage. Even with his opportunity, he shouldn't have gotten so much. There's something to be done! With such an energy reservoir… summoning a portal could be possible. Why is he looking at me? No, let him not get rid of me, I must live!"

"So, what's this?" he said in a dry tone. "You two!" he yelled, "what's going on exactly, what did you do behind my back?"

"I don't know what you're talking about! You saw the body first!"

"Yes, I saw it, and that's only because you let me see it!"

"But, don't tell me you believe that?! Who could come up with such a plan? How would I find where the body is? Be logical!"

[Rargnes stalled time to calm the other's anger by synchronizing.]

Sengrar noticed that Rargnes' tone was identical, that his hand movements when making signs were just as dry, firm, sharp, and that his feet crushed the ground with as much force as he did.

The gobelin stood still, saying nothing. He wanted to speak a few times, but shut his mouth. When he looked at him, his thoughts informed him how to use his blessing to say something he was convinced of to sway him and calm him down.

"But I am calm and logical!" shouted Sengrar. "Now step back. Step back, I said!"

Rargnes stepped back.

"You too!"

The gobelin stepped back. Sengrar leaned over and picked up the gun, making it dance between the gobelin and Rargnes.

"You're mage people, aren't you? You replaced Rargnes and RedStar."

"Don't use that name alone, fool! It's only for the God," exclaimed the gobelin, and for the first time, a halo of light surrounded his neck, showing an expression of ecstatic pleasure.

"What can you tell me to prove your identities?"

Rargnes grimaced, hatred in his eyes. How the heck could he proves his innocence over nothing?!! It was the same, every, fucking, time. This rotten world!

"Where is the class advancement token?!" Sengrar yelled

Rargnes threw a wooden token to the ground. Sengrar looked at it, then pressed the trigger. A gunshot rang out, piercing Rargnes' stomach, who screamed in pain.

"Why?! I'll find you and kill you! You'll see, you'll die, you filthy dog! In a life or in another! You won't be able to stop me!"

"The token doesn't even contain magic."

He turned and shot the goblin dead.

The scene distorted so brightly that he had to close his eyes. When he opened them again, he saw a trace of blue light illuminating the dark room within the statue's room, Rargnes and the gobelin standing before him. Sengrar held the specter in his hand, his forehead sweating.