I Refused To Be Reincarnated

The rustle of leaves, the scent of nature, and the wind whipping against clothes in loud fabric noises echoed. Branches cracked under the unforgiving midday sun's ray at the end of the eight-month as a youth charged through a dense forest.

Alarmed beasts' cries resounded here and there, but he ignored them all, pushing towards his goal without rest. After a moment, his eyes sparkled as he noticed a river running down before him.

"Interface."

A soft mutter escaped his lips as a spectral window wafting billowing golden smoke appeared before his eyes. With two taps of his fingers, the densely packed numbers and information disappeared, replaced by rows of streaming texts.

[I reached the river. Where now?]

His thoughts manifested in words, making his name, titles, and a new entry appear in the boisterous chat.

Silence ensued for a moment before an answer appeared.

[Continue east for ten kilometers. You'll see those bastards' village. Please, come quickly, Prometheus.]

Through gritted teeth, he answered.

[Good luck to you all. I'm going back.]

[Leave this fool behind! We'll point him to you once you come.]

[This idiot! I hope they'll select you next. I want to see your face after returning.]

[No, no! I meant Adam. Sorry if it bothered you. My tongue just slipped.]

A smile stretching his lips, he answered.

[Better. Where is the east?]

[The direction in which the sun rises?]

He rolled his eyes, gazing at the sky through the dense canopy before answering.

[Do you see it rising right now?]

[...] [...][...]

A moment of silence ensued. No one could believe he was serious, thinking he was on again with his shenanigans. A flood of "..." streamed down for a moment before his twitching eyes.

'I really don't know, fools!'

As anger billowed, a name he recognised flashed before him.

[Go right... and learn how to navigate...]

[Don't have time. See you when I return, Morgane.]

Without waiting for an answer, he closed the window and rushed right like a bullet train. The water reflected the sun in a myriad of lights as he smiled at his interface's new feature.

After enough individuals conquered the tower's first floor, they collectively unlocked a chat box, allowing them to stay connected no matter where they stood. Despite the wide range, it unfortunately only worked for the dream place's eleventh area. Well, it wasn't surprising since now he understood what the number meant and how many there were.

'Sixteen areas. One for each world.'

He concluded, hoping the earthling distributed in the fifteen other worlds had it better than those here. But he couldn't be everywhere. Therefore, he shrugged his thoughts aside and focused on a darkened patch of land registering in his vision.

The sun itself seemed to shy away from this part of the forest as only a pale light pierced the darkness pervading the area. Tall half-ruined stone buildings reached for the sky amidst the trees as if competing with them despite the rubble and dust occasionally falling.

Moon symbols covered the wide arcs and ancient colones, making him understand a grand civilisation once strived in this forgotten place.

'How is that a village?'

The thought sent a shiver down his spine as he noticed fires illuminating watch towers and burly... female? Creatures?

'The heck is that?!'

His eyes enlarged at their sight as he remembered what they had reluctantly told him.

[We won't die from starvation, and they won't kill us. But sometimes we wish to die, so come fast, please.]

Somehow, he didn't want to know why any more, expecting the worst. Instead, he scanned them from a safe distance.

Each of the patrolling guards reached two meters in height at a minimum, with thick veins protruding like snakes from their silvery fur-covered muscles. Long tails ending with a massive protruding bulge extended from their backs, making it a natural hammer they could swing to shatter their enemies' skulls. Sharp claws and dagger-like fangs graced their mouths and fingers, too.

'I'm starting to regret bears...'

The thought popped into his mind like a bubble as he eyed their horrible faces and the disturbing two pairs of bulging sacs rising each time they breathed with a frown.

'No, seriously, who created those abominations?!' He thought as he revealed himself and stepped towards the ruin. If they were smart enough to negotiate, he would try to. If not... They'll join his enemies and contribute to his growth with experience points.

"I come in peace. Can I speak with your leader?"

Before the magical beasts could resound the alarm, his voice pierced the darkness, reverberating through the old building and alerting everyone present.

When they heard it, the twelve humans who asked for his help facepalmed simultaneously inside their cells.
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"Why didn't he infiltrate the place and take us away silently?"

One asked, his lips twitching and eyes trembling in concern.

However, a cacophony of angry roars and loud beats soon engulfed their voices.

'Shit! They are hitting their tails against the ground! They'll attack without reserve to annihilate him!'

They all thought, recognising the creatures' war pattern as silhouettes blurred before them, rushing to meet the daring intruder.

Hearing the beats too, Adam's eyes narrowed as a concentrated beam of silver energy flashed before his eyes.

"Should have guessed," he muttered, glaring at the attacker as a thick veil of dense swirling mana erupted before him, negating the strike entirely.

A vicious smile stretched his lips as the mana particle glinted around his billowing brown hair.

"Xp it is, then."

As his words lingered in the air, his frame blurred into motion as the wind howled behind him.

In a second, he reappeared behind the creature who attacked him, swinging his unarmed right hand horizontally.

Suddenly, a blade of multi-colored energy materialised from thin air, cleaving the wind apart with terrifying speed.

SPURT

Before the creature could turn, its head flew as blood drizzled, painting the tower's stones scarlet.

Next, his eyes lit up as he checked his kill notification. They were strong enough to fuel his progress, unlike the others!

[Tier three magical beast: Moonsilver Striker defeated. You have gained 100 experience points.]