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Chapter Fourteen: Earth's Cold Welcome

The Earth was a peculiar place. A world inhabited by single-life beings, where death meant the end of existence. There were no second chances or afterlives here. Earth's survival rate stood high compared to other worlds with monsters, magic, and supernatural creatures. It was a less savage place, where a single life was deemed sufficient for all.

Yet, every now and then, souls with multiple lives found themselves lost and stranded on Earth. To rectify this anomaly, "they" would send these lost souls to worlds where their existence matched. However, once one experienced life on Earth, the desire to return here would overpower any longing for a life of perpetual struggle.

The transmigrators' ultimate goal had always been to return to Earth. They yearned for a life free from bloodshed and endless battles. Yet, upon their return, they were met with cold rejection.

Earth was exclusive to single-life beings.

Everyone and everything here had but one life to live; a single life was the sole birthright of all. This law of nature applied even to spirits and purgers, beings with longer lifespans and supernatural powers. They, too, would eventually fade into nothingness.

These beings played crucial roles in maintaining the planet. Spirits observed and reported any anomalies or lost souls. Purgers, on the other hand, sought out these irregularities and restored balance.

Did this harsh system ensure the Earth's protection from those with multiple lives?

In addition to being pursued by purgers, there was a natural force on Earth that hindered the adjustment of those with multiple lives, making their stay a challenge.

Earth absorbed the energy of these returnees, causing them to lose the powers they had gained from other worlds. While this didn't lead to death, it did render them average and vulnerable, making them easier prey for purgers.

There were other natural deterrents, one of the most impactful being the language barrier. Earth's forces interfered with the cognitive-communication abilities of returnees, hindering their thought processes and making meaningful interactions with single-life beings difficult.

Rowan broke the silence. "Ahem! Minka, you're eating well."

Gaige remained oblivious to the underlying struggles, enjoying his meal with enthusiasm. While he appeared somewhat hesitant, he secretly savored the flavors. However, beneath his enjoyment, Gaige couldn't help but contemplate their precarious situation. He wondered how long the group had been on Earth and how long their powers had lasted. Gathering this information was essential for his own preparation.

"Rowan, how long... uh..." Gaige's frustration mounted as he struggled to articulate his thoughts. He yearned to sharpen his language skills.

"It's frustrating when the words won't come out as you want, isn't it?" Rowan empathized. The others in the group exchanged knowing glances, understanding Gaige's struggle.

"Unfortunately, Rowan lost the ability to assist you with fluency," Minka shared. She placed her hand on Gaige's lap, triggering a screen visible only to them.

"Rowan and I have different systems, but it's fortunate that this part still works the way it did in the other world. However, the longer we stay here, the more our system settings degrade. One of the skills Rowan lost was aiding in fluency improvement," Minka explained.

Gaige squinted at the screen, eager to explore it, but Minka closed it before he could read anything. Focusing on Minka, he proclaimed, "I'll practice."

He believed that through diligent practice, he could regain his fluency. While the others appeared to doubt his potential, Gaige remained confident that he could once again speak Earth's language fluently. However, his confidence waned when they delivered the disheartening news.

"Andy was here the longest, and he only began to speak properly when I arrived," Minka explained.

"Yes. Rowan healed me. It seems like losing the ability to speak Earth's language is an ailment for returnees," Andy added, recalling his earlier display of newfound fluency.

Gaige shot Andy an accusatory glare, as he vividly remembered Andy's pride in showcasing his newfound linguistic skills.

Andy belatedly realized his arrogance and bowed his head, offering a belated apology.

Gaige heaved a sigh, resigning himself to the language barrier. He pointed to Andy, urging him to continue the conversation.

"One year, how?" Gaige inquired, desperate to learn how Andy had managed to survive a full year without his powers.

"I was part of a different group of returnees. This building sheltered the previous group, but they all perished. They protected the weakest, and in the end, only I remained," Andy shared bitterly.

Strazz, positioned beside him, patted his back sympathetically. She picked up the narrative. "Purgers massacred them all," she revealed. "This place became a sanctuary for us because a purger marked it as a returnees-free zone, unaware that we hid here with Minka's system, rendering us untraceable."

"Our only trouble arose when we tried to save other returnees. We needed new arrivals to sustain us after losing our powers," Howl added.

Gaige's follow-up question left the group in a contemplative silence. His inquiries weighed heavily on their minds.

How long would they be pursued?

How long could they endure?

How long would they remain on the run?

How long could they hold onto their dreams of a peaceful life?

How long would the fear for their lives persist?

How long could they endure this ordeal?

Was there an end in sight, or was their demise inevitable?

It was ironic that, no matter the world they found themselves in, their thoughts often returned to the other. Now, back on Earth, they yearned for the magical world they had transmigrated to. They believed that there, survival remained a possibility. Yet, on Earth, the very planet they once called home, they were unwelcome.

Regret gnawed at them. They had been given a chance in another world, yet they hadn't been content with it.