Some mortals would call me an eldritch primordial being. Although, they would say I did not act the part. Too much of an individual, they would say. What nonsense. My people were the first individuals, and they are but inferior copies that couldn't even comprehend my kind's true form. Even so, mortal wouldn't completely disappear out of existence just by looking at me. It was usually screaming or instantly dying.

  That mortal. She survived.

  Trying to get a hold of the Wandering God, I had destroyed countless planets. Every time I destroyed a planet, I felt the presence of the Wandering God clearer and clearer. Yet I never understood why. It has to be what happened to that mortal. Instead of coming to save the planets, as I had anticipated, they were instead bringing the mortals to themselves to get them out of danger. Clever.

  For eons, I have been following the trail of the elusive Wandering God. Following the trail of a weak mortal is nothing. If I find that 'Rachel', I will find my target.

  - [Error]

  Tom walked closer to Zev and made his best attempt at a sword stance. First, he was going to lunge to Zev’s right and take a swing at him. But it would actually be a feint, his true target would be up from the center. Taking a swing he would then—.

  The hilt of a sword punched him in the stomach, and a wave of water washed over his face. Tom groaned from the pain and mustered the strength to stay standing.

  "Remember, you are a sword ready to be forgiven."

  Tom wiped water off his face. "Ready to be forged, you mean?"

  Zev coughed. "Yes, that is what I said. Anyways, don’t spend too much time planning in the middle of a battle."

  Correcting his stance, Tom tried to focus. He needed to trust his reflexes. A vice-commander, a master swordsman. Tom tried envisioning Zev’s aura, but it felt half-baked. "[stabilize]." There was no considerable effect on Zev’s aura. Jumping to the side he dodged a surge of vines that came for him.

  How many aura swords did this guy have? Appearing out of nowhere was another aura sword. It was green and floating in the air.

  "Trash, why can’t you fly?"

  Trash hummed. "Now you’re asking for too much. It’s obviously a YOU problem."

  Another aura sword appeared. This one was orange. The blue aura sword shot a stream of water whilst the orange one followed with a fire creating a mist that obscured his vision.

  "Above you!" Trash warned.

  Tom dodged the incoming vines aimed at him and ran out of the mist, forcing him to get closer to Zev. What was he supposed to do now? With no other alternative, Tom gripped Trash tightly and then threw his sword at Zev.

  "This was not what I meant by making me fly!"

  Zev easily dodged Trash by stepping to the side. It was at that moment Tom noticed Zev holding something behind his hand. That was when he used all the knowledge from his training.

  He threw his dirty sock at Zev’s face making him drop the item, which he quickly grabbed. Jumping back to create space he looked at the item in his hands. It was a book. He read the title out loud: "How to be a cool master for training soldiers (also applicable to travelers from other worlds)".

  Seriously?

  How had he been so dumb? This world used to have otherworlders before. He wasn't the only one who wished for an OP isekai adventure. One of them had to leave behind something stupid. "The reason you do not take in students isn’t because you have impossible standards. It’s because you’re a terrible teacher."

  "I wouldn’t say terrible," Zev stammered.

  "Well, I would. It’s not entertaining enough," Trash hummed. "Seeing him fall to the floor the first time was funny. But not the tenth. I have standards."

  Zev sighed. "I apologize. The truth is, although I am a good fighter, and skillful at commanding troops, I do indeed lack a bit in my teaching capabilities."

  Tom raised his eyebrows. "A bit? But you can’t teach me anything to make me stronger?"

  He shook his head in shame. "I could train your swordsmanship, but it would not be so useful against opponents that have strength-enhancing skills. You need an observer to teach you, but there is no observer in the camp. Unique classes such as an observer also tend to have multiple paths of progression, and without knowing what path you have chosen it is … troublesome to make a plan."

  Seriously? Just because there was no other observers in the camp, he had to figure out everything by himself? He was an otherworlder for farts sake, and forbidden from leaving this camp. How would he figure it it out? With the reputation and respect Zev had, Tom had expected him to be the perfect mentor figure for his adventure. Someone who would teach him everything he needed. Someone cool that he would always respect. A perfect isekai teacher; someone like that would have been… forget it. Tom needed to focus. "Since you can’t train me or teach me a new skill, why don’t you just tell me about the aura swords?"

  Zev nodded. "First there is something you need to know." He took off his hat to reveal two pointy ears.

  "You’re an elf?"

  Trash hummed. "How disappointing. I thought he was hiding a bunny there."

  Zev put his hat back on. "Unfortunately, there’s no bunny. Only snakes in my boots."

  "Wait, what?"

  "The elven people have a special inherited art called synergy. We can directly interact with spirits in the surrounding atmosphere. It is how I can make my aura swords float. One drawback is that our innate compatibility with spirits is not that great. Including the fact that there aren’t all that many spirits living about outside the elven forest." He shrugged. "There technically is, but the spirits in the elven forest are those that are called inverse spirits. Spirits that have a stronger ego. To help his people the elf king created aura swords by using inverse spirits as the basis, with the effect that is similar to your skill stabilize."

  "So it’s like a power-up?"

  "Sort of. It powers up the affinity of any other wielder slightly. But for an elf that uses synergy, they can more effectively use aura swords making them become extensions of their own aura."

  "Then why can’t you just lend me an aura sword for me to get stronger?"

  "Although, they are useful to use as an extension of your already present strength. For you, Tom, wielding another aura sword would be useless."

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  "Because [stabilize] evens out your missing compatibility," Tom guessed.

  Zev nodded. "Exactly. Since you already have average fire affinity, using a fire sword would have no effect. Especially since you don’t have the class to easily learn sword-based skills. But for me, my aura will be added on top of my already existing compatibility. These swords were specifically made for us elves."

  "Then why don’t only elves have aura swords?"

  Zev stared at his aura swords flying around him. "If I have to give a short answer, the elf king went crazy after the forest got corrupted. Some elves remained with him as his puppets, others scattered across the world trading away their aura swords so that the elf king couldn’t as easily get a hold of them."

  He made an black aura sword appear at the top of his palm. "This is the first aura sword. Ranked highest because of the strength of the inverse spirit inside. As you see it has been corrupted. This sword is what gave me the strength to reach the position I stand in today. It is also why the Hero does not dare mess with me."

  The first aura sword? "Wait, the Hero. I don't want to sound ignorant, but was he really so bad that people declare heroism to be dead?"

  Zev hesitated. "He … Not sure how I should explain this. Otherworlders used to be respected, but that was mostly the old generation. The new generation were a bit odd. Due to the change in environment otherworlders broke away from their normal allegiances; the otherworlders who betrayed their summoners are called the Delinquents. The Hero simply followed suit. He was given the important task of destroying a certain source of power, but he chose not to."

  So they messed up their isekai adventure? Morons. At least he mostly had this world to himself, but his predecessor's actions still lingered. "What would happen if my identity got revealed?"

  "You will be executed."

  Tom gulped. "Executed?"

  "Do not think you are the only otherworlder to find their place back into this world. New otherworlders are regularly executed, and it is only by the kindness of our dear Commander Alice that you are alive."

  Great. If he got exposed he was dead.

  "Anyways. Amazing that you have the strongest sword — showoff, but how do I fight with this weird sword then?"

  "Hey, I’m still here!" Trash hummed.

  Tom remembered something. "Using [stabilize] on someone's aura isn’t always effective. But what about embodied spirits?"

  "Hm, the demon art. That would … be great. If you manage to embody spirits the effect of stabilize would greatly increase. But as you may know, our relationship with the demons isn’t great. You also need special material to embody spirits into. Perhaps you will find something useful in the nearby town?" Zev suggested. "Or, a town is what people call it. It's more akin to a makeshift settlement that appeared near the camp. They serve the nearby soldiers, and occasional travelers heading towards the capital."

  Tom nodded. "I don’t mean to sound spiteful, but what you did was not right. Instead of being straightforward to me, an otherworlder of all people, in embarrassment you wasted my time on useless exercises." Tom folded his arms and shook his head. "And to think I was excited to have you as my master."

  Zev stared at the floor. "I am sorry. Perhaps … perhaps my age has dulled my ability to understand others?" He bowed to Tom. "I am truly ashamed of my actions. If there is anything I could do to make it up, I would gladly comply."

  "There actually is something you could do."

  Zev looked up. "There is? How?"

  "You could trade my aura sword for yours, the first aura sword to aid me on my journey. It won’t be useful straight away, but perhaps I can learn synergy somehow?"

  Trash hummed. "Nice try."

  "Alright. Let’s do that."

  Tom gave Zev his sword, Trash, and took the first aura sword in return. Just like Trash, the sword was surprisingly light. In the same sense he felt Trash humming, he felt the sword weakly vibrate under his fingertips; it was trying to say something, but all he heard was gibberish.

  He swung it in the air towards a nearby training dummy. The dummy was cut in two, and the remains burned in a cold black fire. The sword was this powerful without even relying on his aura or any skills? Truly deserving of the position as the first aura sword. This was his sword now. His OP weapon.

  "Wait. Are you actually giving it to him? Just like that?"

  Tom fastened the sword around his waist and started leaving towards the barracks. It had been an exhausting day. "See you later. I guess I will try and figure out my powers on my own. It’s for the best."

  Zev nodded. "Good luck."

  Tom had learned a lot today. He had no master to teach him the right way anymore, and no observer to learn from. The only way to grow stronger and accomplish his dream of becoming the perfect OP isekai protagonist was to get a blessing from a higher being. Perhaps they also could change his class to something better? Now, to find a higher being.

  "Oi. Are you seriously leaving?"

  Oh, yeah. Finding a library was his best shot without raising suspicion. Tomorrow he could go to the nearby town. He had it all planned out.

  Tom stepped outside the building and looked at the sunset in the distance. With his new sword in hand, he smiled. "This is just the beginning of my EPIC ADVE—."

  Tom fell to his knees and puked.

  He felt nauseous. Fatigued. But fine at the same time. It was as if all the strength in his body left only to return in a matter of seconds. The sword flew away. Tom turned around to see it returning back into Zev’s hand.

  "And that is why this sword is called the Forbidden Sword. It was created from a guardian spirit of the elves after a great calamity struck. It has been corrupted, but being an inverse spirit it still desperately clings to its purpose to protect elves. Only elves can correctly use this sword without it rejecting them."

  Tom wiped off the puke from his mouth and walked back to Zev.

  "Well, well, well. Look who’s back," Trash hummed.

  Zev pounded his chest. "Today, you have learned that the true strength is within you. You are a world waiting to shine on this broken star. A–."

  Tom screeched in frustration and snatched back Trash. "I get it, I get it! Work harder. On it. Bye."

  He ran outside.

  "Honestly, I don’t blame you for trying."

  ***

  Tom contemplated his new course of action as he walked towards the barracks. At least he had made some progress in his training. Since [stabilize] could be counterproductive in a real battle, he needed to use spirits more. Perhaps—?

  "There you are!" It was Olga. "Don’t think you can slack off on your work in the commoners barracks just because you’re training with the Vice-Commander. Why don’t you go pick up some new training equipment I ordered from town?"

  "What, I can’t do that all alone!" All Tom wanted was a relaxing town trip. Carrying around tons of training equipment was not relaxing.

  "Yeah, you are pretty weak and scrawny looking." She looked around and locked eyes with Sierra. "Take Sierra with you. She’s a part of your squadron. Compared to the other soldiers she needs little training."

  Trash hummed. "Such strong killing intent. Thank you, Olga!"

  Olga looked around confused for the one that thanked her, and Sierra looked like she was preparing to hurl her daggers at his face. Tom didn’t want to wait to find out, so he agreed to do it and ran to the barracks. Hopefully, he would not die tomorrow.

  ***

  "Are you sure you don't want to join us for 'stab the otherworlder'?" Mark asked. "It is a fun game, I swear!"

  Hiro sighed. "You mean the messiest game. Don't you remember how much fake blood you were drenched in last time?"

  "That was because I didn't know I would be chosen as the hidden otherworlder three times in a row," Mark retorted. "Besides that, it is a fun game to learn more about the otherworlders vile tricks. I also heard nobles especially love this game."

  "Thanks for the offer, but I have to do an errand with Sierra; she is mad at me for some reason so I think I will just go to sleep when I get back. Maybe another time?" Tom said, half out the door.

  "What a shame. Good luck on your trip then!"

  "Thanks," Tom responded and closed the door.

  "Finally, you left that place." Trash hummed. "They’re too nice. Where are the error beasts when you need them?"

  Threatening to live his life as a priest luckily made Trash shut up in the barracks. But he was right about something. Mark and Hiro were surprisingly nice to him. It felt wrong. Tom never had many friends back home. Should he tell them the truth?

  He shook his head. People in this world hate otherworlders. The fact that they were playing games were you killed otherworlders also didn't sit well with him. And he was planning on leaving to find a higher being anyways, so he could always replace them with other side characters.

  Walking past the commander's building he eventually spotted the town. It did look like a town, with many wooden buildings. A stone pathway was built to walk on and a wooden archway that said ‘Makeshift town’.

  Sierra was a demon spy trying to assassinate him, but he couldn't exactly refuse to do this task. Either way, knowing the obvious side character had not been useful so far. But perhaps if he played his cards right with her, he could blackmail her and get valuable information. How hard could it be?

  Tom didn’t spot Sierra anywhere. That was strange. She said they would meet after roll call. He heard some sounds from a nearby alleyway. "Maybe she’s there?" He went in but was instantly pushed back against the wall, with a dagger to his throat.

  It was Sierra. She had somehow appeared out of the shadows. Was that a demon technique? Of course it was. The cat was out of the bag.

  "Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone that you’re a demon spy?" Tom said in a panic.

  Sierra's expression grew even more tense. "How did you know?"

  Wait, she didn’t know that he knew? Fart, he always messes up when he panics.

  Tom needed to do something before she killed him.

  "Now here I thought you were having a thing for that Alice girl," Trash hummed.

  That caught Sierra off guard. Tom took the opportunity to push her hand away and create some space between them. Before she could have the opportunity to strike again, he spoke. "I am not Tomato. Actually, I am from another world." That seemed to have only made her confused.

  "It was Tomassio you idiot," Trash hummed.