I’m the God and This World Is Doomed

The group had set up camp in the ruins, with the students scrambling to prepare for the night. They worked in groups, setting up tents, securing perimeters, and checking their gear. The air was filled with nervous chatter and the faint clinking of weapons as everyone settled into their tasks.

Instructor Kael, as usual, had disappeared, leaving the students to figure things out on their own. It wasn't the first time, and it probably wouldn't be the last.

Serian, in the middle of tying a rope for his tent, suddenly found himself hopelessly tangled up. The ropes had somehow wound themselves around his legs, arms, and even his neck, leaving him in a position that could only be described as comically tragic. With a sigh, he tried to untangle himself, but it seemed hopeless.

From the corner of his eye, Sienna burst into laughter, rolling around on the ground, clutching her stomach. "Oh my god, Serian! You look like a human knot! Just... just stay like that for a bit, I need a good laugh!" she gasped, wiping a tear from her eye.

Edward, who had been preparing the firewood and cooking, turned to see Serian's predicament. He tried to hold back his own laughter, biting his lip, but it was clear he was struggling. "You... you really are hopeless with this stuff, huh?" he chuckled, shaking his head. "You sure you're not secretly a magician who just pretends to be helpless?"

Serian, feeling utterly defeated, gave up on the ropes. With a dramatic sigh, he gave up on the tent and decided it was better to just sit down and accept his fate.

He stood up and, instead of continuing to fight with the ropes, walked over to a nearby tree. The remnants of the once towering structure still stood, the bark chipped and worn from centuries of wear, but it was sturdy enough. Without a word, Serian jumped up, gracefully landing on one of the higher branches and settling into the foliage. He leaned back against the trunk, crossing his arms, looking down at the others from his new vantage point.

Sienna glanced up from the ground and squinted at Serian, still laughing. "Hey! That's cheating! You can't just claim the highest spot because you're lazy!"

Edward rolled his eyes and took a few steps back from the fire, looking up at Serian. "Yeah, well, maybe he's just tired of being a circus act," he muttered, though there was still amusement in his voice.

Serian looked down at them, his expression calm and indifferent, as if nothing had happened. He simply shrugged. "I thought it'd be quieter up here," he replied, his voice flat, as if he had no real stake in the situation.

Edward raised an eyebrow, still trying to stifle his laughter. "You're... you're really something, you know that?" he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "A whole world of weirdness wrapped up in one person. We're just trying to survive out here, and you're... what? Making yourself a treehouse?"

"Maybe it's more comfortable," Serian said, sounding genuinely indifferent as he adjusted himself on the branch.

Edward shook his head. "Whatever, man. You've got your own way of doing things."

Sienna, still wiping tears from her eyes, finally managed to calm down. She looked at Serian, who was now reclining lazily in the tree. "You really do like to stand out, don't you? But... I guess it works for you. You look at home up there."

"Do I?" Serian murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. He wasn't sure why he had chosen to sit there, but the idea of being alone, away from the chaos of the group, felt strangely comforting. Sometimes, everything felt too loud, too overwhelming. Up in the tree, it was quieter. He could think. But his mind was still clouded.

"Yeah, you do," Sienna replied, still smiling. "Guess that's just you. Always so calm. Like nothing gets to you."

Serian said nothing, staring out at the horizon, his thoughts drifting away from the moment. He hadn't meant to make himself a spectacle. In truth, he didn't really care what anyone thought of him. But something about the simplicity of being alone, perched on that tree, made it easier to ignore everything else. He wasn't here to change anything. He wasn't here to fix the world. He wasn't even sure why he was here at all.

Edward sighed, stirring the pot over the fire. "I think we're gonna need a bigger tree next time, if you're gonna keep doing that," he teased, but there was no malice in his tone. He was just used to Serian's strange ways by now.

Serian, still high in the tree, closed his eyes for a moment. "Maybe. But for now, this spot's fine," he murmured quietly, almost to himself. The world had always been chaotic, after all. He had learned that long ago. Perhaps it was better to just let it all play out.

*****

It was late into the night when Serian felt a soft pressure on his cheek. He stirred, blinking his eyes open, and saw the small squirrel pressing its paws against his face, trying to wake him up. Drowsy and confused, Serian wiped his face, groaning softly.

"What's going on?" he muttered, sitting up. His eyes scanned the camp, noticing a few students still on guard shift. Everything seemed quiet, but then—something felt off.

He could sense it in the air. A chill. The kind that came before danger. The ground beneath him seemed to tremble slightly, and the distant sound of growling echoed through the night.

Suddenly, the camp's alarm bells rang, their shrill noise cutting through the silence. Panic spread like wildfire, and students scrambled to prepare for whatever was coming. Some of them grabbed their weapons, others rushed to their tents, and the chaos began to unfold.

Serian stood up, his senses sharpening. The stir in the air was unmistakable—the infected were coming. He turned toward the edge of the camp and saw a dark mass moving in the distance. Rats, mutated animals, and humans—twisted forms of something that used to be alive—were slowly advancing toward them, growling, snarling, and dragging their feet.

"Edward!" Sienna shouted, her voice tight with panic as she grabbed her weapon. "They're coming, we need to—"

Serian didn't wait for her to finish. As the vines in the trees around him stirred, he reached out with his hands, commanding them to grow and wrap around his arms. The plants responded, thickening into sharp tendrils, ready for battle. He moved swiftly, his steps fluid as he advanced toward the incoming creatures, his mind focused.

The students who were still in the camp looked unsure, some terrified, while others attempted to take defensive positions. The instructors were nowhere to be seen, leaving the students to fend for themselves.

Edward ran alongside Sienna, both of them fighting to keep the infected at bay. Edward swung his sword at an oncoming rat, his movements quick but shaky. His face was set with determination, but his hands were still unsteady as he hacked at another rat that tried to leap at him.

"Damn it!" Edward shouted as he slashed at a mutant, knocking it back. "Where the hell are the instructors?"

Sienna's face was tight with focus. She was gathering mana, her hand glowing with energy as she prepared to launch a spell at the advancing creatures. "We don't have time for that! Just keep them away!" she snapped.

Serian was a few steps ahead, his vines whipping out to strike the infected rats that came too close. He moved with precision, his tendrils slicing through the creatures with cold efficiency. The monsters screeched, trying to retaliate, but the vines held them down, piercing their bodies with deadly force.

"Stay focused!" Serian called out, though his voice was calm and detached. "Keep moving. Don't let them surround you."

Edward and Sienna glanced at him, surprised by his composure in the chaos. Sienna nodded, gathering herself and launching a burst of mana at a group of infected rats that had tried to rush them. The blast sent them flying, but more were coming.

Serian's eyes narrowed as he noticed a few mutated humans limping toward the group, their skin marked with grotesque mutations, their eyes hollow and unseeing. He didn't hesitate—his vines shot out again, grabbing hold of the mutants and pulling them into the air before crushing them with brutal force. Their bodies crumpled, lifeless.

"Watch out!" Edward yelled as another rat lunged at him. He swiped his sword again, but it missed, and the rat bit down on his arm. He gritted his teeth, trying not to scream in pain.

"Edward!" Sienna shouted, rushing over to help him. She raised her hand, a barrier of energy forming just in time to block another attack from the rat.

Serian stood still, the vines retracting back into the trees as he surveyed the situation. It was clear the students were still overwhelmed, unsure of what to do. They were used to training, but this was real. They were facing true danger, their first taste of battle, and the fear in their eyes was palpable.

Serian's gaze drifted over the battlefield, his mind already calculating the next move. But he didn't rush in like before. He knew the students needed to be the ones to step up.

"Keep fighting!" he called out to them, his tone carrying across the camp. "This is your test, your moment. Don't hold back!"

Edward gritted his teeth, shaking off the pain in his arm as he swung his sword again. "Right... right!" he muttered, trying to steady himself. The adrenaline was kicking in, and though his movements were still shaky, they were becoming more instinctive.

Sienna, with her usual calm, nodded. "We're not letting them win. Not tonight."

As the battle raged on, Serian continued to watch, his expression distant, as he silently guided the students from the shadows of the trees. He wasn't going to interfere unless it was absolutely necessary. This was their battle.