[Initializing the full body scan.
Taking control of the automatic nervous system within the limits set by the creator.
Shutting down the immune system and all other systems keeping the host alive.
Collecting all the fat in the host body and converting it into energy.
Releasing all the adrenaline in the body.
Starting scan 1%...99%]
When the scan began, a jolt of excruciating pain coursed through Lucian's body, as if every limb were being bound and dragged in opposite directions by merciless ropes of agony. Each tug felt like the very fibers of his being were being torn apart, each limbs stretched to its limit.
"Uuuhhhhh!" He clenched his teeth so tightly that blood oozed from his gums, the handkerchief in his mouth turning a deep crimson red, marking the crescendo of his suffering. It felt as if he were caught in a vice, squeezed relentlessly by invisible hands, twisting and pulling him apart.
But this was just the beginning of a torment that defied comprehension.
As the initial pain subsided, a new wave engulfed him, merciless and all-consuming. Lucian imagined being thrown into a lake of molten magma, the intense heat seeping into his pores, igniting every cell in a fiery inferno. His entire body felt like it was melting, the skin on his hands blistering and sloughing off as if it could not withstand the pressure.
Searing hot waves washed over him, and he could feel his flesh smoldering; a nightmarish sensation that every cell was being violently incinerated, each heartbeat sending new surges of pain radiating through his body.
He struggled to breathe, the sensation of being burned alive wrapping around him like an unrelenting shroud. The pain was unbearable, a profound torment that clawed at his sanity, threatening to pull him into a void from which there would be no return.
If not for the handkerchief wedged tightly in his mouth, he would have screamed out in agony, his cries echoing through the walls and waking the entire neighborhood.
Time, in those moments, slipped away from him; each second felt like an eternity. It was akin to being trapped in a history class taught by a dull, monotonous teacher, every tick of the clock stretching interminably.
The pain oscillated, it ceased for a heartbeat only to surge back with renewed ferocity, rising and crashing over him like savage waves.
In all his years as an assassin, Kai had never experienced anything akin to this relentless suffering. It felt as though the very essence of his existence was being dismantled, piece by piece.
He realized he would have succumbed to the darkness if not for the system keeping him conscious. Yet even the system, with its unyielding vigilance, understood that this level of agony was beyond endurance; it knew he could not withstand it for much longer without certain death looming ahead.
As the proverbial clock ticked on, a famous saying echoed in his mind: "Nobody can stop time." That thought reverberated as he desperately clung to the remnants of his consciousness, awaiting the moment of reprieve that felt painfully far away.
Lucian's hair stood in disarray, each strand emulating the chaos that consumed him; his eyes were bloodshot and weary. If anyone were to catch sight of him in this fugue state, they would stand in shock, grappling with just how this man could still be alive.
His pallid skin lay taut over veins that appeared almost ready to burst, a stark reminder of the brutality occurring just beneath the surface. The handkerchief, now darkened and matted from the dried blood, was a testament to the fierce battle he fought within.
[Scan completed.
Making the user unconscious for faster healing.
Activating other bodily functions.
Compiling all the information gained, analyzing the results, and preparing the report.]
…
Nine in the morning.
Leora and Ylva stood outside Lucian's room. A nearby servant had informed them that Lucian had requested not to be disturbed.
With a voice laced with concern, Leora remarked, "What has he been doing all this time?"
Ylva offered a comforting reply, "He already told the cook that he would be busy, so why don't we let him do what he wants?"
"I just want to talk to him," Leora insisted, knocking on his door, but silence greeted her—a silence that felt laden with worry.
After numerous attempts to rouse him, she said, "There's still no reply. He must be hurt from exploring the city alone."
"Be positive, miss; what if he's just sleeping?" Ylva countered gently.
Inside the room, Lucian lay motionless, his eyes shut tight, trapped in a dark void. The Firewall spoke to the system, "Somebody is knocking at the door. Why don't you control his mouth and make him say he's okay?"
The system responded with palpable anger, "You are a firewall, and you expect me to take control of the host's body? If I did that, you would just tell him I've taken over his mouth, wouldn't you? You snitch."
The Firewall shot back, "I was programmed to control; don't forget that. I will bind you in my hair again and most importantly why is he in the floor you want him to catch the cold and die, right? You damn traitor"
"What bullshit" the system snarled. "I can't control his body! I need a password every time to do that, you idiot and in this magical world he can't die of simple cold."
The Firewall, now fuming, transformed her hair into a punch shape and jabbed the system. "What if viruses and bacteria have also adapted to magic? You call yourself smart but can't analyze that much?"
Trapped in her crimson tendrils, the system managed to break free, smirking. "Same attack won't work on me."
"Hmph," she huffed, her expression as defiant as ever, before turning to light and disappearing into the system's heart.
"I guess I'll wake him up, otherwise it will cause more problems." the system resolved.
Outside Lucian's room, Leora knocked once more.
Though the exchange between the system and the Firewall took what felt like ages to pen down, in reality, it had occurred in mere milliseconds; artificial intelligence could transmit information at astonishing speeds.
Just as Leora was about to knock again, Lucian opened his eyes. The first sensation that crashed over him was an overwhelming dizziness, intertwined with searing pain that pricked at the edges of his consciousness. In that disarray, a voice echoed in his mind, mandating, "Repeat after me: 'Don't disrupt me; I'm very busy and doing important things. I will come out after noon. Tell my sister the same.'"
In his muddled state, Lucian echoed the words, compliant but deeply confused.
"Just repeat what I say: Don't disrupt me; I'm busy and doing very important things. I will come out after noon. Tell my sister the same."
Leora and Ylva exchanged bewildered glances, both asking, "What do we have to repeat?"
The Firewall burst into laughter, exclaiming, "You can't even manage this?!" 'Hahahaha.' It was clear that the Firewall and the system were locked in their own chaotic dance, both powerful yet intricately woven together.
In Lucian's mind, the system flatly declared, "Nothing!"
Lucian, still in a haze, echoed, "Nothing!" before succumbing to the darkness once more, fainting again.
"Why don't we let him be alone?" Ylva said softly, turning to Leora.
Leora, her patience worn thin, retorted, "You think you're a big shot after defeating me? Huh?"
Fuming, she stormed off, with Ylva trailing behind, already accustomed to her mood swings.
Time flowed like a gentle breeze, and eventually, it was noon again. Lucian slowly opened his eyes, his body feeling weak and laden with traces of pain, an echo of the torment he had endured.