How many times has this happened?
Three times! Three damn times!
I never expected that getting crushed under rubble would have a slightly spicy and bitter aftertaste. I should've just jumped before that lightning struck the castle. Maybe this body, which has been tampered with, would've done something, right?
"Not even an hour of break between each event..."
Maybe I'm just unlucky. Was it because I performed that ritual last night? Damn it, I shouldn't believe in superstitions like that. Ugh, whatever why the hell am I thinking about useless stuff right now? I should focus on getting out of here as soon as possible.
"Now that I think about it, where the hell am I?"
Evan pinched his arm in confusion. The sharp sting confirmed that he was feeling real pain, prompting his mind to spin with various possibilities.
It's a little unsettling, but this seems to be a space within my subconscious. Even though only one color dominates this place darkness, I can still feel tangible sensations. That means this is a separate dimension within me.
No sound, no color, no sky, no ground, just an endless void that seems to consume everything. The pain from being crushed under the rubble is still fresh in my mind. Evan stood up, attempting to move through this subconscious realm.
A brief dissonance struck his head, causing a sudden migraine and shock.
"Woah..."
But the gravity here feels strange, as if something is pulling my body... something far beyond my comprehension. Where is this force coming from? If this were the real world, there would have to be a massive object exerting such an intense pull. But since this place isn't reality, the laws of physics must work differently here.
Step—
Step—
The more Evan walked, the stronger the pull became. And at the edge of this emptiness, lying quietly, was a glowing crystal.
What kind of magical element is embedded within it? Something powerful enough to affect even a space that technically shouldn't exist inside my subconscious.
"If my guess is correct, this thing is the reason why Evan Mayer in this world became like this."
And maybe, the reason why I transmigrated here. Maybe yes, maybe no. But for now, as long as I'm making progress, I can afford to take risks.
After all, results don't come without some form of sacrifice, right?
Even if it's a small one, sacrifice is still sacrifice.
"Hmm..."
How many times has this happened?
Evan muttered in silence, his gaze fixed on the crystal.
His fingers twitched slightly, itching to crush the crystal into dust. Even though he knew breaking it would bring severe consequences, he still wanted to do it.
"Huh? Why is it glowing even brighter?"
Crack—
In the midst of a blinding flash, Evan felt his body being pulled by an invisible force. The space around him twisted, as if his entire existence was unraveling into fragments, sucked into the crystal.
Then, a voice echoed from all directions a whisper that seeped directly into his mind.
"Awakening initiated... Vessel integration in progress..."
Heat surged through his body, his blood boiling, his bones being restructured. He bit his lip, holding back a scream as an indescribable pain tore through every nerve.
Before him, the crystal began to change. Its metallic sheen pulsed like a beating heart, radiating streams of energy that wrapped around him. Glowing lines carved intricate patterns onto his skin, shifting and writhing as if alive.
Then, from the void, a figure emerged, its form constantly shifting, like ripples on a glass surface. A voice, devoid of emotion, resonated from its presence.
"You are incomplete. Yet, you persist."
Evan lifted his head, his gaze filled with determination despite his body being on the verge of collapse from the raging energy. He knew there was no turning back.
"You bastard... HAHAHAHA! THAT HURT LIKE HELL! ARE YOU THE ONE BEHIND THIS?!"
A grin stretched across his face, masking the pain and fear twisting inside him. He wanted to scream and curse, but his instincts told him otherwise. What he saw now was either an opportunity or a game over.
"Ah, no. I'm just a passing existence. I happened to find you."
The entity spoke with what sounded like sincerity or at least, that was how Evan heard it.
"??? "
***
(POV Selene)
KA-BOOM!
Elsewhere, a massive tremor shattered what remained of the ruined castle. The surrounding area was leveled in an instant. Fierce winds spiraled through the night sky, lifting debris into the air and obscuring the view.
The ruins were eerily silent, illuminated only by the pale moonlight slipping through the cracks of broken stone. The scent of dust and blood lingered, a grim reminder of the countless atrocities committed here by the scientists.
Amidst the devastation, Selene stood unfazed, her expression unreadable. Only her gothic outfit bore the signs of battle, torn, scorched, with a few shallow cuts marking her pale skin.
Selene breathed steadily, her right hand gripping the hilt of her claymore while her revolver hung from her belt. Her body felt heavy—not from exhaustion, but from the oppressive pressure that blanketed this place.
Around her, three knights of the Order of the Divine Paladin stood ready, weapons in hand. They formed a triangle, surrounding Selene in the center. Their swords, adorned with sun-shaped ornaments, gleamed with a blinding light, while existential energy writhed in the shadows.
"Contractor, surrender now. Or do you wish to face divine judgment here and now?"
One of the Paladins spoke, his face concealed beneath his hood.
"In the name of the Great Celestial Gods, we vow to return you to the righteous path."
The shorter Paladin added, his voice laced with false persuasion.
"Pfft..."
"???"
To Selene, these three were nothing more than sinners ensnared by the lies they themselves had created. Their deception was nothing but hollow nonsense, if she were to be captured, she would simply be executed on the spot.
"Let me guess… You'll throw me into The Forsaken and turn me into a Silent Choir? Brainwashed into chanting empty words without thought? Isn't that your church's best method of torture—you dogs of the faith."
Selene scoffed, her expression darkening.
From beneath their hoods, she could see their eerily serene smiles. Their fanaticism was what unsettled her the most. Fighting against enemies who didn't even care about their own bodies, that was a real threat she wasn't keen on facing right now.
"Isn't it wonderful? A divine blessing, allowing you to pray and worship without the burden of old age... IT IS A GIFT! YOUR DAYS FILLED WITH ENDLESS DEVOTION... OH~ GOD! WHY HAVE YOU NOT GRANTED ME THIS BLESSING?!"
Selene's eyes twitched... whether in disgust, disbelief, or something else entirely, she wasn't sure. She just knew she wanted to beat them up right now.
"Surrender, heretic."
One of the Paladins spoke, his voice heavy with conviction.
"You have strayed too far into the darkness. The Lord has given us the duty to erase your existence."
Selene merely smirked. A chill ran down her spine, not from fear, but from the pain settling deep within her body. The stinging ache from the minor wounds she had sustained earlier reminded her that she was still alive. And as long as she was alive.
She could still fight.
BANG!
BANG!
Without warning, she moved first. Her finger pulled the trigger, firing two shots at the deranged female Paladin on the left. The bullets shot forward at high speed, but before they could reach their target, divine light engulfed the Paladin's body. A Divine Shield formed instantly, deflecting the projectiles without leaving a single mark.
ZZZT—
"Oh? Is this the extent of the technology you place so much faith in?"
The Paladin taunted, her tone mocking.
Selene wasn't surprised. She had already expected normal bullets wouldn't be enough to harm them.
But that was just a distraction.
Duk—
CRAK!
CRACK!
She stomped the ground, and at the same time, the surrounding shadows trembled. Activating Accord 9: Control, from her Pact with the Witch of Corruption, she manipulated the ruins around her. Scattered debris rose abruptly, launching forward like spears aimed at the two other Paladins.
"Futile."
BUGH!
One of the Paladins scoffed as he punched the incoming stone with his bare fist. The rock, as large as a human head, shattered into countless fragments. His comrade swiftly dodged to the side, avoiding the attack altogether.
But Selene was already moving.
She embraced the pain coursing through her body and activated Accord 9: Stigma of Woe. The moment she marked one of the Paladin —Alaric, the man who had just crushed the rock suddenly let out a pained groan.
A simple bruise on the knee, a minor cut on the skin, ordinary wounds that should have been insignificant. But now, they ignited his nerves, burning from the inside out.
"ARGH!"
It was enough to break his focus.
CLANG!
Selene lunged forward, swinging her claymore in a brutal arc. The second Paladin, the one unaffected by the Stigma, intercepted her strike with his sword. Divine energy clashed with existential energy, causing dazzling sparks to burst into the air. The sheer impact rattled Selene's bones, forcing her to leap backward, unwilling to engage in a battle of brute strength.
Tap!
Tap!
"What did you do to Alaric?!"
The female Paladin, whom Selene had fired upon earlier, demanded... her expression turning wary.
"Just a little pain."
Selene replied nonchalantly, though she could feel the strain creeping into her body from using her abilities.
Reaching into her pouch, she pulled out a small vial containing a thick, purplish liquid—a Physical Enhancement Potion.
Without hesitation, she drank it in one gulp.
Gulp!
A surge of energy coursed through her veins. She could feel her muscles tightening, her reflexes sharpening. If they wanted to play a game of raw power, then she would make sure they wouldn't underestimate her.
Alaric, the Paladin afflicted by Stigma of Woe, gritted his teeth and struggled to push through the pain. Lifting his sword, he gathered divine energy.
SWOOSH!
Selene exhaled.
This fight was far from over.