As soon as Magnus heard the voice, he immediately looked around, trying to find the culprit behind it. But the room was empty, still cloaked in its ghostly aura.
"Who are you?" Magnus asked after a moment, his voice steady but curious. The silence that followed was deafening. His heart thumped wildly, adrenaline coursing through his veins — but this time, it wasn't fear. It was excitement. A grin stretched ear to ear, his hair falling over his eyes, casting a shadow across his face.
[I am you. But cooler.]
The grin vanished instantly, replaced by a look of pure annoyance. All that adrenaline? Completely wasted.
"Is your name Ethan?" Magnus asked again, his tone turning serious. What he didn't realize was that his own name was no longer what it used to be.
[You're quite clever. Aren't you?]
The pressure in the room intensified without warning. Magnus's breath caught in his throat as his lungs struggled for air. His body felt heavier — far heavier — and his knees threatened to buckle. The floor beneath him cracked under the strain.
Gravity manipulation? he thought, fighting to stay upright. Yeah… not just the oxygen levels dropping — my weight's increased too. Judging by the damage to the floor, it's well over a ton. The real question is… why hasn't my body shattered yet?
"S-So… I am right, aren't I?" Magnus forced the words out, his legs trembling under the weight. Still, he kept his eyes fixed on the ceiling — as if the voice's owner were floating just above him.
[Well, I suppose you really are a Demon King after all. But this is surprising. You haven't even received the King's power yet. So how are you able to withstand my gravity magic?]
Despite the agony, Magnus smiled. The confirmation of his deduction brought a strange satisfaction.
"…So… c-can you remove this spell now?"
The pressure disappeared instantly — and so did Magnus's strength. He collapsed onto his back with a heavy thud. Pain erupted through his body. His muscles tore, his bones cracked, and blood poured from his mouth, nose, ears — even his eyes. Every inch of him screamed in agony.
"Why?" The thought repeated endlessly until his mind went blank.
As his eyes slid shut and his breath slowed to a stop, the voice spoke one last time.
[Since you're about to die, I suppose I'll give you one final gift. I am NOT Ethan. Brat.]