The Battle Against the Abyss Within
In the blink of an eye, multiple hands emerge from the earth, endeavoring to ensnare me. Gracefully, I elude their grasp, dancing amidst them, all the while Puck takes precise shots at the cultists closing in on our defenses.
With boldness, I lunge toward one of the fingers, but it responds with an even more terrifying manifestation, creating more limbs, multiplying until seven surround me. I face a quandary, for if I amplify my gravity to take a shot, I will descend into a perilous freefall.
Puck, wasting no time, hurls a barrage of ice stakes at the fingers, but they shield themselves using trees as makeshift barriers. I realize I cannot hover in the air for long, given my limited mana reserve.
"Keep them occupied; I can't stay airborne for long. My mana is running scarce," I caution, aware that I must conserve my strength to confront Petelgeuse.
"You haven't fully mastered the spell yet; it's normal to consume so much mana in such a short time," Puck responds with a reassuring smile.
At that moment, Puck fixes his sadistic gaze on the cultists.
"Marco, it's time for our favorite spell," he says, preparing to cast a spell that requires an extended channeling period.
Taking advantage of the time Puck needs to craft his spell, I confront three additional fingers that have joined the battle. While this indicates that both the fingers and Petelgeuse have grown more powerful, I am undaunted.
Although I haven't completely mastered the spirit arts, I trust in my ingenuity and cunning to surmount the obstacles.
I elevate my body several meters into the air, deftly evading the arms attempting to ensnare me, all the while uttering defiant words to the monsters before me.
"Listen, loathsome abominations. The witch has no more affection for you than for me," I smile maliciously. "I can return from the..."
Suddenly, time stands still. Threatening hands were about to strike. The moment Satella reverses time, I must seize the momentum. By my side, I sense an ominous presence, a feeling of fear piercing my heart as a thousand needles seem to pierce my being.
A hand penetrates my body, settling over my heart and squeezing it tightly, shaking me back to reality.
"Impulse!" I shout with all my might, hurtling uncontrollably through the air.
The miasma enveloping the place causes my mana to go haywire, undoing the spell that kept me suspended in the air. I begin to plummet at breakneck speed, while the cultists' faces twist into expressions of absolute horror.
"How? How? How? How? How?" they chant in unison, clutching their heads.
Plummeting through the air, I desperately attempt to employ my magic to lift myself once more. With all my might, I try to conjure the necessary power, but my efforts prove futile.
Gravity inexorably drags me downward. In a desperate bid, I manipulate the wind around me to create friction, slowing my descent. But at that precise moment, I'm struck by one of the arms that emerged from a cultist. Swiftly, I shield my stomach, but I'm violently hurled to the ground at great speed.
Seemingly beyond salvation, I try once more to harness the power of Murak, but the miasma has invaded my magical connection, blocking its use. Mere inches from the ground, a black portal materializes before me.
I pass through the portal and find myself in a rolling descent along the ground. Swiftly, I protect my head and let myself roll at breakneck speed. With the last of my strength, I use magic to conjure a barrier of water to halt my momentum. I pass through the barrier and finally crash to the ground, gasping from pain and exhaustion. Then, everything turns to darkness.
When I regain consciousness, someone holds my hand. I turn my head and see Beatrice by my side. Around me, lie the corpses of multiple cultists, while soldiers continue to battle in the distance. Beatrice leads me to where the wounded are, and at that moment, a blue light appears in the sky.
As thousands of arms draw near, Puck continues to shine brightly. The arms attempt to obstruct that light, but against all odds, it grows even stronger.
A beam of blue light streaks across the sky at an astonishing speed, piercing the arms and obliterating them instantly. The three cultists take refuge behind the trees, making a grave error.
The beam strikes the trees, causing an explosion and unleashing a white cloud that rapidly spreads. The explosion is so powerful that a cold mist blankets the entire area, reaching me where I lie on the ground.
I attempt to rise, but the agonizing pain in my body prevents me. The miasma within me intensifies, hindering my ability to heal.
Beatrice seems to be saying something to me, but I can't hear her. My eardrums are likely damaged due to the intensity of the wind. Nonetheless, she persists, speaking, and I can only respond with a smile, aware that words are unnecessary at this moment.
After a few seconds, my hearing returns, filled with the deafening sound of gunfire and the desperate cries of soldiers fighting frantically for their lives. I also hear the pained cries of the wounded, who cling to hope for survival.
My gaze fixes on Beatrice, who remains focused on her task of healing me.
"I need you, let's go," I stand up, but she tries to stop me and make me return. "I'm sorry, Beatrice, but we have to confront Petelgeuse."
She looks at me, gripping my hand tightly. Her gaze, as she heals me, is complex, filled with concern and determination. I know I can't use Beatrice as a weapon to attack; I can only rely on her to escape at the right moment.
"The miasma within you has grown too much. Using spirit arts is complicated at this point, let alone certain magics. You're subjecting your body to extreme pressure. If you continue like this, you'll die," Beatrice protests, trying to prevent me from taking any reckless action.
"Not the time for that, we must go..."
Before I can finish my sentence, a powerful blow strikes the back of my head, leaving me dazed. Darkness envelops everything around me. When I regain consciousness, I feel my body has been completely healed. My mana is nearly depleted, but a sensation of renewal courses through me.
I observe Beatrice beside me, diligently tending to other wounded. With determination, I rise and scan the surroundings for Emilia, confirming my suspicions that she attacked me.
I'm well aware of Emilia's formidable power, possibly the strongest among us, except perhaps for Roswaal. However, the issue at hand isn't solely about strength. Right now, Petelgeuse has all the advantages over Emilia. It's not just a confrontation with Petelgeuse, but also the cultists.
I choose to disregard Beatrice's objections and start running. The sounds of gunfire have ceased, and an apparent calm prevails on the battlefield. Soldiers celebrate their victory as I press forward. In my peripheral vision, I spot Rem, and without a moment's hesitation, I shout with all my might.
"Rem!" My voice resonates with urgency, capturing her attention as she turns her head toward me.
She looks at me with a proud smile, radiating determination and courage. When I approach her, she conveys her joy and confidence.
"It's over," Rem declares, her gaze turning toward the horizon, where hundreds of corpses lie, a heartbreaking reminder of the battle we've fought.
My eyes scan the surroundings for Emilia, but I can't see her or Puck anywhere. Worry and frustration consume me, and without a second thought, I take Rem's hand, and we begin running into the forest.
"We have to find Emilia!" I exclaim with annoyance, feeling the urgency pulsate through every fiber of my being.
Rem, with a concerned look, explains that Emilia went into the forest to confront the cultists. My concern deepens because I know Emilia is strong but unaware of Petelgeuse's ability to switch bodies; she only knows his hidden hands.
I berate myself for not disclosing that information to her, allowing my emotions to cloud my judgment. I feel truly foolish for not warning her about that danger.
We advance along the path unfolding before us, and as we delve into the battlefield, I witness a desolate panorama. Ice stakes rise like macabre stalagmites, and dozens of lifeless bodies are scattered about. I run at top speed, fervently wishing that Emilia has managed to overcome Petelgeuse without incident.
I know that if anyone can defeat him, it's Emilia, but I'm also aware of the peril that comes with facing him. I continue to run at full tilt, dodging any obstacles that cross my path.
Finally, rather ironically, I arrive at a cliff covered in stone stakes. My gaze falls upon Emilia; her hair flutters in the wind, but her wounds are evident, indicating a fierce battle. I watch as blood drips from her hands, and she appears on the verge of fainting. Her gaze turns to the sky, as if seeking strength and refuge.
On the ground lies the lifeless body of Petelgeuse, a monster with forest-green hair. During the journey, Rem had informed me that Alsten had eliminated one of Petelgeuse's fingers along with her, which means two fingers are still alive. If Emilia has managed to defeat them, then we have won this battle.
Emilia turns toward me, bestowing a casual smile and striking a victory pose, giving me a thumbs-up. She approaches me with confidence, and I notice her wounds beginning to heal. An overwhelming relief washes over me as I see her well.
"One of them managed to escape, but he was gravely injured. He shouldn't have strayed so far," Emilia explains with a smile, revealing a hint of satisfaction. "However, this one was much stronger than the others, spouting strange things, but he's dead now."
While I'm glad to see her in good condition, I sense that something has changed in Emilia. There's an unusual aura about her, a feeling that unsettles me. I don't know what has occurred, but I know I must speak with her to clarify my doubts.
The instant Emilia finishes her sentence, my attention shifts to the crystal sphere Beatrice gave me. I hold it in my hands, expecting something to happen, but to my surprise, nothing does. Fear grips my mind as I await an imminent attack.
I know Petelgeuse isn't foolish and will seize any opportunity to strike.
Emilia approaches to calm me, but at that precise moment, a scream escapes her lips, shattering the forest's silence.
"Marco!" Emilia shouts as she forcefully pushes me aside just in time.
A purple mist forms before my eyes, and drops of blood begin to fall on my face. Confused, I watch the situation as another arm threatens to strike me. However, an ice barrier forms beside me, deflecting the blow and propelling both me and Emilia through the air. I skid along the ground and finally collide with a tree.
My vision blurs, but I force myself to rise and assess the situation. The mist hampers visibility, but I make an effort to sharpen my senses. As I take a step, I feel like I kick something, and cautiously, I lower my gaze to see what's happened at my feet.
As I lift my gaze, I'm met with a heart-wrenching scene. Emilia's head rests on my feet, her face still wearing a smile, but it seems she has accepted her fate. I don't have much to think, don't want to think about anything; this world is already a failure.
I turn my gaze forward, but what I see is the monster I have allowed into our lives.
Helplessness and resignation engulf me. I understand that this is the result of my foolishness, my pursuit of power, and my desire to excel. My actions have brought misfortune to those around me, and now I must face the consequences.
I have no way to seek help; I can only confront what lies ahead.
The monster smiles and begins to laugh. With the appearance of an old man, he crosses his arms and then extends them, gasping as he revels in his macabre laughter.
"What a surprise, a true surprise," Petelgeuse admits as he caresses his body with his arms. "What love, what a pure display of love. The half-demon gave her body to save a failure like you. It's a shame she didn't even manage to pass the tests; in the end, it's still sloth."
In a moment of anger and desperation, I shoot directly at Petelgeuse, but the bullets are blocked by his arms. He laughs as I continue to fire, to no avail. In an instant, I pull out the Yang magic magazine and swiftly replace it.
I keep my gaze fixed on Petelgeuse's eyes, defiant and resolute.
"Since we're at it, might as well give it a try," I say with determination, squeezing the trigger and aiming straight for Petelgeuse's head.
The bullet pierces through each of his defensively raised arms, but due to their sheer number, it manages to deflect, hitting his shoulder. A smile creeps across my face as I've at least managed to wound him.
Petelgeuse observes the wound with bewilderment, as if it's something unknown to him. Meanwhile, I charge the crystal sphere in my hand with mana, while Petelgeuse begins to scream.
"You, filled with love! Dare you ruin the body bestowed upon me?" Petelgeuse exclaims, starting to bite his hands with force. "You're so foolish that you don't even see what's above you. Hahaha."
Petelgeuse bursts into laughter while, slowly, I direct my gaze upward. What I see paralyzes me.
"I gathered them for your pleasure!" Petelgeuse laughs, moving the bodies of Rem and Emilia as if he were dancing with them.
My eyes fix on the two women I've come to know and shared so much with. Rem, impaled in the chest, lies lifeless, moving in unison with Emilia's body. I can't look away; I have to face with my own eyes the consequences of my actions.
And then, make amends.
"I died for love! How delightful!" Petelgeuse jests, trying to gauge my reaction.
I smile with determination as I finish charging the crystal sphere. I release my rifle and take a kukri that Baltazar gave me. At this moment, nothing else matters. They will come back to life once this is over, anyway.
"Eh?" Petelgeuse looks at me with curiosity as he approaches cautiously. "You're an interesting specimen. It's a shame that all that love within you can't be harnessed by me. Tell me, who are you? The amount of miasma within you is strange, like that of an archbishop."
Petelgeuse starts circling me rapidly, analyzing my body. He constantly repeats the word "strange" while he takes out a black leather-bound book with several inscriptions on it.
As Petelgeuse flips through the book and sticks out his tongue in delight, I observe him with curiosity. However, his expression suddenly changes.
"I see, I see, you are truly strange," Petelgeuse says in the blink of an eye, and my arm holding the crystal sphere goes flying through the air.
Before I can even react, I see my own arm soaring in the air, separated from my body before it falls to the ground. Excruciating pain engulfs me as desperation takes hold.
"AGHHHHHH!" I scream as I try to grasp my severed arm. Despite the intense pain, I look at Petelgeuse with determination, refusing to give him the pleasure of seeing me suffer. I use fire magic to cauterize the wound on my shoulder, gritting my teeth until several of them break from the pressure. Once I stop the bleeding, I gasp while smiling at Petelgeuse.
"—Incredible!" Petelgeuse exclaims, applauding enthusiastically. "You are truly diligent. I wonder what kind of experiences you have had to become so resilient. Surely, the love that resides within you is your greatest strength."
Petelgeuse releases Emilia and Rem, letting them fall forcefully to the ground. At that moment, their bodies are crushed by a succession of hands emerging from the earth, tearing them apart and scattering their parts throughout the area.
"WOW! Just by looking at it, I can tell they were important to you," Petelgeuse says with a smile. "The half-demon showed her love for you, even though she failed the test and didn't win your heart. I can't help but feel sorry for her. I was going to use her for my pleasure, but this seems better."
I don't avert my gaze from Petelgeuse, who continues to try to bring me down.
"Are you jealous?" I inquire while smiling directly at his face.
Petelgeuse turns his head, smiles for a moment, and then looks at me threateningly.
"Me?" In an instant, Petelgeuse straightens up and presents himself with his hand over his chest. "I am an archbishop of Sloth, representing laziness. Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti! Death! The love within me is immovable, my great beloved Satella awaits me as I fulfill her duty." Petelgeuse begins to move frantically in a disgusting display. "Yes, Satella! The source of my love. It is for Satella! Satella! Satella! Satella! Satella! SATELLA! That I do everything with extreme diligence."
Petelgeuse cracks his neck as he watches me. I don't waver; I simply observe his reactions as something insignificant. Even the pain in my body does not exist for me. I approach Petelgeuse without any fear, extending my other arm.
"I am Marco Luz, beloved by the Witch of Envy," I smile.
Petelgeuse looks at me cautiously before shaking my hand firmly, his face lighting up with joy.
"A lover of the witch is always welcome. Even if you can't be a finger, all love is important. Love... yes, LOVE!" Petelgeuse exclaims with a smile.
I prepare my spell. I can create a blade of heat that will destroy his arm. At least, I will cause him pain before I die. Petelgeuse continues to hold me as he adds:
"Yes, you would be a great archbishop if it weren't for that recent outbreak of pride."
The world crumbles around me as Petelgeuse extends his menacing arm toward me, his macabre laughter echoing in my ears. My expression stops smiling, as if my face collapses along with my hopes. It's at that moment when despair takes hold of my being and becomes a lump in my throat.
"What a shame. Now you'll have to resign yourself to a clandestine role, but don't worry," Petelgeuse says in a soft and twisted tone. "Every loved person is welcome. Kekeke!"
Despite his provocation, his words dripping with malice, I compel myself to maintain composure and press forward, refusing to let his manipulation affect my resolve. I am resolute in facing him, in rectifying the mistakes I have made. I cannot afford to display shock or weakness in this pivotal moment.
A tumultuous whirlwind of emotions swirls within me as I endeavor to comprehend Petelgeuse's words. My mind struggles to gather my thoughts amidst the darkness and hopelessness that envelop me. Slowly, I release his hand and step away from him, striving to stay upright in the face of the tide of uncertainty that threatens to engulf me.
"Have you found pride?" I ask, desperately trying to avoid falling into the abyss of despair.
Petelgeuse raises his arms with twisted glee, as if savoring my misery.
"Yes! Yes! His love is unparalleled to us. He is someone I deeply admire," he explains with pride, his gaze directed towards the sky as if contemplating something sacred.
I fall to my knees, my eyes fixed on the sky, unable to comprehend what is happening around me. Everything becomes increasingly bizarre, more perplexing.
What do all these revelations mean? My mind swirls with confused thoughts, desperately seeking an answer, a glimmer of clarity amidst the chaos.
What should I do?
I must be strong.
Allow myself to feel now and continue striving when I return.
I have no time to waste.
It doesn't matter what I have to do.
I... I, I, I, I! I can go on. I just need to do what I always do.
Yes, I must disregard my emotions and do what must be done.
Petelgeuse continues to mumble incoherently as my body begins to tremble involuntarily. The feeling of disorientation and loss intensifies as I realize that all my confidence, everything I believed I knew, was based on false information. If nothing of what I have known up to now is valid, what remains for me?
"You're strange, very strange," Petelgeuse says, crouching in front of me. "You feel nothing for the deaths of these women, but you're concerned about not having a position." Petelgeuse clenches his fists, his face contorted with joy. "I see! You're an unwavering worker. You experience so much pain because you won't be able to direct love, yes, love, LOVE!"
Petelgeuse begins to obsessively repeat the word "love," his shrill laughter intertwining with my thoughts and threatening to consume me. If everything continues to change in this manner, if the very foundations of my existence crumble, I may find myself in irreparable situations.
The certainty that used to accompany me slowly fades, and my confidence in the future, in knowing how to handle things, dissipates along with it.
A sensation of rending overcomes me, as if my soul is being torn from my chest. Sadness and despair envelop me like an eternal shadow, shrouding my thoughts and extinguishing any glimmer of hope.
It seems I can no longer find happiness, that I must face challenges in the old-fashioned way, without the comfort of what I once considered my refuge.
"Why would I be saddened to see them die?" I bitterly chuckle, knowing that I must face death anyway. "It's absurd. Everything is absurd."
The world unfolds before me, a desolate and dark panorama in which my existence seems to fade. I close my eyes, feeling every fiber of my being crack under the weight of despair. In this harrowing moment, everything appears lost, and I find myself in the midst of an endless abyss.
Petelgeuse, with a macabre and ruthless smile, extends his arm towards me, determined to complete his sinister mission. However, a heart-wrenching scream pierces the air, laden with desperation and anguish. It's Beatrice's voice, resonating like a desperate echo in my mind.
"Stop!" Beatrice shouts, grabbing me and teleporting me instantly.
Her hands clutching my body wrench me from the clutches of death. We are teleported to the edge of the cliff, and together we fall to the ground, breathless and disoriented. The pain in my chest is unbearable, both physical and emotional.
Beatrice's presence by my side, her warmth enveloping me, used to be my refuge in the darkest moments.
But now, amid this chaos and destruction, her embrace only reminds me that there is no longer hope for me. I am plunged into the deepest darkness, condemned to live in an abyss of despair.
"It doesn't matter anymore; everything will be erased," I think, trying to muster strength.
The certainty that I must face Petelgeuse clings to my mind, but I also recognize how foolish I was in my previous actions. I had all the advantages in my favor, but I squandered them on trivialities and recklessness.
My own emotions, instead of strengthening me, have made me weaker and more vulnerable.
"Have you forgotten?" I silently reproach myself, remembering the lesson I should have learned long ago.
As Beatrice begins to use her magic to heal my wounds, I can't help but feel overwhelmed by my own foolishness. It's always the same, I always provoke chaos when I try to do something, worrying more about others than about myself.
Beatrice's choked sobs fill the air, blending with my own internal laments. She clings to me in desperation, trying to console me and free me from the guilt that threatens to drown me.
"Marco," she murmurs through tears, "Pucky, I can't feel him anywhere. Now that Emilia is dead, he should be wreaking havoc on the world."
It's true, Puck didn't even appear to protect Emilia. Everything is too strange, and I no longer know what to believe or what to do.
"Marco, it's not your fault," Beatrice presses against my chest. "Don't blame yourself, please."
Her words strike my shattered heart. Yet, I cannot accede to her entreaty, not when I have become the executor of our very dreams. Now, I must seize this moment, for our future is lost.
I must harness it to gain strength.
I maintain silence, unable to respond. Beatrice knows me so well that she comprehends my torment without a spoken word. Her crystalline eyes regard me tenderly, and I sense the weight of her gaze piercing the deepest recesses of my being.
"Your gaze, it's the same one Betty had on the balcony," she whispers with a quivering voice. Her hands cling to me, although this time, I cannot reciprocate her gesture. "Marco, please..."
Without allowing her words to drag me further into the abyss of madness and despair, I pierce Beatrice with my kukri, plunging it into her fragile back. Pain reflects in her astonished eyes, but her smile endures, defying the cruelty of our fate.
The kukri descends slowly, releasing the mana that flows in a luminous torrent, filling the air with its magical essence. Nevertheless, she only smiles at me affectionately, accepting her fate with unnatural resignation.
My heart shatters into a thousand pieces as Beatrice's words, imbued with love and sacrifice, reverberate in my tortured soul.
"Marco..." Beatrice murmurs, with her last strength, "I love you, my prince."
I watch her slowly disappear, like an eternal echo that will be etched in the deepest recesses of my being. In a dazzling burst of light, Beatrice vanishes before my eyes, her body dissolving into mana particles that dance in the air until they fade away completely.
The weight of the situation looms over me with crushing intensity. I cannot bear the thought of Beatrice witnessing my demise; after all, with her protective instinct, she would never allow me to depart.
My words echo back to me, a deafening reverberation.
"I had to do it, I had to do it." I strive to maintain my sanity, to combat the descending spiral threatening to engulf me. "I'll do better, no matter how different, I will find the strength to carry on, no matter how."
I convince myself that I am stronger than ever, despite my actions contradicting that assertion.
My eyes fixate on the kukri, a macabre symbol of my irreversible deeds. I desperately seek an escape, a solution that can change the course of my fate, but an agonizing pain pierces my heart, mercilessly tormenting me.
I clench my fists tightly, attempting to find the determination to persevere, yet I feel trapped in an abyss of remorse and despair.
Emilia sacrificed her life for me, Rem perished due to my mistakes, and now I've taken the life of the person I cherish most, staining my hands with innocent blood.
In that moment, a voice filled with contempt and regret resonates in the air, like a painful echo.
"You're crazy; I should never have left you with Emilia. I made a mistake."
I cannot fully recognize her, but her words penetrate my shattered soul. I'm left speechless, unable to respond.
Perhaps, in reality, I am more unbalanced than Petelgeuse.
Desperation envelops me with razor-sharp claws, and without a second thought, I pierce my own throat with the kukri. I withdraw it instantly, feeling my being begin to fade. Struggling for breath, I gasp as blood spills from my mouth, and my vision clouds in an ominous haze.
A strange sensation courses down my cheek, demanding all my attention. I feel a solitary tear travel from my eyes to the edge of my cheek. Only in that precise moment, as the tear escapes my face, does everything plunge into a profound and devastating darkness.
An endless abyss opens before me, engulfing me in its cold and eternal abode.
I sink into emptiness, overcome by the profound sadness and despair that have become my sole companions.