The darkness advances, the end seems imminent. I desire death, longing for liberation to come soon and put an end to my agony. But even in this abyss of despair, I face an uncertain reality.
Can my torment be completed by being devoured by this creature, Ley Batenkaitos?
The question lingers in my thoughts without an answer.
"Don't worry, kekeke, eating and eating is my great path, but I like to enjoy well-prepared dishes," Ley speaks, his laughter resonating in my ears. "Now, you are more than my dish, but I can change my mind if you offer me something delicious."
His words exude a macabre tone, but my mind is entangled in chaotic confusion. Can he really consume me with his ability?
Did I say something out loud?
Why is all of this so surreal?
I give up.
My vision fades, and I enter a world of darkness and sounds. As the noise of cannons begins to fill my ears, Ley's laughter blends with distant explosions.
"It seems I underestimated them; maybe they can defeat her, kekeke," Ley comments, touching my chest. The pain returns to me with intensity, and I am forced to open my eyes, yet I can't even scream. "You can't be devoured by me at this moment."
The vision fades once again, and I find myself weakly coughing, unable to understand what is happening. How did he know what I was thinking? Did I express it out loud?
Confusing questions swirl in my mind as I feel powerless, trapped in an immobilized body.
My mind wanders, drifting among thoughts that fade into confusion. Ley's laughter persists in my ears, an ominous echo resonating in my head as I curse getting lost in irrelevant thoughts.
I am a silent spectator, unable to move or use my magic. In an instant, I feel like a living corpse.
"An archbishop has saved your life. You should feel honored. I wouldn't normally do this and would devour everything from you, as food is very important: eat, devour, swallow, SATISFY!" Ley's words sound close. Suddenly, I feel a sharp pain in my chest.
Something pierces my flesh and goes through my sternum.
I can't help but let out a groan of pain that gets caught in my throat. Despite my immobility, it feels like something inside me has been activated. A cold sensation, as if a puzzle piece has clicked into place.
However, an electric sensation runs through my entire body in an instant, and the world blurs around me.
In the blink of an eye, my consciousness rekindles, and my eyes reopen. Bewildered and still dazed, I survey my surroundings, endeavoring to grasp the unfolding events.
Ley stands there, wearing a sinister grin, relishing the spectacle of my torment.
"Do nothing. I am bestowing upon you a favor," Ley taunts, his smile reminiscent of a predatory creature as he continues his discourse. "You exude a significant miasma, to the extent that I believed you were one of our own, kekeke. Consuming you would be delightful, but there is nothing more delicious than partaking in a dish I have long anticipated."
My gaze descends, and I discern what has been impaled into my chest—a black crystal enveloped in a violet mist akin to the miasma. It is a disconcerting sight, and a pang of panic courses through me.
The crystal's tip, white and seemingly descending.
"AGGGHHH!" I scream with all my might, convulsing in a desperate attempt to free myself from the piercing crystal.
My body tenses with an intensity hitherto unfelt, as if an electric surge has traversed every muscle and nerve within me.
Each part of my being tightens, and it feels as though the muscles are beginning to rend, yet a peculiar sensation seems to emanate from where the crystal is lodged.
The pain is suffocating, oppressive, and all-encompassing. I can discern every minuscule part of my body, every fiber, every corner of my being as it warms and stretches.
My vision wavers, returning in bursts, as if ensnared in a feverish dream.
...
My endeavors to shift, to alter my position, merely serve to exacerbate the agony. I perceive how my bones displace in impossible directions, how my flesh elongates and contorts in inhuman shapes.
The resonance of my own cries mingles with Ley's macabre laughter, and the line between physical and mental anguish blurs in a hellish whirlwind.
"STOOP!" I exclaim once more, my voice piercing the threshold of pain. I descend into unconsciousness once again, ensnared in a maelstrom of suffering that appears interminable.
...
The sense of agony and bewilderment, amidst the struggle to move and the desire for cessation. I endeavor to keep my mind centered, to seek a glimpse of clarity amid the chaos.
Yet the pain is overwhelming, my thoughts dissipate and return in fragments, and the world around me morphs into a blend of distorted sounds and fragmented visions. My mana seems obstructed, inaccessible, and I find myself ensnared in an unending trap of suffering.
...
My mind is a turbulent blend of pain and confusion.
Ley's sinister voice reverberates in my ears, intertwining with the agonizing sensations unleashed upon my body. The crystal embedded in my chest appears to be releasing its contents within me, and with each descent into unconsciousness, the torment seems to multiply.
...
Time loses its meaning, and I am ensnared in an endless cycle of pain, fading away, and resurgence. I strive to find a means of escaping this torment, liberating myself from Ley's relentless grasp and unrelenting torture.
My mind endeavors to grasp onto some coherent thought, but pain distorts everything, and reality becomes a blurred canvas.
A glimmer of hope seems to manifest when I sense my shoulders moving autonomously, as if fitting into their rightful places. However, hope swiftly dissipates when I discover that I lack control over my limbs.
...
My fingers contort into incomprehensible shapes, and each attempt at movement only brings forth more pain and despair.
"CEASE ME!", My heart-wrenching cry melds with Ley's malevolent laughter. My voice resonates feeble and stifled, as if struggling to emerge from the depths of torment.
Yet, my words fall on deaf ears, and the unrelenting suffering persists.
...
"HAHAHAHA", Ley laughs with even greater malice. His voice becomes a distorted echo in my mind, a laughter seeming to reverberate in every corner of my being.
"I am doing you a favor, my dear star dish. Recovery stings a bit, but soon you'll be stronger and more succulent."
Every word from Ley is like another blow to my already battered spirit. I feel as if I am losing sanity, ensnared in a hell of suffering with no escape.
...
The electrical shocks coursing through my body are an endless torture, and the world around me blurs into a tangle of pain and delirium. My flesh tears only to mend itself, blood takes on a scent only to evaporate.
I can only cling to the last flicker of consciousness within me, hoping that this torment comes to an end.
...
The tempest of agony and delirium persists, and my corporeal form appears beyond the reach of my dominion. The erratic and uncontrolled movements of my extremities evoke the image of marionettes manipulated by unseen strings.
Each endeavor to mobilize only ushers forth additional affliction, and my psyche teeters on the brink of despair.
...
Ley's mocking voice continues to reverberate within my cranium, entwining with the agonizing sensations besieging my frame. Every utterance from him acts as a knife, thrusting deeper into my torment.
His remarks regarding sustenance and preparation only exacerbate the sensation that I am being pulverized in an unending nightmare.
...
The sensation of warmth finally courses through my being, and the lifeblood seems to surge once more through my veins. However, this heralds a novel and fearsome development: my muscles commence contracting, as if being squeezed by an imperceptible force.
Each muscular fiber tightens to the extent that it feels as though my bones might shatter at any given moment.
...
The crystal lodged in my chest has depleted halfway, its visible section now wholly transformed into a pristine white. I cannot fathom what is unfolding; my cognition entangled in a labyrinth of agony and confusion.
The world around me blurs, and all that remains is the pain that seems to envelop me like a dark mist.
...
The intensity of the torment appears to escalate exponentially. I feel my head contorting grotesquely, and each beat of my heart brings forth a surge of suffering.
"KILLLLL MEEEEEEE!" I scream with all my might, attempting to make someone hear, "NOW!"
...
I try to forcefully open my eyes, but the vision is clouded by tears and blood. My mouth opens in a silent scream as I desperately try to release the consuming pain.
...
The line between reality and delirium completely fades away. I am ensnared in a nightmare of unimaginable suffering, unable to comprehend what is transpiring around me.
The intensity of the agony reaches an unbearable point, and my mind clings to every flicker of consciousness that manages to stay afloat.
...
Ley's voice continues to reverberate in my head; his words blend with the pain and confusion, forming a chaotic chorus of torment.
"Ah... what a waste, yes, yes, it's a total waste," Ley begins to lament, while I start feeling as if something is forcefully entering my door.
Every moment becomes a fierce struggle to remain standing, even when my body seems on the verge of complete collapse, it recuperates only to break again.
"AGGGGHHH! REMOVE IT!" I attempt to move my arms, but the mere effort increases the pain to the point of fading once again.
...
A novel and incomprehensible sensation begins to invade my door, a force that tears and breaks in its path.
My mind can barely comprehend what is transpiring, but it is unlike anything I have felt before. Instinct drives me to clench my fists tightly, and I sense something within me beginning to yield.
...
Once again, I open my eyes with difficulty, and a new wave of suffering hits me as I try to lean forward to free the crystal embedded in my chest.
But before I can do so, a brutal blow from Ley strikes my face, breaking my nose and leaving me breathless as blood flows uncontrollably.
My body is in chaos, and the struggle to remain conscious becomes a desperate battle. I try to scream, I try to move, but everything I do seems to escalate the suffering I feel.
My heart beats strongly in my chest, as if it's about to explode, and a compression extends throughout my being, making me feel as if I'm on the verge of tearing apart.
"Kill me already!" I shout as I attempt to move my body, managing only to wildly move my hands.
If only I hadn't come to his beckoning, yet at least he always brings delectable dishes— a repast, a dessert, delightful libations that make me yearn for more and more.
The cry of my despair mingles with Ley's words; his mentions of food and pleasure add to the chaos in my mind. Each attempt at movement becomes an uphill struggle, and the pain is so overwhelming that I feel I could lose my sanity at any moment.
My body contorts, my hands flail frenetically, and every inch of my being seems on the verge of complete collapse.
...
Desperation and suffering continue to haunt me, and it seems there is no escape from this nightmare. Ley's words resonate in my mind, blending with the mocking laughter that appears to have no end.
I cannot find an exit; I cannot find a respite. My mind struggles to maintain sanity as each attempt at movement is met with more pain and anguish.
...
The world distorts around me, everything seems to be in chaos, and the sensation of being trapped in an endless spiral of torment consumes me entirely.
I crave death, yearn for release from this unbearable suffering.
"End me... please," I murmur with difficulty, trying to bring an end to this once and for all.
The desire for death takes root in my mind, longing for release from this unbearable torment. But even that option is denied to me.
...
Without strength to resist, I find myself ensnared in an endless cycle of agony and fading consciousness. Each time I regain awareness, I internally implore that someone comes to end me.
"Satella... please."
Ley's sinister laughter crushed any lingering hope within me. I feel my mind teetering on the edge of the abyss, unable to comprehend what was happening, trapped in a cycle of pain and confusion.
This world is flawed.
This world, once familiar and understood, now appears twisted and distorted. Reality itself seems to have faded, leaving me trapped in a labyrinth of suffering from which there is no escape.
...
The notion of resetting, of going back and avoiding this struggle, takes shape in my mind.
...
Would it be worthwhile to face all the challenges again to avoid this torment?
The decision crystallizes slowly in my mind: "I will initiate a reset." It is an option that should not even exist, yet here I am, confronting the abyss and contemplating the possibility of rewinding time.
...
My survival becomes the utmost priority. I am not a hero destined to fight for others; I am a human seeking self-preservation.
...
As if by an act of enchantment, all the pain vanishes, replaced by a refreshing sensation coursing through my body. I open my eyes to a world where agony no longer consumes me. However, my hands tremble, and my gaze reflects the fear deeply rooted within me.
"If you bring someone to me, I will bestow upon you a superior gift; you should seize the opportunity while you can," he begins to laugh, a dagger appearing in his hand. "To conclude, I will show you something, as a token of appreciation for the impending feast."
The sinister words of my captor resonate in my ears, his malicious laughter filling the air.
His predatory gaze and menacing dagger speak of imminent danger. I lean forward, compelling my body to react, observing the situation with a blend of fear and determination.
There is something within me that refuses to be defeated, to allow the darkness to fully take over. Though all seems lost, something inside me still burns—a spark of resistance that refuses to be extinguished.
This pain... NO! I must force myself to persevere.
I am not insane; I am not insane.
Or perhaps, I am merely unhinged.
He lifts his gaze with a smile laden with malice, a smile that accentuates his bloodthirsty intent with unsettling terror.
His hands tense, ready to unleash chaos, while I finally manage to turn my head and assess the situation.
I lean forward, my gaze fixed on what is about to unfold.
Who would have imagined that the person coming to my rescue would be her? Among all others, the one to whom I wished death.
"Don't touch him!" Crusch shouts, advancing atop Grímnir.
Her expression of determination is genuine, and I forcefully open my eyes to capture every detail of her figure.
Her hair billows in the wind as she approaches, her face reflecting a mix of fury and concern, her presence imposing and majestic.
My heart beats, but it is not a beat of pain; rather, it is a beat of regret.
I promised myself that I would not be the same again, but now I realize how challenging it is to change.
It is not thinking about changing, it is not knowing how to change, it is not thinking that you've changed; it is changing that is difficult.
I feel weak, I know.
No matter how intelligent I may be, how much mental resilience I possess, or how mature I consider myself. If I am not capable of changing after making mistakes, then everything becomes meaningless.
Ley bursts into laughter, executes a leap, and all I manage to see is a blade of wind whizzing by. In the blink of an eye, he stands in front of Crusch.
She tries to defend herself with her sword, but Ley takes advantage of the jump's momentum to deliver a kick to her left side, sending her flying from Grímnir.
Crusch lands on her feet, crawling using her sword to maintain balance.
Grímnir gallops towards me, approaching at a dizzying speed, and I notice that the crystal is no longer in my chest. There isn't even a scar indicating its presence.
As if everything had been an illusion.
My eyes turn towards Crusch, who seems to understand the situation and confirms my suspicions. She realizes that she is no match for Ley Batenkaitos.
"Marco!" Crusch exclaims. "Thank you for saving me earlier." She smiles, winking.
You don't need to thank me.
In fact, don't.
SS-Crusch
The Duality of Fate.
Once ashore, I find myself entangled in one of the most discomfiting conversations I have ever experienced.
This gentleman has just borne witness to a facet of mine that I have carefully concealed from others.
To my astonishment, he possesses the ability to soar through the skies—a revelation that dawns upon me as I witness him ascend into the air to confront one of the formidable beasts and rescue me.
Prior to soaring once more into the heavens, he instructs me to proceed to the camp. I wonder why he kept this ability shrouded in secrecy, but I comprehend that this is not the opportune moment to broach that subject.
He is willing to expose himself to draw the attention of the beast, just as he had forewarned us. I observe him receding, drawing the wrath of the colossal creature, and skillfully evading its onslaughts.
I cannot help but harbor admiration and respect for his courage and determination. He is...
I turn my head, focusing on what I must undertake. He intervened and preserved my life at a juncture when I believed everything was well in hand, only to find myself on the brink of death.
I, Crusch Karsten, always in perpetual training and a candidate for the throne, find that in this predicament, that title holds no significance.
I committed an error on the battlefield, one that eluded my foresight.
However, at present, the foremost task is to confront and vanquish this ferocious beast. After several minutes, we witnessed his return through the dense mist. His form is momentarily bathed in the sunlight, a symbol of hope amid the darkness.
The individuals around him gaze upon him with astonishment, and excited shouts fill the air. Although some murmur about his nature, the urgency of the situation prevents them from delving deeply into discussion.
He issues directives to prepare the cannons to the west, all the while the enraged beast in hot pursuit.
His audacity is truly remarkable. Now I comprehend why he kept his ability concealed; by unveiling it in this critical moment, he ensures that he is taken seriously and encourages others to dare to confront the adversary.
My thoughts pause as I contemplate, impressed by his presence and courage. Marco Luz, you have rendered me speechless.
After several tense minutes passing with no sign of Marco and the whale, I truly began to feel the anxiety in my heart.
"Betty!" Emilia's voice snaps me out of my reverie, and I turn to see what is unfolding.
The spirit of Marco holds her head in despair, crying intensely while Emilia attempts to console her. Amid sobs, the spirit articulates some words.
"Emilia," her words are laden with pain and directed at Emilia, "Marco..."
Upon hearing this, my gaze shifts westward. The beast has vanished from our sight. A knot of anxiety forms in my chest. Something is amiss; the beast is moving abnormally fast. It should not take this long for it to reappear.
I will not allow anything to befall him.
"I will seek him out!" I exclaim, sprinting towards the dragon provided to me for this purpose. However, Marco's dragon stands in my path, growling with determination. It seems equally concerned.
He has earned his trust and loyalty undeniably.
"Let's go!" I advance swiftly, yearning to find him unharmed. "Do not let anything untoward befall him now, Marco Luz."
"We have a promise to fulfill."