《Mage of the Abyss: Dormant》 Chapter 0 – Cowards Death, it can be the supposed mercy she needs, but it¡¯s not what she wants. Centuries ago, there was once a time when the morrow is something she would look forward to, but tragedy struck when the gods descended upon the realm. Laying waste to civilization. They now rule the lands, and its remnants are kept as possesions, slaves. The world has changed ever since. Flora is becoming scarce and the fauna are diminishing rapidly. Once a beautiful world, now becomes a desolate plain. Yet those who remains steel their heart, burning ever so fiercely even when they have lost it physically. To go against the gods and reclaim their world, they sought every possible method to attain power capable of defying them. One night, there was a rain, a ghastly appearance of a creature, but as it turns out, it was merely a mist. However, that¡¯s when it appears, the thought of a ghost, and what if¡­ it becomes a reality. *** Mage of the Abyss: Origin *** ¡°Dad?¡± Silent and empty. Only her words in the surrounding. A tired voice with a word unanswered, unrepeated, and there she¡¯s on her knees in the pitch-black darkness. It is by no means dark, but rather, completely empty. Devoid of mass and colors. But suddenly, light from the top. It highlights her juvenile body, frail and malnourished. If one were to look closer to the edges of the light, the dark is moving erratically, almost as if it¡¯s alive. Small and its shape, close to a fish, like a common goldfish but entirely blacked out. It floats towards her, but then, it shrouded every part of her being until only darkness is life. Then it backs out again and lights appear, it repeated its action until another word comes out. ¡°Dad?¡± Cracks under her cheek. Like flakes coming off a breading. Unfamiliar sound in the distance, but it is a sound that becomes clearer and clearer as it gets closer. Scissors. It¡¯s loud. Snip, snap, snip, snap. When the fishes covered her in the darkness gone, the light reveals an extremely large scissor and her neck in between its blade. However, it is not truly a thing, but rather an entity. With a head ever so changing, from a toad, a fish, a dragon, a human, an elf, a dwarf, and it keeps cycling on so much more almost every second. Its arm is thin, but its hand stretched like a scissor. Its upper body is slim but its lower body is large, a shape like a larva. Swimming as if it¡¯s an aquatic lifeform. [???]: ¡°What a child¡­ such potential¡­ so resilient!¡± [???]: ¡°Aaaaa worthyyy vessel for oneeeee such as me¡­¡± Parting the blade of the scissors for a snip. Snap. Stopped before it closes fully. Would¡¯ve severed her head if it wasn¡¯t stopped, but only with the two of her bare hands. She parts the blade as the creature tilts its head, witnessing the child¡¯s eyes, pure pitch-black darkness. [???]: ¡°Hmm¡­ yet¡­ yet, yet¡­ this is enough¡­ he-he-he.¡± Beyond the darkness lies a vast landscape, a desolated land, but this time not empty. Thousands of people standing against the millions forces of the gods, and among those thousands of people stands a skeleton donned in a black robe and a creature, a black slime. Both tending to a young woman with a black hair, tied from head to toe. [Slime]: ¡°Impossible.¡± [Slime]: ¡°My lord. The abyss. She didn¡¯t merge with them.¡± A woman with a black hair then steps forward, aided by her stave. [Woman]: ¡°What do you expect? I told you she wasn¡¯t ready. We¡¯ll just have to use her to make way for Dorothan. His aides will be troublesome for us.¡± [Skeleton]: ¡°We cannot delay any longer.¡± [Skeleton]: ¡°The god must die. Today.¡± The army on the other side of the plain has started to make a move, and above the frontline lies a humanoid entity with a prideful expression. Wearing its robe majestically like a king of a human would, and the image would be fitting if not for its green appearance, shaded like a tree. On the other side, the black slime turns into a beautiful young woman. Freckles on her face, dark brown eyes. She rips the durable bandages holding the young woman within it, and set her free. She has the same appearance as the form that the slime has adopted, with the difference is that the young woman has her eyes completely blacked out. [Slime]: ¡°Luosa.¡± [Slime]: ¡°It¡¯s time. You must kill them all, and make way for the lord to¡ª.¡± The young woman flies to the sky, matching the entity in the frontline, the god. With his jaw forward, head tilts proudly, he chuckles and almost all the frontline soldiers begins to laugh. [God Dorothan]: ¡°Heh, all that preparation! Five whole years, and this is what you have, Ludwig?!¡± [God Dorothan]: ¡°How miserable!¡± [Soldiers]: ¡°Bwahahahaha.¡± [God Dorothan]: ¡°Well? Show me what you¡¯re all about, girl!¡± He flies towards her. Teeth grinning widely with an eye full of desire to enjoy the moment. As she lifts her finger, she makes a pocket space between it and her thumb, with the god encapsulate within the sight of the narrowed world. Upon clenching it, the god disappeared entirely. His presence, his entire existence. Nothing, and that moment he wishes to enjoy never came to be. Both sides notice such massive presence to suddenly disappears. The soldiers were struck confused, stunned by the sudden disappearance of their leader. [Skeleton]: ¡°Kill them all!¡± The young lady flies towards the center of the enemy line. [Soldier 1]: ¡°Barrier!¡± [Soldier 2]: ¡°Erect the Barrier!¡± [Soldiers]: ¡°BARRIER!¡± *BOOM* Sliding on the corpses of mangled soldiers with a trail of black flame, the young woman swirl. Splashing black substances that melts through armor and body of the soldiers. [Soldier 1]: ¡°Hahh?! Haaaaaaaaaaargh!¡± Several soldiers rotate their spear and summon multi-colored energy at the tip of their blade. Green, magenta, yellow. Piercing through the black flame. The young woman grasps the cold air around her and pulls it. Stretching her arms open as she arches her back. Massive turbulent wind conjured, taking all that makes an attempt on her life. A hurricane is form. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Two more are conjured as she commands the hurricane to enlarge itself even more. At the backline lies the skeleton conjuring the appropriate weather that introduces lightning to the chaos. His group then splits in two, with the slime and half of the group charging through the left side of the army, sending wind that can split the soldiers in half and water that can melt them. On the other side is the woman by her lonesome. She conjures massive energy waves that allows her to blitz through the enemies. All the while, the other half of the army is led by the skeleton assisting the young woman while keeping their distance. Sending sequence of lightning strike, piercing bolts of ice, and fireballs hurling towards the army. The young woman continues to dominate. Mercilessly killing every single one of her enemies without a change to her still expression. Like a machine, she exists only to kill. As she goes further into the backline of the army. Five entities descended, blocking her way. Their descent crushes the ground beneath, stopping her. One crosses his arm. A draconic humanoid with his wings retracted further in. The fourth loyal subordinates of the god, Sugima. Looking down on her without saying anything. Another is a woman with luscious nature. Her dark skin gleamed as the moon shine a light upon it. The third loyal subordinates of the god, Lastimi. [Lastimi]: ¡°Ohh, what a cutie.¡± By her side is white-haired man with a spiked hair. Grinning from one ear to another. The second loyal subordinates of the god, Komo. [Komo]: ¡°So, you¡¯re the one they called Mage of the Abyss, huh.¡± [Komo]: ¡°Aha, I thought you¡¯re supposed to be taller.¡± Another bulky man taps his shoulder. Horned with eyes like a snake. The first loyal subordinates of the god, Zedimn. [Zedimn]: ¡°Fresh meat.¡± [Lastimi]: ¡°Hou, calm down there, Zedmin, she¡¯s not ripe for harvest yet. Besides¡­¡± With brows frowned, one who holds a sword, gleaming with a bright energy. A young man with fierce and confident eyes, yet slightly confused. The son of the god, Juji. [Juji]: ¡°You, what have you done to father?!¡± Against them is one they called Luosa. [Luosa]: ¡°¡­¡± [Juji]: ¡°Why¡­ why won¡¯t you answer? WHERE IS HE?!¡± Powerful burst of holy energy erratically emits through his body. [Komo]: ¡°Woah, there.¡± [Zedimn]: ¡°Our boy sure is¡­ enthusiastic.¡± [Lastimi]: ¡°Go get her, Juji!¡± [Juji]: ¡°If you¡¯re not going to answer, then I¡¯LL FORCE YOU TO!¡± He raises the energy he unleashes and charges towards her. Wind splits as his energy flows in all directions and is directed to the young woman, Luosa. [Juji]: ¡°Hraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarh!¡± She lifts her hand once more, the same way as before. With her thumb and finger, the young man is visible within it, but instead of clenching it, her gesture remains open. [Juji]: ¡°?!¡± Suddenly, the young man stops in place and all of his energy dissipates instantly. All begins to wonder, but not for long. His legs begin to stretch separately in the opposite direction, yet his body remains still in the air. He is conscious but unable to move. He feels his legs moving on its own and begins to bend in an impossible way. With a snapping bone, his foot goes above his shoulder as his torso begins to twist. Joints snapping, bones cracking. His body is split and all witness his suffering, and when it all ends, his blood gathers toward Luosa. Five seconds of demise, witnessed by the subordinates of the god, who were supposed to be the young man¡¯s protector. Now his emasculated head face them as it plops to the ground. Eyes widened as they shudder. Luosa charges towards them and they all quickly draws their weapons. Zedimn dashes forward, pushing Komo to the back. [Komo]: ¡°Haha¡­¡± With a bloodshot eye, a grin of anticipation as he faces the one who made his lord disappear. [Komo]: ¡°Oh well, no stopping him now.¡± The two clashes, with the blood of the dead child pierces Zedimn by the side of his head. Luosa knee him in the gut and proceeds to deliver a flurry of punches, slaps, and back handed pummel to the side of his cheek. Ground quakes and destroyed. He received it all because he is already dead. [Lastimi]: ¡°Hey, why is he¡­¡± [Komo]: ¡°¡­¡± The man shudder completely after realizing what he has seen was indeed what had happened. Before the fight even begin¡­ [Komo]: ¡°He¡¯s¡­ dead.¡± [Sugima]: ¡°I have to find the lord.¡± [Komo]: ¡°Wha, hey!¡± The draconic humanoid ascended to the sky. Sensing danger, the man makes his escape in disguise of reason. Only to be pierced by the same blood that had killed his comrade. Right in his chest, but there was no one on the other end of it because suddenly, his body combust, leaving red everywhere. In his place lies the one who have reduced their number, Luosa. Covered in the blood and guts of that man. Her head turns towards the rest of them. Lastimi quickly transform herself into a large humanoid insect. [Lastimi]: ¡°No choice but to fight, huh!¡± [Komo]: ¡°D-Damn iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!¡± They charge their energy and in unison, send a blast of powerful energy that engulf the direction like a laser beam. But when it dissipates, one can see that their target, including her clothes, are not affected a bit. Not even a dirt or ash even touches her. Making their expression sunk as fear stir within their heart. She charges her own energy with the blood of the dead three, now gathers. The two quickly fled the scene and the one Luosa chose is the man. A red dark current passes through him, creating countless mini holes in his body, and it continue to pierces towards those behind him. With a clench of her hand, the dark current disappear, but the energy remains condensed in her hand still, and she sends that one to the fleeing woman, and she too got caught. If one were to look at Luosa¡¯s eyes much more closely, one can see a dot of light within. It illuminates the god himself, shivering and trembling as he continues to unleashes his power erratically, sending wave and wave of energy to keep the darkness away, but it never ends. [God Dorothan]: ¡°Damn it, damn it! What is this?!¡± [???]: ¡°Kuhuh uh uhhu hu huu hu.¡± [God Dorothan]: ¡°!!!¡± [God Dorothan]: ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± [???]: ¡°Mmmm¡­ the taste of arcane. Such pure transcendental energy¡­¡± [God Dorothan]: ¡°Hnnnrrgh.¡± [???]: ¡°A Nexus¡ª no¡­ a Zenith¡­ a God. Kekekekekekeke¡­¡± The slightest distraction causes the darkness to engulf him completely, but then suddenly, the light came to be and he sees a pair of limbs that looks like a scissor right between his arm. [God Dorothan]: ¡°???¡± *Snip* Luosa descended to the ground as she senses an incredible force from within her eyes, she forcefully removes it and the god himself pops out of it. With his face fall flat on the ground, he lifts his head up only to see the remain of his child. A shudder like no other. [God Dorothan]: ¡°Heerh? Huurr¡­¡± [God Dorothan]: ¡°Hrraaaaaaaaaaagh?!¡± Missing one of his limbs, he turns to perpetrator and engages in close combat. His entire body full of divine energy, flailing his only fist, kicking with both of his legs. Sometimes, his attacks go through Luosa¡¯s body, and sometimes, she blocks it physically. But she also retaliates by stomping him repeatedly to the ground and blasting him with dark energy. He teleports right behind her to send a blow only for his chest to be punctured by a sword. [God Dorothan]: ¡°Hraghk?¡± He turns to see it, and it is the robed skeleton. [God Dorothan]: ¡°Ludwig¡­ you bastard. Do you even realize what you¡¯ve made¡ª.¡± The sword grinds deeper into his heart and the skeleton open his palm aiming for the god¡¯s head, but he quickly teleported far away. [God Dorothan]: ¡°Hrrngh, I won¡¯t forget this¡­ just you wait.¡± But then his eyes widened upon turning his head to the front, seeing the young woman right before his eyes with her hand open cloaked with sinister energy. A dark current sends toward him, creating countless holes in his body, but he teleported much further away, panting out of breath as his body recovers. Wheezing in pain. *Huff *Huff [God Dorothan]: ¡°D-Damn it.¡± He senses another presence and it is indeed the same person. Another dark current and a teleportation. Away from the battlefield, but scene continues to repeat until one of his legs suddenly disappeared. Realizing that she will continue hunting him, endlessly, something broke within him. [God Dorothan]: ¡°What¡­ are you¡­¡± That day, fear carved through his heart. The scene stops when he makes use of an item, a gem that allows him to disappears from the world, leaving his entire army behind. Soon enough, they become mere fodder to the realm¡¯s new guardian, or perhaps, its destroyer. Unbound, she walks upon the throne coveted by the god and paints a new picture to the scene, the days of what the realm will become. Desolate and empty, just like her eyes. The skeleton walks towards her but the one that mimics her grabs his wrist. [Slime]: ¡°My lord. She¡¯s gone.¡± Slowly turning over his shoulder, the mimicking slime gaze upon the skeleton¡¯s eye sockets and sees a depth unforeseen. Shuddering, her grips loosen. There¡¯s not a response even when the skeleton is standing in front of Luosa. Even a caressing and gentle touch to her cheek. [Skeleton]: ¡°I¡¯ll fix this, Luosa.¡± [Skeleton]: ¡°I promise.¡± His shadow and the rest slowly disappearing from the throne room, and when their presence disappear. A tear is shed. A jaw clenched, and brows furrow, squeezed in rage. [Luosa]: ¡°Cowards.¡± Chapter 1 – Time Magic

Chapter 1 ¨C Time Magic

Rain drops upon a puddle of mud. But a roof keeps those within it safe. A sound and blurred vision of a young woman and another, smiling full of laughter as she enters a large capsule-like device. It¡¯s a technology that allows one to enter a virtual world on the other side. [Siola]: ¡°Hahahaha¡­¡± [Rosa]: ¡°¡­ everything¡­ yeah?¡± [Siola]: ¡°Mm! See ¡­ dinner.¡± ¡®If I can say something to myself in the past¡­¡¯ [Rosa]: ¡°Sure¡­ won¡¯t¡­ me?¡± [Siola]: ¡°Rakuri¡­ Kurira¡­ too¡­¡± [Rosa]: ¡°Awww¡­ kaaaay¡­¡± ¡®I shouldn¡¯t play it.¡± ¡®No.¡¯ ¡®I should¡¯ve stayed dead.¡¯ White perfect teeth, that solid appearance extends to her gums and back. Puffing her cheeks before smooching like a fish. Her dark brown eyes narrows as she inspects for the slightest imperfection on her face excluding her freckles. Her short wavy hair brushed by a tall dark-haired lady who is lovingly gives her raspberries. [Siola]: ¡°You know, Realism Mode integration really doesn¡¯t cover about anything on this body other than¡­ you know, feeling? Like have you ever go to the toilet with this body? You¡¯ve seen them around, I¡¯m sure NPCs use those, but what about us?¡± Snatching the mirror and turns her around. The dark-haired woman pinches Siola¡¯s cheek, puffing and pouting it as she gazes upon that fish-like mouth. [Rakuri]: ¡°Does it matter?¡± Kissing that silly face, that mouth, and that cheek. [Siola]: ¡°Hunyumnyumnyum.¡± [Kurira]: ¡°Get a roooooooooom, you two. And what the hell was that noise, Siola?! Did you turn from skeleton to a duck back there?¡± [Siola]: ¡°Shut uop, you cyborg! And watch out for the clouds!¡± Maneuvering the grey-white dragon, they manage to avoid the clouds by going above it. The rider chuckles in confidence as her metal hand rotates 720 degrees. Her eyes sparks silver and white as the cracks on her face glows in the same color. In the reflection of her eyes lies an image of a floating island slowly being processed. [Kurira]: ¡°That the one?¡± Siola stood. Her eyes narrowed before her wide smile is formed. [Siola]: ¡°Isolated Realm of The Unknown.¡± Sensing the presence of a visitor, the inhabitant swarms the landing area bringing swords and axes. A deformed creature of all kinds, thousands of them. Kurira scans the threat, their weapons and capabilities, before descending unto them with the dragon firing a breath of chilling frost, freezing a large number of them before taking a flight. Swords and axes flying but none of them damages the dragon. But more and more creatures appear from the tomb to a point that the landing area overfill with some of them are falling off. However, they are not the only one that is coming out of the tomb. A much large creature, indescribable in nature appears with all of its tentacles piecing and eating the smaller creatures. [Kurira]: ¡°You¡¯re up.¡± Siola jogs as she creates a body double, and take a dive straight towards the center of landing area below where the large creature awaits. The two body swirl towards it with hand casting a sign. [Siola x Malevolent Shadow]: ¡°Phantasmagoria!¡± Powerful kinetic force brought it down, stunning it. [Malevolent Shadow]: ¡°Starfall Annihilation.¡± [Siola]: ¡°Hah! I like the idea!¡± In unison, their grin widened. [Siola x Malevolent Shadow]: ¡°Nebula!¡± They disappear. In the sky above, a large meteorite approaches the landing zone and standing above the meteorite is the two body of Siola, riding on it. With a wide smile, they crash on to the landing area, creating a massive explosion reaching the entire floating island. When the dust settles, it reveals the massive damage to the island, but then suddenly, it repaired itself in an instant, leaving only the debris above. Siola takes Siola¡¯s hand to descend, but once again, the denizens of the realm appear in drove once more. Frost breath by the dragon as it flies by, it descends besides Siola as Rakuri and Kurira joins her side. They stride confidently towards the swarm. Kurira conjures a portable mechanical case which houses a number of weapons. Rakuri takes from it a bow, the two Siola takes a staff each, and Kurira grabs herself a minigun weighing a couple hundred kilos. [Kurira]: ¡°Heh.¡± It ramps up before unleashing a bullet hell towards the entrance of the tomb, each bullet can pierce the smaller denizens of this realm up to 8 times. Her boots transformed as it lights up, bigger, weightier, allowing her to take steps while firing her minigun. However, the target number continues to increase and that causes the dragon to assist. Instead of a widespread breath, it fires a condensed laser that freezes everything it touches. But even that too is not enough as a larger, much stronger creatures appear from the tomb. Crashing the formed frozen wall, it absorbs Kurira¡¯s bullets, but then the two Siola aim their stave at them. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. [Siola x Malevolent Shadow]: ¡°Psionic Lance.¡± Powerful force of kinetic power piercing through the entire enemy lines, stunning them. That¡¯s when Rakuri holds her bow and aims it at the entrance of the tomb. [Rakuri]: ¡°True Art of Volatile Dark¡­¡± Lightning surges through her bow as she draws a spectral arrow forming from its energy. Black energy scatter at the tip of the arrow. [Rakuri]: ¡°Death Storm!¡± Swirling blast of dark energy, ever growing, taking everything in its path. Clearing the way for them to advance. Kurira grabs a backpack filled with ammunition for the minigun from her case before it disappears, leading the group to steps towards the tomb. Rakuri faces her dragon. [Rakuri]: ¡°Return, Laliadainmma, I¡¯ll call upon you once more when the need arises.¡± The dragon bows before flapping its wings and takes flight away from the island. Rakuri rejoins the others as they enter the tomb. Corpses of the enemies suddenly disappear without a sound. Siola snatches her malevolent shadow¡¯s stave, sheathing it to her back as the body double turns into magical energy which itself returns to Siola¡¯s body. [Siola]: ¡°Wait.¡± [Siola]: ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± ¡®I had the opportunity to turn back. The number of choices I could¡¯ve made. To enjoy life, to bring happiness to myself and the others.¡¯ [Rakuri]: ¡°Okay, what do we do now?¡± [Siola]: ¡°I get the feeling I should go in there alone.¡± [Rakuri]: ¡°Heheh, trying to hoard all the power for yourself now?¡± [Siola]: ¡°Read my mind there. Haha¡­¡± ¡®Something kept gnawing at me. Nudging me towards this path.¡¯ She marches onward. [Kurira]: ¡°You sure they¡¯re not gonna spawn again?!¡± [Siola]: ¡°Uhh, I think so!¡± With each step she took, her footsteps glowing in golden white. Her hands feel chilly the further she walks towards a dead end. Before long, she doesn¡¯t even feel a presence behind her for the presence and body of her companions are no longer there. Panting, she tries to calm herself down as she continues onward but no matter how far she walks, the dead end never ends. *Huff *Huff [Siola]: ¡°Alright.¡± She closes her eyes for a moment. The next scene she sees is not that of a golden structures or walls or even grounds. She¡¯s standing in space, amidst the stars. It¡¯s dark. [???]: ¡°You have returned¡­ Siola.¡± An enormously gigantic divine creature with a ghastly appearance. 6 angelic wings with a crown-like horns over its head. Two golden white arms with sharp armors. Golden white energy radiates in excess. Its head resembles that of a mythical goat, even its eyes. [Siola]: ¡°Kita.¡± [Siola]: ¡°I keep considering the possibility of this, but I guess it wasn¡¯t the god himself who brought me back to the past. I kept asking why me, but then from out of nowhere, I see my friends who¡¯s supposedly doesn¡¯t know me yet, suddenly said my name out loud without me even introducing myself.¡± [Siola]: ¡°Was it you, Kita?¡± Its head turns, its eyes shifting towards her. [Kita]: ¡°You¡¯ve known it for longer than you wish to admit, oh Devotee of the Great End King, or is it Mage of the Abyss, now?¡± [Siola]: ¡°I don¡¯t have the title for either of them, Kita. Just answer me.¡± [Siola]: ¡°This whole thing, this world is a game. I cage myself in a metal box so I can come here and have fun. I died, with a bullet to my brain, and yet I¡¯m still here standing three and half years before that happens. Is this whole thing coded in you? You were just supposed to be a pet summon I can use so I can cast that Life Distortion spell, but what the hell is this?¡± [Siola]: ¡°Are you a dev playing an NPC here because if that is true, you don¡¯t know how much that¡¯ll ease my mind! So, tell me, Kita. What¡­ is happening here?¡± The creature closes its wing as it backs away slightly. On the other end of the space is Kurira and Rakuri snacking on salted nuts. Crunchy texture, and the crumbs are sticking to their fingers. [Rakuri]: ¡°What do you think she¡¯s doing over there?¡± [Kurira]: ¡°God knows.¡± *Munch *Munch [Rakuri]: ¡°Heheh, still feels so unreal.¡± [Kurira]: ¡°What is?¡± [Rakuri]: ¡°Everything! Duh.¡± [Rakuri]: ¡°We got Dola back, we got our house repaired, you getting an NPC girlfriend. Like, this whole thing almost feels like a dream. It¡¯s like that thing never happened.¡± [Kurira]: ¡°Well, it didn¡¯t. At least, not yet.¡± [Rakuri]: ¡°I still think about our old friends though. Remember Scallops? You kind of left him dead in the warehouse. Supposed he¡¯s still alive, probably gonna find our bodies there too.¡± [Kurira]: ¡°Yeah?¡± [Rakuri]: ¡°What, don¡¯t you miss our past self? Or should I say, future self?¡± [Kurira]: ¡°No.¡± [Kurira]: ¡°We¡¯ve got a second chance at life. I don¡¯t wanna mop around thinking about the past when the sweet future is ahead of us. You remember that saying?¡± [Kurira]: ¡°Hope,¡± [Rakuri]: ¡°Is the thing with feathers,¡± A smile on their face. Before they continue, something in their line of sight. They quickly stood and Kurira aims her minigun at the humanoid entity entering the tomb. But then it disappears instantly, and suddenly, they appear right in the middle of them. Dark hair, black sclera with unnerving orange eyes. ! {Boss Encounter} ~ {Replica, Mage of the Abyss | Level: ~10.000 | Health: 80.000 [+80.000] + 80.000 [+80.000] + 80.000 [+80.000] + 80.000 [+80.000] + 80.000 [+80.000] + 80.000 [+80.000] + 80.000 [+80.000] + 80.000 [+80.000] + 80.000 [+80.000] + 80.000 [+80.000] + 80.000 [+80.000] ¡­} In the presence of the entity, Rakuri cannot move an inch, but Kurira, her hand protract a large blade. Swiftly swinging towards the entity only for it to be caught by hand. Kurira¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the mature woman¡¯s face. Her hand on the center of Kurira¡¯s chest. A powerful blast that destroys a portion of the floating island, sending Kurira away. Rakuri takes the opportunity to turn around and dash towards the dead end but then, her chest is pierced by shadow hand. [Rakuri]: ¡°Hrrngh?! Dola, no. Siola!!!¡± With a powerful force of a pull, her entire being is tossed out of the floating island. The humanoid entity, Replica, witnesses the island healed itself in an instant. She turns towards the dead ends and begin walking towards it. [Kita]: ¡°The world you convince yourself to be a playground and the world you never question of its existence. It is as you have presumed.¡± [Kita]: ¡°Both are a part of one, connected by the metal box of which you used to traverse.¡± Siola clenches her fist as she looks at the galaxy below, unease by the truth in front of her. [Kita]: ¡°I have once warned you of the danger of manipulating time, and yet you have summoned me in order to do just that.¡± [Kita]: ¡°There are five souls that have been affected by your decision, yours included.¡± [Siola]: ¡°What?¡± [Kita]: ¡°The power you used, breaks the boundaries between the two worlds, and it brought you here once again¡ª.¡± The creature tilted its head back. [Siola]: ¡°Well, don¡¯t stop now. What do you mean five people. Who are the other two?¡± [Kita]: ¡°Such irony, for one who has been bestowed upon the power to manipulate time is now running out of it.¡± [Siola]: ¡°Huh?¡± ! {New Mail} [Siola]: ¡°What the hell?¡± She turns towards the creature. [Siola]: ¡°Kita! Let me wield you once more.¡± Its head held high. [Kita]: ¡°We have reached great heights together, let us rise to it once again.¡± Siola straighten her posture as she held her head high. Arms crossed. The creature mimics her movement. Golden white energy flows like a maelstrom, connecting the two entities. ! {Class Evolution to Chronomancer is now Available} Chapter 2 – An End Within a certain prison, unreachable by many. A sole prisoner sealed by all manners of contraptions tying her still. But even with a sword impale her head, her train of thoughts runs as her eyes continuously producing numbers of green and blues, and in it lies the figure of a certain individual who has appeared out of nowhere. It is none other than Siola herself. [Siola]: ¡°Madam Replica? What¡¯re you doing here?¡± [Siola]: ¡°What did you do to my friends?¡± She takes a step closer. [Replica]: ¡°They bare their fangs at me. I had to remove them, but they are not dead. At least when I was done with them.¡± A sigh of relieve, ¡°Phew, seriously, now. You got me worried.¡± [Replica]: ¡°I have a task for you.¡± [Replica]: ¡°You are to assist me in retrieving an entity sealed under the ocean floor. Come¡ª.¡± [Siola]: ¡°Phantasmagoria!¡± [Replica]: ¡°?!¡± Teeth grinding as a flash of nightmare appeared for a moment. Upon turning to see the perpetrator, there are two of them flying towards the entrance. She has already figured it out. [Siola x Malevolent Shadow]: ¡°Bell Tolls!¡± [Replica]: ¡°Clever girl.¡± A magical clock appears behind the both of them. Replica then teleports ahead, but the two Siola then teleported as well. Further away from her as the clock starts ticking. [Malevolent Shadow]: ¡°Phantasmagoria!¡± An illusion once again. [Replica]: ¡°Hrnnngh.¡± [Replica]: ¡°Hrrrraaaaaaaaagh!¡± She teleported behind malevolent shadow, but it too teleported as well. One of the properties that a Malevolent Shadow has is its complete mimicry to the original. It can be as useless or as helpful as it can be depending on the caster. The two made it outside and there, Replica finds both Siola on a separate area of the sky. [Siola x Malevolent Shadow]: ¡°Cosmic Aperture!¡± A wormhole appears on both areas, one leads towards a gloomy place, and another is place filled with several portals, ¡°Damn it all!¡±, she bets everything on the version of Siola entering the wormhole leading towards several portals but then, she disappears and the wormhole is closed. Replica has been transferred to the beginning of a Traveler¡¯s journey, and now there are a number of them staring her from the ground. That was the malevolent shadow. Her one eye twitching. Behind the reflection of those eyes is where the sealed woman is. Suddenly, Replica turns into blocks of cubes as the woman¡¯s eyes turns dark brown, a much normal one. [???]: ¡°Heheh, I could¡¯ve just wait. So impatient.¡± [???]: ¡°At least you now know what to do. Sorry about this, Siola.¡± Eyes closed. She starts murmuring in soft tone. On the other end of the spectrum, Siola bumps her head on a wall. ¡°Ouch.¡± She gets a hold of herself. The wormhole she conjured got her to this prison cell where water drips from the crevices of the wall. [???]: ¡°Um, hello?¡± A young woman in a rag. [Siola]: ¡°Hello there, sorry to interrupt your prologue, gimme just a moment here.¡± She teleports herself out of the prison. [???]: ¡°Eh? Wait! What am I supposed to¡ª.¡± She continues to walk without looking back. There are numerous numbers of people in the same predicament as that young woman. All wearing dirty rags. Siola stands out like a sore thumb especially when she takes flight and passes them by. Confusion sparks among them. [Man 1]: ¡°Eh?¡± [Man 2]: ¡°What the hell is that?¡± [Woman 1]: ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± [Man 3]: ¡°Is that an NPC?¡± [Man 4]: ¡°There an event going on?¡± [Woman 2]: ¡°Never seen that before.¡± Siola speeds up, ¡°Prison Realm.¡± [Siola]: ¡®Hmm, it¡¯s only been a short while ago, but I remember the time I was trying to escape this place with those old men. I wonder how they¡¯re doing right now.¡¯ Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. She opens a menu window, messages. [Siola]: ¡®Both of them are still online, but why won¡¯t Kurira answer already, that bitch. Well, at least I know Rakuri is alright, but come on now.¡¯ [Siola]: ¡°First things first.¡± The clock behind her disappears as she reaches the West Gate of the Prison. An enormous one, and in front of it lies its guardians. One is a spear-wielding heavily armored demon with a tail, Avarice, and another is a dark priestess with a large eerie cross hovering behind her back, Malice. Both of them notices her coming closer before landing in front of them. [Avarice]: ¡°Luosa?¡± [Siola]: ¡°Avarice, Malice. Oh, it¡¯s so good to see you two again.¡± [Avarice]: ¡°Where in the world have you been?!¡± [Siola]: ¡°Wait! First! I just want to make sure, is Madam Replica here?¡± The two look at each other, and there, Avarice took a step as she lifts her spear, aiming it at Siola, ¡°Why don¡¯t you explain yourself first, Luosa?¡± [Siola]: ¡°Nooooo! Wait, seriously! Madam Replica chased me just now, she was clearly out for blood and I was wondering if it was really her!¡± [Avarice]: ¡°What?¡± [Malice]: ¡°Nonsense, your name alone would protect you, as is your immortal power for being a Traveler.¡± Shattering voice coming from the beautiful woman even though she speaks her sentences softly. Hearing it, shuts Siola¡¯s mouth, ¡®WOaaaaaaaaagh, her voice is like thisssssssss?! Hnnngh, she was such a sweet woman but woah! She¡¯s terrifying when she¡¯s angry!¡¯ [Avarice]: ¡°¡­¡± [Siola]: ¡°¡­¡± [Malice]: ¡°You lied to us.¡± [Siola]: ¡°Noo, you can¡¯t put that on me, you two were the first one to misunderstood and I just went along with it.¡± [Malice]: ¡°Your tone has become more confident now I see.¡± Siola takes a huge breath and let it out. [Siola]: ¡°For the short time we spent together, I truly am¡ª.¡± Her eyes widened as her chest suddenly beats hard. The two surprised by the sudden change on Siola¡¯s expression, but that¡¯s not just her. [Man 1]: ¡°Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh?!¡± [Man 2]: ¡°Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!!¡± [Woman 1]: ¡°Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!¡± [Avarice]: ¡°What is this?¡± Siola falling to her knees, ¡°Hnnngh?!¡± Malice quickly tends to her. Investigating, trying to see analyze what is going on with her. [Malice]: ¡°Luosa, what is it?¡± [Malice]: ¡°Avarice!¡± Avarice quickly lifts her tail and aim the tip at the center of her back. Sensing the anomaly that is weakening Siola¡¯s body, ¡°Her life force is being drained. No, even more than that.¡± [Malice]: ¡°Madam Goolag, now!¡± Avarice wraps them both with her tail and all three are teleported to a room full of books and alchemical ingredients. All warm in color. On the other end of the room lies Siola cutting a piece of her own finger to a platter, it turns into a black goo. [Siola-Goolag]: ¡°What is this? Coming here without permission while bringing a stranger of all things. You must¡¯ve lost your¡ª.¡± Her eyes widened after seeing Siola falling, but Malice caught her. [Siola-Goolag]: ¡°Luosa?¡± [Malice]: ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with her.¡± Goolag turns into a black slime as her voice becomes deeper and echoing. Inspecting Siola as she is convulsing, ¡°Explain.¡± [Avarice]: ¡°Her life force and Mana are being drained.¡± [Avarice]: ¡°The same thing seems to be happening with all the other travelers. They are all screaming in pain.¡± [Goolag]: ¡°And yet, she is not? But more than that, this is¡­¡± Siola¡¯s eyes switching back and forth between the regular form and a pitch black one. [Goolag]: ¡°The Abyss.¡± [Avarice & Malice]: ¡°!!!¡± Taking the form of Siola once more. [Siola-Goolag]: ¡°No, the Abyss is not taking anything. Something else is interfering with her transformation, but there¡¯s also another¡­ what is this¡­¡± [Siola-Goolag]: ¡°This¡­ unsettling yet familiar power.¡± [Avarice]: ¡°Can you help her?¡± [Siola-Goolag]: ¡°Yes, but¡­¡± She stood and take a step back. Staring at Siola as her eyes becomes pitch black, but then, she shudders when it changes back. She stops convulsing and drops to the ground. [Malice]: ¡°Madam?¡± [Siola-Goolag]: ¡°Leave her. It¡¯ll all come to pass.¡± Avarice and Malice looks at each other once more before shifting to Goolag as her fist clenches. Her gaze towards Siola remains unshakable. She saw something inside Siola, something other than the one she has planted. The feeling alone is enough reason for her not to assist her. When Siola¡¯s eyes open, she found herself in a pink dark room. Eyes opened wide as she quickly lifts herself up. Her clothes are different. Instead of the usual black and red, it is now grey and black. Eyes looking around swiftly before turning to the windowed wall, a balcony. ¡®This feeling¡­¡¯ As she walks towards it, she raises her hand trying to conjure a familiar thing. ¡°?!¡± ¡°The hell?¡± Another one, but nothing. ¡°Where in the hell is the status window?¡± Her heart started racing, she enters the balcony and sees the gloomy forest, but the moon in the sky continues to calm her down. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°No way, right?¡± She jumps in place. ¡°?!¡± ¡°Haha. Come on now, stop joking around. Did someone debuff me or something?¡± She jumps in place again. Her attempts to take flight failed once more. Putting her arms and palms forward, she took a large breath, ¡°Firebolt!¡± Nothing. ¡°Light Spear!¡± ¡°Psionic Lance!¡± Her heart racing once more, she closes her eyes. Keeping her stress level low. She opens them once more and muttered, ¡°Bell Tolls.¡± Upon uttering that, she found herself in the presence of the enormously gigantic creature of which she has visited the day prior. [Siola]: ¡°Kita?¡± [Kita]: ¡°A shift to the balance caused by the intruder.¡± [Siola]: ¡°I couldn¡¯t use any of my power, and the System is gone! You know what happened?¡± [Kita]: ¡°Indeed. What you have obtained remains, but you have only been using them through the Divine System. Think of it as a means of travel. The divine system is a tool that connects you to your destination instantly, bypassing the process itself.¡± [Siola]: ¡°Right, divine, whatever. Wait, Divine? did I get cursed by Armalia or something? Did she take away the system from me?¡± [Kita]: ¡°I have not sensed a presence of the Ruler of the Divine Order. The Divine System, although borrows the name of the order is not connected whatsoever to the goddess herself.¡± [Siola]: ¡°Does this apply to items and such?¡± [Kita]: ¡°Of course.¡± [Siola]: ¡°Damn, so I can¡¯t leave this world then. There has got to be a way to¡ª argh, I can¡¯t protect myself without my power, Kita.¡± [Kita]: ¡°Your power and the Divine System has never been a separate entity. Not all is lost. You still have yourself, and you will rise to your potential even without it.¡± Her brows furrowed and in a blink of an eye, she returns to the balcony, gazing at the moon. There¡¯s nothing on her back, the spell she cast never summoned the giant clock. [???]: ¡°Luosa.¡± A crackling voice ever so disturbing, but a familiar one. Donned a black cloak, a piercing dot of silver flame for an eye. A skeleton.