I advanced through the hallway. With every step I took, I sank deeper and deeper into the ominous darkness that filled it.
That hallway, which just a short while ago had seemed to shine in an almost divine way, now looked exactly like what I imagined the lair of a terrible monster would look like. The reason for such an abrupt change was fairly easy to explain. It was all because of the walls. Thirty meters back, they had a beautiful white color that, even in the absence of light, made the entire area glow. But here, less than twenty meters away from the Ka'li, the glow of the walls had been devoured by what appeared to be terrifying black branches.
"Is this a forest or what?"
I joked, trying to get the cube's attention, but it didn't respond, or at least, not in the way I expected.
[Mmm…]
"Mmm? What the hell does that mean?"
I asked.
[…Yes.]
The cube replied.
I would have liked to get an answer that… I don't know, I would have been satisfied with anything that could distract me from what I was experiencing.
"Cube?"
Suddenly, the cube stopped. I realized this when I had already moved two meters away from it.
"What's wrong?"
I asked in confusion.
[This is as far as I go.]
"Huh…?"
I was left in shock. I couldn't believe what the cube had just said, and, in fact, I was forced to ask it to repeat itself, just to make sure I hadn't heard it wrong.
"What do you mean by that?"
[I can't get any closer to the Ka'li. It would be too risky for me.]
"…"
I said nothing. I didn't dare joke or ask anything. I simply stared at the cube with my eyes wide open.
[Take everything you need now, not later.]
Beep.
[Necronian Armament:
-Necronian Sword.
-Necronian Axe.
-Necronian Revolver: No ammunition.
-Necronian Grenade: 1.
-Necronian Camouflage Bracer.]
The cube projected a new hologram in front of me. It displayed the names of all the weapons I had used during this mission.
"Alright, give me the sword, the axe, the bracer, and…."
I was about to ask for the Necronian grenade, but then I remembered the absurd number of entities on the first floor, as well as the hero who was still being devoured by them.
[Would you like anything else?]
The cube asked.
I wanted to use the grenade against the Ka'li. I thought it could be very useful, but my conscience twisted every time I thought about the hero. He was in this situation because of me, which was why I had promised myself I would save him, and apparently, without realizing it, I had become too committed to that promise.
-If I get distracted or start hesitating, I'm screwed…
Feeling bad for someone else could lead me straight to death. I can't take that risk.
"So… just that…"
I said reluctantly.
Beep.
All of a sudden, the weapons I had asked for appeared in my hands, and the bracer appeared on my wrist. These objects were heavier than I expected, to the point that I struggled to remain standing while carrying them.
"Ek…! This… this is not good at all…"
I said while struggling not to fall.
[Well… good luck.]
The cube said as it moved away.
"Huh? Don't screw with me! You're seriously leaving?"
I shouted at the cube, so surprised that I lost my balance and nearly fell flat on my face.
[Yes, but don't worry. You already have someone who can help you with this mission.]
"Who are you talking about…?"
I asked, but I immediately realized who it was talking about.
"The Specter. Can he help me?"
[That's his job.]
The cube replied.
[Mine is less complicated. I only have to guide you, take notes, and be a witness.]
-Don't forget the part where you explode like a bomb.
I thought to myself, completely forgetting that the cube could hear my thoughts.
[I only do that when I am ordered to or when you fail your mission.]
The cube's response was cold. It clearly didn't want to continue this conversation, and, in fact, I didn't feel like talking to it anymore either, not after everything that had happened regarding Nathan and that explosive thing, or whatever it was called.
"Are you there, Specter?"
I called out to my second and quietest companion.
"…"
I didn't receive an immediate response. For a brief moment, I became alarmed, but then I realized that my body was accumulating too much tension. Then I knew what I had to do.
I closed my eyes and began to think about what my heart and my mind wanted. Both were scared, but above all, they both wanted to put an end to all of this once and for all.
-That is… the caprice I need.
I controlled my breathing. I inhaled and exhaled slowly, causing my heartbeat to gradually slow down. Then, when the tension completely left my body, I felt the weight of the objects I was carrying begin to decrease, until they seemed to weigh no more than a feather.
"Are you there, Specter?"
I called out to the Specter again, and this time…
I'm always here.
He answered me.
It's not like I have anywhere else to go.
I practically live inside your head.
"That's… good, right?"
Depends on how well you take care of your mind.
"I see…"
I wasn't interested in continuing this conversation, so I quickly changed the subject to the most important thing.
"The Ka'li…"
I see it.
The Specter interrupted me halfway through my sentence. What he said sent chills down my spine and caused my body to start trembling.
"W… what?"
It's right in front of you, about 7 meters away.
"Seriously?"
No. I think it's actually 5 meters.
-Five meters ahead. That's where the Ka'li is.
I turned my gaze forward, expecting to see the Ka'li hidden in the darkness.
"Huh?"
But, contrary to my expectations, there was nothing in front of me. It wasn't that the place was too dark to see; I could see perfectly well, and there was absolutely nothing there.
"I can't see it…"
Of course you can't see it.
The Specter said.
Don't you remember what I told you before?
FUUUAAAAASSSSSH!
Suddenly, a figure made entirely of darkness rose from within my shadow.
"¡…!"
When it finally emerged, I could identify it as some kind of dark being wrapped in a black robe and wearing a helmet of the same color, with spikes on top. The latter rose toward the sky, resembling the shape of a crown. That was the Specter.
I can help you depending on the kind of access you allow me to have.
"What do you mean by that?"
Look ahead, Robert.
I did as the Specter asked, but the hallway was still empty.
You have to say the word.
"Huh? What word are you talking about?"
The word your soul screams.
I had no idea what the Specter was referring to, but as soon as I began thinking about it, something inside me awakened.
The world around me seemed to slow down as my senses began to go wild.
"…Mak."
For a brief moment, I felt my consciousness losing control of my body and becoming detached from it, until a mysterious force dragged me back and forced me to make a strange sound with my voice.
"Makr… mak!"
Looks like your subconscious already knows.
Turn your gaze forward and get ready.
Still feeling the pressure of that force, I raised my guard, holding the broken sword in my right hand and the axe in my left.
I want you to think about the perfect conditions for you.
"Conditions?"
I asked, but the Specter ignored my question and immediately said:
First, you must allow me to help you. That way, you'll be able to see the Ka'li. Second, time must move more slowly around you. Third, the objects surrounding you will become more fragile. And fourth, your weapons must break that which does not exist. Think about all of that before you begin.
"Huh?"
That was a lot of information, and although processing all of it wasn't a problem for me, the reason behind it still confused me.
"But…"
You're wasting time.
I couldn't argue with that.
I immediately began to think.
-The Specter must help me and allow me to see. Time must move more slowly around me. The objects surrounding me must become more fragile. And my weapons… must break what does not exist…
I repeated all those "conditions" in my head multiple times, until they became almost impossible to forget.
It's time.
The Specter said.
At that moment, I felt the Specter's large hand gently rest on my shoulder.
What is your caprice?
The Specter asked.
As for me, I had no doubt about what I wanted.
"I want to go home…"
I let out a short sigh before continuing.
"And I will, after defeating the Ka'li."
Upon hearing my answer, the Specter let out a brief laugh.
Now, say the word.
I closed my eyes and relaxed my body before saying the word that resonated within me.
"Makratiz."
***
For an instant, the entire world, or perhaps… everything that existed in the universe, chose to remain silent.
During that time, I felt calm, but I could also feel that something was responding to me.
Open your eyes.
The Specter said in his deep voice.
I obeyed without asking any questions.
"¡…!"
When my eyelids finally opened, I found myself face-to-face with a creature straight out of a horror story.
"Oh…"
That thing, approximately 3 meters tall, stared at me with its single, enormous eye, which glowed with an intense golden color, illuminating the darkness that used to fill this hallway.
"Those black branches…"
Those branches that had appeared out of nowhere and covered the walls were the same ones that made up its entire body, giving it a dangerously sharp appearance.
The longer I looked at it, the harder it became for me to comprehend its very existence.
I wondered in my head:
-How can a being like that exist in this world?
That's a good question.
Suddenly, the Specter brought me back to reality with his comment.
And the answer is that, basically, this isn't its true appearance.
"What are you saying? ¡…!"
It was during that brief conversation that I realized I had lowered my guard, so I quickly raised both weapons while taking a step back from the Ka'li.
"…"
For its part, the Ka'li made no movement. It simply stared at me in silence.
"Why isn't it attacking?"
I asked the Specter.
I have no idea.
He replied.
-Damn it…
With only a measly couple of minutes to defeat the Ka'li, standing around thinking without doing anything was a serious waste of my time. However, if I made a bad move because of the pressure of running out of time, I could die in the blink of an eye.
-Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it… FUCK!
With no other choice, I advanced toward the Ka'li without taking my eyes off it for even a moment.
Tap, tap, tap, tap…
I was almost two meters away from the Ka'li. From this distance, it looked much larger than it should have.
"…"
When I stood in front of it, it did nothing. No sudden movement, no threatening sound. It simply stared at me in complete silence.
"Damn it, what are you waiting for?"
I said while staring directly into the Ka'li's eye.
Bzzz…
"¡…!"
Suddenly, a strange noise similar to an electrical discharge reached my ears.
-What was that?
I asked the Specter through my thoughts.
Up.
He answered me.
-Huh? Up?
Look up.
I had just realized that I could no longer see the Ka'li. I raised my gaze toward it again, but this time…
"¡…!"
Its horrible face had moved closer to me, until it was at a dangerously close distance.
Bbbbbbzzzzzzzzzz!
The glow of its single eye began to increase dramatically in intensity. That golden radiance felt… warm.
Before I could realize it, I lowered my guard again, captivated by the strange warmth that radiance gave me, and then I closed my eyes.
BZZZZ!
When I opened them again, the Ka'li had disappeared. In its place, the person standing in front of me was… a human…
"Huh?"
More specifically, it was a young-looking girl with green hair tied into a pair of pigtails.
"E… erm…"
I didn't know what to say or how I was supposed to react to what I was seeing.
While I thought about what to do, she remained still, her head lowered as she stared at her feet.
"Damn…"
With no other options, I chose to approach her.
Tap… tap…
I moved carefully so as not to scare her, and unconsciously, I let go of my sword and left it on the ground.
"Hey… are you alright?"
But just before my hand could touch her shoulder…
FIIIUUSSH!
She grabbed my wrist.
"¡…!"
I tried to pull away immediately, but it was useless. The strength of her grip was too much for me.
"¡Agh! Let go of me!"
And then…
Crack!
A horrifying sound came from my wrist.
That was when I realized that whoever was standing in front of me… wasn't human…
"No… no, no, no, no… NO!"
Panicking, I didn't think twice before swinging the axe at her.
TAK!
But without even looking at me, she stopped my attack with her other hand and, with a swift movement, disarmed me.
Clank.
The axe fell far away from me, leaving me completely defenseless.
Then, the girl released my wrists and grabbed my head from both sides. My skull was subjected to a force impossible for any human to produce.
"No… please…"
I began to plead, as I was now aware of the situation I had gotten myself into.
"L… laa…"
Suddenly, the girl began making sounds with her voice.
"Laa… laaaad… laaaaddddyyyy…."
"What?"
"Maaaarrrrtha…"
Her voice sounded tired, as if she hadn't used it in a very long time.
"Youuu did thiiissss…."
"What?"
That green-haired girl, who until then had remained staring directly at the ground, raised her head, revealing the beautiful appearance of a young woman defiled by multiple wounds and a strange black liquid spread across the skin of her face.
"Youuu…."
But not even all her wounds could compare to what I saw when I raised my gaze.
When my eyes met those two empty sockets, devoid of their respective eyeballs and dripping with that repulsive black liquid, that beautiful girl said:
"You killed her."