Darkness had already fallen, swallowing the last threads of sunlight—and with them, every trace of hope for life within these ruins.
Silence reigned, broken only by faint, shallow breathing that betrayed its owner despite attempts to suppress it.
Cold gnawed at Anas's paralyzed side as he lay within a hollow formed in a partially collapsed building.
'Painful.'
Although the venom's effect was limited to paralyzing his movement—perhaps because his enhanced regeneration allowed his body to adapt to it faster—whatever that massive insect had produced was still potent.
His body felt unbearably heavy, and sudden spasms seized his muscles from time to time.
'Damn it. Looks like the many wounds let too much venom in. Why do I always end up helpless? This is… irritating.'
He thought inwardly as he shifted his gaze to check on Naivy beside him.
He did that from time to time to make sure she was safe… and on the other hand, he was trying—
Trying to understand what he was seeing.
Every time he looked at her, he saw threads—almost invisible ones.
If not for the eye he had obtained from the beast, he wouldn't have noticed them at all.
'So this eye doesn't just see in the dark or at long distances… it sees more than that. That explains some things like—…wait! Am I about to drift off again? Focus!'
As he tried to connect the threads, he finally decided to postpone it.
For now, he simply concluded that the eye was worth its price.
Though when he remembered the pain he endured to obtain it, he frowned as much as his paralysis allowed.
Still, he didn't change his mind.
The eye was useful.
Right now, all he needed to focus on was hiding his presence from the monsters.
Suddenly—
'Hehe~ Aren't I amazing? Come on, thank me for giving you all this!'
Priscilla's voice echoed inside his head.
'You're annoying, deceitful, a liar. But… I'll admit you're not that bad.'
'Hmmm… annoying? Who? Me? Did you forget that you and I are one? Insulting me is insulting yourself. But I'll accept your insults—just because they're from you.'
She paused briefly, as if waiting for him to respond.
He didn't.
She sighed and continued:
'I'll admit that everything you get from me comes with a price… let's say it's a price equal to what you gain. And I lied when I said I admitted the cost of your choice—I only told half the truth. But never mind that. I like your choices.'
Anas tried to lift his hand to wipe his face, but struggled so much that his annoyance doubled.
When he finally managed to place his hand on his face, he heard Priscilla suppressing a laugh.
'You're trash. Maybe because I'm trash too. But yes… you're my best choice. If I hadn't chosen you, I'd have been dead long ago.'
He stared upward—or rather, at what remained of a ceiling: nothing but collapsed stones.
But he wasn't really looking at the ceiling.
He was looking at the stars.
'This world is vast. The more I think I understand, the more I realize I know nothing. It would be a waste to die before finding even a few answers to my questions. But what I've gained so far… isn't enough.'
A glimmer appeared in his eyes.
Not determination.
Not hope.
It was the glimmer of someone who had finally found something to do.
'I need to train. Train my abilities. Train my body to react faster. And many other things.'
Priscilla understood.
That was why he had been training his eye to catch the smallest movements.
He wanted to evolve further.
At that moment, Anas felt her smile within him.
'Finally talking about training. Since you won't be able to move anytime soon… I'll have you train while lying down.'
Her voice brimmed with restrained excitement, while Anas felt confusion at her words.
Training while lying down?
Normally, that would sound ridiculous.
But he had read that the greatest fighters battle their enemies within their minds—and strangely, it worked.
After everything that had happened, Anas decided never to underestimate anything again.
Still, there was one problem—
'And who will protect Naivy while I train?'
Priscilla laughed.
Then a familiar sensation overtook him—the feeling of being dragged into darkness.
Or perhaps it only felt fast because he had grown used to it.
It didn't matter.
When he opened his eyes, Priscilla stood before him, smiling widely, her sharp teeth visible.
'Worry about yourself.'
She stepped forward, waving her hand as if scattering his concern.
'Remember those threads wrapped around her?'
Anas recalled the faint threads coiling around Naivy.
'Those threads protect her far better than you could in your current state. Now—get ready. Training begins.'
She stared at him seriously.
Anas tilted his head.
'What? I haven't agreed yet.'
A sly smile spread across her face as she gestured for him to look behind—
But before he could turn, every instinct in his body screamed at him to move.
From the corner of his eye, he caught something rushing toward him at high speed.
He twisted his torso, attempting a sharp maneuver to the right—
Thud.
The hilt of a sword slammed into his side with a dull impact, sending him flying as he struggled to brace himself against the ground.
Before he could process anything, Priscilla clapped.
'Looks like I chose for you. Did you forget the second condition of choosing me? Our bond grows over time. After all… we are one.'
Anas had no room to entertain her nonsense.
He stared at the one who attacked him—
In confusion.
It looked exactly like him.
Before he could ask, Priscilla answered:
'What better training than facing yourself? So…'
She paused, letting the meaning sink in.
'Your training… is to fight yourself.'