“I’m… I’m okay.”
He bit his lips.
The pain increased over time.
He started to hear voices.
HefoundUsWeFAILEDwefaiLEDheNOticEduSHenoTicEDHenOticEd.
The noise of Darkness grew louder and louder.
Neo tried to suppress the screams.
The Status Screen glitched.
It shook.
The noises grew chaotic.
He maintained his focus on the Status Screen.
And.
It changed.
[One stacks of Immortal left]
[Time until +1 stack: 16 hours and 15 minutes.]
From two to one.
HEhehehehehHEheheYoufoundUSyouFoundusItWASFUNItWASfunletsPlaYAgaginAGainagaINAgAIn
The noises disappeared.
Neo was left gasping for breath.
His clothes were drenched with sweat.
He raised his eyes and looked at Charlotte.
“The… aura of… darkness… I was releasing…. Do I still have… it?”
“It disappeared just now.”
Her answer horrified Neo.
He had been, since the moment he stepped on the mountain, under the illusion of Darkness.
Had he killed himself twice, thinking he had 2 stacks left, when in truth, he had only one stack remaining….
Neo took deep breaths to calm himself.
It took him a few minutes.
“I’m sorry for acting weirdly,” he said.
“Have you calmed down?” Charlotte asked.
“Yes.”
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“I was under the influence of Darkness until now.”
“I see.” Charlotte’s gaze sharpened. “Back to the topic, how did your masteries increase?”
Paimon spoke before Neo could.
“The matters of the Underworld cannot be revealed to the souls of living.”
Charlotte and Elizabeth turned to Paimon.
…They could see her.
“You were the reason he died a Spiritual Death?” Elizabeth asked.
“Partially, yes.”
Elizabeth clicked her tongue.
And.
Paimon’s body suddenly exploded.
Neo was left stunned.
“Why did you do that?”
“Because she made me angry.”
Elizabeth ignored Neo’s trepidation and looked him in the eye.
“Did she threaten you when you visited the Underworld—”
“Oh my, we have a feisty child here.”
Paimon appeared on Neo’s other shoulder.
“What would you have done if I was really threatening Neo? Attacking me suddenly will put him in danger if you can’t defeat me in one attack—”
Elizabeth clenched her fist.
A small black hole appeared over Paimon’s navel.
It sucked her body inside itself.
“I just need to kill you in one attack.”
“You can’t kill what isn’t alive.”
The skeleton doll appeared above Neo’s head.
It was as if she was always there.
Paimon smiled.
“Child, you need to think before you act. Or your actions will be the death of you one day.”
Elizabeth’s eyebrow twitched.
She was about to attack again until Charlotte called her out.
“Eliz, stop.”
Charlotte’s word made Elizabeth turn to her.
“We need to think calmly before doing anything. That being is from Underworld.”
Her words changed nothing.
Elizabeth was still raring to go.
She suddenly looked at Neo, realizing he would be caught up if they fought without holding back, and returned to her seat with a fiery gaze.
“Thank you for stopping.
“Before you misunderstand, all of my actions were done upon Neo’s request,” Paimon explained.
“He asked to be killed?” Elizabeth questioned.
“No, and I didn’t kill him either.
“I was partially responsible, yes, but he knew the risks beforehand, and he always had the choice to back out,” Paimon said.
A heavy aura appeared in the room as Elizabeth tried to control her anger.
She turned to Neo.
“Why didn’t you back out?”
“I was training.”
His words made her go silent.
She asked after a few seconds.
“How many times have you died while you ‘train’?”
“A few times? I don’t remember the exact number.”
“…”
Suddenly, Neo felt as if he was being stared at by a predator.
His back was drenched in sweat and his teeth clattered.
“Neo….”
Elizabeth spoke.
There was no warmth in her eyes.
It was the gaze of a tyrant.
“Have you let the fact you have a little bit of talent get to your head?”
Neo couldn’t move.
He had trouble breathing.
“Stop your training.”
“I… wo-won’t…”
“I’ll kill you if you refuse.”
Neo bore the immense pressure and smiled.
“Well, I’m Immortal.”
“You think that is fooling anyone?”
The pressure weighing him down doubled.
“There has to be a condition to your Immortality.
“A limit to the number of resurrections? Or do you need to sacrifice something?
“Maybe you need to complete tasks for the Grim Reapers and they revive you in return?”
Blood trickled down from the corner of Neo’s lips.
His bones creaked.
“Whatever it is, your Immortality isn’t invincible.
“I just need to kill you enough times to make sure you stay dead.
“So,
“Tell me.
“Will you stop your training or not?”
“We can always try if I’m really Immortal or not,” Neo answered.
Just when he thought he would be squashed completely, the pressure disappeared.
“Then, do as you wish.”
Elizabeth stood up and turned around to leave.
“Wait,” Neo called out to her. “That bag. Does it have the item I asked for?”
“This bag?”
She pointed to the bag.
“Yes, the trident is inside it.”
“Thanks for bringing it to me—”
“Who said I’m giving this to you?”
“…That was the deal.”
“It was, but have you seen a Tyrant keep their side of deal?”
Neo was left stunned.
Why was she being so petty?
Watching her departing figure, Neo realized she might be angrier than he thought.
‘Maybe I should skip her class for today.’
Elizabeth stopped at the door.
She tapped the necklace on her neck and returned to the disguise of Anna.
“Don’t even think about bunking.
“I’ll help you train as much as you want. So look forward to the class.”
She left.
Neo covered his face.
Charlotte chuckled.
“Since I’ve confirmed what caused your Spiritual Death, I won’t pry into your matters anymore.
“I’ll be taking my leave.”
She turned around just as she about to step out of the doors.
“Eliz likes plushies.”
“…?”
After Charlotte left, Neo was left massaging his temples.
“Is she telling me to gift plushies to Elizabeth?”
No way.
Wouldn’t that backfire?
He could imagine himself getting blown by a gravity attack after he decided to gift a plushie to Elizabeth.
“I should just go to the class.”
Neo stood up.
He walked down the corridor and spoke to Paimon,