Almost an hour had passed since the Heirs managed to trick the superhumans. They put on a huge show just so a crowd would beat three injured people to death, and they even abused some corpses afterward. The reason behind it was still unknown to me. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't find a clear motive for what they did. I got to the point where I started believing that group of lunatics caused a massacre purely on a whim.
"Mmm… this tastes good."
After witnessing that massacre, I went as far away as I could, looking for a quiet place where I could finally sleep. As I walked, I listened to people talking. Some of them were discussing what happened at the medical shop; they still believed there had been mutants inside. But the farther I went, the fewer people brought it up. It seemed like they didn't care enough once they weren't close to the conflict. The closest thing I heard was stuff like:
"How the hell did they not notice those mutants?"
"Where were the doctors in charge of that place?"
"So that's where all those screams were coming from."
"What a bunch of drama over a few mutants. I fought that monster earlier, seriously."
I kept walking until I reached an area where no one was talking about mutants or the Heirs anymore. Thanks to that, I could hear other conversations—and that's how I learned a couple things about where I was.
I was in the superhuman sector, not too far from Elarion Station and the residential zone. This place was basically a refugee camp for people who needed medical help and things like that… Wait. I think that's literally the definition of a refugee camp. Whatever. It had been set up in a park—or rather, what was left of a park. There were no benches, no trees, not even grass. Just dirt. And from what I'd heard, it was like that because the serpent monster had passed through this part of the city.
Also, from what I could gather, the Defense League had established a quarantine across the entire residential zone. No one could enter or leave. To make sure of it, they disabled the nearby portals and placed mid-rank heroes along the borders of the area. Which meant that, at least for now, I had no way of getting back to my apartment.
I kept walking until exhaustion and hunger finally beat me.
"Nom… nom…"
Now I'm eating a bowl of oatmeal, sitting by a campfire with other people.
"…It tastes good."
—Could you explain it to me one more time?
I thought, knowing my trusted companion would hear me.
BEEP.
[Of course, Mr. Robert.]
That floating cube—who had been by my side ever since I appeared in that cave—back then, it shone so brightly it lit my path and guided me through the darkness. Now it had lost its glow. It turned completely black, hiding from the light in the shadows.
[The word Ka'li is a name used to refer to parasites that come from other dimensions. These beasts often attempt to invade our universe to consume the energy and matter that exist within it.
If even one of these parasites managed to enter our dimension, its presence would affect space and time in an almost irreversible way. That's why exterminators like you must prevent that at all costs.]
—So that's what the job is about.
The explanation sounds pretty simple compared to what it feels like to live through it.
—So when I get one of those missions…
[You must respond.]
—In other words…
[Enter another dimension, where you must intercept the Ka'li before it reaches our dimension by fracturing the "fictitious ether core."]
—…
—What is the fictitious ether core?
[For the third time, I cannot answer that.]
—Why not? You're supposed to answer all my questions.
[The data related to that core is classified, especially for novice-rank exterminators.]
—Novice rank?
Beep.
[Roberto K. Demigurus
Rank: Novice
ID: 56973226J
Age: 16
Species: Human
Grade: 1
Achievements:
—Faced a Ka'li]
—Oh… novice rank…
In response to my questions, the cube projected a screen filled with information about me. I think I'd seen it before, back in the cave, but it was different. Now I had an achievement.
—Grade 1…
[It is the lowest grade among novices. The highest is number 3, then comes the beginner rank.]
—So what rank will you be able to answer all my questions at?
[High advanced rank. Our classification is the same one used by the hero system. You are six levels away from reaching that point.]
—Alright, alright… Hey, one more thing: why don't heroes do this job? Wouldn't it be better if someone who can move mountains dealt with these parasites?
[No.]
—No what?
[They can't.]
—Why can't they?!
[I cannot answer that.]
—Go to hell—
"Y-you…"
Alright. This cube is driving me insane—so much that I almost cursed it out loud instead of in my head. And I'm sick of not knowing anything about what's happening around me.
I sigh.
First the serpent, then the Ka'li, then the Heirs.
I don't understand why so many disasters are happening to me one after another.
I try to comfort myself by telling myself that at least I'm still… at least I'm alive, but… I feel tied down. Bound by chains I can't even see.
I don't even know how I'm supposed to get home with the portals inactive. I don't have my phone either, so I can't call my family and tell them I'm okay. They must be worried sick. If I survive this, Mom will kill me for sure.
—I wish I could stop thinking… just for a moment. I wish I could turn my brain off.
...…
Without even realizing it, I set the bowl of oatmeal—now empty—on the ground.
Then I closed my eyes.
I didn't know what I was doing, or why I was doing it. I felt controlled by something outside of me. I tried to resist, but exhaustion made me give in.
I closed my eyes.
.....
….
..
.
"Makratiz…"
***
"Huh?"
I woke up in a strange place. A beautiful sky shone in a bright, pale blue, decorated by white clouds… but there was no sun. Or at least, not one I could see.
"Where am I…?"
I got up from the ground. It was covered in water; standing up, it reached above my ankles, yet I couldn't feel any wetness.
—Is it an illusion?
I thought.
I looked up, searching for something—anything—that could help me get my bearings, but I found nothing. There was only water, stretching toward the horizon where it blended into the sky.
"It's good to see you again, Mr. Robert."
"W-what?!"
A familiar voice suddenly sounded behind me. I spun around, instantly searching for its source.
"Y… it's you…"
That huge figure wrapped in a black cloak, wearing a crown-shaped helmet, was familiar.
"You're the Specter."
"Specter… yes, that's what they call me. I almost forgot again. Thanks for reminding me."
"Ah… yeah. You're welcome."
I spoke nervously. I felt intimidated by the giant—nearly three meters tall—standing in front of me.
"Where are we?"
"In your head."
"There's nothing here."
…
"…"
"Damn…"
"And what are you doing here?"
"You called me. Or rather… your subconscious did."
"Heh… what a joke."
Looks like I don't even control my own mind anymore.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I am. It's just that… I don't know. I think I'm thinking about too many things."
"Like what?"
"Everything. Just… everything."
"Mmm. And how many of those things are under your control?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Walk with me, Robert."
The Specter started walking, and I followed.
He didn't seem to be heading anywhere in particular. He just kept walking, stopping occasionally to look up at the sky.
"It's beautiful here."
"Thanks…"
I said it ironically, since this whole place was basically a part of me.
"The sky and the ground connect in perfect harmony, and the clouds are lovely."
The Specter turned to me. His bright, golden eyes stared straight into mine.
"I see nothing wrong with your mind."
"That's good, right?"
"Very good. It means there's nothing wrong with your mind… but your heart—"
BLINK
Everything happened so suddenly. The sky and the water vanished. The bright environment turned into complete darkness, with no light at all except for the glow of the Specter's eyes.
"Your heart carries many burdens within it."
"Where are we…? Wait… we've been here before. When we first met."
"This is your heart, Robert."
"My heart…"
"Snif… snif."
In the deep darkness, I heard sobbing. It was definitely a child… he was crying.
"Mom…"
"Hey, are you—?"
"No."
Before I could move toward the sound, the Specter stopped me.
"Is there a child there?"
…
"Maybe… he needs help."
"No, Robert. Not now."
"…"
"If you want to help him, we need to start from the last point."
BLINK
With a sudden flash of light, a large structure appeared in front of us—shaped like an old flat-screen TV.
"Look closely, Robert. What do you see?"
The screen turned on, lighting us both up, then showing images that I knew all too well.
On the screen, a crowd of people ran desperately toward a nearly destroyed shop.
They threw themselves forward like wild animals, climbing over each other with one goal: to kill anything still alive inside.
THOOM!
The sound of every удар hit me like a punch.
THOOM!
And as I watched, I couldn't stop thinking about it.
THOOM!
That moment… when I couldn't do anything.
THOOM!
"What do you see, Robert?"
THOOM!
"I couldn't save them…"
THOOM!
"Why couldn't you?"
THOOM!
"I… I don't know."
"Don't say that."
THOOM!
"Enough…"
THOOM!!!
"ENOUGH!"
Before I even realized it, I shouted with an intensity I never thought I had. My heart was pounding, and sweat formed on my forehead.
"I couldn't… I couldn't even say a single damn word."
"Why do you think you couldn't?"
"I was scared."
"No, Robert. Damn it—no."
The Specter stepped closer until he was at my level.
He looked me in the eyes again and said:
"You already have the answer. Your mind knows it, but your heart denies it. Desperation and fear are clouding your judgment."
The specter spoke to me with firmness; every word was charged with the purest truth one could imagine. That is why it hurt—why it hurt to accept that, even now, after I have freed myself from the masks and the gravism, I am still afraid. I still fear being hurt, feeling powerless, and even life itself.
"That's… no… how—? How do I free myself from this fear that consumes me from within? How do I rid myself of the doubts that keep me from acting? And how… how can I feel the same way I did when I was in that cave?"
That cave… the place where I stood on the brink of death more than once; where I faced dangers I never believed I would see with my own eyes, and even challenged an entity from another dimension. In that place, I felt invincible. I felt truly alive.
"How can I feel the same way I did back then?"
"By taking control of your own life."
"That sounds terrifying."
"Mmm. Where did all that bravery you showed in the cave go? Did you leave it back there?"
This strange being, despite his intimidating appearance, cared about me. And I wanted to know why—why he cared so much. The only answer I could come up with was that he wanted something from me… and he wouldn't get it unless I cooperated.
"Why are you helping me?"
"Again, you keep asking questions you already know the answer to."
"I live—no. I exist to save humans. That includes you. The reason I help you is because that is my purpose."
"Listen to me, Robert. I see the fear and sorrow consuming you from the inside, but I also saw your will. You must find a purpose and free yourself from the burdens in your heart."
"Now go—and solve your problems, one by one."
***
[Oh, good morning, Mr. Robert.]
"Ugh…"
After that long conversation with the Specter, I woke up.
When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by the floating cube.
"How long was I asleep?"
I wasn't aware of my surroundings, so I forgot I was supposed to speak with my thoughts and not out loud.
[3 minutes and 46 seconds.]
—Good. It wasn't long.
[…]
—So you know who I was with, right? You should know.
[The Specter.]
—Yeah. He helped me realize something.
[And what would that be?]
—That I'm being watched.
[…]
The cube stayed silent, but I kept talking.
—Lucius's message said I wouldn't be able to talk about anything related to the job, or anything connected to it.
—At first I thought it was the Heirs and their magic, but lots of people could talk long before I could.
—And speaking of them… before they left, one of them was staring right at me. He even greeted me. And when he walked away, I got my voice back.
—And like Lucius said: "You can only speak about these matters with your closest allies and your deadliest enemies."
—So what I think is that what's happening here is part of the job. There's a mission, isn't there?
[That is… interesting, Mr. Robert. But why do you believe you are being watched?]
—You tell me.
[What do you mean?]
—Why did I wake up in that shop? Who brought me there?
[It could have been anyone.]
—Doesn't matter, because when I woke up, you didn't say anything about the bodies or the magic inside them.
[That could have been because—]
—Stop making excuses.
—I might be ignorant about some things, but I know how magic works.
To apply a technique to an object or a person, you have to cast the effect directly onto the body.
—Someone had to be inside that shop for that puppet trick to work on the injured. And it couldn't have been after I woke up.
—You would've detected their magic when you ran that scan. When we were silenced, you would've warned me about the spell being applied behind my back. And if you didn't… then that's even more proof that you're hiding something from me right now.
[…]
—Lucius also said someone would come and try to kill me. Is it them? The ones watching me right now?
[No.
It's not them.]
[It's me.]
—What?
[I'm very sorry, Mr. Robert. They wanted to see you under pressure… to find your limit.]
—Who did?
[Your superiors.]
—But… the Heirs. Those lunatics too…?
[What the Heirs did was supposed to happen. You were added at the last moment.]
—Why?
[Mr. Lucius said it: if you weren't useful, you were to be eliminated.]
—So I'm not useful?
[Your mind was not in sync with your heart, and that is extremely dangerous for people who do this work. That's why they wanted to test you. Superhumans killing people in front of you would have only been the beginning—more elaborate trials meant to measure your mental endurance under pressure.]
It was almost exactly what the Specter told me… except he gave me the solution I needed right now.
"Tell me."
I spoke out loud so whoever was spying on me could hear me clearly.
Tap. Tap.
I heard footsteps circling me near the campfire, where there were barely any people left.
I felt eyes on my back. I don't know how, but I knew those people weren't normal.
"My mind and my heart… what do they look like right now?"
I couldn't back down. I accepted this job because I was promised I could keep living despite my apparent death, and I kept going only because I wanted to preserve that life they gave me.
That is my purpose: to live.
But wanting isn't enough. I have to fight for it.
That's what I want now. I want to prove that I'm willing to keep risking my life in order to stay alive.
[…]
[Mr. Ro—]
BEEP.
[Novice Exterminator Robert K. Demigurus: a mission has been assigned to you, located 698 meters from your current position.
You will be provided with the necessary equipment to face a Category 1 Ka'li threat.
If you fail to complete the mission within one hour, you will be terminated by decision of your superiors, and your position will be replaced by the nearest exterminator.]
And that was the moment when, for the first time, I took control of my life… but not of my still-uncertain fate.