Experiment 7, Catastrophe 1

[Why hello there. It has been a while since the last update. Sorry about that, Elden Ring is out. And guess what! 'ba ba bab dum dum drum' you can now ask any questions that you might have. This is the 7th lab chap and as promised I will answer any question you have for me, be that about the novel, it's future or just about how I'm doing. Please enjoy and have a good day.

-Aurhor ✪]

Mitsuna took a few wary steps back.

"Who are you?"

She asked, fearing what Nickolangela said to be true.

"You, I guess."

Mizuki answered

A quick conversation came and went like a storm. Mitsuna was in utter confusion.

The silence of the void was deafening.

"Mi zu ki, that woman said. Like 'them'?"

"Like the pirate yeah, the you before the you now."

"...Speak clearer."

"..."

"..."

"I am you. A previous incarnation. It's really not that uncommon when you think about it."

Seeing Mizuki's relaxed posture, Mitsuna calmed down slightly.

"...It isn't?"

"No. I ended up in this world as a slime at first. And since I was born straight from mana my control and understanding of magic was a lot better than how you ended up, okay that's one question done."

"Hence why I've been told I'm more of a physical fighter? And what was that about a question being 'done?'"

"Yep, wasn't born from mana, wasn't made for magic. And that was just one of the questions I knew you would ask anyway, why you couldn't get a good grasp of mana that is."

Not being pleased by Mizuki already knowing what she might ask, Mitsuna had a lightbulb flash on.

"...Hey. Are you the cause of the glitches in the System?"

"Sudden, but that would be me, yes. You'll remember everything in a few moments."

"What do you mean?"

" "I" will die for good. That is the skill that I had made with the privilege of a title. Determination."

"Remember..."

As Mitsuna was trying to recall the skill description, Mizuki continued her line of thought.

"And regain. That's the one, and "I" am the one that is going to be 'regained'."

Not completely understanding, Mitsuna furrowed her brows as she thought of the worst.

"... Like you said, I'll remember everything soon, but can I ask something?"

"Shoot."

Taking a breath, Mitsuna instinctively knew she didn't have much time to get answers for every question so she hurried with her speech as much as she could.

"I often felt like I zoned out for a second, was that you too?"

"*Sigh* Yeah. I sealed my emotions when I was still alive. Trauma, you know how it goes, didn't have anything to anchor me down either. When I died the seal was mostly shattered and I became an observer locked by my own skill waiting to be regained. At first, I was against my fate, hoping to take over cognitive control or something, didn't work. As I observed, emotions started to return and I took quite a liking to 'my' new family and 'myself'. The emotions sometimes got out of hand when I remembered the past and I accidentally popped out a few times. I didn't cause any big trouble when you weren't there so it's fine."

"Why with the long schpiel when you said I'd remember everything soon?"

"You might remember my actions but not the emotions behind them, besides I haven't spoken to anyone in a while."

"..."

"I'll be honest, I was a wreck back then. Thinking this sh*t was a game... Do me a favour. Find out who sent us here, even though I'll die I will be there every step of the way, sort of. So I'll at least get to know."

"... Sure. Me."

"Cool. By the way, don't let my memories change your decisions. Honestly, you've handled all that has happened a lot better than I have. Live your life as you see fit, whether that be with an overarching goal or without. With revenge or without. That would be my recommendation as someone who has lived in this world before."

"I won't promise anything."

"You don't have to. You don't even have to listen to or trust me. Just remembering my words is fine."

The darkness inside the void started to retreat.

Seeing the scenery slowly change, Mitsuna 'knew' what was about to happen.

"Are you heading out?"

"Seems like it..."

Mizuki took a glance at the changing surroundings.

"..."

Looking back towards Mitsuna, she showed a light smile and said.

"I really do think you'll get far."

And almost symbolically, as Mizuki died, light and nature started to thrive in the dead abyss of void that once was the innermost part of Mitsuna's soul.

Colour returned, and the cool breeze of wind could be felt on your skin.

And just as Mitsuna felt the cool wind, the ash and light left behind by Mizuki flew straight towards Mitsuna.

All she could hear was her own, familiar voice whisper.

"Endure."

Mitsuna fell straight to her knees as she tried to grasp every part of her body at once.

It was as if her soul was being torn.

Her head was splitting apart but she could not clutch it with her hands since her chest was experiencing an even more horrible pain. Being dismembered and filled with toxic blood could not even compare.

As the pain intensified, visions of memories started to appear in Mitsuna's mind.

A gigantic forest with a silver fox. A bandit camp. An esper. A road. A dungeon. A home. And so forth.

The overload of pain and information all flowing in at the same time was too much. Way too much.

Falling deep asleep, although Mitsuna could not see or feel it, Mizuki's spirit was still there.

Smiling while placing her head on her lap, Mizuki waited for her inevitable consumption.

...

Mitsuna woke up. Her body had changed. Her personality had changed. A mixture of old and new.

The patchwork skin and missing arm did not change.

Making the decision to figure out the big differences later, Mitsuna tore off her patchwork skin and a large chunk of her missing arm that was still there with her bare hands while ignoring the pain.

Walking to the toilet, she sat next to it and waited for her body to heal.

As it slowly did, she had to through up twice, mostly blood. The toilet soon looked like a horror scene.

Some memories had yet to return.

Most information about magic circles and mana, ship and weapon design and ocean creatures had returned along with some interactions with her presumably dead crew and the adventures she had with them.

A light smile appeared on her face as she rested her head on the bloody toilet seat. How unsanitary.

[Oh yeah. Chapter 100 baby! Let's goo! Another 10 years, another 1000 chapters, nothing can stop me!]