149: The Truth of the World

The instant he glimpsed Truth's incomprehensible answer, Cipher's head throbbed with a more excruciating pain than anything he had experienced.

"Kgh...!"

"Cee! No, what's wrong?!"

Clutching his head, it was impossible to register the cries of escalating concern from Ruti and the surrounding Professors.

His brain felt like it was being repeatedly smashed with a sledgehammer, causing his body to reflexively tremble every other second.

Then, heat rose from the pit of his stomach and enveloped his heart tightly, as if squeezing.

"Cough, cough...!"

Abruptly, he covered his mouth as he began to cough; but it wasn't the constricting sensation of his heart, nor the indescribable pain of his lungs that felt like they were getting shot every time they contracted that was the most worrying part.

"Cough-- Kaghk-!"

Ominous black blood spurted from his mouth, staining his hand and dripping over his lips as he panted.