Twin Souls

The irritating feeling persisted into the night. Having not eaten all day, the girl's body was weak. Ren couldn't do much but lie in the room.

If he had enough puppets, he could use the Theater of Domination's connection to the Imaginary Space and have a puppet on the other side bring him food.

Unfortunately, the Theater of Domination was far from complete. The Hive Mind's contribution was too weak. Its only advantage was extending his lifespan.

He had died from his curse in his previous life, and after coming to this world, the curse hadn't disappeared. Even becoming the Thousand-Person Herrscher had only enhanced his physical abilities, not solved his mortality.

The only fortunate thing was that increasing the number of puppets prolonged his life. Besides his own puppet body, the other two puppets and the cat puppet had granted him an extra six months, allowing him to reach ARC City.

After confirming that nothing unexpected had happened to his original body, he turned his attention back to the current situation.

Finally, past midnight, the arguing in the house ceased. Ren drifted in and out of consciousness, eventually falling asleep.

However, in the dead of night, a rustling sound echoed in the darkness. His eyes fluttered open, and Ren suspected it was the mother returning for revenge.

He waited, but the door remained closed. The rustling continued, growing closer.

Within the Theater of Domination, the girl's consciousness became agitated, tinged with an indescribable fear. Ren focused, gathering his power. The surrounding darkness gradually cleared.

However, when he saw who it was, a wave of nausea washed over him.

The girl's younger brother was rummaging through her closet, rubbing her clothes against his body.

Like a bolt of lightning, Ren finally understood the girl's deepest fear. It wasn't her father's weakness or her mother's verbal abuse, but her growing younger brother.

Their rooms were separated by only a curtain. For an adolescent boy, such a flimsy barrier couldn't contain his burgeoning desires. Especially for a twisted child like this, his actions were unpredictable.

No wonder the girl had dressed so conservatively even when attempting suicide. It wasn't because she didn't care about her appearance, but because she was afraid of being seen with lustful eyes by those around her.

The deepest malice came from her own family.

Her most desperate cries could only be uttered on a deserted rooftop.

Her most intense hatred played out in the Theater of Domination.

Click.

The gears of the theater turned, time grinding to a halt. Only on the empty judge's bench did a stiff wooden puppet hunch its shoulders.

Behind it, a mark hidden in the mist flickered, like a beast waiting to devour the girl's puppet.

You lack the courage to resist? The Thousand-Person Herrscher grants you the courage of a thousand.

You lack the strength to struggle? The Thousand-Person Herrscher shares with you the strength of a thousand.

But the final choice is yours.

Choose to fall into the abyss, and the black wolf will grant you the power of revenge.

But afterward, you will become a puppet entangled in strings. Your existence, your individuality, will be under my control.

But Ren wasn't a desperate villain, nor a god of the abyss. Compared to bloody revenge, he preferred gentler solutions.

So, he offered the girl another choice.

Choose the light of humanity, and the white lamb will take away your resentment.

You can maintain your existence. Your resentment, your despair will transform into unconscious puppets, acting out your drama within the Theater of Domination.

Let the judgment begin!

…

Two days later.

Woman A, a resident of the neighborhood, was in a foul mood. Slumped in an outdoor seat at a milk tea shop, she irritably pushed aside her drink, then deliberately nudged the table. Even this failed to capture her boyfriend's attention.

Annoyed, she stomped on his foot, finally regaining his focus through pain.

"Enjoying the view?" Her furrowed brows betrayed her anger.

"Yes… I mean, no, of course not. You're the only one I see." Her boyfriend, his survival instincts kicking in, realized his mistake and quickly averted his gaze, trying to appease her.

However, even as he placated his girlfriend, he still snuck glances at the girl not far away.

Truly beautiful.

…

"I thought you would choose destruction."

"Thank you." Pale pink lips glistened in the gentle sunlight. A light brown wool coat enveloped the girl, its tailored design accentuating her charm. A black, silken-textured pantyhose peeked from beneath her plaid skirt, subtly drawing the attention of the men around her.

But the girl seemed nervous. She tucked a stray strand of her long bangs behind her ear, smoothing her slightly messy hair. The simple gesture added a touch of adorable charm.

Born from the foulest, most putrid mud at the bottom of the pond, submerged in murky, dark water, only now did the pure, flawless lotus finally bloom.

"Thank you," she murmured again, even though there was no one across from her.

Only a soft chuckle echoed in the void, falling upon the puppet.

The cracked screen of her phone vibrated. The girl unlocked it.

Several new notification messages appeared.

"Avoid consuming stale seafood. A family of four hospitalized after eating spoiled prawns, two dead."

"Handle prawns with care. Disinfect immediately if pricked by a barb. Today, a 50-year-old…"

"Excessive seafood consumption is harmful to health. A 14-year-old boy lost his life after consuming a large quantity of prawns."

These were local news notifications. Seeing them, the girl didn't worry, but instead, a faint smile touched her lips.

"So this is your 'gentle method,' kind Lamb Spirit?"

Light filtered through a gap, falling on the girl's pale neck, illuminating the black and white mark.

Ding!

Having just finished reading the news, the girl happily sipped her milk tea when a new message arrived.

Contact: [Editor].

"Xiaolei (Lily), the money in your account was suddenly withdrawn. Did you transfer it yourself?"

"Yes, something came up at home a couple of days ago."

"Oh, I see. Is it enough? I have a little extra if you need it."

Her fingertips trembled, an indescribable sense of happiness filling the emptiness within her.

For so many years, only this stranger had shown her any concern. A lump formed in her throat, but the sunlight was warm, new, so she smiled, typing her reply: "I've saved up enough from my commissions. It's sufficient."

This city held nothing for her anymore. Having been reborn, she would face a new life.

"By the way, Xiaolei, I found a new company with good benefits. Want to join me?"

"What company?"

"It seems to be a company involved in the ACG industry. The name is…"

"Qian Jue (Thousand Absolutes)."

The girl paused, the smile on her face widening.

"I'll go."

"Also, I'm changing my artist name."

"Xiaolei?"

"No, someone gave me a beautiful new name."

Griseo.