Chapter 13: A Spectator

[Miyo Mountain range - South of the Gaelic River]

It's been roughly 6 hours since the game has begun. Slowly but surely, I've been making my way towards Pam's energy signature. The thick forest is full of various Magic beasts, but most of them aren't a part of the game. Or perhaps they're just naturally friendly species of Magic beasts, but I'd rather not think about the implications that could have on our organization...

"…?!"

Suddenly, I felt my throat tighten up as a menacing presence made itself known to my right. The beast had a humanoid figure with an elegant, almost divine disposition. I had no choice by to hide myself behind loose tree bark to avoid his gaze.

My thoughts ran at a mile a minute.

Daimo? No, how is he here?

Shit, I got unlucky.

Gotta hide...hold my breath...

I can't let him see me!

I peaked over the bark yet again to ascertain Daimo's position, his demeaner as calm as usual. The air around him seemed to almost stop from his mere presence alone.

In a split second of hesitation, my eyes glanced at him for just a moment too long.

"Found you."

He found me?!

How did he find me?

I was perfectly concealing my presence.

Run run run run run run!

My body moved completely on instinct as the hairs on my skin grew stimulated with fear. I exhausted every ounce of energy in my legs to wade through the thick flora and overgrown Magic beasts. I knew looking back would mean my death.

"How pathetic, so you won't even try to put up a fight?" He could easily catch up to my top speed without breaking a swear, there was no longer any point in running away.

A large hand with a vice grip grabbed my ankle and tossed me to the side, my body flailing wildly through the enormous trees. The tree bark ripped apart upon impact and blood poured out of my head.

I drew my knife and swung behind me in a large arc, the blade just barely missing his chin.

"Shit!"

I pressed the attack with numerous other attacks, my attacks growing steadily more erratic with each swing.

"Hm. I thought you're battle sense was superb compared to the rest, but your fear inhibits your ability." He met my blows with equally powerful precision, his aura emitting a divine impression.

He blasted me away with the power of a mere finger flick. My vision was red and my body felt lighter, almost too light.

I look down at my body and spot a large hole where my intestines would be. My insides were torn apart and splattered along the ground. Blood spewed out of my body as I desperately tried to gasp for air.

"Auh…"

My hand was also torn asunder from the impact. Three of my fingers and the majority of my palm were now gone. I couldn't contain my fear as I desperately gasped for air.

"It's a shame really, to think that humanity has fallen so low over these 2000 years." Daimo looked

What's..he talking about?

Dunno…can't focus.

I'm…scared. I'm scared.

So scared.

Why am I scared?

I told the lieutenant I was willing to die.

I didn't think my life meant all that much.

So why am I seeing your face?

Cassia…

The children playing…on the playground…

The warmth of…Harper's garden.

I wanna go there…one more time.

I wanna listen to Mason…rant about history.

I wanna train with Pam…

Please…

Please…

Please…

"Oh my, you've gotten yourself in quite some trouble haven't you!"

A bespectacled man with a large black robe with a strange design of moons and stars appeared before me. He was tall and handsome with flowing black hair. His face carried an irritating smirk and eyes thin with joy, as though observing a fool.

"Auh…ugh…"

"Sorry but talking will be a bit difficult with those parts of your torso splattered across that bush there."

"…"

Time was seemingly stopped to a halt as Daimo and the other Magic beasts hadn't moved at all since that man appeared.

"You're life rests upon a thin string, my dear Noah. I can't let you recklessly die."

"Oh, my name? I suppose you can call me…a Spectator. Nothing but a humble bystander!"

This man is odd…yet I can sense a vague familiarity within him.

"You've yet to awaken your power. What a shame~ It seems you need a push in the right direction."

He slowly reached out his index finger and tapped on my glabella. My body fell into an endless mass of black liquid, it's seeping grasping pulling me further in. Among the void flashed images I couldn't understand.

There was a familiar boy looking back at me, calling my name in a distorted filter. He had messy black hair with many purple bruises strewn across his frail body. His smile seemed even brighter than the sun.

I hadn't noticed that my eyes were watering.

"...!"

"...!"

"...!"

I couldn't hear the words that I desperately wanted to.

He placed his gentle hand on my face, it was calm like a pond on a spring day.

The sound grew clearer as he opened his mouth to speak. He looked down at the tattered book before looking back at me. "That's such a wonderful name, isn't it Zeke?"

My head burst in two upon hearing the words. A sudden flood of images poured into me, like a monsoon destroying concrete barriers. "AAAAARGH!" I yelled in horror. The pain was excrutiating, almost too much for my mind to bear.

The black essence erupted from my body with incredible force, my mind tearing iteslf apart, only to converge again and repeat the process. My taste, my hearing, my touch, my hearing, all of my senses coagulated into a uniform "feeling". I could hardly call myself human anymore. I was something more...something else.

The Spectator laughed out loud at the sight of my suffering, he carried a curious gaze.

"The time has come for the opening act to come to a close, my dear Noah. There is no going back. I wonder, will your mind submit to the madness? Or perhaps you will endure it and carry out your role. I can't wait to see~" The Spectator laughed in the distance as his presence faded away.