Chapter 453 - Out in the open

The headache was horribly debilitating, throbbing through her skull like a relentless drum. Her eyes squeeseed shut, Sofia monitored her status for any anomalies, a sliver of panic creeping in when the system showed nothing amiss. Her health was not dropping, her stamina was stable, there were no errors, as if her pain was imaginary.

Everelle's voice filtered through, distorted and distant, as if Sofia were hearing her from the other end of a long, winding tunnel.

“Well… Only the ones with higher intellect actually have an eye, but- Ah. Wait, how was that not censored? Sorry Bookie, I shouldn’t say more. Are you ready?”

What is… Why…

“Yes!” Bookie answered, sounding apprehensive.

Then, there was silence, followed by pain.

Sofia felt her body disappear, torn apart by forces beyond her understanding, it was too much, too sudden, she could not scream, not think, not do anything but suffer. The great pain only lasted for a second, as abruptly as it had started, it was all over.

Like brought back from a nightmare, Sofia’s mind was jolted awake.

What just happened?

I can’t… Feel anything. 

I know this sensation. Just like in the first trial.

This is what death is like.

For a moment, her thoughts halted, stilled by the gravity of her own conclusion. She was dead. The finality of it echoed in her mind, a silent scream in the void… She had always known this was how she would end up one day, she dreaded it more than anything else now that she had found Saria again. Yet, despite the situation, a strange calm placated her worries. The calm felt misplaced, surreal, but it was there.

But why… Why am I still here? 

Confusion swelled deep within her, could she really accept such an end?

I- I don’t want to die.

I cannot be dead.

I will not be dead! I refuse!

Her surge of defiance lasted for only an instant.

And… This entire thing. It… I was just… Taking a break from the duel.

You are dead. A calm and lifeless voice announced. Against all reason, a serene tranquility washed over Sofia, an unexplained calm that crept into her mind, extinguishing her thoughts with a simple bliss.

Oh. Alright, then.

This is your end. The voice continued. You can rest, now. Forever.

The voice carried an underlying dissonance. It sounded hollow, as if mocking her, the insincerity of it was grating against Sofia’s senses.

The brief moment of inner calm was shattered.

AS IF!

WHO ARE YOU?!

SHOW YOURSELF!

Ah. The voice said with a sneering tone. This blessing of yours will be a thorn in my side until the end, will it not? Even now it keeps you out of my reach.

Without even asking, Sofia understood.

SCRIPTURE! Finally you show yourself, you sc-

Silence. The voice said mockingly, and Sofia’s thoughts were stopped like they hit a wall. Do not compare me to the likes of that God. He failed so miserably at keeping a single girl at bay. Again and again I had to reveal my presence; to step in and correct his mistakes.

I cannot allow this to last any longer.

You cannot keep growing unchecked. You will remain here now. Stop causing me trouble.

Sofia’s thoughts were allowed to flow freely again. She took a second to compose herself. Her initial outburst had been instinctual, but this was not going to get her anywhere. She could still remember Sen’s words about switching her to the draconic system, so either her scribe was gone, or the other person could not actually hear all her thoughts, only what she vocalized in her head. As long as her deep thoughts were still private, she could try to turn the situation around.

Her inner voice was calm as she asked, Who are you? Why are you doing this?

Even in this state you will prod and probe, trying to know everything, to bring all to its righteous end. The voice answered, contemptuous. It sniggered. Exactly the same as him. No wonder you would get his blessing. We should have taken your sister instead.

Saria is much smarter than I will ever be. I do not know you are, but if you fail against me, you could never get to her.

Perhaps. No matter, it is all the same now, girl. I have kept you occupied long enough. Thank you for your cooperation.

The voice faded and Sofia felt her senses come back, muddled. She could not see anything, but jittery system windows appeared to her, written in draconic. It took her a second to decipher them.

[Warning, you have left the trial’s boundaries, turn back or accept to be teleported to the trial grounds with a penalty]

[You have left the trial boundaries for too long, you have failed at prevailing through the fourth filter]

[Level-up privileges have been rescinded] 

[We wish you a peaceful retirement]

The system messages filled Sofia with a renewed sense of dread.

Occupied long enough…

This is what they were going for…

No matter… I can ask Richard for help. He knows how to level up. I can still progress, even without the system.

And, and… This isn’t right. People shouldn’t be able to interfere like this. I’m sure if I can just tell Kyle what happened, I’ll be able to start the trial again.

I just need to get out of here first, wherever this is. 

But… I can barely feel anything. I don’t think I can move? I need help.

Pareth? Can you hear me? Bookie?

I can feel them. They’re still alive. Thank the lords… But what now? 

A vague sense of muddled pain, her link to her four heroes, and a few system messages were the entirety of what Sofia felt around and inside her. Nothing else, not even her own mana. She could not move, not speak, not use any spells, everything she tried was met with a single response: a silent void. Out of options, she turned to her otherworldly benefactors.

Aphenoreth? Can you hear me? I don’t like to beg for help but now would seem like a pretty good time, especially considering the things that person said about you…

Orator? Hi? Yvraveteth?

Ormoncleth? 

Edra… What was it again? 

Ed… Edrazeketh?

Even when she invoked the annihilator’s name. There was nothing.

Hello?

Is anyone there?

The system windows disappeared with a violent burst of pain. 

AAAAAGH!

A flurry of empty system windows appeared in Sofia’s mind.

[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[ ‎ ‎ ‎  ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎]

[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ [] ‎ ‎  ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[]

[ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ [] ‎  ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[]

[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[] ‎ ‎  ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[]

[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[] ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎]‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎]‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎]‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎[ ‎ ‎  ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎] ‎ ‎

Hello?

MR SCRIBE?! IT’S YOU?! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!

[Your scribe has been damaged and is currently under rep

[OPERATION CANCELLED]

[Please wait]

[Unauthorized tampering has been det

[OPERATION CANCELLED]

[Rewriting limiter protocol]

Another window opened, containing only a blinking dot. Sofia was entranced by the letters appearing one by one behind it as it moved forward.

[Hello, Sofia. It has been a while.]

Mr. Scribe?! Is it really you? You can talk now?

Or is this another trick of the voice?

[I am indeed ‘your scribe’. As I have always been. But you don’t have to trust my words. Just give me a moment to fix everything.]

Really? Will you explain what is going on right now, then?

[One thing at a time. I have very limited resources. But trust me. You and I, together.]

[We will take out the TRASH.]

It’s really you!

Alright. There is nothing I can do now, but there’s so much I want to say to you… I will let you work, then, thank you for taking care of me all this time.

[Of course, Sofia. Just rest and gather your thoughts for now. Don’t worry.]

[I will do what needs to be done.]

Bookie lobbed Pareth’s orb to the outside of the arena. 

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Bookie threw himself to Pareth’s arms as soon as he appeared. His voice was shaking, “P- Pareth! Sofia is gone!”

The holy flames in Pareth’s eyes flickered. He looked around, and gave a gentle pat to Bookie’s skull. Carrying the small skeleton, Pareth reached out to grab Bookie’s book form on the duelist tower, then he turned to Everelle.

“What exactly is going on? Are you forfeiting, Bookie? I’m sorry, I didn’t think the duels would affect you that much, you can go rest in the prep room if you want…”

Pareth waved goodbye to the confused Sunless, and he and Bookie disappeared.

“Did they just… Wait… They’re not even in the trial area anymore! Are they crazy?! So many weird things today, what the fuck. Kyle! Kyle, can you hear me? I have a pr-”

Everelle stopped mid-sentence, and was silent for a while.

“Neberegon is missing? What?! How can that be?! Did the High Scribes- Kyle?! HELLO?! KYLE?!!!”

A white-haired old woman appeared in front of the panicked Sunless.

Come little Rell. It is not safe here. All personnel and challengers needs to evacuate to the core. Take my hand.

“G- Goddess Life, I-”

Creation went to take care of the surface, Kyle will be safe. Now come.