Chapter 48 With Head Held High (2)

I have lost my control over my body along with my vision; I see nothing but darkness. In addition, I feel like I am floating aimlessly somewhere.

<anno data-annotation-id="07ed4803-cf2c-98ff-d614-31477c7782ee">The feeling doesn't equal to floating above the water though—it is much more uncomfortable. I have never taken LSD nor have I ever smoked weed, but I think this is what those people feel when they are high.</anno>

My body feels as light as a feather that will be blown away to a far land by just a light breeze. It doesn't last long luckily; in the next moment, I can feel my body quickly gains its weight back.

I can feel that I am now standing on the floor. I don't know, however, where I am or what the place I am at looks like yet; I still haven't opened my eyes since my control over my body isn't completely back yet.

Luckily, it takes just a few seconds to finally regain my control over my body. "Phew. Didn't know that sleep paralysis is that scary. I was lucky I didn't see things."

I crack my neck once, then open my eyes afterwards. Upon doing so, I am greeted by a dark room with a white floor that I don't know where it ends.

It is funny that I can tell the color of the floor of the room despite how dark the room is, but that's what makes this place different than any other place out there. This phenomenon aside, the aura this place has is very repulsive.

I am not spooked—I have seen spookier in the castle—but I do feel reluctant to move forward. Having lived in this new world for two months, I have learned that ghost is nothing but a harmless spirit, but what is ahead is scary.

Ahead of me, probably waiting for me at the end of the room, is an abomination whose existence anyone should be afraid of.

I am not strong yet, but I don't need to be as strong as Valeria or Ilschevar to know that the abomination waiting for me at the end of the room is strong enough to wipe out any life forms on Earth—I know it instinctively.

My instinct has been been honed enough for the past two months I have lived my life living in constant danger. I have learned how to read the air, and how to detect killing intents, so I know that the abomination ahead is no laughing matter.

I don't care even though he doesn't show any ill intention or whatsoever; just the violent Mana it exudes is enough to repulse me. I know however, the reason why I am here is because that guy—I have to meet him.

Calming down my breath, I start walking. I don't know which direction I am heading to since there is absolutely no light here, but I am sure in each passing second, I am getting closer to the abomination.

I am lucky that this room has no pillars of whatsoever. I can't see anything beside my feet and the white floor below me, so if there were pillars or anything that obstructed my way, I would definitely bump to it right at the moment I noticed it.

The room is that dark—anyone with Nyctophobia would immediately die if they were me. The old Layland would obviously piss his pants if he were here, but luckily I am no longer that Layland.

"How did I become so fearless? Oh, right—I have died too many times. Not even death can faze me, so what can darkness do?"

My heart pounds heavier the closer I get to the abomination whose form or looks I haven't seen yet, but I still don't feel like stopping. People will normally shake uncontrollably at this point, but I don't feel even the slightest urge to do so.

I am, of course, anxious of what will greet me, but I am not afraid of it. Something is telling me that being afraid of it is the same as rejecting myself.

"You don't have to approach me. You just have to call me, and I will appear in front of you."

I am going to be honest; the deep and heavy voice slightly surprises me. I even need some time to calm my beating heart before answering it. "... Unfortunately, I don't know what your name is, so I can't call you even if I want to."

"Do you know where this is?"

"Enlighten me."

Instead of answering me, the voice scoffs softly. I don't hear anything from the voice afterwards, but I can feel that the owner of the voice is slowly approaching me.

,m Tap. Tap.

The step is slow and nonchalant, but my heart beats crazily in each of the step. I don't hear him walking anymore after seven steps or so, but I can feel a bone chilling breeze passes over me afterwards.

The breeze gives me the worst goosebumps I have ever had; not even Tigris' roar has given me this kind of goosebumps. It doesn't just stop there though.

The area just two steps in front of me is suddenly Magically illuminated, and immediately, I can see a 7'3" tall figure standing in front of me. I can instantly tell he is the abomination I have been dreading of, and he looks scarier than I thought.

I don't know if it is his armor or a part of his skin, but he is covered entirely with this black metallic thing. It has some spiky parts that look like the skin of a crocodile, but I can easily tell that whatever he is wearing is absurdly stronger.

I am not short anymore—I am around 6'3" tall now—but I still have to look up to him just to look at his face. Hoping that I can see his face, I am immediately disappointed when I find his face is covered with a helmet.

At least, it looks like a helmet to me. I mean, no one has a metallic face bone that looks like a combination of a goat and a human's skull, right? Even the horns on his head look more like something a goat has.

'Well, I can't judge. I am not on Earth anymore, so there maybe some species out there that looks like this. What is this guy again, anyway?'

I am about to contemplate more, but when the armored figure in front of me extends his hand, I immediately take a step back. My eyes immediately widen in terror, as I am sure he has just tried to kill me.

"A little bit too cowardly for someone who has sworn to never get scared anymore, don't you think?"

"Taking a step back in alarm is an act of self-defense—there is nothing cowardly about it. Also, peeking someone's mind is a privacy violation."

"Is that what you think I am—a random being who knows you by reading your mind?"

"Who are you then?"

The armored figure laughs heavily. "Ha-ha-ha. Why don't you take a wild guess?"

"A stripper?"

"... You do have a loose mouth, don't you?"

At his words, I look into the eyes of the figure that are hidden behind the helmet as neutral as I can, while maintaining my combat stance. I know I will just die if a fight breaks out, but I don't think showing my weakness is something I should do.

"Yes, that is how you do it, Layland. Never lower your head."

"What are you talking about? Do I look like someone who will give any random person head?"

The figure hums in amusement and I can feel he is smirking under his helmet. "Grab my hand, and let me tell you who I am."

The figure motions his head toward his extended hand, but I merely stare at it without taking it. I have to make sure he is not deceiving me, so I have to figure him out first before taking it.

"I am your Origin. There is no need to be that suspicious of me; I gain nothing by harming you."

"Who knows?" I quirk my eyebrow. "You might be plotting to take over my body."

"To even have such distrust toward the nature you are born with..." I can't see the figure's face, but I think he is smiling currently. "You really are something, Layland."

"I have learned it in my previous world: trust is the seed of betrayal."

The figure stays silent at my words for a couple of seconds before eventually laughs like a villain. His laugh starts from small but heavy, then gradually turns into a full blown laughter.

"Interesting! You will make a good Demon, Layland! That is right. He, who holdeth truth, is only thyself!" The figure laughs a bit more before turning serious. "Now, grab my hand, and allow me to deliver you to the realm of no limit."

I stare at the extended hand for another couple of seconds before eventually grasping it. "Fuck! I'll find you in hell if you are trying to do something funny to me!"

"Don't worry. I will make you so you never have to visit hell."

"What do you—AACKK!"

For the second time in just a couple of minutes interval, my vision darkens again. A pain that I have never felt before overwhelms my entire existence, as an unknown substance is entering my body through my vein.

<annotations style="display: none;"><ol class="tinymce-annotation-container"><li data-annotation-id="07ed4803-cf2c-98ff-d614-31477c7782ee">LSD: Lysergic acid diethylamide. A type of hallucinogenic drug.</li></ol></annotations>",