24. Too Weak

"Weak... too weak... it's boring."

A female voice sounded from within the car, carrying with it clear disdain directed at Sid.

"Dammit, who's that? Do they think I'm just chopped liver or something? Weak? Son of a b*tch! Just come out of the car if you think I'm so weak," Sid mumbled under his breath, trying to figure out the identity of the mysterious character that had appeared so suddenly.

[She doesn't seem weak at all, you're definitely not a match for her... Sigh, guess it's finally time for me to find a new host. It wasn't so great being with you. Goodbye...]

"F*ck off! If you can't do anything, at least don't jinx me to death. Shitty system, you think I'll die to this... a random girl? Do you take me for some lightweight?... Just watch me as I... as I... esca... retreat to safety."

Sid continued scrutinizing the car, watching every movement closely, planning his next move. Soon the door of the car was kicked open from inside, and the first thing to come into sight were black high heels, followed by a pair of long, slender legs.

Finally, the figure of the so-called backup was completely revealed. It was a young woman, likely in her early twenties. She wore a formal black office suit that perfectly outlined her proportions. Her face had a natural charm, rare to be found in the slums. With light makeup, it was just about perfect. Her long, black hair reached her waist, curling slightly at the end.

As she stepped out of the car, she frowned slightly, and a few words escaped her mouth. "Ugh... what the f*ck is this mess? You're all just a bunch of useless asses, freeloading like some leeches. Damn shitholes!"

The beautiful words clearly highlighted her origins, making Sid certain that she was definitely one of them.

The revelation could be said to have shaken Sid to the core. "F*ck, such a foul mouth on such a pretty face. It's so... damn, what do I even say to this?"

[Look at your own language first. And you don't even have a pretty face to cover up for it.]

"Shuddup! Who asked for your opinion?" Sid muttered, covering his face with his hands. "I'm fine as I am. No one needs your unnecessary remarks... stupid system..."

"Look, she's moving! Wonder what's it gonna be? A close combat type, an assassin, a long-range shooter, or some sort of magic user..."

[I guess it's none of the above. The fluctuations she gives are most like...]

"She's moving away! Maybe she's a long-range shooter, or a magic user, or something similar. Gotta get ready for what's coming. My intuition has never failed me before... well, mostly."

[....]

[Do what you want. Hmph...]

"Huh? Why are you grumpy all of a sudden?"

[Isn't it because you...]

"Whatever, who gives a damn! Look, she stopped... huh? What the hell, is she ignoring me? Why is she talking to that blonde guy? Does she think I won't attack while her back is turned? Ahhh... dammit, so annoying."

"Alright, you asked for it. Don't blame me for being ruthless..." Sid said, gripping his knife tighter as he readied himself to jump into action once more.

.....

"It would be f*cking nice if you didn't do that. It's so damn annoying when people underestimate me due to my appearance."

"Though there's no use in stopping idiot f*ckers like you. If you wanna die, then go ahead, attack..."

Just as Sid prepared to dish out his amazing move, a sudden buzzing sensation filled his head, followed by a voice—no, a thought—that wasn't his own.

It gave him a strange feeling, as if his mind had been invaded. This made him extremely confused and nervous at the same time.

'Dammit, what the hell was that? Who said it? System, do you know what's going on?' he thought internally, scanning his surroundings to find the owner of the voice.

[Hmph... Maybe if you listened to me, you wouldn't look like such a fool in front of others. It's bad for my reputation as an awesome system...]

[As for that voice, it was that woman's ability. Likely telepathy—or something similar. She seems like the mental type awakened.]

'Ugh, what's a mental type now? System, don't half-ass the information. Tell me everything.'

[You're so annoying...]

[A mental type awakened is rare and can use mind-related abilities. It could be anything from telepathy to illusion, to mind control... it all depends on the individual... But, she seems quite robust for a mental user. Maybe she isn't a pure mental type...]

'You mean to say... she can hear what I think? Damn, that's scary.'

[Not exactly. She can talk to your mind, but that doesn't mean she can peek into your mind. It's very likely she heard your mutterings instead. Maybe if you didn't have such a big mouth, you wouldn't have attracted her attention.]

"Say, system... I'm definitely screwed, aren't I?" Sid muttered, a trace of a tear just on the verge of dropping from his eyes. But it soon dried up as he saw the woman had already moved. Turning around, she finally started walking towards him.

Her steps were steady, her movements evenly paced. It gave her a natural sense of authority. 'If only she didn't have such a foul mouth...' Sid could only think, not daring to speak aloud.

'It's strange... she seems slow, and somehow she's moving faster than I can react. And my body, why can't I even move a muscle? It's like... like, time has stopped. But...'

Sid's pupils darted around, searching for clues. 'The fact that my eyes can still move, not to mention the rain hasn't frozen, means time is still passing... so, why the hell can't I move?'

[She's just using aura to restrain you. It's not time manipulation—you're just too weak to break free from her power, nothing else...]

Sid: (-◇-)???... Huh?... What's aura?

[Well, it's... let's talk later... if you survive...]

.....

Before he could realize it, the woman had already approached Sid, causing beads of sweat to drip down his face.

Lifting her right hand, she pointed her index finger at his forehead. Then she leaned forward, whispering in Sid's ear, "You think you're so cool, don't you? Heh, the world is quite big, kid, and you're just a pleb, unaware of true strength... But, I'll give you a chance, a chance to see a shadow of true strength. Be grateful..."

Saying that, a black aura-like wave of energy surged from her hand, gathering at her fingertip, slowly piercing through Sid's forehead.

But what surprised Sid was that there was no pain, as he had expected. The energy wave completely disappeared, leaving only the rippling skin on his forehead.

The energy wave entered his brain, causing Sid to feel a bit dizzy. His eyes blurred, black soon covering all his senses.

Falling to the ground, Sid fainted.

.....

"Pathetic..."

A voice sounded in Sid's head, bringing him back to consciousness. Uneasy, he looked around, only to see pure darkness surrounding him, enhancing his sense of crisis.

"Who?... And, where am I?" His voice was shaky, clearly reflecting his nervousness.

"To think you'd lose to that woman. It's pathetic indeed..."

"What do you mean, lost? If only I had made the first move, she... she..."

"If you had made the first move? Are you sure you could have? Hahaha..."

"Dammit! Son of a b*tch. Are you mocking me? If not for that strange technique binding my movements, I would've definitely won."

"Make all the excuses you want. The fact still remains that you weren't able to win."

"Shut up! No one asked for your opinion..."

"You sound just like a sore loser. You know that, right?... All these attempts to act cool, just so you could forget your past failures. Yet, the failures never forget you. Ah, what a tragedy, hehehe..."

"Shut up... shut up... shut the hell up. Ahhhhhh..... Don't mess with my head...."

"Am I? Are you not thinking the same things?"

"I am not! Definitely not! Why would I look down on myself? I have my own pride, Dammit!"

"Lies... nothing but lies. Pride? What pride? The one you sacrifice your existence for?"

"Ahh... just, f*ck off!"

"Dismissing your failures, suppressing your griefs and sufferings, for what? Just so you could look forward to that bleak and meaningless day in such an unfriendly world?"

"And what does that give you... Nothing... Absolutely Nothing."

"Listen to your heart. Do you not find that hellscape much more comforting than this world? Do you not think you should have been born to a good family, with caring parents? Do you not want to escape those lifeless slums?"

"Say, don't you have a dream to rule the world? Yet, here you are, doing nothing to achieve that? Why?... I know why... it's simply because you've already given up on your life long ago."

"Don't spout whatever bullshit that comes to your mind. What the hell do you take me for? Just because you're hiding like a coward, not daring to come face to face, you think you can say anything about me? If you have guts, then come and face me, Dammit!"

"I'm afraid of you?... Come face me?... Hahaha... don't blame others for your own incompetence. I've been right here all along. You just can't see me because you're unable to accept my existence."

"You reject my words, knowing they are the truth. In turn, you reject yourself. It is you who is in the dark, unable to accept what lies within the light, just within your reach..."

"Ahhh... I'm gonna kill you! Just you wait till I get my hands on you..."

"Hmm... you'll kill me? Hahahaha... that statement is laughable on its own. But do tell me, why should I wait till you catch me? Give me one reason..."

Sid: (-_-)??? Hmmm... Why indeed....