Chapter 10 - god of time and space

I left almost right after talking to nyxie. Going outside still feels strange — like I'm walking straight into certain death just to satisfy her weird obsession with trinkets. But I guess it's starting to feel... normal? The air's still off, but maybe I'm just getting used to it.

The shadows seem less daunting, like they're just part of the scenery now. Even carrying the axe feels natural, like it's not just something I'm holding but something that belongs with me.

You know what's weird? Getting attacked not even 15 minutes after leaving the warehouse. I was just walking, minding my own business, keeping an eye out for enemies — like a responsible person — and then boom, a bunch of locals decided to come right at me.

There were five of them, all carrying makeshift weapons — pipes, nailbats, and a wood axe. Their eyes were as blank as ever, and they half-dragged, half-shambled toward me like zombies. The way they moved, all stiff and monotonous, was almost unsettling. I've reached the point where killing them would definitely be faster than trying to incapacitate them. But still, I can't just throw my morals out the window, right? I mean, I should at least try to preserve life if I can.

The first one lunged, swinging a pipe wildly. He was fast, sure, but his movements were predictable. I stepped aside easily, feeling the air brush past me as the pipe missed by a couple of inches.

He staggered, thrown off by his own momentum. Before he could pull himself together, I swung the blunt side of my axe straight into his chest. I felt the crack of ribs beneath it, and he crumpled to the ground, groaning.

But I wasn't done. I brought the axe down on his leg, crushing it with two solid swings. Quick, efficient. Not pretty, but effective.

Another one came at me with an axe. This time, I wouldn't take any chances — that axe looked dangerous. I pulled out my gun and shot him in the kneecaps. Even holding the gun feels natural at this point, like it was always meant to be in my hands.

The other three didn't even flinch when they saw what I did to their friends. But then again, what did I expect? They're like puppets, and whoever's pulling the strings clearly doesn't give a damn about them. I walked toward them slowly, and of course, they tried swinging their weapons at me. I dodged without breaking a sweat. One swing of my axe to their legs, and down they went.

They tried to stand up, but they were too broken to manage it. I just left them there. nyxie would probably scold me if she saw me sparing the enemies.

I kept going, but — surprise, surprise — it hadn't even been another 15 minutes before I got attacked again. I was walking through one of those alleyways when two feral monsters suddenly crawled out from the shadows. Same kind as before, the ones made from a bite by those freaks the disgusting chef cooked up. Just my luck.

The monsters lunged without hesitation, their twisted bodies unnervingly fast. One swiped at me, claws slicing through the air. I ducked and swung my axe upward, the blunt side cracking against its jaw. The other came at me, claws grazing my arm, but I spun and slammed the axe into its ribs. It snarled, stumbling, but I didn't stop. A sharp blow to its leg sent it crashing down. The first tried again, but I met it with a swift swing to its side. Bones cracked, and it fell. I stood there, breathing hard, axe still in hand.

And just my luck, I got attacked for the third time — not even an hour after leaving the warehouse. Cultists this time, dressed in those dark, tattered robes. Worse, they saw me before I saw them. I barely had time to register their shapes when pain exploded in my right shoulder. I was shot.

My fight-or-flight instincts kicked in, and this time, flight won. I dove to the side, narrowly dodging the hail of gunfire that followed. Getting shot — yeah, that hurt. I thought nyx's powers, you know, the strength and whatever else she dumped into me, would at least give me some kind of protection against this stuff. Turns out, not so much.

My shoulder burned with every step, but I didn't stop. I tore through alleyways and darted through abandoned buildings, trying to lose them. But the cultists were fast. Even with my enhanced speed, they managed to keep up.

I could feel my wounds fixing themselves as I moved. The pain was slowly disappearing with each step. But with that relief came something heavy — I could feel my energy slowly fading away as my wounds healed. Logical, I supposed. My body was busy healing itself, and that kind of power didn't come for free. The pain was fading away, but my body was getting heavier.

I had been running for a while before I noticed that my shoulder wasn't healing anymore. Was it because of the bullet? Fuck, this would suck for me. I laid low for a while in a small room, sitting down on the floor with my back against the wall. Gritting my teeth, I dug my fingers into the open wound on my shoulder, searching for the stupid piece of metal.

I almost screamed from the pain, but luckily, I caught myself just in time, muffling the sound before those cultists could hear.

With one final, agonizing pull, I managed to wrench the bullet free, my hands slick with blood. I could feel my flesh slowly stitching itself together once again.

This won't do. I need to take down those cultists before I can move on.

Peeking through a crack in the door, I saw them searching the area, guns still in hand. I waited for the right moment, then slipped out, sticking to the shadows. Before they even knew what hit them, I slammed the blunt side of my axe into the nearest one's head. He dropped like a rock.

The others barely had time to react before I was already on the next, taking them down one by one.

It took a few minutes to clear them out. A few minutes of running around the building, hitting one and slipping away before they could get a clear shot. I got grazed a couple of times — nothing serious, thankfully. Could've been worse.

After disposing of the last cultist, I rested for a bit, catching my breath.

How the hell are they finding me so fast? I'm pretty sure I was careful enough not to make any noise.

But I knew thinking like that was pointless. With everything happening around this place, it wouldn't be surprising if they had a way of tracking me. The way they showed up, like they knew exactly where I'd be — it's not normal. Yeah, I'm pretty sure they're tracking me.

This sucks, but I have to move fast. I tried picking a direction at random, hoping to throw off whoever — or whatever — is tracking me. Twisting through alleys and slipping between crumbling buildings, I changed course every few minutes. If they were tracking me, I'd make damn sure it wouldn't be easy.

But they just kept on coming. It didn't matter — whatever random direction I chose, I kept getting attacked. Monsters crept from the shadows, and those zombie-like locals mindlessly came after me. The whole damned city was hunting me.

She noticed that with every monster she killed she feels stronger

Maybe defeating enemies was giving me some sort of experience boost, like in a game. The thought crossed my mind, and I almost laughed at how ridiculous it sounded. If that were the case, then why didn't I feel anything when I took down the locals? There was no rush of power, no surge of strength. It was only the monsters — the twisted, corrupted things — that made me feel stronger. 

I wanted to ask Nyx about my powers, but I had no way of talking to her. So, like an idiot, I shouted her name. "Nyx!" My voice echoed through the empty city streets, and for a moment, I worried that someone might've heard it and was now coming after me. But as scared as I was, I felt even dumber. Nothing happened. I just stood there, feeling ridiculous for expecting some dramatic response. But there was only silence. Was that thing even listening, or did she even give a fuck?

Until a shadow without any form materialized in front of me, dark and writhing. Then it spoke, its voice dripping with irritation. "You know that just calling me like this drains my power, right?"

"Well, I would know that if you properly explained it to me, right?" I snapped back, crossing my arms. The frustration had been building, and now that she finally decided to show up, I wasn't about to hold back.

The shadow shifted, its edges flickering like smoke. "What do you want?" Nyx's voice sounded just like mine, but with a sharp impatience, like she had better things to do.

"What's happening to me? What's happening to this island? What even are you, and what are those things attacking us?" I fired off question after question, which only seemed to annoy Nyx further.

She let out a sigh — a sound that somehow felt both amused and exasperated. "I can only answer one of those questions," she said, her tone dripping with disdain.

"Well, that's unfair," I shot back, frustration clear in my voice. "It's not like I asked for any of this."

"Don't complain, okay? Even I don't know what's happening right now. And I literally can't tell you what I am." Her words were clipped, like she was struggling to keep her temper. "Are you gonna listen or not?" The shadow around her pulsed slightly, as though daring me to argue further.

"So, what's happening to me then?" I asked, still frustrated but curious.

"It's simple. You're absorbing fragments of their energy. That strength you feel? It's theirs. And the more you take, the more powerful you become. It's part of my power as the god of —" The last word was garbled, distorted into something I couldn't make out. It sent a chill down my spine. "And be careful not to overdose, or else... you might transform into something."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, figured that much already." Honestly, it wasn't exactly a groundbreaking revelation. But that part about overdosing? Yeah, that made me a little nervous.

"What do you mean, overdose?" I asked her, a knot forming in my stomach. The idea of losing control wasn't exactly appealing.

"You know, if you take in too much of their essence," Nyx replied, her voice laced with indifference, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I know that!" I snapped, my frustration boiling over. "What should I do to prevent that from happening?" My hands clenched into fists. I hated how helpless I sounded.

"Oh, that's simple. Just use your powers. Simple, right?" She explained it like it was the easiest thing ever. "Now, I need to go. This conversation is draining too much energy from me. Unless you want to fight off these things as a normal girl, I'll just leave now."

"Wait—" I tried to stop her, but before I could say another word, Nyx vanished like smoke, leaving me alone once again.

I decided to just go straight and brute force my way to that stupid Time and Space Ruin. I figured that since they had a way of tracking me, going around in circles to lose them was just a waste of time. They kept on coming, so I just kept on fighting, and I fought them hard. Every swing of my axe sent them crashing down, and with each kill, I felt that unsettling surge of strength grow inside me.

The ruins of Horvaxis, the time and space god. When I reached the ruin, I felt full of energy. Nyx wasn't lying at all — killing those monsters did give me strength. Too much strength, in fact. I could feel it coursing through me, pulsing with every heartbeat. Whatever thing was waiting for me in this ruin? Yeah, it was about to have a really bad day.

When I first came here, this place was too boring, even for me. It was just a bunch of rocks scattered around, nothing impressive or interesting. I visited this place before, and even then, there was no one here except for me — not even a tour guide. The only thing that stood out was the massive, ancient-looking observatory in the middle, its cracked dome looming over the ruins. It felt like the place held stories, but without anyone to tell them, it was just a pile of forgotten stones.

But looking at it now, it was completely different. The stones that once littered the ground were no longer resting idly — they were floating. Large chunks of rock hovered in the air, drifting unnaturally like they had no regard for gravity. Smaller debris twisted and swirled around, forming a chaotic storm of fragments. It was like the entire place had been ripped from reality, suspended in some twisted limbo.

And then there was the observatory. The massive structure that once stood tall in the middle of the ruins was no longer grounded. It floated high above, slowly rotating like a forgotten relic of the past. The cracks along its dome pulsed faintly, glowing with a dim, otherworldly light. Its presence felt heavier, like it was watching — no, not watching. It was waiting. Something was inside, and whatever it was, it demanded attention.

Paths of fragmented stone spiraled upward, forming a jagged, unnatural staircase leading to the observatory. The sight alone defied logic. There was no rhyme or reason to how those pieces held together, yet they did. And in the eye of the swirling storm, the observatory loomed like a throne above the chaos. I couldn't explain it, but none of it made any sense. And yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

There were no visible enemies, but I wasn't naive. A place like this — twisted and otherworldly? There should be tons of enemies waiting for me. I was half expecting to encounter another form of monster that would definitely try to kill me.

Every step I took, I expected something to either lunge at me or at least shoot at me — maybe from the shadows or from above the floating debris.

But nothing came. No monsters. No cultists. There was literally no one here, and that silence somehow felt worse.

I pushed forward, but the path was slowly crumbling. With every step, I felt like I was walking on thin ice — or even glass. The floating debris twisted and shifted around me, and while it seemed random, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was deliberately trying to hit me.

I had to stay sharp, carefully minding where I stepped since the ground beneath me was fragile. At the same time, I had to keep an eye on the debris, anticipating its movements. One wrong step, and I'd fall into the endless void below.

The air was thick, humming with unstable energy, and every jump sent a jolt of anxiety through me — but stopping wasn't an option.

Without Nyx's powers, I would've fallen already — no doubt about it. My strength and speed let me react faster than I ever could before, making impossible leaps and barely catching myself when the ground crumbled beneath my feet. Every movement felt instinctive, like my body knew exactly what to do to survive.

"Yeah, thanks for this one, Nyx," I muttered under my breath, though I wasn't sure if she could even hear me. I just hoped she was enjoying the show.

I sprinted and leaped from one piece of rock to another piece of debris, the unstable ground vanishing beneath me with each step. The ruined path crumbled just as quickly as I crossed it. Each jump pushed my body to its limit, the void below threatening to swallow me whole.

With one final leap, I landed at the base of the observatory, my boots trembling as I checked if the ground was solid enough to stand on. Behind me, the last remnants of the path gave way, crumbling into the abyss below.

"How am I supposed to get down now?" I wondered, staring at the endless drop below. 

"No way to go but forward, right?" I figured.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself for a fight as I pushed the heavy doors open and stepped inside, my axe in hand. I was expecting a horde of monsters or cultists ready to ambush me. But instead of an enemy waiting to fight, the room was empty — eerily silent, with only a faint hum of static lingering in the air.

It was quite empty, except for the debris scattered on the floor — chunks of stone, shards of marble from the pillars, and a thick layer of dust covering everything. Among the rubble was an assortment of weapons, most of them bent or broken, too degraded to be of any use.

In the middle for some reason lies a crib.

In the middle of the room, for some reason, lay a crib. It was old, similar to those found in horror movies as a set piece. Its once elegant frame was now degraded, and the carvings had faded, either due to time or the dust covering it. The sight of it made a chill run down my spine.

"Am I actually going to fight a baby?" I thought, my morals in question. The idea was ridiculous, but in a place like this, I couldn't rule anything out.

I approached the crib slowly, as carefully as I could — I didn't know what to expect here. Each step felt heavier than the last. It was subtle at first, but the closer I got, the more it felt like something was pulling me back, or blocking me entirely. My limbs strained with the effort I was putting in, every movement draining me.

It was like I was moving through water, the air itself resisting me, like a forcefield preventing me from moving forward. The hum of static in the air grew louder, vibrating through my body with every step I took toward the crib.

"What kind of cosmic bullshit is this?" I thought. Of course, it couldn't just be an empty crib — no, it had to come with this reality-bending, time-warping nonsense.

When I finally reached the crib, my heart sank. Peering inside, I couldn't believe what I saw — a baby. It was sleeping deeply, its tiny chest rising and falling with each breath. Holy shit, it's alive? The thought hit me hard. But what struck me more was the scar that ran across its chest — a jagged, deliberate mark, like it had been branded before it could even understand the world around it.

But then, my eyes caught something else. Around the baby's neck was the very thing I was looking for — a delicate necklace. The pendant bore the symbol of an hourglass, etched perfectly into the metal. It gleamed faintly, pulsing with a strange, rhythmic energy. And I swear, just for a moment, the sand within the engraving shifted — like time itself stirred within it.

As I reached out, my finger almost touching the necklace, the baby stirred. Its tiny eyes blinked open, but instead of normal eyes, an eerie, gleaming light filled the sockets — unnatural and wrong. Then, to my horror, the baby smiled.

It wasn't the soft, innocent smile you'd expect from a child. No, this grin was far too wide, stretching unnaturally across its face.

"What the actual fuck?"

I stumbled back, my pulse racing. Of course, it couldn't just be a normal creepy crib. No, it had to be this.

"God, I hate this island."

The baby slowly levitated from the crib, as if gravity had no hold on it. Its gaze locked onto mine, and before I could react, I felt an invisible force grabbing my throat. I gasped for air as I was lifted off the ground. I clawed at my neck, but there was nothing — just this unseen pressure, like a hand tightening its grip.

Desperation kicked in. I grabbed my gun and aimed it straight at the creepy baby, firing without a second thought. But the bullet never reached it. Some kind of energy pulsed around it, blocking the shot like an invisible barrier.

Then, just as suddenly, the invisible force released me. I collapsed to the ground, coughing and gasping, but I didn't stop. I emptied the rest of my magazine at the baby, each shot uselessly ricocheting off that same cursed shield.

As soon as the gun clicked empty, and I stopped shooting, I felt it again. That invisible force latched onto me like a damn vice, but this time it wasn't just my neck — it had me completely. Every limb locked up like I was a bug trapped in a jar. I kicked, struggled, but it was like trying to fight air. Useless. My heart pounded as panic set in. Before I could even think, I was flying across the room like some kind of ragdoll.

And let me tell you, crashing into a stone pillar? Not as fun as it sounds. My back hit it so hard, I swear I felt my spine cry out in protest. Bones snapped — like, actually snapped. Every breath stabbed at me, like someone rammed a dozen rusty knives straight into my ribs. My head throbbed, my vision spun, and for a second, I thought, 'Yup. That's it. Game over.'

But the next hit never came.

I cracked my eyes open, half-expecting that nightmare of a baby to finish me off. But nope. It just... floated. Like it was satisfied or something. It drifted back down to the crib, curling up like none of that just happened. And then? Silence. No laughter, no threats — nothing.

'What the fuck?' I thought, my brain barely working through the pain. 'Why didn't it end me? What, is it on a nap schedule?'

But I didn't have the energy to figure it out. All I could do was lay there, staring at the cracked ceiling as Nyx's power kicked in. And let me tell you — having bones snap back into place? Absolute hell. It's not some magical painless fix like in the movies. No, it's like my bones are alive, wriggling and twisting under my skin, grinding until they find their rightful spot. Every nerve screamed. Every second stretched forever.

But hey. At least I wasn't dead. Yet.

I would like to say that I just stood up without much effort, but I'd be lying. Healing my body drained at least a third of the energy I had accumulated earlier. Another injury like that, and I'd be fighting this thing as a normal girl.

But still, I had to continue. I looked around, trying to find at least some other way to deal with this baby. But there was nothing. For now, I think it's still sleeping — maybe unaware of me? Or maybe it just doesn't see me as a threat? But that could change at any moment.

Unfortunately, I didn't see anything that could help me. So, facing it was the only choice right now. I tried approaching it since it was my only option, and I was doing well, but once again, an invisible force grabbed me. I saw myself flying once more, this time toward the door of the observatory.

I didn't get hurt as much this time since the door was wooden, and I was ready compared to earlier. But it still hurt. Splinters and shards from the shattered door grazed my skin, stinging with every movement. Thankfully, nothing seemed broken, but the dull ache spreading through my body was a reminder that I wouldn't last long at this rate.

I grabbed a chunk of broken stone from the floor, all out of ideas. I hurled the stone towards the crib, but the moment it got close, it was stopped mid-air. The barrier from earlier was preventing anything from hitting it. The rock hovered for a moment before dropping harmlessly to the ground. I tried again with a piece of broken weapon, but the same thing happened -- the forcefield repelled it effortlessly.

Maybe I just needed to throw harder. I thought about channeling the black mist to help me — not even sure if it would work. But it was worth a try. I imagined the mist swirling around my arms, wrapping tightly like tendrils of smoke. I pictured it taking shape, forming into gloves, or maybe something stronger. Something that could actually do some damage.

I focused harder, visualizing the energy coursing through me, surging from my fingertips to my elbows. The air around me thickened, the mist responding to my thoughts. And when I opened my eyes, I saw it — the black mist had solidified into something tangible. A pair of gauntlets now covered my hands, extending up to my elbows, sleek and sharp with jagged edges.

"This is... weird," I muttered, flexing my fingers. The gauntlets shifted with me, unnervingly smooth, as if they were a part of me. And maybe, in some twisted way, they were.

But weird or not, I'm not going to waste this opportunity. It was slow, but I could feel my energy being drained as I maintained this form. I grabbed another piece of rock and threw it at the crib. The air around it flickered for a moment, attempting to block the rock I threw, but it was too fast this time. I hit the crib — and now, I might seem like a bad person, but I was half hoping that it also hit the baby, maybe killing it as well or at least injuring it.

But as usual, I wasn't that lucky. The baby was floating again, its eyes locked on me. It had that same creepy smile, like it was amused. Like it knew something I didn't and was waiting to see how long I'd last. The way it looked at me sent a chill down my spine, but I forced myself to stay calm.

"So you're the heathen stopping our plans," the baby's voice rang in my head. It was like it was speaking through my thoughts, cold and hateful. Every word made me uneasy.

Pieces of debris lifted off the ground, floating around the baby as it moved its tiny hands. Then, with a simple flick, the rubble flew straight at me. I dodged the larger chunks, feeling the ground shake as they crashed down. But the smaller shards were harder to avoid. They scraped against my arms and legs, sharp pain following every hit.

"Death to the betrayer!" the baby's voice screamed in my mind. It was like the words themselves carried weight, pounding through my head. I gritted my teeth, the anger and hatred behind those words lingering like a painful echo.

Ariane gritted her teeth, eyes narrowing as she faced the floating child.

"Bring it on, you creepy little shit."

The air felt heavy, a low buzz filling the room. The baby's unsettling smile stayed, like it wasn't worried at all. Pieces of debris floated around it, waiting to be thrown.

The fight was on.

I tried to focus the mist to give me a little boost in speed. I imagined the mist forming around my legs, and as I focused more, I saw it materializing, wrapping tightly around my legs until it formed into a pair of boots — no, not boots — more like greaves, the kind those knights wore in the past. They looked heavy, dark, and ominous. But when I moved, I felt lighter, quicker than normal, like the mist was propelling me forward.

Without a second thought, I rushed towards the baby, my body pulsing with adrenaline.

But fighting that thing would take more than determination alone. Every time I tried moving in, even with the extra speed, I had a hard time hitting it. I kept getting sideswiped by debris, or it would just float away while pelting me with an assortment of smaller rubble.

"Is that all you've got, betrayer?" the baby's voice sneered in my mind, dripping with mockery, its hand gesturing toward me as a pieces of debris flew my way.

"Who the fuck did I even betray?" I shouted, dodging the barrage of rubble coming at me.

"You exist. That's betrayal enough, now! DIE!" the baby spat, its words twisting through my mind like a sick whisper.

"oh great, a homicidal baby," I whispered, trying to catch my breath.

That's when I noticed that the things around were no longer just floating — they were swirling, like a full-blown tornado of rubble. It twisted through the air with the baby-god hybrid thing at its center. It looked smug, and it was pissing me off. Then, without any warning, a wave of bright light shone from its eyes, and the debris shot toward me like a meteor shower.

I tried using my axe to deflect some of it, but I knew fully well that it wasn't made for blocking. Every hit sent painful vibrations through my arms, reminding me just how outmatched I was.

Without wasting another second, I dove behind a pillar, its cracked surface offering some cover. Dust and fragments of stone rained down around me as the relentless barrage continued.

Without wasting another second, I dove behind a pillar, its cracked surface offering some cover. Dust and fragments of stone rained down around me as the relentless barrage continued.

I could feel the debris grinding against the pillar, chipping away at it little by little. The cracks grew wider, and before I knew it, the whole thing started to crumble. I bolted, barely avoiding the collapsing stone. My lungs burned as I sprinted, trying to close the distance once more. I swung my axe, desperate to land a hit — but it was no use. The baby floated effortlessly out of reach, like it was toying with me.

I grabbed my gun, desperation kicking in as I unloaded every bullet I had. The air crackled as the energy around the baby pulsed, deflecting most of the shots like an invisible shield. But then, by some stroke of luck, one bullet slipped through. It grazed the baby's arm, leaving a thin red line.

But it didn't even flinch. If anything, the twisted smile on its face only grew wider, like it was amused by my pathetic attempt.

"Is that really the best you can do, betrayer?" the baby's voice echoed in my mind, filled with smug satisfaction. "Pathetic."

Another barrage of debris began floating, and before I could react, it started coming my way again.

I dove behind another set of pillars, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. My mind raced, desperately searching for another plan before the next attack came. 

But before I could figure something out, the baby was already at it again, the debris grinding against the pillar, breaking it down piece by piece.

I dove aside, and in my frustration, I threw my axe toward the baby. But the baby deflected it back at me, nearly decapitating me. I barely managed to duck, feeling the rush of air as the axe whizzed past my head and embedded itself into the wall behind me.

That thing was blocking everything. I needed to get close or something. Then, a weird thought came to me - maybe this will work?

I tried imagining the mist covering my body like armor. The black tendrils spread all over me, clinging to my skin and limbs like a living shadow, making me feel stronger. I could feel my body tense with energy, my senses sharpened. It felt good — but the strain on my body was immediate. My head pounded, my vision blurred, and I saw red at the edges of my sight — I felt like throwing up. Every second that passed made it harder and harder to breathe. Just standing was proving to be difficult.

Pushing my body like this wasn't just exhausting; it was dangerous. But I didn't have much of a choice. I felt stronger, but I wasn't sure how long it would last. All I knew was that if I failed, I would die.

But, I'm not that naive. Even with this strength, I knew it wasn't enough. What I needed now was a distraction — something to throw it off, even if just for a moment.

Another stupid idea. I tried imagining the mist forming into a body — my own body, since it was what I was most familiar with. It almost drove me to my breaking point. My knees felt weak, I was dizzier than ever, and I was seconds away from throwing up. But I was successful. When my vision cleared, there was a copy of me standing before me.

I lifted my hand, gesturing for my copy to attack. Without hesitation, it grabbed a dagger from the multitude of broken weapons scattered on the ground — a small blade, the most usable of the bunch.

My copy lunged at the baby, its movements swift and precise, dodging the debris mid-air with ease. Heck, it moved better than me. It even fought better than me. Maybe because it didn't have to worry about pain or exhaustion, only following my will without hesitation. Seeing it in action made me question just how much this mist could really do.

"Pathetic," the baby sneered, its voice dripping with disdain. "A puppet can't save a failure like you. I am Horvaxis! A GOD! and you will DIE!"

That's it. He was distracted now.

This was my chance. I could feel myself on the verge of passing out, my body screaming for rest. But somehow, I still managed to move. I grabbed one of the daggers lying around, the cold metal grounding me for a moment. Then, without wasting another second, I rushed toward the baby.

I got there almost immediately, the mist-enhanced speed working in my favor. But just as I was about to strike, the baby caught me. Its eyes gleamed with twisted amusement, its small fingers curling in the air — and I felt an invisible force wrap around me, holding me in place.

Then, without warning, an unseen force began tightening around my neck. It was as if invisible hands were choking me again. I gasped for air, but the hold was too tight. My legs kicked uselessly, strength slowly draining away from me.

The baby's voice echoed in my mind, but this time, it sounded different. It wasn't just mocking — it was delighted.

"Did you really think you could win, betrayer? Pathetic. I'll enjoy watching the light leave your eyes."

But then, to the god's surprise, I started laughing. A weak, raspy sound, but laughter nonetheless. My chest burned with every breath, yet I couldn't stop. Because my plan had actually worked.

While the god was too focused on me, it had completely forgotten about the copy. The shadowy figure moved in silence, closing the distance with impossible speed. Before the baby could react, my copy lunged forward and plunged the dagger deep into the spot where the scar had been left earlier.

The god's eyes widened, its twisted grin faltering for the first time. A sharp, strangled cry echoed in my mind as the force around my neck loosened.

All the debris that had been swirling in the air came crashing to the ground. The sound of stone and rubble filled the chamber as I collapsed alongside it, the weight of exhaustion overtaking me. My vision blurred, the world spinning uncontrollably. I tried to move, to stay awake, but my body refused.

And then, everything went dark.