Ninety seven

The pain vanished.

All of it, all at once.

It was as if it had never existed.

But in its place… came the sensation of drowning. Like my lungs were filled with something that wasn't air.

Not blood. Not anything physical.

Even so, it was suffocating.

It had never been like this before.

Not when the world was reset.

Not when I was stabbed.

Not even when the man's putrid aura began to corrode my flesh.

Everything -- sounds, Luxxion's voice, notification pings, even the beat of my own heart -- all converged into a single color.

White.

A nauseating white. Almost solid.

When I opened my eyes, I was still surrounded by it.

No more tenth floor. No Gongja. No masked man's corpse.

The ground beneath my feet felt… soft. Squishy. Like badly whipped clouds. Like cotton candy. But with a sticky texture, almost like my feet didn't want to let go of it.

Still, I didn't sink.

Each step made a muffled, hollow, yet echoing sound.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

It was all I could hear. Because in front of me, around me, above or below… there was nothing.

Nothing but white.

''Luxxion?'' I called out.

No answer.

''Gongja?'' I tried.

Silence.

''…Anyone?''

I shouted.

Nothing.

Alone.

Could it…?

The doubt formed like a knife plunging into my mind.

Could it have been a trap by the masked man? Some kind of mental prison?

I didn't have my spear. No inventory. And my hand-to-hand combat was… laughable.

Shit.

If I died here, who's to say I'd come back?

That's when I heard them.

Voices.

Multiple. Layered. Deep, high, hoarse, soft.

Like several people speaking in chorus.

''Hello, Liam Han.''

They came from behind. From the side. From above. From below.

From everywhere.

And nowhere at the same time.

''Where am I?'' I asked, spinning in all directions, fists clenched even without a weapon.

''In a place between the pulses of the real. A point outside the narrative'' the voices answered.

Cryptic.

''That helps zero.''

No reply.

''Did you bring me here?'' I tried again.

This time, a figure appeared.

Slowly.

As if being painted by hand, brushstroke by brushstroke.

It was humanoid.

But it was impossible to tell if it was male or female.

The features were androgynous.

The hair… neither long nor short. Dark, but depending on the angle, it seemed light.

The face was symmetrical.

Too perfect. And yet… impossible to remember.

Every detail vanished from memory the moment I blinked.

They wore neutral clothes. Simple. Nothing stood out.

And yet, it was impossible to look away.

The being watched me with curiosity.

''It's been a while since I spoke with someone'' it said, and its voice sounded like all the others from before, now compressed into a single tone.

''So you're out of practice?'' I shot back, trying to sound less afraid than I was.

The creature smiled.

''Maybe. Or maybe I've just been far too bored.''

''Are you Luxxion?''

A soft laugh.

''No. But you could say I have a certain… connection to him.''

''So, what are you? The creator? A god? An author? Some hidden-villain from the secret chapter? The final boss with a god complex?''

It laughed again.

And this time, it sounded genuine.

''You really are interesting, Liam Han. That's why I like you.''

''Great'' I rolled my eyes. ''A mysterious fan. Just what I was missing.''

''It's an appropriate way to refer to me, I must confess.''

He looked away for a second. Fell silent.

Then murmured with a soft sigh:

''I'm 97.''

That… wasn't an answer.

He must've noticed my confused expression, because he added:

''That's the most I can tell you right now. Believe me, if I could, I'd say more. But it's not time.''

''Fine. "97." Can you at least tell me where the hell I am?''

The space around us vibrated slightly.

Not with anger.

With… anticipation.

''A between-place. Not inside. Not outside. Where rules bend. Where stories twist. You weren't meant to be here, Liam Han. But ironically… only someone like you could get here this way.''

''So that means I did it? The mission? I finished it?''

The being smiled.

''You completed the mission, Liam Han,'' it said, giving a subtle nod.'' Perhaps even better than expected.

My heart sped up.

''So… he's dead?''

''Yes. The body is destroyed. The consciousness… disconnected.''

I exhaled. A weight I hadn't realized I was carrying lifted from my shoulders.

But something still bothered me.

''Wait. Wasn't the mission about eradicating the Seed? Killing the guy was only part of that, right?''

''Ah, the Seed…'' he said, staring into the white void like he expected something to appear. ''In low-level missions, and even in some high-level ones, the Seed is usually implanted in the… shhhk—''

A metallic screech cut through his words.

Like someone scratching an old tape.

The being just smiled, as if that was expected.

''What you did, Liam, was prevent full germination. That's enough. At least for this one time.''

I narrowed my eyes.

I had a lot of questions. But he continued before I could ask any of them.

''You also earned a good number of Narrative Points.'' He extended a hand. ''They're the main driver of your Ascension.''

Then, something odd happened.

A crack in the air.

And windows began to open in front of me. Like the system Luxxion usually displayed, but… different.

Silent. Without the robotic tone. Without his voice.

[Narrative Points: +98]

[Ascension Level: 1 - you're almost there!]

''Yes, I can generate these windows'' he said casually. ''But not with the full interface. Luxxion's function is still superior. He's a very specific project, after all.''

''So he's your project?''

''Let's say… a distant relative.'' His smile curved. ''He's something between a tutor and a warden.''

I swallowed hard.

But considering my experiences with Luxxion, it was unlikely he would explain to me what he meant by that.

I looked at one of the windows - I had gained another ability. It looked really useful.

''And this new ability? The pain… during the fight was insane, but now… I barely feel anything.''

97 nodded.

''Pain resistance. Not tolerance. You still feel it, Liam. But now, it's harder for it to take you down. It's almost like a ritual, you know. Everyone who follows this path ends up gaining something similar, sooner or later.''

''Everyone? Who else…?''

He didn't answer.

Just smiled. Again.

Why did these entities love to smile so damn much?

Was it some fucking unwritten rule of the ''mysterious beings book''?

''Is all this really real?'' I asked. ''I mean… this place, you.''

97 looked down — or at what I assumed was "down" — and replied:

''Your consciousness was transferred. This isn't a physical space. It's more of a reflection - between what you are and what you will become. It took a while for me to connect. Even longer to stabilize the link.''

Stabilize the link?

That's what had brought me here, probably.

''How much time has passed?'' I asked, anxious.

''In the time of the world you're in… six days.''

''Six…?''

''Your body is alive. But battered. Your soul, however, is stubborn. Like I said. You're interesting.''

Before I could respond, a sharp sound echoed through the space.

TOC. TOC. TOC.

Like knocking on a door. But there was no door.

97 sighed, like someone who knows it's time to leave a pleasant conversation.

''It's time. Our moment is over for now.''

He looked at me one last time. An empty stare, but… curious.

''I'll be waiting for our next meeting, Liam Han.''

The world began to collapse in white.

I shut my eyes and raised my hands, trying to block the blinding light.

And then—

I opened my eyes with difficulty.

The dim morning light filtered through a window covered by an old cloth.

The first thing I saw was the Alchemy Master, curled up on the floor, sleeping on a sheet, breathing softly.

I was lying in a bed — had to be hers.

Honestly, she was beautiful.

But I didn't have much time to admire her face. And honestly, that'd be weird.

On the other side of the room, Gongja stared at me like he was seeing a ghost.

''…You're alive?''

I blinked slowly.

My throat still burned, and my whole body ached like I'd been hit by a train soaked in acid.

But I managed to turn my head and give a crooked little smile.

''I don't know. If you see a glowing halo, let me know.''

''You were out for six days, idiot'' he clicked his tongue.

''My bad. The ol' "stabbed and exploded" combo caught me off guard.''

Gongja scoffed.

He looked like he wanted to laugh and kick my face at the same time.

''Next time, try not to die.''

''It's funny that you're the one saying that,'' I joked. ''But, next time, try reacting faster.''

Silence.

I stared at the ceiling.

''But hey… we survived.''

''For now'' he said.

And then—

[User Liam Han has returned to activity.]

[Main mission successfully completed.]

[Processing rewards...]