Rex looked around, his eyes darting from one frozen raindrop to another.
He seemed confused.
His fingers trembled as he tightened his grip around Aegis.
His breathing came in ragged gasps.
And in the midst of this stillness—
Thump. Thump. Thump.
His heartbeat echoed, pounding like a drum, loud enough to reach his ears.
Step. Step.
A light footstep, cutting through silence, came from Rex’s right.
Rex’s head snapped toward the source.
His eyes wide open now scanning the empty alley, searching for movement, a shadow, or anything.
There was nobody there.
His breathing grew heavier, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
His heartbeat became much faster.
"W-Who’s there?" His voice cracked under his fear.
The hairs on his arms and legs stood on end.
Haaah… haah..!
Something was wrong.
Step. Step.
Now the foot step came from the left.
Rex whipped his head in that direction.
Haah… haah…!
Still no one.
His body tensed up, his muscles locked in one place, refusing to move.
Suddenly—
A hand gripping his shoulder from behind.
"!?"
A violent shudder ran down his spine.
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Paralyzing him completely.
A soft melodious voice, almost too gentle, enters our ear.
"You had it rough, my child."
"!?"
As those words reached to me, but just before Rex turned his head—
There was darkness.
Just like before.
It engulfed me entirely.
My consciousness faded away, as I found myself floating in an endless void of darkness.
***
"Cough…! Cough…!"
A sharp pain burned in my throat.
I gasped, my body felt heaving as I struggled to breath.
The world spun as I opened my eyes, my vision was blurry.
It took me a moment before I got my head straight.
I looked around me, the surroundings were familiar.
Scattered papers.
The smell of chemicals.
I gaze to the side.
Two angelic figures standing nearby.
And right in front of me—
A ghostly figure, watching me with worried eyes.
I hurriedly touched my face, tracing my smooth skin.
I could feel it.
The weight of my body.
The movement of my fingers.
I could move.
I could speak.
"I am back."
Back from that world.
The first voice that reached me was Sera’s.
’Are you all right, human?’
Her ocean-blue eyes shimmered with worry as she reached for my face, but her hand passed right through me.
It didn’t feel like a dream.
All the pain. The suffering.
Rex and Lucy.
It was…
I just don’t know…
I don’t understand any of it.
What was all that? Why was I there? Who were those two?
My head pounded. My thoughts were bouncing in my head, without reaching the definite conclusion.
I wanted to scream. Tear my hair out.
"Sir Paradox."
Lilith’s voice snapped me out of it.
"What did you see?"
I looked up at her. Silver-white hair. Blood-red eyes. A small face. Red rose lips. Innocent smile.
It reminded me of…
"Lucy."
The name slipped from my lips before I could stop it.
Lilith’s eyes widened after hearing it.
She was surprised. I noticed it.
But not long after, her expression returned to normal.
"I see."
"You did great."
A blissful smile tugged at her lips—pure, innocent…
It was just like Lucy?
Or maybe I was overthinking it.
But if I wasn’t—
I think I found the answer to one of my questions.
I wanted to ask Lilith something, but the words wouldn’t come out from me.
My gaze shifted towards Nathalia.
She remained quiet. She was still looking at me, standing there, her blindfold was still hiding her expression.
I sighed.
Enough of this, I needed to focus.
I pushed myself off the ground, dusting off my clothes.
My face returned to normal.
I couldn’t afford to get lost in my own head.
Returning to the Human Continent was more important for now.
My classmates were trapped here.
And for God knows how long?
Days? Weeks?
I didn’t know.
But I had to get them out.
And the option I had now was to accept Nathalia’s proposal.
I turned to Nathalia, ready to ask her—but before I could, she spoke first.
"This prophecy was a big thing for the Gods," she said.
"Some of them were scared. Others were envious."
The Child of Prophecy—me.
They wanted me on their side.
To win their long, endless argument.
I get it now.
It all made sense.
Why Nathalia offered to teleport us back—with only wanting my trust in return.
’What should I do?’
I had just met her.
And from Sera’s story… She seemed dangerous.
I didn’t think I could defeat her and Lilith both.
Nathalia spoke again.
"So, will you accept my request?"
"..."
I was still struggling to decide.
Should I trust her?
’Accept her request.’
Sera’s voice rang in my head, cutting through my thoughts.
I froze.
"..."
What?
’But—’ I tried to argue, but she cut me off again.
’Ask her to sign the demon contract.’
Demon contract?
I didn’t know what that was.
My confusion must have been clear to her, because Sera quickly explained it to me.
A demon contract was an unbreakable bond which tied both parties at the soul level. If anyone broke it, they would die instantly.
Death, huh?
An idea formed in my mind.
Till now, Nathalia and Lilith didn’t seem to know I possessed the Immortality skill.
What if I signed the contract… and broke it?
Would I actually die?
The possibility was slim.
But it wasn’t zero.
The contract destroyed souls.
If my soul was shattered, would I resurrect?
I didn’t know.
I still didn’t know the limits of my skills.
I hadn’t even analyzed them properly through the Fate Interface.
I needed to do it. Soon.
Nathalia spoke once again, this time her voice was calm. "Don’t overthink this. I won’t harm you."
Trust, huh?
That’s what she wanted.
Could I give her that?
I exhaled.
"Alright."
But before she could speak, I cut in.
"Let’s sign the demon contract."
The moment the words left my mouth—
Nathalia’s eyes widened.
And not just her Lilith too, I know what they are thinking—How did he know about the Demon Contract?
Their faces went pale.
Their reaction told me everything.
’So it was a trap after all.’
But then—
"Alright."
My eyes snapped to Nathalia.
"What?"
"I planned to do it anyway," she said.
I blinked.
She agreed?
She was willing to be bound by me?
Was my trust that important to her?
I narrowed my eyes.
She was either extremely confident… or desperate.
Lilith’s expression returned to normal. "I shall prepare the contract."
Her voice was steady, but I noticed her fingers twitch slightly.
Even she was uneasy.
Nathalia, however, remained calm.
She took a step forward. "I have nothing to hide. If this is what you need to trust me, then so be it."
She really wasn’t hesitating.
Sera was silent.
She was watching.
I clenched my jaw.
Fine. Let’s see how far she’ll go.
Lilith raised her hand.
A black void formed in the air.
The temperature dropped.
A scroll appeared, hovering between us.
The Demon Contract.
To be Continued…