Chapter 194: Adam’s Reflection (3)
In "Adam’s" mind, it no longer mattered who this woman was... God or Devil... if she could save him... then perhaps she could save humanity as well.
The woman with the long black hair stared at him for a moment before finally speaking.
"Even till now, you really are a simple-headed fool... no, I’m sure you’re intelligent, but I often just cannot understand what it is that’s on your mind that constantly makes you want to save humanity."
"Adam" quietly listened to her.
He wanted to respond and ask if she knew who he was... but his mouth was no longer able to open.
The woman did not seem to want to engage in a conversation with him either... or rather, she did not want "Adam" to reply at all.
Instead, she simply continued scolding him.
"Humanity isn’t as beautiful as you picture it to be. We murder, we steal, we betray one another, we commit unspeakable atrocities, and sometimes... we sin simply for the sake of sinning."
"We are selfish, greedy, and hypocritical. We hurt the people closest to us, yet somehow still expect to be forgiven."
She let out a quiet sigh before continuing.
"Sure... there are some people who even I deem as ’worth saving’. There are people who deserve a second chance... people who genuinely wish to do good."
"But humanity as a whole...? Even I would not risk my entire life... my entire existence... just to save them."
She paused for a brief moment as a strange look crossed her face.
It almost seemed as though something inside her was rejecting her own words.
There was frustration...
A trace of anger flashed across her eyes as she looked at "Adam".
"I’ll tell you this now... We..."
She suddenly stopped speaking.
"...I..."
Her brows furrowed as though she was instinctively correcting herself.
"...We do not need your saving anymore."
Her gaze softened.
"This time... it is humanity’s turn to save you, Adam."
She took a small step closer before speaking once more.
"I will save you. However, you must promise me, under one condition..."
"You must live."
Despite saying that she had set a condition, she did not pull out any artifact or item to establish a binding contract.
It was as though she was completely certain that "Adam" would keep his promise.
"Adam" could not respond.
He had countless questions he wanted to ask, but before he could even try, the woman had already looked away from him.
Instead, she gazed towards the sky...
As though she was waiting for some sort of "signal" to arrive...
Several seconds passed.
Then "Adam" suddenly heard another voice.
It sounded digital, almost distorted, as though it was struggling just to communicate.
"It worked...! I managed to get inside the reflection’s body! The ’Hidden Floor’ exists! It’s safe...! Quick... bring him there!"
The woman’s eyes wavered upon hearing the message.
Her tense shoulders slowly relaxed.
A look of relief appeared on her face, as though years... perhaps even countless years... of effort had finally borne fruit.
She slowly turned back towards "Adam".
This time, there was no coldness left in her eyes, only a burning resolve.
She gently placed her hand against "Adam"’s cheek.
A gentle warmth spread throughout his body, accompanied by an immense flow of mana that temporarily eased the unbearable pain crushing his existence.
Using every ounce of strength he had left, "Adam" barely managed to force out a few words.
"W-What’s... happening...?"
The woman did not answer his question directly.
Instead, she smiled faintly.
"You might not believe it, but just as how you exist to save humanity... I exist to find and save you."
"My story ends here, Adam. But don’t worry... I am the ’Omnipresence’. There will always be a ’me’. Should you find the version of me that exists on the other side, be kind to her."
"She barely has any memories of her early years, only wandering aimlessly in search of a ’Hidden Floor’. She won’t even know why she’s looking for it... only after years and years of searching will she finally recover those memories."
"She is but a lost lamb who does not know that the Hidden Floor is a universe... and not actually a floor."
Without warning, "Adam" weakly grabbed her hand.
"...don’t... understand..."
The woman looked down at him.
However...
She did not respond this time.
[Authority of Omnipresence]
As she activated her Authority, life seemed to drain from her face.
No...
Not just life.
Her entire existence seemed to be fading away, little by little, as though every passing second erased another piece of who she was.
"Adam’s" eyes widened.
He didn’t understand.
Why would she go this far just to save him?
Why would she sacrifice everything...
For someone like him?
His grip around her hand tightened.
"...Stop..."
There was a feeling of dread within "Adam"’s expression.
He truly hated it whenever people sacrificed themselves for him.
It was...
Absurd.
This could not go on.
"...Stop...!"
The woman simply smiled.
"Keep your promise... stay alive, Adam."
As those words left her lips, the last shred of her existence disappeared.
The warm hand gently holding "Adam’s" cheek dissolved into countless particles of light before vanishing completely.
[You have inherited a portion of the Authority of Omnipresence.]
[Your existence is currently being rewritten....]
As the system notifications appeared before him, "Adam" could no longer read them.
His vision suddenly turned crimson.
The world around him disappeared...
Replaced by an endless sea of red.
It was unknown how long "Adam" had remained there before he suddenly realized that he could control the "red sea" surrounding him.
It was then that he understood.
This... Was blood. An endless sea of blood.
Slowly, "Adam" extended his will towards the crimson sea.
The blood around him began to move in response, gently carrying his body upwards.
The deeper crimson waters beneath him slowly parted as more blood gathered underneath, lifting him higher and higher.
Like an invisible current, it steadily brought him towards the surface.
As he was doing so, several notifications suddenly appeared inside his head.
[Mother of Reflections is exhibiting confusion!]
[Mother of Reflections is asking about who you are!]
[Mother of Reflections is attempting to escape the body but finds herself unable to do so.]
[Mother of Reflections is screaming for help!]
"Adam" ignored every single notification as he continued rising.
Higher...
And higher.
Until finally...
He broke through the surface.
As he emerged, several familiar faces immediately entered his vision.
Salvia and Mallory, the twin sisters known for their deadly yet lifesaving graces.
Along with the Shaman of Borrowed Lives, Seo-jun, and the kind Utsurogi.
All four of them were members of the Rustfang Gang.
However, they looked younger and far more inexperienced.
They were also noticeably weaker than the ones "Adam" remembered.
There was also a young girl standing nearby who bore a striking resemblance to the prodigy "Adam" knew.
Just from these familiar faces alone, "Adam" immediately understood one thing.
He had somehow arrived in a different world...
Or perhaps... A different universe?
What made him even more certain of that thought...
Was the figure standing directly before him.
He bore the exact same face.
The exact same stature.
Even his state of existence felt extremely "close" to "Adam’s" own, as though the two of them had walked nearly identical paths and shared an almost identical past.
Looking at the figure before him, "Adam" slowly opened his mouth.
"Where... is this?"
Comments