Hidden behind a veil, Kara, Sarsha, and Alius watched as Sora confronted his old acquaintance.
Sarsha let out a frustrated sigh, turning to Alius. "This is so boring. How long are we going to watch her fight your undead?" She then glanced at Kara. "So, who's going to fill me in? Who is she? Is she an ex who cheated on Ralph?"
Alius ignored her, remaining focused on the scene before them. Kara, however, smiled and said, "It's a private matter, but it shouldn't take long."
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Sarsha groaned. "You guys have so many secrets! That woman doesn't stand a chance against Ralph, but why can't I even hear what they're saying? I know you two can see and hear everything! Don't leave me out! I want sound too! Tell Sora to let me hear it!"
When neither Kara nor Alius responded, Sarsha pouted, watching Kara shake her head.
A short distance away, Hiyoko, Netsu, Nyx, and Magnus lounged on a large sofa Magnus had materialized, seated behind another barrier Sora had created.
Seeing the injuries covering Rachel's body, Hiyoko chuckled. "I've never seen Master so angry. That human must be really awful."
Netsu nodded. "You know what she did to him. He even had to discuss it with Uncle Alius to decide who would deal with her…"
Lost in thought, Netsu didn't notice the adoring gaze Nyx kept casting his way, and calmly ate popcorn while watching the scene below.
Watching Sora stand and use [Memory Sculpting], the group discussed the next steps of their journey.
"As soon as Uncle Sora deals with that witch, we'll handle the other one," Magnus muttered. He had grown fond of Hope and couldn't hide his disdain for Hannah.
Nyx, deep in thought, finally spoke. "Do you think we'll always stay together like this? I don't want our group to split apart again. It would be sad if our masters chose different paths."
Hiyoko smiled knowingly. "Oh, you don't really care about their plans or adventures… Be honest, little fairy. You just want to—"
Before she could finish, Nyx's innocent, melancholic expression vanished. In a flash, she disappeared from her position and appeared in front of Hiyoko, shoving the little bird straight into Sora's barrier.
As if she had expected the attack, Hiyoko floated with her guard up and readied her own attack. Netsu and Magnus quickly grabbed both of them, struggling to stop their fight before they could disrupt Sora and Alius.
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Rachel's eyes trembled as she locked onto the figure before her. She stared, her gaze darting across his features, searching for flaws, inconsistencies, anything to prove what she was seeing wasn't real.
"Sora is dead," she said, her anger rising. "How do you know how I addressed him? Is this another one of your tricks?"
Uncomfortable, she clutched her head, as if the pressure in her skull would ease the pain she started feeling. "You… What did you do to me?"
Sora looked at her calmly, studying her reaction. He refrained from smiling, opting to bear a gentle expression instead.
"Dead? No, Rachel. I'm right here."
Pausing, he added, "If you try using mana or mental power, the little gift I left in your brain will activate. That headache you're feeling right now? Consider it a friendly reminder."
Though the pain in her head dulled, Rachel's unease deepened. She quickly realized that whoever was in front of her wasn't playing a trick, he came prepared. Her thoughts raced between figuring out who was after her and how to escape.
"You can't be Sora… I killed him with my own hands. Sora Hashino is no longer a part of this world." Her voice carried a meaning only innate skill holders would understand.
Sora shook his head. "You're wrong… I'm still here. And now that I think about it, maybe my brother is still around too, in this world or the next."
After a pause, he added, "But one thing is certain... He's not waiting for you at home, ready to welcome you with open arms after you've 'saved the world.'"
Rachel's face contorted in reaction to his words. "You!" she shouted. "You saw my memories! That's the only explanation! Who the fuck are you?"
Sora felt his patience thinning, the warmth in his eyes nearly extinguished.
[Believe my words. Trust me. Don't pay attention to details.]
He activated [Powerful Suggestion], ensuring any inconsistencies in his act would go unnoticed while steering the conversation where he wanted.
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"I didn't access your memories, but you should know that people who have that power can't retrieve anything from before the [World Update]." His tone remained calm. "So let me ask you something."
His gaze locked onto hers.
"Do you remember when you peed yourself in class back in CE1? We were seven. If I hadn't emptied my water bottle on both of our pants and pretended I was bullying you, you would've faced the humiliation of a lifetime."
Rachel froze. The defiance in her eyes lessened as the memory surfaced.
Sora continued, his voice steady. "You were so grateful you brought me snacks and chewing gum every day for weeks. No one else knows that, do they? Just you… and me."
Rachel's breath hitched. The details were too precise, too personal for anyone else to know.
Her eyes widened, filling with tears as she stared at him. Her lips trembled, and for a moment, she reached out a shaking hand.
"S-Soso…? Is it really you?"
Her voice cracked. "You're alive. I… I thought I'd lost you forever."
Sora remained silent, his expression unreadable, as Rachel's tears fell, her emotions spiraling out of control.
"I didn't… I didn't have a choice, Soso," she choked out. "My innate skill… my bloodline… they made me do it." She took a hesitant step forward.
Sora tilted his head slightly, feigning surprise as he took a step back. "So you're saying… you weren't in control? That you're just a puppet?"
Rachel froze. The question caught her off guard. Her lips parted, instinctively ready to escape responsibility. But at the last moment, she hesitated, quickly shaking her head. "It was like a curse," she whispered. "I couldn't control myself when I… when I killed you. I only ever hurt you, but I've learned how to control myself now. I won't harm you again. Ever."
Sora nearly rolled his eyes at the excuse.
'Does she really expect me to believe this nonsense? Thanks to my skill, she believed me when I said I didn't see her memories and thinks I don't know about her past? Don't tell me she still thinks I'm the naive Sora she knew…'
Trying to understand her angle, he considered, 'She probably believes the only way to survive is to beg for forgiveness or pity.'
Feigning hesitation, he said, "But didn't you tell me before I died that it was also 'what he said'? I shouldn't have been your first victim."
Rachel flinched, struggling to form a sentence. "I… I wasn't myself back then… I… I can't remember what happened." She sobbed, her voice cracking.
"Please… Soso… you're alive. That's all that matters. You're here. I can make it up to you. Just… give me a chance."
Sora's expression softened, with a carefully crafted mix of relief and regret.
"I knew something must have happened to you," he said. "So, you weren't in control?" He sighed. "I always believed there was a reason for what you did…" His voice wavered as he took a deep breath, as if fighting back his pain.
"I'm sorry for doubting you."
Then, slowly, Sora opened his arms wide, ready to welcome her into his embrace. Your journey continues with Freewebnovel
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Rachel's eyes widened with disbelief as Sora opened his arms wide. He looked every bit like the kind, gentle friend she remembered.
'Sora... How did you survive? And are you here for revenge or to forgive me. You've always had trouble lying. You can't pull off something like this... Are you really forgiving me?' Feeling genuine heartbreak at how kindhearted her best friend was, Rachel did not know what to think anymore.
'I don't know how he did it, but as long as I stall for long enough and leave the combat state, I can leave this place and run. It doesn't matter that he's dumb enough to forgive me, I must discard my human identity.' She thought, keeping an eye on the counter that told her when she would be able to enter her [Portal Palace].
Feeling both fear and liking to the figure in front of her, Rachel walked into his embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
She continued her act and sobbed into his chest, the 'relief' overwhelming her. "Thank you, Soso… Thank you for understanding. I swear, I'll make it up to you. I'll prove I've changed. You'll see…"
Sora placed his hand on her back, stroking it in comforting motions. "I missed you too, Rachel," he murmured, his tone gentler.
Rachel's tears soaked into Sora's chest as she clung to him.
'This feels incredible,' she thought, a flicker of guilt creeping through her. 'Maybe… maybe I shouldn't have killed Nate and Soso… I missed this feeling.'
She glanced at the counter in the corner of her panel.
'Just a little longer,' she thought. 'I don't know who set up everything that is happening here, but once I'm free of the combat state, I'll leave this place and never look back.'
Suddenly, she felt an intense pain in her back. She gasped, pulling back slightly, her eyes meeting Sora's. The warmth in his gaze was gone, replaced by a chilling coldness she had never expected to see on him.
Turning to face the other way, she saw another person. He looked exactly like Sora. But she did not think for a single moment he was Sora. This was someone else.
This person was different, his presence overwhelming, radiating an aura of power that sent a chill down her spine.
His muscular frame was visible under an armor that shone with a brilliance she had never seen before.
His dark, sword dripped blood, its surface etched with symbols that glowed faintly with a the light of Soul Power.
This was the blade the figure had used to stab both the 'gentle' Sora and her.
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