A loud tune echoed in the background without stopping. It was still enchanting to the ears even in such an amplified echo a while ago. The problem was that as the old witch kept coming closer, the sound kept increasing. Now, Noah's ears had already started bleeding because of such music.
Shane stood there for a few seconds, stunned, and by the time he regained control of himself, the control of his body was already transferred to the host. He felt a wave of pain in his ears. Even though his body was alright, he could still feel tremendous pain through their shared senses. He took a deep breath and said, "I'll find you better earplugs."
"Pl-Please do. I can't take it anymore!"
"But you don't have money."
"Then take control of my body."
"Should I just continue to take control of your body and waste my money?" Shane didn't even feel ashamed when he sounded selfish, "I'm not that selfless."
"Ah! But it's hurting me!"
"As long as we walk away, it won't hurt anymore," Shane glanced at the radar and said, "Let's try walking again."
After saying that, Noah took one step forward only to repeat the previous scenario. He frowned after seeing this situation as he said, "Looks like we have to deal with this woman first."
"Don't do anything reckless," Shane could tell what the boy was thinking about. "We don't have to kill her to pass this floor. After all, the staircase could also be hidden with an illusion created by this lady."
"Then what are we supposed to do? Wait and watch? Nope!" Noah pulled out a common sword as he glared at the woman, "Let me at least try to knock her out."
Before Shane could say anything, Noah had already lifted the sword, pointing the hilt at the woman's head. He hit that part with a force that made the old witch stumble back with a shocked expression on her face, but she didn't fall down.
Shane watched the young boy rebelling like this and sighed. Sometimes even he would forget that his host was a teenager before dying. At least, that was the setting of Noah on this virtual trial.
Just then, the sound echoed louder than ever as the grin on the old witch's face widened. She almost looked like a masochist who liked being beaten to derive pleasure. Shane's eyes narrowed.
So he could conclude that if he tried to kill this person, things might get even worse. But he didn't have time to be concerned about this.
His host's ear-piercing scream sounded in the background. The sound was way too loud!
"F*ck! I'm gonna die!"
Shane frowned as beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He was also finding it hard to control himself. Even though it wasn't his ears that bled because of such a loud sound, he still shared senses with his host.
He might end up dying from pain at this rate.
"Use a healing potion," said Shane as he pulled out his own healing potion and drank it all in one go. Outside, even Noah was doing the same. The pain eased for a moment, but the loud music made it worse all over again, making Noah's ears bleed.
"I'm never going to rebel like this. It's not worth it!"
"You only realized that now?" Shane sighed as he continued, "Let's wrack our brains on how to deal with this strange monster. What did we do to pass through the previous floor?"
"We ran?"
"Exactly, but we could have solved it in an easier manner," Shane explained everything that he had come up with while watching the movie with his host, "What's the thing that an eye would do?"
"It stares…." the lightbulb in Noah's head sparked up as he grew excited, "So we could have blocked that eyeball's vision?"
"This is just my theory, but it could have happened," Shane looked at the old woman grinning in front of him, "Let's try to break her weapon."
He squinted his eyes at the strange weapon monster in the world woman's hands. The way she was holding it almost looked like she was protecting it as if it were her dear child….
An idea flashed in his mind. Perhaps it could be this strange weapon that was doing these things. If not, what else would be the reason behind her protection? He didn't believe monsters had a heart. They were low-level creatures who didn't even have any brains to speak of!
How could they learn how to feel?
In this world, the beings had several levels of existence. One was at the soul level that could only be achieved after they become eligible to transgress this karmic realm to head over to the cosmic realm with merits. The soul would grow through trials and tribulations enough to become spiritually, mentally, and emotionally stronger.
The second was the astral body that's made out of the mind. This body was made out of three components—vital energy, or lifeforce. Some people also called it a vital breath that was necessary for living. Once this energy left the body, one couldn't live.
The other two components were the mind and intellect, which helps one define the form of their body and their love in the world. They also had chakras and spiritual veins in their body. It was this body that connected the souls with the outer world in all aspects, making them feel and sense clearly.
All the beings in the mortal realm and the heavens had this kind of body, even including systems. It was just that the mortals were called mortals for a reason. They had a covering of a physical body consisting of a few elements. It covered the astral senses so that one would be able to perceive what they shouldn't. Shane blinked out of his daze as he raised his head.
The monsters didn't have this astral body. They only had a physical body that hampered their mental, emotional, and intellectual growth, leaving them with nothing but bodies without the ability to think and feel. These monsters wouldn't be able to see the heavenly beings, but they all do for one reason—dark cosmic energy.
It helped them perceive things that they shouldn't be able to, growing an astral connection with the help of darkness. Of course, the higher a monster had this power, the more perceptive they were! It was just that this power didn't grow any emotional aspect within them.
So Shane absolutely didn't believe that this monster had any affection for the weapon. Instead, he knew that there must be a reason why this lady was trying to hide it in her bossom with all her heart.
"Attack the strings," the longer Shane stared at those strings, the more he felt like there was something wrong with them. They didn't look normal. Instead, it seemed like they were created out of some black energy or something.
What else but dark cosmic energy was dark in color?
Noah didn't understand what was going on, but since his system said so, he would do it without thinking twice. He raised his hand and attacked the strings with a thud, but before he could hit it, his entire body was forced back, and he stood at the entrance of the floor once again.
The scene changed, making it look like a beautiful view from a fantasy anime with a clear sky. Even the woman changed into a beautiful dress.
The music played once again. This time, Noah and Shane both got stunned and enchanted. The music seemed to have reached their astral body, taking control of their mind and emotions at the same time.
Noah's body froze as he stared at the woman coming closer and closer. His ears started bleeding as the level of pain enhanced to the point that the blood couldn't stop spurting out, but he didn't move. Shane didn't scold his host this time because the hypnotic energy had reached the astral body, where he was temporarily residing.
He was also affected as he stared at the screen, almost without blinking.
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