chapter 32 truth
Fighter: "When... when did I accept it?"
His voice cracked, his eyes darting between the ominous book in his lap and the empty air where Rechal's presence loomed.
Rechal: [You accepted the manual scripture. Because of your hesitation, the trial has been automatically initiated by me. As a helper, it is my duty to bridge the gap between your indecision and your destiny. Ok.]
Fighter: "What kind of help is—"
[[...---…---...---...---...---...---...---...---...---..--.]]
First Trial: Ever-changing
Passing Condition: Establish a contract with the Death Path of Story: Empty Heaven.
Time Limit: 30 Days.
Reward: Access to the Second Trial; Knowledge.
Failure: Forfeiture of trial permissions and the assistance of Rechal (Death).
[[...---…---...---...---...---...---...---...---...---..--.]]
A cold, stinging sweat broke across Fighter's brow, trickling down his temple as he processed the window of light glowing before him.
Fighter: "Thirty days? That's a death sentence! I haven't even cracked the seal on this manual—how can the clock be ticking already? And..."
Rechal: [You have many questions and even more excuses. I will tell you one thing: by memorizing the manual scripture, you can open the Gate. Once that is done, I will provide the next steps. Ok.]
Fighter's voice rose to a panicked shout: "Memorize it? In one month? Look at the thickness of this thing! It's practically a dictionary! When did I ever sign up for this... ?"
Rechal's response came in a voice like grinding stones—cold, flat, and utterly devoid of empathy.
Rechal: [Would you be silent for a second? If you truly lack the will to proceed, do not wait for the trial to claim you—simply commit suicide now. You must complete this for your own survival. This is not the safe, imaginary world of your past life. By taking that scripture, you entered a soul-binding contract to inherit Mr. Doll's Legacy. The only exit from this contract is the grave. If you are not qualified to hold this power, then you should perish to make room for a more worthy vessel. This is a gift. Ok.]
The harshness of her words hit him like a physical blow, knocking the breath from his lungs. Her monotone held the absolute gravity of truth. This wasn't a game; here, weakness was an invitation to extinction. The world was rotting, tilting toward its final end, and strength was his only hope for a tomorrow.
Fighter: "I get it," he whispered, his knuckles white as he gripped the book. "You didn't have to be so brutal about it."
He looked down at the "manual"—a horrific object bound in cured human skin. Though it looked drenched in gore, the surface was dry and unnervingly warm. As his palms pressed against the cover, a rhythmic thump-thump vibrated through his hands. The book had a heartbeat.
Title:[Empty Heaven Dissipating Sky Manual Scripture]
Fighter: "This feels... like something pulled straight from a nightmare. This manual... is it going to consume me, Rechal? Am I going to have to... kill?"
He tried to force a weak, self-deprecating laugh to settle his racing heart, but the silence from Rechal was deafening.
The book was physically light, yet as Fighter sat on the edge of his bed, it felt as though he were holding the weight of a mountain. His breath hitched as he peeled back the first page of skin. His eyes locked onto the jagged, flowing script, and he began to recite the opening verse.
Fighter: "Heavens above... Heavens above... One so beautiful... so fulfilling to the eyes... The heaven is full of nothing and everything..."
He hadn't intended to use his ability, but as the words left his lips, his pupils dilated until his eyes were nothing but black voids. A heavy, suffocating trance washed over him. The world around him blurred into static as he chanted the holy lines over and over, his voice becoming a rhythmic hum.
The walls of his room dissolved into mist. The bed beneath him vanished. Suddenly, the air turned cold and thin, and Fighter found himself standing in the center of a world he did not recognize.