She tried to use her [Valkyrie] power to resist the attack, but it was useless. Her massive energy could not stop this strange, precise strike. It targeted her very nature as a 'human.' It was like trying to fix a tiny watch with a giant sledgehammer; the power was there, but it was the wrong tool for the job.
Her brain felt like it was spinning in a wild whirlpool! Her brain chemicals—dopamine, adrenaline, and cortisol—went completely out of control. One moment she felt deep depression and fear. The next, she felt bursts of strange excitement and pleasure. These two extremes hit her mind over and over again.
The room around her began to twist. The luxury suite, the carpet, and the city view outside the windows blurred and disappeared.
In their place stood a dark, scary Gothic church! Dim light shone through stained glass. The air smelled of incense and a faint scent of blood.
Ilya found herself standing in the middle of the church. Her beautiful dress had changed into a plain, oversized black Nun's Habit. Her memories felt fuzzy. It felt as if she had always been a nun here—and that she had committed a terrible sin.
She looked up at the tall altar with terror and confusion.
However, while this 'body' was being dragged into the illusion, the real Ilya was perfectly safe. In a hidden dimension, she was lying lazily on a soft, comfortable bed.
She had built this 'Safe House' using the skills [Space Anchoring] and [Dimensional Folding]. It was hidden from everyone. She lay on a white blanket with empty snack bags scattered around her. The air smelled like honey and roasted nuts. She popped a frozen berry into her mouth and watched a floating 'Light Mirror.' It showed her everything the 'other Ilya' was experiencing in the church.
A small smile appeared on her lips. She wasn't worried. To her, a long-awaited game had finally begun.
This was because of [Rebel of Fate]—a powerful skill the Valkyrie class learns at level 31.
In the game YGGDRASIL, this skill works automatically. If the main body is sneak-attacked or stunned, the system's AI takes over. It instantly creates a [Fate Clone]. These clones have levels and weapons chosen by the user. Up to six clones can exist at once.
Since arriving in this world, Ilya had wondered if her high stats would attract enemies. She just didn't expect the 'entertainment' to arrive so soon.
The moment Rubedo's mental attack touched her, [Rebel of Fate] triggered. Because the attack tried to control her mind, the skill took the highest priority. A Level 50 clone took her place. To outsiders, it still looked like Level 119, but it only had a small part of her real mind and memories.
The real Ilya didn't care what happened to the clone. She didn't even look to see who the attacker was. She knew she could just check the clone's memories when she woke up tomorrow.
She yawned, hugged her pillow, and fell asleep instantly.
In the illusion, a magnificent chair sat on the altar. It was decorated with cherry blossom patterns. Rubedo sat there, looking relaxed. Her nun's outfit had turned into a dangerous, bright pink. Her stockings and high heels were the same color. It was a sharp contrast to her black hair and red lips. Under her eye patch, her eyes glowed with a cruel, playful light.
When Ilya looked at her, she felt a massive pressure!
Thud!
Ilya's legs gave out. She knelt on the cold stone floor. She felt a mix of fear, guilt, and a need to obey.
"Sister... Lady Sister... I was wrong..." Ilya sobbed. Her eyes were blank. She was trapped in the mental cage Rubedo had built. "I shouldn't have... broken the rules... I am guilty..."
On the altar, Rubedo laughed. She slowly lifted a foot. She used the tip of her pink high heel to lift Ilya's chin, forcing her to show her tear-stained face.
"Oh? You know you were wrong?" Rubedo's voice was cold and sweet. "Too bad... it's a bit late."
Suddenly, she moved her hand!
Slap!
A loud slap hit Ilya's face, leaving a red mark. Then, Rubedo took off her high heel. She pressed the bottom of the shoe against Ilya's blonde hair. It was a humiliating act.
"Keep it there! Think about your sins!" Rubedo shouted.
In the real world, Albedo watched through a magic screen. She saw the 'powerful' Ilya kneeling like a helpless doll. Albedo could not stop herself from laughing.
"Hehe... I never expected this," Albedo whispered. "This Level 119 'powerhouse' is so pathetic." She watched Rubedo cast more spells to make the illusion even stronger. Albedo's worries vanished. She thought Lord Ainz had been too careful—Ilya was not a threat at all.
Inside the illusion, Rubedo was enjoying herself. She manipulated Ilya's brain chemicals to mix pain and pleasure. Ilya felt deep despair, but she also felt a strange, twisted happiness from being punished by the 'Lady Sister.'
"Ugh..." Ilya cried out in pain as her mind blurred.
In the real world, Albedo saw Ilya shaking and making strange noises. She laughed even harder. She couldn't believe this was the same woman who had destroyed an army with one hand.
Rubedo felt Albedo's joy through their mental link. She laughed loudly. "Hahahaha! Look! This is the true face of a 'powerhouse'! She can't even control her own feelings!"
Rubedo's lips parted. Dark energy gathered around her. She spat out a huge, black ball of energy toward Ilya's room. The ball was silent and deadly. It wrapped around Ilya's body like a giant black cocoon.
Inside the illusion, the church became even darker.
Rubedo put her shoe back on and looked down at Ilya. "Sinner Ilya! Raise your head!"
Ilya looked up like a puppet.
"Tell me!" Rubedo shouted. "When you committed those sins with that man, did you think of the rules? Did you have any respect for the Holy Light?!"
"I... I didn't... I am guilty... I deserve to die..." The Level 50 clone was breaking. She believed every lie Rubedo told her.
"Of course you deserve to die!" Rubedo pointed to a giant statue behind the altar. It looked like Rubedo herself. "Look! Even the Supreme Being is ashamed of you!"
The clone Ilya shook with fear.
"However..." Rubedo smiled cruelly. "Since you want to repent, I will give you a chance to wash away your sins."
She slowly began to remove her pink stocking.
(Half an hour later...)
In the shadows, Albedo asked, "Rubedo, should we go out and 'play' with her now? She looks like she can't even fight back."
Rubedo shook her head and giggled. "No, sister. Hunting takes time. Let her get used to obeying. Let this feeling sink into her bones."
She paused, her eyes flashing with confidence. "The best part of my power is this: no matter how high the enemy's level is, once they lose their mind, their level drops. They become ten levels lower than me. If they stop resisting, their level might even drop permanently! Eventually, she will be nothing more than an insect I can crush."
Albedo's eyes lit up with excitement. A permanent level drop! This meant Ilya would become nothing more than a toy for Nazarick.
"Alright," Rubedo stretched. "Let's go rest. I want to taste the food in this world." She stepped into the shadows and disappeared.
Albedo took one last look at Ilya, who was covered in dark energy. She blew a kiss and vanished as well.
The Level 50 clone did not wake up. The black energy continued to soak into her body and soul. She lay on the carpet, twitching. One of her blue eyes began to turn pitch-black, like it was stained by ink.
When the morning sun finally hit the room, Ilya's eyes fluttered. She struggled to wake up.
"Ugh..."
She had a terrible headache. It felt like needles were stabbing her brain. It felt like she had just finished a life-or-death battle.
She opened her eyes and saw the ceiling of her room.
"Was it... a dream?" she whispered. Images of the dark church and the pink figure rushed into her mind. It all felt so real that her heart began to race.
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