I did better this time. Didn't pass out. Just… tired. Kinda nice, actually. Makes me feel human. Though my body hurts like hell—especially my stomach. Guess even that thing's power has limits. Figures. Getting impaled still sucks.
I looked around, trying to get my bearings. Nyx had been moving too fast earlier. What even is she? He? Might as well go with 'she,' right? Is she a friend? She helps when I'm in trouble… but maybe she's just keeping me alive until she can take over completely. That's a terrifying thought. But—no. Can't dwell on that now. If not for her, I'd probably be dead.
I kept looking around. I still needed to help that guy from the dream. Nyx did heal his wound and all, but he was in really bad shape earlier.
Walking is hard… I kept to the side of the wall, trying to keep myself balanced. My body lost too much blood earlier. I can't shake the image of watching myself bleed out. It makes me shiver, realizing I was that close to dying. My body is screaming for me to rest, but no—I need to make sure that everyone is okay.
Walking through these hallways feels harder than before. I feel weak—not because I'm tired or injured, but because I feel like a normal human. The strength I had yesterday is gone. That should have made me anxious or scared, but somehow, I was glad. This is better than feeling like a monster.
The mist feels thinner now. It still makes it hard for me to breathe, but not as bad as before. Now that I can see better, I notice evidence of fighting all over the hallway—bloodstains, claw marks on the walls, and dents and bumps on crates, metal shelves, and discarded barrels.
After what feels like an eternity of searching, I finally find the man from my dreams. He's just lying there, his back resting against the wall. He's still passed out, but as far as I can see, there are no visible wounds.
Memories from that dream begin flashing back as I look at him, those intimate memories of that girl with this guy. But I can't lose focus right now—I need to make sure he's okay.
I tried waking him up—shaking him, calling his name, even lightly slapping him—but nothing worked. He was still completely out.
Unsure of what else to do, I checked for a pulse, even though I wasn't exactly sure how. It felt normal… I think. His breathing was steady, at least. I guess he's just really asleep—somehow, even in a situation like this.
No choice then. Guess I have to carry him, I thought.
I tried picking him up—only to remember, right, I don't have my powers right now. Kind of makes me regret being happy about that earlier.
I had no choice but to drag him to safety. The storage unit I'd been to earlier was my best bet—it had all the supplies I needed.
Fortunately, he wasn't too heavy, and the polished floor made dragging him easier than expected.
Unfortunately, the monsters didn't stop coming. They just kept appearing, making it harder to keep moving. Fighting them was becoming a struggle.
That's when it hit me—I'd been stupid. Thinking I was good at killing them earlier? That was never me. It was Nyx's power that made it easy.
The realization frustrated me—no, it made me mad.
I had to adapt. I wasn't as strong as before, but I could still think. These monsters? They had no strategy, no real intelligence. I could outsmart them, even outmaneuver them if I played it right.
By the time I reached the storage area, all my ammo was gone. My axe was barely holding together.
The bag I had filled with supplies earlier was still right where I left it.
Slowly, I began removing the barricades I had set up, careful to be as quiet as possible. The last thing I needed was to attract more monsters. Once the path was clear, I dragged him inside before anything could spot us.
But then, I caught a whiff of the food around me—and something strange came over me. It wasn't like possession. This time, it felt more… primal.
An insatiable hunger took hold of me. I wasn't in control—my body was making all the decisions now. Without thinking, I grabbed whatever I could and started devouring it—bread, dried meat, canned fruit, and protein bars.
With each bite, I could feel my strength returning—not just my normal strength, but the supernatural one as well. It was as if my body was absorbing more than just food, like it was fueling something deeper inside me. The exhaustion that had weighed me down moments ago was fading, replaced by a newfound energy that sent a shiver down my spine.
But somehow, it felt incomplete—like my strength had only partially returned. The hunger had faded, and my body no longer felt as weak, but something was still missing. It was as if eating wasn't the true solution to regaining my strength… or maybe it never had been. Maybe there was something else I needed—something deeper, something more than just food—to fully restore what I had lost.
I wanted to ask Nyx—but how would I even talk to her? I don't even know what she is. Is she just staying inside my body or something? And honestly, I don't even understand what's happening right now.
Besides, I'm too afraid to talk to her. If I'm being honest, she's like a hundred times worse than the Nixie.Maybe I'll just ask her next time she possesses me. The fact that I'm starting to see possession as something normal now… that thought alone sent a shiver down my spine.
I looked at myself in one of the mirrors hanging around the room—I looked disgusting. Crumbs, grease, and bits of dried meat clung to my face, the remnants of my desperate, uncontrollable eating.
"Stop acting like a monster, Ariane. You're being disgusting right now," I muttered to myself, hastily wiping my mouth and hands, trying to erase any evidence of whatever had just taken over me. The sight of my reflection made my stomach churn—not from hunger this time, but from shame.
As I was cleaning myself up, the guy I had dragged in with me finally stirred. At first, it was just a small twitch of his fingers, then a sharp intake of breath. His eyes fluttered open, unfocused and hazy, before locking onto me with confusion—and just a hint of fear.
"Hey, take this," I said, passing him an open can of beans, trying to ease the tension. He looked afraid of me, his wary eyes locked onto mine, and his hands trembled slightly as he took the can.
He just sat in the farthest corner, eating in silence. Kinda awkward. He kept staring at me, like I was the most dangerous thing in the room.
Pretty sure he was passed out when Nyx was doing her thing. At least, I hope so. No clue what she'd do if she found out someone actually saw what happened.
"Hey, what's your name? I'm Ariane," I said, trying to break the silence.
"What? Uh… Peter," he said.
Well, that was a solid attempt at conversation. Too bad I was pretty sure his name wasn't Peter—at least, not according to that girl's memories. Why would he lie, though? Maybe it's his second name?
I let him rest a little longer before telling him we had to move. Honestly, I wanted to just stay here—this place felt safe, and it had all the supplies we could need—but the people in the infirmary might need help. I couldn't just ignore that.
I packed two large bags of supplies, one for me and one for him. If we were going to make it out of here, we'd need all the resources we could carry.
"Uhmm, we need to get out of here," I told him as I handed him the bag.
His reaction was a mix of terror and confusion. It was like I'd just asked him to walk straight into a death trap.
"Don't worry, I can take care of you," I said, showing him the gun and axe I'd been carrying.
Not sure if that actually reassured him or just made him more nervous.
I thought he was going to make a fuss about it, but he just looked at me, sighed, and reluctantly took the bag. Then, without a word, he grabbed one of the crowbars lying around and got ready to move.
Walking back to the infirmary felt safer compared to earlier. Maybe having someone with me lessened the fear, or maybe it was because the red mist was finally gone. I hadn't really noticed it at first, but as we moved, I realized how much clearer everything looked now. The heavy, suffocating fog that had made it hard to breathe and see was gone.
I guess those monsters really were the ones producing the mist. After they all died, it started to fade, like whatever was fueling it had been snuffed out along with them. The air felt lighter now, less oppressive. It was still eerie, but at least I could see what was ahead of me—and that was already an improvement.
The guy—Peter—looked really scared. He was trying to hide it, but I could still see it. The way his body tensed with every noise, the slight tremble in his steps as we walked, the small sounds he made whenever we passed a monster's corpse. His grip on the crowbar was so tight his knuckles had turned white, like he was expecting something to jump out at us at any second. Every now and then, he'd glance at me, like he wasn't sure if I was any less dangerous than the things we were running from.
Monster corpses littered the hallway near the infirmary. At a glance, I felt anxious—people must've had a really rough time fighting these things. But then I noticed something. Almost all of them were killed the same way—gunshot wounds to their vitals.
Only one person could've done this. Nixie.
If I had to guess, she must've taken down all these monsters while trying to get to the infirmary.
We made it to the infirmary without any issues. The only thing we saw along the way were piles of monster corpses. Maybe Nixie really did take them all out? That's definitely a possibility.
The moment we got inside, Peter collapsed. His breathing was deep and shaky, his hands gripping his knees like he was trying to hold himself together. Well… that's understandable, considering everything he's been through.
The first thing I saw was Nixie's annoyed face. She looked worried as she checked on everyone in the infirmary, her brows furrowed in concentration. Even while taking care of people, she still somehow managed to look pissed off.
Her expression darkened even more when she saw me.
"Where have you been?" she asked, crossing her arms like she was ready to lecture me.
"Uhh, I was running around, trying to find more people?" I answered. Technically, that wasn't a lie. "And I brought this," I added, pointing at the bag full of supplies.
Nixie narrowed her eyes at me, clearly unimpressed.
"Oh, so you just decided to go on a little trip while people are busy fighting for their lives?" she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Great timing, really."
I sighed, shifting the bag on my shoulder. "Look, I didn't exactly plan a sightseeing tour, okay? I was trying to help."
I held up the bag slightly. "And I did. We needed supplies, right? Well, here they are."
I glanced at Peter, who looked about ready to collapse. "And I found him. He was still alive, so I wasn't just gonna leave him there."
Nixie was looking at me from head to toe, probably thinking about how I managed to come back in one piece.
"What happened to your clothes?" she asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice.
I glanced down at myself—bloodstains, dirt, and ripped fabric. Yeah, I looked like I crawled out of a disaster. Well… technically, I did.
"I had to fight those monsters while moving around," I answered, shrugging like it wasn't a big deal. "Didn't exactly have the luxury of staying clean."
"What's up with the big hole in your clothes?" Nixie asked, eyeing me weirdly, like she was trying to figure out what's wrong.
"Well, I had to fight one of those monsters while saving Peter over there. One of them almost got me—but lucky for me, it died first. Only managed to rip my clothes, not me," I explained. Luckily, I had bandaged myself up earlier, covering the parts of my body that should've been wounded.
Nixie was still staring me down, and I was starting to worry she'd see right through me. But luckily, Gideon and his guys showed up, pulling her attention away. Guess I owe him one for saving me from the interrogation.
Gideon walked in with his men, wiping sweat off his brow. "Area's clear," he announced. "No sign of any more monsters, and the big ones are gone."
Nixie crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Gone? Just like that?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Maybe you just weren't looking hard enough."
Gideon let out a tired sigh. "Trust me, we checked everywhere. If they were still around, we'd be dead."
"That doesn't make sense." Nixie shook her head. "They don't just disappear."
"Well, maybe something scared them off," Gideon shot back. I guess Gideon wasn't a hundred percent loyal to Nixie?
Nixie scoffed. "Yeah? Like what?"
Gideon didn't have an answer, but the uneasy silence that followed made it clear—none of them liked the idea that the monsters had simply left on their own.
"Maybe they really did just leave, like Gideon said," I said. "I saw them grouping up earlier, and then they just melted into the shadows," I lied, trying to keep them from worrying.
I kept my expression neutral, hoping they wouldn't question it too much.
"Just melted into the shadows, huh?" Nixie sighed, crossing her arms. "Are you sure about that?" She didn't sound convinced, but after a moment, she shook her head. "Well, either way, we can't let our guard down just yet."
She turned to the rest of the group, scanning their tired faces. "Everyone, get some rest while you can. We don't know what's coming next, so we need to be ready."
Then, she pointed at two people nearby. "You two, stand guard at the entrance. If anything so much as twitches out there, I want to know about it immediately."
The two nodded, looking exhausted but obedient.
Nixie exhaled, rubbing her temples. "We'll take turns keeping watch. If those things aren't really gone, I don't want them catching us off guard."
I slept almost immediately after that. My body wasn't as tired as usual—eating all that food really did help my strength. But my mind? Completely drained. Possession, near-death experiences… I was really racking them up at this point.
It was getting exhausting, constantly teetering on the edge of life and death, never knowing when my luck would finally run out.
I figured I'd at least get some decent rest. But, of course, I had another damn dream.
In my dream, I was once again in the ruins—the same place that disgusting thing, who was once the chef, ruled over. He was busy pestering the war god for failing a second time.
That disgusting thing sneered, its ugly form shifting as it loomed over the war god.
"Useless," it spat, voice thick with contempt. "Defeated twice—by a mortal, no less. What a disgrace. You were supposed to be powerful, feared. And yet, here you are, crawling back after another failure."
The war god didn't say a word. Shoulders tense. Fists clenched at his sides.
His clothes were smeared with something dark and foul. His usual prideful stance was gone, replaced by this stiff, almost lifeless stillness. He didn't argue. Didn't deny it. He knew. He lost. Twice.
The disgusting thing let out a wet, wheezing chuckle.
"What would they say if they saw you like this? The great war god, beaten by some fragile little human." It slithered closer, its voice turning sharp. "If you can't even handle one girl, what use are you to me?"
Then, its tone dipped lower. Meaner.
"Maybe someone should strip you of your title. Make you like the rest of them. Worthless."
That finally got a reaction.
The war god's head snapped up, his eyes blazing with fury. His lips curled into a snarl, but before he could speak—
The ruins trembled.
It was the cult leader looking, suddenly materializing from the shadows. He didn't look angry—his expression leaned more toward disappointment, like a parent scolding a child who should have known better. His gaze swept over the war god, unimpressed, before settling on the disgusting thing with quiet disapproval.
"Enough, both of you."
His voice carried an otherworldly weight, reverberating as if layered with its own echoes. It wasn't just sound—it pressed into the air, heavy and absolute, demanding silence.
"Now, how did my strongest men lose to a bunch of mortals in a pathetic warehouse?"
His voice was deep, laced with disappointment. It wasn't anger—it was worse. It was the kind of disappointment that stripped away pride, leaving only shame.
"What do you mean we fail? I didn't fail! This pathetic war god is the only one who's failed! My creations are still wreaking havoc on those mortals as we speak!" the thing exclaimed, its voice full of fury.
It twisted and writhed, its grotesque form swelling with rage, like the very accusation had ignited something monstrous within it.
"Are you being serious?" The cult leader's voice dripped with cold sarcasm, each word deliberate and cutting. He waved his hand, and a portal-like thing materialized, displaying images of the warehouse with the survivors busy cleaning up.
The chef's face twisted with disbelief, "how is this possible? I'm certain that my creation is unbeatable," he said with disdain
"Impossible as it may seem, they still did it. They're still alive, and they defeated both of you," the cult leader said, his voice calm, though anger simmered beneath the surface. "Now, I want answers, what happened?" he added.
"I may have an idea," the war god said warily. "There was this girl... with powers similar to ours."
He then recounted what happened during his fight with Nyx, his expression darkening with every word.
The war god's voice was low as he began. "It happened at the ruins — my own domain, reduced to rubble. She stood there like she belonged, with shadows twisting at her feet. The air around her was heavy, like it carried whispers. I could feel her power. It was ancient, wrong. Something no mortal should have."
He clenched his fists, frustration clear in his eyes. "I attacked first, expecting her to fall like the others. But she didn't. She moved like the shadows themselves, slipping past my blows. Every time I tried to overpower her, she struck back just as hard. And then... she did the impossible."
"She controlled the darkness," he growled. "It obeyed her like a servant. My strength meant nothing. For every step I took, she pushed me back. That power — it was like ours, but twisted. Corrupted. She wasn't just fighting. She was toying with me. And in the end, I had no choice but to retreat."
The story the war god was saying definitely didn't happen. He was exaggerating all of it, maybe to save face or something. From what I saw, that fight wasn't nearly as one-sided as he made it sound. Sure, Nyx had given him a hard time, but he wasn't some helpless victim.
The war god was obviously lying, but the cult leader's face began to show a flicker of emotion as he learned about Nyx. I could see it — a twinge of anxiety, maybe even fear. He was no longer the cold, calculated figure he had been moments ago. The air of invincibility around him seemed to crack, just a little. For the first time, he looked less like an untouchable force and more like someone who knew what it meant to be threatened.
"Then there's only one solution," the cult leader said, his voice cold and absolute as he regained his composure. "She dies." His eyes darkened, the weight of his words sinking into the air. "The moment she steps out of that warehouse, I want her erased. No hesitation. No mercy. Throw everything we have at her — and make sure she never draws another breath."
I froze at the realization that I was now their main target. The cult leader's words felt like sharp daggers, slowly tearing through my mind, each one sharper than the last. They wanted me dead, and they would probably see it through. Fear gripped every part of my being. It wasn't just my life I had to worry about anymore — what would happen to the people around me if they decided to finish me off while I was still at the warehouse?
Should I just run? Maybe they'd be safer without me. But I needed them. I couldn't leave this island without Nixie's help. Maybe I could lay low, try to disappear. If I stayed out of sight, maybe they'd lose interest — stop seeing me as a threat. But it felt too late for that. I was in too deep now.
There was no other option. I just had to keep going, finish what I needed to do, and get off this island as soon as possible.
I jolted awake, my heart pounding really hard as if it were trying to escape my chest. The memories of that dream still clung deeply to me — the fear, the dread, the very real threat coming my way. I could feel my breath uneven. Was this anxiety? It took a moment for me to focus — the dim light of the infirmary, and Nixie sitting right next to me.
Nixie's gaze was sharp, locked onto me. I could see a mixture of suspicion and curiosity beneath her amused expression. She didn't say anything at first, but the slight tilt of her head and the narrowing of her eyes told me she was already forming questions.
"Do you know that you speak when you sleep?" Her arms crossed. "Bad dream?" Nixie asked, her voice low, but there was no missing the edge to her tone.
Then, after a brief pause, her eyes narrowed further. "Why do you look more and more different every time I see you?" she asked suspiciously.
"What are you talking about?" I replied, trying to keep my voice calm. I'm pretty sure Nixie's just fishing for information right now. She doesn't actually know anything.
Nixie didn't answer right away. She just looked at me, her eyes narrowing like she was scanning — trying to uncover all of my secrets.
"You know exactly what I mean," she said, her tone unwavering. "Your expression, your eyes, the way you move... even your attitude. It's subtle, but I can see it. You're not the same as when I first met you."
I forced a small, dismissive laugh, though it came out weaker than I intended. "I guess that's what almost dying will do to you. You know, the trauma piling up," I said. "Not having any effect would just prove I'm not mentally well." I tried to force a joke.
But Nixie didn't look convinced. She kept staring, like she was trying to peel away the mask of lies I'd been wearing.
"Anyway, time for your next job," Nixie said. "People have finished clearing the warehouse. I let you sleep for a bit."
"What do you mean, next job? I si—" I stopped mid-sentence, biting my tongue. That was close. I almost slipped. Only I knew what had really happened out there — how Nyx wiped out most of the monsters while using my body. And I needed to keep it that way. People finding out would only complicate things.
I forced a neutral expression, trying to push away the uneasy feeling in my chest. "So, which god am I going to face this time? Which tomb am I about to raid? Which treasure am I supposed to steal?"
"Sarcasm, huh?" Nixie said, her tone dry. She tossed a fresh set of clothes my way, the fabric landing with a soft thud. "Come find me after you freshen up."
I got ready immediately, slipping into the fresh set of clothes that Nixie gave me. They were weirdly identical to the ones she gave me the other day. Practical, but a little too flashy for my taste. The familiar fabric clung to my skin like a reminder of how little had changed since yesterday. I'm still stuck on this island, still confused about what's happening, and I'm still about to die.
I didn't need to dwell on it for long, though. There's no point thinking about things I can't change. I tied my boots, straightened my sleeves, and braced myself for whatever bullshit Nixie was going to send me into.
I made my way around the warehouse, my eyes naturally scanning the groups of people who survived. Some were tending to wounds, though nothing looked too serious. Most were busy cleaning up the aftermath of the attack, securing the place as best as they could.
I spotted Gideon talking to his men, likely setting up plans in case we were attacked again. Exhaustion was etched on everyone's faces, but at least they were alive. I found myself counting heads as I walked. By the time I reached Nixie's place, I estimated there were more or less a hundred people.
A wave of relief washed over me. There had been so many deaths, but it wasn't as devastating as I had feared. After everything that happened, seeing so many survivors brought a flicker of hope.
For a moment, the weight on my chest lessened. They made it. Somehow, they endured.
But how long would they last?
I finally reached Nixie, who was busy tinkering with something on her table. She glanced at me casually—far too casual for someone about to send me on what was basically a suicide mission. Without wasting any time, she gestured for me to come closer.
"Alright, girly. Time for your next job," she said, her tone almost bored. "You're heading to the Ruins of the God of Time and Space."
I blinked, taken aback. Given the current situation and trend, I was probably about to fight something related to that ruin. "Seriously? Time and space? Last time, I fought a literal war god. What the hell am I supposed to fight now? Some cosmic abomination with time-skipping and reality-bending powers, doing it for fun?"
Nixie shrugged, completely unfazed. "Maybe a baby? Or someone. Or something. Who knows? It's not like I get an itinerary of what's waiting for you." Her eyes gleamed with amusement. "You'll figure it out—or at least die trying," she added humorously.
I sighed, crossing my arms. "Fantastic. And what exactly am I looking for this time? Another dusty relic? A cursed weapon? Maybe a glowing orb of doom?"
"Stop being dramatic. This time, you'll only be looking for a necklace," Nixie said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Find it, bring it back. Easy, right?"
I raised an eyebrow. "How is that exactly easy? Let me remind you—last time? A literal war god."
Nixie just smiled, not even bothering to argue. "Then you'll just have to be smarter this time."
I sighed, too tired to argue. Grabbing the axe I had been using before, I noticed it looked sharper—maybe she had someone fix it. I also took the guns that Nixie had prepared, then headed out on my way.