Although I acquired a new identity which I can use now, I still need to be careful because no matter the identity the person is still the same. No matter how many identities I have in my book, if I die then that's the end of it. However, It's not a problem that can't be solved.
To solve such a problem, I need an ability that can clone me. An ability that can make a clone that has the capability to think for themselves while also being under my control. Regarding powers, I don't have to worry about that since I can grant it powers so that's one matter I can check off the list.
"Such a specific ability... It's going to be hard to find. Ah, that's right. There's still one more thing I haven't tested. {Can I combine multiple abilities to create a singular powerful ability?} "
I don't know if I will have chance to try an experiment since abilities don't appear like fruit flies. Without a doubt, I was lucky to be able to acquire [Subterfuge]. Luck doesn't happen twice so I need to think of a way to obtain more abilities.
I decided not to think too much into it for now since it has almost reached 3 am. I can't sleep too late since work is waiting for me tomorrow. I changed my clothes using [Subterfuge] and went to sleep in Hina's bed.
'It's fine... I can clean it tomorrow'
I closed my eyes and drifted into the darkness. My consciousness going dark and my body relaxing to sleep. I was unsure whether this calmness was due to my fatigue or from sleeping on Hina's bed.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In the dark void, there is no concept of space or time. There's no telling whether you're awake or asleep. No telling you're dead or alive. Inside such a void, I can't help but be anxious.
I looked around and tried walking but nothing seems to work. I shouted to ask but no voice came out of my throat. In the void, it felt suffocating yet strangely calm.
From behind me, light started to appear. A light that seemed warm enough to soothe a soul. A light that might as well be sent from heaven. I turned around and saw a silhouette from the light. The silhouette of a girl.
Her appearance was not visible due to the light from behind her. However, I could tell from the atmosphere that she's not human. She felt too pure to be even remotely human.
From the swaying of her clothes, I could tell she was wearing a dress. The dress was short so I could see, although barely, that her body is quite slender. Her hair was also swaying in the air but it would be more accurate to say that her hair is floating.
Although I can't see her face, I could tell that she was smiling warmly. The mood around her seemed divine and pure. Her very presence was able to soothe my soul. If anyone said she's an angel, I would definitely believe it.
"Hello there. This is the first time we've ever met isn't it? Well, you probably won't remember it but let me just tell you anyway."
The girl said while looking down on me. Her hair was filled with youth and kindness. In addition, her voice seems to carry a divine power as it sounded like it was echoing a little bit. This confirms my guess that she's not human at all.
"D̶̢̰̘̲̾͒ô̷̡̘̻͓̂̈́ņ̷̟̬̊̒'̸̧̰͠t̷̗̺̊̄ ̵͚̒̍̚g̸͕̹̾͆̊̊e̸͖͊͛ṯ̴̎̚͝ ̴̩̪̦͇͆t̷͈̼̥͗o̵͖̪͌ò̷̯̈́͂ ̷̨͍͛̃͌g̷̡͈̯̫͒r̶̟̀̉̈́͝ẽ̷̢̛̩̩͝e̶̱̻͊̌̚͜͝d̵̮̹̩̼̄ŷ̶͕̰͜,̴̥̻̙͂͗̕ ̸̡͈̯͆o̴̙͎̍̅́k̵͕̬̆̐̂ǎ̴̮̩̳͇y̷̳̟̜̔?̵̹͇̣̫͒̃"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I woke up from my sleep in an instant after hearing her words. Sunlight shone through the window, passing through the curtains. It was already morning and the time on the clock justified it.
It wasn't clear what she was trying to say but I can tell that it was a warning. There was no hostility in her voice yet a chill always run through my spine whenever I tried to recall her words.
It felt like she held my soul captive, being chained and threatened to be pulled into the very depths of hell. Water droplets dropped onto the bed sheet and eventually I realised that I was crying. It was fear so horrifying it brought me to tears.
I was afraid of her, a fear that overwhelms death. I don't want this feeling of fear, not this kind of fear. I want this fear to be gone, I want it to never exist. I'm feeling true fear. A fear that is different than what is depicted. True fear that doesnt even let you puke or pee yourself, it's just a fear that petrifies your very soul.
"[E-Extract... Fiction]..."
I extracted the fear yet it's still present. A fear that can't be forgotten. I couldn't do anything about the fear I was feeling. It was the first time in my life that I felt such a fear that I almost lost the desire to live.
"[Extract Fiction]!! [Extract Fiction]! [Extract Fiction]!!! Aaaa.... Aaaaaahhhh!! Aaaaaah!!"
I was afraid yet there's no one to comfort me and lend a hand to help. No shoulder to cry on and no one to speak too... There's no one to tell about this terrorising and overwhelming fear I'm feeling. Suddenly, I remembered that there's still someone I can go to for my problems.
I ran towards the table and took the car keys. I went as fast as I could while having put my life in possible danger. I drove the car towards the hospital eager to see Hina. My eyes were still teary as the fear hadn't dissipated yet.
Arriving at the lobby, I immediately ran towards the room Hina was in. I ignored the stares of the people knowing that even if I told them, no one would understand the fear I'm feeling.
I opened the door and ran to her side. I held her hand tightly while I fell to my knees. I put her palm at the side of my face and cried my hearts out. I was crying like a newborn baby.
"I'm scared... I'm scared... I'm scared... Please, I'm scared... Hina, please help me I'm scared... Please..."
I stayed there crying in her hand with my eyes turning red from the tears that I shed. However much I wanted to stop crying, I couldn't no matter what. My voice the entire time was shaky and small but enough for Hina to hear it.
I stood up to look at Hina's face hoping for some reaction from her so I could get even at least a little bit calmer. As if responding to my wish, there were tears falling from the edge of her eyes. I didn't know if she was having a bad dream or she felt my cries.
I didn't care, I sat on a nearby chair and held her arms close to me. I continued to cry while having a slight smile on my face from the relief that I'm not the only one crying. I cried and cried to no end without stop.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I'm not sure how long has it been since I started crying. It must've been at least an hour or two. My vision was blurry and my eyes are stinging. It must be due to me crying like a broken dam.
I raised my head from Hina's hand and looked at the clock on the wall, the short hand showing at 11. I cried for almost 3 hours already. I returned back to looking at Hina's tears. I took a tissue from nearby on the table cabinet and used it to wipe her tears.
"I can't believe I made you cry too... But, I'm glad you cried with me"
I said warmly and full of sincerity while wiping her tears. Whenever I'm with my sister, I always have a smile on me. A warm and innocent smile like that of a child's. I once again realised just how dependant I am at her, unable to even imagine how my life would've been without her.
"Right now, I need to think rationally regarding 'that being'"
A being with an appearance more innocent than a rabbit but a presence more terrifying than death. How can that be a dream? If it was a dream, then what is this indescribable fear? Then, if it's such a being it might be possible...
'She took my consciousness, my soul, out to a specialised space just so we can talk. If she's truly such a being, there's no doubt about it...'
A chill ran down my spine again coming from the fear of enraging the wrath of such a being. However, that is not all of the information I acquired. She said something, something extremely crucial to my life.
"She warned me not to be too greedy. She must be referring to abilities. Right, so she's ordering me to only steal in moderation then. What a morale"
I sighed when I realised at what I was fearing for. All she said was just a simple warning yet the pressure and fear I felt was enough to make my life seem like a joke. It just goes to show of how much of a powerful being she is, a being that I can't even fathom of touching even if I reincarnated a hundred times.
"Telling me that I'll soon forget it, what a load of crap. There's no way I'll ever forget this fear she gave me. It's better to follow her words and only steal when necessary"
I stroked Hina black and silky hair. I had always loved her straight and silky hair, showing her efforts of how much she took care of herself. It's a detail I'll never forget about.
While stroking her hair, my mind wandered thinking of what's the next step to do.
'If I was a lot stronger, would I have been able to withstand the fear? If I was stronger, would I not have cried like just now? If I was just stronger...'
I snapped myself out of the trance by stopping my negative thought process. It was useless to think of the possibilities I could do when it's now just a matter of the past. Even if I blamed myself to death, nothing will change even by a second. There's nothing to change when the wheels of fate is already set.
"Right, improving my capability is top priority. I don't want sis to see me crying again like just now do I? Question is, where can I get a lot of abilities?"
I thought as hard as I could with my life literally on the line. If I failed to get stronger, I doubt I would be able to save sister. Experiencing true power with my own eyes, I knew of how weak and insignificant I am. I need to be able to be at least strong enough to be at least acknowledged by that being.
A location flashed through my thought process. A place where there'll be a lot of abilities that I can obtain without harming the people, the monster museum. That way, I can follow the request of the being while also getting stronger. There is no better place than a monster museum.
I stood up from my seat and used [Subterfuge] to get inro proper attire. I just noticed that I came running here while wearing a t-shirt and track pants. Only now did I realise just how embarrassing it was, but it was an unavoidable situation. If it was any other person, I'm sure they wouldn't hesitate to commit suicide from the fear.
I kissed sister's forehead before leaving the hospital room. Everyone began to look at me when I exited, most likely from how I ran into the room just now. I ignored their stares however and continued walking towards the hospital's exit. It was understandable when you suddenly see a man running in the hospital.
I entered my car and set my destination towards the Gerudo Monster Museum. It was build under the name of the first generation Hero, Gerudo Talikar. He was the strongest first-generation hero and also a respectable man. He single handedly defeated several A-rank monsters and an S-rank calamity alone. Monsters that are above A-ranks are classified as Calamities and is said to need at least 20 A-rank heroes and many more B-ranks as the bare minimum to defeat a single S-rank Calamity. That just goes to show how amazing Gerudo is.
How will he react I wonder when he sees us third-generation heroes like this? Being corrupted and abusing our powers over the common people. I'm not sure, there's not much talking about his true personality. There's only records of his achievements and his valiant figure on the battlefield.
I stopped at a parking and got out of the car. I took out my phone to give a message to my superior so he knows that I won't be attending work today. He knows about sister's condition so I can use that as an excuse. I can't believe I'm using sister's condition for things like this.
I walked over to the ticket registration booth so that I could enter. Upon entering, I noticed that there just mostly children inside. My guess is that they're here on a school trip.
At the center of the museum, there was a bone statue of the calamity named Veiraki. Veiraki was a dragon-like monster with crystal shards protruding from it's back serving as bone plates. It was a bipedal monster that had scale body plates which are stronger than the A-rank monster, Earthen Turtle which had a shell stronger than steel and tungsten. It was the first calamity to ever appear and it destroyed a small country in only 2 months. It was said that Gerudo fought Veiraki for a week straight. Even if Veiraki was already exhausted from destroying a country, being able to fight it 1v1 is incredible. What sort of ability does Gerudo own?
I was intrigued on what kind of ability I will earn from Veiraki. From the records, it could control crystals at will making giant crystal pillars all over the country. With it's size of 500 meters high and an AoE ability, it was understandable how it managed to destroy a country in just 2 months. Gerudo must have a specialised 1v1 ability which is a perfect counter for AoE ability wielders.
I glanced around my surroundings to check for any variables that will disturb me while I extract Veiraki's ability. Luckily, it doesn't seem like anyone will pay attention to me. The museum guard is busy guiding the kids into the deeper sections of the museum so I don't need to worry being caught.
"Well, let's get started "