Alex was startled by the voice that sounded behind him. He quickly turned around to see a peculiar old lady standing there.
The old lady had long, flowing white hair that cascaded down to her waist.
Her eyes were strange, appearing completely white without any discernible iris or pupil, yet she seemed to be able to see perfectly well.
She was dressed in a shimmering, long white robe made of intricate runes and magical materials.
Around her waist, she wore a rope of the same material, shining even brighter.
The rope was tied around her waist, with two ends hanging in front of her, each adorned with a silver hook resembling a fishing hook.
"Who are you?" Alex asked the old woman, his face etched with a deep frown. "And what do you mean by meeting again? Do you know me? Do I know you?"
A smile appeared on the old lady's face as she replied, "Yes, I know you. And yes, you know me." She walked towards Alex and asked, "But do you know who you are?" She waited, her eyes fixed on Alex, anticipating his response.
"Who I am?" Alex asked, his frown deepening. He then replied, "Of course, I know who I am. I am Alex Reed, the former captain of the Python Squad t..." Before he could finish his sentence, the old lady interrupted him.
"Of course, you don't remember who you are," she said, a complicated expression crossing her face. She muttered almost inaudibly, "This is going to be tough, another one of his foolish incarnates," letting out a deep sigh of frustration and sadness.
Alex was taken aback by the old lady's statement. He thought to himself, "What is she talking about? What did I expect from a crazy old lady dressed like a modern-day slave?" Frustrated, he asked the old lady, "Um, old lady, could you please explain why I'm here and what you're talking about? Whose incarnate are you referring to?"
Ignoring Alex's question, the old lady said, "Do you wish to change your destiny? If yes, take these pills."
Alex grew even more frustrated at hearing the same question again and having his inquiries ignored. He asked, "What destiny are you talking about, and what pills exactly am I supposed to take?"
Once again, the old lady opened her hands, revealing two small, round, and smooth pills, one golden and the other red. She then repeated her question, "Do you wish to change your destiny? If yes, take one of these pills."
Alex's frustration mounted as the old lady continued to evade his questions. He pressed further, "Can you at least tell me what will happen after I take any of this pill?" His gaze fixated on the shimmering golden and the red pill.
Without replying, the old lady made a throwing motion, and the pills floated slowly toward Alex. As they reached him, he reached out and grabbed them.
The two pills emanated a comforting warmth, surrounding Alex in a cocoon of tranquility.
He sunk deeper into relaxation, basking in the soothing sensation they provided. Just as he began to succumb to the pills' allure, the voice of the old lady echoed once more.
"The choice is now yours, young one," she uttered, her voice carrying both wisdom and detachment. "Your fate rests in your hands, and I am but a humble guide. I shall not dictate or determine your path." With those words, her body gradually transformed, becoming ethereal and transparent. Within moments, she vanished completely from Alex's sight. However, before disappearing entirely, she left him with a final piece of advice. "Remember, every choice you make has its consequences, both virtuous and wicked."
In the ensuing silence, Alex remained rooted to the spot, gazing at the gleaming pills held in his trembling hands.
Confusion dominated his thoughts as he grumbled in frustration. "She didn't even explain what these pills are," he muttered, releasing a heavy sigh.
After some contemplation, Alex finally reached a decision. Raising the golden pill hesitantly towards his mouth, he paused, wavering in uncertainty. Ultimately, he resigned himself to fate and consumed the pill with a sigh of resignation.
Instantly, the pill dissolved upon contact with Alex's tongue, flooding his entire being with a comforting warmth. It cascaded throughout his body, easing his mind and relaxing his muscles.
As he luxuriated in the soothing embrace of the pill, a resounding boom echoed in his head, engulfing his consciousness and plunging him into darkness.
*****
After what felt like an eternity of darkness, Alex finally opened his eyes. Confusion and bewilderment filled his mind as he took in his surroundings.
"Where am I? What has happened?" he exclaimed, his words echoing in the desolate area.
The bleak landscape was dominated by nothing but rocks, and the scorching sun beat down on his body, reminding him of its presence.
He found himself lying on the ground for some inexplicable reason.
As he surveyed his surroundings, he noticed the presence of blood, slowly drying in the heat of the sun.
The sight sent a shiver down his spine. With a sense of urgency, Alex quickly rose to his feet, searching for any signs of life in the barren land. However, there was no trace of another living being in sight.
Stretching out his hands before him, he stared at them in disbelief.
They were pristine, smooth, and unnaturally white, now coated with a layer of dust. Alex's astonishment grew as he instinctively reached up to touch his face.
To his utter amazement, there were no wrinkles or signs of aging on his once-weathered visage.
"What is this? What are those pills? What is happening to me?" Alex whispered in a voice filled with uncertainty and concern.
Just as Alex was still grappling with his surprise, a sudden notification appeared before him, shimmering like a holographic screen.
_…_…_…_…_…
[DING! DING!! DING!!]
The Assassin System has detected a new host.
The Assassin System is merging with the new host: 10...30...70...100.
The Assassin System has completely merged with the new host.
Alert! Alert!! Alert!!!
A threat has been detected within proximity.
A new mission has been unlocked: Defeat the enemy.
Reward???
_…_…_…_…_…
"What in the world!" Alex exclaimed, his disbelief evident in his voice. "What is this, and what threat is it referring to?" he asked, his surprise growing with each passing moment.
Suddenly, his questions were interrupted by a thunderous roar, echoing not too far from his location.