In the midst of the eerie quiet of the empty streets, my world was suddenly disrupted by a strange and persistent noise.
It was a faint but growing voice, urgently calling my name.
"Alex, wake up! Alex, wake up!"
Confusion and fear gripped me as I tried to figure out where this voice was coming from. It seemed to be coming from all around me, echoing in my mind.
The words were familiar but confusing as if they were trying to rouse me from a deep sleep.
In a panic, I shouted into the empty space, "Who's calling me? Where are you?"
The voice continued, unwavering, as if it were a part of me, repeating the same phrase with increasing urgency.
"Alex, wake up! Alex, wake up!"
The repeated words heightened my anxiety, and I felt a strange sensation welling up inside.
I couldn't understand what was happening.
My sentiments were a jumble of fear, frustration, and a growing desire for the voice to stop.
I grasped my head in my hands, unable to bear the relentless calls to wake up.
My entire body trembled as I began to shake my head, attempting to free myself from the persistent commands.
"Stop it! Stop telling me to wake up! Please, stop it!" I cried out, my voice strained and desperate, as if I were begging an unseen force to release me from this torment.
The sounds reverberated in my mind, the words penetrating my awareness, leaving me in a state of struggle, overwhelmed by the mysterious event that had added to the already bewildering nature of my reality.
"Nero! It's you!" I exclaimed, my heart pounding with a strange mix of relief and confusion. "Where are you? What's going on with me?"
Nero's voice, still echoing in my mind, replied urgently, "Alex, I'm inside of you. This world is an illusion, and Mia didn't kill you during the battle. She cast an illusion magic spell on you to uncover what's inside your brain."
My emotions were a whirlwind of disbelief, understanding, and a lingering sense of dread. I had so many questions, but I didn't even know where to start.
"Inside me? An illusion?" I stammered, trying to grasp the enormity of the revelation. "Why? What's the purpose of all this?"
"She wants to search your mind, your thoughts, your past. "
Nero's explanations came in a torrent of information, and as he spoke, I listened intently, absorbing the surreal truth of my situation.
The world I thought was real was nothing more than an elaborate illusion, and Mia was the one responsible for creating it.
"How can I escape from this fake world, Nero?" I asked with desperation in my voice.
Nero being in my mind gave me a bit of hope. "You need to focus, Alex. Tell yourself over and over that this world isn't real, that it's just a made-up thing."
I nodded, deciding to break free from this fake world's stronghold. I closed my eyes, repeating in my head, "This world is a fake. This world is a fake."
I tried hard to see through the fakery, to uncover the truth, but no matter how much I tried, it resisted.
After many attempts, I felt drained, and my head started to throb with pain.
I became frustrated and cried in pain, "Ahhhhh!"
Nero's voice tried to reassure me, saying, "You're doing well, Alex. Keep going, you're getting closer."
I gritted my teeth and kept trying, my determination pushing me to the limit.
Finally, after what felt like a very long time, I noticed a crack forming in the sky.
It was like a little bit of light breaking through the dark, a sign of progress.
But my victory didn't last. As the crack got bigger, a sharp pain shot through my head, and I couldn't handle it. "Ahhhhh!" I screamed.
Nero's voice, now filled with urgency, echoed in my mind. "Alex, you can't bear this pain for much longer. Let me assist you. Give me control over your body."
I hesitated because I was scared of losing control of my own body.
But the pain became too much, and I had no other option.
With reluctance, I whispered, "Okay, Nero, take charge."
As I let go of control, I felt a strange sensation. It was as if I was stepping back and watching from the sidelines.
Nero, now in control, took over with a burst of power.
The pain lessened, and the fake world began to waver.
Nero's strength and willpower were strong, and with a clear mind, he began to break down the fake reality that had trapped me.
I watched as the world I had known for so long started to fall apart, and a feeling of relief washed over me.
When I handed over control to Nero, the intense pain in my head gradually subsided, giving way to a soothing feeling.
The fake world around me began to wobble and distort, like a mirage fading under the scorching sun.
Nero's determination and strength remained unwavering, and with a strong resolve, he systematically took apart the fake reality that had trapped me.
Cracks started to form in the sky, sharp and brilliant, like cracks in the fabric of the universe.
The surroundings, once unchanging and stifling, now broke apart and shattered.
The empty streets twisted and bent, and I watched as the world I had known for so long began to unravel.
Buildings turned into mist, and the eerie silence was replaced by a chaotic symphony of strange sounds.
The ground beneath my feet shook and cracked, causing a sudden rush of dizziness as the illusion crumbled.
A sense of relief washed over me as I realized I was finally breaking free from Mia's spell.
The strange nature of my reality dissolved into a jumble of confusion and newfound freedom.
The world, which had seemed like a prison, was now a mosaic of shattered illusions.
Nero's voice echoed in my mind, "Alex, you're making progress. Stay strong. We're almost there."
With each passing moment, the illusion weakened further.
The world continued to fall apart, revealing the truth hidden beneath the illusion.
The resolve of Nero and my own resilience had torn down the fake world Mia had created.
A sense of victory and hope surged within me as I witnessed the disintegration of the illusion.
As the illusion crumbled around me, I found myself standing in a desolate, featureless landscape.
It was as if the very fabric of reality had been torn asunder.
Then, from the swirling remnants of the illusion, a figure emerged – Mia.
She looked dishevelled and panicked, her eyes wide with fear as she saw me standing there, free from her spell.
The tables had turned, and the once all-powerful magician was now the one trapped in my reality.
Mia stuttered, "H-how did you...? This isn't possible!"
Nero wasted no time in responding. He channelled the magical energy I had within me.
He focused all my willpower on the incantation, and as I pointed my outstretched hand toward Mia, he shouted, "Lightning bolt!"
A brilliant bolt of electricity surged from my hand, streaking across the desolate landscape with blinding speed.
It struck Mia, enveloping her in a dazzling display of electrical energy.
"Ackkkkk! "
Her scream echoed through the barren expanse as the lightning coursed through her, searing her illusions away.
For a moment, she was consumed by the intense electrical discharge, and then, as the lightning subsided, Mia lay on the ground, her power broken, her body scorched and twitching.
I approached her cautiously, still wary of her potential tricks.
But it was clear that she was defeated.
The once formidable magician is now helpless and vulnerable.
Nero's voice, though weakened, responded with usual calmness, " Alex. I've used up most of my stored powers to break the illusion. But I need to enter a deep slumber to replenish my energy. In the meantime, you have to take charge."
I understood the gravity of the situation and was prepared to do what was necessary.
I could feel the mental connection with Nero weakening as he entered his slumber.
I didn't have much time.
"Nero, what should I do with Mia now?" I inquired, my voice filled with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Nero's voice became faint as he drifted into slumber, "Use your mind control powers, Alex. Mia knows everything about you. She could be a valuable source of information, and you need to understand her motives."
I nodded, even though I knew Nero couldn't see it.
With Nero now in his deep slumber, I turned my attention to Mia, who was slowly recovering from the electrical shock.
Her eyes flickered open, and as she regained her composure, her gaze locked onto mine.
Mia spoke, her voice carrying an eerie calmness that sent shivers down my spine.
"You do not belong to this world. "
-----------------------A\N-----------------
Hope you liked the chapters.
I am always open to any type of criticism; thus, feel free to comment on the chapters.
You can check my discord if you want. You will be able to see the illustrations here and engage in a conversation with me if I am available.
https://discord.gg/gBxeJYFN