Chereads / The Mage's Evolution / Chapter 43 - Punishment! Part 9

Chapter 43 - Punishment! Part 9

I found it difficult to recall things when my adversary was slicing me in an intensely merciless fashion.

I looked around at my surroundings, unsure of what was real and what was an illusion. Was this truly a part of his plan, but if so, why did it feel so convincing? Uncertainty filled me as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing, the details that seemed so vivid yet too strange to believe.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I tried to clear my mind and focus. The harder I concentrated, the more my hand began to tremble uncontrollably. Was it fear? Or was it something else entirely? I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something unspeakable lurking just beneath the surface of my thoughts, waiting to be unleashed.

Then, after what seemed like hours, the fog slowly dissipated, and everything came back into focus. Everything except the reason why I'd fallen unconscious in the first place.

The light that illuminated my surroundings was dimmer than I remembered, where I was standing at.

Then I saw my opponent stay right there, having his dagger in his left hand, he speaking

"So, you're finally awake. Good work. You must've been pretty dazed from the blood loss. I thought about killing you, but you might prove useful later on."

A chill ran up my spine as I heard him speak, and I didn't know whether to be terrified or relieved.

"What exactly happened to me?" I asked, still struggling to regain my bearings, "Why am I alive? Why am I even still alive?"

"Good questions," my opponent answered, "It seems you were able to defeat the illusion I put onto you. Which I can call 'fear', which means you've got some pretty strong willpower. That's good news for me because you'll be a great asset for the future."

My heart raced as I listened to his words, "Fear, huh..." I mumbled quietly, trying to keep my composure.

"You're going to need a lot of strength for the battles ahead. And don't worry, I'll teach you how to overcome your fears. So, let's get started!"

He continued his voice, " The More you stare at my blade, you put into infinity loop death illusion, their special name I call it 'death by fright'. Fear is a very powerful weapon, one that has the ability to manipulate human emotions. It is also a tool used by monsters like me. The fact that you're alive proves that you've already experienced it yourself. But you're not going to rest well tonight knowing that."

With that said, he lifted his blade and pointed it straight towards me, his voice now laced with a sinister tone:

"Time to pay for your crimes! This is the start of your punishment, you dirty rat! Now!"

His voice boomed loudly as his dagger flashed before my face. I could hear his breath rasp against the air, and the sound of his heartbeat thudding within his chest. His body tensed as he waited for me to react.

I didn't move a muscle, I'd never been more petrified in my life, and I could feel every fibre of my body tense up as if I was about to be struck by lightning.

For a brief moment, I stood there in silence, still as a statue. Then, seeing the world fallen upside down in my view, I turned around to find my opponent waiting patiently for my response. He wore a twisted smile on his face, a malevolent glint in his eyes as he gazed down upon me, his knife poised and ready to strike.

All of my nightmares had come true.

**

After experiencing every situation of death, my body began splitting apart, and disintegrating, even death after every death; all in an illogical endless vicious loop, due to a magic I didn't even know existed—Fear was far stronger than my magic.

The next time I awoke, I was sprawled out on a hard floor. My head throbbed painfully as I struggled to regain consciousness. I couldn't remember what had happened to me, but I knew I needed to get up. If I stayed here any longer, then I would surely die.

I sat up groggily and immediately felt dizzy.

But my body felt fear, what is this fear? Is it real, or an illusion?

I looked around and saw nothing. No one. Just darkness.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't see anything. All I could hear was my own breathing and heartbeat.

I could still sense the presence of an enemy, even in this empty space. It was like they were standing right next to me, their presence radiating from within my mind.

Then something strange started to happen to me. The room around me began to blur. Not only that, I could hear myself screaming. It was as if my mind was being torn apart by a monster's claws. But when I opened my mouth, no sound came out. I couldn't even make a sound, even with my vocal cords.

I didn't know whether it was because of my weakened state, but whatever it was, it had paralyzed me completely.

Suddenly a huge light appeared in front of me, it was immense and extraordinary. I covered my eyes against its brightness, but still couldn't take my eyes away from it. It was so bright.

Renovemel me, start to see lighting, it was colour of blue, this immense was the shape of a sphere, a single giant sphere stood in front me with immense mana I could sense it

A brilliant light materialized before me, its size and magnitude, unlike anything I'd seen before. I shielded my eyes against the brightness of the sphere, though I still couldn't look away from it. Its vibrant blue hue had an entrancing quality to it, as if it were emanating magical energy that only I could sense.

Its luminescence was an electric blue, radiating with such power and potency that it felt like I was standing at the epicentre of the universe. A single immense sphere of celestial energy so strong that I could feel its mana coursing through me.

This was the most incredible sight I'd ever witnessed, a single colossal ball of light, shining brilliantly and illuminating my entire field of vision. I wanted to stay here forever just to bask in its glory.

It was a magnificent sight, I'd never imagined that I'd ever experience something as beautiful as this.

This strong wind blew me away from the sphere, and I fell to my knees. The feeling of euphoria disappeared as quickly as it arrived, replaced once again by the cold sensation of despair.

The light faded as soon as it left me, and I found myself back where I started.

But, something glowed deeply within me, I found myself sparkling light like luminescence of white clouds floating over me

My surroundings blurred and changed as if I were looking through a kaleidoscope, and I found myself floating in the air, surrounded by a swirling mass of colourful lights. Countless colours were spinning around me, dancing in the air before me, each distinct.

This Feeling, I was familiar with this, I've felt it many times, it's a kind of memory, I think it's mine

I realized that I'd been transported into another place entirely, somewhere deep inside my mind. The world around me seemed different, brighter and much bigger than before as if I were in some sort of void.

Then again, the opponent who was my attacker put me into a loop of infinite death. I was probably dead already. I could best believe it, but why this feeling?

Then a hugging voice speaks,

"How is this impossible, you were trapped in my illusion spell, but you broke through it, like it was nothing."

His voice was like an echo in the vastness, yet he sounded like he was right beside me.

I could tell, he was surprised and pure astound.

Then a booming voice rang out,

"How is this possible? You were trapped in my spell of illusions, yet you broke through it as if it were nothing but air."

His voice reverberated like thunder in a canyon, yet his presence felt so close.

I could sense the shock and wonderment emanating from him.