As much as the pain came, it quickly subsided, leaving behind a psychological shadow that was frightening.
-Enough of that. — Derek interrupted the argument that was about to start. — Let's spend the night and find a quieter car early in the morning. — This is Kaleb and Briar. — He introduced the strangers. — That's Elize, do you remember her? —
She shook her head, denying
There were so many notifications she was ignoring that it was overwhelming.
— Eve, we played together as children! — Elize smiled beautifully. — I'm your brother's childhood sweetheart, remember?
— Oh, God! — Briar rolled her eyes at Elize. "What?" — He threw himself on the sofa with his arms crossed before resting his feet on the coffee table in front of the owners of the house. Rude. "She already said she doesn't remember you."
Fantastic, despite the clichéd scenario, they behaved appropriately. A hand rested on her shoulder. The ghost of pain still haunted her, as if it could return at any moment.
— Why don't you start packing your things, Eve? — Laurel paused upon hearing the protagonist, confident it was Eve. He smiled and spoke softly, despite clearly wanting her to move away.
"Whatever you want, boss."
She smiled and waved goodbye to everyone, then willingly ran back to her room as fast as she could.
— "Display error!" — Laurel exclaimed furiously as she stormed to her room.
"System user violated the rules of the universe: 0.5% diverted."
— "What the heck is that supposed to mean?"
"System user violated the rules of the universe: 0.5% diverted."
Upon entering her room, she paced in circles as she attempted to read, only to become dizzy and sit down. Her pain resurged at the exact moment as the notification. What could the rules of the universe be? Should she not act like Eve or deviate from the soap opera? Both or neither?
— "Right, right, rules of the universe." — Reading it for the third time was like a snap; she understood. The rules of the darn book she was trapped in. It could only mean that… right?
— "What else did I forget... Ah! Yes, congratulations on leveling up." —
"Congratulations on leveling up!
Would you like to choose your skill now?"
"Yes!" — Laurel exclaimed, though she hated the slow system. It was like standing in front of an old computer and trying to get it to run like a state-of-the-art one. Despite everything, it was exciting how she was actually gaining skills.
Active Skill: Dangerous Lover: The user of this skill will be able to summon blades during sexual activity. Level 1
Passive skill: An independent girl: The user's fingers when masturbating can give 2 times more pleasure.
Passive ability: I'm an ant!: When activated, the user can carry 20 times their body weight and run great distances.
Laurel looked shocked, at those skills, or rather, the fact that she actually had something useful. She had no doubts which one she would choose but ended up curious about 2 times the pleasure, why ONLY 2 times?
Trying to focus on what's important and not on the insanity that was the succubus trash system.
— I AM AN ANT!!!!
Congratulations, you've unlocked a passive skill!
Error.
Error.
"System user went against the rules of the universe: 2.0% deviated."
The pain that ensued didn't even compare to any other pain Laurel had ever felt. Her knees weakened, and she collapsed onto the bedroom floor. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
"Reduced resistance, congratulations, you have the flu!"
Laurel curled up on the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks. A scream of agony echoed through the room as the notifications continued to arrive.
"Insanity level 1.
Pain resistance level 2.
Congratulations on completing a mission!
Level 3 pain resistance.
Insanity level 2."
— "Eve!?" — Laurel ignored the voice, even as someone approached her with a welcoming hug.
The embrace seemed to alleviate the intense pain, and she clung to the person as if her life depended on it, feeling the pain slowly subsiding. — "Elise!" — She didn't want to know anything other than the diminishing pain. Still with her eyes closed, she felt a hand on her forehead, smaller and softer than the ones holding her.
— "Come and heal her quickly!" — Someone urgently called out.
Something warm seemed to surround the hand.
— "N-It's not working." —
Laurel couldn't say how long she stayed there until the pain passed, her iron grip still wrapped around the protagonist, feeling the pain subside in waves until only the memory of the pain haunted her. She remained there until someone put her to bed. Unable to sleep, she just looked at the ceiling, asking why she was being punished like that.
Was it the skill she chose? No, it was the deviation of the universe. But what had she done to achieve a 2% deviation? Was it something out of her control or the skill she chose? Would the skill change be a major plot diversion? These questions echoed in her mind, adding to her turmoil and uncertainty.
Why?
— "This could be a consequence of her ability, just like Briar and Elize." — The male voice; she knew that voice... it was... what was his name again?
— "She didn't say anything about having an ability," — Briar, from what Laurel noticed, had a naturally irritated way of speaking.
— "We just arrived!" —
— "And no one asked or said anything to her." —
— God, can't you guys go talk somewhere else? — Talking scratched her throat. Waving his hand like someone shooing away a fly. —
Eve opened her eyes slowly, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing down on her body. Every movement felt like a battle against gravity, and a wave of dizziness washed over her as she attempted to sit up. A tremor ran through her body as she struggled against the sensation of weakness.
— And then? Did you also wake up with abilities after the fever? —Elize asked curiously. Laurel stopped trying to remember what fever the girl was talking about. Maybe it was what triggered the apocalypse?
With a heavy sigh, Eve finally managed to sit up on the edge of the bed, but the feeling of dizziness persisted. Sudden nausea twisted her stomach, causing her to grit her teeth to contain the urge to vomit. She ran her hand over her forehead, feeling it damp with cold sweat, and her heart pounded wildly in her chest.
— I think so...? — Damn that universe, she feels sick.