"Segato has entered into the pyramid just now... I can no longer sense or contact him. It appears there is a barrier in place that blocks all but its creator's abilities and skills surrounding the entire perimeter. Layla is more cautious than I thought, just like her mother... Should I just go to sleep until he walks out of the barrier?" I mumble to myself. It feels strange to not be within Segato's mindscape... No, it is more as if I am still there, but isolated and under a microscope. Even so, to be able to target and isolate {Narration} is the same as targeting an Ordinance. Nobody in Flipside should be able to do that--
"You could do that. Or you can explain who you are, and what you are doing here," an unexpected voice says from behind me. I look back and see Layla hovering in mid-air. It shouldn't be possible to-- "You are probably wondering how I noticed you. I recommend to be careful with barriers that make runic language detectable," she comments, pointing at the text above my hea-- shit. This method actually works?! "In truth, I am surprised as you are, suspicious stranger. You also mentioned my mother. This means you must be from ancient times, as the only people who share familiarity with her are already in their graves, like you should be," Layla continues, narrowing her eyes at reading that which she has yet to speak. "Depending on your answers to my questions, I can let you inside the barrier... Hubris, right?"
I transform into my true form, and growl, [... Should I just kill you and start over?]
Layla appears briefly shocked, before she whispers, "I know who you are now. That creepy manner of speaking, as if you deserve your own separate dimension to be locked up in... Relax, I didn't come here as an enemy, or otherwise I'd have told Hooligan about your true identity. They think you are that Deity. Honestly, we both want the same thing. I mean it."
I put away my fangs and claws, and Layla's demeanor changes into a more jovial mood.
"Thank you for trusting me, World Destroyer. If you'll allow me, I'll help train Segato to become your new vessel--"
Hubris sighs, before interrupting Layla with, "That's definitely not the end game. I have no desire to turn my own descendent into my vessel this time. It's quite the reverse: I want him to break humanity free from the limitations. I have already foreseen an amazing future possibility."
"... and is it a future I get to be a part of?" Layla anxiously asks. Hubris focuses intensely until he grins and nods.
He cheers, "Yes! But not as you are, I'm afraid. You might end up dying and reincarnating quite a few times by the end of his journey."
Layla shrugged, then mutters, "Well that sounds very unfortunate. I should've known better than to ask about the future. It's not set in stone, though--"
"My power is the script itself, child. While not guaranteed, things are likely to play out as I narrate them. It is my job as 'The One Who Records The End,' after all." Once I finish concluding my speech, I take my leave.
So the barrier didn't impede him at all, and he wanted to instead converse with me. What a terrifying old man, Layla thought. No worries. He won't kill me unless I get in the way of his script. One thing is definitely for certain, though... I need to make Segato reach a level beyond the deities... I don't want to, but I need to get the other 9 Dragons in on this without alerting them to my plan.
"Apologies about the delay, Segato... a lot has been going on in the past few hours, so my 'text' was going crazy, and I didn't want to overload your mind," a hurried Hubris spoke.
So long as it all worked out in the end for us. I just thought you were ghosting me for the whole Kikai thing, to be fair, Segato thought back.
Apparently, Segato has been talking trash behind Hubris's back--
I apologize, so please stop... The worry on Segato's face made Ezrah, who had brought him into the pyramid, also feel uneasy.
"You are making feel like I am bringing a self-aware cow into a slaughterhouse. Any chance you could stop with the faces?" Ezrah mumbled.
"My bad, I just have a lot on my mind. It's been a long day," Segato said. "Come to think of it, hasn't 10 hours already passed, and the sun is still shining bright in the sky?"
Ezrah casually replied back, "A day here consists of 72 hours. Isn't that normal?"
"No, 24 hours is normal for most places," a soothing voice spoke. Ezrah immediately kneeled, and his face ran parallel with the ground. He even took off his hood and laid his twin pistols in front of him.
"Ezrah Enkay greets the Empress," he spat out quickly.
"At ease, my subject... Hold on." Layla turned around and called out, "Leave us. I wish to talk to these 2 members of the commonwealth alone."
Although we couldn't see them, we felt and heard the presence of 20 armed soldiers leaving the area. Layla then slumped her shoulders, and then groaned. Ezrah stopped kneeling and looked confused.
"I am sick of this damn occupation, ya know?" Layla cried out while holding her long hair in disgust. Segato deadpanned and Ezrah sweatdropped.
Is this even the same person 10 seconds ago?! they both thought, but dared not voice.
"Ezrah, I can tell your confusion from over here. Let's just say that your new friend is a powder keg waiting to explode. I wouldn't bother letting any of the other Dragons hold the match to set him off. So let's get real about something, Evelnoke," Layla grumbled all of that quickly through clenched teeth. For a brief second, it feels like she is expecting me to say something. After no response from anybody in the room other than Ezrah slowly backing out the entrance, Layla grabbed Segato and started shaking him in place erratically. "I genuinely don't get why everyone is interested in you! Untrained, uncouth, and worst of all... a pervert!"
"Please calm down... I am getting dizzy... do I even get a chance to refute--"
"DENIED!" Layla roared as she tossed Segato into a pillar. "Also... this is all an illusion. Apologies, but I needed to vent my frustration and get Ezrah to leave us. Let's talk, the 3 of us, that is." After Segato opened his eyes, he realized he wasn't in pain. In fact, he wasn't in the room from earlier at all. Layla had changed outfits, as well. Her usual flowing red dress was now replaced by a black sports bra and camo-themed shorts.
Segato whispered in awe, "Wow, I just thought you were just a pretty face, but now I get why Ezrah and Mr. Sett respect you."
She was the perfect combination of lean and muscular, while maintaining her natural beauty. Most notably...
Yeah. That 6 pack. What the hell.
Segato is finally facing reality. He is weak.
Did you need to actually say that?
"He did, Segato... but if it makes you feel any better," Layla solemnly spoke.
Her aura massively spiked, and then became stable. Both of her hands now donned 2 fingerless biker gloves. Segato gulped. He had a bad feeling about this. Layla's mouth curled into a small smile.
"You should be used to dying, or at least the feeling of it. Your body contains impure marks placed by other Deities. We need to erase those marks before I can help you tap into your true power. So... please die for me, okay?"
Segato woke up 2 hours later, and had started reading my words to catch up on what he had missed. Layla had repeatedly killed him with punches, and then immediately revived him afterwards. She repeated this process hundreds of times without breaking a sweat or flinching. Each time Segato was revived in this way, a brilliant orange light glowed within his body. Layla was just waiting for him to reawaken.
Is it true that I am actually this weak? Segato thought to himself.
He genuinely believed he kept in shape, exercising 3 days of the week ever since he was 5 years old. He even took up some basic combat training classes in hopes of dealing with... "troublesome customers" at his appraisal job. The more he thought about it, the less everything made sense. His mind couldn't cope with the concept of being nothing more than a mere bug to Flipside's inhabitants--
Okay, I get it. Please stop, Hubris.
[Do you wanna change your life, or do you wanna just be mediocre, like everyone else?] Segato turned in the direction of the familiar voice and saw an older-looking version of himself, but with very noteworthy differences. My eyes were completely black, as if devoid of life. A sinister aura flowed out of my body, and Segato once more gained awareness of my true gaze.
"Hubris...?"
I nod silently, and he looked back in forth between the script and myself.
[The place we are in is known as a "law domain." We aren't restricted by physical limitations here, which makes it the perfect place to train.] Segato continued to stare at me with his mouth agape. I ignore his reaction.
"So is he going to keep us waiting, or can we get started?" Layla called out. I nod. Layla frowned. "Any chance you can make it so that I also can't hear or read your text? It's very... annoying, no offense."
A bit of time passed before the 3 beings in the area couldn't sense the runic script from earlier.
"... None taken," Hubris replied.
"Wait, so you take offense when I ask you that, but it's okay for her?! What the hell, man?" Segato whined. Hubris silently shrugged with a small smile and closed his eyes. This gesture aggravated Segato even further.
"I'm not wasting anymore time on this. Segato, listen closely," an irritated Layla spoke. "I am going to go through covering the basics of abilities quickly, and if I have to repeat myself, I am going to kill you--" Hubris glared at Layla, which caused her to pause. "I don't mean literally, just make him suffer pain as if he is dead. He's died enough times."
"... A passable answer. Don't overdo it," Hubris warned with a gruff voice.
"So when did you 2 somehow get chummy--"
""Shut up."" Segato clammed up after that and listened carefully to what was being said.