Stretched towards the tear that had just closed was a finely sculpted male hand, it's golden tint only accentuated its otherworldly aura. Both time and space bowed before the being. The rest of its figure was shielded by an abyssal black. Where it's forehead should have been, was a single human eye with a golden sclera and a black pupil. From its pupil shot a refulgent golden beam, and everything went to the way it was before Alex had begun to read. The book was also gone.
The world resumed and no one knew of the beings actions.Alex could only barely recall the events that had occured when she read the book, however it had now disappeared. She did not panic because she still felt its connection to her was intact. She was left with a comforting feeling until a searing pain shot through her entire being destroying her and rebuilding her from within.
The anguish was most unbearable within her head. It was torture that seemed to last for hours and she could not move nor could she scream she had lost all control. She just lay there on the cool floorboard wishing she could writhe or yell in an attempt to lighten the pain. However, she could do nothing but endure. Soon after, it ended, and she faced the librarian who didn't seem even slightly impressed.
"Your soul was strengthened by what you were able to understand from the tome you read, which is why your body has to undergo changes to handle it. You haven't even finished reading it and yet, here you are. Normally the pain is minimal, to have such a reaction with such little pain, incompetent weakling."
After, she had somewhat recovered she digested his words. Alex knew this man was somewhat wrong, but she didn't intend to correct him, therefore she stayed silent. The timer on her hand stopped before dimming and disintegrating into faint pastel particles dissolving in the atmosphere. The librarian showed a genuine look of surprise then excitement.
"Y-you completed it?! You completely understood it??? That's impossible. How?! You must form a soul bond with me."
She remained unfazed by his ramblings and pondered on what this meant. He had clearly seen her reading the last page before, so he should no longer be surprised.
Though, his expression still showed surprise. Instead of fear this time, there was excitement. The only difference being that he saw what exactly she was reading previously. Now he's assuming she had just read a normal tome, as she was originally supposed to, and yet he's still excited. His memory must have been altered. By who? What exactly is so special about these books? It most certainly has something to do with a person's soul.
"Did you not hear me, mortal? I propose a soul bond with you. The benefits for you are immense and you should be honored to- "
He was still going on about the soul bond thing before Alex interjected.
"No."
His face morphed into fury, but she wasn't much bothered she was more concerned about the voice which should have come to take her away by now.
"You insufferable weakling! Stop cutting me off when I-"
As anticipated the mysterious voice announced Alex's success at the right time, effectively shortening her conversation with the attendant.
"Oh! Mystic Charles, how the mighty continuously fall. Fret not! Your machinations were destined for ruin from the onset. Now unto you my dear , would you like to form a soul bond with me or move on to the true stage with the rest of your planet's viable inhabitants?"
The voice now resembled a timeless elder offering wisdom to his most cherished disciple. This voice irked Alex to no end. She knew better than to ensnare herself with any of these cunning foxes. She could have asked them what a soul bond was and how to form it to gather more information, but they could feed her false information to deceive her. Sometimes false information can be worse than knowing nothing at all.
"The true stage."
" Ah! How unfortunate, I would have happily gobbled up your soul though." Her patience was running thin as the jaunty voice had fun with itself. Then, it reverted to its monotone voice.
" Congratulations! You successfully surpassed your limitations and proved yourself worthy. Deciphering Delphic Tomes completed. Transporting to Stemma's stage. Status changed, you are now a challenger. Would you like to push forward your rewards or claim them now?"
Her thinking speed surged at a rapid pace, her thoughts somehow faster and smoother than before. Though the feeling was euphoric, she ignored new sensation to focus on the present. She recalled the anguish she endured a few moments earlier, instantly, she made her decision.
"Push them forward."
She was not willing to risk exploding because of another 'upgrade'.
"Grand of you. May the goddess crown you with victory."
Her vision blurred as she felt the world around her collapse and fall into an unnerving stillness.
The second Alex had been transported to Stemma's garden, all of earth shook, buildings fell, and the sky released torrential downpour of rain and striking winds. Heather watched in horror as multiple screens projected earth-shattering shakes rumbling in areas of the world as the earth split and inactive volcanoes sputtered molten lava that sizzled across the earth. Some people were simply swallowed by abrupt floods and all-consuming tsunamis.
She was down in the bunker Alex had prepared for cases like this, her body shaking with fear. Lightning struck again and again. Nuclear weapons simultaneously exploded. As a grand finale, the gravity that once acted against the internal pressure of the sun was released, allowing an explosion that wiped all of the remains of the Galaxy Alex once knew and loved.