Ophelia awoke, but not in the familiar world she had just left behind. Instead, she found herself standing in a vast, infinite void. It was pitch black, an unsettling, unending abyss of nothingness stretching around her. The air was thick, and though she could not feel the weight of her body, she was aware of every part of herself. A strange silence filled the space, but it was not peaceful. No, it was heavy with a presence, an oppressive feeling of being watched.
She gasped, her heart pounding, as a gargantuan figure emerged from the darkness in front of her. It loomed above her, massive and horrific. Its body was made of dark, undulating segments, like a twisted, elongated worm, its surface slick and otherworldly. But it was the eyes—thousands of them—that made her stomach turn.
Each one glared down at her from the creature's bulbous, segmented body, eyes wide, alien, and filled with malice. They blinked in unison, their black pupils gleaming.
A bead of sweat formed on Ophelia's brow, and as it slid down her face, she muttered under her breath, "This is crazy. No wonder they lose their minds."
The worm hissed, its massive body tensing as it prepared to strike. Its form coiled back, its many mouths dripping with viscous fluids as it readied itself to attack. Ophelia felt the overwhelming weight of its power, the dread of impending doom that seemed to press against her chest.
But she stood her ground. She knew what to do. Her fingers twitched, and a deep surge of mana pulsed around her. Raising her hands toward the sky, she summoned chains—massive, thick, and forged from pure arcane energy. They shot out from the darkness, wrapping around the beast's body, constricting it. The creature roared in fury, but Ophelia was undeterred.
With a flick of her wrist, a large needle of concentrated mana appeared, its jagged tip glowing brightly in the void. With a swift motion, she hurled it downward, piercing the creature's head with a force that sent shockwaves through the air. The worm screeched as the needle struck deep, pinning it in place, its body writhing but unable to break free.
"My mana pool may not be big right now, but it is still mine," She grinned.
She closed her eyes for a moment, focusing, drawing in every shred of her will, every ounce of her remaining power. When she opened them again, the vast expanse of darkness was gone. The eerie presence faded into the background, replaced by the warm light of a new day.
The sound of birds chirping greeted her ears, the sun spilling through the windows of the Chief's house, casting a gentle glow over the room. The scent of fresh air filled her lungs as the world outside seemed to breathe once again.
The hole that had been there, the worm's path through her body, was gone. Her skin was smooth and healed as if the wound had never existed. The pain, the burning agony of the creature's movement inside her—it was all gone.
[A Foreign Body has entered you…]
[Analyzing Foreign Body]
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[Foreign Body has been analyzed]
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[A new Additional Section has been added]
[You have acquired the Sub Section - Parasitic Growth]
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Ophelia sighed and swiped the panels away with a dismissive flick of her wrist, the glowing text vanishing into thin air. She rubbed her eyes, still trying to shake off the disorientation from the void and the encounter with the worm. Her legs felt weak, but she forced herself to stand. Steadying her breath, she made her way to the door.
As she opened it, a flood of blinding light poured in, forcing her to shield her eyes with her hand. She blinked rapidly, her vision adjusting to the brilliance of the outdoors. Slowly, the world came into focus—a village bathed in the warm, golden rays of morning. But none of that held her attention.
Standing before her was a woman, a figure so radiant it took Ophelia's breath away. Her hair shimmered like spun gold, cascading down her shoulders in soft waves. Her eyes, glowing like twin suns, seemed to pierce through Ophelia, holding her in place with their warmth and intensity.
Ophelia froze, her throat tightening. Words escaped her as flashes of vivid memories surged to the surface—memories of cradling this very woman's lifeless body in her arms. The weight of her loss, the warmth slipping away, the desperate screams for help that never came—it all came rushing back, as raw and painful as the day it happened. However now…
'I saved her,' she thought, a warm smile growing on her face.
"Are you alright?" Alexandra asked, worry permeating her expression.
"Yes… I am now."
Alexandra stepped forward without hesitation, wrapping her arms tightly around Ophelia. The sudden embrace caught Ophelia off guard, her body stiffening instinctively at first.
A few seconds passed, the tension in Ophelia's shoulders melting away. Slowly, she raised her arms and returned the hug—not as tightly as Alexandra, but with enough strength to let the other woman feel the sincerity in her gesture.
As Ophelia placed her chin on Alexandra's shoulder, her eyes caught sight of something unusual hovering just over Alexandra's golden hair—a single panel, suspended mid-air.
[ . . . ]
Dot. Dot. Dot.
The dots blinked rhythmically, their silence somehow louder than words. It was clear that the system wasn't happy.
Ophelia sighed, a hint of irritation tugging at her face. She clicked her tongue softly, lifting her hand from Alexandra's back. With a flick of her finger, she dismissed the panel as if it were nothing more than a nuisance. The glowing text disappeared instantly, leaving only the warmth of Alexandra's embrace.
As the two split, Alexandra, warmly smiled, cupping both of Ophelia's cheeks before shifting them down her neck and then onto her shoulders, using them as support as she lowered her head ever so slightly.
"I love you. I love you so much," Alexandra muttered.
Alexandra lifted her head, her golden eyes shimmering with a flood of emotion. Before she could say another word, Ophelia gently raised a hand, cupping Alexandra's cheek. With a tenderness that surprised even herself, Ophelia leaned in and pressed her lips to Alexandra's.
The kiss was short, short yet impossibly sweet. When they parted, Ophelia lingered close, her soft smile conveying all the words she didn't say aloud. Alexandra's breath shortened slightly, her hands still resting on Ophelia's shoulders as warmth flooded her cheeks.
Then came the sound of a wooden plank creaking nearby. Ophelia's smile dropped as her head snapped to the side, her sharp gaze landing on Captain Edwin. The man stood a few steps away, awkwardly frozen mid-motion, clearly caught in an attempt to sneak past unnoticed. His face was a mixture of guilt and discomfort, his eyes darting anywhere but at the two women.
Ophelia rolled her eyes, a long-suffering sigh escaping her lips. "Really, Edwin?"
Alexandra followed her gaze, taking in the captain's awkward and rigid stance. For a moment, there was silence, and then a burst of laughter erupted from her. She laughed so hard she had to clutch her stomach.
"Seriously? You could have tried to leave…" Ophelia clicked her tongue.
"That's what I tried!" He exclaimed. "But this deck is so god damn creaky that you caught me instantly!"
Ophelia let out another long sigh, shaking her head while Alexandra continued to die from laughter. Captain Edwin hesitated for a moment, but he soon let out a sigh as well before stepping forward.
"My Lady, I believe before you settle things with Alexandra, please settle things here with the beastmen. I hate to say this, but we must depart immediately."
"I understand," Ophelia nodded.
Ophelia cupped Alexandra's cheek once more, her thumb brushing softly against her skin as Alexandra's laughter settled into a warm, glowing smile. Ophelia leaned in, their foreheads almost touching as she spoke softly, "I'll be back soon. Don't let this fool give you any trouble."
Without waiting for a reply, she pressed her lips to Alexandra's again, this time lingering in a deep, passionate kiss that seemed to freeze the world around them. When they parted, Ophelia took a step back, her gaze steady but filled to the brim with affection. She twiddled her fingers playfully in a farewell gesture, her lips curving into a sly grin before turning to leave.
Alexandra stood frozen for a moment, her cheeks flushed a brilliant red as her mind processed what had just happened. Then, as if the emotions had overtaken her, she squealed softly and began jumping up and down, her golden hair bouncing with her movements.
Captain Edwin, unfortunately, bore witness to the whole display. His face twisted into an expression of pure discomfort, his shoulders hunching as he audibly groaned, "I didn't sign up for this."
Alexandra caught his reaction out of the corner of her eye, stopping mid-jump to glare at him. Edwin froze, realizing his mistake, and immediately snapped into a rigid, exaggeratedly serious pose. His back straightened unnaturally, and his arms crossed over his chest as he barked in a low voice, "We should focus on the mission, Alexandra."
Alexandra couldn't hold back a giggle as she watched the transformation, shaking her head before waving him off. "You're ridiculous, Edwin."
Ophelia, hearing this as she walked away, allowed herself a faint smile before her expression grew focused again. There was work to be done.