She awoke to a strange stillness, her body humming with energy yet her mind struggled to piece together the events that led to this moment. Her eyes opened to find the room around her in ruins. The walls, once pristine, were cracked and crumbling, their surfaces faded as though a millennium had passed. The training dummies were little more than decayed husks, their wooden frames splintered and collapsing under their own weight. The ground was littered with debris, and the air was heavy with the scent of dust and age. Yet amidst the destruction, she remained untouched, her sword gleaming in her hand as if impervious to the ravages of time.
Her gaze fell upon the blade, its black surface unyielding, until her fingers brushed against it. The moment she touched it, the metal shimmered, transforming into a silvery, mirror-like finish. It reflected her face with startling clarity, and she stared, transfixed. Her hair, once dark, was now a brilliant white streaked with faint green, as if nature itself had claimed her as its own. Her face was flawless, a vision of unparalleled beauty that left her momentarily breathless. Her skin glowed faintly, smooth and untouched by any blemish or imperfection, as though she had never known the human afflictions of acne or scars. Her body was equally transformed, her muscles sculpted and defined, her form an exquisite blend of strength and grace. She looked as though she had been carved from marble by the hands of a divine artisan.
Her robe, the same one she had worn for an eternity in this place devoid of time, clung to her body as if it were alive. It supported her breasts perfectly, its fabric molding around her curves while draping elegantly over her hips and thighs. It concealed her most private areas while still allowing her freedom of movement, a garment both modest and functional. As she stared at it, an intrusive thought crept into her mind, whispering of control. Tentatively, she focused on the robe, willing it to change.
Before her eyes, the fabric shifted, flowing like liquid until it transformed into a pair of trousers and a tight-fitting chemise that wrapped snugly around her chest. The new outfit felt breathable, light, and supportive, just like the robe had been. Experimenting further, she willed it to shift again, this time into undergarments that clung closer to her skin. She realized with a thrill of curiosity that the more intricate the design, the more mana it required to maintain, and the farther the fabric extended from her body, the more taxing it became to sustain. The realization dawned on her: this was no ordinary garment. It was a priceless artifact, gifted to her by the god she had once spoken to, a gift that seemed to tether her remaining humanity in this desolate place. A distant feeling of gratitude welled within her, though it was tempered by the growing chasm of her alien existence.
Stepping out of the ruined training room, she took in the state of the library. The once-brilliant crystal lamps lining the walls had lost their luster, their light dimmed to an impotent flicker. The towering bookshelves, which had once floated majestically, sagged and decayed, their wooden frames warped and the tomes within crumbling to dust. She walked through each room she had frequented, finding them all ravaged by the relentless march of decay. Yet her belongings remained untouched, pristine in their places, as though shielded by the same strange energy that now coursed through her veins. Her own body, too, was untouched by the rot around her, instead seeming stronger, more vibrant with each passing moment in this forsaken place.
When she entered the alchemy room, she was struck by an unexpected sight. The ancient tree that had always stood there was not decaying like the rest of the environment. Instead, it had overgrown, its gnarled branches sprawling across the room, tangling around shelves and tools. At its base was an orb, glowing faintly, pulsating with an energy that seemed both life-giving and destructive. The tree's roots coiled tightly around it, as if both nurturing and feeding off its power. She felt an overwhelming compulsion to take the orb, though she couldn't say why.
As she approached, the transformation in her body stirred violently, her muscles tensing as though her very being recognized the energy emanating from the orb. The sensation was primal and consuming, a longing so deep it felt as though her soul were screaming for it. Without hesitation, she grabbed the orb. The moment her hands closed around it, the energy surged, flooding her body with a violent force that left her gasping. The orb trembled in her hands before shattering with a deafening crack, sending a shockwave of power through the room.
The tree responded instantly, its tendrils reaching out toward her, desperate to reclaim the energy it had lost. She braced herself, but the roots faltered, withering before they could touch her. The massive trunk groaned as it collapsed, crashing down toward her with a deafening roar. She dove to the side, narrowly avoiding being crushed, only to watch in horror as the tree's remains toppled onto her alchemical tools and supplies. Glass shattered, and one of her journals was soaked in a viscous, mana-rich poison that oozed from the tree's broken limbs.
Rage bubbled up within her as she stood, staring at the destruction of her work. Her fingers tightened around the sword, and with a feral scream, she grabbed the remains of the tree and hurled them across the room. The trunk shattered against the wall as if it were made of ceramic, fragments scattering in all directions. She stood amidst the wreckage, her chest heaving with the force of her anger, the faint glow of the shattered orb still lingering in her veins.
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As she stepped out of the ruined alchemy room, her feet carried her instinctively to the pedestal where the cup of satiety rests. It was a silent and constant fixture throughout her endless days of study and transformation. The cup's glistening contents were an unsettling reminder of the many things she had lost. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she reached out, her fingers brushing the cold surface of the cup's hollow basin.
Her hand hesitated. "Why is it empty now?" she muttered, the sound of her voice breaking the oppressive silence. Then, as she picked it up, a glimmer of light caught her eye—a tiny key lying beneath where the cup had sat.
"A key?" she whispered aloud, her voice tinged with disbelief and a faint undercurrent of hope. Her fingers closed around the cool metal object, and she held it up, marveling at its simple yet intricate design. What could it unlock? Was this another trial, or is it my escape? Then as these fleeting thoughts came, the key disintegrated.
Her musings were interrupted by a low rumble. The pedestal beneath her hand trembled violently, fractures racing along its surface like cracks in ice. She took a cautious step back as, with a final groan, the entire structure collapsed into a cloud of fine, glittering dust.
The ground beneath her feet began to shudder. She turned, wide-eyed, as the library around her began to crumble. This was the only place she had known for what felt like millennia. Bookshelves that had stood steadfast for ages buckled under their weight, spilling their precious contents onto the floor, where they dissolved into ash. The walls split apart, fissures spreading like the veins of a dying thing.
"No, no, no!" she shouted, panic gripping her chest. She ran, darting through the collapsing chaos, her steps quick and sure as debris rained down around her. Chunks of stone plummeted from the ceiling, each impact shaking the ground. Her sword came alive in her hand, its blackened blade shimmering faintly as she sliced through falling rubble with surgical precision.
Her magic flared instinctively, bursts of energy exploding from her fingertips to blast larger chunks aside. Smaller fragments she swatted away with sweeping gestures, her movements guided by the honed reflexes of countless hours of training. But no matter how fast she moved, the destruction was relentless, consuming everything she had known.
A deafening crack split the air, and she stumbled, looking up just as the ceiling gave way entirely. For a moment, her breath caught in her throat as the destruction revealed a vast expanse of shimmering light. The periwinkle hue of the sky, or perhaps something far more otherworldly, spread out above her, its soft glow blanketing the ruins in an eerie calm. Particles of energy descended like snowflakes, swirling around her in a mesmerizing dance.
The light touched her skin, seeping into her flesh with a warmth that eased the panic clawing at her chest. She felt her feet leave the ground, her body lifting as if carried by the gentle currents of this ethereal energy. Her fear melted away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of peace, a calm so profound it felt unnatural.
But as she ascended, nearing the apex of the glowing field, her serenity was shattered. A jagged portal tore open before her, its edges writhing with tendrils of black energy that pulsed with malevolence. They lashed out with terrifying speed, coiling around her limbs and yanking her downward.
She screamed, the sound ripping from her throat as the calm energy that had filled her was violently expelled. It erupted from her body in a brilliant cascade, leaving her writhing in agony as if her very essence was being torn apart. The tendrils dragged her through the portal, and her vision dissolved into blinding white.
When she came to, the pain lingered, a dull throb that radiated through her entire body. She opened her eyes to find herself on her knees, her palms pressed against cold, smooth stone. The air around her was heavy with a divine presence, and as she forced herself upright, her surroundings became clearer.
The room she was in was grand and imposing, its ornate design unmistakable. Recognition dawned on her, followed swiftly by a rush of emotions: rage, confusion, disgust. Before her stood the god who had brought her to this place, seated on a magnificent throne that seemed to radiate power, yet he seemed dull.
"I have been watching you," he said, his voice a deep, resonant echo that filled the chamber.
Her muscles tensed, and her grip tightened around her sword. Watching me? For what? Entertainment? Manipulation? She wanted to scream at him, to demand answers, but her throat felt dry, her emotions tangled into a storm she couldn't control.
The god rose from his throne, his piercing gaze meeting hers. "You are like a daughter to me," he continued, his tone carrying an unsettling mix of affection and sadness. "My being, my everything, my sin, my soul…"
She flinched at his words, her stomach twisting in revulsion. A daughter? The thought felt foreign and wrong, an attempt to manipulate her further. She bit her lip, suppressing the sharp retort that rose in her throat.
"A quiet one, hmmm…" the god mused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You have no idea what I gave you… a second chance at life, power, and now I will give you freedom, my love."
Freedom. The word echoed in her mind, but it felt hollow, meaningless coming from the one who had imprisoned her for so long. She raised her head, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "What do you know of freedom? What are you?"
"I am a god," he said simply, his tone calm yet weary. "Now, I am a dying god."
"Why?" she demanded, her anger bubbling to the surface. "Why are you dying?"
"For as long as you have been here, I have kept you alive and fed you divinity in the form of mana. I wanted you to be strong and live your life in a new world that is not your own."
Her fists clenched, her nails biting into her palms. "Why?" she repeated, her voice sharp with bitterness. "You took me from my home world and made me live here so long I don't even remember my name. Now what? What do you want from me?"
The god sighed, his expression heavy with regret. "Originally, you were to be my progenitor, my kin, someone I could control. A pawn in another world... But now… I view you as my daughter. I wish nothing but happiness for you. Whether you destroy the next world or live in it, I have no say. I just wish for you to be happy, my love."
Her lip curled, a mix of anger and confusion swirling within her. The words felt wrong, and manipulative, but there was a sincerity in his tone that made her hesitate. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to speak.
"So when do I leave?" she asked, her voice cold and detached.
"Whenever your rea–"
"Now," she cut him off, her tone firm and unyielding.
The god frowned deeply, but he nodded, his shoulders sagging as if the weight of his existence bore down on him. "Very well, my child. I will use the last of my power to empower your soul and send you to the mid realm. I wish you luck."
Before she could respond, his energy enveloped her. The throne room dissolved into nothingness, and she was hurled through the void, her body wracked with the pain of the transformation. Then it stopped.