Echoes of shouting from the team lost in Marcie's mind from the pure rage of pain and unexplainable twisting that her body was experiencing. It was as though her own body couldn't fathom what it was experiencing while the doctors wrestled with the now full-conscious creature still partially attached to her.
~Ding!
* Pain Tolerance C has increased to level 4*
~Ding!
*Fortified Bones F has increased to level 5*
~Ding! ….
~Ding!....
~Ding! ….
~Ding!....
Despite the consistent increase in pain tolerance, Marcie could barely hold onto her own consciousness. It took everything she had to merely stay awake.
~Ding!
* Pain Tolerance C had increased to Pain Tolerance B *
A ripple of numbness cut through the constant spasms of shrill pain. In that moment, only one voice broke through the distant ringing in her head. "Marcie!! Marcie fight! Stay with us darlin!" That voice was Richards. He was still there, still pouring his mana into her to shield her from the onslaught of the creature.
Marcie forced her eyes to open and her slurried vision steadied if for a moment. Richard and Antonio where with her, panic obvious in their faces. Their previous method to extract the creature was no longer an option and any more time they took in this shit show of a procedure was one more moment bringing Marcie closer to death.
Marcie took in a deep breath to suppress the pain. Starting from her center, she activated her absolute shield. Now that the system has identified the creature as a threat, the shield could push it away from her. Her thoughts, however, were too preoccupied to mentally distinguish friend from foe in the room.
Just as the creature was torpedoed from her body, so was her support. The sudden loss of frail stability cut out like a candle in a gust of wind and Marcie felt the instant shock permeate her body. Before she could even catch herself, her vision blurred to dark as the room tilted sideways.
*.....
*.....
* Initializing system re-evaluation sequ%$&@#%$$^*
* zzzzzzzzt*
*.....
'What's going on?' Marcie thought. She looked around but there was nothing but void. She could only see herself for some reason, as though she alone was illuminated by daylight. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.
"Zzzzzzzzt Ma#$%& Bromle#$%& zzzzt" A distorted voice drifted like a whisper to Marcie's ear. She spun around trying to locate the source, but there was nothing.
"Zzzt Mmarcie Bromley…zzzt" The voice chimed again, this time more clearly. It was almost like someone trying to tune an old radio.
'Who's there??' Her thoughts replacing her mute condition. A figure, somewhere human in shape, but somehow not quite there appeared before her, like a ghost or a recording.
"Zzzz We are @$%#$^ zzzz. Do not be zzz-larmed. When the system reinitialized, it triggered zzzzzt message." The movements of the being were practically non-existent.
"W-what?" Marcie was having a hard time wrapping her head around what was happening, partially also because she couldn't pick up every word.
"Zzzzt We are the creators zzzt the system that allzzzzzt to use abilities beyond zzzt natural limitations. Zzzzzzzt tied to the portal energy wavzzzzt. Our hope waszzzzt create a force strong enouzzzzt against them…."
The being paused, its shoulders slumped slightly. "My people zzzzt not survive…"
'Wait, who is 'them'?' Marcie was fully invested in this conversation. She tried her best to fill in the blanks as best she could. The messenger paused.
"We call them zzzzt-orld Eaters… A race of beings that zzzt the portals to devour other worl-zzzzt. The system means zzz-ope for the Universzzzzzt."
The being floated closer to Marcie, its aura shifting to a pleading desperation. "ZZt-ind a way to stop th-zzzzzzt.The other worlds zzzzt not your enem-zzzzt."
The being began to sob, at first it sounded mechanical or fake, but it quickly morphed into human crying. The moment the being completely faded from view, Marcie felt a massive drop and air forcing its way into her lungs.
Her eyes shot open as she was thrusted back to reality. Not really sure what was happening, she looked around. She was still on the operating table, but was firmly in Richard's arms. He was hugging her tightly, tears streaming down his face.
Marcie felt a warmth on her back and tingling all over her body, like the pins and needles you feel after a limb fell asleep and you moved it. Marcie looked up to Richard, always thankful to see him, always comforted by the same cedar cologne he always wore.
"R-rich…" She felt different, lighter, somehow more free. She took a weary breath. "Is it over?" Her dearest friend gave a tearful chuckle. She very much wanted to help him wipe them away but alas she was far too exhausted.
"It's over, Marc. It's gone…"