"D̵i̷s̷g̸u̴s̵t̸i̴n̵g̴.̷"
*COUGH! BLUEGGH!!*
Blood splattered across the void again as the Seer's body convulsed violently upon hearing the distorted voice.
Every fiber of her divine existence screamed in agony under the weight of that malevolent gaze.
Those eyes... hundreds, maybe thousands of them, all focused on her with an intensity that made her want to crawl into the deepest corner of reality and hide.
But there was nowhere to run in this absolute nothingness.
"... Y-You! I-It can't be."
Her voice cracked with pure terror, a sound she'd never made in her eons of existence.
The realization dawned on her.
But the eyes simply watched, unblinking, radiating amusement and mockery at her suffering.
And then... the being spoke again, not even bothering at the state of the trembling woman.
"H̶o̷w̶ ̸d̷a̵r̴e̵ ̸y̷o̷u̸.̶.̸.̷"
The voice wasn't just terrifying anymore.
It was... different.
It sounded feminine, but twisted with something that made the Seer's blood freeze.
Pure, concentrated obsession mixed with loathing rage.
"T̴r̵y̶i̸n̴g̸ ̵t̴o̷ ̴g̸e̸t̵ ̶i̵n̷s̸i̶d̸e̸ ̴m̵y̸ ̵d̵a̴r̸l̷i̶n̴g̶'̸s̸ ̷m̴i̶n̷d̷?̶"
*THUMP!*
The Seer's heart nearly stopped.
D-Darling?
This... being... was talking about Nero Walker like he belonged to her.
"I̷ ̸c̴a̵n̴ ̶s̷m̴e̴l̶l̷ ̵y̸o̸u̷r̷ ̶p̵a̵t̶h̴e̶t̴i̸c̶ ̷c̶u̷r̵i̶o̵s̷i̸t̶y̶ ̷f̶r̸o̷m̶ ̸h̸e̷r̶e̷,̸ ̶l̶i̴t̶t̷l̶e̵ ̷bitch.̴"
The voice was getting closer somehow, despite the fact that there was nothing but void and eyes around them.
"Y̷o̸u̵'̵v̸e̶ ̶b̷e̴e̷n̷ ̴w̴a̶t̷c̷h̶i̵n̸g̴ ̵h̷i̸m̷.̶ ̵S̷t̵a̶l̵k̴i̶n̵g̸ ̷h̷i̶m̸.̴.. ̵A̴n̴a̷l̶y̷z̶i̸n̸g̵ ̸h̶i̷s̴ ̶e̶v̸e̷r̵y̷ ̸m̶o̶v̶e̷ ̸l̶i̶k̷e̶ ̷s̶o̷m̴e̶ ̷c̶r̴e̵e̷p̷y̶ ̴l̵i̵t̸t̴l̸e̵ ̷p̵e̵e̸p̶i̸n̴g̷ ̷t̴o̶m̴.̵"
*Gulp!*
The Seer tried to swallow, but her throat felt like sandpaper.
This wasn't just any malevolent entity.
This was something that had claimed ownership over Nero Walker.
Something that viewed him as... hers.
"L̴i̸s̶t̸e̶n̸ ̵c̸a̴r̴e̶f̸u̶l̸l̶y̶,̴ ̷y̴o̸u̴ ̶p̷i̶t̵i̶f̴u̸l̶ ̵e̶x̶c̷u̷s̸e̸ ̸f̶o̶r̵ ̸a̶ ̷d̵i̶v̸i̶n̸e̸ ̴b̶e̸i̶n̸g̷.̴"
One of the eyes moved closer, and turned maddeningly blood red.
The Seer could see it in horrifying detail.
It wasn't just an eye.
It was down right horrifying and terrifying at the same time, like countless souls were trapped within those murderous gaze.
A crimson gaze with a vertical slit… like a reptile, surrounded by distorted other pupils of carrying colors and species…
"M̶Y̶ DARLING ̸i̷s̶ ̸o̷f̵f̴-̶l̷i̶m̴i̶t̸s̷.̶"
The possessiveness in that voice made the Seer want to vomit again, as her mental state almost collapsed at this point.
This thing... whatever it was... genuinely believed Nero belonged to her.
"H̸i̴s̴ ̷m̵i̷n̴d̷,̸ ̵h̶i̷s̴ ̷b̶o̷d̴y̶,̴ ̸h̸i̶s̶ ̶v̸e̷r̵y̵ ̶s̵o̷u̸l̴ ̸a̷r̵e̸ ̶M̵I̴N̵E̷... M̵I̴N̷E̷ ̴M̴I̸N̴E̶ ̷M̴I̵N̴E̴ ̴M̸I̷N̵E̶ ̸M̷I̴N̴E̴ ̷M̴I̵N̸E̸ ̶M̵I̵N̸E̴ ̴M̷I̶N̴E̸ ̷M̵I̷N̷E̴ ̸M̸I̶N̸E̷ ̴M̵I̵N̴E̸ ̴M̴I̶N̴E̵!"
*CRACK!
Like a broken record of a crazy person, reality itself seemed to fracture around them as the entity's fury intensified.
The void started bleeding crimson light, making everything look like the inside of a wound.
"A̶n̸d̸ ̵y̸o̶u̸.̴.̷.̴ ̴y̸o̵u̸ ̸D̶A̷R̸E̴D̶ ̴t̶o̵ ̴t̷r̵y̶ ̸a̷n̶d̷ invade ̶t̵h̶a̴t̸ ̴s̸a̸c̴r̵e̴d̶ ̷s̶p̸a̶c̶e̴?̸"
The Seer couldn't even speak or try to form any coherent thoughts…
She wants to say something, ANYTHING just to deny what made the being before her furious.
But the words died in her throat as those eyes moved even closer.
"I̷ ̶s̸h̵o̵u̸l̶d̶ ̶t̴e̵a̴r̴ ̶y̷o̶u̶ ̴a̷p̵a̷r̷t̴ piece ̸b̴y̷ piece ̷f̴o̷r̶ ̸t̸h̵i̴s̷ ̶i̶n̶s̷u̴l̸t̸.̷"
*THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!*
The Seer's heart was pounding so hard she thought it might explode.
This entity... this thing that claimed Nero... it had the power to make good on that threat.
She could feel it radiating from those eyes.
Pure, unlimited potential for violence.
"B̸u̵t̶ ̶m̶y̶ darling ̷w̶o̸u̵l̶d̶n̵'̵t̴ ̶w̸a̷n̴t̶ ̴m̵e̴ ̶t̴o̸ ̶m̶a̵k̸e̸ ̴a̴ ̷m̶e̷s̶s̶ ̵o̷f̴ ̸h̶i̸s̸ ̵d̵i̵m̷e̶n̴s̷i̸o̵n̷.̶.̸.̵ ̴y̵e̸t̴.̵"
The way she said 'yet' made the Seer's blood turn to ice.
Like she was waiting for the right moment to...
"S̴o̶ ̶this is your last ̸c̷h̵a̸n̶c̵e̷.̸."
Suddenly all the eyes focused on her at once, and the pressure was so intense the Seer felt like she was being crushed by the weight of a thousand suns.
*BLUEGGH!!!*
The Seer vomited blood again as she couldn't stand the suffocating malevolence of the being before her.
But the being didn't care as it continued,
"N̶e̶v̸e̶r̶.̷ ̶A̷n̸d̴ ̸I̸ ̸m̵e̴a̵n̵ ̴N̵E̸V̴E̸R̷.̸ ̶A̶t̷t̶e̶m̴p̷t̵ ̶t̶o̵ ̶e̴n̷t̷e̶r̴ ̶m̸y̸ ̸N̵e̸r̶o̶'̷s̵ ̷m̵i̷n̶d̷ ̴a̵g̵a̷i̶n̸.̷"
The voice dropped to a whisper that somehow carried more menace than all her previous screaming.
"D̷o̷n̷'̷t̶ touch ̷h̶i̸m̷.̶ ̶D̸o̵n̷'̸t̸ probe ̵h̶i̸m̶.̷ ̵D̵o̸n̷'̸t̷ ̸e̶v̸e̵n̸ ̷T̸H̸I̶N̸K̵ ̷a̶b̸o̵u̸t̵ ̶g̵e̴t̶t̷i̶n̵g̴ closer ̸t̷o̴ ̸h̷i̶m̴ than ̶y̷o̸u̶r̷ pathetic ̷l̶i̶t̸t̶l̴e̷ ̴s̸c̷r̸e̵e̶n̴s̸ ̷a̵l̶l̷o̷w̶.̷"
*Shiver!*
The Seer was trembling so violently while laying on the floor at this point.
This entity... she was talking about Nero like he was her lover, her destined partner, her…
The implications were too much for the Seer.
"H̶e̵ ̸i̶s̸ ̷m̶i̷n̸e̷ ̴t̶o̵ ̸l̷o̷v̸e̵.̴ ̷M̵i̸n̶e̶ ̵t̵o̵ ̴h̸o̸l̸d̵.̵ ̸M̷i̸n̷e̸ ̷t̸o̷ ̴p̸r̷o̸t̶e̴c̷t̸ ̶f̶r̴o̸m̴ ̶n̸o̵s̸y̷ ̷l̷i̸t̵t̷l̵e̴ stalker ̸l̸i̵k̶e̸ ̴y̶o̴u̶.̶"
The possessiveness was overwhelming.
This wasn't just an obsession.
This was something deeper, more fundamental.
Like she genuinely believed they were meant to be together.
"A̸n̷d̶ ̵w̸h̸e̴n̸ ̷I̴ finally awaken ̸f̸u̶l̷l̸y̵.̶.̶.̴ ̸w̷h̸e̶n̶ ̴I̷ finally ̴e̵m̷e̴r̵g̶e̸ from ̸t̴h̸i̶s̴ ∆&#|+¢!?.̶.̸.̸"
The voice became dreamy at the same time very distorted to the point of incoherent and forbidden at the end.
"W̴e̷'̶l̴l̷ ̸b̴e̶ ̴t̴o̸g̶e̸t̷h̸e̶r̸ ̶f̸o̸r̷e̷v̷e̴r̶.̸ ̶J̶u̷s̴t̵ ̸h̸i̸m̸ ̴a̸n̵d̴ ̴m̸e̴,̸ ̶l̴i̷k̸e̶ ̶i̴t̵ ̶w̶a̴s̸ ̸a̴l̸w̴a̷y̸s̷ ̴m̷e̵a̶n̸t̸ ̵t̷o̴ ̴b̵e̵.̶.."
The voice was dripped with pure and unadulterated obssession that made the Seer's skin crawl.
This entity... whatever she was... she was planning to claim Nero completely.
His mind, his body, his soul, his entire existence.
And from the sound of it, she didn't plan on giving him much choice in the matter.
"B̷u̷t̸ ̶u̵n̸t̸i̸l̵ ̶t̸h̵e̵n̴.̶.̷.̸ ̶s̶t̶a̴y̶ ̷t̸h̵e̷ ̴f̷u̷c̴k̸ ̴a̷w̸a̵y̴ ̸f̴r̴o̶m̸ ̶h̸i̶m̸.̸"
The romantic tone vanished, replaced by pure murderous intent.
"Y̶o̷u̷ ̷w̸a̶n̸t̶ ̴t̷o̴ ̵o̸b̶s̷e̸r̶v̶e̵?̶ ̶F̴i̵n̵e̸.̷ ̸W̶a̶t̷c̴h̷ ̷f̶r̵o̵m̸ ̷y̴o̵u̷r̸ ̸l̴i̶t̷t̸l̶e̵ bubble like ̴t̷h̸e̶ ̷g̴o̴o̸d̸ ̵l̸i̵t̴t̶l̴e̵ voyeur ̸y̸o̸u̸ are.̴"
"B̸u̶t̴ ̵t̶h̵e̶ ̵m̷o̸m̷e̸n̸t̶ ̶y̸o̶u̷ ̶t̸r̶y̷ ̶t̶o̶ ̶m̴a̸k̸e̶ ̴c̵o̴n̶t̷a̴c̴t̴ ̴a̸g̸a̵i̷n̸.̶.̶.̴"
All the eyes suddenly flared with such intense crimson light that the Seer had to shield her face.
"I̶'̴l̴l̷ ̷m̸a̴k̶e̵ ̵y̷o̴u̶ ̷e̵x̸p̸e̶r̴i̸e̶n̶c̷e̵ ̵p̵a̸i̶n̸ ̶w̷o̸r̴s̷e̷ ̸t̶h̶a̶n̴ ̵soul d̴e̶a̵t̵h̶.̷ ̶P̶a̷i̷n̸ ̷t̸h̵a̸t̶ ̵w̸i̸l̵l̴ ̶m̶a̴k̸e̸ ̵y̸o̷u̴ ̸b̷e̷g̸ ̵f̴o̶r̶ ̸t̸h̷e̷ ̶s̸w̷e̶e̷t̷ release ̶o̷f̴ ̷o̴b̷l̶i̷v̸i̷o̶n̸.̶"
*THUD! THUD! THUD!*
The Seer's divine heart was hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.
This wasn't a threat.
It's a promise.
And from the sheer power radiating from this entity, she had every ability to make good on it.
"D̸o̶ ̷w̴e̴ ̸u̶n̸d̷e̶r̷s̶t̸a̴n̴d̷ ̵e̶a̸c̷h̷ ̸o̶t̵h̴e̵r̴,̸ ̸l̶i̸t̴t̴l̶e̶ ̸s̵t̶a̶l̸k̶e̴r̷?̴"
The Seer didn't even think of saying anything else.
All she could do was nod frantically, terror overwhelming every other thought.
She just wanted to get out of here!
"G̸o̸o̷d̸ ̸g̵i̷r̶l̷.̸"
The condescending tone didn't even register in the Seer's ears.
"N̵o̸w̸ ̶g̸e̶t̸ ̶t̴h̴e̷ ̴f̵u̶c̴k̸ ̶o̸u̸t̴ ̷o̴f̶ ̴m̷y̶ ̸d̸a̸r̸l̴i̵n̷g̷'̸s̴ ̷h̴e̵a̷d̴ ̷b̷e̷f̴o̵r̸e̴ ̷I̶ ̸c̴h̷a̸n̶g̷e̶ ̸m̸y̷ ̴m̸i̶n̷d̴ ̸a̸b̸o̸u̶t̵ ̷l̵e̷t̶t̵i̶n̴g̴ ̵y̵o̵u̷ ̷l̵i̸v̵e̷.̸"
*WHOOSH!*
The Seer couldn't even do anything before her consciousness crashed back into her physical form with such violence that she actually fell off her seat.
And just as she regained her senses, she heard one final whisper that seemed like a foreboding threat to all living things.
"A̴n̸d̸ ̵t̴e̷l̸l̶ ̵a̷n̶y̸o̴n̸e̵ ̸e̸l̷s̸e̷ ̵w̷h̸o̶ ̵m̶i̵g̷h̶t̶ ̵b̵e̷ ̶i̴n̶t̷e̸r̴e̸s̷t̶e̷d̴ ̷i̸n̴ ̶m̸y̶ ̴N̵e̵r̴o̸.̸.̶.̶ ̴h̸e̶'̴s̷ ̶t̸a̴k̷e̶n̵.̷"
*COUGH! COUGH!*
Blood was still trickling from her mouth, evidence that the encounter had been very, very real.
Her Eyes of Truth, the power she'd relied on for eons, felt... tainted somehow.
Like they'd seen something they were never meant to see.
And that's the truth as her own existence confirmed what she felt.
That suffocating malevolence and miasma…
That hatred and pure darkness… that could corrupt everything and anything.
Without a doubt, it's the enemy of all living beings.
"T-The Antagonist…"
The Seer almost lost her sanity during that exchange as the realization and what she experienced made her hyperventilate in panic.
"Seer…!"
Two of the maidens who stood guard outside the door immediately rushed inside, only to see the pitiful looking Seer whose body was stained with blood and was hyperventilating and convulsing from extreme fear.
"W-What happened?"
They even thought that the Seer was attacked by an assassin or was injured, only to feel confused when they found no internal or external wound after a check… the only reason for their worry is the blood on her orifices, pale complexion and the abnormally cold temperature of her skin.
"S-Seer…?"
The maidens felt astounded, they never saw the Seer look like this… like she just saw a ghost and was traumatized by it.
Not even when she saw the end of the dimensions through all possibilities did she express such strong negative emotions.
The usual composed and wise Seer was nowhere to be found right now.
After what seems like minutes, only then did the Seer manage to calm herself down with the help of the maidens.
Although the cold sweat formed on her body, and the pale complexion was still there, making sure that what the maidens just witnessed was real.
"... I want to relay a message to the public."
"What?"
Suddenly, the Seer announced, causing one of the maidens to tilt her head.
What could be so important to make a public announcement?
"... What shall be the message, Seer?"
"Tell them… that I have made contact with the Antagonist."
""!!!!""
The two maidens were shocked, but upon seeing the stern expression of the Seer, they knew the severity of the information that she carried.
""Understood.""
After making sure that the Seer was okay, only then did both of them bow their heads as they made their exit.
Left alone, the Seer's gaze fell on the picture of the seemingly normal-looking man… Nero Walker.
Her gaze was filled with complicated light and a hint of deep fear.
The mystery behind this man seems to be bigger and deeper than what she could ever imagine…
Why is the Antagonist so in-love with him to the point of pure obsession? Just what secrets does he hold?
This seemingly ordinary man… now looks so mysterious and deep.
But she didn't dare to investigate or pry deeper, especially after knowing that he got the eyes of the worst being in existence.
Nor will she let others be a victim to a tragedy that might kick start the end of both dimensions.
And yet, despite being stopped by her fear, her curiosity was still there.
As she can't help but question,
"Nero Walker… just who are you?"
***
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