"What… what is happening to me?"
Suddenly, a horrible static bursts inside my head—like an old TV with no signal. The noise crackles, shrill and broken, until a sharp pain pierces through me.
I try to move, to breathe, to scream… but nothing works. My body doesn't respond. Do I even have a body anymore? All I know is that I've become something inhuman, trapped in a form I cannot see.
Through the static, a voice speaks. Calm. Familiar. Almost like a thought that doesn't belong to me.
> "You have died. Your soul is trapped inside the crystal."
My thoughts scatter. No… that's impossible!
I force myself to speak—though maybe I'm only thinking it:
"W-who are you?"
The reply comes instantly.
> "I am you. I am your subconscious."
The words shake me.
"…Subconscious? But that's—"
The voice continues before I can finish.
> "A soul is not a single piece. Half is consciousness—your thoughts, your will, your awareness. The other half is subconscious—the hidden part that keeps you alive, keeps your body breathing, your heart beating, your instincts sharp. Together, we form the whole: you."
I can barely grasp it, but the voice doesn't stop.
> "While you practiced leaving your body, I used the energy that protects your body to keep it safe from other entities. But when the unknown presence intervened, that energy weakened. Your body could no longer be maintained… and it died. But in that moment, the link between you and me grew stronger. Strong enough that I can now speak to you directly."
A silence hangs, heavy and unreal.
"…So you're saying I'm… still me?"
> "Yes. You are still you. But now, you are more aware of what you once ignored. Half and half, united, we are complete."
And as those words sink in, I feel it—like a faint pulse inside the crystal. A flicker of energy responding to my thoughts.
For the first time since this nightmare began… I sense the possibility of a new beginning.
The voice doesn't fade this time. It grows steadier, warmer, like it's waiting for me to understand.
> "Now you have the ability to use your whole self. You can act through your consciousness, or you can command me to do it for you. Because I am you. I know it may feel uncomfortable… so let me act as a system, like in the novels you once used to read. Are you okay with that?"
The words echo inside the crystal, patient yet insistent.
I hesitate. My mind reels from everything I've learned—death, the crystal, the merging of halves—and yet, a strange calm settles over me.
"…Alright," I whisper.
Suddenly, a blue screen appears in front of me.
Ding.
> "Hello, host. Thank you for your confirmation."
My mind races.
"Wait, I thought you said you'd act as a system, not become one. How can you do this?"
The voice answers patiently:
> "Now that all your body's limits have been lifted, it is easier for me to assist you. You can fully utilize your thinking and learning at a speed beyond comprehension."
> "For example, on Earth, learning and studying takes time. Our consciousness was not fully merged, and the human body has limits. But now, as a soul trapped in this crystal, you can comprehend knowledge far faster than your previous self."
> "If you want, I can show you what you're capable of. Call 'Status' to see your detailed information."
I take a deep breath and whisper, "Status."
Chapter 2 ends.
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