Half a month later, without any warning, Lillian disappeared from this world.
He had actually prepared for this. In the days leading up to it, he had done nothing in particular—just wandered around, checked the news, sipped coffee. He knew it was coming because there was no "plot" left. If that "god" was watching, he was now in the "advertisement" segment—a segment that could not last long.
So when he saw the news reporting the arrest of Sugou, he knew there would be no more ALO troubles. With no continuing "storyline," he would naturally be taken away. Staying behind for years until the "Sequence Wars" appeared was impossible. In fact, Lillian found AR technology acceptable for daily life, but combat applications were just too awkward.
Unlike his sudden transitions from the AOT World to the SAO World, this time, after his body disappeared, he appeared in a hazy space. Everything around him was blurred, as if his eyes were veiled in gauze.
What… is going on?
Instinctively, Lillian touched his arm, feeling the hard sensation of his clothes. He exhaled lightly in relief. His assumption was correct—any item in contact with his skin could be taken along when he left. Knowing this, he realized he could do more with this later.
As he pondered, a figure slowly descended in front of him, its body composed of countless streaks of colored light. Lillian knew at first glance that this was the one who had pulled him from Earth. Though he had never met them before… that feeling was unmistakable.
Why… why are you appearing now?
[Lillian, you've performed quite well.]
The distant voice seemed to come from the horizon. It sounded unreal, yet so clear it reverberated directly in his mind. Lillian looked at the glowing figure, seven or eight meters away. He tried to approach, but his body, for some unknown reason, would not move.
"You…" Lillian could only speak. "What do you want to do? Can I… return to the AOT World?" A rare opportunity to speak with this being, he wanted to ask the most crucial question.
[I don't know.]
What…
Lillian was confused. "What do you mean you don't know? You should have this ability, right?" His voice carried suppressed anger. "After all, I'm just a puppet in your hands, aren't I?"
Having no control over his fate—his stay or departure—was truly a puppet's life. What he possessed, at most, was the right to die. Yet even that right he could not exercise freely.
[The place you are going to is just a point on the spinning wheel. I merely flicked it randomly.]
The voice carried no emotion, as if stating something trivial. To Lillian, the choice of his life and death was treated like a casual remark, "Did you eat today?" It enraged him.
"…"
Lillian narrowed his eyes at the glowing figure, then spoke after a pause. "Then why have you appeared this time? My story in the SAO World is over, isn't it? Why not just throw me into the next world directly? Isn't that your usual method?"
[I just wanted to give you a reminder.]
"What reminder?"
[The beginner phase is over.]
Beginner phase…?
[The new wheel has been set. It's tailored to your current comprehensive strength. The wheel will no longer grant such easy worlds.]
"…"
Easy? Lillian thought. He didn't feel that way. Even in the SAO World, he had been constantly anxious, worried about the passage of time.
[Throwing a wolf among sheep is boring. But throwing it before a tiger, or into a pride of lions, that's interesting.]
…How twisted can you be?
[So, my visit here is just a reminder. The challenges ahead will only grow more perilous. Don't be complacent. If you die, all the time invested in you will have been wasted.]
"…I don't need you to say it. I don't want to die either."
[And don't be capricious anymore.]
Capricious…?
[If you say 'give me more time' again, no more time will be granted. You've used up all your allowance for recklessness.]
Lillian was taken aback. She was referring to his time in the AOT World… Indeed, back then he had begged for more time.
[Then, our conversation ends.]
The streaks of light dissipated. In the haze, Lillian faintly heard the words, "Good luck." He shouted, "Wait!"—there were still so many questions—but no opportunity was given.
Whoosh—whoosh—
As she departed, a fierce wind whipped through the space. The mist condensed into a massive door, slowly opening. A strong suction emanated from it. With no way to resist, Lillian was pulled in, and then… endless darkness. Darkness…