Advent of the Three Calamities

"With what I've recently received as compensation, coupled with this mirror... I don't think it's impossible to have you recover your body."

There were no instructions on how to use the mirror. However, just by staring at the mirror, I could tell that it was capable of containing souls.

In that sense, then...

'What if it can contain Pebble's soul?'

Then wouldn't it be possible for me to transfer Pebble's soul into his new body?

The more I thought about it, the more plausible this scenario seemed to be. Helping Pebble get a body was a good thing for me.

Just like what happened with Owl-Mighty, the same could happen with 'Step of Suppression' – it might upgrade. Of course, as of right now, the skill left much to be desired, and that was mainly because I wasn't utilizing it properly.

Unfortunately, I was too focused on other things and neglected to master it.

I knew this because Pebble always reminded me of how awful my control over the skill was.

Shifting my attention to Pebble, who stared at the mirror with an unusual glint, I pursed my lips before hesitantly nodding my head.

"I can't say for certain, but I think it should be possible. I'll look into it more later, but right now, there are other things that I need to take care of."

Like... taking back control of my body and finally getting rid of the hidden danger that was Julien.

"Hooh."

I took a deep breath and stared at the mirror in front of me.

"Now then, how exactly do I do that?"

***

"...Who are you?"

Julien found his voice coming out hoarse. Staring at the two unfamiliar pairs of crimson eyes, he found his expression warping.

He didn't know what was happening.

But if there was one thing he was sure about, it was the fact that he had control over his body back.

But was he happy about the situation?

He wasn't.

'What is that bastard planning?'

Julien did consider the possibility that something had gone wrong with the parasite, leading to this situation, but after everything that had happened, he no longer believed in such coincidences.

"Kh—!"

Julien's hand turned purple as he held onto the strange girl's neck. Whatever the case was, he made sure to fully incapacitate the girl in his grasp.

From his observation, she seemed close to the parasite.

Not only that, but seeing the other woman, who appeared more threatening, hesitate, Julien realized that as long as he kept her hostage, she wouldn't dare make a move against him.

"....."

What followed after was a short period of silence as the two stared at each other.

"So?"

Julien spoke one more while licking his parched lips.

If there was one thing he currently understood, it was that he was outmatched. The woman in front of him gave off a suffocating presence, and if she wanted to, she'd be able to kill him in an instant.

His only saving grace was the girl in his hand.

"Are you not going to answer me?"

"...."

The woman kept staring at him in silence, her eyes narrowed. Just as the tension in the air became unbearable, making him feel as though he were drowning, she finally spoke.

"Is this some sort of act?"

Act?

"Did I catch on to something? Is that why you're acting like this? Could it be that it was really you?"

"What?"

Julien frowned, unable to fully understand her words, but soon enough, something clicked in his mind.

'I see what's going on here.'

He remembered something similar happening in the past.

'That parasite... He's using me as some sort of excuse to bail himself out of whatever situation he's in.'

Julien gritted his teeth, his chest tightening under the pressure of his anger.

If it had been his former self, he would have fallen for the trap, but things had changed. Julien could see through the parasite's scheme now, and he intended to reveal the truth, hoping to win her over to his side.

Like the saying went, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.'

'This is my only hope.'

Julien's lips parted as he prepared to speak when, all of a sudden, he felt a weird tickling sensation rise up from deep within his chest.

"Uh?"

At first, he was confused.

The sensation... it wasn't anything big, but it was also hard to ignore. This became especially hard to ignore when Julien was very wary of any little thing. As a result, his thoughts immediately jumped towards the parasite.

Could it be...?

"—!"

Suddenly, the tickling sensation shifted. It grew more prickly, spreading down every inch of his body.

Julien's eyes widened.

"W-what is... What is?!"

Julien grew alarmed. He could feel the sensation growing stronger and stronger with every second, and his grip on the girl loosened slightly.

'No, this bastard...!'

Julien's face flushed with rage as he hastily looked in the direction of the crimson-eyed woman.

"H-help me!"

"....."

"I... kh... I'm not him! I'm...!"

As time passed, the sensation grew more unbearable. It became increasingly difficult for him to speak as his chest tightened, growing heavier with each passing moment. It felt as though something was siphoning the energy from his body, leaving him utterly drained and lifeless.

It was also then that Julien understood what was happening.

'Something is draining my mana...!'

"H-help!"

He kept begging the crimson-eyed woman, but all he got in response was a cold and detached stare from her.

"Kh!"

Julien's eyes turned bloodshot at the sight.

"Y,you bitch!"

Curses started to flow out of his mouth.

Thump!

Unknowingly, his grip on the girl loosened, and she collapsed beside him. Unfortunately, Julien could hardly think about her as the mana in his body started to get depleted more and more.

'Where...?!'

Julien's teeth clenched tightly as saliva flew out of his mouth.

In a moment of desperation, his eyes locked onto the ring on his finger, and soon, the realization hit him.

'Could it be?'

"Kh—!"

Julien stumbled to his knees as his eyes continued to remain fixed onto the black ring on his finger. The more he looked at the ring, the more certain he was.

'The ring... it's draining my mana.'

And yet, he felt hesitant to touch it.

He recalled what had happened to him in the past when he interacted with the ring, and recalling that moment, he felt hesitant.

What would happen if he were to touch the ring?

Would his consciousness be brought into that strange white world again?

"N-no, damn it!"

Julien's face flushed at the thought.

Anything but that!

Still, his options were limited. His mana was being steadily drained, and he needed it to stop. Gritting his teeth, he reached for the ring on his finger, determined to pry it off.

"Argh!"

The moment his fingers brushed the ring, a strange cooling sensation washed over him. Julien ignored it, focusing on trying to remove the ring. However, as he tugged at it, the ring refused to budge, no matter how hard he pulled.

'No, how...!?'

Julien tried a couple more times, but it still refused to move at all.

Panic started to set in as he felt his mana pool start to dry up completely. The situation felt completely hopeless, and as he tried to pull the ring once more, he realized that he didn't have any strength left in his body to do so.

"Ah..."

Thump!

He fell on his back right after.

The world around him started to spin, and his vision grew blurry.

As he lay on the floor, his body convulsing uncontrollably, he could see the ceiling above him.

'Ah, fuck...'

Julien was overcome with a sense of despair.

This... why was this happening to him? All he wanted was to have his own body back. This was his body. Nobody else's.

He didn't want to go back to the endless world of darkness that had confined him over the past year or so.

He'd rather die than go back to that.

"Huak—!"

Julien clutched his chest.

He felt frustrated by the situation. He didn't ask for any of this, and yet...

Yet...

"You're frustrated, aren't you?"

A voice suddenly whispered into Julien's head. Startled, Julien found himself standing in front of a white world.

Within the white world, he saw a tall and gigantic palace.

...And standing before the palace was a figure identical to him, holding a silver mirror. By his shoulder sat a black cat, gazing in his direction with a curious expression.

"You—!"

Julien's eyes burned with rage as he lunged at him, but just as he moved, the parasite flicked his hand. In an instant, Julien's body grew unbearably heavy, forcing him to his knees.

"W-what?!"

"I'm sorry about that."

Taking a few steps forward, the parasite stood before Julien, his eyes looking down on Julien, who raised his head to look back at him.

In that moment, as he locked eyes with the parasite, all of Julien's struggle faded away.

That...

He had only ever seen such eyes from his father in the past.

Those cold and detached eyes.

Right there, he understood that whatever he said, the parasite wouldn't care at all.

"I know this isn't truly my body—it's yours. I also understand how much you've suffered over the years, and I won't stand here telling you that you deserve this, even after everything you've been through in the past. But..."

The parasite said, his voice seemingly emotionless.

"...I need this body. I really do."

"No, what... that—"

Julien suddenly started to have a terrible feeling as he looked up to see the parasite looking directly at the mirror in his hands.

"In order to accomplish my goal, I need this body, and your constant attempts at trying to get it back have been hindering my plans. That's why I have to do this."

Julien closed his eyes and shifted his attention to his arm. He felt tempted for a moment to use the second leaf on Julien. To see his past and what made him the way he was, but he knew this wasn't the time yet.

He knew he'd have time for it later.

Therefore...

"I'll make this quick."

Suddenly, the mirror was held up and flipped over. Julien's face changed drastically as he tried to look away, but before he could turn his head, a pair of paws pressed against his face, forcing him to face the mirror.

There, he caught a glimpse of his own reflection.

"Akhh—!"

The moment Julien caught a glimpse of his reflection, a brilliant glow erupted from the mirror. Before he could react, he felt his face being pulled toward it, as if the mirror were sucking him in.

'No!!"

Julien's struggle merely lasted a second before his figure completely faded, leaving nothing behind.

The world grew quiet shortly after his disappearance as 'Julien' closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

He didn't feel any particular way doing this.

For his goal and for his future, he had to do this.

He felt no pity or sadness.

Just...

A little bit of sympathy.

Opening his eyes again, Julien put the mirror away and looked up.

"Goodbye."

For good.

I hope.