Well, even though I decided that I would help her, actually putting it into action wasn't that easy. Void walk obviously wasn't an option, and I didn't have the strength to fight any of those strong monsters.
Although I do have one ability that could serve for the current situation, since I never tried it before, I was reluctant to gamble on it now.
As I was wasting time thinking, Rebecca was barely holding against the black wolves, injuries piling up one after another. Her complexion was pale and her movements sluggish, her strikes no longer lethal to her foes.
I couldn't sit here for any longer if I didn't want her to die.
Thus promptly making a decision, I ran as fast as I could towards the silver-haired woman. Which obviously ended up drawing the attention of the wolves, immediately alarming them of my presence.
It also seemed that Rebecca had noticed me and showed an astonished face.
This all happened in a couple of seconds, I was still twenty meters far from her.
However, that was enough time for dozens of shadow wolves to aggressively pounce on me.
I tried my best to dodge at least some of them, unfortunately they were too fast and I rapidly found myself completely surrounded.
But I had a plan B for such circumstances.
Void walk.
Immediately, the scenery around me changed. A familiar world of emptiness, yet filled with strange blue glows.
The air had vanished so I had to hold my breath. I stood motionless for a few seconds before taking only one step forward on the glass-like floor and rematerialized in the real world.
Fortunately, I did not reappear inside a wolf. I don't know who would have died between me and the wolf, but that was not something I would like to try.
Now, when I was in the void world, it seemed that the fight had stopped for a moment, and even when I reappeared, it took time for the wolves to notice me. So I took advantage of this little time I earned, and finally reached my goal.
Thereafter, I grabbed Rebecca's left arm, then we vanished on the spot.
*
We reappeared at the place I was about ten minutes ago, it wasn't too far from the lake, but still enough to confidently say that we should be safe for now.
I had used a 'simple' short-range teleportation. It basically allows me to return to a place I was up to ten minutes ago. It is similar to a rewind in time without actually turning the clock counter-wise.
And of course, I felt like all my stamina had been drained, again. I really had a knack for squeezing every single bit of energy I had.
Also, beside me, Rebecca, who was having trouble breathing, seemed even more exhausted than I was, which was very understandable.
Her lustrous white skin was tainted with dark blood, and her normally shining silver hair was now a dirty mess.
Moreover, her body was covered in holes and cut wounds from fangs and claws.
To be honest, she may not have died back there, but it seemed to me that she would pass on to the afterlife any minute now.
Unfortunately, I couldn't do much to heal her... I didn't think of bringing anything for first aid, and her wounds are way too severe for a simple bandage to do the work.
But she then did something unexpected.
She slowly pulled out a black box from her coat's pocket before pressing the blue button on it. At that moment, the button shone red, the box opened up, and a small radar appeared from inside.
'What an interesting device.'
However, before I could ask anything about that, the wounded woman's hoarse low voice said firmly.
_ _ _
"I am grateful for your help, but you should leave now." I said those words with clear finality.
"But I can't leave you here alone when you're at death's door!" Cinza retorted in a seemingly worried voice. What a professional actor huh.
I am grateful that he had pulled me out of such a dangerous situation, but if David comes and sees someone from the Federation, things would immediately get awkward.
So I made up an excuse and said, "I'll be fine. Besides, you should make your report to the Federation right? The sighting of a unique monster is something that cannot be igno—..." I coughed, blood spilling on the ground.
Cough! Cough! Cough!
Haah... my chest hurt... my head throbbed... why? I was pretty sure I was careful none of my organs were badly damaged..?
I felt dizzy, pain invaded my whole body... it was cold. I could hear Cinza's voice although I couldn't make out the words he said. My surroundings became a mishmash of all I could see, the world spun...
Without me noticing it, my body was already lying on the ground, unmoving.
'Am I going to die now..?'
'I don't want to... I fought so hard until now, yet was it all for nought? Aah... I wish—... I wish I could at least have...'
And all vanished; the world, my thoughts... my life.
And a black void replaced it.
*
*
Haaa..!
I gasped, inhaling all the air I could and coughing repeatedly as I fell to the ground. My lungs tightened, my vision was fuzzy. I felt my hands in contact with the cold stone, then clenching them, I grabbed a handful of gravel before slowly pouring it down on the ground again. It wasn't my imagination, I was alive.
However, my mind was shaken, in shambles. Thoughts chaotic and pain coursing throughout my whole body.
I looked up, glancing around. I recognized that place. It was the exact same spot I appeared in when I escaped from the Shepherd's scenario.
'Just what in the world happened..?'
I was also dirty and covered in blood, and it seemed that the sun had just set, was what just happened simply a dream..? That can't be, it felt way too real.
...
I really died back there...
I'm sure it wasn't an illusion either, I would have obviously noticed thanks to the Chtonian gene. Which means...
Did I just go back in time?
I'm glad I survived but this was still way too odd.
Then I noticed that there was something missing... a weight inside my coat's pocket that should have been but I am not feeling...
The little black box..! In the 'previous timeline' I had used it to call for David, now why didn't it come back in time with me?
Moreover, all the magic fibers I got from killing the wolves were completely gone!
Then suddenly as if responding to my plea, came a little 'ding'.
However, checking the system prompt, incomprehension and annoyance filled me entirely.
_ _ _
[Unique monster: The Clock of His time. Scenario started, To come and to die.]
[In an endless cycle of torment and despair, He had abandoned all hope in humanity. Henceforth, for them to experience a fraction of His affliction, He cursed all humans into living all kinds of different roads leading all to their doom]
[To survive, you will need to find your own salvation, in death]
_ _ _
"..."
'Another one, are you f*cking kidding me..?'
*
*
*
[A/N]
Be honest, were you ready for this? An interesting turn of events if I have to say so myself… by the way, this would maybe be the first time that Eliza would have to suffer… a lot.
Anyway, good reading!
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