[Chapter 1: Dismembered Right at the Start]
Pain.
So much pain.
Daniel Cross groggily opened his eyes and found himself sprawled on a cold metal gurney. All around him lay corpses, their deaths gruesome and horrific. Some bodies pressed heavily against him, adding to his disorientation. One had only half a head left. Another was completely decapitated, totally bare from the neck up. A third was split open down the middle, held together by little more than fragile scraps.
Through the torn flesh, a chaotic tangle of colorful organs was visible, some spilling over the edge of the gurney while others writhed desperately inside. The stench of blood battered Daniel's nostrils, his stomach churning in revolt. He wanted to scream but the buzzing whine of a saw drowned out any sound he tried to make.
With great effort, Daniel raised his head and turned toward the source of the noise. A figure with their back to him wielded a high-speed electric saw, methodically cutting through a corpse. Blood sprayed onto the figure with every slice, but they seemed unmoved, hands steady and relentless.
Daniel's eyes widened in terror as his pulse hammered wildly, feeling like it might burst through his chest.
'Where am I?'
'Wait -- I was watching a horror movie. How did I end up in this nightmare?'
'This place is a death trap. I have to get out -- now.'
He tried to move, but as soon as he shifted, a searing pain tore through his abdomen. Looking down, he saw a massive hole across his stomach, his intestines slick and spilling out in a tangled mess on the cold table. He felt his heart nearly stop; breath caught in his throat. This was pure horror.
'Did that monster do this to me?'
Along with the fear, a wave of anger flared inside Daniel. He raised his gaze, eyes locking onto the figure still busily dismembering the corpses. Suddenly, the figure stopped, lifted the electric saw, and slowly turned around.
Daniel's breath froze. His heart pounded thunderously as he clenched his eyes shut. But in that split second of sight, he glimpsed the attacker's mask covered face.
The mask was nightmarish: an eerie white base, high cheekbones carved sharply, crimson spiral patterns swirling over it, and glowing blood-red eyes that pierced through the gloom.
It looked weirdly familiar, like something he had seen before, but in this moment he couldn't summon from where. Then abruptly -- silence.
Squish... Squish...
Wet footsteps sloshed closer, echoing ominously. Daniel's heart raced. The figure was walking toward him through a pool of blood covering the floor. Every hair on his body bristled as the footsteps paused right in front of him.
'It's over. Did he figure out I'm not dead yet? Should I fight?'
Before Daniel could decide, he felt a sudden lightness as the corpse that had been pressing on him was dragged aside. The body hit the ground with a dull thud. The footsteps shuffled away, dragging heavy flesh across the floor.
Daniel cracked his eyes open to see the figure dragging a corpse away. 'He didn't see me; he just came for a body.' Relief was brief, though, replaced swiftly by dread.
If he didn't change his fate, soon it would be his turn on that table.
'But I'm gravely wounded, powerless. How can I run?'
'Am I really going to die here today?'
'There has to be a way to survive.'
Though fear edged his mind, Daniel found his thoughts clear, almost dispassionate, as he scanned his grim surroundings. Dim lights stretched across a cavernous space lined with metal shelves. Bloody machinery and discarded flesh littered the room.
Why does this place feel familiar?
And that mask...
Suddenly, it hit him. Saw? Isn't that Jigsaw's mask?
This scene looks just like something from the Saw movies.
Is someone copying Jigsaw's horrific crimes?
Then, a sudden memory exploded inside Daniel's mind. His eyes went wide in shock.
'I transmigrated -- into the body of my parallel self? That figure dismembering the corpses isn't an imitator. It's Jigsaw himself. My other self was reckless and became Jigsaw's target.'
He failed the deadly game, his intestines torn apart, killed by the trap.
'I transmigrated -- and that's why I'm awake now. This is insane. What now? I just jumped realities only to almost get dismembered again? If I die, can I transmigrate again?'
[Ding! The Celestial Exorcist System has been activated.]
[New user package issued.]
[You have acquired the technique: Discipline of the Sacred Firmament.]
[Spirit Eye unlocked.]
[You have received a Exorcist's Sanctum Blade, stored in system space.]
[Host status: critically injured -- new user package includes one healing session.]
[Detected organs displaced outside body. Please reposition organs immediately to begin treatment.]
Daniel was stunned, then relief flooded him.
'The system! I don't have to die right now!'
'First, reposition the organs.'
He glanced over; Jigsaw was still preoccupied, chopping away at corpses without noticing him. Gritting his teeth against the excruciating pain, Daniel reached down carefully and began pushing his fallen intestines back inside his abdomen, inch by agonizing inch.
Beads of cold sweat fled his pale face. He bit back groans as his teeth felt like shattering, but he stayed silent.
At last, the final inch was in place.
[Detected organ repositioning -- beginning healing...]
Warmth spread slowly as his wounds began knitting together. The healing speed was fast -- his body would likely be fully repaired within half an hour.
'Celestial Exorcist System... what exactly are you?' he wondered silently. No answer came.
Does this system even have a dialogue function?
A sudden chill swept over him. Looking up, Daniel saw two faint, ghostly figures hovering above. One had only half a head, dripping with blood. The other was split open with a huge fissure down its torso.
They were identical to the corpses lying near him, yet not quite human.
Suddenly, the two apparitions lunged toward Jigsaw, who was slicing at another corpse.
Invisible energy blasted them back, shaking them violently. Both appeared terrified, recoiling quickly.
Daniel's mind raced. 'I've heard killers emanate a powerful murderous aura. Jigsaw must be saturated with his, so these things can't touch him.'
The ghosts, recoiling, turned their eyes filled with rage toward Daniel, almost accusing him, Why didn't you die?
They launched at him with vicious intent.
'Holy shit!' Daniel cried internally, trying to dodge, but his body refused to obey.
The ghosts made contact -- and instantly, a surge of lightning erupted from Daniel's body, crackling with fierce energy.
The ghosts didn't have time to scream as they were struck; their spectral forms shattered, their souls scattered.
[Ding! G-rank Ghost eliminated. Earned 100 Merit Points.]
[Ding! G-rank Ghost eliminated. Obtained Sanctum Blade Technique.]
[Ding! G-rank Ghost eliminated. Earned 100 Merit Points.]
[Ding! G-rank Ghost eliminated. Gained Essentials of Exorcism.]
The commotion finally caught Jigsaw's attention. He slowly turned and locked eyes with Daniel Cross.
*****
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