Even though my spine was chilling by the seconds, I had to keep my composure in check.
Panicking wouldn't help here.
"Zero... Can you tell me who is behind me?"
[I can't, Mortal! I am attached to you, remember? I can only assess what you are seeing or feeling... outside your worldview, I cannot sense anything nor can I analyze!]
'So... ChatZero operated like that? That was something new for me to use against him!' I lampooned inwardly in order to distract myself from the unbound fear that gnawed at me.
The voice that I heard wasn't any of my companions. That was certain.
I had told Aldric not to follow while Kaira was still in slumber... My beasts wouldn't sneak up on me like this either.
So the obvious conclusion was that it must be someone else...
Or something outside my imagination.
The entire thinking process only took seconds as I tried to figure out an escape plan if need be.
But before that I needed to know who... or what I was dealing with.
"Gravity Field...!" I muttered softly to myself.
And just after a second, my entire vision blurred for a few moments then cleared.
The narrow path couldn't exceed a 10m radius, that was certain... as such I had pointed all of the gravitational field behind me.
I didn't increase or decrease the gravitational force of the atmosphere deliberately.
What if the entity behind me figured out the scheme?
That was my biggest concern.
When that was done I softly muttered "Gravity Sense!" and almost instantly I had become aware of every little detail of the perimeter the Gravity Field had covered.
[Stamina: 100%... 95%... 90%... 82%]
My stamina was decreasing like liquid draining in heat.
Using Gravity Field and Gravity Sense together was quite the hassle.
[82%... 76%... 70%... 65%]
"Do not stretch yourself over it! It's futile. Seize all that scheme that you are trying to pull."
I heard that warning with one ear and let it out the other.
What?
This thing wanted me to just hand myself over without any resistance?
Keep dreaming.
And just like that I increased my Gravity Sense around the entire Gravity Field.
However, I couldn't sense anything at all...
Not a faint shift in gravity. Not a shift in molecular air movement. Not even a single shift of retention gravity that every living being willingly or unwillingly pushes back.
It was as if there were no presence behind me to begin with.
As if my very own Gravity Sense had betrayed me at the most crucial time.
It must be trying to screw me over.
"Are you happy now? Knowing that you are so insignificant that you can't even sense anything from me?"
The words stung more than I could have imagined. I won't lie — I was certain that there were beings far stronger and more mysterious out there whom I couldn't fathom yet. However, I was also confident that with my knowledge and abilities I would be able to smoothly tackle anything that came toward me.
I thought I could fend off anything.
This wasn't arrogance. This was just me believing in myself.
But now I was truly at the mercy of the being behind me.
I had tried to turn my head... but my body wouldn't budge even if I willed it to.
*Fuck!*
I should have known that something capable of shaking an Elite five-star, always-composed Aldric wouldn't be anything ordinary.
Another mistake on my part.
[Stamina: 50%... 45%... 39%...]
"Stubborn little thing... so you wouldn't just forfeit your life without any fight... is that what you want to convey? How courageous. I am almost impressed."
The voice continued... and now that extraordinarily astonishing voice had taken the form of an alluring vocal — the voice of a woman.
It was soothing. Far too peaceful. It almost made me forget myself...
It had almost taken complete control over me with its husky, alluring voice.
Resistance seemed futile...
I should really... forfeit everything and...
"The hour is upon me!" the alluring voice whispered. "Perform ignorance... Ignorance is truly a bliss. Do not try to act tough. Forfeit any thought of living as someone brave, of living with foolish ideologies.
Remember — the people of the world call those who stay firmly on their ideology Heroes. Call them Brave.
Empty words. Empty praises.
After all, those praised as such are the ones who vanish from the face of the world without leaving any trace other than their foolish ideologies.
However, do you know who prevails at the end of time and exceeds their limits?
Survivors.
They are the ones who exceed expectation.
Remain ignorant and perform caution. Do not chase after foolish ideologies without first creating a separate path for escape and retaliation.
If you do so, the world may call you cowards. The world may despise you.
But at the end — you will remain. A Survivor!"
With those words the voice faded gradually. The echo ceased.
And my body, alarmed, relaxed slightly.
[Stamina: 20%]
I had stopped my Gravitational Field and Gravity Sense almost instantly.
My thoughts lingered on the words the voice had spoken.
I didn't know if the voice was of someone who wanted harm for me or good.
"Ignorance is bliss…"
They had emphasized it with such deliberate intensity that it almost felt as though they were trying to stop me from prying further into the statue or the portraits — just as Zero had advised.
Their voice had first emerged the very moment I was about to touch the statue itself.
Were they attempting to prevent me from making contact?
I didn't believe that was the whole truth.
Every action carries layered intentions.
And in this world of Instant Cards, there is no such thing as goodwill.
For reasons I cannot fully explain, I have the distinct feeling that… someday… I will meet the owner of that voice again.
And when that day comes…
I need to be stronger.
Strong enough that I will never again be humiliated like this.