The air trembled.
The shattered darkness began to coil again, and from the pitch-black horizon, the giant lady's distorted outline reformed. Her voice roared through the void like thunder.
*Static voice*
"You'll pay for that!"
Her towering shape loomed, twisting and stretching, her hair fluttering like ink in water. The land beneath them quaked as her massive hands reached forward again, clutching the air with a screech that cracked through the night.
Nari's eyes widened, her expression turning fierce. ☆"Master, let's hide!"☆ she shouted. Without hesitation, she grabbed Dila's hand tightly.
Pink light enveloped Nari's small frame as her magic flared to life. She began to levitate, her dress fluttering wildly, ribbons and hair ornaments gleaming faintly in the eerie dark. Dila's breath hitched, her body still trembling, feet barely catching the ground before lifting slightly as Nari pulled her forward.
The world around them blurred. The only thing visible was the faint pink glow surrounding Nari and the dim light of the fallen sky flickering in the distance. Dila's barefoot slapped against the dirt, splashing through puddles of black mud that reflected no light. Each step echoed through the stillness, the sound of pursuit growing louder behind them.
The forest ahead loomed like a wall of twisted silhouettes.... trees bent in unnatural angles, their branches curling like claws ready to snatch. The air grew colder, heavy with the stench of wet moss and rot. Only the faint shimmer of Nari's magic pierced the suffocating dark.
Dila clutched Nari's hand harder, her heart pounding in her chest. "Nari... where are we going...?" she whispered, her voice cracking with fear.
☆"Somewhere safe, master... just hold on!"☆
Behind them, the giant shadow's scream echoed again, shaking the earth as if the nightmare itself refused to die.
Nari's eyes flickered with determination as the air rippled around her.
Still gripping Dila's trembling hand, she raised her free arm and began to swirl it in a graceful circular motion. Pink light bloomed from her fingertips, scattering in tiny sparkling motes that danced through the dark like fireflies.
The air crackled.
A circle of radiant magic formed before them.... glowing symbols spinning slowly within it, each rune pulsing in rhythm with Nari's heartbeat. The pink hue deepened, forming a portal that shimmered like rippling water, its edges soft yet bright against the blackness of the nightmare world.
☆"Here, master... jump!"☆ Nari called out, her delicate voice trembling but fierce.
Behind them, the shadow giant roared again, its massive outline lurching closer, shaking the twisted forest. The trees creaked and splintered as its hands tore through them, reaching toward the two.
Dila's pulse raced. Her breath came in sharp gasps as she looked at the portal's light.... the only warmth in this cursed darkness. She could feel the air being sucked toward it, pulling gently like a silent promise of safety.
Nari floated upward, her twin ponytails and ribbons streaming behind her as she guided the way. The pink glow reflected in Dila's wide, tear-filled eyes.
And then... she leaped.
Her barefeet left the cold, dirt-covered ground as she jumped toward the portal. The moment her fingers brushed the edge, a rush of wind pulled her in—her body surrounded by a soft warmth, the world behind them fading into shadow.
Nari followed instantly, diving into the portal with a burst of pink light.
The dark world behind them let out one final, deafening roar... before the portal sealed shut, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.
Dila stumbled forward as the pink light faded away. Her knees nearly gave out, her breaths coming in ragged gasps.... haaa... haaa... haaa...
The world around her flickered, and then... silence.
When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in the forest. The air felt still, heavy with that faint metallic chill she remembered. Her gaze darted around... and she froze.
It was the basement again.
The same narrow walls, the same faint smell of cold cement and dust. The single fluorescent light above buzzed faintly, casting its pale, sterile glow that reached just far enough to touch the edges of the room. One corner remained drowned in shadow, untouched by the light.
Her computer sat exactly where it always had—two monitors on the wooden desk. One screen flickered softly with static light, the other completely black. The CPU beneath the desk hummed quietly, its fans spinning, the sound steady and almost alive in the silence.
Dila stood there barefoot, her toes curling slightly against the cold, rough floor. A shiver crawled up her legs as she took a hesitant step forward. Her reflection shimmered faintly in the faint light of the powered monitor.
Her voice trembled as she turned toward Nari, still catching her breath.
"...Nari... what... what is that...?"
Her words barely came out, each one shaking with confusion and leftover fear.
The pink-haired spirit like hovered near her side, her glow dim but gentle. Dila's chest rose and fell rapidly, and she glanced down at her feet—the chill from the concrete floor grounding her back to reality.
She swallowed hard, her lips parting in disbelief as she murmured,
"Wha... what...? Am I... back...?"
The soft hum of the machine answered her, the light above flickering once.... as if the basement itself was breathing again.
Dila's breath still came out uneven.... the echo of her heartbeat hadn't yet faded. She turned her gaze to Nari, her voice breaking the still hum of the computer.
"Nari... why am I dreaming like this?" she asked quietly, her tone trembling with fear and exhaustion.
Nari, meanwhile, was floating just above the desk, her soft pink hair glowing faintly in the fluorescent light. Her head tilted slightly, her finger resting on her chin as her curious eyes darted from the monitor to the glowing CPU tower.
"Hmmmm... hmmm..." she murmured thoughtfully, circling the setup as if examining some mysterious artifact. "Interesting... I've never seen this kind of equipment before... so modern..."
The faint flicker of the monitor reflected off her gentle features, painting her expression in hues of pink and blue.
Dila stood there, holding her own arm, her candle from before now gone, replaced by the dim white glow of the basement light. Her voice came again, softer this time... almost pleading.
"Nari... are you... listening?"
The pink-haired spirit froze in midair, blinking once, then twice, before turning back to Dila with an embarrassed smile.
"Ah—oww... sorry, master! My bad!" she said quickly, her small hands clasping together as her cheeks flushed faintly.
Her tone was light, but her voice trembled with guilt.
Dila exhaled shakily, her shoulders sinking. Despite the fear that still lingered in her chest, that one small, clumsy apology from Nari almost brought a strange sense of warmth... like a faint reminder she wasn't alone in this nightmare anymore.
Nari floated closer, her soft pink hair swaying gently in the faint air that hummed from the computer fans. The basement's fluorescent light buzzed above them.... steady but cold. Shadows crept in the corners of the room, where the light didn't reach, wrapping around the walls like silent watchers.
Nari placed her hand over her chest, turning back toward Dila with a small, thoughtful expression. "Ohh... for your question about why you're still dreaming like this..." she began, her voice calm yet filled with faint curiosity. "It's because your subconscious... misses this place."
Dila blinked, confused, her bare feet shifting slightly against the cold cement floor. "Misses... this place?" she repeated softly, almost to herself.
"Yes," Nari continued, twirling one finger as a faint pink wisp of energy followed its motion. "Even though I teleported you somewhere else, master... my teleportation doesn't always land perfectly on the right coordinates." She gave a small, apologetic shrug, her expression turning into a playful pout. "So your mind chooses the nearest... safe zone. A place your heart feels most familiar with."
She hovered slowly toward the side of the desk, her curious eyes darting toward the glowing monitor once more, its faint hum filling the silence. "Or perhaps..." she said softly, her tone now teasing and slightly puzzled, "this... basement... is your favorite safe area in your life?"
Her pink eyes glimmered with innocent wonder. "Weird, master. It kinda looks like a prison..."
Dila turned her head sharply, her cold tone cutting through the air. "Don't question that."
For a second, silence fell again.... only the faint static hum of the computer filled the room. Then Nari raised one hand, stuck out her tongue, and giggled softly. "Alright... tehee~"
Her laughter, small and sweet, echoed faintly in the dim space.... strangely enough, it warmed Dila's chest for just a moment, breaking the heavy stillness that wrapped around them.
Without another word, Dila's breath trembled.... and she suddenly stepped forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Nari. Her cold fingers pressed gently against the soft fabric of Nari's dress. For the first time since the nightmare began, warmth returned to her chest.
"I... I miss you so much, Nari..." Dila whispered, her voice faint and shaky. "How did you even come back...? And why didn't you answer me when I was calling for you all this time..."
Nari blinked in surprise at first, her small frame stiffening for a moment. Then she smiled—soft, radiant, and gentle—as her arms slowly wrapped around Dila's waist in return. The faint glow of pink magic shimmered faintly from her hands as if reflecting the emotion she felt.
Her voice was light but tender. "It's because Goddess Luminous herself fixed me first before sending me back to you, master," Nari said, her tone bright with relief. "She said I still had a link... because the host didn't die."
Nari then giggled softly and tilted her head up with a playful wink. "And for your information... you're the host, you know?"
Dila blinked, then let out a faint laugh, one that trembled between exhaustion and comfort. "Oh, Nari... don't joke around like that," she said, her tone lighter now—almost warm.
Nari covered her mouth with one hand, giggling softly. "Hehe~ sorry, master. Couldn't help it!"
The air between them softened. The cold basement didn't feel as suffocating anymore. The faint hum of the computer and the soft buzz of the light above felt almost peaceful now.
For a moment, Dila held Nari closer, feeling her warmth.... and for the first time in what felt like forever, she whispered quietly to herself, "I'm... glad you're back."
Dila sat down slowly beside her old computer desk, the soft hum of the cooling fans blending with the faint flicker of the fluorescent light above. Her bare feet brushed against the cold floor, and she rubbed her arms for warmth, the dim glow of the monitors painting faint shadows across her face.
Her voice came out quietly, hesitant but heavy with curiosity. "So... Nari... why was I dreaming this nightmare? It felt so real.... Can something like that... really kill me?"
Nari tilted her head, placing a finger thoughtfully on her chin, her long pink hair swaying softly. Then, with the most casual and innocent smile, she closed her eyes and said sweetly, "Yes~ it can."
Dila's eyes widened. "Whaaaat...?!" Her voice cracked, disbelief flooding her face. "You're just saying that so casually?!"
Nari opened one eye, smiling sheepishly, and scratched her cheek. "My bad~ ahahaha... sorry, master," she said, sticking her tongue out playfully.
Dila leaned forward with a deadpan stare, her lips twitching. "Say, Nari... are you sure you're not high right now?"
Nari placed both her hands behind her back and swayed side to side with a carefree hum. Her eyes closed again as a gentle, honest smile spread across her lips. "Nope~ nahh ahh," she replied cheerfully.
The faint sound of Dila's sigh filled the air as she rubbed her temples, muttering under her breath, "Why do I even bother asking you seriously..."
Nari giggled, her laughter light and sweet like the ringing of tiny bells. The atmosphere between them eased again, playful yet strangely comforting in the quiet, glowing basement.
Then Nari, who had been smiling moments ago, suddenly opened both of her eyes wide properly. The glow in her pink irises deepened into a bright, sharp light.
Her voice turned formal, almost trembling with urgency.
☆ Master... did you perhaps use the Archaic Conductor? ☆
Dila blinked, confused. "Huh? What do you mean, Nari?"
Nari's expression grew serious, her soft pink hair fluttering as if caught by an invisible breeze.
☆ Goddess Luminous has been panicking about it.... The Conductor is not meant to be awakened yet. It's too new for you to handle.... That's why you're trapped in these nightmares. ☆
Her voice lowered, trembling slightly.
☆ If we don't resolve it, master, you might never wake up again. ☆
Before Dila could respond, the floor suddenly shook violently beneath her feet.
The monitors rattled.... dust began falling from the ceiling like dry rain.
A deep, static voice, distorted and enormous, echoed through the basement—
"Ahhhhhh....."
It was both mechanical and human, as if a spirit was screaming through broken wires.
Dila stumbled backward, gripping the table for balance.
Her voice trembled. "Nari... how do I stop it?!"
Nari turned toward her, the soft glow from her pink hair now illuminating the whole basement.
She smiled gently despite the chaos.
☆ Use me, master. Use my power.... silly. ☆
Her tone softened again, trying to ease Dila's panic.
Dila looked at her with wide eyes, fear and hope mixed together.
She managed a faint smile through the trembling air. "O... oky...."
Nari floated closer, placing her tiny, warm hand over Dila's chest.
☆ Farewell for now, master.... I'm still weak since I was just repaired by Goddess Luminous.... but I'll lend you all that I can. Please, use me wisely. ☆
Dila nodded, her breath uneven. "I will, Nari.... I promise."
The computer lights flickered again.... the hum rose into a sharp ringing tone.
And then... the world trembled once more, as Nari's pink aura began to expand like a pulse of warmth pushing back against the dark.
The basement's trembling slowly faded.... dust still drifted down from the ceiling like tiny ghosts in the pale light.
Dila's breathing was still rough.... each inhale sharp and shaky.
But then—something began glowing faintly in her right hand.
It pulsed softly, like liquid light.... a jelly-like mass that swirled with faint silver and white.
The texture rippled as if alive, floating just above her palm.
Nari's voice lifted, surprised yet curious.
☆ Ohhh... how did that get there, master? ☆
Dila stared at it in awe. The soft glow shimmered across her wide blue eyes.
"I think... it's been with me all along," she said quietly. "This staff... it stabilized my mana. It saved me when I was about to lose control."
Nari tilted her head slightly, finger against her chin, eyes sparkling with intrigue.
☆ Ohh, interesting.... That explains your survival. ☆
Then she smiled warmly, floating closer, her pink hair fluttering lightly in the air.
☆ Master, since that artifact protected you, I'll integrate myself into it. For now, it'll be safer.... and I can assist you directly in battle! ☆
Dila blinked in surprise. "Really?"
Nari gave a playful wink, her expression glowing with her usual charm.
☆ Of course, silly! How else would we fight that monster together? ☆
Suddenly, the light around Nari began to intensify.
Her small body glowed brighter and brighter.... the hue shifting into radiant pink until her outline blurred.
☆ Let's do this, master.... ☆
In a burst of gentle warmth, Nari's entire form turned into a swirling orb of pink light.
It floated toward the jelly-like mass on Dila's palm and slowly merged into it.
The glowing substance rippled, pulsed.... then solidified into shape.
With a soft hum, the familiar form of her Archane Staff reappeared—sleek, white metal with magical shards orbiting near the top, now glowing faintly pink instead of silver.
Dila's hands trembled as she grasped it tightly, her reflection glimmering in the polished surface.
She exhaled softly. "Sick...."
A playful, gentle voice echoed from the orb at the staff's core.
☆ Cool, right, master? ☆
Dila smiled faintly. "Ye... yeah."
Then—something flickered in her vision.
Small, translucent runes and numbers formed in the corner of her eyes like a glowing interface, softly scrolling beside her sight:
Mana Level: 2500 / 2500
Health Level: 25000 / 25000
Level: 25
Class Level: H
System Buddy: Nari
Personal Stats:
STR: 1 / 500
DEX: 498 / 500
INT: 500 / 500
VIT: 200 / 500
AGI: 100 / 500
The faint hum of power resonated in her veins as if her magic itself was awakening.
Dila looked at the glowing text with a trembling smile, tears softly forming in her eyes.
She whispered quietly, her voice almost breaking....
"I... I missed this."
The light of the staff pulsed once—warm, like a heartbeat—
and Nari's voice answered softly within her mind,
☆ Welcome back, master. ☆
Dila's breath steadied as warmth began to spread through her body. The bruising pain that once coiled around her ribs started to fade, replaced by a soft pulsing glow beneath her skin. She slowly lifted her free hand, clenching it tight as faint threads of light wrapped around her fingers. Her voice trembled softly, almost in disbelief.
"I'm... getting stronger, Nari..."
☆ Ehhh don't you get cocky, master! ☆ Nari teased, her voice bubbling playfully from within the Archane staff. ☆ You're still in recovery, not in a battle manga moment yet! ☆
Dila blinked, her expression flattening into a deadpan stare as she looked down at her glowing staff. "Right..." she muttered dryly, unimpressed.
☆ Hehehe... you should've seen your face! So serious! ☆ Nari giggled, her laughter echoing lightly through the crystal core.
Dila sighed, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. Her hair swayed softly as the healing glow around her dimmed, leaving only the pink shimmer of the staff's core pulsing gently in her grip.
"Honestly... you're impossible sometimes," she murmured, but her tone carried warmth.... the kind of warmth that made her feel safe again, even in a world that still trembled around her.
☆ Aww, I'll take that as a compliment, master! ☆ Nari chimed, giggling again.
Dila rolled her eyes, but this time... she couldn't help smiling for real.
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