A jolt of adrenaline shot through my body.

The moment my consciousness returned, I stilled the urgeful waves of breath in an attempt to remain unseen.

There were no eyes on me, and not a single person's scent made itself known.

I relaxed my will, and the adrenaline returned with a spout of lightning not far behind, launching me to my feet.

It was sporadic, chipping away at the ground all around me.

Even if there's someone invisible, I'd know before they touched me.

However, despite how ready I was for a fight, there was no one.

Only the dim light was a sign of life in this tightly packed room.

Slowly, I relaxed, and the lightning tapered off, returning this space to its initial calmness.

Despite that, I felt a little claustrophobic here. There wasn't a lot of room to move around, and it's so filled with chaotically assorted items that I'm not sure I could climb easily either.

I expected it to be more... epic. It's like I'm not being taken seriously at all.

Though, why would they expect me to be alive?

I looked down.

This... was my body.

Faintly, I rubbed my hands together, taking comfort in their smooth warmth.

It was more elegant, more free; that angel is simply stuffy... too much mass.

I'll have to see if I can check his strength. I can still use him to set a stage, maybe...

But—I'm really back? I had already convinced myself it might take a while, yet here I am.

Hmm, but it was someone's actions that pulled me back from the summoning, even if unintentional.

I don't think they know I'm alive. If I can somehow hold onto this secret for a while, then I could potentially move in the shadows.

At this point, I can only assume Elech has somehow been tricked, or that he's in on it... for now.

Wait, shit, I can't just leave Rena on her own.

At that awakening thought, I noticed there was still a violet light tinting the room, and getting brighter at that.

I'm not using my magic.

Wary, I turned around.

Hah?!

An enormous, exotic purple crystal was embedded in the wall, surrounded by a smooth, copper-coloured metallic shell on its perimeter.

However, it wasn't the crystal that surprised me.

It's... her? Inside?

I had no idea what her name was; all I knew was that she was standing near Elech when I had evolved.

Was this all her doing?

A spark of rage awoke in my heart, and I desperately wanted to tear her out of that makeshift cocoon, but I reeled myself in, clenching my fists tightly.

It's... like my amber egg, just infinitely more atrocious and harsh on the eyes.

First, I'll check the system and use the stats; perhaps it can tell me something as well. But I'm not holding my breath over it.

Thankfully, she's completely unconscious in there.

[[Remnant of the One: System Interface]

[Name: Syrin] [Level: 7/20 (521/561 exp)]

[Health: 257/257] [Mana: 64/71]

[Bloodline: λ-Pride Demon]

[Soul-type: Inner-world (Grade I: Garden)]

[Class: choose]

[Special Class: Contractor (Active)]

[Stat Points: 65

[Strength: 12

[Agility: 55 (Principle of Pride +35)]

[Mind: 10]

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

[Enyin: 31]

[Exyin: 28]]

[Abilities:

[Scale-cast lvl4] [Phantic Mana Sense lvl1] [Stealth lvl3] [Ambidextrous Manoeuvring lvl3] [Spatial Awareness lvl3] [Pain Tolerance lvl1]

[Lightning Magic lvl3]

[Dark Magic lvl1]

[Martial Arts (Bloodletting Style) lvl2]]

[Titles:

[Synesthesic] [One Against Many] [Monster Slaughterer] [λ-Pride] ]]

Hehe, seeing all those stat points has me excited.

However, as if to rain on my parade, the mana suddenly dropped out of nowhere.

[Mana: 64/71 --> 63/71]

What's going on?

Without a second thought, I focused my attention on the new screen indicating that it had gone down in hopes that it would give me an explanation.

[Your soul is over-exerting itself to remain in control. Your body has been possessed. Only a class framework can permanently tie you to your body.]

What?!

What, what now?

There's no way; just who...

She- she's trying to steal my body!

So that's what 'Soul displacement realized' meant.

I feel disgusted, mortified even—I want to go bathe in that sanctuary again.

Having someone take my body like that—it left a vile taste in my mouth.

Oh, I'm going to tear her limbs apart once I get the chance.

Ugrh, how am I going to deal with all this?

Okay, okay, calm down.

I can bounce back and forth when my mana recovers.

Actually, this could be a good thing.

If she's completely out of commission while I'm here, then I have freedom. She will eventually figure out that I'm still alive, though, unless...

A semblance of a plan began forming in my mind, but the details weren't all there yet.

Why did she want MY body? Of all bodies... does she know something I don't? Or about the system, maybe?

What's important is if she's willing to act against Elech's or even the outpost's best interest...

Hm, this is still an advantage. If I can find that crystal and obtain my class, then... I win. Simple as that.

My confidence started returning to me, and I felt safer now; this feeling was like dipping into a warm bath.

Being ripped from my body had actually been a little more traumatic than I wanted to give it credit for.

I should have been more careful... Too much pride I s'pose; it feels like even the system was trying to warn me on that one, huh.

At the end of the day, I don't actually know anything. I don't know how I was forcefully summoned by that angel, and I don't know the extent of anyone's abilities either.

But there's nothing I can do about that right now.

After pausing for a moment, a small smile grew on my face.

Wait, I should steal some stuff first... I can at least ruin her life's collection.

Briefly looking around, I saw a book on botany, a table with some small tools and vibrantly coloured gemstones, and, most strangely, a framed piece of... bark?

I walked over to the book resting on the desk and grasped it in my hands while focusing on my 'breath of the soul' as it's apparently called. I hated to agree, but the name was painfully accurate despite how it undermined its complexity.

The book quickly vanished from my hands—I guess I'm getting used to it.

Hehe, I'm just too talented--but not almighty... yet~

Stepping to the side, I swiped up all of the gems into my inner-world and then flicked my tail, launching a scale at the corner of the frame I had seen.

The glass shattered and the piece of bark fell to the ground unceremoniously, but when I turned and began walking to collect it, a waist-high wooden chest tucked neatly to the side of a table caught my attention.

Again, I flicked a scale and picked up the bark from the ground, briefly dusting it off with my hand.

There was something unique about it, and I was tempted to give it a closer look, but the sound of numerous metallic objects rattling against the cobbled floor met my ears.

It was... gold? Money?

Some of the apparent coins looked strange, and it was likely that this money would only work among demons, but it couldn't hurt to grab some.

The other things could be played off as being destroyed, but every coin disappearing? That's too suspicious for my liking.

So after... breathing... absorbing... transferring—yes I'm going with that. After transferring the bark, I brushed my hand over the coins and collected a large portion of them.

I didn't really want to waste my mana here; I'm not sure if I'll need it when I'm in the other body.

...Alright, I've only been awake for like a minute; this should be fine, but I should be going back now; she's probably panicking over what would be a corpse to her...

Heh, but before I leave...

I should really have just tested this already.

This magic was different; it felt like pulling up from the ground, or like using it pulled you down.

I beckoned to the void, and an opaque black membrane rose up from my feet.

My control was lacklustre at best.

Unfortunately, my inordinate talent for lightning isn't carrying over here.

I wanted to frown, but it was a struggle to pull my attention from this flame-like, flickering void undulating before me. It lacked the calming warmth and beauty of a flame, but it retained the immersive allure, drawing me into the present moment with a strange sense of clarity.

It's subtle, but magic affects how you think and see... interesting.

I don't really know how to shape or control it... but this should do.

A wide smirk grew on my face as I mindlessly threw my mana into the darkness; briefly, it bubbled in the air as if overcoming some force compressing it in on itself.

With near silence, the magic violently ejected outward, coating every surface of the room.

Only for a moment was I disappointed; I had expected it to be destructive, even somewhat loud... but this?

Every brick of every wall was crumbling, every tiny inflection and crack widening as if weathered by endless tides.

The books dried and flaked, and the shelves collapsed, scattering aged pages across the floor.

Like watching snow form in clouds, the harsh white paper would spontaneously erupt, scattering vibrant particulates through the air—them too disintegrating in tiny flashes of energy.

Contrary to what I had thought, most of the coins had been annihilated.

Intently, I watched as everything around me decayed, withered, and aged, as if experiencing the illimitability of time.

Fortunately, the only exception was the purple gem.

[Mana: 30/71]

I grimaced slightly. It was, to put it mildly, potent but also massively wasteful... for the time being.

And I don't recall Alark's or Karin's magic looking this way—maybe it's a matter of intent, but I can't be sure.

I should leave.

Taking one last look around, I moved back to my initial location and sat down while focusing on my mana sense.

Now that I can actually see with it, my life has become much easier.

What now caught my attention, was a golden thread of light contrasted amongst the sharp chalked lines and bitter-black strokes between; like the trail of a comet, it pointed away and up at a slight angle, perhaps in the direction of the angel body.

Glancing at the crystal shell surrounding Ana, I frowned, seeing that it had not received even the slightest inflection from my magic.

How powerful is she?

Sighing, I focused on that thread of light and abruptly lost consciousness.