The seed of Yggdrasil is an ancient item that's been studied for ages. Its natural ability to enhance anything related to mana and its capacity for storing it made it a point of interest for millions of years. Not only that, but several clues led people to believe that it's actually connected to the origin of mana, as its signature was purer than anything measured before.

Rarely found in the realm of the north, it seems to appear out of nowhere. No one has found any use for it, though. You couldn't extract the inherent mana, nor could you use it in any kind of weaponry. You can bet your sweet ass that it has been tried before.

Researchers around every universe tried several things for millennia. At this point, it's not ridiculous to say that nearly everything has been tried before. Watering it? Nothing grew. Supplying it with more mana? Just another drop in a bottomless well. Burn it? Why the fuck would you, but yes. Time passed and people grew more and more curious, even though nothing came out of any research. You could barely even analyze the mana signature, after all.

I don't want to say who it was, but there was even a time when researchers thought that the nut just needed more...

'How do I say this.'

Perhaps it could've needed more "nut".

'It was you, wasn't it?'

'It was for science.'

'Doesn't justify it.'

'Did you see the curves on that seed? You would've done the same, you sick bitch.'

'Don't you try turning this on me now.'

My point is that the seed is still a mystery for the most part. One experiment included in the thousands done before was the ingestion of it. The exact same thing that I did just a few days ago.

Didn't end quite as well for the subject, though. The seed took root inside that person, quite literally. A new set of parasitic mana veins sprouted inside his body, siphoning every lick of mana inside him.

'Was it you again?'

'I was really curious.'

That was one of the more gruesome deaths I experienced, as the source of energy for my soul was cut off. Slowly, my body decayed without anything that could stop it, turning to dust in a matter of weeks. Mana becomes crucial for a lifeform as soon as its soul starts to use it actively.

But that death gave me the idea for the little stunt I did.

After looking into the newly sprouted mana veins in my rotting body, I noticed that there were always pairs in the countless roots. One of the pairs connected to my already existing mana circle, and the other seemed to reach out to nothing. This second stem was the cause of failure. It needed something to live off, so it took your inner mana as a temporary solution. Hence, the only logical solution would be to let the second pair connect to another mana system, right?

Nope, ain't no way of doing that. It's literally impossible. You can't trick it in any way. There is no way to make an artificial mana circle. One body holds one circle. That's how it has always been. I've tried often enough.

Which brings me to the current situation.

Congratulations!

You are now "The Apostle of Mana"!

'This time, I survived.'

Ignoring the slight... "side effects",-

'Nearly dying.'

-the ingestion was a success. My mana circle might be unfamiliar to me now, but the procedure confirmed the one theory that I've had for a long while now.

I have 2 mana circles inside me. That's also the reason I haven't been able to use magic until now.

Both roots from the seed of Yggdrasil managed to flourish inside me. I don't have to cut myself open to know that the second root found something to latch onto. The fact that I was still able to enjoy Jess's thighs just a moment ago is proof of it.

Unfortunately, that also confirms that this body had a mana circle before the apocalypse began. To be precise, Trick had a mana circle before the apocalypse began.

'Stop cutting me out of your thoughts. I can't speak to people, so you're pretty much the only entertainment for me.'

Sometimes, I really wonder if Trick remembers who she's talking to.

'Oh, my bad. Here you go.'

'No wait, that's not what I mea- DAMN IT, IT'S FURRY PORN AGAIN!'

'Noblesse oblige.'

Once more, I glance at the screen that I've never seen before.

Congratulations!

You are now "The Apostle of Mana"!

'Just by the by, can we change that "Apostle" part? Apostles and I kinda had a falling out at some point.'

Congratulations!

You are now "The Envoy of Mana"!

'It's better, but I'm still not really sold-'

Suck a cock you redneck virgin.

'I was just asking, damn.'

I flush the toilet that I just baptized in the cunt's name. Yes, you're right. This whole monologue happened while I was taking the much-needed leak.

While I've been contemplating the several questions that just arose out of other questions, Jess has been trying to figure out what to do with my shiny behind.

The light that's nearly filling the entire room by now continues to grow in luminosity. Its bluish radiance signals the progress of my adapted mana circle, the pool of energy expanding inside me is doing its best not to burst violently like a balloon.

"You know, the chance of getting a shiny ass like mine is 1 in 8192. I should count myself lucky." (Me)

"You really reckon it's the time to make jokes now?!" (Jess)

After a short discussion with the voice in my head, we come to a unanimous decision.

'Yes.'

"Yes." (Me)

Jess runs around, searching for anything that could be of any help to me. She did just say that she would assist me in any way possible, so it'd be kinda awkward if she failed right after.

Only I know that this process is most likely the harmless fusion of my mana circles, following my body's adaptation to the seed of Yggdrasil. I'm sure that this process would be filled with unimaginable pain, as tinkering with your mana veins usually is, but my "Pain Resistance" skill comes in handy once again.

I won't tell her that, though. Keep me away from the thighs and see what you get.

"Jess, I need you to listen to me." (Me)

She stops panicking, her eyes fixating on me. It's really nice how much she cares if you think about it.

"W- what? Wait, Nith! Your eyes are glowing blue as well!" (Jess)

"Yeah, I put contacts in." (Me)

"Why?!" (Jess)

"It was this whole thing. I thought they would look nice with my shining ass and I wanted to feel like something special was- it doesn't matter. Listen, I need you to heat the area." (Me)

"...what?" (Jess)

It's a miracle how fast I can change someone's mood from panic to suspicion in a matter of seconds. It's just one of my many talents.

'Stop stroking your own dick and get on with it.'

"I've seen this before in hell." (Me)

'You haven't.'

'I haven't.'

Curious, Jess approaches me hesitantly. We've spent enough time together for her to doubt every single word I say, resulting in her distrust toward me in every situation possible. I think it's unfair but I've had enough people tell me the opposite.

"You've seen that you need to heat such a thing? In hell? You need to heat something in hell?" (Jess)

Now that I think about it, I might've chosen my words unwisely.

"That's why I need you to heat it with your body heat." (Me)

"You're taking the piss out of me now." (Jess)

"Let me finish, you British cunt." (Me)

I reveal more of my lower back, stopping before showing her any kind of crack. She might want to see more other than my chiseled back, but I don't do that for free. I don't have an Onl*fans for nothing.

"You need to heat the affected area with your hands and mana. The only thing that could prevent my inner mana from going haywire is the mana from another person." (Me)

While my circle stabilizes, it can hardly be affected by anything from the outside. It would take an immense amount of energy to invade the circle of someone like me.

"...you're lying." (Jess)

'You're lying.'

'I'm lying.'

"I'm not lying." (Me)

As if to signal that the whole process is about to be finished, the continuous light starts to blink in an unsteady rhythm, from slow to normal, from normal to rapid. Illuminating Jess's face, she breaks out in cold sweat again.

'I would feel bad if it wasn't so much fun.'

'It's still precious how much she cares.'

'It really is.'

"Jess, it's your fault if I die." (Me)

I just really have to rub it in.

"DAMN IT!" (Jess)

She doesn't have any other way around it. Maybe if she had a bit more time to contemplate and consider the circumstances, she wouldn't have fallen for it, but she dances to my rhythm once again.

Her hands slap the top of my ass with the power of Zeus, unnecessary mana covering them in a feeble attempt to aid me in my time of need. The gentle warmth of her hands engulfs me, her care coursing through my body followed by the glorious smell of victory.

"Mh~! Please... be a bit more gentle... It's my first time..." (Me)

"...what?" (Jess)

I can see it in her eyes. She already realizes that I was just messing with her the whole time. But it's too late.

The person this whole show was dedicated to has already arrived.

"Uhm... what are you guys doing?" (Risa)

Shyly wondering if she's welcome, Risa takes a step back from the gaping hole that was once our door. Trust me, I only reluctantly decided to show the pure girl in front of me such a sight but it's 100% Jess's fault.

I tone my voice down, making sure that only Jess could hear my following words. I already said it once and I'll say it again.

"You dare take the thighs away from me?" (Me)

"You actual cunt. You would not dare-" (Jess)

I breathe in. Jess hasn't had enough time to react, her hands still holding onto my ass. I set the stage exactly as I imagined, the angle showing Risa exclusively what I want her to see.

I enter the zone of acting.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, STEP-SIS?!" (Me)

"RISA! I CAN EXPLAIN! THIS ISN'T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!" (Jess)

I'd like to see her try but I doubt she'll be able to do so. I've planned this outcome meticulously in the last 2 1/2 minutes.

"Should I come back later?" (Risa)

I look at Jess.

"Should she?" (Me)

Consent is key.

"I am not having this discussion with you." (Jess)

"I'm not hearing a no?" (Me)

'You just said "consent is key".'

In a moment of tension, we all fall silent. Unfortunately, Jess has taken her hands off my back already, leaving me no choice but to hide my glorious back under my white shirt. I wouldn't want to deprive the world of such a sight, but I'm shy.

Only after a few seconds pass in silence, with me wondering when Jess is gonna touch my ass again cause I kinda liked it, is the silence broken by the most precious thing I've experienced recently.

Risa, who still didn't enter the hall, starts to giggle. I can see the tension in her shoulders relax as she notices that most of her worries after the tower were unwarranted.

Her eyes get teary, her body hunched forward in laughter. It's nice seeing her like that after what happened.

"...you guys are weird sometimes, you know that?" (Risa)

"Please, don't lump me i-" (Jess)

"Please, don't lump me in with her." (Me)

I said it first. I won.

Risa takes slight steps towards us, this being the first time I'm really gonna be with her after the tower. Her mind must've been filled with worry, considering what happened in that wretched place.

Although she's already talked most of it out with Jess, we didn't have a chance to do so yet. I bet it must've been an uncomfortable talk in the first place, making the following second time with me not necessarily better. Anticipating a gloomy atmosphere, she must've struggled to find the courage to enter my home.

But seeing Jess and me being our usual selves put her mind at ease. Her train of thought was most likely that the following few weeks between us would be awkward, even though it's the first place she could call something akin to a home. That'd be the case with normal people, anyway.

'But you're a fuckhead.'

'Shush, rat.'

'Fuck kinda insult is that?'

I've seen cases like hers thousands of times already. It might sound a bit harsh but I'm really not surprised when things like this happen. I've even been in that situation, several times at that. It was never a pleasant experience, I admit.

But if she wants to move forward there's really only one way.

By herself.

The little girl in a laughing fit has to come to terms with it on her own. Of course, we'll be there along the way to help her cause we're nice people, me especially. But in the end, it'll all boil down to her own ability to cope with it.

Now, enough of the depressing shit. I'll spoil my little sunshine as well as I can while I still have the chance.

Congratulations!

The seed of Yggdrasil has fully integrated inside your body! The initial process is finished!

Your race changed!

With the birthright of the "Envoy of Mana", you have acquired the first set of "Authorities"!

My mana circuit starts to burn from one moment to another, rapidly increasing its revolutions. Even though it barely reacted to my command a few minutes ago, each and every single particle of mana now abruptly charges towards my new nucleus. It sucks every ounce of mana I have dry, only to disperse it inside my body again in the blink of an eye. I can feel it flowing inside my muscles, my soul, my entire existence.

The mana around me suddenly feels tangible, contrasting the ethereal, almost fume-like force I experienced for billions of years. I sense the ground below me, the air around me, the sky above me, even Jess's thighs.

'You can't see it, but I'm nodding in admiration.'

I did feel my mana pool expand while both circuits merged, but this is something entirely different. My whole environment seems to fuse with me, supplying me with information I've never even thought of before.

Suddenly, my experience these last millennia feels insignificant as my mind expands. I can feel that I have barely scratched the surface of the mysterious force I always used to call my own. In these few seconds, I seem to gather more knowledge than in several lifetimes.

A spare moment of omniscience. Something I've only experienced in the last stages of divinity. Everything seems to just flow into me, naturally.

Until my circuit can't take it anymore. While I do have 2 newly interconnected circuits, the stress it's taking at the moment is too high. Like hot lead, it starts to melt my newly acquired mana-veins. If you didn't know, anything melting inside your body is generally considered a bad sign. Especially if it's the power that basically keeps your soul from falling apart.

And that's exactly where this moment of power ends, from one second to another. As if it considered my limits.

A brief second that felt like an eternity. Like a fuse that just popped out, the stream of mana that flowed into me just now stops, and all the information that's carried with it disappears as well. A blank hole is left in my head where, just a second ago, was enough information to last several lifetimes.

You have unlocked 3 Authorities of Mana! Do you want to integrate them now?

'Excuse you, screen. I have more important matters right now.'

"Now get in the bag, Risa." (Me)

While I've been experiencing the long-forgotten feeling of omnipotence, I've been busy trying to convince Risa to get in my pouch. I know that I should've focused on my new upcoming powers and all that, but I have my priorities straight. I will live with the consequences if there are any.

'Lick her armpit.'

I stop. Needing a few moments to process the atrocity that the voice in my head just uttered, I squint in disgust.

'I really don't want to play the straight man here, but what the fuck is wrong with you. You're talking about Risa here.'

'I'm very desperate.'

But I'm not the only one who's trying to console Risa as much as a human possibly can. The silver-haired girl that's just been molesting me snatches her away from the void that's my pouch, right into her arms and signing a declaration of war while she's at it.

"Jess, you really don't want to do this." (Me)

"Oh, I think I do." (Jess)

"What happened to help-" (Me)

"Those are two different things." (Jess)

"Don't you ever interrupt me again." (Me)

Jess clutches Risa between her arms, not letting go. While Risa seems to enjoy the heartfelt hug, I'm about to absolutely body Jess, so she better hold on tight.

I've been too lenient with her recently. It might be my soft spot for her, but I won't let her take advantage of it. I need to ingrain in her mind that I'm still the one in charge here.

Before making sure that the pouch containing all her metal is tightly sealed, I close the few meters between us in a heartbeat. She must've anticipated this as I feel my pouch vibrating once again, signaling that the metal stored inside tries to escape.

"Bollocks." (Jess)

That little trick won't work again, of course. I free Risa from her demonically cold grasp, putting her aside gently. I won't treat Risa roughly just because someone here doesn't know how to behave. After all, that would fall under article 33 of the Geneva Convention concerning collective punishment. I might be insane, but I won't commit any war crimes yet.

'And it wasn't me who misbehaved this time.'

'You're still on trial for the armpit-licking.'

'It was a moment of vulnerability!'

'I'll decide what I'm gonna do with you later.'

I grab Jess by her ankles, sweeping her off her feet in the most romantic way possible.

By hanging her off her feet like a school bully.

"Kya!" (Jess)

"Did you really just say "kya"?" (Me)

She's choosing her next words carefully, as this is a precarious situation for her. Her skirt isn't attached to anything, so the only thing keeping it from flipping over are her hands.

"Let me down, Nith." (Jess)

I'm surprised that that's the best she came up with.

"First of all, what are the magic words?" (Me)

She notices the smirk that I literally haven't been trying to hide.

"Please let me down, Nith." (Jess)

"It's nice of you to ask, but no!" (Me)

Expecting this kind of answer, Jess headbutts my shin, heavily underestimating my prowess. I'm able to punch holes into an interdimensional whale and take bullets like a champ. I don't know what she expected.

Well, it might've just been her attempt to be rebellious in some sort of way. She knows that it won't be easy to escape these hands, so she wants to show that her spirit isn't broken yet.

"Now, I'll give you two possible ways to get out of this. Either you give me all your lunch money, which should be a lot considering how loaded your family is, or you let me put Risa in the pouch like a good girl." (Me)

"I don't have any lunch money." (Jess)

"*Gasp!* Oh no! Too bad!" (Me)

I am, once again, in control.

You're really not!

The Authorities of Mana run rampant inside your body!

You better integrate them in the next few seconds!

CAUTION: MIGHT HURT PEOPLE IN A 1 METER RADIUS!

'On whose side are you really, screen?'

Jess still struggles inside my hands, searching for anything metallic that could assist her in this situation. As long as she doesn't want to rip our furniture apart for her own ends and means, she shouldn't be able to find anything worthwhile.

You're literally about to die.

'No excuses.'

'Yeah, you'd do me a huge solid if you were to just not die.'

'You really like me that much?'

'Stop it! You're making me blush!'

I take a last look at Jess before my transformation. The playful annoyance in her eyes that refuses to show a smile despite her enjoyment, in turn, casts a smile on my face. At some point, she'll grow out of her abundant pride, so I'll cherish it while I still can.

Carefully, I let her down, much to her surprise. Maybe it's just the wrong place and the wrong time for Risa to get into my pouch. Destiny will surely lead me down the right path.

'Are you crying?'

'NO!'

"Are you crying?" (Jess)

"Not repeating myself." (Me)

"Am I wrong, or did he not say anything?" (Risa)

The screen forces me to take a step back, my chivalrous heart not ready to bring my fellow comrades in danger. I pat myself on the shoulder, bracing for the inevitable impact that's about to come.

"Y'all should really be more grateful to know me." (Me)

"You just wanted to steal all my lunch money." (Jess)

A true hero doesn't require any thanks.

'You just said- Is this your new thing? You're just gonna ignore your last sentence?'

Now! Enough of the trifle. I might've gotten distracted by a few things but the next few screens could be changing-

"And I already told you that I'm grateful... plenty of times at that." (Jess)

"Awww." (Me)

"I'm grateful too!" (Risa)

"Double awwws!" (Me)

'Screen, start the integration before I get sidetracked again.'

I take another step away from the two girls, one blushing ever so slightly and the other offering a beaming smile. The mood will change real quick, though, as soon as I start exploding for practically the third time recently.

'Still not sure if I like this recent pattern.'

Despite my age, the "Envoy of Mana" is something even I haven't heard of before. I've been around quite a bit and no one even tried to impersonate the mana entity.

Mostly because no one thought that it would need a representative of some kind. Even I still theorize about it being sentient or not. Several reasons speak for both sides.

It's been a long time since I've had to battle with the unknown and this life just keeps on throwing curveballs my way. Despite my enjoyment, it makes the whole thing a bit more complicated than the other few lives.

'I'll solve some of them soon, though.'

'You're up to something again, and I don't like it.'

The integration process has started!

The Authorities of Mana are being transcribed into your mana circle!

I was actually surprised by the sudden feeling I got. It's been a long time since I felt something like this so it's no wonder that I don't remember it quite that well.

Pain.

A scorching needle burns its way through my soul relentlessly, writing rune after rune of an unknown language. To be honest, I'm not even sure if it is a language as it doesn't follow any kind of system or pattern. As always, I'm quite confident in my detective skills.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

My "Pain Resistance" skill seems to only cover any pain that concerns the physical body, as the burning sensation travels through my existence, sending shock after shock down my soul. Too bad that the "Pain Resistance" skill isn't entirely necessary for me. It makes a whole lot of things easier, but after millennia of being tortured in hell, I'm used to any kind of pain you can imagine.

At this point, it's just a more accurate indicator that something is happening to my soul.

Expecting the inevitable explosion the screen warned me about, I clench my cheeks real tight. Wouldn't want to let some embarrassing things slip out, would I?

And, after several breathtaking moments of waiting...

No boom.

Yeah, I lied.

You unlocked the Authority of Synchronization!

You unlocked the Authority of the Body!

You unlocked the Mana Domain!

'You just wanted me to let go of Jess, didn't you?'

I believe in Jess supremacy.

No one can be trusted.

"Wait, why are you distancing yourself from us?" (Jess)

And perfectly in line with my new outlook on life, my body heavily starts to convulse involuntarily.

"Damn it, I knew something was going to happen again." (Jess)

I feel my mana gush out of my new mana core, sprinting towards any muscle fiber I have. Vividly, each string of muscle I have spasms in surprise as they get filled to the brim. Similar to "Orc's Strength" or "Berserker", my power skyrockets in a matter of seconds without any initiative on my part. Without a doubt, it's one of the Authorities doing their job.

Sweat drops down my nose. I seem to fade in and out from pure bodily stress, as I haven't noticed Jess scooping me up and putting me down on my friendly green couch. It's nice of her to be so considerate, but I don't think that a nap will change much.

More mana than I have continues to violate my muscles, tensing them to unimaginable limits. Each group goes through the same cycle of growth and condensation within seconds, steeling them

Alright, you should get it by now. I'm getting stronger and I can feel my stats increasing yada yada yada.

The only thing that really bothers me is the fact that I shouldn't have enough mana to finance the whole project. It shouldn't be possible in the first place to keep mana stored inside your physical being for so long as it dissipates after a short while. Your muscles are not supposed to hold mana for so long since that's what your circle and mana veins are for.

This time, in contrast, the mana stays in the same spot it was sent to, holding onto its place tenaciously, invigorating each movement. This is probably also the reason for my cool breakdance, which others would call a seizure.

"DAMN IT! Don't bite your tongue and vomit, don't bite your tongue and vomit, don't bite your tongue and vomit!" (Jess)

Jess pulls me on my side, having learned first-aid somewhere before. To be honest, even if I did bite my tongue, I'm sure I wouldn't lose more than a few points of HP. The gesture is really heartwarming, though.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" (Risa)

As much as Risa tries her best, she doesn't know how to help in any way. If my hunch about her power is right, she could solve this whole thing in a heartbeat with a bit of tweaking and tinkering, but I won't push her into something.

This routine goes on for several minutes. Just for dramatic effect, I decide to foam at the mouth, which the others didn't find quite as funny as I did. I'm not gonna lie, I did actually lose control of some... bodily functions-

'Nith shat his pants.~'

'Still your body, so I technically shat your pants.'

'All of a sudden it's my body again?'

'I'm opportunistic.'

'You're a dickhead.'

-but I managed to hide those fluids efficiently. You learn a trick or two over the years.

'You called?'

'HA!'

I'm not too keen on letting Jess see that I shat myself. Fortunately, across my years, I learned how to hide the whole package without using mana. Practice makes perfect.

'Yeah, still not sure where, when, and, most importantly, why you had to learn that skill.'

'Wait for my book to be written.'

'Not even sure if I wanna read that part.'

To get back on track, as the Authorities of Mana settled inside me, the seizures slowly stopped. A good chunk of mana has settled in my muscles, not showing any sign of going anywhere. But, most surprisingly, my mana pool doesn't seem to be affected much.

With my efficient mana usage, I never really had a problem with the amount inside me. My skills didn't take much in the first place, considering that they're mostly just buffs, so I barely ran out of mana if you ignore longer battles. The only skill that really took a bunch out of me was "Ember", which I rarely used for now.

If you now compare the amount I usually use with the amount in my muscles, you would see that I have considerably more in my physical body. If you were a smart fella as well, you'd have noticed that I can't just pull mana out of my ass and pump it anywhere I like.

This means that the "Authority of the Body" definitely changed my body's composition. A no-brainer, now that I think about it.

'Whaaaaat? The "Authority of the Body" did something to your body? Golly gee, Mister! You're a smart one!'

'None of the sass. Trust me, I'm not scared to shit your pants again.'

'I don't even know how that's a threat, but please don't.'

Having won another easy match with the only nice voice in my head, I notice how the control over my body slowly returns. The firm hold of Risa and Jess, who don't really know what the fuck they're supposed to with my shaking body, lessens as they see me opening my eyes. To be perfectly honest, I don't know how much time has passed since the integration process started, but I can deduce that it's easily been another hour of stress for them.

"Nith? Are you alright?" (Jess)

"..." (Risa)

Jess barely gets a few words out and Risa stays quiet altogether.

"Yeah, splendid. Why you asking?" (Me)

"I don't even know who I'm worried about at this point." (Jess)

If I had any control over it, I wouldn't have chosen to wake up after several days, only to get sucker-punched by the system again either. Hell, I'd have sent both of them away if I had any information on this process or a bit more time to prepare for it.

Both of the people that cared for me while I spazzed look me deep in the eyes. The foaming at the mouth probably was a tad too much.

"'Tis but a scratch, guys-" (Me)

But before I could even finish my sentence, Risa flies into my embrace, hugging me for all the worry she had over the past days. She barely saw me a few minutes, after all, only to see me act up again.

"Again! Awww!" (Me)

But more surprisingly, Jess does the same. It's a bit awkward, positioning-wise, for one full-grown and another half-grown woman to embrace me simultaneously, but both of their arms envelope me with the most sincerity they can muster. Their individual thin arms seem frail in comparison to my muscly body but, together, they still cover me completely.

"Again! Double awwwws!" (Me)

I can't lie. It's a bit of a shame that I make them worry so much. They aren't exactly steeled to lose the people that are close to them, considering it's only been a few months in the apocalypse. And having similar situations happen to me back to back must've given them a fright.

'Let's just take record here on what happened to you in the last month. Fight with Spaticecta? Beaten to a bloody mess. Inside that room in the tower? Unknown, life-threatening danger. Right after eating the seed? Bloody pulp again. And right after waking up, you have a seizure.'

'Only 2 more and I get a free yogurt.'

'Only 2 more and I got a Bingo.'

I relish the moment with both of their arms around me. It's quite a nice surprise for Jess to be so honest with her feelings as well but I won't complain.

"Warn us before you do stupid crap again. This request is reasonable enough, I think." (Jess)

Risa nods in agreement, her face still buried in my chest. Imitating Jess's actions, she tightens her hold. They must've been more worried than I initially thought.

'Sniff her ar-'

'Don't.'

"Didn't really expect having a seizure. Pretty morbid if I had." (Me)

But this moment doesn't last for long. As much as I would've wanted it to stretch into eternity, as both of their hugs give me butterflies in my stomach, the last screens about the "Envoy of Mana" appear in front of my eyes, interrupting the nice atmosphere we had.

As soon as my eyes gaze upon the words of the holy, I hold my breath. It's been so long. This crippling curse that's been nerfing me this whole time can go to shit at last.

"FUCKING FINALLY!" (Me)

"What?!" (Jess)

Both of them let go in surprise, causing me to curse myself and my stupid mouth. I would've punched drywall if one was in the vicinity. Even I have regrets and this is definitely one of them. But this time, it's a regret I can justify. An indescribable thrill rushes through my body as my eyes fly over the text that appeared behind Jess's shoulder.

It finally happened.

Even if it's a bit wonky.

I can finally use mana.

Envoy of Mana

The Mana Entity is watching you. You became the Envoy of Mana.

You start to realize the truth of mana.

You can control mana.

Mana consolidates your existence.

Everything will advance according to the Mana Entity.

Authority I

Authority of Synchronization

Your newfound strength linked your mana veins, connecting them like brothers.

The counterpart's mana pool is now available to you.

According to the counterpart's skill proficiency, your own proficiency will follow.

'That's... a bit cryptic? Mind elaborating?'

*Fart noises*

'Simple yes or no question.'

Authority II

Authority of the Body

Your mana moves according to your nature. It complements your strong body.

Your physical body is infused with your inherent mana.

'Great, another physical buff. I needed that. Wouldn't know what to do without one.'

I act annoyed, mostly trying to tickle maybe another buff out of the Mana Entity I just became acquainted with so nicely, but this enhancement is bigger than anything I had.

While the messages may be cryptic and, uncharacteristically, vague, I'm a few hundred million-ish years old, although I'll forever stay 20 at heart. I can deduce most of the meanings out of context.

'Stop flattering yourself. They're not that hard to understand.'

'Your mom is not that hard to understand.'

'A billion-year-old deity still makes "Your mom" jokes. Ridiculous.'

'Your mom is ridiculous.'

'I am about to scream.'

The first Authority basically says what I already know from experiments in my former lives. It connects my two separate mana veins, thus creating a link between my mana pool and, I presume, Trick's. But the line after the mana pool thingy is what makes me ponder a bit.

According to the counterpart's skill proficiency, your own proficiency will follow.

If I understood this right, and I most likely did, this would mean that Trick not only had mana before this whole thing started, it would also mean that she had skills. There was a slight possibility for her to have gotten a mana circle from a previous reincarnation, although extremely unlikely, or some other kind of magic fuckery. The universes are vast. A lot can happen, even if the chances are exorbitantly low.

But you can't get skills by chance. Skills are only granted by the system through merging or unlocking them. It gets different later on but those are the only basic steps that would grant you skills. Both require you to get in touch with the system first and actually use mana.

Both of which shouldn't have been possible to her.

But the Authority itself means that my skills level up faster, which is nice! Always look on the bright side of life, people. Don't think too much about the voice inside your head that clearly has a suspicious background.

'I don't know where the armpit sniffing came from myself, your honor. I plead not guilty.'

'I regret to inform you that the court has sentenced you to a life in Brazil. Effective immediately.'

'NOOOOOOOOOO!'

I'll have to see which skills level up faster. By narrowing down her acquired skills to a specific faction, planet, era, or habit, I can at least get a clue on her identity. As unprecise as it may be. Basically, I'll throw shit against the wall and see what sticks.

Moving on to the second Authority, the "Authority of the Body".

...

It's simple, actually. Part of my mana flows towards my physical body and is stored there indefinitely. I already felt it rush towards my muscles while having a blast with the seizure induced by it, so this is really no surprise.

It's the potential behind it that excites me just a wee bit. Not in a weird way, you pervert!

Everything mana touches has a tendency to evolve in some shape or form. The monsters we encountered didn't get naturally selected into flying through space and breaking the sound barrier on a regular basis. From the moment of their creation and their first contact with mana, they've evolved according to the will of mana and the lifeform itself. I won't be an exception to that. In fact, I'll probably be affected even more severely as mana is going to be naturally deposited in my muscles

The amount stored is most likely dependent on the maximum amount in my circle, making this Authority grow with time.

STATUS

Name: Nith

Level: 50 (Hellfighter)

Race: Envoy of Mana

HP: 2200

MP: 4000

STATS

STR: 174

AGL: 96

END: 115

MAG: 200

LCK: 70

CHR: 80

'Fuck me gently with a 2x4, what the fuck happened to your stats?'

'Was that an offer?'

'Shit, maybe?'

As I expected, the "Authority of Synchronization" expanded my mana pool to its limits, stopping just before it tore to shreds from the sudden growth. When the two circles were linked, I felt that, if my current mana pool was more resilient, the synchronization could've gone far longer. The second circle must've had an impressive capacity, as I couldn't see the end of it in my soul. My meager MAG stat of 70 is dwarfed by my new 200, which, in turn, brought my MP to 4000 in one fell swoop. Correlating with the "Authority of the Body", my physical stats followed suit, increasing them by a seemingly arbitrary amount.

I was hoping that the Seed of Yggdrasil could answer some of my questions, but it just created far more than I ever wanted. As if I didn't have enough shite going on already.

'Now, some might wonder what I'm supposed to do with all that mana if I don't have any skills that take up even a fraction of it.'

'To be honest, not really.'

'Why aren't you in Brazil yet?'

'Nith, I beg of you...'

That's where the third Authority comes into play.

Jess and Risa already let go of me a few seconds ago, still baffled by my sudden outburst of joy. It might not be normal for someone to be exactly thrilled after a seizure but they should be used to my wonky, zappy shenanigans by now.

With renewed vigor, I get up from the couch Jess prepared so lovingly for me. My legs are still a bit shaky since the mana hasn't completely settled in yet, but I can feel their new power with a single step. Each movement feels like lightning in my muscles, urging me to try these new powers as quickly as possible. For normal people, it would be difficult to control such a sudden spike in strength, but I'm a bit more experienced in that aspect.

"Are... you sure you should get up already?" (Jess)

Both of them look at me, worry reflected in their beady eyes. Risa nods in agreement again, the situation a bit too stressful for her feeble heart.

"Jess, I appreciate your worry, but I wanted to say this for a long time already... this is where I have to make a stand." (Me)

'Cause you just stood up, I get it.'

'Not only because of that, my dear friend.'

"Here he goes again..." (Jess)

"What do you mean by "stand"?" (Risa)

I'd give my firstborn to actually have a J*Jo stand at this moment.

To build up dramatic suspense, I silently make my way towards the magic circle I prepared to summon Mephisto, each step echoing through the hall sinisterly. I'm not sure if both of them got it, as they're still looking at me funny, but I'll just trust them. I don't want my acting to be in vain.

Concentrating on my legs to keep my stride steady as to not embarrass myself, I throw the second of the three mana cores the Spaticectas dropped inside the summoning circle, being careful not to break it in the process. I don't want to summon some old friend again. It was awkward enough the last time.

I take out the pair of boots I recently made out of the whale's hide. It's still brimming with mana of the space attribute, even after days have passed, showing how well I made them.

"Day after day, week after week, do you remember how many times you've made fun of my disability to use mana, Miss Connor?" (Me)

"Not really. You always did your job well enough with your physical stats alo-" (Jess)

"Well, I've had enough of your bullying! You can fuck back off to Waterford now! I can finally use magic!" (Me)

"You're from Waterford?" (Risa)

"Am not." (Jess)

As much as Jess acts annoyed, I know she enjoys my usual bantering.

Authority III

Mana Domain

Upon activation, you enforce your authority over mana. It moves to your will.

The control depends on your inherent mana.

Usage is limited to once per day. The size of the Domain is limited.

Your control is low.

'Your mom's control is low.'

'Stop it.'

'You can't stop the pain-train.'

More vibrant than ever before, mana moves inside me with incredible ferocity. Thanks to me being the "Envoy of Mana", I feel each unit more distinctively than ever before. The natural aether inside my veins that I felt before now feels like it's made up of a cluster of small particles, forming the fuel I had always thought to know inside out. Now I know that that's just a lie I told myself. Not once in my previous lives have I felt this sensation, nor do I think has anyone before me.

This includes the cunt above.

But this awareness of mana doesn't stop inside me. While my Authorities were in the process of integrating, I was already able to feel the surrounding mana as if I was in a bathtub full of thick-

'Cum.'

'Let me finish.'

-as if I was in a bathtub full of thick cum. The natural force around me felt tangible as if I could mold it with my own two hands.

Unfortunately, this sensation has settled down a bit. As my mana circle was not able to handle the stress of the initial impact, the integration was dialed back a few numbers, causing my new knowledge of mana to disappear with it. It's a bit weird to feel an impactful thought get sucked out of your mind in a split second.

The surrounding mana still feels a lot more concrete now. As if my mind is connected to each dot in my immediate vicinity, I know the approximate position of each mana particle. It doesn't feel unnatural at all. It's more like I reconnected with an old acquaintance. It's nostalgic, almost.

And, instinctively, I know how to spread out my Mana Domain.

The way you usually use magic is by sucking the surrounding mana into your mana core and converting it to your inherent affinity. For Jess, it's metal for example. For Risa, it would most likely be the aspect of Purgatory. You'd then let your spell form inside you or any other medium and cast magic. It's actually a bit more complicated than that, but those are the basics.

The Mana Domain works differently. As the screen said, I can enforce my will. As soon as I activated the Domain, I can influence the mana in the environment to do my bidding using my own mana.

It's been a long time since I tried, but I try to cast magic again the normal way.

Once again, it's futile.

I'm able to stabilize the simple spell I cast inside me to a degree that it wouldn't fail. It's just that as soon as it leaves my body, the two rivaling mana currents clash. The Seed of Yggdrasil might've connected the two circles inside me but it couldn't change the fact that they cancel each other out.

The Mana Domain is different in that aspect. For the spell to fail, it has to form inside me. My new Domain in contrast just requires me to let my mana seep into the environment, which would be useless under any other circumstances. It'd float around haphazardly before dispersing without any kind of effect.

But the way I can use this mana has changed.

The Envoy of Mana has supplied me with knowledge in this aspect only. After activating it, I can still control the mana I let out, dominating the mana in the environment.

It might be limited in usage and size for now, but I know my way around efficiency. And while it'll drain my mana more than my will to live was drained in Hell, the environmental mana doesn't have to go through the process of affinity change, enabling me to use any kind of spell I want.

'Pretty morbid joke.'

'Your mom's a pretty morbid joke.'

'Stop it.'

'I can't.'

The Domain enables me to do pretty much whatever I want in it. Mana isn't just used to form spells, after all. The possibilities are endless, bordering on reality manipulation, which should help me a bunch in my next endeavor. Speedrunning certain events can be dangerous.

'Yeah, once again, you're really up to something and I still don't like it.'

Going through the usual routine of enchantment without any assisting equipment, I take the boots and the mana core in one hand each. Having given up on worrying about my recklessness, Jess and Risa look over my shoulder with the inspiring gleam of curiosity in their eyes. They should've seen me do this a bunch of times already, but it's still a cool party trick to show others.

"What are you crafting this time?" (Jess)

My new proficiency with mana should help me enchant this pair of sneakers even better than I had imagined. The rate at which I can extract the Spaticecta's mana will be the difference between a mortar and pestle and an industrial grinder.

"I always thought I needed the drip. That's what the cool kids say these days, right?" (Me)

At that moment, Jess decides to ignore my honest response and change her question just the way I'd like her to. We must be soulmates, I'm certain of it. We're like a well-trained duo at this point.

"No, wait. What are you enchanting these boots for?" (Jess)

In a sinister premonition, she holds Risa for stress relief. Her voice tells me that she's certain that I'm up to no good again, which is the exact case. I'm known far and wide for my fondness of tomfoolery.

The Spaticecta's core is licked empty by yours truly as its mana travels through me inside the boots. Their natural affinity and longing for each other make the whole process far smoother than the last few armors I enchanted. In those cases, the cores I used had a fierce will left and fought back in any way possible.

I didn't have a problem with that since I like a bit of a fight, but it's nice to take it easy once in a while.

"To be honest, I'm a bit sick of going back and forth between the tower and our home. So..." (Me)

"Impossible! You're telling me you want to summon the tower here?!" (Risa)

As much as I'd like to make the sparkles in her eyes not be in vain, I don't think that'd be-

Maybe? I mean, I have two cores with the space attribute?

"Good guess, little one! But I have to disappoint you. I really don't want to mess up the Feng Shui of my home." (Me)

The enchantment process goes by quicker than ever, scoring me an additional level in the respective skill. I can already see the difference the Authority of Synchronization makes.

"What is it, then?" (Jess)

I look at my new creation which came out better than I had anticipated.

The enchantment was a success!

Space Whale's boots of the Quickster

- Rank: Unique

- Defense: 200

- +30 AGL

- +10 CHR

- Options: 1. You're 20% faster.

     2. Twice a day, you can teleport a maximum of 3 people over a distance of 10 meters.

Wanna see me run to that mountain and back? You wanna see me do it again?

While the armor stat is a tad underwhelming, the options tick just the right boxes for the fun trip I'd planned a long time.

"I'm gonna skip all the floors of the tower and cheat my way to the top floor." (Me)

'I fucking knew it.'

I finish my last word and their smiles immediately drop, which is honestly not a good look for me. I'm usually the one that makes them laugh.

Their reactions are understandable. It's barely been days since they've been confronted with their most traumatic experiences. Especially Risa's had a hard time. The place I saw again back there wasn't exactly pleasant either.

"Are you serious?!" (Jess)

It couldn't be helped that Jess is upset. She's had to console Risa for the past few days, whose mood took a turn for the worse again. She's not blatantly angry like Jess, but she's definitely not smiling like the past few minutes.

"Come on, turn that frown upside down, Sugarpie!" (Me)

She's still not on board with my idea, evident from her crossed arms.

"We were in immediate danger the last time we were there! What reason do you have to actually go there again?!" (Jess)

There are several reasons.

The whole ordeal might seem to come out of nowhere but, as I said, I've been planning this for a long time. Since we've been in the dryad's village, to be exact.

Not only did I find a monument that depicted my past, but there were also signs of heavenly energy on the dryad's heart. Not to mention the illusion cast a few days back. Letting things escalate and risk the tower getting stronger is something I can't let happen.

A certain part in the back of my mind tells me that some of my questions will be answered as well. Not to mention that I don't have the time to climb the tower leisurely.

Who knows how long the barrier around Earth will hold on with the cunt above constantly barraging it? He probably already made moves nonetheless, evident from Pete with his sad attempt at divine energy.

"Jess, no one knows if things will stay as they are. Maybe the monsters inside the tower will break out and invade the world soon? What do you think holds the tower back from just spreading his monster seed all around?" (Me)

"..." (Jess)

She's forcing me to be the voice of twisted reason in this situation and it's, again, not a good look for me. Today's been an up and down for your boy.

"But-" (Jess)

"And I never said that you should come with me. Although I wouldn't mind having my closest companions with me at the end of the Tower Arc!" (Me)

Once again, she's speechless. We've been doing everything together since we met so this offer must come as a surprise for her.

But at that moment, Risa, who's been hugging Jess this whole time and I definitely don't want to punch drywall again, announces herself, unexpectedly.

"No. I want to come with you." (Risa)

"Triple awws!" (Me)

To be honest, I expected Risa to be against it the most. I never saw her as a headstrong girl, and not exactly emotionally stable either. The mere sight of an adult was able to throw her in a state of panic, after all.

But despite being reluctant, I can see that she's resolved herself.

She's decided to tackle her insecurities much quicker than I thought, which I didn't think was possible for her. I've been steeling myself to go to the tower all by my lonesome, trying to be considerate for once in this life, but Risa's got other plans it seems.

"I would never let my loyal subject go head-first into danger all by himself! Of course I will assist you!" (Risa)

Once again, she's reverted to one of her personas, showing how insecure she actually is about this whole thing. She might act tough but we all know what a buttercup she is on the inside.

"Are you sure, Risa?" (Jess)

Concerned, Jess pats her gently on the back. She probably wants Risa to take her time when she's still sensitive after all that happened.

"Yeah, I'm sure..." (Risa)

It's evident from her pained expression that the memories of the tower still haunt her. The arduous process of locking up these memories in the back of her mind was shattered in a few moments, leaving her stranded in a prison of her own insecurities.

"I just don't want anything to happen to Nith..." (Risa)

"Quadruple awws! Risa, are you trying to make me die of wholesomeness?" (Me)

It's really nice of her to worry about me to the point that she'd put herself in danger. I wouldn't go anywhere if I didn't have a backup plan, but it's still very wholesome of her.

Over the years, I've always made a habit of keeping a few aces up my sleeve in case something happens to me, or the people around me. The last time was a one-time thing. The divine energy of heaven just caught me by surprise as I didn't think it would act all of a sudden in between rooms.

This time it'll be different, though. I won't let anything happen to the two here again. It's bad enough that I'm pulling them in dangerous situations back to back.

"I can't let the things that happened hold me back forever, can I?" (Risa)

In a nice moment, Risa looks up to Jess, who's still not convinced. Her black eyes show determination, which Jess can't just brush off. I don't know if Risa already learned how to weaponize her cuteness, but it works.

"You're so lucky that Risa is on board." (Jess)

"I trusted in the power of friendship." (Me)

The atmosphere is tense, both of them are still nervous about skipping straight to the end of the tower that just made them feel like shit a few days ago.

"Drats... it can't be helped then. I'll come with you as well." (Jess)

"Didn't even think that was a point of discussion. I appreciate it nonetheless." (Me)

"You're lucky I don't swear in front of Risa." (Jess)

"Guys, I'm an adult too. I don't mind swearing." (Risa)

Jess and I ignore that statement to the best of our abilities. Despite my few slip-ups these past few hours, we're still trying our best to protect her innocence.

Gesturing both of them to get ready, I equip myself to the best of my abilities. With that said, I can really only put on my armor and make sure that my spatial pouch is filled with anything I could use along the way.

It doesn't take long for us to make our way to the tower one last time. We get on the metal platform Jess prepared for us and fly off.

It got even colder recently, seeing that it's already November. The biting cold gives Jess and Risa a certain sense of discomfort, which I can't just let happen easily. With "Ember" activated, the chilly air around us is slowly replaced by a comforting warmth, forcing both of them to huddle a bit closer to me. Their equipment should naturally give them a certain resistance to temperatures, but their skirts are not exactly made to last temperatures.

'But to satisfy your carnal desires.'

'How dare you call me out like that.'

Even the warmth of a DIY campfire can't solve the unease on our ship. Even I'm a bit occupied trying to solve at least some of the mysteries that swarmed me these past months. But I can't just let this atmosphere go on, can I?

"While we're around a campfire... Up for some spooky stories? Halloween wasn't that long ago?" (Me)

"And your burning hands are supposed to be the campfire?" (Jess)

A wry smile adorns Jess's face, who seems to have much on her mind at the moment. She did put a lot on her plate when she vowed to be the responsible adult among us.

'AMOGU-'

'Don't you dare.'

To be honest, telling any stories might prove to be difficult for me right now. My mind is torn between several questions, old and new, attempting to make some sense of this wild ride I found myself in these past few months. The barrier around Earth, Trick's identity, the existence of heavenly divine energy despite the aforementioned barrier, Heaven's movements. All of these things are questions I can't have an answer to right now, which is unusual for a billion-year-old deity like me. I'm used to knowing everything.

With the "Envoy of Mana", another question came up, which isn't really something I lacked at the moment.

Envoy of Mana

The Mana Entity is watching you. You became the Envoy of Mana.

You start to realize the truth of mana.

You can control mana.

Mana consolidates your existence.

Everything will advance according to the Mana Entity.

The truth of mana, how it consolidates my existence, and, most importantly, the Mana Entity.

As I previously mentioned, it was already speculated that mana had a living conscious, but it was more like a fun conspiracy theory than an established fact. The very fabric of the universes consists of mana. A conscious Mana Entity would mean that someone, or something, has absolute omniscience and omnipotence, then. Something that even the cunt above couldn't manage. The fact that someone like that exists could make the world of magic science go haywire in a matter of seconds.

Mind corruption continues! 17% corrupted!

'Really not helping here.'

But that's not something I can waste my time thinking about right now. It only takes a few minutes for us to arrive at the ominous, crimson fog that envelopes the tower. Trying to smother us with the heavy miasma it produces, the tower stands above us, piercing the sky with its sheer height.

'Oh, oh, stinky.'

Jess ascends slowly to the top of the tower in an attempt not to aggravate any of the monsters guarding the airspace around us.

"I'm guessing no one here is up for a sea shanty?" (Me)

"We're flying, though?" (Risa)

"Air shanty?" (Me)

With each meter we go higher, the fog thickens, causing Jess's and Risa's tension to visibly rise. The atmosphere is unusually serious, which I'm not exactly fond of but what can you do? Change is the spice of life.

After briefing my trusty companions on my idea of a dramatic entrance, we arrive at the rounded tip of the tower.

'Still not sure why it looks like a penis.'

'It's funny?'

'I'm too mature for such childish humor.'

'If this head only had walls to bash my skull against.'

Now we stand here. On a platform several hundred meters up in the clouds, with no idea what awaits us on the other side of this wall.

I search for any kind of empty space inside the tower with my newfound sense of mana, thinking where we could teleport inside.

Jess and Risa shake nervously, but their eyes look determined to battle anything that could be on the other side. I won't let anything happen to the two of them. I've-

'Nope, stopping right there. That's a death flag. I'm not gonna be a retard for suspense.'

We exchange some meaningful looks, which I find a bit gratuitous, but it fit the mood.

"Y'all ready for some fun?" (Me)

"Yeah." (Risa)

"Not really..." (Jess)

"Too bad!" (Me)

I let mana seep inside my boots, activating their second option. The space attribute starts to surround us, enveloping us in a capsule fit for teleportation. The whole thing seems grimly simple, considering that we're invading one of the epicenters of the apocalypse. Some might say that's a bad sign, but I'd rather call it much deserved hospitality.

In a twisted sensation of the space around us warping, the crimson light around us fades to black for a moment. Two hands clutch mine, cold sweat covering both.

It only takes a split second for the interior of the tower to replace the darkness we were thrown in.

"We're ready to morph into action!" (Me)

"3! Working together to fight evil!" (Risa)

"Stop the tower and all its menacing monsters!" (Jess)

We find ourselves inside a nearly empty room, scarlet veins covering the flesh we're standing on, pulsating in a rhythm.

A single revolving chair in the middle, with the back turned to us.

"To stop you from destroying our planet Earth!" (Risa)

"And ruin the universe with evil!" (Jess)

"Look out! We're not backing down! Cause we're-!" (Me)

"DEFINITELY NOT THE POWER RANGERS! WE'RE THE APOCALYPSE SQUAD!" (Together)

Vigor fills our voices as we shout in unison, each in their respective own pose. I can practically hear how embarrassed Jess is, but she's the one who agreed to do this.

'This went better than expected.'

'Really? That's your dramatic entrance?'

'It's a classic!'

"How the hell did you even convince me to do this?" (Jess)

"Risa is very convincing." (Me)

"I thought it was cool!" (Risa)

It's as if the tense atmosphere from a few seconds ago vanished in a heartbeat. Both of them have calmed down to a controllable level, their expressions better than before.

'No... wait what?'

My eyes break contact with the joking Jess and Risa, traveling towards the chair I ignored until a second ago. I can feel it. Something I had long lost is behind that chair.

My mind goes into overdrive, trying to connect the dots. There is no way for something like that to be here, but it makes sense.

"I've been expecting you..." (???)

My head snaps to Jess and Risa, who are now in more danger than I had anticipated. How could I have ignored this possibility? Even if the chances were astronomically low, at least part of it does make sense.

The chair turns slowly, revealing a figure that we're all familiar with. The girls that accompany me should be more confused than me, but that doesn't overshadow the severity of this situation. The emergency exits I prepared are pretty much negated in front of him, so I start to contemplate if I should just teleport both of them away to safety, but I'm sure he won't let me.

'A mysterious tower appeared suddenly in the apocalypse, which hasn't happened in any apocalypse before. It's filled with heavenly divine energy and summoned creatures which should be impossible to manage by any normal person. Fuck me, how didn't I expect this?!'

'Ai yo, what?'

Black hair on the longer side greets us first, after which emerald eyes pierce us with playful ferocity. A cat sits on his lap, which he pets purely for dramatic suspense. His behavior seems like a cheap copy, but he's closer to the original than anyone can be.

'And here I thought I was the most similar to you.'

"Welcome! You have to forgive me, I didn't prepare any snacks..." (???)

"Jiminy Cricket, Nith?! What's going on?!" (Jess)

"Just say "fuck" like a normal person, you British cunt." (Me)

In that chair sits someone... no... something I thought I had lost long ago. Millions of years ago in the last fight against Heaven. The sensation of it breaking apart from me is still vivid as the most painful thing I had ever experienced. My soul pulsates at the memory of sudden trauma.

"You like the cat? It was actually pretty difficult to get it here..." (???)

It's me.

"Nith?" (Risa)

A shard of me. The divine shard that was taken from me by the cunt above.

My angel-self that should've disappeared long ago.

'Imma just...'

> [https://i.imgflip.com/1yyrdh.jpg?a468528]