Axel stood before the four women, then he exhaled deeply as if he had made his final deduction. Each step felt heavy, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. His hands and feet were cold and trembling, as the All Cloak offered him no comfort or protection against the chill of his inner turmoil. He transformed his Winston into a longsword, poised to make the most critical decision for their mission.
His mind started to cloud with negative thoughts, he envisioned himself locked away in a cell, a sinner of humanity condemned due to inadequacy. Shaking off these dark thoughts, he stepped closer to the women.
Upon seeing Axel approach, the women froze, huddling together as if seeking warmth. Each had their own personality, yet that didn’t shield them from what is to come, the primordial dread of death, the finality of life. Who wouldn’t be afraid in such a situation?
Axel, fueled by a flash of determination and ruthlessness, moved swiftly and decisively. With a quick motion, eager to prevent the impostors from reacting, he pushed down the head of one Jeanne with his right hand, making her crouch low on the ground. With his left hand, he swung his blade with all his might, sending three heads rolling on the floor. He followed through with another swing, cleaving their headless bodies in two. Blood and organs splattered everywhere, painting the scene with sheer brutality.
As this unfolded, Axel had chosen the haughty Jeanne. He looked at her, noticing she was on the floor, seemingly lost in thought. Doubt crept into his mind, he was unsure if he had made the right choice, aware that it was a gamble from the start.
He hesitated to check the system, horrified by the thought of facing the mission timer, fully knowing it would reveal whether he had made the right choice. His entire body trembled, drenched in beads of sweat, a mixture of despair etched on his face alongside a glimmer of hope. Taking a heavy breath, he prompted the system in his mind, then collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
[Mission Duration: 00:49:20 – Currently Ongoing]
[France Time – 23:40]
Only thirty-two seconds had passed since he made the decision, yet it felt like an eternity. He recomposed himself and then saw Jeanne clutching her head in pain. Axel was about to approach her, but she held her hand up to signal him to stay back.
He looked at the mirror, unsure of its purpose. He was about to look away, but suddenly a memory from his youth came rushing back. He recalled approaching the director of the orphanage, eager to buy a pair of Jordans because all the cool kids had them. Expecting the director to give him the money, he was excited when instead the director offered to drive him to buy the Jordans.
When Axel saw the prices, he was shocked, he knew the orphanage ran on a tight budget, shame washed over him. Seeing his downcast expression, the director told him to follow, and the young Axel decided to do so. The two of them headed to the back of the mall, where the trash bins were. The young Axel was confused, but his confusion soon turned to bewilderment, and then his mind was blown.
The director, who boasted shiny black leather shoes, a tidy suit, and a gold watch, began rummaging through the bins like a homeless person, collecting cans upon cans. He even had a sack ready in one of his pockets. Axel, at the age of twelve, was a very sensible kid, so he started to help the director by collecting more cans from other bins. Upon seeing this, the director could only laugh heartily, tears welling in the corners of his eyes, and then he said.
‘Another man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’
[System: Duration of Add-on HEU-04 00:00:19]
After a brief moment of reminiscing, he checked the add-on gifted by the ancient huechromixix creature. Instantly, he jolted awake, exhilarated as if he were heading to prom with a hot date. Quickly, he stashed the large mirror in his personal storage, ensuring he didn’t neglect even the broken shards he had examined earlier, looting every last piece.
He also collected the DNA samples from the three huechromixix operatives lying motionless on the ground, yielding a smoke-colored lizard DNA specimen comprising thirty pieces. Additionally, he hurriedly stored the gears that were strictly prohibited for use on this mission, determined to make the most of the situation.
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Seeing Jeanne stand, he quickly retrieves the spare hunter's attire from Berg on the small backpack he was carrying. As he handed her the clothes, he couldn't help but notice the piercing glare she shot at him, a reminder of how he had been touching her earlier.
Jeanne wasn’t stupid, she intended to intimidate him with her fierce stare, ensuring he wouldn’t have any funny ideas. However, she was disappointed to see his emotionless face. Pouting slightly, she then straightened her posture and began to get serious.
“Those lizards stole a part of my consciousness, disabling my powers and making them exactly like me.” she inquired. “I’m curious as to how did you know that was me?”
“It was fairly simple. The saints you describe were Michael, Catherine, and Margaret, were me and my companions. Our trio was exactly like that. That wouldn’t be a coincidence now, would it?” Axel said, his panicky expression completely gone as if a passing fart, replaced by a demeanor full of confidence.
Seeing this, Jeanne couldn’t help but doubt his words as he had seen him shaking earlier. However, seeing his confident expression, she simply nodded to him, not wanting to hurt the feelings of her benefactor. She then continued to ask.
“Sir, what are your plans now? I know how to get out here, but you must give me a few minutes.” she stated.
Axel only nodded at her while he sized up the surroundings, looking for any signs of danger or anything useful. As he waited on the side, he noticed an overwhelming cacophony of voices, as if he were experiencing schizophrenia. The sounds intensified, and he felt as though he could hear thousands upon thousands of whispers.
He remembered experiencing a traumatic flashback that felt similar, though not as extreme. He tried to cover his ears, desperate to drown out the overwhelming chorus of voices, but it was futile. Despite the storm of noise in his mind, Jeanne remained calm and serene, as if she were not there to search for an exit but instead to meditate in the torrent of echoes around them.
Thinking this might be a plot of the enemy, Axel looked at Jeanne, he moved to ensure her safety. However, he was met with an even greater surge of voices in his head. Realizing that this could be a manifestation of her powers, he sat down, focusing on calming himself, all the while ensuring that he didn’t disturb her.
After what felt like an eternity, the cacophony of noise finally subsided, leaving Axel on the brink of madness. He had been enveloped by an overwhelming chorus of sounds, a boundless array that ranged from the chilling howls of the abyss to the serene harmonies of celestial beings, capturing the essence of everything in the universe.
However, there was a distinct voice in his head that tempted him to respond, it felt eerily familiar, reminiscent of Elise’s voice, as if she were communicating with her directly.
Noticing his forehead glistening with sweat and his labored breathing, Jeanne realized that he was experiencing a fraction of the tumultuous sounds she had heard. Concerned, she attempted to ask him what was happening.
"Which voice did you hear?” Jeanne asked, her concern evident in her eyes.
“It… it was the voice of my former lover.” Axel admitted after a moment's hesitation, choosing to share the truth.
Jeanne briefly closed her eyes and sensed what he had heard, and her expression turned grave.
“Clearly, a trap.” she said.” That wasn't her, but rather operatives from the other side. You underestimate them, Axel. When you travel through time, the strongest emotions you harbor become resonant frequencies, broadcasting your desires and secrets across spacetime. They wouldn't need to know your name to learn your deepest vulnerabilities."
“Will she be all right? What will happen to her?” Axel's face turned pale, he took Jeanne's hands in his, eyes filled with pleading desperation.
“There would be a very slim chance she’ll be targeted. However, that woman doesn’t love you anymore. I can sense the future, and it’s clear she has moved on. You weren’t wealthy enough for her, and she isn’t the type to settle for just one man. It’s disgusting!” she said, then instinctively began to retch at the fragments of memories she retrieved from his past lover. She looked at Axel, pity etched on her face.
“Then what did you hear? Can I know? Please tell me!” Axel pleaded, his voice tinged with agitation.
“Wouldn’t you be angry if you heard this? I think it’s better if you go back to your time and discover these things for yourself. We need to get out of here first, don’t you think?” Jeanne reminded him.
Realizing this, Axel understood she was subtly hinting at their own situation, and he realized he was currently being evaluated on this mission. He took a moment to calm himself, acknowledging that he was overly agitated by just the mention of Elise's name. Seeing him settle down, Jeanne let out a sigh of relief.
They approached a particular side of the wall, Jeanne stared at it as if trying to decipher something, while Axel maintained a vigilant watch.
Suddenly, Jeanne touched a section of the wall, and multiple hieroglyphic-like symbols appeared, illuminating the entire room with intricate patterns of plants, animals, and humans. Jeanne then spoke up.
“Now that we've activated the keys, we just need to click on the correct sequence of how human civilization has progressed from the stone age to the current time.” Jeanne stated, as if it were a straightforward task.
Upon hearing her words, Axel was dumbfounded, but he forced himself to stay focused, knowing they had to complete the mission as quickly as possible. His earlier outburst had already wasted a couple of precious minutes, and they couldn't afford to waste any more time. He quickly checked the mission clock on the system display.
[Mission Duration: 00:41:02 – Currently Ongoing]
[France Time – 23:38]