"Disappear."

Those were the last words that left my lips before the tide of berserk rage engulfed my senses, drowning my consciousness in an unimaginable torrent of power. It was like sinking into the depths of a bottomless swamp, where reason and restraint were swallowed whole by an all-consuming fury.

In that berserk state, I was a force of nature, a relentless avatar of vengeance. My target, the player who had callously taken the life of one of my friends, the sadistic tormentor known as Auron, had now become the hunted.

I found myself standing over him, his remaining arm torn from his body, his once-cruel demeanor reduced to pitiful cries for mercy. His blood splattered on my body, a macabre testament to the violence that had transpired.

But as the berserk frenzy began to recede, my senses slowly returned, and my eyes widened in horror at the gruesome scene before me. I took faltering steps backward, my heart pounding with a mixture of dread and revulsion.

My stomach churned, and I couldn't hold back the vomit when I laid eyes on Auron's body.

Fear gripped me, not for what had just transpired but for the darkness I found within myself. I couldn't recall the details of the gruesome act, but I knew I was responsible for this scene. As I watched, Auron's cries fell silent, and his body began to emit an eerie blue light, disintegrating into pieces before vanishing into thin air.

The notifications on my screen served as a harsh reminder of the consequences of my actions:

[You killed a level 33 player; you receive 11 status points.]

[You killed a level 37 player; you receive 12 status points.]

[You killed a level 47 player; you receive 15 status points.]

I felt a profound sadness wash over me. I had taken another life, and it weighed heavily on my conscience.

In that moment, I couldn't help but be filled with sorrow and self-doubt. This world had shown me a side of myself I never wanted to see—a side capable of violence and destruction. I couldn't help but think of how disappointed and saddened my sister would be if she knew what I had become. It was a heartbreaking realization, one that would haunt me for a long time to come.

"You did well,"

a voice, unfamiliar and mysterious, suddenly whispered into my ear. At first, I thought it might be a trick of my imagination, but the voice persisted.

"Do you wish to end your quest for revenge?" It posed an unexpected question, catching me off guard.

I stammered, "Eh?" unsure of how to respond.

"You abhor violence. You despise both causing harm and being harmed. Why not leave behind your thirst for vengeance and begin anew elsewhere?"

A glimmer of hope sparked within me. "You mean I can start a fresh life?"

"Indeed. Leave behind the memories of suffering, the players who tormented you, and the pain that binds you."

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I hesitated, contemplating this new perspective. ".... my sister... She would wanted me to find happiness and escape violence."

"Exactly," the voice affirmed.

"You're right," I admitted, my resolve strengthening.

"Of course," the voice agreed. "While you embark on a peaceful and joyful journey, those who caused you pain will continue their cycle of cruelty."

I frowned, contemplating the implications. "That's..... true."

"They will perpetuate their reign of terror, inflicting suffering on others, just as they did to you and those you care about."

The voice's chilling words struck at the very core of my being, sending shivers down my spine. It was as if those words had burrowed deep into my soul, echoing with an unrelenting sense of despair. I clenched my teeth, my heart surging with anger as vivid images of the scenes described played out in my mind. The pain and loss inflicted upon innocent people, the heartlessness of the players who would evade justice—it all kindled a fierce, burning rage within me.

"It makes you wonder how many more people will fall into the hands of the players, but it won't be your problem, right?" The voice's insinuation that I could simply ignore the suffering of others felt like a cruel twist of the knife in my already wounded heart.

"AlbaLos," the voice whispered his name with a venomous edge, "will achieve his darkest desires. He will leave a trail of destruction, drenched in the blood of your people, and he will revel in his wickedness, clutching your sister's blood as a sickening trophy."

My emotions surged within me, overwhelming my senses. I found myself clenching my palm so tightly that it began to bleed. The physical pain served as a stark reminder of the turmoil within me, a visceral manifestation of the anguish and unwavering determination coursing through my veins.

"Do you want AlbaLos to go on without getting what he deserves?"

I couldn't help but think of my sister and promptly responded, "No."

"And ah... do you want the players to do what they want without justice?"

Again, my answer was resolute. "No."

"And... do you want to... let the players kill all the monsters?"

"....no?"

The voice continued to pose its perplexing questions, and I feel like this is becoming a never-ending loop of question and answer.

But then, out of the blue, the voice dropped a bombshell. "So, if you don't want all of that to happen, you just need to be my lackey!"

"O-oka—"

My reply was halted by a sudden pause. The idea of becoming a slave for the sake of justice was confusing, to say the least. What did one have to do with the other?

"You see, I'm the, ah, goddess of .....fairness, so if you become my follower, you will become the, that's right, hero of justice."

The voice's words became increasingly muddled, and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Did she just read my mind?

"Yes, I did," she confirmed.

The voice persisted in its attempt to persuade me, but its efforts had taken a comically desperate turn. It was as if it were trying to sweet-talk me into submission, promising all sorts of perks and privileges if I agreed to become its lackey.

"Come on, Eidos," the voice cooed, "imagine all the power you could have at your fingertips. You'll be practically invincible, and all you have to do is a little favor for me now and then."

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the voice's over-the-top pitch. "You want me to be your lackey? Seriously?"

The voice hesitated for a moment, realizing that its attempts at persuasion weren't exactly working as intended. Then, with a forced grin, it continued, "Well, maybe 'lackey' is too strong a word. How about... my loyal companion?"

"..."

I burst into laughter at the absurdity of it all. Come to think of it, this is the first time I laughed in a long time.

"Loyal companion? And what kind of silly requests are you talking about?"

The voice seemed momentarily flustered, trying to come up with a convincing argument. "Okay, okay, maybe 'silly' is an exaggeration. Let's just say... quirky requests? Like, you know, wearing a funny hat for a day or doing a little dance in the middle of a battle. Nothing too serious!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of me, a fearsome warrior, prancing around in a goofy hat on the battlefield. "Well, I suppose if it's all in good fun and it doesn't involve hurting anyone, I could entertain the idea. But I won't be your lackey or 'loyal companion.'"

The voice let out a resigned sigh, realizing that its elaborate plan to recruit me had backfired spectacularly. "Alright, Eidos, you drive a hard bargain. No lackey-ing or loyal companion-ing. Just a mutually beneficial partnership with some occasional quirkiness. Deal?"

Despite the eerie and unsettling nature of the goddess's voice, an unusual sense of calm washed over me. If this mysterious deity could truly grant me the power I sought, I found myself surprisingly willing to accept her offer.

Shaking my head but unable to suppress a smile. "Deal." And with that, an unexpected alliance was forged, one that promised both power and a healthy dose of lighthearted absurdity.

*Tingg*

[You are now friends with the Goddes of Death]

[Bladrayne is added to the party.]

[Bladrayne's Quest Accepted]