Ah….

My mind felt empty, as I floated in the familiar blue fluid. I see, but what’s a fluid?

I thought, questioning the words that popped up in my mind often. Some strange words that made no sense, but somehow, they felt familiar, like a long forgotten memory. There, what’s forgotten?

I floated around in the huge container made of see through walls. It fascinated me. The thing I was in, the fluid, it was obviously moving. It broke when I was put in it. But how is it not falling outside? There were some invisible walls. What’s invisible? Ah, see through huh?

My mind kept pondering various stuff, as I examined my container. It felt stronger, my mind told me. Why? I don’t know how it was before. I was born with this. My master gave me this container. My…master? (Here. No 17 is referring to his body. The container he’s in)

I begin questioning the existence of master, and suddenly, something zaps me in the head.

Pain.

A new word comes to my mind. But I can somehow understand it. It’s that feeling, which doesn’t feel good, for some reason. My mind felt painful. I understood that.

I tried to move my hand, in order to touch that invisible wall. I couldn’t move at all. No good huh. I want to get out of here.

Another foreign thought crosses my mind, and I question my reason for such an objective.

Then, my master calls me, like he always does. Always? Master called me only once before this, and that was to test the painful blessing master wanted to give me. That was what made me stronger.

I can feel some foreign energy in me. It somehow feels like a part of me, but it somehow feels unnatural. Like remnants of a fog, it floated around in my container.

After master’s blessing, it got thicker, and I can feel it. Something like a cool liquid, running inside the container I’m in.

This place is too confusing for me. Maybe my master wants me to learn from these leaks?

I resolve myself to follow my master’s unspoken orders, as the long wriggly things separate from my container. The red liquid, just a hint of it, comes out.

A nostalgic scene comes to my mind. What was that?! That wasn’t supposed to be in my head! But, it was true, without a doubt. Just like in the unknown scene, some sound comes from the top of my container. And I get yanked out.

The long-white-things that are connected to my container are attached to it, restraining me.

The liquid drips in front of my eyes. I wonder why it falls down? Why does my container feel heavy?

The cold-hard-flat thing I’m attached to moves forward, taking me along with it. It moves towards the bright white surface that is below me. The things I can see from, feels pain, from seeing it. For an unknown reason, my container forcibly shuts it . I have no control over it. (Translation: MY eyes hurt. Why am i closing them :P )

The cold-hard-flat thing makes a ‘clunk’ sound, as it hits the white flat surface.

Then, to my surprise, a ‘clink’ sound reaches my head, and my long-white-things fall free.

My container crashes to the ground, as I’m unfamiliar with this feeling.

*Pitter patter*

Some sensation reaches my brain again. Just what is that ?!

This entire container feels unknown, but strangely familiar. A dangerous feeling enters my head, it makes me feel uncomfortable. But my master gave this to me. How can I reject it?!

The unnatural actions take hold again, and I press the long-white-things, on the ground, and raise my container to a height.

Before me, stood my master.

My dignified and awesome master!

I wanted to kiss his feet, and bask in his glory. Oh, my master~!

My feelings for my master feel weird for me, even though it’s perfectly natural. What is wrong with me?!

My dignified master walks up to me, and beckons me. I walk forward, towards my beloved master.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

These feelings echo in the back of my head, but I ignore them. As soon as I walk upto my master,

He thrusts his hand forward, and grabs my head. How odd, I could see his movement. I couldn’t react, but I could see it. Better than before. I could see his hand blurring, while last time, it alrea—

Last time? Before? The foreign thoughts intrude in my mind again.

Then, the pain hits me.

A familiar pain, although the data confirms that I have never felt such a thing before.

Something digs into my head. Against the protective layer around my head. It keeps digging in, and touches whatever is inside it.

Pain.

A strange sound escapes my mouth, and I couldn’t stop it. I wanted to do it, and my master disregarded it. My master is really great. Even though he’s the caus—

Something flows into my head. Memories. Feelings. Foreign data.

Master lets go of my head, pushing me. I land on the back of my container, and hold my head. It hurts. My mind struggles to make sense of it. But without doubt, I can understand it.

To hurt, to wound, to kill.

“No 17”

My master’s voice was like an ancient melody. I kneel, because that is what I am to do. The new memories thought me as such. To kneel before those greater than you. To eat in a dignified manner. I see, my master’s advice huh.

“Today, we shall be participating in a  great event.”

A great event?

“Today, you shall face your successor, No 18. You shall fight against him with all your might. You shall revive Ascalon!”

Master declares grandly, spreading his arms. Truly, my master is just too awesome. I understand. For my master, I shall annihilate No 18.

Suddenly, a hole opens up on the plain white surface, and I feel my container falling down. I can feel something brush past me. An enemy? I flail around, to capture it, in vain.

As soon as I see another bright light, I roll up my body, that strange feeling taking over again.

My container hits the hard surface and rolls. Some thing feels painful on my arms, but it quickly disappears. A strange feeling.

I look up, and see a strange container.

Like before, it was a huge container with white surfaces all around. And at the opposite end, there was something. A pure white surface. Even brighter than the other surfaces. It gleamed brightly, hindering my vision.

I could see my container.

Long black hair that reached my shoulders, a child like body, but well built nonetheless. It was no longer weak and skinny, but thick and smooth. There was something around the lower half of my body, hiding something. I wonder what? But what caught my eyes were the jewels on my face. Those jewels were a mix of red and orange, like a burning flame.

But, then, I noticed something else.

Another container stood behind my image. Its hair was black, but shorter, unlike mine. Its physique looked sturdier than mine. How envious.

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It was my container.

It looked better than me, without a doubt. Then, his voice graced my ears.

“No 17, meet No 18. No 18, No 17. You are the results of the same project. Be glad! You shall be the stepping stones for Ascalon’s revival!”

Yes, I truly felt glad! Ascalon shall be revived!

“Today, we shall decide who is better from the two of you! Be honored, the Great Commander, General Altrock is here, gracing you with his presence!”

Altrock? Who’s that? Why would I feel honored with his presence? Only master is the greatest one. Altrock can go die for all I care.

Today, I shall succeed against him, No 18. I shall kill him, and make my master proud. For pleasing my master is all that matters!

“Then, let the match begin!”

My master declares, and like my mind told me, I jumped forwards. I twisted around, to keep my eyes on the foe.

I crouch down, involuntarily. Why? Master’s knowledge told me to run in!

I couldn’t go against my container. I stayed in the crouched position, waiting for No 18 to move.

After a long moment, he finally moved.

I could see it. His legs blurred, and he his figure was heading towards me. I tried to raise my arms, to block against the blow. Too slow. What’s a leg? My mind questioned. But that was not important.

The leg from his lower half hits my left side, and I could feel something crack. The pain doesn’t matter. All that matters is to please my master!

I move, in unison with his strike. I step back, and I could sense that that movement negated some of the damage. In the same motion, I grabbed the thinner part of his leg, the part with five more smaller parts.

Somehow, my container told me to do it. A move I had seen before, but I could not recognize where. My container is really odd.

I twist his leg, and slam him onto the white surface below. Cracks spread, and something red comes out.

But No18 can’t be underestimated. The moment I slammed him, he immediately moved his other leg, snaking it around the thin thing below my head.

The bend comes before me, and he clamps down with his leg.

Can’t … breathe!

I gasp for air, and try to pry his leg off. It was in vain. It was like a steel trap, whatever that was. My eyes felt like they would jump out of my head. Dammit!

I let go of his leg, too weak to hold on. His face twists into a grin. Shit, I’m going to fail my master….

As if!

For some reason, the body automatically took action, and I moved my closed fist towards the connecting spot of the two legs. It would be a critical hit, my mind told me.

No effect. He stays like that, strangling me.

Then, I pull my last straw.

I twist, and it gets my neck turned in a weird direction. Something pops, but I don’t care.

I grab onto his neck, with the same move as him, except I use both of my legs.

I move my right leg behind his neck, as support. I use my knee and press down on his throat. Let’s see who can last !

His eyes bulge, unable to bear with the weight. He flails around, trying to escape. Too late, unless you let go of me, I’ll kill you like this! Master will be pleased!

Master? What master?

The moment I think that, pain zaps my head, and I loosen my grip. He uses the opportunity to pry my leg away, and throws me away.

I roll on the ground, gasping. Air. Precious air.

I remembered. I had forgotten in the heat of battle, but this was for my precious master!

I jump back , and dash out. Can’t give him any respite!

I felt quite tired, but it was ok. I just need to kill him.

He muttered something, and something surrounded him. A pale green light.

Suddenly, he vanished.

My chin hurt.

I thought that as I saw the ceiling, flying in the air. I sensed what he had done. He dashed forward, and kicked upwards, onto my jaw.

My body got stunned, for some reason.

Pain greeted me, like a continuous downpour of rain.

All across my chest, something blunt hit me. The pain pierced through, and I could feel something getting crushed inside.

How did he get so strong?!

With a final push, I flew away, crashing onto the ground. My body hurt all over, like it was broken.

Ignoring the pain, I roll on to my knees, and stare at him. At my back was the shiny surface.

He was in the same posture, glaring at me, murderous intent filling his eyes. The pale light had thinned, and he was sweating quite profusely. A temporary power up?

 This, this pain, and this excitement, it gets my heart pounding. I can feel the sweat that’s rolling down my head.

It is quite enjoyable, this feeling called battle…… I’m glad master gave me this opportunity~

I glare at No 18. I’ll definitely kill him! That fake!

The moment I think that, foreign voices drift into my head.

‘You fake fuck!’

‘A royal fake, that’s what you are!’

These unknown voices echo in my head. What, what are they?! My head spasms in pain, and I resist the urge to clutch onto my head.

Taking this chance, No 18 moves. I was incapacitated, unable to move. My container felt painful, from bruises that weren’t present.

His kick connects with my chest, and I flew off towards the gleaming surface.

What is a container?

I thought, the wind whistling past me as I crashed into the surface.

It shattered, bright pieces flying in all directions. I looked back, surprised at the sudden effect.

It was quite beautiful, those bright shards flying in the air.

Inside was a room, filled people.

There were three men, and a women, her face half hidden by the shadows. One of the men was seated, his presence was quite oppressive.

But my eyes wander, reflexively.

Then I see it.

That mass of yellow threads from the head. Those azure jewels.

Like the wall that shattered, the white light in my mind broke into a million pieces.

And the feeling that welled up in me was familiar; it was like a part of me.

A raging fire.

A raging fire that burns only to kill her.

[NOTE:

The effect of the brainwashing fades gradually. That's why he can remember words he never knew. Don't underestimate the Maou!

As the chapter progresses, his thoughts get clearer. Like i said, it's cuz the brainwashing effect gradually disappears.

The 'familiar move' and the crouching are from him battles with Sylvia. The move was what she used on him, after which he kneed her in the face. The posture, it's just from his beastly instincts.]