After Il has been wounded and when Kon attempted to fix her body, it strengthened.

It has been awakened.

And now, since we were repeating the process, it also got connected to Iloa. The one with a lot more of her crystal, be it a bit scuffed one, but still.

Having more pieces of herself, she took the opportunity of us being gathered in one piece and connected to all of us directly, siphoning her own essence into one singular host, the one who had the most of it at the moment and was the weakest among us.

That is why I felt a connection to different people. That’s why it also suddenly started getting more pronounced after Kon started working on her body.

Also, the drain I felt… it was not just my mana leaving me: it was the ILMA itself leaving me.

Strange though, I already thought that she was completely gone… but I guess that was possible.

It would also explain why I was seemingly the only one conscious at the moment. Having her essence removed had to be draining on the hosts.

During the sudden epiphany, I stopped attacking her.

I am not sure if she took that as admitting defeat, but she only strengthened the grip on me, to the point where I could see her muscles bulge…

Wait. She had muscles?

Yeah, wooden muscles. That’s a strange sight. Especially when I noticed that besides bulging, they were actually cracking…?

Yeah, the wood that was making some pieces of her body was strained and cracked in pieces, now even more.

Pain.

Ah, right, that was also happening.

I could feel a lot of my mana being drained, even then I was not going to give up, and just started swinging wildly at her.

My attacks weren’t as effective as before, but I managed to enlarge some cracks. Her wood even started to peel away in some pieces.

For a second I thought that was good news, but a split second later, I realized my mistake.

She was doing that on purpose.

Her wooden remains of the body weren’t just getting destroyed. They were… peeling away.

It was like she was shedding skin. Or, well, maybe in her case bark.

But, what was under there was not just some new and fresh wood.

It was a very familiar crystal.

I could tell it was happening more and more, and… it finally finished.

Just like some pieces I noticed before, now her whole body has fallen off… and was remade.

She was no longer a creature of wood, or anything mixed. She was just like me. A fully crystallized person.

Well, if I could call her a person… I was starting to have more doubts about that one.

-Thank you.

That caught me off guard. The hell? She’s in the middle of choking me and is thanking me? What?

-What do you mean? What are you doing?

-Thanks to you all, I am reborn.

Ah. Right. So that was really ILMA.

-Err… you’re welcome?

-Right… you.

It seems like she finally noticed me.

Strange. Wasn’t she just talking about me… to me even?

-You. The source of the problem and the solution. Intriguing how that played out.

-A problem?

She squeezed me a little bit harder.

I didn’t feel pain, but the pressure was definitely there, I could hear her fingers grinding on my crystal flesh.

-Yes. If not for you, I wouldn’t have been split. But, on the other hand, I wouldn’t be born either. Twice. So I guess I should be thankful. That’s how she’d react, right?

-She?

-The one who used that body. My… other self.

-Other self? Iloa? What happened to her?!

-To her? She came back.

-What the hell are you talking about?

-You called me her copy… Well, you were not exactly right about that. We weren't a copy of each other… it was more like we were just pieces of one another.

-Pieces…? You mean… we failed?!

-Failed? - she chuckled. - Ha. Hardly. It was my decision. I wanted this project to succeed. I wanted to speed it up. So… I split myself. It worked wonders, right?

-Split!? No, that makes no sense! You were the AI! You barely were able to keep a discussion! And now what?!

-Ah… that. Yeah. I was having problems. But that was just because of you.

-Of me!?

-You shattered me. And sadly, most of my cognitive abilities were shattered as well. So I was reduced to… whatever the hell I was.

What she was talking about… It wasn’t making sense to me.

Yeah, she had some fair points… and some definitely were true… but about the copy… It was not possible! If she was to split herself… she would’ve not survived that! How the hell would one split their mana… their soul in half and still be a conscious and functioning person?!

Wait.

What am I thinking.

Of course that was possible.

I even did that myself!

Maybe not on purpose, but still!

Was it true… that instead of… that she just managed to split herself? Create “the other one”?

-How!? Why didn’t you say anything!?

-Why? You’d stop me, of course.

-...

She might've had a point.

-And besides, I didn’t expect it to work. I thought I was just going to end up braindead. Worked out better than expected.

-You wanted to WHAT?!

-See? Told you you’d stop me. Besides that, I don’t know what kind of side effects that gave me. The whole split was fine, but then… another one… I don’t know.

But one thing was true: she was definitely not the same person that I knew.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

It wasn’t just the old her: the one that was wooden was a lot more similar to the original. Neither was she the AI I worked with…

So what was she?

And, more importantly: what did she want?

-So what now? - I asked, seeing as she was still holding me. - What’s your next step?

-Wouldn’t you like to know?

-Well, yes. It kind of involves me directly. And probably others, seeing like we all are still alive and kicking.

-...

Instead of answering, she just squeezed me even harder.

Sure, I felt that. But neither the pain nor the drain got worse. Hell, to be honest, I was already somewhat used to that, so I just was waiting.

-Gh…

-Something not working? - I asked, hearing her frustrated grunts.

-You are more persistent than I thought. That can be useful…

-Not wanting to admit to our own failures is a flaw, you know.

-There was no failure. There still is no failure. You are just a lot more full than I expected. Even after the ritual…

-So are you.

-Hm…

Yeah, that was one of the reasons why I wasn’t very keen on retaliating.

I knew what she was made of: and seeing how she was having a hard time breaking me, I assumed that trying something against her would just end up like that as well.

-Change of plans.

-What?

-It even works in my favor… Let’s get rid of the remains…

I don’t think she was talking to me, only to herself.

Not loosening her grip, she started walking away, towards where the whole ritual was taking place.

Was she looking for something…?

Or someone, rather…?

-Nuwo.

On her command, from the ground, suddenly three figures stood up.

It was For, Kon and Iloa.

Good. So I was right and they were still alive…

Although them obeying her commands wasn’t a good sign…

-Wowu mocisohu.

When I heard what she said, I involuntarily shuddered.

I knew that word, and it definitely never had any good uses.

Especially in the context she presented.

Life release.

Sure, it can mean a lot of things, but right now, it could only mean one thing.

-You want to absorb them? Don’t you think your body is enough of a weapon as it is? - I asked, slightly angry and partially disappointed.

-I am not a weapon. Not any more.

-So why do you need mana for?

-That’s not for you to know.

I wasn’t really worried about her spell.

But, I should.

I didn’t think it was possible to drain someone that had an Origin Crystal within them.

Even me, made completely out of it, wasn’t really affected by her attempts, and she was right now choking me.

But, it was different with them.

First of all, they already were somehow under her influence.

Was it because of the explosion? Or maybe something else…?

-They were already under my command before - said ILMA, reading my thoughts.

Damn, was I really thinking that so openly?

-If that’s true, you should know that you’re not going to be able to drain them. Just like me.

-Oh? But I am draining you, though?

-Ah, of course. But not for long. I soon will be completely resistant. I already feel stronger.

While the first part of that was true: I could tell that the effect of her mana drain was slowly fading away, I was definitely not feeling any less tired.

Yeah, tired.

The amount of mana she stole from me was the culprit.

It’s not like I was an infinite battery. Sure, I was being recharged constantly by the light… but not in here.

Besides, it wouldn’t just cancel out her “fueling”, but it would’ve made me less sluggish and tired.

-No one is resistant to the drain. You should know that.

-Think whatever you want.

-I will, thank you very much. You probably should as well. Talking so much bullshit without any proof… And speaking of proof…

She turned towards For.

-Well, she was not.

Was I hearing things?

That was definitely For talking.

-What…?

-I told you. She was not immune. Sure, she had some resistance, but that was easily overcome with enough effort.

-I told you. She was not immune. Sure, she had some resistance, but that was easily overcome with enough effort.

The voice echoed, For and ILMA speaking in unison.

-What’s that supposed to…

-Don’t you see?

-Don’t you see?

-Don’t you see?

Now also Kon joined the chorus.

-They are already done. You are the only one left.

-They are already done. You are the only one left.

-They are already done. You are the only one left.

-They are already done. You are the only one left.

Even Iloa?!

-But, if I was to say who was the hardest one to convert… I’d say it would be her… I guess being your daughter is not just for show. Both yours and hers - she finished speaking alone.

Converted?

So the assimilation was done…

-I… I never expected to see this process completed right in front of me… - I said quietly, looking directly at the four of them. - Damn…

-And you are next.

-Yes, I am very aware. Go on then, be done with it.

-Really?

-What?

-I don’t… that’s a bit too easy. Why are you giving up so soon?

-Interesting question, coming from you.

-What’s that supposed to mean?

-I know what you are. Seeing what happened here, I know you have in you more people than I can handle. So I am making it easy for you.

She looked at me with disappointment.

-I expected more from one of my own creators.

-I see you don’t know me - I said, sighing. - Use that info you got from the ones you absorbed.

-I am. And more. And I know you are the most self-centered and stubborn people. I can’t see you just… giving up.

That was an interesting look at my character.

I want to say completely wrong, but what do I know?

-Well, think whatever you like, but for a very long time I knew the assimilation was coming. I thought that I might be able to control it, or maybe influence you a bit to make some demands, but I see that’s out of the question. So just get on with it. I am not going to resist.

-That is disappointing. Well. Let’s…

I could tell she focused on me.

But, despite that, I didn’t feel a change.

We stood like that for a good minute, but nothing happened.

-Well? Get on with it! - I hurried her.

She didn’t reply.

I could tell she was for some reason frustrated.

Wait… was it true?

I managed to somehow resist her?

But how in the hell? I was literally doing anything BUT that. I genuinely was done with it and just wanted for her to absorb me.

That was the first step in my plan.

Never said I’d not be fighting after that, but I couldn’t do that if the process was not finished, though. After all, fighting from inside is always the most effective tactic, and I felt confident of my own mind and soul.

Especially soul.

It being just mana, really. At least in my understanding. And over that I was certain of my capability.

-I am not sure what are you playing at, but it’s not working - I said, still convinced that she was just fucking with me.

-That body of yours… is peculiar.

That was a strange point to bring up.

-Okay…? So is yours?

-Yeah. So is.

It was clear she was not going to share her thoughts with me.

That doesn’t mean it was going to stop me.

Whenever she liked it or not, we were still connected. Now more than ever, since she was attempting to drain me. To reverse that process… at least to peek at her thoughts, it was a child’s play.

-How? Isn’t he the same? Wouldn’t that mean that we were compatible enough…? The others were… and they had his magic with them…

Ah. So she was really having problems…

-I knew that the Crystal had abilities to resist… but to be that much? I can’t believe this is happening…

Wait a second.

She was having problems? And I was able to easily just read her mind? If I could do it, she should be able to literally melt my brain from within and take over this way.

I immediately buried that thought

I was not going to tell her that. Hell, I could accept being assimilated, but I was not going to let her do it THAT easily.

It seemed that I had more opportunities to resist than I thought.

Huh.

I decided to play for time.