-We’re here… - she said, interrupting my train of thought. - Are you ready?

We were standing in a small clearing.

I remembered the place well: it was the same spot where I imbued the rock that protected the “orphanage” here with an illusion spell. Albeit not really knowing what I was doing, but still, the effect is what counted.

I wondered, how exactly was she going to try and mess with it?

-Ready? It’s you who…

I didn’t get to finish the sentence.

I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

-Ouch. Ah, that’s refreshing.

I looked down.

From my chest, a large crystal spike has been sticking out. A spike that half-way was turning into an arm of ILMA, standing right next to me.

-Don’t move.

Even though she attacked, her voice did not change. She was still her new cheerful self… A bit off-putting in this situation.

-It’s not like you’ll let me - I replied, spitting blood along with my words.

Wait, blood? I still had it…?

Not possible. I already confirmed that there was no blood to be found in my body any more. I was completely crystal.

Right… It was not my blood.

She was the one who was bleeding.

The spike-hand that was piercing me was pumping blood into my chest.

To say that it was an unusual sight is an understatement.

A small girl, piercing the heart of a crystal monster with weird, almost blood magic…

-Argh…

And lifting him off the ground, seemingly effortlessly.

A sight to behold.

-Ehm, so, what’s the deal…? - I asked, trying to be as calm as she was before. - Changed your mind?

-Of course not! I need to prepare now, we’re almost done!

-So… our return to the outside world apparently includes me needing to be impaled? I wish you’d told me sooner.

-Oh, if I would, you’d never agree! I mean… I don’t want to do this, but that's the best option that we have… the only one, to be honest!

-And here I thought… eh, your plans… Okay, indulge me. What’s the next step?

-Okay, you are freaking me out - she said after a brief pause. - I thought you’d be angrier.

-Angry? For what? For now I am as good as it gets… Well, mostly… - I said, the pain reminding me that I had a rather big problem right now.

She stopped, looked directly at me, with very much focus and concern.

-I don’t get you. I mean… I’ve seen people… I read a lot of memories… but you are not making sense at all.

-Nothing new. I never made any sense to anyone, not even to myself - I said. - But, can you let me down?

-No. I still need to absorb you.

Ah. So that’s the plan.

-Ohh… I get it. The whole talk about us coming back was just for show then, huh? I should’ve expected that you got influenced by a lot of different people… Not the best ones included. Hell, what am I saying, like any of us could be considered “good”...

-You’re not wrong… but no, I was not lying - she said. - You still are coming with me. But in a different form.

-Different form? More like a part of you.

-What’s being a part of me different from just changing your body?

-I would say a clear mind…

…but that would be a lie.

Since my combination with Origin Crystal, my mind was far from being clear.

-...but, you do what you do. I am done.

-Huh?

For the first time, with this comment, I surprised her to the point that she was not able to hide it. Her voice even betrayed her.

-What? I am not resisting. Get on with it.

-You are willingly submitting? Are you trying to get my guard down?

-Like that’s possible. You’re smarter. Stronger. And have a lot more of… brain capacity, so to say.

She inspected me for any sign of resistance, but saw nothing.

Yet, she was still standing there, waiting for me to retaliate.

I just looked her in the eyes and waited.

-I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but it’s not going to work.

-Mhm. So get on with it.

She knew I was taunting her.

But, she finally started.

The bloody spike that was piercing me started slowly expanding, growing roots that were digging into my flesh.

Unpleasant would be an understatement.

-Ooh, that’s brisk… - I groaned, feeling them piercing me from inside. - That’s something alright…

-Mmm…

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Besides the pain, I could feel her mana inside me, piercing along with the thorny roots deeper and deeper inside my body.

Was that how she was “assimilating” people? Kind of invasive, not gonna lie. From what I saw before I thought it’d be easier for her… and cleaner.

Was that even it?

Honestly, I expected some kind of presence to enter my mind or something, but nothing like that was happening. She was just reaching every piece of my body BUT the head.

Strange.

Maybe it was because it wasn’t my head where my “core” was, so to speak?

I mean, I am just spitballing here, but every time you think “mind control” you think of a presence invading your mind.

Hell, even when I was connected with her before, and with other people, my head was the main thing that was involved.

Or maybe I was imagining that?

I didn’t have any physical brain to begin with, so what’s even containing my consciousness…?

Some kind of heart… a core of the crystal that I absorbed first?

Nah…

As I was pondering that, she suddenly stopped.

-It’s done. Now, you’re under my control.

Huh?

That’s it?

I tried moving, but could not even twitch. I guess she did take control over my extremities, but…

I was still thinking straight. Hell, my head was clearer than usual, the pain making me more on edge and aware than anything.

Wasn’t she trying to assimilate me…? If so, then what’s the holdup?

She removed her hand and let me on the ground, looking me over.

-You’re a part of my body now. Do you still think you have a chance?

A part of her body?

Well, okay, I guess? That was far from what I expected.

She flicked her hand and in a split second her arm turned back into regular flesh, or at least to look like it. During the transformation I could tell that her body from the inside was still made out of crystal: only the outer layer looked like a human. It sort of felt like she was wearing human skin.

Pondering her looks, I noticed that my body was changing as well. But, not like her: instead, I was just regenerating.

It was a similar process to the one I’ve been used to multiple times, but this time it was hastened. The moment she removed the spiky hand from me I already was reforming and was fully healed again shortly after.

I wonder… did she really think I was done…?

It made no sense.

-Now follow.

She nudged her finger, and without any input from me my body started moving.

Well, at least that part was true: she did really take control over my body.

Also, it felt so natural that I didn’t even think to try and resist…

I wonder, was that possible?

As I was wondering that, she was leading me just on the border of the barrier, on the inside of it. I didn’t even notice when we stepped through…

I guess she did prepare ahead of time and edited it…

-Now, I will be going towards the next node and you’ll be going to watch my every step.

Sure, like I had any choice in that matter.

Speaking of… should I try and resist?

I wondered, was she paying close enough attention…? Ah, fuck, why not, it’s not like she is omnipotent…

I tried moving my hand, just a little bit, to check if I could even muster a little bit of control…

And nothing.

Hell, hell control was good.

Well, if that’s working, what about spells? Did she lock my mana too…?

I focused, trying to gather a bit of mana in front of me…

And…

Hell, it worked.

A tiny orb of mana appeared in front of me…

…just to be absorbed by her a moment later.

-It’s useless - she said, turning towards me. - I have the same abilities as you, so trying to make a spell around me is pointless.

You can’t blame me for trying.

-I guess so… I’d appreciate it if you didn’t try again, though.

Hold up.

She heard me?

Ah. Well, right, that made sense. She didn’t take my abilities, so no wonder I could still communicate with her.

-I can’t promise that - I replied in my head, dropping the pretenses. - But I don’t think I am going to attack as long as you’re going to do what you said you will.

-What…?

She seemed surprised. Again.

It’s not like I had some hidden agenda. I already told her what I wanted.

-What? You find it surprising?

-Didn’t you say you’d rather stay here? That this world is better…? - she asked. - Why would you change your mind now…?

Oh, she remembered that?

Makes sense. She had the memories of all of them now…

-I did say that, sure. But that was before all your… plans took action - I replied. - This world is better, sure. But it’s pointless to stay here now.

-Pointless? You’d be the strongest creature here… isn’t that what you wanted…?

-Wanted? I never said I wanted that. But sure, that would be nice… If not for the fact that I would be the only one here.

-That’s… that is a problem…

-Yeah, you don’t say? Staying just to stay? No thanks. I’d rather not be here, even if that is risking my own mind.

-Risking? It’s obvious that it’s certain, not just a risk.

-I am confident in my mind - I replied. - I have been a part of you for a long time, and you’ve been a part of me as well. And despite that, we managed to split no problem, even if that was your weaker form.

And on top of that, I could tell that she was hiding something.

After all, she didn’t even attempt to absorb my mind.

Was it some limitation? Or something else?

Didn’t really matter to me, the fact was that there was a chance.

A lot larger chance even than I thought I had when I decided to go through with it.

-You really want to bet everything on that? - she asked, stopping fully and looking towards the sky. - That is your last warning.

-Oh come on, go already. I am not changing…

As I was speaking, she started transforming.

Again, her hand was replaced by a crystal spike, but now to complete the look, she also changed her other arm as well.

She raised from the ground a few centimeters as well, to… intimate me, I guess?

As that was happening, she also cast a spell that I didn’t pick up, but clearly noticed the effects.

Mana gathered around her neck and behind her, forming a lot of small rocks.

Didn’t seem that threatening, until those small pieces turned into see-through pieces of… yeah, those were pieces of Origin Crystal alright. So she even was able to conjure those on demand?

Useful. I had to break my own body to make those.

The moment they fully formed, they shot towards my face, stopping just millimeters from piercing me.

Another attempt at intimidation, that’s for sure.

-Scary. But I am not resisting, go through with it. I am done.

But, she was not.

She conjured even more of them and started approaching along with another swatch of crystals hovering, ready to strike.

Seriously, what’s up with that? If you’re going to attack, do that already!

She was just right in front of me, staring into my eyes with determination.

If she was breathing, I would’ve felt it right in my face.

I looked back, waiting for the inevitable…

…that did not happen.

Instead, I heard a groan and saw her step back and sit down in front of me.

What?

Same with her spells. Those crystals, everything that she was trying to toss at me, just vanished, turning into harmless puffs of mana smoke that were promptly absorbed by either her or me, depending on who was closer.

Huh?