Several weeks ago...

"Huh?"

Josh wakes up and see herself surrounded by darkness he can't comprehend.

But realization hits him and then Josh scans his body with his own hand. No sign of blood nor bullet holes detected.

"I'm still... alive?" Josh asked to herself with absolute confusion.

Yet he quickly dismiss the idea as he clearly remembers his last moment on life - He got decimated by the S.W.A.T team when he tried to fight back. Despite wielding guns, he got decimayed by people far more experienced than him.

"Is this the afterlife? Is this hell? Or limbo?" Josh asked as he now scan the surroundings again only to see the same darkness that greeted him the first time he opened his eyes.

Suddenly a light appears in front of him, forming a huge square. After a second, it suddenly shows the point of view of someone.

"What?"

With nothing to view in the void, Josh focus his attention to the screen where he see that the owner of the POV is just wake up and doing a morning routine. But the first thing Josh noticed is the home of the stranger is ruined that it's more like an abanddoned building than a cozy home.

"What is this?" Josh asked, still confused.

In order to get answers, Josh watch the POV owner until he watch her wash herself only to realize that the owner is a girl.

At the school, Josh watch as the people the Owner encountered is looking down at her with disgust, some eveng giving few deflamatory remarks. He also learns the name of the owner after some student interact at her just to give insults.

"So, Dereia is your name."

Josh continues to watch until Dereia is now getting bullied by a group of girls, the leader having a blone hair with drills. He watch the scene with indiference on his face.

"What a loser." The only words coming from Josh, he shows no sign of pity and continues to watch Dereia gets plunged to a bucket of dirty water, slapped, kicked, lick the floor and more degrading orders from the tormentors.

"Well. Atleast there's something unique here." Josh said as he continues to watch until the POV owner goes to sleep and the screen went black.

With nothing to do and not feeling tired. Josh is just on deep thoughts on the dark abyss.

"Why I'm sent here to just watch a loser's miserable life?"

Another rush of thought hits Josh when he finally theorizes what's happening on his situation.

"I'm inside her... Conciousness?"

But he don't have any ways to prove it as Dereia is sleeping for tommorow.

"Fuck it. I'm gonna test it tommorow."

The next day. Dereia's day went as usual. Morning routine, attending classes, and getting bullied by sorts of student. Another day of school gone by and Dereia is limping back to her dorm.

Josh then focus. Trying to connect herself to Dereia's mind. He's practically blindly following his instinct.

And finally, Josh says his first words.

"Why you didn't fight back?"

Watching the screen shows Dereia's POV panicking as she looks at her surroundings with haste after hearing a sudden voice.

"So you really hear me?"

"Who are you? Show yourself." Dereia is in high alert.

"Too bad there's no way I can do that as I'm inside your mind."

Dereia stops as she finally realize that the voice is not coming from any direction but instead ringing inside her head.

"Why you're inside my head?! Who are you?!"

"Listen miss. The answer is I don't know and my identity is irrelevant. What important is why you didn't fight back?"

Dereia stay quiet for a moment before answering.

"I can't."

"And why is that?"

"Because they're too powerful."

"Powerful what?" Josh asked as he still don't have any idea.

Dereia pause for a while before saying something.

"Why you even asking me? If you watching my life, you must know what they saying." Dereia spokes with slight annoyance.

But despite this, Josh can't remember anything. Not because of some defect on whatever his state right now.

The truth being, Josh just don't care at all. He basically watch what Dereia sees on her eyes just so he can pretend he doing something on the boring and empty darkness.

"I'm tired. Please let me rest."

Another day is gone by. With Dereia sleeping, Josh is left alone again to just think for himself.

~~~~~~°~~~~~~

Next day is Academy break. With all other students out to enjoy their free time. Except Dereia who decide stay.

"Going to skip classes?" Josh asked.

"No. It's Academy break today."

"Then why you still here?"

Dereia stay silent for few seconds before she resumes talking.

"I have nothing to do outside." Dereia then follow with an awkward laugh.

"Then you just gonna hole yourself here, doing nothing? Relatable."

"Not exactly. I'm going to train myself."

"Train? What's the point of going on academy then if you instead doing self-teaching? Teachers suppose to teach you."

"Sorry. It's complicated."

Silence befalls the two as Josh can't comprehend what Dereia is implying.

"Nevermind. I'm gonna train now, just don't interrupt me please."

"Ok fine. Just show me what you got."

.

.

.

Some time later. Dereia is now standing in the open field in front of the decrepit building which she considered home.

Josh watch with anticipation as he wait for Dereia to do something. Dereia picks a long stick nearby then walks to a spot to tap the ground.

"What are you do-"

Before Josh finish his confused question. He was interrupted when a pillar of soil suddenly rises taller than Dereia herself.

"WHAT?"

Josh watch with awe as Dereia continues to erect more pillars around.

"Is that... Magic?"

Everything makes more sense to Josh now. What Dereia is doing right now really explains the books she's reading and its contents full of unknown text and diagrams.

Josh at first curious with the unusual buildings and clothes he see from Dereia's eyes. But with the existence of magic...

Josh truly understands that he's now in another world.

"Interesting..." Josh says with amused smile.

Josh continues to watch Dereia, now with full attentiuon as he watch the girl cast powerful magic of varying elements.

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Flamethrower.

Icycle spikes.

Wind Cutter

Fire blast

Boulder strike

Water arrow

Incineration

Earthen prison

Ball lightning

Pit of mud

Aqua vortex

Each spell destroying the pillars she created. Pillars that are now just bunch of fragmented remains.

Once again in his life, Josh felt mesmerized with the beauty and mystery Dereia showcased. He makes a sinister smile after knowing a potential to make his life more interesting unlike his short existence in Earth.

Dereia breaths deeply as she just cast continious spells which drains a large portion of her stamina and mana. So Dereia sits under the shade of a tree to rest a little bit.

"W-why..."

"Mister?"

"Why you didn't fight back if you possessed such powerful magic?"

Dereia stays silent for a while again. Then she laughs painfully.

"I can't."

Josh scoffs.

"You have such powerful magic yet you still decide to let yourself get humiliated by those kids. That's dumb."

Dereia sighs with disbelief on Josh's words.

"Mister. For a being inside my mind, you weirdly don't know anything at all."

"Huh? And what are you implying."

"I mean. All of your question can be answered if you just browse my memories. If that thing is even posible." Dereia says with melancholic look on her face.

Josh went silent as Dereia's suggestion makes sense. But there's one problem...

He doesn't have any idea if that's even possible.

"Gahh fuck it. Just continue your training.

"Thanks mister."

Dereia starts to create another set of earthen pillars while Josh is in deep thought.

"Access her memories?"

Josh shakes his head out of frustration.

"Why I even care? I should just focus on stealing her body."

Josh continues to watch Dereia's training when she throws her long stick in favor of a shorter one.

Dereia focus and channel portion of her blue mana to hid right arm wielding the stick. The mana then engulfs the stick brighlty and after few seconds, the bright mana change form and become a sword made of mana with the stick as a foundation.

Dereia makes a deep breath and withing a minute, she dashes on the earth pillars. The mana sword cuts them like soft butter as the cuts are so clean that it takes a short delay before the cutted pillars slides then falls to the ground.

Josh is amaze on the skills and talent Dereia shows despite not knowing anything on his new world. But he also felt a bit of envy and anger.

"I'm absolutely need this body." Josh's ultimatum as he watch Dereia continue her close combat training.

~~~~~~°~~~~~~

Several days ago. While Josh which in control of Dereia's body is burying the body of the woman he just killed for clothes, Dereia is full of dread as she watch the memories of Josh while he still living on Earth.

Despite her not really understanding most of the things shown on the replays like guns, words and gadgets. All of her questions are get burried by unjust violence and massacre Josh perpetuated.

Josh running in the hallways looking on his next targets.

Men, women, authorities. Everything is fair game for him as on that moment, Josh's mission was to just increase the count of life he can snuff out.

Most students manages to run by following some sort of drill as if such tragedy happens occassionally, according to what Dereia think of the situation. Some students are too slow and got caught by Josh who killed them in cold blood.

Many students tries to hide but to the horror of the ones who got caught, Josh easily found them like he already have an idea on where students might hide on the building.

Dereia feels absolute disgust as Josh kills his victims without even letting them finish their plea nor prayers. For every gunshots, Dereia flinches and tears flow on her cheeks. She can only cry on the unfortunate souls who got caught on non-sensical violence.

Nonsense massacre did by a man who seems doesn't feel anything as she kill people that didn't do wrong at him.

The replay only ends when Josh was finally killed by weird armored people who enters and fight him on equal terms. Only for them to quickly kill Josh as they are just more experienced.

Dereia just spacing out as the screen turns white. She can't comprehend why such monster comes to her body to stole it.

But before she even compile her thoughts, the screen suddenly shows another replay. And Dereia's eyes widen in horror.

"No way..." Dereia is in shock as she saw the face of the blonde haired lady who tormented her the most. Dead on the floor as blood flows out on the hole on her forehead.

And just like the previous massacre, Josh do the same on her academy. But it's now even more deadly as Josh now uses magic Dereia didn't even created partnered by supporting spells that she learned.

Yet Dereia is very different now. She just watch silently as her classmates gets killed one-by-one by Josh. Dereia didn't show disgust, sympathy, nor anger. Just indiference.

Until Dereia notice her empathetic face on the reflection of the screen. She is shocked and repulse as she suddenly slap herself.

"WHAT I AM DOING?!"

Dereia slaps herself again.

"You're not like him!"

Dereia finally calms herself and continue to watch the replay. But she still feel mixed emotions as she watch her former classmates meet their demise.

At one end, she fee sad that they get the same fate as what Josh's classmates experienced. But on the other side, Dereia feels twisted calm watching the same classmates and teachers who torment her for months get killed one-by-one

Dereia turns off the replay screen and she just lie down on the invisible floor. The replays makes her feel exhausted despite being an entity inside her own body. Dereia is just looking on the equally dark ceiling or sky.

"What should I do now?" Dereia ask herself as she slowly losing hope that she's now a suspect of the crime she didn't do. A crime that surely give her or the one that stole her body a punishment worse than death.

She wants to cry again but there's no more tears she can let out. Dereia chuckle softly in defeat.

"Heh. I even depraved to even cry my suffering despite being an bodyless entity."

She cover her eyes with her right arm and grinds her teeth out of frustration.

"Damn it!"

All she wanted to do is to help her family, bring honor to her backwater village, become a hero. Especially the mystical Arcane Swordlady of Bolaire who the elders always tell her the story of.

But after accepting the opportunity, all she experienced are just suffering from the hands of so called "Descendants" of the heroes that protect the Kingdom during the war a thousand years ago. Then the mysterious man appears, steals her body and tainted her reputation.

"DAMN IT!"

.

.

.

"What do you want to become my precious Dereia?"

"Huh?!"

Dereia is surprised to hear a familiar voice. She sit up and find the source, only to see the screen lights up again despite her turning it off earlier.

Dereia didn't expected to see a recollection. She smiles painfully as she see her mom again despite it being just a memory.

"I want to become a hero just like the heroes told by elders!"

"Hehe. Then you should grow stronger. Afterall, the heroes are not lazy!"

"Of course mama!"

Her mom makes a sweet yet smugly smile.

"It's that true? From what I remember, the last time you help me and your dad on the farm is 3 weeks ago."

"Eekk!"

Dereia chuckle alongside her mom on the replay screen.

"If you're not diligent and hardworking, you can't become a hero like the ones that saved the world. My dear Dereia, you must become a great person like them ok?"

"Yes!"

Dereia smile as she watch her mom on the reply hug the child version of herself. Despite being just a memory, Dereia feels warmth, warmth that she miss dearly.

"Is that a promise?"

"Of course!"

"Well then, let's go to the woods and pick some mushrooms."

"Eek! R-right now?"

"Hehe of course. If we don't, we can't have a dinner later. So carry this basket and show me how much you want to become a hero."

"Hmmf! You just want me to help you mama. You meanie."

"Hehe. That's not true, I'm just helping you. By the way my dear, which hero is your favorite?"

"Hmmmm... Ah! It's the Arcane Swordslady. She's so elegant and refined! I want to become great like her!

"Then let's go and make your dream come true my dear!"

"Yes!"

The replay ends. Dereia feels painful nostalgia as she remembers the past. After reminiscing the good old times, Dereia remembers the dangerous monster to who now controlling her body.

She have now a dertermined look on her face, Dereia now being fueled by anger and desire to make things right by stopping further carnage.

Her, Dereia Morningdew will stop this madness with all cost as she starts to spawn a lot of screens in hope of finding a way to recover the control to her own body.

~~~~~~°~~~~~~

Back to the present...

"FUUUCKKKKKK!!!"

Dereia is slamming her head on the tree trunk, her face is covered in blood yet Dereia doesn't feel anything at all with each headbutt as she feels a far worse pain.

"DEREIAAAAAA!!! ENOUGH!!!"

Her gutteral scream echoes on the woods yet she didn't hear own scream as the high pitch sound in her mind is a lot louder with her head feeling like it's going to explode.

"AHHHHHHHH!!!"

She drop all fours to the ground. She feels like she's going to puke or pass out due intense pain.

"SO YOU WANT TO PLAY HUH?! MOTHERFUCKER THEN LET'S PLAY!"

Dereia slowly stand up limply. Trying her absolute best to resist the pain.

"I KNOW YOU CAN'T DO THIS FOREVER DEREIA! BUT IF YOU CONTINUE THIS BATTLE BUT LOSE YOUR GAS AHHHHHHH!!"

Dereia feels another surge of intense pain inside her head. But she endure, she needs to say the thing that will...

"I WILL PUSH THIS BODY OF YOURS AND TRAVEL BACK TO YOUR VILLAGE AND KILL YOUR FUCKING FAMILY!"

With just one single threat, the absurd pain inside Dereia's head is now slowly fades away. She finally feel relief after two days of suffering due to Dereia's repeated assault.

"Yeah that's what you do. Just shut up and let me pilot your body for now. If you can, just dissappear completely!"

Dereia makes a deep sigh of relief now that the headache is gone. But because of her two days lacking enough sleep, Dereia feel her entire body losing its strenght.

Dereia touch her face and feel both the dried and fresh blood. She looks on her fingers to see the tips got coated by blood. This revelation is then followed by sharp pain on her forhead. But its nothing compared to the insanity she experienced earlier.

"I-I need... T-to..."

With her last ounces of strenght. Dereia search a safe spot deep inside the forest until she discover a large tree hollow.

Dereia legs give up but she proceed to crawl until she finally gets into safety. With her last remaining power, Dereia makes a earth wall go block the entrance.

"F-finall-"

Dereia lose conciousness as she slumped on the cold ground. Finally getting a sleep she seek for so long.

~~~~~~°~~~~~~

Back in Horic.

"What just... happened here?"

Gilmore just looked on the row of dead adventurers being burried in the outskirts of the town. He can't believe the amount of death in front of him.

"This is a tragedy and a huge mistake." The guard captain commented as he watch besides Gilmore.

"Mistake? You say you watch the entire fight happened right? What you find out."

The guard captain clenches his fist.

"All of these dead adventurers got baited by the rewards. They think it's just an easy gold rank quest when in reality, that monster should be hunted by Platinum ranks."

Gilmore can't deny the opinion of the guard captian as he grinds his teeth put of frustration. So much unnecessary life lost because of all of them underestimating the enemy.

"Damn it."

The two can't handle the sight any longer and they walk away.

"Is there survivors?"

"Yes. Thankfully we manage to evacuate the nearby citizens and some gold adventurers with varying stages of injury."

"Thanks the Goddess. Where I can talk to the survivors? I want to learn what they see."

"If that's the case. I believe they can't provide what you searching for as like me, they also clueless on what Dereia's magic and skills are."

"Thus contributing to the huge death toll." Gilmore painfully added. The captain nods in agreement.

"But there's a group that manage to fight toe-to-toe with Dereia, even landing some hits on her."

"What is that group?"

"Follow me sir."

After some time, Gilmore's disbelief turns into concern as he finally see who's the group the captain is referring to.

"E-even them?"

Gilmore looks on the row of bed where every member of Grand Ecstasy is lying. All of them are unconcious.

Concern crawls deeper in her mind as he remembers how he personally trains two of them, watch their strenghts grow, and the entire party is an expert of the trades of adventuring.

Only for them to get such drastic defeat on the hand of Dereia.