CHAPTER 30: WHAT THE…???
John stared at the empty space, thinking to himself. How rude.
The silence lingered, but then the edges of the domain began to blur. The abyss below wavered, the red core above dimmed, and the strands of purple light unraveled like fading ink. Everything dissolved around him, as though the world itself was being erased.
Then, an ancient, mechanical voice echoed through the fading void:
{Synchronization complete.}
John's eyes snapped open. Darkness pressed in on all sides, the pod's interior cold and suffocating. He tried to move, but his body refused to respond. His limbs were heavy and numb as if they belonged to someone else.
With a hiss, the pod's lid slid open. A sliver of light cut through the dark, widening until the chamber was fully exposed.
A figure leaned over him, movements sharp yet deliberate, every gesture precise. She checked the readings on a device at her side, her expression calm but focused.
John blinked, vision still blurry, but the image sharpened in his mind. Elsa Daimen. The assistant to the intelligence instructor.
Her eyes swept across him, observant and clinical, as though cataloging every detail. "You're still alive, and your body seems to be holding up quite well," she said, her voice steady, professional. Then, with the faintest curve of her lips, she added, "Congratulations—you've successfully awakened."
After a few more checks, she straightened and closed the device with a soft click. "You'll stabilize soon enough," she said, her tone cold and clipped, though carrying a faint lightness now. Without wasting a moment, Elsa turned away, her steps sharp and deliberate as she moved down the row, opening other pods with the same precise efficiency
John lay in silence, the pod's hum filling the space. His body still felt foreign and heavy, but slowly, sensation began to creep back.
First came the faint prickle in his fingertips, then the weight of his arms. His chest rose with steady breaths, each one less strained than the last. The numbness in his legs ebbed, replaced by a dull ache.
He flexed his fingers weakly, the motion clumsy and slow. His vision sharpened, the blur fading into clearer outlines—the walls, the faint glow of the other pods, the lingering chill of the chamber.
John let out a long, shaky breath, the sound echoing faintly in the chamber. So, this is what awakening feels like… His lips twisted into a grimace. It's fucking awful.
His body ached, and just remembering the pain he had felt at the start made him shudder. The agony had been unlike anything he'd ever known—like being torn apart and stitched back together by forces beyond comprehension.
As the ache lingered, his mind drifted back to the encounter. Why did that guy come now?
John kept his eyes half-lidded, staring at the ceiling while waiting till sensation fully crept back into his limbs. All this time, he hadn't contacted me once. If he truly cared about my condition, he could have appeared at any point over the past months. Instead, he chose the day of my awakening, so he must have another reason than to "check up "on me
And then Dark appeared… a weird guy with a weird name for sure… But his presence was… something else. Dangerous wasn't the right word—Jynx was dangerous too—but Jynx had always carried himself casually, like everything was a game and was there for his entertainment. But Dark… felt different, wrong in a way he couldn't quite put a finger on.
What unsettled him most was Jynx's reaction. The shift had been subtle, but unmistakable. The smile had vanished. The Amusement had turned into something else. For the first time, Jynx looked wary.
That meant Dark wasn't insignificant.
Was accepting the deal just to spite Jynx a mistake? Maybe. I'd be lying if I said anger hadn't played a part. But it wasn't only that. If I ever want to leave this place—if I want even a chance of protecting the group—I need a lot of strength... fast, A god's backing, even a questionable one, seems an alternative worth checking out.
I don't trust Dark. He feels off. But I don't trust Jynx either, and between the two, Dark at least wasn't pretending this was anything other than a transaction.
What I can't understand is why I am involved with two literal gods in the first place. Jynx, I could almost understand— transmigration and champion nonsense… whatever game he was playing. But Dark… why was A literal god asking me to run an errand? Because he saw Jynx wanted something from me? It doesn't make sense… I can't understand a god, but that just doesn't sound right… He did say I was special.
But Special how?
What exactly was so different about me?
Before he could follow that thought further, a mechanical voice cut through the room, cold and slightly muffled by a mask.
"How are you feeling?"
John turned his head toward the sound and saw ONE standing there, arms crossed, gaze steady.
"My body…" John muttered, voice rough, "It felt like it got crushed into the ground and then stitched back together piece by piece."
ONE's lips curved faintly, almost approving. "You are fine then."
John let out a weak chuckle, shaking his head. "If that's your definition of 'fine,' I don't want to know what bad feels like." He paused, worry creeping into his face. "How are the others?"
ONE's reply was calm, almost detached. "I don't know."
John's face fell, his brows creasing, but ONE's voice cut through with the same calm detachment. "But don't worry. Those who reach this far usually succeed. Speaking of which, I need to check on them. You should rest." Without another word, he turned and walked away.
"No… I'm coming," John muttered stubbornly.
But his body betrayed him. He struggled to push himself upright, but he felt sluggish and heavy, every movement feeling like dragging a stone. "A little help here?" he asked, half‑pleading.
ONE glanced back, expression unmoved. "Just stay put."
John exhaled sharply, shaking his head with a crooked smile. "Figures." His strength gave out, and he collapsed back onto the cold surface of the pod.
Time passed in silence, but gradually the heaviness began to lift. His breathing steadied, his muscles ached less, and strength returned to his limbs. John sat up with effort, determined to see how the others were doing.
The chamber was quiet except for the faint hum of machinery, the rows of pods glowing dimly in the sterile light. He scanned the room, eyes darting from one shadow to the next, until he finally caught sight of ONE standing near the far wall, arms folded as if he had been waiting all along.
John pushed himself forward, each step heavy, and called out, "How are they?"
"They're all fine," ONE replied evenly. "Though none of them can move an inch. I had to take them back to the cell to rest." His gaze lingered on John, sharp and assessing. "But you… You are really a freak."
John breathed a sigh of relief, tension easing from his shoulders. At least they're alright.
But then he tilted his head and asked," What do you mean I am a freak?"
ONE just shook his head," Forget it."
John managed a crooked grin. "So… any chance I can get the same treatment?"
ONE ignored him completely, turning and walking away without a word.
John scratched his head, muttering under his breath. "Well… that sucks." With no choice, he decided to head back toward the dorms himself.
But before he could take more than a few steps, a voice rang out—smooth, almost gleeful.
[Ahh… I would have really loved to sleep a little longer.]
John froze, his blood running cold. Slowly, he turned his head, eyes narrowing as he searched for the source.
What the… he thought, his mind racing.