Positive thinking is a rather strange concept. It's something that people tend to push aside as mere symbol of innocence or perseverance without putting much thought into it. However and surprisingly, if one truly has faith in that optimism offered to them, they can sometime find themselves doing things that they didn't think they could achieve by putting more efforts into what they're doing, all for the sake of deserving that positive comment given.

It is a small act of kindness that people will often ignore for the sake of looking at a more realistic outcome, no matter how gloomy and destructive it is. In reality, small gestures can change many things or push people to do a good decision, its effects varying.

Sadly, in a harsh and unforgiving reality, miracles are nothing but a shadow passing in the corner of one's eyes, briefly seen yet never fully observable. None can reach it, none can truly take hold of it and brandish it with pride. It is a fleeting idea, a sad delusion that desperate people give to themselves to pretend that they can turn the tide to their favor, even when knowing that their end will soon arrive.

Postive thinking truly is a curse in this world.

...

...

Roland: Phew, come on, don't lose your focus.

The man standing alone against the guests readied his blade and turned his gaze to confront them with a carefree smile. On the other hand, the trio otherwise known as the 'Rats' were tightening their weapons, frowns forming on their faces.

It was understandable. After all, if they emerged from this battle with a defeat, it was the end for them, no matter what occurs afterwards. They couldn't afford to lose and it was showing in their attitudes. The sole librarian of Keter's floor shrugged off their glares and gathered his thoughts.

The Fixer was completely unfazed by their poor choices of weaponry as he confirmed his grip around the hilt of the sword given to him. He calmly closed his eyes and listened until footsteps echoed, followed by a finger snap indicating him to advance. Finally, he charged onwards with a light smile on his face.

The unlucky opponent facing the lone guardian protecting this place was the one holding onto her dirty bag, Lenny, her unkept, short and messy hair trying to go along with her movements. One of her hands was holding onto a surgeon knife and her eyes were unfazed by the clear disadvantage they had.

With no hesitation, she raised her weapon to go on the offensive but witnessed in her perimeter of vision a sudden motion that caught her by surprise. The one dressed in a pristine suit aimed at her body and went for a perfect stab. The blade entered her body with ease, causing her to stagger.

Roland: This is going much better than I expected, the training must have paid off~

Lenny: ...

She ignored his comment and clutched her wounded area, her eyes watching the ones who stepped in this place alongside her approach her attacker, one raising a rusty blade and the other a simple and boring hammer. Unfortunately for them, considering what they were wielding, many would be left unimpressed by their attempt at looking intimidating, which is exactly what occured with their target.

Roland calmly let out a faint whistle out of his mouth and parried Pete's blade, sending him backward with close to no effort.

Mang-chi: D-Damn it, I knew this was too good to be true.

Left completely open during his parry, the patron librarian of this floor watched the hooded man swing his hammer and blocked the strike with one of his arms, mitigating the hit to some extend.

...

Pete: ...You bastard.

The leader of the group mumbled his anger at the foe they were facing and brandished his knife, not giving the man they had to eliminate a moment of rest. They were weak on their own but in numbers, it was a different story, all they had to do is leave no opportunity for the man with black hair to recover his breath.

Roland: ...It's just a bunch of Rats.

A light frown followed that sudden charge going straight at him. It was so pathetic to see that he was wondering if they were even trying, until his realization slipped out of his mouth. An unamused look was given to the rapidly approaching guest and his blade did the talking for him, swiftly cutting the hand Pete was using to hold his rusty weapon and leaving behind a now bleeding arm with nothing at the end of it.

Pete: Ah... Ah...

He glanced down at the floor, observing his removed body part on the floor in bewilderment. He couldn't believe it with his own eyes, it had to be a fever dream. He wanted to believe so but his terribly wounded limb would not allow him to think otherwise.

Time slowed down due to the stress accumulating, allowing him to see the librarian swing for a second time, slashing the entirety of his chest.

His vision turned black and soon after, like a mirage in an endless desert, his body vanished. All that was left behind was a panoply of golden pages that were gathered to look like his silhouette and a book at its core. Upon landing on the floor, the pages of light scattered, flying through the air to join the many others already trapped in the Library.

Mang-chi: W-What...

Lenny: ...So this how we die.

The one still grasping her bleeding wound whispered to herself, knowing that their demise was imminent. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand up just in time to witness Mang-chi run at Roland, sweats going down his face as he did so. After seeing his own leader turn into a pile of pages and a book, the other remaining member of the trio was having a hard time keeping his composure.

Roland: ...

For the second time, the new addition to this place endured a blunt strike coming from the hooded man. It wasn't strong enough to break his bone but it would definitely leave a bruise.

Roland: You shouldn't be too careless.

Mang-chi: Huh?

His confusion revealed itself for half a second before a trail of crimson followed, staining his vision and turning everything red. Through that sudden change of color, the one closest to the lone opponent was faintly able to see the sword that seemed to deny the light around them, remaining pitch blade no matter what. Following its path was a familiar liquid that dropped on the ground at his feet.

He was slashed, it didn't take much for him to realize that fact. Completely drugged by the adrenaline his body was giving him, he was unable to feel the pain that he would have normally experienced, a way more merciful ending compared to Pete's. To finish him off, the man dressed in a suit pierced his abdomen from below, going under his ribcage and aiming for the heart.

Mang-chi: I... I don't want to die like this...

Roland: ...

He let out his final thoughts, his final fears escape his lips. He was scared to know what was on the other side, if there was even something to greet him. He wanted to beg for a second chance but his body refused to cooperate, forced to pull the plug without a way to pump his blood.

The last thing he could feel was an unknown warmth envelopping his body before quickly turning into golden fragments. The pure pages of light were floating around the murderer, who simply heaved a breath of relief. The sight was something out of this world, like watching a meticulous painting but for the terribly injured girl, it was a nightmarish vision.

She was facing the one that would soon kill her, her brain understood that fact ever since she was attacked. They were overpowered by a single foe, they had no chance from the very start. She knew the truth as she watched her allies get slaughtered, unable to do anything and now, it was her turn.

Lenny: ...

Roland: ...

The tension in the air grew and none of them moved for what felt like an eternity. One was eyeing his next victim while the other was looking at their executor. She had all the reasons in the world to panic, to beg for mercy but she remained cold, arboring a gaze devoid of hope.

She had none ever since she became one known as Rats, she was a failure. If she wasn't, she wouldn't be here, she would have lived an excellent life in one of the Wings without having to search for scraps to survive.

Footsteps echoed in her ears, her eyes catching the man stepping closer. Her hand clutching her scalpel tightened unlike her resolve, she had no hope of emerging from this place victorious. Even if she were to win, that terrible wound of hers would leave her for dead in a few hours at best.

She was at death's door and its call was growing more powerful with each breath she took but she nonetheless stood her ground with no expectations. Roland, on the other hand, readied his weapon.

Lenny: ...I once had hope in this terrible world.

Roland: ...Me too.

He whispered to her and swung his blade, delivering a final blow. For a moment, everything felt sluggish, even her own body. As her sight began to be covered with a blinding light, a voice echoed in her mind.

The one who shattered her life, her aspirations.

"Sorry but you have nothing to demonstrate."

"...What?"

"With results as pathetic as this, your chances of getting anywhere are none."

Lenny: I always was a failure.

She would have liked to express the emotions she wasn't able to show on that day but her calm and unwavering voice was the only thing that came out. She had long since lost her frustration, her sorrow, she had nothing left. She was devoid of ambitions and desires towards this world, the City.

Finally, her body vanished with that final disappointment.

...

...

Roland: Phew, got the books ma'am~

Angela: Good work.

Y/N: ...

The assistant looked down at the books collected after the battle with a sour taste in his mouth. They were the first victims of this place and many would follow, he could only sigh and turn a blind eye to it.

Roland: I got a little scared at first but it wasn't too bad.

Y/N: Yea...

The truth was that the battle was over by the time the both of them arrived in the room they were currently in. They had no clue what occured during that time but his presence was enough for them to understand that the guests were properly taken care of.

Angela: They looked rather desperate. Is it so important to belong to a renown Syndicate?

She calmly placed the palm of her hand on top of the pile Roland brought back with him and asked a question. She couldn't understand why they would go to such length to belong somewhere that she still has no idea about.

Roland: It's all part of the City life. You have to belong to a group otherwise living in the City becomes too tough.

Y/N: ...Isn't that a little too cruel?

Roland: That's how the City is, nothing can be done about it.

Y/N: What about you though Roland?

Roland: What about me?

Y/N: If this place is merciless enough to abandon people like this, how did you live through it?

Angela: Hm, I am interested as well.

Roland: Oh come on, I just came back from my first reception and now you're both ganging up on me. I need a moment to catch my breath.

Y/N: I suppose that's true.

The one who brought up the question averted his eyes. Angela, on the other hand, seemed rather annoyed by the lack of answer but did not let out her complaint, they had all the time in the world to ask the question again.

Y/N: Unfortunately we don't have much here in terms of relaxation so you might want to go take a nap.

Roland: Will do~

He took the offer given to him and placed his hands in his pockets. It was his first victory as a librarian and he was planning to enjoy every moment of it and take it easy for a while. Without a single word said afterwards, he stepped out of the room, leaving Angela and Y/N alone.

Y/N: ...

Angela: ...

Following his departure, the air grew cold and silent. Both were not willing to speak to the other for many complicated reasons and feelings. The stares they exchanged were powerful enough to enter a clash and arrive at a tie with each assaults.

The truth, sadly, was that the man brought back to life against his will was trying to find a right opportunity to take his leave but to no avail. His pride would not let him admit defeat to her and simply walking out of the room would prompt her to question him... and also admit his defeat.

If there was one thing that he wouldn't allow himself to do, it would be to give her the satisfaction of winning.

...This was the culmination of his wrath, hatred and even despair against the one who caused this mess, leaving him unable to behave like he normally would.

Angela: ...I have to go take care of those books.

Y/N: ...Sure.

Finally, after a long period of silence, the director sighed and took her leave with the books in her hands, vanishing with a single snap of her fingers. It was akin to magic, leaving the man to ponder about how it worked.

With her presence no longer near him, the unknown mist fogging his thoughts dissipated, which allowed him to place his hands on each sides of his head and let out a deep breath of relief. Soon after, a headache began to form, just like the first time he woke up in the Library.

Y/N: I hate this place.

He mumbled under his breath and began making his exit, a hand pressed against his forehead to lessen the pain he was experiencing. He needed a place to recover his composure, a place that he knew both Angela and Roland would not bother him for a while.

...

Soon enough, the destination was in sight and a breeze of air flew past my face, almost welcoming me with its presence. Hands placed against my back, I silently stepped inside and glanced around.

It was a massive space filled with mountains of books, creating towers that would normally be impossible. Suspending above a large hole that one could not even see the end of, a large platform was extending alongside many others towards the opposing side.

This was an area now forever stained by the stench of death, emanating from the floor I was standing on like a dark mist. No traces of the battle that occured a while ago was there for me to witness but it wasn't necessary, I could simply sense it.

With no words able to escape my mouth, I made my way to the edge of the bridge and glanced downward at the void below my feet.

A single step, a single step was all I needed to fall down for who knows how long until my body turn into mush on the floor deep within that pit, if there was even one at the end. Left with many thoughts lingering in my head, my eyes remained fixated on the "cliff" in front of me.

You did say that you'd rather die than help her, why not do it now?

Y/N: ...

A whisper made its way to my ears, trying to push me over the line like a devil taunting me. Yet, just like how devils are mentioned in tales, its words were correct and tempting. I despised the AI who brought me back to life. I had many reasons to be in my current state and I could simply pull the plug, decide that I didn't want to deal with her and take the "easy" way out but I sighed and pushed that thought aside.

The reason was simple: she brought me back from the dead once and I highly doubt that it was a one time trick. Trying to escape this place would only lead me to awaken once more in this prison, her golden eyes looking down at me.

I was at an impasse, I couldn't win no matter what I did. Understanding the truth of my situation, I lowered my shoulders and stared down at the hole below the bridge. I could feel its gaze looking back, judging me and awaiting my final decision.

Y/N: First Lobotomy Corp. and now this, I really can't catch a break.

I mumbled to myself before finally sitting down on the ground I was using to remain suspended above my potential fall. As I did so, the stare I received from the empty void ceased to be, or at least to the extend that I could barely feel it.

Y/N: You know, I went through all of this, surviving against many impossible odds and facing enemies that even my colleagues feared. I did all of this because many people were also in the same circumstances as me, I doubt that I would have been able to do it on my own.

I placed my hands on my thighs, my legs swinging above the large empty space below me. Roland was currently recovering from his battle and Angela... well, she was out of the equation by default and so, with nobody to talk to, I simply aimed my words at the emptiness itself, at my own insanity.

Y/N: I wanted to get out, face a new future with the one that I truly fell in love with, create a spark of hope in this hell. I guess that's what I get for being too greedy.

Was it too much to ask? Can a simple request like that be truly considered "greed"? Apparently yes, otherwise we wouldn't be in this scenario. I chuckled at my own words and swung my head back, glancing at the ceiling above me.

Y/N: Now, it's all gone along with my wishes. I have nothing, nobody and not a single desire to live, the end of a sad tale about a pathetic man, don't you think?

I peeked at the pit below me, feeling its gaze aiming back in retalation. I could almost sense some sort of pity emanating from it, though it might simply be my own madness speaking in its stead.

I heaved a sigh and wandered in my own shattered memories. They were the equivalent of a broken kaleidoscope shining its many possibilities, possibilities that I will never be able to look at because of my fragmented mind.

As I mulled over my current situation, I took a peek at the few scenes I could remember in that fucked up head of mine. Most of them consist of me facing danger around each corner like it was some sort of carnival where you have to shoot as many target as possible to get a good score. Ignoring those ones, the others consisted of me working with abnormalities.

...There's a lot of Queen of Hatred in said memories, like- holy fuck, was Queen of Hatred my only assignment because a good 45% of said scenes are just me working on her while she throws a fit.

Y/N: ...

I guess there's also the few times I spoke with a Sephirah and Angela, images concerning the latter bringing me an immense amount of pain and anger.

Malkuth, Yesod, Hod, Netzach, Tiphereth, Chesed, Gebura, Hokma... I guess Binah as well. I wonder where they all are, did Angela pull the rug under their feet and got rid of them in the end?

Wouldn't surprise me, Angela definitely would toss them aside if it helped her goal, she considers herself to be above consequences. Unfortunately for her, humans are a kind that can hold onto grudges for a long time when they truly mean it and her behaviour is surely going to attract that type of reaction towards her.

Hell, my current state is a perfect example of that fact. She mercilessly sacrificed everything in that facility for her own gain without a single care and she wants me to simply accept it like it was common sense, that her decision was completely fair and flawless.

Y/N: Sorry "director" but that's not how the world works.

Humans are spiteful creatures, demons that can kill over the simplest things. My gaze aimed at her was filled with animosity for a good reason and my mind was screaming at me to act on those emotions, despite knowing that her current body could simply shrug off any attacks received.

However, that was only for now, who knows what might occur in the future. Her plan was to escape out of this place, escaping her own mechanical body and obtain a proper one, a perfect opportunity to strike her-

Y/N: ...?

Slowly, almost as if waking up from a dream, I began to realize how horrible the thoughts coursing through my head were and stood up from my spot, feeling a cold sweat falling down my face. I wanted to stop myself, to cut those ideas but it was beyond my control.

Y/N: Come on Y/N, snap out of it.

I gave myself a firm slap on the side of my face and pushed aside the feelings that were lingering around me like a noose. I slowly placed my hand over the area I slapped myself and made my way back, deciding to turn off my brain and simply go take a nap to forget what occured.

I'm definitely tired if I'm thinking of ideas like that, I should use that time to find more proper insults to throw at her.