While the ongoing battle that the captain of the Central Command team was involved in happened, the events for those still within the facility were just as stressful. The song of melancholy playing through the intercom was spreading around like a terrible disease infiltrating the mind of those who listen to it. With it, many more problems emerged, employees being dragged back to the main rooms in critical conditions for unknown reasons.

Clerk: Make way, we have an agent coming through!

One of the doors opened and a group of office workers stepped inside while carrying an injured employee. All running past a certain girl in charge of the Security team, her ears caught the yell of one of the other agents behind her.

Elis: D-Daniel, are you okay?! Please talk to me!

Daniel: Still... just a flesh wound.

Forced to hear the cries of those confused by what was going on, Alter Ego remained seated with a hand pressed against her head, her face completely motionless. In situations like these, she would often find herself rely on Hava to divide the burden on her shoulders but now that she was busy dealing with the Central Command team during Y/N's absense, she was the sole anchor keeping this entire department running, her Sephirah nowhere to be seen and even then, he wasn't the type to be helpful.

Hava no longer by her side to support her, having nobody to rely on, no idea what to do and the constant thought of never finding the one she fell in love with, all of these were crushing her. She couldn't breath properly, her chest raising and lowering rapidly. Without even realizing it, one of her fingers was in her mouth, pressing her teeth against her fingernail.

Alter Ego: C-Come on, y-you can do it.

She looked back at her own memories when the day first began, confident in her words and actions like it was the most natural thing in the world. Now, with the constant chaos spreading and the employees getting hurt left and right, she had no opportunity to recover her composure without something else disrupting her thoughts.

...

Alter Ego: What would he do?

She mumbled to herself and, as if a god listened to her question, the music cut short. The air around changed dramatically. Taken aback by what just occured, she stood up from her seat and looked around before her radio began to spew out some words. It took her a good minute to process the voices coming from the device but the words were now clear to her.

Sinvicta: We need assistance, Gebura's back on a rampage!

Alter Ego: ...

Her hand tightened around the sword she carried around. Her question was met with an answer. Confronted by a sudden twist of fate, there was only one choice he would have made: simply face the threat for the sake of protecting others.

Their true ordeal began as well.

...

...

The number of times I've grazed death in this facility, at least in this current iteration of "me", was nothing to scoff at. I could barely remember all the times my life could have ended, or at least assign a definite number. Yet, despite that fact, it was nothing compared the number of times I barely avoided death's door in this accursed place. Merely standing here was enough to count as being on the boundary of the afterlife, one foot already in the eternal void of death.

That monologue aside, I crouched down, barely avoiding an incoming pillar wanting nothing more than to leave my corpse without a cranium attached to it. Panting heavily, I stood back up and observed the ever-so changing liquid hijack one of the many fallen victims laying everywhere, using its body as a puppet.

With no hesitation, the newly revived body sprung back on its feet and raised its arms, tightly holding onto a familiar dark rifle, the marksman's.

"Obliterate those blinded by lies, molten Fairies."

Quick on the uptake however was our foe, ready to release another burst of "Fairies" in our direction. My body still feeling the damage of said attack, I knew that I could not afford to get hit by it. I desperately looked around for a possible escape route until the risen body spoke up... Well, the parasite latched onto it.

"Stay behind us."

"We protect those... with pink hearts..."

Y/N: ...

My energy was quite low at the moment so I was not about to refuse a moment to rest after all the struggles I went through. Gritting my teeth, I endured the pain that my body was putting me through and jumped right behind my standing meat shield, just in time to see a show of blinding slashes rip through the air and attack the "cover" I was using.

Eye for eye, teeth for teeth as they say. In response to the attack it received, the inky entity retaliated by shooting a perfect bullet in the opponent's head, a bullet that would never miss its target. Sadly, that was the best it could do, forced to discard the body due to one of the arms only being held by the ligaments. The sight was enough to make my stomach churn, fighting my desire to puke after seeing my "own" body being exposed like that.

God, I could even smell a foul odor as well.

"Y/N?"

Laying around my feet, the thing- No, I suppose protector in this scenario, called my name, sensing my own distress. Completely ignoring the voice, I crouched next to the now inanimate body and took its weapon. Once done, I hurriedly pointed the barrel at my foe and pressed the trigger, a sense of familiarity overwhelming me. I could vividly remember using it like it happened yesterday, just like how I killed those people with it as well.

Y/N: ...

A couple of blue circles formed around the tip of the barrel and a blue bullet pierced through the air and directly struck the target while it was still recovering from the first attack. I had no intention to let it come back on its feet. That desire in mind, I repeatedly pulled the trigger on the rifle, knowing that it would take less time than to reload the rifle I had on me between each shots

Each bullets entering the body, I stepped closer, making the cooldown time between each shots quicker until I was close enough to completely drop that approach and turn the weapon around. Now held by the barrel, I charged at my delusioned self and swung down the butt of the rifle. During that rather quick downward arc, my eyes noticed the normally pink sleeves turn black, the familiar thing spreading before latching onto the weapon I was holding.

Finally hitting the target, the sight was more than gruesome. My unexpected helper attached itself to the "melee" weapon I was wielding and I observed the weapon completely shatter into pieces once impact was made. The hit was so powerful in fact that my body unconsciously froze upon seeing the result of my action.

A smile was still visible on the face... and that was it, that was the only thing that could be discernable on the remains. Everything above the mouth was a full puddle on the ground, a mix of skin and that dark liquid that brought forth the one who's assisting me. With the skin completely gone, the skull was revealed and even that didn't survive, shattered pieces like a messed up puzzle laying everywhere but also keeping a semblance of a human skull outline, simply an abstract representation of said body part now.

Y/N: ...

The floor felt slippery, my feet stepping on the dark liquid that came from the recently defeated "me". Fortunately, it didn't last for long and the conscious amalgamation absorbed the newly created substance into its body, slowly recovering its original size.

I heaved a sigh to calm my own mind from experiencing a mental breakdown, I wasn't there yet but I could feel it approach at an alarming rate and unlike during my outbursts in the facility, nobody would be there to save me from my panic, meaning my end would most definitely assured, I couldn't afford to lose it now.

"Y/N!"

Out of instinct, my body moved on its own the moment my name was called, also helped by the fact that loud footsteps were reaching my position. Holding back a slight gasp, my feet bumped into one of the past victims who tried to escape this trial as I attempted to dodge and stopped me in my track. No time to try again, I braced myself and soon enough, the right side of my head was struck.

The might of what I could tell was a punch was so powerful that my head recoiled almost to the middle point between the original position of my head and my spine. Needless to say, I was left completely staggered with no way to defend myself.

My vision was hazy to the point that I couldn't even see the second jab aiming directly at my left ribs, sending backward. Yet despite that second attack that sparked my nervous system, I couldn't see anything, my vision was still not fully recovered.

I clutched my damaged ribs before looking back at the last known location of my attacker. I couldn't see but I could still hear and said hearing soon warned me of the approaching foe. Judging from the way the feet were moving, I could guess that they would strike in a diagonal on the left.

That info guessed, I prepared in advance and slightly bent my knees for my next move. Charging closer with no signs of stopping, they aimed, as predicted, to my left in a diagonal. The amount of relief in that moment, knowing that my prediction for once worked, was so high that I couldn't stop myself from smiling despite my injuries.

Once close enough, I rolled out of the way, effectively avoiding the assault. Sadly, my ribs did not agree with that and forced my little trick to an abrupt end, forcing me back on my feet quickly and just in time to barely graze a gust of wind that I could only assume to be a kick. At this point, I was relying on luck to guide me through this mess and it was showing.

"Over here!"

"Jump... here!"

Suddenly, many voices called me not too far away, guiding me where to go. I didn't really have much of a choice and so, I jumped behind me. Expecting to fall on top of one of the previous iterations who died in this terrible place, I was quite shocked to feel a surface block me, a soft one that felt like water sticking to me. Then, I realized that it must have been the nameless entity itself, using its body to stop me where it wanted me.

Although the thought was nice and even I can acknowledge it, my mind refused and immediately brought shivers in my entire body, feeling my own throat close itself in fright, a fear so deep that I still couldn't fight it in this emergency. Thankfully, it must have sensed it too, quickly separating itself from me.

Y/N: ...I'm sorry.

I inadvertently mumbled back to my assistant in this madness, apologizing for my reaction, even in this situation. A hand against my head, my sight slowly came back to me and just in time to witness a perfect launch from the sudden attacker, going straight for my neck. Time slowed down and I watched the threat slowly making its way closer until a large spike impaled the opponent.

"Goodbye."

At least I could give a pretty good guess who said that one. Now fully back with the exception of my aching side, I glanced down at the one who got me from behind and to my surprise, I couldn't even recognize it.

That... thing was not human, it didn't even look like me in the slightest. Fully dark like the sky above my head, it was a wolf-like being with its fur removed, blue eyes piercing through to look directly at me. Its hands were adorned with sharp claws and its feet were digging in the floor itself. It was a beast simply looking at me like I was a prey and nothing else. It looked nothing like me but I couldn't stop myself from frowning.

Its very existence disgusted me, as if I was looking at the very pinnacle of ugliness but it also filled me with an unknown rage, a voice in the back of my head telling me that my assumptions about its identity were wrong.

"Lost... in its own E.G.O..."

Y/N: ...What?

"Consumed..."

"His existence degraded by the E.G.O..."

I didn't have time to ponder on these words, not in the heat of battle. One thing remains clear though, I have to keep going, I can't die in this place. No, I refuse to die in here and even if it were to happen, I would drag my body back from the gates of the afterlife to force myself out of this place.

Y/N: I'm gonna turn you into a carpet once I'm done with you.

This is probably the closest I'll get to fight an actual abnormality in this horrible place.

...

...

In a place separated from that pocket space, a fabricated reality distorted into a true nightmare, a second nightmare was formed. Located in the Disciplinary department was the grand Red Mist, although completely messed up, an error in the code. Its existence felt like it was a mere inches away from disappearing but it still nonetheless attacked with as much power as the real Sephirah.

That is, if it could hit something. All gathered in the main room were the 5 office workers of the mentioned area, striking grand poses upon arriving at scene, like it was a choreography. Their voices shouted in unison.

Clerks: Clerks, assemble!!

With that began a spectacle that those who arrived at the scene couldn't believe. Sinvicta, the captain of the Disciplinary department and the first one to be alerted of the sudden threat was halfway between facepalming and bewilderement.

Indeed, the clerks were all running around the AI to confuse her and when an attack tried to reach them, they would simply roll out of the way before flashing a wide grin.

Clerk 2: We all know that dodge rolling gives you invincibility! You can't hurt us!

Clerk 3: Go ahead, touch me, I dare you to- oops, you failed~!

Clerk 4: If we can't damage her then we sure as hell can confuse her!

Alter Ego: What... what is going on?

Sinvicta: I... I guess they're pulling the big time play instead of us.

Clerk 1: Hey, help us, our guns can't do shit against her!

One of the workers called the agents in the room and perfectly rolled away to avoid a blow. What was once a terrible and unrelenting monster that brought destruction in its path was now left in this state, its glitchy appearance not being just for show.

Regardless of that, weapons were raised and the battle began, a battle to end today's ordeal.

Clerk 5: Are we gonna get promoted after this?

Sinvicta: I doubt it.

Clerk 2: ...Man, I should have stayed at that sandwich shop instead of joining a Wing.

Clerk 3: Don't even start or I'm gonna turn you into a sandwich for my next meal.

Clerk 4: Both of you shut your mouth and keep rolling!

...

...

Y/N's mind: I wonder how they're doing back there.

I asked myself that question while swiftly darting to the right and perfectly evading sharp claws going for my face, finally deciding to use them instead of fists. The air around each swipes was tearing apart, sending what felt like small gusts of wind around. A sigh escaped my lips as I jumped away to gain some distance, my target doing the same.

The both of us observed each other, scanning for a possible weakness. During that moment of concentration, a new round began, a new round where the both of us will try to overpower the opponent. While I was clenching my fists in preparation, I glanced around in hope to find a possible weapon but nothing, the one closest would leave me vulnerable to a sudden attack.

Although the air was completely silent, I could still hear in my ears a muffled and distant music, probably one of the first signs of madness making itself known to me. Yes, one that would only begin after one of the monstrous beings kept in this place were to escape, the First Warning. However, the usually high tension instrumental was reduced to an eerie melody, a slight variation of the song that we would often hear in the early days. It was oddly fitting the current atmosphere I had to admit. This place felt disconnected to reality, stepping deeper into the obscurity of the unknown.

Standing on a platform in the dark abyss of nothingness, time seemed to not matter. There was no "surviving" until the end of the day, nor work a certain amount of time for the sake of stopping abnormalities from escaping. No, this time, this ordeal would not end until the enemy was defeated, that was what my instinct was telling me.

...The curtains will not fall until a side emerge victorious.

I gritted my teeth, signaling the start of my offense to my foe, who did not hesitate to respond with a dash in my direction. A sharp glare given back at it, I placed one of my hands on the handle of the pink rifle and aimed it at the entity in front of me, using the shoulder strap to compensate for the lack of my second hand on the weapon. No mercy upon the beast, I released a perfect bullet directly in its stomach, stopping its momentum enough for me to keep going, placing the rifle behind me once more.

Once close enough, I looked up at its eyes and saw pure bloodlust, a maddening hunger gazing back at me. Following it, a blow that came from below shortened the distance between it and my face. Thankfully, I was planning for something like or else I wouldn't have stepped closer. One good evade performed, I went for a punch in the jaw of the thing.

To fight something that could only be possible in someone's nightmare with mere fists was most definitely an act of lunacy and I knew that, so my surprise was even bigger when the sensation of bones shifting due to the jab could be felt against my knuckle.

However, it quickly dissipated when a loud roar of anger came out from the demon standing in front of me, trying to retaliate with its sharp claws. It was an attempt to use my bewilderment as a way to inflict a wound on me, only to be with a second strike in the face.

Counter.

A sweat fell down my face upon realizing that I was mere inches away from my demise, saved by my own body pushed in a corner. My heart was beating so fast that it was starting to hurt. My legs on the other hand felt completely numb, adrenaline being pumped into them and allowing me to do a backward jump that even I think I wouldn't have been able to do without the circumstances.

"Y/N..."

I lowered my eyes for a second and at my feet, a welcomed sight greeted me. On the ground was the constantly moving liquid with a pair of golden gloves being offered to me. I swiftly took hold of them, the large ember in each gloves reflecting my face in them before I put them on. Just in time too, the furless wolf coming back for more.

At first, I went for a quick evasion but air came out from my lungs the moment my body tried to move, a mighty stab in my stomach that did not allow me to retreat. I looked down and started to feel the colors of my face drain. There, in my own body, were the claws of that thing, all five claws deep inside with crimson starting to spread out.

Y/N: ...Ugh.

I unconsciously coughed and swung a good punch against the arm invading my body, directly where the elbow was. The counter-attack landed perfectly, forcing my eyes to see the arm bend in the opposite way that it should, the elbow completely broken with certainty.

It was enough for it to take out its hand, letting out pained screams that seemed almost human, agony in the voice. Well, not like I really care about that right now considering I've just been stabbed. I clutched the wounded area, feeling the pressure on the bleeding wounds.

A gasp for air escaped my lips and just like that, with a single gasp out of pain, a powerful screech echoed around, strong enough to shatter the very concept of void. My eyes widened out of terror and looked to my left. Standing there was one of the fallen bodies laying around, completely covered by the sentient substance, the source of that hellish yell.

"The vilain has emerged!! Destroy all for the sake of justice!!"

"That bastard wolf will have its guts ripped out like it deserves!!"

"You dare land a hand on my prince?!"

Y/N: ...

I was more than terrified, that scream was able to completely remove my adrenaline and leave me in a state of fright, emotions devouring me from the inside. Trapped in place by my own body under the shock, I observed the possessed corpse lunge itself at the dark creature, many voices yelling out of anger to the point that I was forced to cover my ears in fear of becoming deaf.

It was so painful to listen that I could feel my teeth press against each other with an alarming strength, the strain too much for my mind to bear. It was a form of torture, my sanity punched several times due to the horrid shrieks. My breathing became heavy as I struggled to compose myself.

In front of me, the duo of abominations were focused on what seemed to be an endless battle with none of the sides able to gain an advantage. Still covering my ears, I turned around and gained some distance so that I could finally hear my own thoughts while still maintaining a sight on the both of them.

"This place is forever doomed with bloodshed, nobody can save us."

Y/N: ...

The screams not as overwhelming as before, I was able to faintly hear a voice, making my eyes dart in its direction. Standing there was... me, again. Standing there as if to welcome me, I was greeted by a face of sorrow, a complete 180 of the previously smiling stars in this corrupted prison. It may seemed like nothing but that single difference was enough to leave me stunned for a bit.

Its legs were in a deplorable state, covered in bruises and cuts. Such a state would definitely leave anyone unable to stand up properly but it simply ignored its injuries and did so, facing me with a sad look. In the corner of my eyes, a red shape grabbed my interest, an interest that fully gained my attention once I understood what it was.

A blade that would leave anyone frightened upon seeing its appearance, the disgusting shell of the blade capable of looking back at both its attacker and wielder. The sword that turned everything to red, crimson staining everything in its passage. The one wielded by the woman in red.

I did not hesitate, closing the gold gloves around the handle and pulling it out of the floor like pulling a legendary sword out of a rock. The apparition facing me simply observed me doing so until I aimed the blade at its face.

Y/N: I'm not gonna let you take me by surprise.

"The blade of the teacher... how nostalgic."

A slight frown appeared on my face as I placed the sword against my shoulder, using it to support the weight of the weapon. I was not planning to drop my guard, not after so many managed to attack me from behind or pull a fast one on me. Sensing my hostile intent, the gloomy figure mumbled.

"I've seen this happen many times before, many fell and failed this trial."

Y/N: Yea? Well, you ain't any different.

I cut the conversation short with a good swing of the sword on my shoulder. The attack was quick enough to make a cut in my target's suit, which to my surprise is the one I remember wearing when everything first began, the standard black suit with a red tie. How did he manage to get this far without some sort of E.G.O to help him?

"Unlike them, I failed on purpose. I had a goal and dying in this place granted me that desire."

I ignored the rambles coming from its mouth. My eardrums were still hurting from the screeches in the background, I didn't need additional sources of noise to make my day even worse than it already is. I stepped closer and performed a vertical slash, slash that was parried with a simple kick.

Then, like grasping a weakness in my defense, the being retaliated with a direct punch in the guts. The initial impact was powerful enough to warrant a wince out of me but I couldn't even do so. Following the fist, a burst of flames filled my vision, like I was struck by lit gunpowder.

I stumbled backward for a bit but quickly regained my posture, it was direct hit in my already wounded stomach, making the pain even more unbearable.

Y/N: ...The hell was that?

The one standing to block my path was holding no weapons, his mere fists causing flames to appear with each jab. Was that some sort of E.G.O? Was it something else? I didn't know what to do and switched tactic, going on a more defensive approach.

I silently placed the red blade in front of me and took hold of the other side to use it as a shield, forming a decent guarding stance against possible assaults. Thankfully, my hands were protected by the amber gloves that I was wearing, stopping me from accidentally cutting my hand open like a moron.

"I have long lost any care about this place. I only possess one desire."

I did not answer back, keeping my focus on the battle. I performed a long and slow circle around the unharmed dark star, my eyes desperately trying to find a semblance of weakness in its posture but nothing, I wasn't even sure what to look for, I never went against someone using their own body as a weapon before.

"You too must have the same feeling, to some extend."

Y/N's mind: Don't heed its words Y/N, he's just messing with your mind.

The distorted First Warning that I once could barely hear was now gaining power in my mind, revealing its difference compared to the one that I know. It felt much more somber and unnerving.

Suddenly, a chuckle escaped my foe's lips, bringing cold sweats down my face. I nervously glanced over my shoulder to make sure nobody was trying to attack me from behind and when I looked back at my front, my vision was obscured by the "me" that easily blocked one of my attacks.

"I want to see her suffer just as much as me, to force her to never be able to escape this place! That is all that conscious pile of scrap deserves!!"

Y/N: Kh-!

If I had to take a guess- No, I guess a guess is not needed, the answer is obvious. I could only think of one person that I would address like that and they aren't even worth having their name mentioned.

"Tell me, what do you hope to achieve by escaping this place? Don't you realize that you will never win? Even if you complete your journey, she will have the last laugh, crushing everything underneath her."

Y/N: And how do you even know that, you're just a deceased body! You don't know shit about the future!

Anger slipping out, I broke my defense and gave the one near me a perfectly horizontal slash, a perfect line that made its body stop. Time seemed to stop around us both until something collided with the ground.

It was a head, his head... "my" head. Laying there, the familair dark parasite came out, also staining my blade, the murder weapon. Even though something like this would have been the end, the body did not drop, completely still. The opposite in fact, it latched onto me and tried to push me down on the ground. Out of fright, I swung a quick jab in the remnant's stomach and kicked it down, finally dropping the bucket then.

Y/N: Oh god... oh god...

I mumbled to myself, looking down with horror at what I've done. At this point, I would have expected to be used to it but it still leaves a painful sensation in my chest. My mind was struggling to know what to do and I was as well.

I slowly looked down at my body, the wounds feeling like vivid burns on me and the zone of impact by that fist of his against my suit, staining its pink color. I fritted my teeth and turned around to see was... it was doing. Expecting a horrible scene, my eyes were surprised by a lack of deformed wolf.

Y/N: ...

I wanted to call out to it, to know if I still had something I could rely on in this eternal hell but it dawned on me: I never gave it a name, I simply labeled it as "parasite" and left it at that. It was a living curse attached to me, I had many reasons to not give it a name.

Yet, like a loyal dog, an obsessed stalker following the target of their affection, it soon found its way around my feet, causing my spine to send shivers throughout my entire body. Like I once said before, it was a deeply rooted fear, my very own being rejecting that thing as a whole, I don't think I'll ever be able to tolerate its presence more than I already do.

"The threat has been dealt with..."

Y/N: ...T-Thanks.

Calm down Y/N, calm down, it won't attack you... not yet. I continued to repeat those words in my head to reduce the stress that I was experiencing, my breathing getting quicker the more I thought about it.

Y/N: How do we get out of here?

I could feel my exhaustion weighing my movements down, tiredness making me act rash and my patience starting to run thin. It was especially worse considering that my mental health was not going strong, forced to defend myself by killing "me" repeatedly. I was running out of energy as well, sweats going down my face, my hands shaking from the stress I was experiencing.

"..."

Without a word, it jumped onto a nearby body and forced one of its arms to move, pointing in a direction. I followed the direction it gave me and a light in this terrible darkness revealed itself to me. Yes, it was the green container containing that spine inside it, in the distance.

Y/N: Go there huh, couldn't you have told me from the start?

"Have you ever noticed its presence after you began those battles?"

Y/N: ...Touche, it wasn't really the biggest of priority on my mind.

I had nothing to lose at this point and my stamina was slowly burning away, my demise was certain if I were to remain in this stalemate. So, with my rifle on my back, a pair of golden gloves and a red sword, I began my journey towards the location where this ordeal began.

To be honest, I have no clue what I was supposed to do once I got there, I was simply told by my unlikely companion to go there. Was I supposed to break the container? I had no idea, I suppose I'll find out once I get close enough.

In the distance, the stars made their descent upon this accursed land, their hollow eyes staring back at me with wide smile, firmly blocking my path. Without a single word said, I tightened my grasp on the blade and ran forward, facing the facing enemies head-on. Not like I had much of a choice, I could hear footsteps behind me as well, forcing me to keep moving.

Under this dark void, the Stars will fall.

...

...

Switching from one ordeal to the other, the facility was not in the greatest shape as well. A large red mist was floating in the air, where employees once stood. Those forced to travel through it to reach their target had to be reminded that they were basically stepping on remains left behind by the enraged AI, now back for a second round.

Alter Ego: Come on everyone, we can do this! We're making progress.

They knew what to do, it wasn't their first rodeo with the woman in red, it was like watching a video for a second time in fact. The event played exactly the same, exactly how the first confrontation occured. Switching from One Sin's cross and that unknown mace to Mimicry and Da Capo and now Justitia and Smile, the order was the same.

It also meant that the strategy that the clerks used at the start of the fight was no longer an option, the Sephirah now too powerful and capable of tearing through employees wearing powerful armors like nothing. Though it helped the agents gather their thoughts and buy some time for others to arrive and assist. Once their purpose had been fulfilled, all 5 clerks of the Disciplinary team went into hiding, ordered by Sinvicta, their captain.

"I'll destroy this facility!"

Swinging down her mighty hammer, a shockwave formed a barrier around her, stopping anyone from getting too close. Though that did not stop the ones equipped with ranged weapons, starting to retaliate in unison.

Hava: Time to put you back in your grave for the second time!

Leading the charge for the melee E.G.O wielders, the temporary leader of the Central Command team dashed forward, a feat that many would look at with an open mouth. She calmly opened the hostilities with the machine in front of them with a perfect swing of her black scythe. With no hesitation, the mighty threat responded with a swing of her own blade, a pale slash evaded by the girl with red eyes with a twirl, like a majestic ballerina.

However, the truth couldn't be any farther. A wide grin flashed on her face as she adjusted her monocle. She stood back as the agents following her steps entered the arena to battle the one in charge the Disciplinary department.

In that group was Alter Ego who, clenching her sword, swiftly flew through the other employees like she was a mere ghost, appearing behind the red haired person and inflicting a powerful attack. Out of instinct, the robot turned around to respond but the girl was no longer there, once more in her back and replying with a second attack. The cycle repeated 2 more times until she finally clashed with the tall foe facing them

"..."

Despite all the attacks she received, the glitched manifestation of a previous encounter could feel something hidden behind the actions of the girl. It was something that she herself, who was nothing more than a mere phantom of the original Red Mist, could recognize. After all, it was the same thing she was wielding.

It was rage, anger boiling the captain of the Security team from within along with severe mental damage. Arboring a normal expression, her wrath was seeping out of her with each swings, wanting nothing more than to destroy her into pieces to quell her emotions. Her thoughts were eating her from the inside but she refused to let it show to others, the only thing making her different from the current Red Mist.

Hava was sensing it too, the raw feelings escaping her body, creating an aura of death around her. A slight frown showing, she made her way to her and readied her weapon, a weapon made to affect one's sanity, whether to restore it or destory it. Then, she gave the girl a few sharp swings and went through her body like the E.G.O weapon was nothing more than air. Still, its effect was visible, pushing away bad thoughts and keeping her focused on the goal.

Hava: Don't let yourself be consumed by anger, it ruins your cuteness~

Alter Ego: Now's not the time Hava, help us!

Hava: Yea, on it~!

A good twirl of her scythe and the one dressed in white jumped back into action, joining the others in their valiant efforts in bringing down the rampaging monster. The end was nearing, just like Y/N's ordeal.

Both were on their final push, it was all or nothing, do or die.

...

...

My feet dragged across the stained battlefield, my legs screaming in agony. I gritted my teeth and endured the sensation, leaving behind me defeated foes who tried their hardest to cut me apart.

When I looked down at my suit, I could no longer see the innocence and pink color it once had, the one thing that could bring a certain warmth in my body just by looking at it. Instead, it was covered with my own injuries and remains of my enemies, the dark and sentient substance stuck in my suit like glue.

"Keep going Y/N!"

"So close.."

"The final phase."

The voices continued to encourage me and forced me to push onwards. My heart was beating so fast that I was fearing that it might suddenly stop under the strain, adrenaline pumping into my body after each victory. Yet, despite that... despite all the ones I've dealt with, more kept coming, more stars landing on the ground with weapons, attempting to strike me down.

Sweats were raining down my face at this point, my lungs burning and my side aching from all the efforts I've done. Constantly being forced to run around and do all those dodges and attacks was leaving me with no strength, fatigue slowing down my progress.

My body yearned rest, something that my mind was agreeing with. Ignoring their understandable beggings, I swiftly turned around just in time to parry a lance aiming at my back. Standing in front of me was one of the dark stars forever trapped in a blissful delusion wearing a copy of Red's outfit.

Y/N: Out of my way!

At this point, my voice was also tired from all the yelling I've done to keep my spirit going, I was literally strangling myself with each words uttered. The sword in my hand swung down and shoved the threat away temporarily, the stains of the past victims who perished by it dripping down on the floor.

The blade was almost fully consumed by the dark "blood", the eye on the weapon looking around with hysteria. I had no intention of pursuing it, I had to keep moving, to get closer to that damn container. I did that mistake at the start but realized the futility of it when I saw each defeated enemies getting replaced by a new one.

It's better to keep the same, wounded enemies around than being forced to duel against foes with full energy and not even a scratch on them. With that train of thought, I looked behind my track, seeing more of them dragging themselves to me with their hands, their limbs below their stomach missing.

If I slashed their legs then I would have to deal with less of them at once. That thought process seemed to be working but heavily taxing for my sanity. My mind constantly aching, I was also seeing movement in the corner of my eyes, setting off my paranoia. I could no longer count the number of times I tried to attack what I once thought to be an opponent, only to be met with air.

Y/N: ...

I could no longer afford words, my throat so dry that I was scared that it would break apart like pieces of a puzzle. I swiped the sweat on my face and kept pushing. The sight of the green liquid was guiding me like a shining star in the distance. My eyes wanted to give up, my feet willing to be chopped off in order to be free from this pain, my hands shaking and my own body feeling like it was freezing.

However, I was forced to stop. I wanted to continue and complete this journey but I could not do so. Blocking my path was something I could properly address as the final hurdle. The only one protecting the container was... Well, there's no need to say what they looked like, everything here has the same face, mine.

"..."

I unconsciously peeked over my shoulder but nothing was there anymore, leaving me all alone... or at least until I start overwhelming my foe. Nonetheless, only the one standing in my way was present but I shouldn't lower my guard because of that, not when I'm this close.

Facing me, the being wearing Snow Queen's outfit stared back at me before opening its mouth.

"You look pathetic, not like you ever looked anything different in all your journey here."

Y/N: ...

I wanted to respond with a snarky comment, I really did but my voice failed me. The cause was simple, I fully exhausted it during my struggle to get here, leaving me unable to produce anything more than groans and gasps.

"You tried to help everyone, to make the days pass by with the minimum amount of deaths."

"You struggled to keep everyone alive, all for nothing. You tossed your life to save as many of them as possible and yet, none of them came here to rescue you. Isn't this pathetic?"

Shut up. I don't want to hear it.

"Now look at you, about to die alone, all of your efforts for nothing."

I didn't have the willpower to get angry anymore, I was simply annoyed. Behind me was the sword that Gebura proudly wielded like it was nothing, dragging on the floor due to my low stamina. I was having a hard time raising it into the air.

Come on Y/N, you can do this. I'm sure that Gebura could take care of this without even breaking a sweat and I already got this far, I'm sure that I also can do this, I just have to try my hardest. Without acknowledging its hateful words, I averted my gaze to the E.G.O in my stained gloves, who stared back at me with its eye.

Y/N: ...

For someone like her to be able to control such a thing and harness the full potential of it, there must some sort of trick behind it. Now would be a great time to reveal it, I would definitely owe you one that's for sure! I silently begged to it but nothing occured, as expected. That's what I get for putting my faith in a ridiculous miracle.

Full power of E.G.O? What am I even talking about, I'm sure it's only because Gebura was much stronger than me and nothing else. There was no such thing as "true potential" and bs like that, no "chosen one" and no "gifted being", only talent and that's something I seriously lack.

"...Freeze in your own stupidity, forever trapped by your own decisions."

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind followed by snow forced me to cover my sight with one of my bloodied sleeves. As I exhaled, my eyes were surprised by a mist escaping my lips, the temperature severely dropping to the point that the air was freezing.

I lowered my arm and observed my surroundings. Everything was completely frozen, with the bodies laying everywhere forming bumps in the otherwise flat ice covering the floor. Above our heads, snow was falling down, even with a lack of clouds. Trapped in this blizzard, my eyes returned to the one facing me.

Confronting me, "myself" stared back at me but what was once a mere suit with colors ressembling ice was changed to a grandiose white robe, with massive icicles serving as shoulder pads, icicles looking like parts of a snowflake. In its hands, a pristine sword of frost was pressing the tip of its blade against the ice. The transformed being stared down at me as if I was nothing compared to it.

"Soon you'll become one with the endless winter, just like the previous people who tried to fight."

I looked down at my feet, everything was completely frozen... including what was trapped underneath it. Stuck in place, my eyes were locked onto a shape barely discernable in the snow starting to accumulate. I could faintly recognize the parasite who saved me and assisted me up until now, trapped in an ice prison like the other bodies around.

I was truly alone, like it said, nobody here to save me. My luck and saviour were gone, now left with nothing but my own useless body to defeat the one blocking the path. The realization slowly setting in, I faced the threat in front of me with terrified eyes, the cold air biting my skin as well.

It was so cold... so cold, my skin felt like it was freezing.

Y/N: ...

Clicking my tongue, I finally raised my sword, also trying to imagine something warm to fight back the snow as I rushed towards my target. With disinterest, the being raised its hand in my direction and launched ice shards in my direction. I desperately tried to dodge, roll out of the way but the ice played against me, making me slide directly into the shards. The impact tossed me away like a worthless doll and made me land in a small pile of snow.

I dragged my heavy body from the frigid ground and slowly stood up, looking down and seeing 2 shard stuck in my chest like arrows. I used the sword that I was carrying as a way to keep myself on my feet, only to look down in horror at my own feet getting frozen in place. The process continued until it reached my waist, leaving me stuck in place.

"You still struggle, knowing that you have no chance of escaping? How foolish can you get?"

Pointing its hand once more in my direction, my eyes quickly took notice of ice shards forming. However, unlike the previous time, I was firmly in place and that meant that I didn't have to worry about slipping, I could simply focus on blocking everything.

Just like before, 2 shards were thrown at me, the first one blocked with one of the golden gloves that I was still wearing and the second one deflected by the crimson blade. In a sense, freezing me in place gave me a more advantageous position. However, it also meant that I couldn't fight my opponent, leaving me to waste my energy until I can no longer defend myself.

Shard after shard, each waves passing by, I desperately fought the onslaught of ranged attacks. With all my ressources placed on defending myself, I could feel my temperature lower at an alarming rate, my hands shaking to the point that I could no longer stop it was a sign of my terrible state.

I kept going until... until I couldn't support it, the cold devouring my health. I heaved a long sigh and lowered my weapon, no longer able to hold it to protect me.

Y/N: ...

I was trapped in a cage made by the final obstacle in my way, who slowly stepped closer while readying its blade. The wind was howling in my ears and my skin felt like it was peeling off, I could no longer feel it in this intense temperature.

"You keep fighting. Tell me, why do you even resist, knowing that your demise is imminent?"

Y/N: ...

My throat was killing me, I couldn't utter a single noise out of it. I wanted to protest, letting everyone know that I was fighting for what I believed in but nothing, I was not even allowed to speak back to it.

After a moment of silence, it finally assumed that I would not be able to say anything and brandished its sword, a guillotine ready to end my suffering with a single swing. Out of desperation, I thrashed around but no a single movement from my legs.

I gritted my teeth and swung the sword in my hand, only to be casually deflected by my enemy, launching the sword away in the snow.

"You have nothing to fight for, nobody to save you, a true nobody."

The blade came down, aiming for my neck.

"...No."

In the distance, the sound of ice breaking echoed, causing my executioner to lose its focus and turn around to glance at the cause of that noise. I also did the same, wanting to know who saved me.

Emerging from the ice like a zombie, one of the bodies that were laying on the ground before this placed turn into a blizzard was standing up and I could not see a single trace of the liquid with a conscience on it, a true resurrection.

"What is this?"

"I want to leave this place, I want to see the outside. This is what I fight for!"

Following that yell, a second body broke through the ice and emerged, a second resurrection. Standing up and facing the wielder of Snow Queen's weapon and outfit, he also spoke up.

"I want to see my family, that is what I want."

Y/N: ...

What the hell was going on? Just as confused and scared of the scene as the one who tried to eliminate me, my eyes darted around, seeing many more bodies break through their prison before finally running at the one who brought this horrible cold, a literal army of revived corpses fueled by only their desires to escape this place ,the match needed for them to return finally lit.

Through those yells, one of them caught my attention.

"I want to find my sister, I want to know if she's still alive! That is what I fight for!

Y/N: ...A sister?

The shock was powerful enough to grant me the blessing of a new voice, mumbling those words to myself. I had a sister? Why couldn't I remember it? Why couldn't I remember my own parents as well? I gritted my teeth and punched the ice trapping me.

To my surprise, it cracked. Then, it came back to me: of course it was breaking, I was still wearing a form of E.G.O weapon, the gloves around my hands. With a newfound adrenaline, I ignored the tempting call of winter whispering in my ears and broke free of the ice around my legs. Finally free, I fell down on the ice and stood up, my legs quivering.

"What is going on?"

The lone figure of ice turned to face me, expecting an answer out of me. However, with me being just as lost as them, I shrugged back before taking an offensive posture. I wanted to flash a smirk back at it but with the intense cold eating my skin like a starved animal, I couldn't even feel my mouth so I didn't bother.

My legs were shaking from the intense cold and after being essentially frozen in an ice cube, I was having a hard time adjust to the unfair terrain. Thankfully, the many "me" waking up from their graves gave me a chance to gather my thoughts.

All of them breaking out of their prison at the simple mention of a will to resist, a will to fight was akin to believers reviving after their god successfully manifested itself. Like soldiers coming back from the dead as vengeful spirits to curse their enemies, it was a haunting scene for both me and the one directly affected by it.

Y/N: ...Tch.

Looking down, I scanned the floor in search for the sentient mixture that was frozen while the final obstacle on my path was busy dealing with what one could call a horde of undead bodies.

Once done, a single strike was enough to break it free. Without a moment to waste, it swiftly escaped its prison and landed beside me.

"So many Y/N..."

"So many who died..."

Y/N: C-Come on. w-we have to get out.

Desperately holding onto the little warmth that I still had, I was starting to stutter in my words. It quickly understood my situation and jumped beside a body that was still contained in a prison of ice. Following it, I gave the cocoon a firm slam with the fists of gold and freed it from its case, immediately hijacked by the inhuman being.

"Destroy it... You have to destroy this place."

Y/N: H-How?

Using its newly found body, it pointed in the direction in the direction of the container, the glass completely covered with ice. I hurriedly nodded back and began my final sprint towards the goal, ignoring the yells of war coming from the one who were unfortunate to die here.

Finally facing it after what felt an eternity, I readied my fist and prepared a good swing, only to receive a sharp pain in my back. I looked back and saw the final being stopping me with a hand raised in my direction, the culprit behind that sudden attack.

Stabbed on all sides by the ice shards, I groaned to myself and prepared myself for a second serving. My stance was ready to counter the assault but it quickly became useless when the controlled body stood in my way.

Y/N: What are you doing?

"Protect Y/N..."

"Hurry and escape!"

Taken aback for a moment, I did not let that opportunity slip by and focused back on the "exit". A tightened fist ready, I ignored the pleading coming from behind me and gave the frozen glass a good jab, creating a crack in it. A frown formed on my face as I prepared my second attack. Then, it landed on the glass, further breaking it.

Behind me, I could feel the gust of cold air coming from a dozen of ice shard desperately trying to stop me, only to be blocked by my saviour in this hellish land. Finally, the third impact was enough to break the container.

Y/N: W-What the...

...But it was completely empty, no green liquid nor any floating spine inside. Instead, the bottom of it was no longer there and leading to a dark hole with seemingly no end. Was this the "exit" it talked about?

"Freedom!"

All the resurrected body yelled at once the moment the glass shattered. I turned to face the scene and witnessed around a hundred copies of me charging in my direction, aiming for the exit. Adrenaline pumped into my body, I did not waste a second and jumped down, following by those who were fighting the one I couldn't defeat on my own.

The fall felt like forever, my arms swinging around in a panic as I tried to prepare myself for a possible landing. All around me, those who emerged from their eternal slumber began to vanish, like souls finally resting. In the end, I was all alone in this dark fall.

...

Finally, I landed, causing my body to bounce and a gasp for air to escape my lips. I looked around, my heart beating rapidly before I looking back at my body. To my surprise, no wounds were visible, no ice shards. The suit had regained its perfect pink color but the gloves with a large ember in them were gone as well.

Y/N: ...

My breathing still erratic from the ordeal I went through, I glanced around in this dark place until the sound of something landing echoed beside me. Laying there next to me was the constantly shifting being.

I slowly moved around and sat down before letting a question leave my mind.

Y/N: Is... is it finally over?

"...For now."

A mere answer, just 2 words. Those 2 words were like a blessing bestowed upon me, my mind stopping and adrenaline leaving my body. My heart slowly started to calm down and that was when I broke down, the surge of feelings that I experienced and was forced to keep locked inside me due to the constant fights I had to go though in order to survive came back to me at full strength.

I couldn't stop myself from letting out ugly tears, my mind breaking apart and overwhelmed by my emotions. The relief of being safe, even if just temporarily, was so great that it allowed me to vent out the fear, the pain, the sorrow and distress I felt during that whole mess. Finally able to let it all out, I did not move from my position, sobbing to myself while the parasite following me like my shadow silently remained by my side.

This vast void was only filled by my cries and tears, tears that I deserve to shed after everything that occured today.

...I also cried, knowing that my torment was not over and that something else was waiting for me.

(Well, I hope you liked it. I used this long trial as a way to train myself to write for the Library of Ruina book that will be released once this story is over since, well, the guests and abnormalities are a thing. Sadly, I don't think I'll be able to do better than something like this so it might not be the best fights ever described and I apologize in advance.)