Trials of the Multiverse

(Warning! This chapter has a lot of disturbing content, and spoilers related to games, anime, TV series. Read at your own risk of getting spoiled)

---

What's the worst that can happen when you enter a pitch-black hole?

Now, I know there's room for sexual jokes here, but honestly, I ain't in the mood for that.

I just want to go back to the 4th Trial at this point.

Honestly, facing the Usurper sounds better than dealing with this bullshit.

...What a pain.

The moment I stepped inside, I was met with absolute, oppressive darkness.

It clung to my skin and pressed down on me like a blanket.

I understood instantly this wasn't normal.

After all, I could feel if I tried to use my strength now, not even 1% of it would come out.

It should feel oppressive, yet it gave me an immense warmth that was hard to put into words.

It felt like an unseen force was gently nudging me forward, as if the void itself wanted me to keep moving.

Not creepy at all.

Very normal.

I moved cautiously, each step echoing faintly in its loneliness.

An oddly soothing, peaceful sound.

In other terms, the only reassurance that I hadn't gone deaf.

As I walked, the sensation of being guided grew stronger.

After what felt like just a few steps—but also somehow an eternity—I found myself in front of a strange white pillar.

It stood about hip-high, glowing faintly, but enough to stand out.

"What the hell is this supposed to be?" I asked aloud, half-hoping for an explanation.

It didn't come.

I stared at the pillar, my confusion growing by the second.

Was I supposed to touch it? Bow? Piss on it?

As my mind churned through increasingly ridiculous possibilities, I nearly jumped out of my skin when a hologram suddenly flickered to life above the pillar, accompanied by strange metallic sounds.

"What the—!" I shouted, stumbling back a few steps and cursing loudly.

The hologram didn't care.

It simply floated there, projecting a face that smiled at me.

I did NOT smile back.

...At least, not until I understood what it was asking me to do.

Below the face, in bold, glowing text, was a single word:

SMILE

I stared at it, half-expecting something else to happen, but the hologram just kept replaying the same thing.

Not creepy at all.

Very normal.

"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.

'This fucking tree's got a sense of humor. Fantastic.'

There is no way this bullshit is necessary.

But even so, I had no choice but to comply.

Reluctantly, I inched closer to the pillar, keeping a wary eye on the hologram. When nothing else jumped out at me, I let out a shaky breath.

"Alright, fine. You want a smile? Here's your smile."

Let me cook.

...

I forced the most awkward grin of my life, my lips twitching as I tried to make it look even remotely sincere.

It didn't even come close to reaching my eyes, but apparently, it was good enough, because the hologram suddenly blinked.

"Number 69696 has been registered. You can now proceed further."

The voice stopped as abruptly as it had started, leaving me alone once again with the glowing pillar and its now-empty hologram.

I sighed heavily, dragging a hand down my face. "What the hell am I even doing here?"

No one answered that, either.

Since it didn't look like anyone was going to pop out and explain things to me—which felt quite unusual at this point—I figured I might as well keep moving.

With a muttered, "Guess I'll just figure it out as I go," I stepped past the pillar...

---

The air ahead grew heavier still, the oppressive darkness thickening the more I walked.

It wasn't just pressing in anymore—it was grabbing at me, brushing against my skin like phantom hands.

Yet, for all its unnerving weight, it didn't push or pull me in any particular direction.

Instead, it was as though my instinct had taken the reins.

My steps, unhurried yet deliberate, followed a path I couldn't see but somehow knew.

I could sense that with just a thought, I could cross unimaginable distances—hundreds of thousands of kilometers, maybe more—effortlessly.

'Woah. How does this even work?'

Honestly, I had no idea.

My senses gave me nothing, so there wasn't much to work with, but I wasn't worried.

I'm just not at the stage where I could gain any understanding on this, so I focused on what I was feeling. 

This freedom of movement despite all I could see being darkness...

It was quite an amazing sensation, but rather than rush ahead, I slowed down.

Before, all I could hear was my own steps, now it's the complete opposite.

Snippets of conversation—some calm, others frantic, could be heard.

Maybe I could glean some information about this bizarre place.

For that reason, I did not rush, but rather took my time to explore.

I focused on one particularly sharp whisper, and as I drew closer, I noticed something strange materialise in the darkness ahead.

It wasn't solid, exactly—more like a vignette, suspended in the void.

The closer I got, the clearer it became, and I realized it wasn't just a whisper.

The bubble shimmered faintly, the edges glitching as if it were a screen struggling to maintain coherence. Inside, the image was startlingly vivid, almost pulling me into its world.

"Whoa"

I exclaimed, as I was somewhat captivated.

Never in my life had I seen something like this.

At the centre of it all, was a girl.

She looked young, probably in her teens, with her dark hair styled into two low pigtails held in place by blue scrunchies.

A bright red headband and matching clips framed her small face, and she wore a long-sleeved red crop top that left her midriff bare.

Her outfit was completed by a blue skirt, red thigh-high stockings, and heels, with a red ribbon tied snugly around her neck like a bow.

At first glance, she seemed almost doll-like in her appearance, her big eyes gleaming with an unsettling mix of sweetness and something far darker.

Her smile, though—was what surprised me the most.

It stretched just a little too wide, her lips curling upward in a way that made the corners of her mouth look unnaturally sharp.

Her teeth gleamed faintly—the madness in her expression impossible to miss.

In front of her stood a guy—blue hair, black eyes. Compared to her, the term average was all I could come up with.

The moment he moved, the scene exploded into chaos.

The girl's smile widened even further.

A chainsaw materialized in her hands.

She lunged at him with a speed that didn't match her delicate appearance, aiming for his vitals without hesitation.

He barely evaded, scrambling away as the world around them twisted and distorted, still madly glitching.

I watched in silence, not entirely sure what to make of what I was seeing.

The area within the bubble warped unnaturally, colors bleeding into one another as shapes and objects flickered in and out of existence.

What appeared to be a small room at the start morphed into an endless hallway full of cracks...

I frowned.

"What's the deal with this psychopath?"

The words Crazy Mita — MiSide hovered above the bubble in faint, flickering letters, but it didn't mean anything to me.

"This... seems to be a game's world"

That was the only thing I could say with certainty.

I stayed rooted in place, unable to tear my eyes away. More questions piled up in my head with each passing second.

Why was this here?

What was I supposed to gain from this?

For now, though, I could only watch.

---

How could you?

You did Cappie and Kind Mita dirty...

After watching for hours, it's impossible not to get a little attached to the characters.

Yet, I am left with nothing but a heavy heart and a bitter sense of helplessness.

But what else can you do when you're just a spectator?

Powerless, watching events unfold like a distant echo of a reality you'll never touch.

What's even stranger is knowing that this world—projected here like an average show to entertain people—must exist somewhere in the vast Multiverse.

Or at least, that's what crossed my mind for a fleeting moment. But I didn't have the luxury of dwelling on it.

Instead, I forced myself to step back and analyze everything I had just witnessed with a clear, objective lens.

"…Mita is quite impressive"

That was the conclusion I arrived at.

From start to end, the so-called player was completely toyed with.

There was nothing he could do.

Although one might struggle to understand, to someone like me, it couldn't be clearer.

Isn't this similar to what the System was doing?

I didn't care that she was crazy.

Even better.

I could just fix her...

No, wait, that's not the point.

Objectively speaking, she's amazing.

She seized the entire World for herself.

Not even a being like the System could do that.

Although you could argue this was just a game, it was not an excuse to downplay what she did.

The ones who programmed Mita weren't stupid.

Far from it.

The moment they realized something was wrong, they must've poured every ounce of their expertise into fixing her.

But not only did they fail, they completely lost control.

It was as if she'd seized the reins of her world, stripping the so-called "gods" who created her of their power.

"Is this its way of telling me the System has it all in the palm of its hand, no matter what I do?"

I didn't really take it to heart, though.

"Even if that's the case, it doesn't matter"

The player in that vignette had been hostile, wearing his defiance openly.

And what did that get him? Played with like a cat batting at a trapped mouse.

That's where he went wrong. You can't bare your fangs unless you're ready to bite—and when you do, it has to be lethal.

Once again, I affirmed this concept.

Just like that, the vignette faded into darkness, and I resumed my trek into the depths of the World Tree.

---

It wasn't long before new whispers tickled my ears, guiding me to another vignette. Without hesitation, I followed.

This one was familiar.

Inside, I immediately recognized the towering walls of Attack on Titan.

'Oh, this gonna be fun'

Titans lumbered forward, while soldiers zipped through the air with ODM gear.

I watched as Eren Jaeger screamed in defiance, his resolve palpable even through the bubble's barrier.

I'm not exactly a fan of rewatching, but if it's peak like AOT...

Guess it's time to binge watch.

---

'Ah, that was quite enjoyable'

Even though the ending wasn't exactly ideal, I couldn't bring myself to feel disappointed.

To walk a path like that, fully aware of the inevitable end waiting at the finish line, takes an unshakable resolve—and, honestly, some balls.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Eren Yeager. If it had been me in his position, I would've done everything in my power to rewrite that future, no matter the odds.

A chuckle escaped me. It'd been a long time since something stirred this kind of feeling in me. Maybe that's why it left such a deep impression.

Before all the Trials, mastering concepts, and endless cycles of fighting and killing, I was just a regular dude.

I'd spend my days binging anime, gaming until my eyes burned, or hanging out with a couple of friends.

That ordinary part of me, the one I thought had been swallowed whole by everything I'd gone through, resurfaced for a moment.

And, damn, it felt good.

I knew I couldn't hold onto it forever.

The resolve I needed to keep walking this path didn't leave much room for indulgence.

But, for just a little, I can allow myself some slack, maybe.

So, as the vignette of AOT faded away, I didn't bother overthinking it.

I'd just go with the flow, let this play out, and deal with it all when I reached whatever endpoint was waiting for me.

And just like that, as another whisper called for my attention, I moved on.

---

I expected another anime to binge watch, or something.

But instead, I was surprised to see it was a game this time.

Genshin Impact.

Rather than showing me the gameplay from the Traveler's perspective as I expected, though, it was all about a single girl.

At first glance, she seemed like nothing more than a whimsical girl, her crimson-tipped hair swaying as she twirled her staff with a carefree rhythm.

Bright scarlet eyes with blossom-shaped pupils sparkled with mischief, a playful grin dancing on her lips.

Hu Tao—the eccentric 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

From my shallow understanding of the game, I thought she just considered life and death as a joke altogether, flitting between the two like a fleeting ember in the wind.

I was wrong.

The moment I saw her preside over a funeral, I understood.

Gone was the playful girl; in her place stood a solemn figure cloaked in grace and dignity.

She guided the ceremony with a reverence that could silence even the most skeptical of onlookers, honoring both the dead and the living with a wisdom far beyond her years.

That's amazing.

The title of director couldn't be more fitting for her. She deserved to be where she was.

---

After a game, came a TV series.

Honestly, I'm kind of lost, but oh well.

I can't complain.

Joe Goldberg, from You.

A man with piercing eyes and a calm demeanor, Joe claimed his actions stemmed from love.

Yet one by one, the women he claimed to cherish were consumed to death.

It was chilling to see how far someone could go, all in the name of protecting what they deemed theirs.

And yet, as much as I felt a sense of alienation, I couldn't say that for all his actions.

I've also killed people before—those who threatened Alexia's life. In that regard, I could empathize with Joe's desire to shield what he valued most.

If I were in his shoes, maybe I would have acted the same way in some situations.

But that's where the similarities end.

What I couldn't accept—what I'll never accept—was his twisted logic. Love isn't about control.

You don't impose your feelings on someone else or isolate them to the point where they have no choice but to depend on you.

That's not love; it's ownership.

Even if, by some miracle, the other person comes to care for you under those circumstances, does it really satisfy you?

A forced connection will always be forced.

People need their own lives, their own choices. Only when someone is free to be themselves can they give their heart to another.

That's my belief, anyway. And maybe it's why watching Joe's story hit so hard.

As the vignette faded, I sighed.

'May I never fall this low'

I earnestly wished so, as life is too unpredictable to rule it out.

---

As I moved between these worlds, I slowly understood.

Each of these stories—fictional or not—wasn't random. They all had their own purpose.

They felt like a series of lessons, each reflecting what I lacked, what I needed, and what I should never do.

Or at least, that's how I chose to interpret them.

Not that I'd complain if this was all some elaborate plan to make me watch random stuff. Honestly, it's not the worst way to spend my time.

From what I gathered from Britney, time in the Dream Dimension flows absurdly slow—so much so that even years spent here wouldn't add up to more than a few seconds outside.

Hella convenient.

---

Time slowly passed, as more and more vignettes appeared in front of me.

Ezio Auditore from Assassin's Creed demonstrated how to blend into shadows, strike silently, and turn assassination into an art form.

Watching him in action, new ideas sprouted from my mind, and I couldn't help but ask myself how did I overlook this way of fighting.

Of course, as my build wasn't of the pure assassination type, there were limits of what I could use from him.

As if aiding me in understanding, the next vignette had Sung Jin-Woo from Sister Leveling—

I mean, Solo Leveling.

Watching him move, I couldn't help but appreciate the sheer practicality of daggers.

To an assassin, a dagger was a much easier weapon to use.

Quick, precise, and efficient—they were a stark contrast to the heavier, more deliberate strikes of a sword.

Not that I could take up daggers myself, even if I wanted to.

The Authority of the Sword had its no-no, this is my no-no square rules.

Using anything other than a sword was a line I couldn't cross unless some circumstance forced my hand.

But it wasn't just his mastery of daggers that left an impression.

The way he wielded shadows was mesmerizing—a fluid, almost instinctual extension of himself.

Imagine trying to grasp how to control shadows from the Shadow Monarch himself.

That did felt quite like a priviledge.

It's not every day you get to witness something so profound, let alone learn from it.

I can also see why he's a rizz master, even kids could not escape from it!

Diddy would be put to shame, in comparison.

In the end, there was no shortage of lessons to be gained from observing him.

---

And then there was Fang Yuan.

From Reverend Insanity, his philosophy was simple and brutal: the strong take, the weak lose.

His unflinching willingness to do whatever it took, no matter how cruel, left me unsettled.

But it also planted a seed of understanding.

I was way too soft.

Compared to him, my life had been far easier—sheltered, even—bound by countless shackles called morals.

Those morals made me predictable, an easy target under the right circumstances.

If the System ever found a way to force me into doing something completely against my nature, would I be able to follow through?

For now, the Laws held it in check, forming a fragile barrier between my will and the System's commands.

But barriers don't last forever.

Who's to say the System couldn't find a way around that, even right at this moment?

I needed to be prepared for the worst.

The mere idea of compromising everything I stood for churned my stomach, but reality left little room for comfort.

Clenching my teeth, I forced myself to confront the possibility.

And if that day ever comes, I won't justify it.

No grand bullshit about the greater good or whatever.

No excuses about sacrifice for some imagined higher purpose.

I'm no hero, and I refuse to gaslight myself into it just to feel better about it.

If I cross that line, it will be my sin to bear, and mine alone.

...After swallowing that lump of shit, I pressed on.

---

Rimuru Tempest from That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime and Bell Cranel from DanMachi offered two sides of a spectrum.

Rimuru taught me that kindness could coexist with power—but only if you had the absolute strength to enforce your ideals.

Something that, at present, I did not have.

Bell, on the other hand, was a stark warning: his character was admirable, but it left him vulnerable. A target.

If only he didn't have such bullshit luck, then he would be dead in a heartbeat...

---

As the latest vignette dissolved into nothingness, I stood there for a moment, letting the stillness sink in.

Finally, after a rather long time, I had reached the end.

Compared to when I started, there was one lesson that was clear to me.

Strength.

Ideals.

Aptitude.

Personality.

If you lack even one of those things, then going against the System is just a pipe dream.

I was too naive, but it's actually not a bad thing.

To fool the enemy, you must first fool yourself.

By slowly digesting all of this, I feel like I'll grow in a direction that will benefit me a lot more.

Just as I was about to move forward, a soft, melodic voice drifted through the air.

[From your expression, it seems you have found an answer. I am glad, oh Traveler from a Distant Land. You will soon find yourself outside of this Dimension]

Startled, I turned to the source, only to freeze.

Long, cascading hair shimmered like spun moonlight, flowing down her back in soft waves.

Emerald-green eyes sparkled like twin jewels, piercing yet kind, framed by delicate, upward-curving lashes.

Her skin was flawless, glowing faintly, almost as if I was standing in front of nature itself.

Elegant, elongated ears peeked out from her hair, adorned with intricate, gemstone-like ornaments.

Her gown, a deep forest green trimmed with gold and accented with crystals, flowed around her like liquid silk.

From the way she spoke, it was evident she was the spirit of the World Tree.

After those few words she spoke, it was as if I had ceased to exist as her gaze went elsewhere.

Is she… staring at something?

I couldn't help but wonder.

From where I stood, just a few steps away, there was nothing out of the ordinary. 

Curiosity gnawed at me, urging me closer.

Step by step, I closed the gap between us.

And then, as I stood beside her, I could finally see it.

A grand vignette unlike any I'd encountered before.

The image within was nothing short of an ideal paradise.

Trees swayed gently, their leaves shimmering in hues of green and gold, as if kissed by the sun.

Animals of all kinds wandered freely.

Birds soared through the azure skies in playful arcs, their melodious songs weaving together into a harmonious symphony that could lull even the most restless soul.

The air itself was alive, buzzing with the vitality of a world in perfect balance, a realm untouched by pain, death, or decay.

It was impossible not to feel drawn to it, to want to step into that idyllic haven and lose oneself in its harmony forever.

"...It's beautiful."

But, that's all there was to it.

Beside me, the spirit remained still, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Her gaze was unreadable, distant, as though she could see far beyond the vignette itself.

Slowly, she extended her delicate, shimmering hand, her fingers brushing the edge of the vignette.

The change was instant.

The paradise before me dissolved into a harrowing vision of absolute devastation.

The trees withered and blackened in an instant, their once-lush leaves falling in cascades of ash.

Massive swarms of insects consumed the bark and branches, leaving behind skeletal husks.

Predators, their eyes glinting with savage hunger, tore through herds of livestock, their growls and snarls mixing with the agonized wails of their prey.

The air grew thick and suffocating, filled with the stench of decay.

Above it all, the sun itself was swallowed by a massive, gaping black hole.

Its presence was overwhelming, radiating a crushing force that made my knees tremble and sent chills racing down my spine.

Only once the so-called paradise had completely turned into hell, did the spirit withdraw her hand.

[Just as the vibrant greenery is the wish of countless beings to see 'beauty' prevail, there are as many others who dream of the exact opposite. From their perspective, wouldn't this sight be just as beautiful, then?]

She gestured at the chaos unfolding within.

[This, too, is born from desire—an extreme that pulls in the other direction. But reality… is neither black nor white. It is gray]

Her hand rose again, and with a snap of her fingers, the vignette vanished as if it had never existed.

For a moment, the silence between us was deafening.

I inhaled deeply.

If it wasn't for my experience with the Eye of Judgement, perhaps I would've faltered at this moment.

"Isn't that just the cycle all life has to go through?" I asked, my voice void of any ripples. "The animals, the land, the sky—they all have cycles, a balance because the opposite side exists. Wishing for only one side of the coin to exist... isn't that kind of selfish?"

Her gaze, which seemed to still be gazing to a distant place, finally shifted to me.

It seems that caught her interest, as her lips curved upwards ever so slightly.

She tilted her head slightly, the soft waves of her hair falling over her shoulder.

[A valid observation, Traveler from a Distant Land. That is exactly why this scenario can only exist in dreams. Even if one were to force it into reality, it would eventually collapse under its own weight. That is the Absolute Limitation of the Dream Dimension...]

She trailed off, her voice fading into the stillness.

"Then why even bother with it?" I asked after a moment, the words slipping out

"Why not let balance take care of itself, instead of forcing some ideal that can never truly exist?"

The spirit's laughter was soft, almost melancholic.

[It's not that simple. Left unchecked, chaos always finds a foothold to pollute the Multiverse. Beings like the 'System' are a lot more common than you think. Those who dream of breaking balance, would thrive. One solution would be to impose a singular reality—but that's impossible. The next best thing is strict regulation to prevent things from spiraling out of control. Even so, as you've seen, it's far from perfect]

Her gaze sharpened, the weight of her words pressing against me.

[While I believe all life deserves a chance to exist, even if it disrupts balance, I cannot allow another to take on this role. Only an Emanator of Fairness can bear this responsibility. And since only one can exist at a time, this role will remain mine until my death]

'So, the System is aiming for something even bigger than simple control over the Multiverse...'

Damn, this info dump is looking heavy as fuuuuck!

But instead of getting lost in it, I decided to steer the conversation somewhere more practical.

"If it's so flawed, why not impose a new law on Reality? Something airtight, something that makes it impossible for these... cockroaches to thrive. I mean, if you can't act directly, why not find a workaround? Make it realistically impossible for things like the System to gain a foothold"

Surely, she could at least tweak something to make my life a little less precarious.

[Flawless laws do not exist, Traveler from a Distant Land,] she replied, her tone steady but firm. [Your logic isn't wrong, but it's naive. The laws we have were crafted by beings with influence beyond comprehension. Do you truly think they didn't account for all possibilities? These laws are as they are because they pose a strong benefit to them, in the first place. Even if beings like us propose changes, the Multiverse itself presides over all laws. There is no room to include one's own will, or desires]

Fuck.

Well, that made sense, though.

It wasn't as if I was the first person to have these ideas.

If there were truly a way around this, someone with far more power and intellect would've implemented it ages ago.

"I get it," I said, letting out a sigh. "Even though the situation's crap and there's nothing you can do to change it, I still feel like I owe you thanks. What you've shown me... it's more than enough."

If I cannot get a being like her to act with my level 9000 intelligence, I have no choice but to do this the traditional way.

I'll beat up the System without shortcuts.

At this, she laughed softly.

[Oh, Traveler from a Distant Land, you misunderstand. I didn't purposely show you anything. This place, in its entirety, is both a test and a blessing. What you see, feel, and understand comes not from me, but from yourself. This space merely spurs you on, testing your beliefs. If one is too weak... they may even lose themselves. There is nothing to thank me for]

She paused, a faint smile gracing her lips.

[If anything, I should thank you. It feels... pleasant, in a way. It's been so long since another being had the courage to hold a conversation with me]

Ah.

"So, let me recap," I said, finally finding my voice, "this wasn't something arranged by the one who brought me here? Like a way to weed out the bad apples?"

She tilted her head in confusion, before understanding what I meant.

[Oh, no. That was entirely my whim. That winged bastard couldn't manipulate me even if he tried for an eon or two]

Her voice was soft, but it still made me feel a chill down my spine.

Perhaps because of her appearance or overall temperament, I did not think she was capable of sounding intimidating.

Even though I was perfectly aware judging a book by its cover was wrong, it felt inevitable, sometimes.

[Do not mistake my gentleness for weakness, Traveler from a Distant Land. Though I am not one to take lives, it does not mean I am foolish or easy to take advantage of. I keep my temperament because I have the strength to uphold it. And that, I think, is something you've begun to understand as well]

I blinked, absorbing her words. Then, with a wry smile, I asked, "Then why are you putting up with it? Why not slap him silly or something? Wouldn't that being then avoid using you like this?"

I would very much like to see him disappear.

After all, it's not pleasant to be forced into another Dimension.

I'm not a fan of getting kidnapped.

Since it's clear bro does not stand a chance against the World Tree's spirit, I figured I could at least ask why she doesn't just erase him, though I did not have high hopes in changing her mind.

[Pfft. You're a fun one] she said, covering her mouth

[I like how you don't bother hiding your displeasure]

I shrugged.

It wasn't worth denying.

From our exchange so far, it was clear she preferred honesty.

I could respect that.

Still, her words had a way of catching me off guard. Her next line only added to that streak.

[As a warrior, you might not understand this yet. Even with absolute strength, it's not always necessary to dirty your hands to swat a fly. There are others who will handle it—in ways far more brutal than I could ever bring myself to consider]

I blinked, caught between surprise and admiration.

That's... unique.

"Wouldn't it be better to handle it yourself?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "End the fly's life gently, so it doesn't have to suffer needlessly?"

The confusion stemmed from the original thought that she was supposed to be gentle and kind, but that was wrong.

Her expression softened as she smirked, shaking her head.

[No, Traveler from a Distant Land. I'm no saint. Only someone with a heart pure enough to entertain such thoughts would think that way. And in that regard, mortals often outshine us higher beings]

Her gaze sharpened, a faint gleam of amusement flickering in her eyes.

[Don't try to predict how beings like me think. Unless you know us inside out, it's impossible to truly grasp our logic, our choices, or the forces that drive us. We're... complicated fellows, you might say. If you want to truly figure out how a higher being thinks, you should, at the very least, know the root of their character...]

This could be helpful when dealing against the System, so I made sure to properly grasp whatever I could.

It didn't matter if I came off as arrogant for trying to grasp her thought process, or understand her as a whole.

Without having to say it, I guessed she also understood what I was doing, thus we kept on exchanging opinions back and forth.

Until...

[It seems it's almost time for you to go,] the spirit said, her voice calm but tinged with finality.

[If there's anything else you wish to ask me, do so now. I'll answer whatever I can before I send you back myself. That way, you won't suffer any recoil mortals experience when shifting from dream to reality and vice versa.]

Her words gave me pause.

I had already asked many questions.

But even though I had many more, it didn't feel like most of them would get me a decent answer.

Or, even if it did, I wouldn't be able to hear it.

I glanced at her, her serene gaze meeting mine, and a single lingering curiosity bubbled to the surface.

"Well, there is one thing," I admitted, scratching the back of my neck. "Why do you keep calling me Traveler from a Distant Land? I mean, you could've just asked for my name, or come up with something less… poetic. It's strange. You like to speak in an ancient-like way, but you also speak casually, so that's not the reason"

The spirit's lips curved into a faint smile.

[And what other way should I address you, then?] she retorted.

I raised an eyebrow. "I don't know. Anything else? Just 'Traveler,' maybe. Or even 'Human'. But Traveler from a Distant Land feels… awkward. Like there's more to it."

Her smile didn't waver, but something about her expression shifted—subtle.

Yet, she didn't elaborate, and her silence made it clear she wouldn't—or couldn't—elaborate further.

"So, there is more to it," I pressed, crossing my arms.

[Perhaps] she said lightly.

So that's the most I'll get, huh.

That didn't exactly satisfy my curiosity, but what can I do?

I'm so fucking tired of being blue-balled all the time.

"Fair enough," I muttered. "But now that we're on this topic… You didn't tell me your name either. Why not? If you wanted me to know it, you could've just introduced yourself properly when we met."

At that, the spirit's emerald eyes glimmered with something between amusement and caution.

[You didn't ask for my name, did you?] she countered smoothly.

I shrugged. "Didn't seem like the kind of thing you'd volunteer without a reason. But now I'm curious—why didn't you?"

She tilted her head slightly, as if considering how to phrase her response.

[Because my name is cursed. Any being who dares to utter it would die, me included. It's not that I didn't want to tell you. More like I cannot tell you. My name has been forgotten by history itself, and it shall be so for all eternity]

I blinked, caught off guard.

She nodded, her expression steady as she did not allow me to ask more.

[Now that your curiosity is somewhat satisfied, it's time. I'll send you back to where you were before you were forcefully brought here. May good fortune follow you on your journey outside the Dream Dimension. Although I will not be watching you, I will root for you...]

Before she could act, I held up a hand. "Wait, just one more thing."

Her brow lifted, a mixture of patience and exasperation crossing her face.

[What is it now?]

I grinned. "If you come across a beautiful woman with silver hair and red eyes, treat her well, would you? She's my wife. If you're unsure it's her, just tell her that Akira said he loves her dearly."

The spirit blinked at me, her serene demeanor cracking slightly as she stared, stunned.

[Are you asking me to deliver a message for you?]

"Yep," I said, trying not to laugh at her incredulous tone.

Her expression hardened—not in anger, but in something closer to irritation as she closed her eyes.

[You are a shameless man, Traveler from a Distant Land]

I chuckled. "Come on, a kind being like you would surely do me this small favor, given your magnanimous heart. I know you'd never let something like this trouble you."

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but I caught the faintest twitch of her lips—a smile she tried to suppress.

[Shameless, indeed,] she muttered, shaking her head. [Very well. If I encounter such a woman, I will pass along your message]

She exhaled softly, her hand lifting in a slow, deliberate motion. [Now that's taken care of, let's end this. Farewell, Traveler from a Distant Land. May you find true happiness in the future]

Before I could say another word, the world around me blurred, her form fading from view.

The last thing I saw before everything went black was her faint smile, lingering like an unspoken promise.

---

Surprise...?

The Christmas Special, finally done almost a MONTH after Christmas.

Huge ass 6.3k+ words chapter. Damn me and my ideas.

It has many, MANY references.

I really had to do my best to incorporate them all in a way that made sense for the plot. Also, them being references does not imply we'll go to those worlds. I just liked all this shit and put it together.

Hope you enjoyed and found some new things to see!

[References]

Memes

- Design is very human (Not Creepy at all, Very Normal)

- Fixing a Yandere (Crazy Mita) <- This one's on a personal level.

- Sister Leveling (Solo Leveling meme)

- No-no, this is my no-no square

- Sung Jin-Woo Rizz | Diddy (Referring to when that high school girl whose name I do not remember fell for him)

Games

- MiSide (Crazy Mita, Cappy, Kind Mita and the Player — First Ending)

- Genshin Impact (My Wife Hu Tao)

- Assassin's Creed (Ezio Auditore)

Anime

- Attack on Titan (Eren Yeager)

- Danmachi (Bell Cranel)

Novel

- Solo Leveling (Sung Jin-Woo)

- Revered Insanity (GOAT Fang Yuan)

- That time I reincarnated as a slime (Rimuru)

TV Series

- Squid Game (Smile Thingie, Number 69696)

- You (Joe Goldberg)