I looked up to the sky, expecting the voice to bring me back. When nothing happend, I sighed and called out.
"Well? Aren't you gonna send me back?"
Even after two whole minutes of waiting, I heard no response. Working my jaw in frustration, I looked back around the pocket dimension, fully taking a good look around.
"Figures."
Accepting that number one isn't gonna be taking me back, I began walking around— deliberately stepping on the corpse of The Nihileth I killed as disrespect— I looked around the pocket dimension.
It was beautiful, I had to admit. Though it was an empty void, the beauty really lied in the structure, or whatever this pocket dimension was made of. It was almost like I was walking through a galaxy, purple-black sky and floor, littered with white dots similar to little drops of milk.
Without thinking, I continued marching forward, simply admiring the beauty that was this pocket dimension. Chances of me ever getting to see something like this ever again is next to none. All that has happend to me recently in The Mulligan has been nothing short of amazing— I have to say that I enjoyed myself quite a bit.
While I was simply marching forward, I began thinking of what's happening outside. That caused my impatience to rise. How can I just remain here, when my companions was fighting outside? They are facing against much stronger, much more deadly foes than the cheap copy I killed.
Bitting my inner cheek, I began trying ways to escape this place. The first thing I did was pretty simple— I tried to cleave a way out using [Fool's Rapier] but it was fruitless. The Rapier itself wasn't just capable of cutting through space, especially something like a pocket dimension that potentionally exists outside of space-time.
I tried again and again, but I failed each time. Letting out a defeated sigh, I thought of another method. This one is purely based on luck— I tried finding a door. Walking forward, backwards, left and right. In search of a door in this vast expanse of space.
Was I stupid? Yes. Am I being impatient? Yes. But I knew I couldn't stay here any longer. The longer I stay, the more I will miss out on the outside. What if Zeke was in danger now? What if Isabella was? Even though I promised that I won't get too attached, right now, I couldn't control the emotions welling inside me.
After walking for God knows how long, I couldn't find a door that lead to an exit. I should of known it wouldn't be so convenient. I gave up, once my legs started growing tired. Dropping down to my knees, i glared up to the sky.
"Let me out, you bastard! You promised you will release the winner!"
Not expecting a response, I opended my mouth to continue ranting in frustration. But I was cut off.
"Why should I? You're an enemy. Right now, the best course of action is keeping you locked up here."
I gritted my teeth, but didn't respond. I didn't really have a retort, because number one was right. If I had such power, I wouldn't release myself either.
"Then why did you lie and say you would?"
I heard the voice laugh.
"To give you false hope, what else?"
I felt my heart sink even further. I knew it was too good to be true, but I believed it anyway. Because of that, here I am. Falling into a pit of despair, a despair I haven't felt since the loop. I shook my heads of these thoughts and calmed myself.
'Inconsistencies.'
I need to focus on them. Something wasn't adding up about the way number one acted, compared to before the fight and after the fight. There also can't be an ability powerful enough to trap someone indefinitely, without some sort of cost. Perhaps it leaves him open on the outside? My companions could save me then?
No, I can't rely on them always. There has to be something I can do from inside here. I just refuse to believe that there isn't. But, what could it be?
I'm getting distracted. First, I need to focus on the inconsistencies. Before the fight began, number one clearly didn't have much confidence whenever he spoke. He seemed to hesitate with each word, even when speaking to me. But now, after the fight, he remained silent for awhile— only after I started showing signs of becoming emotionally unstable, did he finally speak up.
Is he trying to make me despair? To make me give up and rely on hope from the outside, that they could possibly save me?
My eyes light up at this thought process, with a hand on my chin, I sat crossed leg on the ground, facing the corpse of the Nihileth I killed lying before me. Dismissing the [Fool's Rapier].
If this is the case, then it would mean that he wants me to rely on help from outside. Why would he want me to? Because the outside can't help me! Nobody from outside could help me. Only I could help myself escape from this void. That's what number one doesn't want me to realize, that he is trying to hide by manipulating my feelings not so subtly.
Then, what is it? What exactly does number one not want me to find out here? There has to be something he wants to keep secret, that's the only logical explanation on why he would want to redirect my attention to the outside. Or maybe, im just missing something here….
Just as that thought entered my head, I recalled something.
The spear.
I recalled a flying spear hitting the duplicate of Zeke, before he vanished into thin air.
I recalled myself feeling a throbbing pain in my neck, before being transported here.
What could this mean?
My attention turned towards the dead body lying before me. It had gone rigid, the blood had by now dried up and the disgusting slice of half his body was still very much visible. However, there was also something else. A black orb was floating right above the corpse's chest, something I didn't notice before due it blending in perfectly with the body of the Nihileth.
It was the same black orb I saw near Zeke's duplicate when he vanished into thin air. Could they be related?
Reaching out tentatively, I let my finger brush against it. Or atleast, I tried to. Instead, my finger just phased through the orb, as if it wasn't even there. It was incorporeal, I thought. Then, what purpose does this thing serve? What even is it?
I began to think carefully.
The spear, the orb, the pocket dimension….
What exactly relates to all this? What was common?
Wait, when number one first revealed himself, he saved the fake me. When he was about to die— but what if, he already died?
My eyes widened, as I suddenly came to a realization.
The spear, the orb and the pocket dimension…..is all connected to death.
The spear killed the duplicate of Zeke, the orb served as the medium that let's the 'dead' travel back into the pocket dimension. This explains why number one has only been able to transport ones near-death, or atleast it seemed that way to us. Could that sharp pain in my neck been me being killed, than transported here?
I thought in fear, rubbing the nape of my neck.
This could be it. But what do I do with this information? Now that I know how to enter the pocket dimension, or how people are forced to enter, how exactly do I escape? What else am I missing?
Slowly, i opended a palm, a shimmering brilliant glow appeared on it, then a silver rapier revealed itself as the glow dimmed. [Fool's Rapier]. I summoned it, simply staring at it for a moment, my gaze distant, but my heart was racing.
'Do I have to kill myself?'
If to enter one has to die, do I have to die in order to exit?
But that doesn't make sense, if this is the case, then my duplicate wouldn't have tried so hard to kill me, knowing it would only help me escape. This only means that I practically freed my duplicate by killing him.
Yet, despite this, I can't think of anything remotely close to making sense. Killing myself is risky and the thought itself is outlandish, but do I have any choice? I can't wait any longer. Not when my companions were in danger. They needed my assistance.
But, what if it doesn't work? That I'm just gone after killing myself? That thought scared me and made me hesitant. Taking this gamble, where I wasn't even sure of my own theory, terrified me.
That's without mentioning the pain I will have to go through just to kill myself. The very thought made me shudder and just dismiss [Fool's Rapier], made me want to stay here and hope that the companions figure out a way to release me.
However, I knew these thoughts were foolish and childish. The Mulligan is cruel. Soft people can't survive in this battle royale. Everything I had experienced since the beginning of this battle royale is proof of this.
So, I gripped my [Fool's Rapier] tightly and stood up, taking a deep breath. I looked back down at the corpse, tempted to use [The Zone] to draw out the pain. It would save me from having to suffer, or dealing with any hesitation from my muscles.
But I didn't. That would make me weak. I cant take the easy way out. Taking another deep breath, I resolved to myself that no matter what suffering I experience, I will always come out on top. I will recieve a second chance at life. I will win The Mulligan.
So, I raised my Rapier towards my throat. However, at that moment, number one interjected.
"What are you doing?"
I stopped, staring up at the sky where the voice came off in surprise, before a smirk appeared.
"Killing myself, of course. Why do you ask?"
The voice seemed to hesitant. Number one now didn't sound as confident as he was before.
"Why would you do that? Have you given up? You don't wish to win The Mulligan?"
I shrugged.
"No, I do. That's why I must kill myself."
I felt the voice growing frustrated and more desperate, as he continued. I enjoyed number one getting like this.
"You have come to the wrong conclusion. Killing yourself won't allow you to escape this place. Only I can choose who comes inside and exits."
I didn't respond, instead. I raised [Fool's Rapier] slowly towards my throat.
"No! You are making a mistake, Morgan! You will regret this!"
The sharpness of the Rapier touched my throat. I gulped, taking a deep breath. Just one slice would be enough to kill myself, but I was still scared. My hands were trembling and all I desired at the moment was to just lower the [Fool's Rapier] and sit back down.
However, I didn't give in to these impulses.
"Morgan! Stop! You…."
I drowned out the frustrated and desperate pleas of number one, letting my eyes flutter shut, as I tenderly pressed the tip of the Rapier to my throat. Then, without anymore hesitation, I pressed forward.
[Fool's Rapier] smoothly went through my throat.
My eyes widened, as I choked, instinctively trying to pull the Rapier out of my throat, but I stopped myself at the last second. Letting the tears fall down my all red eyes, I let my head be light-headed, the thoughts drifting away, as I fell to my knees.
'Did I make the right decision?'
I thought to myself, as my body went limp on the ground, all life fading from my eyes. As everything around me turned black.
But before the icy grip of death could consume my soul, my eyes shot open and my body jerked upwards as if yanked by strings, slowly getting up on my feet and looking around.
The tunnel. I was inside the tunnel. A smile slowly formed on my lips, as I looked around, even though in instinctively scratched my throat, to feel the wound— after seeing there was nothing there, my smile widened into a grin of relief.
"It was the right choice."
But then worry and concern filled my heart, as I searched for my companions in the tunnel. I quickly found them, as they weren't too far away from me.
The first person I saw was Nico. He appeared heavily injured, his loincloth barely hanging on, several scars all over his back and chest, evidence of a fight with a swordmaster.
"Morgan?"
He said, turning towards me in surprise at my apperance.
In front of him, leaning against the wall was Isabella. Her tunic was torn, one shoulder sleeve gone, exposing her creamy arm. Her body was covered in wounds that has been closed and healed to perfection, definitely by Zeke. But the evidence of a tough fight was there.
At my name being called, her face brightened up and turned towards me, relief filling her face.
"Morgan…"
I looked around, confused.
"What happend?"
But before they could respond, footsteps was coming our way from the end of the tunnel.
Zeke. With one hand grabbing a fistful of the hair of a Nihileth, he dragged the creature towards the group, laughing. His body was covered in stab wounds, his mask covered in scratches and one half was completely sliced off, revealing the right side of his face— blood-shot eyes and a wide grin with missing teeth.
"Number seven is dead."