Chapter 42:
Rosa stood there confidently, her presence calm but heavy.
"Come at me…"
She tilted her head slightly, eyes locked on Betsheba.
"…and let me show you what true strength is."
The air around them shifted, a pressure subtle at first slowly began to spread outward from Rosa's body, feeling like an invisible tide pressing against the air
Betsheba, who had just steadied herself from the earlier blow, narrowed her eyes.
"…Tch… this is bad… she hit me… this means…"
Her fingers brushed the corner of her mouth as she wiped away a trace of blood.
"Blood?"
Her expression changed, her gaze sharpened as she observed Rosa more closely.
"…I see."
Her tone dropped.
"You're not normal are you ? in a single strike you affected my multiple layers."
Betsheba's eyes flickered slightly.
"…That aura…"
Her lips slowly curled into a small, knowing smile.
" Hmm a spirit beast user… huh."
Her inner thoughts sharpened.
Shit… I'm not strong enough to defeat a spirit user yet…
Marcus, still on the ground, struggled to lift his head.
"…Rosa…"
His voice was weak, barely audible, betsheba exhaled slowly then she stepped back once.
"…Interesting."
Her voice returned to its earlier tone,but something had shifted beneath it, but it seems like today isn't the day....
The oppressive weight she carried began to retract slightly, as if she had already made her decision.
Ehh… seriously shut the fuck up.
You had no trouble bullying the old man or don't tell me you're afraid after a single punch.
Rosa smirked slightly, as her tone was sharp.
Betsheba turned her head slowly, glancing once more at Marcus lying on the ground.
"…You got lucky i should have just killed from the get go."
Then her gaze shifted fully to Rosa.
"It's clear you're a spirit beast user… and a powerful one at that."
Rosa's eyes narrowed.
"…Tch."
Betsheba continued calmly.. " but for now ..I'm not strong enough to stand toe to toe with a spirit beast user… at least not yet."
Rosa smirked wider.
"Soo you are scared of getting your ass kicked, is that it?"
Her eyes glinted slightly.
"That's okay… this won't take long."
A faint chuckle escaped Betsheba.
"…Yeah… you could say I'm scared."
Her tone carried no shame only cold honesty.
"But it seems like Mr. Pillar here…"
Her eyes shifted briefly toward Marcus again.
"…doesn't have much time."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"He could die from those injuries any moment now."
Rosa's grin tightened.
Her teeth clenched slightly as her expression hardened.
Betsheba chuckled softly.
"I won't forget you… or your face."
Her body began to fade into the surrounding darkness.
"Try not to die before I come back because I'll surely be back."
Rosa grinned through clenched teeth as she watched, her eyes tracking Betsheba's dissolving form slowly.
Ooiii…
You stupid fool...
A sudden voice echoed violently inside her head
"....OOOWW!!"
Rosa screamed in response, clutching her head as the sound struck her like a tidal wave.
"Shut up!! You stupid snake!! You almost blew my head off with the sound of your voice!!"
Ehhh?
Who are you calling a stupid snake?
A deep, amused voice echoed back inside her mind.
Leviathan grinned.
"You didn't pass my judgement… and you let her escape."
Ehh...shut up, idiot, if I had gone all out, old man Marcus would have died before I even took her out.
Meanwhile, Marcus lay on the ground, dumbfounded.
"…Ehh… who's she screaming at…?"
Leviathan's voice echoed again.
"Shut up, idiot."
"You possess healing magic. You could have easily healed him."
Ehh wait.
Why didn't you say something before?
Rosa grinned in response.
"Because you didn't ask, stupid."
Leviathan responded immediately.
Both of them locked their presence mentally, almost like a clash of wills within her mind.
Marcus Steel stared at them, completely confused.
"…Ehh… am I missing something…?"
Just then...
Cough… cough…
He coughed violently, and blood spilled from his mouth.
"Eii..old man Marcus!"
Rosa rushed to his side instantly.
"Are you okay...?"
She paused.
"…ehh… what am I even saying… of course you're not okay."
Her expression tightened.
"This is bad… your aura is weakening…"
She hovered slightly over him, visibly concerned.
"Umm… umm… ooiii… show me how to use healing magic!"
Leviathan responded immediately.
"Ehh… are you stupid?"
"You possess my abilities without any drawback."
"Just think about healing him… and it will activate dumbass."
Rosa's eyes narrowed.
"You annoying snake…" then she steadied herself
Closed her eyes briefly, took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly...
Her mind was focused and clear
And then
Slowly…
The healing magic began to activate, a faint energy started to gather around her hands, flowing outward in a gentle, controlled current.
Oooi… it's working.
Rosa's voice carried a hint of surprise.
"Of course it will work, stupid you are me afterall"
Leviathan responded immediately.
Rosa gritted her teeth slightly.
"This kid…"
A thought surfaced in his mind.
"…I was right, she's just like me."
Flashback six hours earlier After the event of the bonding
Rosa's eyes snapped open.
"GASP...!"
She shot upright violently, clutching her chest as her breathing spiraled out of control.
"Gasp… Gasp… Gasp…!!"
"What… what was that…?"
Her voice trembled slightly slowly, she pushed herself up but .....
" Ow…"
A sharp pain shot through the back of her head.
She winced, reaching back to rub it.
"Did I… hit my head…?"
Her brows furrowed.
"Was that a dream…? It felt really weird…" she exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself.
"I guess I hit my head so hard…"
Still uneasy, she stood up and walked slowly toward the mirror.
Her reflection should have been there.
But then...
" EHHHH!!!"
She screamed, because staring back at her was not her.
It was the Leviathan.
Its massive, ominous form reflected through the mirror, its presence was overwhelming even in that still image.
Her scream echoed through the house.
From the living room , footsteps..... fast
Her mother rushed forward immediately.
"Rosa! Rosa, are you okay?! What's wrong?!"
She began knocking on the door urgently.
"Rosa!"
Rosa froze for a split second.
"Eii....it's mother!"
She quickly composed herself. "I...I'm fine!"
She forced her voice to sound normal.
"I just… uh…"
She glanced at the mirror again, then looked away quickly.
"I didn't know how much my boobs have grown… I was just surprised, that's all!"
There was a brief silence.
Then....
Her mother chuckled softly from the other side.
"Ohh, well… it's part of puberty though."
"But are you sure you are okay? Let me just come check on you"
The door handle began to turn.
Rosa's eyes widened.
She rushed to the door instantly.
"No no....you can't come in, mum! I'm naked!"
"..Oh! Sorry, I didn't know," her mother replied quickly.
A small pause.
"But get some rest, okay?"
"Yes, yes, I will. Goodnight, mum," Rosa said, forcing a smile.
"Yeah… goodnight," her mother replied, her footsteps slowly fading away.
Rosa stood there for a moment.
Then....
Her expression dropped. "…What the fuck…"
Her voice came out low.
"That wasn't a dream."
Just then, a voice echoed inside her head.
"Foolish human."
Rosa froze.
A condensed, shadowy form began to stretch outward from her body, coiling slightly as it took shape behind her.
Then it continued
"Didn't I tell you… there would be consequences?"
Its voice was deep and ancient
"You said you didn't care about the consequences…"
"…that you just wanted power."
Rosa's face flushed slightly red."…Ah…"
Leviathan continued "The consequence is this...."
A pause.
"Your soul… will become an offering… for each power you take."
Rosa went silent an completely still.
Leviathan laughed.
"Hahaha… foolish human… always blinded by power and....."
".....That's amazing."
Rosa cut him off instantly.
Leviathan paused.
"…Eh?"
Rosa's eyes sparkled as it was filled with excitement. "Soo it means I'll have powers… even stronger than father's?"
Leviathan stared. "…This one is…"
Then suddenly.... "OI! STUPID..He snapped loudly.
"Didn't you hear me?! I said your SOUL is the price of my power!"
"Ehh? Who are you calling stupid? rosa snapped back immediately".
"I heard you the first time!"
She crossed her arms slightly.
"If my soul is the price… doesn't that mean I'll still be with you even after death?"
She tilted her head "I'll still be a part of you, right?"
Leviathan paused.
"…Well… that's true… if you put it that way…"
Then suddenly...
"Oi...wait...stupid!"
His tone sharpened again.
"You're really happy selling your soul to me?!"
But before Rosa could respond a sudden chill ran down her spine.
Her body stiffened.
"…!"
A strange pressure swept over her, leviathan's tone changed.
"…You feel it too, don't you…?"
Rosa's eyes widened slightly.
"What… was that feeling, I can literally pinpoint where it's coming from…"
Leviathan grinned. "ahaha… impressive, isn't it?"
"I have the highest sensory ability among the beasts."
His voice carried pride.
"Meaning… I can pinpoint any evil intent across the world."
Rosa's eyes sparkled again.
"Oooooi… awesome!!"
"It means I have this same ability?!"
Leviathan smirked.
"…Yes. You have it."
Then his expression shifted slightly.
"Oi… wait… wait…"
"Are you really serious?, you don't care about your soul?"
Rosa replied casually.
"If I'm one with you… then I guess it's no trouble, now is it?"
She stretched slightly.
Then let's go, If we can pinpoint evil intent, then let's go now!"
Leviathan immediately snapped.
"Ehh no no are you stupid?!"
"You don't even know how to use my abilities yet!"
"If you go out there, you'll die I need to train you."
His tone became serious.
"In the subspace of my mind."
Rosa blinked.
"…Subspace?"
Leviathan continued.
" yes but time flows differently there Meaning…"
"30 minutes in this world… is like 2 years in my mind."
Rosa's eyes lit up instantly.
"…Awesome."
Leviathan stared "are all humans like this she doesn't care about her soul…?"
A pause....
"…In that case…"
His presence expanded slightly consuming Rosa entire body
"We begin."
Immediately rosa's face went blank as her body lost strength.
As she collapsed onto the floor silence filled the room then her eyes opened again.
But this time, there was nothing just emptiness.
Blackness stretching endlessly in all directions.
Rosa looked around slowly.
"…Awesome."
Just then a massive presence emerged from the darkness.
Leviathan's true form revealed itself, towering, overwhelming, filling the void with its sheer existence.
"Welcome…" his voice echoed.
"…this is your mind Rosa exclaimed"
A pause.....
Let us begin."