Soryn stiffened slightly as he listened.
Slowly, he stepped forward and moved closer to the drifting smoke.
Then he leaned his head slightly forward, bringing his ear closer to it.
What is this saying…? he thought, focusing carefully on the faint whispers.
Slowly the voice became clear.
"I am not your enemy, Soryn."
The voice echoed softly through the darkness.
That voice…
It felt very familiar. It sounded very similar to the voice that had helped him escape from the laggy figure holding a scythe.
"Were you the one who saved me?" Soryn asked quickly, lifting his head slightly as he looked around the darkness.
For a brief moment, there was silence.
Then the voice replied.
"No, I did not save you. It was *** who saved you. But for now… you could say I work for him, and I am here to help you."
Soryn frowned slightly as he listened.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice turning more serious. "And who are you talking about? I can't understand the name of the entity… or whoever saved me."
The smoke around him shifted slightly, swirling slowly as if responding to his words.
"You don't need to understand it all, Soryn," the smoke replied calmly. "Just remember about… 'what you have written.'"
Soryn's brows pulled together tightly.
What I have written…?
The voice paused for a few seconds. Then it continued again.
"I cannot help you that much. But if you follow 'what you have written'… then you will *** this."
"Are you talking about my novels?" Soryn asked quickly, his voice sounding slightly desperate as he stepped forward again.
He leaned slightly toward the smoke, waiting for an answer.
For a few seconds—
The voice did not reply.
Then the voice spoke again.
"Soryn, make a contract with me."
Soryn blinked once, slightly surprised by those words.
"What kind of contract?" Soryn asked, curiosity filling his voice as he looked carefully at the drifting smoke.
"I will help you whenever you need any help," the voice replied calmly. "But in return, you won't become a player for any other Watcher."
Soryn narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Why do I need to listen to you?" Soryn asked, looking at the smoke with suspicion as he folded his arms lightly across his chest.
"Are you not curious about 'what you have written'… and about this new world in which you have to survive?" the voice continued. "I will help you with everything. Just, in return… you won't be a player for any Watcher."
Soryn did not say anything for a few seconds.
He kept looking around the dark space, his brows furrowing slightly as if he were thinking carefully about what to do.
Then he frowned and scratched the back of his head slowly.
"Whatever… I accept your contract," Soryn said at last.
In the next instant a message popped in front of him.
[The contract has been made.]
"Wait… that was fast," Soryn said, raising one brow slightly as he stared at the message.
Then he looked back toward the smoke.
"So what should I call you… the voice?" Soryn asked, tilting his head slightly.
Another message appeared.
[The Last Voice says with a teasing tone, "Who knows?"]
A small smile formed on Soryn's face.
"The Last Voice…" Soryn muttered softly. "Not a bad name."
"But why is it not saying 'Watcher The Last Voice'?" Soryn asked, looking carefully at the message.
Another reply appeared.
[The Last Voice says. "He is not a Watcher", and with a smile adds, "Those weaklings are nowhere near my level."]
"Oh… so you are that strong?" Soryn said, looking at the message with eyes filled with clear distrust at The Last Voice's words.
Another message appeared quickly.
[The Last Voice says, "Stop teasing me, otherwise I will kill you now."]
"Okay, okay… chill," Soryn replied with a small laugh, raising both hands slightly as if calming someone.
Another message appeared.
[The Last Voice says, "You should get out of here now. Bye."]
As those words appeared, Soryn suddenly felt the darkness around him begin to fade.
In the next instant - He woke up.
His eyes snapped open and found himself back inside the Traveler's Cage.
Soryn blinked a few times, then slowly sat up on the bed.
Then suddenly, the cage started to move violently. It shook from side to side, making the walls tremble.
What is happening? Soryn thought.
He quickly steadied himself as he grabbed the edge of the bed.
Without wasting time, he imagined himself getting out of the cage.
And in the blink of an eye, he was out.
His feet landed on the ground, and his eyes widened instantly at the sight in front of him.
A lot of people were running toward him. Their faces were filled with panic. Behind them, a huge fire burned wildly on a tall building. Thick smoke rose into the sky.
The whole area was crushed into destruction. Broken cars were scattered everywhere. Collapsed buildings surrounded the streets. People were running and screaming wildly.
Everyone was filled with fear.
"What is going on?!" Soryn shouted.
Where are Isaya and Serenya? he thought anxiously.
He turned his head around sharply.
Then he saw them.
Both of them were behind him, helping people escape.
Serenya was pulling people out from under broken debris. Her face was tense as she strained to lift heavy pieces.
Isaya was guiding people away from the area, waving his hands urgently and shouting directions.
"So, you are out. You really are late."
A familiar voice spoke from behind Soryn.
Soryn quickly turned back.
He found Kaiden standing behind him, gripping his sword tightly.
Nearby, Elina was raising her hands forward, using her water abilities to push back the flames. Streams of water were crashing against the burning building.
"What is going on?" Soryn asked quickly. "And where are we?"
"We are in the center of the Mastry Slayer's area," Kaiden replied, his voice serious as he kept his eyes on the surroundings. "Players were trying to fight him… because of that, all this destruction happened."
"Where is that thing now?" Soryn asked hurriedly.
"We were taking the weak hunters away from it," Kaiden replied. "We are only two kilometers away from it now… and that thing is making its way toward us."
Soryn looked around quickly. Then he raised his voice.
"Serenya! Isaya!"
As both of them heard his voice, they immediately handed their tasks to nearby people and ran directly toward him.
"Mister! You are awake!" Isaya shouted as he ran forward and hugged him tightly.
Soryn placed one hand gently on his head.
"Yes, I am," Soryn replied calmly. "And now… we will defeat that Mastry Slayer together."
"Yes! Finally!" Isaya shouted with confidence, his eyes shining brightly.
"What do you mean?" Kaiden suddenly said. "Can't you see all this destruction made by that thing? How are you going to fight that thing?"
Soryn turned his head slightly and looked directly at Kaiden.
"That's why I said we," Soryn replied calmly. "Along with your team and mine… I am sure we can win."
Kaiden remained silent for a moment.
Then he shook his head slightly.
"We still can't win against it. I know that," Kaiden replied quietly.
His eyes looked heavy, as if he already knew what would happen if they fought.
Soryn did not say anything to him. Instead, he slowly stepped back.
"If you don't want to… you don't need to fight with us," Soryn said firmly. "We will fight it alone."
Without waiting to hear Kaiden's reply he turned around. With Serenya and Isaya beside him, he started moving toward the Mastry Slayer.
"He is an idiot…" Kaiden murmured under his breath as he watched them walk away.
Then he stepped back toward Elina.
As Soryn moved toward the Mastry Slayer.
According to my novel, Kaiden is a Seer… Soryn thought, his eyes narrowing slightly as he walked. He knows what will happen in the future… but he can't know about my future.
He stepped over a broken piece of concrete.
I am sure he just saw his companions die… and he doesn't want to fight that thing because of that, Soryn continued to think. But I can't just let it go this way.
As he kept walking, a small smile slowly curved over his face.
He really is just like how I wrote him in my novel, Soryn thought.
"Soryn!" Serenya suddenly shouted from beside him.
Her voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
He turned his head slightly toward her.
"I know we are going to defeat the Mastry Slayer, as you said," Serenya continued, tightening her grip on her sword as she kept walking beside him. "But how are we going to defeat him?"
She glanced at him with a serious expression.
"I have a plan," Soryn said calmly, his voice steady as he kept walking forward without looking back at Serenya. "But for that, I just need to see the Mastry Slayer… then I can implement it."
As those words left his mouth messages suddenly appeared in front of them.
[Watcher Golden is curious what type of plan you have.]
[Watcher Harmes says not to do anything that can put his player in danger.]
As Harmes' message popped in front of them, Isaya's expression changed. He glared at the message with an angry look. His brows tightened as his small fists clenched.
Another message appeared quickly.
[Watcher Harmes says he is sorry for what he just said.]
Isaya stared at the message for a second. Then his anger faded. A small smile appeared on his face as he nodded slightly and started walking beside Soryn again.
But as they continued walking the ground suddenly started to shake violently. A deep rumbling sound echoed through the area. Dust rose into the air as cracks began to spread across the ground beneath their feet.
Before they could react two large buildings collapsed right in front of them. Debris scattered everywhere.
And then two heads flew through the air. They landed heavily right in front of them. Rolling across the broken ground before coming to a stop.
Serenya screamed loudly as she saw the heads. Her eyes were filled with fear.
Her grip on her sword trembled slightly as she instinctively stepped back.
Behind the collapsed buildings an entity slowly came into view.
It looked just like a human. But its presence felt completely different.
It was wearing a black knight uniform which was covered with scratches and dried blood.
In its right hand - It held a black sword on which fire burned along the blade. In its left hand it held the severed head of a player.
Its eyes were glowing bright red.
And just its presence alone, Filled everyone's hearts with fear.
[Watcher Golden warns you not to fight that thing.]