"AUGHHH!!!"

  Dereia spats blood. He looks down and see a thing covered with his blood, putruding on his chest.

  Few seconds gone by, the truth slowly reveals itself as the object that stab Dereia is a sword, and behind her is Helyna who looking on Dereia with fury.

  Helyna pulls her sword aggressively and Dereia almost fall to the ground. But after she tumbles, Dereia regains her footing. Looking at everyone as she hold her new wound.

  "H-How?" Dereia asked with astonished and pained reaction.

  "Invisibility Deistic Magic. That's how." Claustrine answered.

  Claustrine, Norm and Sophia now walking down on the stairs.

  "I-I should have been... d-detected her."

  "You can't detect something you didn't expect."

  "W-why you even have s-such spell? Y-you're a mage."

  "This is not a video game." Mateo's only answer on Claustrine's behalf which make Fleur, Norm and Helyna look at Mateo with confusion.

  Dereia spats blood again. Everyone surrounds her in a safe distance and. Sophia start to tend Fleur's injury as the others watch on any threat Dereia can still inflict.

  "Where's Shirna?" Sophia asked.

  "I'm ugh! F-fine."

  Shirna appears leaning on the wall as he walk towards Sophia who obviously becomes concerned on his wellbeing.

  "Should we kill her now?" Fleur asked.

  "Let's kill her. She needs to pay for killing my father." Helyna's cold and menacing suggestion.

  "No. We can't do that."

  "But! She's a murderer! Why you suddenly wants to let her live?!" Helyna's anger fills the room.

  "I think Mateo is right on not killing her. She needs to pay for her crimes longer than the sweet release of death." Norm's opinion.

  .

  .

  .

  .

  A hissing sound heared which slowly rise into crescendo.

  "!!!" -Norm

  "Not again!" -Sophia.

  "Here she comes." Claustrine mumbles.

  The three mages instantly feel the sudden surge of arcane magic that fills the huge room they're in. They look on Dereia as she's the only source of danger and they're shocked to see Dereia releasing a menecing dark aura.

  "I can feel it... whatever is that, that's bad news. Let's kill her!" Fleur's paniced proposal as she walk forward while holding her sword tightly despite the pain on her arm.

  Helyna also do the same but her posture are more wrathful than afraid.

  But before they even manages to reach Dereia. Mateo use his arm to block Fleur and Helyna.

  "What are you doing?" Helyna asked with sharp annoyance.

  "Please... This might be it." Mateo says with a pleading voice.

  "What... Do... You... Mean?" Helyna slowlys spat her words. She's starting to get mad at Mateo.

  "Please..."

  Meanwhile, Dereia's aura becomes more powerful than before. A black handgun slowly generates on her left hand. On now handless right arm, a black sword made of Arcane energy manifest.

  Dereia's wounds slowly heal, even the onces on her chest. As the power up happen. Mateo takes a deep breath and then...

  "DEREIA! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR US AT THIS MOMENT! NOW IT'S TIME TO RECLAIM WHAT'S YOURS!"

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  Inside the mind space. Dereia is just lying motionless on the floor. She have a soul-less look on her eyes as she stares on the dark void.

  After Josh's threat of killing her family. Dereia completely let him control and thus removing her only chance of reclaiming her body.

  "Aaaaaaaaaaaa...." Dereia is completely unmotivated and catatonic.

  Suddenly, the mindspace shakes aggressively but the event didn't even make Dereia bulge as she continues to stay still.

  She knows that's the same event that let's her to have a fight for the control of her body after Josh dares to use the technique she copied from a figure she admires the most. Cultivated and mastered out of respect and desire to follow the footsteps of the hero.

  The mana sword of the Arcane Swordlady named Wisteria.

  And the fact that the technique she promised to use for the people is used by an abhorrent person like Josh is an insult for her desire and dream.

  Desires and dreams she just thrown away if it guarantee the safety of her family.

  "What's the point... I'm not a hero. I even act selfish... I'm a failure..." Dereia said monotonely as her surroundings continues to shake.

  "I just wish the powerful adventurers to kill me and stop this violence..."

  .

  ..

  ...

  "DEREIA! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR US AT THIS MOMENT! NOW IT'S TIME TO RECLAIM WHATS YOURS!"

  Dereia's body twitch after hearing the shout of a familiar voice.

  "Huh?"

  "DEREIA! DON'T LET THAT BASTARD RUIN YOU EVEN FURTHER! TAKE CONTROL AND DEFEAT HIM!"

  Dereia slowly sit up and calls for a screen. Dereia is shocked to see the faces that she remembers clearly.

  "W-why..."

  On her body's point of view are Grand Ecstasy but this time they also brings three unrecognizable faces.

  "A-are you trying to call her? Hehe auh! She's gone. Dereia would never appear again." Her body speaks in a pained and ragged voice.

  From what Dereia can understand. She realized that Grand Ecstasy really searched for her again and now put her body on the corner after fighting. Both side sustaining injuries base on their appearance and her body's suffered voice.

  And thus the activation of her Mana Sword.

  She hears the cleric and the vanguard also calling her name. Begging her to come back.

  And on that moment... Dereia cries as the group of stranger are genuinely understand her predicament.

  And trying to help her.

  "W-why... Y-you should just kill me..." Dereia says in a defeated tone.

  But Dereia, seeing the determined look on the strangers faces. She saw a silver lining of hope...

  Hope that things might take a turn to her victory.

  "No! You risk your lives in order to save me. I must return the favor and fight!"

  Dereia wipes her tears and stand on her foot with a determined and furious look at her face. She clenches her fist as she makes a primal howl that shakes the void.

  And stab the void with both of her hands, making a bright rift that she can open. The same way she did the first time a chance come to her. There, Dereia forcely open the bright rift.

  .

  .

  .

  SNAP

  "GAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"

  Dereia's head starts to hurt like her brains are being hit on multiple angles.

  "NOT AGAIN! FUUUCK!!!"

  Dereia loses her cool again as the headache is so severe, like her head is being split in two. She thrashes around, her weapons dissapears in order to held her head.

  As Dereia suffers, her aura is now a mix of black and white coloration. Fighting on who can dominate in the end. Grand Ecstasy, Norm, Fleur and Helyna watch with great concern. The three unsure how to process the situation...

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Everyone observes with complete seriousness, sweatdrops on their face and hoping that Dereia wins the battle of ego.

  "Come on Dereia! You can do it!" Sophia begs as she prays.

  "Are you sure this would not backfire on us Mateo?" Claustrine asked with genuine concern.

  "Let's hope she can beat Josh." Mateo's solemn words as she watch the ordeal.

  "You don't anwer my question."

  Mateo grips his sword tightly.

  "If things got worse, we're are more prepared to fight her at that form. So we should bring her peace."

  Dereia's suffering continues. Her ear-screeching screams sends shivers on their spines as despite just being observers, they can imagine the internal battle Dereia and Josh having right now.

  .

  .

  .

  Back on the Mind Space

  "Why you still trying to fight?!" Josh is now screaming on his mind, talking to Dereia.

  "Because they still believes in me so I gonna defeat you and reclaim what is mine!"

  "Fuck! Do you really think once you got your body back, everything goes into a happy ending!? You delusional!"

  "You know nothing so SHUT UP!"

  Dereia force to open the rift a little bit, causing a tremendous pain on Josh.

  "AHHHHH!!! STOOOP!!!"

  "NEVEEER!!!"

  "Think a moment you stupid retard! If you live here! The nobles of Bolaire would surely kill you in far worse way possible!"

  Josh cackles...

  "And they surely include your family! Your village! Everything you love! Afterall, WE are the one that killed their precious childrens! And I guarantee you they would surely satiate their thirst for revenge!"

  "You can't get justice! You're just a criminal now with a huge bounty on your head!"

  "No one would believe that you just got manipulated by me!",

  "You're destined to die!"

  Dereia stops her hands ripping the rift as Josh's words starts to make sense to her.

  Despite how much she deny it, Josh is right. Her being alive would only bring disaster for the ones she loves. Even if for some miracle the nobles of other kingdoms believe her situation.

  The fact that there's an entire nobility of a powerful kingdom, who aims for her head would not bring her and her family peace.

  Especially if the same nobility are known for being entitled scums that abuses their power.

  Dereia makes a pained chuckle.

  "There's really no good ending for me huh?"

  "That's not true. Just allow me to take complete control and we might make turn the tides. You have potential, so if we manage to escape here alive, we just train until we become powerful enough to kill our adversaries... Even the kingdom of Bolaire."

  Dereia drops her hands and looks down.

  "Good decision."

  .

  .

  .

  Wooooooosh-

  "No!"

  Sophia panics as the aura suddenly turns black but the white slowly fights back and come back on a stale mate.

  But that short white defiance is the last as the black aura now becoming the dominant color over time. Until only a sliver of white remains.

  Mateo makes a pained and saddened expression watching the event unfold.

  "Everyone. Wield your weapons, the worse is about to come."

  .

  .

  .

  "I just want to say something before giving you my body, Josh." Dereia calls his name for the first time.

  "Oh any last words? Any wish? I would honor it."

  "No. I want to say that, There's no WE. All of those murders are all of your doing."

  "So you want to remove accountability? Fine by me as if thay would bring change to anything. But I don't know why you suddenly bring that up."

  "Josh. Do you feel any remorse on those people you kill?"

  "Hmmm... Not really. Maybe I can say I feel ... Satisfaction?"

  Dereia clenches her jaw.

  "I see... Fine. I gonna give the authority to you."

  .

  .

  .

  "Huh? What? What's going on?!" Helyna's bloodrage is now gone as she's completely dumbfounded. But she can get a gist on the event. She believe that Dereia is still inside that's why Mateo doesn't want them to kill her.

  The group is ready to finally finish Dereia and end the battle. To their surprise, she summons back her black pistol which make the group halt their movement.

  The white aura is slowly becoming gray as it's getting devoured by the black arcane energy. There's no struggle for domination at all, and it's like Dereia completely gave up.

  The gray aura is slowly becoming black.

  "W-what's going on?" Mateo's concerned question.

  Dereia looks at them. But unlike the cold and heartless expression before, this time. Dereia looks innocent and sorrowful. Tears starts to form on her eyes and flow on her cheek.

  And everyone heared words that they know not coming from whoever's the one manipulating Dereia's body.

  "I-I'm s-so... S-sorry."

  Dereia's black handgun suddenly turns gray and what happened shocks everyone inside the ancestral home.

  With quick motion. Dereia aims her handgun on the side of her head.

  "WHAT?!"

  Josh understands what's going to happen and he fights back as he manages to take control of Dereia's arm within milliseconds and lower the pistol.

  BANG!!!

  Time is like slowed down for everyone as they watch Dereia falls down to the floor. They're too stunned to move and speak that it takes them seconds before the event registers on their mind.

  "What?!" Sophia is shocked, covering her mouth with her both hands.

  Mateo run towards Dereia and kneel beside her.

  "Mateo don't!" Beltrand is worried but Mateo ignores him as he look on Dereia.

  He clench his jaw out of anger as he discovered that Dereia failed to kill herself but instead shot her spine, making her paralyzed from the neck down and having a slow agonizing death.

  Dereia is breathing heavily, choking on her own blood as she looked on the ceiling. Having no way to move even a single finger.

  The rest of Mateo's friend walks close and realized the situation. Beltrand, Fleur and Norm avert their gaze. Sophia having a sorrowful expression.

  "Mateo... Please end her suffering." Claustrines soft and and pained words. She's looking at Dereia with a a sympathetic and sad gaze.

  Helyna is unsure what she would do as she froze on her spot, watching the atmosphere turn from nerve-wracking to melancholic.

  Mateo picks his sword and looks at Dereia. He raise his blade and aim it on Dereia's neck, targeting her windpipe.

  He feels a myriad of things. Anger, sympathy, pain, sadness, regret. But despite all that, Mateo stays calm.

  "I'm sorry Dereia. We failed you." Mateo talking directly to the real Dereia.

  With a cruel twist of fate, Dereia's slowly dimming black aura fully turns gray. Mateo looks at Dereia and watch as she smiles. Not the sinister mocking smile they always see before.

  But a genuine sweet smile coming directly from Dereia herself. Mateo notice her lips moving and read it. His heart sinks deeper after decoding Dereia's final words.

  Tha....nk You...

  Mateo gives a reassuring smile then close his eyes. He then finally give Dereia a faster sweet release of death. And with that, Dereia takes her one last breath. Her aura is now slowly fading way.

  .

  .

  .

  Silence...

  Silence engulfs everyone.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  Inside Dereia's mind. Josh observe as his surrounding starts to crumble. The darkness is being consumed by pure white emptiness.

  He's planning to fully unleash the full power of Dereia and maybe escape the prison she got caught in.

  But he didn't expect that she would get tricked by Dereia. As the moment he relaxed and let Dereia assimillates her conciousness to him. She use the short seconds of vulnerability

  To kill herself.

  "I guess this is the end of the line. That was a good run though."

  Josh sigh and sits in front of the thin screen, the screen where he watch Dereia's point of view weeks ago.

  "Right... The owner is now dead. There's nothing to see here."

  The screen lights up.

  "Oh? This might be the "Life flashing before my eyes" moment. Well then, show me my life."

  The screen instead shows precious memories of Dereia. Her having a fulfilled life on a small farming village with her friends and family.

  "What the fuck? Why you showing this now? Your target audience is already dead."

  The flashback shows key moments of Dereia.

  Her happiness and good times.

  Her sadness and pain.

  Her lessons she learned.

  All the key moments with the people she loves.

  The display of Dereia's life pisses off Josh.

  "I don't care about any of this. Just show me my life."

  The footage of the screen suddenly fast-forward and freeze to a white screen until Josh finally get what he wants.

  Or as he thought, Josh is looking on the screen only to see a kid alone on a huge room, playing on his playstation. The kid have a monotonic expression on his face as he easily clear a stage skillfully.

  "What's... This?"

  The scene continues to Josh's confusion. The sound of the video games echoed on the vast and pitch dark emptyness which slowly engulfed by the white abyss.

  "Anything else you can show to me?" Josh asked on nothingness.

  But on mere coincidence, the scene on the footage change but not on Josh's delight as it's still his same room with just minor changes on furnitures and objects. On the bed in the corner is him on his teenage years, browsing the dark layers of the internet on his laptop. He's typing with such aggressive tone like he's angry on someone.

  "Are you telling me... This is my most memorable moments in my life? You must be shitting me?"

  Yet the screen don't respond and just continue to show Josh's life. Until it changes again on him now an 20 years old. Still browsing the internet but this time on his phone, his room is bland and lack any personality at all.

  Josh in the past have an expression of disinterest on whatever she's scrolling and looking on his phone.

  "What a bunch of stupid fucks. Complaining that their grades are barely manage to bring them to next semester but intead do this?" Josh in the past spouted as he stops scrolling on the picture of his classmates enjoying their school break hanging out and drinking then he scrolls again.

  Josh in the present scoffs. Agreeing on his past self's rant. But then he realizes that on those part of his life. He also not take studies seriously.

  But the only difference is... Unlike his classmates that manages to create meaningful relationships with each other. He just left out and ignored.

  "I don't really give a good impressions on them huh?"

  Josh is just like only living in motions with no friends to connect with, with absurdly religious parents that force him to go on church every sunday, with a monotone boring life as he was unable to connect to people and views them on disfigured point of view.

  "Fine fine I get it now. So what?"

  The video scene changes on him buying his first gun and then the video just abruptly stops.

  "Well. I guess that's my life in a nutshell."

  But Josh just give a slight smile and shrugs.

  "Well whatever. As if having regrets now makes a difference."

  The white nothingness completely delete the mind space including Josh as the moment Dereia finally reach a merciful death.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  Mateo close Dereia's eyes and there lies her body with a serene smile on her face.

  Mateo stand and walks away with a gloomy atmosphere to himself. He felt useless and shit after failing to save Dereia.

  Helyna stands in front of Mateo with furious look on her eyes.

  "Why?" Helyna's only questions.

  She can't understand why Grand Ecstasy have some sort of sympathetic approach on a criminal that killed so many people...

  To a criminal that murder her father.

  Mateo realizes why Helyna confronts him. Instead of answering, he avert gaze out of guilt.

  "Why you guys acts like she's innocent?! I don't understand!" Helyna snaps.

  "Y-yeah... It's already peculiar that Grand Ecstasy is so dead set on hunting Dereia. But watching you guys, I can see that there's something deeper on this." Fleur states her criticism.

  Claustrine sighs.

  "I gonna explain everything."

  But she didn't explained everything as she tell the situation on a way that would not give any lead on Mateo's secret of being an otherworlder.

  As expected. Fleur and Norm are shocked, Helyna is devastated.

  "A-are you s-saying that the real Dereia is suffering all this time?" Helyna asked with a cold shudder.

  Claustrine nods slowly.

  "A-are you telling me I focused my rage tries to kill an innocent person all this time? That's she's also a v-victim."

  "Y-yes." Mateo answers.

  Helyna's words shaken. She went into a catatonic state for a moment then leaves everyone without saying a word.

  Helyna walks in the kitchen where her dead father is. She sits beside him, place her sword on the side and look with no expression on her face then she look on her blood stained sword.

  Sword stained by the blood of someone she can't comprehend.

  Seconds later, tears flow on Helyna's cheeks as he plants her face on her two hands. Her cries echoed on the room, unsure how to handle the situation now the figure that guide him since she's a kid is now gone.

  As Helyna wails, the wall of soil that blocks the entrance opened up and there comes a bunch of Zelestrian soldiers and Adventurers lead by Mr. Roland.

  Roland makes a pained and sympathetic look at Helyna then she signals the soldiers and adventurers to give space for the grieving lady and instead explore the house in search for the rest.

  And they didn't search long as they saw Grand Ecstasy, Fleur and Norm just standing and surrounds the now deceased Dereia. There's no expression of triumph on their face and instead a mixbag of guilt and uncertainty surrounds them.