Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 97

Karl stared at the glowing orb with determination, though the words from the voice began to creep into his thoughts. "Happiness?" he said with a hint of sarcasm. "What does happiness mean if it’s just freedom without direction? Without limits, life is empty."

The voice chuckled deeply, echoing through the room. "That’s just your narrow perspective, Karl. You’ve never tried to feel this freedom, so you don’t know what you’re rejecting."

Karl stepped closer to the glowing orb, but his steps faltered. From the circle of strange symbols on the floor, pink energy began to take shape—forming a new figure. A woman, appearing as if crafted from Karl’s deepest, unspoken desires. Her long hair, perfect body, and eyes radiated warmth and longing. She smiled gently, just like the previous woman.

"You," Karl muttered cautiously, gripping his crystal tighter. "I know your tricks now."

The woman stepped forward gracefully, her soft voice now piercing straight into Karl’s heart. "Karl, this isn’t about resisting. It’s about acceptance. You know you’re tired of fighting. Free yourself. I can give you everything you desire. Happiness. Peace. No more burdens to carry."

Karl tried to look away, but every word she spoke pierced his mind, weakening his defenses. A part of him wanted to believe, to surrender, but he knew it was only an illusion.

"No," he said, biting his lip, trying to keep his consciousness intact. "What’s the point of happiness if I lose control of myself? My life has a purpose, and I won’t let this dimension distract me from my path."

The woman frowned, her smile fading. "Karl," she said, her tone now colder, "if you won’t embrace freedom, then you’ll be destroyed by it."

Her body began to transform into something larger, more terrifying, with glowing red eyes and a frame covered in sharp spikes. The pink light from the energy orb grew more intense, and the room began to tremble.

Karl realized this was his final chance to act. He raised the crystal in his hand, which now glowed with a piercing blue light. "I’ve had enough of playing your games."

The monstrous figure growled, and the pink energy from the orb shot toward him like tendrils, trying to stop him. Karl pointed the crystal at the energy orb, focusing all his resolve. The crystal began to vibrate, and flashes of blue light enveloped the room.

"This dimension needs balance, not blinding freedom," he said firmly. "This isn’t about destruction, but restoration!"

The blue light from the crystal pierced the energy orb, shattering it into tiny fragments that slowly faded away. A scream echoed as the woman’s monstrous form dissolved into mist, leaving the room dark and quiet.

Karl fell to his knees, his breaths ragged. The crystal in his hand dimmed, leaving a cold sensation on his palm.

[Anomaly eliminated: Dimensional balance level increased to 2.5%.]

The system’s voice made him smile faintly, despite the exhaustion weighing on his body. "One step closer," he muttered, slowly rising. Another corridor appeared at the end of the room, this time bathed in a calming blue light.

He walked toward the corridor, leaving the dimension filled with illusions and false freedom behind. But deep in his heart, he knew the journey was far from over.

Each step brought him closer to the hidden truth at the core of all these dimensions—and ultimately, the core of himself.

As Karl entered the corridor bathed in blue light, the air around him slowly changed. It felt cooler, almost like a gentle breeze blowing through the mountains. The blue light seemed to move with his steps, guiding him toward something greater, something more significant. Yet amid the tranquility, Karl sensed something odd—a presence unseen but undeniably real.

The corridor led Karl to a vast open space. The floor was like glass, revealing an endless night sky beneath him. Above, the sky was filled with countless stars shining brightly, forming patterns as if telling forgotten stories. In the center of the room stood a circular platform, and atop it was a pillar emitting light that continuously shifted colors.

Karl walked cautiously toward the platform, but before he could reach the pillar, another voice emerged. Unlike the seductive voice earlier, this one was deep, authoritative, and heavy.

"Karl."

Karl froze mid-step. He glanced around, searching for the source of the voice, but there was no one. "Who’s there?"

The voice came again, this time closer. "I am the guardian of balance. I protect the core of this dimension. And I have been watching your journey."

Karl furrowed his brow. "If you’re the guardian of balance, why is this dimension so chaotic? What happened?"

The light from the pillar began to flicker, and slowly, a figure appeared on the platform. It was an old man draped in a long robe that glowed softly. His face was lined with wrinkles, but his eyes shone like stars in the sky.

"This dimension is a reflection of the souls who enter it," the man said. "When the balance within someone is disrupted, this dimension reflects that imbalance, like a mirror showing every crack."

Karl clenched his fists. "So all this is because of me?"

The man nodded slowly. "Partly, yes. But you are not the only one. Other souls crossing this dimension carry their burdens, exacerbating the imbalance. Yet, your presence here is the key to restoring it all."

Karl exhaled deeply, feeling the weight grow heavier. "I just want to fix this dimension and leave. But every step feels like I’m fighting against myself."

"That is the essence of your journey," the man said, his voice calm yet firm. "To restore this dimension, you must first restore balance within yourself."

Karl stared at the man with confusion and frustration. "What do you mean? I don’t have time for philosophy. Just tell me what I need to do."

The man extended his hand, and suddenly a small orb of light appeared before Karl. The orb spun, projecting flashes of images—Karl’s memories, dreams, and fears. He saw himself as a child, alone in a dark room, crying. He saw himself growing up, always trying to prove something, but never feeling enough. He saw the faces of those he had let down and the mistakes he tried to forget.

"This... isn’t fair," Karl said hoarsely. "I’ve done my best."

"It’s not about what you’ve tried to do, Karl," the man said. "It’s about what you’ve avoided. You fight this world, but within yourself, you fight something far greater—yourself."

Karl stared at the orb intensely, wanting to look away but unable to. All the emotions he had suppressed, all the wounds he had ignored, were now laid bare before him.

"What do I do?" Karl finally asked, his voice filled with despair. "How do I fix myself?"

The man gave a small, understanding smile. "Face your truth, Karl. Acknowledge your fears, accept your mistakes, and let go of the guilt that holds you back. Only then can you find the balance you seek."

Karl swallowed hard, his chest growing heavier. But before he could respond, the glass floor beneath him began to crack. The blue light from the pillar in the center of the room dimmed, and the room shook violently.

"This dimension doesn’t have much time," the man said. "The choice is yours, Karl. Face yourself, or everything will collapse."

Karl looked down as the cracks in the floor widened, revealing a dark void below. He knew this was his final test.

"I..." He looked at the orb of light once more, taking a deep breath. "I’m ready."

The orb shot toward his chest, and instantly, the world around him shattered. Karl felt himself falling into the void, but this time, he didn’t resist. He let himself sink, facing every memory, every pain, and every fear he had ever avoided.

When he opened his eyes again, he was standing on the same platform, but the room had transformed. A gentle blue light filled the space, and the pillar in the center shone brighter than ever before.

[Dimensional balance restored. Balance level: 100%.]

Karl gave a faint smile, feeling the weight in his chest lighten slightly. He looked at the old man, who now stood with a proud expression.

"You’ve done it, Karl," the man said. "This dimension is restored, and so are you."

Before Karl could fully take in the moment, a rift opened in the air right before him. The light emanating from the rift wasn’t blue or pink but shimmered with undefinable colors, like a rainbow blended with black ink. A notification appeared in front of his eyes.

[Uncommon Portal has opened.]

[This portal is designed to return you to your original world.]

Karl looked at the rift with a mixture of relief and caution. He knew nothing was ever as simple as it seemed. However, the old man’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

"This portal is safe, Karl," the man said as he stepped closer. "This is your way back. Your journey in this dimension is complete, and now you have a greater role to play in your own world."

Karl nodded slowly. "Thank you... for everything."

The old man only smiled, raising his hand in a silent gesture of farewell. Without another word, Karl stepped into the portal. The light from the portal engulfed his body entirely, making him feel like he was being thrust into a vortex of energy. The sensation wasn’t painful, but it made his head spin.

---

Karl opened his eyes to find himself standing on a familiar sidewalk. The tall buildings, glowing streetlights, and humid night air instantly reminded him of Unrill City. He glanced ahead and saw the convenience store where he used to work. Its slightly faded sign was still hanging in place.

He stared at the building with mixed emotions. Just a few days ago, he had felt like his life had no direction while working there. But now, everything felt different. Before he could take a step, a new notification appeared before him.

[Congratulations! You have evolved into an Uncommon Monarch.]

[As an Uncommon Monarch, you now have full authority over the manipulation of common sense around you.]

The notification was followed by new details appearing on his system panel:

---

Status: Karl

Level: Uncommon Monarch

New Ability: Absolute Common Sense Override

Duration: Unlimited

Effect: Allows rewriting of common sense on a larger scale without time limits.

Note: This evolution increases the scope of control to include large communities.

Hijack Points Capacity: 10,000 (current maximum)

Dimensional Balance: Stable