Extra's Guide to Surviving a Dark Fantasy World-Chapter 56: Never Looked At It.

With a final, decisive strike, I drove my blade through his heart, the demon’s body going limp as the flames that once surrounded him sputtered out.

Yet I didn’t lose my guard. I had seen the exact same thing happen only some time ago, so instead, I pressed forward, pushing my blade deeper and deeper until-

--

Do you wish to turn the soul into a Revenant?

Yes/No

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A message appeared in my peripheral vision, giving me a final confirmation.

I let out a huge sigh and clicked Yes, before collapsing down on my knees. At the same time, the runes covering my body began to dim before completely disappearing. The small army of undead Jakras also began to fizzle out, eventually completely disappearing as he inside me took a step back.

The will slowly began to recede, and my body began to shake involuntarily. All the pain I had been tuning back all this time began to return in full swings, only this time, I could fully feel it. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Even describing the pain felt impossible; my entire body felt like it had been thrown inside a grinder, with my muscles being torn to shred and my bones shattered.

The will had done it’s damage as well, my mana had almost completely run out, my surroundings seemed a bleak, my feelings had gone completely numb and noticing the couple of strands of hair blocking my face, some of my hair had also begun to turn white. Plus, I didn’t knew if it was relevant but my mouth had gone completely dry.

All of this was without mentioning all the wounds I had sustained in my fight against the demon, especially my hands. I wasn’t going to be using these in battle for a long time.

Using the Salhira for such a long time had taken its toll as well, I noticed while trying to get back on my feet, only to find my legs stuck on the ground. That wasn’t good. It felt as if all sensations towards my limbs had been completely cut off, besides the pain, which I could still feel in droves.

With no other choice, I slowly raised my head to look around and assess my surroundings.

Seeing their master’s demise and, perhaps, the severing of the bond that tied them to the demon, the Jakaras around me had already began to retreat. It was as though the spell keeping them in place had been shattered, and they didn’t want to stay in this place for another second for fear of being controlled again.

Not to mention the gazes they were throwing my way. I didn’t know much about some beast’s facial expressions, but a lowered head and a tugged tail were surely giving me some clues.

Perhaps it’s because they saw me kill their boss; whatever it was, it was a welcome thing.

Just a small distance away from me stood Aria, with her eyes wide open. My vision was a bit blurry, but even so, I could still make out the faint glimmer of fear hiding in her gaze.

To be fair, she did just see me kill someone a major realm above me. This seemed like a major deal, and in some way she was right. Still, the only reason I could kill him in the first place was due to how much he had already been injured, not to mention weakened by Tess’s earlier rampage.

Without that, he would have easily squashed me like a bug will or no will. Speaking of Tess, I slowly turned my head over to the other side whilst ignoring the excruciating amount of pain coming from even such a small movement.

Tess was still collapsed down beside the building, seemingly unconscious.

Watching me look at Tess, Aria seemingly jolted awake from her stupor. She clutched the side of her bleeding torso and rushed in her direction to check on her.

She had only taken a couple of steps when Tess slowly opened her eyes.

Watching this, Aria’s face lightened up a bit. "Tess..." She was about to speak when she suddenly paused.

She wasn’t the only one, and I even frowned when I saw the figure of another Tess walking out from inside the building.

"Did you see that? I told you he was dangerous." She spoke, looking at Tess. "Isn’t he absolutely perfect?"

My pupils suddenly constricted as I instinctively tried to get back on my feet, only to stagger. The pain was too much. Even the very thought of moving was seemingly sending a jolt of pain throughout my body.

"That bloodline of his, imagine how pleased Lady Mira will be once you presented it to her. How much it would benefit House Nyrith in the future."

Tess slowly stood up from her collapsed position with her sword in hand, her expression completely hollowed out and devoid of life.

"Please don’t do this, Tess; you can’t listen to that thing; you can’t let it take over." Aria urged, but she didn’t respond, her eyes never leaving my immobilized figure.

Looking at her walking towards me, I couldn’t help but chuckle, only to pause because of the pain.

Resist?

I may not have seen what a takeover by reflection looked like, but I sure knew how it felt... more than anyone in this world, perhaps. That reflection beside her wouldn’t have still been trying to coerce her if she truly was that far gone.

"She is not listening to that thing," I spoke up with a small smile on my lips.

Tess suddenly paused in her steps, her eyes going a little wide in surprise.

I chuckled, only to reel back in pain once again.

"Can you not act so shocked, making me play the useful scout so I could help you find a way home—then, once you have established a way back, you simply stab me in the back and deliver me to your Nyrith overlords. I am honestly insulted you thought I didn’t know." I spoke.

"Although I am shocked you weren’t in on it." I glanced towards Aria before facing Tess once again, slowly narrowing my eyes.

"That thing might have been following you for some time, spending time with you, talking with you. But you never looked at it once, did you?"