Somebody proceeded to burst through the door into my room, feeling something was off. They were blurry, but I could slightly make out that it was Aisa now rushing towards me as I writhed back and forth, resisting the urge to tear my head off my neck.
I… have… to… use… a skill…
The system responded to my will as Aisa used some kind of skill. Her hand turned into a pale mouth that whispered something, commanding the mana around her and then utilizing that mana to attempt to ease my pain… but that's the catch. I wasn't in pain. I wasn't in pain at all.
[Innate Calm] [Breath of the Snowy Underworld] [Sleep Inducer]
Nothing worked.
…
(Cy POV)
"What happened?" I huffed, darting through the door into Orion's room. Aisa was sitting on the edge of the bed, wary and completely lost as to how to handle the events currently unfolding right before her very eyes.
Orion was on his knees, hunched over so the top of his head and his elbows were touching the sheets. His hands gripped his head, and as the sound of his teeth grinding against each other echoed through the room, I noticed how his expression was that of extreme pain.
"I'm trying to soothe it with ice, but I don't. He's in too much pain to even hear me, I think… shit… can you get my Master? She said something about this."
"I'm already here," A cold voice permeated the air, and as I swiveled my head around, I saw her. A presence that felt like an empress with a swaying aura that bounced back and forth within the room, her terrorizing pressure practically eating away at the atmosphere around her.
[Magic Sensing Radar] was already bouncing off the walls, but compared to when I used [Miasma Sensing Radar], I could hardly keep myself sane just standing in her presence. It was the like the souls of millions upon millions of undead were screaming around her. They clawed at me with their vicious black and brown hands made from cracked bones. It was utterly terrifying to the point that I couldn't help but kneel.
My chest felt as if it was getting crushed while the scent of a burning leaf echoed through the depths of my sinuses. It was horrible to the point I had to use a few skills to warm myself up and be able to adapt to the presence that forced me down.
Slowly, I was finally able to stand up, but even then, my head began to spin. So, I took it slowly and backed away, watching the woman slowly reach her hand out toward Orion, who seemed to be suffering even more now. It was almost impressive how fast he moved on, grinding his teeth even harder and clamping his hands down onto the sheets below.
"Master, what's happening? Can't you help him?"
"I can help him, but that would only soothe the voices. As soon as I stop, they would come rushing back so bad that the shock would make him even more miserable than before."
"Voices? What do you mean by voices?" Aisa asked before I opened my mouth.
"Is he schizophrenic or something?
"No, no, no… he's not schizophrenic, but he is experiencing symptoms similar to that. I'm sure he's in a world of mental pain."
"Is this because of his evolution or something?"
"Yeah, I doubt he knew… and seeing how it was rather involuntary, he must be suffering twice as much. This is all happening because of the apotheosis, just like I said."
"That doesn't explain anything… you old hag," I grit my teeth while walking over, enduring the woman's presence which sharpened as it scraped the back of my neck. Yet, my adaptation was kicking in, and it wasn't long before her presence was no more than a single tickle on my skin. "Explain more… or are we unworthy of such information?"
"*sigh*... your brains aren't gonna blow up on me now, are they?"
"Of course, they won't," I snarled back.
"Please… tell us what's wrong with him," Aisa pleaded, and unable to resist the puppy eyes of her student, she let out a long sigh, and after a few hesitant moments, she then spread open her lips.
"To be honest, I don't know what will happen once you learn this information. So, I'll just wish YOU the best of luck," The woman sternly pointed at me before turning back to Orion, who was on the verge of passing out. "Upon ascending to godhood, you become one single entity. Across every universe, across every multiverse, across every possible reality in the infinite number of them… they all get fused into one. By becoming a single entity, you have the right to stand as a member of the gods, even if you're the lowest of the low. That's why it's better to be born a god rather than become one."
"So then, what's happening to him? Can his body not handle so many possible realities?" I asked, only bringing up the logical conclusion.
"No, his mind can't handle all of the minds that are now within him. They were more of an uhhhh… addition per se. Rather than fusing with his mind, they are like parasites attached to him. They don't know where they are, but eventually, they will ease and realize what has happened… probably."
"Probably? What do you mean, probably?"
"I don't like your tone, boy," The woman glared at me with an unbelievable amount of bloodlust in her eyes, enough to make me shut up and just listen to her. "Anyways… it all depends on your friend's mental fortitude. Have you seen him complete any impressive mental feats? Then I'd say he should be able to resist it. If not, then just hope for the best, I guess…"
"Master, can't you help him with anything?"
"Even if I could, I wouldn't. If he wants to proceed down this path, then he needs to at least overcome this path… if not, then he should fuck off and kill himself."
