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430 lines
7.8 KiB
Markdown
430 lines
7.8 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: "Chapter 188: Futile"
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slug: "ch-188"
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novel: "Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100"
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number: 188
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views: 0
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likes: 0
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wordCount: 1223
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createdAt: "2026-04-13"
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---
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He snapped his fingers.
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CLANG!
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Another chain shot out of Max’s body—
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And the moment it left him—
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His vision blurred.
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His strength weakened.
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His entire being trembled, as if something vital had just been torn away.
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The black flames flickered weakly—
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And before they could even reach the man—
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They vanished.
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Dispersed.
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Like a candle being snuffed out.
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Max’s breath turned ragged.
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His knees buckled.
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’Shit. Shit. Shit!’
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He was losing.
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He was being ripped apart.
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And if he didn’t do something fast—
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He was going to disappear.
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’I have to try... This is my only chance!’
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Max gritted his teeth, refusing to give in.
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Even as his chains were being ripped away, even as he felt his very existence weakening, he pushed forward—
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And willed the black flames toward the man.
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FWOOOSH!
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The dark fire surged, roaring like a vengeful storm, seeking to engulf the phantom.
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But—
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BZZZT!
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The flames halted mid-air.
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Blocked.
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An invisible wall stood between the flames and the man, rendering them useless.
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Max’s eyes widened.
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’What the—?’
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The middle-aged man sneered, his expression filled with amusement.
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"I told you already…"
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His tone was mocking, superior.
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"Flames will do nothing to me."
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Max’s fist clenched.
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"My soul force is a hundred times stronger than yours."
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The man’s violet eyes gleamed as he took a slow step forward, towering over Max.
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"I did sense something unusual about those black flames."
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He glanced at them, observing them with a flicker of interest—
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Then shrugged.
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"But if they can’t even touch me… then they’re useless."
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The black flames crackled, still struggling against the invisible force, but they could not advance.
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"The pressure from my soul force is enough to ward off your flames."
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The man’s smirk widened.
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"Give up, boy."
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The chains tightened.
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More of Max’s essence was being pulled away.
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His vision blurred further, his very soul trembling.
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He was running out of time.
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And nothing was working.
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Panic surged through Max’s veins.
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He could feel himself slipping away, his very existence peeling off link by link as the chains were ripped from his soul.
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’I have no choice.’
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His eyes hardened with desperate resolve.
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Gritting his teeth, he summoned all his black flames, condensing them onto his hands.
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SIZZLE!
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The dark fire crackled violently, surging with uncontrollable energy.
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Then—
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He looked down.
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At the chains leaving his body.
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At the very thing pulling him toward non-existence.
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’Fck it. I don’t care.’
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Without hesitation—
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He grabbed the chains with his burning hands.
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FWOOOOSH!
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A violent eruption of black flames engulfed the chains, consuming them instantly in roaring fire.
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The moment the flames made contact—
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BZZZZT!
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A massive shockwave burst through the Soul Palace, the pressure so intense that it sent both Max and the man staggering.
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But then—
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The flames didn’t stop.
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They raced down the chains—spreading, expanding—
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And before the man could even react—
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THE BLACK FIRE REACHED HIM.
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The middle-aged man’s violet eyes widened.
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For the first time since this battle began—
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His face contorted in shock.
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"WHAT?!—"
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Then—
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The black flames erupted across his ethereal body, scorching his soul directly.
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"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"
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A bloodcurdling scream tore through the Soul Palace.
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It was not just pain.
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It was agony.
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It was the first time in centuries this man had felt pain.
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His body convulsed, his form flickering violently, as if it was being torn apart from the inside.
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Max, still gripping the burning chains, panted heavily, sweat dripping down his forehead.
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"You—!" The man’s voice was filled with both rage and disbelief.
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The flames refused to go out.
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Even as the man tried to push them away, even as his powerful soul force tried to suppress them—
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THEY ONLY BURNED BRIGHTER.
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His soul was burning.
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Something he had never thought possible.
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Something that should have been impossible.
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And Max?
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Max wasn’t done yet.
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’The black flames don’t affect me at all.’
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He realized this instantly.
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Even as the fire engulfed the chains, even as the phantom screamed in agony, the flames did not harm him.
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And now—
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It was time to end this.
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A dark glint flickered in Max’s eyes.
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Then—
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He activated his final move.
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"Devour."
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The moment the ability activated—
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The middle-aged man’s body stiffened.
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Then—his expression changed.
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From pain.
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To panic.
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To absolute horror.
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"NO—!!"
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His soul force began unraveling.
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At an even faster rate than before.
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Faster than the black flames eating away his life chains.
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Faster than he could resist.
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Max felt it—
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The raw energy flooding into him.
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His soul force increasing at rapid rate.
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His soul grew heavier.
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And the man?
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He was withering.
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"NO! BOY, STOP! STOP!"
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His voice shook with desperation.
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His regal arrogance—gone.
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His superiority—shattered.
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For the first time, he was truly afraid.
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"WE CAN MAKE A DEAL! I WILL GIVE YOU ALL OF MY TECHNIQUES! JUST STOP!"
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Max didn’t even blink.
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His gaze remained cold.
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Unmoved.
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"Just die."
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His voice held no emotion.
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No pity.
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No hesitation.
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Pure, merciless finality.
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The black flames roared.
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"HAHAHAHAHA!"
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However, the man suddenly started laughing wildly at this moment.
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Max’s breath hitched, confusion flashing in his eyes.
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The man’s expression had changed.
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The fear? Gone.
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The desperation? Vanished.
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Instead—
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His violet eyes gleamed, filled with an unnerving satisfaction.
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Then—
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"You are good. Very good."
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His voice dripped with both praise and mockery.
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"To force my soul clone into such a situation… I’ll admit, I underestimated you."
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Max’s eyes widened.
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’Clone?!’
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Then—
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The phantom smirked.
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"But alas… it’s only a clone. A mere fragment of my true self."
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Before Max could even process those words—
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SWISH!
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Five grey swords suddenly materialized before him, floating midair.
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Before he could react—
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SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
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The swords crossed in an instant, tearing through his body.
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Max’s form was sliced apart—
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But—
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His body pieces didn’t fall.
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They simply… floated.
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For a split second, it looked like nothing had happened.
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Then—
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Pain.
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A sharp, unbearable sensation erupted through him.
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His soul trembled.
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His vision blurred.
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His form began flickering—
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Dimmer. Weaker.
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Max gritted his teeth, his mind struggling to stay focused.
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’No… this is different…’
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It wasn’t like a physical wound.
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It wasn’t even like a normal soul attack.
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This wasn’t just cutting his form—
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It was cutting his existence.
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And the worst part?
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He could feel it.
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His soul force was leaving him.
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His thoughts were slowing down.
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His entire being was breaking down, piece by piece.
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He was slowly dying.
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And this time—
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It wasn’t something he could simply endure.
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This was true erasure.
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Max staggered, his entire body feeling heavy.
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His breathing turned ragged, every function of his body taking a toll just to work.
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He was on the brink of collapse.
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And the phantom?
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He simply watched.
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Grinning.
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Because this time—
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He knew Max wouldn’t survive.
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’Damn… I didn’t expect that at all.’
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Max’s thoughts churned, but his body betrayed him.
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His soul form grew dimmer and dimmer, his very existence fading.
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And then—
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A new voice entered the space.
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"How is it? Did you like it?"
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A second figure emerged, stepping beside the first man.
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Max’s dazed eyes flickered toward him—
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And his breath hitched.
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It was him.
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The exact same man as the previous phantom middle aged man.
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The second man smiled, his expression filled with deep satisfaction as he observed Max’s fading presence. |