Reborn As An Evolving Monster

'Talk? Those things made me pass out earlier... But I got here before that. If they do the same thing, then I should be able to make it to the Barrier before then. It was bearable at first, but then got worse and worse until I passed out. A Skill that makes the enemy fall unconscious after a certain time? Now, that I've experienced it, perhaps I can fight it off for longer... But maybe it's not about how long they've been at it though. Maybe it's about my position. The more I ran, the worse it got. Then their strength increases the further to the Barrier we are? The closer...' Mark wondered silently while staring at her. 'To the Barrier's center?'

"So? What do you think?"

'In exchange, she wants to talk... Talk about what? If it's the same as those before, then it'll be about the Deadly Sins and my Unique Titles... But she seems oblivious to it. To... Everything actually. Asking if I'm Human, ha!'

Mark rubbed his chin.

"What is it you want to talk about?"

"Just... Stuff?"

"Stuff?"

"The Outside. Things... I suppose?"

"So nothing in particular?"

She shook her head.

'Fending off those... Things and in exchange getting nothing in particular? That's too one-sided. But she isn't offering a Contract either? Give and take... Sacrifices... The System thrives on those so... A Contract that isn't like the others? One that can't be seen or signed. A verbal contract that seems not to involve the System. It would be an unfair move since I'm not aware of it being a Contract. But in exchange, she doesn't ask for much? There could be a sense of balance there but most likely...'

She puffed out her cheeks, before concentrating the air to the right, then to the left.

'It's just a promise? She does seem like an airhead...'

"You don't believe me?" She asked, letting her head hang to the right. "Let me show you..."

'Accumulating good will? Or am I overthinking it because of that Lich...? Fuck. Everything can be seen as a Contract now...' Mark thought to himself as she looked around.

"Oh, there they are." She said suddenly before pointing.

The white-scaled Monster remained silent.

A pale blueish jellyfish floated in the air. Below it, Beings stood, their bodies shrouded in a shadow darker than the night's.

Mark raised his gaze up.

A starless night.

The Moon was shining.

'Strange...'

When looking ahead, it didn't seem like it was shining.

But it was.

The Moonlight simply couldn't reach the area.

'The Barrier that blocked Krista... Is blocking the Moonlight? No, not exactly. If it was, then I wouldn't be able to see the Moon. It's more like the effects of that light cannot be seen?' Mark stared at the Moon for a bit longer before extending a hand towards it.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

The white-scaled Monster didn't answer.

'Light...' Mark's hand slowly moved. 'No light.' He noted internally once his hand fully covered the Moon. 'I can only notice the Moon or its light when staring at it. Once my hand covers it, it's total darkness again...'

"Light that only exists when seen..." The white-scaled Monster whispered without meaning to.

"That sounds nice... And kind of sad."

Mark's gaze went back to her.

He had decided not to ask for proof. In the case that he was right about the Contract, asking for proof and her delivering that proof would shift the balance. Mark felt he didn't know enough about the System and Contracts, which is why he wasn't going to take chances.

She puffed her cheeks again as the Monster stared silently.

'I won't ask for proof... But I want to see it.' Mark thought as he turned towards the strange Beings in the distance.

"Want me to show you?"

He didn't answer.

"Should I go?"

Mark remained unresponsive.

"Do you want me to or...? Please talk, you're making me nervous."

Shrug-

"Uh... Okay? I guess I'll do it...? Don't go anywhere though!" She said before running towards them.

Mark took the same direction, but walked.

"Hey! Heyyy!" She shouted while waving her hands in the air, trying to catch their attention.

'What...?' Mark chuckled internally. 'She's acting like a child-'

He clenched his fists suddenly.

'I don't have time for this. I need to get to Krista quickly-'

She got closer, and they faded, dissipated into the darkness.

"...?"

"See? I..." She struggled to catch her breath. "I told you."

"How...? Why?"

"They're mean! That's why!"

"Huh?"

"They... Always leave when I get closer."

Mark could sense it in her eyes. It wasn't present before, and it quickly disappeared. But for a second there,

Turn-

Overwhelming loneliness and sadness.

"Where... Where are you going?"

Mark had started walking away.

"I don't have time for this."

"But you need my help! They'll come for you if I'm not there!"

"I don't care."

"But I want to help!"

"I don't care!"

"Please!"

Mark didn't stop walking.

That kind of sadness... That kind of loneliness... I don't want to be with someone who knows them. Not now. Not again.

"I'll help you! Why don't you want my help?!"

Mark turned around suddenly, which made her pull back. She had been walking right behind him.

"You're the one who wants help, isn't that right?"

"No, I'm offering to-"

"I won't help you."

"I'm not asking you to-"

"I already have... Others I need to help." Mark's eye turned cold as he looked down. She was about thirty centimeters shorter than he was after all. "I'm not helping you. I don't have time for you."

Her gaze went to the ground.

The white-scaled Monster turned around once again and started walking away.

The distance increased and,

'Krista is waiting for me. I need to get her to-'

A ringing echoed inside the white-scaled Monster's head.

It reverberated against its skull, growing stronger and stronger!

The ringing felt like it could crack that skull at any point.

'So much for having stronger bones...'

While the Undead Lich's bones had been used to strengthen his, the Lich's Skull hadn't been Devoured.

'Not like... This has anything to do... With bones...' They circled around him, and his knee touched the ground.

The next second,

Tsk-

"I'll come with you."

Sigh-

"Fine... Thanks, I guess."

"Mm!"