Ethan barely had ti to react before the world around him shifted. He is living the trauma again. This ti more intensely.
Pain. Searing, suffocating, all-consuming pain.
mories crashed into him, drowning him in the little girl's past—her suffering more vivid, more excruciating than before.
His body trembled. His breath hitched.
"Fuck—"
Teeth clenched, hands gripping his head, he fought to stay upright.
This was necessary.
To save a soul, he had to live their pain before locking it away with his mind prison skill.
Every second felt like eternity.
And then—
Silence.
The agony faded, leaving Ethan breathless.
He wanted to curse.
Badly.
But with the girl watching, he swallowed it down.
{You have saved Anita, The Lost Angel.}
{Anita's soul is now yours.}
Ethan exhaled slowly, turning toward the child—
The girl who now had a na.
Anita.
She stood there, hands trembling as they traced over her head, her arms, her chest—
Searching. Disbelieving.
"I… I don't feel any pain anymore."
Her voice shook.
For as long as she could rember, she had lived with it.
The endless, gnawing tornt.
And now…
It was gone.
She lifted her gaze to Ethan, and the mont she saw his gentle smile—
She broke.
Tears spilled from her golden eyes.
A sob ripped from her throat.
Not of grief. Not of fear.
But relief.
She lunged forward, wrapping her small arms around him, clinging to him desperately.
As if letting go would bring the pain back.
As if he would disappear.
"Hey, hey, calm down." Ethan soothed, one hand resting on her back.
His other hand found her hair, his touch gentle, steadying.
"I'm not leaving. From now on, you'll be with . You will co with ."
Anita's sobs softened. She nodded her head repeatedly.
His warmth—his presence—it anchored her, grounding her in a way nothing had since that day.
She felt… safe.
For the first ti in so long.
Ethan sat down, pulling her onto his lap, fingers still running through her hair.
Slow, comforting strokes.
Her breathing evened out. Her body relaxed.
And before she knew it— She fell asleep.
For the first ti since losing her family—
Anita slept peacefully.
Ethan watched her, his expression unreadable.
Then, he sighed.
"It seems people like falling asleep around ."
A faint chuckle escaped him, but his mind had already moved on.
He needed a body for her.
'System, any ideas?'
[Host, you can create a body for her with my help.]
'You're trying to scam again, aren't you?'
Ethan's tone was flat.
'Just tell the cost.'
[Creating a body for an angel is extrely diffic—]
'Cut the crap. Just tell .'
[Host, you will need… 5 billion karmic points.]
…What?
'I beg your pardon?'
[You will need 5 bill—]
'Please. Shut up.'
Ethan didn't even shout.
He was too stunned to.
Five. Billion.
That number alone made his brain short-circuit.
It'll take forever to get that amount.
[Host, it's not as impossible as you think. The karmic points you earn depend on two factors—]
[1. The strength and significance of the person you help.]
[2. How desperately they needed your aid.]
[Saving Anita alone has given you 1.5 billion karmic points.]
[Additionally, for giving her the chance to be reborn, you have earned another 1 billion.]
Ethan's eyes lit up.
2.5 billion already?!
'You should've told that earlier! I almost passed out!'
He exhaled sharply.
Anita was the least traumatized soul here, and she had given him 1.5 billion points.
That ant the others…
Would give him even more.
'So I just need to save about three more souls.'
His gaze shifted inward, into his own mind—
And there, he saw it.
A massive closed door where one word was inscribed upon it: PRISON.
Ethan's lips curved slightly.
'So that's my Mind Prison. Pretty cool.'
…
Sigh.
Three more souls to save.
Three more traumas to experience firsthand.
Truly…
Tower, do you hate ?
He can't help but ask.
{The trials are designed to help you evolve. This is in your best interest.}
Oh?
So giving multiple traumas is in my best interest?
Potentially losing myself in these mories is in my best interest?
{…It is.}
You don't sound very convincing, you know.
Ethan shook his head.
Then, he looked down.
At Anita.
At her peaceful sleeping face.
And then—
He looked up.
At the countless souls wandering aimlessly.
He stood.
Carefully adjusting Anita on his back, securing her and he started walking.
He couldn't waste ti.
…
Ethan ventured deeper into the expanse.
But suddenly, he stopped. In front her stood a barrier. Thin, transparent, yet impenetrable.
And when he looked beyond it he saw sothing intriguing.
He saw one soul. A woman. Green hair and eyes woman coupled with beautiful pale skin sitting on chair.
But unlike the ones he had seen before, she does not seem aimless. No, she feel like soone who is relaxing by sitting on her chair and while singing so songs.
Strange.
As he observed her —She noticed him, too.
And imdiately she stood up and approached him. She stopped at the barrier, no advancing further as if she can't pass it.
Her presence were suffocating. As if you are in a dead land, filled with death energy.
She looked at him intensely and she smiled slowly.
"Well. What a surprise."
Her voice was heavenly.
—End of chapter 31—
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