31 Contract to ########

Aether's POV

"AARRRRHHHHH!!!"

I cried out in agony as both of my hands were ruthlessly torn off.

'T-This is wrong!!... Heh...W-What's wrong with these people!!!' I screamed in my mind.

I wanted to ask for help clawed at me, but I knew it was futile.... Heh...

Ever since I arrived in this world, not a single soul had extended a helping hand or offered support..... The only exception was that girl who seemed to pity me.

But even she couldn't help me.

'YOU FUCKING LOG!!! HELP ME, BASTARD!!! JUST GIVE ME ANYTHING!!! Hehehe...' I pleaded desperately for assistance from the Log.

That thing brought me must want something from .... otherwise, there was no explanation for my sudden fucked up life...hehe.

And just as always, it remained fucking silent.

Then, in a sudden rush, my mind turned hazy, as if my body had finally hit its limit.

He...h

Yes, 'MY' body. Ever since I found myself inside this boy's body, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was mine and mine alone.

There was no doubt about it.... yet I couldn't fathom the reason.

My body gradually turned numb, and a chilling realization crept over me, 'So, he can literally control my body.... Heh' Terror coursed through me at the thought.... a revelation Mortimer had never disclosed.

'Hehe...That fucking old rotten bastard!! I should have known he was dangerous!!' I screamed, regretting how easily I had trusted the words of that deceitful old man... called Mortimer!

'FUCK!!'

The memory of my body moving autonomously, like someone else piloting my vessel..... left me feeling disgusted.

Heheh....

I-I wanted to escape from this fate, to run away from everything.... Hehe

However, I understood deep down that no matter where I went, these guys would follow, just as my second father had shadowed me.

'I will once again... be controlled by other people...Heheheh?' I couldn't help but lament about my pathetic life once more.

This Ether boy, I didn't know the details of his existence, but I felt a connection. I understood one thing.... he had chosen to die over succumbing to others' cruelty.

Because, even as someone who had nearly reached the age of 30, I had contemplated ending my own wretched life. Yet, a stubborn part of me persisted.... the same part that yearned to fight, to prove to others that I could endure every hardship and emerge radiant, like a shining star.

Like a shining star....Heh

However, this wasn't the case for the 15-year-old child who had endured something so horrific that he could never fathom living again.... He chose to die.

Of course, these were mere assumptions, born out of my inability to inherit this tormented child's memories.

The gulf between our experiences was vast, yet we shared struggles... Heheh

'What should I do? They are going to kill me...' I mumbled in a sorrowful tone and.... Smile?

However,

'I-I want to punch him!!'

'I at least wanted to feel the impact of my fist against that man's face, the one who audaciously calls himself Jack Sparrow... Fuck!!' The fury in my heart intensified just recalling how he introduced himself, making my blood simmer with resentment.

'Fucker!!' Clenching my teeth, I fought against the encroaching darkness, struggling to reclaim my consciousness.

'I won't die like last time!!! Heheheh I'll at least land a punch on that man's face and witness the shock etched across it... ahahahaha... No hands, I will use my fucking Head!!!' I screamed inwardly, mustering every fragment of energy within me.

My heavy eyelids slowly fluttered, and the world around me shifted from a blurry haze to a semblance of clarity..... It was at that pivotal moment,

!~Ding~!

[Say: Log In]

"...."

[Say: Log In]

'....YOU MOTHER FUCKER!!! FINALLY SHOWED UP!! WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU, BITCH!! TELL ME WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN WHEN I AM GOING THROUGH THIS SHIT!!' I screamed inwardly, frustration bubbling up as those texts materialized in my vision.

However, to my dismay those repeated like a robot...

[Say: Log In]

"..."

"He...Heh...Heheh...Hehehehehehehehehehehehehe!!" My unease laughs loudly shouted, drawing the attention of everyone in the temple.

"OH? Have you gone mad??" I heard those haughty voices.

I laughed off the audience's gaze and directed my blank eyes towards the man called Sparrow.

An 'Unknown' storm of emotions swirled within my heart as I muttered with a wicked laughing expression,

"Hehe.. heh.... he.... Log... In!"

!~Ding~!

Only I heard those bells; for others, the sudden appearance of a black transparent screen caused them to flinch..... and turn their attention towards the altar.

A collective gasp filled the temple as the screen became visible to everyone,

[Request: Logging In]

They couldn't believe what they witnessed, just a broken hand causing this phenomenon...

[....]

Frowns formed on everyone's faces as they wondered why it took so long to connect with the Mother Tree.

Their eyes were drawn to the hand-like roots where Aether's left hand had landed, blood coating the once-pure sanctuary and defiling its sanctity.

TAINTED!!!

That's what their mind echoed when they saw pure roots tainted with Slave's blood.

Sparrow, eager to finish me, found himself unable to interfere during the baptism process, as the Mother Root herself protected the participants. He clicked his tongue in annoyance.

As the wait extended to almost a minute, Sparrow's impatience grew, 'Well, let's take care of that brat...' he contemplated, dismissing me from his attention.

"I will kill you, bastard!" Velc shouted, his anger flaring as he sensed Sparrow approaching his son.

Just as Sparrow was about to throw Velc aside and grab Kai, a commanding voice echoed through the temple,

"Hey, he...heh... I said.... L.O.G. I.N.!!"

'ssssshhhhh!!!'

The energy around the temple trembled, and everyone's eyes suddenly shifted to me. I stood there, looking at the sky with a blank expression.

'Drip, Drip, Drip'

Blood dripped from my torn shoulders, yet...

I felt nothing.

All I desired was to punch the man who subjected me to this torment.

No, I wanted to punch everyone who contributed to my suffering... from Velc and Kai to Alfred, Timmy, and their lackeys. I wanted to strike their faces untttiiiillllll...I was satisfied, an overwhelming urge of 'Unknown' Emotions.

I wanted to laugh loudly just like before....

I stared at my own Log's screen, displaying,

[Error]

[Retry]

[Error: Unknown]

[Retry]

[Error: Unknown]

[Retry]

....

...

!~Ding~!

[Order from ########]

[....]

[Retry]

!~Ding~!

[Affirmative]

Name: Ether

Sex: Male

Race: Human

Level: 0

Title: Slave [Master: Kai Frostblade]

Attributes:

Strength: -1

Agility: 0

Intelligence: 1

Magic Affinity: 0

Charm: 1

The collective disappointment lingered in the room, as the promising buildup and the peculiar atmosphere had led them to anticipate something significant.... Very big!!

Velc released a relieved sigh, finding nothing unusual in Ether's log. On the other hand, Alfred expressed his annoyance with a disdainful click of his tongue as he couldn't prove any irregularities in Ether's Log.

However, instead of joining the others in scrutinizing the altar, the Empress's attention was fixated on the boy who stood there, smiling at the sky.

In My eyes,

Name: Aether

Sex: Male

Race: #####

Level: 0

Title: The Lost One, Slave [Eternal Contract to ########], The Only Holder of Ether and Past-less, Future-less Entity.

Attributes:

Strength: -1

Agility: 0

Intelligence: 3

Magic Affinity: 0

Charm: 1

Compatibility: 85% ⬆

Survival rate= 0.2% ⬆

Affection Points: 00983 (1000 Affection Points = 1 *any Attributes)

????

Suddenly,

[+1000 Affection]

'Hehehe-----Heh?!!!'

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