Chapter 1: Hee hee… I must survive

“Don’t… even… think about it…”

“Oh my, that’s not up to you.”

The tip of a foot clad in white silk lifted her chin, and a playful smile swept across the delicate, adorable face of the white-haired girl.

“I hope, in a moment, your body can stay this tough as well.”

The girl let out a soft chuckle. In the darkness, something seemed to surge forth.

It was like a viper lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike its prey.

Illy couldn’t see them, but their bone-chilling presence coiled around her limbs with deadly precision in the darkness.

“Human, I’ll give you one last chance.”

“Never…”

Ever since that mysterious curse appeared on her, the tormented Hiri had struggled to survive up to now.

To lift the curse, she had desperately searched for this underground tomb. She was here to break the curse, not to offer up her own body!

So…

“Never!”

In this instant, her will to live seemed to outweigh the heaviness of her body. Her limbs suddenly surged with strength, and a snapping sound echoed through the darkness as whatever bound her was forcibly torn apart.

“You brought this on yourself.”

The girl’s voice took on a hint of chill. Hiri saw the girl raise her right hand and tap her fingertip. In the next second, something seemed to materialize from the darkness, and with the girl’s gesture, it pierced right through Hiri’s palm.

“Ugh!”

The intense pain instantly drained all the strength she had just gathered. Hiri looked at her right palm—a black spike had pierced through, pinning it to the ground.

Beside the white-haired girl, three more black spikes floated in the air.

As things stood, Hiri, who couldn’t use magic, had no way of exchanging spells with her.

Gritting her teeth against the pain, Hiri reached up with her left hand, grasping at the black spike. If she could just pull it out…

“Pfft!”

This time, the falling spike pierced right through her left arm.

“Aiya, aiya, I accidentally pinned both your hands. Now what will you do?”

The girl’s light laughter rang in her ears again. Looking up, Hiri saw the mocking curl at the girl’s lips. Then, she moved her fingers.

A black spike fell again, piercing Hiri’s right leg.

“Guh…”

The piercing pain almost made Hiri faint. Her body was nailed down, unable to move. Even the slightest movement of her pierced hands sent unbearable waves of agony.

Is it over now?

Looking up, the girl’s expression hadn’t changed at all. In her eyes, all of Hiri’s struggles were nothing but a dying creature’s last resistance.

Just like back then, when she had desperately struggled to escape, only to receive those same cold stares from others.

She just couldn’t do it…

“Who… are you?”

Biting her lip, she glared at the girl before her. The girl’s gaze fell on her as well.

“Oh?”

When their eyes met, there was a slight change in the girl’s expression, though the teasing smile remained at her lips.

“What’s this, planning to beg for mercy?”

The tip of her foot still propped up Hiri’s chin as the girl brought the final black spike above her.

“Human, I gave you your chance.”

Her voice grew cold. “If you want to beg now, it’s already too late.”

Thud!

The last black spike fell, and now, Hiri’s four limbs were all pinned down. After all her struggling, her journey seemed destined to end here.

Maybe, from the moment she heard that voice, this ending was already set.

But… but…

No! She absolutely couldn’t fall here.

She had fought to survive up to now—not just to become someone else’s offering at the end.

If you want her body, dream on!

Forcing herself through the agony of torn flesh, blood splattering everywhere, Hiri yanked her impaled right hand free.

The pain was so intense that her hand nearly lost all feeling.

Looking at the flesh and blood left behind on the black spike, the white-haired girl’s eyes changed. Her crimson eyes now flashed with disbelief.

“Human, you—!”

But the shock faded quickly from her gaze.

“It’s nothing more than a dying struggle.”

She looked as if she was simply curious to see how far Hiri could go.

Well then, let her see.

She, Hiri, would not fall here!

Clenching her teeth, another bloody scene unfolded. She tore her left arm free as well, the black spike still covered with bits of flesh.

Her silver teeth nearly shattered from the pressure.

Only her legs were left pinned. Hiri took a deep breath and braced herself, while the white-haired girl finally lost her composure.

“Stop! Stop right there…!”

Before she could finish, the girl’s pupils shrank sharply.

Blood splattered in the girl’s eyes, reflecting the scene. Just how strong must one’s will be to achieve this?

Still, even if she made it this far, it was a dead end.

With Hiri’s current state, even if left alone, she would die soon.

The girl just had to wait for Hiri’s consciousness to fade, and then she could reclaim that empty shell of a body.

All right, now just—

Hiri staggered to her feet.

“What?!”

The girl let out a shriek, her face for the first time showing a hint of panic.

With the injuries Hiri had sustained to free herself, it should have been impossible for her to even stand.

But there she was, wobbling upright.

This was not her end yet.

She would keep struggling—and keep living!

Staggering, Hiri lunged at the girl.

The throne beneath her dissolved into black mist, and the girl quickly leaped back to create distance.

Countless tiny black spikes appeared beside her, shooting straight at Hiri.

Even with her body riddled with wounds and blood spraying from her skin, Hiri did not slow down. Using her last ounce of strength, she leaped at the girl.

Perhaps stunned, the girl’s dodge was a step too slow. Hiri pinned her down.

“Human, you—!”

There was a trace of anger on the girl’s face—she had never expected Hiri to actually pounce on her like this.

Hiri tried to lift her hands to grip the girl’s throat, but her battered hands had lost all feeling. The girl noticed this too.

“Human, your struggle is impressive, but this is the end.”

She had won, but before the girl could savor her victory, a fierce light flashed in Hiri’s eyes.

“No! I still have—”

Hiri opened her mouth and bit down hard on the girl’s shoulder. Even if she had to die here, she would take a piece of her enemy with her.

“Ugh!”

The moment she was bitten, the white-haired girl let out an angry, pained growl. She tried to push Hiri off, but Hiri’s jaws were like iron clamps.

“Let go, let go right now!”

But the more she yelled, the harder Hiri bit down. Even more unexpectedly, as Hiri bit down, she heard something shatter.

It was as if the girl beneath her began to break apart like a porcelain doll.

“No… no…”

Now there was a true note of panic in the girl’s voice. She struggled desperately to push Hiri off, but it was futile.

After breaking apart, the girl’s body turned into particles of light, gradually merging into Hiri.

She could feel her pain fading.

“Damn it… if only…”

The white-haired girl’s voice was filled with unwillingness and anger, but soon, as her body broke apart, it dissipated entirely.

Was it over?

Did the girl who wanted to steal her body just vanish like that?

It felt all too easy somehow. Hiri thought about the white-haired girl dissolving into light and merging with her body.

Perhaps, it wasn’t truly over.

And besides, where was this place?

She tried to prop herself up, but in lunging at the white-haired girl, she had used up every last ounce of strength.

All she wanted now was to lie down and rest. A tide of exhaustion swept over her, and Hiri closed her eyes, drifting into unconsciousness.

*****

“Mmm…”

She didn’t know how much time had passed before she opened her eyes, finding herself lying on a cold stone slab. Beside her was that pitch-black stone coffin.

She reached out. Her fair hands bore no wounds.

The raging curse seemed to have subsided, though her body still felt stiff.

Thinking back on everything that had happened in that dark space, Hiri felt a bit dazed.

Was it all a dream?

The moment she looked up, Hiri’s heart skipped a beat.

Perched atop the stone coffin, a pair of little feet in white stockings swung back and forth. The white-haired, red-eyed girl sat there quietly.

“Yo? You’re awake?”