The moment I stepped inside the room, something felt… wrong.
The air was heavy.
Not humid—oppressive.
Every breath felt like it weighed a kilogram. My knees trembled, my body instinctively leaning forward as if gravity itself had increased just to crush me.
"What the hell is this place…?" I muttered.
It felt as if invisible hands were pressing down on my shoulders, daring me to collapse.
"Maria," I said sharply. "Lights on."
No response.
"Maria?" My voice echoed faintly. "Stop messing around."
Nothing.
My head began to spin. The walls seemed to stretch, shadows crawling unnaturally along the corners.
I clenched my fists. "Don't tell me… that witch is back."
I forced myself to straighten up, planting my feet firmly against the pressure.
Get a grip, Veer.
Then—
CRASH.
Something heavy fell behind me.
Before I could turn—
BAM!
A brutal force slammed into my side.
I barely raised my arm in time. The blow missed my neck by a hair's breadth, but the impact still sent me flying.
I smashed into the wall and collapsed to the floor.
"GAH—!"
Pain exploded through my ribs, sharp and immediate, stealing the air from my lungs.
"What kind of psycho hits that hard?!" I groaned, clutching my side.
"Maria! Lights on!" I shouted. "Finish the damn joke!"
The lights flickered.
For half a second, the room illuminated—
And I saw her.
Then darkness again.
"…You traitor," I hissed through clenched teeth. "You set me up."
The lights stabilized.
Maria's hologram appeared, calm as ever.
"Master," she said politely. "I only executed the instructions I was given."
I glared at her. "You're getting smarter than I like."
She tilted her head. "That is a compliment."
Before I could reply—
A figure stood right in front of me.
Ishika.
My father's so-called security secretary—code for personal executioner. She appeared without warning and beat me up every single time.
This time, I wasn't letting it slide.
Black tactical jacket. Hair neatly tied. Calm.
Dangerous.
She stretched her arms casually. "Alright," she said. "Let's begin."
I swallowed. "…Can I at least get a countdown?"
She didn't answer.
She punched.
I barely dodged. The shockwave alone nearly knocked me off balance.
"Are you insane?!" I shouted.
I countered, sweeping her leg—
She twisted mid-motion, dodging effortlessly.
"Tch. Dirty move," she muttered.
I grabbed metal debris from the floor and hurled it.
She dodged.
I rushed in and kicked.
Blocked.
She grabbed my leg—
And slammed me into the ground.
CRACK.
Pain screamed through my bones.
"Ohhh—yep," I gasped. "Something's broken."
"Good," she said calmly. "Try again."
She was smiling.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I snapped.
"Very."
I forced myself up, pain screaming with every movement. This time I focused—her eyes, her stance, her breathing.
I rushed again—feint left, spin right—
Impact.
She staggered.
I attacked again. And again.
She caught my head mid-motion—
And smashed me into the floor.
I lay there, gasping.
She placed her boot on my chest.
"You were better last time," she said.
I glared up at her. "One day… I'll get you."
She stepped back.
Suddenly—
🎵 Happy birthday to you… 🎵
Music filled the room.
Lights shut off—then exploded into color.
The walls transformed into glowing displays. The air filled with a sweet, artificial fragrance.
Maria reappeared—this time as a beautiful woman, smiling brightly.
🎵 Happy birthday, dear Master… 🎵
I stared at her, half-dead on the floor.
"…Who the hell celebrates birthdays like this?"
She gently placed her foot on my leg.
"Happy birthday," she said sweetly.
Then increased the pressure.
"AH—!"
"Such a fragile reaction," she said. "Your father prepared a special gift."
She leaned down, whispering near my ear.
"While you eat, I'll prepare dinner. Then… we'll talk."
"…You're all insane," I muttered.
"Maria," she said calmly. "Open the gate."
The floor vanished.
I screamed as I fell into darkness.
"MARIA—!"
She laughed.
"How was the surprise, Master?"
I fell—endless, weightless, screaming, cursing, threatening everyone I knew.
Then—
BOOM.
A translucent barrier caught me like stretched rubber.
My body slammed into it and bounced.
Hard.
The impact knocked the breath out of me.
I hit the ground and rolled, pain shooting through my legs like fire.
"Ghh—!"
For a moment, I couldn't move.
My feet felt numb. Then burning. Then sharp, biting pain crawled up my ankles.
I tried to stand.
Failed.
My legs trembled violently, refusing to obey.
"…Tch," I hissed, forcing myself onto one knee.
Every movement sent needles through my soles, as if the bones themselves were protesting.
Not broken… but close.
I stayed there for a few seconds, breathing slowly, letting the pain settle—turning from sharp agony into a dull, bearable throb.
"…I almost died," I muttered.
The barrier melted away like liquid.
Lights turned on.
A massive empty chamber revealed itself. Metallic walls pulsing with blue energy.
I pushed myself up again—this time steady.
My steps were slower now. Controlled.
The pain followed me—but it no longer stopped me.
A voice echoed.
"Master… we have been waiting for you."
"…Got a different dialogue?" I muttered.
"Dear… we have been waiting."
"Stick with 'Master'," I said.
I stepped forward.
A massive door stood before me.
My watch began to glow violently.
"Wait… don't tell me…"
The door spoke.
"MASTER. ENTER."
I raised my hand and pressed my watch into the circular pattern.
A violent shock surged through my body.
My vision went white.