Triple X System-Chapter 248: The Place Beyond The Pines

[Kyle? Kyle!? Your heart rate is decreasing, you have to steady the flow of demon energy or it's negative energy will eat you up!] Snow yelled, watching his vitals drop with seconds.

His internal organ was now a mess, corrupted with the mana parasite which had resorted to a sadistic last ditch effort. By splitting it's genes, it patched into Kyle's system. Literally bonding with his genetic code, altering it into something toxic.

Causing the deformation of gene cells, altering his blood type and his entire biology.

'It's bad isn't it?' He telepathically asked, cut off from the connection to his body. Leaving him numb, deaf, mute, blind.

Basically some familiar to an imbecile of a worthless empty shell. With the features of a corpse that'd been dead for some months now.

[It's not that bad.

*Sniffs! Your demon energy is limiting the mana parasite spread, *sniffs! so it shouldn't be long until it gets rid of it.] She replied with a reassuring tone, her voice shaky with light sniffles in between.

'A-are you crying?' Kyle teased, trying to force a smirk but failed.

The sensation of feeling stripped from him, leaving him emotionless. Even tears backed away from his eyes, along with his breath. Slowly departing his collapsing lungs, that would shut down any moment now.

[I-i'm not crying, that's stupid! Why would I cry for a pervert freak like you huh!? Tsk! *Sobs Y-you're just trying to get me on my weak spot so you can infiltrate my panties.] Snow declared with barely able to complete a well structured sentence.

It didn't take a team of psychics to figure out she was having an emotional breakdown. Which was weird, considering she was an otherworldly AI guide with no personal feelings attached.

But still, the sounds she prompted just now were genuine. Something born somehow from emotion, not a recorded program or pre saved template.

Making Kyle wonder if she was just a system guide, or something much more. Possibly possessing a buried consciousness?

'You're wrong, I'm not just a pervert but a cultured pervert.' He inwardly chuckled, blood trickling from the sides of his lip.

"What's happening to him?" Lumia asked with teary eyes.

The group were currently standing in Kyle's front, with the rest of the surviving crowd surrounding them in a circle.

Slightly shaking her head, she adjusted her glasses with a downcast look. "His body is too weak to combat the parasite. I figured this would happen, but now this soon. He's going to die." Reze blurted out, making lumia's pupil contract.

"Can you detect what stage the lifeform in his body is?" Troy abruptly asked, his gaze locked onto Kyle.

Raising her watch, a holographic screen appeared in on her watch. Slightly hovering above the watch, with a blue keyboard underneath. Typing in some commands, the screen changed.

"Apparently, the energy detected at first was really weak. Similar to that of a larvae at it's birth stage-" She paused, her face contorting into a frown.

"But that's where it gets weird. Mana parasites usually feed slowly on an affected core, but theoretically because of the intervention of the world tears. It's growth was exponentially accelerated in reaching it's next stage."

"I see~" Toy muttered, refrain from speaking much but the expression on his face said it all.

'Why do I feel conflicted?' Standing still, Lucia's bore a discordant look.

The only information about Kyle they had was his victory and champion of the annual survival tournament. Asides from that, there was no personal details, background checks or filed they could pull up.

Giving off an eerie motion, considering they made use of a high tech gadget. Undisclosed to even the citizens of Lumia kingdom, manufactured by the brilliant scientist.

With a vast search rate, incorporating countless of data across globes, far and wide. Activated by a special command key only in Reze possession.

Crouching down a bit, Lumia shifted her body a bit to the side. Leaning slightly with her ear tilted, listening in on Kyle's weak heartbeat.

It sounded like a muffled thumping, distant and hard from being heard. A silent struggle of a last ditch result to persevere, which was in the end hopeless.

"H-he's dead." Lumia declared, her tone flat and head lowered.

There was no tears, no cries, no emotion, only the wary sound of silence enveloped the room. With the distorted murmurs of the crowds fading into background noise.

....

'Both my heart has stopped beating.' Unlike before, he could feel the low thudding of his heart. Not pounding against his chest, but struggling to exist.

But now, he couldn't feel it. His internal organs were shutting down one by one, and there was nothing he could do.

[I-it doesn't matter, you can fight this. *Sobs, y-you're stronger than this. *Sniffs, I still haven't taught you all I know so you're still my slave student!] Snow yelled, unable to contain the built up emotion anymore.

'Don't beat yourself up because of my decisions. You'd make a terrible teacher and a bad wife if you keep being extra.' Kyle sarcastically transmitted with the last nurons coursing through his brain still active.

His blood had long ran cold, frozen still in place. Changing his skin colour slightly white in colour, like a body pulled out from freezing temperatures.

The sharp glare in his eye vanished, replaced with a dull lifeless glare. That appeared as an abomination compared to a zombie's white eyes.

'Guess this is the end for me.' He didn't try to fight it, powerless against the circumstances.

Even prevented from coughing out the lingering blood, dwelling in his guts. Rising to his throat, clawing for freedom. A testament to a fate he'd never guessed was more cruel than dying.

[You may think you're worthless.

Useless and a plague to all around you, but that's not true. Not only have you achieved much at such a short timespan of becoming a demon, you've rivalled and chalked foes far stronger than you and survived.] Snow spoke, her voice heavy yet unyielding.

[Yes things haven't been going your way, but it happens. That's the whole point of becoming stronger. It isn't just about the power, it's also about the experience leading up to that moment. I can't say much but know this, if you die now, you've not only killed yourself. But your parents, and everyone you ever cared about.] She concluded, a thin flat lined sound overwhelming his remaining consciousness.

'I see~' His eyes slowly closed shut, whatever little oxygen in him used up.

'Splash! Splash~'

The sound of water was clearly heard, splashing in a rhythmic balance. The soft waves, gently overlapping together of what appeared to be a infinite ocean body of water.

"What am I doing here?" Kyle blurted out, his words carried out in ripples of bubbles.

'I can speak.' He touched his throat, uttering some words to test this new update. 'If I remembered correctly correctly I died. For real.'

A heavy weight dropped to his heart, a mix of guilt and anger burning within him. There was no credible reason to justify his actions, but still, it felt like the right thing to do.

"Snow! Are you there, can you hear me!?" He called out both physically and mentally, hoping for some miracle. But alas, the bitter dawn of reality pulled him faster into the endless abyss he floated in.

'I'm sorry I dragged you into this, all of you.' He clenched his fist tightly, the soothing fresh water coursing through his skin with refreshing coolness.

Struggling to swim, he tried to reach upwards but crashed miserably. Succumbing to the overwhelming yet refreshing serenity of the water. 'Not were I expected to be transported after I died.'

He wasn't sure he still had a soul, but int the books he'd read. This wasn't were whatever closest to a soul for demons were transported, after they'd died.

"Great. Even in death you still deny me peace." Kyle mumbled to himself, not struggling against the slow tide. Giving in to it, already accepting his fate.

Not really thinking about the place beyond the pines, he pictured a dark space with flames, pointy rocks, and torment. Typically hell, which he'd been through. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

At least, then he'd be able to be with Lilith in everlasting suffering. Not a peaceful pit of tranquility, surrounding his remnant essence.

"I expected more of a fight from you Kyle Connor." A voice whispered, causing some brief ripples in the waves.

"You know.. I'm starting to get the impression you're a pervert." Kyle bluntly murmured, recognizing the siren voice identical to the one from sandhill castle.

"I'm flattered, you were thinking about me."

"Not quite." He frowned, earning a soft giggle from the ominous entity.

"While I would've loved to leave you to enjoy your eternal slumber, I'm afraid your journey doesn't end here." She relayed, making Kyle raise a brow.

A change in the water temperature was detected, surging faster within seconds. The low ripples becoming fiercer, turning into riptides. Clashing against each other in a barbaric motion, shifting Kyle off balance.

Twirling and spinning uncontrollably, in the heart of a storm.

[Successfully integrated wild mana with host body.]

[Initiating evaluation process of entire system.]

[Scan complete, severe casualties detected. Implying effects of healing water/world tears.]