"Anarce, I know you owe Hilia money and want to pay it back soon, so I specially invited you in."

Back again?

Anarce looked at the camp in front of her and the incessant chatter of Mier, breathing heavily.

She felt like her soul was torn apart, memories lingering at the moment that terrifying demon’s bloodthirsty maw swallowed her.

She didn’t know what happened.

She only remembered teaming up with classmates to carry out a mission in a forest and encountering an unbeatable demon on the way back.

It was a demon that looked like a combination of a giant snake and a lizard; the five of them were powerless before it.

It seemed she was killed by the demon, and when she opened her eyes again, she found herself back at the halfway camp.

Thinking she was dreaming, she continued under thick deja vu to follow Mier and the others to carry out the mission, complete the mission, and return.

Then encounter that terrifying demon.

Then swallowed by the demon.

"Anarce, I know you owe Hilia money..."

"Run fast!"

Waking up for the third time with soul-searing pain, Anarce interrupted Mier’s words.

"There’s a terrifying monster here..."

"Quick, leave here with me..."

"..."

"Are you okay?"

"Your mental state is not right, have you gone insane?"

"..."

Anarce was silent.

She found she couldn’t persuade the others; they thought she was having a mental breakdown.

Anarce thought there was still plenty of time and activated the bracelet to seek help, but found the bracelet unusable.

Didn’t know when it broke.

She requested others to use their bracelets, but found theirs unusable too.

No Star Spirit Network in the forest.

After a series of actions, they smoothly completed the mission requirements and prepared to return.

Anarce chose to persuade them to leave by another path.

She succeeded.

Then encountered the monster on the other path.

She was swallowed once more.

"Anarce, I know you owe Hilia money..."

The fourth time, the pain in her soul made her vomit profusely; when others asked her what was wrong, she emotionally recounted the monster they would encounter.

But oddly, no matter how she persuaded, the others were unmoved, even forcibly taking her on the mission.

The nightmare repeated.

"Anarce, I know you owe Hilia money..."

For the fifth time, she endured the soul-crushing pain, no longer caring for others, choosing to run towards the forest exit.

"I’m sorry, sorry, sorry, I couldn’t persuade you, I can only leave first, go outside to get help, you must wait for me to come back, wait for me to come back, wait for me to come back..."

"I didn’t abandon my partners to escape, I didn’t abandon my partners to escape, I didn’t abandon my partners..."

"Roar!"

A great roar suddenly came, Anarce saw that nightmare-like Snake Lizard Beast.

Unable to escape.

Mier’s voice came again.

"Anarce, I know you owe Hilia money..."

The sixth time, she silently followed them to carry out the mission, completed it, and chose to keep moving as they returned.

"Roar!"

"Anarce, I know..."

For the seventh time.

Anarce collapsed weakly.

"Why, why is this happening?"

"Why can’t I die?"

"Help, help..."

"I don’t want to die..."

Anarce’s eyes looked blank, she had grown used to the severe soul pain.

She could no longer think of how to escape the arrangement with that terrifying monster.

She followed Mier and the others like a lifeless puppet, completing the mission, returning, encountering the monster.

"Roar!"

"Anarce, I know..."

The eighth time.

"Roar!"

"Anarce, I know..."

The ninth time.

"Roar!"

"Anarce, I know..."

The tenth time.

Anarce was completely numb.

As if all sounds had left her.

The incessantly chattering Mier had a doubling effect.

Then die until the soul is extinguished.

Then I can be liberated, right?

Anarce thought.

She silently followed Mier and the others forward, listening to Mier mention Hilia twice every third sentence.

She had an idea.

If Hilia came along...

No, she shouldn’t come; that monster is too terrifying, Hilia can’t beat it.

Anarce repressed the thought.

Successfully completed the mission, successfully rested, preparing to return.

But just then, an unexpected figure suddenly appeared and gave Mier a punch!

Anarce raised her head sharply, shocked at the newcomer.

"Hilia?!"

After punching Mier, Anarce saw Hilia walking towards her, stopping in front of her and smiling.

"Hello Anarce, I’m here to take you home, come with me."

The dim world seemed to brighten.

The cold heart started to beat again.

But when thinking of that terrifying monster, she calmed down again.

"Hilia, leave quickly. This forest has a very scary monster that we... can’t beat."

"There’s nothing we can’t beat." Hilia comforting her, patting her back: "Don’t worry, with me here, I promise to get you out safely."

Hilia already understood this dream world situation.

This dream world wouldn’t keep evolving; it just repeatedly played a memory segment, the difference being that Anarce might retain the impressions from each replay, as if caught in a time loop.

Hilia confirmed from Anarce’s expression that she indeed retained all memories after the memory reappeared.

Being that way, it’s much easier.

Just need to defeat that terrifying monster Anarce mentioned.

Hilia raised her hand, ready to release a Puppet, suddenly startled, remembering she was in a Spiritual Space, only having a cluster of consciousness.

Bad.

No way to use Magic Puppet and Magic.

Finished, trapped here.

As Hilia was worried, a soft laugh from Rose came from above the sky.

Then Hilia felt the Magic Power return to her ’body.’"

It’s Lord Rose!

Hilia’s tense heart relaxed.

She raised her hand, using the Puppet Storage Skill to release the Puppet.

"Let’s go, Anarce, take me to see the monster you mentioned."

Anarce was shocked at this scene.

"Hilia, you... Tier Two?!"

"Mhm."

A gentle ’Mhm’ slowly calmed Anarce’s anxious mood.

Hope rekindled.

If it’s Tier Two, surely able to defeat that terrifying monster, right?

Anarce felt hopeful.

She didn’t even notice why the other three were silent, as if they’d become nameless NPCs by the roadside.

Her steps became light again, leading Hilia forward swiftly; soon, accompanied by a roar, the gigantic Snake Lizard Monster appeared, blocking their path.