It hurts
It hurts so much.
My body feels crushed, like a piece of paper being wrung and torn apart. My vision has been devoured by darkness, nothing exists here.
Aghh!
As though the world still wasn't done tormenting me, strange whispers began stabbing into my ears.
Suddenly, within the Abyss, a pair of red eyes appeared, staring straight at me. Its pupils were so large they felt as if they pierced my very soul.
All I could do was surrender. I couldn't move. I couldn't resist.
Then, without warning, I felt a brutal impact against my back, like I had finally reached the bottom of the Abyss.
I curled up like a worm, clutching myself as I tried to endure the agony ravaging every sense I possessed.
I forced my heavy eyelids open. Nothing but darkness.
Yet, in that far-off void, something stood out, chunks of shattered stone.
It looked like… a statue. I dragged myself across the ground toward it. The closer I got, the clearer its form became.
A statue, its body ruined and its head lying far below at the base of the Abyss.
Etched brightly on the pedestal were blazing words:
'I am Ozymandias! King of Kings!'
'Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!'
The moment I finished reading, maddening laughter erupted in my ears.
That laughter made my skull feel like it was splitting open. I couldn't take it anymore. Rather than fighting it, I let go.
My head felt as if it were heating up, blood pounding, vision blurring—
Boom!
---
"GAHH!"
I jolted awake, immediately patting every inch of my body, rubbing my face.
…I'm still alive?
I gripped my hair, exhaling in relief.
I'm really… still alive.
After a few moments of trying to ignore the phantom pain still lingering across my body, I finally looked around.
A small room. Only an old wooden table with a cracked mirror on top. The ceiling was draped in cobwebs.
Despite its shabby look, I felt something soft beneath me. I glanced down, a clean bed, draped with white sheets.
What the hell? I survived being swallowed by the Abyss? Who saved me?
No, that shouldn't be possible. Anyone swallowed by the Abyss is beyond salvation. So… how am I alive?
I tried to recall what happened down there. I fell, endlessly, until I slammed into the bottom of the Abyss.
Then I saw that ruined statue. A statue radiating authority and domination. And carved beneath it, a name:
Ozymandias.
Ozymandias—The First King of Spades.
My ancestor. The progenitor of the King of Spades.
A monarch who once rose above tyrant kings. A ruler both wise and mighty.
A sovereign so powerful that during his reign, he elevated the Arcane kingdom's economy to prosperity. He uplifted the welfare of his people, and gave sanctuary to Cardians who were once shunned by society.
Everything was perfect…
Until the day he was dragged into the Abyss by the first Monster of Entropy.
With the disappearance of King Ozymandias, the Monsters of Entropy emerged from the Abyss, storming the Arcane kingdom, slaughtering thousands, annihilating dozens of Cardians.
They were overwhelmed, until King Ozymandias returned, eradicating the Entropy creatures with ease.
Legend said that was when he began to change. His interest in expanding Arcane dwindled. His eyes turned empty after returning from the Abyss.
Then, one night, beneath a crimson moon, King Ozymandias went mad, and turned his blade upon every Cardian.
From the Two of Spades to the Five of Clubs. Even the Royal Cardians.
No one could stop him. No one knew why he slaughtered his own kind.
Though his power was monstrous, even he could not slay the entire legion alone.
The Four Aces of the Royal Cardians struck together, alongside the other Cardians.
Even so, King Ozymandias, merely a King of Spades, held his ground against the combined might of all Four Aces.
But in the end… he fell. That night, the deranged King of Spades slew forty Cardians.
Only the Aces survived.
Back then, none of them knew the truth, that Cardians reincarnate upon death.
They died never knowing they would one day return.
What did all of this mean?
Why did Ozymandias go insane after returning from the Abyss?
Was Arthur Salvatore… his reincarnation? Is that why I saw his statue?
And that laughter, did it belong to Ozymandias?
I scratched my head furiously.
Damn it.
If I keep drowning in questions, my head will explode like it did when I read those cursed words.
I shook it off. I turned to the side and noticed a white envelope sealed with red wax.
Beside it lay a mask, and a strange black orb with a glass center swirling with blue and red energy like marbles colliding.
I ignored the other objects for now and reached for the letter.
Carefully, I unfolded it.
Written in golden ink:
—Dear Arthur Salvatore.
—Well done, Arthur Salvatore. Your contribution in slaughtering your family has proven your desire to pursue the same goal as ours. With the mission complete, you are officially one of us.
—Next, your mission is to attend the Academy. The gathering ground of the Cardians. You know what to do there. Butcher them. Just as you butchered your family.
—Best Regards, 101511518.
Without realizing it, I had crumpled the letter in my fist, nearly tearing it apart.
So that's the reason… Arthur murdered his family just to fulfill someone's mission.
Who are they? An organization? A cult? A faction?
Whatever they are, one thing's certain, they're a congregation of villains.
And now, this letter tells me to enter the Academy. They must mean the Cardian Academy, a place where only 52 students gather, matching the deck's number without jokers.
But how am I supposed to enter when I'm undoubtedly a wanted criminal? Walking in would be suicide.
I flipped the letter. Another message was written:
P.S. The two objects beside you are your rewards. The mask will alter your identity into a Diamonds Cardian named Balthazar Vista, specifically, The Two of Diamonds.
—Apologies, that was the only identity we could acquire. Killing a Diamonds Cardian is difficult for us mere humans. Diamonds feel no fear. Quite troublesome.
—Well then, from here on, live as a Diamonds Cardian. Try your best to understand what it means to never feel fear.
—Good luck ;)
I tore the paper apart in rage.
What the hell?! They want me to impersonate a Diamonds Cardian?
A race of people who feel no fear whatsoever…? Dammit! I'm not some brainless brute!
I turned to the orb.
And what the hell is this thing supposed to be?
I picked it up, the orb with swirling blue and red energy.
The moment I touched it, the glass shattered. The swirling essence burst free, circling me like orbiting stars.
I froze in confusion, curiosity gnawing at me, so I reached out and touched the floating energy.
Instantly, the essence seeped through my skin. Heat and cold warred as they coursed through my veins.
Moments later, new strength surged within me.
I snapped my fingers. A tiny flame burst to life at my fingertip.
Heh… what a cliché. Fire and ice manipulation? How delightfully basic.
I rose from the bed and stood before the mirror.
I looked at my worn reflection. My white hair disheveled, my dark eyes hollow. My cheeks sunken from who-knows-how-long of malnourishment.
But that wasn't why I was here.
I raised the temperature around me. Just to test something.
The air around me shimmered in the mirror. I spun lightly, and as expected…
Multiple mirages of myself flickered within the reflection.
A perfect mirage.
A satisfied chuckle left my lips.
I turned back and grabbed the white mask with gold engravings.
I pressed it against my face. Instantly, it clamped down, reshaping my features. The pain was nothing compared to the agony of falling into the Abyss.
Strangely, I was already getting used to pain.
I let the mask alter me. In the mirror, my hair shifted into blazing crimson.
Within minutes, my entire body had been remade.
Fiery red hair. Eyes burning with resolve. A lean but powerful athletic build.
I couldn't help but be amazed. If a mere Two of Diamonds looks like this… what about the Diamonds Royal Cardian?
I stared at my reflection, letting the unfamiliar identity sink in.
Then I sat back on the bed.
Exhaling into my palms.
If I enter the Cardian Academy… I'll meet Amira again.
But I have no intention of following that damned organization's mission.
Instead, I plan to prevent Amira Rafael's Bad Route.
Of course, she'll be stronger after my "death," now unchained from love.
But she will no longer care about the Male Leads who need her help in the game's story.
The Diamonds Royal Cardian Lead—reckless in battle, terrified only when Amira is on the brink of death. Overcoming the curse of fearlessness.
The Spades Royal Cardian Lead—emotionless to sadness, until Amira dies in the Bad Route. Overcoming the curse of sorrowlessness.
The Clubs Royal Cardian Lead—devoid of joy, until he meets Amira and experiences pure happiness for the first time. Overcoming the curse of joylessness.
There are only three male leads in this rofan game.
Fourteen Hearts Royal Cardians exist—Thirteen known to be women. One remains unknown.
The Ace of Hearts.
No one knows where they are. Not even their gender. So the kingdom cannot confirm whether the Hearts Cardian are entirely female.
I lay back and stared at the ceiling, arms folded behind my head.
Will Amira recognize me in this form?
Can she see through me just by observing my movements?
Or… did she only love me because of Arthur Salvatore's face?
Ahh… damn it. These emotions aren't even mine. They belong to Arthur.
I closed my eyes.
I need to figure out how to erase these feelings…