Shadow Author

Everything that happened that was false occurred the moment I stepped outside of the elevator.

I didn't exactly know how it worked but it was clear to me that the red mist is able to manipulate the memories a person has.

It a terrifying ability that causes one to fall into despair as they are unable to tell reality from their imagination.

I too would have fallen for it's tricked but thankfully the ability was able to save me and prevent my mind from falling to the monster's temptations.

I realized later on that when I woke and realized that the monster was feeding on me it was actually implanting thoughts into my mind and changing the way I felt about things.

The purpose of the monster is to feed on the person while they believe that they are somewhere else none the wise that they are slowly dying.

To do this the creature alters the way the person feels and believes.

Thinking back on the situation I realized that it had a huge influence on what I was doing.

First it took me till my final moments to decide to use Third Person POV. I'd used it in far simpler less dangerous times before but for some reason I felt like saving on to it when there was no reason to do so.

Another thing I now know was influenced were my thoughts on being the only person left.

The moment I left the elevator I didn't think twice about Paul had I gone back in there I probably would have realized what was happening sooner.

Instead I decided to explore the whole school even going to specific rooms. This was done so that I spent more time there rather than trying to get back that way the monster could continue to feed.

I can only assume that when I entered the administrative room my mind subconsciously believed that something was midst which is why I broke free from the nightmare.

Had I enetered any other room I probably would have kept looking which proved that I still had some mental strength to overcome the monster.

The reason for this was most likely due the fact that I'd spent a whole century isolated, witnessed many people die in front of me, and die in my own world before being transmigrated into a new one.

Although I was incomparably weak to the monster those hardships allowed me to survive although just barely.

There were other smaller concerns that I should have taken notice of like being more aware that it would be impossible for everyone to vanish as well as the flickering red.

There were so many clues that my mind was trying to send me to help me out but even then I couldn't understand them.

For example the very moment I left the elevator everything turned red, then the sky was red, and even my watch was red when I knew it wasn't.

I was disappointed in my self for not checking these things but the biggest disappointment was Evelyn herself.

Then and even know I can't believe that it wasn't Evelyn who was walking with me.

Her character felt all too real and if I didn't know everything was made up I would still believe that she was standing there outside the administrative room waiting while I was trapped inside.

Shaking my head of these thought I prepared for what need to come in the next few minutes.

Due to my ability to protect my mind from the mental games of the monster I knew it was no longer a threat.

The aura it was releasing was purely artificial as it somehow still had a connection to my mind and made me believe that it was strong than it really was.

For me now that I knew the truth the monster was nothing more than red mist.

At least that's what I wanted to believe.

Instead things would be taking a sharp turn as I would have to face one of the few regrets I made in both of my lives.

Standing up straight I waited for the monster to make it next move as I prepared my mind for what was to come.

I knew what would occur because of knowing the future but it didn't make things any less difficult.

Slowly the mist came up to me before stopping at my feet. Then a huge amount of red began to leave Evelyn's body as it started materializing in front of me.

'Here we go.'

In a matter of seconds a huge amount of red mist gathered to create a humanoid figure.

Forming right in front of me I watched as the mist developed arms, legs, and a face.

Once it was complete I looked over the being while trying my best to remain calm.

<What are you?>

The voice of the mist vibrated throughout the entirety of the elevator.

"That's a shame."

The first thing I said to the monster was to tell it that I was disappointed by its actions. I didn't ask what or why it was doing what it was doing nor did I ask to be saved instead I insulted the entity.

The monster turned its head vertically as if that was a way to better identify who I was.

<How can such a weakling overcome my mental attacks?>

"That's a long story that I don't want to go into right now. How about we focus on what's important?"

<On what's important?>

"Yes, like what gives you the right to mess with my head?"

<Oh?>

"You've also worsened the state of my meat shiel- I mean subordinate."

Locking my eyes on Paul I saw that he was unconscious yet there was mist flowing into him.

I could sense that he was still breathing so I was thankful for that. But I didn't know how long I was out for which meant that he could have lost too much blood.

I knew I need to wrap things up so that he could get some medical assistance. Plus I was tired with dealing with so much nonsense.

<Yes, his mind was quite easy to break. Though his memories—>

"Okay let's get this over with."

<Hmm, although I might not be able to take over your mind what makes you think you can stop me?>

"Me? When did I ever say I was the one who was going to defeat you?"

<?>

Calling forth Nightfall the sword appeared in my hand in a split second and before the mist could retreat I swung across and cut the monster in half.