Prince of The Ruined Kingdom

My heart raced as I locked eyes with Mira, her furious glare like a raging fire ready to consume me at any moment. My body was still under the control of my other self, who continued to provoke Mira, every word that slipped from my lips a poison aimed directly at the heart of the girl's obsession.

"Abigail is with me every night," my other self chuckled, its voice dripping with sly malice. "Her fragrant white hair... so soft, always brushing against my face. You know that, don't you?"

Mira's expression shifted dramatically; her calm smile twisted into a manic laugh. Her eyes bulged with piercing hatred, and I could see just how dangerous she had become. With a swift motion, she pulled out a large pair of scissors she had hidden away, and without warning, she decided to pry open the bars of my prison. With a harsh tug, the metal door creaked painfully in my ears.

"You liar!" Mira screamed, her voice brimming with rage. "How dare you tarnish Abigail's name with such lies! You'll pay for this!"

She lunged at me brutally, scissors aimed directly at my throat. But I—my other self, to be precise—was ready for this moment.

"Neumann!" I shouted without hesitation.

In an instant, the visual support from Neumann appeared. The world around me slowed down, and every movement Mira made became crystal clear. My focus sharpened drastically; her every motion felt like a slow-motion projection. I could see exactly where the scissors would strike, and with a quick sidestep, I evaded her attack. My body moved swiftly, faster than I had ever moved before.

The scissors missed their target, causing Mira to lose her balance for a moment. I seized the opportunity. In a flash, I slipped out from behind the bars before she could react.

"Run," Neumann whispered in my mind.

And I did just that. My legs moved instinctively, my feet pounding against the cold, rough stone floor. The prison corridor was narrow and winding, as if designed to trap someone. But Neumann provided me with precise directions, guiding me through every twist and turn. The world around me still felt slowed down, but I knew that wouldn't last. Mira wouldn't just sit back.

"Abigail is mine!" Mira shouted from behind me, her voice echoing through the long stone corridor. I didn't need to look back to know she had regained her footing and was in hot pursuit. Her sharp gaze lingered in my mind—a maniacal, obsessive smile that sent chills down my spine.

I kept moving quickly, my breath coming in gasps, but my focus remained unshaken. "Left," Neumann commanded, and I followed without hesitation, sliding into the next corridor. Every time I turned a corner, it felt like I was running through an endless maze. But thanks to Neumann, the path ahead was clear.

Occasionally, I glanced back just to gauge the distance between us. I caught a glimpse of Mira still standing in the now-open cell, glaring at me with a hate-filled stare, grinning like a madwoman who had just lost her prey. My heart sank for a moment, but I couldn't afford to stop.

"I won't let you escape!" she screeched, her voice piercing the silence of the prison corridor.

I continued to sprint through the narrow, stuffy passage until the fresh air began to fill my nostrils. I knew the exit was close. My breath was ragged, but I couldn't stop now. Every second wasted could allow Mira to catch up.

When I finally found the open door leading to the slums of Nexus Port City, it felt like a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. The cold night air greeted me as I burst out of the suffocating underground corridor. I spotted several homeless individuals scattered along the street, some sleeping on cardboard boxes, while others sat in the shadows, lost in their thoughts.

They glanced at me briefly as I ran past, but they didn't seem to care. This district was used to chaos.

"Keep to the right," Neumann calmly directed, her voice steady even in this tense situation.

I followed her guidance, sprinting through narrow alleys and grimy streets. Each footfall echoed in my ears, but one thing was clear—I couldn't escape Mira. The feeling of her presence behind me, even when I couldn't see her, grew stronger.

"Chaser behind you, distance five meters," Neumann's voice sent a chill down my spine.

I glanced back, and sure enough, Mira was there. Her face paled in the night shadows, but her gaze burned with hatred and obsession. She was sprinting after me, moving at an almost impossible speed. The large scissors in her hand gleamed under the dim streetlights. I momentarily held my breath.

"Quick! Turn left!" Neumann urged, her tone urgent.

Without a second thought, I pivoted sharply into another narrow alley. The grimy brick walls around me seemed to close in, forcing me to push harder. But Mira wouldn't give up; her furious voice was getting closer. With each sound of her swift footsteps, my heart raced even faster.

"You won't escape, Archemidas!" Mira screamed from behind, her voice high and laced with fury. "Abigail is mine! You don't deserve her!"

Her words quickened my heartbeat. I didn't know how much longer I could keep running, but one thing was clear: I had to keep going. If I stopped, Mira would catch me. And I knew all too well that if she succeeded, my fate would be far worse than death.

"Head toward the harbor," Neumann instructed. "There's a shortcut."

I gritted my teeth and continued to run, cutting through the deepening darkness of the slum district. Every corner felt like a trap, but Neumann kept providing directions. I just hoped my other self wouldn't lose control now—amid this frantic escape.

I kept running, gasping for breath, navigating the narrow corners of Nexus Port City. The streets twisted like a labyrinth, filled with dark alleys and uneven paths. A few times, I spotted homeless people sleeping on the roadside or watching the chaos I was causing with vacant stares. But no one attempted to stop me—they were too accustomed to the racket in this area.

Behind me, Mira kept chasing, her footsteps loud even as I pushed myself to run faster. One thing became clear: no matter how quickly I ran, I couldn't escape her. Mira's obsession with Abigail had turned her into an unrelenting monster.

"You won't be able to run forever, Archemidas!" Mira's chilling voice echoed behind me. She laughed softly, her tone strange and unhinged. "Abigail is mine, and you have no right to touch her!"

I clenched my teeth. "Neumann, how far is she behind me?"

"Distance four meters," Neumann replied coldly. "Mira's running speed is increasing. This escape is becoming nearly impossible."

I glanced back for a moment, catching a glimpse of Mira's shadow darting behind me. The large scissors in her hand glinted menacingly in the moonlight. She was moving too fast. My body was starting to weaken; fatigue was creeping in, while Mira seemed to grow stronger with every step.

I didn't have many options left. I had to try to fight back.

"Neumann, activate long-range magic. Focus on the fire element," I commanded, my voice breathless. If I could create some distance by igniting the path behind me, maybe I could buy myself some time.

Both of my hands ignited with blue flames, and with a swift motion, I hurled a large fireball toward Mira. The fireball soared through the air, shining brightly in the night darkness, and hit the ground just a few meters in front of her.

Boom!

Thick smoke billowed up, enveloping the street. I paused for a moment, hoping my attack would slow her down.

But Mira's laughter shattered the silence. As the smoke began to clear, I saw her stride through the flames with ease, her scissors slicing through my fire magic like it was mere paper.

"You're really foolish to think your cheap magic could stop me, Archemidas." Mira smiled coldly, her eyes filled with an unbearable hatred. "I'll cut you into tiny pieces before you can even touch Abigail again!"

I took a step back, unable to believe what I had just witnessed. How could this be? My magic should have been powerful enough to stall her pursuit, but she cut through it as if it were an illusion.

"Neumann, what happened? How can she—?"

"Mira's scissors possess anti-magic properties. Regular magical attacks will be ineffective. The probability of defeating her is now less than 1 percent," Neumann replied without hesitation.

Damn. I couldn't believe it. What kind of weapon was she wielding? Panic started to flood my mind, but I knew there was no time for doubt now.

"If that's the case, what are the chances we can escape?" I asked, hoping for a sliver of hope.

"About 4 percent. With your physical condition declining, your chances of survival decrease over time," Neumann replied, cold and logical as always.

Four percent. That was barely any hope.

But I wasn't about to give up just yet. I decided to try something more aggressive. With a flick of my hand, I summoned the element of wind. A fierce wind began to swirl around me, whipping up dust and debris from the street. I thrust my hand forward, and the wind transformed into a massive vortex, hurtling toward Mira at incredible speed.

"I won't let you catch me!" I shouted, pouring my focus into the magical wind attack.

Mira grinned wickedly. She didn't flinch, even as the fierce wind crashed against her. Her large scissors rose once more, slicing through the wind with an impossible force. In an instant, the wind vortex split apart, disintegrating like sand blown away by the wind. I felt my stomach churn at the sight.

"How pathetic, Archemidas," she said in a mocking tone. "You can't fight destiny. Abigail is only for me."

I stumbled backward, my body on the verge of collapse. Fatigue was creeping into every muscle. My breath grew heavy, and my legs felt like they were about to give out. Mira was getting closer, her steps slow but steady. The scissors glinted coldly in her grip, ready to strike me down.

"Neumann, any other suggestions?" I asked, my voice almost desperate.

"No other options. Continue the escape effort. The probability of survival is decreasing," Neumann replied once more. Her voice sounded distant, as if she had already given up.

I found myself cornered, unable to run any further. Mira was closing in, and I could hear her chilling laughter as she prepared to end it all. Her pace slowed, now strolling casually, as if savoring every moment of my terror.

"It's over, Archemidas," she said in a deceptively sweet tone. "You can give up now, or I can make this very painful."

I shut my eyes, trying to muster the last of my strength for one final stand. But when I opened them again, something unexpected happened.

"STOP!"

The voice I knew all too well shattered the silence. Abigail stood between us, panting, her face flushed with anger. Her red eyes flashed with a fury I had never seen before.

"Abigail?" I whispered, almost in disbelief.

Mira halted in her tracks, her expression shifting instantly. "Abi...gail?" Her voice trembled, like a child caught doing something wrong.

"You…" Abigail gritted her teeth, her face turning red. "I HATE you, Mira! I HATE you! You almost killed Arche!"

Mira's face went pale. The scissors in her hand slipped from her grip, clattering to the ground. "No... no, Abigail… I... I just wanted to protect you…"

"I don't need your protection!" Abigail screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You make me sick! You're crazy, Mira!"

Mira stared at Abigail, her face shattered. Her hands trembled, and tears began to fall slowly. "No... Abigail, I... I didn't mean to…"

But Abigail was no longer listening. She stood there, shielding me from Mira, her eyes blazing with anger and disappointment. For the first time, Mira looked… broken.

Mira crumpled to the ground, her sobs becoming softer, like a hurt child. Her eyes were vacant, her body trembling, and her lips whispered over and over, "I just wanted to protect you, Abigail… that's all…"

I could only watch with a mix of exhaustion, confusion, and a bit of pity. She had tried to kill me, chasing me down brutally, yet here she looked like someone utterly heartbroken. Abigail stood in front of her, her face flushed with anger, now shifting into guilt.

Abigail sighed heavily, bowing her head. I could see that her earlier words—about hating Mira—had struck deep. Now, Abigail seemed to regret it all.

Lilith emerged from the shadows. Her drone hovered above us, and she looked down at us with a bewildered expression. "What's going on here? This situation is a total mess." Lilith's voice was sharp, filled with confusion.

Abigail glanced at Lilith, then back to Mira, who was still seated, tears streaming down her face. Slowly, Abigail approached Mira, her voice soft and filled with remorse. "Mira, I… I didn't mean it. I—"

But before her apology could spill out, the atmosphere suddenly shifted.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Did I just witness a touching performance?" A strange male voice boomed from an unexpected direction.

Immediately, we all turned. Standing there, with a cold smile and a cunning gaze, was a man who seemed to have materialized out of nowhere. He appeared unfazed by the chaos, as if he had been watching us calmly from a distance.

"Thank you, really, for making that crazy girl lose her fighting spirit." The man stepped forward, his smile widening, his eyes gleaming with mockery. "That crazy girl is the only threat to this mission."

"Who are you?" Abigail shot back, her voice tense.

The man didn't answer right away. Instead, he raised his hand, forming a seal with his fingers, and began to chant a spell casually, as if he owned the moment.

"Imaginary Realm Creation…" he said slowly, his voice calm yet filled with a magical power that vibrated in the air around us.

My chest tightened. What was he doing? What kind of magic was this? Abigail immediately stepped back, placing her hand on her chest as if feeling the same thing. Mira, once powerless, slowly began to recognize the man's presence, but she was too exhausted to act.

But before the man could finish his incantation, a loud scream echoed through the air.

"STOP!"

Another man came racing toward us. From behind, he shot toward the unknown man with incredible speed. Green ice magic shimmered brightly in his hand, forming a sharp blade that streaked toward the man like lightning.

Crash!

The green ice accurately sliced through the man's right hand before he could complete his spell. A cry of pain erupted from his lips, shocking me. His chant broke off mid-sentence, and the tense atmosphere around us immediately eased.

"Everyone, fall back!" Jack yelled, his eyes blazing with anger. "He's The bounty hunter Zeratile!"

The man staggered back, his severed hand dangling loosely at his side, fresh blood dripping onto the ground. Yet, despite his severe injury, he continued to smile. "Damn you, Jack. But this might be enough."

I was still catching my breath, my mind clouded by the rapid-fire surprises unfolding before me. Suddenly, a blinding white light enveloped us.

Neumann shouted in my mind, "Watch out!"

But it was too late. The white light engulfed us all. The world around me spun, and in an instant, everything changed.

***

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a completely different place. Towering stone walls surrounded me, and the air felt damp and cold. The dim light from strange crystals embedded in the walls was the only illumination in this place. Darkness stretched endlessly around me, as if I were trapped in an unending maze.

"Where... am I?" I murmured.

I heard a small voice nearby, a faint whimper that was all too familiar. Turning my head, I saw Mira lying on the ground not far from me. She was still crying, her voice barely audible.

"Neumann? What's happening?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"This is the residual effect of his spell. We're trapped in an illusion or an alternate world. It's similar to the reality created by the magic of the Imaginary Realm," Neumann replied flatly.

I walked closer to Mira, who was silent, looking like a shadow of her usual self—broken, fragile. I stood beside her, trying to figure out what to do next.

"Mira…" My voice felt awkward. I didn't know what to say, but I sensed that it was time to stop fighting. Here, in this darkness, it was just me and her.

Mira didn't respond. Her tears continued to flow, but she remained motionless. For a moment, I felt pity for her. She was clearly tormented by her overwhelming feelings for Abigail, to the point where she couldn't distinguish right from wrong.

"Why are you like this?" I asked softly. I didn't expect an answer; I just wanted to hear her thoughts, even if they were vague.

Finally, Mira looked at me, her eyes, usually filled with hatred, now void of anything. "I just wanted to protect her," she said quietly. "I just wanted to protect her."

I fell silent, sensing the emptiness in her voice. There was something profoundly sad behind all her anger and madness. Beneath it all, Mira was just a girl who was heartbroken, obsessed with someone she could never truly have.

"You've gone too far, Mira," I said finally, my tone gentler this time. "Abigail isn't yours or mine. We can't possess someone like that."

Mira cried again, but this time her sobs were quieter. I sat down beside her, feeling an overwhelming exhaustion. Here, in the middle of this dark maze, I could only hope there was a way out—for both of us.

But for the first time, I sensed that Mira might need more than just an explanation.