Chapter 471: Marionette speaks with the Family Head? [2 - END]
Since the first day of the Trial, she had been expected with the feeling of loneliness and even dreadfulness. She didn’t even know where to begin in the Trial, but with Lillian with her, she felt more at ease.
At least she wasn’t going to be alone, was what she had thought back then. She had even come to find herself enjoying the moment where they trained and... Surprisingly, the physical contact.
It was the first time, after all, when she met someone who looked almost like her...
And since then, that exact girl she had been so obsessed over had made grand and enormous strides in progress to become stronger, while she... still remained the same.
Even though Marionette had recently comprehended the Expressions of her techniques and had entered the Middle stage in the Knight Realm, that was about it.
She... She had stagnated; her strengths and abilities had stagnated.
Marek, seeing that Marionette’s body had straightened and become much more confident, became more serious as his tone adopted a strict and unappreciative tone:
"Although this surgery will not cause your Flaw to worsen, your mind will always be in a state where even the darkest thoughts feel normal. Even though your body and magic would leap in bounds beyond what you are capable of now, you will feel as though something deep within you is eating you alive...
"The medications that I—... the Gardener have been putting you through would allow you to control the True Darkness and cause your body to become more of a vessel for it."
Marek then paused for a moment before asking:
"Do you still wish to undergo this surgery despite what I had just listed? And do be truthful."
Marionette listened to what she had just heard and gave a firm and fearless nod; she knew what it would entail. She also couldn’t help but feel as though her father was trying to deter her away from this decision, and also... Away from the surgery?
Although this surgery wasn’t of her own choice, if she could somehow convince her father...
Marionette slowly took off her mask and stared into the eyes of the robot, and asked with a slight smile:
"Would I have your blessings for my marriage and relationship with Lillian?"
Marek’s finger began to rapidly tap at his desk, as if he was uncomfortable with the situation. From his point of view, their family would be at greater risk of loss rather than gain if something were to happen to Marionette during the surgery.
Any logical and cautious man would turn down such an offer and call the one who offered it a fool, and get on with their day. However, he couldn’t help but feel an illusory face of someone he knew overlapping with his daughter’s stubborn and firm look.
"... If you managed to exceed my expectations and survive without even a hint of visible trouble... Fine, you will get my blessing and everyone else in the family’s as well."
After a few minutes of responses and even information about the upcoming Legacy Table event between nobles, Marionette left with her mask on.
However, if one were to look into her eyes, they would find them to be shining brightly; glittering even, akin to stars shining in the night sky.
She walked forward, one foot in front of the other, before rapidly moving into a sprint as she dashed towards the Gardener’s office.
’Lillian... Lillian... Lillian...’
One after another, the only thought she had in her mind... Was Lillian.
"Hm? Why am I in one of the torture chambers?"
Unfortunately, her desire to bring Lillian into her family might take a moment or two, for she had somehow gotten lost even in her own home.
***
’Marionette’s surgery is coming in a couple days...’
This piece of key information was something each player knew about greatly to the point that they knew what day it would happen, because this surgery would kick-start Marionette’s journey to becoming the final boss; a wall tall enough and strong enough to put down the player and cause them to restart each run.
Not only would Marionette’s existing number more than double after her surgery, but it would only continuously multiply the more she would be able to control the True Darkness within her.
Lillian’s hands shook as she swung her cutlass, clashing with the Captain, who had once again become her sparring partner. She needed to get stronger, much stronger.
Even now, she wasn’t enough.
If she wanted to protect what was dear to her, she needed to keep on fighting, learning, and adapting! Otherwise... What good was she for?
The Captain took a step back as he felt Lillian’s movements become even more rapid. He had been stunned once he found out Lillian had achieved the Expressions of his technique.
It had taken him a month!
And because of that, he was envious of Lillian’s talent for combat. But... He was also proud. The Captain hadn’t ever taken in a student before, and even though he knew that Lillian had only gotten this far in progress with her monster, it was still good to know he had played a role.
With that, he decided to use the 2nd to last technique of his Combat Style.
After parrying Lillian’s overhead swing, the Captain swung his fist and dealt a devastating blow to Lillian’s stomach, causing her to vomit blood as she shot back.
He was told not to go easy on her.
With a tremendous leap with his strong legs, he appeared parallel to Lillian—a 5 metre gap in between them—and began to swing his cutlass wildly.
"[4th Technique of the Deep Sea Hunter: Drowning Net]!"
Lillian quickly recovered from the Captain’s staggering blow to her stomach and watched as an illusory net appeared over her.
She gritted her teeth.
’Don’t falter!’
Lillian twisted in the air and landed on the ground, then, with a tight hold on her sword, she swung horizontally with all of her strength and—
"[1st Technique of the Deep Sea Hunter: TIDEBREAKER SLASH]!"
—Summoned a titanic-sized illusory wave to appear behind her, rushing upwards.
This scene reminded her of the exact same scenario yesterday when the Jungle Lord used the Drowning Net against her.
But... Would it happen again? Would the exact same result happen again?
...
Lillian watched as the illusory wave she had created was sliced into individual cubes and dispersed. Then, not even a split second, she felt several cuts sink into her body, severing and reaching her bones.
Fortunately, nothing fatal to her life occurred.
However... The fact that the same result happened again caused her both anguish and frustration. She had only one more day to train for what was to come and yet...
She was still too weak...