CHAPTER 31: THE MEANING OF DELUSION

  John froze, his blood running cold. Slowly, he turned his head, eyes narrowing as he searched for the source.

  What the… he thought, his mind racing.

  His gaze swept across the chamber, but there was nothing. Just the hum of machinery and the faint glow of the pods.

  “Are you alright?” a voice asked suddenly.

  John flinched, startled. He turned to see one of the supervisors standing nearby, half masked, posture straight.

  “Y-yeah,” John muttered quickly, shaking his head to clear his mind. He pushed himself up, ready to leave, when the voice came again.

  […Where am I… exactly?]

  John froze mid-step, his eyes darting back to the supervisor. “Did you… say something just now?”

  The supervisor tilted his head slightly. “No. Why?”

  John hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. “…Nothing.”

  He turned away, forcing his legs to carry him down the corridor. His breath was uneven, his thoughts tangled, each step echoing faintly against the sterile walls.

  Then, just as the silence began to settle, the voice whispered again—closer this time, almost brushing against his ear.

  What a fascinating scene.

  John’s steps faltered, his heart pounding. What the hell is happening to me…? Am I hallucinating? No… this feels too real. Somebody really is talking. But who?

  He clenched his fists, gathering what little courage he had left. “Who’s there?” he demanded, his voice low but firm.

  He waited for a response, but there was none.

  His jaw tightened, frustration edging into his tone as he spoke again, louder this time.

  “I’m asking you. Who’s there?”

  There was a pause. Then, faintly, the voice muttered, almost to itself:

  […Is he talking to me? … he can actually hear me?]

  John’s pulse spiked. He swallowed hard, forcing the words out. “Yes. I can hear you. Now—who the hell are you?” John’s voice echoed down the corridor, sharp and demanding.

  For a moment, silence pressed in, heavy and suffocating. Then the voice returned, lighter now, almost delighted.

  [Finally, somebody I can talk to.]

  John’s brow furrowed, confusion twisting his face. He… no, it actually sounds happy.

  He steadied himself, forcing his voice out again. “I asked you a question.”

  [Right, right… uhm]

  The voice replied, swelling with self-importance, every word heavy with grandeur.

  [I am beauty incarnate, perfection given form. I am the radiance that humbles the sun, the elegance that makes the stars themselves bow. I am the crown of existence, the breath of eternity. And you—fortunate beyond measure—are the one who hears me. My name is… Ahh… uh…]

  The declaration rang with the cadence of a god’s hymn, only to falter awkwardly at the end, the pause stretching long enough to fracture the illusion.

  […You are not qualified to know,] the voice continued, recovering with smug arrogance. [Just understand—I am the greatest being alive.]

  John blinked, utterly dumbfounded. His lips parted, but no sound came. He stared into the empty corridor as if the walls themselves might explain what he had just heard. Uh… I can’t… I don’t even…

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The voice carried on, self-absorbed, basking in its own grandeur. Then it suddenly cut in, sharp and expectant.

  [You are listening, right?]

  John barely registered the words, still lost in thought. when his mind replayed Jynx’s cryptic promise. Wait… what if…

  His expression hardened, seriousness replacing confusion. He spoke carefully, testing the waters. “Do you… know a guy named Jynx?”

  The voice paused, then answered with casual dismissal. [who? Never heard of him, but it’s a weird name for sure.]

  John’s eyes narrowed, suspicion gnawing at him. So, he’s not connected to him… or maybe he’s faking it.

  [Anyway… you know, you have a fascinating place here. Though… a little too bland, for my liking.]

  John blinked, thrown off. His brows furrowed as he glanced around the sterile corridor, the hum of machinery filling the silence. “What are you talking about?”

  The voice answered smoothly, as if ignoring his confusion.

  [Your inner domain… It’s kind of nice. But as I said, a little too bland. If it were more majestic, I would have liked it.]

  John’s eyes narrowed. Domain? Does he mean the place I met Jynx and Dark?

  Before he could press further, footsteps echoed behind him. A supervisor appeared in a cold voice said.

  “Why are you still out here? Go back to your dorm.”

  John stiffened, caught off guard. He turned slightly, nodding in acknowledgment. His lips pressed into a thin line. I can’t ask it out loud…

  He started walking, each step heavy, the corridor stretching ahead. His thoughts churned. If this voice is real… maybe I can reach it another way.

  Tentatively, he focused inward, speaking not with his mouth but with his mind.

  Can you hear me… like this?

  [Oh… Yes, I can hear you.]

  John’s pulse quickened. His jaw tightened as he walked, trying to keep his expression neutral. So, it works… I can talk to him directly.

  He steadied his thoughts, then asked carefully, who are you really? What are you?

  [Ah, straight to the important questions. I like that.] There was a pause, almost theatrical. [Unfortunately, you are not yet qualified to know.]

  John blinked, …What?

  [If it makes things easier for your small mortal mind,] the voice continued grandly, [you may refer to me as The Almighty Gorgeous Supreme.]

  The name was delivered with ridiculous pride.

  John walked a few more steps in silence.

  Then he said flatly, I will never utter those words even if I am about to die.

  [Excuse me?] the voice scoffed, its tone rising with indignation. [You dare reject a title so magnificent? Do you not realize the honor I’ve bestowed upon you?]

  John exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. Ok… this is getting ridiculous.

  He shook his head, muttering under his breath. I’ll just call you Echo.

  There was a beat of silence—then the voice flared with indignation.

  [echo? echo?! That is an insult. A dull, lifeless smear of a name. Do you think the greatest being alive should be reduced to something so… ordinary?]

  John’s tone stayed flat, unamused. Then pick a normal name. You know, I have heard a lot of stupid names, but this takes the crown. Besides, it makes sense to call you Echo. After all, you are a voice in my head

  The voice scoffed, its arrogance bristling. [Normal? I am not normal. I am magnificence incarnate. To call me Echo is to strip away my brilliance. And I am not merely a voice—I possess the most perfect body imaginable. Sculpted, flawless, divine.]

  John blinked, unimpressed. I don’t see it.

  The voice sputtered, indignant. [Of course you don’t! Your mortal eyes are unworthy of beholding such perfection. But know this—it exists, and it is beyond compare.]

  John sighed, muttering under his breath, Great. So now I’ve got a delusional narcissist living rent-free in my head.

  The voice hissed in irritation, then recovered with smug grandeur. [You mortals… so limited in imagination. But fine. Call me whatever you wish. It changes nothing. I remain supreme.]

  John sighed, shaking his head as he walked. Supreme, huh? More like insufferable.

  After a while, John reached his dorm room. At the front, ONE stood leaning against the frame. He turned toward John and said, “You’re finally here. I was beginning to think you passed out in the middle.”

  John chuckled softly. “I almost did.”

  ONE nodded before starting to walk away. “You should rest for tomorrow’s training.”

  John’s spirit deflected with a dry edge. “Really? After all that?”

  “Don’t worry,” ONE replied, his tone steady. “This one will be different—since you all awakened. Now go rest, you look like you are about to die.”

  John shook his head. “I think I already am.”

  With that, ONE moved off down the hall, leaving John alone. He stepped inside to find the rest of the group already asleep, sprawled across their bunks like logs. John moved quietly to his own bed, sinking down with a weary exhale. As his eyes began to close, the voice stirred again, insistent.

  [Wait, I haven’t finished talking to you yet… hey, don’t you dare sleep.]

  John rolled onto his side, pulling the blanket over himself. His lips parted as if to answer, but exhaustion claimed him faster than thought. Within moments, his breathing steadied, sleep dragging him under.

  There was a pause, then a sigh of disappointment came from Echo.

  [Hey… are you there? Damn it. Fine, I shall sleep too. But know this—we are talking more when you wake up.]

  The dorm fell silent once more as John drifted deep into sleep, while the self-proclaimed Almighty Gorgeous Supreme sulked in the shadows of his mind.