Chapter 146 Introduces a Barrier That Should Never Have Existed
The empty space shook when Natasha looked at her brother's reflection. The reflection of her brother showed up distorted on the wall as his silhouette struggled within the shimmering barrier. Her stomach sank because she saw his frightened expression on the void's surface. He tried to speak but the transmission failed and only noise filled her ears.
She extended her shaking hands toward him. She felt a strong electric shock through her arm as her skin touched the forcefield that made her step away from it. The shock ran through her body with such force that she grabbed her wrist in pain.
The image of her brother began to break apart just like the reflection itself was starting to give up. The quick shallow air in her lungs made it hard to breathe. She needed to rescue him because her brother stood alone as her last blood relative. The urgent need to find her brother motivated every step. From the dark space behind her a voice emerged with its tone both mocking and filled with evil pleasure.
Riven spoke to her with sarcasm as he shared his thoughts. The dark figure emerged and his glowing eyes revealed his presence though his face stayed hidden behind the shadows. The person you have to rescue is not your biological brother according to your understanding. You've been fooled."
"What are you talking about?" She spoke through her anger and uncertainty when she asked the question. "I—I can see him. I can hear him. He's trapped, Riven. He needs me."Riven moved one step forward as he denied what he was seeing. The Between uses tricks to deceive you by showing unreal images. The system controls your emotions by presenting you with a choice you cannot refuse.
He pointed at Natasha's brother whose face turned into an abhorrent creature that no longer resembled a human being. His eyes opened wide as his mouth fashioned invisible words which Natasha could not hear. Without turning she moved one step away from the figure while her beating heart raced.
"But I—he's my brother. The effort to save her brother showed through Natasha's shaking voice as she spoke.
The gentleness left Riven's face but his eyes revealed no sympathy. Your main concern Natasha should be if you still believe saving him is worth the effort. The decision affects you more than your brother. This is about you. The game tests your personal growth from your entrance through today. The game now recognizes your changes from your original self. The game judges you based on what you were in the past.
She forced herself to suppress the emotions building within her. The vision of her brother and family within her grasp collapsed when Riven delivered his harsh truth. Could he be right? Was this all a trap? The game may be showing her brother or using tricks to trap her forever.
She muttered these words silently to herself while gazing at Riven. "Why are you telling me this? Your advanced knowledge of gaming makes you question why you would stay in this situation.He moved forward as he spoke in a controlled tone. I belong among the players who failed. Those who obtained excessive knowledge from the system. The system failed to completely remove those players from its memory. I live in this forgotten place that discarded me after my success in the game. I walk alone through this empty place while past memories show me the way.
Natasha looked away as she stared at the wall's shining surface again. Another image of his face appeared but changed into a nightmare version before she could identify it. The sound of his pleading voice which earlier sought assistance now emerged as an unpleasant imitation of the authentic love she had once shown.
She couldn't let him go. She couldn't give up on him. He was all she had left.
Part of her mind doubted whether she was really avoiding reality.
Riven interrupted her silent thoughts once more. "You need to understand, Natasha. The Between region exists as a purposeful construction not a system malfunction. The developers behind the game constructed this specific area. The entity sends players who cannot escape their endless loop to this location. Through time the system automatically deletes the failed players from its records. That's why you're here. You reached a stage beyond your expected limit yet there you are trapped in an unknown space and familiar world.
The effect of his words hit her with a profound heaviness. The system planned all my past experiences as a part of this setup. The system wants us to fail?"
Riven spoke with hate when he replied. The game produces false images just like those who live within it. The game system uses players temporarily until they no longer serve the product's function. He stopped his words and stared at her in a powerful manner. "I learned too much. I found out what the game truly did and became useless to them.
His statement balanced between them like a weight that needed to be lifted. A painful feeling gripped her lower belly. Through her fighting the game proved to be a mechanism that consumes players until it no longer needs them.
She wanted to know why she received freedom if she could not leave the game. He should have abandoned me as he did the other victims.
A subtle smile revealed itself on Riven's lips. "Because you're different. You're not like the others. Despite the system trying to destroy you you have kept yourself alive. You have the option to make a decision because you stand out from other players. Choose to stay and discover game creator secrets but sacrifice part of your powers when returning to the jungle.
Natasha frowned, her mind racing. "What kind of cost?"
Riven didn't respond immediately. He pointed towards a slow-appearing door that emitted weak energy from its surface. "The door is your way out. You will sacrifice all your achievements when you decide to exit the game. You will permanently lose your natural ability to use your powers. Your bond with the game will remain different after this experience.
A cold feeling entered Natasha's body. The door. It was her chance to return. To rescue her brother. But at what cost?When the door formed she remembered all the past decisions that caused her current situation. Her brother's screams changed into thoughts about her past decisions that brought her to this moment. The images of old friends she rejected and partnerships she destroyed mixed with memories she wished to forget.
These pictures made her see her new self in a negative light. A person she didn't recognize.
For a few seconds the image of her brother looked solid and became more convincing than before. Desperate. Pleading.
Her heart clenched. She couldn't leave him there. She couldn't walk away.
The silent voice within her asked whether she had missed her opportunity to save him. You are trapped in the same dark path as him.
The sounds coming from behind jolted her out of her thoughts. She looked back and noticed that Riven studied her with tenderness.
He spoke firmly as he said those words to her. Once you walk out of here you can never come back to what you had. Your entire struggle will face permanent transformation. You will encounter permanent changes in your existence.
Natasha's mind raced. She detected strong energy pulling her toward the exit as an opportunity to defend her brother. Her inner self resisted making a choice. Did she have what it took to give up all she had achieved? She needed to decide whether she should forfeit all her accomplishments.
The door expanded and emitted electrical energy signals from its surface because it seemed alive before Natasha took action.
She stepped forward.
As she extended her fingers toward the door she heard a supernatural voice speak in the heavens with limitless strength.
You believe you control your destiny Natasha? We decide your path."
A thick atmosphere developed as the earth started moving under her feet. The door started to warp under an invisible power that changed how reality looked.
A powerful shock made Natasha step away from the door while her heartbeat raced. The power above took control of her choice which she believed belonged to her alone.