Chapter 35
Those several days in the uncharted part inside the tower were now done; the cursed cave was never seen as a place to be explored, but it was created to be an opening scenario where the players needed to overcome the emotional and psychological challenges and prove their worth. And gain realization from it; the reward was unknown because no player ventured to enter the cursed forest and enter the cursed cave and explore the place.
Dane was preparing to leave the clinic. And he wanted to know if all the events that happened inside the cursed cave were part of the scenario his team created in the past or if the old gods manipulated its main feature to test the psychological and emotional strength of those who dared to enter. He was inside a twisted psychological whirlwind of conflicting situations that was utterly looked at as useless and pointless.
He tested the area in the past when it was still a virtual game and could not confirm his own memory if all that happened was part of the original coded scenario and not just a result of the old gods' interference. Maybe the memories on his mind were the reason he was questioning everything; this ego of his was the culprit to this nagging feeling.
He has acquired much information and story plots in the past, and deep down, his gut was amazed to gain unnatural blessings, but no matter what he felt, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was not quite right. It was as if a shadow loomed over his every move, casting doubt on even the most seemingly innocent actions. Despite his best efforts to push these thoughts aside, they continued to linger, growing stronger with each passing day.
He sat upright and wanted to change into his own clothing; the clinic was modest and had all the medical necessities, as it was being supported by the player association; it could hold 100 patients and was always bustling with activity. Despite the comfortable environment, the thought now entered his logical reasoning. Until the nurse entered the room where he was staying, the female nurse was around 50 years old; she had a look that immediately put him at ease. Her warm smile and gentle demeanor reassured him that he was in good hands.
The female nurse was holding a few documents and a container meant for medicine. She introduces herself as Doctor Rebeca Windshere. She has been working at this clinic. For seven months now, she added this was a normal matter, where she and most of the clinic staff would do to answer the player's question upon waking up.
Dane was already confused and anxious about the information he was hearing from the elderly nurse. She turned around and grabbed a chair and placed it near the clinic bed where Dane was sitting. She sat down and told him to clear his mind first, as she would explain what just happened to him.
"Your name is Dane Rinne Lazarus, age 23. Currently you are not affiliated with any of your relatives guilds; your level is restricted by the tower."
"Huh! Restricted by the tower?"
"Don't worry; it will return back to normal after the penalty has been lifted. These are the rules the gatekeepers have implemented based on the tower's rules."
"And honestly, I know for a fact you are having issues with how you perceive the situation you are feeling right now; don't get the wrong idea, but based on how you are reacting right now, there are clear signs that you were severely affected by the toxic spores in the cursed forest."
"Based on the information taken from your blood, your body has been exposed to high levels of toxicity, which may be contributing to your current state."
"Huh! So, Doctor Rebeca, you are telling me that all the events that went into my head were all due to exposure to toxic spores in the cursed forest?" "Yes, it's highly likely that your symptoms are a direct result of the toxins you were exposed to in the forest."
"Let me ask you, upon entering the forest, you began to question your own decision at if somebody was manipulating your thoughts and actions, correct?" "Yes, that is a common side effect of exposure to toxic substances, leading to altered perceptions and decision-making."
"Many players encountered these similar symptoms and feelings of manipulation while they were exposed to the toxins."
"Remember that the dark elf residing inside the cursed forest sells these toxins to the potion master, and these individuals used the same toxins to create potions that induced altered states of mind. Many players fell ill to these toxins, experiencing a range of symptoms such as confusion, hallucinations, and impaired judgment. It was a challenging obstacle in the game that required strategic thinking to overcome."
"Have you received information that the East Lazarus Guild leader was also affected by these toxins?"
"You mean Charlotte Lazarus was also affected by these toxins?"
"But she is perfectly fine now; the last news I heard was that she and the High Strategy guild went on their way to meet up at the Evolve Drake quest."
"You came here in a state of confusion and bewilderment; you were rambling about your past life,"
"Don't worry, these are common side effects. Unlike your cousin, you were more exposed than her as you were seen outside the curse cave by the gatekeeper as you made an error in infiltrating the place that was still unchanneled and unfamiliar to you," "just take a deep breath and focus on the present moment; we will help guide you through this transition period."
"So everything that happened that I presumed to be real might not be true!"
"Sadly, I really can't say. The fact is the gatekeeper took you out of the tower in an unconscious state, and we were informed that you broke a rule surrounding the cursed cave; thus, the gatekeeper was ordered to intervene."
"But honestly, this was the first time the gatekeeper informed us about these matters; most often they usually just toss the player outside the tower gate with brute force and ban them from entering the tower for an entire day."
"So based on these, I assumed you made a mistake inside the forest, as I recall a few players did venture into that place, but it was to appeal to the dark elves living inside the cursed place."
"Doctor Rebeca, why are you sharing this information with me?"
"It's my duty to inform the player about the reason they got removed from the tower. The tower system is strict with the tower's scenario; the freedom to do anything is still honored, but many players venture to uncharted areas seeking to find treasures that no other player has discovered yet. However, some areas are off-limits for a reason, and players must respect those boundaries to avoid consequences like being removed from the tower."
"You are not the first to do this; many players who have prior knowledge of the first floor try to exploit the scenario with the help of high-grade artifacts."
"Even your cousins made these errors before, as they wanted to be the first to enter the second floor."
"I know that the old gods that copied this tower from the virtual game Nexus created hold so many hidden dangers that players must be cautious of."
"It is crucial to remember that the tower was designed to challenge and test the skills of those who enter, so cheating or breaking the rules will not go unnoticed."
Dane nodded and agreed with Doctor Rebeca. He asked her what makes the tower different from the virtual game. Doctor Rebeca smiled and told him she was also one of the first to set foot into the tower alongside the Lazarus Corp, Nexus, Dynamicro, Armeth Tech, Helmars, and Braxus Inc. And Amber Corp, she was the head medical representative of the United Nations at that time. Doctor Rebeca was a little confused about the face; this information was well known to all players. She asked Dane where he was when the tower manifested in the word five years ago.
"Huh, five years ago? Wait, was I in a comatose state for five years, not one year?"
"Young man, the tower manifested in 2099; it's already 3004.
I was just starting my medical career then," she replied, "I never imagined I would be standing here now, treating players who have been injured inside." Doctor Rebeca's eyes held a mixture of nostalgia and determination as she recalled the events of that fateful day. While she continued to share details of what happened in the past thinking, Dane didn't know what had happened in the last five years, and he was really oblivious of what had happened in 2099 and the comatose state that followed, which he assumed wasn't true, even though she kept sharing details of what had happened in the past. Since he believed he had been in a coma for only a year, he never bothered to check. As soon as he opened his eyes and regained consciousness, he was already preoccupied with the incident in which his older cousin Emmet visited his old, abandoned parents' home, fearing that a stranger may be lurking inside.
had been in for five years. He listened intently, absorbing every word she said with a sense of disbelief and confusion. The realization slowly dawned on him that he had actually been in a coma for five years, not just one, and his cousin Emmet's visit to the abandoned home was something he never expected to happen, but now recalling the events, his cousin looked too old, as he was just five years older than him. Emmet should be 58, but he looked much older as he recalled.
"What's your relationship with the elder Lazarus, mainly Emmitt, Addison, and Elijah Lazarus?"
"Huh! Ah... They are my uncle and aunt!"
"I knew it; you look facially similar to Charlotte and Sebastian Lazarus."
" but your personality is much refined, and discreet,"
"The Lazarus lineage has a strong survival drive by nature. and they are know to be rough around the edges but never sway from being a honorable person, they are now to never back down from a fight and they always repay three time to those whom they own gratitude, and inflict ten times the suffering to those who dare harm their clan."
"Anyway, my responsibility is to make sure that gamers receive medical assistance both inside and outside the tower. Your clan has been visiting this clinic before they were even allowed to enter the tower."
"Well, Doctor, may I inquire if you have a clinic branch located within the tower?"
"Indeed, we do have a little medical center on site, and your uncle is our staunchest ally. Visit the several medical facilities on the first floor if you experience any medical issues."
"We have a team of highly skilled doctors and nurses with awakened abilities who are dedicated to providing top-notch medical care to all players. Your uncle has been instrumental in helping us set up the clinic inside the tower, so you can rest assured that you will receive the best possible treatment if needed.
"Anyway, based on what you mention, you were in a coma, and after waking up, you assumed you only slept for a year?"
"Yes, is that even possible?"
"Actually, yes, it is. Your brain will produce mental and psychological barriers to prevent your mind from collapsing from knowing these kinds of extreme information. It's a defense mechanism, a way of protecting itself when faced with something too overwhelming to process all at once."
"It's a survival mechanism that helps you cope with traumatic events. Your brain may have created a false memory to shield you from the reality of being in a coma for an extended period of time."
"This false memory could have been created to soften the impact of the experience and make it easier for you to come to terms with what happened. It's a way for your mind to protect itself and maintain your mental well-being."
"By creating a false memory, your brain is essentially trying to shield you from the emotional distress that may come with recalling such a traumatic event. It is a natural response to protect your mental health and allow you to move forward in a healthier way."
"Waking up from a coma can be a disorienting and overwhelming experience. Often, individuals report a feeling of disconnect from their present reality, a sense of losing mental control as they navigate a world that may seem unfamiliar or distorted."
"This disorientation can be attributed to the brain's recovery process and the re-establishment of neural connections. It's important to remember that even in a comatose state, a patient's awareness isn't entirely extinguished."
"Evidence suggests that unconscious sensory perception, particularly hearing, can still register information from the environment. This means that voices, sounds, and conversations, even if not consciously processed, might subtly influence the patient's subconscious and, potentially, their recovery journey."
Based on this information, I assumed you felt something was off when you woke up and tried desperately to understand what was missing. The disorientation of emerging from a comatose state must have been profound, a stark contrast between the nothingness and the sudden return to consciousness. This "off" feeling likely stemmed from a deep-seated awareness of the life you'd been absent from, a phantom limb of experiences and connections severed by your unconsciousness.
But the overwhelming force and emotion that intensely consumed your body the moment you woke from your comatose slumber seemed to eclipse the initial confusion. This surge of feeling, whatever its specific nature, propelled you beyond simply identifying what was amiss. Instead, it ignited a powerful desire to move forward, to actively pursue and gain what you felt was missing—a potent understanding that your life, even before the coma, had been incomplete and that awakening presented an opportunity to finally fill that void.
The medical field, when it comes to psychological wellness, has made significant advancements in understanding the impact of trauma on the brain and emotions. "Do you know why I am saying this to you, young Dane Lazarus? It's because the moment I came in to oversee your condition, you were talking in your sleep."
"Huh, what do you mean by that, Doctor?"
"Don't worry, it's your subconscious mind that was making you talk while you were sleeping. As a doctor, to keep all patients' information confidential, I won't disclose what you said. But it seems like there are some unresolved issues that your mind is trying to process."
"I see, thank you for letting me know, Doctor. I appreciate your discretion and understanding."
"I'm here to help you work through any issues you may be facing, Dane. If you ever want to talk about what's been on your mind, I'm always available to listen." "Remember, it's okay to seek help and talk about your feelings. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health."
"When the tower came to be, everything in this reality has been turned upside down. The darkness inside a human heart has started to consume everything in its path. It's important to remember that seeking help and talking about your feelings can bring light to even the darkest of places."
"Don't be afraid to reach out for support and guidance during these challenging times, Dane. You are not alone in this journey."
"My skill is related to the mind and healing, many neglect the minds and focus solely on physical health. However now the world has opened up the supernatural world, many unknowns forces can infiltrate your mind and destroy you."
"Even the most powerful warriors and great beings crumble when their minds get compromised. I have seen powerful kings and warlords inside the tower that has the capacity to destroy an entire city reduced to mere shells of their former selves due to mental manipulation and corruption."
"I can feel that you have a strong mind, but somehow you forcibly withheld this, fearing that the real you would come out differently. "Embracing your true self and facing your fears head-on can help strengthen your mental resilience against external forces. Don't be afraid to explore the depths of your mind and unleash your full potential."
While Doctor Rebeca and Dane were talking, a nurse came in with a document regarding Dane's medical history. She informed them that Dane's medical records were missing a few years of crucial information, which could potentially shed light on the root cause of his mental manipulation and corruption, and the nurse mentioned the 23-year-old player had no prior history. As if he never existed at all, the nurse suggested conducting further tests and investigations to fill in the missing gaps in Dane's medical history for a more comprehensive understanding of his condition.
Doctor Rebeca took the documents and uttered a few sentences.
"Nurse Alice, do you remember what we both witnessed when the patient was sleeping?"
"yes I did doctor! I was something beyond…"
"Hush! It was a very unusual experience, but we must remain objective in our assessment," Doctor Rebeca replied, preparing to review the test results and with a low tone mentioning his past is no longer that important, that fact he is a Lazarus."
"There is a huge chance that his family took extra precaution in hiding this young man's history, like what they did to the rest of their clan members."
"As I said, I am also a player, but I am retired from hunting. I am now interested in the medical condition of those affected by the tower."
"I have helped any players overcome their pain and trauma."
"I don't mind, Doctor, but I want to know why you are doing this."
Doctor Rebeca explained that her personal experience as a former player and her background in medicine motivated her to assist others in healing from the tower's effects. She reassured them that her primary goal was to support Dane and others in their journey towards recovery and well-being.
"Nurse Alice here is a level 30 healer; she was the one that healed your wounds and fractures. She will be on standby while I enter your mind and help you navigate through the emotional and psychological challenges that may arise during this process."
"You are in good hands, Dane. We are here to support you every step of the way."
Doctor Rebeca entered Dan's mind and assumed he was like any other player with the same trauma after awakening their powers when the tower came to be. Many minds manifested different mental representations of their minds, some a garden, a room, or a familiar location that resonated with their personality and subconscious mind..
But as soon as Doctor Rebecca entered Dane's mind, it was dark and only had an office table, a chair, and a single laptop placed on top of the table. The light illuminating the screen was the only source of light. As she walked toward the table, she saw multiple pictures of his family and close relatives, representing his deep connection to his loved ones. The stark contrast between the darkness of the room and the brightness of the screen symbolized Dane's internal struggle between isolation and connection, highlighting the complexity of his emotions and relationships.
Doctor Rebeca sat on the chair and touched the laptop keyboard and pressed the enter key.
This is were things started to change the pitch darkness suddenly illuminated with dozen of holographic monitors showcasing all his memories in random orders , she notice that Dane wasnt actually a new registered name the memories of the past that was being shown were not his own, but rather implanted memories from a previous life.
revealing layers upon layers of suppressed emotions hidden beneath a veneer known as Dane. This was no ordinary case; it was a profound exploration into identity itself. As she decrypted the codes embedded within his neural architecture, fragments began to coalesce: a mother's love replaced by an artificial companion named Miko and a father's shadow embodied in an ethereal figure lurking just beyond reach.
"Who might you be?" Rebeca asked cautiously, turning to Miko, a humanoid construct designed to fulfill Dane's emotional needs.
"Greetings," replied Miko in a soothing tone that felt both comforting and disconcerting.
"I was created to facilitate all Master Dane's needs and assist in maintaining his current status."
"So you were created to fill in for his mother,"
Rebeca mused aloud.
"And I will assume," Miko continued smoothly, "the man beside you is the subconscious representation of his father."
"You are correct; we were created based on all the available information our creator had on his parents. We are here to provide support and companionship to Master Dane in his time of need." Rebeca nodded, impressed by the level of detail put into Miko and his companion. It was clear that they were designed to be more than just artificial intelligence.
"And what about him?"
As if on cue, another figure emerged from the swirling darkness behind them, a being formed from moving dark smoldering smoke with embers burning brightly within its ever-twisting form. The air thickened with tension as Rebeca instinctively stepped back but held her ground when she recognized Damon Lazarus himself standing before her—the embodiment of unresolved pain and turmoil.
"Hello, Damon Lazarus," she greeted him steadily. "I assumed it was you—you are the other half of this young man's mind."
"I am him," he replied gravely, voice resonating like distant thunder. "And he is me." His smoky visage shifted as though wrestling with internal conflict. "I sealed our pain and sadness away; I thought it would protect us both."
Rebeca felt a surge of empathy for the tortured soul standing before her, understanding the weight of his burden. She knew that in order to help him find peace, she would need to unravel the darkness that had consumed him for so long.
"But now?" she prodded gently.
"I was wrong." Damon's fiery eyes flickered like dying stars amidst an endless night sky. "Now I must open those emotions again...but doing so comes at a price."
Rebeca could sense the hesitation in his voice, the fear of facing what he had buried deep within himself. She knew that helping him navigate through his past would be a difficult journey, but she was determined to stand by his side every step of the way.
He gestured toward their surroundings, the lab fading slightly around them—as if reality itself trembled at their confrontation.
"You are the darkness and swirling anger that resides within him. You are the manifestation of his inner turmoil and pain."
Rebeca realized then how intertwined their fates were; they existed not merely side by side but woven together through shared experiences, grief personified by Damon yet concealed behind Dane's façade.
"You are a skilled doctor indeed. I am him, and he is me. I will never do anything that will ruin our chance to gain happiness. That is why I sealed all our pain and sadness, but I was a mistake. That is why I am opening those emotions again."
"You are fading," Rebeca observed quietly yet firmly.
"You must confront your pain and embrace it, not hide from it," she urged, her voice filled with compassion. "Only then can you truly heal and find the happiness you seek." As Rebeca spoke, she saw a glimmer of understanding in Dane's eyes, a flicker of hope that perhaps he could find peace by acknowledging his past instead of burying it.
"Indeed," he admitted solemnly. "After this transformation, my essence will merge with his entirely; he will change based on our previous emotions…be wary of what that entails."
The weightiness hung between them like heavy fog; it seeped into Rebeca's bones as curiosity morphed into dread at what lay ahead for Dane and indeed for herself too, as knowledge could be both curse and blessing.
"What does this mean for him?" Her voice wavered slightly under pressure from unseen forces threatening to unravel everything she knew about human consciousness and identity manipulation.
"Damon Lazarus was raised to be a hunter to seek absolute freedom above all else," came Damon's husky reply filled with shadows from another time, an echo reverberating through centuries lost to memory banks now only accessible via technology bordering on sorcery itself."
"With this metamorphosis unleashed upon us all, deep-seated primal instincts will awaken alongside unbridled creativity… once-foreseen paths may yield untold wonders or catastrophic failures."
She absorbed these words deeply; they cut through layers of rationality until raw vulnerability bled forth again, a reminder that every decision had unintended consequences, even in the face of progress that promised salvation where none should have been preserved!
"And what do we do now?"
She questioned softly yet urgently, looking straight into those fiery depths, seeking clarity amid chaos swirling about them, still spinning endlessly across horizons uncharted…
"You have to clarify everything before my presence completely disappears; my hunger is still unsatisfied, and I'm still in need of strength!"
"He issued stern warnings while struggling against unfathomable forces and making a valiant effort to not only survive but also flourish amidst the new reality."
As Doctor Rebecca slowly emerged from the depths of her subconscious, she opened her eyes to find herself face to face with Dane. The dim light of the room cast shadows on his features, but there was something unsettlingly familiar about the intensity of his gaze. It was then that the fragments of her memories began to piece together, and she realized the truth.
The second persona lingering in the shadows of his mind was not a stranger, nor a figment of imagination; it was his older self, Damon Lazarus. Damon had been protecting his younger self all along, shielding Dane from the crushing weight of their shared past.
He had carried the burden of their parents' death alone, ensuring that Dane would not be chained to the pain of those dark memories. As Rebecca grasped the complexity of their bond, she felt a mix of awe and sorrow. Damon's love and sacrifice were profound, but so was the weight he bore in silence.
Doctor Rebeca smiled and just told Dane everything would be fine; she had seen what the darkness inside was, and she mentioned it with a low tone.
"The darkness wanted to thank you for accepting your old self,"
Dane understood this as he knew well that darkness was him and accepted his request to unseal all his true emotions and merge as one. The doctor stood up and told Dane he needed to rest another day before venturing back to the tower and finally entering as a whole person. He smiled and thanked the doctor as she walked casually and ordered Nurse Alice to provide Dane all the needed care and attention during his recovery. Dane felt a sense of relief knowing that he was on the right path to self-acceptance and healing.
As soon as Doctor Rebeca was out of the patient room, she took out a new communication device that could call from the tower content outside as the person from the other side picked up her call, she mentioned.
"Hello, the young Lazarus is perfectly fine. Rest assured, your assumption was indeed correct; Dane has his reasons for not telling you."
"Have you confirmed it??"
"Yes, the young Dane is indeed Damon Lazarus. So what's your next plan, Emmit? ?"
"Let him be. I am just happy he is back with us."
"and thank you for accepting my request."
"Emmit Lazarus, I have known you for many years. You always follow your gut instinct, and your hunch was correct."
"Believe me, Emmitt, your cousin Damon will shake the tower and eventually trample those fools that manipulated and toyed with our lives."