Door!!! Open!!! Ah!!!
Cramming Jelly into my body, I stumbled and finally reached the door, desperately turning the handle with a couple of jerks to fling it open.
The stubborn handle flew open with a metallic “clank!” far more easily than I’d expected.
Yet, even with the door open, an ominous feeling lingered.
I worried—what if whatever escaped here had swapped ‘existence’ with me? That meant the thing that slipped out would have to come back on its own accord for me to be able to leave.
…Still, the open door was something to be positive about, wasn’t it?
If it couldn’t be crossed through, it wouldn’t have opened at all, right?
Yeah.
With Jelly trembling gently in my grasp, I took a cautious step inside the opened door.
What would happen next?
Will I be able to pass through?
Or will I be blocked?
Perhaps, I need to shout out some kind of barrier-breaking spell?
Oh, I can’t talk.
While pondering these sorts of thoughts, I shut my eyes tightly, only to feel something had changed around me, prompting me to reopen them. Beyond the threshold, I caught sight of my own body lying on the other side.
Contrary to all my concerns…
…watching my body glide across so effortlessly made me feel rather awkward. All that fuss had led to such an anticlimactic conclusion.
Not that I’d secretly hoped to remain trapped or anything, but this sense of insignificance—how should I express it?
No, this wasn’t the time for such thoughts.
As I quickly shook off these pointless musings, I realized the certainty of what it meant—something had come through the door into here because I’d opened it. Resolving to tie up loose ends myself, I followed the指引 of the pouch of knowledge, which was now pointed upwards idiotically—no, wisely.
Of course, I didn’t forget to carefully close the still-open door behind me. There was still a possibility that something undetected by the pouch of knowledge remained behind.
With the door firmly shut with a “bang!” I moved past the corridor where it had been and stepped outside.
There appeared a green-flashing stair landing, yet it remained dimly lit. Visible were stairs ascending upwards and descending downwards.
I had assumed that this was the final floor where I’d landed, but clearly it was just my impatience to return speaking.
Where exactly does this damned staircase lead to?
As far as I know, human technology is incapable of drilling so deep.
Ah, right now I’m inside the Singularity.
So, let this staircase go wherever it wants; I don’t care.
With something more pressing on my mind, I hastily ascended the staircase.
As I started climbing, I noticed some black and sticky substances scattered along the steps.
Most of these traces were found on the landings—corners, really—suggesting they weren’t intentionally left behind. They seemed to appear when speed had been lessened.
With these marks plastered almost everywhere, whatever it was that left them appeared to be fairly large in size.
After deducing this with my sharp intellect, I felt Jelly tense up beside me.
Sure, based on my previous experience, size isn’t necessarily a key factor in conflicts within the Singularities.
I’ve eliminated beings far larger than myself and have been fleeing here, so I know this to be true.
…Then again, maybe I’m just that incredible?
Anyhow…
Though I understood there was no need to be afraid, the immense pressure emanating from such a large mass wasn’t something I could shake off easily.
Especially since my last memory involved being crushed by such masses.
Even if I now possess those masses, most of them were left at the House, rendering it meaningless.
…Speaking of which, the way I phrase it makes it sound like I have gained weight.
As I entertained this idle thought while ascending, how much time had passed?
A commotion above my head startled me.
It wasn’t the roar of a monster but rather sounded like the voices of humans.
Some seemed to be shouting, while others wailed mixed in with the noise.
There were also some sounds in what might—or rather, might not—be considered a language.
They were akin to meaningless screams devoid of any actual meaning.
As this sense of unease grew, I realized this noise didn’t come from people outside but something else.
Not long after recognizing this,
A something dark that I presumed had evaded me before reappeared, filling my vision to such an extent that it could only be described as massive.
Though it was dark and difficult to see, simply staring at it gave a gnawing discomfort.
I, who felt relatively immune to most things,
Still couldn’t help but feel nauseous looking at that vaguely humanoid-like shape that squirmed as if made entirely of coagulated human forms.
After all, I too was originally human.
…What on earth is this?
Although I couldn’t tell what exactly it was,
As it approached closer, distinct human voices emerged. Apparently, this thing had caused distress wherever it went.
Even I would be startled if something like this suddenly appeared.
So now.
…What should I do about it?
“Damn it… I trusted it.”
“We, we survived!”
BAM! BAM!
When the lock mechanism began to open, the agents observing it from the outside were plunged into panic, convinced they were about to die.
How many could maintain their composure as the sturdy lock slowly creaked open revealing something dark glaring at them through the widening gap?
Of course, exceptions always existed, but they weren’t among those exceptions.
BAM! Splash!
What pushed them into further panic was the sound of the lock being smashed and the black liquid that soaked their bodies.
From the crack that had widened, oozing out came the dark liquid, instilling a chilling fear in those who had somehow managed to raise their weapons.
“Save me!!!”
“I need to get out of here! Ah, it’s no use!”
“What the hell is this thing!”
A fitting description of a motley crew. Amidst their flailing and panic over the weapons and black liquid covering their bodies, one of them accidentally dropped a flashlight from their belt.
Click!
The flashlight on the floor flicked on at full brightness, creating a piercing light that had everyone squinting.
Then that light hit the something trying to squeeze through the gap, causing it to retreat like a cockroach caught in the light.
This eerie sight nonetheless filled those watching with a glimmer of hope akin to being lifted from hell into heaven.
Would salvation feel this way?
Seizing the moment, trembling hands scrambled for their flashlights from their belts.
“With this, we might…”
“Yes, yes, this is great!”
“H-H-Huff… Huff… Huff…”
In time, catching their breath, they cast the flashlight beams through the gap.
Creak, creak!
In response, an irritated noise came from beyond the lock, followed by the rustling of something shifting.
It was like the sound of an elusive cockroach caught in a dark room.
For the moment, they were safe, but uneasiness lingered.
They presumed the unpleasant sound was the cause.
After all, finding a cockroach when waking up would naturally unsettle anyone.
Straining to think this way, they realized the origin of the discomfort and unease they felt.
Kreek… krek.
After retreating for a short while, as if needing time to adjust, whatever it was began pressing against the widening crack once again.
“Goddamn it, this is cheating! It wasn’t supposed to be a weakness!”
Perhaps rightfully indignant, but there seemed to be no sign of the thing caring for their frustration.
The agents, nonetheless, were still frustrated.
Even if the creature was some incomprehensible entity, the people who had herded them here by closing the Partition still seemed unfazed, likely considering their sacrifice “necessary” to gather information from above.
“Motherfucker!”
Eventually, one, overwhelmed by anger, fired their gun repeatedly. Sparks flew as countless bullets were fired at the lock—the thing hiding behind it.
Even though they should ideally have waited for it to expose itself further, it was too late for such logic for those overwhelmed by despair, anger, and panic.
In time, others joined in the barrage, their weapons firing.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The bullets left smoky black marks on the lock and, with some luck, pierced through the crack into the thing’s body.
BEEEE-YOOT!
Seeing the black liquid spray out, they were emboldened and emptied all their rounds into the creature.
Come on, if we’re going to die, let’s go down fighting.
And who knows?
Maybe those bullets would be the ones to fell this thing.
Please, please, please…
Bullets imbued with their hopes flew thick and fast.
However,
Being mere humans, it seemed their hope was just that—hope. When they exhausted every bullet, something slithered out from the torn remains of the gap, glistening black.
Realizing it was reaching for them, the agents clenched their lips, sensing their impending deaths.
They fumbled for their knives at their waists in a last-ditch effort to survive, though it felt futile, like trying to pee while standing on a burning foot.
As they flailed in their hopeless attempt at survival,
POOF!!!
A sound akin to slicing through flesh came from the creature.
At the same time, its movement abruptly ceased, and the agents, in a state of stunned silence, stared at the now still mass.
Through the black clump, something piercingly blue burst forth.
It sharply pierced through the blackness and withdrew with a satisfying crunch.
At the same time,
A scuffle broke out from beyond the lock.
The agents swallowed hard, debating in their heads.
Could the new something that now resided in there…
…be here to save them?
Or was it…
…only here to compete for prey?
Without the courage to confirm, they could only pray silently and edge backwards.
