Chapter 320: Similar but Not the Same (GT Bonus - )

"Sepulcher Chains!"

From the nonexistent ground of that empty world, dozens of spectral chains shot out and coiled around the enormous beast in front of Mark, immobilizing it completely.

The creature, some kind of six-legged, spike-covered lion, roared and thrashed, but the chains wouldn’t give.

"Withering!"

Mark stretched out his palm, and a sickly purple mist enveloped the beast, corroding it from within, draining its life away drop by drop.

The creature began to weaken, its skin blackening and cracking under the spell’s effect.

But it still wasn’t enough. It was never enough on the first try.

Every one of Mary’s summons had an absurd amount of health and monstrous resistances, which meant he had to keep punishing them again and again before he could finally finish them off.

"Spear of Shadows!"

A javelin of dark energy materialized in his hand, and Mark hurled it with full force, driving it clean through the beast’s skull.

The creature finally convulsed, let out one last choked roar, and collapsed, dissolving into motes of light that rose up and vanished into the darkness.

And then, in front of him, the screen appeared.

[Enemy defeated. Experience gained.]

[You have leveled up to level 77!]

[Progression rewards unlocked:]

[New spell: "Legion of the Tomb" (temporarily summons a high-level army of undead).]

[New spell: "Vital Absorption" (drains the life of all enemies within a twenty-meter radius to restore your own health and that of nearby allies).]

[Inventory item unlocked: "Minor Soul Elixir" x5 (instantly restores mana and vitality).]

[Inventory item unlocked: "Reaper’s Mantle" (increases the potency of dark magic).]

Mark read through the rewards, and while part of him felt genuine satisfaction, another part let out an internal groan.

"Level 77..." he muttered, sighing. "And I’m barely halfway through..."

Wiping out Mary’s summons was no easy job.

Not because of the physical effort, but because of everything it took to stay focused for so long.

Inside that dream world, his spells didn’t cost any mana, and his body didn’t suffer any strain.

But his mind was a different story.

He’d been in there four full days straight, without rest, killing monster after monster in an endless cycle of spells and death.

And for someone like Mark, who had already grown used to a comfortable life back in his palace, that was especially exhausting.

His body could keep going.

His mind, though, was starting to reach its limit.

"You okay, sweetheart?"

Mary’s voice came from behind him.

Mark didn’t even turn around; he’d already gotten used to her appearing and disappearing at will around this place.

"Yeah..." he answered, rolling his shoulders. "Just a bit fried... but nothing a short break won’t fix. Give me a minute to clear my head and I’ll keep going."

"Mmmmmm, I see."

And then, just like she’d done so many times before, Mary came up from behind and wrapped him in a hug.

And, as always, since she was quite a bit taller than him, that ended with Mark’s head pressed right between her breasts.

"You really love doing that, huh?" he remarked, noticing the pattern.

"Doing what?"

"Hugging me like this... I’m starting to think you only do it to remind me you’re slightly taller than me."

Mary let out a little laugh.

"Not my fault you’re so short, sweetheart," she replied, clearly amused.

Mark didn’t rise to the jab.

He stayed quiet for a moment, enjoying, despite himself, that brief instant of calm in the middle of the endless slaughter.

And then, an old question crossed his mind again.

"Hey, Mary, why do you do all this?" he said, settling in against her soft chest. "Not that I’m complaining, but... I don’t get it. What do you get out of it?"

"Well, for starters, I hadn’t hugged anyone in a very long time. Centuries, actually," she answered, pressing their bodies closer together. "So now that I finally have someone to hug, I plan on making the most of it."

"You know full well that’s not what I meant..."

There was a brief silence.

"I know," she admitted, letting out a short sigh.

She rested her chin on top of Mark’s head, and her tone grew softer, stripped of all its usual teasing.

"Honestly, sweetheart, the reason I help you is pretty simple. It’s because you and I are the same."

"..."

She didn’t say much more. She didn’t need to.

In those few words, Mark had understood exactly what she meant. After all, he knew Mary’s past very well.

And in some way, he could see himself in her.

Both of them had been the discarded ones, the extras, the ones nobody ever bothered to look at.

They’d been trampled and ignored by the very people who were supposed to love them, to the point of wondering if they were even worth anything at all.

And they’d died without their absence seeming to matter much to anyone.

Then they’d woken up in this world.

A second chance, sure, but not an easy life.

Both of them had had to start over from the bottom again, surrounded by people who wanted to use them or destroy them before they had the chance to rise.

But they hadn’t broken.

They’d gotten back up once more and kept moving forward.

They were two survivors who had walked paths that were far too similar.

Two people the world had tried to destroy twice, and who, both times, had refused to disappear.

That was why Mary understood him.

And Mark realized, in that moment, that she was perhaps the only person in all of existence who could truly understand him.

"I guess you’re right..." he admitted quietly, after a long silence. "It never occurred to me we had so much in common."

"Took you long enough to notice." Mary pulled him a little closer against her. "We’re a rarity, sweetheart... and rarities like us need to look out for each other."

Her hands, still wrapped around his chest, began moving slowly, caressing him through his clothes.

"Besides, why lie... I think you’re incredibly cute. That counts for something too."

Mark let out a short laugh.

"Well, since we’re being honest, you’re pretty damn sexy yourself," he shot back, bold.

"Oho." Mary laughed, pleased. "Well, thank you for the compliment, sweetheart. I’m flattered."

And then, after a brief silence, her caresses stopped.

Mark felt her lean in slowly, bringing her lips close enough to brush against his ear, and when she spoke again, her voice had changed completely.

No longer playful or warm.

It was low, velvety, charged with unmistakable intent.

"You know, sweetheart?" she whispered against his ear. "I think I just came up with a much more effective way to help you relax."

"Oh yeah? And what’s that?"

"Hehe... I don’t think I need to spell it out for you," she replied, her hands beginning to slide slowly toward his crotch.