Coast of Truth: The Evil Beyond Lies

I had barely a moment to process what had happened. An arrow whizzed through the air, grazing my cheek. The sting was sharp, the line of blood it left warm against the cool wind.

If I hadn't dodged on pure reflex, that arrow would've taken an eye.

"So, here you are!"

The voice cut through the tension like a blade, and my head snapped toward the source. Emerging from the dense underbrush was a group of over twenty students. Their movements were unnaturally synchronized, their eyes blank and lifeless.

At their head stood the girl I'd been avoiding for three days—the one who controlled her classmates like puppets.

Her light pink hair shimmered faintly under the fading sunlight, a stark contrast to her dark brown eyes that seemed to burn with a strange intensity. She didn't need a crown to look like a queen; her very presence commanded attention.

And trouble.

She was the last person I wanted to run into.

"The squirrel who's presence I've been sensing…" she said, her lips curling into a cold smile. "But who kept slipping away every time."

Her gaze locked onto mine, sharp and unrelenting.

'Heck, it had to be this crazy girl,' I thought, my body tensing as I tried to suppress the panic rising in my chest.

Before I could respond—or even think of a plan—a sudden, searing pain exploded in my head. It felt like a hammer smashing against my skull, over and over again. My vision blurred, and I staggered, clutching my temples.

[ Host is being affected by technique: Psychic Pulse ]

The mechanical voice echoed in my mind, distant but clear.

[ Condition has been met. ]

[ Analyzing… ]

[ Success. ]

[ Displaying detailed status. ]

| Status |

Name: Sybil Etius

Age: 16

Class: Luminaris [State: Partial Awakened]

Sub-class: Mindbender

Grade: Pawn

Rank: D

Combat Power: D+

Strength: E

Endurance: E

Agility: E

Intelligence: C

Mana: B

Luck: C

Titles: Princess of Etius, Genius Allrounder, Bloody Witch

Skills:

Class Skills:

-Radiant Mind (Passive) [Grade: Bishop]

-Luminous Grip [Grade: Bishop]

-Blinding Radiance [Grade: Pawn]

-Lightwave Push [Grade: Pawn]

-Healing Glow [LOCKED]

-Prism Shield [LOCKED]

-Solar Lance [LOCKED]

-Celestial Levitation [LOCKED]

Sub-class Skills:

-Psychic Grip [Grade: Bishop]

-Confusion Wave [Grade: Bishop]

-Thoughtsteal [Grade: Pawn]

-Fear Surge [Grade: Bishop]

-Mind Puppeteer [Grade: Bishop]

-Mental Shield [LOCKED]

-Brainshock [LOCKED]

-Collective Focus [LOCKED]

Technique:

-Psychic Pulse [Grade: Pawn]

___

Skill: Psychic Pulse

Grade: Pawn

Category: Offensive

Description: Sends out a wave of mental energy that disrupts enemies' thoughts, dealing damage and reducing their focus.

Cooldown: Short

Effect: Deals moderate psychic damage and reduces enemy accuracy.

___

The analysis flashed through my mind in an instant, but it didn't help with the pounding in my skull. My balance faltered, and I fell to my knees like a sack of rocks.

Pain of my body crashing onto the ground diminished the spell's effect, as rolled over to create distance I was stopped by a hammer that striked my head from behind.

Blood flowed down from my head, into my left eye making everything look reddish.

A shadow fell over me. I looked up to see her standing there, a cruel smile playing on her lips. Her controlled students formed a semicircle around us, standing at attention like soldiers.

"Finally," she said, her voice low but filled with satisfaction. "The one who's been hiding like a coward finally shows himself."

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to meet her gaze. "Who… are you?" I managed, my voice strained.

She tilted her head, amused by my question. "You don't know me?" Her smile widened, her eyes gleaming with amusement—and something darker. "Then let me introduce myself."

She turned, walking toward a grotesque throne formed entirely of her controlled students. One bent over, serving as the seat. Another stood behind, arms raised to form a canopy of branches overhead. Two knelt on either side, their heads bowed, hands resting on the 'throne's' base like loyal attendants.

Sybil sat down gracefully, crossing her legs. "I'm Sybil Etius," she said, resting her chin on her hand. "And you… You're just another pawn in my little game."

Her words sent a chill down my spine, but I refused to back down. I clenched my fists, glaring at her. "I'm not playing your game."

Her smile faltered, just for a moment, but then it returned—more dangerous than before. "Oh, but you are," she said, leaning forward. "And if you want to survive, you'd better start playing by my rules."

The students around me moved, their grip firm as they dragged me to my feet and forced me to kneel before her.

My mind raced. Sybil Etius. Mindbender. Bloody Witch.

She didn't know me, and I didn't know her. But it didn't matter.

{ why don't you just kill them all? }