Codex Null: Simulation Through Madness

[Elsa gave no comment on that. She merely let her gaze sweep over Hilda and Elysia at your side, her eyes lingering for a heartbeat longer on each of them before she finally turned away. Without another word, she left.]

[You returned to waiting, silent and patient, until the dimension finally stabilized. The moment it did, conflict erupted. A fierce clash broke out between you and the Ravelli group — and because Elsa had apparently called in reinforcements, you quickly found yourself at a disadvantage.]

[That disadvantage didn't last long. Serah, without a shred of hesitation, contacted one of the powerful elders of the Hollow Sun Sect. The elder's arrival turned the tide instantly. The Ravelli forces were overwhelmed and crushed so thoroughly that resistance became meaningless.]

[Once the way was clear, you stepped into the Inheritance Dimension. Inside, you obtained two precious drops of blood and the complete Blood Scripture before making your way back out.]

[You left the dimension in the hands of the Hollow Sun Sect members to handle, then departed for the United States.]

'So, the right answer really wasn't the peaceful route,' Noel mused with a nod.

In his mind, the decisive way he had dealt with the Ravelli family this time felt far more appropriate than the previous time.

[You resumed your training in the Blood Scripture, your progress noticeably accelerating after consuming one of the two blood drops. Yet just as you were settling back into the rhythm of training, Selena appeared — cheerful, almost glowing — and shared the latest news.]

[The Ravelli family, she explained, had gathered every force dissatisfied with the Hollow Sun Sect, and a war was currently going on.]

Or… maybe not?

[You didn't dwell on it for long — you'd already secured what you wanted from the inheritance. Still, thinking of Serah, you decided to check in on her. When you asked about her situation, she only laughed lightly and said, "We wouldn't be one of the four major factions if something like this could shake us."]

[One month later, your relationship with Lilith showed no sign of strain — if anything, it had deepened. Selena too, though clearly dissatisfied, eventually compromised and accepted the current state of affairs, and you finally crossed the final line with her.]

[When Lilith discovered this, she seemed to lose all sense of composure. The confrontation that followed was sharp and heated, her voice full of unrestrained emotion.]

[Four months passed. You continued your Blood Scripture training, reaching 20% in refining your lungs. Yet your focus wavered. Lilith's condition hadn't improved in the slightest during that time, and the lingering tension between you gnawed at the edges of your concentration.]

Just 20%?

Noel frowned at the number. Even with his supposedly accelerated pace, the progress felt painfully slow. At this rate, he would need over ten simulations just to reach the third stage — unless he found a way to either extend his survival or push his refining speed even further.

[Then, one day, Lilith appeared without warning — completely naked. Her eyes locked onto yours with a mix of defiance and desperation as she stepped forward. "If I can't be the only one," she said, voice low but trembling, "then at least sleep with me too."]

[You naturally understood what she was asking for, and in the end, you didn't refuse. Yet instead of touching her that night, you simply wrapped your arms around her, holding her close until sleep claimed you both. She was still dissatisfied when morning came — but her mood, though only slightly, seemed lighter.]

[Another four months passed. Despite the tangled web of relationships around you, the tension eventually eased. Everyone had turned their attention toward preparing for the moment when your soul would finally be completely healed.]

[23 years old, your lung refinement had reached 40%. But as you sensed your soul nearing full restoration, you decided to pause your progress in the Blood Refinement Path and focus entirely on the matter ahead.]

[You moved into the special dimension prepared by Lilith and Selena — a place that Serah had also contributed to before her recent absence.]

[It now looked almost unrecognizable from when you'd first seen it, everything far better for the coming ritual. Walking to the center, you sat down, crossed your legs, and closed your eyes, settling into meditation as you waited for the moment to arrive.]

[Everyone was present — Selena, Lilith, Hilda, Elysia, and the gathered witches who would lend their aid — everyone except Serah, who had left abruptly due to urgent business.]

[Two weeks later, your soul stood only inches from complete recovery. And a strange realization dawned on you then: you had grown too attached to Serah.]

[Surrounded by so many, you found yourself wishing she was here as well.]

[And then, as if answering your unspoken thought, a familiar voice rang out — "I'm here!" The words were bright with laughter and excitement as Serah strode into the dimension, her presence instantly shifting the atmosphere.]

[She came to stand before you, her movements brimming with confidence, and in her hands was a crystal reminiscent of the Crystal Soul.]

[At least, that was how it appeared at first glance. But as your eyes settled on it, and as you felt the mysterious, almost ancient aura radiating from it, you could acutely sense that this was something entirely different.]

[Your soul, despite already being at the Refined rank, seemed to strengthen just from the crystal's mere proximity. And in that moment, you truly understood the priceless nature of the object she carried.]

["This is my gift for you," she said, her voice low but warm. And after speaking, Serah leaned forward, her lips capturing yours in a long, lingering kiss before she finally pulled away, almost skipping as she made her way toward the still-stunned Elysia.]

[Even with the tangle of complicated feelings within you, a faint smile still naturally appeared on your face.]

[And you did not hesitate — using your senses, you guided the crystal into your Soul Zone.]

[And within your soul, which had been mere minutes away from healing, earth-shattering changes began to unfold immediately.]