I left the memory node behind—but it didn't leave me.
Even after I climbed the spiral staircase and stepped into the ashen light of the forest ruins once more, I could feel it.
The well's hunger.
Like a thread still looped through my soul. Taut. Unbroken.
But it wasn't pulling me down.
It was waiting.
Watching.
I stumbled through the ruined arches until the sky opened above me again. The sun—or whatever this world called sunlight—hung like a dying eye behind smog-thick clouds. I could barely feel its warmth.
My body was shaking from the strain. Not physically. Soul-deep.
'What the hell did I just link myself to?'
The sigil wasn't just a symbol—it was a door. Or worse, a brand. Something that marked me. Connected me.
The System hadn't warned me enough.
But it had changed me.
[Fragment Memory Lv. 2 – Rank B]Passive Effect: Soul Anchoring. Isaac's mind is more resilient to memory corruption.Memory clarity increased. Chance to inherit passive traits now possible (10%).
The idea of inheriting personalities or instincts from echoes was horrifying. But it was power.
And right now, power was the only thing keeping me out of the grave—for good.
I pressed deeper into the forest.
Not because I wanted to. But because the path behind me no longer existed.
Literally.
When I turned to retrace my steps, the ruins were gone. Not crumbled. Not hidden.
Just… gone.
Replaced by new trees. Fresh moss. As if they'd never existed.
"Great," I muttered. "The forest's alive. And I'm the ant it's playing with."
I kept walking.
It wasn't long before I heard voices.
Not loud.
But real.
Whispers carried on the wind. Not the voice of the system. Not the ghosts of memories.
Human voices.
I crouched, hiding behind a ridge of gnarled roots. Through a gap, I saw them:
Three figures, clothed in scavenged armor and mismatched robes. One carried a rusted halberd. Another had a crude wand wrapped in red string. The third wore a blindfold and whispered into a bone charm.
[System Notice: New Entities Detected – Human (Cursed-Bound)]Alignment: MixedThreat: VariableMental State: UnstableCaution advised.
Humans.
But… broken.
One of them laughed suddenly, high and ragged, then slapped himself across the face. The one with the wand hissed and struck his staff into the ground.
A black glyph appeared beneath them.
[Skill Detected: Ritual of Echo Binding – Incomplete Pattern]Target: Soul-Anchored Entity (You)
I froze.
"They're tracking me," I whispered.
The blindfolded one raised his head—and looked directly at where I crouched.
Even with the blindfold, I felt the gaze pierce through me.
"Found you."
They attacked.
I moved before I could think.
Instinct. Panic. Training I never had.
I activated [Sigil Brand Lv. 1 – Rank C], and the red glyph flared on the halberd wielder's chest.
I struck.
Clawing Swipe.
The force of the blow sent him sprawling into a stone pillar, cracking it.
The second hurled a firebolt—sloppy but fast.
I dodged left, barely avoiding the impact.
The blindfolded one didn't move.
Instead, he sang.
A whisper-chant in a language older than the trees.
I felt it burrow into my ears.
[Warning: Mental Intrusion Detected – Fear Hex: Madness Branch]Resistance check in progress…Success.Passive Activated: [Trace of Resolve] – 5% Resistance BonusEffect Negated.
I lunged at him.
Too late.
He vanished into smoke.
The others followed—collapsing into shadow and fleeing.
I was left alone, chest heaving.
Blood on my knuckles.
And a symbol etched into the dirt.
The spiral. Again.
But this time, it was twisted. Backward. Sharpened at the ends like a blade.
A warning?
Or a message?
[Echo Gained: Fragmented Human – Cursed-Bound]Partial Skill Trace Acquired: [Hexchant – Broken Verse] (Unusable)Memory Clarity: Low (Blocked)
[EXP Gained: +44][Agility +1][Clawing Swipe → Lv. 2– Rank D]Cooldown reduced to 7 seconds. Damage scaling improved.
Updated StatusHP: 42 / 110MP: 18 / 55Strength: 8Agility: 5 (+1)Endurance: 5Intelligence: 6Willpower: 6Charisma: 1Luck: ???
Recent Gains:+1 AGI (via Soul Echo)[Clawing Swipe → Lv. 2– Rank D] (Cooldown -1s, Damage scaling improved)
I didn't know who those people were.
But they weren't just wandering madmen.
They were following the same threads I was. Echoes. Spirals. Memories.
And they wanted me.
Not dead.
Claimed.
Which meant…
Someone else out there already owned this spiral.
And they were going to be very angry that I touched it first.