'I can't do it.'
Lucien was panicking.
The panic rushed throughout his entire body, but he couldn't scream, not with his chest pressing against the ceiling.
His stomach churned, and his throat went dry.
He felt something acidic climb up his oesophagus; he retched once, but he successfully managed to hold back.
He started beating the ceiling in panic, hoping someone would save him.
But no one did.
He noticed the timer again. Still ticking down.
[13:08]
'I can't. But I have to.'
His phobia was deathly, but one thing that overcame that was his will to survive.
He bit his lips hard.
"I h-ave to." His voice cracked.
"I have to."
He twisted again, faster this time.
His shoulders scraped against the ceiling, his head hitting the other side.
His legs started cramping again, as his knees pushed deeper into his own belly.
The sweating started again, and worse this time.
His shoulders were pinned against his own weight.
He was retching and felt his stomach churning again.
Just as he was halfway through, his head smacked against the wall.
'I'm going to die.'
He lost all his senses to the fear, repeating a singular thing in his mind.
'I'm going to die.'
'I'm going to die.'
He started flailing his legs in panic, trying to find open space once again.
He twitched uncontrollably, his mind was blank, covered with nothing but fear.
He flung, struggled, and finally snapped back.
Back to where he was.
Once again.
Blergh!
He threw up.
He wasn't able to control his retching this time.
His tears came out of his eyes, and his face was ugly with the expressions he was making.
The strongest Exalt, who barely showed any change in facial expressions to others, was crying ugly.
'I don't know anymore.'
'I was so stupid to choose this method to awaken.'
'Did I really think that I was unbeatable?'
'I am a fucking nobody in front of the King.'
'Even in my last life as a peak Titan, an Overlord like the Cythos King could swat me like a fly.'
'Why did I even think I was special?'
'I pulled that stunt thinking I could handle the consequences, but I probably cannot.'
'I'm just a miserable wretch who was thrown into this unknown world.'
'Slaying the Spirit Emperor? Revenge against an Overlord Spirit who crushed my parents like nothing? Bullshit.'
'I cannot even do this. How am I supposed to save the world?'
'I would be lucky if I could save myself.'
Slap!
He slapped himself, his cheeks soaking in his own vomit.
'I am such a fucking trash.'
Slap!
The slap was tighter than before.
'I cannot even overcome a single fear of mine.'
Slap!
'I acted so haughty and know-it-all, but I was nothing but a mere stepping stone here.'
Slap!
'Even in my last life, I was just a spoiled brat who was lucky enough to possess a talent to reach that level.'
Slap!
'The unbeatable? Cyrus killed me so easily.'
His cheeks were red, but the pain wasn't anything compared to the fear and self-loathing he felt.
He covered his face, as if frustrated by everything.
'Heh!' A self-deprecating laugh escaped his mouth.
He didn't even know anymore.
If he couldn't even survive this, how was he supposed to complete any of his plans for the future?
He couldn't afford to think about anyone but himself.
His goals were changing again, and this time, it was a lot selfish than before.
He looked at the ticking clock in front of him.
[06:43]
'I have to.'
Urgh!
The stench of his own vomit was making his nose scrunch.
'I have to.'
'I made my decisions already. I cannot go back. Now I have to do it to survive.'
'The arrow has already been released from the bow, and now, I cannot do anything to stop it.'
'Damn it all.'
He bit his lips hard, making them bleed.
He had to do it, since if he panicked again, it would be over for him.
Sigh!
He turned around.
Legs pushing the walls of the coffin, trying to rotate his body, shoulders scraping on the wall, his chest heaving continuously.
He started the process yet again, and his teeth were digging into his lips.
The panic was rising yet again, and he had to do it fast.
'Fuck! Fuck. Fuck.'
He closed his eyes and started focusing on rotating instead.
His head hit the walls yet again, and he nearly went frenzy yet again.
But this time, he pushed himself.
He had to do it.
He had to do it.
The blood was trickling down his chin, barely keeping his mind from going blank.
'Hurry! Hurry!'
His breathing was erratic as he pushed one last time.
Bam!
Huff! Huff!
He had done it.
But it wasn't over it.
His body was still trembling from the phobia, and the timer was low.
[00:41]
He had to put in those digits fast.
[4-2-9-1-3-7]
Buzz!
[Incorrect digits. 1 try left.]
Slap!
He slapped himself yet again.
'What the fuck am I doing. It was 7-3, not 3-7.
[00:15]
He wiped his tears, raised his trembling fingers yet again, and started pressing the buttons carefully.
[4-2-9-1-7-3]
Click!
Hiss!
Air flooded in.
A blinding light flooded his vision, hurting his eyes.
The grave's cover popped open, and he instantly got out.
He could no longer bear another second inside.
'I am glad nobody saw me like that.' He was embarrassed about the fact that he acted like a kid in there.
He knew that he couldn't help his severe phobia, but it was embarrassing regardless.
His fear had made him impulsive, but also made him realize that he was being too cocky.
It was just a few days ago that he was killed by his brother easily.
His eyes slowly adjusted to the light, and when he opened them, he frowned.
He found himself in yet another setting.
Rows upon rows of people sitting on wooden benches, an old man with a white wig sitting on a high chair on the dais, and two docks on either side of the high chair.
A mirror appeared in front of him with two sentences etched on it.
[Choose the correct option. You only get 1 chance.]
He was in a courtroom.