"You really did calculate every move."
A profound sense of helplessness was eating away at Joey.
How many times had this happened now? Three? Four? Ever since he had come to this world, he seemed to have been constantly on the back foot. Compared to Alisa, he really was a complete and utter failure.
Joey silently condemned the world's unfairness again and again.
He didn't want to be some damned Transcendent. He didn't want to get dragged into this bullshit. Fate seemed to love playing tricks on him, pulling him into one maelstrom after another.
Even the simplest peaceful life was a luxury.
It had been like this in Senegal. Why was it still like this after he left?
At that moment, he desperately craved power-not to oppress or exploit anyone, but merely to live an ordinary life.
He burned through every bit of luck he had stored, all for a sliver of hope that he might survive.
Nome was doing everything he could to suppress his body's mutation.
He gouged out the fin growing from his back and the scales sprouting across his body, tearing away flesh and skin along with them.
Green blood sprayed everywhere, carrying waves of foul stench.
Nome didn't seem to care. He opened his mouth in a cold sneer, revealing white teeth, his eyes brimming with mockery.
"Duke, you think far too highly of yourself."
Nome's belly was swelling at an unnatural rate, and hair sprouted anew from his previously bald head.
Duke's expression of assured victory abruptly froze. His hovering body shot toward Nome.
Just as the two were about to touch, Nome opened his mouth and uttered a single phrase. That alone sent Duke flying backward like a kite with its string cut.
"Ee-ya, ee-ya."
A shrill, piercing infant's cry immediately followed,