This was an impossible situation. Clutching at the sword lying nearby, the only thing left to me in this struggle as Femisto's claws closed in, I exerted my last reserves of strength. In these circumstances, what else could I do?

The mightiest dragon and shaman against me. Was this your desired outcome, system? For your main heroine to perish a torturous death without reaching even half the required level?

Femisto, seemingly ignoring the presence of Gojo Satoru or simply dismissing him, continued to restrain me, driving me deeper into the ground.

"Ah, so this is the dragon you asked about back then in the office?" a detached voice resonated again, seemingly standing quite nearby. He didn't intend to act.

In the end, why bother? There was such a wonderful opportunity to finish me off for good.

This wasn't the noble Gojo Satoru from the manga. Not the guy with a smile and silly jokes who passionately loved his students and was ready to sacrifice his life for them. In my current reality, Gojo Satoru was a grim reaper, like death coming for my soul.

"Human, do you still wish to make a pact with me?"

Yes.

"What will you give me in return?"

My father's words echoed in my head:

— And then the mightiest hero opened a portal and bestowed infinity upon the powerful dragon, sealing it forever.

The mysterious creator of this game, as insane as everyone else, including me. My deceased father, who departed life in an unnatural manner, became my pivotal support. Childhood tales suddenly became vivid reality.

If I spoke what I thought, Femisto would either make a pact with me or attempt to kill me. But I had taken a big step forward; I wasn't going to back down now.

"Freedom, Femisto," I managed to force out with my remaining strength.

And in that moment, it was as if I was thrown away from the dragon. Coughing and gasping for air, I was bewilderedly trying to regain my breath, vaguely understanding what had just transpired.

Standing over me was the blue-eyed one. Without his blindfold. With a crazed smile and a gaze. Everything in that same magical form. Apparently, he immediately set out to find me after I disappeared.

"You must excuse me, noble dragon. But I want to kill her. She has given me enough reason to do so," he directed his gaze towards me, and again, I felt that suffocating aura from him.

As ridiculous as it might sound, I felt calmer next to the mighty dragon than with him.

Femisto continued to ignore the shaman, occasionally casting his golden eyes on me or my sword.

"You say you'll grant me freedom?"

A silent yet thoughtful conversation persisted between us.

"Yes. The freedom that was taken from you."

"I will feed on your pain, fear, death. In this world of pain, you will experience plenty. Give me the sword, and even being dead, you'll open the portal."

"Do you think I'm not accustomed to pain? I'm left with only surviving."

"The unfair reality is equally available to all, human."

"Even to you?"

"Even to me."

Suddenly, Satoru grabbed my hand and pulled me up from the ground. He was a head taller than me, and if not for his anger, I probably would have wanted to look at him again. However, my strength left me. I felt he was furious beyond limit.

Grabbing me by the hair, he sharply threw my head back and stared at me, as if contemplating how to destroy me. No one could stop him; no one would bring him before the elders' council to render justice for my fate.

"He led you to me. Kept his promise."

"Who is he?"

Despite the pain enveloping me from all sides, I continued the conversation in my head, not daring to look away from the white-haired man. He seemed to dictate his will to me, and disobeying him could result in an even worse outcome.

Femisto didn't respond to me. Taking flight, he pushed Satoru away from me and landed nearby. The shaman, not expecting this, only laughed.

"You not only have an incomprehensible sword in your arsenal but also a dragon that never existed in this world. How else will you surprise me, Emerald?"

The lunatic bastard. He tried to kill me, and now he was enjoying the situation.

I could no longer stand. Grasping onto the dragon, I slowly sank to the ground. My head was spinning.

"Subjugate this lad under your control. Become the strongest and find your way to your world."

"Subjugate this lunatic? He'd sooner kill me three times than submit. He doesn't submit to anyone. Ever."

"These are my terms. Fail, and your soul will remain with me forever."

"The pact is made."

And he vanished, evaporated into thin air, leaving me alone in the field with this madman.

The sun was gradually rising, and the magical atmosphere created by the dragon's presence had vanished, leaving only the impending storm.

A window appeared in front of me.

[Congratulations! You've successfully made a pact with the ancient dragon! Your level is now 20/100.]

Take your congratulations elsewhere. And this Satoru, slowly approaching me.

Coughing, I noticed blood before me. Ha, my organs were already failing.

[Successfully making the deal, you didn't die! You have three attempts left to survive. Truly our main heroine! We made great choice.]

Soon, it would be down to two. Just look at this character who stood close to me.

[Reward received: The boundless strength of the dragon.]

[Access to a new inventory is now open.]

Indeed. This is mockery.

And this Satoru, sneering down at me. I already know what he's about to do, looking at his intertwined fingers.

Pressed the window. I didn't care how foolish I might have looked. I needed to know what the system had decided to give me this time.

[Access to inventory opened.]

The second box.

[Second box opened: Characters' Interests.]

Checked.

[Interest of Gojo Satoru: 1%]

If I'm going to die like this every time, damn it, I'll get through this game, whatever the cost. Survival of the main heroine in the Jujutsu Kaisen, but in my case, it's against the blue-eyed god Gojo Satoru.

And there was nothing left in me anymore.

Darkness and emptiness surrounded me, so much pain that I stopped reacting to it.

My attempts to return to the surface were futile. It felt like I was thrashing about in murky water, unable to see the bottom or the shore. No one to press against my lungs and make them fill with oxygen.

As if by someone's will, I plunged into the world of dreams, escaping the ocean of pain.

There, in this long dream, I got everything I ever wanted in life, and by my side was my father—alive, with wrinkles, grey hair, and emerald eyes.

We lay on the ground and gazed at the stars. He was silent, and I wanted to break free from myself, to scream and cry hysterically. Wanted to tell him everything, about my dreams, about the existence of a dragon, about another universe.

I chose a different path.

Smiling and crying simultaneously, I told him how difficult it was for me after his death. How guilty I felt towards him and how much I missed him. I told him how I started seeing a therapist, and he diagnosed me with severe depressive disorder. I talked about how I hadn't strayed far from my mother and how many times I came close to suicide. He would have been upset had I done it.

And looking at him after my recounting, I saw him. His serene face, as always, and only one tear betrayed his state.

The only thing he managed to say to me in that dream:

"Awaken, Miyeon. Two chances remain."