"I thought I could go back to my own world. But this — I'm immortal. Now I'm probably going to keep losing the design specs of my Linux 4D Pro in my head. Linux's probably already launched the Linux 19D Pro by now. The 4D Pro would be ancient history." He sank into despair. In a single moment, every hope he'd held had been crushed. It felt like he was suffocating right where he stood. He regretted ever coming here.
Nain just kept watching him. Luccos still wasn't in any condition to speak. He could only watch helplessly.
Miruth walked toward them. Shine stood in his path, shielding Jhed.
Luccos tried to say something, but the words wouldn't come. He could only watch.
"Stay right there," Shine said, in his usual way.
Miruth looked straight into his eyes. Shine tried to swing his sword, but he couldn't move from where he stood.
Miruth simply walked past him. Shine couldn't even lift his hand. It was as if he'd been frozen solid.
Jhed was lost completely in his own head. His eyes had turned red. His throat had gone dry. His lips trembled.
Shine was straining with everything he had, but he couldn't move an inch — he couldn't even open his mouth.
"What did he just do to me. I can't move at all. I have to save Jhed."
Miruth placed a hand on Jhed's head.
"You need training. After that, even the Demon Lord won't be able to defeat me." A strange smile crossed Miruth's face.
Nain just watched. None of it mattered to her. She seemed to have forgotten that it was because of Jhed that she'd gotten out at all — that because of him, she'd reached her father.
And honestly, Jhed really is a fool — he doesn't even know how to compose himself in a moment like this. Doesn't know how to react to any of it. He's putting himself in danger, and everyone around him too. He truly doesn't deserve this power. So many people have already died right in front of him, and he's still not thinking straight.
Everyone was thinking only of themselves.
"I can't get a hold on him," Miruth said.
He had the power to seize control of anyone's mind, and to erase any magic. But he couldn't get a grip on Jhed's mind.
"AAAHHH—" Miruth screamed loudly.
He was furious.
"Why. Why can't I control his mind."
Jhed was still lost in his own thoughts.
Shine looked over at Nain.
Nain met his eyes.
Shine kept glancing around desperately — silently begging for help.
Nain stood there quietly for a moment.
Then she crept toward Shine without a sound. She placed her hand on his head. After a moment, his head began to grow warm — though he felt no pain from it.
The heat freed him from Miruth's spell. The instant he was free, he struck at Miruth with his sword.