SSS Hypnosis: I Made the Heroines Beg for Forgiveness-Chapter 17: Hp: 0/200

"RAHHHHH!!"

The Cyclops let out a deafening roar, its massive steps shaking the entire cavern.

Shit! What do I do?!

Benedict sprinted, sweat pouring down his face. Garbuc, with his tiny legs, scurried alongside him.

Benedict glanced back at the Cyclops, then locked eyes with the monster's single, burning pupil. Without hesitation, he activated his skill.

[SSS Hypnosis Activated - Target: Cyclops Lvl-22]

[Hypnosis Partially Successful – Target's level exceeds yours. You may issue commands, but cannot force submission.]

Seeing the system notification, Benedict shouted over his shoulder.

"STOP RIGHT THERE!"

A flash of pink lit up in the Cyclops' eye. Just like that, it froze mid-step, mace still raised high. The beast growled in confusion.

Good! That buys us some distance!

But as Benedict glanced at Garbuc, he noticed the same pink glow in his eyes too.

He'd hypnotized him by accident.

And the Cyclops, was already breaking free.

The beast roared again and charged.

Benedict's eyes flicked back to Garbuc, still frozen in place. His jaw clenched.

Damn it.

He turned and kept running.

Behind him, Garbuc stood motionless, jaw slack, watching his master flee. The look in his eyes shows pain and betrayal.

I'm sorry, Garbuc.

The Cyclops swung its mace.

SPLAT!

Blood splashed across the cavern wall, where Garbuc once stood.

Benedict didn't look back. He ran, his heart pounding in his ears. Then he saw it, the narrow path he'd taken earlier.

Almost there!

The gap was too small for the Cyclops to follow. If he could just get through—

Almost!!!

The Cyclops hurled its mace, like a massive, spiked spear, straight at him.

Benedict was only five meters from the passage. He reached out—

WHOOSH!

The mace shot like lightning.

And blood sprayed everywhere.

[You took 20 Damage. Bleeding: 1 Damage/second.]

Benedict's eyes widened. The mace was embedded in the stone wall, right next to him.

Then he looked down.

His left arm was gone.

His breath caught. His vision blurred. He dove into the narrow passage, gasping. Then stared at his side again.

His arm was completely gone.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!"

His scream echoed off the cavern walls. He had just escaped death once, only to be mutilated now.

The Cyclops approached, slow but steady. Even though Benedict had squeezed into the passage, the beast crouched, trying to reach in.

"STAY BACK!!"

Benedict's face turned pale. He kicked at the dirt, scrambling backward.

The Cyclops' glowing eye narrowed. Its arm reached in, but then paused, just slightly, as if hesitating.

Then the beast roared again.

"Kill yourself! KILL YOURSELF!"

Benedict yelled over and over, desperately clinging to life. His Unique Trait was still on cooldown. If he died now, it would be permanent.

He would be trapped in that endless void again.

The Cyclops' hand finally gripped his leg. The strength of its grasp made Benedict bite his tongue.

"LET GO!"

The Cyclops released him, just for a moment. Then seized his leg again with even more force.

Blood gushed from Benedict's severed arm. He pressed his remaining hand against the wound, trying to slow the bleeding.

Thud! Thud!

Fast footsteps echoed from behind.

"Frost Claw!"

A woman's voice rang out behind him.

Through the haze of pain clouding his vision, Benedict saw a blue streak shoot toward the Cyclops' belly.

The icy claw struck true, but the Cyclops didn't even flinch. It kept gripping Benedict's leg, the Cyclops eyes now fixed on the approaching woman.

The beast pulled harder, but suddenly, it stopped.

Ice began to creep up from its feet, spreading fast.

It froze solid.

Snarling, the Cyclops snatched the mace lodged beside the tunnel and began slamming it wildly, trying to shatter the ice.

But it was too late.

The frost had already consumed half its body. It was only a matter of time.

The ice reached its head. With one final, enraged roar, the Cyclops froze completely and shattered into glittering shards.

The woman rushed toward Benedict.

He barely registered her approach. Before the darkness overtook him, he heard her whisper something.

In her hand, a soft green aura flickered, directed at him.

Then... everything went black.

---

Somewhere far away, in a realm beyond the physical, a strange dimension unfolded, a world made entirely of light. The air shimmered with a serene blue hue, as if one were standing within the heart of a massive crystal.

Floating symbols danced around, drifting and spiraling like digital snowflakes, endless in their flow.

Strands of binary code streamed across every surface—walls, floor, and sky. All pulsating gently with unfathomable data.

And in the center of this surreal world, an odd, out of place relic drew the eye.

An old, dusty computer.

Its ancient frame rested on a battered wooden desk, with a chair just as worn standing behind it.

A boxy white monitor glowed faintly.

As keys were pressed, the clack-clack of a mechanical keyboard echoed.

And there, behind the computer, sat a beautiful woman.

Her features were flawless. Her hair shimmered like woven strands of starlight. Her crystal-clear eyes stared at the monitor, a faint smile touching her lips.

A mysterious smile.

The kind that knew something no one else could ever understand.

Then, her expression changed, softened into sorrow.

"I'm sorry..."

Her hand gently touched the monitor, almost as if trying to reach someone within.

"Benedict."