Case 228: A step closer to full assimilation.
The two masked nuns shoot toward , their dark magic roaring.
Again, that sa eerie sensation creeps up, as if sothing sinister is pressing a sharp knife against every inch of my body. Nevertheless, I tighten my grip and prepare for the inevitable clash.
A part of no longer feels anxious, thanks to my partial assimilation with the future , even if I'm facing two formidable opponents. I am confident I can deal with one, but now... it's hard to say.
When they are about twenty steps from , their trajectories suddenly change.
Like two coiling serpents, their silhouettes encircle my position, closing in as dark bolts are hurled at . Relying on my superior speed, I lightly swing my sword to destroy half of them, and the other half I simply avoid.
My eyes gradually lock onto the two's movents. Aiming at the cooldown between their shooting intervals, I blink toward one of them, bringing my blade forward decisively.
''Tch!''
The woman instantly reacts, springing herself backward. Anticipating this, I stretch my other hand toward her retreating figure—Gauntlet of Severance, activate.
A burst of silvery-white ice manifests inside Buezrith's torso, shining so brightly that it pierces her skin. For a mont, I sense panic behind her mask.
''Stay still!''
Yet, before my magic can detonate, the other Buezrith flies in from the side, her arm pulled back. With a crisp impact, she decisively punches a large hole in her other self's stomach, blowing everything into a blood and flesh mist. The dark magic confined in that strike also cancels my spell.
The gap in Buezrith's torso quickly regenerates, and the two soon turn to again.
What a crazy way of fighting.
Silently lanting in my heart, I lunge forward again. My two opponents naturally aren't scared of confrontation. They directly engage in close combat with , using their powerful dark magic as gauntlets.
As they are the sa person, their coordination is virtually perfect. When one attacks, the other joins at another angle; when one gets hit, the other finds a blind spot to strike back.
At this point, the discrepancy in experience also shows.
I sohow am able to hold back against their flurry of constant attacks, but it is apparent I don't have a way to gain an advantage. That is, if I didn't have my trump card ready—the blank soul fragnts.
As long as I can shove one of these into their body, their fundantal soul will heal, and since I am here as a 'witness,' the law of the universe will correct their existence.
It is the whole reason I chose to face them directly in the first place.
Still, these soul fragnts are hard to co by, and we don't know the exact number of Buezriths present. After a brief think, I decide to push myself a bit. If it goes well... I can absorb their experience, too.
Anyway, there are still the grandmasters here. If sothing happens, I can probably trust them to get out of here.
''Hoo...''
So, I pull my senses taut, pushing them as close to snapping as possible. The hunger in my void swells, enveloping my whole body, most concentrated along the Blade of Nihility.
As if sensing the anomaly, my opponents' movents beco rigid for a few monts.
With a single thought, my body, now light as air, phases through space, arriving right behind the unsuspecting won. My sword tears down on them without making a sound.
''Behind!''
Of course, being combat powerhouses themselves, they recognize the threat and imdiately respond, retreating in two directions. No longer holding back, imnse magic bursts out from their bodies, surging at as though a tide of ravenous beasts.
I, too, don't have a reason to hold back. The purest essence of ice spreads from my heart, freezing a layer atop my blade. With a swing, that terrifying source of coldness blasts toward the incoming tide, clashing fiercely with it.
For a mont, the whole world seems to be shaken by this impact.
''How did she get so strong?!'' One of them exclaims. ''Her divinity wasn't this formidable when I fought her!''
''You idiot! She's the 'protagonist'!'' The other one retorts. ''It's obviously because you impatiently confronted her before!''
''What nonsense are you saying?!''
I can't help but frown at their conversation. 'Protagonist'? What are they talking about?
But that confusion is but temporary. Under nihility's control, I soon regain my composure. Sohow, even at this output, I feel as though I can keep going forever, like my void's depth is truly boundless.
The more I swim down that void, the closer I get to sothing indescribable—sothing so limitless and infinitely powerful... but frustratingly, I can't grasp its trace yet.
''Miss! If you're going to use that black hole again, tell us beforehand!'' I hear Graham's nervous shout. ''We don't want to get caught in it!''
...Black hole?
Suddenly, a strange revelation dawns in .
Right. The thing inside my void that I've been searching for... how can it be anything else but a black hole?
Just then, my vision distorts. Everything before is stretched to an impossible degree, pulling into a singularity. Eventually, even the edges of reality are torn, and a boundless darkness swallows forth.
In a place with no sound, no touch, no scent, I alone stand blankly. In front of is a swirling mass of energy, so formidable, so hungry that it warps the already empty space.
Its terrifying fluctuations draw closer and closer to , shaking my entire being.
A slight uncertainty swells in , as if I am seeing sothing I shouldn't. Yet when my physical heart finally senses its fluxes, my reality snaps back.
''...''
I look around in disbelief, finding barely any ti has passed. My opponents are still cautiously positioning themselves, while Graham anxiously waits for my answer.
...I see.
The world has adjusted itself. Just now... the assimilation process has gone another step further. This pulsing black hole inside my void is the proof.
It seems that as people finally realize Aurora's actions as mine and vice versa, the world will correct our existence. Figuring this out is nice, but... I'll have to finish this first.
As usual, I channel the power inside .
''W-What?!''
The palpable difference in the quality and quantity of my strength must be obvious for those two to detect. The aura that shields my sword used to barely be above 'faint,' yet now it is nearly burning.
Of course, in exchange, another piece of has been compromised. Still, thinking of what my final goal is, perhaps it is not a bad trade-off.
But now that I no longer need to be concerned with running out of energy, I can perform much more than just enhancent.
''You two, get out of there quickly!'' Darkness shouts from afar, sensing my intentions.
I let out a cold snort, ''Too late.''
My divinity stretches forward at breakneck speed, suppressing the two masked nuns. After tying their movents, I calmly approach them. Darkness, deciding she can't stand by anymore, rushes toward .
''...Sure. I'll take care of you, too.''
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