"Death? Quite the bold name."
I swiped her legs and blasted her backwards with an electric shockwave.
I could escape now but I'd risk being killed. It may be stupid but the best choice is to comply with her deal. If my attacks don't work after a while, I'll release my mana all in one.
I chased after her without letting up.
I wasn't used to fighting with swords but I decided to fight instinctively, instead of following sword styles. In my opinion, they were predictable if you knew the style but it's harder to handle a master, who's proficient in the style.
"Come on, you can do better than that."
I turned, slashing at her—she dodged easily, showing me her middle finger to provoke me.
"Which one is the real one, I wonder?"
Eris duplicated herself. Her clones surrounded me with the same delighted look.
"Which one? Don't play with me."
I said, releasing a flamethrower spell, engulfing all of the clones.
From there, Eris was nowhere to be found. Though, almost instinctively, I stabbed the ground, channelling mana through my sword into it.
The goddess jumped out from the ground and smiled at me.
"Yes! Just like that!"
This time, she went on the offensive.
We traded blow for blow. Each time I slashed her, she hit me back. Her punches were heavy but I could handle them since she was holding back.
She had a massive grin on her face despite the situation. She truly was someone who could only experience thrill through battle.
Tch. I don't have the luxury and mana to be able to fight her anymore. My best chance is to release everything at once. But, instead of a mana explosion, I'll pour everything in Sacred Lightning!
I am going to survive!
I applied more and more mana into Sacred Lightning.
⟨Due to the large influx of mana and spike in emotions, the effect of 'Sacred Lightning' has been strengthened from 100% to 175%⟩
⟨Your physical body will slowly be destroyed from the inside, out.⟩
⟨Remaining effect duration is 1 minute.⟩
My mana nexus and heart pounded fiercely and my muscles tightened, screaming in pain. I ignored it and used the last of my power to strike Eris one last time.
"!"
Eris backed away as I took my first step.
I appeared beside her with a final attack. The sword I had expanded in size, turning into a board sword. I pierced at her.
The goddess, for the first time, blocked and used her wings. The look on her face was different from before too. She seemed slightly troubled.
Though, that didn't matter to me anymore.
My knees gave out and my body wouldn't listen to me.
Since... I'm burnt out...
·———·
"Do you know what the future is?"
A man, with a blacked-out face, asked a younger Kazuya.
The boy thought to himself before answering.
"It's what's going to happen, isn't it?"
"Wrong."
"Hah?!"
The boy screamed at the man, who seemed to chuckle slightly.
"Then what is it?! Tell me!"
"The future is not what will be, but what can be."
The young Kazuya tilted his head. He did not exactly understand what the man meant. To him, the future was what would inevitably happen.
"Let me explain it to you, this way, Kazuya."
He said.
"Imagine the future as a ball of yarn."
"Yarn?"
"The thing you see cats play with."
"Oh, the string!"
He happily realised.
"Yes, a ball of yarn is a tangled ball of string. You see it as a ball. The ball is what the future is. However, the future is yet to be determined. If you start to untangle the yarn, you see more and more strings, instead of a simple ball. The untangled strings are all possible futures. All undeterred."
Young Kazuya did not understand but the man kept talking.
"The more you untangle the ball of yarn, the more possible futures you get, until... they are eventually all laid out in front of you. Then, you choose that future. The one that you want to take. Even if it may not always go according to plan."
"According... to plan?"
"You choose your own future. Keep that in mind, Kazu, because when you're alone, no one else will help you. With enough power, you can get your desired future. Remember that."
·———·
"Gah!"
I woke up in a rush. My entire body ached. I held my head, trying to remember what had happened.
The dream I just had... It wasn't my memories but the other Kazuya's memories.
That man. I couldn't see who he was. His face was distorted for some strange reason.
"Why is it so loud? Huh?"
As my eyes fully opened, I saw where I was. It had been barely a week but it felt like a year.
The sounds of cars, the talk of people, the footsteps of the masses.
The city. I was in the city. But... how did I get here?
I was fighting Eris and... right! I was fighting Eris, so how am I still alive?! I was sure that she would kill me, but I'm still alive.
I stood up with several aches and pains.
"Ugh... I'm wearing different clothes too."
I was dressed in a waistcoat, suit and trousers. I felt like a businessman. My hair was still extraordinarily long.
I felt around my pockets and found a few things.
"Money and... a note?"
I read the note first.
"'I let you off alive because you still have room to grow. In the future, the next time we meet, let's fight to the death without hesitation. Also, I can't have you die on me while in the city, so I gave you some clothes, from my servant, and money. Do survive and grow stronger, Death.'"
Death? Oh, right, I told her that was my name. She's generous. I'm surprised I wasn't killed but I'm happy.
Let's see how much money she gave me...
I counted the notes in my pocket and eventually came up with...
"A million?! She gave me a million?!"
I loudly whispered to myself in surprise.
That woman is scary in almost every way possible. I can't believe she could spare me ¥1,000,000.
"Hm?"
My Singularity, Archive, suddenly began sending me messages.
⟨You have acquired a new Singularity.⟩
That's a surprise message.
⟨You have acquired the Singularity of Arthur Daichi, 'Alter Ego.'⟩
It was Arthur's Singularity...
From what I remember, he could change his hair and eye colour with it. It's beneficial to me. Wandering outside as Alpha would be too risky.
⟨The Singularity, 'Alter Ego,' is selected.⟩
⟨This Singularity can be used as long as the user has mana.⟩
Let's see. I can't be Alpha but I can't be Kazuya either. My best choice of action is looking completely different.
And so, I chose blonde hair and red eyes for my disguise.
I've started over again. Now, let's see if I can find some allies within the city.