--- Lilith ---
Aurora.
She's the reason for all of this.
Back then, I was just a naive girl, unaware of the consequences awaiting me. If I had known the pain that awaited upon waking up, maybe I would've rejected her offer of a second chance at life.
But I didn't know, and I took the risk.
The moment I opened my eyes again, I sensed a change within me.
There was a connection to Lightning, pulsing through me, urging me to trust it, promising boundless possibilities, just as the voice had said.
As a young girl still learning to navigate the world, the intensity of this newfound sensation overwhelmed me.
At the time, though, I remained blissfully ignorant of the true cause behind this transformation. I was simply relieved that the anticipated pain never materialized.
Little did I know, the secrets surrounding my situation wouldn't stay hidden for long.
I soon found myself at the mercy of scientists eager to dissect every aspect of my being, labeling me as the perfect specimen for their experiments. And then there were the monsters, viewing me as a delicacy to be savored.
Repeated situations like this forced me to draw my own conclusions, piecing together the puzzle of my existence with the help of those who sought to study me.
My body underwent a transformation beyond the realms of simple flesh and blood.
When Lightning tore through me, obliterating my insides and snuffing out my life in an instant, conventional healing methods proved futile.
Instead of relying on traditional healing magic, my entire body was reconstructed using Magic.
Every part of me – organs, bones, muscles – was crafted anew, infused with Magic to mimic the functions of their natural counterparts.
Even my brain, once a complex network of neurons and synapses, now consisted of Magic intricately woven together to replicate its functions.
In essence, I was no longer truly organic but a creation of Magic, a mere semblance of my former self.
Calling me an human would be a massive overstatement at this point.
It's likely that my Soul wasn't just returned to my original body but remade with magic but rather transplanted into a new body crafted to resemble that one.
Or perhaps, I'm not even the person I think I was. Maybe my memories are nothing more than fabrications, concocted by some deranged scientist in a twisted experiment to explore the depths of human emotion or something.
These uncertainties haunted me, driving me to the brink of madness on more than one occasion.
Yet, despite the overwhelming doubts and questions swirling in my mind, I persisted. I refused to succumb to despair, driven by an unyielding determination to uncover the truth.
I shed my weaknesses, thirsting for the strength needed to uncover the reason why I had to endure such unimaginable suffering.
I was willing to go to any lengths to find out.
Why was I granted a second chance at life?
Why would someone intervene to help a stranger like me, granting me an opportunity that seemed utterly nonsensical?
But sadly, I missed my chance.
By the time I traced the link to the voice's source, the woman behind it was already dead.
You think you can escape death after subjecting me to such unimaginable suffering? Not a chance.
Even if you manage to slip away into the void, I'll follow you, haunting your every step, dragging you back from the afterlife if need be.
While delving deeper into Aurora's origins, I stumbled upon an occult group fixated on achieving immortality.
'...This could be used'
After enduring endless years of torment, something inside me shattered.
I held onto my spirit, my determination, but gradually, human emotions slipped away from me.
The very essence that drove me to search through that forest everyday before all this mess began to fade.
You might expect that an organization so steeped in evil would deserve nothing less than destruction.
But for someone like me, who has witnessed the darkest aspects of humanity for centuries, and who feels disconnected from humans due to my own reality, it wasn't so simple.
Instead of seeking vengeance, I used my strength to dismantle the organization's leadership and rebuild it under my own name, infused with a newfound purpose.
I had overlooked it, but with power came strength— immense strength.
While others in this world had to consciously channel their Magical Power to cast spells, I had no such limitation.
Merely the desire to strike or move in a certain way was enough; Lightning would obey my commands without hesitation.
In essence, I moved with such swiftness that no human could even hope to keep pace with me.
"...From now on, the aim of the Cult will be to revive the Demon Diablos."
You all will be my puppets, carrying out tasks on my behalf. How you accomplish them is of no concern to me.
My sole focus is on bringing her back to life...
Once she returns, I'll finally have the answers I've been seeking all this time, no matter how long it takes, and make her reveal everything.
But even after I finally managed to partially restore her spirit, the outcome was deeply disappointing.
This version of her had no memory of who I was, or anything else for that matter. She was nothing more than an empty vessel I struggled to revive.
Those Cultists proved to be nothing but a huge disappointment.
The more we failed, the more my despair grew silently.
---
The thing I despise most is wasting time dealing with those who dare to oppose me.
Throughout history, there have been countless beings who sought to dismantle the organization, but I've never felt compelled to intervene.
I'm no babysitter.
If they meet their death, it might cause me some inconvenience, but nothing more.
I have no interest in the so-called Immortality that drives other Knights to madness.
My body remains unchanged by time, and I have no need for food to survive.
In the end, I'm simply a construct of Magic woven together.
The only reason I decided to intervene at this moment is because Mara, the 3rd Knight of Rounds, has been fixated on a 'gem' she stumbled upon centuries ago, known as Jormungandr.
Due to a debt I owe her, I've pledged to come to the aid of this "toy" once if it's ever in danger.
So, I stepped into the fray, expelling the three lackeys from the barrier erected by an unknown entity. I was prepared to swiftly end the confrontation, but...
There's an irritating fly buzzing around, refusing to meet its end before me.
He's what I call an 'Otherworlder'.
In short, people that come from another world, given incredible cheats that allow them to become strong in a short amount of time.
Seeing how those people can be so strong without any kind of deep suffering like mine drives me to a breaking point I can't quite define.
If there exists such an easy way to get stronger, then why was I put through so much suffering to get this strength of mine?
Even when my emotions have slowly corroded and drowned somewhere in the river of time, I could still feel raw anger.
Just because you're from an other world, it shouldn't mean shit.
But what made me the most angry, was the current fly's ability.
He can literally absorb my power and turn it into his.
Can you believe it?
Just imagine enduring endless suffering of every kind to acquire a power you never even wanted, only to then struggle to stay alive in a world filled with despicable creatures all gunning for your head, just to end up becoming the prized possession of some random guy, with the only reason being he's from another world, so all is to be given to him.
How am I supposed to accept such a situation?
It's downright ridiculous, to say the least.
---
After a few minutes of fight, I reached a conclusion.
Just normal attacks wouldn't cut it.
I've understood from the moment I've laid eyes on him.
He was an anomaly among anomalies.
But that wasn't enough. I needed to see more.
Was it worth me getting serious?
The short answer was... yes.
"I didn't think you'd force me to reach this point, to be honest."
After centuries of restraint, I felt the seals that bound my true powers shudder and strain. It was understandable for the seal to not instantly break, as I had devised it to only be opened when I truly needed it.
With a bellowing roar, I tore through them, feeling the chains that had held me back for so long shatter into a million pieces.
It felt kind of nostalgic. The terror I used to instill in others of the past might have been erased in history, but I myself can still remember those days.
In an instant, a shockwave of pure force erupted outwards, distorting the atmosphere into rippling rings of fractured air.
Storm clouds formed above me, churning violently and splitting apart with jagged forks of crimson lightning. As the Lightning Empress, all lightning had to answer my call.
I wasn't surprised when he didn't react at all.
Honestly, I expected as much.
Around me, a swirling storm of reddish electricity erupted, crackling and pulsing with raw energy.
As my powers surged, ancient runes ignited on my skin, glowing with intense power. It felt like my whole body was ablaze, every nerve tingling with the force coursing through me.
Above my head, a magnificent crown of scarlet lightning materialized, radiating power and majesty.
"I see. So that's what Authority looks like when manifested into reality"
The interesting look he had on his face was somewhat irritating.
--- Akira ---
[The [Call of the Empress] has been activated]
[Your seed of Lightning Authority is shaking]
[Your Authority of the Sword is staring at the seed of Lightning Authority]
[Your seed of Lightning Authority immediately stops answering the [Call of the Empress]]
[Your Authority of Limits is gazing at the Authority Manifestation, craving to surpass itself in the same way]
[Note: Bound by Fairness, the Authority of the Sword will not be able to hold on for long]
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.
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[New Quest!]
[You Spoiled on me? It's Mine Now]
[Description: You have witnessed Authority's physical manifestation in the Second Trial. She has spoiled something that you wouldn't have otherwise seen until much later. How dare she?
Spoiling bastards should die!
Tasks to Complete:
Absorb Lightning to germinate your own Authority(15%/100%)
Manifest the Lightning Authority(0/1)
On Failure: The seed of Lightning will explode, killing you.
On Success: ???]
'...What's up with this Quest?'
I was kind of confused by the strange title and all, but it only lasted a moment.
There were more important things to focus on, after all.
How dare you try to rebel before you're even born, you damned Lightning Authority!
...Jokes aside, it's not like I was not expecting a situation similar to this one.
A battle between [Extreme] Combat Prowess beings should at least cause this much trouble to the surroundings, am I not right?
"You sound confident," the Lightning Empress sneered, her tone dripping with condescension. But it was understandable. After all, most people would be shaking in their boots at the sight of her.
In most stories, the protagonist would be in turmoil, grappling with doubts about how to defeat such a formidable opponent.
They'd probably reminisce about cliché themes like friendship and love, finding strength in never giving up despite the odds...
But that's not me.
I'm not interested in overcoming odds; I'd rather obliterate them.
This is the opportunity I've been waiting for.
"...I am for a valid reason," I replied, a smirk playing on my lips.
'5 seconds will be more than enough.'
'[Overload]'
The air around me shifted, crackling with energy as I activated the skill silently. The more I used it, the more limits it released, and this time was no exception. The amount of power coursing through my veins was overwhelming as there was something I forgot.
[The Authority of the Sword empowers the skill [Overload]]
[The Authority of Limits pushes [Overload] further]
[The Authority of Mana blooms in the skill [Overload]]
[Your Skill [Overload] has temporarily broken through the limits of a Normal Skill]
[For now, the Skill [Overload] will be considered an [Absolute Skill]...]
[Note: The consequences...]
.
.
.
Thanks to my connection between Authorities, I had already gained quite a huge amount of good improvements to my ability to cast and use Magic itself.
Now, though...
With but a focused exertion of will, a shimmering sphere of power erupted into existence, expanding rapidly to engulf us both in an impenetrable barrier.
Even someone as strong as the Empress could only look on, her newfound arrogance giving way to uncertainty, as her grand transformation was so swiftly overshadowed.
My gaze bore through her, devoid of any warmth or mercy. "You've made a grave mistake, daring to harm her," I stated icily.
As for my eyes, I could only imagine they appeared...
Lifeless.
"I'll ensure you suffer as if you've descended into the depths of hell itself."
If this were the me from the past, maybe I would've handled things differently. But the me now couldn't care less.
If she were in my shoes, she wouldn't have hesitated to do the same to me.
With that in mind, I unleashed my Special Technique, something I'd never resorted to before.
It wasn't because this technique wasn't effective, but simply because no enemy had ever warranted its use.
Over time, I had developed several different Special Techniques, but none compared to this one.
'[Needle Explosion]'
From my position at the center, razor-sharp needles erupted outward in a devastating sphere. The sight alone would be enough to strike fear into anyone, but what about the barrier?
The answer was clear.
Instead of piercing through it, the needles mercilessly rebounded inward. Thanks to [Overload], millions of needles were now careening wildly within the barrier.
The cycle kept on repeating, until even I could barely follow them with my eyes.
They posed no threat to me, the caster, but the Lightning Empress found herself forced to defend against the onslaught.
Her eyes widened in surprise at the sudden assault, but she quickly regained her composure, using her lightning to shield herself from the barrage.
I wasn't sure if this would actually be the case, but after her reaction, the final piece was added to the puzzle.
Magic has almost no effect on her, no matter the form.
It might be a big overstatement, but I feel this technique of mine, in this form, is strong enough to even kill a being beyond [Extreme] Combat Prowess.
To show such composure in the face of such an apocalypse level attack, only one explanation made sense.
The reason she could easily breakthrough my barrier, like it was made of paper, was because she wasn't even recognized as a human by my Magical Power.
As such, she was able to not trigger the defense mechanisms I had put in place.
I already had my countermeasures on that, though.
Thanks to [Overload], it was possible to break the laws of space a little.
Inside this space, Magical Power could not enter, nor could it exit.
Thus, her options to get out were scarce.
Either those 5 seconds of mine run out, or I die.
The Lightning Empress recoiled, her face paling as the reality of her situation sank in after the attack did not stop, but only intensified the more time slowly passed. In the span of a heartbeat, I blurred across the space between us, my movement an imperceptible flicker.
"Magic is not that effective on you," I stated flatly, my lips a mere inch from her ear as I materialized behind her. "After all, your body is entirely made of it, right?" A bead of cold sweat trickled down her forehead as the words reached her ears. "Then, what about physical damage? How far can you withstand it?"
My voice was utterly devoid of warmth or mercy, each syllable dripping with callous disdain. The Empress frantically lashed out with a bolt of crimson lightning accompanied by a roar born out of pure anger, but I lazily caught the crackling tendril in my open palm, dispersing it without effort.
"Since all the Magic you are currently emitting is being used to deflect the needles, you cannot focus your energy to attack me," I taunted. "This is only possible because you have been receiving millions of attacks per second. Normally, this isn't even supposed to be a weakness, but against me, it was a fatal one."
While a single needle may not inflict significant harm on her, the cumulative damage from multiple strikes could prove devastating if left unchecked.
In mere seconds, she would be left dead.
Thus, she had no choice but to defend herself.
However, in her current state, defending against such an onslaught was far more taxing than usual. Mobilizing lightning to shield herself exacted a heavy toll, leaving her vulnerable and unable to counterattack.
It's the most glaring weakness of manifesting an Authority as formidable as hers.
It's likely she was born with such immense power, and while it may seem unfair, that's just the harsh reality of it.
The flaw has always been there, lurking beneath the surface, unseen by ordinary individuals.
That is... until I examined her closely.
To me, it was impossible to overlook.
"Y-You're insane!" she stammered, panic bleeding into her voice as her body shuddered.
Leaning in close once more, I allowed a hint of deranged glee to crease my lips into a disturbing smirk. "Indeed I am," I nodded in confirmation, watching the terror take root behind her eyes.
'[Hand-To-Hand Sky Technique]'
Let's put things to the test, shall we?
Without hesitation, I delivered a sharp jab to her exposed abdomen.
But I didn't stop there. Even as she gasped for air and struggled to maintain her defenses, I followed up with another strike, this time aiming for her face with all the fury I could muster.
I poured every ounce of pent-up anger into that bone-jarring blow, watching as her head snapped back violently.
If it was anyone else, their head would've exploded.
But even so, I didn't release my hold on her, not yet.
I unleashed a relentless barrage of precisely aimed strikes, each one sending shockwaves of pain through her body.
But I was careful not to strike with enough force to render her unconscious, prolonging her suffering without the mercy of oblivion.
The Empress's form crumpled with each hit, contorting in unnatural ways as she endured the relentless assault, unable to regenerate due to the barrier's constraints.
Trapped between the searing agony and the instinctual urge to survive, she could do nothing but endure.
With a final, brutal blow, I sent her hurtling toward the pulsating barrier that enclosed us. The wind howled in protest as she flew back, a visible shockwave rippling through the air.
But she didn't splatter against the barrier as you might've expected—instead, her body ricocheted against the barrier in the same way, a pained grunt escaping her lips as she rebounded back towards me.
After all, she was just a bunch of Magic, exactly like my needles.
In an instant, her battered form rebounded straight back towards me.
Snarling, I pivoted and unloaded another punch, using the very momentum of her return to amplify the crushing force behind my blow.
The moment my fist connected, the Empress' body jerked, a visible shudder running through her as she was sent hurtling back towards the barrier once more.
I didn't hesitate to repeat this cycle for a few times, until I decided it was time to stop.
'...I've already wasted too much time, after all'
I caught her by the throat and halted my assault.
Despite the overwhelming pain she was under, the Empress refused to give up. Even as she hung limply in my grip, her breathing ragged and shallow, she still tried her best to raise her bloodied hands to reach the ones holding her neck in place. Her fingers twitched, her arms shaking with the effort as she tried desperately to free herself.
It was a futile effort, of course, but I still sighed.
I was right about her.
[Mind's Dominion] would have never worked.
Quickly assessing her condition, I noted the devastation within her.
Her internal organs were pulverized, her face barely recognizable, and her body a mess of broken bones and torn flesh.
With her defenses obliterated, the needles were now exacerbating her injuries, pushing her to the brink of death, life quickly draining from her eyes.
For that reason, I stopped the needles.
There was no use for them anymore.
It was a stark contrast to just moments ago when she had looked at me with unwavering arrogance, as if victory was assured.
Truly, it was a masterpiece of destruction, if I do say so myself.
But of course, there was one thing that was still intact.
Her crown symbolizing the Lightning Authority.
I reached out, my fingers closing around the crackling crown of crimson lightning that hovered above her form as her eyes widened in shock and disbelief, understanding immediately what I was trying to do.
She struggled with all the might she had left, as the instant my fingers touched it, I could feel its immense power rebelling against my grasp. Tendrils of searing electricity lashed across my arm, charring away flesh and scorching muscle in rapid succession. Yet I didn't so much as flinch.
"This crown you have on your head..." I intoned flatly, muscles straining as the lightning's onslaught intensified. Each passing microsecond saw more of my arm reduced to a blackened ruin, the pain becoming excruciating. But such agony meant nothing to me in that moment.
Instead, I crushed the crown in my grip, feeling the metal bend and warp under the pressure. With that, it was almost like something within her broke too.
But I didn't care.
The energy contained within it was released in a violent burst, and I slowly started absorbing it.
20%
30%
The pain was excruciating, but I welcomed it.
70%
I closed in the distance between us as I allowed the barest flicker of contempt to crease my expression. "You do not deserve it."
99%
The moment it hit 100%, I could immediately feel it, without even looking at the prompts.
[The seed of Lightning Authority has bloomed]
[A Legendary Achievement! You have obtained an Authority without relying on the System]
[The Authority of the Sword has deemed it not necessary to suppress the Lightning Authority anymore]
[A ??? Achievement! Your newly formed Authority has begun to manifest—]
[The Authority of Limits is staring at the Authority of Lightning]
[The Authority of Mana is staring at the Authority of Lightning]
[The Authority of Lightning has absorbed the memories of the previous owner. They will be added to your Mind Library—]
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.
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[You Spoiled on me? It's Mine Now — Quest Complete]
[Evaluation: SSS]
[As a result of your Evaluation, the rewards have been adjusted—]
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.
.
I brushed aside everything else, realizing I had no time to spare.
Having obtained what I came for, I prepared to end the Lightning Empress's suffering by snapping her neck, feeling I had done enough.
But before I could act, I caught her whispering something incomprehensible.
Out of curiosity, I paused to listen.
"...Au...ro....ra....I...comi...ng..."
Her gaze seemed distant, no longer focused on the present situation.
It appeared that after losing a significant part of herself, she could only respond instinctively, or so it seemed.
Though I was somewhat intrigued by her mention of Aurora at such a critical moment, ultimately, it didn't matter.
A quick glance at my prompts confirmed that along with her powers, I had also acquired her memories.
There was no need to use [Mind's Dominion] on her.
As such...
"Farewell, Lilith. In recognition of the powers you've bestowed upon me, I'll end your suffering now. Rest in peace."
Despite the seemingly light-hearted tone of my words, my intentions were sincere.
Once the anger subsides, indulging in excessive torture leaves a bitter taste.
So, with a complicated mix of emotions flickering in my eyes, I finally snapped her neck, swiftly ending her life.
As I near the conclusion, the inevitability of my actions becomes clearer.
For Alexia, and for myself, I'll embrace the role of the true antagonist of this world, consequences be damned.
"I'll deal with the other two while I still can," I muttered to myself.
Glancing at my timer, I saw that I had less than two seconds remaining.
...But they would have to be enough.
No, I'll make them be enough.
---
Author's Note:
I've kept it for so long, but Akira finally had to use his Special Technique, lmao.
This chapter is 4000+ words long, so it's a treat I hope you enjoyed.
The ending is actually a tease as to what my man Akira will do. Look forward to it, it's rather soon, after all.
(I've been working on it for more than 3 days straight, so I'd like you to leave a comment about it or even better, a nice review to sum up what you think of the novel if you've reached this far. Thanks!)