Dersia had not learned any magic related to combat. She had never felt the need. It was only natural, but her loyal maid, Ciel, did not approve.
"Sia. Still, shouldn't you learn at least the bare minimum of self-defense magic? An 8-Star mage who can't fight. People will laugh at you."
"I'll handle it myself."
"Handle it yourself? Have you ever actually handled anything yourself after saying you would? I cook for you, I clean for you, I even braid your hair for you-" "I" Dersia knew that once Ciel got started like this, it would last a long time.
If she didn't want to be nagged for at least three months, she had to convince her somehow. So, with a sullen expression, she demonstrated the 'reason'. After witnessing the reason for herself, Ciel nodded, looking slightly more surprised than when she had seen the dying elf.
"I see."
After that, Ciel no longer worried about Dersia, at least not when it came to combat. It was an obvious outcome.
Dersia glanced at the spire. The floral engravings that were once its pride were now burned and cracked beyond recognition. It looked as if it could collapse at any moment, bearing no trace of the beauty it held just a few hours ago.
'Beautiful...'
Dersia narrowed her eyes, darkened by heavy circles, and wondered what difference there was between before and after. There was no answer.
"... This has become troublesome..."
As Dersia's gaze remained on the spire, the masked man sighed and clenched his fist. Without any sign or sound- A massive iceberg formed where Dersia had been standing. It was as if it had always been there.
"What is your name?"
"... Suirak."
"You must not have had very good parents."
Dersia was the same. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, she crunched her way down from the top of the iceberg and looked at him with emotionless eyes. Suirak slowly backed away, increasing the distance.
"The world bestows the name."
"How curious. Your world despises you, yet it gives you a name."
"That is why I am in this state."
Suirak smiled bitterly, and Dersia watched him with a blank face before opening her mouth.
"I'm curious."
"...?"
"That beast was so weak, it was pathetic."
Dersia looked up at the sky. Snow was falling in the middle of summer. She could see her breath turn white, coloring the air around her.
The corners of Dersia's mouth lifted.
"This is rather interesting. How did you bring this out?"
"I have declared my heart-realm in this place, so the world is being devoured. That is all."
"I too enjoy paradoxical talk. There's a certain pleasure in finding the right answer, which usually comes after blowing off an arm and a leg, one by one."
"What does that-" "I'll start with the legs."
Splat.
Only after he had fallen to his knees did Suirak realize that he was on his knees. The blood that flowed from him froze the moment it touched the ground. It didn't take long for him to realize that all the tendons in his legs had been severed.
"It would be a problem if you ran away. First, synchronizing the inner world with the physical-realm... no, not quite synchronization. Tainting it?"
"It feels something like that. But why would you do such a thing..."
Dersia was muttering to herself, as if he wasn't even there. Suirak noticed a black liquid mixed with the blood he was spilling. The ink flowing from the dirty fountain pen in Dersia's hand was spreading in all directions, as if it had a will of its own.
That ink contained no mana whatsoever.
"I" Suirak cautiously reached out his hand.
In his vision, the world froze. Dersia, too, should have become a part of that ice.
"Hmm... This is quite threatening."
Dersia's voice came from behind him. Suirak swallowed dryly as he watched the flowing ink crawl up his knees, gradually attempting to envelop his heart.
"Is it the instantaneous manifestation of a part of your projected world, without any discrepancy?"
"It's certainly an ability that could kill even a 7-Star mage in a single blow if they couldn't perceive it."
"How did you do that?"
"I am not attacked."
"What?"
"I have recorded it as such. In this world you're so proud of."
Dersia stood upon the ink. Suirak's expression gradually hardened. He had understood the meaning of her words.
Dersia Aspandil had touched the clouds.
"... You're on the verge."
"By your argument, isn't it that I can never reach the Heavenly Realm?"
"That's right. You will fall. The end of the path of magic is nothing but being devoured."
"Advice on the path of magic from one who has never once walked it is truly precious."
Despite Dersia's mockery, Suirak quietly froze his severed tendons back together.
"I shall hasten it for you."
Dersia approached, unconcerned. She had learned the weakness of the heart-realm by observing Jern. It is strong.
It is on a different level from ordinary magic. If Jern were to completely fall, he could wipe out cities and shatter steel with a wave of his hand before he died. But it has a very clear weakness.
Diversity.
Stronger currents, stronger water pressure, stronger tide sense...
That's it.
That's all there is to it. In the end, it's just borrowing a part of a single world. If one can counter it, they can be crushed as easily as stepping on an ant.
The only strange thing was his claim of devouring the world. Well, no need to pay it any mind.
"...?"
Suddenly, Dersia clutched her head. Her thoughts slowed. It felt as if she were thinking in fragments.
Suirak rose to his feet. Dersia noticed the ink freezing and shattering, and knew something was wrong. But she couldn't figure out why it was wrong.
She felt like she was becoming a fool.
"What are the thoughts of a person freezing to death like?"
"Hmm."
To the answer that resolved everything, Dersia slowly nodded her head. The reason for devouring the world was surprisingly simple.
"Synchronization of the pressure, I see."
"A privilege unique to the Great System..."
No one could survive it, except for Suirak, who had spent his entire life searching for a way to overcome that pressure. The tables had turned. But as Suirak approached, he didn't freeze Dersia.
He extended a hand.
"Dersia Aspandil. Come to this side. You can create a greater world than I. I will grant you all the knowledge you desire."
"... Ha, hahaha..."
Dersia laughed bitterly, pressing her brow. Suirak tilted his head, asking the laughing Dersia, who continued to smile even as she was gradually freezing.
"What's so funny?"
"It's nothing. Seeing this ability just suddenly reminded me of my disciple."
"... A disciple?"
Even in her thoughts, slowed to an extreme as she froze, one person came to mind.
"Yes, my disciple."
Dersia looked at Suirak with interested eyes. But in her eyes, she saw another person. If the place she was in wasn't this pathetic world, but his.
"That method of devouring the world with your heart-realm."
Dersia blinked for the first time. Nine stars shimmered in a brilliant array of colors.
"You'll have to teach me."
It was only then. That Suirak realized there were no mana circles in Dersia's eyes.
The bizarrely twisted Wihwa spoke with its mouth.
"Oh, really? So you're satisfied now? You killed me, so now you're coming in, right?"
As I watched Wihwa's crushed face gradually return to its original form, I realized one thing. This was not the realm of healing. I had to first figure out what kind of enlightenment this creature had attained to construct its world.
"Jern? What are you doing?"
Of course, before that, I had to change locations.
CRASH!
Wihwa was thrown straight out of the room. As I tried to follow, I suddenly felt a pain in my ears, like a burning toothpick was being shoved into them.
"Ugh...!"
I had overused it. I touched my ear and found blood streaming down. ... My eardrums had burst.
It was a pressure so connected to the Deep Sea, I wondered why it had only happened now.
"Jern?"
I grabbed the shoulder of Elysia, who was smiling at me even in the midst of this chaos.
"Elysia, your mother is quite beautiful."
"Huh?"
"Hello, I'm Jern, a friend of Elysia's. My apologies for the rudeness on our first meeting."
"I have a very urgent need for the restroom, so I must excuse myself. I'll come back to greet you properly."
"...??"
"Sorry, I'll see you in a bit. Just talk with your mother here for a while."
"Oh, okay..."
I could shake her right now and tell her this is a dream, that she's been captured. If I did, Elysia would surely fall. I didn't want to receive help through the enemy's ability, but for now, I had to leave things as they are.
Limping out of the room, I looked at Wihwa, who was smiling as it stood up again from where it had been embedded in the wall, and asked.
"A daydream, was it?"
"Hmm? I don't really remember."
I took a deep breath as I looked at Wihwa, who was playing dumb. When I had pinned it with water pressure, I had clearly felt it. It didn't feel like I was pressing down on a human.
It was more like the texture of rubber... closer to that. I slowly approached, observing its condition. It hurts, feels like I'm going to die.
I feel like I could throw up at any moment. In this state, if I try to wield the power of the Deep Sea, I don't think I could last even ten minutes, even if I were to block my senses with a Formula.
"-It's a dream."
"You want to run away by thinking that?"
"That would be you. Do you think this world is a dream? Is that why what you do is closer to regeneration than healing?"
"Well, I can't be sure it's a dream. It could be reality, you know."
Wihwa shrugged and vanished on the spot.
"-Though the chances are low!"
I knew it. The Wihwa I was talking to melted into the background and disappeared, and from right beside me, a Wihwa that had erased its presence appeared and stabbed at me with something. Without moving a single step, I pushed it back with a current, but its appearance made me frown instinctively.
"... What is that."
"Ahaha, cool, isn't it?"
It was already far beyond the category of human. Sharp bones protruded from its skin all over its body. Its knees, elbows, the back of its hands, even its back.
Including its three-meter-tall frame, it was literally a monster.
"I think it's about time you realized that even if you grew ten times bigger, it wouldn't work on me."
"Right. But I can stay like this for a month. I don't know what your magic is, but seeing your ears burst, the cost seems pretty high... Are you going to be okay?"
"I" At most, ten minutes, as I said.
Wihwa seemed to have noticed that, as it acted smugly.
"If we stay like this, will I get tired first, or will you?"
Time was on Wihwa's side. Knowing this, it wasn't acting hastily.
"And besides, you can't kill me either, you know!"
Wihwa charged, drooling. If that body slam hit, it would be instant death. I had no choice but to use the currents, but- BOOM!
"Ahaha, is this all you've got? Come on, hit me harder!"
I cannot kill it. The limits of the Deep Sea stop me. Wihwa's smile deepened, as if it was certain of its victory.
"Is that all? Is glaring your only means of resistance?"
"Let me ask you one thing."
"What you have to do to join Red Lotus?"
"No." I asked a question I had harbored ever since I saw the moat on my way in.
"Why are you doing this?"
"... What?"
Wihwa tilted its head as if it genuinely didn't know what I was talking about.
"I get that you've fallen into hell. And I understand that it's not what you wanted, and you're struggling to survive."
Because I was the same.
"So I don't want to blame you. But no matter how perfect of an answer you have, it can't be my answer. Because I don't want to live by doing things like this."
"What are you trying to ask?"
"How does this help in any way? Destroying an innocent city, killing all the people, kidnapping and torturing children to increase your numbers."
"How does that help the group called Red Lotus?"
"... Well, I don't really know what you're talking about."
I just wanted to know. Nothing changes just by killing. What kind of benefit is there in killing that makes you do this- Wihwa shrugged and answered.
"We just do it."
"?"
"The higher-ups said there's some reason... but I don't know the details. They tell me to kill, so I kill. They tell me to torture, so I torture. If I live, that's great~ If not... well, then not."
"Did you ever think about living a different way?"
"Why?"
Wihwa grinned.
"Is there any reason to?"
"Is that so?"
The question, "Is there any reason to?" was met with the answer, "Is there any reason to?" I was an idiot for expecting something different. Instead, I felt a sense of relief wash over me, and I returned its smile as I took my stance.
"I understand. You're better off dead."
"Ahahahahaha! This guy, he's really the best!"
I closed my eyes as I watched Wihwa charge at me. If I can't win as I am now, I have to go further. ... I have to fall deeper.
"Remove." -At some point.
It became difficult to distinguish the difference between having my eyes closed and open. Of course, I can tell if I've lifted my eyelids or let them fall if I pay a little attention. But the amount of information sight provides is too little, too insignificant.
To the point where I can't feel the difference between its presence and its absence. Tide Sense covers the world.
The terrain of the spire, the heartbeat of the enemy standing before me, the breathing of Aletus lying as if dead in the room over there- I can hear it even with my ears covered, I can see it even with my eyes closed... My existence melted into the world. Deep Fusion, the ability Dersia told me not to use.
I go beyond the realm of simply lifting something with my hands. I melt into the Deep Sea. -I reach for a domain I had not intended to go to, prepared for death.
"What, what are you doing with your eyes closed? Have you accepted it?"
Wihwa's words didn't reach my ears. With possibilities so vast and infinite, I felt like I could do anything. I raised my hand and touched the existing currents.
I can't use water pressure the same way I usually do. I know it without even trying. If I attempt to crush my opponent in this state, my body will explode.
Whether I use Remove, or Shape, or even if I use the robe to mitigate it- I will definitely die. But I can extremely reduce the range of the water pressure and activate it locally on an area thinner than a strand of hair. For example, like this~ -Slice.
Wihwa's bone was cut off without any warning.
"Huh...?!"
I can feel it. The bewildered Wihwa looking around, searching for an invisible sword. Not pressure or a bruise, but a cut.
The first use of a blade made of water pressure. Of course, it didn't mean much. The bone grew back in an instant to fill the space, and Wihwa laughed loudly as it bent its knees.
"What's this, this is fun!"
The enemy will charge. I knew that fact in advance. I scanned its tensed leg muscles and knew its exact direction.
Its fist drew a horizontal arc. If I know, I can dodge. I didn't dodge.
"Try and block this too!"
Just before the fist tore through my neck. I took a step back. It was too short a step to get out of the fist's range, but- "...!"
My one step was a little far. Far enough that after escaping the fist's range, my back touched a wall several meters away. Why had I been so good at levitating objects heavier than myself all this time, yet never thought to move my own body?
From far away, I looked down at myself in the third person, holding myself with the currents and moving. My body is nothing but a chess piece. A living chess piece that uses abilities.
"That, what in the world is that movement...?"
I danced with Wihwa, who charged relentlessly even while gasping for breath. I read and dodge. If I can't dodge, I move myself away.
I know the entire board, I know the opponent's movements, and I can move myself as I please. It was so easy it was almost laughable. -Slice!
"Keh, uha... ahahaha....! What the hell is this...!"
Up, down, left, right, front, back. Wherever seawater exists, molten iron exists. Molten iron that, if I wish, can be instantly forged into my sword to cut the enemy.
"You..."
I cut, and cut, and cut, and cut again.
"This..."
If it extends a hand, I slice it to pieces. Before it can regenerate, I cut it again. I cut its wounds, I cut the bones that pierce through and emerge.
No matter how thinly I use the water pressure to lessen the burden, capillaries began to burst in my own body, but I ignore it. A rain of slashes fell.
"Ah."
With the splattered blood, the hallway turned into a hellscape. Approximately 3 minutes and 21 seconds. That was the time it took to inflict enough wounds that Wihwa's regeneration couldn't keep up.
"You, who are you...?"
Wihwa asked, still with a smile on its face. Not that it was actually smiling. Its entire body was at a level of being sliced and chopped to pieces.
Of course, I didn't feel the slightest bit of pity. I created one last blade of water pressure and answered.
"Who knows."
"If you still don't know, you never will."
"Huh." -Slice.
As if it had realized something, Wihwa's head fell from its shoulders.