"Uwaaaaaaah?! What, what is this?!"
"The rock, the rock's splitting... Huh!?"
As expected, the children erupted into panic—voices rising in chaotic terror, bodies frozen or fleeing in random directions.
Well, it was no wonder. A friend who'd suddenly gone missing reappears, and what does he do? Destroys the massive rock behind them with a single strike. Reality had become too strange, too violent to process.
...That was close. Really, dangerously close.
If I'd been one second late, everyone here would have been bisected—not the rock. Cut cleanly in half, dead before they hit the ground.
The boys, Erica, all of them...
The thought sent ice down my spine, made my hands shake despite the adrenaline.
But there was no time for relief. No moment to breathe.
Because the thing was still here. Still active. Still deadly.
"Everyone get away from here!! Run, as far as you can!!"
I shouted with enough volume to override their panicked screaming—voice raw with urgency.
The monster was already trying to stand, shaking off the impact of my kick like it was nothing.
No grace period. No time to plan.
I raised my sword and charged at it, closing distance before it could fully recover.
"Wh-what's happening..."
"H-hey, what's wrong with him?!"
But the boys couldn't accept reality—couldn't process what they were seeing.
They stood there with bewildered expressions, feet rooted to ground, unable to move. Shock had paralyzed them more effectively than any spell.
"[Grand Blaze]!"
Evacuating them was impossible. I had no time to urge them further, no breath to spare for answers.
I coated my sword in flames and slashed at the monster as it tried to rise—putting everything into preventing its recovery.
But of course, it didn't accept the attack passively without resistance.
The child's hand before me distorted into an amorphous shape, transforming into something like a black blade—wrong angles, unnatural edges.
*That* and my flame slash collided, steel on dark matter.
I bit down on my back teeth—*giri*—and dodged the creature's other hand with a side-step, barely evading decapitation.
*This thing can freely manipulate even its hijacked body...*
So the original owner of that flesh was definitely not alive anymore? The child was gone, replaced by something wearing his skin.
Of course, even if he were somehow alive, I couldn't afford to worry about not harming the body. Survival trumped sentiment.
"—"
The monster moved first—took initiative before I could.
It held both blade-hands before it and approached in a posture low enough to scrape the ground—a predator's crouch, inhuman and efficient.
Dimensional acceleration. I couldn't dodge—the speed was beyond human reaction.
I met it head-on with my burning sword, no choice but to block directly.
(*It's heavy...!*)
Intense impact traveled from my hands through my entire body—bones rattling, muscles screaming protest.
Flames and jet-black blade repelled each other, triggering a small explosion that scattered embers and dark fragments.
"Guh—"
This small body couldn't withstand it. The recoil sent me flying backward through the air.
If I was thrown into the sky completely, it would be fatal—losing all control, becoming a target. I managed to kill the momentum by digging my feet into the ground—gouging furrows in dirt and grass.
But the creature didn't end its assault there. Why would it?
The thing remained planted as if recoil meant nothing, then kicked off with enough force to form a crater in the ground—launching itself at me with terrifying velocity.
"—[Smash]!"
My right hand, which held the sword, couldn't react in time—still numb from the previous impact.
I formed a magic bullet with my left hand and fired it at maximum possible speed.
The direct hit tore off the opponent's left shoulder—ripped it clean away.
Blood sprayed—*bushaa*—but the momentum didn't stop. Didn't even slow.
The slash from its remaining hand cut through my body—sliced deep.
It easily penetrated my armor like tissue paper. Fresh blood gushed out, hot against my skin.
Somehow not fatal—barely—but that was all the mercy I'd get.
Grimacing in pain, I twisted my body and dodged to the side, feeling torn flesh protest the movement.
"Liam!!!"
Simultaneously, Erica cried out—a voice close to a scream, raw with terror.
I'd known, but she was still here. Still watching. Still in danger.
*Somehow, can I at least get Erica to escape?*
"[Grand Blaze]!"
I increased firepower to prevent the opponent from pursuing—buying precious seconds.
Still couldn't fully block it. The black blade slashed across my cheek, adding another wound to the collection.
I was purely defensive now. Entirely reactive.
No room to create an opening for escape. No chance to—
*What do I do?*
I didn't think I could defeat this thing. Not in my current state. But I couldn't run away either—the math was brutally simple.
If I fled, the next target would be Erica and the others. Inevitable. Certain.
But if I continued fighting like this, I would obviously fall first. Collapse, die, fail.
And what happens when I fall?
...This was probably it. The graveyard of Erica's childhood friend in the main story—right here, right now.
Whether I could survive here determined everything. The entire branching timeline.
And now, I was about to follow the exact same path to death. After I died, the world would start moving according to the main story's scenario—inevitable tragedy unfolding like clockwork.
In the end, was it impossible? Could I not change anything?
Was everything I'd done until now pointless—dying without protecting her after all?
I bit my lower lip hard enough to taste copper. Tears threatened—the frustration, the failure, the unfairness of it all—but I couldn't let them steal my vision. Not now.
But such thoughts, combined with handling the continuous attacks, had stolen too much of my concentration.
"—!?"
During our sword exchange, the opponent's expression distorted into something new.
A smile. Not human, not childlike—just *wrong*.
Even though it wore a child's body, there wasn't a trace of charm or innocence. Just an evil smile that stretched too wide, revealed too many teeth.
I struggled to grasp its intention, to predict the next move.
And by the time I finally understood, it was already too late. Always too late.
"Agh—"
Impact struck my stomach—brutal, explosive.
I'd been kicked. Simple, direct, devastating.
Expelling air from my lungs, I crashed into a large tree—back slamming against bark and wood.
My whole body went numb with shock, pins and needles spreading from impact point. Couldn't move properly.
(*Damn it, I was careless...*)
Too impatient. Had to calm my thoughts, center myself.
While reflecting on this, I tried to recover my stance, to prepare for what came next.
That's when I finally noticed—when awareness filtered through pain and adrenaline.
Its right hand trembled—*bure*—the telltale motion before releasing a sword flash.
But not aimed at me. The angle was wrong.
So where was it headed—?
"ERICA!!"
The black sword flash flew toward the children. Toward Erica.
I thrust out my left hand, trying to gather magic—*no, I won't make it in time.*
*Bad. This is bad!!*
"[Rapid Smash]—"
Still, I tried to unleash the fastest spell I could manage—desperation overriding logic.
That's when it happened.
This was the action beat that changed everything—the moment that revealed the truth about both of them, about their powers, about what they would become.
The world's colors inverted. Like a photographic negative—everything dyed black in an instant.
The shift was absolute, total, *wrong* in a way that defied description.
Simultaneously, I noticed something coiling around my outstretched left hand—the one extended to release magic.
Black tentacles. Magical power given sinister form.
"[———————————]"
A high-pitched sound pierced my ears—painful, resonant.
It was like metallic scraping and a young girl's scream combined—two sounds that shouldn't harmonize but did.
(*Ah, this is—*)
Before I could realize everything, my thoughts were dyed blank—consciousness swallowed by darkness.
＊＊＊
"Haa... haa..."
The girl breathed heavily, shoulders heaving with exertion and emotion.
It had been desperate, frantic, *gamushara*—acting without thought or plan.
Just one single-minded determination: *I have to help Liam.*
She'd thought this was the only place to release this detestable power—the curse she'd carried, hidden, feared.
Her surroundings were dyed pitch black now. Her tentacle-like magic stretched throughout the area—a web of darkness that touched everything.
The magic called "Black of the Heretic God." Her Celestia—unique magic that marked her as cursed, dangerous, *other*.
Plants, trees, earth—all consumed.
The boys and girls participating in the ceremony, the Sacred Rock, the boy transformed into a monster—all swallowed.
And him too. No exceptions. No mercy.
＊＊＊
"Ka... —ha."
I couldn't breathe. Air wouldn't enter my lungs no matter how I tried.
I writhed on the ground, clawing at dirt with desperate fingers—struggling like a dying fish.
Trying to inhale only produced strange sounds—gasps and wheezes that accomplished nothing.
"Uu, i, ui... [Wind]..."
I cast wind magic, forcing oxygen into my body through supernatural means.
Violent coughing seized me—barely effective but better than suffocation. I continued the spell, then held my breath, trying to stabilize.
After several failures, I stood up on trembling legs—barely maintaining balance.
In the process, I shook off the tentacles coiled around my entire body, peeling them away like leeches.
...This was Erica's magic. Her Celestia, fully manifested.
Having taken it directly brought back memories—I remembered this spell from the final boss battle in the game.
Though not quite her signature move, it was well-known for its characteristic direction and devastating effects. A terror weapon.
The screen flipping to black, unleashing jet-black tentacles that attacked everything in range indiscriminately.
And its power was extraordinary—if you hadn't prepared countermeasures or buffed your party, it would blow you away with nearly a single hit. Total party kill material.
...Yet somehow, I was still alive now. Still breathing, still conscious.
I looked around, taking stock.
Everything was filled with black tentacles—a writhing mass that covered the world.
If the color were different, it would look like earthworms crawling across reality—organic and unsettling.
Among such jet-black worms, I spotted a girl slumped down alone. Small, vulnerable, shaking.
(*Erica...*)
With unsteady steps, I headed toward her—feet barely obeying, balance precarious.
The ground beneath was treacherous with coiled tentacles, and my posture collapsed—*gurari*—threatening to send me down.
"Liam..."
But I didn't fall. Couldn't fall.
She caught me—Erica held and supported me, her small frame somehow bearing my weight.
"Erica... milady..."
"Liam... I... I..."
Her voice trembled as if holding back tears—or perhaps already crying, words choked with emotion.
The reason for tears? There were probably many. Too many to name.
I tried to hug her back, to offer comfort—
That's when the shadow behind her flickered. Moved with predatory intent.
(*No—*)
I let out a voice of astonishment in my heart—silent scream of horror.
It was starting to move. The monster stood up, shaking off the entangled black tentacles irritably—like brushing away cobwebs.
*That thing's still alive...!*
No—I should have guessed when I survived. If I lived through Erica's attack, the monster probably did too. The spell wasn't as powerful as the game version—diluted by her inexperience or emotional state.
Not that guessing earlier would have helped. What could I have done differently?
But this was bad. Really bad.
Erica was unaware of the presence behind her—completely vulnerable.
I tried to call out, to warn her—*my voice won't come.*
Just gasping breaths that produced no sound. Vocal cords damaged or shocked into paralysis.
Meanwhile, the creature's arms blurred at high speed—*bure*—preparing another strike.
*Ah damn, of course. It's going to attack. Obviously it would.*
Bad. What do I do?
Intercept with magic? ...No, my consciousness was scattered, unfocused. I couldn't cast fast enough.
Try to dodge? But look at me—covered in wounds, barely standing.
I didn't have strength left to throw both of us sideways to safety.
...No choice left. No other option.
I pulled her in front of me by force and covered her with my body—human shield between her and death.
"Guh... Aaaaah—"
The result was inevitable, predictable: the slash tore deep into my back—opened flesh and muscle.
Excruciating pain made me inadvertently tense every muscle. Erica, caught in my grip, showed a brief expression of anguish from being squeezed.
But she still didn't understand what was happening—confusion written across her features.
"Liam...? Hey, Liam?!"
When my body lost the strength to support itself and I collapsed against her, she screamed in confusion—understanding finally breaking through.
"Why, why? No..."
As I fell, she gripped my hand—*gyu*—so tight it hurt, holding on like prayer.
"Don't cry... please... not so much..."
"But there's so much... blood..."
Erica's tears dripped onto my cheek—*tatata*—warm and wet.
Her hands, visible in my failing vision, were stained sticky red. Completely covered.
*All my blood? Is that much coming out? Amazing.*
The thought felt distant, detached—like observing someone else's tragedy.
"Because of me... because of me..."
"No. It's not... your fault..."
"Yes it is... it's all my fault!! Because I used this kind of magic... Because I have this power... Because I couldn't do anything and just stood there frozen... Liam..."
"...Don't say that... please..."
It wasn't comfort—I meant it from the bottom of my heart. Genuine conviction cutting through pain and encroaching darkness.
I looked past her toward the monster behind. It was still blocked by black tentacles, wearing an expression of anguish instead of that horrible smile.
*Ah, really. Everything from earlier was thanks to her, wasn't it?*
Honestly, if we'd kept fighting the way we were, I'd have been overwhelmed eventually. She'd been the one to cut into that hopeless situation, to create this opening.
And even after this, I'd need to borrow Erica's power again. No escaping that dependency.
...Really, what a joke. Saying I'd protect her, prevent her bad ending—and here I was, useless and dying.
"Don't blame yourself... so much. I told you, didn't I? Before..."
I slowly rose, gripping her hand while standing—fighting gravity and injury.
Severe dizziness made me sway like a weather vane, but I somehow managed to stay upright. Sheer willpower keeping bones stacked.
"I said... I wouldn't let go... of this hand. So now... here... I'm not going to die. And I won't... push you away... *haa*... won't deny your power..."
I spoke in gasping breaths, each word an effort. My feet trembled unsteadily as they pressed against ground.
But my gaze remained fixed—certain and unwavering—on her eyes wet with tears.
"Rather... your power... isn't wrong at all..."
I intertwined our fingers firmly—strong, definite, impossible to unravel.
"But... if it weren't for my magic, you and everyone else wouldn't have been hurt..."
"We don't know that. If we'd kept fighting that way, I probably would have lost. Then everyone would be beyond just hurt. They'd be dead."
I looked around at the carnage.
The children were indeed submerged in the sea of black tentacles—motionless forms barely visible beneath the writhing darkness.
...Honestly, I didn't know if they were alive or dead. The uncertainty was its own horror.
But if exhausted me was alive, and that monster too—then I couldn't conclude they were dead. Not yet.
So she didn't need to bear this responsibility. Shouldn't torture herself with guilt.
"Besides, if I'd defeated it earlier, none of this would have happened. It's my fault. My failure."
"That's not—!"
"It is. If I were stronger... if I'd gotten stronger like I should have..."
Three years ago, I'd decided to save Erica. Looking back on everything I'd done since then—could I have done more? Definitely.
If I'd tried harder to become strong from the very beginning, I wouldn't be dying like this now. Wouldn't be failing her.
I'd been naive. Complacent. Weak.
"*Haa*... Sorry. I'm weak."
I cleared my throat—tasted iron deep in my esophagus. Had something internal ruptured? Probably.
I picked up my sword from nearby ground—nearly collapsed from the effort but managed to hold on.
"A-are you still going to fight...?!"
"...Yeah. I won't force you into an unpleasant role anymore. But... lend me just a little more strength."
I tightened my grip on her hand. Wouldn't let the warmth escape. Couldn't afford to lose this connection.
"[———]"
I cast the spell. Not just magic—my Celestia. My unique power.
In an instant, the world shone brilliantly and was simultaneously painted black—light and darkness existing as one, paradox made real.
Honestly, I hadn't wanted to use it much. Had tried to keep this power hidden, secret, *unused*.
But now I'd made my decision. No more hesitation. No more holding back.
I stared down the monster before me. It seemed drunk on the brilliance, unable to process what was happening.
*Good. Just let yourself be consumed again.*
From beneath my feet, black shadows like tentacles began to writhe—rising from ground like serpents answering a summons.
My Celestia, mirror to hers. Darkness answering darkness. The cursed power I'd inherited—my own Black of the Heretic God.
The secret I'd kept for three years: I was just like her. Cursed, dangerous, *wrong*.
And now, for her sake, I'd use it without restraint.