Chapter 82

Akashmir’s crimson lightning was about to strike, and I quietly thought to myself.

As expected, I’m still far too weak to fight a real powerhouse.

It couldn’t be helped, really.

It hadn’t even been three months since I woke up as Yuria.

Maybe I’ll catch up someday if I keep growing, but for now, I’m severely lacking in absolute time.

So like this, I’ll definitely get pierced by that massive and ferocious lightning bolt and die.

Even if a miracle somehow occurred, it wouldn’t change the already predetermined fate.

“Well, I believe in the original work, but I don’t particularly believe in deities.”

In an instant, the inspiration that flashed in my mind was none other than about the Tesseract.

Let’s think about it. Could I possibly overcome this life-or-death moment with the Tesseract?

Restoring Greg to his normal state like how Anser and I were restored?

No, even a full-condition Greg wouldn’t be able to beat Akashmir.

Besides being at a disadvantage due to compatibility issues, there’s still quite a gap in skill.

Then what about forcibly weakening the opponent?

Unfortunately, you need to be close enough to touch them to use your abilities.

Logically, there’s potential, but it’s not something I can achieve right now. Not when I’m about to die.

So, let’s think differently. How did Drakel use it?

He used the Tesseract to transform into his prime self from several hundred years ago before he had aged.

But no matter what Drakel did, he could never become his current self who would never age.

Such a worldline doesn’t exist, and it wasn’t even possible to predict as a possibility.

“The Tesseract has the power to draw out possibilities. That’s why Drakel was able to bring forth his past self. Then… what about a future that hasn’t arrived yet?”

The image that came to mind was of my strongest self from some distant future, powerful enough to rival Raven.

If such a worldline exists among all possibilities… then I absolutely won’t lose.

“…!”

Rumble!

The pitch-black storm clouds hid the pale yellow moonlight, and a blood-red flash of light flickered.

With a sensation like something overflowing, the world in front of me creaked.

*

The crimson flash lingered in front of my eyes like a scar.

The lightning bolt that fell faster than sound was like a demon’s saw tearing apart the world.

The overwhelming power that could reduce a human to mere ashes—was this truly the might of the Seven Extremes?

Greg clenched one knee to prevent himself from collapsing, his eyes tightly shut.

But with Yuria standing in front of him now, as an adult, he couldn’t afford to break down.

That stubbornness, bordering on obsession, infused strength into his crumbling body.

“Huh, but… why can I still think clearly right now?”

Then he suddenly felt a sense of incongruity. A lightning spell of that magnitude should’ve either killed him instantly or left him fatally wounded, barely clinging to life.

Yet, despite being caught in it, why could he still think so clearly?

Greg, feeling puzzled, slowly opened his eyes and looked at where Yuria had been standing.

At the same moment, there was a clinking sound as something dropped to the floor.

‘…Who is this?’

Before him stood an unfamiliar woman.

Slightly taller than Greg, who was kneeling on one knee.

No matter how he looked, she didn’t resemble Yuria, whose head seemed much smaller.

But the snow-white hair fluttering over her somewhat suffocating small outfit stirred a deeply familiar emotion within him.

‘Could it be.’

Swiftly.

The woman reaching her hand upwards turned her head back to look at him.

Greg couldn’t help but gasp and widen his eyes.

The snow-white woman was unbelievably beautiful.

Her seemingly indifferent expression and sharp gaze created an aura of poignant sorrow.

With unrealistically perfect facial features and a bust that exuded overwhelming presence, she could easily pass as a goddess sculpted by sight alone.

But what shocked Greg wasn’t the woman’s external appearance.

The purple eyes that reminded him of flowers held a gaze that seemed to look at someone precious.

And the corners of her lips curving slightly upward evoked a strong sense of déjà vu.

“Yuria… nya?”

“…?”

The woman tilted her head naturally to one side.

Her expression was filled with questions, as if asking, “How did you know?”

However, realizing belatedly that she wasn’t wearing her mask, Yuria jumped up in surprise right where she stood.

To think she hadn’t noticed while twisting away the lightning bolt falling above her head.

Looking slightly embarrassed as she fiddled with her neck, she awkwardly smiled and bowed deeply to Greg.

Is this the first time seeing my bare face? Nice to meet you.

Greg could only manage a dry laugh at Yuria’s demeanor, which seemed to convey just that.

Her consistent behavior made it impossible not to believe her, even though her appearance had drastically changed.

‘What is this… Is this what Yuria’s true form feels like? Or is her usual childlike appearance the real one, and this is fake…?’

Greg was simply confused.

Countless unresolved questions swirled chaotically in his mind.

But soon, he shook his head as if brushing off those trivial matters.

At this moment, they weren’t particularly important.

There was only one thing to think about.

Perhaps Yuria’s newfound power could stand against that enemy.

Thus, enduring the rising pain, Greg slightly grimaced and asked Yuria,

“Yuria, do we have a chance…?”

“…!”

Hmph, is that even a question?

Yuria smirked confidently and spun her body around with a very self-assured motion.

Her condition was at its peak. She felt like she could flip the world upside down right now.

And so, Yuria faced Akashmir once again.

The atmosphere between the two was the opposite of their first encounter. Yuria was calm and composed.

On the other hand, Akashmir, her face brimming with irritation, spoke up.

“You… What are you? Judging by your sudden change in appearance, you’re not human. But you don’t feel like a different race either, with no mana detected… What kind of creature are you?”

“….”

“Heh, not worth answering? Ugh, annoyingannoyingannoying…. If I burn that pretty face of yours black, will you talk then? Huh?!”

Akashmir was visibly agitated.

Once, because her full-powered lightning magic had been effortlessly blocked.

Twice, because of Yuria’s disrespectful attitude after transforming.

Of course, Yuria still couldn’t speak, even after changing forms.

But her casual disregard, acting as if she were ignoring her, infuriated Akashmir.

“Disappear! Colidor Fullminis!”

Zzzt!

The incantation Akashmir chanted summoned a corridor of lightning from another world.

The rule greedily devoured mana, materializing a massive space of lightning before their eyes.

And following that was a rain of countless bolts of lightning.

Every particle within it was shredded apart by currents sharper than needles.

“This is…! High-tier magic!”

While Greg was astonished by the absurd pressure of mana that felt like choking him,

Yuria crossed her arms as if saying, “This is all?” and lightly raised one index finger.

Isn’t this the magic I saw once in the original work?

Sadly for Akashmir, knowing how to counter this magic meant it posed no threat to her.

‘Something like this should work, right?’

Piiing!

A white arrow-like wave surged upward from Yuria’s fingertip.

It was an unprocessed lump of pure power existing prior to telekinesis.

Had Yuria from just minutes ago seen this, she would’ve screamed at the outrageous waste.

But that white wave pushed back the crimson lightning pouring down from all directions and reached the ceiling.

The weakness of the lightning corridor trapping the enemy was the ceiling. The wave shattered the prison-like corridor confining them.

It was an unbelievable growth spurt, completely unlike the struggling Yuria from just moments ago.

“What… How could Colidor be so easily countered… You damn wench!”

“….”

Boom! Boom!

Akashmir continued hurling lightning spells.

Each spell carried the terrifying power to overturn the ground and char buildings black.

Surprisingly, however, Yuria handled the spells with considerable ease.

She bunched up surrounding building debris and hurled it forcefully, or twisted the trajectory of incoming lightning bolts to redirect them elsewhere.

The output, accuracy, and range of her telekinesis seemed to have increased several to dozens of times.

“This can’t be… There’s no way I’d be overpowered by some nameless nobody!”

Crash!

Currents swimming across the surface like massive tidal waves surged from all directions.

The fatal magic turned the ground it touched into black ash instantly.

Even the mighty Greg swallowed hard, involuntarily tensing up at the sight of death.

Yuria calmly exhaled deeply, gathering telekinetic force in her palm and thrusting it forward with great force.

From the tip of her palm bloomed a snowflake-like white trace, followed immediately by a massive wave that crushed everything in its path.

The clash between crimson lightning and the white wave. The white wave leisurely swallowed up the opponent.

When the dust finally settled, the outcome was clear.

Akashmir collapsed, clutching her stomach, while Yuria stood tall.

“Ugh, kuh…”

“….”

Yuria, flipping her snow-white hair back behind her shoulder, smiled brightly.

Her incredibly innocent face contrasted sharply with her otherwise mature and alluring figure.

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