A strange sensation washed over her, as if her awareness had expanded.It was like standing on a towering cliff, looking down at the ground below where countless, ant-like beings scurried about, struggling to live.
She also felt as though dozens of arms, legs, and unknown appendages had suddenly sprouted from her body.
The Succubus Queen, bewildered by this surreal and otherworldly sensation, instinctively moved her hand, narrowly avoiding the sluggish fist aimed at her face.
“⋯⋯⋯⋯?!”
Yuri Lanster’s pupils spun wildly, and the trajectory of her fist abruptly veered off course in an unexpected direction.
Oh my, what just happened? What ability did I just use?
There was no physical force involved. Instead, it was a manipulation of Yuri Lanster’s mind. Somehow, the Queen had penetrated through those thick, terrifying mental chains and seized control of her movements.
Yuri’s Metamorphosis 『True Desire Restraint(本望拘束)』was supposed to be an unbreakable defense against Queen. Even the pheromones she had previously emitted had no effect on her.
Let’s… let’s try this again.
Let’s see how it works against this fearsome, chain-bound beast. The Queen lightly lifted a finger. Kneel, Yuri.
“──Heup!”
Clatterrrrr, woooosh ──!!
Ignoring the Queen’s command, the chains lashed out like a whip, sweeping violently across the ground. In a quick reaction, the Queen used Seris—whom she had been using as a chair—as a shield to block the.
Wham-!
The chains smashed into both Seris and the Queen.
Crunch .
A sickening sound followed as her right arm twisted unnaturally, sending her flying.
This isn’t how it works⋯⋯ It’s not some sort of ‘absolute command’ ability. It seems to be more nuanced than that.
Let’s keep experimenting. I’m not sure what it will do, but let’s find out. With a playful smile, like a child discovering a new toy, Queen unleashed her power in every direction.
Clank clank clank.
The sound of gears interlocking echoed again.
Yuri Lanster’s pupils flickered frantically from side to side, her chaotic vision forcing her to close her eyes.
Even relying purely on instinct, she swung her chains with sharp precision, aiming for the Queen. Her movements, however, were noticeably slower than when her eyes had been open.
The Queen continued to use Seris as a shield, calmly thinking to herself,
Good, I can manipulate⋯⋯ I can influence her vision. Then, what about this?
The Queen painted the air with something that looked like a brush.
Chararararack-!! Yuri Lanster lashed out with even more chains than before. Five strands coiled around each arm, resembling the claws of some metallic beast.
It seemed that Yuri’s Metamorphosis was getting stronger⋯⋯.
Craaaaack, kwagagwa-!!
The chains tore through the ground, churning up the soil. With her vision compromised, Yuri appeared to have switched to a wide-area attack, trying to increase her chances of landing a hit.
The chains swung with the force to split the very earth itself⋯⋯.
“⋯⋯Crazy Wizard⋯⋯?!”
Mid-swing, the chains’ trajectory suddenly twisted, distorted by the hallucination Yuri saw.
CRUNCH-!!
To Queen, who lacked physical strength, the chains were a serious threat. A single strand coiled around her and flung her through the air like an insect caught by a swatter.
But despite this, the Queen was laughing. She felt no fear. This⋯⋯ didn’t feel like danger. And it wasn’t.
Now, she understood.
This power⋯⋯ she finally grasped the nature of『Cogwheel : Heroine』.
Clatterrrrrrr ──!!
The number of chains encircling Yuri increased even more, resembling a lion’s mane or⋯⋯ waves of heat shimmering in the air. Crunch, crunch —ominous creaks emanated from her arms.
She was pushing herself past her limits. Forcing her body to endure more than it could handle in order to amplify the power of her Metamorphosis. It was as though she was on the verge of crushing herself, like an overripe fruit about to burst.
Let’s call it⋯⋯ an Overclock(過負荷) of Metamorphosis.
It was an unsustainable approach. Once the Metamorphosis ended, the backlash would be catastrophic. It would be nothing short of a large-scale self-destruction.
If the Queen got caught in that whirlwind of chains, there wouldn’t even be a trace of her left. She’d be shredded to pieces, ground to dust by the relentless grinding.
But.
“But could you⋯⋯ really destroy even the one you love with that?”
Chararack. Kwagagagagagwa ──!!
As the torrent of chains surged toward her, the Queen gently pushed the gears. They began to turn.
Clank.
She closed her eyes. If she had miscalculated her power, she would die. In that case, she’d vanish with not a shred of regret.
Now, let’s see what happens .
It came closer. Closer. Closer. Closer and⋯⋯!
The storm of chains, tearing everything apart as it approached, suddenly stopped just before reaching her.
The Queen slowly opened her eyes. The chains were so close they nearly grazed her eyelids.
“Heu, uhuhu⋯⋯ huhuhuhut⋯⋯ .”
She couldn’t help but laugh. The sound slipped from her lips without her even noticing.
The Queen trembled, consumed by the intoxicating thrill of omnipotence. Her entire body quivered with excitement, and her mouth went dry from sheer exhilaration, unable to contain the overwhelming surge of emotion.
Yuri Lanster’s face twisted in bewilderment, unable to grasp why her attack had stopped. It seemed beyond her understanding.
“Shall I tell you? Why⋯⋯ you can’t attack me?”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
“It’s because I am your 『Heroine』.”
She had captured Yuri’s eyes. She couldn’t look away now.
Yuri was mesmerized. In a fleeting instant, love bloomed, each second more intense than the last.
Her heart started racing, and she was at a loss for words. Her eyes were drawn irresistibly to the Queen, and before she knew it, fate had intertwined their paths.
The birds chirped as if in celebration, the sunlight felt like a blessing, and the breeze was refreshing. The world suddenly started looking beautiful, as if she was looking at everything through rose-tinted glasses.
All of this was contained within the Queen’s gears. This⋯⋯ was Metamorphosis, designed to create someone’s heroine.
The stage was set. The characters appeared, and the roles were assigned. The playwright became the heroine herself, weaving justification into every act and scene.
That’s why she couldn’t attack.
This power, which captivated the very world, this was ultimate 『Seduction』,!
Of course, you wouldn’t understand. Neither would I. Both Metamorphosis and Sublimation were essentially random. The form of a soul was so diverse that intentionally manifesting a specific ability was impossible.
Even 『Noose Engraving Despair』 hadn’t specifically aimed for ‘Materialization of Magic’ when he created the Anti-Mage Assassin.
Therefore, it was impossible⋯⋯.
The birth of such a perfectly aligned set of abilities, all orchestrated for a singular purpose, was impossible. She couldn’t imagine any other explanation.
The Queen recalled something 『Lamb』 had said in passing.
—It’s been said that the Evil God, who vanished from this era, had the power to manipulate fate without anyone noticing. He entertained himself by creating heroes, tragedies, disasters, or comedies, all forfun.
Such an idea defied common sense⋯⋯ it was a story from a distant realm of thought. To move the world, toying with countless lives like mere puppets in a grand play?
Obscuring awareness, leading them to immerse fully in their role as the protagonist, setting up believable trials, perfectly timing events, introducing characters, determining victories and defeats, evoking laughter and tears, and finally concluding the story.
How many layers of Metamorphosis would need to overlap to achieve such power?
So the abilities of the Evil God, pursued by us Dark Wizards, must not be a singular grand power, but rather a refined collection of many abilities. If we were to give it a name…
-We shall call this, ‘God’s Toolbox’⋯⋯.
Aha.
Indeed── this truly was the ‘God’s Toolbox’.
“Bullshit──!!”
Crunch. Yuri Lanster wrapped herself even tighter in her chains. Her skin tore, and blood dripped down. She moved forward, inch by inch. Creaaaaaaak.
Tuk. Yuri’s fist touched the Queen’s left eyelid.
“⋯⋯Ahha, oh no. Are you resisting⋯⋯? You couldn’t possibly withstand this potent power. Perhaps I was a bit⋯⋯ sloppy.”
“Eu, gh, aaht⋯⋯!!”
“Apologies, Yuri. I’ll make it easy for you soon.”
The Queen recognized her own limitations. Fully wielding the power of 『Heroine』 was beyond her current abilities.
So she accepted this truth humbly. She would use only one aspect. If she narrowed her focus, if she concentrated on a single tool, she might be able to control it better.
The name of this power was…
『Heroine : Poison That Melts the Mind』.
===============================================================
Ah, has it started? Yes⋯⋯ it has. It’s been activated.
Listen closely. Yes.
You were consumed by hatred, pouring out relentless attacks against the enemy before you. But they were ineffective. It wasn’t because the opponent was too strong,
No, your attacks failed because you were too weak.
Once, we were close. We spent happy times together. You used to call me sister and follow me everywhere. Perhaps, deep down, some trace of that affection still remains within you.
Memories from the past kept resurfacing⋯⋯ and an undeniable affection towards the Queen clouded your vision, even as your heart boiled with rage toward her.
Thud. Thud.
Your fists, once brimming with unrivaled strength, now felt as weak as a newborn. Each blow landed with a soft, lifeless thud.
Instead of causing damage, all you managed to do was smear your blood onto the Queen of Pure White.
These blows weren’t real.
Even as you tried to steel your heart, the pull of love dragged you in the opposite direction. Yes⋯⋯ you wished, didn’t you? How wonderful it would be to return to those days.
Could it have been a misunderstanding?
Maybe you were wrong⋯⋯. Why would the kind, gentle white sister who once treated you so kindly⋯⋯ destroy your village?
Isn’t it a reasonable doubt?
“Stop feeding me this bullshit⋯⋯!!”
Then why? Why was there no force behind your punches?
Even with your eyes closed, your ‘gaze’ was fixed solely on me. You sensed me with every fiber of your being, and everything else faded into the background. It was as if you were lost.
Each punch brushed against my lashes, and with every movement of your joints, you inhaled deeply, drawing in my scent.
“No. This isn’t my feeling. I, I despise you⋯⋯.”
Tears of blood streamed down her face.
I never denied your hatred, Yuri. I simply smothered it with love.
There’s a word for that—ambivalence. Of love and hate.
Yuri, the truth is⋯⋯ you could have killed me. Isn’t that strange?
I always imagined the Evil God’s Sublimation would be more direct—like a giant laser beam or cursing others with eternal death.
But instead, the Evil God’s Sculpture of Pleasure granted me a far more intricate power. A power to ‘nurture’ emotions. It had no physical strength, no definitive absoluteness.
Had your mind been truly fortified with truth, it might have never worked on you.
Yes, the fault lies with you. It was your lack of resolve, your lack of effort, your lack of heart that allowed this to happen.
You told yourself you threw it away, that you threw away everything but…
You didn’t. You merely buried it deep inside because you couldn’t bear to truly let go. And it was that shallow pretense that led to your downfall.
If your Metamorphosis had been ‘erasing emotion’.
If there had been no hatred, no rage. If your heart had been truly hollow, then I would have met my death in your hands.
But no matter how hard you tried⋯⋯ to suppress your feelings, they lingered, shimmering in the depths like a cold, blue light at the bottom of the loch within you.
I merely drew them to the surface and amplified them, then captured them.
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
You have lost all strength now. You must have reached the time limit on your Metamorphosis.
Now, sink.
Sink at last. Into that loch of emotions where you had chained down all your feelings. It’s finally time for you to dip your feet into those waters.
Slowly step in. When you dip the tip of your toe, you might feel a chilling sensation of coldness that would be enough to send shivers down your spine.
But don’t worry.
.
Just sink.
Sink.
⋯⋯⋯⋯.
You’re sinking. It feels so peaceful, doesn’t it?
Become a drowned corpse, sinking with all the emotions you had submerged. Swing gently⋯⋯ in regret. Back and forth. Back and forth.
Forever.
===============================================================
Her legs gave out, and with a dull thud, Yuri Lanster collapsed like a marionette whose strings had been severed.
The Succubus Queen cradled the Evil God’s Sculpture standing motionless, and stared at her like a predator inspecting the lifeless corpse of its prey. Once she confirmed that Yuri was unable to fight any more.
“Hu, heuheu⋯⋯.”
She laughed.
“Heu, haha⋯⋯ ahahahahat, hat, ahahaha⋯⋯!!”
It was delightful. So utterly delightful.
If anyone were to ask what part of it she found so enjoyable⋯⋯ she would say that the entire process of manipulating Yuri Lanster like a puppet, was thrillingly enjoyable. Watching her , the one who had raged with fury moments before, crumble under an overwhelming tide of love was a thrill.
Though her mastery of the power wasn’t yet flawless, and she couldn’t fully unleash the Evil God’s Sculpture without restrictions, for now, it was enough. She had used it to buy time, long enough for Yuri to get tangled under the backlash of her own Metamorphosis.
Next time, she would make it even more entertaining. She already had several ideas.
This time, she had merely stolen the love Yuri Lanster harbored for someone else⋯⋯ and redirected it toward herself.
Given enough time, Yuri would eventually fall hopelessly in love with the Queen. Then, she would turn her into a devoted knight who would serve her faithfully.
Every night, Yuri would burn with a fierce desire to kill the Queen, consumed by her hatred, and yet, she would be utterly lost, tormented by the overwhelming love that clouded her judgment.
Or perhaps, she would make Yuri fall in love with a filthy pig rolling in the mud.
That would definitely be fun! Watching her struggle to understand why she was drawn to such a repulsive creature, filled with disgust yet helpless to resist her feelings⋯⋯ loving in such an absurd, ridiculous way!
Oh my. How far can I go? There were an endless amount of things to do.
She could torment more and more.
There were more people she could break, more ways to play with them, each more cruel and twisted than the last.
The Queen summoned her servants from the 『Nest』. They hauled away the remaining members of the Extermination Squad, engraved hypnosis into their minds and turned them into mana batteries.
Meanwhile, the Queen gave the unconscious Yuri Lanster a lap pillow, gently stroking her hair as she extracted the information she needed.
How they had discovered the entrance to『Nest』, and how they had managed to make it this far. She needed to carefully check every detail.
“⋯⋯Oh my?”
She stumbled upon something interesting in her memories. The Purple Magic Tower Master staying at the Academy, that three students had already achieved Metamorphosis…
And…
The Illusion Wizard from the Purple Magic Tower who was staying at the academy.
The Queen dug deeper into Yuri’s memories, growing more curious by the moment. Then, she learned about this game called TRPG. Although she couldn’t fully grasp everything from the second-hand memories…
⋯⋯ the completed version was right there.
She shivered. This was it. This was how it was supposed to be done.
Crazy Wizard’s stories seemed like a perfect guide to wielding Evil God’s Sublimation. The skill with which he wove narratives so subtly that his victims never realized⋯⋯ that they were being manipulated!
Greed stirred within her.
What if she could pry open that Wizard’s mind and consume all of his knowledge? Then, she had a feeling she could master Evil God’s Sublimation more skillfully than anyone.
The Queen gently patted Yuri’s head as she whispered softly.
“Yuri, I⋯⋯ was originally planning to use you as a test subject. To see if I could make someone fall in love with inanimate objects or change their desires. I had all sorts of torments planned for you, but…”
They had been close, the Wizard and Yuri Lanster.
Let’s set a trap. She would carefully plant it deep within Yuri’s mind and deliver it as a gift to the Wizard. Kindly, of course.
And when the Wizard inevitably dove into his friend’s mind to save her, she would⋯⋯ ensnare his mind. Capture, daze, then crush and consume. Devouring every last shred of knowledge until it was all hers.
Let’s set the perfect trap.
Since he seemed to enjoy building his stories, it would be nice to set up a trap the same way.
Yes. It was an unfamiliar word, this was probably the way it was used.
“This is a session⋯⋯ I’ve prepared. Uhuhu.”
The Succubus Queen began preparing her masterpiece.
===============================================================
“⋯⋯Pink-Haired Lesbian?”
When I saw her again a few days later, she was asleep. As if she would never wake up again.