All the Otherworlders were reluctant to accept Lucielle's solution, but based on the circumstances, and the thought of the greater good--not to talk of their innate desire for self-preservation--they had no choice but to agree.
Only Adonis seemed the most hesitant at the idea, but even he seemed like he would cave in.
"I think this is the best option at the mome--" Lucielle was about to say more, perhaps final words to convince the Hero, but was interrupted.
"You guys..."
Alicia's low voice caused everyone to slowly look at her.
What they saw caused their eyes to widen and their expressions to morph into that of horror. They had considered a couple of outcomes, but not this.
"... You're ignoring the most obvious and effective strategy..."
Alicia was holding a dagger, her two hands trembling as she placed it dangerously close to her neck. She was breathing very heavily, and perspiration glistened on her soft skin.
Still, the resolute gaze she gave made it clear she wasn't messing around.
"Let me just die. Everything will be over once that happens."
Adonis was the first to speak, taking a step forward as he yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Alicia, don--!"
~WHOOOOOOOOOSH!~
All of a sudden, a dark shadow was cast on the group, the shape of a monster. No one was fast enough to see it, since their eyes were on her, but since her gaze was high above, she could witness the emergence of the beast.
The Divine Beast had returned... and it desired her life.
Fear captured her as she witnessed the horrifying beast. It looked a lot taller and more brutal than ever before.
Its pure white flesh and incredible muscles seemed to swallow up the entire sky. The beast lacked eyes, but she could tell that it was looking straight at her.
Its two claws were outstretched as it leaped in her direction, though it was still high up in the sky. Once it began its descent, it was all over.
Alicia knew, at that moment, that her life had come to an end.
Her weak hands let go of the blade, and she awaited the brutal end that she felt was deserving.
'How many people have suffered... have died, because of me?'
She brought this monster into this world, and it had caused so much destruction in the short time that it existed here. Every second that she lived was only going to bring more people harm.
More innocents would suffer... and she didn't want that.
'I have so many regrets. So many things I want. I want to go back home. Maybe if I die here, I'll return. Maybe Rey is waiting for me back on Earth...' Using those words to comfort herself, she let her fears lie still.
The dagger fell from her grip, very slowly, as the Divine Beast kept descending. It would most likely reach her before the blade touched the ground, but she didn't mind.
At the very least, her end would be swift.
Just as Alicia was about to close her eyes and say farewell to this world, she saw something--a certain silhouette that floated in the corner of her eye.
'H-huh...?'
It seemed like the person had always been there, but she just hadn't noticed until now.
He was naked, standing majestically in the air as he had his palm outstretched, fingers pointing at the Divine Beast that charged towards her.
His form was immaculate. His dark hair seemed much longer than she remembered, and his perfectly chiseled body gleamed divinely under the diminishing sun.
Alicia only had a glimpse, but she could recognize that face from anywhere.
"R-Rey--?"
Before she could complete whatever words she wanted to utter with her lips, the pure white light that floated atop his palm instantly created a brilliant beam that charged forward.
~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~
Everything vibrated, and Alicia felt the tremors even at the deepest recesses of her body. It was all shaking in response to the bright light.
The ray swallowed up the Divine Beast, completely immersing it in its powerful embrace until there was nothing left.
However, that wasn't all.
The light traveled a further distance, going as far as miles upon miles, destroying whatever was in its path. Alicia couldn't have known this, but the several tall mountains that were high enough to receive the blast were easily obliterated by the blast.
It all happened in an instant too--at a speed mere humans could never comprehend.
By the time her dagger reached the ground, the creature of her nightmares was gone. It had been eviscerated in totality.
"Is that you... Rey?"
"Yeah. That's Rey. He's alive." Someone said beside her, but everything was getting too blurry to make it out.
"He was Ralyks all along. Can you beleive it?"
"Seems you didn't know…"
"In any case… it's time for you to have your slumber now."
"... FOREVER."
As the voice echoed in Alicia's head, she found her eyes shutting tight without a will of her own, and her consciousness fading along with her sight.
"I see…" Was the last whisper she made before her eyes closed for what would be an eternity.
She fell to the ground, like a lifeless puppet whose strings got snapped off.
Everything became darkness, and moments later… they turned into light—a blank void for her to spend an eternity in.
That was her Curse.
**************
[Congratulations! You Have Advanced To A New Class]
As Rey floated in the air, watching longingly as the last fraction of his [Perfect Divine Ray] vanished from the world, he saw the System tab in front of him.
Despite seeing this, he felt no surge of excitement. He felt it was only natural, considering all that had just happened.
… All he just had to suffer.
"Class details." He muttered, his expression still as stoic as ever.
[Class Information]
- Name: Singularity
- Tier: S-Tier
- Cause: You have done the impossible, defying the balance of this world and forever changing its nature. Your existence is an aberration, and your power has reached a frightening degree.
This world's very fabric is forever altered by your existence.
[Class Privileges]
~ 50+ Subsequent Stat Points for every Level Up.
~Perfect Resistance to Appraisal and any other ability of the sort.
~ Equalizer Effect can be activated (When facing someone much stronger than you, a balancing effect will come into play)
~Immunity to Curses or all Ailments and Negative Status Conditions in the world.
~Soul Preservation is in Effect. Nothing in this world can kill you, as the world itself offers you guardianship.
~[$@@%] Effect can now be available to you (You can only use it once).
[End Of Information]
The usual exhilaration that Rey would normally have had completely vanished. He simply stared straight at the screen and read its contents word for word.
'So I can't die, huh? How convenient…' Rey could only wonder why this was given to him.
If only he had something that would allow those around him not to die. Perhaps that would have been a lot more helpful.
'Those around me… ahh…!' Rey's eyes popped wide open as he looked beneath him to see his allies huddled together, surrounding Alicia's unconscious body.
"Ah! Alici—!"
[System Notice]
~Too Many Changes Have Occurred Within You, So Time Is Needed For Full Acclimation~
[You Will Now Enter A State Of Hibernation]
'N-no… I have to…!'
Powerlessness once again took over Rey's body, and he found himself descending to the ground.
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Thanks for reading!
What do you think about Rey's current Class and Skills? He seems pretty invincible, right?
