[Recommended OST: STAR ANIS : Undercurrent | GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE OST]
Crimson blood sprayed and froze in the air.
Sophia's lilac hair was stained crimson as her rainbow eyes widened in shock. She instinctively clamped her hand around her neck to cover the wound and stop the bleeding. But before she could, the black ice surged and froze her solid.
Elio screamed, a sound completely out of character from him. Desperate, grieving, wrathful. The sound of a man who had his world crumble not just once, but twice now.
"Uncle!" Eve tried to move towards him, her rapier drawn and wreathed with mana.
Chaos.
That was the only way I could describe everything unfolding was absolute and utter chaos.
Even so, I remained calm and held Eve close, stopping her before she could get too far.
And just in time.
The black ice bloomed, fracturing through the air as if to grab her. And not just her, but all the other guests as well.
Before it could, I activated Seablaze and wreathed everyone in my flames.
Like before, when the black ice touched my flames, they froze. But unlike before, they didn't disperse.
Eve's silver eyes widened in shock. "Alex...? Those flames are-"
"Stay behind me, Eve. Whatever you do, whoever you see die, you stay. I can't lose you. Everyone else doesn't matter. But you can't die here."
I held Rebellion in my hand and peered through my flames at the one who had attacked.
"Commoner." A cold and haughty noble voice. One that could have belonged to a villain or an antihero. One that was SUPPOSED to belong to an antihero.
I stared at the blue-haired noble walking forward and calmly said, "Frostblade. Have you lost your mind?"
Was it coordinated?
No. In the corner of my eyes, I could see Maximilian's fury. This was not planned.
Isaac had moved on his own.
...Of course.
I'd underestimated it.
I knew he was prideful. I knew I was poking at his insecurities. I knew that he would have felt like I was stealing what was his.
...But I didn't think he'd stoop this low.
A pulsing violet core was in his heart. A Demon Gem.
...This was supposed to happen eventually.
Isaac was meant to come across the Demon Gem, realize how it synergized with his abilities and didn't corrode him, then use it to enhance himself.
With it, he was meant to be the vanguard against the first wave of demonic beasts that emerged after the First Disaster.
Yet here he stood, not as a hero or antihero. Not even as an antagonist. But a complete, bonofide villain. Someone who had fatally wounded Headmistress Lux in broad daylight, attempted to slaughter everyone in the main hall, and who was now slowly advancing, eyes fixed on me and Eve.
Looking at us, Isaac let out a cold smile, his eyes an eerie violet hue. "Lost my mind? No. I simply decided." He swept his hand out, black ice fracturing into blades primed to slaughter everyone in the room. "You were right. External power isn't enough. So, I made it my own."
As if to prove a point, he flicked his wrist, sending the blades out towards the other people in the room.
Screams echoed. People tried to run.
But the blades shattered into black snow before swirling back around Isaac.
He smiled at me and said, "See, Commoner? You aren't the only one who understands mastery of power."
Eve stepped forward, her silver eyes cold and furious. "Frostblade. You-"
Before she could say anything else, golden light surged towards Isaac, forcing him to leap back to dodge it.
At the same time, an oppressive force exploded, shattering the building around us.
Eve froze.
I did too, looking towards the source of what was going on. And then I saw it.
Up above, a massive Gate. One that must have just been created. But how-
"Alex."
Elio's voice.
I blinked and looked towards it to see Elio hugging Sophia's frozen body close.
Elio stared at me with eyes glowing an otherworldly golden hue and said, "You asked me earlier..." He gently swept Sophia's frozen body into his arms, cradling her like precious glass... which she basically was right now.
A single step would lead her to shatter.
Isaac's sneak attack had flash frozen her body, and the demonic energy had corroded her mana.
...In all honesty, the only thing that Elio was holding was just a sculpture in the shape of Sophia.
But even so...
Elio gave me a broken smile, his eyes mad with desperate resolve. "If one preserves the body of someone deceased and carries it into a Gate, would it be possible to retrieve their soul and place it in their body? ...Well." He looked up at the Gate. "...I'll let you know."
Seeing that expression, I realized what was happening.
Was it because of my changes?
Was it the world itself resisting my will?
Or was the Void Sovereign forcing events back into place with their ability?
This was that scene. The Gate above us was a direct portal into the depths of Tartarus. A plan that Elio attempted in my original draft but failed, leading to his death.
I had never defined how he was able to reach it.
But now I knew.
The
But if it was somehow elevated into a Domain...
"Wait, Elio-!"
I tried calling out to him. To stop him from certain suicide.
But he laughed and then jumped into the Gate, vanishing along with it and sending pieces of the building crashing back down to earth around us.
...It was wrong.
All of this was wrong.
"Frostblade." Maximilian rounded on Isaac, his voice as cold as the grave. "...Surrender. Under my authority as the Crown Prince, you are under arrest for the murder of Headmistress Sophia Lux as well as attempted murder of countless others."
Everything was spiraling out of control.
"Hngh?!" Eve winced and suddenly clutched her heart. "A-Alex? My... chest feels... hot...!"
The plot was gone. The First Disaster I tried to stop...
"You are always getting in my way, Maximilian." Isaac quietly advanced, blade drawn and pointed at the prince. "I'm tired of it. Just die."
It didn't matter.
Something worse had occurred.
"Hmph." Maximilian scoffed and drew his own blade. "That is lese majeste. Your life is forfeit. Men."
"Yes, Your Grace!"
Maximilian's men spread out, flanking Isaac.
Chaos. Madness. Despair, death, and ruin.
Guests, sprinting out in a frantic escape, only to be trampled or cut down by other guests.
Heroes rushing towards the Prince's side to aid him, only to be cut down by Isaac swinging his sword.
Isaac himself, laughing with madness clear in his eyes.
"Alex!" Eve grabbed my hand. "We have to... get out of here...!"
I turned to look at her. And as I did, I could see it.
Was it because of Isaac's presence? A resonance with the Demon Gem in close proximity?
I had lost.
Eve was seconds away from turning into a demon, her veins already blackening.
"ALEX! EVE!" Roland ran towards us, blade gleaming with white light.
"Frostblade, you fool!" Marisa waved her staff, her newly advanced Rank 7 mana spreading as she cast a galeforce wind to strike him down.
But Isaac just laughed, letting the wind strike him and tear him to shreds, only for his blood and flesh to freeze into black ice, shatter, and reform on his body. "Sagewind." He let out an eerie grin. "Relying on magic will only get you so far."
I could sense it.
The dead end.
The final chapter.
Isaac rushed forward, swinging his sword at Marisa, who was stunned at Isaac still being alive.
"MARI!" Roland ran to intercept.
But he was too slow.
"Al...ex?" Eve looked up at me, her silver eyes already turning crimson as her skin turned pale. "I... don't want to..."
And now...
> System reboot completed.
> Assessing the situation...
> Genre shift confirmed!
> The story genre has shifted 100% to Tragedy.
> You have gained a tremendous amount of SP.
> WARNING! The story is moments away from its conclusion!
I placed my hand on Eve's cheek, staring into her eyes. "Eve."
"Alex..." Eve stared back, crimson tears streaming from her eyes. "...Is this it?"
"Do you trust me?"
Eve stared into my eyes. Then she let out a soft smile. "I do. I always do."
I placed my hand over her heart.
Did Roland sense what I was going to do?
He immediately spun towards me and screamed. "ALEX! NO!"
But because he did that, Marisa was cut down.
Roland's anguished screams filled the air, mixing with the other chaotic sounds.
I ignored it.
Instead, I leaned forward and whispered into Eve's ear. "Close your eyes. It will only hurt for a little bit."
Eve nodded and closed her eyes. As she did, she whispered, "I love you."
"I know." I gave her a soft smile and whispered, "I know."
Then I pierced my hand through her heart.
"ALEX!"
> You have reached the ending.
> You have perfectly played the role of 'Arrogant commoner who steals the pride of the Eternal Empire!'
> You are perceived as the mastermind who has shattered the Empire in one fell swoop!
> You have perfectly played the role of 'Commoner who seduced the princess to her death!'
> You have perfectly played the role of 'The one who fails their friends in their time of need!'
> You have completely aligned with the genre of Tragedy!
> Eve's affection has reached eternal devotion! She has given her very life to you and allowed you to take it, trusting in you even in the face of death!
> You have failed to prevent Eve's demonification, but it was negated due to her willing death.
> Roland's fury and anguish has forcibly awakened the Art
> Roland's betrayed heart has elevated the Art
> You have failed to prevent the First Disaster.
> You have failed to prevent the Second Disaster.
> Warning! The Demon God's descent is imminent!
...Messages declaring the ending.
Messages saying I failed.
Messages saying that this was the end of the line...
I pulled out Eve's heart, still caressing her cheek. Then I gently kissed her forehead. "Don't worry. This isn't the end."
With her last breaths, Eve opened her eyes to stare at me. Confusion, hope, desperation...
Roland had reached me, Durandal already mid-swing.
Marisa's body hit the floor.
As for me...
> The Mana Amalgamate you left in Eve has matured!
> The Mana Amalgamate has inherited [Mana Body] from Eve as well as the Traits [Demonic Being] and [Devoted Heart].
> You have gained a tremendous amount of SP!
> The Mana Amalgamate has been soulbound to Eve!
"...When you wake up, this will all have been just a bad dream, Eve." I smiled at her and kissed her, stealing her last breath.
Eve gave me a trembling smile and nodded. Then she went limp against me, the blood and warmth slowly leaving her as she stared at me with glassy silver eyes, still filled with trust and devotion.
Roland screamed, swinging his sword at my neck.
The moment before it struck-
> SP is being used in accordance with User's will.
> WARNING! This action will deplete User's SP to zero!
> ...Confirmation received! Proceeding!
> Your true Talent has emerged!
> [He Who Deletes Tragedy] activates!
> Your unique Art [Deus Ex Machina] has activated!
> WARNING! The Observers have taken notice of you rewriting causality!
> WARNING! The Gates operate outside of causality!
> WARNING! The world's causality has been locked as a consequence of your actions!
-I rewrote the ending.