Chapter 262: Forced Takeover

Sometimes, truth reveals itself during the most unexpected times. Similarly, certain things could happen in the same manner. He still did it despite knowing that failure is inevitable and that any further action is meaningless. These incomprehensible actions of his...

"I understand everything now."

A soft murmur rang out in the endless white space. Only the voice was present along with a cat-eared woman whose expression is never-changing.

The source of it came out. The moment she revealed herself, the woman, Kal'tsit, exhibited signs of befuddlement. Though, it was cleared the next moment through the stream of information that came out of nowhere.

Feeling the connection between her and the one standing in front, she showed something that she hadn't done in decades.

Sorrow.

"They... are real?"

"It would be so if you do not take action."

Kal'stit met the fluctuating eyes of her, to be exact, her other self. It serves that time travel and direct interference aren't allowed due to the "lock" that he imposed, but it was briefly loosened for a moment. That moment is enough for three people of the future to link with their "other selves".

"Time is limited. Once our connection is severed, you will forget most of these."

The memories that suddenly invaded her mind were immense. It spans at least several decades' worth. Moreover, she's also the possessor of [Wisdom King: Raphael] as well as its subsequent evolution [Azathoth]. She managed to break through the limitations of UR, raising it to [#@#%$!$].

Even so, going against the flow of time under a special lock imposed by reality's strongest is nearly impossible. These events shouldn't have happened in the first place unless the one who sealed it opened a back door for them.

"I shall make no further explanations. Don't you agree?"

"...Yes."

After going through that horrendous joke, Kal'tsit prepared herself to leave the white space.

"You will forget most of these memories, perhaps even thinking that everything is just a dream. But, you must remember this." The future Kal'tsit worded out seriously, "The future has to be changed."

"To save him from that sacrifice."

The [#@#%$!$] started activating, pulling her away from this space which mimicked Romani's Temple.

"I will change the future."

*****

Clang-!

A clear blue streak interrupted the flurry of blades coming at Salter. With chipped armor and fatigued mind and body, she could no longer fight. Despite her not giving up, the gravity of the situation made her unable to fight.

"Just as I thought playtime is over." Altair said with a hint of mockery. "So this is what you call a duel?"

"You..!"

Salter was about to reprimand the person who had interrupted the killing strike, but he went ahead of her.

"I apologize for the intrusion, Artoria-nee. To save what's precious, to change the unstoppable trajectory, I have to do so."

The sight of a blue-haired boy, nay, a man entered the sight of everyone.

"You... nor everyone else does not understand the weight of this situation. What was it... 'Ignorance is a Bliss', right. Just like us who didn't feel something until it was too late."

He made a simple thrusting attack. With both of his hands on the pole, he stabbed it in Altair's direction.

Clang-!

Rotating blades greeted the attack.

Crack-!

Crack-!

Crack-!

Under the surprised gazes of everyone, the simple attack had multiple blurry trajectories in it.

Zoom-!

The spear tip cut a portion of Altair's unbuttoned military uniform. She dashed a few meters backward with her senses and avoided the attack.

This time, a plethora of blades surrounded him. Nevertheless, Shinji continued with his charge. He spun his ice spear and regained the lost momentum from before.

The attack aimed at her forehead. It traced causality itself just like Alicetaria's previous attempt. What was different, however, is that it is completely integrated. It is a practiced attack that he was accustomed to for decades.

Hum.

Suddenly, the tip of his spear turned into petals of flowers. They soon devoured everything up to Shinji's grip, yet... he never stopped his attack.

Pssshuk-!

The next moment, Altair found that the attack pierced through her. This time, it is different. It aimed straight to her core, to the concept that held "Altair".

Shinji spun the spear from the grip before he pulled it upwards. The blade came off from Altair's right shoulder, cutting her torso diagonally. No blood was spilled, but many information blocks appeared around her body.

"I failed..!"

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead. He exactly knew the consequences of failing. He should have felt 'that' if he had successfully severed the connection between them. However, his current strength was limited. The present Shinji's body does not live up to his standards as a Beyond Creator class. That and the incongruency in his present and future are held by a thin line—Shiro's power.

"Argh!"

For the first time, a groan escaped Altair's mouth. Her expression distorted as inner conflict occurred inside her mind.

'Kill. Kill. Kill. Everything shall return to nothingness.'

'Let us pull the vile gods down from their throne..!'

'They are undeserving of everything. Let them be the trash that they are.'

'The world is better to be destroyed. The ones born out of their twisted desires shall not escape as well.'

'Destroy. Destroy. Destroy!'

Hazardous thoughts entered her mind. These voices kept telling her to destroy everything. They are guiding her to walk down the extreme path as a form of revenge for what her creator had experienced. Even if this is not what she wants—nor it is the wish of her creator—they slowly took over her mind.

'I... will succeed this time.'

She doesn't know if these are even her thoughts anymore.

'I WILL BRING EVERYTHING TO RUINS!'

Sadly, she was completely overwhelmed by it.

BUZZ-!

HUMM-!

CRACKLE-!

Space was torn down; reality began collapsing. The cameras as well as the satellites capturing this moment crashed. The endless fictional city was torn apart, unable to withstand the stress it had been subjected to. They were briefly pulled back to the real world before another space sucked them in.

"Tsk. You made things more troublesome, Shinji."

"Ah? Ruri-nee?"

The small visage of Kuroneko appeared from the shadows.

"Eek..!"

Suddenly, Madoka collapsed. Instantly, Touka used her power and checked out what was wrong with her.

"Something... is encroaching on her mind."

From what she saw, there's "something" that adversely affects Madoka's mentality.

The girl's face scrunched up as she placed both of her arms in her head—as if covering what she's been hearing.

Tap.

Kal'tsit momentarily appeared beside her. With a touch of her finger, the expressionless doctor erased the ailment that she suffered from.

"Doctor? What's going on?" Touka asked with a serious expression. She immediately felt the different air around Shinji, Kal'tsit, and Kuroneko. "You..!"

Her golden pupil widened as she inadvertently saw the reason behind them.

"You... are not from our time."

"It's a long story." Kal'tsit replied. "For now, protect Shiro. His final preparations should be over soon. We will fight against her for now."

"Sigh... It's been a long time, Touka. I haven't seen you for a long time that your deadpan feels like a compliment."

Kuroneko chided with an unusual remark. Her future self has a few "abnormal" traits due to her long time of loneliness. She ventured deep into "that place". If not for the sword with her, she would have gone crazy from the get-go.

"...Your future self is more annoying."

As expected, she made her usual deadpan.