Metamorphosis

Esme saw something horrifying that day.

'Allie…?'

She saw her friends and family, just like she wanted. But… they weren't the same as she left them.

'Charles…?'

She found them to be positioned like beasts, mating in the most disgusting way possible.

'E-everyone…?!'

Their vacant pupils and drooling mouths were wide open as they absentmindedly moved their body to engage in activities they wouldn't normally get involved in.

Such vulgar actions… the filthiness of it all—Esme nearly didn't recognize these people as her family.

But they were!

Not all of them were here, but she could see a lot of familiar faces.

The bodies of the young ones she knew had been forcefully matured somehow, and their previously flat bellies were swollen.

"A-ahh… ahhh…"

Esme felt her mind was tearing apart.

She always wanted to reunite with her family, but now that they were right in front of her, she couldn't take a single step forward.

This wasn't her family at all.

They were… different… from how she remembered them.

"Intruder!" Esme heard voices echo from all over the room.

Suddenly, sirens began to blare and a lot of guards began to rush in through the double-door at the furthest end of the room.

Some had blades, as well as other weapons, while some had staffs. They clearly seemed to be veterans, and according to protocol, they had their nose masks on.

Esme was too shell-shocked to utter any word.

She just looked at the entire scene that played right in front of her in bone-chilling horror.

'H-how… why…?'

Her eyes began to grow wide, and her racing heart couldn't go any fast, so it practically stop beating; for that moment, at least.

Then—

"No…"

—Her voice began to manifest.

~BZZZTZZZ!~

"… I should have expected this…"

~ZZZTZZZZ!~

"You're all monsters. Every single one of you." Esme raised her face and looked at the people who cautiously approached her.

They must have been quite worried due to the Elementals that guarded her.

If they took any step closer to her, Esme knew her protectors would easily get rid of them.

But… she didn't want that.

~ZZZTTTTTZZZZZ!~

Esme wanted to be the one to do it.

She wanted to kill them.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[The World Has Listened To Your Cry, Lost One]

[Inferior Gene Limitation Has Been Removed]

[New Skill Unlocked: Absolute Elemental Control]

[All Pre-Existing Skills Will Be Upgraded]

"Haaa…"

As misty breaths escaped Esme's lips, she looked at the approaching enemies with only one thought in mind.

"Please die."

~VWUUUUUSSSHH!~

The Orichalcum armor that covered her body instantly broke apart as a result of the inflow of such incredible Mana.

Her current power was too much for it to contain.

That wasn't all, though.

The two Grand Elemental Summons beside her also shattered, and their bodies became nourishment for her new Skill.

The violent winds from the Wind Elemental, coupled with the broken shards of the immensely powerful Earth Elemental, gave Esme strength.

She sent the winds forward, easily slicing through every single defense that her enemies could erect to protect themselves.

Within a single moment, their diced up bodies floated in the air— all of them without exceptions.

Then, Esme sent the shattered rocks towards all the dismembered corpses, using the debris to point their flesh until they became pasty entrails and grounded meat.

They splattered all over the room—both blood and flesh—all of it creating a disgustingly beautiful landscape of death.

In that single moment, Esme killed over a hundred guards, seeing their flesh and blood cover everything in the vast room.

Once her violent outburst was over, Esme plopped to the ground, kneeling in utter defeat.

She had indeed killed her enemies, but her victory rang hollow.

No… was it really a victory at all?

Despite everything, Esme could still hear the sounds of flesh pounding against flesh—an action carried out by the thousands in the room.

Some were familiar, some were not.

They were not moaning in pleasure, but grunts and squishes could be heard all around.

Esme could see it all—with her [Absolute Appraisal]—that their mental and cognitive functions had long been corroded.

'They're too far gone…'

Yes, they looked like people, but they were far from it. These were empty shells that only knew how to do certain things.

Machines disguised as living beings.

Or rather, living things that had become nothing more than machines.

'I… what did I…? I…'

Before Esme could complete her thoughts, she heard a sound behind her.

~BOOOOM!~

A familiar presence appeared behind her.

She was naked and absolutely vulnerable, covered in blood. Her shame consumed her as she knelt there, unable to look in the eyes of the man who had now appeared behind her.

Tears streamed down her eyes as she felt his gaze settle on her.

'I… I…'

Then, she heard his footsteps, how they advanced towards her.

'No! Don't come near me! I'm too…' She turned to look at him at that moment.

'… Too filthy!'

Esme had become the very evil she hated—killing and enjoying every bit of it.

She knew a smile was on her face when she cut up those men and women and crushed their meaty flesh and solid bones with her power.

It was terribly fleeting, but Esme had felt indescribable pleasure back then.

She was a horrible person.

"W-what… have I done?" She whispered as she looked at Rey.

His dark mask prevented her from seeing his face, but she was so scared about how he now perceived her.

Perhaps as a monster… or as evil.

Back when he had executed all the members of the opposition side, Esme only felt disgust and repulsion—towards him and the entire dance of violence.

But now… now it was her turn.

She was so scared to be gazed upon with such eyes.

If only Esme really knew what Rey was currently seeing through the lens of his sight.

He never perceived a monster.

All he saw was a beautiful gem surrounded by tragedy.