Fiadh Remy-Sua O'Neill stood alone in the backyard of her mansion, her golden eyes fixed on the holo-menu hovering before her. She shrugged off her police jacket and flung it onto a white plastic chair. The early afternoon sun caught the red streaks in her hair as she stretched her fingers, headphones resting loosely around her neck.
With a quick swipe, she booted up Beat Beat Flushstar. The holographic interface unfolded around her, transforming the space into a digital arcade bathed in neon light. Selecting the hardest stage, she took a deep breath. The opening notes of Peekaboo You Too by Zooty Zakura filled the air.
The floor lit up beneath her, pulsing in time with the beat. As the first note hit, she slid into motion—heels skimming the surface, weight shifting effortlessly from step to step. She floated across the pad, each movement smooth as liquid neon. Quick shuffles, sharp pivots, seamless transitions—her body read the rhythm before her mind did, riding the wave of sound with perfect control. The tempo pushed harder, but she only moved faster, a blur of motion and light.
And then—
Score: 2,420,950. Rating: SS.
Fiadh stared at the results, her expression frozen.
'SS...? No way.'
Before she could scream in frustration, a shadow flickered overhead. Something—no, someone—pierced the sky, crashing straight into the swimming pool with an enormous splash.
Water exploded in all directions.
The intruder, a teenage boy, emerged from the water in slow motion—his turquoise hair plastered to his forehead, droplets glistening as they dripped from his chin. He wore a long green trench coat over a red tank top, brown trousers, and martial arts shoes. At his hip, a sheathed sword gleamed under the sun.
Their eyes met.
Fiadh exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down her face. "I don't believe this."
She scrolled through the status screen floating beside her.
Summoning Complete.
Name: Ouroboros
Designation: 7-Notes, Terra-class Godless
Level: -6
Fiadh's stomach twisted. "Oh, come on! I grinded for weeks to get a guaranteed Pluto-class Godless, and instead, I get you?"
Ouroboros climbed out of the pool, shaking himself off like a drenched dog. "So, you're my Chosen, huh? Red-haired, too? Maybe it's fate." He smirked. "What's with the sour expression? Keep frowning like that, and it'll stick."
"You don't get it." Fiadh jabbed a finger at him. "I should have pulled a Pluto. If you make me lose the tournament, I swear I'll haunt you forever."
He rolled his shoulders. "Relax. You've got the strongest Godless there is. And from what I can tell, you're no slouch yourself. You and me? We're destined for greatness."
Ignoring him, Fiadh retrieved her backpack from the chair and slipped on her helmet.
Ouroboros picked up her jacket and tossed it to her. "You forgot this."
She caught it instinctively but hesitated before putting it back on. "I won't need it much longer. The military police school I attended is turning into a regular high school this year. The uniform's changing too."
Yet, she still wore it. Old habits died hard.
Fiadh strode toward her white motorcycle, the latest Trinity 9R, parked at the edge of the courtyard. As she swung a leg over the seat, Ouroboros folded his arms.
"Since we're teaming up, we should introduce ourselves properly," he said. "Makes things easier."
"I already know your name," Fiadh replied flatly. "I'm Fiadh Remy-Sua O'Neill. Happy?"
"Delighted. So, where are we off to, Fiadh?"
"Back to school. Lunch break's over." She revved the engine, irritation creeping into her voice. "The tutorial said my chances of summoning a Uranus or Pluto-class Godless would be higher near water. And yet, here you are."
Ouroboros vanished—only to reappear beside her, floating like a phantom. "School? Kid, we should be tracking down the other Chosens. The early bird catches the worm."
Fiadh held up a single finger, signaling him to wait.
They reached the mansion gates within minutes. A maid in a crisp uniform leaned lazily against the high-tech security booth, barely glancing up as Fiadh approached. The gates themselves were an engineering impossibility—each metallic leaf weighing a staggering 1.8982×1089 kgi. Embedded lights flickered as she nudged one open with an almost careless flick of her wrist, propping it ajar with the back of her body.
"Welcome home, young master," she said, her tone polished but unmistakably bored.
Fiadh paused. "I'm stopping by Renée's Patisserie this weekend. Want anything?"
"Denied. Your schedule is at full capacity. I will handle all procurement operations."
Fiadh sighed. "You can drop the whole dutiful-maid routine, you know."
The maid placed a hand delicately over her chest. "Ah. A critical system error must have occurred. Running diagnostics now." She closed her eyes theatrically, standing perfectly still. Then, after a beat: "Diagnosis complete: No errors detected. Conclusion—this is just who I am. Deal with it."
Fiadh rolled her eyes and sped away.
Ouroboros reappeared, floating alongside her. "So, let me get this straight. You have a maid who can literally hold up absolute infinity, and yet I'm supposed to believe you need me?"
Fiadh tightened her grip on the handlebars. "She fell out of the sky one day, crashed straight into my house, and just... decided to stick around," she muttered. "She's beyond insufferable. If I could, I'd hit her with an unholy amount of quantum malware bombs just to make her lag."
Ouroboros arched a brow. "And yet, you haven't."
"Changing topics now," she said, speeding up. "What were you saying earlier?"
"I said this: School? Kid, we should be tracking down the other Chosens. The early bird catches the worm."
Fiadh clicked her tongue. "Right. And did this all-knowing bird of yours happen to mention where we should start looking?"
"As a matter of fact—no."
She shot him a deadpan look. "Wow. Truly invaluable insight. What would I ever do without you?"
"Glad you recognise my brilliance."
Fiadh ignored him and adjusted her grip on the handlebars. "Anyway, here's my final answer: No can do. I need to keep my perfect grades intact, and I've got assignments to submit. We'll talk about hunting down the other Chosens after I'm done with my clubs."
She shot a glance at Ouroboros out of the corner of her eye. "If you're as brilliant as you claim, you should be able to work around my schedule—not make my life harder."
"I knew you were a clever lass the moment I laid eyes on you. Juggling school, extracurriculars, and whatever else you've got going on? I'm surprised you don't look half-dead. That's impressive—for a mortal. So, what clubs are you in?"
"I'm the Student Council's Treasurer. If you want to know what that entails, do your own research. I'm also in the Music Club, the Mecha Club, and the Go-Home Club."
Ouroboros nodded, clearly processing the information. "I see. Wait... the last two didn't sound quite right. Actually, just the last one—what in the Void is the Go-Home Club? That where you go to play hooky?"
As his gaze drifted upwards, his sentence faltered. A sleek, massive mecha shot past them, its engines roaring in the sky above. The metal giant cut through the clouds with a sense of effortless power, its silhouette briefly blocking the artificial sun.
Ouroboros blinked. "And I suppose that's just another club activity, huh?"
Fiadh sighed. "Yep, right. It's my duty as a Chosen to explain the setting of this realm to you, isn't it? First off, don't be fooled by the blue sky—we're on Mars. It's the year 20XX. And before you ask, the System deliberately censors the exact year. Humanity has ultra-terraform-ed this planet, increasing its mass fivefold and expanding its surface area by somewhere between 62 and 68 per cent, among other things. Oh, and the Go-Home Club is exactly what it sounds like."
"Let me guess: humanity pulled this off with some cutting-edge, inexplicable technology?"
"Not quite. There was also a generous dose of unexplainable magic involved."
"Naturally." Ouroboros crossed his arms. "So, how much of the universe—or should I say, multiverse—has humanity conquered?"
"You're skipping too far ahead. For now, every planet in our solar system is habitable. They've all been altered in one form or another to resemble Terra."
"Alright, but seriously—what's the point of the Go-Home Club?!"
"Oh, and I should mention," Fiadh continued, completely ignoring him, "I carry a custom railgun-pistol loaded with mystictech bullets for self-defence. Its unique trait is that it deals a minimum of 1,000 times more final damage to non-sentient objects."
Ouroboros sighed. "Right. Never mind my earlier question, then." He eyed her warily. "That's some self-defence gear. And that trait is... oddly specific. You sure you're not on some intergalactic watchlist?"
Then he shook his head. "I'm done being surprised. If you can fight, good—but don't get cocky. When it comes down to it—I handle the real battles. Stay out of my way unless you have to step in... And don't get yourself killed. That's my job."
"Oh, so you're the designated martyr? Good to know. Hate to break it to you though, but I don't do the damsel-in-distress thing. If I go down, I'm taking at least a hundred of them with me."
She tapped the grip of her pistol as if to make a point.
Ouroboros let out another sigh. Great. Another reckless one.
They arrived in front of Xenithar Command College.
Ouroboros abruptly came to a stop, his turquoise eyes narrowing. "Hold on, Fiadh—something's not right. This place reeks."
Fiadh frowned. "Excuse me? I have excellent hygiene." She lifted an arm and gave a quick sniff, just to be sure.
"It's not you," Ouroboros deadpanned. "It's the ma'nae—dark residual energy—clinging to your school like rot."
Fiadh sighed. "I thought you had something useful to say. I've got a cybernetic eye that can see through anything, including ma'nae. Not to mention, my implants allow me to hack into most technology."
She pointed. "There's a man behind that wall, perched on a pile of corpses. Give me a moment to identify him."
Her eye flickered with digital data as she scanned the target.
Ouroboros blinked. "Cybernetic eye? Implants? You rich types and your fancy toys..." He exhaled, shaking his head. "Honestly, am I even needed here?"
He ran a hand through his hair, scowling. "Most likely a damn trap. The ma'nae signature indicates female—mid-twenties, keeping out of sight while her Chosen baits us in. That sound about right?" His gaze was on her. "So, what's the plan? If they already know we're here, staying's a mistake. We pull back. I'm not settled into this world yet, and I'm not dragging your corpse through unfamiliar territory."
Fiadh hopped off her motorcycle and scoffed. "Was a trap. Until I hacked and disabled all the outdated plasma mines he set up.So nope. Not retreating like cowards. It's time to see what you can do, oh self-proclaimed strongest Godless. If there are enemies here, we deal with them now—no ifs, ands, or buts. Take me over the gate."
"What, no cybernetic legs too?"
"Not yet," she shot back.
"Aye, aye. As you wish, milady."
Grabbing her firmly, he leapt over the gate in a single bound.
Mid-air, they spotted a man seated atop a mound of corpses.
He was in his thirties, grey hair tied in a small ponytail, sharp red eyes glinting under the Martian sun. A tailored grey tuxedo draped his broad frame, pristine despite the bloodied scene beneath him. He appeared to be muttering to an unseen companion, entirely at ease.
"Ah... what did I say? Fate's grand design is inescapable. A Chosen was bound to take the bait."
His smirk faltered as he noticed the plasma mines remained inert.
Fiadh stepped slightly behind Ouroboros, her voice even. "That's Clyde Cooper. A veteran of the Thronebreaker Wars. Charged with mutiny, treason, and countless other war crimes. He slaughtered allies and enemies alike with his mecha—the Hollow Men—a machine designed for three pilots. Long story short, Clyde was imprisoned and slated for public execution by ejection into the sun. He was being transported from Neptune to Mercury when he must've hijacked the transport ship."
Clyde grinned, utterly unfazed. "My reputation precedes me, I see. I must admit, I'm rather impressed that a little detective girlie like you is so well-versed in my illustrious deeds."
Then, his tone darkened.
"Since you're so well-informed, do be a good girlie and notify the System that you've abandoned the Godless Altar. I've already met my quota for today's bloodshed. Let's all agree to walk away without further conflict—a fair deal, wouldn't you say?"
Ouroboros scoffed. "The lucky sod must've somehow summoned a Godless while still in his cage. Your laws should've had him executed instead of putting on some public spectacle—then he wouldn't be here, having already killed these weak civilians and pathetic guards."
Fiadh tilted her head, her emerald eyes gleaming with something sharp. "Well, we can fix that today." She took a step forward. "Listen, criminal. If a murderous psycho like you wants me to simply give up, then you must not have much faith in your Godless. Either that, or you think I'm daft enough to fall for your rubbish." She exhaled slowly. "As my Godless said, you should've been dead long ago. So here's what's going to happen: Turn around and put your hands up. Now."
Clyde chuckled, eyes gleaming with mirth. "Should've, could've, would've... how deliciously tragic." He looked down at her as if she were some particularly interesting test subject. "I refuse to meet my end here—not by a long shot. But you, girlie? You're destined for oblivion."
Then, his smirk widened. "I confess, I almost lament the necessity of ending you... almost. A supersoldier of your calibre, effortlessly bypassing my encrypted mines—you had such untapped potential. A veritable masterpiece in the making."
He flicked open his holo-menu.
"Unfortunately, it's time for your grand finale." His finger hovered over an Arte command. "Hammy! Let's get started—pronto!"
A blur of movement—
From the depths of Ouroboros's shadow, a kunoichi emerged, a dagger in hand, her body poised to strike. Before she could drive the blade into his back, he spun around with inhuman speed, delivering a brutal backfist to her face.
Crack.
A direct hit—yet she didn't even flinch.
Ouroboros's eyes flickered. "Blimey," he muttered. "This woman took that punch like a proper champ... I must've been seriously nerfed in this blasted game-like realm."
Then—
The kunoichi exploded into shadows.
The surge of dark energy enveloped Ouroboros, reducing his Agility by 42% and launching him into the air.
He tensed, twisting mid-flight, eyes darting toward his Chosen below—
Fiadh had her holo-menu open, her finger poised over the Dodge icon.
Good, he thought. She's keeping up.
A presence above—
The real kunoichi emerged from the void, descending toward him in a silent strike. Seizing the briefest moment, Ouroboros grasped the air itself, twisting his body into a spiraling kick—
Physical Arte: Reversal Dragon Kick.
His foot connected.
Hammy blocked with a cross-arm guard, her stance unwavering, the passive ability of her Support Arte: Tragickmorph absorbing the worst of the impact.
Then—
She plucked a single strand of Ouroboros's long hair in the brief collision, twisting in the air before using it as a platform—
Wall jump.
She propelled herself toward Clyde, landing gracefully at his side.
Ouroboros crashed onto the ground with a thud, rolling to his feet with a grunt.
Clyde sighed theatrically. "You should be targeting that girlie first, Hammy. Really, I shouldn't have to instruct an elite assassin like you. You've got skin in this game too, you know? And I do so enjoy watching a professional at work."
Hammy's voice was quiet, almost reverent. "I can't."
Clyde raised an eyebrow. "Can't?"
"She's a young police officer, fighting for justice and a bright future," Hammy murmured. "Her brightness... it's hurting my eyes. My soul. My undeserving body shouldn't even be allowed to breathe the same air as her."
Clyde spat on the ground. "And what if that most promising officer of the law intends to kill us both, eh?"
Ouroboros groaned, pushing himself upright. "Damn it... I hadn't realised just how weak I've gotten." He flexed his fingers, frustrated. "Can't even fly in this form. And my speed was already garbage before the debuff."
Fiadh shot him a glare. "I was planning on letting you auto-battle to the end," she snapped, "but you were out there like a sitting duck. It was insufferable to watch." She flicked her fingers across her holo-menu. "Let me check the Agility debuff... Just perfect. It lasts until combat ends."
"Tch." Ouroboros scowled.
Then—
"Timeout!"
A sudden burst of light—
A figure materialised between the two teams, radiating an almost obnoxious amount of energy.
She twirled in place, hands on her hips, her emerald-green plate armour catching the sunlight. "Hello, hello, everyone~! I'll be your super-duper amazing overseer for today!"
Fiadh's eyebrow twitched. "Judge Yuwu."
The self-proclaimed referee beamed. "Guess what? It's a special day! PvP is officially enabled between contestants! But don't worry—your HP won't drop below 1, pinky promise!" She held up a pinky.
A glowing Jade Card materialised in her hands, which she waved dramatically.
"The rules are simple—super simple! The duel lasts ten minutes. When the timer hits zero, the one with the highest remaining HP percentage takes the win! Buuuut! If someone's HP drops to 1 before that? Instant loss! No comebacks, no second chances!
And the prize? Oh-ho, you're gonna love this one!"
She clapped her hands together. "Two whole levels and fifty shiny Resonance Crystals! Woohoo!"
The Jade Card dissolved into shimmering light.
A shift in the air.
"One last thing, okay? You can surrender, but only a Chosen can call it! If you do, it's a for-sure loss, and your opponent snags all the rewards. Sooo, choose wisely!"
She raised her arms.
"Alrighty! Substrate and Principle! Fight the Fightless Fight!"
Two HUDs flickered into existence, displaying incomplete information for both Godless—hovering beside their respective contestants before shifting next to the Judge.
- Name: Ouroboros the Dragon King
Designation: 7-Notes, Terra
Core Descriptors: Primordial Dragon God, ...
Superficial Age: 17
Superficial Height: 721 cm
Alignment: Lawful Good
Level: -6
HP: 2137/2138 (1644 +494)
Might: 152
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Agility: 106
Armour: 145 (111 +34)
Artes: Axiom Imagine Thrust (E), Dragonfire (E), Dragon Form (E), Reversal Dragon Kick (E), Telekinesis (E), Timeless Roar of the Dragon King (E), ...
Traits: Battlemaster (E), Berserk (E), Eternal Dao (F), Mind's Eye (E), No-Mind (E), Paradox Supraject (E), Pleroma (E), ...
Maestrom Finales: Divine Dragon Grand Cleave (Locked), Ouroboros Force, Paranormal-Mirage Dragon Zetaslash (Z), ???
Primary Weapon: Cosmoscribe Blade (SSS-rank, Sealed: >100%)
- Name: Hammy of Iga
Designation: 7-Notes, Pluto-class
Core Descriptors: Isekai Protagonist, Omnipotence, ...
Superficial Age: 27
Superficial Height: 431 cm
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Level: -2
HP: 1394/1394
Might: 152 (108 +52)
Agility: 196
Armour: 115
Artes: Arsedestroyer (E), Gloomswallow (E), Hassen-ryu: Fuma Senpu (E), Kiwami Shukuchi (E), Nine Vipers (E), Realitymeld (E), ...
Traits: Anomaly/Chaos (F), Brainrot (F), Crit/Dark Resist (E), Execute (E), Forsaken/Misfortune (E), Hassen Ninjutsu (E), Plot Armour (E), S. Ailments Resists (E), Venomous Body (E), ...
Maestrom Finales: Devastating Tragedy (Locked), Tragickmorph (Z), ...
Primary Weapon: Yudoku no Kage (SS-rank, Sealed: 96%)
Hammy tried—really tried—to keep a straight face, but after seeing so many dragon-themed abilities in Ouroboros' HUD, she couldn't stop herself.
"Dragon deez nuts..." she muttered under her breath.
A dangerous silence followed.
Ouroboros' beast-like grin widened, sharp teeth glinting. "You got a death wish, woman?" His turquoise eyes gleamed with an unmistakable predator's thrill. "Dragons are apex hunters—the strongest! Everything is our prey."
Fiadh, however, had no patience for their antics. She crossed her arms, unimpressed. "The Pluto-designated Godless scales better with Might. If only you had more Might, Ouroboros, you could one-shot my enemies. The mindset of winners is all about attacking—pure, overwhelming force. Once you're forced onto the defensive, you're already beaten."
Ouroboros scoffed. "So that's your idea of strength? All attack, no defence? Sounds like a brat who's never been cut before."
Fiadh frowned.
"How shameless," he continued. "Here I was, expecting better logic from an honoured student. Strength isn't just about hitting hard—it's about surviving the fight, too. And surviving... is my specialty."
Then, as if sensing her dissatisfaction, he threw a glance over his shoulder.
"Keep watching," he said, voice low but certain. "I'll show you what real strength looks like."
"I am undeserving of your openings."
The voice came from nowhere, yet suddenly—Hammy was right in front of him. Kodachi drawn, poised to strike.
"Damn, she's a bloody blur!"
Ouroboros barely had time to register the movement before Fiadh tapped the dodge icon on her holo-menu. He stumbled back in an awkward lurch, barely evading the first slash.
But Hammy didn't let up.
Her kodachi carved through the air, a flurry of relentless strikes. Ouroboros twisted, ducked, and sidestepped—his evasions clumsy, sluggish.
"This damned Agility debuff is making a fool of me."
Even with Fiadh's split-second reactions guiding his movements, he couldn't completely avoid her assault.
Thin crimson lines began to etch across his skin. The blade never struck deep, but each shallow cut burned.
Poison. And Bleed.
His health bar ticked downward, the dual ailments gnawing at him. But his body—a construct of primordial divinity—was already knitting itself back together. His regeneration outpaced the damage, his status ailment immunity dulling the worst of the venom's bite.
Still—he felt it.
"That blasted kunoichi's kempo—or is it ninjutsu? Whatever killer martial art she's using—it's too damn efficient." He grimaced, barely deflecting another slash. "This is what I get for neglecting my kung fu, relying on primordial power instead. Never thought I'd have to fall back on the mundane basics again."
From Fiadh's end, frustration flared.
Memories of rhythm games flooded her mind—the frantic, heart-pounding stress of high-difficulty patterns. Her rapid reflexes could only compensate for so much.
"I can keep helping you dodge, but it's only a matter of time before I screw up." Her fingers tensed over her holo-menu. "Look, consider this a tutorial. Show me what you've got and fight back already, would ya?"
A sharp whistle of metal—
Ouroboros rolled, narrowly avoiding a kunai aimed for his temple. But Hammy had anticipated it. The moment he landed, she was already behind him.
A flash of silver.
Nine poisoned throwing knives sank into his torso.
His breath hitched. His balance wavering as toxins flooded his bloodstream. His vitality drained, each heartbeat pumping the venom further.
"Enough, Fiadh," he muttered. "Rest—leave the rest to me."
"Real smooth, you're bleeding all over the place, genius."
She tapped the dodge icon again—only to find it gone.
Ouroboros merely exhaled. "It is nothing—merely a scratch. One has endured far more formidable blows than this mere trifle."
Then, at last—he reached for his blade.
A hush fell over the battlefield.
The Cosmoscribe Blade slid free from its sheath, gleaming with a dim, sealed radiance.
Ouroboros' No-Mind trait activated. His thoughts sharpened, his emotions fading into calculated nothingness. He began to chant.
Once, I mastered every weapon,
But in Chaos' ceaseless embrace, my broken body lies, discarded in the Abyss.
I have fought countless battles,
Each one a dream turned nightmare—
Perception fractured,
Flesh torn and devoured,
Chaos upon chaos, a never-ending dance.
And yet, despite it all, my arms—these fragile crutches—still hold me up.
I shall endure. I must endure—
"For I am the Ouroboros Forc—"
Pain.
Piercing agony.
Obsidian-black bandages shot out of nowhere, stabbing clean through his torso. His breath left him in a strangled gasp.
Ghh—!
His vision blurred. His limbs locked.
And then—she appeared.
A shadow stepped forward.
Judge Yuwu.
In her hands—two severed heads.
Fiadh.
Hammy.
She tossed them at his feet, the dull thud of flesh on stone echoing in the silence.
Fiadh's lifeless eyes were frozen wide in terror.
Ouroboros' throat tightened. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. No. No, this—
"I swore..." His voice was barely a whisper. Then louder—raw, desperate.
"I swore I would protect her."
He lifted his gaze. "Lady Yuwu... Tell me this is a lie."
Silence.
Yuwu smiled.
But something was wrong. Her skin was paler than before—so pale she almost looked like a ghost.
That smile—he hated it.
"You—" His hands trembled. The grief burned—no, fury overtook it, clawing at his ribs.
"Of all people—you think I'd just kneel and accept this!?"
The obsidian restraints dug deeper into his flesh, but he pushed against them.
Snap.
Cracks webbed through the bindings.
"Everyone forgot you that day!" His voice grew hoarse, the force of his rage shaking the battlefield. "Everyone, except Master Ao Guang and me!"
He roared.
"I don't care who you were to me—I'll kill you for this!"
A deafening CRACK!
The restraints shattered.
Apeiron erupted from Ouroboros in a violent burst. His blade was already in motion.
SHING!
A single, unstoppable slash.
Yuwu didn't move.
There was no resistance. No last words.
Her body crumpled, breaking apart like fragile glass.
For a long, still moment—Ouroboros just stood there.
His breath was ragged. His fingers tightened around his sword hilt.
Then—suddenly—his strength left him.
He fell to his knees.
His hands trembled. His mind was empty.
Lost.
Completely... and utterly lost.
Reality hadn't been shattered—it had simply... ceased to be remembered.
A Voice Echoed from Nowhere.
"Ah, so it is indeed Volch'ya's kin who lingers in this tragic tableau?"
A chuckle. Low. Mocking.
"And what fate now beckons? Is it decreed that he shall forever abase himself, his eternal supplication a penance for slaying that whom he most esteemed? How dreadfully mundane—bereft of the sublime spectacle one so ardently desires."
A pause.
"Pray, lend me but a moment, for I must usher thee into another scene—a fresh chronicle within another sprawling omniverse's tapestry."
The voice laughed.
"Right, then—where shall I place you? Metrina is presently absent, so... Surtr, any bright ideas? Surtr?"
No reply.
"Very well, if silence is your reply, I shall select the timeline myself. Oh no, did I forget to shut down communications? Ahem... I shall now orchestrate thine journey hence."
Suddenly—Fiadh's voice cut through the void.
"As good as I am at helping you dodge her attacks, I'm not sure how long I can keep this up!"
Wait.
What?
Ouroboros' eyes snapped open.
He was back.
His fingers tightened around the Cosmoscribe Blade.
With a single swift motion, Ouroboros unsheathed his sealed sword—the Cosmoscribe Blade—and cleaved through the mecha on which Hammy had briefly stood.
The machine didn't just fall apart—it disintegrated, split clean through like butter under a heated knife.
Hammy barely leapt free before the force of the impact obliterated the battlefield. Tanks. Armoured transports. Anything foolish enough to stand in his way—all cut down in a single stroke.
A voice rose above the chaos.
"You are indisputably mine, girlie!"
Clyde sprang to his feet, making a direct charge toward Fiadh.
Fiadh, unbothered, didn't even flinch. She casually raised her handcannon, levelling its barrel at him.
"You really think that's a good idea?"
Clyde hesitated.
BANG.
The air round screamed past him, obliterating a section of the school building like a house of cards.
The debris hadn't even settled before Fiadh spoke again, her voice icy.
"I've got a railgun-pistol. Any funny moves, and I'll blow you to pieces. I'm more than capable of incapacitating you without killing you—I'm not bluffing."
Clyde stared at the smoking wreckage. Slowly, he slumped back into his seat.
"...What in the world? The military must've lost their wits, handing a weapon of mass destruction to a mere child. I'd say you'd make a far more dangerous terrorist than I could ever hope to be, girlie."
His gaze flicked to the HUD hovering over Judge Yuwu. 12:56.
Damn it.
Can't believe I have to waste a Maestro Baton here.
—The System acknowledged his thought.
[You have four Maestro Batons remaining.]
[Hammy will now be forced to execute a non-lethal takedown on Fiadh.]
Hammy let out a strangled noise as the command took hold.
"Y-you! You're really making me attack a high school girl!?"
But she had no choice.
Before Fiadh could react, Hammy closed the distance in a blur, slamming a flying knee straight into her ribs.
Fiadh reeled backward, her pistol knocked from her grasp.
"This is unpleasant. Miserable, even."
Clyde, eyes locked on his holo-menu, had his finger poised over the dodge icon.
"Hammy, look out!" His voice was sharp. "He's up to something! Hold the girl hostage—use her as a meatshield!"
Hammy's eyes flickered upward, her expression melancholic.
"...As pathetic as I am, projectiles will never hit me."
—The System acknowledged Clyde's thought again.
[You now have three Maestro Batons remaining.]
A second later, Hammy grabbed Fiadh and used her as a human shield.
Ouroboros had leapt.
Sky-high.
The Cosmoscribe Blade pulsed in his hands as he finished charging his Arte.
"Axiom Imagine Thrust!"
A sky-blue radiance flared around the longsword—before dimming to near-normal. Then—
SHING!
A single throw.
The blade skewered Fiadh and Hammy in an instant.
A deep, resonating impact.
Then, silence.
Numbers flickered across the HUD—
98 Damage.
Bleeding.
Burning.
Hammy's expression twisted in shock.
"This makes no sense... Why would your Godless attack you without hesitation? During the whole fight, he had his eyes on you—worrying for your safety..."
Ouroboros crashed back to the ground, his leg breaking on impact.
"Ugh! That fucking hurts!"
Fiadh barely reacted, her fingers closing around the hilt of the sword impaled through her and Hammy's torsos.
"...Wouldn't you like to know, ninja woman?"
Hammy grimaced.
Ninja Hand Sign.
A single motion—
Arte: Tragickmorph.
Her shadow and bad luck fused with her body, doubling her HP but halving her Agility.
—Then,
Cosmic critical!
Clyde barely had time to blink before Hammy collapsed onto the blade.
HP Remaining: 1.
Her left arm—severed.
Yuwu had intervened.
Prevented her from dying.
Fiadh exhaled.
"...Paranormal-Mirage Dragon... Zetaslash."
Clyde froze.
What?
His eyes snapped to Ouroboros' broken leg.
"A Godless should have no trouble falling from that height. No—don't tell me they've somehow overhauled their stats, traits, and artes?"
He examined Ouroboros' HUD.
HP: 176 → Increasing. Regeneration active.
"Explain."
Fiadh smirked.
"Occam's Electric Razor—an idea so audacious it transcends logic."
Clyde scowled. "The hell does that even mean?"
"He never actually had one, since it postdates his era, but if he had? He would've retrofitted his standard razor with quantum-level paradoxical enhancements."
Clyde's eye twitched. "Speak sense."
"Fine. We didn't swap everything—just a few select variables—thanks to my Paradox trait. Essentially, the Body Swap effect triggered the moment I launched my blade."
She gestured at the HUD.
"That screen you were fixated on? It belongs to me."
Clyde's jaw tightened.
"...And that swordsmanship? Never seen anything quite like it before."
Fiadh casually pulled the Cosmoscribe Blade out of her own torso.
Hammy fell.
"A berserker-style, timeless draw sword Arte," she explained, the words flowing from her as if they were the most casual of observations. "It uses living bodies as its sheath—my own included—inflicting the truest form of damage on both me and my enemies alike. It's been... nerfed here, but it still follows the highest-order principle: the damage scales with the combined latent HP of its targets. And when it strikes chaos-aligned or omnipotent enemies, it guarantees a cosmic critical hit."
She tilted her head toward Hammy.
"Your kunoichi ended up tankier than me, so the sword prioritised her. Meanwhile, I absorbed the AoE damage. Here's the math—" She was about to explain, but
The System displayed her work for all to see.
[Fiadh took exactly 2136 damage, leaving her with 2 HP.]
[Hammy absorbed 5340, leaving her with 1 HP.]
Clyde let out a low whistle.
"...What kind of bullshit explanation..." He chuckled, shaking his head.
Then, he grinned.
"Extraordinary. Truly extraordinary. That's life, isn't it? So unpredictable... so fragile. You can bet I'll be keeping my eyes on you two from now on. Don't think you can escape my gaze. Watch your backs."
Hammy, barely conscious, mumbled.
"What a deceptive ninjutsu... I should have known you were a neenja too. You sliced through my miserable Arte effortlessly... Who was your sensei?"
Fiadh turned away, waving dismissively.
"I've had countless shifus—each better than the last."
Hammy groaned. "Are you planning to cut through everything beyond reality next?"
Fiadh glanced back.
"Reality is a joke to me. I've sliced through existence itself. Mannn! I could really do with a smoke right about now..."
She extended a hand, her fingers making a slight motion in the air.
Telekinesis activated.
Across the battlefield, something slipped free from Ouroboros' trench coat—a finely crafted pipe..
It soared through the air and landed perfectly in Fiadh's waiting grasp.
A flick of her wrist. Dragonfire ignited.
She took a slow, satisfied drag.
Then she tripped.
—Hammy's Misfortune trait activated.
Fiadh hit the ground hard, landing face-first.
A stunned silence followed.
Hammy, half-conscious, coughed up blood. Her gaze drifted downward.
She blinked.
"...Blood-red panties..."
Her voice was barely a whisper before she slumped over. Unconscious.
Fiadh groaned into the floor. "Goddamn it."
A sudden burst of applause.
"Yipee! The victor is Fiadh O'Neill and her Godless, Ouroboros!" declared Judge Yuwu, her voice ringing across the ruined school grounds.
A notification flickered across Fiadh's HUD.
[50 Resonance Crystals added to your inventory.]
[Your Godless has gained 2 levels.]
"Yay, two levels," Ouroboros muttered, his tone flat.
Fiadh sat up, cracking her neck. "Could you not make such a feminine sound with my voice? It's embarrassing.
"You're lucky I'm the type of guy who respects a woman's form. If it were any other man..." Fiadh stole a glance at the only intact window. The reflection stared back. Her breath hitched as a faint blush crept across her cheeks. "Why did you have to look so much like my sister...?"
Ouroboros recoiled. "You wouldn't dare!" His protest was immediate, sharp, but then he winced, clutching his side. "Ow! Can't you see I'm trying to ignore the pain? You're making it worse! And let me guess—on top of, what, having a forbidden thing for your sister, you're getting aroused in my body?!"
"Hold on, hold on! I'm telling you, I have discipline and honour! A code!" Fiadh straightened up, arms crossed in defiance. "Us eastern dragons—our integrity and wisdom know no bounds."
She paused, thoughts drifting to the legends of Gawain and Lancelot. Knights once revered, now fallen from grace. They had forsaken their honour. But not her. I am not like them. My code will never falter.
Ouroboros scoffed. "Code, my arse. Pretty sure you're a western dragon, but whatever. Turn around and face me."
Fiadh's response was immediate and entirely unnecessary. She slammed her forehead against the window. The glass shattered, cascading in a spray of glimmering shards.
"HEY! You bloody muppet!" Ouroboros gawked at the wreckage, his eye twitching. "What the hell are you doing?! Argh! You stupid, perverted, inept, Godless—"
Before he could finish, a soft sigh cut through the tension.
Yuwu placed a hand on the school's crumbling wall, expression wistful. "It saddens me to see this school so thoroughly destroyed," she murmured. A thick, green mist swirled around them, seeping into every broken window, every charred corridor.
"Contestants, you are not permitted to engage in further PvP until tomorrow. Recover and enjoy the rest of your day."
As the mist dispersed, the battlefield-like ruin of the school was miraculously restored. The shattered windows, the collapsed walls, the bloodied floorboards—all as if none of it had ever happened. Even the casualties—those who had fallen in battle—stirred awake.
And then, just as swiftly, Yuwu was gone.
Ouroboros, however, remained sprawled on the ground, grimacing. "My leg is still broken," he groaned. "She didn't heal the contestants before leaving. Ugh. Hand back my body now and send me to the nurse's office. I suppose the damage we took will be exchanged—probably how your stupid traits work..."
"Right you are," Fiadh agreed, rolling her shoulders. "It appears our foes have already departed. We should remain vigilant—especially that bastard Clyde. You saw the way he looked—like a dog that's latched on and won't let go."
With a shimmer of energy, the two reverted to their original forms. Ouroboros immediately hoisted Fiadh onto his shoulder.
"Sorry you had to endure that," he muttered.
"Sorry won't cut it. You've ruined my image. I'll make you wish you weren't my Godless."
"What?! No! Didn't you hear a word I said? This situation is a nightmare—I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place! Our minds and bodies were linked. Do you even understand what that means? It was an automatic response! How many times must I say it? I have honour. Look at your holo-menu—it literally says I'm Lawful Good."
Fiadh blinked at him, unimpressed. "Yeah, yeah. No worries. I wasn't expecting much from you... you pathetic Godless."
And then, without another word, she passed out.
Ouroboros let out an exasperated sigh. "Sheesh. What do you take me for?! Never mind. This mind–body transfer nonsense is absolutely asinine. Never again."
His expression darkened as his thoughts drifted elsewhere. Akashirae... are you out there too, sister? What are you up to? I hope you're safe. I hope you have a capable Chosen by your side.
With one last glance at Fiadh, he approached one of the nearby teachers and inquired about the nurse's office before trudging off, still carrying her limp form.
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