Ch.8787. Dramatically at First

The completely split Crucible of Struggle tilts and begins to sink. Like someone cut an apple in half and each piece falls to the ground.

People roll around everywhere, losing their balance and screaming.

“Professor, we need to evacuate quickly-!”

“Hey, what are you standing there blankly for-!”

I can hear Riru Garda and Elia Krisanax screaming too.

Their voices start stretching out, becoming distant, slow, and increasingly faint.

“…”

But even that scene is ‘slowing down’ completely.

That’s because the gray energy billowing from Elnore Erinarise la Tristan’s body is enveloping everything around us.

This is the Grey Demon’s power, “Erosion.” The ability to exercise absolute dominion over all space and time in the vicinity.

And if I recall from the original work, spaces under erosion don’t just stop in time—they twist, distort, and eventually get completely crushed.

The ability to ‘erase’ parts of the world. That’s what happens when the Grey Demon unleashes its true power.

Since she hasn’t collected all three fragments yet, it won’t have the full power of a true final boss, but even at this level, it’s not difficult for the entire Crucible of Struggle to be destroyed.

[Crisis situation detected.]

[Judged to be a direct threat to life.]

[Applying skill: Desperate Situation at EX rank.]

As everything around me slows down, such a window appears before my eyes.

A demon’s rampage event is, with the exception of a few parts of the main scenario, mostly a trigger for “game over.”

As evident from the scene unfolding without me doing anything, it’s no empty threat when they say a rampaging demon can destroy the world.

〚…〛

And.

Though there’s no ground to stand on, Elnore’s red eyes float in the air, staring at me with what is unmistakably hostility on the verge of murderous intent.

It’s not for nothing that the system window shows a 0% survival probability. The power gap makes finding a way to survive meaningless.

If the Grey Demon itself were to appear, I might be able to talk somehow, but even that’s impossible now.

When a Demonic Vessel goes berserk, it’s not the demon itself manifesting, but rather the vessel’s inherent malice being insanely amplified by the influence of the fragment.

The vessel is wielding the demon’s magical energy, but the entity causing this phenomenon isn’t the “demon” but Elnore “herself.”

In other words.

There’s nothing I can do.

I’ve just been sentenced to certain death.

I feel the blood draining from my entire body.

[Wake up, you idiot! Are you going to stand there and die?]

Through that sensation, Calivan Chrysanyx’s shout pierces through my consciousness.

[…Can’t you just explain that it wasn’t your intention? You were just trying to escape, weren’t you?]

Calivan speaks in a serious voice after seeing my expression.

Previously, when I was suffering right before receiving the ring from Elnore, he seemed indifferent, but now even he doesn’t give off that impression.

It’s only natural, given how ominous Elnore’s aura erupting before us is.

“…That kind of thing won’t solve this.”

[What?]

“If rational explanation would work, there wouldn’t be a need for the term ‘rampage,’ would there?”

It feels like everything that’s been building up inside me lately has burst out all at once. This isn’t simply a matter that can be resolved through verbal persuasion.

Far from listening to such explanations, it wouldn’t be strange if she drew her sword and sliced me up right now—

“…”

But, wait a minute.

Realizing this fact actually clears my mind.

As the system window said, my survival probability is 0%.

That means if Elnore wanted to kill me, she could have done so already.

Then, if she’s rampaging and likely not in her right mind, why am I still alive?

Clearly, there must be something preventing Elnore from using violence against me, even in her current state.

In fact, since going berserk, Elnore hasn’t uttered a word, hasn’t made any additional movements, and is just standing still, glaring at me.

I examine her demeanor carefully.

[If explanation won’t work, then run away right now, you idiot! Make sure to take Elia with—]

“No.”

And finally, I realize something.

“She’s fighting it.”

[…What?]

Compared to earlier, her eyes are completely unfocused, like someone without consciousness.

Instead, the ‘atmosphere’ in those eyes keeps changing every second, every minute.

Considering the setting, this is a struggle for control.

Probably, the evil part of Elnore amplified by the rampage is telling her to kill me, and her rational part is refusing.

“…”

In other words.

Even as her mind is being consumed by the demon fragment due to her extreme anger.

She’s instinctively fighting against it.

To avoid killing me with her own hands.

[…That’s truly admirable, but how does that help our current situation…!]

“It does.”

If her mind isn’t completely consumed, then undoubtedly.

That means there’s still room for ‘persuasion.’

[…What are you planning to do?]

“I need to help her release her anger.”

Then what needs to be done is simple.

If she’s rampaging because she’s angry, I need to help her release that anger.

The system window explicitly states what made her angry in the first place.

All I need to do is make her properly understand the reason, right?

[Didn’t you just say she’s not in a state to listen?]

“Even if she can’t hear words, there’s something I can try.”

Even if she’s not in a state to listen.

There’s an ‘action’ that can convey my intentions to her.

So.

If my thinking is correct, I just need to give her a bit of a ‘shock.’

Quick judgment. Even quicker decision.

[‘Skill: King of Pandemonium’ activated.]

[For 5 minutes, you have absolute advantage against demon-type enemies!]

[You face an opponent with equivalent abilities.]

[Resisting target’s unique ability ‘Authority: Erosion’!]

As I activate this skill, my increasingly slowing body regains its speed. While all physical laws are gradually slowing down, only I can move ‘normally’ here.

As everything around continues to slow, I gather strength in my legs.

This would have been absolutely impossible before, but I recently raised my strength and agility endurance to E-rank.

With Desperate Situation applied at EX level, it should definitely be possible.

“…Hup!”

With that battle cry, I leap toward Elnore.

The ground where I pushed off shatters into pieces, sending shockwaves all around.

The already tilting surroundings shake violently as if hit by an earthquake.

“…What the hell-!”

Nearby, I see Elia shouting in slow motion, and Riru opening her mouth wide.

Then.

Like a rocket with a propulsion system, my body shoots forward.

“…”

It’s a bit ridiculous.

I only raised my rank by one level. From F to E.

The increase in ability was already at an absurd level before, but what I’m doing now is enough to rival Elnore’s specs with two fragments, if not Krat Bellium La Kendrid’s.

Reflecting anew on how ridiculous my skills are, I activate other skills in sequence.

[‘Skill: Proof of Faith’ activated.]

[All additional stats temporarily converted to ‘endurance’ stat!]

Right before colliding with Elnore, I max out my physical resilience.

Probably, in my opinion.

This is going to hurt a bit.

“…Huk…!”

The moment I crash into her, my breath is knocked out. It’s like tackling a utility pole with my bare body.

And compared to the pain that follows, even that is nothing.

“…!”

Thanks to direct contact with Elnore’s body, the Grey Demon’s energy penetrates straight into mine.

My entire body feels like it’s burning and melting.

I instantly realize how much the Grey Demon was holding back when it manifested before.

I’ve become quite desensitized to pain recently, but even so, this is truly hellish, unbearable agony.

〚…〛

But even as I go through this process.

Elnore doesn’t move at all.

She still floats in the air, standing still, seemingly unaware of my collision with her.

She remains in that state even as I gasp in pain and somehow manage to cling to her body.

[…So. Now that you’re attached, what are you planning to do?]

“Calivan.”

Muttering that, I position myself.

It was quite challenging since there was no ground to stand on, and I had to support my entire body with just my arms.

But I managed to achieve the desired posture.

A position where my face and Elnore’s face are ‘facing’ each other.

“Isn’t it better for first experiences to be dramatic?”

Actually, this might be too dramatic, I think.

But that’s how it should be.

[What nonsense are you—]

Before that sentence could continue.

My lips overlapped with Elnore’s.

“…!”

Then.

Elnore’s previously blank eyes widened in shock.