The moment Louise felt this illusion, the environment around her shifted abruptly.
The ground, previously erased in patches, now rippled like waves, spreading outward in layers, like concentric circles.
Fujimiya Makoto stood not far from her, a faint smile on his face.
The broken sword, now restored, transformed into Misogi Gōgi, its black-red ribbon trailing, becoming a four-foot-long ōdachi (great sword).
His voice overlapped with the broken sword's.
[First, let's make a promise.]
[Until one of us wants to stop, neither of us can die.]
The layered voices—his and a girl's—echoed in Louise's ears, causing the pure-white woman's expression to pause instinctively.
Makoto's expression was calm, his hand resting on the long blade of Misogi Gōgi.
Simultaneously, a translucent interface appeared in his vision.
[Yūsei · Freedom World]
Several inner-world scripts unfolded alongside it.
[Corpse Party!]
[Hypnosis! Life Coach!]
[King's Game?]
[NTR Black-Skinned Elf Attack!]
Like pop-up windows, these scenes flashed before Makoto's eyes.
As usual, none were serious.
But Makoto had grown accustomed to it.
He casually selected a world, his gaze calm as he looked at the woman before him, her expression still arrogant. His tone was light:
"It's a bit late to say this now."
"But for you..."
"I might be the worst possible opponent in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."
Listening to Makoto, Louise's brow furrowed slightly.
Yet, in her "Quincy Final Form," she remained absolutely confident—His Majesty's power was invincible.
This was her faith!
Naturally, hearing Makoto's words, Louise responded with a contemptuous smile.
"You?"
As her words fell, a panel appeared before them both.
[Freedom World: King's Game?]
[Theme: Authority and Commands!]
[Background: The game is the path to seizing the King's orders... but the games themselves are often unfair.]
[Rule: The King's commands are absolute!]
As the panel appeared, the rippling ground beneath them suddenly shook.
Simultaneously, two lines appeared on Makoto's panel.
[Choose a game: ???]
Makoto smiled at Louise, her hands empty, and selected [Weapon Strike].
The moment the game was chosen, the shaking ground stopped.
Louise's expression turned wary as she turned her head.
The previously empty ground had transformed into a bloody battlefield, littered with corpses and weapons.
They stood at the center of the battlefield.
Countless swords and blades of various shapes surrounded them, forming a vast arena.
[Round 1: Weapon Strike]
[Rule: Only striking vital points with a weapon counts as a point!]
Hearing the voice in her mind, Louise's gaze turned wary as she surveyed the surroundings.
But as she looked closely, she noticed something strange.
Most of the corpses on the ground were women, many petrified.
They seemed more like stone statues shaped like corpses than actual dead bodies.
Only their expressions...
Louise looked at a woman's face near her feet, mouth wide open, tongue sticking out. It felt oddly out of place.
How did these people die?
The thought crossed her mind.
As she wondered, Makoto's mocking voice reached her ears:
"You still have time to observe them?"
Louise raised her head, her face cold as ice:
"You should be the one afraid, Shinigami."
"If your Zanpakutō can only change the environment..."
"This is your end."
Her moon-shaped eyes reflected Makoto's figure.
As her words fell, Louise suddenly touched her heart.
"Erase."
"Thud—"
The invisible rule acted on her body, erasing the concept of 'heart.'
Simultaneously, Makoto, whom she was staring at, felt his chest hollow.
As if something were lost.
His body fell heavily to the ground, blood gushing from his mouth, a dull thud echoing.
"Hmm?"
Seeing him fall so cleanly, even Louise was momentarily stunned.
She hadn't expected such an easy victory.
But as she stepped forward to examine Makoto's 'corpse,' a panel appeared before her.
[Pop!]
[King's Game Player · Louise]
[Rule Violation!]
[Reminder: In the 'King's Game,' only approved game methods are allowed.]
As the voice fell, Louise was shocked to see the number above her head change from [3] to [2].
Not only that.
As the number decreased, her single wing, composed entirely of reishi, flickered and shrank violently, as if burning out.
Even the vast reishi in her blood was forcibly stripped away by the invisible rules.
Louise was stunned.
Then, she abruptly moved away from Makoto's 'corpse,' her gaze wary:
"What did you do?!"
"What is this..."
Her usually cold face showed unprecedented agitation, her voice trembling with a hint of fear.
"Cough, cough."
Makoto, feigning a corpse, coughed up blood, slowly rising from the ground.
The number above his head changed from [3] to [4].
His face still wore a smile.
Louise could clearly sense his reiatsu had increased significantly.
Makoto's tone remained light:
"I should've told you, right?"
"In this world, you must follow my rules."
"Mrs. Louise."
Holding Misogi Gōgi, Makoto's gaze at the pure-white woman was mocking.
Hearing his casual words, Louise's moon-shaped eyes widened.
Whether she believed it or not, Makoto had no intention of stopping his explanation.
Just as Louise's abilities were bound by this world's rules, 'explaining the rules to the opponent' was a rule Makoto had to follow.
"To win in this world, there's only one way."
Makoto raised his blade toward Louise, his expression turning cold.
"And that is—"
"To kill your opponent with a weapon."
Hearing this, Louise's eyes widened in disbelief.
Such unfair rules...
How could she obey them?!
But before Louise could react, Makoto's speed peaked, his blade slicing through the air with a piercing hum.
"Whoosh!"
"Erase—"
This time, before Louise could finish, Makoto's blade flickered.
[Trace Cause]
The blade cut through the air, slicing Louise's arm without resistance.
In an instant, Louise's eyes showed confusion.
Though her body, gifted by Yhwach, was a monster beyond human comprehension, her will remained weak.
The moment she was cut, Louise forgot what she was supposed to do.
But Makoto's blade didn't stop.
It sliced her neck.
Cold, dark blood flowed.
Her stiff body lost all strength.
However, as the blade cut her, Louise regained consciousness.
Her gaze at Makoto grew more uncertain.
What was his ability?!
Makoto's face remained gentle:
"I should've told you, right?"
"Ways to kill you? Endless."
"Also..."
"Check your face."
Louise instinctively turned, using a nearby sword as a mirror.
A black ink stroke had appeared on her cheek—a horizontal line.
Though its purpose was unknown, Louise felt a strong sense of crisis.
If left unchecked, something terrible would happen.
What was the King's Game?
What happened to the loser?
Louise's thoughts turned desperate.
But the next moment, she shook off the fear.
"Don't think you can play with me!"
"If your ability is this 'world'..."
"Then erase it entirely!"
Louise's voice rose, her tone no longer arrogant. Her single wing burned, releasing her full reiatsu.
The pure-white woman stood, arms outstretched, her hands wrapped in white flames.
"Erase!"
Makoto felt the invisible waves spreading in all directions.
Weapons, corpses, sand, soil, stones...
Everything collapsed, disintegrated, like dandelions in the wind, turning to ash.
In an instant, a radius of hundreds of meters around them was erased.
All 'existence' in their vision vanished, leaving pure nothingness.
"Thud."
Louise knelt, gasping from the massive reiatsu expenditure.
Only the ground beneath her feet remained, right?
How will you handle this, Shinigami?
With this thought, Louise's stiff face relaxed into a smile as she raised her head.
But when she looked up, Makoto stood calmly before her.
Louise's gaze paused, showing confusion.
Not just Makoto.
The ground, corpses, weapons...
Everything remained unchanged.
"What... is this?"
Her whispered question was met with Makoto's response.
"I should've told you, Mrs. Louise."
Makoto gently lifted her chin, his eyes colder than steel.
"Now, follow 'my game rules.'"
His words fell.
His blade pierced her chest, leaving a bloody trail.
Louise's body stiffened momentarily.
When the blade withdrew, no wound remained.
A vertical stroke appeared on her face.
At this moment, Louise's heart raced.
"No!"
"If this continues..."
"I'll die horribly!"
Though the 'consequence' was unknown, it wouldn't be pleasant.
With this thought, Louise's skin surfaced with reishi meridians. Her single wing enhanced her physical and reiatsu capabilities.
She lunged sideways, grabbing a sword still gleaming with cold light.
"Finally awake?"
Makoto's expression was calm, his smile faint:
"Even with a sword..."
"It's not easy to kill."
His words fell as he sidestepped Louise's attack.
As they passed, his great sword swept upward.
Waist-sliced!
Louise rolled to the ground with a thud.
A third stroke appeared on her face.
"What kind of..."
"Rules are these?!"
If someone's strongest aspect is stripped away, leaving them exposed, their confusion is no surprise.
Yet, the pure-white woman acted as if nothing had changed. After healing, she rose again, charging at Makoto repeatedly.
Until her fifth death.
A complete '正' (righteous) appeared on her face.
In that moment, Louise's body froze.
Immovable.
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