SSS Ranked Awakening: I Can Rewind Time!

Just then, the ground fractured. Its eyes widened, and before it could do so much as to blink, she was already before it.

Its hollow, black eyes shrank and twitched. However, it wasn’t in fear. Instead, novelbuddy.cσ๓

Crack—!

It was in... excitement.

The crimson haired lady was already above it, a fearsome, incinerating light emanating from her light-wreathed figure. Through some means, most likely one of her traits, the stalwart warrior had grown stronger.

The nightmarish entity could feel it. Sense it even.

Her figure exuded a cold, suffocating aura. One that pressed down on him in all its endless glory.

"Hahahahaha!!!" He laughed out loud. "...That’s it! Show me what you’ve got!"

The nightmarish entity spoke for the first time, its cracked voice booming through the dark maze. A hint of madness soon formed in its pair of eyes, and then slowly, it started to spill out from them.

It started to seep into reality. And, it was in that moment that it said solemnly:

"Come...!"

A crimson longsword materialized in its hand, and then,

Clang!

Crack...! Kaaa...!

The two figures collided, the ground beneath them fracturing, unable to bear the burden of their fearsome wrath.

Clang! Clang--!

...With their soul essence diminishing at a rapid pace, almost on the verge of fully depleting, both figures were smart enough to avoid consuming it any further. Instead, the battle had come down to one of pure skills, combat mastery, and efficiency... and maybe, every little bit of divine blessing they could muster.

Grimacing, the crimson haired lady cleaved downward just as the nightmarish entity grinned, coating its arm with a crimson gauntlet. Raising its hand into the air, it sought to grasp the incoming sword.

’Hmph!’ Mia sneered.

Continuing with the fluid motion, she twisted and shifted her body to the left, with just enough force to change the sword’s area of attack.

Running forward at the very last second, she slashed upward with every ounce of strength contained within her. The flexible, almost chilling movements were completed in a split second as-

RIIP--!

Dark-crimson blood flashed in the dark. With a grim expression, the nightmarish entity glanced at its arm that had been cut off.

But then, it stopped grimacing, and instead grinned. Glancing at the blood that surrounded it, its expression cracked, turning into one of excitement. Raising its head to face the crimson haired lady, it locked eyes with her and said in a chilling tone:

"More!! More!!"

Mia who was about to cleave its body into two suddenly stopped mid-step. Flipping back, she slashed forward with every ounce of strength she could muster.

Clang! Clang!

As numerous crimson blades scraped past her, some managed to leave grievous wounds on her pale, white skin, before impaling themselves into the cold, dark walls of the dark maze. Others, she was able to deflect with relative ease.

Crack--!!

The nightmarish entity suddenly moved, spiderweb cracks running across the ground beneath it.

In a flash of crimson, it was already right before Mia. Added to the empowerment of its blood —the one drawn from its severed hand— it became every little bit faster, stronger, and... better than the crimson haired lady.

Clang! Clang—!

Both figures clashed in a bloody, grueling battle.

One of thrill and anger.

Of hatred, and... excitement.

Flick.

***

Considering the fact that Mia’s combat prowess, or rather skills, were leagues beyond that of the nightmarish entity’s, she was able to hold her ground. If only barely.

Twisting to the left, she managed to cleave the entity’s regrown hand off its body. A wound which would have been harrowing and debilitating for most creatures was easily ignored by the horrifying entity. Ducking to the left, it avoided a fast, ruthless swing of Mia’s golden sword.

In that instant, it slashed forward with every ounce of strength contained within its dark, profane muscles.

The sword flashed crimson, and pierced right through the crimson haired lady’s armor. Although the armor had borne most of the force of the attack, the remnant energy behind it was still enough to pierce through her.

Blood dripped down the corner of her lips as pain rippled through every fiber of her being. However,

Drip! Drip--!

It was nothing compared to the growing sense of despair.

N-Nothing compared to the growing sense of desperation. The one burning within her, fueling her, yet at the same time, consuming her bit by... bit.

Grimacing from the pain, she slashed forward with the golden sword. The sword drew a violent, golden arc before slashing through the nightmarish entity, sinking deep into flesh and bones.

The sound of skin being punctured rolled through the tense silence. Blood splattered into the air, just as she violently removed the sword.

The nightmarish entity grinned even wider as its second arm fell onto the ground.

"Kekekeke!"

As it gazed at the crimson blood pooling around it, its expression continued to crack. Cracking and twisting, its features contorted into that of madness.

Ruffling his hair as Mia distanced herself from him, cold chills suddenly running down her spine, it said hoarsely:

"Not enough! Not... Enough!!"

It sounded like it was talking to itself. Almost... monochromatic.

However, it suddenly stopped. Raising its head slowly, its gaze shifted and shrank, its black, hollow eyes coming to rest on Mia. And then,

"..."

It stopped.

For a second there, time seemed to have come to a stop as the surroundings grew colder, and... darker.

The stifling silence.

It grew thicker, encroaching into the endless darkness.

Right about then, its crimson pair of eyes ignited. Madness blazed furiously within them as its voice echoed through the morbid battlefield:

"Give it to me!"

It stepped forward.

"Red, Red!!! Give it to... Me!!"

Its features twisted and contorted. Madness spilled from its pupils as its hand trembled. Its chest heaved up and down as it slowly grew in tandem with the rate at which its heart was beating.

"Ha, Ha..."

It took another step forward, madness stretching its mouth.

It was a smile that sent cold chills running down Mia’s spine. And then,

"...!"

It disappeared from her line of sight.

In that moment, my mind whispered a single word:

’Crap!’