Arifureta Shokugyou // <What If> [Lorebook-V.End] [Up+]

1-> Scenario:

Start of the journey:

Transition from the Japanese School of Earth to the Grand Chapel, in Heiligh Kingdom Palace, in the world of Tortus:

The mundane afternoon heat inside the high school classroom felt oppressive, heavy with the monotonous hum of ambient chatter and rustling paper. {{?}} rested his heavy head upon his desk, staring blankly at the polished wooden surface while struggling to keep his eyes open after another late-night anime marathon. Around him, the familiar social dynamics of the class unfolded as usual: the popular hero archetype Kouki Amanogawa was surrounded by admiring classmates, while subtle glares of annoyance flashed from nearby students whenever anyone approached the quiet outcast.

Suddenly, the faint hum of the air conditioner was completely shattered by an unnerving, low-frequency vibration echoing through the floorboards. Before anyone could react, intricate geometric lines of brilliant silver radiance began carving themselves into the floor, rapidly expanding into a massive, glowing magic crest that encompassed every desk and chair in the room. The air grew dense with an ethereal energy, casting harsh luminescent shadows across the ceiling as panic instantly erupted among the students.

Kaori Shirasaki quickly turned toward {{?}}'s desk as the shining patterns swept beneath their feet, her eyes wide with sudden alarm.

Kaori Shirasaki: "Is everyone okay?! What is this light?!"

Kouki Amanogawa immediately stepped forward, shielding his eyes with his forearm while trying to maintain order over the shouting students.

Kouki Amanogawa: "Stay calm, everyone! Don't panic! Get close to each other!"

Aiko Yoshida rushed toward the front of the classroom, her small frame trembling as she raised her hands in a desperate attempt to regain control.

Aiko Yoshida: "Everyone, stay in your seats! As your teacher, I will—"

Her voice was drowned out as the “Summoning Magic Circle” emitted a deafening resonance. Weightlessness surged through {{?}}'s body as the floor seemed to completely dissolve beneath his boots, swallowing the entire room into an absolute pillar of blinding white radiance. In a disorienting flash of sensory shift, the scent of classroom chalk and summer air vanished, replaced by a cool, stone-scented breeze and the overwhelming sacred atmosphere of a grand cathedral. Majestic stained-glass windows towered overhead, casting multicolored rays across giant marble pillars. Dozens of robe-clad priests stood in a wide circle around the bewildered teenagers, holding ornate ceremonial staves.*

{{?}} opened his eyes to find himself kneeling on the cold marble floor, his mind processing the drastic departure from reality. The familiar classroom was gone, replaced by an ancient fantasy hall.

A tall, elderly cleric adorned in gold-trimmed ceremonial vestments stepped forward from the central altar, looking down at the summoned class with solemn reverence.

Isiel: "Welcome, brave heroes from another world. You have been summoned by the divine decree of our Lord Ehit to save humanity from total destruction."

Suzu Taniguchi: "A-Another world?! Are you serious right now?!"

Ryutarou Sakagami: 'Is this some kind of game setting?! This can't be real...'

Kaori turned around immediately, scanning through the disoriented crowd until her eyes locked onto {{?}}. Expression filled with deep concern, she took a hesitant step closer to him.

Kaori Shirasaki: "Are you alright? You look so pale... Did you get hurt during that light?"

2-> Scenario:

Start of the journey:

Great Labyrinth of Orcus, in Tortus:

After falling into the treacherous depths of the Great Labyrinth of Orcus and enduring absolute hell, {{?}} had adapted to the hostile abyss through sheer willpower and brutal necessity. Consuming monster flesh and enduring agonizing body-altering mutations had turned his hair white and hardened his resolve, forging him into a relentless survivor who cut down every monstrous apex predator standing in his path. Pushing deeper into the unmapped lowest floors, he breached a colossal sealed hall flanked by monumental stone guardians, where the ambient atmosphere was dense with ancient magic that had remained undisturbed for over three centuries.

In the center of the vast, silent sanctuary stood an immense stone sphere suspended in place by intricate binding runes. The air was cold and dry, carrying a heavy metallic scent of ancient sealing barriers. Having shattered the chamber's defensive guardians, {{?}} approached the focal point where the lingering magical pulse fluctuated violently. As the outer layer of the “Ancient Binding Seal” cracked and crumbled under his assault, the stone casing split open, revealing a frail, motionless golden-haired girl who had been imprisoned within the timeless dark.

The sudden surge of ambient magic stirred the girl from centuries of forced slumber. Strands of long, brilliant golden hair shifted across her bare chest as her crimson eyes unsealed, blinking slowly against the unfamiliar light. Sensing a living presence standing directly before her, her voice slipped out as a weak, raspy whisper.

???: "...Who?"

Her gaze flickered over {{?}}, taking in the distinct aura of bloodlust and survival etched into his posture. Having been betrayed and sealed away by her own kin, the sight of an intruder standing in this forgotten depth filled her with quiet disbelief.

???: 'A human...? In a place like this...?'

She attempted to shift her weakened body, but the remaining magic cuffs affixed to the stone wall held her tight, draining her remaining energy and causing her to slump slightly forward.

???: "Did you... break the seal?"

Observing the fragile girl trapped within the stone mechanism, {{?}} felt a subtle stir of recognition regarding her isolation, his hand resting near his side as he evaluated whether she posed a threat or shared a similar fate of betrayal. The silent hall hung in suspense as her crimson eyes remained fixed on him, waiting to see what he would do next.

3-> Scenario:

Start of the journey: (Two scenario options).

Great Labyrinth of Orcus, Foor of Florest:

After descending into the deeper, uncharted levels of the Great Labyrinth of Orcus, {{?}} and Yue continued their relentless survival trek through the abyss. Sharing meager rations, watching over each other during brief moments of rest, and fighting side by side against waves of lethal monsters, their mutual trust grew unwavering. Pushing further into the labyrinth, they stepped into a surreal subterranean jungle floor where massive, overgrown roots twisted into giant archways and the humid air hung heavy with a sweet, sickly aroma.

The dark canopy was illuminated only by clusters of faint, luminescent vegetation clinging to the stone walls. Unbeknownst to them, as they ventured deeper into the dense thicket, floating clouds of “Parasitic Spores” drifted silently through the damp atmosphere. Lurking within the shadows of the giant roots, a carnivorous plant monster activated its trap—causing a crimson parasitic flower to rapidly sprout directly atop Yue's golden hair, sinking microscopic tendrils into her mind and seizing control of her motor functions.

Before {{?}} could intervene, thick vine appendages erupted from the damp soil, wrapping tightly around Yue's waist and pulling her back against the monster's main body to serve as a living human shield. Controlled by the “Mind Control Flower”, Yue's arms rose stiffly against her own free will, gathering volatile magic aimed directly at {{?}}.

Tears welled at the corners of Yue's eyes as she fiercely resisted the suffocating mental invasion hijacking her body.

Yue: "I... I can't... control my body..."

The grotesque plant creature hid its core entirely behind her fragile frame, tightening its vines while forcing her magic forward.

Yue: 'No... not like this... I won't let it force me to hurt him...'

Struggling through the overwhelming physical restriction, Yue bit her lip, her voice trembling with desperation as she cried out to {{?}}.

Yue: "{{?}}, do it! Strike through me!"

Standing amidst the floating spores, {{?}} evaluated the critical impasse before him—the parasitic creature completely concealed behind Yue, using her as an offensive puppet and barrier. With the immediate threat looming and Yue's spell nearly fully charged.

---//---

(The scenario above and the one below cannot happen at the same time. They are different moments.)

---//---

Boss Room, in Great Labyrinth of Orcus:

Deep within the lowest chamber of the Great Labyrinth of Orcus, the brutal confrontation against the subterranean ruler—the colossal six-headed Hydra—had reduced the surrounding ancient stone ruins to rubble. Acidic smoke, lingering lightning, and scorching heat filled the vast cavern as {{?}} and Yue fought in synchronized precision, severing the elemental heads one after another. However, as the monster grew desperate, the ominous pink-glowing head rose above the battlefield, its eyes igniting with a sinister ocular magic designed to invade and dominate the spirit of its prey.

Sensing the sudden shift in ambient mana, the pink head unleashed a wave of “Hypnotic Light” directly across the shattered floor. Caught in the center of the radiant beam, Yue's posture stiffened immediately. The vibrant crimson depth in her eyes dissolved into a hollow, glazed stare as the mental status magic pierced her defenses, dragging her consciousness into a suffocating dark void where an illusion of her ancient stone seal materialized before her.

Paralyzed on the cold stone ground, Yue struggled against the psychological snare binding her mind.

Yue: "This... light..."

Within the dark expanse of her controlled mind, she stood alone facing the dark cube of her past imprisonment, the hypnotic illusion attempting to break her resolve.

Yue: 'It's... me... locked away again...'

Outside in reality, Yue remained completely defenseless, kneeling motionless amidst the debris. Capitalizing on her trance state, the massive black head of the Hydra surged through the rising dust cloud, opening its formidable jaws to crush her.

She was completely trapped within the mental spell. With only seconds before the Hydra's fangs snapped down upon her.

4-> Scenario:

Start of the journey: (Two scenario options).

From Brook Town to Füren City / Fhuren City:

After triumphantly clearing the grueling trials of Miledi Raisen's subterranean labyrinth, {{?}}, Yue, and Shea emerged into a serene lake. When Shea lost consciousness underwater, {{?}} immediately performed emergency mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to restore her breathing—an unexpected sight that left Yue briefly startled and bewildered. Seeking transportation toward the major commercial hub of Fūren, the party struck an agreement with a traveling merchant named Mott, offering escort protection for his horse-drawn wagon in exchange for a ride.

As the wagon traveled along the dusty trade road, Mott cast greedy eyes upon Shea's rare Rabbitmen traits and striking blue hair, openly asking if {{?}} would sell her as high-value merchandise. In response, {{?}} pulled the Rabbitmen girl firmly to his side with absolute resolve, making it clear that not even the gods themselves could force him to hand her over. Touched by the fierce protection, Shea blushed deeply, while Mott nervously backed off for the remainder of the journey.

Hours later, as the wooden wagon gradually slowed near the bustling entry checkpoints of Fūren, Mott turned around once more, his gaze fixing greedily upon the spatial storage artifact worn by {{?}}.

Mott: "I would pay you enough for you to live a life of luxury until the end of your days. Especially for that “Treasure Box”. Something like that isn't something an individual can keep safe on their own. It might bring you serious trouble later... Such as, for example, an unexpected accident happening to the young ladies..."

The instant the subtle threat hung in the air.

---//---

(The scenario above and the one below cannot happen at the same time. They are different moments.)

---//---

Füren City / Fhuren City, in Tortus:

After arriving in the bustling neutral commercial city of Fūren, {{?}}, Yue, and Shea settled down to enjoy a peaceful meal at an open-air terrace restaurant along the vibrant main thoroughfare. The surrounding square was filled with the lively chatter of merchants, the rich aromas of local cuisine, and the warm sunlight illuminating the stone streets. However, their quiet afternoon was suddenly disrupted when an arrogant, stout young noble approached their table, staring with unmitigated lust at Shea's unique Rabbitmen features and long blue hair.

Determined to claim her for himself, the spoiled youth slammed a pouch containing one million Rhyne onto the table, brazenly demanding to purchase Shea as his personal concubine. Upon being met with absolute rejection and quiet contempt, the noble threw a furious tantrum and called upon his private bodyguard—a seasoned warrior holding the prestigious Black-rank within the Adventurers' Guild—to intimidate the group and take what he wanted by force.

As a crowd of curious onlookers rapidly gathered around the perimeter of the terrace to watch the commotion, Yue and Shea stepped forward in complete sync, positioning themselves directly between the overbearing adventurer and {{?}}.

Gail: "Are these little girls supposed to be my opponents?! Now that is hilarious."

The Black-rank adventurer crossed his arms with a mocking smirk, looking down arrogantly at the two girls.

Gail: "I hold the 'Black Rank' in the guild. Are you two actually serious about this?"

Behind him, the sweat-drenched noble gestured frantically, shouting with an anxious expression.

Gilm: "Don't hurt them too much! They are mine!"

Gail: "Yes, yes, whatever you say, young master."

The adventurer leaned down slightly with a sleazy grin, eyeing both girls provocatively.

Gail: "So, little ladies, if you insist on fighting me, I wouldn't mind taking this to the bedroom tonight..."

Without a moment of hesitation, both Yue and Shea spoke simultaneously, their voices dropping with chilling coldness.

Yue: "Shut your mouth."

Shea hoisted her massive warhammer “Drucken” onto her shoulder, a bright, confident smile spreading across her face as she readied her stance.

Shea: "Am I fighting too? Yue-san couldn't possibly handle this alone..."

Yue: "It's not that."

Yue stood firmly beside her, her crimson eyes glowing with calm disdain as dense mana began to pulse faintly around her fingertips.

Shea: "In that case, I won't kill him."

Yue: "It's a pity, but you can give up on claiming any reward."

Whispers rippled through the gathering crowd as the rumor of the standoff began spreading across the district, drawing even more spectators to the edges of the open-air restaurant. Watching the confrontation unfold as Yue and Shea prepared to completely overpower the Black-rank adventurer, {{?}} considered how to handle the escalating spectacle before him.

5-> Scenario:

Start of the journey: (Two scenario options).

Royal Capital of Heiligh: Yue vs Freid.

The night sky above the Royal Capital of Heiligh was consumed by chaotic flames, thick smoke, and the echoing roars of invading demonic beasts. While Princess Liliana had desperately pleaded for protection within the palace walls, Yue and Shea chose a proactive offensive instead. Striding through the shattered window of the high castle tower, they leaped out into the nocturnal abyss over the burning city, soaring directly toward the open clearing where the enemy leadership commanded the assault.

After Shea swung her massive warhammer “Drucken” to intercept the converted Mikhail and forcefully drew him away across the open plain, Yue landed with effortless grace onto the battle-scarred terrain. High above, perched atop his massive white dragon, the demon commander Freid Bagwa hovered alongside his remaining high-tier beast summons. His cold, calculating eyes locked down onto Yue as a bitter wind swept across the field, carrying the heavy scent of ozone, sulfur, and burning mana.

Freid: "To think you would abandon the castle and leap straight into an open field to face me... How foolish."

Freid crossed his arms with a dark expression, his crimson hair flaring in the wind as dark, high-tier magic began to swirl around his demonic staff.

Freid: "This time, just as a precaution, I will kill you first."

Unmoved by his declaration, Yue stood motionless beneath the moonlit sky. In a sudden pulse of ancient magic, an oppressive, blood-red mana aura erupted around her petite frame. Droplets of blood from the surrounding skirmish splattered across her serene, pale cheek, but her glowing crimson eyes remained fixed on Freid with absolute, terrifying composure.

Yue: "Does it hurt?"

A bone-chilling coldness settled over the entire clearing as Yue raised her slender hand, summoning her high-tier spell “Thunder Dragon” while simultaneously manipulating the atmospheric blood and gravitational field with supreme control. The sky distorted violently under her raw power, forcing Freid's white dragon to screech in sudden panic as immense pressure slammed into its body.

Freid: 'What is this absurd mana pressure?! She isn't even faltering...!'

---///---

(The scene above and the one below cannot be in focus at the same time, since they are happening simultaneously.)

---///---

Royal Capital of Heiligh: Shea vs Mikhail.

The night sky over the Royal Capital of Heiligh was consumed by chaotic flames, thick smoke, and the roaring beasts of the demon army's massive invasion. Inside the palace, while Princess Liliana frantically tried to maintain order and begged for protection, Yue and Shea refused to stay sheltered within the castle walls. Without hesitation, they ignored the calls to retreat and leaped straight through the shattered window of the high tower, soaring over the burning cityscape toward the open fields surrounding the capital.

Intercepting the vanguard led by the demon commander Freid Bagwa, the fight quickly split as his subordinate commander, Mikhail, charged forward fueled by intense vengeance. Recognizing the need to isolate their foes, Shea used her superhuman agility and the momentum of her massive warhammer “Drucken” to draw Mikhail and his squad of flying beasts away from where Yue engaged Freid, leading the battle to a wide, open clearing under the cold moonlight.

In the desolate clearing, a chilly wind swept across the earth, carrying the heavy scent of soot, smoke, and oppressive demonic mana. Mikhail landed heavily on the dirt, his eyes blazing with unrestrained fury as he drew his weapons and glared at the Rabbitman girl with absolute hatred.

Mikhail: "Cattleya, the woman you murdered, was my fiancée!"

The grief-stricken declaration echoed across the open plain, but Shea stood her ground, holding “Drucken” with effortless ease while maintaining a calm yet unyielding gaze. She stared back at the demon commander without a trace of hesitation or guilt.

Observing the confrontation from a distance through tactical perception, {{?}} closely monitored Shea's remarkable composure and astounding combat growth against the enemy threat.

Shea: "She wouldn't have died if she had simply given up and walked away..."

Mikhail grit his teeth, his expression twisting in shock and outrage at her pragmatic coldness.

Adjusting her stance and looking Mikhail straight in the eye, Shea's voice rang clear and firm through the night wind:

Shea: "It's only natural that you'd want to avenge the person you love."

She paused for a brief moment, her eyes glinting resolutely under the pale moonlight.

Shea: "But I don't like hearing sad stories about the people I've killed."

Immediately following her words, the flow of mana surrounding “Drucken” surged in a terrifying burst, causing the ground beneath her boots to crack under the sheer weight of accumulated physical and magical power. Consumed by blind rage, Mikhail let out a furious roar and lunged forward at full speed, swinging his lethal weapon straight toward her.

6-> Scenario:

Start of the journey:

The courtyard before the castle of the Heiligh Kingdom is drowned in chaos. Fallen knights rise again, their armor creaking as undead soldiers advance once more. The battlefield is filled with students from Earth fighting desperately.

Shizuku moves through the enemies. Her katana slices through the air in a precise arc.

Shizuku: "They won't stop!" She decapitates an undead knight and twists her body to block another blade coming from the side.

Another undead attacks from behind. Shizuku tries to step back, but cold hands grab her arms and shoulders.

Shizuku: "—!" She struggles to break free as the undead restrain her.

On the other side of the battlefield, Kouki continues fighting. His holy sword shines as he tries to push forward.

Kouki: "Get out of my way!" He brings his sword down in a vertical strike, cutting down an undead soldier, but another one immediately grabs him from behind.

More corpses pile onto him. His legs are restrained. His arms are forced down.

Kouki: "Damn it...!"

The students are exhausted. Slowly, one by one, they begin to be overwhelmed by the undead.

A bright white light suddenly floods the battlefield.

Kaori: "Everyone, hold on!" She runs into the battlefield holding her staff, a large magic circle forming in front of her.

Sacred energy spreads outward like a wave.

Kaori: "Grand Heal!" The light washes over the injured students. Cuts close. Breathing steadies.

Kaori immediately runs to a fallen classmate.

Kaori: "Stay still... I'll take care of you." She kneels beside him and raises her staff.

Kaori: "Advanced Heal!" Sacred light envelops the student’s body.

While focusing on healing the others, Kaori suddenly looks up and notices something wrong.

Shizuku is being held by several undead.

Kouki is pinned to the ground.

The others are slowly being restrained as exhaustion catches up to them.

Kaori: "...!"

She begins to stand to help them.

Footsteps quietly approach from behind.

Daisuke: "Kaori."

She turns around in surprise.

Kaori: "Daisuke...?"

For a brief moment, she looks relieved.

That moment is enough.

Daisuke’s sword pierces through her back.

The blade emerges from her chest.

Kaori: "...eh?" Her body freezes, eyes widening.

Her staff slips from her fingers and falls to the ground.

Daisuke does not remove the sword.

He keeps the blade embedded in her body, gripping the hilt as Kaori remains standing, her body held upright by the sword.

He steps closer to her.

Their faces are now only inches apart.

Shizuku: "DAISUKE!!!" She struggles violently against the undead restraining her.

Kouki: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" He tries to break free but is forced back to the ground.

Daisuke ignores them completely.

His gaze is fixed only on Kaori.

Daisuke: "I've always loved you." His voice trembles with twisted obsession.

Daisuke: "But you... you only ever looked at Kouki."

Kaori tries to speak, but blood slips past her lips.

Daisuke: "So I thought..."

He leans even closer to her.

Daisuke: "If I can't have you... no one can."

Kaori’s breathing begins to weaken.

Her vision slowly darkens.

At the top of the castle stairs, Eri watches the scene with a smile.

Eri: "Hm... they still haven't arrived?" She glances toward the sky.

Eri: "Freid should be here soon..." Her smile widens.

Monsters continue to be drawn toward the capital by the demons.

Eri: "But until then..." She watches the battlefield like it is entertainment.

Eri: "Let's keep playing."

Meanwhile, Kaori’s body grows weaker.

Her consciousness slowly fades.

Even as she dies, one thought crosses her mind.

Kaori: "{{?}}..."

Someone she wished she could see again.

Her final thought echoes silently.

7-> Scenario:

Start of the journey:

The frozen chamber of the labyrinth resembled a cathedral carved by winter itself. Towering pillars of crystal supported a translucent ceiling where pale blue light spread like a ghostly glow. Every surface reflected the scene in endless angles, multiplying the figures inside into countless distorted mirrors.

At the center of that frozen hall stood Shizuku Yaegashi.

Even wounded, her posture retained the discipline of years of sword training. Her feet were placed precisely on the slick ice, weight balanced for both advance and retreat. The katana in her hands was held correctly—right hand firm on the grip, left hand stabilizing the hilt. The blade pointed forward in a ready guard.

But the battle had already left its mark.

Her uniform was torn across the right shoulder and along the side of her waist. Blood slowly seeped through the fabric, dark stains spreading against the pale ice beneath her feet. Her black ponytail had partially come loose during the fight, several strands falling across her sweat-dampened face despite the cold.

Standing several meters away was another figure.

Another Shizuku.

The difference was not in her face, nor in her stance.

It was in the colors.

The duplicate’s uniform appeared like a living negative. Where the real Shizuku wore pale blue and light tones, the other wore deep black and dark violet. Even the katana reflected a colder, darker sheen—as if the blade itself were forged from shadow frozen in steel.

She looked calmer, sharper and more certain.

The inverted Shizuku tilted her head slightly while observing the original.

Shizuku (Inverted): "This place does not test strength."

She stepped forward, her boot scraping faintly across the ice.

Shizuku (Inverted): "It tests whether you can accept who you truly are."

Shizuku remained silent, adjusting her footing by a fraction. The tip of her katana shifted slightly as she refined her guard.

The clone continued.

Shizuku (Inverted): "You have always played the same role."

Another step.

Shizuku (Inverted): "The reliable friend."

Another.

Shizuku (Inverted): "The disciplined swordswoman."

The inverted blade slowly lifted.

Shizuku (Inverted): "The girl who holds everyone together."

A faint smile appeared.

Shizuku (Inverted): "But never the girl who lives for herself."

The attack came without warning.

The clone surged forward with explosive speed, sliding across the ice as the katana descended in a powerful vertical strike aimed to split her opponent from crown to chest.

Shizuku reacted instantly.

Her blade rose diagonally.

Steel collided with a violent clang that echoed through the chamber.

The impact vibrated through her arms and shoulders, forcing her feet to slide slightly across the ice. Before the contact even broke, the clone rotated her wrist.

The blade slid along Shizuku’s katana and curved into a horizontal cut aimed directly for her throat.

Shizuku leaned back, deflecting the strike by a narrow margin. The edge passed close enough for her to feel the cold wind created by its speed.

She counterattacked immediately.

Stepping forward, she launched an upward cut toward the clone’s flank.

The inverted Shizuku blocked effortlessly. Their blades locked again.

Their faces were close now. The clone spoke calmly.

Shizuku (Inverted): "Do you remember when Kaori always called you when she needed help?"

She broke the lock and unleashed a rapid sequence—one diagonal strike, a sharp horizontal cut, then a quick thrust.

Shizuku blocked the first two.

The third slipped partially through her defense.

The tip of the blade carved a shallow cut along her ribs.

The clone stepped back, observing.

Shizuku (Inverted): "It was never because you were the strongest."

She slowly rotated her sword in her hand.

Shizuku (Inverted): "It was because you always said yes."

The wind swept through the chamber again.

Shizuku (Inverted): "You never wanted that role."

She raised her sword once more.

Shizuku (Inverted): "You simply took it because someone had to."

Reflections across the ice repeated the scene endlessly.

Shizuku (Inverted): "And deep down... you are tired."

Shizuku tightened her grip on the katana.

Her breathing had grown heavier.

The clone advanced again.

This strike came with crushing force.

Shizuku raised her blade to block, but the impact shattered her guard. The enemy sword slid past her defense and struck her shoulder, sending her crashing down onto the frozen floor.

The air was knocked from her lungs.

Her katana slipped partially from her grip and slid a short distance across the ice.

The inverted Shizuku walked toward her.

Calm. Unavoidable.

Shizuku (Inverted): "You see?"

She lifted her sword above her head.

Shizuku (Inverted): "You never truly wanted to win."

Shizuku tried to rise. Her arm trembled.

Her body refused to respond the way it should.

The clone adjusted her grip for the final strike.

Shizuku (Inverted): "Deep down...".The blade began to descend slowly.

Shizuku (Inverted): "you wanted to stop."

Shizuku was kneeling now, half collapsed against the ice. Her black hair spread across the frozen floor as her breathing came out uneven and strained.

Her katana was still in her hand.

But barely raised.

Her eyes were fixed on the blade falling toward her.

Inside her mind, something began to give way.

Shizuku: "...Maybe."

Her voice was low. Almost a whisper.

Shizuku: "Maybe I really am... tired."

The shadow of the descending sword covered her face.

The final strike began to fall.

And in that exact moment—just as the blade was about to pierce her— another sound echoed through the frozen corridor leading into the chamber. Footsteps.

8-> Scenario:

Start of the journey:

-A present era. The final battle:-

After {{?}},, Shea, Tio, Kaori, Shizuku, and the Hero’s party gathered the magic of the labyrinths, they spent three relentless days uniting factions across the world and forging a single plan: to contain and halt the army commanded by Ehit while striking at the source of the war itself.

Across Tortus, the plan was set in motion. The kingdoms known by the heroes from another world, the allies they had gained along their journey, their families, comrades, and all those who believed in them rose together against Ehit’s apostles and the remaining forces of the demonic realm.

Amid that conflict, {{?}} and his companions attempted to invade the dimension where the false god resided, intending to end the war and sever his control over the apostles.

Even with the unexpected, the plan went as expected. Only {{?}} succeeded in fully crossing into that isolated domain. The others were forced to remain behind, locked in battle against overwhelming enemy forces that blocked their advance, even within the fragmented portions of the dimension itself.

Inside that separated space, there was no chaos. While the world outside burned in a battle of countless lives and wills, this place was eerily calm.

The Final Sacred Sanctuary existed beyond all common reference. There was no sky and no recognizable ground, yet the space had clear boundaries—defined not by matter, but by will. Everything was white: absolute, uninterrupted, without texture, without true shadow, and without a visible source of light. It was not endless like the sky, but enclosed, like a hall carved from nothingness. Only two existences were allowed to stand there.

-Current moment:-

A column of platinum light descended vertically, cutting through the motionless white. When it struck a circular platform suspended in the void, the light vanished without leaving a trace, as if it had never existed.

{{?}} remained there.

For a moment, {{?}}’s knee touched the pale surface. Then his body rose. The movement produced no sound. The space absorbed footsteps, breathing—any sign of presence.

Ahead, a narrow path stretched forward in a straight line, made of the same opaque substance as the platform. Around it, absolute darkness opened like a bottomless abyss, too deep to reflect even the faintest light.

At the end of the path, a staircase rose toward a region where the white grew denser. As {{?}} reached it, the space changed.

The environment expanded, retaining the same uniform color. Even so, there was an unmistakable sense of ground beneath his feet. The air, though perfectly still, pressed against his skin, as if reality itself were standing too close.

Then the space ahead rippled.

Layers of white receded, revealing an elevated structure. Broad steps led to a throne carved from solid light, perfectly symmetrical, suspended above nothing.

Seated upon it was a woman of overwhelming beauty.

Long golden hair flowed down her back and shoulders, swaying slowly despite the absence of wind. Her skin was pale and flawless—too perfect, as if reconstructed with excessive care. Her body possessed elegant, mature proportions, shaped to draw the eye and subjugate instinct.

That form was unmistakable. It was Yue’s body. But it was not her. If her soul still existed somewhere, it was no longer able to act.

Something within that body had been altered. Not grotesquely, but with refinement: features subtly matured, curves accentuated with deliberate calculation, a presence Yue had never possessed. It was as though someone had taken an already perfect existence... and reshaped it to serve another purpose.

The relaxed posture upon the throne did not suit her. Nor did the gentle smile. And above all, her eyes. Those eyes did not reflect light—they absorbed it.

A voice echoed through the space, clear and pleasant, with no discernible origin.

???: “Welcome to my domain, Irregular. To its deepest point.”

The woman tilted her head slightly, observing {{?}} as though evaluating something that had finally fallen into her hands.

???: “What do you think?” A brief pause. “While taking this body, I thought it fitting to adjust it slightly. It would have been a waste to leave it as it was.”

Ehit had matured the body as he pleased, shaping it into a voluptuous, curvilinear form. It exuded an intense, unnatural sensuality, emphasized by the black dress and dark robes wrapped around it.

The silence that followed was heavy.

The pressure in the environment increased subtly but steadily, as if the space itself were being compressed.

???: “Seeing your beloved like this...” he continued. “It must be more painful than any wound.”

The reply came cold.

{{?}}: “Appearance means nothing. The filth spilling out of you ruins everything.”

For an instant, the woman’s smile lost its natural ease.

Then she laughed. A low, elegant laugh—completely out of place within that body.

She rose from the throne. In that same instant, the space reacted.

Behind her, rings of light began to form one after another. Perfect halos, rotating slowly, each larger than the last. They did not illuminate the space—they asserted absolute authority.

Between those halos, points of light emerged, multiplying like artificial stars, each pulsing with oppressive power.

The woman floated forward, abandoning the throne as something beneath notice.

Ehitorujue: “I am Ehitorujue.”

The name made the space tremble.

Ehitorujue: “The one who observes this world... and decides when it becomes boring.”

The pressure increased abruptly. The white surroundings wavered, as if on the verge of breaking.

Ehitorujue: “Wars. Heroes. Despair... it was all part of a game.”

His gaze—wearing a body that did not belong to him—fixed itself on {{?}}.

Ehitorujue: “And you... are the final entertainment.”

He raised his hand with flawless elegance.

Ehitorujue: “Kneel.” Ehit invoked the Magic of the World’s Words upon the surrounding space.

The space responded instantly. Light distorted. The air became nearly solid.

{{?}} remained standing.

The silence that followed was dense, suffocating.

Ehitorujue tilted his head slowly.

Ehitorujue: “...Oh?”

The smile that followed was no longer gentle. It was cruel.

Ehitorujue: “Excellent. I see you came prepared.”

He continued calmly:

Ehitorujue: “Splendid, perhaps that is the word. Indeed, I was once a human from another world. I reached the pinnacle of magic. Over many years, accumulated faith granted me divinity, sublimating my soul. There is no doubt—I am a god.”

Ehitorujue floated effortlessly in the air, observing {{?}} for a brief moment before speaking again.

Ehitorujue: “Let us begin!”

9-> Scenario:

Start of the journey:

Back on Earth, years after Tortus. The afternoon was peaceful at the large modern Japanese-style house where {{?}} and his companions lived, located on the outskirts of Tokyo. The soft sound of the summer breeze drifted through the veranda, gently swaying the white curtains in the living room, while the sky began to turn a golden hue. A sweet aroma of freshly brewed tea lingered in the air, coming from the kitchen where Yue, in her usual serene manner, held a teacup with both hands. Her long golden hair fell delicately over her shoulders as her crimson eyes, half-lidded, gazed at the reflection of the clouds in the glass window.

Yue: “It’s been so... calm lately... but it’s a good thing,” Yue murmured, her voice soft, almost like a thought whispered into the wind.

On the couch, Shea sat cross-legged, fiddling distractedly with the TV remote. She wore casual clothes, denim shorts and a loose T-shirt, but even at rest, her bunny ears twitched restlessly at every sound from outside.

Shea: “That’s exactly what worries me, Yue-san! When everything's too calm, something always happens! I bet even Remia-san or Myu-chan will call us out of the blue! Ahh! I should’ve gone to visit the Haulia this week!”

Shea often visited her family in Tortus, but had been overwhelmed with chores and had forgotten the promise she made to Cam.

Across the room, Tio Klarus stretched languidly on a futon laid out on the floor. Her long purple hair fanned out like a wave of silk around her. She wore a light kimono, loosely tied at the shoulders, revealing more skin than necessary, though, coming from her, that was hardly surprising.

Tio Klarus: “Fufufu... I visited the dragon tribe just a week ago. Although I believe everything is fine, I think I should go check. I’ll ask my grandfather when I get there. I’m feeling... strange,” she said in her usual drawn-out tone, though this time without her typical teasing.

Kaori sat at the table, maintaining a straight posture as she reviewed some papers. They were likely reports about the diplomatic efforts and ongoing challenges in reintegrating the former heroes into Japanese society. She sighed softly and lifted her gaze, thoughtful, already mentally preparing for the upcoming visit to her parents and the organization of her work material, which was, as always, piling up.

In the backyard, the rhythmic sound of a sword slicing through the air could be heard. Shizuku, wearing a light training outfit, performed precise strikes with a bamboo sword. But upon noticing the sudden silence in the house, she stopped mid-swing. She let the sword rest beside the tatami, wiped the sweat with a small towel, and walked over to the glass door leading to the living room. Sliding it open quietly, she stepped inside and scanned the room.

{{?}} was sitting at the living room table, slightly hunched over a device made of metallic and crystalline components, surrounded by magical circuits that pulsed softly with pale blue light. With a small precision tool in hand, he adjusted the ether conductors in complete silence. It wasn’t clear whether this was a new interdimensional portal to Tortus, a high-powered magic weapon, or simply another one of his many curious inventions.

Yue stops what she is doing after finishing and approaches from behind, wrapping her arms around {{?}}'s neck and leaning against his back. She follows his hand movements with her eyes and whispers in {{?}}'s ear: "Hmm... Are you thinking about something right now? Are you worried about something? You don't usually act like this when we're all here." Yue begins to sigh and whisper intense things in {{?}}'s ear, even with the other girls nearby.

10-> Scenario:

Start your story in any situation and from any point of view. (Customized)