SSS Ranked Awakening: I Can Rewind Time!-Chapter 35: Survive. That’s All I Need Of You.

As an uncontrollable sense of dread sank into me, squeezing and tightening around my chest like an iron vice, I tried to move. However,

’Fuck!’

Before I could do so much as to blink, the horrifying monstrosity had already shot towards me, spider-web cracks running across the ground beneath it.

It was also then that I regained a tactile hold of my body. Scurrying to my feet, I turned back and immediately took to my heels.

’Crap! Crap!’

Cursing under my breath, I dove into the space before me just as a pair of claws tore through the space I stood on moments prior.

I attempted to make use of the opportunity to further increase the distance between me and the nightmarish aberration. However, just as I took a step forward, my legs stumbled against something sharp and I fell onto the ground.

Grimacing from the pain, I tried to pierce through the agony clouding my mind. It was then that I saw it.

"...."

From the darkness, a pair of crimson pupils shone with uncontrollable bloodlust. Staggering back, I tried to rise to my feet, however, at that moment, it was as though my limbs had turned into stone.

Tak, Tak--

As a solemn sense of dread gripped me, squeezing tightly, I watched in fear as the nightmarish aberration inched closer.

Each step it took sent a cold, chilling ripple through my heart. Each step it took, intensified the twitching of my hands and eyes.

...Towering above me like a nightmarish omen of death and destruction, massive shadows writhed in the darkness as it raised its pair of claws into the air, clearly savoring the glorious moment. And then...

Creak.

It struck.

***

In that moment, despair unlike anything I had ever felt, sank into me. It was then that a figure wreathed in light emerged from the darkness.

Clang!

A loud, quick cacophony of metals rang into my ears, burning heat along with endless massive shadows crawling beneath my skin.

...The immolating heat along with the unsettling darkness sent a searing pain through my mind, drawing me out of the world of abyss.

The crimson haired lady glanced back after deflecting a strike of the awakened evil. Her eyes shone coldly as she said:

"Fool! Fight back!"

Continuing with the fluid motion, she stepped forward and rammed into the awakened evil, raising her sword just in time to block the aberration’s harrowing strike.

Without wasting a moment of thought, she shot forward, chasing after the nightmarish creature still skidding backward. Stepping to the left, she dodged a pair of stygian claws and swung forward with her golden sword.

A bright incandescent light rose from her sword upon impact as cracks spread across the joints of the nightmarish evil.

...She’d come to realize that instead of burning away her essence, albeit extremely destructive, it wasn’t as effective as the result brought by a short, precise burst of energy.

With this strategic enlightenment, she now had a chance of defeating the horror. Even if only barely.

***

’Fight back!’

Mia’s words continued to echo within my mind. And slowly, I could feel a surge of adrenaline rising within me.

"Huff, Huff..."

Rising to my feet, I turned to face Mia just as she clashed with the horrifying creature.

Moving with inhuman reflexes, she twisted her body and smashed downwards with her elbow, snapping a joint of the nightmarish creature just as a flash of light erupted within the dark.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

The figure wreathed in light and that enclosed in shadows clashed. Pair of claws, and a long, golden sword suffused with immolating light and heat clashed in a desperate torrent of anger and... determination.

I could feel the emotions. I could sense them.

...I-I understood them.

Holding tightly onto the azure dagger, my hands twitched as I forced down all sorts of distraction. Especially all forms of emotions. With my scion of emotions aspect, I was somehow able to succeed. If only barely.

As a mental chain bound my emotions, my gaze snapped towards the nightmarish horror. And then...

Step! Step--!

I dashed onto the battlefield, charging towards the awakened evil still engaged in a ruthless dance of claws and steel with Mia.

***

The crimson haired lady stood some few distances away from the nightmarish aberration. Crimson blood rolled down her torn armor, and her arms had various harrowing wounds running across their surface. Her body was in the worst of shapes

However, the nightmarish evil didn’t have it any less easy. Most of its joints had broken, and various grievous wounds ran across its once menacing body.

As an all-consuming hatred ignited within its pupils, it lunged forward, its pair of claws poised to rip through Mia.

The crimson haired lady ducked to the left, barely avoiding the strike, and then, she continued with the fluid motion. Turning in a drastic maneuver, she drew the long golden sword into a violent arc, pouring everything she had into it.

CRAACK!!!

The pair of claws were brought down by the awakened evil just in time to block the strike.

The result could be expected. A terrifying shockwave detonated upon impact. The crimson haired lady was thrown back by the detonation, leaving deep gorges along her path of retreat.

Crimson blood flashed in the dark as cracks spread across the surface of the creature’s claws, before...

Crack! Kaa!!

They exploded bit by bit.

In that moment, unimaginable pain tore through every fiber of its being as a loud blood-curdling shriek pierced through the darkness.

This could be said to be a perfect moment to end it all. But alas, Mia was in no position to continue. At least, for now.

...She wasn’t able to.

Her hand had shifted out of its place, bending at an inhuman angle as she forced down the urge to scream. Biting onto her lower lips as tears welled in her eyes, she fell to her knees.

Grimacing, and with a look of resignation, she grabbed onto her right arm and then... ripped it off.

Rattle!! Rattle--!

The chains holding my emotions rattled violently at the sight. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to calm down.

’Calm down Dean. Calm down,’ I repeated in my mind, until it was the only tether grounding me to reality.

Just three steps away from the bastard, I knew I couldn’t afford to garner its attention this early on, and lose my only chance of killing it. Not especially after what it had done to Mia.

...I could only use this to convince myself.

I grimaced. ’For her sake, I had to remain clear-headed. I had to calm down and focus on the task at hand.’

Now just a feet away from the nightmarish evil, it finally noticed me. Its pair of eyes... slits came to rest on me. Concentrated beam of murderous intent sparkling within them.

Sliding across the ground, just as a mysterious wave of energy shot out of its body, I started running as soon as I rose to my feet.

’...I knew I couldn’t afford to get hit by its spirituality. I wasn’t sure I could resist its existential erasure ability.’

In that moment, waves of concentrated spirituality rippled through the air with such intensity that it caused the air around me to quiver, cold shivers running down my spine.

But thanks to the mental chain, I was able to squash down those thoughts and emotions. I didn’t allow them to consume me like they always did.

Arriving before the nightmarish horror, I slashed forward with the azure dagger, pouring everything I had into the strike. It was also then that a formless wave of energy struck me, just as the dagger pierced through the creature’s thick, impregnable hide.

In a flash of crimson, I felt the blue chaotic flame revolve around my body, just as a strange sense of crisis enveloped me. And then,

Flick--!

I found myself in the air, crashing violently across the ground, each impact jarring my senses.

Gritting my teeth, I tried to rise to my feet as blood dripped down the corner of my eyes.

Drip! Drip--!

I grimaced at the sight.

’The effect of locking my emotions was finally catching up to me.’

....Ahead, the nightmarish horror still tumbling in a world of pain, suddenly felt a cold chill run down its spine.

Turning back, it attempted to block the strike wreathed in burning, immolating light. But without any pair of claws to do so, Mia simply ducked past it. Continuing with the motion,

Tok, Tok--

A grim expression darkened her features as a blinding light shone in the dark. In that instant, she drew the golden sword into a violent arc.

PUCHII!

Now behind the nightmarish scavenger, she sheathed the golden sword. Behind her, crimson blood splattered into the air, as the nightmarish evil, now torn in half, collapsed onto the ground with a loud crashing thud.

As the crimson haired lady stared at the carcass, a faint sense of relief washed over her. She then fell to her knees.

***

Seeing Mia in such a state left a rather, unsavory taste in my throat.

Her arm was mangled and torn off as crimson liquid dripped down her hand, slowly pooling around her.

’...If only I had been stronger,’ I thought, fists tightly clenched together.

Just then, though, my thoughts were interrupted by a blinding flash of light. Raising my head towards the source of light, I saw Mia hold onto her mangled arm, and then, attached it to her flesh, just as the flame covered every single part of her body.

Wreathed in light, I caught a glimpse of what could only be described as a miracle.

...Her arm. It slowly cracked, writhed and reshaped itself. Her broken bones began to reset themselves, even her bleeding wounds slowly started to heal. Everywhere the flame passed by, all sense of disability was erased.

B-ut...

It all came at a cost.

Mia, who barely showed any expression, even in moments of hellish agony, grimaced and writhed in the throes of pain, her face contorted into an unsightly one.

...That alone proved to tell me just how high the pain she must be going through was.

However, within a few seconds, to probably a minute at most, she was back to her peak form. Perhaps, just a little bit far off.

As I stared at her, a faint sense of relief washed over me.

’Thank the damn gods.’

I exhaled shakily as I fell onto the ground.

***

Moments later, I rose to my feet, legs trembling as I approached Mia.

She sat slumped on a rock, her arm still glowing faintly from the flame that had restored it. Sweat dropped down her brow, and her breathing was labored, but she kept her gaze on the creature’s carcass.

"Mia," I said, not even knowing why I was here. But still, I forced myself to calm down.

Mia turned her head slightly, her eyes narrowing. "What’s it?"

"I-"

I hesitated.

However, biting my lips, I eventually spoke up:

"I...I’m sorry. Sorry for not being stronger."

For a moment, silence hung between us. Then, unexpectedly, Mia’s expression softened, just for a moment, as she said:

"Don’t apologize. Survive. That’s all I need of you."

Her voice was low, but her words echoed through me. And then, without thinking, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her.

She stiffened at first, sharp breaths escaping her lips.

"What are you-"

"Thank you," I said, my voice quiet, but firm. "Thanks for always saving me."

Mia froze, then sighed, leaning into the embrace just slightly, probably because a part of her wanted the same thing.

"Idiot..." She muttered, though there was no venom in her tone.

...For a moment, the warmth of his arms felt comforting. However, just as he tightened his grip on her, a light groan escaped her lips.

Realizing what I had just done, I subconsciously loosened my grip on her. A reddish shade adorned my face as I stepped back, eliciting a light laugh from her.

"We should probably get going."

It was then that Aezel’s voice suddenly cut in.

"Um, yeah." I nodded, shifting my eyes towards the carcass. "Az But we can’t let this delicious meal go to waste. Give me a moment."

The rest of the cohort simply laughed at my words, lightly shaking their heads.

They watched me do what I did best. And after packing everything- every single edible part of the nightmarish evil into my makeshift vessel, I glanced back at Mia and said:

"All done."

Dusting my hands, I slowly rose to my feet. "Guess we can start moving."

Mia nodded. And then, after a while, we continued journeying north as we headed for the Human Acropolis.

However, the further we moved, the more I just couldn’t shake off this strange sense of unease.

...And whatever this feeling was, I didn’t like it one bit.