SSS Ranked Awakening: I Can Rewind Time!-Chapter 43: Psyche Of Monochrome [7]

Within the twinkle of an eye, the nightmarish entity was already behind the crimson haired lady. Now mid-air, its leg slammed ruthlessly against her shoulder.

Crack—!

I thought I heard the sound of bones breaking. My expression darkened.

Mia groaned, and then, she was sent into the distance, pain tearing through every fiber of her being. But as if that wasn’t enough, the nightmarish entity’s devilish laugh echoed through the dark maze, and then-

Whoosh—!

It vanished from its previous spot, moving so fast that I could barely catch a glimpse of its harrowing form.

The ground it stood on moments prior shattered, spiderweb cracks marring their surface.

In a heartbeat, it was already before Mia. Grinning, it cleaved down with the crimson sword. In an imbalanced position, Mia could do nothing but raise her sword to block the strike.

Clang! Clang--!

The sound of metals colliding reverberated through the endless darkness as both figures blitzed through the dark maze.

In a flash of crimson and searing white, the hollow silence was occasionally punctured by the clangors of steel. The stifling quiet broken by the uneven rhythm of their heartbeats, and the subtle echoes of their breath.

"Huff, Huff..."

Ba- thump! Ba- thump!

Growling, the dark shadow roared:

"More!! More...!!!"

It stepped forward, anger evident within its hollow black pupils.

It wasn’t seeing the red.

Slash! Slash!

It slashed even faster. It cleaved harder. However...

"...!!"

It wasn’t seeing it!

"Red! Red!! Red...!!!"

Its loud, disoriented voice echoed through the dark maze.

At that point, Mia was finding it hard, if not impossible, to keep up with its increasing ferocity. Her body was riddled with wounds, her armor torn into shreds as blood rolled down her chin.

Drip! Drip--!

The sound echoed through the tense silence.

Step—!

Stepping to the left, she barely dodged a strike poised to rip through her. Continuing with the fluid motion, she rammed her shoulders into the entity’s chest.

BAAANG!

The force from the strike sent the nightmarish entity careening across the ground, each impact jarring its senses.

Crack!

The ground beneath Mia cracked, and then... she was already before the dark shadow. Grimacing, her sword shone subtly as she cleaved down with every ounce of strength contained within her.

As the sword inched closer, the nightmarish entity simply smiled, madness spilling from its hollow black eyes.

In that moment, a crimson gauntlet coated its hand, just as the sword struck. Stopped in her tracks, Mia roared:

"Break!"

Her voice boomed through the darkness, her body emanating terrifying, immolating heat.

"More!!!"

As a searing pain enveloped it, flooding its senses, the nightmarish entity’s grin widened. And then,

Flick--!

Just as Mia’s sword slashed through its chest, its hand struck her stomach with such terrifying force, that for a moment, she felt as though the world had come to a stop.

But then, it came crashing back. Right afterwards, her eyes widened from the sudden pain as she was sent crashing into the distance, each jagged impact jarring her senses.

Dragging her worn-out body to a stop, her figure swayed as she struck her sword into the ground. Gritting her teeth, she groaned as blood dripped down the corner of her lips.

Drip! Drip!

The sound echoed through the silence, staining the ground red.

The nightmarish entity grinned at the sight.

Drip! Drip!

Each drip of the blood brightened its colorless world.

Right about then, the crimson haired lady forced herself to her knees with the help of her sword.

"..."

Tilting its head slowly, the nightmarish entity’s lips slowly curled into a smile. And in that moment, only a single thought came to my mind. A chilling one to say the least.

’What exactly does it want?’

***

The two figures continued clashing, the sound of metals colliding punctuating the tense silence that surrounded them.

Right about then, Mia was sent back by a terrifying strike, subtle vibrations rendering her arm useless for a split second. However, tightening her grip around the sword’s edge, she bit onto her lower lips and... dashed towards the dark entity.

They clashed and fought, the battle raging on as gaping wounds riddled their bodies, crimson blood pooling around them.

...Logically speaking, both of them were at their ends wit and had exhausted most of their soul essence. Hence it stands to reason that they should have long stopped fighting. Even if they didn’t want to. However,

Step, Step!

Mia was sent staggering back once again, digging a long gorge along her path of retreat. And as the battle raged on,

Drip! Drip--!

As more crimson blood continued to pool around them, the madness in its eyes intensified.

It blazed furiously.

"Red!!! Red!!"

It was getting stronger. At a very rapid pace.

It sidestepped, cutting right through Mia’s arm. Groaning from the horrifying pain, Mia cleaved forward with her other hand. However, the dark creature simply ducked to the left. Continuing with the fluid motion, it slashed forward with every ounce of strength contained within its dark, profane muscles.

Just at the last moment, Mia managed to raise her sword.

Claaang!!

The force from the strike sent her staggering backward. Panting heavily as blood rolled down her severed arm, her chest heaved up and down, hand twitching.

She grimaced as intense pain flooded her senses. However, even more chilling was that:

The dark shadow was getting faster and stronger. And at that, at a very rapid pace.

Her expression turned somber. Tightening her grip on the golden sword, her inscrutable features finally showed signs of cracking.

In that moment, amidst all sense of despair that held onto her heart, she only had one thought:

She had to win this battle.

Clench.

She had to.

***

In an instant, the nightmarish entity appeared before her.

"Kekeke!"

As madness stretched its mouth into a wide, chilling grin, it slashed forward with the crimson sword.

In that moment, Mia allowed herself to sink deeper into their embrace.

Fear and despair.

She fully immersed herself in them.

She knew what she was doing was very well insane, as no sane person would dare to attempt it. But at the same time, she knew without doing this, she had no chance at defeating it.

The cold truth was:

She was left with no other choice.

Clench.

S-She had no other choice.

***

Clang! Clang!

Both figures collided once again, terrifying shockwaves undulating outward. Gritting her teeth, a bright incandescent light rose from her sword, slashing through the nightmarish entity’s chest, and sending searing heat through it upon impact.

...However,

Pain. It was used to.

And, as if to make matters worse, the pain did nothing to it. If anything, it only made it stronger.

—

As I watched the battle rage on.

As I watched Mia sustain more and more debilitating injuries. As blood continued to pool around her,

My hands trembled and twitched. And,

I-I could feel it. No, not only feel.

I could clearly discern the various emotions rising within me.

Amongst the many would be:

Anger and hatred.

I hated the fact that I was weak. I hated the fact that I couldn’t help her when she needed me the most.

I hated the fact that I was... pathetic.

I-...I hated myself.

But, even then, as the chains binding my emotions rattled violently.

Rattle! Rattle--!

I knew I couldn’t allow myself to fall into despair again. However, I had to do something. Anything that would shift the course of battle to our favor.

Yet the cold truth was that I was too weak to create such a ripple. I was too weak to interfere in a battle of such scale. But even then,

Clench.

As Mia was sent into the ground, groaning from the pain, yet still rising to her feet. As blood dripped down her pale face.

My hands got tightly clenched.

I had to do something. Anything.

That soon became obvious. It soon became clear.

But what could I possibly do?

...Slowly, I could feel them.

Despair and desperation.

They slowly crawled their way in, slowly eating me from the inside.

"Haa..."

Exhaling sharply, my heart thundered even faster, my hands trembling continuously.

Fear and despair crept in, pooling and tightening around my chest like an iron vice.

However, I knew I couldn’t allow them in.

Ba- thump! Ba- thump!

I couldn’t give in. I had to fight.

I had to give my all.

Closing my eyes, I exhaled sharply. Forcing down all the various primal emotions that threatened to consume me, I glanced at my surroundings.

Nightmarish rocks and abysmal trees surrounded us. And as I watched the battle rage on, as I watched them inch closer to the towering nightmarish trees, the answer became obvious.

The pieces started to fall into place. Slowly coming together to form a concrete plan.

I wasn’t sure it would work. But it was worth the short.

It was better than doing nothing.

B-Better than being pathetic.

Clenching my hand tightly as cold chills ran down my spine, I exhaled sharply, and then—

Step—!

I stepped into the shadows.