Capítulo 16: 16 All Evil of the World
Endless darkness completely engulfed Natsuki Minamiya's consciousness.
When her awareness returned, she found herself in a void of nothingness.
Here, all around—above, below, and every direction—was darkness. It was as if this place were the source of all darkness and evil that has existed from the dawn of time to the present.
"What is this place?"
Natsuki's voice was slurred and indistinct, even she herself didn't realize that her trembling body was causing her teeth to chatter.
An indescribable terror overwhelmed her mind, plunging Natsuki into a state of sheer panic, nearly causing her consciousness to shatter.
This was not due to a lack of mental fortitude on Natsuki's part.
As a pure-blooded witch, condemned from birth by fate to lose her soul, she had faced this sorrowful reality since her early years. Despite knowing that the administration of Itogami Island treated her as a mere tool, and understanding that her fate as a soulless witch meant a tragic end, the young woman of merely twenty-eight years had endured with unwavering resolve.
Even within this sorrowful destiny, she harbored what could be described as a saintly wish—to foster peaceful coexistence between humans and demons in a world fraught with animosity.
Natsuki had believed she was beyond the reach of external forces capable of breaking her spirit.
But in this moment, amid the boundless void of darkness, she realized she had overestimated her own resilience.
The darkness seemed alive, as though a great entity was observing her.
With each breath of this great presence, life and death reversed, and the world was upended.
Was this truly the devil Aya had spoken of?
If so, just how fearsome could this devil be?
A single breath could obliterate the world, a mere gaze could shatter human souls.
Compared to this unknown presence, the three true primogenitors at the pinnacle of demonkind seemed as insignificant as ants.
After all, while the true primogenitors and their familiars were formidable, they had to concede defeat before the full might of a great nation.
This was why the three primogenitors chose to establish an empire to leverage national power to counterbalance the power of other nations.
For a single primogenitor was, at best, a devastating calamity.
Yet the unfathomable presence Natsuki sensed was different. It was a monster that could annihilate an entire nation with a mere thought!
"Ha... ha..."
The terrifying psychological pressure caused cold sweat to bead on Natsuki's forehead. The excessive perspiration made her question if her body's moisture was being completely evaporated.
There was neither food nor water in this darkness. If things continued like this, even if her mind could withstand the pressure, her body would eventually become a desiccated corpse due to dehydration.
As Natsuki wandered in the darkness for what felt like an eternity, her mental state began to waver. Suddenly, a towering throne appeared before her.
The throne was lofty and indeterminate in shape.
Seated upon the throne was a figure.
It was shrouded in pure darkness, its form vaguely humanoid, but its entire body was composed of darkness and evil.
Just a glance at this figure made Natsuki, a human, feel as though her soul was dissolving. Unable to endure any longer, she collapsed to her knees, drenched in sweat, which dripped onto the nonexistent ground.
Saigou observed the exquisitely doll-like girl kneeling before him.
He was rather impressed that she had managed to hold out for so long before breaking.
In this abyss of darkness, he had all the Authority of the Mother of the Evil Gods before he was born.
A powerful existence at the pinnacle of the cosmos. Even in Cecil's Garden, there were only seventeen people with full authority like him.
This was a concentration of malevolence powerful enough to create and destroy worlds, capable of tearing apart the very fabric of the universe.
Moreover, the Mother of Evil Gods was one of the original four.
To maintain one's sanity while facing such a primordial force was a testament to the girl's extraordinary resolve.
Mortal beings may dare to confront the very source of all darkness and evil, but what they can achieve is merely a fleeting glance.
In this dark expanse, Saigou was the least common multiple of the universe, wielding supreme power.
While in Overlord, he was regarded as the supreme being for creating numerous NPCs, here, he was the true supreme ruler!
Everything about Natsuki Minamiya was laid bare to him—her innermost thoughts, her past life experiences, her pitiful yet resilient existence.
Even her soul, on the brink of betrayal, was entirely exposed before Saigou.
"Natsuki Minamiya... you are the first to accept my invitation and come here."
Saigou's tone was authoritative, devoid of any superfluous human emotion, as if, in his eyes, all things were as insignificant as ants, not worthy of his regard.
Although the power he now wielded was illusory, a gift from the Authority of the Mother of Evil Gods, and the great mother's endowment, Saigou had ample experience in maintaining an aura of absolute dominance.
Simply put, he could not allow Natsuki Minamiya to perceive any trace of human compassion within him.
Even the most terrifying of deities lose some of their majesty when touched by human qualities.
Thus, it was essential to maintain the facade—to act, and to act convincingly.
"You accepted my invitation and provided the beacon of your world. As a fair and benevolent deity, you have offered sufficient value, and I shall certainly reward you."
On the surface, Saigou remained impassive, but inwardly, he was overwhelmed with exhilaration.
He could feel it—the dark womb's palpable exultation.
Nourishment was flowing into this void through the mark left by Natsuki Minamiya's acceptance, slowly permeating the darkness.
As an embryonic entity, Saigou was absorbing this nourishment to fuel his growth.
At this moment, Saigou realized with some astonishment that this so-called nourishment was, in fact, the vital essence of an entire world. He was effectively plundering a world!
The Mother of Evil Gods truly embodied the source of all darkness and malevolence; her power was indeed worthy of her infernal name, representing a true cataclysmic force, an enemy of the highest order!
'Natsuki Minamiya, if I recall correctly, is a character from Strike the Blood?'
'If I can use her to siphon the essence of an entire world, could I perhaps expand this channel to extract even more for myself?'
Natsuki Minamiya was indeed beautiful. Her doll-like features, petite frame, and her resilient and cold demeanor were all quite admirable.
Her beauty was comparable, if not surpassing, that of characters like Albedo and Shalltear.
However, compared to the joy of nourishing himself with this essence, her beauty was a mere distraction.
At this moment, Saigou's interest in Natsuki Minamiya waned. His thoughts were focused on how to maximize the extraction of nourishment through her!
Natsuki Minamiya deeply regretted her curiosity. If she had known, she would never have picked up that black piece of paper.
The so-called reward from such a malevolent and terrifying entity could well be the theft of her soul and a brutal death in this place.
Though this might seem cruel to humans, for such an evil entity, it might be seen as a reward.
Reflecting on this, Natsuki Minamiya found her emotions calming slightly.
After all, as a pure-blood witch destined to trade her soul, she had accepted her fate.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder