Orihime gritted her teeth so hard that her jaw trembled. She didn't know whether to be furious or shocked by what she was seeing.
"What kind of trickery is this?!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the false stage. "Why can't you just die already?!"
Without waiting another second, she charged toward Aoto, her steps fast but not nearly as sharp as before. Her movements had slowed down—the boost she got earlier from the audience's applause had faded away. Without their cheers, her strength and speed were dropping fast. She needed to capture their attention again if she wanted her overwhelming power back.
Aoto quickly noticed her slower pace. He twisted his body to the side, dodging her attack smoothly, and retreated backward to keep some distance between them.
Orihime stopped in her tracks and turned toward the crowd. The entire audience was motionless—silent, expressionless, frozen like lifeless statues. There was not a single sound, no cheer, no clap, no reaction.
She took a deep breath and forced a bright smile back onto her face. Her blood-soaked bunnysuit shimmered and turned clean., and her sword of lust shifted back into a sparkling microphone. Her expression became cheerful, her eyes shining with that same idol-like glow she always used to charm others.
But this time, Aoto didn't stand still either. He smiled playfully and spread his hand wide. Reality around him bent and twisted under his control. The speakers on the stage multiplied, surrounding him in a perfect circle. His sword transformed into a microphone, and his torn clothes changed into a stylish black-and-red rockstar outfit.
He pushed his sunglasses up his nose and smirked. "Let's have a rematch," he said, his voice steady and full of confidence.
Inside, his heart was pounding wildly, not out of fear—but excitement. He had died once. His body had been ripped open. And yet, here he was, standing again. If he hadn't awakened his new unique skill a few seconds earlier, it would have been over.
Or more like, Fate could control luck to a certain extent, Thus being lucky was a power given to her by his new skill Fate Manipulation.
Orihime's eyes darkened. "You're just delaying your death!" she shouted, then lifted her mic and began singing.
Her voice was beautiful—soft and clear, like the gentle glow of sunrise reflected over a quiet river. Every note she sang flowed perfectly, filling the air with calm. The audience's stiff faces slowly softened, their eyes turning peaceful again, drawn to her charm.
But the moment felt short-lived.
From behind Aoto, the massive speakers roared to life, blasting a wave of sharp sound that shattered the calm atmosphere. The peace turned into chaos.
Aoto leaned closer to his mic, grinning wide as he started to rap with pure confidence, moving to the rhythm of his own heartbeat.
"Yo, step back, Orihime, you're lookin' divine,
But I ain't here for beauty, I'm here to outshine.
You sing like a river, but your hits feel tame,
I turn pressure to rhythm—that's my game!"
Flames erupted behind him as he jumped up, his body moving with energy and rhythm. His stage turned into a fiery concert, lights flashing red and orange as if the crowd was watching two worlds collide—one of love and one of chaos.
Many people in the audience clutched their ears and groaned. "It's not music! It's just noise! It hurts!" they complained, struggling to stay calm.
But not everyone felt the same. Some of them suddenly stood up, eyes wide, feeling their hearts race. "I don't know why, but this weird sound is making me excited! I feel like running, or exercising!" one shouted.
"Yeah! It's crazy—but it's amazing!" another added, their voice filled with thrill.
The audience split into two groups at once — cheers for Orihime on one side, other on Aoto's side. Orihime noticed it right away, her smile hardening with determination.
"It seems, I need to use my unique skill again!" she thought, reaching out and making a heart shape with her fingers toward the crowd.
"Love love..Pure—" she began, voice sweet and bright.
Poop!
A bird poop dropped right on her head.
"How can a bird be here in my domain?" Orihime blinked, stunned, and turned her glare toward Aoto.
Aoto only chuckled and bit his lip. That small laugh said it all — it was his doing.
"You," she shouted, taking one angry step forward — and then, in the same moment, she slipped and fell flat. Her face smashed into the stage.
Unlucky! She was simply cursed by chance.
Or, more exactly, Aoto's Fate Manipulation had twisted her luck. Right now, Orihime would fail at almost anything she tried to do — even breathing.
Just as she tried to stand, she started choking. Her hands clawed at her throat, her breaths came short and useless. Panic flickered across her face while Aoto ignored her.
The stage beneath Aoto wobbled like jelly. It bounced, rose up, and spun slowly in a bright circle. Firecrackers popped and lights danced like a grand show, filling the air with noise and color. Even people who hadn't liked the song found their eyes glued to the sight.
On the stage, Orihime finally managed a gulp of air and looked up, furious and embarrassed.
"Star meteoroids!" she shouted, sending a swarm of glittering meteor particles hurtling toward Aoto.
For a beat they rushed at him like a comet storm — then, without warning, they changed into clear water droplets and fell back down, drenching Orihime. Her black bunny suit soaked through.
Anger flared inside her hotter than any spell. She wanted to rip Aoto apart — peel his skin and tear out his tendons. She launched herself forward, ready to strike.
But the loud music cut off suddenly. The lifted stage fell smooth and steady back to normal. Aoto descended in front of her with a calm, almost bored look. He stretched out his right arm slowly, hands relaxed.
"Now's it's your turn to run!"
Orihime immediately understood what Aoto meant. The audience's cheers and applause had chosen him — his power had risen sharply.
But even after realizing that, Orihime didn't back down. Her pride wouldn't allow it. She let out a furious roar and charged straight at Aoto with her Sword of Lust shining bright in her hand.
BAM! SMACK!
Their swords clashed again and again. Sparks flew through the air, lighting up the broken stage. Orihime swung with all her strength, her attacks wild and full of anger, but Aoto blocked and deflected each one with calm precision. His movements were sharp and effortless, his expression steady.
Then his eyes narrowed. "Reality Slash!" he shouted, swinging his sword in a single, powerful motion.
A red, glowing slash of energy shot forward like a wave of fire, heading straight for Orihime. She clenched her teeth and raised her Sword of Lust to block it.
The moment the two blades met—
CRACK!
The Sword of Lust glimmered, turning transparent like glass. Orihime's eyes widened in disbelief. Before she could even react, her weapon shattered into two pieces that scattered in the air like dust.
That was a legendary sword — the weapon of the Demon King Lustrous himself. And it had been broken in an instant.
BAM!
Aoto's fist connected with her face before she could even move. The hit sent her flying across the empty air, Her body kept flying for hundreds of meters until she slammed hard into the invisible edge of the domain and fell to the ground like a broken doll.
A loud crack echoed as lines began to spread through the air — It was as if the world itself looked like it was breaking apart.
Aoto didn't wait. Who knows what if just like him, Orihime too end up Awakening second unique skill— and he couldn't risk that.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
He rushed at her, punching and kicking again and again. Every blow he landed was payback for the ones she had given him earlier. His fists slammed into her stomach, her ribs, her face — blood splattered with every hit. Her teeth scattered on the ground, and her bones cracked beneath his strikes.
He didn't stop until Orihime lay barely breathing, her face swollen, her eyes half-open and unfocused, All of her teeths were broken.
He raised his fist one more time, ready to end it — but suddenly, his strength dropped. It felt like his entire power was being drained out of him all at once.
He understood instantly. His buff was ending and orihime was in no condition to maintain the domain either.
The illusion started breaking apart completely. The stage cracked and crumbled like glass.
Aoto dragged his tired body closer to her. His hands trembled, but he forced himself to raise both of them and clench them together into one fist.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
He hit her again and again until finally, Orihime stopped moving. Her eyelids didn't even twitch.
She was dead.
Only then did Aoto let out a shaky breath and fall down beside her, his body aching all over. He lay there quietly, chest rising and falling slowly.
A moment later, the world around him changed. The domain vanished. Everyone returned to reality.
The surroundings was destroyed. Houses were reduced to rubble, streets were cracked open, and dust filled the air.
"Attack! Someone attacked us! Help!" people screamed, running in panic.
They didn't know that the battle was already over — that they were already safe.
"My mother's still inside the house! Someone, please help her!" a young boy cried, his voice shaking.
"No… my shop… I took a huge loan to build that place…" a merchant fell to his knees, staring blankly at the ruins of his business.
Aoto heard all of it faintly, but he didn't have the strength left to move.
The cries of the people, the chaos, the destruction — strangely, all of it sounded soft and peaceful to him now.
He closed his eyes slowly and smiled faintly. "Finally… some peace," he whispered in relief.
Even though he was lying in the middle of a half-destroyed city, surrounded by dust and frightened voices, he didn't care anymore.
The exhaustion finally took over, and Aoto drifted into sleep immediately.