"Nothing major. The Human Contract Alliance took a lot of people away. There are far fewer humans across the world now." Theresa's eyes dimmed for a brief moment, but the look was quickly replaced with resolve. "I believe everything will get better."
The Human Contract Alliance had chosen to side with the Finality Empire. She had no authority to interfere.
This was a path humanity chose for itself. Whatever the outcome, they would have to bear it on their own.
"The Human Contract Alliance?!"
Maria Schariac's brows drew tightly together.
She had never liked that loose coalition cobbled together by various governments—a bunch of parasites who occupied positions without doing real work, caring only about scrambling for power and profit.
But what concerned her more at the moment was not the Alliance's movements, but her younger sister—the Herrscher of Dominance, Angelia Schariac.
That woman's combat power was absurdly overwhelming, and her personality had grown twisted and extreme.
To those who didn't know better, Angelia seemed to have become "better." But only Maria understood that it was nothing more than a disguise.
With a thought, space tore apart and reassembled in her palm, condensing into a pitch-black spear.
A vague yet imposing phantom slowly emerged behind her.
Maria lowered her head to gaze at the spear in her hand, a trace of understanding flashing through her eyes.
As expected, her ability hadn't disappeared. She had brought it all back with her.
"Summon Guardian." That was the ability she had learned in another world. Now she could even summon space itself to take the form of a protector.
But she knew clearly that this level of power was still nowhere near enough when facing her younger sister, who possessed countless abilities.
"Is that a new ability you gained?" Theresa looked curiously at the phantom behind her, surprise evident in her tone.
"Mm. A superpower from another world." Maria casually dispersed the spear.
"Really? Then let's go test it out later!" Theresa proposed eagerly, though her gaze inadvertently swept toward the doorway.
Shigure Kira was inching toward the exit on tiptoe, clearly trying to slip away while no one was paying attention. Theresa asked in confusion, "Kira, what's wrong?"
"Oh, n-nothing!" Shigure Kira panicked inwardly and waved her hands hurriedly. "I just suddenly remembered I have something urgent to take care of. I'll be going now!" Before she even finished speaking, she had already turned and run outside.
"What's gotten into her?" Theresa watched her flustered retreating figure, frowning slightly in confusion.
"She probably doesn't want to test her ability," Rin said with a soft laugh, her gaze following the direction Shigure Kira had left.
"Why not?" Theresa looked even more puzzled.
Susannah added quietly, "Sister Kira doesn't like... showing her ability."
Rin continued, "Her ability is a large-scale, indiscriminate sonic attack."
"What's wrong with a sound-based attack?" Theresa still didn't understand.
Rin's smile carried a hint of mischief. "You know the phrase 'it lingers in the air for three days,' right? Kira's ability makes her voice cling to you like a curse, lingering at your side for a long time."
"Huh?" Theresa froze. It didn't sound that terrifying. If anything, it sounded a bit... weak? Was Kira just embarrassed to show such a "useless" ability?
"The Cursed Requiem." Houraiji Kyuusyou, who had been silent until now, covered her face with a hand wrapped in white bandages, her voice low and grave. "Her power is extremely terrifying. I once accidentally heard her singing alone in an empty forest and was caught in the aftermath. I suffered severe mental contamination."
"In the domain of sound, I acknowledge her as the strongest."
That only made Theresa more confused.
Inside the testing grounds, those who had returned began demonstrating their abilities one after another. Einstein bustled about nearby, recording and analyzing data.
When she saw that Maria Schariac could not only summon surrounding matter as guardians but even manipulate space itself, she couldn't help falling into deep thought. If this ability continued to grow, could it one day summon even time and dimensions?
Susannah's ability was "Fantasy Materialization." She could turn her imagination into reality, though the effects were influenced by fluctuations in her emotions.
Rin's ability was the most common—telekinesis. Her control was precise, and her potential was promising.
Finally, Einstein's gaze fell on the only one who had not moved—Houraiji Kyuusyou. "Aren't you going to test yours?"
Houraiji Kyuusyou crossed her arms and closed her eyes, a supremely confident expression on her face. "Hmph. You think you're worthy of testing my ability? How laughable! My power is beyond your imagination!"
"Great power is often accompanied by risk. My ability requires the sacrifice of my own life to use."
Einstein nodded. "That does sound dangerous."
"Naturally." Houraiji Kyuusyou opened her eyes, her tone tinged with pride. "Every minute I use my ability consumes sixty seconds of my lifespan."
Einstein: "..."
Theresa stepped in to smooth things over. "Maria said her situation is special, so she doesn't need testing. Her ability seems to be related to dreams."
Einstein put away her clipboard. "Very well. Anyone else left?"
Theresa replied, "Kira. I've already contacted her."
Einstein asked, "Another special case?"
Theresa nodded. "Mm. But she said she can test it alone when no one's around."
After the testing concluded and everyone dispersed, Shigure Kira cautiously appeared at the testing grounds.
She glanced left and right, confirming that no one else was around before walking up to Theresa and Einstein.
"My ability is really dangerous. Are you sure you want to test it?" Her tone carried a trace of hesitation.
"Yes." Theresa nodded seriously.
"You'll regret it." Shigure Kira sighed helplessly.
"It's fine. We've already taken protective measures." Einstein reassured her, pointing to the professional soundproof headphones the two of them were wearing.
"Just use it boldly. Nothing will happen!" Theresa clenched her fists, cheering her on.
Shigure Kira took a deep breath, as though making up her mind. "Since you insist... I'll begin."
"La la la la la la la la la la~"
A beautiful song flowed from her lips, as heavenly as divine music.
The voice was incredibly penetrating. Every living being within range was affected, swaying as if drunk, immersed in that refreshing and enchanting melody.
When the song ended, Theresa and Einstein were still in a dazed state.
The soundproof headphones they wore were utterly useless—the song did not enter through the ears, but struck directly at the soul and consciousness.
Theresa was the first to snap back to her senses and couldn't help applauding. "What? Kira, your singing is way too good! It's practically the voice of heaven!"
Shigure Kira looked at her with a gaze full of pity. "Are you ready?"
"R-ready for what?" An ominous premonition suddenly rose in Theresa's heart.
"The real performance begins now."
Shigure Kira raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
"Music."
"La la la la la la la la la la~"
The song rang out again.
But this time, the source of the sound had changed—it came from Theresa, from Einstein, and even from the small animals nearby that had been caught in the aftermath. The same melody echoed from all of them.
Only this time, the "heavenly voice" had completely shed its disguise.
It was no longer a pleasant song, but a chorus of indescribable, ultimate horror beyond the limits of human comprehension.
The sound was like rusty fingernails scraping across water-soaked sandpaper. Like countless slimy snails slowly crawling along the inner surface of the eardrum. Like someone moving silent, mucus-slick lips right beside your ear.
Teeth ached at the roots. Fingers twitched uncontrollably, as if countless tiny insects were crawling up along the spine.
The brain felt like a crumpled ball of wastepaper, chaotic and distorted.
Theresa forgot who she was. Forgot where she was.
Countless indescribable geometric patterns and colors flashed through her mind. Violent dizziness and nausea surged upward, causing her entire body to collapse to the ground without control.
"Ah?" Shigure Kira jumped in fright and hurriedly stopped her ability.
She could clearly hear her own singing echoing around her, yet to her ears it was still a beautiful melody.
When the ability was activated, her song was a heavenly tune capable of enthralling most living beings. But once the singing stopped, the melody would resound again from within the listeners themselves—only this time, what resurfaced was a cursed sound capable of tearing apart sanity.
Moreover, this effect could not be directly canceled.
At the very least, the listener had to hear the "original" version of the song once more before the torment could be voluntarily ended.
The more living beings that heard it, the stronger the echo became.