I'll Go Rougher

I didn't expect something so… human to come out of that Rift. It looked exactly like a human, but at the same time it didn't. Are they evolving?

"T…raitor…"

"Excuse me?"

Me? A traitor? I would expect those words from the others back home, but for a Rift Beast to say it… What exactly do they see me as?

"Well, not that I'd know anytime soon. For now, let's get this over with."

I formed a dagger made out of Celest and rushed at the beast. But there was something… horrifying about this thing. As soon as I stabbed my dagger, it was gone. It moved fast enough that even my eyes couldn't follow it.

"D-die!"

That noise was from behind me. I was just about to create a shield to block the blow, but dodged away instead. If it was faster than me, it's only logical to think that it's stronger than me too. And I was right, even with just barely dodging that blow… my other hand was cut off. This thing would surely kill everyone if I die here.

"..."

Ah… really. Why does the world have to be so troublesome? I just wanted to live my life away from those people, but everyday I get reminded that I can never escape trouble just because of who I am.

"I guess… I'll go a little rougher."

"!?"

-x-X-x-

(3rd POV)

With a sinister smile, Hikari's cut of hand regenerated in an instant.

"You know, since I'm not Regenerative, it's quite a hassle regrowing limbs. Eh, I'm just glad I can do that." He said with a light chuckle. "Well…"

With a snap, he and the Rift Beast were warped to a different place. No, it was more accurate to say that they were teleported to a different dimension altogether. Right… a small trivia for those who were created in Project Rupture, they have alternate personalities more suited for merciless combat. It just so happens that Hikari's is a bit not right on the head.

Still, these versions of them can use their abilities to its fullest potential without holding back, regardless of the cost. This is an example of that. Extremely precise control of Celest to teleport, then even more precise to create an alternate dimension. Doing this normally would have already melted Hikari's brain, but that wasn't even possible with what he is now.

As he constantly keeps this realm in existence, he also heals his brain at the same time. Two extreme tasks being performed at the same time. Not even the current greatest Drifter can do that. Shows just how deadly the Bioweapons created by Project Rupture really are.

Continuing on the current predicament, the Rift Beast just looked around in confusion. It was a vast expanse of emptiness. The landscape was just an empty desert built out of red sand.

"Pretty cool, right? Took me just now to actually pull this off." Hikari(?) grinned. His eyes narrowed as he crossed his fingers. "[Null]." He said, as in the next second…

*Gush*

"!?"

…half of the Rift Beast disappeared. An attack that doesn't exist, or rather, an attack so fast that it appears to not exist.

Sweat immediately formed on the monster, something that intrigued Hikari(?).

'They can feel fear too huh.'

The gaping hole immediately regenerated back, much like what Hikari(?) did just a few minutes ago. Hikari's(?) just smiled more insanely.

"Ahahaha! Wow, you're really something! Entertain me more!"

And while in a laughing fit, Hikari(?) dashed towards the monster. No, in this situation, he's the monster. The Rift Beast tried to grab him, but he just disappeared. Reappearing on the side of the Rift Beast, he back-handed the poor thing.

"There's more!"

He appeared again to where the Rift Beast was about to land and kicked the humanoid up into the air. Then, with his pointer finger up, he uttered another technique.

"[Pull]." A black orb appeared on his finger. Similar to a black hole, it pulled the Rift Beast into it. "And then, [Repel]." The black orb changed to a white orb as the Rift Beast flew out from said orb.

The Rift Beast tried hard to attack Hikari(?), but nothing was landing. Even Celest attacks wouldn't form.

"It's no use, in this place, only I can use Celest…" He gazed at the eyes of the Rift Beast, but he wasn't gazing at the beast itself, he was gazing at the thing that was watching. "Impressive, right? Dear onlooker~"

-x-X-x-

(Inside ???)

A being beyond the human realm, someone that not even Melania can put a scratch on. Said being was now watching intently with a smile on her face as she watched her glass orb.

"Interesting~ He actually talked to this queen like that~"

While said queen was amused, the other nobles in the room weren't.

"He dares to talk to the queen!?"

One in particular was even more so pissed than the others. He couldn't even contain his anger as he stormed off the room, emitting a dangerous amount of Celest. Dangerous in human terms that is. For them, it's just another day.

"I wish to see you soon, 'Enlightened One'." The queen smiled.

A title only given to those who have reached peak Celest knowledge and control. Up until now, Hikari is only the fifth to receive this title. Other than the peak requirement, all of them have one more similarity.

"Yes, that white glow on the underside of his hair. Those crystalline irises. Ah~ It's been so long since I've seen someone so powerful~"

This is why she's still single.

-x-X-x-

Back to Hikari just as he killed the presumably dangerous Rift Beast.

"Anyways, that should be it for now. This body will collapse soon. Damn, I wish I could have at least tried to get to where this other being is." Hikari sighed in frustration. "Eh, my other self keeps the memories anyways, he can just try it on his own."

With a snap, he teleports back to- Wait this isn't Melania's apartment-

"I should probably give Hikari for what I did to his body. Everything's gonna hurt after I release control after all… Soon though…"

Nani the fu- Ehem, with that, Hikari's body collapsed on someone else's bed.