Chapter 150: When Madness Whispers His Name

The Northern Continent.

At that moment, a faint sound echoed throughout the icy palace, emanating from the frost-pure walls—as if the palace itself had sighed in relief upon hearing her words.

"Akira…" – she uttered the name like an incantation, pulsing through her veins, feeding her obsession with every beat of her cursed heart.

She laughed softly, but there was something unnatural in that sound—a blend of infatuation and a thirst for possession.

"I never imagined… that Hera's skill would bind me to him like this…" – she whispered as she rose from her throne, fine shards of ice scattering from the tips of her crimson hair, which flowed down like frozen fire, wrapping her body like a cloak of serene flames.

Her silent steps toward the glassy edge of the palace sent waves of overwhelming pressure, as if the world itself trembled before the expanse of her obsession.

"Even his name… makes me tremble." – she ran her thumb over her lips, as if tasting him – "I want him… I want him here, before me, kneeling, burning beneath my gaze… lost in my hands."

Her glowing eyes flared with rising madness.

Suddenly, the air around her trembled and a magical rift opened before her—a summoning circle formed without chants or words, her sheer will alone tearing through time and space.

"Honoka, Velgrynd, Velzard, Luminous… none of them were worthy of him." – she clenched her fist into the void, as if strangling each of them one by one – "I'll show him the difference between someone who loves… and someone who is obsessed down to her bones."

Silence… then a calm, dangerously serene smile.

"You've returned, Akira… and this time, I won't let you vanish again. I'll break anyone who comes near you. I'll melt the world if I must… just to make you mine."

This woman… was none other than Guy Crimson, known as the Lord of Darkness and Goddess of Obsession. Her obsession with the Apocalypse Dragon had been known for millennia.

20,000 years ago, when she was defeated by Akira, she didn't only obtain the skill Lucifer, Lord of Pride, but also Hera, Lord of Obsession.

Though her original obsession had simply been to defeat Akira—fascinated by his terrifying power—over time, her fixation shifted from his strength to the man himself. Under the influence of Hera, Lord of Obsession, which alters its wielder's personality to obtain the target of their fixation, Guy changed drastically, becoming a terrifying and obsessive maiden, relentlessly pursuing Akira's very existence. However, thanks to Lucifer, Lord of Pride, she managed to retain a significant portion of her original self, allowing her to function almost normally—as long as Akira's name or presence wasn't mentioned.

[A/N: Fun fact – I just discovered that Guy's voice actor is also named Akira.]

"I've searched for you for thousands of years… and now you return out of nowhere? You even asked Milim and Ramiris, along with that bitch Luminous, to call for Walpurgis…" – Guy muttered, her jealousy and obsession clearly etched across her face, making no effort to hide it.

Guy knew the only thing linking those three together was Akira. That's the sole reason they cooperated to host Walpurgis. While she didn't feel jealousy toward Milim or Ramiris—as the two were just a friend and a niece—her hatred and envy toward Luminous were neither subtle nor hidden. She knew that woman shared the same twisted obsession and had her sights set on Akira.

But what Guy hated the most—what made her burn with envy—was the fact that Luminous had received so much from Akira. He even gave her two ridiculously powerful swords. Meanwhile, Guy had gotten nothing. Just thinking about it made her seethe.

"I'll make him acknowledge me…

I'll make him say my name…

Even if the entire world has to shatter for that one word.".

_

Jura-Tempest Federation

"What is this feeling…" – Akira muttered in concern, feeling a sudden shiver crawl down his spine, followed by an overwhelming sense of danger unlike anything he had ever experienced.

[Master, I have detected waves of magic filled with obsession. They appear to be the source of the threat you're sensing.]

The reliable voice of Athena rang in Akira's mind. Unlike Akira, whose senses were still dulled from his battle with Milim, she was able to clearly trace the remnants of the magic leaking toward him through that deep-rooted obsession.

[The magical energy has already been analyzed. It originates from the individual known as Guy Crimson, who acquired the Obsession skill after fighting you in a previous timeline.]

"Guy? …Looks like that idiot still hasn't had enough of a beating." – Upon learning the source, Akira didn't react strongly. He already knew about Guy's obsession with defeating him, and with his current power, he didn't mind putting that fool in their place again.

Unfortunately, Akira didn't know that Guy's obsession had evolved over the millennia—and that he was no longer a he, but a she, obsessed not with a battle, but with him.

"What's wrong, Akira?" – a pink-haired head beside him asked, gazing at him with curious, beautiful blue eyes.

"Nothing. Just seems like an old acquaintance wants to fight me again." – Akira smiled softly as he patted Milim's head. Even though they weren't blood-related, she was his older brother's daughter—Veldanava's daughter—making her almost a replica of her mother.

"By the way, can you teach me martial arts?" – Milim asked with sparkling eyes. She had seen how Akira had used martial arts to defeat her with almost no effort. While she had been utterly exhausted, he remained full of energy and barely even sweating.

"Of course. Martial arts are not only great for making you stronger, but also to teach you control. Even if you have infinite magic power, your stamina isn't infinite. So learning how to use only the necessary force is vital." – Akira nodded. He was more than happy to teach Milim, as he had vast knowledge in Ancient Martial Arts and Assassin Arts.

{My Lord, may I join Milim in training? I'm curious to explore my new strength.}

Ren's voice echoed in his mind. She had fully adapted to this new world, evolving just like Est, Restia, and Aishia.

Thanks to the world's laws—and Veldanava's help in the past—every spirit he contracted had now evolved into an Elemental Lord. And not just any Elemental Lords—they were utterly unique beings.

{I believe I'm more suitable than Ren to train Milim in martial arts. I possess all of Akira's memories related to combat.}

Aishia's calm voice followed. Though usually silent, she was clearly excited to be of use to Akira.

Not to be left out, Est and Restia chimed in as well.

And thus, Akira's mind turned into a battleground for the right to train Milim.

'Enough, all of you. I'll let everyone take turns training Milim. We've got plenty of time before Walpurgis begins.' – Akira finally intervened to stop the escalating argument among the four girls in his head. He knew they all just wanted an excuse to spar with Milim—but as long as they helped her learn, he didn't mind.

...

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