Chapter 12 – Bonds That Transcend Reality
Chapter 12 – Bonds That Transcend Reality
After calming the crowd below, the butler swiftly returned to the flying boat. The moment he arrived, he was greeted by the mesmerizing sight of the twin sisters—their aura still lingering, their presence exuding a mystical and flawless charm.
Yula remained calm on the surface, but deep inside, shock and awe consumed her. The sheer terrifying potential of her daughters was beyond anything she had ever imagined.
As their auras gradually subsided, Ella turned to Olivia, her mind formulating a plan. She had noticed Yula's presence and immediately made a decision to integrate her into their act.
"Vivi, just play along. Call this woman our mother in this world. Think of her as our second guardian. Imagine it as if she were our real mother, and I'll handle the rest," Ella whispered through telepathy.
Hearing this, Olivia nodded hesitantly. Her gaze drifted toward Yula, and in her heart, she began to imagine her as their true mother.
A strange warmth flooded her chest.
Before she realized it, she murmured softly, her voice filled with an unfamiliar emotion.
"…Mom?"
The moment the word escaped her lips, a deep yearning surged within her—a longing she had buried for too long. Memories of their past life on Earth resurfaced. The warmth of their real mother. The gentle voice that had once soothed them. The laughter. The comfort. The love.
And then—the pain of separation.
Her longing became so deep, so absolute that her emotions twisted the fabric of reality itself.
Ding!
[Skill Created: Heart's Mirage]
▶ Creator: Olivia
▶ Origin: Born from Olivia's deep yearning and self-deception, this skill manifested as an unshakable mirage, trapping her in a reality of her own making.
▶ Effect: Conjures an illusion shaped by subconscious longing, making it indistinguishable from reality. Alters perception and emotions, immersing the user in a false yet comforting world.
▶ Grade: Mythic
▶ Type: Mental/Illusion
▶ Note: The stronger the emotional attachment, the more absolute the illusion becomes.]
Ella's eyes widened as the notification flashed before her.
"Vivi…" she muttered in shock, watching her twin's expression shift.
Olivia's misty red eyes glistened with unshed tears as she suddenly moved forward, retracting her hand from Ella's grasp.
And then—she flew straight into Yula's embrace.
"Kyaa—?"
Yula's arms instinctively caught her, eyes filled with shock.
Olivia buried her face in Yula's warmth, clutching the fabric of her robes as though letting go would shatter everything.
"Mom… Mom… Mom!"
Her voice cracked, a desperate whisper, a sobbing prayer intertwined.
Yula froze.
Something inside her shifted.
The way Olivia clung to her—so fragile, so needy—awakened an overwhelming warmth in her heart.
Yula had never experienced this before. No one had ever needed her like this. No one had ever looked at her with such pure longing.
Her fingers trembled as she instinctively brushed Olivia's hair, an unfamiliar yet intoxicating pleasure filling her soul.
'This child…wants me. She needs me…'
Her heart pounded faster, eyes turning red with emotion. Her favorable impression of Olivia soared to unimaginable heights.
And Olivia… truly believed it.
The illusion held firm—the warmth, the scent, the presence—everything felt real.
Deep down, she knew. She knew it was an illusion.
But…
In this fleeting moment, where the warmth felt so real, where the voice she longed for answered her, she let herself believe.
Even if it was just a beautiful lie.
–
Ella stood frozen.
Her hands trembled as she clenched them into fists.
How could she have been so careless?
She knew.
She knew that Olivia had always been the one to accept things—the one who smiled even when she hurt the most.
Yet, deep inside, Olivia had always carried this loneliness.
And now…
This single moment had shattered her composure completely.
A dangerous heat coiled within Ella's chest, an emotion far darker than sorrow.
It was rage
Not against Olivia.
Not against Yula.
But against the System.
The very thing that had taken everything from them.
Her body trembled as uncontrollable hatred flared in her core.
"I want to destroy it."
"I want to tear it apart."
A violent storm brewed inside her, consuming every rational thought.
And then—
Ding!
[Skill Created: Bloodlit Perdition]
▶ Creator: Ella
▶ Origin: Born from Ella's uncontrollable rage and violent desire for destruction, this skill manifested as the pure embodiment of devastation.
▶ Effect: Activates Bloodlit Perdition, replacing reason with an instinctual drive for destruction. Every attack is fueled by raw hatred, exponentially increasing strength, speed, and resilience the deeper she sinks into madness.
▶ Grade: Transcendent
▶ Type: Destruction/Bloodlust
▶ Special Trait: Oblivion Surge – The more pain and grief felt, the greater the annihilative force. In this state, even reality itself trembles, and nothing is beyond destruction.
▶ Duration Restriction: Due to Ella's current Primal Nexus Realm strength, this skill can only remain active for one hour. If not deactivated before the time limit, she will permanently lose herself to the abyss of her own wrath.
▶ Drawback: Once fully immersed, the concept of friend or foe disappears, leaving only a path of ruin.
▶ Note: This skill is not simply a technique—it is the embodiment of a soul that would burn the world to protect what little light it has left.]
Olivia felt it—the shift in Ella's emotions.
She turned, and her heart sank.
Ella's entire being radiated suppressed killing intent, her red eyes burning with violence.
"Eri…" Olivia whispered, stepping away from Yula.
Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around Ella, pulling her close.
The warmth of Olivia's embrace shattered the madness before it could fully awaken.
Ella's murderous aura flickered, then vanished.
"…Vivi?" she murmured, blinking in confusion.
"I'm sorry," Olivia whispered. "I… didn't realize how much my loneliness would affect you."
Ella's breath hitched.
She remembered.
She remembered their time on Earth—when Olivia had been bullied in school.
She had been helpless back then, unable to do anything.
She had sworn that never again would she let Olivia suffer alone.
Her hands clenched tighter around Olivia's back.
"…Don't apologize," she muttered, voice hoarse.
The butler and Yula watched in silence.
The butler sighed, rubbing his temples. "This bond… it's beyond anything I've seen."
Yula, on the other hand, found herself wanting to join in.
Her fingers twitched.
Her heart ached.
'I want them to need me like that too…'
Suppressing the strange thought, she smiled at the twins, her gaze softening.
These two… truly defied all logic.
–
Meanwhile, high above the arena, in the Floating Merchant's ship—
A middle-aged, blue-haired merchant frowned.
He had sensed something.
An unfathomable fluctuation—something terrifying.
Yet, the moment he tried to probe it…
It vanished.
"…This person is preventing me from probing. Is there someone stronger than me here?" he muttered.
Impossible .
His eyes darkened.
"No matter. My priority remains… finding the reincarnation of the Demon Emperor."
His gaze shifted toward the Secret Realm, anticipation gleaming within.