Logically speaking, Ciara and Legris were right.
Jerry wasn't stupid, so he understood the current situation. They were much stronger and smarter than he was, so he was confident that the two of them had considered things even more than he had, so they were justified in their conclusion.
Still… still…
'No! This isn't right!'
If everyone was to live life using their logic, then what was the purpose of existence? Pretty much everything that occurred happened by chance and was constantly influenced by external factors.
However, what it meant to be truly alive and not just existing was the drive to swim against the tides of chance and strive for whatever goal was desired.
No one who truly lived would wait for everything to be decided by the world or others.
If you strongly desired something, you would work hard… strive to your utmost… to achieve it!
That was what living was all about!
"It's too early to give up! I know you haven't truly tried, Ciara! If you really really really try… you can find a way to turn this entire situation around and ultimately stop him!" Jerry yelled at the very top of his lungs.
"Don't give up! I know you can do it!"
It was at times like this, when despair crept up on a living being, that something else began to spring forth within them.
A small beam of light called hope.
The desire for something different—an outcome that was not decided on by anyone else but yourself!
That was what Jerry was currently appealing to.
"There's a chance that—!"
"Would you be quiet? Urgh… people like you disgust me the most." Legris sighed, his eyes radiating nothing short of contempt.
"Weaklings like you who know nothing… dregs who have only their ideals to go by… uttering words that lack substance."
The flames of suppressed rage and downright annoyance in Legris' eyes was enough to send someone into the crevices of insanity.
"Ideals without results. Desires without ability. Nobodies like you only exist to spout out nonsense while the true victors trample upon your precious dreams."
The words were seething as he kept going, depicting so much anger that seemed unimaginable.
Jerry felt overwhelmed by the rage he was experiencing. Yet… strangely, he felt like the flames that burned in those eyes weren't for him.
It was for someone… something else.
"Haa… why don't you just leave this to the ones who can actually do
—"
"Oi…" The voice of a certain girl interrupted Legris before he could say any more.
"Ah, did I offend you again? If so, I—"
"… You crossed a line." Ciara spoke with a deep undertone, one that caused the entire world around her to tremble.
The entire dimension actually shook in response to her call.
"I warned you not to, but it seems you aren't the type to listen."
Her closed eyes slowly opened, revealing how the whites in her eyes had turned black, and how her purple irises were glowing even brighter than ever.
"Jerry… I don't really understand what you're saying. But, I agree with you." She whispered, stealing a glance at the boy behind her.
At this point, something about Ciara seemed to have snapped.
"This imbecile needs to be stopped, and I won't know if I can't do it unless I really try."
She took a step forward, and everything within the dimension faded into dust, leaving an entirely blank realm.
Only Legris and Jerry remained intact.
"[Original Magic…]"
"Are you being serious right now? You know that won't work on me, right? We already established that." Even with Legris' words reverberating in Ciara's ears, she was no longer listening.
"[…True Link]"
Something changed at that very moment.
No one but Ciara knew this, but her initial [Original Magic: Phantom Link], which affected the mind of her target, had been evolving ever since she confessed to Jerry.
Thanks to this new bond she shared with him, it grew from a hollow representation of her ability to something genuine and true.
'That's why I am connected to Jerry irrespective of distance or barriers.'
It was a 'Connection' that transcended limits.
And now…
'If I harness that power, and make it so that another is my target…' Ciara's thoughts flowed as she stared at Legris.
'… Then…'
Her entire world instantly changed, and suddenly, it seemed like she had become one with everything around her.
Her mind expanded, far beyond anything she ever thought possible.
The layers of the world—past, present, and future, was now bare.
And at the far recesses… at a depth she could not tread… was the darkness that was Legris Damien.
It was at that point that she truly realized the depths of his existence—perhaps even the opposite.
'It's as I suspected. I really can't stop him…'
The darkness was too deep for her to reach. Even if she attempted to do anything, it would consume her whole.
It was something beyond her current state.
However…
~Who's there? Is someone there?~ A voice suddenly reached out to her.
'What? What is this…?'
Ciara was sure she had passed the threshold of communication. No one was supposed to be able to communicate with her at this point.
Yet, she was hearing a voice.
~You… I recognize you! You're that human! Ciara Epilson!~
Hearing the voice that reached out to her, Ciara felt a strange form of recognition.
It came to her instantly.
'You're… that Constellation!' Was her response to the clearly regal tone that reached out to her.
~Y-yes. I am Aquarius!~
Hearing the name made Ciara remember their first encounter—how Aquarius had made her friends kneel.
~This is surprising! No, it's unbelievable! How were you able to resonate into my wavelength?~
Ciara did not understand what the Constellation was implying.
'Um… this is my frequency. You're the intruding on my wavelength.'
For a moment, there was silence between the Mortal and Constellation.
Both were assured that the other was the intruder, but both were so connected that they knew how genuine their positions were.
After no moment of consideration, they had to arrive at the only conclusion.
'We…'
~… Share the same wavelength.~
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