If Herpo the Foul's presence had burdened the world within the Bounded Field already, then what happened next instantly annihilated it.
Kai had, of course, overstated the time it would take for him to reach the Headquarters. Given that he had already put on Darcie's face, he couldn't regain his original appearance and Contestant status in a short time.
However, this was the greatest thing that separated Black from ordinary Homunculi.
Kai and Black shared the same Source.
That's why, even Magic Circuits, which were not something physical and were etched on the very soul, instead, were replicated between them.
Now, after becoming a Magus and gaining his own Magic Crest, as per the definition of the Fate Bubble, Kai's Reality Marble had already achieved completion.
Before, it only held two of the three components — Mana and Breath.
With the Magic Crest adding the Life component through Kai's unique Magic — Gradation Blood — the mere act of projecting a part of it on the outside world…
… was enough to trigger Timeline Detonation.
A BANG resounded within Diagon Alley.
The Brews and Stews, the hostel/restaurant where Darcie stayed during holidays, exploded to smithereens.
A green halo shot out and hung in the sky, lighting the night up.
It was as if someone had replaced the moon with a green sun, radiating coldness.
On the ground, thick, redder than red, blood washed over Diagon Alley's shops, pooling under a pair of feet.
All over the globe, the wizards and witches suffocated, their own magic choking them from within. It was the same for the Characters of this world, and it was the same for the Contestants behind Black, barely able to marvel at their Master's strength.
Black looked up slowly as he stood over the sheet of blood, the yellow, hooded cloak flapping against the gusts of magical wind.
Hovering above the green sun, a shocked Herpo the Foul stared back at him.
"… What are we waiting for?" The Yellow Warlock grinned. "We both know Timeline is not coming…"
Herpo the Foul's eyes stirred.
"You…" Letting the rest go unsaid, he let the green sun fall.
In an instant, the sun became a falling star, making everyone pass out over hundreds of miles. If it weren't for Herpo the Foul controlling it, then it would have already burned the souls of every single being on the planet.
On the ground, the corners of Black's mouth lifted higher.
The falling, green star was swelling in his vision, making his Source shake. However, the Magic Crest not only enhanced his innate Mana, but it also strengthened his Source, working like an anchor.
Still, if Herpo the Foul's spell landed, it wouldn't bode well for even him.
So, just as the green sun appeared mere hundred meters above him, a fog seeped out from the blood under his feet. This fog was so cold that it instantly covered the entire Diagon Alley under a layer of frost.
Then, with a resounding SPLASH, a titanic skeletal arm came shooting out of the blood pool.
In a matter of seconds, the skeletal arm shot up, and… grabbed the falling star.
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
The shockwave was so profound that it riled up the distant seas.
In the sky over Diagon Alley, a never-before-seen struggle manifested on a diabolical scale.
A sun, burning green, made of souls to burn the souls, was hanging midair like a lamp, washing the continent with a dark, greenish hue. Long, skeletal, scabbed fingers, wrapped around it, were pushing it up, countering its momentum.
Then, just as it felt like the green sun had won, the skeleton arm used it as a platform and… pulled itself up.
A Dementor, hundreds of meters large, hovered three inches over the blood pool, its tattered cloak billowing ceaselessly.
As if the sight of its appearance wasn't enough, what happened next made even Herpo the Foul grab his Basilisk Staff tighter.
The Dementor grabbed the enormous green sun like a ball with both hands, opened its gaping maw, and… devoured it.
Darkness instantly fell over all visions, as if someone had switched off the sun during the day.
In this darkness, only one being glowed, surrounded by pure spirituality.
The Yellow Warlock's yellow cloak had gained a storm of green motes of light — the Dementor's Kiss turning Herpo the Foul's ridiculous spell into nutrients for his Glitch.
…
[
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn
Your Dementor Blood Essence has upgraded
Breath: +30 [Out of Set Quota]
…
Blood Essence: Dementor
Grade: B+ (growth: 3000/10000)
…
Breath Snatcher has upgraded from B- Grade to B
Skill: Breath Snatcher
Grade: B-
Specification: The Contestant can drain the targets of their SP points and regenerate their own SP
Requirement: SP>0
Attributes: Distance between targets and the Contestant must be less than 500 meters
Effect:
— Transfer 100% of the drained SP to the Contestant's SP Points
— When SP is full, increase the Contestant's SP Regeneration Rate
…
Dementor's Kiss has upgraded from B to B+
Skill: Dementor's Kiss
Grade: B+
Specification: The Contestant can suck out the soul of a target, leaving them in a vegetative state.
Requirement:
— SP>0
— The target must be devoid of all happiness and hope
Attributes: The target's soul gets digitized based on its quality and will upgrade the Status of the Dementor's Blood Essence
Effect:
— SP Regeneration Rate +100%, depending on the soul's quality, for 30 minutes
— +50 Breath upon upgrading the Dementor's Blood Essence
…
Dementor Progenitor has upgraded from B to B+
]
…
Black's eyes opened, his black pupils glowing green.
The Timeline Detonation had reached a critical stage, making him let go of the full upgrade notification. A few moments more and…
Black smiled, instead, raising his head to see the gobsmacked expression on Herpo the Foul's face. "There must be more where that comes from…" he said, taunting. "Come on… Maybe that's why you used such a backdoor to act — to make me stronger…"
Herpo the Foul gnashed his teeth, his slitted eyes spewing hate and wrath. "The… ego on you…"
The Yellow Warlock's grin turned into a frown.
"No?" he said, looking disappointed. "Then fuck off!"
*****************
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