Takumi calmed his mind, only to feel he'd sunk barely a third of the way before hitting a bottleneck. An indescribable pressure pinned him in place, forcing a sharp breath through his teeth.
Katerea's breathing stopped for an instant; her thoughts seemed to spill out with her blood. Facing the woman who'd tried to kill him, Takumi did not hold back.
Since her heart is this small, I'll "expand" it for her.
At the doorstep already—no reason not to go in.
Thrust!
Something seemed to shatter with a dull sound. In that split second, the ten thousand thoughts churning in Katerea's mind scattered to ash. The Misfortune Faction, the Leviathan throne, the War Faction—every notion felt like it had been tossed into the trash and emptied.
At this moment, only Takumi's figure remained in her mind—towering over all.
"Hah… can't breathe… uu—!" Katerea's entire body tensed; her voluptuous frame trembled uncontrollably. She felt as if she were splitting apart.
The sensation passed in a flash—then the terrifying curse power spread, battering her mind. Still trying to resist, she changed to clinging within minutes, like a person about to fall into an abyss clinging to the only pillar in reach. But that tottering pillar frightened her so much she couldn't think at all.
Time itself seemed stretched to infinity. Every passing second was painfully clear. She was a lone skiff adrift on the endless sea, capsizing at any moment beneath boundless waters. The feeling grew more vivid—she could sense it coming.
"No, no, no!!" In her scream, she saw a stalactite fall from the ceiling, run through her body, and take her life.
Thrust! Thrust! Thrust! Thrust! Thrust!
"I… I'm going to die… urgh…" Katerea cried out and vomited in a sudden gush.
"Death? No—you won't die. Healing!" Takumi cast [Healing Magic], snatching Katerea back from the brink. Even restored, her body still spasmed on instinct; she hadn't realized she'd recovered yet.
Before she could take a breath, the jewel on the gauntlet lit up.
"My gauntlet has stored your recent [Pain]—time for you to taste it!"
A torrent of agony surged into Katerea, mixed with curse power, nearly frying her brain in an instant. But she was still Demon Lord–class; even that twofold shock didn't kill her outright.
Seizing the moment, Takumi sank his mind again and murmured, "This time you'll take all of it. Not a single drop leaks."
"That's… impossible for me!"
"Then keep being punished—or open your mouth properly and tell me everything you know!"
"I… mmph!!!"
The twin assault of pain and sweet curse power struck her mind again, while he applied physical pressure for a three-pronged effect.
Time in the Interdimensional Realm flowed differently from the outside. From morning to night, Freya, Setsuna, Eve, and the others heard the cries. After learning from Takumi that Katerea was an enemy, they ignored it.
Setsuna and Freya even came to "assist," whose supporting actions deepened Katerea's psychological shadow.
Three full days passed. At last, Takumi released Katerea and exhaled long. Seeing a white mist hanging in the air around them, he blew a strong wind to disperse it.
Guren the fox, napping in the grass, failed to notice the mist rolling over her.
"AAAHHH!!!" Jolted like she'd been shocked, she arched her back and sprang up.
After a brief daze, the fox bolted out of the vapors, cheeks flushed, transforming into a human and collapsing to the ground to gasp for air as the mist's effects faded.
At the center of the battlefield, Katerea had already lost her wits.
"Counting every time I pulled you back from the brink, that should make one hundred and thirty-two rescues. I'm a real saint—your super lifesaver. Don't you agree, Katerea?"
Smack!
Katerea, crumpled on the ground, trembled by reflex and let out a weak, delicate voice: "Y-yes… yes… Master…♡ you're my lifesaver… yes… yes… Master…♡"
"Looks like she's broken." Takumi muttered, frowning. Katerea's condition didn't look easy to cure. Straight Healing wouldn't do; he'd used it too many times.
He glanced at Katerea—the Affection above her head read 100. Then he opened the status prompts:
[Gate Between Worlds progress +15%]
[Ding! Katerea's Affection meets threshold. Copy defeated traits: Leviathan Bloodline (Purple), Archmage (Purple), Ancient One (Blue)]
Don't ask how she's doing—the goal's accomplished!
"Farming duplicate high-tier traits is a pain… but wow is it satisfying." Takumi felt clear and refreshed—at least for the rest of the day, no evil thoughts.
His [Demon Bloodline (Green)] was also absorbed into [Leviathan Bloodline (Purple)]. Sensing the surroundings, he perceived every droplet of water in the air with perfect clarity. A light wave of his hand drew the moisture together, coalescing a stream in his palm.
"[Archmage] also amplifies my spell output. With the same mana, power's up nearly tenfold. [Ancient One] is nice too—mind's clearer; I can develop Leviathan bloodline traits and abilities faster."
Murmuring, Takumi thrust his palm forward; clear water shot out, blasting Katerea clean.
"AAAHHH!!!"
She let out a piercing cry and fainted on the spot. Her chocolate-smooth skin flushed crimson, dazzling and feverishly hot; droplets landing on her skin evaporated almost instantly.
"Still hypersensitive. Just a rinse and she's like this… Let her air out for a while."
Gazing at the unconscious Katerea, Takumi sealed off this sector of the Interdimensional Realm. After restoring normal time flow for the zone, he dressed and left the realm.
...
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