"Drowned in despair, the world needed us the most, all things perish in the hands of life, even the strings of fate. With no savior, there is no hope. Plunge deep into darkness, and there is no light."
Guinevere chanted. Her words were that of a melody, weaving through the fabric of reality, and installing a new fabrication of terror. The Wraith could only witness its inevitable end coming into fruition.
"Aye, heed my words, take my hand and smash it against the wicked sinner, and bring justice to evil."
It was as if reality stood still. Everything around them halted.
The bugs, and the wind.
Even time itself.
Guinevere was touching the tip of her thumb with the index fingertip and holding the other three fingers straight, with the palm facing upward.
"Mental Figment: Noas Regalia!"
Ether surrounded Guinevere's figure. She was coated in its essence. Her aura remained yellow until the outline of a weapon appeared in her hand as she stretched it to the side.
Materializing itself into existence, it appeared to be an enormous broadsword. Particles fluttered around it until the weapon finally constructed itself fully.
It was long and rigged at the blade, surrounded in a dark miasma.
Just what the hell was this thing?!
"Human meat… Human meat, Human meat!!!"
The wraith had limited knowledge. It sounded like this thing only knew the words 'human meat' in English.
Disgusting. It only existed to devour people, what a worthless creature. Pure evil, that's what it is.
"Apotheosis… what is that?!"
"It's Guinevere's Mental Figment."
"I-I can see that… but, what is it?!"
Apotheosis chuckled at my comment, stating, "Every wizard in the magus association is born with a desire, stored deep within their brains. Only Grand Wizards can use Mental Figments since they mastered the arts of Ether entirely. The desires they hold can be brought into reality and materialized in physical form, but each mental figment is different."
"Different? What do you mean?"
"Every wizard is born in certain categories of Ether. There are Augment-types, which focus on increasing the natural aspects of one's body, or an object. They're best suited for close-range combat. Then there are Conversion-types, which usually focus on changing their body, or Ether to replicate certain attributes, such as lightning, fire, and wind."
"I-I see… so people are born in certain classes of Ether! It's like D&D."
"Odd way of putting it, but yes. The last three on the list are Summoner-types; they focus on materializing matter and physical structures into existence. They can also create their own laws with whatever they create, but if the law is powerful, then it must have a powerful drawback. Exploiter-types are those who control and manipulate people, phantasms, and other non-living things. They could even manipulate inanimate objects."
"What about the last one?" I asked, awaiting an answer.
"Singularity-types, that's what they're called, and that's what you are. It's a class of Ether in its own category, separate from the other classes. These special groups of people could manipulate fate, and reality, and change the laws of the world with no drawbacks. It's by far the most dangerous."
"Yikes! And I'm in that category?"
"Indeed, you're special, Emmeline."
The Wraith forced its body to regenerate even faster, no longer taking Guinevere as a joke. Quickly reassembling itself, it threw out one of its tentacles.
Guinevere didn't flinch or jump away, but simply parried it to the side, slicing it in half. She moved at blinding speeds despite the massive sword in her hand.
"Oh? No longer taking me as a joke, huh? Well, it's a little too late for that."
"Gigigigirrr!!" The creature tried regenerating its arm, but it was next to impossible.
"What's the matter? Regenerate yourself. C'mon, you can do it, try a little harder." Said the wizard, smiling.
"The Wraith isn't regenerating? What's going on?"
"It's part of Guinevere's Mental Figment."
"Huh?" I looked at apotheosis, confused as ever.
"It brings an end to all it touches. Body, soul, information, and even history itself. Her blade, Noas Regalia, is the embodiment of the end. Touching it, or even witnessing its presence will drive you into insanity."
"…Holy crap, what sort of ability is that? That's so unfair! And how come I'm totally fine?!"
"Because of me. If I wasn't here, you would be driven into complete and utter madness."
"Oh crap, then Matilda!!?"
"Matilda is fine. Guinevere placed a thin layer of her Ether around the girl using Kah and Sehk."
Oh, thank god… what a relief.
"Graaayaaaaa!!" The Wraith wailed in pain, extending multiple other tentacles towards the Wizard.
"How many times are you gonna try that? It's futile."
Guinevere lifted her blade, ready to slice them in half, however, "What the?!" Her eyes peeled open, realizing it was a trick.
The tentacles, they were illusions.
The real ones came from underneath the ground, stabbing her straight through her legs.
"Ghhh… shit!"
"Guinevere!" I shouted in horror, confused just as her.
What just happened?! She was being attacked from the front, and then all of a sudden they came from underneath.
"The Wraith is evolving…" Muttered apotheosis.
"What do you mean it's evolving?!" I asked frantically.
"Wraiths are creatures that evolve mid-battle against certain abilities, or opponents that they cannot beat. This one managed to gain the ability to create illusions and trick Guinevere and her five senses, including her sixth. Even her Ether was unable to detect the illusionary tentacles."
"…Then we have to do something, right?!"
"No! You're far too weak, let her handle this, child."
I looked at apotheosis, frowning. But I bit my tongue, knowing she was right.
What could I even do in this situation?!
"Gyeeehahahaha, Gyeeehahahaha!" The Wraith laughed, jumping back and forth on its legs.
"You disgusting fuck!" Guinevere sliced the tentacles keeping her rooted in place, destroying them completely, "You'll pay for that!"
"Gyeeehahahaha!"
It taunted the wizard, extending multiple other tentacles.
"Not this shit again." Guinevere had a hard time moving, but it wouldn't stop her from raising her blade into the air and slashing forward.
A crescent of energy had cleaved through space, driving toward the wraith and its attacks. The illusionary tentacles were nullified, revealing the actual ones coming from above.
"There you are!" Lifting Noas Regalia, she halted the tentacle's advance, blocking them overhead.
"Guinevere is so strong… will I ever be able to get a cool weapon like hers?"
I couldn't help but stare in awe, she was brazen, powerful, and beautiful. She was the girl I dreamed of becoming!
"It depends, considering you would fall in the Singularity Grade. Mental Figments come in many different forms for each Ether type; Augment and Conversion types are usually Manufacture Grades, manifesting their Mental figments as swords, guns, spears, and any other weapon of their desire. Summoner and Exploiter types are usually Extension Grades, expanding their desire into reality, and changing the world around them to fit said desire. You're a Singularity Grade, separate from the categories in general, and following your own classification entirely."
"Woah, that's a lot to take in. Then I'm assuming Guinevere is an augment-type Wizard, which explains her weapon? That'll make her mental figment a Manufacture Grade, right?"
"Indeed. Now you're catching on, Emmeline."
Guinevere managed to overpower the Wraith's strength, focusing her aura into her arms, and deflecting its grotesque tentacles
But the creature continued to evolve in battle, growing an extra pair of limbs, and increasing its height. It was even resisting her Mental Figment, though, very slowly.
"I'll have to kill it, quickly. It's starting to adapt to Noas Regalia!" Guinevere gritted her teeth and dashed towards the Wraith, plunging her blade deep into its gut, though it was an illusionary duplicate. "Shit!"
The real one was behind her the whole time, shrouded in an invisibility cloak.
"Gyeehehehehehe!" It extended its arms and wrapped around the wizard's body, trapping her in its strength.
"Gaaaaahhhhh!!" Guinevere screamed in pain. I could hear her bones cracking, and shattering like fragile glass.
But what could I do?! I couldn't do anything!
"Apotheosis, we have to save her!"
"No. Take Matilda and run! This is our chance to escape."
What did she just say? I couldn't believe my ears.
"Run? She was helping us, we just can't leave her to die!!"
I was visibly angry. This was the supposed 'final element' of Ether? What a load of horseshit!
"Be realistic, Emmeline. You've only used me for a day, and you barely understand how Ether works. You have no experience in facing off against a Wraith out of all things! Look for yourself; an experienced wizard is being destroyed right before your very eyes, while you have no experience, whatsoever, child!"
No… I couldn't just let this happen.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up!! I won't let Guinevere die, apotheosis!"
"You have to!"
"Damnit!!" I was boiling with rage, frustration, and hopelessness.
So much… emotions. They swirled within my heart, preventing me from moving.
I could only stand there, balling my fists, and pulling my hair.
I have to do something… I have to stop this!
Otherwise, I'm useless.
"Matilda, run away as far as you can!"
I finally made up my mind. My little sister who watched everything in horror finally snapped out of it, looking at me.
"I'm gonna destroy this thing for good. So run while you can!"
"B-Big sister?"
Yeah, that's right.
It's about time I do something instead of watching like a coward.