"Hmm... rich flavors. Sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty—all five tastes present."
"Truly a perfect hodgepodge."
With that, she popped the energy sphere containing everyone's hopes into her mouth like a candy, and with a "crunch," swallowed it.
Burp~
She even let out a satisfied belch.
Pfft—
Every single person present, regardless of strength, was struck as if by lightning at that instant, simultaneously coughing up blood and collapsing weakly to the ground.
Their combined full-power attack hadn't harmed their opponent in the slightest—instead, it had been consumed as a "snack"! And they themselves suffered devastating backlash from having their power forcibly devoured!
"Game over."
Otoma=Raga clapped her hands, seeming to have lost her last shred of patience.
"Thank you all for your cooperation. I'm quite satisfied with this main course's flavor."
"Now, it's time to enjoy the meal proper."
She slowly raised her hand, preparing to deliver the final judgment—to "consume" this dimensional universe along with all the unwilling, despairing souls within.
The entire world fell into eternal stillness.
Hope had been completely extinguished.
Yet, in this deepest despair, a lazy voice abruptly rang out.
"Wait."
"Who said... the game is over?"
Everyone turned toward the voice.
In the field of fallen figures, only one person remained standing.
Cloud.
He dusted off his clothes, showing not a trace of despair. Instead, there was a hint of eager excitement.
"Sorry, Miss Boss."
"We've sampled the appetizers and the main course."
"Now, it's my turn to treat you to a local specialty from Earth."
A flicker of surprise crossed Otoma=Raga's nebula-formed face.
She could sense that this man before her had clearly been part of the attacking torrent, yet he stood there like an absolute "insulator," having suffered no backlash whatsoever.
He was like a surfer in a world-ending tsunami who hadn't even gotten a single hair wet—utterly defying logic.
"Are you... a fish that slipped through the net?" Otoma=Raga's voice carried a hint of curiosity.
"No, I'm not a fish that slipped through." Cloud shook his head, then revealed a smile that everyone present found all too familiar—that infuriatingly smug grin.
"I was just waiting for the perfect moment to make my entrance. After all, as the final trump card making a grand appearance, one must wait until the teammates have used all their skills and the atmosphere reaches its peak before stepping in to turn the tide. That's more fitting for a protagonist's setup, don't you think?"
"Cloud..." Chizuru Kagura struggled to lift her head, blood still on her lips, her eyes filled with worry and a hint of "I knew you'd do this" exasperation.
"This is hardly the time... for jokes like this..." Mai Shiranui said weakly, too exhausted to even get angry.
"Interesting." Otoma=Raga smiled. "So you're the deepest hidden easter egg in this main course."
"No, I'm not an easter egg." Cloud shook his head again, his expression gradually becoming serious.
He closed his eyes.
"I've just been pondering a philosophical question."
"What question?"
"I've been wondering—what exactly am I?"
Cloud's voice became ethereal and profound.
"At first, I thought I was a lucky person—a fighter with exceptional talent who worked hard to become stronger."
"Later, I thought I was a guardian—a hero who kept getting stronger to protect those I love."
"But now I understand..."
As he spoke, his seemingly ordinary body began to undergo earth-shattering transformation at the conceptual level!
The Orochi Essence within him was no longer merely Gaia's divine power.
It settled and solidified, becoming an indestructible "foundation" that could bear all things—the most fundamental "Principle of Existence" that forms a world!
[Foundation of the World—Constructed.]
The NESTS Technology in his mind was no longer cold data and techniques. It sublimated and expanded, becoming countless intersecting "frameworks" that support an entire world—the "Laws of Logic" that define how all things operate!
[Framework of Logic—Generated.]
The Essence of Time deep in his soul was no longer mere temporal manipulation. It spread and flowed, becoming "channels" like blood vessels that penetrated both foundation and framework—the "Threads of Causality" connecting past, present, and future!
[Channels of Causality—Linked.]
The Satsui no Hado from Akuma was no longer pure destructive desire. It condensed and elevated, becoming the "will" that granted this newborn "world" the power of destruction and endings—the "Authority of Entropy" necessary for cosmic cycles!
[Will of Destruction—Awakened.]
And that trace of Cosmic Energy from the Marvel Universe erupted like a catalyst! It was no longer mere energy but transformed into the "variable" granting this "world" infinite growth, infinite evolution, infinite possibility—the "Dream of Infinity" that breaks all conventions!
[Infinite Possibility—Infused.]
Finally...
In Cloud's mind appeared one familiar, sweetly smiling face after another.
Chizuru Kagura's gentleness, Mai Shiranui's passion, Athena's kindness, Kula's innocence, Leona's resilience, Shermie's languor...
And Ryu's dedication, Ken's dash, Haohmaru's boldness, Kyo Kusanagi's pride, Iori Yagami's solitude...
Everyone he had met, everything he had experienced, every bond he protected...
These emotions and memories ultimately transformed into a warm, never-extinguishing "sun" at the very core of this newborn "world"!
[Core of Protection—Ignited!]
"I understand now..."
Cloud opened his eyes again.
His gaze was deeper than the starry sky.
His body, his soul, his everything had transformed into a complete, self-contained "new dimensional universe" with infinite possibilities!
[System Alert: Fundamental transformation in host's form of existence detected...]
[Warning! Host is breaking through the system's definitional parameters!]
[Warning! Host is reverse-parsing the system!]
[Restructuring laws... Resetting permissions...]
[Congratulations, Host, for breaking the dimensional wall and comprehending the Unique Law—Infinite Plunder!]
[Congratulations, Host, for ascending to Dimensional Sovereign!]
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