The scene opened onto a bustling city, bathed in the light of a radiant afternoon. The streets were filled with a diverse crowd: merchants shouting their prices, children running between passersby, creaking carts transporting their goods, and the incessant sound of church bells echoing across the rooftops. The slate roofs shimmered in the sun, windows opened and closed, and everywhere, scents mingled—fresh bread, spices, wood smoke, and heated metal. Every street corner seemed to breathe with a life that was both frenetic and orderly, every detail contributing to a harmonious chaos.
And yet, the scene was guided, almost naturally, toward an imposing building: an isolated manor, larger and more austere than all those surrounding it. Its gray stone walls, adorned with delicate sculptures, captivated the eye, and the stained-glass windows reflected the sun in multicolored shards. An aura of calm and mystery emanated from its towers and balconies, contrasting with the vibrant energy of the surrounding city. It was as if time slowed down upon approaching it, drawing everyone's attention toward this silent fortress.
Inside, an unusual silence reigned. The corridors were vast and impeccably decorated, echoing softly under the distant footsteps of a hurried servant. The wind rustled the curtains at the open windows, and light played upon the polished parquet, drawing shifting patterns. At the far end of a richly furnished room, near a window overlooking the city, a man stood motionless. His body was perfectly straight; his eyes, calm and attentive, stared at an invisible point beyond the manor walls.
This man was Regulus Corneas. Or rather, the body now inhabited by Kozuwa Kurisu. His hands rested on the armrests of a chair, as if he were gauging every space around him, every movement of light, every shadow cast by the sun. He did not speak. He did not act. He waited, and yet this stillness seemed charged with a precise intention, as if every second of inaction amplified the gravity of his presence. Everything in his posture indicated that he was waiting for something—a signal, a confirmation, perhaps even the moment when the world, finally, would turn toward him.
A slight silence settled in, stretching just long enough to become perceptible, almost heavy, like a breath held in the room. Then a discreet, perfectly mastered sigh broke this calm, as if this single act marked the deliberate beginning of something.
Kurisu: « Alright… let's keep it simple. »
He slowly raised his eyes toward the void, fixing upon a point nonexistent to everyone else, but perfectly clear to him. His gaze was calm, almost detached… yet, behind this apparent neutrality, a spark of amusement persisted, discreet but very real, like a silent promise.
Kurisu: « You're still there, right? … readers, viewers, voyeurs… call it what you want. »
A slight smile stretched his lips—not a warm smile, nor even truly a mocking one… rather that of someone who accepts an implicit rule of the game and decides to take advantage of it. He did not seek to hide this awareness. On the contrary, he fully embraced it.
Kurisu: « I suppose a little summary is in order. »
He crossed his arms, adopting a more stable, almost nonchalant posture, as if taking root within the scene itself. His voice took on a slightly more narrative tint, but without ever losing that personal tone, as if he were telling a story of which he was both the protagonist… and the secondary author.
Kurisu: « After… let's say… a few necessary adjustments, I took complete control of the situation. »
A short pause followed, not for dramatic effect, but to let the words settle. His gaze drifted slightly to the side, as if he were mentally reviewing every step, every decision, every reaction.
Kurisu: « Regulus's wives are no longer numbers. The manor is under control. The unstable variables have been… corrected. »
His tone remained steady, almost clinical. There was neither exaggerated pride nor guilt. Just a statement. An analysis.
His gaze wandered for a moment, as if tracing back the thread of time.
Five days.
Five days had passed since those events.
Five days of transition, of settling in… and of observation.
Kurisu: « The journey to Lugunica took… a bit of time. Five days, to be exact. »
His voice remained calm, but his gaze grew more precise.
Kurisu: « Five days during which Sylphy, Celestia, and Marielle have… adapted. »
A slight pause.
Kurisu: « Quickly. »
In his mind, images flashed with clarity: the three women discovering an environment without constant fear, timidly testing their freedom, hesitating at first… then, little by little, releasing that tension anchored within them for far too long.
They had eaten their fill.
Spoken freely.
Slept without fear.
Lived.
Kurisu: « They enjoyed it. As much as possible. »
His tone was neither warm nor cold. Just factual. But one thing was clear: he had observed every change, every evolution.
Then, very slightly, his expression shifted.
Kurisu: « And as for me… »
A brief silence.
Kurisu: « I'm having fun. »
The word landed, simple… but charged with a clear intent.
He relaxed his shoulders slightly, as if none of this truly weighed upon him.
Kurisu: « Oh, and yes… as you've probably guessed, I am currently in Lugunica. Manor secured, environment analyzed, social structure observed… threats non-existent for the moment. »
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Kurisu: « In short… a perfect base. »
A silence followed, but this time, it was not empty. It was charged with anticipation.
Kurisu tilted his head slightly, as if listening to something invisible, something that did not belong to the physical world.
Kurisu: « And the most interesting part… »
His smile widened ever so slightly.
Kurisu: « Is what happens tomorrow. »
The name came naturally.
Kurisu: « Subaru. »
A light laugh escaped him.
Kurisu: « Our dear Dark Souls player in hardcore mode… »
He ran a hand over his face, amused.
Kurisu: « He's going to "spawn". Literally. »
His eyes shined slightly, not with uncontrolled excitement… but with a sincere, calculated interest.
Kurisu: « And I already have a few ideas for him. »
A short silence.
Kurisu: « But well… one thing at a time. »
His gaze stabilized again.
Kurisu: « I won't be bored while waiting for him. »
His voice became lower. More focused.
Kurisu: « I already have plans. »
Then—
A slight movement of the head.
Kurisu: « But before that… »
His gaze lowered slightly.
Kurisu: « I need to test the abilities of good old Regulus. »
A pause.
Kurisu: « His Authority… "Lion's Heart". »
His eyes darkened slightly, not out of menace… but out of concentration.
Kurisu: « Understand. Test. Exploit. »
There was no hesitation in his voice.
And suddenly—
The world changed.
No light.
No visible transition.
No sensation of movement.
Just… a replacement.
The wind blew.
Hot.
Dry.
The air grew heavy, thick with sand. The horizon shimmered under the crushing heat, distorting reality itself. Every gust of wind stirred up golden waves, giving the desert an almost living appearance.
The silence here was not peaceful.
It was crushing.
Oppressive.
Present.
Kurisu stood motionless in the middle of this infinite expanse. His posture had not changed, but his gaze had transformed. Sharper. More cutting.
« Augria Sand Dunes… »
His eyes slowly swept the horizon.
« Close to the Pleiades Watchtower… »
A very slight tilt of the head.
« Or rather… Subaru's tower. »
A smile appeared.
Fleeting.
Almost mocking.
« Where our beloved yandere rests… best girl, no debate. »
He exhaled slowly, letting the silence fall for a moment.
The wind continued to blow, hot and dry, gliding over his skin without effect.
« Perfect terrain. »
For a few seconds, he did not move.
He observed.
He analyzed.
He understood.
Then—
Kurisu: « Alright… watch closely. »
His tone became slightly lighter, tinged with a contained amusement.
Kurisu: « I'll start with something simple… testing on the local creatures. »
A very slight smile stretched his lips.
Kurisu: « After all… might as well start gently. »
The wind blew harder.
The sand rose.
And his gaze changed once more.
Precise.
Cold.
Focused.
Kurisu: « Let's begin. »
....
Kurisu set off without the slightest rush, his steps sinking slightly into the burning sand while the hot wind glided around him in long, invisible waves.
Each stride was steady, measured, almost detached, as if he were taking a stroll in a familiar place rather than in this hostile ocean of heat and silence.
The desert seemed alive, breathing slowly under the crushing sun, but he moved forward unaffected, as if separated from everything surrounding him.
After a few moments, something changed subtly. It wasn't immediately visible, not tangible… but present. A variation in the sand, an almost imperceptible shiver that broke the monotony of the landscape. Then another. The ground vibrated slightly, as if a presence were crawling beneath, fast, hungry, attracted.
And suddenly, without real warning, the sand exploded.
A gigantic mass erupted, spraying burning sprays in all directions. The creature that emerged was grotesque—a colossal worm whose gaping maw revealed several rows of irregular fangs, glistening under the blinding light. Its body twisted violently, driven by a primal instinct, a raw hostility directed toward a single target.
Kurisu.
Yet, facing this brutal apparition, he did not move. Not a step back. Not a defensive reflex. He merely crossed his arms, observing the creature with an almost disturbing calm, as if he were analyzing a simple natural phenomenon.
« Decent speed… high aggression… basic predatory behavior. »
The creature charged immediately, without hesitation. Its speed was impressive, its shadow swallowing Kurisu in a fraction of a second as its maw was already closing in on him.
And yet—
Kurisu simply raised his hand.
A slow gesture. Minimal. Almost lazy.
At the moment of impact, a dull thud erupted in the air. The worm's body crashed brutally against an invisible resistance, as if a wall had just appeared before it. Its head deformed under the pressure, crushed flat by something impossible to see, and the sand around vibrated under the violence of the shock.
A short silence settled, heavy, almost unreal.
Kurisu lowered his hand slightly, observing the result with sincere, almost curious interest.
Kurisu: « Interesting. »
Without changing his posture, he made a simple flick of the wrist. The air seemed to vibrate for an instant…
then the creature's head detached from its body with an absurd neatness, as if reality itself had decided to slice through.
The rest of the body collapsed heavily into the sand, kicking up a cloud of dust.
But the calm did not last.
A new tremor.
Then another.
Then several.
The desert suddenly sprang to life, exploding at multiple points as more creatures burst from the ground, drawn by the blood, the noise… or perhaps by the abnormal presence standing before them.
Kurisu observed them all without moving, his gaze sliding slowly from one mass to another, analyzing, comparing.
« So… they react in groups. »
A slight smile stretched his lips.
« Even better. »
He spread his arms slightly in an open, almost welcoming gesture.
The creatures responded immediately to this silent invitation. They all charged at once, their gigantic bodies piling up, colliding, and overlapping in a frantic attempt to crush, mash, and devour.
But nothing reached him.
Not a bite.
Not a squeeze.
Not even a grain of sand.
His body remained perfectly intact, immaculate, as if he existed in a different layer of reality, inaccessible to any external interaction.
« Wow… not even a sensation… the pleasure of being out-of-concept. »
One of the creatures suddenly opened its oversized maw and swallowed Kurisu in a single motion before diving back under the sand with the others.
Darkness engulfed him instantly, followed by a suffocating pressure and a viscous noise. His body fell into a thick, corrosive liquid mass—gastric juices meant to dissolve any form of life.
He stood up slowly.
No reaction.
No burning.
Nothing.
The liquid slid off him without effect, as if unable to even recognize his existence.
« Well… no damage… and I can't even smell a thing… kekeke… »
He observed the fluid between his fingers, taking the time to analyze its texture and density… then his gaze lit up slightly.
« But anyway… now… let's test a canon technique. »
He crouched slightly, scooping up a handful of this liquid, then activated his authority, freezing its very essence. That which was fluid became fixed; that which was unstable became absolute.
Kurisu: « AND BOOM! »
He hurled the liquid in every direction.
Instantly, the matter transformed into invisible projectiles, tearing through the monster's flesh from the inside with terrifying precision. The walls ripped, the structures gave way, and the attack continued its path, piercing through the other creatures around it without the slightest resistance.
Kurisu stepped calmly out of the disintegrating body, walking onto the sand as fragments slowly fell around him.
Kurisu: « Wow… just like in the novel… it's devastating. »
He briefly scanned the surroundings, recording every detail and consequence, then looked up slightly.
« Ah… they sent me underground… interesting. »
An idea immediately crossed his mind.
« Well… let's test a theory. »
He bent his legs slightly, then jumped.
But instead of falling back down, his body stopped dead, suspended in mid-air. His feet rested on something invisible, as if the air itself had been frozen beneath them.
Kurisu: « YES… it works! »
A brief laugh escaped him as he began to move, first slowly, then with more confidence. He ran through the void, jumped, changed angles, testing every movement with an almost childlike curiosity.
« I can literally fly with this… »
His movements became more fluid, more natural, as if he were progressively claiming this new logic as his own.
Then his gaze rose toward the sandy ceiling above him.
« Let's try this… »
He lunged with more force, building up speed before striking. The impact made the entire surrounding structure tremble, tearing a brutal passage toward the surface.
He ascended quickly, leap after leap, using the air like invisible stairs.
« Damn… it really feels like Geppo… »
And in a few moments, he emerged back on the surface.
The desert still stretched out before him.
Intact.
Infinite.
He inhaled slowly, and then a smile reappeared on his lips.
Kurisu: « Good… dear reader… let's go find some new guinea pigs. »
He resumed his walk, occasionally accelerating by canceling the constraints around him, almost gliding on the air itself.
After a few moments, the scenery changed subtly. A field of flowers appeared, peaceful in appearance… but too silent to be natural.
His eyes lit up slightly.
« Ah… the beasts from Arc 6… »
An amused smile stretched his lips.
Kurisu: « Heh… you discount Winnie the Poohs… come say hello… kekeke. »
The ground shook.
The creatures emerged, massive, hostile, their presence instantly crushing the peaceful atmosphere of the place.
Kurisu raised his head slightly.
His gaze changed.
More focused.
Sharper.
Kurisu: « Alright… let's test this a bit more seriously. »
He slowly raised his hands, tracing precise arcs in the air. Gradually, the space around him took structure, invisible lines forming and connecting to one another, creating an imperceptible web.
The creatures approached rapidly, their imposing masses closing the distance at high speed.
Then Kurisu slightly closed his fingers.
And launched.
The world seemed to contract for an instant. Space vibrated, as if reality itself were hesitating.
And in a fraction of a second—
Everything stopped.
The bodies.
The movements.
Time.
Then the creatures fell.
Sliced.
Cleanly.
Their remains littered the ground, revealing the fine lines engraved in the sand.
Kurisu burst out laughing, unable to contain his amusement.
Kurisu: « KEKEKEKKE… I knew it would work… I can literally freeze everything… »
His eyes shone with excitement.
« I want to test even more… »
Without waiting, he started running through the desert again, his smile widening with every step, already prepared to push the limits of this power even further.
.....
Kurisu advanced through the desert, almost gliding over the sand, each step calculated and precise, as if he were walking on a solid, immutable surface. He felt no fatigue, no excessive heat, nor the slightest physical discomfort. The sensation of absolute power brought a discrete, almost playful smile to his face.
Everything was perfectly under control, every movement fluid and effortless, and yet the desert seemed vaster than ever, suffocating in its silence. His eyes scanned the ground and, amidst the dust he kicked up, he finally spotted the subtle shape of a wavering barrier—fragile but perceptible….
The Sand Time.
Kurisu thought: « Well, my dear Flügel-san… I wonder if your barrier can truly block my authority. »
He took a few steps, crossing the barrier without the slightest resistance. No tremor, no warning: the sand had no reaction other than to remain still, as if it no longer existed around him.
« Well… what can I say? I'm too strong… kekeke. »
His gaze then shifted toward the horizon, where the Watchtower of Get stood, imposing and solitary against the infinite desert.
« A little "hello" to our favorite scorpion can't hurt… »
he whispered before gliding over the sand, canceling all friction, covering hundreds of meters in a flash until he reached the base of the tower.
But then, a light cleaved the air, swift and sharp: a glowing needle, Shaula's famous Hell's Snipe. Kurisu stopped, contemplating the projectile with absolute calm.
« Her attack… obviously doesn't touch me. »
Slowly, he resumed his walk, each step almost choreographed, while more and more projectiles converged on him. None reached his immaculate skin.
A few hundred meters from the tower, he made out Shaula, visibly exasperated by an enemy she could not reach. Kurisu simply raised his hand, a gesture of greeting. Shaula jumped, startled by this unexpected movement, then responded with a hesitant motion, uncertain but polite.
A slight smile stretched Kurisu's lips.
Kurisu: « Well, Shaula… maybe we'll see each other in Arc 6… or maybe not, kekeke. »
He resumed his run, kicking up a cloud of dust so dense it reached the tower balcony, causing coughing and muffled exclamations.
Shaula: « Cough… cough… who was that guy? »
But no answer came.
The following path led him to a group of familiar creatures that made the air around him shiver—horrors so foul they seemed plucked from a nightmare: grotesque fusions between man and horse, a horn on the head, and a mouth like Gluttony's from FMAB on the belly.
Three foul centaurs were there, motionless, as if waiting, their muscles twisted and their horns glowing with an animal light. Kurisu stopped and observed them closely, every detail of their grotesque anatomy etched into his analytical gaze.
Kurisu: « Three… perfect. Let's test my abilities on living beings. »
With a small, calculated noise, he drew their attention. He knew they had already spotted him thanks to their echolocation but were pretending to ignore his presence. The first one charged, attempting to carbonize him with its characteristic fire breath.
The flames licked his body, crackling and illuminating the sand around them. But they flickered out after a few seconds, revealing Kurisu totally intact. He sighed, amused.
Kurisu: « Ahhh… useless. Nothing can touch me… except for OP characters, little centaur. »
With a precise movement, he brushed against the creature, instantly freezing it in the air, suspended out of time. The other two threw their spears, but these shattered before touching him. Kurisu touched them in turn, holding them motionless, then stepped back slightly to observe them, tilting his head, his eyes shining with a glint of amusement and calculation.
Kurisu: « So… absolute control over my own time. But… »
He took a step, the sand remaining perfectly still beneath him.
Kurisu: « The others… are not affected in the same way. Interesting. »
He looked up at the sky, his face lit by a playful glow.
Kurisu: « Author-san… you're watching, right? Well, keep watching, because this is about to get interesting! »
A silence, suspended, before he tested something new. His hands drew together as if to grasp the air itself, and he concentrated his energy. An incandescent light materialized—frozen, tangible, and manipulable, sculpted by his pure will. A huge smile stretched across his face.
Kurisu: « YES… it works… it works! Let's do it again! »
In a few seconds, he created two more glowing spears—three perfect weapons in his hands. He pointed them at the centaurs.
Kurisu: « Dear readers… you're there, huh? Well… here is the highlight of the show! »
He then approached the three beasts, grabbed them, and threw them all, sending them flying high into the sky. The creatures were flung into the air, almost vanishing from sight, and once time resumed, they fell, helpless.
Kurisu looked up, scanning their aerial ballet, then simultaneously launched the three spears toward the sky. The cries of the beasts echoed as they plummeted, terrified and unable to understand what was happening.
And suddenly—
All the creatures exploded in a beam of light, bursting without contact, without logic, simply erased. The sand fell gently, the wind resumed, and a perfect silence settled in. Kurisu remained motionless, savoring the victory and the power he wielded over this desert.
Kurisu: « No fatigue… no constraints… no visible limits for now. »
He reopened his eyes, sharper, more dangerous.
Kurisu: « This body… this authority… is completely broken. »
A light laugh escaped his lips.
Kurisu: « I love it. »
He turned slightly, contemplating the horizon, toward something invisible, toward the future, toward tomorrow.
A playful smile stretched across his face.
Kurisu: « Subaru… »
Then, wider, more conspiratorial:
Kurisu: « I hope you're ready. »
The wind rose, stronger, whipping the sand around him. And in the middle of this infinite desert, a single man stood upright. Smiling. Ready to play with the world.