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In the vast arena crafted for the duel atop the towering spire, two girls glared at each other, their determination palpable. Erica, with her brown ponytail, exuded an aura of mana from the tip of her staff, beads of cold sweat trickling down her forehead as her fingertips trembled slightly.

On the opposite side stood Stella, her violet hair flowing as she assumed a battle stance, her eyes calm like a serene lake, starkly contrasting Erica’s tense demeanor.

“Ha… First strike is victory!”

Ignis Orbium!

Erica raised her staff high and began her chant. A blazing orb of fire shot towards Stella at incredible speed. Taking a deep breath, Stella gathered mana into her legs.

암향표!

Shwoosh!

Just before the orb reached her, Stella’s figure vanished into the shadows. She elegantly dodged the attack, gliding away like petals dancing in the sky, causing a brief look of surprise to cross Erica’s face. But she quickly resolved to prepare her next incantation.

“That weird movement again… This time it won’t work!”

Aqua Surgebat!

A massive water storm erupted around her, rising like a dragon, the explosive columns of water were powerful enough to obliterate the surrounding landscape, enveloping her in their protective embrace.

“Using a single element to achieve a fourth tier… impressive.”

“That haughty gaze from above! What can you do about it? If you get caught up in my water storm, it’s game over!”

Stella remained unfazed by the massive columns of water barreling her way. She sharply pressed her right foot into the ground, pushing back hard enough to leave a noticeable dent.

승천각!

With a kick launched like an arrow from a bow, she violently propelled herself upward, smashing through the water column. The force shattered the mighty wave, sending soil flying in all directions.

Erica barely activated her protective magic just in time to secure her footing on the ground.

“What the heck is she?! Are you trying to kill me?!”

“Then, my next move is… Huh?!”

“Stella?”

At the sound of Stella collapsing, Erica abruptly let her magic fade and looked forward, only to see Stella clutching her chest, tipping over.

“Hey, are you alright?”

“It’s nothing, just a small… ugh!”

A hot, viscous liquid oozed from Stella’s mouth. It was blood.

But that wasn’t all. On her concealed clothing, ominous patterns glowed, accompanied by a sizzling sound that suggested her skin was burning beneath it.

“Oh my god… what is this?!”

Erica quickly knelt by her and activated her healing magic. After about ten minutes, color slowly returned to Stella’s pale face.

“I told you to stop! You’ll seriously die like this!”

“I managed to reduce the risk to a certain degree, it’ll be done soon.”

Despite her deathly appearance moments ago, Stella immediately readied herself, adopting a stance that looked almost martial.

“This isn’t right… it wasn’t supposed to be like this…”

She was analyzing. Seeking ways to use techniques she learned in her previous life, but with minimized risk now that she had lost her original body to the gods.

However, a curse burdened her new female form: each time she used techniques or magic from other worlds not found in her current realm, penalties would be enforced.

The agony was like being stabbed by dozens of needles or being hammered mercilessly. Her body reacted in defiance, rejecting the foreign power as if it was forbidden.

Nevertheless, Stella pressed on, catapulting punches into the empty air.

“This isn’t it… it was supposed to be sharper and stronger!”

“Why do you push yourself so hard?!”

Erica shouted in frustration at Stella’s reckless determination. Ignoring her pleas, Stella halted her movements and glanced back, her eyes devoid of focus, appearing almost mechanical.

Shadows cast under her eyes made her seem lifeless, and with that vacant gaze directed at Erica, her heart sank.

“If you’re not going to help, just go back to your research. I’m busy.”

Usually speechless at her chilling demeanor, Erica gathered her courage to speak.

“You really need to stop… you’re going to die!”

“…”

“With each major technique, the blood loss… Do you know what happens when you keep relying on healing magic rather than natural recovery?”

“…My lifespan would shorten. Healing magic accelerates cell division, reducing recovery time.”

“And you know this yet continue? You won’t see twenty if you keep this up!”

While she had exaggerated slightly, it wasn’t entirely false. But Stella’s actions could only be compared to jumping between a fire pit and an ice tank, a blatant act of insanity.

“Are you really trying to die? Or do you even want to live?”

“… I don’t care; I’ll die or not…”

“Seriously, this is maddening…”

It had been four years since she entered the Magic Tower, yet she remained isolated, maintaining this state. If it weren’t for the Master of the Magic Tower’s requests, Erica would’ve wanted to ignore her completely.

“Why should I care about someone determined to end their life?”

“Then why are you even here in the Magic Tower? Sure, you have talent, but as a mage, shouldn’t you study magic instead?”

Suddenly, Stella appeared haunted, muttering, “That cannot happen! If I lose this, then I no longer… feel like myself…”

“…”

As they stood in silence, the sound of someone entering broke through. It was Ozwell Rockpelikan, the Master of the Golden Tower.

“There you are.”

“Master Ozwell? What brings you here?”

“There’s something I need you to do, Stella.”

“…Me?”

*

“Are you talking about powers that defy the rules of this world?”

“Yes, this is a power that originally does not exist in this world… Rune Magic.”

As Arhen revealed his palm, ancient-looking symbols were etched upon it.

ᛞ… I felt a strange sense of understanding as I activated my Insight Eye.

“Rune of Death…?”

“Can you read this?”

I nodded, and Arhen’s face lit up with excitement as he explained, unable to contain his enthusiasm.

Another bizarre sound rang from his hand, like bones cracking, as he clenched and released his fist.

“This time, it’s an entirely different symbol… it says Void.”

“Remarkable! This was a term I only decoded after an extensive duration…”

“So, what does this mean?”

“Now, witness the power.”

As he murmured, focusing on the runes in his palm, a pale light began to emanate, intensifying gradually.

In hushed tones, he began chanting, calling forth that ominous power.

Ex nihilo nihil fit.

The runes glowed, and a chilling energy began to gather around him, warping the space itself.

As he reached for a sword that previously hung decoratively, it vanished without a trace.

It was as if the sword had been sucked into a vortex, completely erased from existence.

Lowering his hand, he exhaled deeply. The Rune of Void flickered before retreating, returning to his ordinary palm.

Just as he was catching his breath, “Cough… hack!!”

Suddenly, Arhen began to cough up blood from all over his body.

I instantly sprayed a healing potion on him, checking his condition.

“What the hell was… what just happened?”

Cough cough… I’m giving you the new power I’m about to teach you.

“You expect me to want to use such a dangerous ability? Are you trying to get me killed?”

The notion of completely erasing objects with just a touch was horrific, even in the original work, I had never witnessed such a magic. It evoked memories of the Demon Race’s power, it was that bizarre.

Moreover, the lingering risks with each use made it sound outright impossible.

“Don’t worry; you won’t bear that risk.”

He continued, seemingly in understanding of my concerns.

“This power is that of the force that killed your comrades, my brother.”

“What… did you say?”

“And their leader, Ned, is also wielding this power.”

“Wait, slow down. Are you saying this strange power is in their hands?”

“Indeed… my brother Arhan bears the same mark of death on his hand as I do.”

While highly bewildering, my mind was reeling. What was even a ‘pure’ method, was it some kind of pre-cast magic? It’s not simply magic; it feels like a unique power but distinctly different.

“This power is strong and dreadful… the Rune of Death is the most perilous of them all.”

“…You just said I wouldn’t bear that risk.”

“Correct. I assure you, you are the only one who can utilize this power without limitations.”

“How can you be so sure?”

He countered my question with another.

“Nova, isn’t your unique ability Mimicry?”

“…Yes.”

“Then it’s possible; this ability was designed as a means to use such powers.”

My copy ability can use Rune Magic? I have been limited in learning even regular magic, let alone my Unique Ability being able to copy that immense strength?!

While staring in disbelief, he suddenly brought up an unexpected topic.

“You find this power puzzling. The Empire’s literature holds no records of such magic.”

“Indeed, I’ve never heard of it before.”

“This power originates from another world… this world’s aspect of power. So, humans of this realm cannot use it.”

“Wait… what are you saying?”

“However, there was one individual who wielded this power. His name is Aegis, the first hero who spread the unique ability in this world.”

“…What?”

“His ability, often referred to as the mightiest of heroes, was imitation, just like yours. He wasn’t from this world but a reincarnator from another realm.”

If this is true, then the essence of Nova, or rather, me… could it be what he’s hinting at?

As if to affirm my thoughts, he nodded enthusiastically with a manic grin.

“You are not a being of this world, but a reincarnator from another realm!”

 

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