>WHUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!<


    The ck Hole instantly began sucking everything around it into its pitch-ck void.


    The air, energy, and the two beings who stood right in front of it… were all being taken in without discrimination.


    "Are you crazy? If you do this, you''ll die. You''ll kill us both!" Stefan yelled, both in disbelief and desperation, as even he could not slip his way out of the almighty pull.


    The ck Hole''s gravitational pull was much stronger than what he could muster so suddenly. Thus, as Elrich was getting sucked in, he too found himself being pulled closer.


    "I''ve lived for long enough, Stefan, so this much is fine. Still, no matter how much you resist it… you''reing with me!"


    "N-never!"


    "Onest parting gift, though…" Elrich grinned, and suddenly, the gem on his forehead cracked.


    The moment this happened….


    "G-guh… uh…?!" A hole appeared in the middle of Stefan''s chest,pletely out of the blue.


    Dark blood flowed from the boy''s chest, thus reducing any form of resistance he previously had. His body was now powerlessly drifting into the singrity, while Elrich was practically immersed in it.


    "The rest… is up to you… Maria…." Elrich whispered before finally getting consumed whole by the void.


    Taking with him, Stefan Netherlore—


    "THAT''S ENOUGH!!!"


    —Or so he thought.


    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<


    *


    *


    *


    Stefan was desperate.


    He knew he had lost the moment the ck hole appeared. He knew he would have to rely on more of his power. However…


    ''Doing that would be insulting! How can I use my full power here?!''


    His pride wouldn''t let him go all-out. He still believed that if he waited out the storm, resisting the tides for long enough, the ck Hole would lose its stabilizing source and ultimately implode. Once Elrich died, no one would be left to control [The Tower], thus, it would lose its form of sustenance.


    His only fear, however, was that he had no idea if the ck Hole had reached the point of self-sustenance.


    This position of his, however, changed the moment Elrich used another one of his trump cards—the mirrored attack he had used on him. Since it was an offensive move that was used with the intent to kill, Stefan felt the brunt of it quite well.


    ''T-this… is my attack?!'' He had thought to himself, groaning and feeling the pain that apanied being hit with his own power.


    Once things got to this point, and Stefan could feel himself slipping into the abyss… he had no other option. He had to let go of his ego and w his way to survival. He had to win… no matter the cost!


    "RAAARRRRGHHHHHH!!!"


    As a result, he finally unleashed his most primal instincts, as well as his most powerful form.


    His bodypletely turned ck, and red cackles surrounded him.


    Even his face waspletely dyed in darkness, leaving only his red eyes visible. His wings becamerger and more crooked, spikes emanated from his body, and his dragon-scale armour became one with greater darkness.


    Once he attained this state, Stefan had enough power—not just simply to escape, but also to destroy the very thing that threatened his life.


    Thus, in a brilliant eruption of dark power, Stefan destroyed the ck hole and liberated himself.


    "Haaa…" He floated in the air, heaving as his glorious new form created a blot in the sky.


    He could see the despair written all over Maria''s face—he took this as his reward for trying so hard. Still, despite not dying as Elrich had wanted, he had to give props to the old man.


    ''You made me use my full power. That''s impressive.''


    He swiftly discarded this transformation, returning to his Fusion State. After all, using such a form on Maria would be too boring. Her face told it all—how frightened she was as a result of his immense power.


    "W-what have you be…?" Maria''s shuddering voice echoed in his ears, but Stefan felt nothing stir within him.


    If she was trying to gain his sympathy, it wasn''t going to work.


    "Look at all you''ve done… all you''re doing. How can you truly enjoy this? You… are you really Stefan?" Hearing her whimpers made him both disgusted and delighted.


    Maria had always been a goody-two-shoes; a personality he had grown to dislike over the years.


    He had initially started out with respect for her. He had felt frustrated about his inferiority, yes, but that didn''t blind him from seeing her sheer ability. In terms of talent and skill, she was superior—and he didn''t deny that.


    However, as time progressed, the respect he had towards Maria—the reverence—slowly became something else.


    Some called it envy, others called it resentment, but to Stefan, it only meant one thing… disgust!


    He felt disgusted towards Maria, and towards himself as well.


    For someone who had so much power, her actions annoyed him. He often imagined what he would do if he had that power—no, if he had more.


    Finally, just when he had been about to be swallowed whole by the despair of weakness, his family revealed to him just who he was—what he was. To his surprise, Legris Damien had also conspired with them.


    He was promised power if he followed Legris and joined the Cult. The promise was well kept.


    The Cult Leader personally supervised the procedure, and Stefan was integrated with so much Nether—enough to kill anyone.


    However, ording to the leader, and thedy in white, they had not seen anyone aspatible with Nether as he was.


    It turned out that he was truly a genius among geniuses. He had always been special, and the depths of his powers had yet to be reached.


    He had just been looking in the wrong direction all this time.


    "But now…" Stefan grinned as he gazed at Maria.


    She was still on the ground, but she was covered in a dense dome.


    "Hmm?"


    He stretched out his hand towards her, using the effects of his Arcana to pull her in his direction. However, much to his chagrin, nothing happened.


    "Ah, so you''re the one responsible for that interference. Your Arcana must be countering mine. Very good."


    Maria remained on the ground. Her expression was stoic, but her eyes hid so much pain.


    "Why don''t we try something a little bit different? If I won''t use my Arcana, then…"


    Suddenly, various colours of light began appearing all over Stefan.


    Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Indigo. Violet.


    Once these seven colours danced around Stefan, his grin widened even further, and a dark gleam entered his eyes.


    "... Why don''t we try Original Magic?"


    *


    *


    *


    [A/N]


    New book release announcement!!!


    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205


    Cheers!