SWNOVELXO Chapter 61: Sacrifice
The air was heavy, suffocating. Ryan and Yuno kept their eyes fixed on the imposing figure before them. The woman had perfectly aligned purple hair in a hime cut, with a pair of silver horns floating around her head like mystical horseshoes. Her attire resembled that of a shrine maiden, adorned with a green sash covered in medals, yet everything about her exuded a profane authority. Sitting nonchalantly on a luxurious sofa that seemed out of place in this surreal setting, she held a khakkhara in one hand, her provocative expression dripping with malice.
Yuno, ever intense, stepped forward and growled, her voice firm and filled with anger:
"Who are you!? Where's Arona?"
Ryan stayed silent, vigilant. With a calculated move, he pulled Rika behind him, shielding her instinctively.
The woman tilted her head and slowly crossed her legs, every movement charged with an unsettling sensuality. Her malicious gaze pierced through them, as if she delighted in their fear.
"My, my... Are you really this uninformed? What a pity." She sighed theatrically, her lips curling into a venomous smile. "I thought this would be more entertaining."
Gracefully, she straightened up on the sofa, resting the khakkhara against the floor. Her eyes gleamed with palpable malice.
"I'll be kind to you, just this once..." She extended her hand slowly, as if about to share a deadly secret. "I am something far superior to that flawed Goddess you follow."
Yuno held her aggressive stance, while Ryan narrowed his eyes, visibly irritated. Before Yuno could respond, he spoke in a direct, provoking tone:
"Can you stop with the dramatic lines and get to the point, weirdo? The pinkie one here asked for your name."
The woman chuckled softly, as if entertained.
"My name? How curious. It's irrelevant for now."
Then, with a fluid motion, she pointed her staff directly at... Hanyuu, who timidly emerged from behind the group. Ryan and Yuno turned to face her, noticing the small Goddess's distressed expression.
"Me and this flawed Goddess..." The woman smiled venomously, her eyes glowing with contempt. "We are extensions of the same original entity."
Hanyuu recoiled slightly, her hands trembling as the tension in the room grew thicker. Ryan, sensing the danger, stepped forward, his voice calm but laced with sharp sarcasm:
"Great. We've got that you like fancy speeches. But what exactly do you want here?"
She stroked the khakkhara slowly, savoring the moment.
"Let's just say I'm taking advantage of an excellent opportunity."
Before anyone could react, a burst of light shot from her staff. Ryan felt a chill run down his spine, every sense screaming in alarm. He acted instantly, kicking Yuno out of the blast's path.
The beam passed mere millimeters from his body, leaving a trail of energy that made every cell in Ryan's body scream in warning. He barely had time to process what had happened, but one thing was clear: they couldn't face this woman.
"Idiot, what do you think you're doing!?" Yuno yelled angrily as she got up on the other side of the field.
Ryan didn't respond immediately. His eyes were focused on Rika, making sure she was safe. To his relief, she was on the ground but appeared unhurt.
The woman watched them with a satisfied smile, like a predator toying with its prey. Ryan, his voice cold and controlled, spoke to Yuno:
"Yuno, we're retreating."
She raised an eyebrow, her voice full of disbelief and defiance.
"Retreat? You think we can't face her?"
Ryan looked her in the eyes, his tone as firm as steel.
"Right now? No."
The seriousness in his voice made Yuno hesitate for a brief second before she scoffed and ran to him. Touching Ryan and Rika, she tried to initiate a teleport. The space around them seemed to distort, but in the end, they didn't move an inch.
"But... how?" Yuno whispered, her eyes wide with surprise.
A low, mocking laugh echoed through the air.
"It seems your divine level is pathetically low," the woman taunted, twirling her khakkhara. "This will be a delightful assimilation for me."
She raised her staff again, aiming precisely, but before she could fire, a sweet and resolute voice cut through the air:
"Not with my senseis!"
The space around them shattered like breaking glass, distorting into a wave of chaos. Ryan and Yuno felt an intense vibration course through their bodies as they frantically searched for the voice's origin: Arona.
They couldn't see Arona, but her presence was palpable—a warm, comforting energy flowing into them like an electric current.
Ryan, wasting no time, asked hurriedly:
"Arona, who is this woman?"
The reply came quickly, tinged with concern:
"She's also a Goddess, Sensei. I didn't expect to encounter her here... Especially since we already have Hanyuu!"
Yuno interrupted, her sharp tone cutting through the air as Arona's energy intensified around them.
"And does that matter now? Just tell me how we take her down."
Arona's voice enveloped them again, now filled with urgency.
"Senseis, no matter what, you must not die to her!"
Ryan frowned, tension visible on his face as he questioned with a mix of curiosity and dread:
"Why, Arona? If that happens, doesn't time just rewind?"
The answer came hesitantly, as though the words were difficult to voice.
"When a superior deity kills a lesser one..."
Ryan interrupted, finishing with sarcastic humor to mask his apprehension:
"It's game over..."
Arona didn't deny it, but her unsteady voice brought little comfort.
"More or less..."
Yuno, realizing time was running out and the situation was increasingly dire, pressed her:
"So? What's the plan? Because fighting her seems like a terrible idea!"
Arona's energy surrounded them even more intensely, her voice now filled with fierce determination.
"We'll draw as much energy as possible and send her to another world. If it works, we'll escape before she can react."
Ryan looked at Yuno, who clenched her fists with a fierce grin.
"Hope your plan works, Arona... Because this one doesn't look like she takes losing lightly."
As tension mounted, Arona's aura seemed to prepare for the inevitable confrontation, and everyone knew they were on the brink of something far beyond their control.
The space around them grew increasingly unstable, like an uncontrolled nightmare. Crystals floated erratically, ready to become deadly projectiles at any moment. The unknown entity's energy saturated the environment, crushing any attempt by Arona to maintain full control.
Arona's voice echoed again, hurried and urgent:
"You need to help Rika, now!"
Ryan immediately turned his gaze to the girl. She was motionless, surrounded by a strange aura, as if the very space around her was consuming her. Her body trembled slightly, her expression frozen, her eyes glassy like cracked crystal.
"What's happening to her?!" he asked, his voice a mix of concern and fear.
"Quick, senseis! Touch her body before it's too late!"
Without hesitation, Ryan grabbed Yuno's arm and pulled her, forcing her to place her hand on Rika. A searing heat engulfed the three of them, like an electric current scorching their skin.
Ryan's eyes widened as he witnessed the abrupt transformation before him.
"What the hell... She just went from eleven to fifteen years in seconds!" His voice betrayed his shock.
"The crystals!" Arona's voice rang out in their minds, laced with urgency. "She's manipulating the flow of time, but since Rika is human, the effects are distorting her body!"
While Ryan struggled to process her words, movement caught his attention. He turned to see the woman poised for another attack, her khakkara glowing ominously with threatening energy.
"Ah, harvesting your divine energy... It's going to be delicious!" she laughed, licking her fingers with a malicious grin and predatory gaze fixed on the trio.
One of the floating crystals shot toward them, slicing through the air like an arrow. Before it could hit, a translucent barrier shimmered into existence, intercepting the attack.
"Damn, since when can you do that, Arona?" Ryan exclaimed, relief momentarily washing over him.
"Not is exactly me, Sensei," Arona replied. "I used your energy to form the barrier, but it won't hold for long!" Her voice carried a distinct tension as another crystal slammed against the shield with a reverberating impact.
"Senseis," she continued, urgency thick in her tone, "I have a plan to get us out of this, but you need to strengthen the energy connection between you!"
Yuno growled in frustration. "And when you say 'strengthen the connection,' you mean... what exactly?"
"Exactly what you're thinking, Sensei Yuno! And quickly!"
Another blast struck the barrier, cracks spreading like spiderwebs across its surface. Their opponent watched with a smirk, her voice dripping with mockery.
"Ah, what could you be planning? It's so adorable to see such immature divinities struggle. You barely have enough energy to stand, let alone fight me!"
Ryan clenched his teeth and turned to Yuno, determination burning in his eyes. "Come on, Yuno. You've kissed me before—what's the problem now?"
Yuno glared at him, anger radiating. "That was situational, you idiot! Don't—"
"The situation's worse now, you stubborn fool!" he shot back, grabbing her face and leaning in. He kissed her firmly, his tongue invading her mouth as she let out a muffled cry of indignation.
Their opponent burst into laughter, thoroughly entertained. "How precious! You've decided to bid each other farewell with a passionate kiss... So tragic, so romantic!"
Ignoring the taunts, Arona's voice resounded in their minds once more. "Senseis, I'm going to use all the energy left in my physical form. It'll render me inactive for a while, but it'll be enough to send her to another realm and buy us some time. I don't know how long it'll last, but it should give you the chance to grow stronger!"
As Arona explained, Ryan deepened the kiss, holding Yuno tightly while keeping Rika steady in his other arm. He winced as Yuno's nails dug into his back in irritation, but he pressed on.
"Wait, are you saying you're sacrificing yourself, Arona?!" Ryan managed to ask between kisses, his mind racing.
Arona's voice, though weary, remained soothing. "It's not really a sacrifice... But you'll miss me for a bit, hehe."
Their adversary began advancing, her khakkara pulsating with overwhelming energy as an oppressive aura enveloped the space. Crystals started gathering, forming a deadly spiral around her.
"Senseis, hold on tight. This is our only shot!" Arona cried. A brilliant explosion of light began to form around them.
Ryan gripped Yuno tighter, ignoring her resistance, as the energy built to an almost unbearable intensity. The connection between them became nearly tangible, as though invisible threads of energy were weaving something greater.
Yuno's voice cut through his mind, seething. "Idiot, you don't have to move your tongue like that!"
Ryan couldn't resist teasing. "What's wrong? Is it turning you on?"
Yuno's response was physical—her nails dug even deeper into his back. Pain flared, but paradoxically, it strengthened the energy flowing between them. The space quaked as Arona's voice rang out again, this time with excitement.
"Perfect, Senseis! I'm fully charged! Please, give the order!"
Across from them, the entity cackled, her presence as suffocating as ever. Crystals bombarded the barrier, which was now on the brink of shattering. Her khakkara spun in her hands, glimmering with lethal intent.
"Ah, such effort... It's almost inspiring," she mocked. "But do you truly believe you'll escape me alive?"
Ryan ignored her, focusing on Arona. "Do it, Arona. I'm giving the order—send this psycho straight to hell! And another order... Come back to us as fast as you can!"
Arona chuckled softly, her usual lightheartedness surprisingly comforting amid the chaos. "Hehe, aren't I the best system?"
To Ryan's surprise, Yuno chimed in. Despite the heat of the moment, her voice was quiet, almost shy. "Yeah, so... don't take too long. I'll go insane if I'm stuck with this idiot alone."
Ryan raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering across his face. He slid his hand from Yuno's neck down to her waist, holding her firmly. "See? You can be cute when you try, Pinkie."
Yuno, likely to retort, but before she could, the barrier shattered with an ear-splitting crack.
"Goodbye for now, Senseis!" Arona shouted as she acted.
An explosion of light engulfed everything, blindingly bright. Crystals disintegrated like falling stars as the very fabric of the space unraveled into pure chaos. Ryan felt Yuno's warmth against him, her hair brushing his face, her nails still clawing at his back. Her tongue tangled with his, a mix of defiance and adrenaline flooding his senses.
The heat began to fade. The light dimmed, allowing his vision to return. When the blinding glow finally cleared, he found himself back at the sanctuary.
For a moment, silence reigned—a collective sigh of relief from the world itself. Ryan, however, was nothing if not consistent. His thoughts led his actions as he slid his hand down Yuno's back, grabring firmly on her butt.
"Yeah... I've been wanting to do this for a while. Not gonna lie," he thought, giving a firm squeeze.
Yuno's reaction was immediate. She let out a cry of outrage, her nails digging into his back one last time before she shoved him away with all her strength.
"WHO SAID YOU COULD DO THAT, YOU MORON?!"
Ryan stumbled but caught himself before dropping Rika. He steadied the unconscious girl in his arms and looked up to see Yuno retreating, her face blazing red with a mix of anger and embarrassment. He grinned, that signature cocky smile playing on his lips as he quipped:
"Sorry... the voices won."
Yuno stared at him, speechless for a moment, trembling with fury. But she knew she couldn't waste more energy on him. With an exasperated huff, she turned away, trying to regain her composure.
Ryan chuckled, adjusting Rika in his arms as he glanced around. "All right, Arona... Now it's just you we're waiting on. Hope it was worth it."
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And with that, the Higurashi arc finally comes to an end (for now, hehe). Ryan and Yuno returned to school, and a new major arc is about to begin.
By the way, a quick note about the use of the protagonist's names, Ryan/Masachika:
This will decrease over time. After the conclusion of the Hinamizawa arc, only characters related to the Roshidere anime will call the MC Masachika, as he already has an established identity there. However, anyone else will use Ryan.
Also, I plan for the MC to explore other worlds in the future.—some I have in mind include Re: Zero, Chainsaw Man, Madoka Magica, among others. Anyway, let's slow things down a bit with some good old slice of life.
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patreon.com/ErisNoSeraph