The Lone SF Transmigrator in the Otherworld Forum

However, her display of intense emotion was brief. Kaiju carapace covered and reconstructed her mouth, and gradually, emotion disappeared from her face.

Her blood-red pupils settled into a refined madness, suddenly filled with a piercing coldness. But fortunately—if it could be called that—no hostility could be felt in her eyes.

It seemed she had merely suppressed her current emotions for an important conversation.

Karlstein responded seriously in kind. Hereverseddeath to breathe life back. He invoked the power of ultra-regeneration to restore his body.

He could not be defeated merely by destroying his heart. His body could not die easily even if it wanted to.

Fwoosh-

Golden light flowed from his body where his heart had been pierced, scattering golden blood, and in an instant, flesh filled in and healed his split chest.

However…

"…"

Of course, this did not mean his life was in danger. His infinite Ether constantly manifested ultra-regeneration in his body, making it possible to maintain life even without a heart.

Except for the fact that it was not human-like, there was no problem with movement.

"Mm. I didn't want to show myself like this."

A human living perfectly fine with their heart out. It was unimaginable in the past.

"That's… the same for me…"

Half-transformed into a Kaiju, she was no different from him.

Her expression, which had momentarily shown emotion again, returned to coldness, and she began speaking shocking words.

More precisely, after being completely covered by the Kaiju carapace, her thoughts and words were transmitted directly into his mind.

-I've come a long way. For this moment.

"…"

Karlstein had much he wanted to say in response, but he held back. Her calmly recited words carried that much weight.

He did not want to interrupt her.

-This might be the last chance.

"The last chance?"

Was she referring to subjugating the last Single Number? If so, he needed to tell her that was not the case…

-The only chance to remove your immortality, brother.

"?"

For a moment, Karlstein found it difficult to understand her words.

But he could not help but flinch at what followed.

-It's now or never to escape that curse. I don't want to see you suffering endlessly, tainted by madness for eternity.

Her words reminded Karlstein of Sephiroth, who lived an undying life in unbearably infinite tedium. Sephiroth's clear eyes had been filled with nothing but the pain of apathy.

It was why Karlstein had allowed Sephiroth's not-so-subtle maneuvers and said nothing about it. Of course, the biggest reason was that she had not harmed him while handing over the Sephiroth dimension.

But there was a definite reason why he found it hard to agree with Yui. Mental suffering from immortality was not a problem for him at all. The absurd trait of [Mental Invariability] did not allow for any mental damage.

But Yui was not done speaking.

-It's a mistake to think that'll last forever…

Flinch-

Karlstein was slightly taken aback, as she seemed to have read his thoughts. Not that she was actually mind reading him.

However, Yui seemed to know in detail about his [Mental Invariability] trait.

Did she already know about his trait that even Aria could  not uncover?

-That trait exists because the Galactic Empire's dimension, the other dimension clusters, and this era are fixed. In other words, your mind can be seen as the core axis of the dimension.

How on earth did she obtain such information?

-If you hunt down the last remaining one, it can't be undone. The fixation will be released, the world will expand, and you'll take on the accompanying risks. Beings like true outer gods…

"…"

-And you'll bear the pain of eternity in between.

At that moment, Karlstein could not help but realize something.

"Was volume 53 actually…"

-That's right. It's part of my arrangements.

Karlstein recalled the series of recent events. In particular, his own actions in modifying his ongoing plans and rushing to subjugate the remaining Single Numbers.

Merging with Sephiroth and setting out alone to subjugate the Single Numbers… It wasn't natural at all. It was like overturning many plans he had been preparing.

But that meant he could have found out on his own well enough. Even if he did not know the exact situation, he knew that his plans had been influenced by someone. No, by her.

All of that was planned by Yui…

Perhaps Prohiden was not Yui. It might have been a ploy to obtain his memories and use him.

But Karlstein did not suspect so.

Thump thump-

The heart beating fiercely in her hand showed a clear emotion that only blood relatives could feel.

For ordinary people, it might just be an illusion, but for a transcendent being, intuition was like a prophecy.

In any case, even considering all that, Karlstein's answer remained the same.

"I'm going to finish the last subjugation and open a new era."

-….

"Humanity has come this far because we didn't fear newness and reform."

-….

"I think the same way."

Prohiden, no, Yui, had no response to those words.

"As you say, maybe I'll run into a situation I can't handle."

Karlstein recalled the 'fate' mentioned by Myodong, the leader of the Guardians.

Is that fate the change of era Yui spoke of?

If so, did that not mean Yui was resisting fate? And the reason was for her only blood relative, himself.

-Even if that change means the end of humanity?

"The end, huh…"

-The beings called Single Numbers in the Galactic Empire are just one step towards shedding. The closest to that is the last remaining one. In the new era humanity will face, after completing the shedding and surpassing ascension, you'll encounter beings that can't be surpassed.

Yui, who had become Prohiden, possessed strength that even the current Karlstein could not be certain of surpassing.

When she spoke about the new era, there was deep fear in her eyes, which only added weight to her warning.

Even so.

"My resolve won't change."

-….

SF that stops developing is no longer SF.

-The barrier that the current Galactic Empire is maintaining. When the last Single Number is conquered and a new era begins, that barrier will disappear too. Then, the madness suppressed by mental fixation after absorbing the Single Numbers will come alive again.

"…"

-Will you still not change your mind? Even though you might not be able to maintain your sense of self?

"Yeah. What you've said is just one of the possibilities after all. And if that happens, what price will you have to pay?"

-…In the end, there's only one answer.

"Haha."

She did not seem to have any intention of backing down either.

-I'll stop you here, take away your immortality, and end your eternal suffering.

Her words sounded chilling.

Mm. You're not really thinking of killing me? I'm still your brother, after all.

In any case, the jokes ended there.

"Little Yui. Shall we see how much you've grown?"

Karlstein began to emit Ether, taking in her flinching form. His opponent had long since completed her battle preparations.

Faced with the formidable force emanating from her, Karlstein decided to give it his all.

A blinding flash, like a supernova, erupted between them, illuminating the cosmos.

The cosmic sibling squabble was so huge and powerful that it shook other dimensions.

***

Golden blood flowing like a river. Black carapace that looked like Kaiju flesh. Purple mane like hair. Broken super-planets and residual Ether still glowing fluorescent in space.

The battle traces scattered in space sprayed residual Ether no less potent than radiation, denying approach to other life forms.

The engagement was long and exceptionally challenging.

To state the conclusion, there was no victor.

Prohiden's strength was beyond imagination, and likewise, the realm Karlstein had achieved far exceeded her expectations.

Karlstein was deeply impressed.

"… I help feeling devastated."

He did not lose, but he did not win either.

They had battled because their intentions differed, but she was the little sister he had missed and kept in his heart for so long, which was the problem.

He reached the conclusion to postpone the fight until he could sufficiently subdue her, finding a point of agreement. In any case, their feelings for each other were the same.

But even so… putting everything else aside… How could a brother get beaten up by his little sister…?

"This is insane!"

He failed to comprehend the result! His heart refused to acknowledge it!

This isn't right…! Even if my world falls apart, I won't accept it!

Karlstein felt an indescribable urgency.

***

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