Beyond the Eternity

Yoo Rin tilted her head like she had seen something unbelievable.

What she had expected to see emerge from the cloud of dust and debris was the woman who had attacked her earlier, but what stood before her instead was a massive teddy bear.

No, this wasn't some kind of strange joke.

The creature was, in fact, a giant teddy bear, towering over her by several meters. But instead of soft fur, its body was crafted from an unknown metal, a strange fusion of brown and crimson. Its glass-covered button-like eyes glinted unnaturally, and its oversized paws twitched as if primed to strike.

It looked more like a battlesuit in the shape of a teddy bear, not a stuffed animal made of cotton and fabric.

Yoo Rin was the kind of girl that loved cute things, but that 'thing' wasn't cute at all, and it wasn't even stuffed.

"What is this?"

She released a shocked gasp, then gritted her teeth,

"THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS! I'M NOT GETTING TAKEN OUT BY A TEDDY BEAR, NO MATTER HOW BIG IT IS! IT'S NOT EVEN CUTE! AND THE MATERIAL IS ALL WRONG! WHO THE HECK DESIGNED THIS ABOMINATION?! I'M SURE IT'S THAT WOMAN! YES, IT HAD TI BE HER! SHE'S GOT NO TASTE OF STYLE WHATSOEVER!"

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING TASTELESS, YOU IDIOT?!"

A voice rang out from the bear, causing Yoo Rin to freeze in place.

The giant teddy bear's glass eyes gleamed with something almost human, and in that instant, it became clear that that was no ordinary animal.

To be more specific, It was a person. Or at least, someone that had a human appearance.

Yoo Rin blinked. "So you're the one inside there?"

"Hmph, of course. If it wasn't me, then who else?" The voice from within the bear suit spoke smugly. "By the way, what do you think of this suit?"

"The teddy bear suit?" Asks Yoo Rin.

"Yes, yes. Isn't it amazing? Naturally, it would be, since it's a suit made from a sister's magic, flesh, and blood."

Yoo Rin's eyes narrowed, trying to make sense of the strange words.

"Flesh and blood?"

"Ah, haven't you heard of a phenomenon called Body Transformation?" The voice continued, now more animated. "It's when an inanimate or animate object becomes a vessel for a greater power."

Yoo Rin frowned, not sure where this was going.

"Usually, it's used to transform an object into something else, but it can also be used on people too. You can think of it as magic that transforms both objects and people."

"I don't get it."

"Of course, you wouldn't. You clearly haven't studied the fundamental properties and types of 'Body.' But honestly, why should I explain it to you? You don't look like the brightest spark yourself."

"What did you just say? Who are you calling dumb, you idiot?!"

The voice let out a low, mocking laugh.

"Ha ha! You're pissed, right? Good, that's the spirit! THIS WON'T BE ANY FUN IF YOU'RE NOT THIS ENERGETIC! I STILL HAVE TO PAY YOU BACK FOR WHAT YOU DID TO ME EARLIER!!"

With that shout, Ira charged towards Yoo Rin. Dust and debris erupted into the air as she closed the distance with terrifying speed.

Meanwhile, Yoo Rin braced herself, staying crouched low.

The suit's speed was so incredible that Yoo Rin couldn't help but marvel at how Ira could move with such agility in a suit so huge and heavy.

Yoo Rin kept her focus, waiting for the perfect moment. She watched as Ira's giant form grew closer.

And then it came.

Ira swung the massive teddy bear arm with a tremendous gust of wind, aiming directly at Yoo Rin's head.

In a split second, Yoo Rin seized the opening. She dragged her body along the floor, evading the tremendous sweep, and positioned herself in Ira's blind spot at the side.

She delivered a fierce punch straight to the giant suit. But—

"Ack!"

Yoo Rin's fist was repelled back forcefully, and she cried out as an unpleasant strain shot through her fingers, despite the protection of her gauntlets.

Ira laughed triumphantly,

"HAHAHA! IT'S USELESS! DID YOU FORGET? THIS SUIT IS MADE FROM THE FLESH AND BLOOD OF A MAGIC SISTER! THAT MEANS ITS PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES AND DEFENSES ARE BOOSTED BY TWO HUNDRED PERCENT!"

Yoo Rin gritted her teeth, and shook her hand to dispel the lingering pain.

"THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN HURT ME WHILE I'M IN THIS SUIT!" Ira continued with a sneer. "BUT I CAN HURT YOU JUST FINE!"

The suit's massive arms flexed as Ira loomed closer.

"THE ONLY DOWNSIDE IS THAT I CAN'T USE MAGIC WHILE WEARING THIS SUIT!" Ira admitted, then grinned wickedly. "BUT I DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THAT! I'VE ALREADY CONFIRMED THAT YOU CAN'T USE MAGIC EITHER, OR ANY OTHER POWERS BESIDES THOSE GAUNTLETS! SO GUESS WHAT? I'M JUST GOING TO BEAT YOU INTO A BLOODY PULP!!"

Ira abruptly swiped the massive arm of the suit to the side.

That seemingly simple motion triggered a loud explosion, unleashing a shockwave that hurled debris and dirt in every direction. The sheer force of the gust tore through the air, creating a powerful wind that rattled the room.

Yoo Rin crouched low, narrowly evading the brunt of the shockwave.

Wasting no time, she rushed in, closing the distance between them, and aimed a diagonal kick at Ira's head.

Unsurprisingly, Ira effortlessly dodged the blow, leaning just out of reach before countering with a fierce punch.

Ira's left hook was parried by Yoo Rin's right hand.

Using the opening, she counterattacked with a direct punch aimed at Ira's torso, channeling every ounce of her strength into the blow.

Even so, her fist bounced back with even greater force, with the impact vibrating through her arm.

Yoo Rin staggered slightly, and her eyes widened in shock.

The impact of her punch was completely nullified, dealing no visible damage whatsoever!

How could this be? she thought, her breath catching in her throat.

"The suit… it's sturdier than that knight from earlier!"

Even before she had the chance to do anything else, Ira's tremendous sweep flew towards her face.

Sensing the danger, Yoo Rin instinctively ducked low, narrowly avoiding the strike. But Ira showed no intention of letting her escape so easily.

"....!!"

With a series of air-piercing sounds and bursts of wind, Ira's massive fists continued to fly relentlessly. The barrage of punches flew out with a blur, aimed directly at Yoo Rin's body.

Yoo Rin, caught on the defensive, twisted and turned, dodging by the barest of margins while using her gauntlets to deflect the blows.

Sparks constantly flew through the air, illuminating the battlefield like a chaotic symphony of violence. It resembled a dance of swords, performed on a blood-soaked stage.

Except, there was no aura of elegance in those strikes.

Only raw, unrestrained savagery.

Ira's overwhelming power slowly drove Yoo Rin further and further back. Each strike was a demon strike that could turn a grown man into crushed potato.

"Ku... Damn it!"

Yoo Rin cursed under her breath, barely deflecting another attack.

"How is she moving so fast in that ridiculous suit?! She has no business being that fast!"

As absurd as it seemed, Ira's teddy bear suit didn't hinder her in the slightest. In fact, it only increased her capabilities as she said. Yoo Rin's disbelief grew with every exchange of blows.

Forgetting the absurdity of the situation, her opponent was undeniably a dangerous entity!

One wrong move, and the consequences would be catastrophic!

The enemy could make a hundred mistakes while she could only make one. That was the kind of entity she was facing!.

To make matters worse, Ira's defense was just as ridiculously high as her offense, leaving her with no choice but to focus on blocking and evading.

But even that strategy was growing increasingly difficult with each passing second, as the attacks surpassing the speed of sound threatened to overwhelm her completely.

Finally—

"Now!"

Yoo Rin dodged a powerful swing and kicked off the ground, leaping backward to create some distance. Continue your adventure with empire

But she underestimated Ira's savagery.

Before she could react, Ira moved faster than the eye, grabbed her face and then, slammed her into the floor.

"!!"

The ground shook violently, cracks splintering outwards like spiderwebs beneath the force.

Unsatisfied, Ira hurled the battered Yoo Rin skyward.

"Keok!"

Yoo Rin choked out a strangled gasp, blood spraying from her lips.

Before the cry could fade, Ira surged upward, riding the turbulent currents of wind to reach up there.

She caught Yoo Rin mid-air with an iron grip, adjusting her hold to ensure no escape. Without pause, she initiated a devastating descent.

Ira drove Yoo Rin downward and slammied her into the floor.

BOOM!!

The ground detonated under the force, debris and dust erupting outward in chaotic spirals as the terrain beneath them crumbled like brittle glass.

Like a broken dam, the fractured earth, weakened and splintered beyond repair, gave way completely, cascading into the feel darkness below.

Both individuals plummeted into the depths, crashing onto the floor below. But the results of their fall were far from equal.

"Ah… Hah… Hah…"

Yoo Rin, who had borne the full brunt of the impact, groaned as pain radiated through her body. She tried to crawl away, dragging herself across the ground with trembling arms.

The giant teddy suit, the Flame of Sloth, enveloping Ira's body within, took a step forward.

The disparity between predator and prey was painfully clear.

All avenues of escape were sealed, leaving Yoo Rin trapped like a bird in a cage.

Ira, reveling in the moment, seized Yoo Rin by the ankle with a firm, almost casual grip. She lifted the girl into the air like a ragdoll before ruthlessly slamming her into the ground.

The impact roared out and the earth shattered underneath them. Dust and debris billowed into the air as the ground crumbled, sending them both plunging into the floor below.

"Ack!"

Yoo Rin hit the lower level with a sound, only for Ira to land directly on top of her, using the sheer weight of the teddy suit press down like an immovable boulder.

Trapped beneath the giant bulk, Yoo Rin could only writh in agony, but Ira showed no mercy. She raised both oversized arms upwards.

Inside the teddy suit, Ira's unseen grin widened. She was going to crush the little thing with this blow!

Mercilessly, she swung both arms downward.

Yoo Rin, sensing the murderous intent, twisted her upper body at the last possible moment, narrowly avoiding the destructive blow.

The ground wasn't so fortunate.

The force of Ira's attack shattered the floor, cracks spidering outward in a deafening cacophony as debris exploded in all directions. The ground beneath them collapsed, and like that, both of them began to descend.

Even as they plummeted, Ira attempted to pummel Yoo Rin as if holding a deep-rooted grudge.

However, Yoo Rin countered by landing a fierce punch squarely on the suit's oversized head.

The impact sent a shudder through the teddy suit, causing Ira to momentarily stagger inside. A brief wave of dizziness washed over her, disorienting her for a split second. Despite the suit, the Flame of Sloth, amplifying her attack and defense by over 200 percent, it would still shake if It received hits from Yoo Rin's S-Class Mystery Gauntlets.

Ira instantly received, and the two combatants resumed their clash mid-air.

Sparks flew as fist met fist, and the sound of their battle echoed like thunder in the hollow world.

Their fierce struggle carried them downward, smashing through each level of the house.

From the additional level known as the Fifth Floor, they crashed through to the Fourth, then the Third, and so on.

Walls crumbled, debris rained down, and the floors helplessly gave way under their chaotic descent.

By the time they finally landed with an earth-shaking crash on the First Level, the battlefield had become a scene of utter destruction.

They had smashed through the ceiling, debris scattering like shrapnel, and entered the opulent dining room.

Yoo Rin slammed into the massive dining table, and the force of the impact reduced it to splinters.

As the table buckled and collapsed beneath her, the surrounding chairs were flung aside, shattering against the walls in a chaotic burst of wood and fabric.

Ira crashed onto the far end of the dining room, her landing cushioned by the enchanted protection of the «Sloth of Flame Teddy Suit».

She was completely unharmed by the fall. Even so, that didn't mask the grim reality of her wounds reopening.

"Cough! Cough!"

A sharp cough escaped her lips, staining the inside of the suit with blood.

She had sustained a great number of injuries prior before their final confrontation. While she had used the last of her magic to mend her injuries before the final clash, the healing was far from perfect.

In fact, she wanted to end the fight quickly before those wounds reopened.

Despite the suit's protection, the risk was clear: if those severe injuries tore open again, it would become a matter of life or death.

Thus, therefore,

Both individuals stood up from where they collapsed, groaning in pain.

The two silently glared at each other.

There was no time for rest, no room for hesitation, the first to falter would fall prey to the other.

Like serpents baring their fangs, they scanned one another for the slightest movement, seeking an opportunity or opening to sink their fangs into a vulnerable throat.

Simultaneously, Yoo Rin and Ira cleared their minds of everything in an instant except a singular primal instinct, one they both knew far too well.

Murderous intent. The instinct to kill.

Neither would relent. One of them would die here, and that individual's blood would strain the other's hand.

Only certainty flashed within their eyes.

Thud!!

Without delay, at the same time, the two launched their assault.

Yoo Rin slammed her foot against the ground, propelling herself into a massive forward leap.

The 15-meter gap between them vanished in just two steps.

This time, rather than charging head-on, she swept her massive paws through the air like deadly blades. A deafening roar accompanied the attack as three colossal wind blades materialized and surged toward her opponent.

Resembling executioner's swords, the wind strikes rapidly approached her body.

With the power of an industrial water cutter, the giant wind blades tore through the ground effortlessly, carving massive gouges as though slicing through soft clay.

Yoo-Rin instinctively dove to the side, skidding across the floor to avoid the onslaught.

An ear-piercing explosion roared behind her, and debris carried by the wind scattered, but she didn't give it a glance.

Dodging a wild swing of an oversized paw, she exploited Ira's blind spot on the right, unleashing a swift punch aimed directly at a vulnerable point.

Coincidentally, that spot was near a previous injury, causing a surge of pain through the suit.

"AHHH! DAMNIT!"

Ira roared in agony and swept her paw. Yoo-Rin ducked nimbly, countering with a punch to her chest.

The impact sent a jolt through the teddy bear suit, causing Ira to stumble back.

Gritting her teeth, she charged forward and swung her massive paw down with the force of a wrecking ball. Yoo Rin, anticipating the attack, rolled to the side, dodging by mere inches.

She quickly scrambled to her feet. But Ira was already on her tail.

Ira unleashed a flurry of punches at once, the wind breaking punches putting Yoo-Rin in the defensive.

A desperate attempt to regain control of the battlefield.

Filled by adrenaline, Yoo-Rin's senses heightened as she looked for a way to break Ira's defense.

She noticed a slight hesitation in Ira's movements, and seizing the opportunity, punched her gauntlet-chad fist like a sniper shot.

She aimed for the head, targeting the weak point behind the glass eyes.

Ira, caught off guard, barely managed to raise an arm to block.

The head of the giant suit trembled violently as the glass eyes cracked, accompanyed by the scorching scream from within.

"Gah!" Ira cried out as her vision was momentarily obscured.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Yoo Rin unleashed a barrage of punches in an instant.

Shhhwiiiii-eeek!

Her fists, no longer mere punches, moved past the speed of a bullet, with each impact, a miniature explosion erupted against the suit's metallic hide.

Ira urgently raised both of her hands to block the incoming gauntlet but in the end, she was helplessly shoved away by a powerfully charged-punch.

With a thunderous KWA-JIJIJIIK!, Ira was sent flying backward, as her boots scraped against the floor, leaving two deep gouges in the tiles. She slammed into the wall with a loud thud!

'AHHH... THAT LITTLE BRAT! I'LL KILL HER!!'

Furious, Ira grabbed the wall with both paws, and used it to leap out like a catapult, with incredible speed.

"....?!"

Seeing this, Yoo-Rin attempted to run away, but ira grabbed her into a tight embrace in the blink of an eye. With a ferocious roar, she kept charging forward, using Yoo Rin as a battering ram.

BOOM! The wall in front of them exploded inward.

Ira didn't pause and continued her unstoppable rampage, smashing through countless walls like an enraged bull. Yoo Rin, who was trapped within the iron grip of the suit, was a helpless passenger on this destructive ride.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The sounds of destruction echoed through the mansion as Ira tore through the building like a runaway train.

'Gahh! Ahhhh.... I'm dyyyying! I can't... breathe...'

Yoo Rin felt as if she were being crushed from within. She had almost lost consciousness several times, but the rapid impacts had woken her up each time. Even then, she was barely holding on with her dear life.

No matter how many times she punched, kicked and struggled, she wasn't able to free herself from the tight iron grip.

Desperately, she gripped the Ira's faceplate with the sharp claws of her gaunlets and yanked down.

That simple, instinctive action sent Ira careening off balance in her sprint, causing both of them to tumble. They collided violently with a wall.

BOOM!

The wall crumbled like a stale cookie, debris exploding outward as both fighters were ejected into the vastness of the Entrance Hall. Dust and fragments swirled around them like a storm, but the moment the two stopped tumbling and rolling, they sprang back to her feet to continue the brutal skirmish.

A bloody dogfight erupted.

They exchanged blows without the pretense of evasion, taking the hits of each other and counterattacking right away.

Pow!n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Ira's head snapped to the side, momentarily dazed, but before Yoo-Rin could capitalize on the moment, a sharp counterpunch shot toward her like a bullet.

POW!

Yoo-Rin staggered like a drunken sailor tossed by the waves.

A heavy noise rang in her ears. Gritting her teeth, she steadied herself, but the reprieve was fleeting.

Pow!

Ira received a direct blow to the face and faltered, stepping back to regain her balance. The primal instinct to dominate her opponent pushed her forward, no quarter given.

Crack—!

Yoo Rin blocked a downward swung ftom Ira with her gaunlets, and the ground underneath her feet cracked from the pressure.

It felt as though she would be swallowed by the earth below.

But with gritted teeth, Yoo Rin pushed against the pressure, deflecting the giant metallic hand. In one fluid motion, she countered with a powerful punch, aiming for Ira's core.

POW! POW! POW! The two continued to hit each other, with the intent to murder the other.

After receiving a few more hits, Ira attempted to use her oversized paw's claws to slice the teenage girl in front of her into ribbons. However, Yoo Rin sensed that intent and dodged, using that opportunity to deliver a devastating blow to the joint in the suit's right arm.

To be precise, the elbow.

A huge shockwave tore through that right arm, accompanied by the sound of a satisfying snap. It fell limp like a broken branch.

From a single glance, it was clear Ira won't be able to use that right hand!

"IMPOSSIBLE! IMPOSSIBLE! HOW COULD AN INDESTRUCTIBLE ARMOUR MADE FROM THE BODY OF A MAGIC SISTER BREAK FROM SUCH BLOW!!" roared Ira, as if it was absurdity.

Distracted by the pain and disbelief, she didn't see Yoo Rin closing in. By the time she did, it was already too late. Before she could react, Yoo Rin was upon her, unleashing a fierce barrage of punches that parted the wind.

With only one functioning arm, Ira was overwhelmed. The suit, designed for overwhelming offense, was now a sitting duck.

Punches rained down upon her, from head to toe, like a relentless hail of bullets.

Crack-!!

The sturdy Flame of Sloth Bear Suit began to crack and splinter under the barrage of merciless attacks. Ira desperately tried to evade the onslaught, to protect both herself and her sister's sacrifice, but it was futile. The defense that had once been her greatest strength was now crumbling, leaving her utterly exposed.

Eventually...

Step—!

Yoo Rin took a powerful step forward, closing the distance in an instant.

She clenched her fist, that would bring an end to this battle, so hard that it seemed like her hand would break. Her gaunlets responsed to her will and provided her with power.

She landed a bone-crushing punch directly on Ira's chest!

BANG!!

The suit, with Ira inside, was sent flying backwards. Her body, encased in the suit, tumbled end over end, and crashed into the stairway, landing directly in front of the witch's portrait.

Something rapidly rose from within, and her nose was filled with a metallic smell.

"GARGLE! HACK-SPLAT!"

A violent eruption of blood, accompanied by a sickening, choking sound, erupted from Ira's mouth. The blood flooded the interior of the suit, seeping through the cracks and staining the floor crimson.

The suit was utterly ruined.

A gaping hole, the size of a fist, marred the chest, revealing the mangled metal beneath. Cracks spread across its entire surface, the once-impenetrable armor now shattered and broken.

Ira, now trapped within, was a marionette with severed strings.

Several of her ribs and bones, shattered by the impact, had pierced her internal organs, including her heart.

Disbelief washed over her face. How could this be? She was supposed to be the victor. Anyone who had witnessed the fight would have predicted her triumph.

So why? Why had she lost? Why was her sister's armour defeated?

"Ha ha! This wasn't in my predictions at all..."

Perhaps all the weight of her sins were finally catching up to her.

Divine retribution, was it?

Ira could only manage a bitter laugh.

Gradually, she lost her voice, and her grip on her consciousness loosened. She could feel her descent into death's embrace.

She could not move, and the suit became a suffocating prison that ensured her demise.

The monstrosity swayed, slowly succumbing to its wounds.

Soon, the rhythm of life within the suit ceased.

On this fateful day, under the watchful eye of the Witch of Emptiness, the two sisters perished simultaneously, their fates tragically intertwined.