I will strive beyond this cursed bloodline!

At this point, we know perfectly what the [Soulscape] is and how it relates to who we are. We know the saying by heart: The soulscape reflects who we are and who we aspire to be. Who we want to be. There is nothing new here about that. Did you live dreaming of having a loving family? Do you dream of a happy life?

 

Your [Soulscape] will reflect that, be it in reminding you of the home you grew in…Or giving you the house you wished to grow in.

 

You lived starved of emotions, wishing to know the warmth of the motherly embrace? Desiring to know how it felt to be happy? To be sad? To cry in joy or in sadness? And yet, you lived your whole life in a monochrome world staring at the abyss?

 

Your [Soulscape] will reflect that, either in a destroyed environment or resembling the place you found yourself in, of course, with either a monster or a black hole somewhere. You know how it is, whatever is the closest thing you felt.

 

Be it a rozen garden, a library, a school building, a mall, a cathedral, a laboratory, or a meadow. The limit is the imagination, they come in all forms and colors. So, what is behind the [Soulscape]?

 

What would you find if you dive [Deeper]? That depends. Are you a Hero who seeks justice? Chances are you will find a trophy room filled with all your most outstanding achievements…And your most tremendous losses, those that made you better. It is a reminder of what you fight for, the core of your [Ethos].

 

Do you seek happiness? A loving family? You will find a basement with photos of your happiest moments, those things that made everything…worth it.

 

And beyond that? Nothing. That is the realm further away from [Humanity]; beyond this is the realm of those that walk the path of power. Those that aim for the heavenly throne in the sky. Those that wish to transcend beyond everything that ties them to the fabric of reality. Those that want to break the chains that tie them to [The World] they live in. Need a better example?

 

To Jackson Ashcroft, commonly known as Jack Brighton or as [The American Crusader], before his apotheosis. His [Soulscape] was the farm he grew in, the vast space that was his whole world while growing up, wheat fields, tomato fields, carrots, lettuce, chickens and pigs…Some cows and two horses. A cellar big enough that he could spend days exploring as a child…. Big enough that he could sneak in his first love for their date.

 

And yet so small…Small enough that he couldn’t hide away on it the first time the war started and his family was attacked. Small enough that his world almost broke when they tried to convince them to betray their nation.

 

So he rose, he fought and he became a [Hero]. His [Soulscape] grew with each choice he made, his [Soul] solidified and prepared, and within the confines of it, a [Gem] grew. What was on the deepest part of his [Soulscape] was…Conviction, conviction that he would always protect his [Family].

Jack Brighton’s Soulscape:

-First level: Farmhouse -Second level: Hall with family pictures of all his loved ones. -Third Level: Throne Room housing [The Gem of Conviction].

 

But perhaps this example isn’t enough.

 

Catherine Saintsworths, commonly known as Catherine Starlight [The Stardust Explorer].

 

Her [Soul]...was butchered beyond belief, and it shouldn’t be able to hold more power by the time she arrived to Zaanam. And yet, she was able to make one, for she tied her [Soul] to this [World] when she decided to marry one of this world’s [Guardians]. So a [Soulscape] was formed.

 

A…school under a night sky dotted by a thousand stars. Each star a reminder of a world she visited. That was not the school she went to, but the school she wished to attend. A school full of cute girls in sailor uniforms for her to gush over. A place born from debauchery…And yet, she never indulged in her fantasies but kept a firm look at the real world.

 

The second level of her [Soulscape] was her bedroom, not the one in Zaanam, nor the one she lived anywhere else; it was an average bedroom of an ordinary girl. The original Catherine’s bedroom, the girl who liked Magical Girls. The one that loved speaking with friends about the latest chapter of Magical Girl Revolution. The one who loved to go to concerts with her friends to see the new boys band single.

 

The normal one. Not talented under any premise, an ordinary girl, living a normal life. Till the day she got summoned to another world, till she was put under great duress, raped, abused, till she broke. And instead of crying, she embraced the first chance she got to fight back. Till she turned that world UPSIDE DOWN and later returned to laugh on the ashes of a dead world.

 

Her third level, however, housed a broken gem made from different crystals, all glued together with gum and spit. Being held together by the reflection of her former self, the girl who got kidnapped by a [World]. Crying as she hopes to prevent her soul from crumbling under the pressure.

 

Catherine Starlight’s Soulscape:

-First Level: Highschool of Magical Girls -Second Level: Bedroom of an ordinary girl. -Third Level: Jail housing [The Gem of Hope/Will].

So can you tell it now? What those two have in common? Gems, crystalizations of what they are and their convictions. A firm belief in protecting their loved ones? The Gem of Conviction.

 

A prayer that everything will be all right, that everything will be fine. A prayer hoping for a better future...Even while broken and hurt, even while everything looks bleak… But having the determination to make it come true if needed. The Gem of Hope broken and rebuilt as the Gem of Will.

 

Why does this matter? Well…Tell me, what is the [Soulscape] of Elizabeth Starbright?

 

Was it the cathedral fused with a library? No.

Then what? [The Shadow Haven]? [The Ruined City of Aquila]? Are you sure? If so, here is a quick and simple question. How many [souls] are housed within that [Soulscape]?

 

Elizabeth Starbright, the [Inheritor].

 

She who carries the lost souls of [Terra Invicta]. Can the [Souls] of a whole planet be housed in a single capital city?

 

No.

 

A planet's worth of souls must be housed in a similarly big place. Not even the Saintsworths at their prime could house a planet's worth of souls in a single city.

 

So, what is the first level of Elizabeth’s [Soulscape]? The answer is simple; it was in front of you the whole time.

 

Elizabeth Starbright’s Soulscape:

-First Level: Terra Invicta. -Second Level: [The Dead Core] of Terra Invicta. -Third Level: ?

As for the third level? Well, that is what we are here today for. For this next part you will dive there. Why? Because that is where Elizabeth is currently.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“What?” Elizabeth asked as she looked around and found herself in a dark space.

 

She tried to will some of her electricity to create some light, and yet her mana failed her. No, more precisely she couldn’t feel any of her [Mana] at all. Was she in some place that disturbed her [Mana Manipulation] skill?

 

That was easy; she only needed to pump more [Mana]. She only needed to make her [Heart] beat faster! She had done that before, she only needed to-

 

“Stop.” A second voice spoke within the darkness. As soon as she focused on that voice, part of the darkness receded. Sure enough, someone else was with her.

 

It was a black-haired girl with azure eyes. She was dressed in a cute black mini-skirt and a loose blouse. She was missing in the chest area, but that only made her look quite cute. Actually, wasn’t she somewhat like her [Alice] shift?

 

“Focus Elizabeth. I know you are missing on the head department, but think girl. What happened the last time you made that thing beat faster than you could manage.” The other girl grumbled as she pointed at her chest.

 

What had happened? Well, she…she….

 

Elizabeth’s face morphed from calmness to horror. Her eyes opened wide, and the memories came crashing down. “Oh…nonononononono.” Horror clawed at her, and her eyes started blurring as the tears came out.

 

Memories of the feeling on her hands as she crushed Rossie’s cute and adorable hand. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, she threw her against a wall. With the amount of strength she could channel…

 

“nonononononononononononononononononononono.” Her memory played against her, her mind shoving her way the memory of the event in full, the memory of how Rossie’s body hit the wall and she heard it…crack.

 

And yet...And yet…

 

“Lie, it’s a lielielielielielielielielielielielie.” She could remember seeing the image of Rossie clawing her way toward her in her peripheral vision. The pink-haired girl grunted as she channeled healing magic. No to heal herself.

 

In Elizabeth’s memories, the girl wasn’t using her legs—at all. But that didn’t stop Rossie, no, sir. The pink-haired girl clawed her way towards Elizabeth and channeled healing magic to her.

 

As she was being poisoned by her mana. As Elizabeth pumped more and more mana…As her body morphed away from [Human], as she pulled more and more of her [Draconic Inheritance].

 

As she…turned into a [Calamity].

 

“QUIET!” A third voice came from the darkness as the place turned brighter; the third figure rose from the darkness. An imposing dragon with azure, dark eyes looking down on them. “Hmph, more [Humans]. Why are two of you? Wasn’t only one supposed to come into this one great soul?”

 

Elizabeth knew who that was. It was…Her. What she became as she increased her affinity more and more with her Draconic side.

 

“Ah…I see. So that was what happened.” The black-haired one spoke, “You couldn’t withstand your own powers and so your body started changing, your soul is that of a [Dragon]. Your body is that of a [Dragon]...but your mind was of a [human].”

 

“....” Elizabeth, of course, knew that; the system had told her that a few times.

 

“Hah!” The dragon Elizabeth laughed, “No [Human] can survive with a [Dragon Soul] and [Dragon Body], their mind will be pulled towards turning into a [Dragon] and so they will become one. No [Human] can overwhelm a [Dragon].”

 

What?

 

“And you are the proof, you shed away your identity as [Elizabeth Starbright] and turned into…This.” The black-haired girl…no. Alice said.

 

“No. I don’t want this.” Elizabeth said as she turned to look at her [Draconic Self]. “I refuse!”

 

“What does that matter?” The dragon Elizabeth answered, “You are [Weak], you can’t even use your [Mana], right?”

 

Elizabeth called the [Mana] within her, and when that didn’t work, she focused on her [Shadows]. When that failed, she went one element at a time. Each spell, each magic circle, mandala, rune, program, everything she knew she tried.

 

“See? You are [Weak]. Be glad that you will be part of someone great and return to sleep. I need to deal with the other one, with my future [Mate].” The Dragon Elizabeth said turning to Alice. “You are the blonde girl, right? Not this…phantom. You are using her [Human] body, right? The one she had before using this one I wield now.”

 

…Her former body?

 

“That seems about right. That's probably the reason I was able to grow this Soul you claim I have.” Alice answered back. “Not that I know what she did. My memories are coming back, but as far as I can tell, they came to an end before she left this body and went into that one.”

 

No wait, don’t move forward! Elizabeth had heard something important!

 

“Wait, she will become your…Mate? What about Rossie?!?!?!? What about Rena?!?!” Elizabeth said turning to the dragon and Alice. “What happened to them? Are they fine?”

 

“...I haven’t seen Rossie. And Rena should be with Akira, why does that matter?” Alice answered back, “No, wait…Rena…You are spending time with her? Right, the photo...That was Rena? She looked…different.”

 

“Rossie? Rena? Who knows? I don’t remember the names of [Weak Humans]. If they were near me when I hatched, they are probably dead…” Dragon Elizabeth said back with disinterest, then, after a few seconds, turned back. “Oh wait, are you speaking of the failure of a mate I have? The girls stuck in those weird tubes?”

 

The dragon Elizabeth said while summoning a black screen showed up, and a projection of Rossie and Rena in test tubes showed up. With that, more memories came back crashing into Elizabeth: the memories of when she teleported to the shadow haven, the memories of her trying to heal her girlfriends…

 

The memories of how she got shoved to the side as Beatrice commanded a group of Shadow Dragons to put both girls into the test tubes where their mana was being stripped, purified, and sent back. Test tubes that used the same principle as those that Echidna had used before to cleanse the taint…

 

“They are alive the last time I saw them, but the rogue hatchling doesn’t let me come close. I can feel their connection to me, and I can’t cut it for some reason. So I tolerate their existence, they will eventually die anyway. My [Dragon Mana] is too strong for mere humans to tolerate. Either they evolve into [Dragons] or [Die].” Dragon Elizabeth said with a smirk on her maw.

 

“Yikes, you turned into a bitch without me around,” Alice said as she looked at the same picture as Elizabeth.

 

Did…Did Alice hate her? Why? Granted she had…not been the best with the girl, but in her defense she had thought she was a simple [Shift].

 

“...Why are you doing this?” Elizabeth asked to no one.

 

“Why not?” Her Dragon Self answered, “I am a mighty [Dragon], why should I care for weak [Humans]. Either they help me create a better batch of hatchlings or they die. Their only worth is as a [Mate] to help me grow stronger Hatchlings.”

 

“I am not doing anything, Elizabeth. You did this yourself.” Alice answered, “You got warned about having a [Dragon Soul] and [Body], and what did you do? You made a [Skill] that would keep your body as what you wished. Then you wished for more power, and tapped into your [Dragon Inheritance].”

 

…That…may have not been the best. No wait, how did she know that? Hadn’t Alice said her memories were cut before the [Advent]?

 

“Being here is making your memories flow to me. Since the big girl there doesn’t seem to want them.” Alice answered her question, “I was told by Reginald I would be sublimated into you, and yet…It seems that you are the one that will be sublimated into me…Then I guess I will need to fight a Dragon.”

 

…she…would….die?

 

Just like that?

 

Looking at the picture Elizbeth couldn’t help but think that it was fair, she had hurt her loved ones, condemned to death, and she was going to be their executioner, her mana was poisoning them. Instead of helping and nurturing them, she was poisoning them. And they couldn’t do anything about it.

 

“...Can….Can you sever the connection? If you manage to get the body back from her, sever the connection between my body and Rena & Rossie. Then pray to Mother for help.” Elizabeth said as she allowed herself to fall onto the floor. “Pray to them for help so she can stabilize their souls. Mother should be able to help, if not then [The World]. That one should be able to help. Offer them anything, I would do it…But..”

 

Elizabeth said as she tried to lift one of her hands, which had almost turned transparent.

 

“I am not…in the best form.” Elizabeth joked.

 

“...” Alice in turn only stared at her, “It pisses me off.”

 

“...?” Elizabeth wasn’t quite sure what Alice meant by that.

 

“You look like Elzbeth, move like her, and are trying to sacrifice yourself like her, too,” Alice grunted as the shadows started moving around her. They didn’t flow like they did when Elizabeth commanded them, when Elizabeth moved them, they moved like a wave covering the floor.

 

But with Alice? They expanded as if they were…a web. As if Alice was weaving the shadows.

 

“...Shadow…Weaver?” Elizabeth asked confused as the shadows started climbing through her body and helping her stand. “You…how?”

 

“I was the one who was supposed to be born to do this, not you. You are the daughter of Catherine Starlight. You are The Elemental Weaver. “ Alice smirked as her own form started turning into shadows. “I, on the other hand, am the True Shadow Weaver, unlike you; the shadows know this.”

 

“Very noble sacrifice.” The Dragon Elizabeth spoke, “Even if meaningless, why do you think that by joining hands you will be able to help her? At best you are only feeding me.”

 

“What?” Elizabeth asked, “What do you mean? What are you doing Alice?”

 

Alice’s form had started to crumble, “Nothing much. You see….I was born from an Echo of another world, a future where I would ascend as a God to monitor the world. Born from the strict hand of who you know as Echidna. But to be honest, I enjoyed spending time with an airheaded sister running away from a villain. I liked sleeping on the run in places that would make my mother have an aneurysm.”

 

The black-haired girl giggled at that joke, “But I am not a good person.” Alice added, “If I thought that I could defeat you and take this body back, I would do it. I would Devour Elizabeth, let Rossie and Rena die and use their bodies to make sure Elzbeth could have a second chance.”

 

….Alice's eyes spoke of resolution, cold, calculated facts and machinations.

 

“But I can’t. I don’t have the power to defeat a Dragon. So this is my second best option.” Alice said turning to Elizabeth, “You have a way to defeat her. So I will give you my powers, those that were meant to be mine and not yours. So promise me this, Elizabeth. Promise me that you will grant my sister a second chance.”

 

Elizabeth nodded mutely; she wasn’t sure if there was anything she could do. At the moment, her body was fully in synch with her [Dragon Inheritance]. Her [Soul] was nourishing it and making it stronger…

 

And her [Mind] was obviously more than half in tune with that, she was probably a half-dragon at the moment.

 

“Good, then…don’t let us down Elizabeth. And…make sure Elzbeth is cute. I got a look at what her true body looked, and…the girl suffered enough having to use That.” Alice said as her voice turned into a whisper and the shadows flooded her body. She felt the connection towards her shadows return…

 

Instantly, she felt the contest from her dragon half. Somehow, she was able to wrestle the shadows away from her dragon half. But it was hard. Her other half had access to more mana, to heavier mana.

 

And she was working with scraps. How was she supposed to defeat her dragon half?!? She was weaker, more feeble, more….worthless.

 

“She is gone? What a waste of a good mate. She was my type.” Her dragon half said as it looked down on her. “So? What are you waiting for? Just return to slumber. This is my [Body], my [Soul] and my [Mind]. We are what we wish to be. And I am a [Dragon]. What do you have? Shadows? Magic? Pointless, true magic was made by us [Dragons]. Your [Shadows] are worthless in front of my [Dragon Scales].”

 

It was all true. Elizabeth had nothing. Her [System]? At best, it could let her see her [Job], her [Level], and [Skills]. The thing only granted her a pointless thing that didn’t serve to do anything in this situation. At best, she could maybe try to summon Alice back.

 

She should be on her [Shift] list, right?

 

No wait…

Shift:

Allows the user to change into a [Second Body] made of Mana, this works by transcribing the [Information] of the caster into [Akasha] and saving it within the [Soul]. Then a new body made of [Mana] is created using the [Meaning] of said information. This new [Body] is made purely of [Mana] so while the original form is [Human] the new body is not limited by those restrictions, the new [Body] is stronger, more durable, and can function entirely out of [Mana]. It is considered a new [Species] as such any [Shifted] body can only reproduce with another in the same conditions, they aren't limited by biology, and only the [Mana] is important. The [Simulacrum] created by this [Skill] can be altered by entering into the [Soulscape] and searching for the [Node] connected to its creation, this, however, may require a degree of skill in [Mana Manipulation] above the average, so care is advised. Level 1: A body of mana is made into the ideal form the [Soul] perceives of itself, it is forged using the experiences, skills, and talents of the user. Level 2: It is possible to create other [Facets] of the user and summon them as alternative forms. Level 3: You are able to [Save] one [Facet] of the user per level on the skill.

 

Elizabeth read it over and smiled as the idea formed in her mind.

 

“What? You turned crazy from the realization that whatever you do is pointless?” Her Dragon half said.

 

“No, I just think that I know what Alice spoke about me having a way out,” Elizabeth said as she made her shadows grow and expand everywhere. She wanted everything in this place to be under her Domain before doing this. “So prepare yourself. I hate having to do this, but…I will not be able to go slow about it, lest I lose myself.”

 

“What? Do you think you can claim ownership just because you can cover this place in your mana? You are weak, a fragment of everything that was weak. Mere [egg-shell] of what I was.” Her [Dragon] half mocked her.

 

But Elizabeth didn’t mind it, she didn’t mind it at all. For her plan was all she was thinking about. So, taking a deep breath, Elizabeth called forth one of her first skills, one that she had used more than anything in her life, and one she had ignored.

 

“Shift - Elizabeth Starbright “ Elizabeth intoned as the mana flooded her crumbling body. The skill took hold and her body started forming once more. From a figure that was closer to a crumbling ghost, her body turned into that of Elizabeth Starbright. And without stopping Elizabeth raised her hand as an object materialized on her hand. “ Shift Skill - Shadow Manipulation into Gluttony’s Maw.”

 

As the words left her mouth she placed the object into her head.

 

“WHY DO YOU HAVE MY CROWN?!?” Her dragon half growled as the shadows grew vicious maws and tentacles full of crazed eyes that started gnawing at the dragon scales.

 

But Elizabeth wasn’t worried about that, no. Instead she continued funneling mana into her Shift. She could feel the skill fight against the influence of her Dragon Soul and Dragon Body. She was forcing her body to turn into that of what she thought of what was hers, not the [Inheritor]. Not the girl who had the soul of a dragon. No…

 

She was Shifting into who she wanted to be, a single girl who wanted to rescue her girlfriends from a mighty dragon. She was Shifting into a Heroine.

 

As her Skill took her Mana, it changed it into what she wanted it to be, from mere [Dragon Mana] into the Prana she needed to win this contest. She could feel the change. As such, the identity of her skill was becoming more and more obvious. This wasn’t a [Skill] that served to create the [Magical Girl Transformation Secuence]. No, this was so much more…This…This was what would bring her salvation.

 

This was her true Skill.

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Chapter 14 was posted, the one I had forgotten to schedule here...and then someone told me to post it...and I forgor to do it even though I left it open so I could do it before going to sleep.......or after waking up................

orz