I'll kill you after I finish this game!

Even if it's not some legendary sword, its commemorative significance depends on Rhine's position in the girl's heart, which is equivalent to a testament to and commemoration of the bond between the master and disciple.

Impotent rage? That term doesn't apply to Matilda. Her anger only fuels her inner power and potential, unleashed by some kind of instilled ritual!

"boom--!"

Amidst the Crimson Lord's stiff and astonished expression, an immense and dense spiritual pressure emanated from the depths of Matilda's soul, manifesting as a profound and terrifying power.

What is this? What kind of power is this?

Why has this woman's existence become even larger than that of the Crimson World Lord? Could such a massive and highly compressed existence truly belong to a non-Flame Mist human woman?

Its deep and radiant appearance was like...like the stars in the sky, no! It seemed to be even more vast and boundless than I could comprehend!

Eternal destruction, activity—Assiah achieved!

The Material World

The prototype is earth, one of the four elements. In the four worlds of Kabbalah, it belongs to the world inhabited by humans.

The soul took on a physical form here, and the primordial light disintegrated, beginning to crystallize and form matter, nature, and human existence.

Abstract concepts are transformed into concrete things; this is the human world.

Everything in the material world began to form within Matilda's soul and body. Her profound and high-density soul inspired her physical body, creating a connection and resonance between them.

The physical body begins to take the form of planets from protons, neutrons, and electrons, the galaxies from atoms, and the inner universe from the body, causing nuclear fusion-like atomic explosions within the cells, thus generating enormous energy!

Matilda, whose mind was overflowing with anger and a desire to fight, felt as if time had stopped at that moment, and a deep, thunderous voice resounded in her mind.

"So sublime, do you crave power?"

Power? I crave power, but who are you?

"Heavenly Blaze, Alastor, the Demon God of the Crimson World, do you wish to form a pact with me?"

"Offer your entire past, present, and future as a vessel as a price, become the agent of my Heavenly Calamity Fire, punish the reckless Crimson World Apostles, and carry out the mission of maintaining the balance of the world!"

The self-introduction was simple yet dignified, and it was precisely because of this introduction that Matilda's doubts cooled, and she gained a clear understanding of the situation at that moment.

So that's how it is. You want me to become a Flame Haze? This kind of job, where you fight until you die, is really suitable for me.

"Fighting is a truly blissful and wonderful word for me. The price I paid to become a Flame Haze is nothing to me now. I hate weakness and powerlessness, I crave fighting, I crave power, because that is my way of life..."

Matilda spoke her truth in this way, as if she were speaking to the Crimson World Demon who wanted to make a pact with her, or as if she were speaking to her own soul.

thump--!!

In an instant, my heart broke free from its constraints and began to beat beyond my comprehension.

Matilda seemed to have lost her five senses, but the venom of the snake planted deep in her soul began to spread.

"【So......】"

The voice that came this time was very familiar, carrying the joy and mischievousness that often teased her, emanating from the depths of her soul.

The owner of that voice is both more wicked and more sublime than gods or demons.

Located in a superdimensional singularity in outer space, the serpentine divinity, perched atop its throne, cast a mocking and intriguing glance.

At the same time, another divine serpent, seated cross-legged in the river of time, also raised its finger with a smile, as if raising a baton.

"【Choose one of two stages of horrific carnage, my dear Matilda—to be true to yourself, or to rely on others?】"

Ha, is there even a choice?

As she listened to the voice flowing into her mind or rather, into the depths of her soul, two paths appeared in Matilda's consciousness.

One is a road burning with blazing flames, the Shura Alley of the Fire Mist Warriors mentioned by the Heavenly Calamity Fire, the price of which is to offer up everything of one's past, present and future, so that the demon god can reside in one's body and gain great power.

The other is the serpentine path, which involves offering up everything from the past, present, and future, using one's own will to unearth one's own power, and stepping up the endless serpentine staircase.

The first abandons his human identity to gain immense power in one step, while the other explores his own potential and temporarily walks in an abyss with no end in sight, assuming the identity of a human.

"So, human, you have agreed to the contract, haven't you? From this moment on, I..." Tianrang Jiehuo, having heard Matilda's earlier self-description, assumed she had agreed to the contract and was about to begin the ritual.

“But I refuse!” Matilda said indifferently.

"Huh??? What did you say!?" Tianrang Jiehuo seemed to think he had misheard, and asked incredulously in a loud voice.

"Didn't you understand?" Matilda's soul consciousness stepped onto the Path of the Serpent without hesitation. The other Path of Blazing Flame, representing fire mist, instantly collapsed and disappeared. She coldly snorted, "The Crimson World has no need for your power!!"

I don't need to borrow the power of the Crimson World Demon God, nor do I need any Fire Mist Contract. I will pursue my desires with my own strength and my own will!

The Heavenly Calamity Fire had finally set its sights on an exceptionally outstanding contracted being, but now its consciousness was being violently and actively repelled back into the Crimson World.

......

"What happened? I got rejected!?"

At the same moment, in a world filled with dark red, a low growl of utter bewilderment and confusion suddenly rang out, the voice filled with incomprehension.

This is the Crimson World, and deep within it, a towering giant, his entire body engulfed in crimson flames, is relentlessly unleashing attacks in all directions.

For some reason, a feeling known in the human world as being cuckolded and a feeling of being possessed by a minotaur filled the demon god's heart.

For some reason, Alastor, the true demon god of the Crimson World, was shrouded in calamity.

Because of being rejected by a human woman, he felt as if he had missed out on something very important, similar to the frustration a human would feel if they lost their fiancée.

Furthermore, this was the first time that Alastor, the Heavenly Blaze Fire, had been rejected in his contract.

From ancient times to the present day, no human being he has chosen has ever refused his contract.

That's a contract with a Crimson World Demon God. The infamous Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Slayer has been known since ancient times. Anyone who contracts with Alastor, the Heavenly Flame, will be closely watched by Crimson World Apostles and Flame Haze Warriors.

"No one has ever refused me."

The Crimson World Demon God muttered to himself the words of a loser, feeling inexplicably annoyed by the indescribable emotions in his heart.

So what if you were rejected by one human? Just find another one.

No, the proud Crimson World God has never been refused a contract. Even though no fellow Crimson World Gods of the same rank know about it, he himself feels extremely uncomfortable about it.

"Human woman, you have caught my attention."

The more Alastor thought about it, the more frustrated and annoyed he became. His scorching face, as ferocious as a demon, was contorted with rage, and his eyes blazed with the light of judgment.

Regardless, he had a strange feeling and a sense of destiny that he had taken a liking to this woman, and he especially wanted her to be his contractor.

Just now, the opponent, in human form, fought the Crimson World Demon King to a standstill, and he greatly admired and was fond of that burning fighting spirit.

P.S.: Please vote and recommend! In the original work, Matilda is both the contractor and lover of this Crimson Lord (lol)...

Chapter 40 Matilda's Desire to Conquer Reiji

"【Abovousqueadmala. Fighting is everything to us】"

Originating from another world, beyond our comprehension and exploration, divine incantations and spirits flowed from our ears.

The vast amount of information attached to the otherworldly words made Matilda feel bloated and nauseous.

Her soul had already awakened and embarked on the path of the serpent. Like an arrow shot from a bow, there was no turning back. Even if Matilda didn't want to listen, the divine incantation would still flow into her mind.

The consciousness within Matilda's soul was forcibly elevated to a higher dimension, allowing her to see a portion of the world's reality reflected in her vision.

One after another, complex silvery symbols connect to form two enormous, illusory mercury snakes.

The colossal silver serpent coiled and twisted its body, a form unmatched in the world, its surface covered with dense patterns and symbols that formed interconnected rotating wheels.

The principles governing each wheel's circular motion, like fate and cause and effect, are endlessly evolving.

The two snakes' heads and tails met, radiating boundless colors that stimulated everything about Matilda like snake venom.

A flame, the primordial fire accompanied by serpent venom, was bestowed upon Matilda's soul as a supreme relic of grace, and placed within her active rank's core cosmology.

The venom of the snake swept through Matilda's entire consciousness like a storm.

"[Is that so? So this is the truth of the world—a world devoid of any progress, where people take God as their enemy and step onto the stage. I'll show you!]"

As she muttered to herself, the girl saw reincarnation, saw the shadow of a serpent that controlled all destinies, and the person who taught her clearly told her that this was the stage of the Shura drama she was about to embark on.

She had come to the realization that after losing to Rhine without any surprise, she had given everything to him.

However, she had one last question she wanted to ask.

—Rhine, how do you really see me?

—Am I just your actor, your puppet?

Silence followed, and then a calm reply came from a realm beyond the subconscious and the depths of the soul.

"A son I am proud of."

"..."

Matilda was relieved. Only now did recognition and honor come to her. Everything she had achieved was recognized and praised by this man.

Your posture is beautiful, and your spirit of struggle is pure.

Is that so? Then there's no need to be confused anymore. There will be great and powerful competitors in the future. My heart is filled with joy and anticipation. I'm going to start moving forward.

In an instant, the will flowing from the singularity was crystallized and manifested.

"【Yetzirah (formation)——】"

Filled with anger and a ferocious thirst, and possessing an unusual and intense worldview unlike that of a normal woman, Matilda's consciousness returned to reality. Her soul roared and screamed as she tried to solidify her murderous intent.

"【Deuslovult. Fire of struggle, burn everything I have (God wills this, fire of struggle, burn everything I have)】"

The power of prayer, representing blessings and enlightenment, is delivered, and the flame within the soul bursts forth from the body.

God's will gave me everything I wanted, and approved of the distorted reality I pursued, because that man said I was beautiful and pure in that way.

There's nothing wrong with women pursuing beauty, right? My pursuit of beauty is appreciated by others, so she's not wrong.

Because I have also dedicated everything in my past, present, and future life, pursuing the state I desire with all my heart and soul.

"【Primordial Judgment - Crimson Lotus Without End】"

Crimson flames, a deep red color, surged forth from Matilda's body like a stellar explosion, lasting only a few seconds, yet the scorching torrent of flames seemed to burn the heavens and earth to ashes.

"boom--!"

A blazing pillar of fire shot straight into the sky, and the Crimson Demon King watched in utter shock as the crimson lotus flower slowly bloomed before him.

The presence at the center of the red lotus was dazzling; its crimson radiance swirled with sparks, scattering the surrounding dust.