Samuel's actions seemed to rouse the ancient being long slumbering in Imaginary Number Space, forcing a pause in his attempt to seize it.
"Should I retreat for now?"
Samuel thought quickly. The situation was unexpected. He hadn't anticipated a living entity in this illusory world.
It wasn't that Imaginary Number Space couldn't host life—its instinct was to convert all into imaginary numbers, attacking any intruder. Logically, no being would choose to stay.
Even Samuel couldn't fully grasp this entity's essence or understand it quickly. Fighting here seemed unwise.
Yet, Samuel didn't want to leave.
Not out of reluctance or pride. Though suppressing his "calculation" essence made him less driven by profit and more by emotion, there was no rush.
Imaginary Number Space was his to claim anytime. He had time to prepare.
But he didn't want to go…
Desire!
Samuel yearned for the colossal entity before him. He needed It!
Boom!
A massive arm, like a pillar of heaven, rose from the illusory sea, its sheer physical presence stirring turbulent waves.
A flawless hand opened with it fingers crystalline and breathtakingly beautiful.
In that moment, Samuel's vision was consumed by the hand. No matter where he looked, he couldn't escape it.
Like a certain monkey trapped in the palm of a certain person's hand.
This was "Greatness." "Great" and "small" were relative—concepts.
The hand embodied "Greatness," blotting out the sky, boundless.
It closed!
Its owner was gentle, even cautious, but its sheer size unleashed a hurricane capable of crushing planets. The illusory sea birthed a phenomenon akin to a sea tornado.
Unlike a mere tornado, it wove thunder and fire, cycling illusion and reality. A planet tossed in would be juiced like an apple.
"AAAAAH—"
It called again, this time with longing.
Like Samuel, It desired him.
The giant hand grasped, but caught nothing.
An illusory figure passed through, radiant wings extending tendrils that linked to the entire Imaginary World.
"Combat viable!"
Having mastered Imaginary Number Space, Samuel wielded its power, the wings channeling it to bolster him.
With this space as his battery, he could fight this immense being.
The "Leumas" became crimson fire.
"AAAAAH—"
Fear. The sonic wave carried dread. It feared the flame—the "Flame of Wisdom" that drove off beasts.
Its star-filled eyes locked onto Samuel, brimming with desire and terror.
Samuel raised a hand, fire forming a spear, hurled like a meteor, piercing Its abdomen.
Boom!
The fire tore through, engulfing Its body in an instant.
"AAAAAH—"
Wails of pain, anguish… and sorrow?
"Ah—"
Its gaze was pure sadness, yet its hands reached for Samuel again.
Fire coalesced into another spear in Samuel's hand.
The hands hesitated, trembling with fear, yet reached out once more.
"…"
Samuel frowned, hesitating. He threw the spear.
It pierced Its body again, flames consuming It.
"AAAAAH—"
A mournful cry echoed through Imaginary Space. It was in agony…
Not just from the "Flame of Humanity," but a deeper, heartfelt wail.
"…"
"Keep fighting? Or retreat?"
Samuel pondered. He held the upper hand, but this being had barely revealed anything, not even truly fought.
Continuing might enrage It, inviting variables.
Mainly…
Samuel inexplicably didn't want to keep attacking.
Its hand reached out again, trembling, hesitant, unsure whether to continue.
Though Samuel's fighting spirit waned, he wouldn't let It act freely. He wouldn't risk it.
Another fire spear formed, but as it did, Its hand retracted, guarding Its front, gazing at Samuel like an abandoned beast—or a mother forsaken by her son.
"…"
His desire urged action: Kill It, subdue It… embrace? Cooperate for mutual gain.
Killing was simplest. As a man, Samuel preferred subduing. But cooperation, appearing among his choices, meant he wanted to work with It.
Why? A whim, perhaps!
How? "Guide me, myself!"
"Hey, why's it taking so long? You're slacking!"
Roman's voice carried from the main body.
"…"
"Says the brave one?"
"???"
Roman appeared in the illusory sea.
"Tiamat? Impossible! Isn't She…"
"Tiamat? The Mesopotamian Mother of Genesis?"
Samuel asked, surprised.
"Yes… and a Beast!"
"Beast?"
"Exactly. A Calamity Beast, a catastrophic disaster capable of destroying humanity. Only They… can annihilate mankind."
Held aloft by Samuel, Roman's expression grew complex. "Their evil stems from their love. They destroy humanity because they love it. They… are Evil of Humanity!"
"I see… Mother of Genesis the Evil of Humanity, unwilling to harm me, her 'child'? Looks like there's an easier way."
Samuel tossed Roman into the illusory sea, drifting toward Tiamat.
Boom!
Seeing his approach, Tiamat instinctively opened her arms but recoiled, stepping back, shrinking in fear.
"Hurt by her 'son'?"
Samuel paused midair, fire flaring again, hurled instantly.
Tiamat curled up, bracing for pain, but felt warmth and healing instead.
"Huh?"
Tiamat raised her "small" head, puzzled, as Samuel reached her.
He opened his arms, embracing Her.
"Great" and "small" were mere concepts; in Tiamat's desire, their sizes aligned.
"Ah!!!"
Joy—the joy of a mother embraced by her child. Past pain and harm forgotten, only this warmth remained.
Samuel, sweating, felt inhuman…
He was just using Tiamat…
***
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