Boom!
The Heavy Stone Crab shell instantly fractured, dense cracks spreading like a spiderweb. The soft crab meat beneath could be faintly seen through the gaps.
The sheer impact didn't stop there. The force pierced clean through the massive body of the Heavy Stone Crab and slammed directly into the bedrock beneath.
In the blink of an eye.
A deep crater was blasted into the ground, debris scattering across the edges.
Yaaaa—!
The Heavy Stone Crab raised its head and let out a long, shrill cry. The sound was piercing, like a blade scraping across eardrums.
Asuna and Hitagi winced in pain. The pitch was so sharp it felt like their ears would burst.
Then—
The sparks on Lynn's feet spread like venom, wrapping around every inch of the Heavy Crab's body.
Roar—!
The creature thrashed in agony, its body writhing.
The entire underground cave trembled violently, as if it might collapse at any moment.
Seeing this, Lynn simply increased the output.
Fwoosh!!
Flames erupted with a rising whoosh!
A pillar of fire, glowing with starlight, shot toward the sky!
The stalactites overhead couldn't withstand the intense heat and melted instantly!
A skylight opened above.
Dim sunlight poured through the opening.
A few seconds later.
The Heavy Stone Crab's roar faded, and its body stopped struggling.
Seeing this, Lynn spoke. "Luna."
"On it!"
At his call, a small shadow appeared on his shoulder—long, light-blue hair drifting like jellyfish tendrils.
Luna hovered above the Heavy Crab, palms raised.
Buzz—
Like a melody played by the cosmos, a radiant star map unfolded in her hands.
The stars shimmered with mystery and power.
Then—
At the center of the star map, space distorted as if torn open. A black hole slowly formed, radiating immense gravitational pull as it drew the Heavy Stone Crab in.
"Nn…"
As it was fully devoured, Luna let out a soft moan.
She could feel it. Something deep within her had subtly and fundamentally changed.
At the same time.
The system prompt sounded in Lynn's ears.
[Ding! Subtle changes have occurred in your Zodiac Pilgrimage!]
Lynn's brow lifted slightly.
The skill [Zodiac Pilgrimage] activated.
He checked the status, then focused on Cancer.
[Pivot of Cancer]
Forms a cocoon of star sand to heal internal wounds.
Heavy Stone Crab Power: Gain the Concept of Weight.
Lynn narrowed his eyes.
So after Cancer absorbed the Heavy Stone Crab, it inherited its power?
"Could it be…"
"The Zodiac Pilgrimage can evolve by devouring corresponding mythological beings?"
The thought intrigued him.
Then—
Lynn's consciousness sank into the space of the [Evil Piece].
He felt a strange shift.
"…The Evil Piece space now has weight?"
It was subtle, but unmistakable.
"Is this the effect of gaining a conceptual ability?"
He looked up at the faint red haze before the starry sky.
"It feels… similar to the Sun's conceptual weight. But not heavy enough."
Lynn contemplated.
Weight as a cosmic concept?
Would he eventually have to collect all four fundamental forces of the universe?
Hiss—
That thought made him shudder.
What are you trying to become, [Evil Piece]?!
Ever since this power awakened, Lynn had sensed something off about it.
Being a pawn or using Evil Pieces was still within reason.
But now it involved constellations, celestial bodies, and metaphysical concepts?
It was getting absurd.
While Lynn pondered, Luna reappeared beside him in the space.
"Master."
Lynn snapped back and looked at her. "How do you feel?"
Luna smiled sweetly and raised her arms. "Better than ever!"
"I also feel like I gained a gravity-controlling ability!"
She waved toward the Star Palace.
But…
Nothing happened.
Luna: "…"
She pouted. "I guess it's useless for now…"
Lynn chuckled and rubbed her head. "Maybe it's because this space is unique."
He spent a bit more time in the space, then withdrew his consciousness.
Returning to reality, the desolate underground cave came back into view.
"Is it dead…?"
Asuna stared at Lynn in a daze. Her mind struggled to process everything.
It had all happened so fast, it almost felt unreal.
But…
That monstrous crab—so massive, so terrifying it could shake the earth just by stepping—was real.
Just standing near it made her feel powerless and weak.
And yet—
Lynn had crushed it with a single strike.
Gulp.
Asuna swallowed, her eyes full of awe as she looked at Lynn.
Like a god.
That was the only way to describe him.
And thinking back to when she suggested escaping via teleportation… she wanted to bury herself in shame.
"So this is… a devil…"
Hitagi murmured.
Lynn's overwhelming power left a deep impression on her.
It also shattered her assumptions about devils entirely.
Compared to Asuna, Hitagi had more knowledge of the Heavy Stone Crab.
She had been researching it for two years.
She'd read myths, legends, and rituals.
In some stories, the Heavy Stone Crab was revered as a god.
Even if it was just fear turned into myth…
Lynn had just killed a "god."
How exhilarating…
Even as a bystander, Hitagi's hands trembled in excitement.
The Supernatural Investigation Club.
No—Lynn's group.
Hitagi took a deep breath, her eyes brimming with excitement.
She would soon be part of that harem.
Soon…
She'd get to experience what it felt like to strike down a godlike being with her own hands.
I wonder…
What would that feel like?
She could hardly wait.
Her life, once stagnant, had found a new path.
—
Elsewhere in the cave.
Lynn's figure blurred and appeared in the deeper chamber.
He touched his chin, staring at the outlines carved into the stone wall.
"This was probably its nesting ground."
He looked around.
Nothing unusual, except—
"Eggs?"
He walked toward a dark corner where transparent, bubble-like spheres were stacked.
Then—
Luna reappeared beside him.
"Master, those are Memory Eggs."
She stared at the pile, her eyes glowing.
Lynn asked, "Are they useful to you?"
"Yup!"
Luna nodded excitedly. "If I absorb them, I can enhance my Concept of Weight!"
Having gained the Heavy Stone Crab's power, she now understood how to use it.
"I see…"
Lynn touched his chin. "Then I'll leave them to you."
"Yay! Master's the best!!"
Luna giggled, kissed Lynn's cheek, then dashed toward the Memory Eggs with gleeful energy.
Suuuck!
Slurp!
Luna squinted with joy as she devoured them.
Lynn left her be and wandered off to explore the rest of the cave.
But…
Nothing else.
Aside from the Memory Eggs, the cave was completely barren.
Lynn clicked his tongue. "That's it?"
Once Luna finished absorbing them, Lynn reappeared beside Asuna and Hitagi.
"!"
His sudden return startled Asuna, but seeing it was him, she sighed in relief.
"Let's go."
A black magic circle formed beneath his feet.
"Huh?"
Asuna blinked. "It's already over?"
Lynn glanced at her. "You're welcome to keep exploring if you want."
Asuna stiffened. She quickly smiled and shook her head. "No thanks…"
The circle flashed.
—
Shuchiin Academy.
Third-year, Class 2.
Lynn and the girls reappeared.
Asuna finally relaxed after returning to familiar surroundings.
But still—
That was thrilling!
Her heart beat faster just recalling it.
If it happened again…
She probably wouldn't have the courage.
But—
If it was with Lynn…
That would be different.
On the other side.
Hitagi held Lynn's arm, tilting her head up with her blue eyes fixed on him. "So, what now? Am I officially part of your harem?"
Lynn raised a brow, chuckling. "Eager, aren't you?"
"I made peace with it when I accepted your deal~"
Hitagi's tone was playful. She even winked.
Now that the curse was lifted, she was clearly more lively.
Asuna, too, seemed changed by her presence.
But maybe…
A little too lively?
Asuna's eye twitched slightly.
Moments later.
The three left the classroom together.
—
Elsewhere.
Third floor. Girls' restroom.
The atmosphere was… strange.
Hayasaka stood holding a pair of damp panties, her expression unreadable.
Kaguya stepped out of the stall, having just finished tidying her clothes. Her face turned red the moment she saw the scene.
"Hayasaka… what are you doing?!"
Hayasaka stayed silent for a moment, then spoke seriously.
"Miss, do you want to keep it?"
She said calmly, "When you grow up, this kind of thing rarely happens outside the bedroom. I think it has… sentimental value."
Collect?!
Kaguya's eye twitched.
Then—
She snatched the panties back.
These panties must never be allowed to exist in this world again!
Cremation!
Complete annihilation! Not even dust shall remain!
(To be continued.)
***
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