Sera's Lightning Resolve

The corridor on the third floor of the academy was in utter chaos, a full-blown melee raging through it.

"Kuh... how many more of these are there?!"

Sera clicked her tongue ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in frustration as she muttered under her breath. All around her lay grotesque female students with bodies distorted beyond reason—breasts and hips larger than their faces, tiny statures with childish features but hyper-glamorous figures that defied logic. They had to be the academy students who'd been feminized by youkai. She'd already taken down more than ten, but more kept swarming from every direction.

"Of all the enemies, I had to run into one that overwhelms with numbers..."

Sera's abilities shone brightest in one-on-one duels. She was confident she could hold her own against even Seolwol in a straight fight. But when it came to battles of attrition against hordes, she was far weaker than the other exorcists. That was because her primary technique, Dark Secret, was specialized for eliminating a single target.

"Why don't you just give up already? This is getting boring."

From across the hall, Kishi called out leisurely. That woman was only sending out her minions. And these opponents didn't look like anything but academy students under Kishi's control. Sera couldn't swing her weapon recklessly.

"No choice now... time to go all out."

Sera murmured to herself, clasping her hands together to form a seal.

"What are you planning?"

"Ultimate: Lightning Flash!"

Ultimate: Lightning Flash. It boosted her speed to supersonic levels in an instant, slashing the enemy before they could react. But the recoil was immense, inflicting serious damage on her as well. A secret technique usable only once per battle—a true ultimate finisher.

Even if she took out Kishi, the backlash might let the minions finish her off. But eliminating Kishi could break whatever spell bound these students. Sera decided to bet on that.

"Eut?!"

In the next moment, Sera shot forward at terrifying speed. A gale whipped up around her, hurling the students away like reeds in a storm. The path opened. Kishi panicked and tried to defend, but before she could react, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sera's blade cleaved her in two.

"Target eliminated."

Sheathing her sword, Sera reappeared on the far side of the hall after a flash of light, murmuring as the sonic boom arrived a beat late. As her scabbard clicked shut, Kishi's bisected body slumped to the floor in two pieces.

Was it over? The moment she turned back—

Clap, clap. Applause echoed.

"As expected of an exorcist. That attack caught me off guard. Yaruo-sama's advice not to underestimate you was spot on."

"How...?!"

She'd definitely cut her. Sera had felt it. Yet the Kishi before her was unscathed.

"Still haven't figured it out? You sliced a fake."

Kishi lifted the corpse on the floor. Up close, stitching like a doll's seam ran down its back.

"A fake...? How...?"

"We already knew about your ultimate, Lightning Flash, thanks to Yaruo-sama. So I set up a doll that looked just like me, controlled it from afar, and watched."

They knew? Did they have a spy inside? What the hell was that Yaruo guy?

"Lightning Flash can't be used twice in a row. And you look exhausted."

At Kishi's gesture, the busty female students jiggled as they closed in, surrounding Sera.

"Guh... let go!"

Sera struggled, but it wasn't enough to break free.

"I'll reeducate you into a gentle personality that suits your beautiful form."

Kishi approached, lifting Sera's chin with her fingertip and pressing their lips together.

"Mmph?!"

Something flowed from mouth to mouth—tongue, saliva, and something else.

'Don't resist. I won't harm you. This is a gift.'

Kishi's voice echoed suddenly in her mind. Sera glared warily, but gradually—why?—a warm, cozy feeling washed over her, making it impossible to stay angry.

'Now, swallow it down.'

She tried to resist, but her mouth moved on its own, gulping down whatever had entered.

After a long moment, Kishi pulled away.

"You... what did you feed me...!"

Sera shouted, glaring at Kishi. But why? No matter how hard she tried, hostility wouldn't rise. Instead, fear hit her the instant she yelled—like she'd done something unforgivable. Like talking back to a parent.

"Impressive that you can still act like that. As expected of an exorcist. What I fed you was a lump of my youki. My ability shreds youki into threads, infiltrates targets, and controls them. We call it the Brainwashing Chamber."

"So this feeling...?"

"My threads emit youki to interfere with the mind, disrupt thoughts. They can even control the brain in tiny fragments. Like this."

With a wave in the air, Sera's limbs moved on their own, snapping to attention.

"Guh...?!"

"Got it? Your body is in my hands now, exorcist. If you understand, become my possession obediently."

"Like hell... I'd submit to the likes of you...!"

Sera gritted her teeth in defiance. But deep down, an urge kept surging: to submit to the elegant beauty before her, hand over body and soul, and find peace. Surely a reward would follow—a thick, melting happiness.

But this was manipulated. These emotions weren't natural.

"Hmm... even after that much Brainwashing Chamber... Fine, there are ways."

Kishi crossed her arms. Sera's face twisted in agony.

"Aaaargh?!"

"Physically wrecking the brain nullifies mental resistance. Yaruo-sama said not to kill if possible, but he didn't say not to break you."

Her vision warped and blurred. Something pressed from within. She might die like this. Terror gripped her.

Then, a memory flashed: a black-haired girl in an exorcist uniform, gripping her sword, back turned. Seolwol. Comrade and rival. But Sera's competitive fire was always one-sided pursuit. Seolwol was always far ahead—as an exorcist, and in resolve toward life.

Exorcists lived with death's shadow, no honors or rewards. They weren't chosen; they were born that way, fate branded from birth by parents, ancestors, clan, society.

But Seolwol was different. She chose to become one. For one reason: she couldn't stand by while youkai harmed people. Sera admired that resolve. Having always resented her cursed fate, she yearned to be like Seolwol—a warrior with a human heart, not just a weapon.

"What...?!."

Kishi stared in shock. The connection to the threads invading Sera had weakened. As if...

"You're pushing out my youki?! How, with no strength left...?!"

"If I fall here, you'll turn more innocent students into your minions."

Sera declared, shaking off the threads with resolute voice.

"You think I'll let that happen?!"

A surge of energy. This world's game system kicked in—a support ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for beginners or casual players on easy mode. In Exorcist Seolwol 2, easy difficulty granted "Awakening Opportunities": infinite retries, restoring half HP when the gauge filled upon defeat.

Yes. This Bad Ending Collector App run had those handicaps.

"Ultimate...!"

Sera raised her sword, channeling every last ounce.

Kishi belatedly drew threads to shield herself.

"—Lightning Flash!"

The blade struck at horrifying speed. The thread barrier shattered, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reaching Kishi beyond.

"I won't forgive... evil...!"

Sheathing as she emerged, Sera declared.

Immediately after—

"Gaaaaah!"

Blue blood sprayed from the youkai's body.