Only I Am A Reader

"Gahhh!"

'Is her ability somewhat similar to Miyu?'

For some reason, Tina seemed to be the most affected by the Special Ability Deprivation process. 

Although her ability didn't show any resistance like Miyu's did, the visual expression of pain was almost at the same level.

There was also the possibility that Tina's reaction was amplified by her fear, but as the person who dug deep and squashed the ability into nothing, he believed that Tina had a stronger connection with her ability.

As a farmer obese neet, Weight Assignment was the manifestation of Tina's wishes and the trigger to her transformation. Even if she deviated from the path of changing for the better, was Tina especially reluctant to let go of her saving grace?

Due to his limited experience with the procedure, Leo couldn't tell. Although seven deprived abilities were still a lot by far compared to the average person, Leo barely got to try his hand. Besides…

'It's not like I'm trying to become an expert at this.' 

The more Leo performed the procedure, the more he realized how cruel it really was. Leaving someone powerless was one thing, but giving them power before taking it away was too inhumane.

The human mind and body were too quick at adapting. After a few short days, an awakened ability was no longer a pie from the sky but an undeniable necessity.

What Leo did was essentially no different from amputating a limb or taking away their eyesight.

'Well, I still have to do it some more very soon.'

Regardless of whether he liked doing it or not, the deprivation procedure was still a very vital part of Leo's overall plan.

Cassian's tolerance for doing whatever was necessary made it easier to accept that, but Leo was still aware of the moral burden.

"Stop!"

Even in the midst of a limbo, Aurora was at least able to shout in defiance. It was a bit weird for Leo to be looked at with misguided aggression like this.

'It's all part of the play.'

Naturally, the reason why he made sure to show Aurora what was happening to Tina wasn't because Leo suddenly awakened some sadistic tendencies.

Rather, it was all to enhance the effect of the initial exposition. After all, while the puppet-like bodies of Leo's game looked dramatically shocking, what actually happened to them was still unknown.

Basically, Leo was using Tina as a presentation subject!

"I-I c-can't use it anymore…"

Soon, Tina's scream ceased, replaced by incomprehensible words of protest. Once the pain subsided, she clung to her ability in an attempt to influence the tendrils, if even for a single second. 

However, it was no longer there, the inner scale that followed her designation had completely vanished!

She was suddenly realizing what being on her own meant in its truest sense!

"There we go, your misused gift is gone."

Just in case what happened wasn't obvious enough, Leo added a few flowery words. In the same instant, he also moved on to the second and final step.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

With quick arm movements, Leo struck precise positions, turning Tina's arms limp. Fortunately for her, this last push of pain had already rendered her unconscious.

"See, this is what happens when you keep people by your side. This is just a sample of what I did to them."

In the end, Leo chose to leave Tina's legs fully intact. While that didn't earn her Alice's full bone alteration pardon, the fact that she didn't slow down Aurora as much as Leo expected gave her enough bonus points for a half pardon.

"...You!"

Finally, it seemed like Leo's provocation was enough to wake Aurora up from her trance. One last look of pity flashed on her face before her fist penetrated the Nightmare's stomach.

The fist shone in blinding light before it extended to cover Aurora's entire arm. In an instant, a light blast went through the Nightmare's body!

"Hmmm? Do you truly think you have the right to be angry?"

Leo could recreate the destroyed Nightmare and have it fight seriously, but there was no longer a need for the passed Porter to make an appearance.

Leo only needed to do and show something, and he had done both, all that was left was a proper finale.

"..."

Light had started to gather around Aurora like she was fired up to fight, but as if it was bullseye that hit her weakest spot, Leo's question left her frozen once again.

Waving his hand, Leo made the Shadow tendrils throw Tina next to her teammates. This time as well, his words seemed to be more effective. Were mental attacks truly Aurora's greatest weakness?

"That day, we both know that I let you take me down, but did you really think I did it on a whim? Or maybe you actually think I did it to help you?"

Although he didn't remember anything like this in the novel, Leo welcomed it. He only had more mental attacks in preparation.

"Well, part of it was help… Or should I call it a chance? I have seen quite a few people like you before, and all of them committed the same repeatable mistakes. I saw a different shine in you, so I thought things might be different for you. Alas…"

Shaking his head in disappointment, Leo continued to point out his observation.

"While swimming towards your goal, you neglected your route and ended up drowning in your beliefs. As a result, everyone around you is left broken and destroyed."

Breaking Aurora's mind wasn't Leo's target, nor did he think that she was too thick in the head to understand that. It all boiled down to her ability's influence. Since that was the case…

"No one can handle the Hero's path other than the Hero himself. Unless you change the way you approach it… Whether it was by mine or someone else's hands, this is how it will always end!"

A blatant threat was the only way! If it became obvious that destruction was what awaited her companions, then perhaps her forced sense of heroism would work in the opposite direction, pushing her into working alone!

"I-"

As shaken as she was, Aurora seemed like she might have an answer. Unfortunately…

[ Warning! ]

The ongoing Gate wasn't going to wait for her.