I Have 10,000 SSS Rank Villains In My System Space Chapter 403: Maria Waking Up

"Ummm... well not bad... not bad at all..." Razeal whispered to himself in his mind while leaning back a bit, his gaze fixed on the system panel displaying his newly found affinities like a bizarre lineup of devastating forces. Even after scanning each description, a subtle surge of thrill still hummed within his chest.

Truth be told, he had to admit that every affinity appeared outrageously potent based solely on their outlines. A slight smile tugged at his lips as his imagination raced with endless potentials.

’I can pull off some insane feats with these...’ he pondered deeply. The deeper he delved, the more absurd it all seemed. Plague manipulation, decay domination? Bone control? Necromancy? Hellfire? Black lightning? Hellstorms...? The roster stretched on.

Every entry felt like the signature power of a legendary mage on its own, but somehow they all resided in his affinity roster. Unsurprisingly, his mind wandered to the ones that ignited his passion most fiercely.

Black lightning jumped out first in his thoughts—swift, corruptive, destructive lightning laced with dark energy? Picturing jagged black bolts ripping through the battlefield filled him with an urgent desire to test it.

Necromancy followed close. Razeal had long been captivated by the notion of ruling the undead. Armies of skeletons, spirits, revenants... Raising slain foes to serve as his troops struck him as both useful and fearsome. He was even toying with ideas of building a vampire legion by turning willing converts. No wonder a hellish Necromancy affinity appealed to him so much.

Yet the affinity that truly seized his fancy was Hellstorm. He couldn’t shake that description. "Like... what the hell do you mean by launching hellstorms?" he wondered in disbelief.

The idea bordered on ludicrous. A tempest of hellfire? Demonic lightning? Volcanic fury? Chaotic storm might? Raining ash or searing embers? Perhaps meteoroids plummeting? It fused multiple catastrophes into one magical prowess. "That’s beyond a mere spell... it’s unleashing the end times on foes," he mused inwardly with a soft laugh.

Then came the system’s wording: apocalyptic-level magic able to ravage whole regions at maximum output. He shook his head faintly. "Seriously... what’s that imply? Erasing kingdoms or shattering continents? Fantasy nukes??" Envision that power in his old world? Nukes versus this? Meteoroids hammering down?? The notion was so over-the-top he could hardly pick a favorite.

Still, the system’s details rang crystal clear. Hellstorm magic wasn’t ordinary—it was catastrophe incarnate.

Razeal paused, lost in visions of wielding such might.

That mere fantasy reignited his thrill. And now it got better: his training function remained intact, as he’d just confirmed.

He’d thought it lost forever post-system glitch, but no—it endured. He could train endlessly within, time outside unaffected.

"Yeah... perfect," he mused with eagerness. He’d grind these affinities to peak mastery, becoming the lord of dark powers. Already picturing the title. His inner chaos nearly overflowed. He envisioned unleashing hellfire storms, black lightning barrages, necromancy rites, plague spells—all of it.

Endless combos awaited trials. For moments, he tuned out the world, immersed in dreams of his future dominance. But as his plotting deepened, a soft noise pierced the shop’s quiet.

A feeble, raspy groan slipped from Maria’s mouth.

It yanked Razeal to the present. His head whipped toward the counter. Maria, sprawled unconscious since her transformations ended—placed there by Sofia—was stirring.

Her form twitched faintly on the wood, breaths altering. Eyelids quivered.

"She’s waking up," Sofia noted softly nearby, relief tinting her tone as she monitored Maria. She’d stood vigil the whole time.

Razeal nodded wordlessly, edging nearer, curiosity overtaking his hype.

Arms crossed, he observed her intently. He burned to witness her post-awakening response. She’d endured layered evolutions: Original Sin bearer, demonic energy balance, vampire shift. Her form and strength had transformed utterly.

He anticipated drama. Shock? Bewilderment? Thrill at her new might? Maybe gratitude for his life-saving gift of power.

Though Maria’s nature made thanks iffy. Still, he observed in silence.

Maria’s eyes parted gradually. Sight blurry at first, fixed ceilingward. She seemed drained, body adapting. Breaths ragged, awakening a chore.

Soon she nudged her head. Motion lethargic, muscles leaden. Room spun in disarray; her frame alien post-changes.

At last, eyes roamed. They locked on Razeal, arms folded, calmly distant. Recognition hit; something within her cracked. Tears welled. Razeal’s brows rose. Lips quivered, bitten to hold sobs—failing as tears flowed.

They traced her cheeks while she gazed. No words, no shift. Just prone on the table, head shaking mutely, tears endless. Razeal puzzled.

He blinked, baffled. "...What?" he pondered. "Why the tears?" Fearing transformation flaws? Pain? Hidden harm? Frown forming, he probed her with senses— aura, vitality, stability, all.

Flawless. Energy settled, life robust, shifts ideal. No wounds, taint, chaos. She thrived—yet wept staring at him. Confusion mounted. "Then... why cry? What’s wrong?" he wondered, oblivious to the true cause.

Before deeper probe, Maria stirred anew.

Feebly, she shoved upward from the counter. Effort immense. Limbs shook raising her, arms buckling like a newborn’s—potent core, fragile shell adjusting. Arm braced, she strained; fingers clenched wood, quaking. Undeterred, she persisted.

"Hey.. lie down," Sofia urged, advancing worriedly. Tone caring yet insistent, like post-op care. "Your body’s still weak. Don’t push. You okay? What happened?" she soothed, hand to Maria’s back, guiding down. But Maria pressed on, arm trembling. Slow, pained rises defied rest. Eyes glued to Razeal, face emotion-wracked near shattering, tears pouring.

Sofia saw resistance futile; Maria needed this. She shifted to aid sitting at table’s edge, hand ready for slips. Perplexed still—tears amid frailty defied logic. Gaze trailed Maria’s to Razeal. Lips mouthed silently: What happened?

Razeal caught it.

No clue.

He shook head subtly, mirroring her bewilderment. Truly stumped.

To him, she awoke crying world-end stare at him. Theories swirled: Anger? Overheard rejection talk? Forced evolution sans consent? Power overload? Too many, none solid. He hadn’t a hint.

Maria upright at last, swaying; Sofia steadied. Then she detached, feet to floor, rising. Legs wobbled, gait precarious. Yet toward Razeal she advanced.

One step.

Another.

Each labored.

Sofia’s worry spiked. "Maria, calm down," she urged, shadowing. "You’ll hurt yourself... Evolution fresh, body unstable.." Genuine alarm. Maria’s oddity—sobs, forcing up, tottering—baffled. "Talk later if upset," she cooed. "No rush.. Calm first."

Sofia fleetingly suspected mental warp from changes. Not unheard of. Razeal pondered likewise. Her acts mismatched—post-power surge warranted awe, not tears.

Guesses halted as Maria voiced.

"You... were wronged," she rasped breathily, voice quaking through tears. "You were really innocent..." Head shook wildly, sobs intensifying. Words fractured, battling her own acceptance.

Sofia grasped instantly.

"Oh..." she breathed low.

That explained it.

Truth dawned on Maria.

Sofia recalled Maria’s shock learning Razeal’s rape accusation by Selena, Celestia was false. She’d trusted it wholly. Revelation crushed her worldview.

Sofia vividly remembered Maria’s eruption—attempting their slaughter post-plea against it. Capital skies choked with her kill-aura, power inferno. Whole city sensed. Berserk fury, aura wildfire. Even battle-hardened Sofia reeled. That odd pre-transformation frenzy terrified.

Now before Razeal, truth confronted.

Sofia eased support away. Deeper than flesh now. Long-held guilt over his ‘crime’ defined her view, treatment. All false. Soul-shaking.

Sofia retreated, arms loose, observing.

Eyes flicking betwixt them.

Their rift to mend, she mused quietly.

Once, she held back.

Shop hushed heavily as frail Maria faced Razeal, tears unrelenting, grappling fresh truth.