My System: An Evolved Computer I Made With My Unique Ability—

Lifeforce. To some, it is merely a myth, but to Sakura Cherry who had lived her life with the very power of the life force, she knew that it was much scarier than any force there is. After all, the power of life is only separated from its polar opposite by a thin gray line. If one were to venture over to that side, one could easily take and replace the life of another with death.

"Out of all the competitions they could come up with... why is it a free-for-all?" Cherry asked with a sigh while wallowing underneath a tree. She didn't want to move for fear that she'll fall right into an ambush... or that someone will attack her and she won't be able to control herself due to shock.

Of course, she received a considerable amount of training after that incident with her best friend. She also had to go through countless therapies due to the trauma that surfaced. And yet, somehow, that trauma was soon gone and she was back to being a normal child without remembering the details of what happened. She did have a vague recollection that a tragedy happened but something stopped her from recovering that memory. Her parents were relieved by her recovery though, but they still couldn't shake off the guilt since her best friend's parents blamed her for what happened. Her parents did all they could to stop the media from covering the story, and of course, the SAO helped with the cover-up since both her parents are part of the SAO. If it were a normal occurrence where a child murdered another child, then the judgment would've been more obvious. But since it was because of a superpower running amok, one could view it as an unfortunate accident since that was the first time her superpower manifested.

Long story short, Cherry didn't suffer that much from what had happened, except she developed a trauma and another personality.

"What is this girl doing? She can easily defeat everyone but she's hiding like a coward." Sassu clicked her tongue in annoyance, trying hard to resurface as she whispered right at Cherry's conscience.

Although it may look like Cherry was hiding from the opponents because she was weak, Sassu was perfectly aware of why she didn't want to participate in the free-for-all.

With her life force superpower, she can easily dominate the free-for-all. Just by touching the ground and detecting the life force of the trees that filled the stage, every individual also releases a certain amount of life force from their body so she would easily detect everyone's whereabouts in a split second. While that won't give her any advantages in the Badge Fight, she'd be able to plan ahead and steer clear from every student. The only ones who'd be able to detect her are those with detection superpowers.

Furthermore, if she wanted to, she can actually pinpoint a single target and absorb a little life force from it. That's why she can defeat anyone she wanted to as long as she wasn't attacked first.

Instead of using her innate ability, however, Cherry decided in herself that it was unfair if she were to fight head-to-head against everyone. After all, her win is already guaranteed in her mind. Clearly, she was underestimating every candidate there is.

"Found you,"

Before Cherry could react, something appeared at her rear, jumping on her as if she was prey being hunted down. Apparently, someone with super speed was running around, trying to snatch badges one after another from unsuspecting candidates. But upon seeing Cherry's defenseless position, he thought that it may be his chance to actually defeat a candidate instead of just stealing their badges.

But what he didn't know was that Cherry's sudden outburst of surprise gave Sassu an opportunity to resurface. Every time Cherry feels an intense emotion in herself, Sassu would have the chance to come out and when she comes out, it would be super unlucky for one to be on the opponent's side. Sassu can be so ruthless when it comes to using Cherry's life force superpower.

The guy who tried to snatch Cherry's badge immediately backed away after sensing the sudden change in Cherry's demeanor. A while ago, she was like a cat who was abandoned by her owner. But now, she felt like a rabid dog, ready to bare its fangs on anyone it could sink its teeth into.

'What just happened?' The guy was surprised since he suddenly didn't want to get the badge from the girl he deemed defenseless. 'Did she do something?'

Unbeknownst to him, every cell in his body was already telling him to get out of the place before they get deleted out of its existence. After all, a single touch could transform him into a tree, or worse, he might even transform directly into fertilizer.

Suddenly, Cherry's appalled face turned into an evil expression as the surfaced Sassu mischievously smiled. "You wanted to get my badge?"

Before the guy could answer, Sassu sat on the ground and pressed her right palm on the ground. In an instant a circle of withered grass and rotten trees surrounded her. Just one touch and they all died. "If you dare, come step inside the circle. I dare you," Sassu gestured at the guy, telling her to come to her if he was that confident in his abilities.

In face of sheer power, a mediocre wouldn't even be able to twitch their legs when they freeze in place. This was what exactly happened to the guy. In an instant, fear overcame his body as the unexplainable happened right in front of his eyes. 'How could lush grass and perfectly healthy trees turn lifeless in an instant? He couldn't imagine just what kind of cursed superpower Cherry was wielding.

p "I-i-i'll be going now," The guy tried to sound as masculine as possible but his false bravado couldn't be any more obvious.

"And where do you think you're going?" Sassu called out, stepping out of the circle of death she created. "Give me your badge."

"I'm Sonic, there's no way I'd give you my badge when you can't even catch up to me." He said with a lighthearted laugh. But after saying that, he essentially trapped himself. How could he run after saying such a cowardly thing? Running away was not an option for him anymore since that would just make him look bad, especially now that a live stream broadcast is currently ongoing.

Before Sassu could react, Sonic crouched down low and accelerate towards her. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of her, trying to snatch the badge on her chest. As far as Sonic knows, Sassu didn't really have a superpower that allowed her to confront his speed. That's why he was confident that he'd be able to grab that badge in an instant.

As the world slowed down around him and he went for the grab, he saw Sassu smirking out of the corner of his eyes... and for some odd reason...

She was staring directly at him. Sonic should've known that Sassu was the deranged version of Cherry and that with her in control, she could enhance Cherry's senses to their maximum. Right now, Sonic was faster than the speed of sound but Sassu could see him move, clear as day.

Sassu didn't even have to move, she just had to stay still as she activated Cherry's life force superpower. In an instant, those in the vicinity would either be given more life force or drained of some. It was a scary thought and if Cherry were the one fighting right now, she would've broken down before she could even activate her superpower. What's worse, she might even let Sonic get her badge without fighting at all.

That's why Sassu just had to resurface no matter what. Fortunately, she found her chance and took it.

'What's going on?' Sonic asked in horror as his hand withered right in front of him. First, he felt a burning sensation on his fingertips while his hand went nearer Sassu's badge. And then, a sharp piercing pain penetrated through his skin to his muscles and before he knew it, the skin on his hand was gone and his muscles were beginning to shrink and eat away as his hand shriveled. It didn't even take a split second for Sonic to go back as he held his hand in excruciating pain.

"Give me your badge while I'm asking nicely." Sassu continued to threaten him. This time, the grass around Sonic's feet wilted. "If you step out of that circle, your arm will not be the only thing rotting away. Honestly, I don't want to see something gross so if you could please cooperate, that would be really appreciated."

Sonic glanced towards his rotten arm, then towards Sassu who seemed to have cursed him, then back at his hand. He knew he didn't have any choice anymore. Either he rots away or he gave her his badge. 'why did I have to underestimate her? She was a candidate for Pete's sake.' He sighed inwardly before throwing his badge towards Sassu.

"Thank you for your service!" Sassu saluted as her smile grew even more sinister.