330 Even the unassuming ones putting in effort are struggling.

Being pursued.

Fleeing.

Obstructing.

Yes. This repetition.

What?

You're not describing much, are you?

What can I do about that?

There's nothing particularly noteworthy to report.

That said, changes do occur over time.

The fragments steadily erode the black field, gradually increasing their influence.

Still, the black field actively interferes, so progress is glacial.

The black side understands that complete transformation of the field would be detrimental. They blunt the fragments' movements using their own field's power.

This is a legitimate battle, even if unremarkable.

It cannot be described.

Because it is unremarkable.

And realistically, covering the entire black field would take an immense amount of time.

The edge of the field isn’t showing up no matter how long I’ve been running away.

Woo, so wide!

Not really.

Even if the fragments keep trying to erode it, covering the entire thing is impossible, right?

We don’t know the actual size, but at this rate, it won’t be done in a day or two.

Still, they say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Feels like I’m picking up each pebble on a thousand-mile road and painting it.

Then painting the whole thousand-mile road in my color.

Heh, one step toward the thousand-mile road—stuck.

To be honest, the viewer might see this as a dull battle, but the one fighting it is dead serious!

Think about a full marathon—someone watching just sees endless running, right?

But the runner is enduring extreme pain while pushing forward.

Exactly the same!

Looks unimpressive, but I'm risking my life out here—don't call me unimpressive!

Boring and slow, but this one’s life or death, you idiot!

No, really now.

Time is wasted, nothing can be done about it.

How many days will it take until the outcome is decided, this.

Possibly as long as a month or more.

A year— I’d like to believe that’s impossible.

Besides, the one who’d be delayed by time would be the black side.

I do not know how deeply the black one has penetrated my plans, but the more time passes, the more advantageous the situation becomes for me.

After all, the system hack is still ongoing even as we speak.

With sufficient time, I will achieve complete mastery over the system—then, at that instant, I will collapse the system and use the energy sustaining it to regenerate the star and release the goddess.

At that time, skills and status values are collected from individuals.

The greater the number of skills and status values, the heavier the burden at that moment. Souls weakened by repeated reincarnations cannot withstand it and will perish.

Worst case, the soul itself may cease to exist.

In my estimation, including the chaos following system collapse, the number of surviving humans will not exceed half of current levels.

Minimum?

Zero, surely.

Well, you know.

As long as those who survive don’t do something idiotic, it shouldn’t reach that extreme.

At minimum, I’ve planned to apply a filter to the souls of reincarnated individuals to ensure their survival, shielding them from the aftermath of system collapse. I’ll apply the same treatment to others I deem necessary. Thus, the scenario of no survivors is avoidable.

If zero remains, it would be due to internal conflict among survivors after system collapse?

I don’t know that detail.

I cannot afford to go that far.

The goddess cannot accept that.

And the black acts according to the goddess’s will.

Therefore, this stalemate is unfavorable for black.

The longer it takes, the closer the limit for my plan’s activation approaches.

Hm.

Then, the current situation varies significantly depending on how much black knows.

If black knows nothing.

This is advantageous for me.

I simply need to aim for the time limit.

By the time black realizes, it will already be too late.

Either way, victory or defeat—by the time it returns, the end will already have occurred.

If black knows about the limit.

In that case, two scenarios arise.

First, the waiting pattern.

Black is concealing some decisive technique, preparing to activate it at the right moment.

Or perhaps the type that buys time, just like me.

In that case, it's not exactly a welcome situation for me.

Either way, something unfavorable to me is progressing beyond my detection.

Still, if Black has a finishing technique capable of defeating me, they could have used it in the initial surprise attack. There's no sense in buying time if I can't predict what they'll do with it.

After all, I'm trying to buy time too.

Hmm. I don't understand!

The second possibility—well, I suppose it's unlikely—but maybe Black is genuinely struggling to press the offensive.

I know that as time passes, the advantage shifts further in my favor.

But they can't attack.

That scenario.

Still, that's not likely.

Black is vastly superior.

It's suspicious that they've recovered so smoothly from the initial ambush disadvantage.

Just what are they planning?

It's the unknown that frightens me.

Hmm.

What the hell are they planning?

What situation would favor Black by buying time?

With the pieces Black can move, they cannot exceed my predictions.

Then... are there pieces I don't know about?

But that doesn't seem likely either.

Is there something I'm missing?

Shouldn't be.

Then what is Black's objective?

...Seriously, I have no idea!

Mm.

Thinking about things I don't understand won't help.

I must focus on the battle at hand.

Even if it's dull.

Even if it's dull!

Ah?

Black is attempting teleportation?

They've judged that without closing the distance, they can't pursue through space jump?

Wait.

No, that's a bad move, right?

Black activates teleportation.

They attempt to jump directly in front of me, bridging space.

"Gh!?!"

But I interfere with the spell.

The spell's structure was disrupted. The black entity, thrust into the distorted spatial anomaly it had created, sustained damage.

It attempted to leap through the door as it opened, but the door was locked—unable to open—and collided with it directly.

The situation differs entirely, yet it feels similar.

Incidentally, locking the door was my interference with the spell formula.

The current field is unstable—a fusion of Black's domain and my own, mutually disrupting one another.

Attempting advanced spatial manipulation, such as teleportation, within such a field inevitably fails due to the opposing interference.

A failed attempt would be preferable. As it is, even minor interference causes a backlash.

Explosive failure, severe damage—possible outcomes.

To make such a fundamental error… what is going on?

… I genuinely cannot read Black’s intent.