“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A sigh escaped from Allen’s lips without his meaning to.

Alkrasha noticed it but simply smirked.

Was it because she found him amusing?

“… no need to lie. Although you are different from me as you come from another parallel world, am I right? And I’m pretty sure that you have met the other ‘me’ from that world.”

 Alkrasha spoke with confidence.“That is why you know me.”

“… …”

“Your silence means that I’m right.” Alkrasha smile turns into a grin. She looks like a child who saw a present she wanted the most.

“How did you know? Did you remember everything?”

“No.”

“Then why…”

“I met someone like you… another human transported into this world. And with just a little ‘talk’ I found out that he came from a world parallel to this world… and then you appeared in my mind.”

Why did a human know of me when I never met him before?

“… Only one answer, you’re just like him!”

Allen’s frowned became deeper. “Someone like me?”

“Ah, but he was gone now. He was always screaming about being a savior sent by God and he would save the world and so on and so forth. I got annoyed so I feed him to my pets~” Alkrasha's tone carried a hint of annoyance.

“What’s his name?”

“I don’t know… not like I’m interested.”

“… …”

They gazed at each other, stared at each other, and carefully observed each other.

“…You see, I have my own suspicions when we first met,” muttered Alkrasha as she toyed with her hair like a normal girl would.

“…why do you know me, and you even called me the Insect Queen when I wasn’t yet. It’s as if you saw the future, thinking like that my confidence rose up when I challenged the former queen.”

“I will win and become the queen… and I was right. I did win, barely.”

“… …”

“And so my suspicion of you strengthened. You aren’t from an alternative world like me but from a parallel world. A dimension parallels to this one and there you met the other me who already became the queen…”

“… …”

“… But at that time, it’s only just a mere speculation since I don’t have any proof. Just entering another alternative world is already very difficult to do so, much less passing through different dimensions.”

Alkrasha explained.

“You see, different worlds or what you call alternative worlds are like lines crossing with each other. So no matter how far-fetched a world’s reality to another world is, going to another world is not impossible. Because they still intersect with each other. In another meaning, they share a common point. And that common point gave us a chance to pass through different worlds.

For example, our existences in this world should only be in fantasy and stories. That is this world’s reality but we exist in our world, far different from this one. And that is our world’s reality. However, no matter how different our world’s reality is but there is still a chance that it will converge to a single reality because, just like what I said, worlds are like intersecting lines.

We can transfer or even pass through another world because those points existed!”

“… …”

“However, you are different!” Alkrasha pointed her index finger towards Allen. “You didn’t come from an alternative world just like me but in a parallel world. But the problem is, that should be impossible.... Here’s a question.”

!? Looking at Alkrasha talking as if she was a speaker in a lecture, Allen couldn’t help but feel dumbfounded. Just what is this idiot doing?

Contrary to Allen’s feelings, Alkrasha seemed to be enjoying and continued: “How can two lines meet if they are parallel to each other?”

Alkrasha cutely tilted her head as if she was in deep thought. “Then if these worlds are parallel, how can something no, someone cross to a world parallel to its own? There’s no connection between these two and no matter how you extend the lines, they would never meet with each other.”

 Alkrasha clapped her hands and smiled radiantly: “Just thinking about it … no matter how you think, it’s really absurd! It’s against common sense, no it’s against logic."

"... ..."

"But there is one possible conclusion. In the first place, in this world, who have the power to go against the law of nature?”

“Who…?” Alkrasha looked at Allen like she was expecting for him to answer.

Looking at her comical play, as if giving up, Allen slump his shoulders while shaking his head.

Allen found himself weird, but he did not reject it. He even went along with her ‘performance’, and answered. “… Gods…”

 “Ding, ding, ding! That’s right! Only Gods who don't care about any law or logic could do something as absurd as that!”

Alkrasha happily smiled when she heard Allen playing along with her.

“Crossing parallel words? That would already be almost impossible and if one could do that, then, they were already an existence called… Gods.”

“But you are clearly not one… so that guess of mine is impossible.” Alkrasha pretended to be disappointed but after a few seconds; she once again raised her head and smiled happily. “… But then a few days ago I suddenly heard about a strong human. He was certainly powerful but do you know what’s more interesting? … do you know what?”

“… …”

“He knows me and my subordinates well. The moment I learn that I personally went hunting for a mere human for the first time. Thinking that my questions might be answered and my expectations weren’t betrayed. I learned many shocking things from his mouth…”

“So my lovable human, you don’t need to deny, I’ve already confirmed it all with that maggot. The timeline you came from was the world where monsters ruled and dominated the whole world and the one who transferred you from there to here is none other than … the Gods!”

“…After learning all of this, my interest in you increased…”

Allen sighed.

With an annoyed tone in his voice, he said, “…And so, why would it matter. I don’t know why I came here nor I’m not a chosen one like that man you’re talking about but I’m hell-bent on changing the destiny of my world. And you won’t be able to stop me from doing this.”

Crackle! The golden sparks around Allen intensified as if they were responding from his feelings.

Alkrasha watched Allen while pouting. Allen is still in the mood to fight~

After all that talking...?!

Oh well,

Letting out a big sigh, Alkrasha shrugged her shoulders and cast a bitter smile.

“Ah, wait no if you want to fight then I’m in but no big moves.”

As Allen was preparing his attack, Alkrasha suddenly proposed.

“I don’t want my house to be destroyed… understand?”

“Should I care?”

“Human, you can’t be like that. You’re going to destroy our room and that is a big problem.”

“I think the problem is your head, Alkrasha.” Allen scowled but the sparks around him gradually getting weaker.

He still has things he needed from her and so he just can’t create a huge grudge between them.

…but before that, I still need to give you some piece of my mind!

--- ---

“Beat it,” Allen said. He stood in a fighting stance.

Alkrasha said nothing and only smiled.

She didn’t do anything and looked at Allen. They both observed each other’s arms and legs for any sudden movements.

With a flash, Allen vanished from his position and reappeared behind Alkrasha. He lifted his leg that was covered with golden sparks and his kick was fast as lightning.

However, Alkrasha used her arm to easily block his kick.

Allen didn’t stop and did a roundhouse kick aimed at Alkrasha’s waist.

Alkrasha took two steps back and she avoided his kick. “Excellent.”

“But not enough.” Alkrasha spurted a liquid like net from her mouth towards Allen but the latter easily avoid it by disappearing in a flash.

“Even if you’re fast, I’m able to see in all directions at once. Appearing behind me means nothing. I don’t have any blind spot.”

“Then how about this?!”

He had taken aim.

Golden sparks flew from Allen’s raised hand.

With the roar of the air bursting, the lightning spear directly flew towards Alkrasha.

Judging by the speed, faster than sound, not even the Insect Queen should be able to ignore that.

The high voltage current passed through the air and struck Alkrasha’s stomach and then rushed throughout her entire body.

“Ugh…” The Insect Queen was once again sent crashing into the wall and into the outside.

Crackle. Crackle.

A huge gaping hole was opened through the wooden wall.

Allen kicked the floor and flew through the hole but just after passing it,

Bang! A leg hard as steel greeted his face, sending him flying to the ground.

“Buga!”

Allen did not understand what had happened.

The impact spread throughout his entire body and he literally flew to the side.

--- ---

Allen rolled along the ground.

Instead of breathing, he coughed up dark red blood.

“Gh…kah…!!”

His breathing sounded sticky as he drowned in his own blood. He could feel his consciousness flickering in and out, but he also had another thought.

“How…?”

“You must have thought that you won’t be able to feel pain with that kind of body… right human?”

Allen raised his head and looked at the sky.

Alkrasha was suspended in the air using her wings. Her body was now covered with thick black carapaces that looked like those of a beetle.

“Do you not know that some insects also generate electricity on their bodies?”

“… …”

“For example, Hornets and Bees. The Hornet uses electricity as a power source and bees are good in sensing electric fields…”

Allen coughed up blood as he tried to stand up. “I’m sorry but I often sleep in my biology class.”

“Then too bad. That power you possess isn’t something that could make you completely invincible. There are many ways to counter it; a spiritual attack that attacks the spirit and soul directly and those techniques that nullified any kind of ability.

Your power seemed to be lightning type element and this armor I generated is also one of those that could nullify lightning. It came from an insect called [ Rubber Beetle ] that likes to live on the [ Thunder Mountain ]. And with my skill [ Insect Morph ], I could transform any part of my body to that of any insects.”

“… …”

“You won’t be able to win… human. If you only rely on that power, you will only lose.”

“I won’t know till I try.”

“…you really didn’t change.” With a helpless sigh, Alkrasha could only shake her head while wearing a bitter smile.

--- ---

Allen clenched his fist and the golden sparks around him started getting brighter.

“The clouds are getting ominous… is this your doing?” Looking at the thunder rumbling behind the clouds, Alkrasha muttered.

Alkrasha was standing on the air but the next moment,

A dull pain rushed through Allen’s side.

Alkrasha was already beside him and jabbed his leg into his side as if kicking a soccer ball and the great force sent him rolling along the ground.

“Ugh!”

“You’re not the only one with an enhanced agility and strength.”

For an instant, Allen thought the white sky had grown distorted but he bit his tongue and managed to regain back his senses. Before crashing on the ground, he extended his hand and clawed the ground before vanishing with a flash of light.

This time he appeared in front of Alkrasha and sent her a barrage of attacks.

Allen’s and punches were fast like lightning but Alkrasha blocked or avoided her attacks so easily.

Allen felt sweat on his forehead after he consecutively attacked the Insect Queen for a while.

“[ Zeus Lightning Bolt ]!”

“[ Thor’s Hammer ]!”

“[ Thunder Bird ]!”

“[ Thor’s Judgment ]!”

--- ---

Big moves after big moves were used. Trees toppled and plants were burned.

The fire spread in the whole forest as if chasing something.

Looking at this scene, Alkrasha let out a sigh. “Didn’t I tell you not to use any big moves?”

“I’m sorry… I couldn’t help it,” muttered Allen while lying on the ground. His whole body was filled with cuts and wounds.

Even after all the strong moves he used, he was still defeated.

But it wasn’t all for nothing.

Standing beside him was Alkrasha whose entire right arm was already slumping and a few cuts and burned could be seen on some part of her body.

He might be defeated but Allen was, for some reason, feeling satisfied with the end result. The Insect Queen whom he couldn’t even touch before had now ended up like this. It only meant one thing, he’s gotten stronger!

“You looked satisfied.”

“Do you think so?” Allen answered as his vision started to become blurry.

He simply assumed it was his failing consciousness.

A trail of red blood ran down from the small cut on his cheek.

But Allen smiled. “…I will be able to catch up to you soon, Alkrasha. And if that happened, I would be one step closer to my dream!”

“But I’m not the least happy…” Alkrasha snorted in displeasure.

“Look what you did to my house? Do you think it was very easy to build it?”

“… …”

With her voice almost in a whisper, she added, “This is for burning my house.”

A dull shock struck his cheek.

Calling it a slap made it sound nice, but he had more or less been hit with a hand covered with a thick exoskeleton. It felt similar to being hit by a plank.

The blow shook Allen’s brain and he rolled to the side onto the rough ground surface.

His movements looked as frail as a marionette that’s strings had been cut.

“…well, it's a good thing that your body’s like that. You won’t die so easily…”

“Damn it! Can’t you please handle me with care?”

The symptoms of his light concussion must have been gradually softening because Allen was now able to look up at Alkrasha with hazy eyes. A slight smile was on his lips.

“Hmph, you should be happy that I didn’t kill you for destroying my home, human.”

--- ---