Infinite Harem System: I Grow Stronger From Every Female Lead

Amelia twisted in the air, using Undine as a hovering foothold to evade one bullet after another.

As her feet touched down on a tree branch, another bullet whizzed past her, her fingers already loosing an arrow.

"Damn it."

The longer the fight dragged on, the more her strength waned.

'I have to finish it now.'

She leapt from the tree, uncertain of how she could even end the battle.

With Branch's authority, he was practically immortal.

How was she supposed to kill something untouchable?

He had an authority that deflected all attacks and bypassed every defense, striking the target no matter what.

Branch, who had barely moved from his spot, twisted his body in a clean 180 and fired four shots.

Amelia's eyes tracked the bullets, and as soon as they closed in, she blinked out of the way.

"So you can use more than spirit arts?"

Amelia drew ragged breaths, too drained to answer.

'Damn it…' She clenched her teeth. 'Why am I so weak?'

Amy knew better than anyone that her weakness was never because she lacked talent.

Except for Nathira, Sylvia, and Arthur, no one near her had an SSS-rank talent.

And yet, they were stronger than her.

Which meant talent rank had nothing to do with her lack of strength.

'I'm just lazy.'

She had to admit it.

Even if Eric was known for sloth, he still put in the effort to grow stronger.

But she couldn't say the same for herself.

Whether it was yearning for Arthur's attention or simply wishing to speak with others, she always found a way to procrastinate or idle, waiting for what she desired to come to her.

From her perspective, it wasn't such a terrible trait.

But deep down, she knew it was.

Each time she saw Elizabeth, Eira, Sylvia, Ellie, Cassie, who had come far later than her, standing close to Arthur, her heart ached in ways she couldn't explain.

Even though she declared she would protect them as their elder sister, she always ended up relying on others.

'Pathetic,' she chastised herself. 'I'm truly pathetic.'

She was the proud wife of a man destined to stand at the peak of creation.

She closed her eyes and unleashed her spirit zone, enveloping the area in its invisible crimson glow.

When she opened them again, a serene smile curved her lips.

Branch narrowed his gaze. "Did you find your oath?" He smirked. "Your path in sloth?"

Amelia said nothing. She merely stood.

Her mouth parted as a burning sensation swept over her.

This was a secret not even Arthur knew.

It wasn't that she had tried to hide it from him…

Amelia's forehead shimmered as her tether mark revealed itself, an image of a phoenix.

Subtly etched into its center was a single letter: A.

Even before any of the madness began, even before she became Arthur's infinite lover, her soul had always been bound to his.

From the start, he was her tether to mana.

Ding!

『 You have activated your authority: Phoenix Soul 』

Phoenix Soul was a technique only those with the blood of an ancient phoenix could wield.

She wasn't sure how, but somehow she had awakened it.

Its description was simple:

"Set your soul ablaze."

If one could burn their soul, if one had someone they would protect with their life, then the path would appear, requiring only a steadfast heart and a blazing spirit.

Branch's eyes widened at the young woman advancing toward him.

She radiated such heat it seemed reality itself might ignite beneath her feet.

She had found her path.

Not that of sloth, but that of a relentless lover.

"What the hell…"

Those were the only words Branch managed before a foreign voice rang in Amelia's mind.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

『 Glorious! You have loyalty like no other 』

『 Because of your deep connection and love for the one called God, you have been granted a special privilege 』

『 Do you accept? 』

Her heart thudded. 'Is this… a system?'

Arthur had spoken of it countless times.

But seeing it herself was fascinating.

The question was, should she accept it?

She wasn't sure who controlled the system.

'If Mi-kyong really did reincarnate Arthur, then maybe she's the one behind it.'

Still…

Her hand hovered, then pressed "Yes."

'Even if it were the devil himself, I would seize his hand. Arthur is my world. Without him, I'm nothing… So give me strength.'

As if answering her thoughts, the system chimed again.

『 Dear Infinite Companion of the one called God, you are truly loyal. The world has bestowed upon you the title: Phoenix Goddess 』

『 "He" has granted you one wish 』

Her pupils dilated, crimson flames blazing in her eyes.

"Make me strong. Strong enough to never lose Arthur, and never fall to his enemies."

Ding! Ding! Ding!

『 Glorious! You have surpassed the limits of mortals 』

『 You and seven others have earned the title: Cheaters 』

In an instant, her body erupted in a dazzling burst of color as Branch's grin dissolved.

He knew that light. That power.

Flames, water, wind, earth, lightning, shadow, light, metal, every element swirled around her and fused in harmony.

But this phenomenon was not hers alone.

Seven pillars of radiance erupted across the academy, soaring so high into the sky that the entire world could see them.

At the center of each pillar, including hers, pulsed a brilliant star.

And as if merging with the world itself, she felt her spirit zone expand, but it was no longer just hers.

She could feel her sisters, Arthur's other wives.

They had all signed a covenant of loyalty, binding them together.

Behind the woman, now consumed in a strange flame, her hair blazing like a volcano, rose a legion of spirits.

Fire dragons. Vast mermaids of water. Ships of lightning. A godlike figure of storm clouds wielding a staff of wind. Armies of earth-born soldiers, and many more.

She raised her hand, her bow flaring.

But this time, it shimmered with many colors, like it had been dipped in a rainbow.

Her voice thundered, resonant as though the world itself spoke:

"God of Sloth, Branch… No." She corrected herself. "Former god of Sloth, Branch. I, the Phoenix Goddess, Monarch of Eternal Flames, will bring your end."

The very air trembled, spirits at her back, her crimson gaze blazing.

"It is time to receive your divine punishment."

─── ✦ End of Chapter ✦ ───