Note: Some may feel that Mayuri's powers are somewhat exaggerated, but this is fanfiction, so I've made her 'slightly' stronger than the original๐
***
"[?!]"
At that instant, the graceful expression on the Goddess of Life's face turned cold and sharp.
Her sharp instincts sensed danger threatening the 'pure Spirit' she protected with her entire soul.
Without wasting a moment, she rose with a motion both graceful and full of power.
Her aura flowed like a warm, soothing wave, in stark contrast to the tension now blanketing her beautiful face.
"[๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ]" she whispered, almost inaudible.
The aura of energy she sensed... was only a step away from the Transcendent Tier, power capable of tearing the world apart in an instant.
The Gods' rules forbade direct intervention in mortal affairs, but this time... the Goddess of Life was willing to bear any consequences.
Besides... she herself had sworn to protect that Spirit from all evil.
But this also convinced her... the outside world truly was never suited for a being so innocent and pure.
As the Goddess of Life gathered energy to teleport, the space around her suddenly trembled.
Butโ
๐๐๐๐!
Instantly, the surrounding world changed drastically.
"Sorry, but you're not permitted to leave this place."
A calm yet intimidating voice filled the atmosphere.
The clear sky turned dark with thick black clouds billowing.
Fierce wind roared, tearing through trees and scattering leaves.
Purple lightning flashed violently across the dark sky, creating a sight both breathtaking and terrifying.
The Goddess of Life looked up, her eyes narrowing at the woman floating in the air.
The woman's beauty rivaled her own, perfect in every aspect.
With purple lightning as her backdrop, the woman stood with deadly grace.
Her long dark purple hair fluttered in the wind, her purple eyes with deep blue pupils radiated a coolness paradoxically at odds with the danger emanating from her.
The beautiful purple kimono she wore shimmered under the flashing light, complemented by dark purple stockings adding to her beauty.
The small beauty mark near her right eye added a charm that left anyone stunned.
And most striking of all... a purple ring with six windmill-like points radiating electro energy behind her.
๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ, the highest manifestation of an Electro Archon's power.
But the Goddess of Life wasn't entranced.
What she felt right now was... the threat of death.
"[...๐ช๐ต๐ผ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐?]"
Though the Goddess of Life's tone sounded calm... her instincts screamed alert.
Visibly, the woman before her radiated an aura equivalent only to a Rank SS+ Hunter, but the Goddess of Life could sense something far more dangerous...
It felt as though this woman could take her life at any moment!
"Me?" The woman tilted her head with a graceful, indifferent motion.
"I have many names, but considering our current situation..." She paused briefly before continuing.
"...My name is Raiden Shogun."
"[๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ต๐ผ๐ด๐๐ป?]"
The Goddess of Life frowned.
The name was unfamiliar to her, but that aura...
"[๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ,]" she said, gathering life energy around her.
"A Goddess?"
Raiden Shogun closed her eyes briefly then opened them slowly.
A flash of purple lightning gleamed in her beautiful yet lethal eyes. "I wonder... I've killed several Gods before with my sword. Are you far stronger than them?"
"[๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐?]"
The Goddess of Life froze.
Killed Gods?
The seriousness in the woman's voice suggested this was no mere bluff.
Before the Goddess of Life could process this information, the sky suddenly rumbled even more ferociously!
Purple lightning struck with astonishing intensity, enveloping Raiden Shogun's body in blinding light.
From the woman's chest, a sword hilt emerged, gleaming with electric purple light.
Without hesitation, she pulled it out, revealing a blade radiating dense, intense electro energy.
๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป, the legendary sword that symbolized the power and glory of the God of Eternity. A sword that had tasted the blood of countless beings and entities throughout its existence.
As if resonating with the sword, Chakra Desiderata flooded it with pure, lethal electro energy!
That was when the Goddess of Life felt death staring straight into her soul!
Without further warning, Raiden Shogun unleashed her strongest sword technique!
A slash capable of splitting an island in two...
A slash that created cracks in dimensions...
A slash that pierced through every form of defense...
Calledโ
"<<๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ง๐จ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ก๐ข>>"
Her voice was calm, but what happened next was pure devastation.
Time and space themselves seemed to freeze.
The projection of a giant slash blazing blinding purple swung at a speed impossible for the eye to follow.
Tremendous energy surged, creating a shockwave that destroyed everything!
๐๐๐ผ๐๐....!!! ๐ฝ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ผ๐ผ๐ผ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐๐๐....!!
That dimension-piercing slash flattened all of Life Forest in an instant.
Ancient trees that had stood for thousands of years vanished into dust.
The ground trembled and cracked, creating deep chasms spewing life energy into the air!
***
๐๐ฏ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ผ๐.
That was what greeted Shou's eyes as his consciousness returned.
The young man stood frozen, his body stiff as a hellish scene stretched before him.
The mournful wailing of children split the air.
Screams of pain and terror from thousands of people echoed throughout every corner.
Mass panic created a wave of negative energy that felt like poisonous fog.
Amid it all, the sound of hungry biting could be heard, an inhuman sound relishing fresh flesh.
[๐ช๐๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ก๐! ๐ช๐๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ก๐!! ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ง๐๐! ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐จ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ! ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ก๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐ก๐๐ฆโ]
๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!!
The city's emergency alarm blared loudly, but in an instant, every city security system was destroyed by a wave of Magical Beasts surging like a tsunami of death!
Every corner of the city was now filled with Magical Beasts in countless numbers.
Bitten residents transformed into terrifying entities, half-zombie, half-monster, immediately attacking other humans with insatiable hunger!
Amid this destruction, Shou could only stare blankly at the dark sky filled with flashes of golden and purple lightning.
"๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!"
A girl's anguished scream split the air, so full of pain and suffering it could tear at the heart of anyone who heard it.
But tragically... no one cared, more precisely, no one had time to care.
Instead, people looked at that girl with eyes full of fear, as if considering her the source of the calamity now befalling them.
That assumption wasn't entirely wrong.
A giant angel-winged black sphere hovered above the city, resonating with the girl's screams.
Every time the girl screamed, that sphere unleashed a strike of golden lightning that destroyed everything it touched.
That lightning didn't discriminate between friend or foe.
Magical Beasts, Hunters, civilians, all vanished into dust under this indiscriminate assault.
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น...
The Angel Shou had once considered the key to his power for reaching the pinnacle of the world had now become a bringer of destruction that would annihilate everything, including... himself.
And behind all this chaos... a colossal figure laughed with an inhuman sound.
Its body size surpassed the world's tallest mountain.
Its bulging belly rippled every time it laughed.
Its skin glowed blood-red, with sharp horns jutting from its head.
Its eye sockets radiated red light that made anyone who looked at it feel their soul being sucked away.
No guessing was needed to recognize this creature.
๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ป.
More precisely, Sin of Greed, Mammon, one of the seven highest Demons whose existence nearly equaled that of a God or Goddess.
Impossible... it's impossible for us to win...
Shou froze in despair as the suffocating pressure of energy slammed into his body like thousands of tons of concrete.
Every breath felt like inhaling acid into his lungs. Every heartbeat felt like a hammer blow to his chest.
There was no chance of winning.
Even the most foolish person knew the best option was to flee.
But flee?
Where to?
How?
Impossible.
Even if he used every ounce of his power and ability, he'd be annihilated instantly if that Demon so much as glanced his way.
And worse still...
"M-Mayuri..."
Shou's voice sounded broken and hoarse.
His soul felt torn apart witnessing the pure Spirit that had always been under his protection now slowly being corrupted by darkness.
The figure usually so calm, innocent, and pure now curled up in agony.
Her body convulsed and trembled violently, as if fighting something trying to take her over.
The girl's thoughts and feelings were in complete disarray as Mammon's malevolent emotions seeped into her pure heart, corrupting and destroying it from within.
As a result, the more Mayuri suffered, the more uncontrollable Kerubiel became.
Kerubiel would only obey when Mayuri's emotions were stable and calm. But now, with the girl's feelings shattered...
What was love?
What was calm?
What was affection?
These concepts began dissolving in Mayuri's mind, replaced by anger, fear, and confusion.
Even the six feelings she'd inherited from the six other Spirits were forcibly suppressed.
What remained in her heart was only... absolute chaos.
Slowly but surely, the pure Spirit that had never been tainted would transform into a killing machine that would take millions of innocent lives.
"Fuck... Fuck... Fuck..."
Shou cursed loudly, but his severe injuries made his voice sound like a hoarse whisper.
Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, creating a red line that contrasted with his pale face.
'System... System... System!!! SYSTEM!! COME OUT AND HELP ME!!'
Shou screamed in his mind, pounding at his own consciousness, searching for the entity that had always helped him.
But despair gripped his heart even tighter when the System gave no response at all.
The System he'd always relied on had somehow vanished since Mammon's appearance, leaving him alone to face the world's hell.
There was no more hope.
They would all die like this, without resistance, without honor.
The light slowly faded from Shou's eyes.
'Damn it... damn it... will I end here?'
Just as his last hope was about to extinguish within him...
๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐...!!!
The sound of a tremendous explosion accompanied by a burst of blazing golden flame pierced through the dark sky!
"You filthy Demon, don't think this is OVER YET!!"
Shou's body trembled.
His eyes narrowed, trying to focus his vision toward the sound.
Amid the smoke and dust, he saw the figure of Vian Lightsun, the empire's third prince, still standing upright with a cold expression full of suppressed rage.
'That man... he's still alive?'
Vian wasn't alone.
Several Rank S Hunters still remained, propping each other up despite their bodies being covered in wounds and blood.
But their condition was practically the same, they were all dying.
Like a candle flame down to its last flicker, ready to go out at any moment with the slightest breath of wind. That was their current state.
"[๐๐ถ๐ธ๐ถ๐ธ๐ถ... ๐ฌ๐ผ๐'๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ป? ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐น, ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ต... ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ต๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐]"
Mammon's terrifying voice echoed across the sky, making the Hunters shudder and nearly lose consciousness from the suffocating pressure of negative energy.
Vian was in a similar state, but he bit his own tongue until it bled to maintain consciousness.
"Heh, compared to the Empire's power, you're nothing!! You're just a filthy Demon!!" he challenged boldly, though fresh blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
"[๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐... ๐จ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น๐, ๐'๐บ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฒ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ผ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐]"
Mammon, that terrifying creature, merely exhaled leisurely, but at the same time, every Magical Beast around them seemed to receive an invisible command.
They went wild with brutality, some of them even evolving instantly to Rank S Hunter equivalence!!
"Damn it!!"
Vian cursed loudly.
He roared in fury and without hesitation unleashed all his remaining fire power, burning dozens of Magical Beasts to ash in an instant.
But the same couldn't be said for the other Hunters.
Some of them didn't even have time to fight back before becoming food for the ravenous Magical Beasts.
'...We can only die...'
Shou's gaze dimmed once more witnessing this terrifying sight.
Fighting back was pointless.
Even if Vian was a Rank SS Hunter, in the end all of them, including himself, would die...
Just as Shou was nearly ready to fully surrender to fate...
"You damn bastard! How long are you going to lie there?! GET UP! DON'T JUST STAY STILL!! BRING THAT GIRL BACK TO HER SENSES!!"
People might be confused by Vian's shout, but for Shou, those words carried a far deeper meaning.
The young man's body trembled, his eyes widening in shock.
"HURRY UP AND GET UP, BASTARD! IT'S NOT TIME TO GIVE UP-PFFFT!"
As Vian screamed with all his strength, a sharp claw suddenly pierced through his chest from behind, causing fresh blood to spray from his mouth.
But instead of giving up, Vian used that pain as a trigger for his fury.
With a savage growl, he unleashed an explosion of blazing golden flame, turning dozens of nearby Magical Beasts to ash in an instant.
๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐..!!
Vian seemed possessed.
Screaming incoherently, he continued releasing flame beyond his own limits, burning not just his enemies but his own body too!
"GET UP! GET UP!!! I SAID GET UP, BASTARD!!"
"[๐๐๐๐๐๐! ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ! ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ! ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ก๐ง๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฃ๐!! ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐! ๐๐๐๐๐๐!]"
Mammon laughed with sadistic delight.
He couldn't wait to see that stubborn figure of Vian finally crumble into total despair!
'Get up... I have to get up...'
Shou felt his entire body burning from within.
Every movement, no matter how small, sent nearly unbearable waves of pain.
But his resolve burned hotter than that pain.
As if some mysterious force were supporting him, he slowly managed to lift his shattered body.
Fresh blood threatened to spray from his mouth, but he forced himself to swallow it back down.
The salty, coppery taste filled his mouth, but he ignored it.
'Walk... I have to keep walking... to her...'
He had to do it. Otherwise, then...
'Mayuri will keep suffering. She'll keep hurting...'
He would never forgive himself if that happened.
Hadn't he himself resolved to protect that Spirit no matter what?
'...THERE'S NO TIME LEFT TO HESITATE.'
With heavy, agonized steps, Shou focused on the girl's figure despite his blurred, spotty vision.
The Spirit who had once always been captivating and pure was now nearly unrecognizable.
Her body was covered in burns, bruises, and blood, whether her own or someone else's.
Her usually calm aura now raged wildly like a wounded beast.
Kerubiel, sensing Shou's presence and considering him a threat, immediately directed a lethal strike of golden lightning toward him.
But suddenly, a transparent golden shield appeared, protecting Shou, deflecting Kerubiel's attack.
๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐..!!!
'This...'
[๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ'๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐, ๐๐ผ๐๐! ๐ง๐ผ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ]
'Is this barrier your doing?'
[๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ป๐ผ! ๐๐'๐ ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐, ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐น๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น๐, ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด]
'You mean...'
["๐๐ผ๐น๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐บ", ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ'๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐. ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐๐ป'๐ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ณ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐]
"..." Shou's lips trembled.
[๐ฃ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ, ๐๐ผ๐๐. ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ป'๐ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ด]
'...Damn it, I know that.'
Thanks to the Holy Realm's effect, Shou's steps became a bit lighter, but...
'Even up to now, you're still helping me...'
Shou felt an overwhelming wave of guilt slam into his chest.
He'd hidden so many secrets, lied, and even hurt that Spirit's feelings.
But despite that... this pure Spirit still cared about him.
That fact only made Shou's resolve burn even fiercer.
'After all this is over...'
"...I won't hide anything from you anymore. So..."
Shou looked at the Spirit before him with a stubborn, blazing gaze.
"Come on!! OPEN YOUR EYES!"
As his finger touched Mayuri's skin, suddenly the System's voice rang clearly in his mind:
[๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด! ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ!]
[๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด! ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐๐ณ๐๐น, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ต!]
From the start, the reason Takamiya Mayuri had become uncontrollable was because of the Divine Protection granted by the Goddess of Life.
That divine protection granted a special ability, but it also allowed Mayuri to feel the emotions of other beings around her.
When Mammon appeared with an overwhelmingly malevolent aura, that Divine Protection had instead become a double-edged sword.
Mayuri, as clean as white paper, couldn't withstand the surge of such immense negative emotion, causing Kerubiel to spiral out of control.
To return Mayuri to her normal state, they had to remove the Divine Protection of Life Goddess, and... that was exactly what Shou managed to accomplish.
As for the result... wasn't it obvious?
At that moment...
"..."
Shou couldn't think of anything right now.
He stared, transfixed, at the figure before him.
Her blond hair shimmered gently, her pink eyes radiated warmth.
The fairly revealing black gown with a pair of golden boots and gloves made her appearance so graceful yet powerful.
As if reborn, Takamiya Mayuri, who had been full of wounds and tainted, was now... filled with purity and innocence once more.
There was no longer any trace of suffering or anger on her peaceful face.
Angel-like wings spread beautifully behind her.
Her aura was once again filled with gentleness and warmth, like a mother embracing her child with affection.
"Mayuri..." Shou's voice was low and choked with emotion.
And for the first time since they'd met, Shou saw something truly astonishing.
That figure, who had so rarely smiled all this time, now wore a smile full of gentleness and understanding.
"...Thank you," she said, her voice sounding as if it came from heaven itself.
Shou's mind went blank instantly.
The young man could only stare, hypnotized by a smile so pure and sincere.
And then...
๐๐๐๐๐!! ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐!! ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐!!!
A sight both magnificent and terrifying unfolded before everyone.
From the sky, once dark, thousands of golden lightning bolts struck in every direction with astonishing precision.
Unlike Kerubiel's earlier uncontrolled attack, this time the lightning strikes had a clear, specific target.
That target was none other than... the Magical Beasts.
Hundreds, even thousands of Magical Beasts vanished into dust instantly under this merciless rain of lightning!
Not a single one escaped this heavenly punishment!
Along with it, various natural elements moved as if obeying Mayuri's will.
A tremendous tornado spun and destroyed enemies.
A blinding fire explosion burned monsters down to their bones.
A lethal layer of ice froze and shattered anything it touched.
Then...
"<<๐๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ>>"
Mayuri's gentle voice spread into the minds of every human still alive.
That voice was so soothing and calming that the terror and fear in their hearts instantly vanished, replaced by an inexplicable sense of peace.
Not only that, a warm golden light spread throughout the area, healing their wounds in the process.
Broken bones reconnected, gaping wounds sealed quickly, their vital strength gradually restored.
Everyone, including Vian, could only stare in awe at the figure of Takamiya Mayuri, now shining like a star amid the darkness, like an angel sent down from heaven to save them all.
Several surviving Magical Beasts flew toward her in desperate attack.
But before they reached Mayuri, a lethal energy slash cut them all in half!
The source of that attack was a giant two-handed sword held by Mayuri.
๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐น๐ฝ๐ต๐ผ๐ป, the Angel belonging to one of the strongest Spirits that had ever existed.
A sword whose power was said to be capable of cutting through space and time, even the entire concept of reality itself.
Essentially, nothing was beyond Sandalphon's cut.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that sword was one of the strongest weapons in the entire world.
But unfortunately, since this wasn't Mayuri's own original Angel, unleashing its full power was nearly impossible.
And indeed... Mayuri had no intention of relying on Sandalphon to end this battle.
Instead, she would use her own Angel, the true power she'd rarely used all this time, but to do that...
"I'm sorry... your lives might be in danger, but... I need your help..." Mayuri said calmly, her voice gentle yet clear amid the chaos.
The remaining Hunters exchanged uncertain glances.
They'd witnessed Mammon's power and knew how thin the hope of survival was.
"How much time do you need?" Vian asked seriously, blood still flowing from his not-yet-fully-healed wound.
Mayuri looked at him with a mysterious calm, as if she'd made a major decision. "Five minutes..." She shook her head slightly.
"No, one minute is enough."
"I see."
Vian closed his eyes, trying to suppress his churning doubt.
"Though it's extremely difficult considering that creature could kill us within seconds, we'll do our best."
"Third Prince!" one of the Hunters shouted in protest.
Vian turned sharply, his gaze cold as ice.
"What? Do you want to defy my order?"
His voice was calm yet full of threat, making the Rank S Hunter's courage instantly wither like a candle blown by the wind.
Vian clicked his tongue in irritation, his jaw tightening.
"In that case, let's do this!"
***
'W-what does Mayuri intend to do?' Shou thought, his heart pounding fiercely.
[๐ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ๐น๐... ๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ป๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น'๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ]
'W-what?!' Shou gasped, his face instantly paling. 'Wait, if she does that, won't she lose control?!'
[๐ก๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐. ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ'๐ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐. ๐๐ ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐น๐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐ถ๐'๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐น]
'A sufficiently strong positive emotion? Does she haveโ'
Suddenly, a memory surged into Shou's mind, a truth behind that girl's very existence.
The reason for Takamiya Mayuri's birth.
"๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ข ๐๐ฑ๐ช๐ณ๐ช๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฏ ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ด๐ช๐น ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐๐ฑ๐ช๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฑ๐ข๐ณ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ช๐ณ ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ณ. ๐๐ถ๐ต... ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ข๐ต'๐ด ๐ด๐ต๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ข๐ญ๐ด๐ฐ ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ช๐ณ ๐ง๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ๐ด?"
"Ah..."
๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ.
Without a doubt, that was the strongest positive emotion.
Stronger than anything a human could imagine.
Love was a feeling so profound it could make people blind to danger.
Yes... so powerful that the real Takamiya Mayuri hadn't hesitated to sacrifice herself for the victory of the protagonist in her original story...
And now, Takamiya Mayuri was also using that feeling of love, a love so blind, to end this battle...
"Heh..." Shou smiled bitterly, feeling a strange bitterness in his chest.
Truly... he was deeply jealous of the man who'd managed to make Mayuri fall so in love she was willing to throw her life away.
"Help me this time... Kerubiel."
Mayuri closed her eyes, leaning her forehead against that giant black sphere with a lover's tenderness. Golden light began radiating from her body, forming a blinding sacred aura.
"Come on... show your power... <<๐๐๐ก๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ฏ>>"
Instantly, Kerubiel seemed to rage.
Its form changed in an instant, transforming from a giant winged black sphere into a colossal golden drill with wings far more majestic and threatening.
Its size was so massive it blanketed the entire landscape.
Reiryoku energy flowed through its body like a boundless river.
So immense it felt limitless!
A majestic and magnificent aura radiated, creating air pressure that made people bow in awe as they witnessed it.
Watching that perfect transformation, Mayuri merely smiled gently, her eyes gleaming with determination...
"So... begin, destroy that creature..."
๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐..!!!!
A tremendous explosion of reiryoku shook the earth, changing the weather in an instant.
Clouds rolled away, as if afraid of being burned by the pure energy radiating from Lahathelev.
Magical Beasts that approached instantly vanished into dust, destroyed by energy projectiles targeting them without mercy!
Golden electricity spun at the tip of Lahathelev's drill, concentrating with such high intensity it caused electrical disturbances in the farthest cities, making power grids flicker and electronic equipment begin malfunctioning.
To boost Lahathelev's power, Mayuri also activated Angel Gabriel.
Not stopping there, she drained all of her reiryoku, risking everything for one lethal attack.
Of course... it wasn't quite accurate to say Mayuri's reiryoku was completely depleted. Because if it were truly gone, her existence would vanish instantly.
Mayuri's current state was more accurately described as "nearly out of reiryoku"...
And even if her reiryoku were truly completely gone... 'she' seemed to not mind at all.
'Truly... this feeling of sacrifice is very unsettling.'
Shou watched Mayuri's figure with mixed feelings.
"[๐๐๐๐๐๐!! ๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐ ๐!? ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ก'๐ง ๐๐ฉ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ง๐, ๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ'๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก?!]"
Mammon laughed madly, his voice thundering across the sky.
The sound wave alone was enough to shatter an ordinary human's eardrums, creating unbearable pain.
But suddenly... that laughter stopped.
His red-glinting eyes turned toward Mayuri and the golden-glowing Lahathelev.
For the first time... Mammon felt a genuine threat!
"[๐ข๐ต๐ผ? ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด! ๐ง๐๐๐ง'๐ฆ ๐ ๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐๐๐!! ๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐จ๐! ๐ช๐ข๐จ๐๐๐ก'๐ง ๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก'๐ง ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ข๐ก๐?! ๐๐๐๐๐๐!!]"
Mammon's figure rose with a terrifying majesty.
Its body size towered until it pierced the clouds, each step cracking and shaking the ground!
Tremendous earthquakes followed, shaking the entire battlefield!
Suffocating [mana] gathered throughout Mammon's body, its intensity matching the colossal energy Lahathelev had gathered!
Even so...
Mayuri wasn't fazed in the slightest.
For her, the only moment that frightened her was having to part with the one she loved.
As for anything else?
Even death was nothing more than a meaningless shadow.
"Let's end all of this..." Mayuri whispered, her voice gentle yet full of determination.
Mayuri took a deep breath, gathering the remnants of her power.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!!!
Maximum power began releasing, creating an air pressure capable of destroying everything.
"[๐๐๐๐๐๐! ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ก! ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ช ๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฅ๐ข๐ก๐๐๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ง๐๐๐!!]"
Mammon wasn't fazed at all facing the terrifying energy Lahathelev had gathered.
He even seemed excited, anticipating Mayuri's expression when she realized her attack had failed.
Mammon had immense confidence in his power.
Though his current strength was far below his full power, equivalent to the Transcendent Tier, he still believed no one could rival him, not even a Rank SSS Hunter!
Only a Transcendent being had the power to kill him, and Mammon didn't think a being of that caliber would appear in this place!
But Mammon had made a fatal mistake...
"In that case... I won't hesitate..."
Then...
The world was enveloped in a blinding light of gold mixed with radiant blue.
Its light was so brilliant it made everyone's eyes widen.
Love, affection, longing, and every other positive emotion...
Mayuri staked her entire being into this single attack without the slightest hesitation!
Her blind love became the core of this power.
So powerful it felt as though it enveloped the entire area, making people gasp as they felt its intensity!
And as a result... that beam of pure reiryoku power swept away everything in its path!
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.....!!!!
The vast ocean instantly evaporated, creating a thick fog blanketing the battlefield!
An attack with explosive power many times more devastating than a nuclear bomb caused total destruction!
The shockwave swept everything away, capable of hurling humans like dry leaves.
Continuous aftershocks toppled buildings, uprooted trees from the ground.
Sustained wind pressure threatened to annihilate every remaining form of life.
Hot steam swirled through the air, obscuring vision.
Nothing was visible. Only darkness and destruction.
A terrifying roar could be heard from Mammon, a sign of that terrifying creature's final resistance, but it lasted only a moment before an even stronger shockwave struck, obliterating everything!
The last thing Shou saw before losing consciousness was...
โThe most beautiful smile he'd ever seen.
...
...
...How much time had passed, no one knew.
People began waking up in confusion, thinking they'd lost their lives from that tremendous explosion.
Was this death?
Then why was there no pain?
Their vision was pitch black, as if swallowed into a bottomless abyss.
Amid the confusion, a gentle voice reached their ears...
"Wake up..."
That voice was so clear and soothing, like morning dew in spring.
Instantly... warmth began enveloping their cold, stiff bodies.
As their eyes slowly opened, a clear blue sky greeted them without a single cloud, as if all the earlier chaos had been nothing but a bad dream.
Kerubiel still hovered in the sky, the winged black sphere that had spread destruction moments before.
But strangely, no one felt fear anymore.
Because...
The angel still stood there, now wearing a simple white sailor school uniform, no longer her Astral Dress.
With a soothing, gentle expression, Mayuri looked so beautiful and captivating as her figure was enveloped in a sacred light healing the wounded.
No one could speak.
As if hypnotized by that sacred beauty, everyone stood frozen.
The Rank S Hunters felt ashamed and guilty, realizing they'd once tried to kill the "angel" now saving their lives.
Even Vian, who'd insisted on eliminating Mayuri earlier, now stood transfixed in place.
With hesitant steps, the young man approached Mayuri.
"You..."
"...I'm sorry."
"Huh?" Vian blinked, startled by that unexpected statement.
Mayuri didn't look directly at the young man.
Her eyes gazed far into the distance, as if looking upon an unchangeable past.
"Because of me, many innocent people have lost their lives. I'm sorry..."
"..."
Everyone stood stunned hearing Mayuri's sincere words.
Though her expression appeared calm, the tremor in her voice betrayed a profound sense of guilt.
"You're not wrong..." Mayuri finally turned to face Vian.
"If I die, Kerubiel will vanish too. For that..." Her gaze met Vian's directly. "...Kill me."
"..."
Vian froze, unable to speak.
The girl before him looked so fragile and exhausted, as if she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders.
"Do it... right now, I'm at my weakest... Kerubiel won't be able to react after all that... this is your only chance..."
"Iโ"
"DON'T YOU DARE, BASTARD!"
A roar full of fury shattered the silence.
Every head turned, searching for the source of that voice.
Shou stood there, breathing raggedly.
Though unharmed thanks to Mayuri's healing, his tattered clothing proved he'd just passed through a battle of life and death.
"Don't you dare try to kill her!" Shou screamed, his voice hoarse with emotion.
"She's just saved all of us! That monster's appearance wasn't Mayuri's fault! It was just a coincidence!"
"No..." Mayuri shook her head weakly. "This isn't about that monster... From the start, a being like me was never something that should exist in this world..."
Shou was about to argue fiercely when a little girl's sob was heard, drawing everyone's attention.
"Sob... please... stop saying that... don't die..."
The little girl, the ship captain's daughter whom Mayuri had saved, ran forward with tears streaming down her face.
"Y-you don't have to die!" a middle-aged man shouted. "There's still so much you can do in this world!"
"True, that black sphere in the sky has killed many people, but we know it's not your fault!" another added.
"You just need to practice controlling it! Don't give up so quickly!"
The crew members Mayuri had saved began speaking up one by one, their voices full of support and understanding.
"Big sister... don't die... sob..." the little girl sobbed, hugging Mayuri's legs tightly.
Mayuri could no longer refuse.
Her heart was touched by their sincerity. With a gentle smile, she nodded. "Yes... don't worry... I won't die..."
"Really?" the little girl asked, her eyes gleaming with hope.
"Mm..." Mayuri nodded, stroking the little girl's hair with affection.
Everyone let out a sigh of relief, but tension surged again as Vian stepped toward Mayuri.
Shou immediately moved to protect Mayuri, though his body was still weak.
"What are you planning to do? I'll say it now, if you dare touch even the tip of her hair, I'll fight you to the death!"
"..." Vian stared sharply, his expression cold and unreadable.
A moment later, he clicked his tongue.
"Tsk, you've misunderstood... from the start, I never intended to kill her. I just..."
Vian shifted his gaze toward Mayuri, his expression softening slightly.
"...Thank you for saving us. That's what I wanted to say."
"Huh?" Shou blinked in disbelief.
"What? I'm not so shameless as to forget the debt I owe to someone who saved my life." Vian straightened his shoulders with dignity.
"So... I, on behalf of the Lightsun Empire, will guarantee your safety from this moment forward."
"Huh?!"
"P-Prince, what are you thinking?!"
The Rank S Hunters exchanged confused glances, their faces deathly pale.
Vian's declaration was equivalent to announcing that Mayuri's enemies were now the empire's enemies!
The problem was, after this incident, Mayuri would surely have many enemies, meaning the empire's enemies would multiply as well!
With all the problems they'd already faced, adding protecting Mayuri to that, the situation would grow even more complicated and dangerous!
However...
"Silence." Vian's voice was cold and firm.
"This is my decision as Third Prince. Consider it with logic. Making a future Rank SSS Hunter an ally, or letting her die, which is more valuable to the empire?"
"T-that's..."
The Hunters fell silent, unable to argue.
Rank SSS Hunters were indeed extremely rare and precious. It took decades, even centuries, to produce a Hunter of that caliber.
Even the Lightsun Empire, renowned for its combat strength, only had two Rank SSS Hunters.
"In that case, stop talking so much," Vian said coldly, then turned back to face Mayuri.
"So? That's not a bad offer, is it? You don't have to come with me to the capital. You're free to go wherever you like, as long as the empire can still protect you."
This time, no one dared oppose Vian's decision.
That offer left Mayuri silent, seeming to weigh it carefully.
"I..." Mayuri's gentle voice broke the silence.
"Don't know what to do, but that offer sounds very beneficial to me. So..."
Her gaze shifted to Vian, full of gratitude. "...From now on, please take care of me."
Vian smiled faintly, satisfaction in his gaze. "Of course. As long as I live, no one will be able to touch you."
"..."
Shou, witnessing all of this, clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, his teeth grinding as he held back his emotions.
In his heart, he desperately hoped Mayuri would refuse Vian's offer, but he also knew... this was the best choice for the girl's safety.
'I... am too weak...'
Shou realized his own weakness. Though he was actually strong enough by beginner Hunter standards, his opponent this time was beyond human comprehension and could only be faced by a special being like Mayuri.
'I have to become stronger. Strong enough that this world trembles and fears me.'
With burning resolve, Shou vowed to train the power he'd received from Mayuri to its absolute limit.
Staring at Kerubiel still hovering in the sky, he thought in silence.
'If I can control that creature and the other Angels... there'll be nothing left to fear.'
[Stay determined, Host. The System will always support you]
Reading that message, Shou smiled faintly.
Looking at Mayuri's peaceful face, he took a long breath.
Whatever it was, thank goodness it was all over...
Everyone prepared to head back, relieved that the crisis had passed...
๐๐๐ผ๐ฝ!
"Eh?"
Time seemed to freeze.
Mayuri, the girl who'd been calm and gentle, now stood frozen in place.
A sharp ice sword pierced through her chest without warning.
The girl's eyes widened in shock and confusion.
Even Mayuri herself seemed not to understand what had happened.
Thick red liquid began flowing from the corner of her mouth.
"Cough..."
Blood spewed out.
"M-MAYURI!"
"DAMN IT!"
Shou ran toward her in panic while Vian, his face full of fury, immediately attacked the mysterious assailant!
๐ฝ๐ผ๐!!
Battle erupted once more. A tremendous collision between ice and fire, blindingโ
โbut fate had other plans.
๐ฝ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐๐!
"Puhak!"
Vian was sent flying, slamming hard into the ground, his body pinned beneath a crushing cold pressure.
Lethal ice quickly froze his body.
The Rank S Hunters who tried to help their master were startled by the roar of a giant ice dragon that hurled them all away without mercy.
"D-damn it... cough..." Vian coughed blood, his eyes staring with pure hatred. "Frost Assassin..."
The masked figure standing before them was none other than Lux...
"Y-you... you've been waiting all this time..."
"Your guess is correct," Lux answered flatly. "Unfortunately, there's no prize for your guess."
"W-what do you want from that girl?"
Lux tilted his head, a gesture that would have seemed almost innocent if not for the killing aura radiating from his body.
"A foolish question. Just as you desired her power, I desire it too."
"Fuck..."
"Under normal circumstances, I would have had difficulty attacking her," Lux continued casually.
"But thanks to you and that uninvited Demon, I succeeded without any resistance at all."
"The empire won't let you escape!" Vian threatened, struggling hard to free himself from the ice locking his body.
"A terrifying threat," Lux replied mockingly. "But unfortunately, that doesn't apply to me."
Lux turned and walked away casually, ignoring Vian as if he were nothing more than a worthless insect.
Vian tried to struggle, but it was futile.
His body, already weakened from the earlier battle, was now even more helpless.
The same happened to the other Hunters. They all lay helpless, defeated without any meaningful resistance.
"M-Mayuri..."
Meanwhile, Shou cradled Mayuri's blood-soaked body.
His hands trembled violently, tears streaming down his cheeks. He tried to press down on the wound in the girl's chest, but the blood kept flowing without stopping.
"Cough... cough... stop... no need to keep trying..." Mayuri said weakly, her cold hand touching Shou's face.
"NO! Please! Hold on! I beg you, hold on!" Shou screamed in desperation. "System! DO SOMETHING, SYSTEM!"
[...]
The System didn't respond, making Shou even more hysterical.
"DAMN IT!"
Why?
Why did misfortune keep befalling him?
Insulted, mocked, dumped, and beaten, he'd endured all that suffering and now the world was trying to snatch away the only person he truly loved?
"Please... hold on..." Shou pleaded amid his sobs.
He couldn't take it anymore, too exhausted by every trial he'd faced.
If he lost Mayuri, he might lose his sanity.
A gentle touch swept across his cheek.
Shou looked up and saw Mayuri smiling peacefully despite her deathly pale face.
"You don't need to cry for me..." she whispered. "I'm a Spirit born from the feeling of love. From the start, my fate was already determined to be like this..."
"No... please..."
[๐๐ผ๐๐! ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ!]
๐ฝ๐๐๐!
A burst of ice struck Shou directly, hurling him several meters away.
His body was gravely wounded, nearly dying.
But with iron resolve, he forced himself to rise, only to see Frost Assassin's figure now standing beside Mayuri.
His mind was in chaos, filled with fury and despair.
"DAMN IT! BASTARD! DON'T GO NEAR HER! STAY AWAY FROM HERโCOUGH! COUGH!"
Shou was too weak to do anything.
He could only watch in horror as that masked figure lifted Mayuri's chin with cold fingers.
"Hm... interesting... this is the first time I've seen a Spirit this pure..." Lux murmured, his voice sounding intrigued.
Lux's gaze behind the mask gleamed with curiosity.
Whether from the effect of her grave injuries or extreme exhaustion, Mayuri's eyes were no longer focused, her vision blurred and unsteady.
The girl's expression looked confused, her cheeks flushed faintly.
As if hypnotized or mistaking the figure before her, Mayuri's weak hand slowly rose, gently stroking Lux's mask down to his neck...
"Ah... ah... I..." Mayuri tried to speak, but her voice caught. With tearful, unfocused eyes, she whispered softly. "I... missed you..."
With those words, the beautiful Spirit lost consciousness.
What was shocking, even in her unconsciousness, Mayuri wrapped her arms around Lux's neck, holding him tightly as if afraid of losing him.
Lux's body paused for a moment.
"Hm... rather odd."
Something that had never been part of the scenario Lux had so meticulously planned.
But a faint smile still spread across his face.
After all... the core of his plan had been fulfilled.
With a graceful motion, Lux lifted Mayuri's wounded body into a princess carry.
Mayuri's white gown was stained with splashes of red blood, contrasting with her pale skin, now looking even paler than usual.
Despite the height difference between them, it wasn't an obstacle.
Lux shifted his gaze toward Shou.
The young man still stood frozen, his eyes empty, as if his soul had been torn from within.
"I already told you," Lux said in a tone both cold and melodic,
"That borrowed power of yours... will become mine."
His hand gently stroked Mayuri's hair, as if soothing a sleeping child.
Shou clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. Cold sweat trickled down his temples as his body trembled, holding back fury and fear.
"Y-you can't do that..." his voice caught. "I-I'm still bound by contract with her! Remember! If I die, then Mayuri will die too!" he screamed, his voice cracking.
In his heart, Shou cursed himself. He'd never wanted to use a threat like this, but what other choice did he have?
For Mayuri's safety, he had to do whatever he could!
Their contract bond was the only trump card he had left!
He remembered clearly the terms of their contract. If one of them died, the other would follow.
It was a clever plan as insurance, but...
"Ah, that," Lux tilted his head with an unnatural motion. "It seems you haven't realized it yet. Since I appeared... this girl had already terminated her contract."
Those words struck Shou like thousands of ice needles.
"Huh? T-terminated the contract? Y-you must be joking..." His voice trembled, more like a frightened whisper.
Lux chuckled softly, a sound like crystal bells shattering.
"You really don't know anything about this Spirit, do you?" His words pierced through Shou's doubt.
"She is a Spirit full of kindness. So... isn't it only natural she'd terminate her contract the moment her contractor faced potential death?"
Shou's eyes widened. Those words felt like a direct blow to his chest.
"No, no, NO!" he screamed, trying to summon Kerubiel's power, the Angel that had always been the source of his ability!
Normally, flashes of golden lightning would appear from his hands, surrounding his body with a terrifying aura.
But this time... nothing happened.
Only emptiness and suffocating silence.
Slowly, Shou could feel his body, once strong and agile, equivalent to Rank B Hunter or higher, beginning to weaken.
His muscles seemed to shrink, his bones felt brittle, and the energy that once flowed powerfully through his body was now like a dried-up river.
He'd returned to his original physical state, Rank E Hunter.
A loser.
"Thank you for everything," Lux said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "From now on, this Spirit belongs to me."
Lux's gaze gleamed with a supernatural light, creating strange shadows across his perfect face.
"So... farewell."
In the blink of an eye, the air around them swirled, creating a small whirlwind of glittering ice powder. Mayuri still lay limp in his arms.
Then both of them vanished, leaving only ice dust that slowly fell to the ground and melted.
Shou fell to his knees.
His world shattered in an instant.
His power, his status, and most importantly, Mayuri, all had been taken from him.
"๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!!!"
His scream echoed, marking the beginning of a descent into madness that would change his fate forever.