Izumi stared at the Spirit Crest engraved on the back of his right hand.
A satisfied smile slowly appeared on his face.
Once Est fully digested the power she had absorbed, she would become something truly extraordinary.
The strongest sword in the entire dimensional realm.
A blade capable of threatening even Single-Digit beings.
Just imagining it filled him with anticipation.
It had been a very long time since something had excited him this much.
After giving the Spirit Crest one final glance, Izumi nodded in satisfaction.
Meanwhile, throughout Dimension City, countless people finally felt the terrifying pressure disappear.
A collective sigh of relief spread across the city.
The oppressive sword aura that had hung over everyone's heads for three days was finally gone.
Many people felt as though they had narrowly escaped disaster.
The sensation had been like standing beneath a divine blade that could descend at any moment.
Nobody wanted to experience that again.
Just then, a familiar gap opened nearby.
A figure stepped out gracefully.
Yukari Yakumo.
The moment she arrived, she looked around curiously before focusing her gaze on Izumi.
"My, my."
"So you're finally finished."
"You caused quite a commotion, you know?"
"A lot of people thought you were planning something terrifying."
As she spoke, Yukari's eyes wandered around the area.
It was obvious she was searching for the source of the sword aura.
Seeing her behavior, Izumi immediately understood what she was looking for.
He raised his right hand and showed her the Spirit Crest.
"I obtained something interesting."
"I used it all to strengthen Est."
Yukari blinked.
"That Sword Spirit?"
Then she clicked her tongue.
"How frightening."
"Just sensing that aura made my scalp go numb."
She wasn't exaggerating.
Even with her current level of power, the sword intent that had filled the world over the last few days had made her instinctively wary.
It was because of that overwhelming pressure that she had rushed over as soon as the phenomenon ended.
Now that she understood the reason, she was even more shocked than before.
Of course, she knew who Est was.
The Sword Spirit who had remained by Izumi's side for years.
A quiet silver-haired girl who happened to be one of his many companions.
At that thought, Yukari looked at Izumi with a rather complicated expression.
This guy really had a weakness for petite girls...
The moment he noticed her gaze, Izumi frowned.
"What?"
"Do you have something to say?"
Yukari immediately rolled her eyes.
"No."
"How could I possibly have any complaints?"
"Now that I know what happened, I'll be on my way."
"See you later."
With that, she turned around and prepared to leave.
After all, her curiosity had already been satisfied.
There was no reason for her to remain any longer.
Unfortunately for her, Izumi clearly had other ideas.
The instant Yukari attempted to open a gap and escape, her expression changed.
"Huh?"
The surrounding space suddenly froze.
The gaps she controlled were forcibly sealed.
At the same time, her strength began rapidly draining away.
"W-Wait—"
Her body weakened.
Her knees gave out beneath her.
Just as she was about to collapse face-first onto the ground, a hand reached out and caught her.
Izumi looked down at her with an amused smile.
"You came all the way here."
"Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Yukari immediately understood what was happening.
Her face turned bright red.
"You pervert."
"Not today."
"Let me go already."
Her voice carried a rare hint of embarrassment.
Seeing her reaction, Izumi couldn't help teasing her.
"You're acting like a shy maiden."
The moment those words left his mouth, veins appeared on Yukari's forehead.
Her embarrassment instantly transformed into fury.
"You idiot!"
"Who are you calling a shy maiden?!"
"You're impossible!"
In an instant, she lunged at him and grabbed his collar.
The dignified Sage of Gensokyo had completely abandoned her composure.
Izumi merely laughed.
With casual ease, he restrained the furious youkai.
The struggle between the two continued as their familiar bickering echoed across the summit of the Sephiroth Tree.
For anyone watching from afar, it looked less like a confrontation between transcendent beings and more like a quarrel between an old married couple.