Meanwhile, outside the space.
The moment everyone saw the mysterious shrine maiden appear.
In truth, many among them had already vaguely noticed something.
Kiana and Bronya shared a knowing look, and then Mei pursed her pink lips.
Rita blinked, looking thoughtful.
Only the genius Dr. Tesla, seeing everyone winking and exchanging secret signals, was left completely bewildered.
"Are your eyes itchy? I have some Homu eye drops here... anyone want some?"
"..."
Everyone ignored Tesla; in daily life, her emotional intelligence was a stark contrast to her IQ.
First, Fu Hua pushed up her glasses: "If I'm not mistaken, Student Yunduo might be able to use her special abilities while undergoing special mission challenges inside the space."
"It seems so," Theresa nodded in agreement.
Yunduo's ability to transform into other forms was no longer a big secret within the academy.
Kiana and the others, Himeko, and Fu Hua mostly knew about it.
And Rita, the cunning maid, had likely guessed everything as well.
Without saying more, every scene before them left them deeply shocked.
Everyone held their breath, watching as Yae Sakura made her final choice. The Tachi, representing the severing of all past ties, swung for the fatal blow.
The blade fell, and the night grew even more crimson.
Everything was stained with the violence of revenge and resentment.
She was no longer who she used to be—that ignorant and pure shrine maiden.
After that single strike, everything no longer had anything to do with her.
Yae Sakura softly took that step, resolutely and fearlessly choosing the darker path.
Even if the end of the road was an endless abyss, she would no longer regret it.
Such villagers, such things she had protected... they were better off gone!
She should have prepared to take this step long ago.
Rather than letting herself regret it, it was better to make the decision early.
All the beautiful things in the world are not obtained through the charity of others.
Rather than letting Rin die in painful illness, she would bear all the sins and suffering. Let the god-defying shrine maiden carry it all and walk silently toward the dark side where bones piled like mountains.
This was Yae Sakura's choice!
This was her final choice as a shrine maiden!
Defying a god?
What she defied was not just the evil god before her.
But also everything she once adhered to!
Her duties as a shrine maiden and those earnest expectations had twisted around her like a dense spiderweb.
As a fire dissipated, the web completely turned into white smoke; she was like a new being.
The blood-dripping blade would remember the god-defying shrine maiden of this moment!
But when the final god appeared, the intense pressure left everyone present in awe.
This might be the final battle.
This was Inari, the god that Yae Village had always worshipped.
The god had been resurrected.
It was originally just a statue, but at some point, it had evolved into a true life form.
Finally, petals fell from the sky, and an ocean of cherry blossoms slowly rose into the air.
Kiana's eyes sparkled as she couldn't help but exclaim, "Such beautiful cherry blossoms. So many... is this the sea of flowers Yunduo mentioned?"
"How strange. Is this her attack? To create so many petals even as the cherry blossoms wither."
Fu Hua also let out a soft exclamation, surprised by this momentary brilliance and splendor.
What beautiful flowers! In this world of cherry-blossom pink, everything was draped in a romantic hue.
The decaying gray earth, the pitch-black night sky, the crimson blood flowing on the ground.
Everything was covered in cherry pink, as if all other colors had been forcibly erased.
An invisible hand picked up a large brush soaked in pink paint and splashed it with vigorous strokes.
The eyes of everyone were filled with the strange petals.
Petals are beautiful because their blooming period is short; that momentary beauty leaves the deepest impression in one's heart.
But what about those rising flowers?
As long as the shrine maiden in the Inari mask did not draw her blade, they could bloom in their most beautiful state forever.
Over time, the eternally existing petals began to feel distorted to everyone.
Awkward, strange, and stiff.
These flowers that should have withered remained in full bloom in mid-air.
It couldn't help but send a chill down one's spine; such an existence that defied common sense made one doubt their own eyes.
Suddenly, they saw the dance of the petals, each one containing a cold killing intent.
Then, it was like a firework going off.
"Bang!"
Blood blossomed, and the blade roared.
The crimson god's body was sliced open by the petals, like meat being slaughtered on a butcher's block.
The dozens of petals from each cherry blossom were like sharp blades, cutting the fox god into tiny fragments like cherry blossoms.
The petals drifted away, passing along with the god's demise.
A torrential rain arrived, and Yae Village no longer possessed the protection of a god.
Because the god—
Was killed by the shrine maiden.
The performance of the eternal sea of flowers came to an end.
With a flash of white light, Yae Sakura and Yunduo appeared before everyone.
Seeing Yunduo, Kiana instinctively covered her mouth; the final scene of killing the god made her feel a bit nauseous.
"Ugh... such a cruel attack. I haven't even eaten yet."
"Mei, when Kiana gets home later, make her a bowl of meat soup," Bronya said softly.
At this moment, Theresa hurried to support Yae Sakura, whose cheeks were slightly pale.
"Sister Sakura, how are you feeling?"
"I..."
Yae Sakura hesitated as the sealed memories from the space suddenly rushed back.
It turned out she had experienced those painful memories once again.
Only this time, she had made a choice, with Yunduo's help.
Strange memories and familiar feelings intertwined, blurring her vision and making it hard to process for a moment.
In that space... did I kiss her?
Thinking of this, Yae Sakura looked toward Yunduo, who was sitting on Project Bunny.
She saw that the person who had just been slaying a god inside the space was now acting as if nothing had happened, chatting and laughing with Bronya.
Casting aside her stray thoughts for now, Yae Sakura's heart was completely shocked the moment she realized the reward.
Not only was she shocked, she felt her soul burning; five hundred years of bitterness and hardship erupted in an instant.
Crystal tears fell from the corners of her eyes.
"Sister Sakura, what's wrong?"
Theresa asked worriedly.
"Rin... my Rin."
Yae Sakura murmured, spreading open the cherry blossom petal Yunduo had given her.
A flash of pink light obscured everyone's vision; the cherry blossom petal swayed, and a fresh fragrance wafted toward them.
When they regained their senses from the flash, a little girl with cherry-pink hair was lying on the ground, looking as if she had slept for a very, very long time.
At this moment, Yae Rin opened her eyes hazily, and the first person she saw was the weeping Yae Sakura.
"Sister... what's wrong?"
"I seem to have slept for a bit too long."
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