The battle was completely over.
"Aiden!"
Hyacine was the first to shake off the shock, her pink twin-tails carving an arc through the air.
Ignoring the rubble and the still-cooling scorched earth, she ran toward Aiden, who stood at the edge of the deep pit, with all her might.
Robin, Tifa, Jeanne d'Arc, Daphne, and Cassandra quickly rushed forward as well.
After hours of continuous, high-intensity combat transcending his level, coupled with that terrifying, all-consuming final strike, no matter how strong Aiden's regenerative abilities were, he had likely reached his absolute limit.
"We Who Fly Into the Dawn..."
Hyacine chanted rapidly as she ran.
Little Ica, the small pink Pegasus, leaped out of the void, flapping its short wings to hover above Aiden's head, showering him in a gentle, clear rain of light.
As the rain of light fell upon Aiden, it rapidly soothed his erratic breathing and his nearly dried-up mental energy.
Cassandra also raised her holy crystal staff high, releasing a soft, healing light.
But just as everyone focused their attention on Aiden, Astrea's expression suddenly changed drastically.
Previously, she had been entirely captivated by the earth-shattering battle between Aiden and Eula, unable to tear her focus away.
It wasn't until the light cannon subsided and the surrounding magic fluctuations began to drop that she suddenly felt it. That Falna—the one that had once disappeared and had now miraculously returned—was approaching them at an extremely fast pace.
"Careful, Alise is nearby," Astrea shouted, spinning around sharply to warn them.
Her voice wasn't loud, but the content of her words instantly caused everyone present to tense up.
Tifa and Daphne, who were just about to ask about Aiden's condition, immediately paled.
Tifa reflexively clenched her fists, dropping into a fighting stance as her sharp gaze swept the surroundings. Daphne placed her hand on the rapier at her waist.
Without any hesitation, Robin closed her eyes, spreading her perception outward layer by layer.
"Aiden, drink this first."
Ignoring the sudden development around them, Hyacine pulled a vial filled with golden liquid from the small pouch at her waist and shoved it directly to Aiden's lips.
Aiden didn't hesitate. He tilted his head back and downed the entire vial of Elixir in one gulp.
This item was astronomically expensive, costing over five hundred thousand Valis a vial. It was a life-saving trump card meticulously prepared by the Focalors Familia for this deep exploration, and he had originally wanted to conserve it slightly.
But Astrea's warning made him realize that another desperate battle was likely imminent. Now was not the time to be stingy with money.
The Elixir flowed down his throat, transforming into a torrential wave of heat that swept through his entire body.
Paired with Hyacine and Cassandra's healing magic, the bone-deep sword wounds and frostbite on Aiden's skin scabbed over and peeled off at a visible rate. His depleted mental energy also recovered significantly.
He looked down at the Fire Spirit Sword in his hand, now nothing more than a bare hilt.
Having endured the dual strain of Everlasting Flames and Unsheathed Heavenly Fire, the blade of this Third-Class Weapon had long since completely vaporized, having fulfilled its final purpose.
Casually tossing aside the ruined hilt, Aiden reached out his left hand and pulled a brand-new backup longsword from the backpack Hyacine handed him.
Footsteps.
It wasn't the roar of a monster, but the crisp sound of metal combat boots stepping onto the damp rock.
Everyone turned their heads in unison, looking in the direction of the sound.
Soon, a red silhouette emerged from the shattered cavern tunnel ahead.
The newcomer wore a striking red ponytail that blazed like fire, and she wore a set of light armor bearing obvious signs of damage.
Her right arm hung low, dragging a slightly heavy longsword that scraped against the ground, producing an ear-piercing screech.
It was none other than the Crimson Flower of Justice—Alise Lovell.
When Alise walked out of the cavern and caught her first glimpse of Aiden standing ahead, it was as if some instinct branded into the depths of her shell had been triggered.
No ripples stirred in her lifeless, hollow green eyes, but her wrist flipped instantly, raising the longsword without a shred of hesitation.
A hoarse, low chant spilled from the mouth of this physical vessel, carrying a trace of mechanical coldness.
In an instant, scorching crimson flames erupted from her body, wrapping around her limbs and longsword like fresh blood.
The familiar Agaris Alves magic spiked the ambient temperature to an unbearable extreme in the blink of an eye, locking its killing intent firmly onto Aiden.
"Alise!"
Right at that moment, Astrea took two steps forward, shouting with all the strength in her body.
That voice contained far too many emotions.
There was shock, there was grief, there was disbelief, but more than anything, there was a longing that transcended time and death.
The moment she heard Astrea's voice, Alise's flame-wreathed body trembled violently.
The shell that should have only slaughtered on instinct actually forcefully halted its forward charge.
She turned her head stiffly, following the call to look in Astrea's direction.
Their eyes met.
In that instant, Aiden, standing off to the side, clearly caught the subtle change on Alise's face.
Her originally hollow, lackluster eyes widened slightly the second they reflected Astrea's figure.
Even that faint fluctuation was enough to prove her eyes were no longer lifeless voids. Instead, ripples of something called "self" had begun to stir.
It was a struggle, confusion, and even mixed with a trace of imperceptible pain.
The next second, defying everyone's expectations, Alise abruptly turned around.
She didn't launch an attack, nor did she continue to approach. Instead, she pushed the flames on her limbs to the absolute limit, transforming into a red shooting star as she bolted madly back down the passage, never once looking back.
Her speed was astonishing, even leaving a scorched afterimage in the air. Before anyone could react, she vanished completely into the depths of the dim visual range.
"Alise!"
Astrea chased after her for a few steps, calling out loudly once more. But this time, only the echoes of her voice lingered in the passage; she failed to call back the fleeing red-haired girl.
The Goddess of Justice stopped in place, her hands covering her chest. She lowered her head as two streams of clear tears slid silently from the corners of her eyes, dampening the ground.
She didn't need any additional proof.
In that fleeting glance just now, relying on her divine intuition, she had already drawn her conclusion.
That is my child.
Although she didn't know exactly what methods the Dungeon had used, nor whether the soul was complete, that was definitely not an empty husk like Eula.
Alise's soul was awakening inside that body; she was returning, little by little.
That feeling was absolutely unmistakable.
That was Alise herself
----
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