Frey’s movements were unimpeded.
Cartia’s strides were unwavering.
Frey didn’t glance back at Cartia, who was a step behind.
Cartia didn’t doubt Frey, who was a step ahead.
They didn’t exchange words.
They didn’t lock eyes.
Instead, they just trusted each other blindly, diligently handling their respective tasks.
In a world engulfed in darkness, the relentless frenzy of Frey’s Great Sword became a guiding light for Cartia. Sometimes a shield, sometimes a stepping stone, sometimes a sword, it illuminated her path ahead.
Cartia walked forward, assured by the open path. She never let the light of the guiding flame fade. She kept her gaze fixed ahead, not looking at what she needed to cut. She only focused on the play unfolding before her.
Until Cartia’s sword made contact.
Until Frey’s sword reached its target.
They diligently built their foundation until a perfect victory was achieved.
But it wasn’t easy.
In a relentless offensive where they could neither retreat nor avoid, they swung their swords more fiercely than anyone else. Their drops of blood sparkled endlessly, like starlight brightening the night sky.
The howl of the crashing wave echoed as if the sky was crying out in agony.
The pressure that burst forth made even my skin tingle from afar.
A disaster that no human body could possibly withstand.
Unique abilities containing the essence of all Masters, except Aaron, sharpened themselves only to kill them.
Yet, the competitive spirit that flickered on their faces didn’t fade. Smiles didn’t vanish. Laughter didn’t cease. The heat didn’t cool. They didn’t tire. They didn’t become heavy.
The light that shone with detachment didn’t extinguish. Like stars shining brighter in darkness, it radiated even more brilliantly in a world filled solely with despair.
Thus, the excruciatingly long battle emerged,
So beautiful it made one forget to breathe.
In the midst of it all, rustle– the flowers surrounding Laila stirred.
Slowly, the vines that began to release her revealed a trail of Killing Intent and wilted feathers. The faint flames and melting ice coffin began to take shape.
After checking on Rubia, who was lying soundly behind, I dashed toward Laila.
She must have felt me approaching, as she slowly raised her heavy-looking eyelids.
The dazed gaze of Laila first turned towards the sky.
To the sky where Cartia and Frey were battling.
The starlight they created flowed chaotically, like a galaxy across the sky.
Gradually, her unfocused gaze began to regain vitality. The eyes that had been looking far away became clear.
Just then, as Laila attempted to rise, the ice coffin encasing her made it impossible for her body to move.
Reluctantly lying back down, Laila turned her head to look at me. Then, she slowly opened her mouth.
[…]
But it seemed her voice wouldn’t come out, as she frowned and gently tapped the ice coffin surrounding her.
I nodded and reached out.
Briefly, before shattering the ice coffin, I checked on Laila’s condition.
crack – crunch – I confirmed she was doing much better than earlier and slowly began to break the ice.
Eventually, a liberated Laila slowly rose, fixing her tousled hair and clothes.
It seemed her voice still wouldn’t come out, as she narrowed her brows.
“Is there really no sound…?”
Laila nodded. Then, with a snap – she broke a branch that had grown beside her and began to carve letters into the small patch of dirt.
slide – scrape
[Aren’t the Shaman and her descendant alright?]
“…I still don’t know. Ser… is getting better, but Rubia is… still the same…”
Laila’s gaze fell upon Ser and Rubia. Her gaze lingered a moment longer on Rubia.
[When her strength recovers a bit more, I must check on the Shaman’s condition. There’s nothing I can do for now.]
“Yeah…”
[It’s all my fault. I sincerely apologize.]
I shook my head.
With her weak hand, Laila patted my shoulder and turned to gaze at the sky.
There, a desperate battle still raged on.
The situation appeared the same as before, but it wasn’t.
The light they bore had grown clearer, and the darkness poured by the black sun had become lighter than before.
It was definitely better than before.
The unfavorable situation tilted towards us.
That’s what I thought.
That’s what I believed.
Until I sensed Laila’s serious expression.
Watching the battle’s dynamics, Laila’s face twisted unusually as she struggled to rise unsteadily.
She swayed, about to fall several times, but roots that sprouted from the ground supported her, helping her stand.
Along with that, Laila began to lead her steps towards Rubia.
Then, rustle – a thin root that had split apart began to carve letters into the fluffy earth beneath.
[Something’s off.]
I gripped Frey and rose from the ground.
[Alstein, I sense the strength of the Nameless One from that guy.]
“…Huh?”
To not sense it?
When I first confronted him earlier, I felt an unidentifiable energy.
A faint presence that couldn’t even be captured by perception, an inconceivable power.
It was a power I had never sensed from the Monsters of End or from Sirin.
Moreover, that power was still clearly tangible. And yet, it wasn’t the power of the Nameless One…?
Laila gazed at my questioning expression and shook her head.
Simultaneously, other letters began to be carved into the ground.
[What you felt wasn’t the power of the Nameless One.]
―――!
The heat of the sun emitted from Alstein blazed fiercely, warming the back of my neck. The Sword Qi surrounding Frey’s Great Sword sharpened even more and grew larger.
[That is the power Alstein himself has accumulated since the Forgotten Era.]
Starlight, which had only been dark, bloomed beautifully across the sky. Collecting that starlight, Frey’s Great Sword became a meteor shower, tracing a stunning trajectory through the dark sky.
[The power wielded by the Nameless One.]
Finally, the trajectory of the stars struck Alstein’s body, creating a swish – a clear sound as it severed his arm. The light wielded by Cartia subsequently crossed Alstein’s body, drawing a long horizon against the dark sky.
[Just like what Lilith possessed—]
As Alstein looked down upon the earth from a high place, he began to fall towards the ground. On top of that, Frey’s Great Sword was forcefully embedded.
Cartia, arriving just a beat later on the ground, rolled her feet and swung the Great Sword with all her might. The light that burst forth brightened the world and dispelled the darkness. Frey’s Great Sword wedged itself into Alstein’s mouth, cutting his tongue and shattering his jaw, enough to tear his chin apart.
thud – Alstein’s chin fell off at the sword’s mark.
What remained was a gaping hole.
Not a human throat, nor a monster’s.
Just an empty void,
Not a means to speak, but merely a tool to emit some sound.
[It’s Divine Power.]
clatter – The relentlessly swinging Frey’s Great Sword came to a halt. Following that, Cartia’s sword also stopped in place.
Where they stood was exactly where Alstein’s heart lay.
At last, Cartia’s sword pierced through Alstein’s heart.
Yet, she did not smile.
With narrowed brows, she merely glared at the gasping Alstein.
Moments later, squish – accompanied by a sticky tearing sound, Cartia’s sword was pulled out.
[You bastard.]
Cartia ground her teeth.
With his chin severed and limbs torn off, Alstein’s body crawled on the ground, lacking a heart.
Seeing this, Frey bit her lip, overlaying Sword Qi on the Great Sword.
Not easing her tension, but rather emanating a sharper Killing Intent, she surveyed their surroundings.
In an atmosphere so tense it felt as if a sharp stake had been thrust in front of his heart.
swish – The body of Rubia, still lying frozen in the ice coffin, began to move.
Her condition was still poor.
The wounds inflicted by Alstein hadn’t healed, and her breath and heartbeat were weaker than before.
Urgently, I turned and rushed to Rubia.
Carefully shattering the ice coffin surrounding her, I grasped Rubia’s weakly trembling hand.
It was cold. I felt no warmth.
It wasn’t soft; it was rough.
Her bones were broken, swollen, and all her nails were pulled out.
Yet, that hand of Rubia’s
slowly gripped mine.
It was tender.
Soft, and cautious.
Unlike usual.
Like someone else, not Rubia.
The moment I felt it,
the moment I realized it wasn’t Rubia,
I tightly gripped the cold hand that was clutching my own.
And at that moment.
A white, slender hand.
The hand that always used to stroke my head.
The hand that used to caress my face.
The hand that intertwined fingers as if to say “I adore you.”
The hand of the person I loved.
thud –
Pierced through my heart.
