New Discord Link in Synopsis as well: sdiscord.gg/WsDS9Tse
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"Ah..." Simultaneously, Aurora's strength waned, and she began to falter. I took a step forward, catching her and preventing her from falling. "T-Thanks." She said holding on my shoulders. "T-Thank you, Amael."
I didn't even know how I was still standing. The Relic of Eden I wielded had undoubtedly saved multiple tis. I had made the right choice by choosing the sword over the Anathemas Fire. It alone was not enough to defeat that man.
"A-Amael!" Aurora's voice trembled as she pointed behind .
Turning around, I saw a dark substance oozing from Morino's twitching body.
My heart skipped a beat.
Without hesitation, I swung my sword, severing Morino's head.
I had nearly forgotten about that damn thing.
All the mbers of the Iris Project had been corrupted and required a double death.
Thankfully, I had slain him before he could awaken that abomination. Otherwise, we would have been dood.
"W-What was that?" Aurora muttered, her voice filled with confusion. "He should have been dead..."
Dead...
I had taken soone's life.
Falling to my knees, I covered my mouth, overwheld by a wave of sickness and guilt. I had never killed before.
"A-Are you okay, Amael?" Aurora knelt down beside , her expression filled with concern.
"Yeah... sowhat..." I managed to reply, my complexion turning paler.
"Could it be that this is the first ti you have killed soone?" Aurora asked as we helped each other to stand.
She guessed right. "Yes…" I nodded. "What about you?" I asked since she helped to kill him after all.
"Um." Aurora nodded. "I feel a little weird but it's alright."
"You saved there princess," I said.
I don't think I would have survived another hit even with Trinity Nihil.
Aurora shook her head tiredly. "You were the one who saved . I wouldn't have been able to beat him alone."
"Neither I." I replied.
Why am I always facing freaks stronger than ?
I still have a long way to go.
Taking out vials from her space ring, Aurora handed one which I took and gulped down. It was regenerating my stamina and increasing the speed of my mana recovering.
"How's your injury?" I asked Aurora, seeing dried blood on her waist. The blood had stopped flowing out sohow but she still took a serious injury.
"Oh, I'm already feeling better," Aurora replied with a smile. "U-Uhm." She made sure to hide her bare waist to since I could see her unblemished skin.
Even masked, I am treated as a scum?
[It must be in your very aura]
What aura?!
"It's all right," I replied, shifting the conversation to Ronald. "How is he doing?"
"He's breathing, but he needs proper healing," Aurora replied, her attention shifting. "Oh, Louisa! She's still fighting! I have to go help her." She started moving, her concern evident.
Damn. I completely forgot about Pyres. Will he ever leave us alone? Damn it!
Before I could devise a plan of escape, a thunderous crash reverberated through the air, snapping our attention back. The smoke cleared, revealing the burning figure of Pyres standing before us. His face was obscured by flas, but sothing was off—a dark substance oozed from within the fire.
He was killed and corrupted. I knew there was no way I could fight him in my current condition.
Just as I pondered our options, a barrage of earth spikes rained down on Pyres, piercing his fiery form from all sides. I turned to see Louisa, her face pale and battered, gasping for air. Despite her exhaustion, she relentlessly attacked Pyres with her outstretched hand.
"Louisa!" Aurora called out, concerned for her well-being.
"Do not approach him, Aura!" Louisa shouted at Aurora, her expression serious and drained compared to her usual calm deanor.
Pyres roared like a beast, charging towards us, his torn body disregarded. He was no longer alive, a re undead.
"Michael!" Aurora attempted to summon mana, but nausea overwheld her. She was completely drained.
Fuck it!
I activated my AP conversion, the affection points within transforming into strength, gradually restoring my energy. It wasn't much in my current state, but it would have to be enough. All I needed to do was sever his head with Trinity Nihil.
Bam! I deflected his blazing fists with my sword, but he stomped the ground, pushing back. He relentlessly pressed forward, his flas scorching my body. Thankfully, Trinity Nihil protected from serious harm.
Louisa hurriedly gathered an imnse amount of mana on our left, preparing her next move. "Deteria Terrestrial!" she exclaid, unleashing a devastating "Shattering Earth" spell.
-Boom!
Pyres was flung away from , hurtling towards a rocky pillar. Without hesitation, Louisa darted past at an astonishing speed, her right hand transforming into a spear of earth. With a swift motion, she stabbed Pyres in the neck.
"Ah!" Pyres' sunfire burned away her spear, but Louisa swiftly conjured two swords in her hands and continued her relentless assault.
What kind of freak is she…?
I was left astounded, witnessing Louisa's remarkable skill. With uncanny precision, she swung her dual swords, striking Pyres with devastating blows. She danced on the edge of danger, narrowly evading his attacks while delivering punishing strikes.
-Boom!
Louisa was repelled once again as Pyres rampaged like a wild beast. The black miasma emanating from him rged with the sunfire, creating a terrifying surge of dark-orange energy.
[If you take that attack, you'll die, sword or no sword.]
Don't scare like that!
[You should run away before it's too late.]
But I glanced at Aurora, exhausted and kneeling, her eyes fixed on Louisa with ragged breaths. I knew I had to convince her to leave, but Louisa would never abandon the fight.
Just as despair threatened to consu , Louisa's voice rang out, filled with determination. "Oh, Deter, grant your divine blessing," she invoked, stretching out her hands in front of her. "Empower to punish those who malign."
The ground trembled beneath us as she continued her incantation, a shimring, brownish-gold energy swirling around her. "Grant the strength of the earth, the power to shape and mold."
Sothing took form on her hands.
A horn.
Not just any horn—a golden one.
Though its appearance was simple, I could sense its significance. Goosebumps prickled across my skin as I witnessed this extraordinary sight.
Finishing her preparations, Louisa opened her hazel eyes and grasped the horn with both hands. It vanished, transforming into a swirling sphere filled with an otherworldly energy. Louisa extended her right hand and released the sphere, proclaiming, "Cornucopia."
Simultaneously, Pyres unleashed a dark beam of energy.
The two powerful forces clashed with a deafening explosion. Louisa's Cornucopia collided with Pyres' darkish beam, creating a cataclysmic display of energy.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the surrounding area, causing the ground to quake violently. Rocks were torn apart, and the air crackled with raw power.
I shielded my eyes from the blinding light.
Then nothing.
There was no more sound.
As I opened my eyes, I found Pyres gone, vanished without a trace. Louisa had eradicated him sohow. I couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
"Louisa!" Aurora exclaid joyfully, rushing towards her. I followed closely behind, my heart filled with a mix of relief and confusion.
But as Louisa stood, her breathing labored, her strength waned. She fell to her knees, all energy drained from her body.
"A-Are you okay?" Aurora panicked, holding Louisa gently. "The Professors will arrive soon—"
"Aura," Louisa interrupted, tapping Aurora's back weakly. "Put down."
Aurora nodded, gently lowering Louisa to the ground. Louisa's eyes appeared unfocused, her expression difficult to read.
"Drink this, Louisa," Aurora offered, attempting to lift Louisa's head, but Louisa shook her head weakly.
"It's enough, Aura."
"B-But—"
"I don't have much ti," Louisa murmured softly.
Aurora's eyes widened in shock, mirroring my own reaction.
"It... It was the price... to kill him," Louisa whispered with a hint of resignation.
"No," Aurora protested, shaking her head as tears stread down her face. "W-We will call the saintess—"
"The saintess is dead, Aura," Louisa cut her off.
The saintess, who could have potentially helped her, had passed away years ago.
Lost in thought, I retrieved my sword and clasped Louisa's hand with mine, holding the sword tightly. But nothing happened—I couldn't sense the sa connection I had with Aurora.
Louisa glanced at , her gaze piercing through . "Can you promise sothing?" she asked suddenly.
"Wh-What?" I stamred, taken aback by her request.
Ignoring my confusion, Louisa continued. "Don't abandon 'them.'"
"!" I choked on my words, realizing that she knew my true identity as Edward. She understood that Iris Project sought and that the lives of our childhood friends were at risk because of .
And... 'them.'
She was referring to everyone from our past.
Miranda, Loid, Ronald, Layla, John, Aurora, Alfred, David, Eric, Rubina, Elona, Thomas, Lyra, Carla, Lucius, and Sylvia.
I opened and closed my mouth, unable to form a coherent response. Louisa...
('Aunt Oryanna will always be with you, Edward') her words echoed in my mind, resurfacing fleeting mories.
"!" My eyes started to turn red so I turned my face away, unable to face Louisa in that mont.
I-I…am sorry.
I am sorry Louisa.
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