"Whoa, what on earth is that guy doing..."
Cartethyia watched Phrolova below, who had been pushed to her limits by Aeron and entered her second phase, feeling sowhat uneasy.
At this point, she would no longer shrink from responsibilities entrusted by Aeron, but the situation below was clearly not sothing she could casually intervene in now.
She and Ciaccona were standing on high ground, as per Aeron's prior instructions. Judging from Carlotta and the others' condition earlier, he had probably used so thod to suppress Resonance Power.
This was sowhat convenient for Cartethyia, whose Resonance Power was currently weak, but at best it was rely a 15% discount.
To ensure success, she still needed so assistance.
With this thought, Cartethyia turned to look at Ciaccona beside her.
"Ehehe, my battle-damaged partner is so cool too..."
But still, isn't this way too relaxed?
"Um... Miss Ciaccona?"
"Ah! Y-yes!"
Ciaccona snapped back to attention, her face still flushed, hastily picking up her lute. She cleared her throat lightly, trying to put on a serious expression, but the excitent in her eyes hadn't completely faded.
"Ahem... Little Carte, are you preparing to make your move?"
"Yes." Cartethyia nodded, her pale blue eyes fixed intently on the chaotic battlefield below. "We can't delay any longer."
Right now, Aeron had pushed Phrolova to that extent precisely to wait for this opportunity.
Phrolova's attention was completely focused on him and Rover. If they didn't capture Aeron soon, she might overturn all of Ragunna.
Now, what Cartethyia needed to do was wait for Aeron to create an opening, then personally strike, using her sword to kill him...
"..."
Cartethyia took a deep breath, calming her emotions.
Watching Aeron, covered in wounds and barely holding on through sheer willpower, made her heart tighten. He couldn't hold out much longer.
Ciaccona's fingertips lightly brushed across the lute strings, her gaze becoming focused.
"Although I don't know what exactly our partner is planning... since this is his arrangent, let's make this performance as spectacular as possible!"
With that, Ciaccona played her lute, erald musical notes ford from Resonance Power attaching themselves to Cartethyia.
"Concerto Energy, Resonance Chain, Intuition A, Hero Creation EX, Sumr's End Swimming Scales, Buried Together with Lightless Wishes, Soul..."
"The first two are fine, but what are all these things after that..."
Cartethyia watched as the notes flew toward her one by one. Although these things had strange-sounding nas, judging by their effects... they seed quite powerful?
"Don't worry, although my Resonance Power has been sowhat affected too, I wouldn't forget such essential skills~"
Ciaccona winked at Cartethyia, trying to dispel any possible tension with her smile.
There was only one chance, and Cartethyia had to consider whether this was her only opportunity.
anwhile, the two below were suffering.
Under Phrolova's control, Hecate's attacks grew increasingly frenzied, whip-blades covered in barbed edges swinging back and forth, with spider lilies carrying thorns blooming along their paths.
Yet Rover managed to hold her own with nothing but an ordinary sword, its gleam flowing like silk as she precisely parried, dodged, and occasionally even launched counterattacks against Phrolova, forcing Hecate back.
The disadvantage lay in her weapon—after repeated clashes, cracks now covered the sword in Rover's hand.
"Tch."
Rover slid back half a step, her weapon on the verge of breaking, and Phrolova had noticed it too.
"Heh… See? The blade in your hand, the person behind you—all so fragile. Clinging to protection, in the end, you'll have nothing left."
But Rover showed not a hint of wavering. Her grip on the blade remained steady as a rock. After adjusting her breath slightly, she asked the question that concerned her most.
"…What have you all been talking about since earlier?"
She genuinely didn't understand—why did both Aeron and Phrolova keep directing the conversation toward her?
"..."
Phrolova let out a cold, light laugh; she had anticipated this question.
"A hero drowning in obsession and a liar who plays with others' sincerity… Quite the pair, aren't they?"
"Hey, why am I involved in this?"
Aeron's voice cut in, tinged with his usual laziness, though his face was pale from blood loss, he showed no intention of backing down.
"Noise, shut up."
"Hey, isn't your attitude way too biased?"
Ignoring Aeron's retort, Phrolova flicked her baton, and Hecate resud her assault, crimson blood blades swinging once more toward Aeron.
Rover imdiately shifted her stance, her wrist twisting so the blade slid along the whip-blade toward Hecate's wrist, forcing her to withdraw the attack aid at Aeron.
"Instead of acting out here, why not think more about how you're going to deal with the person beside ? Who can understand you if you keep speaking in riddles?"
"Well, you haven't told either…"
Rover returned to Aeron's side, feeling a mix of exasperation and relief that he could still crack jokes at a ti like this—it probably ant everything was still under his control.
"This is a matter between you two… Wouldn't it be boring if I spelled it out?"
Besides… Aeron really didn't have the energy to keep talking now.
Not only was he down to one usable arm, but his bullets were nearly depleted. To keep up with Phrolova, he had given everything he had.
"…So, do you have any plans left? Hurry up and use them."
"Sorry, but I'm really out of ideas now. It's all up to your improvisation, Rover."
All of this was also to create an opportunity for Cartethyia.
As Phrolova watched the two before her, indescribable emotions surfaced in her heart.
"Then let see… how long you can last."
A crimson flash—Hecate gathered her remaining Resonance Power, and the whip-blade in her hand shot toward Rover.
Crack—
A harsh shattering sound rang out. The sword in Rover's hand broke into countless tal fragnts, scattering in all directions!
"...!"
The impact of her weapon breaking caused Rover to stagger, leaving her briefly stunned.
And that montary opening was all Phrolova needed.
Hecate's whip-blade whirled back, aiming straight for the Rover's chest—left wide open after his weapon shattered.
Of course, Phrolova's target was never the Rover.
Because she knew that with just a slight shift in focus, the true prey would be unable to resist.
[Focus Fire, Activate]
Thwack!
The sharp barbs on the whip-blade dug viciously into flesh. Hecate's weapon altered its trajectory at the last mont, piercing Aeron's shoulder instead of striking the Rover.
"...!"
Under the Rover's horrified gaze, Aeron was firmly locked in Hecate's whip-blade, lifted off the ground, and brought before Phrolova.
"Ugh..." Aeron let out a suppressed groan of pain, his face instantly turning as pale as paper. Blood stread rapidly down the grooves of the whip-blade.
Just as Phrolova had anticipated—Aeron would rather endure injury, capture, or even death than let those people co to harm.
How laughable.
"Heh, sacrificing yourself to save others... What a touching performance. Pity it changes nothing—you're still a rat in a trap."
Phrolova looked down at Aeron, restrained by Hecate, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Now is no different from back then, is it? No matter how you struggle, the outco remains the sa."
Aeron raised his head with difficulty, a pained yet mocking smile twisting his lips.
"I'd say... not necessarily."
"Oh?"
Hecate tightened the whip-blade, driving the barbs deeper into Aeron's flesh and drawing another stifled grunt from him.
"It seems your body isn't as tough as your tongue."
"...Otherwise, how would I have let you capture ?"
"What?"
Aeron's words gave Phrolova pause.
After all, if he hadn't allowed it, how else could he die?
—Crack!
Wielding the Bloodpact's Pledge infused with Ciaccona's Resonance Power, Cartethyia leaped down from the high platform the instant Phrolova's attention was fixed on Aeron.
The wind roared in her ears; her heart hamred wildly in her chest.
Cartethyia's eyes locked onto the figure impaled by Hecate's whip-blade—pale-faced, yet still wearing that mocking smile. All hesitation and fear were suppressed in that mont, leaving only one crystal-clear thought: complete the mission he entrusted, end this agonizing charade, and then... take him ho.
The Bloodpact's Pledge humd, resonating with Ciaccona's power, transforming into a streak of light in Cartethyia's hand as she thrust it toward Aeron, suspended mid-air in Hecate's grasp.
I'm sorry, just endure a little longer. It'll be over soon. She can do this—just plunge the sword into his chest. Don't think about anything else.
Cartethyia repeated the mantra to herself.
"Heh."
A soft, knowing, and scornful chuckle escaped Phrolova's lips.
Just as the Bloodpact's Pledge in Cartethyia's hand was about to reach Aeron, countless crimson sonic blades encircled her.
From the very beginning, Phrolova had kept part of her focus alert for potential ambushes—especially any attempt to "silence" Aeron.
She understood the nuisance of Aeron's "immortality" trait all too well and would never allow anyone to "help" him escape his suffering or exploit the situation.
5%...
Cartethyia stared at Aeron who stood so close yet felt impossibly distant—his pale face, the pierced shoulder, that complex expression she couldn't decipher—everything was painfully vivid, while the sharp hum of sonic blades scread in her ears.
It's over.
This thought, accompanied by icy despair, instantly froze Cartethyia's blood.
I'm going to fail.
He had suffered so much, played this long charade, endured countless blows, all to create this single mont of opportunity for her.
Yet she couldn't even reach him from this close distance.
"Persona!"
A hoarse roar echoed as the familiar, nacing shadow instantly unfolded around Cartethyia.
Thud.
The dense crimson sonic blades collided with "Arsène's" claws, producing dull explosive sounds.
The shadow trembled violently, emitting pained screeches as its color visibly faded, but it successfully blocked all attacks.
"Ah!"
As the shadow screeched, Cartethyia felt her waist tighten, wrapped and pulled by a cold force—"Arsène" had used its remaining power to drag her out of the crimson sonic blades' encirclent, landing so distance away. The Bloodpact's Pledge flew from her hand, clattering to the ground.
"How tily protection," Phrolova's cold voice ca, tinged with displeasure and sarcasm. She didn't spare Cartethyia another glance, her eyes settling on Aeron's increasingly weak face. "Having her kill you? Is this your prepared 'surprise'?"
Hearing Phrolova's words, Aeron only let out a long sigh.
Not because the plan had failed, but as if relaxing, his entire body went slack.
Who would have thought, who would have thought—the current situation was that Cartethyia wanted him dead, while Phrolova wouldn't let him die.
The world had turned upside down.
But well, things were pretty much over now.
To prevent Phrolova from detecting that his true core lay within the Bloodpact's Pledge, he had expended trendous effort.
"So I said... this is why you lose to , Phrolova."
"...What?"
"Of course, it's because Rover understands better than you do."
Squelch!
Before Phrolova could react, the blade of Bloodpact's Pledge pierced through Aeron's chest, then directly stabbed into Phrolova's right shoulder.
Rover had transford annihilating Resonance Power into wings, retrieved the Bloodpact's Pledge at maximum speed, and fulfilled the promise between Cartethyia and Aeron in her place.
"...Sorry for making you do this again."
A gentle apology—Aeron had never heard Rover use such a tone before.
"It's fine, consider it my own choice."
The mont these words fell, Rover felt emptiness in her sword-wielding hand. When she ca to her senses, Aeron had already disappeared.
Then, her gaze t the only other person remaining on the field.
Phrolova pressed against the gushing blood from her shoulder, her eyes locked intensely on Rover.
"So... this is your choice. You'd rather be used as a pawn, even violating your own creed to stop ?"
Rover held the Bloodpact's Pledge horizontally before her, blood droplets rolling off the blade.
"I made my judgnt. Choosing to help him was my will."
"Gurgle... gurgle..."
Upon hearing Rover's words, Phrolova let out two soft chuckles.
She knew their current opposition was also born of her own will.
"Then let see how long you can protect him."
The aura around Phrolova suddenly turned violent as Hecate behind her released a piercing shriek. The crimson glow further saturated Ragunna's seas and skies.
"Either hand him over to obediently... or let all of Ragunna be buried alongside him."
Having co this far, Phrolova no longer cared about the consequences.
No matter what, she would settle matters concerning Aeron here today.
"I choose the third option."
Rover tightened their grip on the sword hilt and stepped forward alone, shielding all of Ragunna behind them.
anwhile, the Bloodpact's Pledge in their hand began radiating dazzling light.
[Cause of Death: Impalent]
[Rating: S, Skewered Special]
"Alright, enough with your dark humor. Hand over the rewards now."
[Would you like to use all accumulated rewards at once?]
"Is that even a question? I'm going all in!"
[Understood, calculating death settlent... Selected item: Bloodpact's Pledge, Resonance link target: Rover]
[Item reforging complete]
[—Holy Sword, Unsheathed]
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