"Rina, I know you like young Enrico, but your dad will be sad if you change the name he gave you, don't you think?"
Her mother sighed with regret, but Rina did not care. She wanted the name to be Enrico because it was he who had mentioned so much to her how to obtain the ego weapon. The only problem was that her father would be sad.
"It's fine, Mom. The name of my complete ego weapon will be Enkaitō Mikazuki Enrico, while the name of my Ketsumei will be revealed when it releases its first ability."
"Even so— you know what, I think your father might agree with that name too, especially since he likes young Enrico."
Rina agreed with her. Her father would certainly accept it, and now that her mother had given up on making her change the name, she could be satisfied with the sword's name.
'I will make this ego weapon the strongest in the world, just as my Ketsumei will be one day.'
That desire was not just something that might happen in the future. Just like her, her ego weapon had developed an ability to grow alongside her and Enrico, and that was more than perfect for her. Because of that, her confidence in defeating her two opponents was at its peak. This ability was the first of the sword, while the other was a domain over shadows, though she still did not know everything it could do.
"Let me introduce the weapon that will one day be the strongest in the world."
A crushing pressure spread out, making Karyu choke. The flowers on the battlefield that she had hidden as traps instantly withered, turning to dust as Rina's magic expanded around them. Pegra felt a discomfort he had not felt in a very long time.
"Karyu, prepare to receive the pain."
"Tsk."
The sword had an irregular edge, as if it had been broken and reforged many times. Unstable runes ran along the blade, pulsing like living veins. The mana emanating from it was violent, destructive, almost unnatural. Rina raised the ego sword, her eyes shining with intensity, and the blade vibrated as if responding.
Each step she took seemed to crush space itself. The shadow beneath her feet unraveled, unable to maintain its form. The Profane Vigil Domain collapsed completely.
"Pegra, the bond between us is unstable."
"Damn it."
Pegra tried to retreat, but Rina was already too close. There was a way to end this fight quickly. Since the two together were on her level, she needed to eliminate one, making the fight against the other much easier. Raising her sword, she added her own magic to the blade.
"Disintegration."
A single horizontal slash was made, and there was no light, no exaggerated explosion. Just an invisible line that passed through Pegra. For a second, nothing happened. Then the Nartheis's body began to come apart—not into pieces, but into dust. The black feathers disintegrated first, followed by flesh, bones, and finally the mana itself.
"N-No—"
Karyu screamed, feeling the Bond transfer the effect. But this time, there was no damage to divide. The anchor of existence failed. Karyu collapsed to the ground, feeling her own body begin to partially fragment. Her left arm turned to dust up to the elbow, tearing a desperate scream from her.
Rina stopped a few steps away, watching coldly, and pointed her katana at Karyu. Karyu, in black tears, looked at the human.
"W-what… what are you…?"
"The one who will be the strongest in the world alongside my Ketsumei."
Yes, that was right. Her initial reason had always been to become stronger, and deep down she wanted only one thing—for Tsuyokuni to return to its peak. Being the strongest was part of that, though now it was only part of what she wanted, since she had Enrico by her side.
"Your power is interesting, so it's better not to leave it in the hands of the Nartheis."
She turned toward the five-meter golden vault, while behind her Karyu slowly fell apart, unable to maintain her form without the bond. Her face was filled with despair, and without a doubt she had given up on fighting now that her partner with good synergy was dead.
Rina approached the golden square, placing her hand on its cold surface. She hoped this would be useful for her Ketsumei. Behind her, Karyu saw herself disappearing and resorted to the only thing she could think of.
"Let's see… what were you keeping to deserve two level-two Ranvil?"
"I can help, so please stop that magic."
Rina turned her head toward Karyu with interest in what she might say. She did not know how to open that golden square, so asking for information could be useful. Besides, her Ketsumei would be proud of her if she obtained information she might not know about the castle, even if it was difficult.
"And how could you help me?"
"In every possible way, because I hate everyone in this castle except two people."
"That's interesting, but you still haven't answered my question, Nartheis."
Karyu nodded quickly and took something from her pocket—a small metal sphere. As she stood up, she went to where Pegra had died and picked up a small piece of metal. Rina allowed her enemy to move, but she gripped her katana tightly, preparing the same movement that had killed Pegra.
"See, I'm useful. If I just bring the two together, they'll turn into a key."
Channeling mana into the two pieces of metal, they fused, transforming into a key. As she approached the square, the key began to turn golden, and a perfect hole appeared for it to fit into. She inserted it and turned it, and an opening formed in the center, revealing a golden syringe filled with liquid of the same color.
"That was it? Why were you keeping this syringe here?"
"That syringe has special blood. To reach that level of purity, it took many years. That bastard kept it here until it was completed."
Rina removed the syringe from its place, examining it closely before hiding it within the shadow of her ego sword, Enrico. The key disappeared as if it had been stored away.
"So it's complete?"
"No, it still needs a few more times."
"Whose blood is this?"
Karyu seemed to want to avoid the question, but Rina's deadly stare made her tremble in fear.
"I'll tell you, but please don't hurt her."
Meanwhile, in another place, inside a cage, a boy with black hair tipped with gold stared at a screen where Aoi appeared. The girl had a lifeless expression, as if she had no emotions.
"Damn it, another sacrifice for him."