"Is this… a Stigmata?"
Holding the blade in her hand, Raiden Mei gazed at the weapon she had used for training, her voice filled with a dreamlike sense of disbelief.
If the sword in her grasp weren't just a practice blade but a divine weapon, the power behind her strike would have been even greater.
If it had been Narukami…
Raiden Mei sheathed her sword. Though countless thoughts about her swordsmanship filled her mind, Kiana was still waiting nearby.
"How does it feel?"
Seeing her put away the blade, Kiana hurried onto the training field to inspect the charred fissure still radiating faint heat.
There were traces of residual Honkai Energy.
Mei's last strike had utilized the power of the Honkai. Clearly, the Honkai Energy density in this world wasn't even five percent yet… No, wait—it was now close to ten percent.
Hold on!
Kiana suddenly realized something—the rate of increase had already surpassed her own as the Herrscher of Finality.
"The feeling?" Mei recalled the sensation and said softly, "The power of the Stigmata is easy to control, and it integrates perfectly into Hokushin Ittō-ryū. But I might need some time to create new techniques that synergize with it."
Although the fusion was seamless, with the Stigmata's support, she could see the limits of Hokushin Ittō-ryū—or rather, the limits of herself as a human.
Her current Hokushin Ittō-ryū was no longer the original—it had evolved with her ideas, adapting to her own style. Every move she created was a step toward a higher realm.
But now, what she sought had changed.
This world had Oni and Kami. In the future, her blade would inevitably cross theirs.
She needed to rely on the power of the Stigmata—to forge techniques capable of slaying such foes.
Kiana shook her head, grasped Mei's hand, and asked with concern, "I meant your body—do you feel any discomfort?"
She knew that a Stigmata represented Honkai Energy resistance, and Mei's ability to use Honkai Energy now was because of it.
But since Mei had never been exposed to Honkai Energy before, she couldn't help but worry.
"Discomfort?"
Raiden Mei thought back to the lightning that accompanied her blade and assumed Kiana was worried she had electrocuted herself. She explained gently, "Those currents didn't harm me. I actually feel fine."
"It's still Honkai Energy, after all." Kiana exhaled in relief and released Mei's hand. "Even with resistance, it can be dangerous the first time you use it."
"Honkai Energy…" Mei repeated the name, committing it to memory before replying softly, "Don't worry, Kiana. I don't feel any discomfort at all."
"Then you can use Honkai Energy against those Kami from now on!"
"Thank you, Kiana."
"It's nothing." Kiana scratched her head awkwardly. "Even though Yae Sakura took Narukami for a reason, it was still my fault it got lost while we were out shopping…"
Mei froze slightly.
"…Kiana, do you think Narukami's loss was your fault, and that's why…"
Yes, that made sense.
Kiana must have believed Narukami's disappearance was her responsibility, and so…
It wasn't a big deal.
Then why did her chest feel tight?
Why was it suddenly hard to breathe?
"Yeah, if I hadn't asked you to come out that day, Narukami might not have gone missing." Kiana sighed, still regretful. "But Yae Sakura said she took it because of your father. I thought it might help you reconnect with him, so I asked her to leave it with you."
Remembering what had happened, she rubbed her arm—the one that had healed—but the phantom pain still lingered.
"…But that wasn't your fault."
"I know you wouldn't blame me, Mei. But since I chased her all the way there, of course I had to bring Narukami back!" Kiana sighed. "Too bad she was too strong—I couldn't even touch her."
Raiden Mei's thoughts spiraled out of control. Unable to suppress her emotions, she asked, "You gave me the Stigmata… because you felt guilty about Narukami, didn't you?"
The only thing Raiden Mei hoped for was that Kiana's kindness toward her wasn't born from guilt or gratitude.
"Of course not!" Kiana blurted out.
If it really had been about guilt, she would have just given Mei a sword as an apology gift.
Raiden Mei looked at her. "Then it's because…"
"Because I don't need a reason to be good to Mei—because I like Mei!" Kiana declared boldly.
"…Like?"
Raiden Mei froze as if struck by lightning.
Her body stiffened, her movements became awkward, and her mind was consumed by the echo of Kiana's words.
Li—like?
Did Kiana just say she…
After testing the waters, Kiana cleared her throat and corrected herself awkwardly. "Ahem, I mean—I mean that I like Mei the most! Mei's the most important person to me, so I don't need any other reason to treat you well!"
Ah, so that's what kind of 'like' she meant.
Raiden Mei quietly exhaled, though there was an odd sense of disappointment hidden beneath her relief.
Wait—why did she feel disappointed?
"Kiana is important to me too," she replied softly.
The words came out light and airy, as though they didn't fully convey what she wanted to say.
Feeling that it wasn't enough, Raiden Mei hesitated, then added with her cheeks faintly pink, "You're also… the reason I wield my sword now."
So please—don't leave.
Apart from the shrine and Hokushin Ittō-ryū, she had always been alone.
But Kiana had stepped into her heart.
She treasured every moment spent with her and wished for more time together in the future.
Ideally…
They could stay together forever.
Her hand tightened slightly around the scabbard as the seventeen-year-old Raiden Mei made up her mind.
She was willing to follow Kiana—to draw her blade for her, to face and cut down every obstacle that lay ahead.
Until today, she had never truly understood the meaning behind her father's words: When your swordsmanship reaches its limit, and you understand why you wield your blade, only then will you be worthy to master it.
It was only after hearing Kiana speak about the Kami and the Edict Edge today that she finally understood what her father had meant.
To wield the blade for the sake of protecting humanity.
Her father had wanted her to realize that truth—to gain the resolve to take up the sword and turn its edge against the Kami for the sake of saving others.
But, Father…
My reason for drawing my sword—
Is not the noble one you had hoped for.