Dawn crept into the Swordsmith Village reluctantly, as if the sun itself hesitated to cross the threshold of what the night had set in motion.
Mist clung to the stone paths and rooftops, curling around pillars and railings like something half-alive. The forges remained quiet longer than usual. Even the birds seemed subdued, their calls distant and sparse.
Karina stood at the village perimeter, coat secured, blade resting against her back. She had not slept. Instead, she had recalculated—again and again—running projections that refused to stabilize.
Elena's appearance had altered more than threat assessment.
It had altered intent.
"You're early."
Mitsuri approached from the eastern path, her steps light despite the stiffness she still carried. Her uniform was fully restored now, her sword secured at her side. There was color in her cheeks again, warmth in her eyes.
"You shouldn't be cleared for full duty yet," Karina said.
"I'm not," Mitsuri replied cheerfully. "This is 'modified readiness.' Shinobu's words, not mine."
Karina accepted that without comment. "Then remain within five meters."
Mitsuri smiled. "Protective already?"
"Efficient," Karina corrected.
They began walking along the ridge path, the village slowly waking behind them.
"I was thinking," Mitsuri said. "About what Shinobu said yesterday. About Muzan."
Karina's gaze sharpened. "Go on."
"She said he targets bonds," Mitsuri continued. "Breaks them. Turns them into weapons."
"Yes."
Mitsuri slowed her pace slightly. "Then maybe the mistake is assuming bonds are weaknesses."
Karina glanced at her. "History suggests otherwise."
"History also says he hasn't been defeated," Mitsuri replied calmly. "Maybe that's because everyone keeps treating connection like a liability instead of a force."
Karina considered that.
Connection increased unpredictability. Emotional variance degraded precision. These were facts.
And yet—
Since Mitsuri's presence had become constant, Karina's Arcane stabilization time had decreased. Her recovery thresholds had shifted. Synchronization had reduced cognitive load during combat.
Data did not lie.
"Your hypothesis has merit," Karina said finally.
Mitsuri beamed. "I'll take that as agreement."
Before Karina could respond, her senses flared.
Pressure.
Not sudden. Not explosive.
Focused.
She stopped instantly, hand lifting slightly. Mitsuri followed her cue without question.
From the mist ahead, figures emerged.
Not demons.
Slayers.
Six of them, moving in coordinated formation, uniforms unfamiliar in cut but unmistakably Corps-aligned. Their eyes were sharp, postures disciplined.
The woman at the front stepped forward. "Karina of the Arcane Breathing."
Karina inclined her head slightly. "State your purpose."
The woman's gaze flicked briefly to Mitsuri, then returned. "Special Division. Direct order from Kagaya-sama. Observation and containment, if necessary."
Mitsuri stiffened. "Containment?"
"Procedure," the woman replied neutrally. "After engagement with Upper Moons, all anomalous assets are evaluated."
Karina's expression did not change. "You are not authorized to engage."
"We're not here to fight," the woman said. "Unless you give us reason."
The pressure intensified—not hostile, but deliberate. A net, not a blade.
Karina analyzed their formation. They were positioned to limit spatial distortion. Smart. Prepared.
"You were not briefed on Elena," Karina said.
A flicker of surprise crossed the woman's face. "We were briefed on potential foreign interference."
"Inadequate," Karina replied. "Your presence increases risk."
Mitsuri stepped forward, unable to remain silent. "She's not a threat to the Corps."
The woman met her gaze. "No one said she was. But Muzan may disagree."
Karina felt it then—the subtle shift in the air behind them.
Too late.
The mist thickened unnaturally, folding inward as if drawn to a single point. Arcane Breathing surged reflexively, Karina's hand snapping to her sword.
"Elena," she said.
Laughter echoed softly through the fog. "Still sharp."
The Special Division reacted instantly, blades drawn, formation tightening. But Elena did not attack them.
She walked past them.
Straight toward Mitsuri.
Karina moved faster than thought, stepping between them, blade half-drawn. "Do not."
Elena stopped mere steps away, eyes glowing faintly. "Relax. I'm not here to kill her."
Mitsuri felt the weight of Elena's gaze—cold, appraising, invasive. "Then why are you here?"
Elena smiled. "To see if she's real."
The air warped subtly, pressure increasing. The Special Division tensed, struggling to maintain formation.
"You shouldn't be doing this," Karina said quietly. "You're escalating."
"That's the point," Elena replied. "Muzan wants to know how far you'll bend."
"And you?" Karina asked. "What do you want?"
Elena's smile faltered for just a fraction of a second. "To see if you'll break."
The pressure spiked.
Karina reacted—not outwardly, but inwardly, folding Arcane Breathing tight, compressing perception rather than fracturing it. The world sharpened.
"Mitsuri," she said calmly. "Breathe with me."
Mitsuri didn't hesitate. She matched Karina's rhythm instantly, Love Breathing aligning, grounding, stabilizing.
The effect was immediate.
The pressure dissipated—not vanished, but neutralized.
Elena's eyes widened. "So it's true."
The Special Division stared, momentarily stunned.
Karina held Elena's gaze. "You are no longer unique."
Elena laughed—sharp, brittle. "No. But neither are you."
She stepped back, the mist already reclaiming her form. "Enjoy your observers," she added lightly. "They won't protect her when it matters."
Then she was gone.
Silence crashed down in her wake.
The Special Division leader lowered her blade slowly. "That… wasn't in the briefing."
"No," Karina agreed. "It should have been."
Mitsuri exhaled shakily, then squared her shoulders. "If you're here to evaluate her—evaluate us both."
The woman studied them for a long moment, then nodded once. "Understood."
As they departed, the village began to stir fully, unaware of how close it had come to becoming a battlefield again.
Karina turned to Mitsuri. "Are you harmed?"
"No," Mitsuri replied. "But she wasn't wrong."
Karina's gaze hardened. "About what?"
"She wants to see you choose," Mitsuri said softly. "And so does Muzan."
Karina looked at her then—really looked.
"You are not a weakness," she said. "You are a force multiplier."
Mitsuri smiled, warmth flooding her expression. "I like the sound of that."
Karina allowed herself a small, rare exhale.
Far away, Elena watched from the shadows, interest sharpening into intent.
The pressure points had been found.
Now it was only a matter of time before they were pressed.