"...So that's how it is. A device meant for the curtain call?" Sakura also understood the reason and explained to Mei: "Regarding the current situation, I have already learned some information through the data transferred by Su. However, fully comprehending it will still take some time."
"Data transfer?" Mei was startled in her heart. "You mean... Su..."
In this memory space, such a thing was tantamount to meaning that Su had already died.
Sakura said: "Since things have come to this point, let's trust in his decision. In any case, he bears the name of the Wise One."
Sakura once again turned her gaze toward that familiar yet unfamiliar enemy.
She asked Mei: "An existence like hers currently has only one remaining case, correct?"
Mei nodded: "Mm. Maintaining this state isn't easy for her—it seems to also be a burden."
Sakura said: "Then, as long as we can force her to be stuck here, or even thoroughly eliminate her..."
"That—" The Herrscher of Corruption suddenly spoke up: "Sorry to interrupt, but I heard every word of your little private conversation, you know?"
"When three girls are together, it's not very nice to leave one out... Moreover, Sakura, you've interrupted a date."
Mei said in a cold voice: "Is that so? I actually think this is the normal state of affairs."
The Herrscher of Corruption said: "Hmm, how surprising. So you've had such experiences before... We should have a good chat about it later, okay?"
Sakura said: "It's fine even if you overheard. Those conversations didn't need to be carried out in secret anyway."
"As for the date... I'm very sorry. But as far as I'm concerned, Herrscher of Corruption, you are also a special old acquaintance."
These words surprised even Mei—this meant Sakura had already learned about her sister's matters.
The Herrscher of Corruption smiled and said: "Oh... You've become very frank. I probably like the you right now more than the one from that night, Sakura."
Sakura frowned, the opponent's words reminding her of that conversation in the night.
She coldly rebuked: "Please do not... speak such words using her tone."
The Herrscher of Corruption said helplessly: "Still so decisive... Is she that special in your hearts? So special that... you don't believe anyone could replace her?"
Sakura said: "After all, I'm not the only person she's close to, so it's difficult to make a definitive conclusion."
"But at least... you no longer have the time to prove this point."
She slowly placed her right hand on her weapon. A different aura gradually seeped out from around her body... the aura unique to an assassin.
"Although I really don't want to use this blade against her face."
The Herrscher of Corruption laughed excitedly: "Heh... hehehe... So that's the feeling she sensed back then. I finally understand it now."
"Even though your misunderstanding of me has reached such an extent, I still can't bring myself to hurt you all."
"Since we've already met face-to-face once, why do you still think... you can influence the situation?"
Sakura said: "The previous failure was due to your unexpected trait. But now that I know about it..."
Even Setsuna probably could not describe the brevity of that instant.
This was the ultimate of an instant.
"It doesn't seem difficult not to be touched by you." That weapon had already appeared at the Herrscher of Corruption's neck.
The Herrscher of Corruption remained calm: "It looks like... an interesting situation has developed."
"Mm... Are you really not going to reconsider, Sakura?"
"I feel a little reluctant to witness you all working so desperately yet achieving nothing..."
As her tone shifted, strange sounds echoed all around, like an ensemble reacting to the conductor's baton falling...
The monsters that filled the Elysian Realm, which she could freely control, began to gradually close in...
These monsters charged toward the two of them respectively.
But it was clear...
These monsters had explicit objectives. The two who were fighting were quickly separated by the tidal wave of monsters, and the distance between them grew larger and larger.
Sakura also realized it.
The opponent's goal was to separate her from Mei.
If she were facing this many monsters alone, it would indeed be somewhat troublesome.
But now there was no need to worry.
Because...
"Roar! Kukikara!"
Mei's voice, accompanied by Kukikara's thunderous roar, swept through the surrounding monsters. Those monsters that weren't particularly powerful instantly died violently under the thunderous roar.
Even somewhat stronger ones gradually vanished under Mei's thunderous slashes.
Sakura also accelerated, truly living up to her inscription of Setsuna. With every flash of her blade, large swaths of monsters fell.
Until the two gradually closed the distance and eliminated the most powerful Imaginary creation.
Sakura once again faced the Herrscher of Corruption directly: "Alright. Now you must enter the fray yourself, Herrscher of Corruption."
The Herrscher of Corruption said: "Mm... Could this be the fate that one must bear as Elysia?"
"Clearly I've been sincere and earnest from beginning to end, yet you insist on making me prove it before you'll believe me?"
"And it has to be proven through life itself, no less..."
"Very well... The reason I didn't throw myself into battle truly was only because I couldn't bear to—not because I lacked confidence."
"Since you refuse to believe no matter what, I can only reluctantly provide some proof."
"However, this time... who do you think would be better to use as proof with their life?"
She snapped her fingers.
A monster that was entirely green and virus-like appeared.
She herself drew a bow and arrow.
Whoosh!
The arrow shot out instantly. Her first target was Mei.
"Careful!"
In an instant, Sakura appeared in front of Mei, clashing her weapon against the arrow.
Boom!
The arrow exploded instantly. The power it contained was so great that even Sakura found it difficult to withstand.
"This... has already far surpassed the level that can be described as a Flame-Chaser."
She immediately warned Mei: "Be careful, Miss Mei."
"Mm!"
Mei was also exceptionally vigilant.
The Herrscher of Corruption continued: "How about it? Doesn't everything I said seem much more believable now?"
"..."
The two remained silent.
Not only the Herrscher of Corruption herself, but even that discolored monster possessed extraordinarily powerful strength.
Mei asked: "Sakura, how is the situation?"
Sakura said: "I'm afraid... even saying it's 'not optimistic' would include some elements of self-comfort."
While speaking in a low voice, she continued to observe the Herrscher standing in the distance with vigilant eyes.
At this moment, the Herrscher of Corruption was maintaining a completely casual and indifferent posture, seemingly not worried at all that her opponents would seize the opportunity to escape or discuss countermeasures.
"Miss Mei, what she said earlier was not empty words. Just judging from the level of power alone..."
"Even if all the remaining Flame-Chasers were to arrive, she would still have the ability to defeat us all at once."
Mei immediately said: "In that case, let's go with the fallback plan."
"Sakura, go find Aponia. At least... I can resist the Authority of Corruption and am more suitable to stay here and buy time."
Sakura said: "If the disparity in strength weren't as vast as it is now, that might indeed be viable. But looking at the current situation, she fully possesses the capability to stop both of us simultaneously."
"Miss Mei, I originally wanted to catch her as off-guard as possible, but now it seems we can only launch a direct assault."
"I mentioned before that I possess a sword technique capable of freezing space."
"Although it doesn't have destructive power in its essence, by leveraging this power, I can create an opportunity—one in which no attack will miss its mark."
Mei said worriedly: "But... Sakura, if it's only one strike..."
Sakura said: "I understand. That's precisely why... I entrusted the Third Divine Key to you."
"Seven Thunders of Purification!?" Mei recognized it.
Sakura said: "As you know, in the Elysian Realm it is merely a recreation of a memory. But in your hands, it may be wielded by the true core."
"Having the Herrscher of Thunder use the Judgment Key to unleash a guaranteed annihilation strike does hold the possibility of directly erasing the enemy."
"For that purpose, we must... jointly create that guaranteed-hit opportunity."
The Herrscher of Corruption considerately waited for them to finish their conversation.
Only then did she speak: "Ya, have you finished chatting?"
"Clearly it was my date that was interrupted, yet I have to give you space to be alone instead. Even I... feel quite aggrieved."
"Sakura, those words of yours... were deliberately said for me to hear, weren't they?"
Sakura said: "I already told you, it's fine even if you hear them."
The Herrscher of Corruption said: "Indeed. Whether it's Mei or you, I always feel like the girls in the Elysian Realm... are all a bit too scheming."
"If that's the case, what exactly are you truly trying to hide? That space-freezing sword technique... how can you guarantee that it, as a prerequisite, won't miss?"
"Ara, I'm really sorry... Sakura bears the inscription of Setsuna, so perhaps I truly cannot dodge it."
Sakura said directly: "I have no guarantee, but trying it won't hurt."
In her hand, the tip of the Seven Thunders of Purification sword slowly rose.
?
The Herrscher of Corruption was quite puzzled. Why was the weapon still in Sakura's hands? They hadn't swapped weapons?
She looked behind Sakura again. Mei was still standing in her original spot, seemingly waiting for something.
From this, she caught onto some clues.
Smiling, she said: "...Alright, Sakura. Let me look forward to it."
Sakura no longer held back.
She decisively slashed toward her.
"I'm afraid what you're looking forward to isn't the sword technique, but the sight of us being helpless against you once again."
The Herrscher of Corruption laughed: "I'm not someone with such bad intentions. However, even at a time like this, I can still find reasons to praise you..."
"Very smart~"
She casually dodged Sakura's slash, her smile deepening.
Sakura said: "Good. Then let's give it a try."
The moment her words fell.
The Herrscher of Corruption also sensed that something was wrong.
This was indeed Sakura's voice.
But she suddenly realized it was coming from behind her.
At the same time, cracks began spreading across the Sakura in front of her, starting from the mask area.
Mei in the distance also dissipated at this moment, breaking into pieces with cracks.
Then, Mei—who had been hiding beneath Sakura's disguise the entire time, holding the Seven Thunders of Purification in a ready stance—coldly snorted: "Too late, Herrscher of Corruption."
Only at this moment did the Herrscher of Corruption understand: The one holding the Seven Thunders of Purification in front had always been Mei disguised as Sakura, while the real Sakura had already sneaked behind her.
In a split second, the two launched their slashes simultaneously.
They instantly pierced through the body of the Herrscher of Corruption.
Behind Mei and Sakura, the Herrscher of Corruption—along with the surrounding space—had been completely frozen, unable to move even slightly.
"How is this possible... You..." The Herrscher of Corruption barely got a sentence out before bursting into wild laughter: "Forget it. Pretending to look shocked is really too difficult for me."
"Sakura, you're truly amazing. I didn't know your sword technique could do something like this."
"Using illusions to swap identities, setting up bait, while the real you launches a surprise attack from my blind spot and completes the lockdown."
"Very impressive. Achieving such perfect coordination without any prior communication... I'm even a little jealous."
"Unfortunately, my attention has always been focused on you. As long as I can avoid that space-freezing strike, the attack from Seven Thunders of Purification isn't worth worrying about."
"—Now the only opportunity has also vanished, hasn't it?"
"Sakura!" Mei looked at Sakura with concern. Although it wasn't very obvious yet, the dark green color that had begun spreading from Sakura's arm was something Mei was very familiar with.
"Could the slash just now... also count as contact??"
The Herrscher of Corruption said: "Don't be so surprised. After all, Sakura's speed is really fast. Only by taking a small risk could I accurately catch her. No matter how you look at it, it's a worthwhile trade."
As she spoke, the erosion patterns began to expand gradually.
Sakura said: "In the end, we were still one step behind? Herrscher of Corruption."
The Herrscher of Corruption nodded: "Correct... Hm?"
She suddenly sensed something wrong: "Why do I feel... there's more to what you're saying?"
"..."
Sakura said: "When I first learned of this plan, I also felt that some parts of it were unnecessary."
"But now, it seems he was right."
"Perhaps you were overly confident in your control over the data space—that did allow you to easily see through our disguises, but it also caused you to overlook another matter."
"Herrscher of Corruption, using illusions to deceive perception and achieve disguise... my sword technique cannot accomplish such a thing."
"In the Elysian Realm, those capable of this are only the Eighth Divine Key... and the psychosensory-type MANTIS."
At this point in the battle, the Herrscher of Corruption finally widened her eyes uncontrollably for the first time: "Psychosensory-type? Here..."
A gentle white light entered her eyes, which were filled with surprise—it surged forth from Mei's body, completely engulfing her.
Su's voice also rang out: "Mm, Herrscher of Corruption, this battle... has never been a two-person coordinated assault, but three against one."
"... Seed of Sumeru."