Ciel: <>
Voice of the World: <<>>
******
"I see..." Rimuru said quietly, his voice calm, almost detached. With a smooth motion, he conjured an obsidian-colored katana and twirled it lazily in his hand, the soft hum of the steel slicing through the air, while thunderclouds gathered ominously overhead. Just moments ago, Souei had informed him of the turmoil unfolding among Raja's ministers, and of Lucius Spellweaver's treacherous plan to harm his sister, his wife, and their unborn child.
The words of his most trusted partner cut through the brewing storm inside him. With a quiet exhale, Rimuru let the katana disappear before he flicked his hand with a casual gesture, and a slick, black throne materialized in the middle of the forest. He lowered himself onto it with a thoughtful frown, resting his chin on his fist. "What's the status of the Astoria Kingdom's army?"
"Lord, they are advancing from three directions: east, west, and north," Souei replied swiftly. "The northern and western forces are composed of 5,000 soldiers each, while the eastern front is much larger, with 10,000. The princes command the northern and western forces, but King Astoria himself leads the eastern army."
Rimuru's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "Very well," he said after a long pause, his tone even. "You may go. Keep your subordinates monitoring their movements, and send one to the Astoria Kingdom itself. I want real-time updates on all their actions. And the princess is still within the kingdom, correct? Keep an eye on her."
"As you command, my lord," Souei acknowledged, bowing slightly before turning to leave.
Rimuru's eyes followed him, and he added, "Also, stay in the shadows with Shizu. Do not intervene unless absolutely necessary. If she is attacked, let her handle it. I trust she can take care of herself, but I'd appreciate your presence for reassurance. Having you nearby puts my mind at ease."
Souei's gaze sharpened. "Would you like me to handle the situation, my lord?" his voice edged with deadly intent.
"No, that won't be necessary," Rimuru replied, shaking his head. "Shizu isn't in any real danger, and as for Towa, she will be fine. She needs these kinds of experiences to develop into a queen who could actually lead and rule this nation, and not just coddle it through hardships and take all the responsibility without making its people work for it."
"Understood, my lord," Souei replied before he disappeared into the shadows.
Once Souei had disappeared into the shadows, Rimuru turned his attention to Benimaru and Shion who were standing guard nearby while Ranga emerged from the shadows with a fluid motion, and the three of them knelt before him in perfect unison.
"Benimaru, Ranga," Rimuru began. "You two will handle the armies approaching from the west and north. Shion, you'll take care of the east." The three of them nodded in agreement, their expressions focused and ready. Rimuru's gaze hardened as he added, "By the way, feel free to rough them up as much as you need to, but don't kill anyone. Taking them out would be too easy for you, and wiping them all out would waste valuable manpower."
With a single flick of his wrist, Rimuru granted them a common skill, one that would bind people across a large area. The skill would manifest in chains that would bind their targets and compel them to follow the user's commands without question. However, the catch was simple: the user could not bind anyone stronger than themselves.
"Use the skill to round them up and bring them back to Raja," Rimuru instructed. "It'll boost the morale of the people there, and we can use the king and the two princes as leverage to annex the Astoria Kingdom." He paused, looking at them with a determined gleam in his eyes. "I want this battle over before lunch. Can you do that?"
"Understood, Lord Rimuru," the three replied in perfect harmony before standing and heading off in their respective directions to face their opponents.
Once they had left, Rimuru summoned Zonda, one of his newer subordinates. Zonda had originally served under Ultima before pledging his loyalty to Rimuru. The dark figure emerged from the shadows, bowing respectfully before him.
"Lord Rimuru," Zonda greeted, his tone respectful and unwavering.
"Zonda, I have a task for you," Rimuru began, his voice steady as he continued, "I need you to gather around 100 demons from Ultima's lineage, and then..."
******
Meanwhile, inside the castle, the courtyard was quiet, save for the gentle rustling of the wind through the ivy-covered stone walls. Shizu sat on a marble bench beneath an ancient willow, a thick leather-bound book resting open in her hands. The pages were yellowed with age, yet the words held her in rapt attention. She had found it tucked away in the castle's vast library, its contents more intriguing than she had expected.
Then, she felt it.
A shift in the air. The weight of an unfamiliar presence. No... two.
Shizu did not react immediately. Instead, she turned the page with deliberate leisure, feigning indifference. Only after another beat did she glance up, her dark eyes settling on the figures standing a few paces away.
She recognized them instantly—not by their faces, but by the unnatural energy that clung to them like a second skin. The air around them was thick, tainted by something distinctly inhuman.
Demons.
"Well, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Royal Doctor Chikuan? Or should I say... demon Chikuan?" Shizu chuckled, her voice laced with quiet amusement. Then, her gaze flicked to the shorter man beside him. "And I see you've brought another of your kind."
Chikuan and Lacua exchanged looks of surprise. Their cover had been flawless—or so they had thought. But now that their deception was pointless, they no longer bothered to suppress their presence. A ripple of dark energy pulsed through the courtyard as their wings unfurled—shadowy, jagged things that stretched unnaturally against the dimming sky.
Chikuan's lips curled into a slow, predatory grin. Lacua let out a low, rasping chuckle.
"I'm impressed, girl," Chikuan mused, his head tilting as he studied her. "You're quite perceptive for a human. And yet, even knowing what we are, you don't seem afraid. How intriguing... Ah, but I suppose it makes sense." His gaze slid to her stomach, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You are rather... intimately familiar with a certain demon, aren't you? And you have proof of that growing inside you."
Shizu's expression remained unreadable, but her fingers tightened slightly against the book's spine.
"A child born of a human and a demon... now that is something I would have liked to witness," Lacua sneered, his grin stretching into something wicked. "Shame neither you nor that abomination will live to see the light of day."
Silence thickened the air.
Then, Shizu exhaled, slowing down and measuring. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet but carried the weight of a blade drawn in warning.
"You have a lot of nerve threatening a child right in front of their mother."
Lacua merely chuckled, his laughter curling through the space between them like a viper waiting to strike.
"No need to be so hostile," Chikuan murmured, his tone almost indulgent. "We bear you no personal ill will. It's simply... unfortunate that you got caught up in all of this."
"Exactly," Lacua drawled, his smirk widening. "It's nothing personal. Just something that must be done... for a greater purpose."
Without warning, Lacua made the first move. He lifted his hand, and a surge of deep purple energy crackled to life in his palm. In an instant, the dark power erupted forward, streaking toward Shizu in chaotic, jagged arcs. The force of it shattered the stone path where it struck, sending fragments of marble flying through the air.
Yet, Shizu remained calm and with a swift motion, she drew her sword from its sheath, the elegant silver blade gleaming in the fading sunlight. The green hilt fit perfectly in her grasp, a familiar weight she had long since missed, ever since she started living with Rimuru. Next moment, golden flames roared to life along the blade, dancing along the metal in a fierce display of power. The fire cast a flickering glow upon her face, illuminating the unwavering rage and resolve in her dark eyes.
She swung her sword in a single, fluid motion, cutting cleanly through the streaks of dark energy. Each strike of her blade nullified the incoming attacks, the fire consuming the malevolent force before it could reach her. The sheer force of her movements sent embers scattering through the air, the remnants of her counterattack dissolving into glowing cinders.
Lacua let out a low growl of frustration, his violet eyes narrowing. "Tch. Fast," he sneered, and for some unknown reason couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something odd in the flames produced by this human.
Chikuan, still observing with a smirk, stepped forward and lifted his own hand. Unlike Lacua's reckless onslaught, his magic was more refined, more controlled. A dark sphere of energy formed between his fingers, its surface swirling like a living void. He barely flicked his wrist, and the orb shot forward at an alarming speed, expanding as it traveled.
However, for the attack that might look fast in the eyes of a normal human, to Shizu, it was as slow as a turtle, and she could see it coming from milers away even before the attack was upon her.
So, taking her ample time, Shizu effortlessly pushed off the ground, twisting her body mid-air to evade the strike. The sphere slammed into the stone wall behind her, consuming everything it touched in a burst of violent destruction. Dust and debris filled the air, momentarily obscuring her from view.
Chikuan exhaled in mild irritation, expecting to see her struggling amid the wreckage. But before the dust could even settle, a blur of motion cut through the haze. A second later, Shizu was behind them, her sword already descending in a deadly arc.
Chikuan barely managed to twist out of the way, but Lacua was not as fortunate. The blade cut into his abdomen, flames searing his flesh as the silver edge sliced deep. He let out a strangled scream, staggering backward, his hands flying to his stomach in a futile attempt to staunch the bleeding. His breath came in ragged gasps, his entire body trembling from the unexpected pain.
Chikuan's smirk faltered, his expression hardening as he turned to face her fully. His gaze flicked to Lacua's wound, which kept burning and wasn't regenerating back, then back to Shizu, who stood before them with her sword still raised.
"You—" Chikuan started, but she cut him off with a quiet chuckle.
"You demons love to talk, don't you?" Shizu said, tilting her head slightly. At the moment, she neither had her lovely smile on her face nor the usual kindness in her eyes. Just hard, cold indifference. "What happened? Weren't you going to kill me? My child? And yet here you are, bleeding, growling at my feet. How amusing, isn't it?"
Lacua bared his teeth, his face contorted with rage and pain. He opened his mouth to retort, but his body betrayed him, his knees nearly buckling from the deep wound. Blood dripped steadily onto the cracked stone beneath him, pooling in dark crimson rivulets.
Chikuan's expression darkened. He had underestimated her, and that realization sent a surge of irritation through him. This human—this woman—was not supposed to be a threat. And yet, she had not only held her own but had wounded them both with seemingly little effort.
Shizu took a step forward, rolling her shoulders in an almost leisurely manner. The fire along her blade flickered and crackled, hungry for more. "You called me human so dismissively earlier," she murmured, her voice light, almost teasing. "But if a mere human can leave you in such a pitiful state, then what does that make you?"
Chikuan clenched his jaw, but before he could summon another attack, she moved again. This time, she was faster—too fast for their eyes to follow. One moment she was standing before them, and the next, she was behind them once more, her sword singing through the air.
Both demons barely had time to react before fresh pain exploded across their stomachs. This time, the wounds were deeper, the fire-infused blade cutting through them like a hot knife through wax.
Lacua's scream was raw, filled with agony and disbelief. Chikuan staggered forward, a sharp hiss escaping his lips as he clutched at his wound. Their bodies trembled, the scent of scorched flesh thick in the air. The once-confident smirks on their faces were gone, replaced by something far less certain.
Chikuan and Lacua locked eyes for a split second, their expressions a mixture of fury and reluctant understanding. This battle was not going as they had anticipated. They had expected an easy target—a defenseless woman caught up in something beyond her comprehension. What they had found instead was a monster standing against them without fear.
"Well, this has gone on long enough," Shizu said suddenly.
The demons tensed as the air thickened, the temperature spiking to unbearable levels. Even the stone beneath her feet seemed to radiate heat, and the nearby fountain sizzled as its water evaporated into curling wisps of steam.
"Still," Shizu continued, rolling her shoulders as if shaking off rust, "I should thank you. You've given me a chance to stretch after so long." Her dark eyes gleamed, an edge of something dangerous lurking beneath her calm expression. "So, in return, I'll show you something truly unforgettable—something that will be burned into your memory, even when you are reborn."
In an instant, golden flames erupted around her, swirling like a living inferno. "Let's do this, Agni!" she called, her voice steady amidst the roaring fire. The blaze coiled and expanded, taking shape around her. "Spirit Dive: Phoenix Feathers Robe!"
Fiery wings unfurled from her back, massive and regal, each feather shifting and curling like living flame. From her lower back, four blazing tails emerged, swaying with the rhythm of the inferno. A crown of fire ignited above her head, casting a golden glow that turned the courtyard into a realm of molten light, radiating overwhelming power.
Before her, the two demons stood frozen. Their eyes, wide with horror, reflected the searing glow of her transformation. Then, the pain set in. The heat didn't just scald their flesh—it burned deeper, clawing at their very souls. The sensation was unbearable, like an unseen force setting their very essence ablaze.
Reality dawned upon them. They were outclassed. Hopelessly so. Chikuan's grin had long since vanished. Lacua's earlier amusement had twisted into sheer terror. Their instincts screamed at them to flee.
Without hesitation, they unfurled their shadowy wings and launched themselves into the sky, desperately trying to escape the radiant monster before them.
But they were far too slow.
Shizu vanished from sight in an instant, the only sign of her movement a blackened scorch mark where she had once stood. Before the demons could process what had happened, she reappeared floating effortlessly in the sky, blocking their path.
"You two have quite the sense of humor," she said coolly, her voice devoid of amusement. "You threatened me. You threatened my child. And now you think I'll just let you fly away with your lives? Hilarious..." Her gaze sharpened, her fury burning hotter than the flames that surrounded her.
Shizu drew her blade. The divine metal gleamed, reflecting the firestorm raging around her. "For the crime of daring to act against me and mine..." Her grip tightened. "I sentence you to burn by my blade."
"Conqueror's Blade: Twenty Slashes of Judgment!"
For a heartbeat, the world stood still. But then in an instant, Shizu was back on the scorched ground, her back turned to them, her transformation fading as she calmly sheathed her sword.
Click.
The moment her blade settled into its scabbard, the sky above ignited. Twenty blazing slashes carved through the heavens, each one burning with divine wrath. The demons barely had time to scream before the relentless strikes engulfed them. For an entire minute, their bodies twisted in agony, torn apart by each successive slash, yet they were given no respite. Their souls, too, burned—an eternal torment that stretched across what felt like millions of years before they were nothing more than ash, and the surrounding area returned to silence once more, like it was before.
'Conqueror's Blade: Twenty Slashes of Judgment' was an Ultimate Move created by Shizu after she received her new spirit and Ultimate Skill. The move utilizes Divine Flames, Thought Acceleration, Shizu's enhanced swordsmanship, refined through rapid sparring with Hakurou, and her mastery over flames.
Once unleashed, the enemy experiences the agony of being slashed and their soul burning for millions of years with each strike. Yet, to an outside observer, the entire ordeal lasts only a single minute.
Shizu exhaled softly, the firelight fading from her eyes. Then, she frowned. Her gaze shifted toward the castle, sensing a familiar, malevolent presence drawing closer to Towa. A new threat loomed. But before tension could fully take hold, something else caught her attention. Another presence, swift and familiar, moving toward her friend.
Relief spread through her, melting away the last remnants of her fury. With a small, knowing smile, she bent down, retrieved her book, and, without another thought, resumed reading as if nothing had happened.
******
The grand throne room of Raja stood eerily silent. The glow of the chandelier reflected off the polished marble floor, casting long shadows across the crimson banners that adorned the chamber walls. Queen Towa sat alone on her gilded throne, her delicate fingers drumming lightly against the armrest. The silence was oppressive, amplifying the weight on her shoulders.
She closed her eyes, exhaling softly. The Astorian army marched toward her kingdom, but she had already entrusted that matter to Rimuru. If there was anyone who could handle such a crisis, it was him. That thought provided some comfort, allowing her to push aside the immediate fear of an invasion.
But the second problem gnawed at her like an unseen poison.
Where were her ministers?
The absence of her trusted advisors unsettled her. Even in the face of war, they should have been at her side, deliberating strategies, reinforcing their defenses, and managing internal affairs. Yet, when she called for them, there was nothing. No response. No explanation.
She had sent servants to scour the palace, to summon every last minister without delay. But each search ended in failure. Not a single trace of them. It was as if they had vanished into thin air.
Just then, the heavy silence of the throne room was broken by the slow, deliberate sound of footsteps. Towa's sharp eyes immediately turned toward the grand entrance, where a lone figure strode forward. This was none other than The Court Magician, Lucius Spellweaver.
Towa felt a brief wave of relief at the sight of him. Finally, a familiar face. "Lucius," she called out, her voice steady but laced with urgency. "Where are the other ministers? No one has seen them—"
Lucius smirked. It was an unsettling expression, one that sent an immediate chill down Towa's spine.
"Oh, Your Majesty," he said smoothly, his tone dripping with condescension. "There's no need to worry about them anymore. In fact, you won't have to worry about anything after today."
Towa narrowed her eyes. Something about the way he spoke, the way he carried himself, felt... wrong. "What are you talking about?" she asked, straightening on her throne.
Lucius let out a mocking chuckle, shaking his head. "You truly are hopeless, aren't you? Even now, you don't see it." His violet eyes gleamed with contempt as he stepped closer, his hands clasped behind his back like a man delivering a lecture. "This kingdom is rotting, and do you know why? Because of you."
Towa's breath hitched slightly, but she didn't look away.
"You are spineless," Lucius sneered. "Weak. Incapable of making the hard decisions necessary for Raja's future. Instead of standing firm, you bow to the will of others. You begged for help from monsters, of all things. You invited a demon into our lands and treated it as an honored guest."
Towa's hands clenched into fists, her nails pressing into her palm. "You're talking about Lord Rimuru."
"Lord Rimuru," Lucius mocked her. "Yes. That thing. That monster. You had the perfect opportunity to gain power—real power!—and instead, you chose to honor some meaningless promise. You had the chance to double-cross him, to use him as a tool and discard him, yet you refused." His expression twisted with disgust. "Pathetic."
Towa stared at him, trying to make sense of it all.
Lucius had always been... ambitious. She knew that. But she never imagined he harbored such deep resentment toward her. Toward everything she had done.
"What happened to you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Lucius didn't answer her question. Instead, his eyes glowed an eerie purple, and the very air around him seemed to shudder with unnatural energy.
"You see," he continued, his tone now laced with sinister delight, "I've found a spell. A truly magnificent one. A spell that allows one to bind the mind of another, bending them entirely to their will." His smirk widened. "And with it, I will take control of you."
Towa's body stiffened.
"The throne will be mine, in all but name," Lucius declared, his voice triumphant. "No more waiting for a cowardly queen to approve what must be done. No more weakness. With your authority under my command, I will reshape Raja into the kingdom it should be."
Towa felt her heartbeat quicken.
Betrayal.
After everything she had sacrificed. After everything she had endured for the sake of her people. After all the sleepless nights, the difficult decisions, the quiet suffering she had endured to keep this kingdom standing...
This was what she got in return?
Her lips parted, but no words came out. She was frozen. Not from fear, but from heartbreak.
Lucius... the youngest minister of the new generation. Someone she had once believed could share her worries due to their similar age. Someone she had played with on occasion while growing up... had now turned against her.
Lucius smirked, satisfied by Towa's stunned silence. Her wide, pained eyes, the way her body tensed in disbelief—it was all so amusing to him.
'Good. Let it sink in,' he thought, taking slow, deliberate steps toward her throne. Soon, she would no longer be a burden to this kingdom. Soon, she would no longer be herself at all.
However, just as he moved closer—
Thud!
A small, agile figure landed between him and the Queen, standing firm with arms spread protectively in front of Towa.
Lucius's smirk faltered for a brief moment as his eyes fell on the intruder.
A young girl, with long, chestnut-colored hair, flowing down her back, with fluffy rabbit ears twitching slightly atop her head. She wore a determined scowl on her usually cheerful face, her eyes filled with defiance.
Towa gasped softly. "Framea...?"
The rabbit girl didn't look back at her. She kept her sharp glare locked on Lucius.
"I was nearby when I sensed something disgusting heading this way," Framea said, her voice laced with anger. "Now I see why."
Lucius let out a scoff before crossing his arms lazily. "Ah, the beast woman. That demon's so-called little sister. What a pleasant surprise." His smirk returned, sharper than before. "This actually saves me time. I was going to hunt you down eventually."
Framea's eyes narrowed. "Hunt me down?"
Lucius chuckled. "That's right. You see, to complete my spell, I need a living sacrifice. And what better option than a monster brat directly related to that demon? Your power will serve as the perfect catalyst to enslave the Queen."
Towa's breath hitched. "You... You were planning to sacrifice Framea...?"
Lucius shot her an amused glance. "Of course. Don't look so horrified, Your Majesty. If anything, you should be grateful. She'll be helping you fulfill your true potential."
"You do realize that if you so much as touch a single hair on my head, my brother will have yours," Framea said coldly.
Lucius smirked, his grin dripping with malice. "Oh? But how will that demon find the time to deal with me... when he'll be too busy mourning his wife and child?"
The air shifted.
Framea's brown eyes began to glow, and in the next instant, a wave of Sovereign's Haki burst from her body. The sheer force of her aura crashed against Lucius like an invisible storm, making him flinch despite himself. For a moment, his confidence wavered. She was stronger than he had anticipated.
But it didn't matter.
With the power granted by the dark marble and his vast knowledge of magic, he was certain he could even take on that demon himself. She, in comparison, was nothing more than an obstacle to be removed.
A moment later, Framea took a deep breath, steadying herself as Testarossa's training echoed in her mind. Without hesitation, she reached back and swiftly tied her long hair into a tight bun. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she removed her heels and tossed them aside.
Her ears twitched, and her small fingers flexed as she shifted into a low, combat-ready stance, her sharp glare locking onto Lucius. "You want me?" she said, her voice laced with quiet menace. "Then come and try."
Lucius's glowing purple eyes flashed with excitement. He grinned, his grip tightening around his staff. "Oh, with pleasure." Dark energy crackled at the staff's tip, swirling with raw malice. A moment later, a bolt of purple lightning exploded forward, streaking toward Framea like a spear of death.
But before it could reach her, she vanished.
With a sharp crack, she reappeared ten meters away, crouched low, her fingertips grazing the floor for balance. Sparks danced across the marble where she had once stood, the air still humming from the aftershock of her skill—[Flash Step].
Lucius barely had time to register her new position before she moved again.
She lunged, the ground splintering beneath her feet as she propelled herself forward at blistering speed. Blue electricity crackled around her legs, surging through her body as she twisted mid-air. Her foot swung toward his head, aiming to kill.
Lucius barely managed to throw up a magical barrier. The instant her attack connected, the force of the impact sent a sharp boom echoing through the chamber. The shimmering shield trembled under the strain, fractures webbing across its surface.
Lucius gritted his teeth. "You're fast."
Framea smirked. "You're slow. And a fucking moron."
Lucius's sneer twisted with irritation. He lifted his staff and, with a surge of magic, detonated his own barrier. The blast forced Framea back, the shockwave rattling through the chamber as she flipped mid-air to regain control.
Before she could counter, he waved his staff in a wide arc. Glowing magic circles flared to life around him, filling the space with ominous energy. His grin widened. "Try dodging this!"
From each magic circle, a storm of deadly spells shot forward—razor-sharp icicles, roaring fireballs, and streaks of crackling purple lightning. They streaked toward Framea from all directions, tearing through the space in a chaotic barrage.
"Wow, this would have been troublesome," Framea said, but then a smirk appeared on her face. "Luckily, as you said, I'm quite fast."
With [Flash Step], she flickered through the battlefield, her form vanishing and reappearing in an instant. She moved like a phantom, slipping past the deadly spells with fluid precision. Lucius' attacks struck only air, colliding with the marble floor and walls, leaving behind scorched marks and shattered stone.
Lucius grew increasingly agitated as his spells failed to land on the rabbit woman he had so easily deemed inferior. His frustration mounted—until a cruel idea suddenly flickered to life in his mind.
Smirking, he halted his assault on Framea and slowly turned, leveling his staff at Towa.
"You think you're fast, huh?" he sneered, his grin dripping with malice. "But tell me… are you fast enough to protect our spineless queen?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Framea vanished and in a flash, she reappeared right in front of Lucius, her body already twisting mid-air. Sparks crackled around her as she gathered all her momentum into one devastating strike before her foot connected with Lucius's chest, and a massive jolt of electricity surged through his body, searing through his nerves like liquid fire.
"GAAAHHHH!!"
The force of the blow sent him rocketing backward like a shooting star. He crashed through the far wall with an earsplitting explosion, stone and debris collapsing around him.
BOOM!
The entire castle trembled from the impact. Dust and rubble filled the air, and for a moment, there was only silence.
Framea landed gracefully, barely winded. She dusted off her shoulder and glanced at the wreckage. "I was taught that offense is the best form of defense," she quipped, then turned to Towa, her expression briefly softening. "Stay safe. I'll be back."
Framea followed through the hole in the wall, landing gracefully amidst the settling dust and debris. Ahead of her, Lucius was already back on his feet, his body trembling with uncontained rage. His seething glare locked onto her, his breath coming in ragged, furious gasps.
"How dare you! How dare you! How dare you!" Lucius roared, his voice crackling with hysteria. The very air seemed to tremble under his fury as thick, purple smoke erupted from his body, twisting like cursed tendrils around him. "You! A mere beastwoman dared to lay a hand on me—a great magician, the future king of this nation?!" His voice turned shrill with unhinged madness. "You will pay! You will pay with your head!"
As his rage reached its peak, his body began to contort and swell. Flesh stretched unnaturally. Bones cracked and elongated. His mind, consumed by madness, could no longer control the transformation overtaking him. His body warped into a grotesque, monstrous abomination, his twisted form looming over the battlefield like a demon out of legend.
Framea, however, merely tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "Oh? Looks like someone got a makeover." She cracked her knuckles, her crimson eyes gleaming. "In that case… I should get one too."
With that, she activated [Usagi Battle Mode], and her body shifted. Her once-brown eyes burned a fiery red, her hair and tail turned a snowy white, and her ears elongated. Her claws grew longer and sharper, giving her a mesmerizing yet deadly presence.
Now fully transformed, her senses sharpened to an entirely new level. It was then that she noticed a pulse. Deep within the grotesque monstrosity Lucius had become, she sensed it. The source of his power. The dark core that corrupted him, nestled in the center of his chest, pulsating like a vile heart.
Her lips curled into a smirk.
"Well, I would have enjoyed playing around a little longer. But I do like this place… so let's deal with you before you bring the whole castle down," Framea said, rushing towards him at breakneck speed, too fast for the mindless Lucius to follow.
"Secrade Text Art: Chidori!" Framea said, as Electricity crackled as energy surged around her hand, shaping into a lethal blade of lightning.
Then, with a single, decisive thrust, Framea drove her hand straight through his chest. Flesh tore. Bone shattered. The twisted mass of his body convulsed violently as she pierced through, her arm buried to the elbow in his grotesque form.
Then, with a sharp, merciless yank, she ripped her hand free. Dark ichor splattered across the ruined floor as she pulled something from his body—the dark marble. The very thing that had corrupted him. The source of his monstrous power. It throbbed in her palm, pulsing with its final, dying flickers of energy.
The moment the marble left his body, Lucius's form began to unravel. His towering monstrosity shrank, flesh dissolving into fading remnants of cursed energy. His face twisted in agony, but he was beyond words now. The last embers of dark magic stitched his wound closed—but without the marble to sustain him, his body could no longer endure, and with one final, broken gasp, Lucius collapsed to the ground.
As his senses returned, Lucius processed what had just happened. Anger twisted his features as he cursed the vile merchant who had given him that accursed marble, his mind reeling at how quickly his supposed victory had crumbled. Just as he struggled to come to terms with his defeat, the sound of footsteps echoed through the empty chamber. His breath hitched as he instinctively assumed the rabbit woman had come to finish him off. However, when he forced himself to look up, he was met with an entirely unexpected sight.
It was not Framea standing before him.
Instead, it was Towa, her elegant form moving with a quiet purpose as she stepped toward him. She did not hesitate, stopping right beside where he lay, her presence looming over him.
A spark of hope ignited in Lucius's eyes. He had always known Towa to be soft-hearted, too kind for her own good, easily swayed by emotions. This was his chance. If he played his cards right, he could turn this situation around. All he had to do was shed a few tears, weave a pitiful story about how the monsters had manipulated him, and beg for her mercy. If he pushed the right buttons, she might even believe that the merchant had deceived him as well, allowing him to pin the blame on those very same creatures. With enough luck, he could turn her against them and walk away from this disaster with his life intact.
Convinced he had the perfect plan, Lucius gritted his teeth and forced himself onto his feet. His legs trembled, and his grip tightened around his staff as he tried to compose himself. With great effort, he mustered what he hoped was a remorseful expression and turned to face Towa, attempting to paint himself as nothing more than a man caught in unfortunate circumstances.
Before he could utter a single word, a sharp, searing pain tore through his throat.
His body jolted, his breath catching in his lungs as a warm, wet sensation flooded his senses. The sickening realization hit him a second later as blood spilled down his chest, the crimson liquid pooling at his feet. His fingers instinctively flew to his neck, but the damage had already been done.
Lucius's gaze lifted, his mind struggling to process what had just happened, but what he saw left him utterly frozen.
Towa was still standing before him, but gone was the gentle, uncertain queen he had known. There was no kindness in her expression, no hesitation in her stance. Her eyes, once filled with warmth, were now hard and cold, completely devoid of emotion. The only movement came from her hand, which held a dagger dripping with his blood.
"Well done, Lucius," Towa said, her voice steady and chilling in its finality. "You have given me a new perspective, one that will surely help me grow as a queen. I hope, for your sake, that it will count toward whatever little good you have done… to help you in your next life."
Lucius barely heard her words as darkness began creeping at the edges of his vision. His body swayed, his strength failing him as his knees buckled beneath him. The last thing he saw was Towa standing over him, unyielding, before his body finally collapsed to the ground, never to wake up again.
To be continued...