The time began to reverse within the vast spiritual energy field, flowing backward through day and night—
Until it reached the day of the battle.
Suzuki and Watanabe watched silently as the scene replayed before them—
Every strike, every burst of power, every flame that had torn through the battlefield.
And finally, they saw it.
The truth.
Who Lucy really was—
A Duo Renshi User known as a witch.
When the vision ended, both men stood frozen, unable to move. The silence between them stretched, heavy with disbelief.
Watanabe was the first to speak.
"Well… for me, I have something to say," he murmured quietly. "This woman might be one of them… but she's also one of the best humans I've ever seen. She's no ordinary witch. She fights to protect her student. So, for me… I don't think we should take that about her too seriously."
Suzuki turned his gaze slowly.
"Can you hear yourself? Make your point clear without beating around the bush."
He paused, exhaling. "I don't know what to say for now. But what I can say is that we don't have the right to pass judgment. We'll wait for Master on this one."
Watanabe exhaled deeply. Together, they began walking through the forest.
"Should we head to the Kingdom of Samira," Watanabe asked, "or head to the small kingdom I'm sure the woman teleported the boy to?"
"According to my analysis," Suzuki replied, "she'll head back for the boy after realizing what she did was careless. That's after waking up."
He looked forward, eyes firm. "We should head there."
The two of them walked slowly toward a glowing Renshi circle floating mid-air—
And stepped through it.
---
Meanwhile...
Lucy had already teleported to the small kingdom gate.
This time, she was disguised—
Her body altered, her features hidden beneath a regular black Shinra cape, appearing as a young man.
Her purpose was clear:
To get Alfie, Jackson and Sasaki out of there.
She walked calmly toward the entrance, her hood drawn low.
Four patrolling guards stopped her at the gate as she tried to enter.
"The kingdom isn't in its best condition right now," one of them said sharply. "What's your business here?"
There was silence.
Then Lucy answered, her voice steady but cold.
"What's with this attitude of yours? I'm just here to get some things I need for the road. I've got no intention of visiting this place."
The guards exchanged glances. After a moment, they nodded and stepped aside.
"Go on," one said.
Lucy—still in male form—walked past them into the kingdom.
Without hesitation, she made her way straight toward the castle.
Hours passed. The sun had already set. Darkness spread across the sky.
Lucy stopped, eyes narrowing.
"There's no need to check out what they're up to. I need to get Alfie and the others out first."
As she approached the castle gates, she noticed the guards numbers are more—
Heavier than before. Twice as many guards.
Still in her male form, she walked straight toward them.
"Hey there, boy. What are you up to?" one of the guards asked.
"Well, hmm," Lucy said calmly, "I was actually thinking of seeing your Master. We've got business to discuss."
The guards frowned, looking her over suspiciously.
"And what business do you have with our Master?" the same guard pressed, stepping closer.
"Well, I think that's private. You might want to get your Master now, please. It's urgent," Lucy replied, already losing patience.
"Don't speak like you know anything about our Master. Who the hell are you?" the guard snapped, shifting forward aggressively.
Lucy's eyes flickered with irritation.
The moment he landed in front of her—
She struck.
A single punch to the face—
And the guard was sent flying, crashing into the gate, shattering it completely before slamming into the mansion wall.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" the others shouted.
Fifteen guards charged at once.
Lucy drew Damascus from her Renshical scabbard—
And with a single swing—
She cut them all down in two, her strike cleaving through the gate pillars as well, leaving nothing but debris.
"Who dares cause a commotion in our premises?!" a voice thundered from above.
The Head of the Guards hovered midair, looking down at Lucy.
"Where is your Master?" Lucy asked, her voice low and serious.
"Calm down now, boy. We don't want any trouble. I want you to calm down and state your business with her," the head guard replied cautiously.
"WHERE… IS… YOUR… MASTER?" Lucy asked again, slower this time, voice filled with restrained fury.
"What's with this kid?" the head guard muttered. "Why's he so obsessed with her?"
He descended swiftly, landing in front of Lucy.
"Well? Where is our Master, huh? I think she doesn't want to talk to you."
Lucy's eyes narrowed. "Huh… I see."
In the next instant, she swung Damascus.
The head guard barely dodged—
The Renshi slash tore through the mansion, cutting it cleanly in two and triggering a massive explosion from the Renshical electricity running through the structure.
"You'll pay for this!" the head guard shouted in anger, switching forward with two Renshi blades drawn.
He unleashed a flurry of attacks, striking non-stop—
But Lucy deflected and dodged each blow with effortless grace, Damascus flashing in the firelight.
As the pressure increased, Lucy sneered. "You'll need to do more than that."
In one motion, she swung Damascus again—
The powerful blade shattered his swords—
And the same swing cut him in two.
His upper body fell away from his lower half as he hit the ground, lifeless.
Still in her male form, Lucy stepped into the burning ruins of the mansion.
"I know you're here," she called out. "Show yourself!"
A soft voice echoed through the flames.
"Calm down now, will you? What's your business with me, boy?"
From the fire emerged Susa, her appearance now different—
Wearing a well-designed red costume, trousers lined with golden thread.
Lucy's eyes narrowed.
"You have what I want. Give it to me, and I'm out of here."
Susa smiled faintly.
"Now you're making things more complicated. What is it that's yours… that's with me, huh?"