Elise carefully recalled the swordsmanship she had once learned.
In the first world she experienced, most of her time had been spent building her Church of the Saintess, and since the power level of that world wasn't very high, training had limited use.
Even so, Elise had learned a bit of swordsmanship there and practiced occasionally, laying down a decent foundation.
Later, in the world of Asterisk War, Elise had studied that world's combat techniques—the Meteor Arts of the Genestella. They were quite strong, but compared to Jie Long's martial experts and external traditional schools, they fell a little short.
That was why Elise's swordsmanship was good, but still limited.
"I remember the true masters all created their own styles, didn't they?"
Yes. Top-tier experts might learn from others' techniques, but only to supplement their own shortcomings. Once those gaps were filled, they would then develop new moves, forming a style unique to themselves.
Elise clearly intended to do the same.
"Then let's give it a try!"
Est, work with me!
Alright, Sister!
Thanks to their contract, the two could communicate directly in their hearts, saving much trouble.
The silver-blue holy sword shone even brighter under the power's blessing. Elise gripped the hilt with both hands and raised the sword before her chest.
Starlight began to gather in her hands, encircling Est's blade as if adding a glowing special effect.
Gathering, and more gathering…
Compressing all the Prana together!
Finally—release!
"Hah!"
Elise swung forward, unleashing a massive slash of starlit sword energy from Est's body. In an instant, it struck a huge tree before her!
Crack!
The massive trunk split cleanly in half!
The power was… impressive?
It wasn't any weaker than some of her Kotodama techniques. Elise had underestimated her own talent in handling Prana.
That ancient tree, likely over a hundred years old and at least fifty meters tall, had been split apart? And this was without using faith power at all—what kind of strength would it reach if she combined the two?
"Should I… try it out?"
She raised the holy sword again, channeling Prana once more. But this time, there was a difference—an ivory glow joined in.
Elise was simultaneously infusing the holy sword with both Prana and faith power. What kind of strength would such a strike hold?
As the energies compressed, the blade itself began to tremble violently, as if one wrong move could trigger a devastating explosion!
Sister! There's too much energy—you must release it quickly!
Est's warning rang in Elise's mind. In her form as the Demon King-Killing Sacred Sword, she could clearly sense the terrifying power building within her body!
No exaggeration—Elise felt this one strike held the strength to obliterate an entire city!
The limit had been reached!
The sword's radiance was saturating, signaling that the energy was at its maximum capacity.
Even Elise's hands shook as she gripped the hilt!
"Then let me witness the power of this strike!"
The blade, now pure white, unleashed its might skyward!
Boom—!
A massive shockwave erupted outward from Elise's position. A white pillar of light, speckled with countless blue motes, shot into the sky, roaring endlessly!
Seeing this, Elise thought with satisfaction—she was already a proper Saber. After all, this was a light cannon!
And what Saber didn't have one?
This overwhelming power was thanks to the presence of faith!
"This power… it's not just a little amplification, is it?"
Elise felt grateful to wield such strength—but at the same time, deeply worried.
Because, as the saying goes—
That which grants triumph may also bring ruin.
As a user of faith power, Elise knew very well what its weakness was. If she couldn't find a power to replace faith, then one day, she would face the end of death!
But…
"For now, I suppose this counts as the first move created solely by me and Est!"
"Let's give this move a name, Est!"
The holy sword in her hand transformed back into a petite loli amidst the glow. But seeing her drowsy look, she had likely exhausted too much of her strength again.
"Names and such—you can decide, Sister. Est doesn't care about that."
With that, Est leaned on Elise's shoulder and began resting. Clearly, she had indeed overexerted herself.
"Alright, as long as you don't mind."
Truthfully, Elise had never imagined herself creating sword techniques one day, much less naming them. But now that she had, she had to give it a good name!
"Since it began as a Prana slash, with the attack shining full of starlight effects, then this strike will simply be called Starlight Sword."
As for the collective name of all her techniques…
Elise thought carefully. She was to become a saintess, and Est was this world's renowned Demon King-Killing Sacred Sword!
"Then from now on, all the techniques Est and I create will be called the Holy Sword Style—the techniques of a saintess wielding the holy sword!"
So the move just now, in full, was Holy Sword Style – Starlight Sword.
"What do you think, Est?"
"Mmhm! Very fitting, Sister!"
Elise carried Est on her back, preparing to leave the forest and head toward the town.
But just then, a low growl came from nearby.
"Arwoo…"
It was that desert wolf from before. Blood still poured from the cut on its neck, and this cry was likely its dying gasp.
Elise didn't understand the spirit language, so she ignored it. But the nearby little spirits reacted differently—they rushed over and surrounded the wolf, seeming to converse with it.
Even Est, on Elise's back, pricked up her ears, listening intently to their exchange.
Before long, the conversation seemed to end. A butterfly-shaped spirit flew to Elise's side, circling her repeatedly.
"What does this mean?"
Elise didn't understand, but she wasn't alone.
As a high-level sword spirit, Est could of course comprehend it!
"Sister, they're saying they hope you'll save that spirit. It seems to have been influenced by something strange—this wasn't its true intent."
"And it also said… it knows an important secret, and is willing to lead us to it."