"The newest Blade Dance Festival is about to begin—how exciting!"
The spirit maidens who served the Elemental Lords were chatting idly.
"Yes, I heard that last time's champion, Lord Ren Ashbell, will participate again!"
"Eh? Really? Even that person will join?"
"I'd love to see Lord Ashbell's sword dance again!"
Their conversation was cheerful, but in the next instant, a violent tremor shook the temple.
"What happened? Why would the Grand Temple of the Elemental Lords shake so unnaturally?"
"Look! Over there!"
A massive beam of light shot up from the Elemental Lord's chamber. The spirit maidens' expressions froze in shock.
"Impossible…"
"What is that power? Why is my body trembling… is this fear?"
All of them collapsed to their knees, quivering, their faces stricken with terror.
Having served the Elemental Lords for countless years, they could recognize their power instantly.
That beam was not the power of any Elemental Lord!
Which meant only one thing…
An Elemental Lord was battling an intruder inside the Grand Hall!
But…
"That kind of battle… we cannot possibly take part in!"
Just by looking at that beam of light, they felt the imminent presence of death. How could they ever hope to face such an enemy?
All of the spirit maidens chose to kneel, praying to their Lord.
"Elemental Lord, please unleash your Divine Power and strike down the insolent invader!"
"Haa… the consumption was enormous."
Elise had poured her full might into the sleeping Elemental Lord, even adding conceptual powers.
And the result was clear.
Within her sight, the Elemental Lord was nowhere to be seen—only ruins remained.
"Your power really is absurd…" Even little Ren beside her was sweating. "Even if the Elemental Lord wasn't at full strength, to kill one in a single strike is outrageous!"
To compare in terms of characters—this was like Ultraman Jack with or without his bracelet versus Herrscher of Finality in Honkai.
Elise was the same.
The Elise who used faith power and the Elise who did not might as well be treated as two different beings.
So long as her faith wasn't restrained, Elise's strength shook the heavens and made ghosts wail.
"No, I need to recover…"
Using faith power to the utmost strained her heavily. She hadn't known if the Elemental Lord could withstand it, and if things had gone wrong, she would've relied on Ren to help her escape. With Ren's heart in her hand, Elise wasn't afraid of betrayal.
"Hm? Is this… faith power directed at the Elemental Lord?"
Elise froze. The influx came far too timely, and its source was no weakling—it was at least stronger than an ordinary person.
"Perfect timing!"
She sat cross-legged, drawing on this new faith to restore herself.
From that last attack, she could roughly gauge how much power was needed to slay an Elemental Lord.
"And… faith power can even cause this kind of effect?"
Golden cracks briefly appeared on Elise's body, then quickly faded.
This was the first time she had encountered such a thing.
It was like a phone charger forced to take in far beyond its limit of current.
The result was obvious…
Explosion!
"As I thought, my body is still too weak. I can't withstand such immense power… I must find a way to strengthen myself soon!"
"Since you're recovering, I'll fulfill my promise. Est?"
Ren called out Est's name, and in the next moment, the white-haired girl transformed from sword form into human form.
"Est, if anything goes wrong, stop immediately!"
"And Ren—you too. If you can't control the power, then end it at once."
Elise had only just gained the Sacred Sword. Of course she wished for Est to become stronger, but if something went wrong here, wouldn't her entire journey to this world be wasted?
"Yes, Sister. I'll be careful," Est replied, then turned her gaze toward Ren. "Let's begin. I will succeed!"
"Such spirit!"
Ren curved her lips into a smile. If it was this girl, perhaps she really could save their world.
"It might hurt a little, so bear with it!"
Ren raised her arms toward the sky. Above her head, a vast red energy gathered—pure power left behind by an Elemental Lord after death.
Her task now was to channel this power into Est, letting her evolve through it.
As mentioned before, the Est that Elise wielded was a split incarnation, separated from her true self. Even with Elise's strengthening, she possessed at most one-third of her original might.
Meanwhile, the Sacred Queen wielded Est's true body at full power. To balance this, they would use the fallen Elemental Lords' power to supplement Est.
If the Sacred Sword grew stronger, Elise's chance of victory would rise.
"Ugh—!"
The crimson energy, blazing like flames, flowed into Est under Ren's guidance.
Instantly, searing heat surged through her entire body.
"So hot…"
Est's cheeks flushed red. Even her clothes seemed about to ignite.
Still, she endured.
"If you can't bear it, then give up…" Elise said softly. "Even without the Sacred Sword's evolution, I will defeat the Sacred Queen!"
Her words echoed in Est's ears. Would she give up?
No! She had to endure!
"I am…"
"Sister's contracted spirit!"
"And Sister's sword!"
Forever and ever, never to part!
If Sister intended to slay the Elemental Lords, Est would be by her side—
Even if the enemy was herself!
Though their time together had been short—not even a month—Est understood Elise's heart and the boundless care she showed her.
That was why, at first, Est had called her "mother." It had been her most honest judgment of Elise.
Though that hadn't lasted, she was just as happy to call her "Sister."
One call of Sister, a lifetime of Sister.
Therefore… Est would never give up!
"Aaaahhh—!"
With a shriek of pain, Est's small body went limp, as though roasted alive. She was about to collapse to the ground—
But a pair of hands caught her in time.
"You really are such a worry, Est…" Elise sighed helplessly.
But the white-haired girl's face wore a victorious smile.
"Hehe! Sister…"
"I did it!"