The flames dissipated.
A magatama emerged from the fire, floating in midair.
"Najenda."
Persephone smiled, "Try it."
"I…"
Najenda hesitated but felt the joy and longing within her heart.
She stood, approached the magatama, and picked it up.
In an instant.
The magatama burst into radiant light.
The next moment.
In Najenda's hand appeared a longsword resembling ancient jade, a mirror of the same material floated behind her, and eight jade magatamas orbited her body.
"Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi."
"Yata-no-Kagami."
"Yasakani-no-Magatama."
Persephone explained, "Forged from the original Teigu after modification—a brand-new Teigu."
"Hm~~~"
"Calling it merely a Teigu isn't quite fitting."
"Now."
"It contains infinite evolution, darkness, and the power of laws."
"Plus the divine energy Dust infused."
"In truth."
"This Teigu is better called a Demon Teigu."
"It's like an infinitely evolving demon."
"Is that so…"
Najenda felt the immense power within her, a strength she'd never dared imagine.
Once.
She'd only sensed such power from Esdeath.
Now?
Najenda was certain she'd surpassed Esdeath. The mere sublimation of her Teigu had brought such progress.
"Develop it slowly."
"The future of the Demon Teigu—what it will become."
"I'm not sure either."
Persephone smiled and shook her head, then tapped her lips. "However, you Demon Teigu wielders can match the Specters' potential. In the future, you'll be a force under Dust's command."
That was Persephone's vision.
If.
The sublimated Teigu still couldn't rival the Evil Stars.
Then.
They'd be meaningless.
Limitless Teigu wielders would have no purpose.
Specters.
Demon Teigu Wielders.
From just the first world, they'd gained a force with potential to rival the Specters.
This harvest was already remarkable.
Not even counting the lesser gains.
"Indeed."
Persephone said with a sigh, "Traversing the infinite records—world energy, faith power, divine artifacts—these are always the basest gains. The true value lies in unexpected yields."
"True."
Alistair nodded with a smile. "Persephone, proceed with modifying the remaining 47 Teigu."
"As for Najenda…"
"Thunderbolt: Three Sacred Treasures."
"How's that name?"
Alistair looked at Najenda.
Najenda, having retracted her Demon Teigu, smiled. "Your Majesty, I have no objections to the name you've chosen."
Alistair shook his head, saying no more.
Najenda strung the Demon Teigu's base magatama form on a cord, hanging it around her neck.
In truth.
After sublimation into a Demon Teigu, it was bound to its wielder, with no risk of loss.
Of course.
Its outward appearance was just that—appearance. Whatever she preferred.
"Boss."
After Najenda sat back down, Leone leaned over, whispering, "Now, can you beat Esdeath?"
"Yes."
Najenda nodded. "My Teigu has become a Demon Teigu, while Esdeath's hasn't. But it's meaningless."
"Fine."
Leone clicked her tongue, growing excited, anticipating what her own sublimated Teigu would become.
Soon.
Under Persephone's initial modifications, all eight women's Teigu were transformed.
And.
Najenda's brief moment as the strongest was quickly surpassed by Esdeath.
Most critically.
Esdeath led by a vast margin.
At that moment.
Esdeath was clad in dark purple armor infused with ice crystal elements. On closer inspection, its style resembled the Specters' Surplices.
"This is…"
The women looked at Esdeath curiously.
Pandora explained, "As you Demon Teigu wielders develop and enhance your Demon Teigu, this is the second stage. It evolves into a battle garb akin to Surplices, greatly boosting strength and speed."
"However."
"Esdeath hasn't yet cultivated her Cosmo, so the Cosmo's amplification isn't visible yet."
"I see!"
Hearing Pandora's explanation, the women's gazes grew fervent.
This was the future?
Then…
They grew excited, each one determined and eager.
From this day, they'd train diligently.
Otherwise.
As teammates, seeing Esdeath and then themselves—how embarrassing would that be?
If they hadn't reached the second stage while Esdeath was already on the third?
That'd be utterly humiliating.
"Cosmo, huh?"
Esdeath, sensing the immense power within her, like an ocean compared to her past, narrowed her eyes slightly.
How incredible would the power of Cosmo be?
Then.
Alistair said, "Alright, calm your minds. Later, I'll have Pandora teach you about Cosmo. For now, there are other matters to handle."
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
The women bowed respectfully.
Pandora led the eight women away to arrange their residences in Elysium.
No matter their affiliations.
They were all His Majesty's dependents. Fundamentally, they were equals, with no hierarchy among them.
***
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