Chapter 234: Realization


    Shiron headed to where Kiara was without anyone telling him to. Despite it being his first visit to the underwater city, he navigated it without any obstacles.


    He saw through theplex streets as if they were the palm of his hand and easily evaded the troops that had gone on alert.


    But it wasn’t that he chose to run away from every situation; if he had to fight, he did so without hesitation, defeating his adversaries.


    Lucia felt a mix of emotions watching him. Relief, perhaps? It might be that Shiron’s reliable appearance made her feelings for him grow even stronger.


    However, unlike Lucia, who had feelings beyond admiration, Seira felt only one thing.


    Nostalgia.


    Every time Seira went on an adventure with Shiron, she recalled some of the most intense memories of her life.


    “Crossing the mountains is inefficient. So let’s pass through the nearbybyrinth. Any objections?”


    “You’re thorough. When did you investigate thebyrinth here?”“…Because I’m a genius!”


    “Yura?”


    “Yes, Anjay?”


    “There’s a disease in thatbyrinth that makes you see your deceased mother. I think this is as far as I go.”


    “Wouldn’t it be easier to knock you out and carry you?”


    “Then Kyrie… Ah! No, we can cross over first, and then Seira can teleport you. That would be more efficient.”


    ‘…Is it because the kid mentioned Kyrie’s name? I’m reminded of the old days.’


    Even in the midst of a bloodbath, Seira smiled contentedly. Those who didn’t understand the situation might think she was a strange elf, but even so, she couldn’t help butugh.


    Now, Seira was too busy enjoying herself to care about any curses.


    In her past life, where she couldn’t build new bonds or ovey memories, she was finally turning to a new page, painting a new picture.


    ‘If the kid were really Kyrie…’


    But even as she turned a new page, she was still haunted by the old one. She wished at least one friend who had shared in her memories and drawings could be alive.


    “They say elves who leave the forest are prone to depression. I guess this is what they meant.”


    Seira shook her head, trying to dispel thoughts of her deceasedrades. Now she had newpanions, and she needed to paint the next picture with them.


    Immersing oneself in ongoing work wasn’t easy, Seira thought. Thinking about Shiron and Yura ovepping with Kyrie was a disservice to them.


    Her musings were interrupted as Shiron stopped.


    “Seira.”


    Before them stood a temple that was hard to believe was underwater. Shiron, who had cleansed the sacred sword of blood, sensed an uneasy presence there.


    “Let’s blow up the temple.”


    “Not going in?”


    “Though I don’t fully understand Kiara’s thoughts, I’m sure she’s interested in me, right?”


    Shiron nced at Lucia and then back at the temple.


    “If she’s interested in me, I should use that to our advantage.”


    “I was feeling left out without anything to do, but… Phew! That’s a relief.”


    Seira stretched and waved her staff in the air a couple of times. A faint dark blue barrier formed.


    This ensured Kiara wouldn’t detect their killing intent until the magic waspleted.


    While Seira prepared her spell, Shiron also began preparing his magic. Unlike physicalbat or swordsmanship, magic’s efficiency increased with more users.


    The more people using magic, the better. If ten mages could achieve tenfold efficiency, a thousand mages could achieve a thousandfold efficiency or more, ording tomon knowledge.


    Lucia also directed her mana to assist in the spell.


    From deep within the grand temple, a distinct presence could be felt. It was unmistakably Kiara, whom they hadn’t defeated centuries ago.


    ‘She’s gotten stronger, as expected.’


    Since confirming her presence through Yuma, Lucia hadn’t expected Kiara to have simply idled away the centuries.


    Five hundred years was a long time. It’s more than enough for injured limbs to heal, and the lifespan of a high-ranking demon could be considered virtually infinite by human standards.


    While a human’s prime might be a brief period within a hundred-year lifespan, a demon’s primests forever once they reach maturity.


    ‘Though she’s stronger, she’s still weaker than the Demon God.’


    So, even in the disadvantageous underwater environment, they stood a chance. As Lucia’s energy center heated up, a red circle surrounded the temple, and Seira sealed off any escape routes for Kiara.


    Shiron raised both arms and caused a volcanic eruption. Krrrrr! The giant aquarium filled with scorchingva. The temple couldn’t withstand the overwhelming firepower. Theva surged up from the depths, swallowing the temple’s foundation, and the water within the transparent barrier began to boil furiously.


    Rumble—


    Indeed, fires not kindled by bonds were quickly extinguished. The presence they felt inside was now tinged with clear killing intent.


    The obsession that was solely directed at Shiron turned into killing intent and energy, attempting to tear apart the translucent barrier.


    ‘Sturdy.’


    Shiron added a spell to it. A ck lightning derived from Seira’s purple lightning. A means to burn and burst flesh, forcing Kiara to die within the barrier.


    “When did you learn that spell?”


    Kiaraughed, watching her flesh burst and heal repeatedly. She hadn’t felt pain since gaining divine power, but now she felt a hot and thrilling sensation.


    “I had prepared a wee…”


    This made all her preparations futile. Kiara gave up on her now-ash dress and took a step forward.


    Her proud steps were halted by the translucent wall that was merely an obstacle to her goal.


    mes bursting from below burned Kiara’s body, but she healed at an equally rapid pace.


    Thus, Kiara felt no need to hurry. She slowly reached out, changing the flow of theva.


    Though the eruption aimed to kill her, it wasn’t difficult for someone with her powers. The flow of the risingva quickened, and with her charred fingers, Kiara pointed to a spot.


    One, two.


    Bubbles formed on the surface of the barrier.


    The liquid, several times the mass of seawater, concentrated its force, which was thousands of times hotter.


    “Whoa.”


    Seira was the first to notice. Despite reinforcing the transforming parts, the force erupting from inside showed no signs of diminishing.


    “I don’t think it willst long.”


    “I never thought this would kill her.”


    But Shiron didn’t stop his magic. Instead, he focused more on channeling mana and striking with lightning instead of the divertedva.


    Meanwhile, Lucia stopped her magic. Instead, she drew Sirius from her scabbard. Her specialty was not magic, and instinctively, she knew magic that couldn’t break the barrier couldn’t kill Kiara.


    So,


    Seeing the web-like cracks, Lucia raised her sword. The sword, forged from stars, emitted a brilliant light, and a miracle unfolded, splitting the dark sea in two.


    The stone pirs that were once called a temple slid with a ground-shaking impact.


    But there was no scream. Sensing the immense killing intent, Kiara leaped in front of Lucia and reached out her hand.


    “You’re here.”


    Facing Kiara up close, she looked grotesque. Her body, repeatedly damaged and unable to heal, was exposed with muscles showing.


    Her eyelids were gone, revealing her entire eyeballs, and her naked body incited no feelings of shame or contempt.


    “Ew, disgusting.”


    Lucia blocked Kiara’s outstretched hand and expressed her disgust honestly.


    ‘The smell is appetizing though.’


    There was no need to voice the unnecessarypliment. Lucia didn’t need to mention that Kiara had grown stronger and was more enjoyable to fight. All she had to do was swing her sword, scattering beams of light. Amidst the bombardment, sword strikes aimed to cut Kiara.


    Kiara’s recovered eyes widened. Deep red wounds marred her torn skin, but she felt no pain. The advantage of gaining divine power was that her essence was no longer bound to her body.


    No matter how injured she became, Kiara’s movements were never slowed. Even when the dark abyss was stained with her blood, she felt no dizziness or impairment.


    Thus, she responded without difficulty to the oing attacks from behind. Kiara’s power created invisible des.


    des born from the deep water blended perfectly with the environment, bing invisible swords. Shiron vaguely sensed the approaching killing intent and unleashed attacks several times over.


    But this wasn’t efficient. Crackle! Purple lightning surrounded Shiron. Seira’s support clung to the approaching des.


    The flows collided, attempting to control the situation. Seira tried to disrupt the ocean’s currents and return them to nothingness, and Shiron squeezed through that opportunity.


    However, Kiara wasn’t one to watch idly. She had the power of domination, and dozens of currents not affected by Seira’s interference stretched out.


    Blood spreading in the darkness, shing light, struggles to pierce through. The once serene ocean turned into a fierce battlefield.


    But even amidst the chaos, the tension of battle never lost its purpose.


    “Hehe.”


    And at some point, Kiara’s momentum changed.


    Despite the dizziness that should apany a physical battle involving her powers, her thoughts elerated, responding to threats.


    “You’re quite a fighter. Is it because you’re strong? Facing you makes me think that you…”


    “Shut up, you stink.”


    Lucia thought Kiara might be pretending not to notice.


    But that wasn’t possible. Kiara couldn’t lie about her feelings and truly hadn’t guessed until the red-haired girl showed her sword and spoke.


    ‘No way, it can’t be.’


    Kiara’s consciousness shifted to Shiron behind her. The shining sword was firmly gripped. Meanwhile, the sword engaging Kiara was of a type she had never seen before.


    However, its flow felt familiar.


    Kiara expanded the space, pushing Lucia away. Twisting the flow to avoid impact, she created a mana shield. In that brief gap, Kiara distanced herself to observe both humans clearly.


    With a sword in hand and feet poised, though their faces were dirtied, many subtle differences were apparent. And among them, one thing…


    A faint sense of incongruity pricked at Kiara like a thorn.


    “…Ahaha!”


    Kiara clutched her forehead. Lucia stomped the ground in response to the tant gap.


    “You…”


    Lucia leaped the distance in an instant, facing Kiara’s chillingughter head-on. The sudden realization brought joy and excitement instead of anger. Various emotions mixed, presenting Kiara with chaos.


    Indeed, one couldn’t do or know everything.


    But, the qualification to ascend to a higher level and the powers remained.


    Kiara twisted her hand, and a sticky darkness blocked Lucia’s path.