Enrite caressed El Tesoykve, savoring its feel.
Even though he had transformed into a human, El Tesoykve radiated with an even more brilliant light.
"Was it waiting for this moment?"
When El Tesoykve was first created, it did not possess a consciousness.
But over the long years of being wielded by humans, it developed a desire.
It wanted to become human, to live like one.
And somehow, that desire manifested into the consciousness of Enrite Serenine.
"Is this my wish or El Tesoykve's?"
Enrite smiled faintly but was suddenly overcome with curiosity.
Why was he smiling?
It was his first experience of the act of smiling, and even the fact that he was alive and breathing felt strange.
"This isn't the time for that."
Enrite slowly raised El Tesoykve, focusing on the enemy.
Earlier, he was too weak for the battle to even make sense.
But now, he felt he could block or dodge any attack.
"I sense the presence of the Three Great Kings in you, but you are not one of them. What are you?"
Zion retreated quickly and stood beside Enrite.
Even seeing it with his own eyes, he could hardly believe it.
How could Enrite wield El Tesoykve with a human body?
- I will seal your Magic Sword.
The mysterious voice ignored the question and charged at Enrite.
Enrite, unperturbed, slowly took his stance.
"You won't be able to seal it. My Magic Sword has transcended the natural order."
Enrite felt his heart tremble as he swung El Tesoykve.
Magic coursed through his body, surging out and merging with El Tesoykve.
Why hadn't he felt this sensation when it was merely a Magic Sword?
- This is...
La Bler's blade clashed with El Tesoykve.
Normally, La Bler's repressive magic would try to bind El Tesoykve.
But now, La Bler was merely swept away by El Tesoykve's radiance.
"A mere imitation of a Magic Sword."
Enrite moved inward, wrapping La Bler in his aura.
At the same time, he sealed La Bler's magic and unleashed a silver beam of light.
The mysterious voice attempted to counterattack, but Exceed Rain had already intervened.
- Grrr...
The mysterious voice was overwhelmed by the silver light and the purple aura, rapidly pushed back.
Confident of his victory, he had created a body and wielded La Bler.
Even when the bearer of the Dark Magic Sword intervened, he managed to hold his ground due to their similar power levels.
But the intervention of the Light Magic Sword disrupted his momentum.
- This won't happen twice!
The mysterious voice endured the silver light and struck with La Bler.
He had previously been defeated by the Light and Dark Magic Swords.
He couldn't afford to repeat the same mistake.
- I will seal your Magic Swords...
His head, devoid of eyes, nose, mouth, or ears, was severed.
A diagonal slash followed from his chest to his waist.
His right arm fell off, and La Bler began to plummet to the ground.
"This is the end."
Enrite unleashed a silver stream of energy from El Tesoykve.
El Tesoykve began to glow brightly, its light intensifying.
At this moment, it seemed possible to completely destroy the artificial Magic Sword.
"Perhaps..."
Zion focused his magic into Exceed Rain, preparing to use his sword energy.
A faint vibration emanated from Exceed Rain.
It felt as if it was resonating, much like that time before.
"Is it possible to use nearly ultimate power?"
Zion locked eyes with Enrite and pulled back his right shoulder.
Then he swung Exceed Rain towards La Bler.
The dark purple energy left a graceful trail as it shot forward.
"...I sense deep darkness."
Enrite swung his sword with a clear mind.
A silver arc followed the blade of El Tesoykve, cutting through the air.
The darkness of Exceed Rain and the light of El Tesoykve were about to intersect.
"Why are you cooperating with me now?"
He and Exceed Rain had always despised each other.
Despite being created at the same time and being siblings, why did they possess opposite attributes?
If they had shared the same attribute, they could have harmonized as the primordial Magic Swords.
"If it's because of Zion Laird..."
The combined force of silver and purple energy surged towards La Bler.
La Bler began to distort as it floated in the air.
The mysterious voice tried to retrieve La Bler but was quickly compressed by the sword energy.
"It may not be ultimate power... but something we and Exceed Rain achieved together..."
Enrite looked at Exceed Rain with a strange sense of satisfaction.
Perhaps Exceed Rain found La Bler bothersome.
Thus, it sought to destroy it, leading to its resonance with El Tesoykve.
"I never thought we could be in sync..."
Enrite smiled subtly and then laughed.
Despite their mutual hatred as siblings, why did it feel so amusing now?
"That's settled..."
Zion, seeing La Bler being destroyed, cautiously turned his gaze away.
Since meeting Enrite, he had never seen him laugh.
It seemed as if he had undergone a rapid transformation after wielding El Tesoykve.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I feel better than ever."
Zion cautiously observed Enrite.
Though the laughter had stopped, Enrite still wore a smile.
The always cold expression now seemed more radiant than ever.
"...I finally feel truly human."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'm holding El Tesoykve, am I not?"
Enrite finally ceased smiling and raised El Tesoykve.
Zion alternated his gaze between El Tesoykve and Enrite, his eyes narrowing.
"Have you broken free from being a Magic Sword?"
"Not exactly. El Tesoykve still exists, doesn't it?"
"Then... it means you've gained the right."
"I became human, and El Tesoykve changed as well. Perhaps I needed an epiphany too."
Enrite stroked the blade of El Tesoykve before dissipating its form.
Once the consciousness of El Tesoykve, he was now its master as a human.
It was as if the natural order had been reversed, and even he didn't fully understand the mechanics.
He could only assume that both El Tesoykve and he had desired this outcome.
"Your hair color has changed too. Ah, and your eyes have turned blue."
"Do I look better than before?"
"Uh... you look more beautiful than before."
Zion answered honestly, gazing at Enrite.
The silvery hair that gently curved, the blue-tinted eyes, the cold yet now slightly fresher impression.
When smiling, he could seem kind, but without the smile, he might be more cold-hearted than ever.
"Beautiful... Do I look more beautiful than Hanette?"
"...There is no woman more beautiful than my fiancée."
"Of course... Is that so?"
Enrite answered leisurely but kept his eyes on Oz.
Oz was holding Timer, avoiding eye contact.
There was much to discuss and question about his ambush.
But since he had proven himself worthy, showing some mercy might be necessary.
"Gasp... Gasp..."
"Zion!"
Seran and Hanette finally arrived, entering the scene.
Zion and Enrite appeared unharmed, while Oz seemed nervous and wary.
Hanette, not understanding the situation, quickly gathered her magic.
"Sis, you don't have to fight. He's an ally now."
Zion hurried to block Hanette.
Hanette frowned and retorted bluntly.
"An ally? He was the enemy!"
"He was, but now he's an ally."
"How can an enemy become an ally?"
"Look at that."
Zion pointed to the Timer Oz was holding.
Following his finger, Hanette scrutinized it and then gave a cold look.
"He's even worse."
"Uh... why?"
"He was originally an ally, then became an enemy and now claims to be an ally again?"
"Is that how it works?"
"Do you think someone who betrayed once won't betray again?"
"Let's at least hear him out..."
"There's nothing to hear."
Hanette calmly stated, glaring at Oz.
People could commit wrongs for personal reasons, but whether to forgive or not, those wrongs remained as events and memories.
Especially when her allies were targeted, it wasn't something she could just overlook.
"Sis, everyone makes mistakes. No one got hurt."
"They almost did. He tried to attack the leader of the Sylase Knights and me. You think I should just let that go?"
"I'm fine..."
"It's not fine at all! You should be taking my side in this!"
"......"
Seran, trying to intervene, quickly fell silent.
From a logical standpoint, Hanette wasn't wrong.
And she seemed quite upset, so it was best to stay quiet.
"Sis, we can resolve this through conversation."
"He attacked first, how do we resolve that with words?"
"Then trust me. That's not hard, right?"
"You..."
Hanette couldn't continue and just looked at Zion.
If Zion was acting suspiciously, she would question it, but she wouldn't object because she trusted him.
But with an enemy in front of her, she couldn't back down this time.
"Is it because of him? Is my trust that insignificant?"
"Even if it's no one else, can't you trust me?"
Hanette, struggling to control her breathing, bit her lip.
No matter how much she thought about it, Zion's idea seemed wrong, but why was she hesitating?
"You’re really stubborn. Do you think you’re the only one who's talented? I can be talented too now."
"Sis, you’re more talented than me."
"Why are you saying that now... ha..."
Hanette glared at Oz, then turned her back.
Zion must have a reason for wanting to spare the enemy.
If her partner wanted that, she should follow suit.
"I’ll listen. But if it doesn't feel right, that's the end."
"You really do trust me, Sis?"
"...I don't know."
Hanette pouted but showed a faint smile.
She trusted Zion as much as he trusted her.
So if he asked her to trust him, she couldn't help but do so.
"Who else would I trust besides you?"