Hanette's eyes burned with determination as she expanded her flames, merging fiercely with Brecht's.
“Hmph…”
Brecht intensified its flames, countering Hanette’s. This was unexpected. Before her body died, Hanette had only been able to use fire magic through Brecht. Now, she wielded flames solely with her own mana.
‘She’s producing such flames without me.’
Brecht marveled, observing Hanette’s flames closely. They were growing denser, starting to consume its own. Hanette was increasing both the quantity and concentration of her mana even while fighting.
‘Still, she cannot win.’
At her current level, Hanette couldn’t defeat Brecht. Even if it let her go, she couldn’t return to life as a human. To transcend death, one needed matching power.
‘Returning now would mean the death of her spirit.’
Hanette’s body was unequivocally dead. Returning would lead to the failure of spirit assimilation into her body, resulting in the death of her consciousness. For her to revive as a human, her body needed to be reinfused with life.
‘Replacing life with flames could bring her back.’
But that wasn’t what Hanette wanted. Once flames inhabited her body, she would cease to be human, likely becoming something straddling the line between humanity and a higher existence.
‘...Not necessarily.’
Hanette had mentioned a human named Zion, who wielded the dark Magic Sword Exceed Rain and had recently transformed it into a new form. This process had brought him into contact with the essence, making him a human yet not entirely human.
‘What I can do is limited.’
Brecht amplified its flames, erasing Hanette’s. Hanette could neither become an essence nor revive as a human at present. Only after bonding with Brecht and reaching a certain level could she choose her path.
‘...I sense El Tesoykve’s will.’
El Tesoykve was continuously channeling mana into Hanette’s body. Despite her death, it hadn’t abandoned her treatment. Perhaps its wielder also wished for Hanette’s revival as a human.
‘Exceed Rain is nearing death.’
That was the human Hanette had spoken of. As soon as Hanette’s body lost its life, Exceed Rain’s darkness had been unleashed, intending to annihilate the enemy at the cost of its wielder’s life.
“…That human will die too.”
“You mean Zion?”
“Yes.”
Hanette’s chest tightened as she bit her lip. Brecht wasn’t lying, nor did it seem to be trying to deceive her.
“With your current strength, you can do nothing. Even if you revive as a human, you’ll die again. Do you still refuse to become an essence?”
“I told you! I need Zion!”
Hanette poured all her mana into her flames. Her golden eyes darkened, and the flames turned the same hue. Brecht was astonished by the transformation.
‘She’s surpassed human limits.’
Just moments ago, Hanette had been enveloped in flames of the same color as Brecht’s. But with one word about that human dying, she transformed her essence.
‘I existed to bring her to this point.’
Suddenly, Brecht found itself bonding with Hanette. She had always been ready; she simply hadn’t realized it until now.
‘It was simple yet difficult.’
Though Hanette wielded Brecht, she hadn’t fully bonded with it. Thus, she had only been borrowing a portion of its power, which had still granted her significant strength. Unable to avoid death, Brecht had tried to rebirth her as a higher being, but her bond with Zion had led to this unexpected yet desired outcome.
‘I was manipulated by a human, but... that too is fate.’
Accepting its fate, Brecht allowed its flames to dissipate. It was a twist of destiny, yet the desired conclusion. Hanette would revive as a human and reunite with Zion, essence-infused humans forging the future together.
“I acknowledge you, Hanette Adelaira.”
“How long will you continue this?”
“……”
“It's better to give up.”
“……”
“Ah…”
Lesia watched with pity, glancing nervously. Enrite knelt beside Hanette, pouring mana into her. Though he knew it was over, he couldn’t let go.
“Why do this? Let her go.”
“……”
“Blame me instead. It’s my fault for not blocking the attack.”
“I don’t blame you.”
Enrite finally spoke after a long silence. Lesia had reacted quickly, sensing the attack. She had barely dodged it herself; protecting Hanette had been impossible.
“Doing this won’t bring Hanette back.”
“I promised the black knight. I must keep my word.”
“I understand, but... Ah…”
Lesia couldn't continue, turning her head away. She had sensed the attack but hadn’t been fast enough to save Hanette. Now, Zion had vanished with Slime Dragon.
‘That means…’
Lesia didn’t fully understand Zion’s technique but had a rough idea from once being Exceed Rain’s consciousness. The vast darkness and spatial movement suggested Zion had used a burdensome power.
“We need to find Zion. Hanette would want that.”
“How do you find a human who accepted death?”
“…What?”
“Hanette must be revived. Only then can we save the black knight!”
Enrite, head bowed, spoke through gritted teeth. Tears flowed down his face for the first time, feeling human sorrow.
“I promised to save her! We were to see their wedding…”
Enrite cried, his breath ragged. His hands trembled, mana fluctuating. But he wouldn’t stop touching Hanette. He had to keep his promise.
“If Hanette lives, the black knight will return. So I must… I must…”
“……”
Lesia closed her eyes, unable to watch. The Enrite she knew was unshakable, always enduring. Yet here he was, weeping, his sobs filled with guilt.
“Haa…”
“Why did it come to this…”
Seran and Oz watched from afar. Who’d have thought Hanette’s death and Zion’s disappearance would follow Slime Dragon’s defeat? Even with the monster gone, their hearts couldn’t find peace.
‘There’s no time. She must be saved.’
Enrite, tears unchecked, continued pouring mana. He couldn’t let Hanette go so easily. Zion intended to follow her in death, so he had to revive her and convince him otherwise.
‘El Tesoykve... can’t you save her?’
He knew the answer but asked anyway, hoping for a hidden power within El Tesoykve. Yet Hanette’s heart remained still, her warmth turning to cold.
“Am I truly so powerless…”
The endless despair gnawed at him. He knew he should give up but couldn’t. Letting go would crush even the faintest hope.
“Hanette Adelaira, I won’t give up. I won’t...”
“Don’t cry. Your pretty face will be ruined.”
“……?”
Enrite doubted his ears, his eyes widening. Something moved beyond his tear-blurred vision. A heartbeat returned, warmth turning to heat.
“Did you cry because of me? I’m sorry. It was my fault…”
“……”
Enrite couldn’t speak. Her hand, unmoving before, now caressed his cheek. Her touch, though gloved, felt incredibly warm.
“She’s alive? How?”
Lesia approached in shock. Seran and Oz hurried over, unable to believe their eyes.
“Zion… I see him.”
“Can you?”
“Yes, well... I gained something.”
Hanette’s red hair fluttered back to its place. Her golden eyes gleamed brighter, a thin cloth and pale skin visible through her armor’s holes. Realizing she had revived, she unleashed her mana.
“I’ll bring Zion back. Wait here.”
“Understood…”
“Oh, and feel free to call me comfortably. I’d like to call you sister, but... that doesn’t seem right, does it?”
“……?”
Wrapped in golden flames, Hanette leaped. Golden wings unfurled, a fiery bird taking shape. Enrite, frozen, watched the golden trail.
“She’s awakened.”
Enrite murmured, smiling. She would bring Zion back; he believed in her. She was Zion’s only fiancée.
“She’s awakened?”
“Wow…”
“Is that an awakening?”
Zion watched Slime Dragon being sucked into the void. Even tears wouldn’t come now. He waited for death, feeling only desolation.
‘It’s almost over.’
Slime Dragon thrashed, trying to escape the abyss. The crimson-edged vortex had ceased spinning, emitting a soft light. Only a few stars remained, with more than half of Slime Dragon submerged.
“Are you out of your mind? Why go this far?”
“……?”
Zion flinched, turning his head. Amidst the cosmic darkness, a brilliant golden light flashed. It approached swiftly, a fiery bird cloaked in flames.
“Why aren’t you stopping?”
“Sis?”
“Oh, you really don’t listen. I’ll call you a brat again.”
With those words, golden flames shot out in all directions. The radiant light banished the darkness, shattering space. Slime Dragon fell away, and Zion, in stunned silence, faced her.
“Hey! Do you want to die by my hand? Stay calm, I told you not to die… Ah, really…”
Hanette brushed off the golden flames, approaching Zion. Anger surged, but she held it back. She had done something equally foolish.
“This is the second time. The second time, but... I’ll let it slide once more. I made mistakes too.”