On the vast, clear sky above Heindal Continent, the calm atmosphere seemed to become slightly heavier.
A colossal transparent dome had covered the whole place within it.
But Unlike other days, instead of devouring energy from within, the dome was taking away mana from the outside world, which was large enough to not have much impact on mana density.
CRACKLE
A thunderous sound reverberated, added with a lightning strike forming on the dome's surface, signifying its resonance with something stronger approaching it.
SWISH
Suddenly, three silhouettes teleported in front of the dome, which within a mere moment caused all three of them to be shrouded in a field made of energy, devouring their energy.
SWOOSH
The moment the Conduit made contact with strong individuals, the rate of its devouring increased several folds.
In that expanse of time, a soft voice reverberated throughout the space, holding a womanly touch yet enough to cause fluctuation around the barrier.
"Outburst "
BOOOOM!
Suddenly, the Mana Density surrounding the space skyrocketed, breaking all the limits. The woman's strength also rose to an unprecedented level, directly achieving the peak of her strength from the middle.
The same soft voice referred to another woman beside her, "Malika, stay here and keep an eye. I don't want anyone to escape this place."
Angelica's gaze turned towards the vast expanse stretching to a thousand miles, not caring about others since her aim for coming here is to choose an heir for herself.
A backup in case if the girl named Henna she brought from here breaks while training.
"My Lady, should I bring that girl?" The man flying beside Angelica proposed, wearing white pristine clothes, his gaze turning towards a faraway place existing on the borders of Selvius Kingdom, but his eyes could vividly see a little girl playing inside an orphanage ground.
"I will bring that girl myself. After all, I need to be in a good mood to visit my dear sister." Right now, Angelica's sole aim was to bring a child named Arvi from Heindal, carrying an unique bloodline.
Normally, only Devereaux members can participate in the Flagbearer battle, which was why Angelica chose two potential girls.
The first girl was recommended by a Riantain for transplanting a human energy core of a Devereaux member inside her. According to sources that suggested this particular girl, they even gave surety for success.
Even though there was a 99% chance of failure, due to energy core transplant destroying one's foundation and sanity, indirectly killing, the person in question who suggested the name Henna was one of the seven seats of the Riantain family — Luna Riantain.
The second girl carried a bloodline capable of transforming into any other bloodline. This meant that by turning her into a Devereaux, Angelica hoped to secure an heir.
However, if she couldn't produce a perfect heir, she would need to be dismantled.
.
.
.
.
.
"Hehe, Sister, come follow me," Arvi ran around the garden, joined the orphanage, though there were only a few flowers and a tree where Amayara was lying with her eyes closed.
'Hmph, she is still angry with me,' Arvi folded her hands, feeling sad due to Amayara's cold behavior after Aphos revealed everything about her selling potions without telling her big sister.
But yesterday, not once did Amayara talk to her; she only took all the orphanage members somewhere before coming back alone.
"I can't play alone." Feeling down, Arvi moved and sat beside Amayara before eventually falling asleep on her lap.
Under the tree's shadow, their bonding looked very warm and soothing to the eyes; slowly, a soft breeze added with a sound caused Amayara's eyes to reveal themselves.
zz-zzz
Seeing how soundly Arvi was sleeping after getting exhausted while following her all day, Amayara's eyes softened, hugging her, a small smile forming on her face.
'We are safe now.' Her relief was from the fact that yesterday night was the time when she had lost everyone in an orphanage fire, Arvi being kidnapped by the monastery, especially by people wearing white robes.
'!?'
"Aa-Ghg-Hh....N-o A--rv-i." Amayara could clearly identify the soul energy emanating from that eye ball which reflected her broken body and her outstretched hand, her remaining energy focused on crawling towards it.
STOMP
"Ar-v-i." Amayara's eyes could only see that eyeball getting stomped by Angelica, who had a grin on her face, looking at Amayara's struggling self, filled with helplessness yet pure rage.
Right now, Amayara's body was not in a shape to use the «Spirit Sword», her brain overwhelmed with everything.
But if she got a single chance, she would kill this woman, even at the cost of her own life.
Slowly rising from her position, Angelica turned towards Diana, moving forward before gazing at all of them. Except for Karina, Henna, and Olivia, everyone else was present there who knew her as Alisia, not Angelica.
"Take this and deal with that Sword Maiden's sister first." Angelica threw an artifact prepared to increase the strength of Diana's shape-shifting. Turning towards Edward, she continued, "Act like you were there for Arvi. No mistakes."
Edward nodded before turning towards Amayara. Noticing his gaze, Angelica assured, "She will use her Spirit Sword against Ryuk in the final battle or will see her sister's mutilated body."
It was a declaration that sealed everything at that point.
Amayara needed to save her sister at the cost of Ryuk's life, but in killing him, she would also die, not that she cared about it.
Spirit Sword Users were unique and very few even in the outside world due to their ability to manifest the world's sharpest Sword intent, which could even slice through the peak of Phase 2 but needed time for preparation, taking away one's soul in process and cutting of any reincarnation opportunity since soul vanishes.
"W-hy h-i--m?" Amayara's eyes slowly became heavier, and her body started to fall into unconsciousness, but she still gathered the remaining strength to ask, Why only Ryuk? Why?
Angelica, looking at the struggling body of Amayara, trying to hear at least the truth, only heard a few words that reached her ears, "His death.. will.. open.. door..... reach....Ruken."
// Past life Memory Ends //
'What is she doing here?' Amayara's hand gripped Arvi's body tightly, observing Angelica's landing figure, who also noticed the reaction shown by her.
"I will not harm you, child. Just saw both of you looking adorable, fufu~" A soft giggle coming from Angelica's lips was like thunder for Amayara, who knew the true extent this woman could go.
But, learning from her past mistake, this time Amayara took a different approach.
"Please forgive me, Big Sis, I thought you were—" Even though only Amayara knew the burning rage inside her, she tried to act like a child only to protect the little girl in her embrace. But before she could complete her sentence, she was disrupted.
"You thought I were a stranger with bad intentions, right?" Looking at Amayara, noticing the absence of anyone inside the orphanage except two little girls, Angelica's doubts rose. Not that she cared; slowly lifting her hand, she snapped.
SWISH
Without any disturbance, Arvi's body started to lift in the air before getting drawn towards Angelica, who placed a sound barrier around the sleeping girl's body.
"Arvi!?" Amayara shouted, seeing her sister being taken within Angelica's grasp. Without delay, she could have attacked the woman using her sword, but she knew it would not be enough.
'No! Is everything going to be the same as before?' Looking at Angelica's soft smile, which was just a facade masking her inner desire to see that eleven-year-old girl beg for her sister, Amayara finally decided to use her Spirit Sword.
She was weak, not even in her previous life could she do anything when her sister was killed. And in choosing the life of Ryuk's at the end, she also didn't use her Spirit Sword against him and chose to die instead of doing something that would be unforgivable for her.
But now, everything seemed to be heading in the same direction. Her expectations were about someone else coming here, but this woman was the last of the things among them.
Drip
'I am sorry, Arvi.' In that moment, a tear slid past her left eye. Another one started to glow, but due to it being Soul energy and Angelica's ignorance of a little girl, it caused her to not notice the super sharp intent forming in front of her.
SWISH
Slowly, Amayara's Soul Energy started to focus into a sharp line inside her body, aimed at the woman. Everything was crumbling once again, but Amayara was relieved. At least this time, she would take this woman with her.
"Never expected you to bully my citizens, Angelica."
Suddenly, a voice resonated through the place, causing Amayara's concentration to break. The backlash slightly damaged her insides, but due to her controls, it was minimal.
"Really, some habits never change." Alisia landed on the grass, observing a small sleeping girl's body elevating in the air while another little girl stood with clenched hands, something not unnoticed by her.
Angelica's soft smile slowly vanished before her eyes turned towards the woman, who was the center of her huge loss yet someone whom her hands never wanted to kill.
SWISH
Without any delay, Angelica's body vanished and appeared directly in front of Alisia before hugging her tightly and burying her face within her embrace.
"Sniff, forgive me, Sister, I was just playing with these small puppies, I promise"