Sunny sensed it before he saw it.
An invisible, but undeniable change that spread across the battlefield.
He was not affected himself, but the Fire Keepers certainly were. They did not grow stronger, and their swords did not become sharper...
And yet, suddenly, more Nightmare Creatures were falling to their blades. More blood was flowing to the ground, but less of it belonged to humans.
Observing the inexplicable change through shadow sense, Sunny couldn't help but feel a deep sense of confusion. There was no reason for the sudden shift in the cadence of the battle, but it had shifted, without a doubt.
Lacking any other explanation, he was tempted to think that it was a result of luck.
But there was something deeper than that going on...
He continued the wanton slaughter, defending one side of the Ivory Island.
At the same time, he was standing on the grass of the island, near the Marvelous Mimic, observing the battle idly side by side with Aiko.
It was that incarnation of his that tried to understand what was happening.
Almost an entire minute passed before his eyes suddenly narrowed.
Sunny exhaled slowly.
'I... see.'
The Fire Keepers were not lucky. They had not grown stronger, and their weapons had not become sharper.
It was just that they were fighting better.T/his chapter is updat/ed by nov(ê(l)biin.c/o/m
Their already impressive coordination had improved, reaching an almost inhuman level of perfection, and their battle sense seemed to have become even keener. It was as if they were possessed by a spirit of war, and had received its blessing.
He had seen something similar once before, albeit in a less pronounced way.
It was during the Battle of the Black Skull. Back then, Morgan had armed her soldiers with enchanted swords forged by her father — wielding those swords, the warriors of Valor showed a strange level of cohesion, making it seem as if her entire army was one vast, lethal being.
Back then, Sunny had guessed that the swords served as conduits for Anvil's authority... as vessels of his will, and therefore, of his Domain.
In the next moment, the storm cloud of swords exploded with a lethal hail.
Countless swords rained down, making the bone plain shudder.
Down below, Sunny's avatar lowered the black odachi and froze.
It was a terrifying feeling, to see the steel sky fall on him, glistening with countless sharp tips.
However, he did not have to feel fear.
Although it seemed that the rain of swords would obliterate everything on the surface of the ancient bone, none of the falling blades struck him. Instead, they reaped a terrible harvest of lives, piercing every Nightmare Creature in sight.
In just a few moments, the horde of them was eviscerated. Numerous abominations were violently impaled by the flying swords, while those that survived the first onslaught were either bloodied or petrified, slow to escape the inevitable doom.
None of the Fire Keepers had received even a scratch, though, despite the fact that many of them were now surrounded by a forest of swords.
The swords did not stop moving.
More of them rained from above, and those that were impaling the Nightmare Creatures tore free of the bleeding flesh, rising into the air and turning to point at new prey.
Standing in the sea of blood, Sunny turned and looked at the distant balcony.
He should have felt elated because the battle was ostensibly over...
But instead, all he felt was a cold feeling of unease.
Sunny knew that, one day soon, he would be the target of these flying swords.
'What's the matter? It's just a Sovereign.'
For once, the words did not bring with them any levity.
Lowering his gaze, he peered at the horizon.
There, far away...
The first of the vermilion banners appeared in the distance.
The Sword Army had crossed over to the collarbone of the dead deity.