''Dia!''

Holding Diamante's limp body in her arms, Kierra suddenly felt a sense of terror gnawing at her deepest place. It was the same sensation as when she nearly lost August when they participated in the Great War.

As the black hole had dissipated, silence fell on the battlefield.

Kierra took a palmful of Diamante's pink hair, tightly hugging it with the person herself. On her other hand, she clutched the pink diamond.

''Please...''

Without much mana left, all she could hope for was a miracle. In terms of survival, Diamante, a phoenix, was much more proficient than anyone Kierra knew.

If there were someone who could repel this mysterious virus, one that even claimed the mighty Heavenly Venerates' body, it would be Diamante.

So, Kierra could only pray.

Gently touching foreheads with the puppy she loved, the archwizard whispered, ''Please, Dia.''

Even as August and Cosmos approached the two, they couldn't bring themselves to interrupt. The same could be said with Angelica, whose longing for Kierra was no less than anybody else.

It was as if a veil had descended.

Walking between unknown limbos, Diamante could faintly feel a warmth outside of her consciousness. She didn't know who gave her that warmth, but her instinct told her that she needed to grasp it.

Life and death.

Diamante was the noblest of phoenixes, so even if she were dead... she would eventually rise from the ashes and return to life.

Sometimes, she called it a curse.

Sometimes, she just wanted to disappear.

When she couldn't find a purpose in her life, when she lost her mother to the demons, when she drained herself, working days and nights...

But after Kierra came into her life, she was grateful for her immortality.

Thanks to that, she would never have to part ways with the love of her life—the woman who always treated her kindly, whose warm embrace became her nest...

As long as Kierra was safe.

''...!''

It was time to wake up.

A flicker of flame was dropped on Diamante's body. Soon, Kierra contently watched on as the princess's hair turned sparkling like jewels as it floated. Slowly, her whole body was lifted into the air, holding a glamorous light that pierced through her dark clothes.

When the pink diamond in her hand gleamed a fiery orange, the archwizard could finally let out a sigh of relief.

Bit by bit, the streaks growing out of the hole in Diamante's chest were incinerated by her fire, and with that same heat, she quickly mended the missing part and truly returned to life.

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Her eyes peeked open as she touched down to the ground, which had been filled with ashes, lingering a fiery shade that signified her immortality.

Before her consciousness settled, she was hugged by Kierra.

''Weh?''

''I'm glad you were okay...''

Immediately realizing the familiar smell, one that she had been missing for so long, Diamante immediately encircled her arms around the fluff that had fallen onto her.

While letting out silly squeals unbefitting of the situation, she wantonly enjoyed her Kierra. At this point, she finally thought that everything she went through was worth it!

It was even more delightful to see a visibly pissed August standing nearby.

Like dogs and cats, August and Diamante hated each other immensely. They just happened to like the same woman. If not, they wouldn't even want to remember the opponent's name.

''I hate fake whiny bitches like this one.''

''I hate cruel snakes like her!''

Their first conversation was something along those lines.

Nevertheless, it was now time to face the aftermath of the battle, and for some, it was time for a reunion.

''Long time no see, Dia.''

''Long time no see, Kierra!''

First, the archwizard squeezed Diamante's cheeks. Seeing the fluffy puppy nuzzles against her palms, Kierra felt even more relieved. Maybe... she wasn't hated?

As much as she wanted to apologize to her, there was another person of interest who stood behind the princess.

''Ahem...''

Faking her coughs, Angelica clumsily tried to grab Kierra's attention. With a face that practically said, 'I want you to notice me,' she didn't seem quite convincing.

''Angelica.''

''...!''

Nevertheless, she, too, got a hug.

As she pondered in bewilderment, questioning why Kierra suddenly became so affectionate, she could feel a group of people rushing over.

Singing Kierra's name, they frantically touched her body everywhere in search of injuries or anything of the like. Seeing this sent chills down Angelica's spine.

'T-They'll get themselves killed!'

乂(ﾟДﾟ三ﾟДﾟ)乂

However, contrary to both her and Diamante's worry, Kierra merely brushed them off, and her demeanor seemed a bit soft, even!

What exactly had happened to her over the past two years?

For her whole life, Angelica had only known the strict and stoic Kierra, and now that an entirely new side of her master had been revealed, she could feel her curiosity spike.

Right then, her azure eyes behind the glasses met with Yu Chen's amethyst ones.

''...''

''...''

Both of them didn't know how to feel at the moment. Everybody present didn't.

On top of the absolute monstrosity that Kierra had summoned, there was a bunch of people who didn't know each other at all. In other words, they needed time to settle.

''Let's go back first.''

Understanding this, Kierra suggested.

And so, one big group promptly made their way back to... Yan Shi's mansion?

''Um... since when did my house become a meeting spot...?''

''What?''

''It's nothing, ma'am. My property is my property, and my property is also your property.''

She was shut off with a single word from August.

So, her house became a meeting spot anyway.

Usually, Yan Shi could be seen relaxing in her cozy guest room, sprawling out on one of the sofas, but today, it was quite cramped.

On one side, there was Kierra, who had August hugging her waist from the right and Diamante hugging her arm from the left. Yu Chen sat beside Diamante, and Tian Yun sat beside August. With Yan Shi kneeling on the ground, the picture was perfectly balanced.

On the other side, a very irritated-looking Mie Xieren sat between Bai Qing and Kang Shuren, who all had ambiguous expressions. Angelica and Cosmos were also somehow stranded on the same sofa.

Finally, the three Immortal Empresses, witnessing this clash of the titans, timidly occupied a few small chairs nearby.

'''' ... ''''

For a while, only the faint noises of the wind bell outside could be heard. When Kierra finally had had enough of it, she mustered the courag—

'Hah? Mustered?'

—took the chance to speak up.

''First of all—''

With a 'poof,' two small silhouettes appeared.

''Uwaa!! Is everybody alright??''

''S-Shen! Be quiet!''

''...''

Kierra suddenly felt like choking this sassy fox. As she promptly shut it off by using telekinesis, however, Diamante noticed something instead.

''Huh? What's with this child?''

Her slender, elegant fingers grasped a trembling Lan, the cultivator who resided in the body of a phoenix. She tilted her head, bobbling her fluffy hair.

''Is this... our child?''

Like so, a bomb had been dropped.