Anna was my new name, no longer was I merely the fourth numbered 'disciple' of the Shadow King.

As a maid of the Swordwick Household, I have redound my ability to smile from the bottom of my heart, and if it's possible, I'd have liked to keep things this way... But now my heart clenched as I watched the girl I considered a daughter fight out of anger.

I wasn't scared she'd lose. So what if this person who call himself 'Death' had the Bane of all Magicians?

I've heard of this sister technique to the Swordwick Household's Infinite Swords from my teacher.

Not many knew of some secret histories due to how some events would be erased or altered thanks to the kingdom wanting to keep its pride. One of them was that a generation's successor from the the past of the Swordwick Lineage actually befriended a powerful Dark Specialist one time. Once he had disappeared in time though, it was said that Area Domination also disappeared without leaving a small trace behind.

The Bane of all Magicians paired with th exact opposite Intrinsic Art known the Bane of all Swordsman...

What a shame it is that they never had the chance to show how they could become a bane to Specialists!

Getting back on topic though, to believe Sapphire's magic-like go-to style being sealed meant she would be powerless is a misconception only those who have yet to actually fight a Swordwick would fall for.

Though the Swordwick Lineage taught their Successors in an unorthodox way, they were still primarily Swordsmen at heart. The Young Miss had no problem going on the offensive against this 'assassin'.

Her swordsmanship filled with mysticism as she soared towards him like one of her own flying sword, except leagues more deadly. Her body was like an incarnation of blades as kept up with him without showing flaws.

Death didn't speak vane nonsense anymore. As a professional assassin, he knew when he could talk and when he needed to focus. A knife appeared put of his sleeve as he took the sword slash she threw head-on.

Even if she was able to imbue her swords with the Lightning Attribute, there was a clear difference between her and a Lightning Specialist. This mainly manifested into the form inflexible utility of its power.

It was a good conjecture though a little inaccurate since this would only apply to someone other than swordsmen of the Swordwick Lineage. The Treasured Swords in her hands were suited for her to enhance her capabilities despite being meant for Simon.

After all, they were originally meant for someone of the Swordwick Lineage. The Calamitous Harbinger was a Astral Sword I heard of. It incorporated the Greenlock Household's unique Mana Storage Spell Circles into the hilt in order to allow the user to quickly extract and imbue magical energy into attacks. A familiar scene unfolded as Sapphire seemed copy the movements Simon showed in his duel in his sword fighting.

Rather than reinforcing her body though, the elements instead served to change up her strategies in battle.

Using fire, she imbued some swords into explosives that could be triggered by her will alone.

Using wind, she turned some swords into projectiles that could be accurately thrown from her hands.

Using earth, she increased the size and heaviness of some of her swords until they became broadswords.

And lastly, using water, the familiar element used by the Duke, she changed the sword's form freely.

It didn't matter how many afterimages or shadow clones he could make as the versatility in her fighting style made it hard for him do anything to her in frontal close combat. Even when he managed to scratch her cheek, she used her willpower and matchless talent in battle to sneakily incorporate aspects of the ninja techniques I thought her to graze his arm deeply.

Later on, even her other Treasured Sword called Life Seeker seemed to show its worth as her accuracy heightened to an unbelievable level. Gradually, her 240 Astral Swords stopped missing as they were being wielded by her without being levitated. After blasting her opponent into the corridor, her swords turned into a array of swords after being planted all over the place.

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The assassin called Death thought he could use this opportunity to kill her with her own sword. Little did he expect that the Young Miss would be bold enough to detonate all the explosive swords around him without caring for any collateral damage. This made sense though as the mansion was strong enough to take her attacks without being destroyed by the impact.

I myself was surprised of how much potential was dug up through her wrathful offensive. The annoying Area Domination that darkened the world and neutralised Magic was released due to her sheer efforts!

Swordsmanship, elemental control, and my own Ninja Techniques added to the mix made her fighting style one of a kind. If compared to Simon, then I must say that she's probably even more monstrous as an individual. Not many knew the true implications of being able to control Astral Swords... A pity for those who wanted to know the secrets behind the true power of the Infinite Swords Intrinsic Art's hidden qualities.

Death still looked apathetic towards the whole battle in general though as if he didn't even care about such a thing. I knew for a fact that to him, what he was doing right now was just passing the time out of boredom.

As the master of one the four main branches Cerberus consisted of, I knew Death wasn't just this strong. Even if his opponent had great potential, the Young Miss was inevitably just a child who has yet to reach her peak.

With movements that didn't even slightly resemble that of a humans, he was able to use his shadow clones offensively to advance just a step distance from her face and launch her in my direction with a single knee.

"...Please, try to stay calm." I grabbed her shoulders.

"Anna, why aren't you helping me...?" As if just realising a problem, she asked. The eyes she used to question me held many emotions: Anger, Disbelief, Shock, Unwillingness, with Sadness being the most prominent that changed her entire body's atmosphere.

No, I mustn't be controlled by my emotions...!

"It won't work anymore. He... can't be killed by us. We don't have the powers necessary to do so."

"But... I am-"

"You should listen to that maid of yours, little lady. An adult knows best." Death spoke in a teasing tone.

"Those moves just now were reminiscent of the Royal Form Fist Arts. Perhaps... are you the last remaining heir to the name 'Knightly'?" I decided to pry into his background while holding Sapphire close to me.

She tried to struggle from my grip, but I didn't give her a choice as I forced her to look away from this man called Death. The only reason I let her fight at the beginning was to let her vent. Even with Calamitous Harbringer, that can add Elemental Attributes to her swords, and Life Seeker, which can give her the same supernatural accuracy as her father, there was no way for her to do anything if he truly was 'that man'.

"As expected... You really ARE her, aren't you? The so-called 'Shadow Queen' who went missing years ago. How did you end up in this mansion as a servant when you already have your own kind of 'influence'?"

"...I was offered this job by the Duke himself."

"Oh... So you've really fallen into that guy's pace. It is truly a shame that we have met again... You already know I don't spare anyone who sees me, right?" Death spoke in a deeper voice compared to his previous mischievous tone. This fickle and sometimes unpredictable conduct was what made Dark Specialists so deeply feared by those of other professions.

"Hah... My operation didn't account for you to be living here, so I'll have go back to the drawing board. As a token for you, someone of 'our kind', I'll bite the bullet and let you ask anything. Just know that I can't go overboard in giving you information." The previous insanity he showed faded away as the man before me started showing genuine emotions. In my arms, the Young Miss trembled as she knew something was off by his statement. I can already tell, she knows the man wasn't referring to specialisation when he said 'our kind'. It was something only the two of us knew.

There is a common misconception that all Dark Specialists were equal. However, this couldn't be farther from the truth. It was the same that common Specialists normally couldn't compare to those who have attained a Light Specialisation.

Truly, most preferred versatility overall. However, those who are accustomed to strife would know that there is a reason people aim to 'specialise'. Although there are ways to become a Jack of all Trades, they are less useful then someone that has fully mastered their craft.

Both myself and this assassin called Death were of the latter category. We have mastered our specialisation to the point that we can even merge with the shadows on an unconscious level. Though I would be considered superior in that area, that didn't give me any advantages against the psychotic freak of nature.

"Why have you came here?"

"Straightforward, eh? I was hired to wipe this place off the face of the planet. Though now I'm going to ask for the requester to increase the price considering you live here. Pulling out the roots first will have to do."

"Please... You know Dark Ones shouldn't fight. It will turn into a drawn out battle with no one benefiting in the end. Or... could it be you doubt my capabilities to live up to my title?" I stared at him murderously.

"I do not doubt you... You are definitely that old freaks successor." His body shuddered for a moment.

Judging from his expression, he could probably already feel that I now 'owned' all shadows in the vicinity.

This was my trump card the only disciple out of four carefully chosen prodigies to 'return from the abyss'.

I remembered the day I became a 'Dark One', and the pain of losing two friends and the man I loved...

My Teacher was a ruthless individual who had spent years attempting to 'recreate' his kind of existence before choosing to return to the cycle of reincarnation without regrets. As the only true 'Successor' he ever found, it was natural that my strength was superb.

But still... I am powerless right now...! I could kill him easily. However, Sapphire would still die by his hand!

"I've already been sent out... Give u-" Before he could continue his sentence, his body became riddled by knives. He coughed out a mouthful of blood yet was even now apathetic to the world around him.

The shadows twisted and chomped him up like a wild beast, but he didn't even scream before disappearing into thin air. Triggering the alarms before I had been swallowed by his Area Domination caused many servants to search our location... How pitiful... They can't even see us anymore. The unique power only Death could conjure has already took its effect.

"W-why can't they see us?" Sapphire spoke in panic before there was even a butler who phased through our bodies as if we were intangible. What she hadn't noticed before was that the world stopped making sounds the very moment we were hit by his spell.

"Our 'time' has been disconnected from the world around us. We can no longer interact with anyone or even hope to be saved anymore. Our existence will fade the longer we stay here..." I spoke in despair.

I didn't want to tell her... telling her would make no difference to her fate. But even so, I couldn't let her fall into terror from not even knowing her crisis. This was the only 'kindness' I could give her right now.

"Someone will save us, right?" Her face paled considerably upon hearing my words.

"Yes, someone will save us. I'll be right here until someone comes. Please stay calm, alight?"

At this moment, I implied two things that weren't true at all. The first being that we could be saved, while the second was... that we'd die together. I couldn't be cruel enough to tell her that even if 'this body' dies, another Anna will wake up safe and sound outside this time distortion. I was essentially immortal until I could find someone to become my successor like my teacher...

I... can't help remembering how much I hate this world so much...! If she was to die, I'm gonna kill everything!