Chiyo's tears mixed with the rain, scattering in the air.

Yuxie gently placed his hand on Chiyo's back, saying nothing.

Suddenly, a system notification appeared.

[Archon's Aura Fusion Complete. "Shura Flash" Breakthrough to Legendary Level.]

["Shura Flash" can sever evil spirits without harming the person afflicted by the curse.]

This notification snapped Yuxie into focus.

He should have thought of it earlier. As long as his "Shura Flash" was proficient enough, it could target only what he wished to cut. Even if two strands of rope were twisted together intricately, he could sever just one, leaving the other intact.

"Chiyo, don't worry. I have a way. I will definitely cure you!" he said.

....

The next day.

Soldiers strictly guarded the perimeter of the camp, having received orders that no one, creature, or animal could approach the camp until further notice.

The defense line was meticulously controlled, to the point that even a fly passing by would be intercepted.

In the open space in the center of the camp, Yuxie stood facing Chiyo, holding his sword, Cloud Cutter.

Of course, Yuxie did not want to strike Chiyo, but this was the only way now.

Makoto stood by, her expression filled with tension.

As a Archon, she felt guilty for not being able to find a better solution.

"Yuxie, come on. Don't feel too much pressure," Chiyo said with a smile, her eyes calm. "While I can still control myself."

Yuxie looked at Chiyo, his right hand gripping the hilt of Cloud Cutter.

The girl in front of him smiled gently, as if she had already prepared herself for the worst outcome.

He pushed his thumb against the guard of the sword, pulling the blade just slightly out of its sheath, revealing a glimmer of cold light.

Yuxie's focus was sharper than ever before.

This strike was different from any he had made before; there could be no mistakes.

If something went wrong, there would be no turning back.

"Yuxie, don't worry. I will accept everything about you. No matter what happens, I will never regret it," Chiyo said, still smiling, opening her arms as though to embrace him.

"Chiyo, we promised… we promised to go back together!" Yuxie's gaze suddenly sharpened, his figure vanishing from his original spot. The white blade flashed like a streak of lightning, slicing through the air beside Chiyo.

Chiyo closed her eyes. Although the blade passed by, she felt only a gentle sensation.

That gentleness felt like warm seawater enveloping her entire body, as though strong hands were cradling her.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Her consciousness slowly faded, and in her last moments, she saw Yuxie and Makoto rushing toward her.

.......

Inside the tent, Chiyo lay unconscious on the bed.

Yuxie sat beside the bed, staring at Chiyo's face in silence.

That one strike had certainly severed the curse on Chiyo, but whether or not it had harmed her, he could not yet be sure.

What lingered in his heart was only worry.

Makoto was also standing nearby. She wanted to say something to Yuxie, but she found herself at a loss for words.

At times like this, it seemed that nothing could be said to help. All they could do was wait—wait for Chiyo to wake up.

Time passed slowly, and before they knew it, it was already night.

The night wind blew through the tent, with the sound of the wind constantly rustling.

Until midnight.

Chiyo's eyelids fluttered slightly.

Yuxie and Makoto both noticed this detail with sharp eyes, and the worry in their gazes was replaced with a glimmer of hope.

"Chiyo!" Yuxie called her name urgently.

Chiyo felt exhausted, so tired, as if she had just fought a long battle, and all her energy had been drained.

But even so, Yuxie's voice made her struggle to open her eyes.

A familiar face came into view.

"Yuxie..." Chiyo's voice was weak.

Hearing Chiyo's voice, the heavy weight that had been pressing on Yuxie and Makoto's hearts finally lifted.

"I'm here," Yuxie replied.

"So… thirsty…" Chiyo said, her words faint and broken.

"I'll get some water!" Makoto immediately stood up and left the tent, the furrow in her brows finally relaxing.

Chiyo was alright.

"I..." Chiyo's voice was very soft as she slowly shifted her body, attempting to sit up.

"Don't move around, rest for now," Yuxie said worriedly.

"No, I want to get up..." Chiyo struggled to move.

Yuxie had no choice but to help her sit up, propping her against the bed.

"How do you feel?"

"I'm a bit tired, but... the strange aura in my body is gone. I feel good." Chiyo gave a faint smile, and her gaze toward Yuxie had changed compared to before. "Yuxie, thank you..."

Yuxie smiled back at her.

"I'm glad you're okay."

"Yuxie, I... I want to..." Chiyo's voice dropped even further, barely a whisper, "Hug you..."

"What?" Yuxie didn't quite catch what she said.

Chiyo didn't repeat herself but carefully shifted forward.

"You're still very weak. Don't move too much. You need to rest and recover," Yuxie said as he reached out to support her. What he didn't expect was that Chiyo suddenly collapsed into his arms and embraced him.

Chiyo didn't have much strength, but the hug felt surprisingly strong.

Yuxie was momentarily stunned.

At that moment, the tent flap was lifted, and Makoto walked in holding a water jug.

The scene inside the tent made her pause for a moment.

The atmosphere had become somewhat delicate and hard to describe.

Chiyo pulled away from Yuxie's embrace and obediently leaned back against the bed, her gaze avoiding Makoto's. She wasn't sure why, but she felt a bit guilty.

Makoto also felt something strange in her heart, but Chiyo was fine now, and that was more important than anything. She didn't have time to dwell on the odd feeling, so she walked over to the bedside with the water jug.

"Chiyo, drink some water."

"Mm."

The atmosphere was still a bit awkward.

.....

A few days later, Chiyo's body had fully recovered.

The war was still ongoing.

As time passed, the tide of the monster invasion had begun to recede, and the war was nearing its end.

With Yuxie's white sword light flashing again and again on the battlefield, monsters continued to fall in groups, and the beasts began to fear the figure wielding the blade.

Additionally, although the situation had changed from its original course, in the end, Ei still arrived at the battlefield as before.

This time, she didn't lose her sister.

With the reinforcements and Ei's strength, the progress of the war accelerated even further.

Winter arrived, and the war ended.

The first snow fell, and Narukami Island was cloaked in a blanket of white.

Snow slid off the torii gate of the Grand Narukami Shrine.

Kitsune Saiguu passed through the torii, looking down at the scenery of the mountain and the distant Inazuma City.

The news of the war's end had already reached Inazuma, and Makoto, Ei, Yuxie, and Chiyo were on their way home.

Everyone was safe, and there was no news more reassuring than this.

But the situation on Narukami Island was far from optimistic.

Before Ei had headed to the battlefield, the number of monsters invading Inazuma had been steadily decreasing, which was why Ei had felt safe leaving for the front lines.

But now, the number of monsters was increasing rather than decreasing.

Though the war had ended, the disaster had not ceased.

Perhaps it was because a large number of monsters had fled the battlefield, which had led to the current situation on Narukami Island.

If they continued using conventional methods, it might be difficult to cope...