Akira's expression was one full of questions, the Elizabeth he had been fighting had gradually become someone else, and at the very end, she had melted into the shadows as if it was a figment of his imagination.

And then behind him, a new Elizabeth had shown up, dressed just as how she had been at the start.

"What, another double? It was a nice trick and we will have fun with it later tonight, but what can you even do? Clone users are the lamest of all in fights." Akira said as he grabbed his sword and lazily did a downward slash towards her.

She saw the mana condense in the sword and prepared herself to start dodging using her [Puppeteer] skill, alas. It wasn't needed, as the mana in the sword burst apart and sent the sword flying away.

"..." Akira stared dumbfounded at the sword, then at his hand and back to the sword.

He made a motion with his right arm towards the sword as if it should fly again toward him, but the sword only melted away in a slush of sludge-like liquid with tinges of red here and there.

Akira however only turned to stare at the sludge in confusion. "Come." He ordered to the air and a ripple in space formed, it was the tell-tale sign of his bullshit skill that let him summon weapons. Only, this time nothing came from it.

"COME!" He demanded again, only for a normal katana to pop up from the dimensional rift, unlike what she had seen before, this one seemed almost [Mundane].

While the previous sword had been a traditional katana, it still had some decorations in the handle, this one? It seemed almost factory-made.

"Tch, the [bitch] died huh? Well, at least that releases one [Slot] for me to play around, but the loss in skill will be a problem...I was counting on her [Swordsmanship]." Akira said dismissively as he stared at the spot were the red marble that represented Rena had been before.

That was it?

She fought against his [Soulscape], traveled across his [Self], got [Stabby] killed as she escaped and that was the amount of recognition Akira would give to this whole trouble?

T̵̡̧̯̼͇̯̩̞̥̖̜̥̣̓́͜H̴͈̩̤̍̓̆͠I̸̦̟͈̹͚̙̣͈̪̳̘̫̋̀͐̊́̈́͋̓͆̏̾̈̚͝ͅͅṠ̶̛̠̳̜̲͗͒̐̌̒̑̃͆̄̊̔̍̚?̵̛̭̰̟̜͚̺̤͙̀̂̄̌́͌̊̀̕!̷̨̬̲̲̏̌̂̑̈́̑̂̅͗͂̚͝͝?̶̧̡̢̦̻͈̟̟͙̥͛̍̄̌̓̈́́͆̆͘͜͠ ?!?!?

She wouldn't let it be, she was aware that this wasn't some great [Epic Journey], this wasn't meant to be the finale of some great plot point that had been nurtured for hundreds of [Chapters]. This was the real world, and not everything needed to have meaning.

But it irked her how Akira dismissed it all, she still had the blue screens in front of her to prove that her plan had worked! She had eaten the stupid marble in front of Akira (Granted he may be distracted) for [Mother]'s Sake!

...The blue screens, they told her that Rena was part of her [Heroic Party], then was she able to...Summon that crimson sword?

...An idea blossomed in her head, one that she couldn't let go no matter what, Akira had been a problem because he had raw power and the [Skill] to go with it. Not anymore, since he no longer had access to Rena's skills.

She had those.

So maybe...

Notice: Integrate bonus from new [Heroic Party] member?

Y/N

"Yes," Elizabeth prompted the blue screen and felt the flood of mana from within her [Soulscape].

Unlike how it had been with Rossie, she didn't feel the overwhelming warmth of love pouring like a broken dam.

Instead, it felt like a raging fire raining down upon her soul, she saw a sword falling from the void outside of her [Soulscape] toward her [Shadow Haven], she had thought that her [Shadow Dragons] would make a ruckus and prepare to defend against the obviously dangerous sword raining from the sky in a fiery rain.

But not a single one seemed to be worried, she turned her attention to the real world to see if she had time to deal with this, but she found that her perception of time had slowed down. So she refocused her attention inwardly.

The fiery sword had pointed itself towards her [Haven], only instead of accelerating further down... It slowed its advance as if waiting for her input.

"Mistress? Our newest servant requires your input for her residence." The purple-haired girl called upon her walking outside the apartment.

"Who even are you? You can't be Aurelia Vitellius, she didn't have any reason to want to work for me or under me." Elizabeth said looking at the girl who shared too many traits with the deceased girl.

"That was my name before yes, but if it bothers you I can shed it as I did with my former life and allegiances. Should you wish to know the reason for my desire to work under you, or doubt my sincerity, my [Mind] is open for your perusal." The purple girl said, as she finished those words she felt the mind of the girl open to her.

It was the whole memory of the girl, all her life and her death. She didn't find any hostile intent in her, if anything it was weird how much [Faith] she had towards Elizabeth.

"We will speak about this later, I will call you [Aura] for now." Elizabeth decided to not think too much about that, she had more important things to deal with right now. Like the fiery sword, she knew the probable identity of it, possibly [Rena]'s version of the [Lock] she had with Rossie.

So she needed a place for it to land...Her [Lock] with Rossie was safe in one of the older [Containment Cells] in the central spire, but she didn't feel comfortable with it being that close to her [Heart], she knew where her [Heart] was within the [Shadow Haven]. And while she felt bad for Rena, she wouldn't risk her [Life] for her.

...Well, she wouldn't risk her [Soul] for her!

...

........

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She would just let the stupid flaming sword land near her apartment and be done with it.

"Land there." She said to the sword, feeling her voice turn [Primal] and full of [Authority], the effect was immediate as a door at the side of her shared apartment with Rossie had a new plaque with a new name.

[Watanabe Rena]

New [Heroic Party] member added:

New effects on skill:

- Rossaline Singh, The Saint of Healing

Current Boost from Heroic Party: Increased effect from Healing and Increased defense against Dark and Shadow Attributes, increased affinity towards Holy, Light, and Divine Elements.

-Watanabe Rena, The Sword Saint

Current boost from Heroic Party: Increased regeneration, increased stamina, increased strength, dexterity, agility. Increased proficiency towards bladed weapons and hand-to-hand combat.

Current Boost to members of Heroic Party:

-Increased size of inventory (Access to a shared [Garage] Inventory)

-Increased proficiency towards skills acquisition.

-Increased exp gain by 5% (half of that gain is redirected to the [Hero])

-Access to a limited version of [Skills] from the [Hero].

-Members know the current status and location of the [Hero], should they wish for it, they may [Teleport] towards the [Hero].

[Boosts to the heroic party are decided by the current skillset of the Hero. At each new slot acquisition the Hero may decide on the next bonus.]

As she was reading the new screen she felt the start of a headache form, almost at the same time a new connection started to form within her [Soulscape], but unlike the first time she formed one of those she knew what to expect and prepared herself to fight tooth and nail.

She wouldn't mind that much should Rossie wish to completely [Dominate] her...that would be kind of ho...

*ahem*

That would be something for them to discuss in the privacy of their bedroom in a more appropriate setting, but with Rena?

Yeah no, she felt bad for the girl, but not bad enough to allow her to [Dominate] her, especially after she had fought to [Liberate] her, so she poured as much [Mana] as she was able to into the connection and prepared to defend her [Demesne] from any intrusion.

Notice:

Link successfully established.

Status of the [Soul] of New Member: Dying, currently being sustained by [Heroic Link].

Establishing hierarchy in connection... The other party is submitting to the will of [Hero].

Hierarchy: Master (Elizabeth Starbright) > Servant (Watanabe Rena).

Servant doesn't have enough [Authority] to disrupt hierarchy.

Servant doesn't have enough [Fate] to survive on its own.

The connection was forged as a new thread was created, unlike the rope-like thread she had at the start with Rossie, this was a thread so thin...It was almost pitiful, it was almost see-through. And it fought to stay connected to her with all its might.

In contrast, her side of the connection was sturdy, it was a mana thread wide as a rope, and it was doing most of the job to keep the connection going.

Just like how it had been with Rossie the connection was mostly going her way, 90% was her side and the other was 10%. She tried to reduce the amount of [Ownership] she had over the thread, she wasn't interested in having slaves.

But with each meter, she retracted from the connection to make it more stable, she felt the thread connecting to Rena turn more frayed, more strained. It was around 75% she felt the thread was about to snap that she stopped retracting her [Authority], instead, she allowed her mana thread to bleed over the part that was [Rena].

Trying to nurture and reinforce it, the [Thread] absorbed her [Mana] as if it were a starved man in a desert. And as it consumed her [Mana] the thread started being painted in her colors, and this in turn meant that her [Authority] over it was increasing.

She decided to not think too much about it and instead walked towards the new [Door] that had a new inhabitant in her [Soulscape].

*knock knock*

"What can I do for you [Master]?" Answered a red-haired woman dressed in skimpy clothes, she wasn't sure what was worse, the fact that she needed to look for fabric in her clothing or the fact that this [Woman] didn't seem to have any vestiges of life in her eyes.

"First, stop with the [Master] thing." Elizabeth started as she waved her hand in the direction of this [Woman], "Second you don't need to dress like that, just be [You]."

As her hand moved, the new [Apartment] was engulfed in [Shadows] transforming from what seemed to be a [Love Hotel Room] (She didn't know how one of those places looked, and Elizabeth totally didn't search for the address of one of those to visit with Rossie. Girl's scout promise) into a normal apartment room.

It was bare, it was simple, but it was more in tune with the girl that stood there. A girl that could barely qualify as a child, why was it always a child?

First, it was Rossie as a little girl, and now Rena too? Was she cursed by a [Little Girl] or something?

Was she missing something?

"Will I be okay? You will not discard me?" Asked the little girl with red hair, she was holding a ruined teddy bear.

"You will be fine, as soon as you are feeling better we will talk again okay? For now, I need to deal with the big bad man." Elizabeth said starting to walk towards the exit.

She didn't want to deal with this either, why couldn't her life be simple?

Two years ago all she wanted was to nap all day dang it!

And now here she was, in the middle of what wasn't a normal [Soulscape] (She had visited two and neither looked like this) with two mentally damaged girls in different ways, and one of them was probably abused... Oh god please let it only be one...

"Wait [Mistress]!" The little Rena said as she was carrying a red Rose with her, "You will need this."

And with small trembling steps, the little girl walked outside the apartment, as soon as she did so her complexion started to change, her skin started to turn paler by the second, and her eyes dropped. It seemed that making this was taking an extreme toll on her.

But she still did her best and gave Elizabeth the flower. As soon as Elizabeth touched the flower it disappeared in a burst of red mana that flew straight towards her right hand. But she was too busy rushing back into the apartment.

"What happened?" She asked to the little girl, but she wasn't reacting.

"Report!" She demanded to the shadows around her.

"[Reporting, new inhabitant of the Shadow Haven hasn't recovered well enough to survive without the lifeline, exploring the outside may be dangerous as she could erode completely sublimating into you Mistress.]" Her Royal mage answered promptly.

And before she could say anything a new voice started speaking from the door "[What my coworker means to say is that this girl you picked up can't survive without your Mana, but as your Mana is too Pure, she is getting intoxicated by it. Eroding her weak self and should she end being exposed she will sublimate into the Shadow Haven, becoming one of us.]" It was the girl she had baptized as Aura.

So she couldn't release Rena, but couldn't allow her to wander around her [Soulscape] just yet. So she would be confined...In this apartment...Without anyone to interact with...

She was just a [Projection] of Rena, there was no reason to worry about her, the real one would be just fine in the real world... Really, she was being silly...

...*sigh*

"[Heed my call dwellers of the dark, protect and nurture, protect and safeguard, protect and guide, help those that have fallen to the darkest pits of hells to rise above. Guide and help those pitiful souls so they can see the bright light of a new day.]" As her words finished she felt the world shift once more.

"[As you command Mistress.]" Aura said as she did a small bow towards her and the shadows around them came to life as they turned into a dress made of shadows. "[So long this girl carries this dress she will be under the protection of The Stars, she will not be in danger, this I guarantee.]"

It was a very pretty dress and it seemed as if it held a constellation on its fabric, "[Mistress, you do need to deal with the bug in the outside. The accelerated state will end soon enough now that the connection is settling. The world, while on our side for this, may still find the opportunity and try to take lord Nyxfyre away, Mistress Beatrice's awakening is coming too.]" Aura finished saying.

So Beato would awake soon? That was good, she feared that the existence of Aura would have put that farther away. But she was right about that. She needed to deal with Akira first.

"Fine, I will deal with Akira first." And so Elizabeth let her consciousness return to the real world. Akira was still staring at her, only this time instead of his usual leer he was looking at her right arm.

She felt something there so turning her attention to that she found a...Katana.

A red katana with a simple design of a red rose on its handle, "That is [Mine]." Akira said pointing his sword at her. "Return it."

She smiled at the idea of using the sword that Rena had gifted her to deal with Akira, "I have no idea what you are saying, why don't you try and [Summon] another one from your [Hero's Armory]?" Elizabeth taunted him as she felt the red fiery mana coursing her body.

New [Instincts] blossoming in her mind, telling her how to stand, how to move, were to attack, how to deflect. She allowed them to flood into her mind and tasked her [Royal Mages] with the work of parsing through them into her [Puppeteer] skill.

Notice:

[The Sword of My Heart]: The manifestation of the desires for freedom of [The Sword Saint], capable of severing anything in the way of its search for freedom. After being released from captivity the sword is returning to its former glory.

[This sword will never allow itself to be wielded again by someone who isn't worthy of its power.]

She was half sure that the description had changed and that this wasn't what was there before, it was missing some important data, as what its power was, and what the limits of this form were. And what would happen should the blade shatter?

But for now, she would fight as a [Swordswomen], she had a [Katana] and an enemy to defeat after all, wasn't this what it was about?

Crossing swords and vanquishing [Evil]?

"Fine, keep that stupid bitch's sword. I have plenty of weapons from [True Heroes] to go!" Akira said as he did a flourish with his hand and several ripples across the air showed, evidence of Akira summoning his [Skill]. "[Hero's Armory - Divine Sword Gram]!"

It was a sword that was backed by a problematic backstory for Elizabeth, should the legend behind the story be usable, a sword made to slay dragons. Did Akira know her [Inheritance]? Or was this a mere coincidence?

She would need to tread carefully either way.

"Let's go, Rena," Elizabeth whispered to the sword in her hand as she rushed forward, one way or the other she would finish this fight in the least amount of moves possible.

Akira was getting cornered, and he still had more [Status points] than her.