"Er... Yoshino?" Nozomi asked, her voice tinged with hesitance as she recovered from the shock of Yoshino's sudden surge of power. The air around them had thickened with an ominous pressure, the kind that could trigger a fight-or-flight response. Nozomi could almost feel her own instincts clawing at her, urging her to flee. If Henry was right, and this was just a fraction of Yoshino's potential, it begged the question: 'How powerful were Yoshino's mother and brother?'

The thought unnerved her. Nozomi couldn't be certain she would have the strength to fight Yoshino's family if it ever came to that. They were her best friend's family, after all. And now, seeing Yoshino's latent power, she doubted she could even survive a serious confrontation with them. A quick glance at Seiza confirmed he was similarly troubled. His wide eyes reflected the same dread that gnawed at her.

Yoshino's reply came as a muffled groan through hands that still hid her face. "Whaaat?"

Biting her lip, Nozomi leaned closer. "Could you... please turn it off... whatever this is? You're scaring Seiza." She didn't need to look at the dog to know his claws had punctured through her clothing and were grazing her skin, though her magical transformation rendered her too durable to feel pain from such minor contact.

"Oh... sorry," Yoshino apologized, lowering her hands and showing them to Henry. "How do I..."

Henry casually pointed at Nozomi. "Focus on positive memories, the opposite of the negative ones."

Straightening up, Nozomi felt the intense gaze of Yoshino upon her. Before she could ask what positive memory Yoshino was recalling, the ominous aura around her friend vanished. The air cleared instantly, and the tension dissolved. "What did you remember?" Nozomi blurted, her curiosity piqued.

Yoshino turned away, hiding her face. "Nothing," she answered flatly.

Before Nozomi could push for a proper answer, Yoshino diverted the conversation. "ANYWAY, having these powers is cool and all, uncle, but... what exactly can I do with them? I know it's not much, but I'd like to know the specifics."

Henry pondered for a moment. "Besides the obvious increase in physical abilities... did you bring anything to defend yourself?"

Yoshino nodded and produced a kitchen knife, a revolver, and pepper spray from her schoolbag. Henry raised an eyebrow at the pepper spray. "Pepper spray?"

Yoshino shrugged. "It helped me blind the first monster that attacked me. It proved more useful than the knife and gun."

Henry nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Well, what I'm about to show you might change your opinion."

With deliberate precision, Henry reached out and grasped the knife by its handle. He drew in a deep breath, his chest rising and falling like a bellows, as his eyes narrowed with concentration. The knife, which had seemed so ordinary moments ago, began to transform in his grip. Dark, ominous energy pulsed from his hand, spiraling down the blade in sinuous tendrils that seemed almost alive. Shadows coiled around the metal, crackling with an otherworldly energy that made the air around them hum with tension.

Yoshino's eyes widened as the black aura began to take shape. The dark tendrils were reminiscent of her own burgeoning power but far more focused and refined. Nozomi felt a chill run down her spine, as if the temperature had suddenly dropped. The energy that Henry wielded was different—controlled, precise, and deliberate. It was a sharp contrast to the wild, untamed force that had erupted from Yoshino. It was as if Henry had taken the raw, elemental power and forged it into a deadly, disciplined weapon.

The atmosphere around them thickened. The shadows cast by the flickering bonfire danced more erratically, as if bowing to the dark magic now emanating from Henry. The very air seemed to hum with anticipation, vibrating with an underlying note of danger that promised swift and deadly consequences.

Nozomi couldn't tear her eyes away. The aura around Henry didn't radiate the same unrestrained menace as Yoshino's initial surge of power, but there was an undeniable weight to it—an assurance of lethal precision. It spoke of countless battles fought and hard-earned mastery over a force that could easily consume a lesser will.

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Henry's expression remained calm, almost serene, but there was a steely glint in his eyes, a reflection of the immense power he held in check. He seemed to meld seamlessly with the dark energy, commanding it with an ease that spoke volumes about his experience and control. In his hands, the knife had transformed into not just a weapon, but an extension of his very being—dark and deadly, yet perfectly restrained.

"This is one of the most basic applications of dark magic," Henry explained. "It's easy to learn, can kill darkspawns, and if used smartly, won't drain too much of your magic reserves." His smile was small but satisfied. Compared to her own powers, this seemed more versatile and promising.

"Buuut..." Henry trailed off.

Nozomi's internal hope deflated. She had almost believed there might be no drawbacks. "Buuut...?" Both girls asked simultaneously.

Henry tapped his finger on the table. "While the dark magic can slow down a darkspawn's regeneration, making them easier to kill, it doesn't make the weapon itself more durable or sharp. This knife, even with dark magic, is as fragile as a regular knife. It can be stopped or broken like any other."

Yoshino grumbled in slight disappointment as she watched the knife spin on the table. Nozomi patted her back in an attempt to cheer her up, which seemed to help a little.

"But from personal experience," Henry continued, stopping the knife's spin, "it's not as limiting as it sounds."

"How so?" Yoshino asked, crossing her arms.

"I, for one, have relied solely on this method to deal with darkspawns in America. My other magic helps in the fight but can't kill on its own. I use firearms instead of knives, but still—it’s perfectly usable."

Yoshino pondered, a hand to her chin. "But what if I run out of knives or bullets? What if Nozomi can't come to my aid for some reason?"

Nozomi's expression grew dejected...but she chose not to speak up. Reaching her own conclusion about where Yoshino was coming from.

Henry looked regretful. "I’m afraid I can't help you with that. I always have my crew and my magic to depend on."

"Excuse me," Outsider interjected, surprising everyone. Nozomi had nearly forgotten he was there and felt a twinge of guilt.

"I might have a solution for that problem," Outsider continued now that he had everyone's attention.

"Really? How?" Yoshino asked with more skepticism than Nozomi thought warranted.

Outsider raised his gloved hand, the white fabric almost glowing under the dim light. All eyes were on him, curiosity and anticipation thick in the air. Slowly, as if performing an intricate ceremony, he extended his fingers. From the seams of his glove, silvery liquid metal began to seep out, shimmering like a stream of liquid mercury. It flowed with a graceful fluidity, defying the laws of nature, and then, miraculously, began to coalesce and take shape.

Everyone watched in breathless silence as the metallic liquid twisted and turned, its movements smooth and hypnotic. In a matter of moments, it transformed—its form becoming more defined, more intricate—until there, in Outsider's palm, rested a perfect replica of a red rose. Each petal was meticulously formed, the delicate curves and lines captured with unbelievable precision. The metallic sheen of the rose reflected the flickering light, creating a mesmerizing play of shadows and highlights, confirming that it was indeed almost alive.

"W-what the—why—WHAT?!" Yoshino exclaimed, eyes wide as she glanced between Outsider and the rose in disbelief.

"This is an invention of mine. It can perfectly copy anything," Outsider explained calmly.

"Anything? Like anything-ANYTHING?!" Yoshino was almost hysterical. Nozomi felt slightly worried but trusted Seiza's presence for medical aid if needed.

"Well, almost anything. But I assure you, whatever it copies will be a perfect replica." Outsider turned the rose into a replica of the kitchen knife. Offering it to Henry, he said, "I'll have him demonstrate."

Henry accepted the knife, examining it before trying to break it with his bare hands. After a while, he gave up. "Phew... what's this thing even made of? Diamond?" He joked but seemed genuinely impressed and slightly frustrated.

"Never expected you to be an inventor," Nozomi blurted. Outsider shrugged.

"It's a hobby. In any case..." The knife reverted to liquid metal and returned to his glove. Outsider pulled out a pair of pink gloves and offered them to Yoshino. "These will let you replicate anything you need—knives, bullets, whatever—without ever running out."

Just as Yoshino reached for the gloves, she paused. "What's the catch? Surely something so amazing can’t be free."

Outsider nodded slowly. "First, you have to agree to be taught how to use them by me. They’ll be deactivated for safety until then. Second, your testing provides me with useful data without hiring anyone."

"Is that all?" Yoshino asked. Outsider's nod confirmed it. She accepted the gloves.

As Yoshino put on the pink gloves, Nozomi found them surprisingly fitting. Turning, Yoshino noticed Henry looking at his watch.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

Henry snapped out of his concentration. "O-oh, I should go. If I'm late, Kurai might get suspicious." Turning to Outsider, he asked, "Would you mind if the favor waited?"

Outsider casually waved him off. "As long as you're willing, I can wait."

Henry sighed in relief. "Good. Now..." He turned to Nozomi. "Would you mind doing me a quick favor, lass?" He asked nervously. Nozomi responded with a cautious nod.

"Hmm? What do you need from her, uncle?" Yoshino inquired.

Henry scratched his cheek nervously. "Well... I need her to shoot me." As he spoke, the wagon plunged into darkness as it entered a tunnel.