-Fei’s POV-

The monster with six arms and three faces. It was known as a unique species even among its race which was a subspecies of ogre. Man-eating creatures resembling demons.

I doubted its existence when Charlotte told me about it but... I guess I can't say it now. More than anything, I have no right to doubt her words and the truth in front of me. However, how and why could this being be here?

I glanced at the human who's fighting against Charlotte. He's the perpetrator of this incident so he must have a powerful backup. I must stay alert—

"ROOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!"

*CRASH!* A mace descended and crushed the spot I was in a moment earlier. Taking the chance, I pulled out the black sword which was the nemesis to all monsters bearing high regeneration.

However—another mace swept the ground and approaching me from the corner of my vision. I jumped and dodged it then a shadow fell over me which forced me to retreat quickly.

Another mace fell and smashed into the ground. I observed the six arms equipped with weapons flailing around but I knew it has no opening. This one isn't a typical Asura but a Warrior. Assuming other monsters being controlled by that human, this one acted by its own will to follow him.

"In other words... you also have the intelligence to plan out a strategy." I commented.

As long as I keep this fact in mind then I must never do reckless thing. Even if an Asura isn't any different than mindless monster but there's no way one could attack with precision as well as a chain of movement which flowed like a river.

Yes... this monster has been educated. And it's probably more dangerous than the Earth Spider of the 20th Floor. As I evaded the next batch of attacks, my left shoulder throbbed with searing heat. I frowned upon the large gash which was leaking more and more crimson fluid and I could sense my consciousness getting lighter.

"....Tch. I took too much damage." I complained while leaping to the left.

Because it's impossible for me to use Lagnaris and the fact that I'm near Charlotte caused me to suppress its influence stronger than ever. I knew it was stupid but I didn't want her of all people to know what I am.

...the tear she shed was more than enough to crumple my heart. The nightmares she had was more than enough to wound my mind. I don't want to destroy her dream. I don't want to hurt her anymore...!

"RROAAAAAAAAAAARRR!!"

The Asura howled as it swung down the weapons it held all at once. The ground shook, the air trembled and smokes filled the area surrounding us. I barely escaped that wide area attack and though a few flying stones grazed me, I was still capable enough to move my limbs.

The smoke and clouds of dust were blown away by a swing of the Asura's mace. I ducked and rolled to avoid it and I ran toward the monster which howled in agitation.

"Let's get this done already...!!" I gripped my sword tightly.

Focusing my gaze at one point, I inhaled a large amount of air and the world seemed to slow down once the enemy made its next move.

A mace was swung down diagonally and I responded by leaping to the side.

A sword came slashing at me and I leaned to the left. Completely avoiding it in a hair breadth.

A battle axe swept at me to severe my legs. I responded by jumping and landing on the wide steel surface before running along the long shaft of the axe.

I saw the eyes of the Celestial Monster widening. Surprising it and taking the chance, I jumped once my feet touched its fore arm.

"Variant Arts..." I muttered while spinning and diving down. "Windmill!!"

*SLASH!!* The Asura had one of its face carved with a long gash. Crimson fluid showered down as I landed on its hip and I jumped again, hopping from one spot to another before slashing the right shoulder of the Asura which wasn't covered by the armor.

"GRROOAAAAAAAARRRRR?!!"

"I'm not done yet!!"

I slashed the neck, the arms, the legs and the stomach of the Asura but my hands trembled after several swings. The skin was too hard for me to cut and the troublesome thing was the plate armors protecting its vital points.

I jumped from one place to another, using its parts of body as footholds yet I couldn't even land a decisive blow. The Asura noticed my difficulties and it suddenly rotated on the spot. Strong gusts of wind blew me away from the Asura's body and once I landed on the ground my surrounding darkened.

I hastily rolled to the side when a gigantic foot covered with thick footplate came crashing down. I recovered and aimed for a counter from behind but the foot suddenly moved to me and I was forced to evade again.

Like a game of tag we tried to take the initiative by hitting each other first. However, the Asura was clearly agile despite its massive size. How could it move as if predicting my next movement? I wondered as I dodged and slashed at the footplate.

*CLANG!!* The profound sound of metal singing could be heard as powerful numbness attacked my hands.

It's seriously tough. The armor must be made of adamantium ore. That ore boasted the quality of the toughest material in Magnis and it's severely rare to mine even a nugget within Human Territory.

Considering the toughness which left not even a dent or scratch, I couldn't help but believing that this Asura didn't come from the South or the West. The shape of the armor which was exquisite and smooth. The finesse of the design and the sparkle of the armor. Added with the nature of the material used up for it and how no human blacksmith could craft such thing perfectly.

"An elf or a dwarf crafted it...? Just what are you?" I questioned in disbelief.

Of course there's no way the monster could understand my words. It's only swinging the weapons he had and there's nothing other than the desire to kill in its eyes. I once again escaped from the relentless waves of counterattacks after uselessly hitting it with my sword.

That being said, my sole weapon is an anti-demon sword. It cuts well against demons and magic beasts but it worked no different than a simple sword against physically hard skins. It could be chipped and it could be broken.

"So... guess I should use a different mean."

I turned my head to see Charlotte who's fighting all by herself. She's clearly forcing herself so how could I not help her? Jumping back and settling a glare to the monster in front of me, I prepared a stance I am most familiar with.

...Hm... I haven't used it lately. Can I do it? I closed my eyes then opening them. Reversing my grips over the black sword, I lowered my hips and bent forward slightly.

"Assassination Arts..." I whispered.

Extending my left arm to the side, threads made of mana burst out from the tips of my fingers. Traversing the air and flying around the Asura, I willed the threads to rain down from above!

"Thread Weaving Technique: Nine Strands of Clouds!!"

As if it noticed my aim the Asura retreated and dodged the falling threads but I willed them to pursue it. The monster roared a short roar as it retaliated by swinging its weapons aimlessly.

"It's no use to resist!!" I exclaimed as I clenched my left hand.

The threads moved around swiftly, infiltrating the Celestial Monster's guards and coiled around its limbs, its neck and its shoulders. I pulled the threads strongly and the monster trembled as the threads bounded it.

"Rrrrgh...! GRAAAAARRR!!" It roared as it tried to shake free from the technique.

However, I too received an intense feedback as my left arm trembled and creaked like a wooden beam twisted to the limits. Even though I used threads made up by mana they're still connected to my body. Of course they're strong but should they be severed with brute force then I will be in deep trouble.

"So... just...! Stay...! Put... and give up!!"

I pulled my arm in which caused the threads to tighten even more. The Asura roared as it resisted even stronger which forced me to grit down my molars at the searing numbness over my left arm. Just... how... strong is this bastard...!?

I huffed down as the monster tried to break free by pulling me. Now it's a contest of strength...?! I quickly stabbed the black sword into the ground and I grabbed my left wrist.

Planting the sole of my feet into the ground, I exerted all of my strength to kill the Asura through suffocation. The enemy itself made its stand as it grabbed the glowing blue threads with the intention to draw me in before killing me instantaneously!

"Uuu...OOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

"ROOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGH!!"

The contest of willpower and raw strength dragged on. However--I suddenly heard a scream.

"GET AWAY FROM THERE, FEEEEEI!!!"

I shifted my sight to the source of the voice. There I saw a girl who was on her knees, full of wounds and blood leaking from her rosebuds lips. The girl clutched her chest with her left hand as her right hand was extended to me as if trying to reach me.

That was when a streak of purple line crossed the space and struck the Asura's chest.

"What—"

*THUMP!* The sound of a heartbeat could be heard. Resounding throughout the Floor, it was a sound which instilled shock inside of me.

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*THUMP!!* The beating sound was heard for the second time. Stronger and louder, it was a sound which shook the air heavily and burdening my hearing.

Nothing except the unnaturally loud and heavy throbbing sound could be felt. As my eyes stared at the unmoving figure of the Asura which seemed as if it had faced a Gorgon directly...

*SNAP!!* I heard a snapping sound. Suddenly losing my sense over my left arm, warm liquid splattered and stained my cheek as the cracking and breaking noises followed after. My eyes widened upon realizing the mana thread was forcibly torn off. Resulting in a massive feedback which destroyed my left arm utterly. Then—

In the next moment a large shadow was right in front of me.

"ROOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!"

Before I could understand anything, my vision shook and darkness devoured me along with red stains. Glimpsing the darkened crimson world, I saw a girl whose eyes reflected a fool being blown away like a rag.

That hand—outstretched to grasp nothing.

Those eyes—losing light after being betrayed by a cruel truth.

Those tears—the proof of a genuine emotion drowning within the spiral of abysmal despair.

"FEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!"

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I saw darkness. The darkness where I was born from.

I saw darkness. The beginning and end of my life.

I saw darkness. The place I left and returned to.

As my feet touched something like flat ground, my dim consciousness was lit up with a flash of light. The brightness caused me to squint my eyes and before I knew it...

I was in a white space surrounded by 13 black chairs. Each of them giving different shades of darkness and I could recognize the different designs between them all. My gaze hovered around and the moment I turned my head back to see the first chair...

Something was seated on that chair.

A living being was seated there.

A little kid with silver eyes and hair was sitting while gazing at me with a blank, indifferent looks. Wearing long white mantle which was similar to a holy cloak in Raumia, I couldn't guess the identity or the gender of the kid with it.

"Hello again, Felix. You took a while this time." The kid said with an emotionless tone lacking any tension whatsoever which caused him to look nothing like an individual or even a living being.

I stared at the kid for a few moments before my eyebrows fell down and knitted together. I knew this kid. No... How could I forget?

".....Vanity. Why are you here?"

"Please don't look at me like that. I am always with you. Inside of your empty heart, Felix."

The kid raised a hand and pointed at me. A thin smile crept under the nose but I shivered at the sight. It was a surreal scene. This being who didn't look like any living being was smiling.

"Do you understand what you've done so far?" Vanity asked.

"...I... don't have a reason to understand." I answered.

"Even if you're going to let Charlotte die while being consumed with despair? You sure is heartless to leave her alone and departing with a bang like that." Vanity chuckled.

My body froze. That sentence I wanted to deny the most haunted me back. The fact that I failed... the fact that I died out of selfishness. Again. It happened again……

"Just so you know, I am what you call a Relic," Vanity said then hopping off the chair and standing in front of me. The moment I blinked in surprise the kid before me was nowhere to be seen when a voice spoke "A tool of the ancient past. And you're my Chosen."

The voice distorted. It rose in frequency and behind me was a chestnut haired girl with deep auburn eyes. My eyes widened and my nose sniffed the nostalgic scent which shook my mind.

"I can't have you die so easily. It's not time yet when the Ruler hasn't even ascended to the Throne. Even the Tree has yet to bear the Fruit of Dusk." The girl chuckled.

Heat rose up in my body. As I endured the boiling blood within me and the rush of adrenaline upon witnessing the girl, I yelled.

"Shut up...! Don't say those words with her appearance, you bastard!!"

"Why? It's not like you have deep attachment with dead people right?"

"Don't fuck with me, Vanity!! That girl is—"

"Someone you couldn't save?"

".....!"

Vanity was suddenly right in front of me. Using her appearance. Masking the same face and form which was burned in my memories ever since that time. Even though she's here but... this is... this is just......

"How many is it now? This girl. Your best friend. The knights who taught you swordsmanship. The father of the blacksmith who works for you. The villagers you socialized. The people who helped you. The soldiers serving you. Even the Royal Knights who pledged allegiance to you as well as your late siblings. How many have died so far?"

"......shut up..."

"Humans are fragile. You of all people should've known that, Felix. This is why you are picked."

"...shut up...!"

"They would have lived long if you contracted me properly. It's your own fault to deny your true identity for a maiden whose Destiny already sealed."

"Shut up!!"

"You're running away, Fei," she said. "You're just trying to push away everything like a coward."

At that moment, I lost control over my body. I moved my hand and grasped Vanity's neck before slamming her down to the white floor. Yet when I tried to put strength in my grips, I choked upon seeing the emerald eyes and golden hair below me.

"Had you not met me then I would have lived without tasting sorrow, Fei."

Upon hearing her voice. Upon hearing the same voice which was so dear for me. The voice which gave me light. I heard it yet I couldn't help but to stare at the illusion Vanity was showing in disbelief.

Because I knew I wounded her. I caused her to suffer and I forced her to face the truth of this broken world. Even her current words sounded so real it shattered my will apart.

"You're going to let someone precious to you die again."

".....no..."

"Ah, wrong. It's more correct to say... you're going to kill her. After all, that is what you are and you killed them all too."

"...no... No...! You're wrong! You're wrong!! I didn't want kill them...! I never wanted to kill them!!!"

"But you killed them right? You. Killed. Us."

I heard a ripple. I heard a drop of water which fell into a calm and quiet lake. The moment the ripple was created, waves of distortion shaped the lake's surface into something else and when I looked up...

It was a red world.

A crimson world with a barren wasteland. A world where bodies after bodies piled upon another with a spire of corpses lied in front of me.

"You're already dead. Your body beyond repair and your soul is disappearing for you are nothing other than a thing."

"Ah... Aaaah......"

Amidst the lifeless, bloodstained bodies were the faces I knew. Amidst the grotesque scenery was the lives I reaped. The people I treasured. Everything I held dear was... everyone was all...

"This nightmare is yours. As long as your Destiny is not connected with me, you will repeat the same thing."

The silver haired existence said while standing on top of a mountain of corpses. With a voice which resembled theirs. With a voice which represented those who died here.

"If you desire to break free from your Recreated Destiny... you know what you are supposed to do right?"

...at that moment, I knew that I was already under Vanity's mercy.

"Say it. The Word of Covenant."

Even though I wanted to deny it. Even though I desired to not become like my siblings.

"Say it. The Pact between you and I. Our true nature. Our power granted by the Ruler of the Throne of Sacred Swords."

I couldn't... I could... never be able to bring myself to deny my true self. Because I could not afford to lose it. Because I don't want to lose it... Both living and her. I don't want to lose anything more than this.

"Now tell me. Tell me, Child of the Ruler. Chosen of the Sacred Sword."

I... want... it... I want... it...... I want it..... that... power... I want the power to live in happiness......

"Tell me your Desire and I shall return everything back to nothing."

"...Har....monize."

Connection with Lagnaris... Finalized

Opening gateway to the Tree of Abraxas...

Downloading Script of The Seventh... 100% Completed

Lagnaris' materialization... Success

Harmonization Covenant—Code: Vanity—Activate