She sat down near the stairs quietly, the weight of the coming war pressing against every breath in the air.
"This war may lead to the destruction of Levincia… maybe even this forsaken world," Grimmy said softly. "But I always knew you are the strongest."
Jhonathan didn't respond at first.
He just listened.
Grimmy gently took his hand.
Her grip wasn't cold like before.
It was human.
Real.
"You broke my servant chains," she continued, her voice steadier now. "And made me your friend instead of an eternal servant."
A faint smile formed on her lips.
"…For that, I'm really grateful."
She looked at him properly now.
Not like a weapon.
Not like a tool.
But like someone she trusted.
"You've tried to help everyone here in any way," she said. "And that makes us grateful just to be your friends."
Her expression softened.
"You have a heart of pure gold… and it makes everyone around you feel like they matter."
A pause.
The wind passed through the broken ruins.
"Please be safe."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"Because after this…"
She glanced toward the others.
Sylviana.
Jessa.
Sophia.
"…we're going to say it properly."
Her eyes met his.
"We love you, Jhonathan."
Before he could answer—
Grimmy stepped forward and hugged him tightly.
Then she pulled back slightly and placed something into his core presence.
A pulse of shadow and divine resonance merged into him.
"This is my gift to you."
She whispered:
"Sword of the Elves: Shadow's Blessing."
Jhonathan's ability core reacted instantly.
A new layer of power formed—not aggressive, but protective.
A shadow that didn't consume…
but defended.
Far away—
the sea roared violently.
Massive silhouettes emerged on the horizon.
Metal giants.
Moving like storms across the ocean.
Mecha-bots.
They were approaching Levincia's coast.