"I don't know about that." Nearl shook her head. "Back then, Lilith and Shining had a very good relationship. It's just that when we were passing through Victoria and rested in a certain inn for a night, Lilith disappeared the next day. Shining only said Lilith had things to take care of and left, but she never said exactly what it was. After that, Shining seemed to deliberately avoid Lilith's name, rarely mentioning it, and even once had a fight with Nightingale because of the reason for Lilith's departure."
"This is getting interesting." The fire of gossip in Kaltsit's heart was completely ignited. She had seen how much Shining doted on Nightingale; not just her, everyone who knew Shining and Nightingale knew it. But for a Shining who doted on Nightingale so much to actually have a fight over the issue of Lilith—that is, Fujino—who would believe there wasn't some explosive topic involved!
"By the way, Dr. Kaltsit, why are you with Lilith? If it weren't for Lilith's eyes, I'm afraid I wouldn't have recognized her," Nearl asked.
"Um, Miss Nearl..." Amiya pulled on Nearl's arm. Seeing Nearl's slightly confused gaze, she smiled and said, "Miss Nearl, you might not know, but the name Lilith isn't her real name. Her real name is Asagami Fujino, the boss of the number one arms company, Umbrella."
"What?!!!"
Looking at Shining's already unsheathed blade, Fujino knew that this time, a fight was unavoidable.
Shining indeed had a vow not to draw her sword, but once she did, it meant that the sword saint who once severed night and day had reappeared.
Sighing helplessly, Fujino looked at Shining with a calm gaze.
"Do we really have to fight?"
"..."
Shining's sword slowly left its scabbard, the silver-white blade emitting a chilling gleam under the light that was enough to make one shudder.
"What a hassle."
Sighing again, Fujino knew she had no choice but to fight. Who else's fault was it but her own?
With a flash of light in her hand, Fujino's'sword' appeared.
However, seeing Fujino's so-called'sword', everyone's gazes were different.
Kaltsit and Amiya were confused, Nearl was nostalgic, and Saria was curious.
At the same time, in an operator's room on Rhodes Island, Nightingale, who was lying in bed in a pure white nightgown, suddenly opened her eyes.
"It's Lilith's scent. Lilith is finally here."
Shining looked at the weapon in Fujino's hand, which should be called a staff rather than a sword, and also felt some nostalgia in her heart.
"Truly nostalgic."
"Yeah."
Fujino also spoke, her eyes quite complex as she looked at the staff in her hand.
This staff was the former Blood Walk. After obtaining Migeiko, Fujino rarely used weapons like sabers or swords.
The once sharp yubashiri had now transformed into this appearance.
Returning to simplicity—these words were probably the best to describe this weapon.
The staff was about 1.2 meters long, perfectly rounded and integrated as one. The body of the staff was covered with eerie black patterns that were particularly obvious under the light.
"Let's begin." As soon as Shining finished speaking, she disappeared.
Fujino made no extra movements, holding the staff horizontally in front of her.
Clang!
Instantly, a terrifying storm swept through the surroundings, kicking up countless clouds of dust. Huge gashes appeared all over the deck and the surrounding area.
"Slash!"
White day vanished, dark night descended, day and night were reversed, and only a brilliant light emerged.
"Have you already reached the level of merging your momentum into the surroundings? Shining, it seems you haven't completely put down the sword this past year." Fujino looked calmly at the only light in the darkness, the corners of her mouth curling slightly.
The light in the darkness was very fast and had already reached Fujino, less than a meter away. In this environment formed by Shining's momentum, Fujino's speed was even faster than Shining's!
"Then let me show you the unbridgeable gap between us."
Pointing the staff forward, the surrounding air seemed to freeze.
"Steel Tempest!"
Two lights collided at the same time, accompanied by an ear-piercing cracking sound as fine cracks appeared in the surrounding space.
The area around Rhodes Island was already filled with massive sword gashes.
Kaltsit, who had hidden in the rear long before the battle broke out, saw the thoroughly destroyed Rhodes Island and felt like dying. How much money would this cost!
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