The stronger the light, the deeper the shadows.
"...The night of the new moon approaches."
"Is that so~?"
Ein and Thanatos stood within Knossos, their gazes fixed upon a singular point.
"I don't know if it will succeed, but if it does..."
"...Stop your useless chatter, Thanatos."
"My, my. Didn't you agree to this as well, Ein-chan?"
"It is merely to fill the vacuum left by Valetta's death."
'Liars, both of them...'
Their eyes were locked on a single gem resting upon an altar.
It was a jewel that held a pure, virginal whiteness, glowing faintly as if something—a living presence—was trapped within its core.
"No matter how many times I see it, it's fascinating."
'To think such a soul could even exist~'
Whirrr—
"Oh, it looks like it's that time again. I'll leave it to you, Ein-chan?"
Seeing the jewel react, Thanatos turned his eyes toward Ein.
Step, step.
"..."
Grip!
"Eat."
Voom—!!
Ein approached the altar and picked up the gem. She began to 'feed' the jewel the grape-like spheres granted by her Patron Deity.
Immediately, an even more brilliant light erupted, enveloping them both.
Flash—!!!!!
"Ah... how wonderful~"
'A truly beautiful chaos, every single time...'
"With this, perhaps even Enyo's wish can be realized?"
"..."
Thanatos seemed entranced, reading the 'records' etched within the light with his entire being.
In contrast, Ein stared at the glowing jewel with a complicated, fixated gaze, as if she were feeling something profound yet disturbing within that radiance.
—'Nothing remains within me but rage. No, rage was everything.'
"Urgh...!!"
'This emotion... what is...!'
—'And yet...'
"Be gone...!!!"
Boom—!!!!!!
Ein clutched her head, her body trembling as the records of someone else's existence flooded her consciousness. Her mind was inundated with a cocktail of negativity—anger, sorrow, resentment—until it began to scrape against her own deep-seated traumas.
In that moment of revolting psychic pressure, she nearly unleashed her magic... but then...
—'Live for the present, not the past.'
"....!!"
A single sentence echoed through her skull.
That phrase cleared her head instantly. To anchor herself in reality, she gripped her own arm and snapped the bone.
Crrr-ack!
"What are you doing, Ein-chan~?"
"...A tool."
'This thing is just a tool... for the sake of my God...!'
Unaware of who that sentence was truly directed toward, Ein buried the confusion deep within her heart.
".....The Pleasure Quarter?"
Cr-crack! Snap!
"Who did you say went there?"
"Well, that is..."
"Big brother Bell and the others went out together!"
Akumo was breaking into a cold sweat.
It was a reaction born from the sheer bafflement of hearing Bell had headed into the district of carnal desires, and the terrifyingly oppressive aura currently radiating from the woman standing behind him.
'Why must these trials come now, of all times...!!!!!'
"It's been a long time since I've given someone a thorough—"
"No! No!! Lupia! Calm down...."
After surviving Knossos and receiving treatment, Akumo had immediately headed home, where Alfia—using her alias Lupia—was waiting.
Rustle.
"Two powerhouses comparable to Level 7..."
"I was quite surprised myself."
While being fussed over and cared for by Alfia, Akumo shared intelligence regarding Revis and Ein. He asked if she recognized them from the Great Feud or the Dark Age records.
However, the red-haired creature and the masked figure in black robes were entities unknown even to Alfia's vast knowledge of Evilus.
"Compared to Zard and me?"
"You and Zard would win, obviously."
'Even so, they are a greater threat than I anticipated...'
Fortunately, through direct combat, Akumo had gauged that their individual prowess still fell short of Ottar—currently the pinnacle of Level 7. He had already shared this information with his allies in the Freya, Loki, and Astraea Familias.
'I was planning to just tie up some loose ends and enjoy a quiet night walk for once...'
"Who... was with him?"
"The red-haired brother and the small sister!"
"Phew.... Thank goodness...."
"What is it?"
"O-Oh! It's nothing...."
Akumo felt a massive wave of relief. His