A brilliant Golden Spear formed in midair, turning into a streak of light as it stabbed toward He Ao.
He Ao drew in his body and raised the Knight Sword still sheathed at his side. With an upward swing, the scabbard smashed into the spear and shattered the entire Golden Spear.
At the same time, the recoil from striking the spear carried He Ao farther backward. He landed on the rooftop of a small building behind him, rolled back, and came to his feet beside a Golden Greatsword embedded in the exact center of the rooftop.
He slung the Knight Sword back behind him, reached out, and gripped the enormous hilt.
After a day, much of the greatsword had already dissipated, but even so, it was still a weapon capable of injuring a B-rank.
"Looks like this is the battlefield you chose."
The old man's body drifted down onto the edge of the rooftop like a feather. He raised a hand, and Golden Spears formed one after another behind him. Smiling, he watched He Ao grip the hilt.
"You provoked me to lure me away from your home, didn't you? You wanted to preserve the memories of your parents and your home? After I kill you, I'll destroy everything you cherish along with you."
"Many people have threatened me in similar ways before."
He Ao stepped forward and slowly exerted force, pulling the Golden Greatsword from the ground. "But the things I cherish have always remained."
On his shoulder, the blood-red butterfly slowly spread its wings. An invisible force enveloped his entire body, and he activated Super Memory.
The Paper Butterfly Alice had become had absorbed the power of numerous lingering spirits from the Inner Church. Her current state of existence lay somewhere between illusion and reality.
She did not