The Enemy That Must Be Defeated!

But Amakusa Shirou was faster. His sword pierced Sieg's hand.

"It's over. You can't defeat me. You aren't even worthy of sharing the stage with me."

Amakusa Shirou let out a long breath. With victory in sight, he suddenly felt much more at ease.

He envisioned a beautiful future in his mind. He would save the world and live the life he longed for.

But that future was suddenly shrouded in gray.

"It's not over yet." Sieg stretched out her other hand and pulled the sword from her wrist.

Scrambling to her feet, Sieg reclaimed her sword.

Her right hand was nearly ruined. Her left still had some strength, but wielding a sword with it was almost impossible.

Her dominant hand was her right, and the sword in her hand was a two-handed sword.

Did she still have any way to win?

What had Ruler meant?

Only she could defeat Amakusa Shirou—what did that mean?

"Defective homunculus, I have to say, this is the only time you've earned my admiration. Your will is remarkably firm, but what does that change?"

Amakusa Shirou slowly approached. To Sieg, he even seemed somewhat cautious.

Was he... afraid of her?

Defective homunculus.

Homunculus.

Perfect homunculus.

What did that mean?

"Amakusa Shirou, why do you think I'm defective?"

Amakusa Shirou snorted coldly.

"That has nothing to do with you."

"Then what is the perfect homunculus in your mind like?"

Sieg demanded.

"At the very least, it wouldn't be like you, struggling with all its strength to stay alive. To a perfect homunculus, such things are irrelevant. Life and death do not matter; if it dies, then it dies. But you—you act no differently from those humans. A homunculus like that is unquestionably defective!"

Sieg realized that Amakusa Shirou was shouting himself hoarse, fury written across