Sakumura at least looked much fresher now.
"Yo! How do you feel? If you're still being controlled by the black mud, do you need me to give you a whack with my Great Pi?"
Holding the reins in one hand and the Great Pi in the other, Xiang An paced through the air to Sakumura's side and asked him with a grin.
"Not great."
Rubbing his neck, Sakumura, having broken free from his contract with the black mud, spat out a mouthful of it and grimaced.
"HAHAHAHA—! Looks like crawling out of the black mud really was an awful experience!"
Sakumura's reaction amused Xiang An, and he could not help laughing.
"If you know it was awful, shut your mouth first."
Sakumura's refreshed expression instantly darkened, and even the way he looked down at Justeaze became filled with killing intent.
You dragged me out of that filthy stuff.
You must be tired of living.
"Y-you broke free of the contract!?"
"But... how is that possible!?"
Justeaze looked up at Sakumura Anno, whom she had only just summoned atop that gemstone, utterly dumbfounded.
"Sorry, but contracts have never meant much to me. The authority I—and we—possess is far beyond what you can imagine."
Sakumura rested Crane Feather on his shoulder and looked down at Justeaze below, narrowing his eyes.
"We only submit to things like contracts when we want to honor them and carry out orders. Whenever we do not want to obey, we can break free at any time."
"Summoning me only added another enemy for yourself, even if the spiritual foundation making up my current form was composed of this filthy mana you created."
Sakumura glanced at his own arm, his expression one of slight disgust.
Even if a spiritual foundation made from this mana does not particularly restrict