To Ch'en, the Crimson Sakura was like the moonlight she'd longed for. Wielding it felt so comfortable, almost like coming home. Every draw was as smooth as water, and even the crisp clang sounded like a heavenly melody in her ears.
Chi Xiao, huh.
A lousy blade with a bad temper that wouldn't even let her draw it.
"Let me see." Hoshino stared at Ch'en as she slowly walked in from outside the room, ready for anything.
"If you use the Crimson Sakura... Since it was born from my inner demons, it might affect me." Hoshino spoke calmly. "My swordsmanship will take a serious hit. I don't know what other effects it might have, but at the very least, the Crimson Sakura is a weapon specifically suited to fighting me."
"Specifically suited?"
Ch'en asked in confusion, "Are you trying to make things fair?"
"No, no. There's nothing fair about a fight between us. If we're talking fairness, I'd knock you down with one slash. That wouldn't be any fun."
Hoshino assumed an attack stance and reached for her sword with her right hand.
"Let's do it. I want to see what kind of effect this blade will have on me."
"Mm."
Ch'en gave her assent. The fight was about to begin.
In the meeting room outside, three pairs of eyes were fixed on the training room. Even the wind sounded unbearably loud. The place felt like a nuclear missile silo, with the fate-changing red button gripped in Kal'tsit's hand.
"Let's vote."
Three hands went up in unison. Unanimous approval.
"Very well—" Kal'tsit took a deep breath. "There are three buttons before you. Only one of them can eject the room; the other two are dummies. But they were shuffled before they were brought here, and I don't know which one