Sealing

The Seraph of Thousand Blades unfurled with a thunderous roar at the heart of the barrier.

Qian Huanyue closed her eyes and felt the Spiritual Power she had absorbed begin to churn wildly inside her.

"Mm... huff... ah..."

An inexplicable heat spread through her body. Qian Huanyue's face tightened as she felt a power that rejected her own being forced inside her.

Was this vast amount of Spiritual Power too much to absorb...?

No. It was just difficult to process. If she had a little more time...

Qian Huanyue gathered herself, raised a hand, and felt a fire ignite in her eyes.

The Seraph of Thousand Blades flashed—she severed part of her ability to feel pain.

Countless flying swords scattered around her and rained down across the city, devouring the Spiritual Power that remained there.

As long as I absorb everything at the barrier's core and stabilize Rinne's body...

It was her first attempt, and she couldn't be certain, but success was almost within reach... wasn't it?

That was what she thought.

She had already begun planning what came next: once they returned, she would find a place for Rinne, then collapse onto a bed and rest.

After that, she would knock herself unconscious and slowly, quietly restore her sense of pain.

She would have to keep it hidden.

Otherwise, everyone would worry.

"Wake up..."

What... what was that voice?

Her head felt heavy and foggy. Her consciousness seemed submerged in warm water, sluggish and exhausted. She felt someone gently shake her body.

"You can wake up now, Shiori."

The gentle voice came again from beside her ear. It was so familiar. Whose voice was it...?

Shiori came to and opened her brown eyes. She struggled to sit up and looked at the person calling her. It was unmistakably