Gone

It did not take long before the core that had troubled Huanyue began to slowly dissipate from the center. The barrier before her gradually dispersed, vanishing into the void.

Qian Huanyue stood frozen for a moment, staring at the empty space in confusion.

Had she succeeded?

She lowered her head and looked at her body. Rinne's spiritual power was still circulating within her, but the situation before her...

No.

Something was wrong.

A sense of unease—an overwhelming sense of unease—surged from the depths of her heart without warning, instantly gripping her chest.

Rinne.

The instant that name exploded in her mind, Seraph of Thousand Blades immediately changed forms.

The sword in its normal state appeared in Huanyue's hand.

"Space-Piercing Expanse—!!!"

The blade came down, and the space before her twisted at once. A rift tore open in front of her, revealing the scene beyond.

The next second.

Qian Huanyue appeared before the two of them. She looked up at Rinne, whose body was giving off a soft glow, and her breath caught.

It felt as though something within her heart was about to shatter.

"So when you said... we'd return to reality and live together," something trembled violently in her violet eyes,

"that after returning to reality, we would find true happiness there... that was a lie after all, wasn't it?"

Rinne did not avoid her gaze. She merely lowered her eyes slightly, allowing tears to slide from the corners of them.

"I'm sorry... If... I hadn't said that, Huanyue-chan probably wouldn't have done this."

I'm sorry. I deceived you.

Only then did Shiori seem to realize something. As Huanyue's expression darkened, her amber eyes filled with confusion and helplessness.

"Why?" Her voice trembled. "Rinne... why is this happening?"

Rinne did not answer.

She merely lifted her gaze, moving it