Haimo looked at Tsukuyo Inaba, who lay prostrate on the floor.
That back, so frail that a gust of wind seemed enough to carry her away, was trembling slightly.
"Lift your head, Tsukuyo."
Haimo quickly reached out and gently helped Tsukuyo Inaba up.
He saw that...
Tsukuyo Inaba's vermilion eyes were still directed precisely at his own, filled with resolve.
"Since you have that resolve..."
"I imagine you'll climb even higher in the future."
"As a god..."
"How could I refuse my own child's request?"
Haimo tucked a stray lock of Tsukuyo Inaba's hair behind her ear.
"Besides..."
"In my eyes, every one of you is going to become a monster who can stand on her own."
"Since you're so determined..."
"Then let's do it."
"After all, I'd really like to see just how brilliantly the sword inside will shine once this fragile sheath of yours has been shattered and reforged."
With that said...
Haimo wasted no more words.
He simply picked Tsukuyo Inaba up and laid her back on the couch, face down.
Then...
A drop of Divine Blood...
Bearing a god's blessing, and the authority to break mortal limits...
Slowly fell.
"Drip."
It landed squarely in the center of Tsukuyo Inaba's smooth, jade-like back.
At that instant!
Red light blazed!
Those numerical values...
At that moment...
Seethed, burned, and finally dissolved into nothingness.
This was the shattering of the [vessel].
And the reforging of the [vessel].
Tsukuyo Inaba was being reborn.
Then...
As all her Status values were refined...
Her Development Ability manifested.
Once everything was done...
Tsukuyo Inaba's level ascension ritual came to an end.
Everyone could clearly sense that the heavy air of decline that had persistently clung to Tsukuyo Inaba had now vanished entirely!
--
``` [Name]: Tsukuyo Inaba.
[Race]: Human.
[Level]: Lv.2.