Having defeated the spirit chimera, Mira spent some time spoiling Isenfald as much as he wished, then left Gregorious tied up for the second unit to handle later, and went deeper into Chimera Clauzens main base together with Sero.

When they reached the end of the stairs, they found Kagura, embracing a young naked girl.

It seems youre done here too.

Looking around, the traces of a violent fight were evident, telling of the fierce battle that had gone on until just recently there. Mira observed the rubble as she walked up to Kagura, and looked down at the girl in her arms.

White skin and slender limbs. Her frail body showed no signs of possessing a great amount of strength, but the marks of battle were clear.

Well, I guess. At least a half.

A half? What do you mean?

Mira guessed that was Chimera Clauzens boss, but frowned upon hearing Kaguras reserved reply, asking what she meant by that.

I managed to get her out of the body, but after that

Kagura sighed as she said that, and looked further inside the room. There was a diamond shaped fragment on the ground.

A black mist stone? No, this one looks different, and quite sturdy

Well, whatever it is, I dont like it.

Just looking at it made one feel a cold sweat. Mira and Sero kept a distance from it, voicing their thoughts. The fragment was slightly longer than an index finger, and was surrounded by black mist just like the regular stones, but the mist looked far more concentrated than usual.

Thats the horn that was stuck to this girls forehead.

Kagura said that to the two observing the horn cautiously, and sighed again. The girl had merely been controlled by it. Chimera Clauzens actual boss was a vengeful ghost that formed as many curses piled on top of each other, and then it took over the girl.

That ghost had been extracted with Kaguras skills, leaving the girls body intact. How that was accomplished, was with a secret onmyoji Art, Ursa Astigma Alkaid. It had the effect of amplifying ones weapon to its utmost limits, making it tens of times more powerful. When used on a low level fire sword, the Art would make it as powerful as a legendary magic sword. Kagura had used it to elevate the Anti-Demon Silvers properties to the maximum, allowing her to exorcize the vengeful ghost born from the curse.

Thanks to that, the ghost had been erased from existence, and the two horns growing on the girls had fallen off cleanly, and joined into the fragment that lay on the ground now.

I dont know how to put it This is just my guess, but I think thats the crystallized demons curse. With the vengeful ghost gone, its just in a dormant state, away from the girl. Maybe?

The diamond-shaped black fragment, small, but somehow intimidating. Not even Kagura fully understood what it was, and the more she spoke the less sure she sounded of herself. But one thing was certain, they could not just leave it like that.

The demons curse, huh. We should find a way to get rid of it then.

Mira pondered what to do as she looked at the fragment. Sero took a few steps forward.

It devours spirits after all. Who knows when someone might abuse its power again, so Id like to destroy it as well

As he spoke, Sero unsheathed his Anti-Demon Silver sword, and swung it at the fragment.

But this really is on a whole new level.

Seros sword traveled with ease, but when it touched the mist surrounding the fragment, it lost all momentum. Though Sero had already guessed he would be unable to destroy it. He carefully put his sword away as he watched attentively at the fragments reaction to the hit.

I know. Earlier I tried to hit it with another Alkaid, but it was completely useless.

As she said that, Kagura turned to look at her staff, which was greatly bent and crushed. While Alkaid could enhance a weapons properties to their limit, that also meant the weapon would need to resist a far greater load when used.

But even after all that, their attempts to destroy the black fragment were unsuccessful.

Hmm I suppose its my turn to try next.

When Kagura sighed for the third time wondering what to do, Mira finally decided to say that.

Gra- Mira, where did you get that?

Kagura exclaimed in surprise, watching Mira approach the fragment. Sero turned to look at her as well, and muttered what the with his eyes open wide. They both had reason to react that way. The marks of the Spirit Kings Divine Protection on Miras body seemed to pulsate with glowing energy.

I told you about my encounter with the Spirit King before, yes? This is the blessing he gave me that time. Its gotten like this since Sero tried to hit it with his sword.

Saying that, she walked up to the black fragment, and summoned the Holy Sword Sanctia like she was accustomed to.

I think he said something like this. If I combine his power with the true strength of the Holy Sword, I can eradicate the demons curse.

Mira could feel the power of the Spirit King seeping from the marks that stretched over her entire body. She understood what that meant, and pointed the tip of the blade at the black fragment.

You called it the crystallization of the demons curse, I guess thats halfway correct. I dont know how to explain it, but I can feel the Spirit Kings wisdom passing onto me through the Divine Protection. Apparently this thing is the demons power itself.

Their power itself? How is that different from the curse?

Kagura tilted her head hearing Miras words. But Mira was struggling keeping up with all the new information passing onto her that she just said I wouldnt really know like it was someone elses problem.

Oh well, regardless of that, I think this is my role to fulfill.

Mira raised the Holy Sword while focusing on the power flowing into her from the Spirit Kings blessing. It was odd, but somehow she knew how to use that power.

The Holy Sword began to glow as well, reacting to the Spirit Kings mark. It was bright like a lighthouse, tearing darkness apart, and giving anyone who looked at it a sense of safety and guidance.

Mira then lowered the sword, without grace or skill, simply swinging it down the way she saw fit. But it drew a perfect arc as if a master swordsman had swung it, closing in straight onto the black fragment.

A bright flash of light followed. There was no sound, no shockwave, just white light that illuminated everything in the room.

The excessive brightness made Kagura and Sero close their eyes, but only for a moment, as the light quickly faded away, as well as the marks on Miras body, and the glow from the Holy Sword. As if they had nothing else to accomplish.

The black fragment was gone as well, not leaving a single speck of dust behind.

Did it work?

With care, Kagura gently placed the girl on the ground before running to the place where the black fragment had been. When she paid more attention, she realized the uncomfortable and eerie presence was gone as well.

I felt like it worked, and as you can see, the Divine Protections marks also faded away. Id say that was a success.

While she was not fully used to it, Mira had started getting the hang of the effect the Spirit Kings blessing had on her. That feeling had told her right then, that the culprit, the demons power, had been erased. That gave Mira the confidence to reply affirmatively with a smile.

So this really means its all over then

I believe so. Our efforts paid off.

Yeah.

Kagura felt relieved seeing Miras attitude and hearing her voice. Her complexion relaxed, as if a thread that had been pulling on her had been cut, her eyes focused on some distant spot. It was a transient expression, like a flower sprouting in a battlefield, a promise for the future showing that life would go on.1