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When Anna finally came to her senses, pink and golden flames enveloped her entire being. Her Heart of Hope and Love overflowed with immense power. The love that everyone felt for her surged forth, elevating her Ki levels to tremendous heights while cleansing whatever dark being her Aura and powers had been turning into during her fall into despair.
Her eyes opened, glowing first gold, then pink, revealing heart-shaped and star-shaped pupils within both. Her clothes transformed as her Aura morphed into a long, beautiful dress, a glorious blend of pink, white, red, and gold reminiscent of what an ancient Chinese princess might have worn.
A halo appeared above her head, resembling a spinning pink crown crafted from crystallized Heavenly Love Ki and adorned with star-shaped golden jewels and heart-shaped red jewels.
Anna's glorious return shifted the entire world around her. Destruction and despair vanished, replaced by the love she felt for others and the love they felt for her. This love rapidly enhanced her strength and resolve.
She felt deeply grateful for the many friends she had made. Without them, pulling herself out of the endless abyss of despair would have been impossible.
When someone cultivated Emotions, falling into despair could be a terrible death sentence. Anna knew this, yet she had still succumbed. Despite her efforts to become as strong as possible, she remained a fragile young woman deep inside, prone to mistakes.
This flaw, despite everything, was also what made her so human and relatable, even to those who might otherwise not care about her.
Her humility and kindness, combined with this vulnerability, had enabled her to forge bonds with many people. Though she had arrived in this world alone, she was now surrounded by dozens, perhaps hundreds, who loved her and wanted to support her.
This Love, this Friendship, as corny as it sounded, was what Anna had cultivated. It was an evolved form of the Heart of Hope, and it had earned her the Legendary Title of the World of Bestia's third Venerable.
[The {B#####g #c####} has fallen into slumber.]
[The {Heavenly Princess of Boundless Love} has woken up.]
"I was unable to save you, Father… And I wish I could have spent more time with you…" Anna gazed at her father's body. "But as long as I keep you within my heart, you will never die…"
Her eyes shone with conviction and willpower as memories flooded her mind: his crazy stunts, his cranky attitude, his occasional mercilessness, but also the deep kindness he hid and the immense care he had shown her.
"Despite how rough around the edges you were, and despite how hard you tried to hide the kindness in your heart, I always knew you were a good person…" She smiled, looking at the sky, then glancing at Song, Fang Shuan, and even Sepa and Bastet, who had appeared by her side as Ego Familiars in their Divine Beast forms.
"Everyone, thank you for being there for me… I'm sorry for being such a pain in the ass… I'm fine now! I won't be selfish… And I'm very sorry for crying so much," Anna muttered. "I'm fine now… I-I'll do my best."
"Anna, you don't have to be sorry," Song said, smiling as he patted her head and shoulders. "A lot happened, so it's normal that you felt this way… But I'm glad you're back. Once this is over… Let's hold a proper funeral for Dad."
"Yeah…" Anna nodded, melancholy in her eyes.
"Young lady, I'm glad you've regained your sanity… However, the power you exuded before…" Fang Shuan cautioned. "You must be careful never to fall into despair again. Your powers now derive almost entirely from your own emotions and those of the people around you. While this can grant tremendous power, if your mind becomes corrupted, it could bring destruction to you and those near you."
"I-I see…" Anna nodded. "I understand, Fang Shuan… I'll try to ensure that doesn't happen again… And if it does… I'll be counting on you."
"Of course… I'll always be there for you, young lady," Fang Shuan said, moved by her kind words and her reliance on him. "Just as you're always there for me."
"Awww, aren't you all such good friends?" Sepa giggled.
"I think that's enough chit-chat for now, Anna…" Bastet said.
"I know… Thanks to you two, I'm back as well. I wish I could give you a nice speech, but yeah, we don't have time for that," Anna nodded, swiftly spreading her Aura.
Her Aura, resembling endless flames of gold and pink, rapidly manifested her Myriad Self Arts as several of her Egos appeared one after another and then merged into multiple arms.
Each arm grasped a weapon, mostly her many swords, infusing them with these pink flames, a fusion of everything Anna held, including her Privileges and Skills.
The Aura was not just flames; it also contained lightning. Though Anna's body appeared "normal," it had taken on a spiritual and elemental form.
Two wings sprouted from her back, crafted from these flames and lightning: one like an angel's, feathered and beautiful, the other like a demon's, sharp and dark.
Anna's power reached its pinnacle as she attained Enlightenment and, simultaneously, True Unification of her abilities.
"This is the real me… This is what I've been working so hard to attain…!"
The power she had tirelessly pursued through countless training sessions, agonizing cultivation, and the enlightenment gained day by day from her masters and adoptive parents had finally converged within her!
"Let's do this…"
As Anna's eyes shone brightly, Lucifer, in his monstrous form, glared at the notification before him. He was visibly annoyed that his plan had not worked as intended.
[The {####### ######} has fallen into slumber.]
[The {Heavenly Princess of Boundless Love} has woken up.]
"She fell into slumber?! After all that, she still didn't give in to despair, even when I killed someone so precious to her?! W-What is this damn brat? And she… Who the hell is the 'Heavenly Princess of Boundless Love'?! What a disgusting name! Is this… her Constellation Title?! But she isn't even…!"
-----
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