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"What do you need me to do?" Taeko asked softly.
The tension between them had already eased.
Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was an outsider. Not long ago, they had been mortal enemies. Now they were sitting at the same table, calmly discussing their next move.
It felt… strange.
"Wait," Alex replied.
"When Gozuki realizes Cornelia has disappeared, he'll act. It'll be today."
He raised a hand and scattered the fragments of the Imperial Arm Shingu: Crusher he had collected onto the table. He intended to use this time to repair it for Cornelia—and improve it while he was at it.
After all, she would be joining his familia in the future. Strength mattered.
An S-rank Forging skill activated.
Combined with his divine craftsmanship, restoring a mere Shingu posed no difficulty.
Magic surged from his fingertips, vast and controlled. The broken shards trembled, floated into the air, and began to merge at a visible speed.
At the same time, Alex activated Unlimited Blade Works, analyzing Crusher's structure as he repaired it.
If a single Crusher was too limiting…
Then he would forge another.
No—not just one. He would use Crusher's properties to create an entire set.
Before ascending to godhood, that might have been beyond him.
But now?
His divinity was that of a Demon God.
Time ticked by.
Under the stunned gazes of Cornelia, Akame, and Taeko, Alex finally withdrew his magic.
On the table lay not just a pair of gauntlets, but a full metallic set—gauntlets and a breastplate.
This was the true Crusher.
With Cornelia's familiarity with the weapon, she only needed a little adjustment to bring out its full power.
With this experience, Alex thought, forging divine weapons in the future will be far easier. And once we return, I can craft a weapon better suited for Taeko as well.
A satisfied smile curved his lips. He gestured to Cornelia.
"Try it on."
With Akame's help, Cornelia equipped the armor.
After Alex's modifications, the metallic sheen clung perfectly to her arms, leaving only small patches of skin exposed. The breastplate rose up to her neck, and silver greaves shaped like boots completed the set.
She looked like a valkyrie.
Majestic. Untouchable.
"It feels incredibly sturdy," Cornelia murmured, clenching her fists. "And every part functions like the old Crusher—each section can generate powerful vortex force."
"If I'd worn this in that fight earlier… I wouldn't have lost."
The sensation surpassed anything she'd experienced before.
"That's good," Akame exhaled quietly. "With this, our overall strength jumps to a whole new level."
When she looked at Alex, there was something new in her eyes.
Admiration. Respect for a true powerhouse.
"You're right," Alex said evenly. "Crusher is still technically a Shingu. But in terms of strength, it's now comparable to a standard Teigu."
"You can release vortex force from any part of it."
"And I made another adjustment. If you're hit, the impact can be absorbed and temporarily stored as energy within Crusher."
He explained each modification in detail.
The idea had come from the Black Panther suit in the Marvel universe—store kinetic energy and release it later. He'd immediately adapted the concept.
Partly to test his theory.
Partly to refine his own forging skills.
The result spoke for itself.
"Thank you so much, Alex," Cornelia said, bowing deeply. "You saved my life… and strengthened Crusher beyond anything I imagined."
More importantly, with his help, she believed she could finally achieve her long-held wish.
"Um… could you enhance my Murasame too?" Akame asked cautiously.
After seeing Cornelia's transformation, she couldn't help wanting the same.
"No rush," Alex replied. "In the future, you'll have a Teigu of your own."
As he spoke, he turned slowly toward Taeko.
"And you won't be left behind either."
Taeko simply nodded.
She didn't speak, but gratitude shimmered in her eyes.
They had only just met. Yet he treated her with such importance.
Her curiosity about him deepened.
"Father."
"We've confirmed their location."
Green looked up at Gozuki, hesitation flickering in his eyes.
"Akame is there too," Guy said quickly, cutting in. "We suspect she was the one who rescued Cornelia."
"And… Taeko is with them as well."
A trace of disappointment passed through Green's gaze.
He had wanted to hide that part.
Once their 'father' learned the truth, Akame would not be spared. Even if she survived, she would suffer.
Sure enough, Gozuki's expression darkened at the report.
"Good. Very good."
"So they've grown up, have they?"
"I wonder if they're ready to pay the price of growing up."
He rubbed his hands slowly, his voice ice-cold.
"What do we do next, Father?" Guy asked.
He had spoken up deliberately. If Gozuki discovered it himself, Akame's fate would be far worse.
With Tsukushi and Kurome already missing, Akame must know something. Guy needed to minimize the damage.
"What else is there to do?"
"Now that we know where they are, we move."
"They need to learn the cost of maturity."
Gozuki stood. His cloak snapped sharply behind him.
Dusk had already fallen.
When night fully descended, they would strike.
They didn't need to kill the traitors.
Just bring Akame and Cornelia back.
In the chat group:
Miko Yotsuya: "@Alex Are you about to make your move? Let me see!!"
Mikoto Misaka: "@Alex You're going to attack, right? Ending this quickly would be best."
Hestia: "Isn't that obvious? Alex is already a god!"
Esdeath: "Once you're done over there, I'll be wrapping things up on my end too."
Shinobu Kocho: "I think Alex will finish faster than you."
Yue: "Only I get to call him Alex!"
Luo Hao: "Acting like this will only disgust him. A woman should behave like one."
Tsunade: "Like me, for example."
Alex: "…"
Alex: "Can we not argue about pointless things?"
Alex: "Don't worry. When it starts, I'll turn on the livestream."
He rubbed his temples.
How did every conversation somehow circle back to him?
Exhausting.
Cornelia had already mastered her new Crusher. With her prior experience, adapting to the upgraded version was easy.
Akame sat quietly, eyes closed, conserving her strength.
Alex had told her Gozuki would arrive before the day ended.
She would kill him herself.
Taeko remained seated at the side, silent as ever.
Time slipped by.
About half an hour later, the last streak of crimson vanished from the horizon. Darkness swallowed the sky, stars glittering above. The heat of the day faded entirely.
Alex activated both Unlimited Blade Works and Forging at once.
At top speed, he crafted a simplified version of Excalibur and handed it to Taeko.
Enhanced with strengthening enchantments, he thought, this blade now surpasses an ordinary Shingu.
Now all that remained was to wait.
"Thank you, Alex," Taeko said, looking up at him.
Maybe it was because he possessed power far beyond this world.
Or maybe something else entirely.
But to her, Alex felt unlike any man she had ever met.
"..."
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