Lawine slowly turned around.
The moment her eyes fell upon Kondo, she froze.
Disbelief filled her face.
The sight before her was nothing like what she had expected.
Her eyes widened ever so slightly with fear as they locked onto his.
Kondo's once jet-black eyes had turned a deep crimson.
What happened to Kondo?
His black eyes have become completely red... and what is this transformation? I only taught him about Red Lightning...
Her gaze slowly traveled over his body.
A white armor now covered him.
It wrapped around his wrists, shoulders, legs, abdomen, and head like overlapping bone-white plates shaped like leaves. Small spikes protruded from parts of the armor, giving it a fierce yet elegant appearance, as though it had been forged from pure bone.
His sword, however, remained unchanged.
It was still completely white, with the same swastika-shaped guard resting in his hand.
Lawine couldn't hide the shock in her eyes.
What kind of armor is this...?
His crimson eyes resemble Blood Awakening... yet everything else about this transformation is the exact opposite of it.
Kondo calmly walked over to her and held out his hand.
Lawine accepted it, allowing him to pull her back to her feet.
His face was completely expressionless.
He simply stood there in silence, staring ahead with an almost unnatural calm.
Still unable to process what she was seeing, Lawine spoke softly.
"Kondo... you've changed. And this transformation..."
Kondo turned toward her with a gentle smile.
"Really? Then I guess your Red Lightning technique really did change something inside me. I never expected anything like this to happen."
"Huh? Red Lightning?"
Lawine stared at him in confusion before raising her voice.
"This isn't Red Lightning! The Red Lightning technique only enhances the power of your sword—not your body. Nothing I taught you could possibly cause a transformation like this."
Kondo blinked in surprise.
"But... Mom, I only did exactly what you told me."
Lawine narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
For a brief moment, she considered questioning him further.
But this wasn't the time.
She let out a slow breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
"Whatever this is... give me your hand."
She extended her hand toward him.
Although confused, Kondo reached out without hesitation.
A faint smile appeared on Lawine's face.
But just before his hand could touch hers...
Kondo noticed a soft glow gathering within her palm.
The instant Kondo noticed the faint light gathering in Lawine's palm, his expression darkened.
Without hesitation, he reached out, grabbed the glowing magic with his bare hand, and pulled it into his own.
Lawine's eyes widened in complete disbelief.
"He... caught magic with his hand?"
Clenching the fading light tightly, Kondo glared at her.
"I'm not going anywhere. You can teleport me as far away as you want... but do you really think I could ever be happy living somewhere without all of you?"
Before Lawine could answer, a razor-sharp slash tore through the air toward them.
Kondo instantly turned, swung his sword, and released a slash of his own. The two attacks collided and vanished into nothingness.
Then he shouted toward Yirina.
"Would you mind staying quiet for a minute? I'm trying to talk to my mother."
Yirina blinked, genuinely confused.
"What's wrong with this brat...?"
Ignoring her, Kondo turned back toward Lawine.
"I don't want to be alone. What kind of life would I have without Mom and Dad? I don't want to live like that."
Lawine lowered her gaze before looking back at him with a bittersweet smile.
"I'm sorry... but you still have your entire life ahead of you. I can't let you throw it away here because of us."
Kondo grabbed her hand firmly.
"No."
His voice echoed with unwavering conviction.
"We're all leaving this place alive... after defeating them."
Lawine stared at him for a moment before laughing softly.
"You really don't leave your mother with much to argue about."
Her smile became resolute.
"Then... let's finish this."
Both of them turned toward Yirina.
She had already raised a finger toward them, countless crimson laser bullets forming around it.
The barrage erupted.
Kondo deflected the first beam with a single swing before charging straight through the storm.
More lasers rained toward him from every direction, yet he slipped between them effortlessly, closing the distance in seconds.
The moment he reached Yirina, he swung.
She caught his blade without difficulty—
—but her eyes narrowed.
"This brat... Why does he come back stronger every single time? And what exactly is this transformation?"
Even Yirina couldn't hide her confusion.
Kondo's movements had completely changed.
Every strike met hers head-on.
Every slash was answered perfectly.
Not once did he leave an opening.
Watching from behind, even Lawine found herself speechless.
"What happened...?"
"How did Kondo suddenly gain enough strength to fight Yirina head-on?"
Her gaze dropped to her cracked sword.
"No..."
She tightened her grip.
"I can't stop now."
"The battle isn't over yet."
As determination filled her heart once more, the cracks covering her blade slowly began to mend themselves.
Meanwhile, Kondo parried another strike before leaping backward.
Yirina frowned.
"Why did he retreat?"
Landing several meters away, Kondo rotated his sword horizontally.
"Aranzar."
A pitch-black slash exploded from his blade.
Yirina's expression changed instantly.
She raised her sword to block—
—but the force behind the attack was overwhelming.
It pushed her backward across the ground despite her guard.
Grinding her teeth, she poured more strength into her blade before finally redirecting the slash into the sky.
She watched the black slash disappear into the clouds.
"I never expected this kid to possess this much power..."
When she looked back down—
her eyes widened.
Both Kondo and Lawine were standing side by side, their swords raised toward the heavens.
As Kondo prepared his next attack, his thoughts drifted back to what Lawine had said moments earlier.
**
"Kondo."
"I want you to copy my technique."
"We'll finish this together."
Kondo glanced at her sword.
"I can't maintain this power much longer..."
"My body is already at its limit."
He gave a silent nod.
Lawine gripped her sword with both hands and slowly raised it toward the sky.
Kondo mirrored every movement.
"Now," Lawine said calmly.
"Let your energy flow into your sword."
Kondo watched crimson energy travel from Lawine's body into her blade.
He tried to imitate her—
—but nothing happened.
He tightened his grip.
"Just focus... Focus your energy, Kondo."
The white armor covering his body suddenly began to melt like liquid.
It flowed backward into the sword, disappearing inside the blade.
This time...
the energy finally obeyed him.
Power streamed smoothly from his body into the weapon.
Lawine finished first.
Kondo was still struggling.
The flashback ended.
Seeing both of them preparing something together, Yirina's eyes widened.
Kondo's energy was still unstable.
His entire body trembled from the strain.
"Kondo," Lawine called.
"Stay focused. Control your energy."
"I can stabilize it..."
"But can I really release an attack like Mom's?"
Kondo closed his eyes.
He focused.
Then—
a familiar voice echoed inside his mind.
> "If you want your attack to truly work... you must call my name."
Kondo frowned.
"I don't even know who you are... let alone your name."
The voice answered calmly.
> "I am your sword."
> "And... you already know my name."
Kondo fell silent.
Then something clicked.
A memory surfaced.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"...I think I know."
He slowly opened his eyes.
"Mom..."
"I'm ready."
Seeing Yirina rushing toward them, Lawine swung her sword with all her strength.
"Parusā!"
Beside her, Kondo lowered his sword toward Yirina...
and shouted—