Then, resolutely, she turned and walked toward the factory entrance.
Her steps were firm, without the slightest hesitation, as if she were walking down a path of unwavering conviction.
Her slender back, under the dim light, seemed to be supporting a heavy sky.
The moment she turned, Shido watched her gaze shift from tenderness and attachment to increasing sharpness and coldness, until that last trace of softness belonging to "Phoenix-in Chinatsu" seemed to be completely frozen.
"No! Wait! Chinatsu-san! Where are you going! It's dangerous outside!" Shido reacted, shouting anxiously, wanting to rush up and stop her.
But Chinatsu's steps did not pause, nor did she look back.
A screen of light formed on the path Shido was chasing down; although it was merely an ordinary construct she could create effortlessly, it was an insurmountable chasm that the current Shido could not break through.
No matter how Shido pounded the light screen or shouted at her, she showed no sign of stopping or turning back.
It was as if all her lingering attachment and reluctance were contained within that sudden "I like you" and the subsequent "I am leaving you."
She had personally severed them, transforming every last trace into the hardest armor and the deepest pain on her path forward.
When she reached the entrance of the dilapidated factory, Kurumi, who had been leaning against the doorframe quietly watching the scene, finally spoke languidly.
Her gaze fell upon Chinatsu's overly resolute, almost hollow eyes, her tone carrying a hint of subtle inquiry:
"Have you truly... made up your mind? To step onto this path that might have no return, destined to be accompanied by darkness and despair?"
"You should know, if you truly take this step, there will be no turning back. Have you... thought this through?"
"If you return now and stop using your Spirit power later, you might still be able to live within human society."
Chinatsu stopped, not turning back, and answered clearly with her tempered, cold, and firm voice: "I have already resolved myself."
Kurumi watched her silently for a few seconds, the expression in her eyes shifting back and forth, until finally, only a complex emotion flashed within her golden eyes.
In the end, she merely nodded slightly, stepped aside to clear the path, and offered her a blessing. "Good luck, 'Herrscher of Reason'."
Chinatsu stepped out of the factory gate, leaving Shido's desperate shouts and that small, still-warm space completely behind her.
What, you ask why she still dared to confront Ellen head-on? That's naturally because, right when she confessed to Shido, Aha's mission was completed~
[Ding! Detected that the Host has successfully completed the limited-time special mission]
[Mission Evaluation: Excellent! (Fully utilized external factors, successfully performed multiple emotions such as tsundere, shock, sorrow, and awakening, and completed the confession in a highly dramatic manner at the end, greatly shocking the target! Fun value maximized!)]
[Mission rewards are being distributed...]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Heavenly Judgment herrscher core (Herrscher of the Void herrscher core & Herrscher of Thunder herrscher core Fusion)!]
An unprecedented, vast, and terrifying power instantly surged into Chinatsu's body like a broken dam.
That was the supreme power formed by the fusion of the ultimate authority of "Space" and the destructive might of "Thunder"!
Its energy level and completeness far surpassed her current, scarred The core of reason, which only possessed preliminary authority!
(Holy crap?! Dual cores of the Herrscher of the Void and the Herrscher of Thunder?! And it's a max-level fusion version?! Aha, you God of Fun are too generous!)
(Wait, what is this fusion degree thing? Forget it, it doesn't matter. I'll research it later. For now, I just need to know I have the capital to continue messing around.)
Chinatsu was ecstatic internally, nearly failing to maintain her "broken yet resolute" expression.
She could feel that if she wished, she could instantly unleash a Herrscher form like a queen descending, wielding space and summoning thunder, an imposing power far beyond what her current half-baked Reason Law could achieve!
However, along with the power, two "tendencies" that were like brands, originating from the core's essence, also surged in—
One was the arrogance and hubris of the "Herrscher of the Void," standing above all things, viewing all living beings as ants, craving domination and destruction.
The other was the absolute resolve and lack of humility belonging to the "Herrscher of Thunder," cutting down everything. Thunder does not require humility; it only needs to destroy all obstacles in its path.
(...Wait? This side effect... I'll become arrogant like Sirin when I use it? And lose humility?! A person cannot possess both humility and the Thunder Yatales, right?! I get it!)
Chinatsu instantly realized the absurdity of this "grand gift."
This was practically handing an actress who had just finished playing the "resolute maiden bearing a mission" a script for "Queen's Descent, Scornful of Mortals"! Talk about a sudden shift in tone!
(But... it seems... kind of exciting?)
In a corner unseen by others, Chinatsu's lips curled into an uncontrollable arc filled with mischievous delight and anticipation.
(The wisdom and Understanding of Reason Law, plus the arrogance and thunder of Heavenly Judgment... Hmm, there's more room for role-playing when switching forms in the future!)
(As for the side effects... I just need to be careful around Shido and not lose control! After all, fun is the primary productive force!)
Feeling the surging new power within her and seeing the distant, faintly visible figures of the DEM company troops, the "resolve" in her eyes became a few shades more "real."
(Well then, next up... it's time to let the guys from DEM company taste the "surprise" of "dual-core drive"!)
She took a step, actively walking toward the sweeping darkness, but this time, her confidence was much greater.
After all, she was now a "fun-loving" Herrscher holding two trump cards (even if one was a bit hot to handle)!
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