"Who are you?"
Carlisle's sword tip was steadily pointed at Pandora. The flames of the Flame Sword hissed through the air, his gaze locked firmly onto the young girl before him. She appeared small and harmless, yet her presence instinctively filled him with an unprecedented sense of unease.
Completely different from Greed. Regulus's threat was direct and violent, like an uncontrollable beast, pure and savage. But Pandora... the feeling she gave off... was like being targeted by something indescribable.
Her very existence felt like corrosion. Simply standing before her made it seem as though even one's soul was being thoroughly examined.
What troubled him even more was...
"A sword from beyond the world?" She knew the origin of the Flame Sword?
Carlisle's thoughts raced, but Pandora merely tilted her head slightly, that faint, almost ethereal smile still resting on her lips.
"Does the Knight not know me?"
Her voice was soft, carrying a strange, almost hypnotic rhythm.
"It's alright. This is our first meeting. I am the Witch of Vainglory, named... Pandora."
Witch?
Carlisle's mind began to analyze rapidly. In this world, the word "Witch" represented something far beyond ordinary.
More terrifying than nuclear weapons, more feared than war itself. The very word was enough to plunge the entire continent into panic. Satella, the Witch of Envy, who devoured half the world four hundred years ago, remained the deepest nightmare in the hearts of all.
And she... claimed to be a living Witch?
Pandora seemed pleased with his reaction, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"However, although this is our first meeting..."
"I know you very well, Carlisle Eltheran."
Pandora's red lips parted slightly as she continued, "You do not belong to this wor-"
"Carlisle! Now!"
Subaru's sharp cry abruptly cut her off.
Carlisle did not hesitate for even a moment. His body moved faster than his thoughts, and the flames of the Flame Sword surged instantly.
"Boom!"
A crimson wave of fire swept outward like a raging tide, completely engulfing Pandora's figure. The intense heat caused the surrounding space to warp subtly.
When the flames dissipated, the spot was empty.
"...Did we win?"
Carlisle remained tense, the flames along his blade still burning.
However,
"Though somewhat sudden, it was truly wonderful..."
A soft voice sounded from behind him.
Carlisle spun around instantly, holding the Flame Sword across his chest. Pandora stood unharmed not far away. Her snow white hair swayed gently in the heated air, not even a trace of damage on her dress.
That faint smile still lingered on her lips.
"Love... achieving absolute trust between two people, a mutually shared bond... is truly a beautiful thing."
Subaru stared at Pandora with unwavering focus.
Just as expected. She had used her Authority to rewrite reality. Just like in the previous loop, she could effortlessly turn "death" into something that had never happened.
Pandora slowly raised her pale arm, her movements elegant, as if inviting someone to dance.
"Elseran Knight, like that sword, you are a soul from beyond the world, are you not?" Her voice flowed gently. "It seems... you have forgotten something very important."
Her fingers traced lightly through the air.
"However, sometimes agreements must be broken to achieve a result that satisfies both parties. My request is simple."
"Give that sword to me."
Her voice carried a subtle, seductive rhythm.
"Archbishop Corneas will immediately withdraw as well. Together, we can... overcome this hardship." Her lips curved into a perfect smile. "The alternative is to abide by your forgotten agreement... and continue to oppose us."
Pandora took a step forward.
"Knight..." Her voice lowered, like a whisper from a demon. "Which hope do you wish to pursue?"
"Don't listen to her nonsense!"
Subaru shouted.
She tried to rush forward, but her legs felt as heavy as iron. What was even more terrifying was...
"Subaru does not need to speak for now," Pandora said without even turning her head.
She could not make a sound.
Her lips moved, but no voice came out. It felt as though her throat was being gripped by an invisible force. Pandora had not even looked at her, yet she had stripped her of her ability to speak.
Cold sweat drenched Subaru's back. She clawed at her throat desperately, but still no sound emerged.
"What did you do to Subaru?!"
Carlisle's blue eyes burned with fury, the tip of his sword aimed directly at Pandora's heart.
Before Pandora could respond, a sharp voice suddenly interrupted.
"I say!"
Regulus suddenly stepped in front of Pandora, her face twisted with fury.
"By what right do you make decisions for me?" Her voice was piercing. "Hand over that broken sword, then retreat and let them go?"
"How many of my sacred and inviolable rights have these two already violated? And they even dared to defile my perfect vision of marriage with such vulgar words!"
"Do you think that just because I have shown you some respect before, I will always obey you?"
Pandora quietly observed the enraged Regulus, her expression unchanged. There was no anger, no disdain, only indifference.
"Archbishop Corneas."
Her voice remained soft, yet carried undeniable authority.
"You are not to act without my permission."
The air seemed to freeze in that instant.
"Without... your permission?"
Regulus's golden eyes turned bloodshot, her face contorting further. The surrounding air trembled violently with her rage.
"You are telling me to suppress my anger?"
In the next moment, she grabbed a handful of dust and hurled it forward with immense force.
"Who do you think you are, you wretched woman?!"
The dust, frozen in time, transformed into countless razor sharp blades, slicing through the air as they shot toward Pandora.
"Pfft!"
The sound of flesh being torn apart echoed repeatedly.
Pandora's body was instantly shredded, exploding into a spray of blood. Her pure white dress was dyed crimson as her body fragmented and vanished.
Yet in the span of a single breath, she stood once again, completely unharmed. Not even a drop of blood stained her.
She looked at Regulus, that same calm smile still present.
"It's alright."
Her voice remained gentle.
"Your actions and your words, I forgive them all."
She tilted her head slightly.
"However..."
"There is no need for you to withdraw for now. Would you kindly suppress your anger and observe for a moment?"
The instant her words fell, Regulus froze.
Her distorted expression gradually relaxed. The rage in her golden eyes faded, replaced by calm. Her clenched fists slowly loosened.
"Oh, I see..."
Her voice became soft.
"Since you have asked this of me, I will comply."
She adjusted her collar calmly, as if nothing had happened.
"I am a kind hearted person. At times, I cannot refuse the requests of others."
She slowly stepped back, eventually stopping at a distance. Her hands folded neatly in front of her as she stood quietly, like an obedient spectator.
A chill ran down both Carlisle's and Subaru's spines.
They understood clearly.
This was not Regulus becoming kind or yielding.
Pandora's Authority had altered her will.
The Archbishop of Greed's anger had not disappeared. It had simply been forcibly overwritten.
And now, standing before them was a being who could casually rewrite reality itself.
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.