Chapter 23

Three days had passed. Leon had no idea whether his master ever turned himself in. Vanessa had vanished without a trace, just like she did three years ago.

At their home in Dawn City—

“I never thought you’d defeat Ruri’s former master,” Ruri said, pouring Leon a cup of tea. “So… will you become Ruri’s new master now?”

“I told my master I’d take care of you,” Leon replied. “But not like *that*.”

“What happened next? How did you get the poison out?” Aile asked.

“Ruri mentioned a method… where you suck the poison out with your mouth.”

“Huh—? *What?* With your *mouth*? Oh my god!” Aile’s face burned with embarrassment as she pictured Naya doing it for Leon.

“No, no! The five people Naya rescued had antidotes on them,” Leon hurried to explain.

Ruri listened silently. *If it were me…*

Leon glanced out the window. Night had fallen, and Naya still wasn’t home. “Lately, Naya’s been praying at the Monastery every day. She stays there all day long.”

“Is she still blaming herself for what happened?” Aile frowned. “She really shouldn’t! Aio’s power was never meant to be limitless. Even *I’m* restricted to summoning the Aeon Hand only three times a day.”

“I don’t know. No matter what I say, she won’t forgive herself.” Leon sighed inwardly. *Is she overthinking things? I don’t blame her at all…* Yet Naya kept punishing herself, praying daily at the Monastery to strengthen her bond with Aio.

“I don’t think Aio would ignore her,” Aile said firmly. “Naya is more devout than any Priestess. Maybe… it was all Aio’s will.”

“Aio’s will?” Leon looked at her, puzzled.

“Like that time against the Obsidian Armor. Aio didn’t answer my summoning right away either. I think Aio *wanted* you to defeat it. That’s when I knew—you’re the Chosen One.” Aile’s gaze locked onto Leon, utterly absorbed.

“So Aio’s quite the strategist, huh?”

“Of course!” Aile beamed proudly.

*(Though she didn’t explain why the Mercurial Deity had also been slow to respond that time…)*

“I should go get her,” Leon said, springing up from his chair.

“I’m coming too,” Aile declared.

Compared to Dawn City’s bustling streets, the Monastery stood in a quiet, remote corner. At night, once the children living there had gone to sleep, the place felt utterly empty.

The chapel held only one person: Naya.

Though a grand new cathedral—the Aeon Sect’s headquarters—now stood in the Royal District, Naya felt more at home here. This was where she’d grown up.

***SLAM!***

The chapel doors burst open! Naya jumped, startled mid-prayer. Seven figures strode in—clearly not here to worship. They pulled on eerie bird-headed masks the moment they spotted her.

“You… the Angelic Faith—?” Naya whispered, horror-struck.

The intruders silently shut the chapel doors behind them. After all, they wouldn’t want any interruptions for the show about to begin.

Outside, heavy rain suddenly lashed the dark night. A flash of lightning illuminated the grotesque bird masks. The nightmare had begun.

They advanced on Naya with malicious grins.

“W-What do you want?” she stammered.

“That black-clad swordsman and the knight girl are too strong. So we came for *you* instead—to settle the score.”

“S-Settle the score…?”

Naya stepped back. They stepped forward. Back and back she retreated until her spine hit the stone statue of Aio.

“Let’s defile you right here, before your god!” the leader sneered.

“No—! Stop! Don’t come closer!”

“No one can save you at this hour! Ha—this is your first time, isn’t it? Enjoy it!”

*No—!*

*Someone… help me…*

*Leon? Leon?! Aio—*

Tears streamed down her cheeks…

***CRASH!***

The chapel window shattered inward, rattling violently. Wind howled through the broken glass, rain spraying everywhere—

The masked men flinched, shivering. Then they relaxed.

“Damn it! Just the wind!” the leader cursed.

“You just said…” Naya’s voice trembled, tears still wet on her face. “You chose me… because I’m weak?”

*Of course you know the answer…*

In that moment, facing their malice, she surrendered to despair.

*I’ve always been weak.*

*Useless. Unable to save anyone…*

*Powerless. Even my own purity… I can’t protect it.*

…

Then—

The raindrops. The wind gusting toward her. They twisted into silvery Vector Arrows mid-air, veering sharply away from her body and shooting back out the broken window—

“What the—?!” The men’s malicious intent had *materialized* into Vector Arrows—and now those arrows spun around, their sharp tips piercing *them*.

“AAGH! IT HURTS—!”

One man swung his club at Naya’s head—the weapon erupted with Vector Arrows that reversed course and impaled *him* instead.

Naya stood frozen, face set in grim determination, tears falling silently. Countless silvery Vector Arrows sprouted around her—then *exploded* outward!

“AAAAAH—! IS THIS AIO’S DIVINE INTERVENTION???”

In the next second, every man—whether fleeing or frozen in place—was skewered like a sieve by the arrows.

*These things… aren’t under Naya’s control!?*

***BANG!***

The chapel doors flew open—

“NAYA?! WHAT HAPPENED?!” Leon shouted.

What he saw first: silver arrows carpeting the floor like thorny vines. The seven Angelic Faith thugs were impaled in grotesque poses, tangled in the metallic brambles.

“Is this… also Aio’s miracle?” Aile gasped behind him, stunned.

“Leon…” Naya looked at him through tear-filled eyes. “I… I killed them…”

***BOOM!***

A blinding light erupted from Naya’s body!!!

**Light of Resentment**

**Challenge Level: ????**

TO BE CONTINUED.