Journey to Planar World

Perhaps the Corrupted Spirit’s instincts sensed a stronger resonance with Aishia and Est because they were once the same type. For that reason, its attention seemed focused on the two of them, as if ignoring the threat posed by Finn and the others.

Even Aiz, who was a Half-Spirit and a descendant of the Wind Great Spirit Aria, did not attract the Corrupted Spirit’s attention.

As a result, Charlie and his party now bore the brunt of the Corrupted Spirit’s main assault.

*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*

The giant tendrils continued to lunge at them with incredible speed and power, forcing them to constantly move and defend.

”Don’t underestimate me, we’re still here!” Tiona growled, annoyed at being ignored by the massive monster.

Then, she leaped forward, her Uruga swinging wide to strike the Corrupted Spirit’s body.

*CLANG!* *CLING!* *CLANG!* *CLING!*

However, before her weapon reached its target, several thick, rubbery tendrils moved with lightning speed, restraining her greatsword with a powerful grip.

*WHOOSH!*

Seeing her sister stopped, Tione immediately moved to help. With kukri knives in both hands, she darted between the tendrils holding Tiona, trying to cut them to free her sister.

Meanwhile, Riveria began to chant. Magic power gathered around her staff, signaling preparations for a magic.

”This is another new species of monster I’ve never seen before. Moreover, its upper body resembles a human. Interesting.”

On the other hand, Finn simply stood observing. He was not in a hurry to attack, but rather tried to gather as much information as possible through his observations. He believed in his comrades’ ability to handle this situation.

”...”

Just as Aiz prepared to move to help Charlie and the others, a shadow suddenly fell from behind her.

*SWOOSH!*

With incredible reflexes, Aiz lowered her body, avoiding the descending knife slash by mere fractions of a second.

Spinning quickly to face the new enemy, Aiz caught a glimpse of a woman’s fiery red hair beginning to show. A strong aura of hostility emanated from the figure.

”I can’t go back like this... and I won’t let you go.” The red-haired woman said with a calm expression.

”...”

Aiz simply stared at her opponent without uttering a word, her gaze meeting the woman’s left eye directly.

*WHOOSH!*

Without warning, her opponent attacked with surprising speed and power, forcing Aiz to retreat away from Crystal Square.

*CLANG!* *CLING!* *CLANG!* *CLING!*

Aiz raised her rapier, matching each of her opponent’s attacks with a counter-slash.

At the same time, many questions raged in her mind about the identity and purpose of this mysterious woman. This might be her only chance to get answers.

”It’s you!” Charlie exclaimed suddenly from the air, while continuing to maneuver and parry the Corrupted Spirit’s tendril attacks.

His sharp vision, thanks to his Six Eyes, instantly recognized the figure of the red-haired woman who ambushed Aiz.

Charlie had fought that woman before on the 24th Floor. At that time, his strength was not as great as it was now, and he was forced to flee to save himself.

The red-haired woman named Revis looked up, her cold and indifferent gaze meeting Charlie’s blue eyes in the air.

”It seems my decision to let you escape back then was a big mistake. In such a short time, you’ve grown stronger and even made a contract with another spirit. What troublesome development.”

However, the verbal exchange between Charlie and Revis did not mean Aiz stopped her assault.

*SWISH!*

A gust of brilliant green wind suddenly enveloped her body, her Tempest magic activating. Her speed increased exponentially, making her appear like a flash of light as she charged towards Revis with her rapier, Desperate.

*CLANG!*

Calmly, Revis parried Aiz’s lightning-fast attack with ease using the metal gauntlet on her left arm. The sharp sound of clashing metal echoed in the air.

”Your wind is quite useful, Aria.” Revis commented casually.

Her expression remained flat, showing not a hint of surprise or difficulty while facing Tempest—the wind-based enhancement clearly not only increased the girl’s speed, but also the power behind each swing of Aiz’s sword.

”How do you know that name?!”

The emotions that had been suppressed within Aiz all this time finally erupted to the surface.

Her golden eyes burned with an unnatural rage, staring unblinkingly at Revis. Even Tiona and her other companions had never heard Aiz speak in such a harsh and forceful tone.

However, Revis only replied in an indifferent tone, ”Who knows...”

”!!!”

Aiz’s eyebrows furrowed, and she attacked again with greater intensity.

*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*

Her rapier moved with lightning speed, pressuring Revis faster than the naked eye could follow. She unleashed ten attacks in less than a second, the successive sounds of clashing metal filling the air.

*CLANG!* *CLING!* *CLANG!* *CLING!*

Revis’s gauntlet was scratched by several deep diagonal slashes, leaving behind shimmering silver marks. Several strands of her red hair came loose and fell to the ground. Long red lines also appeared intermittently on both women’s skin, evidence of the speed and sharpness of their attacks.

Revis’s lead-colored longsword radiated a wild aura, and Desperate clashed against it once more.

*CLANG!* *CLING!* *CLANG!* *CLING!*

However, in every clash, Revis managed to outmatch Aiz and her wind enhancements. Even with the boost of magic, every time their weapons met, Revis’s strength was able to penetrate Aiz’s defenses, leaving several deep wounds on the girl’s body.

”And I thought you had a doll’s face.” Revis commented with a cynical tone, sensing a sudden change in the rhythm of Aiz’s movements.

*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*

*CLANG!* *CLING!* *CLANG!* *CLING!*

Without uttering another word, the two continued to fight fiercely, moving further and further away from the main battlefield around the Corrupted Spirit, leaving Charlie and the others to face the terrifying threat alone.

On the other side.

”Onii-chan. Fighting spirits is my specialty. So, use me.” Est said suddenly, her usually flat voice now with a slight emphasis.

”...”

Charlie fell silent for a moment, looking at the Corrupted Spirit that continued to rage in the distance. He pondered Est’s words.

’It’s true, the Sacred Sword Severian is very effective against spirits, even those of the caliber of Elemental Lords. Rather than trying to attack with pure destructive power with my Spirit Arts, perhaps using Est...’

”Est. Lend me your power.”

Charlie looked at the small, silver-haired girl in his arms.

”I am Onii-chan’s sword. I will do as you wish.”

Est clasped Charlie’s hand with both of her own.

There was a cold yet gentle sensation flowing from that touch.

Charlie took a deep breath before chanting in a clear and confident voice.

”Dispassionate Queen of Steel, the sacred sword that destroys evil—now form my sword!”

At the same time, Est’s body transformed into shimmering silver particles of light and disappeared.

*SHUA!*

In the next moment, a double-edged sword radiating a silvery glow appeared in Charlie’s hand.

The spirit language inscriptions etched along its edges read—Terminus Est.

Just by looking at it, anyone could feel the aura of holy power and majesty emanating from the sword. It was clearly no ordinary blade, but an extraordinary artifact.

”That is...”

Riveria was mesmerized by the scene before her.

The scene was exactly like the stories of heroes in ancient times who used spirits as weapons, as she often read in fairy tale books.

*CRUSH-BANG!*

The wonder and beauty of the sight stunned her to the point where she forgot to continue her magic chant, causing her concentration to break and the magic she was preparing to fail activation.

Meanwhile, Tiona, who was a fanatic fan of hero stories, jumped up and down with joy like a child who had just received her dream toy.

”Wuaaaa! What is that?! Charlie is so cool! That... that’s a spirit, right?! That cute girl is actually a spirit and became his sword!”

”I never thought I’d see it in person! This is exactly like the stories of the heroes of old! They fought monsters that came out of the Dungeon to the surface using spirits as partners! Amazing! Amazing! Charlie is really like a hero!” Tiona exclaimed with sparkling eyes.