Chapter 160 – Twilight

Noah’s expression was utterly blank. Gone was her usual airheadedness, the bloodlust that flared around Rubia, the unsettling energy she exuded. Empty eyes, devoid of all emotion, fixed on Aria.

“How… did you get in here…?” Aria stammered, grinding her teeth. She reached for Noah.

“Shit… Mute! Get the girl and run—!”

Slice!

Noah’s greatsword blurred, a thin, crimson line appearing across the desolate landscape.

Aria’s right hand, releasing Rubia. Mute’s outstretched hands, reaching for her.

Thud. They fell to the ground.

Serr stared, stunned. A gust of wind, summoned by her will, gently caught Rubia’s falling form.

“Thank you,” Noah said, her voice flat, emotionless.

Splat. The sickening sound of flesh hitting the ground.

“Guh… You… crazy… What…?” Mute’s body lay in two perfect halves. Aria’s face contorted in horror.

“You’re insane! How can you kill Brunhilde? She’s absorbed our souls—!”

Slice.

“…Huh?” Aria’s legs were severed. She collapsed onto the blood-soaked ground, entrails spilling onto the earth.

“Gah… Aaaah!”

Noah stepped forward, shoving Mute’s severed hand into Aria’s screaming mouth. Then, with the gentleness of someone handling a fragile artifact, she cradled Rubia.

Serr stood frozen. Heinzel lay sprawled on the ground. The sounds of battle raged where Hermilla fought. Aria writhed in agony. None of it registered for Noah. She held Rubia close, checking her breathing.

“Hah…” A sigh of relief. Crunch. Noah drove her greatsword through Aria’s skull.

Dead. Two Masters, slaughtered like cattle. No chance of revival. No illusions. Just… death. A simple slash, a crushed skull.

Serr clutched her throbbing head, trying to comprehend Noah’s actions. Serr, too, could kill Masters, but subduing them was more strategic, considering Brunhilde. Noah must have a plan.

Or perhaps… she didn’t.

“…Lady Noah.”

Swoosh. Long, black hair swayed. Crimson eyes, now clear and bright, met Serr’s. The vacant look, the foolish grin—returned.

“Hah.”

As if Rubia’s safety had flipped a switch, Noah was back to normal. Serr let out a shaky laugh, relief washing over her. This was the Noah she knew. The trials hadn’t broken her. She had returned.

“Ahem… It’s been a while.”

Serr wanted to ask about Brunhilde, but greeting Noah felt more important. “…Yes, it has.”

“You’ve changed.”

“Eh… Really…?” Noah fidgeted, opening and closing her hands. “Maybe… a little…?”

“I’m glad you’re back. Did the trials go well?”

“Hmm…” Noah met Serr’s concerned gaze. “…Yeah. All done.” She took the bracelet from Rubia’s arm and placed it on her own.

[YOU LITTLE SHIT!!!]

“Eek?!”

[It took you!! So long!!! I thought you were dead! You bastard… Hic…] A disheveled Kartia, looking like a wreck, launched herself at Noah.

“Uh… Hehe… Long time no see…”

[Hehe?! You think this is funny?! You little shit! You arrogant—Hic…]

“Don’t cry… You’re a grown woman…”

[Hic… If you had such a shitty past… you should have told me… Hic…]

“…Past? How do you know…?”

[I saw it! Waaaaah!]

“Saw it…? How…?” Noah’s face crumpled.

Serr tilted her head. “So, Rubia fell unconscious because her soul entered your trials?”

[Yeah… That’s it… Sniffle.]

“…Eh?” Noah’s head snapped towards Serr, like a broken doll.

“W-what… What do you mean…?”

“Rubia’s soul entered your trials. She saw everything. Why the long face? Problem?”

Noah’s face paled.

“Don’t be embarrassed. Rubia will love you, even your embarrassing past. Unless… did you cheat on her in there?”

Noah’s shoulders trembled. Serr flinched.

“…Did you… cheat?”

“N-no, I—”

BOOOOM! A deafening explosion rocked the battlefield.

“Cheating… Right… I need to go. You rest. I’ll kill them all quickly.”

“No, I’ll go. Serr, heal Heinzel and… protect Rubia.”

Serr. The casual use of her name gave Serr pause. “Ahem. Still not used to it, are you? Your power’s increased drastically. Don’t accidentally kill our allies.”

Noah stood, gently laying Rubia down with a gust of wind. “They came for Rubia. And they hurt Heinzel…”

“True, but…”

“I’ll go. Protect Rubia.” Her expression was resolute.

Serr sighed. “The Brunhilde summoning ritual is underway across Cartia.”

“I know.”

“High-tier souls will accelerate it, boosting her power.”

“Yes.” Noah looked towards the sky, a serene smile on her face. “But I’ll kill everyone who tried to hurt Rubia.”

Even if the world ends. The whispered words were lost to the wind, but Serr heard them.

“Very well.” She nodded heavily, covering Rubia with her robe. “Go win. I’ll rest here.”

Noah’s crimson eyes flickered down to Rubia’s face, lingering as if she could truly see.

“Can you see now?” Serr asked.

“No… Not really. Just… feels weird keeping them closed. Hehe… I’ll be back.” Life returned to her eyes. Kartia perked up.

[Hell yeah! Let’s go, Noamon! Hundred Million Volts!]

“Ugh… Where did you even…?”

[TV!]

Noah glanced between Serr and Kartia, then mumbled, “…Noamon’s… from… DiXmon… and Hundred Million Volts is… PoXmon…”

[Oh, right? Same difference. Let’s go!]

“Not the same… completely different…” Noah grumbled, launching into an animated explanation about Pikachu and Agumon, something Serr couldn’t understand.

“Pika… What’s a Pikachu?”

“Eek! Never mind! I’m going!” Noah spun around, flustered.

“Wait… Noah.”

“Yes…?” Noah’s face, still flushed, turned back to Serr.

“…Can I… drop the ‘Lady’ too? Just… Noah?”

Noah tilted her head, then smiled, a nostalgic look in her eyes. “Of course. We’re friends.”

“Friends… Understood. Be careful, Noah.”

Noah. Serr’s voice, carried on the wind, brushed against Noah’s ear. Noah giggled, waving as she walked away.

***

[So, got a plan?] Kartia’s voice was suddenly serious.

“A plan…?”

[What are you going to do?]

What else was there to do?

“Kill all the Masters, all the Beasts of the End, and the End itself. Then save Rubia.”

[No, not that.]

Tap.

“Then what?”

[How are you going to fix the cheating thing? Rubia was furious. ]

“…Hic.” The thought of an angry Rubia made Noah hiccup. Below her, a monstrous maw opened. Crack!

[…How are you going to smooth things over?]

“Hmm…” Noah reached out.

Grip. Frey, familiar from her trials, settled in her hand.

The battlefield quieted. The raging mana, the sword auras, the bloodlust—all focused on her.

A Black Sun rose. Dark light descended. The reverse pentagram pulsed with malevolent energy.

At the center of it all, Noah thought only of cutting them down.

And as she thought it, she moved. And as she moved, the result was inevitable.

“…Maybe… act cute…? Or…”

Slice.

“…Wag my tail…?”

WHOOSH!

In the distorted, silent space, Carpeng’s fluffy tail popped out, swaying playfully.