Miracles are never free

Seeing the scene in front of her turn into what looked like a missionary gathering, Alice and Aria didn’t know what to say.

Normally, church missionaries would approach others and actively persuade them to join by talking about all the benefits.

But Edenia was the exact opposite—she had only spoken a few words, yet these people were already eager to “join” of their own will.

“You’re amazing, Little Eden. If the church people saw this, they’d definitely make you a saint.”

Though Alice said this aloud, she knew in her heart that Edenia’s aura was something no so-called saint could compare to.

Besides, Edenia herself didn’t seem interested in recruiting followers.

“Alright, alright ♪ Since everyone’s recovered, can you all promise me one thing?”

Edenia smiled as she asked the group.

And of course, the answer was unanimous—everyone was willing to give their all.

At this moment, if anyone dared to refuse, they would probably be killed on the spot by everyone else’s glares.

“The goddess saved us. Naturally, we are more than willing to help her.

Our strength may be weak, and we don’t know how much we can do, but no matter what, we’ll give everything we have.”

“That’s fine ♪ In my eyes, you’re all very exceptional~ And you don’t need to fight or do anything dangerous.

All you need to do is gather the possibility of awakening miracles in your hearts, entrust them to Little Alice, and then purify this place so we can escape.

That’s all there is to it~”

Hearing Edenia’s words, everyone glanced at one another, confused.

After all, “miracle” was far too vague—intangible, without a clear method of use.

To suddenly be told to awaken their miracles… none of them knew how to even start.

“You all want to leave here, don’t you?”

Edenia suddenly asked, and everyone nodded firmly.

“Then the method is simple~ Put down your fear and unease. Believe with all your heart that you can escape, and hold fast to a resolve that never gives up.

When you do that, your miracles will come to you.”

At first, everyone froze at how simple her instructions sounded.

But very quickly, they began to follow her words without hesitation.

None of them doubted her—they all believed she would never deceive them.

And as their resolve grew stronger, faint auras of different colors began to rise from their bodies.

These lights intertwined with the pink radiance surrounding Edenia, finally merging into one.

“It’s coming, Little Alice!”

Feeling the aura of miracles filling the air, Edenia looked toward Alice.

As she spoke, the vast energy began to gather into the Star Holy Sword in Alice’s hand.

In an instant, starlight spread, brilliant light flashing across the entire blade.

At some point, Edenia had returned to Alice’s side, smiling as she looked at her.

Alice understood Edenia’s meaning and said to Aria,

“Aria, wait for me. I’ll make sure everyone gets out safely.”

Aria obediently nodded, then stepped back to stand quietly with the others, who had clasped their hands together in prayer.

Her eyes never left Edenia and Alice.

“Then, everything is ready. Let us use everyone’s power together and leave this place ♪”

“Mm!”

Alice nodded, raising the Star Holy Sword to her chest.

Edenia stood before her, placing both hands over Alice’s.

A rainbow-colored light, glittering with starlight, began to flow around the sword.

Edenia closed her eyes and spoke:

“Form of stars, form of humans, form of cosmos, form of gods, form of love, form of myself.

The divine body is the human body, the universe is the void.

The void is emptiness, emptiness is the divine body.

False legends unravel, and the starry sky descends with miracles.

O people who awaken miracles, ‘?’ shall grant you love.

This is the power to overturn all falsehoods.

In the name of love, fight for all that is beautiful in this world.

Its name is—

The Radiant Miracle Light of the Universe!!!”

As Edenia’s voice fell, the sword in their hands burst forth with dazzling brilliance.

A massive column of starlight shot upward.

In an instant, everything in the space was engulfed—there was nothing but light.

Outside.

Still guarding the black hole’s entrance, Lophiel suddenly felt an enormous energy erupt from below.

Before she could even react, the pitch-black entrance began to shine.

The next second, a massive pillar of light erupted from within.

As the power surged, the pillar grew larger and larger.

Finally, the entrance could no longer contain it and shattered, unleashing the full force of the energy.

A colossal starlight column shot into the sky, covering the entire banquet grounds.

It pierced through the clouds, soaring straight into the heavens.

Its scale was so vast that people kilometers away could clearly see what was happening.

That pillar of light—holy and warm—illuminated the night sky, drawing countless eyes toward it.

Some even fell to their knees, believing it to be a divine miracle, and began to pray.

“This really is something else.”

Though enveloped in the light, Lophiel was unharmed.

All she felt was a gentle warmth filling her body, and even her own power was slowly rising.

After several dozen seconds, the pillar began to weaken, then gradually faded away.

When it finally disappeared completely, the people who had been swallowed by the Worm of Naraku reappeared on the ground.

Exhausted, Alice now lay in Edenia’s arms, while the Star Holy Sword had shrunk into a pendant hanging around her neck.

“We… we did it!”

Resting against Edenia’s soft chest, Alice smiled as she spoke.

“Yes ♪ Thanks to everyone~ I told you, didn’t I? The power of miracles is limitless~”

Edenia smiled and gently patted Alice’s head.

The others were still too stunned by the spectacular scene to react.

Aria, however, quickly made her way over once the light had faded.

Just as Alice was about to say something, another voice cut in:

“But miracles never come without a price, do they?”

At some point, Lophiel had approached the two of them.

Hearing their conversation, she couldn’t help but interject.

Her eyes locked onto Edenia, who still wore her serene smile, but in Lophiel’s heart, a sense of foreboding began to rise.

“Then… what price must you pay?”