The Witch Reborn

“What is this?”

Soon after the colossal roar of the collapsing prison wall subsided, a blond youth emerged from the gates.

He couldn’t help but sigh at the utterly devastated port, its appearance irrevocably marred. He then turned his head, only to see a monster with three heads!

As a First-Class Disaster Purger, he was naturally very familiar with this creature. This was a Calamity Scar—a Scourge Province-rank monster capable of destroying an entire provincial region with a single strike!

“All Second-Class Disaster Purgers, heed my command!”

When the youth saw the Scourge Province-rank Calamity Scar, he immediately drew the Holy Sword from his waist and pointed it forward, issuing an order to the silver-armored Second-Class Purgers who followed closely behind him.

He had originally brought these Second-Class Disaster Purgers with him simply because it was convenient; he had never imagined a situation would arise on the upper levels where they would be needed. However, even a Scourge Province-rank Calamity Scar could be fought if it faced numerous Second-Class Purgers simultaneously. Realizing this, the youth issued his command.

“I, Antiles, swear by the name of the Holy Sword Grunoris, that today I shall purge this Calamity Scar!”

Antiles held his Holy Sword aloft, his voice brimming with fighting spirit. His words served to boost the morale of the exorcists under his command.

Upon receiving Antiles’s encouragement, a resounding battle cry of “Hah!” echoed. Immediately after, Antiles led the several Second-Class Disaster Purgers behind him, charging toward the Chimera.

Meanwhile, deep beneath the facility, the destruction wrought by the Calamity Scar had created a terrifying, massive hole through the prison’s upper structure. Beneath this enormous opening lay a heap of rubble and shattered debris.

And beneath this pile of stones, the girl lay wounded.

“Cough…”

Awakening amidst the rubble, she felt as though all her internal organs had shifted. She coughed up a trace of blood, letting out a pained moan.

“It’s good that you’re alright…”

Just as she stirred awake, a remarkably gentle voice descended from above her. She looked up.

What greeted her eyes was Reikihard, covered in wounds. His condition was no better than hers. His once-gleaming armor was now riddled with dents, and several places had been pierced completely through. Vicious metal shards, torn from his own armor, had impaled him, causing fresh crimson blood to flow.

Yet, despite his horrific injuries, Reikihard had gritted his teeth, supporting himself with his sword to cast a small defensive array around them. It was thanks to this barrier that she had miraculously survived the collapsing rubble.

Looking at Reikihard’s face, half-hidden beneath his broken butterfly mask, the girl was momentarily speechless.

“I know it’s impossible for you to forgive me, but at least let me do what I can for you.”

“…”

“Camille, you might have forgotten me, but I…”

“…”

“When my memories returned, the last look of hatred you gave me caused me immense pain.”

“…”

“If I hadn’t lost my memories, perhaps I…”

“Why are you doing this much for me?”

Reikihard’s wounds were, by all accounts, beyond saving. That he could still speak was the greatest miracle. A large ice shard, as thick as a thigh, had pierced completely through his chest, and his body was lacerated by flying rubble. Moreover, he had called out her almost-forgotten name from the past, prompting her to voice the question that had long been hidden in her heart.

“This is to atone for a mistake I made in the past, and perhaps… it’s also my own redemption.”

“…”

“Please, devour my Holy Mark.”

“Are you insane?”

“No, I am perfectly lucid.”

“If your Holy Mark is gone, you will—”

“I won’t live much longer anyway.”

“…”

“Since a Holy Mark can absorb a Calamity Scar’s energy to gain power, I believe a Calamity Scar can also absorb the power of a Holy Mark and make it its own.”

“Do you know what will happen if you do this?”

“Of course. My life should have ended that day, yet…”

“…”

“Not only did I not die, but I also committed an act that fills me with immense guilt.” Reikihard paused.

“Bringing me here?” Based on his reactions throughout their journey, she easily guessed this was the mistake he referred to.

“No… it was watching the person I once loved being sacrificed, and my friend falling into the abyss because of it. When I remembered everything, my heart was filled with nothing but endless regret.”

“The person you deeply loved? Could it be…”

“It’s useless to talk about that now; I know I don’t have much time left.”

“Reikihard…”

“Devour my Holy Mark. I believe you will gain the power to move forward because of it!”

“…”

“While I can still maintain consciousness, devour my Holy Mark! If I die, then this mark will vanish with me…”

As he spoke, Reikihard extended his right hand, etched with the sacred sigil, toward her.

“…I won’t thank you! Nor will I feel any guilt toward you!”

After a moment of silence, the girl struggled to her feet and looked down at him. Then, as if finally having made up her mind, she turned her head away and uttered those harsh words.

“It doesn’t matter; I had already anticipated that.” Reikihard seemed mentally prepared, not expecting any gratitude from her.

With a darkened expression, the girl raised her slightly trembling right hand and placed it on his head.

“Lastly, Camille, I hope you will allow me to do one final thing for you,” Reikihard requested, his voice filled with tenderness.

“Speak!” Facing his dying request, she did not refuse. The hand gripping his head loosened slightly.

“I think the name ‘Camille’ no longer suits the way you are now.”

“Yes, that’s my old name… one I’ve almost forgotten.”

“How about Phini?” After a moment’s thought, Reikihard softly suggested the name.

“Phini it is, then. Are your last words delivered?”

With her hand still on his head, she waited patiently. Once he stopped speaking, she asked for confirmation.

“That’s all.” Reikihard offered her a warm, heartfelt smile.

Staring at that smile, Phini hesitated for a moment. Ultimately, her right hand gripping his head suddenly churned like molten lava. A few seconds later, a colossal, scaly dragon claw replaced her hand. Within the jet-black scales, a crimson light pulsed and flickered.

“AAAAHHHHHHH!”

Phini tightened her massive right claw. Her left hand covered her left eye, and her head tilted slightly upward as she let out a pained roar of anguish toward the sky.

Immediately after, the dim Holy Mark on Reikihard’s right hand reactivated, flickering as if resonating with Phini’s power. As the two connected, the sacred radiance of the Holy Mark slowly turned blood-red, flowing from Reikihard into Phini’s right hand.

Seconds later, the Holy Mark on Reikihard’s hand dimmed completely, and the broken butterfly mask on his face shattered, falling away.

“…”

Seeing the true face beneath the mask through the gaps in her claws, Phini was left speechless. Instantly, a long-forgotten memory, buried deep in her mind, surged forth like a gushing spring.

“Phini… I sincerely hope that revenge is not everything to you.”

As the mask fell away, Reikihard uttered his final words. Then, he weakly lowered his head, his last sign of life fading away.

“AAAAHHHHHHH!”

As his head fell, a tear silently overflowed from Phini’s eye, tracing a path down her cheek to her neck.

“Lance!!!”

She gazed at his lifeless corpse for a moment, then let out a sorrowful howl to the heavens, reaching up to wipe away the tears spilling from her eyes.

Following this, Phini grabbed Narthemia, which was still stuck in the ground, and sprinted upward.

Continuing along the stairs, perhaps due to the Calamity Scar raging outside, the prison’s interior defenses had evidently slackened considerably. Without much effort, Phini returned to the surface.

As soon as she exited the dock, she saw a group of people battling the three-headed monster. However, those individuals were clearly no match for the Calamity Scar. Before long, the Disaster Purgers attempting to suppress the monster were all struck down by its furious roars, collapsing onto the ground. This included the First-Class Disaster Purger who had intercepted her in the tower.

“…”

Silently, Phini briefly scanned the fallen Disaster Purgers. As if having made a resolute decision, she strode past them, her face filled with fury, and charged toward the Calamity Scar!

Originally, Phini had no reason to return to this place, but now she had a compelling reason to do so. There was one thing she absolutely had to accomplish.

“You… who are you?!”

Feeling a commotion behind him, Antiles instinctively turned his head. In that instant, Phini’s figure flashed quickly past him. Once Antiles clearly saw her appearance, he immediately recalled their fight in the tower. Astonishment was plainly visible on his face, his mouth slightly agape.

Noticing the Holy Sword Narthemia in Phini’s hand, a hint of disbelief further flickered in his eyes.

“You… you…” Antiles stuttered, trying to find his words.

However, Phini ignored him. She surged past, immediately raising her right hand, which had already transformed into a formidable dragon claw.

On the back of the re-emerged claw, a deep crimson mark shaped like an inverted triangle glowed—identical to the Holy Mark previously branded on Reikihard.

This mark now emitted an ominous, bloody light. Harnessing this power, Phini leaped, raising her hand high, and powerfully slammed it onto the battered floor!

The moment Phini’s claw struck the earth, a deep crimson energy wave instantly surged forward. Within a few seconds, the massive Calamity Scar was flipped over by this blood-red shockwave, landing heavily on its back.

Seeing the monster fall, Phini did not hesitate. She immediately leaped onto its belly, piercing its thick hide with her massive claws!

“You… you killed Reikihard?!”

Noticing the Holy Mark on Phini’s hand, combined with the fact she now carried Narthemia, Antiles easily deduced Reikihard’s apparent demise.

“Yes, I killed that man, and I have devoured everything he had left!” Phini yelled. “Go back and tell Altorias that I, Phini Kasleight, the witch reborn from the twilight of destruction, will destroy the world he protects!”

As she finished speaking, crimson light flashed again within her enormous claw. Immediately, black mist surged from the Calamity Scar’s wounded body. The dark energy, as if conscious, rapidly streamed into Phini’s colossal grip.

As the dense defilement continuously poured into her, Phini threw her head back and let out a pained, earth-shaking howl.