Entity 001's face was twisted with rage. The murderous intent radiating from her was so overwhelming, it felt as if I were submerged in a vast ocean—an intensity I'd never experienced before. It was so immense and suffocating, I could barely breathe.
Suddenly, Sylvia Blue appeared before me. Her presence seemed to carry both warmth and a veiled sorrow, her movements graceful yet somehow distant. She raised her hand, and a streak of silvery light burst from her right palm, gradually elongating until it resembled a sword—its formation felt almost ritualistic, as if she were invoking something sacred.
Gradually, the white light faded, leaving a silvery-blue glow. A slender, conical sword appeared before my eyes, gripped in Sylvia’s hand. Its blade was etched with intricate blue patterns and dotted with tiny, gem-like points of silvery light.
"Wish Prayer." The words suddenly surfaced in my mind. Startled, I looked at Sylvia and asked her.
"Is this sword called Wish Prayer?"
Sylvia’s silver hair fluttered as she turned and gave me a gentle, fairy-like smile, nodding softly. For a moment, she seemed to glow with radiant colors, dazzling and beautiful as a goddess.
Suddenly, Sylvia swung the sword in her hand. Instantly, a silvery-blue barrier appeared before my eyes, blocking out the chilling murderous intent. I stared in astonishment as Sylvia smiled, her cheeks radiating the innocence of a child.
What amazed me most was the pure, familiar energy radiating from Sylvia. Its nature was somewhat similar to the Deathbane Aura.
"You're no match for me. Leave—I don't want to kill you."
I stared in shock as Sylvia’s aura shifted once again. Her gaze grew sharp and mature, her entire presence exuding strength and confidence.
A shrill, piercing laugh echoed through the air. Entity 001’s face twisted with contempt and mockery as she extended her slender finger, beckoning Sylvia Blue toward her.
001 slowly pushed Sylvia away. Sylvia lay suspended in the air, her silver hair cascading down, her body as still as stone. Dread gnawed at me as I saw her form begin to fade, piece by piece. Suddenly, a piercing scream tore from her lips—she clutched her head, curling up in agony, her pain so raw it seemed to reverberate through my soul.
With a sudden rush, Sylvia moved. Her silver light flashed as she appeared before Entity 001, slicing upward with Wish Prayer. Entity 001’s eyes widened as she retreated, her black dress torn open and blood dripping steadily from the wound.
Sylvia crouched low, holding Wish Prayer in her right hand, her head bowed in silence. She looked breathtaking—striking and beautiful in her quiet composure.
"Child’s play," Entity 001 sneered.
Entity 001 muttered, and her wound vanished instantly. The blood that had dripped from her body froze in midair. With a flick of her finger, the droplets twisted into two dark red whips, weaving around her as she burst into wild laughter.
Sylvia didn’t move at all. The two dark red whips lashed toward her, crossing from either side. Worried, I shouted out, but Sylvia just turned and smiled at me as always—a warmth that seemed to melt my heart. I stared at her in wonder.
With a thunderous crack, Sylvia straightened, and the two whips shattered instantly. Entity 001 reeled back, coughing up blood, her body streaked with crimson wounds as blood sprayed through the air.
Invisible slashes—I swallowed hard. I hadn’t seen how Sylvia attacked, but it felt as if she’d dealt a killing blow. A furious howl erupted as Entity 001 struggled to stand, then hunched over, gasping for breath.
"Impossible! Where the hell did you come from, you wretched woman?" Entity 001 spat.
Sylvia didn’t answer. She stood tall in the wind, slowly raising Wish Prayer.
With a sudden slash, Sylvia appeared in a blur, her sword Wish Prayer severing 001’s left hand that held the pendant. A sickening sound followed as 001’s other hand stabbed straight through Sylvia’s abdomen. A violent force exploded outward, the ground beneath us shattering and splitting, stone fragments reduced to dust by the sheer power unleashed.
Sylvia’s gaze was unwavering as she faced Entity 001. The blue barrier before me kept me from feeling anything directly, but I knew one thing for certain—Entity 001 was not her match.
Entity 001 let out a cold laugh, pressing her hand to her right eyeglass, preparing to remove the Black Eyepatch. I’d seen its power before, and dread gripped me as I watched Sylvia.
With a rush, Sylvia vanished from sight. Entity 001 lifted her other hand, but Sylvia seized it instantly. I stared in shock—Sylvia crouched on Entity 001’s back, her left hand gripping 001’s right, Wish Prayer pressed to her throat.
"Give up. You’re not my opponent," Sylvia said coldly.
Sylvia spoke with icy resolve, her blue eyes filled with cold murderous intent. Entity 001 sneered, tore off her Black Eyepatch, and revealed a hollow, eyeless socket—disturbing and bizarre.
"The Dark Pupil? That’s useless against me," Sylvia dismissed.
Black energy crept over Sylvia’s body—pure darkness, and I felt it instantly. Yet, to my surprise, this world did not reject the force; the black aura wrapped tightly around her.
"So that’s how it is. I still don’t know where you came from, but I am this world’s No. 1. That’s an undeniable fact," Entity 001 boasted.
Suddenly, I saw Sylvia freeze, as if petrified. The blue barrier vanished, and Wish Prayer slipped slowly from her grasp.
Entity 001 gently pushed Sylvia away. Sylvia lay suspended in midair, her silver hair hanging down, as if turned to stone. She didn’t move at all, and dread flooded me. Entity 001 quickly put the Black Eyepatch back on, ceasing her power. I watched in horror as Sylvia’s body began to fade, and suddenly she screamed, clutching her head in agony and curling up in pain.
"What did you do to her?" I demanded, my voice tight with fear.
I shouted her name, panic rising as Sylvia seemed to lose consciousness. Her eyes were dull and lifeless, her body limp like an abandoned doll. I kept calling to her, my voice growing frantic with each cry.
Suddenly, Entity 001 stood before me, her hand gripping my throat. She yanked violently, tearing the purple crystal pendant from my wrist. Instantly, I was paralyzed, unable to move.
"What... are you... trying to do...?" I choked out, struggling for breath.
I croaked, barely able to speak. Entity 001 laughed, clutching the purple crystal pendant. She turned, staring at the fading Sylvia Blue.
"These must be your precious things, right? Watch me destroy them—destroy them! Hahaha! I hate them, I hate all this! Die! Just die!" she raved.
Madness flickered in Entity 001’s eyes as she screamed incoherently, the sound grating and wild. I couldn’t bear it—if she kept this up, the pendant would be destroyed, and Roxie’s soul fragment would be lost forever.
"Instinct... com..." I tried to invoke, my voice broken and desperate.
Just as I was about to call on my instinct, Sylvia lunged forward. Wish Prayer severed Entity 001’s left hand holding the pendant with a sharp crack. Entity 001’s other hand stabbed straight through Sylvia’s abdomen, and a powerful force exploded outward—the ground beneath us collapsed and shattered, stone fragments pulverized by the blast.
The earth trembled, and the sky seemed torn apart, swirling with strange colors. The once-blue sky churned like water mixed with countless hues, waves of chaos rippling across it.
"Sylvia..." I called out, my voice trembling.
I cried out in horror, but Sylvia still smiled at me with gentle warmth, shaking her head. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
"Go die," Entity 001 hissed.
Entity 001 muttered coldly, trying to pull her hand from Sylvia’s body—but she froze, unable to withdraw it.
"Die, or crawl away," Sylvia said, her voice icy.
Sylvia’s voice was cold as ever. Entity 001 panicked, mouth open to curse, but Sylvia gripped the hand embedded in her abdomen and slowly pulled it out.
With a roar, Sylvia hurled Entity 001 backward. She spun, releasing Wish Prayer, and a streak of silvery-blue light appeared in her left hand. Blue, white, and silver radiance intertwined—I glimpsed something familiar, but then, with a sudden burst, a tricolor beam shot forth.
With a sharp crack, the beam pierced Entity 001’s chest. She stared at Sylvia in disbelief, clutching her heart as a shrill scream echoed across the ruined land. Slowly, she collapsed onto the shattered ground.
"Sylvia..." I called out again, voice breaking.
I rushed to support Sylvia as she nearly collapsed, her head resting lightly against my chest. Fear surged through me as I looked at the wound in her abdomen—blood still poured from it, refusing to clot. I pressed my hand to her wound, desperate to stop the bleeding.
"Stay with me, Sylvia," I urged.
I shouted, but Sylvia seemed to lose consciousness—her eyes dull, her body limp like a lifeless doll. I kept calling her name, my voice growing frantic.
A coughing laugh rang out—it was Entity 001. She wasn’t dead yet, though barely clinging to life, clutching her chest as she struggled to rise.
"She’s done for. That wretched woman actually dared—" Entity 001 spat venomously.
"Shut up," I snapped.
I roared, forcing myself to stay calm as I looked at Sylvia. If I were still the old me, full of emotion, I’d be panicking, my mind in chaos. But now, I thought of something—though I wasn’t sure it would work. I raised my furry paw, bit open my own artery, and let blood drip out. I pressed the bleeding wound to Sylvia’s mouth and pried her lips open, letting my blood flow into her.
"Impossible! She’s a Forsaken—there’s no way..." Entity 001 muttered in disbelief.
Entity 001 slowly crawled toward me.