Simona flicked her fingers.
Several scorching rays shot out, piercing through the black rock layers and shattering the sheer cliff face.
Boulders and gravel cascaded down, only to be instantly shredded by a gigantic shadow claw.
A girl with a playful smile burst out from within, arriving right in front of Simona in the blink of an eye.
Gabriella.
Three pairs of shadow wings unfurled behind her.
Her black dress and pale skin were completely covered in writhing [Shadow], making her look nothing like a human anymore.
The cross-shaped stars glowing in her sapphire eyes were the unmistakable sign of Evil God domination.
She danced lightly through the air as the massive claw lunged straight at Simona’s face.
BANG-BANG—!!
Simona swung her greatsword with unstoppable force.
The blazing orange-red blade spun into a spiraling inferno, sword pressure cleaving through shadow and pulverizing even more black stone.
Yet the shadow claw didn’t slow in the slightest; it slammed directly into her body.
The impact was violent, but it didn’t hurt.
Instead, it felt as though the magic inside her had been squeezed tight, suddenly difficult to wield.
She knew this sensation well; Liya; the demon who had nearly turned her into one of them; had once used a similar power.
Only now, the [Shadow] Gabriella wielded far surpassed Liya’s; it was even stronger than Simona herself had ever been.
After several exchanges, Simona gained no advantage.
She was forced to leap higher and higher up the canyon until she finally stood atop the narrow ridge.
The cramped rock walls opened into a vast, starry sky.
Crimson, sinister patterns connected overhead, forming the complete silhouette of an enormous upside-down tree that seemed to hang from the dome of heaven.
For a moment she was dazed, but the ferocity of battle allowed no lapse in vigilance.
Black tentacles slowly slithered up from beneath her, emerging from cracks in the black stone and from the cliffs themselves.
From Simona’s perspective, the fallen angel Gabriella now sat enthroned upon a writhing mass of Evil God tentacles, gazing down at her imperiously.
“Saintess, assist me now; the moment has come…”
Simona quickly sent a mental message to the Saintess, then threw herself back into the fight.
“Give up, Simona~ You’ll end up just like Tina♪”
Gabriella did not attack immediately.
Several dark tentacles reached forward from behind her.
She gently stroked the power that belonged to her master; the black wings on her back quivered.
Master’s power is being so naughty, squirming all over my body~
So cute~
But Simona seems confused by my behavior.
As Master’s [Apostle], isn’t this perfectly normal?
“Tina?”
“Yep~ Tina sucked every last drop of my power completely dry. Right now, both of us are nothing more than slaves to the great Evil God♪”
“Gabriella… I’m sorry. If we hadn’t been so foolish, so blind… That day we could at least have rescued you. You would never have ended up like this.”
Simona lowered her head, clenching her fists in regret; yet she did not give up.
Instead, fresh determination blazed within her, just like the irritating flames that cloaked her body.
“But don’t worry. The Saintess will purify you.
She will free you from this prison of darkness.”
“The Saintess?”
Gabriella didn’t remember anyone by that title.
Just as she started to think, Isabella’s arrival brought a wave of warmth that made her involuntarily melt with joy.
Simona’s vision suddenly went black.
Upon closer inspection, [Shadow] had already blanketed a huge swath of the Black Stone Mountains.
Normally, Simona would never lose her sight in mere darkness; especially not when her full power was unleashed; she could perceive every detail within the dark.
Yet this darkness was impenetrable.
Everything it touched turned pitch-black, as though space itself had been torn open to a lightless abyss.
Hollow, echoing wails; like the cries of unknown, dangerous creatures; resounded from within.
Simply looking at that shadow was enough to induce mental chaos.
Even facing Gabriella alone would have been exhausting.
Now she had to confront both the awakening, ever-strengthening fallen Silver-White Sword Empress and the Evil God herself; even though neither was using their full strength.
Countless shadow tentacles writhed into existence, like the feelers of abyssal monsters crawling out of a rift, wrapped in eerie violet glow that made them all the more grotesque.
At this moment, Simona was the only remaining light in the darkness; an isolated island in a sea of black.
“Got you.”
While Simona desperately dodged the Evil God’s attacks, Gabriella had silently appeared directly above her.
“Wha—?!”
She poured everything into blocking the enormous black claw, yet was still ended up tightly seized; lifted like a lamb awaiting slaughter.
Even more shocking; aside from the sensation of restraint and constriction; there was no pain at all.
For an instant, memories of what the demon Liya had done to her resurfaced.
“Ahnn…!”
The gigantic black claw; formed entirely from condensed [Shadow]; gently raised her higher.
Isabella appeared behind Gabriella.
“So this is… the power of the past?”
She murmured to herself.
Ever since the day Gabriella had joyfully accepted her, the power Isabella could wield had grown even greater.
She watched the silly Gabriella in her arms, fondly caressing the tentacles she herself had summoned, then flew straight into Isabella’s embrace, hugging her and smiling sweetly.
“Master~♡ Your power has grown so much stronger; I love this feeling~”
“Mm.”
Isabella patted her head.
Suddenly Gabriella looked a little aggrieved.
She lightly rubbed the small horns on her head against Isabella’s shoulder; like a kitten that had tricked its owner into holding it, now working hard to entice even more pampering.
Just head-pats aren’t nearly enough~
But her slow-witted master had no idea how to make her little kin even happier and more obedient.
Right now, though, Isabella was frozen.
The current Gabriella looked completely submissive; exactly like the first time Isabella’s [Shadow] had controlled her mind.
Yet
Isabella was not deliberately controlling her heart right now.
Gabriella should be in her normal state.
And yet she was displaying the longing and desire that only an [Apostles] should feel.
Isabella’s mouth opened and closed, unsure what to say.
At this moment, more than giving a [Gift], there was one greedy wish she wanted fulfilled.
“Gabriella…”
“Yes~ Master, please speak.”
Isabella’s voice trembled with hesitation.
When she finally spoke, her heart pounded so violently it felt like it would tear itself apart.
“Have… have you regained your memories?”
“Eh?”
“Do you remember… when I locked you in the tower? When I imprisoned and punished you?”
“I remember.”
Gabriella’s smile was like a gentle spring breeze, slowly closing the wound in Isabella’s heart.
“I remember everything; every punishment you gave me. But I still love, love, love you so much~ Master.”
It felt as though someone had placed the softest plush toy deep inside Isabella’s heart.
She leaned down and kissed her.