No matter how much Tetsuko tried, she couldn’t sense her wielder’s energy inside his body anymore. And she knew what that meant.

He’s gone. Alonso has been possessed by the tainted blood of the worshiper completely, she thought. Then she was surprised by her own sadness. Guess after everything we’ve been through together, I’m gonna miss him.

The worshiper tried to punch Faela with the free hand, but the soldier dodged without letting go of her sword. Then she tried kicking his hand, but before she could hit, he swung her weapon. The instant she brought her foot back to the stone floor to keep her balance, he let go of her weapon and dashed across the room.

His objective was clear: he wanted his sword. He wanted Tetsuko.

For an instant, the soul inside the blade thought about pouring her energy towards the ground and become too heavy even for a worshiper to lift her. However, when Alonso’s hand reached out to her handle, she gave up that idea and made no effort to stop him from using her.

Now that Alonso is gone, this worshiper will face many strong enemies. Maybe even an entire army by himself. And I can become stronger by devouring their energies.

Even though she had no blood in her metal body, just the thought was enough to make her shiver with excitement. I will become the strongest sword in this world. There will be nothing that I won’t be able to cut!

However, all those thoughts were gone the instant her new wielder closed the hand around her handle. The ancient and dark energy inside him was different than all the others she had felt so far.

It’s much… stronger than… I thought…

She was getting dizzier by the instant. I can feel it… I’m gonna drown… My soul is gonna drown and become part of that ancient energy…

Though she had no lungs, in her mind, she took deep breaths to keep her consciousness from fading. If I faint now, that energy’s gonna take over me… I won’t let that…

Even now, she could feel it coursing through Alonso’s arm and penetrating her handle, trying to poison her soul as well.

I won’t let you!

I’m Tetsuko! If I can’t forge the strongest sword, I’ll become the strongest! I won’t let some ancient demon or whatever take over my soul!

Concentrating her energy, she channeled on her handle, pushing back all the demonic Celeste. When it was out of her, she made sure that poisonous and ancient energy couldn’t flow through her wielder’s fingers and into her.

The worshiper didn’t seem to realize any of the struggle that occurred in mere instants. He was focused on drawing the sword and blocking Faela’s weapon, which was aimed at his throat.

“Uncle!” Celia shouted, her tears flying everywhere as she shook her head. “No! Please! Come back to me!”

It’s useless, little lady. Even your voice won’t reach him. Alonso is gone.

Or so she thought. The moment the worshiper turned to the noble girl, he grew still. At the same time, the soul inside the sword felt something.

It was faint, almost like a dying heart giving its best to keep beating. No matter how weak it was, she felt it.

He’s still alive, she thought, awestruck. Somewhere inside the worshiper, Alonso’s soul is still alive. Like an ember in a storm.

However, Tetsuko didn’t feel any joy in that. It made no difference. She knew it was only a matter of time before the ancient and dark Celeste devoured what was left of her former wielder’s soul along with the remains of Lucky Chaos.

The storm will extinguish that weak ember soon.

As Alonso stared at Celia, Faela charged, not wasting the opportunity. She raised her sword to bring it down at the worshiper with all her strength.

The ancient Celeste took over Alonso and raised Tetsuko to block the attack with ease.

However, that was what Faela expected. Using the momentum, she spun and kicked Alonso on the sides, sending him against the bed, breaking it.

“My lady, it’s not safe! Get out of here!” she shouted without taking her eyes off her enemy.

“But uncle is still alive! He recognized me! We can’t—”

“Guards!” Faela shouted as she charged at Alonso, who slashed at the sheets to get rid of it. As she traded blows with the worshiper and tried to stop him from getting up, two guards came rushing in the room. “Take the lady out of here!”

“No! I won’t leave! Uncle—”

“Alonso’s been poisoned with tainted blood!” Faela shouted at the guards, struggling to keep the enemy at bay. “He’s a worshiper now!”

The guards didn’t seem to listen. They stood at the door, not understanding what was happening as the soldier and the lord fought.

“Take the lady!” Faela shouted, glancing at them to wake them up.

“Y-yes!” they both answered and turned to Celia. “Please, forgive me, my lady.”

One of them grabbed her by the waist, lifted and carried her out of the room like a sack of rice.

“No! I order you to put me down!” she shouted, struggling to get rid of the soldier, but her efforts were in vain against the soldier’s armor. “Uncle Alonso!”

Faela’s face softened as the lady left the room. The next instant, her features hardened the as she turned to her enemy.

Though it was only for a moment, when she took her eyes off Alonso, he had managed to get out of the bed and was standing in the middle of the room with nothing on his way now.

“Get… out… of my… way… I need… to kill… her!” he shouted in a rough and deep voice. At the same time, he held his head with the free hand, struggling in pain of the broken elbow, his breathing hard. “No… I can’t… I won’t kill Celia… she’s family,” he said in his normal voice.

Alonso… If I could, I’d save you, Tetsuko thought, trying to transmit her thought to where she had felt that ember.

However, she knew there was nothing she could do besides thinking. The soul in the sword was too busy trying to keep the dark energy at bay. If I stop concentrating for an instant, it’ll poison me and take over.

The worshiper shook his head and focused on Faela. With a growl, it leapt towards the soldier, bringing Tetsuko down on her with all his monstrous strength.

Faela raised her weapon to block it. At the last instant, she shifted her body and instead of blocking, she met Alonso’s blade and redirected it towards the ground, screaming all the time.

When Tetsuko struck the stone floor, it broke to dust.

Incredible. In the last moment, she realized her sword would break and she’d die and deflected me to save herself. That requires amazing skill. She is indeed much stronger than her brother Fael.

Despite panting, the soldier smashed her shoulder against Alonso with all her strength. The worshiper had no balance and toppled against the window, breaking it.

He managed to grab the ledge and prevent his fall. But when Faela came crashing against him, there was nothing he could do.

As they fell from the first floor, she tried to stab at his heart. He managed to smack the blade with his free hand and the tip punctured his shoulder instead. He screamed from the stab and from using his broken arm.

The instant they hit the ground, Alonso kicked her with both feet to get some distance.

Faela flew and rolled on the floor to avoid the damage. When she stopped, she stood up and brought her sword before her.

The worshiper stood and held his wounded shoulder. But as he screamed, the wound vanished as if it never had happened.

Tetsuko felt as the ancient Celeste coursing through him healed his shoulder and then it moved to the other injuries. It’s only a matter of time until he’s completely healed and then he’ll have his full strength, the soul in the sword thought.

No matter how strong Faela is, she won’t be able to stop him.

And if I wasn’t too busy trying to stop this poison from taking over me, she’d already be dead.

No… No…

A faint voice that didn’t belong to Tetsuko echoed in her mind.

She had trouble to believe. That voice belonged to her former wielder, Alonso. Wait. It can’t be. He’s gone. I can’t even sense that faint ember anymore.

Help… me…

She heard the same voice again. This time she was sure it belonged to her wielder.

I’m sorry, Alonso. There’s nothing I can do to help you this time, she projected her thoughts, a real grief in them.

Help… kill… me.

As the worshiper charged against Faela, Tetsuko focused on finding Alonso’s soul inside that ancient energy.

Despite keeping the Celeste at bay, she found it. It was nothing more than a dot of light against a never-ending darkness. Nonetheless, it was resisting the evil power.

Tetsuko had no idea what to do.

I can become the strongest sword if I go along with the worshiper as my new wielder… If I can learn how to keep the Celeste at bay…

On the other hand, she remembered everything she went through with Alonso. All the times she became stronger thanks to the enemies he fought. All the times she gained a new skill. All the energies she devoured.

The soul in the sword closed the eyes she no longer had. I’ll listen to my wielder’s final request.

Though there was no answer, she felt the dot of light burning a little brighter.