Alexander continued, "The council believes Elion has the right combination of strength, adaptability, and... unpredictability."

"What you are trying to say is that Elion’s good at being a problem?" Aeron said.

"Exactly," Alexander replied without hesitation.

Elion turned toward him. "Was that necessary?"

"Yes."

Zenovia’s lips twitched faintly.

Alexander pointed to a marked area on the map. "We have tried before, but the domain core cannot be destroyed from the outside. It must be reached physically. Too strong a presence would trigger every major defensive mechanism instantly. A Saint Mage would never get close enough. A weaker soldier would die before crossing the second barrier. Elion is strong enough to survive, but not yet so overwhelmingly powerful that the demon forces will immediately react to him as a top-level threat, and his disguise makes him an even better option as an infiltration agent."

Elion stared at him. "You know, every time you explain it, it sounds worse."

"It is bad."

"Great. Thank you."

Maya took a small step forward. "What happens if he destroys it?"

"The Saint forces attack fully," Alexander said. "Meaning, the rulers themselves move. The Demon King loses the advantage of his own territory, the coalition pushes through, and the operation becomes a direct decapitation strike."

"And if he fails?" Aeron asked.

The silence that followed answered enough.

Alexander still said it. "Then the entire assault force may be trapped deep in enemy territory."

Elion looked down at the map. There it was again. That ridiculous weight being placed on his shoulders. He had thought hearing it a second time would make it feel less insane. It didn’t.

If anything, it felt even more absurd now that he could see the others reacting to it. All of them understood just how dangerous this was.

Aeron eventually looked at Elion. "And you just agreed to this?"

Elion shrugged. "I don’t remember being given many pleasant alternatives."

"That’s not an answer."

"I’m still thinking about it."

Alexander closed his eyes briefly. "He agreed."

"I agreed to hear them out," Elion corrected. "Then everyone started acting like I had already accepted, and now here we are."

Zenovia stared at him. "Are you going to do it or not?"

Elion looked at her.

There was no teasing in her voice. Just the question that was on everyone’s minds.

He sighed.

"Yes."

Maya lowered her gaze.

Aeron clicked his tongue. "Forgive my being direct, but you’re insane."

"Probably."

"You could die."

"I could die eating fish if I choke badly enough," Elion said. "Doesn’t mean I’ll stop eating."

"That is not the same thing," Maya said quietly.

"No," Elion admitted, his tone softening a little. "It isn’t."

For a brief moment, his fingers brushed against the necklace beneath his tunic. Isla’s gift rested warm against his chest, hidden under the fabric, and the memory of her fragile face that morning flickered through his mind.

’Come back to me when it’s over.’

He had promised. He did not know what a promise meant inside a trial made of history and illusions and people who might vanish from his life once this ended, but he had still made it. And he intended to keep it if he could and see what would happen afterwards

’Hopefully this trial doesn’t throw us out as soon as we have done our part here.’ He thought inwardly with a quiet chuckle.

Alexander looked around the tent. "The final deployment will begin soon. Until then, we prepare, and assume that the demons may already suspect something."

Tristan nodded. "The attack on the checkpoint suggests as much, though we haven’t really been discreet with our movements, or perhaps they are planning an operation of their own."

Aeron looked sharply toward Elion as he took note of the former part of Tristan’s statement. "Attack?"

Elion waved a hand lightly. "Small issue on the way here."

Alexander gave him a look. "A demon commander attacked the checkpoint with a coordinated force and a caster capable of disrupting ward pillars."

Aeron turned slowly toward Elion. "Small issue?"

"I handled it."

Zenovia’s gaze lowered to Kurogoroshi again. "I take it you did so with that new sword?"

Elion smiled faintly; she was on point. "Mostly."

"Draw it," she said.

Elion raised a brow. "Here?"

"Yes."

Alexander immediately looked uneasy. "Maybe not inside the command tent."

Zenovia ignored him. "I want to see it."

Aeron’s grin slowly returned. "Now I want to see it too."

Maya hesitated, then nodded slightly. "I... am also curious."

Elion looked toward Alexander.

Alexander looked tired. "If you break something, I will blame you."

"You always blame me."

"You are usually responsible."

"Fair."

Elion’s hand moved to the hilt. The moment his fingers wrapped around it, the faint pressure in the room changed. Tristan noticed first, his gaze hardening. Yakuza’s eyes sharpened as well. Zenovia stopped leaning against the post. Aeron’s grin faded just slightly. Maya unconsciously clasped her hands near her chest.

Then Elion drew the blade.

Shing.

The sound was soft, almost delicate, yet the moment Kurogoroshi emerged, the air in the tent seemed to still. The torch flames along the walls bent inward for half a breath before straightening again. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The blade’s black-silver surface caught the light and twisted it into distorted fragments, crimson patterns flowing beneath the metal like shadows moving under ice.

Aeron’s eyes widened. "What the hell..."

Maya took in a quiet breath.

Zenovia stared.

"This sword..." she murmured.

Yakuza stepped closer without seeming to realise it. His hollow expression shifted, and for the first time since Elion had arrived, something like real emotion surfaced in his eyes.

"This is not a normal weapon," Tristan said slowly.

"No," Alexander replied. "It is not."

Elion tilted the blade slightly, watching the crimson ripples move along the edge. "its actually mythical Grade."

The reaction was immediate.

Aeron snapped his head toward him. "Mythical?"

Maya’s eyes widened fully. "That exists?"

Zenovia’s gaze sharpened even further. "You’re not joking."

"I wish he was," Alexander muttered.

Aeron stepped closer, then stopped as the sword gave a faint hum. He looked at it. Then at Elion. Then took half a step back.

"...Did it just warn me?"

Elion smiled. "Maybe."

Aeron pointed at the blade. "Your sword has an attitude."

"You have an attitude too, and yet people tolerate you."

"I’m lovable."