Andrey’s finger tightened on the trigger. The white-and-gold pistol was aimed directly at the fractured crystal in Etos’s chest.

Etos’s cracked lips twisted into a bloody sneer. His golden eyes, now dim and flickering, fixed on Andrey with a mixture of hatred and bitter amusement.

"I don’t care," the demon rasped, his voice a ragged whisper. "Kill me. I would rather die than tell you anything more."

Andrey’s expression didn’t change.

"Because I want to see you suffer," Etos continued, his smile widening despite the ichor dripping from his chin. "I want you to lie awake at night, wondering about my words. Questioning your precious system. Wondering if it’s really your ally... or your enemy."

"Is that all?" Andrey asked quietly.

Etos’s eyes gleamed with defiant satisfaction. "It’s enough. Your doubt will eat you alive, Andrey. And when it does—"

CRACK!

A sharp crack split the air as Andrey pulled the trigger, the gunshot echoing through the crumbling chamber.

The shot was precise. The bullet struck the dark crystal in Etos’s chest, shattering it into fragments. The demon’s body convulsed once.

"Bghh—!"

Golden ichor sprayed from his mouth. His dim eyes widened, then fixed on Andrey with mockery.

Etos collapsed, his body unraveling into shadow and ash, crimson skin bleached to nothing, horns splintered, and those once-blazing golden eyes extinguished forever.

Andrey lowered the pistol, his hand steady.

From the fading remains, a small, shimmering light rose into the air. A soul fragment translucent, pulsing with a faint golden glow. It hovered for a moment, then began to drift away.

Andrey reached out.

His fingers closed around the fragment just as a rift tore open beside him, swirling with purple and silver light. The fragment was pulled from his grasp, sucked into the rift.

System: Soul fragment detected. Acquisition confirmed. Fragment secured in dimensional storage.

System: Progress: 1/7 Laplace soul fragments collected.

System: Congratulations, Host. Reward calculations in progress...

Andrey stood frozen, staring at the rift as it sealed itself shut. Then he looked down at his empty hand.

"System," he said quietly. "Can you speak now?"

System: Yes, Host. The creator of this dimensional barrier has been eliminated. The interference is gone. I can now operate without restriction.

Andrey’s eyes narrowed behind his cracked glasses. "So you were being blocked this whole time?"

System: Correct. The demon’s domain was designed to suppress my connection to you. I could only offer minimal support. Now that the domain is collapsing, full functionality has been restored.

Andrey glanced at Hope, who was leaning on her transformed zweihander, breathing hard but watching him with concern.

"The demon said you weren’t on our side," Andrey said, turning back to the screen. "That the artifacts we’ve been collecting are weakening the seal instead of strengthening it."

System: The demon was partially correct.

Hope’s grip on her sword tightened.

System: The artifacts themselves are neutral. They are simply vessels of power. What matters is how they are used. The ritual you have been performing does strengthen the seal. However, if the artifacts were to fall into demon hands, they could be corrupted and used to break the seal entirely.

Andrey’s internal thoughts churned. ’So the system wasn’t lying. But it wasn’t telling the whole truth either.’

"Why didn’t you explain this earlier?" he asked.

System: Because you weren’t ready to hear it, Host. Trust is not given. It is earned. I have been earning your trust since the beginning. I hoped that by the time this moment came, you would believe me.

Hope stepped forward, her voice sharp. "That’s not an answer."

System: It is the only answer I can give, Hope-chan. Take it or leave it.

Andrey raised a hand, silencing Hope’s retort. "Okay, we’re alive, the demon is dead and we secured a soul fragment." He looked at the system screen, his expression guarded. "That’s what matters right now."

System: Agreed. Host, your level has increased significantly from this battle. Rewards have been calculated.

Andrey: +2400 EXP | Level 46 → Level 49!

Skill updates: Ki Manipulation Lv12 → Lv13. Damage Absorb capacity increased. Regeneration improved. Phantom Step cooldown reduced.

Bonus MP awarded: +200.

System: Additionally, due to the successful acquisition of a Laplace soul fragment, all party members will receive a passive stat bonus: +5% resistance to dark magic.

Andrey dismissed the screen with a wave.

He walked to where his broken katana lay, crouched, and picked up the shattered hilt. The blade was beyond repair, but the hilt still held residual Ki. He tucked it into his inventory ring.

"We need to leave," he said, standing. "This place is collapsing."

He was right. The chamber was trembling, cracks spreading across the walls and ceiling. Lava was beginning to seep through the fissures, glowing orange and red.

Hope sheathed her zweihander across her back. The transformed blade seemed to hum in satisfaction before dimming. "The exit?"

Andrey pointed toward the far end of the chamber, where a faint light was breaking through the shadows. "There."

They sprinted through the collapsing chamber, the ground splitting beneath their feet.

The path was narrow, winding between crumbling crystals and rivers of lava. Andrey’s regeneration worked overtime, healing the burns that appeared on his exposed skin. Hope’s armor glowed faintly, protecting her from the worst of the heat.

Behind them, the chamber collapsed in a roar of fire and shadow.

They burst through the exit into the ruined street of the city. The afternoon sun was blinding after the darkness of the demon’s domain. Andrey stumbled, caught himself on a broken lamppost, and leaned there, gasping.

Hope stood beside him, her zweihander shrinking back to its original size, the transformation fading. Her armor was cracked again, her face smeared with soot and sweat, but she was alive.

"We made it," she breathed. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

An official approached her, clipboard in hand. His expression was professional, but there was a hint of awe beneath it.

"Ms. Hope. Your team’s report will be needed, but first, medical assistance—"

Hope waved a hand, offering him a bright smile despite the exhaustion etched on her face. "I’m fine, really! Just a little banged up. Go check on the civilians, they need you more."

The official hesitated, then nodded and moved on.

Another medic, a young woman with a kind face, stepped toward Hope with a glowing scanner. Hope allowed the scan, wincing slightly as the device passed over a deep bruise on her ribs, but she kept her smile.

"Minor fractures," the medic murmured. "Internal bruising. Mana depletion. You really need rest, Ms. Hope."

"And I’ll get some!" Hope said cheerfully. "Just... maybe after I make sure everyone else is okay first?"

The medic opened her mouth to argue, but Hope’s gentle but firm expression stopped her. She nodded once and moved to the next wounded.

Andrey sat on the curb a few meters away. His shirt was in tatters and his face was smeared with soot and blood. A medic had already patched the worst of his wounds, and his regeneration was handling the rest.

Hope walked toward him, her boots crunching on the broken asphalt. She stopped in front of him, looking down at his exhausted face. Her smile softened into something more serious, but her eyes still held warmth.

"Hey," she said quietly. "We need to talk."

Andrey looked up at her, his brown eyes tired but steady. "I know."

Hope glanced around at the Association personnel swarming the area, then back at Andrey. "Not here. Later. Somewhere private. I’ll text you, okay?"

Andrey nodded slowly. "I’ll wait for your message."

System: HOST! WAIT! DO NOT LET HOPE ESCAPE!

Andrey’s eyes widened. He looked around, but the holographic screen was invisible to everyone but him.

System: She hasn’t paid back the power she borrowed! The temporary amplification! We need to discuss terms!