The artifact descended slowly, hovering in the air before them. It was a chalice—ancient, blackened silver, but the flame within was not extinguished. A violet fire burned steadily, casting eerie shadows across the chamber walls. The dark mana radiating from it made Andrey’s Ki senses recoil.

Sein stared at the floating chalice, her gauntlets dimmed. "How are we supposed to purify this thing? Lisa’s not here."

The system’s holographic screen flickered to life, its tone reassuring.

System: Don’t worry~ With the power of love, you can purify anything. Just calm your heart and let your affection flow into the artifact.

Andrey adjusted his cracked glasses, wincing at the pain in his ribs. "So only a Magical Girl can purify it."

System: Correct~ Sein-chan, it’s time to show the power of your love!

Sein’s face flushed red. "Shut up, you bastard system! What ’power of love’?! I don’t have anything like that!"

System: Ehehe~ Is that so? You still haven’t realized it, have you? How cute~

Sein’s voice rose, flustered. "What do you mean by that, system?! Don’t say weird things! The important thing is I just have to put my hand on that artifact, right?"

System: That’s right~ But you have to be careful not to get contaminated again. You were corroded before, so you’re still a little vulnerable. Fight it off with the power of your love~

Andrey’s expression tightened with concern. "Isn’t that dangerous? Sein is still susceptible to contamination."

Sein shot him a look, her earlier embarrassment hardening into determination. "Relax. I’m not so weak that I’ll get corrupted twice. You just lie down and rest."

She pointed at a relatively flat section of stone floor near the wall. "You look like you’re about to collapse. Go. Sit. Don’t interfere."

Andrey hesitated, his gaze lingering on her face. The bruise on her cheek, the exhaustion in her eyes but also the fire. That stubborn, unyielding fire that had made her an S-rank.

He nodded slowly. "Alright. I trust you."

He walked to the wall and lowered himself to the ground, his back against the cold stone. His body ached everywhere. The stored energy was gone, his Ki reserves depleted, and the cuts and burns from the demon’s flames throbbed with every heartbeat.

Sein approached the chalice. The violet flame cast strange shadows across her face, making her look older, more tired. She raised her hand, palm flat, and hesitated.

’This is it,’ she thought. ’If I mess this up, the dark mana could take me again. And this time... there might be no coming back.’

She glanced over her shoulder at Andrey. He was sitting against the wall, his cracked glasses reflecting the purple light, his eyes fixed on her. He didn’t look away.

Sein turned back to the chalice.

’Fine. If I’m going to be a Magical Girl, I might as well act like one.’

She pressed her palm against the cold metal.

The violet flame surged.

Dark mana lashed out from the chalice, wrapping around Sein’s arm like living shadows. She gasped, her body jerking as the corruption tried to force its way into her. The same cold, sickening feeling she’d experienced in the Vixion gate—the one that had nearly destroyed her.

But this time, she fought back.

’Not again,’ she thought, gritting her teeth. ’I won’t let this thing take me again!’

Her Magical Girl energy flared—crimson and orange, pushing against the darkness. The shadows hissed, recoiling, then pressed forward again.

System: Sein-chan, remember! The power of love! Think of someone that makes your heart warm!

Sein’s mind raced. ’Warm? What warmth?! I don’t have—’

Andrey’s face flashed before her eyes. Not the smug, glasses-wearing workaholic she’d met in the plaza. The Andrey who had carried her out of the Association hallway. The Andrey who had held her when the corruption was eating her alive. The Andrey who had fought beside her, who had trusted her, who had looked at her like she was worth saving even when she didn’t believe it herself.

’Damn it,’ she thought, her chest tightening. ’Fine. Maybe there is something.’

The crimson light around her blazed brighter. The dark mana shrieked and withdrew, retreating back into the chalice. The violet flame flickered, then changed—turning from purple to orange to a warm, steady gold.

Sein’s palm remained pressed against the metal. The chalice trembled, then went still.

The golden flame burned gently, peacefully.

System: Purification complete! Contaminated artifact #2 acquired: Chalice of Eternal Ember.

Quest progress: 2/12 artifacts collected.

Rewards:

Sein: +800 EXP | Level 4 → Level 8! Stabilization complete. Dark energy residue reduced to 0%. New skill unlocked: Ember’s Blessing (healing flame that restores allies over time), Crimson Nova (unleashes a explosive wave of flame in all directions, dealing heavy damage to nearby enemies. 30-second cooldown).

Host Andrey: +800 EXP | Level 14 → Level 15! Ki Manipulation Lv3 → Lv4 (Ki flow efficiency +15%). New technique unlocked: Ki Reinforcement (temporarily harden skin against physical attacks).

The chalice floated gently into Sein’s hands, its golden flame warm against her fingers. She stared at it for a moment, then let out a long, shaky breath.

"I did it," she whispered.

Andrey pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the protest of his muscles. He walked toward her, his footsteps echoing in the now-quiet chamber.

"You did," he said. "Good work."

Sein looked up at him, her eyes bright with something she couldn’t quite name. Then she looked away, her cheeks flushing.

"Don’t stare at me like that, Glasses. It’s creepy."

Andrey’s lips twitched. "Sorry."

Behind them, the possessed hero groaned, stirring from unconsciousness. The dark energy around him was gone. His eyes, when they opened, were their natural color—brown, confused, and filled with pain.

"Wha... what happened...?" he mumbled, trying to sit up.

Sein glanced at him, then back at Andrey. "We should get him out of here. The gate’s about to collapse."

Andrey nodded. "Let’s go."

He offered Sein his hand. She took it, and he pulled her to her feet. The chalice still glowed gently in her other hand.

They walked toward the unconscious hero, ready to carry him to safety.

And then the system chimed again, its voice suddenly sheepish.

System: Oh, by the way, Host~ You should be careful. There are probably leftover monsters that will try to attack Sein-chan while she’s holding the artifact~

Andrey stopped mid-step. His head turned slowly toward the holographic screen. "Why are you telling me this now?" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

System: Ehehe~ Sorry~ I forgot~

Andrey’s eye twitched. "You ’forgot’?"

System: In my defense, it was very romantic watching Sein-chan purify the artifact~ I got distracted~

Sein, who had been listening, let out a long, exasperated sigh. "I hate this system."

Andrey pinched the bridge of his nose, his cracked glasses shifting slightly. "Just tell us where the monsters are coming from."

System: Everywhere~ Good luck~

The shadows at the edges of the chamber began to stir. Red eyes flickered in the darkness. Low growls echoed off the stone walls.

Sein shifted the chalice to one hand and raised her free gauntlet. "Tch. Of course."

Andrey drew his katana, the blade gleaming in the golden light of the purified artifact.

"Stay close to me," he said. "We’re getting out of here together."

Sein stood back-to-back with him, her crimson gauntlet flaring.

"Wouldn’t have it any other way, Glasses."

The monsters charged.