CHAPTER 33: The Foundry

The world twisted around them, an endless loop of trees and shadows repeating like a broken story. Every step they took only led them back to where they started, the same rotting trees, the same suffocating darkness.

Kaziel exhaled sharply, gripping his sword.
"....It seems like we’re stuck in some kind of loop."

Sakura clenched her fists against her chest,
"This isn’t right.. The map says the foundry should be ahead—so why are we still here?"

A flick of metal—Helion spun his coin between his fingers, golden eyes narrowing.

“Not a loop. An illusion.” His voice was calm, but edged with certainty. “Someone doesn’t want us to find this place. Dominic Veil would pull this kind of trick.”

His gaze flickered toward Sakura. “I’m pretty sure you can see it now.”

Sakura blinked. “Eh?”

She stared longer, her focus sharpening—

Before her stood an enormous wall, its surface rippling with shadows that slithered like living tendrils of dark energy. A strange, unsettling presence radiated from it, creeping into her senses.

“Oh… that’s an invisible wall…? Why didn’t I notice that before…?”

Helion smirked slightly, flipping his coin again. “Because that’s how they trick us. The mirror illusion makes us think we’re lost in the forest, when in reality, we’ve been walking in circles.”

Neither of them could see the enormous wall, except Sakura.

Kaziel let out a low sneer, already shifting into a fighting stance.

“Then we break it.”

In a single motion, he slashed at the air, his blade cutting through something unseen. A ripple formed, reality itself shuddering as cracks spread through the illusion like fractured glass.

Helion, smirking, extended his hand.
"Allow me to finish the job."

With a flick of his wrist, he severed the fate binding them to the illusion. The world lurched violently, shadows peeling away—and then, everything collapsed.

The suffocating repetition shattered.

A new path stood before them—one that wasn’t there moments ago.
The First Sight of the Foundry.

The first thing they saw was the smoke.

It rose above the twisted treetops, thick and unnatural, carrying the scent of burnt metal, scorched magic, and something far worse.

The air grew heavier the closer they walked, as if the very ground was alive, thrumming with energy.

Then, it came into view—an abandoned factory, dark and massive, its skeletal remains half-swallowed by the overgrowth of the cursed land.

Helion flipped his coin, exhaling in amusement.
"Not exactly what I was expecting, but a factory of death fits their style."

Kaziel’s grip tightened around his weapon.
"Valcrid is our real target first. Then, if Anna’s inside, we’re getting her out as well."

His sharp blue eyes flickered with resolve.

"No matter what they’re making here."

As they walked ahead, the air was thick with smoke and heat, the entire factory groaning as molten metal churned in the depths below. The floor beneath them was a vast stretch of metallic platforms, narrow and unstable, with gaps leading straight into the abyss of lava below.

Then, from above—a voice dripped with amusement.

"Ah, if it isn’t the Fateweaver and his friends~”

They all turned instantly, weapons at the ready.

Rin sat lazily on a massive pipe, high above the steel platform, one leg swinging carelessly. She smirked, arms crossed over her chest,

"I knew you'd come~”

She tilted her head, lips curling into a playful grin.

"Tell me, Fateweaver—have you come to rewrite fate again? Or… are you simply here to watch it unfold?"

Helion exhaled, spinning his coin in his fingers without a word.

Sakura was already stepping forward, her expression tense, brows furrowed.

"Where's Anna?" Her voice was sharp, demanding.

Rin’s silver eyes flickered with recognition. The girl from the ballroom.

A slow, amused giggle escaped her lips. How interesting.

It seems like another one joining the fight.

Rin tilted her head, smirking. "Now, now~ shouldn’t you be worrying about yourselves first?"

From the swirling void, dozens of Greeds began to emerge—their elongated, twisted bodies crawling out from the abyss, eyes glowing with mindless hunger.

Some clung to the overhead pipes, hissing and screeching as they dropped down onto the platforms. Others poured out from below, their clawed hands scraping against the steel.

The ground beneath them shook, the weight of the creatures causing the unstable metal to groan.

"Let’s see if you can massacre them~!" Rin laughed, vanishing into a portal before they could react.

Then, the battle began.

The first Greed lunged.

Kaziel sidestepped, twisting his body as his blade flashed like lightning, cleaving through its grotesque form in one smooth strike. A shrill screech tore through the air as the creature’s body convulsed before dissolving into the abyss.

Before the echoes of its cry could fade, another leaped from the overhead pipes.

Kaziel reacted instantly.

He spun his blade, driving it upward. The steel pierced through the Greed’s skull, pinning it mid-air before he wrenched the weapon free, sending its corpse crashing onto the platform.

More were coming. Faster.

From the right, a massive Greed surged forward, its clawed arms outstretched, serrated teeth gnashing.

Helion barely tilted his head, golden eyes flickering.

With a single flick of his fingers, threads of fate unraveled in the air.

The creature froze.

Then, with an invisible force snapping through reality itself, its body was severed cleanly into pieces—sliced apart like paper.

Sakura, meanwhile, was already moving.

A Greed lunged at her—but she ducked, rolling smoothly beneath its outstretched claws. Her blade ignited in a pale orange glow as she slashed upward, the energy cutting clean through the monster’s chest.

It shrieked, collapsing.

She barely had a second to react before another came from behind.

Sakura pivoted, only to see Kaziel already there, intercepting the attack with his blade.

The Greed recoiled, but Kaziel followed through, severing its head with a precise strike.

Their eyes met briefly.

No words.

Just a mutual understanding.

Then, they moved again.

More Greeds poured out from the abyss. From above, below, surrounding them.

But the team was ready.

Kaziel’s blade flashed like a storm.
Helion wove threads of fate, cutting down enemies before they could reach him.
Sakura’s movements were fluid, every strike precise.

The platform shook under the weight of the battle.

And yet—they didn’t stop.

Because the real fight had only just begun.
The battle raged like a storm, the clash of steel and the shrieks of Greeds filling the air.

Then—a presence flickered behind Kaziel.

Rin.

She reappeared in an instant, her smirk as playful as ever—but her gaze was focused. Calculating. Waiting.

Kaziel didn’t hesitate. Instinct took over.

His blade was already in motion, cutting toward her in a deadly arc.

But just before steel could meet flesh—

She vanished.

The air where she once stood distorted into a swirling portal, and Kaziel’s strike slammed into something else—

A barrel of oil.

BOOM.

The platform erupted in a violent explosion, flames bursting outward in a searing wave of destruction.

The shockwave ripped through the battlefield, sending debris flying as Kaziel’s body was hurled backward.

He barely had time to react—his boots skidding against the unstable metal, the edge of the platform crumbling beneath him.

For a split second, the world slowed.

Sakura and Helion leaped away just in time, but—

Kaziel was separated.

His blue eyes widened, flames reflecting in their depths.

His grip tightened around his weapon—

Then—

He fell.

The roar of the explosion faded as the abyss rushed up to meet him.

"KAZIEL..!!"

Sakura’s voice pierced through the chaos, raw with panic.

The flames raged behind her, the battlefield still alive with the clash of steel and the shrieks of Greeds—

But all she could see was him.

Falling.

......

“You could have controlled me.”

“And you know you don’t like that~” Miki shrugged nonchalantly, a smirk playing on her lips.

Anna kept her stance firm, stepping back cautiously, her crimson eyes never leaving Miki’s gaze.

Miki tilted her head, watching her closely. “After all… Miki understands how much you hate me.”

Something flickered in Anna’s eyes, an emotion she couldn’t quite name. She didn’t know what she truly felt toward Miki anymore. But the memories—the flames, the orphanage, the people they lost—clawed at her mind. She could never forget.

And she could never forgive.

A sharp glint—

Miki lunged without warning, her dagger a streak of silver in the dim light.

Anna barely reacted in time—she twisted sharply, the blade whistling past her throat, missing by mere inches.

"AND I AM GOING TO MAKE YOU HATE ME EVEN MORE~!"

Miki’s voice rang with twisted delight, her golden eyes gleaming with wicked amusement.

Metal clanged against the stone floor as sparks scattered in the wake of Miki’s relentless strikes. Anna weaved backward, dodging each slash with precise footwork, her crimson eyes locked onto her opponent.

Miki’s attacks were fast. Too fast.

“Why aren’t you fighting back? You want this, don’t you~?!” Miki taunted, her grin widening as she pressed forward.

Anna exhaled sharply, focusing on her surroundings. The fight had led them toward the collection of Sapphire Hearts—the corrupted ones in the process of forging. Their glow pulsed dangerously, heat radiating from the molten chambers surrounding them.

Miki didn’t seem to care. She was enjoying this.

Anna gritted her teeth and stepped back again, calculating her next move.

This time, Miki didn’t hesitate—she lunged again, her dagger slicing downward. Anna barely managed to summon her familiar in time.

A deep, guttural growl echoed through the chamber.

The massive wolf materialized in a blur of shadows, intercepting Miki’s strike with its fangs. Its dark blue fur shimmered under the corrupted light, its amber eyes locked onto the enemy before it.

Miki stumbled back for the first time, her smirk faltering.

“Ahh~ Anna~” She let out a soft chuckle, “How nostalgic this is~”

Anna didn’t respond.

The wolf lunged forward without warning, fangs bared. Miki barely managed to twist out of the way, rolling across the ground as the beast’s claws tore through the air where she had just stood.

Anna took the opportunity to strike, her own dagger flashing as she aimed for Miki’s exposed side. But Miki caught it just in time, their blades clashing in a sharp, ear-splitting ring.

The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the chamber.

Crates toppled, sending shards of half-forged Sapphire Hearts scattering across the ground. The unstable energy pulsed dangerously, reacting to the intensity of their battle. The molten river beneath them flared, casting eerie shadows across their figures.

Miki grinned, eyes alight with wicked amusement as she pushed back with all her strength. "This is fun, isn’t it, Anna~?"

"Kinda." Anna’s response was flat, edged with irritation.

Then, with a sharp breath, she shoved forward, breaking the deadlock just as her wolf lunged again—fangs bared, aiming straight for Miki.

Anna saw her opening.

With a single command, Anna’s wolf lunged forward, its fangs aiming for Miki’s throat. But just before impact, Miki smirked—her body twisted unnaturally as she countered with a sudden burst of energy. A force surged from her, striking Anna with enough force to send her crashing into the collection of corrupted Sapphire Hearts.

A sickly glow pulsed from the shards around her. As Anna groaned, pushing herself up, her crimson eyes flickered toward the corrupted cores. Their unnatural light pulsated, reacting to the battle's energy. She clenched her teeth.

"My energy drained... if only I could do something to destroy them—"

Before she could act, Miki was already upon her. Another strike, another dagger swing. The wolf intercepted the attack, snapping at Miki, but she evaded effortlessly, her movements swift and unpredictable. Even as Anna’s familiar kept her occupied, Miki’s blade never lost focus—her true target was still Anna.

Just as Miki lunged again, aiming to end it, a sudden force intervened—

A blade clashed against hers.

Kaziel.

He had appeared in an instant, his weapon blocking her dagger as the two locked into an intense deadlock.

Anna, still on the ground, gasped in shock. "K-Kaziel?!"

Miki’s expression twisted into fury at the sound of Anna calling his name. But that moment of rage gave Kaziel the opening he needed—he pushed her back slightly, though she quickly recovered, using a nearby corrupted Sapphire Heart to absorb its energy and fuel herself once more.

Kaziel remained firm, standing in front of Anna as he turned his head slightly to glance at her. "Sorry that took so long," he said with a confident smirk.

Anna blinked, momentarily flustered before she found her voice. "H-how did you manage to—?!"

"We've been working together with the Tradepost owner," Kaziel explained, his grip on his weapon tightening.

A memory flashed in his mind—the moment he had been falling, only for a familiar presence to intervene. The raven had caught onto his sleeve, its eyes faintly glowing a deep red.

Kaziel’s eyes widened in realization. He wondered if the raven was still binding a contract with Anna this whole time. Though the bird continued to fly, its presence lingering like an unanswered question.

Back at the forging area, the battle had already wreaked havoc on its structure. The place was in ruins, flames licking at broken machinery, shattered shards of Sapphire Hearts scattered across the floor.

Miki, breathing heavily, got up, her golden eyes burning with fury as she glared at Kaziel. But it wasn’t just anger at him—it was something deeper, something bitter.

The way Anna looked at Kaziel—it was different.

Different from how she had ever looked at Miki.

Miki’s rage boiled over. "WE STILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SETTLE!" she roared, grabbing a corrupted Sapphire Heart and hurling it toward Kaziel.

Kaziel dodged swiftly, but Miki was already moving again. In a blink, she was upon him, her dagger nearly slicing at his throat. Kaziel barely managed to intercept, the force of their blades colliding sending out another shockwave.

Their fight ignited into a flurry of attacks. Each strike faster, heavier, more intense than before.

Anna remained frozen for a moment, watching in shock. Half of her wanted to intervene—half of her still felt bad for Miki.

"No... Enough!" Anna’s voice rang out, but Kaziel had no choice. Miki was relentless now, her attacks filled with raw fury.

"YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT HIM, DON’T YOU?!" Miki screamed, her voice breaking. "BECAUSE OF THIS GUY… YOU DONT LIKE MIKI ANYMORE!!"

Her strikes became even more erratic, fueled by emotions beyond control. Kaziel gritted his teeth, focusing entirely on blocking her attacks.

"Do you even care about her?!" he shot back, his voice sharp. "After everything you've done—sending her into trauma, making her relive her past again and again! You only care about yourself, not how she felt..!"

Anna’s breath caught as she watched them clash, Kaziel's fury matching Miki’s.

Miki pressed forward, but her wild strikes left her open—each missed attack destroying more of the corrupted Sapphire Hearts. She only realized too late how unstable they were becoming.

Her gaze flickered briefly to Anna, who was still on the ground, watching her. For the first time, Miki saw it clearly—

She had made Anna afraid of her.

But she refused to acknowledge it.

"PEOPLE ARE NOTHING BUT WEAKLINGS DESERVING TO BE THROWN INTO HELL!" she shrieked, spinning for another attack.

Kaziel dodged—and this time, he countered.

Meanwhile,

At the metallic ground where some Greeds had been obliterated by the explosion, Sakura remained still, grieving. But in the corner of her eye, she caught movement.

Atop the pipelines, Rin stood, giggling softly as she watched the chaos unfold below.

Sakura’s eyes darkened with rage. She stepped forward, prepared to strike—but before she could move, a hand raised in front of her, stopping her advance.

Helion.

"Kaziel is alright," he said, his voice calm yet absolute.

Sakura turned to him, her expression filled with disbelief. "Y-you mean—?"

Helion’s gaze remained unreadable. "Let him settle the rest. After all… Rin has no idea that I already rewrote her fate."

Sakura’s breath hitched.

Had he… manipulated fate again? Or had he known this would happen from the start? Helion always seemed one step ahead of everyone else.

But despite her unease, she exhaled in relief. For a moment, she had been terrified of losing another companion.

She gripped her sword tighter. "I’m sorry… I let my guard down again."

Helion’s golden eyes flickered. "That’s something you need to learn from now on." A pause—then his voice dropped, low and steady. "In this world… don’t ever let your emotions control you."

The final flip of his coin caught the dim battlefield light, a faint glimmer in the tense air.

But the coin never landed.

Before it could complete its fall—

A chilling, eerie giggle cut through the air. In an instant, Rin was there.

Her signature weapon—a pair of scissor blades—sliced toward him with terrifying speed.

Helion reacted instantly, his threads snapping into place to intercept. Their clash sent a violent gust rippling through the area.

Sakura didn’t hesitate. She leaped forward, countering Rin’s next strike just as Helion spun his threads to ensnare their enemy. But Rin was faster than expected—teleporting between them, dodging their attacks with unnatural precision.

The battlefield had just shifted again.

The three of them—Helion, Sakura, and Rin—had now entered an intense, unstoppable fight of their own.