Chapter 20 - " Shattered Calm "

Chapter 20 - " Shattered Calm "

Valeria's calm facade shattered as icy tears welled in her eyes. She mumbled in a panicked daze, leaning against Lleana for support, "What... what should I do? What should I do? Eira has... has passed out. I... sniff... what do I doooo?" Her trembling voice shocked her classmates, who stood nearby. Though some shared her noble background, none dared laugh; they knew Valeria could crush them all without effort. Instead, they watched with quiet sympathy, feeling the tension in the air. Some even pitied her, silently recognizing the pain of seeing a loved one in danger.

Meanwhile, within the tower, Mira stood like a statue, sword in hand, her form stoic yet heartbreaking. Her breaths grew faint as she gazed at Eira's unconscious body. Her vision blurred, and she closed her eyes in exhaustion and sorrow. The Sword God's voice echoed from the necklace around her neck, frantic and grief-stricken. "No, Mira! Why did you sacrifice your life energy?" The ancient soul, who had become a mentor to Mira, wanted to cry out. She had witnessed Mira's stubborn loyalty to Eira, a bond that had deepened despite their short acquaintance.

Yet, the tower's trial did not end. Instead, it summoned forth figures from eras long past, avatars of past champions, each as formidable as the last. Those in the observation room looked on in confusion and fear, recognizing that these spirits of the past might hold devastating power.

Suddenly, Eira's body twitched, and a flicker of blue energy glowed in her eyes.

---

In the void, Eira drifted in an endless expanse of darkness, feeling lost. "Where... am I?" she murmured, turning in every direction, yet seeing only emptiness. "Where's Mira?" She wandered, her voice filled with uncertainty, her footsteps echoing in the vastness.

Just as she felt ready to give up, she saw a distant figure. A woman with glowing white hair stood before her, her face blurred and indistinct, yet her silhouette hinted at elegance and grace. The woman radiated an otherworldly beauty, with an hourglass figure and an aura that left Eira speechless.

Eira stared at the woman, then noticed something odd—a vision was unfolding nearby, scenes from the tower trial. It was as if she were watching events on a screen suspended in the dark void. Eira gasped as she saw Mira's self-sacrifice, her heart aching as tears began to fall. She looked back at the mysterious woman, who was also crying silently, her tears mirroring Eira's own. It felt as if they were connected, grieving together.

"Who… who are you?" Eira stammered, wiping her tears, her voice trembling. "Why are you crying, too? And why can't I see your face?"

The woman took a step closer, extending a hand toward Eira's forehead. The moment her fingers touched Eira's skin, she vanished, and Eira felt her awareness pull back to the tower. In shock, she found herself observing her own body as if from outside, her limbs moving independently of her will.

---

[DING! AN UNKNOWN FUTURE ENTITY HAS INVADED YOUR BODY. PLEASE $-&@$&-+$-++)&{^€π×√^]! ERROR HAS OCCURRED!]

---

---

Back in the tower, the Sword God's soul sensed an enormous surge of energy from Eira, causing her to speak in a hushed tone, "What... is this?" Everyone in the observation room and the necklace alike watched as Eira's form flickered, her eyes glowing an intense, terrifying blue.

Without warning, a tremendous quake shook the tower, the capital, and beyond.

"...BOOM!" The earth trembled violently, a colossal earthquake rippling across the land. Buildings swayed, streets split open, and panicked citizens clung to anything they could. "Kyaa! What's happening?" screams filled the streets as the capital shook to its core.

Cries of fear echoed as buildings began to collapse, stone and debris falling like rain. The tremors spread beyond the capital, rippling through continents, affecting the entire world.

---

In the distant Nivara estate, Seraphina paused, sensing an immense, unfamiliar presence. She had been planning to summon Suzu to help search for Eira, having heard from Lindy about her disappearance. But the sudden quake filled her with dread. The air felt thick with power, a force that resonated like thunder, leaving people awestruck and fearful as they felt the pulse of something beyond comprehension.

---

Within the tower, Eira's face appeared expressionless, her cheeks wet with tears as her eyes shone with an intense blue radiance. Elemental energies began to swirl around her—thunder crackled, water surged, fire blazed, and wind howled, all conjured from thin air in a chaotic dance.

The Sword God, observing through the necklace, was awestruck. "Eira… what are you? It's as if the elements are bending to your will, like they've been waiting for your return. Just... what is this power?"

Overwhelmed and cautious, she fell silent, choosing to watch as events unfolded.

The observation room also shuddered, screens flickering and blurring, making it difficult to see what was happening. As the quake finally subsided, the room's equipment shut down entirely, leaving the observers in stunned silence. Valeria, consumed with worry, stamped her foot in frustration, the force of her movement collapsing part of the observation building. Lleana and the others watched in stunned silence, realizing just how far Valeria's concern for her sister had pushed her.

Ignoring the damage, Valeria rose into the air, heading straight for the tower with determination. "Eira, just wait for me!" she cried, flying with a fierceness that made her unstoppable.

---

Lleana and the others exchanged stunned glances as they watched Valeria depart. "Did she... really just destroy the entire building?" Lleana murmured in disbelief. "Is this the real Valeria? She always seemed so composed, but now…" She smiled slightly, realizing that the mighty Valeria might be more of a devoted sister than she let on.