I will strive beyond this cursed bloodline!

She would be the first, unlike before when she had been worried sick about Elizabeth or Rossaline being hurt or needing help, this time it was her who would be first. This was important too, both Elizabeth and Rossaline had experienced some…. problems, while evolving their jobs before.

 

Elizabeth had of course pulled throught, but Rossaline almost didn’t. And Rena hadn’t been able to help her, at best she could manage to [Cut] down the mana discharges, but doing so didn’t help Rossaline. And all she could do was [Cut].

 

But now? Now she had a chance to help…Now she could make a difference. After making Elizabeth suffer so much, after almost breaking the girl’s good intentions… After nearly making the greatest of a long series of mistakes…

 

“Remember Rena, if you feel something is wrong you stop. Don’t push forward, we will find a way of fixing it together okay?” Even at this moment, Elizabeth’s face was full of worry.

 

“I can probably put together your soul even if it bursts at the seams.” Rossaline had her own way of encouragement too. This for example got a glare from Elizabeth, that one was new. Elizabeth usually ignored or even encouraged most of Rossaline's bad habits. “But that will not be you Ren-Ren, so don’t die. As long as your [Soul] is in one piece we can probably manage. But if it turns into shards… well, I don’t need to tell you how those shards aren’t the same as the original do I?”

 

Yes.

 

Rossaline didn’t need to tell her this; they had spoken at length about what had gone wrong before, about the mistakes both girls had made. Rossaline almost busted her Soul into fragments; she had almost truly died—not halfway as Aura and the [Minions], not as the almost unimaginable number of dead souls within Elizabeth’s Soul.

 

No.

 

True [Death], anhiliation of the [Soul]. A point where only the flesh remained, a point where…they would no longer be able to stay with Elizabeth.

 

A point where the eternity with Their Goddess was denied of them.

 

“Of course, I will cherish my life.” She answered with a smile and a nod. She had thought that as long as she was near Elizabeth, life or death was meaningless. What did she have to fear about death if Elizabeth could raise her once more?

 

Only this time closer to her than ever, witouth a way of truly discarding her. It would be a blessing in death more than a curse in life.

 

Rossaline had thought the same, but that had been a wake-up call, even if it was hard, they could die. And evolving their jobs… exposing their [Souls] to strain was one such way. The mastery that Rossaline had gotten over [Soul Magic] hadn’t prepared them for this.

 

If anything it made things worse for Rossaline, since she had mangled and exposed her [Soul] while trying to learn this cursed magic. Rena wasn’t that different, her [Soul] was a mess of wounds, some inflicted by Akira.

 

Some she inflicted herself, trying to cut his Taint from her body. One didn’t need to know [Soul Magic] to hurt their [Soul] after all. Trauma was a good way as any to hurt the [Self].

 

“I’m ready.” But even with those worries she didn’t fear this. She would evolve.

 

Elizabeth had gifted her a second, third and with this perhaps a fourth chance to be better. To shine brighter, to go beyond what this World had granted her. She had saved her from Akira, she had saved her from Herself, and if that wasn’t enough…

 

She had accepted her Love.

 

She didn’t think her body was dirty because how she had ended, she didn’t mind it, she didn’t mind kissing her, she didn’t mind hugging her. She didn’t mind loving her.

 

And when she had been at her lowest? When she had almost given herself away in a crude attempt to seek validation… She had saved her, granted her once more a second chance. She had raised her from the pit of delusions and granted her a new body.

 

A new name.

 

A new hope.

 

A new Rena.

 

She had seen her future. It wasn’t the same future that the world granted her. She wouldn’t be Watanabe Rena, The Sword Saint.

 

She wouldn’t be what this world had twisted her into being after being stuck with Akira, she wouldn’t be Watanabe Rena, The Sword Demon.

 

No, she would be more, so much more… She was going to be Rena Starbright, The Sword Empress.

 

Nay, she would be so much more, for Zaanam she may be a mere Sword Empress, but for Elizabeth? For [The Shadow Haven]? She would be The Sword of Wrath. A beacon that would stand tall and defend all those that shared the protection of her Shadow Goddess.

 

But at this moment? At this time? She was merely Watanabe Rena, a girl who was about to tier up her job. An innocent girl that was about to walk towards one of her achievements in life.

 

“Start [Job Evolution].” And like that Rena saw her world turn into a blurr, her consciousness receded and she sank deep within her [Soul].

 

First she saw the apartment within Elizabeth’s [Shadow Haven], the place had started merging with Rossaline and Elizabeth’s apartment. Then as she started sinking deeper within the [Soul], she saw the apartment morph into a house that was under construction. She could see a work crew coming and repairing the house.

 

She would blink and the image of the workers would morph into one of Shadow Dragons, only for the next second to turn back into human workers again.

 

That made her smile.

 

Even so, she continued sinking deep within her [Soul], soon enough she found herself within an crystal tower tainted red with flames frozen within the crystal walls. She should feel claustrophobic, and yet…It was…right.

 

“You took every chance I granted you, threw them away, and decided to plunge yourself within the Inheritor anyway. You aren’t even Emma Brown anymore are you?” She found the phantom of the purple-haired woman that had haunted her there.

 

“I am Rena.” Rena answered. She felt her hair blaze with red-tinged mana. Behind her, the phantom of a woman with six arms and three faces manifested. And I will not leave Elizabeth.”

 

The purple-haired woman eyed the phantom with disdain, then turned and looked around the vast expanse beyond the crystal tower that encased Rena. “ *Sigh* I guess you are what you are. You are one of my children and yet, you aren’t.” The woman said turning to look at Rena once more.

 

She summoned a chair made of purple crystal and sat on it. A table made of obsidian crystal rose from the ground, accompanied by an extra obsidian chair for Rena.

 

“ Cheeky girl.” The purple woman grumbled, “You three are a headache, if not for Elizabeth’s parents doing the extra work I would had ripped the continent you stand and shoved it into the void already.”

 

The woman's nonchalant tone narrowed Rena’s eyes. She had heard casual threats like these before, and she didn’t doubt that some of those people could make them true.

 

Jenna Lewis, Elizabeth's childhood friend, was one of those. She didn’t see any hope in defeating the woman in combat, and while it hurt her even thinking about it, she didn’t think Elizabeth could defeat her either.

 

Elizabeth’s father, [Framework], was another such example. She didn’t doubt that the [God] could make that threat true, but she didn’t think the continent would stay in one piece after such an event.

 

But this? This woman here?

 

Rena, for some reason. Didn’t think she would throw a crumbling continent, nor a broken piece of land.

 

“Yes, I mean quite literally. I would rip the surrounding space, open a rift outside my [Domain] and throw it there. A few billion souls are a worthy exchange for dealing with these headaches you three girls are making.” The purple woman didn’t seem to be joking at all. “I joke of course.”

 

….

 

“No? Hmm….Perhaps I should had attempted to make a joke about your daughter then. She will be quite feisty.” The purple-haired woman said aloud.

 

“What? I am not…” Rena said letting her hand go into her belly.

 

“Of course you aren’t. Rossaline is making quite the effort to not impregnate you. No, I mean the daughter you will implant into Elizabeth, here… look.” The purple haired woman said summoning the image of a twin tailed girl smiling while playing with two other little girls.

 

One twin-tailed girl with red and blue eyes.

 

One ponytail girl with pink and blue eyes.

 

One pair of twin girls with short ruffled hair, both girls had one red eye and one pink eye, only they had the eyes swapped. One had the left eye red while the other had the right eye red.

 

Four girls.

 

“....is that…” Rena said standing and extending her hand towards the image.

 

“A future, one in which you three settle down within my domain. And stop these futile attempts at…whatever this is.” The image dissipated as soon as Rena was about to touch the image. “It is quite easy to achieve, you don’t need to pledge yourself to me anymore. I know, you will never do it, nether will Michelle do it.”

 

The purple-haired woman said, and with a flick of her hand, a blue screen manifested in front of Rena.

 

“But that isn’t why you are here, nor is it why I am here. I am here because you achieved something great. And all [Heroes] are owed this at the middle point of their travel.” The list had her [Jobs], “And while I am not one to judge or even understand why your path was at it was. These are the results of your endeavors, so pick wisely [Watanabe Rena]. And may [The World’s Blessings] be with you.”

 

And like that, the purple-haired woman vanished, leaving behind only the blue screen with the list of jobs she could take.

Congratulations!

You have achieved the middle point in your travel. You have achieved something only those worthy of their power, only those who have succeeded in their path for power and glory can achieve!   Stand proud [Hero], for you have arrived at a point in which your might will surpass that of your peers!   Make your stand among this [World]’s mightiest!

 

…That seemed… promising.

 

Available Jobs:
-Sword Warrior. -Sword Saint. -Sword Berserker. -Sword Ashura. -Knight. -Samurai. -Dark Knight. -Duelist. -Blade Dancer. -Gladiator. -Blade Master. -Myrmidon. -Sword Master. -Phantom Blade. -Phantom Sword. -Soul Blade. -Dragon Slayer. -Divine Sword. -Spirit Swordsman.	-Demon Warrior. -Demon Sword. -Demon Berserker. -Demonic Ashura. -Demon Knight. -Ronin. -Blood Knight. -War Blade. -Death Blade. -Reaver. -Assassin. -Void knight. -Void Blade. -Soul Harvester. -Fallen Hero. -Abyssal Knight.	-Corrupted Sword. -Corrupted Saint. -Whore. -Flesh Bag. -Broken Soul. -Broken Hero. -Corrupted Hero. -Eldritch Knight. -Eldtrich Soul. -Eldritch Sword. -Shadow Wyrm. -Wyrm. -Akash-

 

The jobs continued showing up as she read, but right before Rena could even start finishing reading the third list of jobs (The one she was guessing would not take a job from) the sound of someone knocking on a door resounded. Making the blue screen stop writing new jobs.

 

"Hello, can I come in?" It sounded like the voice of a girl...It seemed oddly familiar, and yet so foreign that Rena couldn't place it.

 

"Of course, we can come in. They came uninvited on their own to our turf; why would we have to wait up?" Another girl's voice sounded, they sounded similar and yet. The inflection was different.

 

"....*sigh* AND NOW THE OTHER PROBLEM CAME!" The purple-haired woman groaned as she facepalmed, "There...invite them in, let's get this over with."

 

Rena wasn't sure what the problem with this purple woman was, or why she was groaning, but Rena was wondering what the thing was, and how someone could knock on her door...How had they even arrived at the deepest part of her [Soul] anyway "Come in?" Even so, Rena turned around, and sure enough, a wooden door materialized, and it slowly started opening.

 

"Hell-" The first voice sounded once more as the door was opened...

 

"HELLO!" Only for the door to be opened with a kick by...

 

"Elizabeth?!?!?" Rena exclaimed as she saw the blonde girl with shining green eyes? "No... Who are you?"

 

That wasn't Elizabeth. Even with eyes of a different color, her whole demeanor felt different, unlike Elizabeth, who was dressed in comfortable clothes; this blonde was dressed in what seemed to be clothes more geared towards beauty without minding the wearer's comfort. It was such a weird change, to see someone who looked like Elizabeth dressed with how she would imagine someone would dress... Without the lazy aspect that Elizabeth always had, even so. While this girl looked good, Rena didn't feel her pulse speed up, nor was she interested in her.

 

"Oh, see I told you she would notice I am not Elizabeth." The blonde girl smirked while turning to the door where the other girl remained, it was a black haired girl with golden eyes, this one also was a weird version of Elizabeth. To be precise, of her shift as [Shadow Empress]. Rena hadn't been that surprised when she found about that, from the begining when she was tainted and bound to Akira she had suspected this.

 

"You aren't acting like Elizabeth; of course, she will notice it, is." The black-haired girl sighed as she answered.

 

"Alice and Chloe, was it?" the purple-haired woman said as she turned to look at the two girls.

 

"Crystal," the blonde said, turning to look at the purple-haired woman. She seemed to be looking down on this purple-haired woman.

 

"....Hello...Mistress..." the black-haired girl said, getting an arched eyebrow from the purple-haired woman and a groan from the blonde.

 

"Uuughh....really? She isn't even the one you worked under!" Chloe groaned while pointing at the purple-haired woman, "I mean, she probably looks the same. But look at this one! Was the one you worked with like her? Just Look at her, she is within our turf trying to get one of Elizabeth's wives to be a trojan horse!"

 

SHE WHAT?!?!?

 

"I know sis...but she feels the same, even if she is quite pitiful at the moment, she is still someone who Elizabeth can't deal with, she needs to focus on mortal firsts!" Alice answered making the purple-haired woman narrow her eyes at them.

 

"[Enough]." Rena felt the space around them wanting to crumble.

 

It was as if reality wanted to impose their might upon them, Rena wasn't sure if she should feel anything or not. But...

 

"I mean sure, so anyway we came to offer you a job Rena." Chloe said ignoring the purple-haired glare and snapped her fingers.

 

"We think you could take a look at this and see if it's fine for you, we are still getting ready on our side, we have been rushing things as we can since Elizabeth is known to not think, but this is what we can offer as of now." Alice added standing behind Chloe, as if to hide behind the blonde.

 

It was such a weird image, she remembered fighting against [The Shadow Empress], and Elizabeth had been so.... domineering while on that appareance, seeing this meek girl instead of the image she had of Elizabeth as a [Villain] was... weird.

 

"...tch. [FINE], pick your poison Emma Brown. My door will always be open, even if you decide to walk...somewhere else." The purple haired woman said and she snapped her fingers while hmping.

 

"..." "..." "?"

 

Rena looked at the purple-haired woman, who only snapped her fingers again, confused, then she stood and looked closer at her hand and snapped her fingers again.

 

"...?" "..." ";3"

 

"Did you forget something, granny?" Chloe smirked as she looked at her nails as if to make sure they were perfect.

 

"Sis?" Alice (Who was still hiding behind the blonde girl) pulled at the other girl's blouse, "Please don't be mean to my former boss?"

 

"What are you doing? How can a mere [Echo] do this?" The purple-haired woman said turning to the two girls, totally ignoring Rena.

 

"You forgot where we are and who we are." Chloe answered with an evil smile on her face, "We are within ■■■■■■■■■'s Domain, and we are her Divine Spirits."

 

"That doesn't explain how you are doing this, no [God] would grant such authority upon their subjects," Crystal said back as her eyes narrowed... "OF COURSE THAT STUPID BIMBO WOULD DO IT, ALSDKFHJASLDFKJH"

 

"...First of all, rude," Chloe said with a smirk on her face.

 

"But true, ■■■■■■■■■ did something we wouldn't even think of doing in her position," Alice said from behind.

 

"True, anyway. On your way you go granny, send Mother and Papa our regards and tell them they are welcome to visit when they want~" And like that a portal made of light materialized behind Crystal.

 

The purple-haired woman eyed it for a few seconds and walked across it after making sure it was safe. Rena wasn't sure what to get from that interaction, so she decided that she would need to speak with Rossaline about it, for now. She turned to look at the two girls, she had questions. Many questions. But a new black screen materialized in front of her before she could even think of stating any of her questions.

 

"....will this?" Rena asked as she went through the options.

 

"Yes, Rossaline already took one of these. It is similar to your position within our Domain." Chloe answered. "To be honest, these are the ones you have earned in your own right. We will do almost nothing and grant you probably the same if not less than what Crystal."

 

Even so, the mere fact that this would tie her closer to Elizabeth...No wait, "Does this mean that you can offer me things that aren't reliant on what I earned? But things that are born only from what I lived and earned with Elizabeth?" Rena wanted her third job to be especial, to be something she had earned with her efforts with Elizabeth.

 

"...It is possible...but they...aren't what I think you would like, or Elizabeth would. Alice? If you would?" Chloe said turning to the black-haired girl.

 

"Fine, but don't say we didn't warn you, these that Chloe brought are the ones that are closer to what you are doing and could flourish more." Alice said as she placed both of her hands atop her chest and as if plucking something from within, she pulled a small azure ember, "These are what we can offer you from what Elizabeth thinks of you."

 

"...." Rena read them and then went through them one by one to make sure she was reading them correctly.

 

"...I'm sorry." Alice groaned as Rena did a third read.

 

"Oof...she has it almost as bad as Mother." Chloe said from the side, peeking at the black screen. Could they see them too?

 

"Sis... do we have it as bad?" Alice asked worriedly as she also peeked at the screen.

 

Rude, this was personal.

 

"Nah, we are fine. I mean, you have it better since your Mother is that bitch Echidna..." Chloe laughed as she said that, "But no, Elizabeth has it bad. Anyway, just pick one of the normal ones, for your level 75 job we will have worked out the kinks out of these things, some quirks may persist but it will not show as much by that point."

 

"Oh..." Rena said in a small voice as she took another look at the jobs, she... liked them, even if they seemed like silly things. No, it was because she could feel Elizabeth's ramblings in these. So after reading all the jobs available to her, both from the blue and black screens.

 

Watanabe Rena smiled at herself and made her choice, "Please finalize the job evolution." She said as her finger pressed the option.