“We’re all here. Perfect!”

Everyone was now present, which meant all the adversaries had been dealt with.

Of course, there was no way of knowing if there were even more waiting for them in the pruned world, but they could only find out once they got there.

“It takes a vast amount of energy to create the Arcanas. I expected Ciel to have more energy since she had the intention of duplicating more of us along with our Constellations. But looking at her reserves now, it’s mostly empty.” Ana murmured as she looked at the doll-like Ciel.

The human puppet was standing right beside the equally marionette-like Maria.

“Since you mentioned encountering Ciel, this one must be a duplicate too. It has all the abilities the original Ciel has, but not enough energy to compensate for it.”

“Energy isn’t an issue. You can use mine.” Kuzon suggested, and Ana nodded instantly.

“I figured.”

In the end, energy wasn’t an issue for the group.

Before long, Kuzon was able to provide the required amount of Aether, and once Ana converted it into the kind that Ciel required to utilize her Original Magic Forge Of Creation, the plan was already in motion.

The relevant Arcana—The World—was generated.

Since it required the abilities of all the other Arcanas to be properly formed, Kuzon had to grant enough Aether to produce them all and merge everything to create The World.

“Feel drained?”

“No. I’m fine.” Kuzon replied, his gaze focusing on the sole Arcana that now floated in the air.

The only ticket they had to stop Ciel.

“This had better work…” Ana said to herself, a deep sigh escaping her lips.

“It’s going to work. You postulated it, after all.”

Upon hearing Kuzon’s encouraging words, and seeing the rest of her friends nod in agreement, Ana’s smile widened.

Her confidence soared, causing her to bob her head with resolve.

“Alright! I’ll try my best to openly navigate this thing!” Ana smiled, her blue eyes gleaming.

“Here goes nothing!”

********

Ciel sat in silence as she looked at the vastness of emptiness.

Right beside her was a pitch black cocoon—almost twice as large as an adult male.

This incredibly small and dense sphere contained her partner, Legris, and it was her duty to guard it until his Amalgamation was complete.

“The plan worked, and we’re now separate from a reality that they can interfere in. I guess it’s time to wait things out.”

Ciel felt a tinge of relief course through her, and for good reason.

Initially, she had wondered what it would be like to take everyone on. However, after facing only a few of their adversaries, she now realized how suicidal that was.

“I can’t take all of them on my own.”

It was obvious at this point.

‘I’ve also lost a decent amount of the Aether I stole from the Constellation Realm. Trying to duplicate that Midas took a major chunk of everything.”

And the worst part about that entire venture was that it failed.

It was frustrating, but Ciel endured regardless.

‘Looks like the last contingency that Legris planned was unnecessary…’ Ciel smiled, the image of Stefan popping into her mind.

‘Well, his mission is important regardless. It’s best to eliminate anything that could be a threat before they fully mature.’

As Ciel closed her eyes, a smile formed on her face.

It wouldn’t be long now…

“We’ll finally be reunited.” Whispering to herself, she enjoyed the moment of bliss and silence that was now made free for her.

Until…

~ZZTTTZZZZZZZ~

… She sensed something off.

“What in the…?” As she opened her eyes, Ciel found all the relief that had accumulated within her disappear at once.

Swirling in the air above her was a multicolored portal. It distorted space and caused everything around it to warp and warble.

She would have instantly tried to close the gate at once, considering the implications, but by the time she had opened her eyes it was too late.

There were already people floating in front of the gateway—all eleven of them.

“Hello, Ciel. Did you miss us?” Upon hearing the voice of the Midas in their midst, her heart thumped slightly.

She noticed the smiling faces and healthy bodies of every single member of the team.

Not even a single one was fatally injured or dead. They were all standing in front of her… all of them?!

“This is insane.” She murmured to herself.

“No. You’re insane.” Kuzon responded, his eyes now glowing with an overwhelming shade of golden light.

Once again, she felt intimidated to her core.

Her eyes quickly darted away from him and to the two girls she thought would have at least sustained serious injuries.

She had perfectly duplicated them, yet it seemed like they had overcome the challenge.

It felt absurd, but the reality of what happened was evident with the both of them being present.

“How were you able to—?”

~WHOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!~

Before she was able to say anything more, Kuzon rushed towards her and grabbed her throat.

“Gurk!”

He raised her upward, his eyes burning with a resolute desire to swiftly obtain what he wanted.

“That’s not your concern. I have scanned this entire plans, and it seems no duplicate of yours exists here. It’s just you and this cocoon.”

Kuzon wasn’t wrong.

Ciel had not even considered the possibility that they would be able to reach this place despite how impossible it would be.

She was also trying to conserve energy since she had lost so much.

‘I made a mistake! Damnit…’

Right now she was at his mercy, and even though she was desperately trying to activate her power, she couldn’t.

It felt like he was shutting her out completely.

“This is the end of the line, Ciel.” Kuzon smiled at her, his condescending gaze radiating nothing but certain victory.

The expressions of everyone else also seemed to show the same sentiment.

As it seemed, Ciel was currently out of cards and the grand plan was ruined.

… Or was it?

“Hehehe… is that what you think?” Ciel suddenly chuckled, croaking as Kuzon’s right grip choked her slightly.

Those words were enough to unnerve the group.

Even the confident Kuzon instantly realized that something was wrong.

He tightened his grip as he furrowed his brows. Drawing his face closer to hers, he asked the most pertinent question at this point.

“What… what have you done?”

“Hahaha! Why should I… gurk!” Kuzon’s grip grew stronger, and so did the burning power in his gaze.

“I wasn’t giving you a choice.”

The pressure from Kuzon suddenly shrouded Ciel, forcing her to open her lips and divulge the information she was trying to hoard for a few seconds longer.

She was eventually going to say it, since it was essential to the plan, but Kuzon’s overwhelming authority forced her to open her lips.

“S-Stefan… he is currently going through the contingency plan.”

“Where is he? What is this contingency plan?”

The force propelled Ciel to speak despite her strong desire to stall.

“He… is going to eliminate all of your friends and families… everyone you care about.”

“What?!” Kuzon’s eyes widened instantly.

“Everyone and everything you care about… will be gone!

*

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