"These three Super-Rare Traits…"
Kurose Akira's gaze locked onto the three options shimmering before him. His mind began to turn rapidly, weighing each possibility with care.
Compared to [Sword of Dawn] and [Rule Breaker], he found himself more drawn to [Unlimited Blade Works]—the promise of large-scale, full-field devastation was simply too tempting.
That said, [Rule Breaker]'s enhancement to the self couldn't be underestimated. And [Sword of Dawn] sounded like a direct amplification to weapon power—also an excellent choice.
He hesitated.
Deeply.
At the end of the day, his understanding of these Traits was still based on speculation. Their true effects remained unknown.
"Got it."
A flash of inspiration struck him.
If he couldn't decide—
Why not let Loserine choose based on her own needs?
But first, they needed to leave the training grounds.
The commotion from the battle had already stirred members of the Yerman family from their sleep. If they lingered any longer, they'd draw unnecessary attention.
"Let's head back to your room first."
"Mm."
Loshia promptly led Akira and Loserine back to her chambers.
—
"Loserine, how does it feel after the breakthrough?" Akira asked.
"Exhilarating… like never before."
She lifted her crystalline skeletal hand, studying it as starlight refracted across its surface.
"I can clearly feel the surge of power inside me. The growth was… explosive."
She had never felt so strong.
It wasn't just the increase in stats.
After conquering the fear buried deep within her heart, her mental state had undergone a transformation as well. A refinement.
She felt… elevated.
"Aunt, you should be able to contend with the top Star Knights now, right?" Loshia asked, admiration shining brightly in her blue eyes.
Loserine shook her head calmly.
"There is still a gap. The foremost Star Knights possess a depth forged through countless real battles. That foundation is something I still lack."
Though her strength had leapt forward in quality, she understood that true parity required more than raw numbers—it required experience, accumulation.
"Then what do you think you're still missing?" Akira asked quietly.
Loserine lowered her head in thought.
After a moment, she raised it again.
"My weapons, my attributes, my swordsmanship… those are already formidable. What I lack is a decisive method—a means to alter the flow of battle. A trump card."
She knew it clearly.
If she wished to catch up to the two strongest members within the guild—
Mare Rhine and Lucia—
She needed more.
Lucia's Divine Prison of Light.
Mare Rhine's multiple combat forms.
Those were powers beyond her current reach.
That was what she lacked.
"A method to turn the tide…"
Akira lowered his gaze.
The Oathbound Sword was a pseudo-Mythic weapon—its power required no explanation. Her Traits were largely physical enhancements, and her transcendent sword technique, Radiant Annihilation, was sufficient against all current-tier enemies.
Only one flaw remained.
She lacked a true finishing move.
A decisive ability capable of reversing catastrophe in a single stroke.
"I understand."
He looked up.
And selected—
[Unlimited Blade Works].
[Unlimited Blade Works (Domain): Within a sword domain composed of countless blades, Loserine may freely summon and wield any stored weapon at will. While inside the domain, all attributes increase by X%, and lethality increases by X%, where X scales based on the number of stored weapons. Weapon quality affects maximum storage capacity. (Current Storage: 50)]
Akira's eyes sharpened.
Fifty stored weapons.
That likely originated from the pseudo-Mythic Oathbound Sword—or more precisely, from its Legendary-grade classification. A Legendary weapon granting storage capacity for fifty blades.
Which meant—
The more weapons Loserine possessed, the stronger Unlimited Blade Works would become.
If she had one hundred Legendary weapons…
Akira inhaled sharply.
Five thousand percent attribute amplification.
Even demigods would hesitate before that edge.
But one hundred Legendary weapons?
That was no small sum.
Each Legendary-grade piece cost thousands of gold coins.
And the guild's current treasury was nowhere near sufficient.
"…Heh."
Akira coughed lightly, a hint of resignation flickering across his expression.
Loserine, who had once been a free laborer, was now evolving into a gold-devouring beast.
Still—
Another realization struck him.
Unlimited Blade Works granted her… a Domain.
A Domain.
He hadn't anticipated that.
In other words—
Had he just created something akin to a Saint-level existence?
The moment the Trait was applied—
Loserine's eyes closed.
She felt it immediately.
Power flowed from Akira into her soul-body like a surging tide.
The sensation was overwhelming.
Loshia watched closely, her blue eyes widening.
"Aunt…?"
"It looks like we won't be returning to the guild tonight," Akira said after a glance. He could see she had fallen into deep comprehension of the Domain's mysteries.
He turned to Loshia.
"May we stay here for the night?"
"Of course!"
The answer came instantly.
But the moment the words left her lips—
Her mind caught up.
Stay here?
In her room?
Wait—
That wasn't appropriate, was it?
But it was too late to retract the invitation now.
"I'm exhausted. I'll get some sleep."
After being thoroughly "handled" by Ivesha earlier—and with the hour already deep into the night—fatigue hit Akira like a wave.
He sank into a chair.
His eyelids grew heavy.
And soon, he drifted into sleep.
Loserine remained seated as well, still immersed in her comprehension of the Domain, her form unmoving.
And so—
Both of them slept in sitting positions.
Leaving Loshia alone.
Awake.
Staring.
Unsure what to do.
Should she sleep?
Or remain awake and wait?
Her thoughts drifted as her gaze unconsciously settled on the two figures sitting side by side.
For some reason…
They looked strangely harmonious together.
Like a pair of transcendent beings.
A perfect couple.
"What am I thinking?!"
She shook her head quickly, trying to dispel the thought.
Her aunt was over thirty.
Akira was barely eighteen or nineteen.
That made no sense.
Her own age was much closer to his—
"…"
She shook her head again.
Both hands rose to cup her flushed cheeks.
Her thoughts were drifting dangerously off-course.
"…Him."
Her clear, lake-blue eyes slowly descended.
Toward the Holy Light.
She still vividly remembered what had happened in the guild's bathhouse.
It was the first time she had witnessed a man's Holy Light.
Though she lacked comparison, she was absolutely certain—
Akira's Holy Light was abnormal.
That radiant brilliance far exceeded ordinary human standards.
At the very least—
With her knight-trained physique—
She absolutely could not withstand it.
But perhaps…
Could Aunt…?
"Loshia! What are you even thinking?!"
She slapped her cheeks lightly, trying to regain composure.
And yet—
Her gaze refused to move.
Curiosity coiled inside her heart.
An irrational urge.
She wanted to measure it.
To understand just how terrifying that Holy Light truly was…