Watching Zeta engulfed in flames, Beta drew her bow again and aimed forward, gathering a massive amount of Magical Power into the arrow in her hand.
She was confident in this technique, something she had learned directly from Shadow-sama, but she didn't believe a single strike would be enough to take Zeta out. After all, she hadn't fully unleashed its power earlier.
Still, it shouldn't be far off. Shadow-sama had said that mastering this move would be enough to defeat Alpha.
As the flames faded, what appeared before Beta was a completely transformed Zeta.
Creaking sounds echoed from her body, like something grinding beneath the surface.
Her golden hair grew wildly, spreading out in a disordered mass. Fangs extended from her mouth, and her entire presence became more like a beast than a person.
"Hey, Zeta, that's going too far. This is just a spar. Using that is overkill."
Beta sucked in a breath, worry and unease showing on her face as she lowered her bow.
She knew this technique. Aside from Delta, the Seven Shadows were familiar with each other's pasts.
Zeta had once explained that this was a forbidden technique her father used to save her. It granted tremendous power, but at the cost of rapidly consuming the user's life. Usually, they wouldn't survive a single day after using it.
"Don't worry. I improved it. I had Eta integrate the Divine Beastialization from World No. 2 into it. It only consumes Magical Power now, not life…"
Seeing Beta's concern, Zeta reassured her in a cold voice, tilting her head slightly as she looked at her.
"Still want to fight?"
Beta fell silent.
Zeta's presence alone was overwhelming. Just standing there, she made Beta's instincts scream danger.
"…Yeah. We fight. At least we need to make it look real."
Beta hesitated, but still answered. If she lost, Zeta would at least have something to say to Shadow-sama. If she just gave up, there would be nothing to explain.
"That's exactly why I said you're not suited for this."
Zeta remained expressionless, simply shrugging as she spoke.
The next moment, her right foot slammed forward. The ground cracked open instantly, and Zeta vanished. A sonic boom echoed through the air.
Facing the incoming attack, Beta fired another arrow packed with Magical Power, trying to buy time.
But this time was different. After using the forbidden technique, Zeta's speed and strength had increased, and even her physical durability had been enhanced.
Her golden ring shattered the incoming arrow. The Magical Power detonated instantly, causing a violent explosion, but before the blast could reach her, Zeta had already broken through it.
In an instant, she was right in front of Beta.
Beta's pupils shrank. She tried to raise her weapon, but Zeta was faster.
Letting go of the golden ring, Zeta clenched her fist and drove it straight into Beta's abdomen.
"Guh!"
A sour taste rose in her throat as Beta collapsed to her knees from a single blow, her mouth opening soundlessly.
"You've lost. Stay out of this."
Ignoring her condition, Zeta spoke calmly.
"Hah… hah… Zeta… aren't you afraid I'll tell Shadow-sama?"
Clutching her stomach and gasping for air, Beta forced out the words.
"If you want to, go ahead."
Zeta turned and left without looking back.
After resting for a while, Beta finally managed to stand. A thoughtful look crossed her eyes, but in the end, she just shook her head.
"Forget it. I'm staying out of this. I'll leave it to Zeta. No matter what she does, she won't go too far. I'll check another place instead."
She picked up the still-unconscious Alexia and slung her over her shoulder, then walked out through the door. Along the way, she even greeted a few Shadow Garden members she passed.
...
"Anyway, that's the situation. Got it, Asia?"
With his hands on his hips, Cid looked at Asia, who seemed to half understand, and asked.
"I understand, Cid-san. I understand."
Asia nodded eagerly.
"…Hmm?"
Cid narrowed his eyes, staring at her suspiciously. Why did he have such a bad feeling about this?
"Then tell me what you understood."
"Cid-san is the Child of God!"
You didn't understand anything at all.
Cid smacked his forehead and let out a sigh.
"I'll explain it one more time…"
Taking a deep breath, Cid looked at Asia seriously.
"To keep Xenovia and the others from discovering my true identity, I'm going to disguise myself as the Child of God and let them find me, so they'll leave as soon as possible. And for that, I need your help, Asia."
As he spoke, Cid grew visibly excited. He had been wanting to play out this Eminence in Shadow scenario for a long time.
"When I start acting as the 'Child of God,' I need you to subtly guide them in that direction.
To avoid raising suspicion, though honestly I doubt they'd even suspect anything given their intelligence, but just in case, I'll set the plan for the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, you'll help Xenovia and the others search for the Child of God.
Of course, you won't find anything tomorrow, but that doesn't matter. The real part begins the day after.
I'll disguise myself as the Child of God and deliberately leave traces for you to follow. But every time, you'll arrive just after I've left. You'll miss me again and again, keep searching, and only after several attempts will you finally find me.
And before that, you'll run into all sorts of trouble. To make it convincing, I need you to stay with them."
Cid paused, thinking.
"I was going to give you an earpiece… no, that'd be too easy to notice. Use this instead."
Remembering that Asia's blonde hair made it hard to conceal anything, Cid tapped his forehead and switched methods.
He took out the "Library" and poured his Magical Power into it, extracting a strand of specially refined energy.
A pure white flow of Magical Power emerged from the crystal under his control and gathered in his hand.
He set the "Library" on the table, then turned around, only to notice Asia standing there in a daze, her eyes fixed on it.
Cid blinked and waved a hand in front of her face, but she didn't respond at all.
After a moment's thought, he turned back and put the "Library" away.
As soon as it disappeared, Asia suddenly jolted, as if waking from a dream. She looked around in confusion, then turned back toward Cid.
"Cid-san?"
"You saw it?"
"Huh?"
Seeing that her confusion didn't seem fake, Cid narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Never mind. Asia, come closer."
Asia obediently leaned in, and Cid pressed that strand of Magical Power into her body.
[Can you hear me?]
"Cid-san?!"
Cid's voice suddenly echoed inside her mind. Asia instinctively looked at him, only to see that his lips hadn't moved at all.
"Good. That works. I'll use this to contact you."
Cid nodded in satisfaction. For a moment, he had thought there was something wrong with the "Library."