Chapter 58: Chalice of Eternal Ember
The artifact descended slowly, hovering in the air before them. It was a chalice—ancient, blackened silver, but the fla within was not extinguished. A violet fire burned steadily, casting eerie shadows across the chamber walls. The dark mana radiating from it made Andrey’s Ki senses recoil.
Sein stared at the floating chalice, her gauntlets dimd. "How are we supposed to purify this thing? Lisa’s not here."
The system’s holographic screen flickered to life, its tone reassuring.
System: Don’t worry~ With the power of love, you can purify anything. Just calm your heart and let your affection flow into the artifact.
Andrey adjusted his cracked glasses, wincing at the pain in his ribs. "So only a Magical Girl can purify it."
System: Correct~ Sein-chan, it’s ti to show the power of your love!
Sein’s face flushed red. "Shut up, you bastard system! What ’power of love’?! I don’t have anything like that!"
System: Ehehe~ Is that so? You still haven’t realized it, have you? How cute~
Sein’s voice rose, flustered. "What do you an by that, system?! Don’t say weird things! The important thing is I just have to put my hand on that artifact, right?"
System: That’s right~ But you have to be careful not to get contaminated again. You were corroded before, so you’re still a little vulnerable. Fight it off with the power of your love~
Andrey’s expression tightened with concern. "Isn’t that dangerous? Sein is still susceptible to contamination."
Sein shot him a look, her earlier embarrassnt hardening into determination. "Relax. I’m not so weak that I’ll get corrupted twice. You just lie down and rest."
She pointed at a relatively flat section of stone floor near the wall. "You look like you’re about to collapse. Go. Sit. Don’t interfere."
Andrey hesitated, his gaze lingering on her face. The bruise on her cheek, the exhaustion in her eyes but also the fire. That stubborn, unyielding fire that had made her an S-rank.
He nodded slowly. "Alright. I trust you."
He walked to the wall and lowered himself to the ground, his back against the cold stone. His body ached everywhere. The stored energy was gone, his Ki reserves depleted, and the cuts and burns from the demon’s flas throbbed with every heartbeat.
Sein approached the chalice. The violet fla cast strange shadows across her face, making her look older, more tired. She raised her hand, palm flat, and hesitated.
’This is it,’ she thought. ’If I ss this up, the dark mana could take
again. And this ti... there might be no coming back.’
She glanced over her shoulder at Andrey. He was sitting against the wall, his cracked glasses reflecting the purple light, his eyes fixed on her. He didn’t look away.
Sein turned back to the chalice.
’Fine. If I’m going to be a Magical Girl, I might as well act like one.’
She pressed her palm against the cold tal.
The violet fla surged.
Dark mana lashed out from the chalice, wrapping around Sein’s arm like living shadows. She gasped, her body jerking as the corruption tried to force its way into her. The sa cold, sickening feeling she’d experienced in the Vixion gate—the one that had nearly destroyed her.
But this ti, she fought back.
’Not again,’ she thought, gritting her teeth. ’I won’t let this thing take
again!’
Her Magical Girl energy flared—crimson and orange, pushing against the darkness. The shadows hissed, recoiling, then pressed forward again.
System: Sein-chan, rember! The power of love! Think of soone that makes your heart warm!
Sein’s mind raced. ’Warm? What warmth?! I don’t have—’
Andrey’s face flashed before her eyes. Not the smug, glasses-wearing workaholic she’d t in the plaza. The Andrey who had carried her out of the Association hallway. The Andrey who had held her when the corruption was eating her alive. The Andrey who had fought beside her, who had trusted her, who had looked at her like she was worth saving even when she didn’t believe it herself.
’Damn it,’ she thought, her chest tightening. ’Fine. Maybe there is sothing.’
The crimson light around her blazed brighter. The dark mana shrieked and withdrew, retreating back into the chalice. The violet fla flickered, then changed—turning from purple to orange to a warm, steady gold.
Sein’s palm remained pressed against the tal. The chalice trembled, then went still.
The golden fla burned gently, peacefully.
System: Purification complete! Contaminated artifact #2 acquired: Chalice of Eternal Ember.
Quest progress: 2/12 artifacts collected.
Rewards:
Sein:
800 EXP | Level 4 → Level 8! Stabilization complete. Dark energy residue reduced to 0%. New skill unlocked: Ember’s Blessing (healing fla that restores allies over ti), Crimson Nova (unleashes a explosive wave of fla in all directions, dealing heavy damage to nearby enemies. 30-second cooldown).
Host Andrey:
800 EXP | Level 14 → Level 15! Ki Manipulation Lv3 → Lv4 (Ki flow efficiency
15%). New technique unlocked: Ki Reinforcent (temporarily harden skin against physical attacks).
The chalice floated gently into Sein’s hands, its golden fla warm against her fingers. She stared at it for a mont, then let out a long, shaky breath.
"I did it," she whispered.
Andrey pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the protest of his muscles. He walked toward her, his footsteps echoing in the now-quiet chamber.
"You did," he said. "Good work."
Sein looked up at him, her eyes bright with sothing she couldn’t quite na. Then she looked away, her cheeks flushing.
"Don’t stare at
like that, Glasses. It’s creepy."
Andrey’s lips twitched. "Sorry."
Behind them, the possessed hero groaned, stirring from unconsciousness. The dark energy around him was gone. His eyes, when they opened, were their natural color—brown, confused, and filled with pain.
"Wha... what happened...?" he mumbled, trying to sit up.
Sein glanced at him, then back at Andrey. "We should get him out of here. The gate’s about to collapse."
Andrey nodded. "Let’s go."
He offered Sein his hand. She took it, and he pulled her to her feet. The chalice still glowed gently in her other hand.
They walked toward the unconscious hero, ready to carry him to safety.
And then the system chid again, its voice suddenly sheepish.
System: Oh, by the way, Host~ You should be careful. There are probably leftover monsters that will try to attack Sein-chan while she’s holding the artifact~
Andrey stopped mid-step. His head turned slowly toward the holographic screen. "Why are you telling
this now?"
System: Ehehe~ Sorry~ I forgot~
Andrey’s eye twitched. "You ’forgot’?"
System: In my defense, it was very romantic watching Sein-chan purify the artifact~ I got distracted~
Sein, who had been listening, let out a long, exasperated sigh. "I hate this system."
Andrey pinched the bridge of his nose, his cracked glasses shifting slightly. "Just tell us where the monsters are coming from."
System: Everywhere~ Good luck~
The shadows at the edges of the chamber began to stir. Red eyes flickered in the darkness. Low growls echoed off the stone walls.
Sein shifted the chalice to one hand and raised her free gauntlet. "Tch. Of course."
Andrey drew his katana, the blade gleaming in the golden light of the purified artifact.
"Stay close to ," he said. "We’re getting out of here together."
Sein stood back-to-back with him, her crimson gauntlet flaring.
"Wouldn’t have it any other way, Glasses."
The monsters charged.
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