Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume10 Chapter9 (section)

===Part 1===

&mdash;Kamito. Hey, Kamito.

It was that voice again... The voice very similar to hers.

His consciousness enshrouded in darkness, Kamito found himself surrounded gently by the voice.

The way her arms embraced Kamito when he was young.

(...Me&mdash;did I fail to protect ''again''?)

The leather glove covering his left hand had been burned away by fire, revealing the spirit seal.

On it was written his regrets from three years ago.

This hand had failed to save her who had been devoured by darkness.

Then Kamito had failed again to protect his precious comrade&mdash;Claire Rouge.

Despite possessing enough power to be called the Strongest Blade Dancer, when it came to truly precious people, he always&mdash;

&mdash;It is still not too late, Kamito.

(...Really?)

In his hazy consciousness, Kamito asked with dependency.

&mdash;Really. If you thirst for power, simply form a contract with me.

(Con...tract...)

Just as Kamito was about to follow the voice that surrounded him, as he was about to nod&mdash;

(Who are you...?)

He gathered his little remaining willpower and resisted.

Then the voice laughed lightly&mdash;

&mdash;My name is Ren Ashdoll. The existence you people call the Darkness Elemental Lord.

(...What did... you say!?)

Suddenly, Kamito felt soft feathers against his face.

Before his eyes, the black-winged darkness spirit stood smiling.

A being very similar to Restia, but not Restia.

(...You are the Darkness Elemental Lord, Ren Ashdoll?)

Kamito asked with a hoarse voice.

&mdash;Indeed, this darkness spirit is the vessel where my will inhabits.

&mdash;The being that guides towards awakening the Demon King who carries my power.

The ''being'' with Restia's appearance extended a hand towards Kamito.

&mdash;Come on, take my hand, Ren Ashbell.

&mdash;If you form a contract with me, your Wishes will all be realized.

(...My wish?)

namely the power to protect precious comrades&mdash;''The power to not lose anything ever again''.

(I... want...)

Kamito's final rationality was devoured by darkness.

Thus, the Demon King took the Darkness Elemental Lord's hand.

The being with Restia's appearance melted into a mass and turned into a single-edged sword.

A jet black demon sword exuding ominous miasma.

His sanity devoured by darkness, Kamito's throat let loose a roar.