Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume5 Chapter6 (section)

===Part 5===

The tower resonated with the music of the ball. Meanwhile, in the garden...

Stood that girl in the bright red mask. 

"It is finally about to begin... Ren Ashbell."

"Yes."

A black-winged angel suddenly fell behind her. 

The girl had hair as black as midnight and eyes as amber as the sunset; she was surely the darkness spirit Restia. 

"It seems that... Kamito has passed your trial."

"That the sword spirit would move to take the brunt of the curse was a surprise to me, but that was only an emergency solution – the Gate that has been opened will definitely not be able to close now."

Ren Ashbell spoke coldly. 

"If he really becomes swallowed by the darkness, won't that ruin your plans?"

"If that man's tolerance level is so low, he would not be able to become my trump card, in any case."

"Have you found a Queen willing to serve him?"

"I have found several candidates to choose from, but that is none of your business."

"– The candidate you speak of wouldn't happen to be your sister, would it?"

All of a sudden, the grass and trees all around them burst into flames. 

And in a moment, turned into ashes that scattered to the ground. 

"Darkness spirit, you would do well to watch your tone of voice."

"Oooh, scary... I was just joking."

The only things to be heard in the darkness were the endless echoes of mocking laughter. 

The black-winged darkness spirit had already disappeared, unnoticed.

Ren Ashbell smacked her lips lightly and turned her gaze towards a cluster of trees in the garden. 

"– Eavesdropping is an activity only for lowlifes... Dracunia girl."

"You mustn't be serious, you found out a long time ago, didn't you?"

The figure that emerged from behind the trees was indeed the Dracunia contestant Leonora Lancaster. 

She was staring intently at Ren Ashbell with pupils glowing red. 

She was emanating a dangerously murderous aura, so much so that anyone would have been aware of her presence. 

She was holding a huge blade – the Dragon Slayer Sacred Sword.

"– Look at you all fierce-like, what highly important matter can I help you with?"

"The dragon within me wishes to do battle with a fellow strong warrior. I hope you will accept."

Although Leonora's choice of words was polite, her tone revealed her unconcealable intense feelings. 

Her eyes burned with the aggressive hunger of someone looking for a good fight. Anyone who knew her normal personality would surely think that this was someone else altogether. 

"You have the Dracunia-inherited blood of the dragon, do you now – you certainly are one interesting girl."

Ren Ashbell mused from behind her mask. 

"Come... Strongest blade dancer, draw your sword!"

Leonora grasped her sword tightly, preparing herself to meet an attack. Her conscious mind tried to temper her impulsivity with logic and reason, but her body gave off an aura that made one think that she was liable to attack them at any moment. 

"Think of your own standard and reconsider. A rookie like you isn't even worth using my Godslaying Flame on."

"You will... regret this... Ren Ashbell!"

Leonora, rendered incoherent by rage, charged forward with all her strength. 

She struck a blow far stronger and faster than any mere human would have been able to muster. 

In a flash, the stone flooring in the garden shattered into innumerable fragments and flew in all directions – !

Except – 

"Nice move, but too bad... Swords can't cut through flames."

In the spot where Leonora's sword had struck, the figure of the Strongest Blade Dancer was nowhere to be found. 

"... What!?"

Leonora turned; right then, a mighty force struck her directly on the chest. 

"Oooh... Aaaah...!"

Leonora bent over in pain, and the masked girl murmured beside her ear:

"It might be interesting to take the dragon to meet the demon king. Power like yours might just be useful to assist in his awakening."

"... What... are you... saying..."

With her hand still pressed to Leonora's chest, on the spot where her blow had struck her, Ren Ashbell chanted a brief curse. 

A black flame emerged from her fingertips, then spread to Leonora's heart. 

"Rejoice, Dracunia girl – I will tell you who your most suitable opponent is."

"Aaaaa... aaaaaaaaaaah!"

The girl's tortured cry reverberated through the garden – 

Leonora then lost consciousness.