Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume20 Prologue (section)

===Part 3===

Surrounded by infinite darkness without boundary&mdash;

Kamito was facing a maiden who had outspread wings of jet black.

The girl's shining golden eye was like a bright full moon in the darkness.

Her beautiful face was identical to Restia's.

With the two of them were placed together, one would definitely see them as sisters.

The Darkness Elemental Lord&mdash;Ren Ashdoll.

The renegade Elemental Lord. She was both Restia's creator and the source of the Demon King's power&mdash;

"...!"

"Do not be nervous, my adorable child&mdash;"

The Lord of Darkness smiled at Kamito who was glaring seriously at her.

Her expression and demeanor were quite similar to Restia's.

Nevertheless, Kamito was suspicious.

Was this girl truly the owner of the voice enticing Kamito to become the Demon King?

Every time the power of darkness was drawn out, that voice had sounded in Kamito's mind.

Corrupted by the Otherworldly Darkness, she ought to be speaking with greater madness.

However, there was not the slightest sign of insanity in the maiden in front of him.

Originally, that power was so strong that he could feel it palpably.

Visiting Dracunia previously, in an audience with the legendary dragon spirit, he had also sensed considerably strong power&mdash;

This girl was undoubtedly on the same level of power as that dragon king, at least.

"No need to be wary. I am simply the avatar of part of her darkness power."

"Avatar?"

"You must have met the Water Elemental Lord's avatar, yes? I am the same as her."

"...Like Iseria?"

Kamito had met Iseria Seaward in Astral Zero, the avatar of the Water Elemental Lord's will that Ren Ashbell had liberated three years earlier. Although she was quite powerful compared to ordinary spirits, her original power had actually been weakened greatly.

(...I see now, an ''avatar'', huh?)

Kamito understood for now.

Why was the Darkness Elemental Lord's avatar here? Although Kamito wanted to ask this, there were more urgent questions.

"...Say, where am I? What happened to me?"

All Kamito could remember last was the angel summoned by Millennia Sanctus.

After the battle, devoured by the power of darkness, he had lost consciousness. Speaking of which, was he inside his own consciousness, devoured by darkness, or inside her consciousness?

"It is as you think, adorable child."

As though reading Kamito's thoughts, the Darkness Elemental Lord's avatar spoke.

"This is inside your own soul, devoured by her darkness."

"...I see."

Kamito nodded.

Even if told he was inside his own soul, to be honest, it did not feel real at all. But there was a weird sense of deja vu in this space, which indirectly supported the truth of her answer.

"So what exactly do you want me to do?"

"Fufu, I am very glad that you understand&mdash;"

The avatar girl flapped her jet black wings, looking quite happy.

...Restia often did that too when she was in a good mood.

"I hope you will inherit Ren Ashdoll's power next."

"What did you say?"

Kamito could not help but ask.

"What do you mean? If I inherit her power, that power will swallow me, right?"

"Indeed, but that is part of her plan too&mdash;"

The Darkness Elemental Lord's avatar pointed into the air, summoning a gigantic orb of darkness.

"...!?"

Kamito entered a stance, putting his hands on hilts of his two swords.

"Do not misunderstand. I simply wish to chat with you about the past."

"...The past?"

"Yes, it is necessary for you to know. Where the Otherworldly Darkness corrupting the Elemental Lords came from, and the reason she had her power reincarnated in a human&mdash;"

The surface of the orb of darkness began to distort, then projected an image.
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