972 -960- [ No. 12 ]

"Boom!"

Amidst the thunderous roar, the immense magical power struck the door, creating a strong flash and intense blast that expanded in all directions.

In an instant, dust on the ground was blown up, ceiling dust rained down, and the surrounding stone walls violently shook, causing a staggering explosion that reverberated through the entire stone chamber.

"Woahh...!"

"Miss Liana..!"

In the explosive wind, Gajou's once chaotic voice became muffled, and Kojou also let out a loud cry.

Both of them held their hands in front of their faces, desperately stabilizing their footing to avoid being blown away by the blast.

Rozen also raised one hand to shield his face, while the other arm grabbed Nagisa. However, unlike Gajou and Gajou, he calmly observed the scene, muttering to himself.

"Because it's semi-materialized, it can act as a massive magical power for a direct impact?"

Rozen seemed to grasp something, and a smile played on his lips.

Although he had seen Beast Vassals before, during his time on Itogami Island, vampires rarely used familiars for combat. Instead, they were primarily used for research and analysis. Thus, this was the first time Rozen witnessed a Beast Vassals's attack.

Generally, Beast Vassals like these relied on their semi-materialized form to deliver a fierce impact to enemies. Only Beast Vassals with unique abilities would use other powers.

Liana's two Beast Vassals seemed to lack any special abilities, hence their straightforward attack, creating quite a commotion.

This was why vampire Beast Vassals were considered dangerous; they all possessed excessive destructive power, causing significant collateral damage. In the Demon Sanctuary, simply releasing Beast Vassals without reason could lead to punishment.

If it were Rozen's fully materialized familiars, this wouldn't be an issue. They wouldn't squander their formed magical energy in one go and would act more like true living beings.

Given this...

"If I let familiars exist in a semi-materialized state, transforming into Beast Vassals, although there may be an issue with endurance, I could achieve significant destructive power."

Rozen discovered this point and smiled, finding value in experimenting with this approach.

Once successful, Rozen's familiars could have two forms—fully materialized familiars and semi-materialized familiars.

As a result, Rozen's research project gained another dimension.

Unaware that she had inspired Rozen in this way, Liana bathed in the gusty wind, staring at the stone door ahead. After a while, her expression suddenly changed.

After the gusty wind dissipated, Liana's two familiars had completed their task and disappeared without a trace.

However, a faint halo appeared on the stone door, as if protected by a barrier, completely unscathed.

"This..."

Liana was momentarily dumbfounded.

"To withstand such an attack without any damage?"

Gajou also witnessed this scene and was astonished.

Only Gajou, seemingly anticipating this result, remained nonchalant.

"It seems the little guy over there got it right."

Gajou revealed the outcome, causing Liana's expression to change unpredictably.

Finally, Liana smiled bitterly.

"Since that's the case, please, Miss Nagisa..."

Just as Liana was about to ask Nagisa to remove the seal, she suddenly stopped.

The reason was simple.

"Nagisa has long entered the state of spiritual communion."

Rozen casually released Nagisa, who had been silent since the beginning, into everyone's view.

The crowd then noticed that the usually lively and talkative Nagisa was staring blankly at the stone door, her eyes widening.

At the same time, an inexplicable mysterious aura emanated from Nagisa's body.

"Zeng..."

A faint halo appeared around Nagisa, confirming Rozen's explanation.

At this moment, Nagisa entered a state of spiritual communion, communicating with the spirit that built this temple ruin.

Then, facing the stone door, Nagisa suddenly chanted unfamiliar incantations.

"Zeng————!"

The next second, the faint glow on the walls of the entire ruin became stronger.

The stone walls became transparent like crystal, revealing intricate patterns resembling electronic circuits, forming various symbols.

Nagisa communicated with the spirit that built the ruin, releasing the seal by accepting those spirits.

Immediately after, the stone door, which couldn't be shaken even by the full-force attack of an old-generation pure-blood vampire's Beast Vassals, disappeared as if it had never existed.

A passage leading to the depths of the ruin appeared behind the door.

However, a strong chill accompanied by a gust of wind blew out from it, rushing through the stone chamber.

"So cold...!"

Struck by the freezing gust, Kojou immediately exclaimed.

"It seems the temperature inside is quite low."

Gajou's eyes became sharp.

"Unbelievable, it's really unlocked..."

Liana, who had experienced the formidable seal on the stone door, looked at Nagisa in shock.

But at this moment, Nagisa had already walked towards the passage. In the chilling mist, she disappeared like she merged into the fog.

"Nagisa!"

Kojou immediately chased after without hesitation.

"Really..."

Sighing, Gajou also entered without hesitation.

"Fairy's Coffin..."

After realizing what was happening, Liana, excited and impatient, rushed into the passage.

As for Rozen, he gazed at the chilling passage ahead, his eyes flickering.

This Rozen turned around, looking at the passage behind.

There, silence prevailed.

But Rozen smirked.

"Is the real show about to begin?"

Muttering to himself, Rozen confidently stepped into the passage, vanishing into the cold air.

...

The fog-covered passage wasn't long.

However, the further they walked, the lower the temperature became, making people involuntarily hug themselves and rub their arms.

Nagisa walked absentmindedly, seemingly unaffected by the cold, stepping into the depths.

Gajou, Kojou, Liana, and Rozen walked behind Nagisa, following this exceptional shrine maiden possessed by spirits toward the end of the passage.

Soon, they reached the end.

Exiting the passage, everyone entered a room.

A nearly circular room with an exceptionally high ceiling.

In this room, there was an altar.

Inside the altar, a giant ice block resembling a coffin lay silently.

Within that ice coffin, there was a petite figure.

A girl with translucent and fair skin, a delicately innocent face, light golden hair with faint pigmentation, resembling a fairy with a dreamy and beautiful appearance.

Seeing this girl, everyone's reactions were different.

"That is..."

Kojou was utterly stunned.

"We finally found it..."

Gajou's frivolous smile disappeared, replaced by a murmur.

"That is..."

Liana was both excited and moved.

Observing the girl in the ice coffin, Rozen's eyes gleamed.

"Is she the Fourth Primogenitor?"

Rozen inquired of Gajou.

"That's right."

Gajou nodded at first, then shook his head, speaking.

"But to be more accurate, she should be a part of the Fourth Primogenitor."

Yes.

The girl before them was indeed a part of the Fourth Primogenitor.

"We finally found you, No. 12..."

Liana revealed a smile.

—"No. 12."

This was the alias the girl possessed.