The intense light faded away as if it has done its job . Finally, everyone can see the battleground .
Kotori, Tohka, Yoshino, Mana, and Shiori are still restrained against the ground by pale arms that came out of the ground . Kurumi also couldn’t do anything other than block against the light with her hand and guns, not that it helped .
Wu Yan with a knee to the ground is the only one who experienced any change in posture . He is panting like he had run laps around the field . He is pale and a bit disoriented like he had been through something intense .
“I-I am back?…”
He calmed down his breathing and he examined his surroundings . This familiar scene is just like when he had last seen it . It would appear he wasn’t gone for long .
He confirmed the addition of one more sealing bracelet on his wrist and he released a sigh of relief . This meant that he didn’t hallucinate about going back in the past .
“Ara ara, Shido-san, why didn’t you attack when you had the chance?”
Kurumi grinned at Wu Yan .
“I would find it hard to believe if you said you got blinded by your own schemes . That would be so unlike you . ”
Wu Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry . Kurumi misinterpreted the light just now as one of his tricks .
He stood up and he smiled back at her .
“Well, whatever…”
Kurumi frowned, this is the first time Wu Yan smiled with such confidence during battle .
“You seem to be in an awfully good mood . I thought you are still mad I forcefully invited some guests to our reception?”
Kurumi continued in a snarky tone .
“Could it be that Shido-san’s wrath has been pacified?”
“Well, it’s whatever you want it to be…”
Kurumi’s smile slowly diminished, her intuition is telling her that Wu Yan’s not bluffing . Something about his expression and tone didn’t sit well with her .
Wu Yan took one last glance at Kurumi before turning around towards Kotori who is still restrained . He looked at her sealing bracelet and he mumbled in a small voice .
“We met again, little Kotori…”
No one else but Kotori who is closest to Wu Yan heard his voice . She quickly lifted her head .
Kotori looked at Wu Yan with a stunned look . She recalled the blurry figure that looked after her and saved her when the great fire started . She remembered only one thing when the blurry figure got sucked into the sky, he had the other half of the sealing bracelet which was red in color .
The blurry face that hugged her when the world fell apart slowly merged with the face of the one standing before her .
Her eyes are moist with tears but she replied with a sweet smile anyway .
“Yes, we meet again…”
She wanted to call out to him ever since she laid eyes on his sealing bracelets . However, Wu Yan genuinely didn’t remember her so she dismissed this thought each and every time it arose .
She told herself that the person who brought her back from the depths of despair must have some kind of special fate, the time just wasn’t right yet . That’s how she consoled herself .
She didn’t know what happened but at least she got to say what she had been saving for the last 5 years .
Kotori felt like it was worthed it to wait this long .
Wu Yan smiled when he saw the black ribbons on her head .
“I see you kept your promise to become stronger…”
She had a nonchalant expression but her eyes blew her cover, she’s over the moon that Wu Yan praised her effort .
Everyone else is confused about what the two of them are talking about . Kurumi also patiently waited for them to wrap it up .
Wu Yan didn’t bother explaining, he told Kurumi .
“Kurumi, it’s about time we finish this fight . ”
Kurumi flinched before smiling back at Wu Yan .
“Ara ara, running away again? I still got guests here, you know…”
Kurumi concluded that Wu Yan is trying to run away because he can’t beat her . Unknown to her, the less likely conclusion was actually the correct one . Wu Yan is telling her that this match is in the bags .
“I said, this is over!”
He raised an arm . Everyone turned their attention to him .
“Kotori!”
Wu Yan shouted out loud . Astonished by his sudden shout, Kotori knew what he is trying to do and she smiled with elation .
“Seal, release!”
Wu Yan’s white sealing bracelet shined and the red motive on his white bracelet faded away .
Kotori’s red bracelet resonated with the light by shining brightly as well .
A dormant power started surging up from within Kotori’s body . A foreign power came out of her body and into the body while her power returned with the absence of this power . Waves of spiritual power emanated from her .
“Spiritual power…”
Kurumi gasped, she didn’t think this little human girl is actually a spirit in disguise .
More importantly, Wu Yan unsealed her power .
“Shido, you…”
Kurumi questioned Wu Yan .
“You returned her spirit power?”
Wu Yan ignored her . Intense heat started seeping out from Kotori, her hair also fluttered without any wind around her .
“Finally, I am free from these annoying hands…”
Kotori lifted her head and a red glint flashed in her eyes .
“Hmph!”
Kurumi snorted .
“Shido, I didn’t think you would actually break the rules of this banquet . Now that you have gone and done this, I must make her pay!”
Kurumi’s statement is like an order that the arms obeyed . The arms sensed that Kotori is rapidly regaining her power so the hands pierced into Kotori’s body in waves .
The sound of flesh being ripped apart could be heard and blood started spewing forth…
“Kotori!”
Tohka, Yoshino, and Mana cried out…