NOVPUBFifi's body was now laying on a silver bed.
Next to her, Lucius stood with his hands behind his back.
Fiona stood at his side, arms crossed, biting her lip as she stared at Fifi's peaceful face.
"…Lord Lucius," Fiona said softly.
"Do you think she'll survive this?"
Lucius didn't look at her right away.
His eyes stayed on Fifi, then slowly, he smiled.
"Of course."
He stepped closer and looked down at the girl with the faint sparks in her hair.
"She's like you, remember?"
"You thought you died too."
Fiona looked down. "…Yeah."
Lucius turned to her.
"But you didn't. And neither will she."
"She will wake up."
"She will stand again."
Fiona sighed. "It's just… we can't see anything."
He looked back at Fifi.
"We just need to trust her."
"Her revival is not tied to sight. It's tied to will."
Meanwhile, deep inside the unseen realm...
Fifi stood in smoke and sparks, her paws shaking, her breath heavy.
Another monster lunged at her.
She leapt—barely dodging.
Her body was bruised. Her fluffy ears drooped. Her spark trails flickered.
She looked around.
Just monsters. Machines. War.
She gritted her teeth.
"I don't… want to die."
Another beast roared and charged.
She slid under it, then spun and launched a spark-kick to its back.
BOOM!
She stumbled after, coughing.
Her whole body ached—but she was still moving.
"…I want to see them again."
"I want to go back."
She wiped her eyes, then stood tall.
A golden glow began to pulse from her chest.
Divine Thunder energy surged through her again.
The battlefield shook.
And in a moment of stillness—
She smiled.
Back in the real world…
Lucius watched as the glow around Fifi's body flickered once.
Fiona's eyes widened. "She moved!"
Lucius gave a small nod.
"…Her will is strong."
"We don't need to watch her win."
"She's already doing it."
Fiona looked back at the sleeping bunny girl.
"Come back soon, Fifi…"
"We're waiting for you."
---
After a few quiet hours, the soft light around Fifi's body pulsed gently.
Her ears twitched.
Her fingers moved.
Then, with a quick breath—
Fifi's eyes opened.
She sat up fast, her heart pounding, sparks flickering from her paws.
She looked around wildly, breathing fast.
Her body dropped into a low battle stance, paws raised and glowing.
"W-Where—?! Who—?!"
"Fifi!"
Fiona rushed over quickly, waving her hands.
"It's okay! You're safe!"
Fifi blinked, confused.
She looked around the room—familiar soft walls, glowing silver panels, peaceful light.
She was in Luxoria Castle.
She stared at Fiona… and then her eyes filled with tears.
"…Fiona…"
She dropped her paws and leapt forward, throwing her arms around Fiona tightly.
Fiona caught her and hugged her back, smiling wide.
"You're really back," Fiona whispered.
Fifi cried softly into her chest.
"I thought I was gone… I thought I'd never wake up again…"
"It's over now," Fiona said gently. "You made it."
From across the room, Lucius stood with his hands behind his back, watching the moment calmly.
He smiled slightly.
"Congratulations, Fifi."
"You've completed the contract."
Fifi peeked up from behind Fiona's arm, her eyes still watery.
Lucius continued, "And more than that… you've evolved."
"You're now a Divine-Tier beast."
Fifi blinked.
"D-Divine…?"
Lucius nodded. "A tier above Sovereign."
"Something that shouldn't even exist normally."
"You're stronger. Calmer. And finally free from pain."
Fifi paused… then slowly ducked behind Fiona again.
She pointed one paw at Lucius and frowned hard.
"B-Bad lord," she said quietly, ears twitching.
Fiona burst out laughing. "Oh no, she's blaming you!"
Lucius chuckled softly.
"Don't worry about that."
"I've been called worse."
He looked at her with a kind smile.
"At least now you're cheerful."
"No pain. No confusion. And the next time you fight…"
His eyes gleamed.
"…you'll be ready."
Fifi peeked out again, slowly relaxing.
Her sparks buzzed gently—but no longer in fear.
She felt warm.
Whole.
And for the first time…She smiled again.
"I'm… Divine now?"
Lucius nodded.
"You're no mistake anymore, Fifi Fluffiel."
"You're a miracle."
Fifi hugged Fiona again tightly.
"…Thank you for not giving up on me."
Fiona smiled and squeezed her back.
"Always."
---
Lucius walked into the glowing white laboratory deep inside Luxoria Castle.
The air was cool.
The walls shimmered with data screens and quiet humming machines.
In the center, two large pods glowed softly.
One held Scaldrith, the lizard-soldier hybrid.
The other held Vernyx, the coiled serpent-fighter.
Both of them were still.
Not dead, but not awake either.
Lucius stopped near the center of the room and looked around.
"Liline," he called.
A few seconds later, Liline appeared, stepping from the wall like light itself.
Her silver glow was soft and calm as always.
"Yes, Master Lucius?" she asked.
Lucius looked toward the pods.
"Have you done it?"
He pointed at the sealed units.
"Are they ready?"
Liline walked forward, her fingers waving through the air as data screens flickered open.
"I've completed the separation process," she said.
"Their Aurelius command keys are now fully removed."
Lucius raised an eyebrow.
"No more outside control?"
Liline nodded. "Correct. They are no longer linked to the vault systems."
Lucius stepped closer to the pod holding Scaldrith.
The lizard hybrid floated inside, wires running from his back and arms into glowing control points.
"And their memories?"
Liline blinked once.
"Still intact."
"They remember who they are."
"But…"
She looked at Lucius.
"They are confused. No longer sure who to follow."
Lucius smiled slightly.
"That's good."
"They will learn here."
He turned to Vernyx's pod next.
The serpent hybrid's body twitched once inside the fluid.
Lucius narrowed his eyes.
"And what about his rage?"
"He nearly destroyed Fiona."
Liline answered, "Vernyx's aggression has been dulled. Not erased—but slowed."
"If he wakes now, he won't lash out immediately."
Lucius gave a satisfied nod.
"Good."
"Then begin the next phase."
Liline tilted her head.
"Reprogramming?"
Lucius smiled faintly.
"No."
He looked at both pods.
"Rebuilding."
"They won't be slaves again."
"They'll learn what it means to choose."
Even if that means choosing war again.
This time—it will be on his terms.
