Bonds of Darkness: Swordmen's Redemption

Chapter Fifty-Five: The Enigma Follower

As the silent malleable source of petals cascaded around the makeshift battlefield, a serene yet tense atmosphere enveloped the space. Jingliu, amidst orchestrating the celestial duel with her Moonlit Guardian, sensed an absence that tugged at the edges of her omnipresence. The usual flares and flames, signatures of Icaria's vibrant essence, were conspicuously missing. "To overlook Icaria's presence... she, who rivals me in swordsmanship and represents the path of Abundance, where might she be?" Jingliu pondered, her gaze sweeping across the domain in search of the phoenix reborn.

Icaria, embodying the fiery renewal of a Phoenix and the cheerful spirit that belied her tactical acumen, remained elusive. Jingliu acknowledged the need for vigilance; Icaria's intellect made her a formidable force, one not easily countered by mere strength.

The standoff with the trio—Seris, Adabas, and Yara—shifted the tempo of the battlefield. Time, Jingliu knew, played in their favor, each moment allowing them deeper insight into her strategies, narrowing her path to victory.

Grasping her noble phantasm, Jingliu prepared for the inevitable confrontation, her power subtly weaving through the air. "Thank you, everyone, and especially you, Adabas, for bridging our paths," she expressed, her sincerity permeating the charged atmosphere, an attempt to acknowledge their bonds amidst the looming battle.

Adabas responded with a lightness akin to a cheerful chirp, deflecting the gratitude with grace. "Your thanks, while appreciated, find misplaced focus. Remember, it was by fate's hand, not mine, that you crossed paths with Pluto and Holos. Credit where it's due, dear Jingliu."

Jingliu, unperturbed by the gentle correction, maintained her stance. "While I acknowledge their roles, our current assembly here speaks to your influence, Adabas. My gratitude, thus, is rightly placed with you in this moment."

Adabas, amused by Jingliu's frankness, parried with a playful admonition. "Such candid appreciation is rare from you, yet remember the weight of words for times to come. Misunderstandings are seldom kind," she teased, hinting at Jingliu's potential need for improvement in diplomacy.

Jingliu, accepting the critique with grace, remained focused on her ultimate quest—to reclaim Y/N.

Yara, observing the steadfast look in Jingliu's eyes, couldn't help but express her thoughts, her halberd tapping against the ground in a habitual gesture. "Truly, even in the wake of your ascension, Jingliu, you're as transparent as ever. You welcome advice yet seem poised to venture beyond its bounds," she noted, her voice a mix of admiration and caution.

Seris, hiding a smile behind her sleeve, let out a gentle chuckle at Yara's observation. "Oh, Yara, haven't you learned? Jingliu's vision is her compass; nothing will deter her from her chosen path," she remarked, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she noticed the environment subtly responding to an unseen force, the ice around her retreating as though wary of a hidden flame.

Jingliu, her attention momentarily diverted, pondered the anomaly. 'Is this Icaria's influence, or something else?' she mused, even as her noble phantasm pulsed with readiness in her hand.

Yara, her patience wearing thin at the banter, implored them, "While I admire your resolve, Jingliu, and your wit, Seris, let us not forget the courtesy owed in our discourse."

Seris, feigning ignorance, turned away, her expression thoughtful yet laced with mischief. "What do you mean, Yara? I am but sharing a simple truth," she replied, her demeanor belying the cunning that danced in her eyes.

In that moment, Adabas seized the stage with a clap of her hands, sending ripples through the fabric of their reality. The scars of their battlefield morphed into a celestial ocean, stars and planets echoing the vastness Jingliu had once commanded.