For how long, no one knew, but Nanoha’s maniacal laughter continued, yet her enemy was nowhere to be seen; in the entirety of the inner world, only she remained.

Though Zui'an was condensed darkness from all over the world and the sins of every human, capable of regenerating countless times from these negative elements, if he had faced any other foe, even in defeat, he would not have been slain. But alas, he encountered Nanoha—Nanoha as the host, Nanoha who had transformed into a demon while being the vessel!

Whether compared by mystery level or the density of darkness, Zui'an could not measure up to Nanoha.

Therefore, after being relentlessly bombarded and destroyed by Nanoha, the supposed immortality was nothing more than a cruel joke.

Zui'an was eliminated, and the enemies around her vanished, yet Nanoha made no move to retreat from her demonized state. Endless madness and bloodthirsty slaughter still radiated from her. This was not due to any unwillingness to return to normal, but because faced with the brutal reality that Fate and the others were dead, the moment she embraced blackening as an escape, she abandoned reason. Now, unless someone struck her down, she could never revert to her original state.

"Hm?"

Amidst the wild laughter, Nanoha suddenly sensed something. Her cackles ceased abruptly. She snapped her head up, her eyes filled with cruel intent staring into the void above, then shot upwards like lightning.

Though reason was lost, though she was completely engulfed in a frenzy, some things were never truly erased. Even if the mind no longer remembered, the body would compel her to act.

At this moment, the primal terror and despair generated by her body drove her to fly toward the very apex of the heavens, heedless of everything else.

Her speed peaked, the friction with the air creating sparks in her wake, but it wasn't enough! The power of darkness surged forth again, Nanoha’s aura growing even more violent, shattering her previous limits. Her speed was boosted dramatically once more, and this terrifying velocity caused space itself to begin collapsing.

But... still not enough!

Surpassing herself again and again, raising her limits repeatedly. Faster! Faster! Faster!!!

Finally... Bang!

A violent impact rang out. It felt as if she had reached the end of the sky, for an invisible wall stood before her, blocking further advance.

"Don't... block my path!" Nanoha snarled through clenched teeth, unleashing a mighty roar as she raised her magical device. A vast, terrifying surge of magic instantly erupted. "Starlight Breaker... 500!"

Boom!

The bombardment that had annihilated Zui'an into dust slammed against the unseen wall opposite her. Yet, nothing happened, like a pebble tossed into the sea, causing only a faint ripple before vanishing.

"Starlight Breaker... 600!"

But Nanoha did not stop there, continuing to escalate her power before unleashing another magic cannon blast.

"Starlight Breaker... 650!"

"Starlight Breaker... 700!"

"Starlight Breaker... 800!"

Relentless bombardment, ceaseless increases in power followed by renewed assaults. No matter how many times she failed, Nanoha did not cease, always keeping the muzzle of her weapon aimed at that invisible wall. However, no matter how fierce her attacks, she could never breach this barrier.

This was, after all, the gateway to the Endless World. It possessed absolute authority, barring anyone below the Half-Step Heavenly Rank from entering the depths of the Endless World. In other words, those who had not achieved the Half-Step Heavenly Rank could absolutely not pass through this gate!

"Don't stop me! Don't stop me... Don't stop me ahhhhh!!!"

But the berserk Nanoha did not know this, and perhaps even if she did, given her temperament, she likely couldn't alter her course. She continued to unleash her power while roaring in fury.

She would not stop! Absolutely would not stop!

Every movement she made seemed to be a declaration, a commitment. If this world possessed its own consciousness, it would surely understand. Even if her strength was depleted, even if her spirit was crushed, as long as a single breath remained, as long as her limbs could move, Nanoha would never halt her advance!

Charge forward! At this moment, Nanoha held only this one thought.

Perhaps it was Nanoha’s unwavering conviction that allowed her to transcend the limits of her own being, or perhaps her refusal to yield activated the power of the World Heart. After countless failures, a force more ferocious than any before erupted from within Nanoha's body. Then, gripping her magic device with both hands... the ensuing cannon fire carried her forward, and she propelled that earth-shattering blast onward, charging toward the door leading to the Endless World.

"Starlight Breaker... 999!"

Boom!

Crack!

Amidst the earth-shattering roar of the bombardment, a sound like shattering glass echoed. Nanoha had finally broken the world's barrier and burst into the Endless World, only to witness...

...

"Why?" Facing the person across from her, Luo Tianyi’s mouth hung open, a mixture of confusion and pain etched on her face, her voice hoarse. "Why did you do this?"

Lin Luo managed a bitter smile. "I knew I wouldn't be able to go through with it... Waaah!" Before he could finish speaking, he spat out a mouthful of blood. Instantly, scarlet fluid splashed onto the arm protruding from his chest.

The owner of that arm was Luo Tianyi, her entire right hand plunged deep into Lin Luo’s torso.

In the recent clash of speed, due to the disparity in strength, Lin Luo could have severed Luo Tianyi's head before her strike landed. However, just as his killing sword stopped a mere millimeter from her neck—it wasn't that he lacked the power to cut, but the second personality actively halted it. Furthermore, the second personality then initiated its own self-destruction.

As a result, without the threat of the second personality, Luo Tianyi's attack could not be stopped.

Even so, Lin Luo seemed to have anticipated this outcome, showing no surprise, only a wry, enlightened smile: "I knew it, I could never truly bring myself to do it."

Upon accepting the power, memories, and responsibilities of his previous life, Lin Luo had resolved that if he ever encountered Luo Tianyi, he would slay her at any cost, ending all the tragedies she had set in motion. But ultimately, this was merely a self-deceiving resolution.

Just as he could not strike down Mikoto or the other hosts, he could not bring himself to kill Luo Tianyi. Even if he could trick himself into believing he could kill her, his true heart consistently denied it, and the second personality he created understood this sentiment even better than he did.

That is why, in the final moment, the second personality withdrew, even choosing to erase itself.

Because as long as the second personality existed, Lin Luo would not die, and he would be forced into another painful battle with Luo Tianyi.

Whether this counted as evasion, Lin Luo couldn't answer, but the second personality's action made one thing clear to him: his genuine desire—that even if he died, he could never kill Luo Tianyi.

"I'm sorry, everyone. Truly... I've left you with a monumental... problem..."

Lin Luo closed his eyes with resignation, speaking haltingly, and in the next moment, his body slowly fragmented, completely vanishing.

His physical form had lost its conceptual baseline due to Luo Tianyi’s "Axiom Erasure." While creation from nothingness wouldn't cease to exist, without polarity, this power could no longer distinguish between 'existence' and 'non-existence.' To it, presence and absence became unintelligible information, causing the mechanism of 'creation from nothing' to lose its intended perpetual cycle, resulting in only one outcome... Lin Luo's death!

Boom!

Then, just as Lin Luo's body dissolved into fragments and disappeared, Nanoha rushed into the Endless World, witnessing this exact scene.

Seeing Nanoha, Luo Tianyi once again adopted her previous aloof expression and stated calmly, "I didn't expect you to shatter the world's barrier with such a barbaric method. Even I am somewhat surprised, but... since you are the host, it wasn't entirely impossible."

"Ah... ah... ah!!!!"

Though reason was long gone, the body remembered the most important things. Upon seeing Lin Luo’s body vanish, Nanoha froze, momentarily speechless. But in the next instant, the violent aura surrounding her surged geometrically. With an indescribably ferocious expression, she glared at Luo Tianyi and unleashed the strongest strike of her entire life.

"Level 3, Tyrant's Body! Starlight Breaker... 1000!!!"

The incandescent cannon fire surged like an enraged dragon, its chaotic power carrying the aura of world destruction. This strike poured out all of Nanoha's strength and all of her emotions, transcending the shackles of realms and surpassing her own existence... This was a true strike, capable of slaying a Heavenly Rank expert!

"I can understand why you are angry, but..."

However, Luo Tianyi merely raised her hand lightly, effortlessly catching the terrifying barrage. With a casual wave, it vanished, and she looked at Nanoha coolly. "You, who know nothing, are not qualified to show anger before me. Since you are here, then you shall die as well. At least... death at my hands won't be painful."

Saying this, Luo Tianyi pressed her palm gently toward Nanoha.

Boom!

With a sharp sound, Nanoha’s neck was instantly seized by a fair, delicate hand, and she was forcefully propelled back to the original world with unparalleled speed.

In her place, Luo Tianyi’s arm was frozen mid-descent in the air, held tightly by an equally pale and slender hand gripping her elbow—it was the hand belonging to a red-haired young woman... Hong Ling!

"This is the second time we've met since our rebirth, wouldn't you say?" Simultaneously, long black hair danced beside Luo Tianyi, the owner of which held Luo Tianyi's shoulder, smiling slightly... It was Yi Ren!

"Truly persistent, the Time Travelers."

Luo Tianyi sighed with weary resignation. (To be continued.)