In the fierce exchange with Shinku, Hinaichigo increasingly felt something was unsettling. Even before becoming a Host, she and Shinku, both without a medium, should have been evenly matched in strength. If neither possessed a medium, her probability of winning against Shinku would be significantly higher.

But now, even without employing the Host's power, her very essence as a Rozen Maiden granted her a strength far surpassing her previous self. Even not having fully utilized this current power, facing a Shinku who had lost her medium still resulted in a stalemate... Why was this?

Unaccountably, Suigintou felt a faint, ominous premonition stirring in her heart. For now, I must observe. I absolutely cannot fail!

Suigintou resolved this internally, thinking so. She could have easily amplified her power instantly, defeating Shinku with a surprise strike, and then moved on to eliminate the remaining three Rozen Maidens. Aside from Suiseiseki possibly posing a minor complication, Hinaichigo and Kanaria posed virtually no threat whatsoever. Finally, she could dedicate her full strength to pursuing the Seventh Doll who had never appeared. Victory was hers for the taking. However, given this unsettling feeling, she could not expose her true strength rashly; the deeper she hid it, the better. For her victory or defeat was directly tied to whether Father could return, and this allowed for not even the slightest carelessness!

On the other hand, watching the utterly intense battle between Shinku and Suigintou, the courage Kanaria had just mustered began to shrink slightly, revealing a hint of timidity. But after hesitating for a few seconds, she finally pulled her violin from her oversized, snack-filled backpack and rested it on her shoulder.

"Here we go! 'Sonata of the Wild Rose'!" The moment her strings were touched, music erupted, and simultaneously, visible waves spread outward from Kanaria in all directions.

This was Kanaria’s method of attack: sonic waves.

However, while her attack covered a wide area and she could consciously control which targets within that range were affected, its destructive power was somewhat weaker compared to the others. At least when targeted by her sonic waves, Suigintou merely glanced over, shot down a few black feather arrows, and ceased paying attention.

Conversely, Kanaria, the attacker, was thrown into disarray by Suigintou’s black feather arrows and nearly got hurt.

"Eh? How can this be? It's completely useless?" Although she already knew that with her own strength, it would be difficult to intervene in a battle between the likes of Shinku and Suigintou, such a colossal gulf in power was still a heavy blow to her.

Nevertheless, she would not give up, continuing to raise her violin...

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

But just then, dozens of tiny amethysts shot over rapidly from a certain direction. Kanaria turned her head upon hearing the sound, realizing she had no time to evade, and her face instantly turned pale with fright.

Just as the crystals were about to strike her, the ground suddenly shuddered, and several enormous vines instantly burst from the earth, blocking Kanaria’s front and successfully intercepting all the amethysts.

"Suise... Suiseiseki!" Kanaria immediately recognized the figure floating near the vines, watering can in hand, Suiseiseki.

"You really know how to cause trouble!" Suiseiseki looked at her and scolded without reservation. "I told you long ago that those weak violin performances are useless. Stop spacing out and go find a place to hide obediently!"

"Eh?"

"An 'eh' what! Hurry up!" Suiseiseki urged loudly.

Under Suiseiseki's stern reprimand, Kanaria could finally offer no resistance and obediently scurried away to hide in the nearby bushes next door.

"Who are you?" At the same time, Suiseiseki fixed her gaze in the direction from which the amethysts had flown. It was a rose garden, featuring very tall roses; concealing a person there was not difficult. But what puzzled Suiseiseki was... there hadn't been a rose garden in this spot before!

"Who are you?" The same words echoed from within the rose garden, yet the person remained unseen.

Suiseiseki immediately ground her teeth. "Come out!"

"Come out." The words repeated. It sounded less like an echo and more like an imitation of Suiseiseki.

"What a vile disposition. If you won't come out..." Suiseiseki frowned deeply, but before she could finish speaking, a figure about her own height slowly floated out of the rose garden.

"You... a doll! Could it be..." Seeing the true form of the other, Suiseiseki suddenly realized something.

"I am Rose Crystal. The Seventh Rozen Maiden," stated the girl clad in purple attire.

"The Seventh Doll?!"

Rose Crystal’s reply stunned not only Suiseiseki but also momentarily halted the furious clash overhead between Shinku and Suigintou. No one had expected the Seventh Doll to appear at this juncture.

Was that ominous feeling coming from her? But...

Suigintou's gaze flickered toward Rose Crystal, a trace of an unreadable expression flashing in her eyes.

"When all seven Rozen Maidens awaken, it signifies the formal commencement of the Alice Game, and... it will not end until only the single perfect doll capable of becoming Alice remains," Suiseiseki stared intently at Rose Crystal, determination hardening in her eyes. "Although those are the rules... I no longer wish to stand by and watch another's Medium be stolen. It doesn't matter if I don't become Alice, so..."

"Neither Suigintou nor you, the Seventh Doll, will be allowed to harm anyone else again!"

Suiseiseki spoke resolutely. As her words faded, immense vines once again rose from the ground, but this time, they were not for defense, but rather lunged toward Rose Crystal as an attack.

Rose Crystal’s expression remained unchanged. Facing the surging vines, she merely raised her hand, and an amethyst larger than herself materialized before her. With a resounding boom, the vine attack was blocked.

"So weak, Suiseiseki," Rose Crystal stated expressionlessly, a crystal sword slowly coalescing in her hand. With a single movement, she instantly appeared before Suiseiseki, slicing the crystal sword toward her head.

"Water Dream!"

Suiseiseki remained undaunted, reactivating her artificial spirit. As she retreated, countless droplets of water spilled from her beautiful watering can. These drops scattered onto the grass, and the weeds on the ground instantly grew at a visible rate, transforming into gigantic vines that tightly ensnared Rose Crystal like an inescapable net.

Rose Crystal struggled forcefully, but all her limbs were tightly bound; she could not budge these vines, and even her crystal sword was shattered by the entanglement.

"Now you can’t escape," Suiseiseki approached her, pointing. "I don't want you to hurt anyone, and similarly, I don't wish to harm you. So, if you promise me to give up this Alice Game, I will release you. How about it?"

"For Father's wish, I will not give up... Ugh!" Just as Rose Crystal finished speaking, she frowned, a look of pain crossing her face. Because the moment she refused Suiseiseki's request, the vines instantly tightened, making her feel as if her body might be crushed at any moment.

"Agree quickly, Rose Crystal!" Suiseiseki shouted. "These are the Vines of Contract. Once they strike a target, they are no longer influenced by me, but change their mode based on the target's answer. What I just requested was a contract. If you accept my contract, they will vanish. If you refuse... they will surely crush you to pieces."

"If I accept, will I never be able to violate the contract?" Although pain contorted Rose Crystal’s face, her tone remained completely unchanged, as calm as ever.

"Yes, indeed," Suiseiseki nodded. "Souseiseki said I possess a strength greater than anyone else. Just now, I understood: this is the power of contract, a contract that cannot be defied. So... please, Rose Crystal, I don't want to hurt you. Accept my contract quickly!"

"Suiseiseki, you are truly naive and kind," Rose Crystal looked at her. "But I absolutely will not accept your contract. To fulfill Father's wish, even if my body is shredded... Ugh!"

The power of the vines intensified again, causing Rose Crystal to let out a groan of pain, yet she showed no hesitation. Not only did she refuse to agree, but she struggled even more fiercely.

"Rose Crystal... why?" Suiseiseki’s expression was one of utter shock; she could hardly believe it. Although she had possessed this contractual power for less than half an hour, she understood clearly how potent it was. Once someone was struck by it, escape was impossible unless they accepted her contract. Yet!

Rose Crystal not only endured the agony of her body about to be pulverized but was even slowly beginning to break free from the Vines of Contract. Could it be that her obsession with the Alice Game was stronger than her own contractual power?

Impossible!

"Rose Crystal, stop quickly! You really will die!" Suiseiseki urged in alarm.

"Suiseiseki... I apologize. I misspoke just now. You are strong, so I apologize to you, but!" Rose Crystal suddenly lifted her head, unwavering resolve shining in her eyes, "I am stronger than you!"

Swish!

At that instant, countless crystal swords suddenly materialized in mid-air and shot toward the vines like raindrops, instantly severing most of them. Seizing the opportunity, Rose Crystal rapidly lunged forward. However, just as she began to lift off, the remaining vines tightly bound her left arm—a restraint that even the crystal swords could not cut through.

Rose Crystal glanced down, then raised the crystal sword in her right hand and, without hesitation, brought it down.

Chhhhkk!

Along with the vines, she severed her own left arm.

PS: Some people ask what I am writing about by using so many chapters for the original work? My answer is: I am writing the spirit and soul of the Rozen Maidens, not just a few cameo characters. RQ

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