A flash of silver cut through the wall of flames. The fire split, the lingering spell shattered by a clash of mana.

A young woman stood at the center, her golden hair gleaming, blue eyes clear as crystal. Her clothes, still the same as when the Matz-Carlton fell, were torn and stained with dust and blood. Once fine luxury, now battle-worn.

Yet even wounded and dirtied, she hadn’t lost an ounce of noble grace. If anything, she shone brighter against the carnage.

Lady Ophelia Luxor stepped into the cavern, her leather soles clicking against the stone.

Ophelia knelt beside Ikaku, placing a hand on his scorched cheek. “You’re an absolute wreck.”

“…Why… my lady? I thought you were dead.”

“Do I look that pale? How rude. Still, I’ll forgive you.” Her blue eyes were moist, and her touch was far gentler than her words. “I’ll take it from here.”

"Wait. That’s Homura, a high-ranking Demon. You’re wounded. You can’t win."

"Is that a joke? Which of us looks more like a corpse? I’m honestly impressed you still have the energy to worry."

A magnificent Norwegian Forest Cat emerged from behind Ophelia.

Its stunning coat and disarming charm belied its true identity: Ayano Akai.

“Meeeoow…! Meow, meow!” (Oh no! You look horrible! You need to snuggle me, right now!)

Ayano buried Ikaku’s face in her belly, smothering him with fluff.

“Gff! Lady Ayano, what’re you…?!”

Lady Ayano’s transformation is irreversible, leaving her with the perfect likeness of Mikaela but none of her healing constitution. Snuggling her now won’t do a thing to heal—

Ikaku’s thoughts scattered in an instant.

He felt it. That familiar rush he’d experienced countless times before.

Sniffing the Magibeast Mikaela had brought immediate effects.

It was common knowledge that the more you snuggle a cat, the better it is for your health, but Mikaela was on another level. Her unique healing constitution could ease pain, mend wounds, even cure illness.

Simply put, it was a hell of a high.

And that was exactly what Ikaku felt now.

“No way… How…?”

“Meow, meow~!” (Come on, snuggle away!)

Ikaku’s mind descended into chaos, flooded with new information.

What in the world… Don’t tell me… it was the other way around? No, never mind. I’ll think about it later. For now, I’ll just focus on huffing this floof with every fiber of my being. That’s all that matters. Haaaaah…

Seeing Ikaku begin huffing Ayano, Ophelia turned to face Homura.

“Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Consider it an honor, O Demon of Flame lurking in the dark abyss. I shall be your dance partner now.”

“GUOOOOOOOOOOH—!”

Three silver straightswords slid smoothly from between the supple fingers of each clenched fist.

Her steady blue eyes locked onto the seething Demon.

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