"Sister Cora!"
...
When Cornelia's hands suddenly dropped, Akame and the others, who had been anxiously watching nearby, cried out in grief and rushed to her bedside.
Cornelia—assassination rank 3, eighteen years old, the same age as Esdeath—was the eldest girl in the elite seven and a stunning beauty with long golden hair. Within the assassination unit, she had always been the dependable big sister, taking care of the team. Akame, Tsukushi, and Pony all looked up to her and held deep affection for her.
But few knew that beneath her tough exterior, Cornelia secretly longed for someone she could lean on.
"Hey, hey… I never said I couldn't save her. What are you all doing?"
Watching the girls crying their eyes out by the bed, Haruki couldn't help but speak up with a helpless expression.
But as soon as he said that, not only did Gozuki and his group stare at him blankly, even the girls who had come with him looked at him like he was out of his mind.
"Brother, we know you're strong, but that's just ridiculous. Everyone knows the dead can't be brought back. Don't joke around at a time like this."
Watching the others break down in tears, Nina lowered her voice as she spoke to Haruki.
Even though they didn't hold out much hope, Gozuki's group still kept their eyes on Haruki after hearing his words. But after Nina's comment, their spirits clearly sank. If even someone like Nina, who always followed Haruki, believed it was impossible, then what hope was there?
"I'm telling you, have a little faith in me. Just stand back and watch. I'll let the results speak for themselves."
Seeing everyone's dejected expressions, Haruki sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Kurome, Tsukushi, Pony, Akame—step back for now. If we miss the timing, even I won't be able to save her."
After asking the girls at Cornelia's bedside to move aside, Haruki walked up to her.
A golden ripple spread out behind him, and the hilt of Tenseiga gradually emerged from the swirling vortex.
There was no denying it—Haruki's thousand years of cultivation in the Imperial Palace had been incredibly valuable. Not only had it significantly strengthened him, it had also tempered his heart.
A thousand years ago, Haruki used to show off a bit. After all, going from a nobody to a top-tier powerhouse overnight was hard not to flaunt. Just look at how he used to wear three swords on his waist—Tenseiga, Tessaiga, and Sō'unga. It really did look cool.
But now, after a thousand years, Haruki was calm and restrained. He had stored all his weapons within the Gate of Babylon and a storage ring on his hand. When not fighting, he looked like an ordinary man, not giving off even a hint of a warrior's presence. But once he struck—it was overwhelming power in an instant.
Seeing the golden vortex appear behind him and Tenseiga emerge, Gozuki's group looked puzzled. Even though every Teigu had its own mysterious abilities, Gozuki was sure—there wasn't a single Teigu that could bring the dead back to life. At least not that he'd ever heard of.
But seeing that Haruki was a Teigu user, the tension on Gozuki's face eased slightly. After all, Teigu users were always immensely powerful, and Haruki's arrival meant a better chance of survival for their side. He had witnessed Haruki's terrifying strength before—now with a Teigu in hand, he couldn't help but feel hopeful.
Without paying attention to anyone else, Haruki reached into the Gate of Babylon, pulled out Tenseiga, and the golden vortex disappeared.
Holding Tenseiga, Haruki stared at Cornelia for a moment. Then, before anyone could react, he suddenly swung the blade—sweeping it across her still body.
"You—what grudge do you have against Cora to do something like this?!"
Akame, standing nearby, instantly lost her composure. The others also looked uneasy. From their perspective, it looked more like he was desecrating a corpse than trying to save her.
"Quiet. Just watch."
Haruki knew his actions might have looked suspicious, but he didn't bother explaining. The truth would reveal itself soon enough.
Tenseiga, the Heavenly Sword, was known as the blade that could not kill. But that was only because its most powerful ability overshadowed everything else.
Indeed, Tenseiga's ultimate power was resurrection. Its wielder could see the messengers of the underworld surrounding the dead, and by striking them down with the blade, the deceased could be fully revived—healed of all prior wounds.
Of course, such power came with a cost. Each person could only be brought back once, and if too much time had passed, resurrection was no longer possible.
"Ugh…"
Just as Haruki's voice fell, Cornelia, lying motionless on the bed, suddenly let out a soft moan, full of life. Slowly, her dazed eyes began to open.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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