Meanwhile, Yuta continued eliminating lesser demons and started to think that the empire might be able to act now, since the battlefield was clearer, but then something strange happened. An unusual silence took over the area.
Suddenly, a demon appeared, saying he had just awakened and already found a commander defeated. He introduced himself as Thoth, a centurion of the third legion, seeking a worthy fight. He charged at Yuta with extremely fast lightning wreath attacks, demanding an honorable duel. Yuta realized the problem. He had appeared at the worst possible moment, and she noticed that Ash was also at her limit.
Even so, she decided to act, remembering that one cannot create a good weapon without understanding the heart of the one who will wield it. Gathering everything she had left, Yuta unleashed an extremely powerful strike, the nail hammer blow, concentrating all her strength into a single point and tearing the demon's head off. The attack worked, but it came at a heavy cost, draining her strength and forcing her to her knees, unable even to lift her hammer.
In his final moments, the demon recognized who she was, the blacksmith who once worked with the demonic army, and called her a traitor. Even without a head, the demon's body still moved, preparing one last attack with all its remaining energy. Yuta had no strength left to dodge, and even Banzon Packard could not get up to defend her.
Then, at the last second, Eugene grabbed her staff and teleported to the front line, determined to use the monstrous weapon one more time, offering everything, her blood, her soul, everything she had, asking it to answer her call. Yuta realized how dangerous that was, that Eugene was pushing the weapon beyond its limits, while her companions begged her to stop. But for the first time, she seemed at peace.
A massive magical explosion completely destroyed what remained of the demon, and shortly after, Eugene found herself in an empty space, alone, believing that this was the end she deserved. But to her surprise, her former comrade appeared, calling out to her as always, saying she had arrived too early, as if it was not yet her time to leave.
Eugene asked if he had been waiting for her there, and the veteran replied that of course he had. After all, if any demon followed her into the afterlife, someone would need to protect a weakling like her. Even so, she argued that she had become strong too, and he agreed casually, saying he probably did not need to worry, since she was still as grumpy as ever.
Still, Eugene admitted that she had committed many sins, and he replied that what mattered was that she recognized it. Because even considering all the lives she took, he had saved even more people, so he could help her find redemption. He suggested that this way they would not be separated anymore, adding that he had missed her, even asking if she could now handle drinking or if she was still weak.
Walking beside him toward the afterlife, Eugene simply thanked her veteran, finally bringing that chapter to a close.
Later, Yuta gathered the fragments of the staff and realized it was completely destroyed, beyond any chance of use. Meanwhile, an exhausted Banzon Packard removed his armor, because it had become too heavy, and holding Eugene's hand, offered a prayer in respect for her soul, acknowledging that she had made her choice, and saying he respected it.
Ash looked at the state of the weapon and asked if it was broken, and Yuta replied that it would take years to repair, so it was not even worth trying. The conversation turned more reflective, with Ash commenting on how justice and convictions are complicated, and Yuta admitting that she did not fully understand either. She simply followed the example of her master, who had been abandoned by the empire in a field and was saved by a heroine with no ulterior motive, acting purely out of the desire to save. This made Ash realize how difficult it is to reach that ideal of justice.
Sometime later, Banzon Packard traveled with Yuta and Ash toward blacksmith street, and Yuta casually commented on how amazing the place must be. Ash, however, worried about whether he was really all right with leaving his group behind, but he assured her that he was, explaining that he had had a good talk with them and understood his situation.
His master even regretted it, saying she had thought he had come back for good, but he made it clear that in his current state he could no longer fight as before, so he intended to forge his own weapon, adapted to his abilities, and then return to the front lines. He believed that with Yuta's help he could achieve that, and promised that one day he would return to his role as a shield bearer. She replied that she would be waiting, and he assured her he would not disappoint her. Back in the present, he told Ash that it was not time yet, but that he would return.
Yuta then welcomed him and introduced the place where she was staying, the Half-Life Forge, explaining that she was there as an apprentice. Ash joked that in reality she did not work at the forge at all. She just kept an eye on Yuta to prevent trouble. Banzon Packard found it strange not to see any of her special weapons around, and Ash explained that monstrous weapons were taboo in that place, especially because of Yuta herself.
But before the conversation could continue, Yuta found a box with her belongings and realized something was wrong. At that moment, Baron Brook appeared, asking her to leave, saying he did not want to do this, but that she needed to leave the forge. Ash questioned the reason, and Baron Brook explained that he had already made his decision. He could not live with someone as unstable as her. Yuta suspected it had something to do with the council, but he denied it, saying the decision was his, and once again asked her to leave.
Disappointed, Yuta accepted, saying she had not expected him to give up on them like that, but that she understood. After all, she really did bring a lot of trouble.
As she walked away, Baron Brook thought that this was also for her own good, since the forge was under the control of the council of elders, which limited her talent. On top of that, the empire had started to move. If they discovered that she was a survivor of Vulcania, she would likely be forced to work for the capital, and the power of the monstrous weapons would come to light. He knew that the people around her would try to protect her, but he still preferred that she follow her own path, free to continue forging.