The legend says: the spirit of the last bearer would guide her. The sword, when wielded, would flood her with memories and ancestral powers, making her capable of defeating demons.
However, there was no guide, there was no strength. It was just an old, rusty sword and now broken, hidden in a dark cave.
"Hyaahahahahahaha! You shit little thing! YOU ARE NOTHIIIIIIING!"
The demon then violently kicked her away. He struck her several times, causing many injuries and ripping off her left foot and two fingers of her right hand.
Grabbing her by the neck, he lifted her up to eye level. His wounds bled heavily, especially the hole in his belly.
"I said I was going to gouge out your eyes. Now, this one. Then I'll split you in half and ahhhhhh!"
When the demon threatened to gouge out the girl's other eye, she held onto the sword that was still embedded in the demon, along with the broken sword that she hadn't let go of to pull out the hand that was gripping her.
As the sword had struck him many times in the same spot, it was enough to sever the limb and free himself from its grip. However…
Screaming in anger, the demon attacked her, throwing the already weakened girl against the wall again.
This time, she could hear the sound of her bones being crushed on impact, and she knew her end was near.
(Say your name.)
A thought emerged in his mind, almost like a dream. Could it be a dream from being on the brink of death?
But the nameless girl still didn't want to give up, not here, not now.
Get the Bloodstain meant everything to the young woman, not only the "honor" of being its bearer, but it also meant her freedom. It was her only chance. Here and now. Therefore, there was no room for hesitation or weakness. She had already chosen not to retreat or fear whatever came next.
Even if it was futile, she wanted to believe in her own strength. To believe that everything she went through was not in vain.
Remembering that, upon leaving the monastery, she felt as if she were being born again. Therefore, she should no longer be called by a simple number. Thus, she chose a name for herself. From now on, the one chosen by the sacred sword would not fear any enemy or trial.
"My name is not thing, nor girl, nor Eighteen! I am SERENA!!!"
It wasn't for the demon. It was for the world. It was for the echoes of the cave, for the faceless priestesses, for the fate that was not chosen. 'I am someone. I exist.'
Raising her broken sword, she then shouted her new name. At that moment, the sword shone brightly.
The small stone, which was attached to the sword, radiated that light. Since he entered the cave and held the sword, he felt that something was wrong. His determination kept growing.
The enemy, once confident, now displayed cautious behavior. Even knowing that the girl would only reach this place if she was the chosen one, he believed he could easily kill her before she arrived at the chamber. How did the sword simply appear before her?
"You… no! I will not let you go!"
Running fiercely, the lesser demon launched stakes at high speed towards Serena. But its projectiles vanished into the light and smoke.
When the light disappeared, Serena was there, without any injury. Her once deadly wounds had disappeared. Her broken sword had changed into a scepter that emanated a powerful magical aura.
Even if she had focused his efforts on swordsmanship skills and dedicated little time to studying magical arts, just by looking at the demon, he knew he was facing an almost incomprehensible being.
"What kind of monster are you? Doesn't make sense!"
Looking at her hands, covered in flames, which protected her from the attack of the tree demon, she felt no pain.
Your mind was at peace, as you had never felt before.
The demon attacked again, trying to strike her from behind, just like last time. Serena's hand raised, unleashing a fire attack without her needing to conjure. It was as if her body knew exactly what needed to be done.
The demon cannot believe. It was not supposed to be possible for something like this. Humans cannot cast spells without prior enchantment. This is complete insanity.
"Sorry… but I don't have time to waste with you"
"Your little thing, how dare you depreciate me. I will…"
While the demon raged, Serena spoke calmly. Pointing her scepter at the demon, who was trying to attack. Before he could finish his words, a beam of light burst into the room.
In an instant, the tree demon was on the ground, with its chest completely opened by the luminous and extremely fast magic that hit it.
As soon as that happened, Serena fell to her knees. All that powerful aura disappeared and the young woman returned to normal.
"What was that? Is that Bloodstain? Isn't it supposed to be a sword?"
She asked herself.
Bloodstain reacts to its host. The blade guides him to be who he should be. It also carries ancestral memories of its ancient bearers.
"That voice. A memory?"
She didn't know, but it saved her. Now she had proven herself worthy of wielding the legendary weapon, the Holy Scepter Bloodstain...
"Why a scepter? I'm not into magic~!"
Serena murmured sadly. Even though everything went well in the end, there was still something out of place. Her memories were confused.
However, she didn't have time to think too much, as this was the beginning of her journey towards the fate of the world.