Chapter 56: Wings Unfurled

Boom boom boom boom boom!!!

Inside the small wine cellar, an intense battle was unfolding.

"Hahaha, again! Again!!"

Benitsubasa had lost count of how many times they had clashed. Though she was wounded in multiple places by Kazehana's wind blades, she only grew fiercer with each strike. The latent combat genes within her as a Sekirei were now fully unleashed!

While Benitsubasa's morale was high, Kazehana was being pushed back, gradually losing ground.

Her wind powers were severely limited in the confined space of the wine cellar, where the air barely circulated. Her strength was greatly diminished. Additionally, since she hadn't been winged, she was at a disadvantage. The balance of power had shifted, and she was now locked in a stalemate with Benitsubasa!

If it weren't for her inherent strength, she would have lost long ago!

Sora nodded subtly, pleased with the situation. If Kazehana had instantly defeated Benitsubasa, there would be no opportunity for him to step in later!

Understanding the principle of striking while the iron is hot, Sora nudged Haihane, who still had her claws at his neck, signaling her to join the fight and create a "hero saves the beauty" moment for him.

However, there was no response from behind. When Sora turned around, he saw Haihane's little head resting on his shoulder—she had fallen asleep! He was utterly dumbfounded!

His lips twitched. Sora thought to himself that he really needed to find some time to properly train this shut-in Sekirei. She was way too unreliable!

Quickly using the mental communication ability of the golden Sekirei crest, Sora woke Haihane up. To ensure she didn't give anything away, he gave her specific instructions.

"Woman, stop. Or else, I'll kill him."

Surprisingly, due to her naturally expressionless demeanor, the shut-in Sekirei played her part quite convincingly. Opening her sleepy eyes, she spoke calmly to Kazehana.

Though her voice was soft, Kazehana, who was constantly worried about Sora's safety, immediately noticed. Seeing Haihane threatening Sora, her movements faltered.

Benitsubasa seized the opportunity perfectly, delivering a powerful punch straight to Kazehana's abdomen.

"Ah!" Kazehana cried out in pain as her body was sent crashing to the ground.

Though Sora wanted to rush over immediately, he knew it wasn't the right moment yet. Giving Haihane a look, she swiftly dashed forward to join the attack on Kazehana.

Despite being knocked down, Kazehana was still Kazehana. Her No. 3 ranking wasn't for nothing. She quickly regained her footing and resumed the fight against Benitsubasa and the now-engaged Haihane.

If Kazehana had been able to hold her own against Benitsubasa earlier, now she was struggling.

Haihane's combat strength was on par with Benitsubasa's, and she was also a close-combat fighter. Even in the confined space of the wine cellar, her abilities remained unaffected. Combined with the long-standing teamwork between the two, it didn't take long for Kazehana to be pushed to her limits!

Boom!

Another collision. Seeing how her wind powers were barely effective, Kazehana felt a wave of helplessness.

"Not good!" Watching Benitsubasa quickly step aside after their clash, Kazehana seemed to realize something and was instantly alarmed.

"Die, woman." Haihane's figure darted out, appearing right in front of Kazehana. Her five sharp claws slashed toward Kazehana's neck with lightning speed!

Kazehana's pupils contracted sharply. At such close range, even with her formidable strength, she couldn't dodge!

A sense of despair washed over her. If this strike landed, not only would her functions be halted, but she might even lose her life. Thinking of the love she had been desperately seeking for so many years, only to end up like this, Kazehana felt a bitter mix of emotions.

Over the years, she had traveled to countless places and witnessed countless stories. As a Sekirei, she deeply envied the love humans shared.

That's why she hadn't been searching for an Ashikabi just for the sake of it—she was searching for love.

Just when she thought she had finally found it with Sora, she never imagined it would end like this!

As if sensing something, just as Kazehana's eyes filled with despair, thinking she was about to die, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her.

It was Sora!

Thud!!!

The sound of blood spraying. Haihane's claws slashed across Sora's back.

Sora grunted in pain, feeling the sting.

As expected, shut-ins were so unreliable! He had clearly told her to just put on a show, but this damn Haihane actually went and slashed him with her claws!

"Shockwave!"

Alright, hearing this sound, Sora's heart almost jumped out of his chest.

Haihane was one thing, but Benitsubasa, who was on the side, also started to cause trouble, directly using one of her two ultimate moves.

With a punch to the ground, the entire floor of the wine cellar quickly collapsed, and even the roof was broken. All kinds of rubble and debris came crashing down.

Although he was filled with resentment and swore to get back at Haihane and Benitsubasa later, these two girls were definitely doing it on purpose!

However, Sora also knew that now was a perfect opportunity.

Although it was a bit painful, for the sake of the charming and alluring Sister Kazehana, he did it!

"Be careful!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

With a loud shout, at the critical moment, Sora, the big beast, fully embraced "heroism," pouncing on Kazehana to protect her under his body, letting all the rubble and debris fall on him.

"Ugh…"

Taking a deep breath, Sora smiled bitterly in his heart, thinking, "Little Kazehana, you must fall in love with me, or all this suffering would be for nothing."

"Are they dead?" Haihane asked, dumbfounded, looking at the ruins and the buried Sora and Kazehana.

"Hmph! Master won't die so easily. If that woman still doesn't appreciate it, we'll kill her!"

Benitsubasa, who had already given everything to Sora, had no good feelings for Kazehana. In her mind, she and Haihane should just capture her and let the master complete the transformation!

Although she was a bit dissatisfied, she wouldn't disobey the master's orders. She thought that woman better let the master complete the transformation, or else…

…

Feeling a sharp pain in his back, Sora, under the ruins, showed a pained expression. If it weren't for the good physique he had built over the years, that last hit might have really killed him.

"Cough, cough, cough, are you okay, Kazehana?" Sora asked instinctively, without any ulterior motive.

Although Kazehana was protected under him and couldn't be hurt, Sora was absolutely concerned about his Sekirei and his woman.

Well, although Kazehana hadn't been transformed by Sora yet and wasn't his woman, in this beast's eyes, she was already his.

"Why are you so foolish?"

"But I really like it, Little Sora…"

Without answering Sora's question, in the darkness, Sora only felt a pair of soft, boneless hands on his face, followed by a faint fragrance, and then his lips were kissed.

The dazzling light, the holy wings of light, the fiery Sekirei pattern—looking at the alluring figure beneath him, Sora knew he had succeeded!

Through his relentless efforts and the opportunity he created, sparks had finally been ignited!

Feeling the warmth and sweetness from the lips and tongue, Sora no longer thought of anything else, holding the beauty, and kissed Kazehana deeply…

…

"Tch, did something really happen?" Biting her finger, Benitsubasa, who hadn't seen any reaction from the ruins for a long time, also seemed a bit anxious. If it weren't for Sora's orders, she would have rushed over already.

But just then, a tremendous aura erupted from beneath the ruins!

An incredibly strong gust of wind instantly blew away all the rubble and debris!

Looking at the two figures under the gust, Benitsubasa's lips curled into a smile. That woman knew what was good for her; the master had succeeded!

At this moment, in the Izumo Inn, Miya seemed to sense something and looked in a certain direction.

"Ara ara, as expected, Kazehana couldn't escape Sora's grasp either!"

Muttering to herself, Miya continued with her actions, preparing the evening meal for everyone.

…

"So hot, it feels like a hot current is running wild inside my body. My longing for that person is melting in the fiery warmth."

"My longing for him seems to finally be able to stop. Thank you, my Ashikabi-sama…"

Looking at the huge petal-like wings of light, everyone present showed a shocked expression.

Suddenly opening her eyes, Kazehana, who had been drunk all day, seemed to have undergone a huge change. She no longer had the feeling of being bound, and her whole body exuded an unprecedented charm.

"My contract wind, Ashikabi will blow away the dark clouds!"

"Flower Storm!"

Extending a jade-like hand, Kazehana directly used an incantation. A hurricane mixed with countless pink petals attacked Haihane and Benitsubasa with incredible speed!

Boom!!!

Without a doubt, the already heavily damaged wine cellar turned into a pile of ruins. Even though the two girls were prepared, they were still blown into the sky by Kazehana's move.

A cold sweat broke out on Sora's forehead. He thought to himself, "Thankfully, Kazehana isn't the bloodthirsty Karasuba, or my two little Sekireis would have been torn to pieces by this move!"

"Sekirei No. 3, Kazehana, recognizes you as my Ashikabi."

"New love, can you always be my Ashikabi?"

With a stunningly beautiful face and a smile that could topple cities, Kazehana, like a little bird, clung to Sora's arm.

A smile appeared on Sora's face as he spoke in a very serious tone:

"With pleasure, my little Sekirei forever…"