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A dozen security team members lay scattered—some dead, others wounded.

Natsuki Minamiya's fury ignited. These were her people, trained under her guidance, and now they'd been slaughtered right before her eyes.

"Enough is enough!"

Clatter!

In an instant, a dense web of Laeding erupted from all directions, ensnaring the limbs and torso of the familiar Astarte had summoned. Rudolf Ostach wasn't spared either—bound just as tightly.

"Astarte, what are you doing? Destroy them—now!"

"Command acknowledged. Initiating—Rose Fingertips!"

Boom!

The familiar enveloping Astarte surged in size, its form expanding with newfound mass and power.

The Laeding strained to their breaking point, and Natsuki's brow furrowed.

Astarte's current state was unmistakable—she was burning through every ounce of her life force and magic, channeling it all into her familiar for a dramatic spike in strength.

But the cost was steep. Her lifespan was compressing at an alarming rate. The moment this battle ended might very well be the moment she perished.

"Perhaps this is the best outcome," Natsuki murmured.

She unleashed another torrent of Chains, locking Astarte's familiar in an unyielding grip. Victory didn't require combat—just patience. Time would run out for Astarte soon enough.

Boom!

At that critical juncture, a sonic boom shattered the sky.

Natsuki glanced up instinctively. A luxurious golden airship hovered above.

"That bastard—why's he here?"

"Natsuki-chan, I'm here to help! Release that little loli—she's mine now."

His voice preceded his arrival, and Natsuki's expression froze. She hadn't anticipated August showing up for the artificial lifeform.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

With August's entrance, every Chain of Discipline shattered. Natsuki pursed her lips but held her tongue.

Regaining her mobility, Astarte moved to attack—only to freeze mid-motion. Her towering familiar stiffened, then, to the stunned gazes of Rudolf Ostach and Natsuki, receded back into her body.

"Little one, from now on, you live for me."

"You… who… are you?"

Astarte's voice, usually mechanical, faltered slightly as she faced August.

"Hm. I'll be your new master."

"New… master?"

She didn't respond further, staring blankly at August. In her limited understanding, she couldn't grasp what he intended.

But Rudolf Ostach wasn't about to stay silent. This was his creation—an artificial lifeform he'd poured immense effort into, implanted with a formidable familiar.

For weeks, he'd dragged her across the island, devouring familiars to amass power—all to breach the Keystone Gate, retrieve his Lord's holy relic, and raze this sinful island to the ground.

Everything hinged on Astarte.

"Astarte, kill him now! Are you defying me?"

"Command—"

Her reflexive response cut off as August seized control.

His gaze shifted to Rudolf, brimming with lethal intent.

Splatter!

A shadowy blade, stretching five or six meters, materialized and cleaved Rudolf Ostach in two from head to toe—his enraged expression frozen in death.

Natsuki sighed. She'd known it. The moment August arrived, Rudolf was doomed.

Still, it was the cleanest resolution. The mastermind was dead, and the exploited artificial lifeform would soon follow—albeit tragically.

Though August had forced the familiar back, Astarte's earlier exertion had already pushed her to the brink. Her time was nearly up.

"Astarte, right?"

"Yes."

"From now on, you live for me."

"Live for you?"

"Exactly. You'll become the perfect maid."

"The perfect… maid."

"Are you willing?"

Astarte glanced at Rudolf's bisected corpse in the distance. No sorrow stirred within her.

Or rather, she didn't even know what sorrow was.

She studied the man before her. She didn't understand August's intentions, but with her "creator" gone, she'd lost everything. Becoming his maid… didn't seem so bad.

"Yes."

She nodded at August.

A grin spread across his face. The emotionless maid was his.

He placed a hand on Astarte's head, and a surge of vibrant life force poured into her.

Natsuki's eyes widened in disbelief. What the hell? Since when could someone give life force to another?

Even vampires wielding familiars relied on "negative life force." August, though—this was something else. Not negative, but an infinite well of positive life force. The gap between the two was staggering.

Astarte's frail body rapidly recovered, her hidden injuries and exhaustion vanishing under August's gift.

As for the life force he'd expended? A drop in the bucket—nothing to him.

Moreover, he transferred Astarte's familiar into his own dominion, taking on its life-draining cost himself.

As the embodiment of the Four Deadly Sins, August's life would never end so long as sin persisted in the world.

And with that, it was over. The puppet master was dead, the spoils claimed. August emerged as the sole victor.

"Ah—how do I get down from here?"

Sayaka Kirasaka's voice echoed from the Vimana overhead, jolting August back to reality. He wasn't alone.

He guided the airship down, and Sayaka leapt off as he stowed it away.

"You even brought a Sword Shaman? Looks like you're in heat—can't even spare a child," Natsuki quipped.

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