"Kallen's" close-combat skills were also formidable. She wielded the heavy golden cross with impressive force and grace, exuding the powerful and awe-inspiring presence of a Valkyrie.
Fortunately, Ren Amamiya was already adept at integrating North Star One-Blade Style techniques into practical combat.
Facing this opponent, "Kallen," who possessed a humanoid form, the Jizo Mitama blade in his hand moved with increasing speed and ferocity. Continuous flashes of crimson-black light completely sealed off "Kallen's" escape routes.
Just as "Kallen" began to raise the hand holding the golden cross, intending to attack, Ren's blade shot forward like a viper, intercepting her movement. She was forced to abandon her attack and adopt a defensive stance.
Belying her slender and petite frame, "Kallen" possessed monstrous strength, like that of a giant beast. Even with Ren using Jizo Mitama's power to enhance his own strength, he could barely match her blow for blow.
Therefore, he channeled all of Jizo Mitama's enhancement into his speed, using the rapid-attack techniques of the North Star One-Blade Style to temporarily suppress "Kallen," whose attack patterns involved wide, sweeping motions.
Although Ren seemed to have the upper hand with his speed-focused assault, the actual number of wounds he managed to inflict on "Kallen" was negligible.
That is, until one particular slash sent the purple iris mask worn by "Kallen" flying far away.
The briefly stalemated battle finally underwent another decisive shift.
The purple iris mask soaring high into the air emanated faint points of purple ghostly light. A slender figure rapidly materialized from the coalescing purple light specks, solidifying from illusion into reality.
White braids swayed abruptly. Slender hands clad in purple gloves gently pressed down on Ren Amamiya's shoulders. Legs clad in form-fitting purple trousers whipped through the air with a sharp whistle, sweeping towards the Kaslana Stigma Will standing before Ren.
The long, elegant leg, encased in the tight purple pants, slammed violently against the Kaslana Stigma Will's crossed arms, which she raised defensively. A loud CRACK echoed as she was sent flying backward.
"The real star always makes a late entrance~~~ Long time no see. Miss me, Mr. Heart-Stealing Phantom Thief?"
The soft hands on his shoulders pushed off lightly. A figure clad in purple executed a dazzlingly stylish and neat backflip, landing gracefully in front of Ren Amamiya. The faint scent of violets wafted over with her movement.
"Are you... the real Kallen?"
Ren gazed at the figure before him: white braided hair, wearing a fitted purple dress suit, a purple iris flower pinned to her chest, a captivating smile playing on her fair, delicate lips. She was using a purple-gloved hand to gently adjust the black bird-beak mask on her lovely face.
Ren raised an eyebrow slightly, instantly confirming her identity.
Unlike the Kaslana collective consciousness disguised as an ice-cold Kallen...
The Kallen Kaslana who appeared before Ren now radiated vibrant energy and vitality. Her tempting pink lips were curled into a friendly, slightly provocative smile driven by a competitive spirit.
This was undoubtedly the real Kallen Kaslana, or rather, the "Phantom Thief Violet" Ren knew!
"Correct! As a reward, let me lend you a hand. After all, Joker, you look like you're in a bit of trouble."
Phantom Thief Violet took off her mask, hooking the black bird-beak accessory casually over her ear. Kallen's fair, exquisite face was revealed fully to Ren.
Her lips curved upward happily, her clear blue eyes, like the sky, reflecting Ren's figure. Her eyebrows arched slightly with pleasant emotion.
"Your help would be huge, but... do the rules even allow you to jump in?"
Since the Kaslana collective consciousness was merely disguised as Kallen Kaslana and hadn't actually stolen her body, it wasn't entirely unbelievable that the real Kallen could find her way here in time.
"Whether I leave here or not is entirely my own choice and decision. Whatever rules others make, if they prevent me from acting freely as I wish, then there's only one thing I can do—resist to the end, and shatter those rules completely!"
"...Well said. Phantom thieves are the embodiment of the spirit of rebellion. When faced with an unjust reality, one must stand up and raise the flag of defiance!"
After a moment's silence, Ren praised Kallen's rebellious spirit.
As his words faded, Ren and Kallen simultaneously adopted combat stances with remarkable synchronicity, leaning forward slightly as they faced the distant, silently standing figure of "Kallen" in the black nun's habit.
"No matter. Since this is your own will, I will not choose to stop you... Attack together. The rules of the trial remain unchanged."
After a moment's silence, the Kaslana Stigma Will didn't unleash her full power to defeat Ren and Kallen together, as the observing Hare might have expected.
Instead, she chose to keep the rules the same, allowing Kallen Kaslana herself to join the fight, challenging the Kaslana Stigma Will alongside Ren Amamiya!
"Looks like the difficulty isn't changing... Here I come, Ren!"
Phantom Thief Violet tugged at the purple gloves on her slender hands, a keen smile spreading across her lips as she spoke to Ren beside her.
"You sure get familiar quickly. But I should be the one giving orders—It's Showtime, Kallen!!"
A slight smirk touched Ren's lips. As he shouted the command, he lowered his stance slightly, then shot forward like a black falcon, charging towards the Kaslana Stigma Will's position at high speed.
Kallen moved with nimble agility, leaping and weaving back and forth like a graceful purple kite, coordinating with Ren to close in on the Kaslana Stigma Will from two different directions.
Soulium javelins gleaming with golden light continuously erupted from the golden cross's inner compartment, raining down like a meteor shower from the heavens, bombarding the winding paths Ren and Kallen took across the ground.
"Arsene!"
The Jizo Mitama blade in Ren's hand, wreathed in dark red flames, slashed down repeatedly, cutting down the golden Soulium javelins flying towards him one after another. He called out Persona Arsene's name.
Responding to Ren's loud summons, Persona Arsene—shrouded in a dense crimson-black aura, its massive black wings spread wide—materialized before the Kaslana Stigma Will with meteor-like speed, swiping at her with its sharp black claws.
"Nice one, Joker! Now leave it to me... Respond to my call, Judah!!"