Facing the white-haired girl's alarmed warning, Yae Sakura, who had previously seemed so concerned about her, now acted as if she hadn't heard a thing.
As if her ears could no longer perceive any sound, her expression became utterly blank. Her blue eyes reflected the image of the black box floating mid-air, continuously emitting strange black-red smoke.
Like a clear blue lake being stained by large amounts of poured-in crimson filth, Yae Sakura's blue pupils, fixed on the black box, slowly turned a blood-like scarlet.
Her entire aura shifted, becoming eerie and malevolent. Two long, sakura-pink fox ears suddenly [suddenly? without warning?] sprang up from amidst her soft, sakura-pink hair, further emphasizing her current inhuman state.
"Stop!"
The white-haired girl yelled loudly while simultaneously lunging towards Yae Sakura, who was slowly reaching out, attempting to open the black box.
However, before the white-haired girl could reach her, the crimson-black mist emanating from the box suddenly coalesced into a massive, thick fox tail. The giant fox tail acted like a shield, blocking the white-haired girl's approach, and even swatted her away like a spinning top, sending her flying far off.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG—!!!
Ren abruptly drew his Mosin-Nagant twin pistols. He repeatedly pulled the triggers, unloading all the scorching, bright yellow bullets towards the eerie black box floating in mid-air. Although he didn't fully understand what was happening, Ren could clearly see the situation spiraling out of control.
Yae Sakura is the Palace Ruler. The distorted side of her heart has been suppressed, only occasionally leaking through her normal facade. It's highly likely because of that black box Phantom Thief Violet was holding. If Sakura made contact with that black box, or worse, opened it and released the unformed Treasure sealed within, she would probably revert to her true state as the Palace Ruler.
The distortion in her heart would be completely unrestrained, erupting like a volcano, and she would lose all friendly disposition towards Palace intruders like Ren and Hare.
Therefore, Ren fired without hesitation. Of course, his target wasn't Yae Sakura herself, but the black box floating mid-air, continuously spewing eerie smoke, intending to knock it far out of Sakura's reach.
However, the bullets fired from the Mosin-Nagant met the same fate as the white-haired girl.
The giant fox tails extending from the black box whipped through the air like long lashes, contemptuously swatting away Ren's fiery bullets as if dusting them off, even reflecting them back towards Ren himself. This forced Ren and Hare to retreat some distance to avoid the reflected shots.
[Come, Yae Sakura. Open this box. Release your sealed true desires and memories. Hurry and remember your true self!]
A hoarse, almost roaring voice slowly echoed from the black box, carrying a bewitching power that seeped into Yae Sakura's ears, constantly tempting her to open it.
"Stop talking!"
Ren's pupils contracted sharply. His Mosin-Nagant pistols were empty, having fired all their bullets just moments ago. He had no way to stop Yae Sakura from reaching the box from afar. Thus, Ren started sprinting towards Yae Sakura, racing against the white-haired girl who was regrouping on the other side for another attempt.
While running at top speed, Ren pressed his red-gloved hand against the white bird mask on his face, already preparing to summon his Persona for battle.
However, Yae Sakura opened the black box far faster than Ren and the white-haired girl could reach her to intervene.
"My true... self..."
Yae Sakura dazedly opened the black box floating before her. As the box opened, the crimson-black smoke that had been continuously leaking out now surged forth unrestrained, like a liberated, furious tide.
A terrifying storm erupted from the black box, instantly pinning Ren and the white-haired girl, who were approaching Sakura at full speed from opposite directions, firmly in place. Their bodies felt crushed under immense weight, making even the slightest movement incredibly difficult.
"...What? What's happening?!"
After personally opening the sealed black box, Yae Sakura seemed to suddenly regain her senses. A look of terror flashed across her face. She stumbled backward several steps, then unsteadily collapsed to the ground.
"These memories... what are they?!"
Yae Sakura tremblingly raised a slender hand, clutching her head tightly. As vast memories flooded her mind after the box opened, her pupils dilated to their limit, her face growing paler and paler.
[Yes, this is the real you! Do you remember now? The Yae Sakura who personally slaughtered all the villagers of Yae Village time and time again, utterly destroying the responsibility entrusted to you by your dying sister? That bloodstained, ugly, and sinful Yae Sakura!!]
The eerie voice from the box spoke in a low, terrifying tone, dripping with mockery towards the kneeling Yae Sakura. The black-red mist surged and coalesced into a massive fox head. The grim, ferocious fox face contorted into a sneer, looking down mockingly at Yae Sakura.
Upon opening the black box, memories of Yae Sakura's past 500 years of endless cycles flooded back into her mind.
Through the Herrscher of Corruption's malicious manipulation, Sakura primarily recalled the traumatic memories of her sister being sacrificed by the villagers and her own betrayal of her promise to her sister, slaughtering the villagers herself.
The onslaught of these painful memories made it increasingly difficult for Sakura to accept reality. She hugged herself tightly, curling up like a fragile, helpless child, trying to escape it all.
[Admit it, Yae Sakura. Those demon beasts attacking the villagers were formed from your own desires. They are the true manifestation of your wish to break your promise to your sister, to kill those villagers, to exact cruel revenge upon them... I understand all of this. In this world, only I understand your true thoughts and heart.]
The giant crimson-black fox head floated beside the collapsed Yae Sakura's ear, its strange voice weaving bewitching, seductive words meant to lure her into darkness.
[And why? Because... I am you, and you are me!]