Pain.
A pain deep in the heart.
How long has it been?
I don't know... the traces of time have been erased.
None of that matters anymore.
All I know is that I have swung my sword countless times.
My palms are so slick that I can't even grip the sword.
There is the sound of crackling flames burning in my ears, and my vision is obscured by crimson blood.
I see a sea of fire flowing across the sky, frantic waves of fire one after another, baring fangs and claws as if wanting to swallow the heavens. Below the sea of fire, St. Freya Academy is shrouded in smoke, as if thick clouds of a smoky May have descended to the ground.
In the sky, it was as if a shaky, constantly swaying Himalayan volcano stood tall.
Himeko propped herself up with one hand on her sword, all her strength concentrated on the hilt, her battered body like a worn-out rag doll.
Even as the Crimson Knight, can she not defeat her?
So tired, weariness from her bleeding body goes straight to the marrow of her bones.
This is much sleepier than being drunk.
I really want to just sleep like this.
Clang!
In front of her, Durandal thrust her lance into the ground and took half a step back.
So much time has passed, and as the sky gradually brightens, she still hasn't completely crushed this woman.
Watching Himeko, who still forced herself to stand even after falling many times, Durandal's resolve wavered.
Is someone with the determination of such a warrior really the leader of an Academy that causes great harm to humanity as Otto claimed?
Clang!
In the next second, the lance roared.
The hilt of the greatsword emitted sparks from the collision!
The force was so great that the skin between Himeko's thumb and forefinger split inch by inch!
She didn't let go!
Clang!
Durandal didn't look up, she just raised her hand again.
She held her lance horizontally.
With a wave of her hand, another strike!
The knight's lance, heavy as a collapsing mountain, slammed violently into the greatsword!
Boom!!!
As if cracking the greatsword, the slick blood decorated the blade with a layer of romantic red flames.
Himeko's footing was unstable, and she stumbled to her knees.
Pfft!
She spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, her messy hair draped over her forehead like a madwoman.
Durandal watched as, just like before, the woman as stubborn as fire stood up again.
Even though this time, one of her arms hung limply at her side.
But there was still the other hand, trembling as it gripped the greatsword.
Durandal remained silent, her fingertips tightening, power gathering in the lance in her hand as her arm swung, tearing through the sound of the wind!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
She swung the lance three times in succession, each strike more fierce than the last!
All the power was concentrated on one point, on Himeko's greatsword.
The instantaneous massive force sent the woman flying, her broken body tumbling several meters.
The trailing bloodstain formed a long path, the ground looking as if bright red roses were in full bloom.
...
Durandal stopped in her tracks.
Is it finally over?
She looked down and suddenly saw that her palm had been scorched by the fire, smelling of burnt flesh.
Turning her head slightly, her originally long golden hair was scorched like withered grass, sticking shortly to her neck.
Even the armor, the part protecting the core of her heart, had a large hole in it, with the cold evening wind drilling into the gap.
The dense wounds all carried the burn marks of the flames.
This appearance was as if she had taken a bath in a sea of fire.
If she didn't say it, those who didn't know would never understand.
In the face of that indestructible will and determination, how difficult it was to block sword after sword.
It was not just the burning of the body, but also the torture of the soul.
Just as Durandal turned her steps, preparing to leave, she suddenly noticed a small movement.
"...Is your attack over?"
"Why, even like this, are you still unwilling to give up?"
...
Himeko gripped her greatsword with all her might, her back arched and trembling; her body was in spasms, she no longer had any strength left.
The words she spoke were only to attract Durandal's attention. Time seemed to freeze, and in a daze, she remembered Yae Sakura's voice; if she could just delay a little longer.
If that were really the case.
—I really want to see you all one more time.
Seeing her state, Durandal knew she couldn't linger any longer.
Otto's mission was for her to take down the Far East Branch before dawn.
Himeko is a true warrior.
But.
A warrior's life is never very long... Sighing, Durandal raised her lance, the sharp tip pointed at Himeko's slender neck.
The cold wind blew against her scarred chin, and the tip of the lance pierced her skin, blood seeping out.
The neck that looked so fragile had somehow escaped her attacks countless times.
It's finally time to end this.
As a warrior, to die by my blade should be enough.
"Sigh~"
Durandal raised her lance and couldn't help but close her eyes.
On the walls, the Valkyries of St. Freya Academy also held their breath.
Everyone's eyes were filled with tears.
Even Himeko slowly closed her eyelids.
...
But at this very instant.
Durandal suddenly noticed an even more violent movement!
It was the sky; there was a huge disturbance.
In less than a second!
Dark clouds gathered, and thunder roared.
Because the speed of lightning is the fastest!
A bolt of lightning pierced the night sky, and wild winds blew!
On the ground, the Schicksal Valkyries swayed unsteadily, almost falling; the wind scraping their faces was a burst of pain, they couldn't open their eyes, and their eardrums felt like they were being shattered!
The attacks in their hands couldn't help but stop.
They were full of shock, staring at the phenomenon in the heavens.
The entire sky was filled with an eerie purple light.
The mountain rain was coming, and the wind filled the tower; it seemed as if the entire world was controlled by thunder and lightning.
"Boom!"
A bolt of lightning pierced the silence of the sky, and the startling thunder woke the living creatures on the earth, shooting violently and fiercely into every corner.
The deep purple lightning seemed to want to wash away the anger in its heart, wanting to tear all this darkness to shreds!
Then came fire snakes, crawling out from the lightning.
That blazing fire was like a manic painter, using the brush in his hand to paint everywhere he went like crazy, scurrying around with the wind, devouring everything without restraint!
The lightning contained fire, and the fire devoured the lightning!
This scene, which was completely impossible to form, merged together at this moment.
But it wasn't over yet!
Finally came the ice and snow; the frenzied cold snow emerged angrily from the flames!
A tornado!
A terrifying tornado wrapped in ice and fire covered the ground and corpses, snapped tree branches, obscured the appearance of various objects, and blocked the roads and transportation of Schicksal. The snowflakes flying all over the sky melted heaven and earth into a single white entity.
There were also dreamlike, translucent butterflies attacking from the tornado, turning into fragments with a pop!
Durandal was in a daze for a moment, but suddenly heard a low voice sounding from not far away.
When she looked down again, a queen with short silver-white hair, wearing a crown and a deep blue gown, stood before her.
Noble, elegant, violent, and cold—this was a tyrant of a nation!
Behind her was a massive mechanical armor, like a giant beast awakening from the deep night.
It had giant claws with a futuristic aura, a deep and condensed head, and a metal-levitating body.
"Do you want to know why Teacher Himeko is unwilling to give up?"
The Queen said.
"Because for her entire life, she has never stopped fighting!"
Fire, lightning, and ice and snow converged at a single point at this moment.
In the shattered space, golden strands of hair quietly appeared.
"Is your attack over? Now it's our turn..."
In Durandal's pupils, the figures of several people appeared.
She could feel a suffocating pressure.
So many Herrschers.
Plus Himeko's Gem of Haste.
In total, there were five Herrschers, staring at her with cold gazes.
Was she making an enemy of all the Herrschers in the world?
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