Chapter 72
"Kouhaku, what's wrong with you? Why did you suddenly—"
Although the Grand Sorcerer was somewhat puzzled by his junior brother's sudden tearful expression, much like his own Teacher's death years ago, he heard a whoosh the next second, and then Kouhaku's chains struck him. By the time the old man reacted, he was already bound.
It's not apparent on the surface, but this is actually Kouhaku's ability to lock his mind.
"Kishua, you're tough and have lived so long, this won't affect you."
"Huh? It can't be that bad, can it? I just tricked you out of a bottle of wine, is it really worth holding a grudge for ages? Be gentle, don't tie me so tight."
"Don't worry, there's no danger anymore... This guy can't move."
Ignoring the words of the Grand Sorcerer, Kouhaku turned to Avia and spoke.
"Kishua, what do you think of Crimson Moon's strength?"
Avia's tone was calm.
"Oh? Although she is the Moon King, in reality, without the support of her Planet, even without Second Magic, she could not possibly be my match."
"You really dare to say that."
Kouhaku muttered something under his breath, but the Grand Sorcerer pretended not to hear and continued to stare calmly at Avia.
From his junior brother's complete 180-degree change in attitude and the name he had just called out, he naturally understood the whole story in an instant.
This Avia is definitely the same Novia who united believers and established the Holy Church in the first century...
Kishua couldn't help but feel curious. He had thought that such a person would die like his Teacher, but he hadn't expected him to reappear now and be dealing with the Church. Thinking about it carefully, it made sense. It seemed that the Church had become so powerful because of this person.
"Then things become simple. If Crimson Moon wants to revive in Altrouge Brunestud, whom she considers a 'failure,' we can just join forces and eliminate her again. After all, she's a threat, and it's not good to keep her around. It's better to deal with her sooner rather than later."
Avia still wore a smile, and her tone was as gentle as ever, but for some reason, it carried a subtle pressure for Kishua.
Are you really going to say that? Unite? This is three hundred years ago, when we united to kill Crimson Moon. Right now, the Dead Apostle, the True Ancestor, and the Magecraft I brought are still fighting.
The old man couldn't help but think to himself, but then he realized it made perfect sense. Altrouge Brunestud wasn't Perfection as Arcueid before she was born, and in this era, she couldn't use a body to gain the Planet's full support... The more he thought about it, the more sense it made.
Perhaps that's why the Grand Sorcerer's tone suddenly became cheerful.
"However, Van Fem is alright, but White-Winged Duke, like Blackmore, is a loyal subordinate of Crimson Moon. Although that guy isn't particularly strong, he could cause quite a stir if he gets into trouble."
"I've already sent the Black-and-White Knights and Kathy to stop him. If possible, killing him is fine too. After all, the de facto leader of the Dead Apostle is Altrouge Brunestud, and Van Fem has also expressed his agreement."
"Wow, those three guys actually listen to you so much. These three are all Altrouge Brunestud's loyal subordinates. Apart from her, there's basically no one else you can command. Black and White-Winged Duke, Black-and-White Knights, hey, it seems that sending little Eltrauge to Britain was the right choice."
"Kishua, although I know your personality, I think you'd be better off being a little more serious."
"Alright, alright, I'm already so old, junior brother, don't tie me up so tightly, it's really uncomfortable."
Despite this, the old man still kept his gaze fixed on Avia with an improper look, while the silver-haired youth's eyes remained on the Great Gate, and he casually replied:
"I don't know, I've never thought about it."
"I see... But I think it's not too late to start thinking about it now. You might come up with some great ideas, and it'll definitely be very interesting."
After hearing this, Avia smiled softly.
"Perhaps."
146: Crimson Moon, please just die!
The last place of the Millennium Castle is buried by unknown red flowers, a silent place as Serenity as the eternal slumber of the dead.
This is the Moon King's room, which has been managed by the True Ancestor for a long time, free from enemies and humans.
The world before her eyes was dominated by the red color, and her inner feelings gradually cooled. Altrouge Brunestud, who had just entered, came back to her senses.
Looking around the large room filled with red, there was no one else there except her.
Only in the middle of the sea of flowers is there a pure white bed, like a coffin.
The Black-Haired Girl approached step by step. Although there was no one on the bed, she could definitely sense her unborn sister from the gathering aura.
However, although she couldn't see her, through a spiritual connection, Altrouge Brunestud saw her younger sister, Arcueid.
In that instant, she understood that she was the princess of the True Ancestor, the Perfection successor of the Moon King, the king of the Planet, a true success.
My only chance of success is now; there is no other possibility.
Altrouge Brunestud is the child of the True Ancestor and the Dead Apostle, but the Dead Apostle cannot reproduce, since their essence is the resurrection of corpses. Moreover, Crimson Moon is not her mother. Her mother is most likely the True Ancestor, who is like a clone of Crimson Moon. But in any case, Altrouge Brunestud was ultimately born because of Crimson Moon.
Because she was able to subdue the Demon Hound, she was considered to have surpassed Crimson Moon. However, due to her instability at the Dead Apostle level, Altrouge Brunestud was still regarded as a 'failure' by Crimson Moon...
Take the battle between the White Princess, which should have taken place in the 12th century AD, as an example. On the night of the full moon, the Black Princess, who was of mixed blood, had infinite life force but not infinite energy. As a result, she became increasingly disadvantaged in the long battle with the White Princess. Finally, just before dawn, the Black Princess used everything as a gamble to launch a full-force attack, which cut off the White Princess's long hair. She was then hastily rescued by the Black and White Riders and the Demon Hound, who had escaped the encirclement of the True Ancestor's forces.
"..."
Young Arcueid simply looked up at Altrouge Brunestud with her red eyes, a pure white color that knew nothing.
Altrouge Brunestud understood that the True Ancestor only saw it as a weapon, so they hadn't taught her about it. After all, the True Ancestor only needed a 'Judgment,' not a king, so power was enough for them.
She suddenly felt sorry for this guy, but even so, she didn't stop what she was doing.
"That's fine."
Young Arcueid's instinctive resistance gradually sluggish, and the struggling movements of her legs gradually diminished.
He was killing his own... sister.
Altrouge Brunestud knew this very well, yet she spoke as if comforting a family member walking towards death:
"You can go back now..."
Return to the world you yearn to return to in your mind, or—to the dark depths of the bottom of the world to which all the dead will eventually return.
Seeing Arcueid gripped by death and gripped by instinctive fear, Altrouge Brunestud suddenly recalled her own reaction when she and Avia encountered the old man with the skull mask at the temple.
For some reason, she subconsciously recalled what Avia had said back then, even though it wasn't directed at her—
Only a spirit that cannot be swayed by anything is truly essential.
Suddenly, Altrouge Brunestud released her grip, pursed her lips, and fear flashed in her eyes.
"... I'm still terrified. I really can't beat you. There's no chance of victory. You're the true successor. You're so much stronger than me. You're the Perfection successor. Why? Why? You're so outstanding. Doesn't that make me utterly meaningless? A complete failure. What is this all about? What was the point of all this time...?"
She had no desire to become the Moon King in a fair and square way, but the moment she truly saw Arcueid, she had already given up hope.
Therefore, the Issei is now.
"But I—in the end, I still don't want to give up, nor do I want to embarrass myself like this."
Strive to the very end, until the very last moment of your life.
Princess Kuro, who had demanded this of herself from the very beginning, simply could not tolerate herself making a fool of herself like this.
I cannot tolerate myself falling into such a shameful state.
Because I—don't want to give up myself.
"So, next time, when you've truly grown up and matured, let's have the final showdown, the Perfection specimen destined for victory... my sister."
Suddenly, the Black-Haired Girl's blood-red eyes turned somber.
Dark and gloomy, as if sinking alone into some kind of abyss.
She spoke in a barely audible voice, barely moving her lips, as she whispered:
"... Strange, why have most of the congenital defects been repaired? Although it's still far from a Perfection body, it's barely enough for now."
As Altrouge Brunestud said this, the image of the former Crimson Moon appeared on her.
This was originally a dormant subconsciousness within Arcueid, known as the "Crimson Moon's" action philosophy.
The True Ancestor all have a vampiric urge. This is not actually a flaw of Crimson Moon as the Prototype, but a backdoor that she deliberately left to consume the spirit of the host body. Once the spirit dies, the soul is no different from being dead, and Crimson Moon can occupy the empty shell of the Flesh to achieve Perfection resurrection.
Therefore, the True Ancestor is essentially Crimson Moon's backup body.
Furthermore, if True Ancestor succumbs to the urge to drink blood and becomes a 'Demon King,' they are more likely to experience the phenomenon of light bodies. They would then use the means of annihilating the humans around them, thereby losing their accumulated past selves and becoming a new and stronger version of themselves.
"Crimson Moon" would only occasionally appear in Arcueid's surface consciousness, displaying her Pride and cold demeanor as a noble transcendent being.
Originally, Black Princess should not have had her body taken over by the rising consciousness, but because she gave up her only chance of victory, she was regarded as a possible success by the Crimson Moon consciousness, and thus her body was taken over by the rising consciousness.
"However, Altrouge Brunestud, although you are a failure, your tormented and conflicted appearance still has a unique charm. How about we release you to continue suffering?"
The "Crimson Moon," having suppressed Altrouge Brunestud's consciousness and taken over her Flesh, smiled as if to celebrate her return. All the red flowers in the room faded to the point that even their shadows became faint.
In that very instant--
The high-speed Od spiral coming from the Great Gate was aimed at the newly revived 'Crimson Moon'.
This Od rebounded and weakened among the surrounding withered red flowers, like a silent, unseen howl in the wilderness.
"Who are you..."
Crimson Moon trembled uncontrollably; this was the first time she had ever felt this way since birth, not even during the great battle of the Millennium Castle...
"Can I ask you to die completely this time, Crimson Moon?"
Avia gazed calmly at Altrouge Brunestud, whose body was now possessed by the Crimson Moon.
147: The Demonic Sword - True World
The sudden intrusion of human language caused Crimson Moon to frown slightly.
Although he appeared unremarkable on the surface, she knew all too well that this human was strange, or even terrifying.
Originally, the Moon King wouldn't care about the presence of humans.
However, things are different now. Although this smell is equivalent to the fumes of lava or a volcano, one can instinctively sense the possibility of death within it.
If we were to mention why—
It's a pure instinct.
"... Is that so? It's a real miscalculation for my successor's body to become intoxicated by desire. That's not Perfection."
"Your operational philosophy is now manifesting itself in her; it's Perfection embodiment of it."
"Is there anything you need? If it's just something Half-Baked, I can give it to you; you're quite interesting."
Hearing Crimson Moon speak such strange words in the body of Altrouge Brunestud, Avia maintained her sharp gaze and continued:
"How about I give you my life?"
"Is that so? Then let me judge whether you are worth my death. Can you defy the universal principles of All Creation?"
Crimson Moon narrowed her eyes, which held a calm Wrath brewing from the insult to her self-esteem.
With his hands waving in all directions, the faint red flowers scattered around him roared in response and rapidly stretched towards the roof.
Simply being within the Millennium Castle is enough to distort space once again.
Avia enveloped herself in Primordial Runes from Odin, Od she had obtained from Typhon, and the blessing of the Rhine Gold, and said:
"That's exactly what I intend to do."
For a fleeting moment, she displayed a tone remarkably like that of a young girl, mirroring her own Flesh appearance, before exuding pure hostility and declaring her presence with an imposing air.
"Then let's give it a try!"
And so, in the instant their Od intersected—
The red and blue colors, comparable to those of a god from Age of Gods, intertwined to enhance the power of the artifacts, and imprinted this evidence on the ancient city known as the Millennium Castle.
Meanwhile, the True Ancestor, who had been persuaded by the Grand Sorcerer to temporarily cease hostilities with the Dead Apostle, were unable to stand due to a sudden and intense discomfort.
"Oh dear, the war has already begun? Crimson Moon really can't use Moonfall now, huh? Otherwise, I'd really like to see if Typhon True Form could push things forward. What a pity."
Kishua stood atop the ancient city wall, smiling as if nothing had happened.
"Hey, Kishua, this is really uncomfortable. Are you sure you really want to do this?"
As the highest-ranking Magecraft in the Human World, the True Ancestor also valued Zelretch highly. Zelretch, in turn, was willing to listen to the True Ancestor, who were spirits, consult him, considering he was a human who had lived since before the AD...
Therefore, the relationship between the two sides was actually very good, which is why the True Ancestor listened to their advice and temporarily ceased hostilities with the Dead Apostle.
"That's a human being worthy of being called a saint. His advice is quite reliable. But you all better not do anything reckless in the future. Just live peacefully here, or you might lose all your sanity."
"I see. Since Kishua has said so, we'll listen to you. Speaking of which, we've heard about some wines produced in Burgundy, and we'd really like to try some. Do you have any way of getting your hands on some?"