Europe, Schicksal Headquarters, Kollstan.
This place had already become a field of ruins. The head of the Shaniyat family was directing the surviving Schicksal soldiers to clear the battlefield while arranging for support personnel to rescue the wounded.
"It seemed the Herrscher of Erosion hadn't intended to get too entangled with us. She only briefly tested Griseo in battle before leaving." Vill-V stood atop Kollstan's cathedral, looking out over the devastated city. "Schicksal's losses are also extremely severe. The projected casualties will be far greater than during Schicksal's civil war."
"Schicksal's civil war, in the end, was merely a replacement of the Overseer carried out with the goal of minimizing losses as much as possible," Aponia said. "Compared to Marcel, Otto was more suited to become Schicksal's Overseer."
"Then why did he go to Shenzhou?" Vill-V looked at Aponia. "Aponia, don't tell me you didn't know."
"I was the one who sent him there," Aponia said calmly.
Vill-V's gaze sharpened. "Aponia, what exactly are you thinking? If the situation weren't so urgent right now, you wouldn't have had the chance to come out for some air."
"I had long since grown accustomed to the darkness, so where I am makes no difference to me. Dawn... ceased to exist after he left," Aponia said softly.
Vill-V clicked her tongue. "Then what exactly did Otto go to Shenzhou for?"
"I told him that if he wished to learn the current whereabouts of the Thirteenth Divine Key, only Shenzhou's Crimson Kite could tell him." Aponia replied, "He craves the power of the Thirteenth Divine Key, hoping to use it to revive Saintess Kallen."
"How dare he?!" Vill-V's tone suddenly turned furious, but she quickly calmed down. "He can't possibly succeed."
"People always need hope in order to keep looking forward," Aponia said. "Perhaps