How could he be so calm???
How could he guess so quickly why I killed him???!!!
Could it be... No, impossible, absolutely impossible!
He should be afraid of me!
He should admire me!
I killed Otto!!!
I killed him!!!
"I know you're trying to force yourself to accept the outcome of my death, but I have to say,"
Otto still held his head high, looking down at Jackal. Even as he was about to vanish, his eyes remained filled with undisguised mockery.
"You know nothing about Otto."
He turned to dust and scattered away, leaving Jackal frowning as she lowered her head to conceal the vicious expression on her face.
"No... no, this isn't right... It shouldn't be like this..."
"My script... wasn't written like this..."
Cecilia's Outburst
Cecilia stood there blankly, watching Otto slowly dissipate until he vanished without a trace.
She tremblingly reached out, trying to grab hold of him, but in the end, there was nothing in her hand.
The woman froze, her mind utterly blank.
Brother... was dead?
No, no...
Overwhelming grief surged from the depths of her heart, leaving Cecilia almost powerless to resist it.
Brother... Otto... Lord Bishop...
She remembered the dependence and longing she had felt upon first seeing him; she remembered how cautious and restless she had been standing at his side, and the joy in her heart and warmth on her cheeks when they held hands.
She remembered their gaze meeting on the roller coaster, the birthday cake they had shared that night, his warm embrace in the square, and that dance she had wished would last forever.
He liked to reveal his detachment from crowds for no apparent reason, telling me that he was planning the next play.
He liked to think quietly, his eyes wise yet lonely in the pitch-black night.
He had once held my hand and promised to protect my peaceful life forever.
The affection in his every gesture had filled my heart with joy.
Vaguely, Cecilia remembered that long ago, when her feelings had first begun to bloom, he had entered her world and given her the exact same feeling she felt this year.
That lingering feeling... it seemed she had been in love for many years.
Ha, how ironic. Just as she remembered it all, the beauty returning before her eyes scattered like smoke.
The woman's eyes reddened.
But she did not cry.
She could not cry now, either.
Cecilia slowly tightened her grip around her lance, clenching her other hand into a fist. Her eyes were filled with fury as she looked at Jackal, who had frowned at Otto's final words.
The woman took a deep breath.
She lowered her stance.
Horse stance.
Jackal finally noticed the woman's movements. She looked at Cecilia holding her lance, shook her head, and a trace of impatience flashed through her eyes.
Yet she still habitually put on the same act as before, as though something important had left her too distracted to remove her "mask" of pretense. "I'm sorry, but the current Lady Cecilia is merely..."
"Black Abyss White Flower,"
Cecilia ignored her and softly addressed the lance in her hand.
"Fight... with me!"
She spun the spearhead around and, like a phantom, thrust straight toward Jackal!
Jackal stepped back. Cecilia leaped forward, and as she closed in on Jackal's chest, her wrist flickered. Three spear lights struck toward three different points.
Jackal instinctively blocked. With a crack, she stumbled back several steps, her arm snapping at the joint as blood poured out!
Cecilia gave her no chance to catch her breath. She stomped heavily on a stone slab and, using the immense recoil, shot into the air. Then she hurled her lance, sending it flying toward Jackal at supersonic speed!
But just as the lance was about to pierce through Jackal, the woman raised her head.
Cecilia saw Jackal's face filled with mockery and amusement.
Before she could react, Black Abyss White Flower shot toward Jackal's chest—then passed straight through it!
It simply passed through, without a single drop of blood splashing out!
Then, the very next second, the Jackal before her vanished from the spot without a trace!
Cecilia swiftly retrieved her lance, bent her knees slightly, and guarded herself warily.
At that moment, the ground suddenly began shaking again!
That was right—the entire ground, the Thames River, every building within sight was shaking!
"Very well. Since that's the case, I can only fight you with all my strength now, Lady Cecilia."
As a hoarse voice rang out, a massive venomous serpent poked its head out from where the lance had been aimed moments ago.
The giant serpent's heavy head flicked a long, thin tongue. As its body swayed, its hard scales clashed together with a metallic ring.
Its two fangs were like spearheads, occasionally dripping green fluid that corroded black scorch marks into the ground!
Its entire body glowed silver, yet it carried not the slightest hint of holiness. Instead, it radiated the murderous aura of blades drawn from their sheaths!
"This is my favorite test subject—though it was only supposed to live for one month, I think even one month can let it bloom with its own brilliance—just like now, facing an S-rank Valkyrie."
"I named it Jörmungandr in private. It possesses strength comparable to an Emperor-class Honkai Beast."
Her voice grew louder as she spoke. By the end, even her seemingly humble words could not conceal the wild arrogance in her heart.
"The previous battle proved nothing. It was merely an ordinary Honkai Beast cleanup operation. I could have done it too. I brought it out only to draw your attention and make Otto lower his guard."
"But now, the true battle is about to—why are you suddenly attacking?!"
"You talk too much."
Cecilia said coldly, then reversed her lance and stabbed toward the serpent's pupil.
Jörmungandr evaded the strike, raising its tail and slamming it toward her.
"Fine, Cecilia. Since that's how it is, I don't mind letting Schicksal lose an S-rank Valkyrie after losing a bishop!"
Jackal's furious roar echoed along the riverbank, carrying the murderous intent of someone blinded by rage.
Yet neither Cecilia nor Jörmungandr paid her any heed. Woman and beast clashed, exchanging hundreds of blows within mere minutes!
The woman used her innate skill to evade its attacks while driving her silver lance into Jörmungandr's body.
Some spear shadows were blocked by the hard scales, but many pierced through the gaps between them.
The giant serpent roared. Dark red blood fell to the ground as its massive tail lashed back and forth, reducing the already unrecognizable ruins to an even worse state. Nearby buildings collapsed with thunderous crashes, dust billowed, and debris flew everywhere.
Suddenly! Taking advantage of Cecilia's unstable footing, Jörmungandr lunged forward and bit at her!
Venom struck the ground, instantly corroding a huge hole into it, but the woman successfully dodged. Her gaze hardened. She spun, her lance whistling as it rose and pierced the serpent's pupil!
A large spray of blood and translucent aqueous fluid burst out, but one of its venomous fangs took the chance to bite into the top of her foot, piercing the woman's combat boot. Had she not dodged in time, those white fangs would have punched through the sole of her foot!
The two separated. Cecilia staggered backward until she came to a stop against a building.
She braced herself against its solid wall, trying to steady her breathing. Black-red bloodstains trailed across the ground, while the silver glow of the lance in her hand gradually dimmed like a candle about to go out in the wind.
But Jörmungandr did not act rashly. It slithered around the woman, its neck swelling as it occasionally let out a hiss.
Silence. An eerie silence spread through the ruins.
That was not to say there was no sound. On the contrary, even the person and Honkai Beast at the center of the battlefield were making noise. Yet every living creature present felt as if a heavy stone were pressing upon their chests, making even breathing difficult.
Forcing them into silence.
"Black Abyss White Flower... Damn it, Otto really was tolerant toward highborn people like you."
Jackal's voice rang out. Her tone carried a little more forced calm, but beneath that calm lurked a faint trace of jealousy.
"But your injuries are already severe, Lady Cecilia Schariac. I think—if it were me, I would be trying everything possible to leave this place, return to Schicksal, and help Miss Amber maintain the overall situation."
"Your intention to shake my resolve is far too obvious," Cecilia finally replied. "But..."
She gently twisted her injured, jade-like foot, then leaped high into the air.
"I've slain far too many Emperor-class beasts!"
Void Archives: I've Got You Now
"Rita Rossweisse."
"Lord Bishop?"
The blond, green-eyed man folded his arms and looked displeasedly at the brown-haired Valkyrie with the smiling face.
"I'm beginning to suspect that Durandal's explosive growth over the past two years had something to do with you."
Rita's smile became a little awkward. Grinning ingratiatingly, she lowered the hand that had been pinching the young boy's cheeks. "Lord Bishop... why are you using another body...?"
"Should I use the one in your hands, then wake up to find myself being manhandled by you?"
Otto's voice carried a hint of gritted teeth.
"Um... but while you aren't controlling it, this body's center of gravity is unstable..."
"So you held him in your arms?"
"Y-yes."
"Then what was with the cheek-pinching and head-patting?"
"..."
The man silently looked at Rita, then at the young boy's body she held in her arms.
It was not as though he had failed to foresee this—well, he had chosen this body precisely because of Rita's interest in cute things.
As for the reason...
"Forget it. This was part of my plan too." Otto looked at his young boy body and shook his head helplessly. "I anticipated everything."
He tapped the air, golden light blooming at his fingertips before quickly fading.
A flash of understanding crossed the man's eyes as he asked, "How is Cecilia's situation?"
Rita placed a hand by her ear. Only after communicating for some time did she answer, "Miss Amber says Lady Cecilia is fighting an Emperor-class Honkai Beast and currently holds the upper hand."
"Only the upper hand?"
Otto frowned, though he was not especially surprised.
"There shouldn't be any problem on her side. What about you, Rita?"
"Rita awaits your instructions."
The woman gently steadied the young boy's body and answered with a bow.
"The mission to protect this body of mine has been completed..."
Otto raised his finger and traced another circle through the air. Golden light appeared and vanished again, just as before.
Without the slightest surprise, the man looked toward his wrist. Sure enough, it was empty—the cross bracelet that had been there had suddenly disappeared.
"I originally wanted to leave them a way out," Otto sighed. "But... there are always people who make me act a little less heartlessly. Truly, thank you."
Before you continue