His left arm was bare bone and his chest had a gaping hole, but Otto forced himself to say, "Third strike"

"They're watching him," Hai Long said softly.

"Not just watching," Tian Hen said. "They're judging whether this villain deserves their acknowledgment."

Within the Light Screen, the shadows began to spin and converge, finally becoming a beam of light that merged into the sword in Otto's hand. New markings appeared along the blade, each one the name of a hero.

"They've acknowledged him," Ye Yinzhu said.

"Not his past." Zi shook her head. "They're acknowledging his resolve now-his willingness to give his life to protect someone. That resolve is the same as those heroes'."

Within the Light Screen, Otto held the flaming Giant Sword blessed by the "heroes" and slowly raised his head. A smile of almost pure release appeared on his face.

"Thank you," he said into the void, as though thanking those heroes. "For letting a villain like me wield your sword."

"Then now-" He turned to face the rule that declared "Kallen must die." "-let me use this 'hero's sword' to sever a 'villain's fate.'"

He swung his sword.

Golden flames tore through the void, slashing toward that invisible "rule." Wherever the flames passed, time began to warp and space began to crumble. Even everyone outside the Light Screen felt a suffocating pressure.

"He really intends to rewrite history," Ji Dong murmured.

"Not rewrite it," Tang Wulin said. "Burn it to nothing-with this sword that can 'burn the stars to nothing,' he'll reduce that future where 'she must die' to ashes."

Within the Light Screen, the flames blazed ever higher. Otto's body began to dissolve in the fire, yet he still gripped the sword, refusing to let go.

"It's been five hundred years." His voice rang out, growing fainter and fainter. "At last-I can be the kind of person you hoped I'd be, just this once."

"Kallen-watch me."