Sshwaaaa-!!!!!!!!!!
"!!"
Thwack-!!!
"Gwargh!!!!!!!!"
The spear Finn threw with his full might pierced Asterius's abdomen. Before the beast could even process the shock, another strike aimed for his throat.
Sshhh-!!!!!!!!
"....!!"
Slash-!!!!!!!!
"Gwarghhh!!!!!"
"It was an ambush..."
'He twisted his body mid-air to dodge...?'
Clang-!!!!!!!!!!
Ais's Desperate severed one of his arms, yet she was stunned that he had evaded the lethal strike to his neck. Simultaneously, she was sent flying as she parried the axe Asterius swung in retaliation.
".....He's strong."
'His raw power might be superior to mine...'
"Grrr!!!!"
Clang-!!
Ching-!!!
Boom-!!!!!!!!
"Gwargh!!!!!!!"
Ais charged back in immediately, unleashing a rapid-fire succession of strikes against Asterius's axe with god-like speed.
Under the pressure of Ais's tempestuous sword intent, Asterius could barely manage to block, yet his eyes continued to burn with the unwavering light of a true warrior.
Screech-!!!
"!!"
'He deflected the blade...!'
Thud-!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Guh....!?"
Exploiting the moment Ais prepared a heavy, wide-arced strike, Asterius slid her thrust along the side of his axe blade, spun his body, and delivered a devastating kick.
"Incredible...."
"He actually counterattacked the [Sword Princess]...."
"Is that really a Level 6....?"
"Ais Wallenstein....."
Hestia and her companions could only watch in awe. Setting aside Ais's ferocious, storm-like assault, it was unbelievable that Asterius—who was clearly outmatched in speed and had lost an arm—could successfully counter her with such high-level martial technique.
".....That!"
"Ottar?"
The sentiment was shared by Ottar, who stood beside Freya atop Babel, observing the chaos.
"Have you seen that Minotaur before?"
"No, but surely....."
'That defensive stance.... and that counterattack....'
The defensive posture was far too similar to the one he had taught a certain Minotaur months ago, triggering a sharp sense of deja vu. Furthermore, the counter-technique used was one his old friend had mastered, turning that suspicion into a haunting question.
Rumble-!!!!!!!!
"""!!"""
"This is....!?"
Whoosh-!
Before anyone could ponder further, an overwhelming aura erupted, seizing everyone's attention and vibrating across the entire battlefield.
"[O Gracious Sea, let your vast azure become my wings.]"
Crackle-!!!!!!!!
Green energy coalesced in Akumo's hand, forming a wooden longbow. His appearance shifted, taking on the ethereal, mystical features of an Elf.
"[To ascend the throne, the beautiful current shall willingly become a torrent of blood!]"
Sshhh-!!!!!!!!
Blue energy swirled around the other Akumo's hand, gradually solidifying into a blade.
As if the violent waves themselves had been given form, a sword of brilliant, translucent blue rested in his grip. His vermilion gills and tail expanded, transforming him into something resembling a Merman.
Flutter-!!
"A monster....!?"
"Impossible....!!"
As his robe was blown away, Akumo's true form was revealed. Finn and Bete were struck with disbelief that the entity they had been communicating and fighting with was a monster.
"...Akumo?"
"What is this...."
Riveria and Ais were equally bewildered, feeling an uncanny familiarity from the monster that mirrored Akumo almost perfectly.
Rumble-!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sshhh-!!!!!!!!!!!!
""...""
Grin-!
'I will win!'
In the process of facing their mirror images, both Akumos felt the intoxicating heat of battle. Smirking, the primary Akumo released his bowstring, firing his most devastating attack.
"[Sylphid Trident]. "
Sshhh-!!!!!!!!!!!!
"..."
The blue arrow streaked through the air, aimed directly at the clone's head, but—
"[Privy Council]. "
Slash-!
A massive wave of sword intent rose to meet the arrow, blanketing the sky.
Boom-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The collision between the Elven arrow and the Merman's blade generated a shockwave that neutralized both attacks, the thunderous roar vanishing into the sky above Daedalus Street in an instant.
-Kuaaaa!!!!!!!!!
"Wiene, stop!!!"
Crash-!!!!
Boom-!!!!
Meanwhile, Bell was desperately pursuing Wiene, trying to halt her rampage as she tore through Daedalus Street.
"Wiene!!!"
-Kuaaa!!!!!
Dash-!!!
'What do I do.....'
Crash-!!!!!!!!
'I have to save her....!!'
Wiene did not stop even as tears streamed down her face. Her continued destruction eventually drew the intervention of other adventurers.
Clack-!!
"Found it!"
"You're not going anywhere!"
Creak-!!!
"Everyone, wait!!"
The adventurers blocked Wiene's path, preparing to fire arrows and magic, but Ardee appeared and momentarily halted their assault.
"[Valsa]!? Why are you stopping us!"
"The Guild ordered her captured alive!"
"So what—"
"The town is being destroyed! You think capturing it alive is the priority right now!!?"
"T-That's....!"
"We don't intend to kill it either! We'll just blow off its limbs!"
Ardee tried her best to stop the adventurers to keep Wiene alive, but the rampage had already crossed the line. Wiene was clearly causing harm to the populace, and words were no longer enough to stop the mob.
Ultimately, the adventurers unleashed their fury. A volley of arrows and spells targeted Wiene.
Thud-!
-Kuuu....!!
"[Fire Bolt]!!!!"
Whoosh-!
""What!?""
Boom-!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bell, having overheard the exchange, understood the gravity of the situation but chose to use his magic to block the adventurers. Ardee and the others were forced to retreat in shock as Bell's [Fire Bolt] intercepted their attacks.
"What do you think you're doing, [Little Rookie]!!!"
"She's heading that way!!"
"Prepare to attack—"
"[Fire Bolt]!!!!"
Boom-!!!!!!!!!
Bell fired more magic at the secondary units of adventurers, running blindly, failing to realize that their formation was actually luring Wiene into a trap.
Thump-!!!!!!!!!
"Stop, Wiene!!"
Dash-!
"Wiene!!"
Clang-!!!!!!!!!
Wiene was finally herded into an open plaza. Waiting for her were scores of mages positioned in every direction.
"Fire!"
Crackle-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
".....!!!"
Boom-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A barrage of spells struck Wiene simultaneously. The concentrated magical bombardment lasted for several seconds, scorching her body and successfully inflicting fatal wounds.
Sizzle-
"Wiene!!!!!!!"
"Be.... ll...."
Bell reached out to her, his mind blank at the sight of her mangled form. Perhaps due to the massive shock, Wiene finally recognized Bell and reached back toward him.
Reach-!
'I have to save her...! Wiene.... I have to—'
Splurt-!!!!!!!!!!!
".....Wiene?"
Before their hands could meet, her injuries proved too severe. She coughed up a spray of blood.
Crack-!!!!
"The ground is collapsing! Everyone, get back!!!!"
"Bell!!!!"
Crash-!!!!!!!!!!
As Wiene's life force flickered out, the ground beneath them gave way, unable to withstand the structural damage. The two of them plummeted together into the darkness below.
The two Akumos continued their battle, even after neutralizing each other's ultimate strikes.
Whoosh-!!!!!!!!
Clang-!!!!!!!!!!
"".....""
Thud-!!!!!!!!!!
One wielding a bow, the other a sword, they traded blows until the Xenos Akumo landed a powerful kick. The surface Akumo was sent flying toward the very spot where Bell and Wiene had fallen.
Boom-!!!!!!!!!
"Haah... haah..."
Look-
"!!"
'Bell.... Wiene....!!'
Akumo sprang up immediately, preparing for a follow-up attack, but as he surveyed his surroundings, he saw Bell and Wiene falling. He witnessed the light of life fading from Wiene's eyes.
Whoosh-!!!!!!!!!!
"Bell!!!!!!!!"
The battle high vanished instantly. Snapping back to reality at the sight before him, Akumo threw himself into the pit they had fallen into.
"Brother...."
"Reinsert the jewel, quickly!!"
Hum-!!!!
Faced with a blood-soaked Wiene, Akumo and Bell had no time for words. In a final, desperate hope, they tried to place the jewel back into her forehead.
Sizzle-
""!!""
Crack-!!!
"No...!!"
"No!!!"
Though the jewel halted her rampage, Wiene's body began to crumble into ash. She was dying.
Grab-!!!
"Wiene!!"
"Please, wake up...!!"
Bell held her close, tears falling freely. Akumo prepared to use magic, but the moment he saw Wiene's shattering Magic Stone, he knew.
'It's too late....'
Look-
"Be... ll....?"
""Wiene!""
"I'm sorry.... Wiene is...."
Seeing so many people hurt because of her—and seeing Bell and Akumo covered in wounds—Wiene apologized, her voice heavy with guilt.
Bell, drowned in grief, could only offer hollow reassurances.
"It's okay, I'm fine, so.....!"
"..."
"So, Wiene...!!"
Looking at Bell and Akumo, Wiene spoke softly.
"I had..... a dream...."
"A scary dream.... where no one came to save me....."
Reach-!
"But this time, someone came to save me...."
Memories flooded Wiene's mind like a revolving lantern: the moment Bell saved her, the happy days with the Hestia Familia, the joy of meeting her own kind, and the bittersweet sadness of parting from her family.
She simply smiled.
"I was so happy...."
"Wiene...."
"Bell, Akumo...."
Crack-!
"Thank you.... and I love you....!"
The girl was truly happy. She felt sincere gratitude and love for the people before her.
Shatter-!
With the sound of something breaking, the young girl closed her eyes for the last time in the arms of her beloved family.