The mechanical arm made of steel scooped the man up from the sea. His right arm, severed in two, dangled to the side like limp noodles. The wound that had nearly decapitated him had closed, but his other injuries remained dull and showed no signs of healing.
The Pseudo-Herrscher Core and the Herrscher of Reason Core within his body had both reached their limits. Aside from barely closing the fatal wounds, he could no longer self-heal.
Yama showed no emotion as she looked at Lin, who resembled a dead dog with broken limbs. She leaped from Ouranos's shoulder onto its palm. Curving her hand into a claw, she decisively dug the Herrscher of Reason's core out of the muscle of Lin left arm.
Glancing at the dimmed core, she tossed it into the sky with an expressionless face and manifested the Might of An-Utu.
BOOM!
The gem that should have been brilliant shattered amidst the raging flames.
Yama tilted her slender neck, watching the explosion under the clear sky. She silently clutched her own chest; within her, there was also a core.
Had her heart become a Herrscher core, or had the core replaced her heart?
It no longer mattered.
Her frozen eyes turned back toward the motionless Lin.
She raised her hand. Without a shred of hesitation, she thrust it toward Lin chest.
Her slender, jade-like hand, wrapped in bandages, was as sharp as a blade. It easily plunged deep into Lin chest and lungs. The weakened Lin began to cough again, splattering a large amount of blood onto Yama face. Unflinching, she reached her fingers bit by bit toward his Pseudo-Herrscher Core.
The hair-raising sound of crushing bone and flesh rang out beneath her cold movements.
Upon touching the core, she immediately tightened her fingers, intending to rip it out of Lin body in one go.
Snap.
A hand clamped down on her bandage-wrapped wrist. Yama tilted her chin slightly, seeing Lin black pupils staring directly at her.
Those pitch-black eyes were like a mirror, allowing her to see her true self clearly.
She looked down again, using her free hand to grab Lin arm and tear it away. Then, she increased her strength, wanting to pull the core out in a single burst.
But this was the exact moment he had been waiting for.
Lin eyes, which had turned pitch black, instantly lit up. The severed arm that had been split in two healed in a flash. He gripped Yama hand—the one still inside his body—with both of his own.
The Pseudo-Herrscher Core emitted a faint golden glow, like golden blood flowing through his veins. Every last drop of his remaining Honkai energy erupted at once.
By the time Yama wanted to retreat, it was too late. She felt the Honkai energy within her being suppressed by an irrational sensation. Her gaze darkened; she kicked Lin body, using the reaction force to wrench her hand out.
Even though he isn't a true Herrscher yet, he can already suppress me to this degree...
A wave of nausea churned in Yama heart. Her body felt as if it had been placed in shackles; a "heaviness" she hadn't felt in ages occupied her form.
However, Lin had also used up the last of his Honkai energy. He knelt powerlessly on the ground, clutching his chest and panting.
In this brief moment where neither moved to strike again, they exchanged a glance that lasted less than a second.
Tap!
Both of them lunged simultaneously toward the nearby Oath of Judah, reaching out their hands—
One of them placed a hand upon the cross that judged evil.
Lin had reached the Oath of Judah first!
His Pseudo-Herrscher Core resonated with the cross. His Rainbow Eyes vibrated. The Oath of Judah, which had already been deployed, automatically closed, and then—aside from the spike at the base used for anchoring—every other part began to disassemble.
Along with the spears hidden within the main body used for anchoring, a total of thirteen spears flew out to surround the area, forming a massive barrier. Countless golden gears and chains unfolded like flowers in full bloom, blotting out the sky. An inverted cross occupied the entire firmament.
Once this holy barrier deployed, all Honkai energy within it was instantly neutralized. Even the sky-blotting Ouranos lost its power source, and its functions ceased.
Lin pulled out the fixed spear and aimed it at Yama, who was now unable to use any abilities or Honkai energy.
Time was short; he estimated he only had one minute.
Though Lin had seized the initiative, Yama face remained expressionless. She was like a different kind of Herrscher; there was no longer any humanity left in her. Facing Lin wielding a Divine Key, she simply pulled a weapon from behind her back.
It wasn't a weapon reproduced by the Herrscher of Reason's authority, nor was it a Divine Key powered by a Herrscher Core. It was just an ordinary weapon.
A... handgun.
The two seemed to share a tacit agreement. There was no dialogue; they simply concentrated all their energy on each other. The next attack would decide the winner.
"Phew..."
The wound on Lin chest continued to drain his life away, yet his breathing remained calm.
Yama gaze held neither sorrow nor joy. She looked as if she were merely carrying out a normal task, no longer questioning why Lin insisted on continuing.
So... why must you continue?
Simply choosing to give up would mean no longer facing the sacrifice of more people. Even if it wasn't the perfect conclusion, it would be a conclusion within one's reach.
"..."
Just like the game Delta had described, as long as one chooses to give up, they no longer have to face any suffering.
The person who told him that story had never seen a so-called "Hero," so she chose to become the Hero herself.
So... what about him? Would he flee? Stop? Stay in a place like a paradise, with companions who—even if his heart knew they were different—were still there?
His standing here was the answer.
Swish!
Their figures crossed.
"..."
"..."
The silver-haired girl let out a soft breath. She raised her pale, bandage-wrapped hand and wiped the corner of her mouth.
Piercing crimson spread across the plain white bandages.
The bandages on her body gradually turned into particles of light and vanished.
The handgun fell to the ground with a metallic clang. She looked down at the golden spear piercing through her chest, then turned her head to look at Lin without a word.
Creak—
Ouranos let out a heavy wail and collapsed toward the sea. The sky and ocean seemed to vibrate.
She leaned silently against Ouranos's palm, gazing at the collapsing sky. When Lin walked up to her, she raised her exhausted eyelids to meet his gaze.
"The gun had no bullets." Lin picked up the handgun the silver-haired girl had dropped. The gun was only a shell; after countless years, it could no longer be used. It was merely a casing that looked the same as it once had.
Just like... herself.
The silver-haired girl stared blankly at the sea where the sun was setting, whispering softly, "Maybe it's been too long. I forgot."
"Do you forget things too?"
"Of course I do. So many things from the past... I can't remember them clearly. In the end, what does a homeless ghost need to remember anyway...?"
A hand was extended toward her. Her dust-covered face tilted upward slightly.
"Are you willing to come with me? To try one more time?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
She smiled, looking both helpless and irritated.
Then, she raised her hand and placed it in Lin.
But before Lin could pull her up, she grabbed his hand instead and pulled him into her embrace.
Before Lin could even react, she pulled out the spear and thrust it straight into the core in his chest!
The silver-haired girl pushed Lin away. She watched the spear emit golden light particles, exhaling all the unease from her chest.
A crack appeared behind Lin, and that single push from the girl sent him through it. He could only watch helplessly as she fell toward the depths along with Ouranos.
"Don't trust him."
That was the last thing Lin heard.
"One day, I will prove it to you."
"Prove what?"
"Humanity, love, and... hope."
The girl looked at the distant sunset and smiled brilliantly, quietly closing her eyes.
She had waited for this moment for far, far too long.
"Elysia... you proved it to me..."