Chapter 257
"Oh my~~~"
Xia Yu looked at the forest that had been turned into scorched earth in the distance and sighed regretfully, "Failed again."
"Sorry, I missed. Sigh, I haven't mastered Taixuan Sword Ki yet, I really can't control the power of the Divine Essence realm."
Gorgon looked at the white-haired young girl smiling like a flower in front of her, trembling with anger.
This is a threat, right? This is definitely a threat!
This damn human is threatening her!
Driven by hatred and anger, she was about to furiously activate her Noble Phantasm, but the next moment, countless golden chains blocked her path.
"Go back!" Kingu's face could no longer be described as just dark. He stood between Xia Yu and Gorgon, "I'll cover the rear, you go quickly!"
"How can I..." Gorgon wanted to say something more, but her body was almost dragged down by the golden chains.
Kingu was furious. Did this stupid woman not know how to read the room at all? The other party was clearly showing mercy. Regardless of her reasons, surviving today was already good enough, understood?
And the result? She was actually still hesitating!!!
He was already regretting choosing Gorgon. A goddess blinded by hatred was indeed easy to control when things were going well, but once the tides turned... you simply couldn't imagine what kind of crazy things she would do!
"Go!" Kingu shouted sternly!
Fortunately, Gorgon wasn't truly stupid beyond saving. After this brief struggle, her mind finally cleared up a bit. She took a deep look at Xia Yu, then turned around and fled towards the North.
"Aren't you going to take the Holy Grail back?" Xia Yu looked at Kingu in front of her and asked, "With the Holy Grail, you could at least survive one of my sword strikes."
The Divine Essence realm of Taixuan Sword Ki was a move that could clash head-on with a Herrscher's ultimate attack. In terms of power, the Herrschers of the Honkai world weren't that different from the Beasts of the Type-Moon world; both were ruthless entities capable of destroying the world given enough time.
Therefore, even a failed Divine Essence wasn't something an ordinary person could withstand. At the very least, a goddess of Gorgon's caliber would basically be staring at a dead end without external help.
"You won't kill me," Kingu's mind raced, starting to analyze the words she had said to him earlier. "As Mother's child, are you really going to help those humans?"
It wasn't that he expected these few words to make her switch sides; he was purely talking trash to stall for time.
"We've already discussed this point," Xia Yu smiled, forming a sword hand sign. "Come, take one strike from my sword. As long as you don't die, I'll let you leave. How about it?"
"Or, you could give me a reason not to strike?"
"You said you are human and have to stand with Uruk," Kingu took a deep breath and said, "But the aura of Mother on you cannot be faked!"
"Clearly... clearly you have also received so much of Mother's favor! Then why don't you help her!"
At this point, Kingu's jealousy was practically breaking through the heavens. The aura of Mother on the other party was even thicker than his own. Having received such grace, she still chose to betray Mother!
He couldn't understand it!
"Tiamat... do you think she truly wants to destroy humanity?" Xia Yu asked in return.
"Of course!" Kingu replied without hesitation, "Mother's return to The Living World is for revenge, and then to reshape everything."
"Have you seen her with your own eyes?" Hearing this, Xia Yu shook her head and continued to ask, "Probably not, you merely received her blessing, right?"
"Why are you asking this?" Kingu asked irritably.
"Because, if you had seen her with your own eyes, you would know that this Beast's Authority is absolutely not what she desires," Xia Yu sighed and replied. "As the Beast holding the Principle of Regression, not only does she not actively return to The Living World, but she instead places an unparalleled Self-Seal upon herself."
That is an indelible seal carved into Tiamat's Saint Graph.
The game data described it like this: That is the Rope of Self-Harm binding Beast II.
Grieving and hating the collective unconsciousness of humanity exiling her because "you are no longer needed," the deep consciousness of Beast II nevertheless accepted it as "it can't be helped."
Beast II, whose origin is "Mother," still held onto the desire to "become the shelter of humanity" at the very end. This Self-Seal is the materialization of that desire; Beast II constantly keeps herself sealed.
If, in extremely rare circumstances, Beast II loses her mind and tries to emerge from the sea, the seal will increase the pain she experiences to 90% as a warning.
Tiamat is exactly this kind of contradictory goddess. As Beast II holding the Principle of Regression, she instinctively wants to leave the Sea of Imaginary Numbers, to exact revenge on all life in the world for being exiled and betrayed.
But as the goddess of creation, the Mother of All Life, her emotional side still fiercely loves her children. Even after suffering those exiles and betrayals, her love remains as always.
Ultimately, in the struggle between instinct and emotion, emotion gained the upper hand, hence the appearance of the Self-Seal. She would rather stay in the sea forever than slaughter all her children.
However, the Incineration Ritual of the King of Mages, Goetia, broke this balance. In the Singularity of Mesopotamia, he personally guided the self-sealed Tiamat into reality, to act as the final boss presiding over this ultimate Singularity.
And Tiamat? While in the Sea of Imaginary Numbers, she could still maintain her sanity because she was isolated from the world. But once in reality, her identity as a Beast gained the upper hand. Unparalleled hatred filled her mind; once unleashed, she would completely destroy this world.
Right at this moment, Merlin appeared. His dreamscape wrapped around Tiamat, hypnotizing her. But even if Merlin possessed the qualifications for the Grand Class, did he truly have the ability to trap a Beast entirely devoted to destroying everything for so long?
To be able to stall her for so long, it wasn't necessarily without Tiamat's own cooperation.
From the very beginning, including in the original plot, the Tiamat who fought against the protagonist's group was in a state of Self-Seal.
"The Tiamat I came into contact with, she is not a lunatic whose mind is completely filled with destruction," Xia Yu looked at Kingu and said word by word:
"She has emotions, she loves the world..."
"You fight for the Beast, while I am only willing to fight for the Tiamat who would gently hold me and coax me to sleep with an off-key lullaby."
She shook her head, "You can go. At least for now, our goals are aligned. You dare not release her before having the strength to face me, and I..."
"Before the plan is completed, I also do not want to face the maddened her."
Hearing this, Kingu's mind was in a tangled mess.
Jealousy, unparalleled jealousy filled his chest.
Why?
He could deduce from the fragments of the young girl's words just how much she was favored by Mother!
Why!
Why could this human fall asleep while being held by Mother and humming a lullaby? Even I didn't receive such treatment!
At this moment, Kingu's heart shattered.
Everything the other party said was something he had never even thought of...
He no longer knew what to do, so he could only shoot Xia Yu a hateful glare, turn around with a heart full of jealousy, and fly through the air towards the North.
Looking at the two fleeing in panic, Xia Yu shook her head, then looked down at the Chaldea group below.
"Sister Kiana!" Fujimaru Ritsuka reached out her hand towards her, waving vigorously, "That was really amazing!"
"That arrogant Gorgon was actually scared away by you just like that! Oh my god! You're so strong!"
Watching Fujimaru Ritsuka running towards her with starry eyes, Xia Yu landed on the ground.
"What, aren't you going to complain that I let them go?" she asked with a smile.
"How could I?" Fujimaru Ritsuka's expression turned serious upon hearing this. "I believe that Sister Kiana, you definitely have your own reasons!"
In-fighting was a huge no-no, not to mention this was the super-powerful Sister Kiana, who had always maintained an on-and-off relationship with Uruk.
She wasn't some ungrateful peasant. Wasn't saving her life enough? If not for her help, she would have had to bash her own head against Gorgon and Enkidu.
As the one who was saved, what right did she have to be picky?
Hearing this, Xia Yu smiled faintly, "So even if one day, we cross swords, you won't resent me?"
Meanwhile, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash exchanged a glance.
What a familiar plot!
It seemed to be exactly like this in Fuyuki City... beating us up first for her own goals, and then happily having a banquet together after beating us into submission...
After spending all this time together, Fujimaru Ritsuka was roughly certain that Miss Firefly and the Sister Kiana in front of her were the same person... although the difference in their personalities was still quite large.
Sister Firefly liked petting lolis, she super loved holding Illya in her arms and petting her, while Sister Kiana liked the Ishtar type.
But who doesn't have a few secrets? It's just a large difference in hobbies. The Heroic Spirits have different facets that vary wildly, too.
Take Gilles de Rais for example. Depending on whether he was summoned from the point in time before or after Jeanne's death, he was practically two different people. The former was a devout Christian, who under normal circumstances would eradicate evil completely if he saw someone like the latter.
The latter had purely suffered a total collapse of faith, then went to extremes, becoming the beast that everyone knew.
Then there was Elizabeth. Although Elizabeth before the age of fourteen was mischievous, she was still a cute girl, but that adult Carmilla was just...
Therefore, a slight difference in personality was absolutely nothing in Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes.
"If that day really comes," Fujimaru Ritsuka said haltingly, "Sister Kiana, could you go a little easy on us?"
"Last time inside the Great Hollow, we really thought we were going to die there."
"Last time? What last time?" Xia Yu flatly refused to admit it, "Why don't I remember there being a last time?"
"Alright, you just need to go easy on us," Fujimaru Ritsuka came up and linked arms with her, "Good sister, pretty please~~~"
Hey, to avoid taking a severe beating, what was acting a little spoiled?
Not only did she act spoiled herself, but she also signaled Mash with her eyes: hurry up and follow suit!
"Um... Sister Kiana," under her Senpai's eager gaze, Mash had no choice but to step forward, hugging Xia Yu's other arm, and begged in a low voice, "Pretty please..."
"Alright, alright, I promise you," Xia Yu looked helplessly at the two girls acting spoiled, "I won't be heavy-handed, right?"
"Right, right, right!" Fujimaru Ritsuka nodded repeatedly, "Exactly!"
"Rest assured," Xia Yu smiled slightly, "I definitely won't strike too hard."
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash looked at each other. Good, they got the get-out-of-jail-free card.
At least it wouldn't be as miserable as last time. Sigh.
"Excuse me, Lord Fujimaru, Lord Kiana," just then, Ushiwakamaru walked over. "Um... on the western rampart, Tomoe Gozen and Miss Ana are still engaged in a bitter battle. Will you go with me to support them?"
"That's right, Ana and the others are still fighting!" Hearing this, Fujimaru Ritsuka just remembered, and then looked at Xia Yu, "Sister Kiana..."
"I still have things to do, so I won't go," Xia Yu shook her head. "Anyway, there are only a few stronger Demonic Beasts over there, you guys can handle them."
"Mhm, then it'll be me, Lord Fujimaru, and Mash going to support them together," Ushiwakamaru nodded. "Lord Leonidas will remain here on defense, to repair the fortifications and stabilize the army's morale!"
"Mhm, then let's set off," Fujimaru Ritsuka nodded, then looked at Xia Yu, "Sister Kiana, we're leaving!"
It wasn't until they had left far into the distance, and Leonidas had come over to say hello before leaving to organize the army, that Xia Yu remained in place.
"You've been watching for so long, haven't you seen enough yet?"
"Oh my, how could I ever get enough of such an epic battle?" Merlin emerged from the nearby clearing with a playful smile, countless flowers scattering around him. "After all, I am the prisoner of Avalon, just counting on this bit of excitement to keep me going."
"So you're really just watching," Xia Yu raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you afraid they might be beaten to death?"
"Isn't that why you're here?" Merlin said cheekily, "I don't have your abilities, scaring away a goddess with a single sword strike and all that."
Hearing this, Xia Yu rolled her eyes at him, "So what exactly are you planning? Are you really just going to be a bystander?"
"Uh, actually, shouldn't I be the one asking you that question?" Merlin narrowed his eyes upon hearing this, "Miss Kiana, the self-proclaimed Herrscher, the enemy of civilization."
"What exactly are you planning? Do you intend to bring destruction to Uruk and humanity, or another salvation?"
"I admit, even having watched countless heroic tales, joys, and sorrows from Avalon, I cannot see through your origins. That power... is truly enough to wrestle with a Beast, isn't it?"
The smile on his face faded, "With such powerful strength, do you think we would believe that you just happened to come to Mesopotamia by chance, and don't plan to do anything?"
"Don't forget, your daily dreamscape is maintained by me. If we're really talking about closeness, your affinity for the one in the Persian Gulf is far greater than these so-called friends of friends from Chaldea."
"So you're worried I'll stand on Tiamat's side?" Xia Yu tilted her head and laughed.
"The truth is, you've already started leaning towards her side, haven't you?" Merlin sighed, "You just let that fake Enkidu go. He is the apostle of that person, the first child."
"If you truly want an answer, of course I can give it to you," Xia Yu nodded. "Yes, I stand on 'Tiamat's' side."
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T/N: If you spot mistranslation, do tell me! But for faster responses, please notify me on my discord server instead (link is in my profile). Thanks!
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