Chapter 51: "Cecilia and Siegfried's sacrifice"

"Hngh... Cecilia..."

"Ziggy, you're finally awake!"

Seeing that Cecilia was fine. Siegfried who was lying on the ground felt relieved, and he raised his limp hand to stroke Cecilia's dirty cheek.

"Leave... Get out of here... Save yourself..."

Cecilia held Siegfried's hand tightly: "You know I'll never do that! I would never leave you behind, and you should never give up!"

Suddenly felt a crisis behind her. Cecilia turned around, and she saw many block created from Imaginary energy, approaching her very quickly.

Cecilia held up the Abyss Flower in front, and took a defensive stance.

This time, it was she who would protect Siegfried.

"BANG!!!"

"Ah?"

Suddenly saw a giant robot hand protecting her from the Imaginary block attack. Cecilia looked at the broken body of the robot ninja Arahato who suddenly appeared in front of her in confusion.

"{Switch reactor power to max..}"

"{Creating force field...}"

"{Shield of Selene...}"

"{Generated...}"

"{Targets... Secure...}"

....

When Cecilia was still confused about what was really going on here. Shards of the Herrscher of Reason's core fell from Selene's reactor core, and the Herrscher's core instantly carried the dying Siegfried into the illusionary space.

____

In the all-white room, Siegfried stood still with a very blank expression on his face.

"Siegfried."

Heard someone call his name. Siegfried looked to the side, and he saw Welt Yang, already standing next to him.

They both are like old friends. Met, and just sat next to each other, staring blankly at the past.

In the end, in this long silence. Welt Yang opened his mouth.

"...I used Selene to create the Shield, and buy you some time."

"...."

Seeing that Welt was still alive, being very professional in his job lifting and closing the boards of his casket with great skill. Siegfried heaved a sigh of relief, and was disappointed at the same time.

"Jeesh, I think I messed up the job of saving the world. Your sacrifice was in vain, I really let you down."

Welt shook his head.

"It's alright, Siegfried. You did a great job there."

"No one's perfect, you don't need to apologize for this."

"You just need to know that we have, ONE FINAL SHOT."

Looking at the herrscher of Reason core that Welt Yang handed over to him. Siegfried opened his eyes wide.

"But I'm totally spent, and out of power..."

Welt smiled: "Are you giving up already? That doesn't sound like you at all, Siegfried."

With fading illusions. Welt Yang's voice kept echoing in his mind.

"You shall constitute thyself as a shield defending the weak, and innocent."

"If that wasn't enough for you..."

"You need to protect them as well."

____

Opening his eyes again, back to reality, and saw Cecilia's face looking up at him worriedly. Siegfried clenched the hyerrscher of Reason's core in his hands tightly, and he smiled helplessly.

"You got me there, Mr. Welt."

Stand with difficulty. Siegfried mustered all his strength, and he was finally able to stand firmly on his two feet.

"It is my duty to protect them and everyone else."

Siegfried made his decision, and he took back the Cleaver of Shamash that had stuck beside him.

"Ziggy, are you really okay?"

"Of course Cecilia, thanks for your healing. I can totally go for another round."

"Mr. Welt just told me that we have one final chance to seal Sirin's core."

"A fully powered Shamash should stop her rampant core with a single strike. But we need to locate her in all this honkai. She must be somewhere in the spiral."

Cecilia wiped the sweat off her face.

"Honkai intensity is rising again. Honkai radiation at this level will..."

With the amount of honkai energy coming out of Sirin's body. Honkai will spread in all directions, and it will surely kill many millions of people in the world.

Cecilia closed her eyes for a while, and she finally made a decision.

"Ziggy, I know how a way to neutralize the honkai for a while. Stay here, and wait for a chance to strike!"

"Wait, Cecilia!"

"I'll go and find a good place to take out this honkai formation. Don't worry Ziggy, I'll be fine!"

Run away from Siegfried's position, and seek a relatively high position. Cecilia kept jumping from rock to rock, and she recalled what Otto had said in the days before her departure for Siberia.

____

"Holy blood flows in the veins of the Schariac."

"Your blood can temporarily neutralize the honkai energy, and with the combination of the Abyss Flower, you are strong enough to kill a Herrscher, Cecilia."

"But..."

"Those powers have a price."

Otto slowly spilled the red wine in his glass in front of Cecilia.

"If you use it too much, I'm afraid, you may end up losing your life."

Just like red wine splattered on the floor.

____

"Sorry, Ziggy, I lied."

Standing at the top of a high rock. Cecilia couldn't hold back the tears on her face.

"There's a price to pay if we want to stop this. I won't make it back"

"...I'm sorry, Kiana."

"Please take care of your father when you grow up."

Lifting the Abyss Flower in her hand high, Cecilia's hand started bleeding profusely.

Fairest Schariac, Maid of Schicksal, Priest of Heart, Your beauty eternal.

Flora abyssal, a key of the past, take my blood, and end your fast!

Sacec Sanguis...

LILIUM SANGUINEUM!

"Go Abyss Flower!"

"Clear the path for my dear Siegfried!"

"FLY TRUE!"

Using the power of the divine key, Flower Abyss, and in combination with her Schariac's blood. A gigantic spear created from Cecilia's blood appeared, and it immediately shot through the air with great speed!

Aim, giant spiral pillar!

Entering there, like a lego building exploding from the inside, the spiral pillar was instantly shattered and spread everywhere!

____

"Hah, I found you!"

Siegfried who saw the herrscher core floating amidst the honkai energy, immediately took the honkai activator he had kept.

"Sorry, Cecilia! I literally meant it when I said one last chance!"

Siegfried directly pierced his body using the Honkai Activator.

His body began to change slowly into a Honkai monster.

"This is Our Final Shot, Mr Welt!"

The Cleaver of Shamash in Siegfried's hand also began to change. Black colored lines appeared inside the sword, and started to spread to Siegfried's hand.

"[Second herrscher core energy detected, initiate ambient charging...]"

"[Energy reserves now at... 100%]"

"[Charging overdrive reserves...]"

"[150%...]"

"[Power limit removed.]"

"[Judgment of Shamash is ready.]"

...

With a very flaming sword in his hand. Siegfried closed his eyes briefly, before he opened them again with determination!

"We Kaslana, have wielded you for all these years, the time has come to unleash your full fury!"

The Judgment of Shamash in Siegfried's hands is getting hotter and hotter!

"You left many Kaslanas as charred corpses. But shielding the weak is our duty!"

Siegfried remember back on the friends he made around the world, and remembers everyone's smiles.

He also remember back his happy family, and their cheerful laughter before him.

Cecilia....

Kiana...

Everyone....

This was something he wanted to protect.

Protect everyone's smiles!

"I gladly offer my life to protect them!"

"Zeroth Power, MIGHT OF AN-UTU, OPEN!!!"

Siegfried raised his sword high!

"Scream with me AHARAHAATOOO!!!!!!"

Releasing the full power of Judgment of Shamash. Siegfried swung his sword, and the whole world was instantly enveloped by an extremely burning flame!

THIS IS THE FINAL SHOT!