Chapter 84: The Battle Ends

After awakening her Stigmata power, Zofia's appearance and even her aura had changed, but... she remained fundamentally the same.

Now wielding the Holy Relic, Zofia resembled a true Valkyrie from mythology. The relic in her hand shone like a legendary archangel's sword, its radiance more dazzling than before.

Observing the Titan Berserker charging forward once again with its energy shield activated, Zofia swung her Great Sword. A brilliant blade of light dozens of meters wide slashed toward the enemy.

However... the seemingly terrifying light blade was still deflected by the Titan Berserker's shield. But this time, the rebound direction was wrong, shooting straight up into the sky.

With the first strike missing, Zofia didn't mind and charged directly toward the Titan Berserker.

Just as Zofia and the Titan were about to collide, the Titan Berserker swung its iron fist. However... Zofia's body vanished completely, causing the Titan Berserker's attack to miss entirely.

When Zofia reappeared, it was behind the Titan, having flashed behind the Titan Berserker.

"Judgment! Divine Judgment!"

Zofia, now behind the Titan Berserker, turned around. She held the holy sword in both hands, and the sword transformed into a massive hundred-meter-long blade of light that descended from the sky... plunging straight toward the Titan's head.

"Boom...!"

The earth shook, and mountains trembled...

The Great Sword seemed to pierce through the very ground itself.

After the attack concluded, the Titan Berserker, unable to turn and activate its shield in time, collapsed. Sparks danced across its hull as it lay motionless on the ground, temporarily incapacitated.

"Fascinating... Is this the power of Stigmata awakening in this world? The legacy of the previous civilization. At least a twofold enhancement in strength."

Observing Zofia's successful neutralization of the Titan Berserker ahead, Serenade showed no concern. It was merely a single Berserker, not a Titan Patriarch or a Heavenly Father-class Titan.

Moreover... this Berserker's combat capability was only temporarily suspended.

Instead, Serenade found herself increasingly intrigued by Zofia.

Turning to the Valkyries before her, Serenade abandoned her playful demeanor. She materialized as a phantom before them, her wrist striking their necks with precise force.

Serenade's control was masterful - even A-rank Valkyries crumpled unconscious at her touch.

She harbored no intent to kill these Valkyries. Their fault lay not with them, but with Schicksal's leadership. They were merely executing orders.

Moreover, these were Kallen's former comrades who had braved life and death together. If Serenade truly killed them, Kallen would find it difficult to explain herself.

Especially since Serenade still needed to ask Kallen for a favor later.

Thus, Serenade merely rendered them unconscious.

In the blink of an eye, the four Valkyries near Serenade collapsed as darkness overtook their vision.

Compared to Honkai Beasts and Titan mechs, Valkyries' true advantage lay in speed. As the Sixth Serenade, Serenade's velocity proved exceptionally formidable.

Having swiftly incapacitated the Valkyries before her, Serenade turned to observe the others. While the Yae Sakura sisters possessed A-rank Valkyrie capabilities, they still fell slightly short when facing true Valkyries.

However, with Kallen's assistance, they remained unharmed. As an S-rank Valkyrie, Kallen could handle several A-rank Valkyries even without the Oath of Judah's power.

This was all under the condition that Kallen deliberately held back, refraining from lethal force.

After confirming the Yae Sakura group's temporary safety, Serenade once again focused on Zofia. By now, Zofia had already seized the Holy Relic and was charging toward them.

"Let me see what a Valkyrie awakened with Stigmata looks like!" Watching Zofia charge toward her, Serenade instantly produced two guns—Tranquil Rhapsody!

As Zofia closed in, Serenade's Tranquil Rhapsody fired without hesitation... Two bullets transformed into ice crows that flashed forward to strike Zofia.

Facing the incoming ice crows, Zofia remained expressionless, raising her knight's great sword to block.

Both ice crows struck the blade directly...

The bullets' force exceeded Zofia's expectations, far stronger than she anticipated. The impact nearly dislodged her knight's sword from her grip.

However, Zofia's Stigmata-awakened form possessed ancestral combat knowledge. After absorbing part of the force, her knight's sword remained intact. But Zofia had no time to breathe... Her great sword began freezing over in a strange manner.

In less than a second, the entire Holy Relic great sword was encased in ice. The frozen mass continued spreading up her arm, threatening to freeze her entire body.

Ice rapidly encased Zofia's arms, sending a wave of panic through her. However, when her golden eyes met Kallen's gaze ahead, she immediately regained her composure.

Gently biting her pink lips, Zofia channeled all her power into her hands.

"Holy Light: Radiance!"

A blinding golden light erupted from Zofia's body, transforming her into a miniature sun. The radiant glow instantly melted all the ice encasing her.

At that moment, Zofia also felt a sudden weakness in her body, as if she didn't even have the strength to stand. She had to rely on her Great Sword just to remain upright.

Even in this state, Zofia was gasping for breath...

Her Stigmata had just awakened, and while it greatly enhanced her strength, it also drained her energy. Moreover... the awakening of Stigmata didn't make her invincible, it just made her stronger.

To remove the ice from her body, Zofia was now completely exhausted.

Watching "Kallen" slowly approaching her, Zofia felt deeply frustrated...

At the same time, she was very confused...

Why? Why would such a powerful steel beast help her? Why has her strength increased so much? What was that ice bullet?

And... Zofia looked at the other battle nearby. Why were there two Kallens? And even three humans equivalent to A-rank Valkyries...

These people weren't recorded in Schicksal...

Zofia had too many questions.

This was nothing like she'd imagined.

"Knight Miss, out of strength?" Serenade approached Zofia, observing the Valkyrie who could barely stand, her gaze filled with curiosity.

"K... Kallen..."

Zofia felt Serenade's eyes pierce through her. Even like this... she still couldn't match up to her?

"True... After such severe injuries, even with your Stigmata barely awakened, this is all you can manage..."