The oppressive ink-black clouds and the divine authority woven from lightning scattered with the wind. The sun pierced through the darkness, casting its light upon the earth.
Fuli—the third Scourge of God from the East—landed gracefully, buoyed by an unseen force, becoming a miraculous sight that countless people would never forget for the rest of their lives.
Little did they know, the person in question was feeling quite guilty, thinking he'd done his brother Otto wrong. He'd gotten carried away in the heat of battle and hadn't held back, publicly one-shotting Otto's high-and-mighty biological father.
Otto, however, waved his hand, indicating he didn't mind at all. In fact, he said with great anticipation that if his brother could give his "Phoenix-Welcoming" sister and his braindead nephew Marcel a taste of the same, he'd barely even hesitate to sell his ass for it.
Kallen, who had witnessed the whole thing, didn't find any fault with this.
Come to think of it, Otto's relationship with his family was the kind where if someone said, "I swear on my family's life if I'm lying!" he'd reply, "Really? Is that a promise?"
To say they didn't get along would be an understatement; mutual loathing was more like it.
If a meteor were to fall from the sky and wipe out the entire Apocalypse clan, not only would the guy not jump on a table and pop champagne, he'd probably be beating his chest and tearing his hair out in grief.
Why?
Because he wasn't the one who called down the meteor!
"Don't move!"
"Hands on your head and get down! Or we won't be so courteous!"
The commotion from the "Execution—Without Mercy" was so great that it only took a few moments for the diligent church knights to find them.
It was in this moment that Fuli understood why Otto had said this bunch was nothing to worry about.
"I observe this formation, and it is like the Serpent of Changshan," he said leisurely, facing the line of tin-can knights. "Strike its head, and the tail responds; strike its tail, and the head responds; strike its middle, and both head and tail respond."
Kallen scratched her braided hair. "What are you talking about, little bro? I don't get it."
The Papal Knights on the other side didn't get the 400-year-old reference either, but they did catch the hint of contempt in his tone.
"How dare you look down on us! Brothers, grab your weapons and get 'em!"
The enraged knights charged, shouting things about friendship, bonds, and the future!
The problem was, what's the point of the villains shouting stuff like that?
Fortunately, this bunch was smart enough. First, they avoided Fuli, the big shot who had just commanded a divine avatar. Second, they didn't pick Otto, the cunning blond fox who fought dirty and would kill you without a second thought. They all went for Kallen.
The result was outstanding. The Saintess was very cooperative, knocking each of them out with a single, light-speed chop to the back of the neck.
Fuli found the ease of it all a bit unsettling. "What is this? The medieval European version of 'I don't get paid enough for this shit'?"
"There are major disagreements within Schicksal regarding [former Bishop Nicholas slandering Kallen as a witch]," Otto, the filial son, eagerly added the prefix "former" to his biological father's title. "Many of these Papal Knights are ordinary people or lower nobles with some minor Honkai resistance. Not only have they witnessed the Saintess's glory on the battlefield, but many have had their lives saved by her. They keep quiet on a daily basis to support their families, but they're more than capable of slacking off on the job."
"This is what you call: A just cause enjoys abundant support, while an unjust cause finds little!" Kallen declared, her hands on her hips as she laughed heartily.
While the trio was going on their rampage, in a command room on the other side of the square...
Compared to the grunts who had their misgivings about the judgment, Siegfried Schariac, who was in charge of security today, stood firmly by Bishop Nicholas's side.
Because of this, with everything that had just happened, this scion of one of the three great families felt like the sky was falling.
"Knight-Commander! We've lost contact with thirty-six knights on the eastern flank!"
"Damn it!"
"Knight-Commander Siegfried! Captain Solomon and his seventy-two knights are under heavy attack!"
"Order the third squad to move twenty meters east! And have Garen press forward with that giant sword of his!"
"Knight Garen... he..."
"What about him?"
"He's taken the eighth concubine you just married, Katarina, and fled in the chaos."
"..."
"Boss! My condolences!"
"Condolences are useless! Make someone else need them! All remaining forces, press forward! As long as we can hold out until the Death Knight Legion returns, everything will be alright!"
"A brilliant plan, Knight-Commander!"
A while later, his adjutant, a promising young knight, returned in a hurry.
Siegfried rubbed his temples and asked, "What's the situation?"
The adjutant held up two fingers, making a 'V' sign.
Siegfried was overjoyed. "We're victorious?!"
The adjutant replied, "There are only two of us left."
A chill ran down Siegfried's spine. "Only two of us left? Doesn't that mean—"
Before he could finish, a slender figure descended from the sky. The landing point of the void-blink was 'coincidentally' chosen to be Sir Siegfried's lower dantian.
Weakness Exploited!
"Aaargh!!!"
A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the command room. The proud man, his left jewel shattered, writhed on the floor in agony.
Fuli, having just cut down the handsome adjutant, looked over apologetically. "You okay, man?"
Seeing the still-dripping Black Swan, Siegfried, who had been about to scream again, calmed himself at the last second. He forced a twisted smile, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "My eggs... say it's fine!"
No sooner had he spoken than a white silhouette descended from above. A jade-like foot, clad in an over-the-knee boot, landed precisely on the other side he was trying to protect.
"Aaaargh!!!"
"Let's go! What are you waiting for?" Kallen glanced at the man impatiently. "Just let him writhe in pain by himself!"
Otto, who had caught up panting, saw the scene and silently made the sign of the cross over his chest for the unlucky bastard.
Flesh is fleeting, machine ascension is the answer. If he ever got the chance, he would definitely replace this useless body with one made of soul steel!
He glanced at Siegfried rolling on the floor, materialized a mimicked Might of An-utu to finish him off with a headshot, and silently added a note to his mental list:
And one without a man's weaknesses.
The divine avatar, fueled by the prayers of countless people, had caused severe damage to the surface of the church. However, as mentioned before, in this era, Schicksal's true headquarters was hidden in a sliver of the Sea of Quanta that was partially connected to the real world.
The three of them ran through the ruins for a while before arriving at a small bronze door.
This was a side entrance corresponding to Siegfried's position as security captain. There was a main entrance to the bubble universe elsewhere in the church.
Fuli took out the key he had just looted from Sir "My-Eggs-Say-It's-Fine" and prepared to open the door.
Normally, the key would require the owner's presence to unlock, but under the effect of the Stigmata of Reason, Fuli instantly became a loyal subject welcoming his king, ready to snap a cane in half to show his allegiance if he had one.
Otto reached out to stop him. "I need to make some preparations."
As the brains of the group, he couldn't just let Fuli carry him around all the time.
It was embarrassing, for one, and he was dragging them down, for another.
Otto took a deep breath and activated the power of the Void Archives. Leathery, silver armor grew over his chest, knees, and elbows as a means of defense.
A blood-red cape sprouted from his back, and on his head, a pair of sharp horns emerged.
His face was replaced with another visage, a smooth, silver-gray substance covering his features.
The eye sockets were two large, diamond-shaped plates, dyed with a hint of blood, emitting a faint glow. He looked menacing and terrifying!
Like a demon!
Otto nodded in satisfaction.
With his pitifully low physical stats, he normally couldn't have materialized armor for an extended period.
But Fuli had his all-powerful Outer Path. Learning of this, Otto had been designing this unique suit of knight's armor the entire way.
He had even deliberately made it look terrifying based on his impressions. As everyone knows, the more terrifying an image, the more likely it is to intimidate the enemy in battle.
No one would recognize him now!
I am a new Otto! A new Apocalypse! A new... ME!
"Holy crap! It's the Father of Ultra!"
Fuli's pupils dilated in shock.
The imposing aura Otto had just built up instantly collapsed. He didn't understand what "Father of Ultra" meant, but from the guy's tone, he knew it wasn't a compliment.
"Hurry up, let's go!" Kallen urged from behind. "The commotion we made just now must have alerted the Death Knight Legion. No matter how much they disliked the former Bishop, they can't just ignore a mess this big!"
"You guessed right, former Saintess."
A pleasant voice drifting over the ruins instantly froze the noisy air around them.
Kallen, who had been quite lively just a moment ago, turned cold in an instant. She turned her head, looking warily at the slender figure approaching.
A lock of gray hair rested on her exposed shoulder. A butterfly-shaped hair ornament of the same color was pinned at the back of her head, accentuating the duchess's noble and elegant temperament like a crown.
Silk half-gloves delicately encased her noble, slender hands. The fabric of her dress, resembling an evening gown, clung tightly to her impressive bust.
The hem of her dark gray skirt extended to the side of her knees. Over-the-knee black stockings and a garter belt snugly wrapped her exposed, luscious long legs, leaving much to the imagination.
"Ein... maid!"
The moment the enemy appeared, Otto was crushed to the ground by the overwhelming killing intent. Kneeling, he forced the woman's name through his teeth.
Fuli, who had slain the Herrscher of Thunder, was doing fine. He even had the presence of mind to reach out and steady Otto, otherwise the old boy would have been on his knees.
"Hmm?"
Seeing this, a flash of surprise crossed Einmaid's peacock-green eyes.
She parted her thin lips, a flicker of interest in her voice. "A man from Shenzhou?"
The boy remained silent, looking as if he would follow Sister Kallen's every command.
Loyal!
The beautiful 20-year-old duchess frowned. "Instead of following that old woman who's already been sentenced to death, how about you join me? With your age and spirit, the position of vice-commander will be yours sooner or later."
Fuli replied with righteous indignation, "Hmph! I would never be interested in a promiscuous, lecherous woman like you, who tries to get a boy she just met under her gauze skirt and black-stockinged thighs!"
Einmaid was unfazed. "It's only because you're too outstanding, to the point that even I can't help but be moved."
Hearing this, Fuli quickly shrank back and shielded Kallen. "Sis, this one's tough."
The Saintess huffed, "Obviously! Have you ever met an S-Rank who was easy to deal with?"
This generation's Death Knight was still manageable, her strength just barely on the cusp of S-Rank.
Forget the Herrscher of Thunder, she was far weaker than even Theresa.
The War Knight, Zofia, was the real monster. Kallen at her peak would have had to put in some serious effort, and a slight misstep could turn the fight into a hundred-day war.
"No, I mean, she saw my excellence and future potential at a single glance." Fuli said with great solemnity. "That level of insight is comparable to the legendary Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. What if her silver tongue sweet-talks me some more and she offers herself to me? What if I accidentally defect—I'm sorry, I'll stop messing around."
"Hmph."
Kallen released the ear she was pinching and whispered, "I'm not in good shape right now, but I can at least hold her off for a few seconds. She knows this and is deliberately stalling for her subordinates to arrive and surround us."
"A few seconds? That's plenty, sis!" Fuli declared. "Brother! Plan Y!"
Otto thought to himself, We never discussed any 'Plan Y'.
But his body moved with perfect synchrony, immediately materializing the Oath of Judah.
Kallen reacted even faster. The moment the golden mimicked Judah appeared, she unleashed its full power. Thirteen obsidian lances shot out like flood dragons plunging into the sea, only to be shattered by the Death Knight's axe, who had been prepared for it!
Seeing that negotiations had failed, Einmaid wasted no more words.
She brought her long-handled greataxe down with all her might. With a BANG, the mimicked Judah it struck was on the verge of shattering!
A heavy judgment strike followed, and waves of axe-force sent Kallen stumbling back, coughing up blood. A few stray blades of energy flew off, easily carving bottomless pits in the ground!
'This is Plan Y?' Einmaid thought with a hint of boredom, victory seemingly within her grasp.
Suddenly, her peripheral vision caught something on the ground—a white, oval, palm-sized object.
What is that?
"You dropped the soap."
"Oh, thanks."
Her curiosity piqued, the duchess instinctively bent down to pick it up. The moment she realized her mistake, cold sweat broke out.
[Wait! Why am I picking this up?!]
Artifact: The Soap Everyone Wants to Pick Up. A product of Fuli's last ten-pull. A consumable control-type item.
Anyone who sees it will involuntarily bend down to pick it up. Its effect is so strong that it can hard-control a Valkyrie below S-Rank for one second.
Einmaid, being S-Rank, shouldn't have fallen for it. However, the restraining power of Judah had forcibly interfered with her will, and Kallen, also an S-Rank, had neutralized a large amount of the Honkai energy covering her body that was meant to resist special abilities.
And even being controlled for a brief instant was enough for Fuli, who had blinked behind the duchess, to do something.
"Konoha Secret Technique!"
He crouched down, his hands clasped together in the Tiger Seal.
"Taijutsu Ultimate Technique!"
The blade qi of the Shadowchaser Sword, the ideal fluid condensed from the Instant Blade: Bitter Yaksha, and the shield-piercing Divine Departure all swirled around his fingertips!
As she bent over, Einmaid's peripheral vision caught sight of the boy's target. With her back completely exposed from picking up the soap, a terrible premonition suddenly washed over her.
"W-wait a minute!" she yelled hastily. "You can't do this! I swore before the Lord to remain a vir—"
"A THOUSAND YEARS OF DEATH!!!"
Too late!
SQUELCH!
The sound of something piercing through thin fabric echoed across the church ruins.
But that wasn't all!
Partial Expansion Jutsu, activate!
Target location: Fingers!
Magnification: Five times!
"My drill is the drill that will pierce the heavens!!!!"
"Nngh, nnngh, aaahhhhhh!!!"
Accompanied by Fuli's roar, Einmaid's scream, mixed with an indescribable ecstasy, shot across the sky, becoming a brilliant shooting star.
...