Chapter 256: The destruction of Izumo! Origin and Finality? Herrscher of Human?
"Humans resisting the gods will eventually turn themselves into wicked oni[ End ]."
A voice suspected to be Kevin's spoke in a deep tone.
Amidst a quagmire symbolizing filth.
Black Oni coalesced one by one.
They rushed toward Acheron in twisted postures.
Each of these scenes.
Was reflected in Acheron's violet eyes.
"We wagered everything."
"Only to trade it for the annihilation of two worlds."
It's coming!
It's really coming!
Welt's spirit jolted!
Although it wasn't that exact, complete sentence.
The meaning was nearly identical!
At this point.
Everything described in this short film regarding the land of Izumo perfectly matched the events that had occurred in his own homeland!
The gods of Takamagahara corresponded to the Herrschers!
The Oni were humans eroded by the Honkai!
Then…
What comes next?
On this planet named Izumo.
Would this person suspected to be Kevin also play a pivotal role?
What would be their end?
Acheron was seen holding the Naught-Sent Edict Blade known as Origin.
Amidst the ruins.
She slashed downward toward the sky!
Slashing forward.
A flash of red light.
A torrent poured out!
In an instant, the world changed color!
Purple lightning swept through everything!
Acheron's figure soared into the sky.
Passing over that massive mound of swords.
Clang!
Two Naught-Sent Edict Blades.
Origin and Finality collided!
Then, both were snapped!
The man's voice became hoarse and deep.
It seemed he had reached his limit.
"That Takamagahara where the gods fell… long ago, it must have been a place as beautiful as Izumo."
"So…"
"Do you still remember why Izumo had to forge blades?"
Standing beneath the gradually collapsing sword mound.
Acheron replied:
"For a lie."
"An end that never existed."
"We have long since stepped into Its shadow."
"With every step forward, there is no turning back."
Amidst the ruins.
Only Acheron remained alone.
She suddenly looked up.
At that black sun in the sky.
From this perspective.
It was not a black sun.
But an unfathomable, massive black hole!
Acheron picked up the shattered blade.
A single tear of blood fell onto the broken blade.
The blade was instantly dyed red.
The broken end continuously reforged itself.
Forming a complete long blade!
"Until that last blade [ Life ] is forged…"
"…Naught."
Black Swan was already dazed!
Just what kind of magnificent and tragic history was this?
No wonder in the plot.
Acheron repeatedly stated that her blade could not easily be unsheathed!
Behind it lay such a heroic and moving story!
No wonder Acheron's memories were like the deep sea.
No wonder she carried such heavy debts of blood!
A person who could survive in such an environment…
The depth of her heart.
Had long since far exceeded ordinary levels!
At this moment.
Acheron, holding the red long blade, began to undergo a mysterious change!
The twin horns on her forehead gradually dissipated.
Her long black hair was dyed pale white.
Toward the black hole in the sky.
She struck the final blow!
Within the crimson blade light.
It was as if a Ukiyo-e scroll unfurled.
Depicting the history of Izumo and the origin of the twelve blades…
The colorful scroll was reflected in Black Swan's eyes.
She thought of the title of this video.
—Myriad Celestia Trailer — "Kyoden: A Cleave Across the Transient World".
"I see…"
"So that is the meaning of All Things in the Floating World, Severed by a Single Blade…"
Black Swan felt a surge of emotion in her heart!
The content of this video was simply breathtaking to her!
It displayed the history of Izumo with a unique aesthetic.
In just a few short minutes.
The emotions built up layer by layer!
It was as if she had finished reading a historical chronicle of ages!
"I know this world is as fleeting as the dew."
"And yet…"
"And yet…"
The video ended quietly amidst Acheron's lament.
Black Swan was still left wanting more.
As for Acheron.
She rarely showed a look of sorrow.
She slightly closed her eyes and then opened them.
Seeming to digest the surging emotions.
Lingering thoughts hard to settle, memories rising sharply.
Through this video.
Everything from the past reappeared before Acheron's eyes.
Acheron couldn't help but mutter to herself: "Izumo achieved victory in a brutal war for survival, building up cities of dazzling rainbows…"
"But the divine power of Nihility began to affect Izumo, and humans gradually turned into Oni."
"At that time, I held Origin, while that man held Finality."
"In the final battle, he abandoned the path of salvation and became the White-Haired Oni."
"I ended that man's life, all alone…"
"And Izumo and Takamagahara eventually returned to Nihility…"
Hearing Acheron's self-narration.
Black Swan wished she could pick up a pen and record this history word for word on the spot!
Of course.
She was a Memokeeper.
She didn't need such a simple method of recording.
What she witnessed and heard today… would all be crafted into a unique [ Memory ]!
Beside her.
Welt's heart was also filled with stormy waves, shocked beyond measure!
That man was called the White-Haired Oni by Acheron!
And white hair… was exactly the signature trait of the Kaslana family!
It could now be confirmed.
The White-Haired Oni was the Kevin of Izumo!
The only difference was…
In this world.
The White-Haired Oni gave up on salvation…
And was ultimately ended by Acheron herself.
Whereas that man in his own homeland.
Firmly believed that no matter the cost, humanity would surely defeat the Honkai…
"Thank you, Feathered Spirit…"
"For allowing me, today, as I am being eroded by Nihility and gradually forgetting everything."
"To remember those deep crimsons once more…"
Acheron looked up at the sky and sighed sincerely.
At this point.
Acheron's "past and present lives" were finally connected.
After Izumo and Takamagahara returned to Nihility.
Acheron, left alone, also became a Self-Annihilator gradually losing her own existence.
Stepping onto the Path of Nihility.
She drew upon the power of Nihility, yet used that power to fight against Nihility!
"She is truly too special!"
"In the entire universe, it would likely be impossible to find a second person with such a similar life trajectory…"
Suddenly.
Black Swan noticed something strange about Welt beside her.
He looked as if he were possessed, muttering terms like "Origin and Finality," "Herrscher of Human," and so on.
"Mr. Welt, are you… alright?"
At that moment.
Welt let out a long breath.
He walked up to Acheron.
"Raiden Mei… please allow me to call you that for now."
"Can you believe it? In my homeland, there were experiences extremely similar to Izumo…"
"In your world, they were Evil Gods, while in my world, they corresponded to Herrschers; the Edict Blades correspond to Divine Keys…"
"I once had a companion who looked very much like you, and her name was also Raiden Mei."
"So…"
"I feel that I can trust you!"
Acheron looked at Welt with some surprise.
She nodded.
"I feel the same, Mr. Welt."
"You also remind me of the times I fought alongside my companions…"
Black Swan, on the side, blinked.
She had once again become the background character!
Who would have thought.
That Welt actually carried a similar story!?
There's another expert here?
Because Acheron was a Self-Annihilator, it was already difficult for her memories to be reproduced.
But if it were a Nameless from the Astral Express…
There might still be a chance!
Welt noticed Black Swan's gaze on him and felt a bit uneasy.
After a moment of hesitation, he still said: "Miss Black Swan, to be honest…"
"In my knowledge, there is also someone in my homeland who is similar yet different from you."
"She was a MANTIS from the Previous Era, named Aponia."
Black Swan's eyes immediately lit up.
"Oh? Mr. Welt, I have never heard of such a thing."
"Once the current plot ends, if there is an opportunity, why don't you tell me in detail."
"I believe the Garden of Recollection should be able to provide an adequate reward in exchange."