Chapter 218: Olivier and Aurora
Olivier's fusion was successful without any rejection, giving hope to the researchers.
However, tests revealed her form hadn't become the new Diablos as imagined.
Her blood had lost its ageless and immortal power.
Instead, she became exceptionally powerful in magic and physique, having inherited Diablos's strength.
Thus, the researchers conceived a bold and insane idea—
to hunt the Fourth Demon King, Diablos.
Their goal was to obtain more genes for research.
Though empowered, Olivier remained devoutly obedient to the church, aspiring to defeat the Demon King to bring salvation and peace to the world.
Yet, such a mad plan was doomed to fail.
The institute, or rather the cult, paid a heavy price, with many lives lost.
Nonetheless, Olivier ultimately succeeded in severing Diablos's left arm.
The institute thereby acquired more of the Blood of Diabolos.
Their plans expanded accordingly.
Subsequently, the second and third adaptants were created—
the legendary beast-kin hero Lily, and the human hero Freya.
Beyond that, they produced what they deemed the closest to a successful specimen.
That person was—
"The 'Calamity Witch' Aurora, crowned as the Demon Diablos."
His words fell like puzzle pieces, gradually assembling the truth of that era before everyone.
With the final hidden fragment clicking into place, everything at last became complete and clear.
Aurora slowly lowered her head, a shadow of sorrow clouding her eyes.
Though she remained silent and offered no rebuttal, it precisely confirmed that everything Mahiro said was true.
"How... how cruel..." Rose stammered, her voice trembling.
The revelation was too shocking to accept.
"...Yotsuba-sensei, you're not just telling a story, are you...?" Alexia asked in a quivering voice.
Despite the memory-tinted images surrounding them, even showing several empty cells, with only blood-stained walls, floors, and desperate handprints pleading for help,
she still found it utterly absurd.
The Fourth Demon King Diablos from another world, the Demon Diablos, and even the legendary three heroes who defeated the Demon King—all were manufactured.
Inheriting the so-called Blood of Diabolos and all...
By his account, didn't the cult ultimately succeed?
In other words, hadn't that bald bishop lived for over a thousand years???
Though a part of her was beginning to accept this past, subjectively, she couldn't reconcile with it.
"Well, I said from the start, it's just a story," Mahiro neither argued nor refuted, not even turning his head.
His gaze remained fixed on the massive transparent glass tank below the railing, standing on the first floor.
Inside it was preserved a single arm.
A dark, thick, grotesquely swollen and enlarged monstrous arm, appearing as if bloody flesh fragments were tightly clinging to several long, sharp claws.
That was Diablos' true arm.
However...
"What a pity."
Mahiro indifferently withdrew his gaze.
It couldn't be analyzed.
Not because Diablos' arm was particularly special, but because everything before them was merely a corridor of memories constructed from magical power.
Even though the arm was close enough to touch, it possessed no real power whatsoever.
"Are they still fighting down below?"
Mahiro slightly lowered his eyelids and saw Delta chasing after that bald man, pummeling him. Clearly, the bald bishop was already covered with numerous wounds, and tadpole-like curse markings had even spread across half his body.
High-density magical power was suppressing the curse's continued erosion.
Yet, even though he could keep creating clones, his cloning speed couldn't match the hunting speed of the dog girl.
Even that door-plate-like greatsword had been bitten into scrap metal.
But Delta never delivered a fatal blow to Nelson, as if toying with her prey.
Even her roars sounded like malicious, maniacal laughter.
"He's really weak. This person is probably just a scholar buried in research."
Alpha approached and watched the scene below with him, speaking in a somewhat pitying tone.
"Yeah, among the Knights of Rounds, this guy should be at the bottom in terms of strength, but... never mind."
Mahiro had originally intended to intervene, but he suddenly noticed the golden-haired elf, Olivier, moving again.
She slowly turned around, looking at him with those somewhat hollow eyes...
No, more accurately, looking at them—him and Alpha!
Then she turned back and walked deeper inside.
As if signaling them to follow.
"Let's follow and see."
"..."
Alpha nodded in agreement.
"But before that, this game should come to an end."
As Mahiro prepared to follow, he casually cast "Mist Dispersion" downward.
Nelson, who was still desperately creating clones, suddenly stiffened, his face turning blood-red, his eyes almost bulging out of their sockets.
The next moment, he exploded, scattering into dust that filled the air.
"Huh?"
Noticing her prey had suddenly disappeared, the dog girl snapped out of her hunting state.
Her ears twitched atop her head, and as she looked up, she happened to see Mahiro and Alpha heading deeper inside.
"Ah, boss, wait for Delta!"
The dog girl quickly scrambled up the scaffolding to catch up.
But the next instant, light flooded the entire world.
The light-filled world shattered and crumbled like a mirror.
When the light faded, what appeared before everyone was another brand-new area.
Slightly cold air flowed into their nostrils. Compared to before, this place felt less inhabited but more spacious.
"This is the center of the Sanctuary..."
Aurora began to explain for them.
But her voice carried unconcealable surprise.
Because it was actually Olivier who had intentionally led them, guiding them here.
Not only that, even the Sanctuary's magic-absorbing restriction had been temporarily suspended.
What did Olivier intend to do?
Aurora didn't know. She only saw Olivier take steps forward once more, her bare jade-like feet treading on the cold metal floor as she advanced ahead.
There stood a towering, massive stone gate.
It was bound layer upon layer by countless chains thicker than a human body, stained with dark brown bloodstains and carved full of ancient script.
It seemed as if something important was concealed within.
And on the pedestal at the base of the gate was inserted an ornate longsword.
This sword was precisely the legendary Holy Sword that Olivier had used to sever Diablos' arm!
But now, Olivier approached that Holy Sword, reached out, and gently grasped its hilt.
She wasn't trying to pull it out—quite the opposite, she merely stood there, holding it.
That was all.
But soon, her body began to dissipate, transforming into countless golden specks of light that merged into the blade of the Holy Sword.
At the moment she was about to vanish completely, she turned her head and exchanged a glance with Mahiro and Alpha.
Her calm, almost melancholic and vacant gaze revealed another emotion for the first time.
It was a plea.
Though faint, her eyes were beseeching them, begging them to bring an end to all of this.
"Only a direct descendant of the hero can draw this sword..."
Beta stepped forward, examined the ancient script inscribed on the pedestal, and translated it.
Immediately, everyone looked at Alpha.
But Alpha turned her gaze to Mahiro beside her.
"This is what you deserve. Go ahead."
Mahiro patted Alpha's back and gently pushed her forward.
Alpha staggered a few steps, glancing back at him from time to time, slowly making her way to the pedestal.
The sword in the stone...
Mahiro was very familiar with this trope. Even without looking, he knew the outcome.
It definitely couldn't be something like a sword for choosing a king, but if it was the Holy Sword used by the former hero to slay the demon king, it would surely grant some kind of inheritance.
And indeed, it was just as he had guessed.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Alpha reached out and grasped the Holy Sword's hilt. In that moment, her figure seemed to overlap with Olivier's from earlier.
And with a slight exertion, the Holy Sword began to be gradually drawn from the pedestal.
Golden light emanating from below instantly filled the entire space.
"What's happening?!"
"I don't know!"
"Brit...!"
The light was so dazzling that no one could keep their eyes open. Even Beta, who was closest, couldn't see anything clearly—it was like a flashbang.
Only Mahiro alone witnessed and observed everything.
Bathed in the light, Alpha stood firm amidst the raging winds.
Her brilliant golden hair was tousled by the gale, while the magical power within her began to swell simultaneously. The dissipating magic transformed into a storm-like breath.
If it was previously just a small pond, now it was gradually becoming a lake.
Her power had completely surpassed that of [Blood-Drinking Queen] Elisabeth!
"So this is inheriting Olivier's power?" Mahiro rubbed his chin as he quietly analyzed.
[It's more than that.]
The Demon King Killing Sacred Sword in his hand, Est, suddenly responded.
[That girl has become a sword.]
"What do you mean?"
[The being called Olivier has offered all that remained of herself, merging into that sword.]
"...Can I understand it as becoming an existence like you?"
[No, she is different from me. Her situation is far more cruel—she has lost all consciousness, and all her memories have been transformed into power.]
"I see..."
Mahiro curled the corner of his mouth.
To be honest, he didn't really care about such matters, and he had somewhat anticipated it.
So it wasn't particularly strange.
But there was one thing he was still curious about.
"How does she compare to you, Est?"
[Foolish master, there is no comparison.]
That's true...
Est is a true spirit with infinite lifespan, even serving as the Guardian Deity of the Spirit Realm. It would be strange if a mere sword born from sacrifice could compare to her.
[However, that sword is not weak.]
Est added another sentence.
"Not weak?"
Mahiro was somewhat puzzled—this boundary was hard to define. What did "not weak" mean...
Just as he was about to ask further, Alpha had already drawn the Holy Sword from its pedestal.
Intense magical power nearly filled the entire room!
The blade in her hand emitted a dazzling radiance. Alpha seemed to read the Holy Sword's intentions and suddenly swung it toward the stone gate before her.
Boom!
A loud noise echoed.
The layers of chains sealing the gate were completely severed!
The seemingly heavy, immortal door slowly revealed several sword marks and gradually collapsed, stirring up a cloud of dust.
Hidden behind the gate was a massive crystal.
Cracks slowly appeared on its surface.
Crack! With a sound, it instantly shattered into countless pieces.
Simultaneously, everything before their eyes underwent a drastic change.
First, the world constructed by the Memory Corridor completely shattered, and everything in sight turned into ruins.
Weeds grew through the cracks in the metal floor, swaying gently in the cave's breeze.
The surrounding walls and facilities were twisted beyond recognition. The ground was littered with bleached white bones, and the air carried a faint scent of decay.
It seemed a massacre had once taken place here.
"Where is this?"
Seeing everything in sight become dilapidated, Alexia looked around in confusion.
"Naturally, this is the true form of the cult's gathering place—the Sanctuary."
Epsilon crossed her arms and spoke disdainfully.
"However, to be precise, it should be called the Sanctuary ruins."
Beta interlocked her hands in front of her abdomen and explained in a soft voice.
"Everything is over. The so-called Sanctuary has already dissipated. You should leave first."
"What about you?"
Hearing that he seemed to have no intention of leaving with them, Alpha couldn't help but ask.
"Me? Of course, I'm here to bring this to a proper conclusion."
Mahiro shrugged and replied nonchalantly, "Although the Sanctuary's mechanisms no longer exist, this place still holds many secrets. These secrets shouldn't be revealed to the world, so let them fade away with history."
"Alright, I understand. Since you've made your decision, we won't investigate further here."
Alpha nodded seriously, then tossed her golden hair and turned to lead the Shadow Garden members away from the Sanctuary ruins.
As for Alexia and Rose, they naturally left as well.
Though they wanted to see what Mahiro intended to do, under the Shadow Garden's threat that they'd never leave if they didn't depart immediately, they ultimately chose to retreat.
"Now it's just the two of us."
"Yes, indeed it's just us now."
Mahiro and Aurora exchanged a knowing look.
Aurora's sparkling eyes seemed to want to say something, but before she could speak, Mahiro interrupted.
"Since you're the only audience left, I'll prepare a grand fireworks display for you."
"Eh? Wait... what are you going to do?!"
"Just watch."
Before Aurora could react, Mahiro wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace.
Then he swung the Demon King Killing Sacred Sword forward.
Swish—
With a faint sound of cutting air.
A singularity darker and deeper than the surrounding space appeared.
As it manifested, lightning began to crackle around it.
And like a black hole, the singularity gradually expanded outward, its speed increasing steadily.
"Gram Dispersion."
Pure white instantly painted the entire world.
Everything remaining here was instantly vaporized. The explosive shockwave pierced through rock layers, broke through the surface, and the tremendous energy shot skyward like a volcanic eruption!
The powerful tremor, equivalent to a magnitude 10 earthquake, nearly destroyed the entire Lindwurm Sanctuary.
The earth split apart.
Mountains shook.
It was as if heaven and earth were collapsing.
It turned out the Sanctuary had been hidden directly beneath the mountain range near the Lindwurm Sanctuary.
But now none of that mattered anymore.
Because the Sanctuary had been completely destroyed.
After obliterating everything, Mahiro appeared in a dense forest not far from the Sanctuary.
The morning light filtering through the trees made him instinctively squint.
"The outside air really is better..."
"You're really reckless, you know."
Hearing the voice behind him, he turned to see Aurora standing there, her form somewhat translucent.
"Reckless? I'd say this barely qualifies as mischief."
If it were before, strategic-level magic would indeed have been a trump card, but now...
It's basically about the same as "Mist Dispersion."
And more convenient—no need to activate the Magic Eye or Eye of the Spirit for analysis, just use "Multi-Observation" to fix the spatial coordinates.
"That's still astonishing enough..."
Aurora walked to a large tree and sat down.
Mahiro followed and sat beside her, watching as her body gradually turned transparent.
"You're disappearing," he said.
"It seems so."
The two sat side by side, gazing at the beautiful sunrise in the east.
"Sorry, I lied."
"About what?"
"About summoning you here."
"You told me that this morning, didn't you? I know, and you can't lie to me anyway."
"But... there's one more thing you probably don't know, right?"
As her words fell, birdsong echoed around them, and morning dew glittered in the light.
"Actually, I've always longed to disappear soon, and I've always wished to forget everything. But your previous words made me remember many things..."
"Although those memories and the past make me sad, I thank you for finally giving me the courage to face my past."
"And they've also given me memories I don't want to forget. Thank you for being so kind to the childhood me in my memories. I'm truly grateful."
Aurora showed a smile.
"And thank you for giving me these important memories."
After speaking, she began to disappear bit by bit.
That forced smile was heartbreaking.
"If you're grateful, then stay. This time, let me protect you. How about that?"
"Does Mahiro-san want to be my knight? If this were during my lifetime, if I had met you back then, perhaps the subsequent tragedies wouldn't have happened. Maybe I would have..."
"Actually, I would have definitely accepted."
"But now... I'm sorry, I'm really going to disappear."
"And I can't keep my promise with you either. I'm sorry..."
She was merely a fragment of a soul, painfully existing by relying on the memory corridor constructed by the Sanctuary.
Wandering eternally through memories.
Now that the Sanctuary had disappeared, her disappearance became inevitable...
"That's not what I mean. I'm saying you should stay and enjoy this world again, enjoy the life and freedom you deserve."
"Eh?"
Aurora was stunned.
Because her hand, which had already become transparent and fading, was now being grasped by Mahiro and gradually becoming solid again.
She clearly felt a tremendous amount of magical power entering her body.
It was unreasonable and overwhelmingly domineering!
Of course it was.
Otherwise, why would he have wandered around the Sanctuary for so long?
And gone through all that trouble telling stories.
Was it just for Diablos's left hand?
No.
His other purpose was to analyze the composition of the Sanctuary!
He had completely mastered the method of constructing a person's existence by combining memories and magical power!