No miracle happened, no helping hand descended, only death approaching step by step.
'Did I make the wrong judgment?' Raiden Mei bitterly smiled as she gripped her weapon tightly. 'No... even if that's the case, this can't be the ending.'
She struggled to stand, only to realize her body had already reached its limit.
At this critical moment between life and death, those memories she had deliberately buried surged back like a tide, the rainy night in Changkong City, everyone in St. Freya, and... that figure who always stood in front of her.
'So this is... the moment before death...?'
Kalpas's fist, carrying the momentum to destroy everything, came crashing down.
At that instant, a streak of golden light pierced through the sea of flames, accurately blocking in front of Raiden Mei.
Raiden Mei's vision was filled with gold, and within that sacred glow, Aponia's figure gradually appeared.
Her hands were folded at her chest, the white nun's veil unmoving despite the scorching heat, her golden eyes lowered, as if gazing upon her, as if in prayer.
"Finally, we share the same state of mind..." her voice rippled through the sweltering air, "Without experiencing despair, you would never believe it to be inevitable. This ends here, the time promised by destiny has yet to arrive."
———
[Mom!]
[My mom is so pretty!]
[Brothers, I think my filial piety is becoming... questionable.]
[My mom is so big, no, wait... what I meant was my mom is so great!]
———
[Back to the Video]
Accompanied by all kinds of outrageous comments, Aponia gently floated down, her toes lightly touching the scorched earth.
Then, raising her head toward Raiden Mei, her tone softened, "This time, you even straightened your clothes by yourself."
"It's you..." Raiden Mei forced herself to stand, her eyes flashing with some unexplainable light.
"As expected, my judgment wasn't wrong. As long as I created this situation... you could no longer just stand by and watch."
At that moment, Kalpas's roar exploded like thunder, cutting off their conversation.
"Aponia... you again! Get out of my way!"
Faced with the passionate outburst, Aponia didn't even blink, her voice calm as ever, "Ah... you're here too. Could I 'ask' you to step aside for a moment? I wish to speak with Mei alone."
"Don't even think about it... you..." The flames around Kalpas flared violently, his words seething with rage. "Aponia, do you want to die again?"
"Kalpas." Aponia's tone didn't waver in the slightest, yet the air froze instantly.
Kalpas clenched his fist so tightly his knuckles cracked, then suddenly turned toward Raiden Mei, "...There won't be a next time, Herrscher."
With that, he glared at Aponia, as though his eyes could cut flesh from her bones.
In the end, Kalpas only gave a cold snort and turned to leave.
Even after his figure completely disappeared, the suffocating heat he left behind refused to dissipate.
Watching the direction Kalpas had left, Aponia said softly, "It's been some time, and Kalpas has become more obedient."
"It's fine, you don't have to be afraid. He's said that many times before. We can continue. But... as long as he's been here, it will stay this hot... Is that alright?"
———
[My poor Brother Kalpas.]
[Hahaha, this is peak tool-man energy.]
[What do you mean by 'obedient,' Aponia-mom, you clearly misunderstand what that word means.]
———
[Back to the Video]
Raiden Mei sharply noticed Aponia's gaze drop to her collar again and immediately stepped back half a pace.
"No need... I don't feel that hot. Besides... this temperature is also an ability I have to possess."
"Is that so..." Aponia sighed softly. "Still, it's not good for your body. Let's change to somewhere more suitable for talking. Close your eyes first, alright?"
Raiden Mei didn't immediately respond, only watched her warily.
"It's alright..." Aponia's gentle voice rose again, carrying a calming strength. "As long as I'm here, no one can hurt you."
"Is that so?"
Hearing that, Raiden Mei's eyes flickered with something indescribable.
"Yes... I think we can first..."
However, before the words were finished, they were abruptly cut off.
Because, at that instant, Raiden Mei reversed her grip on her katana and, without a moment's hesitation, slashed it toward her slender neck.
The motion was clean and sharp, without the slightest hesitation, as if she had rehearsed it in her heart thousands of times.
This sudden action shattered Aponia's usual composure in an instant.
Aponia, '!!!'
The cold blade was mere millimeters from Raiden Mei's fair neck, about to end her life in the next heartbeat.
At that critical moment, a pitch-black sword light streaked through like a shooting star, striking the katana's blade with perfect precision.
Bang!
The sword was knocked from her hands, spinning as it plunged into the scorched earth not far away, the hilt still trembling faintly.
Staring at the blade embedded in the ground, Raiden Mei smiled instead of being angry.
Because she had finally achieved her true goal.
"You're finally here..." Raiden Mei looked toward the shadows, her voice filled with undisguised anticipation and complicated emotions. "Van (Memory)..."
———
On the other side, Van's sudden appearance had caught Aponia off guard, but it was also within reason.
After all, from the moment Raiden Mei stepped into the Elysian Realm, Van had been running between the Flame-Chasers, informing them of Raiden Mei's uniqueness.
This was the first successor in history that Van had cared about so deeply.
Thinking of this, Aponia looked at Raiden Mei again. Seeing the unrelenting determination in her eyes, willing to do whatever it took to reach her goal, stirred a complex emotion in her heart.
It reminded her of that farewell after the night of the ball, and of that resolute back turned to her.
Perhaps this was what they called mutual recognition between those who resemble each other.
Since Van had already appeared, that meant the so-called verification and trial had directly reached its final stage. There was no longer any need for her to stay.
Thinking of this, Aponia folded her hands at her chest, her voice soft, "Mei, before I leave, this thing... should finally be given to you as promised..."
Raiden Mei, still wary, had just started to speak when she felt slender fingers lightly brush against her eyelids.
"Wait... you?!"
"The first time might be a little uncomfortable... bear with it for a moment, it'll be over soon..."
In the dazzling golden light, Aponia's voice drifted further and further away.
"Within the barrier, we beheld civilization."
"Only when we stopped, did we glimpse the future."
"Now, reach out your hand..."
"The Commandments upon you, speak without words."
When the light faded, Raiden Mei had obtained the final Sigil, Commandments.
She had just opened her mouth to ask something, but an overwhelming fatigue surged through her mind like a tide.
Then, Raiden Mei collapsed uncontrollably.
But this time, what embraced her was not the cold ground, but a familiar, warm embrace.
In her fading consciousness, she murmured the name she had yearned for day and night, "Van..."
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