Her golden armor was a thing of the past. A white battlesuit, adorned with feather-like decorations, now gave Durandal an air of divinity and purity.
Beside her, Kiana, having also awakened the power of her bloodline, had donned a new battle suit, a cape fluttering in the turbulent wind.
In a word, cool!
The arrival of reinforcements brought a sigh of relief to those who were prepared to risk their lives to stop Otto.
Finally, someone had come who could stop that man's insane plan.
The world was saved!
"Kiana... Durandal..."
The nun, being healed in Brian's arms, saw the three return, and her heart, which had been in her throat, finally relaxed.
"The rest... is up to you..."
Her physical injuries were being healed, but the mental exhaustion was unavoidable.
Theresa needed to rest.
"Mei, I'll leave the Principal to you."
The armored girl seamlessly switched from a battlefield Valkyrie to a domestic housewife, taking the deeply sleeping Theresa from Brian's arms.
Then, she bestowed upon him a kiss of blessing.
"May your fortunes of war be prosperous."
"At a time like this, shouldn't I say something like 'when I get back, we'll...'"
A slender hand covered his mouth.
"You can't say unlucky things here. But if you can stop that guy Otto's conspiracy, I might consider giving you some special rewards when we get back."
In an instant, the girl's expression became seductive, and the moisture in her eyes was so thick it could almost be drawn into crystalline threads.
As the heroes and champions who were about to save the world, it was only natural to receive rewards from beautiful girls and princesses.
Raiden Mei's gaze passed over Brian's figure to the pair of sisters behind him.
One of them had already become her good sister for a lifetime.
The other one...
"If you want to involve Durandal and Rita, that's not impossible either."
The ambiguous tone was like a succubus's whisper, impossible to resist.
The Inner World Protagonist's fighting spirit was ignited to the extreme: "Mission guaranteed to be completed!"
He turned and walked towards the battlefield.
"Kiana, Durandal, let's go meet Otto."
"I'm sure that guy has been waiting for us for a long time."
The Inner World Protagonist pushed open the church doors and led the way, the Valkyrie and the Herrscher flanking him closely.
The dilapidated church remained unchanged, as if the chaos outside hadn't affected it in the slightest.
The blond, blue-eyed man was overjoyed at the arrival of his opponents, ascending his long-prepared grand stage like an eager artist.
"Welcome, my friends." The elegant man was as full of theatrical desire as ever, but the gazes of the three visitors remained invariably cold.
"My student, my creation, and... a visitor to this planet from an unknown place."
Otto Apocalypse had never underestimated any of his opponents. He had investigated every being that might cross his path as if digging three feet deep.
But only Brian, this man who had appeared out of nowhere, had absolutely no past on this planet. He had simply popped into existence.
It was more believable that this guy was an alien than a creation of World Serpent.
After all... aliens really have visited Earth more than once.
"Is that what you wanted to say before you die?" Neither Brian nor the two girls were interested in what Otto had to say.
What was needed now was a united front. The secrets of this Inner World Protagonist were not important.
If they wanted them, they could just drag him into the basement and drain him dry!
"It seems I was being sentimental." Otto chuckled lightly.
The man showed no signs of nervousness facing three powerful opponents, not even in the face of his nemesis, the Key of Corruption: Jizo Mitama.
Simply because...
"Since you have come here, it means you have already passed the trial of the Kaslana Stigma Space."
It had to be done. This was Otto's gift to his student.
Durandal's experience in the Kaslana Stigma Space had indeed developed the power within her body, but it had also opened a path for him to the depths of the Imaginary World.
"Through continuous research, I discovered that the Imaginary World corresponding to this planet has been artificially distorted by something."
"I initially thought it was a beacon left for this era by the pioneers of the Previous Era, but something like the Stigma Space is merely a small pebble on the road."
"The being that obstructs our perception of the world's true nature is the problem that has plagued us for thousands of years—the Honkai!"
"After various experiments, I successfully came into contact with the truth of the world and understood its most fundamental law—the Imaginary!"
A slender figure was enveloped by the power overflowing from the Imaginary Space.
Substances resembling an Imaginary Godsbane caused Otto Apocalypse's body to continuously expand.
"A power sufficient to rewrite the entire world!"
A black mask covered the man's face, and the laws of the Imaginary became his power.
Knowledge had allowed this man to recognize the essence of this world; knowledge had granted him unimaginably great power.
At this moment, Otto Apocalypse's power had completely surpassed that of a Herrscher.
It was in the name of God!
"Come, let us decide the victor on a new stage, and let our battle determine the future course of this planet!"
Power activated.
The Real World, like a helpless little wife, was easily modified into a bizarre and motley Imaginary Space.
This world was incredibly bright, its orderly, man-made structures a stark contrast to the Imaginary worlds seen before.
But the Imaginary world was inherently mysterious; nothing that appeared here would be surprising.
The top priority was still to defeat this man who wanted to turn the world back five hundred years!
"Let's go!"
Durandal leaped into the air, a majestic steed instantly appearing beneath her. The long spear in her hand was imbued with the power of annihilation, capable of disintegrating all tangible matter.
An icy chill froze the world, instantly turning everything into the dead of winter.
A scorching torrent of flames followed closely, the most explosive attack piercing through the world in an instant, shooting towards the unknown depths of the Imaginary Space.
"Hehe, very good, just like that!"
The three combined their strength. Such a powerful combination would make even Kevin Kaslana temporarily retreat, not daring to take the damage head-on with his own body.
But this man, who now bore the name of a god, neither dodged nor evaded, watching as the Godsbane-like substance on his body shattered and repaired itself.
It was as if this man wouldn't dodge at all.
"Durandal, do you still remember what I once taught you?"
"Don't know! Forgot! After I defeat you, I'll think about it slowly!"
Hooves fell without mercy. The powerful physical attack sent the false god Otto flying an unknown distance.
The next moment, a torrent of flames covered the field of vision. It was Kiana, teleporting in with Brian.
"Excellent! Just like that!"
Only this man remained unfazed, completely unaware that he was losing the upper hand.
The speed at which the Godsbane-like material repaired itself gradually slowed. Otto, offering almost no resistance, made one final counterattack before his armor instantly crumbled!
"Otto, your end has come!"
A black spear pinned the man to a stone wall, but the Herrscher of Death's authority, capable of disintegrating all tangible matter, failed to exert its original effect.
"It's useless. I have now connected to the Imaginary Tree through Imaginary Renormalization. You cannot kill me with your power alone."
"Then what about this?"
The white-haired girl's cape fluttered without wind, snapping in the Imaginary Space.
The blue in her eyes, representing Kiana, turned a brilliant gold in the next blink, filled with unparalleled hatred.
"OT! TO!"
It was this man who had orchestrated all of Sirin's tragedies.
Imaginary Renormalization... activate!
What was gained by Imaginary Renormalization was also lost by Imaginary Renormalization.
The blond, blue-eyed man brought his ambition to an end, welcoming his awaited finale with a smile in the Imaginary Space.
The platform beneath his feet crumbled at this moment, causing the man's body, along with the shattered debris, to fall into the depths of the Imaginary Space.
But the era of the Herrscher of the Void was just beginning!
"Power in the name of a god... This power suits me well."
The white-haired, golden-eyed girl took the opportunity to suppress the other person in her body and brazenly made a declaration in front of the other two.
Otto had already provided her with a perfect demonstration; the way to obtain greater power through the Imaginary Space was now clear.
Now, she only needed to make a small effort to replicate Otto's previous grand feat and continue his evil plan to destroy the world!
Herrscher of the Void, inflated with ego!
She believed that after obtaining this power, even the goddamn Inner World Protagonist would be no match for her.
However...
"Durandal, I need to take care of some private matters with your two sisters first."
Honeysuckle Crest, activate!
"Mmmph~, you mmmph~ you hateful thing!"
The arrogant Queen of the Void shed tears in mid-air, wanting to return to her own little nest but was firmly countered by that white-haired fluffball.
⁄(⁄⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄⁄)⁄-)▼＃)
"Herrscher of the Void, we're going to be good sisters together for a lifetime!"
"Who wants to be with a fool like you for a lifetime!?"
"You do."
The Valkyrie, holding her spear and leading her steed, watched as the Inner World Protagonist dragged her sister by the ankle, pulling her behind a stone wall for a harsh lesson.
The stone wall, barely taller than a person, revealed some suggestive upper body movements, allowing Durandal to watch these two shameless people engage in some deep interaction, even imagining their actions and techniques.
And they were very loud.
"You bastard, get out!"
"Don't you dare touch me!"
"..."
Shameless!
A pink light also shone on Durandal's lower abdomen!
A flurry of chaotic emotions churned within Durandal. She didn't know if it was because her own sister was being wantonly toyed with by that lecherous man, or because these two were so shamelessly carrying on right near her.
The key was that she herself had no way to quickly return to the Real World from the Imaginary Space, leaving her completely trapped here by these two bastards.
It was truly unbearable!
After an unknown amount of time, the demonic notes that had been echoing in Durandal's ears finally came to a rest.
The white-haired girl stumbled forward, her legs giving out, causing her to drape herself over Durandal's shoulder.
"Sister, sorry about that. It took a while to deal with that evil-natured Herrscher of the Void. Thanks for waiting."
Durandal: "..."
Was that really dealing with the evil-natured Herrscher of the Void?
It was clearly you, you shameless little bitch, who was so thirsty that you clamped your long legs around that guy's waist like a hydraulic press!
She could even smell the scent on Kiana now, the kind of scent that could land someone a hospital bed reservation overnight!
"Since you two are done, let's get back to the Real World as soon as possible. They're waiting for our good news too."
The Valkyrie wisely didn't dwell on these issues.
If she got caught up in these embarrassing topics, she believed she would definitely be dragged into the gutter by this person.
This sister was very cute, and this brother-in-law was very powerful, but they just loved to have improper designs on her, their sister and sister-in-law!
"Of course. We've defeated the evil Schicksal Overseer, so we should go back and share the good news with everyone."
Kiana, her knees pressed tightly together, rested one hand on Durandal's shoulder and snapped the fingers of her other hand.
*Snap—!*
The masterful Herrscher's authority activated, and in the next moment, Durandal and Kiana were back in the dilapidated church.
As always, everything was as usual.
But also extraordinary.
"Durandal, K-423." Otto's voice rang out, as if from an unknown place, filled with an indescribable ethereal and hollow quality.
"Teacher, you..." Durandal wanted to ask how this old bastard was still not dead.
But thinking about his previous abnormal behavior of not resisting at all, it was only natural for this old fellow to have left some tricks up his sleeve.
"I must thank you. It was your efforts that truly allowed me to obtain the power to change the world, the chance to realize my wish."
"..." A single sentence made the two girls' hearts tighten, almost thinking they were about to face another battle for the fate of the world.
"Don't worry, I have no need to fight you anymore."
"When I obtained the power to change the world, I gained the ability to change the world, but lost the opportunity to do so."
"The shackles of the Imaginary World prevented me from doing what I wanted, leaving me with power but no freedom to change the world."
"With your help, I successfully broke free from that state and gained the chance to realize my wish."
"Thank you, Durandal and K-423." Otto's words were filled with sincerity, without a hint of falsehood.
Without their help, he would now be just a stronger Imaginary Godsbane, doomed to wallow in the Imaginary Space until the end of the universe like those mindless monsters.
"Otto, what exactly do you want to do!" Kiana had not forgotten this guy's grand ambition to turn the world back five hundred years.
If they were truly the cause of him achieving his goal, then even a million deaths would not be enough to atone for their sin!
Otto's voice chuckled lightly. "Don't worry, I have found another way. I no longer need to sacrifice the entire world."
"Time is the direction in which the 'Imaginary' grows; history is the annual rings recorded by the 'Imaginary'."
"I will use everything I am as the price to carve out a new possibility for my Saintess five hundred years ago."
"Thank you, Durandal and K-423." Otto's voice faded, but the two girls could not rest easy.
"Kiana, do you think..." The worried Durandal wanted to speak, but suddenly realized someone was missing.
"Where is he?"
"He didn't come back, and Otto didn't come back either. Where do you think he went?" The white-haired girl winked playfully, her delicate face filled with self-satisfaction.
Having such a considerate boyfriend was truly a blessing for a simple-minded Kaslana like her.