Chapter 99 – All Along

Shin slowly regained consciousness beneath the crumbling remains of the cathedral. Dust filled his surroundings, coating his armor and clinging to the back of his throat. The shattered structure beneath him felt cold and uneven, while the distant sounds of battle echoed through the ruined structure. Despite the destruction surrounding him, Azazel, his Halochassis power armor, was still operational. Its armor plates remained intact, although the occasional flicker of light beneath its surface suggested that it had suffered considerable damage.

However, a notification suddenly appeared in front of his HUD.

[Hybrid Armor: 0%]

Shin stared at the message in disbelief. For some reason, he could no longer see any low power alerts. Perhaps the Halochassis had absorbed Alexander’s devastating attack and converted the immense energy into something that kept the armor operational. The thought offered him a moment of relief, but the situation was still getting dire. He had no idea what had happened to the others, and the silence surrounding him was far more unsettling than the explosions he had heard earlier.

“How long was I out?” Shin muttered to himself.

His voice sounded muffled inside the helmet, accompanied by the faint hum of Azazel’s internal systems. He commanded his power armor to move, and its mechanical joints responded with a series of metallic clicks. Thankfully, the damage was relatively minor, although tiny sparks continued to flicker through the gaps between the armor plates. The occasional electrical crackle reminded him that Azazel was barely holding together.

Shin then deployed Azazel’s energy wings. Purple light erupted from the armor’s back, illuminating the surrounding rubble with an eerie glow. The enormous wings unfolded with a sharp, humming sound, scattering loose fragments of stone across the ground. Without wasting another moment, he propelled himself toward the skies.

As he emerged from the ruined cathedral, the horrifying sight of the battlefield greeted him. Thousands of people lay scattered across the devastated landscape, their bodies motionless among broken weapons, shattered armor, and piles of rubble. Others were still alive, desperately calling for help as the distant sounds of explosions and screams filled the air. The stench of blood and burning debris hung heavily in the atmosphere, making the entire battlefield feel like a graveyard.

There seemed to be no winner in the war they had just waged. The ground was stained with blood, and the destruction stretched as far as his eyes could see. Even the cathedral, once a magnificent symbol of religious authority, had become little more than a broken monument to their pointless conflict.

“I have to get to Adzeel quick,” Shin said, his voice growing increasingly anxious.

He flapped Azazel’s energy wings, accelerating through the air before descending toward the enormous hole he had emerged from earlier. The purple glow of his wings illuminated the shattered walls as he approached the opening, while the wind howled against his armor. He could only hope that Adzeel was still alive.

Shin managed to eliminate the paladins and holy knights guarding the area with ease. The remaining soldiers barely had time to react before Azazel’s energy wings sliced through their defenses. Each swing produced a sharp, crackling sound as the purple blades cut through their armor, sending sparks and fragments of metal scattering across the floor. Their weapons clattered against the stone, followed by the dull thuds of their fallen bodies.

Finally, Shin returned to the underground hall of the cathedral, where the previous battlefield had taken place. The familiar surroundings should have offered some reassurance, but the moment he stepped inside, an unsettling silence greeted him.

The underground hall had become a desolate battlefield. Broken pillars lay scattered across the floor, and the walls were riddled with cracks from the tremendous forces unleashed during the previous confrontation. The air was thick with smoke and the bitter smell of burned stone. What little remained of the mysterious door that had once stood there was now engulfed in purple flames, their eerie glow dancing across the ruined chamber.

“Adzeel… No…” Shin muttered.

His voice trembled slightly as he stared at the burning doorway. The sight filled him with an overwhelming sense of dread, and he clenched his fists inside Azazel’s armored hands.

“We’re supposed to take Alexander together.”

The words echoed through the empty hall, but no answer came. Only the crackling of the purple flames and the distant dripping of water interrupted the silence.

“He’s gone.”

A familiar feminine voice suddenly echoed from behind him.

Shin immediately turned around, his armor responding with a sharp mechanical whir. When Azazel’s helmet faced the source of the voice, he saw a familiar figure standing among the ruins.

Golden hair. Green eyes. Pointy ears.

The elf was unmistakable. She stood with a pistol firmly aimed at his head, her slender fingers wrapped around its grip. Her expression was cold and composed, but there was something deeply unsettling about the way she stared at him.

“Lireina Ashford,” Azazel said.

Inside the armor, Shin was sweating non-stop. His heartbeat thundered against his chest, and he could feel the dampness gathering beneath his clothes. His hands tightened around the controls, but he knew better than to make any sudden movements.

This was the absolute worst-case scenario.

“Hello, Azazel,” Lireina said with a cold glare.

Her voice was calm, almost conversational, but the hostility behind her words was unmistakable. The pistol remained pointed directly at his head, and the faint metallic click of her finger adjusting its grip made Shin painfully aware of his predicament.

“It took me a while to chase you. Your companion was more troublesome than I thought.”

Shin swallowed nervously. He had no idea how much Lireina knew about the events that had transpired, but her presence alone was enough to make his situation considerably worse.

“Where is Zaqiel?” Azazel asked.

Lireina’s expression changed slightly. For a brief moment, the corners of her lips curled upward, forming a smile that seemed strangely out of place amid the devastation.

“Zaqiel… or Risha Han… Is dead,” Lireina said, her voice carrying an unsettling hint of amusement. “She was actually a spy the whole time. I thought her name was Rika.”

Shin gritted his teeth. The revelation sent a bitter wave of anger and disbelief through him. Risha had been with them for so long, and the thought of her being confident to take up Lireina, only to end up dead, left him struggling to process everything. He could barely comprehend how much had been lost in such a short period.

Lireina raised her pistol once more, directing its barrel toward Azazel’s head. The movement was slow and deliberate, as though she wanted to make certain that Shin understood the seriousness of her next question.

“Now it’s my turn to ask a question.”

Her cold glare seemed to freeze the air between them. Shin could almost feel the hostility radiating from her, and the oppressive silence of the underground hall made the confrontation even more unbearable.

“Did you kill Croft?”

Shin remained silent.

Above them, a broken pipe hung precariously from the ceiling. A thin stream of water dripped from its fractured opening, each drop striking the stone floor with a faint, hollow sound. The rhythmic dripping was the only noise in the underground hall, its steady cadence filling the unbearable silence between the two.

“It was my fault that she died. Yes,” Azazel said.

“Then this conversation is over!” Lireina declared.

Her expression hardened, and without another word, she squeezed the trigger of her pistol. A sharp gunshot echoed through the underground hall, its deafening report reverberating against the broken stone walls. The muzzle flashed brightly, briefly illuminating her golden hair and the crimson stains on the floor as the bullet tore through the air toward Azazel’s head.

However, Azazel managed to evade the attack by simply tilting his head to the side. The bullet whistled past his helmet and struck the stone pillar behind him, producing a sharp metallic ricochet before disappearing into the darkness.

“Activating Second Form!”

Lireina’s body suddenly radiated a brilliant emerald glow. Wind energy swirled around her slender figure, lifting the dust and loose fragments of stone from the ground. Her clothing transformed into a taller, flowery green dress adorned with elaborate frills that fluttered wildly in the magical currents. The air around her became noticeably colder as the pressure of her wind magic intensified.

Without hesitation, Lireina surged forward. Her boots struck the ground with a sharp impact, and she propelled herself toward Azazel with astonishing speed. Twisting her body in midair, she unleashed a powerful kick enhanced by concentrated wind energy. The resulting shockwave rattled the surrounding rubble, sending fragments of stone scattering across the underground hall.

Azazel raised his arm just in time to intercept the attack. A crimson purple energy shield materialized around his wrist, its surface shimmering like a polished gemstone. Lireina’s kick collided with the barrier, producing a tremendous burst of wind that shook the entire chamber. The impact forced Azazel backward, his armored boots scraping against the stone floor.

Lireina immediately jumped back, creating some distance between herself and her opponent. Her golden hair fluttered wildly as she gathered another surge of wind energy, her green eyes narrowing with determination.

“Activating Third Form!”

Her green dress dissolved into swirling particles of light, replaced by an elegant white gown decorated with delicate flower ornaments. The fabric billowed around her body, seemingly unaffected by gravity as magical energy coursed through its delicate folds. At the same time, hundreds of flintlock rifles materialized around her, each one floating effortlessly in the air.

The weapons formed an enormous circular formation, their polished barrels gleaming under the dim illumination of the underground hall. Magical runes flickered across their metallic surfaces as Lireina extended her hand toward Azazel.

Then, with a simple gesture, she commanded every rifle to fire.

A deafening barrage erupted from the floating weapons. Thousands of bullets tore through the air, creating a continuous stream of gunfire that drowned out every other sound in the chamber. The smell of burning magical energy filled the air, while the shockwaves from the relentless barrage sent dust cascading from the damaged ceiling.

Azazel immediately unleashed his energy wings. The enormous crimson purple appendages spread across his back, forming a protective barrier in front of his body. The bullets hammered against the wings, producing countless sparks and flashes of light as the magical projectiles were deflected.

Despite the protection, Azazel could feel the tremendous strain on his armor. Each impact sent vibrations through his mechanical frame, and the continuous barrage threatened to overwhelm his defenses. His energy wings flickered as they struggled to withstand the relentless assault.

Knowing that her current attacks were not enough to finish him, Lireina decided to unleash her trump card.

“Activating Final Form!”

A brilliant radiance enveloped her entire body. The underground hall trembled as an enormous surge of magical energy erupted from her, filling the chamber with an overwhelming pressure that made the surrounding air feel impossibly heavy.

Lireina transformed into a feathery goddess, her appearance becoming both beautiful and terrifying. She wore an elegant goddess robe, a pristine white blindfold covering her eyes, and a magnificent mythril crown resting upon her golden hair. Mythril gauntlets and boots adorned her limbs, their metallic surfaces gleaming beneath the brilliant magical aura surrounding her.

Ten enormous wings manifested on her back, spreading outward with an immense flutter that stirred powerful gusts of wind throughout the chamber. Her body grew until she stood two meters tall, radiating an almost divine presence that seemed completely out of place amid the devastation.

Lireina spread her arms wide.

Thousands of magical birds suddenly manifested around her, their luminous bodies resembling delicate creatures sculpted from pure wind energy. Their wings fluttered in unison, creating an eerie chorus of magical whispers that filled the underground hall.

With a single command, the birds surged toward Azazel.

They descended upon him like an enormous flock of predatory creatures, their movements swift and relentless. Each bird exploded upon contact, scattering magical feathers that sliced through the air like countless miniature blades. The resulting bursts of energy illuminated the chamber with brilliant flashes, while the continuous explosions produced a deafening roar that shook the surrounding ruins.

Slowly but surely, the magical birds began to chip away at Azazel’s energy wings.

The crimson purple barrier flickered violently as cracks spread across its surface. At first, the damage was barely noticeable, but the relentless bombardment soon created several gaping holes in the protective shield. Magical feathers slipped through the weakened defenses, striking Azazel’s armor and blasting away chunks of its outer plating.

Metal fragments scattered across the floor, accompanied by the sharp crackling of damaged electrical components. Sparks erupted from the exposed mechanical joints, and the armor’s once formidable wings began to disintegrate under the overwhelming assault.

“Shit!” Azazel cried.

His HUD flickered erratically, displaying countless damage warnings as the armor struggled to maintain its defensive systems. He could feel the energy reserves dwindling, and the continuous explosions threatened to tear apart what remained of his protective barrier.

“If this continues…”

I am going to die.

Shin could barely believe what was happening. Lireina’s attacks had been relentless from the very beginning, leaving him no opportunity to retaliate. Now that she knew he was responsible for Croft’s death, there was no reason for her to hold back.

Every magical bird that struck his armor brought him closer to his inevitable defeat. The underground hall was filled with the deafening sound of explosions, and the intense heat from the magical blasts made the inside of Azazel’s armor increasingly uncomfortable.

She is definitely going for the killing blow.

Shin desperately searched for a way out, but his damaged armor offered little hope. His energy wings were nearly destroyed, and the remaining shields could barely withstand another barrage.

It was over for Shin.

Until—

“Gah!”

Lireina suddenly coughed out blood.

The magical birds scattered as her concentration faltered. Her enormous wings trembled violently, and the divine radiance surrounding her body began to fade. She staggered backward, clutching her chest as a fresh wave of blood escaped her mouth.

Her knees finally gave way.

Lireina collapsed onto the ground, her hands trembling against the cold stone floor. The blood dripping from her lips formed a small puddle beneath her, its metallic scent mingling with the lingering smell of burned armor and magical energy.

Her transformation slowly unraveled. The ten magnificent wings dissolved into fading particles of light, followed by her mythril crown, gauntlets, and boots. The goddess robe disappeared as well, leaving her in her familiar base form.

“No… This is my limit…” Lireina whispered.

Her breathing became increasingly labored, and she struggled to keep herself upright. Every attempt to move sent a sharp wave of pain through her exhausted body.

I have strained my body too much.

Stamina had never been Lireina’s forte. Whether in battle, in bed, or in enduring physical pain, her fragile body had always struggled to keep up with her extraordinary magical abilities. She could unleash tremendous power, but sustaining it for too long came at a devastating cost.

Azazel, his armor now battered and broken, slowly rose to his feet. The damaged mechanical joints groaned as he straightened his body, and the remaining sparks flickered across his shattered plating.

He began walking toward Lireina.

“Lireina Ashford. Stop this. The war against the Celestial Wardens is over, now that Alexander is gone,” Azazel said.

His voice echoed through the devastated hall, carrying a mixture of exhaustion and frustration.

“You no longer possess the power to stop me.”

Lireina clenched her fists, her trembling fingers digging into the stone floor. Her nails scraped against the surface, leaving faint marks as she struggled to suppress her pain. Blood continued to trickle from her mouth, staining the ground beneath her.

“No…” she whispered.

Her green eyes burned with an unwavering determination, despite the exhaustion threatening to consume her.

“The Celestial Wardens may be over. But my war with you is not.”

With trembling hands, Lireina reached for her pistol. The weapon felt heavier than usual, and her fingers struggled to maintain a firm grip around its handle. Nevertheless, she raised it toward Azazel, her expression filled with bitter resolve.

Then, she pulled the trigger.

The gunshot rang through the underground hall.

The bullet struck Azazel directly in the forehead. A sharp crack echoed from his helmet, followed by the unmistakable sound of metal breaking apart. The damaged armor could no longer withstand the impact.

Azazel’s helmet cracked halfway.

Then, with a sudden burst of shattered metal, it broke into pieces.

Fragments of crimson purple armor scattered across the floor, revealing the face hidden beneath the helmet.

Lireina froze.

For a moment, she could not comprehend what she was seeing. Her pistol remained pointed forward, but her trembling fingers loosened around its grip. The entire underground hall seemed to fall silent as her eyes widened in disbelief.

Behind the shattered mask was a face she had expected the least.

Black hair.

Crimson purple eyes.

And a familiar, kind face.

The person standing before her was none other than her lover.

Shin Rebellium.

All along.