Family heirloom, then turned into a demon girl

Chapter 57 Mission: 08-3 The Only Chance to Win (Please Read)

"Arrogant?" Nero whispered.

It was a concept that originated in Greece and was later adopted by the church. It was the first of the seven deadly sins. The demon that symbolized it was called Lucifer, also known as Satan.

"Whether it's mercy or domination, it all comes down to arrogance," the Sphinx said. This is why Goetia and Pavoni are called the "First Beasts."

In fact, arrogance is the first and greatest sin because it is the essence of all violence against others. Contempt for the personality, rights and life of others, and the belief that one can take whatever one wants, is the source of this arrogance.

Nero fully understood how the demonic influence had transformed the townspeople. If this situation continued, even if Nero and the others were safe, the town might...

"Then shouldn't we go before it hatches—"

"No, Chaldean."

Before Mashu could finish her words, the Sphinx interrupted her: "Even if it hasn't hatched, a cub is still a cub. You will know about this when the swordsman returns."

"Swordsman... Doctor Georgos?!" Ritsuka quickly realized what was happening and asked in surprise, "She... has met with Pavone?"

"Of course. Apart from it, not even the Demon Pillar can keep her in that area."

Nero was more pragmatic. She asked, "How long will it take for the shell to break out?"

The Sphinx gave a despairing answer: "'Seven Sunsets' is being offered as a sacrifice to Pavoni. This means it is using the power of the Holy Grail to gradually erode the godhood of the Sun God. The time... will end at today's sunset."

They were running out of time. Sunset was only ten hours away. If, as the Sphinx had said, their combat power was insufficient, what other options were there to save this singularity?

"This..." Li Xiang didn't know what to do for a moment.

But Nero discovered a blind spot: "Completely acquiring the godhood of the Sun God doesn't mean it will break free at that moment, right?"

The Sphinx smiled approvingly.

As expected, the beast's complete form could not be defeated by the heroic spirits here, so this was the only way to break through. The Sphinx told them that after fully acquiring the godhood of the Sun God, Pavoni would not hatch directly because it was night, the time when the sun was dead. Instead, at sunrise the next day, when the sun was reborn, it would completely transform from a demon into a beast of evil.

As long as it can be defeated before that, history will not be tampered with, the singularity will be eliminated, and Ritsuka can return to the original era.

The first step for Ritsuka and the others is to find the last Heroic Spirit wandering in this singularity. She is also the only Heroic Spirit who can deliver a fatal blow to Pavone.

"I am waiting here for your good news," said the Sphinx. "When the last heroic spirit returns, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you."

"I only ask one thing." Nero looked at her seriously, "Can we win?"

The Sphinx smiled.

"I will win," she replied.

Hernan stayed with her. Nero picked up Ritsuka in a princess hug and headed east of the town with Kriemhild.

It was an empty river valley, far from the center of events. A hero, aloof from the entire situation, was there. "Fate... you've finally found me."

Deep in the valley, a girl with long black hair tied into a ponytail and clear eyes that seemed to reflect the sky sighed like this.

She wore a Greek-style white robe, just like the Sphinx, and a sickle hung from a golden chain adorning her arm. Facing the three people who had come, her pretty face was filled with helplessness.

Ritsuka didn't bother with any more pleasantries and got straight to the point: "You're also a summoned Heroic Spirit, right? A vicious beast is about to be born in this singularity, and we need your help."

"I refuse." The girl replied.

Nero frowned. "Why?"

The seven Heroic Spirits who had appeared before them so far, though with different personalities, had all expressed their willingness to aid the Master of Chaldea. But this one said she was unwilling—if that was the case, why had she been summoned?
"I don't want to be a puppet manipulated by fate anymore."

The next moment, the girl disappeared from where she was, and Kriemhildr swung a great sword and struck her where she had been.

She started fighting as soon as they had a disagreement.

Ritsuka exclaimed in surprise, "Kriemhild!"

Even though the other person was a berserker, Ritsuka had never thought that she would attack someone she had just met. Since their encounter yesterday, she had not given people such a violent impression.

"Fate, fate!"

However, Kriemhild acted as if she hadn't heard Ritsuka's words and let out a suppressed, heavy, and angry laugh. "Hero of Greece, if you are one of those people described in epics and legends, who have experienced hardships and suffered tragedies, then I would naturally empathize with you."

Indeed, in both Norse and Greek mythology, there are many tragic heroes trapped by fate, and Kriemhild's husband Siegfried is one of them.

That man possessed the power to slay dragons and gods, his body bathed in dragon blood, indestructible. Yet, he ultimately perished from a palm-sized weakness and a dishonorable plot.

From then on, Princess Kriemhild of Burgundy embarked on a long journey of revenge for her lover, and her life ultimately ended in a pool of blood.

"Those three vicious weavers truly disgust me, resent me, hate me deeply, and hate me so much that I can't sleep at night. They so wantonly choreographed other people's lives, placing my heart on the loom, piercing it with holes and leaving it bleeding all over the floor. I wish I could smash their looms, bury them in the spring, and throw them into this poisonous fire to burn for eternity..."

The princess' voice evoked a chilling, hair-raising rage, yet her eyes and her sword blazed fiercely. The pitch-black flames were like a bone-eating poison, as if one glance would burn you forever.

Even Nero was stunned by her overwhelming hatred and couldn't utter a word.

No one with any sense would provoke Kriemhild at this moment. No, not even a god would.

Kriemhild looked ahead, at the icy wind blowing through the valley, and growled, "But you, the lucky one favored by fate, the chosen one who has never encountered misfortune in your life!
"You're not worthy enough to talk about 'fate' in front of me?!"

She smashed the ground with her greatsword again, sending up a shower of gravel stained with black flames.
"Stand up! Perseus!!!"

(End of this chapter)