I'll kill you after I finish this game!

It's less of a reflex and more of an intuition, and most importantly, it's the moment when a miracle happens.

The other party has already said so much, and their attitude is so obvious, it's no wonder they noticed.

Just like the literal meaning, even a monkey knows it. Even the dumbest person could understand it.

At this moment, Elunere's eyes no longer held any aversion, but instead harbored a fierce intent.

"Tsk—"

Sakurai Hotaru gritted her teeth and drew her sword to meet the attack. In an instant, the cement where she had been standing completely vaporized, and a blazing pillar of fire shot straight into the sky and disappeared into the deep, dark universe.

The exact temperature that caused it is impossible to measure using any scale in the universe; rather, it's more accurate to say that the other party holds the concept of 'combustion'.

"Can it still struggle? It seems that even the [core] is a coward."

Elunere removed the cigar from her mouth, casually burning it out. She moved slowly through the terrifying pillar of fire she had created, like a female dragon, clearly enjoying herself. Looking at Sakurai Hotaru not far away, she sneered:

"I don't want to kill those who have given up resistance. In that case, let's show the bravery that makes us part of the Demon City."

"..."

Sakurai Hotaru remained silent and gritted her teeth. A grunt? Perhaps that was indeed the case.

Although they are both at the [Creation] rank, it doesn't mean their strengths won't differ too much.

If we were to describe the quality of their souls using the analogy of legions, Sakurai Hotaru would be a large squadron, while Eluneore would be a heavy regiment.

This is equivalent to a combat power of [thousand] against [ten thousand].

Therefore, Sakurai Hotaru is no longer at the point of deciding the outcome; she is now completely surrounded and has no way to escape.

Then what should be done?

What should I choose and what should I believe?

Holding the bounty of gold in her hands, the girl had always prayed for this dream, but now that dream had vanished.

Moreover, and most importantly before that... Skadi always looked at the reasoning that Fujii Ren was loudly proclaiming to her with the eyes of someone who was a little brat who hadn't grown up yet.

With these feelings in mind, reflecting on my past self and my present self, I realize how truly...

"I'm such an idiot, such a moron..."

Sakurai Hotaru's face showed a contradictory expression of bitterness and self-mockery.

Not only others, but even his deceased brother often made him use his brain and think for himself, but he always had to rely on others.

Many people say that I am incompetent and stupid.

That's true, because even now, I want to look away from the cruel answers I've already seen and instead believe the lies I think are best for me.

What was Reinhard Heydrich's world like?

There, war slaves are eternally killing each other... This is the miracle that Sakurai Hotaru seeks, and its embodiment is right before her eyes.

As the captain leading the Hell Army, Elunere spreads insane doctrines.

The war demons of the Asura realm, who are immortal, indestructible, and resurrected after death.

To get Sakurai Hotaru to admit this...

"I can't do it, I can't see it, or rather, I don't want to see it..."

A bitter smile appeared on Sakurai Hotaru's face. How could she possibly deny the dream she had pursued for so many years?

The girl clutched the pale, deadly mask tightly in her hands; Lisa Brenner's relic, already teetering on the brink of collapse, was on the verge of shattering under this pressure.

The girl wanted to save them, to save Sakurai Kai, and to save Beatrice.

So they wanted to erase the fate of fighting even in death.

however--

"Nothing can be changed. I didn't fight until now for something like that!!!"

With all the negative expressions fading from her heart and face, Sakurai Hotaru once again stood as an unwavering warrior, sword in hand, facing the Red Knight Eluneore.

A slave status from which there is no liberation. The girl absolutely disliked that, because it was meaningless.

Even the priest said that if you fall in love with your reflection in the mirror for the sake of your own happiness, you will only get the Asura reflected in the mirror...

Seeking paradise on the horizon of endless slaughter, seeking rest at the end of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Just like with Fujii Ren before, people will definitely say, "You're too willful, what a joke."

Hotaru Sakurai knew that the people she had killed would never allow such an ending.

The girl knew, and was very clear about it, but why did she still do it?

Because there are some things that, even if they go beyond conscience and morality, absolutely cannot be compromised. What's wrong with that?

"I don't want miracles that come from crying and begging!" Sakurai Hotaru pointed her sword at Eluneore and said coldly, "I will fight and strive for whatever comes my way! I won't let you get in my way!"

This belief, this will, is why Hotaru Sakurai transformed all the emotions in her heart into flames, and then into a sword, to motivate herself in the remaining time.

The girl knew that if even this fire were extinguished, she would never be able to stand up again.

Before the eighth gold alchemy array can be opened, even a corner of the five colors must be cut off.

Just as Valyria Trifa wanted to do, Sakurai Hotaru could only aim at the same target as him at this moment.

“Boom boom boom—!”

Eru Norre scoffed at Sakurai Hotaru's will at this moment, responding with only a terrifying crimson burst of flames.

That scorching power was more absurd than allowing a person to survive at the center of the sun. The intense and dense flames transformed into a rolling tsunami of fire, visible to the naked eye, rushing towards Sakurai Hotaru.

Sakurai Hotaru roared and slashed down with her flaming sword.

With a 'sizzle', the raging torrent of flames was cleaved in two, using the girl's tiny body as a support.

Then, from the perspective of countless viewers who were shifted, they could see the fiery torrent that parted the Earth in the middle, splitting into two directions and piercing through the entire solar system, shooting into the universe.

“Little girl, your foolish arguments always have fatal flaws.”

With one hand on her hip, standing atop the raging inferno that had turned half the Earth into a sea of ​​lava, Eluneore looked down at Sakurai Hotaru, who stood opposite her, her tone devoid of pity, as if she were lamenting something, and said:

"It's like our flames to each other. You are the seeker of truth, while I am the domineering type. If we compare the ever-burning fire to life, and we both strive to protect it to prevent it from disappearing, then what should we do?"

As she spoke, the flames surrounding Elunere began to slowly expand.

Incredibly crimson and immensely vast, it transformed into flames, tracing a spiraling pattern in the air, finally forming a colossal crimson rune magic circle behind Eluneore. Eluneore glanced at the flowing flames in her hand and said:

"The answer is to take it from others, to fuel the fire, to avoid disappearing, to make it shine, to tear and eat those around you to shreds, to become fat and bloated. That's what living is all about. It's an absolute golden rule that applies to all living things."

In other words, an endless world of slaughter where people are constantly killing and devouring each other.

Elunere was a soldier, so that's how she thought and lived.

Wasn't Sakurai Hotaru also training to fulfill her own wishes, taking the lives of others, devouring their souls, and turning them into her own firewood?

Even if their desires differ in their arrogance and pursuit of the Way, the essence of their plundering for survival remains unchanged.

"In this respect, Heydrich's castle is no different from reality."

Raising her head, Elunere looked at Sakurai Hotaru with interest and said disdainfully:

"Aren't you also constantly killing people? You've been consuming spirits, haven't you? That's why you are who you are now, isn't it? The desire that is the root of life is greater and more abundant. If it refuses to disappear, it will be immense no matter where it is, which means—"

After being sublimated, the Eternal Destruction can cultivate and improve its aptitude on its own, but devouring souls can also accelerate its growth, meaning it can quickly unleash its potential. As long as its will is firm enough, it is not difficult to be invincible in the world for a short period of time.

From a young age, Hotaru Sakurai was able to reach the [Creation] rank in a short period of time, and she also hunted souls.

Therefore, whether it's immortality or resurrection, to achieve this, one must be assimilated by immense flames. Thus, Eluneore declared with a delighted smile:

"You will become one with Lord Heydrich, an indistinguishable blessing indeed! Isn't that exhilarating? There could be no greater honor!!!"

boom---!

The violent and scorching aura, coupled with the Red Knight's fervent emotions, became even more intense and restless. The concentrated pressure made the entire solar system's space viscous and groan.

"Cough—"

Sakurai Hotaru's entire body, flesh, bones, and soul were trembling. She was being blasted into space by the ferocious heat wave formed by the enormous flames.

It was clear that she had missed her chance to attack.

Given this distance, and considering that Eluneore, whose range far surpasses any other opponent, is the opponent, it is imperative to strike first.

It's pointless to cut in before being shot, at least the Red Knight needs a slight time difference to turn the flames into cannonballs.

However, it was Eluneo that didn't make Sakurai Hotaru do that.

From the moment she began fighting her opponent, she unleashed a field of killing intent directly into the gaps in his defenses.

She will not allow a tense situation to escalate.

If you try to launch a quick attack by targeting a specific point, you'll also cause Elunere to explode, which is like a knife piercing the edge of an inflating balloon at high speed.

Therefore, the Red Knight, Eluneore, coldly looked down at the stiff, clenched-teeth Sakurai Hotaru and said in a cold voice:

"Now that things have come to this, what is there left to hate? What are you rejecting? Are you afraid that your insignificant self will be swallowed up by the great gold and you will lose yourself? How boring!"

To only seek resurrection from the dead in gold? That's incredibly superficial. If you can come back to life no matter what, why bother asking how to live?

Decide for yourself how to live, and never touch the supreme gold in the first place.

"Or are you guys who want to overturn the death of others simply devoid of a self? You can't survive without overlapping yourself with others, so aren't you inferior?!"

Like a demon, in the eyes of countless viewers and Sakurai Hotaru, the Red Knight displayed absolute loyalty and love for the Gold Saints, making him utterly inhuman inside and out, and the Gold Saints were proud of it.

"But that's fine too. The most ultimate flame should be bestowed upon the most ultimate world—the glory of being melted by the golden heavens. Be happy, why not celebrate!?"

Buzzing! ...

The Red Knight's loyalty, passion, and fanaticism all transformed into a ferocious flame that devoured its prey.

The intensely hot flames formed an enormous cannon muzzle.

If one were to properly receive such a terrifying blow from there, even bones and soul would likely be reduced to ashes.

"Nothing matters anymore, just disappear, little girl!"

Red Knight Elunere smiled contemptuously, the cannon behind her already blazing with a light far exceeding that of a supernova.

Sakurai Hotaru couldn't block or dodge this attack; she had no chance of survival.

The gap between her and the Red Knight, whether in terms of the intensity of their desire, the amount of their soul power, or the purity of their power, was far too great.