The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

"What...what kind of sword is this? It can't possibly be Saber's sword!"

"Berserker, defeated?"

Rin and Luvia both stared in disbelief at the giant sword that had pierced the chest of the dark blue giant.

They never imagined that the Berserker, who had been so arrogant and seemingly unstoppable just moments before, would be defeated so suddenly...

However, that's how it is; Berserker was pierced through the heart by a single sword strike.

And the person wielding the sword was actually a little girl with white hair?

"Phew... As expected, wielding a sword in this body is still too tiring?"

Kiana, having rushed to Berserker's back with all her might and decisively attacked, slowly drew her Flame King Sword, only to feel intense soreness in both arms.

In order to quickly save the situation, she had no choice but to summon her sword to fight the enemy.

However, raising the greatsword and piercing through the heroic spirit's body... this series of actions is just too exhausting.

Even though she had regained some of her strength, she still felt strained.

“But there’s no other way. Berserker seems to be having problems... Is it because of my involvement? Anyway,” Kiana knew very well how troublesome Berserker’s Noble Phantasm was, so after drawing the Flame King Sword, she didn’t explain anything to Rin and Luvia, but shouted sharply, “Run!”

"Huh?"

Rin and Luvia exchanged glances, their questions cut off by Kiana.

They were just about to say something when they suddenly realized...

Berserker seems to...

He's alive!

The dark blue body did not fall down even after being pierced through the chest by the flaming giant sword.

Instead, it shimmered with a fiery red color, like a branding iron heated to a blazing fire.

Intimidating...

What's even more surprising is that this seemingly burning, dark blue giant is actually emitting terrifying smoke from its entire body.

It seems that this gas is a symbol of his burning of his own life force.

"what!!!"

Finally, amidst Berserker's roar, he stood up again.

And the pierced chest was completely intact, as if... it had never been hurt at all.

Such a spectacle could not possibly leave Rin and Luvia unmoved.

"What exactly is this...?"

"Stop talking, Rin! Don't get in their way."

As Luvia spoke, she hurriedly got up and pulled Rin aside.

They could have joined the main battle, but the Ruby and Sapphire Mystic Codes were simply unreliable.

This resulted in the two of them not having any decent formal attire to enhance their strength and protect themselves.

Through the battle just now, she realized that if they intervened in this fight with their own strength, they would only be making things worse.

If that's the case, it's better to leave the battlefield to them to decide for themselves.

"I understand, don't pull too hard, I can still walk!"

Rin shook off Luvia's hand, then sighed and began to retreat with her colleague to a safe place to await orders.

The aim is to provide some assistance within our capabilities while ensuring safety.

Their retreat was undoubtedly a good thing for Kiana and Miyu.

Because when facing a combat power of Heroic Spirit level, someone without any special enhancement measures or special training is undoubtedly a powerless burden.

After all, not everyone can fight as well as Kirei Kotomine, the agent of the church, in hand-to-hand combat with Heroic Spirits.

"what!"

Berserker ignored Rin and Luvia.

Although the side effects of his class prevented him from employing subtle combat techniques like Hassan.

But those fighting instincts etched into our very bones and memories are not so easily forgotten.

Berserker at least has the ability to sense dangerous individuals.

To him, Kiana, who had just killed him, was undoubtedly a danger.

It is also the first priority target to kill.

'bump! '

The towering, dark blue giant slammed its fist into the ground, instantly smashing a large hole in the building in the Mirror World.

As the ground collapsed, a depression appeared.

Miyu, who was barely able to stand, was caught off guard and fell to the ground, sliding down into a large hole. It looked like she was about to fall into the next hole.

Knowing that Miyu's current situation was dire and that she would likely lose her fighting ability if she fell, Kiana didn't hesitate and leaped forward.

"Miyu, watch out."

She grabbed Miyu's little hand with all her might, and then swung it upwards with all her might.

This swing was arguably the strongest she could muster.

This directly prevented Miyu from falling to the next floor.

However, this kind of help is already the best Kiana can offer right now.

That's why, after placing her hopes for Miyu's safety in her hands, she was powerless to jump to the next floor and could only helplessly fall to the next level along with the instigator of everything, Berserker...

"Kiana!!!"

The cries of Meiyou are fading into the distance.

The hole hammered out by Berserker's immense strength was shrinking at a visible rate.

By the time it landed, it had become a small, barely noticeable hole.

A faint light shone down from the not-so-spacious opening, allowing people to clearly see the scene on the next floor.

'thump!'

With her petite body making intimate contact with the ground, Kiana felt as if her entire body was being torn to pieces.

but...

"Ouch!!! Where's Berserker?!"

Kiana didn't succumb to despair for long after the fall; instead, she struggled to her feet and cautiously surveyed her surroundings...

Even though her consciousness was being tormented by excruciating pain, she did not give in or become timid.

Fortunately, it seemed that her strength was gradually returning, which allowed her to continue moving despite the excruciating pain, instead of being unable to move due to the agony.

"Where did Berserker go? It's so dark here... I can't see anything!"

Just as Kiana was wondering where the enemy had gone, the long-awaited system notification suddenly sounded.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained an optional side quest: This is the Trial of a Hero.]

[Quest Completion Introduction: Berserker, whose real name is Hercules, is a mythical hero who completed the twelve impossible trials. Although you are facing only cards, don't forget how class cards are created. This battle is unavoidable; defeat him to complete the hero's trial.]

[Mission completion method: Defeat Berserker (any method).]

[Maximum reward for completing the mission: 1500 Herrscher Points.]

[Friendly Reminder: To protect the host's life, the system will further lift the seal on the host's powers after accepting the mission, at which time the host's physical appearance will also change. This action will inevitably have irreversible effects. Please treat this matter with caution.]

"To protect my life? You're really worrying yourself sick. Give me back my power, System!"

With Kiana's cry, the boundless darkness vanished almost instantly...

Dispelled by the might of thunder...

Sentimental Magical Girls (Magic 1): Chapter 37 Preparing for the Final Trial.

In the mirror world, a colossal figure fell to the floor in an upside-down planting motion.

After a long hesitation, he slowly pulled his head out of the hole in the ground.

He was once a hero, and he had completed the trials given to him by the gods.

Awakening in another world in response to the summoner's expectations...

Yet they were branded Berserkers, reduced to mindless fighting machines...

The dull brain seems incapable of forming consciousness, thus failing to find a purpose in existence.

A man named Hercules awaits his final trial...

Suddenly, a ray of light dispelled the boundless darkness.

Accompanying the blinding light was the ear-piercing sound of lightning flashing before the thunder struck.

"..."

Berserker stared at the blinding light, his hazy consciousness gradually awakened, though only a few fragments of memories surfaced.

But he still recalled the countless stormy nights he had spent in awe and...longing for thunder.

This reflects his reverence for God and his longing for the one who gave him life...

Although he had already completed the trials of his life, he was ready to undergo the final trials before his passing.

...

Amidst the awe-inspiring thunder, a petite figure gradually grew larger.

Countless electric snakes enveloped her slightly developed but still pitifully immature body.

With the release of the power of the conquering gem, the originally white-haired little girl began to grow rapidly.

Her originally petite and delicate body gradually grew larger with the slight swaying, eventually taking shape at a speed visible to the naked eye.