Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

426. The Ending of the Seven Witches

To show her sincerity, Echidna immediately removed the backdoor that had been left on Beatrice in front of everyone.

According to her, she has also solved the problems of Parker and Dona, who are far away in the capital.

After some discussion, Hachiman Hikigaya relented and signed a contract with Echidna. The conditions he offered were very harsh, but Echidna accepted them gladly.

She is content as long as she can continue to explore the unknown and gain new knowledge.

As long as this condition is met, everything else can be abandoned. Besides, she has no right to bargain now, after all, the invincible Reinhard is really too terrifying.

If it weren't for Reinhard, she wouldn't have to be so humble.

After signing the contract, Hachiman Hikigaya instructed Reinhard to kill the Gluttony Witch and the Pride Witch, but left the Wrath Witch, the Lust Witch, and the Sloth Witch unharmed, imprisoning them in the tomb.

The resurrection of the Witch of Greed was postponed.

Because Hachiman Hikigaya wants to take Echidna to find Pandora and reduce her to ashes, the sooner this mysterious mastermind dies, the sooner he can feel at ease.

It's not impossible for Echidna to revive the Witch of Greed before leaving; according to her, it wouldn't take much time. The key is that Hachiman Hikigaya doesn't dare to trust her.

Who knows if the Witch of Greed she resurrected was actually a clone created by Echidna using half of her soul?

He couldn't possibly let the resurrected so-called Witch of Greed leave his sight without sufficient and rigorous scrutiny, let alone be alone with Beatrice.

While searching for Pandora, Roswaal, Beatrice, and Garfiel head to the royal capital to explain the current situation to Emilia and the others.

Before Beatrice and her two companions arrived, the capital had already seen several new arrivals.

Having completed his rebellion and with no worries about the future, Emperor Vincent, accompanied by azure lightning and several guards, entered the territory of the Kingdom of Lugunica at an extremely fast speed, relying on the dragons provided by one of the Nine Divine Generals, the Flying Dragon General, to pay a visit.

Vincent wanted to come and sound out the attitudes of the candidates who would control the future of the kingdom, the kingdom's residents, and even Hachiman Hikigaya himself towards Priscilla.

If the hatred was so intense that it ruined his reputation, and even led many to want to kill him, then Vincent decisively declared:

I don't have this sister. I don't even know Priscilla! Blood relation? Fake, all fake!

To avoid being implicated by hatred towards the empire.

…After on-site investigation, we were surprised to find that the situation was actually quite good.

The main reason is that Hachiman Hikigaya is magnanimous and has never shown any malice towards Priscilla since he transmigrated here. Therefore, the others have also more or less restrained their dislike for Priscilla.

Vincent thought that was enough, so he played the emotional card, trying to restore his brother-sister relationship with Priscilla both openly and in reality.

Although the probability is small, his sister might still be able to achieve a surprising victory by getting together with Hachiman Hikigaya, at which point he could leverage her influence.

Priscilla sneered at this and told him, "If you want to take advantage of this, go and kill that disgusting cat. Otherwise, get lost and don't get in my way!"

With a snap, Priscilla ordered Al to close the door, refusing Vincent entry.

As Beatrice and her companions approached the capital, the kingdom's Dragonstone began to flash, releasing a tremendously shocking message: this world was about to merge with Earth.

As a result, the girls, who had been sickly and listless ever since Hachiman Hikigaya left the capital, suddenly had a bright idea after some thought.

Many people have become busy.

At the same time, guided by Echidna, Hachiman Hikigaya and Reinhard successfully found Pandora's location.

This is a witch who has lived for four hundred years. She is barefoot, has long white hair, wears white clothes, has a petite figure, and is exceptionally beautiful. Her charm as a woman is as powerful as Reinhard in the world of combat.

She seemed to have anticipated this scene, smiling and clapping softly.

…unlike how they treated Roswaal, who hadn't yet taken any action, and Echidna, who had immense value.

As the most dangerous person in the world, Hachiman Hikigaya had no intention of talking to her at all. Upon meeting her, he immediately sent Reinhard and Echidna to kill Pandora with all their might.

He didn't intend to talk about it, but Pandora kept rambling on and on.

She said her dream was to build a world without lies and where no one lies. She thought that Hachiman Hikigaya, who also cherishes the so-called truth, should be able to understand her dream. Why don't we work together to achieve it?

Recalling what I saw back then, Emilia's tragic childhood in the Sanctuary... a woman who could smile as she single-handedly created such a tragedy.

"You dare to speak of truth and dreams?"

Hachiman Hikigaya's evaluation and reply to her was this surprised rhetorical question.

Just like Emilia in her childhood, he only had one thing to say to Pandora, the same thing Emilia said: "Go to hell!"

"Oh dear, what a pity."

Under Reinhard's overwhelming power and Echidna's targeted attacks, Pandora couldn't hold out for long and truly died. She shattered like glass shards, a smile still on her face as she died.

Her smile was genuine, but it was precisely because of its sincerity that it seemed so eerie and unsettling, making one understand her twisted nature even more.

With the death of the Witch of Illusion Pandora, the Illusion Factor also entered Hachiman Hikigaya's body, taking root and sprouting anew until the day it grows into a new Illusion Power.

Hachiman Hikigaya recorded a video of Pandora's death on his phone. When he returned to the capital, he planned to show the video to Emilia to make up for the unfulfilled wish she had in her childhood.

Before that, he still had very important things to do.

After searching Pandora's residence but finding nothing, he immediately ordered Reinhard to smash that area to pieces with a single punch. Regardless of whether there were any hidden items, they were all destroyed by that one punch.

Reinhard then used his radio blessing to announce to the world that the three Gluttonous Bishops and the Witch Pandora had been executed on the spot.

Upon receiving this announcement, Jus and Fortuna, no longer afraid, decided to atone for their sins by drawing up all the strongholds of the Witch Cult. The Knights Commander Marcus then led a group to sweep through and destroy the entire Witch Cult.

Hachiman Hikigaya, with Echidna as his companion, set off for the Desert Hills to search for Shaura at the Sage's Tower, with the purpose of surveillance.

427. All matters are completed.

"Master!!"

Waving and shouting from afar, Xia Wula jumped up and down on the balcony of the Sage's Tower. She had been waiting anxiously for her master to come and pick her up, and she was so excited that she rushed over to him.

"Master, Master, Master, Master! I've missed you so much, Master!"

…It should be said that Xia Wula is the most special person.

Whether in the future or the present, whether before or after amnesia, Xia Wula always felt an inexplicable surge of affection for him upon first meeting, becoming so close that there was no barrier between them, and they could get along freely.

As for the others, even after their memories have been merged, they at least need to chat for a while, have a conversation, and admire each other's appearances before they can get close to restoring their future state and completely eliminate the vague sense of ambiguity.

Xia Wula is the only one who doesn't need anything; they can reach this point simply by meeting and saying nothing.

Seeing his newfound apprentice jump into his arms, Hachiman Hikigaya was about to say something when Shaula tilted his head back, revealing his white teeth, and grinned foolishly: "Don't worry! I understand! Master!"

"Master is a new master, and his name is Hachiman Hikigaya—as long as I can stay by your side, I will abide by this and remember it well, Master!"

Who could refuse such a Xia'ula? Besides, Hachiman Hikigaya had already planned to take this cheap apprentice as his disciple.

Throughout the entire process, Echidna wore an expression of utter boredom and disinterest. She possessed all the memories of the Witch of Greed, Echidna, from her previous life, and was very familiar with the Sage, Shaula, and Reid, as well as the Sage's Tower.

Everything about this tower was no secret to her; there was nothing unknown about it.

If she could, she would like to go to Earth as soon as possible. Even if that wasn't possible, she would rather see the love and hate between Hachiman Hikigaya and the group of kingdom candidates first.

Given the current twisted situation, she was curious about how the relationships between these people would evolve.

While Echidna was yawning from boredom, Hachiman Hikigaya and Reinhard had successively broken through the third and second levels, and wanted to go to the first level to talk to the dragon.

While they could certainly ask Echidna about some information, she currently had no right to refute it.

However, they remained wary of this witch, fearing they might be tricked. Therefore, they felt it was safer and more reliable to seek out the dragon, who had lived for four hundred years and possessed equally profound knowledge.

On the second floor, when fighting Reinhard, who was wielding the Dragon Sword sheath, Reyd was no longer the lazy, arrogant, and condescending person he used to be. His eyes shone, and he put on a relatively exciting battle with Reinhard.

Rayd's expression when he was defeated was one of utter astonishment. He never imagined that there could be someone stronger than him at his age, which greatly changed his perception.

After readily admitting defeat and praising Reinhard, Reyd claimed he wanted to try fighting him at full strength before vanishing in pieces.

It wasn't because of the trial rules of the Tower of Sages, but because he had used too much power to defeat Reinhard Valley, to the point that this clone couldn't withstand it and he himself was destroyed by the overwhelming power.

Echidna could try to save Reid by using magic.

Hachiman Hikigaya wanted to repay Rayd's kindness, considering that Rayd had sheltered Ram and Anastasia and killed Satella. However, he was also worried about the innocent civilians who might be killed if Rayd survived, given Rayd's unbridled and self-centered personality.

So, on the condition of saving Reid, they signed a contract with Reid, prohibiting him from acting recklessly after leaving the Sage's Tower, from killing or causing destruction at will, and from unreasonably insulting others or making lewd jokes.

"Explain yourself. Do you really think I'd agree to something like this? Are you kidding me? Do you think I care? I'm telling you—"

"As long as you can defeat Reinhard in a one-on-one duel without using any external force other than your sword, especially with the help of others, especially with the help of Echidna, all these restrictions will be nullified."

"I want it!"

Reid didn't think he couldn't turn the tide. He figured he could find a way to strengthen his body and practice more to achieve a breakthrough in swordsmanship that surpassed his peak.

He wasn't unaware of Reinhard's terrifying strength, but he had absolute confidence in himself.

With the extremely weak Reid, whom Satoshi had saved from the brink of death, Hachiman Hikigaya arrived at the top of the tower only to discover that the dragon Polkenica had become mentally dead due to being alone there for too long, resembling someone suffering from dementia.

In fact, its condition has improved a lot now. After watching the future light screen and receiving future memories, Polkenica has gradually begun to get rid of its mental death.

However, progress was slow, so Hachiman Hikigaya decided to lend a hand.

Faced with the dementia-stricken dragon, Hachiman Hikigaya first had Reinhard draw the Dragon Sword and fight it, allowing the crisis to awaken the dragon's instincts, and then allowing those instincts to awaken his own will.

Then he introduced Chaura, Echidna, and Reid, three old friends whose images constantly assaulted Polkenica's mind, intensifying its self-revival and memory recall.

...After the other party regained consciousness, Hachiman Hikigaya explained the current situation and then asked some questions.

Given his special status, Polkenica spoke frankly and without reservation, and through his description, history finally revealed its true face.

Four hundred years ago, the three heroes and the king of the Kingdom of Lugnica, Echidna, Satella and Wasteland Hoshin were all very close friends.

However, Satella has two personalities: one is their best friend, and the other is the jealous witch Satella. For the safety of the world, the three heroes had no choice but to painfully seal Satella away.

As humans, Rayd and Wasteland Hessin had already died when their lifespans ended.

The king of Lugnica had a very good relationship with Polkenica, so they made a pact that from that time onwards, the dragon became the guardian deity of the kingdom.

Echidna went to associate with Pandora and established the Cult of Witches.

Flügel entrusted the Witch Factor to the Witch Cult for safekeeping, which was originally safe and reasonable. However, Echidna was later expelled by Pandora, and the Witch Cult became Pandora's personal fiefdom.

Under Pandora's instigation and manipulation, the Witch Factor was misused, creating the Archbishops of Sin. After Jus was twisted into Petritchius, the Witch Cult, under Pandora's control, completely transformed into an evil faction that wreaked havoc on the world.

When Echidna was being persecuted by Pandora, Polkenica had already been entrusted by Frugal to sleep at the top of the Sage's Tower and knew nothing about it. The others either died of old age or disappeared, which is why no one went to rescue her.

428. Under the snow, the candidate makes a final stand.

Polkenica also provided explanations for the other two questions that Hachiman Hikigaya was very concerned about.