Sky Striker Princess, but the swan song of Valkyrie.

"even so! "

Even in the face of such a desperate situation, Hibiki Tachibana does not intend to give up her ideas.

The heart pounded more violently, and blood or some other substance boiled and circulated within the body. Gungnir continued to cycle through energy transformation and reconstruction within Hibiki Tachibana's body.

Yue—clang—mouth bang—

The clanging of metal against metal rang out continuously. Despite the scorching heat, Tachibana Hibiki used her fists to fight against the long sword in Rei's hand, which radiated a terrifying heat.

"Is that guy really not some kind of monster? How come he was able to fight Zero-chan to this extent?"

Some distance from the battlefield, looking at the visible shockwaves generated by the distant energy roar, Tsukuyomi said with a hint of lingering fear.

"Ugh, it's so noisy. Why are we here? Is the battle over? Death?"

Xiaoqie, who was being held by Tsukuyomi and leaning on her shoulder, was perhaps awakened by the vibrations. She slowly turned around and asked the person next to her with a puzzled look.

"Not yet. Zero is buying us time to escape. Don't worry, Kiri-chan, I'll take you back. Get some sleep first."

Tsukuyomi-cho comforted Akatsuki-ka beside her, while also explaining the current situation.

"What! So, this commotion is from that guy fighting Zero-chan? That's terrifying. That guy is a real monster, Death." Hearing Tsukuyomi's explanation, Akatsuki Kirika subconsciously turned around to look, then looked at the shaking scene and turned back with a sigh.

P.S. Good afternoon.

Chapter Thirty-Four Collision

"We need to hurry. The faster we get back, the less time Lingyi will have to fight."

Hearing the sounds of battle coming from behind, Tsukuyomi felt a greater sense of urgency and decided to hurry back.

"Tiao, Qiege, are you guys alright?!"

Just then, a familiar voice came from the air, and then, accompanied by a distortion of the air, Maria's figure appeared out of thin air.

"Maria, have you successfully disengaged from the battle?"

Seeing the figure appear here, Tsukuyomi asked with some surprise, "Their appearance here means that their airship is also in this place."

"Well, although it took some time, I managed to shake off that guard and lead her in the opposite direction."

Upon hearing Tsukuyomi's question, Maria nodded and explained the situation on their end.

"Where is Lingyi? I heard from Mum that she went to support your side. I was just picked up by Mum and I don't know the situation yet."

After answering, Maria immediately asked Tsukuyomi about Zero's whereabouts.

"Sister Zero, she's currently fighting Gungnir's musicians so we can escape safely. Putting that aside for now, we need to get out of here quickly. Sister Zero is probably trying to stall until we can evacuate safely," Tsukuyomi replied, expressing her opinion.

"I see. I understand. I also retrieved Dr. Will on my way here. In other words, as long as you and Qiege return, Lingyi can extricate herself."

Upon hearing Tsukuyomi's account, Maria also sensed the urgency of the situation and immediately decided to guide Tsukuyomi to carry the unconscious Akatsuki back to the transport ship.

Tap tap—tap tap—

Just as the group was preparing to evacuate, the sound of footsteps interrupted them.

"Who are those people coming from the neighboring area? Could they be pursuers from the Second Division?"

The wary Maria immediately gripped the pendant around her neck, watching warily as a figure ran towards them from the darkness.

"Be careful, Maria. I remember Sister Lingyi mentioned that there are alien medical personnel within Section Two."

Tsukuyomi also looked warily toward the source of the sound, the armor at her ponytail ready to launch a cover attack.

Tap tap—

"Hoo, hoo, are you guys the partners who are traveling with Zero?"

However, to their surprise, the person who came was not a member of Section Two who clearly possessed considerable combat power, but a seemingly ordinary and unremarkable intellectual girl with short black hair.

The heated air evaporates at night, and the accumulated energy, combined with the cold autumn air, creates convection that brings gusts of strong wind.

On one side, there were relentless, fiery slashes; on the other, there were endless heavy punches powered by sacred artifacts.

In this brief period of time, Zero, wielding her red sword, withstood the continuous attacks from Tachibana Hibiki, who had absorbed four times the energy of the final song, and even gained the upper hand to some extent.

"Ha-ha-hoo-"

[So strong! Even at full strength, I can only barely keep up with Zero's speed. And this high temperature is so hot, so scorching, there's absolutely no time for the armor to regenerate.]

With another clash between the red blade and fist, the two temporarily separated and created distance between them. Looking at the burning pain in her hands and the damaged armor that was being repaired, Tachibana Hibiki endured the burning pain in her hands and pondered how to win.

"This power, and this energy reaction, indeed, because of absorbing too much energy, Gungnir has completely eroded your body in the process of energy transformation and reconstruction."

"You are now likely a humanoid relic with consciousness. Even if you survive this time, your lifespan is probably less than a year."

With her hands firmly holding the sword horizontally in front of her, Rei looked directly at Tachibana Hibiki and stated her physical condition.

"I don't really understand what kind of spell Finney cast on you to make someone like you, whom I can't even imagine having any reason to be my enemy, risk your life to stop me."

Then, looking at the panting Tachibana Hibiki and Rei, who had not yet received a signal that the evacuation was complete, she asked him this question while waiting.

Everything that seems illogical has a reason for happening. If the results don't match the analysis, then there must be something crucial that she overlooked. In the present case, that is the information that Finney revealed to Tachibana Hibiki that she was unaware of.

"Ha, Ms. Ryoko, you only showed me that you, Rei-chan, don't show sadness. What truly makes me willing to fight to the death is..."

Steam swirled around Tachibana Hibiki, distorting the air. After catching her breath, she stood up again and unleashed a powerful punch at Rei.

"It's the sadness in your heart, Rei-chan!"

As fists and swords clashed, Tachibana Hibiki used all her strength to express her hidden thoughts.

“Sadness, why are you like this? I understand now, it was at that time.”

Hibiki Tachibana's words caused Rei's face to freeze for a moment, but she quickly recovered and regained her composure.

"At that time, when you helped me control Durandal, I sensed that there was an endless despair and sorrow in your heart."

"I've always wanted to understand what it is that makes you suppress that grief, Rei-chan. If there's anything I can do, I will definitely help you, Rei-chan."

Hibiki Tachibana spoke those words with a firm look in her eyes.

"Ah, come to think of it, you really are that kind of person. You'd risk your own life to help others, and you have that kind of self-destructive impulse."

Holding the long sword diagonally in front of her, she blocked the heavy punch from the opponent. Zero completely understood Tachibana Hibiki's thoughts.

"Indeed, I admit that I have some sad past that is generally considered to be sad, but..."

Flames covered the blade, and eight fiery wings attached to Zero's back. His words were calm, and then, the red wings emitted a blazing jet of flame.

"I don't need the help of naive guys like you who would risk their lives to help others."

The kinetic energy was transmitted from behind to the long sword, which pressed down on the gauntlet, the crimson covering the orange. As these words were spoken, Tachibana Hibiki was sent flying several meters away.

"Ryou...chan?"

Hibiki Tachibana tried to get up, but found that she had lost sight of the other person.

"People who give their lives to help others without considering how others will feel after they die are the most despicable."

The sound came from above, and the impact that followed knocked Tachibana Hibiki, who was just trying to get up, to the ground. She then found herself being trampled on.

"Cough-cough-"

Completely suppressed, Tachibana Hibiki, who had been able to put up a fight for a while, was now pinned to the ground and unable to move.

"Moreover, you claim to be helping, but you can't even defeat me. What can you possibly do to help? You're just wasting your life. Armament request: Tiger Shark Cannon - Level 1."

As she spoke, Zero took out a Tiger Shark Cannon from the Battle Blade Machine and angrily pounded it into the chest of Tachibana Hibiki, who was being trampled on the ground.

"So, do you understand now? I don't need someone like you who's so weak I'd risk my life to help. Once you understand that, just be a normal person from now on, Hibiki Tachibana."

With these words, Zero pulled the trigger of the Tiger Shark Cannon, and the light overwhelmed Tachibana Hibiki, who was frozen on the ground.

"This feeling, cough cough—the power, has vanished?"

As a surge of energy rushed in, Hibiki Tachibana felt the explosive power within her body, brought about by the absorption of the Quadruple Song energy, recede like a receding tide.

【Sister Lingyi, we've completed the evacuation. However, there's something I need your judgment on: how to handle Death.】

On the other side, just after Tachibana fired a Tiger Shark Cannon, the evacuation completion notification from Akatsuki Kirika from FIS was also sent to Zero's eyes at just the right time.

Okay, I understand. I'll shake them off and get back to base as soon as possible. You guys wait for me there.

Upon seeing this, after replying through the communication device, Zero stopped paying attention to Tachibana Hibiki, who had been completely rendered powerless, and released her foot from Tachibana Hibiki, turning to leave.

"Wait, Zero-chan, at least tell me why you're so sad..."

Hibiki Tachibana still had no intention of giving up. Despite her weakened state, she forced herself to stand up and tried to catch up with the departing person.

"Limited spell type? Location."

However, she was completely bound to the ground by a pair of earthen-yellow mechanical arms that extended from the earth, rendering her utterly unable to move.

"I don't need your concern, Hibiki Tachibana. You should understand that I am strong, strong enough that even without the help of any partners, even if I do face some problems, I can solve everything."

"So, take back your overflowing sympathy and focus on living your own precious daily life. That's what you should be doing right now, understand?"

Finally, facing the bound Tachibana Hibiki, Rei made this conclusion.

"But I really, um—"

Hibiki Tachibana wanted to say something, but Rei no longer wanted to appreciate her actions and directly ordered the mechanical arm to completely submerge her in the ground.

"Even at the very end, he still had that look in his eyes. I really don't understand how human biology could make such a mistake."

Looking at the completely lifeless Tachibana Hibiki, Rei calmly said this, and then her figure disappeared from the spot a moment later.

Some time later, inside the FIS base, as the door opened automatically, Zero, having completed his cover work, silently led in some rather large creature.

"Sister Lingyi, are you alright? Did things go smoothly? Are you hurt? That guy is an incredibly strong Death."

Upon seeing Lingyi enter, Xiaoqiege immediately stepped forward to inquire with concern.

"Thank you for your concern, but I am not injured. Because of Nephilim's full growth, I am able to use some weapons that I couldn't use before."

Lingyi answered Xiaoqiege's question and gestured to the large creature that was obediently following behind her.

"Naviel... Wow, this guy has grown so much! He looked about my age before!"

Upon hearing the other's words, Xiaoqiege turned her gaze to behind Lingyi and quickly spotted Nafili, who was blocking the light and occupying a large area of ​​shadow.

"It's entered its mature stage and can be used for energy supply. Speaking of which, Qiege, what is it that you said you needed me to decide how to handle?"

After giving a brief explanation, Lingyi asked Xiaoqiege about the questions she had mentioned in the message she had sent earlier.

"Well, how should I put it? I was still unconscious at the time, so I only know the specifics of Death."

Upon hearing Lingyi's question, Xiaoqiege hesitated for a moment and looked at Tsukuyomi beside her.

"What exactly is the 'transfer'?"

Zero turned her gaze to Tsukuyomi, who was standing to the side.

"At first, Maria and I were hesitant about this, but Dr. Will said it was okay to do it, and she strongly insisted, so we did it without permission."

In response, Tsukuyomi gave this answer with some hesitation.

"Dr. Will, what does this have to do with him?"

Tsukuyomi's answer left Rei even more confused and bewildered.

"This is my judgment, which is destined to make me a hero. Miss, I know that you have been troubled by the insufficient power output of the Divine Beast Mirror."

"It was with this in mind that I made the judgment that would greatly advance our heroic cause at that time, and I believe you, Miss, will be very satisfied with my judgment." Just then, a young man wearing a white coat stained with dust walked over, supporting himself with the Staff of Solomon, and said this to Lingyi in a loud voice as if to take credit.

"...I'm already working on solving the output power problem of the Divine Beast Mirror. Dr. Will, you didn't do anything unnecessary, did you, like kidnapping or coercion?"

Watching Dr. Will's speech, Lingyi had a bad feeling.

Based on her knowledge and Dr. Will's expertise, she could easily guess that the other party's so-called solution to the output power problem was to capture and consume the life force of the candidate performer.

But she never intended to implement that plan from the beginning. Human life should not be used like consumables. Making such a thing a habit will lead to self-destruction.

"Kidnapping? Coercion? No, no, no, those kinds of things can't solve the problem of the Divine Beast Mirror's output. The real solution to this problem is more in line with the hero's methods."

"That's right, my solution is the essential element for every hero on their journey: 'love'!"

Faced with Zero's questioning, Dr. Will loudly proclaimed his inexplicable theory, while simultaneously revealing the figure that had been hidden behind him.

"…Hinata-chan?"

Looking at the black-haired girl with a large white bow, Lingyi temporarily stopped thinking.

P.S. Good afternoon.

Chapter Thirty-Five Arrangements