Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

It gave her the feeling that she was the only one in the entire Greek pantheon whose aura wasn't with Avia, which was incredibly annoying.

"No, no, no, this is Jupiter, a major god in the Roman pantheon. Although it's just a different name, the atmosphere is still a bit better."

"Is there any essential difference?"

"No difference."

After Avia finished speaking, Typhon did not ask any further questions and remained strangely silent.

"Ah, speaking of which, Zagreus devoured the fragments you scattered on the ground when Zeus was seriously injured. Do you need me to help you get them back?"

Unlike Typhon's silence, Avia continued speaking.

If I were to—

“Lord Avia, if Lady Typhon requires it, I, Zagreus, will gladly return it.”

Typhon was interrupted by a new voice before he could finish speaking.

Then, a man with a face that, by modern standards, appears to be of mixed Asian and Middle Eastern descent, and with brown skin, appeared before the two.

Zagreus, the first god of wine, made a pact with the Wandering Sea, thus enabling him to walk on the land lost in the Age of Gods.

"Forget it, there's no need for that."

Typhon said casually, then walked to the side, seemingly unwilling to continue speaking.

"Zagres, you're not in good shape... Are you that badly injured?"

At this moment, Avia frowned slightly. He could tell that Zagreus's injuries were exactly the same as those on the Jewel King's body.

"That person is truly amazing."

Zagres didn't deny it and answered directly.

He is in a very bad state right now. Ever since he was defeated by Qihuang that day, he has felt like he is in a state of constant burning of his essence. It would be best to return to the five gates of the Wandering Sea to recuperate. However, he is worried about the faint Typhon aura that has spread throughout the world at some unknown time.

After all, Typhon was an enemy of the Greek pantheon and a potential natural disaster that could destroy humanity, which made him worry.

So after waiting so long, Zagreus, having finally learned of Typhon's information, visited this human named Avia.

He was initially surprised that there were humans who dared to associate with the Dead Apostles, but then he was almost startled by what he saw on the unknown white-haired girl...

This isn't the scent of Saifalu!?

Has this guy come back to life again?

But his fear subsided somewhat when he saw Simphitelli. Although Zagreus did not recognize this Norse hero, he could sense from the aura emanating from him that was comparable to that of Zeus, the king of the gods, that perhaps the great god Odin from another land had already made some preparations.

Then, upon arriving here, they saw that Typhon, the progenitor of all demons, had appeared in human form, and specifically as a young girl...

Zagreus truly admired Avia, especially since he possessed the familiar aura of the Greek gods, as well as the aura of many exotic Norse gods that were similar to that of Simfitri.

"Let's put this matter aside for now. What brings you here today?"

Seeing Avia shrug, Zagreus continued:

"The reason I came here is actually very simple: I sensed an aura that shouldn't exist in this world..."

"Yeah."

Although Zagreus did not say it explicitly, the silver-haired youth knew he was referring to Typhon.

"It's a scent that I both miss and fear. I can feel the pure anger surging from deeper than my lungs, the roar of lava that failed to fulfill its desires... Originally, I thought that I would only be responsible for what I promised in the disputes between people, but for this disaster born from our divine lineage, we must do everything we can to resolve it and prevent it from harming humanity."

Then, seemingly quite pleased with himself, having accepted the unexpected turn of events, the Prince of the Underworld smiled, revealing his white teeth, and sincerely said:

"But it seems unnecessary now. You have accomplished what we could not... So, I should go back now. I wish you all the best."

"In that case, we shall meet again, Zagreus."

Avia did not try to persuade him to stay, but simply watched the Greek god depart.

At that moment, he glanced at Typhon, who had run to the side. The red-haired girl seemed to be venting her anger, stomping on the shadow of the tree and making a tight gesture with her hand towards the shadow, as if she wanted to strangle it.

"Is this fun?"

"...If I were to give up some of the parts that make me who I am, do you think that would be a good thing?"

"So, you were worried about me after all. But I've said it so many times—"

The silver-haired youth looked at the red-haired girl who had been with him for several years with the same nonchalant expression as when they first met.

“You are free, Typhon Ephmelos.”

"Are you making a wish? But you can only make the first wish on me, so it's impossible for me to become unfree against my will."

Typhon said with a serious expression.

"Of course not. I already promised you a long time ago. You can't have forgotten that, can you?"

"Oh... mind your own business! You're so annoying! I hate petty people the most! Especially you, Avia!"

She flailed her arms wildly, while Avia grabbed her head.

Due to the height difference between them, Typhon's fist was practically out of reach of Avia, and neither of them used magic.

Merry, who was observing everything from Rheinmetall, propped her head up and made an amused expression when she saw this scene.

159: The Last Romans (2k5)

The following day, a number of legions, led by the Roman Praetorian Guard, finally arrived in Orleans.

After a brief rest, as evening approached, the sound transmitted through magic resounded throughout the battlefield of Orleans.

"—I am Aetius, and I hereby declare the commencement of the operation."

"Attention all legions, repeating once, we are now commencing combat."

Orléans was strategically located with high and sturdy walls, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Aetius should have simply focused on defense and not engaged the Huns in open battle outside the city...

But as someone familiar with the world of magic, Aetius understood that this was something that could defeat the Huns, who were under the control of the two great Roman Empires. The Orleans region was not an insurmountable natural barrier like the Caucasus or the Alps. According to the known intelligence, Avia and Attila definitely had the assistance of the Magic Association, the Fantasy Seeds, and... suspected Dead Apostles.

Therefore, this made Aetius make up his mind—

"Target: The Hunnic Empire."

"To the north, the Roman Six Legions and the Praetorian Guard."

"Eastern direction, the Anthem Alliance."

"Southward, the Executor Legion."

"To the west, the United Knights."

"Notify all legions to begin the march immediately."

At the same moment, as the Roman army set out, Avia, perched on a high hill, witnessed it all from the soft glow of the setting sun.

"What, you've already arrived?"

Eltrauge gazed in Avia's direction at the other side of the battlefield, her narrowed red eyes revealing a hint of coldness.

"That's right, the Holy Hymn Alliance is heading towards the Royal Guard and various Dead Apostles, the United Knights are heading towards the Fantasy Species, and the Agents are targeting the Magicians."

"To be honest, the church has already laid out all its foundations. It's truly glorious."

The dark-skinned princess smiled for the first time in a long time.

"If we win this battle, does that mean we've won?"

After a long silence, Attila suddenly spoke.

"......"

Eltrauge did not answer; her fair complexion was slightly pale.

Having witnessed the Great War of the Thousand-Year City, she understood that to achieve true victory, simply defeating these enemies was not enough; Qi Huang had to be killed.

But Avia responded with a faint smile, like a blade hidden in its sheath.

"Of course it can be counted."

Destroying the Western Roman Empire was Attila's job, but dealing with Mabul's wasteland was what he needed to do.

He prematurely united with the church, which led to its corruption, and the sacred texts were prematurely developed because of his own words.

Avia didn't believe that anyone else besides herself could break through this situation.

I simply felt that these were things I had created to achieve glory, but also things I had to bear the consequences of.

On a normal battlefield, he could accept dying in battle, but on a battlefield where the odds were heavily against him, he was, after all, a king. How could he lead them to their deaths? He had to fulfill his responsibilities. Since he was a king, he would ensure their survival even if it meant his own death.

"—Let's start the war."

The next moment, before the Roman army, the endless horizon stretching across their field of vision was entirely stained with the colors of the Hunnic legions.

This is a scene that should not exist in the human world. Magic and fantasy, normality and mystery, people and creatures from two worlds that should not have any contact are fighting bloody battles on the battlefield. As far as the eye can see, there is only death.

Amidst the rousing battle cries, ominous blood silently spread.

This is the Battle of the Challons, historically hailed as the decisive battle for Europe's fate, and in the magic world as the decisive battle for the magic world's fate.

In the distance, a burst of purple lightning, the result of the combined magic of hundreds of magicians, flashed and clashed with the dazzling light brought by the hymn.

The fantasy creature hurtled through the air with a piercing hiss, charging down like a hammer, while the church knights on the ground raised their large shields, which were difficult for ordinary people to use, to resist.

People fall due to death, but they cannot stop the advancing momentum that transforms into a sea of ​​blood.

The deafening roar of the grand magic spell painted the blood-red twilight with a layer of black, which then poured onto the battlefield and exploded.

A powerful wave of magic surged across the ground, but a fraction of a second too late, it transformed into terrifying magic that indiscriminately dissolved friend and foe into blood.

Both sides quickly followed up with another wave of large-scale magic spells, which were extremely rare in the past and could destroy a small town or even a city in a single strike. Now, dozens or even hundreds of destructive large-scale magic spells poured down, turning all the roars and cries into nothingness, falling to the earth as if there were no end in sight.

"Damn it, hold out to the death! Even if it kills us, we cannot retreat! For the sake of the church!"

"Rome!"

"Rome!"

On the blood-stained battlefield, countless roars echoed through the sky.

However, Aetius, the Roman commander, was pale and his mood grew increasingly gloomy as the unfavorable news reported by magicians from various legions came from.

Although they anticipated a large-scale destructive magic attack and made preparations, their own casualties still far exceeded their expectations.

From a military perspective, even though we are still putting all our strength into resisting, there is no guarantee that we can survive this ordeal.

Is today the day the Western Roman Empire comes to an end?

At this moment, Aetius picked up the Spear of Longinus.

"General, what's wrong...?"

"No, sir, the church has only granted permission for propaganda."

"We'll be punished, but we still have hope of success..."

The officers standing nearby watched Aetius's retreating figure as he picked up the Holy Lance.

"Although I used the sacred object without receiving orders... I will inform the church about this matter and accept the punishment."

The next instant, somewhere in the chaotic battlefield, came the sound of someone leaping up, followed by the heavy whistling of the wind.

A figure carrying a Roman flag atop a spear leaped over the heads of the werewolf squad, piercing through the ranks and continuing its rapid advance.

“…Aetius, I hope you can accept this ending.”

After noticing this anomaly, Avia, located on the high hill, mobilized.

"...The situation is unfavorable, we must retreat—"

In that instant, a surge of bloodlust rushed to Aetius's head, not from anger... but from an indescribable fear.

At this moment, the object reflected in my eyes changed—

Avia, dressed in red armor.

As someone they once knew, they brought such a bloody enemy, destroying everything with brute force. For the Western Roman Empire, they were an enemy to be eliminated, but... not a match.

Yes, they are absolutely no match for us, but that is not a reason to give up, nor should we give up.

"Long time no see, Avia."