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******

"Let me help."

"This way, we can focus more on watching this video."

Black Swan volunteered.

Acheron nodded.

About her past...

About Izumo...

Although that place has completely returned to Nihility.

But,

as she walked further and further down the path of "Nihility," forgetting more and more things...

If there was still something in reality that could record it.

Then... it would be a fortunate thing.

At least.

It is evidence of Izumo's existence.

Black Swan had already constructed a formation.

Allowing the content of the video to be projected before the three of them.

At the same time,

blocking the outside view.

With a thunderous roar.

A man's voice asked, "Do you remember why Izumo forged the sword?"

The scene before the three of them.

Was a sword mound as tall as a mountain.

A young girl stood before the gradually disintegrating sword mound.

Old Yang's spirit immediately jolted!

That voice!

That tone!

Familiar, too familiar!

It was unmistakably that person...!

Black Swan, on the other hand, was excitedly watching the scene before her.

Curiosity and a sense of exploration had reached their peak!

――What kind of upheaval had this planet called Izumo experienced?

――How had this young girl stepped into Nihility step by step?

The scene zoomed in.

Acheron's pupils contracted.

"This is... my past self..."

In the scale of time.

It wasn't actually that long ago.

But seeing herself again, dressed in white and wearing wooden clogs...

Acheron couldn't help but feel a sense of disorientation.

"Because long ago, eight million gods descended upon this world."

"Harming the people, wreaking havoc on the world."

In the scene.

Acheron's condition wasn't good.

Holding her injured right arm.

She walked step by step in the rain.

Her white clothes were stained with blood.

Blood also dripped from her heels.

Blooming red petals on the ground.

She lifted her head.

Her pale face was covered in dried blood.

And on her forehead.

A pair of red horns stood out prominently.

"The Herrscher of Thunder...!?" Old Yang blurted out.

Acheron glanced at Old Yang.

Her expression seemed to say: What Herrscher of Thunder? I have no idea!

At that moment.

The scene shifted to a massive city in ruins.

Bathed in a red light.

It appeared utterly lifeless.

"To save the world, the nation of Izumo sacrificed 70,033 swords."

"Forged into twelve divine blades, the Guardians of the World."

As Acheron narrated.

The scene before them rapidly transformed.

Into the prosperous era of Izumo.

Towering skyscrapers stood in orderly rows...

Just this single image.

Allowed Old Yang and Black Swan to imagine the flourishing prosperity of Izumo at that time.

"Hum!"

Suddenly!

From the shattered void.

A massive blue blade descended!

The sword's edge was incredibly thick.

As if a starship had crashed down!

"The first is Truth, forged by the god Tsumugari, allowing mortals to perceive the laws of the universe, deconstruct all phenomena, and recreate divine miracles."

A monster, its body seemingly cast from stone, was pierced by this enormous blue blade.

Corresponding to Acheron's words in the background.

Black Swan was still marveling.

"Just this one impactful scene is enough to imagine the grandeur of this battle..."

Meanwhile, Old Yang furrowed his brows!

The more he listened, the more something felt off!

"Perceive the laws of the universe?"

"Deconstruct all phenomena?"

"Recreate divine miracles?!"

Why do these phrases sound so familiar!

Ah,

It's because they're the abilities of the first Herrscher, the Herrscher of Reason!

However.

In the history of Izumo, there seemed to be no mention of Herrschers.

Instead, they spoke of the Guardians of the World!

"This must be a coincidence."

"After all, the power of reason exists in all things. It's only natural that the talents of another world would understand and incorporate it into their weapon forging."

"Speaking of which, the first Divine Key, the Void Archives, also possesses similar abilities..."

Old Yang rationalized in his mind.

There wasn't much time to dwell on it.

The description of the second blade came—

"The second is Heaven, forged by the god Amatsukami, turning the heavens into walls, hindering the malevolent gods, making their passage arduous."

"???" Old Yang.

The second is Heaven?

The Herrscher of the Void!

The attributes matched again!

And!

In the video!

Scenes resembling the Herrscher of the Void opening Imaginary spaces appeared!

This blade had already lost the traditional form of a "sword."

Its body was entirely composed of red light.

Next.

Was the third...

"The third is Thunder, summoning lightning to tear through the sky, meteors and thunderbolts delivering divine punishment."

Alright, alright...

If the first two were coincidences...

This third one could no longer be explained as a "coincidence"!

No matter how coincidental, it couldn't possibly match the order and abilities of the Herrschers so perfectly, could it!?

Indeed!

The Honkai!

Is still ******* chasing me!

"The fourth is Storm, commanding gales to ravage the earth, clouds racing and rain howling in relentless fury."

"The fifth is Frost, freezing the boundless earth in an instant."

"The sixth is Life, the cycle of birth and death flowing endlessly."

"And there are Blaze, Awakening, Foundation, Thousand, Binding, Devour..."

One after another, blades of bizarre designs flashed across the screen.

Black Swan was utterly captivated!

These were all unprecedented memories!

In that land called Izumo, such a prosperous civilization had once flourished!

It's truly a great pity that it wasn't fully recorded by the Garden of Recollection!

But now…

Perhaps I have a chance to complete it…

Meanwhile, beside her.

Old Yang's heart grew heavier the more he watched!

The names of each sword, along with the effects and abilities they derived…

All corresponded perfectly with the Herrscher abilities from the Honkai era!

A coincidence?

Impossible!

This is clearly another world's Earth!

At this moment.

The hairs on Old Yang's body stood on end!

This feeling…

It's indescribable!

Only he could understand it!

He even felt the urge to scream!

The fact that even the usually composed Old Yang could feel this way was enough to show the impact this video had on him.

Following Acheron's narration.

Scenes of their past battles against the Honkai seemed to flash before his eyes!

One after another!

Acheron noticed Old Yang beside her, trembling…

At times excited, at times sorrowful…

She was puzzled.

Is this my story or yours…?

Why are you so engrossed?

So serious?

Even sweating profusely?

The video continued—

"With these Twelve Edict Blades, we held the hope for tomorrow."

"We claimed victory after victory."

"Until…"

In the background.

The man's voice rang out.

"They were all broken!"

"The cost of each victory was the entirety of humanity."

Those hands that once held the blades.

Turned completely black.

Dark, twisted.

Like demons!

In Old Yang's eyes.

This must have been Acheron's former comrades, all corrupted by the Honkai.

"And in the end, even this [entirety] was lost."

"The nation of Izumo broke twelve swords."

"Finally forging the Edict Blade of Burden…"

"Two names."

"The first, the Beginning."

"The second, the End."

Hearing these two words.

Old Yang was utterly thunderstruck!

There's still a mastermind?

Now!

They're not even pretending anymore!

The Origin and the End!

Once again, it's a perfect match!

Old Yang was at a loss for words…

In just a few minutes, this short video had practically reenacted the chronicle of Earth's struggle against the Honkai!

The man's voice continued, "Seventy-four thousand and forty-seven swords were forged in the world."

"Only one could save Izumo."

"Yet you and I already knew."

"The path to salvation does not exist."

"And tomorrow is nowhere to be found."

Salvation!

This keyword instantly caught Old Yang's attention!

Alright!

Very well!

Now!

Even the voice's owner matches up!

Kevin…

I never thought I'd see someone who shares your ideals here!

Next.

Is it time to stake our lives in the barrel of a gun?