After saying his piece, the Tyrant of the End's streaming window suddenly closed, leaving only Elian's.

"If you say so," he remarked coldly.

Not bothering to respond to the Tyrant of the End's provocations, Elian simply faced the camera and continued his spiel.

"I know most of you are confused and scared. I know it all feels unfair, but we cannot give up! To those who have memories of Universe #150, I want you to remember the name that gave the world a glimpse of a better future. I want you all to remember, Valestra."

Turning to his wife, Elian was about to continue when he heard a system window open in front of Bianca.

[My daughter, please note that the things I can do for you once you become a Twilight-tiered Being are severely limited. I can no longer help create or command your skills. Also, you need to choose a new identity before your Ascension completes.]

Bianca's eyes grew wide in surprise. But faster than she could even contemplate, Elian squeezed her hand while mouthing a simple phrase.

My Anchor, become our hope.

The Villainess froze in place. Given her intellect, she understood what he wanted.

A movement or cause needed a symbol. And since both the Tyrant of Will and the Tyrant of the End were the same person, to separate the two, there needed to be one more symbol.

And Elian already told her what she had to become.

Much like he took on the heavy meaning behind will, will alone was not enough. Will, even the strongest one, could not triumph over the darkness without a good reason. There had to be something behind that will to give it direction and purpose.

And that was hope.

Hope was what allowed will to continue on. The belief that one's current circumstances were not permanent. That even in spite of pain and death, something better was on the other side. Hope was the fuel that kept the fire that was will, alive.

It was what could make will—immortal.

While she heard what Burny said about Valestra being equated to hope, she hesitated. After all, while Elian had redeemed himself by fulfilling her mother's mission, she had yet to. Elian's ideals shaped the Weapons of Valestra, but what of her?

I-I'm not worthy of becoming your hope, her mind whispered in defeat. I am neither benevolent nor a good person.

Put simply, Bianca was a villainess. She was the antagonist, the one who made everyone's lives a living hell. And knowing that Dr. Magnolia messed up Universe #150 for her and Elian, that statement became all the more true.

Yet, as she gazed into the eyes of the one she adored, something in her heart stirred. She knew why Elian believed she was worthy. But while Bianca knew she was no saint, a part of her wanted to rise to Elian's expectations.

"I-I…"

It was a concept she had long understood. Moral Relationalism was a psychological school of thought that meant morality emerged from relationships and social roles, not abstract principles.

Elian believed her to be worthy of hope because of two truths. He loved her more than anything else. And saving him in the Red Ant dungeon gave him hope to struggle and live on. But while that was true for Elian, it was only true for Elian.

To the millions, perhaps billions, of souls that died to both Bianca and the Tyrant of the End's mad conquest, she was the ultimate evil. Her desire for vengeance and bitterness was what gave birth to the Tyrant of the End.

It was all her own fault. If she didn't try to rule the universe, Elian Reed would have married Katri Valkama and died together in each other's arms. There would be no Tyrant of the End and no Crucible.

Much like her mother, Dr. Magnolia, her desire for more warped the universe, razing everything in its wake. It was a sin that was worthy of a million deaths.

Yet her husband, the one who probably suffered the most, didn't care in the slightest. To him, she was and always had been the same thing.

Hope.

"…"

How many would allow her to stand beside someone like Elian? Wouldn't her mere presence cast doubt and bitterness on the Tyrant of Will's cause? But as if by some divine providence at that moment, a system window flashed in front of her.

It was perhaps the final time she would be taught something by the one she considered her mother. The person who shaped her into the woman she was today.

[Bianca, my beloved daughter. While you cannot change the past, you can always change the future. You alone get to decide how your story ends. - From the one who loves you most, Magnolia Dawson.]

Mom.

Her mere memory made Bianca's heart clench in both longing and sadness. As if a blanket of warmth spread over her, she felt her embrace. Much like Elian, Magnolia Dawson truly loved her unconditionally.

Bianca gazed at her hand; the rainbow colors warping around her skin were getting dimmer as her body neared the end of its transformation.

I'm like a butterfly on the verge of coming out of my cocoon.

If before she was an ugly caterpillar, a wicked woman of evil and spite, now she has gained the chance to become something more. Together with the man who saw her as his hope, she can become the butterfly that will represent, something good.

Bianca raised her gaze toward her husband. His handsome face seemed too good to be true. The energy hiding in his muscular frame could destroy entire worlds. And here he was, this divine being, waiting on her like a servant.

Sigh. Why are you so perfect? What on earth can I still even give you?

He was, in all honesty, too good for her. But despite all her flaws, his eyes saw only a version of her so pure and wonderful that she doubted whether it was someone else.

But, Bianca couldn't help but grow curious.

Could someone as vile and despicable as her become the one Elian envisioned her to be?

I want to find out.

The moment Bianca decided, the rainbow-colored film covering her entire body lost its light and turned dull. Then it cracked like glass, bit by bit, before shattering.

Crack.

With a loud, sharp, piercing shrill, the cocoon that transformed Bianca fell apart completely. Feeling an immense weight lift from her body, she quickly removed the fragments from her hands and rejoined her hand with Elian's.

Intertwining their fingers together into a lover's hold, Bianca found peace just from the small but intimate gesture. She then noticed that Elian's hand and, by extension, his entire body seemed to cease all movement. It didn't move a single muscle.

Confused, she looked toward his face only to see him gawking at her. His eyes were locked onto her face, his breath completely stopped, and his mind turned silent like the void.

"Elian? My love?" Bianca asked worriedly.

Concerned, she placed her free hand toward his cheek and shook him, "Elian?"

It was only then that the divine being came back to life. His face flushed and he awkwardly cleared his throat.

"Ah, sorry Bianca. It's just because… it's uhm…"

Sensing his discomfort, Bianca felt giddy. Knowing her lover, he was probably entranced by her new appearance. Feeling vindicated, she silently felt pleased that her newfound beauty was so formidable.

"Oh? Is it because I'm too pretty?"

"Gulp, yeah. You are so beautiful; both my brain and heart stopped."

Seeing a divine being acting like a nervous teenager made Bianca giggle. It might have been mere words of flattery, but when the one speaking them was someone on par with a divine being, any woman's self-confidence would shoot to the stratosphere.

Trying to hide her joy, Bianca turned to flick her hair back and tried to subtly expose her collarbone. She sneakily batted her eyelashes at Elian before taking a moment to examine the rest of her body.

Hmm… not bad… not bad at all.

Bianca felt her body become stronger than it had ever been. She was dressed in a white gown full of lace with sleek and ornate armor pieces protecting her vitals. Her combat outfit looked almost like a bridal gown meant for war.

As she inspected her limbs, Bianca grew surprised to feel new muscles connected to her body. They were on her back and something humans shouldn't possess. She turned her body only to see what looked like folded wings.

They seemed like those she would find on eagles.

I have wings? Not bat wings but a bird's?

"Wow, just wow. I am married to a literal angel now," Elian murmured under his breath.

Hearing him refer to her as an "angel" made her cringe. But it was much better than all the other alternatives. Bianca then noticed the system's streaming camera floating about, observing her.

Knowing full well that Elian dropped the ball whenever it concerned her, Bianca decided to play her part in the stream.

'Mom, set my new name to Anchor of Hope.'

[I understand. I am so proud of you, Bianca.]

Unlike the normally stoic and robotic voice of the System, Bianca's system interface was both expressive and doting. It was a mere ghost of her mother, but she felt happy hearing her praise all the same.

Here goes nothing.

Instinctively, Bianca hardened her face. But then she remembered that she was no longer the villainess but an angel of hope. So she softened her expression and drew joy from remembering how much Elian loved her.

Smiling as if it were for him, Bianca finally began.

"Hello everyone. I am the Anchor of Hope. The mother of the Weapons of Valestra. To anyone and everyone across the universe, I want you all to remember this. Change only happens if one has both the will and the power to act."

Putting on her best smile, Bianca walked forward and gestured toward the sun and sky.

"Soon, the end of all life will come for us. It is up to us to stand against it. While this world might not be perfect, within it lies the possibility of joy. Of happiness. I wish for you all to remember this small notion within you."

The Anchor of Hope then faced the streaming camera while clutching her hands to her chest.

"Joy can only exist with life. Death and the End are merely the void. Within it lies nothing. No life, no hope, and no joy. To anyone who has experienced the love of another, if you felt happiness as you saw the sky or felt the wind on your face, I implore you…"

Bianca then unfurled her wings as she clenched her hand into a fist. The winds blew, and snowflakes began to spin around the Anchor of Hope. With a fierce expression, she continued.

"Do not succumb to despair. Believe in a better tomorrow. Believe that the suffering will end. For in life lies hope. And so long as life continues, so will hope. We cannot allow the Tyrant of the End to win. Not for just ourselves but for all who exist and those who will come after."

Bianca created a sword made of ice and raised it to the sky.

"FIGHT! FIGHT FOR THOSE YOU LOVE! FIGHT FOR YOUR FUTURE! FIGHT FOR LIFE! RIGHT HERE! RIGHT NOW! WITH ME! STAND AGAINST THE DARKNESS! ONLY YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE YOUR FATE!"

As if to answer her call, at that moment thousands of portals above the skies opened. And out came ships of various shapes and sizes, along with all manner of flying beasts, all of which were of one color.

"!!!!"

The color of black onyx. And at their arrival came a roar so loud it shook the entire earth.

"FOR THE TYRANT OF WILL!!! FOR THE ANCHOR OF HOPE!!! OHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Dumbfounded, Bianca tried to keep her composure as a massive army suddenly manifested out of thin air. She turned to see her husband, who had only a lovestruck expression on his face.

"Amazing as always, my love..."

"No… This wasn't me…"

"Sure, if you say so."

"No, really. It wasn't!"

"Haha, my wife is too humble…"

"Listen to me, you lovesick brat!"