Chapter 99: This Is My Final Ripple!
In an instant, the surging Dark Tide throughout the Holy Spire of Confluence ceased its churning, falling completely still.
Even the incarnation of Leviathan before them began to flicker and waver, its form growing unstable as it muttered strange phrases.
"No..."
"Not there..."
"If this continues... Ah!"
"..."
Faced with this situation, the three were momentarily at a loss for how to react.
But whether it was Fleurdelys or Rover, they both understood there was only one thing to do now—
The radiance of the Holy Sword and countless solidified blades immediately unsheathed, striking toward the Dark Tide's incarnation before them.
—!
In that moment, Leviathan's flickering incarnation along with all the stagnant Dark Tide surrounding it suddenly erupted with a dazzling, nearly blinding pure white light—as if ignited by an invisible force from within.
Gentle.
The light rapidly contracted and collapsed inward, ultimately condensing into a stable, soft white sphere of light.
The sphere expanded, its contours shifting until a sacred, pure white pegasus appeared at the center of the Holy Spire of Confluence. Its spiraled horn glowed faintly, emanating a presence completely opposite to the Dark Tide.
"Fleurdelys, Cartethyia, and—Lady Arbiter, long time no see."
"...Sentinels, Imperator." Fleurdelys was the first to lower her sword, her voice carrying relief but even more confusion.
Rover watched the Imperator, vigilance still evident on their face.
"Weren't you already..."
"That young man amplified my hidden frequency, allowing me to temporarily suppress and replace Leviathan's conscious manifestation here."
The Imperator answered Rover's question. Its gaze passed through the dual-natured maiden and settled on Rover.
"Time is short... To be brief, Lady Arbiter."
The Imperator continued, its tone calm.
"My fusion with Leviathan was both necessity and design. I needed to be infected by this 'poison' to analyze it and place shackles upon it. And Fleurdelys is the key to these shackles."
Its gaze turned to the two golden-haired maidens beside it: "But now, an unaccounted variable has forcibly rewritten the ending in ways none of us anticipated."
"Variable?" Rover frowned, a sense of foreboding rising within.
"What do you mean? Aeron, he—" Cartethyia began urgently, but her questioning was immediately interrupted.
"He... reached an agreement with me."
As it spoke, the light swirling around the Imperator's spiraled horn emitted frequencies that brought mental tranquility.
A white halo gently enveloped Fleurdelys and Cartethyia. Their figures drew closer in the light, pulled together as if by invisible bonds reconnecting them.
"Wait, what is—" Cartethyia looked bewilderedly at her faintly glowing hands, then toward Fleurdelys whose form was gradually growing hazy across from her.
Fleurdelys also showed surprise—this power was completely different from the Sentinels' abilities. She turned toward the Imperator: "Sentinels—?"
"This is one part of that young man's agreement with me, and the inevitable path for both of you."
The Imperator's voice carried a soothing power, the light from the spiral horn steadily showering over them.
Soon, the other two swords of Avinoleum answered the Sentinels' call and arrived by Cartethyia's side.
"Fleurdelys, you have endured long years of separation and vigilance. Your toil is appreciated."
"Cartethyia, your efforts during this time are also acknowledged."
"We were always two sides of one whole, separated by error. Now, it is time for the complete 'self' to reappear."
A white halo enveloped Fleurdelys and Cartethyia. Their figures gradually drew closer in the light, merging like two streams that had been parted for too long finally converging.
Within the radiance, Fleurdelys' form grew translucent. Her final gaze toward Cartethyia held no pain—only the relief of release and the ghost of a smile.
Then Cartethyia felt a warm, vast consciousness flow into her soul—not overwriting, but filling, as if some innate void had finally been made whole.
When she opened her eyes again, her aura had settled, tempered by the weight of ages.
"Fleurdelys... remains." Cartethyia whispered, feeling the quiet presence deep within her consciousness, her eyes slightly reddened.
"This was one of the young man's conditions. In his words... he dislikes perfection marred by regret."
Rover watched all this in silence. The person mentioned in the conversation had yet to appear, and her intuition whispered that this was far from over.
"What were the other conditions? Where is he now..."
The Imperator didn't answer, instead turning his gaze to Rover. The light from his spiral horn suddenly intensified, transferring its frequency to her.
"This... is the final echo of my remaining frequency. Now, it belongs to you, Lady Arbiter."
Rover felt a new power awaken and surge within her—utterly different from her original annihilation and diffraction, lighter and more fluid, as if able to stir the very air around her.
Moreover, she could now sense the resonance from Cartethyia's side more clearly.
Just like Rover, Cartethyia was now anxious about the same matter.
"Aeron, what has become of him?"
"He... will face the deity directly."
"...?"
Before Rover could process these words, the Imperator's final power flowed like a tide into her palm, channeling into the Holy Sword she held.
"Take it, Lady Arbiter! This is my last frequency!"
"Leviathan conceals itself within Avinoleum. Use this power to force its true form to emerge and end this!"
Hearing the Imperator's words, Rover's eyes sharpened—her purpose now clear.
The Holy Sword pierced the floor of the Holy Spire of Confluence, and invisible ripples spread outward from Rover.
Immediately, violent tremors shook the entire Holy Spire, and then—the persistent, heart-gripping sensation of weightlessness vanished.
"Avinoleum... has stopped?"
Cartethyia, now merged with Fleurdelys, was the first to perceive the change that had come over Avinoleum.
Not only had Avinoleum ceased its descent... but two even more colossal entities now dominated the scene.
The Imperator's form gradually began to blur, the last remaining frequency extracted by Aeron at the final moment. After all the turmoil, it had finally reached its limit.
"Lady Arbiter, though this is merely my personal request... please help that young man."
"You mean... Aeron?"
Rover sought confirmation from the Imperator, but the latter could no longer respond.
The final echo exhausted, the last vestige of the Imperator's frequency fell silent within the sword.
Rover tightened their grip on the slightly warm Holy Sword, the Imperator's final entrustment weighing heavily on their heart.
But now was not the time for such thoughts.
Cartethyia felt the frequency from Fleurdelys within her, taking one last look at the devastated Holy Spire of Confluence.
At this moment, one final doubt remained in her heart.
Why me... when you were clearly the one...
The current me is merely 'proof of the past, while you are the Blessed Maiden living in the present.'
Is this truly acceptable to you?
The one you chose... never abandoned 'me' either. Consider this... my gratitude to you.
As Fleurdelys' words faded, Cartethyia took a deep breath, her gaze regaining its firmness.
After exchanging a glance with Rover, no words were needed. Together they departed from the Holy Spire of Confluence, leaving behind the heart of Rinascita's suffering.
When they returned to the sacred tower's entrance, that elegant figure had been waiting for some time.
Cantarella stood beside Gehinnom, treating his wounds with medicinal herbs and jellyfish, while the latter continuously emitted soft "mmph" sounds like a cat.
"Cantarella, are you alright?"
Hearing Rover's greeting, she turned her head, a familiar curve appearing at the corner of her mouth.
"I'm fine. Your side..."
"Went relatively smoothly... probably."
Hearing Cartethyia's words, Cantarella could sense the frequency about her had changed, now carrying a trace of steadiness she had witnessed in the past.
At least her efforts with Aeron to pave the way for this "Blessed Maiden" hadn't been in vain.
"What's the situation outside now?"
"Well... words can hardly describe even a fraction of it. I invite you both to witness it with your own eyes."
"?"
Cantarella's words inevitably drew Rover and Cartethyia's attention. At this point, was there still need for such mystery?
Thus, with a mix of curiosity and vigilance, Rover and Cartethyia stepped out of the sacred tower.
What greeted their eyes completely surpassed all their expectations.
A massive deep-blue sea beast was using its enormous body to press down upon the entirety of Avinoleum.
Opposite it stood a towering demon with six wings sprouting from its back, holding a massive musket, silently emanating terrifying pressure.
And that familiar figure stood upon the demon's shoulder armor, robes flapping wildly in the chaotic air currents.
"Aer...on?!"
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