"This is what they call... running out of options, right?"

Li Wei and Osterna looked up at the sky, revealing a helpless smile at the same time.

Before that, they had fought against the final and most powerful monster that emerged from the rift. However, after a day and night of intense battle, they were utterly defeated.

They could only see a pitch-black cloud covering the sky, obstructing their vision of the entire space.

Within that cloud, countless tendrils, claws, and crimson eyes rolled and churned, creating a nauseating sight like a mix of decaying flesh.

Compared to when it first appeared, the creature's size had shrunk by nearly a third, a result of Li Wei and Osterna's efforts in battle.

However, this result meant nothing in terms of changing the situation because both of them knew very well that they were completely exhausted and had no strength left to fight.

"So... all our efforts were in vain in the end?"

Osterna gripped her holy sword tightly, tentatively wanting to continue fighting, but her body collapsed instantly without support when she tried to take a step forward.

"Ugh..." The fallen girl struggled for a moment before realizing that she couldn't even move a finger now.

It seemed that they had truly reached a dead end.

For a moment, a wretched smile appeared on her face as she helplessly spoke to her beloved, who was close by.

"Li Wei, are we going to die soon?"

The monster in the sky seemed to realize that its enemies were no longer a threat. Black tendrils emerged from the massive cloud and gradually moved closer to the two of them.

And now, the two of them clearly had no strength left to resist.

"..."

Li Wei didn't answer, and Osterna couldn't help but bite her lip...

"Damn it, I'm really unwilling... I still have so many things I want to do, so many words I want to say... I don't want to die in a place like this!"

But in the end, she found solace in her despair.

"...Well, at least the promise of 'being together until death' can be fulfilled now, haha~"

This could be seen as making light of the utmost despair. However, Li Wei, who had remained silent the whole time, spoke up at this moment.

"I'm sorry, Osterna..."

"Huh? Why apologize at a time like this?"

Osterna blinked in disbelief, and then she saw Li Wei shaking his body and standing up again...

...Did he still have the strength to fight?

But even if he had some strength left, what could he do alone?

Li Wei turned his head and smiled apologetically at Osterna. "That promise...I'm afraid I won't be able to fulfill it~"

After saying that, Li Wei reached out and took her holy sword from Osterna's hand.

At this moment, Osterna could no longer hold the sword in her hand and could only watch as Li Wei held both holy swords in his hands.

"Do you know, Osterna... the holy sword was forged by the first-generation hero Alice, guided by an ancient prophecy. But in the hands of the second-generation hero, she improved and recast the holy sword, giving it hidden power..."

"...What are you talking about?"

Osterna stared blankly at the man in front of her and suddenly felt that the man she deeply loved had become a stranger.

"What is the hidden power of the holy sword? No, first of all, why does Li Wei know about this?"

Li Wei held the two holy swords in his hands and raised them high towards the monster in the sky...

"...The second-generation hero, 'White Vessel' Emilie... she was a synthetic human weapon created by an evil organization that aimed to conquer the world using magic technology. However, she personally destroyed the conspiracy of that evil organization in the end and became a hero because of it. Haha, quite impressive, isn't it?"

"?"

Osterna certainly knew about these things. The story of the four heroes that came before her was well known across the continent.

But why did it feel like Li Wei was telling a story from personal experience at this moment?

The monster's tendrils were reaching dangerously close, and Li Wei overlapped the two holy swords in his hands. Then, with a voice only he could hear, he spoke."Will you continue to lend me your power, Emilie?"

At that moment, the Holy Sword in Li Wei's hands trembled as if in response, and the next second, a black and white light shot up into the sky!

Unable to resist the radiant light, Osterna couldn't help but look away, and in the air, there was a chaotic roar resembling garbled noise.

...It's the voice of that monster, is it... screaming?

Osterna opened her eyes again and was dumbfounded to see that the tentacles extended by the airborne monster were severed, while in Li Wei's hand... was a black and white intertwined knight's sword.

"The Holy Sword: Nullifier... the form born after the fusion of two holy swords. How cool is that?"

"..."

Indeed, with Osterna's strength, she could naturally sense the immense power emanating from the fused holy sword in Li Wei's hand.

However, since he possessed such a powerful ace up his sleeve, why didn't he use it sooner?

"Hehe, well, here's the thing, Osterna, you must be curious, right? Why didn't I bring out this amazing hidden move from the start? That's because... *cough*"

Mid-sentence, Li Wei coughed up blood, startling Osterna.

"Li Wei, you!"

"That's right..." Li Wei wiped off the blood from his mouth calmly, "because this move requires sacrificing one's life, so I originally hoped to avoid using it as much as possible, but well, this monster is too powerful. If we don't use it, we'll both die here~"

If that's the case, then at least choose the option of "only one person dying"...

With that said, Li Wei turned his head and opened his mouth softly...

"...Goodbye, Osterna, my lovely little cat. Although I always pretend to dislike you cuddling up in my arms... it's just because I'm an emotionally clueless straight guy feeling shy... You're super cute~ Every time you're in my arms, my heart beats so hard, haha~"

"Wait, Li Wei... don't..."

Osterna wanted to stop him. She already knew what Li Wei intended to do and her body, completely exhausted, even forced itself to stand up at that moment.

However, that was all she was capable of. She couldn't take a step forward and fell down again.

At the same time, Li Wei put away his smile and stared seriously at the monster in the sky.

"Come on, let me show you the most powerful secret move I learned from 'that guy'!"

In front of Osterna's eyes, a dazzling sword light bloomed, the most radiant she had ever seen in her life. At the same time, there was a ferocious cry from Li Wei...

"...The final secret technique of the Swordsman's ultimate skill: Invincible Alice Shock!!!"

Although the name was full of loopholes and hard to accept... the power of this strike was astonishing!

The enormous sword light pierced through the clouds in the sky and the cracks that followed...

After several minutes of intense explosion... before Osterna's eyes was a crystal-clear sky, as blue as water...

...The spatial rift was sealed, The Disaster... was finally over.

Then, something "fell" with a thud in front of Osterna, and she almost fainted just by glancing at it.

It was a man who had already lost half his body... burnt to a charred black, almost unrecognizable...

But even in such a terrible state, Osterna immediately recognized him as her sworn love...

Tears poured out of her eyes, and the girl let out a heart-wrenching cry, yet the man's life force had quickly dissipated.

"..."

Looking at the holy sword before her, Osterna suddenly felt that the glory of a hero, the mission to save the world, and her own destiny... all lost their meaning.

"You're no longer here, what meaning is there for me to live? I won't let you go alone! I'll come find you, so wait for me..."

Just then, a majestic voice rang in Osterna's ears...

"...Child of Man, do you still want to see your loved one again?""?! "

Osterna widened her eyes in surprise as she saw the Holy Sword, which had been split into two, floating in front of her. The voice came from it...

"You are... No, wait, tell me! What should I do to see Li Wei again?!"

At that moment, a beam of light from the Holy Sword landed on Osterna's finger, transforming into a ring with scorch marks and cracks...

Then, the voice spoke again...

"Well, first... Give up the idea of sacrificing yourself for love and live on. I promise you, as long as you do this... One day, you will be reunited..."

"..."