Rewind the clock back a few minutes.
Shin and Ao weren't the only ones reaching the epilogue of their battle. The other members of Guardian Sword were also wrapping up their respective bouts with relative flair. Kanari, the one overseeing the entire battlefield, had led the elites of Guardian Sword to an apparent victory against the floating remnants of the Black Masks.
Since Ao had largely abandoned his army and allowed them to do as they pleased, the Black Masks had become rather disorganised by the time the first wave of sandy tsunamis hit them. The Brahmins that were supposed to lead them were also facing powerful opposition of their own; thus, they were unable to group up and deal with any significant damage to Guardian Sword.
It actually became a one-sided sweep, where Kanari quickly dispatched half of the scurried villains with the help of Lady Seph. Furthermore, since the destruction of the Paradise Heart, Umbras were unable to spawn no longer. The vast numbers of the Black Masks also quickly dwindled, with each passing wave of strikes by the Kanari-led Guardian Sword.
"Kanari, you actually did it." Lady Seph wiped the sweat off her face before flashing a smile at the black-haired beauty. "I'd thought that you were locked behind a desk all day. Where did you get the time to learn military tactics?"
In Guardian Sword, all Hall Masters were given a defined role. Kanari, as the Hall of Diplomacy's Master, was given the task of managing external and internal affairs. A human resources department of the sorts. Furthermore, she was a mother of four as well as the Princess that married into the Lantis Republic. One couldn't count the list of responsibilities that she held even with all of their fingers and toes. For Kanari to learn military tactics on top of all that… How the hell did she get the time?
"Before bed, Shin always discusses tactics with me. You know him, he always has plan Bs for everything. He'd predicted that there would come a day where I would have to lead Guardian Sword into battle in his place."
"Ah, no wonder." The sides of Lady Seph's lips curled upwards. "That really sounds like him, that little bugger."
"Haha, he's no longer little, Lady Seph!" Kanari jokes. "He's now a fully grown man with four kids!"
"Hmph! No matter how much he grows, Shin will always be a child in my eyes!" The blonde beauty groaned. "But still… The others sure are taking their time, huh?"
After joking around for a bit, the two leaders of Guardian Sword turned their attention to the three most contested battles. Guardian Sword had cleared out the weaker opponents of the Blue Payirci. All of the remaining members of the Black Masks were the Brahmins that were at least in the Spirit King realm. And of all the said Brahmins, only three of them were putting on somewhat of a fight.
Meijing Xuenkai versus Meijing Bingying and Bingbing. In terms of combat ability, the two sides were almost equal. Meijing Xuenkai was a monstrous talent, even way back when he was first competing for the Meijing Clan Master title. He had the experience that was only matched by Admirals of the Lantis Republic and possessed the infinitely deep mana pool of a Spirit Venerate.
Against any other enemy, Meijing Xuenkai was undoubtedly going to be an unparalleled enemy. However, the combined might of Meijing Bingying and Bingbing perfectly countered the Spirit Venerate, so much so that he was unable to land a single hit on them despite being the superior foe on paper.
"The two Bings are in quite a pickle… Should we aid them?" Lady Seph probed.
"Not yet… There are others to watch." Kanari just shook her head, her eyes turning to the next heated battle that was going on.
The Sword Baron and Isadore's fight was what caught Kanari's eye. Seymour Fielder was a bona fide Spirit Venerate with years of experience to match his overbearing mana pool. In all accounts, his battle with Isadore, a Rank 60 Spirit King boy with one-tenth of his years of experience, was a bad match. Among all of the duels with the Brahmins, Kanari was most concerned about Isadore's one. If need be, she was willing to leave the command post just to assist her precious friend.
Yet, for some mystical reason… Isadore was holding his own against the Brahmin of Swords. If Seymour swung his sword once, Isadore would parry it with his godly silver spear. If the Brahmin attempted to slice Isadore's head off, a random warrior from his astral army would tank the hit.
And more shockingly… Isadore's martial arts was superior to that of the Sword Baron. Yes, he lacked the firepower and mana pool that the Spirit Venerate has. But his battle sense was in no way inferior to that of the commander of a million battles.
"That Himmel brat… When did he get so strong?" Lady Seph's face soured. She still had bad memories pertaining to the Himmel Empire, and deep down, she felt that the whole Imperial system needed a complete overhaul. Watching Isadore, the man who will one day carry the torch of the Imperial Family, become that strong… the former Imperial Tutor didn't know how to feel.
"He's one of Guardian Sword's top members. His strength is to be expected!" Kanari beamed. "At least for now, we don't have to worry about Bingying, Bingbing and Isadore. The last fight remaining is..."
Kanari turned her gaze to the final duel, the one located at the far corner. And well… To call it a battle would be an overestimation… The fight between Malgen Chaxrala, the Spirit Emperor that brought Frie Mountain to its demise, and the former orphans that lived on that mountain… It was a one-sided beatdown.
And shockingly… It was in favour of the orphans.
The Brahmin's Thargak Golem incarnation, the Spirit Avatar that had enabled him to take on the might of Enfen Frie, the Rose of the Frie Clan, was slowly dissipating away like the autumn leaves. Ice arrows stuck out from all parts of his body like an enraged porcupine as he knelt in a pool of his own blood.
Emma and Ella, the two master archers that were most effective from a distance, had crept up close with the defeated Spirit Emperor. Usually, it would be suicide for them to come this close with the Spirit Emperor, whether he was on his last breath or not. However, the two girls that surrounded Malgen made sure that nothing was going to happen.
Elyse had her Cinereous Cyclone Dagger pinned just inches away from Malgen's heart. At the same time, Fionn's Reaper's Scythe was plastered under his neck, ready to pull his head out like a chicken's if need be.
"Any last words?" Fionn coldly asked.
"Y-You… Fucks..."
"Are you sure you want those to be your last words?" Ella scoffed and shot yet another arrow at the kneeling man's thigh. He was already half-dead, what difference would one more arrow to the knee make? "You killed our elder sisters… Your actions that day killed Lily and Ariel! Do you regret it now?!"
"I-I… don't… fucking care!" The Brahmin spat. Blood trickled down his eyes and nose, turning the man's face into a broken mess. "I will curse you all! I will curse you all in hell! Once the Allfather becomes an Immortal and resurrects me, I will be sure to kill you all!!! I don't fucking-..."
SCHLING!!!
Before Malgen could get the last word, the world from his eyes turned upside down. For just a millisecond, he could see the silver blade of Fionn's Reaper's Scythe, right before his consciousness faded to black for good.
"..." The girls stared in shock as Fionn spun her blade around nonchalantly. She wasn't bothered by the head that flew out from her scythe. Instead, Fionn closed her eyes and muttered out a silent prayer.
"We have avenged you guys… Now you can finally… rest in peace."