During the Redhart War, a monster was born.
With blood from the royal family of Ifgraine, blessed by the power of dragons, and corrupted by the poison of the Primordial Being, this entire conflict was the stage for one of the greatest monsters in history to be born.
At the height of this global conflict, the greatest bestial phenomenon in Gamma's history was born.
After Redhart's death at the hands of Alexander Maxwell, this happened... the earth and all that was beneath or attached to it died.
It is estimated that this phenomenon occurred in at least a quarter of the world. And responsible for all this was the remnant of war.
The amalgam of endless power that had been growing under the shadow of Elise Redhart finally exploded.
By consuming the corpse of its former contractor, this beast gained enough power to enter a new category of divine existences.
Not a deity, angel or demon. Something of a higher nature than the human mind could ever be capable of comprehending.
All the anger contained since the Age of Gods, for all the primordial beings devoured by "Entity No.0" materialised in what that woman carried that day that a quarter of the planet died.
A black blade, like the infinite void. What all those existences saw in their brutal endings had become a palpable and immeasurable force.
However. She decided never to use that weapon again. As a form of mockery towards humanity.
That was why Maxwell did not give up until he locked her in the dungeon, even when the curse that led to his death was eating him up inside.
If that sword is wielded again... that world that Maxwell strove to protect with the last of his soul would perish.
「Hollow Death, Dagda」
That was the name Vivian Ifgraine gave to the most powerful weapon in her repertoire.
[PRESENT]
Elise was stupefied. Almost trembling with fear at the very sight of that sword.
It was not a weapon she had ever seen, nor could she have imagined. Not even with the full capabilities of the [System] could she have done anything.
Without being able to imagine it. Materialise it. Or even dream it. Everything about that blasphemous blade, that seems to mock everything that is alive cannot be processed in Elise's mind.
That's where she understood. Where everything in Elise's head made sense.
Why she didn't have to keep exploring the dungeon. Why she was warned not to go down to this floor. And something became clear to her.
This is going to be the place of her death.
As much as she wants to turn and run away from the place, she is unable to move.
The fear of death.
Elise hadn't thought about it for a long time. Since she had been told earlier that she was unable to die.
That condition surpassed even the Cross Family blood with the ability to kill vampires, which had remained unquestioned until Elise drank Olivia Cross's blood.
All the adversity she had faced so far... was nothing more than child's play for what Vivian Ifgraine was about to do.
-I hate this world, you know?
Elise's thoughts were jolted again, for Vivian had addressed her.
Despite making an attempt on her life, Vivian maintained complete serenity. Symbolising once again that there was no escape.
So Elise has no choice but to listen to her.
-It has been a millennium since this sword came into my possession. A long millennium listening to the cries of all those who perished in [The Antiquity]. They have cried out to me so many times to destroy this world that I have lost count...
Vivian sets her sights on the sword in her left hand, with which she is struggling to keep it from touching the field of roses beneath her feet. She has a painful expression. But she remains stoic despite what she has been saying.
-I had no reason to obey them. Because my very reason to exist disappeared from this world for the sake of fucking humanity. I wanted to end my life on more than one occasion, but after three hundred years of confinement I realised that it was not the best option.
Vivian raised her sword to her chest. A thick blade covered her face completely.
-Liz was no longer with me... but her will was passed on through the blood that she inherited from me. She asked me to bear her sins. And that's what I did.
Then, Vivian turned the weapon in her hands, pointing the blade towards her own face. She had an even calmer expression now. Looking a little pityingly at Elise.
-Even though Liz loved this world and all who inhabited it like a mother. I cannot feel that same love. Therefore, I come to bring an end to your miserable existence.
The sword was swung, tearing the air around them. Vivian with a single leap reached a distance where he could deliver an accurate blow that would tear Elise's body in half.
Elise, at that moment, could only think of one thing...
(I'm sorry I won't be able to meet you again, Saeko...)
And then, Elise died.
[Enigma's Perspective]
Weak.
A single slash was all it took to finish off the enemy in front of me.
Just like back then... everything dies with the least of my efforts.
This was not a fair fight, it never would be. The corpse in front of me was nothing more than an incomplete vessel that was more dead than alive.
This freedom... it's so warm...
The gentle breeze in the air moves my hair... and then, only then, I lay to rest the sword that took my enemy's life with nothing more than a single slash.
I broke my promise to Liselotte Sitri, but I don't really care about that.
I am no longer shackled... this death reminded me of my former determination.
As much as Liz loved this world. She carried with her the resentment of all the souls who died at the mercy of her hunger.
I have no reason to stop now.
If this girl had been even half of what Liz was... no, even one ten millionth of Liz, I would have been destined to turn in her favour.
But this is a mockery. Damn the God of Death who played this stupid joke on me. He was just a stupid, half-filled shell.
Half of his soul was fractured, and he was nothing but a puppet controlled by the [System].
No desires. No ambition. No regrets. No emotions.
She was empty. Just a bunch of calculations that wanted to resemble life. It is a very macabre experiment.
She doesn't have the "Mark of Life" that everyone born by Frill has. She doesn't even have a hint of the "Æther" in her soul. It's all an imitation.
I don't want to know who is responsible for this. For it is basically a cardinal sin to all that is known that he has been alive this long.
-Lady Enigma... Is this part of the prophecy you passed down to our ancestors?
A voice brought me out of my thoughts. It was one of the people who held the shell before I could arrive.
-Prophecy? -. I asked with some disbelief.
Centuries had passed since I founded this civilisation, and I am unable to remember something as banal as a prophecy.
-You said that someday, a golden-haired vampire was going to take her place as the true Goddess of the Undead after she received the [Hollow Death] with her soul.
Did I say something like that?
Of course it's all bullshit, I have no memory of anything of that category happening anywhere near that much. I'm not someone who believes in superstitions after all.
Much less would I be someone who would pass on such stupid thoughts to someone in my service.
-It's stupid, girl. Hollow Death] destroys all that the victim was. It affects most those whose souls have already been altered in the past.
-But that's the belief we've had since our grandparents were born, and their grandparents too. All our longevity has been dedicated to that belief....
I don't understand the rubbish you're talking. It's complete nonsense.
-I'm sorry to disappoint you then. The prophecy is nothing more than...
Wait a minute. If that's what motivates these people... I may be able to control them if I make them believe that this cheap copy is going to come back after death.
Although that's more than impossible. Still, it could be the key to my next move.
-It's just... true... this girl is the incarnation of my mistress Elise Redhart I...
I made the most convincing voice I could to say that.
-By Kýena! Did you hear that, Rod?! -We're finally getting out of this dungeon!
-So my father's stories were true, Miss Enigma! -We'll finally get to know the world that our mother Redhart inherited from us a thousand years ago!
...
Yes. I suppose I must keep up my lie if I am to move on.
I am very sorry for what I am about to do, Liselotte Sitri. But there is simply no other way.
The moment I had longed for, my revenge... it was finally something I was capable of achieving. The fruit of a thousand years of confinement was finally within my grasp.
To make this whole damned world pay, the true final boss must emerge from the damned depths of this abyss.
And in that way, I would be able to make all the kingdoms sink into the same darkness I have been in for a thousand years.
[Soliloquy of a Soul]
"Death" embraced what was left of Elise. The missing piece of the initial puzzle was in place after all her adversities.
In the infinite void, where Gamma's divine trinity resides, the remainder of Elise's soul united with the first half she had lost.
Nishimiya Saeko was complete once more... and all thanks to the gentle touch of Frill's hand on the cheek of this existence.
This empty space is what is known as the "Heavenly Court" in Gamma. And it is where the three main deities decide what to do with your soul.
In an ordinary situation it would have been a unanimous decision to dispose of this labour and send it through the underworld for the sins it committed, but among the three gods, the main deity refused to let this soul drift away.
Æther and Frill were unable to understand why this was happening. For normally Kýena went along with their decisions without refuting them.
Kýena just kept shaking her head sideways in denial whenever either of them wanted to get the reason for her refusal out of her.
Therefore. It is still up for debate what will be done with Elise from this point on. And even if Kýena is disappointed in Vivian for killing Elise, it is best not to take her as an enemy.
A dark chapter is about to be introduced into the history of the five kingdoms.