"If... you're really in so much pain, then let me... personally end your suffering for you!"
Melusine spoke slowly and deliberately as she stared intensely at Barghest's eyes.
*ROOOAAARRR—!!!*
As if swallowing everything in her path, a dragon roar erupted, accompanied by a burst of black light.
Soon, Melusine, in her elegant and noble dragon form, displayed her magnificent figure.
Spreading her wings, Melusine soared high into the sky, overlooking all living beings from the highest point in the clouds.
A vast magical energy, like a surging river, flowed incessantly from her dragon's heart, illuminating the mysterious symbols engraved on her dragon body one after another, like the countless stars in a clear night sky, emanating an ancient and mysterious aura.
Three layers of magic circles unfolded behind her, their intense radiance almost overshadowing Melusine's massive dragon body itself, as if the sky had gained an extra sun.
The turbulent magical energy fluctuations stirred the surrounding air wildly, creating scenes of dreamlike illusions.
In this surreal scenery, a massive beam of light surged out from the magic circles, its flowing light resembling shooting stars descending from the sky, crashing toward the ground.
*Rumble—!*
Thunderous rumbling echoed throughout the heavens and earth, reverberating for a long time.
With the light beam's incredible speed and vast coverage, Barghest had no choice but to face it head-on.
Opening her mouth, Barghest gathered scorching flames like a tidal wave, and soon, a column of fire shot up, colliding with the beam of light.
*BOOOOOOOM—!!!*
The collision stirred up a terrifying chaos of magical energy turbulence.
After a brief stalemate, the light from the sky ultimately overcame the flames rising from the earth.
With overwhelming power, the flames were suppressed and swallowed by the beam of light.
*ROAAARRRRRR—!!!*
Under the beam of light's destructive power, Barghest's massive body was completely torn apart, and the black-red flames enveloping its surface gradually extinguished, disappearing like dandelion fluff in the wind.
On the charred earth, the residual magical energy fluctuation dissipated little by little, leaving behind a giant crater.
Descending from the sky, Melusine landed in the center of the crater amidst the darkness and once again reverted to her human form.
Step by step, Melusine approached and looked down at Barghest, who was back in her human form, lying at the bottom of the crater.
Melusine's eyes were filled with indescribable complexity.
"I knew all along, that one day, this moment would come..."
Even as her life continued to fade, Barghest's voice remained as calm as ever. She gazed at the azure sky above as if admiring some rare beauty.
"To be honest, this is the first time I've ever thought the sky looked so beautiful... Seeing such a sight before I die might be the last bit of kindness this world shows me..."
"I'm sorry, Barghest..." Melusine lowered her head, her expression obscured by her hair, with only two glistening tears sliding down her pristine chin.
Barghest turned her head to Melusine, a rare smile appearing on her face.
"Don't blame yourself, Melusine... For me, dying by your hands is the best ending..."
"Seeing you still alive, I'm actually glad... You know, this world hasn't been kind to me, but I hope that from now on, you can continue to live well, in my place, and see the beauties I never got to see..."
Barghest's voice grew softer, like a murmured dream, her dazed eyes slowly closing.
"This time, I can finally... get a good night's sleep..."
Her last words lingered in the crater, not fading for a long time.
===
Barghest's death dealt a significant blow to Melusine, especially since she was the one who had personally ended her friend's life.
Melusine brought Barghest's body back to the Holy Roman Empire and buried it atop a mountain peak.
She stood motionless next to the tomb for a whole day and night, neither eating, drinking nor sleeping, just silently standing before the tombstone, as if turned to stone.
Upon Arkhan's orders, no one disturbed Melusine, allowing her to quietly accompany her friend on her friend's final journey.
===
The next day, in the early hours before dawn, as the light began to break and life stirred anew, Melusine, who had been frozen for so long, finally moved.
Dew dripped down from her hair as she lifted her head, gazing at the tombstone engraved with 'Barghest'.
"I have to go, Barghest..."
Melusine spoke softly, tilting her head to the sky.
"You and I have always known that Merlin's actions were not just... We know she's leading this world into darkness... Yet, for various reasons, we chose to stand silently, even aiding her wrongdoings... But now, it's time for us to atone for our mistakes."
"Rest assured, Barghest... Your mistakes and sins, from now on, I'll carry them for you."
With one last deep look at Barghest's tombstone, Melusine turned away, striding quietly down the mountainside.
===
On top of the city wall, Ritsuka gazed down at the bustling soldiers below, then turned to glance at the mountain peak, her face filled with concern.
"Do you think Miss Melusine... will really come?"
"Well... Who knows?" Da Vinci shrugged her shoulders. "She's got her own friends and all. If it were me finding out Romani had passed away, I'd probably be down in the dumps for quite a while too..."
"Hey! Why am I the one who's dead?!" Romani protested through a virtual screen.
"Oh, c'mon, don't sweat it. I'm just giving an example, okay? It just goes to show my deep affection for you, right?"
"You... You..." Romani rolled his eyes, unable to find the words to retort.
Watching the banter between the two, a faint smile crept onto Ritsuka's face, and the nervousness in her heart eased slightly.
"No need to be so tense."
A calm voice suddenly interrupted from the side.
Ritsuka instinctively turned her head and laid eyes on a handsome man's face.
"Even without Melusine, we'll definitely emerge victorious in this battle."
"Arkhan..." Ritsuka gazed at Arkhan in awe.
"You've crossed five Singularities in a row, even facing challenges more daunting than this. Haven't you overcome them with flying colors?" Arkhan smiled gently. "Believe in yourself, and more importantly, believe in your comrades, understand? We'll always be your strongest support, Ritsuka."
Ritsuka paused for a moment, looking around at Mash, Da Vinci, Atalanta, Medusa, and Asterios.
Taking a deep breath, Ritsuka's expression gradually hardened.
"You're right... No matter what, we'll defeat Merlin and the Lion King, then save this world!"
"That's it! That's Fujimaru Ritsuka I know~" Da Vinci smiled.
"Senpai, I'll be with you every step of the way!" Mash cheered.
Ritsuka smiled faintly, about to say something, when suddenly, a rush of urgent whistling sound filled her ears.
Lifting her head, she saw a streak of light descending from the sky, clad in azure armor.
It was none other than Melusine.
Meluine's gaze swept over everyone as she approached Arkhan.
"Sorry, I'm late." Melusine murmured softly as she landed.
"..." Arkhan looked at her face and was silent for a moment before asking. "Are you ready, Melusine?"
"Um." Melusine nodded slowly and decisively, her large eyes seemingly burning with invisible flames.
"In that case..."
Arkhan raised his head, his imposing voice soon echoing around everyone.
"Let's set off!"