With the fortress's defensive barrier destroyed, Jeanne, Astolfo, and the others finally had the chance to break inside. The process was more grueling than storming a beachhead, but in the end, they succeeded.
"The barrier's down! Ruler, let's go!"
Astolfo leapt from his hippogriff onto the fortress grounds, shouting back toward Jeanne, who was still on the plane locked in combat with Atalanta.
"I can't break away right now! Rider, go on ahead!"
Bang!
Jeanne barely managed to block the claw swipe of the maddened Atalanta, seizing the moment to shout at Rider.
"What about Archer?!"
Astolfo pressed.
Bang!
"Ugh!"
Dodging another claw strike, Jeanne leapt back to the tail of the plane and glanced toward a distant area shrouded in magical energy, now vanished.
"Archer was dragged into a bounded field by Red Rider. No word from him yet!"
She answered quickly.
"What?! Damn it… so I have to break through alone?!"
Astolfo wilted. His personal combat strength was nothing impressive, and now he was supposed to storm this place single-handedly? That was suicide! And with Sieg tagging along too… Should they wait for someone else to finish their battle first and join up?
But… looking around at the chaos, there was no chance.
"Sieg, stay outside and wait!"
"Ah… be careful."
No choice. He'd just have to risk it! Clenching his teeth, Astolfo straightened and stepped toward the fortress's front gardens. But then—
Whoosh!
A blade of energy whistled past his cheek, nearly scaring him out of his wits.
"Waaaah~!!!"
More sword auras rained down wildly from every direction.
"Eeek~!!"
Without hesitation, he bolted in retreat.
Slash! ×N
Purple gouges scarred the ground where he had just run past, leaving trails of blade-marks glowing faintly. The sight alone chilled him to the bone.
Then—
Boom! ×N
Dragons of red and violet light clashed again and again, their collisions exploding outward in shockwaves that leveled everything around them into ruin.
"W-wait—!!"
Astolfo panicked as the explosions spread toward him, scrambling frantically to hide behind broken stone, trembling all over.
In the next second, lightning converged and condensed into the form of the Shogun, who appeared suddenly before his eyes. As she materialized, her gaze briefly swept past the cowering Astolfo, cold and dismissive, before fixing once more on Karna ahead.
Then—
Bang!
Her legs stomped against the ground, cracking it open as her figure blurred and vanished again. The shockwave alone blew Astolfo clean off his feet!
What followed was a barrage of shrieking clashes, the impact of blade and spear, each strike producing gales that obliterated what few hiding spots remained. Astolfo tumbled away again, desperate to crawl further.
"I've had enough!! Whoever wants to go in, let them—I'm not going!!!"
Even watching from afar, his hair stood on end. No way, no way! This wasn't a place for humans to tread!
...
Meanwhile, the Shogun and Karna's battle raged on, soaring through the sky, crashing down to earth, their clashes leaving destruction in their wake.
Bang! ×N
Each blow resounded like thunder, the ear ringing with its sheer force. Wielding Engulfing Lightning, the Shogun's every swing carved arcs of violet across the air. Karna's fire-lit spear met them head-on, their streaks intertwining like twin serpents locked in endless pursuit.
Again she became lightning itself, flashing forward to slash horizontally. Karna raised his golden spear to block.
Clash!
The explosion of impact fractured the earth. Around them, the ground split open, cracks racing outward like webs. Dust and stone floated into the air as both combatants unleashed dense torrents of magical energy, clashing violently at the center.
The rift widened, the ground collapsing into rubble beneath their feet.
Bang!
The Shogun knocked aside Karna's spear, then spun her naginata in a circle before driving it into the earth!
Bury the Thunder!!
Like a tsunami, thunderous storms cascaded down from the heavens, engulfing the entire battlefield.
Crack… The fragile roadway collapsed completely, breaking into countless fragments that fell away from the Aerial Garden's foundation, plunging into the sky below.
The battlefield once more shifted from ground to air. The Shogun landed lightly upon a hovering slab of stone, her eyes briefly glancing toward Kapatcir, which had circled and was now returning. Inspiration flashed through her mind. In the next instant, she dissolved into lightning, appearing suddenly behind Karna.
"!"
Karna started, instinctively thrusting his spear. The Shogun tilted her head, dodging the strike, then gathered a surge of elemental power into her palm and drove it squarely into his abdomen.
Bang!
Karna was blasted away, smashing through dozens of floating stones like a cannonball. His flight ended directly before the onrushing Thunderbird, which swung its massive head like a hammer, slamming him again with devastating force.
Crash!
With a resounding crack, Karna's armored body was flung back into the Aerial Garden's streets like a falling meteor, shattering stone and throwing clouds of dust and rubble into the air.
Seizing the moment, Kapatcir opened its beak wide, condensing dense violet energy until, at its peak, it unleashed a thunderous breath straight toward where Karna had fallen.
BOOM!!
The purple beam tore through smoke, exploding in a blinding cloud of fire that rose like a towering mushroom, illuminating the entire sky.
Clang!!
From within the flames, Karna shot forth in an instant. His eyes glowed crimson, twin beams burning like searchlights. He aimed directly at Kapatcir and fired!
"!"
The Thunderbird flared with electricity across its body, twisting through the air at extreme speed to evade the red light.
Whoosh!!
The beam scraped several feathers from its wings—dodged by the narrowest margin!
But Karna's eye-beam did not cease, forcing Kapatcir to act. Opening its maw again, it condensed another sphere of thunder-light, then spat it out.
The orb detonated midair—splintering into countless spiral-shaped projectiles of lightning. They spun violently, their serrated edges shrieking as they tore through the air, all streaking down toward Karna.
Frowning, Karna moved with blinding speed, his golden spear batting aside several of the spiraling bolts. But their number was overwhelming. Some he could not reach in time, forced to dodge them instead. Those he evaded continued downward, careening straight past him!
Meanwhile…
From the ruins, Sieg had just spotted Rider crouching behind shattered stone, shielding himself from the shockwaves of the Shogun, Kapatcir, and Karna's battle.
"Rider!!"
He cried out to his Servant.
"Sieg! Over here!!"
Astolfo, catching sight of his beloved Master, brightened instantly and waved him over with delight.
"!"
Sieg smiled faintly, stepping out without hesitation, running straight across the ruined street toward him.
"Hurry! This way!!"
Astolfo beckoned joyfully. His spot was hidden and safe—he couldn't see the fighting on either side of the street. Safer to stay tucked away. But then—
As Sieg reached the center of the street, an ominous glow washed over the surroundings. Purple light filled the air.
"Sieg!! Down! Get down!!!"
Astolfo's face went pale as realization struck. He screamed frantically.
"?"
Stunned, Sieg turned his head, seeing the violet light reflected across his body.
Whoosh whoosh!!
From his perspective, a massive spiraling blade of lightning, wide as a wagon wheel and tall as a building, came slicing toward him—straight at his chest.
"SIIEEEGGGG!!!"
Astolfo tried to charge forward, but—
Squelch!!
A sickening sound split the air. His eyes were filled with horror as he watched—the boy's body was torn in half, split cleanly above the waist.
Organs and entrails burst forth, blood spraying like a fountain. The two halves of Sieg's body traced a grotesque arc through the air, falling in opposite directions. Gore splattered across the stone, staining it crimson.
Thud!!
A pair of severed legs rolled to a stop at Astolfo's feet.
"…!!"
Astolfo stared blankly at the severed legs before him, then at the distant upper half of Sieg's body. The boy's eyes were still open, bloodshot and wide with shock, his mouth twisted in a grotesque, broken expression.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHH——!!!!"
Astolfo collapsed to his knees, screaming in utter despair. In that moment, his entire world shattered.
...
Elsewhere—
The Shogun seized an opening while Karna was entangled with Kapatcir, flashing before him and driving a brutal kick into his abdomen.
BOOM!!
Caught off guard, Karna was sent hurtling back, crashing into the wall behind with explosive force!
The Shogun landed upon the ruined ground, descending alongside Kapatcir, both gazing toward the cloud of dust where he had struck.
"Tsk… Beelzebul…"
Kapatcir's voice wavered. It had glimpsed the distant sight of Sieg's shredded body, and Astolfo's wailing grief. Lowering its head, guilt heavy in its tone, it murmured to the Shogun:
"I… I may have accidentally slain one of yours."
"What is it?"
The Shogun asked calmly.
"I think… I killed your comrade."
It hesitated, speaking softly.
"A comrade? Who?"
The Shogun tilted her head slightly. Fiore and Caules were still aboard the plane. It couldn't be them. Then who?
Kapatcir gestured faintly with its beak.
"?"
The Shogun followed its gaze. Her eyes fell upon the gruesome sight—Sieg's body, torn in half; Rider weeping in anguish; entrails and blood scattered across the ground.
"So be it. Dead is dead."
She spoke with indifference, as though to console it.
"What?! Wasn't he one of yours?"
The Thunderbird was stunned.
"In any case, we are at the final stage. And he would not have lived long regardless."
"And… the corpse?"
"Then… why not burn it away?"
BOOM!!
Obeying without hesitation, Kapatcir unleashed another blast of lightning breath upon the area, engulfing Rider and Sieg's remains alike.
BOOM BOOM!!
A towering mushroom cloud of fire rose into the sky, illuminating the battlefield.
"The corpse is gone. The witness too. We saw nothing. We only fought Lancer."
The Shogun said coldly, her words like a quiet command.
"Oh… I see! Truly cunning of you, Beelzebul…"
Kapatcir suddenly understood!
This wasn't so bad, was it? Husband and wife reunited in death… returning together as one. A pair complete—so thought the Shogun to herself.
Boom~
The next second, Karna reappeared. Suspended in midair, his crimson cloak spread into wings like those of an angel, his body radiating golden brilliance as blinding as the sun. A searing shield of heat spread outward, burning everything around him. He was not unscathed—the Shogun's keen eyes caught the faint marks of damage upon his armor. Her strike had indeed wounded him heavily.
"To think the world holds one with such an iron hide. Today, I have seen something new."
The Thunderbird mocked lightly.
"His strength is formidable. He must not be underestimated."
The Shogun twirled her naginata once, then steadied it behind her as she spoke. She felt that among the Black Faction, none but herself could stand against him. Her decision back then had indeed been the right one.
"So what do you plan to do?"
"..."
The Shogun closed her eyes briefly at the question, then spoke slowly:
"Against such an enemy, only in a state of no thought, no self… can he be severed."
"!"
The Thunderbird was visibly startled.
"Don't tell me you mean…"
"Precisely."
The Shogun's answer was resolute.
"Heh… if you draw that blade, even the earth itself may suffer."
That strike—capable of cleaving even the world's barriers. Was she truly serious?
"Not here. This vessel shall drag him into the Plane of Euthymia."
This Plane was not Ei's Plane of Euthymia, but her own—her inner realm, her mental landscape.
"I see…"
The Thunderbird understood. She was serious.
"I do not intend to draw you in."
The Shogun added.
"Hmph. As if I'd bother to enter!"
Spreading its vast wings, Kapatcir rose into the sky, gazing down upon her.
"This man is yours to deal with. As for me, I'll roam the surroundings. I wish to see what this world beyond Teyvat is truly like."
It knew well of such inner realms—a sealed space, unreachable from outside unless the master themselves opened the way.
"Do not disturb the innocent."
"Worry not… I know at least that much."
Whump…
With a beat of its wings, the Thunderbird ascended, leaving her sight.