"I am a Valkyrie of Schicksal... though I suppose saying that means nothing to you."
Amber began, then immediately realized the person before her had been secluded for years. Until today, this person likely hadn't even known what DEM or Schicksal were.
"I can understand names, at least."
Mukuro replied.
"My apologies, that was rude of me. I am Bianka Durandal Ataegina. And your name is?"
"Hoshimiya Mukuro."
The golden-haired Spirit glanced at the girl mounted on the horse opposite her, then at the sweat-drenched Mana, before continuing, "You and that blue-haired girl are not companions. I can let you leave. After this, I will not destroy Earth either, so long as no one disturbs me."
She felt she was making a considerable concession, but the answer she received was not to her satisfaction.
"I appreciate your kindness, but my mission is not only to stop the meteor. It also includes escorting you and these Wizards back to Earth."
Amber hadn't expected Mukuro to be so reasonable, but she still had to achieve her own objective.
"Hmm..."
The golden-haired girl's wording was polite, her words filled with sincerity.
Coupled with the fact that Mukuro didn't seem capable of easily dealing with her, the Spirit fell into brief thought before asking, "Why? I do not believe I have done anything to hinder others."
"You could see it as... a form of protection."
This wasn't an evasion, because Dark Amber had already explained her plan clearly to Amber.
Once the Selene was fully completed, it would be used to directly irradiate Takamiya Mio.
At that point, not even Mio herself could guarantee what would happen to the Spirits.
It was very possible nothing would happen at all—after all, they had already separated from Mio.
But it was also possible they would die, since the Sephira Crystals were still part of the Kabbalah. It was quite likely they would lose their activity as Mio's energy evaporated.
And Spirits who lost their Sephira Crystals had only one path: death.
"Protection?"
Mukuro tilted her head. "I am safe here. Even if I encountered an enemy I could not defeat, I could flee."
"Unfortunately, once the situation we anticipate occurs, fleeing will not be an option for you."
Although this was framed as protecting her, the ones who would be putting her in danger were also on their side.
Even so, this plan could not be halted now.
After all, whether it was Dark Amber, Amber, or Takamiya Mio, all were prepared.
If Amber hadn't spoken up, Mukuro might not even have gotten this chance for dialogue.
After learning that Dark Amber's plan to resurrect Takamiya Shin was nearly ready, Mio could hardly wait a moment longer.
She even feared that Dark Amber and Amber, who were helping fulfill her long-cherished wish, might suffer losses because she was not in her complete form, and immediately wanted to reclaim all the Spirits' Sephira Crystals and transfer her power out.
Fortunately, Dark Amber spoke up, explaining that the final preparations weren't complete and retrieving the crystals now would be pointless, which finally dissuaded her.
"Hmm..."
Mukuro didn't entirely trust the other's explanation, but... the girl possessed a convincing aura and shared the same beautiful golden hair as her.
"I cannot simply believe you."
After all, anyone could make promises. "Humans are skilled at lying. If I go with you, I might be taken somewhere dangerous."
"Then, what would it take for you to trust me?"
"A fight."
Mukuro's method was simple and direct. "If you can defeat me, I will believe you."
Hearing this, Mana couldn't help but widen her eyes.
She knew perfectly well that those previous kilometer-wide meteors were no mere... "This is absurd! Aren't you just making an unfair demand!?"
If she could defeat you, would she even need your trust? She could just pack you up and take you away!
Mukuro, of course, understood this logic, but she didn't see it as making things difficult for the other.
She explained, "If you cannot defeat me, I will not take your lives. Just do not disturb me again."
"Understood."
Amber nodded. The other's attitude was actually much friendlier than when facing Ratatoskr in the original storyline.
Back then, if Mukuro hadn't been unable to kill Itsuka Shido, she wouldn't have even offered a chance to talk initially.
Later, even when she did allow conversation, her words were brutally pragmatic.
'No power, no talk.'
In Hoshimiya Mukuro's mindset, force was the capital for conversation.
If you can't defeat me, you have no capital to speak with me.
Even now, Mukuro didn't think that the other being able to defeat her meant she could be forced.
After all, if she truly couldn't win, she could always flee far away. So 'if you can defeat me, I'll believe you' was already the best attitude Mukuro could offer.
"Takamiya Mana, retreat with the other DEM Wizards. The coming battle will be dangerous for you."
Amber didn't attack immediately, instead reminding Mana, who had been spectating for a while.
Mukuro shot her a glance. These easily disposable minions could slip away for all she cared.
"...Understood."
Mana gritted her teeth, knowing her nearly exhausted self would be of no help here.
Hesitation on the battlefield was a fatal flaw.
Without another word, she sent the retreat signal to the other Wizards and turned to leave immediately.
In the faintly lit expanse of space, two golden-haired figures stood facing each other. Once all the nuisances had departed, Hoshimiya Mukuro didn't wait any longer. She immediately summoned meteors to crash toward her opponent.
The power of Palatinus Equinox filled Amber with immense confidence.
It was a nearly perfect power—Human, Honkai Beast, and Stigma—three different elements achieving this unique balance through countless coincidences, granting her limitless potential.
And the most direct enhancement from this power... was raw capability.
Facing several meteors with radii of hundreds of meters, Amber's charge met no resistance.
Astride her warhorse, she transformed into an unstoppable spear, a meteorite capable of shattering anything. In the blink of an eye, she was before Mukuro.
But Mukuro was already prepared. Adjusting her stance slightly, she aligned the edge of her blade with the head of Michael.
Since a direct hit wasn't easy, she would use the meteors to obstruct vision, then strip away her opponent's mobility.
Thinking this, Mukuro thrust her long staff forward without hesitation, only to have it swept aside at the last moment by the lance.
'Incredible strength...'
Mukuro had her staff swept aside once before, but back then she hadn't expected Amber to react so quickly and hadn't used much force.
Before Mukuro could reset her stance, the shaft of the lance came sweeping back in a reverse strike.
The fluid motion made it seem as if the earlier parry had required no effort at all—otherwise, how could the retraction be faster than the initial thrust?
"Ugh!!"
A heavy, powerful blow struck her side.
The immense force contorted Mukuro's body into a horizontal 'U'. A pain she hadn't felt in a long time, along with a bodily reflex, forced a harsh cough from her, nearly bringing up stomach fluid.
"That hurt... huh?"
It... didn't hurt?
The earlier discomfort and the dizziness from being sent flying dozens of meters felt like an illusion.
She was clearly hit, yet... why did she feel no pain? Had her tolerance for pain increased after becoming a Spirit?
Mukuro, who hadn't been injured since becoming a Spirit, was puzzled. But regardless, this was advantageous for her.
If it didn't hurt and there seemed to be no real injury, then she could keep fighting.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.