Leonard Schmidt had long foreseen the day when he and his most cherished companions would be separated from each other. He hoped that it would be in an epic battle, and that he would die like a hero, and that people would sing the praises of this death, just as they did the heroic sacrifices of the warriors in history.

It was not without thought to the young warriors: maybe someone else would rush on the road before himself. Today, the unfortunate premonition has become a reality.

"Lisa," he murmured, looking at the three cold corpses, "Aibo." Old man Gebu. ”

Leon desperately warned himself that the trio's killer might still be watching. We must not lose our cool and give the enemy an opportunity. However, when he reached out and touched his sister Lisa's already bloodstained face, this tough guy who never frowned in the face of the death crisis couldn't help but kneel down and burst into tears.

I came here to save my companions who were in prison. If more of your companions are killed because of this, what is the point of what you are doing? His determination is just a dream, and his actions are like moths to a fire, killing himself.

…… It's been a long time since Leon has vented his emotions so thoroughly. The "lion in the sand" could no longer restrain himself. In the past, in front of Lisa, in front of his friends who trusted him, Leon did not dare to show his weak side. And now, half of his friends have fled in all directions, and the sister who has been encouraging him has left him forever, Leon finally no longer has to suppress his emotions.

……

Long.

Leon had the three bodies lie flat on the ground, covered with brown blankets. It seems that someone has tried to do so, but the storm of battle has swept the corpses away with the blankets. Old Gebu's body stood until the end, and it took Leon a lot of effort to get him to lie down.

Aibo's halberd, Lisa's stabbing sword, and Old Gebu's war hammer have all disappeared. Presumably taken by the enemy as a trophy and proof of merit.

Naturally, there was no trace of the hostages. Maybe they're hiding in some bubble space, maybe they're no longer in a plane prison. But Leon didn't give up.

"Found it. …… Bloodstains towards the exit. Someone left the space. ”

Finding crucial clues, Leon has some guesses about what happened in the room. Fearing that among the many hostages was a secret warrior who launched a sneak attack, killing one of the three first, and then ambushing at the exit, defeating the other two who hurried in separately.

Judging from the blood stains on the ground, it is obvious that the other party has also been injured -

"Mr. Gerbhardt, Lisa, Aibo," Leon whispered, "I'm going." ”

------------------------

In the beach space, the girl sits cross-legged.

She's scrambling to regain her strength. In the spiritual world, Xiaowei is teaching a series of "common sense" to girls to perform arcane arts.

If a year ago, if someone had told Miss Victoria Douglas, Okad's first spellcasting genius, that a creature could perform both arcane and arcane rituals, she would have scoffed at it. However, when the girl really performed the "Light Technique" again, Xiaowei also had to admit that this kind of creature that only existed in legendary dramas really existed, and it was "herself".

Fortunately, as the "imaginative" Mage Okad, Xiaowei quickly calmed down and gave her opinion on this fact.

[The 'sea of clouds' that is the source of the caster's power, and every creature can call upon its power.] However, the same soul can only call on one of the different power systems. The Sea of Clouds would never have imagined that there would be a soulless intelligent creature like you, who could harness its power. 】

Seeing "Victoria" as a creature with two consciousnesses, Yunhai obviously treats the girl and Xiaowei differently. Xiao Wei was very sure that she could not activate the girl's "Bright World", but the girl was able to use the 95% arcane "Light Technique" that Xiao Wei had prepared by completing the final steps. Focusing on the fundamental difference between the two: the presence or absence of souls, Xiaowei is quite satisfied with her hypothesis.

[To put it bluntly, there is a bug in the server certification.] But the girl said.

[Why can you always explain such a complicated problem in a sentence that you don't understand!] Xiaowei complained.

[Be quiet, Xiaowei,] the girl said, "Someone is coming. …… It's the enemy. Follow our predetermined strategy and get ready. 】

Holding the "Bright World" in her hand, the girl slowly stood up.

……

Walking into the beach space, Leonard Schmidt finally found the prey he was searching for. He looked at the girl in front of him: fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in red, holding a delicate black gold-rimmed parasol in his hand, if it weren't for the thick bloody aura on her delicate body, she wouldn't have been able to associate this lovely girl with the battle.

It was her, Leon thought. She was the one who defeated Lisa, Aibo, and Old Geb. Leon still has an impression of the girl: she was one of the hostages, and she gave Lisa her magical hair ornament before entering the Plane Prison. It's just that Lyon didn't take it to heart at the time.

"The umbrella. Is it your secret weapon," Leon said, "...... the 'World of Light'?" ”

"Yes."

"Detection spells should be able to spot secret weapons. What did you do? ”

"A little bit of concealment," the girl stroked her parasol, "after all, I'm used to hiding. ”

For a while, the girl had an urge to immediately switch to Xiaowei sneaking up on him, but she restrained it. Unlike old Gebu, who was old and wasted a lot of physical strength, Leon was at the peak of his spirit and physical strength, and he pressed his hand to the hilt of his sword, always on the lookout for the girl's movements.

"You didn't know we were coming?" Leon asked.

"If I knew," the girl shook her head, "how could I be alone?" ”

Leon laughed instead.

"So, Lisa, Aibo, Mr. Gobhardt...... We've all been teased by you. ”

"I'm only one person, if I don't be cunning," said the girl, "how can I save everyone?" Sir, you and I will not choose to fight each other if you change places, right? ”

Leon looked up to the sky and smiled. It's just that the smile is full of pathos.

"Well said," Leon's trench coat fluttered down, revealing his gleaming silver armor, "tell me your name." ”

"Victoria."

"I'm Leonhardt Schmidt," the "lion in the sand" drew his sword from its sheath, "tell me, where are the other hostages?" ”

The girl glanced at the brown-haired man in front of her.

"Who knows, I don't have to tell you," she scoffed, "that they may be hiding in some space in the prison, or they may have been rescued outside the prison." How about finding it yourself? ”

But Leon was unmoved.

"I know what you're thinking," said Leon, "and you think I wouldn't dare kill you." If you are the last hostage we can control, then I will not dare to kill you......"

The girl's face changed slightly.

"But you're not," Leon's voice was filled with murderous intent, "even my companions don't know: in my hands, I still hold and a precious thing that would make the Empire a mouse. Even if all of you are hostages, as long as this treasure is not lost, I still hope to negotiate with the Empire with this object as a hostage. ”

"What?" The girl was shocked. She instinctively realized that Leon wasn't lying.

"You don't need to know," said Leon, "you're the one to die anyway." Are you mentally prepared? 'The World of Light'. ”

"'The Lion of the Desert,'" the girl sighed, the heavily armored form of the Aurora forming from her body again, "with all due respect, you just want to avenge your companions." ”

"Even if it is pointed out by a thousand people, the 'murmur of sand' will not return the knife to the sheath," Leon's voice was cold, "'The world of light'...... I, Leonard, swear that I will slay you here. ”

"Allow me, then, to make a request." The girl said.

Leon was slightly stunned.

"If I win this battle, I will tell the world that you are not vulnerable warriors of the Secret Rites, but true warriors who are indomitable despite defeat," the girl whispered, holding up the "Bright World", "I hope you will do the same." ”

Leon was stunned.

"Well," he said, ashamed of his impulsiveness, "and I promise you." When you die, I will tell them that you are the strongest female warrior I have ever seen. Take it now, 'Bright World'. ”

Knife light, flashing.