Chapter 1744 - The End and Rebirth (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

After the loud sound of clashing metal, the monstrous and seemingly relentless figure finally fell.

Constance’s long sword had broken into two. At the very last moment, she enchanted the might of thunder into the blade, and as she found an opening after Grand Duke Owen risked his own life to cover her advance, her blade managed to pierce through Berentine’s chest plate.

The rampaging power of lightning surged into Berentine’s body through the opening and tore everything within the armor apart, regardless of what was underneath, whether it was still human or not. After taking multiple heavy damages, the final blow depleted his vitality, and even the power of annihilation could not get him to stand up again.

Constance was slightly dazed as she stared at her broken blade as if she never snapped out of her battle trance. Only until a soldier behind her dropped his weapon did she realize that everything was over.

She looked at the throne hall, or the ruins of the once throne hall. Everywhere were broken walls and torn tiles, the entire hall was torn apart in the earlier battle, and the half-destroyed dome hung precariously above, while the remaining half lay shattered on the floor.

The rain poured in from the gaps of the dome and washed against the ruined hall. Thick blood mixed undiluted with the pouring rain.

Amid the broken ruins, arms and legs of buried soldiers were exposed. The owner of the limbs had sold their lives to buy Constance chance after chance to attack, and now they lay lifeless entombed beneath the ruins, while the surviving warriors moved shakily about as they gathered the dead.

Charlemagne had lost an arm, with a stump of ice near his shoulder to stop him from bleeding out, he held himself up using his sword in his right arm and looked down at Duke Owen.

“What you looking at boy? I’m not dead.” the old general let out a painful smile as he lay on the ground. “Compared to the wound earlier, this is but a scratch. But… can anyone come and shield me from the rain?”

Constance walked toward Duke Owen as the latter, with much effort, raised his arm in a wave, stopping her in her position. “Your Highness… No, Your Imperial Majesty, go to your father. Death will not take me.”

Constance nodded and went to the Dragon Soul Emperor, Berentine’s side.

She bent down as she used her sword to steady herself, and looked at the man clad in black armor. He was as large as she remembered, but there was frailty, a weakness she never remembered. As the rain poured onto the cold armor. As water flew through the gaps in the armor, his life was fading away as well.

The taint of annihilation had faded away, but Constance was sure of that as the soldiers killed or wounded by Berentine had not mutated, and in other words, the person inside the armor was her father.

She held her hands out, wanting to remove Berentine’s armor, but the latter unexpectedly lifted his hands, stopping her movement.

“Don’t open it, my beloved Connie, I’m a horrifying monster now.”

“It has ended, father.”

“Yes, it has finally ended,” A rasping voice came beneath the helm, and with every word, his voice softened, “It has finally ended…”

He demurred for a few seconds, before once again speaking with a soft, gentle voice, “Connie, I have something to tell you…”

“I already know,” Constance placed her hand on Berentine’s chest. “About my origin.”

“…Do you hate me?”

“I never would,” Constance shook her head, “The Inheritance needs to be completed by a heritor… and I could never be happier to be your daughter.”

“Is that so… that’s good.”

A faint light appeared behind her and Constance immediately felt the air around her became warm, she then heard Rheia’s voice. “I cannot save him.”

Constance’s hand shook, imperceptibly, before answering softly, “… I know.”

Berentine saw the silhouette appearing out of thin air behind Constance, but he was slowly withering away and could no longer see the real form of the silhouette. He only saw an orb of light; an orb of light emanating warm and wondrous powers stood before him, and it was walking toward him.

Constance saw Rheia walking towards Berentine’s side, and finally said the first request in her life to an outsider, “Bless him, please?”

Rheia turned back to look at Constance, a faint smile on her face, “You seem to have worked out my identity?”

“After touching that armband,” Constance quietly looked at Rheia in the eyes, “I could ‘see’ some things.”

Rheia nodded, “Go, do what you need to do, I will stay with him.”

Constance led her knights and soldiers away from the ruined palace, and under the shroud of rain, only the tiny goddess and the last, dying heritor.

Rheia squatted beside Berentine, “Just say whatever you want, I will do my best to fulfill it. You people deserve this much.”

“Give me a dream,” a weakening voice came beneath the thick, black armor. “A dream of the past… a dream of those I had forgotten, the things of the past eras… Wrench my soul dry, tear it apart, whatever, I want to meet them again… Meet those old friends everyone had forgotten about.”

Rheia gently placed her hands on Berentine’s forehead. “Sleep, my child. Sleep tight.”