Infinity in the Void – Freedom in the Abyss

"Manifest Destiny."

I zapped right next to Elderstahl, thrusting my lance forward—

Clank!

But she just deflected the attempt with no effort. From this counter, I can tell that her reaction time is 0.03 seconds, while mine is only 0.1 seconds...

Calculation processed, adapted.

I detonate the electricity, surging it through her sword in an attempt to break it. But that sword is not made of metal but obsidian glass, non-conductive.

Calculation processed, adapted.

She swung her sword at me, to which I zapped out of the way. Then I fired Fallen Starlight, sending eight beams of light at her.

But that is not all, every time a beam hit a snowflake, it split into eight beams.

Hundreds of beams swirl around Elderstahl, readying to strike her at my command.

But... it wouldn't be that easy.

"First Seal: Niflheim - Release."

A burst of heat scattered and destroyed the beams. I see, two-point one percent power.

Calculation processed, adapted.

"Gear Up: Fallen Starlight.", I turned the rifle into a mask, glowing the symbol of the Rose Compass.

"In the Name of Humanity.", I stabbed Quirinus into the ground, "Grow."

The spikes of Quirinus extended into the ground, feeding off the remaining sap of Yggdrasil and...

A forest of red grew around me, then headed straight for Elderstahl with its thorn.

With one swing of her sword, she cleared a chunk surrounding her into ashes. But... When the snow touched the ashes, the thorn regrew at an insane speed.

They stabbed into Elderstahl, then they rapidly grew inside of her. Oh, and Surtr is standing far away as to not interrupt the duel, how kind of him.

"Second Seal: Helheim - Release."

Her body ignited, atomizing all the thorns from the inside out.

Calculation processed, adapted.

I snapped my finger, summoning my fedora, Walpurgis Festival.

"By the Authority of the Witches, Constellations, let Walpurgis Night begin.", I snapped my finger again.

Millions of magical circles filled the entire dome, and from them... millions of spells shot toward Elderstahl. So much so her heat cannot do anything but slow them down a bit.

BOOM!!!

A constant barrage of spells blew up the wood beneath her...

I took a step back, seeing the temperature rising rapidly.

"Third Seal: Nidavellir - Release."

There it, the mode that gave me my scar back then. The entire place went up in flame, burning down my red forest. The heat alone made the spells activate before they could reach her. Luckily, Ars Goetia and Incognito Zero were more than enough to protect me from the heat.

Calculation processed, adapted.

I took off the bat decoration on my fedora. And I summoned Galatine. With both in my hand...

"Deconstruct.", I broke them into pieces.

"Reforge.", and I merged them together into a royal purple wand, I shall call it... Aradia, named after the Gospel of the Witches.

I pointed my wand at her, "Hyperbeam."

BOOOOM!!!

A blast of concentrated magic smashed into her. Yet when the smoke cleared, I could see that she blocked it with her sword.

"Fourth Seal: Jotunheim - Release."

She dashed forward, reaching me in half a second— but I already adapted.

"Destiny Road."

Right before she slashed me, I split into eight versions of myself and scattered. Well, not really, I am just manifesting all possible paths at the same time.

One of me got nicked by the blade and exploded, turned into dust. Seven remained.

Each of me is holding a different God Slayer. The one wielding Ars Goetia smashed the ground with a stomp, then applied True Spark to all of them— I threw all with a kick.

Like a shotgun blast, Elderstahl cannot block all of them. A large chunk of her left shoulder was gone instantly.

Then the one using Walpurgis Night snapped my finger, creating two empty spaces in an attempt to rip Elderstahl in half. But she just filled in the void with her heat alone, then sent a tsunami of fire with just a wave of her sword, incinerating me before I could escape.

And to take advantage of Elderstahl's focus, the me wielding Incognito Zero in its shield form smashed it into her head.

Boom!!

She was knocked off balance, giving the me using Aradia a chance to hit her with another magic beam.

"Fifth Seal: Muspelheim - Release."

She sliced the shield bearer and wand user at the same time.

"Amplify."

I brought out Ars Goetia's true power, summoning the Seventy Two demons of Solomon to act as a detergent. Sending them all in to be incinerated by Elderstahl. But that was futile, as she just burned them all away with one thrust. Shooting a beam towards me, killing me in an instant.

I fired Fallen Starlight again, this time a singular beam that hit her in the back...

Ah, I can see some scratches on her armor.

The remaining versions of me merged into one.

Calculation Process, Adapted... Future possibilities calculated...

"The Law of Victory has been decided.", I stated with a smile.

Elderstahl just stared at me, "What do you mean by that?"

I teleport all of my weapons away, now I am without protection or offensive capabilities.

"Anima Lacero.", I summoned the golden guitar of The Golden Order, "Utopia, let the music surge!"

"You seriously going to play music in a fight to the death?", she asked me with a deadpan expression.

"Please, I am running out of options here.", I snorted.

Then Utopia blasted the music. And the snow around me lit on fire, turning into blue embers.

I tap my foot, bopping my head and humming the tune. While Elderstahl just stare in bafflement.

When you face me, let it be known that you are never in control. I am the maestro, I am the puppeteer of this stage!

So... Let this Encore be your Finality.

"Yeah! Let sing!", I played a loud chord!

"Now we! must be strong~!
Together we! will sing this song~
So sing harmony!"

Elderstahl charged at me, but I riffed a cord! Sending my ember going~ blocking her path!

"And together we will shall see~
Where we belong~
So long we tried~!
And finally! We see victory!"

The embers of Malice blew up in her face! And coming in is Utopia~ blasting her with countless guns!

"Before the link has gone!
Together! We play!
This Calamity Incantation!
And together we will turn the tide!"

I used the guitar to block her sword! Fueled by the music deep inside me~ stop her for a moment, to get blast by Utopia!

"And the song we sing~
Forever in our hearts will ring!
To everybody here!
We'll save the day!
We stand united~! Come what may!"

I slashed her with my guitar, breaking her sword as she tried to block it.

"So go on your way!
With your hope you can do anything~!
And now we must be strong!
Together we will sing this song!"

Utopia smashed her down with his mechanical arms! Pummeling her rapidly to not give her a chance to unleash the next Seal~

"And you can sing along!
We're one and two, and you make three
So sing harmony!
And together we will shall see~!"

I stabbed Anima Lacero into her chest.

"Where we belong!!"

And I ripped a chord pushing her down into the wood and destroying this flat land! 

The music ended on a high note, leaving me and Utopia victorious.

"Tell me, do you yield?", I asked, getting ready to play another song.

"Using all at your disposal, a fighting technique that promotes reckless behavior and disregard to the well-being of your weapons.", she analyzed.

"I would have you know that I trust my weapon more than people. They get the job done with minimal risk.", I stated, stepping away for her to get up.

"Do you count your machinery companion as your weapon?", she asked as she got up.

"Utopia?"

"[I am only an extension of Her Highness.]", he replied.

"Then I have no objection with your methods, Charlotte Silvi.", she nodded, looking at me, "I accept you as my temporary user, Charlotte Silvi."

"I only need you for one job, to kill an Ego of Earth. I shall only wield you once, Elderstahl.", I held my right hand out for her to grab it.

She turned into her true form of an obsidian longsword that turned red halfway, on it were nine Seals that locked its power. Then I summon Quirinus to my left hand. I look so fucking cool dual-wielding lance and sword.

"Surtr, will it be okay for you to not have the first use?", I asked the centauroid man... is centauroid even a word?

"Seeing her completed was the greatest milestone of my existence, that alone is enough for me.", he walked over to me, "I hope you take care of her."

Then he gives me a piece of paper with instructions on it.

"This is the maintenance guide.", he said.

Huh, soak the sword in lava or hot metal at least two times a week. Polish with steel wool on both sides for an hour three times a month. Apply oil every day to avoid power leaks.

It seems simple enough.

"I will go now.", he turned around.

"You are not coming with us?", I frowned.

"Though our meeting may be short, a footnote in our lifetime. But I enjoyed my time on your ship, seeing the innovations of Earth, and the harmony between you and Utopia. They all are precious memories that I shall cherish.", he looked back at me, "However, I still am a Jury of the Pale Court, my duty beckons me as the destroyer of worlds."

His hands lit ablaze, summoning a switch. He pressed it.

Then a portal opened... Londinium is on the other side. Surtr stepped into the portal and disappeared from my sight.

"Oh, by the way, Charlotte.", Londinium called me out, "Come to Berlin, there is a Jury of the Pale Court that wants to meet you."

"Who?", I wondered.

"Hitenberg and Lernea.", and he closed the portal before I could question him further.

Hitenberg... Lernea... I don't believe I know any depressed historical figure with those names— wait a minute.

Oh fuck.

I took in a deep sigh, returning to my ship. I'll deal with that later.

For now, I need to rest... and find where Theia is.

Speaking of finding Theia, how the fuck am I going to find her?