Chapter 85: Schicksal's Foolishness

Ein was relaxing after hours of digging up the earth for an underground base and building everything by himself, Sakura was at the side. Watching him like a hawk, squinting her eyes and mumbling. "Do it. I dare you. I know you're going to do something suspicious."

He heard it loud and clear and sighed heavily, opening an eye at her location. "You know, shouldn't you be doing something... Productive or something?" He built railgun turrets at the perimeters of the village that sniped down anything imbued with honkai energy that was made of silicon, with a 1 kg slug of tungsten travelling 100km/s. Eviscerating anything that even dared getting close in a 40km radius.

Her brows twitched when she heard him. "You stole my job! I was supposed to protect this village with my life... I never knew that you would make something like that." She was frustrated to her core, seeing a templar exploding right in front of her eyes when she was patrolling one day. From then on, the villagers started worshipping him as a guardian deity. Raiders also exploded into bloody mists, and they won't be bothering the village for a long time.

"Alright, alright. While I have some downtime, I will teach you the art of the sword. It's called dark slayer style, I didn't have the time to teach this to someone." He looked up and remembered SAKURA'S lightning quick fighting style that was similar to Vergil, but she wasn't motivated enough.

"Dark Slayer? It seems ominous... And I haven't seen you use a sword, how in the world would you teach me?" She was obviously skeptical, sword fighting is sacred and was an art. Someone from the west or a brawler wouldn't be helpful for her skills.

"Hmm, it's simple. I haven't made one yet, and I'm sure you will be motivated once you've seen what I could do." He stood up and picked up a stick, the cypress wood transformed into a bokken and Sakura looked at him with interest.

"How about you show me what level you are at?" He gave a smug smile, she got excited and wanted to show him what she's made of. "You will regret this, I'm a warrior. Born and raised to be the protector of this village. Here I come!"

Sakura brandished her katana and went in with blinding speed. For humans that is, she was unnaturally strong and quick. Making him peer onto her body, and he saw a stigmata that was inactivated on her back. Making her much stronger than normal.

"Hmph, so slow." He parried all of her strikes, not even moving from his spot. She was getting frustrated and felt like he is sparring with a kid. Her pride was damaged, she knew he was strong, but he is even much more skilled in swordplay.

He smacked her sword away with a bit more strength, Sakura's hand was numb as she flew away some meters. He got a bit rougher, knowing that she possesses a stigmata. "Where's your motivation woman?" He sighed and exaggerated. "Disappointing."

Sakura heard his words and she gritted her teeth. Clenching her hand hard, shaking from immense embarrassment and frustration. She started to tear up and spoke softly. "I know... Why do you have to steal my work, my reason to stay here. Even Rin is excited whenever she hears stories of you protecting the village. And I am now useless."

Whenever she met up with Rin, she always wanted to know stories of the mysterious man that is now their guardian deity, amazed by his inventions and might. "Aneue, can you please tell me more stories of Ein-sama, he is amazing and you are with him all the time right?" She said with a wide smile. Making Sakura's resentment grow, as he unknowingly stole her sister's admiration of her.

He started to panic and didn't thought that she's cry. He patted her head and decided to use the talk no jutsu and sat with her. "Sakura, you're her sister you know? I'm quite sure she loves you very much. I assume you took care of her? She probably can't live with her older sister anymore, you'll see if you don't talk to her for some time. She will miss you greatly, I'm just a source of stories for her, you're irreplaceable as her sister you know?"

She looked at him and was surprised that he was consoling her. "Now, how about I show you how you could be much more cooler and show off to Rin?" He smiled and poked her back with 2 fingers. Activating her stigmata, Sakura felt a rush of strength and power.

"Wha!?" She quickly stood up and tried clenching her hands. "What did you do?" He gave a smirk and threw her sword at her. "Just unlocking your meridians by this mysterious expert."

He then brandished his wooden sword and slashed the air lightning quick. Sakura looked on with confusion and noticed he was sheathing it in a scabbard that appeared from thin air. And when she heard a click, the trees around them fell. Cut clean like it was sanded smooth, not even a splinter on the trunks.

"Cool right? If you show that to Rin, she will be your number one fan. Now, let's make you do it one on tree." She got excited as she saw what the dark slayer style can do. Her impressions on him improved and silently thanked him in her mind, training her to be stronger and boosting her mood that was in the dumps.

"Oh, you can also have this. Eat it with Rin when you return, don't be jealous of me Sakura. Your bond are much deeper than you think, doubts and resentment poisons the mind. You already know this." He gave a box of sweets, she nodded seriously and started to respect him greatly. Straightening her attitude and making her remember the discipline of a warrior.

"Okay, you go like this and use your muscles to give a slash. Uhhh, your Ki would help. Feel it from inside and focus it into your blade." He didn't know how to describe honkai energy and just explained it by using something she might understand.

She focused and gave a slash that left a mark on a tree that was targeted. "This is much harder than I thought, but now I'm motivated." He saw some flaws in her stance and decided to break down her habits. "Yeah, you've already made unconscious moves and habits. Let me help you." She went into a stance and thought that he would show her the proper one.

But he started to massage her thigh and legs. It made her choke on her saliva as she fidgeted. "Hey, relax over here. You're too stiff, and don't move so much. I'm trying to fix your stance you know." She started blushing an atomic red and looked at his serious face while arranging her limbs to proper places.

'Ahhh, he looks to be serious in this. Such is the temperament of a true master. But his hands are smooth, his touch soft and relaxing.' She then gained her wits, shaking her head and slapped her face with both hands. 'What am I thinking? When did I become such a lewd woman!?'

He then stood up and finished fixing her stance. "You've got some nice legs! I give it a 10/10" He gave a thumbs up and she almost overheated from his words. "Y-you! You just wanted to feel me up did you not!?" She was aghast and was rightfully angry.

"Hmm, I'm a man of opportunity. Such is my dao. If such juicy legs are presented to me for touching, then why shouldn't I? Also, I needed to make precise adjustments. Think Sakura, think. It saves both of our times." She thought about it and it was true.

'Wait a minute.' "Did you say my juicy legs!?" She slashed at him and he started to run circles on her while laughing. "Umu, they are absolutely juicy, can't get legs like that with the city girls no more." They went on a goose chase and enjoyed their day. Though she was successful in cutting down a tree and showed it to Rin. Sakura got praised extensively which made her forgive him, but she was definitely gonna ask for a favor.

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The holy maiden of Schicksal arrived at the battle. Using her ridiculously strong body, she mowed down the opposing enemies with overwhelming might. The Kaslana's were famous for their strength and she used it to her full advantage, making sure to not kill as much people as possible.

"How much more will this war continue? Hah, we could use these many people to help our lands." She remembered the 1000 honkai beasts that were sealed by her using the oath of Judah. It was said by Schicksal that they are unkillable and will return eventually, which is correct. But wrong as well, they just wanted to experiment on them. That's why Schicksal could create crude honkai weapons.

The church found biological data and experiments from an individual named Fuxi, a scientist that existed from the previous era.

"Holy Maiden! We will enter battle in the plains. Our long endeavor to end this crusade is now in sight! These heretics will fall there." She received a report on a battle that will make or break the war.

She sighed and started to prepare, carrying the large golden cross on her shoulders that weighed 200 kilograms like a sling bag. "We depart then, this war has claimed too many lives." She frowned and the two armies travelled, face to face for one last battle.

"This battle ends now! Surrender and we won't harm the civilians and prisoners!" Kallen shouted at the soldiers opposite of them, but they didn't budge and tensions rose.

"I see. Then you leave me no choice!" She swooped in and started the battle. Hitting the soldiers on their torsos to limit damage, Kallen was like a storm in their ranks. Incapacitating everyone that went in her way, and using the chains of Judah, she started to take out more of them quickly.

The knights of Schicksal were full of morale. Charging in with lances that were charged with honkai energy. The 2 armies clashed, claiming many lives.

After a few minutes, feathers fell down in the battlefield. And a petite woman with white hair and crimson tips floated above them. "Your transgressions in Shenzou ends here invaders. Barbarians that hail from the west! I am the celestial of these lands. The immortal protector of Shenzou!" (pic here)

Hua arrived and with immense speed. Defeated the knights and soldiers even faster than Kallen. Her martial arts that were honed for thousands of years were unbeatable, coupled with strength and speed of a MANTIS. Schicksal cannot do anything against her.

Kallen quickly arrived at her position and they looked at each other. "You use weapons that are not for the correct purpose warrior." Kallen flinched and silently agreed with her. "We need to find the savior. And the church decreed he is in here in the east. Let us pass please, we just want to find him." The celestial shook her head and entered a stance.

"Foolishness, you raise war in these lands with your ridiculous claims of a savior? You cannot rely on them, or else you face stagnation and ruin." They were at odds, Kallen had her orders and Hua was the protector of the continent.

"You leave us no choice. We've already come this far." She frowned and brandished her guns. Firing a blast of honkai energy at the celestial, Hua avoided it with ease and gave a kick at Kallen's torso. Making her fly and land on the dirt.

"Ugh, she's strong." Kallen used the chains of Judah and tried to bind her enemy. Hua simply snatched it and pulled Kallen to her. She then gave multiple blows to her face and body, beating her to the ground.

"Weak. Does your precious savior and beliefs only amount this much?" She gracefully landed on the ground, like a leaf falling on water. Kallen was stubborn though and stood up once again, spitting blood from her mouth.

She activated Judah's weapons and the golden cross split open, showing an arsenal of javelins and creating a field that restricted honkai energy. "Impressive. But you are far too weak to use it." Hua used fenghuang down on her and Kallen went limp. Judah launched multiple javelins in the sky and tried to pierce the celestial.

Hua then took out water's edge, one of the 10th divine keys. (pic here)

The blue blade then created water as Hua started to change stances. "Blade of Taixuan, stance of the swift." She whispered and the water around her moved, engulfing the javelins and redirecting them to the ground like flowing water.

She then disappeared with a burst of speed and cut Kallen's hamstrings. Making her fall down on her bottom while the celestial looked at her. Standing tall and confident, like a master that taught her student a lesson.

"Think well and hard about what you fight to protect, key wielder. Those weapons are made to be the weapons for humanity's benefit." Kallen bit her lip as she bled. Injured and incapacitated, she could only watch as the immortal celestial beat down the warriors of

Schicksal.

She was left there and started to think seriously if the decision of the archbishop was right. After 30 minutes, the battle was over and the soldiers of Shenzou celebrated, making her spirits dampen even further.

"Kallen!" A blonde woman then appeared and went up to her. She gasped and started patting her body all around. "You're injured Kallen, let's go back to Vienna. I'll heal you there, the war is lost." Kallen nodded solemnly and looked at her best friend.

(cursed image here)

"Ottilie. The celestial was right. The reason I fought for was unjust and Schicksal started this war is ridiculous. We should focus on the masses 1st and our lands, I have a feeling that the apostle isn't what he seems. Or he is just made up." Kallen said in a somber tone, remembering the immortal's words.

"Enough of that for now Kallen. We need to heal your wounds and let us come back in Europe. That is much more important." She then decided to work harder on the cure. And she was sure in creating it, only needing time. Ottilie is a genius and was able to create things from when she was a little girl. And Kallen was the only friend she made, praising her inventions.

"I promise Kallen, we will be able to make one. I only need some time." She thought of a golden cube that picked her as its wielder. It was found a decade ago when Kallen's father sacrificed himself to use the judgement of Shamash, a relic from thousands of years ago. The cube promised the life of Kallen's father in exchange for hers, but fortunately her friend smacked her out of it. And she didn't touch it once again. 'It contains knowledge that is much more advanced than ours. Maybe it is time to use it.' She contemplated.

Ottilie then carried Kallen in her arms and started to retreat back to Europe. Defeated by the immortal celestial, as they go back without any leads on the apostle. Not expecting the protector of Shenzou was much more stronger than in the rumors.

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Thanks for reading guys, and yes. Ottilie is the female version of Otto, she is in the same circumstances though. Best friend zoned, and of course she would proceed to try and revive Kallen. As Ein would bamboozle her. Ciao.