Tune Up!

[5 Hours 50 Minutes before launch]

Kouro parted ways with Ashborn because Higokumaru wanted to talk to him about something in private.

He was initially a little worried that they would fight out of spite but they promised him that as long as the Second Herrscher was still a threat, they would inevitably remain allies.

In the Evening.

Kouro was currently outdoors and taking shelter in a place similar to a park except that there were no plants only combat Airships.

Kouro stared at the gold-striped big black sword in his hand with a pensive expression.

After he used 'Zeroth Power' and fused the two Xuanyuan swords into one, Ji Xuanyuan and her twin did not appear again.

'Have I made a mistake?'

Worried that Ji Xuanyuan and her twin's souls were injured, he opened the Xuanyuan sword's interface before one of his eyebrows raised.

Nothing had changed with the Xuanyuan Sword's status except for one thing, he saw a button that said [Tune] next to the [Upgrade] button that was grayed out.

Seeing this, Kouro rubbed his chin with a thoughtful expression, he remembered that in the game the function of [Tune] was to increase the upper-level limit for weapons that had been upgraded to the maximum.

That meant that the Xuanyuan Sword could be upgraded again to 6 stars and there was a possibility that it would have new abilities.

Thinking of this, Kouro did not hesitate and immediately pressed the [Tune] button on the Xuanyuan Sword's interface.

[Are you sure you want to Tune Up this weapon?]

[Yes/No]

'YES! Of course YES!!!' Kouro thought as his hand quickly pressed the button.

The Xuanyuan Sword in his hand then glowed brightly for a few seconds before finally dimming to reveal the new appearance of the Xuanyuan Sword.

The sword transformed into a Tachi-type Katana with a purple-black blade with a gold-coloured ancient script written above the blade with a translucent silver gem in the centre.

*Ding!*

[Xuanyuan Sword has been successfully Tune Up]

"Woah..."

Kouro raised the Xuanyuan sword straight, the sword blade did not reflect the sunlight but instead absorbed it making the purple hue at the edge of the sword blade shine brightly.

"This... Can this sword still be called a Xuanyuan sword?" Kouro muttered in confusion.

After all, from the beginning, the Xuanyuan sword came from Shenzhou (China), which had a strange taste when it turned into a Japanese Katana.

"Hmm... Let me think about it... The name of this sword is..." Kouro muttered, holding his chin while looking at the sword's appearance.

"Chunchunmaru? No, that's too weird, Murasame? No, that's too ordinary, Yamata no Orochi? Unfortunately, Chiyou is not a nine-headed snake..."

Kouro really had poor taste in naming, so he chose to use the coolest Katana name he had ever heard.

"Hmm... Oh! Well, your name is now Edge of Abyss!" said Kouro with a happy expression.

He hadn't realized that his naming felt real Chunni.

__

[Item: Xuanyuan Sword: Edge of Abyss]]

[Rarity: ★★★★★☆]

[Type: Weapon]

Weapon Skills :

Active Skill:

[Elements Drive]

[SP Cost: 18] [Cooldown: 1 second]

Continuously emits Lightning, Earth, Ice, Fire, and Wind elements, dealing 488% elemental damage and 488% physical damage respectively. Stackable.

[Summon clone]

[SP Cost: 200] [Cooldown: 1 second]

Allows the user to summon a clone that has 50% of the user's physical abilities and can use elemental abilities.

Maximum clones that can be summoned: 6

[Change in]

[SP Cost: 5] [Cooldown: 0 seconds]

Allows the user to be able to change the shape of the weapon.

Passive skill:

[Coexist together!]

[SP Cost: 20]

Ji Xuanyuan and Dark Ji Xuanyuan can be summoned at any time and can inherit 100% of the user's physical and skill abilities.

Every minute will consume 2 SP to maintain the existence of Ji Xuanyuan and Dark Ji Xuanyuan.

Users can also inherit all abilities and skills from Ji Xuanyuan and Dark Ji Xuanyuan.

__

Kouro whose eyes were wide like eggs was blinking his eyes a few times before rubbing his eyes with an expression of disbelief.

"What the hell!"

...

In a deserted place.

Higokumaru and Ashborn were currently facing each other at a distance of about 1 meter.

"... You... Do you still remember that time? The time when you came to Sakura's village and killed all the villagers and even Sakura's sister." Higokumaru asked coldly.

Facing Higokumaru's question, Ashborn only turned to look at her and was silent for a moment before saying in a calm voice.

"...I still remember."

The atmosphere around the two of them felt very tense.

Higokumaru looked at him sharply, with her ability she could sense that Ashborn's emotions were currently too calm even after she asked him that.

Even the most heinous criminals she had ever encountered with Sakura when questioned about their crimes, their emotions must have flared up, either because they felt happy remembering the suffering of their victims or something else.

But the Ashborn before her, his emotions did not flare up at all, as if...

As if his actions back then of burning down Sakura's village, killing all the villagers and even killing Sakura's sister in front of Sakura's own eyes was something normal.

Seeing this, Higokumaru ground her teeth, her hands clenched tightly and even her pupils turned vertical like a fox's eyes.

"Don't you feel any regret at all!?" she said in an angry tone.

If not for the fact that she had promised Kouro that she would not start a fight with Ashborn, she would have launched dozens of fireballs by now.

"I will never regret the decisions that I have made." Ashborn said firmly as if not caring about Higokumaru's change.

Hearing this, Higokumaru gritted her teeth very hard enough to make people worry whether she wanted to smash her teeth.

"Why did you do that? Why did you decide to kill them!?" asked Higokumaru with every sentence she used a high tone.

To this question, Ashborn did not answer immediately, he raised his head and looked up at the blue sky before asking.

"Higokumaru, do you believe in fate?"

"Huh? What are you saying-"

"If everything in this world was predestined and you had the ability to change that destiny would you change it?" Ashborn continued.

Destiny was something very mysterious, no one really understood it even Aponia herself who could see one's destiny only had a very superficial understanding.

"Are you talking about Aponia-Nee?" asked Higokumaru, she felt strange about Ashborn's question.

In response to her question, Ashborn shook his head with a disappointed expression behind the mask.

"I'll answer your question about why I did that," he said.

"I did it because of fate, they were all destined to die back then, I think you already realized that after joining Sakura. The people in that village were morons and vile. They were willing to sacrifice Sakura's sister who was sick because of the prolonged drought hoping for their 'god' to send rain... After I said this, I think you understand the reason why I did it."

Higokumaru's expression changed at her words, "So you killed all of them including Sakura's sister because they were destined to die at that time?!"

"You're half right and half wrong. For the villagers, I killed them all because I was annoyed with their behaviour, but... For Sakura's own sister... I killed her because of you Higokamaru." Ashborn said while raising his index finger.

"Huh?! What did you say?" Higokamaru's expression looked blank as she felt she didn't understand Ashborn's words.

"I killed her because I wanted Sakura to wake you up from that black box, I wanted her to become a vessel for the Herrscher of Corruption, just like with her original destiny." said Ashborn with his purple eyes shining brightly.

Higokamaru's pupils shrank when she heard this.

If Kouro heard this, he would probably understand why history had not changed much even though the future had changed completely.

Because Ashborn and possibly Aponia had straightened the destiny to be as close to the original destiny as possible.

But why did they do this?

Higokamaru's mouth opened and closed as if she was speechless before finally asking, "Why? Is the future created by KOURO no good?"

Ashborn shook his head again, "No, the future he created is very good-"

"Then, why?!" Higokamaru shouted interrupting his words.

"Because I want to protect the future he has made." Ashborn said.

"Is there an enemy out there that can ruin the future KOURO made. Isn't the Herrscher of the End already sealed?" asked Higokamaru.

Ashborn did not respond to her question, he walked past her and when he was beside her, Ashborn then whispered in her ear, "Yes. Who do you think can change Destiny itself?"

Higokamaru's pupils shrank, and she seemed to understand something, she turned her head to stare at Ashborn with her eyes and mouth wide open.

After saying that, Ashborn left without turning to look at Higokamaru.

Higokamaru stared at his back, she felt that Ashborn's shadow became more and more mysterious and her view of him also changed slightly.

...

At the same time on the other side.

In the place of the Arahato, Tesla was seen giving orders to connect the body parts of the robot.

"Come on, you slowpoke! The Arhat's knee won't connect on its own! And I want it tested right now!"

Tesla who was talking then heard someone calling her from behind.

"Dr. Tesla..."

Hearing Welt's voice from behind her Tesla's expression changed slightly before quickly returning to normal.

Without turning to look at Welt, she then said, "Aren't you busy with plans to save humanity? Hmph! Looks like you want to see me make an Arhat... How did the discussion with all of them go?"

"All of them apart from Siegfried who I refused, agreed to come along."

"..." Hearing this, Tesla clenched her fists her expression a little sad mixed with worry.

She had heard that the Second Herrscher had gained an extremely powerful new ability, and the danger level had greatly increased.

Although Kouro, Higokamaru and Welt himself were Herrschers. Would they really be able to defeat the Second Herrscher?

"Hey, before you go to the moon..."

Tesla turned to look at Welt with a sweet smile hiding her worried heart.

Welt turned to look at her with a surprised expression, it was because he rarely saw Tesla smile like that.

"When you were little... You said you wanted to waltz with me when you grew up, right?"

...

[4 hours and 50 minutes before launch]

In a large mansion in a room with walls full of windows, Welt was playing the piano while standing.

(Welt Yang POV.)

'I haven't played the piano in a long time.' I thought with calm eyes.

Looking back, I used to love playing it so much that I forced Ein to teach me.

The image of me as a child learning to play the piano flashed before my eyes.

I closed my eyes letting my hands play the piano notes to my heart's content before opening my eyes again.

'I often think that my life would have been different if I hadn't inherited his powers...'

Maybe I would have become a pianist, teacher or even a linguist like my father...

The memory of my father's death and the hero who saved me flashed through my mind.

Even after all this time, the memory is still fresh in my mind.

I lost everything, my father died and even the hero who saved me died.

When he gave me that core... The core he entrusted to me..

I was no longer Joachim Nokianvirtanen, I threw away the chance to live like a normal person...

Herrscher's power scarred every cell in my body, I could never sleep well, their whispers always ringing in my mind.

Even so, I never complained because this was the mission of the Welt.

When the pain was too much to bear...

Someone's voice woke me up, I turned my head towards the voice only to see Ein and Dr. Tesla staring at it.

I looked at Ein before looking at Dr. Tesla, she was wearing a red and white antique lace dress with a black ribbon tied as a tie, the black ribbon was also used to tie her hair into twin-tails.

I was subconsciously mesmerized by how well she fit into the outfit before quickly coming to my senses and smiling.

I approached Tesla before kneeling down on one leg and extending my hand with one of my hands folded behind my back.

I looked into her ruby-red but jewel-bright eyes before saying, "...Miss Tesla, would you be willing to dance with me?"

'To think that the snot-nosed child is now a man... Time has indeed flown by.' Tesla thought.

I saw Tesla lower her head slightly while lifting her dress slightly with both hands.

"I hope this isn't the last Waltz with you," she said in a joking tone.

Tesla then took my hand before saying, "I hope you don't disappoint me."

I put one of my hands on her waist, and she grabbed my shoulder before dancing.

I danced the Waltz with her even without music but our coordination looked harmonious.

Staring at Tesla who closed her eyes as if enjoying this dance.

My heart defensively began to resolve.

I lost many things before becoming Welt.

And I lost many things after becoming Welt.

I closed my eyes to enjoy this dance that might... be my last dance with her.

The faces of everyone close to me flashed through my mind.

Frederica Nikola Tesla.

Emma Planck.

Nancy Thomas Alva Edison.

Erwin Schrodinger.

Lieserl Albert Einstein.

Father.

Welt...

Thank you all for making me realize the beauty of mankind.

Therefore... As a Welt, I will protect our beautiful world at all costs.

Even... if it costs me my life.

__

Night.

["Hurry home, Papa!"]

"Don't worry, I'll be home as soon as I can!"

Siegfried stared at the communication interface that displayed a beautiful woman with white hair, blue eyes, and motherly nature, and a little girl with the same hair and eye colour as the woman.

The two of them were Cecilia Schariac and Kiana Kaslana, Siegfried's wife and daughter.

"Father isn't going anywhere, so be a good daughter and listen to your mother, okay?"

Cecilia patted Kiana's head before saying softly, "Alright, Kiana~ Play with your toys, mom wants to talk to your dad for a while."

Kiana nodded her head before walking away while humming.

"Okay~ I'll build HOMU Castle~"

Seeing Kiana who had completely left, Cecilia then turned to stare at the communication screen with a worried expression.

["Siegfried... Your Lunar mission.."]

"Don't worry, I'm not going with them to the moon-" Siegfried said.

["Really?! Thank goodness!"] Cecilia seemed to let out a sigh of relief.

Siegfried's expression eased a little although his heart was still disappointed at the moment, but after seeing Cecilia who breathed a sigh of relief because he did not go to the moon, his heart was no longer disappointed.

He now remembered and understood, there was someone who would cry for him if he died.

Siegfried unconsciously smiled with relief, he now felt lucky to have Cecilia as his wife.

His heart was now determined, although he could not help Welt and the others on the moon he could help them here.

"I was given the plan by Mr. Welt to guard the lab tower, there are Salome and Niggurath there so you don't have to worry."

["I know. But even so, you should still be careful, you always act without thinking first."] said Cecilia.

Siegfried's smile froze slightly upon hearing this.

He didn't know why but Cecilia had been nagging him all night at that time.

He wanted to turn off the communication screen to avoid her nagging, but then it crossed his mind that he would be nagged right at home so he didn't do it.

Siegfried had no idea that his wife was venting her worries right now.

[51 Hours 50 Minutes before Sirin's ultimatum].