Arknights' Lock of Heaven

"Even gods can be this naive?" Amiya's eyes held a hint of mockery. "I said five minutes, so it's five minutes?"

“And what can you change, you demon king of Castor?” Kosiché tried to calm his voice. “The sword is at my throat right now.”

"You won't die," Amiya said calmly.

"With that sword you borrowed from who-knows-where?"

"Or is it that I haven't fully taken control of this body, so I can't go against Talulah's will?"

Koschei's lips curled up slightly. "Do you really think that Talulah, who allowed me to do so many things in her heart, still wants to live?"

“She had been thinking about suicide for a long, long time.”

"Now, Caster, shall we see which is faster, the sword in your hand or the sword at my neck?"

Kosiché revealed a smug smile; this was the first time in a day full of unexpected events that he had taken the initiative.

“My sword can’t do that,” Amiya shook her head.

“Then choose,” Kosich’s smile grew even more smug, and the displeasure that had been building up inside him dissipated somewhat. “Do you want your companion’s sister, or do you want to be like a true demon king and swing your sword at me?”

“I really can’t abandon my friendship with Commander Chen,” Amiya sighed.

“Then tell me,” Kosiché said, his eyes crinkling with delight. He was about to subdue the Demon King and learn the truth.

This is his only chance to turn the tide today, and incidentally, he can also make the Demon King submit to him.

Although he's a newly born demon king, not the nightmare I encountered before, he's still passable.

He even started planning in his mind how to reuse Talulah's body in the future.

The current failure is only temporary.

The malicious plan didn't even require much thought; it was just based on what had been deduced beforehand.

The demon lord from another race wants to incite a revolution among the infected, and then use that power to return to Kazdel and reclaim what rightfully belongs to her.

There's no need to think about whether it's true or false; just spread the message.

They can even add sensational rumors to attract attention, such as the meteorite that fell that day being an ancient weapon controlled by Rhodes Island.

Naturally, some people couldn't sit still and started investigating.

Once they discover that the young Demon King before them is indeed on Rhodes Island, and is indeed not a Sarkaz, and has indeed intervened in this incident as rumored, then someone will take action.

Lots and lots of people.

As for myself, I just need to focus on dealing with the real mastermind.

Kosiché's smile grew even brighter, and the negative emotions that had been building up in his heart finally began to dissipate.

It's just one failure; he can afford the loss. As long as he finds out who the enemy is, that's all that matters.

The one thing he has no shortage of is time.

“My sword certainly can’t do that,” Amiya said slowly, looking at Kosichek. “But a few weeks ago, I received a gift.”

She extended her right hand, revealing the old ring.

"I can feel the surging emotions contained within this ring."

Kosiché's smile froze on his face.

"Is this yours, Miss Talulah?"

Through her Originium Arts, Amiya poured the emotions residing in the ring onto Koschlän, or rather, Talulah.

"Is this your past? Was your past really this passionate?"

She did not refuse Amiya's Originium Arts, and an invisible bridge connected them in the void.

Kosiché felt uneasy and wanted to threaten her with bloodshed to stop her from continuing, but the sword in his hand remained motionless.

"Can you feel it? Through my Originium Arts, can you feel Frostnova's resentment before her death? Can you feel the questions posed deep within her heart?"

"Can you feel the fear in the hearts of those infected who were transformed into herds by Mephistopheles? The painful cries from beneath their decaying bodies?"

"Enough!" Kosiché roared. "What do you think you're trying to awaken with those infected? Her conscience? You hope she'll see the error of her ways?"

"Do you think there's still something like this after what she's done? You'll only make her die faster!"

Amiya ignored Koschei's words and continued, "Are you willing to accept this, Miss Talulah?"

"Your ideals have been trampled on, and the Reunion Movement has become a graveyard for the infected."

"The people you swore to protect died unjustly because of a conspiracy, and your brothers and sisters became pawns and bargaining chips in the hands of others."

"The infected people you are trying to save are dying."

"Are you really willing to die meaninglessly as this snake's puppet?"

Kosiché tried to move the sword from his neck, but it was as hard as a rock.

"Very well, it seems you're not satisfied."

Amiya smiled, raising her ominous longsword high. "Then, leave the rest to me."

A ray of light is emerging.

Although it was no longer brilliant, and although it was already somewhat ambiguous, the black light, accompanied by the blue flames, was still gathering.

Like innocent souls who died tragically, they gradually emerged from the ruins of the core city and then drifted towards the command tower.

The Shield Guards, the guerrillas, the Reunion Movement members, spies from various countries—countless people witnessed this scene.

Xia Yu gently raised her hand and grasped a wisp of black light.

But it mischievously dodged it and then resolutely drifted toward the command tower.

This mutation is so drastic, I don't even recognize it anymore...

I knew the Demon King's power was going to cause trouble.

Countless black rays converged, and a towering black beam of light emerged from above the command tower.

Then, with a swipe of those slender arms, it crashed down.

Kosichrie's eyes widened in fury as he desperately suppressed Talulah's consciousness before dodging to the side.

He didn't even have time to use the opportunity to commit suicide, because while Talulah would be dead, he would definitely not be able to escape.

But a large hand locked around her neck.

He is a patriot.

Sometime later, he stood up from where he had been lying and went behind Kosiché.

Now, he reached out and grabbed the evil god by the neck again, but the latter was no longer as confident as before.

A torrent of black light enveloped the two of them.

A chilling, inhuman scream echoed throughout the entire core city.

Just hearing it makes you imagine how painful it must be; some people with weak will instinctively cover their ears.

The black beam of light lasted for three minutes, while the screams stopped after two and a half minutes.

The remaining half minute was spent on the verge of death.

Finally, with the last screech and the black torrent ceasing, Talulah opened her eyes.

In the ruins of the core city, Xia Yu reached out and grabbed a small snake that was on the verge of death.

"Look what I found."

83 Afterwards

"Lord..."

Patriot looked at Kal'tsit. Although he had expected it, he still felt somewhat... unaccustomed when he actually faced Amiya.

Looking at Amiya lying unconscious on the stretcher, Patriot's expression remained unreadable behind his visor.

Castor the Demon King.

He was even starting to wonder if this was because he had been living on the snowy plains for too long and had become too out of touch with the times.

Fortunately, Black Serpent seemed just as surprised as he was when facing Amiya, so it seems that wasn't the case.

“Bozokaste,” Kal'tsit brushed a stray hair behind her ear and said calmly as always, “I know what you’re thinking, but at least for now, give us some time and space.”

"Amiya's condition is not good."

The tall Wendigo looked at Amiya on the stretcher and slowly nodded.

The Demon King's power never comes without a price.

Then he turned around and, with his former light steps worn down by time and illness, stepped onto the stairs leading downstairs.

Chen glanced at Amiya, hesitated, but still forced Talulah, who had given up resisting, downstairs.

“Doctor, don’t ask anything,” Kal’tsit said, taking a syringe from her medical kit and pointing it at the Doctor. “I need your blood now.”

"Just a little bit is fine."

The doctor remained as taciturn as ever, only speaking more when it came to things that interested him.