Judgment of Shamash, the Seventh Divine Key. Its birth originated from the core of the fallen Herrscher of Flame. That core, which once incinerated continents, was extracted, tempered, and ultimately forged into the form of dual pistols.
The black and white gun bodies were interwoven with gilded patterns. At the safety catch, the crimson Herrscher core pulsed faintly. When the dual pistols connected and locked together, the authority of the Herrscher of Flame would manifest.
Shamash unsheathed, incinerating all things!
However, due to the overwhelmingly powerful Honkai energy corrosion within, when Judgment of Shamash entered its Zero-Rated Power liberation state, the searing flames capable of burning the heavens, boiling the seas, and evaporating rivers wouldn't first target the enemy. With an almost cruel fairness, they would first completely devour the hand attempting to control them, the presumptuous body daring to wield such power.
The flames are violent, merciless. They recognize no master, obeying only the most primitive instinct to burn. The instant Zero-Rated Power is liberated, the flames consume the wielder first.
In Welt's memory, only one person could perfectly wield this power without being consumed: Kevin Kaslana.
But here came the problem.
Then let me ask you, Welt thought frantically, this isn't the world he yearned for day and night, nor is it Schicksal HQ... so how in the world did Judgment of Shamash get HERE?!
"May I touch it?"
Seeing Jiang Liang nod, Welt's fingers brushed over the gunmetal. The touch was abnormally cold.
Too stable.
In his memories, Judgment of Shamash should feel like holding a ball of raging fire. Merely touching it felt like life force burning away. Even without liberating Zero-Rated Power, he could feel the Divine Key's might; the slightest contact felt like burning life itself.
Yet, the pair of pistols before him were abnormally quiet. Judging solely by appearance, almost no dangerous aura could be detected. The internal structure didn't seem the same as the original Judgment of Shamash.
Is it just a look-alike after all?
Very similar, but this isn't the thing he was familiar with... sigh.
As he thought this, his hands happened to stroke the final part near the safety catch—that half crimson core.
This is...
One gun, half a core. Two guns together naturally made a whole, complete core.
A thousand words condensed into two in Welt's mind.
Holy shit.
He wasn't burned; rather, he sensed that the Herrscher core within this Judgment of Shamash was the original, genuine article.
As the former Herrscher of Reason, the moment he touched it, he naturally possessed the ability to verify whether the Herrscher core within Judgment of Shamash contained the power of a Herrscher.
Welt's mind became as turbulent as the sea during a storm.
Is it really just similar?
Then let me ask you, where did you get this Herrscher of Flame core that's identical to the original?!
You look like Kevin, you're holding Judgment of Shamash, and Judgment of Shamash contains the actual Herrscher core... If you're not Kevin Kaslana, who are you?!
Senior Kevin, this move is too cruel! Junior Welt really can't take it!
"Uncle Yang?" March 7th had reappeared with another cup of juice at some point. She sat down next to Jiang Liang, biting her straw. The ice cubes in her cup clinked with her movements. "Why do you look so pale? Like you've seen a talking Stellaron."
Uncle Yang, usually so calm, mature, and composed, actually wore a bitter expression.
Extremely rare!
"It's nothing... just recalling some old memories." Welt pushed his glasses up, a reflection flashing across the lenses.
The girl eyed him suspiciously for a few moments, then quietly leaned close to Jiang Liang's ear. "Uncle Yang is lying," she whispered. "Look, he's gripping his cane so hard it's deformed."
She read a lot of detective novels and could tell at a glance that Uncle Yang was hiding something.
March 7th was now scrutinizing Welt and Jiang Liang back and forth. This situation most likely involved some unspeakable past incident.
Her eyes suddenly widened as if she'd discovered a major clue. "Wait... could it be..." March 7th clapped her hand over her mouth, lowering her voice. "Did Uncle Yang borrow something from you and not return it?"
Jiang Liang paused slightly at her words, a flicker of confusion crossing his icy blue eyes.
March 7th, however, took this as confirmation, immediately adopting an "I knew it" expression.
"I knew it!" She wagged her finger triumphantly. "Uncle Yang had the same expression last time he saw an Interastral Peace Corporation collection notice!" But then she frowned suddenly. "To make Uncle Yang this nervous... how many Credits must he owe?"
Welt, listening nearby, felt his eye twitch, his mouth corners pulling.
"I've only been on the train for a few days. How did you conclude Uncle Yang owes me something? Shouldn't it be me owing Uncle Yang?" Jiang Liang retorted subconsciously.
He had fully slipped into Stelle's role. Although using the Kevin Kaslana character card, his own personality hadn't changed much. He had kept quiet earlier to observe Welt's reaction and adapt accordingly.
He felt like someone who had taken another person's belongings and then been seen by that person's friend—a subtle sense of transgression.
"Hehe, that I don't know! Anyway, whatever it is, you two must discuss it properly! Pom-Pom will cry if it sees this low pressure between you!" March 7th picked up her juice again and continued sipping slowly.
This act of playing dumb really worked! March thought internally. Uncle Yang's reaction is too strange. If this continues, they might end up having an unpleasant argument in the carriage. Although I don't know what happened between them, this young lady's specialty is defusing awkwardness!
What debt? Of course, I made that up! This situation is obviously related to Stelle's sudden change when fighting Cocolia on Jarilo-VI! How could someone as serious as Uncle Yang be in debt? But judging by their expressions just now—one twitching mouth, one face full of speechlessness—at least the tense atmosphere has been broken for now.
March 7th, of course, failed to notice that beneath Welt's seemingly grave expression, an irrepressible excitement was surging.
His gaze on Judgment of Shamash grew increasingly fervent, making Jiang Liang feel a chill down his spine. He unconsciously shifted the Judgment of Shamash slightly.
This Uncle Yang doesn't have a gun fetish, does he?
"Ahem."
Welt cleared his throat twice, his gaze behind the lenses finally shifting away from Judgment of Shamash. He tried to make his tone sound less eager. "Ahem... Stelle. Could you explain in detail how you... became like this?"
His fingers unconsciously stroked the head of his cane. Although he tried hard to maintain composure, his slightly forward-leaning body still betrayed his intense interest.
This was the perfect time to use the 'Guardian Will' material.
As Jiang Liang slowly recounted the story, Welt's expression began to change. When he mentioned the appearance of the white-haired young man asking why birds fly, his expression became extremely colorful, almost priceless. It continued until Jiang Liang explained that after the white-haired man disappeared, Judgment of Shamash appeared in his hands.
"...Is that so."
Welt sighed deeply, gazing silently at the ceiling.
"Stelle... have you considered being a Nameless with everyone... for life?"
Just as Jiang Liang thought the matter was concluded, Welt turned back, looking straight at him, his eyes burning with intensity.
He saw the hope of returning home.
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TN: Translated 20 chapters ahead, should I upload based on power stone milestone?