The moment father and daughter collided the second floor of Relish exploded.
Wood shattered and the steel supports twisted.
The ancient building groaned beneath the force of two bodies moving faster than sound.
Simon moved first.
Despite the hole through his chest. Despite the blood loss, Despite his age. He crossed the distance instantly.
His blacksmith hammer came down with enough force to flatten mountains.
Miyuki reacted. A red blade manifested in her hand.
CLANG.
The impact shook the entire structure. The floor beneath them collapsed. The walls cracked.
Miyuki's eyes widened slightly.
Her arm trembled from absorbing the strike. She pushed the hammer upward and stared at Simon.
"For an old man… you're more powerful than a Demi-god in strength."
Simon didn't answer. He simply moved.
The hammer vanished. Before Miyuki realized what happened Simon stepped inward.
His right knee slammed into her left ribs.
BOOM.
The impact sent her skidding across the workshop.
She crashed through tables and weapon racks before stopping.
Her eyes narrowed. Simon extended his hand. The hammer returned instantly.
But now His breathing had changed.
It was heavy and uneven. Blood continued dripping onto the floor.
The hole in his chest had widened. Miyuki looked at him. Then lowered her sword.
Her eyes sharpened.
"Unforgivable."
She moved. Her sword descended vertically.
Simon ducked and the slash continued.
For a brief second nothing happened. Then Relish split in half.
The entire building separated cleanly.
Wood, Steel, Stone..Everything.
The upper floors slid apart.
Simon looked upward. Dust rained around him. Then he dashed.
His old legs exploded with power.
Inside his mind, Only one thought remained.
"I have to finish this. I'm losing too much blood".
Miyuki rushed him too.
Their eyes met.
Her sword flashed diagonally. Simon lifted the hammer.
CLANG.
Sparks erupted everywhere. The clash illuminated their faces.
Simon suddenly spoke.
"Dismantle."
CRACK. The blade shattered.
Miyuki's eyes widened.
Her sword broke apart into fragments of red energy.
She jumped backward instantly. Her expression finally shifted. Surprise.
Then she raised her hand. The sword reconstructed.
Simon stared at it. His breathing became heavier.
His eyes narrowed.
"I see…"
He slowly lowered the hammer.
"So the Zodiac's source of power…"
His eyes stayed fixed on the reforming blade.
"…is the Constellations."
Miyuki ignored him.
Her expression became cold again.
She floated upward.
Then raised her sword toward the heavens.
"God's Descent."
The skies of Tartarus changed.
Clouds parted violently. Red-black energy poured downward. The pressure distorted the city.
Buildings collapsed the roads cracked, Entire districts trembled.
The energy swallowed Miyuki. The transformation began. Her body changed.
Shell-like armor formed across her shoulders, arms, chest, and legs.
Her fingers transformed into enormous crimson clampers.
A segmented scorpion tail emerged behind her.
Her eyes became sharper. Colder and more distant. Her aura darkened.
Her transformation completed.
A hybrid of Human and Scorpion. A Weapon.
She floated above the ruined remains of Relish.
Her tail moved behind her slowly. The clampers opened. The sound alone cut through nearby stone.
Simon looked upward. His chest rose and fell heavily.
Blood continued running down his body but what hurt him most wasn't the wound.
It was seeing her…His daughter. Reduced to this. Not dead, alive or herself.
His grip tightened as his eyes softened. Then he smiled faintly. His voice became quieter.
"I hope I can make you remember before I die…"
He looked at her not as scorpio, zodiac or a weapon.
Only his daughter Yuki.
"…I'll use everything I have now."
Golden lightning appeared. Divine fire followed.
They wrapped around Simon's body. His old frame straightened.
The hammer vibrated. The forge behind him erupted. The temperature climbed instantly.
Miyuki looked down at him. Her expression remained indifferent.
"It's pointless, old man."
Her tail moved slowly.
"You have a hole in your chest."
Simon smiled. Small and Warm. Like he had when she was younger.
"Don't worry about it."
He rolled his shoulder once. Then tightened his grip on the hammer.
"I can manage myself well."
Simon bent his knees. The ground beneath him exploded and the old blacksmith shot upward toward Miyuki like a bolt of divine fire.