Sparks crackled and popped, and compressed air hissed as it escaped.
As the smoke cleared, Magicamillia was revealed, its body impaled while its staff remained defiantly raised.
"I-I don't believe it... That was an attack containing every drop of my mana! It worked just a moment ago! So why... why won't it even budge now?!"
As Lugol stood there in shock, Ido offered a thin, mocking smile.
"Well, I was focusing all my attention on Lloyd earlier, so I was rather exposed to everyone else. It was only natural that I’d take a little damage. But for you to get so cocky just because of that... honestly, it’s quite pathetic."
"Urgh...!"
"Now then, are you finished? If so, I’ll have you make your exit now."
One, then two of Titania's tentacles coiled around Magicamillia’s limbs.
The painful sound of a frame groaning under pressure echoed as the machine's limbs began to bend in unnatural directions.
"S-Stop! Please, stop!"
Despite Lugol’s pleas, Ido applied even more force without hesitation.
Magicamillia’s outer plating peeled away, and internal components burst forth.
"Farewell."
Just as the tentacles swelled to deliver the finishing blow—
Magicamillia vanished.
I had sent it to the outskirts of the city using Spatial Transfer.
"That's enough of that, Ido."
"Lloyd... did you actually save him?"
"I guess."
Those Spell Formula Circuits I’d been thinking about were just based on my imagination; there were many things I wouldn't understand without seeing the real thing. If the machine were destroyed, I’d lose the chance to learn. I’ll use the excuse of repairing it to get a look later. Yeah, great idea.
"Good grief, you’re quite kind. Even though you never spared a shred of that kindness for me, not even once."
Ido spoke with heavy sarcasm.
"You've got a prickly way of talking. Do you really hate me that much?"
"...That is why I am standing here. To defeat you."
I let out a sigh at Ido’s pretentious tone.
"Whatever works for you. But do we really need any more grandstanding?"
"—No."
With that, Titania began to swing its tentacles wildly. Their number easily exceeded several hundred.
"No more words are necessary!"
Titania's eyes glowed red, and its tentacles lunged forward with a chorus of whistling wind.
Tentacles, huh? I think I’ve seen enough of those.
When I flipped the switch next to the lever, Diguardia’s tail groaned like a living creature. The connection point purged, and it slammed into the ground. The detached tail dug into the earth, and in an instant, it vanished from sight.
Then—thoom! The ground shook violently.
"W-What is this?!"
"The ground... is sinking...?!"
Diguardia’s tail was actually a Tracking Shell. These shells would chase their target anywhere. Its tip was equipped with a drill, allowing it to literally track its mark through anything. The blades, inscribed with a Hardening Spell Formula, could penetrate any physical barrier and would continue to track until I detonated them.
The targets were the natural Magic Stones I had sensed deep underground. However, I made sure the shells dug deep enough before impact.
"I don't think I need to explain what happens when a massive explosion occurs in cavernous ground."
With the ground beneath it collapsing, Titania’s body sank into the earth along with its tentacles, leaving it unable to move. It tried to crawl back up, but the loose earth couldn't support its massive weight, and it continued to slide deeper into the pit. Being big and heavy is all well and good, but it naturally comes with certain drawbacks.
"Now then, surely that wasn't the end of it."
"Naturally, I had anticipated this."
Immediately after Ido muttered those words, there was a loud snap, like a latch being released.
With a series of rhythmic cracking and breaking sounds, Titania's body began to crumble away.
"W-What's going on...?"
"Is it... a dragon...? But that form looks exactly like..."
Revealed from within the crumbling mass was a blue dragon. It had massive wings, a long tail, sharp claws and fangs, and a body shining in silver-blue. Its form was a mirror image of the crimson dragon, Diguardia.
"...I'm surprised. It's a dead ringer for Diguardia."
"I feel the same way. I never imagined you would create something so similar to Tartarus, Lloyd. But while the forms may be the same, I wonder how the specs compare?"
The blue dragon, Tartarus, took flight from the mountain of collapsing tentacles.
Fast! Tartarus flew in at high speed, its sharp claws aiming for Diguardia’s head.
I attempted to defend by deploying a Magic Barrier, but it dissolved the moment it made contact. Sensing the danger, I evaded the attack at the last possible second.
"Indeed, it's a Neutralization Barrier. The same one you used."
"So we think alike. ...In that case."
I pulled the Great Magic Sword from my waist and unleashed a slash. Simultaneously, Titania also drew a massive sword from its back.
Clang! Sparks flew with a sharp, metallic scream.
After exchanging several blows, Ido and I put distance between each other and leveled the Magic Cannons on our backs. The fired mana blasts collided right in the center, causing a massive explosion.
I charged into the rising smoke, but it seemed my opponent had the same idea. We raced through the city, clashing blades as we passed each other.
"Hey, hey! It's got the exact same armaments, sir!"
"And their specs are completely equal... No, the opponent's are slightly..."
With every slash, the Great Magic Sword chipped, little by little. My cannon fire was also being slightly overwhelmed, and I was steadily taking damage from the energy I couldn't fully offset.
"Hehehe, it seems my Titania is superior to your Diguardia. But don't let it get you down. It’s an anomaly in itself that you were able to keep up this well with someone who has continued this research for years. However, this is where it ends!"
Titania closed in, readying its stance.
I went to ready the Great Magic Sword to respond, and then I noticed something. Without me realizing it, Titania’s tail was gone.
"Master Lloyd! Below you, sir!"
The moment I reacted to Grimo’s voice, a Tracking Shell burst from the earth.
So even that is the same. I couldn't help but offer a wry smile as I guarded with the Great Magic Sword.
A flash of light and an impact followed—I could tell even from the cockpit that the machine had been blown back. When I looked down at the display, it showed the Great Magic Sword had been snapped clean in half.
"In front of you! Master Lloyd!"
Almost simultaneously with Jiriel’s voice, Tartarus unleashed a slash. A strike backed by a Neutralization Spell Formula could not be stopped by a Magic Barrier. I wasn't at a distance where I could dodge, and with the Great Magic Sword destroyed, I had no other means of defense.
"Tch!"
I managed to leap backward to avoid it, but I was blocked by the fragments of a massive tower piled up behind me. There was nowhere to run.
"It seems this is the end! Lloyd!"
Alchemy, and specifically golem research, was still a field where I had a long way to go. I suppose I really couldn't compete with Ido, who had been researching this for so long.
I let out a sigh of resignation.
"I have no choice. I'll have to use it the way it was meant to be used."
"What are you muttering—"
Ido started to say, then stopped.
He had no choice but to stop. After all, vines had coiled around his limbs, and he was being dragged down into the ground, which had turned into quicksand.
"What... is this...?"
"What do you mean? It's magic."
I replied to Ido’s voice of utter shock. However, he didn't seem satisfied with my answer; he cried out as if he couldn't believe his ears.
"Absurd! No matter how much mana you have, there's no way you could capture my Tartarus! I built this over many years by imbuing it with a massive number of spell formulas!"
"Yeah, you're right. Normally."
As I said that, I opened both of Diguardia’s palms and pointed them at Tartarus. Built into each palm was a mouth. From them, a massive quantity of Spell Bundles was pouring out.
"■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■" "■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■"
Seeing that, Ido seemed to realize the truth immediately.
"The manifestation of Large-scale Magic through a ritual...! I see, so this is...!"
"Yeah."
I nodded and continued.
"Diguardia is certainly a golem. However, its true form is a ritual altar."