“Wait, are you all right, Master Lloyd?!”
“It seemed like you released a staggering amount of mana…”
“No, it was only about ten percent. It’ll recover naturally in no time.”
“Only… ten percent…?! As—as usual, the scale you work on is just ridiculous…”
“Master Lloyd has been updating his mana efficiency with all sorts of knowledge, after all… Even so, ten percent is a terrifying thought.”
Through the integration of military magic, my link with Diguardia, the Demon King’s wisdom, and various other refinements, my mana efficiency is several times what it used to be.
Thanks to that, everyday spells cost me almost nothing, and even a significant release of mana is replenished almost instantly.
“—Heh heh.”
Suddenly, a muffled laugh echoed.
It was the World Tree. The amount of mana being emitted by the new Tree-man rising from the earth was far greater than before.
I see. It seems that in that fleeting moment, he managed to absorb at least a portion of my mana.
I thought I’d torn those vines to shreds, but as expected of a botanical entity, he excels at absorption. Not bad at all.
“Splendid… To think I could obtain such power in a single heartbeat…! With this, I can manifest my true strength to my heart’s content! Fu-ha-ha-ha-ha!”
“—Not on our watch.”
Grimo and Jiriel stepped forward to intercept the laughing World Tree.
“Tch. In the first place, it’s our fault for not delivering the finishing blow. Master Lloyd, we’ll take responsibility for putting this guy down, so just leave it to us.”
“Precisely. Let it be known that we have not been serious at all until now. Which means the real fight begins here.”
Oh, they’re quite fired up. It seems being taunted earlier really stung.
Glancing at the two of them, the World Tree laughed.
“…Hm? Are you two still here? Heh, very well. If you have a death wish, I shall grant it. Come!”
“You don’t have to tell us!”
With a shout, Grimo lunged. The World Tree caught his flame-clad fist with a bare hand.
“Guh… OOOOOOH!”
Grimo didn't skip a beat, hammering a barrage of punches into the boss’s torso with his free hand.
With every strike, the flames gradually transferred to the World Tree’s body, eventually enveloping and scorching the wooden frame.
Following up with a sharp kick, Grimo sent the World Tree flying, slamming him into the wall.
“Take this! Hellfire Black Flash Cannon!”
As a finishing move, he unleashed a magic strike cloaked in black flames. Its firepower had increased even further since the last one, and the impact triggered a massive explosion.
His claim about not being serious wasn't entirely a lie—but it didn't look like the attack had any effect at all.
Within the thick, rising white smoke, a shadow shifted slowly.
Emerging as he brushed the smoke aside, the World Tree looked as if he hadn't taken a scratch.
“I—Impossible… That was my strongest attack…?”
“Heh heh heh…”
Wearing a muffled smirk, the World Tree slowly raised a finger, and a flash of light streaked out.
As the light was about to pierce the stunned Grimo—
“Hey, don’t just stand there!”
Jiriel dived in, shielding Grimo and pulling him out of the way.
“S—Sorry…! Hey… are you okay?!”
“…Hmph. I can hardly laugh at you now, can I…”
There was a large hole in his wing, and Jiriel’s face was twisted in agony.
Jiriel’s wings—an angel’s wings—are the parts where mana is most concentrated.
Naturally, they are extremely durable and serve as a shield, but for the World Tree to pierce through them so easily meant he was a completely different beast than he had been moments ago.
Well, this might be a bit too heavy a burden for the two of them. Since I am technically the cause, perhaps I should lend a hand.
As I was considering my options, Grimo and Jiriel began whispering to each other.
“…Hey, we look pathetic. After talking all that big, we can’t end it like this. Master Lloyd is watching, for crying out loud.”
“Indeed. I was completely careless—not toward him, but toward Master Lloyd’s mana capacity. That said, I assume you have no intention of accepting defeat?”
“Damn straight.…We’re using that technique we developed to blow Master Lloyd’s mind. Let's do it.”
“Ho, so you intend to use that.…Very well. That technique will surely finish him. It is a bit of a waste to use it on a mere tree, but it cannot be helped.”
“Right? We can’t show any more unseemliness than this!”
The air roared as their mana swelled simultaneously.
White and black mana swirled together, making the air tremble. The torrent of energy gathered and condensed around the two of them.
Their opposing powers created a synergistic effect, generating an incredible amount of force.
“Hey, you piece of scrap wood! The blow we’re about to unleash is our absolute best! I’m telling you now, someone like you won’t be able to block this! If you take it, you’re dead!”
“I doubt a coward like you would bother to take it head-on, however! If you’re scared, feel free to run!”
“Heh, that’s right. If you don’t want to die, you’d better tuck your tail and flee. Gyahaha!”
Watching the two of them deliver their long-winded speech, Fiona tilted her head.
“Why are they doing that…? They should just fire it without saying anything…”
“It’s a provocation. That technique likely has low proficiency because they’re still practicing it. If they fire it normally, he’ll just dodge, so they’re trying to wound his pride to make him stand his ground.”
Based on our previous interaction, the World Tree seemed surprisingly prideful.
Such a being wouldn't choose to run away from opponents he had already overwhelmed.
Rather, he would want to block it completely to achieve a perfect victory. The two of them were exploiting that psychology.
Now then, I wonder how he’ll respond.
“…”
The World Tree glanced toward me.
He probably wondered if I would intervene, but of course, I had no intention of doing so.
Prince Albert had drilled it into me that a leader shouldn't swoop in and steal a win after entrusting a task to his subordinates. I intended to respect their resolve.
Besides, they were doing something so interesting; even if I did step in, it could wait a little longer. I gestured with an open palm as if to say, “Please, go ahead.”
After considering for a moment, the World Tree took root on the spot.
“—Very well. I shall receive that strike.”
It worked; he intended to take it head-on. Grimo and Jiriel nodded, their plan a success.
“Ha! You fell for it, you blockhead! Now drop dead!”
“Listen to the symphony of our souls. —Heaven-Demon Dual Fang!”
White and black, two strands of mana formed into fangs and surged toward the World Tree.
This… is a dead ringer for the original magic I created before, Grey Demon Divine Fang.
Though it doesn't reach the level of mine, it was a Triple Casting magic capable of slaying even a high-ranking demon in a single blow—and it pierced straight through the World Tree.
“UOOOOOOOOOOH?!”
The flash of light exploded, and the World Tree let out a death cry.
A heavy boom shook the earth, and a massive hole opened in the wall.
As the white smoke cleared, the World Tree was left standing, but the left half of his body had been obliterated, and his right arm was twisted into a mangled mess.
Seeing this, Grimo and Jiriel glanced at each other.
“Hah, hah… We—we did it! Hyah-ha! Take that!”
“H-Hmph, of course! It is our ultimate technique! This is the natural result!”
While panting heavily, the two of them hugged each other in joy.
The World Tree looked up at them, but then a sudden, chilling smirk played across his lips.
“…Just kidding.”
In an instant, his lost body parts were restored.
The mana contained within him hadn't diminished in the slightest.
“I took it as a test, and it was nothing. The outer shell was damaged a bit, but it’s well within the range of regeneration… Heh heh, I wonder what you're so happy about. You fools. Shall I show you a glimpse of my true power?…Hah!”
With a sharp shout, a mana storm began to rage. Its volume, momentum, and density far surpassed the blow from the two familiars.
Struck by the intense pressure, the two of them turned pale instantly.
“I—Impossible… Even after taking that hit, it didn’t affect him at all…?”
“I—I cannot believe this… To think he can still release that much mana…?”
As they stood aghast, the World Tree kicked off the ground and closed the distance in an instant.
The torrent of mana unleashed from his raised arms was even greater than the attack the two of them had just used.
“Perish, you trash!”
The moment the fists swung down, I used spatial transfer to stand in front of my familiars.
I caught the blow with a rapidly deployed magic barrier.
A heavy thud echoed, and several layers of the barrier shattered.
“…Is the spectating over? You’re quite kind to protect your familiars. But I am surprised you caught this blow so easily.”
“You’ve certainly become quite strong yourself. I didn't think you’d be able to break through my magic barrier.”
“Hmph, nonsense. You purposely let the barrier break so you could trap me, didn’t you?”
…He saw through it. After letting him break the barrier, I had increased its density to trap his arm so he couldn't pull it out.
“I apologize, but dealing with you directly still seems dangerous. I shall take my leave.”
“You intend to run? Do you think I’ll let you?”
“I am not running. I am kicking you out!”
The entire room pulsed violently like a beating heart, and we were thrown into the air.
The room began to spin so violently that it was impossible to tell up from down or left from right, pulsating like a living creature.
“GYAA—H!”
“Everything’s spinning—!”
I caught Grimo, Jiriel, and Fiona as they tumbled through the air.
Good grief, you two are supposed to be able to fly.
“S—Sorry, Master Lloyd…”
“I was so shocked by the defeat… I panicked…”
“Well, whatever… but where did that guy go?”
Even as we spoke, the room continued to transform. By the time we regained our bearings, the World Tree had vanished, leaving only his severed arm behind.
He managed to conceal himself. As I was considering how to track him, the ceiling began to cave in.
That wasn't all. The dungeon—the World Tree itself—was collapsing.
As the walls and ceiling fell away and the sky became visible, I saw a giant “something” soaring into the air.
“What?! A giant centipede is flying through the sky?!”
“And it has swallowed the boss’s nucleus!”
I see. He intends to have a monster he created carry him away.
The centipede flew as if crawling through the sky, disappearing above the clouds.
I don't know what he plans to do next, but my target is the World Tree nucleus. I can't let him get away.
“I’m going after him. It’s dangerous, so Fiona, stay down here.”
“Ah, Master Lloyd…!”
Setting Fiona down on the ground, I used flight to leave the surface.
In no time, I reached the front of the centipede.
“Gunu… You followed me…!”
“I’m glad you went up into the sky. No one will get caught in the crossfire up here.”
I prepared ancient magic in my left hand and holy magic in my right, bundling them together with sealing magic.
—Triple Casting unique magic: Grey Demon Divine Fang.
I unleashed a flash of light, a mixture of white and black, toward the giant centipede.
“Nu?! GUOOOOOOOOH!!”
It tried to resist by deploying a magic barrier, but my magic isn't weak enough to be blocked by something like that.
The flash pierced through the centipede’s head and its magic barrier simultaneously.
It continued to shave through the massive body, eventually erasing even the very tip of its tail.
After obliterating the monster, the flash pierced through the clouds and vanished into the distance.
“Whoa! As expected, the original Grey Demon Divine Fang is in a league of its own! It’s dozens of times more powerful than ours!”
“Indeed, even that tree wouldn't stand a chance against that! Splendid work, Master Lloyd!”
“…?”
The two were jumping for joy, but the result left me with a lingering question.
The reason I used Grey Demon Divine Fang was to capture the World Tree nucleus.
This spell, which can even slay high-ranking demons, is a unique magic I developed specifically to counter magic bodies with high defensive power.
Beyond its sheer power, its true value lies in how it pursues and consumes a magic body as it disperses from damage.
A dungeon nucleus is a high-concentration mana crystal and possesses properties similar to a magic body.
I had adjusted the spell formula to capture the nucleus and bring it back, but the Grey Demon Divine Fang had destroyed the World Tree and vanished into the unknown.
“Hmm, that’s strange… Something’s wrong.”
Just where did it disappear to? To think I can't even detect it, let alone see it… I don't think I could have completely obliterated it.
Feeling a sense of unease, I descended slowly, only to hear familiar voices from below.
“Master Lloyd! Where are you?!”
“…Uh oh.”
I could see Sylpha and the others searching for me.
The dungeon had collapsed from the final impact, after all. It was only natural for everyone to come looking.
“Oops. I completely forgot about them.”
I was concerned about the lingering mystery left by the World Tree, but that had to wait.
I landed stealthily and appeared as if nothing had happened.
“H—Hey, everyone. Is anyone hurt…?”
Almost the moment I spoke, Sylpha lunged at me and hugged me with crushing force.
“Master Lloyd!”
She proceeded to pull me tight against her. I couldn't breathe.
“Ah, I am so glad you are safe… Sylpha is so happy!”
“Um, Sylpha-san, Lloyd looks like he’s actually in a lot of pain…”
“Whimper.”
I didn't care what they did, but I really wished they would help me. I was suffocating.
“…Ah! M—My apologies. I just…”
Sylpha finally released me. I coughed, feeling like I’d just cheated death.
…Anyway, I was glad I managed to avoid getting caught. Just in the nick of time.
“More importantly, Master Lloyd, haven't you forgotten someone?”
“Ah! Come to think of it, I don't see Fiona anywhere!”
That was true. I didn't see Fiona, whom I should have set down around here.
Could she have been caught in the collapsing debris? I tried searching with magic detection, but I couldn't feel Fiona’s presence nearby.
“Lloyd, help me! We have to save the elves!”
“…Right.”
I nodded at Ren’s words.
The surrounding area was a ruin, and the elves who had been caught in the collapse were groaning in the rubble.
It was unfortunate, but I couldn't worry only about Fiona right now. Well, if we searched while helping the others, she might turn up eventually.
…Actually, I felt like I was forgetting one more person… well, if I can't remember them, they probably weren't that important.
With that, we began the rescue of the elves.