"Oliver...?"
Luna’s face twisted in shock at the sudden appearance of such an unexpected figure.
"It’s been a while, Luna."
Oliver glanced back at her and offered a warm smile.
He’s back to his old self... Luna thought, her heart skipping a beat as she looked at him.
His expression was no longer weighed down by the heavy burden he’d carried since last year’s joint subjugation. Instead, it was radiant—the look of someone who genuinely enjoyed the thrill of conquering the Great Labyrinth alongside her and Orun.
"A rather aggressive greeting, Oliver."
Beria stood perfectly still, seemingly unfazed despite having taken a direct hit from Oliver’s Heavenly Flash.
"Isn’t this how you people say hello? I learned that lesson ten years ago. I’m just following your etiquette, so you should be thanking me, not complaining."
Oliver shifted his gaze from Luna to Beria, his voice calm and steady.
"Are you still on about our visit to your village? To hold a grudge for ten years is quite petty, don't you think?"
About a decade ago, the Cyclamen Cult led by Beria had decimated the village where Orun and Oliver lived. Their opening move had been a massive, unannounced spell that obliterated seventy percent of the settlement and slaughtered most of its inhabitants.
It was immediately after that battle that Oliver and Orun had their memories rewritten. For Oliver, who had only regained his true self less than a year ago, those events weren’t just a decade-old memory—they were fresh. Beria knew this perfectly well and had chosen those words specifically to needle him.
"Hah! You’re one to talk, considering you’re still dragging out a grudge from centuries ago. It’s pathetic."
Oliver scoffed, dismissing the taunt with a cold laugh. Beria’s eyes narrowed, his gaze turning predatory.
"A mere replica who has lost his reason for existing shouldn't speak so boldly."
"Hahahaha! Don't tell me you've been trying to rattle me this whole time? Is that really the best you’ve got?"
In contrast to Beria’s icy aura, Oliver’s smile remained wide. However, the mirth vanished from his eyes in an instant as his expression turned deadly serious.
"If that’s the case, you’re wasting your breath. I processed that a long time ago. My future isn't yours to decide, nor does it belong to Amunzaas. It belongs to me!"
"...I see. And? Why bother showing up here? Surely you aren’t going to tell me some fairy tale about how you’re going to defeat me?"
"I'm not that reckless," Oliver replied nonchalantly. "Even on 'that day,' when Orun could use his ability to its fullest potential, he could only manage to blow off your left arm. I’m well aware that I’m in no position to win a fight against you right now."
Something is wrong, Beria thought, his brow furrowing. Why is he here now?
If he has no intention of stopping me, surely it would be more constructive to be elsewhere, protecting the civilians. And yet—ah, I see.
Beria had been struggling to decipher Oliver's intent, but as he observed the flow of mana swirling around the man, he finally realized the play.
"Heh, heh. That’s an interesting plan, Oliver. Or was it Titania’s idea?"
"...I have no idea what you’re talking about."
Oliver’s face stiffened with tension as he feigned ignorance.
"I don't mind you trying, but letting you finish without a struggle wouldn't be very entertaining."
Beria gripped his sword and, in a flash, closed the gap between them.
"!"
Oliver gasped but managed to react just in time. Their blades collided with a violent clang, sending cracks spiderwebbing through the ground beneath their feet.
"Mr. Oliver!"
"Hahaha! I suppose you can at least keep up with that much."
"Guh!"
Oliver’s face contorted under the pressure, while Beria remained perfectly composed. Suddenly, a geometric pattern flickered in Oliver’s left eye, and golden mana began to bleed into the air.
"...Hmph. That left eye. To think a mere replica would have the audacity to try and grasp the principles of magic."
Beria recognized the change instantly; Oliver’s left eye was assimilating with the Seirei Eyes.
"I'm not the same kid I was ten years ago!"
Oliver roared, activating his Mana Convergence. The golden mana materialized into visible form, gathering behind his back until it began to take the shape of wings.
"An angel...?" Luna whispered as she watched his silhouette.
Oliver snapped his wings open, scattering golden, feather-like shards into the air. Each feather launched itself at Beria in a chaotic, unpredictable trajectory. Beria kicked off the ground, leaping backward to evade the barrage.
"...I was hoping I wouldn't have to fight you, but I guess life isn't that easy," Oliver muttered, focusing his mana even further.
"I don't fully understand what’s happening, but I know that man is our enemy. I’ll support you, Mr. Oliver!"
Before she knew it, Luna had stepped forward to stand at Oliver’s side.
"I thought a fool like me had been abandoned a long time ago," Oliver said, looking genuinely surprised.
"You were definitely a fool last year. And believe me, we are going to have a very long talk about that later. But first, we have to deal with the problem in front of us!"
Beria swung his blade, sending a crescent of red-black mana flying toward them.
"Haha... a lecture from Luna, huh? I used to hate those when we were a party, but for some reason, the idea sounds great right now!"
Oliver laughed as he met the incoming projectile with a Heavenly Flash. The collision triggered a violent explosion, sending shockwaves through the area.
"Luna! Sixty seconds! If I can stay alive for sixty seconds, we win! Just focus entirely on recovery magic!"
"...! Understood!"
Luna suppressed her curiosity about the sixty-second time limit and nodded firmly.
"—Aegis!"
As Oliver invoked the spell, his mana turned a brilliant white and began to encase his body. The energy coalesced into a suit of canary-colored armor, complete with shimmering wings. By utilizing Mana Convergence alongside the Seirei Eyes, Oliver had managed to touch the "outside"—a feat that had taken even Shion years—in less than six months.
"Impressive. So you've already reached the principles of magic. I’ll retract my comment about you being 'just a replica.'"
Beria looked genuinely intrigued now that he realized Oliver had become a transcendent.
"Though that only makes me more curious. Why oppose me? I know your history. You were born to be a weapon. Now that you’ve touched the outside, don’t you want to shatter this birdcage of a world?"
"It’s true. I have plenty of grievances with this world and the ideals of Amunzaas," Oliver admitted.
"Then join—"
"—However," Oliver cut him off, "even though I’ve only lived twenty years—which I’m sure is just a blink of an eye to you—I’ve found things worth protecting. I won't betray my oath ever again. I’ll get stronger and stronger so that nothing I love will ever be taken from me again!"
Oliver gripped his sword with renewed resolve, his heart set on the promise he had made after losing everything once before. Mana surged into his blade, distorting the very air around him as he lunged at Beria.
"Fine. Then die."
Their swords clashed again, but this time, it was different. Both combatants had poured their raw mana into their blades. The sheer energy of the collision warped the space around them, the roar of the impact deafening.
On the surface, they seemed equal. However, despite his Aegis armor, blood suddenly sprayed from Oliver’s body as if he had been shredded by invisible blades. Beria, on the other hand, remained unscathed.
"Hmph. You’re not even worth the effort."
The wounds on Oliver’s body were deep and fatal—or they would have been, if he were alone. But he had Luna, the healer who had supported the Hero Party from the shadows alongside Orun.
The moment the wounds appeared, they vanished under the light of Luna’s Exheal. Oliver immediately formed a magic sword through Mana Convergence. Beria, lacking a left arm, was forced to use his right to parry Oliver’s primary blade.
"Uooooo!"
Oliver roared, swinging his magic sword. But the blade hit an invisible wall of force just inches from Beria’s skin. Even so, a defiant smirk played on Oliver’s lips.
"I forced you to use your right arm and your ability...!"
"!" Beria’s eyes widened.
"—Blast!"
Oliver triggered another spell at point-blank range. A mana bullet detonated between them, creating a massive explosion. It was a reckless, self-destructive move, but Oliver remained unharmed, shielded by his canary-colored Aegis.
Blown backward by the blast, Beria drove his sword into the ground to steady himself. He stood up immediately, looking as though nothing had happened.
"That last combination was actually a bit surprising."
"You’re still unharmed after taking that at point-blank range? What a pain in the ass," Oliver spat.
Beria’s ability was Eternal Immutability. As the name suggested, he simply did not change. It was the reason he remained young despite his age. However, ignoring damage was merely the surface of what the ability could do. Over centuries of use, Beria had mastered his ability more than anyone else in history.
"I never imagined you would reach this level. Is this what they call 'human potential'? Consider this my thanks for the entertainment. If you stop resisting, I'll kill you quickly."
"—Eh..."
Before Luna could process the words, Beria used Shukuchi to appear directly in front of her. He swung his sword down. Luna was no amateur, and she had been on high alert, but Beria was so fast she didn't even realize he had moved until the blade was inches away.
"Luna!"
Oliver shoved her aside, throwing himself into the path of the strike. Beria’s sword carved deep into Oliver’s chest.
"Mr. Oliver—Aguh!?"
Seeing Oliver take such a grievous wound to protect her, Luna desperately tried to construct a spell for healing and retaliation. But Beria was faster. He lashed out with a kick, sending Luna flying. She slammed into a wall, coughing up blood as her vision blurred.
"I told you I’d be merciful if you didn't resist. Do you really want to die in agony that badly?"
Watching Luna struggle for consciousness in the distance, Beria allowed a dark smile to spread across his face.
"You bastard!"
Oliver ignored the pain and swung his sword with everything he had left. But once again, Beria’s ability stopped the blade dead in its tracks. Beria lunged forward, his own sword piercing through Oliver’s armor and deep into his shoulder.
The strength left Oliver’s arm, and his sword clattered to the ground.
"A parting gift for a fellow transcendent. I’ll let you die with your friend."
A massive explosion erupted in front of Oliver, blasting him backward until he collapsed near Luna.
"Cough, cough!"
"M-Mr... Oliver..." Luna wheezed.
"I'm sorry... for dragging you into this, Luna."
"Don't... apologize... I chose to fight... of my own will. I knew... this might be how it ends. My only regret... is not being able to finish... that lecture..."
"No, I’ll listen to it. I promise. Just... a little more. Just a little longer...!"
Victory was clearly Beria’s. Luna was too injured to cast magic, and Oliver was at death’s door. But even so, Oliver’s eyes hadn't lost their spark.
"Finished with your goodbyes? Good. Die. —Keraunos."
Beria showed no hesitation. He called down a bolt of lightning capable of vaporizing anything it touched. A deafening roar filled the air as the area where the two lay was engulfed in smoke.
"...Is that it? My back-calculation shouldn't have been off."
Beria muttered as he watched the rising smoke, looking oddly disappointed. As the haze began to thin, however, three silhouettes became visible.
"—Oliver, you did a magnificent job."
A woman’s voice—one that belonged to neither Luna nor Oliver—echoed through the clearing.
"That voice..."
Luna gasped. It was the same voice that had been speaking directly into her mind, but now it was vibrating against her eardrums.
As the smoke vanished, a woman stood before them. Her clothes, her long hair, her pale skin, and her eyes were all a brilliant, otherworldly white.
"Ha... ha... That was way too close. I’ve done... all I can. You can take it from here, right?"
Oliver exhaled a shaky breath of relief. The chalk-white beauty nodded solemnly, and at that, Oliver finally let himself lose consciousness, a look of profound satisfaction on his face.
Oliver’s ability was Mana Convergence—the power to draw mana into a single point. Using that mana to create blades or armor was merely a secondary application. The true essence of his power was the ability to materialize that mana.
In other words, he could bring a Seirei, which is a being of pure mana, into the physical world as a solid entity. Throughout his battle with Beria, Oliver had been secretly focusing his Mana Convergence to do exactly that.
And the result...
"Titania...?" Luna asked.
The white-clad beauty smiled warmly at her.
"This is the first time we’ve spoken face-to-face, Ruu-ko."
Titania had finally manifested in the world.