Following "Rasetsu" Stieg Strom, I teleported to the surface, emerging a short distance away from the massive crater.
"Rain...?"
The sky, which had been clear only moments ago, was now blanketed in heavy clouds. Small, cold droplets were beginning to fall.
"A barrier to prevent teleportation off the island... You’ve really outdone yourself, haven't you?"
A voice reached my ears, laced with a thin veil of irritation.
I turned toward the sound. There stood Stieg, wearing that same innocuous, malice-free smile he always did.
"I did it because you’re so quick to run. This time, I’m not letting you escape."
"Good grief. I suppose there’s no helping it. I’m not particularly in the mood, but if you insist, I shall indulge you for a while."
Stieg casually swept his hand through the air like a blade.
Along the arc of his arm, a wave of ultra-compressed water formed into a pressurized blade, hurtling toward me with the intent to cleave me in two. It was a treacherous attack—powerful enough to bisect a building and nearly impossible to track with the naked eye. But once you knew the trick, it was no threat at all.
The water blade evaporated into nothingness before it could reach me.
Seeing this, the corners of Stieg’s mouth twitched, his expression distorting ever so slightly.
"You should have realized the moment you saw I could deploy a teleportation interference barrier. A simple attack like that isn't going to work on me anymore."
"...I had my doubts, but it seems I must acknowledge the truth. And yet, I am baffled. Your mastery of power was amateurish at best until only the other day. What on earth happened to you in such a short span of time?" Stieg asked, his curiosity genuine.
From his perspective, it hadn't even been a month since our last encounter. The last time we’d crossed paths was in Daluane, when he had executed "Doctor" Ozwell. Back then, Stieg hadn’t even considered me worth his time.
As my defeat in Tsutrail had proven, the gap between our abilities had been like heaven and earth. It was only natural for him to be bewildered by my sudden surge in strength.
"I simply had an experience that made me want to die."
"......I see. While many questions remain, it seems I shall have to apply myself a little more seriously!"
Stieg dropped into a combat stance.
As he did, a rift opened in the sky, and several water dragons manifested. Since Stieg currently couldn't interfere with anything outside the island, these water dragons must have been the ones lurking in the labyrinth earlier.
"I hate to ruin your motivation, but it’s too late. The outcome was decided a long time ago."
I activated [Attraction and Repulsion Manipulation], the special ability belonging to the Empire’s Hero, Felix. I focused it to intensify the gravity in my immediate vicinity.
The water dragons, unable to adjust to the sudden weight, were dragged violently from the sky toward the earth.
With the clouds blocking the sun, the entire area was draped in shadows. Everything around us was currently a silhouette.
I channeled Log’s ability, [Shadow Manipulation]. Countless spears of solid darkness erupted from the ground, skewering the fallen water dragons where they lay.
"Simultaneous use of special abilities? Then allow me to exploit the opening that creates!"
Unlike his summons, Stieg remained standing, resisting the crushing gravity without so much as a knee touching the ground. He snatched the falling raindrops from the air, firing them down at me like high-velocity bullets.
I caught the liquid projectiles mid-air using [Psychokinesis] and readied Schwarzhase. I flooded the blade with Ki and swung it with everything I had, as if to cleave the heavens themselves.
The resulting shockwave split the clouds wide, revealing a glimpse of the brilliant blue sky above.
"っ!?"
For the first time, Stieg’s composure shattered, his face pale with shock.
"Finally. I was getting tired of seeing nothing but that creepy smile of yours."
"You... low-born inferior species...!"
Stieg’s body trembled as he glared at me with pure, unadulterated loathing.
"You’re free to feel whatever you want toward me. But if you want to walk away from this alive, there is only one path: you will comply with my demands."
"Demands?" Stieg asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"That's right. I don't actually want to wipe you all out. If possible, I’d prefer to coexist. Even with you demons."
Stieg was not human. The fact that he was moving perfectly fine despite me piercing his chest earlier was proof enough.
"Do not spout such hollow lies, human! You, who brand us 'demons,' have no right to speak of coexistence! We are Seirei who once nurtured the development of your kind!"
In the fairy tales, the Hero August and his companions had joined forces with a Fairy to defeat the Evil God. In reality, however, the Fairies had been split—some siding with humanity, and others with the Evil God. To differentiate the two, the humans of that era called their allies 'Fairies' and their enemies 'Demons.'
At their core, demons and Seirei were the same thing.
"No, you are demons. I can't call you Seirei—not yet—not while you're still hell-bent on destroying us."
When I said those words, every trace of a smile vanished from Stieg's face. The version of him that felt devoid of humanity, the one that always wore a mask of amusement, was gone.
Biologically, humans and demons were entirely different, but both possessed reason and complex emotions. We were, in essence, very similar. Facing him now, I felt that more strongly than ever.
"...Truly, the creature known as 'human' is beyond salvation."
"And you think your kind is so noble?"
"At the very least, we are far superior to an inferior race that does nothing but allow the world to rot."
I could feel the weight of his words; they carried more genuine emotion than anything he had said up to this point.
"I see. I’m glad I got to hear what you really think. You’re acting on your own convictions, then. I take it negotiations are off?"
"There is no need to ask. Though perhaps I should thank you. You have reminded me once again why humans must be eradicated!"
As Stieg roared, the sea surrounding the island surged in response to his rage. Massive waves, tall enough to scrape the sky, came rushing toward us.
"I'm actually relieved you turned me down. If you had accepted, my anger toward you would have just kept smoldering. I’ve decided to fight for a future where people can live with a smile. Anyone trying to destroy that humanity is my enemy."
As the wall of water threatened to swallow the island whole, I made my decision to eliminate Stieg.
A moment later, the waves suddenly collapsed. They fell harmlessly back into the sea like a heavy summer rain.
"When... did you...?"
Stieg feebly muttered, blood blooming from the corner of his mouth. His body was suddenly covered in a web of deep gashes, as if he had been struck a thousand times at once.
He had walked off [Black Night of the Underworld: Erebus] and a sword through the heart with barely a scratch, but he couldn't withstand this. He collapsed onto the ground.
"I told you. The outcome was decided long ago. Your only chance at survival was to listen to me."
When I had run Schwarzhase through him earlier, I had infused the blade with my Ki. I had driven that Ki deep into his body, leaving it there as a dormant trap. I then manipulated it from the inside—using the same internal destruction technique Haruto-san favored—to shred his internal organs.
"You underestimated humanity. You might have us beat when it comes to mana, but we have the advantage in Ki. Even if you've hijacked a human body, Ki doesn't circulate through a corpse. You couldn't even sense it, could you?"
Normally, Fairies and demons cannot directly interfere with our world. They require a medium—a human host. Stieg was using a corpse as a vessel to act in this realm. While his power was likely dampened compared to his true form, it meant his own death wasn't linked to the destruction of the body.
However, this wasn't something Stieg could manage alone. Beria’s [Eternal Immutability] was likely what kept the corpse from rotting, and entering the body in the first place would require yet another specific ability.
The Cult had triggered a civil war in Kyokutou years ago and had been ruling it from the shadows ever since. I’d assumed it was to secure the "Phoenix Shrine," the world's cornerstone, but it seemed they had other motives as well.
"Ki... Such a detestable power. ...Very well. I shall concede this victory to you. But do not celebrate yet. This body is not my only one. We shall meet again elsewhere, and when we do, I shall plunge you into the blackest depths of despair."
Returning to his smug, ever-smiling persona, Stieg offered his parting words. He was a demon; the body I’d shredded was just a shell. He was likely preparing to transfer his essence to another corpse.
His true form—a mass of mana—began to seep out of the body. It rose into the sky like a trail of smoke, beginning to drift away.
"You really didn't hear a word I said, did you? I told you: I’m not letting you escape."
That's right. I wasn't letting him go. I was going to cut him down right here.
"—[Magic Sword Integration: Alteration]. [Final Form: Mont Ende]."
I transformed Schwarzhase into its magic sword state and absorbed it into my being. Then, I fused it with the Ki circulating through my veins. The sheer magnitude of the power was too much for my physical form to contain; it began to leak out of my pores. My clothes shifted, weaving themselves into a Magic Raiment.
Crackles of blue-black lightning danced around me. I forged a new magic sword and gripped it tight. Simultaneously, I invoked [Mana Convergence] and [Seirei Command].
The mana drifting away from the corpse began to glow with the brilliance of the midday sky. It slowly coalesced into a humanoid shape—the form of a sky-blue young man.
"What!?"
I had forcibly manifested Stieg into the physical world. He looked utterly bewildered, clearly caught off guard.
"Now, finally, I can put you in the ground."
I raised my sword, concentrating every ounce of my "power" into the blade.
"......っ! Orun Doura!"
Stieg lunged at me, his voice a frantic scream. But he was too late.
"—Evil-Dispelling Heavenly Flash!"
I unleashed the full weight of the strike—a power specifically designed to erase demons—using the principles of the Heavenly Flash. The jet-black slash struck Stieg and erupted into an atmospheric shockwave.
When the dust settled, everything that had been standing there was gone.
◇
"......Guh!? Cough, cough!"
As I was confirming Stieg's erasure, a white-hot agony flared through my entire body. My legs gave out, and I hit the ground hard, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
I guess I can't pull this off as easily as I did in the Hidden World...!
I immediately deactivated [Magic Sword Integration: Alteration], but the damage was done. My tissues were beginning to break down as if a lethal poison were coursing through my system.
"I can't... die here...!"
I activated [Time Rewind], forcing the state of my body back to how it was before I’d unleashed [Final Form: Mont Ende].
"......っ! Haa... haa... haa..."
As the cellular collapse ceased, the agonizing pain began to recede. [Final Form: Mont Ende] was a terrifying power. In that state, I doubted anyone could stand against me. But it was a double-edged sword that destroyed the user just as surely as the target. I would have to be extremely careful about when I used it.
Though, if the situation demanded it, I wouldn't hesitate. To lose what I love because I was afraid of the cost would be the ultimate failure.
As I sat there, hunched over and catching my breath, I heard footsteps approaching.
"Is it over?" Fuuka asked as she drew near.
"Yeah. It's done. How was your side?"
"No problems here. 'The War Ogre' was exactly what you thought—a Majin created to mimic a vampire. I only cut away his 'ogre' power. He isn't dead, but he should be nothing more than an ordinary human now."
"......I see. Thanks for sticking to the 'no-kill' rule, Fuuka."
I pushed myself to my feet and offered her a grateful look.
"Mm. Did you kill 'Rasetsu'? He was a demon, so your rule didn't apply to him. It wouldn't have been a problem if you had."
"No, I didn't kill him. Seirei and demons are basically just clusters of mana centered around a core with its own personality. I just severed the connection between that core and the rest of his mana. He’s still conscious, but he’ll never be able to interfere with the world again. He can't even cast a basic spell."
"So he's just... awake? But unable to do anything?"
"Essentially. He took something precious from me. Now he gets to spend eternity tasting a suffering worse than death."
"I see. If that's the end Orun wanted for him, I won't argue. ...So, what's next?"
"That depends on the Cult. But Nagisa Asagiri has the [Soul Interference] ability. She’ll realize Stieg is gone almost immediately. Once she knows, the Cult will realize I’ve regained my power. That’s when the worldwide stampedes will probably start. After that... our next target is Beria Sans."
Nagisa Asagiri was the current head of the Asagiri family ruling Kyokutou. Originally a branch of the Shinonome house in charge of divine rituals, the Asagiri family had led a coup several years ago. Every member of the Shinonome line—save for Fuuka—had been wiped out in that conflict.
According to Fuuka, Philly Carpenter had been pulling the strings behind that coup. With his ability, sowing internal discord would have been child's play.
"I'm sorry for the trouble my relative has caused," Fuuka said quietly.
"It's not your fault, Fuuka. And it’s likely not her fault, either. Given the circumstances, she's probably being forced to cooperate. She isn't the type of girl to do this because she wants to, right?"
"No. I swear, she isn't doing this by choice."
"Then we just have to set her free."
"Yes. We're definitely taking Kyokutou back."
Fuuka’s face wasn't its usual expressionless mask. It was set with a gaze of absolute, unshakeable resolve.