After weathering the white heat ray with Full Drain, I instantly readied my blade.
"Right back at you."
A Jet-black Slash lunged at Reiji.
The impact scattered into the air, kicking up a veil of dust. When it cleared, a bloodied Reiji stood there, sword held in a steady, determined stance. The fighting spirit burning in his eyes hadn't wavered in the slightest.
That last blow should have been devastating, but it seemed he was no longer shaken by attacks of that caliber. The premonition I felt the moment we crossed paths solidified into a chilling certainty.
The current Reiji was strong enough to make my spine tingle.
I was far from peak condition, but the same applied to Reiji, who had been hunting chimeras across the city. Neither of us intended to use our circumstances as an excuse.
In truth, I suspected I would have struggled against him even if I were at my best.
According to Zest’s Magic Perception, the chimeras that had been rampaging throughout the Royal Capital had all been neutralized. He would have had to move from one end of the city to the other in the blink of an eye to cull them at such a pace.
His mobility was likely superior to mine. Even during his opening strike, I had lost sight of him completely.
"…………Hmm?"
Wait.
Reiji had been standing perfectly still for a while now.
『…Curses. He may have realized that I am a Holy Sword.』
Gah.
Come to think of it, Celestia had become quite the scholar on Holy Swords lately. Did they all have some secret study group I didn't know about?
『More likely, the Holy Swords Reiji wields have sniffed me out. My core abilities are identical to those of the First Savior’s Holy Sword, after all.』
I see. So those Golden Twin Swords of his also housed sentient spirits like Zest.
For now, I had to try and bluff my way through.
"It’s a fine weapon, isn't it?" I said, raising Zest for him to see. "It’s a little something called a Demon Sword."
『I am a Holy Sword!!』
Shut it, Zest… I’m lying so they don't find out what you are.
『O-Oh, right. My apologies. It just sounded like you actually believed that for a second, so I couldn't help myself…』
Look at yourself. Who has ever seen a pitch-black Holy Sword?
『That is entirely due to your own nature!』
Zest’s indignant scream echoed in my mind.
Meanwhile, Reiji’s expression remained unchanged.
"It doesn't matter," he said, his eyes devoid of hesitation. "None of that matters anymore. I’m just going to cut you down."
The sword in Reiji’s left hand emitted a brilliant white light. Immediately, the wounds covering his body began to close at a visible rate.
What kind of power was that? It wasn't what we had predicted.
『Our guess shouldn't be entirely wrong. The key is likely the sword in his right hand. During the exchange, the flame pattern on it was gradually glowing red. It undoubtedly has the ability to accumulate power through combat.』
Zest and I had assumed he would release all that stored energy through the left sword in a single burst, but this was different.
"Here I come," Reiji muttered.
In a flash, his figure vanished once more.
"—Guh!?"
It was pure instinct that allowed me to sense the overhead swing. He was fast—and incredibly heavy. Before my bones could shatter under the pressure, I twisted my body to forcibly roll out of the trajectory of his blade.
『Did you see that just now?!』
Yeah… I saw it. Just before Reiji vanished, his legs had glowed white for a split second.
『It seems the accumulated power is versatile. It’s not just for offense; he can use it for healing or physical reinforcement as well…』
I suppose I should be grateful there was a trick behind that invisible acceleration. He must have built up a massive reservoir of power while fighting the chimeras, then spent it all to boost his speed for that opening strike.
In a sense, his power was the polar opposite of Zest’s.
Zest swallowed everything and converted it into the strength to fight. Reiji’s Holy Swords accumulated the strength of the fight to make anything possible.
"Oooooooooooooooh!!"
Reiji’s fierce assault closed in on me.
This was a nightmare to deal with. Unlike Zest’s Full Drain, Reiji’s Holy Swords could generate their own power internally.
Which meant—
"…Tch."
The attacks never stopped.
Normally, a mindless barrage of strikes wouldn't be a threat to someone of my skill, but in Reiji’s case, every single swing carried the weight of a finishing blow. Furthermore, he wasn't just swinging blindly; he was utilizing refined techniques.
"Seah!!"
A horizontal flash from Reiji’s right suddenly shifted its path mid-swing, diving diagonally downward. It was a strike aimed at my legs. I barely managed to parry it with my sword, but the cost was my balance.
Reiji immediately followed up with an upward diagonal slash. The moment I blocked it, a blinding white light filled my vision.
"Triumph of the Sun (Roi Soleil)!!"
A heat ray unleashed at point-blank range.
Thanks to cranking up the output of my Dark Arma the instant I saw the light, I managed to evade it by a hair's breadth.
『Impressive, for an enemy.』
Yeah…
Despite the lethality of the situation, Zest and I both felt a strange sense of clarity. Seeing techniques that bore the marks of such diligent training was almost mesmerizing.
But in stark contrast to our professional appreciation, Reiji stared back with a gaze brimming with pure hatred.
Something felt wrong. From the current Reiji, I didn't feel the radiant light of a hero. Instead, there was a faint, looming darkness.
"…Why, Claude?" Reiji asked quietly. "I told you, didn't I? I told you to live your life properly."
My heart gave a painful leap.
That promise we had made, long ago, before the Prophecy was ever handed down… I had remembered those words every single day since. I had carried them like a weight in my chest.
But… I see. Reiji was the same.
Those words were special to him, too. He must have struggled through countless internal conflicts just to find a way to forgive me. He had overcome all of that to say those words back then.
"…Hmph. I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about," I spat.
Reiji… I remember it perfectly.
"A commoner's words aren't worth the effort of remembering."
And I’m keeping my promise to you right now—
In a heartbeat, Reiji’s magic power expanded explosively. His entire body began to glow with a fierce white light. Was he converting his accumulated power directly into mana?
"I was a fool for ever believing in you. Tia getting hurt, Irene dying—it’s all my fault."
The temperature in the underground chamber spiked. Reiji’s silhouette seemed to waver, turning into a blur of heat.
…Wait.
Hold on.
No way… that magic is—!
"That’s why—I will take responsibility."
Reiji’s physical body began to transform into fire itself.
I had always known he would reach this height eventually. But he was already there? He had grown this much in such a short amount of time—!?
"First Rank Magic—Fire Avatar."
A roaring blast of heat slammed into me.
This was the pinnacle of magic. Excluding Secret Rank and Royal Rank spells, this was the highest tier possible. By assimilating the physical body with an element, the caster literally became magic personified. That was the power of the First Rank Avatar spells.
"Burn."
Before I could react, Reiji was on top of me.
He no longer needed his Holy Sword's acceleration. Having become magic itself, Reiji’s speed and strength were absolute.
『Claude!?』
The Golden Twin Swords swept through the air. My torso was scorched by the passing heat. The sheer agony nearly made me black out on the spot.
But I endured. I forced myself to stay conscious and swung Zest to strike back.
If I couldn't match his speed, I had to use a counter—letting him cut my flesh so I could shatter his bones. Now that Reiji was coming into close quarters, this was my only chance.
But my Jet-black Sword passed harmlessly through Reiji’s body.
『What!?』
Ah—damn it. Of course.
Physical attacks were useless against a literal incarnation of fire. And worse—
"Gah, aaaaaaaaaaaah!?"
My entire body was set ablaze. The scream I had been stifling finally tore from my throat. Simply touching Reiji in this state was enough to be reduced to ash. He was a walking disaster. Just being near him was a death sentence.
"Claude… choose," the avatar of flame said, leveling his Golden Twin Swords. "Choose whether you'll burn to death or be cut down… make your choice."
The howling heat singed my skin. Amidst my fading consciousness, a thought flickered through my mind.
………………Maybe it’s okay to let him win now?
In the version of history seen by the Master Eye, I never knew Reiji’s true potential. But this Reiji was undeniably stronger. If he had reached this level, he could surely save the world from any threat that came his way.
Maybe my role as his stepping stone could end here.
『…Perhaps you're right,』 Zest agreed quietly.
The moment I heard that, I let out a deep, ragged sigh.
I see… if even you’re telling me it’s okay to stop, then it really must be a bad idea.
『What?! W-What do you mean by that?!』
You’re too kind to me, Zest. You said we’d fall into hell together, yet here you are, trying to show me the easy way out.
『Easy?! You call this easy?! After all the suffering you've endured, how can you call this easy?! What’s wrong with me wanting you to live?!』
It’s wrong because I don't want it. Though… thank you for the thought.
But I see now. Zest had been worrying about me this whole time.
I’m sorry for being such a burden.
……………………Alright!!
Let’s think about something pleasant for a change!!
『W-Where is this coming from?!』
I can't keep Zest worrying forever. Actually, I’ve had this plan in the back of my mind for a while now. After I’m finished being Reiji’s stepping stone and he finally surpasses me… I’m going to retire.
Somewhere in the countryside… maybe near the sea. I’ll spend my days doing absolutely nothing, just staring at the horizon where the water meets the sky. I’ll tend to a small garden, just enough to feed myself. If I want meat, I’ll go out and hunt it. A quiet, peaceful slow life. Sounds perfect, doesn't it?
『…Yes. It sounds like a life of quiet, well-deserved happiness.』
Yeah. I’m going to have those happy days one day.
Therefore—
————I can stay in hell a little longer.
If that future is waiting for me, I can endure this pain for a while more. Don't you think so, Zest?
『…………What an impossible man you are.』
It’s a pity, but I can't let Reiji step on me just yet. Because I know I’m going to keep defying the World as It Should Be.
The moment I saved Celestia and Irene, the "easiest" route ordained by Fate was destroyed. Things were working out for now, but there was no guarantee it would stay that way. I needed insurance.
I had to make Reiji stronger than the World as It Should Be required him to be. I didn't know exactly how strong the "official" Reiji was supposed to be at this point, but I had to act as if he needed to be even better.
"Dark Gate."
I deployed a jet-black gate toward the flaming Reiji.
I didn't expect this to settle things. I concentrated every ounce of my will on the magic. This wasn't a standard Gate. This was the trick Luxion used—using a Gate to summon more Gates.
Eight Dark Gates manifested around Reiji.
"What!?"
A barrage of darkness from every direction slammed into him.
Magic could only be countered by magic. While the First Rank Fire Avatar could nullify physical strikes, it provided no protection against magical interference.
In hindsight, Luxion really had been a monster. I hadn't seen any other Apostle pull this off.
"Gah, hah…!?"
Reiji’s flames flickered, and a pained groan escaped him.
I widened my eyes at the sight.
…I see. So that’s how it is.
That attack should have been a surprise, but a proper First Rank Avatar user should have brushed it off with ease. When the rank of magic changes, the scale of power shifts to an entirely different dimension.
Why was my attack—a mere Second Rank spell—working on a First Rank user?
The answer was simple.
"Reiji. You… you can't use Gate magic, can you?"
"—!"
Reiji’s face went rigid. I had hit the mark.
As far as I knew, First Rank magic was absolute. Normally, the moment he activated Fire Avatar, the fight should have been over.
"You skipped the fundamentals to gain power faster, and now it’s come back to haunt you. A house built on a shallow foundation cannot withstand the slightest tremor."
Reiji had become strong, but that strength was distorted. He had bypassed the mastery of Second Rank magic to force his way into the First Rank.
And the reason he had been driven to such extremes…
"You… you only grew this strong so you could kill me."
As a stepping stone, I had succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. But I had overdone it.
Reiji—this isn't right. You’re supposed to become strong to save the world, not just to settle a grudge with me. He must have heard somewhere that I could use Gate magic and panicked, rushing his training to stay ahead.
What a fool.
I have to take responsibility for this. I absolutely cannot lose to the current Reiji. If I do, he’ll cease to be a hero and become nothing more than a revenger. I, the one who broke him, have to be the one to snap him out of it.
"Full Drain."
I began absorbing the heat radiating from his Fire Avatar. The energy was too vast to take in entirely, but as long as I could siphon off what I needed, it would be enough.
"Reiji. If that’s all you’ve got…"
My silhouette began to blur. The massive amount of mana I had just absorbed began to rewrite my physical form into pure, unadulterated darkness.
"A-Ah…!? Aaaaaaaaaaah…!?"
Despair washed over Reiji’s face.
My flesh and the shadows harmonized, becoming one. Transformed into a darkness deeper than any night, I glared at him.
"I can do it, too."
First Rank Magic—Dark Avatar.
I suppose his thirst for revenge grew because he actually thought he could win. I’ll show him the difference in our weight class.
It’s far too early for you to surpass me, Reiji.