The battle between the Gods and the Human-Demon Allied Forces had shifted into a completely one-sided affair, the scales tipped by the awakened power of Fate.
In terms of raw military strength, the Allied Forces were now overwhelming. Isis repeatedly "killed" the activation of abilities belonging to Life, the linchpin of the divine defense, cornering the Gods until their healing and resurrection spells could no longer keep pace.
The number of Gods was steadily dwindling, though they had not yet been annihilated. Even with her abilities being "killed" every third time she tried to cast them, Life barely maintained the front lines by prioritizing the resurrection of high-ranking Gods.
Even Isis, empowered by Fate to draw her Magic Power of Death to its absolute limits, could not "kill" Authority itself—the direct power of Shallow Vernal. Thus, she could not entirely halt the Gods' revival.
Still, the tide of battle had tilted significantly toward the Human-Demon Allied Forces.
"Endure!" Chronoa shouted, rallying the Gods. Even as she stood battered and bruised, she refused to yield. "Such explosive empowerment cannot possibly last! Even if the World King replenishes her magic power, the effect will wear off soon. Hold out until then! Protect the God of Life at all costs!"
Fate’s Critical Point of Fate was a terrifying power that pushed everyone recognized as an ally to the limits of their talent. However, such overwhelming strength demanded a proportional price. Even the magic power of a Supreme God like Fate, which transcended human understanding, was being drained at an astronomical rate to sustain the technique.
Lilliwood had withdrawn from the front lines to continuously funnel magic power to Fate, but the consumption far outstripped the supply. Fate’s limit was fast approaching.
Knowing this, the Gods endured desperately, shielding Life with their own bodies. Naturally, the Allied Forces could not afford to squander this opportunity—their final chance to strike. If Life was not defeated here, there would be no future.
Suddenly, a massive surge of magic power pulsated through the space where the vast energies were clashing.
"No! Scatter!" Chronoa cried. "It’s the Dragon King’s Breath!"
"Naive! Know that within my line of sight, there is no escape from this blow!"
Dragon King Magnawell—the world’s largest living being with a total length of thirty thousand meters—unleashed his full-power breath from his colossal frame. The flash of destruction reduced everything in its path to ashes. Chronoa’s attempt to teleport the Gods was blocked by Isis’s power, leaving them with nowhere to run.
After countless clashes and a fierce struggle that exhausted both sides' last reserves, the battle finally reached its conclusion. By now, only two Gods remained before the Allied Forces: Life and Chronoa.
Throughout the brutal exchange, Life had sacrificed everything else, focusing her power solely on her own survival and Chronoa’s. Yet even Life, the heart of the divine defense, had finally reached her limit. She collapsed to her knees, unable even to stand. Chronoa was in similar straits, breathing heavily as she rested one knee on the ground.
"Incredible..." Fate whispered. "The God of Space-Time... the God of Life... Even after all this, we still can't bring you down."
Fate was also at her breaking point. The effect of the Critical Point of Fate had vanished, and the subsequent backlash left the Human-Demon Allied Forces unable to even move.
"Do not underestimate us," Chronoa said. "I will admit that your choice was a valid answer in its own way."
"Yes," Life added. "Our unwavering loyalty to Shallow Vernal-sama makes open rebellion impossible for us. That is a path neither I nor the God of Space-Time could ever take."
Despite their trembling legs and crumbling forms, Chronoa and Life forced themselves to stand.
"Know that our conviction—to fight to the end for Shallow Vernal-sama even at the cost of our lives—is not inferior to your resolve!" Chronoa declared. "You are not the only one harboring a burning determination!"
Anchored by their absolute loyalty, they glared at Fate. "The Phantasm King still stands on your side while we are riddled with wounds. Do you think the outcome has been decided?"
"What?" Fate stammered.
"Why do you think the God of Life ensured my survival? It is because we... no, because I have one final trump card."
"A trump card? You can't mean—!"
Fate realized the truth. Shallow Vernal had granted each Supreme God a unique trump card—the zenith of their Authority, usable only once. All three had used them, but Chronoa possessed two authorities: Space and Time. She had been granted two trump cards.
"Judgment of Space-Time!"
Chronoa's first use had been a spatial restraint. This second activation tapped into her power over Time. Before Fate’s wide, shocked eyes, a scene of despair unfolded. Chronoa and Life were restored to perfect health, and every fallen God was resurrected without a single scratch.
"This is my second trump card," Chronoa explained. "A limited rewinding of time restricted to our side. Betting that we could endure until your ability wore off without using this was a dangerous gamble."
"Yes," Life said. "But now, it truly is over."
"No..." Fate’s voice trailed off. She had no strength left. Alice was the only combatant remaining on their side. Just as Fate was about to collapse, the sound of dry clapping echoed through the void.
"My, my... that was quite a heated battle," Alice said. Her tone was casually light. "Fate-san, you were very cool. If you’d mastered your power a bit more, the results might have been different."
"Shaltan?"
"Phantasm King... you seem remarkably calm," Chronoa said suspiciously. "You are strong, but do you really think you can overturn this alone?"
Alice stopped clapping and smiled with serene grace. "What are you talking about? Haven't you realized that the premise was different from the very beginning?"
"What?"
"In this battle, my only gamble was whether I could bring Fate-san over to our side. Shallow Vernal-sama said that the bonds Kaito-san has spun would be vital to saving him. I needed Fate-san—someone tied to him by the powerful bond of love—on our side no matter what. That’s why I bothered coming to this 'prepared battlefield' in the first place."
"What is your point?" Chronoa demanded, her irritation growing at Alice’s relaxed demeanor despite their disadvantage.
"My point is that the premise was different. Did you really think I’d base my plan to save Kaito-san on the uncertain hope that a group of allies would surpass their limits and defeat a superior force? I mean, it was a good opportunity for everyone to grow, and that’s a fine asset for the future, but..."
"You mean—!"
"Composed? No, I’m comfortable. I told you, didn't I? The only gamble was Fate-san. Everything else was fine regardless of the outcome."
An extraordinary amount of magic power erupted from Alice—a surge so tremendous that even Chronoa instinctively recoiled.
"Don't you get it? I’m telling you that annihilating the Gods... was something I could have done alone from the start!"
Countless lights rose from Alice's body, sparkling like a midnight sky filled with stars.
"Now, here, in this moment—this is the peak of my heart! This power is only for one person—this heart is only for one person—transcending limits, transcending the world! Now! 'Spin Love'! Hecatoncheir!!"
The sparkling stars were drawn into Alice's body, and her mask shattered. This was her ultimate power, a state exercised solely for the sake of one person. By embracing her identity as Alice rather than Alicia, her Heart Tool’s Ultimate War-Form had evolved.
Alice stood before the stunned Gods in her original form and quietly declared, "It's time for checkmate. I have my concerns about the Sanctuary, but the battle here has been in the palm of my hand from the beginning."
It's been Alice-chan's turn all along!
It really has, hasn't it?!
Ah, by the way, the activation chant for Hecatoncheir's Ultimate War-Form has changed from 'Spin the World' to 'Spin Love.' The actual abilities haven't changed much, but since things like the activation conditions have changed, I changed the chant too.
Looking at the data... isn't this Ultimate War-Form's ability a total cheat?
Oh, it's definitely a cheat. It's almost off-putting.