The mock battle between Isis-san and Iris-san was set to take place in the central region of the Demon Realm—a place known as the Forbidden Land. Despite the ominous name, I was told it was simply the designated area where the Six Kings went whenever they needed to spar or settle a dispute.
I suspected that when Megiddo-san and Lilliwood-san had their clash a while back, it probably happened right here.
"I’m realizing this a bit late, but why did you choose Isis-san as her partner?"
"Quite simply, she’s the best fit. Kuro-san is also a candidate in her own right, but when she’s serious, her style involves throwing punches loaded with a ridiculous number of effects like Regeneration Nullification, Absolute Destruction, and Causality Collapse. That’s not a helpful reference for Iris, who primarily focuses on magic."
In other words, whenever Kuro got serious, her fists didn't just pack raw power; they were infused with a terrifying array of debuffs. Classic Kuro.
"Lilliwood-san would be suitable in terms of temperament, but her primary tactic is blocking with an absurdly high defense and then reflecting the attack with a nasty multiplier. That’s not really what we’re looking for. Magnawell-san’s scale is just too massive, and that Gorilla would definitely prioritize his own fun over teaching."
"I—I see."
"That leaves Isis-san. Since she’s a magic-based fighter, Iris—who shares the same approach—has a lot to learn from her."
"……Hmm. Regardless, I’m looking forward to this. Even if it’s only a mock battle, the chance to trade blows with one of those at the top of the world makes my blood boil for the first time in a while."
Iris-san nodded as if satisfied with Alice's explanation, a smile playing on her lips as she walked beside us. I’d noticed this during her fight with Agni-san as well, but Iris-san seemed to have a surprisingly battle-hungry side to her.
As we traveled, lost in these thoughts, we soon arrived at the Forbidden Land. Isis-san was already waiting for us. Noticing our arrival, she gave a gentle wave.
"……Kaito…… Shaltier…… and…… Iris…… right? ……Hello."
"Hello, Isis-san."
"Sorry about this. I know it was a sudden request."
"Isis-dono, I look forward to your guidance today."
After a brief exchange of greetings, Isis-san and Iris-san moved to a position several hundred meters away from Alice and me.
Even though it was a mock battle, the core purpose was for Iris-san to experience high-dimensional combat. Alice would be calling the shots from the sidelines to direct the flow of the session.
That was all well and good, but something was bothering me.
"……Hey, Alice."
"What’s up?"
"Am I even going to be able to see this fight? They’re already so far away I can barely make them out……"
"Ah, good point."
Naturally, as someone with physical specs that barely grazed the limits of human common sense, I didn't think I’d be able to track their movements at all. In fact, it was impossible.
When I brought this up, Alice thought for a moment before suddenly raising her voice toward the sky in an exaggerated performance.
"Oh no! At this rate, Kaito-san won't be able to enjoy the show! If only Kaito-san had a way to perceive movements at, say, 10x the speed of light! Kaito-san is so pitiful~!"
"……Alice, what on earth are you doing?"
Just as I began to tilt my head at her bizarre behavior, a pair of glasses suddenly manifested in my hands.
(If you wear those, you’ll be able to see up to 10x the speed of light. Your perception will switch automatically, so normal movements won't feel like they're in slow motion.)
I see. Alice had been putting on a show to make a demand of Shiro-san. She wanted to secure an item that would allow me to witness the battle.
Ah, um, Shiro-san. This helps a lot. Thank you so much.
(You know, you could add that you love me. I would be very happy if you did.)
I felt like I was being bribed with a gift, so I decided to save that for another time. Regardless, I was grateful.
"Alright, we’re all set!"
"I feel like I just witnessed a blatant abuse of divine authority……"
"Isn't it a bit late to start complaining about that?"
"……Fair point."
Swallowing a mix of complicated feelings, I put on the glasses and looked toward the two combatants. Right on cue, Alice raised her voice.
"Alright, let's get this show on the road! Going full throttle immediately might be a bit much, so let's start by separating offense and defense so Iris can get a feel for things. Isis-san, are you okay with that?"
"……Yes…… I'm ready…… also…… Kaito…… glasses suit you…… you look handsome."
Unlike the person standing next to me, Isis-san's compliments were pure and without ulterior motives, which made me genuinely happy. Still, even though Isis-san's voice should have been relatively soft, it was strange how clearly I could hear her from hundreds of meters away. Magic, I assumed.
"Okay, Iris, you’re on the offensive. Isis-san, please defend without dodging. Iris, I want you to hit her with everything you’ve got. Ready?"
"……Yes."
"Understood."
Iris-san had already manifested her Heart Tool Apocalypse, and she looked completely ready for battle. The air around her felt sharp, charged with tension.
In contrast, Isis-san was in her usual natural state—relaxed and serene, showing no signs of nervousness at all.
"Then, start!"
At Alice's signal, Isis-san floated gently into the air. It was likely a gesture of consideration to ensure that any stray magic from Iris-san wouldn't hit the ground.
In response, Iris-san leveled her staff and unleashed a colossal surge of magic power.
"My opponent is one of the pillars of the world…… as such, I shall not hold back! When the twilight bell tolls, hear the song of ruin as the beast of the end roars!"
That was the ultimate technique Iris-san had used during her battle with Agni-san.
"Swallow them, Violent Beast! ——Apocalypse!!"
Was it thanks to the glasses? I saw it clearly as a massive beam of black light erupted from Iris-san's staff, surging toward the sky. It completely engulfed Isis-san, who hadn't even deployed a magic barrier.
"Isis-san!?"
"……No need to panic."
Alice's calm voice drifted from beside me as I reflexively shouted her name.
"Actually, you’re underestimating her. I know she’s a lovely, fragile-looking girlfriend to you, someone you want to protect, but……"
When the colossal flash subsided and the blinding light faded…… there she was.
"In this vast Demon Realm filled with countless powerhouses, that person is one of only six entities who carry the name—King."
……She didn't have a single scratch on her. Not a single speck of dust had touched her clothes. Isis-san remained in her original posture, perfectly still. After the light fully cleared, she looked toward us and tilted her head curiously.
"……Kaito…… did you call me?"
"A-Ah, n-no…… it was nothing."
Serious-senpai: "……Realistically speaking, what’s the current gap between Iris and Isis?"
???: "Well, if we say Iris’s combat power is 1, then Isis-san would be somewhere in the billions or trillions."
Serious-senpai: "……The power inflation is getting out of hand."