Chapter 488 – The Main Actor
The Hammer of Integrity, Gharun, had been centered upon the two Mados pioneered by Verden when he crafted Interis.
Endless Infinity.
Final Destruction.
Two opposing forces, interpreted respectively as the End and the Beginning.
The End of Order, Interis.
The epithet "to destroy the existing order and establish a new one" was by no means an exaggeration.
'In theory', it was indeed the power to implement phenomena that could make it possible.
The moment Verden spoke Interis's activation word, changes immediately began to occur.
A dazzlingly radiant blue orb.
The instant he was engulfed in that fierce azure-gray light───the output limit of Verden's mana circuits was completely released.
Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu!
The infinite mana bursting forth from Verden's heart surged through Interis and seized the space.
It clashed head-on against Dahit Wethroel's black flames, pushing them back with violent opposition.
Despite such a fierce battle, the immense reserves of mana buried within Verden could by no means be said to have lessened.
Like an ocean that does not run dry.
Even so, Verden was weary simply because, no matter how endless the mana, he could not wield it without limit.
Even the body of a Transcendent was by no means invincible.
"What…"
Even Dahit, whose emotional range was not particularly broad, could not hide his shock at the sight before his eyes.
"That staff… like your robe, it is no ordinary artifact. It clearly surpasses the bounds of even ancient relics. Could it be the legacy of the first Demon King?"
Half right.
"No, this staff was crafted solely for me, just as your gauntlets were for you."
Verden exhaled soundlessly.
Even that calm breath shook the space saturated in mana.
Dahit narrowed his eyes.
"So, with that absurd amount of mana, what do you intend to do? From the look of it, even moving the mana itself seems a struggle, let alone casting magic. And the backlash must not be insignificant. Do you really think, with this final move, you can kill me?"
"Killing you was never my goal. At least, not yet."
"Meaning you believe you can at least subdue me, then."
Amwol sneered.
It was not carelessness, but the outward expression of surging vigilance.
"Very well, let's see it."
Dahit clapped his hands together with force.
At once, every current in the area quieted and froze.
The color drained from his body.
Superlative Magic.
───!
From Dahit, a maelstrom of Deathflame erupted and spread in an instant.
Dark flames flooding heaven and earth.
A tide of pitch-black waves, surging like the flood tide, erased everything in existence, including the bridge, in an instant.
The raging flames of Deathflame rapidly filled the void, surging from every side to entrap Verden.
His infinite mana was barely holding it back, but clearly, mere neutralization was not his opponent's goal.
'As expected.'
Retreat was sealed.
There was nowhere to flee.
Dahit watched closely to see whether his foe would counter with Superlative Magic of his own, or reveal some other method.
It was then.
"Dahit Wethroel, the moment you appeared here, I never believed you'd walk away unscathed. In the end, there could only be one of two outcomes."
Verden slowly tilted Interis, held in one hand.
"One dies, or both perish… I chose the latter."
Abandon small losses to secure great gain.
That sort of thinking was discarded.
Efficiency forsaken, only the result mattered.
"I will take the bridge."
Verden fixed his gaze on Dahit.
"For I too shall take the bridge."
A metaphor.
To give bone, and take bone in return—this was the best, the ultimate answer.
Then, switching his Mado, Verden began opening
'As Dahit said, for me to convert this entire volume of mana fully into the form of magic is impossible.'
Just as the magic towers could not repurpose their power sources for anything but power.
For that reason, Interis's activation had originally been designed as a countermeasure against hidden trump cards, such as the mysterious artifact Dahit might possess.
By releasing infinite mana temporarily, Verden could repel and cut off every external factor affecting him.
In other words, it was the strongest barrier imaginable.
'But… what if I simply pour all of my mana, concentrate it into one place? For instance, into my opponent.'
Not sealing.
But rather the brutal notion of forcefully shoving boundless mana directly into the opponent, overloading the mana circuits rooted within their body.
By the laws of mana, forcibly imbuing a resistant lifeform with mana and influencing them is normally impossible.
But Verden's mana was as pure as the World Tree itself… and its sheer volume had reached the point where such laws could be ignored.
'Even a Transcendent is no exception.'
This was certainty.
From Verden's Mystic Eye burst an unprecedented radiance, and with it, his unshackled mana stirred.
Hwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!
All the mana that had shielded Verden pierced straight through the flames of
Dahit's pupils dilated.
"To declare mutual destruction, only to disregard the might of Superlative Magic? Even more deranged than Ignacia…!"
Yet precisely because of that, there was no decisive way to resist.
Too late to evade.
Even if he did, he would first have to cancel his Superlative Magic.
That was impossible.
The die was already cast.
In an instant, the unprecedented pressure drew near.
Dahit felt as though the pitch-dark abyss of the deep sea itself was surging at him.
And the moment it touched his body.
'Wait.'
A sudden déjà vu struck.
This infinite, pure power.
This sensation, like facing an ocean of mana, he had felt it before.
'Yes, this is from the power source of the Diamoon Magic Tower…!'
But the thought did not reach completion.
───Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa!
As the tide of annihilation swept through Verden, the abyss of mana swallowed Dahit whole.
***
The [Hourglass of Perpetuity] had been secured as planned, so there was no longer any business in the Great Hall.
Now, once they escaped outside with Verden, it would be over.
'But… did the family head notice?'
Perhaps, too absorbed in the battle against Dahit, he had not.
If so, only one option remained.
Deal with the three executives, then rush to aid Verden.
With that decision, as killing intent flickered in Adrian and Isabella's eyes, an overwhelming surge of mana's aftermath shook them.
"…?!!"
Everyone's attention snapped toward the doors.
An undeniable force was shaking the world.
The depths of the Great Hall trembled violently.
A powerful quake struck, enough to rob them of their footing. Then, a colossal shockwave crashed in, pressing upon them all.
"This… Superlative Magic…!"
As Carindin, staggering heavily, shivered with dread, a sound tore through the air.
Something was coming.
Not long after, a Transcendent revealed himself.
Verden.
At extreme speed he rushed, and the moment he caught sight of Molovas at the entrance of the chamber, he swung Interis.
Pajijijijijijik!
Struck head-on without even the chance for proper resistance, Molovas was annihilated and slammed into the wall.
It was a single strike powerful enough to damage the structures of the deep levels.
And then.
"Kuugh?!"
"Kyaaaah!"
A sudden crimson-black shockwave burst forth, hurling Carindin and Revana away.
"Haa, haa, haa…!"
Verden drew ragged breaths.
The Demon King's Robe was gravely damaged, and blood poured freely from his eyes and ears.
He was in ruins.
[The Hourglass, secured.]
Alpha, instead of asking after his wellbeing, showed the [Hourglass of Perpetuity] clasped in his one remaining arm.
"Well done."
Verden immediately opened a rift in space behind Adrian, Isabella, and Alpha.
'Damn…!'
But unlike usual, the pulse of
Could it be that [Ainber], having been subjected to a massive shock, had suffered damage to its functions?
The spatial coordinates were distorted.
It was impossible to know where they might fall, yet… the minimal safeguards had not collapsed, so at least they would not be buried underground or sunk into the deep sea.
There was no choice.
"Hurry, get inside…!"
Thud.
Suddenly Verden dropped to one knee. His grip loosened, and Interis fell to the floor.
His body would not move.
Not even his voice would come.
So it seemed that relying on [Ainber] to endure Superlative Magic head-on had been reckless after all.
"Kkugh…! Seal the Gate!"
Even after Verden's assault, Carindin had not lost consciousness, and by voice activated the Great Hall's secondary control.
Ku-kung.
The massive door, fixed above, fell under gravity, accelerating straight down toward Verden standing at the boundary of the entrance.
Just before it could crush him, two figures darted forward like arrows.
Kwaaaaaaang!
Isabella caught the massive falling door with raw strength. She braced it with her shoulder, knees pressed to the floor as she bore its weight.
"That, that monster…!"
"Take him! Quickly!!"
Meanwhile Adrian supported Verden, seized Interis in one hand, and dashed forward.
As though knowing it was to save its master, Interis offered no resistance.
Alpha, his single eye fixed on Isabella, hesitated, but she cried out again.
"Go first!!!"
[Confirmed.]
And so Verden, Adrian, and Alpha bearing the [Hourglass of Perpetuity] all entered the
Finally shaking off the weight of the door, Isabella leapt upward and cast
At that instant.
A dread foreboding that made her heart sink.
A jet-black beam pierced right through the door, not for her back, but aimed squarely at the
'Too fast!'
If it went inside, if anyone were struck directly, they would be killed instantly.
Huuuuk.
By reflex Isabella braked and placed herself before the
The dark flash bore down upon her.
Perhaps from the intensity of her focus, time seemed to slow.
Even with her resilience, she could not be sure she would survive if her heart or head were pierced by that black flame.
Yet still, she stood as the shield.
But the one to take that role was another.
"Do not overexert yourself."
"Eh…?!"
Suddenly, a hand reached from the
In her place, Adrian appeared, unsheathing at the greatest speed.
Jjeooooooong!
The blade of the magic sword, Cadence, clashed with Dahit's black flame. An instinctive dread, as though sensation itself were vanishing.
Adrian did not yield.
Instead, gripping his sword with both hands, he burned every ounce of his strength.
"───Haaaaaaaap!"
A vivid violet aura.
The trembling magic sword thrust forward. One strike, unbending despite immense resistance. In the next moment, the beam split apart to either side from Adrian's stance.
The flames of annihilation did not even graze the
Jjeojeok.
But the cost was Cadence itself. Cracks ran through the blade, and at last it broke. The dulled fragment flew limply and vanished into the opposite space.
The swordsman had lost his sword.
Now was the last chance to capture the intruders of the Great Hall… yet Carindin Lerhar could not move.
He simply could not.
He was overwhelmed by the spirit of the utterly exhausted Adrian.
"..."
To cut through a Transcendent's Mado—was it coincidence, or the inevitable flow?
He could not tell.
Adrian, calming his lingering momentum, strode calmly through the
Hwaaaaaak.
And thus Verden's party vanished without a trace.
In the deepest depths of the Great Hall, where violet waves had receded, silence returned.
***
The intruders had slipped beyond space.
They had escaped.
Carindin, staring blankly, slowly raised his heavy body.
'Dahit… let the enemy go?'
Impossible.
Unbelievable.
Even if their foe was a Transcendent, was he not Amwol himself?
He was about to move to confirm for himself when—
Dahit was already standing at the entrance.
"...!!!!"
For an instant Carindin was struck dumb.
Tuk, tuduk, tuk.
Dahit, leaning against the doorframe, dripped blood from his lips.
This was no light wound.
It was heavy bleeding.
Behind him trailed a line of bloodstains.
'How…'
Carindin had long watched Dahit, both as disciple and as subordinate.
He could swear, never once had he seen him like this, coughing blood.
Suddenly Dahit spoke.
"It's him."
"…?"
Carindin had no idea what he meant.
Dahit Wethroel, heedless, muttered again through blood-shot eyes.
"It's him…!!"
Two years ago, the one who had run the Bohemirn Magic Tower's power source into a rampage, sparking the war between the Black Hour and the Tower Alliance.
It was him.
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