Under the horrified gaze of the Black Magic Cult, the three tornadoes born from Bakuryūha tore through everything in their path.
The people at the very front didn't even have time to react.
Their screams were swallowed by the storm as their bodies were ripped apart—shredded into fragments by the violent currents.
Only when death loomed did the rest snap out of their shock.
Magic circles flared desperately.
Magic tools were activated without restraint.
They tried to defend—tried to survive.
But it was useless.
Bakuryūha was not just powerful—it devoured, twisted, and crushed everything within its reach.
If they were equal in strength to Arlen, perhaps they could have resisted.
But there was no "if."
The storm swept them all away.
It ravaged the land, uprooted trees, and filled the air with dust and debris.
—
When everything settled—
The battlefield was hell.
The ground was torn apart, riddled with trenches and cracks.
Trees lay scattered.
The earth was soaked in blood.
As for the cult—
Some had been torn limb from limb.
Some had lost arms, legs… even heads.
Others had simply vanished—reduced to nothing.
In a single strike—
Over a hundred people were annihilated.
Of course, Arlen himself had expended a considerable amount of magic.
Even with Bakuryūha absorbing attacks, it required immense power to sustain.
—
Arlen frowned slightly as he looked at the ruined ground.
"…Went a bit overboard."
"Maybe I shouldn't have used that."
He paused, then sighed.
"…Though the others are even worse."
"…If only I could use Meidō Zangetsuha."
He shook his head.
"Forget it. The villagers can clean this up."
Then his gaze shifted.
"To the leader… he's still useful."
"I need the R-System's location."
—
He walked over.
The cult leader lay in a pool of blood—his abdomen half gone, flesh completely torn away.
Arlen clicked his tongue.
"…Not sure if this still works."
"According to the memories… Alaya Shiki's healing can even revive the dead."
"But does it work on… this?"
"…Guess I'll try."
—
He focused on his blade.
Thump.
Thump.
It pulsed—like a heartbeat.
Then—
Arlen's eyes widened.
Four skeletal figures in red cloaks appeared.
Each held a scythe.
They were… dragging something.
The man's soul.
And more than half of it had already been pulled out.
"…Interesting."
"So if I kill them… he comes back?"
—
Without hesitation—
Arlen swung.
A few clean strikes.
The reapers were cut down instantly.
—
And then—
Something incredible happened.
The man's body began to regenerate.
Flesh grew back at a visible speed.
Within seconds—
He was whole again.
If not for his torn clothes and bloodstains—
No one would believe he had just been a corpse.
—
The man opened his eyes.
"W-Where… am I…? Didn't I die…?"
"Oi."
Arlen kicked him lightly.
"Answer my questions."
—
The man froze.
Then—
His face turned deathly pale.
"T-You… you're a demon!!"
He screamed, scrambling backward—but couldn't move.
Arlen's gravity magic pinned him to the ground.
He trembled uncontrollably.
Completely broken.
—
"Talk."
"How many of you are there?"
"And where is the R-System?"
—
"I—I'm just a squad leader! One of many!"
"Our team… you already killed them all!"
"There are multiple R-Systems!"
"I only know the nearest one—it's in the coastal waters of Carmu!"
—
That was enough.
Arlen didn't ask anything further.
With a casual swing—
Wind Scar.
The battlefield was erased.
Bodies, blood, remains—
All reduced to dust.
—
He took out a communication lacrima and reported everything to Makarov.
Then returned to the village.
—
The moment Ultear saw him, she rushed forward.
"Arlen-sama! Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
He gently patted her head.
"I'm fine."
"All enemies have been eliminated."
"Though… the village entrance will need cleaning."
—
Relief spread instantly.
The villagers looked at him with gratitude—almost reverence.
The old chief tightly held Arlen's hand.
"Thank you… thank you, Mage-sama… without you…"
Arlen shook his head.
"It's over now. Get some rest."
—
That night—
After sending everyone to sleep—
Arlen sat alone on the rooftop under the moon.
Thinking.
"Now that I know the location… I can't ignore it."
"The R-System must be destroyed."
"The guilds and Council are already searching…"
"Hopefully they find the others."
He paused.
"As for Ultear and the rest…"
"They'll stay here."
"I'll go alone."
—
The next morning—
After breakfast—
He explained everything.
They wanted to go with him.
But they understood.
And agreed to stay.
After saying his goodbyes—
Under the rising sun—
Arlen set off alone.
Toward Carmu.