Like a bolt of divine punishment striking down a fool, the beam of light Rest unleashed pierced clean through Sabnock's torso.
A gaping hole had been bored through Sabnock's trunk, severing the creature's body into upper and lower halves.
In the ground below, a massive crater gaped open. The section pierced by Rest's new magic, Amaterasu, had been vaporized entirely — not even debris remained.
And yet, the head and all four limbs still clung to existence. Both eyes, stripped of their light, told the story of how this colossal beast — the ruler of today — had met its end.
"Even I have to admit… that kind of power is terrifying. My mana isn't even depleted, but I'm absolutely wrecked…"
Having returned from the sky, Rest dropped to the ground and sat down, letting out a sigh at the trail of destruction he had created.
After unleashing Amaterasu, Rest had immediately cast Levitation and Wind Control.
His altitude above the surface had already dropped below five hundred meters. In a skydiving scenario, that would be far too late to open a parachute.
He had managed to reduce his descent speed somewhat, but… the impact of crashing into the ground was still going to hurt.
If he hadn't reinforced his body's durability at the last moment and wrapped himself in water, he likely would have broken every bone in his body.
"I won… but somehow, the satisfaction feels underwhelming…"
He had defeated a magic beast that no one had been able to subjugate since the kingdom's founding.
It was a feat that would go down in history, and yet… was it because reality still hadn't sunk in? His mind was astonishingly calm.
If he reported this accomplishment to the kingdom, just how large a reward would they offer?
Then again, the annoyance of drawing attention to himself might end up outweighing any benefit.
"…I'm impressed. So you really did take down the master of the demon realm all by yourself, huh?"
"Hm?"
A voice came from behind. When Rest turned around, there stood Wilhelm Lubeth.
He had been left in charge of the Corrosion Beast swarm, yet Lubeth didn't appear to have any notable injuries.
"So magic that's been pushed to its limit has this kind of power… So this is the heights that a sword can never reach."
Even as he praised it, Lubeth's expression carried a hint of frustration.
The rivalry Rest sensed was perhaps jealousy over a feat that Lubeth himself could not accomplish.
"…If it were close combat, you'd win."
"Hmph…"
Lubeth glowered down at Rest, but after a moment opened his mouth in an irritable tone.
"Wilhelm Lubeth. Third son of the Lubeth baron family, and the 'Sword Demon' who has earned full mastery of the Armakain Sword Dance. We'll be together for a long time, so burn that into your brain."
"…?"
Why was he introducing himself at a time like this?
Rest looked back at Lubeth with a puzzled expression.
"One day, I will stand at the apex of this kingdom's knights as knight commander. You will likely become the head of the court magicians, so we'll be working together for a long time."
"Ah… so that's what you mean."
He understood.
In other words, Lubeth had acknowledged that they were counterparts who would one day become the twin wings of the Kingdom of Aiwood — a knight and a court magician.
"You're getting ahead of yourself… We're still students, you know? There are plenty of capable people among the senior students and the active knights."
"I have no interest in the rabble who simply happened to be born earlier. I will reach the top with this sword, no matter what… that's all there is to it."
"…"
It seemed that Lubeth was quite the egotist.
If the senior knights heard that, they would surely be— livid.
they would surely try to bend him to their will, though.
(He’s a proud man, but it doesn’t seem to be mere vanity… compared to Cedric or Prince Rodel, he’s much better.)
"I'm Rest. Rest of House Rosemary. I’m not married in yet, so I don’t have a family name."
"…………"
Rest, still sitting on the ground, extended his right hand.
Lubeth clasped it in return.
In the histories that followed, the two who would together race through the wars engulfing the Kingdom of Aiwood came to be known as the "Twin Wings."
Thus concluded the first cooperative effort of these two, who would surely become heroes of the age.