Kondo and Carera.
The two of them were already standing on nothing but stubbornness and pride.
The stubbornness that declared they could not lose after having donned their formal attire, and the pride that proclaimed the strongest of demons knew no defeat.
But in reality, both of them were utterly battered.
Kondo had succeeded in redirecting the "Final Contraction Annihilation Wave" and altering the flow of energy.
Perhaps next time, he could pull off the same feat more perfectly, minimizing the damage to himself.
But that was absolutely not the case right now.
The mere fact that he had survived a magical attack that was like the embodiment of brute force was proof of his formidable willpower.
But he had burned through every last drop of his spiritual energy, and no longer had the power to forge abilities into bullets.
In simple terms, he had already lost all offensive capability.
As for defense, that went without saying. He was in a state where he couldn't even nullify ordinary attacks, and another direct hit would mean certain defeat.
That was the situation they were in.
Carera, for her part, was no less hard-pressed.
Both of her arms had been obliterated by the use of the "Final Contraction Annihilation Wave."
She had been unable to fully control the energy generated when bringing antimatter into contact, and the backlash had blown them away.
The damage sustained in that instant had ravaged various parts of her body, and the fact that she was still standing was nothing short of miraculous.
But she was a spiritual life-form.
That was why, no matter what state her body was reduced to, she had at least avoided collapse.
She had managed to support herself with the two remaining pairs of wings out of her original six.
Vast amounts of magicules still remained, but her magicule pathways had been destroyed, making them nearly impossible to use.
It was clear that all repairs would take time, and with combat ongoing, recovery options were essentially nonexistent.
Even so, the two of them faced each other, determined to settle things once and for all.
Those who watched over their standoff included Emperor Rudra at the forefront, Major General Zamud, and a handful of Senior Arch-Mages.
Though the Emperor's defense was impenetrable, they were maintaining barriers above the upper deck to minimize the impact on the bridge.
With all the other airships destroyed, this single vessel was their lifeline.
A request for reinforcements to the homeland had already been sent, but communications had been jammed partway through.
It was obviously the work of the surrounding high-ranking demons, and it was likely that teleportation magic was being jammed as well.
Escape from here was virtually impossible, and switching to the airships drifting at sea was equally hopeless.
Given this situation, protecting this ship was the best option available to them.
However— "Lord Zamud, if another attack of that absurd destructive power scores a direct hit, resistance will be quite meaningless, won't it?"
One of the Senior Arch-Mages addressed Zamud.
Which attack was he even talking about... Zamud wanted to say. Every single one of the demons' attacks had been abnormal.
But Zamud understood.
He was referring to the blow launched by Demon Lord Rimuru—who should have been fighting the "Scorching Dragon"
The magical attack displayed by the demon now fighting Lieutenant Kondo, and the thrust from the butler-like demon, had both been tremendous ultra-class attacks in their own right, but Demon Lord Rimuru's strike had contained a terrifying power that defied common sense.
As a Senior Arch-Mage himself, Zamud had intuited that it was something extraordinary—one that could shatter even the laws of the world.
Compared to that attack, all the others, though extraordinary, were at least within the bounds of comprehension.
"Say no more. All we can do now is what is within our power..."
Zamud showed an unbroken will and rallied his subordinates.
Protect the Emperor to the end, break free from this airspace, and link up with the reinforcements heading their way to regroup.
He understood how difficult a plan this was, but he had determined there was no other option.
Do what could be done. There was nothing else.
Before Zamud and his people, a single man arrived.
He had apparently come in a hurry, panting for breath. His armor bore numerous scars, making it clear he had fought his way through fierce combat to get here.
"Your Majesty! Is Your Majesty safe!?"
Zamud recognized the man as
Though filthy, the gleam of his Mythical Grade armor was unmistakable.
There was something slightly off about his presence, but Zamud attributed it to exhaustion from intense combat.
"Oh, Lord Gradim! You're safe!?"
He had detected the intense magicule activity below and known the Magical Beast Division had engaged in battle.
When the demons that the Magical Beast Division had been facing turned their weapons upward, Zamud had given up hope of Gradim's survival.
Finding a survivor amid the allies being cut down one after another was a welcome miscalculation.
"Hmm, somehow. I'd been calling myself the strongest and all that, but I never expected the enemy to be this formidable."
"It can't be helped. We've confirmed combat strength far exceeding our measured magicule counts.
Most likely, there are several Legendary Grade Demon Lords.
And on top of that, entities that seem to be even above them...
The one currently fighting Lieutenant Kondo is likely one of them."
"The one I faced was probably one of them as well.
I barely survived, used the teleportation device, and escaped.
Death is a warrior's honor, so I'm not afraid.
But leaving His Majesty behind—I couldn't die at peace, not even in death.
I thought, at the very least, I'd get His Majesty to safety..."
"I see...
But as things stand, there's little we can—"
"Don't give up! I will protect His Majesty, so can you get this ship moving at maximum speed?
Break right through the demons' barrier and punch through to outside the spatial interference barrier.
That way, we should be able to use the teleportation device as well, correct?"
"I see... I think it'll be tough to break through the barrier with just us...
But I suppose there's nothing else we can do..."
Zamud turned his gaze to Emperor Rudra and nodded with resolve.
Since a while ago, the Emperor had been in a daze, as though he had lost consciousness.
Though the Emperor's ability guaranteed his safety, it was undeniable that the current situation was dangerous.
The Ultimate Ability "King of Justice" held the "Palace Wall," which was an absolute defense. However, activating that ability came with conditions.
Only a select handful of advisors of the Imperial Guard class knew of those conditions.
That was why Zamud had wanted—so very much—to believe that the Emperor was absolutely safe...
But the knowledge of a Senior Arch-Mage denied that belief.
It couldn't be true. No ability could be that conveniently perfect...
And seeing Kondo put his own body on the line to protect the bridge, he had realized—dimly—that there must be a weakness.
If things continued like this, the Emperor's safety would eventually be at risk.
If that was the case, he needed to do what he could right now.
"I'm counting on you, Lord Gradim!"
With that cry, Zamud led his subordinates into the bridge to get the airship moving.
Gradim—or rather, whoever was disguised as Gradim—made a vigorous nodding gesture to see Zamud off.
And beneath that helmeted face, a twisted smile crept across his features.
--- The fight between Kondo and Carera continued.
Both of them were now unable to use magicules and were exchanging blows with nothing but their physical bodies.
They struck at each other's bodies while desperately blocking lethal blows.
Kondo had exhausted every last drop of magicules and was placing everything he had into the residual power of the Mythical Grade gun in his hand—the "Executioner."
Carera was using everything she had to regenerate a single arm.
She had concentrated what little magicules she had left into that regenerated fist alone.
Since she had abandoned defensive magic, every other part of her body was completely unprotected.
From Kondo's perspective, this was a situation where one should retreat.
For Carera, this was perhaps the most wretched situation she had experienced in her long life.
Yet neither had lost their pride, and they exchanged fists wrapped in a sense of satisfaction, as though this were the greatest battle they had ever experienced.
Both were covered in wounds, and it was nothing but the sheer force of will that kept their bodies moving.
Watching the two of them intently was whoever was disguised as Gradim.
Kondo was, after all, a master—despite being on the verge of death, his movements showed no disorder.
Even with only one arm, Carera had perfectly deflected all of Kondo's attacks.
It was perhaps only natural, since the gun was the only thing to worry about.
It felt like a long time had passed, but in reality only a dozen seconds or so had gone by. Sensing an acceleration in his body, he directed his attention outward.
Zamud was carrying out his plan as expected—charging headlong into the spatial interference barrier set up by the high-ranking demons.
With a vicious grin, whoever was disguised as Gradim made his move.
An armored arm sprouted from the chest of Lieutenant Kondo, who had been exchanging blows with Carera.
Simultaneously, he fired a Ki Cannon at Carera.
That attack dealt Kondo a fatal wound.
And Carera, crumpling, stopped moving.
The man kicked aside Kondo as he coughed up blood and tried to turn around, then tore the heart from Kondo's chest and clamped it in his mouth.
"Guwahahahahaha!! I've taken down the so-called strongest, Kondo! As expected, I'm the better one!"
"Guh... ha... you... you're not... Gradim..."
Kondo spat blood as he asked.
"Don't lump me in with that trash. I'm busy too, so this is the end!!"
The man answered with mockery.
Then, gathering energy in both arms, he aimed it at the barrier stretched across the airship's heading— "Barrier-Breaking Ki Cannon!!"
—unleashing it with the barrier-piercing effect he had stolen from Lieutenant Kondo.
A breach appeared in the barrier, and the airship charged straight toward it.
Seeing this, the man grinned.
"Guwahahahahaha!! Impressive power, Kondo.
In the end, you were useful right up to the moment of your death.
I'll take the Emperor with me. Rest easy.
And once you're at ease—drop dead!!"
He fired a barrage of Ki Cannons at the two, who could no longer stand.
Then he scrambled back inside the ship.
He had wanted to confirm whether the two were alive or dead, but he had seen other demons heading their way.
And above all, the breach in the barrier would be repaired at any moment.
What mattered now was escaping from this place—the two's survival was secondary.
The man disguised as Gradim rushed to the bridge and vanished from sight.
--- Kondo closed his dimming eyes and fell onto his back.
It seemed his life would end here.
(Half-baked—) He thought, and laughed bitterly at himself.
In the end, he had accomplished nothing.
Neither protecting his homeland, nor keeping his promise to the Emperor.
—Be my friend, Tatsuya!
Yes, he... had failed to keep even that promise to you.
He could neither share your burden, nor ease your suffering—not a single thing.
And in the end, not even the promise to set you free...
—I asked
If you sense I've gone berserk, give me permission to kill me without hesitation.
Under no circumstances must you allow the "King of Justice" to go berserk.
That one is young and judges this entire world as evil.
He has taken Lucia, and believes that this world—the world where our creator
—Hey, Tatsuya. The reincarnation was a success. I remember you too.
—Don't worry. I can still control it. This time, I'll win the decisive battle against Guy!
—Recently, there have been times when military councils have ended without my knowledge.
When the berserking begins, I'm counting on you...
The "King of Justice" will tire not only of civilization, but will seek to erase everything in this world...
Memories of past conversations with the Emperor flashed through his mind.
The Emperor—Rudra—who had stopped him when he was about to take his own life in this world, unable to protect his homeland, and had become his friend.
A great hero, Emperor Rudra.
Even having deteriorated to the point where he could no longer control the "King of Justice" without repeated reincarnation, he still wore the spirit of a supreme ruler.
He had immediately intuited that the person Damrada had brought—this "Yuuki"—was not to be relied upon.
Rather, he was dangerous.
Because just like himself, he had detected dark, negative emotions lurking in the man's heart.
Perhaps if the Emperor had not weakened, he could have been the light that illuminated the darkness within...
But it was too much to ask of the Emperor in his current state.
That was why he had taken matters into his own hands—plucking the bud of calamity before it could sow further chaos.
And yet, unable to fulfill even the role of stopping the Emperor, he was simply going to rot away like this...
How pathetic, he lamented.
Of all his failures, the greatest was misjudging Demon Lord Rimuru.
He should have trusted the intuition he felt back then and stopped the Emperor.
After successfully capturing Veldora, he had let his guard down. From that moment on, the influence of the "King of Justice" had begun to bleed through more and more, surpassing the Emperor's control.
It had been a blunder.
One that was now irreversible...
"Hey, what are you sleeping for? Let's continue this fight!"
A voice spoke to Kondo.
He cracked his eyes open to find Carera peering down at him with a sour expression.
A stunningly beautiful woman with dazzling golden hair.
And yet, she was a demon he had just been fighting to the death.
(—Don't be ridiculous. I'm dying. How could I possibly fight?)
"Huh? This isn't over yet. That won't do at all."
(Heh... heh heh. Not over, huh. Right.
—You really are unreasonable...)
He didn't think she could hear him, but Kondo smiled faintly at Carera's words.
The fact that Carera herself must have been on the verge of dissolution from that last attack made the smile well up even more.
He tried to sit up, but failed.
How pathetic.
(As expected, I really can't seem to do anything...)
Compared to her, the demon before him was free and pure...
(Could it be that I'm... envious...?)
"I... I have a favor. With this gun... take His Majesty... to—"
(What am I doing? Entrusting things to a demon...)
But, ah... his consciousness was fading.
Even as the physical body of a "Saint"—a crystallization of energy—that body could not be maintained without the True Core that governed the soul.
No, if he had been at full strength, perhaps reconstructing the True Core would have been possible, but for the current Kondo, it was impossible.
He could feel the deterioration beginning from his extremities.
In fact, it was precisely because his willpower was depleted and his Holy magicules were exhausted that the rate of deterioration was slower.
He had already judged for himself that revival from this stage was impossible.
"Hmph. How boring. It was a nice, satisfying fight, and now you've killed the mood.
I'll kill that nuisance.
And while I'm at it, I might as well kill this Emperor too—"
(......?)
"You dense fool! What's my reward? If you want a demon to do your bidding, you need a contract!"
At Carera's flustered outburst, Kondo couldn't hold back his smile.
He felt amused.
This demon, who should have been his enemy—and yet she looked embarrassed, flustered.
(All of me, soul and all... it's yours... so please...)
With his last strength, Kondo opened his eyes wide and looked at Carera with fierce determination.
His words could no longer become sound.
That she could hear him was perhaps nothing more than Kondo's selfish fantasy.
Even so...
At the very end, he was gambling on the hope of saving his wretched self.
Trusting a demon—it was laughable, but...
"I have heard your wish.
I, Carera, the 'Calamity King,' hereby seal this contract!
Your wish shall be granted."
Carera declared solemnly.
Kondo smiled softly at her words and, with his last strength, placed the gun in Carera's hand.
The gleaming Mythical Grade gun.
The moment she took it, Kondo's body turned to light and was absorbed into Carera through the gun.
However, while his soul's energy had been transferred to Carera, his Heart Core was not included.
Carera knew this.
The Heart Core of a human who had reached the rank of "Saint" could not be restrained, even if the soul was bound.
No constraint could hold it—it would break free from the cycle of reincarnation and attain nirvana.
"Hmph, how boring. It had been a while since I had an opponent with backbone..."
Carera directed her consciousness toward the gun in her hand.
Instantly, a torrent of ability flooded into her.
《The Ultimate Ability "King of Extinction" has integrated the Ultimate Ability "Executioner."》 Through the information flooding her mind, Carera understood how to use the ability.
In an instant, she had mastered the handling of the gun.
—You seem delicate, but your use of magicules is far too reckless. Try to make better use of them while you can— She thought she heard Kondo's voice.
Even to the very end, an impudent human, Carera thought.
Carera rose to her feet.
She could see Ageira and
Her own injuries had already been fully healed.
『Are you safe, Lady Carera!?』
Ageira and Esprit knelt before Carera as she stood.
They celebrated her survival.
At a glance, she could see that they too had grown stronger through battle.
Satisfied, she said: "Let's go. I'll carve the true meaning of fear into the souls of those who dared look down on us!"
She began to walk.
She would make those fools who had defiled this sacred battle understand true terror.
And above all—contracts must be fulfilled.