"The 'Curtain of the Evil God' — Magic Inscription Liberation!"
For Laplace, those words had been no different from a victory declaration until now.
That was because no one had been able to withstand his released magic. Even within the organization, he was the strongest. The only one who could oppose him was Chrono, and since Chrono was an ally, Laplace during Liberation was essentially invincible.
That had not changed up until this very moment — or so it seemed.
"The 'Primal Inscription' — Magic Inscription Liberation."
Perhaps at this very moment.
For the first time in Laplace's life, he encountered someone who wielded the same Magic Inscription Liberation. Ermes's magic power surged all at once.
Simultaneously, Laplace's Liberation domain activated. Within a certain range, Laplace was now virtually invincible, and since Ermes was already within that range, victory was assured —
— or so it should have been.
(...What?)
A sense of unease.
The domain itself had activated. But something felt weak. There was a strange, foreign sensation permeating it. Laplace's exceptional perception picked up on this peculiar feeling.
Speaking of peculiar, Ermes's behavior was strange too. His Primal Inscription's Magic Inscription Liberation — its effect should have been "magic creation." It shouldn't be the kind of Liberation useful in direct combat like this.
Taking all of that into account, Laplace addressed Ermes.
"...Well now. Did you do something?"
"Who's to say?"
Well, at this point, it was unlikely he'd come clean.
In that case, it was worth testing. As Ermes closed the distance, Laplace casually attempted to use his Rejection ability —
"—!"
He couldn't.
To be precise, it wasn't that he couldn't at all. But the activation had become terrifyingly difficult. Against an opponent like Ermes, it would be easily resisted, making it effectively useless.
Similarly, magical interference became impossible. As a result, Ermes, who had closed to within striking range —
"—"
Launched magic at him.
A fire spell cast without chanting. Given the lack of chant and its power, it was likely Enhanced universal magic.
Caught off guard, Laplace wasn't so soft that he'd go down from that. He first dodged sideways with his exceptional physical abilities. And since Rejection was unusable, he had no choice but to close the distance himself, throwing a punch.
From there, it was close combat. Ermes, who knew hand-to-hand fighting, and Laplace exchanged blows at a level no mage should possess — yet incredibly high-level.
"Tch."
"Ugh."
Running out of breath, they separated briefly. Laplace easily deflected a follow-up Enhanced universal magic with a single kick, bringing the exchange to a momentary halt.
While catching his breath, Laplace processed the phenomenon and the information he'd gathered.
(...It looks like Rejection truly isn't working. The weakening effect does seem to be active, but compared to the Hidden Sanctuary, it's applying much more weakly. And then there's the overall sense of wrongness with the domain... Another odd thing is his magic. — Why isn't he using Bloodline Magic?)
Ermes should know Laplace's strength well enough. He'd understand that using only Enhanced universal magic to break through Laplace's defenses would be extremely difficult in his current state.
If that was the case, there was no reason not to use the Bloodline Magic he knew. Since he wasn't using it despite that, it was more reasonable to assume he couldn't rather than chose not to.
Combining that with the domain's anomalies, Ermes's condition, and his earlier chant...
"...I see."
His brilliant mind immediately produced the deduction.
"You're offsetting it, aren't you? Using your Magic Inscription Liberation to cancel mine. The Rejection effect of my domain and the weakening applied to anyone other than the caster — you're creating a domain magic that prevents those two from activating."
He'd heard that Ermes couldn't use Bloodline Magic-level spells in conjunction. That was likely why he hadn't used Bloodline Magic earlier.
To that, Ermes caught his breath and responded.
"...Impressive. You've already figured it out?"
"So that means you're going to fight me while running your non-combat Magic Inscription Liberation in parallel? That's quite the reckless move."
"I'd have no way of beating you if I didn't take reckless measures. ...Also, shall I tell you one more thing?"
Ermes wasn't just taking the hits either. A faint smile crossed his face.
"I'm continuing to 'analyze' this domain in real time. Right now it's incomplete and the weakening effect is affecting me as well, but... the analysis will soon be complete, and full cancellation will become possible."
If that happened, Laplace's Magic Inscription Liberation would be effectively sealed. And in a straight exchange of regular Bloodline Magic, Ermes — who had already analyzed the Curtain of the Evil God to the point of being able to use it himself — would hold an overwhelming advantage.
In other words.
"The longer this drags out, the more disadvantageous it becomes for you. Bearing that in mind, I recommend you come at me with everything you have."
That was the inherent advantage his opponents always faced when fighting Ermes.
His core strength: using analysis and evolution as weapons, growing infinitely stronger the more time passed.
The old him wouldn't have been capable of this.
But through this journey — through the growth since leaving the Royal Capital, through learning more deeply about the feelings embedded in magic, and through returning to the Royal Capital stronger — he had developed into someone who could execute this tactic.
The current Ermes had the fangs to settle every grudge once and for all.
And Laplace, having received that provocation —
"...Heh."
Of course he understood. The other side's goal in saying that was to rush him, to rob him of his composure. Laplace wasn't so cheap as to fall for such a simple provocation.
So he'd gratefully accept the information — and then, remaining calm, accept the provocation head-on and crush him for it.
"You brat. You'll regret those big words!"
Grinning ferociously, he'd crush him before his analysis was complete — that was the promise. Laplace further intensified his magic power.
The battle of fates accelerated even further.
◆
Meanwhile, at the outer edge of the Royal Capital.
The location, removed from the fight against the executives, had been exposed until just recently to another threat — an army of the dead.
However, thanks to Katia's efforts, that threat had now been repelled. The soldiers were focusing on recovering their depleted stamina and healing their wounds from fighting the undead.
In one corner of this area — the section that had seen the fiercest fighting —
"Nina. I have a request."
A girl's lovely voice rang out.
— Liliana. Using the Creation Magic she had developed to enhance allies within a certain range, she had succeeded in eliminating most of the undead, reducing the death toll in this fiercely contested district to nearly zero.
Still without having recovered from her fatigue or magic power expenditure, Liliana turned earnestly to Nina, who had come as her escort.
"Please take me to the Royal Capital's central district...!"
"...Um, Liliana?"
Even the unflappable Nina was bewildered by such a sudden request.
Understanding the reason for Nina's confusion, Liliana continued.
"I—I know. I know that there's likely nothing I can do if I go. My magic is designed to exert power in army-versus-army engagements — it won't contribute to defeating the executives in the Royal Capital's center."
"..."
"But, but...!"
She had already acknowledged all of that — and yet, earnestly.
"Waiting here without doing anything just doesn't feel right! Regardless of what happens, the fate of every single one of us hinges on whether this battle is won or lost.
So — I want to witness it with my own eyes! What direction this country will take — it's the duty of someone in my position!"
"!"
"Therefore, I... feel that I absolutely must go...!"
Her reasoning was convincing.
Liliana was not the type of princess to stand behind others and safely wait for results. Even if she couldn't do anything, she would want to at least see it through to the end.
There was truth to what she said. If Ermes and the others fighting in the central district fell, it was all over — it was worth the risk to go see. Besides, she was a master of "tag"; even in the worst case, if she focused on fleeing, she wouldn't be easily taken down.
(...But still...)
Despite that, Nina wrestled with the decision.
There was the common-sense opinion inside her that she shouldn't recklessly expose her liege to danger.
And more than anything — yes, more than anything.
The inexplicable feeling Nina had been carrying since a while ago.
(A bad feeling.
I don't know why, but this isn't going to end smoothly. Something else is definitely going to happen — I'm certain of it.)
She couldn't explain specifically what it was. But she was certain — something inside her, something she could only call a sixth sense, was sounding an alarm.
With that in mind, Nina considered what to do for a moment.
(...Alright.)
In the end, Nina made her decision.
"Fine. I'll go with you to the central district, Liliana."
Two reasons led to this conclusion.
First, she believed that trying to stop her would have little effect given Liliana's temperament. If Liliana wanted to go, she would go — and again, she was a master of "tag." If she set her mind to it, she could reach the Royal Capital's central district alone.
Nina had deduced from Liliana's intense demeanor that she wouldn't be easily stopped.
Second, Nina was her vassal. If it were a truly reckless request or a truly terrible one, she would remonstrate. But otherwise, she had to fulfill her liege's wishes as much as possible.
The bad feeling she was experiencing had no basis to begin with. She had concluded that even if it turned out to be accurate, she simply had to protect Liliana with everything she had.
Weighing all of these factors together, Nina gave her affirmative — and Liliana's eyes lit up.
Afterward, they explained the situation to a nearby commander of the Royal Special Forces unit and managed to obtain approval.
Liliana, with Nina at her side, headed toward the field of the decisive battle.
Two of the organization's executives had already fallen. But the two remaining were formidable beyond measure.
The final battle in the Royal Capital — with the country's future hanging in the balance.
It was — tinged with the lingering sense of turmoil — finally entering its climactic phase.