I felt like I was buried from the neck down in a dark place.

Endless dirt and sand, mixed with small stones, sank my feet deeper and deeper until it reached my waist, then my chest and shoulders, leaving only my head exposed.

It was only a matter of time before even that exposed head got covered with the cold dust that started to pile up.

I desperately turned my neck upward, trying to blow away the dust with my breath, trying to postpone the moment I’d be completely buried.

In my life up to this point, I had never felt so powerless.

While my mind was as unstable as a surface of water, my body was never like that. I was definitely good at moving my body, more than the average person.

But now, with that very foundation stripped away, I felt like crying out of my own helplessness. Yet, I didn’t know how to cry. I was even terrible at it.

I was lacking everything. But still, I had my desires.

I was completely unaware of this at first, but finally realized it. —My own greed.

And then—

“———”

Suddenly, the sensation of dust falling from above vanished.

The dust that had been gently piling onto my forehead stopped, and a flickering bluish-white light began to swirl around and illuminate the area.

This light, teasingly dancing before my eyes, made me intensely irritated, and I struggled. I struggled and struggled until eventually, my arms burst free from the body buried up to my neck.

To escape that light, it rose even higher.

I wanted to catch it, but despite reaching for it, I couldn’t reach that height. I forcibly pulled myself up, pulling my shoulders free, my chest, and then my waist.

Eventually, once my feet were also free, I raised my head and tried to catch the bluish-white light, only to realize—

There was a glaring red flame shining right before my eyes.

And that bluish-white light was entangling my body, trying to push me toward the blinding flame.

For a moment, I hesitated. Not out of fear of the fire.

I hesitated over whether a frozen being like me truly deserved to be burned by that flame.

However, that hesitation was fleeting.

It wasn’t about whether I deserved it; I wanted to be burned.

I wanted to be burned.

So—

“——Wake up already. How long do you plan to keep me waiting?”

To be burned by that gentle flame, I stepped forward.

I took a step forward—

“…Your Highness, I tried my best.”

“Naturally. —You should know who my milk sister is.”

△▼△▼△

In that moment, “Witch” Sphinx became certain of the collapse of all her plans.

Creating an army of undead as a “Great Calamity,” experimenting countless times with the nature of the soul through their actions, and reaching the purpose of recreating the “Witch of Greed” was supposed to be her goal.

Moreover, to obliterate the land of the Volakia Empire by dealing with Moguro Hagane, the “Stone Block,” and showing the destruction of her homeland to Priscilla Barielle, placed within a unique dimension.

By doing so, Sphinx aimed to retaliate against Lipe Bariel, who taught her the abominably twisted “heat,” leading to victories, revenge, supremacy, transcendence, overthrowing, overwhelming, blasphemy, submission, emergence, destruction, frenzy, joy, happiness, in short, something.

But all this, completely, mercilessly, and utterly, collapses.

“——The ‘Secret of the Undying King’ has lost its effectiveness.”

Sphinx had no choice but to acknowledge that.

Centered around the Imperial Capital Rupugana, combined with the cardinal points of the Volakia Empire, the magic circle established at five designated points, using the blood soaked into the land of the Volakia Empire, continuously resurrected the dead with the “Secret of the Undying King.”

However, once the enormous mana supply from the “Stone Block” ran dry, it was all over.

“The ‘Spirit Eater’ Arakia… has she tamed Muspel?”

Despite it being an inconceivable truth, there was no other choice but to deduce it from the events that had occurred.

The formidable great spirit, which should have exploded under Arakia’s control, had become totally subjugated thanks to a swordsman wielding the “Dream Sword” Masayume and her own unbelievable resolve.

Henceforth, Arakia has become one and the same as the “Stone Block” Muspel.

And Arakia held no reason to ally with the “Great Calamity” against the Volakia Empire.

From here on—

“The undead will no longer rise.”

The undead, a horde of the dead that continued to rise even upon death, that fundamental premise crumbles away.

Even if the supply from the “Stone Block” is cut off, it does not mean the undead’s lives will be lost immediately. It merely means the conditions have become the same — as in the case of the living who end once they die.

“——”

The mana supply to the magic circle was cut off, and it took about five seconds to sort out the situation.

In those fleeting five seconds, the thirty-six Sphinxes were reduced by seven, leaving a total of twenty-nine.

The extraordinary speed and combat power of “Blue Lightning” and “Admirers” were overwhelming.

Creator Sphinx, who should have been able to replicate the powers of the “Witch of Greed,” found herself utterly unable to compete against such an opponent. Not only was it a level far beyond her, she also couldn’t manage to surpass them through sheer numbers.

Even if she wanted to do something about it, it wasn’t just those two who were keeping the “Witch” at bay.

Thus—

“「「「——Necessary, retreat」」」”

Having come to this point, “Witch” Sphinx deemed abandoning the plan as the most rational decision.

It had started as a strategy prepared to perfection, but even still, it had been turned upside down to this extent, making any correction to the plan impossible.

Annoyed, she found it wise to swallow the fact that one of her two great objectives had been achieved.

Indeed, the long-held creation purpose given to her by the Creator had been fulfilled. The goal pursued for three hundred years and the one desired for a little over a year were undoubtedly of different value.

“「「——Necessary, retreat」」”

From the beginning, there wasn’t even a level playing field.

She re-evaluated the purpose of her existence. What was required was the resurrection of the “Witch of Greed,” and that would certainly be fulfilled.

As the Sphinx she currently was, she would overwrite her own self, and transform into the “Witch of Greed,” Echidna—

“——Necessary, retreat.”

She would be remade. The purpose of creation would be fulfilled.

Sphinx would disappear, Echidna would be revived, and three hundred years of persistent days would come to an end.

Wishing for anything more would not be rational. It simply wasn’t rational. It wasn’t rational.

Yet, it still wasn’t rational—

“——”

In an instant, the raised “Sun Blade” shone with brilliant light, declaring her existence throughout the entire Imperial Capital.

That light scorched the dimensional realm and forcibly returned to the skies of the Imperial Capital, easily transcending the future that had been destined to be torn apart, reaching out in a provocative manner to the “Witch” who had resolved to retreat.

Draped in a red dress like blood, with hair bright as the sun, radiating an overwhelming presence like flames, and able to burn to ashes anyone else’s lifeline — a woman who could only live such an existence laughed.

“——Come forth, Sphinx. I am your enemy.”

In that instant, all twenty-nine Sphinxes made a resolute decision.

That was—

“「「「——I am your enemy, Priscilla Barielle!!」」」”

△▼△▼△

“If I let her escape, she will undoubtedly become a calamity for the world. Normally, I do not intervene with the changing of the world’s circumstances. —But that one has determined me as her fate.”

Stating this, Priscilla stepped down from Al’s arms, standing proud against the crumbling stones and dirt behind her.

Her imposing presence made her look like the indomitable figure of arrogance, already freed from captivity just moments before.

Even Al, who had powered forth with momentum, was taken aback by this.

“So, the princess is going to confront her? Why even bother? Just surround that nuisance and beat her down… Ouch!”

“You fool! If you use any means to take a life, you give the same option to your opponent. Before she defines her enemy as the world, the battle must be decided.”

“…Otherwise, we can’t win?”

Priscilla crossed her arms, accentuating her ample bosom as Arakia knelt beside her, cocking her head. A flame ignited in her right eye, with blood staining her left eye as she inquired, drawing an exasperated shoulder shrug from Priscilla.

“Arakia, do not say foolish things like Al. Is the Priscilla you know one to focus on such a single aspect as winning or losing?”

“But Your Highness, you look happiest when you win.”

“Of course. That is the essence of me.”

“Don’t ignore the premise you just laid out! That’s confusing!”

Priscilla engaged in an absurd exchange with Arakia, and Subaru, unable to remain silent, unexpectedly interjected.

Leaning forward impulsively, Priscilla narrowed her crimson eyes at him.

“What are you? There’s no time for a child like you. Leave at once.”

“Sorry about that! I may look like this, but I’m Natsuki Subaru! The forever everlasting, lovely cute knight of Emilia-tan!”

“To knight such a child as you simply indicates the grave shortage of talent in that half-demon. Perhaps the loud, foolish fellow might have been better after all.”

“That’s me! That’s my line!”

Subaru shouted, forgetting all sense of fatigue in the face of the irrationality surpassing even his response to Arakia.

Priscilla knows well she erases those not of her interest from her memory, but she’d never do that with Subaru, who has genuinely cared for her wellbeing even more than Al or Schult.

As Subaru, with blood on his face, pondered over this—

“—You fool.”

“Huh?”

“At least distinguish between foolishness and jest. —Natsuki Subaru.”

“—Ah.”

With her arms still crossed, Priscilla expressed this without changing her expression. The meaning of her words seeped into Subaru’s mind, and instantly heat coursed through his entire body.

However, it wasn’t fury at being toyed with; it was a kind of profound emotion.

The fact that Priscilla Barielle remembered his name and called him.

“…It feels like the me who had my jaw shattered long ago has finally been rewarded.”

Suppressing the emotions that surged within, Subaru merely touched his jaw and expressed the thought.

There was no time for more exchanges; not a second could be wasted by all present in the Imperial Capital.

Consequently—

“—I must teach her. What she should see is not the world, but me.”

After stating that, Priscilla uncrossed her arms and raised her right hand, the “Sun Blade,” toward the sky.

Next, without explaining what she was about to do, the brilliance of the “Sun Blade” intensified as if a new sun were born, burning the eyes of Subaru and the others. —No, despite the overwhelming brightness, it was not painful as if gazing directly into the sun.

“With the ‘Sun Blade,’ I will cut down what I have decided to cut and burn what I wish to burn.”

Priscilla elaborated her extraordinary capability, holding the brilliantly shining treasure sword — indeed, the kind of light that could be recognized from anywhere within the Imperial Capital, smiling.

While smiling, she provocatively dared someone other than those present to look upon her.

“——Come forth, Sphinx. I am your enemy.”

“——”

Subaru sensed instinctively that it was a trap laid by Priscilla.

Sphinx, who had tried to take Abel away to Priscilla, showed an obsession with her for some reason. That obsession had likely grown as she interacted with the captured Priscilla. Or perhaps, Priscilla had guided it to become so.

Regardless—

“——I am your enemy, Priscilla Barielle!!”

Thus, the “Witch” accepted Priscilla’s declaration of war, clearly conveyed through the tense atmosphere of the battlefield.

That seemed to express an emotional conclusion which was neither logical nor rational.

No creature could ignore the brilliance of the sun shining upon them.

“Al, I leave this to you. Arakia, accompany me.”

“——Got it.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

In a brief response, Al and Arakia acknowledged Priscilla’s hard-to-refuse command.

Entrusted with guarding the spot, and asked to accompany, Priscilla turned to Subaru, who was neither of those.

“Natsuki Subaru.”

“Oh, right. I’m…”

“You said something about a heroic fantasy, didn’t you?”

“——”

The turmoil of having his name called again was casually dismissed by the following words.

The resolve and determination shared between Subaru and Al about what they must carry moving forward in this empire and the world.

If people overheard, they would likely mock the weak-minded fools called Subaru and Al — But Priscilla didn’t seem to laugh at them.

“——Do what you must.”

Subaru’s instincts approved Priscilla’s words.

He felt his soul being propelled by her single word, and he fell silent. Yet, Priscilla didn’t wait for a reply. She expressed only what she needed to say and turned her back.

As Arakia embraced Priscilla’s slender waist, both of them rose into the air.

And with Arakia flying alongside Priscilla—

“Princess! Just do your thing as usual!”

“Naturally. Do you know who I am?”

“I’m Priscilla Barielle! My princess!”

“Who says you’re mine, fool?”

In response to Al’s words, Priscilla shot back, leaving behind a faint trace of a smile as she took off.

Straightforward, Priscilla and the others distanced themselves from Subaru and the others. —Or rather, not just from Subaru and the others, but they were moving away from the “Witch” tethered here.

“——”

Subaru and Al turned around, their gazes falling upon Sphinx, who was seated against the shattered wall. Her entire body was bound by a black light, immobilized.

The seal placed upon her was similar to that of Roy Alphard, the Archbishop of Gluttony they had captured back at the Pleiades Watchtower, but there was something distinctly different about it.

Subaru’s role was to stand opposite the now physically constrained “Witch.”

“Subaru! I found you!”

Just as Subaru was steeled, Beatrice returned right on cue. Alongside Roswaal, Beatrice had gone to fetch the necessary ally for this final scene.

That ally flew back with Roswaal — it was Spica, who had landed on Beatrice’s back.

“Keeping both hands free is logical for a mage, but this is beyond reason, isn’t it?”

“Shut it! Come on, Spica, let’s go!”

“Uwa, ah!”

With Beatrice’s instruction, Spica kicked off from Roswaal’s back and bounded to Subaru’s side. Subaru, smiling, ruffled Spica’s hair, who giggled at the sensation.

Then, renewed, he took her hand and turned to face the “Witch.”

And then—

“Spica, you might have a full belly and heartburn, but I need you to dig deep once more.”

“U!”

Responding endearingly to Subaru’s plea, Spica displayed her sharp teeth in a smile. Relying heavily on her fortitude, Subaru took aim at the “Witch.”

The “Witch,” with the foulest character in this world, looked back at Subaru with the same face. Her black eyes narrowed, and the “Witch” grinned, speaking.

“Can you capture my soul?”

In her immovable state, the “Witch” casually inquired, maintaining perpetual control over his life and death.

To her response, Subaru recalled the warm touch of Spica’s hand he was holding, the reassuring presence of Al nodding next to him, Beatrice’s actions suppressing any interference, the ally working together to assist in saving Priscilla, and finally the gentle flower of ice that had fallen.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not the one who’ll defeat you; it’s us.”

“——”

Having proclaimed this, Subaru took a step forward with Spica, closing the distance with the “Witch.”

Then, along with Spica, he reached forward to touch Sphinx’s cheek.

“——Sphinx.”

To consume the very essence of the undead “Witch,” he challenged her with the final “Star Eater.”

△▼△▼△

As the orbs of light rained down in succession, Vincent held the Medium beside him tightly and leapt out from the upper levels of the Crystal Palace.

“W-whoa!?” cried the Medium, as he secured her waist while ensuring Madelin wouldn’t fall.

At the same time, he directed his focus to those unreachable entities present.

“Roswaal Dunkelken!”

“I don’t need you to tell me that!”

Right after, the magical cannon that Vincent and Orbal had burst forth from exploded.

Bathed in the high-altitude winds, Vincent instructed the Medium, “Hold on tight.” He confirmed her arms were wrapped around him in a panic and kicked off the wall.

With the force of kicking the wall, he evaded the pursuing beams of light and landed on the ground.

“Oh, whew! That was close, really close. At this rate, there’s nothing left for me to do but die of old age, ’cause all this Shinobi stuff is gonna run out!”

“Indeed, I’ve never heard of a Shinobi dying of old age.”

“Useless old folks are usually given magic stones and made to self-destruct as a Shinobi’s custom.”

“Stop with the horror stories and let me down! LET ME DOOOOWN!”

Orbal, despite losing both arms, still had his spirit high as Vincent spoke to him, and the Medium flailed her arms around, finally managing to land on the ground.

With his arms now freed, Vincent re-gripped the “Sun Blade,” looking up.

There—

“——The ‘Witch.'”

In Vincent’s sight, a white-haired woman had landed upon the cannon.

With the core magic crystal lost and the castle’s magical power substantially removed, nevertheless, the “Witch” descended there purposefully.

What was she plotting, having wiped them away like that?

“——Moguro Hagane?”

“What are you saying, boss? That Moguro fella was taken away by Barloi! Yet here we—”

“You fool! The one taken away was merely the magic core. The rest of ‘Meteor’ was left inside the castle—”

“——! Abel!”

A thunderous sensation hit him, realizing the potential as the blood-drained Medium pointed back at the castle, her face full of urgency.

Amid their grinding teeth, something new began to change within the Crystal Palace. —Slowly, the Crystal Palace itself rose.

“——”

Moguro Hagane is but the “Meteor,” the very symbol of the Volakia Empire.

The magic core that controlled the “Meteor” and served as its power source had been dismantled, and the explosion of the runaway magic core had transpired far away in the void.

In other words, the entity recognized as “Nine Divine Generals” Moguro Hagane was merely a part of that immense “Meteor.” During the great battle of the capital before the “Great Calamity,” Moguro had sufficiently displayed his prowess; the defensive mechanisms responsible for protecting the magic core still remained.

The “Witch” utilized this. By forcibly activating the now-defunct defensive mechanisms, she summoned forth a giant of magical crystals — no, a giant of crystal magic.

The Crystal Palace that had risen — what we should call it instead was the Magical Giant Soldier.

Standing at over fifty meters tall and consisting mostly of magical crystals, it was like a gigantic bomb brought to life.

“If we carelessly intervene—”

The meaning of Moguro and Barloi risking their lives would vanish.

This was just after Vincent’s teeth clenched, full of frustration, when—

“Initiate.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

It wasn’t as if she raised her voice much. Yet, it was exceptionally clear.

That was heard as it passed over Vincent’s head, and the very next moment, a gigantic flaming fist wrapped in light — a punch measuring ten meters was unleashed, slamming into the giant of magic crystals.

A tremendous heat wave spread across the sky and ground, and as the struck giant staggered backward, the streets below scattered as if swept away by a great army.

It was a strike so spectacular and recklessly powerful.

“To call it reckless is quite the compliment—making it sound as if I haven’t even considered it.”

“——”

“Ah! Priscilla-chan!”

The giant of magic crystals leaned heavily as the flame-imbued punch had come from Arakia, who darted through the air, adorned in diamond brilliance.

Pointing at the woman who let her dress flare elegantly while she landed — it was Priscilla that Medium alerted with a high voice.

“Abel, Abel, it’s Priscilla-chan!”

“I can see without needing to shout. —Where have you been captive?”

“It seems to be my brother’s doing, yet I hardly think this is a heartfelt reunion. I was in another realm. Taken alongside the castle’s dungeon by the ‘Witch.'”

“I see, no wonder you weren’t found. How did you escape?”

“Of course, I burned it down.”

Priscilla’s succinct answer amazed Vincent somewhat cheerfully.

“Having been a captive and possibly subjected to… who knows what torments from the ‘Witch,’ here she appears bold in this last moment.”

“——Priscilla, you.”

For a brief moment, a sense of discomfort sprouted in the corner of his mind, prompting Vincent to ask Priscilla about it. Yet, before he could even frame it as a question, he was interrupted by a counterattack from the magical giant.

Arakia circled the air, unsettling the giant with extraordinary force.

The magical giant responded, glowing as it prepared to target Arakia’s aerial form from its right arm, unleashing fiery destruction.

This attack, while far weaker than the magical cannon’s, still had sufficient power to obliterate a whole life or perhaps half the Imperial Capital, aimed squarely at the flying Arakia.

“——Here it comes.”

While looking for an opportunity to break in and protect Arakia, Vincent sighted the same determination in Priscilla’s voice as he raised his “Sun Blade.”

In that instant, devastation laden with light fired mercilessly from the now-targeted left arm, heading straight toward Vincent and his group.

“——”

Vincent and Priscilla stood firm, ready with their “Sun Blade” at the ready, as the dazzling crimson shining sword surged into flame, clashing directly against the oncoming light.

However, having fought continuously, feeding into the relentless burning energies from their fight, blood began to secrete from Vincent’s hands gripping the “Sun Blade.”

“Pity on your part, brother.”

“…You, who had just been resting until recently, should still keep up for a moment longer.”

“What? To once again poison me? To kill me, and then force your own sister, who you exiled from her homeland, to endure such unreasonable treatment? It’s truly becoming of a Volakia Emperor, brother.”

In their exchange of backhanded comments, caught in a brutal struggle of light and existence, Vincent clenched his teeth and bit down on his trembling lips.

He had to acknowledge it. He felt pleasure. The return of the captured Priscilla — not just the return, the unrelenting harshness of her curses felt as though it could easily stoke the flames of their battle.

So, standing their ground, amidst Vincent and Priscilla was—

“——My children, you have done well.”

In an instant, a third “Sun Blade,” unexpected and improbable, joined the clash. In that moment, light exploded forth, ending the standoff. It was the “Thorned King,” Yugaldo Volakia, who had returned in a furious whirlwind, delivering an artistic strike.

Not an ounce of dullness was present in his grace; he too joined the fray.

“You are tasked to respond to the risen Crystal Palace, having been sent from my star. The twinkles of magical crystals will be difficult to respond to, except with the ‘Sun Blade.’ It’s not a lack of your abilities.”

“That much is plain to see. I do appreciate your aid.”

“Hmm. —Your mother’s dear lover, along with the ‘Thorned King,’ I see.”

In response to Yugaldo’s words, Vincent responded by closing one eye, while Priscilla gazed at him with a sense of contemplation that seemed distinct from mere gratitude for their cooperation.

Vincent also knew that Priscilla, who enjoyed reading, had once read “Iris and the Thorned King.” However, likely more than Vincent, who wasn’t aware of Yorna or Sandra either, Priscilla had knowledge quite different.

Regardless, as Priscilla scrutinized Yugaldo’s gaze, he narrowed his eyes.

“You too are part of the current royalty. You carry the likeness of my rightful queen… Teriola.”

“——Hmph.”

Priscilla accepted Yugaldo’s assessment with surprising brevity.

Her reaction, one that would generally abhor comparisons to anyone else, raised a twinge of disquiet within Vincent. There was nothing precious in Priscilla being so uncharacteristically flattered by a figure out of fairy tales.

Ultimately, there stood Vincent, Priscilla, and Yugaldo.

“The appearance of three ‘Sun Blades’ cannot be outside the norm for an Imperial Selection Ritual.”

“Indeed. In fact, there has never been multiple ‘Sun Blades’ appearing in any formation except facing siblings. Let alone against an enemy of the Empire.”

As confirmed by Yugaldo and Vincent, it was a situation that should not have been possible.

What had erupted from Vincent’s reckless acts of crossing the acts of the “Great Calamity,” capable of reviving the dead, and the machinations behind the Emperor’s selection ritual had brought about this unforeseen sight.

“To become so emotional at the culmination of our journey, both of you — how carefree you both are.”

Nodding in understanding to each other, Yugaldo and Vincent stood amid Priscilla, who let out a snort.

With the magnificently shining treasure sword in hand, Priscilla held an imposing flame-like presence as both Vincent and Yugaldo exchanged glances again, facing forward.

“Abel, Priscilla! Yorna’s husband!”

As the trio stood together, Medium, burdening Madelin and the injured Orbal, shouted with a voice high that rang the loudest.

More than anything before, with all her might, she yelled—

“——Do your best!!”

In response, Vincent relaxed the corners of his mouth as Yugaldo nodded deeply, and Priscilla gazed upward at the magical giant soldier with her gleaming crimson eyes.

“Of course. —Behold, my sword dance to your heart’s content.”