―― Even in the vast lands of the Empire where various subhuman tribes coexist, there are those who are viewed as heretical.

The “Insect Cage Tribe” is just that. Even amidst the diverse ecosystem of subhumans, their very existence is seen as an aberration, making it impossible to be free from the gaze of prejudice.

At first glance, the Insect Cage Tribe does not appear significantly different from humans.

They tend to have brown skin and have a customary practice of tattooing, but they lack the distinct characteristics of single-eyed tribes, magical-eyed tribes, multi-armed tribes, or beastmen. They are not as obviously different as others.

Yet, the reason the Insect Cage Tribe is viewed with disdain by other races lies in their way of life.

It is the unique aspect of the Insect Cage Tribe, which involves symbiosis with the “insects” they host within their bodies.

As mentioned earlier, the Insect Cage Tribe, compared to other subhumans, shows scant noticeable differences from humans. If they were not to host the “insects,” they could theoretically live as humans.

However, they choose not to. Their clan introduces “insects” into their bodies and inherits their traits.

This can be interpreted as acquiring subhuman traits through postnatal means, a forbidden art that transforms the inherently-born physicality—this is the primary reason they are kept at arm’s length by other subhuman races.

This differentiates them from those like the “Metal Skinned Ones,” who have naturally metallic parts from birth and can forge them into weapons as they grow, or the “Light Kin,” who are believed to enhance the glow of their gem-like foreheads by absorbing the souls of their slain foes.

The ecology of the Insect Cage Tribe, isolated from others and never leaving their dwellings, is largely shrouded in mystery.

As misconceptions spread with prejudice, there are, no doubt, instances where actual rumors about the Insect Cage Tribe lead to fits of laughter.

However, opportunities for correcting those rumors are few, and chances to dispel misunderstandings are equally absent.

The most common misunderstanding pertains to the timing of when the Insect Cage Tribe introduces “insects” into their bodies, as well as their biology and the essence of their connection to the insects—this could have been described as history.

In the first place, incorporating “insects” poses considerable danger.

South of the Volakia Empire, in the innermost part of the settlements where the Insect Cage Tribe lives, there are habitats for the “insects,” dwelling in caverns filled with bizarre creatures and toxic air, a place referred to as the “Abyss.” The “insects” residing there are of similarly bizarre forms, fundamentally different from conventional insects.

It remains a mystery who first considered incorporating these unknown beings.

Perhaps it was the sorcerers or the abnormal seekers of arcane realities—those who aspired for powers unattainable through mundane methods—who discovered these external methods.

In any case, the existence of the Insect Cage Tribe is merely a byproduct for those beings.

The ancestors who sought to coexist with the incomprehensible “insects,” aiming for powers gained through this symbiosis, are the progenitors of the Insect Cage Tribe, and that madness has been passed down through generations.

Let’s return to the subject. — The ritual for the Insect Cage Tribe to first incorporate “insects” is customarily performed when they reach the age of twelve.

Until that age, they train their bodies and minds to become suitable vessels for hosting “insects,” and during the actual ceremony, they must be accepted by the host “insects” to properly reach the hatching phase.

It is only after they have fully reigned over the symbiotic “insects” and are recognized as such that they are allowed to emerge as full-fledged members of the Insect Cage Tribe.

The prohibition on the ceremony until the age of twelve exists due to the life-threatening nature of hosting “insects.”

If they attempt it before their physical strength or willpower are sufficient, they may be devoured by the “insect” they are trying to host. The ceremony can be attempted at the earliest age of twelve, but before their vessel is ready, they are allowed to delay until the age of fifteen. If they fail to meet the deadline, they are determined to lack the qualifications to be accepted as part of the Insect Cage Tribe and are relegated to the “Abyss,” becoming prey for the “insects.”

The suffering inherent in the ritual of incorporating “insects” is hard to describe.

There are various blood types that flow through human bodies, and attempting to compensate for a lacking blood type with another’s can endanger one’s life. The agony of the ritual for incorporating “insects” is similar to this.

All the blood circulating within one’s body becomes poison, corrupting the internal organs and burning the brain.

The “insects” that are incorporated test whether the host is suitable, deciding whether to take over the vessel or simply dissolve and consume it, a process that takes three days and nights.

When the chrysalis breaks, if the individual can maintain their human form, the ritual is deemed successful, leading to the establishment of symbiosis with the “insect.”

Once the “insects” are integrated and the Insect Cage Tribe emerges, they undergo their first physical changes.

They may develop antennae or wings, their eyes may become compound, or they may grow multiple limbs, all varying significantly.

Their characteristics, despite bearing resemblance to existing insects, illustrate why the Insect Cage Tribe carries its name, despite the fact that the “insects” they host are entirely different beings.

Of course, their form may change, but that does not equate to a change in their essence.

However, as the Insect Cage Tribe performs rites to physically alter themselves, there are those who view this as an aspiration to become mere vessels for the “insects.”

Having experienced pain and met with prejudice, the Insect Cage Tribe’s way of life remains unchanged.

To be recognized as one of the Insect Cage Tribe, one must host a single “insect.” However, the more “insects” they host, the greater their strength as warriors.

Thus, the finest warriors of the Insect Cage Tribe have at least three “insects” integrated into them.

That said, the more “insects” one hosts, the greater the risk of them cannibalizing each other within the body, potentially endangering the host’s life. Hence, the number of symbiotic “insects” directly correlates with the quality of the warrior.

The current leader of the Insect Cage Tribe, revered as the strongest of all warriors, is known for having integrated eight “insects” into his being, earning the title of hero among his clan.

―― And Kafma Ilurukusu was a monster who had incorporated thirty-two “insects.”

The birth of a monster that eclipsed even the achievements of heroes was a transgression of the laws from the very beginning.

The ritual to incorporate “insects,” which should not occur until the twelfth birthday due to the perils posed to the vessel’s life, was first carried out by Kafma just days after his birth.

The elder brother of the tribe leader, a man who always fell short of his remarkable younger brother, that madness was directed toward his own child.

Once Kafma became aware of his own circumstances, he learned about his father in this manner.

In reality, his actual father had been executed at the hands of the tribe leader, his brother, and his true feelings remained unknown. Still, his father isolated him, claiming that his child had died shortly after birth, and performed the ritual of incorporating “insects” every year.

Ironically, Kafma’s existence, discovered and brought out of hiding for the first time at the age of twelve—when his peers faced the rite of incorporating “insects”—had him coexisting with thirteen “insects.”

A being unimaginable to the clan, the handling of Kafma divided opinions even among the Insect Cage Tribe.

His father, who broke the laws and cursed his own child, was already deceased. The rationale for Kafma’s ability to host more than ten “insects” remains a complete mystery—ultimately, his uncle, the tribe leader, declared he would take responsibility for Kafma’s existence and permitted him to live.

This is no lie; Kafma Ilurukusu did feel grateful to his uncle.

This blood relative maintained a certain distance and decorum with Kafma, neither overly affectionate nor particularly indifferent, thereby allowing Kafma to feel appreciated.

Regardless of how his uncle treated him, Kafma knew he was different from the rest of his tribe.

The generation that still did not know the pain of incorporating “insects” kept a distance from Kafma, and those already accepted after their own emergence feared him, one who had hosted an incomprehensible number of “insects.”

The Insect Cage Tribe, already viewed as heretical by others, saw Kafma occupying an even more eccentric position.

Of course, Kafma had neither reason to be reproached nor to suffer persecution.

He could have ignored the curious gazes directed at him and continued living as he always had, alienated from the outside world. However, despite having been raised differently from others, Kafma’s essence remained noble.

He did not welcome the environment where his kin harbored fear towards him.

To become a member of the Insect Cage Tribe, it was expected to incorporate “insects.”

However, Kafma had already passed that stage before he even gained self-awareness. Therefore, in order to understand his fellow tribesmen through a different means, he devoted himself to connecting with them.

He actively engaged with others, learning the way of the warrior from his uncle, the tribe leader, and enduringly interacted with all generations to prove that he was no different from them.

And in his efforts to be respected as a warrior of the Insect Cage Tribe, he attempted the ritual of incorporating new “insects.”

Opposition surrounded him. The presence of Kafma, who had already incorporated thirteen “insects,” was unprecedented in the history of the Insect Cage Tribe, with expectations of how much growth he could achieve simply from merely existing.

It would have been an unthinkable mistake if he were to lose his life before he could even emerge.

Kafma understood the thoughts of the elders, yet he rejected the notion of halting.

Before obtaining permission, he took the “insects” and approached the ritual without any witnesses. This reckless determination was a trait he inherited from his father, something Kafma would later reflect upon with regret.

Yet at that moment, Kafma, in a dangerously audacious act, incorporated his fourteenth “insect,” enduring three days and nights of torment while spitting blood, emerging victorious.

Thus, Kafma Ilurukusu finally hatched, becoming a member of the Insect Cage Tribe.

Contrary to his extraordinary birth, Kafma bore a noble spirit and earned immense respect among his kin, ultimately becoming the most powerful entity in the history of the Insect Cage Tribe.

In the Volakia Empire, only the strong are revered and granted glory.

Bearing the expectations and hopes of his clan, Kafma departed to establish his strength as a warrior of the Insect Cage Tribe.

Naturally, there are always naysayers. There were those who, having blindly accepted false rumors about the Insect Cage Tribe, hurled unkind insults and harassment at him. Yet, these matters seemed trivial.

To Kafma, who had stepped into the outside world, they seemed insignificant. Indeed, they were insignificant.

―― Kafma Ilurukusu was the “monster” born from the history of the Insect Cage Tribe.

With a noble spirit and a sense of camaraderie for his comrades, he took the initiative to battle against foes and protect his tribe.

However, no matter how much effort he put in, his kin continued to keep their distance from Kafma. Given their understanding of the hardships of symbiosis with “insects,” they could not accept him as one of them.

Hence, for Kafma Ilurukusu, leaving home was a glimmer of hope.

In a place devoid of his kin, the Insect Cage Tribe, he hoped to find the light he sought.

Ideally, the emergence and metamorphosis belonging to every member of the Insect Cage Tribe as they matured should have showcased him not as a monster, but simply as a singular existence, and he finally—

△▼△▼△▼△

“――!!”

As the golden great tiger charged in, roaring ferociously, Kafma clenched his jaws tightly.

The enemy bearing the name Garfiel Tinsel, whose upper body explosively swelled and claws were poised to strike, was met head-on by Kafma’s full force.

“I apologize for underestimating you!”

Flapping his tattered wings, Kafma unleashed purple thorns from his extended arms.

Though among the “insects” Kafma had mastered, this was a newer addition, he frequently employed the thorns for their utility. Yet despite their overwhelming power, they couldn’t halt Garfiel’s momentum.

With a sweeping motion, the claws tore through the thorn heads and the sensation of his injured “insects” screaming within his body rattled Kafma’s mind.

The seemingly endless thorns were also a part of the host’s system he had integrated.

Naturally, if harmed, there would be an appropriate backlash. Kafma merely suppressed it with sheer willpower, pretending he was entirely unfazed.

“Gahh!!”

With Garfiel crashing forward, Kafma sidestepped the descending claws, gliding against the castle wall, narrowly avoiding the powerful strike.

The shockwave and thunderous roar echoed closely beside him; Kafma shuddered at how barely he had made an evasive maneuver.

The ferocity of the previous exchanges had now amplified even faster and more powerful.

It was unlikely he had extracted latent abilities from the ongoing battle, as changes on the battlefield were primarily the result of depletion of strength.

As expected, the meticulously prepared state before the fight diminished every passing second, and the remaining endurance drained, with optimal performance slipping away.

Thus, in the realm of battle, delivering maximum firepower and technique in the opening move is crucial.

Of course, Kafma was no exception, unleashing his maximum firepower and combat arts upon the enemy.

Garfiel was bound to do the same. — At least he should have. That’s why it was fundamentally illogical.

While Garfiel had undergone beastification, an increase in power or speed during combat seemed impossible.

“Especially since you seem to be grievously wounded—!”

Kafma’s earlier assault had the look of surprise or perhaps an attempted assassination using poison.

Regardless of the means’ aesthetics, Kafma held no aversion to the act itself. If adhering to a notion of sophistication meant the difference between life and death in battle, one should choose the most suitable means.

If one’s commitment affected the ability to demonstrate actual prowess, that would indeed be a different story.

“――”

Regardless, Garfiel’s injuries were anything but ordinary.

The primary injury occurred from Kafma’s previous assault, a head wound. However, the inner disruption caused by the “insect” lodging itself further compounded the damage. Still, the same strategy would not work again.

Garfiel’s body, having swallowed Flame Crystals, was still aglow with embers.

Although his body was engulfed in flames, internally, the state of combustion must have escalated uncontrollably.

Incorporating an “insect” is perilous for the host, and the “insects” in an unbound state, incompatible with a host, are extremely vulnerable; if encased in harsh conditions, they easily perish.

There couldn’t possibly exist an “insect” capable of surviving while the body burns without restraint.

“How truly remarkable, the ingenuity.”

Even if he could use healing magic, he could not kill an “insect” that was not intended to inflict harm. However, he could not heal his injuries without purging the “insects.”

This contradiction posed the best course, yet it hardly seemed intentional.

Instead, it felt more like an instinct-driven outcome.

Had that been a logical operation, swallowing Flame Crystals and igniting one’s body would have been impossible.

“――!”

In an instant, as Kafma slid past Garfiel, red antennae surged forth from both his shoulders like rockets.

The insect’s horn, deformed at the shoulder, penetrated Garfiel’s steel-like abs, blowing his body away as a pained cry escaped him, casting him off the castle wall.

An intense blow! However, Kafma himself wasn’t left unscathed.

“Ugh!”

With both antennae snapped at the base, bones tingled painfully, pulling Kafma’s cheek into a wince. A victory at the cost of agony could bring him to his knees.

Yet Kafma was not foolish enough to yield at such a moment.

Because—

“Gah! Oah! Ruluwururuaahhh!”

Already propelled away, Garfiel clawed his way up from the castle wall, leaping high right in front of Kafma.

The side he had punctured with his antennae vaporized, spouting red steam as the wound closed. The soft glow of healing magic violently pulsated while rapidly restoring the grievous injury, causing Kafma to exhale sharply.

“Ha.”

Realizing this was a reflexive smile, Kafma placed his hand over his mouth.

After a brief moment, he lowered his hand in resignation and slowly shook his head.

“Delightful.”

He had to admit.

Kafma Ilurukusu was thoroughly relishing his battle with Garfiel Tinsel.

“Ooohhh!!”

Garfiel bellowed, slamming his arms down like a spiraling golden discus.

Raising both arms to defend, Kafma perceived he couldn’t entirely block this assault, prompting him to surge forward, slipping beneath Garfiel’s legs, aiming for the gaping vulnerability in his rear.

However, as Kafma turned to swing his wings, an upturned piece of rubble that sprang up collided with his energy. Just as Kafma assumed he had evaded under Garfiel, the front limb that contacted the ground sprang forward to activate a barrier, thwarting Kafma’s attack.

Moreover, the tough rock materials slamming into Kafma’s wings shattered with a resounding crash—

“——?!”

Despite having their backs turned to one another, Garfiel’s intense counter caught Kafma off guard.

The force of impact sent him reeling away from Garfiel.

With legs braced against the ground, Kafma propelled himself backward, unable to disperse the impact, blood spewed as he bounced across the ground, colliding against the wall.

Once, twice, he rebounded higher and higher, before he caught sight of Garfiel turning toward him.

In that moment—

“Twice now—!!”

The opening chest and flaring ribs echoed ominously, the engaging organs reverberating from deep within as a shockwave surged toward Garfiel.

This was Kafma’s trump card—not the result of a newly integrated “insect,” but rather a newly formed organ that emerged from combining the functions of the thirty-two incorporated “insects.”

This union of multiple “insects” generated a shockwave, ferociously consuming anything in its path with delicate vibrations and annihilating them in an explosive strike.

The moment this unseen force washed over Garfiel, even the strongest warriors would turn to a blood mist.

“——Buh.”

That conviction was unwavering, as evidenced by the sight of Garfiel’s golden fur now matted with crimson.

Every warrior turns into a blood mist. Thus—

“——Monster!”

Bracing himself with an outstretched arm, Kafma lifted his head.

There, Garfiel, whose body now stained with blood, charged in, his wide mouth gaping fervently. A strike strong enough to fell any warrior was aimed at the “monster.”

“——”

The enormous fist swung, connecting forcefully with Kafma’s face, while his reflexive counterstrike caught Garfiel beneath the jaw, hurling him backward.

The furious barrage of punches escalated recklessly, splattering a cascade of crimson across the wall.

A clash of titans was underway, a breathtaking fight between monsters.

“Hah.”

As Kafma exhaled, peering beyond the pain, he poured all of his spirit into the battle.

A monster born from an unusual lineage, that was Kafma Ilurukusu, kept apart from his kin due to the curse of his fate.

By stepping far past his closed-off home and into the broader world, Kafma sought to discern—

That he was not a monster, to find the foundations for uprightness in his heart.

However, reality was far from such notions.

Even in the outside world, Kafma’s extraordinary power marked him as an outlier. Many regular soldiers alongside him feared Kafma’s prowess, shunning the abnormities.

He believed wherever he went, he would be considered a monster, that ultimately, it was an inevitable fate.

But—

“——Get up, Kafma the Third General! Let us strive together for our Lord! No need to think too hard about it; we, like you, are all monsters too!”

The boisterous voice of a great man, proclaiming boldly, bestowed upon Kafma a divine blessing.

Desiring to deny the title of monster, Kafma attempted to find common ground with his kin. When that wish faded away, he sought it externally, yet still faced obstacles.

Yet, looking up, there they were.

Monsters far grander than Kafma Ilurukusu, once feared monsters all crammed together.

Kafma didn’t yearn to be called a monster.

He simply didn’t want to be isolated, unable to connect with others.

Even as a monster, the world did not forsake Kafma.

Therefore—

“——This battle with you is also—”

In the heat of battle, Kafma unleashed a rapid-fire volley of antennae, as Garfiel absorbed the blows, healing at a furious pace to endure.

Truly, astonishing defensive and regenerative capabilities, likely bolstered by divine protection, were the secrets behind this “monster,” igniting Kafma’s resolve.

As the thorns launched from Kafma’s right arm ensnared Garfiel, the great tiger tore them apart with raw strength. A fist gleaming with silver clashed against Kafma’s thorn-covered arm, shattering the thorns.

In contrast, Kafma’s left arm fired insect eggs, burning in flame, and the force from his knee smashing into Garfiel’s insides provoked shockwaves, yet even that failed to surpass Garfiel’s recovery, rendering it ineffective.

Utterly delightful. Oh, how pleasurable.

Ultimately, as a warrior, however much pretense he put on as a monster, at that moment, Kafma felt the “insects” within him roaring with ecstasy, leading to a smile that remained glued to his face.

The thirty-two “insects” celebrated, relishing in their chance to shine as they became fully one with him.

Victory must be claimed.

For the grand cause, to honor their magnificent Emperor guiding the Empire, in gratitude to the benefactor who lifted him to this realm, and for his kin who aspired for the recognition of the Insect Cage Tribe.

“——You, where are you looking?”

Even amid pain, suffocation, and racing thoughts flooding his mind, Kafma heard that voice.

Both were desperately hammering blows with enough ferocity to end each other’s lives, with neither side having the capacity to share words, yet the voice reverberated through.

Before Kafma, emerald-green eyes pierced into him, crimson lights reflecting a fierce spirit.

The sharp fangs clashed loudly, feeding on flesh and blood, while the creaking of bones drew all senses awry.

Utilizing everything as part of this theatrical battle, the monster before him bellowed.

“I’m right here!”

“——”

“At this moment, nothing else can intrude!”

In a heartbeat, the colors of the world faded away, the whispers of the wind and ringing in his ears ceased. The only figure in Kafma Ilurukusu’s universe was the larger adversary in front of him.

What an uncouth thing to utter; Kafma felt the embarrassment of having overlooked his own inadequacies.

Immediately discarding that public embarrassment, Kafma nodded.

“——Yes, just you and I.”

In that instant, their fists intertwining, they collided against each other’s faces, and time raced onward.

As Garfiel seized Kafma’s face, the pressure of that grip made Kafma’s skull scream in protest. However, Kafma thrust his hand into Garfiel’s mouth, forcing thorns deep inside his body.

If the exterior was inaccessible, then attack from within.

The overwhelming thorns roared through Garfiel’s insides, pressuring and disintegrating him from the core. Just as the impending conclusion loomed, Garfiel’s form twisted, swinging his bulk to strike Kafma down.

“——!”

As Garfiel seized him and slammed him against the castle wall, Kafma became trapped.

He lifted and dropped Kafma, lifted and dropped him, slamming him against the wall again and again. As the castle structure cracked and fractured, the star-shaped points split apart in two. Kafma’s vision turned crimson as blood poured from his mouth.

Yet the thorns remained undiminished, continuously flooding into Garfiel’s body.

Until Kafma exhausted all strength, the “insects” ravenously sought victory.

“——”

A massive tiger’s maw could not cleave through the densely packed thorns. No matter how firmly his claws dug in, the roiling layers of thorns merely coiled tighter.

Even the thorns, though finite, had a limited expulsion capacity.

Should he overly expend himself now, significant attacks against the encroaching rebel army would be forfeited. Yet, the value of this victory was paramount.

―― No, the monster known as Garfiel Tinsel was worth this risk.

“Ah, ahhh, aaah—!!”

Ignoring the agonizing fractures throughout his body, Kafma’s throat erupted with a roar.

The surging thorns fully filled Garfiel’s body, sealing him within, leading him to death through an overwhelming buildup of pressure.

No matter how he twisted or transformed through beastification, Kafma would not be denied.

With all the leftover strength from the “insects” within pooling together, Kafma pressed down upon Garfiel, leaning onward to seize victory—when he witnessed the unbelievable.

“——Huh?”

As thorns burst from within Garfiel, the golden tiger swelled, on the brink of explosion. Upon that impending release, the pressure from the thorns swiftly waned.

Why? — Because they had carved an escape route for themselves amid the thorns.

Garfiel’s well-formed claws punctured through his own abdomen, releasing the thorns in a burst.

This dreadfully reckless maneuver drew death ever closer. If thorns loaded the wound, it would allow him to forcibly open the abdominal gash, purposefully tearing himself in two and concluding the fight.

Such was sheer foolishness that lured death.

However, witnessing that frantic act, Kafma’s momentary lapse in thought granted Garfiel a breath of reprieve just before his impending termination.

Garfiel’s jaws snapped shut. The sound of the thorns shredding apart echoed as the great tiger’s maw clamped down tightly.

Stripped of that decisive attack, both Garfiel and Kafma saw it too late; Garfiel advanced forward, his silver gauntlet delivering a heavy blow to Kafma’s face.

Crashed against the wall, as Kafma lay on the ground, the weight of Garfiel’s fist drove deeply into his countenance, finally succeeding in inflicting irreversible damage on the castle wall.

The thunderous sound echoed as the fiercely acclaimed Imperial Capital Rupugana began its collapse.

Feeling the ruins of the castle crumble around him, Kafma stared directly at Garfiel.

Gradually, the beastly form receded, transforming back into the boy’s original human shape—his self-inflicted abdominal gash spewing forth a plume of bloody vapor as it rapidly closed.

Witnessing the terrifying wound heal at an alarming speed, Kafma couldn’t help but express his disbelief.

What a ludicrous sight this was.

“……Monster.”

After letting the words escape him as if exhaling a breath, the destruction enveloped him completely, and the castle crumbled away.

In the midst of that debris and wreckage, Kafma’s consciousness began to fade slowly, slipping away, with no strength remaining to draw him back—

“My Lord, I apologize…”

As he crumbled under the weight of the final loyalty due, he descended into darkness.

―― The whisper of the “insects” he had continually heard from birth seemed to grow eerily silent.

△▼△▼△▼△

Grabbing hold of the defenseless figure plummeting down, Kafma was yanked away from the ruins, kicking off debris to escape the crumbling site.

As he skidded his heels along the ground to halt, he turned to see the castle wall collapsing with a great uproar, creating a massive opening in the once-fortified stronghold.

“I’ve opened a wind hole for you!”

Reflecting on Emilia’s command before the battle, remnants of a grin curled on his face. Yet, the deep split in his mouth caused him to wince, prompting Garfiel to let out a low growl.

Frantically placing his hand over his wound, he activated healing magic.

“Ah, dammit, it hurts… but—”

As he attempted to heal the gaping cut, Garfiel gazed down at his hand.

Having just survived a bout of intense warfare that could have easily led to his death—his numerous wounds quickly healed, and the throbbing pain seemed a mere echo.

Even while beastified, he maintained a certain level of clarity throughout the battle. Thanks to this, his recovery was swift. —But was that truly it?

“…… Have I become stronger, I wonder?”

Clenching his opened hand, Garfiel muttered to himself.

There was no actual sense of it. Instead, it was fortunate that he had never encountered an opponent requiring his absolute power until this moment.

Except for his battle with Kurgan of the “Eight Arms” in the water gate city, all previous combats had left Garfiel yearning for more.

Now unshackled from that constraint, Garfiel acknowledged his performance, having broken through his previous limits.

One wall had been shattered, and during this fight, he had solidified that achievement.

So—

“——I will return that label of ‘monster’ right back at you.”

Thus, Garfiel lowered Kafma to the ground and snorted.

The moment he caught his breath, Kafma lay there, still alive. He understood that in warfare, it was unnecessary to keep those who could be a threat alive.

Emilia had expressed a desire to reduce the number of people who would die at their hands.

And Otto had advised him to wipe out those surging enemies until his legs could no longer bear him.

Without a doubt, Emilia had spoken from the heart, and Otto had spoken from concern.

He wished to fulfill their words.

Thus, this moment was—

“——Mine is the victory!”

With that affirmation, Garfiel raised a fist, victorious over his challenges.

 

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