――The reconfiguration of the vessel as the “Witch of Greed” due to the alteration of the soul.

　This was the grand purpose behind the catastrophic event brought about by the “Witch” Sphinx as a “Great Calamity” of the Volakia Empire.

　Born into this world and spending over three hundred years without fulfilling its purpose of creation—this has always remained a core proposition within Sphinx.

　According to the reasoning of the “Star Readers,” said to only appear in the Volakia Empire, this could be considered a heavenly mandate given to Sphinx from birth.

　To fulfill this mandate, she would not hesitate to destroy kingdoms or empires.

　As a fact――,

「――So you intended to fill the empire with the dead?」

　Chained in a cell, Priscilla raised her arms and narrowed her Crimson Eyes.

　In her intellectual gaze, there was no surprise regarding the events unfolding before her, only a quiet understanding fueling the blazing crimson flames.

　With her lips twisting into a smile at that crimson gaze, Sphinx, now the “Witch of Greed,” nodded.

「From the very beginning, vessel and soul are inseparable; I understood this right after my creation. My long years of exploration could well be considered a journey to reconcile that discrepancy.」

　Designed to recreate the “Witch of Greed,” but born into a vessel distinct from the original, Sphinx could only exist in an imperfect state as the “Witch of Greed.”

　She didn’t mind the countless samples and errors spanning three hundred years, but as expected, Sphinx finally found a sense of accomplishment at the horizon she managed to reach.

　And that was, as Priscilla said, accomplished through the “Great Calamity” that she unleashed upon the empire.

　――As previously mentioned, vessel and soul are inseparable.

　This applies not just to those with physical forms like spirits. What’s important is not the presence or absence of a tangible body but the vessel that harbors the soul.

　If the two are mismatched, it signifies an unnatural state as a lifeform. And the inseparable nature of the soul and vessel exerts power seeking to correct that mismatch.

　Of course, no matter what rectifying power is at play, it’s rare for the vessel to change to fit the soul.

　Techniques like the Shinobi arts that alter the soul to fit the vessel or reincarnation bindings that sacrifice many lives are prime examples of the rare instances where this happens. The former requires talent to appropriately adjust the soul and vessel, while the latter depends on a strong bond between numerous sacrifices and the caster.

　Both were conditions that Sphinx couldn’t meet, forcing her to abandon the feasibility of fulfilling her wishes.

　Hence, Sphinx made use of it.――The “Great Calamity.”

「Reviving the dead across the entire empire through forbidden arts; in the process, I could endlessly observe countless invisible and untouchable souls. This turned out to be perfect for verifying your goals.」

「The occurrence of the “Great Calamity” was anticipated. It was just a matter of whether my plan would be acknowledged in line with that…… and, as you can see, the result.」

「Though you act triumphantly, it seems you performed quite a balancing act, did you not?」

「I won’t deny that. It was indeed a challenge.」

　Priscilla’s words were accurate. It was undeniably a risky endeavor.

　Modifying the ritual of “The Secret of the Undying King,” connecting with the “Stone Block,” the great spirit of Volakia, to materialize the army of undead, whether Sphinx would be recognized as a single soul worthy of resurrection among the undead, and whether someone capable of provoking a transformation of the soul within the undead would appear—everything was uncertain.

「But」

　Successfully resurrecting the undead through the recreation of “The Secret of the Undying King,” Sphinx’s plan of resurrecting herself as undead went smoothly, and beings like Lamia Godwin and the “Single-Eyed” Izmail, capable of undergoing soul changes, emerged, establishing the foundation Sphinx required.

　And――,

「It’s ironic that the final push came from the flames of the “Sun Sword,” isn’t it?」

「――――」

「Had it remained as it was, I surely would have been destroyed. That crisis ironically became the opportunity for me to conduct my final countless examinations.」

「――No, that’s not correct.」

「Not correct?」

　Sphinx tilted her head at the denial of the fact that she had escaped a perilous moment where her soul was to be burned away.

　The viewpoint from which she spoke stood in stark contrast to that of the imperfect vessel of the “Witch of Greed.” Her face and neck were not the sickly pale shade of an undead, her eyes were not the blackened gaze of an undead filled with gold; they were indeed a pair of black eyes.

　However, even so, Sphinx was undoubtedly undead.

　The near-living state of the recreated soul significantly impacted her appearance. The ability to achieve that itself served as proof of the validity of Sphinx’s theory.

「What mistake did I make? I require an explanation.」

「Do not describe actions you took with the words of the bloodless. You fought desperately while on the brink of death.」

「――I am dead.」

「Isn’t there a qualification for the dead to fight? The thin ropes you balanced upon were not something you could cross without some nonchalance.」

「――――」

「You struggled for life and drew forth the desired outcome. Acknowledgment of that fact is essential, even if it is unpleasant or inconvenient for me.――If you intend to be my enemy.」

　With closed lips, Sphinx received Priscilla’s bold statement.

　Sphinx faintly furrowed her brow at Priscilla’s words, reflecting the sharpness that did not compromise her character, almost as if to praise Sphinx’s challenge.

　It seemed as if Sphinx recognized the fact that her trial and error had borne fruit.

　――――

　That sparked a slight irritation in Sphinx’s heart—a feeling uncharacteristic of the “Witch of Greed,” a sentiment that should not exist.

「――It would be prudent to avoid entertaining your viewpoint. I require self-defense.」

「What? Are you not content merely being chained here, but also blocking my words? If that is so, then there is no meaning in either your continued presence nor in sparing my life. Yet why do you persist in this?」

「I said I won’t engage.」

「Hmph, very well. Then I will reveal everything.」

　With her red lips arched, Priscilla ignored Sphinx’s declaration of intent to withdraw.

　Her words held great conviction; once she began to speak, regardless of how much one might want to close their ears, the power to command attention was undeniable.

「You executed this plan within the empire and continue to stand before me with the purpose of reshaping yourself as that witch; both reasons are crystal clear.」

　Thus, with Sphinx silenced, Priscilla continued.

　And――,

「You intend to show me the empire’s demise while keeping me alive. Why is that? It is to show me the fall of my homeland and shatter my heart.――The source of your endless hatred.」

　――The two grand purposes of the “Witch” Sphinx were indeed the recreation of her soul as the “Witch of Greed” and the revenge against Priscilla Barielle.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　△▼△▼△▼△

　――For Aldebaran, this encounter was an unacceptable occurrence.

「――Echidnaaaaaaa!!」

　With a voice trembling with wrath, Ald leaped up and grasped the sudden surge of the stone-made blue dragon knife from the ground, hurling it at the “Witch of Greed” floating above, her white hair fluttering.

　The blue dragon knife spiraled with a vertical spin, hurtling fiercely towards the “Witch” who sought to launch some attack upon them, distorting the space like a mirage.

　The knife directed boldly towards the “Witch of Greed” positioned high out of reach thanks to Ald’s jumping power――,

「I didn’t expect someone to call me by that name. I require an explanation.」

　Calmly stating this, the “Witch of Greed” easily sidestepped the blue dragon knife with minimal deviation.

　The missed blade flew futilely, not even grazing the “Witch of Greed.”

　――Just as planned.

「Take this!」

　As Ald shouted in a booming voice, the missed blue dragon knife ignited and exploded.

　He wasn’t naïve enough to think that the thrown blade would actually hit; he understood that his attacks typically do not work on most foes.

　Therefore, Ald’s fighting style was all about setting up the groundwork for every motion.

　「――――」

　The exploded stone blue dragon knife turned into shrapnel, ruthlessly assaulting the slender frame of the “Witch of Greed.”

　That little explosive device, while far from fatal, was designed to inflict non-negligible damage if they happened to be hit.

　Despite using a low amount of mana, Ald had shaped the blue dragon knife’s fragments to be sharp――he was skilled at maximizing effectiveness from the materials at hand.

「Such was the environment that dictated I would die if I couldn’t do this!」

　Ald roared as the shrapnel made an excruciating sound, drilling into the “Witch of Greed.” ―But as expected, things did not unfold as Ald hoped.

「Hmm.」

　As the oncoming shrapnel approached, the “Witch of Greed” merely narrowed her eyes slightly and did nothing. There was no need to. The shrapnel dodged her, curtseying away as it approached.

　Ald’s attack couldn’t even break through the residual winds created for her flight.

　But to Ald, that was sadly predictable.

「――!」

　If for even a moment, the “Witch of Greed’s” attention shifted elsewhere, that would suffice.

　Utilizing that gap, Ald activated magic beneath his running feet, raising the earth that acted as a launching pad, propelling him high into the air.

　Next, the airborne Ald transformed the stone he gripped into the second blue dragon knife.

　Transforming a small stone into a large sword consumed less mana compared to generating fire or water from nothing and made the formation process exponentially quicker.

「Ooooooohhh――!!」

　Utilizing the full spring of his body, Ald swung the raised blow towards the “Witch of Greed.”

　Unlike the shrapnel, this was not something that could simply be countered by the wind. Ald’s full oomph was aimed straight at that annoyingly well-defined face――,

「But,」

「While I commend your ingenuity in compensating for your lack of strength, it lacks power.」

　Smoothly shifting her slender arm, the “Witch of Greed” effortlessly deflected the blue dragon knife, and Ald was left astonished as her long leg brutally struck his torso, compelling him to bend at an awkward angle mid-air. The “Witch of Greed” added a twist of her waist and sent him crashing to the ground.

「Guh!」

　Instinctively curling up, he prevented his neck from being broken by the impact of the fall.

　However, the severe damage from her blow was undeniable, and that wasn’t the only thing weighing down on Ald.

「That movement just now……」

「You were surprised, weren’t you? It’s a product of your previous defeat. I supplemented my lacking abilities and honed my skills.」

　The “Witch of Greed” lowered the leg she had kicked with, and her words penetrated Ald’s mind, leaving him astonished.

　This was wrong. It couldn’t be.

　As far as Ald was aware, she had always been the type to haphazardly dabble in everything but had a devastating lack of coordination when it came to athletic abilities. No amount of theoretical training would have aided her; she wouldn’t have been able to perform an act like that—she couldn’t even perform a handstand properly in the first place.

　In other words――,

「Teacher…… it’s not Echidna, is it?」

「That expression of surprise is quite interesting. By all means, it could be said to be an impossible feat, but you do know my creator.――Why is that?」

　Facing the question, Ald gazed back at the figure resembling the “Witch of Greed,” not Echidna, and was left speechless.

　Every aspect of her appearance and voice was identical to Echidna. But she wasn’t Echidna.

　In this “Witch’s” black eyes, the unfathomable, devious, and insatiably curious spark characteristic of the true “Witch of Greed” was conspicuously absent.

「――――」

　As Ald focused on that conviction, the being that resembled Echidna but was not so, gave a slight frown with displeasure, her white lashes making her eyes appear narrowed.

「You refuse to answer? I wish to know more about who you are—beyond just being Priscilla Barielle’s attendant.」

「――Ah, I’m sorry but that’s not going to happen.」

　In an instant, a flash of lightning illuminated the space; it was an instantaneous event.

　Just as Ald barely managed to get himself upright, the “Witch” began to point her fingers, attempting to use some form of action against him. In that moment, however, Cecilis appeared behind her, cradling Arakia.

　With only his left hand able to support Arakia, he swung the “Dream Sword” in his right—a single, fluid motion that severed the “Witch” cleanly at the neck.

「What the—!」

「You said I couldn’t kill you, but how about now? I hope to redeem my name after that comment, so if I can pull that off, I’d be content!」

　Without even a moment to react, the blade cleanly separated the head of the “Witch” from her body.

　Overhead of the dumbstruck Ald, Cecilis stuck out his tongue in a playful manner, while the sword’s wind easily felled the “Witch.”

　It was something Ald could understand despite the initial confusion caused by witnessing the arrival of the familiar “Witch” not being the same as the original.

　However――,

「――This is concerning.」

　Understanding what would come next was a struggle.

　As the severed beautiful head spun with strands of white hair scattering around it, the “Witch” grinned slightly.

　In the moment following, the area surrounding the fallen “Witch” warped intensely white――,

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　×　　×　　×

「You refuse to answer? I want to know more about who you are—beyond just Priscilla Barielle’s attendant.」

「――Ah, I’m sorry, but that’s not going to happen…… wa-wa-wa-wa-wa!？」

　The “Witch” narrowed her eyes with white lashes, muttering with displeasure.

　Suddenly, a wall of earth that appeared right before Cecilis, who had intended to strike at the thin neck, left him aghast. He immediately kicked it and shifted away from the area of danger to land, glaring angrily at Ald.

「Hey, hey, Ald! What the heck was that for? That was my moment to showcase my skills, a scene where I could make an impression! The audience was going to boo!」

「I apologize for stealing your spotlight, but I couldn’t allow you to be killed. After all, if I did, everyone …… at least, I would surely be blown away.」

「――Hmph.」

　While Cecilis stomped his foot in protest, the “Witch” interjected with a breath.

　A single word had revealed that the “Witch” had surmised that Ald had seen through the trap Sphinx had laid—the distortion of space, which would blow away the area once its force was expended.

　That trap functioned similarly to a dead man’s switch; it wouldn’t detonate upon pressing a button, but once you released it, it would be activated.

　The destructive power was unfathomable; neither Ald’s earthen wall nor stone armor could withstand it.

　The truth was, even supporting Arakia, Cecilis might manage to escape, but Ald had no means to evade the overwhelming death looming over him.

　Thus, it was crucial not to clumsily allow the “Witch” to be killed. This was a fact Ald had learned through 53 trials and errors.

　Additionally, there was another realization that Ald had gained.

「You aren’t Echidna. Who exactly are you?」

「That question has already been answered. I am the “Witch of Greed.”」

「All right, but that’s Echidna’s……」

「Wait, hold on, Ald, are you not understanding? In fact, it’s possible you might not have encountered her even once.」

　As the verbal tug-of-war started between Ald and the “Witch,” Cecilis made a quick, grounding presence. Kicking off the ground, he interposed himself to block their glances, cradling Arakia as he adjusted his grasp.

　Yet, Cecilis’s presence didn’t assist the situation entirely.

　As mentioned earlier, the “Witch’s” dead man’s switch was active—until they could safely neutralize that, Ald couldn’t recklessly defeat the “Witch” either.

「That’s not it. This one is not the “Witch of Greed.”」

　Speaking those words, Ald outwardly denied the idea that had sprouted in his mind.

　The “Witch” certainly looked just like Echidna, yet the name “Witch of Greed” wasn’t something granted solely by appearance.

　It wasn’t limited to “Witches” either. ―”Witch” was something far too profound to trivialize.

「There’s no way that becoming a “Witch” is so easy for anyone!」

「While I do not have the vanity to boast my achievements, I find it somewhat insulting to hear that reaching my current state was simple.」

「Shut it, just die once to understand the gravity of that claim!」

　Apparently, the “Witch” was agitated too, but Ald felt equally perturbed.

　In a situation where countless threads led him to race toward the Crystal Palace to reunite with Priscilla, it was absurd to be waylaid by the disgruntled “Witch.”

「――Resumption of the thought experiment, redefinition of the domain.」

　Fueled by a rising fighting spirit, Ald updated his strategies, staring hard at the “Witch.”

　Even with Cecilis here, he dared not let his guard down. It was not only because of the fact that he couldn’t afflict the “Witch” but also due to another realization he had secured.

「Cecilis, hold onto Arakia tightly!」

「Of course, I wouldn’t just toss her away. But the way you phrased that sounds like it’s not just treating Arakia like a princess, does it?」

「Precisely.――That woman with the malicious personality is targeting Arakia’s life.」

　The reason the “Witch,” bearer of the “Great Calamity,” had personally come here was due to the life of Arakia, currently asleep in Cecilis’s arms.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　△▼△▼△▼△

「Under normal circumstances, Arakia would have been unable to contain the “Stone Block” she ingested and would have perished in the process. However, it seems your calculations have gone awry.」

「――――」

「The unexpected causes were my “Soul Marriage Technique” and the “Blue Thunder” Masayume. If it had only been one of them, it would have been different. But with both present, Arakia managed to hold on.――However, until those conditions aligned, had Arakia not endured, your calculations would have succeeded.」

　With that assertion, Priscilla gained confidence in her own interpretation, standing firm against the silently defiant Sphinx.

　The “Witch” didn’t show an iota of the pain or discomfort that had been correctly identified; nor did she twist her words in deceit. Such courage in the face of a disordered situation was remarkable.

　――Arakia’s survival should not have been part of Sphinx’s plan.

　In the way things were supposed to unfold according to Sphinx’s predictions, Arakia would have come to self-destruct, having taken on powers beyond her capabilities to save Priscilla.

　Sphinx intended to showcase that tragic end of Arakia’s demise as well as the fall of the Volakia Empire, delivering agony to Priscilla as part of her schemes.

　It was precisely for this reason that Sphinx had deliberately maimed Arakia by making her consume the “Stone Block.”

　But it had backfired. ―Since Arakia continued to endure instead of self-destructing, Priscilla’s and Cecilis’s interventions resulted in her prolonged life.

　As a result, Arakia “the Spirit Eater” not only deflected Sphinx’s original plans but was also thrust into a pivotal position that could potentially disrupt those grand designs.

　In other words――,

「――Cecilis Segmunt subjugated the “Stone Block” within Arakia with his “Dream Sword.” Hence, her life is now identical to that of the “Stone Block” Muspel. There must be no escape from the end of the Volakia Empire.」

「If my homeland falls, do you think my eyes would clear? You underestimate me.」

「Then simply watch. The truth of whether this is mere bravado will unfold before your eyes.」

　Crimson and jet-black eyes, Priscilla’s and Sphinx’s, silently challenged each other.

　Yet, Priscilla’s fierce glare and passion did not waver Sphinx’s iron resolve. There was an intensity that did not allow for unfettered joy over the fact that her opponent’s plan had been derailed.

　The source of that intensity paralleled the obsession that Sphinx harbored for centuries to reach the status of the “Witch of Greed,” equaling her deep-seated hatred for Priscilla.

「To harbor that much hatred toward me…… no, is it aimed at that, “Witch”?」

「The thorn within my heart bears no name. Or do you think you know what this is within me? I require an answer.」

「――Do not force me to utter the distasteful kind of sentiment that I do not even name myself.」

　Priscilla refused to name the emotions that bore no title.

　Even without knowing their names, a blooming flower was still a flower. That flower bears no guilt, even if its petals only bloom upon the piled corpses.

　「――――」

　With silence in response to Priscilla’s retort, Sphinx snapped her fingers.

　In an instant, before the form of the “Witch” transformed, the image within the magical crystal resting atop her staff was projected onto the air.

　――A scene where a being identical in shape to the “Witch” was showering stars down from the bright sky to end the Wolf Country.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　△▼△▼△▼△

「――The moon has clouds, and the flowers have wind, huh?」

　With breezy and bright words, Cecilis deliberately dove into the storm of shrapnel.

　Ahead, the swirling debris was a rain of sword forest bullets sure to cause severe injury, yet Cecilis held Arakia tightly against him, evading them with minimal evasiveness. ―No,

「This is excellent. It’s just beyond my capabilities!」

　Blood trickled from his grazed cheek as Cecilis gazed intently at the “Witch” who was now amplified by the storm she summoned.

　The tricky thing was that the “Witch” continued to maintain her superiority in a high position. Most of the buildings around that could serve as launch pads had been flattened by Arakia, leaving no situational props available to traverse the distance needed to leap toward her.

　Even so, he couldn’t lead the enemy to another battlefield――,

「――Ald Goah.」

　A brief incantation summoned enormous fireballs that descended on them with unbelievable intensity.

　Should those touch the ground, it could easily engulf the area in flames, creating a scene resembling the hell they had faced against Arakia.

　Unlike Arakia, however, the “Witch” did not need to concern herself with limiting the battleground.

「Simply troublesome! Zunbarari!」

　In that moment, Cecilis unleashing the “Dream Sword” in a flash, split the falling fireballs in half.

　The flaming masses, which were meant to create a sea of fire beneath Ald and the others, released their heat safely back into the sky.

　The sky that had momentarily resumed its typical hues began to be stained red once more, the overwhelming sight lively yet too daunting to celebrate.

　This was because the fireballs were not limited to just one.

「Goah. El Goah. Uru Goah. Ald Goah.」

　With the continuous incantation, countless destructive flames showered down like a nightmare.

　With no moment to spare, Cecilis’s eyes sparkling brightly, he tossed Arakia aside, gripping the hilt of the “Dream Sword.”

「Don don don don dododond!」

　In a staccato rhythm, the blade’s illumination swiped away all the descent of the flames. A roar, an explosion, the sound akin to the world’s end echoed as the sky intensified its dangerously vibrant hue.

　While grinning widely, Cecilis did not look forward to the drawn-out fights.

　While Cecilis could display the risks of the power of the “Dream Sword,” he was both mutually imposing the limitation of resource management.

　In other words, a stalemate had arisen between the ongoing battle between Cecilis and the “Witch.”

　If Ald’s assertions were indeed correct, carelessly taking the “Witch’s” head would surely result in catastrophe. Upon looking closely, the air around her was warped, attesting the likelihood.

　Although Cecilis might run and escape even were they to blast away the space, the fact that Ald, like Schwarz, was laden with suspicion hindered him from issuing the order to retreat. One sensed that taking a risk here would not bode well.

　That resulted in a stalemate, and the approach of Cecilis to take action seemed to propel them toward doom――,

「Therefore, this is your showcase, Ald!」

「I realize that! Additionally, don’t just toss Arakia aside!」

「Throwing her is absurd! That was a show of trust between you and me!」

　As Cecilis adorned the sky with countless fiery stars, Ald, cradling Arakia in one hand, furiously shouted.

　Undoubtedly, Ald trusted Cecilis to receive Arakia properly being thrown; in his perspective, it seemed as though she had simply been discarded.

　Nonetheless, Ald hadn’t missed a catch and, most importantly――,

「Will you evade this, too?」

　A white beam of lethal energy burst forth from the “Witch’s” finger.

　That attack aimed straight for Ald—not Cecilis—though it sought to stop Arakia’s heart, it failed to reach its target.

　Ald barely dodged by the slimmest margin, though it could only be described as harrowing.

　That was a truly clumsy endeavor to evade, a reckless escape for sure.

「If it results well in your favor, it’ll match your character! However, Ald’s assertion stands; Arakia remains in danger!」

「When Arakia dies, it seems the empire would collapse beneath us!」

「I still have no clue what you’re talking about!」

　Having received the comment bordering on absurdity, Cecilis laughed loudly, but did not dismiss it. Instead, without another moment’s hesitation he snatched Arakia from Ald’s grasp as he propelled forward.

「Come on, come on, if you can trace me with your eyes and spirit, keep up!――Oh!?」

　Kicking off the ground, Cecilis ascended to lightning speeds while cradling Arakia.

　The surrounding air manifested as beautiful mirrors made of water, which bounced the “Witch’s” white beam back and set alight a chaotic dance of light.

　In truth, the myriad of deadly lights went into unfettered turbulence, targeting Cecilis.

「Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!」

　Amidst the swirling storm of light, Cecilis gracefully dashed through. Leaning in, sharpening his posture, widening his stances, he sometimes bypassed the oncoming illumination.

　In those angles from which he couldn’t evade, he aligned the blade of the “Dream Sword,” bouncing the light back and breaking the reflective water mirrors. The splash sound spelled out as though throwing a flat stone across a water surface; the shards and droplets sprayed onto him as he dashed through the chaos――,

「――This is the sensation of turning the world against oneself.」

　In an instant, that declaration from the “Witch” along with the tautness in the air struck Ald’s eardrum.

　The pain coursing through his body at that moment was akin to ice that froze the splashes from the shattered water mirrors, absorbing his body heat and leaving him with no sense of freedom.

　The water mirrors turned into a two-fold, three-fold defensive mechanism.

　The perception of turning the world against oneself was indeed a colorful yet delicate expression.

　Indeed, in the Volakia Empire, where true mages like her were nearly nonexistent, chances to encounter such a wielder seemed virtually nonexistent.

「But you seem unaware.――The world is always waiting for my performance!」

　Ald’s rising body temperature contrasted sharply with his ever-increasing excitement. In a flash, the mana coursing through Ald ignited with a flame-like ferocity, evaporating the freezing grip upon him and resuming his sprint.

　With that velocity, Ald broke free from the icy confinement, lifting his gaze to the heavens, where a smile stretched across his face.

　That was not a smile shared with the “Witch” floating in the air.――It was directed towards the stars falling from the height of the skies above.

「――Ald Shamal!」

　The meaning behind that incantation lay in revealing that the starlight resulted from the “Witch.”

　It was an astonishing truth, that a witch of such epic proportions could even drop the stars by her whims, overwhelming Cecilis with the realization that the “Dream Sword” nestled by his side began beating with life.

　It resonated—it responded to its owner, craving the amassed “Dream” becoming a possible prophecy.

「――Fascinating.」

　The descending light of the stars beckoned, urging him to sever.

　The light challenged him in so many ways, the “Dream Sword” echoing the sentiment.

　The stars echoed and summoned multitudes of eager spectators to their feet.

　The stars cried out for the soul of Cecilis Segmunt.

「――――」

　For just an instant, Cecilis diverted a fragment of his consciousness from the falling stars, licking his lips.

　Now, as the supreme question ringing in his soul urged the “Dream Sword” to soar beyond all else, all things of the past faded away. As a ceremony, he laid Arakia gently onto the ground and stood before her.

　He chose the flattest ground available. Removing his outerwear and laying it down, he made every effort to ensure meticulous care.

　From this point on, he would ignore her existence, to some degree.

「Ha!」

　With a whimpering sigh, a beat later, Cecilis drew the “Dream Sword” from his waist.

　The moment the blade was drawn and touched the air, it trembled as if absorbing the fervor from Cecilis’s grip, aglow with brilliance.

　This sword, the one that consumed its owner’s “Dream,” transforming a whimsical tale into reality.

　Focused entirely on the starlight, Ald forgot to blink, breathe, or even the rhythm of his heart as he devoted his essence solely to merging with the magic sword in his grasp.

　While this was happening, the “Witch” appeared intent on disturbing Cecilis’s concentration.

「Ha!」

　Cecilis’s focus remained solely fixated on the starlit beacon. To accomplish that, he removed everything that served him no purpose. Colors, sounds, odors, tastes, everything from the impending four elements of earth, water, fire, and wind were instinctively cast aside.

　Merely omitting them was insufficient.

　――Should it be required.

「――――」

　The starlight falling upon the ground, filled with destructive power, did not need to directly contact the earth to still threaten it with such intensity that the ground could fissure, the air might ignite, and pain would transform into light.

　As Cecilis Segmunt gazed upward to respond to that threat, he felt grateful.

　Amid that gratitude, he entrusted his hopes to all things.

「――――」

　The spilled sighs would bloom in resonance, and who could possibly sense the shift within this moment?

　What Cecilis earnestly desired was to wield the “Dream Sword” with no reservations; that answer arrived, tinged with a slightly metallic, sanguine emotion.

　His final duel with his father imparted the essential lesson he required.――The dwelling of the soul.

　It was the sword of Rauan Segmunt, who had desecrated the boundaries between life and death.

　Thus――,

「――A swordsman, Cecilis Segmunt.」

　With those solemn words spoken, “Blue Thunder” Cecilis Segmunt swung the “Dream Sword” in a manner befitting the most potent entity in the Volakia Empire, a performance worthy of a leading actor.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　△▼△▼△▼△

　――The lightning cleaved through the starlight.

　If the events were to be depicted, no expression could be more fitting.

　However, whether one could believe their own eyes before the unfolding reality was a different matter entirely.

　But――,

「No matter how absurd this all seems……!」

　Cecilis Segmunt cleaved the stars.

　Before the “Witch,” the one who was akin to the true “Witch of Greed,” who wielded the taboo magic, stood there, stunned in disbelief, sharing the same reality alongside Ald.

　It was no simple feat to strike down a star.

　The true “Witch of Greed” herself once expressed she preferred not to drop more than one star a day.

　That meant, she was not a mage who could conjure them repeatedly.

「Ohh――!」

　With the severed light of the star turning gray above, Ald raised his voice to bolster his spirit amidst the monochrome visage that stole the sound away.

　In the very act of severing the stars, he could have scampered atop the newly created pillars of stone to soar skyward toward the “Witch” who stood stunned at the display of heavenly might――,

「It is a fact that I have been startled. However――」

　As Ald leaped to thrust his stone blue dragon knife, it shattered against the “Witch” palm.

　The wind wrapped around her palm caused a super vibration, annihilating her target through a fusion of magic and martial prowess.

　If one would hit properly, flesh and bone would be utterly scattered to the winds.

　Despite wielding the spell in hand, the “Witch” sought to crush Ald’s head along with his helmet.

　After unleashing a strike so off the charts like Cecilis, the “Witch” altered her perception of Ald, now recognized as a pebble that obstructed her path toward Arakia’s demise.

　Yet, what she failed to realize was that even pebbles could, at times, crush their opponents.

「This is my plan!」

　In that moment, Ald’s makeshift left arm—crafted from stone and earth—struck the “Witch’s” head.

「The stars were cursed upon you!」

「――――」

　With those words spoken, the gaze of the “Witch” wavered.

　In that instant before her retaliation or counters could be enacted, time became eternity for Ald, who had prepared his attack patiently.

「――Oul Shamak!」

　As Ald whispered his incantation within his iron helmet, the world twisted.

　It ensnared the “Witch” who’d just suffered an unexpected blow and bound her movements, shutting down the activity of the gates within her body.

　This was Ald’s last line of defense, a trump card he had acquired aimed at the “Witch.”

「――Ah!」

　With a feeble breath, the “Witch,” now deprived of her freedom, collapsed to the ground.

　Bound by the contradictory forces of black light, she resembled nothing more than a cocooned insect, utterly petrified. In reality, she was frozen as immobile as the world’s most fearsome “Witch.”

「But, with this,……」

　Landing next to the fallen “Witch,” Ald attempted to look up again, only to be assaulted by waves of fatigue that forced him to kneel and vomit.

　The makeshift left arm began to fall apart. Desperately, Ald employed his right arm to tilt his helmet and expelled a torrent of yellow stomach bile, experiencing a supreme exhaustion across his entire frame.

　A throbbing pain pounded throughout his skull, leading his vision into complete blackout.

　That sense of awareness would not return for some time. Erasing the “Witch” and ending that phase was a small consolation, yet――,

「――Correction is required.」

「Huh?」

　Panting heavily, Ald lifted his head, his lips smeared with bile and drool.

　Even as he looked up into the feeble light, a cracked voice echoed within the shadows.

　What had the “Witch” just said?

　Instead of feeling a rushing chill, Ald shivered with anticipation.

　Having forcibly shut down her gate, the “Witch” should not be capable of conjuring magic.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　△▼△▼△▼△

「――――」

　In that moment, the Crystal Palace illuminated brightly, a transmission that echoed from the deepest north of the imperial capital, renowned as the world’s most beautiful castle.

　The Magical Crystal Cannon, the ultimate weapon of the Imperial Capital Rupugana, unleashed its power.

　Just before the “Great Calamity” threatened the entire empire, it had previously been launched in the midst of a fierce internal battle for the throne within the empire—a weapon so uncontrollable, it could rewrite maps.

　Recognizing that the targeting system had locked directly onto them—no, directly aimed at the black mass that was the “Witch” on the ground—Cecilis Segmunt quickly realized the situation.

　That was a self-detonation strategy meant to pierce through the “Witch” herself, a dastardly, cunning trick imagined by someone with nothing but malicious intent.

「Masayume!」

　Grasping at the sensation of the magical sword within his hands, Cecilis prepared to push forward.

　Ald, who had achieved a significant victory, no longer needed a moment of glory. Behind him lay the heroine who must not be sacrificed for the sake of narrative, and at their side was the perfect resurrection of Cecilis—a man reborn and steadfast in resolve.

　Stars, the empire’s ultimate treasure, all would weigh upon him as “Blue Thunder.” As that moment approached.

「――――」

　With one step poised to advance forward, Cecilis’s blue eyes glinted sharply.

　Then he let out a slight breath, pressing his raised foot back down, shaking his head in resignation――

「――Ald Shamak!!」

　As the light of the Magical Crystal Cannon neared with crushing determination, Cecilis’s voice rang through the skies above the imperial capital.

　In an instant, the vibrant colors splashed across the sky faded to black, forming an immeasurable void that devoured the light around it.

　The intention of the “Witch” to sacrifice herself in exchange for victory crumbled under that overwhelming force, obliterated by a striking figure—

「It was about time you arrived for your cue, Boss!」

　With that voice echoing through the space where the engulfing void formed, Cecilis noticed the small silhouette in the sky, a well-marked boy with black hair and a girl in a dress.

　Although they likely couldn’t hear Cecilis’s delighted laughter, the boy called out.

「Don’t you even think about letting it happen! ―Fate, accepted!!」