Decisive Battle

Rio had watched Ruin’s magic exactly once.

On a day when he was dying, having lost will to live in the world, Ruin who likewise lived meaninglessly having lost will to live left just one word to assailants.

“Shh.”

That moment, everything fell silent.

Just like now.

“…”

All demon beasts, earth, sky, and wind’s sounds disappeared.

Within that, only Ruin’s staff sound echoed.

Ding-!

Like ringing bells, a clear sound struck the world.

Humans’ breathing became comfortable, and demon beasts’ breath stopped.

Ding ding-!

When Ruin struck his staff once more, thousands of demon beasts all froze.

Only fusion demon beasts tried resisting mana by flapping and pounding the ground.

But no sound was heard.

All that resistance’s shock and explosive sounds disappeared.

It looked like a picture moving within a frame.

“…”

Soundless assault heads toward Ruin.

Fusion demon beasts spew fire, flap creating wind, and pound horns to the ground shaking earth.

Though natural disasters rage, Ruin only pressed his index finger to his lips with a hazy smile.

“Shh.”

And everything stopped.

Natural disasters vanished cleanly as if asking when they’d occurred.

Fusion demon beasts froze in place, unable to move.

‘Silence.’

Even Rio’s skin didn’t tingle.

Everything flowed peacefully as if conducting daily life.

As if it were providence, resistance wasn’t permitted to demon beasts.

‘This is merely magic.’

Swallows sound.

Erases language.

Deletes cognition.

Thus, silence’s magic that turns targets into empty dolls.

But this is merely magic Ruin favored in his youth.

After becoming Magus, he heard his magic progressed reaching beyond silence.

Demon beasts they’d desperately struggled to block didn’t even become amusement for the S2 Magus.

Did it even take ten seconds?

‘Truly fortunate.’

He’s relieved such a person is an ally.

“Are there more matters remaining to handle?”

“What?”

Rio’s language was permitted.

“Ah, the castle! The castle’s situation isn’t good!”

Ruin looked west. Then chuckled.

“I needn’t go personally.”

“What do you mean?”

“There will be no more demon beast regeneration, and the most threatening one is blocked. I thought it a realm requiring ten years training with me, but my miscalculation.”

“What’s that…”

“If I intervene, Pernok will be displeased. He’s at a very important crossroads now, so absolutely don’t interfere.”

While brushing off sand on his clothes, Ruin withdrew his staff.

“Seems pointless words would be exchanged, so I put them briefly to sleep. When they wake, take demon beast materials here as a gift to Pernok. And also convey these words.”

Ruin grinned.

“The bet is Pernok’s victory.”

“W-wait a moment…!”

Ruin turned with a meaningful smile.

In the blink of an eye, Ruin disappeared.

And those who’d slept woke, utterly shocked.

“Wh-what is all this!”

“Demon beasts are dead?”

It felt like being possessed by ghosts.

* * *

Rain poured, and Cargoras’s regeneration finished.

Before overwhelming demonic energy, Zeef scrunched his face furiously.

‘Damn, I can’t activate Magus Arts.’

Magus Arts is a concept of domain.

Wind Magus Arts especially must continuously plant mana in wind. And when all wind moves at one’s will, laws of space transcending wind can be established.

But Cargoras kept absorbing mana bestowal, Magus Arts’ source.

“You’re not the one.”

“What are you babbling!”

Zeef desperately sent mana bound to his staff into wind, flying it in blade form.

Blades that had just severed limbs shattered mercilessly at Cargoras’s hand blade.

Not enough, vacuum blades generated from hand blades drawn once more flew at Zeef.

While Zeef blocked with wind barriers, he checked Cargoras from distance.

Cargoras leisurely evaded attacks while reading all wind’s trajectories.

Zeef furrowed his brow.

That wasn’t the only thing stimulating his nerves.

“Kraaaak!”

“Commander!”

Demonic energy mixed in rainwater densely made this place.

Royal Family strengthens, and the knight order weakens.

The knight order’s side became increasingly unfavorable over time.

“This vermin!”

Zeef shouted as if chewing and spitting while fully releasing his mana.

Though not mixed with wind, fierce momentum like storms raging extended everywhere.

It created a circular domain, blocking even seeping rainwater together.

Before the massive wind barrier, Cargoras tilted his head puzzled, then grinned.

“Whooooop, puhaa!”

Exhaling breath like a battle cry, he pounded the barrier.

Then the barrier’s inside dyed jet-black, and rainwater pounded outside, both inside and outside crushed by demonic energy.

Then, Zeef’s staff drew a semicircle.

Wind engulfed even demonic energy, becoming a massive blade striking down Cargoras.

Bang!

Cargoras crossed both arms blocking heavy wind.

Zeef aimed for this moment.

“Withdraw!”

Members urgently distanced from Royal Family while sensing mana scattering everywhere.

Wind imbued with demonic energy aims to block Cargoras’s movements.

From the start, Zeef’s aim was domain expansion at this instant when ankles were caught.

Whoooooong!

He didn’t care how dense demonic energy’s concentration was.

Mana seeped into wind beginning to dominate everywhere the eye could see.

Simultaneously, Cargoras shook off the blade.

But his movements stopped abruptly.

Because connection with the mountain range cut off, rain stopped, and something dangerously chilling was detected.

It rode from the western direction.

Though separated by dozens of kilometers, he could feel it.

He’ll die.

If that which makes all things silent comes, he’ll definitely perish even fighting with the mountain range. He’ll never dream of revival again.

Thump.

Cargoras’s heart beat roughly.

That threatening thing gradually withdraws.

No sign of coming here.

Thump, thump.

But that thing could come anytime.

Dangerous.

Must quickly handle this annoying one first.

Thump… thump… thud… thud… thud. Thudthud!

His wounded heart beats roughly, recalling past nightmares.

Why must he be trapped here?

That cause newly recalls, pounding Cargoras’s Hollow Eye.

And a thought formed in Cargoras.

If the one who killed me is dangerous—

Just become exactly like the one who killed me.

The Hollow Eye whispers.

That you’re an existence capable of that.

The unwelcome guest on his forehead who’d been together for decades flows spiritual power into Cargoras’s interior.

Cargoras realizes a new domain he can do and immediately puts it to practice.

Drip… patter…!

Recalling the most dangerous and great human hero, his body transforms.

Lingering on memories like that single blade held to his throat.

“All be cut!”

Finally completing Zeef’s Magus Arts, it dominates atmosphere beyond wind, manipulates breath Cargoras inhaled through breathing, and bursts it inside like explosives.

Bang bang bang!

Cargoras’s limbs were torn off.

Flesh hanging, barely attached to his body.

At the weakened appearance, Zeef reached Magus Arts’ final stage.

“Won’t need even the head. I’ll make only the heart and flesh buried in earth supply nutrients in the mountain range eternally!”

Atmospheric Collapse.

The moment wind transcended magic reaching the magical path, atmosphere within a 1-kilometer radius moves at Zeef’s will.

Whoooooong!

Cracks formed everywhere.

Fallen pieces tear Cargoras’s limbs from all directions, stealing breath turning even that into weapons.

In the atmospheric prison he could never resist, Zeef drew down his staff.

It was a soundless death sentence.

All particles composing atmosphere coalesced in one place, driving down Cargoras’s crown like a massive pillar.

And.

Scrape!

Jet-black sword energy bursting from the pillar split Zeef’s body in half.

Atmosphere and all elements composing it shattered at a single one.

“…?”

Zeef didn’t see what unfolded.

Only after his fallen upper body tilted powerlessly rightward did he witness the change.

Kekek.

He’s laughing.

Cargoras, who should die anytime with flesh fallen off, mocks fallen Zeef in perfectly recovered state.

Astonishingly, that body resembled human flesh.

Jet-black flowing luster covered like armor, his face imitated someone unknown, and he gripped a sword made of demonic energy.

And white particles flowed from eyes embedded in his forehead.

Jet-black and white—why does such human presence transmit from this extremely alien appearance?

“Re-retreat…!”

“Kraaaak!”

Screams of members swept by Royal Family now distance.

Beyond dimming retinas, Cargoras raised his sword again—

“Doppelganger…”

Someone’s voice dimmed at his ears as Zeef drew his last breath.

* * *

Cargoras turned his head east while raising his sword.

“…?”

Something stimulating more primordial instincts than the dangerous human west rushes from the east.

Riding the mountain range, crossing that flow, momentum whose end couldn’t be fathomed tears demonic energy.

Cargoras unknowingly emitted sword energy to the mountain range.

The human who killed him.

He imitated one move of one called a hero and newly supplemented it.

Sword energy that even split Zeef’s Magus Arts precisely captured its target and rushed—

Boom!

It swept that away together, not distinguishing mountain range terrain or demon beasts.

“It’s in my memory.”

No, he thought he killed it.

Cargoras witnessed that thing spouting from ground shadows.

“In Lord of Despair’s era, there was a creature similar to you. A dangerous species that imitates others, mixing and using that knowledge and power together.”

The human he never forgot even a moment.

The most dangerous one in this mountain range who came to the summit and pierced through his heart.

“They called them Doppelgangers.”

Royal Family killed members and rushed at Pernok.

Pernok changed gloves to greatsword form, swinging behind.

One Royal Family member had its neck severed but immediately regenerated, spewing ominous demonic energy.

Pernok didn’t panic and thrust his greatsword into the ground.

BOOM!

Stone pillars surged like awls, blocking Royal Family’s charge.

Royal Family smashed stones with fists wrapped in demonic energy, but just catching their ankles briefly was enough.

Pernok’s greatsword finished charging and burst pure white lightning.

Over Impact.

Dangerous power in Cargoras’s memory.

But the recoil is equally severe.

Having looked down from the summit, he knows well how much Pernok staggered after using Over Impact.

With power enough to engulf Royal Family at once, flesh should collapse exhausted.

However.

“Seems similar to my Spiritual Law but the grain differs.”

Pernok silently brushed off his greatsword.

Not a trace of wavering.

Thump.

Cargoras’s heart begins beating again.

Like when he faced the hero who killed him.

Pernok also feels momentum rapidly rising.

“Not knowing the treasure’s true value, you’re swayed after falling to that temptation.”

Pernok extended his hand to dead bodies.

All mana and spiritual power sleeping here.

Members’ magic.

Adding Zeef’s Magus Arts.

Synchronization Rate – 35%

As if resisting power amplified in an instant, Cargoras bursts sword energy.

When Pernok swung his greatsword in response, mana spread everywhere as all wind in the area began being manipulated in his hands.

Bang!

Two energies simultaneously vanishing while clashing with wind.

But Cargoras was shocked for the first time.

Because that was definitely Zeef’s magic.

“My body is recovering old memories after a long time. I want to reach a more perfect form than now.”

Pernok’s mana rides his flesh, craving before his eyes the thirst still unquenched.

“Please, don’t die before everything ends.”