The battle ended swiftly.
Unlike before, though Lloyd now faced a fortified Volcano Manor—its forces significantly enhanced and armed with some of the most advanced machinery in the Lands Between, including flamethrower chariots and Iron Maidens—none of it proved sufficient. These creations, once considered cutting-edge and formidable even to other legions, were utterly obsolete before Lloyd's mechanized Sorcerer Corps.
It wasn't that Rykard's volcanic researchers lacked talent. Rather, the Academy—ever since falling under Lloyd's influence and, especially, after inventing the Magic Engine—had undergone something akin to a mana-fueled industrial revolution. The pace of technological development had grown so absurdly fast that even Lloyd hadn't anticipated it.
After all, when he had jokingly discussed large-scale mecha concepts with the Sorcerers earlier, it had been little more than idle conversation—a half-serious suggestion to give them ideas for future research.
Yet, after he left, they actually took him at his word. The Sorcerers had enthusiastically begun researching mechs, even drafting a preliminary blueprint.
Of course, up until they entered the dungeon, that "blueprint" remained purely theoretical—never tested, let alone constructed—before being rejected outright by the Queen of the Full Moon herself.
And the reason for that rejection…
"Do you all think the Academy's money blows in on the wind?"
Even the Queen of the Full Moon had gasped upon seeing the proposed research budget, stunned at its sheer extravagance. Her gaze toward the Sorcerers had even carried a faint glint of murderous intent—who could say what kind of disaster they might unleash if they ever ran out of funds?
In the end, the Queen suppressed her murderous impulse but still denied their request.
Later, however—once she was defeated and brought under Lloyd's banner inside the dungeon—the previously rejected blueprint resurfaced. With no need to conserve resources in the dungeon and ample wreckage and materials to work with, the Sorcerers resurrected the design. After extensive experimentation—and the loss of a few unfortunate colleagues—their creation finally stood completed.
The Gundam had risen in the Lands Between.
A towering frame of angular armor, encased in radiant blue mana shields, its wings of light unfurling wide enough to blot out the sky.
Even the enemy soldiers under Rykard could not help but feel a mix of awe and terror at the sheer beauty of this technological marvel.
And then, came the slaughter.
A massacre so one-sided it could only be described as "laser swords versus cavemen."
Before Lloyd's semi-mechanized Sorcerer Corps, Rykard's army had no chance. Within a few bombardments, nine out of ten were gone.
The final boss, of course, was an enhanced version of Rykard himself.
Not the monstrous serpent Lloyd had fought before, but a humanoid version bearing the title "Praetor."
This version was far easier to handle than his serpentine counterpart. Rykard had never been known for his combat strength among the demigods—if ranked, he'd sit near the bottom, perhaps only slightly stronger than Godrick or Miquella.
However, in this form he possessed a unique ability: the power to summon his own knights to aid him. Moreover, the boss arena encompassed the entire Volcano Manor, turning the encounter into an extended gauntlet rather than a single duel.
Since the manor's doors were too narrow, Lloyd couldn't bring his mech inside. But to ensure safety, he called upon reinforcements.
There was the Albinauric who sought revenge on the Volcano Manor, the repentant Judge, and Rya—now the new mistress of the manor.
Together, they made for quite the spectacle.
When the fight finally ended, Rykard's forces were brought under Lloyd's control.
Though the region hadn't been under his influence before and offered little immediate benefit—aside from manpower and the mostly impractical Gelmir Sorceries—its true value lay elsewhere.
The Gelmir Sorceries' greatest strength wasn't their destructive power, but the theory and technique behind them: the idea of "recreating ancient incantations through sorcery."
Rykard had once begun exploring this line of research, but before he could delve deeper, he'd been devoured by his own serpent form. His followers had perished with him, their knowledge and research lost.
Now, with the restored "full-strength" Volcano faction under his control, those forgotten techniques had survived—and that opened a new branch in Lloyd's expanding technological tree.
Moreover, the mineral wealth surrounding Mt. Gelmir far exceeded that of other regions, explaining how they had once managed to mass-produce Iron Maidens.
Now that Lloyd controlled the territory, those mines naturally fell under his domain, supplying his armies with ample resources and equipment.
Time passed.
After a brief period of recovery, the Sorcerer Corps—largely unharmed aside from a few researchers who had accidentally blown themselves up—had returned to peak condition.
Meanwhile, Stormveil Castle had managed to spare some resources, sending Lloyd a few additional Ember Warriors. Their numbers were small, but they could serve as elite strike troops.
In addition to their upgraded weapons, they now bore newly forged armor from the Volcano Manor's foundries.
Once preparations were complete, Lloyd climbed back into his Gundam, leading his fully equipped forces toward the Royal Capital.
But this time, there were no enemy legions left standing in his way.
Unlike other legions, the Lloyd Knights specialized in defense and rarely took the initiative in battle.
A knowledgeable soldier offered this explanation, but Lloyd suspected things weren't that simple.
His intuition was soon proven right.
When they reached the outskirts of the Royal Capital Leyndell, Lloyd saw it for himself.
Stationed in the distance were not only the Leyndell troops but also the same soldiers he had seen in the Shadowlands—those who once served under Mesemo.
Yet now, they no longer bore the Serpent's insignia. Instead, they wore a golden-braided emblem, their title changed to "Marika's Soldiers."
Beyond them, soldiers of the Haligtree and the Cleanrot Knights stood guard atop the city walls, while beastman warriors patrolled below.
Above the royal city, crimson thunder rumbled through the heavens. In the thick clouds, pairs of red-golden eyes blinked open and shut—more than one pair.
Leyndell's knights, the Shadowland's main army, the Ancient Dragon Alliance, the beastman reinforcements, the Haligtree faction...
Judging from the scale of the forces, Lloyd half-expected that midway through the advance, a Subterranean Shunning-Grounds dungeon would open up, spawning a couple of Demigods for good measure...
"It should be three," a voice suddenly said behind him. "Because this time, though my brother still lives, the essence of the Serpent keeps him hidden from the world. So..."
The unexpected voice made Lloyd turn. There she was—the familiar, cloaked and hooded figure, just as when they first met.
"They kicked you out too?"
Melina: ".........?"
What did he mean by "kicked out too"? And that "too"—what exactly was he implying?
Though caught off guard by his words, Melina quickly understood. After all, they'd been together long enough to read each other easily.
"Oh, you mean Ranni."
Melina shook her head, removed her hood, and walked over to Lloyd. Taking his hand, she spoke softly.
"My situation is different from hers. As the 'Spark' twins, even the Golden Order at its height could only contain one of us—either me or my brother."
"He chose to remain with Mother, even if it meant eternal confinement. And I..."
She lifted their joined hands and looked straight into Lloyd's eyes.
"I chose to be with you."
A quiet moment passed.
"...You're actually a little afraid of that overly motherly country girl, aren't you? Especially now that she's realized she doesn't have to be a goddess anymore and can finally let loose."
"...I won't deny that."
After the brief teasing, Lloyd pinched Melina's cheek. They shared a brief, intimate moment before she joined his group.
And it wasn't just Melina.
Those excluded from the Golden Order weren't limited to Ranni and Melina. A certain crimson blossom had received the same treatment—perhaps even worse.
"The essence of rot could never blend with gold. And Malenia... aside from Miquella, she's barely had any contact with her family."
Indeed, if the red flower's exclusion from the Golden lineage could be attributed to her nature, then Millicent had simply never been part of it at all. Her connection to the rest of the Golden Order was little more than a stranger's—"Who are you again?"
Because she was born too late and bore the mark of rot, Malenia had little familiarity with any of the Gold lineage apart from Miquella.
As for Millicent—or even Seriel—their ties were even more uncertain, their bond to the Golden bloodline nearly nonexistent.
Yet none of them felt sad about their exclusion. While helping Lloyd was part of it, they also simply didn't know how to define their place within the Golden Order.
It was easier this way—not counted among them, they could stand with Lloyd without hesitation. Inclusion would have only complicated things.
Thus, while Miquella and the Haligtree stood with the resplendent Golden Order, Malenia's fragments—Millicent, Seriel, and the others—now all stood with Lloyd.
Incidentally, he also carried along a certain little purple flower still fast asleep.
[System Notice: Millicent has joined the party]
[System Notice: Trina has joined the party]
Then, considering the siege ahead would be grueling, the current forces weren't nearly enough.
After some thought, Lloyd decided to summon nearly all of his remaining troops, preparing to end this once and for all.
Black Knife Assassins, Shadow Beast, Platinum Bow Corps...
Demi-human Clans, Misbegotten Legions, Finger Army...
Ember Warriors, Semi-Mechanical Mage Corps, and the newly summoned Flying Dragon Legion...
Inside and outside the city, gold and non-gold forces stood opposed.
Separated by a golden curtain, both sides watched each other in heavy silence.
Everyone in the Lands Between knew one truth—nothing could be resolved without a fight.
So this battle wasn't just for Lloyd; it was also a burial for the Lands Between's past.
The old king had fallen. The new king must rise.
Yet even with a new ruler, this world wasn't a P-studio game where changing leaders reset everything.
No matter how much had been done, even after turning the Lands Between upside down, even if everything now seemed to be improving—
Lloyd wasn't naïve enough to think his efforts alone could erase every conflict in the Lands Between. He knew not everyone would simply abandon their pasts and, with blood still on their hands, sit together laughing and making dumplings.
Some things demanded resolution.
Just as every story deserved an ending.
Admittedly, if Lloyd wished, he could craft a separate timeline for everyone, address each problem one by one, and create a perfectly flawless ending.
But even setting aside whether he wanted to or how troublesome it would be, that kind of perfection would only be his alone—a puppet show's illusion of completeness.
Each person is the author of their own fate. The future of the Lands Between—and of the entire world—should not depend on him alone, or even on him and Alice together.
So...
"Let's fight."
All love and hatred, all memories and burdens—let them be forged in sword and flame.
Through the most primal, purest way, vent them, destroy them.
Until all things end. Until flesh itself perishes.
It might not be the best way—but it was the one most fitting for the Lands Between.
And so, the soldiers raised their weapons.
And so, the colossal mechs lifted their lances.
At both ends of the golden curtain, countless eyes met.
Those gazes seemed to pierce time itself, stirring something long forgotten.
The air grew hot. Flames began to burn.
At last, with the sweep of a lance, with the lift of a stone hammer—
Fire surged forward.
Golden light blazed and fell.
Then—
They collided.