Violent clashes of mana continued to erupt above the royal capital.
Brilliant swords of light streaked across the sky in rapid succession—so fast that all one could see were fleeting white afterimages.
BOOM—!
With a single sweep of a luminous whip, large sections of the capital's central castles were torn apart. Stone shattered, debris scattered, and clouds of dust billowed into the air.
The battle between Licht, wielder of the fastest attribute—Light Magic—and Wizard King Julius, who commanded Time Magic, had reached a speed utterly imperceptible to ordinary humans.
From the ground, the countless mages gathered in the capital could only perceive deafening explosions and blinding flashes tearing through the sky.
Whoosh!
High above, Yami stood atop his dark-mana-coated katana, dragging Yuuki along as they rapidly closed in on the battlefield.
"Tch… it's already escalated this far," Yami muttered, clenching his fist as he took in the heavily damaged city center and the two flickering figures colliding again and again in the sky.
Please… don't let it be you.
"What terrifying speed," Yuuki said quietly.
Being hauled along by Yami, he showed no sign of displeasure—his full attention was locked onto the aerial duel.
Even from a distance, through mana perception and his mastery of ki, Yuuki had already pinpointed both Julius and Licht.
Their movements were practically indistinguishable from teleportation.
But with closer observation—
Yuuki could clearly tell that Julius still held the advantage.
And it wasn't merely raw speed.
The closer they drew to the battlefield, the more Yuuki sensed a distortion in the flow of natural mana—eerily similar to the feeling he'd experienced when Mereoleona had activated her Mana Zone.
A Mana Zone formed by Time Magic…
Yuuki's gaze sharpened.
Within such a domain, Julius could foresee future actions—anticipating his opponent's attacks before they occurred.
That explained why his movements were always a step ahead of Licht's.
Frankly speaking—
It was an almost unsolvable ability.
This, more than anything, was why Yami and the other captains believed the Wizard King to be invincible.
And it also made something else clear.
Julius was holding back.
By his own admission—he didn't want to harm William.
That explanation…
Heh.
"Hold on tight. I'm speeding up," Yami said grimly.
"I can actually fly on my own," Yuuki offered helpfully.
Yami ignored him completely.
Suddenly—
Yuuki froze, his eyes widening slightly.
Yami immediately sensed the change and looked up as well.
There—
Hovering at the very top of the battlefield—
Was a massive grimoire.
But it was nothing like a normal one.
It had no cover at all.
Centered around a scroll-like spine, countless pages spread outward in all directions, slowly rotating in midair.
At a single glance, it inspired an indescribable sense of awe.
At that moment—
Above the royal capital.
Licht saw it as well.
"What… is that form?" he muttered, disbelief flooding his face.
"A grimoire without a cover…?"
In contrast to Licht's shock, Wizard King Julius calmly descended from the air and landed atop a partially destroyed palace tower.
"Time Magic paired with a grimoire that lacks a cover… Whether that's good or bad, I don't know," Julius said evenly.
"But just like this grimoire, I am an existence that cannot be classified."
"I've long pondered who I am—and what I must do."
Julius raised his head slightly, gazing at his grimoire. The brief uncertainty in his tone vanished, replaced by conviction as he looked back at Licht.
"Through that reflection, I reached an answer."
"The path I have walked… is who I am."
"I am the Wizard King. Protecting this kingdom and its people is my duty."
His declaration echoed like a bell.
For a brief moment, Licht stood stunned—
Then realization struck him.
"What we intend to do with the magic stones…"
"…has already violated the rules of this world."
His expression twisted, verging on madness, as he glared at Julius.
This man… this human…
He is the existence born of fate itself—the final bulwark of the world's laws!
Which is exactly why—
He must die!
Blinding light erupted from Licht's body.
An overwhelming torrent of Light Magic surged forth, forming a colossal pillar that pierced the heavens.
BOOM—!
The entire sky above the capital was flooded with white brilliance.
Though it was broad daylight, even the sun itself was drowned beneath that radiance.
Whoosh!
Licht shot upward into the air, roaring madly:
"If that's the case—then protect it for me to see!"
"Sealing Magic—Release!"
BOOM!!
A far more violent wave of mana exploded outward.
Licht's presence skyrocketed.
The light that had once covered only the capital instantly engulfed the entire Royal Realm—and continued expanding outward at a visible speed.
"Light Magic — Sword of Judgment!!"
Humm— Humm—
Within the blazing radiance, gigantic light swords began to take form one after another, suspended in the sky.
In just a few breaths—
Countless blades filled the heavens.
They blanketed the entire Clover Kingdom.
Not only the Royal Realm and the Common Realm—
Even the remote outer territories at the kingdom's borders lay beneath their shadow.
This spell—
Had completely transcended conventional magic.
A true nation-destroying spell.
"What… is that?"
"What's happening?!"
"Are we… going to die?"
Fear, confusion, and despair erupted across the kingdom.
Citizens trembled as they stared skyward at the innumerable swords of light.
That was the scent of death itself.
The sheer sense of helplessness caused some to collapse outright—falling to their knees, minds shattered.
At the borderlands—Hage Village.
Within the church courtyard—
The priest, Sister Lily, the orphaned children, and several red-haired youngsters who had arrived not long ago—
All stood frozen, gazing blankly at the blazing sky above.
(End of Chapter)
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