In the seas surrounding the Clover Kingdom, there lay a vast island.
The island was known as Decisive Battle Island.
Every ten years, an immensely grand magical tournament was held here—a festival of battle so prestigious that it was said the final victor might even earn the right to become the next Wizard King.
At the very heart of the island stood a massive, ancient circular arena.
Because the magical tournament was held only once every decade, the arena now lay silent and deserted, steeped in loneliness and age.
And yet—
At that very moment!
A crimson spatial gate tore open at the center of the arena, and four figures rushed out in unison, their expressions sharp and alert.
They were Mariella, Fana, Rebecca, and Neige, freshly departed from the Common Realm Castle.
"So quiet…"
Neige was the first to speak, curiosity flickering in his eyes, along with barely restrained excitement.
Standing at the center of the colossal arena made all four of them feel painfully small.
"So, our opponent is the former Wizard King of the Clover Kingdom,"
Fana said softly, tension evident in her voice.
Though she had inherited the lingering power of the elf Fana and the Fire Spirit Salamander, her actual combat experience was still limited.
Facing an existence on the level of a Wizard King—it was only natural to feel nervous.
"Relax," Rebecca said calmly as she tied her normally loose, wavy red hair back with a black ribbon, her demeanor turning crisp and battle-ready.
"Our goal isn't to defeat him. We just need to stall him until Yuuki arrives."
"Exactly,"
Mariella nodded solemnly.
No matter how cautious they were, it wouldn't be excessive—
This was a Wizard King, after all.
"According to the intelligence provided by Yuuki-sama," Mariella said firmly,
"he is sealed here. Everyone, prepare yourselves."
Whoosh—! Whoosh—! Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
Four sharp bursts of air rang out as the group instantly repositioned, each appearing at a different cardinal point of the arena, eyes cold, mana tightly controlled.
Time passed.
Yet nothing happened.
Though puzzled, none of them relaxed their guard.
Only after a long while—with still no sign of movement—did a trace of doubt surface in Mariella's mind.
Could Yuuki-sama's information be wrong—
And then—
"Are you Magic Knights sent by the kingdom?"
A calm, detached voice echoed from above the spectator stands.
"What happened to Julius? Is he dead?"
"The sealing magic suddenly vanished… I thought I'd be imprisoned until the end of my life."
"Tell me—what year is it now?"
The moment the voice rang out—
Mariella, Rebecca, Neige, and Fana all froze.
When did he—?!
They snapped their heads upward.
There—
A man sat casually in the stands.
He wore the distinctive cotton robe exclusive to the Wizard King of the Clover Kingdom.
Most of his hair was black, though strands of bluish-green adorned the crown of his head.
Leaning forward, elbows resting on his thighs, fingers interlaced beneath his chin, he gazed down at them with an indifferent expression.
There was no doubt.
Conrad Leto.
The former Wizard King.
"It seems I've been sitting here for quite some time,"
Conrad said flatly.
"And yet you failed to notice me."
"Has the Magic Knight Order declined to this extent under Julius's rule?"
Or did they simply send you here to die?"
"Attack!"
Mariella shouted without hesitation.
Boom—!!
Four powerful magical attacks condensed instantly, firing from all directions toward Conrad.
The violent mana fluctuations caused a faint ripple to pass through Conrad's otherwise impassive gaze.
"…So you're not entirely useless."
He didn't move.
Not even slightly.
And yet—
Above his head, a green, gate-like magic construct appeared.
In the next instant—
All four attacks abruptly changed direction, swallowed whole by the green magic gate.
At that moment—
A trace of vitality returned to Conrad's eyes.
He rose slowly from his seat.
A terrifying pressure exploded outward from his body.
A violent shockwave radiated from his position, obliterating the surrounding stands into rubble.
"Why…?"
Conrad roared.
"I was never wrong!"
"I wanted to create a world where everyone could laugh and live happily—what was wrong with that?!"
"Then why—why did all of you betray me?!"
Boom—!
The structure beneath him finally collapsed entirely.
Conrad hovered in midair, radiating an overwhelming, oppressive presence.
And then—
He suddenly froze.
His head snapped upward.
At some point, a fist-sized hourglass had appeared above him.
The instant he saw it—
A beam of white light shot down, engulfing his body.
Conrad vanished.
The hourglass hovering in the air was none other than one of Yuuki's national-treasure-class magic tools—
The Barrier Hourglass.
"It worked! Everyone—get ready!"
Mariella shouted, her tension easing slightly but her expression remaining grim.
Yuuki had already briefed them on Conrad's abilities.
Their earlier attack had merely been bait—
to make him lower his guard long enough for the Barrier Hourglass to strike.
"Space Magic — Seal!"
Mariella called out.
"Fire Magic — Seal!"
Rebecca followed.
"Snow Magic — Seal!"
Neige shouted.
"Fire Magic — Seal!"
Fana echoed.
Four streams of brilliant mana surged skyward, converging upon the suspended Barrier Hourglass.
In mere moments—
Four different elemental seals formed around it, intertwining like chains and binding the hourglass completely.
And yet—
Even with such meticulous preparation—
Within just a few breaths, violent resistance surged from within.
The Barrier Hourglass began to tremble violently.
From the air itself came the faint, chilling sound of something cracking—
—like glass about to shatter.
(End of Chapter)
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