A single Tenrou strike shook the whole street.
Where the wolf claws landed, the ground cracked in response; the tremendous force tore long rifts that spread in every direction.
Houses on both sides collapsed one after another in a chain reaction; a violent wind flung stones about, savaging every corner of the street!
H-how can this…
President, this isn't an illusion!
Aaaargh—!
The Mages rushing toward Mavis felt an irresistible quake underfoot; they lost balance and were blown about like fallen leaves.
Staffs and blades meant for attack slipped from their hands and flew away, tracing chaotic arcs amid rising wails.
Screams, shouts and the roar of the quake mingled, plunging the whole street into chaos.
Impossible!
This isn't an illusion—it's real?!
Jofre's eyes bulged as he stared at Mavis, who didn't even reach his shoulder.
This time he was truly rattled.
"I do know Illusion Magic—but I'm hardly limited to it!"
Looking at the terrified Jofre, Mavis's gaze turned grave.
Not a single day had been wasted since she obtained the teachings of the Lost Magic Arc of Embodiment from Weston seven years ago.
"Now pay for the lives you took on Tenrou Island seven years ago—members of Red Lizard, the villagers, all of them!"
Seven years ago… Tenrou Island… Red Lizard?
Those key phrases dragged a long-buried memory back into the light.
So these brats were the fish that slipped the net back then?
Jofre studied the Tenrou overhead for several seconds, then suddenly sneered.
"So what if it isn't an illusion?"
"Summoning burns far more magic than ordinary spells. I don't believe you can keep a beast of that level out for long!"
"With your reserves, five minutes is the absolute limit!"
Mavis neither confirmed nor denied; she simply asked, "Can you last five minutes under Tenrou's claws?"
"Don't underestimate me—I'm the president of Blue Skull!"
"Dealing with a mere beast is child's play."
Still, I won't fall for your trap!"
Jofre shifted his gaze to Weston. "If I'm right, that wolf is just a vanguard to drain my magic, not your real ace. Until you show your trump card, I won't reveal mine."
"Before you unveil your hidden strength, I'll keep my own under wraps."
As he spoke, he glanced at the Mages Tenrou had knocked down and barked, "On your feet! Stop playing dead—kill that monster wolf!"
Seeing the act was up, the Mages rose, but none dared step forward against the wolf's might. "B-but President, we're no match for it!"
"You idiots!"
"Don't fight the wolf head-on—just hit the little girl. Once she's hurt, she can't keep the summon going!"
Cut the head off the snake; Jofre's tactic was sound.
"I see—much simpler!"
Realization dawned; the Mages skirted the wolf and charged at Mavis with nasty grins.
Yet Mavis stood unruffled.
Jofre frowned. "Your plan's busted—why aren't you running?"
She remained calm. "They'd have to reach me first."
"…What do you mean?"
The next second—thud, thud, thud—
The Mages rushing at her slammed into an invisible wall of magic and could advance no farther.
Words appeared on the barrier—
[Only by defeating the enemy before you may you leave this place!]
Before Jofre arrived, Weston had laid a trap of Spell Formulas here.
The first formula covered a wide area, creating a battlefield the enemy could not leave;
the second was smaller but deployed in numbers, splitting Jofre from his men into two separate arenas.
"Spell Formulas again?!"
"No wonder you're so confident."
"To beat Tenrou you must first beat the caster—but to reach the caster you must first beat Tenrou."
"Tiresome to set up, but once inside, the rules are absolute."
Watching his men fall into the trap, Jofre instantly grasped their plan and turned to Weston. "These two spell-traps are your doing, brat?"
"Not bad for magic."
Only "not bad"?
Where does your confidence come from?
Weston raised a brow. "Your men are trapped, yet you stay so calm?"
"Why panic?"
Jofre gave a cold laugh, head high. "Don't forget—this is Magnolia, my turf!"
"Blue Skull's headquarters is nearby; once word of this reaches them, reinforcements will swarm and crush that beast in no time!"
So that's why you're so composed?!
"Reinforcements?"
"What reinforcements?"
Weston looked at him as if at an idiot. "If I can set traps here, wouldn't I know to set some near your HQ as well?"
"…What do you mean?"
A bad premonition welled up in Jofre.
Meanwhile, near Cardia Cathedral—
Just as Jofre predicted, the commotion from Mavis's Tenrou reached Blue Skull's base, and Mages poured out en masse.
But the moment they stepped outside, they walked into more Spell-Formula Traps lying in wait—
[Only one of you may leave this place]
[Fight until only one remains alive]
[Those who move shall cease to breathe]
[…]
Formula after formula activated; to survive, Blue Skull's members turned on one another.
Any lucky few who avoided the traps were finished off by Yuri, Precht, and Warrod waiting outside.
"…and that's the situation—no reinforcements for you."
"By the time you return, you'll find most of them dead—oh, right, odds are you won't be going back."
As Weston spoke, Jofre's calm finally cracked; his face shifted from gloom to flush to ash, rage at its peak.
"You dare destroy my kingdom, my world…"
"You wretched brat—I'll never forgive you!!"