Volume 9 Chapter 68 The Six Heavens Palace
The flames licked at the white garden.
The lion's red mane burned everything, including the thorns and trees, to ashes.
"'Sephiliata (Radiant Spear of Annihilation)!'."
Irial, with wings spread wide, released tens of thousands of spears towards the flames from above.
Her magic, having reached the level of Spiritual Penetration Art (Shinrei), was unlike anything before. The white spear, now exponentially more powerful, charged towards the flames and vanished before making contact.
"What――?!"
She wasn't the only one in the sky.
The 'The Seat of Great Bird (Altair)' gazed at her with emerald eyes, riding the wind.
The moment Irial acknowledged its presence, she dodged and was knocked down.
Already, several whirlwinds had formed around her, making escape impossible. Unaware of this, she charged into the storm.
――'Hunter's Canopy (Overhide)'.
As Irial fell, a black arrow silently slid in beneath her. It opened its pitch-black mouth and swallowed her whole, then closed.
The nest, moving the shadow on the ground, released Irial from the shadow at a distant location, far from the crows.
"Ugh... Ahh..."
"Are you okay?"
"Haa... Haa... I'm saved..."
Her silver hair was stained with blood and dirt, and her entire body was covered in lacerations.
Irial's magic, 'Wings of the White Robe (Sky Doll)', automatically deployed a defensive spell. If not, she would have been torn apart like a small toy by now. It was no longer a blade, but a scraper.
Nest loaded an arrow into his bow while sinking into the shadows.
"Don't confront it head-on; target the magician――."
A wolf's jaw came crashing down from above.
Irial, trying to spread her wings, and Nest, half-submerged in the shadows, didn't notice.
The 2 realized its existence only when the diamond-like teeth snapped shut.
The jaws, which had been brought together with a loud sound, erased even the surrounding light, creating an instant of darkness.
Not even a person's original form, let alone their remains, would be left.
"You idiot! Don't let your guard down!"
Just before, Kougarou had rescued the 2 people with a desperate cry.
"Don't make the wrong choice! You'll die!!"
While throwing the 2 people aside with all his might, Kougarou didn't take his eyes off the enemy in front of him.
The enemy consisted of 3 bodies: a crow, a wolf, and a lion.
Each enemy had powers beyond those of the Grimoire, and their attacks could wipe out a wide area.
If they had an army, the damage would be immense, but this time it was a small, elite group.
On top of that, they had Eris on their side.
Thanks to her "Everlasting Garden" that could mitigate attacks, they could move more easily.
The troublesome one was the wolf.
It was fast and had high destructive power.
If it took Eris, this battle would be over.
The "The Seat of the Gluttonous Wolf (Therion)" was a lump of power that manipulated gravity. Only Kougarou could keep up with its gravity-driven movements.
With the "Acceleration" spirit manifesting, Kougarou's hair turned a deep silver, and he could wield extraordinary energy through "Time Friction".
He had already landed several blows on the wolf, attacks that could erase even Shikin with a single hit.
Yet the wolf showed no signs of faltering and continued to move.
It wasn't just its firepower; its endurance was also exceptional. It was like a relentless pounding of the earth with a giant hammer.
It was pointless to fight these monsters. The top priority should be to take down Julius himself.
That was clear.
But,
"Damn it, can't get close――!!"
The pressure of the attack was too strong, making it impossible to close the distance.
All Kougarou could do now was to provide backup and prevent his friends from getting killed.
At the same time, there was someone who shouldered an even greater burden than Kougarou.
"――――――ah――!!"
Her body had reached its limits, and she was breathing as if her life depended on it.
Eris was bleeding from her bloodshot eyes, wielding her rapier and continuing to cast magic.
What she was doing now was treating Yuusuke's wounds, defending against the enemy's attacks, and supporting her friends.
Both the "Seat of Great Bird (Altair)" and the "Seat of the Blazing Lion (Regulus)" could single-handedly bring down a country and rewrite the map.
If Eris weren't there, Irial and Nest would have already died over 3 times.
The "Everlasting" royal garden, which defeated Vice Ornette using poison, didn't just have the power of omnipotence.
For 3 days and 3 nights, it continued to defend against the demon king's army's attacks with its endurance.
And now, the deadly wind blowing from above, courtesy of the "Seat of Great Bird (Altair)", was dispersed by the thorny roof, and "Seat of the Blazing Lion (Regulus)" flames were suppressed by the roots that spread out.
Eris's magic power alone wasn't enough. The thorns absorbed magic power from both sides and maintained the garden.
It was a forbidden-level technique that turned the enemy's magic power into her own.
"Ha... ha... ha...!"
Even so, she was still walking on the edge of her limits.
She continued to manipulate the enormous magic power that was too much for an individual to handle, sensing the surroundings beyond her 5 senses, and activating techniques accordingly.
Each and every attack was a fatal blow. If she made even a slight mistake, someone would die.
Her mouth was filled with the taste of blood, and she had no sense of her body moving.
In her cold body, only her head was hot and spinning, continuously activating magic.
In a situation where she could collapse at any moment, Eris could fight because of one thought that supported her.
――Yuusuke.
He was defeated.
――Yuusuke.
I didn't make it in time.
――Yuusuke.
I'll never leave you again.
――Yuusuke!
She had sworn not to let go of this miracle.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Her speed of swinging the rapier increased. She cut through the flames, pierced the storm, and continued to rise.
The "Everlasting" royal garden, which had suddenly expanded, pierced Regulus and Altair with thorns, and sewed them together.
"Eris!!"
Kougarou shouted.
He understood in an instant that this was it, that they would do it here and now.
Kougarou stopped moving for the first time since the battle began, and then――he charged.
Faster than anyone, he would dash through the straight line.
The angelic humanoid figure danced, and Irial fired her spear.
"'Judge Lucia (The Judgment-Revealing True Spear)'!!"
At the same time, Nest burst out from the shadows and fired 3 arrows.
"'Hunter's Canopy (Overhide)'!!"
The white spear, radiating a divine glow despite its distortion, hid in the shadow of its light as the 3 arrows pierced through the wall of flames that stood in their way.
Counterattack.
And, in the midst of the storm, a hole was dug out, just large enough for one person.
"――――."
When the path leading to Julius Roderest was connected, Kougarou kicked the ground.
'Acceleration'.
The power-charged foot exploded.
Crushing his own bones and flesh, accelerating time.
No one could stop his relentless advance. Only one being reacted to it.
Therion, The Seat of the Gluttonous Wolf, converted the Earth's gravity into propulsion force and charged forward. As Kougarou approached, it bared its strongest fangs.
Therion's body was a high-pressure force field capable of turning dust into diamonds.
It was unnecessary to predict what would happen if Kougarou charged in.
"'Acceleration'!!"
In response, Kougarou shifted into high gear.
Adding acceleration to acceleration.
And with that, he punched his fist straight into Therion's mouth.
BOOM!!!
The collision between the 2 sent silver and Kongou particles flying everywhere.
The wolf's body engulfed the surrounding thorns and flames, bursting apart.
Kougarou, his entire body bitten by the wolf's fangs, kicked the ground with his remaining foot.
"GAaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!"
He broke through the hole and caught Julius right in front of him.
Both his legs and his right hand, which had punched through Teilion, were unusable.
Even so, he raised his remaining left arm, compressing his magic power.
And struck Julius's face.
Before the simplest and strongest attack, Julius didn't move.
He didn't need to.
"'The Seat of Hornet Goat (Algedi)'."
A golden goat appeared right beside Julius.
As Kougarou accelerated through time, he perfectly synchronized his magic.
It was a massive, twisted goat with horns that seemed to be several times its body length.
The horns emitted a lightning flash, producing a deafening explosion.
Kougarou, who should have been moving at an incredible speed, definitely heard the sound.
"Golden Destruction Thunder (Kanakagura)――'Tensen Shinsou (Heaven-Piercing Divine Spear)'."
The goat's head was blown away by a lightning spear, while Tsukiko floated in the air, holding Yuusuke in one hand.
She continued to perform cardiac massage while simultaneously launching an attack.
"――."
For the first time, Julius's eyes widened in shock.
And the hero didn't miss the opportunity.
"'Acceleration'!!!!"
Kougarou's accelerated fist, trailing blue and silver tails, struck Julius's face straight on.
Julius's head flew off, his body dancing in mid-air.
"'White Lily'!!!!"
Then, a twisted, thorny arrow pierced through, consuming the magic power within and exploding.
The white light, like a morning star, seared itself into the eyelids of all who witnessed it, symbolizing the end of the battle.
"Amazing power, beautiful teamwork!"
A despairing voice echoed from the entrance.
"Such!!?"
"Foolish――!?"
Behind the warriors, where everyone had turned their backs, Julius Roderest stood tall.
Not a single wound, not a single breath out of place, he stood firm and unwavering.
"You should have died just now――!?"
Irial's trembling voice was met with Julius's gentle, amused smile.
"Ah, I did indeed die just now. I was defeated without a chance to dodge, and killed."
"Then――!?"
The words trailed off, unable to continue.
"It's not like I can die once and stay dead; my body won't allow it."
Julius spoke with a hint of self-mockery.
The contradictory words somehow became a reality that settled in their minds.
Suddenly, a loud thud was heard.
"――――Haa―――."
Eris, who had exceeded her limits and collapsed onto the ground, was staring at Julius with her bright, deep green eyes shining like lanterns.
She probably didn't have the strength to even move a finger anymore.
Yet, her eyes were filled with the determination to devour her throat.
In the background, Kougarou was lying on the ground, bleeding from both hands and feet.
The outcome of the battle was already decided.
Still, Julius didn't let his guard down. It was as if he was saying, "This is my final farewell to the Four Heroes," as he activated his magic.
"'The Six Heavens Palace (Creation)'."
The beasts' wild dance swept through the space.
The wind, flames, earth, thunder, trees, and water all clashed and intertwined, engulfing everything in a massive wave.
* * *
Isumi Tsukiko couldn't move.
She could only watch as something like a tsunami or a muddy stream pushed her back.
Unknowingly, her arm, which was holding Yuusuke, was filled with power.
"Tsukiko, it seems your magic has awakened."
"――!?"
Julius Roderest was standing right in front of her.
At this moment, Tsukiko was activating 'Golden Destruction Thunder.' She was standing on the concept of 'unreachable,' yet Julius was standing calmly right in front of her.
However, Tsukiko wasn't surprised by that.
What she felt when she saw Julius straight on at this distance wasn't fear.
――It was nostalgia.
Unbelievable.
Impossible, yet she spoke the name.
"Grandfather Tengai...?"
Julius, who had received the name of the deceased head of the family, floated a gentle smile.
A soft, gentle smile, like one would give to a grandchild.
"Indeed, your talent shines brightly among my bloodline. I never thought you'd come this far."
"......How, why......"
Julius's words were quietly affirming Tsukiko's words.
Julius Roderest was an Isumi Tengai.
Despite the calm and collected part of her mind screaming "That's impossible!", a deeper, instinctual voice was whispering something else.
The person in front of her was her own flesh and blood.
"Originally, the Isumi family was established to operate in Japan. We've been quite comfortable here, and we've ended up staying in one place for a long time."
Julius said with a nostalgic tone.
"Tsukiko, you're special even among the Isumi family. In the world after the 'Bridge to the Universe' (Kakehashi) was activated, we need as many excellent magicians as possible. You're the only one who can support Japan and lead it to a bright future."
"Is that... so, that's why you...?"
The Kinraishou (Golden Thunder Spear) in her hand suddenly felt cold.
Her magic power was heavy and stagnant, refusing to move.
Childhood memories flashed through her mind, and she distinctly felt the love and affection of Tengai amidst the harsh training.
It was all just a fabrication, a lie, her mind began to understand.
Then, a sweet whisper slipped in.
"Tsukiko, I can even revive Yuusuke. Although his body may not be free, it won't be a problem as long as you're together."
"――!!"
Her heart skipped a beat at the sensation of Yuusuke's cold body in her arms.
It was... possible.
Yuusuke could be saved.
Those were incredibly sweet words.
If she could live happily with Yuusuke, she wouldn't ask for anything more. That was her wish.
"Alright, Tsukiko. It's time for us to connect the Bridge to the Universe (Kakehashi) together."
She stretched out her hand to the one being offered.
If Yuusuke, the person she loved most, could be saved, then Tsukiko would――.
'I... I don't want to hurt you anymore. Even if it's selfish, even if it means I'll be separated from Yuusuke, I...'
'You're my precious person, after all.'
The image of Yuusuke's fallen form flashed back.
He, who had sworn to never be hurt again, was now lying on the ground, battered and bruised.
It was Julius who did that to him.
With a loud "Bzz!" a golden lightning bolt struck Julius's hand.
"...Is that your answer?"
"Be quiet. I am the guardian of humanity. I will never join hands with the enemy. Above all――"
Tsukiko looked up.
She gazed straight into the eyes of her opponent, whom she had thought was unbeatable, and said:
"I'm not a woman who can shake hands with someone who hurt my loved ones!"
With a loud sound a storm of lightning bolts erupted and struck Julius.
Even amidst all that, she was still smiling.
She knew.
She knew she couldn't win.
But she wouldn't back down.
"Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!"
Her magic power surged and exploded like a beam of light.
In the dazzling light, Julius raised his hand. His magic power, which was so overwhelming it was ridiculous, began to converge.
"'The Six Heavens Palace (Creation)'!"
Tsukiko didn't close her eyes, even in the face of God's magic. She was determined to fight to the very end, and continued to unleash her lightning bolts.
But Julius's magic didn't even flinch. The wave of creation from the heavens pressed on.
Tsukiko kept her eyes open, and that's why she saw it.
"――Eh?"
Julius's magic had stopped right in front of her.
It was as if something was blocking it, wavering, striking, and trying to destroy it, but ultimately losing its way and flowing away.
The light that shone was none other than the golden castle.
A wall that symbolized the magician's conviction, stronger than anything else.
It was the 'Sanctuary'.
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