Volume 9 Chapter 71 'My True Name'
I stood with Tsukiko behind me, facing Julius.
My body was moving better than ever, even surpassing its prime condition.
It was probably due to Mevius' "Tenken (Heaven's Sword)" healing my body and bringing out my hidden abilities to the limit.
But that's not all. Even the old wounds I received from Julius in Asteris seemed to have vanished, and my magic power was flowing smoothly.
This was thanks to Bertina-san and Yunea's power.
"......"
But I couldn't sense anyone else's presence on this battlefield except for Tsukiko.
I wouldn't think about what that meant for now.
The only one I needed to focus on was right in front of me.
"I'm back, Julius."
"I'm surprised. I never thought you'd stand up again."
Julius said, but he didn't look surprised at all.
He even seemed to be enjoying himself.
Julius pointed to the sky.
"Still, you're a bit too late. 'Kakehashi (Bridge to the Universe)' is complete, and it's about to activate."
The dark sky was filled with stars that seemed to cover the entire world. The beautiful, dazzling light seemed to represent Julius' ideals.
"......"
"There is about ten minutes left before it is activated. You have just enough time to defeat me and stop 'Bridge to the Universe' before it activates."
"Thanks for the warning, I appreciate it."
I had a feeling about this since I woke up.
An enormous power was about to be unleashed.
If this was fully activated, the Earth and Asteris would be connected.
Plenty of time.
"It's taking too long."
I took a deep breath, and my magic activated.
A mysterious power pulsed through my body, and the physical restraints that bound me were released. The boring laws of physics that restricted my existence were cast aside, and my body was filled with an overwhelming sense of power.
'My True Name.'
My entire body was wrapped in a white silver armor, and I grasped the Bastard Sword.
Unprecedented heat is coursing through my entire body. My pulse is racing like crazy.
"'Let's go!'."
"Yeah."
Like holding hands for a dance, we exchanged swords and magic.
'The Six Heavens Palace (Creation)'.
Six beasts were summoned before Julius, each wielding the power of nature.
The crow controlled the wind.
The wolf controlled the earth.
The lion controlled the fire.
The goat controlled the lightning.
The monkey controlled the wood.
The serpent controlled the water.
Each one was a disaster that could destroy a country, an insurmountable wall that no individual could overcome.
But why?
The emerald magic power wrapped around my right arm, illuminating the Bastard Sword.
I didn't feel like losing.
"'Mikatia (Storm Sword)'."
I swung my sword. In an instant, I unleashed countless slashes that seemed to dominate the very space itself.
But this was different from the 'Mikatia' I knew before.
Why? Because each slash was like 'Stella (Star Sword)', cutting through the crucial points of magic power, and exploding like 'Froga (Flame Blade)'.
I cut through the magic of the beasts, unleashing a storm of slashes.
"'Fast!'"
I dove in.
I dodged the monkey's attack, which was like a tree branch, and beheaded it. I then swung my sword to deflect the lion's flames and slash its mane.
I clashed with the goat's lightning-fast horns and blew its head off.
When the serpent coiled around me, I rotated my body to cut it in half from tail to head.
I drew a spiral pattern in the air, rising up to slash the crow.
Below, I waited for the wolf's attack, clashing swords and shattering all its fangs before beheading it.
"'Fuuh...'"
I took a deep breath for a moment.
My body was moving beyond my ideal, my sword slicing through the air, every magic power-infused blade glinting in the light.
Then, I saw Julius.
"Incredible. You're indeed stronger than anyone I know."
Julius looked at me with a blank expression, as if he didn't care that his magic had been broken.
His carefree attitude made me feel more uneasy than angry.
"'Julius'"
"I know. I'm here to settle things with you too."
As he said that, Julius slowly floated up into the air.
"This magic has never been used since its creation. It's too exclusive and violent."
His magic power warped and twisted.
The pressure that appeared behind Julius was so intense it felt like it was warping the very fabric of space itself. His words were true. Even though nothing had happened yet, the strange pressure emanating from him was already overwhelming, surpassing even 'The Six Heavens Palace (Creation)'.
This was the strongest magic.
I had no doubt about that.
"I originally created this to neutralize the shock of 'Bridge to the Universe (Kakehashi)' and erase all disasters from the world at once. It's a power that can eliminate any calamity."
Behind Julius, the warped space cracked and began to break apart.
The crack grew rapidly, crumbling and collapsing.
What emerged from it was a gigantic eye.
It appeared.
It was even larger than the beasts from 'The Six Heavens Palace (Creation)' that had been rampaging just moments ago.
Its head...
Its horns...
Its neck...
It was going to devour everything in the world.
"'Star-Destroying Dragon Vein (Destruction)'."
The strongest fantasy species on Earth and Asteris.
It was a dragon.
Or perhaps a ryuu.
Its body was nonexistent, and only its dragon head and neck emerged from the broken space.
And it wasn't just one.
Each of its heads, capable of devouring all beasts whole, numbered in the dozens.
In reality, it was pointless to try to count them. As long as Julius existed, they would appear infinitely.
If he used this power, Julius could probably destroy the world in a single night.
I've stood in a place like that, haven't I?
"Let's end this, Yuusuke. It's dawn."
Right now, I couldn't win against this magic.
I knew that the moment I saw it.
Even if I borrowed the power of Lisha and Mevius, there was a limit.
To win, I need to surpass myself.
The possibilities sleeping within me. I've always seen them, yet I've been pretending not to. I know the meaning of reaching out to that light, its weight.
I don't trust myself. I've never thought I'm a strong existence. That's why I've been lost, made mistakes, and suffered. Each time, everyone helped me.
Now it's my turn.
The time to show my resolve has come.
"'Julius, I'll go to a place worthy of you too'"
I declared, raising my left arm towards the sky.
My body trembles under the dragons' pressure, an existence that can erase lives just by being there.
In that instant, I tried to endure it,
"――――――"
Hands was supporting my arm.
It was too vivid to be a dream or illusion, and they said,
'Senpai, show us your cool side!'
'Yuusuke, it's okay. You don't need to worry about anything.'
'Yuusuke-sama, you will win. You have until now, and you will from now on.'
'Yuusuke, do your best. I'll always be by your side.'
Hinata.
Noire.
Kanami.
Sharla.
You guys are always the first to come to me, after all.
There's no need to feel more at ease than this.
I stretch out my left arm, surpassing the sky, surpassing space, and going even further.
I've realized it a bit late, but...
The true essence of my magic, 'My True Name'.
This power, which can summon infinite magic power and even recreate others' magic, is surprisingly simple in reality.
"'Spiritual Penetration Art――My True Name'."
A massive tree that seems to support the sky, burning into the back of my eyes. It contains beasts within, embracing their lanterns with a brilliant light.
The crimson mantle flails wildly, losing its shape and burning fiercely.
I rise into the sky, carrying the crimson tree on my back. Its branches stretch out to reach anywhere in the world, shining with light.
The true essence of 'My True Name' is connection.
A magic that transcends space and life and death, connecting souls.
"'Flame Linker (Infinity Light)'."
That was a painful and bitter past. I lost many people, felt sorrow, and harbored hatred.
But it wasn't just painful. There were people I saved, people who lent me a hand, people who fought alongside me, and people who understood me. There were countless dazzling treasures there.
They're at the tip of each and every branch.
Everyone, just one more time, I want to stand on my own will.
If everyone still acknowledges me like that.
"'Lamp Fire (Link)――The Chosen Hero (Brave Face)'."
This time, I'll become the real deal.
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