Answering the call of my emotions, Adamas trembled in my grip. Dodging Emergias’s spear, I delivered a slash that bit through the scales of his arms. Emergias screamed, the spray of blood dissipating into the air like smoke before dissolving into magic and vanishing. His body wasn’t physical anymore.
But that made him all the stronger. He charged with a roar again. I dodged and countered, but this time, he blocked with the haft of his spear. We both staggered back a step, then lunged back toward each other.
“Grraaaaaah! Give me that power!!!” His curse coiled around me once more.
“Plunder is Taboo!”
It had turned into an endless chant to ward off his curse. Another thin layer of my power was stripped away.
Damn, is this never going to end?!
Now that he was more devil than demon, shallow wounds barely left a scratch on him. The deep slash wound on his arm repaired itself using pure magic. Though the holy magic in Adamas slowed down the process, it wasn’t enough. No, it wasn’t enough yet!
And then, suddenly, I felt a burst of powerful magic behind me. A blast of wind...warm and comforting.
“Sanctus Lucus.”
Let the divine light shine.
A blinding, burning light shot past me, punching through Emergias’s wings. This was...a miracle of light.
No way...!
The sound of bare feet on stone reached my ears. Using the reflection of Adamas’s blade, I looked to see what was behind me.
And there, I saw a saint.
Golden hair like it was spun from sunlight. Brilliant blue eyes like a summer sky. The dress she wore, now torn to shreds, was the same one she had been wearing earlier in the day. But the blank, dumb expression of the puppy I had grown ever so used to was gone entirely. Now, she was standing on two feet, holding a bow of light in her hands, and wearing a determined expression on her face.
Her hands and feet are back...!
“Liliana!” Our eyes met through Adamas’s reflection...and her face bloomed into a beautiful smile.
“Her mind has finally returned!” Ante cried, a mixture of wonder and fear in her voice that I understood all too well. While her help was more than appreciated, if Emergias took her power...!
“Who the hell are you?!” Emergias roared, his wings of black magic reforming. “Blinding...so bright... I want it! Give that power to me!”
Pitch-black magic erupted from the demon prince.
Guess I have no other choice now!
“Megari Pu Rostacia!”
Oh great blessings!
I unleashed my own magic. Liliana and I were enveloped in a brilliant silver light. But while that light protected us from curses, it also burned me from head to toe. I hadn’t perfected the technique of putting a layer of protective magic between the holy magic and myself yet.
“Mythologia Replica...” Seeing my desperation, Liliana wasted no time jumping into action. Tossing aside her bow, Liliana began to sing, her fingers weaving a powerful magical blessing of protection.
“...Divinitas Adventus!”
Divine Advent!
Golden light washed over the two of us. It was incredible... Not only did my body feel lighter all of a sudden, but the holy magic wasn’t burning me anymore!
“Plunder is Tabooo!” Ante and I shouted, blowing away Emergias’s curses.
“Gift of the Land!” Warmth flowed out of Liliana again. In a flash, the burns on my skin and the pain I had felt were mended.
Thanks, Liliana!
“Wha...?!” Emergias stared at us, mouth agape.
Was he shocked because his magic had been deflected? Or was the sight of a saint fighting alongside me too much? Maybe it was both?
“Impossible! Why is a high elf on your side?!”
Liliana averted her eyes with an innocent whistle. Though on the surface it appeared as though she was playing dumb, the magic in her little action revealed its true purpose. Her tune’s magic crystallized in the air, taking the form of a harp. Grasping the instrument in her hands, she began to pluck at the strings, and a divine magic poured out of her.
“Mythologia Replica: Selenum Obsitus.”
Mythological Replaying: Heavenly Growth.
Magic infused the floor, and the stone cracked and split. Pushing up through the cracks were plants imbued with divine energy. They bloomed into a field of beautiful flowers, turning the fortress into a flower garden. Sprouting and growing in each of the four corners of the room were...enormous, shining trees.
“Mythologia Replica: Sancta Nativitas.”
Mythological Replaying: Sprouting of the Sacred Tree.
The trees pulsed with an intense light, as if each of them had been infused with the sun itself. For an ordinary elf, this great ritual would have required a branch of the Sacred Tree to perform. But for Liliana, it was trivial due to the divine power housed within her. It was the most powerful antimagic barrier possible. But now, rather than a wall that shut out wickedness, it was a cage keeping Emergias trapped inside.
“Damn it...!” Recognizing the tides of battle were turning against him, Emergias snapped out of his stupor and charged at Liliana, but of course he would have to get through me first.
“Where do you think you’re going?” We still had a score to settle here. And besides, it was a hero’s duty to protect mages!
“Out of my way!” Emergias lashed out with his spear, but the action lacked the strength of his earlier assault. While it was true that Liliana’s blessings had empowered me, the grass and flowers at our feet were also helping as they wrapped around Emergias’s arms and legs to slow his movements.
At the same time, I could hear Liliana’s voice rise behind me, her singing shifting into a rousing, powerful new melody.
“Mythologica Replica: Heroica Ultio!”
Mythological Replaying: Heroic Vengeance!
Adamas trembled for a moment, and then a blazing light erupted from it. Now, the blade shone with the divine light of vengeance... No, it was far too violent and ferocious to fit that description.
I couldn’t help but laugh. How many mythical-level spells had she just cast back-to-back? Though her magic was outmatched by the strongest of demons, Liliana’s true strength was in the divinity that resided within her, and the pure light of miracles she wielded. This was the saint, Liliana El Del Milfrul, the embodiment of light that had supported the Alliance’s entire front line!
“My name is Zilbagias. And”—I raised Adamas, drawing out as much power as I could—“Alexander! Alexander of Tancrette!”
Emergias’s face showed nothing but confusion. But that made sense. After all, it had been his first deployment. Why would he remember some tiny village from many, many years ago?
“For my mother. For my father. For my home. Here and now, I shall take vengeance!” My magic exploded together with fury and emotion.
“Wh-What?! What the hell are you?!” Emergias screamed, lifting his spear. And I only had one answer for him.
“I...”
No matter what anyone said.
“...am a hero!!!”
Let’s go, Adamas! Thanks to Liliana, now I can share my magic with you!
“Hii Yeri Lampsui Suto Hieri Mo!”
May your holy light shine in my hands!
Adamas’s blade, already blazing like the sun, was infused with a new silver light. I stepped forward. The soft grass and flowers beneath my feet held me up and pushed me onward. Emergias roared—though maybe it was more along the lines of a scream—as he threw his magical tail and wings ahead of him to defend himself. My sword obliterated both with ease.