“Really? You’re trying to surpass him?” the World Tree asked.
“I am!” Ein declared. “I’ll rise above the first king’s legacy and defeat you where you stand!”
An azure light burst forth from the prince’s body that, in combination with Ishtar’s power, left a stunning series of silvery blue afterimages in his wake. Propelled by the mighty powers that permeated his being, Ein slashed through the World Tree, riddling the glutton with wounds that refused to heal.
The very power used to defeat the previous Demon Lord had awakened from its slumber once more. Before this very moment, the depowered Ein hadn’t been able to draw out Ishtar’s true power. But now, he displayed a deftness that put him on par with or even surpassed Jayle’s abilities. Incurring a mere scratch, let alone standing within the prince’s overwhelming presence, shredded away one’s magical energy at such a rate that they’d lose their breath right away. Even if the World Tree had managed to expertly dance around Ishtar’s blows, another unclosable wound would appear on his body before he knew it.
“Is there something I can’t see in your movements?!” the World Tree gasped.
Upon closer inspection, the presence of Ein’s afterimages made it clear that the World Tree couldn’t keep up with his creator. He looked up and clicked his tongue with annoyance when he noticed that the sphere hadn’t fully coated itself in darkness just yet. Ein swung again and again, cornering his foe.
“This isn’t funny at all!” the World Tree shouted.
“Funny? I’ve never been more serious!” Ein roared.
“Gah... Then that makes you even more annoying! How many times will you stand up?! How many times must I cut you down?”
“I’ll stand back up as many times as it takes! I’m not giving up until you fall!”
“I wish you could understand that persistence is exactly what pisses me off the most!”
The time had come. Filled with immense power, the void-like sphere stretched out across the sky alongside the sound of an ominous hymn. Hit with a wave of tension, Ein’s expression took a stern and nervous turn.
“I’m not losing either!” the World Tree bellowed.
To satisfy his all-consuming, primal urge to devour, it was key that he fused with Ein. The World Tree yearned for a power greater than any other, making it imperative that he amassed enough power if he were to swallow the world whole.
“I shall grace you with even more blessings!” the World Tree shouted.
He raised his hands high in the air as he jumped away. The new void-like sphere cracked open, unleashing another wave of black light.
“Perish! Submit to your fate!” he yelled.
Ein gripped Ishtar tightly and stood tall. His body overflowed with a power unlike anything he’d felt before. He raised his sword high in the air and braced himself. Before the rays of darkness could reach him, he swung his blade down and roared from the top of his lungs.
“Haaaah!”
A gust of silver wind surrounded him before it swirled around the blade and shot out at the incoming rays.
“Gahhh... Ahhhh!” Ein bellowed.
Despite the cursed power they ripped through the sky with, the dark rays never once touched the ground—they had clashed with Ishtar’s mighty wind before ceasing to be.
“Impossible! I don’t believe it!” the World Tree cried.
“Then what’s in front of your eyes?” Ein demanded. “If it’s impossible, then I shouldn’t be here anymore!”
The World Tree had enough power to wipe a continent off the face of the globe. Directing all of that godly power at one boy would be seen as unreasonable, but in this world, such an act was the next logical step. And upon swatting away such an attack, Ein had proven the World Tree’s point. The glutton hadn’t let his guard down at all—not even for a moment.
“Hah! Ha ha ha ha!” he laughed. “Splendid!”
Relief washed over the World Tree’s face as he noticed Ein inch back ever so slightly. Finally, the silver light had been pushed back.
“Unfortunately, that won’t be enough!” the World Tree retorted.
“Gah... Aghhhh!” Ein shouted.
The following impact quickly knocked the wind right out of him, not to mention that the indestructible curse still lingered. As the curse crept across Ein’s face, parts of his body were once again dyed in an ashen black. However, Ishtar’s divine magic quickly set about purifying the rot.
“Huff... Huff...” Ein panted.
“H-How did you survive that?” the World Tree said incredulously.
Supported by Ishtar’s might, the prince took a knee. He might’ve been having a rough go of it, that was all that ailed him. Even if he hadn’t fully recovered, was unable to use his skills, and had had most of his strength sapped away by the World Tree. But that doesn’t matter. He could still fight. He knew it to be so. In fact, there was nothing more important to him at this moment.
“My goal still hasn’t changed,” the World Tree said. “I shall bless you as many times as it takes, until you can no longer stand! I’ll even draw you into my loving embrace again!”
“And I’ll stand back up, as many times as it takes,” Ein replied.
The royal had managed to endure the earlier hit, but he knew that he’d used up a good chunk of his dwindling stamina. He managed to hide his concerns and feign nonchalance. The World Tree, on the other hand, was initially shocked by Ein’s second wind, but... He still has some power left.
Somehow, Ein had to find a path forward, and he racked his brain for an answer. It was then that he felt a thorny prick on his hand. When he looked down, he spotted a blue fire rose on the ground beside him. Huh, it managed to evade that light. The rose proceeded to beautifully bloom, having narrowly escaped the all-consuming void.
Even in a precarious situation such as this, Ein flashed a smile. When he brushed his fingers against the petals, he noticed something glowing underneath the flower. When he reached out, he felt his fingers curling around what appeared to be a pale-blue magic stone—Consort Laviola’s stone.
✦ ✦ ✦
As Krone remained at her beloved’s side, she felt her heart beating faster and faster. However, she noticed his fingertips move ever so slightly. Ein’s physical body was starting to visibly regain its lost vitality, and Krone entangled her fingers with his, firmly clutching the magic stone between their hands.
“I was told that it’s a good luck charm,” Krone murmured as a serene smile crept up her lips. Tears spilled from the corners of her eyes and streaked down her cheeks. “I’m so happy right now.”
She brushed her beloved fingertips once more as she spoke. “I’m so, so happy that I get to be with you again, in this garden of all places. But...”
That wasn’t enough for her.
“I’ll be even happier if you wake up, Ein. I swear to God.”
She couldn’t help it. A tear rolled down her cheek and onto the back of Ein’s hand. She knew that he was in far more pain, but she couldn’t stop putting words to her thoughts.
“You’re kind to a fault... And a bit shy to boot.”
She was describing the boy she loved so dearly.
“Sometimes, you’re a thoughtless optimist.”
But even so.
“You’ve got a firm, mean grip on my heart... You’re the most precious thing in the world to me.”
Krone saw the time they’d spent together as nothing but endearing, and thought back to those times as she gently caressed his cheek.
“I know you tried to end this all by yourself, but I’m not going to let you do it alone. I never will, Ein.”
She gazed at her beloved—his eyes still firmly shut. Was it all her imagination? She felt his hands grip her back.