The Magatsu Empire’s headquarters is an isolated island floating in the sea.
Covered by a powerful Magic Barrier, the island boasted an impregnable defense.
It is said that until a few years ago, the Empire was nothing more than a city in a small Island Nation.
The situation changed drastically when a genius mage, formerly a member of the Grand Magus Union, was expelled from the Union due to an incident and moved to that Island Nation.
He—Melchior Fia—was a charismatic figure within the Union due to his overwhelming talent, and many influential mages followed him to the Island Nation when he was excommunicated.
The group of geniuses centered around Melchior quickly conquered the city and neighboring countries, laying the foundation for the current Magatsu Empire.
A few years later, the expanded Magatsu Empire had become the world’s strongest Magic Kingdom, far surpassing even Rungaria.
And Melchior Fia, at its center, declared himself to the world, proclaiming:
“I am the Arc Enemy of the world—that is, the Magatsu Emperor.”
Before me, a land adorned with beautiful greenery stretched out, a stark contrast to the image of an evil empire.
It was a breathtaking view, as if I had arrived at a tourist destination.
However, a malevolent aura filled the surroundings, marring such scenic beauty.
“To dare intrude upon our Empire—”
“How did you manage to bypass the absolute Magic Barrier—”
Hundreds of mages lined up before us.
Clad in black robes, each one was a formidable force, capable of fighting a thousand.
Their combined strength was likely equivalent to, or even surpassed, the total magical power of the Six Great Nations.
Truly—a display of power.
Even Ashe and the others seemed to tense up.
Amidst them, I alone stepped forward.
“I will give you one choice.”
I let out a sigh and declared, trying to imbue my words with as much dignity as possible.
“Either retreat and live, or resist and die. Choose.”
Incidentally, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment improvisation; it was a prepared speech.
We were able to infiltrate the Empire by passing through the ‘Veile’s Path,’ a subspace tunnel, thanks to information from Dorothea.
However, it is said that passage through the barrier is strictly controlled.
It’s only natural, as it’s the core of national defense.
Therefore, the Empire would immediately realize the illegal intrusion if we passed through the barrier.
And in the blink of an eye, elite mages would rush to the scene using Flight Magic.
Indeed, we were surrounded in no time.
—Yes, everything up to this point was precisely as anticipated.
And I had also anticipated how to respond when that happened.
I glared at the mages.
“Kuh, this is the Abel they’re talking about…”
“The Kingdom’s demon who defeated most of the Elysion Octa single-handedly…”
They recoiled with fearful expressions, some even collapsing on the spot.
They surely knew of my feat of defeating most of the Elysion Octa.
…Or rather, am I called the ‘Kingdom’s Demon’ in the Empire?
While Aisha and the neighboring countries might see me as a hero, to them, my existence must be that of a demon itself.
“Now, what will you do? Run, or—”
I raised the Messiah Rod.
This staff, destroyed in my battle with Dorothea, had already been repaired by Veronica.
Furthermore, it had been retuned, with the addition of data from my Magic Power re-examination.
Though its design remained largely the same, its Magic Power amplification efficiency and durability had increased, making it a new Messiah Rod.
From its apex, shaped like a triangular pyramid, luminous wings of pale pink light unfurled.
“If you choose to fight, I will show no mercy.”
With a casual swing of the staff, a shockwave erupted.
With a roar!
Amidst the explosive sound, a fissure tore across the ground before them.
A deep crack, so deep that its bottom was invisible.
“Wha… Without incantation, like this!?”
The Empire’s mages gasped in unison.
“Next, I’ll hit you.”
I ostentatiously pointed the tip of the staff at them.
The next moment,
“Aaaah, I’m going to be killedddd!”
Their morale seemed to have completely collapsed.
Or perhaps, they had no morale to begin with.
Against my overwhelming power, which even the Elysion Octa could not approach, no matter how many of them gathered, they would only be scattered.
No one wants to die in vain.
And I don’t want to kill unnecessarily either.
So, if you want to run, then by all means.
After all, defeating the leader of the enemy, the Magatsu Emperor, is the priority.
Suddenly—the mages, who had been fleeing with screams, vanished.
I thought they had escaped using Flight Magic, but there was no such indication.
They had literally, completely disappeared.
“What…!?”
“To flee in the face of the enemy is a disgrace unbecoming of an Empire’s mage.”
In response to my bewildered muttering, a voice echoed from above.
“Cowards who cannot even fight for His Majesty are to be eliminated. I have sent them all to another dimension. There is no exit, so they will never return.”
“You are—”
A shadow materialized as if seeping from the void.
It was Dibahha, a mage wearing a clown mask, who wielded spatial manipulation magic.
“Well, well, it’s been a while, Abel-san.”
Dibahha chuckled from beneath his mask.
Furthermore, another small shadow materialized beside him.
This was a face I had never seen before.
A beautiful boy, so much so that he could be mistaken for a girl.
His soft, light blue hair fluttered in the wind.
He was likely the last member of the Elysion Octa.
“I am Hazel, of the ‘Sacred Grimoire.’ My main role is to support the Emperor and the members of the Elysion Octa.”
Hazel bowed with a formality that was out of place on the battlefield.
He looked like an innocent, charming boy.
However, I had to remain vigilant.
He was also an Empire mage, after all.
And a high-ranking official, one of the Elysion Octa.
“Two of the remaining Elysion Octa at once—”
Beside me, I could hear Claire gasp.
The other members also wore tense expressions.
“Hehehe, we are not the same as before. We have received new Magatsu Orbs from His Majesty the Emperor, and our Magic Power has increased severalfold. Even you—”
“Titan’s Bolt!”
Cutting off Dibahha, who was about to boast, I unleashed a wide-area lightning spell.
It was truly a preemptive strike.
“Y-You—”
Swallowed by a golden radiance, the two shadows vanished without a trace.
I have no obligation to parley with them.
I will push forward on the shortest path and defeat the Emperor.
And then, bring this war to an end.
We advanced further.
Even after defeating the Elysion Octa, Empire mages continued to appear one after another.
Most of them fled when I threatened them as before, but a few bravely challenged me.
However, they were no match for me.
I defeated them with an undeniable, literal ‘instantaneous’ victory.
And—we reached the Emperor’s castle.
A jet-black castle made entirely of obsidian.
This colossal fortress, radiating black luster, had the appearance of a demon’s lair.
Various monsters roamed around the castle, like its sentries.
They appeared to be S-class and SS-class monsters, and their numbers were extraordinary.
Defeating them wouldn’t be difficult, but I wanted to conserve my Magic Power as much as possible before fighting the Emperor—
“Abel-sama, please leave this to us.”
The girls of the “Valkyrie,” the elite force of Rungaria, stepped forward.
“Oh ho, we can’t let Rungaria have all the glory.”
“Don’t forget about us either.”
Warriors, mages, and priests from various countries stepped forward, charging to annihilate the monsters.
The battle became fierce.
I wanted to join, but that would render their efforts meaningless.
Moreover, they were gradually gaining the upper hand.
As expected of the warriors chosen from the Six Great Nations.
Then—
“For presumptuous commoners to invade my domain without permission—unforgivable.”
A black shadow leaped from the highest part of the castle.
A single figure, looking down at us from mid-air.
While most of the Empire’s mages wore black robes, this man wore a pure white one with golden embroidery.
Surprisingly, he appeared young.
A young man in his mid-twenties.
His spiky golden hair fluttered in the wind.
His sharp red eyes were like burning flames.
An intense dignity emanated from his entire being, unbefitting his age.
“That person is—”
I gasped.
My body began to tremble involuntarily.
I didn’t need him to announce himself.
This was undoubtedly the one who ruled the Magatsu Empire—
“Hold, you foolish intruders. I am the Magatsu Emperor.”
Green light emanated from his forehead.
Perhaps he had a Magic Power amplifier—a Magatsu Orb—embedded in his forehead, just like Dorothea, Forse, and Lilmid.
“Leave.”
The Emperor’s single uttered word transformed into an invisible shockwave and raged.
Countless screams echoed.
Not ours.
But those of the monster army deployed around us.
This guy doesn’t discriminate between friend and foe!?
Fortunately, I quickly erected a Magic Power barrier, so we didn’t suffer significant damage.
“To even eliminate your own allies, you certainly live up to your self-proclaimed title of Arc Enemy.”
I inadvertently uttered such a quip.
Half of it was bravado.
If I didn’t keep talking, even with pointless banter, I felt like I would be swallowed by his oppressive aura.
“Hmph, an army that is obliterated merely by me unleashing my Magic Power is unnecessary.”
The Emperor boasted.
“Unleashing Magic Power, you say—”
So, that wasn’t an attack at all just now?
In other words, the monsters were obliterated simply by him gathering his resolve—by his sheer pressure?
Truly beyond comprehension.
Indeed, he was the Magatsu Emperor.
“Monster…”
Ashe muttered this.
Even the usually composed Ashe seemed to have been shaken by that.
“The Elysion Octa seem cute in comparison.”
His strength is probably greater than Dorothea’s—
But, I will not lose.
No,
“We will not lose.”
I declared, holding the Messiah Rod, directly confronting him.
Behind me, Claire and the others readied their respective Artifacts.
“Let’s go, this is the final battle—!”
