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One soul can only possess one power. That is a rule that no creature can defy.
Kuwung—!
Bael, who couldn’t maintain his balance, fell.
The waiting Twelve Divine Beasts, familiars, and a horde of monsters all rushed in to launch a total attack.
‘It’s not over yet. If I leave him alone, he’ll soon push out the powers I forcibly instilled and normalize his body. But right now, in this gap…’
Vargan also staggered from a distance, barely managing to touch down on the ground. He released Seiman and summoned Uni.
“Cough, cough—!”
Thick blood splattered from Vargan’s mouth.
Although he was recovering his body with Uni, he wasn’t quickening up at all.
This meant that the wounds inflicted by Bael were permanent and fatal, and Vargan’s body, being squeezed to its limits, was struggling to endure this.
—Even though he successfully pretended to be strong in front of Bael, now odd reactions are starting to show in his body. Vargan, I said you wouldn’t die, but if you keep pushing yourself like this, the odds of you dying before Bael are higher.
“…Shut up. Just keep your mouth shut and steadily supply the mana from the scripture.”
—Vargan, having successfully injected powers through the item Jephar gave, it’s best not to use the scripture’s power now. With a weakened Bael, even with just your strength…
“What, are you still spouting that nonsense? Schugenharz. I assure you, even in this state, if I don’t borrow the power of the scripture, I can’t be a match for Bael. No matter how much I spin my hope circuit, that fact doesn’t change.”
—But… if you die, everything will…!
“Schugenharz, I’ll say this one last time. I’m not going to die. In this battle, it won’t be me who dies; it will be Bael. …The one who falls to the ground will not be me, but his head.”
Vargan wiped the blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.
Though he was temporarily putting out the urgent flames with Uni, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say his insides were wrecked.
Schugenharz, knowing this all too well, kept silent for some time before letting out a long sigh and said,
—If you do well, you’ve got about 20 minutes. If you don’t finish it within that time, your mana channels will burst. …No, considering your outrageous unique spells, it might be even sooner.
Maybe it’s more than that.
The mana conduit has no form, but it certainly exists.
When the mana conduit bursts, it means you can no longer use mana, which is tantamount to saying the magician’s lifespan has come to an end.
Vargan replied calmly, never taking his eyes off Bael.
“I know.”
At that moment, two men approached him.
Two protagonists, with not a single part of their bodies untouched, much like Vargan. Vargan glanced at them and said sharply.
“Have you come to take my head while I’m at it?”
Liam shook his head and replied.
“Opposite. We’ve come to help.”
“Help? You think you can help me?”
Vargan was taken aback by the absurdity of the statement and turned his gaze from Bael to Liam.
Liam’s face, reminiscent of someone annoyingly familiar, was covered in wounds.
Gasping for breath, Liam said.
“I don’t know exactly, but didn’t you take a massive hit from that monster? …Right now, us working together would definitely help….”
“With that sorry state of yours, you’re still running your mouth.”
“Even in this sorry state, we need to take down that monster. …That’s the mission of us heroes.”
“…Hah.”
Vargan chuckled dryly.
Knowing Liam was serious made it even more ridiculous.
“A guy who can’t even stand on his own has no idea of his place…. I told you, this is not your fight, so back off.”
Liam has grown stronger than the current timeline of the original story.
But still, he’s only strong enough to face an archbishop. Forget a cardinal; in front of Bael, he’s just a leaf rolling on the ground.
“Liam, unfortunately, Vargan is right.”
“…Arterion.”
The Golden Knight Arterion conveyed the reality.
“If we step in, we would only be a hindrance. Moreover, we must not forget that Vargan is a villain who betrayed humanity.”
“…That’s…”
At Arterion’s words, Liam could find no appropriate retort.
Vargan wholeheartedly agreed with Arterion’s statement.
The current situation is utter chaos; the heroes are unable to confront Vargan, but once things settle, they will immediately unsheathe their swords.
To humanity, Vargan is a heinous criminal. A villain who should be executed at once.
Arterion then brought up their other duty.
“What we must do now is transport and protect the injured. Isn’t it our responsibility as heroes to safeguard our comrades’ lives?”
“…….”
Liam nodded reluctantly.
Confirming Liam’s resolve, Arterion glanced at Vargan, who looked as if he might fly away at any moment.
“…Vargan. I can’t understand your thoughts. However, if you do not intend to bring about the destruction of humanity, I’d like to ask you one thing.”
“You have a request for me?”
Kuuuuuw—!
A deafening roar erupted from the direction Bael was in.
The screams of countless monsters and vibrations that shook the ground were overwhelming.
Vargan unfurled Seiman’s wings wide and replied.
“Speak.”
“I ask you to take down that monster in place of me, Liam, and all the other countless soldiers.”
“What kind of nonsense is this? Was that all you wanted to say? Not worth a response.”
“That’s just ridiculous.”
“…Well then, I’m counting on you.”
“Just don’t go blabbing about our private conversation later; go take care of the injured. And Liam, you…”
Bargan briefly stared at Liam.
As Liam tried to ponder over the look, Bargan clicked his tongue and turned away.
“Still stuck with that pathetic face, huh?”
Kugugugung—!
With explosive power that made it hard to chase after, Bargan shot off towards the center where the monsters were gathered.
Liam couldn’t figure out why Bargan had said that last remark, but seeing him back in the Academia after a long time gave him a sense of nostalgia.
“Liam, let’s move quickly as well.”
“Got it.”
Despite being severely injured themselves, the two protagonists moved forward, extending a hand to save others.
Ironically, the one they had entrusted with such heavy responsibilities was none other than Bargan, the villain who had been making their lives difficult.
*
Kryaaaaaaak—!
Grroooor!
Countless monsters and familiars bared their teeth and claws, fixating on Bael.
Yet, even if they were high-ranked familiars, they crumpled like trees hit by a storm with just one punch from Bael.
The Twelve Divine Beasts and Bargan also fought fiercely against Bael.
Blood splattered, flesh was sliced, and entrails burst forth.
The brutal battle seemed to drain an immense amount of stamina and mana even after just a few minutes.
Kuuuuung!
They were desperate to determine the outcome of the fierce competition.
Bargan switched up the mounts of the Twelve Divine Beasts, demonstrating timely movements.
Whenever Bael cast magic, he would immediately use Haulisk to nullify most of that power and then counterattack with Frikkanrisk using extreme cold.
Because of their relentless assault, Bael couldn’t extract the poisonous powers spreading throughout his body.
Though he had attained transcendence, he couldn’t display his true power. It was practically like being sealed.
This was Bargan’s scheme, and Bael felt the situation unraveling unfavorably.
‘Just a little more… I just need to push a bit further.’
To solidify the situation, Bargan put every bit of strength he had into his muscle fibers.
The buildings of the Central Church surrounding them had been destroyed to the point where their shapes were unrecognizable. There were quite a few places that had turned to dust.
‘Hold on… I must hold on…!’
Even Bargan, who usually appeared relaxed in front of his opponents, could not remain so this time.
The colossal amount of mana, which seemed as endless as the ocean, was slowly starting to run low.
His rapidly deteriorating body was like a barely functioning car, clattering along the road with broken parts.
Then, just as the 20 minutes that the Schugenhartz Family had mentioned was drawing to a close…
“…!”
Bargan’s vision suddenly wobbled.
His strained body began showing abnormal reactions.
『Looks like you’re getting close to your limit.』
Kwaaaaang—!
Bael immediately sensed something was off with Bargan and gathered mana to fire.
However, Bael was not in normal condition either due to his powers, and the mana he shot veered past Bargan, slicing through the clouds.
Every blow they exchanged was threatening enough to pierce through the mountains and valleys.
The degree is so threatening that it pierces through.
“…I need to separate the powers quickly, but I can’t, which is frustrating.”
Vargan spoke while forcing his wavering view back into focus.
At a glance, it seemed that time was becoming favorable for Vargan.
However.
『…—…——….』
Bael began to utter incomprehensible phrases that only the Altifes could understand.
As a result, Vargan’s already precarious vision trembled even more violently, and his muscles twitched uncontrollably.
Desperately employing every trick to win, Vargan was fighting with all his might.
Bael, too, was aware of the crisis and was showing his best moves.
‘From the beginning, Vargan had activated two Unique Spells. Although they were undoubtedly intimidating spells, thanks to them, Vargan’s mana was rapidly depleted as if sliced by a blade, and his limits were approaching even faster.’
Just as Bael observed.
Vargan had initially activated the first Unique Spell, Dream of Butterflies, to deceive Bael’s senses, and the second Unique Spell, Ouroboros, to repeatedly overcome crises.
‘If I can’t use the power of transcendence, weakening Vargan is also a strategy. With his body nearing its limits now, the damage is immense.’
In reality, Vargan was experiencing a delirium as if someone were shaking his brain violently.
Every nerve in his body felt like it was malfunctioning, delivering maximum pain, and his muscles were twisted to the brink.
“Guuuuh…!”
Clenching his teeth, Vargan drew forth mana, attempting to resolve the bizarre phenomenon.
Even in such a dire situation, he didn’t stop unleashing powers and spells toward Bael, who, despite his body being broken down, was pouring out all sorts of magic and techniques.
A desperate battle.
A clash of equals, direction unknown.
‘Just a little more… just a bit…!’
Even amidst that agony, Vargan waited for the right timing.
He struggled, hoping the first Unique Spell could interfere with Bael’s sight.
And then, at the moment when it felt like his insides would burst with pain, his consciousness wavering.
‘It’s done.’
Bael swung his authority towards Vargan, and in his eyes reflected a woman.
A mystique that seemed to contain the universe. And an otherworldly beauty as if it were crafted.
The figure of the woman who Bael longed for, to the point of sorrow, appeared before him.
『…Shalom.』
Knowing it was a lie, Bael still called her name.
However, smiling at Bael’s call was not the Shalom reflected in his eyes, but Vargan hiding behind her.
“Finally, a proper gap has opened, Bael.”
Crunch!
In an instant, Bael’s left arm was devoured.
It was truly appropriate to describe it as ‘devoured’ with bite marks left behind.
Soon, Bael’s body began to crackle like uneven transmission waves. The distortion, starting from the severed left arm, gradually spread like contagion.
Vargan’s third Unique Spell.
Void.
The spell that toppled Hero Helion.
The ultimate magic, a combination of the two branches of transcendence, aimed at Bael.
