TL/Editor: raei
Status: ongoing
Illustrations: none
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"Are you truly... alright with this?"
Diernead, captain of the Gray Lion Corps' first division and Evelyn's close aide, rode his black horse beside the Second Princess as she slowly traveled the main road on her white steed.
His face showed extreme caution as he addressed the princess.
"You've strived for the throne for so long - nearly your entire life."
"I'm fine. No, more than fine - I feel relieved."
Evelyn turned her head toward the knight as she spoke.
"As you know, I sought the throne because there was no suitable person to bear that burden. But now someone worthy has appeared, so it's right to pass it on."
"That person being Prince Zion."
Evelyn didn't answer, but Diernead could read the affirmation in her eyes.
"I apologize to all of you who've trusted and followed me. For deciding such an important matter alone without saying anything."
"Indeed, Your Highness. Honestly, I felt a bit hurt this time. You could have at least said something."
Diernead answered the Second Princess with a playful expression before continuing with a smile.
"But that doesn't mean I'm dissatisfied with your decision. In truth, whether Your Highness ascends to the throne or not isn't particularly important in our following you."
Yes, it had been that way from the start.
Diernead himself and all the knights here had come to follow Evelyn after being captivated by her righteous charisma, fairness, and character.
"We would have followed Your Highness even if you weren't royal, even if you weren't called the strongest knight. So please don't worry about that."
A bond existed between them that transcended status or position.
"We're always on your side."
Evelyn smiled gently as she looked at the other knights showing the same expression.
These people were always her strength.
"Come to think of it, for someone saying that, you gave me quite a lot of advice and criticism about the throne, Diernead."
"Haha, that's because Your Highness wanted the throne then. I only wish for what Your Highness desires."
Evelyn smirked at Diernead's uncharacteristically slick response before turning her gaze forward again.
'After finishing this border duty, I should properly help Zion normalize the empire.'
The gray sky visible in the Second Princess's eyes signaled their approach to the demon realm border.
That sky looked slightly darker than usual.
---
In the center of the capital Hubris.
"What... is going on here?"
Diana muttered this while watching the battle between Zion and Ilias Palantier, head of the Palantier family, right before her.
Her eyes filled with questions at this unexpected fight between these figures.
The reason for her presence here was simple.
A few hours ago, Diana had been participating in an event for fairies settled in the capital alongside Halegrion, who had revisited the imperial palace for some reason. ŗ�
During this, they heard explosions from nearby, halted the event and came outside, where this scene unfolded before her eyes.
"I'll find out immediately!"
Though a subordinate behind her said this and rushed off somewhere, Diana remained too focused on the battle before her to even look their way.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Or more precisely, she was trying to grasp the meaning hidden behind this battle.
The Zion Agnes she knew would never cause such an incident without reason.
"What will you do, Your Highness?"
Halegrion quietly asked Diana.
"For now, let's just watch without interfering."
It would be better not to move rashly until they understood the situation clearly.
"Understood, though I never expected the Palantier head's power to be at this level. Just judging by what's visible, he seems beyond 'Heaven' class..."
Though Ilias's display of power far beyond what was publicly known was indeed shocking, Diana's eyes weren't on him.
Moreover, she had no attention to spare for him.
'He's grown far stronger than before.'
The ominous darkness bursting from Zion as he overwhelmingly suppressed such an Ilias.
That darkness completely captured her consciousness.
"Halegrion."
Diana spoke without taking her eyes from the battle.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"How long have you lived, Halegrion?"
"A little over two hundred years."
"Then you've never actually seen the Eternal Emperor who founded the Agnes Empire either."
"That's correct. I've only heard stories about him and one or two techniques he commonly used from my predecessors. Even those aren't very accurate..."
"I see."
Disappointment flickered in the Fifth Princess's eyes.
"Why do you suddenly ask this?"
His pupils now like a snake's, Ilias thrust his spear straight at Zion.
A completely straightforward strike without any technique.
But the power bursting from it was entirely different.
Like hundreds of snakes coiled together.
Bundles of evil energy intertwined and shot forth targeting only Zion.
SCREECH!
Zion's form was pushed back despite immediately defending with Gigaperses and Muspelheim.
Ilias didn't pursue him.
He remained in place, immediately preparing his next attack.
'I'll end the battle with this strike.'
Before Prince Zion could adapt to this authority.
Before he could properly gauge their power difference amplified by Snake Sea.
Ilias thought his best chance was to pour everything into ending it instantly.
HISS!
"Snakes of the Sea" began coiling around his spear, carrying his wishes.
Tens, hundreds, no, thousands.
Evil energy amplifying endlessly.
RUMBLE!
The ground shook and shattered, unable to withstand this power.
Nearby buildings collapsed from the unstable space.
"KYAAH!"
Though the watching people screamed upon feeling the overwhelming power from this evil energy, they couldn't move away, their trembling legs refusing to work.
Meanwhile, as Ilias's continuously growing evil energy finally-
"Take this, Prince Zion."
Shot toward Zion, forming a massive red snake around the spear.
A strike containing power so unimaginable it made even nearby Diana shudder for a moment.
'So this is the leader of Ouroboros?'
Zion thought this while watching the massive snake approaching him.
Indeed, this strike from Ilias contained power that even Zion would find difficult to take head-on.
However-
'That doesn't mean I can't handle it.'
He told me to take it, so I'll take it.
With this thought and a slight smile, Zion grasped the air.
SWOOSH-
Eclaxia immediately appeared in his grip.
Taking a large step forward and lowering his body, Zion pressed the Light-Extinguishing Sword to his side like drawing a sword.
FLASH!
A pure white sphere completely unlike the Black Star Force appeared before Zion's eyes.
A sphere radiating intense light in all directions like a small sun.
Then-
SCREECH!
As Eclipse and Partial Eclipse activated simultaneously, darkness endlessly layered onto Zion's drawn Eclaxia.
Everything around began slowing down.
The entire space including Zion grew so quiet that even falling dust could be heard.
As if time itself were stopping.
All flow within the space halted.
SWOOSH-
Slowly.
Eclaxia drew alone in this frozen space.
Finally, the Light-Extinguishing Sword split the tiny sun before Zion's eyes.
Sun Severance.
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From one edge of vision to the other.
As everything existing along a single line drawn across the world split apart-
"Th-that is!!!!!"
Halegrion's eyes widened as far as possible watching this scene.