episode_0123

Crack-crack-CRACK!

The ground split open along the path of the two women’s movements, debris spraying violently.

Facing an opponent who demanded their full strength, Yuria and Arina could no longer track each other with their eyes—their positions indiscernible.

They clashed fiercely across plains, skies, and forests, exchanging blows with such intensity that it seemed the entire Linebier Mountain Range would be reduced to ruins.

When Yuria grabbed Arina by the collar and dragged her across the ground, Arina kicked her away, sending her skyward, before unleashing a torrent of magic.

Flames exploded, lightning pierced through, and dozens of boulders rained down, burying Yuria.

Recognizing this as the decisive moment to swiftly end the battle, Arina did not hesitate—she unleashed a relentless barrage.

“[Eternal Frost].”

Everything in the path of Arina’s outstretched hand froze solid. Yuria, having obliterated the boulders before the frost could claim her, drew upon the Hero’s power to counter.

“Star Breaker.”

A clash erupted—the pure white radiance of a falling holy sword against the frigid cold ascending to freeze all in its path.

At first, it seemed evenly matched—the descent of Yuria, like a burning meteor, against Arina’s biting cold. But gradually, the cold began to be pushed back.

Arina clicked her tongue softly and abandoned the contest, retreating to evade.

Where she had stood, the holy sword plunged vertically, obliterating the terrain, flipping the earth, and sending everything nearby flying.

An entire mountain crumbled into nothingness, the ground shaking as if from an earthquake. Even as balance became precarious, Yuria pressed forward without hesitation.

A simple horizontal slash swung mid-charge—yet enhanced by the Hero’s power, speed, and mana, it became a lethal strike capable of ending it all in one blow.

Watching as her defensive magic was sliced apart like paper, Arina hastily layered multiple mana shields and leaped back.

Even those were pierced—Yuria’s holy sword grazed just inches from Arina’s chest before cutting through empty air.

Though neither had landed a decisive hit, Yuria undeniably held the momentum.

“What’s wrong? Since when does the great Riel Frost scramble to flee?”

Yuria smirked, taunting. Arina refused to back down.

“Don’t get cocky over a slight improvement. Now I’ll take this seriously.”

Her words were bold, but a faint sheen of cold sweat betrayed her. It had been a long time since she’d fought like this—

A battle where she could vividly foresee her own defeat.

Even compared to the rest of the Hero Party, Yuria had surpassed them all by an immeasurable margin.

A strength that shattered Arina’s belief that no human could rival her. She could almost see the path Yuria had walked in her absence.

“All the more disappointing, then. Is this what you use that power for—just to claim me on the day I became a woman?”

“And save the world while I’m at it. What’s wrong with double-dipping?”

Arina smiled bitterly at Yuria’s cheeky reply.

‘They’re all insane. The Burden, Yuria, even the goddess who orchestrated all of this.’

Nothing but power-drunk fools blinded by greed. She would set them straight.

‘Because I’m the only one who can.’

Arina formed a triangle with her hands and chanted:

“«Abyss Cannon».”

A single beam of cold, dark light—descending from the Abyssal Moon.

Striking with unprecedented speed and destructive force unlike anything before, Yuria—even with the Hero’s power—had no time to evade. The best she could do was raise her holy sword to block.

Arina’s signature magic, the Abyssal Moon—an evolution of the full-moon magic she learned from Ellin. The luminous magic it unleashed was faster and stronger than any she’d wielded before.

The terrain melted, the earth caved, and mountains burned away without a trace.

Yet, one figure remained unharmed at the center.

Though steam billowed violently from the holy sword that had withstood the attack, like all else, it hadn’t melted.

“Phew… That would’ve been real bad if it hit me barehanded.”

“That was my best shot. Guess damaging your holy sword was too much to ask for— Hm?”

Arina’s eyes narrowed.

She thought the holy sword had been unscathed—yet there it was, a tiny nick etched into its surface.

Though insignificant in size, the mere fact that the invincible holy sword had been marred was staggering.

Even her magic had failed to achieve what—

“This? Oh, it’s from fighting Cecil unnie. I was shocked too. Who knew her trump card could actually scratch the holy sword?”

“So even refined skill can achieve the impossible… Now I see why Cecil fought so desperately.”

Something even overwhelming firepower and massive destructive magic couldn’t do—Cecil Astoria had managed with a single blade.

With a single line drawn thousands upon thousands of times.

“I should’ve asked sooner—how did you sway Cecil? That nick must be from her trying to stop you, right? What trick did you use when things escalated to that level?”

“Who knows? I’d like to say I just convinced her, but I think her mind was made up the moment she saw the kids… Knowing her personality, she couldn’t just stand by while you made them all orphans, right?”

Typical of Cecil. As a former knight, she would see Arina’s actions as a violation of chivalry.

But if Cecil had understood her yet still fought to stop her—it wasn’t entirely off the mark.

“I get that, but this fight isn’t ending until one of us surrenders. Don’t you agree?”

“Why ask me? You’re the one who refuses to yield.”

Fair. They were both too far gone now.

Instead of answering, Arina clasped her hands once more. In response, Yuria adjusted her grip on the holy sword.

“Fine. Guess I’ll step it up a notch!”

Mana erupted from the holy sword. Here stood what could be called humanity’s two strongest.

None who could defeat them existed—save the Demon King. Having never before faced an opponent requiring their full strength, they now unleashed ever-greater attacks as if testing limits, ensuring no interruptions in their battle against this long-awaited rival.

Spotting the precise trajectory of the Abyssal Moon’s light, Yuria swung her sword in perfect sync.

“Moon Cleave.”

An upward slash infused with the Hero’s mana intercepted Arina’s magic. Upon impact, it was once again Arina’s magic that was forced back.

Yuria’s slash didn’t stop there—it severed the magic and the Abyssal Moon above, dispelling both.

“Even this…”

Arina had no choice but to concede. For the first time since surpassing mortal limits, she was being overpowered.

Not because of an immovable defense like Dullahan’s, but outright in a battle of sheer firepower—an unthinkable outcome for a mage. Yet the Hero’s power made it possible.

Divine and arcane energy merged into sacred mana—a unique force only the Hero could wield, an absolute superior surpassing ordinary magic.

Even Arina, adept in both, couldn’t replicate it.

Before, she had overwhelmed Yuria with sheer quantity and quality of mana. Now, even that was impossible. Hero Yuria Railani had surpassed her.

“If this shocks you, we’re in trouble. ‘Cause I’ve still got more to show.”

Yuria drew her sword back, gripping the hilt near her opposite hip while resting her free hand on its flat—as if preparing an iai strike.

Realizing what was coming, Arina knew she couldn’t dodge.

Behind her were Ian and Millenne.

“Know what this is?”

“—Dragon Slayer.”

A secret technique of House Astoria—Cecil’s ultimate skill unleashed by Yuria’s hand.

Though lacking the original’s finesse, the absurdly powerful slash split the world in two, carving apart everything in its path as it surged forward.

Imperfect yet taught directly by Cecil—Arina instinctively knew she couldn’t block it.

She conjured dozens of freezing whirlwinds in an instant, sacrificing them one after another to offset the slash’s force. Even while maintaining them, she created yet more.

Pushing beyond her limits to cast simultaneous spells, blood vessels ruptured across her body.

Blood streamed from her nose and eyes, but she didn’t stop until—barely—she managed to divert the slash’s trajectory.

“Whoa, impressive! You deflected that? Though, if those deadweights weren’t behind you, you wouldn’t need to block so painfully.”

Yuria looked down pitifully at Arina, now collapsed and gasping.

“Why not surrender now? Those two don’t suit you. How can they be happy—much less protect their lover—when they’re just protected by your side?”

Ian couldn’t refute her. Sadly, the woman he loved existed beyond his reach, belonging to another world entirely.

As his fists trembled, Yuria deliberately extended a hand toward Arina.

“Just become mine, Riel. The only one in this world who can protect you is me—the one stronger than you. The only one worthy of being your lover is me.”

On the surface, it looked like an offer of salvation.

“Shut up.”

But Arina recognized it for what it was—no different from a hand extended to a pet.

Not mercy, but an order—a demand for submission.

“Strong or weak doesn’t matter. What matters is whether someone’s needed by me, precious to me—“

“—loved by me.”

And so, she swatted away her former lover’s hand.

Rose to fight once more.

“Don’t get cocky just ‘cause you’ve grown a bit. From my perspective, you and the others are still the same.”

“Playing tough won’t change anything.”

“Watch closely. From here on, things move faster.”

Arina closed her eyes.

Upon reopening them, the world seemed frozen—sound faded away.

Proof that her perception had accelerated beyond limits.

She formed a spell circle—different from drawing on mere paper, it felt like pouring water onto a preexisting mold.

In the literal blink of an eye, she revealed a new magic.

“‘Absolute Zero.’”