episode_0095

The massive figure moved. Its opponent was but one.

Though they far outnumbered it, the sheer difference in scale—particularly the destruction it had displayed upon its first appearance—left the reinforcements frozen in terror.

Under the emotionless gaze of those enormous eyes watching them from above, the mages stumbled backward.

“【Eternal Snowfall】.”

At that moment, a blizzard surged from behind. As the violent whirlwind of snow passed, the stone colossus froze over in an instant.

Seizing the brief opening, Arina approached Ellin.

“Master.”

“Are you alright? You must’ve been through much hardship.”

“I’m fine. More importantly, let’s divide the tasks. You and Millen handle the remaining soldiers and the army. I’ll take care of that thing with the others.”

“Are you sure? To bring down a Guardian, you’d need as much firepower as possible…”

Ellin’s voice carried concern. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Arina, but this was a different matter altogether.

The bond between master and apprentice bore resemblance to that of parent and child. For Ellin, who never bore children, and Arina, who lost her parents early, this truth was even more pronounced.

How could Ellin rest easy knowing her disciple, already once seized by the Kingdom, was willingly shouldering another dangerous burden?

“Of course.”

Yet Arina nodded confidently.

Craaack! The ice encasing the Guardian began to fracture, fragments scattering like rain.

“Just make sure I’m not interrupted.”

“Understood.”

The two passed each other, crossing paths as battle resumed.

“Mages, split into two groups and divert its attention as much as possible. Ian, move freely. Your demon sword will be useful in a pinch. Marin, circle around and target Kyle.”

Arina assigned roles to each of the four before adding,

“We don’t necessarily have to destroy it. Guardians obey royal commands, so it’s over once we capture Kyle.”

“Tch, as if it’s that easy!”

“Elder Raidenmern…?”

To Arina, the Raidenmern Elder was the detestable man who had always glared at her with disdain during her time at the Magus Tower.

He nitpicked everything she did. Whenever she published research, he’d scour it for flaws with glee.

His sharp tone, scowling expression—it was him, just as she remembered. Never had she imagined he’d show up here, of all places.

“Still lacking respect for your seniors, I see. Riel Frost.”

“Ah, my apologies…!”

She hadn’t meant to slip into informal speech. The shock had simply brought back an old habit of grumbling under her breath.

Though she harbored no regrets. Had he not provoked her, she wouldn’t have complained in the first place.

“Incoming!”

At the shout, their gazes snapped toward the stone colossus—Colossus—as it stretched out a hand their way.

A massive magic circle, as large as its palm, unfolded in the air.

Arina read the formula inscribed within.

That’s frost magic.

While fire magic was the usual counter, frost magic was her specialty.

She swiftly replicated the circle, casting the same spell.

Bam bam bam bam—! Countless icicles scattered alongside the freezing storm.

A beat later, Arina’s magic intercepted the hail plummeting toward her and the others.

Clash cl-cl-clash! The icicles collided midair, shattering into fragments. The broken shards transformed into delicate snowflakes, dusting the battlefield with the first snow.

A perfect counter. It meant their power was on equal footing—her frost magic, amplified by the Philosopher’s Stone, matched its output.

Against any other magic, she might’ve struggled. Alone, this foe would’ve been daunting—but today, she wasn’t alone.

“Now!”

At her signal, the mages flanking the Guardian unleashed their spells.

Boom! Kaboom! Blam!

A bombardment of magic engulfed Colossus from head to toe—yet not a scratch marred its body.

Disheartened, Raidenmern shouted,

“Nothing’s working!”

“A magic barrier. It’ll break once its mana depletes, but… how much mana does this thing have?”

“If my memory serves, around seventy million essences.”

Nearly eight times Arina’s own reserves.

Which means we’ve barely drained a tenth.

No time to ponder further. Colossus raised its arm again—this time, opting for a physical strike to conserve mana.

Had it read their thoughts? Or was it deliberately preserving energy?

Whoosh! Its arm descended, crashing through the mages’ layered barriers like kindling. One after another, the shields shattered as Colossus’s fist hammered into the earth.

The trembling ground split into jagged fissures, disrupting footing. Magic required intense focus—tremors delayed spellcasting, even if only slightly.

Foreseeing this, Arina had already kicked off the ground, giving her a split-second advantage.

Fwooosh! A glacial whirlwind encased Colossus’s arm where it touched the earth. But this alone wasn’t enough. Pillars of ice erupted like serpents, coiling around the limb.

“Marin!”

Marin was already sprinting before Arina’s voice reached her. Other mages joined, bombarding Colossus to pin it down.

She knew—now was the critical moment.

Scaling a several-story-tall statue vertically was impossible, but with it crouched low, she could reach Kyle.

As Marin dashed along its waist, her eyes locked onto Kyle’s. Tap. A light step, shifting her weight—

“W-Wha—?!”

Her foot drove toward Kyle’s startled face—only to halt midair, repelled by a shimmering mana shield wrapped around him.

Phew. Wiping sweat, Kyle smirked. “You scared me for a second.”

So they can deploy a separate shield around him.

Narrowing her eyes, Marin clenched her fist. The barrier was tough—but not as durable as the Guardian’s main defenses.

She pulled back her right arm, packing it with mana—

Crrrack! Sparks erupted as her punch impacted the shield.

I can break through.

Her left fist struck the same spot. Crrack!

Again. Crack!

And again. Crack!

The shield’s mana flow warped unnaturally.

Relentless, Marin hammered away—left, right, left—gnawing at the barrier’s stability.

“It’s resisting harder!”

“It won’t last!”

Sensing its master’s peril, Colossus strained against its bindings with all its might.

Its wings unfurled. Whoosh! A beat later, the stone appendages flapped violently, snapping the binding spells one by one.

Whoosh! Whoosh! WHOOOOSH—CRRRACK!

Crack! Crack! CRRRACK—SHIIIING!

“Done! Gah—?!”

The barrier shattered—but so did Colossus’s restraints—simultaneously.

Marin’s hand nearly grasped Kyle—only for Colossus to spin violently, flinging her off.

Flailing midair, Marin’s fingertips barely missed Kyle’s smug grin.

“Aaagh! So close!”

Unconcerned with her frustration, Colossus ascended higher.

“It’s trying to pull off that trick again.”

An object of that mass, plummeting under gravity’s pull alone, would strike like a meteor. Coupled with mana? Pure devastation.

As it began its descent, a frigid voice echoed:

“『Darkmoon』.”

Colossus’s fall slowed—then stopped altogether. Gradually, its body lifted.

Darkmoon summoned the moon of everlasting night—a celestial body whose gravitational pull reversed all forces upon the target.

The earth became the sky; the heavens, an endless abyss.

Colossus floated upward, now falling into the sky toward the eclipsed moon.

Even Arina’s focused expression showed cracks.

Twice in one day—and after already expending immense mana. If this didn’t end it, she’d soon risk depletion.

“Spare your worries. I raided every mana potion in the Magus Tower’s stores.” Raidenmern scoffed. “Hmph. Squandering this much just to save one girl—utter waste.”

“That’s reassuring.”

At least she wouldn’t die powerless.

Though Arina still couldn’t get used to Raidenmern’s attitude.

He’d never approved of her—not even after witnessing her surpass him and even Ellin. Always seeking faults.

Yet somewhere along the way, the nitpicking elder had vanished. In his place stood this grumpy yet oddly dependable relic.

She bit back a remark, but he read her expression anyway. “Your boyfriend convinced me,” he muttered awkwardly. “Damn kid’s persuasive. Words, courage, sheer stubbornness—he’s got everything.”

“Right? He’s incredible.”

Strength wasn’t everything. Talent was innate.

But knowing one’s weakness and still striving—never surrendering—overflowing with kindness…

That was what Arina needed. Not greater power—just warmth to soothe her, a steadfast hand to guide her.

“Though, allow one correction.”

Yet finding such a rarity…

Proved nearly impossible.

So precious, so scarce in this world.

For Arina, Ian was special—he was her salvation.

“He’s not my boyfriend yet.”

Colossus vanished into Darkmoon’s abyss. Arina uttered the incantation:

“【Supernova】.”

Piiiing! A beam of light pierced the dark moon—then, an explosion.

The eclipsed moon detonated, its azure flames roaring across the sky like a second sun.

A breathtaking spectacle—yet too overwhelming for admiration.

FWOOOOM—CRACK CRACK CRACK!

Propelled by the blast, Colossus plummeted, carving a trench into the earth.

Gulping a mana potion handed by a comrade, Arina studied it intently.

Smoldering cracks marred its body—damaged, but not enough for a finishing blow.

“Damn sturdy.”

“It was crafted to uphold the monarchy’s dominance.”

The Kingdom had always feared strong mages—hence Guardians resilient against magic.

Colossus rose, extending its hands. Ten fingers, twin wings—each bearing a magic circle—with a colossal one forming before it.

“Everybody, fall back.”

Behind Ian and Marin, the mages cast barrier spells in unison.

“It’s aiming to end this. But this is our chance too.”

“I know. Let’s finish it.”

“Yeah!”

With a determined snort, Marin lunged. Arina gathered mana, weaving a spell. Ian stood firm, gripping his sword.

FWOOOOOSH! Twelve beams—from fingers and wings—shot forth, merging into the central circle for amplified power.

Marin dodged at the last second, darting toward Colossus.

Ian deflected one beam—sending it crashing into Colossus’s head.

The rest collided with the barriers. Claaaang! Clang! CLAAAAAAANG!

Layer after layer shattered. Just before the last fell, Arina’s magic completed.

“《Eternal Frost》”

A blizzard without end until her mana drained.

Arina’s Eternal Frost repelled the beams, swallowing Colossus whole.

Ice crept up its frame, stiffening its movements.

Though impossible to freeze entirely, the creeping frost immobilized it bit by bit.

Tap-tap-TAP! Marin sprinted up its rigid form, aiming for the head—weakened earlier by its own reflected spell.

“Mountain Breaker.”

True to its name—a blow to sunder peaks.

Her heel drove downward, transmitting shockwaves straight to the core—the mana battery.

With the battery’s collapse, the internal torrent of mana tore Colossus apart.

Crack. Craaack. CRAAAAACK!

BOOOOOOM!

An unending chain reaction of implosions.

The Kingdom’s Guardian crumbled into ruin.

“What do we do with this?”

Before them lay Kyle, former prince of a fallen kingdom.

Arina gazed down and murmured:

“No begging for my life. Just kill me.”

Ian frowned at Kyle’s immediate, unrepentant sneer.

“Not an ounce of remorse. Like father, you seek escape in death?”

“Remorse? Seizing Riel Frost’s leash was necessary. Even you saw it.” Kyle scoffed. “What king would leave such a weapon unchecked? The Emperor and the Pope agreed—betrayed us or not. Excessive power is a threat.” His eyes gleamed. “Think you can control her, Ian Felix? Mark my words—when you’re king and blind love fades, you’ll understand. Uncontrollable power is a ruler’s nightmare.”

“No need to fret over that.”

Ellin stepped forward instead.

“It’s ready.”

“Ready?”

Wasn’t the battle over? What remained?

Arina tilted her head.

“A slave contract.”

“A… what? Between who?”

“You and Ian.”

“Ian? What’s this about?”

“You’ve suffered enough this time. I’d like my reward.”

“That’s fine, but slave contract? Why?”

Ian had never demanded compensation before. She’d have granted any request—she owed him that much.

“Arina.” He cupped her chin gently. “…Pledge yourself to me. Swear to stay by my side forever—as my woman.”

“Now? Of all times… Shameless…”

She owed Ian too much. This time, her very life.

She couldn’t refuse anything.

Her voice dripped annoyance—yet the warmth beneath betrayed her.

A faint blush painted her cheeks, emotions bare.

Ah… So it’s come to this.

Perhaps it had been decided that night her memories returned—no, maybe the moment they met.

No matter how she resisted, his stubbornness outstripped hers.

There was no escaping Ian Felix.

Nor did she want to.

“Is this okay?”

Arina nodded slightly.

As Ellin’s magic flared, a new mark overlaid the old slave crest.

“…I, Arina, pledge myself to Ian Felix. I vow to become his woman—to remain at his side for eternity.”

A willing, permanent slave contract—unheard of.

Yet Arina declared it without hesitation.

The one claiming her was someone she trusted—and loved—above all.

The crest shimmered, settling into place.

“Now you’re officially mine.”

Lifting her face tenderly, Ian met her gaze.

“…No complaints, right?”

“……None.”

His lips met hers—mirroring their moonlit kiss half a year prior.

Only now, Arina clutched him tightly in return.

No longer one-sided—their hearts beat as one.