“――Check if its heart is still beating!”

The impulse driving Subaru was born from intuition.

There was no certainty or basis for it. It was just that he dared to think it wasn’t meaningless.

The Archbishop of Sin, the name of the stars, the remnants of his original world in Kararagi, and the otherworlders besides Subaru.

If these beings left their mark on this world, and if those traces were also engraved in the Witch Cult, then the connection Subaru felt with the names of the stars and their legends shouldn’t be dismissed.

If Regulus Corneas’s powers can’t just be summed up as “invincible,” then the thoughts that break that shell must lie only within Subaru.

Therefore, he raised his voice in hope that they were unrelated.

In that moment.

“――”

A dense sense of pressure came rushing in, and Subaru experienced the illusion of having lost sight of heaven and earth.

The air became thick; it was muddied, almost tangibly. It was an indescribable discomfort, a kind of disgust.

It felt like a scab being crudely torn off, the unpleasantness of being assaulted by putrid breath, the horror of having a sticky tongue incessantly licking at his bare skin.

The source of that murky presence was the white-haired fiend that looked back at him.

The moment their eyes met, Subaru’s body trembled involuntarily.

Expressionless, the empty gaze seemed to pierce into Subaru’s heart like a curse. The sensation was akin to being raked with a rusty needle, freezing his lungs and heart in terror.

However, even as Subaru stood firm in such a state of mind,

“Don’t look away! You’re supposed to be my opponent!”

Turning towards Subaru was akin to turning his back on the Sword Saint.

Reinhardt raised both arms, gripping what could only be described as a broken sign and scrap metal lying around. Those scraps, destined to end their lives as mere waste, were transformed by Reinhardt’s two arms into weapons of unparalleled craft.

The blade shot through the air diagonally, striking Regulus’s tuxedo from behind.

The shockwave burst forth into the space around it, and only after the fact did the atmosphere realize it had been cut, with even the waters of the faintly iced-over canal swirling and spraying up.

This was the aftermath of the sword strike. It was no surprise if the fiend found himself shattered into pieces.

Yet, still, it fell just short.

“Don’t misunderstand, Sword Saint. The only reason I was playing around with you is because of my heart’s generosity and ease. But even the kind me has my limits.”

“――”

Regulus lightly brushed off the impact on his back and tilted his head.

That gesture sent warning signals to Reinhardt, who leapt back while discarding the shattered fragments in his arms—only to suddenly halt.

Reinhardt’s super-sensitivity.

His astonishing intuition, able to foresee approaching threats and all sorts of attacks beforehand. That keen sense of feeling did not allow for retreat. Instantly, he attempted to search for another option, but his kneeling legs would not move.

“The air around here has already been touched by me.”

His acute sense brought about rigidity, leaving Reinhardt unguarded at that moment.

An invisible trap loomed large behind him, surrounding him. Reinhardt’s judgment dictated that he should push forward and slip past the fiend, but that required a feint or distraction.

“Ha!”

The unleashed attack was initially imbued with a sharpness capable of piercing even rock.

The hilt of the dragon sword stabbed into Regulus’s chest, but the fiend casually accepted that blow, unfazed.

“Thank you for your wasted effort. Make sure to pray that your wounds aren’t too severe.”

“It seems that Subaru was right…… your heart isn’t active here.”

“――!”

Regulus’s smug grin froze as he looked down at his own chest.

There was still the hilt of the sword embedded there, and Reinhardt was tuned in, sharpening his senses to catch any faint signs of life.

Realizing he had been played, Regulus’s foot snapped upward in fury.

Direct hit— it resembled the scene from earlier played back in reverse.

As Regulus’s fingertips approached, Reinhardt aligned the hilt of the dragon sword and was blasted backward, unable to disperse the shock.

However, this time, the unfolding aftermath was different.

“Reinhardt!!”

As had been declared, there were countless traps laid by Regulus lying behind Reinhardt.

What would happen if he rashly jumped in there unguarded? The result was obvious.

Reinhardt’s white attire became stained with blood, and his tall frame was torn to shreds while flying through the air. How much injury could he reduce, once again crashing into the debris, watching Reinhardt expand the city’s destruction around him was out of Subaru’s capabilities.

All he knew was that Reinhardt had answered Subaru’s request.

“Well done, Reinhardt…!”

“Subaru!”

“It’s okay. Reinhardt will probably be fine! Worry about that later!”

“I know that! What should I do?!”

Caught off guard by Emilia’s reply, Subaru was taken aback at her seriousness. Yet the gaze Emilia directed at Subaru was sincere, and she clearly understood what her position should be in this situation.

That trust in Reinhardt’s strength, and maybe trust in Subaru too.

“Reinhardt took on such a reckless task because he believes in Subaru. You figured out something about Regulus, didn’t you? Tell me!”

The weight of trust. The weight of expectations. The burden of being trusted made Subaru eager.

And gratitude for Reinhardt. He would surely pick up the pieces later.

“Why don’t you two just have a nice little chat about despair? You’ve angered me with your evil and vile deeds, and you should be punished for that. Isn’t that right? It should come to that, given your betrayal and outrage, both deserving of death.”

Kicking Reinhardt away, Regulus cackled with glee now that the hindrance was out of the way.

The menace of the fiend facing off across the waterway swelled, while honestly, he’d rather not be facing him like this.

Just running off wouldn’t do.

Natsuki Subaru would not allow Emilia or Reinhardt Van Astraea to be left unavenged.

“To accuse the purest heroine of the century of infidelity is as absurd as it gets! What a piece of work you are, you jerk!”

“Huh?”

“How nice of you to line up the elements we’re afraid of, but maybe you should use that empty head of yours a little.”

Regulus’s eyes widened at Subaru’s sudden boldness.

With a deliberate gesture, Subaru tapped his own head with his finger.

“How well have you been riding the waves of your life? I don’t know, nor do I want to know, but… have you realized it? You’re currently being cornered!”

“Cornered? I can’t even fathom what you mean, and that just makes me laugh. What are you trying to say anyway? Although, if you can’t articulate anything at all, feel free to stay quiet.”

“Well, don’t brush it off. You have every right to ask. Your favorite, your right!”

“My right…?”

As Regulus furrowed his brow, Subaru’s smile comprised equal parts flippancy and mockery. Then, he added, “Well, now that I think about it, not knowing how you’ll lose must be a regret for you.”

“――Get lost!!”

Shrugging triggered Regulus to leap from the edge of the waterway. His jump was insufficient, yet his body landed on the surface of the water. He was submerged, yet he moved with no resistance, launching himself up unhindered by the water.

Up close, as he observed the actions beneath the surface, Subaru smote Emilia’s shoulder.

“Emilia, now!”

“Ur-Human!”

Responding to Subaru’s command, Emilia transformed her amassed magical energy into ice pillars.

Giant ice spears, towering even above them, rained down toward Regulus, impaling the area around him and creating a frozen cage.

“What are you doing? You just can’t learn that this is useless no matter how many times you try! What’s the deal, are you giving up? Are you trying to look down on others while standing atop your pitiful knowledge? Don’t get cocky, you incomplete being!”

Regulus bared his teeth, sweeping away the frozen cage, breaking it apart with overwhelming strength. Emilia’s effort, swirling into mist like the crumbling sand wall, returned to mana.

But that’s okay. That was just fine.

“Damn, this still isn’t buying us any time.”

“That’s not it, Emilia-tan.”

As Emilia’s face clouded at the realization her powers weren’t effective, Subaru shook his head.

It was all about perspective. Subaru’s goals had been sufficiently achieved.

“Due to Regulus’s conniving nature, he can’t feel satisfied without trampling over others. He must cross obstacles that don’t need breaking to feel he has won.”

Regulus proclaimed himself victorious, feeling fulfilled, yet it was obvious to see the turmoil within him, the small-mindedness, and the inflated ego.

“Normally, he shouldn’t even need to do anything to overcome obstacles. Despite that, he always has an unnecessary action to take. Every second, no matter how small, is a victory.”

“Can you win against Regulus in that second?”

“If I keep building it up, I’ll definitely make you win. I’ll peel away your facade.”

The groundwork for that had been laid by Reinhardt.

Confirming Regulus’s heartbeat, Subaru learned that it was absent.

Surely this was “invincible,” but the truth of it wasn’t truly “invincible.”

“Emilia! This way!”

Pulling Emilia’s arm, Subaru dashed with her through the pothole-ridden street. As Emilia matched his pace, she looked back and targeted Regulus with ice pillars.

Regulus watched the two fleeing and gave the angriest glare before charging after them.

“After all that bragging, how come you’re running away!? After calling me a fool and saying you cornered me, how dare you treat me like this—who do you think you are, coward!”

Since he didn’t possess quite the physical prowess, Regulus’s speed didn’t quite match Subaru’s, and he seemed to be even slower.

However, blessed with stamina that never ran out, the fiend would catch up in no time.

“Subaru! Where are we headed?”

“The church! The goal is Regulus’s wife! Inside…”

Answering Emilia’s call while his voice wavered, Subaru also glanced back, watching Regulus draw closer.

“—Don’t figure out anything unnecessary!”

“Yowah!?”

The distance they had just escaped had disappeared, as Regulus now closed in before Subaru.

Regulus lunged forward to strike, and Subaru barely ducked his head to evade the attack. With his hair feeling like it would be snatched away, he pulled Emilia close and dashed alongside a wall, using it as leverage to climb up with a sudden push.

“W-wow, Subaru’s amazing!”

“Emilia-tan, just hold on tight!”

Amazed by Subaru’s acrobatics, Emilia wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist, and his spirits lifted. The scent was soft and pleasant. Avoiding his footing, he climbed further over.

The results of his parkour training were evident. As long as he kept his distance—

“See, trying to fill the void of ordinary was pointless.”

Saying so, Regulus brushed under the part of the wall where Subaru was scaling.

A heavy sound akin to a millstone grinding echoed, and the stone wall crumbled as easily as if it were made of tofu. Losing support, the wall fell, and naturally, Subaru and Emilia came crashing down as well.

“Ughhh!”

In the tumble, he snapped out the whip without aiming, tossing it upward aimlessly. The tip snagged on something, and Subaru seized it to hoist himself back up.

Pushing off with his feet, as his shoes connected with the wall, he kicked hard. Gaining momentum from the whip, he twisted even further up, achieving a remarkable climb with Emilia in tow.

Looking around, it became evident they’d landed in a half-collapsed warehouse.

Slumping down on a lookout post protruding from the roof, Subaru stared at his palms.

“Wooah, that fire-boosted strength came through…!”

“Subaru! So we just need to get to the church, right? Which way?!”

Gazing sorrowfully at his blistered palms, Subaru turned to Emilia at the sound of her voice. Fortunately, the height of the lookout, coupled with Regulus’s machinations, provided a perfect vantage point.

Off in the distance, the remnants of the church could be seen, collapsed as a result of Reinhardt’s initial strike. They’d unwittingly traveled far.

“Yikes! We went the wrong way while escaping! What do we do now?!”

“Is it that way?”

“That way’s fine, but how…”

“Like this!”

At Subaru’s reply, Emilia clapped her hands, and immediately an ice bridge formed from the lookout.

The mystically glowing bridge, glowing with a silvery-blue hue, was constructed in the air, creating a shortcut from the lookout to the street leading towards the church.

“What the?!”

Upon seeing the ice bridge, Regulus, who had been expecting Subaru and Emilia to fall, was utterly taken aback. Planning to solve things with brute force, Emilia’s decision made Subaru clap his hands and step towards the stairs.

However, the fiend would not allow their escape.

“I’m not letting you get away!!”

Regulus circled around beneath the ice bridge, hurling stones at it. The makeshift bridge received a single devastating blow and immediately cracked under the strain.

Shattering from the point of impact, the bridge transformed into glimmering shards of light. Having witnessed this, Regulus smirked with malice.

But—

“My real plan is over here, so I don’t mind if the bridge gets destroyed!”

“Wha—!?”

Falling ice sparkled and danced in the air as Subaru and Emilia glided through the oncoming torrent of ice pillars shot forth by Emilia.

Using the angle of the bridge as a launching pad, the two soared across the waterway, leaping over the street and leaving Regulus behind as they sped towards the church.

“Emilia-tan, you’ve gotten clever!”

“Maybe it rubbed off from you, Subaru.”

“That tone isn’t how you compliment someone!”

While he had long-range options, Regulus’s capabilities were limited to his reach.

As rage twisted Regulus’s expression, Subaru squinted at the approaching church.

“What’s the plan once we meet the women there?”

“I don’t know if they’re being coerced or if they’re devoted, but…”

Reflecting on Emilia’s question, Subaru stroked his chin and paused.

Images of the women trembling at Regulus’s actions in the church floated in his mind. He sincerely hoped their expressions of fear weren’t an act.

If they weren’t—.

“Taking their hearts would mean ripping out their very hearts. Quite literally.”

As the wind whipped around them, the ice pillars began to drop, and the church loomed ahead.

Regulus was closing in behind. Reinhardt’s well-being was unknown. The chances of victory looked faint, and yet the crisis pressed on—

Were the others managing alright?

Though he had no time to ponder that, the thought slipped through his mind.

　　　　　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

In front of the Control Tower for Gluttony, the battle between Julius Ricardo and Alphard unfolded.

“――El-Krauzel!”

Channeling the power of the six Lesser Spirits, a rainbow light erupted from the tip of his knight’s sword.

It was an unrestrained assault meant as the first strike, aiming for a hit without holding back.

“Krauzel” was the same system as “Clarista,” which even caused damage to Petelgeuse’s very body, but unlike “Clarista,” which enveloped the sword in a destructive aurora, this technique released the aurora from the sword’s tip as a long-range attack.

Julius’s impression of the Archbishop of Sin was undoubtedly heavily influenced by Petelgeuse.

The feelings Julius harbored toward the madman, the Archbishop of Sloth, was that he was a great sinner who had tormented the world for years, fundamentally a being with an entirely different thought process—a hostile entity beyond comprehension.

Julius Euclius, hailed as the “Best Knight,” was often misunderstood because of his demeanor and conduct. However, he held a naive belief in the innate goodness of humanity.

He believed there were reasons behind everyone’s actions and considered environmental influences beyond the individuals as factors in wrongful acts, possessing a perspective bordering on overly benevolent.

Yet this Julius found himself at a loss with the likes of Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti and the mindless puppets of the Witch Cult.

Enemies impossible to understand, even ones he might have to abandon effort against.

For Julius, the Witch Cult represented the most severe malignant force that rattled even his “knightly demeanor.”

Thus, his trump card, thus his secret weapon.

From the very first move, Julius didn’t hesitate to unleash his wild card.

With the power of six Lesser Spirits, he manipulated magic in six colors simultaneously.

Even a slight variance in magical energy was intolerable. It demanded the bond with the Lesser Spirits along with Julius’s own genius and effort.

This feat would not be easily replicated even by Roswaal L. Meiastars, the master of magic. It was Julius’s original creation, unique to him.

At first glance, the horror of this magic would remain unknown, and likely vanish without comprehension.

Yet, deep within Julius’s heart lingered a knot—rather than confirming the cause, he prioritized obliterating the very discrepancy at its root.

The destructive aurora lifted the cobblestones, blotting out the small shadow that had lowered its arms in despair.

The chestnut locks, the filthy rags, the dull glimmer of the dagger were swallowed by the rainbow—.

“Brother, you actually have a weak point of turning away from unpleasant matters, huh?”

“――What!?”

Alphard’s voice, audible to even those here, drifted out as he threw himself down to the ground, almost belly-down, kicking the dirt with his long tongue.

The speed of the unleashed aurora, though not quite reaching light, was by no means slow; it was fast enough to threaten at arrow-like velocity.

Evading the surprise attack would require reflexes on par with Reinhardt or—.

“We idolized you, brother. The brother who hates showing off his efforts must have put in his all to create this magic, how could we not know?!”

“What are you talking about!”

“You think it’s impossible to not know? Julius, you’re truly heartless. But we love that part of you! Haha!”

Alphard, having anticipated the execution of the trump card, leaped around the ground to evade the magic. Charging to assault the escaping Alphard, Ricardo, too, adjusted his movements accordingly.

The dagger spun, colliding in sparks against the axe that Ricardo swung down. Ricardo’s brute strength overwhelmingly surpassed Alphard’s. Yet, he parried the blow with an unfathomable level of swordplay. The nalihk flowed down beside him, scattering the cobblestones.

Simultaneously, Alphard’s strike sliced through Ricardo’s furry torso.

“Look, a stab for hitting dog meat! Tough, sinewy meat is best made tender for easy chewing, letting the stomach settle easily for flushing and composting, circulating into veggies and consumed by meat in that glorious food chain! Oh, splendid!!!”

“Ugh, gah, groh!?”

Alphard, spouting words like a rapid-fire machine, swung the daggers strapped to his arms at a breakneck speed. This untrained boy in his growth had surprising agility that far surpassed their appearances, ripping into Ricardo who was on defense.

“Ricardo!!”

The wiry fur and thick muscles of his body, which resembled a person in armor, stood no chance against Alphard’s assault, incurring wounds.

Eyes wide, Julius was stunned by the sight of blood streaming from Ricardo’s injuries.

Alphard’s attacks, executed at high speed, each one targeted the weak spots with precise accuracy. No matter how stalwart Ricardo was, being struck at these pressure points could injure him, draw blood, and even threaten his life.

“――!”

Julius noted the moment the initial strike missed, halting the barrage and calling back the Lesser Spirits. He commanded two of them—Ignis, the Spirit of Fire, and Aro, the Spirit of Wind—to envelop his blade in heat and wind for a scorching slash.

The red flame coupled with the strike aimed side-on aimed at Alphard.

“Yes, we know that pattern too!”

“What?!”

“How predictable! Doesn’t do anything for stuffing myself up!”

Yet Alphard easily deflected the incoming slash with a well-timed parry, kicked into Julius’s midsection instead.

With the heel puncturing through his abs, Julius stifled a groan and bent forward. Up front, Ricardo’s retaliatory attack was incomprehensibly evaded under his chin.

“Nice! It’s getting exciting! Facing that brother! Facing that Ricardo! We are doing fabulously against both! Despite us boys being sickly, it’s absurd we could ever reach this height, a place we just gave up on! Ah, what a treat! I’m jealous, it’s unfair!”

Both Julius and Ricardo knelt, panting under the unrelenting pursuit. As if to mock them, Alphard continued his acrobatics across the cobblestones.

Alphard’s jubilant face reflected his skill, unperturbed by the severity of the situation.

“Yeah, I was well aware that we were not going to see eye to eye. But that guy is just repulsive. Everything about the way he talks and behaves just creeps me out!”

Breathing heavily, wounded yet determined, Ricardo licked at the wound on his arm while advocating solidarity with a breathy Julius.

“I thought it’d be the same as what happened with the City Hall, and no, it’s even worse than that empty nonsense. He might be trying to play with us, but it’s doing nothing but backfiring.”

“Yet still, pulling at the heartstrings is something the compassionate Ricardo and the secretly soft-hearted brother are good at, aren’t they? We fully get it!”

“You…!”

Clapping his hands and laughing, Alphard dismissed it while Julius dispatched the Water Spirit Kua to tend to Ricardo’s injuries as he advanced forward.

“Hey! What are you trying to pull, Julius!?”

“You should remain where you are until your bleeding has properly stopped!”

Julius leveled his knight’s sword, charging toward Alphard. However, the speed of his advance, at this moment, was distinctly different from before.

With precise footwork and slashes, Julius’s initial strike surprised Alphard, who raised an eyebrow.

“This is…”

“The power of the Spirit of Light, In. And simultaneously…”

“Huh?”

The response came layered with confusion from Alphard.

Julius surged forward, pushing against the clashing weapon. His long leg came up, slamming into Alphard’s temple.

Alphard’s defense came too late, and his arm was too slow to react as he was knocked off balance, desperately rolling away.

“Wow! Did that just happen?”

“I have the Spirit of Light. You, on the other hand, have the Spirit of Shadow by our side. They lift and lower our physical capabilities in sync. You’ve probably never seen this before, have you?”

“…Hehe, as expected! Julius is so cool! There’s loads more charm you have that we’ve yet to uncover!”

“――!?”

With reddened cheeks, Alphard gazed dreamily at Julius.

As soon as that fervent gaze registered on Julius’s face, Alphard unbound the daggers strapped to his arms and tossed them aside, creating a ringing echo upon the stony ground.

In the next moment, his heel cleaved through the cobblestones.

“Seems like swords aren’t enough to make an impression, so now I’m going to show you through a punch!”

“Guh—!”

In the blink of an eye, Alphard closed the gap, striking outward with a palm strike. Just in time, Julius received it with his free left arm, but the impact tore through his arm and chest.

The ground push and waist twist multiplied the destructive power to unfathomable levels and sent Julius hurtling through the air.

Had Subaru been a witness, he would have likened the moment to a scene of a car crash.

No brakes and a runaway vehicle would strike an unsuspecting victim in such a brutal fashion.

“The charming, boyish murderer—a total of eighty-eight! Are you sorely healing now, brother?”

Alphard’s deranged smile gave no room for a retort from Julius.

His sternum creaked, his organs were crushed, and he erupted into spasms, spiraling through the air until he crashed into the wall.

Ricardo caught him just in time before he could collide headfirst.

“Julius, no!”

Ricardo managed to envelop Julius, who was about to smash through the wall. The impact swallowed his sturdy form, and the two crashed into the stonework.

With a cloud of dust billowing, Ricardo shook his head and went to Julius’s side. He helped him turn to the side so the tension in his throat wouldn’t choke him.

“Spirit! I don’t know if you can hear me, but your master is in trouble! Don’t worry about me! Focus on him!”

Perhaps Ricardo’s desperate call reached them, as a glowing blue light began to inject its power into Julius. The death aura clouding over him faded away, and Ricardo felt a moment of relief before rushing out with his massive axe.

“Time for your return! What do you want for dinner? A feast? Or perhaps… banquets?”

“You filthy brat! How dare you mock adults? I’ll make sure to swat you into tears just like I do to my little brothers!”

“Stop it, stop it, let’s just quit here. We aren’t drawn to dog men like that. If swords and fists aren’t enough for you, how about this?”

With a light smile, Alphard spread out his arms, causing Ricardo’s fur to stand on end. As he opened his eyes wide in confusion, he bit down on the frustration rising within him.

— The waterway surging behind Alphard twisted, lifting up in a manner akin to the gazing head of a dragon.

“Swordsmanship, martial arts—now magic? What the hell are you!?”

“We’re just a couple of no-name magicians, unnoticed misfits even at home. Just kidding!”

Just after Alphard licked his lips, the watery head cascaded down upon Ricardo.

Even though it was just water, its force and mass would easily crush human flesh. Behind him stood Julius, leaving no option to dodge.

“I’ll take you down. Wa-ha—!!”

Slamming his axe into the ground, Ricardo secured himself and unleashed his roar wave.

The original composition was a collaboration of the three siblings from the “Iron Fangs” fraternity. This was the original, a technique copied by Mimi and the others.

However, while Mimi’s version spread out to lessen the burden, Ricardo’s solo effort placed considerable strain on him.

Feeling the strain as he clung to the axe, he welcomed the turbulent flow of muddied water with his resounding roar.

“Wooah, incredible!”

Unbeknownst to him, the sounds of admiration echoed as Ricardo’s roar collided with the tidal wave.

The wave of energy struck the water head-on, breaking apart several tons of weight as it dissipated into mist. Seconds later, the engulfing tide crashed down like rain, flooding the square, as Ricardo collapsed against the heavy axe.

“Been a while since it’s been this taxing… my lips are all torn up.”

The gap and duration had both left their mark on Ricardo after unleashing the roar wave. Breathing heavily but summoning all his strength, Ricardo stood up.

Through it all, Alphard remained unbothered, dancing around without showing fatigue as if he were untouchable, enjoying the spectacle.

“Isn’t this great! We’re outperforming while fending off the brother and that Ricardo! We’ve been dying to reach heights we assumed would forever elude us! Yeah, just like this! It feels good! This is it! Ah, now I understand!”

“――I’ll put a stop to this!”

“Oh my, the brother’s back! Scary, adorable, and enviable.”

Standing in front of Alphard beside Ricardo, Julius’s expression had paled, his knightly attire smeared with blood. His breath trembled slightly, and he was far from fine, but even so,

“Thanks for your help, Ricardo.”

“You put me through a lot. I’ll be sure to report to the lady how hard I worked, otherwise, it won’t be worth it.”

“I’m going to strongly back that up on my end.”

Grip tightening on the knight’s sword, Julius patted Ricardo’s shoulder before fixing a glare on Alphard. That gaze made the blasphemer smile, blushing slightly, twisting his lips with disdain.

Every aspect of his expression, actions, and style of combat was a jumbled puzzle of unsettling disarray.

Perhaps that was related to the power of “Gluttony.”

“You’ve mastered swords, martial arts, and even magic—how did you still succumb to evil? You could have found a much nobler way to utilize that power.”

“Other options, you say? What could you consider those options, dear brother?”

Just being referred to as “brother” brought feelings of strong aversion.

Alphard’s condescending gazes, the wheedling tone, and his sticky demeanor corrupted the value of his words in Julius’s heart every single time.

It was an odd feeling—one that shouldn’t exist since he had no family to call him that.

“For instance, a knight. A mercenary. Even a hero. Power without belief can easily dissolve into evil, and strong ability may morph into violence. Therefore…”

“I knew you’d say that! I knew you’d say that, brother! If it’s the brother we know, then of course, you would say something like that.”

Alphard abruptly cut off the dialogue, leaping toward Julius.

Julius leveled his knight’s sword and deflected the incoming kick. As if he had irons in his soles, the strike met him with a solid thud, and the blow was nullified.

Dancing around him, Alphard continued delivering rapid-fire kicks that relentlessly forced back Julius’s footing.

The fierce offense caused Ricardo to hesitate, losing both the chance to intervene.

“Do you remember when we were kids? When we were sickly and begged you for that fruit from the garden tree—linga?!”

“Stop your nonsense! I can’t remember! Don’t project your selfish delusions onto me!”

“When we were all small, you initially said it was impossible—told us to give up! Do you remember? Maybe you don’t! But the more you refused, the more we craved linga! If you could do what you said you couldn’t do, then we were much greater! We’d have confidence! That was the thought!”

“What are you saying!? What are you talking about!? I don’t know… I don’t know!”

Sustaining the kicks and parries—twisting kicks, heel kicks, all sorts of feet converged on Julius, who held firm against them.

His arms tingled, his wounded organs ached, and the taste of blood flooded his mouth—not from spitting; he bit down hard on his own lip involuntarily for some bizarre reason, even as he failed to turn them away from Alphard’s delirious prattle.

“After all that, we…”

“――!”

“Have always thought! Have always felt! That we were burdens! So what now? How do you feel now!? What a relief! This is how it feels? Oh, it sure felt good! Now I get it!”

“I can’t, I can’t grasp anything about you!!!”

As the overflowing stream of imposed thoughts surged, Julius snapped.

Pouring all his might, he pushed back on the knight’s blade. Seizing the opportunity as Alphard staggered, he delivered a brutal flurry of attacks, slashing down, plunging, kicking, hammering, wrapping around, and sweeping through.

Raging cuts tinged with anger raced through the air, with a few locks of Alphard’s long hair falling to the ground.

Yet that was not the only thing that required watching.

“Ia! Kua! Aro! Ik! Mea! In!”

Evoking the names of the six Lesser Spirits in a chant-like incantation.

With their names called, all six spirits simmered with enhanced strength, affirming their existence and channeling destruction toward Julius’s foe.

――Six hordes of light encircled Alphard with no escape.

“This is the end—!”

Sure of his victory, Julius thrust toward the now cornered Alphard, aiming straight for his heart.

“Absolute Palm.”

The black palms that met before his chest crushed the blade and shattered it into shards.

Scattering, the fatal thrust lost its potency.

However, even so, the envelopment of magical energy approaching from all six directions still loomed large.

“Phantom Mage!”

The mana surged from behind Alphard as he reared up, intercepting the rushing six types of magic.

The same hues of magic collided, each neutralizing the other.

And at last, Julius’s eyes widened in realization as his means of attack was sealed off.

“Double-Bladed Serpent!”

What Regulus shot back up was that very dagger he had carelessly discarded.

Feigning retreat from Julius’s attack, he had perfectly baited him into the position for it. Grabbing both daggers with rapid continuity, Alphard’s form twisted around.

The onslaught rushed forth, and Julius hastily raised his shattered sword to defend.

“――――”

“My brother went after the linga. Thus, we came to resent you.”

A sickening sound echoed as an arm, cleaved by the elbow, spun through the air, landing with a thud against the cobblestones.