The Magician Who Was Constantly Called Incompetent Is Actually the Strongest in the World, but Was Imprisoned and Didn’t Realize It Volume 1 Chapter 5

Chapter 5: True Name

"[Flame Bullet]"

At Karen’s fingertips, a deep crimson magic circle materialized, and flames spiraled outward, crashing into the enemy.

Watching the mage from the "Shtede Guild" being blasted away, Karen let out a sigh.

"Abandoning incantations is, as expected, quite difficult. The power’s too weak."

Among the spells she could wield, this was the weakest and simplest one.

Even so, she couldn’t infuse it with enough mana, and its potency was far inferior to her usual standards.

She could only console herself with the fact that the magic hadn’t gone out of control—already a small victory.

"I need more practice. Or perhaps it’d be faster to ask Ars for some tricks? Speaking of which, how does he make abandoning incantations look so effortless? It’s downright unfair."

Karen surveyed her surroundings as the battle reached its climax.

Sparks danced through the air, torrents surged, thick mist drifted, and the earth rumbled, reshaping the terrain.

Though it was a battlefield, the clash of magic painted a strangely beautiful scene in this mysterious land.

"I don’t think they have any chance of turning this around now…"

Thanks to Julia’s preemptive strike, the situation heavily favored their side.

At this moment, the Schüler had encircled the "Shtede Guild" mages, leaving them with no escape.

Meanwhile, the Empire’s mages had almost all been taken down by Elsa.

"Elsa, what are our losses?"

"Only six injured. I’ve already had them withdrawn from the battlefield. Considering the enemy’s numbers, this is a resounding success."

"Was little Kizu rescued safely?"

"No issues there either. I just received word—the child’s been secured and should arrive here soon."

After answering, Elsa stretched lazily, letting out a relaxed sound, perhaps to ease her tension. With victory assured, not a trace of nervousness lingered on her face.

"We rescued little Kizu, and our losses are minimal—all thanks to Big Sis."

"Julia-sama in that state is unstoppable… But after using "Lightspeed" so many times, her mana must be nearly depleted."

As the battle neared its conclusion, the topic of discussion—Julia herself—was facing off against Lehrer, a fourth-tier "Seat" of the "Shtede Guild" named Kagis.

"What a terrifying woman. The "White Yaksha" in person surpasses even the rumors… completely unlike the Empire’s intel."

Watching Julia’s menacingly serene expression, Kagis wiped the sweat dripping from his chin with the back of his hand.

Julia gave a faint smile, swinging her longsword sharply to flick off the blood staining its blade.

Around her lay members of the "Shtede Guild", groaning in agony from her slashes.

"I don’t particularly like that title. All I did was retaliate against those who attacked villages, towns, and the royal capital. Why would they give me such a name…?"

"If anything, why aren’t you pleased? It means you possess that level of strength—recognized as a powerhouse. Most would be overjoyed."

"I’m not interested. Defeating "the weak" is nothing to celebrate. What’s there to be happy about if I’m praised without overcoming "the strong"?"

Julia murmured softly. The gentle girl who stood beside Ars was nowhere to be seen.

Yet, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Shedding her youthful innocence, she exuded a noble elegance that dazzled with radiant grace. A seductive allure emanated from her, cloaking her in an enchanting, bewitching aura.

Transformed into a peerless beauty, her gentle eyes now carried a chilling edge, piercing her enemies with sharp intensity.

"In that case, I’ll be taking your head. I can’t let an evil man who kidnaps infants continue to live."

"There are many paths to victory. So, right here—"

"[Light Prison.]"

A spell cast without incantation activated instantly.

Above Kagis’s head, a white magic circle appeared, and a pillar of light poured down.

Blinded by the searing brilliance, he shut his eyes. When he opened them again, he found himself trapped within a cage of light.

"What is this…?"

The prison was excruciatingly narrow—any slight movement caused part of his body to brush against its walls.

Julia stood outside the "Light Prison," her hand brushing against the glowing wall as she addressed Kagis.

"Were you just trying to escape?" she said softly, sliding her longsword through a gap in the light pillar.

"Gaah!?"

The sword’s tip pierced Kagis’s thigh, and blood began gushing out relentlessly.

"…You seemed curious about the "Light Prison" earlier, so allow me to enlighten you."

Julia’s smile bordered on ecstasy as she ran her tongue over her pale pink lips.

It was a gesture that could ignite desire in anyone—man or woman, young or old.

Even Kagis, grimacing in pain, couldn’t help but stare, momentarily entranced.

"This is actually a form of "torture" magic. The "Light Prison" has a single unique slit. If you insert a weapon through it, the blade will strike somewhere on the captive’s body. But rest assured—it will never hit a vital spot."

Julia gazed at Kagis with a look of saintly compassion.

"Dying slowly makes you feel the reality of being alive all the more, doesn’t it? That must bring you some joy."

Gripping the hilt tightly, Julia thrust the blade forward with force.

It was an attack impossible to evade.

There was no way to dodge, and with each repeated stab, the point of impact shifted.

Arm, shoulder, foot, toes, thigh—Kagis thrashed wildly in excruciating pain.

"No! Stop! Ahh! Please, stop!"

"Hehe, it truly pains me to see this. But I won’t kill you so easily."

"No, forgive me…!?"

"The sins you committed against the Schüler—repay them with your suffering."

Kagis’s nails peeled off, flesh was carved away, fingers snapped off, and his wrist was severed.

The blood he spewed was absorbed entirely by the light, leaving Julia pristine and untainted, her white form spotless.

"Please… forgive me… I beg you, stop!?"

"Keep pleading for mercy until death comes to claim you. You’ll suffer eternally until your sins are atoned."

Though her words were cruel, her tone was crisp and serene, her voice so sweet it sent shivers down the spine.

As Kagis endured relentless waves of agony, teetering on the edge of despair—

"What are you doing?!"

A deep, booming voice reverberated through the air.

"What’s going on here? To fall into such a pathetic state—are you still worthy of calling yourselves the proud mages of the Earth Empire?!"

The speaker was Albert, standing atop the ruins of a collapsed abandoned house.

He carried a massive greatsword on his shoulder, his burly frame trembling with rage, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Princess Julia, it’s been a while."

Albert leapt down from the wreckage, landing heavily before striding toward Julia.

"Indeed. I recall you’re Sir Albert, correct?"

Julia’s memory of Albert’s face was vivid. He was an unforgettable, loathsome enemy.

They had faced each other on the battlefields between the Vitre Kingdom and the Earth Empire.

He had also been the one tasked with escorting her when she was captured.

"I can still sense traces of Ars’s mana clinging to you."

"…You can tell that?"

Albert halted, his expression shifting to one of surprise. Julia chuckled at the sight.

"Yes, his mana is quite distinctive. It’s a shame you can’t see its beautiful glow. But judging by your state, it seems you lost rather badly."

"—You insolent brat, it seems you’re begging for death."

Albert’s fury flared, but Julia met it with a cold smirk, her gaze unwavering.

"Hehe, a defeated remnant throwing threats isn’t frightening in the least."

"Nothing but fools underestimating me."

Albert kicked off the ground, sending up a cloud of dust as he launched himself into the air.

His leap was astonishingly powerful. Riding that momentum, he swung his greatsword down toward Julia with ferocious force.

Julia moved to parry—

"Hah!"

Albert roared, twisting his body midair with sheer strength.

The sword’s trajectory shifted, veering away from her anticipated block and closing in on her.

Reacting in an instant, Julia attempted to deflect the greatsword.

In that fleeting moment—their blades clashed fiercely, sparks flying in all directions.

"Ugh!?"

Overwhelmed by the sheer power, Julia was sent reeling by the impact.

Yet, she swiftly adjusted her posture in midair, landing gracefully on the ground.

"…That’s strange. I don’t recall him being this strong before."

Julia tilted her head in confusion. Glancing at her hand, she noticed it trembling from numbness.

She remembered Albert from the battlefields of the Vitre Kingdom and Earth Empire.

But back then, his strength had been far inferior to that of the "First Seat" who had captured her.

"Did I misjudge him…? No, that can’t be…"

Before the stunned Julia, Albert smirked with unshakable confidence.

"I’ve undergone a complete transformation. With my current power, even a Demon Lord would fall effortlessly."

"A-Albert-sama, please save me!"

Kagis, still trapped, pleaded for help.

But perhaps due to excessive blood loss, his voice was frail.

His breathing was shallow, barely sustained, his face drained of color—akin to a corpse.

"Is that Kagis? What are you doing in a place like that?"

"I-I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’ve been imprisoned by Princess Julia’s magic—"

"I see. In that case—you can die."

With a twist of his waist, Albert swung his greatsword down onto the "Light Prison."

A sound like shattering stone rang out as Kagis’s body was cleaved in two at the waist.

His entrails spilled across the ground, forming a pool of blood where the earth hadn’t yet absorbed it.

"You lost to these little girls because you showed such pathetic weakness."

Kagis had become a silent corpse. Albert stomped down, crushing his head underfoot.

As brain matter splattered in all directions, the faint cry of an infant echoed from somewhere nearby.

"What?"

Albert’s brow furrowed in surprise. Emerging from the rubble was a female Schüler from the "Virte" clutching the infant Kizu tightly in her arms.

"Why would a brat like that be on a battlefield—"

Albert’s expression turned pensive, but then a vile grin spread across his face as realization dawned.

"Oh, so that’s the bait? No reason to let her live."

In a single bound, Albert closed the distance to his prey, but the female Schüler thrust out a hand and began her incantation.

"One, two, three orbs, the principle of four, the law of fifty, entwining the body—“Six Thorn Shackles.”"

"Don’t think that kind of magic can stop me!"

Without hesitation, Albert swung his greatsword, severing the vines that erupted from the ground. His blade bore down on the female Schüler, kicking up dust and shaking the earth with a thunderous rumble.

"…That was fast. But it seems you didn’t fully evade it."

In Albert’s line of sight stood Julia, blood trickling from her leg.

Behind her was the female Schüler, still cradling the infant.

"To think you’d target an infant… Are you even human?"

Julia glared at Albert, her eyes blazing with righteous condemnation.

"Spare me your sanctimonious drivel. To me, even killing an infant counts as a glorious feat of war. In battle, show mercy and you’ll be betrayed, offer kindness and you’ll be plundered, grant salvation and you’ll be slaughtered. I suggest you abandon that nauseating humanism of yours."

Albert thrust his greatsword into the ground, fixing his gaze on Julia as he brazenly declared his creed.

"Killing wailing children, violating women who beg for mercy, tormenting men filled with rage—that’s what war is. It’s a stage where only those who descend into depravity can shine. Without embracing the desires of a beast, you cannot survive. It’s precisely because of your naive ideals that your nation fell."

At Albert’s words, Julia’s fury erupted, her expression twisting into something ferocious.

"Karen! Elsa! Get over here now!"

"Y-Yes!"

"Julia-sama, Elsa stands ready to serve."

"Take care of them. I need to hunt this beast down."

"B-But, Big Sis, your leg…"

"Wouldn’t it be better to face him together? Or perhaps retreat for now and—"

Karen, shielding the infant, and Elsa, supporting the female guild member, looked at Julia with concern, but she dismissed their suggestions.

"Get them to safety, quickly. I don’t want you all caught up in this."

"Oh no."

The moment Karen saw Julia’s expression, those words slipped out instinctively.

Julia’s fair skin began to take on a faint blue hue.

To an onlooker, it might seem like her face had turned ashen—a complexion that would worry anyone about her condition.

But as her younger sister, Karen knew this all too well. It was Julia’s unique warning sign.

She was holding back. Suppressing the impulses surging within her.

Karen realized that a raging beast, brimming with murderous intent, was about to be unleashed.

"Everyone, stay away from Big Sis! Don’t get close—you’ll be dragged into it!"

Karen and the others hurriedly retreated. Julia, breathing deeply and repeatedly, raised her longsword to her chest, running her left hand along the blade.

"Cherry blossoms scatter, the darkness of ghostly wails, the light that crowns the world, dawn and dusk entwined—"

Silver particles began to drift from the sword, floating around her like shimmering scales.

A heavy wave of mana radiated from Julia, compressing the air with a crackling burst.

One, three, six—countless white magic circles blossomed behind her.

"Clear breeze buries life—"Radiant Wind and Moon.""

A stillness settled in. The longsword seemed to dissolve into the air, vanishing from Julia’s hand.

The magic circles shattered, their fragments drifting to the ground like falling petals.

A gentle breeze caressed the skin, as if to heal those it touched.

It was a soft wind, one that could ease anyone into a state of calm and serenity.

In an instant—Albert’s arm soared into the air, trailing a streak of blood.

"What…?"

Albert stared in shock at his bleeding shoulder.

But his vision darkened almost immediately. His right leg was severed, and he crashed to the ground.

"Ah!?"

His face contorted in agony.

Blades of light rained down mercilessly from all directions.

A swirling mass of potent mana rose into the sky, forming a vortex of light.

The light blades struck Albert’s body relentlessly, as if determined to leave no trace of him behind.

And yet—

""Thunderstrike.""

A bolt of lightning pierced through the vortex of light, streaking toward Julia with terrifying speed.

"What!?"

The lightning struck Julia square in the chest, hurling her backward. She tumbled across the ground as if caught in a tidal wave, rolling until she slammed into a pile of rubble and came to a stop, momentum spent.

"How… why…?"

Julia was bewildered by the counterattack, but she still tried to stand.

Her knees buckled under her, forcing her to drop to one knee. Her mana reserves were depleted, and the excessive use of magic had drained her stamina to the brink. The final straw that broke the camel’s back was undoubtedly "Radiant Wind and Moon."

It was the most mana-intensive spell in Julia’s arsenal.

Moreover, with her leg injured, Julia was so exhaushted that even standing on her own felt like an insurmountable task.

"Big Sis!"

Karen handed the infant Kizu to its father, Banz, and rushed to Julia’s side.

"Big Sis, are you okay?"

"I’m fine, but… there’s something strange about that man."

Supported by her younger sister, Julia rose to her feet. Through her hazy vision, she saw the vortex of light dissipate, and Albert climb back up as if nothing had happened.

"Ah… that attack was pretty effective. Normally, he’d be dead by now."

"No way! After taking a hit like that, he’s completely unscathed?"

Karen’s voice trembled with disbelief.

"No, Karen, he’s not unscathed."

Julia noticed something off about Albert’s condition.

His pupils were unnaturally dilated, his eyes darting erratically.

Drool dribbled from the corner of his mouth—an utterly abnormal sight.

"If you look closely… those are chunks of flesh."

Albert’s severed arm had regenerated, and the countless wounds slashed across his body had healed.

Yet, the reattached arm was grotesquely misshapen, and the flesh sealing his wounds bulged unnaturally, like tumors. A yellowish, pus-like liquid oozed from his head, and a foul stench wafted even to where Julia and Karen stood, assaulting their senses.

Combined with his eerie, repulsive appearance, his monstrous form could only be described as exactly that—a monster.

"Didn’t I tell you? I’ve undergone a complete transformation."

Albert turned his gaze toward Julia and the others. Strange fluid streamed endlessly from his eyes, and his face twisted into an expression impossible to decipher—whether he was crying or laughing.

"This power is magnificent. With this strength, I won’t lose to anyone—not even the Demon Lord or the Holy Sovereign."

Albert slammed both fists into the ground. As if to prove his might, the earth caved in, dust billowed, and a skin-prickling wave of murderous intent radiated from him.

"I don’t know what you’ve done to yourself, but this is far from normal."

Elsa stepped between the three of them.

"I’ll buy you time here—please, escape quickly—!?"

"Hey, you think you can get away?"

In a single step, Albert closed the distance in the blink of an eye.

"Out of my way."

"Ah, guh!?"

Albert’s fist sank into Elsa’s abdomen.

The force reverberated through her organs, and blood spurted from her mouth.

The punch was so powerful that being sent flying wouldn’t have been surprising, but Elsa grabbed Albert’s arm, refusing to let go.

"... Karen-sama! Take Julia-sama and get far away! Hurry!"

Wiping the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand, Elsa nocked an arrow onto her trusty bow.

In an instant, she unleashed a barrage of arrows, piercing Albert’s head.

Yet it seemed to have no effect. Albert grinned, his smile chilling to the bone.

"What a brave little maid… For the sake of that pretty face of yours…"

Drool poured from his gaping maw, which stretched ear to ear, as his tongue extended toward Elsa.

"…I’ll ravish you first, then kill you."

"Shut up, you monster. There’s only one person allowed to defile me."

With a firm rejection, Elsa drove an arrow through Albert’s tongue.

He clearly felt pain, recoiling sharply backward.

"Gah, damn it, stop resisting, you filthy woman!"

Albert seized Elsa by the chest, hurling her to the ground in a fit of rage.

"Guuh!?"

"E-Elsa-sama! Hey, you bastard, that’s enough!"

"You damned monster, I’ll slaughter you!"

The Schüler, witnessing the scene, sprang into action to rescue her, but—

"What a bunch of annoying flies—"Thunderfall.""

Lightning crashed down from the sky with overwhelming force, engulfing the area.

In an instant, the Schüler lost consciousness, collapsing onto the smoldering earth.

"A-Albert-sama… why us too…?"

The spell, cast without incantation, struck indiscriminately, sparing neither friend nor foe.

The Earth Empire’s mages caught in the blast glared at Albert with accusing eyes.

"Because every last one of you is weak as hell and still doesn’t take me seriously."

Albert spat on the ground.

The saliva was a sickly yellow, splattering onto the face of a Earth Empire mage.

"Aaaahhh!"

The mage’s face melted away in mere moments.

Albert glanced at the sight with a sneer, then swung his massive fist toward Julia and the others.

"You’re next."

"Big Sis, run!"

Karen shoved Julia aside, crossing her arms to block, but unable to withstand Albert’s strength, she was sent flying. Before she could gain any distance, Albert grabbed her left arm, preventing her escape, and slammed her hard into the ground.

"Urgh!?"

Karen’s lungs emptied of air, her face paling instantly.

Yet the fire in her eyes didn’t waver as she struggled to rise.

Her efforts, however, were in vain. Albert planted a foot on her back.

"Ah!?"

"I’ll ravage you thoroughly—body and soul. That’s the most effective way to break arrogant women like you. I’ll torment you until you beg for death yourselves."

"…Then I’ll just have to kill you."

Forcing her trembling knees to obey, Julia stabbed her sword into the ground, using it as a crutch to stand.

"What can you do in that state?"

"This slight disadvantage is just right."

Truth be told, Julia’s odds of defeating Albert were next to none.

But she couldn’t bear to stand by and watch someone die.

"This place feels a lot like back then."

Looking around, the ruins scarred by battle came into view.

It stirred memories of her lost homeland.

Houses burned to ashes, people fleeing in terror—the royal capital that day had been steeped in death.

She had mourned her powerlessness, cursing her own helplessness.

Even if her body were torn apart, she refused to feel that way again.

She couldn’t lose anyone else.

"…Come at me, then. Albert, you pathetic excuse for an imperial sword."

To protect the others from harm, Julia taunted Albert, drawing his attention.

It worked like a charm. Albert’s killing intent surged, his gaze locking onto her.

"Ha, little girl, that’s not even funny."

With a fierce swing of his arm, Albert sent Julia’s slender body hurtling through the air.

Under gravity’s pull, she crashed back to the ground with brutal force.

The impact bent her body into a sharp "ㄑ" shape, blood gushing from her mouth.

Yet Julia slammed her fist into the earth, gritted her teeth against the searing pain, and rose once more.

"…"Lightspeed.""

Her mana was nearly exhaushted.

Even so, she weakly uttered the spell’s name, as if wringing out her last shred of strength.

There was no doubt—the magic activated.

Karen and Elsa vanished from Albert’s sight.

Though, in their unconscious state, they had only been moved a short distance away.

"Abandoning incantations… To still manage that in such a condition, truly impressive."

Albert’s murky eyes looked down at her.

"Is this your counterattack?"

Battered and bruised, Julia gripped her longsword’s hilt tightly and drove it into Albert’s side.

Her eyes blazed with resolve, the flames flickering within them fueled by fierce emotion.

"I have a promise I must fulfill."

Clinging to that singular vow, she now radiated an almost unbelievable aura of authority.

"What!?"

Albert’s primal instincts screamed in alarm. As he reflexively swung his left arm to swat Julia away, she was easily knocked back.

"You dare try to intimidate me…? So what? Is that all you’ve got?"

Albert yanked the blade from his side and tossed it toward Julia, who lay sprawled on the ground.

"Hey, I’m giving your weapon back. Get up—I’ll show you just how strong I am."

"Rest assured, it’s only just beginning… I’ll make you realize how weak you truly are."

Crawling to retrieve her sword, Julia stood once more.

Even covered in mud and blood, her beauty remained untarnished.

If anything, her presence grew even more commanding.

Noble and resolute, she exuded a regal air, her queenly dominance unshaken.

"…What a foolish woman. If I rip off one of your arms, will you still talk so tough?"

With that, Albert effortlessly seized Julia by the throat.

Relishing her pained, contorted expression, he slowly lifted her into the air.

"I won’t kill you. I need to bring you back with me."

His gaze shifted to the two women Julia had sent to safety.

Still clutching her neck, he began striding toward Karen and the others.

"I’m going to violate those two unconscious women over there. You’ll watch it all unfold and feel your own helplessness. After that, I’ll cut off their heads and lay them before you."

Albert’s eyes gleamed with madness as he spoke.

"For a woman like you, this will hurt far more, won’t it?"

"Go to hell—"Light Strike.""

Julia spat out sharp, biting words. Light gathered at her right foot, glowing with blinding brilliance.

Then, with astonishing speed, she drove her foot into the right side of Albert’s head, sending it reeling.

Yellow blood splattered across the ground alongside chunks of flesh.

"Weak. Pathetically weak. An attack like that can’t even make me feel pain anymore."

A gaping hole had been gouged into the right side of his head, but the flesh instantly knitted back together, regenerating.

The grotesque, bulging mass pulsed like a heartbeat.

"Disgusting."

"Hahaha! Disgusting, you say? You think I’m disgusting? Hahaha!"

Albert burst into laughter, as if reveling in delight.

But it lasted only a moment. His expression darkened, and he fixed Julia with eyes devoid of light.

"Enough—shut up."

"…Urk…!?"

Albert’s grip tightened fiercely around Julia’s neck, her lips turning purple in an instant.

She thrashed her legs and pounded desperately at his arm in resistance.

No matter how pitiful or tragic she appeared, Julia refused to surrender her hope of victory.

For the sake of the promise she’d made with that boy, she couldn’t betray her oath to Ars.

Thus, the violet-silver gleam in her eyes never faded, holding fast to her will to defy death.

She hammered at him relentlessly, but Albert didn’t budge.

"Hahaha! Is that it? Are you done? Hey, if you don’t fight back, you’re dead."

"Gu…"

Julia’s strength began to ebb from her body.

"…Ah, guh…!?"

Her arms fell limp, unable to resist even gravity, the light in her eyes dimming.

Just as the thread of her life was about to snap—

"Hey… what the hell are you doing?"

—Albert’s arm was blasted off.

＊

Julia coughed violently. When she raised her head, she saw a familiar figure from behind.

It hadn’t been long since they’d parted ways, yet a wave of nostalgia washed over her.

That back wasn’t broad. That back wasn’t muscular.

But that back carried an overwhelming presence.

Her unease melted away, and the fear she’d felt dissipated like smoke.

The thought that she wouldn’t have to lose anyone loosened the tight knot in her mind.

Her chest tightened, tears welled up, and her vision blurred with emotion.

Even if he had abandoned the "Virte" no one would have blamed or resented him.

Yet the boy had come to save her.

To fulfill the promise Julia had selfishly forged under that starry sky.

"Julia, I’m late. Sorry."

Hearing his apology, laden with a torrent of unspoken feelings, Julia bowed her head.

She wanted to insist it wasn’t true, that he had nothing to apologize for, but the words wouldn’t come.

Guilt choked her, lodging her voice in her throat.

She was the one who should apologize—it was Julia who had dragged an uninvolved boy into this mess.

Tears obscured her view, and she stifled a sob, bowing her head toward his back in apology.

"S-Sorry…"

In the end, she hadn’t been able to help him and had instead ended up in this pathetic state.

Since meeting him, she’d relied on him at every turn.

She hadn’t repaid even a fraction of his kindness—no, his debt of gratitude had grown too vast to ever repay.

Yet the boy, as if to say it was fine, awkwardly but gently patted her head.

"Leave the rest to me."

The black-clad boy—Ars—stepped forward with resolute strength, facing Albert head-on.

"Hey, you’ve gotten pretty hideous… but you’re Albert, right?"

Perhaps out of excitement, the monster before him remained silent.

He exhaled heavily, his severed arm regenerating during that brief span.

Even in the face of such bizarre phenomena, Ars’s expression remained unchanged.

Indeed, no matter the circumstance, he always exuded an unshakable calm.

"The first time, I spared your life."

Ars reached behind his back, drawing two short swords.

"The second time, I won’t let you off so easily."

He gripped the swords tightly in both hands, though his arms hung lazily toward the ground.

"If you want a third chance, you’d better run for your life."

At his core, his stance radiated absolute dominance.

It wasn’t even clear if he intended to fight.

Yet the immense mana coursing through him painted him as an invincible overlord.

"I’ll pursue you beyond the realm of the gods, to the very ends of the three thousand worlds."

"I’ll kill you!"

A furious roar answered him.

A massive arm swung toward him, but Ars channeled mana into his left hand, blocking the strike with a single arm.

"Even with an awakening drug, this is all you’ve got? Weaker than a duke scorpion’s strength."

"…How do you know about that?"

His words struck Albert like a thunderbolt, momentarily snapping him back to his human self.

The unexpected revelation brought a flicker of humanity to his monstrous face—one far more shocking to him than having his full-force blow parried with one arm.

And no wonder—the awakening drug was a top-secret project of the Earth Empire. Even Albert, one of the Empire’s Five Swords, had only heard rumors of its existence, doubting whether it was real.

It was only after receiving a letter and the drug itself from Virg that he confirmed its reality.

"Because I’ve got ‘good hearing.’ Whether it’s a national secret or not doesn’t matter."

Ars shrugged, raising his index finger.

"Let me tell you something."

He looked at Albert with pity.

"Sorry to ruin your fun, but that’s a failed product."

"I’ll kill you."

"Don’t boast about things you can’t do."

His expression was like a demon peering from the abyss, mocking Albert.

"You’ll only despair at your own weakness."

"Shut up! I’ll make you feel my strength firsthand!"

Albert closed the distance in a single step. As he charged forward, Ars pointed his fingertip at him.

"[Impact]."

Albert’s approaching face exploded, flesh and blood scattering in all directions.

Seeing Albert freeze in his tracks, Ars wrapped mana around his right fist and slammed it into his regenerating face.

Even as his knuckles split open and blood sprayed, Ars continued pummeling Albert without a flicker of emotion.

"Ah, gah!? What— you little—!?"

Unable to withstand Ars’s relentless onslaught, Albert’s massive frame crumpled to the ground.

Ars glanced at his blood-soaked fist, then kicked off the ground, leaping into the air.

Aiming for Albert’s neck, he drove his heel down with crushing force.

"Hey, trash, say that again for me."

"W-Why… how does a brat like you have this kind of power!?"

His heel sank deep into Albert’s neck, the sound of snapping bones echoing from his throat.

A giant hand seized Ars’s ankle, but he didn’t flinch.

A cruel glint flickered in Ars’s eyes, his expression growing colder and more detached.

"Can't say it? Then I'll say it."

Ars glanced around, taking in the devastation that spread across the ground.

Julia was in a state where it wouldn’t be surprising if she passed out, yet she continued to shield Elsa and Karen while looking over with concern.

Around her were the figures of the Schüler groaning in pain, and not far away, Banz lay injured from protecting an infant.

No one had escaped unscathed — a testament to the violent storm that had engulfed them all.

At last, Ars looked down at the struggling prey beneath his feet — Albert.

"I’ll kill you."

Placing a hand on his throat, Ars radiated an unprecedented fury, his neck cracking as he twisted it.

"I'll kill you until you’ve paid for the pain they’ve endured. I’ll tear you apart, let your blood drain dry. I’ll leave nothing behind. I’ll kill you thoroughly."

The sheer release of his killing intent caused the earth to bulge and crack, the air to tremble, and space itself to warp.

"I’ll kill you until your soul turns to dust."

And then — the boy abandoned all restraint.

＊

A man of peerless beauty narrowed his eyes as he watched the overwhelming surge of magic spiral into a vortex on the ground.

"Yes, without a doubt. He is the 'Essence of God of Magc' we’ve been searching for."

Even from a great distance, the magic flowing from the battlefield made his hair stand on end.

It was a terrifying torrent of magic, as though it would swallow the very heavens and earth.

Virg felt his heart pounding with fear.

This was the first time he had ever felt such pressure.

"Haha, this confirms it. Lord Ars must have come into contact with the gods."

A look of ecstasy spread across Virg’s refined features as he tightly gripped a magic stone in his hand.

He spoke to the stone with far more ease than he did when dealing with people.

"You’re right. He’s far too twisted… something impossible has occurred. That’s precisely why the gift of 'Hearing' is so fascinating. I’m curious to know what his 'True Name' really is."

Virg wasn’t talking to himself.

His conversation partner was elsewhere.

The magic stone in his hand was imbued with 'Convey' magic.

Virg was in communication with the Holy Law Church.

"Yes, there’s no other explanation. That power belongs to the realm of the gods."

Hearing the response, Virg chuckled.

"Leave it to me, 'First Apostle.'

Everything is for the sake of the Holy Law Church."

With the message delivered, Virg put away the magic stone.

"That aside… that must be the 'Heavenly Spirit Eye.' It’s absolutely magnificent."

Virg shifted his gaze away from Ars on the battlefield and looked upward.

A massive magic circle floated in the sky.

It shimmered with colors never seen before, gazing down upon the world like a god.

"Though I didn’t want to take too many risks… I saw exactly what I wanted to see."

As he had told Orpheus, he had no intention of making an enemy out of Ars.

And yet, an uncontrollable curiosity burned within him.

It was necessary to find out just how far Ars had transcended.

That was why he had given the awakening drug to Albert.

Thanks to him, Virg got his answer.

However, his instincts told him that this was the right time to pull back.

Any further, and it would be dangerous.

"'Essence of God of Magic'—one who comprehends all magic… It’s a splendid title, but there is a far more fitting name for you."

Virg’s voice was swallowed by the wind.

But the passion it carried would never fade, no matter how much time passed.

"I will come to claim you."

With a graceful bow, Virg extended both hands toward the dazzling, multicolored magic circle.

"Ah… our 'Holy Emperor.'"

＊

"…What did you do? Why… are you releasing so much magic power?"

Albert looked up at Ars, his expression blank with disbelief.

Staring down at him was a pair of cold, emotionless eyes.

"Your strength is fake. I’ll send you off with a little parting gift for the underworld."

Ars eased the pressure from his foot.

Freed from the choking sensation, Albert scrambled across the ground, putting some distance between them.

"Fake? You dare call me — a transcendent — a Fake!?"

Rage twisted Albert’s already disfigured face.

"Then I’ll show you… what true power really is!"

With a ferocious roar, Albert’s grotesque body swelled massively.

"—'Heaven’s Dominion Expansion'!"

It was the magic name used to unleash the power of a divine gift.

A power granted only to the chosen few.

—The logic of the heavens.

A massive surge of magic flowed from Albert's body, causing the ground beneath him to crack and split outward.

With every exhale, space warped, and the air compressed.

Before long, a colossal bolt of lightning struck down from the heavens, literally shaking the earth and kicking up a storm of dust and debris.

When the dust finally settled, a twisted greatsword crackling with terrifying lightning stood before Albert.

"—'Thunderlord of Desolation.'"

Albert proudly drew the sword embedded in the ground.

Yet, despite his imposing appearance, Ars remained calm and composed. There was not a hint of disturbance.

From the very beginning, nothing had changed.

He simply stood there, serene and unshaken, like the tranquil surface of a calm sea.

With just a glance at Albert, Ars seemed to lose interest and looked up toward the sky.

"Because we made a promise."

Memories flickered through his mind — the past, the moment he gained freedom, his first friend.

Countless recollections rose and faded, one after another.

And in the end, what remained was the promise made on that starry night.

A promise to protect her if anything ever happened.

If that was the case—

"I won’t hold back."

Casting aside all distractions, focusing his entire being — he broke free from the shell that had been suppressing him.

His thoughts sharpened.

His body felt light.

His senses heightened.

His consciousness melted, blending with the colorless world around him.

And yet, his existence did not vanish.

And yet, his spirit remained intact.

His soul became a brilliant radiance, reigning over the heavens.

"I’ll show you what the real thing looks like."

Ars's left eye — the crimson eye — shone with an intense, dazzling, and overwhelming light.

The boy unleashed a one-of-a-kind magic circle — wings spread wide, ready to soar.

"—The End of My Soul."

"So I left my punishment at the end of heaven."

“So I'm invisible. I'm nothing. I'm emptiness.”

“I wander endlessly in the lingering void.”

“So the blood will flow, and I will rule the deadly sins.”

“So I am a bloodthirsty soul devouring the world.”

“Thus, a bloodthirsty soul devours the world.”

“Heaven’s Dominion Expansion──”

“──Awaken Woden──”

Colors seeped into the conjunctiva, blending together as the cornea shimmered with dazzling hues.

The earring on the left ear──an inverted cross──shone brilliantly, radiating overwhelming dominance.

A pillar of rainbow light shot skyward from Ars as its center.

The crimson sky split apart. The clouds scattered. Swelling magical energy blanketed the heavens.

The world was being reshaped. Nature played its melody as the sky sang, fierce winds howled, and the earth hummed in resonance.

The ancient world was destroyed, and in its place, a new world was born.

A world created by Ars, existing for Ars, belonging solely to Ars.

"…Huh?"

It was no surprise that Albert let out a dazed sound.

The "Collapsed Utopia" had vanished.

In its place stretched an endless grassland.

No ruins buried in rubble could be seen — only a vast, boundless plain.

It was a beautiful world. The sky shimmered with rainbow hues, and a gentle breeze blew everywhere.

"What is this place? Is this 'Heaven’s Dominion Expansion'…?"

"Yeah, that’s right, imposter. So? How does it feel to witness the real 'Heaven’s Dominion Expansion'?"

With a fierce grin tugging at his lips, Ars slowly emerged from beneath the rainbow pillar.

With a single step forward, flowers and grass scattered.

With two steps, the ground caved in.

With three steps, cracks split the earth apart.

The sheer intensity of his magic power was overwhelming — scorching the skin, shaking the air, warping reality itself.

"Hah, what are you talking about…?

If this is 'Heaven’s Dominion Expansion'… then what is mine…?"

Albert stared down at the Thunderlord of Desolation, his face filled with shock.

After witnessing this Fiction world created by Ars, the Thunderlord of Desolation seemed pathetically insignificant.

"A half-baked creation that merely forces talent into manifestation. Something like that could never unleash true power."

"Are you saying I’m a failure?!"

"Yeah, that’s right. But I don’t really know all the details. After all, I only achieved Heaven’s Dominion Expansion through secondhand knowledge I picked up by ‘hearing."

He said it casually. Hearing those nonchalant words, Albert's expression twisted in disbelief.

"Second Hand knowledge… just by hearing…

Are you telling me you became a transcendent being with nothing more than that?!"

"Calling me a transcendent is overkill. It’s really not that shocking…Huh, is Heaven’s Dominion Expansion harder to learn than I thought?"

"Don– Don’t be ridiculous! If this world really is Heaven’s Dominion Expansion! If this is a realm I couldn’t reach even with awakening drugs! Why are you so unaware of it?! Why do you have this kind of power?!"

"I told you — I just Heard. How many times do I have to repeat myself? We’re clearly not on the same wavelength."

Ars let out a sigh, exasperated.

"Well, I think there’s no need for any further explanation."

He shrugged, calmly locking his gaze on Albert.

"I'm going to kill you right here."

"…Ars?"

His tone was completely flat, devoid of any inflection. The sheer coldness in his voice sent chills down Julia’s spine.

It was the first time Ars had ever shown such violent emotions.

He was usually so calm, always looking at the world with a composed and detached expression.

Seeing Ars undergo such a drastic change, Julia's eyes widened in shock.

"…A half-face mask? Is that the manifestation of your [Hearing] talent?"

The left side of Ars’s face — from his ear to his eye — was covered by a half-face mask.

The pitch-black mask was adorned with seven beautiful gemstones, shimmering brilliantly under the sunlight.

From the depths where his eye should have been, vibrant iridescent colors rippled like a kaleidoscope.

"And… is this the Fiction world created by Ars’s Heaven’s Dominion Expansion?"

Talents — they were believed to be a connection to the gods who bestowed them.

According to one researcher’s theory, those who pushed their talents to the very peak would be invited to the divine realm where gods resided.

By receiving a True Name from the gods, it was said they could manifest that power upon the earth.

That was why it was called Heaven’s Dominion Expansion — the ultimate magic that extended the domain of a god to the mortal world.

"You… you've already reached that realm…"

The sense of discord she had felt since their first encounter was now gone.

Abandoned incantations.

Layered spells.

An unfathomable depth of magical power.

Magic so powerful that only one blessed by the gods could wield it — magic capable of healing even fatal wounds.

"Ah… so that’s how it is…"

At last, Julia understood.

She had discovered the secret behind Ars’s immense power.

He was a transcendent being, the one closest to the Demon Emperor, known as the strongest sorcerer in the world.

"So… you’re the ‘Essence of God of Magic’."

A being permitted to stand alongside a select few at the very pinnacle.

Or perhaps──

"…Could he even surpass the gods?"

As that realization sank in, Julia trembled.

"A brat like you… leaving your name in the history of magic?"

Albert roared as he charged toward Ars.

"I won’t accept it! I will never allow that!"

He charged at full speed, leaving a trail of dust in his wake, like a raging bull.

"[Supersonic Impact]."

In a blur too fast to follow, Ars raised his leg and delivered a devastating kick that tore through Albert.

Even with the right half of his body obliterated, Albert continued his relentless advance.

His flesh stretched and regenerated, grotesque like festering wounds.

Ars shifted half a step to the right, allowing Albert to rush past him in a straight line.

"Why?! Why does a brat like you have that kind of power?!"

Albert spun around, swinging the Thunderlord of Desolation in a wide arc.

Bolts of lightning split the earth, shattered boulders, and tore cracks into space itself.

An overwhelming force of destruction surged toward Ars from every direction, leaving no room to escape.

"It’s useless. This Fiction world is my domain.

I can hear every 'sound' you make."

With a slight tilt of his chin, a roll of his shoulders, and a half-step back, Ars twisted his waist and evaded every strike by a hair’s breadth.

"[Sonic Vibration]."

The moment the spell name left his lips, the blade of his short sword began vibrating at high speed, generating both heat and sound.

The twin short swords crackled with flames, waves of heat rippling through the air in a shimmering haze.

With blades in hand, Ars leapt forward, closing the distance in an instant, engaging Albert at point-blank range.

"Idiot! Die, you little brat!"

Seeing an opening, Albert thrust the Thunderlord of Desolation in a counterattack.

However, his greatsword was effortlessly deflected.

"W-What the—!?"

"With power like that, you can’t overturn the laws of this Fiction world I have created."

Blazing flashes streaked through the air, trailing flames as they engulfed Albert’s entire body.

Yet, it was Ars's short swords that reached their limit first.

Overwhelmed by the immense magic coursing through them, both blades snapped at the base.

"…Impossible. What is this…? How does a brat like you wield that kind of power…?"

Albert's body was no longer recognizable.

Flames continued to consume him, but his fighting spirit remained undiminished.

From the swirling inferno, his silhouette slowly emerged.

"Who…What are you…?"

Albert's body had fully regenerated, but the result was grotesque — like a crude mud doll shaped by a child.

"You were stronger before you started relying on drugs."

"Shut up! I’m the Fifth Seat of the Empire’s Five Swords!"

Albert raised the Thunderlord of Desolation and swung it downward, but Ars made no attempt to dodge.

The reason was simple — the Thunderlord of Desolation lost its momentum halfway through and shattered into countless pieces.

"What… What the hell is this!?"

"I already told you, didn’t I? It’s a failed creation."

The Awakening Drug might make its users feel invincible at first, but the body quickly reaches its limit.

On top of that, the body rejects the user’s innate talent, rendering them incapable of using magic.

That’s why, throughout the entire battle with Ars, Albert hadn’t cast a single spell.

Or perhaps… he hadn’t even noticed it himself.

"This is the price you pay for trying to take the easy way out. It’s the result of your greed for power."

"Aaaahhhhhh!"

A guttural scream tore through the air — a sound filled with rage, sorrow, and despair, impossible to distinguish.

In the end, his mind collapsed, his very personality shattered, leaving nothing but a mindless monster.

This was the fate of those who relied on the Awakening Drug — a creature with extraordinary regeneration and an insatiable urge to destroy.

While that alone posed a significant threat… in this world, it was nothing more than that.

"It’s about time I put an end to this."

The moment Ars’s [Hearing] received its True Name was on a rainy day filled with resentment toward the world.

Desperate to escape the rotten world around him, he greedily sought knowledge above all else.

He eavesdropped on the secrets of mages across the world, listened to all forms of knowledge.

And at the end of that long journey, his destination was the heavens.

His [Hearing] had even stolen the wisdom of the gods.

At the end of that endless pursuit, [Hearing] obtained its True Name and reached the realm of Woden, the <Sovereign Indra>.

This talent had evolved to the point where it now held the power to slay gods.

"Let me show you one last thing. Etch what I am about to do in your memory."

The Heaven’s Dominion Expansion created by Woden could dismantle any magic and reveal all knowledge to Ars.

Its targets were all the mages in the world — including the gods of the heavens.

Even the fundamental laws of the world were ignored here. And solely runned by the laws he creates.

Ars could wield any magic he had ever heard.

"The heart is crushed to dust. The thorns of reincarnation spin endlessly. The hurricane's dominion melts away—"

Ars began his incantation.

The magic surging from his body shot toward the sky.

At its peak, a brilliant geometric pattern of dazzling colors emerged.

"The mad king laughs with abandon. They clash and cry for mercy. The god of the heavens awaits awakening."

With unwavering focus, his heart guided his gaze toward his target.

"Burn it all — Heaven and Earth alike."

— The Emperor of the Skies.

The heavens wept.

The rising sun fell.

The stars were destroyed as waves of scorching heat surged from all directions.

Flames powerful enough to obliterate the entire Fiction world were concentrated on a single person.

The heat swept over everything.

The earth was gouged out, leaving no trace of life.

The Fiction world continued to crumble.

Finally, with a deafening roar, the ground split apart.

Sand and stone poured down like torrential rain.

When the dust finally settled, the devastated land lay exposed — a massive crater carved deep into the earth.

"…Ah… ah… aaaah…"

At the bottom of the enormous crater lay the shattered remains of Albert's right half.

There was no sign of regeneration.

Even if left untouched, it was only a matter of time before he perished — reduced to nothing more than lifeless flesh.

"Rest in peace."

Ars reached out toward Albert's pitiful, broken form.

— Death's Requiem.

——.

ToC

Epilogue 

T/N: Only Epilogue left!