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I open my eyes again, and the first thing I see is the wooden ceiling, weathered by time and the elements. The smell of dampness fills my nose, like a warm, familiar embrace.
Then I remember what happened: I've returned to the cabin, and now I must go to help my friends.
I try to get up, one step at a time, and as I do, a sharp pain shoots through every muscle in my body. The effort is titanic, as if my flesh and bones are resisting obedience.
"Ahg!" I look at my hands, seeing them tremble with weakness. My knuckles are bruised, marked by the fight, and my nails, once clean and manicured, are now broken and filled with dirt.
It feels like I've been beaten to a pulp.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to find the strength to move on. Here, in this remote corner of the world, a battle was fought that transcends the physical.
"Haha, what a fight." I turn my head, and then I see them both: Garfield sitting in a corner, his gaze intense and his hair disheveled. Next to him, Ryuzu is placing bandages on Garfield's arms.
Garfield's face is no longer swollen; he's used his mana to heal himself. Garfield looks at me with a smile, but his expression quickly turns serious.
"We gotta hurry." His gaze is fixed on the horizon, toward the small town. "I can hear it, it's already started."
"The gunshots, the blows, the roar of magic." Ryuzu looks at me with concern, but I give a weak smile in response.
I look in the same direction, but I can't really see or hear anything. I try to strain myself, but my body betrays me, making me fall back onto the bed. Obviously, Garfield's senses are sharper than mine; I just thought I might be able to identify a mana source.
'What's happening out there?' 'Is everyone okay?' According to the story, Ram wins this battle by herself with Puck's help, but now that he's not here, I wanted to replace him with Luan, Crusch, and Otto.
The important thing was for Ram's words to reach Roswaal, 'but I already knew,' this error will have consequences, and I need to move.
"If Roswaal gets serious, everyone will die." I clench my entire body and get out of bed, feeling each joint creak, my muscles trembling, and the pain of contracting them engulfing me completely.
The responsibility weighs on my shoulders like a slab of steel.
'I can't fail.'
Even so, I won't give in. Determination burns in my chest, and though my body protests, my will is unbreakable. I try to access my mana gate, but as I do, I fall to the floor. I start coughing, and the air vanishes from my lungs. The sensation lasts a few seconds and then disappears, as if nothing had happened.
'Damn... it hurts like hell!'
"You've exhausted all your mana; it's a miracle you're wake." Ryuzu turns to look at me, holding a healing potion. "I was going to give it to Garbo, but you're in worse shape."
'I can't take it; I don't know what's going to happen.' The battle against Roswaal is crucial if I waste it. "Without mana, I can't fight". I gesture to refuse the idea, while my gaze falls on Garfield.
"The ideal person to confront Roswaal is Garfield; only he can fight him on equal terms." My eyes fix on him, but Garfield interrupts me.
"You managed to fracture my magnificent ribs!" Garfield throws a smile and flexes his arms, showing off his muscles. "You must teach me that combat art."
His enthusiasm is overwhelming, and though my body is lacerated, a spark of determination arises in me. Betty's Od continues to fuse, I'm still unsure what will happen or what exactly the Od is, but I feel a new power within me.
His gaze, full of pride and admiration, makes me laugh. I hook the potion to my belt, covering it with fabric to prevent it from breaking easily.
If it can be of any use, better save it for later. I can't let my friends face more trouble. I'm willing to face death, but they shouldn't have to.
With the arrival of the fifth day, my time to act has come. It seems a few hours have passed, and the darkness of night will soon give way to dawn.
If I aim to have Roswaal on my side, I must persuade him, convince him that I'm the only one capable of fulfilling his ambitions. 'What are Roswaal's desires?' 'What secrets drive him?'
The idea of collaborating with a psychopath and murderer like him makes my stomach turn, but I see no alternative. If my wish is to help the inhabitants of Irlam, if I intend to protect my friends, if I seek to survive the future, I must require his power.
'If giving him what he wants can save everyone, then I'll do it.'
"You must stay in the tomb; I'm aware you can't influence the other Ryuzu's." My gaze shifts to the window, where I see a girl dressed in white. I nod calmly, smiling. "What you witnessed was the past of the true Ryuzu."
Ryuzu's eyes widen, revealing her astonishment, and her lips tremble at the revelations. Garfield, for his part, shows confusion; so, I decide to clarify the situation once more.
After a few minutes, I turn to Ryuzu.
"You are not her, though you stem from her being. You are unique, Ryuzu Shima." I close my eyes, clenching my hands tightly. "You must follow your own path."
Ryuzu looks at Garfield with fear, aware that freeing the sanctuary implies danger according to what she has seen in the trial. Besides, Garfield is significant to her, complicating her position.
'Her sacrifice is necessary and inevitable, though it pains me.'
"Garfield, would you like to take the trial?" I ask, sensing the surprise in his eyes. "If you decide to do it, I'll do everything I can to contain Roswaal."
'Having Garfield take the trial and join our side fully justifies the risk.' Garfield looks at me firmly, with a determination that shows his willingness to face whatever is necessary. However, a sudden explosion shakes the surroundings, momentarily breaking the tense silence that had settled.
Ryuzu and I instinctively turn our gazes to the horizon, where an ominous cloud of fire rises toward the village, signaling that things are not going as planned.
"Garbo, if you don't want to..." Ryuzu tries to speak, but Garfield interrupts her with a hand on her head.
In this critical moment, Garfield, with a clenched fist and a face hardened by resolve, makes a decision that will change the course of events.
"I can't avoid it." Despite his words, his smile persists, a unique mix of bravery and determination. "They will be my friends now, right?"
I nod, recognizing the peace emanating from his choice, though I know the path ahead will be full of challenges.
"Besides, I want to beat that bastard with these amazing fists." Garfield stands up with renewed energy, his body completely healed. Though his mana reserves are low, the ferocity in his eyes reveals an unbreakable will to face whatever is necessary.
Roswaal must be sufficiently worn out; if we both fight, we will surely be able to defeat him. Meanwhile, my gaze scans the surroundings for something to wear. The tension in the air is palpable, and my body instinctively responds to the gravity of the situation.
Finding nothing suitable, I head for the door, aware that every second counts.
"You should stay, Marbo. You're very injured, and Roswaal is no weakling." Ryuzu expresses her concern sincerely. Though our time together has been brief, I've developed affection for her relaxed and calm attitude, which makes leaving her behind even more painful.
However, there's no other choice. My body is worn out; fighting would be a problem if it involves Roswaal. Luckily, this isn't a battle to defeat him but to convince him. My body is recovering slowly, Betty's Od healing my wounds little by little. Besides, the miasma also has those effects.
"Ryuzu, this sanctuary was conceived with the dark intention of imprisoning and protecting them in her sinister experiments. Somehow, you became close to my daughter, Beatrice, and, as a result, Echidna gave you 'favorable' treatment, if we can call it that. I don't know the horrors the demihumans had to endure, but I would venture to guess their lives were far from pleasant, and more like simple lab rats."
'No... I doubt Betty would allow something like that.'
In the ensuing silence, I feel everyone's piercing gazes, and my attention focuses on Ryuzu's somber face as my words resonate in the charged atmosphere.
"The real Shima no longer exists, and the crystal that supposedly 'protects' this sanctuary has no reason to be." I look at her firmly, with a determination reflecting the urgency of the moment. "There are actions we must take and people we must protect."
The rabbits managed to infiltrate; Subaru and I did it, despite being soaked in miasma.
Any individual with adverse feelings isn't supposed to be here, but even Roswaal entered with the intention of annihilating everyone if necessary. The protection this place offers is far from complete; negative feelings aren't always linked to evil. Moreover, it doesn't make sense that the demihumans can't escape.
"More than a protective barrier, this is simply another experiment. It has no utility, and it won't prevent nefarious things from happening." I gesture toward Irlam. "In contrast, in Irlam, everyone will have the chance to start a new life, free from the yoke of racism and protected at all times."
I extend both hands, bowing in respect. This isn't the time for arrogance; I need the collaboration of both to assist me, I need everyone to fulfill their duty.
"My daughter is in grave danger. To help her, I need to leave with my people, and I need your help too." It's cruel, really cruel, and horrible what I'm doing.
If only I knew how to help, I would. If I had delved deeper into spells, if I had studied more. A sigh escapes my lips as I meet Ryuzu's gaze.
I know Ryuzu will disappear, giving way to Echidna. She's aware that this is her destiny; after all, she's the perfect candidate for retaining fundamental memories of who she is, who Echidna is.
She probably already knows; hence, my request becomes selfish and cruel.
However, the first hand I feel is hers.
"You've changed, Marbo." Her hands squeeze mine firmly, and her determination comes through the touch. "Promise me you'll protect all the Ryuzu's, as well as everyone here."
I nod, and Garfield then takes my hand with a strength that reveals his resolve.
"My amazing self will protect everyone! I'm the shield of the Sanctuary!" His firm grip makes it clear that he's fully committed.
Although I'd like to tell Garfield about his mother, I decide to postpone it. I fear that if he finds out now, he might lose the determination he shows at this moment. I'm not perfect; I can't do things perfectly. But I'm determined to do the best I can.
At that moment, I see multiple glowing spirits dancing around me. Strange sounds invade my ears, a roar that threatens to burst my head.
Then, a sharp pain spreads throughout my body. It's as if my bones themselves are being transformed, and the intensity of the sensation makes me feel vulnerable to the imminent change.
"Hey!" Garfield tries to hold me, but the noise persists. I tense all the muscles in my body, covering my ears tightly and trying to mitigate the pain.
'What the hell is this?!' The pressure is so intense I feel like I'm going to explode, as if every part of me is being subjected to an uncontrollable force.
"AGGGH!" I scream, struggling to free myself from the torment. Amid the sensory chaos, a child's voice resonates in my mind, urging me to resist.
'I think… I remember this, it's like the… necto Julius made with Subaru.' I try to breathe, but even the air is being expelled from my body. My eardrums hear multiple voices, so shrill that my ears are being torn apart.
Blood starts to fall from my mouth and nose, making me kneel and collapse. Ryuzu tries to use the potion on my body, but I use my hand to stop her.
The crystal in my chest begins to glow, and a feeling of fear engulfs me completely. I can't think, I can only contain the pain within me with all my might.
I clench my teeth tightly, feeling them grind. Both Garfield and Ryuzu hold me with firm hands, but the pain persists, as if my body is being torn apart and reassembled from the inside.
'Hold on a bit,' a child's voice echoes in my mind.
My face contorts in an expression of suffering, while my body twists involuntarily in acute discomfort.
Amid the agony, my right arm begins to move, and I perceive the fracture healing. The spirits dancing around me shine brighter, and I feel a deep connection with them.
'Did she send them?' 'Emilia?' My gaze turns questioning, seeking answers in the glow of the spiritual lights and the agony my body is enduring.
Suddenly, the pain stops abruptly, leaving me gasping with relief. Cold sweat runs down my face, and the worried looks of Garfield and Ryuzu question what just happened.
I keep gasping, feeling my heart beating so fast it might burst out of my chest.
My eyes search theirs for some sign of mutual understanding, while my heavy breathing tries to normalize. My body slowly feels renewed; Emilia's water spirits did their duty while she's finishing the trials.
The problem is that I feel their presences very weakly, which means something went wrong. There were quasi-spirits, but now I can't feel their presence.
I have no mana, but I experience a unique sensation that intoxicates me.
It's as if a fresh breeze filters through my pores, gifting me an immediate sense of freshness that caresses my skin and revitalizes my being. I clench my hands, feeling my strength gradually return, revitalized by this comforting current.
"You have shared moments with Emilia and, therefore, with me. I don't know if you are all well, and I apologize if anything happened." I clench my hands, feeling it's time to act. "Thank you, I promise I'll repay this debt."
The almost complete absence of miasma in my body indicates that Emilia left them before departing, but the miasma made them afraid to approach. Now, finally, they've chosen to help me.
Despite my lack of mana, which leaves me as a mere human, even without miasma, I know I must keep fighting.
"Let's go." I look at Garfield, who seems surprised by my action. He smiles and offers me his fist. Our exchange is silent, and before leaving, I simply bump my fist with his.
Before setting off, I might do something that alters the plan, but it's what my heart demands.
"Ryuzu, if you tell 'that' to Emilia, she'll probably want to help you." I look at her, holding back my sadness. "Forgive me for saying this, but I would also like to see you again."
Now I can't ask her to stay, nor forbid her from taking any action. I understand that she is also considering it, but I'm not the owner of her life.
"I know many things about this world, details of a present that no longer exists. I can't explain how I know, but I trust you'll make the decision your heart dictates."
I don't intend to manipulate anyone. If Emilia isn't willing to destroy the crystal that way, I'll look for other alternatives.
After all, I am Marco Luz.
Her gaze meets mine; her eyes awaken with clarity as if coming out of a dream. Her aura, once blurry, makes sense again. She approaches Garfield and takes his hand, sealing the gesture with a kiss on his cheek.
"Hey!" Garfield blushes, but she just returns a smile.
My lips also curve at the scene.
"May the spirits be with you," her words mark an implicit goodbye that I feel deep in my soul.
Life can be cruel, and people can be too. Even so, I accept reality. I turn my gaze to Garfield, now conveying the seriousness of the situation.
He stops smiling for a moment and watches me intently.
"Roswaal is strong. I doubt even all of us together can do anything." A shiver runs through my hands as I remember the time I died at his hands when he took my daughter's life. "He's a monster, but maybe we can contain him. For that, you need to..."
Garfield gives me a slap on the back, a gesture of encouragement that reinforces his confidence.
"A shield has to trust, right...?" His smile is evident, his excitement palpable. "General."
I smile, knowing he will never say my name again.
"Let's go."
We start running, racing through the forest at full speed. We dodge the trees, moving forward with determination. Garfield keeps his pace, but I urge him to go ahead.
"It's better to save energy; I want to save my strength to beat that bastard." His eyes are fixed on the horizon as we keep moving, his expression revealing his firm determination.
In the middle of the run, I feel something different. My strength returns, something changes inside me. A renewed sensation propels me forward.
I can feel the wind brushing against my face, the crunch of leaves under our feet, the freshness of the forest blending with the determination that pulses in the air. The connection with the surroundings intensifies, nourishing my spirit for the challenge ahead.
My senses sharpen, and my vision fills with wonder as I see the mana radiating like a delicate glow from Garfield's body. 'It's red, a crimson red as intense as blood.' The spirits dance among the trees, creating ethereal sparks of light that reveal the presence of several spirits hidden among the nearby bushes.
'I think I get it.'
The connection with Beatrice, with her ability to absorb mana from the atmosphere through her Od as a spirit, and the influence of Puck's own Od within me, have altered the essence of my gate, granting me a vision beyond the ordinary.
Both gave me part of their life, and my body has used it for something. Two great spirits gave me part of their life to save me.
I fix my gaze on the horizon, seeking to inhale that mana-saturated air. If I can gather these energies, if I can channel them through my gate...
"Spirits, to save one of your own, I will need your help," I exclaim, recognizing in them entities that, over time, will inevitably transform into beings with greater consciousness.
The lesser spirits, beings endowed with particular characteristics, manifest as ideal allies at this moment.
Although their mastery of complex spells is limited, their ability to restore mana is invaluable. If they help me replenish even a small part of my mana, I can fight better.
The mana in my body feels pure, not difficult to use or heavy. It's more like a gentle breeze, as natural as exhaling. Somehow I understand.
'This is not the mana I had before.'
Beatrice used to use my mana, but now, in a twist of circumstances, I will use hers.
The inability to form a contract with lesser spirits fills me with sorrow; thus, I have to use my own means to become stronger.
Boom!
An explosion rumbles in the distance, a tree soars into the air before crashing to the ground, creating a crater, and filling everything with dust. My senses, momentarily eclipsed, regain focus, and I look to the sky.
Multiple magical projectiles plummet from all directions, unleashing chaos.
"Weren't you able to fly?" Garfield asks me with concern.
I shake my head with determination.
"Yin magic is my daughter's legacy. There's nothing I can do since I am not compatible with yin magic." If I want to use it, I must bring her back to life.
Garfield throws a crystal at me; the same one Otto gave me. As I hold it, the crystal glows, as if trying to communicate with me. I put it in my pocket, aware that this tool will be key to stopping Roswaal.
"This will be useful. Let's go, quickly!" I announce, increasing our pace as the mana replenishes within me.
We cross the forest and, upon emerging, we are met with the view of the village. An overwhelming stench assaults our noses, saturated with the acridity of burning wood and fabric.
Sparks and embers dance in the air, silent witnesses to the devastation caused by the unleashed madness of a man imbued with power.
'All that's left is scorched concrete.'
If the evacuation went as planned, the people are safe. The material can be recovered; that's not the main concern right now. I suppose Otto has played his part, possibly using someone from the village as a mediator.
I'm not certain where we are exactly in the village, but I trust Garfield to guide us through the chaos.
"How far are we from the sanctuary?" I ask, and when I look at him, I'm surprised by the glint in his eyes.
Garfield's fangs emerge, his teeth clenched in a mix of rage and tension. A crimson torrent of mana radiates from his body.
He lowers his gaze, helpless and frustrated. He hasn't managed to protect what he cares about.
"I'm... I'm going to kill him," he whispers, his lips trembling in an attempt to contain his fury. He raises his gaze again, his expression laden with despair.
Shit, it looks like he's about to explode.
"I'LL KILL HIM!" Garfield's shout reverberates in the air, and in a leap, he disappears from my sight.
'And there go my plans...'
I click my tongue, aware that I now have to follow his trail. I try to use magic, but I still don't have enough mana.
With my hand, I shield myself a bit from the smoke, struggling to track Garfield's mana. Assuming they left from the cabin in the village, it will take them about half an hour to reach the sanctuary on foot.
I feel the heat of the fire, all while traversing the areas where the fire is dying down.
If my calculations are correct, Roswaal will try to stop Emilia using our lives as bargaining chips. He can fly through the skies, but he surely won't; he will use the time to massacre everyone.
'The coming of Echidna through my body can only be achieved if the trials can be completed.' So, if Roswaal makes Emilia give up and fail, Echidna will enter my body.
The clarity of the situation unfolds before me, as clear as the waters of a spring.
Emilia won't surrender but can die. So, if she does, I'll have to reboot.
'I don't know what decision Emilia might make, but it's clear. If Roswaal isn't willing to cooperate, we'll have to kill him.'
The prolongation of this struggle indicates that Roswaal has no intention of letting us leave alive easily.
I look at the sky and notice that morning is approaching. Considering the evacuation times, the start of the battle, and the state of the houses, I deduce that just over an hour has passed, but not much more.
Despite the wooden houses still standing, the magnitude of the conflict suggests that Roswaal isn't holding back. There's no way to face him if he decides to take the confrontation seriously.
'This is giving me a bad feeling.'
An uncomfortable sensation hits me: my nose and throat burn, my eyes fill with tears, and my vision blurs.
'Damn, it's not enough.' If I had just a bit of water or if I could use magic. I know this Roswaal isn't the same, but I don't think the apple has fallen far from the tree.
"Ugh!"
The smoke starts to make it hard to breathe; I need to hurry if I don't want to pass out. I increase my speed, struggling to follow the trail Garfield left. His mana is so strong it stands out easily, whether in the tracks he leaves or the destruction he causes.
Finally, I reach the house where we were the first time, where Roswaal was healing.
There's Garfield, standing, holding something in his hand. I approach slowly, but his face reflects an emotional storm. A tear runs down his right eye, and his lips bleed from biting them.
In his hand, a small ribbon adorned with various flowers, dirty with earth and stained with blood.
'The battle isn't going well.'
"Ram..." My attempt to console him is interrupted as I notice he's about to run. I jump and grab his arm, feeling the force of his mana seeping through my skin. I tense my muscles to stop him, but he shoots me an annoyed look.
"Let go or I'll destroy you too!" Garfield grips my arm tightly, but I don't relent.
I look at him seriously; now is no time for games. The sounds of the attacks cease, and we both turn our gazes to the horizon. Garfield pulls my hand away roughly.
"Garfield!" I shout, stopping him in his tracks. "The reason you lost to me was because you let anger control you. If you had learned to harness it, things might have been different."
Garfield approaches, his gaze full of murderous intent sending chills down my spine. I guide him to start running, worried about the unusual silence surrounding us.
We move among debris, marks of explosions, and evidence of a recent confrontation. We even find a completely broken rifle.
I left my gun with the army, so I'm really unarmed.
"I'm not saying don't feel anger, but don't let it control you," I continue, explaining my plan, detailing every step we must take to stop Roswaal. "In this world, there are people stronger than you. But if you want to survive, you have to believe you can get stronger. It's useless to pretend to be someone you're not."
Garfield clicks his tongue but stays silent, and I really hope he listens to my words. That's why I wanted to defeat him, as he's the only person who can fight against Roswaal until Emilia arrives.
We stop, and I can feel Roswaal's mana from here. An intensity so strong it feels like my skin is being pricked by tiny needles.
I look ahead and my heart tightens at the scene before us. Luan stands in front of Roswaal, holding Crusch, who can barely stand. Otto lies on the ground, unconscious.
'Damn...'
I clench my hands tightly, feeling the pain in my heart, but I can't let these emotions take over now. I must take it out on Roswaal, but first, we need to defeat him.
I have to think, go beyond, activate all my senses.
I must hear what I can't see, smell what I can't taste, imagine what I can't feel.
I look at the sky and see Roswaal holding Ram by the neck. She struggles, but her look isn't one of hatred; rather, sadness dominates her expression as she tries to breathe.
"ROSWAAL!" Garfield yells, drawing his attention.
Roswaal's smile persists, but something has changed. He seems to have lost his fear and now experiences pure joy.
That melancholy that weighed on him, that look that always seemed lost in time. The Roswaal I knew should be furious, should be longing to unleash a vortex to force me to restart.
Garfield charges at Roswaal, who tightens his grip on Ram before throwing her towards him. Quickly, Garfield conjures a water barrier to soften the impact, but both are violently dragged across the ground, landing beside me.
Roswaal descends and stands in front of me.
"This is your plan?" Roswaal spits on the ground, his blood staining the earth. "I can admit it was an interesting combination, but they lack experience."
I smile, watching him, and shrug my shoulders.
"How much, about 400 years?" Roswaal's pupils dilate at my words, and he lunges with a punch to my stomach.
I move nimbly, grab his arm, and land a hook on his jaw. Just when I'm about to hit him again, I feel an alert through my whole being. I use wind magic to retreat and see an earth and ice stake where I stood.
My heart resents the use of magic, a consequence of having damaged my gate earlier.
Seeing the stakes, I understand his goal.
His serene look reveals it: 'he wants to kill me.'
'Wait... How is it possible that his goal is to kill me and not to reboot?'
"This doesn't make sense anymore." Roswaal extends his hand, and I move quickly.
Stakes emerge from the ground, but before they do, I sense a subtle change in the mana beneath my feet. I move skillfully, dodging each stake before it sprouts from the ground.
"You know, breaking a soul contract requires a price." Roswaal smiles, and then I feel a stabbing pain in my hand.
A stake pierces it, causing blood to gush out. The spell dissipates, leaving just a hole in its place. I try to use mana quickly, but I can't control it properly.
So, there's only one option left.
If I resort to a simple fire spell, if I use the magic I master best, it shouldn't consume too much mana. I press my lips together and then...
"AGGGH!" I burn the hole in my hand, the searing pain coursing through my body as I start to pant.
Once the pain subsides, I smile.
'No sooner do they heal me, and I already have a hole in my hand.'
I never imagined Roswaal would fulfill the soul contract. What I intended was to hurt him enough to trap him. As he himself implies, breaking this contract must have an impact on his body.
We said whoever who break the contract will die. Now Roswaal break it he should die, but I knew he wouldn't.
"GOA!" Luan unleashes his power, shaping the flames in his hands into a raging sphere. The sphere glows with orange and red hues, dancing like a fierce sun contained within Luan's palms.
His breath mingles with the crackling flames, and his eyes, glinting, reflect the heat of the magic he has summoned.
I dive to the side to avoid the fiery ball, but Roswaal skillfully erects a mana barrier, extending it to shield himself from the attack. A rainbow sheen adorns the collision between the fireball and the shield, fading instantly.
"You almost killed them! Monster!" Luan screams, fury burning in his gaze, while his hair seems to transform again.
Crusch stands up, leaning on her rifle. She smiles at me faintly, and somehow, I think I understand her. 'Nothing will go well, so we just have to endure the consequences.' I don't know how they managed to resist so long, but they've fulfilled their duty.
"Huma!" Roswaal hurls a large ice stake at Luan. The stake travels at high speed, but Luan responds by launching another fireball. Both spells create a curtain of steam, obscuring the result.
I run towards Roswaal, his mana thick and full of power, unmistakable compared to Luan's hot mana.
"Damned monster." I approach Roswaal, but he pushes me back with a smile. His hands feel as hard as steel; he has learned to strengthen his body with mana.
Roswaal looks at me with a smile, but I don't let him intimidate me. Emilia must be undergoing the trial of the future; a considerable amount of time has already passed. We just have to hold him, endure until he meets Echidna.
"You're definitely just a failure! Hahaha!"
"I can show you Echidna!" I shout, and Roswaal stops laughing. "I know how to do it; I know something about the future that you can't see."
At that moment, everything seems to move in slow motion. I release the tension in my feet and leap back with all my might. I crawl on the ground and see his hand, sword-like, in the spot where I was a moment ago. I feel the cold running through my veins, the tremor in my lips.
'Damn.'
'This is too much.'
"You think I want that farce?" He spits on the ground, looking at me with hatred. His murderous intent envelops me completely.
'Farce?'
Roswaal lunges at me, using mana in his hands, but then…
"Damn lunatic!" Garfield lands a punch right to his face. With the sound of a whip, Roswaal goes flying towards a burning house.
Seeing that hit snaps me back to reality.
I can't waste lives just like that, I only have two lefts after all.
"How's Ram?" I ask, and Garfield points to someone behind him.
Ram, emerging from the chaos, her face a brutal testament to the battle fought. Bruises spread like shadows on her pale skin, and a constant flow of blood, crimson and fervent, traces a path along her face. One eye, barely visible from the swelling, struggles to open, while the other clings to darkness.
Her breathing is a slow, weary lament. Each breath escaping her lips is a tired sigh, a symphony of exhaustion. Her maid outfit, once impeccable, now stands as a testament to the betrayal of the one she loves, torn and scorched on arms and legs.
"One more chance..." Ram leans on my shoulder; her hand clutches weakly, and the flickering glow of her mana reveals her exhaustion.
In her gaze, I discover a determination that exudes bravery amidst the chaos. A deep bond with Roswaal reflects in her battered expression. My fingers brush against the potion in my pants.
"Did Otto tell you?" My question finds solace in a resigned smile Ram offers me.
"I couldn't care less." She winks at me with determination. "Let me... do it. I'll make it possible."
The love she shows… it hurts me.
My attention shifts to Garfield, his fangs on guard, ready to respond to any of Roswaal's moves.
"General, the decision is yours." Garfield spits disdainfully, his gaze revealing a mix of disappointment and determination. "If my beloved wants to do that, then let's do it, but first, my amazing self will break every bone in that bastard's body."
The truth resonates in his words; Ram is the only one capable of penetrating the impenetrable wall that is Roswaal's heart.
'The problem is, I don't know what's going on with Roswaal.'
From my pocket, I extract the glintstone crystal, handing it to Ram.
"This crystal will absorb Roswaal's mana if you stab it into him. When you do, we'll hold him so you can talk to him." Ram looks at me in surprise, her eyes ignited with a flame I had never seen.
Her hands close firmly around the crystal, and her gaze, somewhat recovered, projects forward with determination.
"This happened because of me. I thought things should stay as they were." She wipes the blood from her face and fixes her gaze directly on Roswaal.
A violent gust of wind scatters the debris. Roswaal emerges, his lip expelling blood that evaporates in the heat of the fire.
Then:
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Luan charges with ferocity, his gaze full of hatred catching me by surprise. In his hand, a fireball comes to life, the mana growing from within. "You were the one who let my family die!"
Roswaal smiles, while I widen my eyes in surprise.
"I just knew but let me add a pinch more truth to your small mind." Roswaal points at me with disdain. "The blame lies in his inability to change things."
In that moment, an explosion so intense shakes Luan that she seems to overflow from her own being.
We all stand watching for that instant, unable to think, unable to move. My instinct tells me, if I move a single inch, I will die.
"BASTARD!"
The shockwave reverberates in the air, stirring even the dust particles that dance around us. Everything turns crimson, and for a brief moment, even the moon is tinged red.
A crimson ball forms in Luan's hand, and his entire body ignites, as if his very essence were fire. All the mana in the atmosphere vanishes, as if it had burned away by that fire.
"Die!" Luan screams, casting her spell.
The fire, fierce and wild, devours everything in its path. Even the ground yields to its power, melting within seconds. Roswaal, confident, raises a barrier to face the imminent impact.
BOOM!
Luan rushes to our side, her hair blazing like an untamed flame, defying gravity with incandescent rebellion. Her flames calm, allowing me to see her body.
Wounds on her arms, cuts, and punctures from stakes that hadn't healed, start to stop bleeding. The blood dries and vanishes like dust, and her whole body goes from severely injured to being completely healthy.
But not her mind.
Contained fury burns in her eyes. She grits her teeth, struggling to contain her rage. Her gestures reveal an internal conflict, a struggle between control and despair.
"Marco, you..." Luan looks at me, a slight but pained smile playing on her lips. "I was afraid to attack, my power is too unstable. Crusch and Otto understood, they protected me. I couldn't bear to see them in that state. I can control the heat a bit, but I don't know when it'll explode."
Now I understand; Crusch must have faced Roswaal alone with Ram. Otto, cunning as he is, couldn't compete with this monster's madness. That broken rifle must be Luan's, as she tried to fight without using her power.
"Thank you for protecting them." Luan's fear of her own power is palpable. A power so vast that I can't even fathom its limits.
Her expression reveals a mix of strength and vulnerability.
"Impressive!" exclaims that monster, making my heart race.
The dust curtain dissipates. The barrier that protected Roswaal is gone, replaced by his charred hand. Though he remains standing, it's evident he couldn't completely save himself.
"To think an unknown mage could surpass my barrier." His smile is enigmatic, and it's clear he's just playing. "Don't you think so, Marco Luz?"
Luan's feat is unprecedented. She has torn through Roswaal's barrier with a single attack. Roswaal is a prodigy mage who controls all elements. His body is the result of four hundred years of genetic selection, and his mind contains the most efficient knowledge about magic in this world.
'What the hell is Luan?'
"Luan!" Ram shouts, her voice filled with worry and urgency, but Luan completely ignores her.
Ram tries to pounce on her, but Luan firmly stops her, pushing her back and provoking Garfield's irritation, whose furrowed brows and clenched fists reflect his discontent with the situation.
"I didn't want to hurt her, but she wouldn't stop." Luan lowers her gaze to her hands, which radiate a scorching heat. "If she had come closer, Bluargh!"
A scarlet stream of blood bursts from her lips, painting her confession with the harshness of reality. She momentarily doubles over, holding herself with one hand on the ground while the other presses against her mouth.
Blood seeps through her fingers, falling to the ground and burning it.
Instinctively, I move to help her, but a firm gesture from Luan stops me.
"The mana, the mana is growing." Luan's mana overflows massively, a fiery tide emanating from her with such density it feels like it burns my skin as it passes.
We retreat hastily, feeling the ground itself begin to melt under the intense heat generated by her unstoppable power. The air thickens, losing oxygen and leaving behind a searing mixture that envelops us in a suffocating atmosphere.
Breathing is difficult, and my eyes burn with dryness.
Our faces reflect the shock at the manifestation of her power, as if witnessing a primordial force defying the very laws of nature.
However, amid the surprise, there's someone who seems completely unaffected.
"HAHAHA!" Roswaal bursts into laughter and, without warning, lunges at the defenseless figure of Luan.
"LUAN!" I scream, trying to help.
Despite her attempts to stand, Luan is powerless against the slash of Roswaal's charred hand aimed at her neck. Roswaal's hand explodes into countless dust particles that disperse in the air, creating a fleeting but impactful effect.
Luan falls to the ground, unconscious, unable to do anything more.
Carefully, Roswaal observes his missing limb, his smiling gaze telling me that everything is under his control, that we are just part of the show.
"I thought her head would go flying." Roswaal shrugs indifferently. "But well, consider it a favor for the good times we've had together. Though, it won't last long, at least not this you."
As Roswaal advances, he is interrupted by my cunning maneuver.
I take the opportunity to launch a wind bullet, and with surprising agility, Roswaal dodges the projectile. In response, he unleashes a fireball that would be lethal, but his attack is skillfully intercepted by Garfield's robust fist.
My heart pounds again, but I choose to ignore it.
The impact of Garfield's shields initiates the fight against Roswaal.
The confrontation between Garfield and Roswaal becomes a physical dance charged with violence and skill. Their movements are a constant exchange of kicks and punches, a wild choreography that displays both fighters' fury and agility.
'I can only watch.'
Garfield, with the ferocity of a hunting feline, launches powerful kicks, each loaded with the brute strength of an experienced fighter. His punches are quick and direct, aiming to pierce Roswaal's defense with savage precision.
Each movement is a manifestation of his animal nature, a symphony of attacks seeking to unbalance his opponent.
Roswaal, on the other hand, responds with lethal grace. Dodging kicks and blocking punches with fluid movements, he shows physical prowess I didn't think he had. This is different from when we fought.
Garfield, with a guttural roar, breaks the tense silence of the confrontation.
"I'll kill you! You crazy bastard!" he shouts, his voice resonating on the battlefield as he launches an axe kick at Roswaal.
Roswaal, with an unperturbed smile, elegantly slides to evade the incoming kick. His voice is calm but filled with malice.
"Oh, Garfield, always so impulsive. Aren't you tired of being a mere animal?"
Roswaal wastes no time in words and counterattacks with a punch charged with magical energy. Garfield ducks to dodge the blow, his fangs bared, ready to kill.
"Stop babbling, clown!" Garfield responds, launching a series of rapid blows, each accompanied by a roar.
Roswaal, in a dance of graceful movements, avoids each attack, but he can't evade the ferocity of Garfield's final punch. The impact resonates like thunder, making the ground tremble.
"Interesting... but not enough." Roswaal, with a spark of amusement in his eyes, responds with a magical burst that sends Garfield flying backward.
As I watch the fight, my mind searches for the perfect moment to intervene and change the course of the battle.
Garfield quickly recovers and charges at Roswaal again, his eyes filled with determination.
"Don't underestimate me, clown! This time, I'm going to crush you!" he threatens, his words resonating with ferocity as he unleashes a flurry of kicks and punches, his body moving like a whirlwind of fury.
Roswaal, always in control, smiles arrogantly. With precise movements, he grabs Garfield's fist with skill, deflecting each blow with elegance, as if he were dancing to the rhythm of a deadly confrontation.
Roswaal glances at me, then back at Garfield.
"It turns out I'm talented at everything. Just by watching your fighting style, I felt I could learn it and gain a good hand-to-hand combat skill," he declares, his words laden with confidence as he displays his mastery over the elements. "I control all the elements, so it's easy for me to manipulate the environment to my advantage."
Roswaal's smile challenges Garfield, who, undeterred, redoubles his efforts. The dance of kicks and punches intensifies a clash between both.
"It's perfect for me; your studies on magic have helped me immensely. Without a doubt, I must thank you, and your world," Roswaal points at me again, but his gaze holds nothing but murderous intent. "That's why I'm doing you this favor."
I need to find out what Roswaal truly seeks.
Garfield, wrapped in a mix of frustration and determination, charges at Roswaal with a powerful kick, aiming to end the fight once and for all.
"Your time is up, arrogant mage!" Garfield shouts, channeling all his energy into the attack.
However, Roswaal, with his keen perception and magical skill, anticipates the move. With astounding dexterity, he catches Garfield's leg in mid-air, stopping the attack cold.
"Too predictable, beast." Roswaal's voice carries a blend of condescendence and triumph.
In an instant, Roswaal turns the defense into a lethal counterattack. With an elegant spin, he throws Garfield into the air and, with a mana-charged fist, strikes him with overwhelming force. "Magic can generate more brute force than you think." Roswaal's words echo as Garfield is sent spinning through the air, powerless against the impact.
Garfield's body crashes to the ground, creating a cloud of dust that dissipates into the air. Roswaal, standing tall and triumphant, calmly approaches me.
"It was an interesting battle; he will undoubtedly be a valuable piece in the future," Roswaal, with his haughty gaze, confidently proclaims his victory.
We both stand, facing each other in a duel of wills. My mana reserves are limited, insufficient for a significant fight. Even at full power, I'm convinced it would be useless.
'I lack the necessary strength, at least for now.' This is the reality I'm bound to, so I must start accepting it.
"If you refuse to meet with Echidna, what is your true desire then?" My question seems to spark a palpable interest in Roswaal, who approaches me with a hint of menace in the air.
In front of me, he places a hand on his suit and pulls out the Book of Wisdom. I anticipate he's going to read it, but...
"Goa." The book is consumed by flames, disintegrating in a voracious dance of fire. The object of my most fervent desire, the book I longed to see reduced to ashes, has been destroyed by the last person I expected to do so. "You should see your expression, Marco Luz. It seems your obsession with the future surpasses even mine."
'What the hell?'