Chapter 281

Deciding ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Eurasia's future.

Killian ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was not foolish enough to misunderstand the meaning of those words.

From ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a competition for the family headship to a competition for the throne.

Since ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍his reincarnation, it was a position that had constantly been treated as important, one that every member of Eurasia had been on edge about.

"Before ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that, I need to hear your answer."

Simon ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍quietly rose from his seat.

His low voice echoed through the hollow.

"Why did you cause such a thing to happen?"

"I know you have close ties to the Holy See."

It was more than merely close ties.

Acting on Eurasia's behalf, he had resolved the matter of the Warp Gate, and he had met the Saintess and the Pope—people even great nobles and royalty found it difficult to meet alone—and formed friendly relations with them.

Outwardly, it was all counted as Julian's achievement, but there was not an elder who did not know that Killian stood at its center.

Yet such a man had drawn in the Holy See and ignited the spark of war.

Why did it have to be now?

That was what Simon was asking.

"There is a man named Yulian in the Extermination Squad."

Born a commoner, he had no family name. He was a talented knight acknowledged by Escardo, the former commander of the Extermination Squad, and Bastian.

He was a man who had devoted himself to Eurasia since its days as a family and had held the position of the Extermination Squad's second blade for a long time, even after it became a kingdom.

"After discovering important information, he forcibly infiltrated Isaac's estate with the other members of the Extermination Squad. Then he was captured by Isaac Heinrich."

"……"

Simon tilted his head as though telling him to continue.

"Fortunately, I heard the others had only suffered serious injuries and survived. I thought it was a blessing amid misfortune."

"Are you saying you did it to save your subordinate?"

"No. By the time I had gathered information about him, I had already received the report that he was dead and had become undead."

Isaac Heinrich's Carpe Illusion, Overlord.

In the war with Eurasia, he had even displayed black magic that commanded the dead using Magic God Stones.

Such a man had taken Yulian's life and made him his knight.

"I was too furious to bear it."

As his commander, he had thought he needed to take measures so Yulian would suffer no further humiliation.

"They are men who have lost much for the kingdom."

He said that he did not want to place that burden upon another member of the Extermination Squad.

"You moved for the sake of one already dead."

Isaac Heinrich's estate was positioned close enough that it would not have been strange for the Empire's elite soldiers to storm it at any time.

Yet Killian had risked his life relying on information from Walker, who had established a position in the Empire.

And he had drawn others into it as well.

"That was childish behavior."

Simon rebuked him calmly.

"The position of commander of the Extermination Squad is one of the kingdom's pillars. Yet it was not enough that you valued your subordinate's life more than your own."

Disappointment was contained within his even voice.

"You used personal ties to spread the war."

He condemned him for drawing in the Holy Nation.

"In order to uphold your duty toward a subordinate, you became the fuse of a war that could take countless lives."

"It was a war that had to happen someday."

The Empire's emperor's ascension and Eurasia's postwar recovery had merely left matters in an in-between state.

"It was something that ultimately had to happen someday."

"It did not have to be now."

Simon's response was cold.

"The kingdom has not yet made preparations sufficient to stand against the Empire. Nor have we finished subjugating the eastern frontier mountain range."

"The more time we spend that way, the more solid their preparations will become……"

"According to Julian's report, traces of a Monster Lord were found."

"……"

"A warp formula that crosses the mountain range at will. If things go wrong, we may have to handle both a Monster Wave and a war with the Empire."

It was the situation Eurasia had been forced to face hundreds of years ago.

"You caused this even knowing that."

Killian knew better than anyone.

Even so, he had thought it necessary.

"I do not know whether you are qualified to be one of the kingdom's pillars."

The words stabbed deeply.

Had it been a rebuke delivered by a sword, he might have let it pass without much concern.

But not now.

He was a human being with a body of flesh and bone.

He was revered as a great knight after additionally forging two hearts of immense power.

But in truth, he was one fragile human being capable of feeling emotions.

That must have been why.

Before he realized it, he had opened his mouth in defiance.

"Did Your Majesty not also cast aside many things to devote yourself to the sword?"

In the days when Eurasia was a family, he had entrusted the role of family head to those around him in order to reach 8-Star. After it became a kingdom, he had entrusted the role of king to others in order to reach 9-Star.

"In the end, Your Majesty likewise failed to fulfill your role and responsibilities."

Saying there was no reason for him alone to be condemned, Killian shot back sharply.

"If anyone is to condemn me, it should be them, not Your Majesty."

He had expected to receive some pressure upon returning to the kingdom.

But he had thought Simon Eurasia would be different.

If it was the man who had raised the family with the sword alone, the man with a will strong enough to remind him of his ancestor Edan Eurasia, then Killian had believed he would support him.

Perhaps he felt this way because Simon Eurasia was not just anyone.

He was the knight Killian acknowledged and respected.

And, before he knew it, as Killian Eurasia had completely adapted to his reincarnated body, he had become his father.

"That is an immature remark."

Simon spoke in an icy voice.

"A knight speaks with his sword."

Shhk.

The sword resting on the floor was grasped in his hand as though drawn into it.

Tetillon.

The famed sword Simon Eurasia had used since he was a Superhuman.

"Prove it."

"It is not as though I cannot."

Shing.

He drew Anima.

The elven sword whose blade had not suffered the slightest damage despite successive battles.

‘I have recovered enough.’

Treatment using Recovery Potions and divine power.

He had replenished all the mental power expended on Isaac at the Pantera Temple.

Ssssss.

Green mana surged over the sword.

"Are you imitating elven swordsmanship?"

‘Imitating?’

Whether it was imitation or the real thing.

"You will know once you receive it yourself."

Bang!

An impact rang out that was difficult to believe had come from two swords colliding.

Kagagagak.

The locked blades strained against each other.

"You will have to give it your all. If you cannot prove it, you will pay the price."

Simon gave a warning that was not quite a warning.

"Direction."

Mana surged in Killian's eyes.

Though he was not unfolding Carpe Illusion, he could see the entwined lines of mana around Simon.

‘I will occupy the domain.’

"Carpe."

Killian released all the power he had kept hidden.

Kugugugu!

A shockwave powerful enough to shake the hollow swept through it.

Kkaang!

Simon pushed Killian back.

Whoosh.

With another swing, he cut through the mana and Haki occupying the hollow.

Yet Killian paid it no mind and transformed his two manas.

"Carpe Illusion."

Green and violet mana filled the area.

Ssssss—

Green undergrowth sprouted beneath his feet.

"Elvenheim."

Rustle. Rustle.

The grown vines approached Simon.

Then.

"Carpe Illusion."

Rumble.

Violet mana took shape above the undergrowth.

"Violet Magic Tower."

The magic tower, Cornelia's symbol, materialized.

[The Magic Tower's system activates.]

[Recognizing a ‘Giant Entity.’]

The now-familiar voice of ‘Violet’ lingered by his ear.

"Cornelia's Magic Tower."

His interested reaction lasted only a moment.

The instant Simon swung his sword again.

Kwaang!!

Killian, who had pushed off the ground, blocked Tetillon with Anima.

Branches and vines extending from the green domain bound Simon's feet.

Ssssss—

Mana began to be drawn in.

Violet mana surged over Killian's sword.

While their blades remained crossed.

"Carpe Illusion."

He unfolded his final domain.

"Total Solar Eclipse."

Kwaaaaa—

Eight spheres formed of mana rose above their heads.

Kkaang!

Simon was driven backward by Killian's swing.

Simon swept his gaze over the three unfolded Carpe Illusions.

"……"

The strength of a knight who had mastered 8-Star.

The three domains pressed down upon his entire body.

He could tell.

In this current domain, even an ordinary Superhuman would not be able to swing a sword.

If there were more than ten knights at the 7-Star level, they would not be able to endure it.

It was a domain capable of holding two or more 8-Star Superhumans at once.

"Unless they are of Escardo's caliber, it will be difficult for knights to break through this domain."

I would like to see more.

Simon's eyes, which had swallowed those unspoken words, turned cold again.

This was not a spar.

It was a duel in which he had to crush his opponent's body and mind and defeat him.

"Crude."

Kwarrrr—

Tetillon was covered in grey mana.

Killian's brow twitched.

‘Surely not…….’

"Carpe."

Kwarung!

Grey lightning struck the Violet Magic Tower directly.

That was only the beginning.

Kwarung! Kwarrrrr!

Haki striking in the form of lightning wildly entangled the surrounding flow of mana.

‘Using Haki in this way…….’

Killian was greatly flustered by a technique he had never seen before.

Simon appeared satisfied by the situation.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa—

Haki raged.

Elvenheim caught fire.

The Magic Tower shook under the continuous strikes.

The Total Solar Eclipse that should have controlled the domains.

"Eurasia Style, Grey Thorns."

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

Eight spheres were pierced by four thorns.

[Domain ‘Total Solar Eclipse’ is shaking.]

[Domain ‘Elvenheim’ is shaking.]

The Violet Magic Tower warned him of the danger.

As if it would permit no further attacks.

[Activating the magic Solaris.]

The Violet Magic Tower confined Simon.

Fwoosh. Fwoosh.

Two spheres rose around Simon.

An 8-Star spell that held the sun's heat.

Its power did not fall short even of what Hegel Cornelia had used, yet.

Cr-r-rumble—

The Solaris that touched Simon's grey mana vanished just like that.

‘Magic nullification……?’

[Activating the magic Giga Lightning.]

[Activating the magic Ice Age.]

[Activating the magic Wind Break.]

7-Star and 8-Star magic followed without rest.

Even so.

Crumble—crumble.

The moment they touched the grey mana, they vanished helplessly.

Soon, mana began to gather around Simon.

Kwarrrrrrrr.

The air rang.

Then.

"Carpe Illusion."

Like a ball of thread unraveling, the gathered mana spewed out tens of thousands of mana lines.

Simon's lips moved.

"……!!"

Killian could not hear the words Simon uttered.

Because everything vanished in an instant.

Sound and light alike.

Stillness and darkness came to that empty place.

Then.

Fwoosh!

When he regained his sight.

The colors around him had faded.

It was an appearance that truly suited the description grey.

It was a domain in which time flowed exceedingly slowly.

His body would not move as he wished.

Simon took a step.

Though his own body did not move as if time had stopped, Simon alone was walking.

‘What in the world is this…….’

The closer the distance between them became.

The more Killian's mana reacted.

Thud—

The eight spheres fell.

Wither—

The forest withered.

Kwaang—

The tower collapsed.

[Total Solar Eclipse is……]

[……venheim is…… released……]

[……Tower is…… collapsing……]

Only then did the Magic Tower's broken voice reach him.

Step.

Simon, standing before him, raised his sword.

Tetillon's cold edge touched his throat.

At that moment.

Fwaaaaaash.

The moment in which the colors were fading repeated itself, and everything returned to its original color.

"Killian Eurasia."

Simon's voice rang through the hollow.

Killian could tell that time was flowing at its proper speed again.

Trickle.

Blood ran from the neck Tetillon had cut.

Killian faced reality.

"……I lost."

Swish.

Simon sheathed his sword.

"From this moment, you are stripped of your position as commander of the Extermination Squad."