Part one hundred sixty one— What Nero Called a Mission

　Back at Horizoncrest, Queen Mirabel's formal recognition papers arrived — a request to make Horizoncrest a legitimate nation, already witnessed and endorsed by both Ashford and Myrath.

　Kai signed them without properly looking up from the work in front of him, entirely absorbed in his project, then immediately returned to it.

　Meanwhile, in Teorema, Jiro's ambitions had grown considerably beyond simple influence.

　His Unique Skill — Domination — didn't stop at control. When a target was killed, their skills and abilities were transferred directly to him.

　Greed, meanwhile, worked quietly alongside it, deepening every appetite it touched.

Father first. Then the strongest fighters Teorema has left. Two hundred of them, marching to their deaths against Horizoncrest. And every single ability they carry becomes mine the moment they fall.

　That afternoon, he sat in his father's garden, calmly braiding his sister's hair while a private smile played across his face.

Everything's going exactly according to plan.

　He had no idea that he was the same man who had once killed the very person Kai used to be.

　Later that afternoon, Ivy found Kai in the facility, midway through fusing a particularly delicate cluster of stabilization spells.

　"Kai," she said, her voice urgent enough to finally pull his attention away from the work. "Teorema's marching an army toward us. Two hundred spirit summoners and two hundred soldiers."

　Kai carefully set the spellwork aside, genuinely irritated for the first time in weeks.

　"Just give me one reason Teorema decided to become my enemy. And why does every single kingdom keep declaring war without so much as a warning first?"

　"The Hero genuinely hates Demon Lords," Ivy said. "Apparently, unconditionally."

　"Then why come after me specifically, when there are other Demon Lords out there?"

　Chloe, who had remained quiet until then, offered her own thought.

　"Maybe because you're new. They probably think you don't know how to properly use your own power yet."

　"Correct," Ivy said.

　"Oh — I was?" Chloe said, looking pleased with herself.

　"I don't have time for this," Kai said, already thinking ahead. "Thanks for telling me. I'll handle it."

　He called for Nero.

　Nero appeared instantly.

　"You called, Lord Kai. I already know what's happening. How do you want this handled?"

　"I don't want to stop what I'm doing right now," Kai said. "Go stop their advance before it reaches Horizoncrest. And please — don't be like Enzo about it."

　Nero laughed.

　"Depends entirely on their first impression."

I have a bad feeling about this.

　Kai watched him leave.

　"Should I accompany him?" Ivy asked.

　"Good idea," Kai said. "Go with him."

　The two left together, and Kai turned back to his work, as determined as ever not to let any real danger reach Horizoncrest's actual borders before it was handled properly.

　Teorema's forces were crossing a shallow lake when Nero and Ivy appeared above them.

　"Remember," Ivy said, "Lord Kai said not to kill them."

　Nero snapped his fingers.

　The entire army — soldiers, summoners, the king, and the prince — collapsed instantly, unconscious.

　"Are you kidding me?" Ivy said, rounding on him. "I just said don't kill them!"

　"I put them to sleep," Nero said, completely unbothered. "Relax."

　"For how long?"

　"Roughly a thousand years," he said after a moment's thought. "Or forever, honestly. Uncertain if they'll actually wake up again. Permanent sleep, I suppose, technically."

　Ivy stared at him, entirely out of patience.

　That was when a bright golden beam suddenly lanced toward them.

　Ivy dodged clear.

　Nero simply stood there and took it directly.

　Judgment.

　The Hero's ultimate attack.

　"You'll pay for what you did," Valt Horax said grimly. "You're next."

　He turned toward Ivy.

　The light cleared.

　Nero blinked.

　"Huh? What was that?"

　He looked down at himself.

　Not a single mark.

　"Was that you?"

　"Why didn't it work?" the Hero demanded, genuine shock cracking through his composure. "That attack erases anything it touches from existence."

　"I've got resistance to that kind of thing," Nero said mildly. "Knew someone who used similar attacks once. Honestly, it was annoying."

　His gaze shifted toward the battlefield.

　"Ivy, look — one's still standing. Guess I didn't kill everyone after all."

　"Let's just report this to Lord Kai," Ivy said, exhausted.

　As they turned toward the mist gate, the Hero fired again.

　The beam shattered the gate entirely before catching Ivy's left arm.

　"You might resist my attacks," Valt said, "but she clearly doesn't."

　Ivy's severed arm regenerated instantly, whole once again.

　"You too?" the Hero said, staring in disbelief.

　"Not exactly," Nero said. "She's just benefiting from Null mana."

　He smiled faintly.

　"I'm built different."

　Nero appeared directly in front of the Hero.

　Then he flicked him with a single finger.

　Valt Horax was launched into a nearby rock formation with enough force to die instantly.

　"Mission accomplished," Nero said, satisfied.

　Ivy pressed a hand against her forehead.

　"You call this mission accomplished?"

　They left.