385 – ███

Back when Finn was still just a mercenary, he’d gone on an ogre hunt with his seniors. It was meant to be a lesson, a chance to learn how to fight the larger breeds of monsters.

He remembered, during the fight, one of the mercenaries in the formation made a mistake. The one meant to draw the ogre’s aggro got the order wrong, and the shield-mercenary in front took the full brunt of the ogre’s blow.

Finn still remembers the sight of that mercenary, sent soaring through the air by the club the monster swung.

*If that hits me, I’m royally screwed.* He thought.

Now, Finn has been blessed by a goddess, trained by the top-tier instructor Bennet, and dipped in a session and pulled out, his power amplified. So he probably wouldn’t be taken down by an ogre, not anymore.

But right now, he’s feeling something similar to that old fear.

*Whoosh──!! Thwack-!*

“You crazy b*stard! 『Magical Guard』⋯⋯ Gerk!”

“Hyung-niiiiim!”

The magical girl is sent flying by the abnormally accelerated forepaw of the black dragon. Despite erecting a thick shield with 『Mana Hardening』, it shattered instantly.

And that’s not all.

“『Radiant Gleam(輝瀲)』──!”

“『Snow Rabbit and Icicles』.”

*Swish, whirr-!*

Selbierre and Baekseol’s fire and ice strike true. But when the acrid smoke clears… there doesn’t seem to be a wound. Just some slight scorching and freezing on the surface.

It moves just fine.

“『Turtle Can’t Beat the Rabbit(龜不勝兔)』, should we put some distance between us?”

“D-Did it even hit?! It’s still fast even after that?!”

Like swatting a fly, from left to right. *Whack.*

“Keuh⋯⋯!”

This time, the black dragon’s swinging arm sends Bennet hurtling away. He lowers his center of gravity, flying close to the ground, then plants 『Howon』 into the earth to barely stop himself.

*Creak. Creak.*

The dragon’s flesh, dangling from black puppeteer strings, moves with a grotesque and delicate grace.

Long, skeletal, practically bone-thin arms. Just looking at them, you’d think they’d snap at the slightest touch. But they are hard and strong.

Is this how fearsome dragons truly are? Can even a weakened body put on a performance like this?

Then, Aisha speaks.

“No. Don’t be fooled by appearances. It’s not just skinny, it’s modified to be okay even when that skinny, so the order is different. It’s cosplaying as looking weak.”

“⋯⋯Modified?”

“Understood.”

The succubi and the fiends are the Black Dragon’s creations, born through research and experimentation. The characteristics of information-based lifeforms, inherent in the succubi, were significantly enhanced in the fiends, their later iteration.

Why wouldn’t the Black Dragon apply these research achievements to its own body?

This is the same beast who tore off its own wings to fashion human-like arms, extending their length to an unholy degree. Remolding its own flesh is not something it shies away from. Its current form is the culmination of that process.

“Its very being exists on the boundary between illusion and reality. As swift as a nightmare, as resolute as a trauma.”

“…So, like the fiends, it’s vulnerable to information-based attacks!”

“Always so optimistic, Hero of the Goddess. Information-based attacks are essential for even making a scratch…” A beat, then, “『Dragonscale Citadel!』”

*Thump.*

*Crrrkk–! Clang!*

As Aisha planted her feet, black dragonscales erupted from the ground, forming a tower. It momentarily halted the swing of the Black Dragon’s arm.

“If we could unleash illusion magic here as well, it’d be incredible. But the Black Dragon’s head is occupied by that crazed mage, so we just need to deal with the arm!”

“Yes!”

Finn swallowed hard, gripping his longsword tighter. If information-based attacks could work, he might be able to weaken the Dragon’s body through a form of hacking.

He glanced towards the Dragon’s head. There, a furious battle raged between the crazed mage, the amethyst Magic Tower Lord, and the Black Dragon.

“…”

Finn was speechless. His pupils dilated in an instant.

If one could visualize the end of the world, would it look something like this?

*Crack. Zzzzzzz, patter.*

Every conceivable sound reverberated, overlapping. Space burned, or ballooned like seen through a magnifying glass, or shattered its texture, leaving only black nothingness.

Shadow and light vanished entirely, then heavy clouds gathered, or ten suns descended, orbiting a gargantuan blade.

A thousand headless figures prayed as countless eyes swam within a rising black sea. Amidst them, violet rays cut across the sky.

Illusion. It’s all an illusion.

Within the spherical radius, a historic battle of illusion magic unfolded, phenomenon so mind-bending that they flickered and changed every single second.

*Thump.* Aisha grabbed Finn’s head and turned it.

“…Ah.”

“Don’t look over there. There’s nothing to gain, and we can’t afford to.”

The Black Dragon had four arms.

Elaine and Cicel were working together to hold one back, and the giant robot『Meteor』was grappling with another.

And Captain Lulu of the Capital Knights, crackling with magic and electricity, capably handled one arm. Thunderous lightning resounded continuously. But it didn’t seem like the fight would end soon.

A stalemate. If either side were to falter, the battle would quickly turn against them.

“In other words, we need to finish off that other one, quick. Pile on every debuff we’ve got and roast it with Selvier. Move!”

“Yessir!”

*Charrrr-!*

Baekseol’s *Guibul Seungto* (Demon Buddha Ascending Soil), Envers’ *Jeowang Geomhyeong* (Emperor Sword Form), Yuri Ranster’s *Bonmang Gusok* (Instinctual Binding).

Virtuoso skills, each capable of overwhelming an opponent even when manifested alone, poured down onto a single arm. Followed by techniques to further erode its fortitude.

“*Dictum: The goddess’s trumpet shatters the walls!*”

“*Regret’s Fullness*, suck it in… suck it in and spit it right back out!”

Sacred light and thorny vines burned and weakened it. Furthermore.

” …*Magical Rope!*”

Oh Dae-su used his mana ribbon to climb onto the black dragon’s arm. Then, he drew *Jeongyuk Jajae* (Free Butchery)’s dagger from his pocket.

He couldn’t risk sending Hayang into the fray, so he’d kept her on standby in the rear, only borrowing her Virtuoso ability manifested in the dagger beforehand. The range was just barely within reach.

*Kkak, Pook-!* It was driven into the flesh.

“Now, Kim Hayang!”

-*Mooong.*

*Woodudeudeuk-!*

Upon the signal, *Jeongyuk Jajae* activated from afar. The black dragon’s muscles and bones twisted haphazardly, creating fissures.

Every means was used to render it as soft as possible, to its limit. Now.

“Everyone, turn your backs to ground zero and protect your eyes! Final phase — *Supernova!*”

A star was unleashed.

*Kwaaah-!!*

—

*Make me use my full strength.*

—

It felt like playing Othello on an infinitely wide board, in units of comma seconds. I was devoting every ounce of processing power I possessed to this magical tug-of-war.

Flipping. Flipping.

Blocking. Deceiving. Stabbing. Deflecting.

Casting countless fishing lines, obscuring the distinction between truth and falsehood. The opponent, too, laid out fishing lines as dense as a kelp forest. Dancing a dance of life and death here.

Sometimes, deliberately stepping on the opponent’s landmines. In the long run, a momentary loss could turn into a future gain. This was deception. Perhaps the black dragon was thinking the same thing.

So, it was a situation where we were tearing off pieces of our own flesh and throwing them at each other. We used even pain and damage as pigments to paint a larger picture.

Using any means necessary, without limiting our imagination.

I can no longer see. I’m forced to rely on a patchwork of magical senses instead. The world is kaleidoscopic, dark, numerical, and cold enough to sting.

It’s been maybe thirty seconds since I relinquished normal perception. I’ve been slime, a butterfly, and at times, a lamb sizzling crisp over the sulfurous fires of hell.

Subjectively, it feels like ten hours have passed.

In this state, I can’t take what I see and hear at face value.

Lost in this mire where reality and illusion are indistinguishable, the only thing I can truly trust is the warmth of another person. The adorable girl pressed against my back.

My love.

“Outside… it looks like everyone is doing well!”

That’s a relief. Thank you, Yuna.

But the thanks will have to wait. I can’t afford to relax.

Right.

Not even a sliver of complacency. I’m truly giving the best performance I’m capable of right now. After all, the opponent is that Black Dragon.

I’m accounting for every possibility. My head is burning, and I see so much. The fact that the remaining black mages haven’t shown themselves, the Sword Saint’s disappearance…

I’ve already envisioned the worst-case scenario. And prepared for it. I can activate the ‘Celestial Demon’ module at any moment, and deflect any bizarre attack that might come my way.

Other aspects are considered. Even if all of this is part of a feint… perhaps the black mages are attacking Crownshold…

Signal beacons have been placed at each of the Empire’s key points, just in case. Even if they try to strike from behind, we’re ready to repel them.

I leave no room for error. I give my all.

Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.

The Black Dragon has something akin to consciousness. Perhaps the remnants of the black mages pulled some trick. If it was just the dragon’s body, this would have been over a long time ago. It’s become a bit more difficult.

But running a cautious, pessimistic calculation of our chances of victory, the figure comes out to 76% at this point. And it’s slowly climbing.

Yes.

With each move, my illusions gain more ground, while the Black Dragon’s incomplete illusion fades like a candle starved of oxygen.

The repeated calculations agree. Do you know the feeling of a ship slowly listing? It’s a sensation you occasionally get while playing a game. Gradually pushing your opponent into the quicksand of defeat.

I can feel those subtle gradients and differences in elevation with my entire body.

It’s thanks to Yuna. The ‘Subtraction’ she casts at the crucial moments is shattering the Black Dragon’s fatal moves, again and again.

Now… I think I can reach out and touch that lizard’s throat.

That thing tried to take me, to steal so much from me. It actively involved itself in the misfortunes of those I love, and it will continue to do so if it lives.

I should hate it. I should be consumed with rage. But even those emotions are suppressed right now. I dispassionately administer the execution. Any tremor could lead to failure.

It’s tilting. Slowly, incrementally tilting… victory flutters in the air.

At a certain point, once it’s tilted too far, there’s no turning back. Victory might be a narrow thing, but defeat is so sudden. That’s why I prepare. Because it will do something to try and reverse the situation.

Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha!

Laughter. It approaches.

The Black Dragon’s maw gaped wide. At the battle’s start, he’d stuck out his tongue in a comical fashion. Back then, I’d confirmed there was nothing within his oral cavity.

And yet, it was precisely *because* of that, that I considered it highly probable to be 『Deception』. *Look, there’s nothing in my mouth*. An action meant to instill such a notion.

Preparing to activate 『Celestial Demon』.

A flicker. Within slowed time, a strange light glinted from the Black Dragon’s dark gullet. After comparing it to countless patterns, I concluded it was light reflected off a blade.

A human form erupts.

The Boy Knight. The Empire’s Sword Saint. He gazed at me with dull eyes, expressing an abyss-deep melancholy laced with aggression.

“Bloom(羽化), 『Impact(擊物)』.”

A fatal move. A being who had reached sublimation, surprisingly swinging his sword at my neck. But this, too, was within expectations.

At this juncture, I shall also make my decisive play.

I beseech 『The Promise』. As I did with 『The Lamb』, I unleash 100% of my being, in exchange for loosening the internal seals.

*Woosh*. As if a torrent, pouring inwards.

Omnipotence.

Within perception stretched to its utmost limits, I was able to forge the 『Scenario』 to be embedded within the Black Dragon. Deflect the Boy Knight’s attack, and insert the 『Beacon』 into that gaping maw.

And then fire the super-massive Wave-Shattering Mysterious Technique, 『Longinus』, to kill him.

Splitting seconds into thousands, tens of thousands of fragments, I manipulate them. If I do so, even the Sword Saint’s strike can be deflected, so long as the correct direction and force are applied.

*Tap*. With a finger, I twist the path of the blade.

*Swoosh*.

And it passes by. Naturally. Freely. Following that, I draw out the 『Beacon』 from within my sleeve. Now, all that remains is to toss this in, and it will all be over.

It was long.

I do not leave behind any reserves until the very last moment. I do not let my guard down until the end.

I decipher all the illusion magic the Black Dragon emits, read his intentions, and manipulate my magic power ceaselessly, unleashing spells as if to crush him. There is no exit.

Just before the outcome is decided. I saw the creature’s eyes.

“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”

■■■ was smiling.

—

I know. I know it. I am aware.

That human organism called 『The Mad Wizard』 is extraordinarily intelligent. ■■■ knew better than anyone that with a body lacking soul, heart, or trusted aide, it was an existence one could not overcome.

Wasn’t that why he had been bested? Ha. Ha. Ha.

Therefore, ■■■ had but a single chance. When he loosened his seals and unleashed his 100%. When he showcased, without reservation, an intellect bordering on godhood. That very moment.

The seal weakens. An escape through the breach, then?

Surely not. Impossible, that way. That was not ■■■’s gambit. The maddened mage did not let his guard down.

Didn’t he claim to manifest at one hundred percent? To attempt a rupture of the wavering seal would invite a crushing blow from his immense computational power, directed at the escaping soul. The avatar entity, 『Promise』, serves as a further restraint.

But…■■■’s target lies elsewhere. The opposite, in fact.

Herein lies a delectable blind spot. 『The Maddened Mage』 remains ignorant of his own brilliance.

Ha. Ha. Ha.

Naturally. He has lost the memories of his past, and invests the bulk of his computational prowess in thwarting ■■■. This marks only the second instance he’s drawn upon the full hundred percent.

And such superior intellect is, in a manner of speaking, akin to a vehicle hurtling at high velocity. No matter how forcefully the brakes are applied, an immediate stop is unattainable.

Yes, unattainable.

■■■ knows the value of a name better than anyone. Indeed, the technique of devouring existence through 『Name-Eating』 was first attempted by ■■■ himself. The maddened mage merely imitated it.

Therefore, he held a contingency, should he ever lose his own name. A backup, pre-created within this world. Like displaying a ‘password hint’ to one who has lost their account.

Nailed to somewhere in this world, never to be erased.

Now.

Already, the ‘hints’ abound, and the maddened mage knows it well. He has consciously ignored them, but can do so no longer.

Before ‘cancel’ can be pressed, his superior mind will have already completed the calculation.

Now, a single question will suffice.

—

Clue one. The Black Dragon understands the power of names, and therefore must have a failsafe against the erasure of his own.

No.

Clue two. The Black Dragon established the Empire as his primary playground, and maintains deep ties with the Imperial Family.

Do not think.

Clue three. Irid had once remarked to the First Prince: “Brother, your name is strange, exceedingly unique. Is it a name befitting a future Emperor?”

You mustn’t remember.

But the flow of thought proved unstoppable. The brain was mercilessly swift, leaping ahead before it could be reigned in. I already knew.

My hand reached out, but failed to grasp it. I merely brushed the fletching of the launched arrow.

A question echoed in my mind.

… … … ….

Q. Do you know what my name is?

A. Crown.

The Black Dragon Crown.

Rather.

If you’d let your guard down even by a single percent, you’d have won. You maddening mage.

⋯⋯⋯⋯.

A soundless shift.

All upon the battlefield felt it. As if someone had shattered a water glass amidst a party, the atmosphere twisted in an instant. The air, thick and heavy, clung.

To draw a breath⋯⋯ it felt as though the air sprouted tendrils, gripping and tearing at the entirety of one’s throat as it descended. An involuntary retch threatened to erupt.

And all beheld it.

At the center of the fray, where the maddening mage and the Black Dragon had clashed, a most peculiar thing was unfolding. From the forehead of the mage with raven hair and crimson eyes, a faint, spectral shadow unfurled.

Then, *thud*. The mage’s body collapsed, like a puppet with severed strings.

“Mima, wake up. What’s wrong? Mima!”

“H-hey, snap out of it⋯⋯!”

Yuna and Yuri clung to him, shaking his form, but his eyelids remained sealed shut. The maddening mage’s soul was bound to his mortal coil.

The Dragon Heart, which he had controlled, pulsed with an ominous black light.

The dragon’s soul and heart hovered, suspended in the air, before plunging down his throat and beyond. And then.

*Thump*. *Thump*. *Thump*.

The world trembled. As the Dragon Heart pulsed anew, the reverberations seemed to shake the very foundations of existence. And a transformation, both sacred and profane, transpired.

Have you ever witnessed the birth of a god?

The world contorted and screamed. The sky darkened, and a black sun, shimmering with darkness, bathed all in its light. The divinity of the Goddess radiated, but it could not breach the encroaching black, where every color had been subsumed.

And amidst it all, silhouetted against the chaotic darkness, the Black Dragon, Crown, had finally come to pass.

The obsidian dragon rose slowly into the heavens, ascending. To a place befitting divine majesty, rising once more to somewhere in the celestial realm.

Yet, as the dragon ascended, all else descended. Mountains, grass, flowers, and humans alike. All felt worthless and inconsequential, as though they were mere playthings.

When a god looks down upon humanity, how dare one deem oneself worthy of esteem? Only by abject self-degradation could one elevate that great deity.

The masochism of the world extolled the Black Dragon.

And there was a divine decree.

[You shall be invited to my den, I promised a lifetime of games so, please do not refuse.]

*Flicker*. *Flicker*. A glossy black sheen flashed across the bodies of the people. Bennet and Fin realized it at once.

“⋯⋯T-this, this light is⋯⋯ from back then.”

“Th-the Goddess emptied her trumpet when hole appeared! A-are we looking at the same thing⋯⋯?!”

『Forced Exile』.

Phat. Phaat.

Light flickered, and one by one, they vanished. Separated by space, they were transported to the Imperial Capital, the Dragon’s Lair: 『Crown Hall』.

He who drew his sword, he who reached for his fallen comrade, he who shielded a child, he who gripped the controls, and.

“No, I can’t──”

“Damn it! Not like this, absolutely──”

Even the women, worried for the safety of their loved ones. All of them.

The Eastern Front was utterly emptied. And here remained only a mad magician, unconscious, and a young knight, sword drawn, gazing up at the sky.

“…Pointless.”

It was over.

Thud. Thud.

The young knight, the Empire’s Sword Saint, the Black Dragon Emperor, and the Black Dragon’s plaything… lifted his longsword above the magician lying as if in slumber.

And struck.