Chapter 5: The Intensifying Battle

“《Activate spell・Blaze Burst》!”

Kash raised the《Mage’s Staff》and chanted the prescribed incantation.

At once, the Black Magic [Blaze Burst] activated, and a fireball shot from the staff’s tip into the sky.

The fireball struck a golem puppet descending from above, exploding on impact. Like the《Ship of Flames》, the golem puppet, materialized through mana, shattered into a radiant mist of mana and disintegrated.

“Incredible, this staff… Is this military magic? It’s kinda freaking me out…”

Kash, trembling with both awe and fear, stared at the staff, its tip still smoking.

The《Mage’s Staff》was embedded with three military magic spells, known as the basic three attributes—Black Magic [Lightning Pierce], [Blaze Burst], and [Ice Blizzard]. Even if the user hadn’t mastered these spells, they could activate them with their own mana, the proper incantation, and minimal training—a remarkable piece of equipment.

In times of war or emergency, the imperial government secretly stored vast quantities of these magical devices in the academy to turn students into makeshift mage-soldiers.

Naturally, for high-ranking mages, this staff was practically obsolete—its power was fixed, limited to three spells, incapable of impromptu modifications, and could never be cast faster than a two-verse chant. But for the current academy students, it granted immense power.

After all, a group of mages firing in unison was incomparably stronger than any ordinary army.

“—《Activate spell・Lightning Pierce》!”

Beside Kash, Gibul raised his staff and chanted the incantation.

Bolts of lightning shot from the staff, striking down approaching flying puppets one after another.

“If you’ve got time to yap, shoot more of ’em down!”

“I-I got it! 《Activate spell・ Blaze Burst》—!”

The students, lined up along the rooftop’s railing, formed a defensive formation, desperately casting offensive spells to create a barrage, preventing the swarm of golem puppets descending from the sky from reaching the academy building.

Countless fireballs, lightning bolts, and ice storms crisscrossed the sky, forming an overwhelming magical barrage above the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy.

The first row of students handled the attacks.

The second row was tasked with defense—operating in pairs, forming a single tactical unit.

““““《O radiant barrier of protection》—!””””

The second-row students raised both hands overhead, chanting in unison. A massive barrier of magical light formed above them—

DODODODODO!

It blocked every single heat ray fired from the eyes of the golem puppets in the sky.

“Don’t falter!”

As the barrier clashed with the heat rays, causing a stir among the first-row students, Kash shouted to rally them.

“With counterspells and these protective robes, you won’t die that easily! Keep attacking! Don’t stop! Take down as many as you can!”

Thanks to brave, high-spirited students like Kash…

“Hmph… 《Activate spell・ Blaze Burst》!”

And Gibul, who was racking up an overwhelmingly higher kill count, even students with near-zero combat experience managed to hold back the enemy’s assault.

“Yare yare… I’m glad we learned that two-man-cell, one-unit tactic from Sensei back then…”

“…It’s annoying to admit, but I agree.”

While fending off enemies, Kash and Gibul exchanged such words.

However, the sheer number of descending enemies was overwhelming. Inevitably, some slipped through.

Occasionally, golem puppets broke through the barrage, landing on the rooftop or clinging to the academy’s walls.

But in those moments—

“Fuhahahahahahaha—! Go, Glenn-Robooooooooo!”

“Don’t you dare lay a hand on my students!”

Orwell’s remotely controlled Glenn-Robo pulverized golems with its fists—

“Hoi, hoi, hoi!”

Bernard, ignoring gravity as he darted freely across the academy’s walls in all directions, wielded a musket and steel threads, dismantling golems in an instant.

Bernard’s movements were unrestrained. Using steel threads like wires, he swung from one side of the building to the other like a pendulum, or kicked off walls with nothing to grab onto—

“Haaaaaaa—!”

He swung his mighty right arm, slamming his fist into the torso of a golem clinging to the wall.

At the moment of impact, an explosive flame spell activated, and the puppet shattered into pieces.

In midair, Bernard released another steel thread, using it as a wire to swing swiftly to another part of the academy…

“What the hell is that freakish mobility…? Is that really a human’s movement?”

“Also, why is the commander fighting on the front lines…?”

Though undeniably reliable, Bernard’s acrobatic movements, far beyond human imagination or common sense, left Kash and Gibul dumbfounded.

“This is no time to gawk, boys!”

Meanwhile, Glenn-Robo’s swift steps and right straights cleaved through golems landing on the rooftop, splitting them in two.

Controlled by Orwell’s remote command magic, Glenn-Robo moved with a precision and smoothness unimaginable from its shoddy appearance, capable of ultra-high-speed combat maneuvers.

Its movements were clearly beyond the capabilities of modern magical puppets, and its fistfighting style was virtually indistinguishable from Glenn’s. Orwell’s skill in manipulating magical puppets was exceptionally advanced.

“Hah! Leave the enemies that get too close to me, Orwell Schuzer!”

Thanks to this unexpected additional force, the students successfully repelled the onslaught of golems.

However, the students’ ability to effectively counter the enemy owed much to—

“Shoot them down. Every single one.”

““““Yes, sir!””””

The support sniper team, led by Albert, stationed atop the teleportation tower.

They drastically reduced the number of golem puppets heading toward the academy with precise, horizontal barrages of magical sniping.

“《O lightning spear》”

Albert’s sniping covered the students’ critical moments, as if he had a panoramic view of the entire battlefield.

Among the sniper team, Cecil stood out with exceptional performance.

“《Activate spell・ Lightning Pierce》!”

Cecil, almost possessed, focused on sniping with a hit rate that clearly surpassed the others.

“…Incredible… I can’t afford to lose, either.”

Heinkel’s murmured admiration didn’t reach Cecil in that moment.

(For everyone’s sake… What I can do… What I’m capable of…!)

Thinking of his comrades fighting at the academy, Cecil immersed himself further in his sniping—

““《Activate spell・ Ice Blizzard》!””

Wendy and Teresa stood side by side, raising their staffs, unleashing a storm of freezing air that swept through the enemies in the sky.

“Ugh…! There’s no end to them!”

No matter how many they struck down, new enemies immediately closed in.

As Wendy caught her breath and glanced around, everyone gathered on the rooftop was desperately casting offensive spells toward the sky.

“How long do we have to keep this up…?”

“Wendy! Behind you!”

At Teresa’s warning, Wendy spun around to see a golem puppet that had slipped through—it had landed on the rooftop and was raising its claw to attack her.

“Eek!?”

Caught off guard, Wendy froze, her body stiffening in fear.

“Wendy!”

Teresa threw herself over Wendy, shielding her—

In the next instant—

“—Hmph!”

“Die, you bastard—!”

A sudden gust of wind and a raging tempest swept in from the side, tearing apart the golem puppet that had been about to sink its claws into Teresa’s back.

“That was a close one, wasn’t it?”

“…Don’t let your guard down, you amateurs…”

As Wendy and Teresa clung to each other, they noticed Rize and Jaill standing protectively in front of them.

Rize wielded a rapier—a true blade enchanted with magic—her body cloaked in swirling winds. Jaill, casually shouldering a bastard sword, exuded an aura of immense physical enhancement, far beyond his usual strength.

“Y-You’re the Student Council President, Rize-senpai!?”

Before Wendy’s astonished eyes, Rize manipulated her rapier like the wind, turning the next enemy into a pincushion—

“Don’t just stand there! Did that idiot instructor of yours teach you to slack off!?”

Jaill, with sheer brute force, swung his sword, cleaving the next enemy in half.

“Thanks to Professor Halley, the western building’s situation is quite stable. Jaill-san and I were ordered to act as mobile reinforcements to cover any gaps.”

“If you get it, then hurry up and shoot down those sky-bound bastards!”

Competing with each other, Rize and Jaill swept through the golem puppets that had landed on the rooftop.

“Wendy.”

“Yes… I’m fine now.”

Nodding to each other, Teresa and Wendy resumed firing spells into the sky.

(What am I even doing!?)

Eve swung her right arm, unleashing flames to burn the approaching enemies, all while grinding her teeth in frustration.

(To think that I, of all people, would let those kids—Wendy and the others—face such danger… To need reinforcements from the students because I’m so unreliable…! Me,《Lord Scarlet》—how pathetic is this!?)

Under normal circumstances, defending this academy building should have been a task Eve could handle alone.

Against enemies of this caliber, with a bit of recklessness, she could have covered the entire academy—east, west, south, and north—single-handedly.

Yet, the absolute power she wielded as《Lord Scarlet》was nowhere to be found.

For some reason, her Family Secret Spell [Seventh Garden] wasn’t functioning properly. She couldn’t cast magic with her left hand, and the spells she cast with her right were inexplicably slower and weaker than usual.

Worse, her body felt heavy. Her heart felt heavy. She couldn’t move properly, and she was exhausted… in pain. She wanted to throw everything away, stop moving, and rest.

In her mind’s eye, she saw the maddened gaze of《The Justice》peering scornfully into the depths of her soul.

And the cold, disappointed eyes of her former subordinate, Glenn, looking at her as if she’d let him down…

(What’s wrong with me…? What’s happened to me…? I… I can’t…)

But for the sake of the Ignite name, for Ignite’s honor—

Clinging to that alone, Eve continued to wield her weakened flames—

Meanwhile, inside the academy building—

“Raaah—! Everyone, put more spirit into it! Pour in more mana—!”

“The teachers and everyone else are having an even harder time out there—!”

Students like Kai and Rodd, assigned to maintain the barrier, pressed their hands against the patterns drawn within the building, desperately channeling mana into [Luciel’s Sanctuary] above Fejite.

Occasionally, golem puppets from the sky latched onto the windows, trying to break through the barricade barriers and invade the building.

“Eek—!?”

But such golems were taken down at the last moment by Bernard, who darted freely outside, or by Albert’s magical sniping. Still, each near-invasion gripped the students with heart-stopping terror.

Even so, trusting that those fighting outside would handle it, the students refused to flee, steadfastly offering their mana to sustain the barrier—

The students, the instructors, and the imperial army.

All of them united, relentlessly resisting the aerial assault.

At this moment, the battle was—completely stalemated.

Meanwhile, in the throne room—the control chamber—of the《Ship of Flames》—

“Tch… To think they’d resist this fiercely… Those insignificant humans…!”

The demon, watching the projected images of the ground below, gnashed its teeth in frustration.

Then, it turned its gaze to another projection showing the sky.

There, a majestic golden dragon was charging through the swarm of golems, scattering them forcefully as it closed in on the《Ship of Flames》.

Attempts to intercept it were futile; all the cannons had been destroyed by mysterious attacks from the ground.

“Impossible… Why? How can this be?”

How could mere humans resist the weapons born of ancient wisdom so effectively?

Of course, the demon still had a trump card for ground suppression, but to think it might actually need to use it—against mere humans—was beyond its expectations.

Gnashing its teeth, the demon glanced at its left hand, still stained with the blood of a certain madman.

—I’ll say it as many times as it takes. Humans are wonderful beings—

—You’ll come to realize it, I’m sure. The greatness of human potential—

The words spoken gleefully by that man on the brink of death… they resurfaced in the demon’s mind.

“That’s absurd… Humans are weak, insignificant creatures… They can only be toyed with and reduced to dust before greater, mightier forces… That’s why I… back then…!”

No one was there to hear the demon’s words, tinged with anguish and bitterness.

“We’re here… This is the《Ship of Flames》!”

Leaping from the back of Celica’s dragon form onto the ship’s main deck, Glenn shouted.

The deck, whipped by fierce winds, was so vast and barren it hardly felt like part of a ship.

From the ground or sky, its scale hadn’t been clear, but the《Ship of Flames》was an enormous vessel—a massive warship without masts or sails. In place of masts stood bizarre structures, like stacked cubes and rectangular prisms.

In a world where sail-powered warships still dominated naval fleets, despite recent advances in steam-powered ironclads, this ship’s strange design was unlike anything seen before.

Its material was entirely unknown, resembling red stone or metal, with intricate geometric patterns and characters etched across the hull’s surface.

“Seriously… How the hell is this thing floating in the sky…?”

“Now’s not the time for that debate, Sensei… Though I’m curious, too.”

Sistine landed behind Glenn.

Followed by Rumia and Re=L.

At last, the group had reached the enemy’s stronghold.

“…Thanks, Celica… I put you through a lot…”

“…”

Glenn turned to Celica. The massive form of Celica’s dragon body, crouched on the deck, was battered from forcing its way through the swarm of enemies.

Even without that, days of continuous battle had pushed Celica to her physical and magical limits.

“Rest here… Don’t worry, we’ll be back soon. I’m counting on you for the ride back, okay?”

“…Go. I’ll rest a bit.”

Celica’s dragon form gazed at Glenn with gentle crimson eyes. Then, curling its massive body and closing its eyes, it entered a state of dormant recovery to conserve mana.

“Alright! Let’s go, you guys!”

“Y-Yes!”

“Mm.”

With Glenn in the lead and Re=L at the rear, the group sprinted toward the distant structure.

The deck was eerily deserted, with no one in sight. They had braced for at least some guardian defenders, so the emptiness was almost anticlimactic.

Soon, the massive geometric structure loomed before them. A large gate stood at its front.

It seemed to be the entrance to the ship’s interior—Glenn thought as much when, suddenly—

There was a person by the gate.

“Who’s that…!?”

The figure sat slumped against the wall, limbs limp and lifeless. Covered in blood, with a gaping hole in their left chest, it was clear at a glance that they were dead.

And what shocked Glenn the most—

“You—Jatice!?”

“No way…!?”

Glenn froze in shock, and Sistine instinctively covered her mouth, standing rooted to the spot.

There was no mistaking it. The body was none other than Jatice Lowfan.

“Why the hell are you here…!?”

While Sistine stood frozen, Glenn, cautiously holding his pistol, methodically examined Jatice’s body.

The result—

“It’s him… No mistake. Definitely not a flesh golem or a tulpa.”

“R-Really…!?”

Sistine, unable to believe it, was at a loss for words.

“I don’t know why he’s here. Did he sneak aboard alone to take down the demon? Or did he have some other goal? …But one thing’s certain: Jatice Lowfan is dead…”

The deep, unbreakable bond of enmity between Glenn and Jatice.

To think it would end so abruptly, so anticlimactically?

“Glenn… I don’t think now’s the time to space out.”

“Y-Yeah, Sensei! Sure, he was a vile criminal, and I don’t want to speak ill of the dead, but… this is for the best! You don’t need to get involved with someone like him!”

Re=L’s murmur was echoed by Sistine’s agreement.

…She was right. Failing to avenge Sera left a bitter taste, but avoiding a fight with such a madman was undoubtedly better.

It was a complicated feeling, hard to fully accept.

“…Got it. Let’s go.”

As if convincing himself, Glenn said this and led the group through the gate, infiltrating the ship’s interior—

After advancing a short distance inside—

“This is it, huh?”

Before they realized it, Glenn and the others found themselves in a strange space.

The walls, corridors, and floor had vanished. They stood in an infinite expanse resembling a universe filled with twinkling silver stars.

It felt similar to the《Corridor of Stars》they had passed through at the Taum Celestial Temple.

“Tch, the space is clearly warped… If we’re not careful, we might never get out of here.”

Sistine muttered nervously.

“Rumia. Can you… really handle this?”

At Glenn’s call, Rumia stepped forward quietly.

Taking a deep breath…

“Yes.”

That was her only reply.

“Really!? This space is clearly not something our era’s magic can just handle! Even with the assistance of your ability—”

“It’s okay, Sistie.”

Then, Rumia gave a reassuring chuckle.

“《Born from the gate, I who came from the sky shall tear apart the first chain》…”

She chanted a spell with a strange, resonant tone—

That was the moment.

“—!?”

Rumia’s hands, clasped as if in prayer, began to glow silver—

Illuminating the dark space brilliantly, like the moon—

And—at that moment, a memory from the other night suddenly flashed through Rumia’s mind—

“—Huh!?”

Rumia could only falter in shock.

In the Forest of the Lost, north of the academy.

“Have you resolved to abandon your humanity?”

To Rumia, Nameless spoke of such resolve…

“Yes.”

The moment Rumia answered without hesitation…

Nameless’s outstretched hand swung sideways, as if to slap Rumia’s cheek.

Nameless had no physical form. Naturally, her hand merely passed through Rumia.

“…Nameless…san?”

But Rumia couldn’t hide her shock at Nameless’s unexpected action.

‘—Idiot.’

Nameless’s eyes darkened with quiet anger, her voice hard and cold.

‘Why… are you always like this!? Didn’t I tell you!? I absolutely hate that part of you!’

“I’m sorry… I don’t understand what you’re so angry about…”

‘Oh, of course you don’t! You probably never will! Ugh… maybe I should just let that girl sleep quietly as is… with a vessel like this in this lifetime… but…’

For a while, Nameless wrestled with an expression of hesitation and bitterness.

‘…Rumia. I’ll explain about us. We are “existences that give.”’

“…Existences that give?”

‘Yes, exactly. You have an idea, don’t you?’

Her ability: Sympathetic Amplifier. But it wasn’t just a power to enhance ordinary mana—it was a mysterious force that made the impossible possible, beyond the reach of standard magic.

‘You don’t need to think too deeply about it. Just as birds fly in the sky and fish swim in the sea, that’s the kind of existence we are.’

“…”

‘Those “given” by us can temporarily gain extraordinary magical processing capabilities, far surpassing human limits. This power, called《Ars Magna》, forcibly expands and awakens unused brain regions and spiritual pathways—ugh, this explanation is such a hassle. To put it simply, if you liken a human to a magical processor, it’s like forcibly upgrading a current processor to one from a hundred generations in the future. But that future processor is so far beyond human specifications that humans can’t even comprehend or perceive what it is or what it’s doing. The forcibly opened spiritual pathways only make it “feel” like mana is being amplified. Your ability—what was it, Sym-pa-the-tic or something? So vulgar. Well, whatever. The reason it’s often mistaken for that is probably because of this.’

“…How do you know all this…?”

But Nameless completely ignored Rumia’s question and continued.

‘Even with your《Ars Magna》, humans can’t break through the distorted space surrounding the《Ship of Flames》. That’s because it’s not just spatial manipulation. The very spell structure to interfere with it isn’t even within the scope of current human magic. It’s like a heavy door locked tight with a padlock. No matter how much strength you have to push it open, without the key itself, it won’t budge, right? That power isn’t modern magic or ancient magic… it’s something far older.’

“Then, what should I do…?”

‘…Your true power. After all,《Ars Magna》is just a bonus ability to allow a certain human to wield your true power.’

With that,

Nameless once again extended her hand toward Rumia.

That illusory, intangible hand—slowly reached into Rumia’s chest—

“N-Nameless-san…!?”

‘Your true power… it’s a “key.”’

“…A key?”

‘Yes. You could even say you are that “key”…’

As she spoke, Rumia’s chest, where Nameless’s hand was plunged, suddenly began to glow.

A dazzling silver-white light tore through the night, overwhelming in its brilliance.

‘One thing… There may come a man to whom you’ll want to give that “key”—which is also you—to with all your heart. He might appear before you someday. …Listen, you must never give it to him. You must use that “key” with your own will and resolve…!’

“Nameless-san…?”

And then, Nameless began to pull something out from within Rumia—

—Gradually… slowly…

‘And another thing… Please don’t forget. That “key” is a power older than magic… from a time when magic was merely the pure fulfillment of human wishes… the “primal power.” It’s not something controlled by reason and logic like magic… it’s a magic wielded by wishes and instinct. So—’

As it was drawn out from Rumia, the silver glow grew stronger—

And then—

“—《Silver Key》! Answer my wishes and desires!”

Before Glenn and the others, Rumia held aloft a single “key” radiating silver light.

“What the hell is that!?”

Glenn’s eyes widened in shock.

The key, somehow, bore an uncanny resemblance to the《Golden Key》Nameless had shown the other day.

Then, Rumia thrust the《Silver Key》forward, as if inserting it into something, and turned it.

With the sound of shattering glass, countless cracks ran through the surrounding cosmic space in an instant—and the next moment, the space fragmented along those cracks, scattering in all directions—

“—!?”

Before they knew it, they stood in an utterly ordinary corridor.

“W-What was that just now… magic…? No, that phenomenon can’t be explained by magic…”

Sistine stood dumbfounded, as if in a dream.

“…An incredible power… I don’t really understand it.”

Even Re=L widened her eyes slightly, frozen in place.

“The《Silver Key》. Nameless-san made it so I could use this power for just one day.”

“…”

“According to Nameless-san… this《Silver Key》is my true power, and it’s also me. I don’t know anything beyond that for now…”

Rumia said, clutching the《Silver Key》to her chest as if it were precious.

“This《Silver Key》has the power to dominate and manipulate space. The way to use this power… it’s strange… I somehow just know. It’s as if I’ve been with this power for a very long time… that’s how it feels.”

“…Rumia?”

“What this power is… what I really am… I don’t understand.”

Rumia turned to Glenn and the others, her expression filled with resolve.

“But… I’ll fight using this power. To protect the teachers who accepted me… to protect everyone at the academy! Even if it costs me my life!”

A power beyond human understanding.

Rumia, awakened to it and speaking thus, seemed utterly dependable.

But—why was it? It felt somehow—

“…Hey, Glenn.”

Re=L murmured so only Glenn could hear.

“Rumia right now… I don’t really understand, but… something’s off. I’m… really worried… Rumia feels like… she might disappear…”

Her usual sleepy, expressionless face held a trace of unease and sadness.

Re=L’s vague impression had no basis. Yet, it strangely felt like it hit the mark.

As Glenn was tormented by an indescribable unease… that was the moment.

Zat, zat, zat…

From the depths of the corridor, a horde of golem dolls came rushing in droves.

They thought they’d whittled down the enemy forces considerably… but it seemed there were still plenty left.

(Damn it…! I wanted to avoid wasting energy here…!)

As Glenn, gripped by a sense of impending battle, raised his pistol—

“It’s okay, Sensei.”

Rumia suddenly stepped forward, defenseless.

“Leave it… to me.”

And then, before Glenn and Sistine, who braced themselves wondering what was happening—

“For everyone… for Fejite… I won’t let you get in our way…”

Rumia, with hollow eyes, pointed the《Silver Key》forward…

At that sight, Glenn felt an inexplicable sense of revulsion and fear… that was the moment when.

“Stop.”

Re=L grabbed Rumia’s hand, her eyes fixed on the enemy.

“Re=L?”

“I don’t really understand, but… that power feels like something really, really bad… I think. Rumia, please… value yourself more?”

“…”

But Rumia remained strangely calm, unshaken. She stood there with the expression of a saint who had made up her mind.

Re=L glanced at her with a faint trace of pain… then turned to the enemy and declared,

“I’ll do it.”

“H-Hey, Re=L!?”

There were too many enemies. First, they needed a strategy.

Glenn tried to say as much, reaching for Re=L’s shoulder—

But that shoulder was already an afterimage.

“Yaaaaaaaah—!”

Re=L charged straight into the horde of golem dolls, slashing through them.

The tremendous sword pressure from her swinging the greatsword literally split the wave of advancing golem dolls into two.

“Yaaaaaah—!”

Re=L had always been reckless, but this was beyond that.

Brandishing her greatsword like a whirlwind, she sent the golems flying one after another.

Her ferocious, lion-like onslaught was almost otherworldly. Her small back silently screamed that she wouldn’t let Rumia use the “key” any further.

(…Is Re=L, in her own way, trying to help Rumia because she sensed something off about her right now…?)

He didn’t know… but he couldn’t just leave her like that.

“Let’s go, White Cat. …We’re backing Re=L up.”

With that, Glenn chased after Re=L.