Chapter 3: Meteor’s Fury

—The ancient city ruins of Mares.

Located near the eastern border of the Alzano Empire, far from human settlements, this vast ancient ruin lies quietly hidden in a mountainous region. In terms of urban scale, it could rival Fejite.

The mountainous area where Mares exists is commonly referred to as the “Dragon’s Spine,” a high-altitude region of interconnected mountain ranges that forms one of the barriers separating the Alzano Empire from the Rezalia Kingdom.

Due to the climate and the influence of ley lines, the area has sparse greenery, with rough rock surfaces and rocky mountains covered in low-growing ferns and moss. The high elevation results in thin air. Countless valleys, steep cliffs, and treacherous mountain ranges obstruct the path, making it difficult for humans to enter or leave on foot.

Why did ancient people build such a large-scale city in such a remote location… and how were they able to do so? There are various theories in magical archaeology, but they will be omitted here.

Surrounded by sheer cliffs on all sides, Mares is centered around a massive trapezoidal stone temple, with countless towers and residences equipped with small windows, and stone buildings lined up in rows. There are no grand avenues; the alleys twist and turn like a labyrinth. Water channels run through the maze-like city, seemingly dividing it into sections. Perhaps due to an underground water vein, these channels alone likely retain the clear flow of water from that era.

At the heart of the city ruins of Mares lies the trapezoidal temple.

At its summit—that man stood silently.

“…”

It was Albert.

This temple was built on a high plateau even among the rugged, undulating mountains, and from its summit—its rooftop—one could overlook the entire cityscape of Mares below.

Standing resolute in such a place, Albert was quietly meditating.

“…It’s about time, isn’t it?”

Eventually, muttering softly to no one in particular, Albert opened his eyes.

The time was the lingering twilight. A vivid blend of crimson and gold seared the ancient city.

Looking far to the west, the sinking sun set the mountain ridgelines ablaze in red, while to the east, the dark night began its encroachment.

No wind. The stillness dominating the space felt as if time itself had stopped.

“…”

Allowing the red glow of the sunset to bathe his body, Albert glanced briefly at his left hand.

When he partially removed his glove, a sinister magical array, drawn in blood-red magical pigment, was revealed on the back of his hand, as if it could induce nausea.

This array was something Albert had prepared for a specific purpose. By activating it with a spell, a certain ritual magic would manifest within him.

“…I’d rather not use it if I can avoid it.”

Albert stared sharply at the array for a moment before pulling the glove back on.

He turned his hawk-like eyes once more to the distant horizon—to the scorched west.

“Come, then.”

With that calm murmur, his words dissipated into the timeless stillness.

—That day, at sunset.

The expeditionary subjugation team, led by Glenn and others, had reached the ancient city ruins of Mares, nestled secretly within a gap in the “Dragon’s Spine.”

Throughout the journey, Glenn had been on edge, constantly wary that Cyrus might take some action toward Re=L, but nothing happened.

Re=L’s condition, under Illia’s care, was sustained by a generous supply of mana remotely provided by the Magic Academy. While far from ideal, it was relatively stable.

With everything proceeding so smoothly, Glenn felt oddly anticlimactic.

“Well, whatever… So this is Mares, huh?”

Upon entering Mares, Glenn muttered with a sigh of fatigue.

To avoid Albert’s anti-air sniping, the subjugation team had dismounted from the Hræsvelgr at a corner of the mountain range just before Mares, descending on foot to infiltrate from the southern edge of the city.

At a small plaza in the southern corner of Mares—shaded by crumbling walls and buildings—the team set up tents, erected barriers, and established a base camp.

While the team worked, Glenn peered at the ruins from the shadows.

“Yare yare… I’d heard rumors, but this place is grim.”

Unlike typical ancient ruins, it seemed the mysterious magical technology of the ancients, [Etheric Coating], had not been applied here. The buildings, weathered and moss-covered, were crumbling under the weight of time.

Scattered throughout the city were countless skeletal remains—the final resting place of its former inhabitants. Perhaps due to the limestone soil, they had fossilized rather than returning to the earth.

What had happened here? The bodies of the fallen ancients stretched endlessly as far as the eye could see, as if the entire city ruin was one massive gravestone.

(What a dreary place…)

Shaking off the thought, Glenn activated the far-seeing magic, Black Magic [Accurate Scope], extending his vision far into the distance. His target was the massive trapezoidal temple at the center of Mares, known as the “Temple of Revival.”

The scene, as if looking down on the temple, projected onto the inside of Glenn’s closed left eyelid. Unlike the rest of the city, this temple appeared to have been treated with [Etheric Coating], standing unweathered and moss-free, likely as it was in its original state.

(According to Cyrus’ briefing, Albert is holed up in this temple…)

On a whim, Glenn brought his magical vision closer to the temple, scanning its surroundings. And then—

(…Seriously?)

There he was. Albert stood boldly atop the temple’s rooftop.

In that moment, Glenn keenly felt the reality: Albert was truly plotting the assassination of Queen Alicia VII, pursued by the military, and they were here to subjugate him.

Yet, at the same time, something didn’t add up. Until now, swept along by the chaotic circumstances, he hadn’t had time to dwell on it, but now that he thought about it, this was an utterly bizarre situation.

(Putting aside the truth of the matter for now… Albert is currently a fugitive, a felon who attempted to assassinate the queen and killed his comrades. So why did he escape to a place like this?)

The more he thought about it, the less sense it made.

(If he wanted to evade the military’s pursuit, he’d be better off moving from place to place across the empire. That would give him a better chance of escaping abroad. So why flee to a dead-end like this remote border and stay here? It’s like he’s waiting for us.)

Glenn stole a glance at Cyrus, who was giving various instructions to the subjugation team members around them.

(This whole thing stinks to high heaven… What is that guy hiding?)

His gaze then shifted to Re=L, carried on a stretcher and guided by Illia into one of the base camp’s tents. Glenn watched with a pained expression.

The area was heavily guarded by mage team members.

He desperately wanted to help her, but there was nothing Glenn could do for now.

(That aside, Eve and the others should be hiding somewhere in Mares…)

Eve and her team, operating separately from Glenn, should have arrived ahead of schedule and already be concealed somewhere in the ancient city ruins.

(…Alright, Eve… I’m counting on you for that matter…)

As Glenn silently prayed to his disagreeable colleague from afar—

“Alright, everyone. Preparations are complete. Please gather at Tent One in fifteen minutes.”

Cyrus called the subjugation team members to assemble at the relatively large main tent.

Likely, they were about to begin the strategy meeting for Albert’s subjugation.

With a heavy heart, Glenn joined them. He had no choice but to participate.

…The strategy meeting for Albert’s subjugation concluded without incident.

The plan was simple and straightforward.

Albert was currently holed up in the “Temple of Revival.”

The main force, composed of elite mages selected from regular members, would fortify magical defensive positions and advance head-on toward the temple, applying pressure. Meanwhile, a detached unit—consisting of Fergus, Nicole, Charlotte from the Special Missions Annex, and Glenn as an afterthought—would launch a surprise attack on Albert from the flank.

Illia and Cyrus would remain at the main base, focusing on its defense.

Glenn had been prepared to go all out, even at the cost of his life, if they tried to force Re=L to fight using some dangerous drug or magic… but no such thing happened.

Re=L was ordered to stay at the base under Illia’s care and protection. Glenn couldn’t fathom why they had gone to the trouble of bringing her all the way here.

“To begin with, there’s no way such a simple strategy would work on Albert.”

Glenn repeatedly suggested alternative plans, but all were rejected.

Fergus, Nicole, and Charlotte relentlessly obstructed and dismissed Glenn’s proposals.

Overthinking, impossible, reading too much into it, cowardly, off the mark, improbable, overestimating the target… The influence of these three aces was strong, and none of Glenn’s opinions were accepted.

It wasn’t entirely unreasonable. Against a single opponent, they had fifteen elite mages and three Special Missions Annex members, plus one. It was clearly overwhelming force. With such a stark difference in strength, surrounding and crushing the enemy with sheer numbers was the most reliable approach. The three Special Missions members firmly believed that no matter how Albert responded, they couldn’t possibly lose in this situation.

Even Glenn, who had painfully experienced the strength of these three operatives firsthand, began to think that with their skills, this strategy might actually be sufficient.

Furthermore, though not explicitly stated, Cyrus seemed to consider Albert’s subjugation itself non-essential. At worst, as long as they could seize control of the “Temple of Revival” where Albert was stationed, that would suffice. His words hinted at such a mindset.

(…What the hell is going on? This is getting more and more incomprehensible…)

The more Glenn thought about this incident, the deeper he sank into confusion.

“Alright, everyone. The operation begins. …Good luck.”

And so,

With doubts swirling and countless unknowns, the battle began.

As the sun fully set and the wind began to blow with the arrival of night, the operation commenced.

First, the main mage force began their advance toward the temple at the city’s center.

Blending into the darkness of the night, the main force deliberately advanced along clear, open streets at a measured pace.

Naturally, to guard against magical sniping, they advanced while erecting defensive barriers in each small section.

With such heavily fortified defenses, even Albert would likely find it impossible to land a magical snipe.

In that case, Albert’s possible reactions were twofold:

Either he would hole up in the temple to meet their attack, or he would strike out at some point.

The detached unit—Fergus, Nicole, Charlotte, and Glenn—was tasked with responding flexibly to Albert’s actions and striking him from the side.

The four of them were now racing like a gale through the intricately tangled back alleys, advancing toward the Temple of Revival via a different route from the main force.

“Tch… Don’t hold us back, ‘senpai.’”

Fergus, leading the charge, spat out irritably.

“Yeah, exactly. Senpai, you don’t need to do anything—just stay back and watch, okay?”

“Indeed. Honestly, you didn’t even need to come along… but, well, it’s Cyrus-sama’s orders, after all.”

Nicole and Charlotte added mocking remarks, and Glenn, running at the rear, grimaced as if he’d bitten into something bitter.

(Irritating as it is… these guys’ skills are the real deal. If Albert makes a move against the main force, they’ll take him down in an instant.)

On the other hand, if Albert noticed the detached unit and moved to counter them, that would be a foolish move.

Even someone like Albert would be helpless against these three, and he’d quickly find himself surrounded by the main force with no escape.

(This is bad… At this rate, he’ll be killed before I can even question his true intentions…)

If Albert had planned to wage guerrilla warfare, hiding somewhere in the city ruins, that would have been ideal. Glenn might have been able to secretly rendezvous with him.

In fact, given Albert’s battle-hardened experience, Glenn had assumed he’d naturally adopt such tactics.

However, according to the subjugation team’s reconnaissance familiars, Albert remained atop the temple, as if flaunting his presence.

He was clearly preparing to meet the subjugation team head-on, with no intention of fleeing or hiding.

(Damn it, what do I do in this situation…?)

Consumed by frustration and helplessness,

The battle situation continued to shift. The main force steadily closed in on the temple, and Glenn’s detached unit advanced relentlessly via their separate route. At this rate, Albert would face the worst possible scenario—a pincer attack between the main force and the detached unit.

But—there was nothing Glenn could do now.

(…Damn it, no good. I won’t be able to make contact with Albert in this battle. …Please, Albert, escape for now… I’m begging you…!)

Muttering a prayer in his heart,

Glenn continued to chase after the disagreeable trio ahead of him—

—.

—The main force and the detached unit maintained regular contact via communication magic, coordinating perfectly as they advanced toward the central temple.

Glenn’s prayers went unanswered; there was no sign of Albert making a move.

It was becoming certain that the subjugation team would engage Albert in the most advantageous formation possible.

“Hahaha… So the rumored《The Star》isn’t such a big deal, huh?”

“…Seems like he doesn’t even understand the concept of tactics.”

“What a disappointment. I thought he’d be more entertaining.”

Likely, it wasn’t just these three from the Special Missions Annex who felt this way.

Every mage in the main force was probably starting to think “easy win.” Albert was persistently employing the worst possible strategy in this situation—waiting.

(No way, Albert… What’s going on? How could someone like you…)

Glenn couldn’t believe it.

The Albert he knew would have already taken some kind of action by now.

(Why? Why the hell—?)

Unable to read Albert’s intentions, Glenn could only mull over the same questions…

…It was at that moment.

“…Hm?”

Fergus, leading the group, suddenly tilted his head.

“What the…? We’ve lost contact with the main force all of a sudden.”

The situation—had begun to shift quietly.

“Huh? That’s weird. They were responding just fine three minutes ago.”

“If there was an emergency, they were supposed to contact us immediately, right? It’s odd for communication to just cut off without any reason…”

At that moment, Glenn spoke with near-certain intuition.

“The main force is probably wiped out. Their responses were suspiciously slow, but that bastard finally made his move.”

Seeing Glenn’s grave expression, Fergus and the others looked at him as if he were a pitiful fool.

“Huh? What are you talking about? How could that happen?”

“Have you already forgotten? His only strength, magical sniping, can’t get through the main force’s defenses.”

“And how could he wipe them out in three minutes? Even if they’re far below our level, the main force consists of elite mages from the Imperial Court Mage Corps. It’s impossible for them to be annihilated without even having time to contact us. Please think before you speak.”

“…”

Faced with such arguments, Glenn had no rebuttal. He had no idea how Albert could have wiped out the main force in a situation so close to checkmate.

But Albert had done something. That much was certain.

“It’s probably just a malfunction in the communication device. The development team’s getting sloppy.”

“But isn’t it fine? Honestly, we don’t even need to coordinate with the main force.”

“Indeed. From the start, this mission only needed the three of us.”

“…”

Faced with the trio’s unrelenting optimism, Glenn fell silent—

—It was exactly then.

Suddenly, a massive aurora—accompanied by a thunderous roar—erupted above Glenn and the others.

“What—!?”

Countless bolts of lightning rained down abruptly, filling the entire alleyway section.

A terrifying dance of destruction rampaged through the area, obliterating everything in its path.

Though their vision was seared white, Glenn and the others instinctively kicked off the ground, leaping high and scattering, quickly climbing onto nearby building rooftops to escape the destructive calamity.

“What was that—Black Magic [Plasma Field]!?”

“Who the hell—!?”

As they looked down in shock at the devastation below—

“So, you’ve come.”

A low, calm voice spoke from above.

On the opposite side of the street they’d been running through—atop the spire of a particularly tall, crumbling building.

There stood a silhouette against the backdrop of the moon. Long hair billowed in the raging wind, and hawk-like eyes glared down at them with piercing intensity.

In that moment, Glenn’s heart didn’t register “no way” but rather “as expected.”

Or perhaps—“finally.”

“Albert—!”

Glenn roared toward the figure above.

Albert glanced at him briefly, looking down.

In their current positions, Albert stood at the center atop the spire, with Fergus directly in front, Nicole to the left, and Charlotte to the right, each positioned on a building’s rooftop.

“So, you’ve finally shown yourself, Albert-senpai?”

Fergus looked up at Albert, cracking his knuckles.

“Hah, you’re late to the party, senpai. The main force will hit your rear any moment now. You’ve got nowhere to run.”

“Indeed. Though we wouldn’t let you escape even without the main force… hehe.”

Nicole and Charlotte assumed combat stances, facing Albert with confident expressions. None of the three doubted their victory.

But—

“…The main force won’t come. I’ve already dealt with them. You’re all that’s left.”

Albert’s cold words doused their sense of victory and elation with icy water.

“Prepare yourselves. I’ll render you all incapacitated. I won’t let you escape.”

“Hah? Stop bluffing! You dealt with the main force? How?”

Albert gave Fergus a cold glance and replied.

“Did you not study my data? Magical sniping, obviously.”

“…Huh?”

“Advancing so openly like that… it’s practically begging to be sniped. They should have advanced more carefully. It seems they were led by a rather incompetent commander.”

Something… about Albert’s words was off.

So off that Fergus and the others were momentarily speechless.

“…Enough with the bravado and bluffs. The main force was advancing while rotating defensive barriers in each section. No matter how skilled you are at magical sniping, there’s no way you could get through their defenses.”

Nicole said, slightly irritated.

Advancing while alternating defensive barriers is the standard tactic when facing an enemy with a magical sniper.

Thus, Albert’s magical sniping shouldn’t have worked. That was only logical.

But—

“…Defensive barriers? To advance with that standard tactic, you need to constantly replace the barriers as you move. Defensive barriers are coordinate-based, not target-based. So, all I had to do was shoot through the gaps when the barriers were being swapped.”

At Albert’s words, the three were utterly speechless.

Indeed, that was the logic.

To set a new barrier while moving, the old one must be dispelled. If similar defensive barriers are too close, they interfere and cancel each other out.

In other words, you dispel the barrier protecting you while simultaneously setting a new one in uncharted territory.

It’s true that a gap exists in that moment, but—

“Don’t screw with us! You think we don’t know that gap lasts less than a fraction of a second!? There’s no way you could—”

“I could. That’s why I’m here.”

Albert’s blunt statement of fact sent a surge of anger through Fergus.

(…So that’s how it is.)

But Glenn alone felt a strange sense of understanding.

Taking advantage of the gap during the barrier resealing, Albert first sniped the barrier-forming operatives, rendering them incapacitated.

The next instant, he swiftly eliminated the communication operative relaying to Glenn’s detached unit with a single sniper shot.

Finally, the main force realized that they were being targeted by a sniper and shifted into combat readiness—but it was already too late. Advancing through the open, unobstructed street to apply pressure was a complete miscalculation. What followed was a one-sided, relentless barrage of screams and chaos. For Albert, three minutes was far more than enough time to accomplish such a feat.

Indeed, under normal circumstances, such a thing would be impossible. It shouldn’t be possible.

But if it’s Albert, he could do it—that was the unshakable conviction of a former partner.

“Haha, if that’s true… then his reputation as a master of magical sniping is well-earned, isn’t it, Albert《The Star》? Honestly, I underestimated you.”

“However… your head doesn’t seem to be quite as sharp, does it…?”

As expected of the Special Missions Annex, however, the seasoned mages quickly regained their composure. Nicole and Charlotte, ever vigilant, spoke while carefully watching for any opening in Albert’s defenses.

“If you’re someone with sniping skills beyond our expectations, you should’ve stayed a sniper until the end.”

“This is the range for close-quarters magical combat. What could a sniper possibly be thinking, coming out to the front lines like this?”

“Let me make one thing clear: three against one doesn’t mean we’ll go easy on you, traitor. I’ll crush you like an insect, one-sidedly!”

Fergus, too, slowly advances toward Albert, moving from rooftop to rooftop.

By now, to anyone’s eyes, Albert is in an utterly hopeless situation.

Surrounded by three masterful mages, his options are utterly exhausted… or so it seems.

Yet—

“I merely wanted to reserve my sniping techniques for the man who poses the greatest threat in this situation.”

Unfazed, Albert casts a glance at Glenn, then surveys the three once more, declaring calmly.

“For you lot, sniping isn’t necessary.”

There was no intent to belittle, no trace of condescension, and certainly no arrogance in his words.

He declared it simply because it was an undeniable, irrefutable fact—nothing more.

“…You bastard…!? What did you just say!?”

Albert’s cold, detached demeanor only served to infuriate Fergus and the others.

“I can’t let that slide… Just some mediocre mage who’s only slightly good at sniping.”

“Albert-sama, with all due respect, unlike us, you possess neither Original Magic, nor Family Secret Spells, nor any exceptional arcane techniques. In other words, you may be a high-ranking mage, but you’re also utterly ordinary.”

Nicole and Charlotte, not bothering to hide their irritation, spit their words at him.

“Heh! All you use are standardized, off-the-shelf military spells that anyone can cast… This outdated, moldy textbook of a mage dares to talk big!?”

“Textbook… a textbook, huh? …Perhaps so.”

To the fuming Fergus and his companions, Albert responds with the same calm demeanor—

“But it seems you lot can’t even properly read that outdated textbook, can you?”

His attitude, which could be taken as utterly fearless, sends Fergus and the others into a rage.

“You’ll regret this, traitor! Aaaaaaah—!”

“You’re seriously pissing me off! Ugh, honestly!”

“I’d love nothing more than to make that smug face of yours kiss the dirt—!”

The three charge toward Albert in unison. With astonishing agility, they leap across the rooftops, closing the distance from three directions at once—

In response, Albert, unshaken and unafraid, gazes down coldly  and declares.

“Very well. Come at me, rookies. I’ll teach you what combat truly means.”

And so.

Unable to assist either the three or Albert, Glenn can only watch the events unfold before him.

The battle between Fergus, his companions, and Albert had begun—

—To be honest.

At this moment, even Glenn genuinely believed that Albert had no chance of winning.

He knew Albert possessed fearsome strength. He knew it.

As a partner who had undertaken countless missions together, Glenn prided himself on knowing Albert’s capabilities better than anyone in the Imperial Court Mage Corps.

Even so—Fergus《The Strength》, Nicole《The Sun》, Charlotte《The Temperance》—these three were simply too extraordinary.

All three possessed Original Magic, powers so potent they bordered on forbidden spells.

As Charlotte had mocked Albert for being “ordinary,” it was true, as far as Glenn knew, that Albert lacked any unique, one-of-a-kind techniques like Original Magic or Family Secret Spells. He had never seen Albert use such things.

The magic Albert primarily relied on was standardized military magic.

To use a weapon analogy, Albert fought not with legendary magic swords or holy blades but with a high-quality, mass-produced steel sword. His exceptional magical sniping skills were merely an extension of mastering and perfecting those standard techniques.

Thus—there was no chance of victory.

Having fought these three directly and felt their monstrous, otherworldly power firsthand, Glenn knew this all too well.

Albert had no chance of winning. That’s what he thought.

Yes, that’s what he thought—

“No way…!?”

And so, Glenn could only stand dumbfounded at the scene unfolding before him.

In the distance, Albert dashes through the skies above the ruined city.

With continuous activation of Black Magic [Rapid Stream]—Storm—he races across the decaying rooftops and walls of crumbling structures, kicking up gusts of wind, moving with terrifying speed.

“Damn it—aaaaah!”

Fergus relentlessly chases after Albert, pursuing him with desperate determination.

In contrast, Fergus’s movements are at bullet speed—faster than the speed at which sound travels through the air.

Albert’s three-dimensional, high-speed maneuvers, cloaked in gusts of wind, are indeed fast, but they don’t reach bullet speed.

Fergus is overwhelmingly faster. He should be faster.

And yet—Fergus can’t catch up to Albert at all.

The reason is—

“《O Thunderblade・Dance》”

While racing through the city with Storm, Albert occasionally unleashes Black Magic [Lightning Pierce] with a seven-shot simultaneous activation—Seven Star Blade.

The seven lightning bolts fired toward the sky each bend sharply mid-trajectory, veering off in unpredictable directions. They streak freely, like meteors, slicing through the air in every direction, fragmenting the sky.

And those lightning bolts dancing through the air—

“Oooooh—!”

They strike at Fergus, who chases Albert at bullet speed, attacking from all directions—front, back, left, right, above, and below—with impeccable timing at critical moments.

The moment Fergus tries to accelerate, a lightning bolt pierces the space before him.

The wall Fergus attempts to kick off is shattered by a barrage of descending lightning.

His landing spot is targeted by lightning, throwing off his balance.

As he tries to recover and resume the chase, lightning bolts rain down as if to block his path, forcing him to roll sideways to evade.

Held back by the lightning, his acceleration stifled, forced into detours, and suppressed from above.

Just when Fergus thinks he’s finally dodged all the lightning bolts—

“《O Thunderblade・Dance》”

Once again, as Albert races across the rooftops, he releases another Seven Star Blade into the sky.

Once more, seven thunderblades dance freely, slicing through the sky, dividing it.

Once more, lightning bolts strike preemptively, obstructing Fergus’s path—

As a result, despite moving at bullet speed, Fergus can’t catch up to Albert at all.

“Why!? Why can’t I catch him!?”

Toyed with by someone so clearly inferior in speed, Fergus shouts in frustration.

“I’m moving at bullet speed! Bullet speed! Three hundred meters per second… at top speed, over four hundred meters per second!”

He swiftly scales a building’s wall, aiming to reach the rooftop—

But, as expected, the moment he reaches the roof’s edge, three lightning bolts graze past.

With the airspace above suppressed, Fergus can’t reach the rooftop and is forced to fall back.

In the meantime, Albert moves farther and farther away.

“Damn it! Why!? Why can’t I catch him—aaaaah!?”

“Because you’re an amateur.”

Standing atop a nearby spire, Albert coldly looks down at the groveling Fergus.

“M-Me…!? An a-amateur…!? You say!?”

“Your ability to move at bullet speed is impressive. I’ll give you that. But it seems you’ve relied solely on overwhelming opponents with that sheer speed, haven’t you? Your positioning, your anticipation, your judgment… they’re all utterly lacking.”

“W-What…?”

To the speechless Fergus, Albert continues matter-of-factly.

“To begin with, what’s so special about a mere four hundred meters per second? The initial velocity of my Black Magic [Lightning Pierce] is one hundred thousand kilometers per second. If I get serious, it’s the speed of light.”

“W-What—!?”

“Even without the caster moving at bullet speed, a spell specialized for speed and range can travel far faster than that. Boasting about mere bullet speed is utterly laughable, don’t you think?”

“Laughable…!? You’re calling me laughable!?”

“You bark loudly, yet you can’t even get close to me, flailing pathetically below. What else would you call it if not laughable?”

Albert continues to gaze down at Fergus with unrelenting coldness.

“Let me tell you, if it were《The Chariot》, she would have easily anticipated and slipped through this level of attack, closing in on me.《The Empress》may be slower than you, but she was overwhelmingly more agile.”

“Shut up, you… old fossil…!?”

“There’s nothing that requires more finesse than a magical battle. Even if an opponent attacks with theoretically unreactable speed and power, a mage overcomes it with reason and foresight… That’s what it means to be a mage. Have you learned your lesson?”

Albert’s mocking words seem to be the final straw.

“You old fossil—aaaaaaaah!?”

Enraged, Fergus charges straight toward Albert.

As he runs, he chants some spell, preparing a defensive magic.

At this point, he’s resolved to take a few hits from the lightning dancing in the sky—it’s that kind of determination.

But—

“…Checkmate.”

Albert mutters emotionlessly.

The moment Fergus leaps onto the rooftop, a magical array instantly unfolds beneath his feet.

Three glowing rings appear, completely binding Fergus’s head, torso, and legs.

Black Magic Ritual [Restriction]—a magical trap for binding and sealing.

Albert had already anticipated this development and set the trap in that exact spot beforehand.

“Whaaaa—!? Why’s this here!?”

“《O Thunder Spear》”

The instant Fergus’s movements and magic are completely sealed by the rings, Albert swiftly twirls his left hand, casting [Lightning Pierce] with a single-verse chant, unleashing it without mercy.

“Gah—…!? I-Impossible…”

The single, sharp bolt of lightning released from his fingertip strikes true, piercing Fergus’s chest and blasting his body backward.

“Not bad,《The Star》Albert!”

Behind Albert, Nicole finally catches up.

“But it’s your loss!”

Suddenly, the world grows darker.

“!”

When Albert looks up, a black sun shines brilliantly in the sky—

“How’s that!? The taste of my Original Magic [Fallen Sun]! No holding back! Full magical power! I’ll drain you dry in an instant!”

A malevolent wave emanates from the black sun, threatening to engulf the entire area—

And then, Albert’s body sways.

Mana drains from his body at a terrifying rate, his strength rapidly fading.

At that moment—

“Purge—!”

Charlotte, wielding a massive scythe and flapping three pairs of wings, dives from the sky at breakneck speed.

“—!?”

Albert instinctively draws a military knife from his pocket, attempting to block the whirlwind-like slash—

“《O Great Wind》”

Simultaneously, he casts Black Magic [Gale Blow], conjuring a localized gust centered around the knife he holds.

Boom!

With the clashing sound of the knife, scythe, and gust, Albert is blown backward by his own spell.

“I see! You used [Gale Blow] to offset the impact, huh!? Your petty tricks are quite clever, I’ll give you that!”

Nicole smirks, mocking him with a sneer.

“But—using a basic spell like [Gale Blow] means you’re almost out of magical power, right!? Sucked dry by my black sun!”

Before Nicole’s eyes, Albert’s figure, blown far back, grows smaller… until he falls between the buildings and vanishes from sight.

“Tch…”

For some reason, Nicole clicks his tongue in frustration for a moment.

“Charlotte! I’ll leave the rest to you!”

“Of course!”

Charlotte spreads her wings and flies off at high speed in pursuit of Albert.

“Well… the mana I stole isn’t coming back. After draining that much, it’s over for him anyway… Haha, what an easy mission…”

As Nicole watches Charlotte’s retreating figure with a smug expression,

Suddenly, his face pales.

“…No way. That’s a lie… It can’t be…!”

The presence he feels behind him—there’s no mistaking it.

On the edge of the rooftop where Nicole stands.

A few meters behind him—there’s undoubtedly someone’s presence.

“Indeed. The ‘me’ that was blown away earlier was an illusion created by manipulating light with Black Magic [Illusion Image].”

Albert—he had taken Nicole’s back.

“The [Gale Blow] was cast to fake the sensation and sound of impact. Someone as meticulous as《The Hermit》would’ve seen through such a trivial trick in an instant and turned it against me.”

“Tch…!?”

Though momentarily shaken by having his back taken, Nicole forces a confident grin.

“Hahaha… Well done, I’ll give you that, Albert-san… But do you know the ‘speed’ of my area-wide weakening barrier?”

“……”

“The ‘black sun’ is already in the sky… If I will it, you’ll be drained in an instant…”

“Enough with the cheap tricks, third-rate. I’ve already seen through your gimmick.”

Albert dismisses Nicole’s smug words with a bored tone.

“Area-wide weakening? Distinguishing between friend and foe? Is there such a convenient spell? …Then, how does your magic differentiate between enemies and allies? It’s quite simple… The answer is ‘line of sight.’”

“!?”

“You can only selectively weaken those within your field of vision. Conversely, if you can’t see them, you can’t weaken them… The fact that I’m standing here under your so-called black sun without being affected is proof of that.”

Nicole breaks into a cold sweat under Albert’s chillingly precise analysis and judgment.

“You leave yourself open by using half-baked spells. In terms of troublesome weakening effects,《The Fool》is leagues above you. And how much time does it take you to deploy that flimsy barrier? If it were《The Hierophant》—”

“Shut up…! Shut up, shut up, shut up—!”

Nicole screams, still facing away from Albert.

“Half-baked!? So what!? I can drain someone just by looking at them in an instant! That’s what makes it strong! Isn’t that right!?”

“……”

“Wanna test it!? Your offensive spell versus my sight—which is faster!? Come on, try it! Come at me!”

To Nicole’s provocative words,

“—As you wish.”

Albert activates a pre-chanted [Lightning Pierce] with a delayed trigger.

A bolt of lightning shoots from Albert’s fingertip, aimed straight at Nicole’s back.

“—Hah! Too predictable!”

But, as expected of a seasoned mage, Nicole predicts the lightning’s trajectory without looking, dodging it with deft bodywork.

“Hahaha! My win! Die—!”

As he dodges, Nicole spins around, attempting to lock eyes with Albert—

—In that instant, the surroundings plunge into total darkness, rendering everything invisible.

A “true darkness,” as if painted over, devoid of even a sliver of light, engulfs the area.

“W-What—!? What’s happening!?”

“Black Magic [Dark Curtain]… A barrier spell that manipulates light to shroud a designated area in darkness. Didn’t you notice I’d set it up beforehand?”

Albert’s cold voice echoes from beyond the darkness.

“I-I can’t see… It’s pitch black, I can’t see anything…! N-No way… My spell’s broken by something like this…!?”

For a moment, Nicole panics but quickly regains his composure, retorting defiantly.

“S-So what!? What’s the point!? You can’t see anything either, can you!? How are you supposed to fight when neither of us can see—”

But then.

The dense curtain of darkness is sliced apart by a single flash of light—and Nicole falls silent.

—As [Dark Curtain] dissipates,

There lies Nicole, collapsed powerlessly on the ground… and Albert, pointing at him with his eyes closed.

“If you can’t fight just because you can’t see, that’s why you’re third-rate.”

Albert opens his eyes.

And within Albert’s newly opened field of vision,

“Purge!?”

Finally realizing she had been deceived, Charlotte powerfully flapped her three pairs of wings, soaring back horizontally at ferocious speed, closing in rapidly.

The shockwaves scattered from her wings caused the surrounding buildings to collapse one after another—

Her raised scythe surged with blazing flames, boasting overwhelming heat and intensity—

—And as she swung it down, a raging storm of superheated explosive flames descended like an apocalyptic inferno, intent on incinerating Albert.

“…Come.”

In response, Albert faced Charlotte and the inferno with calm composure, readying himself—

—Suddenly, Glenn recalled something.

It was… perhaps a topic brought up over drinks somewhere, a mere playful conversation.

“A mage who could possibly defeat Celica-chan《The World》… you say?”

At a certain tavern, Glenn, then an operative of the Special Missions Annex, had once casually posed such a question to Bernard, who happened to be there.

“Hah, that’s quite a tough one… After all, Celica-chan is undoubtedly the strongest. Immense magical power beyond human limits, a slew of ultra-powerful spells and secret arts. And thanks to her long life, her knowledge and combat experience are on another level. There’s likely no one in this world who could beat her head-on.”

I see, yeah. What a dumb question… Glenn gave a wry smile.

“But giant-killing is the essence of magical combat, and every mage has a way to be defeated. There’s no such thing as perfect magic in this world, and if you play your cards right, even a human can be killed with a single needle. That holds true even for someone like Celica-chan.”

So, what kind of mage could possibly take down Celica?

To Glenn’s question, Bernard stroked his chin beard and answered.

“Celica-chan… her magical skill and knowledge are incredible, but at the end of the day, she’s a ‘super power type.’ She crushes everything with brute force, no strategy needed. And she can crush everything that way. She’s the ultimate muscle-brain, you could say.

Of course, that’s not to say she’s unwise. ‘Skilled in tactics but lacking in strategy,’ perhaps? But she has so much power that it doesn’t matter. In a pure contest of strength, even an ancient dragon wouldn’t stand a chance. In fact, she once slew an evil god, didn’t she?”

That just makes it harder to imagine any way or vision to beat her.

“Right… Well, trying to match Celica-chan in a power contest is absolutely impossible. You’d have to attack from a different angle.

First, you’d need exceptional insight to read your opponent’s movements, the nature of their magic, and their weaknesses. Flawless magical precision. A steel will that doesn’t waver on the brink of life and death. Countless spells and vast knowledge to handle any situation are a must.

And the judgment and composure to use them effectively, appropriately, and accurately based on the situation… In other words, someone insanely clever who can devise an unparalleled ‘strategy’ to achieve victory efficiently. That’s the kind of person who might have a shot at winning.”

What? So basically, you’re talking about a textbook-perfect mage, right?

Glenn shrugged, and Bernard grinned slyly.

“Well said, Glenn-boy. …Exactly. The mage who could potentially defeat Celica-chan isn’t some legendary secret art user or someone with powerful original magic. It might just be a textbook-perfect guy like that.”

Then, as if struck by a thought, Bernard added innocently,

“Come to think of it, there’s one guy in our Special Missions Annex who might, just maybe, have a chance against Celica-chan. That man is—”

(Back then, I thought it was just bar talk, something impossible…)

Glenn shuddered, gazing at the scene before him, lost in thought.

(But this guy… he might actually do it…!?)

At the center of a trail of destruction, scorched and collapsed in a blaze.

Amid flames roaring skyward, as if in a blazing hell—Albert stood.

At his feet lay Charlotte, pierced through her limbs and chest, collapsed powerlessly.

“—Too weak. Your flames are far too weak.”

As expected, Albert stated the fact calmly.

“You merely scatter disproportionate power recklessly, without ingenuity. That’s why it’s weak. Let me tell you, the honed flames wielded by《The Magician》were nothing like this.”

—It was overwhelming.

(…Strong.)

Forgetting the cold sweat running down his body, Glenn could only describe it so succinctly.

From this battle alone, those three might seem like mere small-fry.

But having fought them himself, Glenn could assert that wasn’t the case.

Among the current Imperial Army’s mages, there were likely few who could defeat those three. That much was certain. They undeniably possessed that level of power.

Yet Albert had brushed them aside. They weren’t even a challenge.

It was a simple matter—Albert was far, far stronger.

(Sure, Albert doesn’t use things like original magic, secret kin spells, or hidden techniques like me, Eve, or Christoph… no so-called trump cards or finishing moves… but—)

It wasn’t about the spells he had; it was his core capabilities that were extraordinary. With unmatched judgment, analytical skill, a vast array of spells, and knowledge, he could handle and surpass any situation—a pinnacle of what it means to be a mage.

That was Albert Frazer, Special Missions Annex of the Imperial Court Mage Corps, Executive Officer Number 17《The Star》.

(Haha… what kind of man have I been partnering with…?!)

Glenn suppressed his trembling, staring at Albert.

(…Can I win? Can I actually beat this guy?)

As Glenn braced himself firmly,

Albert slowly approached him.

The two faced each other, about ten meters apart.

“…It’s been a while, Glenn. I didn’t expect you to show up here.”

“…!”

Leaving the speechless Glenn behind, Albert continued.

“I assume you were dragged here by military orders? Or perhaps… Heh, the enemy’s got some nasty tricks. So, are you planning to fight me? If so, I’m sorry, but… I won’t hold back.”

Even without doing anything, Albert’s overwhelming presence seemed to swallow Glenn.

No. I can’t let myself be overwhelmed.

Glenn steeled his soul, trying to seize control by speaking.

“You bastard! Is it true you attempted to assassinate Her Majesty the Queen!? And that you killed the old man and the others!?”

“It’s true.”

Glenn had hoped for some hesitation, but Albert affirmed it without pause.

“Wha—!?”

He couldn’t believe it. Even hearing it from Albert’s own mouth, he couldn’t believe it.

Albert glanced at Glenn with cold eyes, as if reproaching him.

“You’re as soft as ever. Did you come all this way just to ask that?”

“Why… why would you do such a thing…!?”

Glenn roared, his voice raw with anguish.

“Because it was necessary for this country. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Don’t give me that Jatice-like crap! Answer the damn question properly!”

Then,

Albert fell silent for a moment… and finally spoke.

“…Fine. I’ll just say this: Heaven’s Cross.”

“Huh? Heaven’s Cross…?”

Heaven’s Cross. That was the name of a top-secret magical research institute under the Imperial Ministry of Magic.

Rumored to be secretly developing forbidden spells like [Project: Revive Life], it was the darkest corner of the Imperial magical world. It was said to have been founded by Alicia III, who descended into madness in her later years, an organization shrouded in urban legend. Though, in Glenn’s case, he had learned of its likely existence during a kidnapping incident in the Lilitania region…

(Why bring up that name now?)

Glenn was utterly baffled.

“…Is that all?”

Turning his back on the bewildered Glenn, Albert began to walk away.

“If you’ve got no intention of fighting, leave this place. I’m busy.”

“…W-Wait!”

Glenn drew his pistol, aiming it at Albert’s back.

“We’re not done talking! Listen! It’s about Re=L!”

“…Re=L?”

Albert stopped, asking without turning around.

“The thing is—…”

Glenn explained. About Re=L. How she had developed Etheric Dissociation Syndrome due to the side effects of [Project: Revive Life]. To save her life, he had to comply with the new division head, Cyrus, and obtain Re=L’s Sefirot Map.

“No way… Re=L? Is that true?”

Hearing about Re=L, even Albert furrowed his brow, pressing for confirmation.

“You think I’d lie about something like this!? It’s a race against time!”

“I see. So that’s why you sided with Cyrus. And the test subject in question is Re=L… So that’s what those guys are planning with that project…”

Albert began muttering, lost in thought.

“…Please, Albert. Surrender!”

Glenn pleaded desperately.

“If this goes on, Re=L will die! I have to get that Sefirot Map! So—…”

But to Glenn,

“Sorry… but that makes it all the more reason I can’t back down.”

Albert refused with even stronger resolve.

“What…? At least tell me what’s going on! What the hell are you—?”

“That’s impossible too. Because there’s no proof you are who you say you are. I can’t trust you.”

“Huh? That I’m me? What’s that supposed to mean…?”

Without answering Glenn’s confusion—

“Besides, you’re telling me to die to save Re=L? Heh… That’s awfully convenient for you.”

Albert glanced back slightly, giving a cold, faint smile.

“No, that’s not—!”

“It’s exactly that. Face reality.”

Albert’s sharp rebuke forced Glenn into silence.

“You want to save everything you see… That belief of yours is naive but noble. Honestly, it can be dazzling to me at times. But—reality is endlessly cruel.”

“—!?”

“You’ve had to make choices and sacrifices all along, haven’t you? If you truly wish to save Re=L—make up your mind.”

“…Albert…”

“I’ll say it now: I won’t back down.”

Albert’s words pierced Glenn’s crushed expression.

“I, too, carry burdens. There are those who believed in me, who entrusted everything to me. Betraying them is the one thing I cannot do. And… isn’t it the same for you?”

“…!”

In Glenn’s mind flashed images of Re=L, surrounded by Sistine, Rumia, and the students of Class Two.

“You can’t save ten. Cut one to save nine. That’s my way.”

“Albert… you…”

“Even if I’m burned in the fires of hell… I’ll fight for my purpose. I won’t show mercy to those who stand in my way. Not even if it’s you.”

“…”

“I’ve already made my resolve. What about you? Will you cling to an unattainable ideal and just scream? If you truly want to protect what matters… make your resolve.”

With that cold declaration, Albert walked away.

“…Hey… wait…”

Glenn, his face twisted in agony, aimed his pistol at Albert’s back again.

“You want to fight now? …Hmph. Come back later. The current you is far easier than those three.”

Without turning, Albert pointed it out and continued walking.

As he said, Glenn’s finger was frozen like stone… unable to pull the trigger.

“…”

All Glenn could do was watch Albert leave. Slowly, he lowered his pistol… and muttered to no one in particular.

“…Damn it…!”

The night—grew deeper.

Above, a canopy of an eerily glowing white moon.

The long night had only just begun—