Flames commanded by Divine Authority surged outward, continuously consuming the air that had already been congealed under ancient magic.

Not only that—scorching currents and firelight formed a perfect barrier, briefly creating a sealed cavity where no air existed at all.

It was an act of desperation. Something originally essential for human survival had, under that powerful and bizarre ancient magic, been forcibly transformed into deadly “poison.” Even Ariel’s tough body could not be exempt from that “poison”—in only a few short breaths, her lungs were already in unbearable pain, blood spilling from her cough.

So she could only forcibly create an environment close to a “vacuum.”

Inside that cavity, Ariel herself could not breathe either.

But once the terrifying pressure—like being submerged in the deep sea—was gone, her movements were completely freed.

So she did not hesitate. She closed in, swung her sword, faced the noise-man—

Slash!

Flames and sword intent burst forth once more from the red-gold greatsword!

Skyfire—Judgment!

A soundless shout rang out in Ariel’s heart, and in an instant, light blazed!

This was a fiercer, more scorching technique than Skyfire Unsheathed. If Skyfire Unsheathed was the instantaneous release of stored power, then Skyfire Judgment was forcing her own power directly to its limit, then crushing forward without regard for anything!

Not enough battle qi? Then squeeze a little more out of a weakened body.

Not enough magic power? Then substitute Divine Favor that consumed mental strength.

Pushed from both sides, Ariel’s power briefly reached its peak—and so this sword strike was a peak strike.

【Warrior, source of calamity—die!!】

The noise-man roared as well, seeming to sense the threat of Ariel’s blade.

The vast magic power brewing around him began to surge again. It was so shocking that even the noise obscuring his face started to warp.

【Congeal】

The same ancient magic.

But to Ariel’s surprise, the noise-man did not use that magic to defend, nor to pull away and widen the distance.

Instead, as Ariel swung her greatsword down, he stepped forward as well, clenched that gaunt, shriveled hand—

Smash!

What he congealed... was his own fist.

A layer of solidified transparent crystal covered it, like a diamond—beautiful beyond measure.

Yet the killing intent it emitted was ice-cold to the bone.

Boom!

In an instant, fist and blade collided, producing a terrifying roar like mountains collapsing and the earth splitting!

"What a... joke..."

Ariel’s vision went black. A dense, sickly sweet metallic stench spread through her throat. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

She staggered back. The tremendous rebound traveled up the hilt; she felt her hands nearly fracture, almost unable to keep hold of the grip.

"So vicious..." Ariel’s eyelids twitched.

You keep yelling that warriors should die, but you—damn it—if you’re a mage, why are you more vicious than a warrior, bastard?!

But Ariel had not been entirely unable to injure the noise-man. After the sword-light faded, a savage blood-gash had nearly torn open his entire arm. Black blood that looked rotten poured out, stinking foully.

The damage wasn’t low, but...

That was all.

The noise-man did not retreat. His figure swayed—his speed absurdly fast. In a blink he caught up to the retreating Ariel, raised his other intact hand in a loose grip as if seizing some congealed invisible thing, and then—

Pfft.

The tearing pain in her abdomen was unmistakable, even for this body covered in wounds, weakened to the extreme, so dulled to pain.

Ariel’s cheek twitched a couple times, her expression blank with confusion.

Congealed air had become an icy spear, punching straight through her body. Under normal circumstances, this injury would never be fatal for her.

But...

She was too weak now—so weak that even this kind of wound could shake the foundation of her life.

Pfft.

The air-spear was pulled out mercilessly. Blood immediately streamed from the wound, and Ariel no longer even had the strength left to stop the bleeding.

Her vision began to dim. The whole world spun; all kinds of meaningless buzzing filled her ears.

As blood flowed, Ariel’s already scant remaining strength drained away even faster, until even standing began to grow difficult...

"Ariel!"

Yet in that roaring chaos, as if the world were collapsing, a familiar, desperately urgent voice suddenly rang out, crushing everything else.

Ariel’s pupils, nearly scattered, gathered again. She stomped her foot hard on the ground to steady herself and forced her back straight once more.

"Don’t stop!"

Ariel stopped Muen, who was almost about to halt the decryption work in his hands to come save her.

"I haven’t... fallen yet!"

It was only a small injury. Only a little weakness. Only her abdomen being pierced clean through.

Compared to that little courtyard that had buried everything of hers, compared to the hollow deep in her heart that had never been filled even now...

What did this amount to?

"It’s just fighting for my life. This kind of thing... I’m good at it!"

Whether by coincidence or fate, Ariel spoke almost the exact same words she had once heard Muen say.

Then she opened her eyes.

Within those eyes, there was no longer any distinction between pupil and sclera—only pure black and white.

One pure black, one pure white.

Between black and white was as if the farthest distance in this world—and as if the greatest might, even splitting heaven and earth.

Ariel raised both hands. In the centers of her palms, the same pure black and pure white formed whirlpools, endlessly turning.

Divine Favor · Light.

Divine Favor · Dark.

Ariel brought her hands—

brought light and dark—slowly together.

And so the farthest distance in this world, the greatest power...

collided!!

【Warrior—die!】

The noise-man let out another hiss filled with hatred and rage, but this time the roar didn’t even have time to echo before it was swallowed by boundless dead silence.

Just like his chest—hollowed out as if something had annihilated it.

So sudden. So fast.

No earthshaking movement occurred at all, yet the terrifying result had already happened.

"The one who’s dying is you, you bastard monster."

Ariel bared bloodstained white teeth. Her whole body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground.

Fortunately, a pair of solid, powerful arms caught her at just the right moment.

And at that moment, the long-awaited spatial fluctuation finally appeared, swallowing the two of them as they clung to each °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° other.

...

...

Sunlight spilled across a small courtyard.

Ariel lifted her head and looked toward a woman sitting not far away—someone whose entire life had been pitiable, tragic, and lamentable, yet who had never once spoken of emptiness or regret.

The woman propped her chin up and wore a restrained, gentle smile completely opposite of Ariel’s.

"Ariel, have you found your happiness?"

"I..."