Miasma And Void, Resentment And Hope.

“‘Pluto End Slash (Hades Blade End)’—I shall unleash my absolute strongest sword technique at maximum output upon you.”

Holding a sword wrapped in flames of miasma, Regal charged forward.

Fast—

The flames of miasma were spewing not only from his sword, but apparently from his back as well. He must have used that as propulsion to accelerate explosively.

Closing the distance in a mere instant, the Undead King unleashed a full-power strike from above.

A straightforward clash with no cheap tricks—

In that case, I too—

“Convergent Type: Void Strike (Vanity Blade)!”

I activated a magic sword capable of severing space itself.

A sword of miasma and a sword of void—

Our blades slammed into each other, carrying our respective feelings and resolves.

Grit, crash!

Our swords clashed, scattering sparks and emitting the screeching sound of grinding metal. From there, we gradually locked into a test of strength, blade against blade.

“I can’t cut through—”

I let out a bewildered voice from under my mask.

His sword was receiving my space-severing blade head-on.

“Don’t tell me, this is…!”

It was just like when I fought Liawelt, the hero who had gained the “Power of God.” The power of my magic sword was being ‘rejected.’

Had Regal’s ultimate sword technique reached that level?

“This is a one-time technique born from thousands of years of accumulation,” the Undead King announced quietly. “However, for that single time—I can ‘reject’ everything and shatter everything. Even if it is the magic power of you, the strongest.”

“So it’s your secret trump card, then.”

“A battle against you holds that much value. I simply judged it so.”

Regal pushed forward bit by bit.

“Ghk…!”

The blade of magic power I created cracked heavily. Fissures ran along its surface as I felt the magic power itself wearing down.

It truly was a terrifying slash. It was attempting to ‘reject’ and destroy even my void sword, which was formed from condensed magic power.

Regal pushed down even harder. Does he intend to overpower me and cut me straight in half?

“However—”

I poured even more magic power into it.

The crack-riddled magic sword restored itself to its original state once more.

“What…?!”

“You won’t deplete my magic power with just that. You aren’t the only one with an unyielding will…!”

This time, I pushed back.

The blade-lock that Regal had been dominating returned to an even match.

“Why?! Why can I not push through—why can my miasma, my resentment, not overpower a mere human heart?!”

“I’m the same as you.”

While holding off Regal’s miasma sword with my void blade, I spoke quietly.

The torrents of energy raging between us shattered the Demon King’s mask to pieces.

Exposing my real face—a human face—I stared straight at Regal.

“In my fight with the former Demon King Yulisha, I was betrayed by the person I trusted most. And then—I died.”

“…What?”

“I resented him.”

The smiling face of my beloved disciple, Lyle, surfaced in my mind.

My heart throbbed with a sharp pain. Even though we had parted ways and settled things, the pain in my heart would never fully heal.

Even so—

“Normally, I might have come to hate all humans just like you. But—I had Stella, Lyrim, and the others by my side. Becoming the Demon King, I gained new people who are precious to me.”

I took a step forward, pushing in.

The balance broke.

“Ghk… your output is still rising…?!”

Regal took a step backward.

“My desire to protect what is precious to me barely managed to keep my human heart intact. It kept me from being consumed by hatred, allowing me to trust my companions and hold onto my feelings for them.”

I pushed another step forward.

“That’s why I can fight.”

One more step.

“If there’s anyone threatening the Demon Realm—if there’s anyone hurting my companions—I will push them back with everything I have. I will shatter them.”

And then, I took the final step.

“They are the ones who give me that will!”

The blade of void severed the miasma sword right through the middle.

“G-Ghaaaaaah…?!”

Regal stumbled far backward.

“Our goal is the same, isn’t it, Regal? Can’t we fight together?”

“Impossible—” the Undead King groaned in shock.

“Is it because your hatred is too deep to allow it? Can I not become your companion?”

“Companion…”

“Because you are a precious companion to me as well.”

Clatter.

The sword fell from Regal’s hand.

Broken in half, the blade weathered away right then and there, scattering into countless ashes in the wind.

“—Kill me,” the Undead King hung his head. “My miasma is completely spent. I can no longer… fight.”

“The victor gets to decide what to do with the loser, right? Then this time, give me your loyalty.”

“…Do you forgive someone who pointed his blade at you?”

“I told you, you’re my companion. To save our many other companions—I need your strength.”

“…How naive,” Regal let out a sigh.

“Then you can make up for that naivety.”

I smirked.

They were the exact same words from when we first met.

“It’s a royal order.”

“…You really are,” Regal seemed to smile, if only a little. “No, Your Majesty is—naive after all.”

His words were also the same as when we first met.

However, the bond shared between us now… was surely different from back then—