Offense And Defense.

“Because I was evading Zegart’s forces, my arrival was delayed. Please forgive me.”

Stella stepped close and bowed her head to me.

“No, you saved us.”

“While heading here, I grasped the situation using Clairvoyance,” Stella said. “I believe now is the time to retreat.”

—Can you pull it off?

—Leave it to me.

Stella and I exchanged a brief moment of eye contact.

“I was surprised by that strike just now, but in the end, it was merely a surprise attack.”

Zegart glared at Stella and me.

“No matter how incredible your ocular arts may be, you are fundamentally a support type. You are no match for me, a combat specialist.”

“I wonder about that.”

The girl with the Demon God’s Eye stared cold-eyed at the Beast Emperor.

“Battles are not decided by force alone. Though… I suppose a muscle-brain like you wouldn’t understand?”

“Cheap provocation.”

Growling, Zegart slowly closed in.

I looked at Stella once more.

Timing was everything for this trick. Our breathing had to be completely synchronized—

Once again, I analyzed our available fighting force.

First, myself.

Due to Zegart’s setup, my magic power was almost entirely spent. With my current magic attack power, I couldn’t deal any meaningful damage to him.

Next, Regal.

While it was hard to say he was fully on our side, he was at least protecting me. However, he had to be heavily exhausted from his fight with me earlier. The miasma that served as an undead demon’s energy source was nearly depleted, and he likely didn’t have enough power left to face Zegart or Tsukuyomi.

As for Lirim and the guard staff, asking them to face Demon General-class opponents was simply impossible.

Which meant—finally, Stella.

She appeared to be in peak condition. Her powers lay in her ocular arts and magic. Though her offensive magic naturally didn’t reach mine or Juda’s level, she still possessed the strength of a high-ranking demon. While certainly not strong enough to defeat Zegart or Tsukuyomi, she was more than enough to create distractions, and if she caught an opening, there was a chance to strike them down.

All that was left—was to combine these hand of cards to break through the situation.

Let’s do this, Stella.

I sent her a signal with my eyes.

Her eyes gave a small, firm nod.

“Come, Purgatory Demon King’s Sword (Radis)!”

I summoned the Demon King’s sword.

A pitch-black blade that looked like dissolved darkness, paired with an elegant golden guard and hilt. Several cracks ran along the blade, and there were six chips along the edge.

Normally, I used a magic power sword for close-quarters combat, but right now, even my magic power was nearly gone. I had no choice but to use this as my weapon.

I gripped the Demon King’s sword tightly.

“Hmph, that sword will soon be mine as well.”

Zegart raised the claws on both hands like swords.

“—Here I come.”

Holding the Demon King’s sword at mid-guard, I charged from a low stance.

It was a basic movement from the Zairus-Style Swordsmanship I used back when I was human.

“Challenging me in hand-to-hand combat? You’re a thousand years too early!”

With a roar, Zegart swung the claws on both arms downward.

Fast—!

As expected, in hand-to-hand combat, he was superior due to his beastkin traits and physical capabilities.

“Ghk…”

I pivoted my sword, deflecting Zegart’s claw strikes as I fell back.

“You’re not getting away!”

Without missing a beat, Zegart closed the distance.

“Fire!”

“Useless!”

The fireball I launched was extinguished by the Beast Emperor’s shout alone. It didn’t even serve as a distraction.

“Your Majesty, we’ll help—”

“Zegart, prepare yourself!”

Lirim’s group, and even Regal, charged in.

“No matter how many of you gather, it’s useless!”

Zegart roared. That roar turned into a shockwave, blowing Lirim and the others away all at once.

Furthermore—

“King of Darkness, attack Fried!” Tsukuyomi ordered the Astaroth Gear.

G-Grrr…!

However, for a split second, its movement dulled. The giant black dragon wriggled its body from side to side as if confused.

“A malfunction? Well, fine. I shall deliver the finishing blow to the former Demon King myself, rather than relying on a weapon.”

The Beast Emperor turned back toward me.

“What is…?!”

Just then, Zegart raised a voice of confusion.

The fireball that had vanished reappeared, swelled to dozens of times its original size, and surged toward him.

“Don’t underestimate a Demon King’s magic power.”

I smirked.

“Tch, he still has this much power left…?!”

Surprised, Zegart tumbled backward.

At that exact moment—

ROOOOOAAAAAAAR…!

With a thunderous boom, the giant fireball burst open.

“He vanished…?!”

Zegart looked around the area. Fried was gone, and so were Stella, Regal, and the guards.

It seemed they had escaped.

“…Hmph. Making it look like an all-out attack, when from the start his plan was to confuse me with illusions and flee.”

Zegart snorted softly.

Even so, he had anticipated that outcome to some degree.

“Let him run if he wants. I shall simply return to the Demon King’s Castle and continue preparations to obtain That.”

“I shall assist as well, my lord.”

“Ah. Without your help, obtaining that power would be impossible. I’m counting on you.”

The real battle begins now.

“I will never become a pawn of God. In the end, I will outsmart him and become the King who rules all worlds—”

“Haa, haa, haa…”

Stella was panting heavily.

“Are you alright, Stella?”

—They were currently deep inside a forest on the outskirts of Jiregga.

After escaping Zegart and Tsukuyomi, they had reached this spot and concealed themselves.

“It seems… controlling the Apocalypse Note freely is still too heavy a burden for me right now.”

Beads of sweat covered her face, and her refined, beautiful face was pale. She had undoubtedly exhausted a massive amount of magic power and physical stamina.

“I’m sorry.”

I bowed my head deeply.

Without the illusions created by her ocular arts and her prediction of Zegart’s reactions using the Apocalypse Note, they wouldn’t have been able to escape so cleanly.

“What are you saying? I would lay down my life to protect you.”

“Us too!” Lyrim added with conviction.

“I’m so glad you’re safe, Your Majesty. And… um, Lord Regal as well.”

“He’s alright. At least he’s not an enemy. For now.”

I offered a small smile to Lirim and the guards, who still looked somewhat anxious.