It's late.

Night has fully manifested, and the grand moon now shines coolly on the world.

Although Lumian Town was already destroyed, I still guided everyone there.

Upon arrival, it's easy to tell that the town has been attacked.

The Direwolves spared no one.

Bodies litter the ground as if they were grains of sand, and the stench of blood pollutes the air in abundant quantity. I can see many students grow sick just from inhaling the horrid stench, and some nearly pass out from witnessing the brutalized corpses.

But we press on regardless.

Although Lumian Town has very little to offer us in terms of security and a path of escape, this place still has some use.

"The Hidden Mountain Grove is a tourist attraction, so the residents built a lot of inns to accommodate visitors. There should be empty rooms in many of them, so make sure the students are all settled in and have some rest."

It's clear that everyone has hit their limits, especially the students.

They've been on the move for an entire day, trying to stay alive through half of it. Once the adrenaline wore off, most of them were exhausted beyond words, and it took everything to reach the mountain's base.

Now that we're here, getting them some rest and some food is the priority.

Those shouldn't be a problem.

Although the Direwolves killed everyone and destroyed a lot of structures, they didn't ruin everything. There are still plenty of resources left. The town has enough food and water to last the students and professors, so that's one issue already resolved.

Right now, the Professors are guiding the students to their rooms while I keep a steady watch on everything around us.

It's possible that Ciel has set a trap for us, so I can't be too cautious.

'I don't sense anything, though…'

While enveloped in thought, I notice Seth's constant worried gaze. He seems to be paying special mind to all the corpses, clearly looking for something.

Or… someone.

'He's worried I could be among the dead people, huh? Not surprising, since he advised me not to come for them, and I told him I'd go find help. It's natural to assume I came to Lumian Town, which—in turn—means I died.'

Although I wish to clear him of this misunderstanding, now is not the time.

'I should be searching for Potions and Armaments that everyone here can use to protect themselves in the event of danger. I'll also need some for myself, although due to my special anatomy, I'll have to brew special ones for my use.'

Thankfully, Lumian Town isn't lacking in Special Resources.

Even if the Direwolves ransacked this place, they couldn't have plundered it of all its resources.

It wouldn't even make any sense.

'I doubt Ciel knows the inner workings of Lumian Town and where all the goods are being stored. Even if she did, she wouldn't go out of her way to retrieve them, since she's trying to make this appear as a Magivore Beast Tide.'

Plundering the town would connote the act of an intelligent force.

This will undoubtedly increase the Kingdom's suspicions of the Vey'lithar Sanctuary being on the mountain. With everything Ciel has already done, the Royal Family is also sure to recognize the Vey'lithars as extremely hostile and dangerous.

I have no doubt in my mind that the King will send his strongest forces to the Hidden Mountain Grove, which will end up causing many problems for her.

She wouldn't want that.

So, even though leaving these resources behind would be of great help to us, she had no choice but to do so.

'My biggest worry is the Direwolves… especially the Cadre 5 ones.' I clench my teeth while worriedly staring at the people I just saved. 'They're undoubtedly her trump cards, and there's no telling when next they'll appear.'

What if they show up in Lumian Town?

I won't be able to save everyone if that happens, and it'll be a slaughter.

'But I can't think like that. Let's assume they're in the cavern, likely waiting for me to return, then there's a small chance of victory. If I arm everyone with Armaments and give them enough Potions to protect themselves, I'll send them off with enough resources to last them on their journey to the nearest town.' I scratch my chin and tightly close my eyes. 'But this only works if there aren't any dangers along the way.'

What if more Magivores surround us?

I was only able to kill so many because of the nature of the situation.

Back then, I was alone.

I only had to worry about myself.

But this time, in an open space, there are many people to consider. Even I can't be everywhere at once, which means even more people will die.

In such a scenario, I'll have to prioritize those I wish to rescue.

'Seth, Seraphina… and some students.' I am forced to choose, feeling a heavy feeling in my heart as well as a deepening hate for the mastermind of this whole thing.

'If I succeed and they are able to escape Lumian Town in one piece, I'll return to the mountain and face Ciel.' Although I'm tempted to escort them to the nearest town, I also recognize that Ciel could be plotting something else secretly.

If I don't stop her, she could attack the next town using the same Magivore Beast Tide tactic and kill even more people.

I can't let that happen—not again.

'It's a risk, but I know Ciel will have to prepare for my eventual assault. She knows I'm the biggest threat, and that she can get rid of everyone else once I'm dealt with. That means she'll concentrate her forces on me.' A wry smile forms on my face as I cast my gaze on the mountain.

'So… by attacking the Sanctuary, I'll be drawing her forces away from everyone else.'

Even if she is determined to kill everyone, surely she cares more about the safety of her own people. She'd more likely try to kill me first before giving them chase.

Good.

That's good.

'But I'll make you regret that choice, Ciel!' A crazed grin forms on my face. 'I already know all the patterns of your Magivores, and I currently possess a powerful weapon capable of taking them down. If I include Obsidian Steed, my chances go up considerably. The biggest factor to consider is my Interference Power, and right now it's at full charge.'

My body is in perfect condition, too.

'Just you wait, Ciel. I'll make sure to kill you really soon!'

***************

Time flies.

In only three days, everything has been resolved without much difficulty.

Everyone has gotten sufficient rest and has packed enough resources for the long trip ahead of them. Without horses or carriages of any sort, they'll have to walk to the nearest town. This will take an unbelievable amount of time, but with no alternatives, this is the only choice.

Thankfully, no Magivore came to attack during this period.

I still have no idea why this is the case, but I can only think that Ciel is saving them up for our inevitable confrontation.

Regardless, just as planned, I have equipped everyone with basic Potions and defensive Armaments. The Professors also have the more precious Potions and Armaments—especially offensive ones—to ensure a more responsible use in case of danger.

We also found a few useful auxiliary Armaments, though, rather unfortunately, none of them were of the Communication Type.

I can't help but suspect that Ciel had a hand in this.

She must have realized that she couldn't get rid of every Armament and Potion to avoid suspicion, but she targeted the Communication types to prevent us from seeking help.

How shrewd.

But it's only delaying the inevitable. Once we don't return to the Royal Academy in time, they'll undoubtedly send people to look for us. They'll find Lumian Town in ruins and will eventually find everyone. The only downside is that this backup will take some time before reaching us.

To ensure everyone's safety, I have to defeat Ciel before then.

With everyone now leaving Lumian Town, I only have to supervise their departure for some time before returning my gaze to the source of this tragedy.

Some time passes, and the marching group experiences no danger along the way.

Even now, as I soar through the clouds with my Obsidian Steed, I detect no serious monsters along their path. Could it be that, just as I hoped, Ciel is keeping her focus entirely on me? But what if there are Magivores hidden deep underground, just waiting for the right moment to strike?

No…

I can't think like that.

'If I constantly worry like this, I won't be able to take the risk and face Ciel. Although it's a dangerous gamble, the odds are higher that she would try to eliminate me first before going after everyone else.'

After finally convincing myself to leave the group, I command my dark horse to take me back to the place where it all began.

Although I sense many gazes landing on my distant silhouette, I ignore them all.

There's only one way to truly end this madness.

And right now… I'm heading towards it.

Thanks to the speed of Obsidian Steed, it only takes me several minutes in the air before finally reaching the entrance. Since I have Aego Sight, the Sanctuary's complex barrier does it no good, and the doorway seems to be in plain sight.

I feel a strange heaviness within me as I charge towards it.

I'm angry… but also frightened.

And, despite trying to deny the feelings within me, at this crucial moment, I have to admit:

I am also sad.

Very sad.

'We could have talked this out. You didn't have to do this. But… it ended up like this in the end.'

Without acknowledging these feelings, my gaze turns sharp as I forcefully invade the place while still riding my winged horse.

The world around me quickly changes, and I find myself in a vast field with purple skies.

The land appears abandoned.

Even from my elevated height, there's no one in sight.

'So she really evacuated the Sanctuary…' My thought flows as my brow furrows.

No Vey'lithar can be seen for miles.

No Magivore, either.

I detect no presence at all.

This place is empty.

"Come out, Ciel!" I yell out with great vigor, my eyes now bloodshot. "You coward! Do you really think I won't be able to find them? You may have hidden your people, but with enough time, I'll find all of them and do to them what you did to my own people!"

Silence remains.

'Could it be—?' My heart begins to race as a sudden thought enters my mind.

What if she went after everyone else herself?

She could use them as a hostage situation, which would significantly increase her chances of success.

Did I miscalculate?

Did I, once again, misread the situation?

'I… did I fall for her trap yet again?!' Right as this thought fills my thoughts and I cast my gaze at the entrance, deciding to charge out to secure everyone's safety—

"You didn't misread anything."

—A brilliant light appears in the fields, and a tall, slender woman appears by herself.

Her long pink hair nearly reaches her feet, and the many markings on her soft, elegant skin make her appear more mystical than human. Her purple eyes have a glint of determination, though I find strange traces of sorrow hidden within them.

She still dons the same colorful clothes, and her cape heroically flutters with the command of the violent winds around her.

Jewelries shine all over her hands and feet, complementing everything about her.

In the past, all of these things about her amazed me.

Now, I am enraged just from the sight of her.

WHOOSH!

Without any delay, I activate Frontflow and charge towards her with Obsidian Steed.

I possess an entire minute encapsulated within a single second.

Not enough time for her to move.

But more than enough for me to kill her!

However, just as I am a few inches from her, I sense a presence beneath the two of us that causes me to instantly pause my advance and even retreat.

Thankfully, I'm not too late.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

The ground shatters.

The entire field turns into ruins within the same second that the world operates in. Ciel is still as a statue, but the entirety of her surroundings quickly morphs as an unimaginable entity emerges from underground.

Sixty meters tall… and possessing three different heads.

Its furry body is crimson red, and the horns on its head make it more akin to a dragon than anything else. Despite its wolf-like appearance, this colossal entity's dark purple gaze contains deep malice, and the bright stars that dot its skin glitter like the starlight in the night sky.

Even with Frontflow, I am barely able to escape its range.

And when it fully manifests from the ground, I am in deep awe.

Once Frontflow ends, my body is still.

My gaze is solemn.

I only stare at Ciel, who now stands on top of the beast and stares at me with pure determination.

"Javier Aditi… this will be our final battle."

I agree.

I previously thought those Cadre 5 Magivores were her trump card, but I was sorely mistaken.

This… this Cadre 6 monstrosity is what she was so confident in!

Noticing my shock, Ciel smiles lightly.

Her lips part and she speaks.

"Tremble before the guardian deity of this great Sanctuary… our ultimate protector for ages, and the Magivore I have bonded with for my lifetime—The Crimson Direwolf Emperor!"

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