Sirin’s condition was not good.
On the outside, she seemed fine, but inside, she was thoroughly broken.
The divine power, spread like watercolors in her body, was gnawing at her like a parasite, and perhaps because she had forced herself to return ‘Rubia’ a moment ago, all her vital energy was twisted.
At the same time, even though the attack hadn’t landed, her skin split and healed; her muscles ripped and regenerated. The magical power flowing through her qi and blood was disrupted by the same divine power, wreaking havoc in her body.
Among all of this, what burdened Sirin the most was that the ‘regulation’ that had tied ‘Rubia’s’ body was inextricably tangled with her heart, which contained all of her emotions.
Yet, Sirin moved.
She swung the Great Sword and deflected the attack.
She scattered magic and nullified spells.
She unleashed magical power to suppress the blood aura and cried out the command, bringing the elemental spirits to their knees.
Each time, the regulation that burrowed into her heart caused her pain, but it couldn’t be broken.
This pain had been ongoing since the moment this world began, since the time she met ‘her,’ and by now, it felt like a part of her body.
But.
Over there, with trembling hands gripping the Great Sword.
Seeing the girl who was grimacing and holding back tears while looking at her was a pain that was unfamiliar.
Sirin chuckled lightly.
If she hadn’t broken the regulation and helped the girl, she would have confronted herself, radiating an ominous momentum just like ‘her.’
If they hadn’t shared feelings and had spent time apart, they would have swung Great Swords at each other.
If she had heard the ways to maintain the world through any means necessary as a rule of this world, she would have beheaded herself without hesitation.
If that were the case, she wouldn’t have to feel this annoying pain.
Surely, that would be the case.
Yet somehow, she didn’t feel that way.
Why was that?
Because of Noah’s plight?
Did she not want ‘her’ or Noah to carry bad memories?
Or was it because the time spent with ‘her’ and Noah was so fresh and joyful?
She didn’t know.
She didn’t particularly want to know.
Having spent an eternity alone.
To her, who had only been the cog in the world from the moment she opened her eyes, she thought it was an emotion she shouldn’t feel.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, whether she knew it or not, to her, who had caused so much sorrow, even that emotion felt like a luxury.
Sirin merely smiled wryly while enduring the sharp pain digging into her head.
But in terms of attacks, she didn’t hold back.
As much as she thought about them, as much as she cared for them.
As much as she loved them.
She unleashed stronger, more ferocious attacks.
That was her only atonement.
And the only way to help Noah rise.
[Stop.]
Creeeek-! Following the declared command, Carpen’s body was buried in the ground. Soon after, smash-! She deflected Frey’s Great Sword rushing at her and reached out with her other hand.
—Crash!
The lightning that extended from her fingertips shattered the mysteries of the spirits head-on. Crackle– The resulting tiny currents blackened the bodies of the primal spirits and returned them to the World Tree’s embrace.
Immediately, she stowed away the Great Sword into the void and placed her empty hand on her waist. She stepped on the foundation. The momentum from her strong waist twisted into a blow.
―――!
The wave of magical power bursting forth from her small fist was a massive force that couldn’t be compared to the ordinary dragons’ breath.
Starting as a thin line, it gradually turned into a colossal storm. It was an unavoidable disaster for all beings living in this world. A death they could not escape.
But.
“Uhh—!”
Scrape– In front of Frey’s Great Sword, it was merely an obstacle blocking her path.
A thin line drawn horizontally. It passed through the wave emanating from Sirin’s hand, affecting the command binding Carpen.
“Grrrr…”
Finally freed, Carpen’s blood aura surged fiercely. The blood aura surrounding him was infused with killing intent.
“You stupid girl. How many times do I have to tell you to follow me if I go first?”
Wiping the cold sweat flowing down his chin, Carpen scolded Frey, who was steadying her breath and correcting her posture.
Thud, thud– Carpen’s hands slapped the ground. The surrounding blood aura became sharp claws, scraping the dry earth harshly.
After a while, the blood aura, which had swelled like it was about to burst, was compressed. The rippling energy took on a complete form. In the past, Carpen’s energy was the vengeance of fallen comrades, malice seeking to destroy the world, and the hatred that caused her to fall into the grasp of the dark god.
But now.
It was hope meant to usher in a new era.
A gentle touch to guide the heroes of a new age.
“I won’t fall for it again.”
With a growl, Carpen uttered.
Boom-! As her new form vanished, the surrounding earth erupted. In an instant, toward the Carpen who approached in front of her, Sirin commanded the ancient dragon.
[Stop.]
Creeeek-! According to the ancient dragon’s command, the flow of the world wrapped around Carpen’s entire body. The ancient dragon’s power pressed down on Carpen, trying to seize even his breath, close his eyes, and control his thoughts.
But.
“I said, I won’t fall for it!!”
Crash– A fierce roar erupted, shaking off the command that had enveloped Carpen’s body with a mighty will.
It restored his freedom.
Then, ka-shunk-!
The claws swung, tearing through space, rushing toward Sirin’s neck.
A faint smile crept on Sirin’s lips. In her right hand, the Great Sword was in hand. In her other hand, sharp claws made of magical power similar to Carpen’s had formed.
“――. You were right.”
Murmuring someone’s name, Sirin moved. The Great Sword swung upward from below, deflecting Carpen’s claws. Following up, her other hand wielded the short hilt like a hammer, aiming for his knee.
As if she knew from before, Sirin blocked all of Carpen’s prepared maneuvers, mercilessly swinging her other hand.
Crack–
Countless claws imbued with magic pierced into Carpen’s neck. Terrible pain tightened around his entire body. In the excruciating agony that felt like every nerve was being torn, snap– Carpen’s arm twisted at an impossible angle, his hand, and the attached claws.
Slash–
As they tore through Sirin’s shoulder, bright red droplets scattered.
“Kuhahaha! Finally, I reached you!”
Despite the deep scar on his neck spurting blood, Carpen laughed joyfully. Laughing, he swung his claws.
Each time, splash-! Blood gushed from the neck, mixing with the gurgle– and generating even denser blood aura.
The blood aura formed by this was savage claws rushing toward Sirin.
Amidst the incessant assault, Frey’s Great Sword intertwined perfectly. For an exchange of breaths they had tried just once, their attacks instinctively synced.
Sirin’s smile grew denser. Her lips curled up gently.
[By the name of the ancient dragon, Sirinius, I command you.]
The voice that flowed from there carried an will imbued with the name of regulation, echoing its intent to the world.
[Bow your heads.]
Thus.
―――!
Everything in the vicinity bowed down at Sirin’s feet.
Carpen, Frey, the spirits, the magical power, the air, the sounds. Everything that formed the world bowed at the center where Sirin stood.
The Great Sword resembling a guillotine fell toward Carpen’s neck.
At the same time.
A white hand waved through the air.
That action created small ripples in the world where everything was frozen.
And then, with a whoosh–
A small ripple created by a single human erased the command of regulation without a trace.
Next, countless magic circles began to form above the scenery that was regaining its vitality.
A sky densely filled with magic circles.
What they contained were great spells that could only be drawn by those who had dedicated their lives to magic, and among them, only the ones hailed as geniuses could visualize.
There were likely thousands of these great spells.
All created by one person.
Ser.
It was ‘magic’ conjured from pure magical power, not by manipulating the power of spirits.
Ser’s body, connected to the spirit realm, could no longer hold magical power.
Not being able to hold magical power meant not being able to use magic.
That was the truth that made up this world, established as a regulation completed by Sirin’s existence.
Yet.
Ser, who couldn’t hold magical power, was using magic.
He performed the miracle of erasing the command that contained his true name.
This meant.
“You paid the price.”
The spirit realm.
“You placed your life on the scales.”
Sirin’s pupils split.
The ancient dragon’s eyes, the eyes observing everything, gazed at Ser.
“You’ve indeed reached the foundation of the world, without anyone’s help, solely by your own strength.”
A voice mixed with lamentation, surprise, and a hint of joy emanated from Sirin.
Hearing this, Ser replied as if it were obvious.
“For a genius, it’s only natural.”
“It’s not natural. Ser, what you did… is nothing different from a gamble with exceedingly low odds. If you had accidentally failed to balance the scales—”
“As a genius, I cannot make such mistakes.”
Ser’s voice, cutting off Sirin, carried a frenzy of self-belief.
“Ha, hahaha… Right. You couldn’t make such a mistake.”
Sirin looked at Ser, a self-deprecating smile on her lips.
“Then, Ser. You have no regrets about that choice?”
“Regrets…”
A faint smile surfaced on Ser’s face, which had been slightly warped until now.
At the same time, the great spells packed in the sky were activated.
Thus, amid the deluge of great spells pouring down on him.
Sirin saw it.
The small movement of Ser’s lips.
The words spilling from those lips.
