Chapter 69
Chapter 69
Chapter 69
Queen of the Psychics (5)
Gray had the same look when he first challenged me.
A look that never even considered the possibility of losing.
Of course, his talent was beyond doubt, and Gray must have shown such confidence because he had calculated his opponent to some degree.
'How bitter.'
When Gray first challenged me, chanting various magic spells.
I crushed every magic Gray deployed and dealt this guy his first defeat.
And now Gray had tasted his second defeat, far more overwhelming and miserable than before.
His first challenge ended in defeat to someone who had grown strong through tricks rather than talent.
His second challenge ended in defeat to a monster with even greater talent than his own.
In the original story, Gray surpassed even the 10th class in Chapter 4, long after Maria's death, earning the title 'God of Magic.'
But even then, he suffered until the end, unable to shake off his inferiority complex toward Maria.
I don't know what kind of different impact this first defeat, ten years earlier than in the original, will have on Gray compared to the original Gray, but it will at least lead him in a much more positive direction than the original.
'Hang in there, you need to become my right hand.'
Rudian cheered for Gray.
Gray was one of the two pillars of Rudian's plan, along with Maria who now faced succession.
The talents of Maria and Gray.
If Rudian's assistance were added to this...
'Maybe there really would be a chance of winning against that god.'
Rudian's ultimate goal that would exist in the distant future.
Rudian looked at Maria and erased the blueprint that had formed in his mind.
Now, and still, it wasn't time to think about that moment.
***
"......"
Cold silence dominated the hall.
Everyone in the hall was at a loss over Maria's declaration, watching Matheus and Maria nervously.
Matheus, who had been looking at Maria for a while, slowly opened his mouth.
"So you've finally made up your mind."
"Yes, Father."
"You, who always strived for mediation, have kept your mouth tightly shut about this matter, so I had a feeling."
When Rudian secretly came to find him, saying he would bring Gray to resolve this matter, Matheus somehow thought of Maria at that moment.
Responding to Rudian's request to react normally no matter what happened afterward was also out of expectation that this moment might come.
"Everyone, listen carefully."
Maria raised her voice and shouted to everyone.
"Until now, our Psychic Luminous has existed for over a thousand years, united for one goal."
Everyone's gaze turned to Maria.
"And now, we've finally seized the opportunity to make our name in the light as proud psychics."
Calmly but powerfully.
Maria's voice echoed.
"However, at this critical time when even everyone united toward one goal wouldn't be enough, those who create conflict over differences of opinion are increasing."
"But that's...!"
Just as an elder was about to refute Maria's words, Matheus raised his hand to stop him.
Maria's words continued.
"Of course, I'm not saying those opinions are wrong. The history of our persecution by other psychics like magicians and spirit users is certainly true, and it's natural to feel anxious about being in the same boat as them."
Maria's words were clearly aimed at the hardliners.
"But we're not in a good enough situation to make such extreme choices. Even if we split up later, now is the time to cooperate with them."
As soon as they heard the word cooperation, the hardliners' expressions all crumpled at once.
"But there are surely many who oppose my opinion. I've decided not to bother persuading those people."
"...What?"
"So I will..."
Maria paused to catch her breath, then opened her mouth again.
"As the legitimate heir of Psychic Luminous, I will seize the position of leader of Psychic Luminous by force and unify all opinions under my will."
"......!"
"Not only the current leader Matheus Kepler, but any elder who disagrees with me or anyone else—it doesn't matter. I stand here ready to crush everyone present by force, and I will become the new leader to guide Psychic Luminous down a better path."
ZZZZZING!
Familiar golden particles began to appear around Maria's entire body.
"Therefore... I request the succession ceremony, Leader."
Arrogance that would accept anyone's challenge.
Absolute force.
And the boldness and decisiveness befitting it.
To his daughter who showed the ideal image of a supreme ruler he had always envisioned, Matheus Kepler cheerfully laughed and expressed his acceptance.
"Good."
***
Matheus and Maria faced each other in the center of the Sands of Time.
Maria expressed that not only Matheus, but anyone present could attack together if they wished.
But the elders shook their heads and refused to participate.
"We can't do that. We have at least some pride."
Even the hardliner elders who should have been furious remained quiet.
Rather, they showed satisfaction that Maria, who had acted indecisively until now, was finally showing leadership for the first time.
"If that child just shows her decisive side, we can follow any path."
"Right! That's what you call a true Queen!"
"Damn... This is why psychics get called ignorant."
Gray, who had awakened from unconsciousness at some point, gritted his teeth as he watched the scene in the hall.
"Are you okay?"
At Rudian's worried question, Gray nodded as if it was nothing.
"I'm not pathetic enough to be broken by this much. Damn it, next time I challenge her, I'll definitely crush that woman."
Gray glared at Maria with fire in his eyes.
Perhaps because he felt his growth wasn't sufficient yet?
Surprisingly, Gray's eyes burned with desire to challenge rather than a sense of defeat.
'...That's fortunate.'
At least when fighting me, he fought a chaotic battle using magic freely, but his battle with Maria was literally being crushed in one blow even after using his strongest secret technique.
I was anxious that his spirit might be broken because of that, but seeing with my own eyes that such worry was groundless was enough.
"Brother, who do you think will win?"
Gray asked, watching the two people in the center gradually build up their momentum.
"...There's no need to say."
"Damn, why did I even ask? That old man seems skilled too, but... That woman is really a monster."
Gray witnessed the true value of psychics with his own eyes and was tormented by the urge to deny the reality before him.
Even if not as much as Maria, that Matheus was also a superhuman who easily surpassed the 8th class in magician terms.
The two people who had been clashing with full momentum announced the start of battle.
"Let's begin."
"Yes, former Leader."
"I'm still the current one, foolish daughter."
BAAANG!
With those words, a massive wave of telekinesis erupted with a tremendous explosion.
Matheus and Maria simultaneously took to the air and began demonstrating their psychic abilities in their most confident fields.
"Hmm, truly worthy of the reputation."
BANG!
Matheus's main attribute was lightning.
His attribute, which had transcended ordinary lightning to reach the super-rank, possessed destructive power that could turn even super-regeneration abilities to ash in an instant.
ZZZZT!
"A thunder dragon!"
Intricate embroidery created with electricity.
Matheus's ten fingers moved brilliantly, creating a thunder dragon dozens of meters in length, while densely laying out a massive net of lightning to block Maria's escape routes.
"Insane, in terms of firepower alone it's easily 9th class level. That... Even Mother couldn't handle it."
At Matheus's tremendous divine power, Gray gaped in shock.
The most powerful magician Gray knew was Sonya Bluephil Bellatrix, an 8th class master.
Though Gray hadn't seen everything about Sonya, at least in terms of sheer power, Matheus far surpassed Sonya.
"But the truly amazing person isn't that old man."
Rudian quietly raised his finger to point at Maria.
"Watch carefully. That's the true pinnacle of psychics."
Though it looked like Maria was being one-sidedly ravaged by the thunder dragon within the net Matheus had laid out, no one thought Maria was losing.
Maria leisurely raised her hand to respond even as the lightning net gradually tightened around her.
SNAP!
The moment she lightly waved her hand down, the actively moving thunder dragon and lightning net stopped as if by magic.
"...Huh?"
SLICE! SLICE! SLICE!
And blades made of telekinesis very lightly cut the stopped thunder dragon and net into hundreds and thousands of pieces.
SNAP!
"Cough!"
Blood flowed from between Matheus's lips due to the aftermath of his full-power psychic ability being shattered.
"What just...?"
Gray instinctively realized what had just happened and collapsed into his seat with a thud.
"Time stop...!"
A space-time ability that held the strongest position among all psychic abilities.
In magic terms, it was an ability that existed only in the 10th class domain, an area practically concluded to be beyond human handling even among magicians.
"......"
Rudian looked at Gray with a complicated expression.
'What reaction would he show if I told him that's still not her complete form?'
The sight of instantly suppressing 9th class-level firepower was amazing, but Maria's power when she began seriously handling the power of the Green World in Chapter 2 was by no means just that level.
'It wasn't coincidence that she could destroy the empire as a single force.'
If not for the desperate resistance led by Luciella, drawing in the protagonist Abel's party and other forces, Psychic Luminous might really have brought down the entire continent.
"Huhuhuh, truly amazing."
"Shall we continue?"
Though it was a brief exchange, Matheus, feeling outmatched, shook his head.
"No, I have no means to counter time stop, so fighting further would be meaningless."
Unlike Gray, Matheus cleanly acknowledged his defeat.
"I, Matheus Kepler, acknowledge my defeat and declare that I will transfer the position of organization leader to Maria Lu Kepler. Anyone with objections is welcome to challenge."
"......"
The hall was quiet.
There couldn't be any objections.
When the official strongest, Matheus, had been defeated so futilely, who would dare present a challenge to Maria?
"If there are no objections, I declare that from this moment, Maria Kepler reigns above all as the 41st Leader of Psychic Luminous."
"WAAAAH!"
"Maria!"
The hundreds of psychics present roared like thunder, chanting Maria's name.
"We support you, Maria!"
"Whatever path you take, we'll follow to the end!"
"Sister, I love you!"
"Wait! Who was that just now?"
In any case, there seemed to be no major objections to Maria inheriting the throne.
Above all, by unilaterally crushing Gray and completely driving out Bellatrix's magicians, while Psychic Luminous took over all the costs and systems they had invested.
That's probably why even the hardliner elders were keeping their mouths shut.
Honestly, it seemed a bit sly...
But you need something like this to appease complaints.
"Your contribution is great."
Rudian patted Gray's shoulder to comfort him.
Honestly, because Gray's pride had been greatly scratched, the plan had gone unexpectedly smoothly.
Gray pouted with a somewhat sulky expression, then suddenly blurted out something unexpected.
"Honestly, those guys... It's true they're ignorant, so why won't they admit it...! Mmph!"
Even if that's true, there's such a thing as timing for words, you bastard.