Histania's Eclipse
The Duke's expression was filled with discontent. "..." Though relief was evident in his eyes, the look on his face clearly asked what on earth I'd been doing. I scratched the back of my head with an awkward smile.
"I got spotted on the way here, sir."
"Spotted?"
"...Haha."
—I suppose I should start by cleaning up the surroundings. Thinking of the Apostle of Temperance who had reduced the area around the temple to rubble, I offered a sheepish grin. I hadn't expected the chronically suspicious Apostle to obliterate the entire forest.
After lightly excusing myself from Malik's scolding, I asked how the situation stood. I'd rushed here without gathering any information, after all.
"How bad are the casualties?"
"The steam is blocking our view, so I don't have exact numbers, but... it looks like we've taken about sixty percent damage."
"Hmm..."
Closing my eyes to sense the presences around us, I gave a small nod and spoke to Malik.
"It seems there are no fatalities on our side yet."
"...That's good news."
"Though there are quite a few injuries."
"..."
"For now, let's identify the cult's main forces. You handled the Apostle, sir. Where did the other Archbishops go?"
At the mention of Archbishops, Malik's face paled as forgotten memories resurfaced. His voice lost its usual calm.
"That's right...! Hanna—Hanna's in danger!"
"Hanna?"
"Yes! She's in more danger than I am."
"Ah..."
"Two Archbishops went after her... She can't handle them alone."
I gave him an awkward smile.
"About that, sir..."
"There's no time for this."
Looking at Malik's wide-eyed face, I scratched my cheek with another sheepish grin.
"I've already taken care of that side."
"What... did you say?"
"She seemed to be managing just fine on her own."
"..."
"She looked stronger than you, actually."
"..."
I pointed a finger toward a spot where the steam had cleared, indicating the area where a fierce exchange of blows was still underway.
—Greed...!!! You're ruining the formation!
—Shut up. It's because you, Envy, butted in.
—Then shut up and wipe your neck clean. You're noisy.
Watching Hanna's martial arts as she moved with blinding speed, Malik thought to himself that stepping down as head of the family had been the right choice. A head who was weaker than his own younger sister would only paint an ugly picture.
"She's strong."
"Right?"
"Still, she might need help."
"I've already seasoned the fight so she can win."
"Seasoned?"
With a faint smile, I flicked my fingers. A crimson thunderbolt crashed down upon the Archbishop facing Hanna.
—Where the hell is that coming from...!
—Kill the mage first...
—Your back is wide open.
—Damn it...!
Malik nodded, deciding not to argue further.
"Just in case, go help her."
"I suppose I should. But what about you?"
"Hmm..."
I gently pushed Malik behind me and gazed at the smoke rising between the lightning strikes.
"Good question..."
"..."
—Rumble...!
—BOOM!
"I think I'm in more danger here."
"..."
"I thought I'd at least get a scratch, but he's completely unfazed."
After pouring that much lightning into him, how was he still standing there perfectly fine? I couldn't help but admire the elf's mana, which protected his body with an opaque barrier.
"He's not even a monster."
Speechless, I stretched and turned to Malik.
"Leave this to me and go help the others."
"...Alright."
—...He didn't move.
"Why aren't you going?"
Malik answered with a serious expression.
"I want to watch."
"..."
"As someone who's been beaten by that guy, how could I not want to see this?"
"You're really going to stay and watch?"
"No. If I keep watching, I might die, so I should probably run."
Malik let out a sigh heavy with regret and lowered his head.
"If we ever fight again, make sure to show me."
"Puhaha! Is this a circus act?"
"Hmm..."
Malik gripped my shoulder tightly.
"Father is coming."
"..."
"Just hold on a little longer."
"Why say something so disheartening?"
I gathered aura into my sword and smiled.
"I'm going to win, after all."
The elf's green eyes glowed brightly. The moment Malik took a step away, something tore through the smoke and came flying toward us at incredible speed.
An arrow.
An arrow brimming with explosive mana.
The elf's arrow raced toward Malik's throat. I drew a deep breath and swung my sword in a flash. The instant the arrow met Tyrving—
—Shhhhhhh...
The elf's eyes widened in shock.
"!"
"Go."
"I nearly died just now."
"That's why I'm here."
Shaking off my tingling hand, I slowly approached the elf.
"Now then, let's see what you've got."
"..."
"I'd like to witness the legendary elven skill firsthand."
If possible—
"..."
I wanted to eliminate every variable.
*
Malik let out a gasp as he watched Ricardo fight the Apostle.
—Clang!
—Kagagagagang!!!
—Kagagagang...!
Clang!
He couldn't follow it with his eyes. By the time he managed to catch Ricardo's movement as he stepped onto the ground, Ricardo had already thrust his sword at the elf. Whenever the elf began chanting to cast magic, Ricardo would instantly close the distance and disrupt the spell. When the elf tried to create space to fire an arrow, Ricardo would close in again, refusing to give him any room.
"Καταραμένος ⲟⲩⲱⲛ ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲓ! (Damn human!)"
Malik was overwhelmed by Ricardo's martial prowess. Even the elf, who was enduring the onslaught, was impressive—but the one facing him...
"Hoo."
...looked like a monster. There was such leisure in Ricardo's swordplay that it almost seemed like he was going easy on the elf. Just how far was he planning to grow?
Malik sighed and turned his gaze toward Hanna. Right now, supporting her was more important than cheering for Ricardo.
"..."
Still—
—Kaang...!
She's my sister, but she's incredible. There's no opening to intervene.
Malik clicked his tongue as he watched Hanna. Her entire body was covered in wounds. Countless small cuts littered her skin, and the long gash on her thigh looked like a serious injury. The shallow wound on her side told him there had been moments in this battle where her life had hung by a thread.
At first glance, it seemed like Hanna was being pushed back. But—
"She's going to become a monster."
Hanna's eyes were already certain of victory, like a beast that had scented blood.
As if to prove it, the Archbishops' bodies were covered in large wounds. Their once-confident smiles had long since vanished, replaced by impatience and wariness as they glanced at each other.
—Archbishop of Envy. You be the bait. I'll take that woman's head in the meantime.
—Shut up, Greed.
Their mismatched coordination was a problem, but the biggest issue was that Hanna's martial arts far exceeded their expectations. After all, it wasn't one Archbishop fighting her—it was two. It was absurd that Archbishops, capable of annihilating an entire battalion on their own, were being overwhelmed by a single academy student.
Even if Ricardo's support had turned the tide, the core truth was that this came from Hanna's own skill.
"Haa..."
Hanna closed her eyes. She was trying to imitate the woman she had seen in the vision.
—Kill them.
—Shut the mouths of those who look down on you.
—Kill.
She recalled the swordsmanship of that woman who had swung her blade with ruthless, unwavering resolve. The sword that never missed once drawn.
"..."
She was copying it. Not perfectly, but close enough. To surpass the pinnacle of swordsmanship optimized for that woman's body, Hanna gripped her sword while recalling the memory of facing her father.
A little faster.
—Shhhk.
A little more concise.
—Swish.
And with selfish intent.
—Slash.
She cut down the enemy before her.
Malik held his breath as he watched. If he intervened now, he would only become a burden. He could secure victory immediately if he stepped in, but seeing Hanna's realm rising so steeply, he clenched his trembling legs and simply watched.
"Is she attaining enlightenment?"
'I think I understand now.'
'Why that woman was so strong.'
'Why someone just like me could be so terrifyingly powerful—I think I finally get it.'
Every time she swung her sword, an inexplicable sadness welled up inside her. An unbearable emptiness and rage boiled over endlessly. She didn't know why. She couldn't define this feeling. But one thing was certain.
This rage—
"Haa..."
—was directed at herself.
Thick with regret.
"Histania's Eclipse."
It was emotion.
*
A massive presence surged across the battlefield. The cultists who had been rampaging through the field looked up at the moonlit sky, overwhelmed by the crushing pressure. The elf facing me also glared at the sky as the battlefield trembled, grinding his teeth.
"ὑποκριτής ⲙⲉⲧⲟⲙ! (Hypocrite!)"
A single dot.
A tiny speck.
The figure soaring through the heavens wore a cold expression as he began carving a massive horizontal line across the sky.
The lion had arrived.
—Rumble rumble rumble rumble!
The lion whom no one on this battlefield could meet eyes with.
The elf turned his back to me, shot me one last glare, and spoke in a cold voice.
"Ἐὰν ὑποστῆτε, ἀποκτενῶ ὑμᾶς. (If we meet again, I'll kill you.)"
I smiled faintly and shrugged. The elf returned a smile that revealed nothing.
"Don't mention it."
The moment the elf's figure vanished into the darkness, light began pouring down from the sky along with a low voice.
"Histania's Eclipse."
The master of the battlefield had arrived.
"Nameless."
—BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
With a roar.