"Ha! ...... You scared the shit out of me when you died. Okay. If that's the case, I'll kill that woman in front of you right now!

　The enraged Dionis released the magic power that he had been holding back to shake Elfiszak immensely.
　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

''Goodbye, Elfiszaak!　Don't worry, I'll have Amatsu follow you soon enough!

　With a high-pitched, grating sneer, Dionis swung his arm down.
　As a signal, countless blades turned into bullets and were fired at the crucified Elfiszak.

　--So far.

　An inevitable death looms.
　What awaits the dead Elfiszak is a darkness without sound or light.

　My body trembles and my breath is ragged.
　Just remembering that darkness makes me cower.

　The crucified me can no longer be saved no matter what.
　So.

　-- so I want Iori to at least survive and grow.

　With that last wish, Elfiszak gave up.
　Frightened of death a second away, he closed his eyes.

'----'

　But there was no shock.
　I just felt the wind.
　Next, there was a series of sounds of iron shattering.

　What had happened?
　Puzzled, Elfiszak opened his eyes.

　All the swords that had been closing in on him had shattered to pieces.
　Not a single one of them left, completely.
　To the amazing phenomenon, however, Elfiszak's consciousness is directed separately.

　-- flames were wavering in his open vision.

'----'

　A gentle, warm fire.
　It took me a few seconds to realize that it wasn't real.
　A quietly flickering flame - it was a boy I knew well.

'I, Ori.'

　But Iori's fighting spirit is different from the usual.
　The pressure is so heavy that even Elfiszak, the former Demon King, is pressured.
　That's right.

　-- just like the heroes of one day.

''Thank you, Elfi.''

　The 'Red Lotus Armor' - magical clothing that increases in size depending on the amount of magic power of the person who wears it, which increases the area dyed in red lotus.
　Now, it was completely dyed by the crimson lotus without a trace.
　Shaking the flaming cloak, Iori turned around.

　Then she said in a calm tone, ''It's all right.

''--It's all right now.''

　The sword of karma that shone with jade light in his hand gleamed.
　Instantly, the sword that had sewn Elfiszak's limbs to the wall shattered.
　Immediately after falling towards the water, his body floated softly.

　The next thing you know, Elfiszak's body was being held by Iori.
　Then, with a single step, Iori leapt to the front of the room's entrance and Iori gently placed Elfiszak on the floor.

'............'

　Wordlessly, Dionis invoked the "Broken Blade Loaded (Blade Trigger)".
　The blade that was produced was shot in rapid succession and flew at Iori.

　But--.

"The Sixth Demon Sword, Crusher Blade."

　All the swords were shattered into pieces by Iori's single sword that was intercepted.
　It didn't even give them time to explode, and in an instant.

''Ha, ha!''

　Dionis shouted with his eyes peeled off at the scene.

''What the hell is that ......!　You've lost your powers, haven't you!
' ...... What's the surprise?　You're the one who taught me that trick.

　Contrary to the upset Dionis, Iori had calmed down.
　The sight of her made Dionis furious.

''You've been hiding your power ......!　Amatsu, you tricked me!　You coward!''

　Dionis rages and calls out in rage, thinking that Iori was hiding her power.
　However, Elfiszak was aware of it.
　The magic power he wears is a little different than it used to be.

　A powerful magical power and an unwavering mental image.
　This is a realm that only those who have these two things can reach.
　Along with lost magic, this is the secret of magic.

　Its name is...

"The Art of Imagination."

　--Iori Amagatsuki Iori had just reached the extreme point of magic.

''Ha!　It's too late to get serious now!　I will!　I've completely surpassed you!　I've completely surpassed you, you know!

　Dionis barked.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　This was not only in comparison to the number of them so far, but also the amount of magic power contained in them was enormous.

''Hold on for a bit. --I'll get this over with in a minute.

　In front of it, Iori said quietly.

　Immediately after, the wind blew.
　At the same time, Iori's figure in front of her scraped away.

''It's you who will end it, Amazutu!

　The water demon general unleashed a stormy loss magic.
　A former hero clad in psychic magic runs through it.

----

　The blade that collided with Iori shattered into exhaustion.
　Iori closed the distance to Dionis in the blink of an eye without stopping once.
　The sight of that makes a cold thing run through Dionis's back.

''---ah, "Break Magic"

　Dionis gets impatient and snaps his fingers.
　The magic swords that are filled with enormous magical power are going out of control and causing a tremendous explosion.
　In the face of an explosion of power that surpasses even Elfiszak's magic eye, Iori--

''Oh, no!''

　--Even the explosion had been left behind, and it was right in front of Dionis.

You think you can reach them at this level of speed?

　A divine speed blow was struck to Dionis, who had his eyes peeled back.
　"That flash, which doesn't even talk about "triple acceleration", Dionis can only take a defensive stance.
　The moment he received the flash of the jade-shining taiji, he

Blah?

　The world has been flipped upside down.
　I can no longer discern which is up and which is down.
　The floating sensation I felt finally made me realize that I was floating through the air.

　Water wrapped around my body, killing the impact.
　In my normalized vision, I saw a shadow running straight at me.

''Don't come ......, don't come!

　"I'm going to be able to have a look at it.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
　It's not only that, but it's also that they're able to use "necromancy" at different times to make sure they're killed.

　Over the past few years, Dionis has used this method to slaughter every enemy.

　And now...

"Why isn't it working?

　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you're not able to get your hands on it.
　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea to be able to have the same amount of strength and physical strength as the other two.

　Dionis knows this power.
　It's the power of the abominable heroes who fought together for several years.
　The body strengthened by magic power surpasses even the demon race, and the magic techniques that are unleashed are beyond the reach of even the demon race.

　This is a monster that was finally killed after many layers of crafting so that the equipment couldn't reach it, making it fight against several powerful demon clans and exhausting them, tricking them into drinking poison, and taking them by surprise as they hesitated.

　It's a power that a powerless person shouldn't have.

''Don't be ridiculous!　You, you inferior species, should just be looked down upon by me!

　I can't accept this reality.
　I can't let that kind of trash surpass me.
　Backstepping repeatedly in the large room, Dionis desperately distances himself from Iori.

''--Ah, yes.''

　Dionis' face twisted into a smile as he saw the sword storm break through and positioned Iori's approaching position.
　He then created countless new swords.
　That spearhead was not pointed at Iori.

''My beloved Elfiszak-chan, you're defenseless!

　Dionis swept his sword at Elfiszak, who was leaning against the wall and watching the battle.
　The exhausted Elfiszak has no way to duck it.
　And that repulsively sweet man would present himself and try to protect Elfiszak.

　--I'll skewer you right there!

　Dionis had a big smile on his face at that vision.


"Our magic usurpation (spell dibaur)..."


　Instantly, it was as if the room had been swallowed by darkness.

'Eh ......'

　All of the blades he had unleashed on Elfiszak had disappeared.
　That wasn't all.
　The sword that Dionis had deployed behind him, the wards that covered the entrance, the traps that he had planted in the room.
　All sorcery of all sorts had disappeared in the blink of an eye.

''Nah, nah ......''

　Dionis knows this technique.
　"Hero Amatsu used to use this unique magic to take away and devour the magic power of the surroundings.

"...you're much more vulnerable than I am.
Huh.

　Iori's flash.

"The Fifth Demon Sword-- Crushing Impact."
"Don't lick--ah?

　Dionis prepared for the approaching sword.
　This is a sword technique, a jujiken, that even catches off a magic attack.
　Iori's attack was swept away, trying to strike a counter.

Bah!

　The moment you try to catch it, there is an impact on the hilt.
　That impact shattered the bones in the fingers of my left hand that were gripping the hilt.

"Giaaaaaaaaah!

　It is a swordsmanship that Iori once taught him on a whim, feeling superior to him.
　It is a sword technique unique to Dionis that has been converted from a juju sword with many counter techniques into an offensive one - the "demon sword".
　It was attacking Dionis now.

''It's a lie.''

　Dionis unleashes his magic as he blows up.

'Lies, lies, lies, lies!　This!　Lies, lies, lies, lies!''

　Not only swords, but also water bullets, water snakes, and every possible attack he could use, were randomly fired in rapid succession.

''----''

　The giant snake is unleashed from the evil water ball.
　The hero (Amatsu) cuts it off under a single sword.

　He shoots hundreds of hydraulic bullets.
　The hero (Amatsu) avoids them with the least amount of movement.

　He douses the water stream with his best magical power.
　With a single word, the hero (Amatsu) dispels magic.

　Even if he tries his best to bare his fangs.
　No matter what schemes he uses.
　The hero, Amatsu, hunts down the water demon (Dionysus) from the front.

　It's impossible to surpass him.
　He won't let you see the illusion.
　Even denial is not allowed.

　Why was he called the hero of the kingdom?
　Why was the Demon King hunted down the most?
　His martial skills, his magic, told the whole story.

"Impossible!　This, this is not possible!

　No matter how much he tried to deny it, the reality in front of him remained the same.
　Still, Dionis had no choice but to shout that.
　Iori's mouth twists into a sarcastic smile at the sight of that.

''It's important to have a mind that doesn't give up, but sometimes it's important to look at reality,'' was it?
''......!''
I'm going to give it right back to you right now.


　Iori approaches Dionis while erasing the magic.
　It's not just the loss of magic acquired after long training, nor the water magic worthy of the title of "water demon" can reach you.

　It's impossible.
　It's strange.

　He should be looked down upon.
　He should crawl unceremoniously to the ground and ask for forgiveness.

''Why, why are you looking down on me, oh my God!

　Iori's eyes were cold as she closed in on him.
　It's as if you're looking at filth.

　It is looked down upon.
　I am, this water demon general.

''No, no.''

　Dionis shakes his head to the side as if refusing.

''No, no, no, no!　It's the human equivalent of looking down on me, you know!

　A full-bodied "broken blade loading" with all the magic power.
　This is the most powerful strike that is put into a single sword and then reinforced with water magic.
　If it was Iori and the others, they would have been helplessly blown away.

　It's not a good idea.

It's a good idea to be able to have a good time.

　A swing.
　With that alone, the blow was erased without a trace.

'Hi.'
I didn't notice much because we were buddies.
Stop it!　Don't say it!　Say it--

　It was the words that Dionysus least wanted to hear.

'--You're weaker than you think, aren't you?
'Ahhhhhhhh!'

　The humans are looking down on me, that Amatsu.
　Dionis exclaims at that reality.

''...... from what I was capable of when I was a hero, though.

　The self-mocking mutterings fell on deaf ears.

''This, this isn't right!　No matter what you think, this is wrong!''

　No questions asked.
　In front of me, Iori looms in front of me.

''Wait ...... wait wait wait wait wait wait wait!

　"The magic power taken from the magic technique usurpation is placed on the sword and straightened out.

I'm not going to be able to get it right.　I'll give it back!　I'll give this back to you!

　I took out the keystone that was locked in my pocket and showed it to Iori.
　But it doesn't stop.

I apologize!　I'm sorry!　Because I was wrong!

　I can't stop.

'Yeah, right!　What do you want to happen to these guys!''

　I snap my fingers and bring out the crystals that contain a large number of women to the surface.
　The women inside are already doomed in despair and suffering, but that should still stop Iori.
　Lifting his hand to threaten her, Dionis noticed that Iori was already in front of him, swinging her sword in front of him.

'Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!
''----''
Oh, no!　I'm sorry, we're on the same side!　I've been traveling with you for years!　And you're going to kill them?　You see, Amatsu, we used to...

　A fast-talking, lined-up nonsense.

"-- you need to shut up already.

　It was cut off and a sword with overwhelming magical power was swung down.

''Hiaaaaaaaaaah!

　The sensation of space being distorted.
　That's all I felt, and Dionis' consciousness was reaped.