-- The battlefield had taken on a hellish aspect.　

"Rain" Lefise Gregoria's sorcery had caused the Alliance forces to suffer extensive damage.
　The Royal Army was devastated and dragged down by it, and the sub-human army was also outnumbered.
　The imperial army is holding the balance in a precarious position, but that will soon be broken if reinforcements come to the enemy.

　Explosions caused by magic occur, and chunks of flesh rain down like rain.
　Running across the blood-soaked earth, the Alliance and the Demon King's army increase the amount of blood that is shed even more.

　Among them, the only one who has the upper hand is the Faithful Army.
　The holy knights are kicking off the incoming demon race and advancing forward one after another.
　The one fighting at the front of the army is Maria Theresa Stragen, the strongest name in humanity.

''I didn't expect anything like this,''

　Standing in front of the strongest of humanity, Lefise Gregoria had a bitter expression on her face.
　Maria had surpassed the more than a thousand sorceries that Lefise had unleashed with her sword skills and holy chanting magic alone.
　Naturally, Maria was not unharmed either.

　Countless wounds were carved into her blue and silver armor, and some of them were cracked.
　Blood flowed from her torn forehead, staining her white skin red.
　However, none of those wounds were fatal, and Maria still had a lot of strength left in her.

'What's the matter. Is that the end of the rain?'
Nonsense. Have I not shown you the essence of Rain yet?

　To Maria's provocation, Lefise returns with a sneer.
　It's true that the attacks so far have not been able to finish off Maria.
　However, against the slightly wounded Maria, Lefise is unharmed.

　Against Lefise, who is floating with magic, Maria attacks mainly by sending slashes flying.
　However, all the slashes are drowned out by the rain of sorcery, and even once it's not enough to reach Lefise.
　Maria's power is astonishing, but not so much that she can't be defeated.
　If she continues to unleash her magic like this, she will eventually run out of power.

　This was when Lefise was ready to release her next magic, the next magic.

''----''

　Behind - a spine-chilling magical power erupted from the Demon King's Castle.
　It became a jet-black light that broke through the canopy of the demon king's castle and reached high into the heavens.
　At the same time, Lefise felt the power of the rain wavered greatly.

"No way!

　"The power of the rain can only be used with the permission of the current demon king.
　Naturally, Lephee is permitted by Ortegia to use the power.
　Nevertheless, the fact that the power of the rain has wavered can be found at ----

''--Ortegia-sama!

　Sensing the abnormality in the Lord's body, Lefise immediately interrupted the use of magic.
　To Ortegia's place, she tries to transfer with magic, but

You think I'm going to let you go?

　A voice from behind me froze me in place.

"-- "God will only give you a test that can be crossed (Alaiz Glori) (As Odile).

　He turned around, trying to distance himself from Maria with his wind magic.

''Ugh!''

　Lefise hit the wall with great vigor.

''What is ......?''

　Looking back, Lefise turned around and opened her eyes.
　In the blink of an eye, Lefise was trapped in a ward.
　A wall of pure white covered the entire direction in all directions, in all directions.
　The sounds of the battlefield that could be heard just a moment ago were now inaudible.
　It was as if only this space was separated from the world.

''Ugh.''

　He unleashes his magic, but the pure white does not waver a little.
　Lefise gnashed her teeth at its robustness.

'It's no use. You're not going to get out of here.''

　The sound of a dignified voice echoed in the pure white space.
　At the center of the ward, Maria stood in the center of the ward, with a fearless smile on her face.

''This is the foremost of the holy chanting magic I have been given. Its effect is that it can force the enemy to fight one on one, head on.
"--

　He had felt it dimly since Lefise had first attacked him.
　Only Faithful Country was able to survive Lefise's attack unscathed.
　Only the Church State had attacked as if it was only targeting Lefise.

　Now I'm sure of it.

"You, your purpose--
''--We will do our best to halt Lefise Gregoria until the heroes kill the Demon King. That's the role Master Melt has given us.

　Lefise mutters to Maria, whose smile deepens.
　I won't let them.

"I won't let you kill Ortegia-sama, I won't let you--!

　The strongest of mankind--"Natural disposition" Maria Theresia Stragen.
　The strongest of the Four Heavenly Kings - "Rain" Lefise Gregoria.

　The two clash in the pure white boundary.

◆

　The enormous amount of magical power that erupted from Elfiszak's body became a pillar of light and pierced through the canopy.
　The two of them were standing on top of the Demon King's Castle, ignoring the fragments of the canopy that were collapsing with a rattling, dry sound.
　Ortegia noticed that it (...) that had been hidden inside her body by storage magic had disappeared, and her golden twin eyes narrowed sharply.

''As soon as my 'heart' wasn't in the void labyrinth, I knew it was in the Demon King's Castle. The question was, where is it? If it was you, you wouldn't leave it to anyone else and own it yourself - apparently, I was right in my reading.

　Elfiszak laughs supernaturally, not bothering to look at Ortegia's gaze.
　From the beginning, Elfiszak had one goal in mind.
　He blinded Ortegia with a technique that he knew would not pass, and regained his own "heart" that he would have hidden away.

　This was a gamble.
　If Ortegia had hidden it in Lefise, or anyone else, or elsewhere, Elphiszak had no chance of winning.
　But Elfiszak had won that bet.
　Therefore, he reappeared as "The Demon King" Elfiszak Van Gildegard.

"The Demon King's Castle is beginning to recognize me as its master now that I've regained my power.

　Ortegia and Elfiszaak.
　Both of them have half-red demon king crests running across their bodies.
　Ortegia's monopoly on the title of "Demon King" is now being threatened by Elfiszak.

　But.

I'm not going to be able to get it for you.

　With this degree of reversal, Ortegia was unshaken.

'I commend you for your prowess in wresting the 'heart' from me. On top of that, I'll say. --what about it (・・・・・・・)

　Covering his entire body in magic, Ortegia lifts the great sword and says, "You may regain your power, but my power is still the same.

He says, "Even if you get your power back, my power is still the same. It's already been decided who is better suited to be the Demon King, you or me. No matter what happens, the fact remains that you are a loser who has been defeated by me.

　This is just a replay of the past.
　With that answer, Ortegia approached Elfiszak with a light leap.

'My power remains the same, you said.

　Looking at Ortegia, who was fleshing herself out, Elfiszak's eyes were filled with laughter.
　Ortegia saw those twin eyes shine red as hell.
　No matter what Elfiszak does, he can just slice through it with his great sword ----.

''--?''

　A moment later, Ortegia's eyes saw the sky.
　Belatedly, he realizes that he himself is flying through the air.
　The armor of magic power that he was wearing all over his body is unraveling, his entire body is hot as if it were burning.

''Ridiculous.''

　Feeling pain for the first time in decades, Ortegia understood.
　That he himself had been blown away by Elfiszak's magical eye.

'I've changed, Ortegia,'

　A voice reaches Ortegia's ears as she lands and adjusts her stance.

'With my weakened body, I walked the world with my friends. I learned many things and gained many experiences. I'm not the same person as I was back then, when I had a narrow view and only pursued my ideals.

----

'I'm stronger now than I was then. And I'm going to say it. --My ideals were never wrong.

　There is not a single cloud or flicker in the eyes that tell you so.

'I see.'

　Ortegia muttered briefly.
　And with that, the conversation was over.
　When there were no words to exchange, Ortegia held up her great sword.
　Elfiszak activated his magic eye -- and the two sides clashed.

　-- What unfolded from there was undoubtedly a fight to the death.

　Explosions, slashes, and extreme light burst out.
　The fierce magic power engulfed the demon king's castle and brought it down.

　Traveling the world with her weakened body, Elfiszak's handling of "demons" had improved dramatically.
　Her field of vision has been widened, and she already has no blind spots.
"The ashlar blast has regained its original power, and the heavy pressure crush shows the power to distort even space.

　Ortegia received it from the front.
　It was only once that he was caught by surprise and attacked.
　Ortegia, who has thrown away all caution, has no blind spot.
　It cuts off both sides of every demon eye, catches every demon arm, and catches every demon leg.

----.

　Elfiszak crossed his magic arms over his own head.
　In the center of it, Ortegia's great sword slammed down.
　A heavy sound resounds, shattering the ground and scattering the impact.

''----''

　With both arms catching the great sword, Elphiszak fires a kick to Ortegia's side.
　With his center of gravity on the great sword, Ortegia leaps behind Elfiszak and avoids the kick.
　Turning around, the demon arm and the great sword crossed, sending violent sparks flying.

''Ugh.''

　The power of the great sword causes a wound in Elfiszak's arm and blood to flow.
　Without a moment's pause, Ortegia swings the great sword in a horizontal cleave.
　Using his demon legs, Elfiszak escapes into the sky.

　A moment later, Ortegia held the great sword above her own head as she tried to slash into it.
　Delayed, an invisible heavy pressure strikes there.

''--"Magic Eye, Heavy Pressure Crushing"

　However, Ortegia was under heavy pressure for a moment.
　The great sword was clothed with magical power and swung upward to cut off both sides of the heavy pressure crushing.

''-- It's been a while since I've used this.

　The voice that reached Ortegia's ears as she was free.
　Elfiszak had ascended to the far top of the Demon King's Castle with her demon legs.
　Ortegia felt more magic power than ever concentrated in her entire body.

''-- Demon King's Eye, Ashburst Chain (Kaijin Bakusa).

　It is a series of Red Lotus Inferno.
　Each one of the ashlar bombs, each with a power comparable to the highest level of magic, appear like a chain, surrounding Ortegia.
　They all explode at once.
　The destructive power is so vicious that it approaches the "Eclipse" of the "Heroic Amatsu".

　But...

Is this how it's done?

　Breaking through the explosive flames, Ortegia emerges.
　Despite the burns all over his body, Ortegia is still alive and well.　
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with this one.

I'm sure you'll be able to see for yourself whether it's something like this.
"--!
"Demon King's Eye, Heavy Pressure Funeral."

　It is intercepted by a cloudy stream of heavy pressure that descends while twisting space.
　Although Elfiszak doesn't know it, the former Four Heavenly Kings' Distortion has a technique to twist space and crush the enemy with emptiness, which he mastered after mastering mental magic.
"The Heavy Pressure Crush Burial is more than the same - it twists space to create emptiness and drops down to engulf Ortegia.

　A blow between two demon kings crosses, and then ----.

◆

　--Running.

　He kicks away the incoming demons and just keeps running upward and upward.
　Apparently, Elfi has won the bet.
　The wave of magic power that made the castle tremble is definitely Elfi's, who has regained his 'heart'.

''--Elfie.''

　Even now, the entire castle is shaking violently with the sound of destruction.
　I suppress the feeling of deviation and just run.

　I've simulated fighting Ortegia many times before.
　Based on the Ortegia of thirty years ago, I've also roughly estimated our odds of victory.

　Forty percent.

　My estimate of the odds of a full-bodied Elfie beating Ortegia by himself.
　Ortegia is the strongest person I've ever fought.
　Even more so than Elfi.
　That's why I wanted to create a situation where we could fight two against one.

'Yeah, it's not going to work, is it?

　Breaking through the wall, a cow-shaped demon race appeared.
　The huge body, so huge that you can look up at it, is rushing straight at me while involving other demons.
　I ducked into the gap between its legs to evade it, and slashed off both of its legs as it passed by.
　Hearing the sound of the demon tribe falling to the ground with a scream, I move forward.

　My body is light.
　I wonder if it's the effect of the ring that Idler gave me.

　I slashed the demons, slashed the demons, dived the traps, and advanced.
　I don't know what the structure is, but there are no longer any stairs or doors to go up.
　I shot my magic to destroy the ceiling and forcefully took a shortcut using the rubble as a foothold.
　The sound is getting closer and closer.

　We're almost there.
　Almost there.
　Cracking the ceiling again and again, I move up.
　I make it to the roof.

　--There's a loud bang, and then the bang stops.

"Elfi......!

　He shouted and stepped onto the roof.
　Most of the floor had collapsed and the scaffolding was almost non-existent.
　I could see that the space was distorted, perhaps due to the effect of the enormous amount of magical power colliding with each other.
　There were two demons there.

　One collapsed on the floor, while the other looked down at it.

　The one that had fallen down was.

...... You won, Elfie.

　-- it was Ortegia.

　Slowly, Elfi turned around.
　Cuts were carved all over his body, and one arm seemed to be connected by a single piece of skin.
　There was a large cut on his face, and Elfi's left eye was crushed.

''Ah.''

　With a flat voice, Elfie nodded.

'In the middle of the battle, I managed to get my 'heart' back from Ortegia. From there, we clashed with each other with all our might--I, won.
Yeah. ......?

　Unlike in the past, I haven't messed with any of this.
　Somehow, I feel like I've been shrugged off.

　I run up to Elfi and use my healing magic.
　It's a bit of a burnout, but it's better than nothing.

''Now all we have to do is get revenge on this guy and end the war.

　I stand next to Elfi and look down at Ortegia.
　Ortegia remains slumped over and doesn't move even a twitch.

''Iori, the reason I came here is because of you. It's thanks to you.''

　I nodded at Elfi's words.

'...... That was a long time ago.'

　More than half a year has passed since I met Elfi in the Abyssal Labyrinth.
　I can still remember the look on Elfie's face when he spoke of his hatred for Ortegia back then.
　Now, at last, I can end it all.
　No, I can start.

''Yeah, it's been a really, really long time. I can remember the time I walked out of the seal and met Iori like it was yesterday. I've been waiting for this moment ever since that day.

　Elfi's words, filled with universal feelings.

'So, Iori. Let me thank you again. It's all thanks to you.
'All of that is an exaggeration. Even you ----

　He turned his gaze toward Elfie, who was standing beside him.
　Seeing the look on his face.
　I froze.

It's a very good idea to be able to have a good time. I'm not going to be able to get it right.

　Thud.
　There was a jolt in my chest.
　I looked down and saw Elfie's arm stuck in my chest.

"Go ......!

　The vomiting sensation that was building up, and he spat it out unexpectedly, was bright red blood.
　The smell of my own iron spreads around me.

''Kufu.''

　Elfie.

You are no longer in charge.

　I said, laughing.