As I run, I repeat the battle simulation in my head.
　My aim is one thing.
　The only thing I wanted to do was to slay the monster named Arti.

　I was certain that if I didn't kill Alti, I wouldn't be able to get out of this place.
　She is prepared to die. She won't stop until she dies.
　Hence, there is no choice but to kill. I'm not going to save a dying man.

　I'm sure my conscience will be hurt and I'll regret my choice - but I'll still kill it.

　Alti jumped backwards, trying to swallow the flames around him and let them compress.

　What that action showed was that Arti, unlike Tida, was not good at close combat.
　Even when they had fought in the labyrinth together before, their flaming swords and physical strength were terrific, but their sword skills were not brilliant. Even compared to Tida, his movements were a few steps slower.

　As expected, I feel that the odds are high.

　If the odds weren't high, I wouldn't be left alone.
　I had confidence in me.
　The confidence I had in rescuing Rastiara had given me the mental space to do so.

　That pride makes me breathless that I'll save Maria too.

　Slay Arti, bring Maria back to her senses, and it's over.
　Fortunately, there's a precedent for the cold air to stop Maria's confusion.
　I'm trying to close the distance to Alti at full speed and--

Master--!

　Maria, who has a flaming sword in her hand, attacks me and stalls me.

　The compressed flaming sword and my sword become a battle of wits.
　The residual heat burns my hand, and I have to keep my distance as the flaming sword changes shape and tries to attack me.

　As I dropped back, I appealed to Maria, "Maria, get out of my way!

'Maria, get out of my way!　Don't be fooled, that sentiment is a lie!　I'm just being controlled by that monster over there!

　But my appeals are hollow, and Maria screams as she adds more fire.

'This is a lie!　It can't be!　You're a liar, Master!

　Maria turned her raging emotions into flames.
　Flames erupted from beneath her feet, and they transformed into two flaming snakes.
　It was the 《Midgals Blaze》 that she had shown in her labyrinth exploration one day. The magic that was once exhausting with just one of them, this time, two of them without a chant - instantly formed.

''Wha--?

　Maria's heartfelt cry shook her, and she was amazed at the perfection of her magic in layers.

　Then the wildly undulating two-headed flaming snake opened its jaws.

'Leave me!　You're hiding something!　All you do is lie!　

　Maria screams and brushes the flaming sword to the side, causing the flaming snake to attack us.
　I shout back, keeping my distance from the attacking flame snake.

'There's definitely something I haven't told you!　But I'm not lying to you!
'I lied!　Master doesn't like me, so he's lying and trying to let me go!　They're trying to leave you behind!

　Maria continues to blame me, making the two-headed flaming snake go wild.

　I drip sweat from the heat of the flames. I'm no longer the weak Maria I used to be. She has changed into a flame wizard who is capable of inflicting fatal wounds on me.

　If it were true, I'd like to ignore Maria and fight Arti, but I have to stop Maria from moving.
　However, if I don't stop Maria's movements, I won't be able to easily close the distance to Arti behind me. The thorough division of roles between the front and rear guards is working.

'I won't leave Maria behind!　Absolutely!　I won't even lie!

　I want to end it with persuasion if I can.
　I just want to avoid pointing my sword at Maria.
　Such a sweet thought crosses my mind and my mouth moves on its own.

'No, I'm lying!　To begin with, that name is a lie!　Every time I say the name Christ Eurasia!　Every time you call me Christ!　The master is something else!　You keep fooling yourself with a false name, and you don't even try to reveal yourself!

　As I dodged the flaming snake, Maria, wielding a flaming sword, jumped at me.
　I manage to block it with my sword.

　It was an attack that clearly anticipated my move. The skills 'penetrating eyes' and 'hunting' are teaching Maria the proper way to stuff them.

''That's not true!　I'm sure it's an alias, but--
Oh, I knew it!　I knew it was a fake name!　Master!

　The moment I admitted that I was a pseudonym, the firepower of Maria's flaming sword increased.
　The flaming sword turns from red to blue and burns with a force that melts my sword.

　Quickly, I catch the flaming sword and take the distance.

　And I regret that I made a tactical error.
　The response now confirms that Maria is not speaking rationally.
　She's probably just listing the things she suspected in her emotions. Even about my pseudonym, it's not like she knew about it, she just felt like it.

　And now that I had admitted it, Maria's heat increased.

　I cooled my hot head from the argument with Arti.
　Persuasion while fighting is counterproductive.
　Maria can say all she wants, but I have to choose my words to calm her down. It's too difficult to choose the best words in the midst of a flurry of instant death class magic.

　Above all, the place is bad.

　This hill of fire continues to burn the air, the air, from earlier, and keeps raising the temperature. Even though my body is strong by level, if the temperature rises any higher and I lose oxygen, I won't be able to think normally.

　-- and even as I'm trying to sort out the situation, Maria's flames are raging.

'If your name is a lie, then your origins are a lie!　It's not true that he lived on the frontier of Fania!　Because there's no place more remote than where I've lived!　And yet, I didn't even know about the Nativity!　That's never going to happen!

　The temperature of the flaming snake increased, and with increasing speed, it attacked me.
　I dodged it with ease.

　I still have the advantage in terms of speed.

　However, if we continue to fight here, that is no longer apparent. I can't stop sweating from a while ago. I'm sure that even without getting attacked, my physical strength (ACHP) is decreasing gradually.

　--I gather up all the information and make up my mind.

　I've given up on trying to persuade Maria and aim to stun her.
　I can't help but be a little rough on him.

"Maria, hold on a minute!

　I sprint to unconsciousness of Maria with my body technique. But--

No, Christ. Just listen more to Mary.

　Arti in the rear refused coldly.
　Arti raised the condensed flame above his head and chanted a magic.

''Cutthroat Flash Flames'', ''World Serpent's Ciliated Sui (Manima)'' ....... --《Cutting Ciliated Flames (Agni-Blaze)!

　Instantly, a chill ran down my spine.
　I stopped approaching Maria and jumped back on instinct.
　Then something passed between me and Maria.

　That something was fire.
　A thin, white flame that continued to remain in the air as a line, as if it had cut through space.

　It's a flame like a thread.
　It stretched from the flame floating above Arti's head and pierced the ground.
　The area around the ground where the white flame pierced is melting and bubbling like lava.

　The temperature of that white flame was unpredictable.
　However, I only knew intuitively that a direct hit would result in serious injuries.

　The white flame trembled.
　Behind me, I catch a part of the ground being transformed into lava with my magic 《Dimension》. And from that lava, the tip (...) of the white flame shoots out.

　I twist myself to the limit and dodge the tip.
　At the same time, I understand. This white flame does not disappear. It is also a high speed flame that the Arti, the surgeon, can control at will. It is a flame of thread, sewing the world like a flash of light.

　So the thread flame went under the ground and attacked you from behind.

''Master is full of lies!　I told you I didn't like Mr. Rastiara!　I told you: ......!　I'm here to help!　You left me here!　He left me, who I don't like, to go to Mr. Rustyala, who I like!

　I twisted to the limit and lost my stance, and Maria attacked me.
　I align my sword with Maria's flaming sword and fly backwards from the recoil.

　But - the footing that I landed on collapses with a slop.

"--!

　A flash of light flashed from the crumbling ground.
　The incessant series of attacks made my face twitch.
　I half dodged it just in time to dodge it, but I can clearly sense that I'll be stuck if I don't.

　I can't withstand the onslaught of Maria and the white flames forever.

　If this is the case, they will torture me to defeat.
　Therefore, I reached out to the white flame that passed right next to me.
　I concentrate all my magic power on my hand and build an icy magic.

''-- Magic 《Midwinter of the Overcrowded Dimension (Di Overwinter)!

　Its deployment range is about the size of your hand.
　Deploying a magical mid-winter space in the palm of your hand, it interferes with white flames.

　The magic Dee Winter (Dee Winter) could not interfere with Arti's magic.
　However, it was possible with the dense magic Die Overwinter of the Overcrowded Dimension (Die Overwinter). Furthermore, it would concentrate the magic in a smaller area than normal, raising its density to the limit.

　Just the moment I try to analyze the white flames - I feel an illusion of burning in my brain.

''----!

　I was dizzy to understand the fire magic that was based on precise calculations.
　But the most frightening thing is the resentment contained in this magic that makes it work. Resentment, bitterness, jealousy, hatred and all sorts of negative emotions are dedicated to constructing this magic, which punctures my brain's processing.

　But if it fails to do this, my hands will melt away.

''Ki, go away!

　He roared and went to take the heat from the white flames.

　Normally, this must have been impossible. However, by concentrating all the magic power in my palm and also channeling many times more magic power than normal, I succeed in forcibly dissipating the white flame into a fog.

　With the white flame dissipating, I see one opportunity to win.

　My magic is compatible with flame magic.
　I'm sure of it.
　Flame magic generates heat by vibrating, and it can be said that my magic, which suppresses vibrations, is the weak point of flame magic.

''Good!''

　I thought the odds were stacked against me, and I turned my face to Maria.

　And I was eager to dissipate all of Maria's flames - my legs were intertwined.

''--What?''
'Hmmm, I'm surprised you interfered with my flame: ....... I'm surprised, Christ. But how much magic did you lose to extinguish one of my magic?

　Arti laughs.
　I hurriedly check the status.


[Status]
　HP286/372 MP91/657-200


　I am appalled.
　It's too unprofitable.
　Just by extinguishing the white flame earlier, my MP has been reduced by about 200.
　That's roughly a third of all MP.

''--Don't ignore it!　Master!

　To my horror, Maria's flaming snake attacks me.

　I reach out my hand to dissipate it, but I stop myself.
　If I extinguish this flame here, I will run out of MP. If that happens, I'll lose the means to counter the Arti.

　In the first place, it's doubtful that physical attacks would even work against Arti. It's very possible that the only thing that will work is freezing magic, due to the fact that the body is irregularly shaped, just like Tida's. If you don't have a minimum amount of MP left, the fight itself will be a dead end.

　I sense that my chances of winning the battle are fading, and I quickly say back to Maria.
　I know it's useless, but I appeal to her with my mouth instead of with force. The high temperature and impatience were robbing me of my judgment.

'Maria!　Just calm down!　I'm going to die if I don't do this!　If those flames hit you directly, there's no way you'll be safe!
'I'm fine!　If your master's limbs are burned out, I'll take care of them. ......!　If you lose a limb, you can still have me. ...... I am strong. Thanks to the master's help. With this strength, you can even make money in the labyrinth. No problem, in that house!　Let's live alone for the rest of our lives: ......!

　Saying that, Maria pointed to the house that was on the verge of burning down and gave a big smile.
　A chill runs down my spine in horror as I fight in this scorching field.

　There is no hope of persuasion.
　Seeing Maria's smile now, I understood it.

　I'm speechless and move to restrain Maria using only my physical abilities.
　However, the Arti behind me won't allow it.

''-- 'Sprouting Nativity Flame,' 'All Hallows' Torch of Original Original Sin!　--Januablaze of the Opening Flame (Januablaze)!

　At the same time, a flower of fire blooms from underneath Maria's feet.

　I click my tongue and jump away again.

　The flaming flower spreads its lily-like petals and attacks me. Inevitably, I have no choice but to move away from Maria. The flaming flower wriggles further, and something scatters in the center of the flower. It dances like pollen and falls to the ground around it, causing another flower to bloom.

　Convinced that it was wide-ranging magic, I tried to get further away and was blocked in the rear by a wall of flames.
　I was surrounded by flames in all directions, and there was no way to escape completely.

　In front of the field of flames spreading in a rat race, I think of a way to break the deadlock in my mind.

　I check all the cards in my hand and look for an effective method. I try various combinations of cards, but I realize that none of them can break the current situation.
　The brain, spinning at high speed, foresees death.
　Together with the sensation of something crawling down your back.

　--The skill "? is getting close to me.

　I won't admit it.
　That's the only thing I will never admit.

　If I admit that and allow it, I won't be able to say anything to Arti, Maria, Lastiara, or anyone else.

　With that thought in mind, I search for it.
　I search for a way out.
　And then I notice one hand that I haven't touched.

I'm going to give all my skill points to freeze magic!


All skill points will be applied to freeze magic.


　The 'display' appears on the retina.


[Skill]
　Freeze Magic 2.06+1.10


　11 skill points that were completely untouched are now added to freeze magic.
　Additionally, he also rescinds the Connection spell, which had a -200 MP correction applied to it.

　I pour all of my magic power into the Freeze Magic.
　The chill of my deployed magic, Dimensional Winter (Die Winter), intensifies.

　My understanding of icy magic deepens and my grasp of molecular vibrations increases.
　How can we stop the vibration of the world? We get a glimpse of that magical path.

'Freeze!　Freeze eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee--!

　All magic is unlocked and focused only on the cold air.

　An unprecedented amount of cold air is being refined.
　You will wear that cold air like a robe and prepare for the approaching flames.

　In other words, it's like a magical "absolute robe".

　He also took out a cloth from his "belongings", slashed a water bottle, soaked it and put it on his head like a cloak.

　--and run.

　He looks for a thin field of flaming flowers and runs through it.
　But the petals of the flames spread out to catch me. Some of them touch my body, and I moan.

''--gghhhh, ugh!

　The petals of the flames sticking to his back burn his back.
　The cloth on my back scorches away, and the flames directly scorch my flesh.
　There is no longer any sensation of heat. There is no pain. Only danger signals reverberated through my brain.

　Ignoring all of that, I run.

　On the way, Maria, walking freely in the flames, stands in my way.
　But I couldn't leave her alone. With my shoulder ripped open by the flaming sword, I run next to it and head for Arti at a glance.

''They're here!　Christ!

　Arti laughs as he sees me rushing forward with abandon.
　It was the same smile as Tida's sometime ago.

''Artiiiiiii--!

　I scream.
　I scream, burning my mouth, burning my throat, burning my body, burning everything in my body.

'The Almighty Fire that Shakes the World!　"All things passionate and red in intent!

　Arti screams and recites.
　Like me, he burns through all of it, screaming and chanting magic.

　Perhaps the moment I reach Arti, Arti's magic will be complete.
　Still, I have no choice but to go on.
　The few remaining lives are appealing to me that there is only this moment.

''Blood-spurting burning flame, Red Lotus Windflower's discrepancy is the figure!　'The world is burning now' -!

　I run with the intention of jumping into the completed flame magic.

''--The Scorching World of Skeletal Flame (In Lavos Blaze)!

　The completed flame was a small sun-like sphere.
　The moment it shone like a light, all of my vision was engulfed in flames.

　All of my sensory organs lost their functions and my whole body felt like it was being burned.

　Even so, I moved forward through it.

　I knew I had no choice but to move forward in order to protect myself.
　I forced my burnt limbs to move, protecting my head with my left hand and slashing at Arti's torso with my right hand.

　Then, with the momentum of the slash, I slipped behind Arti and moved further forward.

　As a result, I receive a small amount of heat from the sun from my back - I focus the cold air backwards and try to run through it as if I were running away.

　But the heat and shock rushing from my back is tremendous. I can't even passive, and I'm bounced off the ground like a ball.

　Although the cloak I was wrapped in had burned up, the enhanced freezing magic had allowed me to avoid a fatal wound.

　And I can still feel it in my hand.
　Indeed, I had slashed Alti.

　I slowly stand up and check the situation of Arti behind me.

　There was Arti standing there, slashed diagonally from shoulder to waist.
　He's smiling at me while holding the flowing blood with his hands.

　The blood is burning.
　Even though he had suffered a slash that would have been a serious wound for a human, Arti was laughing.
　It was enough of a smile to convince me that the battle wasn't over.

　I chanted a spell to replace my empty MPs, cutting down on my life.

''Magic 《Dimension Decisive Operations (Gradiate) ......''


[Status]
　HP246/372 MP0/657
[Status]
　HP238/366 MP0/657--


　It's diminishing ......, but not yet.
　It's not over yet.

　I remembered the time I had to deal with Tida one day, and I silently watched my life chipping away.