Amadeus was intensely upset.

'The Khalifa told you about this, didn't she?
....
'Well you didn't know that. So what does that mean?　You say that Khalifa has her memory back and yes, that means that Khalifa doesn't know anything about it yet. But you said you met Zephyr and Xiong but they didn't tell you that. The more important question is, how did you meet Zephyr when he's not supposed to be here? It's impossible to meet him. Or, if you're a candidate, you could just fall into the abyss and he'd come for you. But that would explain your being here. No, I want you to tell me something more than that. No, when I say I want you to tell me, I know what to expect. I mean about Xiao Tong's whereabouts, but there's no way I'll forget that snake smell and magical atmosphere, no matter how many hundreds of years have passed. So we know he's not in this space. Then there's only one answer I can think of: the dungeon.

　So Amadeus opens the space and takes out a bottle and shows it to Adolf.

''I knew it.
I don't need you to convince me. I asked you a question. What the hell happened in that country? Why didn't Zephyr and Xiao Tong and then Kagetora come back? Is it true that Kagetora was killed by the King of the Godland?
'Of course it's a lie. I didn't kill the king of the gods.
Then to say he's dead is to say...
'It's true that he's dead. You wouldn't know that unless you asked.
....
I killed him.
'No, that's not right ... Kagetra is Zephyr's brother and he should be a friend to you.
Yeah, we're buddies. So?
....
There's nothing for me to ask you anymore. I can roughly guess. The abysses are attracted to each other and their vibrations can be felt. Zephyr, right?
....
'I suppose. But I don't feel Zephyr's vibrations anywhere. That means Zephyr is still a prisoner. So he's trying to use you, the same candidate, to do something about it. No, it's the same thing. Zephyr is no longer a candidate. He is, in human terms, an abyssal fool himself.
....
Thank you. Thank you for coming all the way out here to teach me. And I apologize for your company out there.
What...
Hmm?　You have no idea what I'm talking about. Oh, I see. Maybe you're a lot more immature than I give you credit for. You've been distracted by me for far too long. But that's understandable. Confronting the abysses against each other is an unnecessary distraction. As long as you're below me, you can't even control your senses. I understand, because I was like that in front of Zephyr once, too.

　Amadeus turned his senses impatiently to the outside of the castle, to its entire area.
　Then he noticed that the magical power of the numerous compatriots he should have been able to sense had disappeared.

''........Foolishness.''

　Then the figure of Amadeus disappeared into the whirlpool where he appeared in an instant.



o



　Imperial Castle Town.
　A long slope winding its way from the main gate to the royal castle continued inside the defensive walls.
　When Amadeus appeared near the middle of it, he immediately took a look at the area.

"..........

　Without words, Amadeus stops in his tracks.

'What the hell!'

　One of the guards noticed Amadeus and held his arms ready with magic power flowing through his body.
　That stance is based on the Art of the Beast.

''Shut up--''

　But from its side it broke down into levels into molecules, and the body perished as it turned into particles.
　The gathered warriors of the empire stopped in their tracks the way they did, and were alarmed when they stopped moving.
　Tensions in the place were high, but Amadeus did not see them.
　What Amadeus caught in his vision were the white brethren lying all over the town.
　For some reason, the streets are flooded at intervals, and the blood of the "non-belongers" (macabre) is smeared on them.
　Such a scene continued at the bottom and top of the hill.

"It's my fault........

　Amadeus received such a voice, and slowly walked as if drawn to the still faintly felt magic.
　Then Amadeus stopped and crouched down.

''Ama, Deus-sama........''

　Amadeus took the hand of the beastly man lying there.
　On his head, he has ears like a fox.

''I'm sorry, there's no reason...''
Why would you do that...
We were beyond our powers and there was nothing we could do about it the water...
Water?
Master Amadeus where are we to live?
....
I've always wanted to see Amadeus's beastly lands.

　Amadeus was desperately trying to give that one a light green wave.
　But Amadeus let out a voice, "d*mn.........

The abyss.....

　The healing does not show any effect.
　Then Amadeus produces a whirlpool and takes out a single large staff from it.

'Ver, what's going on!　The healing spell doesn't work!
"...because the abyss is in the way.

　The Black Cane speaks.

"Am I disturbing you?
"The will of the Abyss is only won by will.
...it was Adolf who did it.
"Yes,
'Are you saying my will is less than his?
That's the way it goes.
"Stupid...
''Master's abyss is half-diminished right now. You can't beat him in that state.

　At Vel's words, Amadeus shook the hand of his compatriot, who had lost his strength.
　The beastman was already dead.

'Indeed, I told my master not to doubt.'
I understand. I don't blame Vel for anything. I never had any doubt in my mind that Adolf was behind the Empire. I should have done more research. When I confronted Uranos and probed him, I was at the mercy of his words, and I couldn't get any information out of him. I was only giving him information about myself...
I'd like to point out that I don't blame you. I still say that's better than doubting. But this is not the time to say that. The master was overconfident. A master never imagines someone stronger than he is. I've never imagined its shadow.'
Yeah I knew I could do it, I thought. I thought I could do it...
Yes, you can. You can do that now. I just wasn't prepared enough. You can get away with it if you want, but I'm not gonna complain. But you looked down on them too much. Maybe that's why I was deceived by Reinhardt.

　At that time, Verphegor suddenly released the Black Ergo of Greed into the surrounding imperial army.
　The same anger as Amadeus' emotions could be seen there.
　The warriors were engulfed by the black sphere, screaming as it invaded.

'I've killed them. I promised to protect them and now how do I explain it to everyone?
"Don't think about it now. It's Adolf first. He needs to be eliminated here. There is only one king.
You're going to tell Adolph the same thing about his half of his body, aren't you?
"...what do you mean by that?
I'm not a king yet.

　With those words, Verfegor kicked Amadeus away.
　Struck by the staff, Amadeus was flung backwards from the spot.

''Don't be a goofball!
....
"Don't doubt yourself!　That's all a master needs!　The world is always looking for an opening to weaken the master's mind.　If they get scared, that's it!
....

　Amadeus couldn't say anything back to Verfegor's swordsmanship.
　The impact of being sent flying made him fall on his buttocks, and although he didn't look down, he was not supreme.

'Are you going to go back to your pessimistic self, like you did before? You're going to be a boy who's afraid of failure!
...Vell. I'm...
"You're not dressed like that!　Whether it was this organization or not, it should have been nothing more than a stunt. But the Master, who was becoming familiar with the Abyss, came to understand his influence through the reactions of those around him. That's fine, that's fine. That's how our ancestors understood it, too. But then the Master misunderstood. The Master saw himself in a heightened state of awareness, and he saw himself as special.'
'I don't think I'm special. No, I don't think you're special, but...
"An abyss is an abyss. There's nothing special about it. So what, it's my fault?　"So I should stop calling you 'Master'?"
You're on your own...
"Because that's what the master wanted. That's why I called him that. You wanted to be adored and to have someone's approval, admit it.
....
'And then I was recognized, and I lost the pleasure of being a hero.
....
"Accept convenient assessments and reject those who don't fit. I said it was fine by me. I'm not going to let them get away with it. But the master who has suddenly become the strongest, and who has been running at the top of his game for so long, has something he lacks. You may not have needed it to keep running, but it's become an opening for me to do so now that I'm here.
What are you talking about?

　Verfegor let out a snort and spoke to Amadeus.

''Master, let's lose now, shall we?''
...to lose?
'We're going to lose and be greatly embarrassed. The spectators will be Uranos. Bystanders will be his sons. The bystanders will be his sons. And the perpetrators will be Adolf. All the master has to do is try his best. Do your best, and you will lose. You need to feel ashamed of yourself. All the brothers we have gathered are dead, and the Master's shame will not go unnoticed.
What are you talking about?
After that, there will be no more shame in the future. The master is going to be a king and will rise to the top. I'm not going to be able to tell you what to do. The only thing you need is yourself, if you're good enough, that's all that matters.
I don't know what you mean.
''No, you know what I mean. Master, you've been using the Abyss for quite some time now. But the abyss doesn't seem to fit in any time soon. The left eye is sufficient, but the right eye is still lacking. Do you know why?''
I don't know. Is it because you're not using it enough?
"You don't know who you are.
....
I have the will, and I know you're not ready for that. But I'm ashamed of who I am, and I'm not ashamed of what I am. I don't even know if I can admit it.
So what do you want me to do...
"It's easy. Stop pretending. And admit it. Don't let your shame get in the way of your acceptance. Don't deny yourself anymore.
Rejection?　When did I reject you?
I'm still doing it. That's why the abyss doesn't fit in. The last time I saw Adolf, his eyes were tinted. Oliver Joe's eyes, that Zephyr guy, they all had it in them. But it's only the Master's eyes that haven't stayed the same. How big is the difference?　You can't do it now, but you'll have to accept it someday.
Do I have to lose for that?
"Yeah, it's easy, isn't it?
But if I die, it's over.
"I'll have to be prepared for that. But it's necessary.
....
Come on, decide.

　Amadeus was lost.
　Losing would mean death.
　For Amadeus, untainted by the abyss, death was still inevitable.
　But after a while, two black wings sprouted from Amadeus' back.

You're ready, huh... now don't be so sure.

　His voice wasn't as emotionally charged as an eighteen year old.
　Vel laughed as he was sucked back into Amadeus' left hand.

'Then let's get this over with now,'
'Oh, this is the inevitable fork in the road - I'll finish my schedule.

　Then Amadeus took off.
　But contrary to the sunny tone of his voice, his eyes, which peeked out of the two holes in his mask, were mixed with sad thoughts as he stared at his brethren lying in the castle town.

　Then, the one-on-one battle between Amadeus and Adolf resumed as a huge tree suddenly appeared in the sky above the collapsed emperor's castle.
　Sensing a surge of magical power and an abyss, Adolf looked up at the sky.

'Uranos, if you want to save your sons, solidify yourself in one place. You will not be able to prevent his magic from happening to you.

　Uranos, who changed his expression and moved before replying, immediately collected the prone Jade to the throne.
　Raju ran forward, frightened, and Reinhardt stepped back as well.
　Then Adolf extended a red-black shadow from his body, which spread out like a large cloak and enveloped Uranos and the other four.
　Immediately after, a large amount of citrus falling into the hall.
　The moment it made contact with the ground, a large number of worms flew out from within and attacked Adolph.
　In contrast, the white water suddenly spewed out in a curved line from under Adolf's feet in all directions.
　As soon as the worms touched the white water, they transformed like a twisted rag and exploded into a thousand pieces.

'So that's your abyss. But weren't you using a different abyss earlier?''

　Adolph looks up and sees Amadeus, floating on black wings, out of the corner of his eye.

'What are you talking about?'

　But Amadeus doesn't know what the question is.

-- 'Adolph. Something is wrong.'

　A voice comes from somewhere and a large black wand appears in Adolf's one hand.
　It is a talking staff like Verfegor's.
　But the statue carved into its top looks like a gilled snake, with sharp fangs like a crocodile in its mouth, reminiscent of a dragon.

'Strange?　What do you mean?
"He's using more than one abyss.
What...
''Since the abyss is derived from the root, there should be one abyss for each host. But he currently uses two.
'That can't be right. No ... but the abyss is equivalent to having no laws. In fact, Zephyr had an abyss, but could only use existing magic--
"For all the magic a master can find is abyssal.

　Vel interrupted their question and answer.

'I'm not in the same league as you guys!　Master, let's hit that one!
Okay, I'll...

　Amadeus readied his great staff.

''-- The Dark Pearl of Greed (Black Ergo)!

　Vel chanted and a huge black ball appeared in front of him.
　But Adolf held his staff at the ready as well.
　And the dragon carved on the tip of his staff opened its mouth.

''-- 《The Dark Pearl of Greed (Black Ergo)!

　At that moment, two huge black balls collided in the hall.
　They made a deafening sound, and the debris around them was blown away by the gusts of wind that rolled through the area.
　Amadeus was bewildered and froze with his staff at the ready.

'Vel. The same thing happened to half of Adolf...''
'It's not something to wonder about. The abyss is an aspiration. That's greed. That's what it means. It's available to anyone who's been reunited with their half.
'You mean you can use other abyssal users too?'
"This is the only way to use half my body. I am the master's greed. And the master is the source of his greed.

　It was then that they saw cracks in each other's dark beads.
　The red-black waves spewing out of the cracks engulfed the surroundings, causing Uranos and the others to look at each other.



　But Ulanos stared at the view.
　What you can see from it is a strong anger.

'This must not be. That man and the Dark Lord both know the abyss and do not know it.''
Father?
"Reinhardt, Raje, Jade. Watch closely. This is something that should not be in the world. It is not because of its strength. It is an abyss - an abyss in itself that cannot be allowed to exist. In Victoria, they teach their students a certain lesson. In Victoria they teach their students that they must not turn to the abyss in any kind of quest. The Dark Lord speaks of the abyss as a talent, but it is not the same thing.

　Uranos talking about the abyss.
　The three of them didn't understand the meaning deeply, but they took their father's expression to heart.

'That's why we need it.

　Contradictory words.
　Immediately after Uranos muttered that, the two spheres overlapped, and immediately afterwards, a white light spilled out of the emperor's castle, enough to illuminate the entire empire.
　It turned into a heart-rendingly heavy explosion, and the nearby buildings symbolic of the empire were obliterated.