?Magic Knight of M?rchen? was universally recognized as a notoriously challenging game.


    I remember when I first faced Iron Fairy Rachnil in the game, thinking, <em>What kind of absurd pattern will this guy show this time?</em>


    Yes, this was exactly it.


    <em>Kagagagak!!!</em>


    A barrage of countless swords rained down with bullet-like speed.


    Each greatsword was imbued with dense mana, making it nearly impossible for us to break through them one by one.


    Noah conjured an iron wall with his iron mana, while I reinforced it with [Fossilized Ice],bining ice and rock mana.


    We channeled our mana to maintain that defensive wall against the relentless shower of greatswords.


    <em>Boom!!</em>


    Dorothy focused on disrupting the physical force in front of the wall to slow down the falling greatswords.Even Dorothy couldn’t ovee the fairy’s greatswords with their unimaginable mana density. The best she could do was to reduce their speed.


    Even if the greatswords managed to bypass Dorothy’s interference and pierce my [Fossilized Ice], their weakened state couldn’t break through Noah’s iron wall.


    I continuously restored the [Fossilized Ice]. Our defense was unyielding.


    <strong>[Kekekeke…!]</strong>


    Kaya concentrated on casting [Field of ughter], a spellbining blood and nt magic, to steadily drain Rachnil’s life force. The eerieughter of the [Field of ughter] echoed intermittently.


    The greatswords darting through the air shed at the pesky [Field of ughter], yet Kaya persistently bombarded Rachnil with aggressive nt magic.


    Ian concentrated his Divine Power into the Luminous Sword, preparing it for a decisive blow.


    <strong>[Will you continue to cower? Where has your bravado from moments ago vanished to? Have you already realized your recklessness, human?]</strong>


    Rachnil scoffed and shouted in an excited voice as if he found it ridiculous. It seemed he was extremely angry about what I did to him.


    “Can we really just stay like this?!”N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Noah, his brow furrowed as he poured out his mana, shouted loudly.


    If we rxed even a little, the defensive wall would be pierced by Rachnil’s attack, and our bodies would be mercilessly torn apart by the iing greatswords.


    “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can hold out much longer…!”


    Noah’s breath was ragged.


    He was continually having his iron mana drained by Rachnil, and his limit was fast approaching.


    Rachnil must have noticed this a while ago.


    That was why Rachnil was keeping this standoff. Eventually, this defense would crumble.


    “Hold on.”


    But this was the best we could do.


    “Because an opportunity to counterattack will definitelye.”


    First, we had to endure and survive.


    There was only one condition to defeat Rachnil in the Iron Sanctuary.


    To meet that condition, we had to hold out against him now.


    The reason I tried to inflict as much damage on Rachnil as possible was because the better his condition, the stronger his magic would be, weakening our defenses. ??


    “Even in this situation… is there a way to defeat that fairy?”


    “I told you. I’d win.”


    “…I’ll trust you. If someone like you says so, it must be true.”


    Noah nodded, breaking into a cold sweat.


    At that moment, I felt a breeze in my mind and a system window appeared in my vision.


    A demon has been detected nearby.


    <em>What?</em>


    <em>Detected a demon?</em>


    ording to the ?Magic Knight of M?rchen? scenario, demons shouldn’t appear in this part.


    Therefore, it was obvious which demon appeared.


    <em>Mephisto…!</em>


    It could only be that wretched bastard.


    My mind raced with quick deductions.


    Vuel and Mephisto were in cahoots, and Iron Fairy Rachnil had shown up early at Vuel’s behest.


    Rachnil wouldn’t take orders from anyone. Vuel must have made an irresistible offer to Rachnil.


    Vuel needed to target the ck Stone when the Heavenly Clock was active, leaving nothing for him to offer Rachnil at the moment.


    <em>So?</em>


    <em>Mephisto must have agreed to do something for Rachnil…</em>


    Thinking that way made sense.


    What risk did Rachnil take on in this scenario? He turned humanity and the fairies into his enemies.


    He would have to bear that risk entirely on his own, just like in ?Magic Knight of M?rchen?.


    <em>If there was a way to minimize that risk and still benefit his ally Mephisto…</em>


    <em>What could that be?</em>


    <em>…Thanatos.</em>


    The final boss of Semester 2 Year 2 ?Magic Knight of M?rchen?, Thanatos the Ruination


    Simply bringing him forth prematurely.


    <em>If Thanatos could be an ally, even Rachnil would be tempted.</em>


    In the game, Thanatos the Ruination resurrected at a critical moment.


    It meant it wouldn’t be strange for him to appear when Mephisto wanted. That was why I had considered the early revival of Thanatos during thest vacation.


    <em>If I’m right, we’re in danger…</em>


    If the Abyss was already aplete powerhouse, Thanatos was a monster that grew endlessly stronger.


    Except in certain situations, he was unbeatable, and with time, Thanatos’s power increased exponentially.


    To block Thanatos’s attacks, powerful magic was required, but he absorbed such magic and used it as nourishment.


    There was no other way to block his attacks.


    Ultimately, leaving Thanatos unchecked would lead to a future filled with despair.


    With Mephisto’s greatest threats, myself and the Child of Light, Ian, confined in the Fairy Sanctuary, now was the perfect time to resurrect Thanatos.


    <em>White… I beg you.</em>


    Everything depended on White.


    If White didn’t rally the fairies soon, the situation would uncontrobly descend into chaos.


    Meanwhile, outside the Iron Sanctuary.


    In Aldreque, silver mana ebbed and flowed, creating a sea of iron.


    Fragments of buildings and structures floated aimlessly.


    The iron sea exerted immense pressure, crushing everything it consumed, leaving the drifting debris in a dire state.


    The four Legion Commanders of Düpfendorfnded on one of the few intact structures.


    “We haven’t taken significant damage. Stay alert.”


    The First Legion Commander, Dorhan, a white tiger beastman, said solemnly.


    The ice magic cast by the Fourth Legion Commander, Erich, was merely meant to drive Mephisto away.


    Mephisto must still be alive and well.


    <em>Boom!!</em>


    Eventually, a grotesque figure leaped from the murky sea and lightly descended onto the rubble of the building.


    The Legion Commanders simultaneously tookbat stances toward the creature.


    <strong>[As expected, this body isn’t great… It’s quite weak, isn’t it?]</strong>


    Mephisto grabbed the back of her neck, stretching and turning it.


    His body had twisted grotesquely from his plunge into the iron sea.


    Half of his face was severely distorted, with one eye protruding. His arms and torso were twisted and torn in various ces.


    An ordinary human would have died instantly.


    <strong>[Are you followers of the Ice Sovereign?]</strong>


    “Go to hell.”


    <em>Whoosh!</em>


    The Third Legion Commander, Isabel Silverwolf, and the Second Legion Commander, the bald-headed Karius Alsav, lunged at Mephisto.


    Isabel gripped her twin silver axes, Farahorn, with both hands.


    Karius swung his frost-coated long weapon, but Mephisto leaped high, evading their strikes.


    Mephistonded on the roof of a nearby building.


    <strong>[Go to hell? Such harsh words could even wound the feelings of someone like myself, you know?]</strong>


    Mephisto spoke pitifully, cing his twisted fingers on his chest and closing his eyes.


    Isabel, feeling incredulous, spat in disgust.


    <strong>[By the way, shall we recall one fact?]</strong>


    Mephisto turned his head to the side and looked at the tall Iron Sanctuary.


    <strong>[The Ice Sovereign you serve is now captured by the Iron Fairy, correct?]</strong>


    “So what?”


    <strong>[Do you think I woulde alone, seizing such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?]</strong>


    “Ha, what utter nonsense…!”


    The Legion Commanders were about tounch an attack on Mephisto simultaneously.


    Suddenly, a piercing ringing filled their ears, causing the hairs on their skin to stand on end.


    A chilling sensation ran down their spines. Their eyes widened simultaneously without anyone prompting them.


    All their gazes snapped in the same direction. Far away, unbelievable mana surged and spread throughout the world.


    <strong>[…Atst, you’vee. I’ve been expecting you.]</strong>


    For a moment, silence fell over the world.


    The growl of a beast reverberated through the minds of mankind.


    <em>Kwaaaang!!!!</em>


    In a very distant ce, in the wilderness once ravaged by the Floating Ind, immense dark green mana surged, causing a massive magical explosion.


    Even from this distant ce of Aldreque, the explosion was vividly visible, and the deafening roar was unmistakably heard.


    Not only the four Legion Commanders of Düpfendorf but also everyone else felt the same emotion.


    <em>That… was dangerous.</em>


    “Damn demon, what kind of monstrosity have you awakened…?”


    To the shocked Isabel, Mephisto sped his hands behind his back and answered politely.


    <strong>[The Ice Sovereign is incredibly powerful and dangerous. His power is sheer irrationality. Overwhelming! To face such a being, I had to bring forth someone just as formidable, don’t you think?]</strong>


    The pressure of the mana became clearer.


    The ground rumbled, and the Iron Sea surged violently.


    Something colossal and overwhelming rose from the storm of dark green mana.


    The colossal creature clutched an enormous magic staff with its thick arms, radiating a chilling aura.


    Ruination.


    The power of death and annihtion glowed dark green in the creature’s eyes and blossomed brilliantly.


    The Legion Commanders, the evacuees, Emperor Carlos, and Merlin Astrea trembled before the creature. The surging instinct to survive was almost impossible to suppress.


    Everyone had the same feeling.


    That demon could not be defeated.


    <strong>[Wee, Thanatos!]</strong>


    Mephisto spread his arms wide and eximed in a voiceced with amusement.


    <strong>[ROAAAR!!!]</strong>


    Thanatos the Ruination.


    The ferocious roar of the supreme demon shook the heavens and earth.