Royal Capital.
At the center of the battlefield.
Yuuki gazed calmly at the exhausted, battered figures of Mereoleona and Yami.
"Are you two still going to resist?"
"The gap between us isn't just a matter of mana quantity."
"There's a difference in magic tier as well."
Silver mana flowed across his body like liquid light, radiating a presence that made even the air tremble.
Mereoleona reached back and grabbed her torn crimson cloak.
RIP—
She tore it off and tossed it aside.
"There's no such word as 'give up' in my dictionary!"
"It's been far too long since I felt pain like this, Yuuki!"
"Let's settle this properly!"
"Hahahahaha!"
She slammed a fist against her chest and laughed wildly, her spirit blazing even brighter than before.
"Figures. The older sister of the 'hot-blooded serious king,' huh?"
Yami rolled his aching shoulder, spat blood to the side, and tightened his grip on his katana.
Suddenly—
Mereoleona raised her arm, blocking Yami from stepping forward.
"Get behind me," she said without turning.
"Hey! Now's not the time to be stubborn, sis!" Yami protested.
"The power I'm about to use… I won't be able to control it."
"Earlier I held back because you idiots were nearby."
"Now I don't have to worry."
Her eyes burned red.
Yami felt it clearly—
Her mana was surging violently upward.
"…Fine. I'll help you lock onto him."
He retreated.
"No need!"
"Let me see your resolve, Yuuki!"
Mana Zone—Fully Released—Purgatory!
BOOOOOOM!!
Blue flames erupted.
Temperatures soared past two thousand degrees.
The battlefield transformed into a sea of cerulean inferno, melting stone, crystallizing earth, distorting the very air.
Even Yami, standing behind her, sweated despite wrapping himself in Dark Magic and Mana Skin.
Then—
Step.
A heavy footstep echoed within the blue inferno.
Yuuki walked forward through the flames.
No permeation.
No evasion.
Just walking.
"Resolve?"
He laughed softly.
"As expected of the kingdom's 'Uncrowned Lioness.'"
"These flames finally wake me up."
"But—"
"Do you know what Salamander is?"
"One of the Four Great Spirits."
"A spirit born of flame."
"It is the king of fire."
He stomped.
A crimson blaze erupted—
Carving a path through the blue inferno straight to Mereoleona.
They stood face to face.
No more words.
Their fists collided.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Raw punches.
Blood flew—
Only to evaporate instantly in the heat.
Mereoleona roared, face bloodied, fists relentless.
Yuuki roared back.
No techniques.
Only violence.
Then—
Yuuki shifted his shoulder—
BOOM!
His fist struck her forehead.
Her eyes rolled back.
She collapsed.
The blue inferno vanished instantly.
Yuuki exhaled deeply.
"That was… exhilarating."
Phoenix Feather Robe.
Flames enveloped him, healing his wounds.
She had already lost consciousness before that final punch—
Her body had only been moving on instinct.
Yuuki glanced up at the Kabbalah Tree of Life.
The captains hung from its roots.
Mereoleona's mana was completely drained.
She could no longer serve as a ritual catalyst.
Yes.
Binding them to the World Tree with roots wasn't for show.
Yuuki turned to Yami.
"Still want to continue, Captain Yami?"
Yami answered with action.
Yuuki vanished—
Reappeared above him—
Kicked him down.
CRASH!
Yami rolled, stabilized—
Swung—
"Dark Magic—Dimension Slash!"
Before the blade fell—
Yuuki caught it bare-handed.
Snatched it away.
"Sleep."
Beast Magic—Bear Palm!
BOOM!!
Yami crashed into a crater, coughing blood.
"…What are you trying to do?" he asked weakly.
"You'll see soon."
Roots wrapped him.
Hung him on the Tree.
Yuuki stepped forward.
"Still one missing."
He opened spatial storage—
And dragged out Gueldre.
"You brat! Do you know who I am—"
He froze.
Above him—
Nine captains.
Suspended.
"What… happened?"
"Simple," Fuegoleon answered calmly.
"We were defeated."
Gueldre fell silent.
"You incompetent fool," Nozel said coldly. "If your magic hadn't been replicated, this fight wouldn't have been so troublesome."
"…Are we going to die?" Rill muttered.
William spoke gently:
"This tree… it's not mere humiliation."
Below—
Yuuki nodded.
"That makes ten."
Technically, Mereoleona was only acting captain before Fuegoleon's return.
The true captains—
Were the ten now hanging.
Across the kingdom—
Silence.
The captains had lost.
A commoner had won.
Nobles panicked.
Commoners didn't cheer—
But their eyes shone brightly.
And then—
Everyone realized.
If he had challenged the captains—
And won—
What was his next move?
On the projection—
Three figures approached.
At the front—
A blond, richly dressed man wearing a crown.
King of the Clover Kingdom—
Augustus Kira Clover XIII.
Behind him—
Sally and Fana.
"You're too slow. Move."
Sally's red eyes gleamed.
"I wonder if a king's blood is different."
Fana looked uneasy.
"He is… the king…"
"So what?" Sally shrugged.
Augustus trembled.
He had seen the ten captains hanging.
Why did this happen?
Who will protect me?
Where is Julius?!
He froze.
Sally grabbed him and dragged him forward.
He screamed.
Fana's last shred of reverence faded.
Before them—
Yuuki stood.
Beneath the Tree.
Ten captains suspended above.
The king delivered.
And the entire kingdom watching.
The next move—
Was about to begin.
(End of Chapter)
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