Michael's puppet form began to change.
At first, it was subtle.
The once crude, faceless construct started to refine itself—its surface smoothing, its limbs reshaping into something more human. Shadows condensed and layered, forming something closer to flesh… yet far more unnatural.
Then, slowly—
A smile appeared.
Not carved. Not formed.
It grew.
A wide, twisted grin stretched across the puppet's previously blank face, as if something beneath the surface was forcing its way out.
Michael looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers as dark mana pulsed through them.
"Ah…" he exhaled, his voice trembling with satisfaction. "How great it is to have all this power back in my hands."
The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
Then he raised his palm—and pointed it directly at Benson and the others.
"Death's embrace."
Darkness gathered instantly.
Not like a spell.
Like a tide.
A massive wave of black mana surged forward, swallowing the ground as it advanced. It didn't rush—it crawled, slow and inevitable, like something that knew resistance was meaningless.
And the worst part?
No one could stop it.
Benson's arms trembled as he forced himself to stand. His body screamed in protest. Every muscle burned, every breath felt like swallowing fire—but he still raised his sword.
Kane knelt nearby, his head lowered. His mana was completely drained—he couldn't even form a basic spell.
John was barely conscious, his armor cracked and stained, his body having taken the brunt of the earlier assault.
Christina… she couldn't even bring herself to move.
And Lily—
Her vision blurred.
Her hands shook.
She had gone beyond her limits. Forced spells her body wasn't meant to cast. Every vein in her body felt like it was tearing itself apart.
They were finished.
The wave of darkness crept closer.
Benson roared and swung his blade.
A faint arc of aura flickered out—
—and vanished the moment it touched the darkness.
His sword arm dropped.
"…damn it…"
Lily lowered her gaze to her hand.
There, resting against her chest, was the pendant her master had given her.
A way out.
A way to live.
If she activated it, she could escape.
She knew that.
But—
Her fingers tightened.
If she left now…
Everyone else would die.
Her chest tightened painfully.
She couldn't.
She couldn't do it.
"…Lily."
She looked up.
Kane was staring at her.
Despite everything—despite his exhaustion, his pale face—he was smiling.
"I know what that is," he said softly. "You should go."
Her eyes widened.
"Before it hits us," he continued, his voice calm… gentle. "Hurry."
"No…" she whispered.
Kane's smile didn't fade.
"It's fine."
That was all he said.
No hesitation.
No regret.
And that—
Broke her last bit of determination
"I—"
Her voice caught.
She couldn't breathe.
She couldn't think.
Then—
Without thinking—
She acted.
Lily poured every last drop of mana she had left into the pendant.
Its light flared violently, almost shattering in her hand.
And then—
She threw it.
"Kane!"
His eyes widened in shock as he caught it.
"What—?"
Before he could react—
His body vanished.
Gone.
Just like that.
The space where he stood was empty.
Lily stared at it, her vision trembling.
Christina bit her lip as tears filled her eyes.
John simply closed his eyes.
He had accepted it.
Benson, however—
Still stood.
"Not… yet…"
With a final, desperate roar, he forced out the last of his aura.
A faint golden glow erupted around him as he stepped forward, planting himself between the wave and the others.
The darkness slowed.
Just slightly.
But it was enough.
"…I'm tired…"
Lily's legs gave out as she collapsed onto the ground.
Her eyes slowly closed.
The darkness loomed over them.
Closer.
Closer—
And then—
It stopped.
No—
It didn't stop.
It was erased.
The massive veil of darkness shattered like glass, dissolving into nothingness.
Silence fell.
Lily's eyes fluttered open.
"…huh…?"
She looked up.
High above them—
A figure stood.
Floating in the air, supported by a platform of condensed darkness.
Too far to see clearly.
Too distant to recognize.
But the presence—
It was overwhelming.
Even Benson, still standing, narrowed his eyes, trying to make out who it was.
Only Michael reacted instantly.
His entire body froze.
"T-that…"
His voice trembled.
Then—
He screamed.
"NO—NO, NO, NO—IT CAN'T BE!"
His expression twisted into pure terror.
"HOW ARE YOU HERE?! NO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! I FINALLY GOT MY POWERS BACK!"
His voice cracked, turning desperate.
"IF I HAD KNOWN—! I WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN YOU IN AS MY DISCIPLE!"
Lily's breath caught.
Disciple…?
Her mind raced.
Then—
It clicked.
Her eyes widened as she forced herself to focus on the figure above.
"…Hugo…"
The Sovereign of Darkness.
Hugo Erikson.
He said nothing at first.
He simply looked down at Michael.
Cold.
Unfeeling.
Then, finally—
"When the barrier I placed here broke," Hugo said calmly, "I knew you were up to no good… Master."
Michael's face twisted.
"Barrier?" he spat. "That weak thing? I broke that ages ago!"
Hugo let out a dry, humorless laugh.
"…Not that one."
His gaze sharpened.
"The one I placed inside you. And inside the Elf King."
Silence.
Michael's expression froze.
"Why do you think the dark elves gathered here?" Hugo continued. "I brought them."
His voice remained calm—but there was something heavy beneath it.
"A precaution. In case you ever tried to leave."
He paused.
"And if you somehow succeeded… I would still know."
Michael's lips trembled.
"W-wel—"
"Compress."
Hugo raised a single hand.
The space around Michael warped.
No—
It collapsed.
Lily's breath caught.
This wasn't advanced magic.
This was something far beyond it.
"Ultimate magic" lily whispered
Michael's body began to shrink.
Slowly at first—
Then rapidly.
His screams grew higher, more distorted, as his entire form compressed inward.
Smaller.
And smaller.
Until—
He was no bigger than a speck.
The size of Lily's eyeball.
Hugo closed his hand.
A small pocket of darkness formed, swallowing the tiny, writhing figure whole.
Then—
Silence.
"Huu…"
Hugo exhaled quietly.
"…Master."
His mouth slightly curled up
"I see you haven't changed."
He looked at where Michael had once stood.
"Even after everything… I gave you a chance."
A pause.
"To live peacefully in this castle."
His eyes dimmed slightly.
"Why insist on revenge?"
No answer came.
There was no one left to respond.
After a moment, Hugo turned away.
"To the adventurers below," he said without looking back.
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"You may take whatever you wish from the basement."
He paused briefly.
"…Those are things I made, long ago."
A platform of darkness formed beneath his feet once more.
Then—
Without another word—
He disappeared.