Gozine

Time to look back.
How many Philosopher’s Stones and their fragments does Pandemonium currently possess?
While the exact number is unknown, excluding the last stone embedded in Paracelsus’s hand, they have succeeded in gathering almost all the stones. It’s safe to say this was certain.
In my previous 27 lives, the timing of the demons’ resurrection of Baal varied, but the dates never differed significantly. The gap was at most a month or two, so as I am now, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat urgent.

‘From here on out, I must be even more meticulous.’

The 28th challenger and the 27 failures.
That was Nox von Reinhaver, me.
In such a dire situation, I need to move forward by choosing the best possible options.

“Zitri, Rona, you two request reinforcements from the family. We need the Black Sword Knights. If necessary, inform the family head as well. Pandemonium will likely move soon. Baal will probably awaken. This is certain to happen.”

“…..Young Master, what exactly do you plan to do?”

“First, I will reclaim the power I once had. To be precise, I will regain the power I should have had in my past life.”

In my previous life, I had reached a far higher level than I am now.
By the 27th. The Sword Emperors and the Sages. I fought them without being overwhelmed and even dominated them, honing myself through hellish effort to near perfection.

But this body is still incomplete.

The timeline has been accelerated, and I must grow stronger.
The middle stage form of the Black Sword. I’m only using one for now, but my goal is to master the late stage and ultimately complete the tenth formula, my own creation, which even the family head, Theo, has never seen.

‘If I can achieve that, even if only for a moment, I can overpower Baal.’

It’s true that there’s a risk involved, but I believe there’s no turning back now.

The fact that I failed in all 27 attempts means that I was either too weak or couldn’t trust others.

And honestly, that was really the case.
Every time I turned back time and started over, I trusted someone.

In the early cycles (until around the fifth cycle), I told my companions every time I got my memories back. That the current Nox von Reinhaver is dying, and to finally defeat Baal, we need everyone’s strength.
But how many would actually listen to me? Some even used my knowledge of the future and betrayed me. After repeating those cycles, it was only natural that I became reluctant to open my heart to others.

Thanks to that, I closed my heart.

The only one Nox can trust is himself.
No one else can understand.
I arbitrarily defined, judged, and decided, then took on the role of the villain.

A lame villain. Extra A.
My position was that insignificant.

But now, it’s different.
I’m changing.
At the very least, none of my companions has died so far.

But war cannot end without someone dying.
I know this fact all too well. The way to survive on this barren continent—ultimately, it’s not just about me growing stronger, but also about someone’s sacrifice paving the way.

Even if that someone is me.

“Rona, gather Prim and the other non-combatants. Then, prepare calmly. Be ready to flee at any moment. Do you understand?”

“….Yes.”

Rona answered with a sniffle. But honestly, we don’t have time to waste on sorrow.

“Zitri, you too. This time, you must follow my words without question.”

“Understood.”

“We’ll meet again soon.”

In truth, this is more like a curse.

In this episode, Nox von Reinhaver will ultimately meet his death.

**********

Preparations for Baal’s resurrection were underway in full swing.

The de facto current leader of Pandemonium was Amdusias, and under his command, dozens of the 72 demons had already awakened. Close to thirty, in fact.
Anyone who saw this would likely be horrified.
To think their influence had spread this far, even in the western regions untouched by Arden’s religious reach.
Moreover, seven fragments were already in their possession.
They had just received news that one fragment was in the hands of their enemies, and by killing Paracelsus, Celsus’s disciple, would allow them to claim it.

The situation was optimal.

If war broke out, fortifications would begin around Eldain and the imperial capital.
The Sword Emperor and the Sages would likely step forward, but they wouldn’t be much of a threat.

And there were even more reasons for the demons to be confident.

For example.

[Ugh, to be resurrected in such a state! Damn brat!]

These were the first words spat out by Dantalion, the Demon of Wisdom, after his resurrection. He’s parasitizing a chimera’s body. Of course, he wasn’t truly dead. To kill a demon, one must shatter its soul. But in the early period, Nox could only send them back to hell.

There was no other way.

Severing a soul is an immensely difficult task, and demons are beings that can possess any fabricated body at will. As beings who sought immortality and coveted the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’, one of their primary researches was summoning souls from hell back to the living world.
This required countless human sacrifices, but that was no issue.

Esteban von Arkheim.
People willingly threw away their lives for the words of the first emperor of the great Arkheim Empire.
Rather than live a hellish life, they chose to become one with demons.

Thanks to this, Dantalion, though not fully restored, succeeded in resurrecting with some of his power. Humans knew demons could be resurrected, but they didn’t know whether it was possible without their magic stones.

Thus.

The current situation was unfolding entirely in the demons’ favor.

[Stop making noise and sit down. Do you not understand the situation?]

When Amdusias scolded him, Dantalion grumbled but took his seat.
The Monarch of Lies, Belial, had been torn apart by Thalia and Nox, reduced to a mere fragment. The only forces capable of truly annihilating demons were white flames and mana of the same dark attribute. Any other power could only send them back to the netherworld.

[Though I’ve only just awakened, I have an interesting memory. Fighting that brat. He was exceptional.]

It was about Nox. Dantalion spoke with a serious face, and Zagan clicked his tongue.

[He’s strong. I admit it. But…. The Archduke among Grand Dukes, the Demon among Demons. Once Lord Baal awakens, he won’t stand a chance.]

[You think so?]

At Dantalion’s words, Amdusias frowned deeply.

[Do you doubt the power of the Archduke Baal?]

[No. But I can see many things. As you know.]

[Are you saying we’ll lose? Is that what your damn book says?!]

Zagan roared, but Amdusias raised a hand to stop him.

[What exactly was written?]

[I cannot say. My book shows the future, but only fragments. Things that can change at any moment. Just as I met my death this time. And speaking of it won’t change anything.]

[How ominous. Damn it.]

[Regardless, nothing changes. We will annihilate all the dark families, those damned white-flame wielder Stiliners, and the holy families on this continent. Then, no one will be able to kill us. The true era of demons will begin.]

[A new era, defying the goddess’s will!]

Grand dukes raised their glasses in delight. Those drinking wine at the table laughed in joy as they looked upon the thousands of sacrificed humans strewn across the floor.
The army had already begun its march. The first target, of course, was the imperial family.

Maybe, destroying them would shatter Arkheim, the focal point of humanity.

Moreover.

“I trust you’ll handle this properly, Esteban von Arkheim.”

If the Sun King Esteban himself led the demon army to the capital?
Humanity would already be drowning in despair, forced into a war they couldn’t win.
They would cower in fear and quickly admit defeat. That was the natural order.
Demons feed on fear. They grow stronger, larger.

The darkness will slowly swallow them up like that.

Until the darkness, which doesn’t hold even a handful of light, completely covers the sun.

**********

“Nox, is this true?”

Noah, Astrid, and several instructors asked.
Nox could only nod in response.

“Yes.”

“So… you’ve reversed time dozens of times, seen the same events, traveled from another world. And in the future you saw, Baal always resurrects…?”

Astrid clenched her fists, lost in thought.
This was an extension of the conversation she had with Theo.
News that was shocking in itself, something impossible to comprehend no matter how much they thought about it.
At least, for ordinary people.

But Astrid and Noah were Sages.
Beings who had reached the pinnacle, a title granted to only four on the entire continent.
So they had no choice but to realize Nox’s words were true.

“The reason you’ve been able to slay the Grand Dukes until now, the fact that you’re still alive, your relationship with the princess—it all makes sense now. I finally understand why you carried such a burden.”

“B-but, Nox-kun…. this is dangerous! Surely you realize a mere student can’t….!”

“He’s right! This is too enormous for you to handle alone!”

“Professor Lars. Instructor Vernon…. and all the other professors. I am prepared to give everything for this. And it’s something only I can accomplish. It may sound arrogant, but, to break this chain….”

“You’re willing to die? Do you think I’d allow that?”

Noah momentarily reverted to her original appearance.
A chilling aura spread across the floor as she returned to the form of the woman once called the strongest mage. But it was impossible to shake Nox’s resolve.

“This is the final. If some cheap play is divided into three acts…. we’ve now entered the third.”

“…You’ve already made up your mind.”

Astrid sighed and shook her head.

She had only just found her disciple, and now he was rushing toward death. How was she supposed to interpret this?

Was there any way to turn the situation around?

Nothing came to mind.
Even those bearing the excessive title of Sage could do nothing.
Amidst this, an unexpected name left Nox’s lips.

“There’s one thing I want to ask all of you.”

Without hesitation, Nox continued.

“Do any of you know someone called Altende?”

**********

“Damn it, I finally did it! Finally…. I’ve refined the Frost Dragon’s scales!”

At this moment, a dwarf in the Fourth Commercial District couldn’t contain his joy as he held Nox’s Stormbringer. Upon closer inspection, the sword’s form had slightly changed. And, of course, the terrible darkness seeping from it—along with the countless souls screaming within.