Gozine

[Two with Black Sword’s energy… Not bad.]

Baal spoke and looked at Theo, who had snatched the stone and moved to the opposite side of Nox.

“So this is the Philosopher’s Stone.”

Theo said it as if observing, and Nox shouted, unable to control his anger.

“Dammit!”

No matter how he thought about it, this was dangerous.

He had experienced the future and knew what would happen when Baal gathered all the Philosopher’s Stones and how to deal with it, but did the family head truly know this?
It was doubtful.

“Theo! Do you know what you’ve just done!”

Nox shouted, as if forgetting to even respect.

He was determined to die here anyway.

There was no need for further explanation.
Even Theo would find it difficult to deal with all of them.
No, it’s impossible.

What if the stone falls into Baal’s hands like this and he completes it?
Nox had planned to have the demon possess his body and die at that moment, but Theo couldn’t do that.
He knew nothing about his plan.

You bastard.
After never helping, why did he have to interfere in a situation like this?

Nox looked at him with resentful eyes, but Theo was nonchalant.

“You clearly had something you desired too. But.”

Theo paused briefly before continuing.

“I also know that the result would be different from what I want.”

“What the hell are you babbling about…!”

Nox saw Luna’s expression harden for a moment at that moment.
Why?

It was hard to understand why her expression hardened now, but she seemed to know something about what was currently happening.
But the problem was that there was no time to ask about it.

[A useful fellow.]

Baal looked Theo up and down and then continued.
Theo clearly responds to his arrogant words.

“It’s not a story for the likes of a demon to hear.”

[You seem to be his father. Not only do you look alike, but your manner of acting fearlessly and recklessly is exactly the same.]

“I didn’t expect to fight a demon again.”

[Come at me.]

At Baal’s words, Theo began to swing his sword.
Several techniques that even Nox couldn’t use burst forth immediately.

Black Sword. Middle stage. Third form.
Black Blade Soul-Reaping.

A technique named for cutting down souls with the sword.

Naturally, it was a swordsmanship that could directly damage even Baal’s soul……,
But the opponent is not good.

Besides, Why is that?
The technique Theo showed unfolded very slowly.
It seemed he wasn’t pushing his limits.
It was as if he were merely demonstrating how to use the sword like this to someone. If not that, was he completely exhausted?
Perhaps he was already suppressed by Baal’s energy.

[It’s just a petty trick. It doesn’t pique my interest.]

“It’s not over yet.”

Finally, Theo decided to bring out the final stage of the Black Sword form.
The sword he held turned pitch black, swallowing the black darkness.
A part that had been seeping into Baal connected to his sword, glowing fiercely. Then, as if revealing giant fangs, Theo’s sword shot straight up.
It took the form of a black dragon.

Black Blade, Final stage. First form. Black Dragon Birdseeker.
As the name implied, it was a sword technique that meant the black dragon extends its claws.
Among the techniques, it possessed undoubtedly extreme destructive power, so it was a technique that placed a great burden on the sword.
But befitting the Sword Emperor’s, Theo’s sword remained perfectly intact.

However, there was one problem.

[Hoo… This is a bit surprising.]

Even though Baal was wounded, he hadn’t taken significant damage.
This was a very bad sign.

The remaining two forms Theo could use.
Nox knew about these too, but Theo was weakened.
It was obvious that if he tried to execute them in his current state, he would instead find himself in a difficult situation.

But Theo continued to use his power.

Black Blade, Final stage. Second form.
Black Dragon Aesthete.

Basically, the three final stage forms of the Black Blade are related to the black dragon.
They are connected to the dragon, an animal sacred to the family.
Black Dragon Aesthete is a technique that contemplates beauty among them.

But the standard of beauty spoken of here is very different.
If beauty by general standards is merely the state of being pretty,

Here, it means precisely cutting down the enemy without a moment of wavering in the sword, and seizing their mana.

Baal also seemed quite flustered by Theo’s attack this time.
In fact, it’s natural since it’s currently his hardest counter, though incomplete. Of course, he possesses a dark element and is clearly stronger than Nox. He could undoubtedly use more of techniques of the Supreme Black Sword.

Theo then launches his final attack.

Black Sword final stage, third form. Black Dragon Demon-Slayer.

The sword technique means the black dragon repels demons, hits.

In this attack, Nox couldn’t help but be surprised without even realizing it.

Of course, he knew Theo was strong, but he truly hadn’t thought he could actually damage that bastard.

True to its name of Demon-Slayer, the demon’s energy diminishes, and its power weakens.
Watching cracks form on his body, Baal realized that the connection of his soul wasn’t yet perfect.
Of course, even if he died here, he would only lose one fragment, and his power wouldn’t decrease much, but there were several Great Demons eyeing his position.
Considering that, it wasn’t good to easily lose a soul fragment.

[It seems better to complete it after all.]

Baal muttered.
It wasn’t something someone whose body was beginning to break apart should say, but it didn’t matter.

[Hey. Don’t you want a more interesting fight?]

Baal said, looking at Theo.
Theo showed a slight expression of contemplation.
Of course, Nox knew the current situation was almost desperate.

‘If we don’t give him the stone, we can’t kill him. But if we give him the stone? Everyone will die. Ultimately, the reason Theo can fight to that extent is solely because he’s in an incomplete state, having not absorbed one stone.’

He knew Theo’s strength was beyond imagination.
But create an opening, and cut him down through Moon Split when the full moon comes.
Other than this, there was still no way to defeat him.

“Patriarch! Hand the Philosopher’s Stone over to me quickly…!”

Just as Nox was shouting at Theo, that moment.

Whoosh.

A sound of something flying.
A small object.
Infinitely red glowing, a jewel with a dark color like blood.
A tool that led countless people to death and miracles, called a miracle itself.
The last fragment of the Philosopher’s Stone was leaving Theo’s hand and heading towards the Demon King.

Nox had a hunch in an instant.
The moment he grabs that, the Demon King will truly become an entity worthy of that name,
And this continent will be completely finished.

*********

Light glows amidst the fallen companions. It is the light of recovery. Thanks to Echidna beginning to heal them using the holy attribute element.
But this wasn’t of much help.
The still lingering black fog prevented them from even approaching the battlefield where Nox and the others were fighting.

Thalia, Cell, and Robert shared a conversation.

“Nox… What do we do!? He really can’t die!!”

“Thalia, calm down a little first.”

“We can’t just watch our son-in-law die to a damn demon. But…”

At that moment, Noah and Astrid appeared through a portal. They were already deeply wounded to the extent that they could absolutely not recover in the short term.
It was because they had fought on multiple fronts, including the east, and were completely drained of strength.
The simultaneous outbreak of wars had brought about the worst result from their perspective.

Perhaps things will proceed as Theo initially said.
But if it really happens…

“There is a possibility Nox will live.”

“What?! Is that true?”

At Astrid’s words, the Emperor asked.
Her flushed face showed an expectant look.
But for Noah or Astrid, telling them the truth was something they were somewhat reluctant to do.

This, too, would ultimately lead to an unwanted conclusion.

“That’s correct, Your Majesty. But please don’t think it will be possible without any cost.”

“If it’s for a war that has already begun, I know we must bear it.”

“Then that is fortunate. A new sun with a straight core has risen over the Arkheim Empire.”

“…Of course, that is if this war ends.”

“I’m back.”

Finally, Leon interjected and spoke.

Leon, who had somehow finished things in the south and returned without major injuries.
Actually, the numbers were the largest, but it was possible because there were no tricky enemies in the battle.
Of course, without the large quantity of magic stones, he couldn’t have even attempted it.
But he succeeded perfectly.

“You’ve worked hard, Leon.”

“Not at all. It was something I naturally had to do. By the way, Nox… what happened to him? What about Paracelsus?”

“Paracelsus fell protecting the stone. By the time I regained consciousness and checked, the stone had already disappeared from the back of his hand.”

“That’s not good.”

“Right. It means Baal will resurrect with his complete power. But that’s not necessarily only has a negative meaning. To kill him here, it’s actually a necessary thing… and above all, Paracelsus’s life is not in danger.”

“That is also fortunate.”

Leon made a truly relieved expression.
Meanwhile, Noah was biting her lip, watching the current situation.

‘No matter how I think about it, Theo… is that method really the best?’

Ulysses spoke to Noah.

“It seems it has begun. A fight that we would dare not even interfere in is about to start. To the extent that Nox who was enduring inside should be considered amazing.”

Nox.
Upon hearing the name, Erina immediately looked like she was about to cry.
Prim whose nose was already stinging was seen, and above that, Eleanor tightly clutching her necklace was seen. As if to comfort her, Ellie briefly came out of her embrace and rubbed her nose on the back of her hand, but this anxiety did not completely subside.

Fear of death?
This was already not a big issue for them.
If Nox and Luna, those at that place were to die, wouldn’t it eventually be their turn next?
Now, all they could do was wait.

Of course, the Emperor was not someone so weak as to be tired by such things.
Apollo.
She prepared and fired an ancient siege weapon that had once attacked her allies.
Several pulses.
It didn’t have a great effect, but she did her best, hoping that Nox could recover even for a moment.
That they could buy time.

The others were the same.

Zitri was already moving forward little by little towards Nox.
It would be no exaggeration to call it superhuman mental strength. She had already fallen and gotten back up repeatedly, walking through the battlefield, moving forward.
She knew that it wouldn’t be strange if she died at any moment like this.
But it was so earnest.

Young master, she wanted to see Nox.

The war?
The danger that she might die?

Actually, she didn’t know anymore.
Only truly primal emotions remained within her.
Is Nox alive right now?
If so, couldn’t he return with her?

If, that day.

If someone had died the day she met Altende, would her warm young master have chosen to go back for his companions again?

She didn’t know anything.

Once again, Zitri thought.

Nox von Reinhaver.
Even if I die, I want to see the young master again, even for just a single moment.