"Kuku, kuhahahaahahahahahaha!"
Flame's laughter echoed through the city at night, drowning out even the sound of the flowing water wrapped around Shinsen. His laughter was so infectious that it made some struggle to breathe, and his presence was more intimidating than when Tsukiko had questioned if he was truly human.
"‥‥"
"‥‥"
Both Tsukiko and Ayaka, along with the other officials, found themselves unconsciously tightening their grips on their weapons as they faced Flame's maniacal laughter. The palpable fear of the unknown had seized their hearts.
Having faced countless near-death situations, they were seasoned enough to sense danger. However, their understanding was still lacking. They couldn't blame themselves for not knowing, as this was something beyond their knowledge.
The Second God-Demon War was originally meant to be a battle that divided the world itself, to be fought by selected individuals only.
In other words, the warriors, the magicians sent to this world, were truly exceptional heroes capable of single-handedly waging wars. Flame, also known as the demon (mazoku) Jillzack Luiid, was one such unparalleled magician. Due to the vastness of the world, he hadn't directly clashed with the Hero during the First God-Demon War, but he was a seasoned warrior who had traversed many battlefields.
No matter how experienced the officials were, the depth of experience in battles differed greatly.
Once Flame had finished laughing and took a deep breath, he swept his disheveled bangs upwards.
"Hmm, but it's true that I've underestimated you. It seems that even in this world, there have been those who delved into the depths of magic. ...However, those who inherit that fire won't get far."
"You're talking big, aren't you!"
Ayaka glared at Flame, suppressing the trembling that welled up from the depths of her being.
"‥‥"
Tsukiko, too, readied Kinraishou by increasing her magic power. The Sakasa Mikumari Formation could still be maintained, and that meant Shinsen was still usable. Tsukiko had some magic power left to spare. No matter how much of an advantage Flame showed, there was no doubt that Tsukiko's group held the upper hand.
But that was only a measure within the framework of Earth's magicians.
"Now then, it's foolish to waste unnecessary power here, but—yes, indeed, Sissy. To find the key, it's better to have fewer complications."
Flame muttered to himself as he slowly raised his right hand.
"So, let's get a bit serious."
At the same time, an immense flow of magic power began to emanate from Flame's body. His outer robe fluttered in the torrent of magic power, and his artificial eye began to spin busily, despite magic power usually having no physical impact.
Before the astonished eyes of Tsukiko and the others, multiple lines of fire suddenly ran across the ground, all converging at Flame's center. In an instant, intricate patterns began to form around Flame.
"‥‥Huh!? What's this!"
Ayaka realized the true nature of this phenomenon and swung Shinsen while shouting. However, the chain of muddy water clashed with the flames and was repelled. More precisely, the water swirling around Shinsen around it was annihilated by the flames, and the chain itself was blown away.
Clearly, this was a level of heat beyond anything they had encountered before.
Beyond the flames, brilliant flashes overlapped, revealing geometric patterns that could be considered beautiful. Even if one weren't a magician, they could easily discern what this was.
"No way, is it a magic circle!?"
A step behind Ayaka, Tsukiko realized Flame's true intent and shouted. While a Magic Domain was used to enhance the effects of magic, a magic circle was often used as the very tool of magic itself. It allowed magicians to delegate the processing of information that couldn't be handled solely by the human mind and materialize it into a clear form.
It wasn't surprising that it took Tsukiko, an expert magician, some time to figure it out.
Because the array unfolding around Flame was so vast, it was nothing like any magic circle Tsukiko had ever seen. It was excessively huge.
Ordinarily, a magic circle was a tool used to cover aspects of a magician's capacity that exceeded their limits, and it needed to be drawn meticulously with careful calculations. It was not something to be created in the midst of battle. However, Flame seemed to disregard such common sense as he continued to expand the complex magic circle with precise manipulation, and an enormous flow of magic power surged into it.
Even if the magic power of all the officials present here were combined, it wouldn't come close to the absolute amount of magic power being channeled. Tsukiko unconsciously trembled while still holding Kinraishou.
What was this presence before them?
Flame's actions and words so far seemed as though he was not even human. If this were true, Tsukiko had never seen anything like this, where a being manipulated magic with such finesse. Perhaps they were making an incredible mistake. Could it be that they had thought they were stepping on the tail of a snake when they were actually stepping on the tail of a dragon?
Sweat flowed down her temples and dropped from her chin.
Beyond the red, a resounding voice echoed.
"To the ultimate destination of all things, advance, O red. No colors other than ours shall be permitted. Dye it, burn it to ashes, and all that remains will be white. Even the King of Night turns away from our army. Born from ashes, let glory and prosperity transform into dreams, and let us raise the flag of absurdity."
In accordance with the voice, the magic circle emitted an even stronger light. From it rose fire, fire, and fire. The massive fire that shot up into the sky, reaching towards the clouds, moved in a strange and almost lifelike way.
And now, the final verse was chanted.
"The time for trampling has come. Raise the war cry—'Aspita Heirain (Crimson Army)'!"
All the flames converged, took shape along with a new essence.
Seeing the spectacle that appeared, this time, all the officials lost their voices completely.
"—!"
"Ugh...!?"
Some stood there with their mouths agape in disbelief, some realized the situation, and others gritted their teeth. A few officials even dropped their magic guns from limp hands, as if they were dreaming.
A fierce radiance illuminated the city, as bright as daylight. Before the anti-demon officials stood an army—spear-wielding humanoid warriors covered the ground in orderly ranks, and among them, the forms of great demon and lizardmen could be seen in the hundreds. In the rear stood a monstrous creature, resembling a crocodile, with a massive body stacked like a pile of tanks.
Despair was no longer the sole emotion.
When they looked up at the sky, as if it were broad daylight, the sparks scattered like a storm. Knights riding on flying dragons, giant eagles, and Karyuuruune. And mysterious creatures that defied comprehension.
"Hahaha, this has to be a joke..."
A man who had dropped his gun muttered in a dry voice.
It was likely a shared sentiment among all the exorcist officials present. The overwhelming presence of the army covering the entire place was a brutal reality that only ten or so anti-demon officials couldn't hope to overcome.
"Listen, humans."
A voice descended upon them.
The voice belonged to a man who sat atop a dragon, glaring down at Tsukiko and the others. He was the one who had orchestrated the current state of despair.
"Now that I've used the 'Aspita Heirain (Crimson Army),' there's no reason for you to fight without introducing yourselves clearly, as you've been recognized as my enemies. My name is Jillzack Luiid, the 87th head of the Luiid family, bearing the title of 'Ashes.'"
It was no longer a declaration of war.
It was the command for the execution that would reap their lives from now on.
Flame had indeed declared Tsukiko and the others as enemies. In other words, he had no intention of letting them escape. By bearing the title 'Ashes,' a distinction granted to only a select few among demons (mazoku), he pledged to eradicate them.
"Now, state your names. Those who have been recognized as enemies by Jillzack Luiid, those who will carry the honor of dying with that glory."
Flame asked calmly.
Even the artificial eye that had been moving restlessly was now fixed on Tsukiko and the others.
There was no longer any hope for Tsukiko and her group.
Anti-Demon Special Forces personnel had likely already grasped the extent of this anomaly. However, rescue was hopeless. This was because the only being capable of defeating Flame was a first rank magician, and the government would never risk sending a first rank magician to confront an unknown threat. Losing such a magican would be a tremendous loss to the country.
Tsukiko and her team were going to die here. They would become willing sacrifices, revealing Flame's true nature to gather information and create a situation where a first rank magician could surely kill Flame.
Tsukiko, with trembling hands, forcefully gripped Kinraishou and took a step forward. Even the prodigy who was said to someday reach first rank was as vulnerable as a maiden before Flame. It wasn't that she wasn't afraid of dying. She had lived while gritting her teeth at the unattainable reality, yearning for a normal life, dreaming of ordinary love, and desiring a peaceful existence.
Ayaka had told Tsukiko to determine her own life. After this battle was over, if she could muster the resolve to stick to her choices, there would come days when they could laugh together again. Such fleeting dreams were now fading away. Nevertheless, Tsukiko gazed resolutely at the sky. Even if it meant ending things with the person she cared about deeply wounded, even if she could never hear that voice again.
"Isumi..."
If Flame was allowed to roam freely, it might eventually lead to irreversible consequences. At that time, who could guarantee that the person she loved would not be involved? So, even if it meant dying here, if someone could defeat Flame as a result, then that death would hold meaning. Losing someone dear was far more terrifying than facing her own death.
"Isumi Tsukiko! Don't underestimate humanity's protector!"
In an instant, Flame bared his gums and smiled.
"That's the spirit. Don't disappoint me too much."
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