To Become a King and a Magician 881-885

Title: Hope in the Hands of Others

Inside Naraku (Hell) is infinity.

It is an endless pit.

Objects swallowed here will fall forever, never reaching an end, continuously falling until they lose consciousness and even life.

Naoki, who was swallowed by the Cursed Worm, was in such a condition.

However, he did not remain unable to stand.

*THUD!*

Drawing Mana from himself, he formed ground beneath his feet and stomped on it.

After experiencing a fall for several tens of seconds, Naoki stood firmly once again in the empty darkness.

And the person who was swallowed into Naraku along with him also stood before him.

“I can’t take it anymore...”

Vortigern, dragged by the swarm of insects, stared at the man she had wanted to kill for six thousand years.

“Defeating me in ten minutes? Is your head full of Aurora or what? You should know very well the difference in strength between us. There might indeed be someone in this world who can defeat me, but that person is clearly not you, Holy Sword Bearer.”

“Your Holy Sword, your Magecraft, none of it works against me. And the Imaginary Manifestation you wield as a fairy is now completely sealed, because this is inside the Cursed Worm, not a World you can alter and create as you please.”

“And of course, you also cannot receive any support from the planet. This place cannot connect to the outside world. All you can use is your own Mana, without any means to recharge. Once your Mana is depleted, you’re truly done.”

Vortigern sneered.

“Oh, slip of the tongue. It should be said you’re done the moment you were swallowed by the Cursed Worm. You can’t possibly escape from here. This place is infinite. You lost the exit and entrance when you fell. You will never be able to leave this place.”

“What a pity, truly a pity. At the last moment, you sent all your lovers out to delay their deaths, and you yourself wanted to stay and be the hero. But in reality, you’re just a loser who can’t do anything. And even so, they will soon come to keep you company. Keep you company as you fall forever in this infinite Naraku—“

*BAM!*

Naoki stomped the Mana-formed ground beneath his feet, forcibly interrupting Vortigern’s speech and mockery filled with strong personal emotions.

“So noisy.”

A low voice sounded in Vortigern’s ear.

Standing tall facing her, Naoki waved his hand: “You talk so much, are you lonely from not speaking to anyone for six thousand years? Little girl.”

“Hah?”

“Besides, everything you said is nonsense. I don’t understand if you’re rambling or if there’s something wrong with your head. You’ve pushed me this far, why does everything you say sound like words that would only be spoken by someone who knows nothing about me at all? It shouldn’t be my ears that misheard.”

Naoki said while digging in his ear.

(This person... crazy?)

Vortigern looked at Naoki, who showed no trace of nervousness, with slight confusion. She had explained the situation so clearly, she had helped him piece together so clearly the difficulties he faced. By common sense, shouldn’t he feel despair?

Despair from not being able to escape from here, despair from not being able to defeat him, despair from all hopes of two thousand four hundred years being shattered...

Naoki should be in despair.

But why did he look like this now? Far from despair, he instead appeared extremely confident of victory.

Where did he get that confidence from? Or was he actually just bluffing? When in reality he was very panicked?

“First, I will correct your mistake, or rather, reveal the truth. In everything you said earlier, no matter what it was, it was all very wrong.”

(Am I wrong?)

“You said my Holy Sword doesn’t work against you, and Mana doesn’t work against you—this is actually not true. It’s not that it doesn’t work against you, this isn’t a ability granted to you by the Holy Grail, but rather an enhancement done to you by the Holy Grail.”

“An enhancement to your swallowing ability.”

Swallowing.

Because Vortigern is the Cursed Worm, she must possess this ability. And Vortigern’s swallowing ability, which was originally strong enough to swallow all the light of the Holy Sword, after being enhanced by the Holy Grail, could even swallow the combined attack from the Holy Swords of Naoki, Arthur, and Artoria.

This was something known since the Sixth Singularity.

The essence of the Holy Sword immunization ability is this. Vortigern only swallows all attacks originating from the Holy Sword. The same applies to resistance to Mana. The Holy Grail performed secondary enhancement on her swallowing ability, specializing in swallowing Mana.

Of course, the erosion power was the same.

“As long as it’s not true inability, then it’s no problem. For Vortigern, the light of the Holy Sword is both food and poison. As long as I successfully slash your core, you will still receive a fatal wound.”

Vortigern frowned, then laughed uncontrollably: “Hahahaha... What did I think you would say? With the weak Mana and light you have now, you want to feed me until I’m full? That’s not even enough to get stuck in my teeth.”

“Maybe. But everything must be tried. If that doesn’t work—then I will kill you with these two fists and two feet. I hope you haven’t forgotten, like Arcueid, I am an Elemental Spirit. In terms of physical fitness, she and I are always equal.”

Naoki said while manifesting the Holy Sword in his hand.

“Then... regarding your statement that I cannot leave this place, that is also a mistaken view. Perhaps right now I indeed cannot leave, even if I kill you, it’s the same, but that doesn’t mean no one will pull me out. Do you think I sent them away just to protect them?”

Vortigern: “You believe they will come to save you? With their strength, they want to fight the Cursed Worm? Or... you truly still place hope on Albion?”

The roar of the Albion Dragon could tear the body of the Cursed Worm, opening an exit at a definite distance in infinite space.

But to do that, Melusine must regain her original form as the Albion Dragon, changing from that child form back to the Boundary Dragon floating in the sky—and after that, she might not be able to return to her original form.

“Who knows? At least in my opinion, there are several others besides Melusine who can tear that insect body.”

Naoki smiled.

“I believe they will break through the shell of the Cursed Worm, so I won’t worry about what’s happening outside. Right now, there’s only one thought in my mind, which is to defeat and annihilate you.”

The Holy Sword pointed at the Demonic Dragon’s body.

“Let’s end it, Vortigern!”

“The six thousand years you waited, the two thousand four hundred years I waited, today is the time to end it—once and for all.”

-

Title: The Possibility of Saving Everything

Outside the Cursed Worm.

The southernmost part of the collapsed and ruined Britain.

*BZZZZT!*

Amidst a flash of white light, Aoko and her group, along with Morgan and her group, instantly appeared at that location.

After quickly looking around, Aoko sneered: “Tch, spatial exchange again? Where did Naoki send us?”

“It should be the southernmost part of Britain, near Londinium.”

Morgan said while gazing into the distance. In her view, a city was slowly collapsing and crumbling.

She remembered that it was Londinium.

“Sending us all the way here in an instant, what is King Father thinking? By the way, where is he?” Mordred searched around several times, but didn’t see Naoki anywhere.

All that could be seen was the ground slowly collapsing and falling toward the Cursed Worm, and the Cursed Worm devouring the ruined land.

From the distance, the Cursed Worm would reach their side in at most ten minutes.

【Naoki is most likely inside the Cursed Worm now.】

Merry’s voice sounded in everyone’s ears.

【In that situation, he probably only had time to send all of you away, while he himself didn’t have time to leave the Cursed Worm’s engulfment range and entered Naraku. Right now, he should be fighting Vortigern.】

“Then we have to go help the Department Head—“

【No, no need.】

Merry stopped Ritsuka’s action.

【Even if we go, we might not be able to help him at all, and might even get in the way. Leave what’s happening there to him—he won’t be in trouble.】

Although she said that, in her heart, Merry had probably already confirmed Naoki’s plan.

Naoki didn’t fail to escape, but proactively chose to stay behind. Because Vortigern’s biggest target was him, if he was swallowed by Naraku, Vortigern would naturally pursue him, whether to witness his death firsthand or to kill him with her own hands, Vortigern would return to the interior of the Cursed Worm.

And at that moment, those outside could move freely.

“Then what should we do now?”

Arcueid asked with a bit of anxiety.

“Just stand here and wait for Naoki to finish everything and come out? Until when? This island will be destroyed in ten more minutes. And then it will affect Proper Human History.”

【Precisely, in one hour, Proper Human History will begin to collapse from Britain, and then spread globally. At the latest in twenty-four hours, the entire world will be destroyed.】

“Is there a solution? Merry-sensei?” Ritsuka asked urgently. “There must be a solution.”

【Of course there is, and it’s very simple—just defeat the Cursed Worm, and the collapse will stop. Although the ruined Britain cannot return to its original state, Proper Human History will not be affected. At most, the weather this year will be a bit abnormal.】

Defeat the Cursed Worm.

Everyone looked at the insect continuously devouring the island in the distance.

“How... do we defeat it?”

【Theoretically, as long as Vortigern, who is its core, is defeated and killed, the Cursed Worm will also disappear. However, even if a centipede dies, it doesn’t stiffen. Even if Vortigern dies, the Cursed Worm will definitely remain active for a while.】

【So, all of us must start now and relentlessly attack the Cursed Worm, injuring its body as much as possible, accelerating its collapse after losing its core.】

The solution given by Merry relieved everyone.

“Then it’s easy.”

“Exactly, I like this simple and direct method. Besides, I’m annoyed by that big insect too!”

“Hey, Angelica, fire a Noble Phantasm to fly. Something that big must be approached by flying to reach it.”

“...”

The group from Proper Human History began dividing tasks on their own. For those who participated in the Grand Temple of Time battle just half a year ago, what they had to do then and what they had to do now had no fundamental difference.

Defeat the enemy, and the world will be saved. As simple as that.

Seeing the situation there, Barghest couldn’t help but turn to Morgan: “Your Majesty, we...”

“Go help, Gawain, Lancelot.” Morgan said coldly. “But Baobhan and Lia stay here. For you two, this battle is still too dangerous. Staying by my side is the best.”

“Ready to execute!”

“I understand.”

After receiving Morgan’s approval, the two Fairy Knights immediately joined the people from Proper Human History. Although Baobhan Sith and Artoria Caster felt a bit reluctant, seeing the gigantic Cursed Worm, a slight fear arose in both their hearts.

Different from the original cruel and heartless Fairy Knight Tristan and the Child of Prophecy who grew after the pilgrimage, the two now, in a certain sense, were still in factory settings. Naoki and Morgan protected them very well, but also deprived them of opportunities to grow.

“Miss Morgan.”

At that moment, Ritsuka suddenly ran in front of Morgan, removing the communication device from her wrist: “Merry-sensei says there’s something she wants to discuss with you.”

“.......”

Taking the communication device, Morgan asked: “What’s wrong, Succubus.”

【Britain is substantially destroyed, Morgan.】

Merry immediately uttered the sentence that made Morgan’s emotions plummet.

【The island you wanted to save, as well as Naoki, is now equivalent to destroyed. There’s no longer any possibility of saving it—based on my guess, if the Cursed Worm and Vortigern are successfully defeated, after everything ends, Naoki should still be by your side.】

No, not should be, but definitely will be.

Merry didn’t think that just regaining the past would be enough to change Naoki’s current mindset. After defeating Vortigern, Naoki would surely do something to save this collapsed and ruined island.

For example... discarding the Holy Sword again, signing a contract with the planet, in exchange for unlimited Mana to regenerate Britain and all the fairies—something like that.

【Naoki can definitely do it, but even so, it would only prolong the lifespan. It’s impossible to truly save this island.】

“What do you want to say?”

【I have a way, or rather... a suggestion, that might change your Lostbelt’s situation, fundamentally saving Britain, even... saving the entire Lostbelt. However, this means everything that exists now will completely disappear. Everything that happened from fourteen thousand years ago until now might vanish.】

Merry’s words made Morgan fall silent for a moment.

Sacrificing the loss of everything now and in the past, to summon the opportunity to save Britain, even to save the Lostbelt?

“Tell me.”

After a moment of silence, Morgan said so.

-

Title: Falling into Infinite Naraku

Incomprehensible.

*CLANG!* *CLANG!* *CLANG!*

Inside the bottomless and infinite Naraku (Hell), Vortigern stared at the golden light continuously slashing towards her. Incomprehensible thoughts kept swirling in her heart and mind.

*CLANG!* *CLANG!* *CLANG!*

The black-stained fairy sword and the Holy Sword continuously clashed. Each time they collided, the Holy Sword’s light would dim slightly, and along with it, the Mana released by Naoki would also be swallowed by the swarm of insects.

If Naoki’s Mana was considered a hundred, then about twenty percent had been swallowed, and he continuously released Mana outwards, unable to stop.

If he stopped, he would lose his footing, unable to fight Vortigern within the infinitely falling Naraku.

*CLANG!*

Another clash, the Holy Sword strongly rubbing against the Fairy Sword.

Staring into Naoki’s eyes across the sword blade, Vortigern simply couldn’t understand. She believed Naoki knew what he was doing. Continuing to battle her was tantamount to seeking death. The more he swung the Holy Sword, the more his Mana and its light would be swallowed.

He must understand.

But why would he—

*CLANG!*

A sudden powerful slash cleaved through the resisting Fairy Sword. Naoki immediately stepped forward and charged into Vortigern’s embrace. His clenched left fist struck hard into her chest!

However, just as his fist was about to touch Vortigern—

*SWISH!*

Vortigern’s body instantly transformed into a swarm of insects and disappeared from the spot, successfully avoiding Naoki’s fist. Then, behind him, she reassembled. The swarm of insects condensed into a giant scythe in her hand, slashing down on Naoki from above!

*CLANG!*

The Holy Sword blocked the scythe blade, its tip stopping less than a finger’s breadth before Naoki.

Pressing down on Naoki from above, Vortigern asked coldly: “Surrender, Holy Sword Bearer. You have no chance of winning. As I showed you just now, your fists and feet, which you believe can defeat me, cannot even touch the hem of my clothes.”

“You have no means to resist. It is truly over.”

Along with her words, the scythe broke through the Holy Sword’s blockade. The extremely sharp blade slashed straight down!

Without the slightest hesitation, Naoki abandoned the spot as soon as the scythe moved. After rolling to the side and escaping, he quickly swung the Holy Sword. A golden crescent moon shot into the air in an instant!

However, that Holy Sword slash, when it actually hit Vortigern, immediately disappeared as if a stone sinking into the sea. After entering Vortigern’s body, the slash failed to cause even the slightest reaction.

The light was swallowed again.

“I told you, you are doing something futile!”

Arriving before Naoki at lightning speed, Vortigern swung her scythe again, while hands made of swarms of insects held two pitch-black fairy swords, slashing at Naoki from left and right!

Attacks came from three directions at once!

*CLANG!*

Precisely blocking the Holy Sword at the convergence point of the three attacks, after neutralizing Vortigern’s attacks, Naoki did not retreat. Instead, he forcibly pushed away the three weapons, then an Iron Mountain (shoulder tackle) suddenly slammed into Vortigern!

*BAM!*

The unexpected close-range strike managed to make Vortigern lose her balance. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Naoki immediately swung the Holy Sword with all his might, producing countless golden sword flashes around Vortigern, swords that seemed to cut space itself filled every corner around Vortigern! Surrounding her like a whirlpool!

“I told you...”

Vortigern showed an extremely impatient expression, directly disregarding all her external image, opening her mouth wide, and taking a powerful breath!

*WHOOSH!*

The brilliant light seemed to be pulled by a stronger whirlpool; all of that light was sucked into Vortigern’s mouth with just one breath! Then she swallowed it forcibly until it was gone!

Wiping the remnants from the corner of her mouth, Vortigern stared coldly at Naoki: “I told you, it’s useless—now you truly feel despair. Holy Sword Bearer, even such a large amount of light, I can swallow it all at once!”

“Surrender to all resistance, and let me swallow you whole!”

The scythe transformed into a sledgehammer and slammed down! The ground Naoki had formed with Mana instantly shattered into pieces. The scattered Mana was absorbed by Vortigern, making the sledgehammer in her hand visibly grow one size larger!

“How much Mana do you have left!?”

Vortigern condensed a chain of insects at the end of the sledgehammer’s hilt, easily swinging the sledgehammer like a stellar mace.

“Sixty percent? Seventy percent? Perhaps even less!”

The chained sledgehammer carried power equivalent to a falling meteor and struck Naoki! Although Naoki blocked it with the Holy Sword, and also used reinforcement magic to strengthen his body, Naoki still felt his arm would break.

“Within this Naraku, you can do nothing. Everything you say is boasts. All the notions you have are mere wishful thinking!”

Continuously, relentlessly.

Vortigern seemed to have endless strength, constantly swinging the chained sledgehammer, striking and slamming Naoki! Even without realizing it, the chained sledgehammer had transformed into a chain sword extending hundreds of meters long, attacking Naoki like a giant python dancing wildly in the air!

*CLANG!* *CLANG!* *CLANG!*

Naoki continuously parried the chain sword slashes with the Holy Sword, but the overwhelmingly dense attacks, even with his perception ability, were not enough to block them all, especially in this Naraku space, where his perception ability was greatly limited.

*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*

The sword blades continuously cut down Naoki’s body. Naoki’s flesh, Mana, and Holy Sword light were constantly plundered and swallowed by Vortigern. And along with everything swallowed, Naoki’s very existence was also swallowed.

“Hyaaah—!”

The chain sword suddenly returned to its original form. Accompanied by Vortigern’s angry shout, the chain sword instantly transformed into a pitch-black spear, and extended in a flash before Naoki!

*THUD!*

A feeling like being hit by a speeding train spread throughout Naoki’s body, sending him falling like a broken kite into the abyss.

Stepping on the Mana-formed ground, Vortigern swung the swarm of insects in her hand, which had transformed into a long whip, wrapping around Naoki’s body, pulling him back before her.

“Now do you understand?”

Vortigern strangled Naoki’s neck with one hand.

“You can do nothing more. Lamenting your helplessness before me, feeling your weakness, and showing a pitiful expression of despair, as if the entire world has betrayed you—that is the only reaction you can give. Let me see your appearance like a dog who has lost its master, Holy Sword Bearer.”

“Ugh...” Trembling, holding the swarm of insects wrapped around his neck, Naoki barely lifted the corner of his lips: “Bad taste... So you like to torture your opponents? A bit surprising... It’s very easy to flip you, Demonic Dragon.”

“Flip?”

Vortigern raised an eyebrow: “Do you mean, in your current condition, you still have a chance to rise against me?”

“The Holy Sword’s light has completely dimmed. All hope has been swallowed by me. Mana, body, even existence itself—every wound I inflict upon you, your entire self will be swallowed by me little by little.”

“Do I need to give you a mirror so you can see your appearance now?”

Vortigern’s swallowing had actually never stopped. In just these few tens of seconds she held Naoki, Vortigern had already swallowed most of his strength. Coupled with the previous part... about seventy percent of Naoki’s power might have been completely swallowed.

(Enough.)

Tightening the whip and strongly choking Naoki’s neck, Vortigern smiled and lifted her chin, lowering it to be level with him, then suddenly bit his lips.

“Ugh—“

A cold and bitter feeling was conveyed by dry lips. Along with this sudden kiss, Naoki clearly felt the last of his strength being taken by Vortigern little by little!

Like using a straw to suck all the last remnants of a drink clinging to the bottom of a glass, not wanting to leave the slightest trace, the attraction like a bottomless pit almost sucked out Naoki’s entire insides.

Then—

“Ugh... Ahhh.......”

Vortigern, whose pale face had turned slightly red, lifted her head, pulled her extraordinarily long tongue from Naoki’s mouth, and licked her lips with an unsatisfied taste: “This is all of it... All, all, all, all, all of your power has been swallowed by me, Holy Sword Bearer.”

“Ugh... You...”

A strong sense of emptiness and weakness from within his body. Naoki, whose strength had been sucked dry, was now too weak to even utter a single sentence.

Releasing the whip and dropping Naoki, seeing him kneel before her, a sense of satisfaction immediately arose in Vortigern’s heart, like finally seeing the results of a wheat harvest after working hard for a long time.

Six thousand years of waiting, six thousand years of anger, six thousand years of fear, six thousand years of hatred... All of it, ended today with Naoki’s fall.

“I said it’s over.” Vortigern stared at Naoki. “Yes, it’s over. Between you and me, it’s over. Die here, and fall forever, Holy Sword Bearer who has nothing left.”

*BAM!*

Accompanied by a dull sound, Vortigern immediately kicked Naoki along with the Holy Sword, which had completely lost its light, letting both fall together into the infinite abyss of Naraku.

-

Title: Breaking Through Naraku

Consciousness falls into a deeper realm.

Perhaps because his entire existence had been absorbed by Vortigern, Naoki could clearly feel that he now had no connection to his original body.

This sensation was somewhat similar to an out-of-body experience.

The body that continued to fall inside Naraku was now merely an empty shell. Everything that was inside it was now by his side.

Then...

“She didn’t digest me?”

Stepping on what could be called ground, Naoki gazed at the pitch-black space surrounding him.

This place was likely the interior of Vortigern’s body. Although it could be said that the inside of the Cursed Worm was also the inside of Vortigern’s body, after all, the Cursed Worm and Vortigern were two separate individuals. Though they were the same existence, their bodies were truly two.

Naoki should be inside Vortigern’s body right now.

Everything swallowed by her would eventually gather here, be digested and absorbed, and transformed into her power.

However, this might not apply to Naoki. The reason was simple: the Holy Sword.

The light of the Holy Sword, for Vortigern, was food that she swallowed, but also a poison that would cause her great damage. If she only swallowed it as now, it was fine, but if she wanted to take the Holy Sword’s light as her own, she certainly wouldn’t be able to endure it.

And as the Holy Sword Bearer, Naoki was also under the protection of the Holy Sword. Digesting him would surely involve digesting the Holy Sword as well.

That was why he could still exist here.

However—

“My current situation might be beyond Vortigern’s expectations.”

Naoki was certain that Vortigern did not expect him to regain his consciousness inside her body. It was something he himself had never thought of. Although he had indeed left some backup plans, this was not included.

And because Vortigern did not anticipate this situation, Naoki had a chance to turn the tables—a chance to completely turn the tables.

(If my guess is correct, that should be in a deeper place here...)

Relaxing his body, Naoki allowed his consciousness to sink into a deeper and darker place.

Like diving.

Being in the shallow layer could only see things floating on the surface. To see more real, more mysterious existences, he could only continue to explore the depths.

Sinking, sinking, sinking, sinking... Completely unconcerned whether continuing to sink would face something else, completely unthinking whether his actions would trigger resistance inside Vortigern’s body, Naoki continued to sink.

And as he sank, in the endless and infinite world of darkness—

*BZZZZT!*

A faint light flickered silently.

Without the slightest hesitation, Naoki immediately approached that light. The light’s intensity appeared to grow stronger as the distance decreased, until it finally truly appeared in his eyes.

“It’s really that... Although I only had an unrealistic hope, I didn’t expect to actually find it.”

Naoki stared at the object emitting the light.

It was a golden chalice.

The chalice once created by Goetia, thrown into Proper Human History in the past, and after being obtained by Morgan, used to summon and strengthen Vortigern.

“Holy Grail.”

The source within Vortigern’s body that allowed her to gain the power to defeat Naoki in a normal state—the Holy Grail from the Sixth Singularity.

Because objects swallowed would enter Vortigern’s body, as long as Naoki searched inside her body, he might be able to find the Holy Grail that was also inside her body.

Naoki thought so. Although at that time he couldn’t be completely sure, the result turned out well.

Then the next step was...

*BZZZZT!*

Light gathered in Naoki’s hand. Not a physical entity, the Holy Sword, which was merely the manifestation of his power and light, formed in his hand.

Aiming at the Holy Grail, Naoki suddenly swung the Holy Sword with all his might! A golden crescent moon shot into the air in an instant!

*BANG!*

The impact and vibrations exploded and echoed in the darkness. The emitted light only shone for a moment before being swallowed back by the darkness. And the Holy Grail that was directly hit by the slash—

“Tch, not even a scratch?”

Seeing the Holy Grail completely undamaged, Naoki clicked his tongue.

The Holy Grail, along with Vortigern, had been suppressed in the deepest part of Britain for six thousand years. It could also be said that it had accumulated Mana for a full six thousand years. Perhaps now the Holy Grail had formed a complete self-protection mechanism. Half-hearted attacks could not possibly destroy it.

“But if I want to win, this is the only thing I can do.”

Naoki raised the Holy Sword again.

Vortigern’s power source was the Holy Grail. So, as long as the Holy Grail was destroyed, all the wonders triggered by the Holy Grail would disappear, such as Vortigern’s out-of-limits swallowing ability. And after that, Naoki would also be freed from this darkness.

“With the power remaining in me now... Life or death, it all depends on this moment!”

The Holy Sword emitted light again. A golden stream flowed out from the sword blade, striking straight at the Holy Grail!

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

“Ugh!”

At the same time, inside Naraku.

Vortigern felt an inexplicable vibration inside her body, a feeling like her stomach cramping from indigestion.

“What happened?”

Holding her stomach, Vortigern was slightly confused about what was happening to her.

Could she really have eaten something wrong?

(This is the first time I swallowed the Holy Sword’s light along with the entire power of the Holy Sword Bearer. Even my predecessor never did something like this. Is my body adapting to the Holy Sword’s power? Or is it digesting and breaking it down?)

As Naoki thought, Vortigern had no idea at all that Naoki would regain his consciousness inside her body. To her, Naoki, whose Holy Sword and power had been completely swallowed, was now essentially a dead man. There was absolutely no possibility of revival.

In fact, who would think that someone’s consciousness could revive relying only on power? Only an exception like Naoki, who had once split himself into two, could still maintain his consciousness even though his power and body were separated.

And again—

*ZING!*

In the depths of Naraku, a beam of light suddenly shone!

Vortigern immediately froze, then her eyes widened in disbelief, because in her eyes...

*BANG!*

Naoki, who should have died completely because his power had been swallowed by her, now emitted strong Mana and light throughout his body, shooting towards him from the depths of Naraku at lightning speed, like a launched rocket!

(He’s not dead?)

(No, impossible. Everything from him has been swallowed by me! The Holy Sword, Mana, his contents, his existence—how could he still be alive after all that I swallowed?)

“Ghost!?”

“I’m alive!!”

Traversing infinite space in an impossible condition, Naoki, who returned before Vortigern, shouted that while swinging the dim Holy Sword in his hand with all his might!

*CLANG!*

Naraku, which had only been calm for one or two minutes, was now once again filled with the sound of clashing sword blades.

-

Title: Please, My Other Self

Time rewinds to when Naoki was pressured by Vortigern’s long-range attacks.

With the Holy Sword continuously deflecting the horizontal and vertical slashes of the chain sword, enduring the strange pain from his body and his continuously weakening power, Naoki diverted some of his attention, sinking into the depths of his consciousness.

(Can you hear me? I know you’re still there, not completely merged with me. If you’re awake, answer me.)

【......】

(Hey! Don’t play dead! There’s no way a rift of two thousand four hundred years could fully heal in such a short time!)

【Ouch~~~~~】

A somewhat lazy voice came from the depths of consciousness.

【So noisy~~~~~ Can’t I sleep a little longer after finally returning to my comfortable bed?】

Another voice sounded within Naoki’s body.

Or rather—another consciousness, another personality.

Naoki Number Two, who had split two thousand four hundred years ago and only returned a few tens of minutes ago.

Although due to that backstabbing, the two divided into one had reunited, the division of consciousness and personality still existed. After all, the two had been separated for two thousand four hundred years, and each had developed into a different individual. Merging was not something that happened in an instant.

So, Naoki Number Two’s personality still existed.

【By the way, you want me to help you?】

(Otherwise, why would I look for you?)

【Are you stupid?】

Naoki Number Two reprimanded himself mercilessly.

【I am basically the one who caused this situation to happen. I’m not saying it’s all my fault, but maybe half of it can be attributed to me. That means I am your enemy. Seeking help from your own enemy, did Aurora kick your head?】

What Naoki Number Two said was true.

The root cause of Britain’s collapse and Naoki’s current situation lay in the negative emotions within his heart and a series of events caused by his cooperation with Vortigern. He was the one who forced Naoki into his current predicament.

He was not in a position to help.

(Indeed, this situation is not free from your responsibility, but... we are not enemies.)

Naoki said while dividing his attention to face the chain sword.

(After all, we were originally one person. No matter who did what, and it affected the other half, in the end it was our own doing. We can only swallow the bitter fruit, regret ourselves, and cannot hate our other self.)

(Because... quarreling with oneself is the most foolish and unnecessary thing.)

(And at the same time, after losing everyone trustworthy, oneself is the only trustworthy person—the current me needs my own strength.)

【Sigh... I give up on you.】

Naoki Number Two sighed helplessly.

【You’re really not afraid I’ll stab you again, huh... Never mind, you’re right, bothering oneself is not interesting, it just feels oppressive—So how do you want me to help you? I warn you beforehand, even I cannot defeat Vortigern. The current situation is that we are truly defeated in all aspects by her.】

【Fighting against a counter-class is just asking for trouble.】

(If my guess is correct, if this continues, I will die. My body will become a corpse that has lost its soul. At that time, you take over my body, and stall for as much time as possible.)

【Stalling for time? Is that all?】

(Yes. Everyone outside should have started moving—whether the Cursed Worm or Vortigern, defeating one of them can drastically change the situation. This is just passing the ball to others.)

(Please, my other self.)

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

*CLANG!*

Time returns to the present.

Staring at Vortigern across the Holy Sword and Fairy Sword, Naoki Number Two smiled bitterly.

(Saying something like that then just dying, really giving me work, please be a little more considerate of us, Main Body—but, since you’ve said it, I won’t hold back either.)

(I will stall for time completely until those outside tear a hole in the Cursed Worm.)

“Impossible.”

Vortigern stared at Naoki in front of her with surprise.

“How can you still have strength? Everything from you should have been swallowed by me, how can you still have Mana to use?”

“Just switching the Mana source to a Lesser Source, is this such a surprising thing to you?”

Naoki Number Two sneered. At the same time, he injected a large amount of Mana into the Holy Sword, causing it to instantly extend into a giant blade of light tens of meters long. After quickly retreating to maintain distance, he slashed downwards!

The blade of light, seemingly tearing the world of darkness, immediately filled Vortigern’s eyes.

Swarms of pitch-black insects flowed out from her sleeves, transforming into two savage claws that tightly gripped the blade of light. Then, just like swallowing the light of the Holy Sword before, they visibly absorbed and disintegrated the blade of light, swallowing it back into her body.

“I see, a Lesser Source, huh. Starting to despair?”

Vortigern looked at Naoki, whose Mana was still strong.

Mana sources are divided into two types: the Greater Source possessed by the planet itself, and the Lesser Source possessed by the individual. Under normal circumstances, the Greater Source Mana is used. Naoki also used it when fighting her earlier, it was just the part he had stored outside.

And now, he was using a Lesser Source.

This was strictly not a dangerous act, but if it was meant to make Naoki have the same power as before, that was another story.

The consumption of life force would be beyond common sense, because Lesser Source is essentially Mana converted from life force. In Naoki’s case, even though he was an Elemental Spirit, such intense use of Lesser Source would endanger his life.

“You’re gambling.”

Vortigern laughed.

“Will I devour you clean, or will you defeat me before your life force runs out—you’re betting on the latter.”

“But it’s useless. Even if you burn your life to regain strength, the result won’t change. Everything from you will be swallowed by me. This time, you will die completely. There will be no possibility for you to rise a second time!”

Naoki Number Two sneered slightly.

“Then just try it?”

(Who actually dies, is still unknown—no, you shouldn’t know. When my power was swallowed by you just now, I knew that besides my outer self, there was also another enemy inside your body that you haven’t realized.)

Naoki Number Two felt it. Naoki, who regained consciousness within her body, was attacking the Holy Grail with all his might.

This shouldn’t have been a plan he thought of from the beginning. If so, Naoki Number Two would have known when he took over the body—meaning this was an unexpected situation that no one anticipated.

And if this was the situation...

(The swallowed power is not a problem. The more Vortigern swallows my power, the faster her defeat will occur. If so—)

*BZZZZT!*

Making the Holy Sword emit a shining light again, Naoki Number Two slashed the blade of light once more!

(I entrust all my power to you, destroy her from within, my other self!)