To Become a King and a Magician 571-575

Title: Holy Lance, Anchor Lifted

Two thousand four hundred years.

This was the time Naoki and Naoki Number Two had not met.

Since the day the two separated two thousand four hundred years ago, since the day Naoki asked Naoki Number Two to remain on the Boundary Island to guard the Holy Sword.

Two thousand four hundred years had passed.

The two should have been the people who understood each other best in the world, because fundamentally the two were one person, so the two should have been very familiar with each other.

However, at this moment, Naoki felt a pure alienation from his other self.

“Don’t want to talk?”

Naoki Number Two smiled.

“After all, this is a reunion after two thousand four hundred years. I think it’s fine if we embrace to celebrate our reunion.”

“Before that, answer some of my questions first.” Naoki said coldly, “Is this your doing?”

A headless question.

Naoki did not specify which event, but Naoki Number Two knew what he wanted to ask.

“Hmm... That depends on which one you’re asking about.”

“If you’re asking about summoning our beloved ones from Proper Human History, that was indeed my doing. And moving all of them to Camelot City with spatial exchange and instigating them to fight with you, that was also my doing.”

“Or, do you want to ask who made this Horned God awaken now?”

Naoki Number Two showed a smile that was very familiar to Naoki.

“Then my answer is yes, it was indeed I who awakened the Horned God Cernunnos—are you satisfied with this answer?”

*BOOM!*

The answer to Naoki Number Two was a terrifying Mana pressure from Naoki that almost crushed and pulverized his entire body!

As if a giant mountain had suddenly pressed down on him, Naoki Number Two instantly knelt! His knees even created two small indentations in the floor of the Throne Room!

“That really hurts, attacking oneself like this.”

However, there was no change at all in Naoki Number Two. Neither his tone of voice, his facial expression, nor the emotions in his eyes, still appeared relaxed and comfortable, as if Naoki’s suppression was just a greeting from a neighbor.

Naoki looked down at his other self: “Give me an explanation.”

“Explanation, huh... Hmm, do you think now is the right time to listen to my explanation?” Naoki Number Two pointed behind Naoki, “The Horned God is almost crawling out. As the Fairy King who rules Britain, shouldn’t you go defeat him?”

“......”

Without needing a reminder from Naoki Number Two, Naoki had already felt it. In the great hole behind him, a terrifying curse that even he could not bear had spread out. The Mana in the air completely changed under the influence of this curse, causing his great magic circuit, which he bore, to experience a slight anomaly.

Cernunnos had awakened.

But this should have been impossible, because Cernunnos’s heart had already been pierced. Although his body was still alive, it would be impossible for him to move again, unless—

“You filled Cernunnos with a Divine Core?”

“What other way do you think would make him move again?” Naoki Number Two laughed, “That Divine Core was filled with the fairy we hate the most, and that is Aurora, the fairy we also hate the most—within a week in this Salisbury, I used all the tricks of seducing women Merry ever taught, and managed to happily persuade her.”

Although she was the Clan Head, Aurora turned out to be very simple. All her actions were only aimed at making herself the most beautiful and most popular fairy in Britain. Other than that, she had no other reason to act.

“I just said that you contacted me, asking me to bring her to the royal city to give her the title of the most beautiful fairy in Britain. And she, like a fool, innocently followed me to the edge of the great hole. She only realized she had been deceived when I pushed her down.”

“.......”

Naoki fell silent.

He hated fairies, was deeply disgusted by fairies. In this regard, Naoki Number Two was right. He also hated Aurora. In terms of results, he was very satisfied with what Naoki Number Two did.

But, if he only wanted to kill Aurora, there were many ways. Why did he choose to make Aurora an offering to Cernunnos?

“You... want to destroy this island?”

“Why do you want to protect this island?”

Naoki Number Two retorted with another smile.

“You should know, this island is an island of sin. There’s no point in its continued existence. From the beginning, we never thought of letting this island survive. We even wanted to destroy it completely, make this island disappear entirely.”

“However... now you don’t seem to think so, do you?”

Naoki Number Two stood up from the floor, resisting the Mana pressure.

“Because you cast all those thoughts onto me. You cast all that you didn’t need, all that would hinder the manifestation of Morgan’s wish, you cast it onto me.”

Two thousand four hundred years ago, the reason Naoki decided to split himself, besides based on a contract with the planet, had another purpose.

That is, he wanted to strengthen his resolve.

Although he said he would save Britain with Morgan, he also knew that in his heart, there wasn’t the slightest intention to save Britain. This island should have been destroyed from the beginning, and should never have existed.

This was not the thought Naoki needed at that time. He wanted to save Britain with Morgan, so he didn’t need the thought of destroying Britain.

Therefore, he separated that thought.

[His self who wanted to destroy Britain] and [His self who wanted to save Britain].

Two thousand four hundred years ago, Naoki became two entities with completely different thoughts. However, after the split was complete, he himself did not realize it, nor did Naoki Number Two who bore those thoughts realize it.

Until the Cursed Worm came to Naoki Number Two for its third manifestation, after the second Avatar was destroyed.

“I want to destroy this island. Following our initial thoughts in our heart, destroy this island together with the fairies—so I chose the worst fairy, made her the core to awaken Cernunnos. Next, under Cernunnos’s influence, all fairies in Britain will turn into Molles.”

“Then, the Curse summons Beasts, Beasts summon Fire. The two Calamities you nurtured by your side, even if they hide and are protected, will gradually lose control under the influence of the curse—“

*PU-CHI!*

A piercing sound interrupted Naoki Number Two’s monologue.

The electric light emanating from Naoki’s fingertip directly pierced his heart.

“Be quiet, my other self.”

*PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!*

Three consecutive electric lights were shot, creating three more holes in Naoki Number Two’s body.

Heart, stomach, neck, and the spot between the eyebrows.

Four electric light shots completely hit the four most fatal spots, instantly turning Naoki Number Two’s body into a corpse.

Without looking at the fate of his other self, Naoki tapped the throne, rotating the throne that faced the door 180 degrees, to face the great hole.

Staring at the pitch-black curse rising from the great hole, his limitless magic circuit, terrifying like a giant tree, appeared behind Naoki. Its dense branches immediately covered the entire throne, and spread along the floor, walls, and ceiling, spreading throughout the Throne Room in an instant!

“Circuit link.”

“Releasing the Mana restraining the barrier, releasing the Mana suppressing the curse, releasing the Mana purifying the curse—all restrictions are removed. The Mana Source, the Royal City of Camelot, operates at full power.”

The Calamity of Curses would summon the Calamity of Beasts, the Calamity of Beasts would summon the Calamity of Fire.

This was what would originally happen, the prophecy for Barghest and Melusine, after Cernunnos awakened. Barghest would transform into a Mana-devouring Black Dog trampling Britain. Melusine would show her true form as the Albion Dragon, continuously bombarding Britain.

Until both were finally annihilated.

“I will not let that happen.”

Naoki, surrounded by countless magic circuits, declared thus to the empty Throne Room.

“Currently, there is only one Calamity in Britain that I control.”

“The Calamity of Curses, the Horned God Cernunnos of the Celts.”

“Today I will completely annihilate you, leaving not even a shred of your remnants.”

Mystic Code of the Closed Soul: Holy Lance Rhongomyniad.

Activate!

“Holy Lance, Anchor Lifted!”

-

Title: The True Adversary

In a room in Camelot City.

*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*

Continuously bombarding the door in front of her with cannon magic, Aoko clicked her tongue, seeing the door unharmed: “Seriously... what is this all about? Suddenly telling us to leave, then locking us in here—what exactly does Naoki want to do? And what’s the situation outside right now?”

“Judging from the recent situation, it seems this isn’t good for us.”

Atalanta leaned by the window, observing the scene outside.

Although this room faced the back door of Camelot City, making it impossible to see the situation at the front gate directly, even without seeing it, Ciel could probably guess what was happening at the front gate through the impact being felt outside now.

The curse.

A very powerful curse continued to spread in all directions. Thick black mist almost covered and colored the sky, making it appear blood-red.

Looking further, wherever the black mist spread, fire rapidly spread as if gaining momentum. In just a few tens of seconds that Atalanta now observed, the fire had already spread several kilometers. And if her suspicion was correct, this was spreading in all directions with Camelot City as its center.

This meant that the entire Britain would be enveloped and consumed by fire.

“This must be related to that thing in the Great Hole. Before Naoki threw me here, I felt an ominous aura from the Great Hole behind him.”

“The Horned God’s corpse... Cernunnos?”

Aoko muttered twice, then looked at Ritsuka: “Ritsuka, can you contact Merry? She should know some details about this situation. Ask her to explain it well to us.”

【Can you stop blaming everything on me? Although I’m used to being the mastermind, I’m not always the one acting, you know.】

Even before Ritsuka could speak, Merry’s voice was already heard from the communication device on her wrist.

Ritsuka raised her hand: “Merry-sensei, the situation now...”

【It’s most likely Naoki Number Two acting. Although I’m sure he’ll cooperate with us in his own way, I didn’t expect him to do something like this... No, I should say I didn’t believe it. It seems we still don’t know him well enough.】

“Don’t be cryptic right now, Sister Merry.” Gray urged. “Please tell us everything you know. We can’t just be locked in here doing nothing.”

“Gray is right. In a situation like this, who can sit still?”

【I know, I know. Don’t pressure me. The situation isn’t that bad yet, so calm down first.】

Merry sighed.

【Let’s start from a week ago when I met Naoki Number Two in Salisbury—he said that since he couldn’t defeat Naoki directly, he had to attack from the side.】

“Yes, that’s right, he said so.”

【That was a kind of tacit understanding between him and me. I was sure he had his own way, so we here would provide him cover on the front line, allowing him to act in the dark, to achieve his goal of returning the Holy Sword to Naoki.】

【One of the reasons I made you wedding dresses was for this. In fact, the result doesn’t matter either. When we diverted Naoki and Morgan’s attention with the wedding dress issue, Naoki Number Two successfully accomplished what he wanted to do.】

【As for what he did... he probably invaded the barrier enveloping the Great Hole, and awakened Cernunnos’s corpse, which was supposed to be asleep forever, by inserting a qualified offering as a Divine Core, resurrecting the Horned God, and triggering a great catastrophe that struck all of Britain.】

After Merry explained, Aoko and the others understood the situation.

“Then... what will happen to Britain next?” Mash asked.

【Nothing will happen. Britain will not have problems. Don’t forget who is sitting in the Throne Room.】

Merry reminded.

The reason Camelot Royal City was designed so that its front gate directly faced the Great Hole was to be able to suppress Cernunnos immediately after he awoke. And now, the one in the Throne Room, standing on the front line against the Horned God, was undoubtedly the strongest combat power in this Britain.

Fairy King Natsukawa Naoki, who had ruled Britain for two thousand years and possessed unlimited Mana reserves.

【As long as Naoki is there, Cernunnos is nothing to worry about. At most, many British fairies will die. After the great catastrophe ends, it’s uncertain if even a tenth of their current number will survive.】

“A tenth... only a few fairies will survive?”

The shockingly low number made Mash unable to hide her surprise: “Is there no way to fix it?”

【There isn’t, and actually, there’s no need. After all, all the fairies in that Lostbelt are the type who deserve to die—what you need to worry about is what happens after that.】

What happens after that?

This sentence made everyone frown, then Ritsuka asked with a little uncertainty: “Is it... the Cursed Worm?”

【Correct. The final catastrophe held back by Cernunnos’s corpse, which truly threatened Britain’s survival, the Cursed Worm, which in our Proper Human History is called the Demonic Dragon Vortigern.】

【Since Cernunnos has now awakened and crawled out of the Great Hole, its full manifestation is only a matter of time. After that, the entire Island of Britain will be swallowed by insects.】

【That is the most important thing we need to pay attention to, and the greatest enemy we must face.】

Indeed, the enemy.

Both for this Lostbelt and for everyone from Proper Human History, the Demonic Dragon Vortigern was an undisputed enemy.

【Although whatever happens in that Lostbelt will ultimately not affect Proper Human History here. Even if the Island of Britain is destroyed, it has nothing to do with us.】

【But Naoki will certainly not stand idly by. After all, he has lived there for two thousand four hundred years. As the Fairy King who wants to save the island, he will definitely fight against the Cursed Worm to protect Britain.】

“That means Master’s enemy is our enemy.” Artoria smiled. “That’s for the best. But, even without this connection, once the Demonic Dragon Vortigern appears, I would still go and fight it. After all, I am King Arthur, and this is Britain.”

Vortigern was an apocalyptic device born from Britain, and King Arthur was the man-made savior of Britain. This would not change even in the Lostbelt.

If Vortigern manifested, whatever Naoki’s thoughts, Artoria would be the first to help him fight.

“If Queen Mother goes, I will go too.” Mordred chimed in.

“I think everyone here has the same thought.” Aoko smiled. “But before that, we have to find a way to get out of this room first... My cannon magic isn’t working at all. Arcueid, do you want to try it?”

“No need to try, I won’t be able to break it either.” Arcueid waved her hand. “The entire room has been enchanted with hundreds of Rune barriers. It will be very difficult to break it from either inside or outside—“

*CLACK!*

Before Arcueid could finish her sentence, the locked door opened from outside.

Rei walked in from outside, swinging a key in her hand, and smiled: “I’ve heard everything outside. Do Angelica and I need to help you?”

-

Title: 1000% Holy Lance!

The Fall of Stars.

Activating super-large scale Displacement Magecraft and satellite orbital gravity manipulation Magecraft, pulling meteors located in outer space directly from the universe. After being accelerated through hundreds of spatial exchanges, those meteors are directed toward the land for widespread destruction.

This is a destructive Magecraft that can only be used by Naoki, who commands unlimited Mana.

Under the fall of these stars, no matter how many Mors increase in number, annihilating them completely is merely a matter of an instant. Even if any fairies are revived, they will die again immediately, severing the possibility of them being cursed and becoming Mors.

As for the fairies and ordinary humans... they are not within Naoki’s considerations. Just as the three Clan Heads close to him thought, he has no feelings whatsoever toward the fairies on this island. If sacrificing all the fairies can protect this island, he would gladly annihilate them all.

In fact, he is doing exactly that right now.

*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*

The continuous rumbling of meteor explosions echoed from outside Camelot City. Mountains were shattered by it, rivers evaporated by it. Countless meteors ravaged the land of Britain.

Though it was a bit stifling, since so many fairies died, their corpses would refill the destroyed areas. If that didn’t work, there was still Imaginary Manifestation. With just a single thought, he could restore the destroyed world to its original state.

Therefore, Naoki didn’t care much about the situation outside Camelot City.

Both of his eyes remained fixed on Cernunnos.

“Alright, with this, I no longer need to worry about the impact you will have on Britain. Now it’s a one-on-one fight between you and me, Cernunnos—Mana output set to 300%. Holy Lance activate. Continuous repeated shots.”

The Mana stored in the throne flowed out like a flood. Like an electric current passing through wires, the Mana instantly passed through the magic circuits spread throughout the Throne Room, resembling tree branches and plant vines, and was entirely channeled into the twelve Rhongomyniad barrels located on the front gate walls of Camelot City!

*BZZZZT!*

The twelve Holy Lance cannon stations that had been continuously bombarding Cernunnos instantly emitted a brighter light. Forty years’ worth of Mana at this moment all transformed into fuel to activate the magic, causing terrifying heat and light to gather at the cannon muzzles!

Then—

*BOOOOOMMMMMM!*

The twelve cannon barrels fired simultaneously again! The Holy Lance light that tore through the sky struck the giant god!

Rotting flesh burned and was pierced under the Holy Lance light! The Horned God’s body was visibly torn apart! Although it was a mystery reproduced through magic, the power of these twelve cannon barrels was actually no less than the original, not to mention burning through forty years of Mana all at once!

Even the Holy Lance in Gray’s hand, its output in an instant, could not possibly compare to any one of those twelve cannon barrels.

However, Cernunnos, who received the simultaneous shots from the twelve Holy Lances directly—

“Useless, huh... Tch.”

Naoki watched the Horned God still standing tall under the simultaneous Holy Lance shots. Although this was already anticipated, he still couldn’t help but click his tongue.

The twelve Holy Lances were not enough to bring down the Horned God.

This was something Naoki had known from the beginning.

After all, Cernunnos was fundamentally a dead person. His rotting body, rather than consisting of pure muscle tissue, was more accurately said to consist of curses.

Since being poisoned by fairies in the distant past, and his priest mutilated by fairies, Cernunnos had continuously cursed the fairies, and this had been going on for fourteen thousand years.

That meant, what stood before Naoki now was a mass of curses that had continuously grown and accumulated over fourteen thousand years! And it was an eternal curse whose regeneration speed far surpassed common sense. Even if parts of it were annihilated, it would regenerate immediately!

There was no way to purify it, and no way to dispel it. The long passage of time had made all solutions meaningless.

Originally, it was Artoria Caster who completed the forging of the Holy Sword at the cost of her own sacrifice, activating the twelve Holy Sword cannon stations at full power to destroy Cernunnos’s body, and then Mash and Ritsuka working together to fire the Black Barrel that pierced the Divine Core to bring him down.

But now, there were no such conditions.

This Britain had no Fairy of Paradise who completed the forging of the Holy Sword, and no one of the Atlas Institute’s Seven Great Weapons. Even if there were, Naoki would not allow Artoria Caster to sacrifice herself.

Although it wasn’t his memory, although it was just a memory full of emptiness, the idea that Naoki did not want Artoria Caster to die still lingered in his mind.

Therefore, Naoki would not let anyone in Camelot City die.

He would not let Barghest become the black dog, would not let Melusine be shot down in the air, and would not let Morgan and Baobhan Sith die. Much less let Artoria Caster become a victim to achieve victory.

He had done this in the past; his self from Proper Human History had worked hard to change many things.

Thus, his current self would also do so.

“Mana output set to 1000%—Holy Lance, reactivate!”

Naoki issued the command once again. One hundred thirty years’ worth of Mana flowed out from the throne, passed through the magic circuits, and filled the twelve Holy Lance barrels.

If he didn’t want any sacrifices, and didn’t have the Black Barrel, there was only one way for Naoki to defeat Cernunnos.

That was to deploy all his Mana to do the same as Artoria, destroying the curse layers around Cernunnos, burning away his rotting flesh pieces, and then, before Cernunnos finished regenerating, destroying his Divine Core!

This was the only way to win.

Therefore, the Mana accumulated in the throne over two thousand years, let it all be depleted without remainder today!

“It doesn’t matter if it’s too hot. It doesn’t matter if the cannon stations melt. It doesn’t matter if they can’t withstand the Mana—Holy Lance Rhongomyniad, the time to complete the task you’ve waited two thousand years for has arrived.”

“Holy Lance, third simultaneous shot, commence!”

One hundred thirty years’ worth of Mana fully became fuel. The twelve Holy Lances emitted even brighter holy light!

However, whether because it sensed the threat of the Holy Lance, or perhaps because it was finally slightly awakened from its slumber, before the Holy Lance was fired, a curse storm suddenly erupted! Countless pitch-black curse hands grew from the Great Hole! They climbed along the mountains and city walls like creeping plants! Instantly reaching the height of the Holy Lance cannon stations!

Naoki was very familiar with these curse hands. The disaster that occurred in Britain every hundred years was these curse hands. Originally, only one would appear, and it could be easily resolved using Moon Falk.

But now... hundreds? Thousands? No, perhaps tens of thousands. The number of curse hands was so vast that counting them was utterly meaningless.

“Want to interfere with the Holy Lance shots? Don’t even think about it!”

The magic circuits fully activated!

The magic circuits like a golden tree emitted brilliant light, and that light then turned into streams of light, forming a large ritual magic circle on the city walls, centered on the twelve Holy Lance cannon stations!

Then—

*BAM!*

A terrifying repulsive force exploded from the magic circle, accompanied by blinding light! Instantly destroying and tearing apart all the curse hands!

The next second, the Holy Lance was fired without obstruction!

*BOOOOOMMMMMMM!*

-

Title: The Gathering People*

Near Camelot City.

In the crater formed by the Moon Fall.

“Ugh... It hurts...”

Musashi, whose entire body was covered in dust, struggled to crawl out of the hole. She jumped in place several times, shaking off all the dust, then looked around: “Tomoe-dono, where are you? Are you alright?”

“I’m under you...”

Tomoe’s voice came from below.

Musashi immediately looked down and saw. There was a hand buried in the ground right under her feet. Shocked, she quickly crouched down, dug up the soil, and pulled out the buried Tomoe from underground.

“Cough cough cough... Thank you, Musashi-dono.”

“Thank goodness Tomoe-dono is alright—but, the current situation is really quite bad.”

Musashi stood up and looked around.

Within the range she could sense, there were no more signs of life. As if they had arrived in an extremely barren desert, she felt no signs of life at all besides herself and Tomoe.

Recalling Naoki’s command that had echoed throughout Britain earlier, Musashi couldn’t help but frown: “Could it be... the meteor that fell earlier really hit and killed all the fairies?”

“It’s possible. After all, not everyone is like Musashi-chan, who can split meteors with a sword.”

Tomoe and Musashi had also been within the range of the Moon Fall attack earlier. After all, Naoki at that time had no Mana left to make very fine adjustments. The reason the two of them could still stand here now was thanks to Musashi.

Just like Barghest, Melusine, and Baobhan Sith, Musashi was also someone bestowed with Fairy Protection by Naoki. When facing the meteor earlier, she temporarily gained the power to split the meteor from that protection. After destroying the meteor, she and Tomoe survived.

“Then... what’s happening now? And what is that giant furry thing?”

Musashi stared at Cernunnos standing between heaven and earth in the distance.

Because of the sudden Moon Fall earlier, she truly couldn’t understand the current situation. But, if she tried to piece it together a bit...

(The reason Britain became like this might be because of that furry giant? Can that thing be slashed?)

“I think that’s the thing Ritsuka-sama mentioned to us before.” Tomoe said. “Didn’t Ritsuka-sama tell us? About what Naoki-sama is doing in this Lostbelt and the situation of this Lostbelt. I remember they mentioned something about the Great Hole.”

After being reminded by Tomoe, Musashi also remembered. It seemed she had indeed heard about the Great Hole and Cernunnos sleeping within it.

“So, that’s the Horned God who died fourteen thousand years ago? Has he awakened now?”

“I don’t know, but one thing is certain, the current situation in Britain, the root of the problem is his awakening—“

*BOOM!*

A sudden loud explosion interrupted Tomoe’s words. In their view, the white giant standing between heaven and earth was suddenly attacked from below. Twelve extremely bright lights continuously struck Cernunnos, destroying the black mist surrounding him multiple times.

And the curse hands that kept extending out from the Great Hole like seaweed also continuously shattered and disappeared in the air, as if blocked by an invisible barrier.

“We should go there too, Tomoe-dono.”

Musashi said after thinking for a moment.

“Although I still can’t understand the current situation, but at least... my instincts tell me that we should go face that white Horned God emerging from the Great Hole now.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Tomoe nodded, then the two left that place and ran as fast as possible toward Camelot City.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

At the same time.

Inside Camelot City.

In a corridor from where one could directly see the situation around the Great Hole.

“This isn’t good.”

Rei frowned, looking at the scene outside the window.

【Indeed, although the Holy Lance attacks are strong, the speed of reducing the curse layers can’t keep up with the regeneration speed of the curse layers. If this continues, even though Naoki has Mana accumulated over two thousand years, it won’t be enough for him to squander.】

Merry chimed in.

【Rei, Angelica, Arcueid, can you three find a way to help Naoki? I don’t want Naoki’s Mana to be depleted all here. We still need it later.】

After Merry said that, Rei and the others exchanged glances. Then Rei nodded: “If it’s just to help, of course it’s no problem, but what exactly should we do? That curse concentration, even I can’t withstand it, let alone Angelica and Arcueid.”

【Just suppress the regeneration of the curse layers from a distance as much as possible. Specifically, Arcueid keeps using Moon Fall, Angelica keeps using EA, and Rei, do whatever you can—the point is to ensure Naoki still has energy left for the next battle.】

“I understand.”

“Hmm, I’m an expert at this!”

Angelica and Arcueid said while destroying the wall beside them with their Noble Phantasms and fists. Then they jumped onto Vimana that flew out from the Gate of Babylon, and turned into streams of light flying at high speed toward Cernunnos!

Meanwhile, Rei also altered her body structure, growing a pair of golden-white angelic wings on her back. She flapped her wings and flew out of the corridor, following the two.

“Are those three alright?” Artoria asked with a bit of concern. “Should I go too?”

“TheyThe entire Camelot City is a product of Naoki’s Imaginary Manifestation. The layout inside all changes according to Naoki’s will. And now, there might be changes in Naoki’s mind. At least from what we can detect, all paths to the Throne Room have been sealed.】

(Truly like he doesn’t want anyone to go there... Is he really planning to bear everything alone? Both Cernunnos and the Cursed Worm, those two most serious calamities, he plans to resolve alone, Naoki.)

【Hurry up. Aoko, Mordred, Lia, you three must do it now. Don’t hesitate, just destroy the paths, we’ll rush to Naoki’s place via the shortest distance.】

“You should have said that from the beginning!”

“I understand, let’s do it, Mordred.”

“Oh!”

(Considering what will happen later, at least Naoki must leave Mana for a thousand years... I hope we can make it in time.)

-

Title: Slaying the God – Part One

*BAM!*

The eighth simultaneous shot of the Holy Lances ended with a deafening roar.

Layers of curses scattered, rotting flesh disintegrated, revealing Cernunnos’s even more decayed internal structure.

However, in just an instant, even right after being attacked, an unlimited tsunami of curses refilled Cernunnos’s wounded parts, rendering the simultaneous Holy Lance shots futile once again.

This was a scene that had repeated several times.

Naoki sneered: “Tch, the output can’t keep up? If it’s increased further... no, the cannon stations won’t be able to withstand it.”

1000% output was already the maximum the Holy Lance cannon stations could endure. If increased further, the cannon stations themselves would burn out due to their inability to withstand the excessive Mana.

If he could ensure that the next attack would definitely defeat Cernunnos, then Naoki certainly wouldn’t spare these few cannon stations, but he couldn’t be sure.

If the Holy Lances fired with enough Mana to destroy the cannon stations couldn’t completely defeat Cernunnos, then without the Holy Lances, he could only rely on his own Mana, Magecraft, and Imaginary Manifestation to fight Cernunnos.

Considering he had to face the Cursed Worm that would emerge from the depths after this, Naoki wanted to avoid using his own power as much as possible before that.

(The remaining Mana... still enough for twelve hundred years. At most, only nine more simultaneous shots can be made.)

Once again drawing Mana from the throne, Naoki took a deep breath, and injected Mana into the magic circuits to flow into the Holy Lance cannon stations.

However, at that very moment—

*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*

Cursed hands crashed against the isolation barrier formed by Mana like waves. Although it was a barrier dedicated to rejection, no matter how strong it was, a barrier constantly battered by countless cursed hands for several minutes could not possibly endure.

The barrier supported by the Golden Tree shattered! Unlimited cursed hands immediately swarmed the twelve Holy Lances!

“Magecraft Repetition, reactivate—“

*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*

Naoki immediately wanted to reactivate the barrier. Although this would delay the Holy Lance firing by about two seconds, the priority was to ensure the safety of the Holy Lances. It would be bad if they were destroyed by those cursed hands.

However, before Naoki reactivated, a golden rain suddenly fell from the sky. Thousands of golden ripples instantly covered the top of the Great Hole, and countless Noble Phantasms were fired in quick succession like bullets! Destroying the curse layers covering Cernunnos and the continuously growing and multiplying cursed hands simultaneously!

And immediately after that—

“Awaken, EA!”

Accompanied by a cold, emotionless voice, a crimson storm powerful enough to tear space instantly swept and raged! Wiping out all existence around the twelve Holy Lances!

Naoki was slightly surprised, looking up: “Angelica? No, not just her, there’s also...”

*⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡!*

Deafening thunder echoed under the blood-red sky. A dense crimson lightning storm immediately fell from the sky and pierced the earth. As if wanting to crush Cernunnos, the storm flowed from all directions toward the center of the Great Hole, continuously damaging and destroying the curse layers and the divine body!

“ROAR —!”

A giant dragon’s roar accompanied the sound, soaring directly into the sky.

(Rei Mimicry... Why are they here?)

Naoki didn’t actually care much about these two who called themselves traitors. After that, he simply let them do as they pleased.

Are they here to help him now?

*TAP!*

A figure lightly dropped from the air, stepping on the winding magic circuits like tree branches and coming before Naoki.

“Yo, we came to help you, stupid Naoki.”

“I should have locked all of you up, Arcueid.” Naoki stared at Arcueid standing in front of him. “Did Rei and Angelica free you?”

“Of course. Although the Magecraft Master used to lock us was very sophisticated, for me, whose power source is the Holy Grail, I only need to wish upon the Holy Grail to destroy the Magecraft itself.”

Landing beside the platform riding a giant red dragon, Rei smiled, looking at Naoki: “If Master wishes to punish me, please wait until we have successfully defeated Cernunnos together.”

“Although we came to bring Master back to Proper Human History and were previously your enemies, our intention to help Master at this moment is by no means false.”

“.......”

Naoki was silent for a few seconds, then let out a helpless sigh: “I didn’t call you, don’t interfere—but, your arrival is timely. I now need an opportunity to destroy Cernunnos’s Divine Core in one attack. You should be able to create that for me, right?”

“As long as it’s Master’s command, no matter how impossible, I will complete it for you.”

Rei laughed, “However, Mana might be a bit short. Earlier, to break Master’s Magecraft and continuously bombard the Horned God with lightning, I expended too much Mana all at once.”

“That’s not a problem.”

Naoki raised his hand and snapped his fingers. From the crown part of the golden-tree-like magic circuit, dozens of circuits immediately stretched downwards, piercing into various parts of Rei’s body simultaneously.

In an instant, a massive amount of Mana, like a tsunami, poured into Rei’s body!

*SHUAAA!*

Golden light radiated from Rei’s body, even soaring into the sky! The excessive Mana immediately exceeded the limits she could contain!

Rei had never felt so satisfied. Her body was filled with Mana from inside out, making her feel as if she had returned to the past when she was still connected to the Root.

“I immediately gave you Mana equivalent to three Holy Grails. That should be enough, right?”

“Yes.” Rei nodded, “But, compared to this crude direct injection, I would prefer Master to do it through mucosal contact—“

“Go to work quickly!”

Arcueid immediately kicked Rei with a shockwave, sending her flying away from the open balcony.

Rei looked at the angry Arcueid below with a slight amusement. She stroked her body connected to the magic circuits, and the corners of her lips slightly lifted.

“More than half a century. Receiving Mana from Master like this... It’s much more satisfying than before. Do you agree, Manaka?”

【That’s why this time we must seriously defeat the god. After all, the Prince has asked us to.】

Right, must be serious.

Rei stood tall on the dragon’s back, raising both hands to the sky. Countless lights gathered in her hands, finally forming a giant Holy Sword shining brilliantly.

Recasting Device: Simulation – Excalibur.

“Angelica, Arcueid, prepare to attack together. We’ll make a big hole in his body!”

“Ready, Lady Rei.”

Angelica, holding Ea, once again spun EA. The crimson storm soared into the sky.

“Don’t order me around!”

Arcueid jumped back onto Vimana, taking a deep breath. Behind her, a faint rainbow-colored ring of light appeared, like a vortex of starlight, and also like a colorful black hole, uncontrollably drawing people’s gaze.

And in the midst of its depths, a glimmer of starlight silently blossomed.

The next second—

*BOOM!*

The magnified star Holy Sword.

The crimson storm that tore the world.

The breath of stars that pierced the sky.

The attacks from the three simultaneously struck Cernunnos!

Unlimited cursed hands tried to resist, but were instantly annihilated and vaporized upon contact! The light, whose power might exceed the simultaneous Holy Lance shots, landed on the Horned God’s body without any hindrance!

*BAM!*