The dignified request for surrender from the Mage Marshal was polite yet arrogant. Tyr, already displeased, was fervently enraged by the Mage Marshal's words. Her ever so faithful servant, the darkness, trembled in fear upon witnessing its master's wrath.

“How absurd. Do you believe yourself superior, just because you float in the sky and look down upon me?”

Darkness surged from the abruptly opened coffin, growing denser and denser. If it was previously like a fog that allowed some visibility, it now resembled being underwater with visibility limited to barely an inch ahead.

In the gradually darkening view, only Tyr's eyes glowed bright red.

“Did you believe magic was yours alone? Blood Magic was originally a tool of my kith and kin, but I shall show it to you speci...”

Magic manifested through the use of Blood Qi, instead of mana. Blood Magic.

Tyr, attempting to draw a magic circle with her blood, soon realized her blood refused to leave her body. She was momentarily taken aback by this unexpected development.

｢Is she attempting to use Blood Magic? It is an honor of my lifetime to compete in magic with the Progenitor.｣

“Then, I shall also prepare.”

Prelvior spread her cloak wider. Steel orbs heated red-hot breathed out fierce breaths between the fluttering edges of the cloak.

Commander Arm. Ugong-isan. The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains1.

A magical equipment for the one who called herself foolish, yet capable of moving mountains.

Its abilities protected the wearer from magical backlash, accumulated mana, and recycled mana. Prelvior's magic, while basic in nature, was vast in magnitude. Simplicity, whether in matter or magic, facilitated transformation. This equipment assisted in recycling such mana to enable rapid-fire tactical magic. It was an equipment by Prelvior, for Prelvior.

“Preset. Re.”

Ugong-isan converted the remnants of flame magic into light. Metal spheres adorning the massive cloak flashed brilliantly.

Meanwhile, Tyr, unable to use Blood Magic, instead faced the strength circulating within her. Instead of obeying her commands, the Blood Qi cheerfully coursed through her veins, infusing life.

Tyr mumbled in despondency.

“Hah. How crude. Is this really all there is?”

After resolving herself Tyr bent her knees instead of resorting to magic. Dark shadows supported her feet as it complied with the will of Tyrkanzyaka.

“To think I would have to physically engage as if I am a mere pawn...”

The moment she straightened her legs, the ground shook. Tyr propelled into the sky. The darkness enveloping her couldn't keep up, but it wasn't a significant issue.

After all, she was closing in on Prelvior in the sky.

The Mage Marshal’s magic was not yet ready. Her eyes widened as she chanted.

｢What is this? This isn't the Progenitor's metho..!｣

“I am not fond of this either, so let us end this quickly.”

It was right before Tyr's white hand nearly caught Prelvior's cloak.

A spear flew from somewhere, hitting Tyr’s body pushing her back though this empty void.

Patraxion intercepted the Progenitor with a javelin, not to pierce but to deflect. He grabbed another spear and yelled.

“We meet again on the battlefield, Progenitor! Last time there was no reason to fight, but now it's different!”

“A mere knight dares...!”

While Tyr's expression turned fierce, Prelvior's magic was completed. Compressed beams of light poured down on Tyr, who couldn't receive the protection of darkness.

***

After the Mage Marshal appeared, the Regressor tried to escape, but Historia, sensing the attempt, clung to her like a ghost.

“Where are you going?”

Historia smiled slyly at the distressed Regressor.

“You should play with me. Ah, is an older partner too stimulating for you, Cutie?”

Despite the slight sincerity in her words, the Regressor, taking it as provocation, gritted her teeth.

“Older, you say? You know nothing.”

“How harsh. That’s right, I guess such impudent behavior is a privilege of the young.”

“...Impudent? That is what I should be saying.”

The Regressor closed her eyes for a moment. Historia, previously relaxed, tensed up as the Regressor's momentum suddenly changed. When she reopened her eyes, they sparkled with a rainbow-colored gleam.

All Seven Colored Eyes, Activate. Revolving Wheel of Heaven.

After observing possibilities that would exist in the future, she pulled them into this world.

Geon, Gon, Gam.2

Though not reaching the Axiom, a once-peak Qi Arts was embodied. Overflowing energy was utilized as if it were her own, allowing for an instant acceleration and the raising of twin swords.

“Don't mess with me!!”

Jizan, previously positioned defensively due to its slowness, suddenly moved with the agility of a snake. Historia's complexion turned grave.

“Eugh?!”

The artifact, Jizan, was as heavy as a mountain but felt light only to the Regressor. However, it was because Jizan was cooperating, not due to her efforts in swinging it quickly.

But now, for some reason, Jizan was being wielded like a normal longsword, filled with Qi.

“Did you take some kind of drug? Your Qi amount suddenly incre...!”

“Sorry to say, but this is my real strength!”

Unlike Geon and Gon, which relied heavily on finesse and technique, Gam (坎) was a Qi Art that strengthened the body itself. Because the Regressor's skills reset with each regression, she had to relearn them each time, resulting in slight changes. Each regression saw the Regressor shedding her old self like molting, learning the new Body Qi Arts.

“Until now, it was too heavy to use easily, but...!”

Even a siege hammer would break if hung on a reed. It needed something as solid as an oak to withstand its power.

Similarly, no matter how much the Regressor wielded Jizan, the body controlling it couldn't withstand it.

But now, cloaked with the power of the future through the Eyes of Fate, she could use Jizan's original power to its fullest.

“Even being overgeared requires a certain strength to wield!”

Jizan, which had moved as if reluctantly following, could now be wielded as a passive.

It was a strike that couldn't be resisted. Naturally, Historia briefly retreated outside Jizan's range, then stepped back, preparing to leap forward again.

Then, Jizan changed direction. It targeted not Historia, but the chains that followed her a half-beat too late. The blunt end caught the end of the chains.

It was just slightly caught. But Jizan, as if a magnet, attracted the chains to cling tightly to it.

Terra Firma Arts, Magnet.

If Chun-aeng was the power of repulsion, then Jizan was the power of attraction. The essence of steel and the embrace of the earth that held everything together.

｢Of course, she could shake it off with Qi Deflection... but it’ll be hard for her to cover even the chains with Qi!｣

“This time, you're the one who's caught!”

Jizan had no recoil. When it was pulled hard, Historia's entire body was dragged along. She hurriedly aimed her gun, but the Regressor, anticipating this, blocked the muzzle with Chun-aeng.

At the same time, Bam, the Regressor's foot struck Historia's abdomen.

“Keuk...!”

Although Historia protected herself with Qi, the Regressor's Qi far exceeded expectations for a brief moment. Historia folded in half and rolled on the ground, gasping for breath from the tearing pain in her abdomen.

“Keuk! Cough, cough!”

“Pity. If my legs had been just a bit longer, you wouldn't have been able to get up!”

Just as the Regressor was about to turn around, she felt a painful sensation on her ankle. There were chains tied around. Historia, giving up defense at the last moment, had tied her legs instead.

Historia stood up again, her smile lazy yet challenging.

“How aggressive... But aren't you overdoing it? Borrowed power won't last long. Isn’t that so?”

“Seriously, you’re such a hassle...!”

｢I don't have time to be caught like this...!｣

***

There were two ways to fly in the sky on this Meta Conveyor Belt.

One was to fly at the same speed as the belt. This method required considerable effort by overcoming the wind every time and lifting the body to match the speed.

But for Mage Marshal Prelvior, while her mana was immense, her finesse was not so adept. Though she could fly, her control was too rough for a smooth flight.

“Then there's only one other possibility. It must be a simpler, easier trick.”

Taking advantage of the battle raging above, I stealthily approached beneath Mage Marshal Prelvior. The view below was obstructed by darkness and Prelvior's senses were dull, so she didn't seem to notice my existence.

So, as I reached the area below her feet, I found a thread of mana tied to the container's connecting link. A tight, taut thread holding onto something.

As expected.

“Got your trick. You’re using your wide cloak as a sail to float in the air, huh?”

The mana thread, flapping roughly with the cloak, tightly held her from flying too far away. A childlike impulse screamed at me to cut this taut thread immediately. However, I calmed my excited heart and…

“If so, what I need to do has already been decided.”

5 of Diamonds. Scythe.

A tool specialized for cutting, serving as both agricultural equipment and a weapon, with rounded blades inside and out. Since it was the only weapon in good condition, I had no choice but to hoist the scythe in my right hand.

I extracted the scythe and hooked it onto the magical thread. The tension was sufficient, making it easy to cut. The crucial part was the timing. I needed to wait for the moment that would have the optimal effect.

Looking up at Prelvior, I noticed that Tyr was kicking off the ground and soaring into the sky.

“Oh? Our side is winning, huh.”

Maybe I should watch a little longer. Cutting the thread too soon might just give the Mage Marshal a chance to escape, right?

Tyr, having leaped into the air, moved on the darkness. A Void Step of legends was unfolding. If things continued this way, the Mage Marshal would be caught by Tyr.

“Has becoming a martial artist turned the tables in favor of fighting the Mage Marshal? What a delightful miscalculation.”

I was actually worried for the Mage Marshal to a degree. Killing her outright without interrogation would be troublesome... Right as I was observing, a spear flew from somewhere and hit Tyr on the back of her head. Tyr spun around in the air after being intercepted.

Woah, that must hur….

“Oh, shoot! Now's not the time!”

The Mage Marshal's cloak glowed. The magic was complete.

I urgently yanked at the scythe. The mana thread, crafted by the Mage Marshal, didn't cut easily. I pulled in all the Qi I could, gritted my teeth, and hung on to it.

With a Snap,a satisfying sound rang out. The cut thread fluttered upwards.

“Lux, Millionaire... Euk!”

Thanks to cutting it just in time, the Mage Marshal's aim was thrown off. The beam that was supposed to hit Tyr wavered. The loss of the body-bound thread threw off the aim and when the Mage Marshal looked for the fault of such a mistake, her gaze instantly turned to me.

｢When did he!｣

“Run!”

I immediately bolted. The Mage Marshal hastily fired two stems of magical bullets at me. These attacks were simple and forced, yet it still terrified me.

But I had no other choice; this was the only opportunity with the Mage Marshal's stance unsettled. I sprinted with a box strapped to my back.

In the direction I was running, the Regressor and Historia were in the midst of a fierce battle. Tied together by chains, it was unclear how they had ended up fighting like this.

The Regressor was the one to notice my presence first as she surveyed the situation.

｢What's with that ridiculous armor? An enemy? Before I get surrounded, I should cut them down first…!｣

Why do you always try to cut people as soon as you meet them?!

Before the Regressor could act on her decision, I called out desperately.

“Mr. Shei! Stop dawdling with an older partner and do something about Grandma Mage Marshal!”

Hearing my voice, the Regressor paused and then shouted.

“Do I look like I'm dawdling to you?! Look at me! I'm all tied up!”

“You already have experience getting tied up? Oh my. At such a young age…”

“Look at you both spouting nonsense! Is it because you two were classmates?! Wait… It’s you, right?! Your manner of speaking rubbed off on the Gunmaster, didn’t it?!”

Ehhh? How did she know? What an excellent intuition.

Oh well, anyway.

“Give me your foot!”

“Why?”

“Agh, just do it!”

The Regressor slightly lifted her foot bound by chains. I slid under it, tapping the chains as I passed. Since they were just wrapped around the ankle and not tied, a simple touch was enough to free them.

“Escape! Now then, you have lost your chains and gained freedom! Since you are freed from the grave of life, hurry and go help Tyr!”

“What about the Gunmaster?”

“I'll take care of her!”

“...Then, I'm counting on you! Don't let her get away!”

｢If he’s that confident, he probably won’t die..!｣

The Regressor then took off swiftly, heading to confront the Mage Marshal while she moved away from me. I took a deep breath and observed my old classmate for the first time in a while.

If she wished to, she could have probably caught her. If she pursued her relentlessly, some time could have been bought.

But Historia simply let the Regressor go and faced me. After all, she most definitely had some sort of business with me.

“...Long time no see, Ria.”

“I know, right?”

Historia wiped her forehead. After removing the strands of hair sticking to her sweaty forehead due to the intense battle, she gave me a twisted smile.

“It’s been a really, really long damn time.”

Despite everything, she seems glad to see me. Just as expected, once a classmate, always a classmate. With this, I probably won't di...

｢You've hidden well until now, you damn punk. Before anything, I'll start by crushing that smug face of yours.｣

Oh? Wait… Maybe not?