A few minutes earlier, high above the island that had emerged in the middle of the sea, a solitary figure hovered in the sky, silently observing the events unfolding below.
He was dressed in extravagant royal attire resembling that of a Toy King, yet his face was unfamiliar, bearing little resemblance to the historical figure whose identity he possessed. Three illusory eyes floated around him, their mysterious pupils shifting independently as they scrutinized the island and the surrounding waters.
It was the historical projection of Roselle Gustav!
More precisely, it was a historical projection that had already been transformed into Jack Layne's marionette.
After summoning Roselle, Jack had immediately dispatched him into the sky, positioning him at a sufficiently safe distance to oversee the entire battlefield. From this vantage point, the Knowledge Emperor could observe the movements of the various participants while remaining relatively removed from the fighting.
Naturally, Jack had taken additional precautions. Through his Faceless abilities, he had altered the projection's appearance beyond recognition, preventing any lingering observers from easily identifying Roselle Gustav. He had also prepared several contingencies in case something unexpected occurred.
One such arrangement involved turning the surrounding region into a veritable dead zone, obstructing divinations, prophecies, and even prayers. By severing these means of obtaining information or establishing contact, Jack intended to conceal the true nature of the unfolding events from any unwanted interference.
At present, the three illusory eyes surrounding Roselle continued surveying the island through the Eyes of Mystery Prying, gathering information about the numerous powerful existences converging upon it.
However, the Knowledge Emperor's primary attention was toward the Blue Avenger. More specifically, toward Cohinem.
Jack had no intention of allowing such a valuable opportunity to go to waste. With a Knowledge Emperor under his control, he could exploit the authority over knowledge and mystery prying to extract as much information as possible from the Book of Calamity and Cohinem herself.
The ancient Queen of Calamity possessed knowledge concerning matters that had long since disappeared from the world, including the ancient Subsidiary Gods and the secrets surrounding their existence. Even the fragments she might consider insignificant could prove invaluable to Jack.
And he wanted all of it.
Of course, obtaining her cooperation through an ordinary negotiation would be troublesome.
Cohinem was no fool. Even as a historical projection, she retained her intelligence and experience, and her suspicions toward Charlie had already become apparent. The restrictions imposed through Parasitization could prevent her from taking certain actions, but they would not necessarily make her willing to reveal everything she knew.
Fortunately, Jack had another method.
By employing the Knowledge Emperor's authority over knowledge, he could interfere with Cohinem's perception and subtly tamper with the information reaching her senses. His intention was not merely to observe her reactions, but to influence the way she understood her circumstances, gradually pushing her toward accepting the contract.
Combined with the pressure Charlie had already placed upon her, such interference could make the proposed agreement appear increasingly acceptable.
Having a deep understanding of this authority, Jack was confident in his ability to manipulate the situation without immediately alerting his target.
Through Roselle's illusory eyes, he carefully monitored Cohinem's responses within the captain's cabin of the Blue Avenger.
A small, satisfied smile appeared on the marionette's unfamiliar face. Everything was proceeding according to plan.
Nevertheless, the Knowledge Emperor did not cease his observations. His three illusory eyes continued shifting between the Blue Avenger, the newly emerged island, and the turbulent sea surrounding them.
After a short while, Roselle raised his right hand, where a brilliant sphere of light materialized above his palm. The sphere expanded slightly before bursting apart, scattering countless smaller points of light into the surrounding air. Rather than dispersing randomly, the luminous fragments gradually assumed peculiar shapes.
They resembled dandelions. Yet these were no ordinary seeds.
Each possessed strange, almost living features, their delicate structures shifting and trembling as though they possessed wills of their own. The tiny luminous entities floated around Roselle for a moment before turning toward the island below.
Then, carried by an unseen force, they began descending.
Countless bizarre, glowing dandelions spread across the sky, silently drifting toward the forest-covered island.
…
Within the island's dense forest, Babayaga and Erynos stood facing each other in silence.
The deep crimson fog spreading across the island had finally reached their location, gradually seeping between the trees and enveloping the surrounding area. As visibility diminished, Babayaga raised the darker of his two revolvers and aimed directly at Erynos.
The demon had already anticipated the attack. He immediately shifted his body, preparing to evade the incoming bullet.
Bang!
Despite his timely reaction, the bullet struck him in full. It tore through the upper-left portion of his chest, leaving a bloody hole before Erynos could properly adjust his movements. The sheer speed of the projectile had exceeded his expectations, rendering his attempted evasion almost meaningless.
Nevertheless, Erynos maintained his composure through the extraordinary bodily control of a Clown. His expression barely changed, even as blood spilled from the wound.
Before he could respond, Babayaga raised his other revolver. The silver-gray weapon's elongated frame gleamed faintly beneath the crimson haze and a succession of gunshots erupted.
Realizing that he had no time to evade the entire barrage in his current state, Erynos immediately abandoned his human form.
His body collapsed into a mass of liquid blood.
The bullets tore through the space he had occupied, striking the writhing crimson substance as it scattered across the forest floor. His liquefied body twisted and stretched like a living symbiote, constantly changing shape to reduce the damage inflicted by the incoming projectiles.
Yet Babayaga's barrage showed no signs of slowing.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Trees were riddled with holes, their thick trunks shattering after merely one or two hits. Several toppled under the force of the impacts, while the ground erupted wherever a bullet struck, leaving deep cavities scattered across the clearing.
Even in his liquid state, Erynos found it difficult to avoid every shot.
Portions of his blood were repeatedly blasted apart, forcing him to divide and reassemble his body while maneuvering between the relentless attacks.
This is ridiculous...
Although he had already known how formidable Babayaga was with those revolvers, experiencing their speed firsthand was another matter entirely.
I knew those guns were troublesome, but this is much faster than I expected!
He suddenly recalled the marionette that had confronted Babayaga aboard the Storm Dew.
After throwing Halsey into the air for Erynos to retrieve, the marionette had remained behind to delay their pursuer. Yet the confrontation had ended almost immediately, leaving it no opportunity to properly defend itself.
At the time, Erynos had already suspected that Babayaga's revolvers were responsible. Now he understood why.
No wonder that marionette died so quickly. I didn't even have time to realize what was happening!
Another bullet struck his liquefied body, scattering droplets of blood across the surrounding vegetation.
Erynos promptly changed his approach.
Rather than continuing to retreat, he gathered several streams of blood together and propelled himself toward Babayaga, weaving between the incoming projectiles. At the same time, a handful of crimson droplets separated from his body and hardened into deadly projectiles.
They shot toward Babayaga from several directions.
However, just as the blood projectiles were about to reach him, his figure abruptly disappeared into the surrounding darkness.
The attacks passed through empty space.
Several struck the ground and nearby trees, but none found their intended target.
Shadow manipulation?...
With Babayaga momentarily out of sight, Erynos finally obtained a brief opportunity to recover.
The scattered blood rapidly converged, gathering into a larger mass before reforming into his humanoid appearance. His limbs and torso gradually regained their original shape, although several wounds remained where the bullets had torn through him.
While recomposing himself, Erynos discreetly pressed one still-liquefied hand against his injured body.
The blood around his wounds rippled. Through his movements, he transferred the damage away from himself and onto a nearby tree.
The trunk abruptly split in several places, its bark tearing apart as wounds corresponding to those on Erynos's body appeared across its surface. However, the tree was already surrounded by shattered vegetation and bullet-riddled trunks, making the new damage practically indistinguishable from the destruction caused by Babayaga's barrage.
By the time Erynos withdrew his hand, his injuries had disappeared.
Much better.
He gave the damaged tree a fleeting glance before returning his attention to the surrounding darkness.
There was no reason to remain in his humanoid appearance any longer.
His body swelled and distorted, flesh darkening as viscous, demonic liquid spread across his limbs. Enormous wings unfurled from his back, and his features twisted into those of a terrifying Winged Demon.
Within moments, Erynos had fully assumed his demonic form. His physical resilience and defensive capabilities were now considerably greater, giving him a better chance of enduring another unexpected barrage.
He remained motionless for a moment, carefully observing the surrounding forest.
The crimson fog had grown even denser, reducing visibility to a fraction of what it had been before. To an ordinary opponent, such conditions would have severely impaired their ability to detect an approaching enemy.
Erynos, however, was unaffected.
Through Nivlek's Chain of Command, he had already been incorporated into the Weather Warlock's team. Consequently, the crimson fog posed no hindrance to his senses, nor would other effects interfere with him.
Nevertheless, he had no intention of revealing that advantage.
Erynos deliberately shifted his head from side to side, allowing his movements to become slightly hesitant. His gaze lingered upon the dense fog, and he occasionally adjusted his stance as though struggling to distinguish the shapes concealed within it.
To anyone observing him, he appeared to be having difficulty locating Babayaga.
In reality, his senses remained fully alert.
He carefully monitored the surrounding trees, the ground beneath him, and the shadows stretching between the broken trunks, waiting for the slightest indication of his opponent's return.
Suddenly, Erynos's spiritual intuition sounded an alarm. An attack was approaching! However, just as before, the warning came too late for him to react.
Bang!
A bullet tore through the resilient dark skin of his demonic form, leaving a deep gash across his body. The wound briefly dimmed, its edges darkening as the destructive force lingered within the damaged flesh.
Erynos instinctively responded.
Sulfurous flames erupted around him, expanding outward and rising into an enormous cage of blue-green fire. The blazing structure surrounded his demonic body, forming a defensive barrier intended to intercept the incoming bullets.
Even in this form, those damned bullets can still injure me?
His thoughts raced as another gunshot echoed through the forest.
He had already recognized the two revolvers wielded by Babayaga. Their design and capabilities were unmistakably reminiscent of firearms from the Modern Era, technology with which Erynos was already familiar.
Nevertheless, witnessing their performance firsthand was astonishing.
Their firing speed, destructive power, and apparent precision far surpassed anything he had encountered among the conventional firearms of the present world.
The difference is absurd!
Another bullet struck the fiery cage, causing the sulfurous flames to surge violently.
I really need to make some modern guns of my own, and quickly. Compared to these things, the weapons of this era are worse than trash!
The barrage continued.
Bullets repeatedly struck the cage, their impacts sending ripples through the surrounding flames. Most were intercepted and consumed by the blazing defense, although a few managed to penetrate its weaker sections and strike Erynos directly.
Fortunately, it was now manageable.
His demonic form possessed considerable resilience, and the sulfurous barrier had greatly reduced the force of the attacks that reached him.
Taking advantage of a brief opening, Erynos discreetly brushed one hand across his injured arm.
A small paper figurine appeared between his fingers.
The wounds upon his body faded as the damage was transferred to the substitute. The figurine immediately crumpled and darkened, its surface bearing the injuries that had previously afflicted him.
A flicker of the sulfurous fire reduced it to ashes.
Without wasting another moment, Erynos extended his right hand.
A massive curved sword materialized within his grasp, its blade formed from molten lava and wreathed in raging flames.
The Sword of Lava!
Erynos tightened his grip around its hilt.
At the same time, the enormous cage of sulfurous fire surrounding him began to contract. The flames surged upward, gathering between the large demonic horns protruding from his head.
Within moments, the blazing energy had condensed into a brilliant, fiercely burning mass.
Erynos turned toward the direction from which the gunshots had originated.
Then he unleashed it.
A tremendous torrent of blue-green sulfurous fire erupted forward, sweeping through the forest with overwhelming force.
Trees were incinerated almost instantly. The ground split and blackened beneath the intense heat, while the vegetation caught within the attack was reduced to burning debris.
Even the dense crimson fog was violently dispersed, leaving an enormous gap through which the devastated forest could be clearly seen. The attack carved a broad path of destruction through everything in front of Erynos.
Yet he was granted no respite.
Almost immediately after the flames subsided, a gigantic figure appeared directly before him. It stood at a height comparable to his own demonic form.
Before Erynos could fully register its arrival, the figure twisted its torso and delivered a powerful right hook. Its fist blazed with an orange-golden radiance.
Bang!
The punch struck Erynos squarely across the face.
His enormous body lurched sideways, his feet scraping against the scorched ground as the impact forced him backward. However, the increased resilience and physical strength of his demonic form allowed him to withstand the blow without being sent flying. He slid less than five meters before regaining his balance.
Babayaga gave him no opportunity to recover.
The gigantic figure advanced immediately, launching a relentless barrage of punches.
Orange-golden light flashed across his fists as they struck from different angles. His movements were so swift that they were barely perceptible to the naked eye, leaving only fleeting streaks of brilliance in their wake.
Behind him, an intense radiance began to manifest, illuminating his imposing silhouette.
Erynos raised his arms to withstand the assault.
Several blows struck his shoulders and torso, their force causing his enormous frame to shudder. Others were intercepted by the Sword of Lava, its blazing blade clashing against Babayaga's glowing fists and scattering sparks of molten fire.
The exchange continued at astonishing speed.
Erynos alternated between blocking, parrying, and shifting his body to avoid the most dangerous strikes. His demonic strength allowed him to withstand the relentless assault, but Babayaga's movements remained extraordinarily difficult to follow.
Nevertheless, Erynos was not merely defending himself.
His eyes underwent a subtle transformation.
Tiny silver symbols appeared within his pupils, shifting and rearranging themselves as he closely observed Babayaga's movements. Every punch, every change in posture, and every adjustment of his opponent's balance was carefully scrutinized.
Erynos continued parrying with his Sword of Lava, gradually searching for an opportunity to retaliate.
Then, as another orange-golden fist approached, he abruptly shifted his stance.
He drew the enormous sword backward before swinging it forward in a devastating counterattack. The blazing blade swept toward Babayaga.
In response, Babayaga extended one hand behind him.
A brilliant sword of light appeared within his grasp, its radiant blade bearing distinct orange-golden features. He immediately brought it forward.
Clang!
The two swords collided.
Radiant light and molten flames erupted from the point of contact, sending a violent shockwave through the surrounding clearing.
The scorched earth cracked beneath their feet, while the remaining crimson fog was pushed outward by the force of the collision.
Neither of them yielded immediately.
For a brief instant, the Sword of Lava and the luminous blade remained locked against each other, their opposing powers surging violently.
Then the accumulated force exploded outward.
Both Erynos and Babayaga were driven apart, their enormous figures retreating in opposite directions as the last remnants of the collision's radiance faded between them.
…
Deep within the newly emerged island, Cattleya advanced through the dense forest.
Brilliant points of starlight surrounded her, carrying her swiftly between the towering trees as she followed the direction in which the two figures had disappeared. Her movements were swift and precise, allowing her to cover considerable distances without being hindered by the uneven terrain.
Before long, however, she approached an area shrouded in a thick crimson fog.
She had witnessed the spectacular descent of a blazing firestorm upon the island shortly after leaving the Future. Even from a considerable distance, the scale of the phenomenon and the extraordinary changes in the surrounding weather had been unmistakable.
Drawing upon her extensive knowledge as a Clairvoyant and her years of experience as a Pirate Queen, she had quickly arrived at a troubling conclusion.
A Weather Warlock...
The possibility of an Angel belonging to the hunter pathway was more than enough to warrant extreme caution.
Furthermore, the violent disturbances continuing to emanate from that direction suggested that the newly arrived existence had already entered into battle with another powerful opponent.
Cattleya had no intention of becoming entangled in a confrontation between Angels. Her objective was the Ace of Swords. She needed to locate the Minor Arcana and determine her condition before the situation deteriorated any further.
With that in mind, Cattleya dismissed the brilliant stars surrounding her. Their radiance gradually faded, allowing her to descend gently onto the forest floor.
She then proceeded on foot, relying upon her own speed and senses as she ventured into the crimson fog.
The surrounding scenery quickly became indistinct.
Trees that had previously stood clearly within her sight were reduced to vague silhouettes, their outlines obscured by the dense haze. Cattleya maintained a cautious pace, carefully observing her surroundings for any signs of movement.
Then, without warning, an orange blur appeared at the edge of her vision. It was moving rapidly through the forest. The instant it noticed her, its trajectory abruptly changed, heading straight toward her!
Cattleya's spiritual intuition flared.
Danger!
The orange figure closed the distance in an instant, bringing a dark blade toward her with tremendous force.
Yet the attack did not strike her body.
Instead, it passed through her apparent position, shattering only a dark, illusory shadow that immediately dispersed into nothingness.
Mystical Reenactment: The Emperor's New Clothes!
The attack had destroyed something that did not exist in the first place. Naturally, Cattleya herself remained completely unharmed.
Taking advantage of the momentary confusion, she raised her hand.
Countless brilliant stars materialized around her, forming a dazzling array that rapidly expanded toward the approaching figure.
The sudden eruption of starlight forced the intruder to withdraw, creating a brief distance between them.
Cattleya immediately turned her attention toward him.
Through the crimson fog and the fading brilliance of her stars, she could finally distinguish the stranger's appearance.
He was clad in a suit of orange-brass armor, its metallic surface reflecting the surrounding light. In his hand rested an enormous broadsword with an iron-black blade, held firmly in a combat-ready stance.
Cattleya narrowed her eyes , carefully examining the armored figure who had attacked her without warning.