Am I hallucinating?
Am I seeing Restia in my final moments?
Collapsed on the ground, Kamito thought it was the fabled vision one saw before death—and waited quietly for the end.
But this time, he realized that the atmosphere around him had completely changed.
"So, you finally show yourself… Dark Elemental."
Millennia didn't turn around, yet with her power, she could clearly sense who stood behind her. It was the one the Sacred Queen had specifically warned her about—the strongest Dark Elemental, the one who guided the Demon King's awakening.
Restia Ashdoll.
"You bastard…"
"How dare you lay a hand on Kamito?"
The black-clad dark spirit's face was shadowed, her expression unreadable, but the trembling of her clenched fists made her fury more than clear.
Restia hadn't planned to meet Kamito this soon. She knew all too well what he had been through over the years—what he had lost.
Kamito now was far weaker than he had been three years ago. To help him regain his strength, Restia had deliberately arranged for that red-haired girl to serve as his stepping stone.
But things had taken a turn for the unexpected.
Restia still remembered the pillar of light that had erupted from the Demon King's Tomb just ten days ago.
That power had unmistakably belonged to an Elemental Lord—and most likely, the Holy Elemental Lord herself.
How could that be? Weren't all the Elemental Lords already corrupted?
Though confused, Restia had no choice but to alter her plans and come searching for Kamito ahead of schedule.
Yet one unforeseen event after another followed. No one had anticipated that the Holy Nation would launch a full-scale war, nor that their overwhelming military power would crush every nation so swiftly.
What in the world was happening?
Still, through whispers among the Holy Nation's troops, Restia had learned the truth.
The Holy Nation… the Sacred Queen…
Restia understood then. She abandoned all her previous plans and chose to come directly to Kamito.
Whatever the Sacred Queen was planning, it had to be stopped.
And so, at the exit of the hidden passage, Restia found Millennia Sanctus—and Kamito, beaten nearly senseless.
"You're no match for me, Dark Elemental," Millennia said calmly, her tone flat, as if Restia were no threat at all.
"The Holy Nation's Cardinal… no, you're right. I can't defeat you, even with help," Restia admitted quietly. "But if it's only a matter of buying time…"
"That, I can still do."
She knew her own limits well. She could feel the vast gap in their power.
A direct fight would be impossible.
A sneak attack—also impossible, not against someone like Millennia.
But with assistance… it was different.
"Go, magic spirits!"
Restia hadn't come alone this time. Knowing the Holy Nation commanded an immense army, returning by herself would have been suicide.
So she had brought reinforcements—countless magic spirits.
Her only goal was to save Kamito.
As long as Kamito lived, there was still hope.
The spirits, great and small, roared and charged at Millennia all at once.
But—
"Fools."
With a single sweep of her hand, Millennia annihilated them as easily as cutting through air.
Still, this was exactly as Restia had planned. Even death could serve to stall for time.
"Kamito!"
Using the distraction, Restia rushed to Kamito's side and checked his injuries.
Fortunately, they weren't fatal—just enough to render him unconscious.
Supporting his body, she prepared to carry him away.
"You really think I'd let you escape?"
Even surrounded by the spirits, Millennia's perception was unshaken. Every movement Restia made was in her sights.
"Ugh—!"
In an instant, an invisible shockwave blasted both Restia and Kamito, sending them crashing back toward the wall beside the hidden passage.
"It seems years of peace have dulled your fangs, Ren Ashbell."
Millennia's tone was cold, almost mocking. She knew full well about Kamito's assumed identity.
Raising both hands, she gathered her immense Divine Power between them.
The magic spirits, sensing danger, attempted to surge forward again—but the instant they neared her, their very life force was drained away by an invisible power.
"Perish."
A massive sphere of energy formed and crashed down toward the ground. Restia glanced toward the tunnel beside her, then gritted her teeth and pulled Kamito back inside—grabbing the trembling Claire as well and dragging her into the depths of the passage.
Boom—!
A deafening explosion echoed through the night, flattening the surrounding forest. The sheer destructive force was terrifying.
Yet despite its overwhelming power, the attack hadn't killed anyone—it had simply obliterated the remaining magic spirits.
As the caster of that devastating strike, Millennia didn't even bother to check the results. She simply stood guard at the tunnel's entrance, motionless.
"So, the little mice have scurried back to their hole."
"The Sacred Queen will descend soon. Tonight, I'll grant you one last chance to gaze upon the stars…"
"Tomorrow—marks the beginning of the final assault."
...
"Phew…"
Elise let out a long sigh of relief. It had been over ten days since she arrived in the Elemental Spirit World, and just moments ago, she had finally slain the last remaining Elemental Lord—the Wind Elemental Lord.
Now, with Ren's assistance, Est was in the process of absorbing the powers left behind by the fallen Elemental Lords.
Counting them up, the powers Est had absorbed were considerable.
The Fire Elemental Lord.
The Water Elemental Lord.
The Earth Elemental Lord.
And now, the Wind Elemental Lord.
Good grief—she had collected all four elemental powers!
At this point, Est might need a new title. "Demon King's Sacred Demon Sword" no longer seemed to fit her—perhaps "Elemental Sacred Demon Sword" was more appropriate.
"Once Est finishes absorbing the power, I can return to the human realm and settle things with that woman!"
Elise's eyes burned with rage. When it came to the Sacred Queen, she had plenty of anger pent up!
Next time they met, she would never let her off easily.
However…
"This time won't be like last time."
As the saying goes, one learns from experience. Elise would not allow herself to be caught off guard again.
"To fight the Sacred Queen using this world's faith isn't a wise move. Which means… I'll have to rely only on Est, my Prana, and my own faith," Elise murmured to herself. "But to finish her for good… I'll need that."
Opening her eyes, Elise looked down at her reflection in the lake. Her blue irises shone like gemstones beneath the night sky.
"The plan is mostly complete… but just to be safe, I'll prepare a few contingencies."