Did Luminas know something more—something she wasn't saying?
Atem made a mental note: I will question her once this chaos is over.
"Diablo," Atem called, his voice steady and commanding. "Take my place and stabilize the cathedral."
"—Understood!"
Diablo looked like he wanted to argue, likely hoping to fight by Atem's side.
But the moment he saw Atem's expression—calm, resolved, unmovable—he bowed and obeyed without another word.
Now Atem needed to decide the next move.
Luminas and Granbell were locked in a deadly duel of mana and intent.
Shion and Ranga were deep in combat with Razul.
Yuuki and his followers were scrambling to escape.
Atem didn't want to let them run, but compared to the real threat here, Yuuki was barely an annoyance.
Still, leaving him alive meant trouble later.
Leon… was practically a lifeless doll now.
Completely unreliable.
Few allies.
Too many enemies.
And one overwhelming presence rising in the center of the cathedral.
Chronoa's eyes opened.
The air grew heavy.
Though she was naked, her lone wrist bracelet pulsed with ominous light.
Black particles swirled around her, covering her form in layers of jet-black armor—an imitation of the Holy Spirit Armor, but unmistakably stronger.
She extended her hand—
—and a rapier materialized.
Slim. Beautiful. Pitch-black.
A twisted counterpart to the Moonlight Rapier, but radiating far more destructive power.
«⚜ Warning. Although identical in shape, the energy within that blade is exceptionally high.»
Solarys, the Sovereign of Wisdom, reported calmly.
Atem's expression stayed firm.
Her armor and weapon weren't just legendary—they surpassed even that.
Mythical-grade.
Possibly beyond.
Good.
Atem expected nothing less.
This wasn't about intelligence anymore.
This was raw power—lethal, ancient, focused entirely on him.
«⚜ Warning. Enemy 'Chronoa' will—»
"I know."
Atem moved before Solarys finished.
He activated Eternal Guard, the divine barrier woven from his own soul.
A heartbeat later—
A horizontal beam of black lightning cut through the space Atem had just left, vaporizing everything in its path.
Stone, steel, pillars—gone instantly.
It carved through the cathedral wall and shot straight into the horizon.
If Atem had hesitated even a moment, he would have been erased.
He tightened his grip on his blade.
"It seems this will require seriousness."
«⚜ Negative. Even with Eternal Guard, spiritrons may breach your defense. Recommended: deploy Osirion Mandate or Pharaoh Authority—»
"I understand, Solarys."
He would call on them if needed.
But not yet.
Chronoa charged.
Atem intercepted her effortlessly.
Her strikes were sharp, flawless, devastating—but he blocked, parried, and shifted with calm precision. He could defeat her if he wanted, but he held back.
He was learning.
Every thrust.
Every shift of her footing.
Every ripple of spiritrons around her blade.
She turned sharply—
Her rapier sliced across Yuuki's cheek as he
failed to dodge.
Atem allowed himself a small smirk.
"You earned that."
Yuuki's Anti-Skill was helpless against a divine physical attack.
Good to confirm.
Atem watched, analyzing the way Chronoa applied pressure to different opponents.
It gave him invaluable insight into her technique.
But now Chronoa's gaze—cold, empty, merciless—returned to him.
Atem lifted his blade.
Golden power wrapped around him, steady and regal.
"I prefer not to destroy the entire cathedral," he said calmly, "but I will do what is necessary."
He took a step forward.
The air rippled around him.
Power surged from him like the rise of an ancient sun.
"I am Atem, Pharaoh of Eterna.
I do not retreat.
I do not bow.
And I will not lose."
Chronoa's rapier rose like a falling star.
Atem smiled—
Not in mockery, but in certainty.
He was not afraid.
He met her as an equal.
The clash shook time itself.
Leon stood frozen, numb to everything around him.
Did I… not make it in time?
The girl—Chloe—
She had been standing right there.
The very child Leon had spent centuries searching for.
The one for whom he dirtied his hands, crossed forbidden lines, and committed sins he could never erase.
And in the blink of an eye—she vanished.
At first, he suspected Atem. But no—Atem did not deal in tricks. Atem had no reason to steal the girl. Something else had happened. Something beyond Leon's grasp.
I've seen her now… I will get another chance, Leon told himself, forcing his scattered mind to steady.
But as his senses returned, he realized the battlefield had collapsed into chaos while he was lost in shock.
A new enemy had awakened—
And even Atem, proud and unflinching, was being pushed into real combat.
If Atem was defending himself, then Leon knew:
This was no ordinary threat.
He could be the next one cut down.
Yuuki's desperate dodging snapped Leon back into reality.
He was still on a battlefield.
And he had let his guard down.
Bodies lay unconscious near the wall. Atem had placed them there intentionally—keeping them away from danger. Leon hadn't even realized it. His mind had been too clouded to notice.
That was why he missed the danger aimed at him.
A small magic missile shot from the wall.
It was weak.
Not meant to harm Chronoa—just to annoy her.
And it worked.
Chronoa's blank, merciless eyes swiveled toward Leon.
Leon clicked his tongue.
"Tsk… so that was the goal."
He couldn't even turn to identify the shooter.
If he took his eyes off Chronoa for even a second, he would die.
Even Demon Lord Leon—chosen hero, Golden Knight—would fall quickly to her.
Her presence alone felt like a blade at his throat.
Yuuki's entourage cheered in the background.
"Nice shot, Teare!"
"What timing! Didn't think she was useful, but hey, it paid off!"
"Run back, Teare, before she kills you!"
Yuuki, sweating earlier, was calm again now.
He dragged Teare back and let Laplace finish casting his escape magic.
"All right, done. Let's get out of here," Laplace said.
"Agreed," Yuuki replied darkly. "Atem is planning something. Staying here is suicide."
Yuuki raised his arms, destroying the massive magic barrier covering Lubelius.
"Hehehe, that's our boss."
"Seriously, that Skill is cheating…"
"But that cheating is saving our lives, so no complaints!"
Yuuki smirked as he began his retreat.
"I don't know who will survive this… but next time we meet, we'll be enemies. Try not to die before then."
And with a flash, Yuuki and his men escaped.
Atem watched them flee from the corner of his eye.
He felt no fear.
Only controlled anger.
"They abandon their mess… and expect others to pay the price," Atem murmured.
Still—fighting two intelligent enemies at once would've been worse.
Eliminating variables was sometimes beneficial.
The influence of the Western Holy Church was strong.
If Luminas backed Atem, Yuuki's credibility in the West would crumble. He would lose his foothold entirely.
So Atem exhaled slowly, letting his irritation fade.
Focus on one enemy. The true enemy.
He turned to Chronoa—silent, armored in void, rapier in hand.
"Leon," Atem called without looking away from her, "are you still with us?"
Leon coughed, trying to regain his composure.
"I'm standing… barely. But don't underestimate her. She is stronger than I expected."
Atem raised a hand over him, golden light flowing.
His healing was faster and cleaner than any holy spell—divine, ancient, pharaonic.
Leon's wounds closed instantly, though his broken sword remained shattered.
"I sensed her strength the moment she moved," Atem said. "Luminas didn't seal her lightly. This opponent was never simple."
"How are your wounds?" Atem asked.
"Nothing fatal. I wasted too much mana trying to keep my sword from breaking… and it still broke."
Leon bit his lip. His pride stung more than his wounds.
Atem could sense it, but he didn't comment.
"I'm glad you survived," Atem said plainly.
Leon blinked, surprised by the sincerity.
"I never understood your intentions," Leon said suddenly. "But Veldora… guided me. I was a fool."
Atem raised an eyebrow but didn't press. Not now. Not here.
Leon steadied himself, breathing once.
"Atem. Buy me some time," Leon said. "It's time I reveal some of my trump cards."
He might have been planning something risky—or even a last resort—but Atem trusted him.
"I will," Atem said.
He stepped forward, cloak flowing behind him like a royal banner.
Before him stood Chronoa—silent, unmoving, deadly.
Atem lifted his blade.
Golden energy wrapped around him like the rising sun.
"Then it begins," Atem declared.
"The final battle."
He stepped forward—
Unflinching.
Ready to meet the void head-on.