Taking the shock wave released by Razul head-on, Shion, Ranga, and even the Dark Magician trio—Dark Magician, Dark Magician Girl, and Skilled Dark Magician—were all blasted through a wall and sent crashing outside the church.
Razul casually walked out after them, as if the destruction he caused meant nothing.
The trio of magicians quickly regained formation, their cloaks fluttering as mana circulated around them. Atem had sent them specifically because he sensed Razul's abnormal energy, and Atem's instincts were never wrong.
But even with their support, the battle was brutal.
Shion and Ranga were badly hurt, but Shion stayed calm—not fearful, not shaken. She faced Razul as if he were just another obstacle standing between her and Atem's trust.
Ranga, behind her, trembled as he rose to his feet.
He had no Ultra-Speed Regeneration like Shion, so every hit he took accumulated.
But thanks to Atem's blessing, he possessed the Unique Skill Magic Wolf King, granting him an "Ultra-Instinct" equivalent that let him sense and dodge almost all attacks.
Normally, Razul wouldn't be able to beat Ranga, much less when Shion and Atem's elite magicians fought with him. The fact that Razul still dominated proved how dangerous he was.
Almost protectively, Shion stepped forward in front of Ranga.
"Ranga, it's okay. Rest for a moment."
"How can I rest?! He's strong! Even the five of us together can barely hold on, Shion!"
"Don't worry. I'm starting to get a feel for his movements. Save your strength until I give the signal."
Dark Magician Girl nodded.
"We'll cover you two. Atem-sama entrusted us with your safety."
Dark Magician lifted his staff.
"He would not forgive us if we failed."
Skilled Dark Magician slid beside them.
"Stay sharp. Razul is calculating every move we make."
Shion raised her odachi—her stance beautiful, unwavering.
Razul smirked.
"Magnificent. Even among demonkind, few have stood before me this long. And you add three high-grade magic-nature beings to support you… Atem's kingdom must be quite desperate."
Hearing praise from someone she couldn't even scratch was humiliating for Shion.
"Shut up! I'll slice that smug face off your body!"
She charged, bringing down her sword like a wrathful goddess.
Clang!!
Her odachi bounced off Razul's exoskeleton.
He was an insect-type monster, covered in armor tougher than steel—and protected by a field that deflected physical and magic attacks alike.
"Magic attacks ineffective," Solarys, the Sovereign of Wisdom, whispered into Atem's mind from afar as he observed through his projections.
Atem watched the battle through Solarys' vision, expression sharp and kingly.
Maintain formation. Shion is close to evolving. Do not interrupt.
Atem trusted Shion's resolve completely.
Razul threw a punch strong enough to crush boulders.
The old Shion would've tanked it head-on—but not anymore.
She stepped aside with refined technique, not brute force.
Her mind had changed, and with it, her combat style.
She wanted to survive—not just fight.
Why?
Because Atem believed in her.
Because Atem relied on her.
And because if she won…
He will definitely praise me!
That thought burned hotter than any pain.
She slashed again, and again, and again—using distraction waves, footwork, feints, and pinpoint attacks, trying to hit the same spot.
She even activated her Unique Skill Cook to achieve a "Guaranteed Outcome."
But Razul remained calm, mechanical, precise.
Even Dark Magician's spells vanished on contact with Razul's armor.
Dark Magician Girl's magical arrows dissolved.
Skilled Dark Magician's enchanted blades broke.
Razul smirked as he parried Shion's strikes.
"The difference between us is insurmountable."
Shion refused to accept that.
She used every trick she learned from Hakurou, every lesson she gained from fighting for Atem. But Razul was learning her tricks, one by one.
Then Razul's youki swelled.
Now he launched the counterattack.
"You fought well. But you failed to even damage my armor. You're finished. Surrender."
Shion breathed steadily.
"Hehehe… do you think I was fighting blindly this whole time? I want to reach greater heights—not for myself, but so I'm not overshadowed by that smug Diablo, and so I can actually help Atem-sama."
Razul blinked.
"What…?"
"You're a clueless insect. I said I will surpass you."
Suddenly—
Shion's youki exploded.
The Dark Magician trio stepped back in shock.
The ground cracked.
The air vibrated.
Atem felt Solarys whisper:
«Confirmation complete. Intrinsic Skill 'Ogre Berserker' of individual Shion has evolved into Unique Skill 'Battle God.'»
Atem's lips curved into a proud, kingly smile.
Well done, Shion.
Shion activated her new power without hesitation.
"Now… let's finish this!"
Battle God empowered everything—her stamina, strength, senses, and spiritual body. But it also drained her magicules quickly.
She only had one strike left.
"Now, Ranga!" Shion shouted.
"Understood!"
Ranga summoned the strongest Black Lightning he had ever produced.
Dark Magician, Dark Magician Girl, and Skilled Dark Magician all channeled their power into Ranga's spell, amplifying it to the limit.
Razul panicked.
"You punks! My shell—"
Shion didn't care.
"CHAOTIC FATE!!!"
She swung her odachi downward, lightning wrapped around the blade like a divine judgment.
CRASH!!
Her blade cracked Razul's arm.
Just a small crack.
But that was enough.
"Guaranteed Outcome… Optimal Action!"
The odachi shattered—
—but Razul's body split in half.
Lightning tore through him from within, burning everything inside his armor.
Razul collapsed, vision fading.
He glanced toward Granbell fighting Luminous in the distance.
Forgive me, Gran… I will go on ahead…
And then he died.
Shion fell to one knee, exhausted and trembling.
Dark Magician caught her before she hit the ground.
"You fought admirably, Lady Shion," he said respectfully.
Dark Magician Girl smiled softly.
"Atem-sama will praise you for sure."
Ranga nuzzled her shoulder.
"We won, Shion…"
And in the far distance, in the halls of Eterna, Atem stood with his cape flowing behind him, eyes sharp.
"Shion… you have done well."
The king of Eterna had already felt the outcome—and his pride in her was absolute.
As Atem gently placed the ancient mask over Chronoa's face, Luminas watched with a tight chest.
Did he succeed?
This was a gamble—one that not even she, with all her centuries of foresight, could predict.
Chloe and Hinata had placed their trust in Atem, so Luminas chose to do the same. They had told her about him long ago—about the reincarnated king who carried an unshakable will, a charisma that pierced through fear, and power that defied all logic.
She pretended ignorance back then, watching him from the shadows. Even at Walpurgis, she attended only because Atem—Lord of Eterna—would be there. At the time, she didn't yet trust what Chloe had said about him becoming a Demon Lord.
But as Chloe's warnings came true one after another, Luminas stopped doubting.
She never intended to oppose Atem.
He was too decisive, too perceptive, too overwhelming.
And after witnessing the terrifying authority of Atem—Atem overwhelming power—she understood:
If anyone could bring back Chronoa correctly, it was him.
Yet recently… things had changed.
Differences appeared between the future Chloe had spoken of and the events unfolding before Luminas now.
Those inconsistencies scared her more than anything.
Because if the timeline shifted too far…
Chronoa's revival could spiral out of control.
Her fear became reality on the worst possible day—
right before her long-awaited concert.
Granbell, her loyal subordinate for centuries, betrayed her.
She had long known betrayal would one day come, but she never expected he'd turn on her so boldly.
And then—
Hinata died.
Chronoa awakened.
Everything collapsed at once.
Faced with this chaos, Luminas placed her final hope in Atem.
He was irregular—someone not bound to fate.
Someone who could even defy it.
And Atem did not disappoint.
He stepped forward without hesitation, reached into Chronoa's storm of destruction, and called to her soul.
The mask…
It looked exactly like Chloe's.
Then there's hope! Luminas thought, gripping her hands tightly.
But Granbell approached her with a twisted smile.
"You seem quite happy, Luminas-sama. Do you truly believe your beloved Chloe will return?"
"What are you implying?"
"Chronoa is the Will of Destruction. Now that the Holy Ark that sealed her is gone, you must return Chloe's will to stop her. Tell me… do you really believe Chloe's soul still rests inside Chronoa?"
Luminas froze.
"How… did you know that?"
It was possible. Granbell could have overheard her and Chloe in the past.
"I see. So that's why—"
"Exactly. This is the fastest way to end the world: give the final blow to someone stronger than me!" Granbell laughed, madness twisting his face.
"Silence!" Luminas snapped. "You won't achieve anything!"
"But I already have. This world has crushed every dream I ever had. And now? My friend has just died."
Luminas glanced toward the battlefield.
Atem's warriors had won—Razul was dead.
"Hehehe… this world is so cruel."
"So what?!" Luminas shouted.
Granbell's voice dropped into a chilling calm.
"—That's why a world like this should disappear."
"Enough. Despair on your own." Luminas raised her saber—Night Rose, the pride of her homeland.
Granbell drew his legendary weapon, the Longsword of Truth.
Two mythical blades.
Two legendary warriors.
But then—
"Despair? No… my heart is filled with hope!" Granbell roared.
Razul's fading soul burst into light—
—its energy flowed into Granbell.
Maria… Razul… Granbell…
Their wills merged into one.
«Confirmation complete. Conditions satisfied.
Unique Skill Unyielding One has evolved into Ultimate Skill Hope King Sariel.»
Granbell's aura exploded.
His new strength rivaled even Luminas's own Ultimate Skill—Lustful King Asmodeus.
Both Skills carried the authority over life and death.
He stared at her with hollow, darkened eyes.
"I am ready, Luminas-sama. Let us end this."
"Well said. I shall accept your resolve," Luminas replied coldly.
"Now rest. I will make it quick."
They vanished.
The battlefield trembled as two ultimate beings clashed—
Ultimate Skill against Ultimate Skill.
"MEMORY END REQUIEM!!" Luminas cried, striking with her full divine force.
"FORTITUDE!!" Granbell roared back, meeting her head-on.
Sariel against Asmodeus.
Life against death.
Hope against resolve.
And yet—
In the end, only one figure remained standing amid the fading light.
Luminas.
Granbell, the unyielding Hero, collapsed.
Though their wills were both absolute, hers burned stronger.
The duel ended as quickly as it began.
A single flash, a single moment—and it was over.