The servant was forced to face Yagami.
But Yagami was no longer human; he was more like a monster that mercilessly destroyed anything and anyone in his path.
Tartarus said, "I think it's time to use it."
Calmly, he removed his cloak. Everyone froze in shock. Beneath the cloak, two radiant white wings emerged from his back, shining like those of an angel. For a moment, everyone thought an angel itself had descended to the ground.
Suddenly, Rin said to Toma, "Aren't you going to do something? Now that there's a chance, we can launch a surprise attack."
Toma said fearfully, "If you want to go, go ahead. I have neither the courage nor the power."
Rin drew his sword and prepared to attack.
Rin shouted angrily at Toma, "You cowardly, spineless man!"
Tartarus soared into the sky, his eyes glowing as his lips whispered an unknown incantation. But Yagami did not give him the chance; with a savage roar, he hurled a gigantic fireball from the sky straight at him.
When Rin saw that massive fireball, he froze, and his sword slipped from his hand.
Toma mockingly said to Rin in fear, "Go on then, why don't you go?"
Rin said trembling, "No… it's better if I don't interfere in a private battle to the death."
The diameter of that infernal fireball was about 40 meters, like a small sun intent on burning everything to ashes. There was no escape; only one choice remained: resistance.
Tartarus said in disbelief, "Without any incantation, he created such a gigantic fireball?!"
With all his strength, Tartarus activated ten Holy Shields one after another. The light of the shields tore through the darkness of the battlefield, but the magical pressure was so overwhelming that more than half of his mana was drained in an instant…
The Holy Shields shattered one by one, yet the fireball continued advancing with its hellish power, refusing to be extinguished. The angel's breathing grew heavy, and despair began to seep into his being…
But at the very last moment, someone saved him.
Even so, the fireball struck the ground, triggering a colossal explosion—so violent it felt as if thousands of thunderbolts had struck the earth at once. The ground trembled, the sky lit up, and the deafening blast shattered all sound.
When Yagami saw the one who had intervened, his endless rage subsided for a moment… because that person was his best friend, Yuji—the only one who had stayed by his side in both this world and the other.
Rank: SS+
Level: null
XP: 5780
HP: 1230
Special Skill: Teleport
Yagami, who had turned into a monster and lost his consciousness, roared and charged at Yuji.
His black strike came down—but suddenly collided with something invisible: a mysterious, radiant aura. It rose like a shield before him, yet it was no ordinary barrier… an unknown and terrifying power surged within it.
Tartarus stared at it in shock and muttered under his breath,
"I recognize this shield and this aura…"
The angel shouted in astonishment,
"This aura… it's one of the powers of the dispatched angels! How is it possible for you to use such an ability?!"
Yagami's friend replied calmly and firmly,
"Let me calm my brother first… then I'll explain everything."
Yagami continued to fight relentlessly—with magic, with swords, with every power surging through his monstrous body. But none of his attacks left even a scratch on that mysterious shield. The more he struggled, the more he resembled a mindless, raging beast.
Yuji shouted with a trembling voice,
"Brother! Come to your senses… what happened to you? Why did you let the darkness take everything from you?"
But Yagami did not listen. Foam spilled from his mouth, his eyes burned with hatred, and only savage roars escaped his throat.
Yuji continued,
"Someone or something is controlling you… buddy, can you hear my voice?!"
Yagami grew even more furious, striking as if he wanted revenge on the entire world—as if all the injustices and cruelty he had suffered were now being repaid at once.
In the end, Yuji made his decision. He deactivated the shield, left himself completely defenseless before the onslaught, and embraced him. With a choking voice, he whispered into his ear,
"I know… you're still in there… you're still the real Yagami. Please… come back again."
At that very moment, Yuji entered Yagami's dark and twisted mind. Everything was black and silent—a world drowned in darkness and sorrow.
Step by step, he moved forward until, deep within the darkness, he heard the faint sound of crying. He went closer and saw… a small child, alone and broken, kneeling in a corner and silently weeping.
Yuji whispered in disbelief,
"This… is you? Buddy?"
(To be continued…)