Whoosh!
Yuuki seized the chain-bound Patry and descended from the air, landing lightly on the ground.
Clatter—clatter—
Patry's pitch-black, icy eyes stared at Yuuki as he struggled violently. The chains rattled and trembled under the strain—but there was no chance of breaking free.
No matter how overwhelming his magic power was, as long as it hadn't undergone the qualitative transformation unique to devils, it was meaningless under the absolute suppression of Chain Magic.
"It's a shame," Yuuki thought calmly, glancing at Patry's vacant expression.
"The grimoire was taken by the Word Soul Devil. Light Magic itself is already Underworld-tier—and a pure offensive type at that. Not to mention its evolved form, Demon Light Magic."
Now that Patry had lost his grimoire, that path was closed.
In truth, Demon Light Magic was simply the evolved extension of Patry's Light Magic—not unlike how Vetto's Beast Magic had advanced into Demon Beast Magic.
A Dark Elf…
Yuuki's thoughts stirred.
Vetto—one of the Third Eye—had been called the embodiment of "Despair." The emotions he carried were strikingly similar to the despair Patry had just fallen into.
Could it be that elven magic itself possessed the potential for alternate evolutions, shaped by extreme emotional states?
The idea flashed through Yuuki's mind.
"How could it be…?"
A weak, incredulous voice came from the floor.
Rhya—his chest torn open, barely clinging to life—struggled to lift his head, staring at the scene in disbelief.
"In such a short time… he defeated Patry…?"
Rhya could clearly sense it.
Patry was far stronger than before—yet he had fallen almost instantly.
The insignificant brat he'd once ignored had grown to this extent.
This was no longer something that could be explained by mere talent.
Yuuki turned his head toward Rhya, an eyebrow lifting slightly.
He already had Key Magic. He didn't need Imitation Magic.
Still—Imitation Magic had its own unique value, distinct from Replication Magic or Conrad's Key Magic.
Yuuki stepped forward, stopping beside Rhya.
"Long time no see, Lord Rhya."
He crouched down, a faint smile on his face.
"Y-you… you little…"
Rhya tried to speak, his voice barely audible.
"In your condition, it's better to rest."
Yuuki raised a finger and gently tapped the back of Rhya's neck.
Rhya let out a dull groan—and lost consciousness.
Yuuki calmly picked up the grimoire lying beside him.
Complete Replication.
In the same breath, he tore out a single page, crafted a brand-new grimoire, and placed it neatly back at Rhya's side.
The entire process took less than a second.
From her position in the corner, Mimosa—still conscious—could only see Yuuki's back, completely unaware of what he had just done.
Feeling the noticeable increase in mana within his body, Yuuki didn't dwell on it. He straightened and turned toward the other two massive craters.
"How long do you two plan on sleeping?"
His voice echoed through the hall.
A brief silence followed.
Then—
BOOM! BOOM!
Two thunderous explosions erupted as the piles of rubble were blasted away.
Asta and Yuno emerged, battered and dusty.
"Ow, ow—man, that hurt. I seriously thought I was done for."
Asta staggered in midair before landing, clutching his chest and baring his teeth.
"That attack was unreal… Where's the devil?"
Yuno scanned the surroundings the moment he appeared. Sensing no trace of Zagred, he finally relaxed slightly and descended.
"Flame Recovery Magic — Phoenix Feather Robe!"
Seeing their injuries, Yuuki raised his arm again. Crimson flames flared around both of them as healing magic took effect.
"He's already left," Yuuki said quickly while treating them.
"Probably headed for the uppermost layer."
"Whoa—no pain at all! Yuuki, your healing magic is insane!"
Asta flexed his arms excitedly as the pain vanished, then his gaze shifted to Patry, bound by chains.
"…I can't feel any ki. What's wrong with him?"
Yuno, whose injuries were lighter, recovered faster. After thanking Yuuki, he flashed over to Patry, studying his altered appearance with visible concern.
"He was affected by the devil's magic," Yuuki explained.
"I've restrained him for now. Technically, he was your captain… and my former leader as well."
He paused briefly.
"In this state, though, we'll probably need your magic, Asta."
Yuuki knew Yuno wasn't worried about Patry himself—but about William Vangeance's body.
And beyond that, they would still need Patry for the fight ahead.
After all, his grimoire was now in the devil's hands.
To Yuuki, Patry—and the elves as a whole—were nothing more than a tragic people, sacrificed between devils and humans alike.
"No problem. Leave it to me!"
Asta raised the Demon-Destroyer Sword, his expression firm.
At that moment—
BOOM!
The wall of the hall exploded inward as a figure strode through the breach.
"So… it looks like the fighting here is over."
Silver hair.
Liquid mercury flowing around his body.
It was the captain of the Silver Eagles—
Nozel Silva.
Almost immediately, Nozel's gaze locked onto the chain-bound Patry. A cold gleam flashed through his eyes.
"So that's him… the leader of the Eye of the Midnight Sun."
"I thought he'd be a worthy opponent. Didn't expect him to already be defeated."
His eyes swept past Asta and Yuno—before settling squarely on Yuuki.
"Captain Silva!"
"Noelle's brother!"
Asta and Yuno exclaimed in surprise.
"Invading the kingdom. Destroying the royal capital."
Nozel's voice was icy.
"For crimes of this magnitude, there's no need for a trial."
"Execution—immediate."
Mercury surged violently.
In an instant, it formed a razor-sharp metallic chain that shot straight toward Patry.
Whoosh!
The chain crossed the distance in a blink—aimed directly at Patry's forehead.
But at that very moment—
Asta's Demon-Destroyer Sword.
Yuno's Wind Magic.
And Yuuki's Demon-Dweller Sword—
All three moved at once.
Clang!
The mercury chain was knocked aside.
Silence fell.
Nozel's aura shifted sharply. His gaze turned glacial as he stared at the three of them.
"…Are you planning to betray the Clover Kingdom?"
(End of Chapter)
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