The moment the name Lucius Zogratis left Yuuki's lips—
Lucius's playful expression stiffened.
Surprise flickered through his eyes—shock, calculation, disbelief—all in a single breath.
Then it vanished.
"How did you know?" Lucius asked coldly.
"This is much more comfortable," Yuuki replied calmly, ignoring the question. "And I happen to have something I'd like clarified as well."
Lucius studied him deeply, a trace of amusement returning.
"Very well."
"Why didn't you act earlier?" Yuuki asked.
The question seemed abrupt—but Lucius understood immediately.
"It appears you know more than I anticipated," Lucius said evenly. "Your Replication Magic… may spare me certain inconveniences."
Yuuki nodded faintly.
"And your question?" Lucius prompted.
"The line I spoke earlier—what did you think it meant?" Yuuki asked.
Lucius understood.
Yuuki continued:
"Anti-magic is an anomaly—unpredictable, uncontrollable. The fact that you didn't eliminate Asta immediately proves he's important to you."
"To avoid variables, you would never allow harm to come to the church—people close to him."
Lucius inclined his head.
"I see."
Neither believed the other's explanation.
The answers themselves were irrelevant.
What mattered was what could be deduced from them.
Yuuki had already confirmed what he needed—
Lucius could not fully observe his future.
At best, only fragments. Only the immediate.
That was enough.
Lucius smiled faintly.
"You once spoke in the capital about Eden. Would you elaborate?"
Of course.
He had been watching all along.
But before Yuuki could respond—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three figures appeared behind Lucius.
A suffocating, frigid wave of demonic mana flooded the sky.
The air thickened. Light dimmed.
"So, this is him? Looks ordinary," a deep voice scoffed.
"How long are you going to chat, Lucius?" another said coolly.
"My, he is rather handsome. Leave the corpse intact," a female voice giggled.
Yuuki lifted his gaze.
"Dante Zogratis."
"Zenon Zogratis."
"Vanica Zogratis."
"The Dark Triad of the Spade Kingdom. And their elder brother."
He smiled brightly.
"What an honor."
Dante grinned.
Zenon remained silent.
Vanica laughed.
Lucius's smile widened.
"Isn't he fascinating?"
Before they could move, Yuuki spoke again.
"That reminds me of another story."
Lucius tilted his head.
"In one myth, people offer a scapegoat to seek divine forgiveness. Then God descends in final judgment and purges the world of sin."
Yuuki paused.
"But in another version… the scapegoat is God."
A flicker crossed Lucius's eyes.
Yuuki continued softly:
"If someone says, 'Look, the Savior is here,' or 'There He is,' do not believe it. False prophets will arise."
"The day and hour—none know. Not even the angels. Only the Father."
Lucius's expression shifted—briefly.
Then he smiled again.
"You may proceed."
Zenon moved first.
Bone Magic — Endless Bone Fangs!
Countless bone spears filled Yuuki's vision.
Above him—
Gravity Magic — Presence of the Demon King!
Dante's crushing gravity descended.
Behind him—
Vanica's blood-formed claws flashed.
In that instant—
A sacred aura erupted from Yuuki.
"Awaken — Divine State."
His hair and eyes turned silver.
BOOM!
The three attacks missed.
Yuuki stepped forward—
Appearing before Lucius.
He drove his hand toward Lucius's heart.
Both radiated killing intent.
Yuuki had gambled—
The Triad's arrogance would prevent full power at once.
And Lucius, having recently "died," would be at his weakest.
His palm pierced through their mana barrier—
Almost touching Lucius's chest—
Clang.
A ticking clock echoed.
Time froze.
Yuuki's hand stopped inches away.
Both men stood motionless.
Yet Dante, Zenon, and Vanica were forced backward violently.
An invisible clash was occurring between Yuuki and Lucius.
Red threads of Fate Magic poured from Yuuki—
Lucius's eyes glowed azure—
Time slowed those threads to near stillness.
Fate vs. Time.
Unseen.
Ferocious.
For a moment—
Lucius moved first.
"Fate Magic… how intriguing."
"Release 30%!"
Demonic wings unfurled behind the Triad.
"Gravity Magic — Heavy Infighting!"
"Bone-Space Magic — Demon Blade Dainsleif!"
"Curse-Warding Magic — Decaying World!"
Three beams of demonic power shattered Yuuki's fate threads.
"Ah…"
Yuuki exhaled softly.
There was still a gap.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The massive ancient demon skull exploded into dust.
A crater hundreds of meters deep scarred the land.
Dante clenched his fists.
"What was that power?! Not demonic!"
"He vanished?!" Vanica frowned.
Zenon said coldly:
"Not escape. Disappearance."
Lucius approached calmly.
"Indeed."
"How extraordinary."
"In the coming year… he will not reappear."
"That is sufficient."
—
Elsewhere.
In the floating fortress—
Rebecca suddenly erupted in crimson flames.
A blazing fire dragon roared overhead.
The fire spirit Salamander emerged upon her shoulder.
"Impossible…" Mariella gasped.
Rebecca trembled.
"Yuuki…"
But their grimoires still held his granted power.
He was not dead.
She remembered—
He had left her a letter.
—
At the Black Bulls' base—
A white sword was delivered silently.
—
At the Golden Dawn—
Yuno caught a blue gemstone necklace dropped by an owl.
One of the magic stones.
Recovered.
Yuno clenched his fist.
"I will catch up to you… Yuuki."
—
The battle had ended.
But the game—
Had only begun.
T/N: Absolute Cinema🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
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