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(What a nostalgic feeling…)
While using [Space Leap] to toy with the White Serpent, I couldn't help but feel a wave of sentimentality.
This sensation—like I could perceive and control every aspect of space.
The overwhelming sense of omnipotence that almost tricks you into believing you can do anything.
It's an emotion I should despise, yet it surges up from the depths of my heart no matter what.
And along with it come memories I want to erase—yet must never forget.
I was born in the Hitia Duchy, the magic powerhouse at the center of the continent.
There are several reasons why that country is called a magic superpower.
The biggest among them is the existence of multiple institutions known as "academies"—similar to the noble council in the Nohitant Kingdom—dedicated to magical education.
Any citizen five years or older can enroll in one of these academies.
That said, the tuition is high, so not every citizen attends.
Even at the most generous estimate, only about forty percent of the population enrolls, and most do so in their early teens.
Even among those who enroll, the majority graduate quickly after completing the required foundational magical theory and acquiring grand-class magic or equivalent support/recovery spells—because of the aforementioned costs.
Naturally, those for whom magic doesn't suit them give up on graduation requirements early and drop out.
Very few remain in the academy even after reaching adulthood.
Fortunately, my family never struggled financially, so I enrolled in the academy at age five and began studying magic.
At the time of enrollment, my status as a Unique Spellcaster hadn't yet been discovered—but even as a young child I quickly grasped magical theory and had no trouble activating spells.
A few years after starting, I could cast grand-class magic from every element. The adult instructors and teachers hailed me as a genius.
What cemented that reputation was when I studied [Space Leap]—said to be the pinnacle of all magic.
The moment I saw the base formula, I understood everything about [Space Leap]. I could construct the spell formula instantly and activate it without delay.
That was when I learned I was a Unique Spellcaster.
Having been called a "genius" day in and day out—and then discovering I was a Unique Spellcaster—I became arrogant.
I truly believed I was special—
But it's okay.
The me of today understands that I'm just an ordinary person who happens to be a little good at magic.
After many twists and turns, by the time I joined the Silver Moon Rabbit of the Night Sky, I had experienced so much regret that I no longer thought of myself as special.
Even so—I still carried pride as a Unique Spellcaster, as someone who had studied magic at the academy.
But even that pride was recently shattered.
—By the existence called Orun-kun.
His learning ability is off the charts.
In one word: genius.
…I don't really like that word.
The pre-activation stage of magic—spell formula construction—involves adding supplementary settings to each spell's base formula.
The reason [Space Leap] is considered the pinnacle is that the supplementary settings required are incomparably more detailed and complex than any other magic.
Many spells can be activated purely by intuition—but [Space Leap] absolutely cannot.
Being able to cast it is proof of deep mastery over magic in itself.
Because it is such an advanced spell, keeping the formula constructed and waiting to channel mana at any moment (standby activation) is impossible. The sheer volume of supplementary settings imposes an incomparable burden on the brain when trying to parallel-construct it.
That's why [Space Leap] isn't cast carelessly.
The same applies to Orun-kun.
Even when he was an Enchanter in the *Golden Dawn*, he could use [Space Leap]—but he couldn't incorporate it into parallel construction, or so I heard.
Yet after joining the Silver Moon Rabbit of the Night Sky and hearing about [Space Leap] from me, his understanding of the spell deepened at an astonishing rate.
In this White Serpent battle, he activated four simultaneous [Space Leap] instances right at the start—teleporting each of us to different positions.
That is one of my signature moves as a Unique Spellcaster.
In other words—it's something that should be impossible for anyone else.
And yet Orun-kun has reached the level where he can perform it.
The longer we're together, the more I'm confronted with the reality that our strength and his are not on the same level.
That's why Selma and I once talked about it—wondering if someday he would leave us to aim even higher.
I'm truly grateful that Orun-kun joined the Silver Moon Rabbit of the Night Sky.
Of course, we know we can't just ride on his coattails forever.
To stand as equals beside him as comrades, we'll keep working desperately.
If the day comes when Orun-kun chooses to leave us in pursuit of even greater heights—I'll be sad, but I want to see him off with a smile.
I hope that day never comes—but even if it does, right now I want to support him as much as I can, as his big sister.
—Yes… because I'm his big sister…
『Everyone—prepare to attack!』
While old memories and thoughts of Orun-kun flickered through my mind, I called out to the others via telepathy.
I evaded the White Serpent's attack once again with [Space Leap].
Taking advantage of the opening that followed, we landed yet another coordinated full assault on the serpent.
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『Orun—how does it look?』
After yet another coordinated attack, Selma-san asked me via telepathy.
I had already been observing the White Serpent's changes even before her question and immediately shared my findings with everyone.
『Yeah—there's a slight change. If we keep dragging this out… we win.』
When I reported that our strategy was clearly working so far, joyful voices rose from the others.
『A slight change means it's still going to take time. Everyone—tighten up again! We're winning this without a scratch!』
『Of course! Even if someone gets hurt, I'll heal them no problem! As long as I'm here, no one's going down!』
『Will—we'll keep supporting the rear guard! We'll time the final blow from here—so we're counting on you at the end!』
『Got it! I'm definitely finishing this snake off!』
With the finish line in sight, we encouraged each other.
『Rain—headache okay?』
『Yeah, I'm fine. [Space Leap] is as natural to me as walking.』
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After that, Rain-san continued to toy with the White Serpent, creating openings for us to land attacks.
Occasionally the aggro shifted to one of the other four—but when it came to Will or me, we dodged or parried just like Rain-san, keeping the serpent off-balance.
When it targeted Selma-san or Lucre, I obstructed with [Reflective Wall] or [Gravity Manipulation]. Or Selma-san used [Space Leap] to reposition while Will—teleported in—protected the two of them. We handled it without issue.
And then—several hours after battle began, when fatigue was visibly heavy on all of us—the moment we'd been waiting for finally arrived.
"—!"
Right after Rain-san evaded another attack with [Space Leap], the White Serpent showed a clear opening. I swung my magic sword and sliced through its scales.
『The slash connected!』
The White Serpent's scales should have been so soft and flexible that cutting them was nearly impossible.
When the *Golden Dawn* defeated it, the decisive factor had been Aneli's massive barrage of magic combined with Oliver's Heaven Flash enhanced by my [Instantaneous Ability Surge Impact]—plus the cooperation of the wind fairy Sylph and the pixie attached to Luna, who unleashed a storm of spirit magic at her pleading.
That was why, even with Rain-san's attack magic—stronger than Aneli's—enhanced by [Instantaneous Ability Surge Impact], we hadn't been able to land a decisive blow.
So we'd adopted the strategy of transforming the environment into extreme cold.
We'd originally aimed for death by freezing or magic—but the serpent adapted, rendering that impossible.
Next we tested whether prolonged exposure to cold would alter its scales.
If no change appeared, we'd planned to withdraw and rethink the strategy.
But after its scales turned blue and its properties shifted, several coordinated attacks finally left faint cuts.
From there we focused on keeping it cold.
We periodically stabbed the white daggers into the ground to prevent the temperature from rising, fighting on in near-zero conditions.
And at last—my magic sword severed the White Serpent's scales.
『Finally! I've been waiting for this moment!』
Until now we had been scattered—but now everyone except Rain-san gathered at the designated spot.
Rain-san continued drawing the serpent's attention to the end. It lunged with yet another headbutt—too many to count.
Of course she evaded with [Space Leap] and teleported to our position.
"…Fuu. Sorry to keep you waiting. The rest is yours, Orun-kun, Will!"
Even Rain-san—having activated [Space Leap] over a hundred times—was showing clear signs of fatigue.
"Yeah—leave it to us!"
With all of us gathered in one place, the White Serpent naturally turned its attention here.
"—[Magic Sword Creation: Destruction]"
I activated the spell I'd prepared just before switching from [Seal Release: Culmination] to [Seal Release: Fifth Layer Restoration Quintuple]. A massive magic circle appeared on the ground.
From the center rose a jet-black mass.
When Will touched it, an overwhelmingly pressurized magic sword appeared in his right hand—vibrating the very space around it.
Perhaps wary of having its body cut and of the magic sword in Will's grip, the White Serpent coiled defensively.
Then it used magic to sprout numerous giant trees between us and itself, blocking our approach.
But the outcome was already decided.
"Will—charge straight at the White Serpent! I'll clear the path! [Land Form: Mont Zex]!"
While calling to Will, I transformed Schwarzhaize into bow form.
I drew the string and nocked an arrow of condensed mana.
Then—
"—Quake Heaven"
I aimed carefully and fired the jet-black arrow.
Powered by amplified gravity waves from [Gravity Manipulation], the arrow pulverized every giant tree in its path as it flew straight toward the White Serpent.
Upon impact, just like Heaven Flash, it caused mana diffusion—the shockwave assaulted the serpent.
Then gravity manifested above its head.
Weakened by the earlier shockwave and accumulated damage from the rear guard's magic, the serpent was pulled downward—its coiled defensive posture broken, exposing its body defenselessly.
Charging straight toward that exposed torso was Will—gripping the magic sword tightly.
The serpent sensed Will's approach and increased resistance—but it was too late.
"RAAAAAAAHHHH!!"
Defying the serpent's struggle, Will's sweeping magic sword reached its torso.
He channeled [Instantaneous Ability Surge Impact] into the strike.
The magic sword passed through the White Serpent's body, tracing a beautiful arc.