The captains slowly sheathed their weapons. Mana pressure eased across the capital, though the sky still churned with lingering echoes of the elves' awakening. The civilians below watched in hushed awe, unaware that a true catastrophe had just been narrowly avoided.
Yami exhaled, scratching his head. "Tch. And here I thought we were gonna get some long dramatic final boss speech."
Asta let out a relieved laugh, falling on his back. "Honestly… I was ready for like… a difficult battle."
Dave, still standing calm amid the fading Void Field, simply replied, "If you cut clean… things end clean."
The First Wizard King nodded approvingly. "Spoken like a warrior who does not waste motion. Efficiency in battle is a strength many overlook."
Julius gave a small smile, glancing at Dave. "I told you this generation is different. They don't fight like we did… they fight cleaner."
Mereoleona scoffed from the side, arms crossed, fire still licking her shoulders. "Cleaner? Hah. I'd call it savage refinement. Like a beast that learned to wield a blade."
She looked at Dave, a feral grin forming. "Don't think training's over just because a devil croaked. I still haven't beaten you properly."
Dave met her gaze. "Then I'll wait for you to catch up."
"Oi," Fuegoleon muttered, walking over with a faint smirk, "are you trying to provoke my sister on purpose?"
Mereoleona's flames spiked. "If he is, he's doing a good job."
Even the First Wizard King chuckled. "This era… truly is interesting."
The elves, now aware and free of hatred, stood silently. Real Licht stepped forward, his golden eyes calm.
"Grudges of the past… have crumbled faster than I expected."
A glow shimmered around the recovering elves as healing magic spread. No longer enemies. No longer bound by curses.
Julius took a step forward, looking at the First Wizard King and Licht.
"Then… shall we begin the next era? One where humans, elves… and perhaps even devils, no longer repeat the same mistakes."
The First Wizard King nodded slowly.
"Elves shall stand beside humans. That is my answer."
The mana-heavy clouds above Clover Kingdom finally began to part, sunlight breaking through the dark sky like a new dawn.
The war—the one written in ancient stone tablets and fate—had ended differently than destiny once intended.
"But… didn't you say the elves would pass on after this?" someone asked.
Licht stood quietly, his elves gathered behind him, but there was no sorrow in his eyes.
"They should have," Licht said calmly. "We're both real… and not real at the same time."
Dave looked at him, then rubbed the back of his neck. "Well… there was a slight problem."
Licht raised an eyebrow. "Explain."
Dave pointed at the altar with a casual gesture. "The seal was designed so that when the devil awakened, he would absorb the elves' remaining magic to empower himself."
"But we killed him too fast," Yami added, grinning. "Didn't even give him time to monologue properly."
Dave nodded. "Since we ended him before he could draw power… the ritual reversed."
Julius blinked, processing. "So you're telling me… the devil's awakening magic was backfed into the elves?"
Dave confirmed with a nod. "Yes. All that stored ancient mana returned to them—but since it mixed with the devil's core ritual, their physiology shifted."
Licht looked at his own hands, noticing faint black lines of mana beneath his skin—like flowing starfire instead of corruption.
"They are now… True Elves," Dave said. "The original race. The ancient form of elves who had bodies strong like devils, but unlike devils—were loved by mana, not rejected by it."
Silence followed—stunned, heavy.
"And…" Dave added, glancing at the First Wizard King. "The same applies to him. Because his body was bound to the same ritual."
The First Wizard King let out a breath, feeling his mana differently—clean, vast, and primal.
"So… he is now part human, part elf…" Julius muttered.
Dave finished the sentence for him, "…and part devil by structure—but purified. A being with triple mana affinity. A true Arcane Sovereign."
For the first time in centuries, the First Wizard King smiled faintly.
"Interesting." His eyes gleamed, reflecting the depth of his newfound awareness. He and the Wizard King began to inspect their own bodies and those of the elves, noting the changes—the subtle yet undeniable merging of forms. Both now carried traces of devil, elf, and human, reshaped by the ancient magic. They were unprecedented, and their magic had matured in ways no one could have foreseen.
"Is this… a good thing or a bad thing?" Fuegoleon asked cautiously, eyeing the transformations.
Dave stepped forward, thoughtful. "It depends. If the devil physiology remains unchecked, it could become dangerous. Immortality, strength… it lasts until the heart is destroyed. But with guidance, it could be a force for protection rather than destruction."
Fuegoleon nodded slowly. "I hope nothing like that ever happens again… but it's hard to tell what the future holds."
Dave's gaze remained steady, firm. "Then we'll make sure it doesn't."
***
The next morning, the sun rose over Clover Kingdom, painting the castle spires in gold and crimson. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of mana that still hummed faintly from the events of the previous day. The streets of the capital were alive with whispers, citizens craning their necks to glimpse the Magic Knights and the newly awakened elves who now walked freely among them.
On the royal platform, the captains gathered once more, accompanied by Licht and the elves who had survived—both the real and the "fake" copies that had manifested during the ritual. Alongside Licht were Rhya, Veto, Fana, and the other newly awakened elves, their forms radiant and refined, their eyes reflecting centuries of wisdom tempered by newfound freedom. The fake Licht—Vatolli—stood near the edge, his presence a reminder of the strange balance that had been maintained during the resurrection.
Julius stepped forward, his staff tapping lightly against the stone. "Today, we begin rebuilding—not just the kingdom, but trust, unity, and understanding. What happened yesterday was a test… not of power alone, but of restraint, wisdom, and purpose."
Licht nodded solemnly. "The elves are free. Our magic flows unbound once more. But freedom comes with responsibility. We must now decide how to coexist—not as separate races, but as guardians of a shared world."
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