The wind rustled the leaves of the trees as two figures faced each other with grave intensity.
Cao Cao, the descendant of the Chinese Warlord, took a deep breath as he analyzed the opponent before him.
One of Grigori's Cadre—Satanael, a Ten-Winged Fallen Angel with power comparable to Ultimate-class Demons.
"You're not a lost child…" Satanael smiled in a way that seemed gentle. "One of Azazel's adoptees? Or someone who got caught up in all this?"
The wielder of the Supreme Longinus stared seriously while considering his words.
"Why did you betray Grigori and join this?"
Satanael spoke without a care.
"I merely desire the same Sacred Gear possibilities as other researchers. However, Azazel had no intention of loosening his oversight."
"So, you escaped the organization and joined hands with other powers? You offered Grigori's research and the like to an agency related to the Five Principal Clans… didn't you realize the chaos that would cause?"
"It's just that my goals align with the 'Utsusemi Agency' and Oz."
Cao Cao's eyes narrowed.
"I see. Then there's no need for small talk. I'll take you down here and now."
The young man extended his right hand as a large poleaxe took form—the sky-piercing weapon, Houtengeki.
The enemy before him seemed interested in Longinus but didn't appear to know he possessed one, so it was better to keep him in the dark.
"Not a Sacred Gear, but it seems like a legendary weapon in its own right… You really don't know how amusing it is for a kid to say he'll take me down."
A clear aura of light enveloped the Cadre, who wore a smile on his face.
"I may not be as strong as Azazel or Barakiel, and I'm more a researcher than a fighter. But I'm still one of the strongest Fallen Angels."
Two swords of light appeared, one in each of Satanael's hands, as he maintained his smile.
Cao Cao readied his grand poleaxe, taking a deep breath.
For an instant, Satanael froze. The entire airflow slowly began moving toward Cao Cao, being absorbed by him, making Satanael wonder if it was possible for a human to have such lung capacity.
When the young man stopped, he vanished!
Satanael's eyes widened as he immediately turned, bringing his two swords of light to block a strike from Houtengeki coming directly from behind.
The swords of light and the poleaxe clashed, and in that instant, Satanael felt the overwhelming pressure of the blow.
"This… This strength surpasses a High-class Demon, almost entering the Ultimate realm… but this kid is human. How can he be so strong?!"
The clash of weapons forced the Fallen Angel to retreat as he regained his posture. The swords of light in his hands were fractured.
Though he didn't consider himself much of a fighter, Satanael knew he wasn't weak, nor were his light weapons. This only highlighted the physical strength of the boy before him, and especially that weapon.
"That's an interesting trick you've got there, kid."
"It's not a trick," Cao Cao smiled while holding Houtengeki. "I'm just breathing."
Among the differences between races, physical capabilities were always the most noticeable. Even a Low-class Demon was about three times stronger than a human in terms of strength.
Overcoming physical disparities was a major obstacle, something humans could only achieve through extreme training.
Since meeting Alexandre a few years ago, Cao Cao had done little else but train intensely to grow stronger.
And given how his adoptive brother had a knack for getting into trouble, Cao Cao had plenty of opportunities to practice.
What he was doing was using one of the techniques Alexandre taught him, what his friend called [Total Concentration Breathing].
It's an advanced and esoteric breathing technique where one inhales the maximum amount of oxygen within a specific breathing pattern to elevate physical and mental prowess to their maximum limits.
The effects include a plethora of enhanced physical and mental abilities, such as superhuman physical characteristics (i.e., strength, speed, stamina, durability, and agility), faster thought processes, maximized concentration, and hyper-information processing.
Though he wasn't at the same level as his adoptive brother, who could keep [Total Concentration Breathing] active at all times, even while sleeping.
"Let's go…"
Seeing the boy before him breathe again, Satanael prepared himself.
"Moon Breathing - First Form…"
Cao Cao charged, advancing toward Satanael while swinging the poleaxe horizontally.
"Yamidzuki - Yoi no Miya (Dark Moon, Evening Palace)!"
The effect of a crescent moon strike attacked Satanael, countless chaotic crescent blades striking along with the attack.
Even the smallest of the strikes grazed him, compounding the danger of the blow, and realizing this, the Fallen Angel quickly retreated.
A fighting style taught to Cao Cao by Alexandre, a sword-fighting style, but thanks to Alex's teachings and Cao Cao's talent, it was possible to use it even with a spear.
"Well, fighting head-on was never my forte, so…"
Satanael raised his hand toward the sky, the area lighting up as dozens, or perhaps hundreds, of spears of light appeared in the sky above Cao Cao's shocked gaze.
"I prefer a simpler method."
This was the most basic attack of an Angel, Fallen or not, a method never abandoned due to its effectiveness.
If he couldn't overpower with strength, he'd overwhelm with numbers, raining destruction on his enemies.
"Let's do this!"
The rain of light spears shot toward Cao Cao, who raised Houtengeki.
"Moon Breathing - Second Form: Shuka no Rōgetsu (Pearl Flower Moon Observation)!"
Several crescent moon-shaped strikes shot from Houtengeki, defending him from Satanael's attacks.
Despite Cao Cao's vigorous defense, some of the light spears began to slip through, grazing and lightly burning his arms and legs.
But this didn't bother the young boy. The spear in his hand turned completely black as he applied [Armament Haki] to cover it entirely.
When the opening finally came, Cao Cao attacked.
"Moon Breathing - Seventh Form…"
Houtengeki was swung.
"Yakkyō - Dzukibae (Mirror of Misfortune, Moonlit)!"
A gigantic crescent moon-shaped slash was made by Cao Cao, not only using the fighting style called [Moon Breathing] but also unleashing a large amount of [Touki] through the attack.
Seeing the attack, Satanael immediately created a barrier to defend against it.
"Sky-Piercing Spear Art - Blunt Strike!"
Behind the crescent moon slashes, the poleaxe in Cao Cao's hands was thrown toward Satanael, enveloped in a red aura.
The Fallen Angel's eyes widened as he saw the strike push his shield slightly back, cracking it.
When he finally managed to defend, Satanael's eyes widened at Cao Cao's disappearance, only to sense the boy's presence behind him.
In the sky, Cao Cao seemed to be stepping on the air as if it were solid, a technique taught to him called [Soru], part of a style called [Rokushiki] by Alexandre.
But what caught Satanael's attention was something else—the weapon in the boy's right hand.
A blue spear with grand details and a blade glowing with divine holy light.
"T-that's—"
"True Longinus, extend!"
The Spear of Destiny suddenly extended toward Satanael, who tried to defend, but the magical defense circle offered no resistance to the blade capable of killing Gods and Buddhas.
The holy blade pierced the Fallen Angel's body, his face full of shock as his body disintegrated, consumed by the holy power.
Seeing this, a sigh escaped Cao Cao, who used the spear as support to descend to the ground.
Among the enemies he'd faced, Satanael was one of the strongest, but he wasn't a fighter, despite his great power, so it was easy to corner him.
The young man quickly pulled out some bandages from magical circles he created while treating his wounds, something simple just to stop the bleeding.
If he hadn't used [True Longinus], it would have been a tougher fight.
This only made him wonder how strong his brother was, and at the same time, decide to increase his training.
He didn't even seem to care about the terrifying fact that he, a twelve-year-old child, had taken down one of Grigori's leaders and a Fallen Angel capable of rivaling an Ultimate-class Demon.
He quickly left the forest, heading toward where the others were. Alex could surely take care of himself.
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In another part of the forest, flames enveloped the sword in Alexandre Ikuse's hands as he faced the Abyss Team members before him.
The giant bear of the girl, a teddy bear plush that had transformed into this enormous monster with poisonous claws, attacked.
In response, Alexandre raised his Zanpakutō and brought it down in a vertical strike.
Flames exploded from the blade, consuming everything in their path as they engulfed the terrifying bear. As expected of a Sacred Gear meant to protect its wielder, it withstood the flames for a few seconds before disappearing completely.
The eyes of all widened in shock and horror as they prepared to summon their Sacred Gears.
But…
"Sun Breathing - Tenth Form…"
The flames around the Zanpakutō gathered as its wielder advanced, a single continuous and overwhelmingly fast strike executed, the image of a Japanese dragon made of solar flames following him.
"Nichiun no Ryū Kaburimai (Solar Dragon Halo Dance)!"
Blood didn't even spurt. The single strike of the Zanpakutō decapitated all the enemies.
The heads of those children who had been tempted by the evil path flew, consumed by the flames along with their bodies, as they saw the stoic eyes of the man who killed them.
"Sorry, but I was never a nice guy anyway."
As the flames intensified and consumed everything, leaving not even ashes of the bodies that were there before, Alexandre slowly sheathed his sword, the flames finally dissipating.
"May you find peace."
With those words, the man shot off toward where his younger brother was.
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For Tobio and the others, the situation wasn't so simple. They managed to drive off Walburga and the wizards under her command and went to where Lavinia and Augusta were fighting.
As they advanced, Tobio gradually noticed a peculiarity in the open-air atmosphere. There were alternating, or possibly simultaneous, gusts of cold air and gentle heat waves.
The further they went, the stronger it became.
They immediately understood.
Lavinia's ice and Augusta's flames were disturbing the atmospheric temperature in this part of the mountain.
As they ran, they could see traces of magic and supernatural power among the many trees, the ground, the boulders, and so on.
Trees had been felled or uprooted, completely changing the forest's appearance.
The trees were either burned to a crisp or encased in ice. There were places where the ground was frozen, places where it was torn up, and also smoldering vegetation where fires couldn't be fully extinguished.
Even ahead of them, the clamorous sounds of battle could be heard. It seemed Lavinia was close.
Running, Tobio and the others finally emerged from the forest, and there was a rocky riverbed.
Lavinia and Augusta stood face-to-face in the river. Both had several magical circles deployed in front of them and were staring at each other.
Beside each of them, respectively, was a maiden made of ice and a giant cultivated from flames. These were their respective Sacred Gears—their Longinus.
Lavinia manifested countless ice spears from numerous magical circles and fired them at Augusta. Augusta also fired massive flames from her magical circles, which served to counter Lavinia's ice magic.
The powerful magics of the pair collided with each other, the ice melting from the flames, the fire extinguished by the ice, all leading to a powerful wind that blew violently.
Beside them, the flame giant carrying a cross swung it with great vigor. From the cross that was swung, fierce purple flames surged, rushing toward Lavinia's ice princess.
The ice princess crossed her four arms, and several layers of ice pillars grew from the surface of the bare rocks, orienting toward the giant.
The purple flames and ice pillars collided, creating a massive explosion.
A flashy magical battle was unfolding right before Tobio and the others' eyes.
Tobio and the others swallowed hard.
Just from the current battle, they understood it was a fight between two people that exceeded their imaginations and abilities.
The magic of those two belonged to a realm far above their own world—.
If Jin or Griffon rushed in, they might be burned by those powerful flames, or if, conversely, they were caught, they'd end up being a hiding place for Lavinia.
They had come to help, but the situation was such that they couldn't rush in carelessly.
—Perhaps, if I demonstrated the power from the moment I defeated Himejima Hanezu…
Tobio considered this, but the rampant power would simultaneously mean he'd end up killing his comrades too.
Lavinia and Augusta continued their magical battle with each other.
From the magical circles the two manifested came not only fire and ice but also gusts, lightning, countless arrows of light, deep black balls of darkness, and frequent paranormal phenomena that Tobio hadn't seen before, all unfolding before their eyes.
Each of these blows raised countless water columns from the river, destroying the rocky riverbed.
The boldly smiling Augusta and Lavinia, whose expression never wavered.
And then, the pair noticed them at roughly the same time.
Augusta spoke.
"Oh my, it seems Satanael's done with his business, huh. Also, it appears your protégés have been defeated."
"Lavinia! We're here now, so don't worry!"
With the arrival of her comrades, Lavinia finally relaxed.
Seeing this, Augusta scoffed.
"Hey, miss, from now on, if you interfere in a battle between Longinus, you'll end up dying after my magic and the Ice Princess's."
At this declaration from the elderly witch, Natsume retorted resentfully, "What was that!"
Augusta then directed her gaze to Tobio—and to Shigune, who was holding her Sacred Gear.
"…Well, it seems I shouldn't show that dog or Toutetsu any openings."
—And then, Augusta turned her eyes to Sae next.
"…The black lion test subject, huh. It seems she was safe then. …Oh? You can't bring it out? That's certainly unexpected. That Fallen Angel governor-general, could he have done something?"
Sae, as part of an experiment by the 'Utsusemi Agency,' was forced to carry an artificial Sacred Gear—a black lion-type independent avatar.
Tobio didn't remember well, but he had heard that, as a result of Tobio achieving Balance Breaker, it had been shattered, but…
Lavinia asked Augusta.
"…By black lion test subject, you mean that thing from Oz? The governor-general Azazel is currently analyzing it. I'd appreciate it if you didn't say something that would cause anxiety for Toby and Sae."
Somehow, Lavinia seemed to know the condition of the lion residing within Sae, but…
Augusta displayed an obscene smile.
"That's the one, though it was something we provided to Satanael and the 'Utsusemi Agency.' Glenda's research was incredibly useful, huh. See, it's all because Glenda was looking after the Ice Princess."
"So you forced information about my Sacred Gear from my master."
Upon hearing this statement, Augusta let out a meaningful laugh.
"Kukukuh…"
Smiling an extremely ugly smile, Augusta made a declaration.
"That's wrong. That's completely wrong. It was offered to us by Glenda. Everything about the power of your independent avatar type."
They were offered information about Lavinia's own abilities by Glenda—in other words, by Lavinia's master.
More doubtful than Tobio and the others about what she heard, Lavinia responded with an expression of perplexity.
"…What are you saying…?"
Augusta, her smile becoming even more detestable, explained gleefully.
This was her devastating confession.
"Oh heavens. Unexpectedly, you're a child who struggles to comprehend. Well then, allow me to explain clearly. Glenda is a witch on our side. She has been from the start. Good witch? Bad witch? That's an egocentric scale of information passed down by people on our side. Back then, it was because there was a terrible faction dispute in the world of Oz between north, south, east, and west. Well, the wizards of 'Oz,' from the start, weren't interested in anything but advancing their own magic."
For an instant, Lavinia froze as if time had stopped.
A brief silence fell over the area, but…
Lavinia let out a trembling voice.
"…A lie. THAT'S A LIE!!!"
In response to her emphatic tone, Augusta continued smiling scornfully.
"It's not a lie. In that case, how about this?"
The old witch raised her palm, forming a small magical circle.
Augusta addressed what appeared to be a communication-type magical circle.
"Can you hear me, Glenda?"
After a beat, the voice of an elderly woman was heard through the magical circle.
'…For you to contact me out of the blue, I wonder if something happened, Augusta.'
Upon hearing that voice, Lavinia's eyes widened.
From her reaction, it seemed the voice was familiar to her.
Augusta spoke cheerfully to the person on the other side of the communication magical circle.
"Now, I was just fighting your disciple, the Ice Princess. How about letting her hear your voice? She's been desperately searching for you, hasn't she?"
In response to Augusta's words, the woman, who seemed to be Lavinia's master, replied as follows.
'…There's nothing to discuss.'
The tone was one of blunt refusal.
"—!"
Lavinia was left speechless by this response, her entire body trembling.
Fully savoring Lavinia's reaction, Augusta let out a laugh.
"Kakakah! How cold! Wasn't there a time when you more or less loved this girl like a daughter? And yet you're fine saying something like that! How heartless!"
'…'
In response to Augusta's statement, the magical circle that seemed to be in communication with Glenda fell silent for a moment.
And then, she addressed her student.
'—Lavinia.'
This was… for her student Lavinia, who had been searching for her master's well-being, a response that could be considered lamentable.
'I'll say it again. What I have to say to you is nothing.'
Then the communication ended, and the magical circle vanished.
The overwhelming events left even Tobio and the others speechless.
As for Lavinia herself—.
"…."
Dropping her wand, her arms hung limply, and with her gaze becoming unfocused, her expression was enveloped by an uncharacteristic lack of composure.
Even the Ice Princess standing beside her had ceased its offensive stance.
Utterly insignificant in the face of her ability, the truth that her patron, who had shown her kindness and offered her hope when she lost her relatives, had been one of those conspiring with the enemy she pursued—this truth was surely something she couldn't come to terms with.
It wouldn't have been strange if she believed it wasn't real.
Somehow opening her trembling lips, Lavinia.
"…N-No way."
In a voice unimaginable for her normally, from the depths of her body, from the depths of her heart, she screamed.
"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!! I don't, I don't believe…!!"
Lavinia staggered. Her legs, no doubt, became unsteady from the considerable shock.
The condition of her heart and body was completely shaken.
However, they were still in the midst of a battle.
Tobio and Natsume locked eyes. The two, having agreed to help Lavinia, nodded to each other in silence.
Tobio and Natsume ran at that moment, aiming to rescue Lavinia.
Augusta unleashed a dangerous magical circle from her hand, and a sinister-patterned black magic circle began to unfold.
"You've lost your senses, then. Now!"
In an instant, an enormous black magic circle began to develop around the defenseless Lavinia. A bizarre magical power overflowed and began to envelop Lavinia from her toes.
With no time to resist, Lavinia was engulfed by the deep power of black magic.
Just as her entire body was dyed black, a change also happened to Augusta.
The old witch's body was glowing, having transformed into an orb of light. This orb of light flew at great speed toward Lavinia, who had become pitch black, and finally collided with her.
The orb of light entered Lavinia, who had turned jet black.
At that point, the magical circle vanished, and the black magic also dissipated as Lavinia fell to the ground.
What remained was… just Lavinia.
Observing this series of events, Natsume raised a voice of confusion.
"—! What just happened!?"
A moment later, Lavinia regained her posture, her face lowered, and let out a sinister laugh.
"Ahahah!"
For her, a loud laugh of such volume was unthinkable.
Lavinia turned her face to them. Her sharp gaze was filled with hostility.
She then declared the following.
"What a pity. I've taken this miss's body. Now then, how shall we do this?"
Lavinia's expression was so akin to Augusta's that Tobio and the others were shocked.
The aura emanating from her had also become Augusta's!
The sinister magic from just a moment ago was something meant to hijack Lavinia's body…
Though they somehow understood the circumstances, it was astonishing that the Lavinia before them had her consciousness stolen by the old Oz witch she was at odds with, and Tobio and the others were racking their brains on how to respond.
Lavinia—Augusta, uncaring of how much confusion and how they were feeling, was giving instructions to the Ice Princess beside her, which wasn't that independent avatar type made of ice, pointing its four arms at them!
Moreover, even the purple flame giant that Augusta controlled began to assume an offensive stance toward them!
Augusta, wielding ice and flame Longinus that were their respective other selves, laughed fearlessly.
"Are you capable of opposing two types of Longinus? Well, black dog and four maidens of the Four Fiends?"
The Ice Princess produced a mass of ice in her hand, and the purple flame giant raised its cross high.
In this situation, they'd end up suffering simultaneous attacks from the ice and flame Longinus.
However, before the Witch of the West could attempt to attack, two new presences arrived on the battlefield.
"Looks like you're in a bad situation."
"Brother!" Tobio shouted as he saw Alexandre land on the battlefield, Cao Cao alongside him.
"Damn it, you're late!" Samejima grumbled.
"What can I do? The hero always arrives at the last moment," Alex boasted, earning an irritated look from Samejima and a sigh from Cao Cao.
"So…"
The golden eyes slowly fixed on Lavinia's figure.
"Alex, that's not Lavinia! It's Augusta—she used some crazy magic to steal Lavinia's body!"
Hearing Natsume's words, the golden eyes widened slightly.
"Possession spell? I suppose I'd expect that from one of Oz's great witches."
"So, who might you be, boy?"
Lavinia, or rather Augusta, asked with a smile, but seeing the evil witch's smile on the beautiful young Italian's face made Alex's stomach churn.
"Alexandre Ikuse, at your service. I'd love to say it's an honor, but I'd be lying."
"Ikuse… so you're the brother of the [Canis Lycaon] wielder? I heard a bit that he had a brother. Are you as special as he is?"
"Let's say so."
Alexandre gave a sarcastic smile as he took the lead in front of everyone, his attention fully focused on the Oz witch.
"So, Augusta of the Purple Flames, I'd like you to leave Lavinia's body. I have a soft spot for pretty girls, and I wouldn't want anything to happen to her."
"Hahaha, what an interesting boy. And if I refuse?"
Augusta laughed gleefully, while the Hakuryuukou maintained a calm smile on his face.
In the next instant…
Augusta raised her hand, her surroundings enveloped by magical circles that bombarded toward Alexandre.
But the boy's response was already prepared. He raised his hand as an equal number of magical circles appeared, firing attacks of the same magnitude.
A rain of Elemental Magic of various attributes—fire, ice, water, wind, lightning, and more—clashed against each other, resulting in multiple explosions.
"Then I'll do it by force."
"Hahaha, how fun! So you use magic too, boy! I can see great talent in you!" Augusta declared joyfully. "So, what do you say? If you join me and Oz, I'll ensure help with your research. If you're a magician too, your goal can only be the pinnacle of magic!"
"It's a good offer. If the original owner of that body asked me for something, I wouldn't be able to refuse, but since it's you, I'm afraid I'll have to say no."
"A waste of talent."
Augusta activated her magic again, but Alexandre could see that this time she was starting to use it at full power, an apparently infinite number of magical circles formed on a scale that completely filled an entire area, an overwhelming bombardment capable of destroying an entire mountain unleashed by the witch.
Alexandre didn't hesitate for a moment, his magical circles increasing even further, overwhelming amounts of flames, ice, water, lightning, storms, darkness, light, and dozens of elements, even Forbidden Spells like purple flame skulls, curse cyclones, and black lightning were unleashed.
"What a surprise! For someone so young to use Forbidden Magic, that uses your own life force as fuel, boy!"
Though Alexandre remained impassive and focused, Tobio Ikuse, who heard this, was in shock.
First a Demonic Sword, which, from what he researched, brought only ruin to its wielder and consumed their life, now spells that fed on the wielder's life force—his brother was meddling with very dangerous things.
"Alex, what are you doing?!"
Tobio's shout drew Alexandre's attention for an instant, and that was what Augusta wanted.
"An opening."
Augusta's already immense magical circles grew even larger, the overwhelming rain of spells not only directed at Alexandre but also at Tobio and the others.
As Cao Cao's eyes widened and he prepared to defend them, Alexandre was faster.
His concentration was broken for a millisecond, but in the next, it was back.
Multiple magical circles appeared around his body, complex runes and diagrams circulating through them, a magical circle corresponding to each attack aimed at them.
"Stop."
As if it were a command, the spells about to hit their targets suddenly froze, a thin blue aura enveloping them as they didn't move.
"This…" Augusta's eyes widened, unable to comprehend what happened, and when she did, her face was one of shock. "Space-Time Magic… you stopped the time of my spells!"
Augusta's eyes couldn't comprehend what she was truly seeing. Elemental Magic or Forbidden Magic was one thing, but this was different by several magnitudes.
Human magic was different from the power of other beings. The "Demonic Power" of demons could create something from imagination and sufficient power, while the "Authority," the magic of Gods, could make something happen because they had the right to make it happen.
Human magic was far more complex. To achieve anything, complex formulas had to be created, even for something as simple as a Fireball.
Why did it burn? How did it burn? What was the intensity of the flames? How to make it burn? Numerous questions had to be asked and shaped to create magical circles to produce these phenomena.
To use Space-Time Magic wasn't impossible but extremely difficult. Users of it were usually Gods with related Authorities, Dragons, or other beings specialized in magic who studied for decades or centuries.
Of course, there were basic Space-Time spells like teleportation, but for humans to use them required a long time to master, and even then, without complete mastery, you could throw yourself into the Dimensional Gap and be destroyed.
But this—this boy, not even two decades old, had unraveled the mysteries of Space and Time to apply them fluidly in magic.
"This is almost… like the Evil Eyes of the Baleful Gaze, the Evil Eyes that Stop Time of Balor."
"Ah, so you know about that," Alexandre smiled. "I was inspired by him, but even reproducing the time-stopping power of the Evil God Balor, I'm not yet at his level."
To speak so casually, this boy had entered the realm of Gods solely with Human Magic. This should be on the level of a God of Magic from any Pantheon.
"This, in all the years of my life, I've never seen a person use magic like this. Even Mephisto's Grau Zauberer, the Golden Dawn, or the Rosenkreuzer, which belong to some of the greatest magicians in the Underworld—none of these organizations must have someone at your level."
"Even those magicians who left their names etched in history… even among all the legends of magic, you would surely be among the five strongest in the history of magic, perhaps more."
Hearing Augusta's words, the Hakuryuukou maintained a slight smile on his face. "Flattery will get you nowhere."
As he smiled, Alexandre's spells were filled with power again, raining down on Augusta.
Letting out an irritated 'tsk,' the witch ordered [Absolute Demise] to protect her, creating an ice wall.
"Stopping the time of a Longinus won't be so easy, huh…"
Space-Time Magic was one of his favorites, but it wasn't one of his trump cards. He had plenty more magic prepared for various situations.
As the bombardment continued, the ice wall was quickly demolished as Augusta ordered [Absolute Demise] to reinforce it.
Switching to offensive mode, the Ice Princess stopped attacking as the Flame Giant swung its cross, sending a pillar of sacred purple flames toward Alexandre.
Extending his left hand, Alexandre quickly created a defensive circle to protect himself. Though the sacred flames were very powerful, Alexandre quickly adjusted his defense to withstand the attacks.
"What's wrong, Augusta? Won't you use your magic? Or rather, I think you can't, can you? Just like you can't use both Longinus at the same time."
As the witch's expression darkened, Alexandre smiled.
"Using two different Sacred Gears at the same time is quite difficult, isn't it? Especially for Longinus, which are so outrageous, using two types simultaneously is… a considerable burden. At best, it would completely exhaust stamina and magical power. It's possible it could even shave off life force."
The burden of a single Longinus was overwhelming. Even Alex didn't always use two of his Longinus simultaneously.
Of course, he had a trick. Both [Regulus Nemea] and [Divine Dividing] placed a burden on the body, while [Dimension Lost] burdened the mind—so he was still capable of using the Fog of Extinction alongside one of the other two.
But that was still very taxing on the body.
"So what?" Augusta scoffed. "You'll run out of options too. Not only are you using magic, but you're having to use it to defend and attack my Longinus and protect your friends. Soon enough, you'll run out of energy."
"I wondered what nonsense you'd come up with, but that's it? I'm disappointed. I thought you'd be more perceptive, Augusta of the Purple Flames."
The witch's eyes narrowed at the young man's mockery, and then she tried to sense his magical power.
The witch's eyes widened in pure horror at what she felt—an overwhelming amount of magical energy tightly contained by the young man.
"This is… at least Maou-class?! No, this goes beyond that. How can a child have so much energy, especially a human?!"
Augusta was filled with shock at the overwhelming amount of magical power, especially since she had never encountered a human with so much magical energy.
But that wasn't what was strange…
"Your energy, since the fight began, it hasn't fluctuated. What trick is this?!"
"Ah, that," Alexandre smiled as if he understood. "I suppose there's no harm in telling you."
"This is the effect of my Original Magic—Infinity."
"No matter how powerful a spell is, I only need to cast it once. Then, I can keep flames burning, ice freezing, or even time stopped… for eternity."
Augusta's eyes, the only one present capable of grasping the magnitude of what she heard, seemed unable to fit in her face.
The effects of this Magic didn't follow the natural laws of the magical world. It was almost like cheating.
"This means…"
"All these spells of mine, I only needed to activate them, and then my [Infinity] took care of the rest. I don't need to move. I can just focus on creating more magical circles, and my [Infinity] will keep them bombarding you for as long as I desire."
A smile formed on the young man's lips.
"Minutes, hours, days—let's see then, Witch of the Purple Flames, how long you can hold out, when will my Magic surpass your Longinus!"
The witch's eyes were filled with horror as she saw the young man seemingly delighted in conducting such an experiment.
"Or, that's what I'd like to say," Alexandre said, shrugging.
The magical circles he created slowly vanished, but this only made the witch more alert.
"I don't have that much time, though I'd love to conduct plenty of experiments with you, so I think I'll save that for another time and do another one."
The Hakuryuukou slowly brought his hands together.
Seeing this, Cao Cao's eyes widened.
"Everyone, run!"
"What do you mean?"
Tobio asked, but the young Chinese man turned with the most terrified look Tobio and the others had ever seen on him.
"If we're here when Alex starts his attack, we'll all die."
Cao Cao didn't wait, creating a teleportation circle seeing that the others wouldn't move, and took everyone away.
Alexandre Ikuse merely smiled.
His target was Augusta, and he had to expel the witch from Lavinia's body. Not only that, but he could sense some people were watching nearby.
Therefore, he needed an attack to eliminate the observers. Leaving them alive knowing what they knew would be dangerous.
Besides, he had something he wanted to test.
As his hands finally came together in a symbol, the young man only smiled.
"Domain Expansion."