***Stahlin’s POV***

I-Imposible!

T-This can’t be happening!

How is it even possible?!

He just cut through a Grand Magic like it was nothing and made it disappear?! What kind of monster is he?!

Wait...what is that?! I saw a glint of silver in the night sky.

Being merged with Ifrit gave me sharper vision. A vision to see that brat falling. Did he finally die? Wait. No. He was flying down towards me with that sword at the ready!

I could see his gaze. Like a bird of prey aiming for its kill!

Suddenly, the Water Dragon that brat wrapped around me began to fly towards him, his sword glinting in the moonlight.

If that sword could cut a meteor just what could it do to me?!

“NO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! STOOOOOOOOPPPPP!!!!!!”

I struggled to get away but the Water Dragon that brat conjured had enough strength to keep me from escaping!

Before I knew it…The dragon and the sword crossed paths. I felt a sharp blade course through my Demonic Form.

““AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGRGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!!!!!!!””

Both my screams and that of Ifrit’s escaped through our shared mouth.

The pain! It felt like he cut through my very soul!

How could this have happened? I ask myself again.

It was all so close. Years of schemes and plans. All for naught!

How long had he had fooled me?

That brat was supposed to be a mere puppet! He was supposed to be an incompetent fool that would follow my every word! I raised him that way! But here I am, fooled and cut apart. His sword strike had undone my Demonic Transformation. I felt Ifrit fading away from me.

THAT BLADE...MIZUKAZE...YET AGAIN….HE WOULD INTERFERE...

Mizukaze? What is this demon talking about? Explain yourself!

But Ifrit spoke no longer.

You lowly demon! You even failed to uphold your end of the bargain when I sacrificed all those brats gathered for you.

I tried to activate my medallion to escape this water torrent but-

“I can’t have you dying from a fall now, can I?”

What?! That voice! He can do Telepathy too?!

Just how much was this brat keeping from me?! I then saw a glimpse of him through the water. His golden eyes glared at me. It was the same gaze I saw from his father, the previous Emperor. The moment when he realized the truth in his last moments.

But this time the situation was different.

I was in Francys’ position.

NO! It can’t end here! It can’t! I was so close! It was almost within my grasp! ELYSIUM was almost MINE!

The greatest treasure and secret of the Imperial Family. Something so great and powerful that it could determine who ruled the world. Yet the current Imperial Family had forgotten about it and in their foolishness allowed an opportunity to rule the world slip from their grasp!

“You were after Elysium from the start.”

The boy uttered words that echoed in my head that shook me to the core.

He said it as though it were fact.

H-how did this brat know? It was supposed to be forgotten. Only a genius like me would’ve known about it after so much research.

“What? Did you think that you’re some genius who would be the only one who’d uncover the secrets? Well, it doesn’t matter. You won’t be getting your hands on it either. The Heart of Atlantasia or Elysium. And I won’t let anyone gain either for evil purposes. Not in this tale. I will make an example out of you for that...”

Just as the rampaging water dragon had carried me to that sword’s strike zone it was now carrying me full speed downwards to the Palace.

I couldn’t muster a scream as I fell straight towards the Palace and smashed through the domed glass roof.

***

I was floating above the Palace.

He won’t die from that fall.

My Water Dragon will act as an airbag...or is it a water bag?

Still, to think I’d be able to pull off Mentor's secret technique. Mizukaze Secret Art: The Dragon’s Offering To The Gods…

Okay, I am debating whether I should change its name.

Now then. It’s time for a final act. I flew down towards the Palace. I had made sure to aim him right at the dome roof of the Audience Hall.

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We need an audience after all for the final act. Hm? There was a commotion here.

I approached the massive hole in the roof. God Dammit. I’m going to have a contractor fix this, the walls, and the damned garden. Thinking about the expenses for this is making my stomach hurt.

I waved my wand and created several Magic Sigils. These acted like platforms for me to walk down like a staircase.

You may ask why since I can just float down?

For dramatic purposes. I know. I know. But if you want to make a big impression you need some bit of fanfare.

I guess they could see the huge battle and the meteor falling given how big the domed glass roof was. Though. I'm pretty sure it has probably had more something to do with Stahlin crashing down through it that caused the current ruckus in here.

As I descended upon my magic platforms, creating one as I stepped down, I could hear many gasps and mutters.

“Quite noisy in here, huh?”

The nobles and knights stared up at me with eyes of shock, fear, and awe. Looks like my dramatic entrance worked. I ignored all that gawking and pointing as I kept my gaze on one man at the dead center of the hall. He was completely battered and struggling to get up. I guess it’s hard to do so without arms.

Ah, it seems the whole hall got soaked when my Water Dragon smashed into the ballroom. People were dripping wet.

Still, it did its job and acted as a cushion for his fall. I’m not being merciful though.

“Adolv Stahlin…I applaud that you resisted with a fight that gave me a chance to vent out a small part of my frustrations...”

I held my sword.

“But it’s time for you to pay for your crimes.”

Stahlin managed to get up with a struggle. Quite impressive since he had lost both arms.

“Y-You...won’t get away with this!”

“Uttering the same words like my father. I guess for poetic justice I should say...I already have.”

“Y-You…Urk...”

“Now then...I’ll be taking that if you don’t mind.”

I snapped my finger and the medallion around his neck floated off his neck and into my hands.

“N-No! Give it back!”

“Hell no. I’ll need it to track where you’ve been keeping those missing kids. But I think it’s time to give you...what’s due."

Anyhow, you’ve been getting up again and again like some filthy cockroach. I don’t have time for this as I’ve got a ton of work to do as Emperor.

I readied my sword, the blade glinting in the light cast by the moon.

“The moment of judgment has come.”

“DAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMM YOOOOOOOOUOUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!”

How many times is he going to keep yelling that?

As though for a final (again) burst of struggle he rushed at me. His eyes were crazed like a madman. He doesn’t have any arms left. Was he going to bite my neck or something?

The Knights were rushing in to stop him.

...but I don’t need anyone to interfere with my prey!

I assumed my stance.

SLASH!

In a blink of an eye. Stahlin was struck down with a technique I’ve honed after years of perfecting and hard work.

My finishing technique.

“Amanakawa-Style Secret Art: Decagram Slash - Shattered Obliteration!”

With speed as quick as lightning, the whole thing lasted but a mere moment, I slashed Stahlin ten times in a decagram formation.

CRACK!

SHWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Quite similar to the move I used on the meteor before as these slashes had torn through the very fabric of space. As a result, everything within the formation is caught in a spatial collapse, ripping everything apart molecule-by-molecule before finally collapsing in an implosion that leaves…

nothing…

Stahlin didn’t even scream. Or rather, his scream couldn’t be heard as he was torn apart and atomized.

The area where Stahlin had once stood had left a large circular hole in the ground.

“Goodbye Adolv Stahlin, and tell the devil I sent you.”

***

I turned towards all who were watching. They were struck silent. After all, they saw the man who ruled Atlantasia with an iron fist obliterated into nothingness.

“Your Majesty! Are you alright?!”

Finally snapping out of their reverie, Leofold and his fellow knights approached me.

“No need to be concerned so much, Sir Leofold. As you can see, I am quite alright.”

Just a little tired though.

“And...what happened to Lord Stahlin?” He says looking at the huge hole.

Crap... the floor! That was pure Romanov Marble! Another reimbursement...

“Sigh~ You saw exactly what you saw. I obliterated him. Not a hide or hair of him remains.”

I can hear screams. I turned and saw Antoinette crying and screaming for her father. Several of the nobles who I knew to be in Stahlin’s palms had backed away in horror.

Couldn’t blame them. After all, how would you react to seeing your boss shredded into nothing as though he didn’t even exist?

“As for you lot…“

I turned my gaze to the group of Stahlin’s cronies.

Realizing that I was now someone they shouldn’t mess with, they suddenly began pleading with me. They were all saying they were just forced or threatened by Stahlin to do as he wanted.

A load of bull. I already know all of their crimes and with the evidence secured to back them up.

“Save your worthless excuses!”

I say with finality.

“I will be lenient to not judge you all as a group. You will each have your respective trials and your punishments will be based on the gravity of your crimes. Leofold, have your men bring these fools down to the dungeons. If they resist or start hurling protests, stuff a sock in their mouths.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. But…stuff a sock in their mouths?” Leofold looked a tad bewildered at the last part of my order.

“Just gag them to shut them up and stop talking.”

“Err. Right. Men! You heard His Majesty’s orders! Move them out!”

At Leofold’s command, the knights began hauling them out of the haul. Some of them tried to protest but it seems the knights took my order a little too literally as a few of them took off their boots and shoved their used socks in their mouths.

“Unhand me! Don’t you fools know who I am! I AM YOUR SUPERIOR!”

Ah, I almost forgot about him. Despite being bound, Whulvric’s large frame and strength made it seem like they were trying to tame a wild beast.

“How annoying…Ice Engulfment!”

I shot a blast of Ice Magic at Whulvric and he was instantly turned into a giant ice sculpture. The ones restraining were taken aback at what befalls the guy.

“Y-Your Majesty?! W-What did you do to my brother?”

“Relax, Sir Leofold. He is still alive. I just placed him in...cold storage. That’s all.”

I don’t know if he got my joke or not because he looked very troubled and concerned.

“Before I forget, on the grounds of his crimes and abuse of power, I hereby remove Whulvric von Schweiz from his post as Captain of the Imperial Guard.”

“Your Majesty, if I may, it would be doubtful he would hear you given his current state,” Wynston says to me in a polite tone, while maintaining distance.

“Not that it matters. Tell it to him when he thaws so just take him away. Even as an Ice Statue, he doesn’t add much to the décor.”

Well, with that done. I’ve now proceeded to the final act.

I then approached the Broadcast Crystal which had been active all this time.

“To all my subjects across the Empire…”