(How did you know?)

“Does it matter?”

(No, forget it. Just tell me what sort of deal you want to make.)

Ark was amazed at how tenacious Maximillian was. He used illusions as a weird body and also copied his mind onto an item to keep himself alive.

From the looks of it, Maximillian must have died abruptly, losing his physical body. His only insurance were the dungeons he left to try rewriting his mind onto a suitable vessel. He must have also put down the mind spells for some purpose.

Advancing to the last room, he found a notebook preserved with magic, and unlike before, where it was destroyed, this notebook was opened without a problem. There were also control panels that Silvia was checking.

“The last one was destroyed. Why doesn't that happen here?” Ark asked.

(If you are talking about the dungeon that I lost my connection to some time ago, it was because the notebook there didn't register you as a vessel. It shouldn't have been destroyed, though. Did the spell malfunction? What are the odds?)

Pretty high if you were Ark.

Ark skimmed through the notebook. “Mind Strengthening, a spell to strengthen the mind.”

Not just that, but also notes on the structure of the spell and myriad of variants for different uses. There was one for combat and one effective in permanent strengthening. That part in particular was interesting.

All in all, the valuables he gained were tremendous.

(Can we start now?) The talking crown grumbled.

“Patience, Maxi, patience.”

(Don't call me Maxi!)

He wanted to tease the mind mage more, but he guessed the battle was already undergoing above, and Ark didn't want to miss it.

“Maximillian Kruger, I would like to propose a deal: cooperate. Give me your knowledge and assistance, and I will give you a body you will find suitable.”

(...Will you really?)

Of course, it was hard to believe Ark would really give Maximillian a body. It meant stripping someone else of their freedom, not to mention the difficulty in finding a suitable vessel wasn't low.

Why would Ark bother if he can just lie about it and just use him as he pleased?

To that, Ark nodded understandingly. “I have a few candidates in mind, but the circumstances make it hard to guarantee success. However, I was thinking of building you a body.”

(Build?) It seemed Maximillian didn't consider this.

“I think of it as a fun project. I have a blood attribute user as a comrade, so the chances are higher. There are a lot of experiments I want to run, and sure, your body would be a homunculus, but I was thinking of using really strong materials, and the hardest part, the brain, is already covered.” Ark paused. “It's doable.”

The crown went silent in deep contemplation.

(Okay, but I won't reveal everything from the start. Only after you prove... Hey! Where are you going?)

Ark stopped listening after the first word. He drew ambient mana particles and transparent them into water elements. Using his spirit, he circulated them through his body and healed his injuries and fatigue to some extent.

“I have a battlefield to drop at. Actually, you can help. Can you run Mind Acceleration with the crown? Also, teleport me to the surface.”

“Are you thinking about leaving me behind? Not a chance.” Silvia, finished with the panels, said.

“I am not. But I need you to do something else. So, Maxi, can you do it?”

The urgency in his voice left no room for complaints. Maximillian confirmed and promptly teleported them to the surface. Silvia took over the unstable formations Elizabeth neglected and fortified the barriers.

“Don't look at me like that.” Ark donned the crown, letting it float and spin rapidly above his head. “Don't you trust Elizabeth?”

“You don't.”

“We don't want this city pulverized. Well, I'm off. Max.”

He teleported away, into a battle between Titans.

◇◇◇

Elizabeth's Perspective

I don't use a single spell, simply manipulating my mana and the space along with it.

It's actually easier, less burdensome, than unleashing hundreds of different advanced spells at once.

The Immortal Dark Star soars to the sky, moving inside my domain with the sheer force of his body.

I fire blades of gravity, fold the space, and create voids.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

He dodges, using his darkness to resist, and shoots black projectiles at, which I block or teleport away.

We hold each other at bay, almost equal. I have the upper hand, but fear starts to well inside me.

He is hiding something.

A power that could flip the table around.

“Are you sure you can afford to go that way?" He gestures to behind me, and I realize we are at the coast.

Well, shit. I intentionally tried to get as far as possible.

With this, my movements are greatly restricted. I can't escape.

Knowing this as well, the demon finally uses the card he was hiding.

I observe the Immortal Dark Star as he opens his hand, channeling darkness into an orb.

The orb ignites into a black flame.

The flame flickers, and my mana is instantly obliterated. The flames expand, spreading and destroying my domain.

I form barriers, made from space, gravity, and different attributes. Everything breaks under the power of these abominable flames.

Even my mana-infused body won't last a second.

He stops a hairbreadth away from burning him, his mouth curving into a victory smile.

“I am going to use your death to lure the Hero and kill him as well,” he says, speaking as if the matter is already settled.

“You don't have the guts to face him head on, don't you?”

“The Hero and Saintess are cowards hiding from the world; the Shield Saint left the continent years ago, so I am starting with you, the Sage, who in the battle against the Demon King was degraded into a secondary supporter.”

Hearing this, I straighten my back. His words do not insult me. I am proud to have helped even a little bit to my friend, who was and is one of the greatest Heroes of all time.

“He will kill you.”

“He can't. I am immortal.”

“Then he will kill you again and again, until you hide in a hole like a scared rat.”

I catch the annoyance that flickers in his eyes. The red color intensifies for a brief moment. It disappeared instantly, but I understand he isn't as calm as he appears, or at least as sane.

He says nothing, sending a stream of black flames.

I close my eyes, bracing myself for death.

...

Death does not come, and I open my eyes.

Ark confidently walks ahead, shielding me from the black flames, enveloped in that weird crimson aura he showed back then. A crown is spinning above his head.

His gait is slow and steady, as if there is no reason to rush. And although I can't see his eyes, I am certain they are calm and condescending and fearless.

My subordinate is terribly arrogant.

I have never met anyone this full of himself. It's amazing to see how he is so cautious until he recognizes the threat, then proceeds to defeat it with crazed recklessness.

Seriously, such a cocky kid. So many died young being like that. I killed demons with more humility.

But honestly, that infinite confidence is comforting. Right now, I want to lean on this arrogance, this resolution.

Ark, who is like the Demon King in that sense, makes me look back at this frightening memory and feel at ease. I know he is on my side.

He stops in his tracks, turning to me. He shows no regard to his opponent, and I see the Immortal Dark Star seething.

“Go away. You are in the way.”

A crimson wave of energy abruptly erupts, and the demon with a ridiculously powerful body is blown away like a leaf in the wind.

I am left there as he dashes forward at an incomprehensible speed.

“Ah.”

Since when was he so strong? Did he actually hide some of his abilities?

I don't know, but a smile creeps into my lips nonetheless.

◇◇◇

Ark's Perspective

The Immortal Dark...

Screw this, I am calling him Darky from now on!

Anyways, I blasted cute little Darky and gave a quick chase.

The crimson aura is awesome. My body feels amazing. I can probably use Quadra Elementum Potentia without any damage. None. Zero.

It also boosts my spirit's output by so much. A concentrated shockwave even caught Darky off guard. It's a shame that he recovered quickly.

(Your mind...) Maxi mutters in my mind, a telepathic connection established through the crown. (It can handle the spells without any time limit. You held back against me?)

(Nah, I'm surprised it appeared again. I think it's because of that guy,) I answer.

I remember taking no damage last time when it manifested; only the damage I sustained before didn't heal.

Darky glares at me, sending not one but three giant masses of dark elements, the same he did before.

I didn't even do this on purpose, but crimson bursts with black wisps are sent and obliterates them with ease.

It seems I am quite angry.

“You didn't hide them properly like before,” I note, recalling the intent I felt. “Did you use a shadow demon?”

He does not answer.

“Well, you don't have one now.”

We both hover above the ocean, me by pushing the force of my spirit from my feet and Darky with his wings.

I don't understand what method he is using, but he strengthens himself with darkness. Unlike normal demons who coat their bodies with it, he uses it internally, his veins turning black.

Black flames radiate from him like a spirit, enhancing him even further.

Wow, isn't this Demon King-class?

(This guy is a walking disaster. Can you win?)

(Stop talking.) I hush Maxi.

“Quadra Elementum Potentia,” I chant.

The sheer amount of mana I accumulated transforms into the four elemental energies, strengthening my body.

My Phantom boosts my spirit tremendously to a level I was never close to before, something only possible thanks to the crimson aura, Mind Acceleration, and Mind Strengthening.

I swing Silverstar. My reliable sword sunders the space in its path.

Darky waves his arm against the sword, with darkness taking the shape of a vicious claw.

A shockwave erupts as the space around us quivers and collapses. We clash again and again.

I drop the sword on Darky's head, and he evades while aiming the claw at my neck. I fly backwards, sending a Destruction Wave that grazes his arm.

The black flames burn the destructive intent, healing the wounds slowly but visibly.

The crimson aura diminishes its output, I understand from the brief surprise Darky shows.

Our clash split the sea and clouds; even the space isn't spared. The pure physical strength we achieved with our strengthening methods grants us that power, resulting in a battle at the level of a Hero and Demon King.

Frankly, I think we are also a cut above the average level, close to or equal to the previous generation.

“Fuck, you are annoying until the end!” He roars; a storm of black flames expands.

Without even trying anything, my crimson aura suppresses the flames and shields me. It feels like cheating.

So fun.

I redirect the four elemental energies into Silverstar.

My intent sharpens, and I dedicate myself to cutting him down. I focus, envisioning his severed corpse. Other thoughts are forgotten. Only me, my sword, and the target exist.

I slash.

“So close, but so far.”

My vision returns, reflecting the image of Darky smirking at me as if he won.

Silverstar is below his feet. His body is indeed severed, but the flames cling onto the severed parts and desperately attempt to fix them back. Unfortunately, it seems like it's successful.

“You killed my master, that old gluttony fossil, so I wanted to take your life personally. It's unfortunate, but you do it, Zorn.”

I missed his heart, apparently.

From beneath Darky's feet and above my sword, a demon, probably Zorn, springs out in a whirlpool of shadows.

I flash a lovely smile, and a pillar of light descends.

The two of us, bathed in deadly radiation, are completely fine, but the shadow demon evaporates. His death is wordless, quick as a flash.

Now the smile disappears from Darky's face.

“Since the moment I said you didn't have one,” I answer the question that lingers in his gaze.

Letting the urge to destroy consume me, I blast Darky with a burst of Destruction Wave, annihilating him without leaving a speck of dust.